Abstract: A dispensing urn assembly (10, 10′) with a hollow body (12) with an interior surface for containing beverage (14) and a manually operable faucet (16) for selectively dispensing beverage (14) from the bottom of hollow body with an electronic status display assembly (50) controlled by a microcomputer (62) in response to a temperature probe (44), a level probe (42) and a timer reset switch (46) to provide graphic displays (64,68, 72), numerical displays (66,70, 74) of the temperature, quantity and time elapsed or remaining since the brewing of the beverage and light indication displays (55,57, 59) when preselected values are achieved.

Abstract: A food ingredient grinder assembly (10) having ingredient hoppers (12) and grinding blades (20) for grinding ingredient upon receipt within grinding chamber (14) has a controller that maintains a motor (38) operating after the ingredient in the grinding chamber has been depleted to vibrate and blow away residual ground ingredient from interior surfaces of the grinder assembly to reduce contamination of different type of ingredient subsequently ground in the same grinding chamber and passed to a brew basket (24) through the same outlets and manifold (50). In one embodiment the grinding blades are controlled according to a preselected time period and in another embodiment the control is based on the net weight of the ground ingredient within the brew basket (24) which is measured through use of strain gages (30).

Abstract: A beverage brewer (20) with a programmable dispenser cycle dispenser valve controller (36) for controlling a dispenser valve (34) to intermittently open and close during a plurality of control periods of an intermittent dispense period (88) to selectively control the quantity of hot water that is dispensed without changing the overall duration of the dispense period (88). Each of the control periods (CP1-CP20) has a duty portion during which the dispenser valve is open that is selectively varied to brew either greater or lesser amounts of beverage without varying the overall dispense period (88). Alternatively, the number of control periods is selectively changed to change the overall dispense period (88) without changing the quantity of beverage by appropriate changes to the duty portion.

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 controlled 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 means of an electromagnet (FIGS. 9A, 9B,10A and 10B).

Abstract: A dispensing urn assembly (10, 10′) with a hollow body (12) with an interior surface for containing beverage (14) and a manually operable faucet (16) for selectively dispensing beverage (14) from the bottom of hollow body with an electronic status display assembly (50) controlled by a microcomputer (62) in response to a temperature probe (44), a level probe (42) and a timer reset switch (46) to provide graphic displays (64,68, 72), numerical displays (66,70, 74) of the temperature, quantity and time elapsed or remaining since the brewing of the beverage and light indication displays (55,57, 59) when preselected values are ahieved.

Abstract: A method of making tea with a tea maker (54) provided with a control system (116) that enables the tea to be intermittently drained of water to allow contact of the tea (52,26) with atmospheric oxygen several times during each brew cycle to enhance flavor and to eliminate the problems associated with seeping of the tea.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser (20) with a top assembly (26) having a pivotally mounted closure cover (50) with an inlet access opening (56) and a stopper (54) of contrasting color pivotally mounted to the underside of the closure cover (50) for movement between a closed position (FIGS. 2, 5) in which the stopper (54) extends through the inlet access opening (56) to block the access opening (56) and to prevent movement of the dispenser (20) beneath a brew basket (58) of an associated brewer (60) for receipt of beverage, and an open position (FIG. 2) in which the stopper (54) held against the underside of the cover closure (50) and spaced from the access opening (56). The closure cover is pivotally mounted to a cover base (62) and is limited in movement by a carry handle (52) when in a lowered position, and is removable for cleaning and removal of a funnel assembly (70) to enable access to the interior through a funnel mounting hole (66) for cleaning.

Abstract: A brewing system (30) with a brew basket support (358) with apparatus for mounting the brew basket (180) for movement between a first position (FIG. 10A) in which the brew basket (180) is aligned with the brewer (30) for receipt of water and a second position (FIG. 10B) in which the brew basket is removed from proper alignment to facilitate removal of the brew basket from the brew basket support (180). A filter support basket is supported within the brew basket (184) but spaced inwardly from a closed wall of the brew basket to provide a perimital gap (172) between the filter support basket (184) and the wall for passage of bypass water through the brew basket without passing through the filter support basket (184). The basket (184) includes an annular trough (172) for receipt of water above the gap (180) with a plurality of drain holes (344) for draining by-pass water through the perimital gap (172).

