Appliance and method for preparing a froth from a food liquid
AssigneeNestec S.A.
InventorsChristophe S. Boussemart, Alfred Yoakim, Francesco Chiarella
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Appliance for preparing a froth from a milk-based liquid which includes a tank for receiving liquid that is to be frothed, and in which liquid a rotatable stirrer is positioned, a stand associated with the tank, and a system for driving the stirrer. The stirrer drive system and the stirrer include magnetic elements allowing the stirrer to be rotationally driven magnetically in the tank. At least one disturbance member is also provided to break or prevent symmetric circulation of the liquid about the median vertical axis of the tank.
Claims24
An appliance for preparing a froth from milk or a milk-based liquid, comprising:
- a tank for receiving the liquid that is to be frothed, in which liquid a rotatable stirrer is positioned, the tank having a median vertical axis and a bottom;
- a stand associated with the tank;
- a mechanism for driving the stirrer,
- a heating device associated with the tank for heating the liquid in the tank and a first controller for activating the heating device during stirring,
- an electrical power supply for electrically powering the driving mechanism;
- wherein the driving mechanism and the stirrer are configured in such a way that the stirrer is driven by the driving mechanism through a magnetic drive effect in order to generate the froth, without a mechanical connection member intruding through the wall of the tank;
- and
- at least one disturbance member comprising a magnetic driver that produces at least one magnetic field that is offset with respect to the median vertical axis of the tank, and means for positioning the stirrer along an axis of rotation that is offset with respect to the median vertical axis of the tank to enable magnetic engagement of the stirrer along this rotational axis, and
- a controller configured in such a way as to drive the magnetic driver to thereby magnetically drive the stirrer at a speed that is sufficiently high to convert the liquid into the froth as it is being heated,
- wherein the disturbance member breaks or prevents symmetric circulation of the liquid about the median vertical axis of the tank.
An appliance for preparing froth from milk or a milk-based liquid, comprising:
- a rotatable stirrer;
- a tank to receive the liquid that is to be frothed, in which liquid the rotatable stirrer is positioned, the tank having a bottom and a vertical median axis;
- a stand associated with the tank;
- a system for driving the stiffer;
- means for positioning the stirrer along an axis of rotation that is offset with respect to the median vertical axis of the tank to enable magnetic engagement of the stirrer along this rotational axis;
- and
- a heating device associated with the tank for heating the liquid in the tank and a controller for activating the a heating device during stirring;
- with the stirrer drive system and the stirrer itself comprising magnetic elements allowing the stirrer to be rotated magnetically in the tank;
- wherein the stirrer drive system and the stirrer are positioned offset with respect to the median vertical axis of the tank so as to prevent symmetric circulation of the liquid in the tank about the median vertical axis of the tank;
- and
- wherein the heating device is distributed in such a way as to heat the bottom of the tank.
An appliance for preparing a froth from milk or a milk-based liquid, comprising:
- a rotatable stirrer;
- a tank to receive the liquid that is to be frothed, in which the liquid rotatable stirrer is positioned;
- a stand associated with the tank;
- a system for driving the stirrer, with the stirrer configured to be driven and held magnetically in the tank by the stirrer drive system;
- means for positioning the stirrer along an axis of rotation that is offset with respect to the median vertical axis of the tank to enable magnetic engagement of the stirrer along this rotational axis;
- and
- a cordless frothing unit which is removable with respect to an electrical power supply unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.