A modular infuser includes a back plate assembly containing drive mechanisms and supporting a belt assembly, and infusing and mixing chambers. The belt assembly includes rollers rotating a continuous filter belt in either direction, an annular seal, and a funnel directing liquid to a removable, rota
A modular infuser includes a back plate assembly containing drive mechanisms and supporting a belt assembly, and infusing and mixing chambers. The belt assembly includes rollers rotating a continuous filter belt in either direction, an annular seal, and a funnel directing liquid to a removable, rotatable spout. The infusing chamber moves between having the bottom clamped to the seal through the filter belt and being spaced apart from the filter belt to allow waste removal by rotation of the filter belt. The mixing chamber receives and mixes ingredient and water, passing the mixture into the infusing chamber below. Replacement of the filter belt with different mesh sizes and of the removable spout with different inner diameters allows the mechanism to be easily adapted for different beverages, such as coffee or tea. Multiple instances of the modular infuser may be mounted in a single vending machine.
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1. A modular infuser system, comprising: a back plate assembly;a belt assembly mounted on a front of the back plate assembly and supporting a continuous filter belt having a first mesh size, the belt assembly configured to rotate the continuous filter belt either clockwise or counterclockwise, one d
1. A modular infuser system, comprising: a back plate assembly;a belt assembly mounted on a front of the back plate assembly and supporting a continuous filter belt having a first mesh size, the belt assembly configured to rotate the continuous filter belt either clockwise or counterclockwise, one direction at a time,wherein the belt assembly includes an annular seal below a portion of the continuous filter belt and a funnel molding directing liquid passing through the filter belt toward a spout, andwherein the belt assembly is configured to permit removal of the continuous filter belt and replacement with a second continuous filter belt having a second mesh size different than the first mesh size; andan infusing chamber movably mounted on the front of the back plate assembly above the belt assembly and configured to be selectively moved between a clamped position in which a bottom of the infusing chamber clamps to the seal through the continuous filter belt and a raised position in which the bottom of the infusing chamber is spaced apart from the continuous filter belt,wherein rotation of the continuous filter belt in either direction while the infusing chamber is in the raised position removes waste from the continuous filter belt,wherein the spout is configured to direct liquid from the infusing chamber and to back up the liquid within the infusing chamber to a first amount when the infusing chamber is clamped to the seal,wherein the funnel molding is configured to permit removal of the spout and replacement with a second spout configured to back up the liquid within the infusing chamber to a second amount when the infusing chamber is clamped to the seal. 2. The modular infuser system of claim 1, wherein the belt assembly further comprises: a belt support removable from the funnel molding and including two outer tracking rollers and at least one lower drive roller, the filter belt fitted to pass under tension around the tracking and drive rollers and moved by rotation of the at least one lower drive roller. 3. The modular infuser system of claim 2, further comprising: at least one motor mounted to a rear of the back plate assembly, the at least one motor driving one or more of a cam moving the infusing chamber between the clamped and raised positions and a drive shaft for rotating the at least one lower drive roller. 4. The modular infuser system of claim 3, wherein the at least one motor comprises: two motors, a first motor driving the cam moving the infusing chamber between the clamped and raised positions and a second motor driving the drive shaft for rotating the at least one lower drive roller. 5. The modular infuser system of claim 1, further comprising: a mixing chamber mounted on the front of the back plate assembly above the infusing chamber and configured to receive ingredient(s) through an upper central opening and liquid through an inlet, a mixing chamber configured to mix the ingredient(s) and the liquid via vortex action and pass the mixture of the ingredients and the liquid through a funnel outlet into the infusing chamber. 6. The modular infuser system of claim 5, further comprising: a steam hood fitting onto a top of the mixing chamber and configured to assist in extracting steam. 7. The modular infuser system of claim 1, wherein the infusing chamber has a snap-action attachment to a movable mounting bracket on the back plate assembly. 8. A beverage infusing machine including at least one of the modular infuser systems of claim 1, the beverage infusing machine further comprising: a cabinet housing the at least one modular infuser system;a delivery port in the cabinet to which a beverage brewed in the at least one infusing chamber is delivered through the spout;selection keys on the cabinet configured to allow a user to select the beverage brewed in the at least one infusing chamber. 9. The modular infuser system of claim 1, wherein the first mesh size and the first spout enable the infusing chamber to brew a first beverage, and wherein the second mesh size and the second spout enable the infusing chamber to brew a second beverage different than the first beverage. 