Ingredient cartridge loader for a fluid mixture dispensing device

A method of loading a cartridge in a fluid mixture dispensing device comprising:

• receiving the cartridge in a cartridge receiver carriage of the fluid mixture dispensing device, wherein the cartridge comprises a set of protrusions on a bottom side;
• depressing the cartridge receiver carriage towards an interface surface of the fluid mixture dispensing device to load the cartridge, wherein the interface surface comprises a set of recesses, and the set of protrusions and the set of recesses serve as a set of alignment features;
• applying continuous downward pressure on the cartridge towards the interface surface when the cartridge is loaded and in contact with the interface surface;
• and
• horizontally aligning the cartridge, as the cartridge is pressed towards the interface surface when the cartridge is loaded, using the set of alignment features.

A fluid mixture dispensing system comprising:

• an interface surface;
• a cartridge receiver slot for a cartridge loader;
• an actuator configured to depress a cartridge towards the interface surface to load a cartridge after the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge receiver slot;
• a movable cover for the cartridge receiver slot;
• and
• a fluid path from the cartridge to an output of the fluid mixture dispensing system;
• wherein the movable cover includes at least a portion of the fluid path.

A fluid mixture dispensing system comprising:

• an interface surface;
• a cartridge receiver carriage;
• an actuator configured to depress the cartridge receiver carriage towards the interface surface to load a cartridge;
• and
• at least one sensor configured to sense a continuous downward pressure applied on the cartridge;
• wherein the fluid mixture dispensing system is configured to apply the continuous downward pressure on the cartridge towards the interface surface when the cartridge is loaded and is in contact with the interface surface;
• and
• wherein the fluid mixture dispensing system is further configured to update the continuous downward pressure applied on the cartridge based on a measurement of the at least one sensor.

A fluid mixture dispensing system comprising:

• an interface surface;
• a cartridge receiver carriage;
• an actuator configured to depress the cartridge receiver carriage towards the interface surface to load a cartridge;
• and
• a set of upward actuators in the interface surface, configured to apply an upward force towards the cartridge when the cartridge is loaded, and configured to seal a set of orifices on the cartridge when the cartridge is loaded;
• wherein fluid mixture dispensing system is configured to apply a continuous downward pressure on the cartridge towards the interface surface when the cartridge is loaded and is in contact with the interface surface, and the continuous downward pressure applied on the cartridge towards the interface surface when the cartridge is loaded depends on at least on one of:
• (i) a number of upward actuators in the set of upward actuators;
• and (ii) the upward force applied by the set of upward actuators towards the cartridge.

A fluid mixture dispensing system comprising:

• an interface surface;
• a cartridge receiver carriage;
• an actuator configured to depress the cartridge receiver carriage towards the interface surface to load a cartridge;
• a first set of alignment features;
• and
• a second set of alignment features;
• wherein:
• (i) the fluid mixture dispensing system is configured to apply a continuous downward pressure on the cartridge towards the interface surface when the cartridge is loaded and is in contact with the interface surface;
• (ii) the first set of alignment features are in the cartridge receiver carriage;
• (iii) the first set of alignment features are adapted to horizontally align the cartridge, with a first degree of precision, along the cartridge receiver carriage as the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge receiver carriage;
• (iv) the second set of alignment features are adapted to horizontally align the cartridge, with a second degree of precision, as the cartridge is pressed towards the interface surface when the cartridge is loaded;
• and (v) the first degree of precision is less than the second degree of precision.

A method of loading a cartridge in a fluid mixture dispensing device comprising:

• receiving the cartridge in a cartridge receiver carriage of the fluid mixture dispensing device;
• depressing the cartridge receiver carriage towards an interface surface of the fluid mixture dispensing device to load the cartridge;
• applying continuous downward pressure on the cartridge towards the interface surface when the cartridge is loaded and in contact with the interface surface;
• sensing, using at least one sensor, the continuous downward pressure applied on the cartridge;
• and
• updating the continuous downward pressure applied on the cartridge based on a measurement of the at least one sensor.

A method of loading a cartridge in a fluid mixture dispensing device comprising:

• receiving the cartridge in a cartridge receiver carriage of the fluid mixture dispensing device;
• depressing the cartridge receiver carriage towards an interface surface of the fluid mixture dispensing device to load the cartridge;
• and
• applying continuous downward pressure on the cartridge towards the interface surface when the cartridge is loaded and in contact with the interface surface;
• wherein:
• the interface surface comprises a set of upward actuators, configured to apply an upward force towards the cartridge when the cartridge is loaded, and configured to seal a set of orifices on the cartridge when the cartridge is loaded;
• and the continuous downward pressure applied on the cartridge towards the interface surface when the cartridge is loaded depends on at least on one of:
• (i) a number of upward actuators in the set of upward actuators;
• and (ii) the upward force applied by the set of upward actuators towards the cartridge.

A method of loading a cartridge in a fluid mixture dispensing device comprising:

• receiving the cartridge in a cartridge receiver carriage of the fluid mixture dispensing device, wherein the cartridge receiver carriage comprises a first set of alignment features and the cartridge comprises a second set of alignment features;
• depressing the cartridge receiver carriage towards an interface surface of the fluid mixture dispensing device to load the cartridge;
• horizontally aligning the cartridge with a first degree of precision, along the cartridge receiver carriage as the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge receiver carriage, using the first set of alignment features;
• horizontally aligning the cartridge, with a second degree of precision, as the cartridge is pressed towards the interface surface when the cartridge is loaded, using the second set of alignment features, wherein the first degree of precision is less than the second degree of precision;
• and
• applying continuous downward pressure on the cartridge towards the interface surface when the cartridge is loaded and in contact with the interface surface.