With Prior Handling Or Treating (e.g., Roasting Or Grinding) Patents (Class 99/286)
  • Patent number: 5463932
    Abstract: A coffee maker (20) includes a housing (21) supporting a coffee grinder (23) for grinding coffee beans, and a brewer which includes a reservoir (24) for holding water, a filter basket (28) for receiving ground coffee beans discharged from the grinder and water from the reservoir, a pump (66) in fluid communication with the reservoir, and a heater (74) for heating water from the reservoir. In the preferred embodiment, the pump pumps water through the heater, which heats the water, and then into the filter basket. The coffee maker also includes a thermally insulated carafe (30), removably connected to the housing for receiving brewed coffee from the filter basket of the brewer. A central processing unit (32) having a memory (48) is operably connected to the pump, heater, and grinder for causing coordinated operation of the coffee maker at times based on data stored in the memory of the central processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Inventor: Allen W. Olson
  • Patent number: 5417145
    Abstract: A coffee grinder which has several different automatic grinding capacities is connected to a coffee brewer which has several different automatic brewing capacities by a control that inhibits brewing of all but the corresponding brew capacity following grinding of a quantity of coffee. The grinder is also inhibited from grinding any more coffee until the appropriate brew cycle of the coffee brewer is started. Once the corresponding brewing cycle is selected, the coffee grinder is reset and any grinding capacity may be selected. A calibration mode for the coffee grinder and the coffee brewer is provided wherein the duration of the grinding cycle or brewing cycle, respectively, is set by manually initiating the cycle and then halting of the cycle when the appropriate capacity is reached. The duration of the cycle is then set for subsequent automatic operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: National Controls Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Joseph, Jr., Donald R. Buttle, David G. Motkowski
  • Patent number: 5394623
    Abstract: A self controlled, fluidized bed coffee roaster which provides a stream of heated air to a bed of coffee beans, monitors the temperature of the air that has passed through the bean; and when the air temperatures reaches a predetermined set point, a controller terminates the heating, deactivates the heater and injects water into the air stream at a point upstream of the beans to cool the system and quench the roasting process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Inventor: Richard C. Sewell
  • Patent number: 5387256
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a small-capacity coffee roaster in which, even when roasting small quantities of raw coffee beans using direct-contact heat, the temperature can easily be controlled within the range vital for the roasting of coffee beans, and proper roasting can be accomplished in a short time. The roaster 10 comprises a stirring blade 12 provided at the bottom inside a roasting container 11, a ring-shaped sheathed heater 13 provided at the upper part of the container, an exhaust opening 7 having a smoke-removal filter 14 provided in the top wall of the container, and a temperature sensor 17 for detecting the temperature of the container provided on the underside of the bottom wall of the container. In addition, the container is made of good heat-conducting aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Inventor: Kazuo Enomoto
  • Patent number: 5370041
    Abstract: The present invention resides in a beverage making machine containing a purification unit for purifying potable water. The purifying unit contains a purifying agent and is detachably mounted on either the water reservoir or on the basket where water contacts the brewing agent or beverage making agent of the beverage machine.In an alternate mode, the water purifying unit is located below the water reservoir of a beverage making machine. The bottom member of the water purifying unit is detachably mounted on the bottom of said units with screw-on means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Inventor: Stephen Lowe
  • Patent number: 5367946
    Abstract: A method of making coffee or tea by use of a coffee maker or tea maker kit which includes a mortar, a pestle, a scoop, and a cup, the cup including a brewing section and a sipping section separated by a partition projecting inward from the inside wall of the cup, the partition having an aperture through which the finished beverage is passed and sipped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Inventor: Kazuo Yasunaga
  • Patent number: 5322005
    Abstract: A coffee making apparatus comprises a roaster for roasting dried coffee beans, a tank having a meshed case for temporarily storing roasted coffee beans, a blower which sends air to the roasted coffee beans in the meshed case to cool the roasted coffee beans, a milling/extracting unit receiving the cooled roasted coffee beans from the tank for milling the roasted coffee beans and thereafter extracting a coffee solution therefrom by pouring hot water, a coffee server for receiving the coffee solution which has been extracted, and a case in which the roaster, the tank, and the milling/extracting unit are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Nichimen Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Enomoto
  • Patent number: 5307733
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a coffee maker having the capability of shortening the length of time from the grinding of the roasted coffee beans to the brewing of the coffee, thus shortening the length of time required to obtain the brewed coffee, and wherein there is no large difference in the brewing strength of the coffee between the start of brewing and the end of brewing. The coffee maker performs all of the steps from the roasting of the raw coffee beans to the grinding of the beans and to the brewing of the coffee completely automatically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Inventor: Kazuo Enomoto
  • Patent number: 5287795
