Patent ID: 9533783
Date: 2017-01-03
CPC Classifications: A47J,B65B,G07F

Claim:
1. A method for the decentralized manufacturing and customization of beverage cartridges, comprising: (a) Installing a plurality of geographically distributed beverage cartridge manufacturing and vending machines which use known means to be in electrical communication with each other and with a suitably centralized location such that the machines and the centralized location form a distribution network; (b) Weighing a quantity of beverage medium provided by a consumer using a scale which is incorporated into a particular one of the machines to obtain a first weight; (c) Obtaining instructions from the consumer through the use of a user interface area of the particular machine for the purpose of manufacturing and dispensing beverage cartridges; (d) Accepting and confirming user payment within the particular machine; (e) Receiving the beverage medium into a receptacle of the particular machine; (f) Reweighing the beverage medium which has been received into the receptacle to obtain a second weight; (g) Determining if the second weight is within a tolerance from the first weight; (h) Returning the beverage medium to the consumer if the second weight is not within the tolerance; (i) Using a known means to manufacture beverage cartridges inside of a cabinet housing of the particular machine if the second weight is within the tolerance; (j) Dispensing the beverage cartridges to the user in a dispensing area of the particular machine if the second weight is within the tolerance; (k) Communicating information which is pertinent to the operation and maintenance of the network between the machines and between the machines and the centralized location; (l) Using the communicated information to coordinate the restocking of materials used to manufacture beverage cartridges.