Brewing system with movable brew basket mounting apparatus and method

• US 6,668,704 B1
• Filed: 09/18/1997
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Food Equipment Technologies Company
• Original Assignee: Food Equipment Technologies Company
• Inventors: Lassota, Zbigniew G.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US08/933,258
• Time in Patent Office: 2,294 Days
• Field of Search: 992/95, 993/04, 993/05, 993/06, 993/07, 426/433
• US Class Current: 99/306
• 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 31/0621 with means for varying the infusion outflow velocity, e.g. for brewing smaller quantities
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/446 Filter holding means; Attachment of filters to beverage-making apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4467 by means of linear guides, e.g. drawer-type engagement
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/465 for the heated water
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/467 for the infusion
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/50 Urns with devices for keeping beverages hot or cool
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/56 having water-level controls; having temperature controls
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/60 Cleaning devices

Abstract

A brewing system (30) with a brew basket support (358) with apparatus for mounting the brew basket (180) for movement between a first position (FIG. 10A) in which the brew basket (180) is aligned with the brewer (30) for receipt of water and a second position (FIG. 10B) in which the brew basket is removed from proper alignment to facilitate removal of the brew basket from the brew basket support (180). A filter support basket is supported within the brew basket (184) but spaced inwardly from a closed wall of the brew basket to provide a perimital gap (172) between the filter support basket (184) and the wall for passage of bypass water through the brew basket without passing through the filter support basket (184). The basket (184) includes an annular trough (172) for receipt of water above the gap (180) with a plurality of drain holes (344) for draining by-pass water through the perimital gap (172).

Claims

1. In a brewing system having a frame and a brewer mounted to the frame, said brewer having a water dispenser with a bottom and a brew basket for releasably holding brew material and having an open top for receipt of water from the bottom of the water dispenser, the improvement being a brew basket mounting apparatus, comprising:

a brew basket support for releasable supporting the brew basket; and

means for mounting the brew basket support for movement of the brew basket relative to the frame between a first position in which

the brew basket, when supported by the brew basket support, is in proper alignment with the brewer for receipt of water from the brewer dispenser, and in which

the top of the brew basket is snugly fitted in sealing engagement against the bottom of the dispenser to block the upward escape of heat and steam out of the open top of the brew basket, and

a second position in which the brew basket, when supported by the brew basket support, is removed away from proper alignment with the brewer and at least partially away from the frame to facilitate removal of the brew basket from the brew basket support.

2. The brewing system of claim 1 in which said brew basket has a pair of handles on opposite sides of the brew basket for lifting the brew basket off of the brew basket support, said handles being both recessed within the frame when the brew basket is in the first position.

3. The brewing system of claim 1 in which the brew basket support mounting means mounts the support for generally lateral movement in a plane generally parallel to the bottom of the water dispenser.

4. The brewing system of claim 3 in which the brew basket support mounting means also mounts the support for pivotal movement relative to the plane for pivotally pressing the open top of the brew basket against, and in sealed continuous engagement with, the bottom of the water dispenser.

5. The brewing system of claim 4 in which the support mounting means includes means for mounting the support for generally lateral movement in a direction sloping slightly downwardly away from the bottom of the water dispenser during lateral movement of the support toward the first position until a lagging edge of the support engages a forward edge of the water dispenser.

6. The brewing system of claim 5 in which the support mounting means that mounts the support for pivotal movement includes a cam with a cam surface lying on a track that is engaged by the brew basket mounting means to pivotally move the top of the brew basket into sealed engagement with the bottom of the water dispenser during said lateral movement into the first position from the second position.

7. The brewing system of claim 1 in which the support mounting means includes means for mounting the support for generally lateral movement in a direction sloping slightly downwardly away from the bottom of the water dispenser during the lateral movement toward the first position.

8. The brewing system of claim 7 in which the support mounting means includes a cam with a cam surface lying on a track that is engaged by the brew basket mounting means to pivotally move the top of the brew basket into sealed engagement with the bottom of the water dispenser during lateral movement of the support into the first position from the second position.

9. The brewing system of claim 1 in which the brew basket support mounting includes means to mount the support for pivotal movement relative to the plane for pivotally pressing the open top of the brew basket against, and in sealed continuous engagement with, the bottom of the water dispenser.

10. The brewing system of claim 9 in which the support mounting means that mounts the support for pivotal movement includes a cam with a cam surface mounted to the frame and lying in a path of movement of the brew basket mounting means to pivotally move the top of the brew basket into sealed engagement with the bottom of the water dispenser during said lateral movement of the support into the first position from the second position.

11. The brewing system of claim 10 in which the support mounting means includes means for mounting the support for generally lateral movement that slopes slightly downwardly away from the bottom of the water dispenser during the lateral movement toward the first position.

12. In a brewing system having a frame and a brewer mounted to the frame, said brewer having a water dispenser with a bottom and a brew basket for releasably holding brew material and having an open top for receipt of water from the bottom of the water dispenser, the improvement being a method of mounting the brew basket for movement into sealed relationship with the water dispenser, comprising the steps of:

releasably supporting a brew basket in a brew basket support; and

moving the brew basket support, while mounted for movement of the brew basket relative to the frame, between

a first position in which

the brew basket, when supported by the brew basket support, is in proper alignment with the brewer for receipt of water from the brewer dispenser, and in which

the top of the brew basket is snugly fitted in sealing engagement against the bottom of the dispenser to block the upward escape of heat and steam out of the open top of the brew basket, and

a second position in which the brew basket, when supported by the brew basket support, is removed away from proper alignment with the brewer and at least partially away from the frame to facilitate removal of the brew basket from the brew basket support.

13. The method of claim 12 including the step of connected a drainage tube to the brew basket to eliminate dripping of liquid from the brew basket when in the second position.

14. The method of claim 12 in which said brew basket has a pair of handles on diametrically opposite sides of the brew basket for lifting the brew basket off of the brew basket support, and including the steps of

turning the brew basket to a closure position in which one of the handles is located adjacent a front of support to enable movement to the first position,

moving the support to the first position with both handles recessed within the frame and the top of the brew basket pressed against the bottom of the water dispenser,

after a brew cycle has been completed, moving the support to the second position,

using the handle adjacent to the front of the support to rotate the brew basket within the support until both handles are accessible, and

using both handles to remove the brew basket from the support.

15. The method of claim 12 in which the step of moving the brew basket support includes the step of laterally moving the support in a plane generally parallel to the bottom of the water dispenser.

17. The method of claim 12 in which the step of moving the support to the first position includes the step of laterally moving the support in a direction sloping slightly downwardly away from the bottom of the water dispenser during lateral movement of the support toward the first position until a lagging edge of the support engages a forward edge of the water dispenser.

18. The method of claim 17 including the step of pivotally moving the support with a cam surface of a cam lying on a track that is engaged by the support to pivotally move the top of the brew basket into sealed engagement with the bottom of the water dispenser during said sloping lateral movement into the first position from the second position as the lagging edge of the support engages the leading edge of the water dispenser.

19. The method of claim 12 including the step of pivotally moving the support relative to the plane for pivotally pressing the open top of the brew basket against, and in sealed continuous engagement with, the bottom of the water dispenser.

16. The method of 15 including the step of moving the support pivotally relative to the plane for pivotally pressing the open top of the brew basket against, and in sealed continuous engagement with, the bottom of the water dispenser.