Patent Application
20170295989
Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to a liquid forming system and method of using the same. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a coffee brewing system designed to brew a single-serve or multi-serve coffee cartridge or the like.
Some types of beverage forming devices such as coffee brewers use a cartridge containing a slurry of beverage medium, e.g., ground coffee, to form a solution, e.g., beverage. In coffee brewers of this type, water (or other solvents), may be heated by the brewer and introduced into the cartridge at the brewer head. The water (solvent) infuses with the coffee grounds (slurry) in the cartridge, and extracts solutes (e.g., soluble portions of the slurry) or other materials from the coffee grounds to form the solution (e.g., beverage), which is then removed from the cartridge for consumption. Coffee brewers of this type use a stationary inlet needle that pierces the top of the cartridge and injects a relatively constant stream of hot water into the cartridge. This hot water stream may channel or tunnel through the ground coffee therein and not fully extract some grounds while over-extracting other grounds, resulting in a brewed beverage that can be bitter and can have an undesirable after taste. Coffee drinkers often try to mask this undesirable bitter taste with additives such as sugar or cream.
The present disclosure describes beverage and/or brewing systems, and specifically systems for rotating, spinning or vertically oscillating an inlet nozzle within the interior of a beverage cartridge (e.g., a single-serve cartridge), wherein the moving inlet nozzle delivers a stream or spray of fluid, e.g., water, that wets and fluidizes at least a portion of the beverage medium therein to create a brewed beverage (e.g., a cup of coffee).
A single-serve beverage making device in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure comprises a pump and a beverage head coupled to the pump. The beverage head comprises a receptacle, an inlet nozzle, and an outlet conduit. The receptacle is configured to selectively receive a sealed container within the receptacle of the beverage head when the beverage head is in a first position. The sealed container comprises an outer surface and an inner volume, and a beverage medium is contained within the inner volume of the sealed container.
The inlet nozzle is coupled to the pump and passes through the outer surface of the sealed container to couple at least a portion of the inlet nozzle to the inner volume of the sealed container when the beverage head is in a second position. The sealed container is substantially stationary with respect to the single serve beverage device while the beverage head is in the second position. While the beverage head is in the second position, the pump delivers at least a first fluid to an inner volume of the sealed container of beverage medium in the receptacle of the beverage head through the inlet nozzle such that an at least second fluid comprising the at least first fluid and a quantity of beverage medium are combined within the inner volume of the sealed container when the sealed container is present in the receptacle of the beverage head.
The outlet conduit is coupled to the inner volume of the sealed container of beverage medium and directs at least a portion of the second fluid out of the beverage head, such as to an external receptacle. For at least a portion of a time that the beverage head is in the second position, the inlet nozzle selectively moves with respect to the beverage medium while the inlet nozzle is passed through the outer surface of the sealed container and coupled to the inner volume of the sealed container, and when the at least first fluid is being delivered to the inner volume of the sealed container.
In one embodiment, the inlet nozzle itself may rotate or spin above or at least partially immersed within the coffee grounds. In another embodiment, the inlet nozzle may be stationary and include a central rotating shaft that spins or rotates one or more blades or fans at one end thereof to generate the fluidized mixture of hot water and coffee.
The present disclosure describes devices, apparatuses and methods for infusing solutes into solution. An apparatus in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure comprises a pump and a receptacle, coupled to the pump. The receptacle is configured to selectively receive a slurry within the receptacle. The apparatus further comprises an inlet nozzle coupled between the receptacle and the pump. The pump is configured to deliver at least a first solvent to the slurry in the receptacle through the inlet nozzle such that at least one solution, comprising at least a portion of the at least first solvent and at least one solute from the slurry, is created. The apparatus further comprises an outlet conduit coupled to the receptacle and configured to direct at least a portion of the solution external to the receptacle, in which the inlet nozzle is configured to selectively move while delivering the at least first solvent to the slurry to infuse the solution with the at least one solute.
