Abstract: A brewing control method for use with beverage brewing system (10) uses a controller (52) responsive to a comparison of preselected values of total brew water and total diluent water stored in a program memory (62) and to actual quantities measured by one of two flow meter (36, 36?) to control operation of a brew valve (46) passing water to a hot water tank (14) and a diluent valve (50) for passing water directly to a mixing chamber (28). the controller also responds to a level sensor (20) to control the brew valve (46) to keep the hot water tank filled with water. The preselected amounts of diluent and extract are changed for different brewing conditions to obtain different total quantities of beverage or different ratios of hot brew water passed through the brew basket (24) to cold diluent water passed directly to the mixing chamber, or serving urn (28).

Abstract: A food ingredient grinding assembly (10) with a removable ingredient hopper (32,34) made of translucent material to enable viewing the ingredient within the hopper through a window opening (40,42) and carries a closure assembly (FIGS. 4A and 4B) that automatically closes an outlet opening (112) when the hopper is removed from the housing (12) and when installed is control led by a solenoid (118) that when energized pushes a plate (116) to align an opening (126) in the plate with the outlet opening (112) of the hopper. When the solenoid is not energized or when the hopper is removed, a spring (118) automatically returns the plate to a closed position. Alternatively, the closure plate (116) is pulled by the solenoid (FIGS. 6A, 6B, 7A, 7B, 8A and 8B) through the use of vertically releasable connectors or is pushed or pulled open by an electromagnet (FIGS. 9A, 9B, 10A and 10B).

Abstract: A twin brewer system (30) with a pair of brewers (30A, 30B) each with a controller (158) for controlling the application of electrical power to a hot water heater, disables the application of electrical power to the heater (154) of one brewer (30A, 30B) in response to actuation of a start brew switch of the one brewer (30A, 30B) while electrical power is being applied to the heater (154) of the other brewer (30A, 30B). The controllers also respond to a hot water quantity sensor (164, 168) and a responsive delay circuit for disabling dispensing of hot water in response to actuation of the brew start switch (50) until a sufficient quantity of hot water is in a hot water dispenser tank (152) needed for the brew cycle. Indication lamps indicate when the brew cycle is being delayed and when brewing is not being performed. Actuation of a single emergency stop switch (138) stops hot water dispensing of both brewers (30A, 30B).

Abstract: An automate card package mailer for preparing card packages (60) composed of one or more cards(50) attached to matching carrier forms (33) for mailing has a carrier folding apparatus that is programmable to fold the carriers into different configurations including Z-fold, C-fold, bi-fold and no-fold, has a controller (42) that controls the movement of carriers by different amounts relative to a first folding arm to achieve different first folds, folds the carriers by pushing the fold location on the surface of the carriers into the nib of a first pair of folding pinch rollers with a first pivotally mounted folding arm after guiding the carrier with a slanted guide and an arcuate guide to the desired position beneath the folding arm, makes a second fold with a second pivotally mounted arm that pushes another fold location on a carrier into the nib of a second pair of rotating pinch rollers while a holding member holds a folded section upright in a well.

Abstract: A beverage powder mixing drink dispenser has a hopper for containing a supply of powder, a source of water and a controller, all contained within a housing has a mixing assembly, an electrical motor with an annular stator mounted to the housing and an annular rotor mounted to rotate around a motor axis within the annular stator when the stator is energized, a mixing chamber with a hollow body having an interior surface extending between a chamber inlet and a chamber outlet and at least one mixing member extending inwardly from and mounted to the interior surface to rotate with rotation of the hollow body, means for releasably mounting the hollow body of the mixing chamber to the rotor to rotate with the rotor relative to the stator about the motor axis, and means for controlling energizing of the stator, the accumulation of clogging moisture on the powder outlet is reduced by rotating the mixing member at a relatively high mixing speed during mixing to mix the powder with the water in the mixing chamber and r

Abstract: A card package production system (10) with interchangeable inserters (24A, 24B) and carrier folders (86A, 86B) to enable use of forms (26A, 26B) of different types verifies the carriers (30) if they are properly produced and rejects them if they are not prior to the attachment to a carrier. The embossed characters and encoding read from the card are compared with the stored card data to verify accuracy and are compared to coding on the carrier form (26A, 26B) to determine if there is a match. A code on the carrier is also compared to stored carrier data and to the cards provided for insertion and are rejected without cards if incorrectly prepared.

