Apparatus and Method for Frothing Milk

Abstract

A temperature sensing assembly for a milk frothing apparatus. The assembly including: a temperature sensor element and a resilient support element that receives and biases the temperature sensor element towards thermal communication with the underside of a vessel; wherein the assembly is located towards the end of a protruding portion that extends from the body of the a milk frothing apparatus; and wherein an upper surface of the temperature sensor assembly is adapted to promote liquid movement into a drip tray reservoir. The apparatus may include: a steam source; an air source coupled to an air injector module for mixing the air and steam; a user interface for receiving input from a user; and wherein the apparatus is configurable by receiving input parameters through the user interface, whereby the parameters includes final milk temperature, and an indication of froth amount.

1 . A temperature sensor assembly for a milk frothing apparatus, the milk frothing apparatus including a drip tray reservoir disposed beneath a support surface, the temperature sensor assembly comprising:
 a temperature sensor element and a resilient support element that receives and biases the temperature sensor element towards thermal communication with an underside of a vessel such that the temperature sensor assembly is biased toward a position above the support surface;   wherein the temperature sensor assembly is located towards an end of a protruding portion that extends from a body of the milk frothing apparatus; and   wherein an upper surface of the temperature sensor assembly is adapted to promote liquid movement into the drip tray reservoir;   wherein a void space is disposed below the resilient support element, the void space sized to accommodate downward travel of the resilient support element; and   wherein the resilient support element forms a seal between the protruding portion and the upper surface of the temperature sensor assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of the temperature sensor assembly has an aperture, and wherein the resilient support element is arranged to form a seal for limiting ingress of fluid through the aperture. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the resilient support element is held in compression between the protruding portion and the upper surface of the temperature sensor assembly for creating a water tight seal. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of the temperature sensor assembly is coupled to the protruding portion by one or more press clips extending from an underside of the upper surface of the temperature sensor assembly, the press clips arranged to engage cooperating recesses in the protruding portion. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein a shoulder of the protruding portion supports the resilient support element, such that the resilient support element is captured and abuttingly held by the protruding portion and the upper surface of the temperature sensor assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the protruding portion has an aperture for receiving the temperature sensor element, which is covered by the resilient support element. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor element is retained within the resilient support element, and a U clip engages both the temperature sensor element and the resilient support element. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the U clip prevents the temperature sensor element from being pulled upward, and prevents the temperature sensor element from being deflected downward past a point where the U clip engages a portion of the body. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein a rib of the milk frothing apparatus limits downward deflection of the temperature sensor element. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein a sleeve defined by the protruding portion captures a downwardly extending outer wall of the resilient support element. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor element is thermally coupled to the vessel, wherein the temperature sensor element is further coupled to a processor module that receives a temperature signal and controls a steam generation module for generating steam delivered to the vessel. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the milk frothing apparatus includes:
 a steam source;   an air source coupled to an air injector module for mixing the air and steam;   a user interface for receiving input from a user; and   wherein the apparatus is configurable by receiving input parameters through the user interface, whereby the parameters includes final milk temperature, and an indication of froth amount.   
     
     
         13 . The assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the indication of froth amount is be represented in the user interface by a scale for user selection. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the input parameter further includes milk type. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the apparatus further includes:
 a steam path for providing heated steam to heat the milk;   an air path including an air pump;   the air injection module for guiding air from the air path into the steam path, resulting in an air steam mixture;   a steam output to provide egress of the air steam mixture for healing the milk;   a plurality of sensors, including a steam and/or air path pressure sensor; and   a controller in communication with memory storing operating and frothing parameters, the controller adapted to: receive the operating parameters and sensed signals from the plurality of sensors; calculate a pressure set point from the operating parameters and signals; and provide control signals for controlling the operation of the steam path and the air path to froth the milk according to the operating parameters.   
     
     
         16 . The assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein an input froth consistency parameter is used with an input milk type parameter to enable retrieving an operating parameter for frothing the specified milk type to the specified froth consistency. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the controller is adapted to log the sensed pressure signal over time during the frothing process, and to determine whether the sensed pressure signal exceeds a maximum pressure threshold. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the controller is adapted to provide a signal indicative of a blocked steam wand to the user interface for display, and also a signal indicative of a likely cause of the blocked steam wand based on whether a maximum pressure threshold and/or a maximum pump power threshold have been exceeded.