A method in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure comprises configuring a beverage head comprising a receptacle to selectively receive a sealed container when the beverage head is in a first position, configuring an inlet nozzle to pass through an outer surface of the sealed container and coupling at least a portion of the inlet nozzle to an inner volume of the sealed container when the beverage head is in a second position, delivering at least a first fluid to a beverage medium in the inner volume of the sealed container through the inlet nozzle, and selectively rotating the inlet nozzle with respect to the beverage medium while the inlet nozzle is passed through the outer surface of the sealed container and coupled to the inner volume of the sealed container, and when the at least first fluid is being delivered to the inner volume of the sealed container for at least a portion of a time that the beverage head is in the second position. The method further comprises creating an at least second fluid comprising at least a portion of the at least first fluid and at least a portion of the quantity of beverage medium during operation of the single-serve beverage making device, coupling an outlet conduit to the inner volume of the sealed container of beverage medium, and directing at least a portion of the second fluid through the outlet conduit to a receptacle external to the beverage head.
A solute extraction device in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure comprises a receptacle configured to selectively contain a slurry, a conduit coupled to the beverage head, the conduit configured to selectively deliver at least one solvent to the slurry while the slurry is contained within the receptacle; and an outlet, coupled to the receptacle, in which the outlet is configured to deliver at least one solution comprising at least a portion of the at least one solvent and at least one solute extracted from the slurry external to the receptacle, in which the conduit, via the delivery of the at least one solvent or otherwise, is further configured to agitate the slurry while the slurry is contained in the receptacle.
Such apparatuses, devices, and methods may optionally include the inlet nozzle being configured to selectively rotate while delivering the at least first solvent to the slurry, the inlet nozzle being configured to selectively vibrate while delivering the at least first solvent to the slurry, and/or the inlet nozzle being configured to selectively rotate in a plurality of directions while delivering the at least first solvent to the slurry. Such apparatuses, devices, and methods may optionally include the inlet nozzle comprising an outer shaft and an inner platform, at least one flow port, in which the at least one flow port is configured to assist in the creation of the at least one solution, at least one channel configured to selectively direct the at least first solvent into contact with the slurry to control the extraction of the at least one solute, and/or at least one serration. The apparatuses, devices, and methods may also comprise a controller, coupled to the inlet nozzle, in which the controller is configured to change a motion of the inlet nozzle to affect the motion of the slurry.
A device in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure comprises a beverage head and a processor. The beverage head further comprises a receptacle, an inlet nozzle, and an outlet conduit. The receptacle is configured to selectively receive a slurry within the receptacle of the beverage head when the beverage head is in a first position. The slurry comprises a quantity of beverage medium. The inlet nozzle is coupled to the receptacle and configured to deliver at least one solvent to the slurry when the beverage head is in a second position such that at least one solution comprising at least a portion of the at least one solvent and at least a portion of one solute of the slurry is created during operation of the device. The receptacle is further configured to contain the slurry and the at least one solvent for at least a first period of time to assist the at least one solvent in extracting the at least one solute. The outlet conduit is coupled to the receptacle and configured to direct at least a portion of the at least one solution to a receptacle external to the beverage head. The processor is coupled to the inlet nozzle, and controls a selective rotation of the inlet nozzle with respect to the slurry while the inlet nozzle is proximate the slurry for at least a portion of the time the at least one solvent is being delivered to the slurry.
The above summary has outlined, rather broadly, some features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described below. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that this disclosure may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the teachings of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features, which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages, will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.
For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The detailed description set forth below, in connection with the appended drawings, is intended as a description of various configurations and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the various concepts. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, however, that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and components are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring such concepts. As described herein, the use of the term “and/or” is intended to represent an “inclusive OR”, and the use of the term “or” is intended to represent an “exclusive OR”.
