GB2250426A

GB2250426A - Apparatus for beverage brewing

Info

Publication number: GB2250426A
Application number: GB9026563A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Burlington
Original assignee: Sankey Vending Ltd
Current assignee: Sankey Vending Ltd
Priority date: 1990-12-06
Filing date: 1990-12-06
Publication date: 1992-06-10
Anticipated expiration: 2010-12-06
Also published as: GB9026563D0; GB2250426B

Abstract

Apparatus for producing an infusion, e.g. of coffee, comprises a container (10) with a base (20) which is permeable to air and liquid but not an infusible ingredient. A piston and cylinder assembly (50, 52) is operable to force air through the base (20) and to draw an infusion therethrough. Drive means for operating the piston and cylinder assembly (50, 52) and for moving the container (10), between an operative position on the base (20) and an inoperative position clear of the base to allow cleaning or replacement of a filter (24), comprises a crank member (60) detachably connected to a drive shaft (32) for rotation therewith. A connecting rod (62) is pivotally connected to the piston (52) and crank member (60) so that rotation of the crank member (60) causes reciprocation of the piston. The crank member (60) can be detached from the shaft (32) to allow for easy removal of the piston and cylinder for cleaning. <IMAGE>

Description

APPARATUS FOR BEVERAGE BREWING This invention is concerned with apparatus for beverage brewing operable during a cycle thereof to produce an infusion from a liquid and an infusible ingredient, e.g. tea or coffee.

From GB Patent Specification Nos. 1164760 and 2189683, an apparatus for beverage brewing is known which comprises a container for receiving the ingredient and the liquid, a base for the container which is permeable to air and the liquid but is substantially impermeable to the ingredient, the container being movable between an operative position thereof in which it is sealed to the base and an inoperative position thereof in which it is spaced from the base, a piston and cylinder assembly positioned so that an open top of the cylinder communicates with the base, operation of the piston when the container is in its operative position being effective to pass air upwardly through the base into the container and subsequently to reduce the pressure beneath the base to assist an infusion in the container to pass through the base into the cylinder, an outlet from the cylinder through which the infusion entering the cylinder can be delivered, and drive means operable to cycle the apparatus by reciprocating the piston and moving the container between its operative and inoperative positions. In such an apparatus, the air passing upwardly into the container agitates the liquid and the ingredients in the container assisting the infusion and the reduction in the pressure beneath the base causes the infusion to be sucked into the container from which it can pass out through the outlets.

The base may be constituted by a filter medium, e.g.

paper, and/or by a rigid mesh. When the container is in its inoperative position, the base can be cleared of spent ingredient. If the base is a mesh only, this can be effected by a scraping operation. If the base is, or includes, a filter medium, the latter can be in the form of a strip which is advanced intermittently to remove the length of medium carrying the spent ingredient and to bring a fresh length of medium into position under the container for the next operation of the apparatus.

In such apparatus, it is necessary periodically in the interests of hygiene to clean the piston and cylinder assembly. In the apparatus described in GB Patent Specification No. 1164760, this is a difficult proposition. In the apparatus described in GB Patent Specification No. 2189683, an arrangement has been provided for removing the piston and cylinder assembly from the remainder of the apparatus for cleaning purposes. The arrangement for removing the piston and cylinder assembly is, however, undesirably complicated and it is an object of the present invention to provide a simpler arrangement whereby the piston and cylinder assembly can be removed for cleaning.

The invention provides apparatus for beverage brewing operable during a cycle thereof to produce an infusion from a liquid and an infusible ingredient, the apparatus comprising a container for receiving the ingredient and the liquid, a base for the container which is permeable to air and the liquid but is substantially impermeable to the ingredient, the container being movable between an operative position thereof in which it is sealed to the base and an inoperative position thereof in which it is spaced from the base, a piston and cylinder assembly positioned so that an open top of the cylinder communicates with the base, operation of the piston when the container is in its operative position being effective to pass air upwardly through the base into the container and subsequently to reduce the pressure beneath the base to assist an infusion in the container to pass through the base into the cylinder, an outlet from the cylinder through which the infusion entering the cylinder can be delivered, and drive means operable to cycle the apparatus by reciprocating the piston and moving the container between its operative and inoperative positions, wherein the drive means comprises a drive shaft, motor means operable to turn the drive shaft, a crank member detachably connected to said drive shaft for rotation therewith, and a connecting rod pivotally connected to said piston and to said crank member so that rotation of the crank member causes reciprocation of said piston.

