Abstract: A robust hot beverage level display system and method for use in a hot beverage dispenser (12) having a sensing element (105), a level display (28), a controller (50) and an elongate probe carrying at least one elongate electrically conductive trace (202) made from annealed rolled copper with a macrocrystalline structure with elongate, metal, granule-like, cohered metal elements that are aligned with each other in parallel relationship (FIGS. 25 and 28), and an electronics module housing (108), for protectively surrounding the controller (50), formed from a pair of housing sections (109, 110) with a pair of mating connective surfaces (220, 224), potting material with adhesive properties (226) filling the housing (108) and protectively enveloping the controller (218, FIG. 39) and display (217, FIG. 3), and a gapless, voidless adhesive layer made of a contiguous, comingling of cured adhesive and cured potting material interposed between the mating surfaces (220,224).

Abstract: An electric hot beverage brewer (20) with a duty cycle modulated DC voltage dispense pump (44) with an inlet (46) connected to a de-aerator (24) and beneath a lower limit and an outlet (48) located above an upper limit the surface a hot water tank (22) is finely controlled by a high frequency pulse-width, modulated, square power input voltage (FIG. 2) with a duty cycle controlled in accordance with predetermined profiles stored within a controller (28) to selectively change the flow rate out of the pump onto a distribution dome (50) during a dispense period of a brew cycle to achieve optimum brewing of different types of beverage ingredients and varieties of the different types and to selectively change the spray pattern of hot water onto the ingredient (53) within the basket assembly (52) between vertical and acute angles including acute angles that pass hot water into a bypass gap (56).

Abstract: A self-contained, universal portable beverage condition status indicator (10) has relatively large and easily visible top light dome (30) that is selectively lighted to provide an indication as to when a beverage dispenser (12) to which it is mounted is empty of beverage. Mounting is performed without any tools or alteration to the dispenser by simply inserting an elongate sensor probe assembly (50) through an inlet (22) in the top of the dispenser (12) and down to a location adjacent the bottom (16) of the hollow body (14) of the dispenser. Tooless removal is accomplished by simply slidably lifting the indicator (10) upwardly and outwardly from the dispenser (12) until it is clear. It may then be used with a newly filled different dispenser (12). The sensor probe assembly remains functional even though lower portion may be removed. Score lines (64, 70, 65, 59, etc.

Abstract: A beverage brewer housing (10) for passing hot water though a dry ingredient to create a freshly brewed beverage with a lower housing section (14) for protectively containing a hot water tank and an upper housing section (12) attached to and cantilever supported upon the lower housing section (14) having a rearward upper section open to the lower housing section (14) for protectively containing an upper part of the hot water tank and a forward upper section for containing temperature sensitive electronics. A closure plate (26) defines a floor for the forward upper section to support the electronics and an upwardly extending interior wall (27) thermally, protectively, separating the forward upper section from heat within the rearward upper section generated by the hot water tank.

Abstract: Beverage brewer (10) with a control system (FIGS. 5, 6) has a brew basket (22) with a central axis (38), a bottom with an offset drain hole (41) radially, outwardly spaced from the central axis (38) for passing the hot beverage or beverage concentrate to a container (34, 36) and a position detectable element(52). A circular collar (24) mounts the brew basket (22) to the housing (12, 18) in at least two different angular positions (FIG. 3) in which the drain hole (41) is respectively located in at least two different positions outwardly spaced from the central axis (38) to pass brewed beverage to the container (34, 36) when in two different positions (FIG. 1). A sensor (56) detects the angular positions of the brew basket (22, and a controller (66, FIG. 6) responds to the sensor (56) to enable only preselected functions of associated with the sensed angular position.

Abstract: A method of controlling a hot beverage brewer (20) with an auto-directive brewer controller (22) that controls enabling and revealing of a plurality of hidden, or phantom, switches (39, 40, 42, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 and 60). Signals from disabled switches are ignored by a microcomputer (24), and the operator is directed to only the hidden switches that are enabled by selectively revealing them with individually associated backlights (39?, 40?, 42?, 48?, 50?, 54?, 56?, 58?, and 60?). When the backlights are energized the location of the hidden switches is revealed by the light passing through a dark, but semi-translucent, flexible, plastic control panel that overlies the hidden switches and their associated backlights. Different modes of normal operation may be preselected during a program mode (FIG.

Abstract: A grinder (30) has a toolessly attached ingredient hopper assembly (50) overlying a toolessly attached fixed grinding burr (134) defining the top of a grind chamber (158) within which is received a mating rotary grinding burr (150) that is slidably mounted to a rotary drive motor (154) for adjustment relative to the fixed grinding burr (134). Adjustment is achieved automatically by control of a stepper motor (168) that pushes on the end of an elongate control shaft (393) passing through a hollow rotary drive axle (392) and carrying the rotary grinding burr (150) at an opposite end. In a similar embodiment (FIG. 23), the non-rotary burr (314) is adjusted by movement of a control shaft (393) contained within a hollow motor axle (392). In other embodiments (FIGS. 17-22), a movable axle (304) of a movable rotor motor (300) and attached to the rotary burr (312) is moved to make the adjustments.

