Abstract:
A table-top coffee vending machine providing slide-out storage containers for easy filling and removal, a compact fast acting coffee brewing system and a filter paper cutting and storage system. A plurality of storage containers for ground coffee, hot chocolate ingredient and condiment are provided in a rack system that allows the group containers to be slid out of the machine cabinet on telescoping rails to allow easy filling and removal of the containers. The brewing method includes simultaneously supplying water and coffee grounds to a brewer, stopping the supply of both, allowing the mixture to steep and then beginning to remove the mixture from the brewer while reinitiating the supply of water to the brewer for a sufficient time to supply a complete cup of coffee at a cup station. The filter paper cutter cuts lengths of paper from a continuous supply of filter paper after it is used in the brewer to filter the coffee. The cutter is saw-toothed and a paper clamping mechanism is used to clamp the paper in the area where it is to be cut. The cut lengths of paper are collected in a removable tray and are compressed into a stack by a sweeper bar that is activated in conjunction with the cutter action.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 09/396,815, filed Sep. 14, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,172. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to table-top coffee vending machines and more particularly to table-top coffee vending machines that brew coffee by the cup. 
     Table-top coffee vending machines need to be very compact because of the space limitations, both vertically and horizontally, that are usually present where such machines are utilized. Additionally, such machines need to have substantial capacity to vend many cups of coffee without the need to be serviced, since the cost of service is a substantial cost factor in the profitability of such machines. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention overcomes the difficulties and disadvantages of prior art table-top coffee vending machines by providing a machine that is compact and yet requires less frequent service and is easier to service than other prior art machines. These advantages are achieved by providing a table-top coffee machine that utilizes easy to fill slide-out coffee, hot chocolate and condiment storage compartments, a compact fast acting coffee brewing system and a filter paper cutting and storage system. 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a table-top coffee vending machine is provided having a housing, a brewing system with a brewer, a hot chocolate mixing bowl, a hot chocolate and coffee storage system comprising at least one storage container having a removable top cap and a dispensing mechanism for dispensing an ingredient therefrom at least one telescoping rail supporting the at least one storage container for sliding movement between an operating position wherein the rail is in a retracted position and the container is disposed within the housing and the dispensing mechanism can be operated to supply said ingredient, and a filling position wherein the rail is in an extended position with the container disposed at least partially outside the housing such that the cap can be removed from the container for filling. 
     In another aspect of the invention a table-top coffee vending machine is provided having a housing, a brewing system with a brewer, a hot chocolate mixing bowl, an ingredient and coffee storage system comprising a pair of storage containers having an opening in the top and a dispensing mechanism associated therewith for dispensing ingredients from the containers a pair of members mounted to the housing and supporting the pair of containers for movement between an operating position wherein the containers are disposed within the housing and the dispensing mechanism can be operated to supply said ingredients, and a filling position wherein the containers are disposed at least partially outside the housing such that the containers can be filled. 
     In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, a paper cutter is provided comprising a support structure having a front wall with an elongated slot defined therein over which a paper sheet can pass, a cutting blade support member mounted for movement relative to the support structure, a cutting blade mounted to the support member for movement therewith, a reciprocating drive mechanism connected to the cutting blade support member so as to move it between a retracted position in which the blade is disposed remote from the front wall of the support structure and an extended position where it passes through the slot in the front wall whereby the blade will engage the paper extending over the slot and cut it as the blade moves between the retracted and extended positions. The paper cutter is preferably a saw tooth blade, and more particularly is provided with uneven teeth for penetrating the filter paper. 
