RU2798633C2 - Device for preparing milk and/or milk foam and associated system - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: food processing equipment.

SUBSTANCE: invention further relates to a system including a device for preparing milk and/or milk foam, and a device for preparing a drink, wherein the device is capable of wireless connection with the device for preparing a drink, while the user can select a recipe on the device, and depending on the selected recipe, the device works offline and provides the specified recipe or starts the device for preparing a drink, managing successive operations to obtain a drink recipe in accordance with the data received from the user. In addition, the invention relates to a method of using a system, such as described herein, for the preparation of a beverage or beverage formulation.

EFFECT: technical result of the claimed group of inventions is to create a device for preparing milk and/or milk foam, which makes it easy to prepare a drink.

15 cl, 7 dwg

Description

Scope of the invention

The present invention relates to a device for the preparation of milk and/or milk foam, which can be used as a stand-alone device or connected to a device for preparing a drink, usually with a coffee machine. The invention further relates to a system including such a device and to a method for using such a system.

Prerequisites for the creation of the invention

Currently, there are devices for preparing milk or milk foam that are sold with coffee machines, but they do not allow you to easily prepare a drink according to a complete recipe, preferably by pressing a single button, but require the user to perform a series of manipulations using several devices.

In many cases, coffee machines have built-in milk frothing technology, such as Venturi technology, which makes these devices very bulky. Moreover, people who only prefer coffee do not need such a bulky and complicated apparatus, and similarly, people who simply desire milk or milk foam do not need such a device.

In addition, there are milk and/or milk foam preparation devices that can be connected to coffee machines to prepare a drink such as cappuccino, latte macchiato, etc. However, such existing milk or milk foam preparation devices are completely separate from the coffee machines. , and the devices must be used individually or sequentially to prepare a drink. This makes the process inconvenient for the user and the quality of the prepared beverage is not always optimal.

Thus, it would be desirable to provide a device for the preparation of milk and/or milk foam, which is devoid of the disadvantages of devices known in the prior art. Thus, the present invention makes it possible to provide a milk and/or milk foam preparation device suitable for connection with a beverage preparation device or for use as a stand-alone device, which makes it possible to easily prepare a drink according to a recipe by pressing a button when the operating device is connected. with a preparation device, or for use as a stand-alone device for the preparation of milk and/or milk foam with certain characteristics at the request of the user.

The purpose of the present invention is to meet these needs.

Statement of the Invention

According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a device for preparing milk and/or milk foam, which is suitable for use as a stand-alone device or in wireless connection with a device for preparing a drink: the device controls the desired characteristics of milk and/or milk foam when used as standalone device; the device operates the beverage preparation device when connected via a wireless communication line to prepare and dispense the beverage recipes that are prepared with this beverage preparation device, controlling the sequential operations to obtain the desired beverage recipe.

When using the device in accordance with the present invention as a stand-alone device, it preferably controls at least one of the following parameters: temperature and/or density and/or milk foam flow; temperature and/or milk flow.

Typically, a device according to the present invention is configured to connect to a wireless device such as a smartphone or tablet: the device is configured to receive data from a user from the wireless device and send information, such as status information.

Preferably, in the device according to the present invention, the data from the user transmitted to the wireless device includes recipe information and/or recipe parameters and/or start/stop information.

In the device according to the present invention, the user can generally select beverage recipes with a single push of a button.

According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a system comprising a device for preparing milk and/or milk foam, as described above, and a device for preparing a drink: the device is capable of wireless connection with the device for preparing a drink; the user selects a recipe in the specified device, and depending on the selected recipe, the device can operate as a stand-alone device and provide the specified recipe or actuate the device for preparing a drink, controlling sequential operations to obtain a drink recipe in accordance with the data received from the user.

Preferably, in the system of the present invention, the device actuates the beverage preparation device sequentially or simultaneously, depending on the formulation selected by the user.

