Foods and beverages: apparatus – Beverage – Infusors
Patent
1988-12-27
1990-05-29
Jenkins, Robert W.
Foods and beverages: apparatus
Beverage
Infusors
198494, A47J 3100
Patent
active
049285840
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to an infuser. More particularly, but not exclusively, it relates to an infuser for use as an automatic brewer of fresh tea or coffee or the like.
In order to dispense beverages such as tea and coffee, it is necessary to infuse the grounds or tea-leaves in hot water for a time sufficient for the infusion process to be completed. Once infusion is complete, the infusion is separated from the grounds or tealeaves using a filter.
One method of carrying out such infusions is to use a suction process involving a reciprocating mechanism. This is necessarily complex and relatively slow. Another method is to use a filter screen made from wire or plastics mesh, or possibly a disposable paper filter held against a relatively coarse wire mesh. These mesh filters operate more easily than the suction process and are quicker in use. However, organic compounds from the grounds or tealeaves can build up on the filter and combine with calcium salts in hard water areas to block at least some of the mesh. Obviously, this slows the filtration process, eventually to an unacceptable degree.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an infuser which overcomes the above disadvantages and which is self-cleaning or at least may be cleaned automatically.
According to the present invention there is provided an infuser comprising movable screen means, means to deposit infusible solid and infusing liquid onto the screen means, means below the screen means to collect the infusion, and ultrasonic vibration generation means to cause vibration of the screen means to aid cleaning thereof.
The screen means may be a continuous mesh belt passing around rollers.
The collection means may be a tray beneath the screen and contacting the screen at at least one point, in which case a piezo electric sandwich transducer may be connected to the tray for imparting ultrasonic vibrations to the screen at said at least one point.
In one embodiment the piezo electric sandwich transducer may be connected to a blade which contacts the screen for imparting ultrasonic vibrations thereto.
In this case, the blade may have a curved end and contact the screen at an intermediate point of said curve.
The screen means may be provided with a plurality of regularly spaced holes to cooperate with a sprocket drive roller.
In this case, the belt may be coated in the region of the holes with a layer of rubber or plastics material.
Said material may be silicone rubber and/or PTFE.
In another alternative embodiment, the screen means may be a mesh belt extending between and wound around two rollers, winding firstly around one roller and then being reversed to wind around the other.
In this case, the belt may pass through a cleaning tank which may be ultrasonically vibrated.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 shows schematically a side elevation of an infuser embodying the invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of an infuser cassette embodying the invention;
FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the cassette shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a schematic side elevation of another infuser embodying the invention;
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the infuser of FIG. 4, showing underlying parts in phantom;
FIG. 6 is a top elevation of a vibratible blade for use with the infuser shown in FIGS. 4 and 5;
FIG. 7 is an end elevation of the blade of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a top elevation of an infuser embodying the invention; and
FIG. 9 is a schematic side elevation of the infuser of FIG. 8.
Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a continuous mesh belt 1, passing around a drive roller 2 and a pair of tensioning rolls 3 biased apart by spring means 4. The belt 1 thus remains under tension where it passes across a receiving tray 5.
Predetermined quantities of solids, generally tealeaves or coffee grounds, and hot water are dispensed onto the belt over the tray 5 from a mixing vessel, not shown. The infusion starts in the mixing chamber, and continues o
REFERENCES:
patent: 2043181 (1936-06-01), Lamort
patent: 3190793 (1965-06-01), Starke
patent: 3429253 (1969-02-01), Breitenstein
patent: 4134332 (1979-01-01), Merman
patent: 4539827 (1985-09-01), Klein
General Dispensing Systems Limited
Jenkins Robert W.
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