In an apparatus according to the last preceding paragraph, the piston and cylinder assembly can be removed by detaching the crank member from the drive shaft.

Preferably, the drive shaft has a projecting member fixedly mounted thereon for rotation with said drive shaft, the crank member being slidably-received on the drive shaft and a projection of the projecting member or of the crank member being slidably received in a recess in the other member. In this arrangement, the projection ensures the correct orientation of the crank member with respect to the drive shaft and also ensures that the crank member rotates with the drive shaft. The projecting member may be a cam member which causes said movement of the container.

Preferably, a portion of the outer surface of the crank member is arranged to press a strip of filter medium against at least one pinch roller so that rotation of the crank member causes a predetermined movement of the filter medium. In this way, a simple arrangement provides for the filter medium to be advanced in each cycle of operation of the apparatus. The crank member may carry a further member having a portion of its outer surface arranged to press the strip of filter medium against at least one further pinch roller so that the further member rotates with the crank member and assists in causing said movement of the filter medium.

There now follows a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of an apparatus for beverage brewing which is illustrative of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of the illustrative apparatus; Figure 2 is a view with parts omitted in the direction of the arrow II in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view partially in section in the direction of the arrow III in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a view in the direction of the arrow IV in Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a view with parts broken away in the direction of the arrow V in Figure 1.

The illustrative apparatus shown in the drawings is for beverage brewing and is operable during a cycle thereof to produce an infusion from a liquid and an infusible ingredient. The apparatus is supported on a vertically extending plate 8 and comprises a container 10 for receiving the ingredient and the liquid. The container 10 has been omitted from Figure 1 in the interests of clarity but is shown in the remaining figures. The container 10 comprises a lower cylindrical portion 10a and an upper frusto-conical portion lOb. The container 10 is open at the top to receive ingredients and liquid and is also open at the bottom. The container 10 has a pair of lugs thereon one of which is shown at 12 (Figure 2) and is mounted by means of the lugs on arms 14 projecting from a yoke member 16. The container 10 is received between the arms 14 of the yoke member 16 and is supported thereby.The yoke member 16 is fixedly mounted on a horizontal shaft 18 which is pivotally mounted. The shaft 18 has a tapered end 19 which assists in inserting a square portion 21 of the shaft 18 in a fitment to be described from which the shaft 18 can be withdrawn.

The illustrative apparatus also comprises a base 20 for the container 10 which is permeable to air and the liquid but is substantially impermeable to the ingredient. The base 20 has a sealing ring 22 mounted thereon (Figure 1) which is arranged to make sealing contact with the bottom of the cylindrical portion 10a of the container 10. The area of base 20 within the sealing ring 22 is constituted by a stainless steel disc with holes photo-etched through it to provide a filter screen.

Across the disc a strip of filter medium 24 extends, the disc acting to support the filter medium 24. The container 10 is movable by pivotal movement about the shaft 18 between an operative position thereof (shown in the drawings) in which it is sealed to the base by means of the sealing ring 22 and an inoperative position thereof in which it is spaced from the base. When the container 10 is in its operative position, the apparatus can be used for producing an infusion and, when the container is in its inoperative position, the strip of filter medium 24 can be advanced to allow spent ingredients on the filter medium to be removed and fresh filter medium 24 to be introduced above the disc of the base 20.

In order to move the container 10 between its operative and inoperative positions, the illustrative apparatus is provided with an electric motor 30 operable to turn a drive shaft 32 (Figure 3). A cam member 34 is fixedly mounted on the drive shaft 32 for rotation therewith and a cam follower 36 engages the outer surface of the cam member 34. The cam follower 36 (see Figure 4) is mounted on a link 38 which is pivotally mounted on a pin 40. The pin 40 is fixed so that the link 38 can pivot about the pin 40 to maintain the cam follower 36 in contact with the surface of the cam 34. The link 38 is pivotally connected to a rod 42 which is also pivotally connected to a lever 44 which carries the aforementioned fitment 39 in which the square portion 21 of the shaft 18 is received.When the lever 44 is pivoted, the shaft 18 turns and moves the container 10 between its operative and inoperative positions. In Figure 4, the container 10 is shown in its operative position and the cam follower 36 is in an upper position (shown in solid line) thereof.