     The reciprocating drive mechanism preferably includes a compression plate mounted for reciprocating movement on the blade support member and has a front wall having a slot therein in alignment with the slot in the front wall of the support structure, the compression plate being movable between an extended position where the blade is remote from the slot in its front wall and a compressed position in which the blade extends through the slot in its front wall, the compression plate further being biased toward the extended position, the compression plate being moved from its extended position to its compressed position by engagement of its front wall with the front wall of the support structure with the paper pressed therebetween as the support member is moved towards its extended position. In addition, an elongated member is preferably disposed adjacent the front wall of the support structure along and adjacent the slot therein and is engageable with the paper passing over the slot so as to urge the paper away from the front wall of the support structure when the support member moves toward its retraced position. The elongated member is a preferably a tensioned wire disposed along the length of the slot. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a cut paper collection tray is provided disposed beneath the front wall of the support structure to receive cut paper therein, the tray having a substantially flat bottom and a front wall adjacent the front wall of the support structure, a sweeper bar moveable from a retracted position remote from the front wall of the tray and a forward position adjacent the front wall of the tray whereby cut pieces of paper are pushed along the bottom of the tray toward the front wall of the tray when the sweeper bar is moved from its retracted to its forward position. The sweeper bar is preferably mounted to the support structure for pivotal movement between its forward and retracted positions and is operatively connected to the support member so as to cause movement of the sweeper member from its retracted position to its forward position as the support member is moved from its retracted position to its extended position. 
     In yet a further aspect of the present invention, a method of cutting paper is provided, comprising the steps of positioning a paper strip in engagement with a support structure having an elongated slot therein which extends transverse to and completely across the width of the paper, clamping the paper strip between the support structure and a support member, moving a cutting blade through the paper from a side opposite the slot with the blade passing through the slot to sever the paper strip. The method also preferably includes using a saw-tooth blade. The method further preferably includes placing a tray beneath the severed end of the strip to receive the strip, moving a sweeper bar within the tray to move the severed strip towards an end of the tray and then moving a portion of the paper strip up stream of the blade adjacent the slot, away from the support structure. 
     In still another aspect of the present invention, a method of brewing coffee is provided which includes the steps of initiating and continuing the flow of water into a brewing chamber, substantially simultaneously initiating and then continuing the flow of ground coffee into the brewing chamber allowing the coffee and water to mix in the chamber for a predetermined time to produce a coffee mixture while continuing the flow of each, discontinuing the flow of water and ground coffee into the chamber, beginning withdrawal of the coffee mixture from the chamber, reinitiating and continuing the flow of water in to the chamber for a predetermined amount of time while the mixture is being withdrawn from the chamber, discontinuing the flow of water into the chamber, withdrawing substantially all of the remaining mixture in the chamber, and removing the remaining ground coffee from the chamber. Preferably, the step of removing the mixture from the chamber includes removing it through the bottom of the chamber through use of a vacuum pump. 
     Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the cabinet of the preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the removable tray partially removed from the cabinet; 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the inside of the preferred embodiment of the present invention with the front cabinet door removed and the removable tray in position within the cabinet; 
     FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with the removable tray removed; 
     FIG. 4 is a pictorial view of the preferred embodiment with the storage canisters in their extended, filling position; 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic pictorial view of the preferred embodiment showing the filling of one of the storage containers; 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged pictorial view of the brewer and filter paper advancing mechanism of the preferred embodiment with the brewer in the closed position; 
     FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 with the brewer in the open position; 
     FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the paper cutter mechanism of the preferred embodiment partially cut away and partially in cross-section; 
     FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the paper cutter mechanism of the preferred embodiment partially cut away and partially in cross-section; 
     FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of the paper cutter mechanism of the preferred embodiment partially cut away and partially in cross-section; 
     FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view of the paper cutter mechanism taken along line  11 — 11  of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view through the paper cutter mechanism at the same location as FIG. 11, but with the cutter mechanism moved to its forward most position; 
     FIGS. 13 a  and  13   b  are enlarged views of the saw-tooth blade of the cutter mechanism of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 14 is a pictorial view showing the paper collection tray inserted below the paper cutting mechanism of the preferred embodiment. 
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The preferred embodiment of the table-top coffee vending machine of the present invention is illustrated generally by numeral  10  in FIG.  1 . As shown in FIG. 1, the coffee machine  10  has a cabinet  12  with a front service door  14  which is hinged on the left at  16  to allow the door to be swung open. Shown in the lower right of the drawing is a removable cut paper collection tray  18  which can be slid in and out of the bottom cabinet  12  and is shown in FIG. 1 as being removed from the cabinet from its normal location. A cup station  20  with a spilled liquid collection drain  22  is positioned in the front door for receiving brewed coffee in a cup positioned thereon. A product selection key pad  24  is provided on the front door  14  which is used by a customer to make the selection of coffee, hot chocolate and any condiments such as sugar or creamer to be included so as to control the machine  10  in a well-known manner to provide the brewed coffee selection or hot chocolate as desired. 
