System and Method for Producing Foamed and Steamed Milk from Milk Concentrate

• US 20050118319A1
• Filed: 01/20/2005
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Phillips, Paul A., Green, Charles B., Jatar, Udaiyan
• Granted Patent: US 7,550,169 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/564
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4485 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

Abstract

A foamed milk system for creating foamed milk from a source of condensed milk, a source of water, and a source of pressurized air. The foamed milk system may include a milk inlet system for the condensed milk, a water inlet system for the water, an air inlet system for the pressurized air, and a mixing area to mix the condensed milk, the water, and the pressurized air.

Claims

1. A foamed milk system for creating foamed milk from a source of condensed milk, a source of water, and a source of pressurized air, comprising:

a milk inlet system for the condensed milk;

a water inlet system for the water;

an air inlet system for the pressurized air; and

a mixing area to mix the condensed milk, the water, and the pressurized air.

2. The foamed milk system of claim 1, further comprising an expansion area to expand the mixture of the condensed milk, the water, and the pressurized air.

3. The foamed milk system of claim 2, further comprising a source of steam such that said mixing area mixes the condensed milk, the water, the pressurized air, and the steam and such that said expansion area expands the mixture of the condensed milk, the water, the pressurized air, and the steam.

4. The foamed milk system of claim 1, further comprising a ratio control system to provide a predetermined ratio of condensed milk and water.

5. The foamed milk system of claim 4, wherein said ratio control system comprises a flow meter in communication with the source of water.

6. The foamed milk system of claim 4, wherein said water inlet system comprises a water valve in communication with the source of water and said ratio control system.

7. The condensed milk system of claim 1, wherein said mixing area comprises a mixture nozzle body positioned within a hollow nozzle block.

8. A condensed milk system for creating milk from a source of condensed milk, a source of water, and a source of air, comprising:

a mixing area for mixing the condensed milk, the water, and the air;

a pump to pump the condensed milk to the mixing area;

a flow meter to measure a flow of the water to the mixing area; and

a ratio control system in communication with said pump and said flow meter to provide a predetermined ratio of condensed milk and water to said mixing area.

9. The condensed milk system of claim 8, wherein said milk inlet system comprises a peristaltic pump.

10. The condensed milk system of claim 8, wherein said mixing area comprises a hollow nozzle block.

11. The condensed milk system of claim 10, wherein said mixing area comprises a mixture nozzle body positioned within said hollow nozzle block.

12. The condensed milk system of claim 11, wherein said mixture nozzle body comprises a plurality of protrusions positioned thereon.

13. The condensed milk system of claim 12, wherein said mixture nozzle body comprises a plurality of orifice areas positioned about said plurality of protrusions.

14. The condensed milk system of claim 8, further comprising a valve in communication with the source of water and the ratio control system so as to start or stop the flow of water to said mixing area.

15. The condensed milk system of claim 8, wherein said mixing area provides turbulent mixing of the condensed milk, water, and air.

16. The condensed milk system of claim 8, wherein said ratio control system comprises a control circuit, said control circuit being programmable with said predetermined ratio between the condensed milk and the water.

17. A method for producing foamed milk from condensed milk, water, air, and steam, comprising:

pressurizing the air;

flowing the condensed milk, water, the air, and the steam into a mixing area; and

depressurizing the condensed milk, water, air, and steam mixture to ambient pressure to create the foamed milk.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising measuring the flow of the condensed milk and the water.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising stopping the flow of the water when a predetermined ratio of condensed milk to water is measured.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said depressurizing step comprises turbulent mixing of the condensed milk, water, air, and steam.