Patents Assigned to Cafina AG
  • Patent number: 8003148
    Abstract: A device for frothing and steaming milk has a steamer (1) and a steamer tube (3) connected to a steam conduit (2). The steam conduit (2) is provided with an air feeder port (6) which can be closed off. The steamer tube (3) has a temperature sensor (11) for sensing the milk temperature. The device has furthermore a controller (13) devised to open/close the air feeder port (6) as a function of the operating mode and/or sensed milk temperature. When the milk is steamed the air feeder port (6) remains closed whilst when frothing the milk it normally firstly remains closed until opened at a predefined milk temperature so that air can be mixed in the flow of steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Cafina AG
    Inventor: Claudio Schödler
  • Publication number: 20100323074
    Abstract: A device for heating and foaming milk includes a steam-generating device to generate steam by heating water. The steam generating device has a steam outlet. A shut-off value is coupled to the steam outlet. A first line is coupled via the shut-off valve to the steam outlet of the steam-generating device so that steam can be discharged through the first line from the steam-generating device. The first line is selectively opened and closed with the aid of the shutoff valve. The first line has an outlet arranged to be submerged directly into a container which contains the milk to be foamed. A second line having an outlet is coupled to a pump to pump air into the second line. The outlet of the second line is arranged to be submerged separately and at a distance to the first line directly into the container holding the milk to be foamed, so that steam and air is supplied completely separate from each other during the heating and foaming of the milk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: Cafina AG
    Inventors: Michael Fliegauf, Martin Frischknecht
  • Publication number: 20090087532
    Abstract: Proposed is a milk frother including a milk feed conduit (2), a pump (5) for forwarding the milk, at least one means for heating the milk, as well as a blender element (1) for blending the milk with the frothing medium. The milk is first heated and then air is jetted into the milk. After this, the milk/air blend is fed to a blending section of the blender element (1) where it is multiply deflected and/or decombined to generate high-quality milk froth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: Cafina AG
    Inventor: Hermann Meier
  • Publication number: 20090068331
    Abstract: Proposed is a milk frother including a milk feed conduit (2), means (6) for heating the milk, as well as a blender element (1) provided with a main passageway (15) for blending the milk flowing through the main passageway (15). The blender element (1) comprises a base body (14) with a plurality of perforations porting into the main passageway (15). Via these perforations the frothing air is jetted into the throughflow of milk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: Cafina AG
    Inventor: Christian Muheim
  • Publication number: 20090047402
    Abstract: A device for frothing and steaming milk comprises a steamer (1) and a steamer tube (3) connected to a steam conduit (2). The steam conduit (2) is provided with an air feeder port (6) which can be closed off. The steamer tube (3) comprises a temperature sensor (11) for sensing the milk temperature. The device comprises furthermore a controller (13) devised to open/close the air feeder port (6) as a function of the operating mode and/or sensed milk temperature. When the milk is steamed the air feeder port (6) remains closed whilst when frothing the milk it normally firstly remains closed until opened at a predefined milk temperature so that air can be mixed in the flow of steam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: CAFINA AG
    Inventor: Claudio Schodler
  • Patent number: 6713110
    Abstract: An assembly for generating milk foam and for heating milk comprises a milk supply container, a steam generator and a mixing element. The mixing element includes a first steam inlet channel, a necking located downstream of the first steam inlet channel, an air inlet channel opening into the necking and a milk inlet channel. The milk is fed to the milk inlet channel of the mixing element by means of a pump. Moreover, the mixing element is provided with a main channel whose inlet communicates with the necking, whereby the milk inlet channel opens into the main channel downstream of its inlet. Between the necking and the opening of the milk inlet channel, a second steam inlet channel opens into the main channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Cafina AG
    Inventors: David Imboden, Markus Anliker
  • Patent number: 4797296
    Abstract: The invention provides a piston-cyclinder-assembly for a coffee brewing apparatus, the assembly comprising a cylindric cavity serving as a brewing chamber, a closing member mounted on the cylindric cavity at one end thereof, and a piston which can be displaced into and retracted from the brewing chamber at the other end. The piston is equipped with internal brewing water channels leading to the front face of the piston and connected to a brewing water connector. The closing member has plate-like shape and is fixed against movement in axial direction of the brewing chamber but is pivotally mounted near the cylindric cavity. To drive the piston into the cavity and to retract it, and to pivot the closing member, first and second stepping motors, respectively, are provided which are operatively connected to a control unit. Another embodiment is provided with a normal electric motor to drive the piston and with a pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Assignee: Cafina AG
    Inventors: Hermann Meier, Jean-Paul Franzolin
  • Patent number: 4767632
    Abstract: In a coffee brewing apparatus, a milling assembly produces coffee powder which is filled into a brewing chamber. Then the brewing chamber is closed by a displaceable piston in order to exert a preselected pressure on the coffee powder in the brewing chamber, and hot water is forced through the compressed coffee powder. If it is recognized after several subsequent preparation cycles that too much or too less coffee powder has been filled into the brewing chamber, the operation period of the milling assembly is shortened or extended automatically under the influence of a programmed control unit. Simultaneously or additionally, a flow rate detector measures the amount of water flowing through the compressed coffee powder and the control unit measures the time required by the water to pass through the coffee powder in the brewing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: Cafina AG
    Inventor: Hermann Meier
  • Patent number: D316794
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Cafina AG
    Inventors: Johann Volgger, Ruth Volgger