Motorized chute trap for a beverage brewing system
AssigneeHaier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
InventorsEddy Zhou, Zhihua Liu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A feeder system for a beverage dispenser includes a top plate for a basket, the top plate defining a chute aperture, a mounting plate positioned over the top plate, the mounting plate defining a mounting aperture, the mounting aperture being aligned with the chute aperture along the axial direction, a feeder module including a chute, the chute defining an outlet aligned with the mounting aperture along the axial direction, and a partition plate slidably coupled to the mounting plate, the partition plate movable between a first position and a second position. The partition plate includes a rack gear and an extension tab selectively disposed across the chute aperture to close the chute.
Claims14
A feeder system for a beverage dispenser, the feeder system defining an axial direction and a radial direction, the feeder system comprising:
- a lid for a basket, the lid defining a chute aperture;
- a mounting plate positioned over the lid, the mounting plate defining a mounting aperture, the mounting aperture being aligned with the chute aperture along the axial direction;
- a feeder module comprising a chute, the chute defining an outlet aligned with the mounting aperture along the axial direction;
- a partition plate slidably coupled to the mounting plate, the partition plate movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the partition plate comprises a rack gear, an extension tab selectively disposed across the chute aperture to close the chute, and a pin protruding along the axial direction from the rack gear;
- a motor attached to the mounting plate;
- a driving gear operably connected with the motor, wherein the driving gear is meshed with the rack gear of the partition plate;
- and
- a switch assembly comprising a first switch attached to the mounting plate at a first position and a second switch attached to the mounting plate at a second position different from the first position, wherein the pin is positioned between the first and second switches along the radial direction.
A beverage brewing system defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the beverage brewing system comprising:
- a housing;
- a component tower extending from the housing;
- a brewing basket module removably accommodated within the component tower;
- a hopper positioned within the component tower;
- a controller provided within the housing;
- and
- a feeder system provided within the component tower, the feeder system comprising:
- a lid for a basket, the lid defining a chute aperture;
- a mounting plate positioned over the lid, the mounting plate defining a mounting aperture, the mounting aperture being aligned with the chute aperture along the vertical direction;
- a feeder module comprising a chute, the chute defining an outlet aligned with the mounting aperture along the vertical direction;
- a partition plate slidably coupled to the mounting plate, the partition plate movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the partition plate comprises a rack gear, an extension tab selectively disposed across the chute aperture to close the chute, and a pin protruding along the vertical direction from the rack gear;
- a motor bracket attached to the mounting plate;
- a motor attached to the motor bracket;
- a driving gear operably connected with the motor, wherein the driving gear is meshed with the rack gear of the partition plate;
- and
- a switch assembly comprising a first switch attached to the motor bracket at a first position and a second switch attached to the motor bracket at a second position different from the first position, wherein the pin is positioned between the first and second switches along the lateral direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.