METHOD FOR CLEANING AND/OR DISINFECTING A MILK-CARRYING SYSTEM OF A COFFEE MACHINE, AND COFFEE MACHINE

Abstract

A method for cleaning and/or disinfecting a milk-carrying system of a coffee machine for producing coffee mix drinks, and a coffee machine for carrying out the method has the aim of allowing the entire milk-carrying system to be cleaned, completely and in a way that can he easily automated. The milk delivery line is separated from the milk container, for carrying out the cleaning Process, and is connected to a first container, and a second container is arranged under a milk outlet of a milk preparation device of the milk-carrying system. Fluid is then delivered to fluid inlet in order to convey the active cleaning and/or disinfecting substance through the milk delivery line and a milk outlet into the second container. Thereafter, water is conveyed to the air inlet and the fluid inlet is closed, in order thereby to flush the milk-carrying system.

Claims

1. Method for cleaning and/or disinfecting a milk-carrying system (90) of a coffee machine for producing coffee mix drinks, wherein the milk-carrying system (90) comprises the following: a milk preparation device (13) with a milk outlet (12) as well as a fluid inlet (41), an air inlet (51) and a milk inlet (61) which is designed for conveying milk from the milk inlet (61) to the milk outlet (12) by utilizing the Venturi effect; and a milk delivery line (80) which at one end is connected to the milk inlet (61) and which at another end can be optionally connected to a milk container (7) in such a way that a fluidic connection is established between the milk inlet (61) and the milk container through the milk delivery line (80), wherein the method comprises the following preparatory process steps: detaching the milk delivery line (80) from the milk container (7) and connecting the milk delivery line (80) to a first container (10), which contains an active cleaning and/or disinfecting substance, in such a may that for the active cleaning and/or disinfecting substance a fluidic connection is established between the milk inlet (61) and the first container (10); and positioning a second container (11) underneath the milk outlet (12), and wherein the method comprises the following further process steps in this sequence: i) delivery of fluid, preferably steam, to the fluid inlet (41) in order to convey the active cleaning and/or disinfecting substance through the milk delivery line (80) and the milk outlet (12) into the second container (11) in order to thereby clean and/or disinfect the milk-carrying system (90); and j) delivery of water to the air inlet (51) and closing of the fluid inlet (41) in Order to convey water through the milk delivery line (80) into the first container (10) and to convey water through the outlet (12) into the second container (11), in order to thereby flush the milk-carrying system (90).

2. Method according to claim 1 wherein the method according to process step j) comprises the following process step: k) Delivery, more particularly in bursts, of steam to the air inlet (51) and closing of the fluid inlet (41) in order to drive water out of the milk delivery line (80) and the milk outlet (12).

3. Method according to claim 1 wherein the method before process step i) comprises the following process step: h) Delivery of water into the first container (10) in order to activate the active cleaning and/or disinfecting substance.

4. Method according to claim 1 wherein the first container (10) and the second container (11) are nested in each other and are preferably integrally designed.

5. Method according to claim 1 wherein at least after the preparatory process steps the method is implemented automatically.

6. Method according to claim 1 wherein a switch-over valve (3) is provided which through being controlled can assume at least the following settings: a) connection of a fluid-conveying device (FS), preferably a pump-heating device combination (2, 16) connected to a water supply, to the water inlet (41); and b) connection of the fluid-conveying device (FS) with the air inlet (51) and closure of the fluid inlet (41), wherein for implementing process step i) the switch-over valve (3) is automatically brought into position a) and wherein for implementing the process step j) the switch over valve (3) is automatically brought into position b).

7. Method according to claim 6, wherein the switch-over valve (3) also has the following position: connection of the fluid-conveying device (FS) with a water outlet (14) opening into the first container (10) wherein to implement the process step h) the switch-over valve (3) is automatically brought into position c).

