[0001] This invention relates to a drip coffee maker with grinder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The drip coffee maker with grinder is quite popular for its convenience and practicality in use. However, how to prevent the water steam from entering the grinder through the coffee ground discharge passage is a concern for people. Usually, the discharge passage is horizontal or slopes slightly down to the basket. This discharge passage is fixed. Once water steam flows back from the coffee basket assembly, the wet coffee was clogged on the passage. In addition, some grinded coffee residue is always on this passage so it has a hygiene problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention provides a drip coffee maker having removable discharge passage to eliminate grinded coffee residue on the passage and prevent water steam from coming back to the grind coffee hopper. In one embodiment, the drip coffee maker comprises a water tank, a coffee bean grinding system, a coffee bean hopper, an auger mechanism discharge passage, a motor for turning the auger mechanism, a brewing basket assembly, water tube for delivery of hot water to the brewing basket assembly, and glass carafe.

[0004] The coffee maker has a grinder system for grinding coffee bean and distributing the ground coffee into the brewing basket. An auger mechanism discharge passage assembly is for deliveiy of the ground coffee to the funnel basket. This auger mechanism is driven by a motor. The auger mechanism can deliver the ground coffee in a top to bottom, or bottom to top direction. As a result, the grinder system is not required to be placed above or horizontal to the brewing basket assembly. The auger mechanism can be taken out for washing. So it can be kept clean on every grinding and brewing. A lever cover is used to cover a hole that is used for transferring the ground coffee from the discharge passage to the funnel basket. This lever cover prevents water steam from flowing back to the grinder system .

[0005] Once the ground coffee is ready in the funnel basket, the coffee maker has a heating system to deliver hot water to the funnel basket. Then the coffee is made and dispensed to the glass carafe.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0006] This invention relates to a drip coffee maker with grinder. Figures 1 to 8 illustrate non-limitative embodiments of the invention.

[0007] Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the drip coffee maker of the present invention.

[0008] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the drip coffee maker with an opened lid.

[0009] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the auger mechanism discharge passage that is used for transferring the grind coffee from the grinder to the funnel basket.

[0010] Figure 4 is a another perspective view of the auger mechanism discharge passage .

[0011] Figure. 5 is an explode view of one embodiment of the brewing machine of the present invention. [0012] Figure 6 is a sectional view of the auger mechanism discharge passage showing the coffee grind moves from the grinder to the funnel.

[0013] Figure 7 is an explode view of one embodiment of the auger mechanism discharge passage.

[0014] Figure 8 shows the grinder is located on the lower portion of the machine and the auger mechanism discharge passage is placed vertically.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] This invention relates to a drip coffee maker comprising a grinder and brewing system. In one embodiment, the coffee maker comprises a grinder assembly, an auger mechanism discharge passage, and a heating assembly.

[0016] Unlike traditional drip type coffee machine with grinder, the coffee maker of the present invention has an auger mechanism discharge passage for transferring the grind coffee from the grinder to the funnel basket. When the grinder is filled with coffee and starts to ground the coffee, the auger mechanism discharge passage will also turn to transfer the ground coffee to the funnel basket. The auger mechanism discharge passage is driven by a motor. The auger mechanism discharge passage has many advantages over traditional coffee maker with grinder. The grinder in the present coffee maker is never wetted while the brewer is making coffee. This auger mechanism discharge passage can deliver the coffee from top to the bottom, from bottom to top or in a horizontal direction. So this discharge passage can be positioned vertically or horizontally. One more advantage is this discharge passage can be removed for cleaning. It can be kept clean on every brewing and grinding. [0017] In one embodiment, the present brewing machine comprises a grinder 1 , funnel basket 2, glass carafe 3, heater assembly 4, water tank 5, auger mechanism discharge passage 6, motor 7, coupler 8, solenoid piston 9, lever cover 10 and spreader 11. In one embodiment, the grinder 1 is located on the top of the machine. It is facilitated with a horizontal auger mechanism discharge passage 6. When the grinder 1 starts to grind the coffee, the solenoid piston 9 will activate to push the lever cover 10 to turn. For example, the lever cover 10 will turn clockwise. A delivery hole is under the lever cover. The outlet of the discharge passage 6 is above the delivery hole 15. This hole 15 is for ground coffee delivery from, the discharge passage 6 to the funnel basket 2. After the discharge of the coffee to the funnel basket 2 is completed, the solenoid piston is retracted and the lever cover turns back by the spring to the original position, thereby covering the hole and stopping the delivery of ground coffee to the funnel basket. Moreover, it covers the hole 15 to stop the brewing steam, from coming out of the funnel basket 2 to the discharge passage 6.

