Patent ID: 6460735
Filing Date: 2002-10-08
Classification: A47J

Abstract:
A beverage machine for dispensing hot beverages at a selected temperature in a range between a higher temperature and a lower temperature, comprising:a) a brew inlet for accepting the beverage from a source of prepared beverage; b) a holding tank for holding the beverage at a selected temperature at least as high as the higher temperature, having an inlet connected to the brew inlet, an outlet, and a heater for maintaining beverage at the selected temperature; c) a cold reservoir for holding the beverage at a selected temperature no higher than the lower temperature, having an inlet for accepting beverage, an outlet, and a heater for maintaining beverage at the selected temperature; d) a cooler for lowering the temperature of a beverage, having an input connected to the outlet of the holding tank and an output connected to the inlet of the cold reservoir, such that hot beverage from the holding tank is cooled as it passes through the cooler to the cold reservoir; e) a mixing valve having a first input connected to the outlet of the cold reservoir, a second input connected to the outlet of the holding tank, and an output producing a mixture of fluid from the first input and second input, the proportions of fluid in the mixture from the first input and the second input being controlled in response to the position of the mixing valve control; and f) a vending valve having an input connected to the output of the mixing valve and an output for dispensing the beverage; such that when the valve is opened, beverage is dispensed having a temperature determined by the position of the mixing valve control, mixing beverage from the holding tank and beverage from the cold reservoir.