Optimized control of a milk pump in a milk module in an automatic beverage preparation machine

Abstract

A milk module for an automatic beverage preparation machine, comprising a milk line extending from a cold liquid milk container to a milk dispensing nozzle in a beverage dispensing compartment and comprising a milk pump, by means of which cold liquid milk is drawn from the cold liquid milk container and supplied to a mixing chamber of a milk frother arranged upstream of the milk dispensing nozzle; an air line extending from an air source to the mixing chamber of the milk frother to supply air thereto; an electronic sensory system designed to detect and output an output indicative of operating quantities of the milk module and comprising cold milk temperature in the cold liquid milk container and air depression in the air line; and an electronic control unit in communication with the electronic sensory system to receive output thereof and to the milk pump to control operation thereof during milk-based beverage preparation cycles. The electronic control unit is configured to store functional data necessary to control operation of the milk pump during milk-based beverage preparation cycles and comprising milk pump data representative of either one and the same or different speed or electric power profiles at which the milk pump is to be operated during milk-based beverage preparation cycles as a function of the temperature of the cold milk drawn from the cold liquid milk container; and control operation of the milk pump during milk-based beverage preparation cycles based on the stored functional data and air depression in the air line.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.