초록 ▼

An espresso machine steam docking unit which can be connected to a milk steaming pitcher (1). The steam unit includes a steam inlet (10), a steam outlet (7) which can be pressed, by means of an activation lever (19) that can be swung out of a rest position into an operating position, against a steam

An espresso machine steam docking unit which can be connected to a milk steaming pitcher (1). The steam unit includes a steam inlet (10), a steam outlet (7) which can be pressed, by means of an activation lever (19) that can be swung out of a rest position into an operating position, against a steam inlet opening (2) of a milk steaming pitcher (1), a valve (12) which is connected to the steam inlet (10) and the steam outlet (7) and which can be activated by the activation lever (19). In addition, a switching contact (21), which is activated by the activation lever (19) to activate a steam generator in the espresso machine when the activation lever is in operating position, is provided. In addition, a steam release line (18) is provided and is connected by means of the activation lever (19) through the valve (12) to the steam inlet (10) and the steam outlet (7).

대표청구항 ▼

1. An espresso machine steam docking unit which is connected to a milk steaming pitcher (1) and which comprises: a steam inlet (10), a steam outlet (7) which can be pressed, by means of an activation lever (19) that is swung out of a rest position into an operating position, against a steam inlet op

1. An espresso machine steam docking unit which is connected to a milk steaming pitcher (1) and which comprises: a steam inlet (10), a steam outlet (7) which can be pressed, by means of an activation lever (19) that is swung out of a rest position into an operating position, against a steam inlet opening (2) of a milk steaming pitcher (1), a valve (12) which is connected to the steam inlet (10) and steam outlet (7) and which is activated by the activation lever (19), and a switching contact (21) which is activated by the activation lever (19) and which activates a steam generator in an espresso machine when the activation lever (19) is in an operating position, whereina steam release line (18) is further provided and is connected as a function of operating state through the valve (12) to the steam inlet (10) and steam outlet (7), and the valve (12) is controlled by means of the activation lever (19); so that the valve (12) is closed when the activation lever (19) is moved out of its rest position into its operating position, before the switching contact (21) activates the steam generator, when the steam outlet (7) is connected to the steam inlet opening (28) of the milk steaming pitcher (1), and so that the valve (12) is opened, by moving the activation lever (19) out of its operating position into its rest position, after the switching contact (21) has turned off the steam generator, before the steam outlet (7) is separated from the steam inlet opening (28) of the milk steaming pitcher (1). 2. The steam docking unit according to claim 1 whereinthe steam outlet (7) in a form of a steam outlet tube is a component of a steam supply cylinder (6) which is lowered and raised in a cylinder sleeve (8), the steam supply cylinder (6) is lowered against force of a return sprig (9) by means of the activation lever (19) into its operating position, in which the steam supply cylinder (6) is locked with a locking/locking device (23, 32), and the locking/unlocking device (23, 32) is unlocked with the activation lever to allow the steam supply cylinder (6) to rise automatically under the force of the return spring (9) into a rest position, after the activation lever (19) activates the switching contact (21), that thus turns off the steam generation, and after the activation lever (19) opens the valve (12) to the steam release line (18). 3. The steam docking unit according to claim 2, wherein the locking/unlocking device (23, 32) comprises:a locking pin (24), which is provided in a locking pin receiving hole (25) in the steam supply cylinder (6) under pressure of a locking pin spring (26), which slides the locking pin (24) into a locking pin catch (27) formed in the cylinder sleeve (8), and an unlocking lever (28) which is mounted on the cylinder sleeve (8) and which engages into the locking pin catch (27) and which can be swung by means of the activation lever (19), pressing the locking pin (24) out of the locking pin catch (27). 4. The steam docking unit according to claim 3, whereinthe unlocking lever (28) has an inclined lifting surface (32), which a driving bolt (23) of the activation lever (19) run up against, when the activation lever (19) is swung along the unlocking lever (28), and when the activation lever (19) is in operating position, the driving bolt (23) is located at a distance from the inclined lifting surface (32). 5. The steam docking unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the activation lever (19) lies against a driving block (22) provided on the steam supply cylinder (6).6. The steam docking unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the valve (12) is a rotatable ceramic valve whose axis of rotation is coaxial with a pivoting axis (19a) of the activation lever (19).7. The steam docking unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an activation element of the switching contact (21) is provided in a path of travel of the activation lever (19).8. The steam docking unit according to claim 2, wherein an outlet end of the steam outlet tube is surrounding by a sealing sleeve (33) which is pressed together in a path-dependent manner against the milk steaming pitcher (1) around its steam inlet opening (2) when the steam supply cylinder (6) is lowered.