Milk emulsifying method and unit
AssigneeN&W Global Vending S.P.A.
InventorClaudio Mosconi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A milk emulsifying method and unit, whereby a first flow of milk, fed along a first feed line (7) to an emulsifying chamber (5), draws a second flow of air from the outside along a second feed line (8) converging with the first feed line (7) upstream from the emulsifying chamber (5); the second flow being subjected to a repeat chopping operation, in which chopping is regulated in both frequency and duty cycle.
Claims19
1-18. (canceled)
A milk emulsifying method, comprising:
- feeding a first flow of milk along a first feed line to an emulsifying chamber;
- and
- pre-emulsifying the milk with air, upstream from the emulsifying chamber, by drawing a second flow of air, by the first flow, along a second feed line converging with the first feed line along a pre-emulsifying end portion upstream from the emulsifying chamber;
- wherein the second flow is subjected, at a point along the second feed line and upstream from the pre-emulsifying end portion to a repeat chopping operation in which chopping is regulated in both frequency and duty cycle.
The milk emulsifying method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the second flow is drawn from the outside and, upstream from the point along the second feed line, is substantially continuous.
The milk emulsifying method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the second flow is filtered upstream from the point along the second feed line.
The milk emulsifying method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the repeat chopping operation is performed by a valve assembly located at the point along the second feed line, and including an electrically actuated shutter controlled by a repeat chopping unit.
The milk emulsifying method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first flow is forced by a pump.
A milk emulsifying unit, comprising:
- an emulsifying chamber;
- a first feed line for feeding a first flow of milk to the emulsifying chamber;
- a second feed line converging with the first feed line along a shared end portion upstream from the emulsifying chamber, the second feed line for feeding a second flow of air to the shared end portion, and for feeding a pre-emulsified flow of milk and air to the emulsifying chamber;
- and
- a valve assembly located at a point along the second feed line and upstream from the shared end portion, the valve assembly including an electrically actuated shutter movable between an open position and a closed position for opening and closing the second feed line respectively, and a repeat chopping unit for controlling the electrically actuated shutter in frequency and duty cycle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.