Abstract: A beverage dispenser (20) with a faucet assembly (42) manually removably attached to an integral, stainless steel, U-shaped outlet pipe (52) having a generally horizontal section (74) that extends outwardly from the enveloping side (76) has a faucet with a faucet shank (48) for mating overlapping connection with the horizontal section (74) and a faucet latch member (78) carried by the faucet shank (48) and a mating outlet pipe latch assembly (90,92) for releasable latching engagement with the faucet latch member (78) to releaseably lock the faucet shank (48) to the outlet pipe (52).

Abstract: A brewing system (30) with a brew basket support (358) with apparatus for mounting the brew basket (180) for movement between a first position (FIG. 10A) in which the brew basket (180) is aligned with the brewer (30) for receipt of water and a second position (FIG. 10B) in which the brew basket is removed from proper alignment to facilitate removal of the brew basket from the brew basket support (180). A filter support basket is supported within the brew basket (184) but spaced inwardly from a closed wall of the brew basket to provide a perimital gap (172) between the filter support basket (184) and the wall for passage of bypass water through the brew basket without passing through the filter support basket (184). The basket (184) includes an annular trough (172) for receipt of water above the gap (180) with a plurality of drain holes (344) for draining by-pass water through the perimital gap (172).

Abstract: A beverage ingredient filter (10) having a relatively inwardly located, filtering, inner section (12) of the beverage ingredient filter (10) made of water permeable filter paper (11) and a relatively outwardly located, water impervious and nonfiltering outer section (14) of the beverage ingredient filter continuously joined to and surrounding the inner filtering section (12) of beverage ingredient filter.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing urn (10) with a body (12) having a double-walled vacuum insulation construction with a movable insulation assembly (28) having a hollow movable insulating member (30, 30′) made of an annular or cylindrical envelope of stainless steel that floats upon the surface (36) of the beverage (18) within the interior of the body (12) to insulate it from the portions of the body above the surface (36) and the air contained within the body and is slideably guided by the interior surface (34) of the body (12) and, in the case of the annular envelope, by a hollow guide member (42) that conveys beverage (18) from the inlet (16) to a portion (48) of the body (12) beneath the movable insulation member through an opening (44) in the movable insulating member.

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 controlled 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. Because the closure assembly (114) is carried by the hopper and the solenoid is not attached to the closure assembly by fasteners the hopper may be removed without the use of any tools simply by lifting it out of the housing.

Abstract: A portable beverage dispenser (10) having a hollow body (22)for retention of a beverage and a faucet (42) with a dispenser base assembly (46) has a removable drip tray assembly (28) slidably mounted to horizontally extending base support members(54, 56) usually used for receipt of drips of beverage from the faucet (42) and a backup drip tray (148) fixedly mounted to the support member beneath the removable drip tray assembly to catch drips when the removable drip tray assembly is removed for emptying and cleaning. The drip tray assembly (28) has a drip sink (68) covered by a grate panel (84) having a plurality of elongate, parallel, grate members each with a pointed peak (98) and a pair of opposed substantially flat sides (100, 102) sloping downwardly away from the peak to guide beverage downwardly away from the peak for retention by the drip plate (84).

Abstract: A self-heating urn (10) is provided with a warmer packs (18) which 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 warmer pack (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.

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.

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. A heating element (17) keeps the water in the hot water tank (14) heated to a preselected temperature, and when cold water from a source (30) is passed to a bottom inlet (47) hot water at the top of the hot water tank (14) is forced out of a siphon connection (56) at the top of the hot water tank (14) and passed through a spray head (22) to a brew basket (24) containing the beverage ingredient, such as tea.

Abstract: A beverage brewer (20) with a programmable dispenser cycle dispenser valve controller (36) for controlling a dispenser valve (34) to intermittently open and close during a plurality of control periods of an intermittent dispense period (88) to selectively control the quantity of hot water that is dispensed without changing the overall duration of the dispense period (88). Each of the control periods (CP1-CP20) has a duty portion during which the dispenser valve is open that is selectively varied to brew either greater or lesser amounts of beverage without varying the overall dispense period (88). Alternatively, the number of control periods is selectively changed to change the overall dispense period (88) without changing the quantity of beverage by appropriate changes to the duty portion.