Automated machine for producing multiple cups of coffee

• US 9,808,114 B1
• Filed: 02/11/2015
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steady Equipment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Steady Equipment Corporation
• Inventors: Heys, Stuart, Sibenac, Mark, von Muehlen, Stephan
• Primary Examiner(s): MICHALSKI, SEAN M
• Application Number:
  US14/619,669
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 99280, 99298, 99300, 99304-320
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/44 Parts or details or accessories of beverage-making apparatus filters or strainers A47J31/06
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/46 Dispensing spouts, pumps, drain valves or like liquid transporting devices
• 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 31/521 the electronic control being performed over a network, e.g. by means of a computer or a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/5255 of flow rate

Abstract

A coffee maker efficiently automates the process of pour-over coffee brewing by employing a computer system that controls how and when hot water is dispensed into a coffee filter. The computer system controls a mechanism that pulls a nozzle back and forth along a linear track, and rotates the linear track. A user generally puts a coffee filter in place and then pushes a button on the computer system once to allow the system to wet the coffee filter. Then the user could put coffee grounds into the coffee filter and push the button again to allow the system to lightly wet the surface of the coffee grounds. The user could then place the coffee cup underneath the filter and push the button a third time to allow coffee to be slowly brewed as spirals of hot water are dispensed on the coffee grounds.

Claims

1. An apparatus for dispensing fluid into a plurality of brewing stations comprising:

a nozzle for dispensing fluid;

a rail assembly comprising a rail, wherein the nozzle traverses the rail to locations adjacent each of a first brewing station and a second brewing station; and

a tilt motor for rotating the rail assembly about an axis parallel to the rail.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tilt motor rotates the rail assembly directing fluid from the nozzle to a plurality of areas within each of the first and second brewing stations at which the rail assembly directs the nozzle.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the tilt motor rotates the rail assembly and a carriage containing the nozzle moves the nozzle along the rail.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rail is a linear rail and the tilt motor rotates the linear rail about a linear axis of the rail.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein:

the first brewing station is a first filter holder located under a first portion of the rail; and

the second brewing station is a second filter holder located under a second portion of the rail.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising:

a first cup station located under the first filter holder; and

a second cup station located under the second filter holder.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a controller for controlling the rail assembly, wherein the controller schedules:

a first dispensation of fluid from the nozzle to wet the first brewing station;

a second dispensation of fluid from the nozzle to wet a substance placed within the first brewing station; and

a third dispensation of fluid from the nozzle to prepare a beverage in the first brewing station,

wherein the first brewing station has a first beverage filter.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each of the first, second, and third dispensations of fluid are initiated by a signal received at the controller, wherein the signal indicates user input.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the controller comprises a network interface and wherein the signal received at the controller is received through the network interface.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the controller further schedules:

a fourth dispensation of fluid from the nozzle prior to the second dispensation of fluid to wet the second brewing station;

a fifth dispensation of fluid from the nozzle prior to the third dispensation of fluid to wet a substance placed within the second brewing station; and

a sixth dispensation of fluid from the nozzle following at least a portion of the third dispensation of fluid to prepare a beverage in the second brewing station,

wherein the second brewing station has a second beverage filter.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the controller directs the rail assembly and the tilt motor such that at least one of the first, second, and third dispensations wets the first beverage filter, or a substance placed within the first beverage filter, in a predetermined pattern.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the third dispensation of fluid comprises a plurality of pours.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein each of the third and sixth dispensations of fluid comprise a plurality of pours, and wherein at least one pour of the sixth dispensation occurs between pours of the third dispensation.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein timing of the pours of the third dispensation is different than timing of the pours of the sixth dispensation so that the resulting beverages are distinct.

15. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a notification alarm that activates when the controller is finished with at least one of the first, second, and third dispensations, respectively.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a controller for controlling the rail assembly, wherein the controller schedules a plurality of dispensations of fluid from the nozzle while the nozzle is directed towards the first brewing station, and a plurality of dispensations of fluid from the nozzle while the nozzle is directed towards the second brewing station, and wherein at least one dispensation directed towards the second brewing station is scheduled between dispensations of fluid directed towards the first brewing station.

17. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the rail is linear and wherein each of the plurality of brewing stations are arranged in a line parallel to the rail.