Bunn-o-matic Corporation

Dickey-john Corporation

Other

William E Midden

Suresh Radhakrishnan

Charles H Clark

Rex Allen Rogers

John T Knepler

Randy D Pope

Jeffery W Kadyk

John Douglas Bishop

David F Ford

James H Anson

Arthur H Bunn

Jason M Banning

Keith G Nybakke

Daniel Hansen

Raymond N Wenda

Jeff T Samson

John Bodjack

Jane Ann Harris

Laurie A Owen

Robert Worrell

David B Funk

William H Thomas

David G Sokol

Charles F Schmid

Orville Krenzer

The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for a funnel assembly for use in a beverage brewing apparatus. The funnel assembly may include an insert that is retained in the funnel assembly to contain a powdered or other similar substance for mixing with liquid within the insert. The insert is configured to extend within a cavity of the funnel assembly and is configured to permit mixing of the substance with the liquid before dispensing the mixture into a portion of the funnel assembly. The insert may include a rim or liquid shield, with at least a portion of the rim or liquid shield engaging a portion of the funnel assembly to retain the insert within the funnel assembly. The insert may further include a flow guide adjacent a drainage aperture, the flow guide at least partially directing the flow of mixture from the insert into a portion of the funnel assembly. The funnel assembly may alternatively itself be formed to contain a powdered or similar substance and permit mixing of the substance with liquid before dispensing.

Funnel assembly for making powdered beverage

A system, method, and apparatus for producing an ingredient foam such as milk foam for use with other products such as beverages. An ingredient dispensing assembly is included for receiving one or more ingredients from an ingredient dispensing apparatus, processing the ingredients and dispensing a general uniform, consistent foam. The ingredient dispensing assembly includes a whipping chamber, an output nozzle, and an insert retained within cavities defined by the whipping chamber and output nozzle. The internal surfaces of the chamber and nozzle cavities in combination with the insert provide passages defining a mixing zone, a shredding zone communicating with the mixing zone, and a deceleration zone communicating with the shredding zone. The assembly passes at least one ingredient through the zones to dispense foam from an exit port of the outlet nozzle. The system includes apparatus and methods for reducing the dissociation of foam dispensed form the exit port.

Milk foam dispensing system

The present invention includes a milk dispensing assembly for use with a beverage dispensing machine for combining milk, which is heated, ambient, unheated, or chilled, selectively with a second ingredient. The milk dispensing assembly includes a single milk passage for the introduction of a flow of milk and a single passage for the introduction of a second ingredient. The milk passage and ingredient passage are oriented to be fed into an intermediate passage which communicates with a swirl cavity defined by a mixing chamber. The introduction of milk and second ingredient is controlled to provide a variety of selected conditions of the resulting combination.

Milk heating and dispensing and flavor dispensing system and apparatus

The present application relates to apparatus, systems, and methods of use for producing beverages. The apparatus includes components and methods for facilitating beverage production applying water or other liquid in combination with a brewing substance and controlled aeration and pressurization of a mixing vessel or column. The aeration of the water and brewing substance can be accomplished with a vacuum system, a positive pressurization system, and a combination of such systems. The apparatus, systems, and methods can be used with a variety of beverage making devices such as a device which might be used to controllably produce volumes of beverage to a reservoir. The methods include controllable aeration and pressurization of the vessel for brewing which may include controlling extraction time, steep time, active controllable agitation of the brewing substance, as well as other brewing characteristics, features, and actions.

Method of making a beverage with a controllable brewer

The present disclosure includes a milk heating system, methods, and apparatus for combining milk, which is heated, ambient, or chilled, selectively with or without being infused with air, and selectively dispensed with or without flavorings. The apparatus and method disclosed includes structures for selectively combining milk with air and flavorings to dispense a selected combination of ingredients. The assembly includes a dispensing head assembly having a flavoring dispensing component and a milk dispensing component. The flavoring dispensing component can be coupled to the milk dispensing component for combining ingredients and dispensing into a container. The milk dispensing component includes a single path for the introduction of a flow of milk and a single path for the introduction of steam. The milk path and steam path are oriented to be fed into an intermediate passage which communicates with a swirl cavity defined by the mixing chamber. The introduction of milk and steam is controlled to provide a variety of selected conditions of the resulting combination. The flavor dispensing component introduces flavorings at least partially downstream from the mixing of the milk and steam to produce one or more flavorings with the milk component.

Milk heating and dispensing and flavor dispensing system, method, and apparatus

Briefly, and in accordance with the foregoing, disclosed is a spray head for use with, in combination with a beverage making apparatus, as a replacement for other spray heads and a method of using a spray head. The spray head receives liquid from a liquid dispensing path of the beverage making apparatus and distributes liquid over a beverage making substance retained proximate the spray head. The spray head includes two pieces, a first piece for connection to the liquid dispensing path and the second piece which is flexible and removable attachable to the first piece. A cavity is defined between the first and second pieces. Water received form the liquid dispensing path collects in the cavity. The second piece or body portion includes a plurality of holes for dispensing and distributing water from the cavity over the beverage substance. The spray head is removable from the beverage making apparatus for facilitating direct contact and flexion cleaning of the surfaces of at least the body portion of the spray head to remove particles and mineral deposits therefrom.