Abstract: A food grinder (10) makes a sound or vibrates with a frequency that changes between a first mode when the grinding mechanism (22, 24, 36) is performing a grinding operation while there is bulk food ingredient within the grinding chamber, and a second mode when the grinding mechanism (22, 24, 36) is performing a grinding operation while there is no bulk food ingredient within the grinding chamber, has a detector (44) for sensing the change in frequency and a controller (42) responsive to the detector (44) for controlling the application of electrical power to the grinding mechanism (22, 24 36). Power is first applied when a start grind switch is manually actuated and is later automatically removed in response to a timer (54) a preselected time period after the detector senses that the grinding chamber is empty of bulk food ingredient to be ground.

Abstract: Method of making a housing having wall panels (58, 60, 62 and 64) formed from a single, metallic work piece (50) by folding it at each of four locations defining corners all of which are spaced from opposite ends of the work piece (50) with at least one fold having an angle substantially different from a right angle and then securing together opposite ends (52, 54) of the work piece with a weld joint (56). As a result of bringing together the opposite ends, at least one of the panels curved in a stressed state and forms interior corner angles at opposite sides that are substantially different from a right angle. A closure base (48) is attached to the bottom of the wall assembly (44) to close and support the open bottom of the wall assembly (44), and as closure top (46) is attached an open top of the wall assembly (44).

Abstract: A spray distribution assembly (14) for a hot beverage brewer (10) with a spray head (20) having a generally vertical passageway (22) for receipt of hot water and an umbrella-like member (34) with an underlying spray plate (38) having a downwardly, outwardly tapered top surface with radiating, outwardly, downwardly directed, upwardly facing grooves and an upwardly standing central core (58) snuggly received within the passageway (22) joined to the underside of the top of the umbrella-like member (34) with a plurality of vertical radially, outwardly facing grooves (68) extending from the top to the bottom to form a plurality of peripheral closed channels for passing hot water to upwardly facing grooves (74) of the umbrella-like body. The umbrella-like spray plate assembly may be attached to a cup shaped spray housing (144) in lieu of a flat spray plate (142) by means of a mounting adapter (158).

Abstract: A portable, insulated, opaque, hot beverage dispenser (40) with a sensor (50), such as a level sensor, and an electronic display (48) is provided with a portable thermoelectric recharging power source (50), a portable photovoltaic recharging source (54), or both, to provide recharging power to a rechargeable power supply (42) which, in turn, provides electrical power to the display (48), a display controller (44) and the sensor power to the level sensor. A thermoelectric generator is mounted within a funnel 51 with a cold side (158) in thermal communication with ambient air outside of the interior (64) of the container body (52) of the dispenser (40) and a hot side (160) in thermal communication with the interior air within the interior (64) is mounted within a funnel (51) fitted into the open top (66) of the container body (52).

Abstract: A dual-purpose brewer including a hot water dispenser system (25) for dispensing, hot water to a dispense outlet above a removable brew basket (18) with an electromagnetically controlled outlet drain valve (44) for selectively blocking beverage from leaving the brew basket (18) during a seeping period when making tea and leaves a drain hole (41) open throughout a brew cycle when making coffee. A drain plug (42) made of magnetic or ferromagnetic material is moved by an electromagnetic field to an open position (FIG. 6) to block a drain passageway (45) to drain the brew basket (18) of beverage and falls to a closed position (FIG. 5) during, a seeping period. Contact of electromagnetic coils (80, 82, 90) carried by the brew basket (18) with a source of energization is achieved through electrical contacts at the end of a. pivotally mounted actuation arm (34).

Abstract: An inductively heated beverage carafe system (10) with a non-metallic carafe (13) has a funnel assembly (26) with a down-tube (34, 54) made from material impervious to water to pass hot beverage received within the funnel assembly (26) to adjacent the bottom (14) of the carafe (13) without mixing with beverage already present in the carafe until (13) the newly added hot beverage passes out of the open outlet end (59) and which is, at least partly a material responsive to alternating electromagnetic fields to induce surface eddy currents that heat at least part of the down-tube (34, 54) and an inductive heating coil module (36) for supporting the carafe (14) and generating an electromagnetic field to energize at least part of the down-tube (34, 54) to function as an inductive heating element within the carafe (13).

