Abstract: A beverage brewing machine, a method for brewing a beverage preparation material and a beverage brewing envelope are provided. The beverage brewing machine has an upper brewing chamber adapted to receive hot water and a beverage preparation material and having an open lower end. A cylinder with an upper end normally in registration with the open lower end of the upper brewing chamber is further provided. An envelope enclosing a packet is provided wherein the packet encloses the beverage preparation material. The customer may remove the packet from the envelope and place it on a carrier plate which automatically moves into brewing position and then is discarded by the customer, or, in a different execution, the carrier plate receives the envelope and extracts the packet including the beverage preparation material from the envelope and places the packet over the cylinder.

Abstract: A beverage brewing machine, a method for brewing a beverage preparation material and a beverage brewing envelope are provided. The beverage brewing machine has an upper brewing chamber adapted to receive hot water and a beverage preparation material and having an open lower end. A cylinder with an upper end normally in registration with the open lower end of the upper brewing chamber is further provided. An envelope enclosing a packet is provided wherein the packet encloses the beverage preparation material. The customer may remove the packet from the envelope and place it on a carrier plate which automatically moves into brewing position and then is discarded by the customer, or, in a different execution, the carrier plate receives the envelope and extracts the packet including the beverage preparation material from the envelope and places the packet over the cylinder.

Abstract: A beverage brewing machine for producing a single serving has a lower brewer and an upper brew chamber housing. The lower brewer has a brewing cylinder defining therein a lower brewing chamber which has a reciprocal piston therein. The top of the brewing cylinder includes a liquid pervious support surface on which a beverage substance may rest. The upper brew chamber housing is received over the brewing cylinder above the liquid pervious support surface and defines an upper brewing chamber therein. The upper brew chamber housing includes an inlet which communicates with the upper brewing chamber. The upper brewing chamber receives liquid to be brewed from an external source one serving at a time.

Abstract: A water displacement block for a beverage brewer, mounted on a pivot and connecting rods and suspended immediately over a hot water tank and which, at a specific time in the brewing cycle, is lowered into the tank, thus causing water to overflow so as to dispense the correct amount of hot water into the brewing machine. Next to the hot water dispensing tank a secondary water tank is mounted which is connected to a water pump driven by the same motor which drives the beverage brewer. During a single cycle, the pump will discharge the same amount of water into the hot water tank as was dispensed when the water displacement block was lowered into the tank. The cold water entering the system is pre-heated because it passes downwardly and under a partition in the tank adjacent the hot water is the discharge portion of the tank.

Abstract: A water supply dipper for a beverage brewer with the dipper mounted for pivotal movement in the hot water tank and is moved by the brewer motor upwardly and forwardly in the tank to discharge hot water into the brewer. One-way valves in the bottom of the dipper allow water to pass into the dipper.

Abstract: A beverage brewer with tape formed of two layers of paper between which are packets of coffee. The tape has perforations along each edge and sprockets intermittently drive the tape so as to place fresh coffee into the brewer and to remove the used coffee from the brewing chamber.

Abstract: A device for brewing fresh coffee or tea from dry ingredients which uses a flexible moveable screen to filter the brewed coffee or tea and dispose of the used grounds at the completion of each cycle.

Abstract: A flexible hopper made of rubber or other suitable flexible material which is driven by a motor through an eccentric drive so as to cause the hopper and a drive auger to vibrate to more readily dispense product in the hopper. One or more flexible fingers are attached to the auger and are flexed as the auger rotates so as to further improve the flow characteristics of the materials in the hopper.

Abstract: A hot water dispensing device which includes a flexible tube or a bellows which can be depressed by a solenoid such that hot water can pass into the tube or bellows and out an outlet when the solenoid is energized. When the solenoid is de-energized, the upper portion of the tube or bellows forms a seal to prevent water overflowing if the machine is moved or is jolted. By varying the time of energization of the solenoid, the quantity of water can be adjusted. Another modification has a pivoted tube controlled by a solenoid.

Abstract: An improved funnel for a beverage brewer which provides that the water supplied to the brewer enters into the funnel and passes into the brewer chamber to slots formed in the funnel and shaped so as to prevent air being expelled from the brewer chamber from below from causing the water to splash outside of the funnel during the brewing cycle. Ledges are formed on the lower edges of the slots which act as platforms for the water to rinse away coffee grounds during the short wash cycle of the coffee brewer.

