Beverage formation apparatus and method using vibratory energy

Apparatus and method for forming beverages using a beverage cartridge and sonic energy. A cartridge may include a sonic receiver, such as a feature that extends into an interior space of the cartridge and is arranged to receive a sonic emitter that introduces sonic energy into the interior space. The sonic receiver may be excited by sonic energy, which causes the sonic receiver to itself introduce sonic energy into the cartridge.

BACKGROUND

Various patents describe the use of sonic energy when brewing coffee, including U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,520, U.S. Pat. No. 4,983,412, and U.S. Patent Publication 20080032030 which describe applying ultrasonic energy to the exterior of a drip-brewing funnel and/or directly to the coffee grounds and water at the interior of the funnel. However, applying ultrasonic energy to the exterior of a brew funnel will not necessarily allow for suitable control of the sonic energy at the interior of the brew funnel, e.g., resulting in some areas receiving energy of a different intensity and/or frequency than other areas. Also, applying sonic energy to the interior of a brew funnel may in some cases to cause erosion of an ultrasonic probe having a metal exterior, resulting in the possibility that eroded material is deposited in the coffee grounds or other beverage medium.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Aspects of the invention relate to applying vibratory or other sonic energy to the interior of a beverage cartridge that contains a beverage medium and a liquid introduced into the cartridge interior. The cartridge may be arranged to have a sonic receiver that receives sonic energy for introduction into the interior space of the cartridge. For example, the sonic receiver may include an acoustically compliant portion of the cartridge that vibrates or otherwise moves in response to the sonic energy so as to itself transmit sonic energy to the cartridge interior. In another arrangement, the sonic receiver may include a motion creating structure that is arranged to cause beverage medium and/or liquid in the cartridge to move in response to vibratory motion of the motion creating structure caused by a sonic emitter or other oscillating drive system. In some other embodiments, the sonic receiver may include an acoustically transparent portion, an acoustic coupling medium, a depression or other feature to interact with a sonic emitter, or other feature to allow the sonic emitter to transmit sonic energy directly into the cartridge. The sonic receiver may be arranged to direct sonic energy to particular areas of the interior space of the cartridge, focus, disperse or otherwise modify the sonic energy to make the intensity of the sonic energy more uniform in at least parts of the interior space, and/or have other affects on the sonic energy. This may help avoid problems associated with having sonic energy concentrated in one or more areas, such as tunneling where the sonic energy effectively forms a pathway in a beverage medium through which liquid may “short circuit” or pass through the cartridge without sufficiently contacting the beverage medium. Tunneling can cause a resulting beverage to be weak because of the insufficient contact of liquid with the beverage medium.

In one aspect of the invention, a beverage cartridge arranged for use in a beverage forming machine to make a beverage may include a container having a closed interior space and a beverage medium located in the interior space. The beverage medium may be used to form a beverage by interaction of the beverage medium with a liquid introduced into the interior space and may include, for example, roast and ground coffee, sweeteners, creamers, instant drink mixes, and other soluble and/or insoluble materials. A motion creating structure may also be included in the closed interior space of the container and arranged to cause movement of the beverage medium or liquid in the cartridge relative to the container in response to oscillatory movement of a drive system located outside of the closed interior space and separate from the beverage cartridge. For example, the motion creating structure may include an agitator that includes a first portion located in the interior space and a second portion that extends outside of the interior space. The second portion of the agitator may be arranged to mechanically couple with the drive system so that motion of the drive system may be translated to the first portion of the agitator in the cartridge. The agitator may have a variety of different arrangements, e.g., to cause vibratory motion, stirring, cavitation, or other mixing motion of the beverage medium and/or liquid. In some embodiments, an agitator may be attached to the container and extend into the interior space, e.g., one or more paddles, fingers, fins, tabs or blades may be attached to a container sidewall and extend into the interior space for interaction with the beverage medium, liquid, a filter or other component in the interior space.

In another illustrative embodiment, the motion creating structure may include indentations in the container that are arranged to mechanically couple with the drive system. The indentations may provide mechanical coupling of the container to the drive system, e.g., to allow the drive system to move the cartridge as a whole, or may function to cause movement of the beverage medium or liquid in the container, e.g., the indentations may act as fins, blades or other structures that cause motion of the beverage medium and/or liquid in response to movement of the container.

In another illustrative embodiment, the motion creating structure may include one or more mixing balls that are movable in the interior space independently of the container. The mixing balls may be arranged to create movement of the beverage medium or liquid in the container in response to movement of a container by the drive system, e.g., the container may be rotated in an oscillating manner that causes the balls to rotate relative to the container in the interior space. Alternately, the mixing balls may be caused to move in a random way, vertically or other linear fashion, or otherwise to cause movement of the beverage medium or liquid.

In another embodiment, the motion creating structure may include one or more wall elements in the interior space arranged to cause net rotary movement of the beverage medium or liquid in response to oscillatory rotation of the container. For example, the wall elements may have a zig-zag, a “ramp and stop” or other arrangement capable of causing rotation of the beverage medium and/or liquid in response to oscillatory rotation of the container.

The cartridge may include any suitable features found in beverage cartridges, such as one or more filters, liquid distributors, one or more different types of beverage media in one or more different compartments of the cartridge, liquid or gas inlet or outlet valves or other conduits or ports, etc. For example, the cartridge container may include a cup with a top opening and a lid attached to the cup that closes the top opening. The cup may have a cylindrical shape, a cubic shape, conical or frustoconical shape, partial spherical shape, tetrahedral shape, or others. The cup may be made as a single part, e.g., a single thermoformed piece of plastic, or may be made of multiple parts that are joined together. For example, a cup may include a cylindrical wall member that has a flat plate or foil member attached to one end of the cylindrical wall. Similarly, the lid may be arranged in any suitable way, e.g., may include a single part such as a layer of laminated foil, multiple parts joined together, and so on. In addition, the cartridge may include a filter element arranged to filter at least part of a beverage formed by interaction of the beverage medium with liquid. For example, the filter element may include a filter paper arranged so that liquid interacting with the beverage medium passes through the filter before exiting the cartridge. The filter may be attached to a lid of the container, a container sidewall, or other cartridge component(s).

