DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a jug for heating and/or frothing milk, particularly to be connected to a coffee machine.

In coffee machines that include the possibility of preparing hot milk or latte macchiato or cappuccino with the aid of a jug which is suitable for heating and/or frothing milk, the space requirements of the jug positioned on the cup resting surface can limit the space on the cup rest for the positioning of the cups.

Consequently in the coffee machines known today, the jug is often used for dispensing in single cups, as it is difficult to correctly position more than one cup on the cup resting surface precisely because of the presence of the jug.

The technical task of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a jug for heating and/or frothing milk, particularly to be connected to a coffee machine, which can obviate the above-described technical drawbacks of the prior art.

Within the scope of this technical task, an object of the invention is to provide a jug for heating and/or frothing milk, particularly to be connected to a coffee machine, which makes it possible to dispense hot and/or frothed milk into a cup or simultaneously into multiple cups positioned on the cup resting surface below the external coffee dispenser of the coffee machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a jug for heating and/or frothing milk, particularly to be connected to a coffee machine, which has a simple and robust construction and safe and reliable operation.

According to the present invention, the technical task as well as these and other objects are achieved by providing a jug for heating and/or frothing milk, comprising a container for containing milk which is provided with a box-shaped cover at the top housing a chamber for heating and/or frothing milk withdrawn from said container, characterised in that it comprises articulated connecting means between said cover and said container, said jug having a plurality of configurations in each of which said cover has a different arrangement with respect to said container, each configuration of said jug being associated with a corresponding state of said articulated connecting means.

The special construction of the jug with a variable configuration makes it possible, when required, to adapt the availability of free space on the cup rest so as to allow the positioning on the same of one or more cups for the dispensing of one or more drinks.

For example, it is possible to dispense a single drink with milk and coffee, or a drink with milk and coffee and a drink with just coffee simultaneously, or two drinks with milk and coffee simultaneously.

Advantageously said articulated connecting means comprise a rotation pin.

Preferably said cover has a bottom closure wall and said container has a top closure wall constrained to said bottom closure wall of said cover.

Preferably said rotation pin constrains said top closure wall of said container to said bottom closure wall of said cover.

Preferably said bottom closure wall of said cover and said top closure wall of said container are flat, parallel walls, and said rotation pin is orthogonal to their lying plane. Advantageously configurations with different space requirements of said jug correspond to different rotation angles between said bottom closure wall of said cover and said top closure wall of said container.

Preferably said chamber is connected to a milk supply tube which extends into said milk container and is placed through a first through hole of said bottom closure wall of said cover and through a second through hole of said top closure wall of said container.

Preferably said rotation pin is formed by a hollow cylindrical protrusion of said bottom wall of said cover that surrounds said first hole and extends through said second hole.

Preferably said second hole has a first portion joined to said cylindrical protrusion. Preferably said cylindrical protrusion has one or more members on the outside for coupling to said top closure wall of said container.

Preferably said second hole has a second portion serving for the introduction and extraction of said cylindrical protrusion from said first portion for the connection and disconnection of said cover from said container.

Preferably said top closure wall of said container has a collar which is elastically yielding for retaining said cylindrical protrusion in said first portion of said second hole.

Preferably said jug has at least one rotation stroke limiter between said top closure wall of said container and said bottom closure wall of said cover.

Preferably said bottom closure wall of said cover and said top closure wall of said container are constrained in an eccentric position by said rotation pin. Preferably said cover has an inlet for steam into said chamber and an outlet for hot and/or frothed milk from said chamber.

It is also alternatively possible that the cover is equipped with independent means for heating the milk, for example of an electric type.

The present invention also relates to a machine that has such a jug for heating and/or frothing milk.

Preferably the coffee machine comprises a cup resting surface, an external coffee dispenser positioned above said cup resting surface, and a steam dispensing nozzle positioned above said cup resting surface and to the side of said external coffee dispenser and connected to said inlet of steam into said chamber, being equipped with a plurality of different areas for resting said container on said cup resting surface, each resting area being associated with a corresponding configuration of said jug.

