Milk foaming device, beverage preparation system and beverage preparation machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing milk frother devices based on the Venturi principle can only produce hot milk froth and require users to prepare froth separately from hot drinks, making them inconvenient for preparing cold froth and difficult to clean.
Innovation Solution
A device with a docking element that connects to a beverage preparation machine, allowing for compact and easy use, featuring a connection for water vapor, electrical power output, and a milk froth spout, along with a supplementary part made of deformable material for easy cleaning and adjustment of operating parameters like air supply and gear pump speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If milk froth is prepared separately from hot drinks using existing devices, then the device structure can be simple, but the user convenience deteriorates because froth and hot drinks must be prepared separately and mixed manually
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the milk frothing device with the hot drink preparation machine into an integrated system. The docking element allows the milk container to be attached directly to the beverage preparation machine, enabling simultaneous preparation of hot drinks and milk froth through a single integrated structure, thereby improving user convenience while maintaining reasonable device complexity.
2Productivity
If the milk froth outlet is positioned far from the beverage outlet, then the device structure can be simple, but the productivity deteriorates because simultaneous dispensing is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the milk froth outlet and beverage outlet in close proximity on the docking element, utilizing spatial arrangement in multiple dimensions. This allows both outlets to be positioned close to each other (within 5 cm horizontally) enabling simultaneous dispensing into the same cup, thereby improving productivity without significantly increasing device complexity.
3Volume of moving object
If the docking element contains all connections and outlets, then the compactness is improved, but the ease of repair deteriorates because cleaning becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The docking element is designed as a separable component that can be detached from the beverage preparation machine. This segmentation allows the docking element with its integrated connections and outlets to be removed as a single unit for easy cleaning and maintenance, thereby maintaining compactness while improving ease of repair and cleaning.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the device is designed for both cold and warm milk froth preparation, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional power supply and control requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The beverage preparation machine's existing heating system and power supply are utilized to serve dual purposes: preparing both cold and warm milk froth. The system can selectively apply heating functions when warm froth is needed, while maintaining the capability to prepare cold froth without additional dedicated power supplies or control systems, thereby achieving versatility without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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 efficient preparation of both cold and warm milk froth in a single device, integrated with a beverage preparation machine for convenient use and easy cleaning, with the froth outlet positioned close to the beverage outlet for simultaneous dispensing.
Implementation Method 1
an electrically operated drive means for conveying and/or frothing the milk
Implementation Method 2
hot steam from the coffee machine being used to foam milk sucked out of a vessel of the milk module
Implementation Method 3
The mode of operation of the dispensing device is also based on the Venturi effect, due to which milk is sucked out of a separate vessel by hot steam injected into a Venturi nozzle
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~8
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for preparing foamed milk, comprising a container (5) for accommodating the milk and an electrically operated drive for conveying and/or foaming the milk. The invention is characterised by a docking element for connecting to a beverage preparation machine (101), said docking element containing: a connection for the steam discharged from the beverage preparation machine; an interface for the electric current emitted by the beverage preparation machine; and an outlet (28) for the foamed milk.