IP Library Granted Patent US 7,475,628
Granted Patent B2
US 7,475,628 · App. 10/555,120 · Granted Jan 13, 2009

Device for dispensing milk and/or milk froth

Assignee: M. Schaerer AG
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,475,628
App. No.
10/555,120
Granted
Jan 13, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a device for dispensing milk and/or milk froth from a container ( 1 ) containing milk, this container is placed in a coolable cabinet ( 3 ). Via an extraction line ( 4 ) and a further line ( 5 ), the milk reaches an emulsifying device ( 6 ) disposed outside the coolable cabinet. The product received is dispensed from this emulsifying device ( 6 ) via the discharge nozzle ( 7 ). Steam is feedable into the emulsifying device ( 6 ) with which steam the milk conducted through the emulsifying device ( 6 ) is able to be heated up and/or frothed up. The further line ( 5 ) consists of a flexible tube which is placed in a peristaltic pump ( 9 ). This peristaltic pump ( 9 ) is equipped with switching means ( 10 ) with which the peristaltic pump ( 9 ) is switchable from a closed pump state into an open pump state releasing the passage of the flexible tube ( 5 ). Milk of different temperatures or milk froth can be optimally dispensed using this device; in addition an optimal cleaning can be carried out. This device is advantageously integrated into a coffee machine, making it possible to obtain automatically different types of coffee with added milk.

Claims (9)

1. A device for dispensing milk and/or milk froth from a container comprising a container ( 1 ) adapted to contain milk, a coolable cabinet ( 3 ) enclosing said container, a frame ( 20 ) holding said cabinet, an extraction line ( 4 ) having one end in said container; a further line ( 5 ) connected to the other end of the extraction line ( 4 ) ; an emulsifying device ( 6 ), disposed outside the coolable cabinet ( 3 ) connected to the further line ( 5 ), means to introduce steam to the emulsifying device ( 6 ) so that the emulsifying device ( 6 ) maybe heated to in turn heat and/or froth the milk, said further line ( 5 ) being flexible and being inserted in a peristaltic pump ( 9 ) equipped with switching means ( 10 ) to switch said pump from a closed pump state to an open pump state, said peristaltic pump ( 9 ) being disposed within said coolable cabinet ( 3 ) and drivable via a drive motor wherein a direction of rotation of the peristaltic pump ( 9 ) is reversible after the milk is dispensed to pump the milk located in the further line ( 5 ) back into the container ( 1 ).

2. The device according to claim 1 or, wherein the switching means ( 10 ) is made up of a piston cylinder unit ( 11 ), a piston rod of which is connected to a curved part ( 12 ) bordering a squeeze space.

3. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the piston ( 15 ) of the piston cylinder unit ( 10 ) is impinged by pressurized water, the pressurization is controllable via a valve ( 13 ), and the return water is dischargeable as waste water.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein means of determining the weight of the container ( 1 ) are disposed in the region of a floor ( 19 ) of the coolable cabinet ( 3 ) on which the container ( 1 ) is placeable.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the container ( 1 ) for the milk is removable from the coolable cabinet ( 3 ), so that another container with cleaning agents may be put in its place, and so that the cleaning agents are conveyable by means of the peristaltic pump ( 9 ) through the extraction line ( 4 ), the line ( 5 ) and the emulsifying device ( 6 ), and the container may be filled with rinse water for rinsing after the cleaning procedure, which rinse water is also conveyable through the extraction line ( 4 ), the further line ( 5 ) and the emulsifying device ( 6 ).

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the further line ( 5 ) is made of silicon or the like.

7. A coffee machine, in particular espresso machine, with at least one container ( 27 ) for coffee beans, a grinding device, a brewing device and a coffee discharge nozzle ( 28 ) and with a device for dispensing milk and/or milk froth according to claim 1 , wherein the device for dispensing milk and/or milk froth is attached to the coffee machine ( 26 ) as a module ( 29 ), and the coffee machine ( 26 ) is able to be extended or upgraded through further modules ( 30 ).

8. The coffee machine according to claim 7 , wherein a dispensing cup is placed between brewing device and coffee discharge nozzle ( 28 ) into which the discharge nozzle ( 7 ) of the emulsifying device ( 6 ) also empties, and the dispensing of coffee, milk and/or milk froth takes place through the coffee discharge nozzle ( 28 ).

9. The coffee machine according to claim 7 , wherein a piston cylinder unit ( 11 ) of the switching means ( 10 ) is controllable by means of the coffee machine ( 26 ) water which is under pressure.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Mar 19, 2024
From: SCHAERER AG
To: SCHAERER AG
Reel/Frame 066936/0082 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE'S STREET ADDRESS FROM ALLMENDSTRASSE 8, ZUCHWIL, SWITZERLAND TO ALLMENDWEG 8, ZUCHWIL, SWITZERLAND PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 026551 FRAME 0819. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST.. Recorded Jul 8, 2011
From: M. SCHAERER AG
To: SCHAERER AG
Reel/Frame 026561/0733 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 6, 2011
From: M. SCHAERER AG
To: SCHAERER AG
Reel/Frame 026551/0819 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 9, 2007
From: LUSSI, ANDRE
To: M. SCHAERER AG
Reel/Frame 019168/0450 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 03405312 · May 2, 2003 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20070031558A1 · Feb 8, 2007