HK1225243B - Milk frothing device, beverage preparation system and machine for preparing beverages - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to the field of beverage preparation equipment, in particular an apparatus for the production of milk foam and milk beverages, a beverage preparation system and a beverage preparation machine.

Err1:Expecting ',' delimiter: line 1 column 239 (char 238)

EP 1 688 074 shows a system for producing milk foam and heating milk, comprising a milk container, a foam device and a valve system and a clutch element attached to the foam device with several connecting supports.

It is a task of the present invention to provide a device for the production of milk foam which overcomes disadvantages of the state of the art, which is optimized for interaction with a device for the preparation of hot drinks, in particular a coffee machine, and which has in particular advantages in terms of easy cleaning by the user.

This task is solved by the device defined in the patent claims.

The machine for the preparation of skimmed milk shall have a container for the reception of milk and a docking unit for connection to a beverage machine containing: A socket for water vapour emitted by the beverage machine; and a milk foam outlet for the skimmed milk.

It is further characterised by the fact that the support element has a base with a number of fluid channels and an additional part which can be reversibly removed from the base, the additional part having a softer material compared to the base, being coherent and having several elements which interfere with the fluid channels and which can be passed through by milk, water vapour, water and/or air.

Err1:Expecting ',' delimiter: line 1 column 193 (char 192)

The supplementary part may be formed, for example, as a silicone part. As is known, silicones are suitable for food applications because, in addition to their deformability, they are also well heatable and inert and therefore can be well cleaned, for example in the dishwasher.

The supplementary part is at least partially arranged around the main body and may be disassembled from it. It may have a flat or two-dimensional scaffold base and the flowing elements on it. The base of the supplementary part is folded and/or bent around the main body.

Such a base of the supplementary part may consist in particular of flat sections with joints between the flat sections; such joints may be formed by grooves and/or protrusions in the base and may be formed as pivot joints (charmings) with only one degree of freedom.

The directions in which the different elements flow through can differ, e.g. by the presence of the elements on different sides of the base.

In particular, in embodiments, the complementary part is designed to be located on two opposite sides of the main body, e.g. with elements of the above-mentioned type.

Err1:Expecting ',' delimiter: line 1 column 448 (char 447)

Such elements in the form of a nozzle and/or a valve form constrictions due to their function, and the part of the fluid channel behind such a constriction is difficult to clean. However, regular thorough cleaning is important for elements in contact with milk. The method of the invention allows these elements to be removed and exposed for cleaning in a simple way by separating the culture unit from the core. Because the complementary part contains the several elements, they nevertheless remain coherent for cleaning, are not lost and can be easily reused without the possibility of misassembly.

The base can be made of a single piece of material, but this is not necessary. For example, the base can be made of a block of material, where the fluid channels can be covered with a material that is different from the material of the block of material. It is also possible that in the composite state the flowable elements of the complementary part interfere so far into the respective fluid channels that they also form a cladding of the fluid channels and prevent at least one contact between the base and the fluid.

In addition to the advantage of easy handling for cleaning and reassembly after cleaning, the process also has the advantage of efficient manufacturability.

In addition, a filling unit of the type described in the present invention enables a particularly compact, easy to operate and practical coupling between a beverage machine and a milk foaming machine. In particular, the filling unit may be located very close to the beverage machine and, if it is designed in such a way, close to its beverage outlet, because it also contains the milk foam outlet. In particular, the distance between the milk foam outlet and the beverage outlet may be such that a drinking vessel of normal dimensions, such as a coffee cup or a Latte-Macchiato glass, may be placed underneath the two outlets.

Typical drinking vessels for hot drinks with milk have a diameter of 6-8 cm or more. The beverage preparation system with the milk foamer and the beverage preparation machine is preferably designed so that the distance between the hot drink outlet and the milk foam outlet is small enough to allow such a vessel to be filled in one and the same position with the hot drink and the foamed milk. The distance between the hot drink outlet and the milk foam outlet is therefore preferably a maximum of 5 cm, in particular a maximum of 4 cm or a maximum of 3 cm. The mean is the horizontal distance, i.e. the distance between the end points of the hot drink or the milk foam outlet in the horizontal plane, or a maximum of 1.5 cm, for the final water flow, which is a minimum distance of 1.5 cm on one side and 2.5 cm on the other side, which is the distance between the water flow and the electrical outlet, and the mean is 2 cm for the horizontal distance between the water flow and the final water flow, in particular the distance between the water flow and the electrical outlet, which is a maximum of 1.5 cm on the other side.

