Abstract:
A beverage making apparatus for producing a desired beverage using a heated brewing substance. The apparatus includes a system and method for preventing initiating of a heating cycle when an insufficient amount of water is retained in the apparatus. Additional features of the brewer are provided to facilitate movement of water through the system.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
     This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/564,012, filed Apr. 21, 2004. The disclosures set forth in the referenced provisional application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, including all information as originally submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A variety of brewing apparatus have been developed to combine heated water with a brewing substance such as ground coffee or tea material in order to infuse the material and produce a brewed beverage. There are many ways to combine the water with the brewing substance. One way is to place the substance in a filter device such as a disposable filter paper and place the filter paper and brewing substance in a brewing funnel or basket. The water is mixed with the brewing substance in the filter thereby allowing the brewed substance to filter through the paper leaving the saturated brewing substance in the filter paper. The saturated substance and used filter paper can be thrown away. 
     Another way of brewing beverage is to encapsulate the brewing substance in a filter material. The brewing substance in the filter material provides a convenient package for handling a predetermined quantity of brewing substance. The filter material provides a package or container for the brewing substance. This package allows the brewing substance to be handled prior to brewing and after brewing without complication or mess. 
     Such brewing substances pre-packaged in filter material are referred to as “pods” or “sachets.” Pods can be compressed while packaging in the filter material or left in a generally loose condition. Pods are generally shaped in a circular shape having a generally flattened configuration. The pods often are provided in the shape of a disc or puck. Pods generally range in a size from approximately 45-60 mm and contain approximately 9-11 grams of brewing substance. The typical pod is used to produce approximately 8 ounces of brewed beverage. 
     By way of background, it may be detrimental to initiate a brewing cycle in a brewer when the heated water reservoir or tank is “dry.” While the tank may not be totally devoid of water it may be so low that the result, the absence of water, is at least approximately the same as if the tank were dry. In this regard, such brewers include a reservoir which is used to retain a quantity of water which is heated and then subsequently used during a brewing cycle. It is detrimental to initiate a brewing process with a dry tank since it will cause the heating device or element of the tank to rapidly heat the air in the tank and possibly damage the heating element. In some situations, the heating element may be damaged during a single cycle when the level of water is sufficiently low or there is no water in the tank and, in other situations, perhaps, multiple heating cycles may be required before damage occurs. The reason for the generally rapid heating is that the empty or dry tank is a volume which merely contains air. Under normal operating conditions, this volume would contain water which would absorb the heat generated by the heating element. In contrast, when the tank is dry, the air rapidly heats, potentially resulting in damage to the heating element and possibly other system components. 
     As such, it is desirable to provide an apparatus, system and method for preventing a “dry plug” condition. In other words, it is desirable to prevent the system from initiating a heating cycle of the tank when an insufficient amount of water is retained in the tank after plugging in or providing power to the system. As such, it would be desirable to provide a system which prevents initiating a heating cycle when an insufficient amount of water is retained in the tank without control of the user such that it will prevent the user from damaging the apparatus. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The organization and manner of the structure and function of the invention, together with the further objects and advantages thereof, may be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of a brewer which includes a dry plug prevention system; 
         FIG. 2  is a general diagrammatic illustration of a schematic of the brewer as disclosed; and 
         FIG. 3  is a general diagrammatic illustration of a gear pump as used in one embodiment as disclosed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While the present disclosure may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail, embodiments with the understanding that the present description is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the disclosure and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. 
     Terms including brew, brewer, beverage and beverage making as used herein are intended to be broadly defined as including but not limited to the brewing of coffee, tea and any other brewed beverage. This broad interpretation is also intended to include, but is not limited to any process of infusing, steeping, reconstituting, diluting, dissolving, saturating or passing a liquid through or otherwise mixing or combining a beverage substance with a liquid such as water without a limitation to the temperature of such liquid unless specified. This broad interpretation is also intended to include, but is not limited to beverage substances such as ground coffee, tea, liquid beverage concentrate, powdered beverage concentrate, freeze dried coffee or other beverage concentrates, to obtain a desired beverage or other food. 
