Abstract:
A cup shaped holder is internally provided with an ejection mechanism which serves to automatically dislodge a spent beverage cartridge from an upwardly extending piercing member when the lid is opened at the end of a brewing cycle. In addition, the holder is mounted on externally protruding trunnions for pivotal movement between an upright brewing position and a partially inverted position to eject the dislodged cartridge from the holder into an underlying receptacle. The lid has a dependency arm that coacts with a pawl on the holder trunnions to automatically manipulate the holder to eject the cartridge.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application contains subject matter that relates to the following applications filed evendate herewith, identified as Ser. No. 09/232,994 entitled “Automated Beverage Brewing System” and Ser. No. 09/233,272 entitled “Apparatus for Consecutively Dispensing an Equal Volume of Liquid”, both hereby incorporated by reference. This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 09/232,993 filed Jan. 19, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,315. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to brewers for brewing hot beverages from extracts contained in hermetically sealed disposable cartridges of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,840,189 entitled “Beverage Filter Cartridge”, assigned of record to the assignee of the present invention, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. As disclosed in this patent, the cartridge is placed in a cup shaped housing which is then closed by a vertically adjustable lid. The lid and housing are provided respectively with upper and lower apertured probes which pierce the top and bottom of the cartridge to establish a liquid flow path therethrough during the brewing cycle. At the completion of the brewing cycle, the lid is raised, and the spent cartridge is manually removed and discarded. Removal is sometimes hindered by the lower probe which has a tendency to remain lodged in the bottom of the cartridge. 
     The present invention improves on the foregoing by providing a mechanism for automatically dislodging and discharging the spent cartridge from the brewer. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly, the cup shaped holder is internally provided with an ejection mechanism which serves to automatically dislodge a spent beverage cartridge from an upwardly extending piercing member when the lid is opened at the end of a brewing cycle. In addition, the holder is mounted on externally protruding trunnions for pivotal movement between a ready position and a beverage brewing position. The lid as a dependency arm that coacts with a pawl on the holder trunnions to automatically manipulate the holder between its upright and inclined positions. During the transition from the brewing position to the ready position the arm engages the pawl causing the cartridge to be discharged from the holder. 
     In one embodiment, the holder comprises a base surface that includes a base opening coaxial with the upwardly extending hollow piercing member secured to the base surface, and a slidable cartridge platform having a bore formed therein coaxial with the upwardly extending piercing member to allow the hollow piercing member to extend through the slidable cartridge platform. The holder also includes a cartridge ejection arm having a first axial end connected with the slidable cartridge platform and a second axial end, and a sidewall extending axially from the base surface and including an interior surface that defines a chamber sized to receive the cartridge. The interior surface includes a guide channel that engages the cartridge ejection arm allowing the slidable cartridge platform to axially move within the chamber. A resilient member is located between the base surface and the slidable cartridge platform. When the cartridge is placed into the holder, a radially outwardly protruding lip of the cartridge rests on the second axial end of the cartridge ejection arm, and when a axial positioning force is applied to the radially outwardly protruding lip, the slidable cartridge platform moves downward causing the hollow piercing member to extend through the bore and pierce a bottom surface of the cartridge to provide an exit flow path for a brewed beverage through the base opening. 
     The resilient member is preferably a spring of sufficient size, such that, when the axial positioning force is removed, the resilient member causes the cartridge to withdraw from the hollow piercing member. The sidewall may shaped cylindrically or as a truncated cone. 
     To discharge the cartridge from the holder, the sidewall includes an exterior surface that comprises a pair of radially outwardly extending trunnions that pivotally support the holder. In addition, the holder may include a first pawl attached to the sidewall, wherein the first pawl is engaged to cause the cartridge holder to quickly pivot about the pair of radially outwardly extending trunnions and discharge the cartridge from the chamber. 
     The cartridge holder cooperates with an axially moveable lid, which is drivenly manipulated between the ready position and the beverage brewing position. In the ready position the axially moveable lid is located a spaced distance above the holder. In the beverage brewing position the lid applies the axial positioning force to the radially downwardly protruding lip of the cartridge, causing the hollow piercing member to penetrate the bottom surface of the cartridge. The lid includes an axially downward projecting apertured probe that pierces a cover of the cartridge to establish an entry flow path for liquid (e.g., hot water) into the cartridge. 
