WO2016183462A1 - Machine de préparation de boisson chaude munie de moussoir à lait, et procédé associé - Google Patents

Machine de préparation de boisson chaude munie de moussoir à lait, et procédé associé Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2016183462A1
WO2016183462A1 PCT/US2016/032405 US2016032405W WO2016183462A1 WO 2016183462 A1 WO2016183462 A1 WO 2016183462A1 US 2016032405 W US2016032405 W US 2016032405W WO 2016183462 A1 WO2016183462 A1 WO 2016183462A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
hot beverage
milk
frothing
chamber
depressed portion
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2016/032405
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Pete FAREHAM
Stewart Gordon
Noel DISBURY
Mark Skinner
Philip Walsh
Original Assignee
Sunbeam Products, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sunbeam Products, Inc. filed Critical Sunbeam Products, Inc.
Publication of WO2016183462A1 publication Critical patent/WO2016183462A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
    • A47J31/00—Apparatus for making beverages
    • A47J31/44—Parts or details or accessories of beverage-making apparatus
    • A47J31/4485—Nozzles dispensing heated and foamed milk, i.e. milk is sucked from a milk container, heated and foamed inside the device, and subsequently dispensed from the nozzle

Definitions

  • This document relates generally to home appliances. More particularly, this document relates to hot beverage makers with a milk frother that also mixes a hot beverage substance with steam and milk in a frothing chamber as the milk is being frothed.
  • Hot. beverage brewers are well known in art for use in brewing coffee, tea, etc. There are many different types of hot beverage brewers employing various brewing techniques. One such type of hot beverage brewer uses a hot beverage substance that is easily dissolved in heated water or steam and milk.
  • the hot beverage substance may be coffee crystals, coffee powders, and cocoa and hot chocolate powder.
  • a hot beverage maker including a housing, a milk tank disposed in the housing, a boiler disposed in the housing for generating steam, a mixing body fluidly connected to the boiler configured to receive a flow of steam from the boiler when a valve is opened and configured to draw milk from the milk tank into the mixing body and mix the milk with the steam as steam flows through the mixing body, and a frothing chamber iluidly comiected to the mixing body configured to receive the milk and steam mixture.
  • the frothing chamber includes an annular sidewall causing the milk and steam mixture to move in a swirling pattern upon entering the frothing chamber, a downwardly sloping bottom wall connected to the annular sidewall, a depressed portion on the bottom wall configured to receive a hot beverage substance and facilitate dissolving the hot beverage substance into the milk and steam mixture as it moves in the swirling pattern past the depressed portion to form a hot beverage, an aperture at the center of the bottom wall, and a lip partially surrounding the aperture facing the depressed portion configured to prevent the hot beverage substance on the depressed portion from exiting through the aperture.
  • the lip includes having an open portion facing opposite to the depressed portion to facilitate drainage of the hot beverage from the frothing chamber through the aperture.
  • a frothing device for a hot beverage maker including a chamber iluidly connected to a source of steam mixed with milk, an annular sidewall partially forming the chamber, the annular sidewall causing the milk and steam mixture to move in a swirling pattern upon entering the chamber, a downwardly sloping bottom wall partially forming the chamber and connected to the annular sidewall, a depressed portion on the bottom wall configured to receive a hot beverage substance and facilitate dissolving the hot beverage substance into the milk and steam mixture as it moves in the swirling pattern past the depressed portion to form a hot beverage, an aperture at the center of the bottom wall, and a lip partially surrounding the aperture facing the depressed portion configured to prevent the hot beverage substance on the depressed portion from exiting through the aperture.
  • the lip includes an open portion facing opposite to the depressed portion to facilitate drainage of the hot beverage from the frothing chamber.
  • FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an exemplary hot beverage maker
  • FIG. 2 is a side view of the hot beverage maker of FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 3 is a partially exploded view of the hoi beverage maker of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the frothing assembly of the hot beverage maker of
  • FIG. 1 A first figure.
  • FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the frothing chamber, milk tank cap, mixing body and milk tube of the hot beverage maker of FIG, 1 ;
  • FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the milk tank cap, mixing body and milk, tube of the hot beverage maker of FIG. 1 ;
  • FIGS. 7-8 are various views of the boiler and connected frothing chamber of the hot beverage maker of FIG, 1 ;
  • FIG. 9 is a top view of the frothing chamber with the lid removed..
  • FIGS. 1 to 3 there is illustrated an embodiment of a hot beverage maker 100 for making hot beverages including but not limited to coffee, espresso, lattes, cocoa and hot chocolate.
  • the hot beverage maker 100 includes a housing 1 10 and base 1 12, a boiler 300 for generating steam, a threaded boiler cap 310, a frothing chamber 250 with threaded lid 260, a recess 217 beneath the frothing chamber 250, and a ledge 215 in which a single serve beverage vessel (not shown) may be disposed during dispensing.