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a coffee maker for performing the appropriate automatic operation in accordance with whether or not there are coffee beans contained in the apparatus, informing the user of the type of automatic operation which is possible to perform at the present time, and, in the event that the user has not completed all of the necessary preparations for operation, preventing the occurrence of useless operation and dangerous operating conditions by automatically stopping operation at the point just before the step for which the preparations have not been completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Inventor: Kazuo Enomoto
  • Patent number: 5285705
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Grindmaster Corporation
    Inventors: Donald R. Buttle, Christopher J. Kenny, Brian D. Newnan
  • Patent number: 5277102
    Abstract: An automatic vending machine for dispensing coffee infusions wherein a quantity of coffee is duly batched and compacted, and hot water is passed over the batched coffee thereby to obtain a coffee infusion which is discharged and collected in a suitable can, comprises a batcher and a mechanism for obtaining the infusion. The batcher includes a cylindrical body with a rotary vane in which two cavities are formed, which are alternately filled with batched coffee to be hauled upon rotation, to an ejector duct reaching a receptacle, the bottom of which is formed by a lower seat. The lower seat and the receptacle are mounted on a common shaft which can travel up and down and can rotate to allow the batched coffee to be carried from the ejector duct to face a compacting piston provided in a fixed body so that a batched coffee is compacted and hot water is passed therethrough. The shaft is driven by a cylinder piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Azkoyen Hosteleria, S.A.
    Inventors: Antonio Martinez, Juan I. Ciaurriz
  • Patent number: 5269072
    Abstract: An improved coffee roaster (10) for roasting a selected volume of coffee beans in a relatively quick and efficient manner. A roasting cavity (66) is provided for receiving and roasting a selected volume of green coffee beans. A timer (158) is provided for controlling the roasting time. A heating coil (32) is provided for generating heat to roast the coffee beans. A motor (24) drives a fan (30), which forces air through the heating coil (32) and toward the roasting cavity (66). Slots (76) defined by the roasting cavity (66) direct the heated air into the roasting cavity (66) such that the coffee beans are agitated and roasted. Chaff is evacuated with the air through the opening (74) in the top of the roasting cavity (66). A chaff collector (20) is provided for collecting the chaff evacuated while allowing the escape of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Felknor International
    Inventor: Gordon J. Waligorski
  • Patent number: 5267507
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a coffee maker in which disposal of the used coffee grounds and cleaning after brewing can be performed easily, and which is capable of being reused immediately. It is a fully automatic coffee maker in which a roaster which roasts raw coffee beans, a cooler means which cools the coffee beans roasted by the roaster, a grinder means which grinds the beans and supplies the ground coffee, and a water heater and supplier which heats and supplies the water from a water tank, are all contained inside an outer case 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Inventor: Kazuo Enomoto
  • Patent number: 5259296
    Abstract: The brewing apparatus (2) comprises lateral guiding and holding plates (6, 7) for securing and guiding individual components thereof. A movable brewing piston (39) is guided in a cylindrical guideway (8) provided with an external thread (93). A nut (9) rotatable on the guideway has teeth (10) at its periphery and is moved on the guideway by a motor-driven, elongated gearwheel (11). Lateral guide arms (14, 15) engage the nut and the brewing piston and control the pivoting movement of a brewing cylinder (82). The brewing cylinder has two arms provided with teeth (86, 87), these arms co-operating with a drive part (26) for moving an ejection piston (107) in the brewing cylinder. The drive part for the ejection piston is designed in such a way that it travels only half as far as the ejection piston and thus allows the coffee machine to have less headroom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Jura Elektroapparate AG
    Inventors: Torma Mikael, Anton Ackermann
  • Patent number: 5241898
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Assignee: Grindmaster Corporation
    Inventor: Brian D. Newnan
  • Patent number: 5237910
    Abstract: The material pack opening apparatus of the invention comprises: a pair of substantially parallel, spaced apart teeth shaped sting edges arranged in an front-to-end (longitudinal) direction; a transverse sting edges arranged perpendicular to, and at substantially intermediate position of, said paired sting edges; and a platform for holding thereon said sting edges, said apparatus enabling a material pack at the bottom of multiple packs each containing powder material and stacked on an article stock rack, to be cut open the bottom of the lowest material pack widely along two cut lines by pressing from above said packs, and, by vibrating said platform, enabling the bottom pack unpacked, freeing the powder material almost completely into a material accommodation unit in a short time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Noboru Chigira
  • Patent number: 5230281
    Abstract: An apparatus for roasting coffee beans or the like includes a controlled spinning bed or fluid bed roaster in combination with a cyclone separator for removing chaff from the heating medium. The cyclone separator is disposed above and in coaxial and abutting relationship with the roaster. The separator has a generally cylindrical shape with a plate having a plurality of louvers in the base thereof. The louvers impart rotational movement as the heating medium passes therethrough so that the chaff can be removed therefrom. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a second centrifugal separator which is relatively small with respect to the first separator is disposed adjacent the first separator for making a final separation and returning the heated medium to the roaster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: Blaw Knox Food & Chemical Equipment Co.