The supporting element, having the base and the supplementary part, may form pipes for the milk and the water vapour through the fluid channels.

In one group of embodiments, the apparatus has an electrically operated drive to propel and/or foam the milk, such as a gear pump; in these embodiments, the input element may also have an interface to the electric current supplied by the beverage machine to operate the drive.

Conductors for the electric current between such an interface and the drive shall then run, for example, on the housing, in the housing, and/or between the housing and the body.

The electric current supplied through the interface is used to drive an active element of the milk foaming device, in particular a pump, such as a gear pump, and in particular a pump as part of a milk foam unit for the preparation of cold milk foam.

Err1:Expecting ',' delimiter: line 1 column 207 (char 206)

The docking element may, in the composite state of the beverage system, be located between the beverage machine and a main part of the milk foaming device, above the beverage outlet. For example, an end surface of the docking element for contact with a corresponding part of the beverage machine may be essentially vertical. The docking element may have a essentially cylindrical shape with a horizontal cylinder axis perpendicular to the end surface and any cross section, for example essentially rectangular.

The milk foaming device has, for example, a mixing nozzle in which the water vapour is combined with milk and, for example, for the preparation of hot foamed milk, also with air. In embodiments, the attachment element may have the mixing nozzle. In particular, the mixing nozzle may be placed directly above the milk foam outlet, i.e. the foamed milk passes directly from the mixing nozzle into the milk foam outlet.

Err1:Expecting ',' delimiter: line 1 column 667 (char 666)

The design of the supporting element described here is also suitable for milk foams, which, unlike electrically driven versions, can also be used without a milk pump and only with steam support.

In addition to the above-mentioned water vapour connection, the docking unit may have an additional connection for water, e.g. hot water and/or water vapour, which is supplied by the beverage machine and which can be used for rinsing and cleaning.

In some embodiments, the beverage machine may also have an air intake to regulate the air supply to the milk foam machine, e.g. its gear pump, where appropriate; in such embodiments, the air intake may also have an air passage for the air supply to the milk foam unit from the beverage machine.

Err1:Expecting ',' delimiter: line 1 column 207 (char 206)

The beverage machine has, for example, a water tank, a water pump and a water heater.

The beverage machine is designed to be docked to the milk foaming machine by having a steam-making terminal and a machine-side electrical interface, which are relatively close to each other and arranged so that the docking element can be docked by a single predetermined movement or a sequence of movements (without moving parts relative to each other).

The docking station with steam-discharge terminal and machine-side electrical interface (and, if necessary, air-discharge terminal) may be located in particular in the immediate vicinity of the beverage outlet. e.g. a distance between the beverage outlet and a terminal area of the docking station at which the corresponding terminal area of the docked docking element is located may also be no more than 2,5 cm, no more than 2 cm or no more than 1,5 cm.

A beverage machine often has a front with a front-pointing storage platform for a beverage vessel and above it, also front-pointing, a beverage outlet hood, at the bottom of which the beverage outlet is arranged.

At least the docking element and, for example, the entire milk foaming device shall then be placed in the front of the beverage machine in the coupled condition.

The milk foaming machine and the beverage machine of the beverage system shall be dimensionally matched so that the milk foaming machine is either placed on the same plane as the machine or on a milk foaming platform formed by the machine.

In addition, a milk foaming machine and a beverage machine may be designed to be compatible.

