US 2026/0138816 A1 · INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEMS FOR FORMING POD HOLDERS AND BEVERAGE PODS, AND ASSOCIATED DEVICES AND METHODS

Abstract

Injection molding systems for forming pod holders and beverage pods, and associated devices and methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, an injection molding system including an injection molding apparatus, a feeder, a driver, and a controller. The injection molding apparatus can include a positive molding part comprising a tapered component, and a negative molding part that defines a tapered cavity and a gate in fluid communication with the tapered cavity The gate can be coupled to receive a melted polymer. The feeder can be configured to inject the melted polymer from a source to the gate of the negative molding part. The driver can be configured to move the positive molding part toward or away from the negative molding part. The controller can be operably coupled to the feeder and the driver, and perform a process for operating the injection molding system.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A multi-chamber beverage pod for use in a single-serve beverage machine, the multi-chamber pod comprising:

an upper portion defining an upper opening and an upper chamber containing a first beverage material;
a lid covering the upper opening of the upper portion;
a lower portion defining a lower chamber containing a second beverage material, wherein the lower portion includes a brewing pin-receiving shoulder extending inwardly from a sidewall of the lower portion;
a pierceable separator between the upper chamber and the lower chamber;
and
a gap between the brewing pin-receiving shoulder and the separator such that when a brewing pin passes upwardly through the pin-receiving shoulder and the separator and a liquid mixes with the first beverage material, a first beverage flows downwardly from the upper chamber, along the gap, and into the lower chamber to mix with the second beverage material to form a second beverage.

3 more elements

An injection molding system, comprising:

an injection molding apparatus including:
a positive molding part, wherein the positive molding part comprises a tapered component;
and
a negative molding part, wherein the negative molding part defines a tapered cavity and a gate in fluid communication with the tapered cavity, wherein the gate is coupled to receive a melted polymer;
a feeder configured to inject the melted polymer from a source to the gate of the negative molding part;
a driver configured to move the positive molding part toward or away from the negative molding part;
and
a controller operably coupled to the feeder and the driver, wherein the controller is configured to cause the injection molding system to perform a process including:
positioning, using the driver, the positive molding part spaced apart from the negative molding part such that the injection molding apparatus is in an open state;
injecting, using the feeder, a predetermined volume of the melted polymer into the tapered cavity via the gate;
moving, using the driver, the positive molding part toward the negative molding part such that the tapered component spreads the predetermined volume of the melted polymer in the tapered cavity into at least a portion of a container having a groove extending along a side of the container, and such that the injection molding apparatus in a closed state;
cooling the melted polymer such that the polymer solidifies and retains a shape of the at least the portion of the container;
and
moving, using the driver, the positive molding part away from the negative molding part such that the injection molding apparatus returns to the open state.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Injection molding systems for forming pod holders and beverage pods, and associated devices and methods

Life of this patent

Injection molding systems for forming pod holders and beverage pods, and associated devices and methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24