    Inventors: Jack Wireman, Daniel R. Wireman
  • Patent number: 5224414
    Abstract: The present invention involves an improvement to a beverage making apparatus in which a slide valve assembly for preventing moisture from seeping into an area holding the solid component of a beverage mix is provided with a finger tab. The tab serves as a grasping device to manipulate the slide valve between open and shut positions and as a deflector of the solid material ejected from the holding area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: Grindmaster Corporation
    Inventor: Roderick C. Hunt
  • Patent number: 5207148
    Abstract: A automated, milk inclusive espresso coffee machine which includes a fully automatic coffee grinding and brewing apparatus and a steam generator for driving a venturi mixing device which draws ambient air and milk from a refrigerated source for making milk inclusive espresso beverages, all milk contacting surfaces being either refrigerated or steam cleaned with each beverage made and served. A novel microprocessor controls all operations including brewing, steam generating, water heating, refrigerating, operations parameters, measuring and monitoring, many "house-keeping" functions and others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Caffe Acorto, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle T. Anderson, Duke W. Goss, Michael G Lee
  • Patent number: 5193438
    Abstract: A coffee mill is incorporated in a coffee-making machine. At least one horizontal grinding unit has a casing provided with a lateral outlet which opens into a vertical discharge nozzle. The lateral outlet is located opposite to a centrifugal turbine which projects coffee powder through the lateral outlet. Provision is made opposite to lateral outlet for a vertical discharge nozzle, the bottom orifice of which opens directly above the location of a brewing receptacle and the upper portion of which has a lateral inlet ear placed opposite to the lateral outlet of the grinding unit. The discharge nozzle is provided with a deflecting inner wall which is capable of downwardly directing the coffee powder delivered by the grinding unit. The discharge nozzle is also removably mounted and may thus be readily cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Bonnet S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Loup Courtois
  • Patent number: 5186399
    Abstract: A digital control system for a coffee bean grinder, particularly one with a dual hopper, which is conveniently programmable and automatically operable for selecting bean type and grinding with a high degree of accuracy bean quantities ranging from a few ounces (e.g., 3 ounces or less) for brewing a few cups of coffee, to large quantities (e.g., 2 pounds or more) for brewing several gallons of coffee. The invention may be confined entirely to a grinder, or may be incorporated in a brewing system consisting of a brewer and one or more grinder. The invention allows one grinder to accommodate one or more coffee grinders either of the same type or of different types (i.e., a brewer for making multi-cup quantities or urns for making gallon quantities).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Knepler, Cloyce Newton, Kenneth W. Stover
  • Patent number: 5185171
    Abstract: A roaster for coffee beans or the like admits the beans into a roasting air stream (31, 23, 32) at an air stream entrance (24). The air stream transports the beans from entrance (24) in an air stream path (26, 36) to an altitude (36) from where they are directed to return to entrance (24) by falling into a hopper having side wall (13, 14) and a constriction (22) which controls the rate of admission of the beans into the air stream. In preferred embodiments the beans are admitted into a horizontal air stream with a component of velocity in the air flow direction and roasting air is also admitted to the hopper directly (46) or indirectly (44, 45) via wall perforations (19, 20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Inventor: Ian J. Bersten
  • Patent number: 5174194
    Abstract: The machine includes a motor-driven conveyor screw provided in a supply duct connecting the coffee grinder to a percolation chamber to move the ground coffee at a rate higher than that of its supply from the coffee grinder. Preferably, the percolation chamber has an associate prechamber into which the supply duct opens. A device for closing the percolation chamber and compressing the charge of coffee comprises a tamper which is reciprocable between a withdrawn position in which it does not occupy the prechamber and closes its side opposite the percolation chamber and an advance position of compressing the charge in the chamber and sealing the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Inventor: Giuseppe S. Piana
  • Patent number: 5163356
    Abstract: An automatic food vending machine comprises: a cooking means for cooking food materials; a first storage means for preserving food materials for a long period; a second storage means for preserving food materials in a condition that they can be instantly cooked by said cooking means; a first transport means for transporting food materials from said first storage means to said second storage means; and a second transport means for transporting food materials from said second storage means to said cooking means. A large quantity of food materials may be stored in the first storage means and transported to the second storage means by the first transport means as required. In the second storage means the food materials are stored so that they may be instantly cooked. The apparatus permits on one hand preservation of a large amount of food materials without deterioration and on the other hand prepare them for quick heat treatment for sale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Noboru Chigira
