Abstract:
A distributor for a coffee machine and a method for making coffee with options for selected quantity and types of coffee to be served are disclosed. The distributor has three fluid passages and operable between first and second positions. In the first position a first passage is adapted to receive a water and coffee mixture from a first hopper to be delivered to a first brewer or a second passage is adapted to receive a water and coffee mixture from a second hopper to be delivered to a second brewer. In the second position a third passage is adapted to receive a water and coffee mixture from either selected one of the first and second hoppers to be distributed substantial-equally to the first and second brewers. The invention provides a simple distribution system for the coffee machine with options for selected quantities and types of coffee. The invention also advantageously makes it possible to quickly serve a freshly brewed coffee with a selected quantity and type.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/201,680 filed May 3, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a beverage machine, such as a coffee machine, more particularly to a distribution system for a coffee machine with options for selected types and quantities of coffee to be served. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     An automated coffee machine is understood to be a machine in which the steps of the preparation cycle occur automatically. In recent years automated coffee machines have become increasingly popular in restaurants, institutions and other commercial places. In an automated coffee machine with options for selected types and quantities a distribution system or a control system is used to provide the selections. As one example, Knepler et al describe, in their U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,399, issued on Feb. 16, 1993, a digital control system for a coffee grinder and associated coffee brewer. The coffee grinder has a dual hopper, and is conveniently programmable and automatically operable for selecting bean type and grinding with accuracy bean quantities ranging from a few ounces for brewing a few cups of coffee to larger quantities for brewing several gallons of coffee. The control system allows one or more coffee grinders either of the same type or different types for a brewer for making multi-cup quantities or urns for making gallon quantities. 
     Another example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,763 issued on Oct. 29, 1996, in which Kunzler describes controlling means for an automatic coffee machine which has a supply of coffee beans, a coffee bean grinding device, a water heating device, a brewing chamber, and a dispenser for brewed coffee. The coffee machine also includes at least one coffee selector switch in electronic communication with control processor for operating the coffee machine. The method of controlling a coffee machine includes the steps of actuating the selector switch for first time and starting the grinding of an amount of coffee beans for a coffee brewing cycle using a first set of brewing parameters in response thereto, monitoring the selector switch for a predetermined period of time the range of from 1 to 2 seconds, delaying the start of coffee brewing in response to the actuation of the selector switch for a second time within the predetermined time period, and then grinding an additional amount of coffee beans and resuming the coffee brewing cycle using the second set of brewing parameters in response to the second actuation of the selector switch. The first set of brewing parameters is used to brew a single size serving of coffee, and the second set of brewing parameters are used to brew a double size serving of coffee. The step of loading the first set of brewing parameters into the control processor of the coffee machine occurs in response to actuating the selector switch for the first time, and the step of replacing the first set of brewing parameters with the second set of brewing parameters in the control processor occurs in response to actuating the selector for a second time, whereupon the start of the coffee cycle is resumed using the second set of parameters to brew the coffee. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is one object of the present invention to provide a beverage machine, such as a coffee machine having a simple distribution system for options for selected types and quantities of coffee to be brewed and served. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a distributor for a coffee machine with options for selected types of quantities of coffee which has two coffee mixing hoppers, each for one type of coffee, and two brewers, each having a predetermined capacity. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a method for making a quick serving of a beverage with options for selected types and quantities. 
     Generally, a beverage machine, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, has first and second beverage hoppers, each for a selected type of beverage mixture, first and second brewers, each having a predetermined capacity, and a distributor having three fluid passages, operatively attached to the machine and moveable with respect to the machine between first and second positions. An actuator is supported to the machine and operatively connected to the distributor, adapted to move the distributor between the first and second positions. In the first position, a first passage of the distributor is adapted to receive a beverage mixture from the first hopper to be delivered to the first brewer or a second passage of the distributor is adapted to receive a beverage mixture from the second hopper to be delivered to the second brewer. In the second position, a third passage of the distributor is adapted to receive a beverage mixture from a selected one of the first and second hoppers to be distributed substantial-equally to the first and second brewers. 
