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US 5,918,768 AGranted
Powdered beverage mixing and dispensing apparatus
AssigneeBunn-O-Matic Corporation
InventorDavid F. Ford
Life of this patent
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AssigneeBunn-O-Matic Corporation
InventorDavid F. Ford
Estimating the term…
A powdered beverage mixing and dispensing apparatus which combines a powdered beverage substance and water to produce a desired beverage, for example cappuccino, hot chocolate, as well as other beverages which may be provided in powdered form. The apparatus includes at least one hopper having a powdered beverage stirring and dispensing mechanism which stirs the powder to further prevent caking and to controllably dispense a desired quantity of powder from the hopper. A water dispensing system is provided with the apparatus to controllably dispense a quantity of water for mixing with a quantity of powder dispensed from the hopper. A mixing assembly communicates with the hopper and with the water dispensing system to combine powder and water. The mixing assembly includes a frothing mechanism extending into a whipping chamber which communicates with a mixing chamber to mechanically agitate the powder and water combined in the mixing chamber. A vapor removal assembly is provided between the mixing chamber and the hopper to remove moist air from the mixing assembly to prevent intrusion of such moist air into the hopper and absorption by the beverage powder. A vent tube is provided in the heated water dispensing system to promote draining of a dispensing line communicating with the mixing chamber and to prevent the accumulation of gas bubbles in the dispensing line. A by-pass water system is provided in the apparatus which communicates with a water dispensing line to controllably introduce unheated water into the water dispensing system. Additionally, an illuminated display is provided on a front portion of the apparatus.
A powdered beverage mixing and dispensing apparatus having a housing containing at least one powdered beverage substance hopper for retaining a powdered beverage substance;
A powdered beverage mixing and dispensing apparatus, said apparatus including at least one hopper for retaining a quantity of powdered beverage substance therein, an auger positioned in said hopper and attached to an auger motor for moving powdered beverage substance through said hopper toward a dispensing outlet in said hopper for controllably dispensing a desired quantity of powdered beverage substance from said hopper, a stirring mechanism engaged with the auger including an agitator disk retained in said hopper having teeth along a circumferential edge thereof engagable with said auger, and agitator structure on said disk and having a dimension facilitating extension beyond the circumferential edge of said agitator disk, wherein operation of said auger by said auger motor rotates said agitator disk and said agitator structure retained thereon in said hopper to agitate said powdered beverage substance retained therein, said agitator disk having
A powdered beverage mixing and dispensing apparatus having at least one hopper for retaining a quantity of powdered beverage substance and means associated therewith for dispensing said substance from said hopper, a heated water dispensing system for controllably dispensing a quantity of heated water for mixing with a quantity of powdered beverage substance, a mixing assembly positioned for receiving powdered beverage substance from said hopper and communicating with said heated water dispensing system to receive and mix powdered beverage substance and heated water to produce a beverage therein, said heated water dispensing system including a heated water reservoir and at least one dispensing line communicating with said reservoir and said mixing assembly, said dispensing line being positioned on an inclined path from said reservoir to said mixing assembly so as to provide gravity delivery of water from said reservoir to said mixing assembly and to promote draining of said dispensing line after each dispensing cycle, a vent tube communicating with said dispensing line in close proximity to said reservoir for promoting draining of said dispensing line at the completion of a dispensing cycle and for minimizing the accumulation of bubbles in said dispensing line so as to promote consistent dispensing of water through said dispensing line, said heated water dispensing system including an inlet line providing water to said apparatus, a heated water reservoir communicating with said inlet line for receiving water, said dispensing line communicating with said heated water reservoir for controllably dispensing heated water from said reservoir to a corresponding mixing assembly, and a by-pass water system comprising:
A powdered beverage mixing and dispensing apparatus having a housing containing at least one powdered beverage substance hopper for retaining a powdered beverage substance;
A powdered beverage mixing and dispensing apparatus, said apparatus including at least one hopper for retaining a quantity of powdered beverage substance therein, an auger positioned in said hopper and attached to an auger motor for moving powdered beverage substance through said hopper toward a dispensing outlet in said hopper for controllably dispensing a desired quantity of powdered beverage substance from said hopper, and a stirring mechanism engaged with the auger including a disk retained in said hopper having teeth along a circumferential edge thereof engagable with said auger, at least one agitator wire attached to and spaced away from said agitator disk, and wherein movement of said auger by said auger motor rotates said agitator disk and said agitator wire retained thereon in said hopper to agitate said powdered beverage substance retained therein.
A powdered beverage mixing and dispensing apparatus having at least one hopper for retaining a quantity of powdered beverage substance and means associated therewith for dispensing said substance from said hopper, a heated water dispensing system for controllably dispensing a quantity of heated water for mixing with a quantity of powdered beverage substance, a mixing assembly positioned for receiving powdered beverage substance from said hopper and communicating with said heated water dispensing system to receive and mix powdered beverage substance and heated water to produce a beverage therein, said heated water dispensing system including a heated water reservoir and at least one dispensing line communicating with said reservoir and said mixing assembly, said dispensing line being positioned on an inclined path from said reservoir to said mixing assembly so as to provide gravity delivery of water from said reservoir to said mixing assembly and to promote draining of said dispensing line after each dispensing cycle, a vent tube communicating with said dispensing line in close proximity to said reservoir for promoting draining of said dispensing line at the completion of a dispensing cycle and for minimizing the accumulation of bubbles in said dispensing line so as to promote consistent dispensing of water through said dispensing lines, said vent tube being configured with respect to said dispensing line such that water flowing through the dispensing line backs up in the vent tube thereby scaling off the vent tube, wherein the water in the vent tube drains through said dispensing line at the completion of the dispensing cycle thereby proviving consistent quantities of water dispensed.
A powdered beverage mixing and dispensing apparatus having a housing containing at least one powdered beverage substance hopper for retaining a powdered beverage substance;
A powdered beverage mixing and dispensing apparatus having a housing containing at least one powdered beverage substance hopper for retaining a powdered beverage substance;
A powdered beverage mixing and dispensing apparatus, said apparatus including at least one hopper for retaining a quantity of powdered beverage substance therein, an auger positioned in said hopper and attached to an auger motor for moving powdered beverage substance through said hopper toward a dispensing outlet in said hopper for controllably dispensing a desired quantity of powdered beverage substance from said hopper, and a stirring mechanism engaged with the auger including a disk retained in said hopper having teeth along a circumferential edge thereof engagable with said auger, and an agitator wire on said disk and having a dimension facilitating extension beyond the circumferential edge of said agitator disk, wherein operation of said auger by said auger motor rotates said agitator disk and said agitator wire retained thereon in said hopper to agitate said powdered beverage substance retained therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.