     The lid cooperates with at a least one downwardly projecting pivot positioning arm that controls the orientation of the cartridge holder about the radially outwardly extending trunnions that pivotally support the holder. The downwardly projecting pivot positioning arm engages the first pawl to cause the cartridge holder to pivot about the pair of radially outwardly extending trunnions and discharge the cartridge from the chamber. 
     These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in light of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of a beverage brewing system; 
     FIGS. 2A-2D are side views of the cartridge holder and the lid in various operational positions; 
     FIG. 3 is an assembly drawing of the cartridge holder; 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of the cartridge holder; and 
     FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the cartridge holder; and 
     FIGS. 6A-6C are simplified cross sectional front views of the cartridge holder and the lid in various operational positions. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of a beverage brewing system  20 . The system  20  includes a slidable drawer  22  comprising side panels  24 ,  26  that each include a mounting hole (not shown), which together pivotally mount a beverage filter cartridge holder  28  to the slidable drawer  22 . The drawer  22  slides along track assembles  32 ,  34 . 
     The system  20  also includes an axially moveable lid  40  that is manipulated by a linkage yoke  38  (partially shown), driven by an electric motor  37  through a pinion driven rack  39 . The lid  40  is axially guided along vertical side tracks  42 ,  44  between a ready position and a beverage brewing position. In the ready position the lid  40  is axially positioned above and separated from the cartridge holder  28 , assuming of course that the slidable drawer  22  is in the closed position. The holder  28  includes a chamber  36 , and cartridge ejection arms  46 ,  48  that support and position a beverage cartridge within the holder. 
     FIG. 2A is a side view of the cartridge holder  28  and the lid  40 . As shown, a beverage cartridge  50  (preferably disposable) has been inserted into the cartridge holder  28  to brew beverages from extracts (e.g., coffee, tea, powders and concentrates) contained in disposable hermetically sealed cartridges. A preferred beverage cartridge is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,840,189, which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention and hereby incorporated by reference. 
     FIG. 3 is an assembly drawing of the cartridge holder  28 . The holder  28  comprises a housing  79  having a circular base surface  80  that includes a base opening  82  coaxial with an upwardly extending hollow piercing member  84  secured to the base surface  80 . A slidable cartridge platform  86  having a bore  88  formed therein is coaxial with the upwardly extending piercing member  84 , which allows the member  84  to extend through the slidable cartridge platform  86 . The hollow piercing member  84  includes a circular lip  89  that is bonded to the periphery of the base opening  82 , and an outwardly extending conduit  90  that passes through the base opening  82  and extends below the base surface  80 . The outwardly extending conduit  90  includes an internal flow passage that acts as a diffuser to reduce the velocity of the liquid exiting the conduit. A seal  91  is snuggly slipped over the hollow piercing member  84  to prevent leakage around the circular lip  89 . The hollow piercing member  84  also includes a cross hole  95  through which liquid can also enter the hollow piercing member  84 . 
     A resilient member  92  is operatively located between the base surface  80  and the slidable cartridge platform  86 . Axial positioning members  94  attached to the slidable cartridge platform  86  pass through the resilient member  92  and through an aperture  96  centered in the base surface  80 . The positioning members  94  include radial projections  98 , which retain the positioning members  94  within the aperture  96  and the slidable cartridge platform within the housing. 
     The housing  79  also includes a sidewall  100  extending axially from the base surface  80  to define the chamber  36  that is sized to receive the cartridge  50  (FIG.  2 A). The sidewall  100  may be shaped cylindrically or as a truncated cone to closely match the shape of the cartridge. The sidewall  100  includes first and second guide channels  104 ,  105  that engage the cartridge ejection arms  46 ,  48  respectively, allowing the slidable cartridge platform  86  to axially move within the chamber  36 . The cartridge ejection arms  46 ,  48  include first axial ends  106 ,  107  connected to the slidable cartridge platform  86 , and second axial end surfaces  108 ,  110  that contact and support the radially outwardly protruding lip  52  (FIG. 2A) of the cartridge  50  (FIG.  2 A). 
     The holder  28  also includes force absorbing members  112 ,  114  (e.g., made of rubber) that rest on a plateau  116  of the sidewall  100  and support a compliance ring  117 . The absorbing members  112 ,  114  have a height H dimension  118  that positions the upper rim of the compliance ring slightly above the housing  79  when no force is being applied to the ring. The function of the force absorbing members  112 ,  115  and the compliance ring  117  shall be discussed hereinafter. 
