Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for detecting the presence or absence as well as the level of material in a beverage dispenser. The system includes a sensor assembly including a light source and a light detector. The source and detector are in close proximity to one another with the detector detecting a beam emitted from the source and the beam is reflected from material retained in the container. A controller is provided and receives a signal from the sensor assembly for controllably operating functions of the beverage dispenser based on the detection signal from the sensor assembly relating to material in the container. The apparatus for detecting a level of material in the container includes a comparator coupled to the sensor assembly for receiving a signal from the detector, the output from the comparator coupled to the controller. A variable gain amplifier is coupled to the detector for receiving an output signal from the detector. The variable gain amplifier provides an input signal to the comparator.

Abstract: A system is provided for producing at least two beverages having different percentages of water.

Abstract: A system for sensing the torque exerted upon a motor shaft assembly relative to the consistency of a mixture. The system includes a moving member for moving the mixture. One form of the mixture may be a chilled beverage in which the moving member moves the chilled beverage within a container. The motor shaft assembly includes a drive device coupled to the moving member for imparting movement to the moving member and a drive shaft connecting the drive device in the moving member. The drive shaft defines an axis of rotation. The drive shaft is adapted for rotation to effect movement of the moving member. The drive shaft includes at least one axially aligned resilient coupling extending generally coaxial with and radially spaced from the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A beverage server and beverage brewer. Contacts are provided between the brewer and server, and the server is conductively coupleable to and removable from the brewer. The server is configured to detect a level of beverage retained in the server and communicate this information to the brewer. The brewer is configured to automatically initiate a brewing cycle in response to pre-determined conditions, such as upon beverage in the server decreasing below a pre-determined level. The brewer is configured to detect whether the server is in position relative to the brewer and is configured to dispense beverage only if the server is detected. Preferably, the server is configured to prevent dispensing of beverage if a pre-determined time period has expired, in order to avoid dispensing beverage with an expired pre-determined freshness period.

Abstract: A wire or other brewing basket adapted to receive a brewing filter and be received by a brewing funnel. The basket comprises a body defining a cavity for receiving the brewing filter and a shield positioned above the body and extending over a portion of the cavity for reducing spillage of brewing material from the funnel. The shield desirably is substantially flat. The basket further includes including mounting structure mounting the shield to the body. Desirably, the mounting structure is in the form of a plurality of stems mounted to a top rim of the body and the shield and extending generally upwardly from the body. The shield in accordance with a preferred embodiment has a generally arcuate configuration, and has an inner arcuate edge and desirably an outer arcuate edge. The radius of curvature of the inner arcuate edge is greater than the radius of curvature of the top rim and desirably the radius of curvature of the top rim.

Abstract: An interface for a beverage dispenser, a maker and a funnel and its method of use is provided. The dispenser has a structure therein for storing and transmitting information and a user interface coupled thereto. The funnel includes a body and a memory device therein. The maker includes structure for reading the memory device of the funnel. When the funnel is mounted on the dispenser, the structure in the dispenser and the memory device of the funnel are in communication with each other so that information input into the dispenser by a user is transmitted to the funnel. The appropriate beverage is dispensed into the funnel. Thereafter, when the funnel is mounted on the maker, the structure in the maker and the memory device of the funnel are in communication with each other and the structure in the maker reads the information stored in the memory device of the funnel so that the desired beverage can be produced.

Abstract: A brew funnel has a selector thereon which can be set to indicate a desired batch size and type of coffee. Sensors on an associated coffee grinder and on an associated coffee brewer are capable of sensing the structure to grind an appropriate amount of coffee and to brew an appropriate amount of coffee, respectively, when the brew funnel is mounted thereon.

Abstract: A holder is used with a beverage making apparatus to make a beverage, such as coffee, concentrated beverage or tea. The holder retains a quantity of substance which can be used to make a beverage which is thereafter deposited into one of two reservoirs. This allows different flavors, or regular and decaffeinated coffee, to be served from the apparatus. The holder includes a body, a drain hole provided therethrough for allowing liquids to flow through the holder, and first and second handles attached to the body. The first handle and the second handle are offset from each other. A first magnet is associated with the first handle and has its north and south poles in first orientation. A second magnet is associated with the second handle and has its north and south poles in second orientation which is generally opposite the first orientation. The apparatus includes a housing on which the holder can be mounted in various directions.

Abstract: A peristaltic pump for pumping a liquid, such as a juice concentrate, includes a rotor assembly attached to a housing, a band attached to the housing and surrounding at least a portion of the rotor assembly A tube is positionable between the band and the rotor assembly. The position of the band can be adjusted relative to the rotor assembly to adjust the pressure applied to the tube by the band and the rotor assembly. The rotor assembly includes rollers therein for pumping concentrate from a reservoir by drawing a vacuum.

Abstract: An apparatus is used for making a beverage and for rinsing or cleaning a pair of reservoirs in the apparatus. The apparatus includes a housing, a fluid reservoir associated therewith, a controller in communication with the fluid reservoir, structure for selectively passing fluid from the fluid reservoir to at least one outlet on the housing, and first and second reservoirs mounted in the housing. A holder can be mounted on said the housing. The holder includes a body, a drain hole provided therethrough, and a conduit provided therethrough. The conduit is spaced from the drain hole. When the holder is mounted on the housing, the drain hole is positioned over one of the reservoirs and the conduit is located over the other of the reservoirs. The controller controls the flow of fluid from the fluid reservoir to the holder. Fluid flows from the water reservoir to the holder through drain hole into the one reservoir.

Abstract: A beverage server and beverage brewer. Contacts are provided between the brewer and server, and the server is conductively coupleable to and removable from the brewer. The server is configured to detect a level of beverage retained in the server and communicate this information to the brewer. The brewer is configured to automatically initiate a brewing cycle in response to pre-determined conditions, such as upon beverage in the server decreasing below a pre-determined level. The brewer is configured to detect whether the server is in position relative to the brewer and is configured to dispense beverage only if the server is detected. Preferably, the server is configured to prevent dispensing of beverage if a pre-determined time period has expired, in order to avoid dispensing beverage with an expired pre-determined freshness period.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the system, apparatus, and method for controllably mixing a concentrate with a dilution substance using closed-loop feedback in order to improve the resultant substance. The present invention discloses a system, apparatus and method for sensing the conductivity of a diluted substance to provide feedback information for adjusting dispensing of a concentrate used to produce the resultant or diluted substance. The present invention also includes a system for dispensing beverages using the conductivity sensor such that the system controllably adjusts the dispensing of concentrate to maintain the resultant beverage within a desired concentration range based on conductivity sensing. The present invention also includes the method for sensing the conductivity of the resultant beverage and adjusting the dispensing of concentrate in response to the conductivity of the resultant beverage.

Abstract: A cold beverage dispensing system for chilling a beverage such that at least a portion of the beverage includes a frozen component. The system includes a beverage hopper or tank for retaining a quantity of beverage and a chilling assembly communicating with the beverage hopper for chilling the beverage. The system also includes a beverage detector having a conductive probe carried on and extending into the beverage hopper for detecting the condition of either the presence or absence of a beverage at a predetermined level in the beverage hopper and generating a refill control signal corresponding to the condition detected. A refill assembly communicates with the beverage hopper for controllably providing refill beverage to the beverage hopper. A controller is coupled to the refill assembly and the beverage detector for operating the refill assembly in response to the refill control signal to maintain the beverage in the beverage hopper at the predetermined level.