Multi-single serve beverage dispensing apparatus, method and system
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsPhilip A. Anselmino, Kevin M. Chase
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multi-single serve beverage dispensing apparatus, method and system is disclosed. Storage, management and delivery of a desired liquid enhancement cartridge to a beverage preparation positioned in a refrigerator or other liquid dispensing appliance is provided. A liquid dispensing cartridge is inserted and retrieved through a cartridge loading/unloading interface associated with a cabinet body of a liquid dispensing appliance. A storage system having multiple cartridge holding positions for storing and staging a variety of liquid enhancement cartridges is included. An indexing system has a means for moving one or more of the cartridges into a beverage preparation position for preparing and dispensing a beverage.
Claims19
A multi-single serve cartridge beverage dispensing system comprising:
- a cartridge loading interface, the interface configured to receive a cartridge having a liquid enhancement component;
- a storage system associated with the cartridge loading interface, the storage system comprising a storage device having a plurality of cartridge holding positions for staging cartridges proximate a beverage preparation position;
- and
- an indexing system comprising means for moving one or more of the cartridges into a liquid pathway at the beverage preparation position for passing liquid through the cartridge for preparing and dispensing a beverage at a dispensing area;
- wherein the cartridge is segmented into multiple sub-compartments for controlling the concentration of the beverage.
A method for dispensing a beverage from a host appliance by storing and dispensing from multiple beverage cartridges, the method comprising:
- providing a beverage dispensing system at the host appliance having a beverage preparation position;
- introducing a plurality of cartridges having a liquid enhancement component into the host appliance;
- staging the cartridges at the beverage preparation position in a cartridge holder;
- indexing the cartridge holder or a cartridge from the holder into the beverage preparation position;
- dispensing liquid to the beverage preparation position to pass through the cartridge for dispensing a beverage from the host appliance;
- and
- iterating the cartridge holder or a cartridge at the beverage preparation position for preparing another beverage;
- controlling concentration levels of the beverage by dispensing from one or more sub-compartments in the cartridge.
A multi-single serve cartridge beverage dispensing system comprising:
- a cartridge loading interface, the interface configured to receive a cartridge having a liquid enhancement component;
- a storage system associated with the cartridge loading interface, the storage system comprising a storage device having a plurality of cartridge holding positions for staging cartridges proximate a beverage preparation position;
- a tracking system associated with the cartridge loading interface, the tracking system configured to identify and catalog a type of cartridge received;
- and
- an indexing system comprising means for moving one or more of the cartridges into a liquid pathway at the beverage preparation position for passing liquid through the cartridge for preparing and dispensing a beverage at a dispensing area;
- wherein the cartridge is segmented into multiple sub-compartments for controlling the concentration of the beverage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.