Self-cleaning mixing head for producing a milk-based mixture

Abstract

A method for cleaning milk residues from a mixing head for producing heated milk in the form of a froth or water-milk mixture. The mixing head includes a steam feed, a milk inlet, a mixing area where the steam feed and milk inlet join and the steam and milk combine, an outlet nozzle for draining the resulting mixture from the mixing head, a rinsing medium supply, a milk supply and a transfer mechanism that provides relative movement between the milk inlet and the rinsing medium supply or the milk supply for selectively bringing the milk inlet into fluid connection with the rinsing medium supply or the milk supply, such that milk or a rinsing medium, as desired, can enter the mixing head at the milk inlet. The introduction of the rinsing medium cleans any residual milk from the milk inlet.

1 . A method for cleaning or rinsing of a mixing head for producing heated milk, wherein the mixing device comprises a steam feed, a milk inlet, a mixing area where the steam feed and milk inlet join to allow steam and milk to combine to form a mixture, and an outlet nozzle for draining the mixture from the mixing head, which comprises bringing the milk inlet of the mixing head into fluid contact with a rinsing medium supply, and having a rinsing medium from the supply enter the milk inlet and pass through the mixing head to remove milk residues before leaving the mixing head at the outlet nozzle. 
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the steam is supplied by the steam feed into the mixing head, and the milk is provided from a milk supply through the milk inlet and into the mixing head. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , which further comprises introducing the rinsing medium into the milk inlet by the effect of suction created when passing the steam into the mixing head. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , which further comprises alternatively delivering the milk and rinsing medium into the mixing head at the milk inlet, such that when the rinsing medium is provided into the mixing head it cleans any residual milk from the milk inlet. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , which further comprises moving the milk inlet to connect the rinsing medium supply to the mixing head for the cleaning of the residual milk from the milk inlet. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein milk inlet is moved via a mechanical transfer mechanism. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the mechanical transfer mechanism is motorized and is operatively associated with a control unit that controls the movement of the mechanical transfer mechanism. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the control unit controls the movement of the mechanical transfer member between the milk inlet and the milk supply or rinsing medium supply to enable the alternative delivery of the milk and rinsing medium. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , which further comprises removing any residual milk from the mixing head by transferring any fluid leaving the outlet nozzle into a milk supply receptacle when the milk inlet is in fluid connection with the rinsing medium supply. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , which further comprises moving the outlet nozzle to either a retracted position where the mixing head outlet nozzle is configured and positioned to be cleaned or rinsed, or to a product delivery position in which the outlet nozzle protrudes from a front wall of the housing to deliver the mixture. 
   
   
       11 . In a device that includes a mixing head for producing heated milk, wherein the mixing device comprises a steam feed, a milk inlet, a mixing area where the steam feed and milk inlet join to allow steam and milk to combine to form a mixture, and an outlet nozzle for draining the mixture from the mixing head, the improvement which comprises bringing the milk inlet of the mixing head into fluid contact with a rinsing medium supply, and having a rinsing medium from the supply enter the milk inlet and pass through the mixing head to remove milk residues before leaving the mixing head at the outlet nozzle. 
   
   
       12 . The invention of  claim 11 , wherein the rinsing medium is introduced into the milk inlet by the effect of suction created when passing the steam into the mixing head. 
   
   
       13 . The invention of  claim 11 , wherein the milk and rinsing medium are delivered alternatively into the mixing head at the milk inlet, such that when the rinsing medium is provided into the mixing head it cleans any residual milk from the milk inlet. 
   
   
       14 . The invention of  claim 11 , wherein any residual milk is removed from the mixing head by transferring any fluid leaving the outlet nozzle into a milk supply receptacle when the milk inlet is in fluid connection with the rinsing medium supply. 
   
   
       15 . The invention of  claim 11 , wherein the outlet nozzle is moved to either a retracted position where the mixing head outlet nozzle is configured and positioned to be cleaned or rinsed, or to a product delivery position in which the outlet nozzle protrudes from a front wall of the housing to deliver the mixture.