Bunn-o-matic Corporation

Other

Bunn-o-matic Coporation

David F Ford

Arthur H Bunn

James H Anson

John T Knepler

William E Midden

Daniel R Ephraim

Cindy J Lord

Chris Goodrich

A brewer system includes a reservoir, a steep chamber movable relative to the reservoir and positioned over a mouth of the reservoir, and a filter tape positioned between the chamber and the reservoir. Brewing substance and water are added to the chamber to form a brewed beverage that passes through the filter tape and into the reservoir through the mouth.

Brewer system, method and apparatus

A brewer system includes a reservoir, a steeping chamber movable relative to the reservoir and positioned over a mouth of the reservoir, and a filter tape positioned between the chamber and the reservoir. Brewing substance and water are added to the chamber and can be controllably agitated using a controllable gas pump coupled to the reservoir to form a brewed beverage. The brewed beverage can be drawn through the filter tape and into the reservoir through the mouth under the influence of a controllable vacuum pump coupled to and controllably communicating with the reservoir.

A system, method, and apparatus are disclosed for controllably dispensing a liquid beverage concentrate for use in dispensing a beverage. The beverage may contain liquid beverage concentrate in combination with a liquid dilution ingredient such as water and may also include one or more additional ingredients. This system, method, and apparatus provides more precise control of the quantity of beverage concentrate dispensed by operating a pump used to dispense the concentrate based on the number of pulses of concentrate dispensed. A calibration is made to determine the measure of concentrate in each pulse. This volume per pulse is recorded and stored in a controller to controllably dispense a precise volume for a specific type of concentrate based on a predetermined recipe retained in the controller for each drink, type, and volume of the finished beverage.

Liquid beverage concentrate dispensing system

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus, system, and method of use for producing beverages. The apparatus includes at least a modular brewing mechanism. Also, the system includes a reservoir for retaining a volume of beverage produced by the brewing mechanism. The system includes controls for dispensing a single cup of beverage while producing multiple cycles of beverage for transfer to the reservoir. The system also includes controls for monitoring freshness of beverage, controllably disposing of beverage, and controlling production of single cup or batch production of beverage. The method and apparatus includes controllable pressurized brewing in a column or chamber using a controllable piston moving in the chamber and which may include controlling steep time, pressurization, extraction time, active controllable agitation of the brewing substance, as well as other brewing characteristics.

Brewer system with active brewing mechanism and buffer reservoir piston compression of brewing substance

A grinding machine for use in grinding materials, the grinding machine includes a grinder assembly for receiving material. At least one removable hopper is removably positionable on the grinding assembly for dispensing material to the grinder assembly. The removable hopper is positionable on the grinder assembly in a generally non-vertical direction. A passage defined in the hopper is cooperatively positionable in communication with the grinding assembly for allowing movement of material from the hopper to the grinder assembly. A device carried on the hopper is positionable in an open position when the hopper is on the grinder assembly and is positionable in a closed position when the hopper is removed from the grinder assembly.

Removable hopper grinder

A grinding machine () for use in grinding materials, the grinding machine () comprising: a grinder assembly () for receiving material therein; at least one removable hopper () attachable proximate to the grinding assembly () for dispensing material to the grinder assembly (); a passage () defined in the hopper being cooperatively placed in communication with the grinding assembly () for dispensing material from the hopper () to the grinder assembly (); a displaceable shutter () being positionnable in an open position when the hopper () is placed on the grinder assembly () and being positionnable in a closed position when the hopper () is removed from the grinder assembly (); and a slide gate mechanism () including a slide gate () and a mover linked to the slide gate for controllably opening and closing passage of material from the hopper () to the grinder assembly () for grinfind material therein.

A cold beverage dispensing system for chilling a beverage such that at least a portion of the beverage includes a frozen component. The system includes a beverage hopper or tank for retaining a quantity of beverage and a chilling assembly communicating with the beverage hopper for chilling the beverage. The system also includes a beverage detector having a conductive probe carried on and extending into the beverage hopper for detecting the condition of either the presence or absence of a beverage at a predetermined level in the beverage hopper and generating a refill control signal corresponding to the condition detected. A refill assembly communicates with the beverage hopper for controllably providing refill beverage to the beverage hopper. A controller is coupled to the refill assembly and the beverage detector for operating the refill assembly in response to the refill control signal to maintain the beverage in the beverage hopper at the predetermined level.

Cold beverage refill system

A holder is used with a beverage making apparatus to make a beverage, such as coffee, concentrated beverage or tea. The holder retains a quantity of substance which can be used to make a beverage which is thereafter deposited into one of two reservoirs. This allows different flavors, or regular and decaffeinated coffee, to be served from the apparatus. The holder includes a body, a drain hole provided therethrough for allowing liquids to flow through the holder, and first and second handles attached to the body. The first handle and the second handle are offset from each other. A first magnet is associated with the first handle and has its north and south poles in first orientation. A second magnet is associated with the second handle and has its north and south poles in second orientation which is generally opposite the first orientation. The apparatus includes a housing on which the holder can be mounted in various directions. A sensor is provided on the housing to detect whether the first magnet or the second magnet is thereunder and to detect the orientation of the magnet thereunder. This information is sent to a controller on the apparatus and the controller determines which beverage is to be made and the presence or absence of the holder.