The present invention also relates to a dispensing method that envisages freeing an additional portion of said cup resting surface by changing the state of said articulated connecting means when the number and/or size of the cups resting on said cup rest must be increased in order to simultaneously dispense the beverages. Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will more fully emerge from the description of preferred but not exclusive embodiments of the jug according to the invention, illustrated by way of indicative and non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows a coffee machine with a jug in a configuration which is suited to dispensing a beverage with milk and coffee in a cup; figure 2 shows a coffee machine with a jug in a configuration which is suited to dispensing a beverage with milk and coffee in a cup and the simultaneous dispensing of a beverage with coffee in another cup;

figure 3 shows the jug separate from the coffee machine;

figure 4 shows an exploded view of the jug;

figure 5 shows a plan view of a cross section of the jug at the height of the bottom closure wall of the cover and the top closure wall of the container;

figure 6 shows an oblique section of the inclined jug;

figure 7 shows the jug with the cover separated from the container;

figure 8 shows a vertical section of the jug in the configuration illustrated in figure l ;

figure 9 shows a vertical section of the jug in the configuration illustrated in figure

2;

figure 10 shows an axono metric view of the jug in the configuration illustrated in figure 1;

figure 11 shows an axonometric view of the jug in the configuration illustrated in figure 2;

figure 12 shows the coffee machine with a jug in a configuration suited to dispensing a beverage with milk and coffee in a cup, wherein the jug has a variant of the external heated and/or frothed milk dispensing terminal;

figure 13 shows the coffee machine with a jug in a configuration suited to dispensing a beverage with milk and coffee in a cup and the simultaneous dispensing of a beverage with coffee in another cup, wherein the jug has a variant of the external heated and/or frothed milk dispensing terminal illustrated in figure 12.

With reference to the above figures, a jug 1 is shown for the heating and/or frothing of milk, which can be associated with a coffee machine 2.

In a known manner, the coffee machine 2 frontally has a cup 6 resting surface 3 which is surmounted by an external coffee dispenser 4 having for example two dispensing spouts 5.

In particular, the external coffee dispenser 4 can be, as shown, of the type which is adjustable in height.

In a known manner, the coffee machine 2 also comprises a brewing circuit (not shown) formed in cascade by a water supply pump, a boiler and a brewing unit where the hot water infuses the load of coffee.

Lastly, the coffee machine 2 has, still at the front above the cup resting surface 3, but in a position that is laterally distorted by the external coffee dispenser 4, an external nozzle 7 for dispensing the steam 7 generated by a relative steam production circuit.

The jug 1 comprises a container 8 for containing the milk, equipped with a box shaped cover 9 on top housing a chamber 10 for heating and/or frothing milk withdrawn from the container 8.

Advantageously the jug 1 is provided with articulated connecting means between the cover 9 and the container 8 which allow the jug 1 to achieve a plurality of configurations in each of which the cover 9 has a different arrangement with respect to the container 8. In practice each configuration of the jug 1 is associated with a corresponding state of the articulated connecting means.

The articulated connecting means comprise a rotation pin 11 which allows a relative rotation between the cover 9 and the container 8.

The box-shaped cover 9 has a top wall 9a, a side wall 9b and a bottom closure wall 9c.

The top wall 9a and the side wall 9b are made in a single piece, while the bottom closure wall 9c is an element which is structurally separated and independent, fixed for example by screws 12 to the rest of the cover 9.

The shape of the box-shaped cover 9 can be any, for example cylindrical or prismatic with a quadrangular base, as shown.

The container 8 has a bottom wall 8a, a side wall 8b and a top closure wall 8c.

The bottom wall 8a and the side wall 8b are made in a single piece, while the top closure wall 8c is an element which is structurally separated and independent, removably fixed for example by means of elastic hooks 13, to the rest of the container 8.

The shape of the container 8 can be any, for example cylindrical or prismatic with a quadrangular base, as shown.

The shape of the cover 9 can also be the same as that of the container 8, except in height, such that in a specific state of the articulated connecting means they can be perfectly superimposed with their side walls 8b, 9b arranged with one on the prolongation of the other.

The bottom closure wall 9c of the cover 9 and the closure wall 8c of the container 8 are connected to one another by means of the rotation pin 11.

More precisely the bottom closure wall 9c of the cover 9 and the closure wall 8c of the container 8 are flat, parallel walls, and the rotation pin 11 is orthogonal to their lying plane.

