Milk frothing device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing milk frother devices struggle to produce consistent and reproducible cold milk foam, as the quality of the foam is influenced by variables such as milk temperature, fat content, and type, leading to inconsistent results.
Innovation Solution
A device that can be docked to a beverage preparation machine, featuring a milk foaming unit with a gear pump and adjustable parameters like gear pump speed and air supply, allowing users to influence the foam properties based on measured values or user inputs, such as milk temperature and conductivity, to achieve desired foam characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a gear pump is used to generate cold milk foam, then cold milk foam can be produced, but the foam quality is inconsistent and not reproducible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements adjustable operating parameters including gear pump speed and air supply quantity that can be dynamically modified based on milk properties. The control unit allows users to adjust these parameters to compensate for variations in milk temperature, fat content, and other properties, thereby maintaining consistent foam quality across different milk batches
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables changing of operating parameters such as gear pump rotational speed and air supply quantity to optimize foam production. By adjusting these parameters according to measured milk properties (temperature, conductivity, fat content), the system compensates for natural variations in milk and achieves reproducible foam quality
2Ease of operation
If operating parameters are fixed, then the device is simple to operate, but the foam properties cannot be customized or adapted to different milk types
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically measures milk properties (temperature, conductivity, fat content) and uses this information to adjust operating parameters. The control unit enables the device to adapt to different milk types and user preferences automatically, reducing the need for manual intervention while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that continuously monitor milk properties and provide feedback to the control unit. Based on this feedback, the control unit automatically adjusts gear pump speed and air supply quantity to optimize foam production, enabling both simplicity and adaptability
3Quantity of substance
If the gear pump speed is increased to produce more foam, then the foam quantity increases, but the foam quality and consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The gear pump speed is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The control unit modulates the pump speed based on real-time measurements of milk properties and desired foam characteristics, enabling the system to produce the required foam quantity while maintaining consistent quality through precise speed control
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 consistent and customizable cold milk foam by adjusting operating parameters according to user preferences and measured conditions, improving the reproducibility and quality of the foam.
Implementation Method 1
The device 1 has a milk container 3, a milk foaming unit 5 and a lid 6. The milk foaming unit 5 has a gear pump 7
Implementation Method 2
In addition, a mixing nozzle 79 is provided, in which the steam - which is fed in when it is desired that the (foamed) milk is released warm - with the milk and, for example, for the preparation of warm foamed milk, too Air is merged
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~8
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for the preparation of foamed milk, which device can be docked on a beverage preparation machine (101) and has, for this purpose, at least one connection for steam generated by the beverage preparation machine and one interface for electrical power emitted by the beverage preparation machine. Furthermore the device has a milk foaming unit having a geared pump (7). The geared pump is connected on the intake side to a milk supply line and to an air supply. The device is characterised in that the milk foaming unit is arranged such that an operating parameter is adjustable on the basis of a measured value and/or a user input.