DEVICE FOR POURING OUT MILK FROTH, LIQUIDS OR THE LIKE

Abstract

Coffee machine including a housing frame and device for generating coffee, and an integrated device for dispensing milk froth onto a coffee drink in a container. This device, possibly in the form of a robot, includes a dispenser controllable to enable automated movement in two or three coordinate directions, and dispenses the milk froth directly onto a surface of the coffee drink previously poured into the container. An automated movement mechanism controls movement of the dispenser during dispensing of the milk froth to cause automatic and controlled addition of a specific amount of the milk froth onto the coffee drink surface and produce an aesthetically decorative graphic pattern thereon. The specific amount of milk froth remains on and/or beneath the coffee drink surface. The coffee drink is poured into the container and the graphic pattern of milk forth is produced on the coffee drink surface by the same coffee machine.

Claims

1. In a coffee machine including a housing frame and a device for generating coffee, the improvement comprising: an integrated device for dispensing milk froth onto a coffee drink in a container, said device comprising: a dispenser controllable spatially to enable automated movement in two or three coordinate directions, said dispenser including a discharge port through which the milk froth is dispensed from said dispenser directly onto a surface of the coffee drink that has been previously poured into the container by the coffee machine; and an automated movement mechanism that controls movement of said dispenser in the two or three directions during dispensing of the milk froth from said dispenser to cause automatic and controlled addition of a specific amount of the milk froth from said dispenser onto the surface of the coffee drink that has been previously poured into the container by the coffee machine and produce a graphic pattern on the surface of the coffee drink, the specific amount of milk froth remaining on and/or beneath the surface of the coffee drink, whereby the coffee drink is poured into the container and the graphic pattern of milk forth is produced in the surface of the coffee drink by the same coffee machine.

2. The coffee machine of claim 1, wherein said movement mechanism comprises a plurality of articulated arms.

3. The coffee machine of claim 2, wherein said movement mechanism comprises a plurality of linear motors that each cause movement in a linear direction.

4. The coffee machine of claim 3, wherein said linear motors are arranged parallel to one another.

5. The coffee machine of claim 3, further comprising a device housing in which said linear motors are arranged.

6. The coffee machine of claim 3, wherein said movement mechanism further comprises a linear carriage, a first one of said linear motors moving said linear carriage, a second one of said linear motors and a third one of said linear motors being mounted on said linear carriage and moving upon movement of said linear carriage.

7. The coffee machine of claim 6, wherein said movement mechanism further comprises an additional articulation system that connects said second and third linear motors to said articulated arms.

8. The coffee machine of claim 6, wherein said movement mechanism further comprises an additional articulation system that connects said second linear motor to two of said articulated arms opposite one another and connects said third linear motor to one of said articulated arms between said two of said articulated arms.

9. The coffee machine of claim 2, wherein said device further comprises a carrier plate connected flexibly to said articulated arms.

10. The coffee machine of claim 9, wherein said articulated arms are situated on different sides of said carrier plate.

11. The coffee machine of claim 9, further comprising suspension bearings that each connect said carrier plate to a respective one of said articulated arms.

12. The coffee machine of claim 2, wherein each of said articulated arms comprises a pair of members and cross members linking said pairs of members.

13. The coffee machine of claim 12, further comprising a carrier plate connected to a lower one of said cross members of each of said articulated arms.

14. The coffee machine of claim 2, further comprising operating levers each connected to a respective one of said articulated arms.

15. The coffee machine of claim 10, wherein each of said articulated arms comprises a pair of members and cross members linking said pairs of members.

16. The coffee machine of claim 15, wherein said operating levers are each connected to an upper one of said cross members of each of said articulated arms.

17. The coffee machine of claim 15, wherein said operating levers are perpendicular to one another.

18. The coffee machine of claim 2, wherein said articulated arms comprise first, second and third articulated arms.

19. The coffee machine of claim 1, wherein said device further comprises a carrier plate holding said dispenser, said movement mechanism being connected to carrier plate to move said carrier plate and said dispenser being moved as a result of movement of said carrier plate.