In another aspect of the invention, a beverage forming system includes a cartridge receiver arranged to hold a beverage cartridge, a liquid inlet (such as a needle that pierces the cartridge) arranged to introduce liquid into the beverage cartridge, and a drive system arranged to provide vibratory or other sonic energy to the beverage cartridge. A beverage cartridge may be held by the cartridge receiver and have an arrangement like that described above, e.g., including a container having a closed interior space, a beverage medium located in the interior space, and a motion creating structure in the closed interior space of the container. The motion creating structure may be arranged, e.g., as discussed above, to cause movement of the beverage medium or liquid in the cartridge relative to the container in response to oscillatory movement of the drive system. The system may be arranged to pierce the cartridge container to form an opening through which beverage exits the container, e.g., a needle may pierce the container to allow beverage to exit the container.

In some embodiments, the drive system and motion creating structure may be arranged to cause materials to pass through a filter in the cartridge that would not pass through the filter in the absence of causing movement of the beverage medium or liquid. For example, when using the system to create a coffee beverage, the drive system and motion creating structure may cause the coffee beverage to be formed with a turbidity and/or a level of total dissolved solids that is higher than would be present in the absence of movement of the beverage medium or liquid by the motion creating structure and the drive system.

In another aspect of the invention, a method for forming a beverage using a beverage cartridge includes providing a beverage cartridge including a container having a closed interior space, a beverage medium located in the interior space, and a motion creating structure in the closed interior space of the container arranged to cause movement of the beverage medium. The beverage cartridge is associated with a brew chamber of a beverage forming machine, e.g., by placing the cartridge in a cartridge receiver of the beverage forming machine. Movement of the motion creating structure is caused while the cartridge is associated with the brew chamber to cause movement of the beverage medium in the closed interior space. Such motion may cause the beverage medium to better interact with liquid (e.g., water) that is introduced into the cartridge when forming a beverage. Improved interaction may result in more complete or faster extraction, more complete or faster mixing, improved passage of liquid and/or other materials through a filter, and/or other features.

In one embodiment, the step of causing movement may include engaging and causing oscillatory motion of an agitator that has at least a portion located in the interior space of the cartridge. For example, the agitator may include a first portion located in the interior space and oscillatory motion of the second portion (which extends outside of the cartridge for engagement with a drive system) causes movement of the first portion. As discussed above, the motion creating structure may be arranged in a variety of different ways, and movement of the motion creating structure may be caused by mechanical engagement with and movement of the motion creating structure, movement of the cartridge container, and/or movement of a drive system component introduced into the cartridge interior.

A sonic emitter or other drive system that provides sonic or vibratory energy may take any one of a variety of forms, such as a probe that is positioned adjacent a portion of the cartridge, a motor and drive linkage, etc. As used herein, “sonic energy” or “vibratory energy” includes energy audible to the human ear as well as energy outside of the range of hearing of the human ear. For example, “sonic energy” or “acoustic energy” or “vibratory energy” can include vibratory energy having a frequency of about 10 Hz to about 200 kHz or more.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It should be understood that aspects of the invention are described herein with reference to the figures, which show illustrative embodiments. The illustrative embodiments described herein are not necessarily intended to show all embodiments in accordance with the invention, but rather are used to describe a few illustrative embodiments. Thus, aspects of the invention are not intended to be construed narrowly in view of the illustrative embodiments. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the invention may be used alone or in any suitable combination with other aspects of the invention.

FIGS. 1 and 2show a side cross-sectional view and an exploded perspective view, respectively, of an illustrative cartridge10that incorporates one or more aspects of the invention. The cartridge10may be used in a beverage machine to form any suitable beverage such as tea, coffee, other infusion-type beverages, beverages formed from a liquid or powdered concentrate, carbonated beverages, etc. Thus, the cartridge10may contain any suitable beverage medium20, e.g., ground coffee, tea leaves, dry herbal tea, powdered beverage concentrate, dried fruit extract or powder, powdered or liquid concentrated bouillon or other soup, powdered infant formula, powdered or liquid medicinal materials (such as powdered vitamins, drugs or other pharmaceuticals, nutriceuticals, etc.), and/or other beverage-making material (such as powdered milk or other creamers, sweeteners, thickeners, flavorings, and so on). In one illustrative embodiment, the cartridge10contains a beverage medium20that is configured for use with a machine that forms coffee and/or tea beverages, however, aspects of the invention are not limited in this respect.

Although illustrative embodiments of cartridges are shown in the drawings, as used herein, a “cartridge” may take any suitable form, such as a pod (e.g., opposed layers of filter paper encapsulating a beverage medium), capsule, sachet or any other arrangement. The cartridge may be impervious to air and/or liquid, or may allow water and/or air to pass into the cartridge. The cartridge may include a filter or other arrangement to help prevent some portions of the beverage medium from being provided with the formed beverage, such as a coffee drink, tea, hot chocolate, etc. To “brew” a beverage as used herein includes infusion, mixing, dissolving, steeping or otherwise forming a drinkable substance using water or other beverage precursor (e.g., flavored or otherwise treated water, or other liquid whether heated or not) with a beverage medium. Also, reference to “water” herein is to any suitable water formulation, e.g., filtered, deionized, softened, carbonated, etc., as well as any other suitable precursor liquid used to form a beverage, such as sweetened or flavored water, milk, etc.

In this illustrative embodiment, the cartridge10includes a container12that includes an interior space14having a first chamber14aand a second chamber14bthat are separated by a filter30. It should be understood, however, that other additional chambers in the interior space and/or sub-portions or areas of the first and second chambers, may be provided in other embodiments. For example, this embodiment also includes a flow distributor33that may help to distribute incoming liquid across the beverage medium20, and thus the flow distributor33may define an area between the flow distributor33and the lid38. Also, it is possible for the cartridge to have three spaces that are separated by two filters (e.g., a first filter separates two portions of a first chamber and a second filter separates the first and second chambers), and so on. In another embodiment, the first or second chamber may be separated into two portions by a venturi or other feature that introduces air or liquid into a beverage. Thus, the first and/or second chambers may be divided or otherwise separated into two or more portions or areas by filters, walls, dividers, passageways, and other features. Also, it should be appreciated that the cartridge10need not include a filter30, but instead may be filterless.

