Beverage production machines and methods with tamping assembly
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
A47J-031/36
A47J-031/40
A23L-002/395
A47J-031/06
A23P-010/25
출원번호
US-0205241
(2014-03-11)
등록번호
US-10188238
(2019-01-29)
발명자
/ 주소
Dammermann, Kurt Philip
Mack, Adam Mekeel
James, Matthew Thomas
Manoux, Philipe Roget
출원인 / 주소
Starbucks Corporation
대리인 / 주소
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
30
초록▼
A beverage preparation machine for preparing single servings can include a lid assembly that can move between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The machine can also include a basket assembly having a chamber for receiving a cartridge containing a beverage precursor. Additionally, the
A beverage preparation machine for preparing single servings can include a lid assembly that can move between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The machine can also include a basket assembly having a chamber for receiving a cartridge containing a beverage precursor. Additionally, the machine can include a tamping assembly that can move between a latched state and a tamped state. The tamping assembly can include a tamping surface, a tamp spring element, a lid cam connected to the lid assembly, and a collar. The lid cam can include a cam path disposed along a sidewall of the lid cam, and the collar can have one or more cam teeth that can engage the cam path. In the tamped state, the tamping surface can be closer to the basket assembly than in the latched state.
대표청구항▼
1. A machine for preparing single-servings of a beverage, the machine comprising: a housing;a lid assembly on the top of the housing configured to move between an open configuration to allow insertion of a cartridge containing a beverage precursor and a closed configuration in which the beverage is
1. A machine for preparing single-servings of a beverage, the machine comprising: a housing;a lid assembly on the top of the housing configured to move between an open configuration to allow insertion of a cartridge containing a beverage precursor and a closed configuration in which the beverage is prepared from the beverage precursor;a basket assembly comprising a chamber configured to receive the cartridge containing the beverage precursor; anda lid cam connected to the lid assembly, the lid cam having an upper wall portion, a sidewall, and a cam path disposed along the sidewall, wherein the lid cam translates axially relative to the lid assembly, the lid cam being suspended by at least one lid spring, and the cam path comprises a lower cam path and an upper cam path;a collar having one or more cam teeth configured to engage the cam path,a tamping surface on the bottom of the lid assembly and connected to the lid cam, wherein when the lid assembly is in the closed configuration, the tamping surface is configured to move between an untamped state in which the tamping surface does not compress the beverage precursor and a tamped state in which the tamping surface compresses the beverage precursor;wherein the collar is configured to movably engage the lid cam and rotate about a central axis extending longitudinally through the basket assembly, wherein rotation of the collar about the central axis and with respect to the lid cam axially moves the tamping surface so that the tamping surface is closer to the basket assembly in the tamped state than in the untamped state;wherein in the untamped state, the one or more cam teeth engage the lower cam path, and wherein in the tamped state, the one or more cam teeth engage the upper cam path. 2. The machine of claim 1, wherein the collar further comprises a plurality of geared teeth. 3. The machine of claim 1, wherein the cam path is disposed along an outer surface of the sidewall of the lid cam. 4. The machine of claim 1, wherein the lid cam further comprises a ledge on a bottom surface of the upper wall portion, the ledge configured to form a seal with the basket assembly. 5. The machine of claim 1, wherein the lid cam further comprises one or more projections projecting radially outward from the upper wall portion of the lid cam. 6. The machine of claim 1, wherein the tamping assembly further comprises a tamp spring disposed between the tamping surface and the lid assembly, wherein in the tamped state, the tamp spring is in a compressed state. 7. The machine of claim 6, wherein the spring is configured to provide a force between about 30 lbf and about 50 lbf. 8. The machine of claim 1, wherein the tamping surface comprises a shower head. 9. The machine of claim 1, wherein the lid cam further comprises one or more fluid outlets. 10. A method of compressing a beverage precursor in a beverage preparation machine, wherein the beverage preparation machine comprising a housing; a lid assembly on the top of the housing configured to move between an open configuration to allow insertion of a cartridge containing a beverage precursor and a closed configuration in which the beverage is prepared from the beverage precursor; a basket assembly comprising a chamber configured to receive the cartridge containing the beverage precursor; and a lid cam connected to the lid assembly, the lid cam having an upper wall portion, a sidewall, and a cam path disposed along the sidewall, wherein the lid cam translates axially relative to the lid assembly, the lid cam being suspended by at least one lid spring, and the cam path comprises a lower cam path and an upper cam path; a collar having one or more cam teeth configured to engage the cam path, a tamping surface on the bottom of the lid assembly and connected to the lid cam, wherein when the lid assembly is in the closed configuration, the tamping surface is configured to move between an untamped state in which the tamping surface does not compress the beverage precursor and a tamped state in which the tamping surface compresses the beverage precursor; and wherein the collar is configured to movably engage the lid cam and rotate about a central axis extending longitudinally through the basket assembly, wherein rotation of the collar about the central axis and with respect to the lid cam axially moves the tamping surface so that the tamping surface is closer to the basket assembly in the tamped state than in the untamped state; wherein in the untamped state, the one or more cam teeth engage the lower cam path, and wherein in the tamped state, the one or more cam teeth engage the upper cam path, the method comprising moving the lid assembly from the open configuration to the closed configuration;engaging the one or more cam teeth disposed on the collar with the cam path on the lid cam; andmoving the tamping surface from the untamped state to the tamped state, wherein moving the tamping surface comprises:rotating the collar such that the one or more cam teeth move from the lower cam path to the upper cam path;moving the lid cam away from the lid assembly; andmoving the tamping surface toward the beverage precursor. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein rotating the collar comprises driving a plurality of geared teeth disposed on the collar using a motor. 12. The method of claim 10, wherein moving the lid cam away from the lid assembly comprises pulling at least one spring from a compressed state to an elongated state. 13. The method of claim 10, wherein moving the tamping surface comprises compressing a spring disposed between the tamping surface and the lid assembly. 14. The method of claim 10, wherein moving the tamping surface comprises moving the tamping surface less than or equal to about 5.0 mm. 15. The method of claim 10, wherein moving the tamping surface comprises applying a force between about 30 lbf and about 50 lbf on the beverage precursor. 16. The method of claim 10, wherein the lid assembly remains stationary when moving the tamping surface from the untamped state to the tamped state.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (30)
Mikkelsen Per W. (Odense SV DKX), Apparatus for brewing beverages in portions, especially espressor coffee.
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