Method and apparatus for beverage formation with liquid delivery control

• US 20080115674A1
• Filed: 09/07/2007
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. (Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Keurig, Inc. (Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.)
• Inventors: Huang, Jianming, Brudevold, Finn
• Granted Patent: US 8,573,114 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 99/279
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/32 with hot water under air pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4407 Lids, covers or knobs
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/56 having water-level controls; having temperature controls
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/58 Safety devices

Abstract

A method and apparatus for forming a beverage. A brewer may be operated so that when water or other beverage precursor is detected to be heated to a desired temperature, the liquid may be provided to a brew chamber to form a beverage. In one embodiment, detection of the water temperature may be performed by a temperature cut off switch (TCO) which is normally closed to provide power to a water heater, but opens when the water reaches a predetermined temperature. Opening of the TCO may cause delivery of the liquid to the brew chamber, e.g., by causing pressurization of a reservoir containing the liquid. In another embodiment, control of delivery of water from the reservoir may be made based on power interruption to the heater. For example, an air pump may be controlled to deliver air to the reservoir in response to power to the heater being cut off.

Claims

1. A method for forming a beverage, comprising:

providing a brew indication to cause a brewer to begin a brew cycle;

delivering power to a heater to heat precursor liquid in a reservoir of the brewer;

detecting the temperature of the precursor liquid during heating;

interrupting power to the heater based on detecting that the precursor liquid is heated to a desired temperature; and

delivering the precursor liquid from the reservoir based on interrupting power to the heater.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of delivering the precursor liquid comprises pneumatically pressurizing the reservoir to force precursor liquid from the reservoir.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of detecting the temperature comprises using a thermal cut off (TCO) switch that opens when the precursor liquid is heated to the desired temperature.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of delivering the precursor liquid comprises:

starting operation of an air pump to pressurize the reservoir in response to the TCO switch opening.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the brewer includes:

a brew chamber for receiving a beverage cartridge and having a lid that is movable between open and closed positions to open and close the brew chamber, the brew chamber adapted to substantially enclose a beverage cartridge with the lid in a closed position; and

the reservoir includes a lid that is movable to open and close an access opening through which precursor liquid is provided into the reservoir.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the reservoir lid is adapted to pneumatically seal the reservoir access opening in a closed position.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

introducing the precursor liquid from the reservoir into a beverage cartridge to form a beverage.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the brew indication is provided by closing a lid of the reservoir.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of delivering the precursor liquid comprises:

emptying the reservoir of precursor liquid.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

opening a brew chamber to enable a beverage cartridge to be placed in the brew chamber.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

placing a beverage cartridge in the brew chamber;

closing the brew chamber to at least partially enclose the beverage cartridge; and

in response to closing the brew chamber, opening a reservoir lid to allow access to the reservoir to provide the precursor liquid into the reservoir.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of delivering power to the heater is performed in response to closing of the reservoir lid.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing the brew indication includes:

closing a lid of the reservoir after providing the precursor liquid in the reservoir.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing the brew indication includes:

detecting the presence of a cup near the brewer.

15. A beverage forming machine comprising:

a brew chamber for receiving a brew cartridge;

a reservoir for receiving precursor liquid for use in forming a beverage;

a brew indication switch for receiving an indication from a user to begin a brewing cycle;

a heater for heating precursor liquid in the reservoir;

a detector for detecting a desired temperature of precursor liquid in the reservoir;

an air pump for providing pressurized air to the reservoir; and

a controller constructed and arranged to control operation of the heater and the air pump;

wherein the controller is adapted to control the heater to heat the precursor liquid and cause the air pump to deliver pressurized air to the reservoir when the detector detects that the precursor liquid is at the desired temperature.

16. The machine of claim 15, wherein the detector is a thermal cut off (TCO) switch that interrupts power to the heater when the precursor liquid is heated to the desired temperature.

17. The machine of claim 16, wherein the controller causes the air pump to deliver pressurized air when the TCO interrupts power to the heater.

18. The machine of claim 15, wherein the pressurized air delivered to the reservoir forces precursor liquid from the reservoir to the brew chamber.

19. The machine of claim 15, wherein:

the brew chamber is arranged for receiving a beverage cartridge and has a lid that is movable between open and closed positions to open and close the brew chamber, the brew chamber adapted to substantially enclose the beverage cartridge with the lid in a closed position; and

the reservoir includes a lid that is movable to open and close an access opening through which precursor liquid is provided into the reservoir.

20. The machine of claim 19, wherein the reservoir lid is adapted to pneumatically seal the reservoir access opening in a closed position.

21. The machine of claim 15, wherein the brew indication switch is activated by closing a lid of the reservoir.

22. The machine of claim 15, wherein the controller controls the air pump to empty the reservoir of precursor liquid when the detector detects that the precursor liquid is at the desired temperature.