Flexible spray head

An apparatus, system, and method of use in making beverages. The apparatus includes components and structures for making beverages by mixing heated water or other liquid and a beverage making substance in combination with controllable evacuation, pressurization, or both of a mixing vessel. The method includes controllable brewing using a vacuum, positive pressure, or both to control one or a combination of active controllable agitation of ingredients, steep time, pressurization, extraction time, agitation pulsing, dispensing pulsing as well as other numerous other beverage preparation characteristics and controls.

Air agitation controllable beverage making apparatus, system and method

The present disclosure relates to apparatus, systems, and methods of use for producing beverages. The apparatus includes components and methods for facilitating beverage production applying water or other liquid in combination with a brewing substance and controlled aeration and pressurization of a mixing vessel or column. The aeration of the water and brewing substance can be accomplished with a vacuum system, a positive pressurization system, and a combination of such systems. The apparatus, systems, and methods can be used with a variety of beverage making devices such as a device which might be used to controllably produce volumes of beverage to a reservoir. The methods include controllable aeration and pressurization of the vessel for brewing which may include controlling extraction time, steep time, active controllable agitation of the brewing substance, as well as other brewing characteristics, features, and actions.

Controllable brewer

Disclosed is a container for containing a beverage and a grommet for use with a container, and a method of retaining liquid in a container and preventing reverse flow out of the container. The container is of the type for retaining a quantity of beverage including at least one wall containing a cavity therein, a rim defining a mouth, and a lid extending at least partially over the mouth. A valve port is provided in the lid. A grommet is provided for retention in the valve port including a flange and structures for retaining the grommet in the valve port. The grommet defines an aperture extending therethrough which communicates with the valve port. The beverage is passed through the aperture and valve port for retention in the cavity of the container. A tongue extends from the grommet into the valve port for movably blocking a portion of the valve port. The tongue is movably displaced as beverage is dispensed into the container and is positioned over a portion of the valve port for preventing reverse flow of beverage from the container out through the valve port.

Beverage container with one-way valve assembly

An apparatus and method of dispensing a partially frozen beverage. The apparatus includes at least one beverage hopper for retaining a quantity of partially frozen beverage. The beverage hopper has a dispensing aperture formed therein and a guide member in an exterior surface of the beverage hopper. A chilling unit cools the partially frozen beverage retained within the beverage hopper. A dispenser assembly is provided which includes a handle, a biasing element, a gasket and a slideable valve member. the valve member has a portion dimensioned to slideably engage the guide member of the beverage hopper.

Dispenser valve assembly

Beverage brewer

A system for sensing the torque exerted upon a motor shaft assembly relative to the consistency of a mixture. The system includes a moving member for moving the mixture. One form of the mixture may be a chilled beverage in which the moving member moves the chilled beverage within a container. The motor shaft assembly includes a drive device coupled to the moving member for imparting movement to the moving member and a drive shaft connecting the drive device in the moving member. The drive shaft defines an axis of rotation. The drive shaft is adapted for rotation to effect movement of the moving member. The drive shaft includes at least one axially aligned resilient coupling extending generally coaxial with and radially spaced from the axis of rotation. The resilient coupling is adapted for rotation relative to the drive shaft so that when the drive shaft is rotated the relative position of the drive shaft and the resilient coupling varies in relation to the torque exerted upon the motor shaft assembly relative to the consistency of mixture. A sensor is positioned proximate to the drive shaft for detecting the relative position of the drive shaft and the resilient coupling as it varies in relation to the torque exerted upon the motor shaft assembly relative to the consistency of the mixture.

Cold drink system

An apparatus for producing a chilled or partially frozen beverage often referred to as a slush beverage. A variety of apparatuses have been designed to produce chilled beverages as well as to produce beverages which are in a &ldquo;slush&rdquo; form. Some of these apparatuses are referred to as &ldquo;granita&rdquo; machines. Such apparatuses can be used to produce slush beverages from a variety of products including fruit juices, coffee-based beverages, tea-based beverages, as well as beverages containing alcohol. Such apparatuses includes a chilling structure, and some form of blade or auger which moves relative to the chilling portion to strip the frozen product off and circulate the beverage along the chilling portion. Circulation of the beverage along the chilling portion helps to reduce the temperature of the beverage mixture thereby approaching a slush consistency.

A cold drink system for chilling a liquid include a hopper for retaining a quantity of liquid and a hopper cover for covering a mouth of the hopper. A dispensing faucet is connected to the hopper for dispensing liquid therefrom. Structure is provided for locking the dispensing faucet to prevent actuation thereof by an unauthorized user. In addition, structure is provided for retaining the hopper cover on the hopper to deter an unauthorized user from attempting to remove the hopper cover from the hopper.

Growing community of inventors

Springfield, IL, United States of America

William E Midden