The following examples of the invention are described by means of figures. In the figures, the same reference marks denote the same or analogous elements. Fig. 1a view of the foam milk machine (milk foamer);Fig. 2a view of the explosion of the foam milk machine;Fig. 3a view of the explosion of the foam milk machine;Fig. 4a view of the foam milk machine cut along a horizontal plane;Fig. 5a partial view of the shrinkage of the foam milk machine with elements of the toothpump;Fig. 6a view of the upper upper housing of the foam unit cut along a horizontal plane;Fig. 7a view of the basic unit cut from below;Fig. 8a view of the basic unit cut from the ground;Fig. 9a view of the basic unit cut from the ground;Fig. 11a view of the basic unit cut from the ground;Fig. 11a view of the basic unit cut from the ground;Fig. 9a view of the basic unit cut from the ground;Fig. 11a view of the basic unit cut from the ground;Fig. 10a view of the basic unit cut from the ground;Fig. 11a view of the basic unit cut from the ground;Fig. 9a view of the basic unit cut from the ground;Fig. 11a view of the basic unit cut from the ground;Fig. 10a view of the basic unit cut from the ground;Fig. 11a view of the basic unit cut from the ground;Fig. 10a view of the basic unit cut from the ground;Fig. 11a view of the basic unit cut from the ground;Fig. 11a view of the basic unit cut from the ground;Fig.Side and overlay;Fig. 12a view of the milk foam unit with valve unit from above;Fig. 13a representation of the milk foam unit cut along a plane by the valve unit;Fig. 14a-14b views of the andockelement from the upper and lower sides respectively;Fig. 15a-15d views of the supplementary part;Fig. 16a-16b views of the base body;Fig. 17a-17d representations of the andockelement without external housing;Fig. 18a-18c representations of parts of the apparatus showing the function of the andockelement;Fig. 19e view of a refrigerator with a 24 millimeter-wide screen;Fig. 20a-20d view of a refrigerator with a 23 millimeter-wide screen;Fig. 22a detailed illustration of the andockelement preparation system;Fig. 22a and 22a;Fig. 23a illustrates the alternative and detailed layout of the andockelement preparation system;Fig. 23a.25a view of this milk foaming device in the alternative embodiment.

The whole of the machine 1 for the preparation of skimmed milk (milk foaming machine) is shown in Figure 1 and the explosion of its parts is shown in Figure 2.

The milk container 3 is designed in the design shown as a double-walled container for thermal insulation purposes; single-walled containers are also possible.

The milk container 3 and the lid 6 may be matched so that the lid 6 can be placed directly on the milk container 3 without a milk foam unit 5 placed between them, allowing the filled milk container with lid to be placed in the refrigerator, for example; milk containers and lids may also be easily cleaned and, for example, be washing machine resistant.

The components of the milk foam unit 5 are shown in Figure 3 in an explosion pattern. A lower base 11 carries an electric motor 13 which is part of the gear pump and an upper base 14 carries a side window 12 in the base.

The upper base 14 forms a roughly cylindrical tank in which gears 17 of a gear pump are arranged. The gears 17 of the gear pump are driven by a shaft 19 connected to the electric motor 13. A seal 21 seals the tank downwards.

The gear pump may have its own housing in addition to the gears, shaft and electric motor, or it may be integrated into the base housing or other parts, such as a milk foam unit cap 16. In the example shown, the milk foam unit cap 16 is designed so that a pump chamber covering the gears 17 forms between the seal 21 and the milk foam unit cap 16 by means of an arch 15 (also clearly visible in Fig. 12).

A valve unit 20 is also attached to base 11, 14.

From the level of the gear pump downwards, a milk suction tube 18 (not shown in Figure 3) protrudes into the milk container 3 in the composite state of the apparatus 1 and almost reaches its bottom.

At the bottom of the gear pump there is a connecting shaft 22 which closes the window 12 and at the same time forms an implementation for connecting the following lines of the milk foam mounted on the base of the housing on the one hand and a supporting element on the other.

Also visible in Figure 3 are a spacer 23 and an engine control element 24.

The support element has a support body protected by a support element housing 26. The support body is formed by a base body 25 and a supplementary part 27, which will be described in more detail below.

Figure 4 shows a view from above of the milk foam unit cut along a plane above the sealing level defined by seal 21.

The gear pump is mounted above the seal plane. To the gear pump there is a top fluid line 31 connected to the top fluid line 42 through lip valves 41 through the seal 21 which are also clearly visible in Figure 5 and connected to the milk feeding tube 18 on one side and a hot water and/or steam supply line 32 on the other side.

Behind the gear pump, a conduit 36 is fitted for the milk which has been pumped and, depending on the operating condition chosen, has already been foamed, through which it is passed down the sealing plane, where it enters the docking element via a guide line 35.

Figures 6 to 8 show further views of the upper base 14 section, cut in Figure 6 along a horizontal plane and in Figure 8 along a vertical plane and shown in Figure 7 in a subview.