  • the beverage vessel may receive the hot beverage from a dispensing spout 251 formed in a bottom wall 250a (FIG , 5) of the frothing chamber 250.
  • a viewing window 218 may be formed in & panel forming the front wall of the recess 217 for viewing gradations 221 on a milk tank 220 behind the panel for indicating a volume of milk in the milk tank 220,
  • the frothing chamber 250 and the lid 260 are transparent so that the frothing and swirling and mixing action of the milk with the hot beverage substance going inside may be viewed.
  • a control switch 120 for operating the manual and electronic components of the hot beverage maker 100 is provided on a sidewall of the housing 1 10.
  • the control switch 120 which along with the other electronic components described herein are provided electrical power from a conventional source of electrical power such as 120 v.ax. or 240 v.ax. but this is not meant to be limiting as any source or voltage of electrical power may be utilized.
  • the control switch 120 may have three discrete positions and is controlled by a lever extending from the control switch 120 that allows the control switch 120 to be rotated but this not mean to be limiting as other electronic controls may be utilized such as buttons, tactile sensing, a microprocessor, etc.
  • the control switch 120 is in a first or "off position 121 where no electrical power is provided to the electronic components described below.
  • the control switch 120 is rotated to a second or “heating” position 122, electrical power is provided to the boiler 300 for generating steam, A power "on” and a “ready to use” indicator light 124 may be illuminated to indicate when the electrical power is switched on and when the water in the boiler 300 is heated to operating temperature ⁇ about three minutes).
  • a lever 325 is engaged which moves a sliding member 366 to engage and open a manual valve 330.
  • a nipple 331 on the valve 330 is fluidly connected by tubing (not shown) to another nipple 302 extending from the boiler 302 such thai steam is delivered to the valve 330.
  • Another nipple 333 on the valve 330 is fluidly connected via tubing (not shown) to another nipple 306 on a fitting 307 (FIG. 5).
  • the fitting 307 has a nipple 308 (FIG. 5) that is inserted into a socket 272 (FIG. 5) of a mixing body 270.
  • the frothing chamber 250 and the lid 260 are an integral part of the milk frothing assembly 200 which is slidingly removable from a compartment 111 formed in the housing 1 10.
  • This construction allows for easy disassembly of the components of the milk frothing assembly 200 for cleaning and the components may be made from dishwasher safe and food grade materials.
  • the milk frothing assembly 200 includes a main body 205 with a recess 207 formed therein for receiving a removable drip tray 208.
  • the removable drip tray 208 collects drippings from the frothing chamber 250 as hot beverage is being dispensed into die beverage vessel (not shown) disposed in the recess 217,
  • the drip tray 208 includes a perforated cover 209 that allows the drippings to fall into the drip tray 208 below,
  • the main body 205 includes a pocket 206 for receiving the milk tank 220,
  • the milk tank 220 includes one or more gradations 221 for easily viewing the amount of milk in the milk tank 220 through a. viewing pane 218 in a front panel of the main body 205,
  • the top gradation 221 is the maximum fill level.
  • the milk tank 220 has an interior volume for receiving up to 500 milliliters (nominal) of milk for making two to four servings of a hot beverage.
  • the milk tank 220 may be stored in the refrigerator with leftover milk.
  • a milk tank cap 230 is formed to fit into an opening at the top of the milk tank 220,
  • the cap 230 has a recess 232 on the underside for receiving a venturi device or mixing body 270.
  • the mixing body 270 has a socket 273 for receiving a milk tube 265 which when the entire arrangement 200 is assembled extends down into the milk tank 220.
  • This mixture is then directed into the frothing chamber 250 until the control switch 120 is released when a desired amount of a hot beverage is dispensed.
  • the control switch 120 is spring biased into the heating position 122 so that when the control switch 120 is in the dispensing position 123 and released, the control switch 120 automatically returns to the heating position 122 until further manually moved to the "off position 121 when no more hot beverage is desired to be made.
  • the milk tank cap 230 has an enlarged opening 231 for easy filling of the milk tank 220 from a pitcher of milk or other milk container such as that purchased at the grocery store.
  • the cap 230 includes a passage 233 for allowing a conduit 252 extending from the frothing chamber 250 to pass through the cap 230 and be fitted into the socket 271 of the mixing body 270,
  • the mixing body 270 includes another socket 272 on an opposing side which fluidly connects to the nipple 308 on the fitting 307
  • the fitting 307 includes the nipple 306 which fluidly connects to one end of a tube (not shown) which fluidly connects to another nipple 333 fluidly connected to the valve 330,
  • the valve 330 includes the nipple 331 which is fluidly connected via tubing (not shown) to the nipple 302 connected to the boiler 300.