20. In a coffee machine including a housing frame and a device for generating coffee, the improvement comprising: an integrated device for dispensing milk froth onto a coffee drink in a container, said device comprising: a dispenser controllable spatially to enable automated movement in two or three coordinate directions, said dispenser including a discharge port through which the milk froth is dispensed from said dispenser directly onto a surface of the coffee drink that has been previously poured into the container by the coffee machine; an automated movement mechanism that controls movement of said dispenser in the two or three directions during dispensing of the milk froth from said dispenser to cause automatic and controlled addition of a specific amount of the milk froth from said dispenser onto the surface of the coffee drink that has been previously poured into the container by the coffee machine and produce a graphic pattern on the surface of the coffee drink, the specific amount of milk froth remaining on and/or beneath the surface of the coffee drink, said movement mechanism comprising a plurality of articulated arms and a plurality of linear motors that each cause movement in a linear direction, each of said articulated arms being moved by said movement mechanism; and a carrier plate connected flexibly to said articulated arms and holding said dispenser such that movement of said articulated arms cause movement of said carrier plate and said dispenser being moved as a result of movement of said carrier plate, said articulated arms being situated on different sides of said carrier plate, said movement mechanism being connected to said carrier plate to move said carrier plate, whereby the coffee drink is poured into the container and the graphic pattern of milk forth is produced in the surface of the coffee drink by the same coffee machine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The invention is described in more detail below by means of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawings. These show as follows:

[0028] FIG. 1 is a device according to the invention in a perspective diagrammatic view;

[0029] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention with linear motors as drive means;

[0030] FIG. 3 is a side view of the coffee machine shown in FIG. 6 with the device in accordance with the invention;

[0031] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective representation of the housing frame of a prior art coffee machine;

[0032] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of discrete modules slidable into the housing frame of the coffee machine of FIG. 4;

[0033] FIG. 6 is a view of the front of the prior art coffee machine shown in FIG. 4; and

[0034] FIG. 7 is a side view of the prior art coffee machine shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a device 1 for a method wherein, after pouring out a drink, a specific amount of milk froth or the like, which remains on and/or beneath the surface of the poured out drink, is added to a container. Under normal circumstances, for example, the milk froth poured in mixes with the coffee in the surface region of the latter, and part of the milk froth remains above this surface.

[0036] A suitable drink is preferably coffee for the production of a cappuccino. However, it can also be hot or cold chocolate, milk or some other mixed drink. Instead of milk froth, a different froth or cream-like medium could also be poured on.

[0037] According to the invention the milk froth or the like is added in a controlled manner during pouring such that a graphic pattern is produced on the surface of the poured out drink by this froth.

[0038] By this method one can produce the form of a heart, a flower, a plant, a face, a company logo or any motif as the graphic pattern.

[0039] The device 1 according to the invention basically consists of three articulated arms 2, 3, 4 that can be moved individually by means of rotary drives 114, 115, 116, a carrier plate 9 connected flexibly to the articulated arms 2, 3, 4 and a discharge port connected to a milk froth dispenser 110 (not detailed). As shown in FIG. 1, the dispenser 110 engages with the carrier plate 9 and is held by the carrier plate 9 such that movement of the carrier plate caused by movement of the articulated arms 2, 3, 4 causes movement of the dispenser 110. The members of the articulated arms 2, 3, 4 are connected in pairs by cross members 5a, 5b; 6a, 6b and 7a, 7b to ball joints 8 which guarantee the agility of the articulated arms 2, 3, 4 on all sides. This carrier plate 9 is held on the lower cross members 5a, 6a, 7a of the articulated arms 2, 3, 4. These three suspension bearings 111, 112, 113 form the corners of an equiangular triangle. This device 1 is made in the form of a robot here and is operated by program/programmable control.

[0040] The articulated arms 2, 3, 4 are operated by means of rotary drives 114, 115, 116 using operating levers 117, 118, 119 which act on the upper cross members 5b, 6b, 7b of the articulated arms 2, 3, 4. The rotary drives 114, 115, 116 are controlled according to one or more specified programs such that each articulated arm 2, 3, 4 is moved in any coordinate direction. In the present exemplary embodiment, these directions are arranged at angles of 120 in relation to one another. The corresponding arrangement is also produced for the rotary drives 114, 115, 116 on the supporting frame, of which only the carrier plate 120 and the three motor carriers 121, 122, 123 can be seen in FIG. 1.