The lower lines are formed by tubes of the connecting part 22 which are inserted into corresponding channels of the upper base 14 and are particularly visible in the lower view shown in Figure 7 i.e. channel 51 for the hot water and/or steam supply line 32, channel 52 for the air supply line 34 and channel 53 for the discharge line 35.

The seal 21 (Fig. 8) is clamped between the upper base case 14 and the milk foam unit lid (not shown in Fig. 8).

Figure 8 shows another optional feature: the implementation 36 for the milk which has been produced and which has already been foamed, depending on the operating condition chosen, is constricted in the form of a throttle, which automatically creates a certain permanent pressure in the gear pump which regulates the flow rate, which contributes to the efficient foaming of the cold milk.

Figure 9 shows a view of the valve unit 20, Figure 10 shows an explosion representation of the valve unit and Figures 11a-11c show the valve unit in a top view, cut along the line E-E in Figure 11a and cut along the line D-D in Figure 11a,

Figure 12 shows a view of the milk foam unit with valve unit 20, without a docking element and milk extraction tube, from above, and Figure 13 shows it cut along a vertical plane passing through line 213 in Figure 12.

The valve unit 20 has two valve elements in a common valve housing 61. Each valve element has a closing element 62 which carries a sealing element 63 and can be moved along a vertical axis in the selected installation situation. The movement is made upwards by electromagnets 64 and against the force of a spring 65 which is tensioned between the electromagnet (or valve housing) and a safety ring. The top heads of the valve elements 66 formed by the closing elements and sealing elements protrude through openings in the upper base housing 14 (longitudinal pressure selection figures 12 and 13).

Between the relevant wall of the upper base 14 and a seal 68 a valve chamber 71 is formed for each of the two valves. When the closing element with the sealing element 63 is lifted by the electromagnet, an inlet opening is formed through which air from outside can flow into the relevant valve chamber 71 and from there, through an air connection bracket 73, into a (common) air supply line.

The two valve elements are independently controllable and can be opened individually or together, which allows for different valve opening states.

Err1:Expecting ',' delimiter: line 1 column 624 (char 623)

The valve unit may be down-flow controlled by an air flow controller, such as a 3/2-way valve (not drawn), which opts to open the passage between the valve chambers 71 and the mixer or the passage between the valve chambers and the inlet of the gear pump and to close the other passage to control the supply of air to the mixer or the gear pump.

Figures 14a and 14b show views of the supporting element from the upper and lower sides respectively. Figures 15a and 15b show the complementary part 27 in unfolded form and Figures 15c and 15d in folded form. Figures 16a and 16b show the base body. Figures 17a, 17b and 17c show the supporting element cut along the planes A-A, B-B and C-C in Figure 17d. Figures 18a show a view of the device from above, and Figures 18b and 18c show sections from the screen projections of the cutting of the planes A-A and B-B in Figure 18a.

For example, the front end shown in Figures 14a and 15c is connected to the coffee machine in operation, while the opposite end is connected to the milk foam unit 5.

The base 25 may be formed as a whole as a moulded body of a suitable heat-resistant plastic and may be made, for example, as an injection moulded part. The complementary part 27 is made, for example, of silicone. It is unique and overall flat with functional elements moulded to it. The totality of the flat sections 80 is here referred to as the 'base', between the flat sections 80 are joints 81 formed, which are formed by continuous openings and ridge-like weakening and allow for an uncomplicated folding around the base 25 bodies. The dimensions of the flat sections 80 between the sections are coordinated to the dimensions of the base.

The functional elements of Supplement 27 are formed, together with the milk foam outlet 28, by implementations 82 to 86 and a mixture of nozzles 89.

The base 25 is a conduit 96 for cleaning water or steam (cold or heated by the coffee machine) running from the coffee machine side to the other end, which, if necessary, passes from the conduit 96 to the hot water and/or steam supply line 32 and from there to the elements to be cleaned, in particular the gear pump.

A steam closure is then formed through which steam from the coffee machine is passed into the mixer nozzle, formed by a conduit 85 with an associated valve 87 of supplement 27 which protrudes into a steam closure 95 of the main body 25.

On the foam side, there are two openings in the main body for the air and milk supply, into which the corresponding passages 82 and 83 of the supplementary part enter.

