Beverage forming station door for beverage machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9717366-B2
Application number	US-201313795673-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2013
Priority date	Mar 12, 2013
Publication date	Aug 1, 2017
Grant date	Aug 1, 2017

Abstract

A method and apparatus for opening and closing a door of a beverage forming machine, e.g., for accessing a beverage forming station. The door may be opened by retracting the door into an interior space of the housing, e.g., by moving the door rearwardly. When at the closed position, at least one edge of the door may be flush with an adjacent outer housing portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A beverage forming apparatus, comprising:
a housing to support components of the beverage forming apparatus, the housing having an opening and a flat door movably mounted to the housing to move between a closed position in which the door closes the opening and an open position in which the door is positioned away from the opening, wherein the door is movable to be retracted within the housing in the open position, wherein the door includes a first pin that engages with a first track that guides movement of the door between the open and closed positions, wherein the door moves in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the opening into which the door moves when the door is closed, wherein a forward end of the first track includes a curved section, the curved section arranged to move a rear end of the door downwardly to clear the housing when the door is moved from the closed position towards the open position, and wherein an outer portion of the door is flush with at least an outer portion of the housing adjacent at least a rear edge of the door when the door is in the closed position;
a beverage forming station supported by the housing and arranged to combine a precursor liquid with a beverage material to form a beverage that is dispensed via a beverage outlet, the beverage forming station including a cartridge holder arranged to receive and hold a cartridge containing beverage material for use in forming a beverage, the cartridge holder accessible through the opening, the beverage material provided by a user through the opening with the door in the open position;
a precursor liquid supply system supported by the housing for providing precursor liquid to the beverage forming station; and
a control circuit arranged to control the liquid supply system to deliver precursor liquid to the beverage forming station;
wherein the cartridge holder is moveable between an open position in which the cartridge holder is oriented to receive the cartridge through the opening, and a closed position in which the cartridge holder is positioned to at least partially enclose a cartridge for forming a beverage;
wherein the door is linked to the cartridge holder such that movement of the cartridge holder between its open and closed positions moves the door between its open and closed positions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
an actuator arranged to move the door and cartridge holder between their respective open and closed positions.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the actuator includes a handle that is movable to move the door and cartridge holder between their respective open and closed positions.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes second, third, and fourth tracks and the door includes second, third and fourth pins that engage with respective tracks, wherein the first and second tracks are rear tracks and the third and fourth tracks are forward tracks.

5. The beverage forming apparatus of claim 4 , wherein a forward end of the second track includes a curved section, the curved section of the second track arranged to move the rear end of the door downwardly to clear the housing when the door is moved from the closed position towards the open position.

6. The beverage forming apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the rear end of the door moves downwardly to clear the housing when a second pin attached to the rear end of the door moves in the curved section of the second track and the door is moved from the closed position to the open position.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the outer portion of the door is flush with outer housing portions at the rear edge and at one or more side edges or a front edge of the door.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the door is rigid and flat.

9. The beverage forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the curved section causes the rear end of the door to be lifted up in a last portion of the door's movement into the closed position.

10. The beverage forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rear end of the door moves downwardly to clear the housing when the first pin attached to the rear end of the door moves in the curved section and the door is moved from the closed position to the open position.

11. The beverage forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the door is linked to the cartridge holder via a link that is pivotally connected to the cartridge holder and the door.

12. The beverage forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge holder is pivotable between the open position in which an opening of the cartridge holder is oriented in an upwardly inclined position and facing a front of the apparatus, and the closed position in which the opening of the cartridge holder is in a downwardly inclined position and pressed against a lid.

13. A beverage forming apparatus, comprising:
a housing to support components of the beverage forming apparatus, the housing having an opening and a rigid and flat door movably mounted to the housing to move between a closed position in which the door closes the opening and an open position in which the door is positioned away from the opening, wherein the door includes at least one pin that engages with at least one track that guides movement of the door between the open and closed positions, wherein the door is movable to be retracted within the housing in the open position, wherein the door moves in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the opening into which the door moves when the door is closed, wherein a forward end of the at least one track includes a curved section, the curved section arranged to move a rear end of the door downwardly to clear the housing when the door is moved from the closed position towards the open position, and wherein an outer portion of the door is flush with at least an outer portion of the housing adjacent at least one edge of the door when the door is in the closed position;
a beverage forming station supported by the housing and arranged to combine a precursor liquid with a beverage material to form a beverage that is dispensed via a beverage outlet, a portion of the beverage forming station arranged to receive beverage material provided by a user through the opening with the door in the open position;
a precursor liquid supply system supported by the housing for providing precursor liquid to the beverage forming station; and
a control circuit arranged to control the liquid supply system to deliver precursor liquid to the beverage forming station;
wherein the beverage forming station includes a cartridge holder arranged to receive and hold a cartridge containing beverage material for use in forming a beverage, wherein the cartridge holder is accessible through the opening;
wherein the cartridge holder is moveable between an open position in which the cartridge holder is oriented to receive the cartridge through the opening, and a closed position in which the cartridge holder is positioned to at least partially enclose a cartridge for forming a beverage;
wherein the door is linked to the cartridge holder such that movement of the cartridge holder between its open and closed positions moves the door between its open and closed positions.

14. The beverage forming apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the door is flush with at least an outer portion of the housing adjacent at least a rear edge of the door when the door is in the closed position.

15. The beverage forming apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the curved section causes the rear end of the door to be lifted up in a last portion of the door's movement into the closed position.

16. The beverage form

Assignees

• Keurig Green Mountain Inc

Inventors

• Nevin Joel
• Weflen Cynthia

Classifications

• A47J31/0642

  specially adapted to cooperate with a cartridge, e.g. having grooves or protrusions to separate cartridge from the bottom of the brewing chamber (A47J31/0668 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A47J31/3676

  Cartridges being employed · CPC title

• A47J31/3623

  Cartridges being employed (with tape of cartridges A47J31/3652) · CPC title

• A47J31/4407 Primary

  Lids, covers or knobs · CPC title

• A47J31/3633

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