Device for heating and/or frothing a beverage

Abstract

A device for heating and/or frothing a beverage includes a first duct connectable to an upstream steam source and to downstream mixing means arranged to introduce and mix at least steam into said beverage, said first duct having a first valve configured to be opened and closed and to enable or prevent steam flow into the duct, and a second duct connectable to the upstream steam source and to said downstream mixing means, said second duct having a second valve configured to be opened and closed and to enable or prevent steam flow into the duct, wherein a first one of said two ducts comprises a Venturi assembly configured to operate by Venturi effect in order to mix air with said steam in said first one of said two ducts when a second one of said two ducts is closed.

1 . A device for heating and/or frothing a beverage, comprising:
 a first duct connectable to an upstream steam source and to downstream mixing means ( 14 ) arranged to introduce and mix at least steam into said beverage, said first duct having a first valve configured to be opened and closed and to enable or prevent steam flow into the duct;   a second duct connectable to the upstream steam source and to said downstream mixing means, said second duct having a second valve configured to be opened and closed and to enable or prevent steam flow into the duct;   wherein a first one of said two ducts comprises a Venturi assembly configured to operate by Venturi effect in order to mix air with said steam in said first one of said two ducts when a second one of said two ducts is closed.   
     
     
         2 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a further valve connected to the Venturi assembly and configured to enable air flow into said Venturi assembly and to prevent steam flow out of said one of said two conducts. 
     
     
         3 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said Venturi assembly includes an orifice having a determined internal diameter, and is connected to a duct length having a respective internal diameter smaller than the internal diameter of said orifice. 
     
     
         4 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a control unit connected to said first and second valves and configured to control the selective opening and closure of said first and second valves. 
     
     
         5 . The device as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising a control unit connected to said first and second valves and configured to control the selective opening and closure of said first and second valves. 
     
     
         6 . The device as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising a control unit connected to said first and second valves and configured to control the selective opening and closure of said first and second valves. 
     
     
         7 . The device as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising a third valve connected to the Venturi assembly, and wherein said control unit is configured to control the selective opening and closure of said third valve. 
     
     
         8 . The device as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising a third valve connected to the Venturi assembly, and wherein said control unit is configured to control the selective opening and closure of said third valve. 
     
     
         9 . The device as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising a third valve connected to the Venturi assembly, and wherein said control unit is configured to control the selective opening and closure of said third valve. 
     
     
         10 . The device as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising temperature detecting means, which are associated with said mixing means, are connected to said control unit and are arranged to transmit signals representing the temperature of said beverage to said control unit. 
     
     
         11 . The device as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising temperature detecting means, which are associated with said mixing means, are connected to said control unit and are arranged to transmit signals representing the temperature of said beverage to said control unit. 
     
     
         12 . The device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said control unit is configured to control heating and/or frothing of the beverage based on the temperature detected by said temperature detecting means. 
     
     
         13 . The device as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising a command unit connected to said control unit and comprising command means arranged to selectively command preparation of either a heated or a frothed beverage. 
     
     
         14 . The device as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising a command unit connected to said control unit and comprising command means arranged to selectively command preparation of either a heated or a frothed beverage. 
     
     
         15 . The device as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising a command unit connected to said control unit and comprising command means arranged to selectively command preparation of either a heated or a frothed beverage. 
     
     
         16 . The device as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising a command unit connected to said control unit and comprising command means arranged to selectively command preparation of either a heated or a frothed beverage. 
     
     
         17 . The device as claimed in  claim 4 , comprising a parameter setting unit connected to said control unit and comprising parameter setting means configured to store into said control unit parameters to be used for preparing a heated or frothed beverage. 
     
     
         18 . The device as claimed in  claim 7 , comprising a parameter setting unit connected to said control unit and comprising parameter setting means configured to store into said control unit parameters to be used for preparing a heated or frothed beverage. 
     
     
         19 . The device as claimed in  claim 17 , characterised in that said parameters include at least one temperature range for frothed beverage preparation. 
     
     
         20 . A machine for preparing hot beverages, in particular espresso coffee, characterised in that it includes a device as claimed in  claim 1 .