     While a “pod” is described herein, it is envisioned that any form of beverage making and/or brewing apparatus, beverage brewing substance device, holder, filter structure or other substance delivery media or vehicle may be used. It is envisioned that the present apparatus, system and method of operation could be utilized with other beverage making and dispensing apparatus which in addition to or substitution for brewing, the apparatus may use concentrates such as freeze dried concentrates, gel, liquid, powder or any other form of concentrate which will operate with the disclosed apparatus, system and method as well as equivalents thereof and any modifications which might be required to modify the apparatus, system and method to be used with such other substances, if necessary. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a brewer or beverage dispenser  20  is shown. The brewer  20  includes a dispensing area  22  for placement of a container such as a cup or other vessel for dispensing a beverage therein. The brewer  20  includes a housing  24  having an upper portion  26  and a base portion  28 . It should be noted that the brewer  20  could take any of many different appearances or housing designs and still be within the scope of the present disclosure. Further, while reference is made to a brewer which employs a “pod” or beverage dispenser is referred to herein, it should be understood that the disclosure as provided herein relating to an apparatus, method and system for controlling a brewer or dispenser may be usable with many other types of brewers and water heating devices which provide a reservoir or tank to retain a quantity of water for heating by any one of various heating apparatus or methods. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the brewer  20  is shown in a diagrammatic form illustrating the mechanisms employed in the apparatus and used in conjunction with the system and method as disclosed herein. The brewer or system  20  includes a water reservoir  30  for retaining a quantity of water. The system includes a water delivery system  32  through which water is delivered to a heated water reservoir  34  for controllable heating by a heating element  36 . It will be appreciated that other heating systems may be used to provide heat to the reservoir  34  and the contents of the reservoir, such as water. It is envisioned that the interpretation of the reservoir  34 , heating device  36 , water delivery system  32  and reservoir  30  will be broadly interpreted to include many different variations and embodiments of these components either alone or in combination with other components to achieve the objectives of the present disclosure. By way of further description, with reference to  FIG. 2 , water is heated in the heated water reservoir and dispensed through a water delivery line  38  to a beverage assembly  40 . The beverage assembly  40  is configured in the form of a substance retaining drawer  25  which is selectably insertable on the upper portion  26  of the dispenser  20 . The beverage assembly  40  includes a cavity  27  (for retaining a quantity of beverage substance  130 ). The beverage substance  130  is shown in  FIG. 2  as a pod but may be any number of other beverage substances as noted herein. 
     The water delivery system  32  includes several components. An entry end  42  of a water supply line  44  is connected to a check valve assembly  46  between the reservoir  30  and the supply line  44 . A pump feed end  48  of the water supply line  44  is spaced from the entry end  42  and connects to a pump assembly  50 . The pump assembly  50  is illustrated as a gear pump of known construction. It is envisioned that other pumps may also provide the operation, function, apparatus and system as disclosed herein. The gear pump  50  will be referred to herein in the interest of continuity of this description. However, the reference to “pump”  50  should be broadly construed to include all other embodiments which function with the apparatus, system and method as disclosed and hereafter developed to provide the pumping. 
     The pump  50  generally provides a positive pumping action on water supplied from the reservoir  30  via the supply line  44 . Water pumped from the pump assembly  50  is moved through an inlet line  52  to the heated reservoir  34 . The heated reservoir  34  defines a cavity  54  which retains a quantity of water for heating by a heating device or element  36 . Water is passed from the heated reservoir  34  through the water delivery line  38  as described above. Water delivery line  38  includes a check valve  56 . 
     With references to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a displaceably slidable lid  58  is provided for revealing an opening  60  for dispensing water into the reservoir  30 . Water may also or alternatively be introduced into the reservoir by a plumbed connection  62  which provides pressurized water  64  through the supply line  48  through the check valve system  46  to the reservoir. Pressurized water  64  entering the supply line  44  is resisted by the pump assembly  50  when the pump  50  is not operating. The check valve assembly  46  allows passage of water into the reservoir  30  and subsequent dispensing of water from the reservoir  30 . A controllable valve  66  is attached to the supply line  44  and coupled to a controller  70  via line  72 . The controller  70 , as will be described in greater detail hereinbelow, controls the opens and closes the valve in response to signals from a control panel  74  or other input device, also coupled to the controller over line  76 . Additionally, in this embodiment, water level sensor assembly  78  can be provided in association with the reservoir and coupled to the controller  70  over line  80 . When the water level sensor assembly  78  indicates a sufficient level of water in the reservoir  30 , the controller  70  operates the valve  66  to a closed position to cease filling of the reservoir  30 . Other forms of level sensors may be used and are fully within the scope of the present disclosure, including resistive, capacitive, optical, and sonic, as well as any other form of level sensing device coupled to the controller  70 . 
