Disposable Milk Frothing Unit With Hydraulic Plug Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing milk-frothing apparatuses for coffee and espresso machines are complex to clean, require significant operator effort, and have issues with air control and flexible operation, leading to undesirable downtimes and material inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A milk-frothing apparatus with a disposable or recyclable froth-generating unit that uses a combined steam/air nozzle and a hydraulic plug connection for secure fastening, allowing flexible froth generation and easy replacement, along with a milk hose that can be adjusted for flow rate and integrated rinsing capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an internal milk-frothing apparatus is provided within the machine, then milk froth can be generated internally, but machine parts become contaminated with milk residues requiring complex cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The milk-frothing apparatus is divided into a permanent part (holding means with steam/air supply) and a disposable part (froth-generating unit with mixing chamber). This segmentation allows the disposable part to be easily replaced instead of cleaned, resolving the contradiction between internal froth generation capability and cleaning complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The froth-generating unit is designed as a disposable component that can be easily replaced after use. This eliminates the need for complex cleaning apparatus and processes while maintaining internal milk froth generation capability, as the disposable unit is discarded rather than cleaned.
2Ease of operation
If machine parts are designed to be removable for cleaning, then cleaning can be performed externally, but operator effort and machine downtime increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of removing and cleaning permanent parts, the invention uses a disposable froth-generating unit that is simply replaced. This eliminates time-consuming cleaning operations and reduces machine downtime while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The disposable froth-generating unit is extracted from the system after use and replaced with a new one. This extraction approach eliminates the need for cleaning operations entirely, reducing operator effort and machine downtime compared to removable-part cleaning designs.
3Device complexity
If air is introduced directly into milk by suction, then froth generation is simple, but separate control of air supply is virtually impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The steam nozzle and air inlet are merged into a single integrated component on the holding means. This merging allows both steam and air to be supplied together to the disposable froth-generating unit, enabling simple froth generation while maintaining the capability to control air supply through the integrated design.
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 solution simplifies the cleaning process, ensures secure and flexible operation, reduces downtime, and optimizes material usage by allowing easy replacement and adjustment of the froth-generating unit, while maintaining efficient froth generation.
Implementation Method 1
a combined steam/air nozzle, which projects outward and is connected to a steam generator and an air pump and through which steam and air are routed together
Implementation Method 2
the first inlet and the steam/air nozzle are designed and matched to one another such that they form a releasable hydraulic plug connection
Implementation Method 3
the first inlet and the steam/air nozzle are designed and matched to one another such that they form a releasable hydraulic plug connection
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a milk-frothing apparatus, in particular for a coffee or espresso machine, comprising a froth-generating unit (22) which is in the form of a disposable part, which is easy to replace, and has a mixing chamber (40), an outlet (39), which leads to the outside from the mixing chamber (40), for the generated milk froth, and first means (42) through which the froth-generating unit (22) is supplied with steam and air (53), and also second means (43) through which the froth-generating unit (22) is supplied with milk, wherein the froth-generating unit (22) can be connected to a holding means (30) in a detachable manner. The froth-generating unit (22) can be replaced in a simple and reliable manner while at the same time operating in a flexible manner by the first means comprising a first inlet (42) through which steam and air enter the froth-generating unit (22) together, by a combined steam/air nozzle (33), which projects outward and is connected to a steam generator and an air pump and through which steam and air are routed together, being provided on the holding means (30), and by the first inlet (42) and the steam/air nozzle (33) being designed and matched to one another such that they form a detachable hydraulic plug connection.