Abstract:
The present application describes a material dosing system. The material dosing system may include a material source and a dosing block. The dosing block may include a first aperture positioned on a first side and a second aperture positioned on a second side. The dosing block further may include a sliding plate positioned between the first side and the second side and having a dosing aperture movable between the first aperture and the second aperture. A coupling may connect the material source and the first aperture of the dosing block.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to automatic coffee brewing machines and more particularly relates to a coffee brewing machine with a coffee dosing system.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Fully automatic coffee brewing machines are known. These brewing machines generally store whole coffee beans in a hopper on top of a coffee brewing device. The user generally selects the type of coffee desired, i.e., espresso, cappuccino, latte, etc., and the machine grinds the beans from the hopper. The machine then drops the ground beans into a brewing chamber, compresses the grounds to create a brewable coffee block, and brews the block by forcing high pressure hot water therethrough.  
         [0003]     These known automatic coffee brewing machines, however, may have several drawbacks. For example, if the beans are left in the hopper for more than a few days, the beans tend to lose their freshness and may go stale. Further, the grinders used in these machines may not be suitable for grinding coffee as finely as desired for certain types of beverages such as espresso. Adequate espresso grinds generally require constant adjustment so as to provide a “Barista” quality beverage. Such adjustments, however, may not be practical and, in fact, may defeat the purpose of an automatic brewer.  
         [0004]     Finally, known automatic devices may tend to clog and/or provide more or less of a dose of coffee as may be desired. The ultimate result may be a beverage with an unsatisfactory taste.  
         [0005]     There is a desire, therefore, for an automatic coffee brewing machine that provides fresh, properly dosed coffee and other types of brewed beverages in a fast and efficient manner. The machine preferably should be adaptable to various types of beverages.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present application thus describes a material dosing system. The material dosing system may include a material source and a dosing block. The dosing block may include a first aperture positioned on a first side and a second aperture positioned on a second side. The dosing block further may include a sliding plate positioned between the first side and the second side and having a dosing aperture movable between the first aperture and the second aperture. A coupling may connect the material source and the first aperture of the dosing block.  
         [0007]     The material source may include a source of ground coffee positioned within a gas impermeable container. The material source may include nitrogen therein. The dosing aperture may include a predetermined size. The coupling may include a first member connected to the material source and a second member connected to the dosing block. The coupling may include a reverse taper in the direction of the dosing block.  
         [0008]     The dosing system further may include a vibration system. The vibration system may include a pair of arms positioned about the material source. The dosing system also may include an exit conduit positioned about the second aperture of the dosing block.  
         [0009]     The present application further describes a coffee dosing system. The coffee dosing system may include a coffee source and a dosing block. The dosing block may include a first aperture positioned on a first side and a second aperture positioned on a second side. The dosing block further may include a sliding plate positioned between the first side and the second side. The sliding plate may include a dosing aperture movable between the first aperture and the second aperture. A coupling may connect the coffee source and the first aperture of the dosing block. The coupling may include a reverse taper in the direction of the dosing block.  
         [0010]     The coffee source may include a gas impermeable container. The dosing system further may include a vibration system. The vibration system may include a pair of arms positioned about the coffee source.  
         [0011]     The present application further describes a method of dosing a predetermined amount of coffee grinds. The method may include the steps of storing the coffee grinds, flowing the predetermined amount of the coffee grinds into a dosing aperture, and sliding the predetermined amount of the coffee grinds within the dosing aperture from a first position to a second position.  
         [0012]     The storing step may include storing the coffee grinds in an air impermeable container. The first position may include a storage position and the second position may include an exit position. The flowing step may include flowing the predetermined amount of the coffee grinds into the dosing aperture via a reverse taper coupling. The method further may include the step of vibrating the coffee grinds. The method may include a number of flowing and sliding steps.  
         [0013]     These and other features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings and the appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example of a coffee dosing system as is described herein.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a side cross-sectional view of the dosing block of the coffee dosing system of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a reverse taper coupling of the coffee dosing system of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]     Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views,  FIGS. 1 and 2  show a coffee dosing system  100  as is described herein. The coffee dosing system  100  includes a grind bag  110 . The grind bag  110  may be made out of a gas impermeable material such as a multilayer composite with foil, an EVOH film (Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol Polymer) or the like, or similar types of materials. The grind bag  110  may be filled with an amount of ground coffee  120 . Any other type of brewable or mixable material also may be used herein. In fact, any type of flowable materials or particles may be used herein. The grind bag  120  may be filled with nitrogen or similar gases to preserve the freshness of the ground coffee  120  or other materials therein.  
