초록 ▼

A single serving beverage vender incorporates a device for automatically brewing and dispensing single cups of coffee or other beverage through a controlled vending machine. The vender includes a flipper assembly, for an individual packet of grounds, and can process that packet through various seque

A single serving beverage vender incorporates a device for automatically brewing and dispensing single cups of coffee or other beverage through a controlled vending machine. The vender includes a flipper assembly, for an individual packet of grounds, and can process that packet through various sequences including presenting a support from within an enclosure, in preparation for drip brewing of a beverage, brewing a cup or a mug of beverage from the grounds packet, then disposing of the packet, and providing access to the flipper assembly, following the brewing of a cup of beverage for consumption.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A device for automatically brewing and vending a single serving of a dispensed beverage comprising: a flipper assembly receiving a packet of beverage grounds;a dispenser including a moveable support, said support shifting between the exterior of said device wherein said flipper assembly prepares

1. A device for automatically brewing and vending a single serving of a dispensed beverage comprising: a flipper assembly receiving a packet of beverage grounds;a dispenser including a moveable support, said support shifting between the exterior of said device wherein said flipper assembly prepares for brewing, and the interior of said device for inserting said flipper assembly therein for drip brewing of a single serving of beverage;at least one line delivering fluids within said dispenser to said flipper assembly;an automatic means providing for the sequence of operations for said flipper assembly and said moveable support through various operations of said dispenser in brewing an individual cup of a beverage; and,said sequence of operations including receiving said beverage grounds packet into said flipper assembly, closing said flipper assembly, inserting said flipper assembly within said dispenser, brewing and dispensing the beverage, opening said flipper assembly within said dispenser, ejecting said beverage grounds when spent from said flipper assembly and said dispenser, and preparing said flipper assembly for its next use;said flipper assembly having a tray, a lid hingedly connecting to said flipper assembly towards one end interiorly of said device and rotating about an axis perpendicular to the direction of travel of said moveably support, said tray hingedly connecting to said flipper assembly generally perpendicular to said lid wherein said tray opens upwardly to one side of said flipper assembly;said flipper assembly having a flipper support rotating about an axis parallel to the direction of travel of said moveably support, said flipper support directing said tray to eject said beverage grounds when spent, a counterweight contiguous with said flipper support though locating opposite and outwardly from said flipper support, an inner cover locating upwardly upon said flipper support and generally sealing said holder within said flipper support as during brewing;said lid having a similar shape as said inner cover and providing a vapor tight seal with said inner cover;a window adjacent to said flipper assembly outward from said counterweight, said window receiving said packet of beverage grounds when spent for disposal outside of said device;said movable support having a handgrip, generally upon the front of said moveable support;said inner cover having a curved front edge, an opposite generally straight rear edge, and two mutually parallel sides perpendicular to said rear edge, at least one pin on at least one of said sides, said at least one pin extending perpendicular to said side;said inner cover having a concave dome like shape extending upwardly from said moveable support and said inner cover having at least one aperture therethrough; anda casing having a left side generally towards the center of said device, an opposite right side allowing for ejecting of said packet of beverage grounds when spent, a rear spanning between said left side and said right side, and a face plate opposite said rear generally locating towards the front of said device. 2. The single serving automatic brewing device of claim 1 further comprising: said lid having a curved front edge, an opposite generally straight rear edge, and two mutually parallel sides perpendicular to said rear edge, said lid hingedly connecting to said inner cover upon said rear edge, said lid having a chamber, generally of a concave dome like shape extending upwardly from said inner cover and a passageway extending radially from said chamber towards said rear edge, said chamber defining an annulus; and,said line supplying fluids to said chamber, wherein said lid delivers fluids to said inner cover for brewing of a beverage. 3. The single serving automatic brewing device of claim 1 further comprising: said left side having an interior face, generally upon the interior of said device, said interior face having at least one track extending perpendicularly therefrom, said at least one track guiding said at least one pin upon said inner cover through opening and closing during the various operations of said device during a brew cycle; and,said right side having said window. 4. The single serving automatic brewing device of claim 3 further comprising: said left side having a rear track, said rear track including a pivot, a paddle switch, a flat section rearward of said paddle switch, a first subsection below said flat section, a second subsection extending from said first subsection, a third subsection extending from said second subsection, and a fourth subsection extending upwardly from said third subsection and returning to said paddle switch; and,said left side having a front track generally more towards said handgrip than said rear track, said front track including a knob, a nearly vertical stop forward of said knob, a forward loop extending from said stop, a bottom track extending from said forward loop, a nearly vertical race depending from said bottom track, a curved section depending from said race, and a rear ramp extending from said curved section and locating generally below said fourth subsection of said rear track;wherein said at least one pin travels upon said left side, said rear track, and said front track during said sequence of operations. 