초록 ▼

The present invention dispenses hot coffee or other beverage by the cup at a selected temperature, which can be varied from cup-to-cup. The beverage is brewed in a conventional way, and in one embodiment is stored in a conventional holding tank at elevated temperature. The holding tank communicates

The present invention dispenses hot coffee or other beverage by the cup at a selected temperature, which can be varied from cup-to-cup. The beverage is brewed in a conventional way, and in one embodiment is stored in a conventional holding tank at elevated temperature. The holding tank communicates with two smaller reservoirs. A quantity of beverage is stored in a first reservoir at an elevated temperature, at or above the maximum desired dispensing temperature. A second quantity of beverage is cooled and stored in a second reservoir at a lower temperature, at or below the minimum desired dispensing temperature. When a cup of beverage is to be dispensed, the temperature is selected, and a quantity of beverage is dispensed from each of the reservoirs, proportioned so that the resulting dispensed beverage is at the selected temperature. In another embodiment, the first reservoir is omitted, and beverage from the holding tank provides the elevated temperature beverage for mixing. In several other embodiments, no cooling mechanism is needed. Instead, the holding tank is at a cooler temperature than the lowest vend temperature, and the beverage must be heated to the hot reservoir temperature and, in one embodiment, the cold reservoir temperature. In another embodiment, the holding tank functions as a cold reservoir. In still another embodiment requiring no heaters, the holding tank is eliminated, and the beverage is held in insulated chambers at the higher and lower temperatures.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A beverage machine for dispensing hot beverages at a selected temperature in a range between a higher temperature and a lower temperature, comprising:a) a brew inlet for accepting the beverage from a source of prepared beverage; b) a holding tank for holding the beverage at a selected temperature

1. A beverage machine for dispensing hot beverages at a selected temperature in a range between a higher temperature and a lower temperature, comprising:a) a brew inlet for accepting the beverage from a source of prepared beverage; b) a holding tank for holding the beverage at a selected temperature at least as high as the higher temperature, having an inlet connected to the brew inlet, an outlet, and a heater for maintaining beverage at the selected temperature; c) a cold reservoir for holding the beverage at a selected temperature no higher than the lower temperature, having an inlet for accepting beverage, an outlet, and a heater for maintaining beverage at the selected temperature; d) a cooler for lowering the temperature of a beverage, having an input connected to the outlet of the holding tank and an output connected to the inlet of the cold reservoir, such that hot beverage from the holding tank is cooled as it passes through the cooler to the cold reservoir; e) a mixing valve having a first input connected to the outlet of the cold reservoir, a second input connected to the outlet of the holding tank, and an output producing a mixture of fluid from the first input and second input, the proportions of fluid in the mixture from the first input and the second input being controlled in response to the position of the mixing valve control; and f) a vending valve having an input connected to the output of the mixing valve and an output for dispensing the beverage; such that when the valve is opened, beverage is dispensed having a temperature determined by the position of the mixing valve control, mixing beverage from the holding tank and beverage from the cold reservoir.