Assembly for generating milk foam and for heating milk
First Claim
1. Assembly for generating milk foam and for heating milk, comprising a milk supply container means, a steam generator means and a mixing element means, said mixing element means comprising:
- a first steam inlet channel means having a first inner diameter;
a necking means located downstream and communicating with said first steam inlet channel means, having an inner diameter which is smaller than said first diameter of said first steam inlet channel means;
an air inlet channel means opening into and communicating with said necking means;
a milk inlet channel means;
a main channel means having a second inner diameter and comprising an inlet end and an outlet end, said inlet end communicating with said necking means, and said milk inlet channel opening into and communicating with said main channel means at a location along said main channel means that is downstream said inlet end thereof; and
a second steam inlet channel means opening into and communicating with said main channel means at a point along said main channel means located between said necking means and the opening of said milk inlet channel means.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An assembly for generating milk foam and for heating milk comprises a milk supply container, a steam generator and a mixing element. The mixing element includes a first steam inlet channel, a necking located downsteam of the first steam inlet channel, an air inlet channel opening into the necking and a milk inlet channel. The milk is fed to the milk inlet channel of the mixing element by means of a pump. Moreover, the mixing element is provided with a main channel whose inlet communicates with the necking, whereby the milk inlet channel opens into the main channel down-stream of its inlet. Between the necking and the opening of the milk inlet channel, a second steam inlet channel opens into the main channel.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. Assembly for generating milk foam and for heating milk, comprising a milk supply container means, a steam generator means and a mixing element means, said mixing element means comprising:
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a first steam inlet channel means having a first inner diameter;
a necking means located downstream and communicating with said first steam inlet channel means, having an inner diameter which is smaller than said first diameter of said first steam inlet channel means;
an air inlet channel means opening into and communicating with said necking means;
a milk inlet channel means;
a main channel means having a second inner diameter and comprising an inlet end and an outlet end, said inlet end communicating with said necking means, and said milk inlet channel opening into and communicating with said main channel means at a location along said main channel means that is downstream said inlet end thereof; and
a second steam inlet channel means opening into and communicating with said main channel means at a point along said main channel means located between said necking means and the opening of said milk inlet channel means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. Espresso coffee machine, incorporating an assembly for generating milk foam and for heating milk, said assembly comprising a milk supply container means, a steam generator means and a mixing element means, and said mixing element means comprising:
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a first steam inlet channel means having a first inner diameter;
a necking means located downstream and communicating with said first steam inlet channel means, having an inner diameter which is smaller than said first diameter of said first steam inlet channel means;
an air inlet channel means opening into and communicating with said necking means;
a milk inlet channel means;
a main channel means having a second inner diameter and comprising an inlet end and an outlet end, said inlet end communicating with said necking means, and said milk inlet channel opening into and communicating with said main channel means at a location along said main channel means that is downstream said inlet end thereof; and
a second steam inlet channel means opening into and communicating with said main channel means at a point along said main channel means located between said necking means and the opening of said milk inlet channel means.
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17. A method of preparing foamed milk and heated milk, comprising the steps of:
- providing a milk supply container means, a steam generator means, a valve assembly means and a mixing element means, whereby said mixing element means comprises;
a first steam inlet channel means having a first inner diameter;
a necking means located downstream and communicating with said first steam inlet channel means, having an inner diameter which is smaller than said first diameter of said first steam inlet channel means;
an air inlet channel means opening into and communicating with said necking means;
a milk inlet channel means;
a main channel means having a second inner diameter and comprising an inlet end and an outlet end, said inlet end communicating with said necking means, and said milk inlet channel opening into and communicating with said main channel means at a location along said main channel means that is downstream said inlet end thereof; and
a second steam inlet channel means opening into and communicating with said main channel means at a point along said main channel means located between said necking means and the opening of said milk inlet channel means;
feeding milk from said milk supply container means to said milk inlet channel means of said mixing element means; and
selectively feeding steam from said steam generator means via said valve assembly means only to said first steam inlet channel means of said mixing element means, or only to said second steam inlet channel means of said mixing element means, or simultaneously to both said first and second steam inlet channel means of said mixing element means.
- providing a milk supply container means, a steam generator means, a valve assembly means and a mixing element means, whereby said mixing element means comprises;
Specification