Typically, in the system according to the present invention, the device and the beverage preparation device are configured to be connected via Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth. Preferably, the beverage preparation device and/or device may further be configured to connect to a wireless device via Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth, typically to start or stop the beverage and/or milk and/or milk foam preparation process, for sending recipe management notifications or certain warnings, such as, for example, a warning that the water tank in the beverage preparation device is empty, as well as, for example, to set the time to prepare a drink or provide a recipe, etc.

In the system of the present invention, data from the user is preferably transmitted to the device via a wireless device, and the device drives the beverage preparation device to obtain a beverage recipe in accordance with the data received from the user.

Typically, in the system according to the present invention, the beverage preparation device is a coffee machine.

In accordance with another aspect, the invention relates to a method of using the system, as described herein, for the preparation of a drink, and the method includes the following steps:

- the device checks for the presence of a device for preparing a drink in the surrounding space: if it is present, the device connects to the device for preparing a drink and activates recipes, both containing a single ingredient and a plurality of ingredients; in the absence of a device for preparing a drink, only recipes containing a single ingredient are activated;

- the user selects a recipe from the available activated recipes on the device;

- the device checks whether the formulation contains a particular ingredient or not;

- if the recipe contains a single ingredient, the device provides milk and/or milk foam according to the data from the user;

- if the recipe contains a plurality of ingredients, the device drives the beverage preparation device in accordance with certain sequential operations in order to obtain the selected beverage recipe.

In the method according to the present invention, it is preferred that the device actuate the beverage preparation device sequentially or simultaneously, depending on the recipe selected by the user on the device.

Typically, in the method of the present invention, the device receives data information from the user through a wireless device with which the device is connected via a wireless link.

Brief description of graphic materials

Additional features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following non-limiting detailed description of embodiments of the present invention, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

On FIG. 1 shows a beverage preparation device controlled by a wireless device in accordance with the known prior art.

On FIG. 2 shows a milk and/or milk foam preparation device according to the present invention, configured to be connected to a beverage preparation device and a wireless device.

On FIG. 3 shows a device for preparing milk and/or milk foam according to the present invention when used as a stand-alone device, presenting the various possibilities for producing a beverage provided by said device.

On FIG. 4 shows a device for preparing milk and/or milk foam in accordance with the present invention when used in conjunction with a device for preparing a beverage, showing various possible formulations that can be prepared using this device in conjunction with a device for preparing a drink.

On FIG. 5a-b show various recipes or drinks that can be prepared using the device in accordance with the present invention.

On FIG. 6 shows three different standard formulations containing a single ingredient that can be produced using a milk and/or milk foam maker in accordance with the present invention.

On FIG. 7 shows three different standard recipes that can be prepared with a milk and/or milk foam maker according to the present invention when used in combination with a beverage maker, typically with a coffee machine.

Detailed description of exemplary embodiments

The present invention relates to a device 10 for preparing milk and/or milk foam, this device 10 can also be configured to be connected to a device 20 for preparing a beverage, typically a coffee machine. The device 10 of the present invention can preferably also be configured to produce hot or cold milk and/or milk foam as selected by the user. As shown in FIG. 1, beverage preparation devices 20 known from the prior art are capable of being connected to a wireless device 30: in this case, shown in FIG. 1, the wireless device 30 functions as a master device that issues commands and drives the beverage preparation device 20, which functions as a slave device that receives commands from the wireless device 30. The device 30 connects to the coffee machine 20 and instructs the coffee machine 20 to start preparation, for example , coffee, or stopping the preparation process. The coffee machine 20 may also communicate with the wireless device 30 and transmit status information, such as notify that the water tank is empty, or that a part or component of the device 20 is malfunctioning, so that the user takes note of such information.