A beverage brewer 10, as shown in
The vertical distance between the platen 14 and the brewer head 16 (also referred to as a “brew head 16” or a “beverage head 16” herein) can adequately accommodate a coffee mug or other external receptacle for delivery of the beverage from the beverage brewer 10. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the receptacle may be capable of retaining at least 6 oz. of beverage, and possibly 10 oz. or more of beverage. The housing 12 may further comprise a rear housing 18 having a gravity-fed and/or other type of water reservoir 20 on one side and an outer shell 22 that houses or protects the internal features of the beverage brewer 10, including, for example, the conduit system between the water reservoir 20 and the brewer head 16. Such features within the housing 12 of the beverage brewer 10 may generally include a fluid conduit system, a pump, and/or a heating element, in order to deliver a fluid from the reservoir 20 (or other source) to the brewer head 16 and/or to the receptacle external to the beverage brewer 10.
The lower support member 24 and the lid 26 are selectively opened and closed and form a brew chamber therebetween during a brew cycle (also known as a preparation cycle) for selective retention of a beverage cartridge 32 in a receptacle 30 of the brewer head 16. The beverage cartridge 32 may include any liquid medium known in the art, including, but not limited to, liquid and/or beverage medium used to form various types of coffee, espresso, tea, hot chocolate, lemonade and other fruit-based drinks, carbonated drinks such as soda, soups and other liquid foods, etc.
In this respect,
To close the brewer head 16, the user may again activate the release button 172, and/or may push on the lid 26 to move the lid 26 closer to the lower support member 24. If the beverage brewer 10 senses a beverage cartridge 32 in the receptacle 30, or upon a user initiating closure of the lid 26 and/or a preparation cycle, the jaw lock 176 may selectively lock during a brew cycle and/or preparation cycle to prevent any liquid delivered by the beverage brewer 10 from being expelled by the beverage brewer 10 external to the receptacle located proximate to the platen 14. In this respect, the contact between the lower support member 24 and the jaw lock 176 selectively holds the brewer head 16 closed as shown in
The beverage brewer 10 also comprises an inlet nozzle 44 that generally extends downwardly out from underneath the lid 26, as shown within the brewer head 16. The inlet nozzle 44 is coupled to, e.g., in fluid communication with, a conduit system, e.g., the pump 134, for injecting at least a first fluid, such as turbulent or laminar hot water and steam, a liquid such as water and/or milk, or other gas and/or other liquid in a fluid or semi-fluid form, into the beverage cartridge 32 through the inlet nozzle 44. Although described as the inlet nozzle 44 herein, the inlet nozzle 44 may be a needle, spine, spout, spigot, jet, projection, spike, and/or other inlet means for delivering the at least first fluid to a beverage medium 78.
As mentioned above, to prepare the beverage brewer 10 for a brew cycle (also referred to a preparation cycle), the lid 26 is moved from a closed position (shown in
The lid 24 of the beverage brewer 10 may comprise an encapsulation cap 46 having a diameter sized for at least partial slide-fit insertion over the receptacle 30 to encapsulate and retain the beverage cartridge 32 therebetween. The beverage cartridge 32 may thus be held in a substantially stationary position with respect to the beverage brewer 10 device while the brewer head 16 is in the closed position, although it is understood that the beverage cartridge 32 can be held in a substantially stationary position via other means, and/or can be non-stationary.
It is understood that a beverage cartridge, such as the beverage cartridge 32, is not required for operation of systems and methods according to the present disclosure. A beverage cartridge 32 may be employed within an aspect of the present disclosure. Further, other types of containers or uncontained mediums can also be used in embodiments of the present invention, such as soft pods, sealed or unsealed packets containing a liquid medium (e.g., coffee grounds), tea bags, grounds or leaves, etc. Beverage cartridge 32 may allow for easier brewing or making of beverages. Beverage cartridge 32 may comprise an outer surface 48 and an inner chamber 50. Beverage medium 78 may be contained or otherwise located within the inner chamber 50 (also referred to as an inner volume herein) of the beverage cartridge 32. Other features, such as a filter, etc., may also be included in the inner chamber 50 of the beverage cartridge 32, to filter coffee grounds, tea leaves, etc., that may be part of the beverage medium 78 not desired in a final beverage or liquid.
