Abstract: A coffee bean roaster is provided with a cylindrically shaped transparent viewing tower in which coffee beans are roasted by an upwardly directed hot gaseous stream while being fluidized into a visually pleasing ascending central and descending outside columns during the roasting cycle. A two way valve located at the bottom of the tower permits the gaseous stream to enter the tower when the valve is in a first position and the roasted beans to be diverted to a cooling chamber when the valve is in a second position.

Abstract: A beverage mixing apparatus such as a coffee grinding and brewing apparatus is provided with an operative cycle which includes the transportation of a predetermined amount of a solid component of a beverage mixture from a storage compartment to and through a passageway into a mixing chamber wherein the liquid component of the beverage is mixed with the solid component. The apparatus further comprises a valve assembly associated with the passageway and having a plate movable between a closed position and an open position. The plate defines an opening which registers with the passageway when the plate is in the open position. A solenoid is connected to the plate for moving the plate between its open and closed positions. When the plate is in its open position the solid component can be moved from the storage chamber to the mixing chamber. In the closed position, the plate prevents moisture from the mixture from moving to the storage chamber through the passageway.

Abstract: Grinding burrs for use in a coffee bean grinder comprises a stationary disk and a rotary disk. Each of the disks has a multiplicity of teeth arranged in stages about the center of the disk. One of the disks has its multiplicity of teeth adapted to nest among and be spaced predetermined distances from the multiplicity of teeth of the other disk. Each disk includes a first stage of teeth comprising at least four teeth equally spaced apart in a circular row about the center of the disk a distance at least greater than the average diameter of coffee beans to be ground. The burr disks also include a second stage of teeth aligned in at least one circular row and spaced outwardly from the first stage of teeth and a third stage of teeth aligned in at least one circular row about the center and spaced outwardly from the second stage.

Abstract: A coffee dispensing and brewing apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention comprises components for dispensing a predetermined amount of coffee to a brew basket, the components including a hopper for holding a supply of coffee beans and an auger device communicating with the hopper for portioning coffee beans in a predetermined amount to a coffee grinder. The apparatus further includes a brew basket holding assembly for releasably holding the brew basket in a region adjacent a passageway to the grinder and a hot water making and delivery system for distributing a predetermined volume of hot water from a hot water holding tank to the region during a brewing cycle. The grinder motor has a right angle power transmission that couples the moter to the grinder with the motor being located below the grinder and adjacent a vertical side of the holding tank.

Abstract: A coffee bean transport system for moving beans between a bean hopper and a bean operating mechanism has a transitional zone where the beans exit the hopper which serves to merge beans moved by an auger mechanism into a core flow of beans that has a constant density.

Abstract: A thermoelectrically cooled beverage dispensing machine of the commercial type such as used in restaurants, movie theaters and the like featuring compact construction is disclosed. The cooling system employs a plurality of heat exchanger fins or plates which define a void space therein in which a fan motor is disposed, thus saving either substantial height, width or depth in the housing containing the cooling system. The air circulation fan motor of the cooling system is also used as the prime mover for a magnetic drive disc which, in turn, operates a magnetically driven liquid impeller located within a beverage container for agitating the beverage to create a pleasing dynamic fluid display which is also a space saving feature in thermoelectrically cooled beverage display systems. A multi-bowl thermoelectrically cooled beverage dispensing machine having these same advantageous features is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for automatically delivering one or more precise volumes of hot water to a beverage brewer for brewing a precise amount of a beverage and also permitting variable volumes of hot water, ordinarily in conventional cup sizes, to be manually obtained, is disclosed. The system employs single resistance probe sensor circuit and control circuit in combination with a latch circuit relay to maintain one level of hot water in a heated water tank for manual draw off of variable amounts of hot water from a faucet and for displacing the hot water in the tank from the one level to a second higher level for delivery of a predetermined portion of the displaced volume of hot water to a brewing funnel for brewing a precise volume of hot beverage upon command. A selector switch permits selection of different precise volume of hot water to be delivered to the beverage brewer upon command.

Abstract: A coffee grinder assembly including a housing, a coffee bean hopper, a motorized grinder and at least one bean carrier member containing a chamber having a predetermined volume slidably disposed in the housing between a retracted position wherein the chamber communicates with the hopper and is isolated from the grinder and an extended position wherein the chamber communicates with the grinder and is isolated from the hopper. The member contains an inlet aperture for communication between the chamber and the hopper when in the first position and an outlet aperture for communication between the chamber and the grinder when in the second position. The chamber contains a floor which slopes downwardly toward the outlet aperture at a negative angle which is greater than the angle of repose of coffee beans to promote the flow of coffee beans from the chamber to the grinder.

Abstract: A system for preventing the escape of moisture from a beverage preparing device, such as a coffee brew basket, into apparatus for delivering a dry particulate food product, such as a coffee grinder, to the device during the beverage preparing process. The system includes a support plate containing a rectangular opening. A brew basket can be removably suspended from the plate under the opening. An elongated rod, rotatable about its longitudinal axis, is connected across the plate so as to extend across an edge of the opening. A flap is fixedly attached to the rod for tilting as the rod rotates between a closed position in which the opening is sealed against moisture penetration and a downwardly extending position such that the food product can be delivered through the opening to the basket. A spring biases the rod to an angular position of rotation such that the flap is normally closed to seal the opening.

Abstract: A grinder refinement mechanism for use with a conventional coffee or peanut grinder is disclosed. The grinder includes the usual screw conveyor having a rotary grinding burr attached to a forward end thereof, a stationary grinding burr connected to a wall of the grinder housing and a main spring which biases the screw conveyor toward the forward end of the grinder housing against an adjustment screw projecting through an end wall. The mechanism includes a lever arm pivotally attached to an outside surface of the end wall and an electrical solenoid connected to the arm. The usual adjustment screw is replaced with a plunger element which slidably projects both into and out of the end wall and is confined between a forward end of the screw conveyor and the arm. In one condition of the solenoid, the main spring forces the screw conveyor and plunger forwardly to hold the arm against a stop screw which thus determines the desired coarse grinding condition of the grinder burrs.

Abstract: A coffee grinder assembly including a housing, a coffee bean hopper, a motorized grinder and at least one bean carrier member containing a chamber having a predetermined volume slidably disposed in the housing between a retracted position wherein the chamber communicates with the hopper and is isolated from the grinder and an extended position wherein the chamber communicates with the grinder and is isolated from the hopper. The member contains an inlet aperture for communication between the chamber and the hopper when in the first position and an outlet aperture for communication between the chamber and the grinder when in the second position. The chamber contains a floor which slopes downwardly toward the outlet aperture at a negative angle which is greater than the angle of repose of coffee beans to promote the flow of coffee beans from the chamber to the grinder.