The present invention relates to a yogurt maker comprising a measurement member.

Today, yogurt is a foodstuff which is often consumed in almost every household. Yogurt is often produced by boiling and fermenting milk at home. Since the boiling process and fermentation temperature of the milk is important for the quality of yogurt, the process must be carried out under constant observation. This situation causes a waste of time for consumers and makes the process difficult. Therefore, automatic yogurt makers are frequently used today. Since yogurt is consumed daily, especially in families with small children, the yogurt makers become very useful. The yogurt makers provide the user with functions such as heating, cooling, keeping warm, time setting, automatic termination, etc. Moreover, the use of sensors which determine the taste and consistency of yogurt is necessary to end the automatic fermentation process and to make yogurt as per user preference. The position where the sensors used take measurements on yogurt is important. However, since the sensors used are fixed on the yogurt maker, they cannot be cleaned, causing inaccuracies for the next measurement, and the smell and taste of yogurt differs from the user's preference. These situations create user dissatisfaction.

In the state of the art Japanese Patent No. JPH0951759, a yogurt maker is disclosed, which performs heating and cooling.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a yogurt maker which makes homogeneous yogurt and increases user satisfaction.

The yogurt maker realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a body; a receptacle which is placed into the body; a lid which is used for covering the receptacle; at least one heater and a cooler which are provided on the body; and a control unit which controls the operation of the heater and the cooler. By operating the heater and the cooler in a certain order, the fermentation process is performed. The performance of the fermentation process is controlled by the control unit. The yogurt maker of the present invention comprises a detachable measurement member on the body, which extends from the body towards the base of the receptacle. The measurement member is positioned in the yogurt during the fermentation process. Thus, the center of the yogurt can be measured. Consequently, it is provided that homogeneous yogurt with the desired texture and taste is prepared. The measurement member is enabled to be easily cleaned by means of the detachable structure thereof. Thus, correct measurement is taken at each fermentation process.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the yogurt maker comprises an opening on the body and the measurement member comprising a carrier body which is placed at the opening so as not to protrude. The carrier body is seated on the opening and does not protrude out. Thus, the lid is closed efficiently, enabling the receptacle to be isolated from the outer environment.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the yogurt maker comprises the measurement member having a measurement extension with one end positioned on the carrier body and the other end extending into the receptacle. The measurement extension extends from the carrier body into the receptacle. During the process, measurement can be taken from inside the yogurt. The measurement extension and the carrier body are located almost perpendicular to each other.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the yogurt maker comprises a conductivity sensor and at least one temperature sensor which are provided on the measurement extension, the control unit which enables the fermentation process to be controlled according to the information received from the measurement extension, a first electrical conduction zone which is provided on the carrier body and a second electrical conduction zone which is provided on the body. The first electrical conduction zone provided on the carrier body enables the information received from the conductivity sensor and the temperature sensor to be transmitted to the second electrical conduction zone when the measurement member is mounted on the body. Thus, the information received from the sensors is transferred from the body to the control unit and the fermentation process is controlled. In an embodiment of the present invention, the yogurt maker comprises a plurality of pins which are provided on the first electrical conduction zone and a plurality of conductive housings which are provided on the second electrical conduction zone and which align with the pins. By means of the contact of the pins with the housings, the information received from the measurement extension is transferred from the body to the control unit.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the yogurt maker comprises at least one first magnet which is provided on the surface of the carrier body facing the body and a second magnet which is provided on the body and which functions together with the first magnet. Thus, the measurement member is enabled to be easily centered on the body.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the yogurt maker comprises the measurement member having a fixing member with one end positioned on the carrier body and the other end attached onto the body. By attaching the fixing member on the body, the measurement member is fixed on the body. The fixing member and the carrier body are almost perpendicular to each other.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the yogurt maker comprises at least one protrusion which is provided on the fixing member and at least one recess which is provided on the body and which aligns with the protrusion when the measurement member is attached on the body.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the yogurt maker comprises a slide mechanism where the protrusion and the recess slide over each other. By means of the slide mechanism, the measurement member is enabled to be attached to and detached from the body by sliding in the vertical plane. Thus, by attaching and detaching the measurement member to/from the body, the yogurt is prevented from being mixed and the structure thereof is prevented from getting impaired.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the yogurt maker comprises a protective part which is provided on the measurement extension and which is manufactured by injection method to ensure sealing. Since the measurement extension is positioned in the yogurt, sealing is important for the sensors to be operated correctly. By means of the protective part, the sealing of the measurement member is ensured.

By means of the present invention, a yogurt maker is realized, comprising a measurement member which can be attached to and detached from the body to perform efficient measurements.

A yogurt maker realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 - is the perspective view of the yogurt maker.

Figure 2 - is the perspective view of the receptacle and the measurement member.

Figure 3 - is the perspective view of the measurement member.

Figure 4 - is the perspective view of the receptacle.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1- Yogurt maker

2- Body

3- Receptacle

4- Lid

5- Heater

6- Cooler

7- Control unit

8- Measurement member

9- Opening

10- Carrier body

11- Measurement extension

12- Conductivity sensor

13- Temperature sensor 14- First electrical conduction zone

15- Second electrical conduction zone

16- Pin

17- Conductive housing

18- First magnet

19- Second magnet

20- Fixing member

21- Protrusion

22- Recess

23- Slide mechanism

24- Protective part

The yogurt maker (1) comprises a body (2); at least one receptacle (3) which is provided in the body (2) and wherein the fermentation process is performed; a lid (4) which is provided on the body (2) so as to eliminate the contact between the receptacle (3) and the outer environment; at least one heater (5) and a cooler (6) which are provided on the body (2); and a control unit (7) which enables the heater (5) and the cooler (6) to be operated in a certain order. The ingredients are added into the receptacle (3) and the lid (4) is closed. The fermentation process is carried out by controlling the heater (5) and the cooler (6) by the control unit (7).

