Patent GB-826833-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to beverage brewing apparatus
Inventor: ARNETT LESLIE
IPC: A47J31/40
Filed: 1956-02-01
Abstract: 826,833. Automatic beverage brewing apparatus. UNITED COFFEE CORPORATION. Feb. 1, 1956, No. 3182/56. Class 129. [Also in Group XXXV] A beverage brewing machine comprises beverage brewing means including a charge of ground coffee or the like, a source of hot water under pressure for brewing the beverage which is received in a tank, a source of electric power, a switch responsive to the quantity of waste from leakage from the machine in waste receiving means for interrupting the connection to the power source a circuit including this switch being incorporated in automatic electrically operated beverage brewing control means operable to replenish the severage in the tank according to demand. As shown coin-freed apparatus is contained in a housing 20 with a front panel 21 leaving an opening 22 through which a cup 23 of coffee is removed. A selector 24 allows the customer to select the combination of coffee, cream and sugar required. Water is supplied through a strainer, check valve 30, pressure-reducing valve 31 and inlet 32 to water heater 33 where it is heated to about 180‹ by heater 117 controlled by thermostat 118. A pressure-temperature operated relief valve 34 is connected to heater 33 and any overflow from this valve passes to waste tank 36. Hot water is delivered from heater 33 through pipe 38 electrically operated safety valve 39, associated with pressure-operated switch 119, and individual electrically operated pot valves 41, 51, 61, 71, 81, 91 to brewing pots 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 respectively one at a time in succession. Brewed coffee passes through outlet pipes 43, 53, 63, 73, 83, 93 to a first storage or measuring tank 37 and thence through valve 48 to a second tank 47, having an insulating casing, from which it is dispensed through valves 57, 57<SP>1</SP> and opening 58 into cup 23. The cups are released from cup dispensing mechanism 59, fall through shoot 67 and are caught in jaws in position to receive coffee from discharge opening 58. Cream and sugar are delivered to the cup from identical dispensers 69, 691. Cream dispenser 69 consists of a container with a dispensing worm driven by a motor 79 to force a quantity of the powder through an opening to fall through a shoot 88 into the cup 23. Springs turn with the worm to agitate the powdered cream and prevent caking. Brewing pot 40 comprises a cover 40a with an inlet fitting 103 having perforations 104 and a base 40b with an outlet 107, the cover and base being secured together by bolts 102. Base 40b is dish-shaped and supports a fine mesh wire screen 108 on which filter paper 112 and filter cloth 113 are placed to support the coffee grounds 105. The heated water is forced down through the grounds under a pressure of about 5 pounds per square inch. The brewing pots are used in succession a fresh cycle being started when the level of coffee in tank 47 falls below a predetermined point. Any condensation or leakage from the apparatus is collected in drip pan 123 and conducted through pipe 125 to the waste tank. The control circuit, Figs. 11a 11b, is energized by connecting terminals 140, 141 to a source of power. Heater element 117 in heater 33 is energized through manual switch 143, thermostatic control switch 118 and pressure switch 119. If the switch 118 fails to open, valve 34 should open, but if this also fails, switch 119 opens to break the circuit. Tank 47 contains a heater element 147 energized through manual switch 148 contact 149a of " sold out " relay 149 and thermostat 150. The circuit of heater 117 contains fuse 151 and the rest of the circuit is energized through fuses 152, 153. The circuit is only complete if overflow switch 154 in the waste tank 36 is closed. Disabling relay 157 is normally energized, to close contacts 157a, 157b from line 155 through wire b contact 149b contact 158b of cup supply switch 158, wire 159 and wire 160 back to line 161. Coin reject magnet 162 is normally energized from wire b through wire 163. The brewing is controlled by step timer switch 175 comprising a motor 176, which drives a pair of discs 177, 178 (clockwise as shown), and a plurality of single-pole double-throw pot switches 44, 54, 64, 74, 84, 94, which control valves 41, 51, 61, 71, 81, 91, and a single-pole alternate switch 181. The operation of the brewing circuit is controlled by electrodes 182, 183 in tank 37 and electrodes 184, 185 in tank 47 associated with relays supplied with electric current at a suitable voltage by transformer 186, the secondary winding 186a of the transformer and tanks 37 and 47 being earthed. When the level of coffee in the tank 47 falls below electrode 184, brewing start relay 192 is de-energized and contact 192a closes completing a circuit from line 155 through contact 192a, contact 189a, contact 193a, wire m and one or more of contacts 45b, 55b, 65b, 75b, 85b, 95b and wire l to energize motor 176. The outlet valve 48 of tank 37 is also energized through contact 181b of alternate switch 181. When motor 176 drives discs 177, 178 plunger 181c associated with switch 181 moves out of depression 177a opening contact 181b to close valve 48 and closing contact 181a to open valve 39. The motor continues until plunger 44c of switch 44 enters depression 178a opening contact 44a and closing contact 44b which respectively deenergize relay 193, hence stopping motor 176, and energize valve 41 and relay 45 allowing hot water to flow through pot 40 and energizing indicator light 46. The brewed coffee is collected in measuring tank 37 until it reaches electrode 182 when relay 188 is energized, contact 188a is closed and this completes a circuit through contact 181a of switch 181 which is closed to energize the motor 176. As the motor turns, plunger 44c of switch 44 will be raised out of depression 178a to open contact 44b and deenergize relay 41 stopping the brewing process and the motor continues until plunger 181c enters depression 177b de-energizing the motor, closing valve 39 and opening valve 48 allowing the coffee to flow from tank 37 to tank 47. If tank 47 becomes entirely empty, the " sold out " light is energized. When a coin is inserted in the slot, switch 168 is operated to energize cup motor relay 165 and then returns to its original position to energize the cup motor 169 which drives cams to operate switches 169a, 169b and 169c to dispense respectively the coffee and cream and sugar as previously selected. A fourth cam driven by the motor operates switch 164 to stop the cup motor 169 and return the dispensing circuit to its normal condition. Specification 826,834 is referred to.