Coffee bean delivery and grinding system
AssigneeUnidynamics Corporation
InventorsAndrew F. Poag, Franklin D. Newkirk
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coffee bean delivery and grinding system for producing a charge of ground coffee comprising a bin and hopper for storing coffee beans, an auger being at least partially disposed in the bottom of the hopper, and a grinder having grinding wheels driven by a grinder motor. An auger motor is connected to one end of the auger for turning the auger to convey coffee beans from the hopper to the grinder. A control mechanism is provided for operating the grinder motor and the auger motor during the cycle of operation of the system. The end of the auger opposite the motor is located generally in an opening in the grinder housing such that the end of the auger is adjacent the grinding wheels for feeding coffee beans to the grinding wheels upon initiation of rotation of the auger.
Claims16
A coffee bean delivery and grinding system for producing a charge of ground coffee in a cycle of operation, the system comprising,
- a bin for storing coffee beans,
- a hopper for receiving beans from the bin and having bottom and sidewalls,
- an auger mounted for rotation within the hopper and having first and second ends, the auger being at least partially disposed in a bottom portion of the hopper and extending through a hole in a side wall of the hopper for removing coffee beans from the hopper,
- an auger motor connected to said first end of the auger for rotating the auger,
- a grinder including a housing and a grinding means disposed within the housing, the housing having an opening for access to said grinding means, said second end of the auger being located generally in said opening for feeding coffee beans to the grinding means upon initiation of rotation of the auger,
- a grinder motor having a drive shaft for driving by engaging the grinding means, and
- control means for operating the auger motor and the grinder motor during a cycle of operation.
A coffee vending machine comprising,
- a bin for storing coffee beans,
- a hopper for receiving beans from the bin and having bottom and side walls,
- an auger mounted for rotation within the hopper and having first and second ends, the auger being at least partially disposed in a bottom portion of the hopper and extending through a hole in a side wall of the hopper for removing coffee beans from the hopper,
- an auger motor connected to said first end of the auger for rotating the auger,
- a grinder including a housing and a grinding means disposed within the housing, the housing having an opening for access to said grinding means, said second end of the auger being located generally in said opening for feeding coffee beans to the grinding means upon initiation of rotation of the auger,
- a grinder motor having a drive shaft for driving by engaging the grinding means,
- control means for operating the auger motor and the grinder motor during a cycle of operation,
- brewing apparatus for brewing coffee ground by the grinder,
- means for dispensing brewed coffee from the brewing apparatus into a container,
- a cabinet for housing the bin, motors, brewing device and dispensing means, and
- currency operated control means associated with the cabinet for initiating operation of the vending machine to grind, brew and deliver the coffee to a container upon insertion of a predetermined amount of currency.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.