     Also included in the apparatus and system is a flow meter  84  and check valve assembly  86 . The check valve assembly  86  includes at least one check valve and possibly two check valves  88 ,  90 . One check valve  88  communicates with the inlet line  52 . A second check valve  90  is connected to a side routing line  92 . This check valve system  86  facilitates movement of water from the pump assembly  50  to the heated reservoir  34  through the first check valve  88 . In a system which employs the second check valve  90 , some degree of flow is allowed to return through the side routing line  92  from the heated reservoir  34  to the pump  50  through check valve  90 . The operation of the check valve assembly  86  facilitates the release of some degree of pressure downstream of the pump  54  when a brewing cycle ends. However, this check valve assembly  86  also prevents the heated water reservoir  34  from completing draining. 
     Additionally, the flow meter  84  provided in the water delivery system  32  is positioned on the cold or unheated side of the heated water reservoir  34  and pump so as to prevent the accumulation of lime in the flow meter  84 . The flow meter  84  is coupled to the controller  70  over line  106 . In other words, the flow of water flowing through the line  44  and the flow meter  84  has not been heated. In a heated water system, lime and other mineral deposits may tend to form on elements in the heated section or downstream of the heated section. Since lime is discouraged from developing by placing the flow meter  84  on the cold water, or upstream, side of the water delivery system  32 , the accumulation of lime and other minerals is discouraged and, therefore, does not require or may require less cleaning. By eliminating or reducing the accumulation of lime, the reliability of the system increases and the maintenance associated with the system decreases. The flow meter  84 , while shown positioned between the inlet line  44  and pump  50 , may alternatively be positioned between the pump  50  and the reservoir  34  and maintain the benefits as described. 
     A thermostatic sensor  94  is positioned inside the heated water reservoir  34  and coupled over line  96  to the controller  70 . The controller  70  obtains information from the thermostat  90  and controls operation of the heating element  36  in response thereto. 
     The system includes a power connection  100  which is coupled to various elements including, but not limited to, the controllable valve  66 , pump assembly  50 , air purge  102 , heating element  36 , and controller  70 . Power can be provided through power delivery systems of known construction to other components and systems and subassemblies where a power source is needed. The power may be provided directly to the components or may be provided in low voltage DC form by use of an appropriate power transformer. For example, while the heating element or heating device  36  may be provided with power which has not been stepped down or transformed, the other elements may operate at a lower voltage such as 12V DC in the interest of control, efficiency and reliability. 
     The controller  70  is also coupled to the flow meter  84  over line  106 . The controller operates as a system that controls the operation of the brewer and prevents a “dry plug” condition. A dry plug condition occurs when power is provided to the heating element  36  in advance of the placement of water or at least a sufficient quantity of water into the heated reservoir  34 . The dry plug condition can result in potential damage or unnecessary wear to the system and can be controlled by the controller  70  in accordance with the description herein and the teachings of the method, apparatus and system herein. The controller  70  can also be configured to acknowledge various calibration steps for certain operations when the brewer  20  is first energized. In other words, after initial assembly of the brewer  20 , the controller  70  is configured to recognize when it is first being powered up or when the brewer is powered up after being turned off or not used for an extended period of time. 
     For example, when a user purchases a brewer employing the present disclosed apparatus and system and method of operation, the controller  70  will recognize that the brewer is plugged in or energized for the first time and that it has not been previously used. This configuration of the controller  70  may also occur by an automatic reset which will occur when the brewer  20  is unplugged or de-energized for a predetermined period of time. After satisfying the predetermined period of time, the brewer will switch over to a “new” or unplugged condition. In this situation, the controller essentially resets as if it were a new brewer requiring the user to recalibrate the system. This requirement for calibrating when it is first used or recalibrating when it has not been used for an extended period of time helps to reduce problems associated with the absence or reduction of water which may occur when the brewer is first being set up for use and after an extended period of time in which it has not been used. Further, the controller  70  can be programmed to time out to shut off the heating element after a predetermined period of time, for example days, weeks or months to prevent excessive evaporation of water in the reservoir. 
