Method for cleaning and/or disinfecting a milk- conveying system of a coffee machine and coffee machine
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee machine milk-carrying systems are not completely cleaned or disinfected, leading to contamination and increased operational effort, as conventional methods fail to effectively rinse the entire system, including supply lines, and often recycle contaminated cleaning agents.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a milk preparation device with a Venturi effect and a milk supply line connectable to a cleaning container, where a cleaning agent is introduced through steam and water is used to flush the system, ensuring complete cleaning and disinfection without fluid circulation, using separate containers to maintain cleanliness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If automated cleaning sequences are used for the milk-carrying system, then the cleaning process becomes automated and requires less manual intervention, but the system cannot be completely cleaned and the cleaning agent becomes increasingly contaminated over time
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning process is segmented into distinct phases: a first cleaning phase where cleaning agent flows through the milk-carrying system, and a second rinsing phase where clean water flushes the system. This segmentation allows each phase to serve its specific purpose without contamination from the other, ensuring complete cleaning while maintaining automation.
Solution Approach 2:
A switching valve acts as an intermediary component that directs fluid flow between different paths. It mediates between the cleaning agent supply, the milk-carrying system, and the drain, enabling automated switching between cleaning and rinsing phases without manual intervention while ensuring complete system flushing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the same cleaning agent is repeatedly passed through the milk fluid path in subsequent cleaning processes, then the cleaning process remains consistent, but the cleaning agent becomes increasingly contaminated over time
Solution Approach 1:
The contaminated cleaning agent is extracted and removed from the system after the first cleaning phase through the drain connection. Fresh clean water is then introduced in the second phase, preventing carryover of contaminants and ensuring each cleaning cycle uses fresh cleaning medium, thereby eliminating progressive contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning agent is discarded after a single use through the drain, and fresh water is recovered/introduced for the rinsing phase. This single-use approach to cleaning agent eliminates the problem of progressive contamination while maintaining consistent cleaning effectiveness across multiple cycles.
3Ease of operation
If a switching valve is used to switch from milk path to cleaning fluid path, then the cleaning process can be initiated, but the milk-carrying system cannot be completely flushed
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between different operational modes: during the first cleaning phase, the valve directs cleaning agent through the milk-carrying system; during the second rinsing phase, the valve redirects to allow water to flow through the system to the drain. This dynamic switching ensures complete system access and flushing while maintaining ease of operation through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The rinsing phase introduces a new dimensional aspect to the cleaning process by adding a reverse flow path through the milk supply line. Water flows in the opposite direction through the system components, accessing areas that the forward-flow cleaning agent did not reach, thereby ensuring complete system flushing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method allows for easy, complete cleaning and disinfection of the milk-carrying system with minimal user interaction, ensuring the entire system, including supply lines, is thoroughly cleaned and ready for use, while preventing fluid contamination and improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a milk preparation device with a milk outlet and a fluid inlet, an air inlet and a milk inlet, which is designed to convey milk from the milk inlet to the milk outlet using the Venturi effect
Implementation Method 2
supplying fluid, preferably steam, to the fluid inlet in order to convey the cleaning-active and/or disinfecting substance through the milk supply line
Implementation Method 3
supplying water to the air inlet and shutting off the fluid inlet to convey water through the milk supply line into the first container and to convey water through the milk outlet into the second container so as to flush the milk-carrying system
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A method for cleaning and/or disinfecting a milk-carrying system (90) of a coffee machine for producing coffee mix drinks, and a coffee machine for carrying out the method, are disclosed. With the aim of allowing the entire milk-carrying system (90) to be cleaned completely and in a way that can be easily automated, provision is made according to the invention that the milk delivery line is separated from the milk container (7), for carrying out the cleaning process, and is connected to a first container (10), and a second container (11) is arranged under a milk outlet (12) of a milk preparation device (13) of the milk-carrying system (90). Fluid is then delivered to a fluid inlet (41) in order to convey the active cleaning and/or disinfecting substance through the milk delivery line (80) and a milk outlet (12) into the second container (11). Thereafter, provision is made that water is conveyed to the air inlet (51) and the fluid inlet (41) is closed, in order thereby to flush the milk-carrying system (90).