Title: Apparatus for preparing a cup of hot drink

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Claims: What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for preparing a cup of hot drink comprising a tank for storing hot water, said tank being provided with means for constantly controlling temperature of the hot water contained therein and means for constantly controlling pressure of said hot water; a pipe having one end communicating with said tank for feeding said hot water from said tank; a nozzle connected to said pipe through valve means; a timer connected to said valve means for controlling the operation thereof; a hopper filled with a raw material for preparing said hot drink; powder measuring means connected to the bottom opening of said hopper; a chute connected to the bottom end of said powder measuring means, the outlet opening of said chute being arranged near the outlet of said nozzle; and means for supporting a cup for preparing hot drink beneath said outlet opening of said chute and said outlet opening of said nozzle, said powder measuring means comprising a powder measuring cylinder, upper and lower end openings of which are aligned with the lower end opening of said hopper and upper end opening of said chute, respectively, upper and lower shutters operated for alternately closing and opening said upper and lower end openings of said cylinder, and a rotary disc for driving said shutters through link members, one end thereof being pivotably connected to said shutters respectively and the other end thereof being connected to circumferentially spaced apart points of said disc.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said hot water supplying means further comprises valve means on the side wall of said tank to supply air therein when the inner pressure in said tank becomes negative.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said hot water feeding pipe is provided with a heater therearound.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said link mechanism comprises a disc-shaped link mechanism and a reversible motor to drive the same.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for supporting a cup comprises a table provided with a recess in which a cup is put in the manner that the front end of said nozzle is slightly offset from the center line of the opening of the cup.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said powder supplying means comprises a plurality of hoppers containing different ingredients, chutes and measuring devices respectively connected between said hoppers and said chutes the outlet openings of said chutes being disposed near the lower end of said nozzle.

Other info:

Inventors: Ogawa, Akira (Mishima, JP)
Masuda, Toyoaki (Numazu, JP)
Miura, Osamu (Numazu, JP)

Application Number: 971075
Filing Date: 1978-12-19
Publication_date: 1980-03-04
Assignee: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha (Tokyo, JP)
Primary Class(es): 99/323.3 99/289R, 141/100, 222/447
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

2712887	Jul, 1955	King	99/275.
2802599	Aug, 1957	Callahan	99/289.
2812879	Nov, 1957	Arnett	99/283.
3126812	Mar, 1964	Nau	99/283.
3379117	Apr, 1968	Richeson	99/289.
3446137	May, 1969	Pryor	99/289.
3518933	Jul, 1970	Weber	99/283.
3530787	Sep, 1970	Litterio	99/289.
3777652	Dec, 1973	Engel	99/275.
4143589	Mar, 1979	Weber	99/283.

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Jenkins, Robert W.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney: Koda and Androlia