The lid 26 can be pushed downward toward the lower support member 24 such that the inlet nozzle 44 is placed proximate the beverage medium 78, and in some embodiments, at least below a level of the height 51 of the beverage cartridge 32. In one such system and method according to the disclosure, the lid 26 is pushed downward toward the lower support member 24 and/or is closed, e.g., such that the lid 26 is locked and/or otherwise sealed against the lower support member 24 as shown in
When the brewer head 16 is in the closed position, the inlet nozzle 44 may be rotated by a motor 52 or other means coupled to the inlet nozzle 44 for at least a portion of the time while fluid is being delivered to the inner volume of the sealed container or for at least a portion of the time that the beverage brewer 10 is in the closed position. The same or different motor or means may also selectively vertically move or position the inlet nozzle 44 with respect to the beverage cartridge 32 and/or the beverage medium 78.
The inlet nozzle 44 in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure may comprise a blunt or rounded nose 54 that force pierces the surface 48 to permit entry of the inlet nozzle 44 into the interior of the beverage cartridge 32. The nose of the inlet nozzle 44 may be sharpened, e.g., with jagged edges, having a point on the inlet nozzle 44, etc., to make the piercing of the outer surface 48 easier, but such a sharp or jagged edge may be less desirable since such an embodiment carries an inherently higher risk of user injury when the inlet nozzle 44 is exposed to the user as shown in
The brewer head 16 may further include a gasket 56 having a concentric aperture with an inner diameter sized to snugly slide-fit around the exterior surface diameter of the inlet nozzle 44. The gasket 56 may be made from any sealing material, e.g., rubber, silicone, other food-safe materials, etc. In an aspect of the present disclosure,
A fluid conduit 66 (also referred to as a hot water conduit 66 herein) terminates at an upper end 68 of the inlet nozzle 44 and is generally aligned with an inlet channel 70 bored into the exterior diameter of the inlet nozzle 44. The inlet channel is coupled to, e.g., in fluid communication with, a central shaft 72 that channels fluid water from the upper end 68 toward the nose 54 and out through one or more flow ports 74. O-rings 76, 76′ may be positioned on each side of the inlet channel 70 to assist in minimizing leakage from pressurized fluid leaving the fluid conduit 66 for flow into the inlet channel 70.
The inlet channel 70 may be a reduced diameter bore that remains coupled with the fluid conduit 66 during the preparation cycle, and may remain coupled to the fluid conduit 66 while the inlet nozzle 44 spins or rotates within the beverage cartridge 32. As such, any fluid delivered to the beverage cartridge 32 through the inlet nozzle 44 while the inlet nozzle 44 is spinning or rotating may cause the beverage medium 78 to move as described herein. Accordingly, in this arrangement, a motor 52 couples to the upper end 68 and rotates or spins the inlet nozzle 44 during a brew cycle to rotate or spin the one or more flow ports 74 within the beverage cartridge 32 to more thoroughly mix the fluid delivered through inlet nozzle 44 with the beverage medium 78. A secondary fluid, comprising a mixture of the fluid delivered through the inlet nozzle 44 and a portion of the beverage medium 78, is thus created during the preparation cycle. The secondary fluid may be, for example, coffee, tea, etc., where the secondary fluid does not include, or includes only limited, solids from the beverage medium 78 (e.g., coffee grounds, tea leaves, etc.). In other words, some of the beverage medium 78 may remain in the beverage cartridge 32 after mixture with the fluid delivered through the inlet nozzle 44, whether or not the inlet nozzle 44 is rotated or otherwise moved while coupled to the inner chamber of the beverage cartridge 32. This secondary fluid may be referred to as a “fluidized mixture” herein.
The embodiment of the present disclosure shown in
From the perspective of
The motor 52 is shown next to the entry point of the hot water conduit 66. In this embodiment, hot water flow to the brewer head 16 may be regulated by a solenoid 83.