  • Patent number: 5133983
    Abstract: An espresso machine is proposed which comprises an espresso-making filter (10) capable of being filled with coffee powder and having a sieve (11, 12) with openings (13) of defined cross-sections for retaining the coffee powder when espresso is being made. Means are provided for varying the cross-sections of the openings (13). These means are preferably configured as needles (21) divided along their lengths into at least two portions of different cross-sections so that the openings (13) formed in the sieve (11, 12) can be closed to a greater or lesser extent depending on the penetration depth of the needles (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Assignee: Patzner GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Hansdieter Greiwe
  • Patent number: 5113751
    Abstract: Beverage brewing and/or warming systems benefit from water treatment and, in some cases, the elimination or reduction of the amount of AC heat heretofore provided for such devices. Water treatment is provided in the present invention by using magnetic treatment or electromagnetic treatment by direct injection in the fluid stream or a combination of such water treatment systems. Treatment preferably occurs prior to mixing of the heated brewing fluid and the beverage powder, but improved brewing also results from treatment at the discharge side of the brewing container, e.g. the discharge of a filter holder. Improved taste and a reduction in the amount of coffee used to obtain a desired taste level results from such treatment, and the holding qualities are also improved. The bitter taste resulting from extend holding periods can be minimized or eliminated. Magnetic treatment may employ a multi-magnet concept to create sharp field boundaries, or other magnetic water treatment devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: Aqua Dynamics Group Corp.
    Inventors: Robert R. Holcomb, Edward R. Arnold, Alexander J. Garrison
  • Patent number: 5094153
    Abstract: A plurality of carafes on a coffee machine primarily for restaurant and institution use can be filled selectively with decaffeinated or normal coffee via a distributor between a brewing chamber and the outlets to the carafes. The microprocessor controller operates the device selecting the coffee for delivery to the brewing chamber in response to signals received from the carafes if they are placed at respective stations on the machine so that a decaffeinated carafe at any station will receive only decaf and a normal carafe will receive only normal coffee regardless of the station at which it is placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Inventor: Edward Helbling
  • Patent number: 5083502
    Abstract: A coffee making machine for automatically producing coffee solution from unroasted coffee beans comprises a roaster for holding coffee beans and roasting the dried coffee beans into roasted coffee beans, a milling/extracting unit for grinding the roasted coffee beans into ground coffee and extracting coffee solution from the ground coffee, a blower for blowing air into the milling/extracting unit to cool the roasted coffee beans before they are ground, a pouring unit for pouring hot water onto the ground coffee and extracting the coffee solution therefrom, a coffee server for receiving the coffee solution from the milling/extracting unit, and means for supplying the coffee solution from the milling/extracting unit to the coffee server. The operation of the roaster, the supply of roasted coffee beans from the roaster to the milling/extracting unit, and the operation of the milling/extracting unit, the blower and the pouring unit are automatically performed at predetermined timings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Assignees: Nichimen Corporation, Kazuo Enomoto
    Inventor: Kazuo Enomoto
  • Patent number: 5058814
    Abstract: A grinder for coffee beans, comprising a hopper, two grinding burrs arranged for relative rotation about a vertical axis, and a chamber defined by walls including an outer wall and a lower plate, which has two outlets. At each outlet, a flexible blade mounted to such outlet closes such outlet until coffee grounds in the chamber are pressed downwardly with sufficient force to flex the blade. A rotor arranged to sweep in the chamber has portions having inclined faces whereby grounds being swept tend to be downwardly pressed. Each outlet is configured to direct grounds downwardly and radially. The outer wall is relieved to define two spiral configurations countering tendencies of the grounds to rotate as an annular mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: Modern Process Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Ephraim, Philip C. Ephraim
  • Patent number: 5044261
    Abstract: A power switch (2) of a coffee brewing machine comprises a button (3) for manually switching on and off the brewing machine. The switch (2) further comprises detection means (24) for switching off the brewing machine in case an abnormal situation is detected, for example, when a predetermined period of time has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Takemitsu Kawazoe
  • Patent number: 5038675