8. Coffee machine for producing coffee mix drinks, which comprises a milk-carrying system (90) which in turn comprises the following: a milk preparation device (13) with a milk outlet (12) as well as a fluid inlet (41), an air inlet (51) and a milk inlet (61), which is designed to convey milk from the milk inlet (61) to the milk outlet (12) utilizing the Venturi effect; and a milk delivery line (80) at one end is connected to the milk inlet (61) and at another end can be optionally connected to a milk container (7) in such a way that a fluidic connection is established between the milk inlet (61) and the milk container through the milk delivery line (80); wherein the coffee machine also comprises: a control device (100), a fluid-conveying device (FS) which is designed to supply a fluid, in the form of water or steam to the milk preparation device (13)controlled by the control device (100), a first container (10 ) which contains an active cleaning and/or disinfecting substance, and a second container, arranged or placeable underneath the milk outlet (12); wherein the fluid-conveying device (FS) is connected to the milk preparation device (13) in such a way that, controlled by the control device (100), either a fluidic connection can be established between the fluid-conveying device (FS) and the fluid inlet (41) or a fluidic connection can be established between the fluid-conveying device (FS) and the air inlet (51), wherein the milk delivery line (80) can be detached from the milk container (7) and can be connected to the first container (10) in such a way that for the cleaning and/or disinfecting substance a fluidic connection between the milk inlet (61) and the first container (10) is established, wherein the control device (100) is designed to cause the fluid-conveying device (FS) to supply a fluid, preferably steam, to the fluid inlet (41) in order to convey the active cleaning and/or disinfecting substance from the first container (10) through the milk delivery line (80) and the milk outlet (12) into the second container (11) and thereby clean the milk-carrying system (90), wherein the control device (100) is designed to cause the fluid-conveying device (FS) to supply water to the air inlet (51) in order to convey water through the milk delivery line (80) into the first container (10) and to convey water through the milk outlet (12) into the second container (11) and thereby flush the milk-carrying system (90).

9. Coffee machine according to claim 8 wherein the fluid-conveying device (FS) is connected by way of a least one switch-over valve (3), controllable by the control device (100), to the milk preparation device (13), wherein through being controlled by the control device (100) the at least one switch-over valve (13) can optionally be brought into one position in which the fluidic connection between the fluid-conveying device (FS) and the fluid inlet (41) is established or can be brought into another position in which the fluidic connection device the fluid-conveying device (FS) and the air inlet (51) is established.

10. Coffee machine according to claim 8, wherein the fluid-conveying device (FS) comprises several valves, controllable by the control device (100), which are connected to the milk preparation device (13) in such a way that through controlling the valves either the fluidic connection between the fluid-conveying device (FS) and the (41), or the fluidic connection between the fluid-conveying device (FS) and the air inlet can be established.

11. Coffee machine according to claim 8, wherein the coffee machine also comprises a water outlet (14) for dispensing water, which is arranged in such a way that the first container (10) can be filled with water via the water outlet (14).

12. Coffee machine according to claim 8, wherein the coffee machine comprises a container receptacle (BA) for an integral combination container (KB) of a first container (10) and a second container (11), wherein the container receptacle is designed to securely accommodate the combination container (KB) precisely then when the first container (10) is placed in the opening area of the water outlet (14) and the second container (11) is placed in the opening area of the milk outlet (12).

13. Coffee machine according to claim 12, with a sensor device (SE) which is designed to recognize whether the integral combination container (KB) has been received by the container receptacle (BA) and is in a position that ensures that water can be filled via the water outlet (14) into the first container (10) and/or a cleaning and/or disinfecting fluid can be conveyed from the milk preparation device (13) via the milk outlet (12) into the second container (11).

Description

[0061] An embodiment of a coffee machine for implementing the method according to the invention will be described below with the aid of the drawings.

