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: A beverage dispenser (10) with a dispenser body (12) having a flat bottom (20) supported above a base (14) and an upwardly facing open top (22) with a mating, generally horizontal, removable, flat, top closure (24) closing the open top (22). Beverage within the body (12) is dispensed through a drain pipe (36) during actuation of a manually operable, drain valve actuator (38) mounted to a front wall (26) at a location adjacent the top (22). A pair of actuator guards (40, 42), located on either side of the actuator 38, protects the actuator (38) against inadvertent actuation and provides lateral guidance for relative pivotal movement of the actuator (38). When the actuator (38) is pivoted inwardly to an actuated open position (FIG. 1), a plug (68) attached to one end of a relatively narrow, elongate, cylindrical handle (70) is moved upwardly to created a drainage gap (74) between the sides of the plug (68) and an interior surface of a valve opening (64) of the drain pipe (36).

Abstract: A beverage brewer (104), a method for installation of an electrically powered beverage brewer having an electrical heating element, at an installation site with a single-phase, AC, electrical, power connector providing single-phase, AC, electrical power, a method of making a multi-component electrical beverage brewer with electrically powered heating elements, and a method of inventorying electrically powered beverage brewers, all employ an electrical power connection adapter (112) having an electrically insulating body (114) with a pair of connective sides (116, 118), three electrical connection elements (120,122,124) mounted to the body (114) and accessible for connection at one of the pair of connective sides (116), two electrical connection elements (126, 128) mounted to the body (114) and accessible for connection at another one of the pair of connective sides (118), and two conductive leads (132, 134) mounted within the body (114) and respectively directly interconnecting without interruption the two el

Abstract: A hot beverage brewer (10) having a hot water dispense system (12), a brew basket assembly (18) for holding ingredient to be mixed with the hot water to make a freshly brewed hot beverage and a controller (16) for controlling the delivery of hot water from the hot water dispenser system to the brew basket (18) with a spray distribution assembly (14) having a spray head (20) having a generally vertical passageway (22) for receipt of hot water and an umbrella-like member (34).

Abstract: A beverage dispenser (20) has a double-walled tubular, preferably cylindrical, sensor (22) that is immersed in liquid (23), such as coffee or tea, within an opaque, stainless steel container, or beverage dispenser (25) has a double-walled tubular sensor connected via two conductive paths (24, 26) to two inputs (28, 30), respectively, of a resistance measuring circuit (32) that measures the resistance between the two inputs (28, 30) to produce an electrical, direct current, resistance output signal that varies with changes in the instantaneous resistance between the two inputs (28, 30) The resistance output signal is connected to an input (34) of an electronic controller (40) The electronic controller (40) calculates the depth of the liquid (23) based on the magnitude of the resistance output signal applied to the input (34).

Abstract: A hot beverage brewer (20) with an L-shaped, segmented, hot water tank (36) having a laterally extending side body (50) to which is mounted a membrane mounted tubular brew valve (38) with a dispense tube (66) and an electromagnet (92,94) selectively energized by a micro-computer controller (28) to attract in successive stages a first stage energy plate (98) and a second stage energy plate (102) attached to the dispense tube (66) to move the tube from a closed position (FIGS. 2 and 3) in which an inlet (72) of the tube is above a preselected level (42) of water in the tank (36) to an open position (FIGS. 4 and 5) in which the inlet (72) is beneath the surface to pass hot water to a spray head (76). In one embodiment, one or more of the energy plates are permanent magnets (138,140) and in other embodiments the plates (98,102) are not permanent magnets and are resistive to being permanently magnetized.

Abstract: A brewing control method for use with beverage brewing system (10) uses a controller (52) responsive to a comparison of preselected values of total brew water and total diluent water stored in a program memory (62) and to actual quantities measured by one of two flow meter (36, 36?) to control operation of a brew valve (46) passing water to a hot water tank (14) and a diluent valve (50) for passing water directly to a mixing chamber (28). the controller also responds to a level sensor (20) to control the brew valve (46) to keep the hot water tank filled with water. The preselected amounts of diluent and extract are changed for different brewing conditions to obtain different total quantities of beverage or different ratios of hot brew water passed through the brew basket (24) to cold diluent water passed directly to the mixing chamber, or serving urn (28).