For example, and not by way of limitation, the inlet nozzle 44 may rotate at variable speeds within a brew cycle, or may rotate at a constant speed for part of a brew cycle and for another portion of the brew cycle the inlet nozzle 44 may rotate at variable speeds or in a different direction. As discussed herein, the present disclosure also envisions that the inlet nozzle 44 may do more than rotate about its own central axis; the inlet nozzle 44 may oscillate, nutate, rotate about a non-central axis such as an axis remote from the inlet nozzle 44 itself, or otherwise move within the brewer head 16 (including combinations of the movements mentioned above), whether or not the inlet nozzle 44 is inserted into the beverage cartridge 32, at least in part to agitate, move, or otherwise assist in the infusion of the fluids from the inlet nozzle 44 with the beverage medium 78. The inlet nozzle 44 may be moved, rotated, nutated, oscillated, vibrated, or subjected to any combination of various motions based on the brew cycle duration, type of beverage cartridge 32, water temperature, or other factors as desired to create a desired mixture of the beverage medium 78 with one or more fluids delivered through the inlet nozzle 44.
Further, a “rotation” may only be a partial rotation, rotation or motion in a different direction, or movement about one or more different axes of the inlet nozzle 44 or about an axis of another device (e.g., the motor 52) of the beverage system 10. The present disclosure also envisions various methods for moving the inlet nozzle 44. As described with respect to
As shown in
As shown in
The beverage brewer 10 may initiate incoming fluid flow 84 through the inlet nozzle 44 prior to rotation or movement of the inlet nozzle 44 to prevent clogging any of the flow ports 74-74″″ at the start of the preparation cycle. In some embodiments, the flow ports 74-74″″ may be of a shape and size such that they may collect beverage medium 78 as the inlet nozzle 44 spins, similar to a scoop or receptacle. The collected beverage medium 78 may occlude the flow ports 74-74″″, thereby substantially occluding or otherwise preventing fluid from adequately exiting the inlet nozzle 44. Initiating fluid flow 84 may allow the pressurized fluid 84 to establish an exit stream that otherwise prevents beverage medium 78 from entering the flow ports 74-74″″, to substantially reduce or eliminate the potential for the beverage medium 78 to block any one of the flow ports 74-74″″. Similarly, the beverage brewer 10 may stop rotation of the inlet nozzle 44 before stopping the flow of fluid flow 84 water through any of the flow ports 74-74″″ to flush any beverage medium 78 away from the flow ports 74-74″″ at the end of the preparation cycle. In some embodiments, the delay after fluid flow exiting the inlet nozzle 44 and the before the beginning of inlet nozzle 44 movement can be a non-zero time of less than two seconds. In another embodiment this time is 0.1 to 1.0 second, and in another embodiment this time is 0.5 second. Similarly, in some embodiments, the delay between cessation of inlet nozzle 44 movement and the cessation of fluid flow can be a non-zero time of less than two seconds; 0.1 to 1.0 second; and/or 0.5 second. Under certain circumstances, this goal can be achieved by beginning fluid flow and inlet nozzle 44 movement simultaneously. Additionally, it may be advantageous to initiate fluid flow when the flow ports 74-74″″ are at a position above the beverage medium 78 (e.g., before the flow ports 74-74″″ are in contact with the beverage medium 78), and then move the inlet nozzle 44 into contact with the beverage medium 78 and/or move the inlet nozzle 44 to a position proximate to the beverage medium 78 after flow has begun.
As shown in
Any combination of the flow ports, channels, and/or serrations shown in
Additional and/or Alternate Nozzle Movement
The solenoid 174 then retracts the oscillation shaft 176, and the spring-bias returns the inlet nozzle 44 to the upper position. The beverage brewer 10 may pulse the solenoid 174, thereby causing the inlet nozzle 44 to move up and down at a predetermined or desired rate. In one embodiment, the inlet nozzle 44 may move up and down at a rate of 50-70 Hertz, such as a rate of 60 Hertz, as 60 Hertz is the frequency used for power delivery in the United States, thereby simplifying the coupling of the solenoid 174 to a frequency source. The inlet nozzle 44 may vertically oscillate at any rate within the scope of the present disclosure, and the vertical oscillation rate may change during the course of a brew cycle. The beverage brewer 10 may alternately use a cam or other means to vertically oscillate the inlet nozzle 44 in accordance with the embodiments described herein. In another alternative embodiment, the inlet nozzle 44 may also simultaneously vertically oscillate and rotate, as described above, at least in part to assist in the agitation or movement of beverage medium 78. Indeed, many different combinations of inlet nozzle 44 movement as described herein are possible.