     The housing further comprises a pair of radially outwardly extending trunnions  120 ,  122  that pivotally support the holder  28 , and pawls  124 ,  125  that are used to position the holder about the axis extending through the trunnions  120 ,  122 . 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of the cartridge holder  28 . FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the cartridge holder  28 . 
     FIG. 6A is a simplified cross sectional front view with the beverage cartridge  50  inserted into the holder  28  and the lid  40  in the ready position (note the resilient member  92  is in the expanded position). FIG. 2A is a side view of the cartridge holder  28  populated with the cartridge  50  and the lid  40  in the ready position. Referring to FIGS.  2 A and FIG. 6A, the radially outwardly protruding lip  52  (FIG. 2) of the cartridge  50  rests on the second axial end surfaces  108 ,  110  of the cartridge ejection arms  46 ,  48  respectively. Notably, the lid  40  is positioned a spaced distance above the holder  28  and as a result the resilient member  84  is in the relaxed (i.e., expanded) position. 
     As the lid  40  moves from the ready position (FIGS. 2A and 6A) axially downward to the beverage brewing position (FIGS.  2 B and  6 B), an inclined surface  160  of a downward projecting pivot arm  130  that is attached to the lid contacts the pawl  125 . The pivot arm  130  and its inclined surface  160  are preferably a flexible plastic allowing the pivot arm to bend slightly away as the surface  160  slides downwardly against the pawl. As the lid continues axially downward the inclined surface passes below the pawl  125  and the pivot arm flexes back. The lid then applies an axial positioning force to the radially outwardly protruding lip  52  of the cartridge  50 , moving the slidable cartridge platform  86  deeper into the chamber and compressing the resilient member  92 . The force applied by the lid  40  causes a downwardly projecting apertured probe  126  to pierce the top of the cartridge  50  establishing a flow inlet that provides a liquid (e.g., hot water) to the interior of the cartridge. The force applied by the lid also causes the hollow piercing member  84  to extend through the bore  88  and pierce a bottom surface of the cartridge, to provide an exit flow path for a brewed beverage through the slidable cartridge platform  86  and the base surface  80 . The compliance ring  117  and the force absorbing members  112 ,  114  (FIG. 3) are used to compensate for dimensional offsets and tolerances in the holder and the cartridge. 
     When a predetermined amount of liquid has been delivered through the cartridge  50  to provide the brewed beverage, the lid  40  begins to move axially upward allowing the resilient member  92  to expand. Significantly, referring to FIG. 6C, the resilient member  92  is preferably a spiral spring of sufficient size, such that, when the axial positioning force applied by the lid  40  is removed, the resilient member  92  causes the slidable cartridge platform  86  to move axially upward to withdraw the cartridge  50  from the hollow piercing member  84 . FIG. 6C illustrates a transitional lid position as the lid moves from the brewing position to the ready position, illustrating the cartridge withdrawn from the hollow piercing member  84 . Significantly, as the lid moves upward the resilient member  92  expands causing the slidable cartridge platform  86  to move axially upward withdrawing the cartridge  50  from the hollow piercing member  84 . 
     Referring to FIG. 2C, the lid includes a downward projecting pivot arm  130  that engages the underside of the pawl  125  as the lid moves to the ready position. Specifically, as the lid axially moves from the brewing position to the ready position the pivot arm contacts the underside of the pawl  125  causing the holder to rapidly rotate about the trunnions. The other pawl  124  cooperates with stops (not shown) located on the sidewall  26  (FIG. 1) to limit the pivotal movement of the holder between the upright position and discharge positions (e.g., about  135  degrees of rotation). As the holder rapidly rotates, the pawl  124  strikes one of the stops abruptly stopping the rotation of the holder and ejecting the cartridge. Advantageously, this automatically discharges the cartridge from the holder upon the completion of the brewing cycle. As the lid continues moving upward to the ready position, the pivot arm  130  disengages from the pawl  125  and allows the empty cartridge holder to pivot about the trunnions back to the upright position, as shown in FIG.  2 D. To ensure the lid  40  separates from the top of the cartridge  50 , a plurality of projections  178  are located on the underside of the lid  140 . For example, the projections  178  may radially extend from the center of the underside of the lid. A foam gasket  155  also assists in separating the lid  40  from the top of the cartridge  50 . 
     To brew another beverage, the drawer  22  (FIG. 1) is opened and a new cartridge is inserted into the holder. 
     Although the present invention has been shown and described with respect to several preferred embodiments thereof, various changes, omissions and additions to the form and detail thereof, may be made therein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.