10. A modular infuser system, comprising: a back plate assembly;a belt assembly mounted on a front of the back plate assembly and supporting a continuous filter belt, the belt assembly configured to rotate the continuous filter belt either clockwise or counterclockwise, one direction at a time, the belt assembly including an annular seal below a portion of the continuous filter belt and a funnel molding directing liquid passing through the filter belt toward a spout;an infusing chamber movably mounted on the front of the back plate assembly above the belt assembly and configured to be selectively moved between a clamped position in which a bottom of the infusing chamber clamps to the seal through the continuous filter belt and a raised position in which a bottom of the infusing chamber is spaced apart from the continuous filter belt,wherein rotation of the continuous filter belt in either direction while the infusing chamber is in the raised position removes waste from the continuous filter belt;a first wiper arm and a second wiper arm disposed on opposite sides of the funnel molding and positioned to brush against the filter belt to remove waste from the filter belt,wherein when the filter belt rotates clockwise, the waste disposed on the filter belt moves to a first of the opposite sides of the funnel molding, and the first wiper arm removes the waste from the filter belt, andwhen the filter belt rotates counterclockwise, the waste disposed on the filter belt moves to a second side of the funnel molding opposite to the first of the opposite sides of the funnel molding, and the second wiper arm removes the waste from the filter belt. 11. A method of operating at least one modular infuser system including a back plate assembly, a belt assembly mounted on a front of the back plate assembly and supporting a continuous filter belt, the belt assembly configured to rotate the filter belt in two opposite directions, only one direction at a time, wherein the belt assembly includes an annular seal below a portion of the filter belt and a funnel molding directing liquid passing through the filter belt toward a spout, and an infusing chamber movably mounted on the front of the back plate assembly above the belt assembly, wherein the spout is configured to direct the liquid from the infusing chamber and to back up the liquid within the infusing chamber to one of a first amount and a second amount different than the first amount when the infusing chamber is clamped to the seal, the method comprising:prior to brewing of a beverage, inserting a continuous filter belt having a mesh size selected from at least a first mesh size and a second mesh size in the belt assembly and installing the spout configured to back up the liquid within the infusing chamber to a selected amount when the infusing chamber is clamped to the seal, the selected amount selected from at least a first amount and a second amount different than the first amount;during brewing of a beverage, selectively moving the infusing chamber between a clamped position in which a bottom of the infusing chamber clamps to the seal through the filter belt and a raised position in which the bottom of the infusing chamber is spaced apart from the filter belt; androtating the filter belt in either of the two opposite directions while the infusing chamber is in the raised position to remove waste from the filter belt. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the belt assembly includes a belt support removable from the funnel molding and including two outer tracking rollers and at least one lower drive roller, the filter belt fitted to pass under tension around the tracking and drive rollers, the method further comprising: moving the filter belt by rotation of the at least one lower drive roller. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: using at least one motor mounted to a rear of the back plate assembly, driving one or more of a cam moving the infusing chamber between the clamped and raised positions and a drive shaft for rotating the at least one lower drive roller. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein using at least one motor mounted to a rear of the back plate assembly comprises: using a first motor driving the cam moving the infusing chamber between the clamped and raised positions; andusing a second motor driving the drive shaft for rotating the at least one lower drive roller. 15. The method of claim 11, further comprising: receiving ingredient(s) through an upper central opening of a mixing chamber mounted on the front of the back plate assembly above the infusing chamber; andreceiving liquid through an inlet on a side of the mixing chamber, the mixing chamber configured to mix the ingredient(s) and the liquid via vortex action and pass a mixture of the ingredients and the liquid through a funnel outlet into the infusing chamber. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: facilitating extraction of steam with a steam hood fitting onto a top of the mixing chamber. 17. The method of claim 11, wherein the infusing chamber has a snap-action attachment to a movable mounting bracket on the back plate assembly. 18. The method of claim 11, further comprising: forming a beverage infusing machine including the at least one modular infuser system with a cabinet housing the at least one modular infuser system;delivering a beverage brewed in the at least one infusing chamber to a delivery port through the spout;receiving a user selection of a beverage to be brewed in the at least one infusing chamber at selection keys on the cabinet. 19. The method of claim 11, wherein the first mesh size and the first spout enable the infusing chamber to brew a first beverage, and wherein the second mesh size and the second spout enable the infusing chamber to brew a second beverage different than the first beverage. 20. The method of operating at least one modular infuser system including a back plate assembly, a belt assembly mounted on a front of the back plate assembly and supporting a continuous filter belt, the belt assembly configured to rotate the filter belt in two opposite directions, only one direction at a time, the belt assembly including an annular seal below a portion of the filter belt and a funnel molding directing liquid passing through the filter belt toward a spout, and an infusing chamber movably mounted on the front of the back plate assembly above the belt assembly, the method comprising: during brewing of a beverage, selectively moving the infusing chamber between a clamped position in which a bottom of the infusing chamber clamps to the seal through the filter belt and a raised position in which a bottom of the infusing chamber is spaced apart from the filter belt; androtating the filter belt in either of the two opposite directions while the infusing chamber is in the raised position to remove waste from the filter belt;removing waste from the filter belt with a first wiper arm and a second wiper arm disposed on opposite sides of the funnel molding and positioned to brush against the filter belt,wherein when the filter belt moves clockwise, the first wiper arm removes waste from the filter belt, andwhen the filter belt moves counterclockwise, the second wiper arm removes waste from the filter belt.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (4)
Merman Richard J. (5472 Vicaris St. Philadelphia PA 19128), Continuous beverage brewer.
Reese Robert J. (St. Charles MO) Podgorny Gerald J. (St. Louis MO) Newkirk Franklin D. (Florissant MO) Schmitz Mark S. (St. Charles MO) Fink George R. (St. Louis MO), Hot beverage brewing apparatus.
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