Abstract: A dual hopper coffee cream or product dispenser assembly which has two chambers in which spiral augers are mounted so as to selectively dispense one of two products. Agitators of generally gear-shape configuration are mounted in the hoppers and are driven by the spiral so as to agitate the product for positive and smooth delivery.

Abstract: An improved beverage machine such as a coffee maker in which air is injected from a suitable air supply so as to agitate the coffee and water mixture as the coffee is brewed so as to increase the amount of coffee that is extracted. Various embodiments are disclosed wherein the air is injected at different times in the brewing cycle for different brewing structures.

Abstract: A sugar and cream dispenser for an automatic coffee machine which prevents coffee or sugar from being dispensed into cups where the customer does not desire cream or sugar. The cream and sugar chutes are provided with moveable doors which are closed except when cream or sugar is to be dispensed into a cup. When the customer selects cream or sugar such doors open so that the cream or sugar can be dispensed into the coffee cup and at other times such doors are closed. The doors also prevent moisture and steam from passing up into the cream and sugar chutes so as to cause clogging of the machine. The machine also provides an easily removeable chute structure which can be quickly cleaned and replaced on the machine.

Abstract: A beverage brewing machine which has upper and lower brewing chambers which are moveable relative to each other so as to clamp a strip-shaped filter therebetween during the brewing process and the chambers can be separated so as to allow the filter strip to be removed from the brewing chamber and the beverage residual wiped therefrom after which the filter strip is returned to the brewing chambers which are then resealed for the next cycle. A hold down grid engages the top surface of the filter to hold it down as a piston moves in the lower chamber upwardly to force air through the filter to agitate the beverage. When the piston reaches top dead center, the hold down grid is lifted. When the piston passes the opening the brewed coffee is poured. A loose connection is provided between the connecting rod for the piston and the driving crank arm so that the piston remains longer at the top and bottom of its stroke.

Abstract: A coffee brewing machine includes a housing having a front wall, a viewing window provided on the front wall, and a coffee brewing compartment adjacent the window in the front wall. The coffee brewing compartment includes a pouring assembly in a pour area. The elongated duct extends along an edge of the window and adjacent the brewing compartment. The duct has an inlet opening adjacent the pour area and inlet openings adjacent the windows. A vacuum pump is provided at the other end of the duct, and an exhaust opening is provided in a wall of the housing communicating with the duct and vacuum pump so that vapors being formed in the brewing compartment and the pour area as well as the window are withdrawn by negative pressure through the duct and exhausted outboard of the coffee brewing machine.

Abstract: A beverage brewing machine which has upper and lower brewing chambers which are movable relative to each other so as to clamp a strip-shaped filter therebetween during the brewing process and the chambers can be separated so as to allow the filter strip to be removed from the brewing chamber and the beverage residual wiped therefrom after which the filter strip is returned to the brewing chambers which are then resealed for the next cycle. A hold down grid engages the top surface of the filter to hold down as a piston moves in the lower chamber upwardly to force air through the filter to agitate the beverage. When the piston reaches top dead center, the hold down grid is lifted. When the piston passes the opening the brewed coffee is poured.

Abstract: An apparatus for a customer-operated dispensing machine includes an infinitely variable selector which enables the customer to select a continuously variable quantity of a product dispensed by a dispensing mechanism thereof, the apparatus being adapted to actuate the product dispensing mechanism to thereby dispense the product. The apparatus includes a manually pivotable switch for adjusting the dispensing time of the dispensing mechanism and/or a manually pivotable stopper for adjusting the dispensing rate of the dispensing mechanism to thereby adjust the quantity of the product dispensed.

Abstract: The invention relates to improvements in a beverage brewing machine. In accordance with the invention, the brewing machine is able to brew a larger single cup of beverage without affecting the quality of the beverage. The brewing machine includes an upper brewing chamber, and a lower second chamber below the upper chamber and filter means between the upper and lower chambers. To increase the amount of beverage brewed, the size of the lower chamber is increased by increasing the cross-sectional area of the lower chamber. However, the area of the upper opening of the lower chamber is not increased. Specifically, a flange extends inwardly from the top of the wall of the lower chamber to thereby cover a portion of the upper end of the bore of the lower chamber.