Coffee machine

• US 8,925,441 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2009
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steiner AG Weggis
• Original Assignee: Steiner AG Weggis
• Inventors: Steiner, Adrian
• Primary Examiner(s): Ross, Dana
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILLER, RENEE LAROSE
• Application Number:
  US13/131,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20110256289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,858 Days
• Field of Search: 99279-295, 99300-304, 99433-476, 993/233, 992/75, 993/23, 993/27, 426/523, 426/511, 426/520, 426/590, 426/474, 261/28, 261/152
• US Class Current: 99/293
• 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 coffee machine including a boiler for producing hot water and steam for the preparation of coffee or coffee-containing beverages. A coiled tubing is located in the boiler for producing hot milk or milk froth. Thus, no separate heating element is required for producing the hot milk or milk froth, as the milk or milk froth is heated by the water heated in the boiler for preparing the coffee. The coiled tubing is connected alternately to a milk container and a rinsing water source, so that potential milk residue is flushed out after each milk heating process. A predetermined amount of milk or rinsing water is fed to the coiled tubing by a pump. Thus the milk and rinsing water usage is optimized and the energy consumption is reduced.

Claims

1. A coffee machine, comprising:

a boiler for producing hot water and steam for preparation of coffee or milk drinks, the boiler including an interior for receiving water;

a coiled tubing disposed in the interior of the boiler for producing hot milk or milk froth;

an inlet through which water flows into the interior of the boiler; and

an outlet arranged on the boiler in flow communication with the interior of the boiler to enable hot water to flow from the interior of the boiler through the outlet to be used for the coffee or milk drinks,

wherein the outlet is an outlet pipe extending through a peripheral wall of the boiler and the only outlet for hot water and steam from the boiler is through the outlet pipe.

2. The coffee machine according to claim 1, wherein the coiled tubing is selectively and alternatively connectable to a milk container or a rinsing water source.

3. The coffee machine according to claim 2, further comprising a pump configured to alternately convey milk from the milk container or rinsing water from the rinsing water source, the coiled tubing being connectable to the milk container or to the rinsing water source by a directional valve controlled by the pump.

4. The coffee machine according to claim 3, wherein the pump co-operates with a passage control by means of which the quantity of milk or rinsing water respectively delivered to the coiled tubing is controlled.

5. The coffee machine according to claim 4, wherein the pump is in the form of a geared pump, the passage control being adjustable dependent upon rotation speed of the pump.

6. The coffee machine according to claim 1, further comprising a pipe for conveying cleaning water and to which the coiled tubing is selectively connectable.

7. The coffee machine according to claim 4, further comprising a waste water outlet pipe to which the coiled tubing is selectively connectable by a directional valve operable by the passage control.

8. The coffee machine according to claim 1, wherein the boiler is in the form of a cylindrical tank with a heating coil, the coiled tubing being arranged in the boiler above the heating coil.

9. The coffee machine according to claim 8, further comprising a cover for the tank and connections of the heating coil and the coiled tubing fitted onto the cover of the tank.

10. The coffee machine according to claim 1, wherein the boiler with the coiled tubing and a bypass valve with a pipe for cold milk form a component of a unit dispensing hot and cold milk or milk froth.

11. The coffee machine according to claim 1, further comprising a heating coil in the boiler for heating water when contained in the interior of the boiler and to be used for the coffee or milk drinks, such that the coiled tubing is heated by water to be used for the coffee or milk drinks.

12. The coffee machine according to claim 11, wherein the heating coil is arranged in the interior of the boiler.

13. The coffee machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

a milk feed conduit for conveying milk from a milk source;

a rinsing water conduit for conveying rinsing water from a rinsing water source; and

a control unit that controls flow through the coiled tubing, the control unit being configured to selectively alternatively connect the coiled tubing to the milk feed conduit or to the rinsing water conduit to either provide milk flow through the coiled tubing or provide rinsing water flow through the coiled tubing.

14. The coffee machine according to claim 13, wherein the control unit comprises a pump and a valve controlled by the pump.

15. The coffee machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

a milk feed conduit for conveying milk from a milk source; and

a control unit that controls flow through the coiled tubing, the control unit being configured to connect the coiled tubing to the milk feed conduit and meter the flow of milk through the coiled tubing.

16. The coffee machine according to claim 15, wherein the control unit comprises a pump and a valve controlled by the pump.

18. The coffee machine according to claim 1, wherein the outlet is arranged at a bottom of the boiler.

17. A coffee machine, comprising:

a boiler for producing hot water and steam for preparation of coffee or milk drinks, the boiler including an interior for receiving water;

a coiled tubing disposed in the interior of the boiler for producing hot milk or milk froth;

an inlet through which water flows into the interior of the boiler;

an outlet arranged on the boiler in flow communication with the interior of the boiler to enable hot water to flow from the interior of the boiler through the outlet to be used for the coffee or milk drinks; and

a heating coil arranged in the interior of the boiler,

the interior of the boiler including only the coiled tubing and the heating coil such that the only outlets from the boiler are the flow of water and steam through the outlet and the flow of hot milk or milk froth through the coiled tubing.

19. The coffee machine according to claim 17, wherein the outlet is an outlet pipe extending through a peripheral wall of the boiler.