Abstract: An automated beverage brewing system includes a liquid storage tank and a metering chamber. The metering chamber is at least partially submerged beneath a standing level of liquid in the storage tank. The chamber includes a sealable liquid inlet port communicating with the interior of the storage tank beneath the standing level of liquid. The chamber also includes a liquid outlet port and an aperture that receives compressed air, wherein the compressed air forces liquid from the liquid output port of the chamber for use in preparing a brewed beverage. A pump provides the compressed air and a controller monitors a pressure signal value indicative of the air pressure in the metering chamber. The controller commands the pump on to commence flow of liquid from the metering chamber. The controller then commands the pump off several seconds after detecting a drop in air pressure within the chamber. A baffle is affixed to the distal end of a shaft, which is moved between a first and second position.

Abstract: A beverage filter cartridge includes an outer container with a bottom, and front, back and side walls extending upwardly from the bottom to a peripheral rim surrounding an upper opening. The side wall is contoured to define interior ledges located above the bottom and extending between the front and back walls. A planar filter element having front, back and side edge regions is configured, dimensioned and positioned to subdivide the interior of the container into first and second chambers, with the front and back edge regions of the filter element secured respectively to the front and back walls of the container, and with side edge regions of the filter element secured to respective interior ledges of the container side walls. A beverage medium is stored in the first chamber. A cover is joined to the container rim to close the upper opening. The cover is yieldably piercable to accommodate an inflow of liquid into the first chamber for combination with the beverage medium to produce a beverage.

Abstract: A cup shaped holder is internally provided with an ejection mechanism which serves to automatically dislodge a spent beverage cartridge from an upwardly extending piercing member when the lid is opened at the end of a brewing cycle. In addition, the holder is mounted on externally protruding trunnions for pivotal movement between an upright brewing position and a partially inverted position to eject the dislodged cartridge from the holder into an underlying receptacle. The lid has a dependency arm that coacts with a pawl on the holder trunnions to automatically manipulate the holder to eject the cartridge.

Abstract: An automated beverage brewing system includes a liquid storage tank and a metering chamber. The metering chamber is at least partially submerged beneath a standing level of liquid in the storage tank. The chamber includes a sealable liquid inlet port communicating with the interior of the storage tank beneath the standing level of liquid. The chamber also includes a liquid outlet port and an aperture that receives compressed air, wherein the compressed air forces a predetermined amount of liquid from the liquid output port of the chamber for use in preparing a brewed beverage. A pump provides the compressed air and a controller monitors a pressure signal value indicative of the air pressure in the metering chamber. The controller commands the pump on to commence flow of the predetermined amount of liquid from the metering chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for consecutively dispensing an equal volume of a liquid from a storage tank. The system includes a hermetically sealed metering chamber at least partially submerged beneath a standing level of liquid contained in a storage tank. The metering chamber has an inlet port communicating with the interior of the tank. A one-way valve accommodates an inflow of liquid into the metering chamber from the tank via the inlet port, and blocks an outflow of liquid from the chamber to the tank. A discharge conduit protrudes into the interior of the chamber. A pump pneumatically pressurizes the metering chamber to exhaust a predetermined volume of liquid via the discharge conduit.

Abstract: A cup shaped holder is internally provided with an ejection mechanism which serves to automatically dislodge a spent beverage cartridge from an upwardly extending piercing member when the lid is opened at the end of a brewing cycle. In addition, the holder is mounted on externally protruding trunnions for pivotal movement between an upright brewing position and a partially inverted position to eject the dislodged cartridge from the holder into an underlying receptacle. The lid has a dependency arm that coacts with a pawl on the holder trunnions to automatically manipulate the holder to eject the cartridge.

Abstract: A beverage filter cartridge includes an impermeable yieldably pierceable base having a predetermined shape and an access opening at one end. A self-supporting wettable filter element is disposed in the base and is permanently sealed to an interior surface of the base. The filter element subdivides the base into first and second chambers, a first chamber for storing an extract of the beverage to be made, and a second empty chamber for accessing the beverage after the beverage outflow from the filter has been made by combining a liquid with the extract. An impermeable, yieldably pierceable, imperforate cover is sealingly engaged with the top of the base to form an impermeable cartridge.

Abstract: A beverage filter cartridge includes an impermeable pierceable base having a predetermined shape and an opening at one end; a self-supporting wettable filter element disposed in the base sealingly engages with the opening in the base and has a form different and smaller than the predetermined shape of the base so that the filter element diverges from the base and divides the base into two sealed chambers, a first chamber for storing an extract of the beverage to be made, and a second empty chamber for accessing the beverage after the beverage outflow from the filter has been made by combining a liquid with the extract; and an impermeable pierceable cover sealingly engaged with the opening in the base to form an impermeable cartridge.