Beverage brewer 10, as shown in dashed lines in
A pump 502 is coupled to the fluid source 500. The pump may provide pressure to the fluid 504 within the beverage brewer 10, such that the pump 500 delivers the fluid 504, e.g., water, milk, CO2, etc., at a desired, known, and/or predetermined pressure to the remainder of the beverage brewer 10.
The pump 502 is coupled to a heater 506, and delivers fluid 504 to heater 506 for those fluids 504 that may need to be heated prior to delivery to the beverage cartridge 32. Heater 506 heats (or optionally cools) the fluid 504 as desired. Heater 506, when employed by the beverage brewer 10, delivers the heated or otherwise processed fluid 504 to the inlet nozzle 44.
When the brewer head 16 is in the proper position (i.e., the closed position shown in
During at least a portion of the time that the brewer head 16 is in the closed position, motor 52 and/or other means within beverage brewer 10, may spin, rotate, nutate, vibrate, oscillate, or otherwise move inlet nozzle 44, such as the movements previously described. Fluid 504 delivered through the moving inlet nozzle 44 may then move the beverage medium 78 (as shown in
The outlet conduit 400 is also coupled to the inner chamber 50 of the beverage cartridge 32 when the brewer head is in the closed position. As such, as the fluidization of fluid 504 and beverage medium 78 occurs, a secondary fluid 508 is delivered from the inner chamber 50 of the beverage cartridge 32 to a receptacle 510, e.g., a coffee mug, glass, cup, or other container that may be external to the beverage medium 10. The beverage brewer 10 may also comprise receptacle 510, e.g., a carafe, etc., however, in many applications the receptacle eventually is used externally to the beverage brewer 10.
The pump 502, motor 52, heater 506, brewer head 16, and, optionally, the fluid source 500, are coupled to a processor 512. The processor 512 is further coupled, either internally or externally, to a memory 514. The processor 512 provides computer-based control of the pump 502, motor 52, and heater 506, and may control other components within beverage brewer 10.
For example, and not by way of limitation, the processor 512 may receive a signal or other input from a sensor coupled to the fluid source 500, to indicate to the beverage brewer 10 that there is not enough fluid 504 available to brew a beverage. The processor 512 may then prevent the beverage brewer 10 from initiating a preparation cycle for a beverage cartridge 32.
Further, the processor 512 may sense a particular type of beverage cartridge 32 present in the brewer head 16. Once the type of beverage cartridge 32 is known, the processor 512 may provide different inputs to the pump 502, motor 52, heater 506, or other components in the beverage brewer 10 to change one or more variables in the mixture of fluid 504 and the beverage medium in the particular beverage cartridge 32. The processor 512 may increase or decrease the speed of rotation of motor 52, may insert the inlet nozzle 44 further into the beverage container 32, provide pulsed or different types of current to the pump 502 and/or heater 506, or may change some path for the fluid 504 prior to introduction into the inner chamber 50 of the beverage cartridge 32. Additionally, the processor 512 may select a particular kind of inlet nozzle 44 motion or combination of motions based on the type of beverage cartridge 32 that is sensed or a specific user input. These and/or other inputs to the processor 512 may cause the processor 512 to access memory 514 to provide such instructions to various components of the beverage brewer 10.