     More especially according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a water and coffee distributor for a coffee machine is provided. The coffee machine has first and second coffee hoppers, each for one type of coffee, and first and second brewers, each having a predetermined capacity. The water and coffee distributor comprises a chute adapted to be placed below the hoppers and above the brewers. The chute includes first and second receiving chambers, each having an outlet at the bottom thereof, and a third receiving chamber in fluid communication with the first and second receiving chambers. Each of the three receiving chambers has a top opening. The chute is pivotable with respect to the machine between first and second positions. In the first position the top opening of the first receiving chamber aligns an outlet of the first hopper and the top opening of the second receiving chamber aligns an outlet of the second hopper. In the second position, the opening of the third receiving chamber aligns both outlets of the first and second hoppers. A pivoting actuator is mounted to the machine and is detachably connected to the chute to pivot the chute about a pivoting line which is close to the outlet of the first and second receiving chambers so that the outlet of the first receiving chamber and the outlet of the second receiving chamber are kept aligned individually with an entry of the first brewer and an entry of the second brewer when the chute is pivoted. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is a method provided for making coffee with options for selected types and quantities, using first and second hoppers, each for one type of coffee, and first and second brewers having an equal capacity. One step is to detect a selection of quantities of coffee to be served from options for a one-cup sized serving or a double-cup sized serving. A signal according to the selection of the quantity is sent to operate the distributor which is operable between a first position for the quantity of the one-cup sized serving and a second position for the quantity of the double-cup sized serving. In the first position the distributor is to receive a water and coffee mixture of a first type from the first hopper through a first passage thereof to be delivered to the first brewer, or to receive a water and coffee mixture of a second type from a second hopper through a second passage thereof to be delivered to the second brewer. In the second position the distributor is to receive a water and coffee mixture of either type to be selected from one of the first and second hoppers through a third passage thereof to be distributed substantial-equally to the first and second brewers. Another step is to detect a selection of types of coffee and a signal according to the selection of the types of coffee is sent for preparing in a corresponding one of the first and second hoppers the coffee and water mixture of a predetermined quantity for the one-cup sized serving or double-cup sized serving, depending on the selection of the quantities. A further step includes the delivery of the selected type of water and coffee mixture of the predetermined quantity through the distributor which is in the selected position into a corresponding one or both of the brewers. A first type of coffee is brewed in the first brewer or a second type of coffee is brewed in the second brewer depending on the selection of the types of coffee when the distributor is in the first operative position. Otherwise, the first type or the second type of coffee is brewed in both the first and second brewers, depending on the selection of the type of coffee, when the distributor is in the second operative position. 
     The coffee machine according to the present invention advantageously has a simple structure of a distribution system for making coffee with options for selected types and quantities. It is especially advantageous to brew a double-cup sized serving of coffee of a selected type simultaneously in two identical brewers, each taking a half of the quantity for the serving, which makes a quick serving possible. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration of a preferred embodiment thereof, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a distributor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an elevational rear view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  3 — 3  in FIG. 2, showing an actuator of the distributor; 
     FIG. 4 is an elevational front view of the embodiment in FIG. 1, showing the attachment of a chute to the actuator; 
     FIG. 5 is a segmental and enlarged cross-sectional view of the attachment in FIG. 4, taken along line  5 — 5 , showing the detail thereof; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment in FIG. 2, taken along line  6 — 6  with the actuator removed, showing the chute pivoted in one operative position; 
     FIG. 7 is the same cross-sectional view of FIG. 6, showing the chute in the other operative position; 
     FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a process according to the preferred embodiment of the invention for making coffee A of a double-cup sized serving; 
     FIG. 9 is a diagram according to the preferred embodiment of the invention showing a process for making coffee B of a double-cup sized serving; 
     FIG. 10 is a diagram according to the preferred embodiment of the invention showing a process for making coffee A of a one-cup sized serving; and 
     FIG. 11 is a diagram according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention showing a process for making coffee B of a one-cup sized serving. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings, particularly in FIGS. 1 through 4, there is shown a distributor  20  having a chute  22  and an actuator  24  for operating the chute  22  between different operative inventions. 
