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EP-4734800-A1 - COMBINATION COFFEE MACHINE WITH MILK EMULSIFIER

EP4734800A1EP 4734800 A1EP4734800 A1EP 4734800A1EP-4734800-A1

Abstract

The coffee machine (1) in combination with a milk emulsifier (2), where the milk emulsifier (2) comprises a Venturi effect mixing chamber (3) having a steam inlet opening (4) for initiating the Venturi effect, a milk inlet opening (5) for suction of milk by the Venturi effect, an air inlet opening (6) for suction of air by the Venturi effect, and a milk outlet opening (7), where the steam inlet opening (4) is connected to a first inlet connector (8) and the air inlet opening (6) is connected to a second inlet connector (9), where the coffee machine (1) has a first outlet connector (10) connectable with the first inlet connector (8), a second outlet connector (11) connectable with the second inlet connector (9), a first supply conduit (12) communicating with the first outlet connector (10) and a second supply conduit (13) communicating with the second outlet connector (11), the coffee machine (1) including valve means (14) switching between a first state in which the second supply conduit (13) is connected to an air source (16) and a second state in which the second supply conduit (13) is connected to a steam and/or hot water source (24).

Inventors

  • PANCIERA, Antonio
  • Rosetta, Simone
  • ZARATIN, ENRICO

Assignees

  • De' Longhi Appliances S.r.l.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240715

Claims (10)

  1. 1. Coffee machine (1) in combination with a milk emulsifier (2), where the milk emulsifier (2) comprises a Venturi effect mixing chamber (3) having a steam inlet opening (4) for initiating the Venturi effect, a milk inlet opening (5) for suction of milk by the Venturi effect, an air inlet opening (6) for suction of air by the Venturi effect, and a milk outlet opening (7), where the steam inlet opening (4) is connected to a first inlet connector (8) and the air inlet opening (6) is connected to a second inlet connector (9), where said coffee machine (1) has a source of steam and/or hot water (24), an air source (16), a first outlet connector (10) connectable with said first inlet connector (8), a second outlet connector (11) connectable with said second inlet connector (9), a first supply conduit (12) communicating with said first outlet connector (10), and a second supply conduit (13) communicating with said second outlet connector (11), said first supply conduit (12) being connected to said source of steam and/or hot water (24), said coffee machine (1) being characterized by including valve means (14) switching between a first state in which said second supply conduit (13) is connected to said air source (16) and a second state in which said second supply conduit (13) is connected to said source of steam and/or hot water (24).
  2. 2. Coffee machine (1) in combination with a milk emulsifier (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that said valve means (14) include a three-way solenoid valve (17).
  3. 3. Coffee machine (1) in combination with a milk emulsifier (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that said three-way solenoid valve (17) is interposed between a first section (13a) of said second conduit (13) connected to said air source (16) and a second section (13b) of said second conduit (13) connected to said second outlet connector (11), and has a first port (13’) connected to said first section (13a) of said second conduit (13), a second port (13”) connected to said second section (13b) of said second conduit (13), and a third port (13’”) connected to said source of steam and/or hot water (24).
  4. 4. Coffee machine (1) in combination with a milk emulsifier (2) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said first inlet connector (8) and said first outlet connector (10) have a first geometric connection axis (L) parallel to a second geometric connection axis (L’) between said second inlet connector (9) and said second outlet connector (11).
  5. 5. Coffee machine (1) in combination with a milk emulsifier (2) according to the claim 4, characterized in that said steam and/or hot water inlet opening (4) and said milk outlet opening (7) are directed along said first geometric connection axis (L), while said air inlet opening (6) and said milk inlet opening (5) are directed radially to said first geometric connection axis (L) and are angularly offset around said first geometric connection axis (L).
  6. 6. Coffee machine (1) in combination with a milk emulsifier (2) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said first inlet connector (8), said second inlet connector (9), and said steam and/or hot water inlet opening (4) are formed in a single block (18) removable from the emulsifier (2).
  7. 7. Coffee machine (1) in combination with a milk emulsifier (2) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said first inlet connector (8) contains a shut-off valve (19) with a preset opening pressure.
  8. 8. Coffee machine (1) in combination with a milk emulsifier (2) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a milk container (20), a milk supply conduit (21) that connects said milk container (20) to said milk inlet opening (5), and a removable lid (22) of said milk container (20) in which are installed said mixing chamber (3), said first inlet connector (8), and said second inlet connector (9).
  9. 9. Coffee machine (1) in combination with a milk emulsifier (2) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said second supply conduit (13) has at least two branches (13a’, 13a”) each equipped with a dedicated opening solenoid valve (14, 15).
  10. 10. Coffee machine (1) in combination with a milk emulsifier (2) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that it is adapted to carry out at least one milk treatment program in which said valve means (14) remain in said first state and at least one washing program for the emulsifier (2) in which said valve means (14) cyclically switch between said first state and said second state.