If the container12includes an opening13like that shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the opening13may be closed by a lid38, e.g., a foil and polymer laminate material that is attached to a rim19of the container12. (Although in this embodiment the rim19is arranged as an annular flange-like element, the rim19may be arranged in other ways. For example, the rim19may be the top edge of the sidewall17without any flange element.) The container12and/or the lid38may provide a barrier to moisture and/or gases, such as oxygen. For example, the container12may be made of a polymer laminate, e.g., formed from a sheet including a layer of polystyrene or polypropylene and a layer of EVOH and/or other barrier material, such as a metallic foil. Such an arrangement may provide suitable protection for the beverage medium20, e.g., from unwanted exposure from moisture, oxygen and/or other materials. It should be understood, however, that the container12and/or the lid38may be made of other materials or combinations of materials, such as biopolymers, compostable polymers, paper, foils, etc.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the cartridge10may include sonic receiver11(seeFIG. 2), such as an acoustically compliant portion that receives sonic energy from a sonic emitter which causes the acoustically compliant portion to vibrate or otherwise move. This movement of the acoustically compliant portion may introduce sonic energy into the interior space14to interact with the beverage medium20, a filter30(if present) and/or liquid in the interior space14. The acoustically compliant portion may take any suitable form, which may depend on the arrangement of a sonic emitter used to excite the acoustically compliant portion. For example, the acoustically compliant portion in this illustrative embodiment includes a part of a sidewall17arranged to vibrate in response to acoustic energy, but an acoustically compliant portion or other sonic receiver11may be arranged at the bottom16and/or lid38of the container12. Thus, the material used to form the acoustically compliant portion, the physical shape, thickness or other characteristics of the acoustically compliant portion may be carefully arranged to be excited by acoustic energy so as to provide a desired sonic energy into the interior space14. For example, a portion of the sidewall17may be caused to vibrate by a sonic emitter, which in turn causes the portion of the sidewall17to create or otherwise introduce sonic energy into the interior space14. As discussed in more detail below, the sonic receiver11need not include an acoustically compliant section, but rather may be arranged to receive, couple with, or otherwise interact with a sonic emitter that introduces sonic energy into the cartridge10.

Also, although in this embodiment, the sonic receiver11is arranged to cooperate with a sonic emitter that is located outside of the cartridge10, the sonic receiver11may be arranged to cooperate with a sonic emitter located inside of the cartridge10. For example, a sonic probe inserted into the interior space14may emit sonic energy which excites an acoustically compliant portion of the container. In turn, the excitation of the acoustically compliant portion may itself introduce sonic energy into the interior space, optionally at the same or a different frequency and/or intensity as the sonic energy emitted by the probe. This feature may be exploited to help provide desired acoustic energy in the interior space, whether at a desired frequency or amplitude. Moreover, the sonic receiver(s)11may be used make the sonic energy more uniform or otherwise distributed in the interior space. For example, whereas a single sonic probe may in some cases form a tunnel or channel in a beverage medium because of the concentration of sonic energy in a narrow area, the sonic receiver(s)11may help to more uniformly distribute sonic energy in the interior space14, thus helping to avoid any tunneling or unwanted concentration of sonic energy in one or more areas. Of course, the sonic receiver(s)11may be used to help make sonic energy in the interior space more uniform or have other desired characteristics by interacting with a sonic emitter located outside of the interior space14.

Although in this illustrative embodiment the container12has a generally frustoconical shape with a flat lid, the container12may have a fluted, conical, or cylindrical shape, may be in the form of a square or rectangular cup, a domed cup, a sphere or partial sphere, or other suitable form, may have a fluted, corrugated, or otherwise shaped sidewall, and so on. Also, the container12need not necessarily have a defined shape, as is the case with some beverage sachets and pods. For example, although the container12in this embodiment has a relatively rigid and/or resilient construction so that the container12tends to maintain its shape, the container12could be made to have a more compliant and/or deformable arrangement, e.g., like a sachet container made from a sheet of deformable material. Thus, an interior space defined by the container12may be formed only after the container material is formed around a beverage medium, filter and/or other cartridge components, similar to when two filter paper layers (container material) are joined together around a charge of coffee grounds to form a pod or other form of cartridge. In other embodiments, the size and/or shape of the cartridge container12may be defined by the brew chamber in which the cartridge10is held.

If provided, the filter30may be attached to the lid38at a periphery32that is spaced inwardly and away from the rim19. In addition, the filter30may extend from the periphery32at least partially into the interior space14. The filter30may function to remove materials over a certain size from a liquid, e.g., may remove coffee grounds from liquid in the first chamber14a, allowing a coffee beverage to pass through the filter30to the second chamber14b. For example, the filter may include a piece of filter paper that is arranged to allow a liquid and dissolved and/or suspended materials of a certain size to pass, yet prevent relatively large particles from flowing through the filter. Of course, the filter30may have multiple stages, e.g., a coarse filter portion that filters out relatively large particles, followed by a fine filter portion that filters relatively smaller particles, and so on. In addition, the filter30may include one or more portions that function to filter liquid passing through the filter30, as well as portions that are impermeable or otherwise restrict flow. Thus, the filter30may include two or more separate components, if desired. For example, the filter30may include a rigid, impermeable plastic sleeve that is attached to the lid38at the periphery32. At a location away from the lid38, a porous filter paper may be attached to the sleeve. Thus, not all portions of the filter need be permeable to liquids. The filter30may also have areas with different permeability, e.g., to help direct flow toward one or more areas of the filter30. For example, regions of the filter30near the lid38inFIG. 1may have a relatively lower permeability as compared to regions further away from the lid38. This may help encourage flow through the beverage medium20toward lower regions of the filter30, potentially improving the dissolution of materials in the medium20into the liquid.

As described in more detail below, the operation of the filter may be influenced by sonic energy in the interior space, e.g., materials that would otherwise not pass through the filter may be caused to pass by the sonic energy. For example, attaching the filter30to the lid38may be useful in some embodiments where a portion of the lid38functions as an acoustically compliant portion. That is, a sonic emitter may excite a portion of the lid38, and since the lid38may be connected to the filter30, both the filter and lid38may be excited so as to introduce sonic energy into the interior space14. Sonic excitation of the filter30may help certain materials pass through the filter30that would otherwise not pass through the filter in the absence of sonic energy. Of course, the filter30may be sonically excited in other ways, such as by transmitting acoustic energy through the cartridge sidewall17.