Block 1902 illustrates configuring a beverage head comprising a receptacle to selectively receive a sealed container when the beverage head is in a first position (e.g., open). Block 1904 illustrates configuring an inlet nozzle to pass through an outer surface of the sealed container and coupling at least a portion of the inlet nozzle to an inner volume of the sealed container when the beverage head is in a second position (e.g., closed). Block 1906 illustrates maintaining the beverage container substantially stationary with respect to the single-serve beverage device while the beverage head is in the second position. Block 1908 illustrates delivering at least a first fluid to a beverage medium in the inner volume of the sealed container through the inlet nozzle. Block 1910 illustrates selectively rotating the inlet nozzle with respect to the beverage medium while the inlet nozzle is passed through the outer surface of the sealed container and coupled to the inner volume of the sealed container, and when the at least first fluid is being delivered to the inner volume of the sealed container for at least a portion of a time that the beverage head is in the second position. Block 1912 illustrates creating an at least second fluid comprising at least a portion of the at least first fluid and at least a portion of the quantity of beverage medium during operation of the single-serve beverage making device. Block 1914 illustrates coupling an outlet conduit to the inner volume of the sealed container of beverage medium. Block 1916 illustrates directing at least a portion of the second fluid through the outlet conduit to a receptacle external to the beverage head.
In an aspect of the present disclosure, pump 502 may direct fluid 2000, which may be one or more fluids, to one or more conduits 2002-2008 at specified times. As an example, and not by way of limitation, pump 502 may deliver fluid 2000 to conduit 2002 for a first time period, then discontinue delivery of fluid 2000 to conduit 2002 and begin delivering fluid 2000 to conduit 2004 for a second time period. It is also understood that delivery of the fluid 2000 to different conduits may overlap; for example, delivery of the fluid 2000 to conduit 2002 may end after delivery of fluid to another conduit, e.g. the conduit 2004, has begun. By alternating or staggering the flow of fluid 2000 to different conduits 2002-2008 during different time periods, fluid 2000 may be selectively delivered through channels 2010-2016 in inlet nozzle 44 to flow ports 74a-74b. Flow port 74a is shown in phantom lines to indicate that flow port 74a is on a surface not visible from the perspective of
As the fluid 2000 is selectively delivered to one or more of flow ports 74a-74b, a sequence of fluid flows 2018-2024 may be created. Although a sequence of fluid flows 2018-2024 may be sequential, e.g., first fluid flow 2018, then fluid flow 2020, then fluid flow 2022, then fluid flow 2024 (also referred to as a “chaser” sequence), any sequence of fluid flows 2018-2024 including but not limited to exclusive and/or overlapping fluid flows may be employed within the scope of the present disclosure.
The sequencing of fluid flows 2018-2024 may be obtained by, for example, pump 502 comprising and/or being coupled to a manifold that has a rotating or movable plenum that selectively directs the fluid 2000 to one or more of the conduits 2002-2008. Other means for obtaining selective delivery of fluid 2000 to one or more of the conduits 2002-2008 are possible within the scope of the present disclosure.
With or without rotating or otherwise moving the inlet nozzle 44, the fluid flows 2018-2024, through sequencing, upon introduction or proximity to beverage cartridge 32 and/or beverage medium 78 as shown by arrow 2026, may create a fluid flow, agitation, or other movement of beverage medium 78 with the fluid flows 2018-2024. Further, control of the sequencing of fluid flows 2018-2024 may be performed by processor 412, and the speed, order, and pressure of fluid flows 2018-2024 may be varied or constant during a preparation cycle, or may be combined with rotational, vibrational, and/or other motion of inlet nozzle 44 to create a preferred time, concentration, and/or other mixture or agitation of fluid 2000 with beverage medium 78. The control of the order, speed, and pressure of fluid flows 2018-2024 may also be based on other factors, such as the type of beverage medium 78, the presence or absence of a beverage cartridge 32, the presence or absence of a cover 49 on the beverage cartridge 32, manual inputs or overrides to the beverage brewer 10, or other factors.
The memory 514 may be implemented in firmware and/or software implementation. The firmware and/or software implementation methodologies may be implemented with modules (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on) that perform the functions described herein. A machine-readable medium tangibly embodying instructions may be used in implementing the methodologies described herein. For example, software codes may be stored in a memory (e.g., memory 514) and executed by a processor unit (e.g., processor 512). Memory may be implemented within the processor unit or external to the processor unit. As used herein, the term “memory” refers to types of long term, short term, volatile, nonvolatile, or other memory and is not to be limited to a particular type of memory or number of memories, or type of media upon which memory is stored.
