Beverage forming device and method with moving beverage cartridge holder

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9968216-B2
Application number	US-201414447805-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 31, 2014
Priority date	Feb 9, 2012
Publication date	May 15, 2018
Grant date	May 15, 2018

Abstract

Method and apparatus for receiving, moving and holding a cartridge. A cartridge holder may be movable between an open position in which the cartridge holder is in an upwardly inclined orientation to receive a cartridge and a closed position in which the cartridge holder is in a downwardly inclined orientation. A cover may be arranged to at least partially cover the opening of the cartridge holder with the cartridge holder in the closed position, yet be positioned away from the opening with the cartridge holder in the open position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A beverage forming system comprising:
a frame arranged to support portions of the beverage forming system;
a cartridge holder movably mounted to the frame and having an opening to receive a cartridge, the opening lying in a plane, and a direction of the opening being perpendicular to the plane and pointing away from the cartridge holder, and the cartridge holder arranged to hold and move the cartridge between an open position in which the direction of the opening of the cartridge holder is oriented in an upwardly inclined position to receive the cartridge, and a closed position in which the direction of the opening is oriented in a downwardly inclined position;
a cover arranged to at least partially 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;
an inlet arranged to provide fluid to the 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 the cartridge held by the cartridge holder in the closed position.

2. The system of claim 1 , 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 10-20 degrees below the horizontal with the cartridge holder in the closed position.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the opening includes a notch to receive a corresponding protrusion of a cartridge held by the cartridge holder.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. The system of claim 6 , 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.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the cover is arranged to move toward the opening of the cartridge holder and relative to the frame in a portion of the cartridge holder movement between the open and closed positions.

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

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

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the outlet includes a conduit that connects to a beverage output chamber when the cartridge holder is in the closed position, and is disconnected from the beverage output chamber when the cartridge holder is in the open position.

12. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a carrier that is movably mounted to the frame, wherein the cartridge holder is movable relative to the carrier and the cover is attached to the carrier.

13. The system of claim 12 , 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.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein 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.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the cartridge holder and the carrier are linked together by a cam and cam follower.

16. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a link connected between the frame and the carrier and arranged to move the cover relative to the cartridge holder with movement of the cartridge holder between the open and closed positions.

17. 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.

18. A beverage forming system comprising:
a frame arranged to support portions of the beverage forming system;
a cartridge holder movably mounted to the frame and having an opening to receive a cartridge, the cartridge holder arranged to hold and move the cartridge pivotally between an open position and a closed position;
a cover arranged to at least partially 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 such that an axis that is perpendicular to a plane of the opening and extends away from the opening does not intersect the cover, and the cover being arranged to move pivotally together with the cartridge holder in the same direction and arranged to move linearly relative to the cartridge holder in at least a portion of the cartridge holder movement between the open and closed positions; and
an inlet arranged to provide fluid to the cartridge held by the cartridge holder in the closed position for the formation of a beverage.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein with the cartridge holder in the open position, the opening of the cartridge holder is oriented in an upwardly inclined position to receive the cartridge.

20. The system of claim 18 , 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.

21. The system of claim 18 , 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.

22. The system of claim 18 , wherein a portion of the inlet that interfaces with the cartridge is mounted to the cover.

23. The system of claim 18 , further comprising an outlet to receive a beverage from the cartridge and a portion of the outlet that interfaces with the cartridge is mounted to the cover.

24. The system of claim 18 , further comprising a carrier that is movably mounted to the frame, wherein the cover is mounted to the carrier.

25. The system of claim 24 , wherein the carrier is pivotally mounted to the frame, and the cartridge holder is pivotally mounted to the carrier, 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.

26. The system of claim 24 , wherein the cartridge holder and the carrier are linked together by a cam and cam follower.

27. The system of claim 24 , further comprising a link connected between the frame and the carrier and arranged to move the cover relative to the cartridge holder with movement of the cartridge holder between the open and closed positions.

28. The system of claim 18 , further c

Assignees

• Keurig Green Mountain Inc

Inventors

• Smith Geoffrey Y
• Shepard James E
• Tinkler Ian

Classifications

• A47J31/3633 Primary

  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