An automatic apparatus for heating and frothing milk comprises a device for generating steam for heating the milk, a first high temperature hydraulic circuit, a refrigerating group for maintaining the conservation temperature of the milk, and a second low temperature hydraulic circuit. The refrigerating group includes a milk container and pump for drawing milk therefrom. A first total separation valve separates the second hydraulic circuit from the first hydraulic circuit, a second total separation valve modulates the quantity of air drawn by the pump, a third total separation valve separates both the first hydraulic circuit and the second hydraulic circuit from a milk dispensing circuit, a steam injection device mixes the steam with the frothed milk, and a fourth total separation valve modulates the quantity of steam outlet from the steam generating device. Each total separation valve is provided with an actuator element manufactured with a shape memory alloy.

There is disclosed a method for forming tea using a tea material, the method includes providing a vessel comprising an internal space configured to receive a liquid, inserting a container assembly into the vessel, the container assembly configured to contain the tea material and allow the liquid to interact with the tea material when submerged within the liquid, injecting steam through a double-walled nozzle into the vessel to heat the liquid while maintaining an exterior surface of the steam nozzle below the temperature of the steam, and allowing the tea material to stew within the liquid to form the tea. There is also disclosed an apparatus for forming a tea configured to inject steam into a vessel to heat a liquid to be infused with a tea material, and a beverage cartridge for forming a tea to be deposited into the vessel.

There is disclosed a method for forming tea using a tea material, the method includes providing a vessel comprising an internal space configured to receive a liquid, inserting a container assembly into the vessel, the container assembly configured to contain the tea material and allow the liquid to interact with the tea material when submerged within the liquid, injecting steam through a double-walled nozzle into the vessel to heat the liquid while maintaining an exterior surface of the steam nozzle below the temperature of the steam, and allowing the tea material to stew within the liquid to form the tea. There is also disclosed an apparatus for forming a tea configured to inject steam into a vessel to heat a liquid to be infused with a tea material, and a beverage cartridge for forming a tea to be deposited into the vessel.

A hot fluid preparation unit for a fully automatic coffee machine is specified. With the goal of reducing the heating-up time of a fluid, the solution according to the invention provides that the hot fluid preparation unit has a temperature control device, a fluid heating arrangement, a rectifier circuit and a power semiconductor switching device. The rectifier circuit is connected at an input of the rectifier circuit to an AC voltage supply and at an output of the rectifier circuit, via the power semiconductor switching device, to the fluid heating arrangement. The power semiconductor switching device is designed in a controllable manner such that it selectively switches through the output of the rectifier circuit to the fluid heating arrangement. The temperature control device is configured to control the power semiconductor switching device in a pulsed manner, in order thus to perform a temperature adjustment.

A hot fluid preparation unit for a fully automatic coffee machine is specified. With the goal of reducing the heating-up time of a fluid, the solution according to the invention provides that the hot fluid preparation unit has a temperature control device, a fluid heating arrangement, a rectifier circuit and a power semiconductor switching device. The rectifier circuit is connected at an input of the rectifier circuit to an AC voltage supply and at an output of the rectifier circuit, via the power semiconductor switching device, to the fluid heating arrangement. The power semiconductor switching device is designed in a controllable manner such that it selectively switches through the output of the rectifier circuit to the fluid heating arrangement. The temperature control device is configured to control the power semiconductor switching device in a pulsed manner, in order thus to perform a temperature adjustment.

A beverage maker includes a body and a cover movably attached to the body. The body includes therein (among other components), a hot liquid generator (HLG) having a tank, an inlet for receiving liquid into the tank and an outlet, at least one heater in thermal communication with the liquid in the HLG tank, and a discharge port in fluid communication with the outlet of the HLG for discharge of the liquid. The cover is movably attached to the body between a closed position and an open position. At least one valve permits the discharge of the liquid via the discharge port in a closed position of the cover. The at least one valve is mechanically actuated by the cover in the open position of the cover to substantially prevent the discharge of the liquid via the discharge port.

A beverage maker includes a body and a cover movably attached to the body. The body includes therein (among other components), a hot liquid generator (HLG) having a tank, an inlet for receiving liquid into the tank and an outlet, at least one heater in thermal communication with the liquid in the HLG tank, and a discharge port in fluid communication with the outlet of the HLG for discharge of the liquid. The cover is movably attached to the body between a closed position and an open position. At least one valve permits the discharge of the liquid via the discharge port in a closed position of the cover. The at least one valve is mechanically actuated by the cover in the open position of the cover to substantially prevent the discharge of the liquid via the discharge port.

A filter container includes a main part and a filter piece, the main part includes a surrounding portion, an opening, and a coupling portion, the opening and the coupling portion are respectively located at two opposite sides of the surrounding portion, the filter piece is arranged at the coupling portion.

A filter container includes a main part and a filter piece, the main part includes a surrounding portion, an opening, and a coupling portion, the opening and the coupling portion are respectively located at two opposite sides of the surrounding portion, the filter piece is arranged at the coupling portion.

A method and an apparatus for controlling a cooling in a water dispenser are disclosed. The method includes: S1, receiving a cooling instruction and entering a cooling mode according to the cooling instruction; S2, obtaining an operation parameter of the water dispenser; S3, determining whether a suspending condition is satisfied according to the operation parameter; S4, suspending a cooling if the suspending condition is satisfied; and S5, further determining whether a restarting condition is satisfied, performing the cooling and executing steps S2-S5 repeatedly until a cooling terminating condition is satisfied if the restarting condition is satisfied. Therefore, during the process of operating of the water dispenser, performances of the condenser and the evaporator may be restored to the optimal performance state by suspending the cooling, and when operating next, the evaporating temperature may drop very low, so that the performances of the condenser, the evaporator and the compressor may be developed multiple times, thus realizing the ultralow water temperature cooling and improving the cooling capacity.