METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BEVERAGE FORMATION WITH AUTOMATED WATER DELIVERY TO HEATING TANK

• US 20110200726A1
• Filed: 02/12/2010
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. (Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Keurig, Inc. (Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pasquini, Richard, Sawyer, William, Tinkler, Ian, Sarich, Mary
• Granted Patent: US 8,495,949 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/431
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/32 with hot water under air pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3676 Cartridges being employed

Abstract

A method and apparatus for forming a beverage using a beverage formation device. Opening of a brew chamber may automatically enable the provision of beverage precursor liquid from a reservoir to a heating tank that is used (heated or not) to form a beverage. For example, opening of the brew chamber may cause a valve to be opened or otherwise permit flow of beverage precursor liquid from the reservoir to the heating tank. The valve may open simultaneously and automatically with a brew chamber lid, and may close when the brew chamber lid is closed.

Claims

1. A method for forming a beverage, comprising:

providing a beverage brewer that includes a brew chamber for receiving a beverage cartridge, a reservoir for holding beverage precursor liquid and a heating tank for heating beverage precursor liquid, the beverage brewer being constructed and arranged to introduce the precursor liquid into the beverage cartridge and form a beverage;

providing beverage precursor liquid into the reservoir;

opening of the brew chamber of the brewer to expose a cartridge receiver to receive a beverage cartridge in association with the brew chamber;

in response to opening of the brew chamber, automatically opening a valve to permit beverage precursor liquid to flow from the reservoir into the heating tank;

placing a beverage cartridge in the cartridge receiver;

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

in response to closing the brew chamber, automatically closing the valve to stop the flow of beverage precursor liquid from the reservoir to the heating tank.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

opening a lid of the reservoir before providing the beverage precursor liquid into the reservoir.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the reservoir includes a volume indicator that visually indicates two or more different volumes of liquid held in the reservoir.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

operating the beverage brewer to empty the heating tank of precursor liquid to form a beverage.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the step of opening the brew chamber comprises opening a brew chamber lid to allow the beverage cartridge to be placed in the brew chamber; and

the step of closing the brew chamber comprises closing the brew chamber lid.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the valve includes a gate that is attached to the brew chamber lid and a flowpath, and wherein the valve moves with the brew chamber lid to close the flow path with the brew chamber lid in the closed position, and the valve moves with the brew chamber lid to open the flow path with the brew chamber in the open position.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

heating the beverage precursor liquid in the heating tank; and

delivering the heated beverage precursor liquid to the beverage cartridge in the brew chamber.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of delivering comprises introducing air into the heating tank to force the heated beverage precursor liquid to the beverage cartridge.

9. A beverage formation device, comprising:

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;

a reservoir for holding a beverage precursor liquid;

a heater tank for heating precursor liquid that is provided to the brew chamber; and

a valve that automatically opens a flow path between the reservoir and the heating tank to allow flow of beverage precursor liquid from the reservoir to the heating tank when the brew chamber lid is open, and that automatically closes a flow path between the reservoir and the heating tank when the brew chamber lid is closed.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the valve includes a gate that is attached to the brew chamber lid and moves as the brew chamber lid moves.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein precursor liquid flows from the reservoir to the heater tank under the force of gravity.

12. The device of claim 9, further comprising an air pump that pressurizes air in the heater tank to cause the precursor liquid to flow from the heater tank to the brew chamber.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the valve pneumatically seals the heater tank when the valve is in a closed position.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein the heater tank is controlled so that heating of precursor liquid in the heater tank cannot begin until the valve is closed.

15. The device of claim 9, wherein valve includes a delay feature to close the flow path after the brew chamber is closed.

16. The device of claim 9, wherein the reservoir includes a reservoir lid that is movably mounted to move between open and closed positions.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein with the reservoir lid positioned in the open position, beverage precursor liquid is pourable by a user into the reservoir.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the reservoir lid is movable independently of the brew chamber lid and the valve.

19. The device of claim 9, wherein the reservoir includes a volume indicator that provides an visible indication for two or more different volumes of precursor liquid held in the reservoir.

20. The device of claim 9, wherein the reservoir is positioned above the heater tank, and the valve is positioned between the reservoir and the heater tank.