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 receiv
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.
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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
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; anda 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; whereinthe 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; andthe 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; anda 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; whereinthe 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; andthe 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.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (5)
Winkler, Karl T.; Lai, Shih-Hao; Pasquini, Richard, Beverage cartridge.
Zimmerman, Jennifer; Fortini, Constance L.; Dilmaghani, Darius; Brudevold, Finn; Nutter, Francis; Shepard, James E., Method and apparatus for beverage formation with pneumatically sealed reservoir.
Smith, Geoffrey Y.; Launie, Jr., Peter Thomas; Brodie, Jonathan Alexander; Foster, Stuart Jay; Hristov, Stoyan Plamenov; Greiner, Jordan Dean Jack; Woskov, Peter Nicholas; Rabino, Yoav; Shepard, James E.; Tinkler, Ian; Jacobs, William T.; Lazatin, Patrick J.; McHugh, William Philip; Brandimarte, Kevin Thomas; Liuzza, Mario; Maclean, Timothy, Beverage machine cartridge holder.
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