Apparatus, systems, and methods for brewing a beverage

• US 10,314,426 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2012
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starbucks Corporation
• Original Assignee: Starbucks Corporation
• Inventors: Hulett, Randy, Doucette, David, Koller, Izaak, Shay, Brian, Brown, Harold A., Drinkwater, Jared, Miller, Levi Makaio, Allison, Jeff, Bristol, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Abraham, Ibrahime A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Norton, John J
• Application Number:
  US13/684,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20130133520A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,393 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/20 having immersible, e.g. rotatable, filters
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3609 Loose coffee being employed
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3619 Means to remove coffee after brewing
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/40 Beverage-making apparatus with dispensing means for adding a measured quantity of ingredients, e.g. coffee, water, sugar, cocoa, milk, tea
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/404 Powder dosing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/42 Beverage-making apparatus with incorporated grinding or roasting means for coffee coffee mills A47J42/00; coffee roasters in general A23N12/08
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/46 Dispensing spouts, pumps, drain valves or like liquid transporting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/60 Cleaning devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 42/38 Parts or details

Abstract

A system for brewing a desired portion of a beverage, such as a single-cup portion of coffee, is provided. The system may have more than one brew module. The system allows a user to quickly and easily brew a variety of types of single-cup portions of a beverage. In some embodiments, the system may brew a single-cup portion of coffee in a relatively short period of time based on a combination of certain parameters. The system may include an automatic cleaning mechanism such that a user does not need to manually clean components of a brewing machine between brew cycles. The system may also include apparatus configured to substantially prevent steam from reaching grinder components of the system. The system may also include apparatus configured to provide a precise dose of material based on, for example, volume of the material. Methods and apparatus for brewing a beverage are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for brewing a beverage, the system comprising:

more than one brew module, wherein at least one brew module comprises a doser assembly, an upper subassembly, and an interior subassembly;

wherein the doser assembly is engaged with the upper subassembly and is configured to receive one or more hoppers;

wherein the upper subassembly is engaged with the interior subassembly such that the upper subassembly and the interior subassembly interact with each other during a brew cycle;

wherein the upper subassembly comprises a wiper assembly configured to automatically clean interior components of the at least one brew module after a brew cycle, the wiper assembly comprising a plow and a spray feature, wherein the plow is configured to move across a first surface of the upper subassembly to remove debris from the upper subassembly after a brew cycle,

wherein the spray feature comprises a first spray feature and a second spray feature,

wherein the first spray feature is configured to move with the plow and the second spray feature is stationary,

wherein the second spray feature is activated before the first spray feature during a cleaning cycle such that the second spray feature is configured to rinse the plow after the plow has moved across the first surface of the upper subassembly to clean the plow of the wiper assembly, and

wherein the first spray feature is configured to rinse components of the upper subassembly after the plow has moved across the first surface of the upper subassembly to clean remaining debris after the plow has removed the bulk of debris from the upper subassembly; and

wherein the at least one brew module is configured to automatically brew a single-cup portion of a beverage.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the beverage is coffee.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises three brew modules.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more hoppers comprises two hoppers.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a grinder subassembly configured to engage with the upper subassembly of the at least one brew module and to grind material, and wherein the at least one brew module further comprises a baffle device configured to prevent steam and condensation from rising and entering a grinder subassembly.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the upper subassembly further comprises a chamber configured to receive ground material and a fan spray of liquid to agitate ground material during a brew cycle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the doser assembly is configured to provide a measured dose of material to the upper subassembly based on the volume of the material.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to brew at least three single-cup portions of coffee simultaneously.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to automatically brew at least six different types of coffee at a given time.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises four or more brew modules.

11. The system of claim 2, wherein the first spray feature comprises at least one nozzle, wherein the plow is disposed on a chamber of the upper subassembly, and wherein the second spray feature is configured to rinse an inner portion of the chamber.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the first spray feature and the second spray feature are arranged such that an outlet of the second spray feature is disposed in a direction opposite of an outlet of the first spray feature.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the doser assembly is configured to automatically adjust the interior volume to an appropriate size when a user places an order for a particular size of a single-cup portion of coffee.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the doser assembly comprises a body defining a first opening configured to receive material from at least one of the one or more hoppers and a second opening configured to provide material to the upper subassembly, and a first piston and a second piston defining an interior volume of the doser assembly that is disposed between the first piston and the second piston, wherein the first piston is configured to move relative to the second piston to change the size of the interior volume of the doser assembly.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first piston and the second piston are configured to move in tandem relative to the body of the doser to move the interior volume from the first opening to the second opening to provide the material to the upper subassembly.