     The chute  22  includes a body  26  which has a first chamber  28 , a second chamber  30  and a third chamber  32 . The third chamber  32  is elongated. The first and second chambers  28 , 30  are identical and spaced apart from each other, attached to one side of the elongated third chamber  32  at the opposed ends. 
     The first chamber  28  has a hopper shape with a top opening  34  and an outlet  36  at the bottom thereof The first chamber  28  has two side: walls  38 , 40  extending transversely from a rear wall  42  of the third chamber  32  and a rear wall  44  to form the chamber. The side wall  40  is bent, consisting of three sections from the top to the bottom, as clearly shown in FIG. 2 to form the hopper shape of the chamber so that the top opening  34  is much greater than the outlet  36  at the bottom, which facilitates the delivery of fluid through the chamber as most hoppers do. The side wall  38  and the rear wall  44  extending also inwardly from the top to the bottom which is preferred especially when the body  26  is made from moulded plastics. The structure of the second chamber  30  is identical to the structure of the first chamber  28 , and is not described redundantly. 
     The third chamber  32  includes the rear wall  42  and a front wall  46 , and opposed end walls  48 , 50  with a bottom wall  52  which is shown in FIG. 4 to form the elongated chamber  32  with a top opening  54 . The rear wall  42  and the front wall  46  of the third chamber  32  are roughly parallel to each other, but extend inwardly at a slight angle from the top to the bottom. Similarly, the opposed end walls  48 , 50  are roughly parallel to each other, but extend inwardly at a slight angle from the top to the bottom to facilitate the molding process. The bottom wall  52  extends downwardly from the opposed end walls  48 ,  50  towards its centre and a bottom hole  56  is defined in the centre of the bottom wall  52  so that fluid poured into the third chamber  32  at either end will be directed under its own gravity to the bottom hole  56 . 
     A reversed Y-pipe  58  is used to communicate with the third chamber  32  and the first and second chambers  28 , 30 . As shown in FIG. 4, the first end  60  of the reversed Y-pipe  58  is connected to the first chamber  28  in fluid communication at the bottom above the outlet  36 . Similarly, a second end  62  of the reversed Y-pipe  58  is connected to the second chamber  30  in fluid communication at the bottom above the outlet  36 . A third end  64  of the reversed Y-pipe  58  is connected to the bottom opening  56  of the third chamber  32 . In order to distribute fluid flow from the third chamber  32  through the reversed Y-pipe  58  to exit from both outlets  36  of the first and second chambers  28 , 30  with equal volume, the chute  22  including the body  26  and the reversed Y-pipe  58  should be configured symmetrically about a central vertical and transverse plane, indicated by the centre line  66 . The chute  22  is preferably made from plastics, and the body  26  is particularly made from a moulded plastic material. An elongated attaching plate  68 , made of a plastic material, is secured at the top end to the rear wall  42  at a middle portion, as shown in FIG. 3, and will be described in detail below. 
     The actuator  24  generally includes a solenoid  76 , a mounting plate  74  and a bracket  70  adapted to be mounted to a coffee machine the structure of which is not shown but is indicated by the broken line  72  in FIGS. 2,  6  and  7 . The bracket  70  has a top plate  78 , and two side plates  80  extending downwardly from the top plate  78  and spaced apart to form a housing to support the solenoid  76  therein. Fastening members  82  are attached to the top plate  78  for receiving mounting screws. The mounting plate  74  is pivotally mounted to the bracket  70  through a pivoting pin  84  extending through the two side plates  80  at their lower end so that the mounting plate  74  is pivotable about the pivoting pin  84  with respect to the bracket  70  and the coffee machine. The solenoid  76  has a link assembly  86  operatively connecting the solenoid  76  and the pivoting plate  74 , as shown in FIG.  3 . When the solenoid  76  is energized, the link member  86  presses the mounting plate  74  to pivot clockwise about the pivoting pin  84 . When the solenoid  76  is deactivated, a force exerted by the spring  88  will force the link assembly  86  to pivot the mounting plate  74  counter clockwise about the pivoting pin  84 . One of the inventive features of the invention is to use the actuator of the distributor to operate the chute  22  between different operative positions and therefore, the structure and the operation of the solenoid with its auxiliary parts which are known in the art are not described in further details. 
