초록 ▼

A beverage appliance includes a housing having a liquid reservoir and a receptacle in the housing dimensioned to receive a container containing at least one drink ingredient having particles of a first size. The receptacle is pivotable from a first position in which the receptacle is angled towards

A beverage appliance includes a housing having a liquid reservoir and a receptacle in the housing dimensioned to receive a container containing at least one drink ingredient having particles of a first size. The receptacle is pivotable from a first position in which the receptacle is angled towards a front of the appliance and a second position in which the receptacle is aligned with a brew head and contacts the brew head. The beverage appliance further includes a mechanism for transforming the particles of the drink ingredient from the first size to a second size within the container, the second size being smaller than the first size.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A beverage appliance, comprising: a housing, said housing including a liquid reservoir supported by said housing;a receptacle in said housing dimensioned to receive a container containing at least one drink ingredient having particles of a first size, said receptacle being pivotable from a first

1. A beverage appliance, comprising: a housing, said housing including a liquid reservoir supported by said housing;a receptacle in said housing dimensioned to receive a container containing at least one drink ingredient having particles of a first size, said receptacle being pivotable from a first position in which said receptacle is angled towards a front of said appliance and a second position in which said receptacle is aligned with a brew head and contacts said brew head, said receptacle including a generally hollow needle arranged at the bottom thereof for piercing a bottom of said container, said hollow needle being in fluid communication with a beverage outlet;a mechanism for transforming said particles of said drink ingredient from said first size to a second size within said container, said second size being smaller than said first size;a three way valve in fluid communication with said beverage outlet;a solenoid for controlling said three way valve to direct a flow of beverage to one of a beverage spout and a drain tray; anda container unloading mechanism including a plurality of spring biased push rods, said push rods being aligned with a rim of said container and exerting a downward force on an upper surface of said rim when said receptacle is in said second position such that said downward forces urges said container away from said brew head, and a sensor configured to detect a distance of vertical travel of at least one of said push rods. 2. The beverage appliance of claim 1, wherein: said drink ingredient is whole coffee beans. 3. The beverage appliance of claim 1, further comprising: a handle, said handle being pivotable between a first position and a second position to move said receptacle from said first position to said second position. 4. The beverage appliance of claim 1, wherein: said brew head includes a plurality of apertures in fluid communication with said liquid reservoir and positioned to direct a flow of liquid to said container within said receptacle. 5. The beverage appliance of claim 1, wherein: said receptacle includes a seal ring adjacent a top rim of said receptacle, said seal ring being configured for sealingly contacting said brew head to create a substantially air-tight seal. 6. The beverage appliance of claim 1, wherein: said mechanism is a grinding blade rotatably driven by a motor. 7. The beverage appliance of claim 6, wherein: said grinding blade is substantially V-shaped and includes a bottom sharpened edge, a top sharpened edge and at least one protrusion on a side thereof, said at least one protrusion impacting said particles upon rotation of said grinding blade. 8. The beverage appliance of claim 3, further comprising: a sliding access door, said sliding access door being movable between an open state in which said receptacle is accessible, and a closed state in which access to said receptacle is prevented, when said handle is moved from said first position to said second position. 9. The beverage appliance of claim 1, further comprising; a pump for receiving liquid from said liquid reservoir and directing it to said container; anda heater for heating said liquid. 10. The beverage appliance of claim 1, further comprising: a control panel for controlling at least one operation of said beverage appliance. 11. A beverage brewing system, comprising: a housing, said housing including a liquid reservoir supported by said housing;a receptacle in said housing dimensioned to receive a container containing at least one drink ingredient having particles of a first size;a mechanism for transforming said particles of said drink ingredient from said first size to a second size within said container, said second size being smaller than said first size;a pump in fluid communication with said liquid reservoir for pumping liquid from said liquid reservoir to said container within said receptacle;a heater in fluid communication with said liquid reservoir for heating said liquid;a control unit electrically coupled to said pump and said heater for controlling said pump and said heater;a brew head having a plurality of apertures in fluid communication with an outlet of said heater, said brew head being positioned so as to direct a flow of water to said receptacle; anda container unloading mechanism including a plurality of spring biased push rods, said push rods being aligned with a rim of said container and exerting a downward force on an upper surface of said rim when said receptacle is aligned with said brew head such that said downward forces urges said container away from said brew head, and a sensor electrically coupled to said control unit and configured to detect a distance of vertical travel of at least one of said push rods. 12. The beverage brewing system of claim 11, further comprising: a flow meter in fluid communication with said liquid reservoir for monitoring a flow rate of said liquid from said reservoir, said flow meter being electrically coupled to said control unit for relay signals indicative of said flow rate to said control unit. 13. The beverage brewing system of claim 11, further comprising: a temperature sensor in fluid communication with an outlet of said heater and electrically coupled to said control unit. 14. The beverage brewing system of claim 11, further comprising: a three way valve in fluid communication with an outlet of said receptacle, said three way valve being selectively controllable by a solenoid to direct said liquid from said outlet to one of a spout or a drain tray. 15. The beverage brewing system of claim 11, further comprising: a pressure release valve selectively controllable to release pressure within said container. 16. The beverage brewing system of claim 11, wherein: said receptacle is pivotable from a first position in which said receptacle is angled towards a front of said appliance and a second position in which said receptacle is aligned with said brew head and contacts said brew head. 17. The beverage brewing system of claim 11, wherein: said drink ingredient is whole coffee beans.