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US 12,685,404 B2Granted
Brewing machine beverage ingredient chamber
AssigneeKeurig Green Mountain, Inc.
InventorsTsz Yin Li, Kin Chung Choi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A brewing system may include a fluid supply system, a chamber, and a fluid outlet. The fluid outlet may be configured to pierce a capsule containing a beverage ingredient formed of solid particles. The chamber may be configured to receive and hold solid particles from the capsule without inhibiting or restricting a flow path from the fluid supply system, through the chamber, and out of the fluid outlet. In some cases, a fluid flow through the chamber may gradually empty the chamber of solid particles.
Claims23
A brewing machine, comprising:
- a fluid supply system including a fluid outlet, the fluid outlet constructed and arranged to pierce a capsule;
- a chamber in fluidic communication with the fluid supply system and positioned upstream of the fluid outlet, the chamber including a chamber inlet, a chamber outlet, and a catch volume, wherein the catch volume is defined by a barrier between the chamber inlet and the chamber outlet;
- and
- a capsule compartment disposed downstream of the fluid outlet,
- wherein the chamber is constructed and arranged to catch solid particles in the catch volume;
- and
- wherein the fluid supply system is configured to deliver heated fluid to the chamber inlet.
4 more elements
A method for operating a brewing machine, comprising:
- causing solid particles of beverage material to flow into a fluid outlet of a fluid supply system from a capsule compartment disposed downstream of the fluid outlet;
- catching the solid particles in a catch volume of a chamber positioned upstream of the fluid outlet, wherein the catch volume is defined by a barrier between a chamber inlet and a chamber outlet of the chamber;
- wherein the chamber is constructed and arranged to catch the solid particles in the catch volume;
- delivering heated fluid to the chamber inlet;
- and
- producing a fluid flow through the chamber from the chamber inlet to the chamber outlet, wherein the fluid flow exits the fluid supply system through the fluid outlet.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.