In another aspect of the invention, the filter30may also, or alternately, function to help prevent the movement of materials from the second chamber14bto the first chamber14a, and/or help position certain beverage materials in the interior space14for sonic treatment. For example, the cartridge10may include a beverage medium20in the second chamber14band no beverage medium20in the first chamber14a. In this case, the filter30may help maintain the beverage medium20near the bottom16and/or sidewall17. Such positioning of the beverage medium20may help expose the beverage medium to desired acoustic energy, e.g., if the energy is introduced from the sidewall17and/or bottom16. For example, some beverage media20, such as powdered drink mixes, can tend to clump and may clog or otherwise foul a beverage outlet if not properly dissolved. By suitably exposing the drink mix to acoustic energy near the bottom16or sidewall17of the cartridge10, the drink mix may dissolve or otherwise go into solution more quickly or effectively than would otherwise occur. For example, the inventors have discovered that introducing acoustic energy into the interior space14of a cartridge10can cause flow of the beverage medium20and liquid that would not occur in the absence of such energy. In some cases, the swirling or other flow can help dissolve a beverage medium or otherwise improve contact of the medium with a liquid.

When using the cartridge10to form a beverage, the lid38and/or the container12may be pierced to introduce liquid into the cartridge and receive beverage from the cartridge. (As used herein, “beverage” refers to a liquid substance intended for drinking that is formed when a liquid interacts with a beverage medium. Thus, beverage refers to a liquid that is ready for consumption, e.g., is dispensed into a cup and ready for drinking, as well as a liquid that will undergo other processes or treatments, such as filtering or the addition of flavorings, creamer, sweeteners, another beverage, etc., before being consumed.) To introduce liquid into the cartridge, for example, as shown inFIG. 3, a portion of the lid38generally circumscribed by the periphery32where the filter30(if present) is attached to the lid38may be pierced by an inlet piercing element50(e.g., a needle) so that water or other liquid may be injected into the cartridge10. Of course, other piercing approaches may be used, e.g., where the filter30is attached to the container sidewall17. Other inlet piercing arrangements are possible, such as multiple needles, a shower head, a non-hollow needle, a cone, a pyramid, a knife, a blade, etc. A beverage machine that uses the cartridge may include multiple piercing elements of the same type or of different types, as the invention is not limited in this respect. In another arrangement, a beverage machine may include a piercing element (such as a spike) that forms an opening and thereafter a second inlet element (such as a tube) may pass through the formed hole to introduce liquid into (or conduct liquid out of) the container. For those arrangements in which the cartridge is pierced, a sonic emitter may be introduced into the interior space14. For example, a piercing element50(e.g., needle) may function to pierce the cartridge, introduce water into the cartridge, and emit sonic energy in the interior space14. Thus, a piercing inlet needle may function as a sonic emitter as well as provide liquid into the container. In other embodiments, the lid38may be pierced, or otherwise effectively opened for flow, by introducing pressure at an exterior of the lid38. For example, a water inlet may be pressed and sealed to the lid38exterior and water pressure introduced at the site. The water pressure may cause the lid38to be pierced or otherwise opened to allow flow into the cartridge10. In another arrangement, the lid38may include a valve, conduit or other structure that opens when exposed to a suitable pressure and/or when mated with a water inlet tube or other structure. In such cases the water (or other liquid) inlet may still function as a sonic emitter, although the liquid inlet may not extend into the interior space14. In some arrangements, liquid may be introduced into the cartridge so that all or a substantial portion of air or other gas in the cartridge is vented or otherwise removed. This may help couple components in the cartridge interior (beverage medium, filter, liquid, etc.) with a sonic emitter.

The cartridge10may also be penetrated by an outlet piercing element52(e.g., a needle) at a bottom16of the container12, or at a second portion of the lid38outside of the periphery32and apart from the inlet opening, or at another portion of the cartridge10, such as the sidewall17. (The liquid inlet may similarly be located at any suitable place or places on the cartridge10.) As with the inlet piercing arrangement, the outlet piercing arrangement may be varied in any suitable way. Thus, the outlet piercing element52may include one or more hollow or solid needles, knives, blades, tubes, and so on. Such piercing elements52may also function as a sonic emitter, or open a path through which a sonic emitter may enter the interior space or otherwise communicate with the cartridge10. Alternately, the cartridge10may include a valve, septum or other element that opens to permit beverage to exit when liquid is introduced into the cartridge, but otherwise remains closed (e.g., to protect the beverage medium from external conditions such as oxygen, moisture or others). In such a case, no piercing element for forming the outlet opening is necessarily required although may be used, e.g., to allow the valve or other element to open. Also, in this illustrative embodiment the piercing element52remains in place to receive beverage as it exits the opening formed in the container12or lid38. However, in other embodiments, the piercing element52may withdraw after forming an opening, allowing beverage to exit the opening and be received without the piercing element52being extended into the cartridge10.

Although the embodiments described above include a beverage medium20only in the first chamber14a, or only in the second chamber14b, the cartridge10may include a beverage medium (either the same or different) in both chambers or other portions of the cartridge. For example, a cartridge may include roast and ground coffee in the first chamber14a, and a creamer and sweetener in the second chamber14b, enabling the cartridge to form a cappuccino- or latte-like beverage. In another embodiment, the first chamber14amay include coffee grounds and the second chamber14bmay include a hot chocolate material, allowing the cartridge to form a mocha-type beverage. Other combinations will occur to those of skill in the art, such as leaf tea in the first chamber and a dried fruit material in the second chamber, a dried fruit material in the first chamber and creamer/sweetener in the second chamber, and so on. In some embodiments, another filter may be provided, e.g., to separate beverage media in the second chamber from the fluid outlet. For example, a filter may be attached to the lid38in an area where an outlet needle pierces the lid38to allow beverage to exit the cartridge, but only after passing through the additional filter. The selection of which beverage media to place in which areas of the cartridge10may be made based on the desired acoustic treatment to be given the beverage media. For example, certain hard-to-dissolve beverage media may be located so as to experience a relatively higher acoustic energy intensity, whereas other beverage media may be located in lower intensity regions. Thus, the cartridge interior space14may have regions with different acoustic energy characteristics, and those acoustic energy characteristics may be tuned or otherwise controlled for particular beverage media or other affects on beverage media.