[0062] In these:

[0063] FIG. 1: shows a schematic view of components of a coffee machine, including a milk preparation device with an automatically controllable switch-over valve in a position suitable for mixing;

[0064] FIG. 2: shows the schematic view in FIG. 1 with the switch-over valve in a position suitable for cleaning and disinfecting;

[0065] FIG. 3: shows the schematic view in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the switch-over valve in a closed position; and

[0066] FIG. 4: shows the schematic view in FIGS. 1 to 3 with the switch-over valve in a position suitable for flushing.

[0067] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of some components of a not fully illustrated coffee machine for preparing coffee mix drinks according to one form of embodiment of implementing the method according to the invention.

[0068] Centrally a milk preparation device 13 is provided which on the right-hand side in the view in FIG. 1 has a line connection 6 for a milk delivery line 80, wherein at the same time the line connection 6 acts as the milk inlet 61 into the milk preparation device 13. The milk preparation device 13 also has a fluid inlet 41 and an air inlet 51 which are connected to a fluid delivery line 40 and an air supply line 50 respectively. On the outlet side the milk preparation device 13 has a milk outlet 12.

[0069] In the present example the milk delivery line 80 has two ends wherein at one of these ends the milk delivery line 80 is connected to the line connection 6. At the other end the milk delivery line 80 is connected to a milk container 7 which can be cooled and contains the milk to be prepared.

[0070] This connection to the milk container 7 is detachable, i.e. the milk delivery line 80 which is generally in the form of a tube, can be pulled off a corresponding connection of the milk container 7. However, in the connected state, which is shown by the broken line in FIG. 1, during normal operation of the coffee machine when milk is being supplied, i.e. when preparing milk in the milk preparation device 13, at its fluid inlet 41 the milk preparation device 13 can be supplied with steam so that the steam flows through the milk preparation device 13. The aforesaid connection of the milk delivery line 80 to the milk container 7 has the purpose of establishing a fluidic connection between the milk inlet 61 and the milk container 7 through the milk delivery line 80. In order to establish a fluidic connection between the milk inlet 61 and the milk container through the milk supply line 80 and thus allow the delivery of milk from the milk container 7 to the milk inlet 61, the milk delivery line 80 does not necessarily have to be physically connected to the milk container 7 and, for example, not necessarily mounted at one end on a connection of the milk container 7: alternatively it is also possible to arrange one end of the milk delivery line 80 in such a way that it is accessible for the milk present in the milk container 7. For example, it would be possible to arrange an end section of the milk delivery line 80 in such a way that at least over part of its length it is immersed in the milk container 7 and in this way is accessible for the milk present in the milk container 7. There, in this context connecting the milk delivery line 80 to the milk container 7 should be taken to mean in general terms that a fluidic connection of the milk delivery line 80 to the milk container 7 is established and accordingly a fluid present in the milk container 7 can access the milk delivery line 80. Accordingly, in this context detaching the milk delivery line 80 from the milk container 7 can be taken to mean that the milk delivery line 80 is brought into a state in which there is no fluidic connection between the milk delivery line 80 and the milk container 7 and, accordingly, a fluid present in the milk container 7 can have no access to the milk deliver line 80.

[0071] The milk preparation device 13 is configured in such a way that as steam flows through it, a negative pressure is produced in the milk preparation device 13 through the Venturi effect causing milk to be drawn from the milk container 7 through the milk delivery line 80 at the milk inlet 61 of the milk preparation device 13, mixed with the steam and thereby heated. If the air inlet 51 is ventilated, i.e. connected to the ambient atmosphere, in the milk preparation device 13 the milk can also be mixed with air in addition to the steam and thereby be frothed up into a milk foam. The milk heated up by the steam in this way or milk foam produced in this way is finally dispensed from the milk preparation device 13 at the milk outlet 12.