For the mixer, the base 25 has a mixer nozzle opening 99 into which the mixer nozzle element 89 is inserted, and a milk foam outlet continuation 91 and a surrounding positioning ring 94 are formed on the bottom, which interact with a corresponding structure 90 of the supplementary part.

The mixer nozzle is formed between the mixer nozzle element and the correspondingly shaped chambers of the core 25.

Steam fed through the steam hatch is passed through the valve 87 into a mixer chamber 97, which is particularly evident in Fig. 17c. The steam flow creates a pressure drop in the mixer chamber 97 through which air and milk are sucked in through the corresponding ducts 82, 83 (Fig. 17b, Fig. 18b).

The small nozzle opening through which the steam is released at high speed, therefore, allows the mixer to produce a pressure drop which helps to pump the milk out of the milk pipe even when the milk is actively pumped by the gear pump.

If the internal compression chamber 97 is under normal pressure or slightly overpressurised, the lip valves 87 and 88 are closed; if, however, the pressure is low due to the Bernoulli effect and/or pulse transmission, they open automatically as soon as water vapour enters.

Air can be supplied to the mixer chamber directly from outside, e.g. via a lip valve, instead of through the valve unit, resulting in two independent airways for the mixer chamber on the one hand and the gear pump on the other.

Such a design with direct air supply to the mixer chamber may be used, for example, for embodiments which, unlike the example described here, do not have an electrically operated propulsion system (no electrically operated pump) and which use only steam support, using the suction action of the mixer nozzle, to foam.

The docking element is designed so that the milk foam outlet 28 can be close to the outlet for the hot drink. To this end, it is placed in close proximity to the end surface 29 which is coupled to a corresponding surface of the beverage machine. The distance is not more than 2.5 cm and preferably less, as discussed above. The distance is measured as usual as the distance between this surface and the centre of the outlet from the milk foam outlet, measured perpendicularly to the (vertical) plane defined by the end surface.

In Fig. 17c, another optional feature is particularly visible: in the milk foam outlet 28, the outlet chamber 86 through which the milk - generally foamed - flows downwards is rejuvenated, which has an additional foaming and foam homogenizing effect on the one hand and channels the milk or milk foam flow on the other.

Figure 19 shows a view of the entire beverage system 100 with the milk foamer 1 and a coffee machine 101 to which the milk foamer 1 is coupled.

The coffee machine, as is known to coffee machines, has a water reservoir, a water pump and a water heater. Furthermore, there is a brewing chamber for preparing coffee from heated water by extraction from coffee powder, which coffee powder is provided, for example, in portion capsules that are thrown into the coffee machine before preparation. Alternatively to a portion capsule system, the coffee machine can also be trained as a so-called coffee full, which also has a coffee grinder and grinds the coffee powder portionally and is fed to the brewing chamber.

The coffee machine may also have a container for consumed coffee powder servings (in capsules or in bulk, depending on the design of the coffee machine).

The coffee machine has a stowage platform 103 for stowing a drinking vessel, which may be formed, for example, by a lattice grill under which a receptacle is located.

Above the coffee-drinking platform 103 is a coffee outlet 105 through which the brewed coffee is drawn into the vessel below, which is located under a hood 108 which forms part of the coffee machine housing and covers at least part of the outlet to the front and sides.

The coffee machine 101 forms a front 106 which, as is known from other coffee machines, is surmounted by the stowage platform 103 on the one hand and the exhaust hood 108 on the other.

Also in front of the front there is a milk foam platform 107 on which the mounted milk foam device 1 is mounted.

Near the coffee outlet 105 and here under the hood, there is a connection point 110 for connecting the coffee-supply unit to the coffee machine; this connection point has a steam-supply unit 111 for connecting to the steam-supply unit's port, a hot water and/or steam-supply unit 112 for connecting to the supply line 83; the steam-supply unit 111 and the hot water and/or steam-supply unit 112 are supplied with steam or hot water, if necessary, from a water heater, with a multi-way valve inside the coffee machine that can supply heated liquid or steam from the steam-supply unit or the steam-supply unit/steam-supply unit and the steam-supply unit 112.