     The attaching plate  68  is slidably received at the opposed sides in the respective grooves  90  of the mounting plate  74 . The groove  90  is formed with two fasteners  92  at each side of the mounting plate  74  as shown in FIG. 5. A clipping member  94  protrudes from each side of the attaching plate  68 . Two elongated slots  96  extend inwardly from the free end of the attaching plate  68  so that when the attaching plate  68  slides upwards in the grooves  90 , the clipping members  94  will be pressed inwardly past the fastening members  92  which engage the clipping members  94  and prevent the attaching plate  68  from moving downwardly relative to the pivoting plate. With such an attachment arranged, the chute  22  is able to be removably attached to the mounting plate  74  of the actuator  70  and to be pivoted together with the mounting plate  74  about the pivoting pin  84 . 
     In operation, the distributor  20  is mounted to the coffee machine  72  in a position below two hoppers  100  and  102 , and above two coffee brewers  104  and  106 , which are shown in FIGS. 8 to  11 . The hoppers are used to prepare and contain a selected quantity of water and coffee mixture which is to be brewed making fresh coffee. Each hopper is for a predetermined type of coffee. The two coffee brewers are identical and designed for brewing a predetermined quantity, such as  9  ounces, of coffee for a one-cup sized serving. An example of the brewer of this type is described in the applicant&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,882 issued Apr. 18, 1995. As shown in FIGS. 2,  6  and  7 , the chute  22  is sized and mounted to the coffee machine so that the top opening  34  of the first chamber  28  and the top opening  34  of the second chamber  30  are enabled to align the respective outlet of the first hopper, indicated by arrow Ha and the outlet of the second hopper indicated by arrow Hb, while the opening  54  of the third chamber  32  is enabled to align both the outlets Ha and Hb of the hoppers. The outlet  36  at the bottom of the first chamber  28  aligns to the entry, indicated by B 1 , of the first brewer and the outlet  36  at the bottom of the second chamber  30  aligns the entry, indicated by arrow B 2 , of the second brewer. 
     In FIG. 6, the chute  22  is shown in its first operative position when the solenoid  76  is energized to pivot the chute  22  clockwise. In the first position, the top opening  34  of the first and second chambers  28 , 30  align the respective outlets Ha, Hb of the hoppers. Therefore, the fluid exiting from the outlet Ha or Hb enters into a corresponding one of the first and second chambers  28 , 30  and exits from the outlet  36  thereof to enter into the entry B 1  or B 2  of the brewers accordingly. 
     In FIG. 7, the chute  22  is in the second operative position when the solenoid  76  is deactivated as shown in FIG.  3 . In the second operative position, the opening  54  of the third chamber  32  aligns both the outlets Ha and Hb of the hoppers so that the fluid exiting from either one of the outlets Ha and Hb of the hoppers enters into the third chamber  32  of the chute  22 . However, it is noted that the third chamber  32  receives fluid from either one of the outlets Ha and Hb but not both of them at each time because the type of the water and the coffee mixture contained in each of the hoppers is different, and the different types of the water and coffee mixtures are not allowed to be mixed together. This may be controlled by a controller of the machine. The fluid entering the third chamber  32  is directed into the reversed Y-pipe  58  through the third end  64  thereof. The reversed Y-pipe  58  distributes the fluid equally into the first and second chambers  28 , 30  and the equally distributed fluid in the first and second chambers  28 , 32  are further directed into the respective entry B 1  and B 2  of the two brewers. 