    Abstract: A coffee or tea maker has a fresh water container with an outlet opening into a flowthrough heater. There is a water filter for filtering the water used for brewing the coffee or tea. A recess is formed in the fresh water container that is configured to receive the water filter. The water filter is replaceable, and can be inserted into the recess from the upper side of the fresh water container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Assignee: Melitta-Werke Bentz & Sohn
    Inventor: Georg Hartel
  • Patent number: 5007333
    Abstract: An automatic coffee machine, in particular for the preparation of individual cups and small pots, is equipped with an instantaneous water heater (1) for the preparation of hot water, an installation for the feeding of coffee powder and a brewing device incorporating a brewing chamber (17) consisting of a stationary tube section (11) with vertical axis (12) and two locking pieces (15, 16). There is an axial drive (33) for the motion of the upper locking piece (16) in the direction of the axis (12) 0f the tube section (11) and a radial drive (31) for the radial motion in relation to this axis (12). The upper locking piece (16) carries the hot-water inlet into the brewing chamber (17), it consists of two parts, i.e. a supporting piece (67) and an at least partly conical centering piece (68). The centering piece (68) is equipped with only one gasket (28) for the sealing of the brewing chamber (17) on the one hand and the sealing of the hot water inlet on the other hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Assignee: HGZ Maschinenbau AG
    Inventor: Peter Sager
  • Patent number: 4970948
    Abstract: An automatic household-type machine of a kind which comprises a percolation chamber having an outlet conduit for dispensing the coffee percolate, a heated water storage boiler, a pump having its delivery side communicated with the chamber and suction side communicated with the boiler, and an electronic control device linked operatively to a timer for activating the pump for pre-set time periods, further comprises a heater plate carried on a machine base and a manually operated two-way valve mounted on the free end of the outlet conduit from the percolation chamber. Connected to respective outlets of the valve are a first conduit for dispensing espresso coffee and a second conduit extending cantilever-fashion over the plate and being adapted to dispense German coffee percolate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: Micromax S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Giannelli
  • Patent number: 4969393
    Abstract: An electric steam iron, tea making machine of coffee making machine contains a supply of water softening agent which is contacted by tap water issuing from a container whereby the volume of the supply of softening agent increases when its water softening capacity is reduced or exhausted. A monitoring device generates signals when the supply of softening agent expands to indicate that a fresh supply must be inserted into the appliance. The supply can be confined in a bellows, and the monitoring device can be designed to generate visible signals in response to detected expansion of the bellows as a result of a reduction or exhaustion of the water softening capacity of the confined supply of softening agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Assignee: Robert Krups Stifting & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gotthard Chr. Mahlick, Michael Borgmann
  • Patent number: 4967649
    Abstract: A coffee grinder useful in business offices or small restaurants. A hopper for coffee beans has an outlet in its lower wall. A motor is mounted vertically within the hopper. A stationary grinding burr and a rotatable grinding burr, which is driven by the motor via a vertical shaft extending through the outlet, cooperate to grind such beans into smaller grounds and to expel such grounds radially and horizontally between the burrs. A wall having an aperture surrounds the burrs and prevents such grounds from being expelled except through the aperture. A deflector mounted to the wall, outside the aperture, deflects such grounds downwardly in a concentrated stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Modern Process Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Ephraim, Philip C. Ephraim
  • Patent number: 4962693
    Abstract: A coffee maker of the centrifugal brewing type includes a brewing case for containing milled coffee beans, the brewing case having a filter provided at the outer periphery thereof for the coffee brewing, a hot water feed mechanism for feeding hot water to the brewing case, an electric motor for rotating the brewing case so that a centrifugal force is applied to the hot water fed into the brewing case, thereby causing the hot water to pass through the milled coffee beans and then, through the filter, and control circuitry for controlling the hot water feed mechanism and the motor so that the motor is driven to rotate the brewing case after the hot water feed is initiated from the hot water feed mechanism to the brewing case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Miwa, Takashi Wada
  • Patent number: 4936515
    Abstract: A coffee bean delivery and grinding system for producing a charge of ground coffee comprising a bin and hopper for storing coffee beans, an auger being at least partially disposed in the bottom of the hopper, and a grinder having grinding wheels driven by a grinder motor. An auger motor is connected to one end of the auger for turning the auger to convey coffee beans from the hopper to the grinder. A control mechanism is provided for operating the grinder motor and the auger motor during the cycle of operation of the system. The end of the auger opposite the motor is located generally in an opening in the grinder housing such that the end of the auger is adjacent the grinding wheels for feeding coffee beans to the grinding wheels upon initiation of rotation of the auger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Assignee: Unidynamics Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew F. Poag, Franklin D. Newkirk
