DEVICE FOR HEATING AND FROTHING MILK AND WAND FOR SUCH A DEVICE

• US 20180353001A1
• Filed: 12/07/2015
• Published: 12/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Luigi Lavazza SPA (Finlav SPA)
• Original Assignee: Luigi Lavazza SPA (Finlav SPA)
• Inventors: ROTTA, Denis, COLONNA, Andrea, PICONE, Gabriele Luciano
• Granted Patent: US 11,122,928 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A23F 5/26 Extraction of water-soluble constituents A23F5/246 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4489 Steam nozzles, e.g. for introducing into a milk container to heat and foam milk

Abstract

The device (1) comprises a steam generator (2, 4), a compressed-air generator (9, 11) and a dispensing wand (10) connected or adapted to be connected to the steam generator (2, 4) and the compressed-air generator (9, 11) and adapted to be introduced into a receptacle (R) containing the milk (M) to be heated and frothed. The dispensing wand (10) defines first and second conduits (21, 22) separate from each other and having respective separate inlets (10a, 10b) for connection to the steam generator (2, 4) and the compressed-air generator (9, 11), respectively, as well as respective separate outlets (10c, 23; 10d, 24) for dispensing during use a flow of steam and a low of compressed air, respectively, within the milk (M) contained in the receptacle (R), said outlets (23, 24) being arranged such that the flows of steam and compressed air exiting therefrom intersect each other.

Claims

1-14. -14. (canceled)

15. A device for heating and frothing milk, for use in preparing a hot beverage such as cappuccino and the like, comprising

a steam generating unit,

a compressed-air generating unit, and

a dispensing wand connected or adapted to be connected to the steam generating unit and the compressed-air generating unit and adapted to be introduced into a receptacle containing the milk to be heated and frothed;

wherein the dispensing wand defines first and second conduits which are separate from each other and have respective separate inlets for connection to the steam generating unit and the compressed-air generating unit, respectively, as well as respective separate outlets for dispensing during use a flow of steam and a flow of compressed air, respectively, within the milk contained in said receptacle;

said outlets being arranged such that the flows of steam and compressed air exiting therefrom intersect each other.

16. The device according to claim 15, further comprising

a temperature sensor associated with the dispensing wand for providing electric signals indicative of the temperature of the milk in said receptacle, and

a control unit designed to control and coordinate in predetermined modes said steam generating unit and compressed-air generating unit depending on the signals provided by said temperature sensor;

the steam generating unit comprising an electric vibration pump having an intake inlet connected to a water tank and the outlet or delivery connected to an instantaneous heating device;

the control unit being designed to modulate the flowrate of said electric pump depending on the signals provided by said temperature sensor.

17. The device according to claim 15, comprising a first electric valve arranged between the steam generating unit and the dispensing wand so as to selectively allow and prevent a flow of steam to said dispensing wand.

18. The device according to claim 16, comprising a first electric valve arranged between the steam generating unit and the dispensing wand so as to selectively allow and prevent a flow of steam to said dispensing wand.

19. The device according to claim 15, comprising one further electric valve arranged between the compressed-air generating unit and the dispensing wand.

20. The device according to claim 19, comprising a first electric valve arranged between the steam generating unit and the dispensing wand so as to selectively allow and prevent a flow of steam to said dispensing wand, wherein said further electric valve is also connected to the outlet of the heating device and is adapted to selectively assume a first and a second condition, respectively, in which it connects the compressed-air generating unit and the heating device, respectively, to the dispensing wand, so as to supply the aforementioned second conduit of the dispensing wand with compressed air and steam, respectively.

21. The device according to claim 15, further comprising a flow meter adapted to provide the control unit with signals indicative of the flowrate of the water flowing through said electric pump.

22. The device according to claim 15, wherein the dispensing wand has an elongate shape and said conduits extend along the longitudinal direction thereof;

the outlets of said conduits being arranged such that one outlet emits a first flow along said longitudinal direction and the other outlet emits a second flow along a direction intersecting said first flow.

23. The device according to claim 22, wherein said other outlet of the dispensing wand is arranged such that it is adapted to emit a flow substantially orthogonal to said first flow.

24. Device according to claim 22, wherein the dispensing wand is connected to the steam generating unit and the compressed-air generating unit such that its outlets are adapted to emit a flow of steam along said longitudinal direction and a flow of compressed air along a direction intersecting the steam flow.

25. The device according to claim 22, wherein the dispensing wand is connected to the steam generating unit and the compressed-air generating unit such that its outlets are adapted to emit a flow of compressed air along said longitudinal direction and a flow of steam along a direction intersecting the flow of compressed air.

26. The dispensing wand for use in a device according to claim 15, comprising a body with an elongate shape having, defined therein, first and second conduits separate from one an-other and having respective separate inlets for connection to the steam generating unit and the compressed-air generating unit, respectively, as well as respective separate outlets for dispensing during use a flow of steam and a flow of compressed air within the milk contained in said receptacle;

said outlets being arranged such that the flows of steam and compressed air exiting therefrom intersect each other.

27. The dispensing wand according to claim 26, wherein said conduits extend along the longitudinal direction of the wand;

the outlets of said conduits being arranged such that one outlet emits a first flow along said longitudinal direction and the other outlet emits a second flow along a direction intersecting said first flow.

28. Dispensing wand according to claim 26, wherein said other outlet of the dispensing wand is arranged such that it is adapted to emit a flow substantially orthogonal to said first flow.

29. A machine for preparing hot beverages, in particular espresso coffee, comprising a device for heating and frothing milk according to claim 15.