Beverage forming device with multi-part beverage cartridge holder

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9622613-B2
Application number	US-201414448031-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 31, 2014
Priority date	Feb 9, 2012
Publication date	Apr 18, 2017
Grant date	Apr 18, 2017

Abstract

A beverage forming system and method in which a wall member mounted to a frame of the system defines a first portion of a chamber, and a cartridge holder movably mounted relative to the frame and the wall member defines a second portion of the chamber. The cartridge holder may have an opening to receive a cartridge and be arranged to hold and move a cartridge between an open position and a closed position. A cover, which may be moveable relative to the wall member and/or the cartridge holder, may be arranged to cover the opening of the cartridge holder with the cartridge holder in the closed position. Thus, with the cartridge holder in the closed position and the cover covering the opening, the cartridge holder, the wall member and the cover define the chamber in a closed state in which a cartridge held by the cartridge holder is enclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A beverage forming system comprising:
a frame arranged to support portions of the beverage forming system;
a wall member mounted to the frame and defining a first portion of a chamber;
a cartridge holder movably mounted to the frame and movable relative to the wall member, the cartridge holder having an opening to receive a cartridge and arranged to hold and move a cartridge between an open position and a closed position, the cartridge holder defining a second portion of the chamber;
a cover arranged to cover the opening of the cartridge holder with the cartridge holder in the closed position, the cover being positioned away from the opening with the cartridge holder in the open position, and being moveable relative to the wall member;
an inlet arranged to provide fluid to a cartridge held by the cartridge holder in the closed position for the formation of a beverage; and
an outlet arranged to receive a beverage from a cartridge in the cartridge holder;
wherein with the cartridge holder in the closed position and the cover covering the opening, the cartridge holder, the wall member and the cover define the chamber in a closed state in which a cartridge held by the cartridge holder is enclosed, and
wherein a portion of the outlet that interfaces with the cartridge to receive the beverage is mounted to the cover.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wall member includes an outlet opening to conduct liquid from the chamber with the chamber in a closed state.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the inlet is arranged to introduce liquid into the chamber in a closed state and without a cartridge in the chamber to clean the chamber.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge holder defines a top wall, side walls, and a rear wall of the chamber, the wall member defines a bottom wall of the chamber, and the cover defines a front wall of the chamber.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the opening of the cartridge holder is oriented in an upwardly inclined position to receive the cartridge in the open position, and the opening of the cartridge holder is oriented in a downwardly inclined position in the closed position.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the opening has an axis that is perpendicular to a plane of the opening, and the axis is arranged at an angle of about 30-50 degrees above the horizontal with the cartridge holder in the open position, and the axis is arranged at about 0-20 degrees below the horizontal with the cartridge holder in the closed position.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge holder is pivotally mounted relative to the frame to rotate between the open and the closed positions.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge holder includes a handle that is manipulable by a user to move the cartridge holder between the open and closed positions.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cover is mounted to the frame for movement relative to the frame and relative to the cartridge holder.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the cover is arranged to move pivotally with the cartridge holder and relative to the frame in a portion of the cartridge holder movement between the open and closed positions.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cover is arranged to move toward the opening and relative to the frame in a portion of the cartridge holder movement between the open and closed positions.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the inlet that interfaces with the cartridge is mounted to the cover.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the portion of the inlet that interfaces with the cartridge includes a piercing element arranged to pierce a cartridge to deliver fluid to the cartridge.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the outlet that interfaces with the cartridge includes a piercing element arranged to pierce a cartridge to receive beverage from the cartridge.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the outlet includes a conduit that connects to a beverage output chamber when the cartridge holder is in the closed position, and is unconnected to the beverage output chamber when the cartridge holder is in the open position.

16. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a carrier that is movably mounted to the frame, wherein the cover is attached to the carrier.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the carrier is pivotally mounted to the frame, and the cartridge holder is pivotally mounted to the frame, and wherein the carrier is arranged to move with the cartridge holder in a portion of the cartridge holder movement between the open and closed positions.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the cover is mounted to the carrier so as to move pivotally with the carrier and the cartridge holder in the portion of the cartridge holder movement between the open and closed positions, and the cover is mounted to the carrier to slide relative to the cartridge holder to cover the opening with the cartridge holder in the closed position.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the wall member is movably mounted to the frame.

20. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a housing attached to the frame that encloses components of the system, the housing defining a cavity that receives the cartridge holder in the closed position, and wherein the cartridge holder is exposed outside of the cavity in the open position.

Assignees

• Keurig Green Mountain Inc

Inventors

• Sullivan Kevin P
• Tinkler Ian
• Shepard James E

Classifications

• A23F5/262

  the extraction liquid flowing through a stationary bed of solid substances, e.g. in percolation columns · CPC title

• A23F3/18

  Extraction of water soluble tea constituents ({A23F3/166 takes precedence; } isolation of tea flavour or tea oil A23F3/42) · CPC title

• A47J31/3633

  Means to perform transfer from a loading position to an infusing position · CPC title

• A47J31/407 Primary

  with ingredient-containing cartridges; Cartridge-perforating means · CPC title

• B65D85/8043 Primary

  Packages adapted to allow liquid to pass through the contents (B65D85/808 takes precedence; filters or reusable cartridges for coffee or tea makers, not used as packages A47J31/06) · CPC title