     It is noted that the outlets  36  of the first and second chambers  28 , 30  are maintained aligned with the respective entries B 1 ,B 2  of the brewers. In order to ensure this feature, a centre line, indicated by P, of the pivoting pin  84  must be close to the outlets  36  of the first and second chambers. It is also noted that a certain quantity of fluid will be temporarily accumulated in the first or second chamber  28 , 30  when the quantity of the fluid entering the top opening  34  of the chamber is greater than the quantity of the fluid exiting from the outlet  36  within a time period. If the accumulated fluid in the first or second chamber  28 , 30  reaches a height level higher than the dividing point  65  of the reversed Y-pipe  58 , (see FIG. 4) the fluid in the first or second chamber will flow into the other one of the first and second chambers through the reversed Y-pipe. Therefore, the bottom wall  52  of the third chamber  32  must be above the outlets  36  at the bottom of the first and second chambers  28 , 30  to provide a space adequate for mounting the reversed Y-pipe so that a height difference between the dividing point  65  of the reversed Y-pipe  58  and the outlets  36  of the first and second chambers  28 , 30  is ensured to prevent the fluid temporarily accumulated in one of the first and second chambers  28 , 30  from flowing through the reversed Y-pipe  58  into the other in a normal operation. 
     A method for making coffee with options for selected types and quantities using the coffee machine having the distributor described as above is described below with reference to FIGS. 8 through 11. 
     As shown in FIG. 8, the machine first detects a selection of quantities of coffee to be served from options for a double-cup sized serving, and then sends a signal accordingly to the actuator  24  to operate the chute  22  in its second operative position as shown in FIG.  7 . The machine further detects a selection of a type of coffee, for example coffee A, and then a signal is sent accordingly to prepare a water and coffee A mixture in the first hopper  100 . The quantity of the water and coffee A mixture prepared in the first hopper is for the double-cup sized serving, for example 18 ounces. The 18 ounces of water and coffee A mixture is delivered from the first hopper  100  into the distributor  20 , and distributed through the third chamber  32  and the reversed Y-pipe  58  into both the first and second coffee brewers  104  and  106 . The quantity of the water and coffee A mixture distributed into the first and second coffee brewers  104 , 106  is equal, 9 ounces. The water and coffee A mixture of 9 ounces is brewed in each of coffee brewers  104 , 106 . The freshly brewed coffee A in both first and second coffee brewers  104 , 106  is dispensed through a common dispenser  108  to fill up an  18  ounce cup  110  for the double-cup sized serving. 
     In FIG. 9, the machine detects a selection of quantities of coffee to be served for a double-cup sized serving, 18 ounces, and therefore the distributor  20  is operated in the second position as shown in FIG.  7 . The machine further detects a selection for a type B of coffee, and therefore a water and coffee B mixture is prepared in the second hopper  102 . The quantity of the water and coffee B mixture prepared in the second hopper  102  is 18 ounces. The water and coffee B mixture is distributed through the third chamber  32  and the reversed Y-pipe  58  equally into the first and second coffee brewers  104  and  106 , 9 ounces for each. Similar to the process illustrated in FIG. 8, each of the first and second brewers  104 , 106  brews 9 ounces of coffee B and discharges the freshly brewed coffee B through the common dispenser  108  to fill up the 18 ounce cup  110  for the double-cup sized serving of coffee B. 
     The process for making one-cup sized serving, 9 ounces, of coffee A is illustrated in FIG. 10. A signal is sent to the actuator  24  to operate the distributor  20  in its first operative position as shown in FIG. 6 when a selection of quantities for the one-cup sized serving is detected. 9 ounces of water and coffee A mixture is prepared and contained in the first hopper  100  when a signal corresponding to the selection of coffee B is received. The water and coffee B mixture of 9 ounces is delivered from the first hopper  100  into the distributor  20 , particularly directed through the first chamber  28  into the first coffee brewer  104 . The water and coffee B mixture of 9 ounces is brewed in the first coffee brewer  104  and discharged through the dispenser  108  into the 9 ounce cup  112  for the one-cup sized serving of coffee A. 
     As shown in FIG. 11, a water and coffee B mixture of 9 ounces is prepared in the second hopper  102  when the selection for 9 ounces of coffee B is detected and the distributor  20  is operated accordingly to the first position as shown in FIG.  6 . The prepared water and coffee B mixture of 9 ounces is delivered from the second hopper  102  through the distributor  20 , particularly directed through the second chamber  30  into the second coffee brewer  106 . The second coffee brewer  106  brews the coffee B of 9 ounces therein and then discharges the freshly brewed coffee B through the dispenser  108  into the 9 ounce cup for the one-cup sized serving of coffee B. 
     While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of the invention.