     Using the apparatus, system and method as disclosed, once the controller  70  is powered up via power source  100 , the controller  70  will monitor operation of the flow meter  84  to detect a predetermined number of counts or metering counts. The number of counts relates to the quantity or volume of water which is pumped by the pump  50  to fill the heated reservoir  34  to a desired level. By monitoring the number of counts or volume of water that is pumped, the heated water reservoir will be filled to a sufficient level to allow heating of the water in the tank. If the counts are not monitored, the tank will not have a sufficient quantity of water before the heating element  36  is activated, and thus, there may be a risk to damaging the heating element  36 , reservoir  34  or other components of the system. Also, if the pump  50  does not function the flow meter  84  will sense no counts and the system will prevent heating of the reservoir  34 . 
     By monitoring the flow meter  84  for a predetermined number of counts, a predetermined quantity of water will be placed in the heated water reservoir  34  before the heater  36  is activated. If a sufficient number of counts are not detected, the controller  70  will prevent activation of the heater  36 . If a sufficient number of counts of the flow meter  84  have been detected, the controller  70  will permit activation of the heater. 
     Once a predetermined number of counts are detected by the controller  70 , the system will be available to brew beverage, the pump will be allowed to continue to operate to deliver water to the hot water tank and to displace hot water in the tank. It should be noted that a threshold criteria in addition to the number of flow meter  84  counts is to monitor the temperature of the water in the heated water reservoir  34 . Once the temperature of the water in the reservoir  34  has reached a desired brewing temperature as detected by the thermostatic sensor, the pump  50  will then be allowed to continue to operate and pump water from the inlet line  44  to displace water from the reservoir  34  to displace heated water from the reservoir  34  for the brewing cycle in combination with the temperature of the water in the reservoir and/or the operation of the flow meter  84 . 
     In this regard, a generally known quantity of water is pumped by the pump  50  in a given period of time. This information can be used in combination with the assumption that water is flowing through the line  44  to the pump  50  to operate the pump  50  for a predetermined number of cycles which translates into a predetermined quantity of water being dispensed into the reservoir  34 . In this regard, the pump  50  can be in the form of the gear pump as shown in  FIG. 3  or in the form of other types of suitable pumps, such as piston operated pumps, peristaltic pumps or other systems that may be devised for suitable use with such a brewing system. 
     In use, once the system is activated the pump  50  will be operated in response to instructions from controller  70  for a predetermined time based on the number of cycles detected by the flow meter  84 . If a predetermined number of cycles has been detected the heater will be activated. If other conditions are detected the system may activate an alert by way of controller  70  to the corresponding display/control panel  74 . The display may be visual, auditory or any other means for reporting the condition. 
     Additionally, it is envisioned that the dry plug method may be employed in a system which provides line fed water through the line  44  without the use of a pump. In this regard, the system may operate to fill the reservoir  34  using line pressure water  64 . In this situation, the flow meter  84  can monitor the flow of water into the reservoir  34  and provide confirmation when a sufficient quantity of water has been dispensed into the reservoir  34  to safely allow activation of the heater  36 . 
     Also coupled with the water delivery system  32  is a purging assembly  111 . The purging assembly  111  includes the controllable air pump  102  coupled to the controller  70 . In use, at the end of a brewing cycle, the controller  70  operates the air pump  102  to provide a purging volume, flow or pulse of air through an air line  112 . The air line  112  communicates with the delivery line  38  or the beverage assembly  40 . A check valve  113  is provided on the line  112  to prevent backflow from the beverage assembly  40 . When air is pumped through line  112 , remaining water in the pod  130  is moved out of the beverage assembly  40  and into the cup  114 . By purging or moving air through the line and into the line  112  and into the beverage assembly  40  the air helps displace and remove excess water on top of the pod  130  that remains in the beverage assembly or drawer. This helps prevent complications when removing the pod  130  from the assembly  40 . Additionally, the air purging helps insure most of the water in the pod is removed so that the beverage or coffee  115  dispensed into the cup  114  has the benefit of all of the possible flavor components and materials available during a brewing cycle. Further, the air purge helps remove or clear remaining brewing or coffee products such as oils and particulate matter which might be otherwise be retained in the beverage assembly  40 . This removal helps to minimize or eliminate flavor transfer to the next brewing substance used in the next brewing cycle. 
