Method and apparatus for manufacturing coffee infusion pods
First Claim
1. A portable compact kitchen appliance adapted for home use for the low volume manufacture of an infusion pod for brewing a beverage, comprising:
- a mold having a depression therein, the depression bounded by an opening and defining the shape of the bottom of the infusion pod, the opening of said depression being rimmed about with a mold sealing surface;
a form comprising a bolt and a bolt carrier, the bolt defining a protrusion in substantial conformity to the shape of the depression;
the bolt carrier, comprising;
a resilient member biasing the bolt outwardly from the bolt carrier for applying a predetermined compressive force to a brewable infusion material, and a bolt carrier sealing surface having a surface topography in substantial engaging conformity with the mold sealing surface; and
wherein the form is axially moveable relative to the mold to repeatedly bring the form into contact with the mold in such a manner as to bring the mold sealing surface and the bolt carrier sealing surface into juxtaposition while simultaneously bringing the bolt into the depression and wherein said kitchen appliance is further adapted for low volume user production of said infusion pod.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mold has a depression defining the shape of the bottom of an infusion pod. The opening of the depression is rimmed with a mold sealing surface. A coffee pressing bolt has a protrusion in substantial conformity to the shape of the depression. A bolt carrier has a resilient member biasing the bolt. The bolt carrier is axially moveable relative to the mold to repeatedly bring the form into contact with the mold in such a manner as to bring the mold sealing surface and the bolt carrier sealing surface into compressive relation while simultaneously bringing the bolt and the depression into juxtaposition. The resilient member has a spring coefficient high enough to conform a sheet of filter material to the shape of the depression and mold sealing surface so as to create a flanged filter cup in a cupping operation, yet low enough to avoid over packing a quantity of an infusable material deposited within the flanged filter cup in a sealing operation.
46 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A portable compact kitchen appliance adapted for home use for the low volume manufacture of an infusion pod for brewing a beverage, comprising:
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a mold having a depression therein, the depression bounded by an opening and defining the shape of the bottom of the infusion pod, the opening of said depression being rimmed about with a mold sealing surface;
a form comprising a bolt and a bolt carrier, the bolt defining a protrusion in substantial conformity to the shape of the depression;
the bolt carrier, comprising;
a resilient member biasing the bolt outwardly from the bolt carrier for applying a predetermined compressive force to a brewable infusion material, and a bolt carrier sealing surface having a surface topography in substantial engaging conformity with the mold sealing surface; and
wherein the form is axially moveable relative to the mold to repeatedly bring the form into contact with the mold in such a manner as to bring the mold sealing surface and the bolt carrier sealing surface into juxtaposition while simultaneously bringing the bolt into the depression and wherein said kitchen appliance is further adapted for low volume user production of said infusion pod. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A low volume method of manufacturing an infusion pod, comprising the steps of:
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providing a portable compact kitchen appliance adapted for home use comprising a mold having a depression therein, the depression defining the shape of the bottom of the infusion pod, the opening of the depression rimmed about with a mold sealing surface;
providing a form, comprising a bolt and a bolt carrier, the bolt defining a protrusion in substantial interfitting conformity to the shape of the depression;
the bolt carrier, comprising;
a resilient member to which the bolt is mounted such that the form is resiliently mounted to the bolt carrier for applying a predetermined compressive force to a brewable infusible material; and
a bolt sealing carrier surface having a surface topography in substantial interlocking conformity with the mold sealing surface;
wherein the bolt carrier is axially moveably mounted relative to the mold to bring the form into contact with the mold in such a manner as to bring the mold sealing surface and the bolt carrier sealing surface into compressive contact while simultaneously bringing the bolt and the depression into interlocking contact and wherein said kitchen appliance is further adapted for low volume household user production of said infusion pod; and
wherein the resilient member has a spring coefficient high enough to conform a sheet of filter material to the shape of the depression and mold sealing surface so as to create a flanged filter cup in a cupping operation, yet low enough to avoid overpacking a quantity of an infusable material deposited within the infusion pod in a sealing operation;
executing a cupping operation by forming a depression in said filter material with said bolt;
executing a filling operation by filling said depression with an infusible material; and
executing a sealing operation on said filter material. - View Dependent Claims (12, 14, 15)
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13. (canceled)
Specification