Brewing machine beverage ingredient chamber
A brewing system may include a fluid supply system, a chamber, and a fluid outlet. The fluid outlet may be configured to pierce a capsule containing a beverage ingredient formed of solid particles. The chamber may be configured to receive and hold solid particles from the capsule without inhibiting or restricting a flow path from the fluid supply system, through the chamber, and out of the fluid outlet. In some cases, a fluid flow through the chamber may gradually empty the chamber of solid particles.
1 . A brewing machine, comprising:
a fluid supply system including a fluid outlet, the fluid outlet constructed and arranged to pierce a capsule;
a chamber in fluidic communication with the fluid supply system and positioned upstream of the fluid outlet, the chamber including a chamber inlet, a chamber outlet, and a catch volume, wherein the catch volume is defined by a barrier between the chamber inlet and the chamber outlet; and
a capsule compartment disposed downstream of the fluid outlet,
wherein the chamber is constructed and arranged to catch solid particles in the catch volume; and
wherein the fluid supply system is configured to deliver heated fluid to the chamber inlet.
2 . The brewing machine of claim 1 , wherein the chamber is configured to receive solid particles from the capsule when the capsule is pierced by the fluid outlet.
3 . The brewing machine of claim 2 , further comprising the capsule, wherein pressure in the capsule forces the solid particles from the capsule into the chamber.
4 . The brewing machine of claim 1 , wherein the catch volume is further constructed and arranged to create a fluid suspension of solid particles in fluid flow from the chamber inlet to the chamber outlet, wherein the fluid supply system is configured to allow for the fluid suspension to exit the chamber through the fluid outlet.
5 . The brewing machine of claim 1 , wherein the barrier is an inclined base, wherein the inclined base has a lowermost portion nearer the chamber inlet than an uppermost portion of the inclined base.
6 . The brewing machine of claim 1 , wherein the barrier is a vertical wall positioned between the chamber inlet and chamber outlet.
7 . The brewing machine of claim 1 , wherein the catch volume is positioned below both the chamber inlet and chamber outlet.
8 . The brewing machine of claim 1 , wherein the chamber outlet is positioned above the chamber inlet.
9 . The brewing machine of claim 1 , wherein the chamber inlet is positioned above the chamber outlet.
10 . The brewing machine of claim 1 , wherein the chamber inlet is positioned level with the chamber outlet.
11 . The brewing machine of claim 1 , wherein the fluid outlet is configured to pierce a capsule disposed in the capsule compartment.
12 . The brewing machine of claim 1 , further comprising a check valve disposed upstream of the chamber inlet, wherein the check valve inhibits flow from the chamber through the chamber inlet.
13 . The brewing machine of claim 1 , further comprising a reservoir containing a volume of water, wherein the reservoir is fluidly connected to the chamber inlet.
14 . The brewing machine of claim 13 , further comprising a pump configured to move water from the reservoir through the chamber inlet, into the catch volume, and out of the chamber outlet to the fluid outlet.
15 . The brewing machine of claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional area of the chamber inlet and chamber outlet is less than a cross-sectional area of the catch volume.
16 . The brewing machine of claim 15 , wherein the cross-sectional area of the catch volume is greater than a cross-sectional area of the fluid outlet.
17 . The brewing machine of claim 1 , wherein the chamber inlet is disposed on a top side of the chamber, and the chamber outlet is disposed on a bottom side of the chamber.
18 . The brewing machine of claim 1 , wherein the fluid outlet includes at least one spike.
19 . The brewing machine of claim 1 , wherein the chamber inlet is horizontally spaced from the chamber outlet so that fluid flows horizontally through at least a portion of the chamber.
20 . The brewing machine of claim 1 , wherein the chamber has a volume between 2 and 10 times greater than the fluid outlet.
21 . The brewing machine of claim 1 , wherein the fluid outlet is positioned less than 2 inches away from the chamber outlet.
22 . The brewing machine of claim 1 , wherein the chamber is disposed in a brew head of the brewing machine.
23 . A method for operating a brewing machine, comprising:
causing solid particles of beverage material to flow into a fluid outlet of a fluid supply system from a capsule compartment disposed downstream of the fluid outlet;
catching the solid particles in a catch volume of a chamber positioned upstream of the fluid outlet, wherein the catch volume is defined by a barrier between a chamber inlet and a chamber outlet of the chamber;
wherein the chamber is constructed and arranged to catch the solid particles in the catch volume;
delivering heated fluid to the chamber inlet; and
producing a fluid flow through the chamber from the chamber inlet to the chamber outlet, wherein the fluid flow exits the fluid supply system through the fluid outlet.