CH707091B1

CH707091B1 - Producing milk foam or milk-based drinks involves sucking milk from container, conveying it to outlet, where air and/or gas is added to milk; milk/air mixture is processed in cold state to milk foam and conveyed to outlet as cold milk foam

Info

Publication number: CH707091B1
Application number: CH00802/07A
Authority: CH
Inventors: Thorsten Schindler; Jean-Paul In-Albon
Original assignee: Steiner Ag Weggis
Priority date: 2007-05-18
Filing date: 2007-05-18
Publication date: 2014-03-31
Also published as: CH707091C1

Abstract

The method involves sucking milk (1) out of a container (3, 3 ') with a pump and conveying it 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 to the outlet as cold milk foam. The milk/air mixture is transported to the outlet either directly or via a throughflow heater. Independent claims are also included for the following: (A) an arrangement for implementing the inventive method (B) and a coffee machine containing an inventive device.

Description

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a method for producing milk froth or milk drinks according to the preamble of claim 1, a process for carrying out the method, and a coffee machine comprising such a device.

[0002] EP-A-1 593 330 discloses a process or device for producing milk froth or hot milk drinks, in which cold milk is sucked from a container by means of a pump and passed through a continuous-flow heater and is thereby heated, After which it is conveyed to an outlet via a throttling point. In this way, an extremely easy-to-use milk froth can be produced in a simple manner if the milk is admixed according to air or a gas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is based on the object of proposing a method of the type mentioned at the outset, as well as a device for implementing the method with which the beverage selection can be expanded.

[0004] This object is achieved according to the invention by a method with the features of claim 1 as well as by a device with the features of claim 3. [

[0005] Preferred further developments of the method according to the invention as well as of the device according to the invention form the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0006] According to the invention, cold milk foam of surprisingly good quality or cold milk or cold milk drink can be conveyed to the outlet and collected there in a container, for example a cup or a glass. This is particularly beneficial in certain countries with a warm climate or during certain seasons. Preferably, the milk froth, the milk or the milk beverage can be omitted both in the cold and in the warm state. The device according to the invention for producing milk froth or milk drinks can form an independent appliance or a component of a coffee machine.

[0007] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. It shows:

1 shows schematically an apparatus according to the invention for producing milk froth or milk drinks.

According to FIG. 1, the cold milk required for the production of milk froth or dairy drinks is sucked from a container 3 by means of a pump 1, preferably a gear pump, via a suction line 2. As indicated in FIG. 1, a plurality of containers 3, 3 'can also be available and can be selectively connected via a valve 4 to the suction line 2, which can, for example, also contain milk with various additives such as chocolate, vanilla, etc. However, these additives can be added exactly to the milk.

According to the invention, cold milk foam of surprisingly good quality or cold milk or cold milk beverage can be conveyed to the outlet 11 'and stored there in a container 13, for example a cup or a glass.

An air supply line 5 opens into the intake line 2, via which a certain amount of air (or a gas) can be added to the milk. The air quantity can be determined by means of an air quantity regulator or via a throttle element, for example a nozzle 7. In the air supply line 5, an actuating valve 8 is provided, by means of which the air supply can be stopped when it is intended to produce a milk drink without foam. In other words, depending on the position of the actuating valve 8, a milk-air mixture or the milk can be sucked by the pump 1 alone and pumped through a line 10 to an outlet line 11 and to an outlet 11 ', sometimes via a throttling point 12, which produces an overpressure in the system and by means of which the milk or milk foam quantity conveyed can be determined. The throttle point 12 can be a throttle valve or a nozzle. At this throttling point the passage opening is tapered and then expanded again, whereby the milk / air mixture supplied is converted into a milk foam.

The outlet conduit 11, which is provided as a tube or hose, advantageously has a certain length, preferably up to 30 cm, so that the milk foam can be further developed in this outlet conduit 11 and, in particular, can also become solidified for a high-quality and consistency Permanent foam is produced when, for example, it has been fed into a cup 13.

[0012] However, there is also the possibility of producing and leaving warm milk or milk drinks or warm milk froth. For this purpose, the line 10 is provided with parallel sections 10a, 10b which can be switched on selectively via a valve 15, one throughflow heater 16 being assigned to one of these outlet line sections. Depending on the position of the valve 15, cold milk froth or cold milk or milk drinks can be conveyed directly to the outlet 11 'via the one parallel section 10a, or the other outlet line section 10b is switched on, and the milk froth or the milk before being let out in the flow heater 16.

Claims

[0013] Corresponding check valves 17 in the system prevent the milk or the air or the gas from flowing back. The flow rate of the milk sucked by the pump 1 is also measured (measuring device 18). However, a time measurement for the determination of the flow rate could also take place. The device according to the invention for the production of milk froth or milk drinks can be simply cleaned, similar to the device according to the already mentioned EP-A-1 593 330. [0014] It can form an independent appliance or a component of a coffee machine. [0015] In addition to the aforementioned gear pump, a piston pump, an oscillation or vibratory pump could also be used as a pump. Advantageously, a pressure of between 0.5 and 15 bar is generated with the pump. claims

1. Process for the production of milk froth or dairy drinks, in which milk is sucked from a container (3, 3 ') by means of a medium pump (1) and is conveyed to an outlet (11'), the milk being or a gas being mixed therewith Characterized in that the milk-air mixture is processed into milk froth and is conveyed as cold milk froth to the outlet (11 '), the milk-air mixture sucking in from the pump (1) and leading to an outlet (11' ) Via a throttling point (12) in which the passage opening is tapered and then expanded again, with the milk / air mixture being converted into a milk foam.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the milk or the milk / air mixture is fed to the outlet (11 ') either directly or via a flow heater (16) via the throttle point (12).

3. A device for carrying out the method according to claim 1, comprising a pump (1) which sucks the milk from a container (3, 3 ') via a suction line (2), with a pump (1) (11) between the throttling point (12) and the outlet (11 '). (DE). European Patent Office. WIPO Home services World Intellectual Property Organization (10a, 10b) which can be selectively switched on via a valve (15), one flow heater (16) being assigned to one of these outlet line sections.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the outlet line (10) has two parallel sections (10a, 10b) which can be switched on selectively via a valve (15), one throughflow heater (16) being assigned to one of these outlet line sections ,

5. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the throttling point (12) is formed by a throttle valve or a fixed nozzle, by means of which a tapering and a subsequent expansion of the passage opening takes place.

6. The device as claimed in one of the preceding claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the pump (1) is a gear pump, a piston pump, an oscillation pump or a vibration pump, by means of which a pressure between 3 to 4 bar can be produced.

7. The device as claimed in one of the preceding claims 3 to 5, characterized in that a pressure of between 0.5 and 15 bar can be generated with the pump (1).

8. The device as claimed in one of the preceding claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the outlet line (11) has a certain length, preferably up to 30 cm, so that the milk foam continues to form and solidify in this outlet line (11) High-quality foam which remains in its consistency when, for example, it has been guided into the container (13).

9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that the outlet line (11) is provided as a tube or hose.

10. A coffee machine, comprising a device according to one of claims 3 to 9.