| US 7,600,467 B2 | ||
| Automatic apparatus for heating and frothing milk | ||
| Andrea Coccia, Binasco Milano (Italy); and Dario Sala, Binasco Milano (Italy) | ||
| Assigned to Gruppo Cimbali S.p.A., Binasco Milano (Italy) | ||
| Filed on Nov. 13, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/598,237. | ||
| Claims priority of application No. 05425793 (EP), filed on Nov. 11, 2005. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2007/0107603 A1, May 17, 2007 | ||
| Int. Cl. A47J 31/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 99—293 [99/453; 99/323.1] | 8 Claims |
| 1. An automatic apparatus for treating milk by means of steam, the
apparatus comprising:
a steam-generating source,
a reservoir containing the milk to be treated,
a mixing chamber,
a milk duct connecting said milk reservoir to said mixing
chamber,
a peristaltic pump operating on said milk duct for bringing a
milk flow at a predetermined flow-rate to said mixing chamber,
an electric motor, with adjustable speed, being connected to
said peristaltic pump to drive the same,
a steam duct connecting said steam-generating source to said
mixing chamber,
a first solenoid valve on said steam duct,
said steam-generating source providing a steam flow at a predetermined flow-rate to said mixing chamber through said steam
duct,
a delivery opening provided in said mixing chamber,
a central control unit with at least one microprocessor having functions, obtainable by means of dedicated buttons, at least
for adjusting a rate of rotation of said electric motor and hence for adjusting the flow-rate of the peristaltic pump according
to the temperature to be adopted by the flow of milk in the mixing chamber as a result of the admission of the predetermined
flow of steam through said first solenoid valve.
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