As shown in FIG. 2, the device 10 of the present invention is configured to be connected to a beverage preparation device 20, typically a coffee machine. In this configuration, in accordance with the present invention, the device 10 now functions as a master device and issues commands to the coffee machine 20, for example, to start making coffee or stop the preparation process: in this case, the device 20 acts as a slave device, while the device 10 now performs the function of the master device that drives and issues commands to the device 20. The beverage preparation device 20 transmits information to the device 10, such as, for example, information about the readiness of coffee. The device 10 for preparing milk and/or milk foam in accordance with the present invention can also be configured to be connected to a wireless device 30, as shown schematically in FIG. 2. In this case, the wireless device 30, typically a smartphone or tablet, issues commands to the device 10, such as determining the drink recipe to be prepared, the required characteristics of this drink, or, for example, setting the start and / or end time for preparing the recipe, t i.e. information coming from the user. The device 10 also communicates with the device 30: as a rule, such communication includes information about the status of the device, the presence of errors or malfunctions in the operation of the device, in order to notify the user about this, or, for example, also information about the degree of readiness of the recipe, so that the user receives timely information about the process of preparing the ordered drink or recipe. Furthermore, it is possible that the device 30 communicates with the beverage preparation device 20, as shown by the dotted arrow in FIG. 2. In this case, the device 30 acts as a master device and the coffee machine 20 acts as a slave device: the information transmitted may relate to the start or stop of the coffee preparation process in the device 20, notifications transmitted by the device 20 to the device 30 that the tank for water is empty or, for example, almost empty, or, for example, by the transmitted device 30 to the coffee machine 20, to set the start time of coffee preparation or coffee readiness.

As shown schematically in FIG. 2, when the device 10 communicates with the coffee machine 20, it acts as a master device, while the coffee machine 20 acts as a slave device. When device 30 communicates with device 10, device 30 acts as a master device and device 10 acts as a slave device. When the device 30 communicates with the coffee machine 20, the coffee machine 20 is the slave device, while the wireless device 30 acts as the master device.

Typically, the device 30 wirelessly communicates with the beverage preparation device 20 and the device 10 via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

As described above, the device 10 of the invention is configured to prepare milk and/or milk foam, as well as to produce hot milk and/or milk foam. The device 10 can be used either as a stand-alone device, or it can be connected to the beverage preparation device 20 and used in combination with it. In any case, the device 10 may also be connected to a wireless device 30 such as a phone or tablet.

On FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the device 10 of the present invention when used as a stand-alone device: when the device is not connected to the preparation device 20, it provides the preparation of various options, usually liquid (milk, hot or cold), light foam or dense foam. The liquid option can be selected with button 12, light foam with button 13, and thick foam with button 14. The on/off button is labeled in FIG. 3 with reference number 11. When the device 10 is operated as a stand-alone device, the options available for preparation are displayed using the illuminated buttons 12, 13, 14. When the device 10 is operated in combination with a beverage preparation device 20, typically a coffee machine, the same (or other) buttons, but they serve to select other options for cooking, as will be discussed in detail below. According to another embodiment of the invention, it is also possible that both types of recipes can be prepared at the touch of a button on the device, both recipes containing a single ingredient (milk, milk foam) and recipes containing a combination of ingredients (latte, cappuccino, latte macchiato): in this case, the device 10 will illuminate two rows of buttons (12, 13, 14 and 12', 13', 14', although not shown in the accompanying figures) configured by the user.

When used as a stand-alone device, at least one or more of the following parameters can be controlled: temperature, milk foam density or flow, milk temperature or flow.

As shown in FIG. 4, the device 10 detects the connection with the beverage preparation device 20 and then switches to function as a master device to control the entire beverage recipe (coffee and milk and foam). In this case, the device offers various options for cooking, as shown schematically in FIG. 4, so the same (or different) buttons are highlighted to select different options for cooking, as shown in FIG. 4: latte (button 12’), cappuccino (button 13’) or latte macchiato (button 14’). The device 10 takes over the control of the preparation of the entire beverage recipe prepared in conjunction with the device 20.

As shown in any of Figs. 3 or 4, the device 10 becomes the master device, controlling the preparation of all recipes generally available for preparation at the touch of a button.