     The coffee machine  10  as illustrated in FIG. 2 with the service door  14  removed, generally includes a brewing chamber  26 , a mixing bowl  28  with or without a whipper assembly for whipping the hot chocolate or coffee, a condiment or hot chocolate storage container  30  and a ground coffee storage container  32 . Containers  30  and  32  are removably supported on a frame member  34  which in turn is secured at its sides to telescoping rails  36  and  38 . Although only two such containers are shown, it is contemplated that any desired number of containers can be utilized to supply additional ingredients. As best seen in FIG. 4, containers  30  and  32  can be pulled out on the telescoping rails from the housing or cabinet  12  and after filling, returned to their position within the cabinet as seen in FIG.  2 . With reference to FIG. 5, the lids  40  and  42  can be removed from containers  30  and  32  to add additional ground coffee or hot chocolate ingredients or condiments to the containers without actually removing them from the frame  34  and telescoping rails  36  and  38 . However, if the need arises for example for cleaning, the containers  30  and  32  can be lifted off of the frame and removed entirely from the cabinet  12 . Ingredients from either canister are dispensed through nozzles  33  and  35  into the mixing bowl  28  and brewer  26 , respectively. The ingredient is supplied to the nozzles  33  and  35  by a motor driven auger (not shown) in a well known manner. 
     Referring again to FIG. 2, there is provided a filter paper system associated with the brewer which allows a new piece of filter paper to be positioned within the chamber of the brewer so that the mixture of hot water and coffee grounds is supported within the chamber above the filter paper and the brewed coffee is then removed from the bottom of the chamber and directed to a cup positioned in the cup station  20 . A roll of filter paper  44  is mounted to a removable spindle  46  which is supported at its ends in slots  48  formed in a U-shaped support member  50  on the left side of the brewer  26 . Brewer  26  is a two piece brewer, as best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, with an upper chamber  52  supported for vertical movement towards and away from the lower chamber  54 . The strip of filter paper  56  from the unwinding roll  44  can thus be passed between the two halves of brewer  26  and the brewer then closed on the filter paper by downward movement of the upper chamber  52  so that the mixture of water and coffee introduced into the open top  58  of chamber  52  mixes and is then drawn through the filter paper to leave the residue of coffee on the filter paper while extracting the coffee mixture to a cup. If desired, the brewed coffee can be drawn from the first chamber through the filter paper into and out of the second chamber through an opening in the bottom thereof and then introduced into the cup merely by gravity, although because of time constraints it is preferable to use a vacuum pump to withdraw the coffee mixture from the bottom of the brewer. In the preferred embodiment, a peristaltic pump is used for sanitary reasons although other similar types of pumps could be utilized as well. Up and down movement of the upper chamber  52  of brewer  26  towards and way from the lower chamber  54  can be effected by any desired mechanical connection such as an electric motor driven cam and follower arrangement which will produce the desired movement. The movement of the brewing chamber is coordinated with movement of the filter paper strip  56  by either a mechanical or electrical connection and controlled by a microprocessor (not shown) contained within the coffee machine  10  so that after a brewing cycle the upper chamber  52  is raised and the strip of used filter paper  56  is advanced so that the used portion of the paper is directed towards the collection tray  18 . Such a mechanical system is disclosed, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,692, incorporated herein by reference. As illustrated in the preferred embodiment and as best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the filter paper  56  is advanced through the use of inter-engaging rotating wheels  60  and  62  with ribbed inter-engaging surfaces and positioned at the outer edges of the filter paper  56 . As the filter paper strip  56  is advanced towards the tray  18  it passes through a paper cutting mechanism as shown generally as  64  in FIGS. 2 through 4. With reference to FIGS. 8 through 12, where the paper cutting mechanism  64  is shown in more detail, it is provided with a blade  66  mounted for reciprocating movement towards and away from the paper strip  56  so that it passes through the strip to sever it. Blade  66  in the preferred embodiment is a sawtooth blade with beveled edges which has proven to be effective in severing the wet paper with abrasive coffee grounds attached to it, and to be able to do this repeatedly with relatively little wear thus prolonging the life of the blade  66 . Blade  66  is preferably made of stainless steel, such as  26  gauge Type  301 , and has a 60 degree angle for angle A as shown in FIG. 13 a,  with the shorter teeth being approximately three hundredths of an inch shorter in length than the longer teeth. The beveled edge angle B on blade  66 , as seen in FIG. 13 b,  is preferably 37.5 degrees. However, it is contemplated that other shapes of blades could be utilized with the present invention to effectively sever the filter paper  56 . Cutting blade  66  is mounted to a cutting blade support member  68  which in turn is mounted for reciprocating movement within the main support structure  70  of paper cutting mechanism  64  which is stationarily mounted within the cabinet  12 . 
