US 5,690,283 A · Coffee blending and flavoring apparatus

Abstract

A coffee blending apparatus for automatically custom blending two or more different types of coffee beans with or without added flavoring to an individual's personalized blend and/or flavor. The apparatus includes a plurality of supply hoppers, each containing a particular type of coffee bean, each hopper having a controlled discharge opening from which the coffee beans are selectively discharged in predetermined amounts onto a weighing apparatus or scale for weighing. The selected coffee beans forming the desired blend are then mixed to form a homogeneous blend of coffee beans and from where the blended beans are directed to either a grinding station or bagging station as an unflavored blend, or to a flavoring station wherein the homogeneously blended coffee beans are mixed with a desired flavoring ingredient. In one form of the invention, a scale having a discharge opening is interposed between the supply hoppers and the mixer where the coffee beans are blended. In another form of the invention, the mixer also functions as the scale for weighing the blended coffee beans. In either embodiment, the apparatus is controlled by a central processing unit (CPU) for controlling and sequencing the operation of the apparatus, whereby an individual customer may automatically customize his or her own personal coffee blend, with or without added flavoring.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An apparatus for personalizing and custom blending of different types of coffees comprising:

a plurality of supply hoppers, each defining a supply source for a different coffee;
each hopper having a controlled discharge opening;
weighing means disposed adjacent said controlled discharge openings of each hopper for receiving the respective coffees discharged therefrom;
means for mixing the weighed coffee to form a homogeneous blend of said coffees;
a bagging station and a grinding station operatively connected to said mixing means;
said mixing means directing the homogeneous blended coffee to one of said stations;
and
a central processing unit programmed to sequence the actuation of said controlled discharge openings for controlling the type and amount of coffee discharged from said respective supply hoppers that are weighed and mixed in accordance with a predetermined program.

5 more elements

An apparatus for personalizing and custom blending of different types of coffees comprising:

a plurality of supply hoppers, each defining a supply source for a different coffee;
each of said hoppers having a controlled discharge opening;
a mixing receptacle disposed adjacent said hopper discharge opening for receiving the coffee discharged therefrom;
said mixing receptacle including weighing means for weighing the amount of coffee disposed therein;
means for mixing the coffee in said mixing receptacle;
a bagging station and a mixing station operatively connected to said mixing receptacle;
said mixing receptacle having a controlled outlet in communication with said bagging station and grinding station;
a valve member associated with said outlet for directing the coffees to either said bagging station or grinding station;
and said mixing means directing the mixed coffees to said outlet;
and a central processing unit programmed to sequence the actuation of said controlled discharge openings for controlling the type and amount of coffee discharged from said respective supply hoppers and for weighing and directing the blended coffee to either said bagging station or grinding station in accordance with a predetermined program.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Coffee blending and flavoring apparatus

Life of this patent

Coffee blending and flavoring apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14