Rotation of the cam 34 causes the cam follower to move to a lower position thereof (shown in broken line) which causes the link 38 to pivot (anti-clockwise) and the link 44 to pivot (clockwise) and the shaft 18, the yoke member 16 and the container 10 to pivot (clockwise) away from the base 20 into the inoperative position of the container 10.

The illustrative apparatus also comprises a piston and cylinder assembly comprising a cylinder 50 and a piston 52 which is slidable therein. The cylinder 50 is supported at its upper end by two arms 51 which are freely pivotal on the shaft 18 so that they do not pivot when the shaft 18 turns. The cylinder 50 is supported at its lower end by a shaft 53 which projects horizontally from the plate 8 and is slidably received in a passage in a boss 55 which projects from the cylinder 50. The cylinder 50 is arranged to extend vertically and is positioned so that an open top of the cylinder communicates with the base 20.Specifically, the top of the cylinder 50 abuts the underside of the sealing ring 22 so that, when the container 10 is in its operative position, the cylindrical lower portion 10a of the container 10 communicates with the cylinder 50 through the filter medium 24 and the stainless steel disc.

Operation of the piston 52; when the container 10 is in its operative position, is effective to pass air upwardly through the base 20 into the container 10 and subsequently, as the piston moves downwardly, to reduce the pressure beneath the base 20 to assist an infusion in the container 10 to pass through the base 20 into the cylinder 50.

The illustrative apparatus also comprises an outlet in the form of a pipe 54 from the cylinder 50 through which the infusion entering the cylinder 50 can be delivered. The pipe 54 is horizontal and extends through the wall of the cylinder 50.

The illustrative apparatus also comprises drive means, including the drive shaft 32 and the electric motor 30 which provides motor means operable to turn the drive shaft 32, operable to cycle the apparatus by reciprocating the piston 52 and moving the container 10 between its operative and inoperative positions as aforementioned.

The drive means of the illustrative apparatus also comprises a crank member 60 detachably connected to said drive shaft 32 and a connecting rod 62 pivotally connected to the piston 52 and to the crank member 60 so that rotation of the crank member 62 causes reciprocation of the piston 52 in the cylinder 50.

As aforementioned, the cam member 34 is fixedly mounted on the drive shaft 32 for rotation therewith and constitutes a projecting member with which the crank member 60 cooperates. The crank member 60 has a recess 64 therein and is slidably received on the drive shaft 32 with the drive shaft entering the recess 64, the drive shaft 32 having a tapering end to assist this entry. A further recess 66 of the crank member 60 has a headed pin 68 fixed therein which projects towards the cam member 34. The pin 68 constitutes a projection of the crank member 60 which is slidably received in a keyhole-shaped recess 70 in the cam member 34-. The pin 68 ensures correct orientation of the crank member 60 relative to the cam member 34 and also ensures that the crank member 60 rotates with the drive shaft 32.The head of pin 68 ensures that the crank member 60 is retained on the drive shaft 32 during operation. The crank member 60 also has two hexagonal passages 72 therethrough.

The crank member 60 is generally cylindrical (see Figure 2) except that it has a bulge 74 on a portion of its outer surface. This bulge 74 contains the two hexagonal passages 72 aforementioned and has an outer surface 76 which is arranged to advance the filter medium 24. This portion of the outer surface of the crank member 60 is arranged to press the strip of filter medium 24 against a pinch roller 78 so that rotation of the crank member 60 causes a predetermined movement of the filter medium 24. The amount of the movement is determined by the length of the surface 76. The pinch roller 78 is supported on a horizontal shaft 80 which is itself supported by spring-loaded support means (not shown).The pivotal connection between the connecting rod 62 and the crank member 60 is made by a bearing 82 which is carried by a hexagonal rod 84 which is fixed in one of the hexagonal passages 72 in the crank member 60.

The crank member 60 carries a further member 86 which is identical in shape to the member 60 including a bulge in its outer surface which cooperates with a further pinch roller 78 on the shaft 80. Thus, the further member 86 has a portion of its outer surface arranged to press the strip 24 of filter medium against a further pinch roller 78 so that the further member 86 rotates with the crank member 60 and assists in causing the movement of the filter medium. The member 86 is supported by means of an extension of the hexagonal rod 84 on which the bearing 82 is mounted which is received in a hexagonal passage 72 in the further member 86.

