Milk foaming device and method for producing milk foam
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing milk frothing devices struggle to maintain fine-pored milk froth at high temperatures and often experience pulsation or cessation of milk flow due to imbalanced air and milk flow ratios, limiting temperature control and froth quality.
Innovation Solution
A milk frothing device with a variable opening cross-section that adjusts both air and milk flow rates simultaneously, ensuring the air flow is reduced proportionally with the milk flow, preventing pulsation and allowing for high-temperature froth production up to 75°C with fine pores.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the milk flow is reduced to increase milk foam temperature, then the temperature of the milk foam increases, but the fineness of the milk foam decreases and the milk flow becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by using a control element that automatically adjusts the air flow cross-section based on the milk flow rate. The control element is positioned to receive feedback about the milk flow condition and dynamically modifies the air flow to maintain stable mixing ratios, preventing the degradation of foam fineness that would otherwise occur at reduced flow rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the air flow cross-section variable rather than fixed. The control element allows the system to adapt the air-to-milk mixing ratio in real-time according to the operating conditions, enabling the system to maintain optimal foam quality across a wide range of temperatures and flow rates.
2Measurement precision
If the milk flow is throttled to control temperature, then the temperature control precision improves, but the milk flow stability deteriorates causing pulsation or cessation
Solution Approach 1:
The control element is strategically positioned to detect changes in milk flow conditions and provide feedback for automatic adjustment of the air flow cross-section. This feedback mechanism ensures that when milk flow is reduced for temperature control, the air flow is proportionally adjusted to prevent flow instability, pulsation, or complete cessation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control element acts as an intermediary between the milk flow control and air flow regulation. It mediates the interaction between these two flows by automatically adjusting the air flow cross-section in response to milk flow changes, thereby maintaining stable mixing conditions even when the milk flow is heavily throttled for precise temperature control.
3Manufacturing precision
If the air flow is increased to improve froth quality, then the froth fineness improves, but the milk flow rate decreases due to excessive air mixing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the air flow cross-section dynamic and adjustable through the control element. This allows the system to optimize the air-to-milk ratio for achieving fine froth quality while maintaining adequate milk flow rate. The dynamic adjustment capability enables the system to find the optimal balance between froth fineness and productivity under different operating 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
The device ensures consistent, fine-pored milk froth production at high temperatures by synchronizing air and milk flow adjustments, preventing flow cessation and maintaining quality even at low delivery rates, and allows for precise temperature control.
Implementation Method 1
a steam nozzle (2) for generating a steam stream (9) and a mixing chamber (3), which adjoins a steam outlet opening (16) of the steam nozzle (2), wherein the milk (7) can be introduced into the mixing chamber (3) at an inlet point (38), which is located upstream with respect to a flow direction of the steam stream (9)
Implementation Method 2
a variable opening cross-section (10) for reducing a flow rate of the air stream (15) and a flow rate of the milk stream (8), wherein the air (6) and the milk (7) are guided into the mixing chamber (3) through the variable opening cross-section (10)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to improving the quality of a milk foam (13) which is produced by means of a milk foaming device (1) having a mixing chamber (3) in which air (6) and milk (7) can be foamed by means of a steam flow (9) to provide the milk foam (13). According to the invention, for this purpose the respective flow rates of an air stream (15) and of a milk stream (8), each of which flows into the mixing chamber (3), are set by the air (6) and the milk (7) always flowing together into the mixing chamber (3) through an adjustable, variable opening cross-section (10) which acts as a flow rate reducer for the air stream (15) and the milk stream (8) (figure 8).