U.S. patent application number 10/819713 was filed with the patent office on 2005-10-13 for device for portioned delivery of milk, particularly for cappuccino machines.
Invention is credited to Landolt, Markus.
Application Number | 20050223911 10/819713 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35059227 |
Filed Date | 2005-10-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050223911 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Landolt, Markus |
October 13, 2005 |
DEVICE FOR PORTIONED DELIVERY OF MILK, PARTICULARLY FOR CAPPUCCINO
MACHINES
Abstract
A delivery head for delivering a milk portion is connected via a
connection line to a milk container in a refrigerator. A rinsing
agent source is connected via a first line to a connection part in
the connection line. A first on-off valve is inserted in the first
line. The connection part is also connected via a second line and a
second valve to a fresh air source. The container, the valves, and
the connection part are installed in a refrigerator. Through this
implementation, complete emptying of the connection line and the
delivery head of rinse water after the rinsing procedure, as well
as efficient rinsing during the rinsing procedure, are
achieved.
Inventors: |
Landolt, Markus; (Zurich,
CH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WEINGARTEN, SCHURGIN, GAGNEBIN & LEBOVICI LLP
TEN POST OFFICE SQUARE
BOSTON
MA
02109
US
|
Family ID: |
35059227 |
Appl. No.: |
10/819713 |
Filed: |
April 7, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
99/455 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 31/4485 20130101;
A47J 31/60 20130101; A47J 31/469 20180801 |
Class at
Publication: |
099/455 |
International
Class: |
A01J 003/00 |
Claims
1. A device for portioned delivery of milk, comprising: a milk
container in a refrigerator; at least one milk pump in the
refrigerator, the milk pump having a suction side and a pressure
side, wherein the milk pump is connected on its suction side to the
milk container; at least one connection line connecting the
pressure side of the milk pump to at least one foaming device for
delivering a milk portion into at least one drinking vessel; a
connection part in the connection line inside the refrigerator; a
switchable first valve in a first line between a rinsing agent
source and the connection part; and a switchable second valve in a
second line between an air source and the connection part.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first valve is
positioned in the refrigerator.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second valve is
positioned in the refrigerator.
4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the air source is an
air pump.
5. The device according to claim 1, wherein a third valve is
positioned in the first line neighboring the rinsing agent source,
outside the refrigerator.
6. (canceled)
7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one milk
pump comprises a plurality of milk pumps, wherein the at least one
foaming device comprises a plurality of foaming devices, and
wherein the at least one connection line comprises a plurality of
connection lines, each foaming device being connected via a
respective one of the connection lines and a respective one of the
milk pumps to the milk container, and each connection line having a
connection part to the first line and the second line.
8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the rinsing agent
source is a fresh water pump.
9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the foaming device is
connected via a fourth valve to a steam source for heating the milk
portion.
10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the foaming device is
connected via a fifth valve to the atmosphere or a pressurized air
source for foaming the milk portion.
11. The device according to claim 2, wherein the second valve is
positioned in the refrigerator.
12. The device according to claim 2, wherein: the second valve is
positioned in the refrigerator; the air source is an air pump; and
a third valve is positioned in the first line neighboring the
rinsing agent source, outside the refrigerator; wherein the at
least one milk pump comprises a plurality of milk pumps, wherein
the at least one foaming device comprises a plurality of foaming
devices, and wherein the at least one connection line comprises a
plurality of connection line, each foaming device being connected
via a respective one of the connection lines and a respective one
of the milk pumps to the milk container, and each connection line
having a connection part to the first line and the second line; and
wherein: the rinsing agent source is a fresh water pump; each
foaming device is connnected via a fourth valve to a steam source
for heating the milk portion; and each foaming device is connected
via a fifth valve to the atmosphere or a pressurized air source for
foaming the milk portion.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a device for portioned
delivery of milk, particularly for cappuccino machines. Such a
device is known from DE-OS 199 55 195 A1. This known device has a
delivery head in the form of a milk mixing chamber, to which steam
is supplied via a first valve, air is supplied via a second valve,
and milk is supplied from a milk container via a pump and a double
check valve. The milk container, the pump, and the check valve are
positioned in a refrigerator. For cleaning the device, the steam
supply line to the mixing chamber is connected via a further line
to the double check valve. The steam supply line may also have cold
water applied to it via a further valve.
[0002] However, during the delivery of hot milk, steam may reach
the cold region of the connection line via the double check valve
and heat the milk in this region, which impairs its storability.
The main part of the rinse water reaches the mixing chamber
directly via the steam line, and the proportion of the rinse water
which reaches the connection line is uncertain. In addition,
multiple blank portions must be delivered after rinsing before the
milk flows undiluted to the mixing chamber again.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention is based on the object of correcting
these disadvantages. This object is in a device having a milk
container, a delivery head for delivering a milk portion into a
drinking vessel, a connection line between the milk container and
the delivery head, a rinsing agent source, a first line between the
rinsing agent source and a connection part on the connection line,
and a controlled switchable first valve in this first line, the
milk container and the connection part being positioned in a
refrigerator, and characterized in that the connection part is also
connected via a second valve and a second line to an air source,
and the first valve is connected exclusively to the connection part
via the first line.
