초록 ▼

The present invention relates to a mixing device for aerating and frothing a product that comprises a fluid component and at least one further component, comprising a rotor (101) having a rotational axis (102) and a surface of revolution (4) defined by the rotor (101) upon rotation around its rotati

The present invention relates to a mixing device for aerating and frothing a product that comprises a fluid component and at least one further component, comprising a rotor (101) having a rotational axis (102) and a surface of revolution (4) defined by the rotor (101) upon rotation around its rotational axis (102), the surface of revolution (4) extending from a first axial (105) end to a second axial end (106), and the first axial end (105) being arranged upstream with respect to the second axial end (106); a motor in driving association with the rotor (101) for rotating the rotor about the rotational axis (102); and a product exit conduit disposed downstream of the rotor and configured for dispensing the aerated and frothed product of the fluid and at least one further component, which rotor (101) comprises a downstream part (108) and an upstream part (107). The invention relates furthermore to a beverage machine provided with the aforementioned mixing device.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A mixing device for aerating and frothing a product that comprises a fluid component and at least one further component, comprising: a rotor having a rotational axis and a surface of revolution defined by the rotor upon rotation around its rotational axis, the surface of revolution extending from

1. A mixing device for aerating and frothing a product that comprises a fluid component and at least one further component, comprising: a rotor having a rotational axis and a surface of revolution defined by the rotor upon rotation around its rotational axis, the surface of revolution extending from a first axial end to a second axial end, and the first axial end being located upstream with respect to the second axial end;a motor for rotating the rotor about the rotational axis; anda product exit conduit located downstream of the rotor and configured for dispensing the aerated and frothed product of the fluid and at least one further component,the rotor comprising a downstream part and an upstream part,the downstream part comprises a rotational body having a first end surface facing upstream, a second end surface facing downstream and a downstream rotational surface facing in a radial outward direction,the upstream part comprises an upstream rotational surface facing in a radial outward direction, the upstream rotational surface being provided with ribs, the ribs having radial edges facing in a radial outward direction, chambers being defined between adjacent ribs, the first end face and the upstream rotational surface, andthe surface of revolution is defined by the downstream rotational surface and the radial edges of the ribs, and wherein, with respect to the rotational axis, the downstream rotational surface tapers, in an upstream direction. 2. The mixing device according to claim 1, wherein the upstream rotational surface is a conical surface which tapers in an upstream direction at an angle less than an angle at which the downstream rotational surface tapers. 3. The mixing device according to claim 1, wherein the downstream rotational surface is provided with grooves extending from the first to the second end surface. 4. The mixing device according to claim 3, wherein in each chamber extends at least one of the grooves. 5. The mixing device according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the surface of revolution at the first axial end is smaller than the diameter of the surface of revolution at the second axial end. 6. The mixing device according to claim 1, wherein the upstream rotational surface is a cylindrical surface. 7. The mixing device according to claim 1, wherein the ribs extend essentially in an axial direction and in a radial direction. 8. The mixing device according to claim 1, wherein when viewed in a tangential direction, the width of each chamber is larger than the width of the grooves extending into it. 9. The mixing device according to claim 1, wherein the motor and rotor are configured for providing energy dissipation to the product of about between 1 J/g and 2.5 J/g with a product flow rate of about between 5 g/sec and 30 g/sec. 10. The mixing device according to claim 1, wherein the motor and rotor are configured for providing energy dissipation to the product selectively in at least the range of about 0.5 J/g to 1.5 J/g with a product flow rate of about between 5 g/sec and 30 g/sec. 11. The mixing device according to claim 1, wherein the surface of revolution is oriented at a surface angle to the rotational axis of about between 5° and 85°. 12. The mixing device according to claim 1, wherein the surface of revolution has an area of about between 1000 mm2 and 3000 mm2. 13. The mixing device according to claim 1, wherein the surface of revolution has an axial length of about between ⅛ and 4 times the size of the diameter of the surface of revolution at the first axial end. 14. The mixing device according to claim 1, wherein the surface of revolution is a conical surface and has a substantially constant surface angle between the first and second axial end. 15. The mixing device according to claim 1, wherein the rotor housing has a shape substantially corresponding to the surface of revolution. 