Abstract: A food ingredient grinding assembly (10) with a removable ingredient hopper (32,34) made of translucent material to enable viewing the ingredient within the hopper through a window opening (40,42) and carries a closure assembly (FIGS. 4A and 4B) that automatically closes an outlet opening (112) when the hopper is removed from the housing (12) and when installed is control led by a solenoid (118) that when energized pushes a plate (116) to align an opening (126) in the plate with the outlet opening (112) of the hopper. When the solenoid is not energized or when the hopper is removed, a spring (118) automatically returns the plate to a closed position. Alternatively, the closure plate (116) is pulled by the solenoid (FIGS. 6A, 6B, 7A, 7B, 8A and 8B) through the use of vertically releasable connectors or is pushed or pulled open by an electromagnet (FIGS. 9A, 9B, 10A and 10B).

Abstract: A twin brewer system (30) with a pair of brewers (30A, 30B) each with a controller (158) for controlling the application of electrical power to a hot water heater, disables the application of electrical power to the heater (154) of one brewer (30A, 30B) in response to actuation of a start brew switch of the one brewer (30A, 30B) while electrical power is being applied to the heater (154) of the other brewer (30A, 30B). The controllers also respond to a hot water quantity sensor (164, 168) and a responsive delay circuit for disabling dispensing of hot water in response to actuation of the brew start switch (50) until a sufficient quantity of hot water is in a hot water dispenser tank (152) needed for the brew cycle. Indication lamps indicate when the brew cycle is being delayed and when brewing is not being performed. Actuation of a single emergency stop switch (138) stops hot water dispensing of both brewers (30A, 30B).

Abstract: A beverage powder mixing drink dispenser has a hopper for containing a supply of powder, a source of water and a controller, all contained within a housing has a mixing assembly, an electrical motor with an annular stator mounted to the housing and an annular rotor mounted to rotate around a motor axis within the annular stator when the stator is energized, a mixing chamber with a hollow body having an interior surface extending between a chamber inlet and a chamber outlet and at least one mixing member extending inwardly from and mounted to the interior surface to rotate with rotation of the hollow body, means for releasably mounting the hollow body of the mixing chamber to the rotor to rotate with the rotor relative to the stator about the motor axis, and means for controlling energizing of the stator, the accumulation of clogging moisture on the powder outlet is reduced by rotating the mixing member at a relatively high mixing speed during mixing to mix the powder with the water in the mixing chamber and r

Abstract: A beverage dispenser(20) with a top assembly(26) having a cover closure, or cover(50) with an inlet access opening, structure for mounting the cover(50) for movement between an operative position in which the inlet access opening is aligned with the inlet and the cover overlies the top assembly, and an inoperative position and a stopper member(54) of contrasting color pivotally mounted to the underside of the cover for movement between a closed position in which it extends through an inlet access opening to block passage of liquid and heat from within the dispenser and to block movement of the dispenser beneath a brew basket of an associated brewer for receipt of beverage and an open position in which it is pivoted against the underside of a pivotally mounted cover. The cover (50) is pivotally mounted to a cover base and is limited in movement by a carry handle when in a lowered position, and is removable for cleaning and removal of a funnel assembly to enable access to the interior for cleaning.

Abstract: A beverage brewing system (10) having a controller (52) responsive to a comparison of preselected values of total brew water and total diluent water stored in a program memory (62) and to actual quantities measured by one or two flow meter (36, 36?) to control operation of a brew valve (46) passing water to a hot water tank (14) and a diluent valve (50) for passing water directly to a mixing chamber (28). The controller is also responsive to a level sensor (20) to control the brew valve (46) to keep the hot water tank filled with water. The preselected amounts may be changed for different brewing conditions to obtain different total quantities of beverage or different ratios of hot brew water passed through the brew basket (24) to cold diluent water passed directly to the mixing chamber, or serving urn (28).

