Brewer control

• US 5,285,717 A
• Filed: 04/01/1993
• Issued: 02/15/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
• Inventors: Knepler, John T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hornsby, Harvey C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spisich, Mark
• Application Number:
  US08/041,808
• Time in Patent Office: 320 Days
• Field of Search: 99/279-283, 99/295, 99/299, 99/300, 99/304, 99/307, 392/485, 392/487, 392/449, 392/451-453
• US Class Current: 99/282
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/057 with water container separated from beverage container, the hot water passing the filter only once i.e. classical type of drip coffee makers
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/56 having water-level controls; having temperature controls

Abstract

A temperature control device and method for controlling water temperature for a fill water displacement beverage brewing apparatus. The beverage brewing apparatus includes a heated water reservoir for retaining a predetermined volume of water in a heated state and a thermostatically controlled heating device for heating the water in the heated water reservoir within a predetermined temperature range. The temperature control device includes a brew cycle activation device which automatically overrides the thermostatically controllable heating device for activating the heating device upon initiation of the brew cycle. The method heats fill water introduced into the reservoir regardless of the temperature of the water retained in the heated reservoir to reduce the time required to heat fill water to a desired water temperature.

Claims

1. A temperature control device in combination with a fill water displacement beverage brewing apparatus, said brewing apparatus having a brew cycle during which a selected volume of heated water is dispensed from the beverage brewing apparatus to infuse a beverage brewing substance from which a beverage is brewed;

said beverage brewing apparatus including a heated water reservoir for retaining a predetermined volume of water in a heated state, a controllable water heater operatively associated with said heated water reservoir for heating the water in the reservoir over a heating cycle of predetermined duration and maintaining the water in the reservoir within a predetermined temperature range, a temperature control device comprising sensor coupled with said controllable water heater for sensing the temperature of water retained in said reservoir and selectively energizing and deenergizing said controllable water heater when the water temperature is respectively below or above a predetermined maximum temperature, a basin communicating with said reservoir for retaining a measured volume of water prior to being dispensed into said reservoir;

said temperature control device further comprising control means operative substantially at the beginning of the dispensing of water from the basin to the reservoir, for activating said controllable water heater and momentarily overriding said sensor regardless of the temperature of the water in the heated reservoir, said controllable water heater being activated by said control means independent of said sensor for a time period predetermined by a timing mechanism operatively associated with said control means such that during the overriding of the sensor the activation of the water heater is independent of the temperature of the water retained in the reservoir.

2. A temperature control device for a beverage brewing apparatus according to claim 1, in which said temperature control device is also coupled with a water level sensor in said basin, said water level sensor activating said temperature control device upon supplying a predetermined volume of water into said basin, said temperature control device overriding said controllable water heater for a predetermined period of time after said level sensor senses a prespecified lower level of water in said basin.

3. A temperature control device for a beverage brewing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an inlet solenoid valve operatively attached to a fill water line communicating with the reservoir and said temperature control device is coupled with a water level sensor, said water level sensor controllably activating said temperature control device upon supplying a predetermined volume of water into said basin, said temperature control device overriding said controllable water heater for a predetermined period of time after said inlet solenoid valve operatively attached to said automatic water fill line is activated to a closed position.

4. A fill water displacement beverage brewing apparatus having a temperature control device for maintaining water used for brewing within a desired temperature range, said brewing apparatus having a brewing cycle during which a selected volume of heated water is dispensed from the beverage brewing apparatus to infuse a beverage brewing substance from which a beverage is brewed, said beverage brewing apparatus comprising:

a heated water reservoir for retaining a predetermined volume of water in a heated state;

a controllable water heater disposed in a lower portion of said heated water reservoir for heating the water in said heated water reservoir over a heating cycle of predetermined duration and maintaining the water in said heater water reservoir within a predetermined temperature range;

a temperature control device comprising sensor operatively associated with an upper portion of said heated water reservoir and being coupled with said controllable water heater in said lower portion of said heated water reservoir for sensing the temperature of water retained in said upper portion of said heated water reservoir and selectively energizing and deenergizing said controllable water heater when the water temperature is respectively below or above a predetermined maximum temperature;

water delivery means communicating with said lower portion of said heated water reservoir for delivering a desired volume of water to said lower portion of said heated water reservoir to displace an approximately equal volume of water from said upper portion of said heated water reservoir;

said temperature control device including control means operative substantially at the beginning of the dispensing of water into said lower portion of said heated water reservoir, and activating said controllable water heater in said lower portion of said heated water reservoir independent of the temperature of the water in the heated water reservoir and momentarily overriding said sensor, said controllable water heater being activated by said control means independent of said sensor for a period of time predetermined by a timing mechanism operatively associated with said control means such that the overriding of the sensor and the activation of the water heater is independent of the temperature of the water retained in the reservoir.