Foods and beverages: apparatus – Beverage – Infusors
Patent
1986-04-03
1987-09-22
Jenkins, Robert W.
Foods and beverages: apparatus
Beverage
Infusors
99302P, A47J 3100
Patent
active
046947396
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to apparatus, hereinafter referred to as being of the type specified, for producing, during a cycle, an infusion from a liquid and an infusible ingredient, e.g. tea or coffee, and which comprises the following:
1. a container for receiving the ingredient and liquid and arranged to have a base which is permeable to air and liquid but substantially impermeable to the ingredient, the container being movable between an operative position in which it can be sealed to the base and an inoperative position in which it is spaced from the base;
2. a piston and cylinder assembly under the container arranged so that the open top of the cylinder communicates with the base and the piston is operable when the container is in its operative position: infusion in the container to pass through said base into the cylinder;
3. an outlet in the cylinder through which the infusion entering the cylinder via the base can be delivered; and
4. operating means to cycle the apparatus by reciprocating the piston and moving the container between its operative and inoperative positions.
The base may be constituted by a filter medium, e.g. paper, and/or by a rigid mesh. When the container is in its inoperative position the base can be cleared of spent ingredient. If the base is a mesh only this can be effected by scraping. If the base is, or includes, a filter medium the latter can be in the form of a continuous strip which is advanced intermittently to remove the length of paper carrying the spent ingredient and to bring a fresh length of medium into position under the container for the next operation of the apparatus.
In the operation of such apparatus, as shown for example in U.S. Pat. No. 3,565,641 the ingredient, e.g. coffee, and the liquid, e.g. hot water, are delivered into the container from above when the piston is between its dead-centre positions and in which the outlet is isolated from the base by the piston. Infusion commences and the piston is then moved upwardly to pass air from the cylinder through the base and through the mixture to agitate it to assist infusion. The piston then moves downwardly to reduce the pressure in the cylinder and to draw the infusion through the base into the cylinder, leaving the coffee grounds on the base. When the piston approaches its bottom dead centre position it opens the outlet so that the infusion can be delivered from the cylinder. The container then moves to its inoperative position, the spent ingredient is removed from the base and the container returns to its operative position and the apparatus is ready for the next cycle.
According to the invention we provide apparatus of the type specified wherein the operating means comprises a connecting rod joining the piston to a rotatable crank and a detachable connection between said rod and the crank; the apparatus including a support, a pair of arms on the support to receive the cylinder therebetween, a flange on the cylinder and mutually interengageable surfaces on each arm and on the flange, such surfaces extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder; the piston and cylinder assembly being mountable and demountable from the support when said connection is detached by sliding the flange between the arms with said surfaces engaged.
In this arrangement, therefore, it is a simple matter to remove and replace the piston and cylinder assembly when necessary for cleaning or for replacement or repair and such an arrangement is important in apparatus of this type when used in a vending machine which is in continual operation.
The surfaces on the flange on the cylinder are formed by groove walls into which fit flanges on the arms which also provide such surfaces.
A resilient catch may be provided to hold the cylinder in its mounted position on the support. The catch may be provided by a formation on the flange of the cylinder arranged to engage a detent on the support.
The invention will now be described in detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which is an exploded pe
REFERENCES:
patent: 3019719 (1962-02-01), Parraga
patent: 3565641 (1971-02-01), King
Daintrey Joseph W.
Thomson Peter
Jenkins Robert W.
Sankey Vending Limited
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