Apparatus for forming a head on a beverage
AssigneeDiageo PLC
InventorsPaul Smith, Justin Walshe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for forming a head on a beverage using ultrasonic energy, the apparatus (10) including an hydrating means (20) such that a layer of water is provided to keep a platform (19), which is in turn coupled to an ultrasonic transducer, maintained in conductive contact with the, base (B) of a glass (G) of beverage. The water layer improves the transfer of ultrasonic energy to the beverage in the glass. Preferably the water layer is provided through a pump means coupled to a reservoir (30).
Claims26
An apparatus for the formation of a head on a beverage contained in a vessel, including an ultrasonic oscillator for generating an electric signal having an ultrasonic frequency, a transducer connected to the oscillator for converting the electrical signal into a physical ultrasonic excitation, a contact surface coupled to the transducer, onto which the vessel containing the beverage is placed in use, wherein means is provided for maintaining a hydrated layer on the contact surface substantially throughout a period of use.
A method of forming a head of froth on a beverage contained in a vessel comprising the steps of generating an electrical signal having a variable ultrasonic frequency, converting the electrical signal into a physical ultrasonic excitation, subjecting the vessel containing the beverage to the ultrasonic excitation for a predetermined time and, during the predetermined time, varying the frequency of the electrical signal such that the vessel and beverage are subjected to a predetermined range of ultrasonic frequencies.
Apparatus for forming a head of froth on a beverage contained in a vessel comprising an ultrasonic oscillator for generating an electrical signal having a variable ultrasonic frequency, a transducer connected to the oscillator for converting the electrical signal into a physical ultrasonic excitation, a surface coupled to the transducer, on to which the vessel is placed in use to be subjected to the ultrasonic excitation for a predetermined time, and a control means such that, during the predetermined application time, the frequency of the electrical signal is varied such that the vessel and beverage are subjected to a range of ultrasonic frequencies.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.