The connecting point also has electrical contacts 113 as shown in Figure 21 These electrical contacts 113 form an interface on the side of the beverage machine and, when connected to the connecting element, provide an electrical connection to corresponding electrical connecting elements which are connected or formed by electrical conductors leading through the connecting element and which supply the electrically driven elements of the milk foam machine, in particular the gear pump, with power and, where appropriate, control signals.

It is possible to control these electrically driven elements in the milk foamer (which is then equipped with the necessary electronic units and receives control signals from the coffee machine or from an input unit of the milk foamer) or to control these elements in the coffee machine itself.

The milk foamer 1 is docked from the side to the outlet hood 108 in such a way that the milk foamer is placed in front of the coffee machine and sideways to the outlet hood 108 as a whole.

As shown in Figure 21 (showing the milk foam machine 1 disconnected) and in particular in Figure 22 (milk foam machine without coffee machine), the electrical conductors and the corresponding connectors 98 on the side of the foam element are formed on the foam element housing 26.

In particular, the control of the gear pump is designed to allow the speed of the gears 17 to be adjusted, i.e. selected, allowing the user to control the conveyor speed and, if necessary, the preparation of cold skimmed milk, as described in more detail below.

Err1:Expecting ',' delimiter: line 1 column 211 (char 210)

The control 195 is shown here as part of an electronic unit 121 of the coffee machine 101, e.g. the electronic unit 121 is designed to detect a capsule by measurement and/or to receive user input, e.g. via a suitable control with a corresponding button, touch screen and/or the like.

The control 195 is designed to control both the gear pump 7 and the valve unit 20 with an adjustable operating parameter of the gear and/or valve unit.

As an alternative to installing the controller wholly or partly in the coffee machine, a controller 195' may also be installed wholly or partly as part of the milk foam machine.

The reference number 79 refers to the mixer as a whole.

The milk foaming device may be operated as follows:

For the preparation of cold foamed milk, the gear pump is started while at least one of the valve elements of valve unit 20 is open. The action of the gear pump creates a pressure at its input side which absorbs both milk through the milk suction tube 18 and the corresponding lip valve 42 and air through the valve unit 20 and the corresponding lip valve 43.

The milk is also sucked from the milk tank 3 via the gear pump, which simultaneously feeds the milk into the mixer. Water vapor is fed from the coffee machine through the steam closure. The water vapor generates, as shown above, a low pressure which, on the one hand, exerts an additional pull on the milk and supports the promotion by the gear pump and, on the other hand, the valve, which is also partially open, absorbs at least 20 litres of air. In the mixer chamber 97, the milk stream is mixed with the water vapor, which heats it, and it is mixed at the same time so that air is blown out.

Depending on the situation, as mentioned above, a 3/2-way valve or other means may optionally connect the valve element 20 to the gear pump 7 or the mixer chamber 97 for the production of the cold or hot milk foam.

It may be possible to allow the user to pump cold milk only, in which case the gear pump is driven but the valve elements remain closed and no steam is supplied.

The user may also be able to prepare warm milk. In this case, the valve element through which air can enter the mixer is closed. Also, if a separate valve is provided for the mixer chamber (in contrast to the design shown in the figures), it is possible to make the valve closed. For example, the user may also mechanically close the valve by hand. To prepare warm milk, the milk run from tank 3 is fed through the gear pump and simultaneously water vapour is fed into the mixer tank 79 without air being supplied. By mixing the water with the cold water, the milk vapour is removed, which is then discharged over the milk.

To clean the area, a vessel is placed under the milk foam outlet 28 and hot water or steam is introduced through the outlet line 96 and the hot water and/or steam supply line 32.

The milk foam unit 5 can also be easily disassembled and cleaned, with the very useful feature that the seal 21 is single-piece with lip valves 41, 42, 43 and tightly sealed with the surface of the upper base housing 14.

Finally, the docking element is easy to clean because the parts in contact with milk (particle number 25, Supplement No 27) can be easily disassembled, washing machine-resistant and easily reassembled in a single correct configuration.

Figures 24 and 25 are an alternative embodiment. This differs from the one described above in that the air supply to the gear pump is provided, e.g. to an air supply line 34, e.g. of the type described, or directly to the pump chamber, not by a valve unit belonging to the milk foamer, but by the beverage machine. For this purpose, the beverage machine, e.g. has an electronically controlled valve unit. This may be based essentially on the same principle of operation as the valve unit of the milk scummer described above. It may also have a different functional principle, e.g. by relying only on a valve unit.