     The reservoir  30  can be configured to be removable from the housing  24 . At least one, and possibly a plurality of locating legs  116  are provided at the lower portion  28  of the reservoir  30 . The legs  116  engage corresponding receptacles  118  on the corresponding portion of the housing  28 . In this regard, the legs  116  engage the receptacles  118  to help positively locate the reservoir  30  relative to the check valve system  46 . This helps to engage the check valves to provide proper operation of the check valve system. Additionally, a reservoir detecting sensor assembly  120  is was provided with the reservoir  30  and housing  24 . The sensor assembly  120  includes a device carried on the reservoir  30  and the housing  24  for detecting proper placement of the reservoir on the housing. The sensor assembly  120  is coupled to the controller  70  for operation as described in further detail below. 
     Also provided on the brewing assembly  20  is a mechanical or other form of a lock or retaining system  124  and an assembly detecting sensor  126 . The assembly detecting sensor  126  indicates whether the conditions of the sensor permit brewing through the brewing assembly  40 . The sensor  126  is coupled to the controller  70 . Also provided on a user accessible control panel are a selectable control  140 , a power switch  142  and a brew cycle activation control  144 . The power switch  142  activates and deactivates the power to the system to turn the system on and off. The power system may be located on the front or any other location which is deemed suitable for operation of the brewer  20 . The selectable control  140  allows a user to select a quantity of liquid to be dispensed during the brewing cycle. The quantity of water has an effect on the flavor and characteristics of the brewed beverage as well as adjusting the volume of water. The brew cycle activation switch  144  allows a user to set up all the various components for a brew cycle including the brewing substance  130  and cup  114  and then activate the switch  144  to initiate the brewing cycle. 
     With reference to the operation of one embodiment of the drawer  25  of the beverage assembly  40  as referred to hereinabove can be found in related provisional application entitled “Apparatus System and Method for Retaining Beverage Brewing Substance” filed Feb. 9, 2005, application Ser. No. 11/055,411. Additional information relating to the adjustable control  140  can be found in related provisional application entitled “Adjustable Volume Brewer” filed Nov. 5, 2004, U.S. application Ser. No. 04/037,106. Additional information related to the spray head system  27  and method for delivering water to the brewing assembly  40  can be found in U.S. Provisional Application entitled “Water Delivery System, Method and Apparatus” filed Nov. 8, 2004, application Ser. No. 10/983,466. Each of the above-referenced applications and the materials set forth therein is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     In use, the user dispenses a quantity of water into the reservoir  30  through the opening  60  or the reservoir  30  is automatically filled by the plumbed line  62  receiving line pressure from the facility plumbing. Upon placement of a brewing substance  130  in the brewing assembly  40 , the system checks to determine if the detection sensor  126  senses a closed brewing assembly  40 . If the controller  70  obtains appropriate information indicating that the brewing assembly  40  is, in fact, closed, the brewing cycle will be allowed to proceed. If the controller  70  detects that the brewing assembly  40  is not closed, the process will be stopped and some form of indicator or other indicia may be provided on display  74  coupled to the controller  70 . Assuming that the assembly  60  is closed or that any indicated error has been resolved, the brewing cycle continues. 
     Proceeding with the brewing cycle during an initial set-up, the controller  70  will operate in one of the ways described hereinabove to provide some water to the heated water reservoir  34  before activating the heater  36 . In this way, the system  20  prevents a “dry plug” condition in which the plug or power source  100  can provide power to the controller but is prevented from activating the heater  36  until the desired quantity of water has been dispensed into the heated water reservoir  34 . 
     This filling of the heated water reservoir  34  is different than other systems which rely upon level sensing devices positioned in the reservoir. By use of the controller  70  to operate and monitor conditions of related components, there is no need to provide a level sensing device and the associated issues related to maintenance, wear, reliability and cost. Once the system has satisfied the initial fill condition of the heated water reservoir, the heater  36  can be energized to heat the water contained therein subject to additional filling provided by the line  44  and pump  50 . 
     The brewing process then continues with the initiation of the operation of the pump  50  as controlled by the controller  70  to pump a desired quantity of water through the heated water reservoir  34 . 
     Pumping of water into the heater assembly  34  results in displacing heated water from the reservoir  34  through the water delivery line  38 . Alternatively, the heating assembly  34  can start with preexisting temperature and heat the liquid to a desired temperature as sensed by the thermostat  94 . Either way, the controller  70  operates the pump  50  for a pre-determined period of time relating to a quantity or volume of water which is to be dispensed to the brewing assembly  40  to produce a desired quantity of brewed beverage. Additionally, the pump  50  can be intermittently controlled to dispense several smaller quantities of water totaling the total volume of water for brewing throughout the brewing cycle to produce a desired brewing result. 
