Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.

Kim Lai Wong

Richard Pasquini

Choon Meng Teo

John Couture

Yee Leong Pang

A method and apparatus for venting a liquid supply of a beverage machine, e.g., by permanently open orifice and/or pressure relief valve. The orifice may always vent a heater tank, even while liquid is delivered to the tank by a liquid pump and/or while the tank is pressurized by an air pump to deliver liquid from the tank. A filter may be positioned between a heater tank and orifice and/or air pump. The pressure relief valve may be positioned between the liquid pump and the inlet side of the heater tank, e.g., so relatively cool water is released by the pressure relief valve when open.

Vent orifice and filter for beverage machine

Aspects relating to a method and apparatus for venting a heater tank of a beverage forming apparatus using a vent valve that is opened and closed based on an operation to move a brew chamber lid between an open lid position and a closed lid position are provided. In one aspect, the vent valve may be positioned on a vent line distinct from a delivery line that delivers heated liquid from the heater tank to the brew chamber. In another aspect, at least a portion of the delivery line may extend downwardly from the top of the heater tank to a location between the top and the bottom of the heater tank. In another aspect, the at least a portion of the vent valve may be attached to the handle for movement with the handle.

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Johor, Malaysia

Kim Lai Wong