Centrifugal pumping and foaming device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10945555-B2
Application number	US-201615772288-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 3, 2016
Priority date	Nov 5, 2015
Publication date	Mar 16, 2021
Grant date	Mar 16, 2021

Abstract

The invention refers to a pumping and foaming device (10) comprising a mixing unit (201) where air and a foamable fluid are conveyed and pre-mixed, and a foaming unit (203) where the mixture of air and fluid is foamed; the device (10) further comprising a processing element (202) rotatable with respect to the foaming unit (203), such that the rotation of the processing element (202) sucks air and fluid by centrifugal forces into the mixing unit (201), where they are conveyed and pre-mixed, that same rotation of the processing element (202) with respect to the foaming unit (203) driving the mixture of air and fluid under a certain level of shear stress which allows the mixture to be foamed. The invention further refers to a pack (100) comprising a device (10) and a fluid container (20), and further to a machine (200) to which such a pack (100) is connectable. The invention also refers to a system (300) comprising a machine (200) and a pack (100).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A pumping and foaming device comprising:
a mixing unit where air and a foamable fluid are conveyed and pre-mixed into a mixture of the air and the foamable fluid, wherein the mixing unit comprises an outlet leading into a disc chamber in which a processing element is positioned, the mixing unit further comprises an air inlet and a fluid inlet each at different radial positions in the mixing unit relative to the outlet of the mixing unit,
the air inlet configured for the air to enter the mixing unit through the air inlet and flow through an air conduit in the mixing unit,
the fluid inlet configured for the foamable fluid to enter the mixing unit through the fluid inlet and flow through a fluid conduit in the mixing unit,
the air and fluid conduits are perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the processing element and merge with each other prior to the mixing unit outlet;
a foaming unit where the mixture of the air and the foamable fluid is foamed into a foam; and
the processing element comprising circulation holes communicating a first side of the processing element with a second side of the processing element opposite the first side, the processing element rotatable with respect to the foaming unit, such that the rotation of the processing element sucks the air and the foamable fluid by centrifugal forces into the mixing unit, wherein the same rotation of the processing element with respect to the foaming unit drives the mixture of air and fluid under a shear stress effective for the mixture to be foamed.

2. The pumping and foaming device according to claim 1 wherein the processing element is arranged between the mixing unit and the foaming unit, the processing element being rotatable with respect to the mixing unit and the foaming unit, which are static.

3. The pumping and foaming device according to claim 1 , wherein the processing element is arranged closely to the foaming unit, defining a gap of between 0.2 mm and 0.6 mm.

4. The pumping and foaming device according to claim 1 , wherein the foaming unit comprises the disc chamber having a substantially spiral shape.

5. The pumping and foaming device according to claim 4 , wherein the mixture of the air and the flowable fluid is driven by the shear stress into a gap between the disc chamber and a surface of the processing element.

6. The pumping and foaming device according to claim 5 , wherein the surface of the processing element, with which the disc chamber forms the gap, is substantially flat and faces the foaming unit.

7. The pumping and foaming device according to claim 6 , wherein the surface of the processing element that is substantially flat and faces the foaming unit is on the first side of the processing element, and the second side of the processing element comprises a patterned surface.

8. The pumping and foaming device according to claim 7 , wherein the circulation holes are configured to circulate the foamable fluid from the patterned surface into the disc chamber.

9. The pumping and foaming device according to claim 1 , wherein the processing element comprises a patterned surface facing the mixing unit and a flat surface facing the foaming unit.

10. The pumping and foaming device according to claim 9 wherein the patterned surface of the processing element has a geometric pattern originating from the center of the processing element and radiating outward towards the perimeter of the processing element.

11. The pumping and foaming device according to claim 1 wherein the processing element is a disc.

12. The pumping and foaming device according to claim 1 wherein the processing element is a cylinder.

13. The pumping and foaming device according to claim 1 comprising a heater configured for heating the foam before the foam is delivered.

14. The pumping and foaming device according to claim 1 wherein the processing element rotates at a speed of between 2000 rpm and 10000 rpm.

15. The pumping and foaming device according to claim 1 wherein the mixing unit comprises a path for conveying the foamable fluid, the path configured such that a container from which the foamable fluid is sucked into the foaming and pumping device can be emptied.

16. The pumping and foaming device according to claim 1 configured such that the mixing unit, the foaming unit and the processing element can be separated from each other for being cleaned.

17. A pack comprising:
a pumping and foaming device comprising (i) a mixing unit where air and a foamable fluid are conveyed and pre-mixed into a mixture of the air and the foamable fluid,
wherein the mixing unit comprises an outlet leading into a disc chamber in which a processing element is positioned, the mixing unit further comprises an air inlet and a fluid inlet each at different radial positions in the mixing unit relative to the outlet of the mixing unit,
the air inlet configured for the air to enter the mixing unit through the air inlet and flow through an air conduit in the mixing unit,
the fluid inlet configured for the foamable fluid to enter the mixing unit through the fluid inlet and flow through a fluid conduit in the mixing unit,
the air and fluid conduits are perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the processing element and merge with each other prior to the mixing unit outlet;
(ii) a foaming unit where the mixture of the air and the foamable fluid is foamed into a foam; and
(iii) the processing element comprising circulation holes communicating a first side of the processing element with a second side of the processing element opposite the first side, the processing element rotatable with respect to the foaming unit, such that the rotation of the processing element sucks the air and the foamable fluid by centrifugal forces into the mixing unit, wherein the same rotation of the processing element with respect to the foaming unit drives the mixture of air and fluid under a shear stress effective for the mixture to be foamed; and
a fluid container for storing the foamable fluid.

18. A system comprising a pack and a machine to which the pack is connectable for providing a fluid foam, the pack comprising:
a pumping and foaming device comprising (i) a mixing unit where air and a foamable fluid are conveyed and pre-mixed into a mixture of the air and the foamable fluid,
wherein the mixing unit comprises an outlet leading into a disc chamber in which a processing element is positioned, the mixing unit further comprises an air inlet and a fluid inlet each at different radial positions in the mixing unit relative to the outlet of the mixing unit,
the air inlet configured for the air to enter the mixing unit through the air inlet and flow through an air conduit in the mixing unit,
the fluid inlet configured for the foamable fluid to enter the mixing unit through the fluid inlet and flow through a fluid conduit in the mixing unit,
the air and fluid conduits are perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the processing element and merge with each other prior to the mixing unit outlet;
(ii) a foaming unit where the mixture of the air and the foamable fluid is foamed into a foam; and
(iii) the processing element comprising circulation holes communicating a first side of the processing element with a second side of the processing element opposite the first side, the processing element rotatable with respect to the foaming unit, such that the rotation of the processing element sucks the air and the foamable fluid by centrifugal forces into the mixing unit, wherein the same rotation of the processing element with respect to the

Assignees

• Nestec Sa
• Nestle Sa

Inventors

• Savioz Gregory
• Ait Bouziad Youcef
• Perrin Alexa

Classifications

• B01F23/2351

  using driven stirrers · CPC title

• A47J31/4496

  Means to produce beverage with a layer on top, e.g. of cream, foam or froth · CPC title

• A23L2/54

  Mixing with gases · CPC title

• A23V2002/00

  Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs · CPC title

• A47J31/4485 Primary

  Nozzles dispensing heated and foamed milk, i.e. milk is sucked from a milk container, heated and foamed inside the device, and subsequently dispensed from the nozzle · CPC title