     During the brewing process, water flows through the water delivery line  38  and into the brewing assembly  40 . At the conclusion of the brewing cycle, operation of the pump  50  is ceased whereby the check valve assembly  56  prevents continued flow of water into the pump assembly  50 . It should be noted, however, that if the embodiment of the brewer includes the valve assembly  86 , some back flow of water from the heater assembly  34  into the pump  50  may occur without draining the heated water tank. The check valve  88  on the water delivery line  52  allows water to flow through during the pumping process but prevents continued flow at the end of the pumping process. The purge assembly  110  is operated at the end of the pumping cycle to push a volume of air through the associated water delivery line  38  and through the corresponding brewing assembly  40 . This helps to purge liquid in the brewing substance  130  and prevent dripping from the brewing assembly  40  at the end of the brewing cycle. 
     If the brewing assembly  40  is opened, the sensor  126  senses this change and stops the brewing cycle. This helps minimize the quantity of water being dispensed through the water delivery system  32 . 
     Additionally, at the end of a brewing cycle, the controller  70  will detect whether the sensor  126  has been cycled. This is useful to detect whether the pod  130 , which has been used in the previous brewing cycle, has been removed from the assembly  40 . If the sensor  126  has been cycled, the controller  70  will assume that the pod has been removed. If the controller  70  does not detect cycling of the sensor  126 , it will assume that the pod has not been removed, prevent the start of a brew cycle, and provide some indicia at the display  74  to indicate to the user that the brew pod needs to be changed. The indicia provided at the display  74  may be in the form of lights, audio responses, visual displays or any other form of indicia which will indicate the status, operation or other related information associated with the brewer  20 . 
     An example of the gear pump  50  as used in the present disclosure might be the type as provided in B&amp;D Pumps, Inc. of Huntley, Ill. Such gear pumps include, for example, a driving gear and a driven gear  200 ,  202 . The pumps rotate and operate as shown diagrammatically in  FIG. 4 . The supply line  44  supplies water to the pump, whereupon it is moved by rotation of the driving gear and driven gear  200 ,  202  to create an output pressure in the inlet line  52 . 
     The gears  200 ,  202  come into and out of mesh to produce flow. The driving gear  200  is operated by a controllable motor coupled to the controller to provide a positive drive. Once the gears  200 ,  202  come out of mesh they create an expanding volume on the inlet side  48  of the pump. Liquid flows into the cavity  204  and is trapped by the gear teeth  206  as they rotate. Liquid travels around the interior of the housing  208  in pockets  210  formed between the teeth  206  and the housing  208 . The releasing of the gears on the outlet side  52  tends to force liquid through the outlet port under pressure. Such gear pumps generally provide a constant displacement such that flow is at least generally proportional to the RPM of the drive gear. In one embodiment, the pump  50  is placed at a position which is generally lower than the volume or head of the reservoir  30  to provide a priming action on the pump  50 . The head in the reservoir or line pressure from the inlet line provides positive pressure on the pump to prime it for a brew cycle. While the gear pump  50  is a suitable choice, other pumps may be substituted. Gear pumps may be preferable for some applications because they are relatively quiet and provide long life at an affordable component price range. 
     One of the advantages of a gear pump (as shown and described herein) is that when the pump is stopped, pressure from the heater assembly  34  such as from expansion water from the tank is allowed to bleed off through the pump  50 . This bleeding-off helps to reduce the drip out by reducing the positive pressure at the water delivery line  52  such that the pressure tends to flow back through the gear pump and into the reservoir  30 . 
     While embodiments have been illustrated and described in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustrations and descriptions are considered to be exemplary and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only illustrative embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected. The applicant has provided description and figures which are intended as an illustration of certain embodiments of the disclosure, and are not intended to be construed as containing or implying limitation of the disclosure to those embodiments. There are a plurality of advantages of the present disclosure arising from various features set forth in the description. It will be noted that alternative embodiments of the disclosure may not include all of the features described yet still benefit from at least some of the advantages of such features. Those of ordinary skill in the art may readily devise their own implementations of the disclosure and associated methods that incorporate one or more of the features of the disclosure and fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the claims.