HANDLING OF BEVERAGE

Abstract

A system (10,20) for processing and handling a liquid food substance, comprises: a processing device (20) that has a processing cavity (21) in which the liquid food substance is processed (21), the processing cavity (21) having an opening (22) that is configured so that the liquid food substance is removable from the processing cavity (21) via the opening (22); and a handling arrangement (10) that is configured to handle the liquid food substance when the liquid food substance is collected in an external user-recipient, such as a cup or a mug, after its processing in the processing cavity (21). The handling arrangement (10) is seizable by a human hand. The handling arrangement (10) is separate from the processing device (20) and from the external user-recipient and is freely movable relative thereto. When seized and operated by the human hand, the handling arrangement (10) is configured: to withdraw such liquid food substance upon processing from the processing cavity (21) and to deliver it into the external user-recipient; and/or to shape such processed liquid food substance upon collection in the external user-recipient.

Claims

1. A system (10,20) for processing and handling a liquid food substance, comprising: a processing device that has a processing cavity in which the liquid food substance is processed, the processing cavity having an opening that is configured so that the liquid food substance is removable from the processing cavity via the opening; and a handling arrangement that is configured to handle the liquid food substance when the liquid food substance is collected in an external user-recipient, such as a cup or a mug, after processing of the liquid food substance in the processing cavity; and the handling arrangement is seizable by a human hand, the handling arrangement being separate from the processing device and from the external user-recipient and being freely movable relative thereto, when seized and operated by the human hand the handling arrangement being configured: to withdraw such liquid food substance upon processing from the processing cavity and to deliver it into the external user-recipient; and/or to shape such processed liquid food substance upon collection in the external user-recipient.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the handling arrangement comprises an elongated handle seizable by the human hand.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the elongated handle has a length in the range of 5 to 15 cm, and/or a maximum width in the range of 1 to 15 mm.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the handle has an end portion, configured to enter and dip in the processed liquid food substance in the external user-recipient and to form a design or pattern at a surface of the processed liquid food substance when the end portion is moved in the processed liquid food substance.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the handle has a member, that forms a free end of the handle, the member being mechanically connected to an extremity of the end portion, the member being wider than the end portion next to the member.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the member is wider than the end portion next to the member by at most a factor 3.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the member has a maximum diameter in cross-section substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the end portion in the range of 1 to 4 mm.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the end portion has a cross-sectional diameter in the range of 0.5 to 3 mm.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the handling arrangement comprises a bowl delimiting a bowl cavity configured to collect such liquid food substance upon processing in the processing cavity and to withdraw the collected substance from the processing cavity.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the bowl is elongated in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction of the elongated handle, optionally the bowl having a substantially oval or semi-ovoidal or semi-ellipsoidal shape.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the bowl has a maximum length and a maximum width with a ratio of the maximum length over the maximum width in the range of 2 to 10.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the bowl has a maximum length in the range of 2.5 to 10 cm.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the processing cavity delimits a restricting passage, such as the opening or a narrowing underneath the opening, that has a transverse maximum dimension for allowing a passage of the handling arrangement into the processing cavity to withdraw the processed liquid food substance, the bowl having a maximum width with a ratio of the maximum width over the transverse maximum dimension in the range of 0.2 to 0.95.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing device comprises one or more of: a base for removably receiving a receptacle delimiting the processing cavity, the receptacle being in particular removable from the base for dispensing the liquid food substance upon processing and/or for cleaning the receptacle; a processing tool in the cavity for imparting an effect onto the liquid food substance in the cavity; an actuator, such as a motor, for driving a processing tool in the processing cavity; and a thermal conditioner for thermally conditioning the liquid food substance in the processing cavity.

15. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] The invention will now be described with reference to the schematic drawings, wherein:

[0056] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a system having a processing device and a handling arrangement in accordance with the invention;

[0057] FIG. 2 is a perspective of the handling arrangement shown in FIG. 1; and

[0058] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the handling arrangement shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0059] An exemplary embodiment of a system 10,20 according to the invention and of its handling arrangement 10 are illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0060] System 10,20 is configured for processing and handling a liquid food substance, such as milk or a milk-based substance.

[0061] System 10,20 includes a processing device 20 that has a processing cavity 21 in which the liquid food substance is processed 21. Processing cavity 21 has an opening 22 that is configured so that the liquid food substance is removable from processing cavity 21 via opening 22. Opening 22 may be covered and/or closed by a lid and/or may delimit one or more spouts 22a,22b e.g. spouts for dispensing foam or liquid.

[0062] System 10,20 includes a handling arrangement 10 that is configured to handle the liquid food substance when the liquid food substance is collected in an external user-recipient, such as a cup or a mug, after processing of the liquid food substance in the processing cavity.

[0063] Handling arrangement 10 is seizable by a human hand. Handling arrangement 10 is separate from processing device 20 and from the external user-recipient. Handling arrangement 10 is freely movable relative to processing device 20 and relative to external user-recipient. When seized and operated by the human hand, handling arrangement 10 is configured: to withdraw the liquid food substance upon processing from processing cavity 21 and to deliver it into the external user-recipient; and/or to shape such processed liquid food substance upon collection in the external user-recipient.

[0064] Handling arrangement 10 may have an elongated handle seizable by the human hand, such as a handle in the shape of cylinder, a cone, a prism, a pyramid and/or a bar.

[0065] Elongated handle 11 can have a length in the range of 5 to 15 cm, such as in the range of 7.5 to 12.5 cm, and/or a maximum width in the range of 1 to 15 mm such as in the range of 2 to 7 mm, e.g. in the range of 2.5 to 5 mm.

[0066] Handle 11 may have an end portion 12, such as a portion 12 tapered towards its end, configured to enter and dip in the processed liquid food substance contained in the external user-recipient and to form a design or pattern at a surface of the processed liquid food substance when the end portion 12 is moved in the processed liquid food substance.

[0067] Handle 11 may have a member 13, such as a sphere, ball, ellipsoid, ovoid or polyhedron, that forms a free end of handle 11, member 13 being mechanically connected to an extremity of end portion 12, e.g. fixedly or integrally connected with the extremity, member 13 being wider than end portion 12 next to member 13.

[0068] Member 13 may be wider than end portion 12 next to member 13 by at most a factor 3, such as wider by a factor in the range of 1.3 to 2.5.

[0069] Member 13 can have a maximum diameter in cross-section substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal direction 11 of end portion 12 in the range of 1 to 4 mm, such as 1.5 to 3 mm.

[0070] End portion 12 can have a cross-sectional diameter in the range of 0.5 to 3 mm, such as 1 to 2 mm.

[0071] Handling arrangement 10 may include a bowl 14 delimiting a bowl cavity 15 configured to collect such liquid food substance upon processing in processing cavity 21 and to withdraw the collected substance from processing cavity 21.

[0072] Bowl 14 can be elongated in a direction 14 substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction 11 of elongated handle 11.

[0073] Bowl 14 may have a maximum length 15 and a maximum width 15 with a ratio of maximum length 15 over maximum width 15 in the range of 2 to 10, such as 3 to 7, e.g. 4 to 6. Bowl 14 can have a maximum depth 15 with a ratio of maximum width 15 over maximum depth 15 in the range of 0.3 to 3, e.g. 0.5 to 2.

[0074] Bowl 14 may have a or the above maximum length 15 in the range of 2.5 to 10 cm, such as 3 to 7 cm, e.g. 4 to 6 cm.

[0075] Bowl 14 can have a substantially oval or semi-ovoidal or semi-ellipsoidal shape.

[0076] Processing cavity 21 may delimit a restricting passage, such as opening 22 or a narrowing 22 underneath opening 22, that has a transverse maximum dimension 22 for allowing a passage of handling arrangement 10 into processing cavity 21 to withdraw the processed liquid food substance. Bowl 14 can have a or the above maximum width 15 with a ratio of maximum width 15 over transverse maximum dimension 22 in the range of 0.2 to 0.95, such as 0.3 to 0.85, e.g. 0.5 7o 0.7. Restricting passage 22 may be further delimited by an upright axle of a processing tool 25, such as a rotary driven processing tool 25 and/or an axle 26 that extends substantially along a central upright direction of processing cavity 21.

[0077] Processing device 20 may include a base 23 for removably receiving a receptacle 21 delimiting the processing cavity 21. Receptacle 21 may be removable from base 23 for dispensing the liquid food substance upon processing and/or for cleaning the receptacle.

[0078] Processing device 20 may include a or the above processing tool 25 in cavity 21 for imparting an effect onto the liquid food substance in cavity 21 e.g. to foam or stir the liquid food substance during processing. Processing tool 25 can include at least one of: a rotary impeller 27, such as a substantially wavy disc shaped impeller and/or an impeller made of a helicoidal spring element arranged in a loop; and a drive interface 28, such as a magnetically actuated drive interface 28 including one or more magnetic or ferromagnetic driven elements 28.

[0079] Processing device 20 may include an actuator 24, such as a motor, for driving a or the above processing tool 25 in processing cavity 21. Actuator 24 can be outside processing cavity 21 and magnetically coupled to processing tool 25 by an actuator interface 24 that has one or more magnetic or ferromagnetic driving elements (e.g. driving the above driven elements 28).

[0080] Processing device 20 may include a thermal conditioner 29 for thermally conditioning the liquid food substance in processing cavity 21, such as a heater and/or a cooler, e.g. a resistive or inductive or Peltier conditioner.