FIG. 4shows another illustrative embodiment of a cartridge10which in this case includes a sonic receiver11located at the sidewall17of the container12. The sonic receiver11, which may be arranged as a notch, recess or other depression in the container12, receives a sonic emitter53, which in this instance has the form of an ultrasonic probe. The depression11may have any suitable configuration, e.g., may be tapered so as to closely fit with a tapered end of the sonic emitter53, may include an acoustically compliant portion that vibrates in response to sonic energy emitted by the sonic emitter53, may be substantially transparent to sonic energy emitted by the emitter53so as to have minimal attenuation on the energy, may provide an acoustic coupling between the emitter53and the interior space (e.g., the sonic receiver11may include a suitable acoustic gel, water or other substance that functions as an acoustic coupling medium), etc. In an arrangement where the depression11is configured to vibrate in response to sonic energy from the emitter53, the depression11or other feature may function as motion creating structure in the interior space that causes beverage medium and/or liquid to move relative to the container12. Of course, the shape and size of the depression may vary, e.g., the depression may have a round, square, rectangular, triangular, etc., cross sectional shape, may be sized to interact with the sonic emitter53in a desired way, may be formed of a different material than other portions of the container12(e.g., may include an element with desired acoustic characteristics that is molded into the sidewall17), and so on. In this case, the sonic receiver11is located below a filter30(e.g., downstream of the filter30), but may be arranged to be adjacent to or in immediate contact with the beverage medium20, the filter30or other components of the cartridge10. (Note that in this embodiment, the filter30is attached to the container12sidewall17, but the filter30could be arranged in any way in the cartridge10, e.g., as part of the container bottom or sidewall where a beverage exits.) Sonic energy emitted by the sonic emitter53and/or by an acoustically compliant portion of the cartridge10may be in the about 10 Hz to 200 kHz range with any suitable intensity, although other frequency ranges and/or intensities are possible.

By having the sonic emitter extend into a depression in the container12, the sonic emitter53may effectively be located inside the cartridge while actually remaining outside of the interior space14. That is, since the depression may extend into the interior space14of the cartridge10, the sonic emitter53may be located so as to effectively introduce sonic energy from within the interior space14, rather than effectively introducing the sonic energy from outside of the interior space. This arrangement may allow the sonic emitter53to provide may uniform sonic energy to the interior space, may permit sonic energy to be concentrated in certain areas of the interior space, and so on. Thus, the sonic emitter53in arrangements like that inFIG. 4may be able to function in a way similar to a sonic emitter that pierces the cartridge and extends into the interior space, but without the potential disadvantages of a piercing probe, such as potential contamination of the beverage, leaking from the emitter piercing site, damage to the sonic emitter by contacting the beverage medium and/or liquid, etc. In addition, the sonic receiver11may focus, diffuse, redirect, or otherwise change the way the sonic energy is introduced in the interior space. For example, the sonic receiver11may receive diffuse sonic energy, and focus that energy into a suitable area or zone in the interior space14.

FIGS. 5 through 16show various additional embodiments of a cartridge10having different sonic receiver arrangements. However, it should be understood that these illustrative embodiments are not intended to provide an exhaustive review of all possible ways in which an sonic receiver could be arranged in accordance with aspects of the invention. For example,FIG. 5shows a front view andFIG. 6shows a bottom view of a cartridge10that includes a sonic receiver11in the form of a notch or step at a lower right side of the container12.FIG. 7shows a front view andFIG. 8shows a bottom view of a cartridge10that includes a sonic receiver11in the form of a notch located at a lower, front right side of the container12.FIG. 9shows a front view andFIG. 10shows a bottom view of a cartridge10that includes a sonic receiver11in the form of a notch at a lower front, center of the container12.FIG. 11shows a front view andFIG. 12shows a left side view of a cartridge10that includes a sonic receiver11in the form of cylindrically-shaped depression in the sidewall17of the container12. In this embodiment, the depression extends into contact with a filter30in the container12, although the depression need not contact the filter30. In theFIGS. 11 and 12embodiments, as with other embodiments, the sonic receiver11may include more than just the depression. For example, an acoustic coupling gel or other substance could be placed in the depression and used to acoustically couple the sonic emitter53with the cartridge interior. In other embodiments, the sonic receiver11may include only the acoustic coupling gel, e.g., applied to the exterior of a cartridge, or any other suitable acoustic coupling material, such as water.FIG. 13shows a front view andFIG. 14shows a bottom view of a cartridge10that includes a sonic receiver11in the form of a cylindrically-shaped depression that extends upwardly from the bottom16of the container12. In this embodiment, the depression does not extend to the filter30, but the depression could optionally extend to the filter30or beyond the filter30and into a space above the filter30.FIG. 15shows a front view andFIG. 16shows a top view of a cartridge10that includes a sonic receiver11in the form of cylindrically-shaped depression that extends downwardly from the lid38into the interior space of the container12. The sonic receiver11in this embodiment may include a cylindrically-shaped cup that is attached to a hole in the lid38, or may be molded or otherwise formed into the lid material.

Of course, it should be understood that the sonic receivers11may be arranged to have other sizes, shapes or other configuration details as discussed above. Moreover, two or more sonic receivers11may be provided, and the sonic receivers11may have different positions on the container, different sizes, shaped, etc. The sonic receivers11may include acoustically compliant portions, or not, as desired. In the absence of an acoustically compliant portion, the sonic receivers11may receive or otherwise couple with a sonic emitter53so as to enable the sonic emitter53to introduce sonic energy into the cartridge10.