The air-conditioning unit has an air connection 151 to the beverage machine for this purpose. Air is introduced into the milk foam unit by an air duct 152 which here passes horizontally through the air duct. In the example shown, a section of the air duct is formed by a tube part 155 of the duct housing 26, but this is not necessary (unlike pipes filled with milk, regular cleaning is not necessary for the air duct).

Figure 25 also indicates the possibility that the electrical contacts may be formed by a contact module 160, which may for example have a circuit board or similar and be inserted into a corresponding gap in the docking element housing 26.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 24 and 25, the valve unit in the milk foam unit is omitted.

In addition to the options already discussed, it is also possible to keep the pipes for cold milk foam (from the pump) and for warm milk foam (produced in the mixing nozzle) separate from each other until the outlet, i.e. the cold milk foam is not then passed through the mixing nozzle. The milk foam outlet can then have separate openings for the cold and the warm milk foam, e.g. concentric to each other.

List of references:

1milk foam unit3milk container5milk foam unit6deck7gear pump11lower main housing part12window13electric motor14upper main housing part15vault (in the milk foam unit lid)16milk foam unit lid17gear wheels18milk foam tube19wave20ventilation unit21sealing22connection part23range holder24motor control unit25main fan supply system (dioxide and oil terminal) 26andlocking part27air-replacement part28alternative air-replacement part29heating area31electrical conduction part32flow-out or flow-out pipeline31flow-out pipeline32flow-out/flow-out pipeline11011111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111

Claims (14)

1. An appliance (1) for preparing frothed milk, comprising a container (3) for receiving milk and further comprising a docking element for the connection to a drinks preparation machine (101), said docking element comprising:

   - a connection for steam delivered by the drinks preparation machine;

   - a milk froth outlet (28) for the frothed milk,

   - wherein the docking element comprises a main body (25) with a plurality of fluid channels (92, 93, 95, 96, 99) and a supplementary part (27) which is reversibly removable from the main body, wherein the supplementary part being continuous and comprising several elements (28, 82-89) through which milk, steam, water and/or air can flow and which engage into the fluid channels,

   - characterised in that the supplementary part (27) comprises a material which is softer in comparison to the main body and in that the supplementary part is arranged in a manner at least partly embracing the main body (25).
2. The appliance according to claim 1, wherein the supplementary part (27) is designed as one piece from an elastically deformable material.
3. The appliance according to claim 2, wherein the supplementary part (27) is a silicone part.
4. The appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the supplementary part (27) can be unravelled from the main body (25).
5. The appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the supplementary part (27) comprises an extensive or two-dimensionally-frame-like base and, integrally formed on this, the elements (28, 82-89) through which flow can pass.
6. The appliance according to claim 5, wherein the base is formed from flat sections (80) with joints (81) arranged between the flat sections.
7. The appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the through-flow elements (87, 88, 89) is a nozzle and/or a valve.
8. The appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a distance between the milk froth outlet (28) on the one hand and a plane of an end surface (29) of the docking element on the other hand, said end surface comprising the connection for steam, is maximal 2.5 cm.
9. The appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the main body (25) is designed as a plastic injection moulded part.
10. The appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an electrically operated drive means for delivering and/or frothing the milk, wherein the docking element comprises an interface (98) for electrical current which is supplied by the drinks preparation machine, for operating the drive means.
11. The appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a mixing nozzle (79), in which steam can be brought together with the milk and with air, wherein the mixing nozzle is arranged in the docking element and is formed at least partly by the supplementary part (27).
12. The appliance according to claim 11, wherein the mixing nozzle is arranged directly above the milk froth outlet (28).
13. A drinks preparation system, comprising an appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, as well as a drinks preparation machine for preparing a hot drink and for the connection of the appliance, wherein the drinks preparation machine comprises a delivery location (111) for steam, for coupling onto the steam connection.
14. The drinks preparation system according to claim 13, wherein the drinks preparation machine comprises a drinks outlet (105) for the hot drink, and a placement platform (103) for a drinking vessel, and wherein in the condition of the appliance in which it is docked onto the drinks preparation machine, the milk froth outlet (28) as well as the drinks outlet (105) are arranged vertically above the placement platform (103).