Milk Foam Pump and Flow Heater for Flexible Drink Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing milk foam and beverages are complex, with multiple throttle points and heating systems that complicate the production process and limit flexibility in drink temperature and quality.
Innovation Solution
A device that uses a gear pump to suck in cold milk, with an air supply line and adjustable throttle point to create high-quality milk foam, allowing for both cold and warm output options, and can be integrated into a coffee machine or used independently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a heating container with coiled tubing and liquid heating medium is used to heat milk, then warm milk foam or milk beverages can be produced, but the device construction becomes complex with multiple components and throttle points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heating function from a separate heating container with coiled tubing and integrates it directly into the milk conduit. The conduit itself becomes the heating element, eliminating the need for complex external heating apparatus while maintaining the ability to produce warm milk foam and beverages.
Solution Approach 2:
The milk conduit serves multiple functions: it transports milk from the container and simultaneously acts as a heating element when the heating device is activated. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated heating components, simplifying the overall device construction.
2Ease of operation
If multiple throttle points and valves are used to control milk flow and air mixing, then milk foam production is achieved, but the overall device construction becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the milk conduit and air supply line to merge the milk transport function and air mixing function into a single integrated pathway. This reduces the number of separate throttle points and valves needed, simplifying the device while maintaining operational control over milk foam production.
3Device complexity
If cold milk is used for milk foam production, then simple device construction is maintained, but the selection of drink temperatures is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the heating capability dynamic and adjustable rather than fixed. The heating device can be activated or deactivated and adjusted to different temperature levels, allowing the same simple device construction to produce both cold and warm milk foam beverages according to different customer preferences and climate conditions.
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
Enables the production of high-quality milk foam and beverages in both cold and warm states with improved simplicity and flexibility, suitable for various climates and preferences.
Implementation Method 1
cold milk is sucked in by means of a pump (1), preferably a gear pump, via a suction line (2) from a container (3)
Implementation Method 2
An air supply line (5) opens into the suction line (2) and can be used to add a certain amount of air (or a gas) to the milk
Implementation Method 3
via which the conveyed amount of milk or milk froth can be determined. The throttle point (12) can be a throttle valve or a nozzle. At this throttle point, the passage opening is narrowed and then widened again, whereby the supplied milk/air mixture is converted into milk froth
Implementation Method 4
with one of these outlet line sections being assigned a flow heater (16). Depending on the position of the valve (15), cold milk froth or cold milk or milk beverages can be conveyed directly to the outlet (11') via one parallel section (10a), or the other outlet line section (10b) is switched on and the milk froth or milk in the continuous-flow heater before being let out (16) heated
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
During a method for the production of milk foam or milk-based drinks, milk is sucked with a pump (1) out of a container (3, 3′) and conveyed to an outlet (11′), wherein air and/or a gas is added to the milk. The milk/air mixture is processed in a cold state into milk foam and conveyed as cold milk foam to the outlet (11′).