[0018] In another embodiment, the lever cover is turned by motor and gear. One of ordinary skill in the art would readily configure the gear system so that when the motor turns, it moves the gear that is connected to the lever cover 10. For example, the gear moves the lever cover 10 clockwise to open the delivery hole 15 for coffee delivery and turns anticlockwise to the original position to stop the brewing steam, from coming out of the funnel basket 2 to the discharge passage 6.

[0019] After the grinder has worked, for example, 2 second, the auger mechanism discharge passage 6 rotates to deliver the ground coffee. In one embodiment, the auger mechanism discharge passage 6 is mounted with the coupler 8, allowing for easy mount and dismount to the motor 7. In one embodiment, the auger mechanism discharge passage 6 comprises auger 13, discharge passage body 12, back plate 14 and coupler 8. Figure 6 illustrates the ground coffee drops to the inlet of the discharge passage body 12 from the grinder 1. The motor 7 drives the auger 13 to turn. The turning movement of auger 13 moves the ground coffee to the outlet of the discharge body 12. A constant amount of ground coffee is delivered to the funnel basket 2 via the use of a pre-set time program.

[0020] When the grinder 1 and the auger 13 stop, the heater assembly 4 starts to heat up the fresh water. The fresh water is stored in the water tank 5. I e hot water will flow up to the spreader by the heating pressure. The spreader 11 is for delivering the hot water evenly to the funnel basket. After the hot water extracts with the ground coffee, the coffee flows down to the glass carafe 3.

[0021] In another embodiment, the grinder 1 is located on the lower portion of the machine. The auger mechanism discharge passage 6 can be placed vertically. When the grinder 1 starts to grind the coffee, the solenoid piston 9 will activate to push the lever cover 10 to turn, thereby uncovering a delivery hole 15 which is under the lever cover. The outlet of the discharge passage 6 is above the hole. This hole is for the ground coffee deliver ' from the discharge passage 6 to the funnel basket 2. Now, since the grinder is located on the lower portion of the machine, the discharge passage 6 needs to be placed vertically. After the grinder 1 has worked, for example, 2 second, the auger mechanism discharge passage 6 rotates to deliver the ground coffee. The discharge passage 6 delivery direction is from the inlet side to the outlet side. Due to the auger design, the coffee will not fall back in delivery movement. So the discharge passage 6 does not have delivery direction restriction. The turning movement of auger 13 moves the ground coffee to the outlet of the discharge body 12. A pre-set time program is used to control the amount of ground coffee delivered to the funnel basket 2. When the grinder 1 and the auger 13 stop, the heater assembly 4 starts to heat up the fresh water stored in the water tank 5. The hot water will flow up to the spreader by the heating pressure. The spreader 11 is for delivering the hot water evenly to the funnel basket. After the hot water extracts with the ground coffee, the coffee flows down to the glass carafe 3.

[0022] In one embodiment, the present invention provides a grind and brew apparatus, comprising a grinder assembly; a funnel basket for brewing; and a removable auger discharge mechanism for delivering substances from the grinder assembly to the funnel basket, wherein one outlet of the auger mechanism is connected to the funnel basket through a delivery opening which can be opened or closed by a lever assembly. In one embodiment, the grinder assembly is located on top of the apparatus and above the auger discharge mechanism. For example, the auger discharge mechanism is located horizontally under the grinder assembly.

[0023] The delivery opening located above the funnel basket can be closed to prevent steam from, flowing back to the discharge mechanism. For example, the delivery opening can be opened or closed by a lever assembly comprising a solenoid piston and spring. In another embodiment, the lever assembly comprises a system of motor and gear.

[0024] In one embodiment, the auger discharge mechanism, comprises a discharge tube body, an auger, a back plate and a coupler. In general, the discharge tube body is made of metal or plastic, and the auger is made of metal or plastic. In one embodiment, the auger discharge mechanism is driven by a motor. Θ025] In another embodiment, the grinder assembly is located on the lower portion of the apparatus, and the auger discharge mechanism is located vertically adjacent to the grinder assembly. Θ026] In one embodiment the grind and brew apparatus further comprises a heater assembly comprising a heater element and water tube. In general, the water tube is made of aluminum or stainless steel.