GB886731A - Improvements in machines for making tea and like beverages - Google Patents

Abstract

886,731. Tea and the like making machines. APCO Inc. April 22, 1958, No. 12790/58. Class 129. A beverage, e.g. tea, making machine comprises a cylinder 27 journalled in a slightly larger cylindrical bore in a housing 17 with spaced ports 19, 26, 25, beverage ingredients being supplied through port 19 to a sectorshaped pocket 29, 30, 31, 32 in the cylinder from which beverage and used tea leaves or the like are discharged respectively through ports 26, 25, orifice means 35 at the apex of the pocket being corinectible to a source of pressurized water. As shown, cylinder 27 is coaxially secured to a shaft 21 and a water inlet shaft 28 journalled in opposite sides of housing 17. Inlet port 19 is secured to a gravity feed hopper 5 which contains an agitator 20. The port 26 contains a hollow housing 36, with a filter 38 and has an extension 40 over which is secured a conduit 7 leading to a float-controlled reservoir 6. The port 25 receives a sleeve 44 with an extension 45 over which the waste conduit 11 is secured. Orifice 35 is formed in a tube 33 connected to shaft 28. Alternatively, several orifices may be provided. In operation, a shaft 2, Fig. 1, connected to shaft 21 is driven intermittently by a motor 4 so as to present pocket 29, 30, 31, 32 successively to ports 19, 26, 25. In the first position tea leaves or the like are fed from hopper 5 into the pocket and in the second and third positions valve 10 is opened to supply hot water to the pocket so as respectively to brew the beverage and clear the pocket of spent tea leaves of the like. The operation is initiated when switch 15 is closed by the float, and hence the beverage in reservoir 6, falling below a predetermined level.