On FIG. Figure 6 shows an example of the various parameters entered on the device 10 to obtain each of the products when using the device in standalone mode: liquid (milk) - button 12, light foam - button 13, or dense foam - button 14. Device 10 activates and controls the parameters such as the speed and timing of the motors, the temperature of the milk or foam produced, and whether the air valve is open or not, and the duration, depending on the desired recipe (milk, light foam, dense foam).

On FIG. 7 shows examples of possible recipes available for selection when device 10 is operated in conjunction with coffee machine 20: for example, as described, latte (12'), cappuccino (13') or latte macchiato (14') can be obtained by pressing a button on device 10 The device 10 will then act as a master device and independently prepare the milk component or milk foam and will issue commands to the coffee machine 20 to prepare the coffee component: this device 10 will issue commands and control the connection of the drinks to be prepared, the preparation time, their characteristics, etc.

On FIG. 5a and 5b show an example of a recipe that can typically be produced with a device 10 used in conjunction with a coffee machine 20, where a number of sequential steps, 1, 2, ...N, are used to prepare the beverage recipe, as shown in FIG. 5b.

As shown, one or more sequential operations are typically used to obtain the formulation, depending on the type of foam, milk or coffee, each of these sequential operations including at least one or a combination of the following parameters:

- engine speed;

- engine synchronization;

- temperature;

- operating cycle of the air valve;

- type of coffee.

This example is shown in FIG. 5a. On FIG. 5b shows a recipe obtained by 1, 2 and (n) of these successive operations, each successive operation being controlled by one or a combination of the above parameters.

Thus, as mentioned above, the present invention relates to an attached device for preparing and/or frothing milk, which allows you to drive a coffee machine, as well as provide milk for the preparation and dispensing of complex beverage recipes at the touch of a single button (for example, latte macchiato, cappuccino and so on.). The idea is that the accessory (i.e. device 10), if connected to coffee machine 20, becomes the main device in the preparation process. Then, a triangular network is created between the accessory (device 10), the beverage preparation device (coffee machine 20) and the user's telephone (wireless device 30).

Thus, the user can select his preferred beverage recipes using his phone (wireless device 30) and send them to the device 10 with feedback. The accessory (i.e. device 10) then becomes the main human machine interface (HMI) (the main device that controls the cooking process) and starts recipes with cooking at the touch of a button. The preparation of coffee is controlled directly by the auxiliary device (device 10). One of the main advantages of the present invention is that no modifications need to be made to the coffee machine 20 (no additional/hidden HMI or connection is required to be built into it; conventional or known coffee machines can still be used with the device 10 if they have wireless capability). connection via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth; thus, the only requirement is the ability to connect the coffee machine to the user, which is already available for the latest generation of coffee machines with Bluetooth connectivity.

Thus, some of the main advantages of the device of the invention are listed below:

- the ability to prepare complex recipes for drinks (such as latte, latte macchiato, cappuccino, etc.) with a single button press;

- whenever the coffee machine 20 in use is configured to be connected via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, without affecting or changing this machine, the new device 10 of the present invention can connect with it to obtain recipes, etc. without any additional costs and the need to change the design;

- the ability to establish a connection between the device 10 and the device 20 is realized simply by means of Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, which allows you to easily and quickly connect the device 10 to the device 20, simply by bringing the device closer to the coffee machine;

- the device 10 allows full control of complex recipes by controlling the dispensing of coffee, milk and foam;

- the possibility of issuing microfoam of the highest quality;

- Possibility to control foam density by influencing the air inlet through an adjustable air valve;

- simple configuration;

- flow system, issuance directly into the cup;

- embodiments made with the possibility of extremely easy cleaning;

- the possibility of issuing hot, cold finished products or finished products with ambient temperature;

- the possibility of using modular or auxiliary configurations.

According to a second aspect, the invention further relates to a system comprising a milk and/or milk foam preparation device 10 and a beverage preparation device 20, typically a coffee machine 20. Preferably, the user selects a recipe on the device 10, and depending on whether it contains Whether the recipe is a single ingredient (i.e. milk, ready-made milk foam) or if the recipe involves the preparation of a drink together with the coffee machine, the device will directly prepare only milk or foam, or will run the coffee machine to perform sequential steps of the recipe to obtain the desired finished drink.