Abstract: A beverage dispenser (10) having a hollow, insulated dispenser body (12), a removable cover (16) with an inlet opening (24) for receipt of freshly brewed beverage to an interior of the dispenser body (12), a closed bottom (18) and a faucet (22) for dispensing beverage from the body (12) has a level display system including an elongate, relatively flexible, probe body, or down tube (40) with a flexible probe circuit and having a bottom and a top with a plurality of electrically conductive sensors (43, 45, 47 and 49) mounted within an elongate mounting groove (182, FIGS. 21-23) formed in, and extending along, the elongate relatively rigid probe body (36). The flexible probe assembly (40) is secured within the groove by non-adhesive means, either by a thermal fusion joint 183) formed during injection molding (FIG. 20) of the rigid probe body (36) or by mechanical tabs (178, 180).

Abstract: A fluid container (10) with a hollow body (12) for containing a fluid such as beverage (22) with a surrounding sidewall (16) extending between a top (18) and a bottom (20) provided with a flexible sensing strip (14) with discrete modular fluid characteristic sensing elements mounted to the sidewall (16) of a hollow body (12) for sensing an actual physical parameter of the fluid, a control module (24) and a detachable interface (26) between the sensing strip (14) and the control module (24) to enable sensing signals to be passed from the sensing strip (14) to the control module (24) has a detachable interface enabling tool-less disconnection of the control module (24) from the sensing strip (14) to enable replacement with another control module for repair or servicing. The individual sensing elements may also be toolessly disconnected from the strip for replacement or repair.

Abstract: A beverage warming assembly (8) with a non-ferromagnetic, transparent heat carafe (10) having an induction heating assembly (38) attached to the bottom (24) by a threaded fastener (46) formed of a generally planer, induction ferromagnetic heating element (42) with a top and a bottom, and an insulating member (44) interposed between the carafe bottom (24) and the bottom of the induction heating element (42) to thermally insulate the bottom (24) from he induction heating element (42), to enable relative movement between the induction heating element (42) and the bottom (24) and to seal a fastener hole (48) against leaks. Different levels of heating are achieved by connecting a high frequency voltage signal from a generator (64) to different inputs along the length of the coil induction coil (40) in response to actuation of heating level selection switches (59, 60, 62).

Abstract: An automated mixing drink dispenser (10) establishes a preselected feed rate of concentrate from a concentrate hopper (42) and ratio of concentrate to mixing water fed into a mixing chamber (42) through the Venturi effect created by swirling water fed into a mixing chamber (42) at a preselected water pressure (66) and preselected regulated flow rate (68) associated with the preselected feed rate of the concentrate. Concentrate is fed to a mixing chamber (42) from a concentrate hopper (42) having an open drain hole (50) openly connected to the mixing chamber (42). A stirring mechanism (106, 100, 101, 102, 104) mechanically mixes the concentrate within the concentrate hopper (42) to maintain a uniform density and viscosity and a gas pressure mechanism (92, 94, 96, 86) maintains a uniform head pressure of concentrate to facilitate maintenance of the preselected concentrate flow rate over time.

Abstract: A food ingredient grinder (30) having a grinding chamber (158) with an electrically powered grinding mechanism (130, 150, 154) has an ingredient hopper has a pivotally mounted cover (57) that is automatically moved between open and closed positions and a controller (202, 204, 208) responsive to a cover position sensor (81,82) failing to sense the cover in a closed position disables a start switch (212) from starting a grinding operation. The grinding chamber (156) is toolessly mounted to the top of a frame member (96) of the grinder to facilitate removal of the chamber for cleaning or replacement.

Abstract: An electrical, automatic hot beverage brewer (10) and method of brewing in which a removable brew chamber (20) has a drain hole (25) in the bottom fitted with a normally closed, pressure responsive brew chamber drain valve assembly (24) maintained in a normally closed position except when pressure against the drain valve (24) exceeds a preselected minimum pressure limit that is greater than the fluidic pressure applied by virtue of head pressure of a full load of hot water and a piston (74) is moved within the brew chamber to control the opening and closing of the drain valve (24) When the piston (74) moves downwardly toward the drain hole the air pressure of a pocket of air (90) above the beverage (92) in the brew chamber (20) is increased to open at the end of a seeping period when it is desired to rapidly expel freshly brewed beverage out the brew drain valve at a relatively rapid rate depending upon the total of the hydraulic pressure and the added pressure from the air pressure source to avoid the need t

Abstract: An on-demand hot water dispenser (10, 90) with a source of hotter water (30) at a preselected relatively elevated temperature (36, 40, 42) and a source of cooler water at a relatively non-elevated temperature compared to the hotter water (17, 52) has an outlet dispense valve (18, 92) connected with both the hotter water source and the cooler water source through a common mixing chamber (74) to selectively vary the temperature of the mixed water being dispensed. The cooler water source (17, 52) is connected to the outlet dispense valve (18, 92) through an electrically controlled proportional valve (72) with a variable flow rate that is controlled during dispensing and mixing in accordance with a comparison between a selected one of a plurality preselected temperatures stored in a controller (34) and a sensed temperature (60, 62) of the mixed water in the mixing chamber (74) to maintain the mixed temperature of the water being dispensed at a preselected temperature on a real-time basis.