[0072] To implement the cleaning process according to the invention, in the shown form of embodiment it is envisaged that the fluid delivery line 40 as well as the air supply line 50 are connected to a switch-over valve 3 which on the inlet side has a first inlet 3.1, which is connected to the ambient atmosphere and thus (controllable with the aid of the switch-over valve 3) allows the supply of air into the air supply line 50, as well as a second inlet 3.2, which is connected to a fluid-conveying system FS (hereinafter also called fluid-conveying device FS). In the shown embodiment the fluid-conveying system FS (or the fluid-conveying device FS) is formed by a water tank 1, a pump 2 connected thereto as well as a downstream heating device 16. By way of this fluid-conveying system FS cold, warm or hot water or also steam can optionally be delivered to the second inlet 3.2 of the switch-over valve 3.

[0073] In FIG. 1 the switch-over valve 3 is in a position in which it closes the fluid delivery line 40 to the milk preparation device 13. The air supply line 50 of the milk preparation device 13 is connected to the ambient atmosphere via the switch-over valve 3.

[0074] A further outlet of the switch-over valve 3 is connected via a water delivery line 20 to a water outlet 14 of the coffee machine, which in the shown embodiment is arranged in a close distance next to the milk outlet 12 of the milk preparation device 13.

[0075] Arranged below the milk outlet 12 of the milk preparation device 13 and underneath the water outlet 14 is a combined container KB (hereinafter also combination container KB or also container KB), which has a first outer container 10 as well as a second inner container 11. As indicated in FIGS. 1-4, the coffee machine comprises a container receptacle BA for the combined container KB. This container receptacle BA is designed so that when accommodated by the container receptacle BA, the combined container KB is each case arranged in a predetermined position relative to the milk preparation device 13. The first container 10 and the second container 11 are open at the top, but are otherwise not fluidically connected to each other. In the shown embodiment the combined container KB, comprising a first container 10 and second container 11, is provided with a (not shown) positioning aid so that an operator will always arrange container KB relative to the container receptacle BA as shown in FIG. 1, namely with the milk outlet 12 directly above the second container 11 and the water outlet 14 immediately above the first container 10.

[0076] To initiate the cleaning/disinfection process, an operator detaches the milk delivery line 80 from the milk container 7 and connects it to a line connection 9 formed on the first container 10 and is in fluidic connection therewith. In the following it is assumed that the first container 10 contains an active cleaning and/or disinfecting substance (not shown in FIGS. 1-4).

[0077] The purpose of the aforementioned connection of the milk delivery line 80 to the line connection 9 is to establish a fluidic connection between the milk inlet 61 and the container 10 through the milk delivery line 80. In order to establish a fluidic connection between the milk inlet 61 and the container 10 through the milk delivery line 80 and thus permit the supply of the active cleaning and/or disinfecting substance from the container 10 to the milk inlet 61, the milk delivery line does not necessarily have to be physically connected to the container 10 and, for example, not necessarily be connected at one end to the line connection 9 of the container 10: alternatively it would also be possible to arrange one end of the milk delivery line 80 in such way that it is accessible to the active cleaning and/or disinfecting substance present in the container 10. It would, for example, be possible to arrange an end section of the milk delivery line 80 in such a way that at least over part of its length it is immersed in the container 10 and in this way is accessible to the active cleaning and/or disinfecting substance present in the container 10.

[0078] In this context connecting the milk delivery line 80 to the container 10 should be taken to mean in general terms that a fluidic connection of the milk delivery line 80 to the container 10 is established and accordingly a fluid present in the container 10 can access the milk delivery line 80.

[0079] In the shown position of the switch-over valve 3, water for activating the active cleaning and/or disinfecting substance is then automatically delivered to the container 10, namely by means of the pump 2 and heating device 16, from the water tank 1 through the switch-over valve 3 to the water outlet 14. During this process the heating device is not switched on, i.e. until the required concentration is reached the container 10 is filled with cold or lukewarm water. If before this procedure the heating device 16 has been heated to a temperature greater than the temperature of the water supplied to the container, the heating device 16 is additionally cooled during this process and the water supplied to the container 10 heated.