The bottom closure wall 9c of the cover 9 and the closure wall 8c of the container 8 have perimeter frames in contact relief 14, 15 that keep them distanced from each other.

Advantageously configurations with different space requirements of the jug 1 correspond to different rotation angles between the bottom closure wall 9c of the cover 9 and the top closure wall 8c of the container 8.

In particular a use configuration is obtained by matching the frames 14, 15 and a different use configuration is obtained by offsetting the frames 14, 15.

To amplify the difference between the various configurations of the jug 1, the rotation pin 11 constrains the bottom closure wall 9c of the cover 9 and the top closure wall 8c of the container 8 in an eccentric position.

The chamber 10 is connected to a milk supply tube 16 which extends into the container 8 and is arranged through a first through hole 17 of the bottom closure wall 9c of the cover 9 and through a second through hole 18 of the top closure wall 8c of the container 8.

In detail, the rotation pin 11 is formed by an axially hollow cylindrical protrusion 19 of the bottom wall 9c of the cover 9 which surrounds the first hole 17 and extends through the second hole 18.

The second hole 18 has a first portion 18a joined to the hollow cylindrical protrusion 19.

The second hole 18 also has a second portion 18b serving for the introduction and extraction of the hollow cylindrical protrusion 19 from the first portion 18a for the rapid connection and disconnection of the cover 9 from the container 8.

The hollow cylindrical protrusion 19 externally has one or more members 20 for coupling to the top closure wall 8c of the container 8.

The coupling members 20 are positioned at the base of the hollow cylindrical protrusion 19 and engage on the lower side of the top closure wall 8c of the container 8.

The top closure wall 8c of the container 8 has a collar 21 which is elastically yielding for retaining the hollow cylindrical protrusion 19 in the first portion 18a of the second hole 18.

The collar 21 is formed by an open, curved plate 22 that extends orthogonally on the upper side of the top closure wall 8c of the container 8 and has a shortage of material 23 at the opposite ends along the edge leading to the top closure wall 8c of the container 8 that confer adequate freedom of elastic flexion.

The ends of the open, curved plate 22 have enlargements 24 on their inner side adapted to retain the hollow cylindrical protrusion 19 once it is inserted into the first portion 18a of the second hole 18.

The jug 1 is also fitted with at least one rotation stroke limiter 25 which limits the angular excursion between the top closure wall 8c of the container 8 and the bottom closure wall 9c of the cover 9.

The first rotation stroke limiter 25 is formed by a pin 26 that extends from the lower side of the bottom closure wall 9c of the cover 9 and is slidably engaged in a closed slot 27 passing through the thickness of the top closure wall 8c of the container 8.

The slot 27 has a first portion 27a in the form of an arc which is concentric with the rotation pin 11 and a second portion 27b which is angled with respect to the first portion 27a and serving for the connection and disconnection of the cover 9 from the container 8.

A second rotation stroke limiter 28 is formed by a pin 29 that extends from the upper side of the top closure wall 8c of the container 8 and is slidably engaged in a second closed slot 30 passing through the thickness of the bottom closure wall 9c of the cover 9.

The slot 30 has a first portion 30a in the shape of an arc which is concentric with the rotation pin 11 and a second portion 30b which is angled with respect to the first portion 30a and serving for the connection and disconnection of the cover 9 from the container 8.

The cover 9 has an inlet 31 for steam into the chamber 10 and an outlet 32 for hot and/or frothed milk from the chamber 10.

The cover 9 further comprises an inlet (not shown) for the entry of air into the chamber 10 and a knob 35 connected to a shutter (not shown) for the partialisation of the flow in the air inlet.

Various types of external heated and/or frothed milk terminals which can be oriented directly toward the dispensing area below the external coffee dispenser 4 can be connected to the outlet 32 for hot and/or frothed milk of the chamber 10. For example, as shown in figures 1 - 4, 10, 11, a terminal 33 can be provided which is connected to the outlet 32 in an articulated manner.

The terminal 33 has only one outlet hole for dispensing into only one cup. In this case it is possible to simultaneously prepare a drink with coffee and a drink with coffee and milk.

