Beverage reservoir cleaning apparatus and method of use

• US 6,401,729 B1
• Filed: 08/21/2000
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
• Inventors: Ford, David F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson, Frankie L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAUDHRY, SAEED T
• Application Number:
  US09/643,047
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 134/22.1, 134/22.18, 134/169.R, 134/166.R, 993/23, 992/91, 992/90, 992/79, 992/86, 992/80
• US Class Current: 134/22.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/007 for brewing on a large scale, e.g. for restaurants, or for use with more than one brewing container
• 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 31/06 Filters or strainers for coffee or tea makers ; Holders therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4425 Supports for beverage containers when filled or while being filled supports allowing to adapt the beverage making apparatus to the size of the beverage container A47J31/4482
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4467 by means of linear guides, e.g. drawer-type engagement
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/52 Alarm-clock-controlled mechanisms for coffee- or tea-making apparatus ; Timers for coffee- or tea-making apparatus; Electronic control devices for coffee- or tea-making apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/525 the electronic control being based on monitoring of specific process parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/60 Cleaning devices

Abstract

An apparatus is used for making a beverage and for rinsing or cleaning a pair of reservoirs in the apparatus. The apparatus includes a housing, a fluid reservoir associated therewith, a controller in communication with the fluid reservoir, structure for selectively passing fluid from the fluid reservoir to at least one outlet on the housing, and first and second reservoirs mounted in the housing. A holder can be mounted on said the housing. The holder includes a body, a drain hole provided therethrough, and a conduit provided therethrough. The conduit is spaced from the drain hole. When the holder is mounted on the housing, the drain hole is positioned over one of the reservoirs and the conduit is located over the other of the reservoirs. The controller controls the flow of fluid from the fluid reservoir to the holder. Fluid flows from the water reservoir to the holder through drain hole into the one reservoir. Fluid also simultaneously flows from the water reservoir to the holder through the conduit into the other reservoir. The reservoirs include controllable drain valves which can be operated to retain the fluid, such as heated water, for a predetermined amount of time to sanitize the reservoirs. The fluid is then drained from the reservoirs to complete the rinsing or cleaning cycle.

Claims

1. A holder for use in holding a beverage producing substance, comprising:

a body;

a drain hole provided through said body for allowing fluids to flow therethrough;

a conduit provided trough said body for allowing fluids to flow therethrough, said conduit being spaced from said drain hole;

first means provided on said body for providing an indication of a first orientation of said body when detected by an outside source; and

second means provided on said body for providing an indication of a second orientation of said body when detected by the outside source, said first means and said second means being spaced apart from each other on said body.

2. A holder as defined in claim 1, wherein said first means comprises a first magnet mounted on said body, said first magnet having its north and south poles in a first orientation, and wherein said second means comprises a second magnet mounted on said body, said second magnet having its north and south poles in a second orientation which is generally opposite to said first orientation.

3. A holder for use in holding a beverage producing substance, comprising:

a body;

a drain hole provided through said body for allowing fluids to flow therethrough;

a conduit provided through said body for allowing fluids to flow therethrough, said conduit being spaced from said drain hole;

a first handle attached to said body;

a second handle attached to said body; and

said first handle and said second handle being offset from each other around said body.

4. A holder as defined in claim 3, further including

first means mounted on said first handle for providing an indication of a first orientation of said body when detected by an outside source; and

second means mounted on said second handle for providing an indication of a second orientation of said body when detected by the outside source.

5. A holder as defined in claim 4, wherein said first means comprises a first magnet mounted on said body, said first magnet having its north and south poles in a first orientation, and wherein said second means comprises a second magnet mounted on said body, said second magnet having its north and south poles in a second orientation which is generally opposite to said first orientation.

6. An apparatus for use in making a beverage and for rinsing or cleaning a pair of reservoirs in said apparatus, comprising:

a housing;

a fluid reservoir associated with said housing;

means for controllably dispensing fluid from said fluid reservoir to at least one outlet on said housing;

a controller in communication with said means for controllably dispensing fluid from said fluid reservoir;

a first reservoir mounted in said housing;

a second reservoir mounted in said housing; and

a holder which is capable of being mounted on said housing, said holder comprising a body, a drain hole provided through said body for allowing fluids to flow therethrough, and a conduit provided through said body for allowing fluids to flow therethrough, said conduit being spaced from said drain hole,

wherein when said holder is mounted on said housing, said controller controls the flow of fluid from said fluid reservoir to said holder through said means, said drain hole being positioned over said first reservoir for allowing fluid to pass from said fluid reservoir through said means, through said holder and into said first reservoir, and said conduit being positioned over said second reservoir for allowing fluid to pass from said fluid reservoir, through said means, through said holder and into said second reservoir.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said holder further includes first means provided on said body for providing an indication of a first orientation of said body when detected by an outside source, and second means provided on said body for providing an indication of a second orientation of said body when detected by the outside source, said first means and said second means being spaced apart from each other on said body;

and

said housing further includes a sensor provided thereon, said sensor sensing whether said first means or said second means is within its sensing range, said sensor being coupled to said controller.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said controller will only allow fluid to pass from said fluid reservoir, through said means, through said holder and into said first reservoir, and will only allow fluid to pass from said fluid reservoir, through said means, through said holder and into said second reservoir when one of said first and second means is within said sensing range of said sensor.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said sensor is a Hall Effect sensor.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said holder further includes a first handle attached to said body;

and a second handle attached to said body, said first handle and said second handle being offset from each other around said body, first means provided on said handle for providing an indication of a first orientation of said body when detected by an outside source, and second means provides on said handle for providing an indication of a second orientation of said body when detected by the outside source; and

said housing further includes a sensor provided thereon, said sensor sensing whether said first means or said second means is within its sensing range, said sensor being coupled to said controller.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said controller will only allow fluid to pass from said fluid reservoir, through said means, through said holder and into said first reservoir, and will only allow fluid to pass from said fluid reservoir, through said means, through said holder and into said second reservoir when one of said first and second means is within said sensing range of said sensor.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said sensor is a Hall Effect sensor.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, further including a fluid detecting probe associated with said fluid reservoir, said fluid detecting probe being coupled to said controller.

14. A method of rinsing or cleaning an apparatus which is used in making a beverage, comprising:

providing an apparatus comprising a housing, a fluid reservoir associated with said housing, means for passing fluid from said fluid reservoir to a first outlet on said housing and to a second outlet on said housing, a first reservoir mounted in said housing, and a second reservoir mounted in said housing;

providing a holder including a body, a drain hole provided through said body for allowing fluids to flow therethrough, and a conduit provided through said body for allowing fluids to flow therethrough, said conduit being spaced from said drain hole;

mounting said holder on said body;

passing fluid from said fluid reservoir to said holder, said fluid thereafter flowing through said drain hole and into said first reservoir and flowing through said conduit and into said second reservoir; and

draining said fluid from said first reservoir and from said second reservoir.

15. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein said fluid simultaneously passes through said drain hole and through said conduit.

16. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein said fluid is held in said first reservoir and said second reservoir a predetermined period of time before said fluid is drained therefrom.