The strip of filter medium 24 extends downwardly from a supply roll thereof (not shown) to pass round a heel portion 88 of the yoke member 16 (see Figure 2).

From the heel portion 88, the strip 24 extends horizontally above the base 20 beneath the container 10 until it reaches a roller 90 supported by the base 20.

From the roller 90 the strip 24 extends downwardly to pass between the rollers 78 and the members 60 and 86 before entering a waste disposal container (not shown).

In the operation of the illustrative apparatus, with the container 10 in its operative position, ingredients e.g. coffee or tea, and hot water, are dropped into the open top of the container 10. To cycle the apparatus, the motor 30 is operated to drive the drive shaft 32 through one revolution. This causes the piston 52 to be moved upwardly within the cylinder 50 thereby forcing air through the disc and the filter medium 24 into the container 10 and causing agitation of the liquid and ingredients therein so that the formation of the infusion is enhanced. The piston 52 is then moved downwardly within the container 50 so that infusion in the container 10 is sucked into the cylinder 50 through the filter medium 24.As the piston 52 approaches the bottom of its stroke the portion 76 of the surface of the crank member 60 pinches the filter medium against the roller 78 and the equivalent surface portion of the further member 86 pinches the filter medium against the other roller 78.

Meanwhile, the container 10 is lifted towards its inoperative position releasing the filter medium 24 with spent ingredients thereon. Continued rotation of the cam member 60 and the further member 86 causes the filter medium to be advanced by a predetermined distance removing the spent ingredients from beneath the container 10 and introducing further filter medium into this area.

If desired, the filter medium can be scraped to remove the spent ingredients into a container (not shown).

Meanwhile, the piston 52 has progressed to a point beneath the outlet 54 so that the infusion can leave through the outlet and leaves the cylinder 50.

In a modification of the illustrative apparatus, the further member 86 is omitted and the surface 76 of the cam member 60 pinches the filter medium against two rollers 78 to advance the filter medium 24.

In order to clean the piston and cylinder assembly 50 and 52, the cam member 60 is first turned until the head of the pin 68 can be withdrawn from the recess 70.

Then the cam member 60 and the further member 86 can be moved away from the cam member 34 with the drive shaft 32 leaving the recess 64 and the pin 68 leaving the recess 70 so that the connection is released. Simultaneously the shaft 18 slides out of the fitment 39 and the pin 53 slides out of the boss 55. The piston and cylinder assembly can thus be removed with the crank member 60.

The connection can easily be re-established after the cleaning of the piston and cylinder assembly by reversing the above-described process.

In a modification of the illustrative apparatus, the piston and cylinder assembly may be supported in the manner described in GB Patent Specification No. 2189683.

Claims

1. Apparatus for beverage brewing operable during a cycle thereof to produce an infusion from a liquid and an infusible ingredient, the apparatus comprising: a container for receiving the ingredient and the liquid, a base for the container which is permeable to air and the liquid but is substantially impermeable to the ingredient, the container being movable between an operative position thereof in which it is sealed to the base and an inoperative position thereof in which it is spaced from a base, a piston and cylinder assembly positioned so that an open top of the cylinder communicates with the base, operation of the piston when the container is in its operative position being effective to pass air upwardly through the base into the container and subsequently to reduce the pressure beneath the base to assist an infusion in the container to pass through the base into the cylinder, an outlet from the cylinder through which the infusion entering the cylinder can be delivered, and drive means operable to cycle the apparatus by reciprocating the piston and moving the container between its operative and inoperative positions, wherein the drive means comprises a drive shaft, motor means operable to turn the drive shaft, a crank member detachably connected to said drive shaft for rotation therewith, and a connecting rod pivotally connected to said piston and to said crank member so that rotation of the crank member causes reciprocation of said piston.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said drive shaft has a projecting member fixedly mounted thereon for rotation with said drive shaft, the crank member being slidably-received on the drive shaft and a projection of the projecting member or of the crank member being slidably received in a recess in the other member.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein said projecting member is a cam which causes said movement of the container.

4. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein a portion of the outer surface of the crank member is arranged to press a strip of filter medium against at least one pinch roller so that rotation of the crank member causes a predetermined movement of the filter medium.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein the crank member carries a further member having a portion of its outer surface arranged to press the strip of filter medium against at least one further pinch roller so that the further member rotates with the crank member and assists in causing said movement of the filter medium.

6. Apparatus for beverage brewing substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.