초록 ▼

The present invention relates to an apparatus for nonpressurized infusion brewing of a beverage, and especially tea brewed freshly from tea leaves, primarily adapted for use in vending machines. The apparatus includes a novel brew assembly comprising a frame, a carriage reciprocable along the frame

The present invention relates to an apparatus for nonpressurized infusion brewing of a beverage, and especially tea brewed freshly from tea leaves, primarily adapted for use in vending machines. The apparatus includes a novel brew assembly comprising a frame, a carriage reciprocable along the frame between a brew position and discharge position. The carriage is driven between the brew position and discharge position by a motor driven crank pin mounted on a crank arm in which the crank pin is slidable in a transverse slot formed in the carriage. The carriage carries a brew cavity having an open top and bottom with externally extending guide pins mounted on opposed side walls. The brew cavity is mounted within the carriage and is normally biased towards a lower position. The brew cavity includes a stop member which abruptly abuts the carriage after the guide pins of the brew cavity are raised by inclined cam members to a maximum point where the guide members ride off the end of the cam members to cause the discharge of spent tea leaves or other solid infusible material by virtue of inertia and gravity. The brew cavity guide members then pass under the inclined cam members back to the brew position where the cycle begins again.

대표청구항 ▼

Apparatus for nonpressurized infusion brewing of a beverage including a brew assembly, the brew assembly comprising a frame; a carriage reciprocable along the frame in a first direction between a brew position and a discharge position, the carriage including a slot formed therein generally transvers

Apparatus for nonpressurized infusion brewing of a beverage including a brew assembly, the brew assembly comprising a frame; a carriage reciprocable along the frame in a first direction between a brew position and a discharge position, the carriage including a slot formed therein generally transverse to the first direction; a motor driving a rotating shaft; a crank arm having two ends and being attached to the shaft proximate one end; a crank pin attached to the crank arm proximate the other end of the crank arm and extending into the slot in the carriage; the motor being actuatable to cause the carriage to reciprocate between the brew and discharge positions by rotating the shaft whereby the crank pin reciprocates within the slot; a brew cavity mounted to the carriage and having side walls and an open top and bottom, the brew cavity having at least one guide pin mounted on a side wall; a filter assembly mounted on the frame and aligned with the brew cavity at the brew position and including a filter for supporting solid infusible material; brew cavity mounting means for mounting the brew cavity to the carriage such that the brew cavity is moveable vertically with respect to the carriage between upper and lower positions; biasing means extending between the brew cavity and the carriage normally exerting a biasing force to bias the brew cavity toward the lower position to such an extent that when the brew cavity is in the brew position, the bottom of the brew cavity is held in sealing engagement with the filter assembly surrounding the filter; cam means having a camming surface mounted on the frame between the brew and discharge positions for engagement with the brew cavity guide pin to overcome the biasing force and for raising the brew cavity from the lower position toward the upper position as the guide pin travels along the camming surface from the brew position toward the discharge position; and stop means associated with the brew cavity to prevent the brew cavity from extending below the lower position after the brew cavity guide pin travels past the cam means to the discharge position at which the brew cavity is abruptly biased to the lower position, whereby the infusible material from which the beverage has been brewed is dishcarged from the brew cavity.