Patent GB-810371-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to beverage brewing and dispensing device
IPC: G07F13/06
Filed: 1955-06-01
Abstract: 810,371. Beverage - making apparatus. UNITED COFFEE CORPORATION. June 1, 1955 [July 7, 1954], No. 15705/55. Class 129. [Also in Groups XVII and XXXVII] A disposable brewing container for use in beverage preparing and dispensing apparatus contains a quantity of material for the preparation of the beverage and comprises a tubular side wall portion, a top portion permanently secured on one end thereof and having one or more openings and a perforate plate extending across the other end thereof and permanently secured thereto, the opening or openings and the perforated plate forming an inlet and an outlet. Water is heated in tank 10 by a thermostatically controlled electric element and is conducted through pipe 15 to a distribution valve assembly 16. Water flow in pipe 15 is controlled by electrically operated valve 18 and the pressure of the water, as indicated by gauge 19, may be adjusted by a valve 11 controlling the flow of water into tank 10. Assembly 16 connects the pipe 15 successively with brewing receptacle assemblies 20 in which the water percolates through ground coffee. The brew from each assembly 20 in turn runs into the measuring tank 23 which contains control electrodes 92, 93. When tank 23 is filled the electric control system operates to close valve 18. Then, if jacketed dispensing tank 26, which contains control electrodes 94, 95, is sufficiently empty, it will be filled from tank 23. Coffee is dispensed from tank 26 to a cup 32 through pipe 29 when an electricallyoperated dispensing valve 30 is opened. The cups may be supplied from a cup-dispensing apparatus. Cream and sugar receptacles 33, 34 are provided above cup 32 to which their contents are delivered through funnel 35. The distribution valve assembly 16 comprises a valve (see Specification 801,372), a control assembly and a motor 42. Each brewing assembly 20 includes a preferably sheet metal removable container having side walls 71 to which a perforated top portion 72 is secured by an interlocking crimp. A perforated bottom member 74, a filter cloth and a filter paper are held together as shown, Fig. 3, by a doublybent flange 71a at the lower edge of walls 71. Receptacles 70 are preferably supplied hermetically sealed by plastic coverings with tear-off strips which are removed before the receptacles are put in place. Each brewing assembly 20 comprises a cover member 81 connected by pipe 17 to valve 16 and having a gasket 82 engaging the top of receptacle and a lower cover member 83 connected to the member 81 by bolts 84 and engaging the bottom of the receptacle. Member 83 is connected to the measuring tank 23. When operation commences with tanks 23 and 26 empty relays 96, 97 which are connected in circuits with control electrodes 92, 93 and 94, 95 respectively will not be energized. Valve motor 42 and its shaft will be in such a position that one closure member is held open. All the switches will be in the positions shown in Fig. 5. A circuit is then completed through contact 96a and switch 62 to energize valve 18 which permits hot water to flow from tank 10 to the distribution valve and thence to a brewing assembly 20. Another circuit is completed through contact 97a and contact 66a energizing " machine brewing " light 104. Valve 24 is closed to retain the beverage in tank 23. Water continues to flow until the beverage reaches the lower end of brewing stop electrode 92 when a circuit is completed energizing relay 96 to open contact 96a and hence allow valve 18 to close. At the same time contacts 96b are closed to energize the drive of motor 42 which turns a cam 61 until switch 63 is opened when arm 63c enters a depression 61b on cam 61. At this point none of the outlet ports of valve 18 is open. Contact 97c is also closed so that valve 24 opens and energizes relay 100 to start timing motor 102 which runs until tank 23 has had time to empty when it opens switch 102a and de-energizes relay 100 and closes valve 24. Relay 96 remains energized until the beverage in tank 26 drops below the bottom of electrode 95. As soon as coffee enters the tank 26 from tank 23, electrode 94 is covered and relay 97 is energized, opening contacts 97a and 97c, breaking the circuits to light 104 and valve relay 100. At the same time contact 97b closes the circuit to motor 42 which turns until arm 63c is lifted by cam 61 opening contact 63b, stopping motor 42 and closing contact 63a. Thus the next outlet port is opened, but no water flows as valve 18 is closed. Contact 97b closes a circuit to machine operating light 105 and coin lockout mechanism 106 which prevents coins from being inserted when no beverage is available. When the liquid in tank 26 drops below the level of electrode 95, the cycle is started over again. Freshlybrewed coffee will remain in tank 23 until tank 26 is empty. After all the brewing receptacles have been used, the raised portion 64a of cam 64 engages arm 65a of switches 65 and 66 to open them and break the circuit to valve motor 42 with the valve in a position where all the pipes 17 are closed. When tank 26 is empty sold out light 108 will be energized and the coin lock-out mechanism 106. Beverage is dispensed into cups by closing switch 107. If the supply of cups runs out, cup empty switch 99 will operate coin lock-out mechanism 106 and sold out light 108.