CPC A47J 31/4485 (2013.01) [A47J 31/4489 (2013.01); A47J 31/469 (2018.08)] | 12 Claims |
1. A milk frother/heater for a milk supply circuit in a beverage vending machine, the milk frother/heater comprising:
a hollow body composed of one or more undismountably coupled parts, and integrally comprises a first appendage defining a milk inlet to receive either smooth milk or a milk-air mixture, a second appendage defining a steam inlet to receive steam, and a third appendage defining a milk outlet to deliver cold or hot, smooth or frothed milk;
wherein the hollow body internally defines a mixing chamber that is entirely hollow;
wherein the milk inlet, the steam inlet, and the milk outlet internally define a milk inlet passage, a steam inlet passage and a milk outlet passage, respectively, in fluidic communication with the mixing chamber,
wherein the mixing chamber has an axis (A) and comprises a first closed axial end and a second axial end opposite the first axial end;
wherein the steam inlet passage and the milk outlet passage converge at the second axial end;
wherein the milk inlet passage converges at the second axial end or with the steam inlet passage upstream from the mixing chamber, and
wherein the milk frother/heater is configured for use with the milk supply circuit of the beverage vending machine.
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