  • valve 330 when the valve 330 is manually opened by moving the control switch 120 to the dispensing position 123, steam from the boiler 300 is directed to the mixing body 270 through the valve 330 and the fitting 307 which through venturi action draws milk from the milk tank 220 and the resultant mixture is directed to the frothing chamber 250.
  • the assembled milk frothing assembly 200 is installed in the housing 1 10 by lifting a cover 1 13 hinged to the housing 110 and inserting it into the recess 111.
  • the insertion of the milk frothing assembly 200 into the recess 1 1 1 also causes the nipple 308 to be seated in the socket 272 of the mixing body 270 which further closes a microswitch 309 mounted on the fitting 307 for allowing current to flow from the source of electrical power to the control switch 120,
  • the microswitch 309 is nomially open when the milk frothing assembly 200 is not installed in the housing 1 10 for safety reasons by preventing electrical power being provided to control switch 120 and the boiler 300.
  • the cover 113 is released and fresh milk is poured into the milk tank 220 through the opening 231 in the milk tank cap 230.
  • the lid 260 is removed from the frothing chamber 250 and a hot beverage substance is inserted therein on a depressed portion 254 of a bottom wall 250a of the frothing chamber 250,
  • the bottom wall 250a is sloped so that liquids will flow by gravity towards the center of the bottom wall 250a.
  • the depressed portion 254 is bounded by the arc shaped line 254a and includes one or more upwardly extending divots 255 which together with the depressed portion 254 tends to capture the hot beverage substance which would otherwise immediately wash away when the steam and milk mixture enters the mixing chamber 250 through the conduit. 252 in the direction of arrow 400, After the hot beverage substance is inserted into the mixing chamber 250, the lid 260 is replaced.
  • the boiler 300 may now be filled with water (capacity about 400 milliliters (nominal) or enough for about 30 servings) by removing the boiler cap 310 and replacing it so that hot beverage making operations may commence,
  • the hot beverage making operations may commence by moving the control switch 120 to the heated position 122 to heat the water (to about one-hundred degrees Celsius at 3 bar pressure with a maximum of 4 bar) until it turns to steam.
  • the boiler cap 310 is designed with a safety release mechanism (not shown) in the event the temperature and pressure within the boiler 300 during heating exceeds safe limits.
  • the boiler 300 is designed with a rapid heating element to generate steam in about three minutes.
  • the switch control 120 may be moved to the dispensing position 123, As previously described, the valve 330 is opened as long as the control switch 120 is manually held in the dispensing position 123 such that steam will flow into the mixing body 270 which is mixed with milk from the milk tank 220 through veniuri action with the resultant heated mixture being directed to the frothing chamber 250, The introduction of the heated steam and milk mixture under pressure into the frothing chamber 250 at atmospheric pressure causes a rapid expansion of the mixture frothing the milk.
  • the vent 257 also prevents frothed milk and the hot beverage substance from exiting the frothing chamber 250 but allows air to enter the frothing chamber 250 through an opening 259 at the top of the vent 257.
  • the annular shape of the sidewall 250b of the frothing chamber 250 causes the steam and milk mixture entering the frothing chamber 250 to move in a swirl pattern in the direction of arrows 405,
  • the lip 256 is open and discontinuous facing the opposite side of the depressed portion 254 of the bottom wall 250a of the frothing chamber 250 so that the resultant mixture of frothed milk and the dissolved hot beverage substance will be drawn by gravity because of the downwardly sloped bottom wall 250a towards the aperture 253 and through the dispensing spout 251 into the hoi beverage container (not shown) disposed below.
  • This process may be repeated for making up to four hot beverages before the milk tank 220 must again be re-filled.
  • the control switch 120 may be moved to the "off " position 121 and the milk frothing assembly 200 may be removed from the housing 110 and disassembled for cleaning as described above.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Apparatus For Making Beverages (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une machine de préparation de boisson chaude, comprenant un boîtier, un réservoir de lait, un chauffe-eau pour générer de la vapeur, un corps de mélange relié fluidiquement au chauffe-eau qui reçoit la vapeur provenant du chauffe-eau lorsqu'une soupape est ouverte et qui, par action venturi, aspire le lait provenant du réservoir de lait dans le corps de mélange, et une chambre de moussage reliée fluidiquement au corps de mélange pour recevoir le mélange de vapeur et de lait, une substance de boisson chaude est déposée sur une partie enfoncée dans la chambre de moussage et est absorbée dans le mélange à mesure qu'il se déplace selon un motif de tourbillon au-delà de la partie enfoncée pour former une boisson chaude. Il y a une ouverture au centre d'une paroi inférieure de la chambre de moussage pour évacuer la boisson chaude, et une lèvre entourant partiellement l'ouverture faisant face à la partie enfoncée pour empêcher la substance de boisson chaude sur la partie enfoncée de sortir à travers l'ouverture.
PCT/US2016/032405 2015-05-13 2016-05-13 Machine de préparation de boisson chaude munie de moussoir à lait, et procédé associé WO2016183462A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201562160702P 2015-05-13 2015-05-13
US62/160,702 2015-05-13