In other illustrative embodiments, a sonic receiver11may be arranged to be received by a sonic emitter53rather than to receive the sonic emitter53.FIGS. 17-19show a front view with a cartridge10engaged with a sonic emitter53, a front view of the cartridge10alone, and a bottom view of the cartridge10, respectively in another illustrative embodiment. In contrast to the embodiments shown inFIGS. 5-16, the embodiment inFIGS. 17-19has a sonic receiver11arranged to be at least partially surrounded by a sonic emitter53. That is, the lower portion of the container12is arranged to form a sonic receiver11that is inserted into a cavity of a sonic emitter53. A portion of the sonic emitter53may include one or more beverage outlets52, although other arrangements are possible, such as where a beverage exits from the lid38or sidewall17of the cartridge10. With the sonic receiver11at least partially surrounded by the sonic emitter53, the emitter53may transmit sonic energy into the cartridge10from one or more regions around the exterior of the sonic receiver11, including the bottom16of the container12. In other arrangements, such as that shown inFIG. 20, the bottom of the container12may extend from the sonic emitter53, e.g., allowing beverage to exit the container12without passing through the sonic emitter53. Although the embodiments inFIGS. 17-20show the sonic receiver11arranged to have a cylindrical shape, other shapes are possible, such as a tapered conical shape like that shown inFIGS. 21-23.FIGS. 21-23show a front view with a cartridge10engaged with a sonic emitter53, a front view of the cartridge10alone, and a bottom view of the cartridge10, respectively. The tapered shape of the sonic receiver11in this embodiment may allow the sonic emitter11to fit snugly against the sonic emitter53, which may enhance the acoustic coupling between the sonic emitter53and the cartridge interior. Coupling between the sonic emitter53and the cartridge may be enhanced in this or other embodiments in other ways, such as by using a compliant coupling medium (such as a silicone or rubber material as part of the sonic receiver11that interfaces with emitter53), use of a liquid coupling medium (such as water), using a sonic emitter53that has a portion that enlarges or reduces in size to clamp within or around the receiver11, providing interlocking corrugations in the cartridge container and sonic emitter53or otherwise increasing the contact area between the cartridge and the emitter to enhance energy transmission, pressing down on the top of the cartridge (or other cartridge portion) to help force the cartridge into contact with the emitter53, etc.

While in the embodiments above, the container12tends to remain relatively stationary, other arrangements may involve a sonic emitter or other vibratory drive system that moves the container to a somewhat greater extent so as to cause movement of beverage medium, liquid and/or other components in the cartridge. For example,FIGS. 24 and 25show top perspective and bottom perspective views of a container12of a cartridge10that includes a plurality of sonic receiver features in the form of indentations11formed into the sidewall of the container12. These indentations11may function to mechanically couple with a drive system so that the drive system can move the container12in an oscillatory manner. For example, the drive system may include fins or tabs that engage with a corresponding indentation11of the container12and allow the drive system to rotate the container in an oscillatory manner about an axis that is generally perpendicular to the bottom16of the container12. The container may be oscillated at any suitable amplitude, such as up to 10 to 15 degrees, or more (e.g., up to 30 degrees). Oscillating rotation of the container12may cause the indentations11to operate as a motion creating structure in the container12, e.g., as agitators that serve to cause movement of the beverage medium, liquid or other components in the container12. For example, the indentations may create vortices in a liquid or otherwise cause the liquid to flow or move relative to the container12. In some embodiments, the drive system may oscillate the container12at a resonant frequency of the indentations11so that movement of the indentations relative to other portions of the container12may be amplified. In other embodiments, the indentations11may be relatively rigid so that fins or paddles formed by the indentations11do not move appreciably relative to other portions of the container12. In some arrangements, the drive system may oscillate the cartridge in other ways, such as in a linear up-and-down motion along an axis perpendicular to the bottom16, in a rotary and/or linear manner about an axis parallel to the plane of the bottom16, in a random fashion, and so on. Oscillation of the cartridge may be performed before, during or after a time that liquid is provided to the cartridge, e.g., “dry” shaking of the cartridge may help loosen or unpack a beverage medium to make the medium more easily wetted by later introduced liquid. Of course, the shape, arrangement, relative size and other features of the indentations11inFIGS. 24 and 25may be altered in any suitable way, such as having the indentations11may be arranged horizontally, in a spiral fashion, or otherwise. Moreover, motion creating structures, such as an agitator arrangement, need not necessarily be formed by indentations in the container12. Instead, an agitator may include one or more paddles, fingers, fins, tabs or blades that are attached to the container12, filter30or other component (such as an insert placed into the container12) and extend into the interior space. Vibratory motion of the container12or other cartridge element may cause the agitators to interact with the beverage medium and/or liquid to cause motion relative to the container.

FIGS. 26 and 27shows a top perspective view and a side view of another illustrative embodiment that includes motion creating structure that causes movement of the beverage medium and/or liquid in the cartridge relative to the container in response to oscillatory movement of a drive system located outside of the closed interior space and separate from the beverage cartridge. In this embodiment, the motion creating structure includes a plurality of wall elements61that are arranged adjacent a periphery of the container12and are adapted to cause net rotary movement of the beverage medium or liquid in response to oscillatory rotation of the container12. That is, the wall elements61are arranged in a suitable zig-zag, “ratchet,” or “ramp and stop” arrangement so that as the container12is rotated clockwise about an axis that is perpendicular to the bottom16(from the perspective ofFIG. 26), beverage medium and/or other materials may slide along relatively shallow angle wall elements61a. However, when the container12is rotated counterclockwise about the axis perpendicular to the bottom16, beverage medium and other materials are pushed in the counterclockwise direction by steeper angle wall elements61b. Thus, oscillatory rotation of the container12may cause a net rotation of the beverage media and/or other materials in the container12. The wall elements61may be provided as features of the container sidewall17, as features of a filter30, or as part of another element.

In another illustrative embodiment, a motion creating structure may include one or more mixing balls that are movable in the interior space of the cartridge independently of the container. Movement of the mixing balls may create movement of the beverage medium or liquid in the container in response to movement of a container by the drive system. For example, several spherical balls may be placed in the first and/or second chamber14a,14bof theFIG. 1embodiment. Movement of the container12by a drive system (e.g., that clamps the container12in a holder that moves in an oscillatory way) may cause the balls to move in the container12, e.g., in rotary, linear up-down or side-to-side, random or other motions, to cause movement of the beverage medium and/or liquid in the container. In one embodiment, the balls may be magnetic, and the drive system may operated by magnetic coupling to move the balls in a suitable way. Thus, the balls may be moved within the container12without movement of the container12itself being required. Movement of the balls may be vibratory in nature (whether rotary and/or linear) and at any suitable frequency, such as from 10 Hz to 200 kHz, as is the case with other embodiments of motion creating structure. While the term “balls” is used regarding this embodiment, the “balls” need not be spherical, but instead may have a cubic, tetrahedral, cylindrical, irregular or other suitable shape.