Abstract: A beverage brewer (10) with a controller (14) that automatically disables selected brewer functions unless enabled by an enablement code that enables use that is only sufficient to brew a preselected quantity of brew by mixing the brew ingredient (18) with water has a reader (54,56,58,56,59,62) for communicating with and reading the enablement code (86) from a smart card, card with magnetic strip or other data carrying medium (FIGS. 4 and 5). The enablement card when used by a delivery employee has codes for multiple customers, etc. that is used by the delivery employee to enable the brewers to brew the brew ingredient that is being delivered but no more to avoid brewing of ingredient not provided by the distributor of the brew ingredient. Alternatively, one card (52) is used for each location or each brewer and may only be used with the location or brewer that is indicated.

Abstract: A card package production system (100) for producing card packages (115) composed of cards (128) attached to carriers (113) has an adhesive label attachment station (358, FIG. 34) with a heating platen (361) having a width for heating at least two labels (148) simultaneously that are passed over the platen (361) and a labeler downstream from the heating platen (361) with a pressing member (372) for pressing the heated adhesive label (128) against a card (128) at an attachment position. The heating platen (361) heats only an intermediate section of the adhesive to activate the adhesive and leaves end portions of the label relatively unheated and unactivated to facilitate subsequent removal of the label (148) from the card (128).

Abstract: A beverage apparatus (10) having a liquid holding member (12,14,16) with an operating apparatus (42) for performing a particular function, such as heating water to make a beverage, is selectively connected through an electronic switching device (36) to a source of electrical power (40) that is mounted to the liquid holding member (12,14, 16) to convey heat away from the electronic switching device (36) and into the liquid. A radiating heat sink with radiating member (45,47) protects the switching device against potential damaging physical contact is also connected to the switching device (36) and radiates heat generated by the device into the atmosphere for additional cooling of the switching device (36).

Abstract: A beverage dispenser(20) with a top assembly(26) having a cover closure, or cover(50) with an inlet access opening, structure for mounting the cover(50) for movement between an operative position in which the inlet access opening is aligned with the inlet and the cover overlies the top assembly, and an inoperative position and a stopper member(54) of contrasting color pivotally mounted to the underside of the cover for movement between a closed position in which it extends through an inlet access opening to block passage of liquid and heat from within the dispenser and to block movement of the dispenser beneath a brew basket of an associated brewer for receipt of beverage and an open position in which it is pivoted against the underside of a pivotally mounted cover. The cover (50) is pivotally mounted to a cover base and is limited in movement by a carry handle when in a lowered position, and is removable for cleaning and removal of a funnel assembly to enable access to the interior for cleaning.

Abstract: A card package production system (20) for producing card packages (22) with cards (26) mounted to bifold carrier forms (24) with a pair of parallel, spaced, preweakened fold lines (33) and (34) dividing the body (32) of the carrier forms into leading end (35), middle (36) and lagging end (37) sections, a card carrier form folding apparatus (30) having a stop member (46) located extending downwardly into a blocking position along a folding path (44), a plurality of rollers (38)(39) and (40) for moving the carrier forms (24) along the folding path (44) and into the stop member (46) to buckle the leading end (35) and middle section (36) away from the folding path (44), a pushing member (56) driven by an electric motor (57) engaging the lagging end section (37) to push the carrier form (24) along the folding path (44) to pivotally swing the stop member (46) to a nonblocking position enabling the middle section (36) to fall back against the lagging section (37) folding the carrier (24) along fold lines (33) and (3

