Beverage production machines with multi-chambered basket units

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9439532-B2
Application number	US-201414205256-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 11, 2014
Priority date	Mar 11, 2014
Publication date	Sep 13, 2016
Grant date	Sep 13, 2016

Abstract

Various beverage preparation machines having a multi-chambered basket unit are shown. The basket unit can be configured to accept multiple cartridge configurations. For example, some embodiments are configured to receive a first cartridge configuration in a first chamber of the basket unit and a second configuration in a second chamber of the basket unit. In various embodiments, the basket unit can rotate to allow selective accessibility of the first and second chambers. This can facilitate loading the cartridges into the appropriate chamber, such as loading the first cartridge configuration into the first chamber and the second cartridge configuration into the second chamber.

First claim

The following is claimed:

1. A machine for preparing beverages from cartridges, the machine comprising:
a frame;
a basket unit configured to rotate in the frame, the basket unit comprising:
a first chamber configured to receive a first single-serve cartridge configuration; and
a second chamber, the second chamber configured to receive a second cartridge configuration, the second cartridge configuration being different than the first cartridge configuration;
wherein one of the chambers is in a loading position and the other of the chambers is in an inverted position;

a ratchet assembly comprising:
a ratchet member engaged with the basket unit, the ratchet member comprising an arm and a boss;
a ratchet follower pivotally connected with the frame, the ratchet follower comprising a ramp; and
a biasing member that biases the ramp of the ratchet follower against the boss of the ratchet member; and

a rotatable collar comprising a projection;
wherein, during rotation of the collar, the projection engages with the arm of the ratchet member, thereby sliding the boss of the ratchet member along the ramp of the ratchet follower and rotating the basket unit such that the chamber in the loading position is moved to the inverted position and the chamber in the inverted position is moved to the loading position.

2. The machine of claim 1 , wherein in the first chamber has a volume that is greater than a volume of the second chamber.

3. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the basket unit and the collar are adapted to rotate about axes that are substantially perpendicular.

4. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the first chamber is configured to receive cartridges for brewed coffee beverages and the second chamber is configured to receive cartridges for espresso beverages.

5. A machine for preparing a beverage from a cartridge, the machine comprising:
a basket unit comprising a first chamber configured to receive a first single-serve cartridge configuration and a second chamber configured to receive a second cartridge configuration, the basket unit being configured to rotate about an axis RA b between a first chamber loading position and a second chamber loading position, wherein:
in the first chamber loading position, the first chamber is positioned to facilitate loading the first cartridge and the second chamber is inverted; and
in the second chamber loading position, the second chamber positioned to facilitate loading the second cartridge and the first chamber is inverted;

a ratchet assembly connected with the basket unit; and
a collar configured to rotate about an axis RA c , wherein rotation of the collar engages the collar with the ratchet assembly, thereby rotating the basket unit between the first chamber loading position and the second chamber loading position.

6. The machine of claim 5 , wherein the axes RA b and RA c are substantially perpendicular.

7. The machine of claim 5 , wherein the axis RA c is substantially vertical, and the axis RA b is substantially horizontal and passes through first and second sidewalls of the machine.

8. The machine of claim 5 , wherein in the first chamber loading position the first chamber is generally upwardly oriented, and in the second chamber loading position the second chamber is generally upwardly oriented.

9. The machine of claim 5 , wherein the collar comprises a projection and the ratchet assembly comprises an arm, the projection being configured to engage the arm.

10. The machine of claim 9 , wherein the collar further comprises a wing and the ratchet assembly comprises a rib, the wing being configured to engage the rib.

11. The machine of claim 5 , wherein, during normal operation of the machine, the collar is rotatable in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions.

12. The machine of claim 5 , wherein the basket unit further comprises a first outlet in fluid communication with the first chamber and a second outlet in fluid communication with the second chamber.

13. The machine of claim 12 , further comprising a dispensing assembly configured to rotate into and out of engagement with one of the first and second outlets, wherein the dispensing assembly and one of the first and second chambers are in fluid communication during the engagement of the dispensing assembly and the one of the first and second outlets.

14. The machine of claim 5 , wherein the first chamber is configured to receive cartridges for brewed coffee beverages and the second chamber is configured to receive cartridges for espresso beverages.

15. The machine of claim 5 , further comprising the cartridge.

16. A machine for preparing a beverage from a cartridge, the machine comprising:
a frame;
a basket unit that is rotatable in the frame, the basket unit comprising a first chamber configured to receive a first single-serve cartridge configuration and a second chamber configured to receive a second single-serve cartridge configuration;
wherein the basket unit is configured to rotate between a first position in which the first chamber is oriented upwardly and a second position in which the second chamber is oriented upwardly;
a ratchet assembly connected with the basket unit;
a rotatable collar, the collar configured to engage the ratchet assembly;
wherein rotation of the collar in a first direction engages the collar with a first surface of the ratchet assembly, the first surface configured such that the collar slides along the first surface without rotating the basket unit from the first position to the second position;
wherein rotation of the collar in a second direction engages the collar with a second surface of the ratchet assembly, the second surface configured such that the engagement with the collar rotates the ratchet assembly, thereby rotating the basket unit from the first position to the second position.

17. The machine of claim 16 , wherein the basket unit rotates less than about 45° when the collar rotates in the first direction, and the basket unit rotates at least about 180° when the collar rotates in the second direction.

18. The machine of claim 16 , wherein the collar comprises a projection and the ratchet assembly comprises an arm, wherein the projection engages the arm during the rotation of the collar.

19. The machine of claim 16 , wherein the first chamber is configured to receive cartridges for brewed coffee beverages and the second chamber is configured to receive cartridges for espresso beverages.

20. The machine of claim 16 , wherein the basket unit and the collar are adapted to rotate about axes that are substantially perpendicular.

21. A machine for preparing beverages from cartridges, the machine comprising:
a basket unit comprising a first chamber configured to receive a first single-serve cartridge configuration and a second chamber configured to receive a second cartridge configuration, the basket unit rotating within the machine between a first configuration in which the first chamber is oriented in an upward direction and the second chamber is oriented in a downward direction and a second configuration in which the second chamber is oriented in the upward direction and the first chamber is oriented in the downward direction;
a rotation mechanism coupled to the basket unit and configured to rotate the basket unit from the first configuration to the second configuration; and
a motor coupled with the rotation mechanism.

22. The machine of claim 21 , wherein, after insertion of a first single-serve cartridge into th

Assignees

• Starbucks Corp

Inventors

• Crarer Alan Scott
• Mack Adam Mekeel
• James matthew thomas
• Manoux Philipe Roget
• Lee Diane Chia-Lin
• Ruegg Martin

Classifications

• A47J31/3633

  Means to perform transfer from a loading position to an infusing position · CPC title

• A47J31/0668

  specially adapted for cartridges · CPC title

• A47J31/3685

  Brewing heads therefor · CPC title

• A47J31/407 Primary

  with ingredient-containing cartridges; Cartridge-perforating means · CPC title

• A47J31/0647 Primary

  with means to adjust the brewing chamber volume to accommodate different quantities of brewing material · CPC title