Waste disposal tray for an automatic coffee maker

A tray assembly for use with a brewing apparatus for receiving and retaining moist material, such as spent brewing substances and the like, and separating a liquid portion therefrom, said tray assembly comprising:

• a tray body having an open end;
• a cover member covering said open end of said tray body, said cover member having a material receiving aperture formed therethrough in communication with said brewing apparatus for receiving moist material therefrom;
• liquid separation means retained in said tray body for drawing off liquids from spent brewing material deposited thereon;
• a sealing member positioned between said brewing apparatus and said material receiving aperture for sealing said tray assembly to prevent steam and moisture from escaping therefrom;
• a controllably sealable tray valve assembly attached to said tray body and operatively engageable with a drain line for draining liquids from said tray body;
• and
• sensor means for sensing the level of spent brewing material in said tray body, said sensor means including a tray contact attached to said cover and extending a distance into a cavity defined by said tray body, and a mating contact operatively associated with said brewing apparatus, said tray contact being operatively engageable with said mating contact to indicate proper engagement of said tray with said brewing apparatus, when material in said tray body accumulates to a level where said contact is immersed in material, said sensor means completes a circuit with said mating contact indicating a full tray condition.