If implemented in firmware and/or software, the functions may be stored as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Examples include computer-readable media encoded with a data structure and computer-readable media encoded with a computer program. Computer-readable media includes physical computer storage media. A storage medium may be an available medium that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or other medium that can be used to store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer; disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and Blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.
In addition to storage on computer readable medium, instructions and/or data may be provided as signals on transmission media included in a communication apparatus. For example, a communication apparatus may include a transceiver having signals indicative of instructions and data. The instructions and data are configured to cause one or more processors to implement the functions outlined in the claims.
Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the technology of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. For example, relational terms, such as “above” and “below” are used with respect to brewers. Of course, if the brewer is inverted, above becomes below, and vice versa. Additionally, if oriented sideways, above and below may refer to sides of a brewer. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular configurations of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding configurations described herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.
Those of skill would further appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in connection with the disclosure herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present disclosure.
The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the disclosure herein may be implemented or performed with a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.
The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with the disclosure may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. A software module may reside in RAM, flash memory, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in a user terminal. In the alternative, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in a user terminal.
In one or more exemplary designs, the functions described may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. A storage media may be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store specified program code means in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer, or a general-purpose or special-purpose processor. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of medium. Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and Blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.
The description of the disclosure is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the disclosure. Various modifications to the disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other variations without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the examples and designs described herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.
Although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosure is not to be limited by the examples presented herein, but is envisioned as encompassing the scope described in the appended claims and the full range of equivalents of the appended claims.
This application is a National Stage International Application No. PCT/US2015/045146, filed on Aug. 13, 2015 and entitled “Moving Inlet Nozzles in Beverage Systems”; which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/060,282, filed on 6 Oct. 2014 and entitled “Coffee Brewing System and Method of Using the Same”; U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/069,772, filed on 28 Oct. 2014 and entitled “Coffee Brewing System and Method of Using the Same”; U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/136,258, filed on 20 Mar. 2015 and entitled “Coffee Brewing System and Method of Using the Same”; and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/230,508, filed on 5 Jun. 2015, entitled “Beverage Brewing Systems and Methods for Using the Same”; U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/174,443, filed on 11 Jun. 2015, entitled “Beverage Brewing Systems and Methods for Using the Same”; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/810,429, filed on 27 Jul. 2015, entitled “Moving Inlet Nozzles in Beverage Systems”; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/810,445, filed on 27 Jul. 2015, entitled “Apparatuses and Methods for Solute Extraction”; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/810,448, filed on 27 Jul. 2015, entitled “Processor Control of Solute Extraction System”; U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/199,941, filed on 1 Aug. 2015, entitled “Devices and Methods for Beverage Brewer Pressure Regulation”; U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/202,709, filed on 7 Aug. 2015, entitled “Thermocline Control in Fluid Delivery Systems”; and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/202,753, filed on 7 Aug. 2015, entitled “Inductive Method of Fluid Flow Determination”. The disclosures, figures, and subject matter of the above-identified patent applications are expressly incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2015/045146 | 8/13/2015 | WO | 00 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62202709 | Aug 2015 | US | |
| 62202753 | Aug 2015 | US | |
| 62199941 | Jul 2015 | US | |
| 61940290 | Feb 2014 | US | |
| 62060282 | Oct 2014 | US | |
| 62069772 | Oct 2014 | US | |
| 62136258 | Mar 2015 | US | |
| 62230508 | Jun 2015 | US | |
| 62174443 | Jun 2015 | US | |
| 61977069 | Apr 2014 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14810429 | Jul 2015 | US |
| Child | 15516893 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/US15/15971 | Feb 2015 | US |
| Child | 14810429 | US | |
| Parent | PCT/US15/25013 | Apr 2015 | US |
| Child | PCT/US15/15971 | US |
