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EP-4734799-A1 - MILK FOAMING DEVICE AND COFFEE MACHINE COMPRISING SUCH A DEVICE

EP4734799A1EP 4734799 A1EP4734799 A1EP 4734799A1EP-4734799-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a milk foaming device (30), which comprises: - a main body (32) comprising a first inlet port (36), suitable for receiving steam and/or hot water, a second inlet port (38) suitable for receiving milk, a first foaming chamber and a foamed milk outlet port; and - a milk supply device (34) suitable for being connected to the main body (32) and comprising a milk dispensing nozzle (48). According to the invention, the foaming device comprises a cleaning tool (100) suitable for cleaning the milk dispensing nozzle and a housing (102) for receiving the cleaning tool, the cleaning tool (100) being suitable for being removably positioned in the receiving housing (102).

Inventors

  • CORNU, Léo
  • GIRAUD, Jean-Baptiste
  • LEBOUVIER, Christophe
  • THÉNAULT, Yannick
  • DUTRUEL, LAURENT

Assignees

  • SEB S.A.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240626

Claims (10)

  1. Milk frothing device (30) comprising: a main body (32) comprising: a first inlet port (36), suitable for receiving steam and/or hot water, a second inlet port (38) suitable for receiving milk, a first foaming chamber (40), and a frothed milk outlet port (42); and a milk supply device (34) suitable for being connected to the main body (32) and comprising a milk dispensing nozzle (48), characterized in that the milk frothing device (30) comprises a cleaning tool (100) suitable for cleaning the milk dispensing nozzle (48), and in that the milk frothing device (30) comprises a receiving housing (102) for the cleaning tool (100), the cleaning tool (100) being suitable for being removably positioned in the receiving housing (102).
  2. Milk frothing device (30) according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving housing (102) is delimited at least partially by the main body (32).
  3. Milk frothing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the milk supply device comprises: a milk supply line (50) fluidically connected to the milk dispensing nozzle (48), and a connecting member (52) suitable for connecting the milk dispensing nozzle (48) at the second inlet port (38), the connecting member (52) delimiting with the main body (32), when connected to the main body (32), the receiving housing (102) of the cleaning tool (100).
  4. Milk frothing device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the connection member (52) is movable between a position assembled with the main body (32) and a disassembled position, the cleaning tool (100) being able to be removed from the receiving housing (102) by a user when the connection member (52) is in the disassembled position and stuck in the receiving housing (102) when the connection member (52) is in the assembled position.
  5. Foaming device according to claim 4, characterized in that the cleaning tool (100), in particular a gripping zone (107) of the cleaning tool (100), is flush with an upper face (152) of the main body and an upper face (154) of the connection member (52) when the cleaning tool (100) is arranged in the receiving housing (102) and the connection member (52) is in the assembled position.
  6. Frothing device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the milk dispensing nozzle (48) comprises a milk supply channel (72) fluidly connected to the milk supply pipe (50) and an air supply channel (74), the milk supply channel (72) and the air supply channel (74) being able to open upstream of an outlet (67) of the milk dispensing nozzle (48) to deliver an air and milk mixture through said outlet.
  7. Milk frothing device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning tool (100) comprises a proximal portion (106) defining a gripping area (107) for a user and a distal portion (108) comprising a cleaning needle (110).
  8. Foaming device according to claim 7, characterized in that the cleaning tool (100) comprises two axial projections (130, 132) for protecting the cleaning needle (110) arranged on either side of the cleaning needle (110).
  9. Milk frothing device according to any one of claims 7 to 8 and according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the gripping zone (107) comprises a slot (118) suitable for receiving an axial prominence (56A) of the connection member (52) for assembling the cleaning tool (100) to the connection member (52) at the receiving housing (102).
  10. Coffee machine comprising a milk frothing device (30), a hot water/steam outlet nozzle (26) and a boiler (22) producing hot water and/or steam to supply said outlet nozzle (26), characterized in that the milk frothing device (30) is according to any one of the preceding claims and in that the first inlet port (36) is capable of being fluidically connected to the outlet nozzle (26).

Description

Milk frothing device and coffee machine comprising such a device The present invention relates to the field of milk frothing devices and in particular milk frothing devices suitable for being arranged on a coffee machine delivering steam and/or hot water. Such devices require in particular regular cleaning to avoid any operating problems or risks linked to a lack of hygiene. State of the art Document EP2272409 discloses a coffee machine comprising a milk frothing device comprising a frothing chamber supplied by a hot water/steam supply pipe, a milk supply pipe comprising a milk dispensing outlet and an air supply pipe. In this document, the cleaning of the milk frothing device is ensured by a system implementing a cleaning product tank, a reversing valve and a washing pipe. However, such a system is relatively complex and expensive to implement and does not ensure optimized cleaning of the milk supply pipe outlet, particularly if milk has dried at this outlet. The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks. The technical problem underlying the invention is to provide a milk frothing device with a simple, economical and reliable structure, the cleaning of which can be carried out simply and effectively. For this purpose, the invention relates to a milk frothing device comprising: a main body comprising: a first inlet port, suitable for receiving steam and/or hot water, a second inlet port suitable for receiving milk, a first foaming chamber, and a frothed milk outlet port; and a milk supply device suitable for being connected to the main body and comprising a milk dispensing nozzle. According to the invention, the milk frothing device comprises a cleaning tool suitable for cleaning the milk dispensing nozzle, and a housing for receiving the cleaning tool, the cleaning tool being suitable for being positioned removably in the receiving housing. By virtue of the invention, the cleaning tool is housed on the frothing device, which allows a user to quickly view it and have it available whenever they wish to clean the device, particularly the milk dispensing nozzle. In addition, such a tool makes it possible to effectively clean the milk dispensing nozzle and thus ensure proper operation of the frothing device. In addition, the fact that the frothing device comprises a milk supply device capable of being connected to the main body makes it possible to easily disassemble the frothing device to optimize its cleaning. Finally, the simplicity of the cleaning tool and the structure of the main body make it possible to obtain a device with a simple, economical and reliable structure. According to advantageous but not mandatory aspects of the invention, such a foaming device may incorporate one or more of the following features, taken in any technically admissible combination. According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the receiving housing is delimited at least partially by the main body. Such an arrangement allows simple and rapid access to the cleaning tool and to keep it secured to the main body, in particular during storage or use of the frothing device. Thus, the cleaning tool is available to the user as soon as he wishes to carry out a cleaning operation on the milk supply device and in particular the milk dispensing nozzle. According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the milk supply device comprises: a milk supply pipe fluidly connected to the milk distribution nozzle, and a connection member suitable for connecting the milk distribution nozzle at the second inlet port, the connection member delimiting with the main body, when it is connected to the main body, the housing for receiving the cleaning tool. Such an arrangement makes it possible to associate the cleaning tool with the milk supply device that it is used to clean. In addition, this makes it possible to keep the cleaning tool secured to the main body and the connection member, in particular during storage or use of the frothing device. Thus, the cleaning tool is available to the user whenever he wishes to carry out a cleaning operation on the milk supply device and in particular the milk dispensing nozzle. According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the connection member is movable between a position assembled with the main body and a disassembled position, the cleaning tool being able to be removed from the receiving housing by a user when the connection member is in the disassembled position and stuck in the receiving housing when the connection member is in the assembled position. Such an arrangement allows the user to access the cleaning tool as soon as he separates the connection member from the main body. Access to the cleaning tool during a cleaning operation of the milk supply device is thus facilitated. According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the cleaning tool, in particular a gripping zone of the cleaning tool, is flush with an upper face of the main body and a