Automatic infusing apparatus
First Claim
1. An automatic infusing apparatus comprising:
- an infusing container for receiving an infused beverage, said infusing container having a lower end wall, a peripheral lateral wall extending uprightly from said lower end wall to form an opened upper end at an upper edge thereof, and an outlet valve disposed near said lower end wall for dispensing said infused beverage;
means for lifting and lowering said infusing container to a higher position and a lower position;
a plunger including a sifter member disposed within said infusing container and having a peripheral portion to be slidably moved along an inner surface of said peripheral lateral wall, and a stem member which has an upper section connected to said sifter member and a lower section extending downwardly and outwardly of said lower end wall, said lower section of said stem member being slidable sealingly relative to said lower end wall so as to move said sifter member upwardly to a scraped position which is above brim of said opened upper end, and downwardly to an infused position in which grounded beans or grains can be supported on said sifter member for being infused;
a first biasing member to bias said sifter member to move from said scraped position to said infused position;
means for feeding grounded beans or grains to said infusing container when said infusing container is lifted to said higher position, wherein when said infusing container descends from said higher position to said lower position, said sifter member will be moved upwards from said infused position to said scraped position against biasing action of said first biasing member; and
a scraping device including a retractable scraping rod to move transversely relative to an axial direction of said stem member, said scraping device being disposed at a position such that once said sifter member is moved upwards to said scraped position, said scraping rod is pushed in said transverse direction and over said brim of said opened upper end so as to clear said infused beans or grains away from said sifter member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic infusing apparatus includes an infusing container, lifting and lowering device for the container to higher and lower positions, device for feeding ground beans to the container when the latter is at the higher position, and a scraping device for removal of the infused ground beans. A plunger includes a sifter member which is disposed within the container and which has a peripheral portion slidable relative the container, and a stem member. The stem member has an upper section connected to the sifter member and a lower section to extend outwardly and sealingly from the lower end wall of the infusing container. The lower section of the stem member is movable relative the lower end wall of the container to lift the sift member upwardly to a scraped position downwardly to an infused position. A biasing member biases the sifter member to move from the scraped position to the infused position. When the container descends from the higher position to the lower position, the sifter member is lifted upward from the scraped position against the biasing action. A retractable moves transversely relative the stem member once the sifter member is moved upward to the scraped position so as to clear the infused ground beans away from the sifter member.
25 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An automatic infusing apparatus comprising:
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an infusing container for receiving an infused beverage, said infusing container having a lower end wall, a peripheral lateral wall extending uprightly from said lower end wall to form an opened upper end at an upper edge thereof, and an outlet valve disposed near said lower end wall for dispensing said infused beverage; means for lifting and lowering said infusing container to a higher position and a lower position; a plunger including a sifter member disposed within said infusing container and having a peripheral portion to be slidably moved along an inner surface of said peripheral lateral wall, and a stem member which has an upper section connected to said sifter member and a lower section extending downwardly and outwardly of said lower end wall, said lower section of said stem member being slidable sealingly relative to said lower end wall so as to move said sifter member upwardly to a scraped position which is above brim of said opened upper end, and downwardly to an infused position in which grounded beans or grains can be supported on said sifter member for being infused; a first biasing member to bias said sifter member to move from said scraped position to said infused position; means for feeding grounded beans or grains to said infusing container when said infusing container is lifted to said higher position, wherein when said infusing container descends from said higher position to said lower position, said sifter member will be moved upwards from said infused position to said scraped position against biasing action of said first biasing member; and a scraping device including a retractable scraping rod to move transversely relative to an axial direction of said stem member, said scraping device being disposed at a position such that once said sifter member is moved upwards to said scraped position, said scraping rod is pushed in said transverse direction and over said brim of said opened upper end so as to clear said infused beans or grains away from said sifter member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification