Beverage Preparation Machines and Methods For Operating Beverage Preparation Machines

Abstract

A method of operating a beverage preparation machine, the beverage preparation machine being of the type comprising a brewer comprising: a reservoir containing water; a delivery head for receiving in use a cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients; a pump for pumping water from said reservoir to said delivery head; a primary heater for heating the water contained in said reservoir; a secondary heater in between the reservoir and the delivery head; a controller for controlling energisation of the primary heater and the secondary heater; and wherein the controller operates to prevent energisation of the primary heater simultaneous with energisation of the secondary heater. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed and methods and apparatus utilising first and second brewers.

1 .- 57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . A beverage preparation machine comprising:
 a reservoir for water;   a delivery head for receiving in use a cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients;   a pump for pumping water from said reservoir to said delivery head;   a primary heater for heating water contained in said reservoir;   a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of water in the reservoir;   an inlet valve communicating with the reservoir and connectable to an external source of water and operable to control inflow of water into the reservoir;   a controller for controlling operation of the inlet valve, said controller being operatively connected to the temperature sensor to receive temperature signals indicative of the temperature of water in the reservoir and operatively connected to the inlet valve to control opening and closing of the inlet valve;   wherein the controller is operable to open the inlet valve to allow inflow of water into the reservoir in response to temperature signals from the temperature sensor;   
       wherein the controller is operable to open the inlet valve to allow inflow of water when the temperature of the water in the reservoir is within a fill differential of a target water temperature;
 further, wherein the controller is operable to allow actuation of the pump in order to dispense a beverage only when the temperature of the water within the reservoir is within a vend differential of the target water temperature. 
 
     
     
         59 . The beverage preparation machine of  claim 58  wherein the target temperature is between 70 and 95 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         60 . The beverage preparation machine of  claim 59  wherein the target temperature is approximately 85 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         61 . The beverage preparation machine of  claim 58  wherein the fill differential is smaller than the vend differential. 
     
     
         62 . The beverage preparation machine of  claim 58  wherein the fill differential is approximately 5 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         63 . The beverage preparation machine of  claim 58  wherein the vend differential is approximately 10 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         64 . The beverage preparation machine of  claim 58  wherein the controller is operable to execute a time delay between closing of the inlet valve and re-opening of the inlet valve. 
     
     
         65 . A beverage preparation machine comprising a first brewer and a second brewer, each of the first and second brewers comprising a beverage preparation machine as claimed in  claim 58 . 
     
     
         66 . A method of operating a beverage preparation machine of the type comprising:
 a reservoir for water;   a delivery head for receiving in use a cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients;   a pump for pumping water from said reservoir to said delivery head;   a primary heater for heating water contained in said reservoir;   a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of water in the reservoir;   an inlet valve communicating with the reservoir and connectable to an external source of water and operable to control inflow of water into the reservoir;   a controller for controlling operation of the inlet valve, said controller being operatively connected to the temperature sensor to receive temperature signals indicative of the temperature of water in the reservoir and operatively connected to the inlet valve to control opening and closing of the inlet valve;   the method comprising the steps of operating the controller to open the inlet valve to allow inflow of water into the reservoir in response to temperature signals from the temperature sensor;   operating the controller to open the inlet valve to allow inflow of water when the temperature of the water in the reservoir is within a fill differential of a target water temperature;   further, operating the controller to allow actuation of the pump in order to dispense a beverage only when the temperature of the water within the reservoir is within a vend differential of the target water temperature.   
     
     
         67 . The method of operating a beverage preparation machine of  claim 66  wherein the target temperature is between 70 and 95 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         68 . The method of operating a beverage preparation machine of  claim 67  wherein the target temperature is approximately  85  degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         69 . The method of operating a beverage preparation machine of  claim 66  wherein the fill differential is smaller than the vend differential. 
     
     
         70 . The method of operating a beverage preparation machine of  claim 66  wherein the fill differential is approximately 5 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         71 . The method of operating a beverage preparation machine of  claim 66  wherein the vend differential is approximately 10 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         72 . The method of operating a beverage preparation machine of  claim 66  comprising operating the controller to execute a time delay between closing of the inlet valve and re-opening of the inlet valve.