Device for heating and working up milk

• US 6,901,848 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2004
• Issued: 06/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cimbali S.p.A
• Original Assignee: Cimbali S.p.A
• Inventors: Beretta, Maurizio
• Primary Examiner(s): Simone, Timothy F.
• Application Number:
  US10/915,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20050005780A1
• Time in Patent Office: 300 Days
• Field of Search: 99452-455, 992/93, 992/95, 993/231, 992/79, 993/00, 993/02.R, 993/23, 992/99, 994/95, 992/94, 426/433, 426/523, 261/DIG.16, 261/DIG.76
• US Class Current: 99/453
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4489 Steam nozzles, e.g. for introducing into a milk container to heat and foam milk
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/291 for obtaining foams or aerosols
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2215 Temperature

Abstract

A device for heating and working up milk, in particular for preparing cappuccinos on a coffee machine, having a conveyor pipe with an open end which can be submerged in a vessel containing milk, a first pipe for supplying steam connected to the conveyor pipe, a valve, a pressurised air source, a second pipe for supplying pressurised air connected to the conveyor pipe, a temperature transducer associated with the submergible end of the conveyor to detect the temperature of the milk, a control unit connected to the valve, to the pressurised air source, as well as to the temperature transducer, said control unit being programmable to command the open and close of said valve and to actuate said pressurised air source, one independently from the other according to the desired temperature and/or working up of the milk.

Claims

1. A device for heating and working up milk for preparing cappuccinos on a coffee machine, comprising:

a steam generating boiler;

conveyor means equipped with an open submergible end, wherein said submergible end can be submerged in a vessel containing milk;

a first pipe for supplying steam, connected between said boiler and said conveyor means;

a shut-off member;

pressurized air source;

a second pipe for supplying pressurized air, connected between said pressurized air source and said conveyor means;

a temperature sensor associated with said submergible end of the conveyor means to detect the temperature of the milk in said vessel;

a control unit connected to the shut-off member, to the pressurized air source as well as to the sensor, which is sensitive to the temperature of the milk, said control unit being programmable to control the open and close of said shut-off member and to actuate said pressurized air source, one independently from the other, according to the desired temperature and/or working up for the milk.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said shut-off member is arranged on said first pipe.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said shut-off member is arranged on said conveyor mean.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said conveyor means consists of at least one directable pipe, equipped with at least one opening at its submergible end.

5. A device according claim 1, wherein said second pipe is equipped with a calibration member of the air flow rate.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said calibration member can be adjusted and is slaved to said control unit.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein said pressurized air source comprises a pump for generating pressurized air and a motor for actuating said pump.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein said pressurized air pump generates a delivery pressure which is greater than the pressure of the steam in said steam pipe.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein said steam pipe is equipped with a by-pass pipe of the shut-off means, said by-pass being equipped with a manual control valve for the steam flow.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein said pressurized air pipe is equipped with a non-return valve.