Systems useful for beverage making machines

Abstract

Various systems are provided which may be used in a beverage machine for dispensing one or more, (in particular a plurality of) beverage types. A beverage machine may thus comprise one or more systems selected from the group consisting of i) a conveyance system for the dispensing of particulate material; ii) a beverage selection system providing for the possibility of selecting from among a class of beverages; and iii) a hot water dispensing system which may have a system for detecting the absence of water in the fluid conduit component thereof.

1 .- 16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . A beverage machine for dispensing a beverage, said beverage machine comprising 
 a mixing station,    a dispensing station,    a particulate delivery component, and    an aqueous medium delivery means for delivering aqueous medium to said mixing station,    said mixing station communicating with said dispensing station,    said particulate delivery component being able to deliver particulate substance from a removable particulate storage component to said mixing station,    wherein said removable particulate storage component comprises a valved wall element and is configured to define an enclosed space for containing a particulate substance,    said valved wall element comprising a valve member defining an outflow aperture for providing a flow path for the flow of said particulate substance out of said enclosed space, said valve member further comprising a plug element and a bias element, said plug and bias elements being configured such that said plug element is displaceable between a closed position and an open position whereby when said plug element is in said closed position said plug element closes off said outflow aperture whereby said particulate substance is unable to flow out of said enclosed space through said outflow aperture and when said plug element is in said open position said particulate substance is able to flow by gravity out of said enclosed space through said outflow aperture, said bias element biasing said plug element into said closed position,    characterized in that said beverage machine comprises a conveyance system,    wherein said conveyance system comprises a support component and said particulate delivery component,    wherein said support component is configured for releasably engaging said removeable particulate storage component such that the removeable particulate storage component is oriented so that the valved wall element at least partially forms the bottom of the so engaged removeable particulate storage component for gravity induced flow of said particulate substance out of said enclosed space through said outflow aperture,    wherein said particulate delivery component comprises a conveyor element for conveying said particulate substance from the removeable particulate storage component to said mixing station, and wherein said particulate delivery component further comprises an interconnect element for releasably interconnecting the conveyor element and the outflow aperture of said valve member for said gravity flow of said particulate substance through the outflow aperture to the conveyor element, and    wherein said particulate delivery component comprises a valve plug interaction element for releasably urging the plug element of said valve member into said open position for said gravity flow of said particle substance out of said enclosed space to the conveyor element when said removeable particulate storage component engages said support component.    
   
   
       18 . A beverage machine as defined in  claim 17  wherein said particulate delivery component comprises said removeable particulate storage component.  
   
   
       19 . A beverage machine as defined in  claim 18  wherein said valve plug interaction element releasably maintains the plug element of said valve member in said open position.  
   
   
       20 . A beverage machine as defined in  claim 18  wherein said plug element comprises said valve plug interaction element and said valve plug interaction element releasably maintains the plug element of said valve member in said open position.  
   
   
       21 . A beverage machine as defined in  claim 17  wherein said support component comprises a support well for receiving said removeable particulate storage component.  
   
   
       22 . A beverage machine as defined in  claim 18  wherein said support component comprises a support well for receiving said removeable particulate storage component.  
   
   
       23 . A beverage machine as defined in  claim 17  wherein said conveyor element comprises a screw conveyor.  
   
   
       24 . A beverage machine as defined in  claim 18  wherein said conveyor element comprises a screw conveyor.  
   
   
       25 . A beverage machine as defined in  claim 17  wherein said support component comprises a support well for receiving said removeable particulate storage component and wherein said conveyor element comprises a screw conveyor.  
   
   
       26 . A beverage machine as defined in  claim 18  wherein said support component comprises a support well for receiving said removeable particulate storage component and wherein said conveyor element comprises a screw conveyor.  
   
   
       27 . A beverage machine as defined in  claim 18  wherein said particulate substance is a particulate milk substance.  
   
   
       28 . A beverage machine as defined in  claim 18  wherein said support component comprises a support well for receiving said removeable particulate storage component and wherein said particulate substance is a particulate milk substance.  
   
   
       29 . A beverage machine as defined in  claim 18  wherein said conveyor element comprises a screw conveyor and wherein said particulate substance is a particulate milk substance.  
   
   
       30 . A beverage machine as defined in  claim 18  wherein said support component comprises a support well for receiving said removeable particulate storage component, wherein said conveyor element comprises a screw conveyor and wherein said particulate substance is a particulate milk substance.  
   
   
       31 . A beverage machine as defined in  claim 17  further comprising a coffee extraction station communicating with said dispensing station.  
   
   
       32 . A beverage machine as defined in  claim 18  further comprising a coffee extraction station communicating with said dispensing station and wherein said support component comprises a support well for receiving said removeable particulate storage component.  
   
   
       33 . A beverage machine as defined in  claim 18  further comprising a coffee extraction station communicating with said dispensing station and wherein said conveyor element comprises a screw conveyor.  
   
   
       34 . A beverage machine as defined in  claim 18  further comprising a coffee extraction station communicating with said dispensing station and wherein said support component comprises a support well for receiving said removeable particulate storage component and wherein said conveyor element comprises a screw conveyor.  
   
   
       35 . A beverage machine as defined in  claim 18  further comprising a coffee extraction station communicating with said dispensing station and wherein said particulate substance is a particulate milk substance.  
   
   
       36 . A beverage machine as defined in  claim 18  further comprising a coffee extraction station communicating with said dispensing station and wherein said support component comprises a support well for receiving said removeable particulate storage component and wherein said particulate substance is a particulate milk substance.  
   
   
       37 . A beverage machine as defined in  claim 18  further comprising a coffee extraction station communicating with said dispensing station and wherein said conveyor element comprises a screw conveyor and wherein said particulate substance is a particulate milk substance.  
   
   
       38 . A beverage machine as defined in  claim 18  further comprising a coffee extraction station communicating with said dispensing station and wherein said support component comprises a support well for receiving said removeable particulate storage component, wherein said conveyor element comprises a screw conveyor and wherein said particulate substance is a particulate milk substance.