Samuel Ralph Boyer

US Patent:

D3741540, Oct 1, 1996

Filed:

Jan 17, 1995

Appl. No.:

D/033567

Inventors:

Samuel R. Boyer - Golden CO

Assignee:

Brothers Gourmet Coffees, Inc. - Boca Raton FL

US Classification:

D 7589

US Patent:

55425836, Aug 6, 1996

Filed:

Mar 1, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/204477

Inventors:

Samuel R. Boyer - Golden CO
Michael Sitz - Thornton CO
Paul Svaldi - Golden CO

Assignee:

Brother's Gourmet Coffee, Inc. - Boca Raton FL

International Classification:

B65D 4718

US Classification:

222425

Abstract:

A system and method for storing coffee beans in a vacuum environment and dispensing them into an external environment at atmospheric pressure is provided. An upper valve selectively passes coffee beans from a hopper to a metering chamber when open and forms an airtight seal between the metering chamber and the hopper when closed. A lower valve selectively dispenses the coffee beans from the metering chamber when open and forms an airtight seal between the metering chamber and the external environment when closed. An actuator mechanism synchronously operates the upper and lower valves to establish and maintain a vacuum environment in the hopper while dispensing an accurate quantity of coffee beans on demand.