The yogurt maker (1) of the present invention comprises a detachable measurement member (8) on the body (2), which extends towards the base of the receptacle (3). The measurement member (8) can be attached/detached to/from the body (2). Thus, the measurement member (8) is enabled to be easily cleaned. Consequently, the measurement member (8) is enabled to take accurate measurements during each process. The measurement member (8) extends from the body (2) into the receptacle (3) in the vertical plane. During the process, the measurement member (8) is positioned in the yogurt. Thus, the measurement process is facilitated. In an embodiment of the present invention, the yogurt maker (1) comprises an opening

(9) on the body (2) and the measurement member (8) comprising a carrier body (10) which is seated in the opening (9) so as not to protrude. The carrier body (10) is seated in the opening on the body (2). When the carrier body (10) is seated in the opening (9), there is no protrusion out of the body (2). Thus, the lid (4) can be easily closed.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the yogurt maker (1) comprises the measurement member (8) having a measurement extension (11) with one end connected to the carrier body (10) and the other end extending into the receptacle (3), which remains in the foodstuff during the process so as to detect the values related to the foodstuff. One end of the measurement extension (11) is connected to the carrier body

(10) while the other end extends into the receptacle (3). The measurement extension

(11) is positioned in the yogurt during the process. Thus, the center of the yogurt can be measured. Thus, homogeneous yogurt can be prepared.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the yogurt maker (1) comprises at least one conductivity sensor (12) and at least one temperature sensor (13) which are provided on the measurement extension (11), the control unit (7) which enables the fermentation process to be controlled according to the information received from the measurement extension (11), a first electrical conduction zone (14) which is provided on the carrier body (10) and which enables the information received from the measurement extension (11) to be transferred from the body (2) to the control unit (7), and a second electrical conduction zone (15) which is provided on the body (2) so as to align with the first electrical conduction zone (14) when the measurement member (8) is placed onto the body (2). By means of the conductivity and temperature sensors (12 and 13) provided on the measurement member (8), values are taken from the yogurt during the fermentation process. By means of the temperature sensor (13), the yogurt is enabled to be fermented in the desired consistency. By means of the conductivity sensor (12), the acidic and basic structure of the yogurt is detected, and thus the taste of yogurt is determined. The information received from the measurement extension (11) is transferred from the body (2) to the control unit (7) by means of the interoperability of the first electrical conduction zone (14) and the second electrical conduction zone (15). Thus, the control unit (7) controls the fermentation process according to the information received from the sensors (12 and 13).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the yogurt maker (1) comprises a plurality of pins (16) which are provided on the first electrical conduction zone (14) and a plurality of conductive housings (17) which are provided on the second electrical conduction zone (15) and which receive the pins (16). The information received from the sensors (12 and 13) is transferred from the body (2) to the control unit (7) as the pins

(16) on the first electrical conduction zone (14) are fitted into the conductive housings

(17) provided on the second electrical conduction zone (17). In the preferred embodiment, pogo pin connectors are used.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the yogurt maker (1) comprises at least one first magnet (18) which is provided on the surface of the carrier body (10) facing the body (2) when the carrier body (10) is placed onto the body (2), and a second magnet (19) which is provided on the body (2) so as to align with the first magnet (18). As the carrier body (10) is placed on the body (2), the first magnet (18) provided on the carrier body (10) and the second magnet (19) attract each other. Thus, the measurement member (8) is enabled to be easily placed and centered on the body (2).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the yogurt maker (1) comprises the measurement member (8) having a fixing member (20) with one end positioned on the carrier body (10) and the other end attached onto the body (2) so as to ensure the fixing of the measurement member (8). The fixing member (20) is connected to the carrier body (10) at one end and fixed on the body (2) from the other end. The carrier body (10) and the fixing member (20) are almost perpendicular to each other.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the yogurt maker (1) comprises at least one protrusion (21) which is provided on the fixing member (20) and at least one recess (22) which is provided on the body (2) so as to align with the protrusion (21). The protrusion (21) on the fixing member (20) functions together with the recess (22) on the body (2), enabling the measurement member (8) to be fixed on the body (2). In an embodiment of the present invention, the yogurt maker (1) comprises a slide mechanism (23) where the protrusion (21) and the recess (22) can move by sliding over each other. The fixing member (20) is attached to and detached from the body (2) by means of the slide mechanism (23). The protrusion (21) moves by sliding over the recess (22). By means of the slide mechanism (23), the measurement extension (11) is allowed to make only vertical movement on the receptacle (3). Thus, the yogurt is prevented from being mixed and the structure thereof is prevented from getting impaired.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the yogurt maker (1) comprises a protective part (24) which is provided on the measurement extension (11) and which is manufactured by injection method to ensure sealing. The protective part (24) is manufactured by plastic injection method. Thus, the measurement extension (11) is enabled to be resistant to liquid. Consequently, ease of use is provided and quality perception is improved. By means of the present invention, a yogurt maker (1) is realized, comprising a measurement member (8) which can be attached to/detached from the body (2). The measurement member (8) is enabled to be easily cleaned by means of the detachable structure thereof. Thus, the same quality measurement can be achieved in every process.