Abstract: A beverage brewing system (10) having a controller (52) responsive to a comparison of preselected values of total brew water and total diluent water stored in a program memory (62) and to actual quantities measured by one or two flow meter (36, 36?) to control operation of a brew valve (46) passing water to a hot water tank (14) and a diluent valve (50) for passing water directly to a mixing chamber (28). The controller is also responsive to a level sensor (20) to control the brew valve (46) to keep the hot water tank filled with water. The preselected amounts may be changed for different brewing conditions to obtain different total quantities of beverage or different ratios of hot brew water passed through the brew basket (24) to cold diluent water passed directly to the mixing chamber, or serving urn (28).

Abstract: An insulated beverage dispenser (10) with an outer housing (24) having reinforcing cavities (86) and reinforcing ribs (88) on a canted surface (92) of a top closure (78) to resist distortion that is fitted over an integrally formed inner liner (48) in spaced relationship to provide a gap (52) that is evacuated to approximately 8% with a bottom having an asymmetrically tilted downwardly to a center-offset drain opening (76) to reduce the lateral extent of a dispense tube (136) reduce heat loss from the drain opening to a faucet 20.

Abstract: A beverage powder mixing drink dispenser (10, 10?) having a hopper (12) for containing a supply of powder, a source of water (14) and a controller (16), all contained within a housing (60) has a mixing assembly (52) with an electrical motor (42) with an annular stator (40) mounted to the housing (60) and an annular rotor (44) mounted to rotate around a motor axis (46) within the annular stator (40) when the stator is energized, a mixing chamber (34) with a hollow body (48) and at least one mixing member within the hollow body (48), mounting structure (49,50) for releasably mounting the hollow body (48) of the mixing chamber (34) to the rotor (44) to rotate with the rotor relative to the stator about the motor axis, the controller selectively passing powder and water into the mixing chamber to be mixed together in the mixing chamber (34) during rotation of the mixing chamber and the mixing member when the stator is energized, and means (16, 38) and controlling energizing of the stator (40).

Abstract: A coffee brewer (10, 10′ and 10′) is provided with a plurality of solenoid controlled, bi-position dispense valves (40, 40′), a size adjustable valve (60) or a combination of both and a programmable controller (18) for controlling the dispense valves in accordance with preselected brew parameters of batch quantity and dispense time duration (FIG. 8).

Abstract: An insulated beverage dispenser (10) with an outer housing (24) having reinforcing cavities (86) and reinforcing ribs (88) on a canted surface (92) of a top closure (78) to resist distortion that is fitted over an integrally formed inner liner (48) in spaced relationship to provide a gap (52) that is evacuated to approximately 8% of standard atmospheric pressure. The bottom closure (62) of the inner liner (48) is symmetrically tilted downwardly across the center to a center-offset drain opening (76) to reduce the lateral extent (137) of a dispense tube (136) to reduce the quantity of beverage contained within the dispense tube (136) and subject to heat loss between the drain opening (76) to and a faucet (20). The dispense tube (136) is protectively contained within a hollow bottom section (25) for purposes of insulation and is also wrapped in foam insulation (139) for further insulation.

Abstract: A method of maintaining temperature of a hot beverage in an urn with a self-heating urn (10) provided with heat packs (18) that are rapidly heated during the brewing process and then gradually release their heat to the brewed beverage within the urn after it is removed from the brewing location to a serving location at which electrical powered for heating is not available. The heat packs (18) are formed of ceramic materials, high density liquids, PCM's or the like which are capable of being rapidly heated during the brewing process but then gradually release their heat to the beverage in the urn. Alternatively, the warmer packs (18) are removably mounted within a compartment (68) within the self-heating urn (10) and are heated apart from the brewing process and then inserted into the self-heating urn (10) when it is moved to a serving location.