IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0744805
(2015-06-19)
|
등록번호 |
US-10016086
(2018-07-10)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
3 |
초록
▼
An apparatus, system, and method of ejecting or removing a beverage pod or capsule from a brewer or other beverage dispensing machine, utilizes the release of a predetermined quantity of stored energy triggered or commenced by an operator action, to automatically rapidly move an element holding the
An apparatus, system, and method of ejecting or removing a beverage pod or capsule from a brewer or other beverage dispensing machine, utilizes the release of a predetermined quantity of stored energy triggered or commenced by an operator action, to automatically rapidly move an element holding the pod or capsule from a brewing or beverage preparing area in a predetermined manner to eject the pod or capsule, then return the element absent the pod or capsule to the brewing or beverage preparing area by a suitable action, thereby eliminating variances in the disposal resulting from inconsistent operator action, and the cost and complexity of motor driven apparatus for performing the disposal and/or return actions.
대표청구항
▼
1. Apparatus for ejecting a beverage pod or capsule of a beverage preparing machine, comprising; a frame supporting a beverage pod holding element for movement in a predetermined manner between a first predetermined position and orientation in a beverage preparing area of the machine, and a second p
1. Apparatus for ejecting a beverage pod or capsule of a beverage preparing machine, comprising; a frame supporting a beverage pod holding element for movement in a predetermined manner between a first predetermined position and orientation in a beverage preparing area of the machine, and a second predetermined position and orientation in a disposal area;a mechanism associated with the frame, including at least one unpowered first driving element having a stored energy state storing a predetermined first quantity of motive energy when the beverage pod holding element is in the first predetermined position and orientation in the beverage preparing area, and an energy releasing state to release the stored energy in a manner to forcefully drive the beverage pod holding element from the beverage preparing area toward the disposal area in a manner to eject a beverage pod or capsule from the beverage holding element, the mechanism including at least one second driving element having a stored energy state storing a predetermined second quantity of motive energy when the at least one first driving element is in the energy releasing state, and an energy releasing state to release the second quantity of motive energy in a manner to return the beverage pod holding element from the disposal area to the beverage preparing area; anda latching mechanism configured to hold the at least one first driving element in the stored energy state thereof when the beverage pod holding element is in the beverage preparing area, and to hold the at least one second driving element in the stored energy state thereof when the beverage pod holding element is in the beverage preparing area and when moving toward the disposal area, the latching mechanism being configured to respond to a predetermined action or condition, to automatically release the at least one first driving element to release the stored first quantity of motive energy to forcefully drive the beverage pod holding element from the beverage preparing area toward the disposal area, and to then automatically release the at least one second driving element to release the second quantity of motive energy to automatically return the beverage pod holding element from the disposal area to the beverage preparing area, such that a beverage pod or capsule carried on the beverage pod holding element will be ejected at the disposal area. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a cover supported by the frame for movement from an open position into a closed position in covering relation to the beverage pod holding element to form a beverage preparing chamber therebetween, and a drive arm connecting the cover to the mechanism in a manner such that movement of the cover into the closed position will cause the at least one first driving element to store the first quantity of motive energy and the at least one second driving element to store the second quantity of motive energy. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one first driving element comprises at least one spring, the at least one second driving element comprises at least one spring, and the drive arm is configured to cause compression of the springs when the cover is moved toward the closed position. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, comprising a slide arm positioned and configured to be driven by the drive arm to compress the springs along a rod, the springs being separated by a shuttle restrained at a predetermined location along the rod, the shuttle connected to a slide carriage, and the shuttle and the slide carriage when unrestrained being movable relative to the rod by the release of the stored first quantity of motive energy to drive the beverage pod holding element from the beverage preparing area toward the disposal area. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the shuttle and the slide carriage are caused to be unrestrained by movement of the cover from the closed position. 