One experiment regarding the use of mixing balls was conducted in which a cartridge like that inFIG. 24was coupled to a drive system that rotated the cartridge about a vertical axis perpendicular to the bottom of the container. The container was vibrated at a frequency of about 10 Hz, and at an amplitude of about 30 degrees. The container was arranged to have three indentations about 4 mm deep arranged in the sidewall of the container. Vibratory motion of the container was observed to elicit substantial movement of the surface of water placed in the container. Two ball bearings were added to the container, and the balls were observed to bounce across the diameter of the container about once per second. The two ball bearings were then removed and replaced with two plastic pellets, about 4 mm in diameter. Vibratory motion of the container also showed agitated motion of water in the container as well as bouncing of the plastic pellets across the diameter of the container.

Other configurations of elements that may be added to the interior space of a cartridge container are possible. For example,FIGS. 28 and 29show a container12like that ofFIG. 24and an associated agitator11athat includes a plurality of vertical paddles that are connected together by peripheral band elements. In this embodiment, the paddles are arranged to fit over indentations11in the container12, e.g., so that rotation or other movement of the container12may be transmitted to the agitator11a, but other arrangements are possible. For example, an agitator11alike that inFIG. 29may be provided with an interference fit inside of a container12, inside of a filter30(e.g., such as a filter30like that inFIG. 1) and/or in other ways. Arranging the motion creating structure as an insert to a container12may ease manufacturing of the motion creating structure, as well as allow customization of motion creating structure for different types of beverage media. For example, some beverage media, such as drink mixes, may require higher amplitude or otherwise more vigorous motion to achieve a desired result, whereas other beverage media, such as tea leaves, may require little or no motion at all to achieve a desired result. Thus, for containers having a drink mix one type of motion creating insert may be placed in the container, whereas for containers having different type of beverage medium, another type of motion creating insert may be placed in the container (or no insert at all).

FIGS. 30 and 31show another illustrative arrangement in which an agitator11ais received in a container12like that ofFIG. 24. In this embodiment, the agitator11aincludes scraper portions111between indentation engagement portions112. As can be seen inFIG. 30, the indentation engagement portions112fit over and engage with indentations11of the container12. As a result, movement of the container12can be translated to the agitator11a. In some embodiments, the scraper portions111may move at least somewhat independently of the indentation engagement portions112so that the lowermost part of the scraper portions111can scrape, contact or otherwise agitate materials near the bottom16of the container12. This arrangement may be useful, for example, when seeking to help ensure that beverage media near the bottom of the container12is fully dissolved or otherwise suitably interacts with water or other liquid in the container12. In some cases, the agitator11amay be excited at a resonant frequency of the scraper portions111so that the scraper portions111move with an enhanced amplitude relative to the container12and/or other portions of the agitator11a, such as the indentation engagement portions112.

While several embodiments above have been described in relation to motion of a cartridge container12about an axis generally perpendicular to its bottom16, it should be appreciated that motion creating structure may cause suitable motion of beverage media, liquid or other components in a cartridge in response to other types of motion. For example,FIGS. 32 and 33show a way in which a cartridge container12like that inFIG. 24may be moved in a dilatational way, e.g., so that as one pair of opposed portions of the container sidewall17move towards each other, another pair of opposed portions of the sidewall17may move away from each other, and vice versa. Thus, the container sidewall17may oscillate so as to change the shape of the container12, albeit slightly in some embodiments. Such movement may cause some agitator or other motion creating structure arrangements to cause movement of materials in the container12. For example, the agitator11ainFIGS. 30 and 31may be arranged to move the scraper portions111relative to the container bottom16in response to dilatational movement like that shown inFIGS. 32 and 33. Of course, other motion creating structure may be used with dilatational vibration like that shown inFIGS. 32 and 33, or other dilatational vibration such as where a container12like that inFIG. 24oscillates in vertical dimension, as opposed to, or in addition to, a horizontal dimension like that inFIGS. 32 and 33.FIGS. 34 and 35show a schematic view of another arrangement in which motion creating structure in a cartridge container12includes a flexible beam11that extends from one side of the container12to the other. As the container12is moved dilatationally in a horizontal dimension, the beam11may alternate between a generally straight or other starting arrangement and a bowed or other displaced arrangement. As will be understood, movement of the beam11may operate to mix or otherwise cause movement of materials in the container12.

FIGS. 36 and 37show another illustrative embodiment that is somewhat similar to that shown inFIGS. 34 and 35. In this embodiment, an agitator includes a drive beam11aand a paddle11b. The drive beam11aextends across the container12, but unlike the arrangement inFIG. 34, the drive beam11ahas a “Z” shape such that two long and generally straight legs are offset from each other near the center of the container12and are joined together by a short leg. The paddle11bis connected to the short leg so that as the two long legs are moved toward and away from each other, the short leg and the attached paddle11brotate about a generally vertical axis. As will be understood, the amplitude of dilatational vibration, the length of the short leg, the size of the paddle and/or other features may be suitably arranged to cause desired movement in the container12.