     The blade support member  68  is a sheet metal formation having a flat bottom  72  extending across the width of the support member and terminating at the sides with upstanding vertical end members  74  which provide elongated slots  76 . The vertical end members  74  are adjacent similar vertical side members  78  in the support structure  70 . A pair of bolts  80  and  82  are positioned in holes drilled in the side members  78  which are in alignment with the slots  76  on each side of the cutting blade support member  68  and nuts are attached to the bolts  80  and  82 . The bolts support the cutting blade support member  68  for sliding movement towards and away from the paper strip  56 . 
     The blade  66  is attached to the blade support member  68  by bolts  84  which secure the blade to tabs  86  formed in the support member  68 . The blade  66  is thus fixed to the blade support member  68  for reciprocating movement therewith. 
     Also attached to the blade support member  68  is a paper strip clamping member  88 , also formed of sheet metal. The paper clamping member has a vertical face with a blade receiving slot  90  formed across the width of the clamping member  88  with sufficient clearance to allow the blade  66  to pass through the slot  90  to penetrate the paper strip  56 . Clamping member  88  is mounted to blade support member  68  with two pairs of bolts  92  and  94  near each end of the clamping member  88  and attached with nuts  96  and  98  through clearance holes in the clamping member. Springs  100  are placed on the bolts between the clamping member and the vertical face  102  of blade support member  68  and are maintained in a partially compressed state. Springs  100  normally bias the clamping member  88  towards its forward most position in front of blade  66 , as best seen in FIG.  11 . As the blade support member  68  is advanced as described below, and the springs  100  are compressed by the clamping member  68  the bolts  92  and  94  pass further through the corresponding holes in the front face  102  of the blade support member  68  which in turn allows the blade  66  to pass through slot  90  in the front face  102  of the clamping member  68 . Preferably attached to the front face of clamping member  88  are compressible pads  104  and  106  which extend substantially across the face of clamping member  88  on each side of slot  90 . These pads  104  and  106  will engage one side of the surface of paper strip  56  to clamp the strip  56  for cutting. 
     The reciprocating movement of the cutting blade support member  68  is achieved through the use of an electric motor  108  that drives a rotating arm  110  which in turn is provided at its outer end with a roller cam  112 . Cam  112  is, in turn, received in a cam slot  114  formed on the blade support member  68  by a rear wall  116  formed by a vertical bend in the sheet metal support member  68 , and a second vertical wall  118  formed by an L-shaped attachment welded to the bottom plate  72  of support member  68 . As motor  108  is activated and rotates the arm  110  through one revolution, the cam roller  112  reciprocates within the cam slot  114  to first cause the forward movement of the cutting blade support member  68  and then the rearward movement thereof as the motor continues to rotate in the same direction so that for one revolution of motor  108  the cutting blade  66  is advanced towards and through the paper strip  56 , as shown in FIG. 12, and then returned to its rest position, as shown in FIG.  11 . 
     Attached to stationary support structure  70  is a stationary paper clamping member  120  secured to the structure by bolts  122 . Stationary clamping member  120  is provided with a blade receiving slot  124  extending across the vertical face  126  of clamping member  120  and which is aligned for receiving blade  66  therethrough. A pair of compressible pads  128  and  130  are adhesively secured to the front vertical face  126  of stationary clamping member  120  in alignment with those similar pads  104  and  106  secured to the reciprocating clamping member  88 . 
