Milk Container Washing Control With Venturi Steam Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing milk containers for coffee machines have complex and difficult-to-use washing systems that are not effective in preventing contamination and ensuring hygiene, leading to performance deterioration and accessibility issues.
Innovation Solution
A milk container with a manually-commanded rotating organ that transforms into a translation mechanism to activate a washing cycle using steam and/or water, featuring a Venturi effect suction conduit and air suction conduit, allowing for easy access and inspection, and a compact design with microswitches for efficient washing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a washing system is added to clean internal parts, then hygiene conditions improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The washing system uses the machine's own steam and water dispenser to clean the manifold body and internal parts, eliminating the need for separate washing mechanisms. The system serves itself by utilizing existing resources (steam/water flow) to perform the cleaning function.
Solution Approach 2:
The steam and water dispenser serves dual functions: preparing beverages and washing internal parts. The same dispenser that delivers steam and water for milk foaming is used to clean the manifold body, suction conduits, and other internal components, reducing the need for dedicated washing equipment.
2Reliability
If a washing system is added to clean internal parts, then hygiene conditions improve, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically initiates and completes the washing cycle without requiring continuous user intervention. The microswitch activates the washing sequence, and the system self-regulates the steam and water flow to clean the internal parts, reducing the operational burden on the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual operation of washing is replaced by an automated control system using microswitches and electronic control. The mechanical action of manually cleaning parts is substituted with an automated sequence that dispenses steam and water through the existing dispenser mechanism.
3Ease of operation
If washing system parts are made movable for access, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The manifold body is divided into separable components that can be easily removed and accessed. The suction conduits and dispensing conduits are designed as detachable parts that can be separated from the main body for inspection and cleaning, allowing users to access internal parts without disassembling the entire device.
Solution Approach 2:
Access to internal parts is achieved through a lid that opens vertically, providing top-down access to the manifold body and internal components. This dimensional approach allows users to inspect and clean parts from above without requiring lateral movement or complex mechanical linkages.
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, compact, and reliable washing system that is easy to use, effectively cleaning internal parts and maintaining hygiene without the need for extensive user operation or space, ensuring rapid evaluation of cleanliness.
Implementation Method 1
a suction conduit operating by Venturi effect to suck milk present in the container
Implementation Method 2
a suction conduit of air by Venturi effect
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~6
AI summary
The milk container (3) associable to a dispenser (2) of a flow of steam and/or water of a coffee machine (1) comprises a manifold body (5) to which accede: a connecting conduit (6) to said steam and/or water dispenser (2), a suction conduit (7) operating by Venturi effect to suck milk present in the container (3), a suction conduit (10) of air by Venturi effect, and a dispensing conduit (11), being further provided a manually-commanded rotating organ (15) for activation of regulating means (18) of the air suction, an operating position of said rotating organ (15) being associated to performing of a washing cycle of at least the manifold body (5), being further provided transforming means of the rotation of the activating organ (15) for reaching said operating position into a translation of an activating element (16) in order to reach at least a first microswitch (17) for activation of the washing cycle.