Automated beverage brewing system

• US 6,142,063 A
• Filed: 01/19/1999
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. (Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Keurig, Inc. (Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kwo, Jennie, Beaulieu, Roderick H., Wuertele, James W., Sweeney, Richard P., Focht, Kenneth A., Sylvan, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US09/232,994
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 99/295, 99/302 R, 99/305, 99/307, 99/283, 99/280, 426/433
• US Class Current: 99/283
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/32 with hot water under air pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3623 Cartridges being employed with tape of cartridges A47J31/3652
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3628 Perforating means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3633 Means to perform transfer from a loading position to an infusing position
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/402 Liquid dosing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/469 Details of hydraulic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/56 having water-level controls; having temperature controls

Abstract

An automated beverage brewing system includes a liquid storage tank and a metering chamber. The metering chamber is at least partially submerged beneath a standing level of liquid in the storage tank. The chamber includes a sealable liquid inlet port communicating with the interior of the storage tank beneath the standing level of liquid. The chamber also includes a liquid outlet port and an aperture that receives compressed air, wherein the compressed air forces a predetermined amount of liquid from the liquid output port of the chamber for use in preparing a brewed beverage. A pump provides the compressed air and a controller monitors a pressure signal value indicative of the air pressure in the metering chamber. The controller commands the pump on to commence flow of the predetermined amount of liquid from the metering chamber. The controller then commands the pump off several seconds after detecting a drop in air pressure within the chamber, indicating that the predetermined amount of liquid has been delivered to the brewing chamber. The chamber is then vented to ambient pressure, which opens the sealable liquid inlet port and refills the chamber.

Claims

1. A brewing system for brewing a beverage from an extract contained in a sealed disposable cartridge, said system comprising:

a housing defining a brewing chamber for receiving said cartridge;

means associated with said housing means for piercing said cartridge to provide a first inlet and a first outlet communicating with the interior of said cartridge;

a storage tank comprising a supply of liquid;

a sealed metering chamber contained in said storage tank at least partially submerged in said liquid, said chamber being in communication with said storage tank via a second inlet and being in communication with said cartridge via a second outlet;

valve means associated with said second inlet for admitting liquid into said chamber from said storage tank and for preventing reverse liquid flow from said chamber into said tank;

means for delivering compressed air to said metering chamber to transfer a predetermined volume of liquid from said metering chamber via said second outlet for delivery to and through said cartridge via said first inlet and said first outlet, and for sensing the pressure of said compressed air and providing a sensed pressure signal value indicative thereof; and

a controller that (i) commands said means for delivering to provide compressed air to said metering chamber, (ii) monitors said sensed pressure signal value and (iii) commands said means for delivering to terminate delivery of compressed air to said metering chamber after detecting that said sensed pressure signal value has dropped below a threshold value indicating said predetermined volume of liquid has been delivered through said second outlet.

2. The brewing system of claim 1, wherein said means for delivering comprises:

a pump for generating said compressed air;

a flow line that receives and provides said compressed air to said metering chamber; and

a pressure sensor disposed to sense the pressure of said compressed air within said flow line and provide said sensed pressure signal value.

3. The brewing system of claim 2 wherein said controller commands off said means for delivering to terminate delivery of said compressed air a predetermined time after detecting that said sensed pressure signal value has dropped below a threshold value.

4. The brewing system of claim 3, further comprising a vent valve that includes an inlet in communication with said compressed air within said metering chamber and is responsive to a vent valve control signal from said controller, wherein said controller commands said vent valve to open to vent said compressed air within said metering chamber to ambient pressure.

5. An automated beverage brewing system that receives a cartridge containing a beverage extract and establishes a liquid flow path through the cartridge to provide a brewed beverage that includes a predetermined volume of liquid, said system comprising:

a holder that holds and pierces the cartridge to provide a cartridge inlet and a cartridge outlet that together establish a flow path through the beverage extract to provide the brewed beverage;

a liquid storage tank;

a sealed metering chamber at least partially submerged beneath a standing level of liquid in said storage tank, and having a chamber inlet port communicating with the interior of said tank beneath said level of liquid and a chamber outlet port connected to said holder;

a pump that provides compressed air along a flow line to said metering chamber to force liquid from said metering chamber and through said chamber outlet port;

a sensor that senses air pressure in said flow line and provides a sensed pressure signal indicative thereof; and

a controller that commands said pump on, monitors said sensed pressure signal and turns said pump off after detecting that said sensed pressure signal value has dropped below a threshold value indicating the predetermined volume of liquid has been delivered through said chamber outlet port.

6. The brewing system of claim 5, wherein said controller also commands said pump off if said sensed pressure signal value exceeds an upper pressure threshold value.

7. The brewing system of claim 6, further comprising:

a temperature sensor that senses the temperature of the liquid in said storage tank and provides a sensed temperature signal value indicative thereof, wherein said controller monitors said sensed temperature signal value and will not command said pump on if said sensed temperature signal value is below a temperature threshold value.

8. The brewing system of claim 5, further comprising a vent valve responsive to a vent valve command signal from said controller for releasing said compressed air within said sealed metering chamber.