[0041] During the preparation procedure, the articulated arms 2, 3, 4 are moved by the rotary drives 114, 115, 116 such that they can guide the discharge port of the dispenser 110 for the milk froth precisely over the surface of the drink to be decorated according to the geometry of the respectively selected milk froth pattern. The corresponding control is advantageously a component part of a self-contained device-specific software. The programming also includes the selectability of the pattern from a plurality of programmed motifs, each motif may be the subject of a respective program or one program can be provided and enable multiple motifs.

[0042] Thus, there may be a singular program that provides multiple motifs, although use of multiple and repeatably executable programs, each providing a single or multiple motifs can also be provided at the discretion of the device fabrictor. Any program may be executed a plurality of times to effect movement of one or more driver each time the program is executed. Also, each program may be executed to control the movement of the at least one of the drives.

[0043] The device 1 according to the invention is characterized in that it is stable and robust and guarantees the required operational safety when operated continuously. The device enables precise and sensitive guidance of the jet of milk

[0044] A device 130 according to FIG. 2 substantially differs from that according to FIG. 1 in that it is provided with linear motors 124, 125, 126, i.e., motors that generate movement in a linear direction. instead of the rotary drives 114, 115, 116. The linear motors 124, 125, 126 are arranged parallel to one another within a housing 127, only part of which is shown, with a linear carriage 128 that moves in a linear direction. The linear carriage 128 can be moved to and fro in a linear direction by the linear motor 124, while the two other linear motors 125, 126 are mounted on the linear carriage 128 and move when the linear carriage 128 moves as a result of the operation of linear motor 124, and by means of an additional articulation system 129, the articulated arms 2, 3, 4 can move in the direction of coordinates x, y, z. Linear motor 125 is connected to articulated arms 3, 4 opposite one another while linear motor 126 is connected only to articulated arm 2 between the articulated arms 3, 4. The operating lever 117, 118, 119 and the suspension bearing 111, 112, 113 of the carrier plate 9 are arranged at right angles to one another for the milk froth dispenser.

[0045] In this embodiment, the carrier plate 9 and the milk froth dispenser 110 may be positioned at least partly outside of the coffee machine, or even possibly entirely outside of the coffee machine. The embodiment of FIG. 2 enables an easier integration of the device 130 into the coffee machine.

[0046] The movement sequence of the jet of milk froth during the automatic generation of a two-dimensional milk froth pattern takes place in the x and the y direction on the surface of the poured out drink. This movement sequence during the automatic generation of the milk froth pattern may be effected through control of the device, i.e., there is no manual movement of the device or any part thereof (the only manual action in some claimed embodiments being initiation of the automated movement of the device or parts thereof via, e.g., selection of a motif or program that initiates the automated physical movement of components of the device). Thus, the automated movement is in accordance with a (computer) program that is programmed to control the rotary drives 114, 115, 116 or linear motors 124, 125, 126 to effect the desired movement of the dispenser 110 in one or more of the two or three directions in which the device is movable. Use of software to effect movement of the device via, for example, control of the rotary drives 114, 115, 116 or linear motors, 124, 125, 126 is disclosed elsewhere herein.

[0047] Used as the basis normally is a coffee cup with an outside diameter of for example 80 mm which, in comparison to the diameter of the outlet opening at the discharge port of the dispenser 110, is advantageously a number of times greater so that this motif can be produced with the required accuracy. The starting position of the jet of milk froth is for example approximately 30 mm away from the zero point in the y axis. In the subsequent pouring out phase a movement of the jet of milk froth of (on average) approximately 25 mm back in the y axis and lateral swivel movements of approximately 20 mm in the x axis take place.

[0048] Additionally, a superordinate or a subsequent movement in z direction can be provided, which enables such a three dimensional figure. These movements are accordingly respectively specified for the chosen patterns.

[0049] These devices according to the invention can either be fully integrated into a coffee machine or be made in the form of a self-contained module.

[0050] In the fully integrated state of the milk froth pouring or dispensing device, shown in FIG. 3 when integrated into the prior art coffee machine shown in FIGS. 4-7 from U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,033, the outlet of the dispenser 110 is naturally positioned above the area into which the container into which the milk froth will be poured is intended to be placed during dispensing of the milk froth from dispenser 110. The articulated arms 2, 3, 4 may be situated within the housing of the coffee machine, and thus only partly visible or entirely concealed. The device 130 may slidably inserted into the housing frame 10 of the coffee machine, like milk foam generating unit 30 (and also device 1 could similarly be slidably inserted).