[0080] As soon as the first container 10 has been filled with a predetermined quantity of water, which is such that from the active cleaning and/or disinfecting substance present in the first container 10 and the water contained in the first container 10 a cleaning and/or disinfecting fluid suitable for cleaning and/or disinfecting the milk-carrying system is produced, the switch-over valve 3 is automatically switched to the position shown in FIG. 2. In this position the water outlet 14 is blocked by the switch-over valve 3. While the pump 2 continues to convey water from the water tank 1, the heating device 16 is now switched on so that the fluid-conveying system FS under these conditions delivers steam to the fluid inlet 14 via the switch-over valve 3 and the fluid delivery line 40 (FIG. 2). Due to the Venturi effect, the delivery of steam produces a negative pressure in the milk preparation device 13 so that the cleaning and/or disinfecting fluid is drawn out of the first container 10 via the milk delivery line 80 into the milk inlet 61 of the milk preparation device 13. This cleaning and/or disinfecting fluid contaminated with milk then flows via the milk outlet 12 into the second container.

[0081] In the position of the switch-over valve 3 shown in FIG. 2, the air inlet 51 of the milk preparation device 13 is still in connection via the switch-over valve 3/the first inlet 3.1 of the switch-over valve 3 with the ambient atmosphere. In the present example, during the above-described drawing in of the cleaning and disinfecting fluid, this connection with the ambient atmosphere also brings a supply of air into the milk preparation device 13 so that in the milk preparation device 13 the drawn-in cleaning and/or disinfecting fluid is also mixed with air. However, it is pointed out that this supply of air for the above-described cleaning and/or disinfection of the milk preparation device 13 is not necessary. Accordingly, instead of the switch-over valve 3 set out in FIGS. 1-4 it would also be conceivable to use a different valve, which for the purpose of drawing-in the cleaning and/or disinfecting fluid connects the fluid-conveying system FS with the fluid delivery line 40 (as show in FIG. 2), but (alternatively to the situation shown in FIG. 2) tightly closes the air supply line 50 vis--vis the first inlet 3.1 of the switch-over valve 3 so that no air can be supplied from the first inlet 3.1 to the air inlet 51.

[0082] As soon as sufficient cleaning and/or disinfecting fluid has flowed out of the first container 10 through the milk preparation device 13, the pump 2 is stopped and the switch-over valve 3 is brought into a position where it is closed on all sides as shown in FIG. 3.

[0083] The switch-over valve is then brought into the position shown in FIG. 4 in order, subsequent to the above-described cleaning and/or disinfection of the milk-carrying system 90, to make it possible for residues of the cleaning and/or disinfecting fluid possibly present in the milk-carrying system 90 to be removed. Here the fluid inlet 41 of the milk preparation device 13 is no longer connected to the fluid-conveying system FS; rather, via the air supply line 50, the air inlet 51 of the milk preparation device 13 is connected via the switch-over valve 3 to the water tank 1, pump 2 and heating device 16. Clear water (flushing water) is then conveyed from the water tank 1 (preferably drinking water) to the air inlet 51 of the milk preparation device 13 while the fluid inlet 41 is closed via the switch-over valve 3.

[0084] The flushing water entering the milk preparation device 13 via the air inlet 51 divides in relation to its flow path and flows both via the milk outlet 12 into the second container 11 and also via the milk delivery line 80 into the first container 10. In doing so the flushing water flushes both the interior of the milk preparation device 13 including the milk outlet 12 as well as the milk delivery line 80 completely. To empty the entire circuit, on completion of the flushing process, through activating the heating device 16 a burst of steam can be conveyed through the milk outlet 12 as well as the milk delivery line 80 so that flushing fluid remaining in this system is largely driven out.

