Apparatus for cup and carafe beverage production
View Patent ↗Method and apparatus for forming both carafe quantities and smaller (e.g., cup) quantities of a beverage using a cartridge-based beverage machine. A beverage forming machine accommodates cartridges having different sizes and/or shapes, including different rim sizes/shapes. The outlet used for receiving a beverage from a standard cartridge differs from the outlet used for receiving the beverage from a carafe cartridge inserted in a same cartridge holder. Beverage may exit the cartridge in an upward direction in some embodiments.
1. A beverage forming apparatus comprising:
a cartridge holder having an opening to receive a cartridge, the cartridge holder arranged to receive a first cartridge of a first cartridge size in the opening and a second cartridge of a second cartridge size, different from the first cartridge size, in the opening at separate times, the first cartridge being configured to hold an amount of beverage medium to form a volume of a beverage of eight ounces or less, and the second cartridge being configured to hold an amount of beverage medium sufficient to form a volume of at least thirty ounces of the beverage;
an inlet arranged to provide liquid to a cartridge held by the cartridge holder to form the beverage;
a first outlet arranged to receive the beverage from the first cartridge held by the cartridge holder; and
a second outlet arranged to receive the beverage from the second cartridge held by the cartridge holder, the second outlet being different from the first outlet; wherein
the second outlet is arranged to receive the beverage from the second cartridge in the cartridge holder such that liquid flow of the beverage has a vertical component which travels upwardly in a direction opposite to the force of gravity as the beverage exits the second cartridge; and
the first outlet is arranged to receive the beverage from the first cartridge in the cartridge holder such that liquid flow of the beverage has a vertical component which travels downwardly in the direction of the force of gravity as the beverage exits the first cartridge.
2. A beverage forming apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the second outlet includes a penetrating element arranged to penetrate the second cartridge at a cartridge lid.
3. A beverage forming apparatus as in claim 2 , wherein the first outlet includes a penetrating element arranged to penetrate the first cartridge at a location below a cartridge lid.
4. A beverage forming apparatus as in claim 3 , wherein the penetrating element of the first outlet is arranged to pierce a bottom of the first cartridge.
5. A beverage forming apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the inlet, first outlet, and second outlet each include a piercing element to pierce a cartridge.
6. A beverage forming apparatus as in claim 5 , wherein the piercing elements of the inlet and the second outlet face downwardly and the piercing element of the first outlet faces upwardly.
7. A beverage forming apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the cartridge holder is arranged to receive a first cartridge having a rim diameter of less than or equal to fifty millimeters, and also arranged to receive a second cartridge having a rim diameter of greater than or equal to sixty-three millimeters.
8. A beverage forming apparatus as in claim 5 , in combination with the second cartridge.
9. A beverage forming apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the cartridge holder is arranged to receive a second cartridge configured to hold an amount of beverage medium sufficient to form a volume of at least forty-eight ounces of the beverage.
10. A beverage forming apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the cartridge holder comprises a cartridge receiving area, and the first outlet or the second outlet is movable into and out of the cartridge receiving area.
11. A beverage forming apparatus comprising:
a cartridge holder having an opening to receive a cartridge, the cartridge holder arranged to receive a first cartridge of a first cartridge size in the opening and a second cartridge of a second cartridge size, different from the first cartridge size, in the opening at separate times;
an inlet arranged to provide liquid to a cartridge held by the cartridge holder to form the beverage;
a first outlet arranged to receive the beverage from the first cartridge held by the cartridge holder; and
a second outlet arranged to receive the beverage from the second cartridge held by the cartridge holder, the second outlet being different from the first outlet; wherein
the second outlet is arranged to receive the beverage from the second cartridge in the cartridge holder such that liquid flow of the beverage has a vertical component which travels upwardly in a direction opposite to the force of gravity as the beverage exits the second cartridge; and
the first outlet is arranged to receive the beverage from the first cartridge in the cartridge holder such that liquid flow of the beverage has a vertical component which travels downwardly in the direction of the force of gravity as the beverage exits the first cartridge.
12. A beverage forming apparatus as in claim 11 , wherein the second outlet includes a penetrating element arranged to penetrate the second cartridge at a cartridge lid.
13. A beverage forming apparatus as in claim 12 , wherein the first outlet includes a penetrating element arranged to penetrate the first cartridge at a location below a cartridge lid.
14. A beverage forming apparatus as in claim 13 , wherein the penetrating element of the first outlet is arranged to pierce a bottom of the first cartridge.
15. A beverage forming apparatus as in claim 11 , wherein the inlet, first outlet, and second outlet each include a piercing element to pierce a cartridge.
16. A beverage forming apparatus as in claim 15 , wherein the piercing elements of the inlet and the second outlet face downwardly and the piercing element of the first outlet faces upwardly.
17. A beverage forming apparatus as in claim 11 , wherein the cartridge holder is arranged to receive a first cartridge having a rim diameter of less than or equal to fifty millimeters, and also arranged to receive a second cartridge having a rim diameter of greater than or equal to sixty-three millimeters.
18. A beverage forming apparatus as in claim 15 , in combination with the second cartridge.
19. A beverage forming apparatus as in claim 11 , wherein the cartridge holder is arranged to receive a second cartridge configured to hold an amount of beverage medium sufficient to form a volume of at least forty-eight ounces of the beverage.
20. A beverage forming apparatus as in claim 11 , wherein the cartridge holder comprises a cartridge receiving area, and the first outlet or the second outlet is movable into and out of the cartridge receiving area.