Multiple direction holder and beverage making apparatus

An apparatus is used for making a beverage and for rinsing or cleaning a pair of reservoirs in the apparatus. The apparatus includes a housing, a fluid reservoir associated therewith, a controller in communication with the fluid reservoir, structure for selectively passing fluid from the fluid reservoir to at least one outlet on the housing, and first and second reservoirs mounted in the housing. A holder can be mounted on said the housing. The holder includes a body, a drain hole provided therethrough, and a conduit provided therethrough. The conduit is spaced from the drain hole. When the holder is mounted on the housing, the drain hole is positioned over one of the reservoirs and the conduit is located over the other of the reservoirs. The controller controls the flow of fluid from the fluid reservoir to the holder. Fluid flows from the water reservoir to the holder through drain hole into the one reservoir. Fluid also simultaneously flows from the water reservoir to the holder through the conduit into the other reservoir. The reservoirs include controllable drain valves which can be operated to retain the fluid, such as heated water, for a predetermined amount of time to sanitize the reservoirs. The fluid is then drained from the reservoirs to complete the rinsing or cleaning cycle.

Beverage reservoir cleaning apparatus and method of use

A programmable dispenser which mixes a substance with water and dispenses a product. In one embodiment, the rate at which substance is dispensed is programmable. The programmable dispenser includes a substance dispensing device which dispenses the substance and a motor which is operably connected to the substance dispensing device. A controller is operably connected to the motor and programmed to operate the motor at a programmed speed to dispense substance at a pre-determined rate. A button is in communication with the controller, and the controller is configured such that the button is actuatable to change the programmed speed to a new programmed speed to provide that the controller subsequently operates the motor at the new programmed speed to provide that the substance dispensing device dispenses substance at a different rate.

Programmable dispenser

Beverage dispenser door

A powdered beverage mixing and dispensing apparatus which combines a powdered beverage substance and water to produce a desired beverage, for example cappuccino, hot chocolate, as well as other beverages which may be provided in powdered form. The apparatus includes at least one hopper having a powdered beverage stirring and dispensing mechanism which stirs the powder to further prevent caking and to controllably dispense a desired quantity of powder from the hopper. A water dispensing system is coupled to the apparatus to controllably dispense a quantity of water for mixing with a quantity of powder dispensed from the hopper. A mixing assembly communicates with the hopper and with the water dispensing system to combine powder. A weir is positioned in a dispensing tube to minimize the face surface of the angle of repose of the powder in the tube. A vapor removal assembly is positioned between the mixing chamber and the hopper to remove moist air from the mixing assembly to reduce intrusion of such moist air into the hopper and absorption by the beverage powder. A dispensing nozzle is attached to the mixing assembly for directing the dispensing of a beverage into a container. A tip edge of the nozzle is positioned at an angle to prevent bubble formation thereover.

Powdered beverage mixing and dispensing apparatus

A powdered beverage mixing and dispensing apparatus which combines a powdered beverage substance and water to produce a desired beverage, for example cappuccino, hot chocolate, as well as other beverages which may be provided in powdered form. The apparatus includes at least one hopper having a powdered beverage stirring and dispensing mechanism which stirs the powder to further prevent caking and to controllably dispense a desired quantity of powder from the hopper. A water dispensing system is provided with the apparatus to controllably dispense a quantity of water for mixing with a quantity of powder dispensed from the hopper. A mixing assembly communicates with the hopper and with the water dispensing system to combine powder and water. The mixing assembly includes a frothing mechanism extending into a whipping chamber which communicates with a mixing chamber to mechanically agitate the powder and water combined in the mixing chamber. A vapor removal assembly is provided between the mixing chamber and the hopper to remove moist air from the mixing assembly to prevent intrusion of such moist air into the hopper and absorption by the beverage powder. A vent tube is provided in the heated water dispensing system to promote draining of a dispensing line communicating with the mixing chamber and to prevent the accumulation of gas bubbles in the dispensing line. A by-pass water system is provided in the apparatus which communicates with a water dispensing line to controllably introduce unheated water into the water dispensing system. Additionally, an illuminated display is provided on a front portion of the apparatus.

A grinder for grinding materials to produce a ground substance. The grinder includes a cabinet, a grinder motor retained in the cabinet, and a grinder mechanism coupled to the motor to grind the materials. A hopper is positioned in communication with the grinder mechanism to deliver materials for grinding. The container retainer is attached to the grinder for retaining a container in close proximity for capturing ground material dispensed thereby. An activation switch assembly is included with the grinder to selectively control the grinder and activate the grinder when a container is placed in a desired location. A substance settling assembly is included with the grinder for removing a container retained by the grinder to settle the substance as it is dispensed from the grinder to the container. A chaff retainer is provided for maintaining chaff included with the ground substance in mixture with the ground substance. A clean-out member is operatively attached to the grinder and selectively engageable with the chaff retainer for removing chaff from the grinder. A magnetic collection device is positioned in the hopper for capturing magnetic pieces which may be deposited in the hopper. An active ventilation system is also included with the grinder for actively and controllably removing heat from the grinder cabinet.

Growing community of inventors

Springfield, IL, United States of America

David F Ford