Milk container connectable with the steam and/or water delivery tube of a coffee machine, coffee machine having said container, and method of washing said container
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing milk containers connected to coffee machines for frothing milk are complex to clean, require lengthy operations, and lack easy access for inspecting cleanliness, leading to performance decline and hygiene issues due to milk residue contamination.
Innovation Solution
A milk container with a manual control member that regulates air and steam/water flow for frothing and washing, featuring a plunger mechanism and sensor-activated washing cycle, allowing for easy cleaning and inspection by maximizing air flow during washing while minimizing milk residue exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a washing system is added to clean the milk container, then hygiene conditions are improved, but the device complexity increases and the washing operation becomes lengthy
Solution Approach 1:
The steam and/or water delivery tube serves dual functions: delivering steam/water for milk frothing and delivering steam/water for washing the collector body and nozzle. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate washing system, reducing device complexity while maintaining hygiene conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The washing function is achieved using the existing steam and/or water delivery system without requiring additional dedicated washing components. The system cleans itself by utilizing its own delivery mechanism to flush the internal parts, simplifying the overall device structure.
2Ease of operation
If the washing system is made more accessible for inspection, then ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into separable parts, specifically the cover that supports the collector body and nozzle can be removed. This segmentation allows users to access and inspect the internal parts that are subject to contamination without requiring complex disassembly mechanisms or additional access points.
3Productivity
If the flow of air is increased during washing, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the flow of milk is reduced to null
Solution Approach 1:
The control member is designed with at least two positions that dynamically adjust the flow characteristics. In the first position, both air and milk flow are permitted for frothing. In the second position, the system dynamically shifts to maximize air flow for washing while blocking milk flow, allowing the same component to serve different functions based on its position.
4Reliability
If the internal parts are minimized in exposure to milk residues, then hygiene conditions are improved, but the functionality for milk frothing is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The collector body and nozzle, which are the parts most susceptible to milk residue contamination, are extracted from the main container body by supporting them on a removable cover. This separation allows these specific parts to be easily accessed, removed, and cleaned independently, minimizing their exposure to contamination while maintaining the overall milk frothing functionality of the system.
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 provides a simple, effective cleaning system that reduces contamination risk, facilitates rapid assessment of cleanliness, and minimizes exposure to milk residues, making the container easily cleanable and inspectable with a convenient washing process.
Implementation Method 1
The collector body and/or steam and/or water delivery tube are configured in such a way as to create a depression along the flow of steam and/or water in order to suck into it the flow of air and the flow of milk
Implementation Method 2
The flow of milk is heated under the effect of the flow of steam
Implementation Method 3
The flow of milk is heated under the effect of the flow of steam and frothed under the effect of the flow of air
Data Source
Figure 1~5
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A milk container (3) connectable with the steam and/or water delivery tube (2) of a coffee machine (1) comprises a collector body (5) having a connecting route (6) to said steam and/or water delivery tube (2), a first opening (7) for the ingress of milk, connected to a pipe (8) for the intake of the milk present in the container (3), a second opening (10) for the ingress of air, connected to piping (13) for the intake of air, and a connecting route (11) to a delivery nozzle (12), a manual control member (15) also being provided for means (16) of regulating the intake of air, capable of bringing about a substantially inverse correlation between the flow of air and the flow of milk sucked into said flow of steam and/or water by virtue of a depression along the flow of steam and/or water, the control member (15) having at least one first position for commanding production of hot and/or frothed milk in which the regulating means (16) establish a positive value both for the flow of air and for the flow of milk sucked into the flow of steam and/or water, the control member (15) having at least one second position for commanding the execution of a cycle for washing the collector body (5) and/or the nozzle (12) with the flow of steam and/or water, in which the regulating means (16) establish a maximum value for the flow of air which corresponds to a null value for the flow of milk.