Apparatus, systems, and methods for grinding a material

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10368694-B2
Application number	US-201514611973-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 2, 2015
Priority date	Sep 30, 2011
Publication date	Aug 6, 2019
Grant date	Aug 6, 2019

Abstract

An apparatus for containing a material, such as coffee beans, that may be used with a grinding apparatus. The apparatus may have a directing component to guide a controlled dose of material toward the grinding apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus has a container with a base portion that engages a grinding apparatus. The container, when engaged with the grinding apparatus, can direct coffee beans toward the grinding apparatus and has a door that releases a controlled dose of beans. The grinding apparatus may have a movable tongue to cause excess grounds caught on interior components of the grinding apparatus to exit the grinding apparatus. The apparatus, systems, and methods reduce labor associated with grinding the material and allow a user, such as a barista, to more efficiently prepare brewed beverages, such as single-cup portions of coffee.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a container comprising a body portion configured to contain a material and a detachable base portion configured to engage with the body portion, the detachable base portion comprising an auger and a surface defining an opening, wherein the auger is configured to guide the material toward the opening;
a grinding apparatus configured to engage with the container to actuate the auger, the grinding apparatus configured to grind the material, wherein the grinding apparatus comprises an engagement portion configured to engage with the detachable base portion of the container;
wherein the opening of the detachable base portion comprises a first opening and wherein the engagement portion of the grinding apparatus defines a second opening configured to allow the material to pass therethrough;
wherein the detachable base portion is configured to removably attach to the body portion such that the detachable base portion and body portion comprise separate components when detached from each other;
wherein the detachable base portion comprises a door that covers the first opening such that the door is configured to open and close to release a controlled dose of material for a single-cup portion of a beverage;
wherein the auger is configured to control the amount of material dispensed through the first opening of the detachable base portion of the container such that a precise and repeatable amount of material can be provided to the grinding apparatus during a brewing process for a single-cup portion of a beverage.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to control a pitch of the auger so that the auger stops at a substantially same position each time a grinding process has finished.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system comprises an encoder configured to detect a pitch of the auger and facilitate positioning the auger in a substantially same position after each use.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the detachable base portion comprises an actuator configured to actuate the auger.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the detachable base portion comprises a ramped surface configured to engage with the door.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the detachable base portion comprises a spring configured to engage with the ramped surface to bias the door in a closed position.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the detachable base portion defines a track configured to receive the ramped surface, the ramped surface configured to linearly translate along the track.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the ramped surface is configured to engage with the grinding apparatus to open and close the door with respect to the first opening of the detachable base portion.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the container comprises more than one auger.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the auger is embedded in the detachable base portion of the container.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising a beverage brewing apparatus configured to receive ground material and to brew a beverage.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the material comprises coffee beans.

Assignees

• Starbucks Corp

Inventors

• Hulett Randy
• Koller Izaak
• Shay Brian

Classifications

• A47J31/42

  Beverage-making apparatus with incorporated grinding or roasting means for coffee {(coffee mills A47J42/00; coffee roasters in general A23N12/08)} · CPC title

• A47J42/46

  Driving mechanisms; Coupling to drives · CPC title

• A47J42/50 Primary

  Supplying devices, e.g. funnels; Supply containers · CPC title