  • Patent number: 4913037
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Grindmaster Corporation
    Inventor: Brian D. Newnan
  • Patent number: 4895308
    Abstract: A fully automatic coffee maker comprises a roasting portion which heats raw coffee beans placed therein by heating means so as to roast the raw coffee beans, a grinding portion which grinds the roasted coffee beans which have been roasted in the roasting portion, a transferring portion which is connected between the roasting portion and the grinding portion and automatically transfers the roasted coffee beans from the roasting portion to the grinding portion after the raw coffee beans have been roasted, and an extracting portion which extracts the coffee from the ground coffee beans loaded therein from the grinding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Inventor: Mutuo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 4889041
    Abstract: An electric coffee or tea maker wherein a supply of water softening agent is installed in the region of the outlet of a water tank so that the stream of water which is discharged by the tank when the maker is in use is acted upon by the softening agent before it enters the conduit or conduits which convey the stream through an electric heater and thereupon into a receptacle for comminuted coffee beans or tea leaves. This prevents gradual clogging of the conduits with boiler scale. The supply of softening agent can be replenished or replaced. This is determined by looking through an observation window so as to ascertain the color of the softening agent. The color is indicative of the condition of the softening agent, i.e., whether or not the softening agent is still capable of performing its water-softening function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: Robert Krups Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gotthard C. Mahlich, Michael Borgmann
  • Patent number: 4876953
    Abstract: A siphon coffee maker includes a lower container for containing water, an electric heater for applying heat to the lower container, an upper container disposed on the lower container and having a water feed tube communicating to the interior of the lower container, a storage for storing data of an amount of coffee to be extracted, and a microcomputer-based control unit. The control unit operates to energize the heater in response to an extracting operation command, thereby starting an extracting operation. The control unit then operates to energize the heater after completion of the extracting operation by supplying the heater with an electrical output in proportion to the temperature of the amount of coffee to be extracted, data of which is stored in the storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1989
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Humihiro Imamura, Tomio Hotta
  • Patent number: 4871901
    Abstract: A coffee roasting apparatus is disclosed. The coffee roasting apparatus comprises a cylindrical container, a cylindrical drum rotatably extended within the center portion of the container, and a heater element diposed within the drum. The apparatus includes a blower device to cause air circulation within the interior of the container to more uniformily heat the beans. The heater element is controlled by a control device to reduce the calorific value of the heater element when the temperature of the container reaches a predetermined temperature. Therefore, abnormal temperature in the container is prevented, while the roasting operation is speedily done. A control device for the blower device is also disclosed which will vary the speed of the blower in response to changes in the input voltage. In this way, an increase in the input voltage which may have caused unwanted overheating is avioded by a corresponding increase in air circulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1989
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Igusa, Takashi Chiba
  • Patent number: 4860461
    Abstract: The roasting body is composed of a roasting body, a rotary drum supported on the inside of the roasting body to rotate in a horizontal attitude to accommodate and stir the coffee beans, infrared heaters disposed on the inner wall surface of the roasting body to surround the rotary drum in order to heat the coffee beans accommodated in the rotary drum by radiant heat, and a circulating path to circulate the hot air in the rotary drum into the roasting body in order to utilize the thermal energy effectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1989
    Assignees: Pokka Corporation, NGK Insulators Ltd
    Inventors: Yoji Tamaki, Takuya Kino, Takashi Ito, Akihiko Nakamura
  • Patent number: 4858522
    Abstract: An "espresso" coffee making machine for household use incorporates an electronic device linked operatively to a timer, a selector operative to dispense one or two doses of the espresso coffee, and a control knob for controlling the amount of water per coffee dose to be dispensed.An electric coffee grinder and a feed pump for feeding water into the boiler are activated by the electronic device to operate for predetermined time periods clocked by the timer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Simac S.r.l.