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2016183462A1 true WO2016183462A1 (fr) 2016-11-17

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Family Applications (1)

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PCT/US2016/032405 WO2016183462A1 (fr) 2015-05-13 2016-05-13 Machine de préparation de boisson chaude munie de moussoir à lait, et procédé associé

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Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4300442A (en) * 1980-04-28 1981-11-17 Societe D'assistance Technique Pour Produits Nestle Sa Coffee maker
US5738002A (en) * 1996-11-04 1998-04-14 Marano-Ducarne; Anthony Self-cleaning espresso machine attachment for producing frothed hot milk
CN101080358A (zh) * 2004-10-19 2007-11-28 莎拉李/迪有限公司 制备适于消费的饮料的系统和方法
US20080245239A1 (en) * 2006-05-27 2008-10-09 Eugster/Frismag Ag Apparatus for automatically dissolving instant powder, particularly milk powder, in hot water and, in particular, for frothing-up
EP2229083B1 (fr) * 2007-11-14 2012-08-22 Alain Indria Dispositif de distribution pour boisson chaude à base de jus de fruits et procédé de préparation de celle-ci

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4300442A (en) * 1980-04-28 1981-11-17 Societe D'assistance Technique Pour Produits Nestle Sa Coffee maker
US5738002A (en) * 1996-11-04 1998-04-14 Marano-Ducarne; Anthony Self-cleaning espresso machine attachment for producing frothed hot milk
CN101080358A (zh) * 2004-10-19 2007-11-28 莎拉李/迪有限公司 制备适于消费的饮料的系统和方法
US20080245239A1 (en) * 2006-05-27 2008-10-09 Eugster/Frismag Ag Apparatus for automatically dissolving instant powder, particularly milk powder, in hot water and, in particular, for frothing-up
EP2229083B1 (fr) * 2007-11-14 2012-08-22 Alain Indria Dispositif de distribution pour boisson chaude à base de jus de fruits et procédé de préparation de celle-ci

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