Beverage brewing device for automatically brewing and dispensing single cup quantities of beverage through a vending machine with minimal manual participation

摘要

A single cup capsule brewing machine which incorporates a device for automatically brewing and dispensing single cups of coffee, or other beverages, the device containing a receptacle for receiving a single serve capsule, a housing for raising or lowering onto the capsule, and process the capsule during various sequences of operation of the brewing machine, an upper housing raising or lowering onto the capsule to attain sequential piercing of the capsule through an inlet probe and then an outlet probe, and for preparing a hot beverage for individual consumption, and then a lower housing that moves along an arc to provide for alignment of the capsule for a brewing cycle, or for shifting forwardly for interconnection of a capsule in preparation of a brewing cycle, or for shifting the capsule rearwardly for its disposal after performance of a brewing cycle.

主权项

1. A single cup capsule brewing machine for incorporation within a vending machine and which incorporates an upper housing, a lower housing supported by the upper housing, said lower housing having a capsule supporting structure therein, and provided for holding the capsule during brewing, said upper housing including a cam means, a piercing inlet probe supported by the upper housing for vertical shifting through the operations of the upper housing cam means, a spring means for biasing against the capsule and to hold it in position as the upper piercing probe pierces the top of the capsule, and upon further downward movement of the upper housing compressing said spring means and causing the bottom of the capsule to be pierced by a lower piercing outlet probe, an upper motor operatively associated with the upper housing to pivot the upper cam during its sequence of operations, the lower housing capable of pivoting within the upper housing, between a capsule piercing and brewing procedure when the lower housing is maintained in alignment with the upper housing, and a lower motor pivoting said lower housing rearwardly to provide for spring biased ejection of the spent capsule after completion of a brewing cycle.