Naturally it is possible to provide a terminal which also has multiple outlet holes to dispense in multiple cups.

For example, as shown in figures 12, 13, a flexible terminal 34 can be provided which is integrally connected to the external coffee dispenser 4, but in a disengageable manner.

The releasable connection between the two parts can be of the mechanical or magnetic type.

In this case the flexible terminal 34 has a flexible tube 34a and a head 34b equipped with two outlet holes. In this case it is possible to simultaneously prepare two drinks with coffee and milk.

Considering figure 1, it can be noted that with the actual configuration of the jug 1 it is possible to dispense into only a single cup 6 in the preparation of a beverage with coffee and milk, as the space occupied by the jug 1 on the cup resting surface 3 does not leave space available for the positioning of another cup 6.

In order to be able to simultaneously dispense a coffee beverage in a cup 6 and a coffee and milk beverage in another cup 6, as shown in figure 2, the initial configuration of the jug 1 must be changed by rotating the container 8 with respect to the cover 8 according to the vertical axis defined by the rotation pin 1 1. In the passage from one configuration to the other the cover 9 remains stationary, since it is rigidly connected to the steam nozzle 7 of the machine 7 which is generally fixed, while by rotating away from the dispensing area below the external coffee dispenser 4, the container 8 moves laterally toward the outside of the cup resting surface 3.

In the final configuration of the jug 1, it is possible that at least part of the bottom wall 8a of the container 8 protrudes from the cup resting surface 3.

In the final configuration of the jug 1, it is therefore possible to free the necessary space for the positioning also of the second cup 6 in the dispensing area below the external coffee dispenser 4.

Obviously the jug 1 can have different configurations, each of which corresponds to a different resting area for the container 8 on the cup resting surface 3.

In substance it is possible to free an additional portion of the cup resting surface 3 by modifying the configuration of the jug 1 when an increase in the number and/or size of the cups on the cup resting surface 3 is desired, in which to simultaneously dispense the coffee.

The connection of the cover 9 on the container 8 in the specific case shown takes place in the following manner.

The bottom closure wall 9c of the cover 9 and the top closure wall 8c of the container 8 are placed on a parallel lying plane and with the same angular orientation on the plane but in a slightly-offset position wherein the rotation pin 11 is aligned with the second portion 18b of the hole 18.

The cover 9 and the container 8 are translated toward each other in a direction parallel to the axis of the rotation pin 11 until the two perimeter frames 14, 15 come into contact.

During this first translation, first the milk inlet tube 16 and then the rotation pin 11 are inserted through the second portion 18b of the hole 18, the first rotation stroke limiter 25 is inserted in the second portion 27b of the first slot 27 and the second rotation stroke limiter 28 is inserted in the second portion 30b of the second slot 30.

At this point the cover 9 and the container 8 are translated toward one another in a direction which is orthogonal to the axis of the rotation pin 11 up to perfectly match the two perimeter frames 14, 15.

During this second translation which is orthogonal to the first translation, the rotation pin 11 passes from the second portion 18b of the hole 18 to the first portion 18a of the hole 18, also engaging the collar 27 that receives it by first stretching and then elastically retracting its ends and at the same time the initially- firee coupling members 20 couple the lower side of the top closure wall 8c of the container 8.

Moreover the first rotation stroke limiter 25 slides along the second portion 27b of the first slot 27 up to reaching an end of the first portion 27a of the first slot 27, and similarly the second rotation stroke limiter 28 slides along the second portion 30b of the second slot 30 up to reaching an end of the first portion 30a of the second slot 30.

In substance during the second translation the second portion 27b of the first slot 27 and the second portion 30b of the second slot 30 act as parallel translation guides of the cover 9 on the container 8 until the first rotation stroke limiter 25 reaches the first portion 27a of the first slot 27 and the second rotation stroke limiter 28 reaches the first portion 30a of the second slot 30 and the cover 9 is thus free to rotate with respect to the container 8.

The disconnection of the cover 9 from the container 8 takes place with an inverse operation to that described above.

The jug for heating and/or frothing milk as conceived herein is susceptible to many modifications and variations, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept; furthermore, all the details are replaceable by technically equivalent elements.

In practice the materials used, as well as the dimensions, can be any according to the needs and the state of the art.