Brewer with air evacuation

摘要

A brewing system which uses an air pump to evacuate a dispensing line and a method of brewing in which a brewer includes an air pump to provide pressurized air at least at the end of a brew cycle to help evacuate moisture from a dispensing line. The brewing system includes a heated water reservoir which retains heated water for dispensing and a dispense line through which the water is dispensed. A vent is coupled to the reservoir. A controllable air pump communicates with the reservoir to controllably add air to the reservoir to drive water out of the reservoir. The vent is closed when the pump is used to add air to the system to allow for a build-up of air pressure in the reservoir and out through the dispense line. The controllable air pump controllably dispenses air into the upper portion. Both the air vent valve and air pump are controllably coupled to a controller.

主权项

1. A brewing system for brewing a beverage using a beverage making substance, the brewer comprising:
a controller for controlling the beverage brewer; a single reservoir for retaining heated water for dispensing, the reservoir having an upper portion and a lower area; a heater coupled to the controller and positioned in proximity to the lower area of the reservoir for controllably heating the water in the reservoir; a controllable water fill line communicating with the lower area of the reservoir for controllably introducing water to the reservoir; a controllable valve means for controlling the volume of water introduced to the reservoir from the water fill line, the controllable valve means being coupled to the water fill line and to the controller; a dispense line communicating with the upper portion of the reservoir for controllably dispensing heated water from the reservoir; a spray head coupled to the dispense line for distributing water over a brewing substance retained in a brewing substance holder; a check valve means coupled to the dispense line to prevent water in the dispense line from returning to the reservoir; and a controllable air pump coupled to the controller and communicating with at least one of the upper portion of the reservoir and the dispense line for providing air to the brewer to clear water from at least the dispense line at the end of a brewing cycle.