Description

COMBINATION COFFEE MACHINE WITH MILK EMULSIFIER DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a coffee machine equipped with a milk frother. Currently known are coffee machines associated with a milk frother having a mixing chamber where an incoming steam flow generates a vacuum effect (Venturi effect) that draws milk from a milk supply conduit and air from an air supply conduit. The aspirated milk flow is heated by the steam flow and frothed by the aspirated air flow. One of the most significant issues typically consists of the formation and accumulation of milk deposits inside the frother's conduits. These deposits, besides creating unpleasant odors, tend to clog the affected conduits and consequently, if not effectively removed, worsen the performance of the frother over time. The technical task of the present invention is, therefore, to create a coffee machine with a milk frother that eliminates the technical drawbacks complained about in the known technique. Within this technical task, one objective of the invention is to provide an extremely effective system for cleaning the internal conduits of a milk frother associated with a coffee machine. Another objective of the invention is to provide an automatic cleaning system that is therefore effective regardless of the user's capabilities. Another objective of the invention is to provide a cleaning system that does not overly complicate the construction of the frother and/or the coffee machine. The technical task, as well as these and other objectives, according to the present invention, are achieved by a coffee machine in combination with a milk emulsifier, where the milk emulsifier comprises a Venturi effect mixing chamber having a steam inlet opening for initiating the Venturi effect, an inlet opening for suction of milk by the Venturi effect, an inlet opening for suction of air by the Venturi effect, and a milk outlet opening, where the steam inlet opening is connected to a first inlet connector and the air inlet opening is connected to a second inlet connector, where said coffee machine has a source of steam and/or hot water, an air source, a first outlet connector connectable with said first inlet connector, a second outlet connector connectable with said second inlet connector, a first supply conduit communicating with said first outlet connector, and a second supply conduit communicating with said second outlet connector, said first supply conduit being connected to said source of steam and/or hot water, said coffee machine being characterized by including valve means switching between a first state in which said second supply conduit is connected to said air source and a second state in which said second supply conduit is connected to said source of steam and/or hot water. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, these valve means comprise a three-way solenoid valve. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, this three-way solenoid valve is interposed between a first section of the second conduit connected to the air source and a second section of the second conduit connected to the second outlet connector and it has a first port connected to the first section of the second conduit, a second port connected to the second section of the second conduit, and a third port connected to the steam and/or hot water source. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first inlet connector and the first outlet connector have a first geometric connection axis parallel to a second geometric connection axis between the second inlet connector and the second outlet connector. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the steam and/or hot water inlet opening and the outlet opening are directed along the first geometric connection axis, while the air inlet opening and the milk inlet opening are directed radially to the first geometric connection axis and are angularly offset around the first geometric connection axis. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first inlet connector, the second inlet connector, and the steam and/or hot water inlet opening are formed in a single block removable from the frother. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first inlet connector has an internal shut-off valve with a predetermined opening pressure. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the frother comprises a milk container, a milk supply conduit connecting the milk container to the milk inlet opening, and a removable lid of the milk container in which the mixing chamber, the first inlet connector, and the second inlet connector are installed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second supply conduit has at least two branches, each equipped with a dedicated opening solenoid valve. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the coffee machine is programmed with at least one milk treatment program in which the valve means remain in the first state and at least one frother cleaning program in which the valve means cycle between th