[0051] With reference to the coffee machine disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,033, the dispenser 110 could also be arranged in connection with the outlet head 60 through which coffee is dispensed, as a substitute for the unit 30 that generates milk foam. That is, the milk froth generating device 1 or 130 can be arranged so that the carrier plate 9 and the dispenser 110 passing through the carrier plate 9 as clearly seen in FIG. 1 is able to cause the dispensing of milk froth in the desired pattern immediately after the coffee is dispensed into the container, and without moving the container after the coffee has been dispensed. There is thus a single outlet region for both coffee and milk froth. The coffee machine of U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,033 is described and illustrated only as an example of a coffee machine into which the device 1 or 130 can be integrated. Generally, such integration into a coffee machine means that the mechanism for pouring coffee or other beverage, and the mechanism for pouring the milk froth are in a common housing and ideally above the same area into which the container is being placed to receive the coffee and milk froth. In a different coffee machine, the dispenser 110 could be arranged in the outlet portion of the coffee machine through which the coffee is dispensed. Note that the coffee machine of U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,033 is an example of a machine for dispensing coffee, but other machines for dispensing chocolate or other beverages into which milk froth or other liquids to form a patterned design may be used in the invention.

[0052] Integration of the device for pouring or dispensing milk froth into a coffee machine, or even more so, the full integration of the device into a coffee machine, means that the device in which the dispenser is mounted is in the same machine that pours the coffee drink (i.e., integration being used to indicate insertion or immersion in). As mentioned above, the device according to the invention is designed such that it can be fully integrated into a conventional coffee machine. Integration of the device into a coffee machine differs from integration of the device with a coffee machine, which may simply means that both devices are in the same store and used together. Among other things, such full integration means that the machine operator is able to fill the coffee container and then pour the milk froth with a minimum of movement since, the device 1 or 130 may be configured to dispense milk froth into the same area as the coffee is dispensed. A platform may be provided onto which the container is placed into a rest state, see FIG. 6, and then the coffee is first dispensed into the container and then, without moving the container with coffee from the platform, the milk froth is dispensed while forming a desired pattern as disclosed herein.

[0053] Indeed, an important advantage of integration of the milk froth or cream medium dispensing device into the machine that pours out the coffee or chocolate is that the container can be filled with a desired amount of coffee or chocolate and thereafter the milk froth or cream medium having the design without moving the container, thereby eliminating the potential for spillage and reducing preparation time. As such, the entire process of obtaining a container of coffee or chocolate with a milk froth or cream medium in a design thereon can be done very fast and efficiently, so that the coffee is still hot and the milk froth is still fully in the consistency in which it is intended to be consumed.

[0054] The invention is sufficiently displayed by the exemplary embodiments described above. However, it could of course also be illustrated by other variations. Thus, for example, an outlet opening for the milk froth that is made to be elongate or differently shaped rather than with an approximately round cross section could be provided so that a pattern would also form on the surface of the drink.

[0055] In principle, the milk froth or the like could be poured out by being interrupted and then being displaced in two or three coordinate directions (x, y, z) along the surface of the poured in drink.

[0056] Disclosed above is therefore a coffee machine including a housing frame 10 and a device for generating coffee, with an integrated device for dispensing milk froth onto a coffee drink in a container. This milk froth dispensing device 1 or 130 includes a dispenser controllable spatially to enable automated movement in two or three coordinate directions, and which has a discharge port through which the milk froth is dispensed from the dispenser 110 directly onto a surface of the coffee drink that has been previously poured into the container by the coffee machine. An automated movement mechanism, e.g., the articulated arms 2, 3, 4 and the structure that causes movement of the articulated arms 2, 3, 4, controls movement of the dispenser 110 in the two or three directions during dispensing of the milk froth from the dispenser 110 to cause automatic and controlled addition of a specific amount of the milk froth from the dispenser 110 onto the surface of the coffee drink that has been previously poured into the container by the coffee machine and produce a graphic pattern on the surface of the coffee drink. This specific amount of milk froth remains on and/or beneath the surface of the coffee drink. As such, the coffee drink is poured into the container and the graphic pattern of milk forth is produced in the surface of the coffee drink by the same coffee machine.

[0057] Having thus described a few particular embodiments of the invention, various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications and improvements as are made obvious by this disclosure are intended to be part of this description though not expressly stated herein, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is by way of example only, and is not limiting. The invention is limited only as defined in the claims and equivalents thereto.