         [0018]     The coffee dosing system  100  also may include a dosing block  130 . The dosing block  130  may be made out of plastic, molded or machined, metal, or similar types of materials. The dosing block  130  may include a top side  140  with a first aperture  150  and a bottom side  160  with a second aperture  170 . The dosing block  130  further may include a plate  180  slideably positioned therein. The plate  180  may be driven a motor driven cam, a slide assembly, or a similar type of mechanism. The plate  180  may have a dosing aperture  190  positioned therein. The dosing aperture  190  may slide between a first position adjacent to the first aperture  150  of the top side  140  and a second position adjacent to the second aperture  170  of the bottom side  160 . The plate  180  may be lubricated by using different materials, a food grade lubricant, or similar means.  
         [0019]     The coffee dosing system  100  also may include a coupling mechanism  200 . The coupling mechanism  200  may include a male member  210  positioned about the first aperture  150  on the top side  140  of the dosing block  130  and a female member  220  positioned about one end of the grind bag  110 . (The respective positions of the members  210 ,  220  may be reversed as is desired.) The members  210 ,  220  preferably have a reverse taper  225 . In other words, the diameter of the members  210 ,  220  increases as the members  210 ,  220  extend from the grind bag  110  towards the first aperture  150 . The reverse tapering ensures there is no bridging of the ground coffee  120  such that all of the coffee travels into the dosing aperture  190 . The reverse taper  225  also ensures that there is substantially consistent pressure on the ground coffee  120  or other material to ensure repeatable weights. Coffee density also should be substantially consistent. The coffee dosing system  100  also may include an exit conduit  230 . The exit conduit  230  may lead to a brewing device (not shown) as is known or elsewhere.  
         [0020]     The coffee dosing system  100  further may include one or more vibrating arms  240 . The vibrating arms  240  may be positioned about the grind bag  110  adjacent to the coupling mechanism  200 . The vibrating arms  240  may be driven by a conventional drive mechanism (not shown) such as such as a cam follower actuated by the slide mechanism, by a separate drive system providing linear motion or vibration motion, or by similar devices. The vibrating arms  240  ensure proper flow of the ground coffee  120  or other materials into the coupling mechanism  200  and the dosing aperture  190  of the dosing block  130 .  
         [0021]     In use, the ground coffee  120  should stay fresh within the grind bag  110  for up to about one (1) year given a nitrogen flush or similar techniques. The coffee  120  may be ground as desired. Specific coffee grinding techniques are described in commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/908,350, entitled “COFFEE AND TEA POD”, incorporated herein by reference. The grind bag  110  is then attached to the dosing block  130  via the coupling mechanism  200 . When a brewed beverage is desired, the plate  180  slides such that the dosing aperture  190  is positioned underneath the first aperture  150  of the top side  140  in line with the coupling mechanism  200 . As the dosing aperture  190  aligns with the first aperture  150 , a measure of the ground coffee  120  falls into the dosing aperture  190 . The size, shape, depth and/or the diameter of the dosing aperture  190  may be arranged for the predetermined volume of the ground coffee  120  or other material as required for a particular beverage.  
         [0022]     After a predetermined amount of time or other variable, the plate  180  begins to slide towards the second aperture  170  on the bottom side  160  of the dosing block  130 . As the plate  180  moves away from the first aperture  150 , the grind bag  110  is closed off to oxygen permeation. The only chance for oxygen to enter the grind bag  110  is the brief moment that the dosing aperture  190  is positioned about the first aperture  150 . Even in this scenario, however, oxygen can only contact the ground coffee  120  that is about to be used.  
         [0023]     The use of the reverse taper  225  in the coupling mechanism  200  again ensures that all of the ground coffee  120  travels to the dosing aperture  190  and that no bridging of the ground coffee  120  occurs. As the dosing aperture  190  aligns with the second aperture  170  on the bottom side  160 , the ground coffee  120  falls out of the dosing block  130  and into the exit conduit  230 . Depending upon the nature of the desired beverage, multiple doses of the ground coffee  120  or other materials may be dispensed into the exit conduit  230  at one time. The ground coffee  120  then travels toward the brewing device (not shown) or elsewhere. Once the ground coffee  120  is depleted from the grind bag  110 , the grind bag  110  may be removed and refilled or replaced.  
         [0024]     It should be apparent that the foregoing relates only to the preferred embodiments of the present invention and that numerous changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the general spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims and the equivalents thereof.