[0004] Because the connection part is connected via a second valve
to an air source, the connection line and the delivery head may be
completely emptied after the rinse procedure. Upon returning to
operation, the delivery of blank portions of diluted milk may
therefore be dispensed with. Because the first valve is connected
on the outlet side only to the connection line, reliable and
efficient rinsing of this connection line is achieved. Heating of
the milk in the connection line inside the refrigerator is
prevented.
[0005] The refinement according of having the first and second
valves in the refrigerator has the advantage that the lines between
the valves and the connection part on the connection lines may be
kept short and hardly come into contact with milk.
[0006] The refinement of having a pump for an air source is
advantageous above all if the refrigerator is positioned
significantly below the delivery head.
[0007] The refinement of having a third valve positioned in the
first line neighboring the rinsing agent source, outside the
refrigerator is advantageous above all if the refrigerator is
positioned spatially separated from the coffee machine and the
rinsing agent, e.g., water, is also used for other purposes inside
the machine, e.g., feeding a steam boiler.
[0008] By having a milk pump positioned upstream from the
connection part is also used to overcome height differences and
results in a more consistent foam if the delivery head is
implemented as a milk foamer. In addition, it is used for
portioning the milk.
[0009] By having two delivery heads, each of which is connected via
a connection line and a milk pump to the milk container, with each
of the connection lines having a connection part to each first
line, each having a first valve and a second valve, if there is a
double arrangement of delivery heads, no communication may occur
between the two connection lines.
[0010] The water pump in which the rinsing agent source is a fresh
water pump is expedient in order to ensure sufficient pressure of
the water independently of the fresh water line pressure.
[0011] The features of each delivery head being also connected via
a fourth valve to a steam source for heating the milk portion
and/or each delivery head being also connected via a fifth valve to
the atmosphere or a pressurized air source for foaming the milk
portion refine the delivery head for heating and foaming the
milk.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0012] In the following DETAILED DESCRIPTION, an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention is described on the basis of
the drawing having a single FIGURE showing a circuit diagram of a
milk foaming device for cappuccino machines.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] In the following, an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention is described on the basis of the drawing. The single
FIGURE shows a circuit diagram of a milk foaming device for
cappuccino machines.
[0014] Two foamer heads 2 are positioned in a coffee machine 1.
Each head 2 is connected via an on-off valve 3 to a steam boiler 4
and via a second on-off valve 5 to the atmosphere. A level switch
(not shown) in the boiler 4 regulates the fresh water supply to the
boiler 4 from the outlet 7 of a water pump 8 via a further on-off
valve 6.
[0015] Each foamer head 2 is also connected via a connection line
13 to the outlet 14 of a volumetric milk pump 15. The two pumps 15
are driven by a shared motor 16, whose driven shaft 17 rotates
around a predetermined angle of rotation to deliver a milk portion.
The lines 18 to the suction side of the pumps 15 are dipped into a
milk container 19. The container 19, the pumps 15, the lines 18,
and a part of the lines 13 are installed in a refrigerator 20.
[0016] The refrigerator 20 may be placed spatially separated from
the coffee machine 1.
[0017] Each line 13 is connected via a connection part 25 to a
rinse line 26. Each line 26 is connected via a valve 27 to a fresh
water supply line 28 and via a further line 29 to an air supply
line 30. The valves 27, 29 are installed inside the refrigerator 20
neighboring the connection part 25, so that the rinse lines 26 are
short. The line 28 is connected via a further valve 31, positioned
in the coffee machine 1, to the outlet 7 of the water pump 8. In
this way, the line 28 is unpressurized in normal operation. The
line 30 may be connected directly to the atmosphere via an air
filter (not shown), particularly if the foamer heads 2 generate a
sufficient partial vacuum in the lines 13 when the valves 3 are
switched on, or it may be connected to an air pump 32.
[0018] For the periodic cleaning of the foamer heads 2 and the
uncooled part of the lines 13, the valves 3, 27, and 31 and the
pump 8 are switched on. After the rinsing, the valve 31 is switched
off, then the valves 27 are switched off and the valves 29 are
switched on. The lines 13 and the foamer heads 2 are emptied of
rinse water through the air flowing in. Subsequently, the valves 3
and 29 are switched off again. Due to the emptying of the lines 13
and the foamer heads 2 after the rinsing, even the first complete
milk portion is delivered practically undiluted.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
[0019] 1 coffee machine
[0020] 2 foamer head
[0021] 3 valve
[0022] 4 boiler
[0023] 5 valve
[0024] 6 valve
[0025] 7 outlet
[0026] 8 pump
[0027] 13 connection line
[0028] 14 outlet
[0029] 15 pump
[0030] 16 motor
[0031] 17 driven shaft
[0032] 18 line
[0033] 19 milk container
[0034] 20 refrigerator
[0035] 25 connection part
[0036] 26 rinse line
[0037] 27 valve
[0038] 28 water supply line
[0039] 29 valve
[0040] 30 air supply line
[0041] 31 valve
[0042] 32 air pump
* * * * *