Patent GB-971685-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in apparatus for the production of beverages
Inventor: SMALL SOLLIE WALTER
IPC: G07F13/06
Filed: 1963-04-19
Abstract: 971,685. Coffee beverage making machines. COFFEE-MAT CORPORATION. April 19, 1963, No. 15641/63. Heading A4D. [Also in Divisions B8 and F4] A coffee brewing apparatus comprises a brew receptacle B having inlet 47 and outlet openings, means 18 for depositing a predetermined quantity of coffee grounds into the receptacle B, means 13 for withdrawing and separating from a supply of filter material R on individual filter element F, means 14 for applying the filter elements F in register with the outlet opening, means 19 for feeding water to the inlet opening, through the coffee grounds in the receptacle B and out through the outlet opening, and means for discharging the coffee grounds and the filter element F from the brew receptacle B. The brew assembly 16 is cantilevered on rods 21 from a wall 22, the latter also supporting the sequence control assembly 17 which comprises a timing device 320, cams C1-C6, and associated rocker arms, the cams being mounted on a shaft 30 driven by a motor 28. The brew receptacle B carries a perforate plate 51 above its dished bottom wall 43, the latter having a transverse slot in which is fixedly registered a shaft 44 having a longitudinal bore 46 communicating with the hot water inlet opening 47 in the receptacle B. The shaft 44, which is constrained to move vertically but rotatably in a slot 48, carries at its closed end a pinion 49 engaging a vertically movable rack 70, and is engaging in recesses 60 in the ends of arms 58 of a yoke 56 which is pivotally mounted on an axle 59. The yoke arms 58 carry a cam follower 61 spring 63 urged to engage cam C6. A lever 73, pivoted as at 75, engages by a lug 74 thereon a notch 76 in the rack 70 to move the rack 70 vertically when an arm 39 mounted on the cam-shaft engages a cam follower 79 on the, lever 73. The arrangement is such that the inverted receptacle B is first lifted with the rack 70 when the follower 79 is engaged by the arm 39, is then further lifted and rotated to an intermediate upright position as the shaft 44 is lifted due to cam C6 action and the engagement of the pinion 49 with the rack 70, and is subsequently lifted to a fully advanced upright position by further cam C6 action. Mounted on the assembly 16 is a slide plate 80 carrying a brass-head cap 89 of longer diameter than the receptacle B, the slide 80 being movable after changing the brew receptacle B in the intermediate position with coffee grounds from a hopper 238, to a position above the receptacle B whereafter a filter element F is clamped between the open top of the receptacle B and the brew head 89. The slide 80 carries an outlet pipe 97 communicating with an opening in the head 89 and is coupled by a flexible tube 98 to a container 313 wherein air is separated from the coffee beverage. Filter elements F are fed from a roll R by a feeding device 13 in which individual elements F are cut from the web W and fed by a transfer mechanism 14 to the brew assembly 16 in timed sequence. The feeding device 13 comprises a support plate 116 carrying vertical rods 118 along which a channel section slide member 119 is movable between an upper retracted and a lower advanced position carrying with it a web W of filter material sandwiched between the base 120 of the slide 119 and a vertical leg 132 of a gravity hold down arm 127 and further between the leg 132 and an arm 126 of a fixed jaw element 124 engaged in a vertical slot 123 in the base 120. The web W is further clamped to the base 120 by rubber capped arms 139 carried by a channel member pivoted at 137 to the slide 119, the clamping being initiated by cam C3 action. The slide 119 is reciprocated by a lever 147, 148, pivoted between its ends to the plate 116, one arm 147 having a forked end engaging a pin 150 on the base 120 and the other arm 148 being connected by a link 151 to a rocker arm 152 actuated by cam C2 so that the slide 119 is retracted during the brewing period. Filter elements F are cut from the web W by a knife 184 mounted for movement along a transverse guide rod 172 by means of a lever 187, the fork end 190 of which engages a pin 180 on the knife support 177. The knife 184 extends through a slot 168 in a bracket 167 carried by the plate 120 and is moved along the slot 168 when the lever 187, which is pivoted to a cross-bar 188 on the slide 119, is moved by a rod 196 actuated by a solenoid 191, The filter transfer mechanism 14 includes a swingable member 212 controlled from cam C4 and mounted on a shaft 206, and serves to transfer the element F to a position above the receptacle B after the latter has been charged with coffee grounds and before the head 89 has been advanced. The coffee grounds dispenser 18 comprises a hopper 238 carrying a hinged funnel 239 actuated by a solenoid 240 and a push rod 241 to deliver coffee grounds when the funnel 239 is upright. Hot water is delivered in known quantity from a boiler 19 to the inlet 47 of the brew assembly 16 via a hose 50. In operation, switch S2 is momentarily closed to start the brew motor 28 to rotate the cams, the motor continuing to operate due to actuation of switch 56 by cam C1. The initially inverted receptacle B is raised and rotated to its intermediate upright position by cam C6 whereafter operation of switch S3 causes the knife 184 to sever a filter F from the web W and the spout 239 to swing into alignment with the receptacle B and deliver coffee grounds thereto. Cam C4 then causes the filter F to be gripped in the transfer mechanism 14, the transfer member 212 being swung down to overlie the receptacle B. The slide 80 is advanced by cam C5 to overlie the receptacle B and cam C6 causes the latter to be raised to its fully advanced position, pins 54 on the receptacle B piercing the filter F which becomes clamped between the receptacle B and the head 89 and the transfer member 14 being released by cam C4. Cam C5 causes closing of part 277, the brew motor is stopped by cam C6, and switches S1 and S4 are closed to admit compressed air to the vessel 276, and hot water is passed through the receptacle B, the beverage passing to the air separator 313 wherein air is released through an outlet 317 and the coffee beverage passes to the discharge spout 318. The receptacle B is retracted and on rotation to the inverted position stripper members 66 engage round the pins 54 to separate the filter F which is finally discharged with the coffee grounds when the receptacle B is brought to an abrupt stop and further lowering with the rack 70. Meantime, the filter slide 119 has been retracted and again advanced to draw a further length of web W from the roll R.