GB945608A - Automatic vending machines for tea, coffee or like beverages - Google Patents

Abstract

945,608. Machines for making tea and like beverages. H. J. PARKER. Feb. 25, 1960 [Feb. 25, 1959; March 16, 1959; Aug. 19, 1959], Nos. 6768/59, 9082/59 and 28423/59. Heading A4D. A predetermined quantity of tea, coffee or the like is ground and supplied to a brewing chamber along with a measured quantity of brewing liquid, the resulting beverage is then filtered by a renewable filter and dispensed, the filter with the spent tea, coffee or the like being removed and replaced by a new filter immediately. As shown, the machine casing has a front panel 10 with buttons 12, 14 for selecting tea with or without sugar and a sliding door 16 for the removal of a filled cup 32. Lamps 21, 22, 23, 24 indicate respectively that the machine is empty, the machine is in operation, the customer must wait, the cup of tea is ready for removal. Operation may be initiated by inserting a coin and depressing button 28. Waxed paper cups 32 are delivered from a magazine 31 to a platform 34 beneath a delivery outlet 67, which, when the cup is full, moves vertically to operate a switch. The grinder comprises a conical member 44 positioned centrally in a ring 46, both of which have spiral grooves, the tea being forced through to a duct 52 leading into a funnel 56 having a spiral vane 60 on its surface. The quantity of tea leaves ground depends on the length of time for which the grinder motor operates. A measured quantity of hot water is also fed to funnel 56. A brewing pot 64 which receives the beverage from funnel 56 is mounted above a conical feed cup integral with a platform 68 over which is disposed a band of filter material 70 held in position by the brewing pot. The web 70 is carried on a reel 74 and is progressed by rollers 110, 112 one step at the end of each cycle when port 64 is raised. The water is heated in the main part 82 of a cylinder 76 by elements 78, 80 to 190‹ F. and the expansion forces water up pipe 84 to the section 86 where it is boiled by element 80 and then passes through an electrically operated metering valve 91 to funnel 56. Cup 66 has an outlet pipe 67 which delivers the beverage to a cup 32 on platform 34. Milk from a small refrigerated container 94 is delivered through a metering pump 96 to the cup 32 to which sugar is fed from reservoir 100.