Coffee roasting system with roasting and cooling subsystems, and methods for the same
AssigneeBellwether Coffee Co.
InventorsStewart SCHMEHL, Peter SCHMEHL
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bean roasting system includes a roasting subsystem and an air handling subsystem. The roasting subsystem is configured to receive and to thermally roast a batch of beans. The air handling subsystem is coupled to the roasting subsystem and includes a blower, a cyclone separator, and a heater. The blower is configured to impart air motion. The air passes through the air handling subsystem. The cyclone separator is configured to remove particulates from the air handling subsystem. The heater is configured to heat the air passing through the air handling subsystem. The heater includes heater windings that are incorporated into the cyclone separator.
Claims20
A bean roasting system, comprising:
- a roasting subsystem configured to receive and to thermally roast a batch of beans;
- and
- an air handling subsystem coupled to the roasting subsystem, the air handling subsystem including:
- a blower configured to impart motion to air to pass the air through at least a portion of the air handling subsystem;
- and
- a cyclone separator configured to remove particulates,
- the cyclone separator including a heater configured to heat the air passing through at least a portion of the air handling subsystem, the heater including a heater portion that is disposed within the cyclone separator.
A method of roasting beans, comprising:
- providing a bean roasting system including:
- a roasting subsystem configured to receive and to thermally roast a batch of beans;
- and
- an air handling subsystem coupled to the roasting subsystem, the air handling subsystem includes:
- a blower;
- a cyclone separator configured to remove particulates from the air handling subsystem;
- and
- a heater including a heater portion that is incorporated into the cyclone separator;
- operating the blower to impart air motion through the air handling subsystem;
- operating the cyclone separator to remove particulates from the air handling subsystem;
- and
- operating the heater portion to heat the air passing through the air handling subsystem.
A method, comprising:
- thermally roasting a batch of beans within a roasting subsystem;
- imparting, during the thermally roasting, motion to air through at least a portion of an air handling subsystem coupled to the roasting subsystem;
- removing, during the thermally roasting, particulates from the air handling subsystem via a cyclone separator having a heater portion disposed within the cyclone separator;
- and
- applying, during the thermally roasting, energy to the heater portion to heat the air passing through the at least a portion of the air handling subsystem.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.