     As best seen in FIG. 10, a spring wire  132  is attached to the sides of support structure  70  and extends across the path of the paper strip  56  as it passes through the paper cutting mechanism  64 . The wire  132  permits some give in the path of movement of the paper strip  56  when the paper is being cut and it is basically intended to cause the remaining paper strip that has not been cut to be forced away from the front face of stationary clamping member  120  when the paper is not held against it by clamping member  88  since the wet filter paper might otherwise have a tendency to stick to that face and interfere with the future movement of the strip through the cutting mechanism  64 . 
     Also mounted to the support structure  70  for pivotal movement is a sweeper bar  134 . The sweeper bar  134  is also preferably formed of sheet metal and has a cross piece  136  extending between two pivotally mounted arms  138  and  140  mounted by bolts  142  to the side members of support structure  70 . A sweeper drive link  144  in the form of a bent steel rod has one end engaged in a receiving hole  146  in arm  138  and an opposite end secured for pivotal movement to the bottom of cutting blade support member  68  by a clamping member  148 . Thus, as the cutting blade support member is reciprocated the sweeper bar  134  is pivoted between an inoperative or retracted position as shown in FIG. 11 where the cross member  136  is folded up against the bottom of the support structure  70  and an operative or extended position as shown in FIG. 12 where it engages pieces of paper cut from the paper strip  56  by the cutting mechanism  64  and pushes them into a compressed pile as schematically illustrated in FIG.  12 . 
     The cut pieces of paper from the paper strip  56  are accumulated in the cut paper collection tray  18  as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 14. By using the sweeper bar  134  to continually compress the collected pieces of paper cut from strip  56  the collection tray can hold a much greater number of cut pieces than would be the case if they were merely allowed to accumulate in the bottom of the tray. When it comes time for servicing the machine, the service person need merely withdraw the tray  18  from the front of the machine without opening the front service door  14  and thus easily dispose of the cut pieces of paper and coffee grounds without the need to access the rest of the machine. In the normal rest position, the sweeper bar is in its retracted position folded up against the support structure  70 , and thus does not interfere with removal of tray  18 . 
     Because the coffee machine  10  is designed to fit on a standard height counter with storage cabinets above at a standard spacing above the counter, the machine is shorter than prior art machines and is therefore designed more compactly than those machines. To achieve this compact design a conventional brewing chamber was modified and shortened. However, this resulted in a brewing chamber that was too small to fill with sufficient coffee grounds and water to provide a full cup of coffee. In order to achieve a complete cup of coffee being supplied to a customer a unique method of brewing coffee was devised which in essences is a brewing “on-the-fly” method. In this method, coffee and water are substantially simultaneously introduced into the brewing chamber. The coffee grounds are introduced from the storage container  32  and the water is supplied from a source of hot water (not shown) in the back of the machine  10 . At a predetermined time the flow of coffee grounds and water is interrupted and the mixture is allowed to steep in the brewing chamber, but it is insufficient to supply a complete cup of coffee to the cup station  20 . After a predetermined time the coffee mixture is withdrawn from the brewing chamber through the filter paper  56  by a vacuum pump, such as peristaltic pump  150  which is connected by fluid lines from the brewer and to the cup station  20 . As the mixture is withdrawn from the bottom of the brewer it causes the coffee grounds to be compressed on the top of filter paper  56  thus forming a bed of coffee through which the remaining mixture in the upper part of the brewer must pass. At about the same time the pump is activated the hot water supply is again activated and continues to flow for a predetermined amount of time such that a sufficient volume of water will ultimately be supplied to provide a complete cup of coffee to the cup station. Since the bed of coffee grounds has formed on the filter the reactivation of the water supply causes this water to pass through this bed and quickly achieve a coffee mixture as it continues to flow through and out of the brewer to the cup station. Thus, a greater volume of coffee can be supplied with a smaller brewing chamber than would otherwise be possible with conventional equipment. 
     In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained. 
     As various changes could be made in the above constructions and methods, without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.