5. The single serving automatic brewing device of claim 1 further comprising: said movable support having a generally planar shape and said flipper assembly resting within said movable support. 6. The single serving automatic brewing device of claim 1 further comprising: said automatic means having a first motor, a drive coupling connecting to said first motor, and a first shaft extending from said drive coupling using splines, said first shaft extending along said device generally parallel to the direction of travel of said moveable support, said first shaft providing rotation and torque for locking and unlocking said dispenser and for ejecting said packet of beverage grounds when spent; and,a control panel operating said first motor through said sequence of operations. 7. The single serving automatic brewing device of claim 1 further comprising: said line supplying fluids, air, or gases to said inner cover; and,said inner cover having a passageway in communication with said line and a chamber extending from said passageway, said chamber dispersing fluids and gases within said flipper assembly during said sequence of operations. 8. The single serving automatic brewing device of claim 6 further comprising: said first shaft having at least one miter gear outwardly from said coupling and at least one biasing means outwardly of said miter gear;a second shaft generally perpendicular to said first shaft, having at least one miter gear generally perpendicular to said at least one miter gear upon said first shaft and at least one lifting cam interiorly of said at least one miter gear, said lifting cam opening and closing said flipper assembly; and,said biasing means engaging said flipper assembly, said biasing means storing rotational energy until released when ejecting said beverage grounds when spent out of said dispenser. 9. The single serving automatic brewing device of claim 8 further comprising: said biasing means including a spring enclosure connecting to said first shaft and a torsion spring connecting to said flipper assembly, said spring enclosure imparting rotation through said torsion spring and into said flipper assembly for ejecting said beverage packet when spent. 10. The single serving automatic brewing device of claim 8 further comprising: said control panel activating said device upon a user supplying funds or pressing a button, directing said device through extending said movable support, retracing said movable support into said device, closing said flipper assembly upon said packet of beverage grounds, supplying fluids or gases to said dispenser for brewing said beverage, opening said flipper assembly following brewing, ejecting said packet of beverage grounds when spent, cleaning said flipper assembly, and preparing said device for the next user thereof. 11. The single serving automatic brewing device of claim 8 further comprising: a second motor locating upon a side of said device;related gearing connecting to said second motor; and,a drive shaft extending from said gearing along said moveable support, said drive shaft providing rotation and torque for extending and retracting said moveable support from said device during the various brewing steps. 12. The single serving automatic brewing device of claim 6 further comprising: at least one locking cam upon said flipper assembly coaxial with said first shaft, said at least one locking cam rotating to lock and unlock said inner cover during said sequence of operations; and,said flipper assembly including a counterweight spaced apart from the axis of said first shaft and generally proximate said window. 13. A device for automatically brewing and vending a single serving of a dispensed beverage including: a flipper assembly for holding an individual packet of beverage grounds;a dispenser including a moveable support, capable of shifting between an exterior condition wherein said flipper assembly prepares said packet for brewing; and an interior condition for inserting said flipper assembly within said device for drip brewing of a single serving of beverage;an automatic means providing for the sequence of operations for said flipper assembly, and the various operations of said flipper assembly, in having a single serving of a beverage brewed, said sequence of operations including receiving payment or a command to start said sequence, of operations, receiving said beverage grounds packet into said flipper assembly, closing said flipper assembly, inserting said flipper assembly into said dispenser, brewing and dispensing the beverage, opening said flipper assembly;providing a window laterally adjacent to said flipper assembly and providing for ejecting said beverage grounds therethrough when spent out of said dispenser, cleaning said flipper assembly, and directing said flipper assembly outwardly of said dispenser. 14. An automatic single serving brewing vender comprising: a machine for use for brewing dispensed beverages;said machine including a holder, useful for holding an individual packet of, beverage grounds, a dispenser including a moveable support, capable of shifting between its condition usually where said holder can be applied in preparation for brewing, and its condition for inserting said holder within said vender for drip brewing of an individual serving of a beverage, and an automatic means providing for the sequence of operations for said holder and said machine;said holder including a handle, said handle having a base, a tray hingedly connecting to said base generally parallel to said handle, an upper half over said tray, said upper half opening perpendicular to said handle to provide for the locating of a packet of beverage grounds therein upon said base before closing said upper half, and said tray flipping outwardly when said upper half is open and ejecting said packet of beverage grounds when spent from said vender.