US 12,256,862 B2
Apparatus for frothing a quantity of milk
Ziv Shalev, Prahran (AU); and Enrico Wurm, Scarperia (IT)
Assigned to COFFEE INNOVATIONS PTY LTD, Caulfield North (AU); and LA MARZOCCO S.R.L., Scarperia (IT)
Appl. No. 16/612,820
Filed by COFFEE INNOVATIONS PTY LTD, Caulfield North (AU); and LA MARZOCCO S.R.L., Scarperia (IT)
PCT Filed May 17, 2018, PCT No. PCT/EP2018/062883
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 12, 2019,
PCT Pub. No. WO2018/211033, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 22, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 102017000054448 (IT), filed on May 19, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2020/0138233 A1, May 7, 2020
Int. Cl. A47J 31/44 (2006.01)
CPC A47J 31/4489 (2013.01) [A47J 31/4425 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for frothing a quantity of milk for preparing a beverage, the apparatus comprising:
a platform for supporting a jug containing the quantity of milk to be frothed,
wherein the platform is configured to centrally selectively accommodate on the platform a jug of a first diameter and a jug of a second diameter, the second diameter being greater than the first diameter;
the platform comprising a horizontal un-tilted position and wherein the platform is tiltable about a horizontal axis; and
a steam wand comprising an end configured to emit steam and/or heated air,
a drain container configured to at least partially enclose the platform;
a horizontal shaft and a motor connected to said horizontal shaft, wherein the horizontal shaft passes through a wall of the drain container;
wherein the steam wand and the platform are reciprocally movable one with respect to the other; and
wherein steam is emitted from the end of the steam wand while tilting the platform;
a processor configured to control one or both of a tilting angle and a tilting speed of the platform, wherein the processor is configured to tilt the platform and the jug in a pivotal motion whereby gravitational force forces the milk in a rotational manner to create turbulences which smooth out air bubbles in the milk introduced by the steam to result in a micro bubbles consistency.