US-12616327-B2 - Beverage brewing systems and methods

US12616327B2US 12616327 B2US12616327 B2US 12616327B2US-12616327-B2

Abstract

A mechanism for a brewing machine includes a fluid reservoir, a first receptacle downstream from the fluid reservoir, a second receptacle downstream from the fluid reservoir, a first channel and a second channel. The first channel is configured and adapted to provide a fluid from the fluid reservoir to the first receptacle. The second channel is configured and adapted to provide a fluid from the fluid reservoir to the second receptacle.

Inventors

Jorge B. Garcia
Keith Bilodeau
Tristan Mckeever

Assignees

Sensio Inc.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20230220

Claims (14)

1 . A mechanism for a brewing machine, the mechanism comprising: a fluid reservoir; a first receptacle downstream from the fluid reservoir; a second receptacle downstream from the fluid reservoir; a first channel configured and adapted to provide a fluid from the fluid reservoir to the first receptacle; a second channel configured and adapted to provide a fluid from the fluid reservoir to the second receptacle; a first pump coupled to the first channel for independently controlling fluid flow through the first channel; a second pump operatively coupled to the second channel for independently controlling fluid flow through the second channel; a first heating element located in the first channel and configured to heat fluid flowing through the first channel; and a second heating element located in the second channel and configured to heat fluid flowing through the second channel.
2 . The mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a main fluid channel upstream from the first and second channels for providing fluid from the fluid reservoir to the first and second channels.
3 . The mechanism of claim 2 , a diverter valve between the main fluid channel the first and second channels for dividing fluid flow from the main fluid channel to the first and second channels.
4 . The mechanism of claim 3 , further comprising a heating element located between the fluid reservoir and the first and second receptacles, the heating element configured and adapted to heat a fluid to a desired temperature, wherein the heating element includes a single channel, wherein the main fluid channel is directed through the single heating channel upstream from the diverter valve.
5 . The mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the first channel extends from the fluid reservoir to the first receptacle and the second channel extends from the fluid reservoir to the second receptacle.
6 . The mechanism of claim 5 , further comprising a heating element located between the fluid reservoir and the first and second receptacles, the heating element configured and adapted to heat a fluid to a desired temperature, wherein the heating element includes first and second heating channels, wherein the first channel is directed through the first heating channel, and wherein the second channel is directed through the second heating channel.
7 . The mechanism of claim 5 , further comprising two heating elements, each heating element located between the fluid reservoir and a respective one of the first and second receptacles, each heating element configured and adapted to heat a fluid to a desired temperature, wherein each heating element includes a respective heating channel, wherein the first channel is directed through the heating channel of a first of the two heating elements, and wherein the second channel is directed through the heating channel of a second of the two heating elements.
8 . The mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the first receptacle is configured and adapted to receive an ingredient container.
9 . The mechanism of claim 8 , wherein the ingredient container is a coffee capsule.
10 . The mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the second receptacle is configured and adapted to receive an ingredient container.
11 . The mechanism of claim 10 , wherein the ingredient container is a coffee capsule.
12 . The mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the first and second receptacles are each configured and adapted to receive an ingredient.
13 . The mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a heating element located between the fluid reservoir and the first and second receptacles, the heating element configured and adapted to heat a fluid to a desired temperature.
14 . A mechanism for a brewing machine, the mechanism comprising: a fluid reservoir; a first receptacle downstream from the fluid reservoir; a second receptacle downstream from the fluid reservoir; a first channel configured and adapted to provide a fluid from the fluid reservoir to the first receptacle; a second channel configured and adapted to provide a fluid from the fluid reservoir to the second receptacle; and a purge assembly positioned between the fluid reservoir and the first and second receptacles, the purge assembly including a check-valve and an air pump, and configured and adapted for flushing fluid back to the fluid reservoir.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/311,818, filed Feb. 18, 2022, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. BACKGROUND Technological Field The present disclosure relates generally to beverage brewing machines, and specifically to a system for brewing one or multiple beverages simultaneously. Description of Related Art Currently, single-serve, pod-style beverage maker machines allow the brewing of only a single pod per brew cycle by heating and dispensing the required volume of water for one pod. This requires users to wait for each other to finish, or have to use multiple pods and wait times. Thus a need exists for providing a beverage maker system that effectively allows multiple servings of beverage to be brewed simultaneously or in succession into multiple separate containers or into a single, larger container using beverage pods or capsule. The present disclosure provides a solution for this need. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to a brewing machine having a mechanism allowing the simultaneous or successive brewing of multiple beverage pods into a single, larger container, or into individual containers. Additionally, the disclosure can also be used to brew ground beverage filter baskets. A mechanism for a brewing machine includes a fluid reservoir, a first receptacle downstream from the fluid reservoir, a second receptacle downstream from the fluid reservoir, a first channel and a second channel. The first channel is configured and adapted to provide a fluid from the fluid reservoir to the first receptacle. The second channel is configured and adapted to provide a fluid from the fluid reservoir to the second receptacle. In some embodiments, the mechanism includes a purge assembly positioned between the fluid reservoir and the first and second receptacles. The purge assembly can include a check-valve and an air pump, and configured and adapted for flushing fluid back to the fluid reservoir. In some embodiments, the mechanism can include a main fluid channel upstream from the first and second channels for providing fluid from the fluid reservoir to the first and second channels. A diverter valve can be between the main fluid channel the first and second channels for dividing fluid flow from the main fluid channel to the first and second channels. The mechanism can include a heating element located between the fluid reservoir and the first and second receptacles. The heating element can be configured and adapted to heat a fluid to a desired temperature. The heating element can include a single channel. The main fluid channel can be directed through the single heating channel upstream from the diverter valve. In some embodiments, the first channel can extend from the fluid reservoir to the first receptacle and the second channel extends from the fluid reservoir to the second receptacle. The heating element can include first and second heating channels. The first channel can be directed through the first heating channel, and the second channel can be directed through the second heating channel. The mechanism can include two heating elements, each heating element located between the fluid reservoir and a respective one of the first and second receptacles. Each heating element can be configured and adapted to heat a fluid to a desired temperature. Each heating element can include a respective heating channel. The first channel can be directed through the heating channel of a first of the two heating elements, and the second channel can be directed through the heating channel of a second of the two heating elements. In some embodiments, the first receptacle is configured and adapted to receive an ingredient container. The second receptacle can be configured and adapted to receive an ingredient container. The ingredient container can be a coffee capsule or a coffee filter. The first and second receptacles can be each configured and adapted to receive an ingredient. In accordance with another aspect, a method for brewing a beverage with a brewing machine includes supplying a fluid from a fluid reservoir to at least one of a first receptacle downstream from the fluid reservoir, or a second receptacle downstream from the fluid reservoir. The method includes heating the fluid from the fluid reservoir to a desired temperature with a heating element located between the fluid reservoir and at least one of the first receptacle or the second receptacle. In some embodiments, supplying the fluid can include supplying the fluid to a main fluid channel upstream from the first and second receptacles, and then to at least one of a first channel upstream from the first receptacle or a second channel upstream from the second receptacle. In some embodiments, the method can include comprising dividing fluid flow from the main fluid channel to at least one of the first channel or second channe