16. The mixing device according to claim 15, wherein a shear gap is defined between the housing and the rotor, perpendicular to the rotational axis, having a width of about between 1.0 mm and 3.0 mm. 17. The mixing device according to claim 1, wherein the grooves have a depth of at most about 8 mm. 18. The mixing device according to claim 1 comprising a first wall member disposed downstream of and facing the second axial end, the first wall member being spaced from the second axial end by about between 2.0 mm and 6 mm. 19. The mixing device according to claim 18, wherein the first wall is spaced from the second axial end by about between 3 mm and 5 mm. 20. The mixing device according to claim 1, further comprising a motor controller configured for selective operation at various speeds. 21. The mixing device according to claim 20, wherein the motor controller is configured for varying the rotation speed of the motor between a first speed and a second speed during the production of a single product. 22. A beverage machine provided with a mixing device according to claim 1, comprising a water supply system for the fluid component and at least one container for the at least one further component. 23. A mixing device for aerating and frothing a product that comprises a fluid component and at least one further component, comprising: a rotor having a rotational axis and a surface of revolution defined by the rotor upon rotation around its rotational axis, the surface of revolution extending from a first axial end to a second axial end, and the first axial end being located upstream with respect to the second axial end;a motor for rotating the rotor about the rotational axis; anda product exit conduit located downstream of the rotor and configured for dispensing the aerated and frothed product of the fluid and at least one further component,the rotor comprising a downstream part and an upstream part,the downstream part comprises a rotational body having a first end surface facing upstream, a second end surface facing downstream and a downstream rotational surface facing in a radial outward direction,the upstream part comprises an upstream rotational surface facing in a radial outward direction, the upstream rotational surface being provided with ribs, the ribs having radial edges facing in a radial outward direction, chambers being defined between adjacent ribs, the first end face and the upstream rotational surface, andthe surface of revolution is defined by the downstream rotational surface and the radial edges of the ribs, wherein an angle of taper of the downstream rotational surface is different from, an angle of taper of the part of the surface of revolution determined by the radial edges of the ribs. 24. A beverage machine provided with a mixing device according to claim 23, comprising a water supply system for the fluid component and at least one container for the at least one further component. 25. The mixing device according to claim 23, wherein the part of the surface of revolution determined by the radial edges of the ribs, in an upstream direction. 26. The mixing device according to claim 23, wherein the surface of revolution is oriented at a surface angle to the rotational axis of about between 10° and 45°. 27. A mixing device for aerating and frothing a product that comprises a fluid component and at least one further component, comprising: a rotor having a rotational axis and a surface of revolution defined by the rotor upon rotation around its rotational axis, the surface of revolution extending from a first axial end to a second axial end, and the first axial end being located upstream with respect to the second axial end;a motor for rotating the rotor about the rotational axis; anda product exit conduit located downstream of the rotor and configured for dispensing the aerated and frothed product of the fluid and at least one further component,the rotor comprising a downstream part and an upstream part,the downstream part comprises a rotational body having a first end surface facing upstream, a second end surface facing downstream and a downstream rotational surface facing in a radial outward direction,the upstream part comprises an upstream rotational surface facing in a radial outward direction, the upstream rotational surface being provided with ribs, the ribs having radial edges facing in a radial outward direction, chambers being defined between adjacent ribs, the first end face and the upstream rotational surface, andthe surface of revolution is defined by the downstream rotational surface and the radial edges of the ribs, wherein an axial length of the upstream part and an axial length of the downstream part are about the same. 28. A beverage machine provided with a mixing device according to claim 27, comprising a water supply system for the fluid component and at least one container for the at least one further component. 29. The mixing device according to claim 27, wherein, with respect to the rotational axis, the radial edges of the ribs taper, in an upstream direction.