6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the slide arm is movable by the movement of the shuttle and the slide carriage to a certain location, to automatically cause the at least one second driving element to release the second quantity of motive energy to automatically reverse the movement of the beverage pod holding element to eject a beverage pod or capsule carried thereby in the disposal area. 7. The apparatus of claim 4, comprising a pinned connection between the beverage pod holding element and the slide carriage configured to effect the movement of the beverage pod holding element from the beverage preparing area toward the disposal area as an upward pivoting and generally horizontal movement. 8. Apparatus for ejecting a beverage pod or capsule from a beverage preparation area of a beverage preparing machine, comprising; a cover supported for movement in a predetermined manner between an open position spaced from a pod holding element supported in a predetermined position and orientation in a beverage preparing area of the machine, and a closed position covering the pod holding element to define and bound a beverage preparing chamber therebetween;a mechanism connected to the cover and the pod holding element, comprising: at least one unpowered first driving element configured for storing a predetermined first quantity of motive energy;at least one unpowered second driving element configured for storing a predetermined second quantity of motive energy; anda mechanism associated with the cover and the driving elements and including elements configured to exert forces against the driving elements to cause the storing of the first and second quantities of motive energy thereby, respectively, when the cover is moved to the closed position, and elements configured to automatically cause the at least one first driving element to release the first quantity of motive energy to rapidly move the pod holding element from the beverage preparing area in a predetermined manner, and then to automatically cause the at least one second driving element to release the second quantity of motive energy to rapidly return the pod holding element to the beverage preparing area, in a manner to dispose of a beverage pod or capsule held by the pod holding element. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one first driving element and the at least one second driving element comprise springs, and the mechanism comprises a drive arm associated with the cover and the springs and movable to compress the springs when the cover is moved toward the closed position. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the mechanism comprises a slide arm positioned and configured to be driven by the drive arm to compress the springs along a rod, the springs being separated by a shuttle restrained at a predetermined location along the rod, the shuttle connected to a slide carriage, and the shuttle and the slide carriage being movable relative to the rod by the release of the first quantity of motive energy to drive the pod holding element from the beverage preparing area. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the slide arm is movable by the movement of the shuttle and the slide carriage to a certain location, to automatically cause the at least one second driving element to release the second quantity of motive energy to automatically reverse the movement of the beverage pod holding element to eject a beverage pod or capsule carried thereby. 12. The apparatus of claim 10, comprising a pinned connection between the pod holding element and the slide carriage configured to effect the movement of the pod holding element from the beverage preparing area as an upward pivoting and generally horizontal movement. 13. Apparatus for ejecting a pod or capsule of a beverage brewing or dispensing machine, comprising; a mechanism that will automatically release a predetermined first quantity of stored motive energy from a first spring of the mechanism responsive to an operator action, to automatically rapidly move an element holding the pod or capsule from a brewing or beverage preparing area of the machine, then automatically release a predetermined second quantity of stored motive energy from a second spring of the mechanism, in a predetermined manner to eject the pod or capsule and return the element absent the pod or capsule to the brewing or beverage preparing area. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the mechanism comprises a drive arm associated with a cover and the springs and movable to compress the springs when the cover is moved toward the element holding the pod or capsule. 15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the operator action comprises moving the cover from the element holding the pod or capsule. 16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the mechanism comprises a slide arm positioned and configured to be driven by the drive arm to compress the springs along a rod, the springs being separated by a shuttle restrained at a predetermined location along the rod, the shuttle connected to a slide carriage, and the shuttle and the slide carriage being movable relative to the rod by the release of the first quantity of motive energy to drive the element holding the pod or capsule from the brewing or beverage preparing area. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the slide arm is movable by the movement of the shuttle and the slide carriage to a certain location, to automatically cause the second spring to release the second quantity of motive energy to automatically reverse the movement of the element holding the pod or capsule to eject the pod or capsule. 18. The apparatus of claim 16, comprising a pinned connection between the element holding the pod or capsule and the slide carriage configured to effect the movement of the element holding the pod or capsule from the beverage preparing area as an upward pivoting and generally horizontal movement.
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