초록 ▼

A beverage mixing apparatus such as a coffee grinding and brewing apparatus is provided with an operative cycle which includes the transportation of a predetermined amount of a solid component of a beverage mixture from a storage compartment to and through a passageway into a mixing chamber wherein

A beverage mixing apparatus such as a coffee grinding and brewing apparatus is provided with an operative cycle which includes the transportation of a predetermined amount of a solid component of a beverage mixture from a storage compartment to and through a passageway into a mixing chamber wherein the liquid component of the beverage is mixed with the solid component. The apparatus further comprises a valve assembly associated with the passageway and having a plate movable between a closed position and an open position. The plate defines an opening which registers with the passageway when the plate is in the open position. A solenoid is connected to the plate for moving the plate between its open and closed positions. When the plate is in its open position the solid component can be moved from the storage chamber to the mixing chamber. In the closed position, the plate prevents moisture from the mixture from moving to the storage chamber through the passageway. A microprocessor control device in communication with the solenoid measures the time elapsed from a zero based time point, e.g., from the beginning of the last cycle, and causes the solenoid to open and shut when the elapsed time equals a predetermined value. The opening and shutting of the valve during the time period when the beverage apparatus is not being cycled breaks the fusion of the plate to other surfaces exposed to moisture emanating from the mixing of the solid component with said liquid component.

대표청구항 ▼

In a beverage making apparatus having a storage chamber for storing a solid component of a beverage mixture, a mixing chamber for mixing said solid component with a liquid component of the mixture, and a control device to initiate and end cycles of operation of the apparatus, each cycle starting wit

In a beverage making apparatus having a storage chamber for storing a solid component of a beverage mixture, a mixing chamber for mixing said solid component with a liquid component of the mixture, and a control device to initiate and end cycles of operation of the apparatus, each cycle starting with a transportation of a predetermined amount of said solid component of said beverage mixture to and through a passageway connecting said storage chamber with said mixing chamber and ending with a mixing of said solid component and said liquid component, said apparatus further comprising: (a) a valve assembly operatively associated with said passageway and including a plate movable between a closed position and an open position, said plate defining an opening therethrough which registers with said passageway when said plate is in said open position thereby permitting transportation of said predetermined amount of said solid component during a cycle from said storage chamber through said passageway to said mixing chamber, said opening not in registry with said passageway when said plate is in said closed position wherein said plate prevents moisture from said mixing chamber from moving through said passageway into said storage chamber; (b) an operative element connected to said plate for moving said plate between said open and closed positions; and (c) said control device including a time measuring component in communication with said operative element for causing said operative element to open and close said plate between successive cycles of said apparatus when said component determines that a predetermined time interval has been reached, said component initiating the measure of said time interval from a time point within a cycle and being reset to a zero time point each time a new cycle is initiated wherein said plate in moving between open and closed positions between cycles breaks the build up of residue that fuses said plate to adjacent surfaces of said passageway due to exposure to moisture emanating from the mixing of the solid component with said liquid component.