    Inventor: Giovanni Castelli
  • Patent number: 4857758
    Abstract: A hybrid analog and electronic cycle timer has a mechanical movement and cam-operated cycle switch driven by a low-RPM synchronous motor. Electronic control logic divides the power line frequency to obtain pulses for pulsing the synchronous motor. The control logic also includes an activation interval timer and a lockout flip-flop which inhibits the activation interval timer. The activation interval timer is otherwise triggered by closure of the cycle switch. The lockout flip-flop is set after a power failure and at the end of the activation interval, and is reset by a manual reset signal. The activation interval timer may include an activation enable flip-flop and an activation interval counter. The state of the control circuit is conveniently indicated by an indicator which is activated continuously during the activation interval, and which is activated intermittently when the activation interval timer is inhibited by the lockout flip-flop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: Worldtronics International
    Inventors: Anthony W. Rigazio, Gerald C. Koehler
  • Patent number: 4841849
    Abstract: An electric siphon coffee maker including a lower container for containing water and an upper container for containing coffee powder is disclosed. The upper container is placed over the lower container so that a water feed tube of the upper container is inserted into the lower container. Heat is applied by a heater to the lower container containing water and the hot water is transferred from the lower container to the upper container by aerial pressure in the lower container. A temperature sensor senses the temperature of a portion of the device, which temperature is increased in accordance with the increase of the temperature of the water contained in the lower container in the case where heat is applied to the lower container. A heater input power control circuit acts to reduce the heater input power in accordance with the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Nobuo Shimomura, Tomio Hotta
  • Patent number: 4815633
    Abstract: Automatic regular coffee vending machine including ground coffee powders or coffee beans of different varieties stored in different chambers, separately. When one or more varieties are selected by selection-key operation, coffee powder or powders of the selected variety or varieties are supplied by a predetermined amount into a coffee extractor together with hot water of a predetermined amount, so that a cup of straight coffee of the selected variety or a cup of blended coffee of the selected varieties can be served from the machine. The coffee concentration can be selected by operation of concentration-selection keys, and coffee with cream and/or sugar also can be obtained by cream and/or sugar selection keys which are controlled by a memory storing data on the various supply amounts. When coffee beans are stored in the chambers, the selected amounts of beans are ground in a coffee mill before delivery to the coffee extractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Ryohei Kondo, Ikuo Harashima, Daigo Sunouchi
  • Patent number: 4787299
    Abstract: The invention concerns a detection and display device for automatic service expresso coffee machine which automatically outputs and displays water or ground coffee doses according to the capacity of the filter-holder bowl engaged on the bowl-holder of the coffee machine.Detection and display are obtained by means of an actuator-detector system generating electric signals, such as one or more magnetic elements (5) mounted on filter-holder bowl (1) and a Hall effect detector (A) mounted on bowl-holder (11) of the coffee grinder or coffee machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Inventors: Mario Levi, Jean-Pierre Levi
  • Patent number: 4742767
    Abstract: A coffee maker has a heater plate integrally formed with a base plate. The coffee maker also has a lower container in which water is stored and an upper container in which ground coffee is stored. The upper container is mounted on the lower container for a fluid communication therebetween. The lower and upper containers may be moved by a supporting member from a first position where the lower container is heated by the heater plate to a second position where the lower container is allowed to cool when the water in the lower container passes to the upper container. A heater attached to the heater plate is deenergized when the upper and lower containers are moved to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Morimasa Komatsu, Atuhiko Ono, Hisayoshi Uchida
  • Patent number: D316798
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Novopack Machinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Harald Munk