GB855931A - Continuous beverage maker - Google Patents

Abstract

855,931. Beverage making machines. APCO Inc. July 10, 1957, No. 21930/57. Class 129. A beverage making machine comprises a cylindrical container 6 rotatably mounted within a cylindrical housing 1 and having a single port 7 which registers with a series of ports in the housing, one of which 15 serves as an inlet for solid beverage ingredients and a second 16 of which receives a filter assembly and forms an outlet for the beverage, the container 6 being mounted on a coaxial hollow apertured shaft 8 journalled in the housing and supplied with pressurized hot water. As shown, housing 1 also has a rinsing port 17 and each port coincides with port 7 once in every revolution of cylinder 6. The granulated or powdered solid beverage is fed from a hopper 2, containing an agitator driven from shaft 8, to inlet port 15. Slidably positioned in port 16 is a part cylindrical foraminated member 22 secured to a cylindrical collar 77 connected by extension 19 to a conduit 20, and spring-biassed into engagement with cylinder 6. A collar 25 in port 17 connected to a waste conduit 25a is similarly biased into contact with cylinder 6. Shaft 8 is driven intermittently by unit 32 which may be of the 120 degree dwell geneva type driven by electric motor 33. The hot water supply is controlled by a normally closed solenoid valve 34 in conduit 14. Outlet conduit 20 is connected to a beverage storage reservoir 35 whose outlet 36 is controlled by normally closed solenoid valve 37 which is energized to open to deliver beverage. A switch 41, 42 which stops the shaft 8 after one complete revolution is controlled by a single dwell cam 43 on a shaft 8a which also carries a dual dwell cam 44 to close water control switch 45, 46 when the machine is in its infusion and rinsing positions respectively. In operation, an infusion cycle is initiated when switch 39, 40 closes due to the beverage in reservoir 35 having dropped to a predetermined low level. Container 6, which has received ground coffee from hopper 2, is rotated to the infusion position, switch 41, 42 being closed to maintain the circuit through motor 33 when switch 39, 40 opens. Cam 44 then opens valve 34 to supply hot water to shaft 8 and this continues until the unit 32 moves shafts 8 and 8a on so that cam 44 opens switch 45, 46. Meanwhile float 38 in reservoir 35 rises and opens switch 39, 40. The switch 45, 46 is again closed at the rinsing position so that hot water is supplied to wash container 6 out. After this, the container 6 is rotated to the coffee filling position at which switch 41, 42 opens and. operation ceases. If during the latter part of the cycle reservoir 35 has been emptied again a new cycle will automatically start immediately.