Bean and ground coffee carrier member for use in coffee systems

Abstract

A coffee grinder assembly including a housing, a coffee bean hopper, a motorized grinder and at least one bean carrier member containing a chamber having a predetermined volume slidably disposed in the housing between a retracted position wherein the chamber communicates with the hopper and is isolated from the grinder and an extended position wherein the chamber communicates with the grinder and is isolated from the hopper. The member contains an inlet aperture for communication between the chamber and the hopper when in the first position and an outlet aperture for communication between the chamber and the grinder when in the second position. The chamber contains a floor which slopes downwardly toward the outlet aperture at a negative angle which is greater than the angle of repose of coffee beans to promote the flow of coffee beans from the chamber to the grinder. A flap or lever pivotally connected to the housing is pivoted into contact with a grinder motor starting switch to start the grinder when the member moves from the first to the second position. A spring attached to a rear wall of the housing moves the member slightly forwardly away from the second position to relieve the pressure of the lever from the switch to open the switch after it has been closed so that the grinder will shut down after its timing circuit deactivates the grinder but not so far forwardly as to interrupt communication between the chamber and the grinder.