According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a method for using a device 10 or using a system including such a device 10 and a beverage preparation device 20. By using only the device 10 operating as a stand-alone device, only certain possible choices will be available to the consumer, such as milk (hot or cold) or milk foam (light or thick, hot or cold). The consumer will be able to make a selection directly on the device 10 (by pressing the corresponding button) or by selecting one of them on the wireless device 30 (typically a phone or tablet), sending this information to the device 10, which will then start the cooking process.

When using the method in the context of a system, where the system includes a device 10 and a device 20 for preparing a coffee machine type drink, various recipes, such as latte, latte macchiato or cappuccino, will be available for selection on the device 10: the consumer can select one of them directly on device 10 (and then the device will start the coffee machine to perform the required sequential operations necessary for preparation), or he can select the recipe on the wireless device 30 (phone or table), from where the selected recipe will be sent to the device 10, which will control the operation of the coffee machine 20 in in accordance with the sequential operations necessary for the preparation of a drink according to the selected recipe.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to its preferred embodiments, many modifications and changes can be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without deviating from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (20)

1. A system including a device (10) for preparing milk and/or milk foam and a device (20) for preparing a drink, wherein the device (10) is configured to wirelessly connect to the device (20) for preparing a drink, while the device (10) ) actuates the device (20) for preparing a drink when connected to it via a wireless communication line for preparing and dispensing drink recipes that are prepared in conjunction with this device (20) for preparing a drink, controlling sequential operations to obtain the desired drink recipe, and the user can select a recipe on the device (10), and depending on the selected recipe, the device (10) operates offline and provides the specified recipe or starts the device for preparing a drink, managing sequential operations to obtain a drink recipe in accordance with the data received from the user. 2. The system according to claim 1, in which the device (10), when used as a stand-alone device, controls at least one of the following parameters: temperature and/or density and/or milk foam flow; temperature and/or milk flow. 3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, in which the device (10) is configured to connect with the wireless device (30), and the device (10) is configured to receive data from the user from the wireless device (30) and send information. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the wireless device (30) is a smartphone or tablet. 5. The device (10) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the information sent by the device (10) is information about its status. 6. The system according to any one of paragraphs. 3-5, wherein the user data provided to the wireless device (30) includes recipe and/or recipe parameter information and/or start/stop information. 7. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the user can select one of the recipes on said device with a single push of a button. 8. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (10) actuates the device (20) for preparing the drink sequentially or simultaneously, depending on the recipe selected by the user. 9. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (10) and the beverage preparation device are configured to be connected via Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth. 10. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (10) and the beverage preparation device are configured to connect to the wireless device (30) via Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth. 11. The system according to any one of paragraphs. 3-10, in which data from the user is transmitted to the device (10) using the wireless device (30), wherein the device activates the beverage preparation device to obtain a beverage recipe in accordance with the data received from the user. 12. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the beverage preparation device is a coffee machine. 13. The method of using the system according to any one of paragraphs. 1-12 to prepare a beverage or beverage formulation, the method comprising the following steps: - the device (10) checks for the presence of a beverage preparation device (20) in the surrounding space: if present, the device connects to the indicated beverage preparation device (20) and activates recipes containing both a single ingredient and a plurality of ingredients; in the absence of a device (20) for preparing a drink, only recipes containing a single ingredient are activated; - the user selects a recipe from the available activated recipes on the device (10); - the device (10) checks whether the formulation contains a particular ingredient or not; - if the formulation contains a single ingredient, the device (10) provides milk and/or milk foam in accordance with data from the user; - if the recipe contains a plurality of ingredients, the device (10) starts the device (20) for preparing a drink in accordance with certain sequential operations in order to obtain the selected drink recipe. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the device (10) activates the beverage preparation device sequentially or simultaneously, depending on the recipe selected by the user on the device (10). 15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the device (10) receives data information from the user via the wireless device (30) with which it is connected via a wireless communication link.

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