Method of Preparing Foam From a Milk-Based Alimentary Liquid and Method for Implementing the Same

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for preparing foam from a milk-based alimentary liquid, including the successive steps of: a) spacing a quantity of alimentary liquid in a container associated with stirring members; b) heating said quantity of alimentary liquid to bring it in proximity to a first desired temperature level while mechanically stirring it at a first stirring speed, lower than the Foam creating speed, and c) stirring said quantity of liquid at a second stirring speed, sufficient to make said liquid foam.

1 . Method of preparing foam from a milk-based alimentary liquid for preparing a drink using a device comprising a frame including a support for a container, said support being associated with heating means for heating said alimentary liquid contained in said container when the container is disposed on said support, mechanical stirring means extending at least partially into said container, means for driving said stirring means, and control and command means arranged for automatically controlling the command of said heating means and said drive means, said method comprising the steps of: 
 a) placing a quantity of alimentary liquid in the container associated with said stirring means;    b) commanding, via the control and command means said heating means associated with said support to heat said quantity of alimentary liquid while commanding said driving means for said mechanical stirring means at a first predetermined stirring speed, lower than the foam generating speed for stirring said quantity of alimentary liquid; and    c) commanding, via the control and command means said mechanical stirring means for stirring said quantity of liquid at a second predetermined stirring speed, effective to make said liquid foam.    
   
   
       2 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the control and command means are arranged so as to maintain said quantity of liquid at sai a desired temperature during step c).  
   
   
       3 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the control and command means are arranged so as to adapt the quantity of heating energy supplied during step b) as a function of said quantity of liquid.  
   
   
       4 . Method according to  claim 3 , wherein the adaptation by the control and command means of the quantity of heating energy supplied is achieved by adjusting at least one of the heating power and the heating time.  
   
   
       5 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein during step c) the control and command means drive the stirring means in a discontinuous manner.  
   
   
       6 . Method according to  claim 5 , wherein the control and command means are arranged so as to drive the stirring means with a stirring interruption frequency ranging from approximately 0.3 to 0.5 Hz.  
   
   
       7 . Method according to  claim 5 , wherein said stirring means comprise a rotating stirring element, the control and command means drive said rotating stirring element so that it changes rotational direction after each interruption.  
   
   
       8 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein said second predetermined speed is at least twice, said first predetermined speed.  
   
   
       9 . Method according to of  claim 8 , wherein the stirring means comprises a rotating stirring element, the first stirring speed is comprised between 500 and 1500 rpm.  
   
   
       10 . Method according to  claim 8 , wherein the stirring means comprises a rotating stirring element, second stirring speed is comprised between 3000 and 10000 rpm.  
   
   
       11 . Device for preparing foam from a milk-based alimentary liquid for preparing a drink comprising a container for receiving said alimentary liquid, a frame including a support for said container, said support being associated with a heater for heating said alimentary liquid contained in said container when the container is disposed on said support, a stirrer extending at least partially into said container, means for driving said stirrer means, and control means arranged for controlling said heater means and said drive means, said frame is connected to a mobile cover extending above said container, in that said drive means are disposed in said cover and in that said cover is mobile between a first position in which said drive means are coupled to said stirrer and a second position in which said drive means are uncoupled from said stirrer.  
   
   
       12 . Device according to  claim 11 , wherein the control means are arranged for heating a quantity of liquid to bring it in proximity to a desired temperature level while stirring said quantity of liquid at a first speed during a first phase and for stirring said quantity of liquid at a second speed higher than the first speed during a second phase.  
   
   
       13 . Device according to  claim 12 , wherein the control means are arranged for heating said quantity of liquid during the second phase.  
   
   
       14 . Device according to  claim 12 , wherein the control means include selection means for adapting the quantity of heating energy supplied during the first phase as a function of said quantity of liquid.  
   
   
       15 . Device according to  claim 14 , wherein said selection means include a plurality of control keys, each of the keys corresponding to the supply of a quantity of energy for a determined quantity of liquid.  
   
   
       16 . Device according to  claim 11 , wherein said container is removably mounted on said support.  
   
   
       17 . Device according to  claim 16 , wherein the container is associated with a cover and in that said cover carries said stirring means.  
   
   
       18 . Device according to  claim 11 , wherein the stirring means are stirrer is formed by a rod including a stirring head at its distal end.  
   
   
       19 . Device according to any of  claim 11 , wherein said rod is rotatably mounted in said cover.  
   
   
       20 . Device according to  claim 18 , wherein the stirring head extends in proximity to the bottom of the container.  
   
   
       21 . Device according to  claim 11 , wherein the drive means are coupled to said stirrer by a friction coupling.  
   
   
       22 . Device according to  claim 11 , comprising locking means for holding said cover respectively in said first and second positions.  
   
   
       23 . Device according to  claim 11 , wherein said control means are disposed in said frame, and in that said control means are connected to control keys arranged on one surface of said cover.  
   
   
       24 . Device according to  claim 11 , wherein said drive means further include a motor with two directions of rotation.  
   
   
       25 . Device according to  claim 11 , wherein the control means include temperature detection means and in that the control means are arranged for controlling said drive means in accordance with at least two speed levels as a function of the temperature level detected.  
   
   
       26 . Method of preparing foam from a milk-based liquid for preparing a drink comprising the steps of: 
 a) placing a quantity of alimentary liquid in a container having a stirrer;    b) heating the alimentary liquid while stirring the liquid at a first predetermined stirring speed, lower than the foam generating speed for stirring said quantity of alimentary liquid; and    c) stirring said liquid at a second predetermined stirring speed, effective to make said liquid foam.