[0085] As an alternative to the above procedure, for cleaning and disinfecting the milk-carrying system 90, in the first container 10 it is also possible to provide a cleaning and/or disinfecting substance in the form of a cleaning and/or disinfecting fluid which is already in a ready-to-use state and does not have to be additionally mixed with water. In this case (deviating from the procedure shown in connection with FIG. 1), the supplying of water from the water outlet 14 into the first container 10 at the beginning of the process can be dispensed with. Instead, the cleaning and/or disinfecting fluid provided in the first container 10 is available for cleaning and/or disinfecting the milk-carrying system 90 in its existing form and can be conveyed unchangedas described in connection with FIG. 2from the first container 10 via the milk delivery line 80 into the milk preparation device 13.

[0086] During the cleaning process the fresh cleaning and/or disinfecting fluid is always separated from the contaminated cleaning and/or disinfecting fluid. This results in reliable cleaning, which, through the connection of the milk delivery line 80 to the line connection 9 of the first container can be carried out in relation to the entire milk-carrying system 90.

[0087] As also indicated by FIGS. 1-4, the coffee machine can also be equipped with a sensor device SE which is configured to recognise whether the combined container KB has been accommodated by the container receptacle BA and is located at a predetermined position relative to the milk preparation device 13 in such a way that water can be filled via the water outlet 14 into the first container 10 and/or a cleaning and/or disinfecting fluid can be introduced from the milk preparation device 13 via the milk outlet 12 into the second container 11. For this the sensor device SE can be equipped with sensors suitable for this purpose (e.g. optical, mechanical, magnetic, piezoelectric sensors or suchlike). Accordingly the sensor device SE can be designed to produce signals which indicate whether the combined container KB is located at the predetermined position relative to the milk preparation device 13 as described. The signals produced by the sensor device SE can finally be evaluated by a control device 100 of the coffee machine in order to control the above-described method for cleaning and/or disinfecting the milk-carrying system 90 of the coffee machine. In each of FIGS. 1-4 a broken line indicates a connection between the sensor device SE and the control device 100, said connection serving to transmit the signals produced by the sensor device SE to the control device 100. In connection with this it is assumed that the control device 100 of the coffee machine is designed to control the pump 2, the heating device 16 and the switch-over valve 3 accordingly in order to control the above-described method steps in terms of supplying water, steam or air to the water delivery line 20, the fluid delivery line 40 or the air supply line 50. In FIGS. 1-4 (by means of dashed arrows) connections between the control device 100 and the pump 2, the heating device 16 and the switch-over valve 3 are indicated, said connection serving to transmit the control signals required for controlling the pump 2, the heating device and/or the switch-over valve 3 to the pump 2, the heating device 16 and/or the switch-over valve 3.

[0088] Incorrect positioning of the combined container KB can be automatically detected by the control device 100 of the coffee machine by way of the sensor device SE and thus be taken into account when controlling the coffee machine during the implementation of the method for cleaning and/or disinfecting the milk-carrying system 90. For example, the control device 100 can prevent or stop the process for cleaning and/or disinfecting the milk-carrying system 90 as a function of signals of the sensor device SE.

[0089] In the examples shown in FIGS. 1-4 a single switch-over valve 3 is provided, which can brought into several positions in order, on the one hand, to be able to establish a fluidic connection between the fluid-conveying system (or the fluid-conveying device) FS and optionally either the water delivery line 20 or the fluid delivery line 40 or the air supply line 50 (via the second inlet 3.2 of the switch-over valve 3), and, on the other hand, to be able to establish a connection between the air supply line 50 and the ambient atmosphere (via the first inlet 3.1 of the switch-over valve 3). It is pointed out that instead of one switch-over valve 3, several separate valves, controllable independently of each other (e.g. by way of the control device 100), can be used in order to control the aforesaid fluidic connections of the water delivery line 20, the fluid delivery line 40 and the air supply line 50 to the fluid-conveying system FS and also the connection of the air supply line 50 with the ambient atmosphere through opening or closing each of the valves.

[0090] At this point it is noted that the invention is not restricted to the shown example of embodiment. Modifications thereof are evident to a person skilled in the art.