Abstract: An insulated beverage dispenser (10) with an outer housing (24) having reinforcing cavities (86) and reinforcing ribs (88) on a canted surface (92) of a top closure (78) to resist distortion that is fitted over an integrally formed inner liner (48) in spaced relationship to provide a gap (52) that is evacuated to approximately 8% with a bottom having an asymmetrically tilted downwardly to a center-offset drain opening (76) to reduce the lateral extent of a dispense tube (136) reduce heat loss from the drain opening to a faucet 20.

Abstract: A beverage powder mixing drink dispenser (10, 10?) having a hopper (12) for containing a supply of powder, a source of water (14) and a controller (16), all contained within a housing (60) has a mixing assembly (52) with an electrical motor (42) with an annular stator (40) mounted to the housing (60) and an annular rotor (44) mounted to rotate around a motor axis (46) within the annular stator (40) when the stator is energized, a mixing chamber (34) with a hollow body (48) and at least one mixing member within the hollow body (48), mounting structure (49,50) for releasably mounting the hollow body (48) of the mixing chamber (34) to the rotor (44) to rotate with the rotor relative to the stator about the motor axis, the controller selectively passing powder and water into the mixing chamber to be mixed together in the mixing chamber (34) during rotation of the mixing chamber and the mixing member when the stator is energized, and means (16, 38) and controlling energizing of the stator (40).

Abstract: A self-heating beverage dispenser assembly (10) with an insulated hollow body (18) with an interior space (16) for receipt of hot beverage (14) at an initial beverage temperature is provided with a beverage submersible passive heating element (12) submersed in the beverage and having a body with an interior core (48) made of heat retentive material, such a phase change material or ceramic material or the like, and surrounded by a protective outer shell (46) made of material substantially impervious to contact with hot beverage (14). The core (48) is preheated to an initial internal temperature significantly greater than the initial beverage temperature to transfer heat from the core (48) to the beverage (13) within the container, said self-contained passive heating element being contained within the interior of the hollow body. A passive heating unit energizer (44) selectively heats the passive heating unit (12) to the desired initial internal temperature.

Abstract: A coffee brewer (10, 10′ and 10′) is provided with a plurality of solenoid controlled, bi-position dispense valves (40, 40′), a size adjustable valve (60) or a combination of both and a programmable controller (18) for controlling the dispense valves in accordance with preselected brew parameters of batch quantity and dispense time duration (FIG. 8).

Abstract: An insulated beverage dispenser (10) with an outer housing (24) having reinforcing cavities (86) and reinforcing ribs (88) on a canted surface (92) of a top closure (78) to resist distortion that is fitted over an integrally formed inner liner (48) in spaced relationship to provide a gap (52) that is evacuated to approximately 8% of standard atmospheric pressure. The bottom closure (62) of the inner liner (48) is symmetrically tilted downwardly across the center to a center-offset drain opening (76) to reduce the lateral extent (137) of a dispense tube (136) to reduce the quantity of beverage contained within the dispense tube (136) and subject to heat loss between the drain opening (76) to and a faucet (20). The dispense tube (136) is protectively contained within a hollow bottom section (25) for purposes of insulation and is also wrapped in foam insulation (139) for further insulation.

Abstract: A method of maintaining temperature of a hot beverage in an urn with a self-heating urn (10) provided with heat packs (18) that are rapidly heated during the brewing process and then gradually release their heat to the brewed beverage within the urn after it is removed from the brewing location to a serving location at which electrical powered for heating is not available. The heat packs (18) are formed of ceramic materials, high density liquids, PCM's or the like which are capable of being rapidly heated during the brewing process but then gradually release their heat to the beverage in the urn. Alternatively, the warmer packs (18) are removably mounted within a compartment (68) within the self-heating urn (10) and are heated apart from the brewing process and then inserted into the self-heating urn (10) when it is moved to a serving location.