System for cleaning milk ducts for a machine for preparing beverages

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024180358-A1
Application number	US-202218285739-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 6, 2022
Priority date	Apr 8, 2021
Publication date	Jun 6, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A cleaning system for a machine for preparing beverages has a washing water supply piping and a washing chamber suppliable with washing water provided by the washing water supply piping. A movable part of a flexible hose extracted from a milk reservoir may be placed into the washing chamber. Through the flexible hose, the washing water contained in the washing chamber may be conveyed to a frothing head of the machine. The washing chamber is formed in a tray couplable in a releasable manner to the machine under the frothing head. A collection chamber, also formed in the tray, is separate from the washing chamber and configured to be arranged under the distribution duct of the frothing head.

First claim

1 . A cleaning system for a machine for preparing beverages, wherein said machine includes comprises
a water supply configured to supply liquid water or steam within the machine, a frothing head for heating and whipping milk, said frothing head comprising a milk inlet and a distribution duct for distributing a hot beverage, the distribution duct being arranged downstream of the milk inlet, and a milk supply piping having an inlet end connectable to a milk reservoir and an outlet end connected to the milk inlet of the frothing head, said milk supply piping comprising, at the inlet end, a flexible hose having a fixed end and a movable part configured to be immersed into the milk reservoir, wherein said cleaning system comprises a washing water supply piping comprising an inlet end connected to the water supply and an outlet, and a washing chamber suppliable with washing water provided by the outlet of the washing water supply piping, in said washing chamber there being placeable the movable part of the flexible hose that has been extracted from the milk reservoir in said washing chamber, wherein, through the flexible hose, the washing water contained in the washing chamber is conveyable to the milk inlet and to the distribution duct of the frothing head, and wherein the washing chamber is formed in a tray couplable in a releasable manner to the body of the machine under the frothing head, a collection chamber also being formed in said tray, the collection chamber being separate from the washing chamber and configured to be arranged under the distribution duct of the frothing head.

2 . The cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the collection chamber is configured to be arranged under the outlet.

3 . The cleaning system of claim 1 , further comprising a mechanical affixing system for securing the tray to the machine under the frothing head.

4 . The cleaning system of claim 1 , further comprising a presence sensor configured to provide a signal indicative of presence or absence of the tray.

5 . The cleaning system of claim 1 , further comprising a level sensor configured to provide a signal indicative of a level of liquid within the washing chamber.

6 . The cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the frothing head further comprises a steam-driven jet pump, said steam-driven jet pump being connected upstream to the milk inlet and downstream to the distribution duct.

7 . The cleaning system of claim 1 , further comprising a detergent supply connected to the washing water supply piping.

8 . The cleaning system of claim 7 , wherein the washing water supply piping comprises
a cleaning branch and a rinse branch arranged in parallel, the cleaning branch being connected to the detergent supply, and shut-off valves configured to selectively put the cleaning branch or the rinse branch in fluid communication with the water supply.

9 . The cleaning system of claim 1 , further comprising
washing valve means arranged at the outlet end of the washing water supply piping, said washing valve means also being arranged between the flexible hose and the frothing head, and being switchable between a first position in which the flexible hose is isolated from the milk inlet of the frothing head, and a second position in which the flexible hose is in fluid communication with the milk inlet of the frothing head, wherein, in the first position, the washing water supply piping is further fluidically connectable to the washing chamber via said washing valve means, for washing the movable part of the flexible hose placed in the washing chamber.

10 . The cleaning system of claim 9 , wherein, with the washing valve means in the first position, the washing water is conveyable into the washing chamber via the washing water supply piping and, with the washing valve means in the second position, the washing water contained in the washing chamber is conveyable to the milk inlet and to the distribution duct of the frothing head.

11 . The cleaning system of claim 7 , further comprising a detergent presence sensor configured to detect a presence of detergent in the washing water and provide an indicative signal, a control unit being configured to control a rinse operation of the machine on the basis of said indicative signal.

Assignees

• Lavazza Luigi Spa

Inventors

• Carbonini Carlo

Classifications

• A47J31/60 Primary

  Cleaning devices · CPC title

• A47J31/402

  Liquid dosing devices · CPC title

• A47J31/469

  Details of hydraulic circuits · CPC title