While in many of the embodiments above, motion creating structure may be contained entirely inside of a container12, in one aspect of the invention, motion creating structure may include a first portion in the interior space of a container and a second portion outside of the interior space. This arrangement may allow a drive system to directly contact the second portion of the motion creating structure and allow the motion of the drive system to be transmitted to the first portion. Such an arrangement may allow for more efficient transfer of motion from a drive system to motion creating structure in a cartridge.FIG. 38shows a perspective view of one embodiment in which motion creating structure, e.g., an agitator, includes a first portion11ain the container12and a second portion11boutside of the container12. In this embodiment, the first portion11aof the agitator includes a “spoon” type shape that may be moved by a drive system moving the second portion11bup and down (as shown by the arrows), side to side, or in other ways. In this arrangement, the first portion11ais located in a space defined by a filter30, but other arrangements are possible, such as those that do not include a filter30. In another embodiment ofFIG. 39, the first portion11aincludes a ring or hoop shape that extends around a periphery of a filter30. Thus, when a second portion11bis moved, the first portion11amay engage with and move the filter30, e.g., to cause movement of beverage media inside of the filter. In another illustrative embodiment ofFIG. 40, the first portion11aof the motion creating structure may function as a filter30as well, e.g., including a plurality of suitably sized, shaped and arranged holes in a cup. Alternately, the first portion11amay function as a flow diverter, e.g., slowing, spreading or otherwise modifying flow of liquid and/or other materials in the cartridge. In another embodiment shown inFIG. 41, the first portion11aof an agitator may include a plurality of rings or other orifices, e.g., to help with emulsification or other treatment of beverage media or other components in a containers.FIG. 42shows yet another embodiment that includes three (or more) “fingers” or other elements that may be used for mixing, assisting in wetting of beverage media, and/or other functions.FIG. 43shows another illustrative embodiment in which a first portion includes a ring with inwardly extending fins. Oscillatory movement of the first portion11amay cause the fins to vibrate back and forth (as shown by the arrows). As with any embodiments, motion creating structure may be driven so as to cause one or more portions of the structure to vibrate at a resonant frequency, which may amplify or otherwise enhance the effect of the motion creating structure.

FIG. 44shows another embodiment of motion creating structure that includes a first portion11ain the cartridge interior space, and a pair of portions11bthat extend outside of the interior space. This arrangement may allow a drive system to engage both portions11bof the motion creating structure, which may allow the drive system to more efficiently or otherwise effectively cause motion of the first portion11a, e.g., the lowermost bottom portion of the motion creating structure. In this illustrative embodiment, the “V” shaped sides of the first portion11aare corrugated to provide additional stiffness to these parts of the motion creating structure. For example,FIG. 45shows a similar arrangement for a motion creating structure, with a difference being that the depending sides of the “V” are not corrugated. Testing has found that movement of the lowermost flat portion between the “V” sides in theFIG. 44embodiment moves up to three times more than the corresponding flat portion in theFIG. 45embodiment. It is believed that the higher stiffness of the “V” sides in theFIG. 45embodiment due to the corrugations provides this result. The first portion11amay be arranged to focus acoustic energy produced by the “V” sides in the interior space, e.g., in a region between the “V” sides. This may help create a relatively high energy focal zone, potentially sufficient to cause cavitation in a liquid. In theFIG. 45embodiment, a reflector11cmay be provided to help intensify acoustic energy in the interior space and/or help create or maintain a focal zone of energy.

Cartridges in accordance with aspects of the invention may be used with any suitable beverage machine. For example,FIG. 46shows a perspective view of a beverage forming apparatus100that may be used to form any suitable beverage, such as tea, coffee, other infusion-type beverages, beverages formed from a liquid or powdered concentrate, hot or cold drinks, etc. In this illustrative embodiment, the apparatus100includes an outer frame or housing6with a user interface8that the user may operate to control various features of the apparatus100. A beverage cartridge10may be provided to the apparatus100and used to form a beverage that is deposited into a cup or other suitable receptacle that is placed on a drip tray9or other support, if any. The cartridge10may be manually or automatically placed in a cartridge receiving portion defined by first and second portions3and4of the beverage forming apparatus100. For example, by lifting a handle5, the user may move the first and second portions3and4to an open position to expose a suitably shaped area in which the cartridge10may be placed. After placement of the cartridge10, a handle5or other actuator may be moved in a manual or automatic fashion so as to move the first and second portions3and4to a closed position (shown inFIG. 46), thereby at least partially enclosing the cartridge10within a brew chamber. It should be understood, however, that the cartridge10may be received in any suitable way by the apparatus100, as the way in which the apparatus100receives or otherwise uses the cartridge10is not critical to aspects of the invention.

Once the cartridge10is received, the beverage forming apparatus100may use the cartridge10to form a beverage. For example, one or more inlet needles50(seeFIG. 3 or 4) associated with the first or second portion3,4may pierce the cartridge10so as to inject heated water or other liquid into the cartridge10. In one aspect of the invention, sonic excitation of the beverage medium, liquid or other component in the cartridge may be used together with pulsatile introduction of liquid into the cartridge. It has been found in some embodiments that pulsed flow of liquid into the cartridge together with sonic-induced movement can be very effective in helping dissolve beverage media, such as powdered materials. The pulsed flow may be arranged in any suitable way, such as one or more introductions of liquid into the cartridge per second at a volume of 1% or more of the total beverage for each intermittent liquid introduction (e.g., slugs of water having a volume of about 3-5 ml may be introduced once per second to form a 300 ml beverage.) In some embodiments, individual slugs of liquid may be introduced at a jet or other relatively high speed way, e.g., to help cause movement of the beverage medium. The first or second portion3,4may also include one or more outlet needles or other elements52to puncture or pierce the cartridge10(as needed) at an outlet side to permit the formed beverage to exit the cartridge10. If the inlet and outlet are provided at a same side of the cartridge10, such as at the lid38shown inFIG. 3, the cartridge10may be oriented during beverage formation so that the lid38is below the bottom16(e.g., with the lid38facing generally downward) or is otherwise oriented so that beverage can be suitably removed from the cartridge10.

FIG. 47shows a schematic block diagram of various components included in a beverage forming apparatus100in one illustrative embodiment, such as that inFIG. 46. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that a beverage forming apparatus100may be configured in a variety of different ways, and thus aspects of the invention should not be narrowly interpreted as relating only to one type of beverage forming apparatus. Water or other liquid from a storage tank110may be provided via a supply conduit111to a pump112(such as a centrifugal pump, piston pump, solenoid pump, etc.), which pumps the liquid via a pump conduit115to a metering tank or chamber118. Operation of the water pump112and other components of the apparatus100may be controlled by a controller130, e.g., including a programmed processor and/or other data processing device along with suitable software or other operating instructions, one or more memories (including non-transient storage media that may store software and/or other operating instructions), temperature and liquid level sensors, pressure sensors, input/output interfaces, communication buses or other links, a display, switches, relays, triacs, or other components necessary to perform desired input/output or other functions. The metering tank118may be filled with a desired amount of liquid by any suitable technique, such as running the pump112for a predetermined time, sensing a water level in the metering tank118using a conductive probe sensor or capacitive sensor, detecting a pressure rise in metering tank118when the liquid fills the tank, or using any other viable technique. For example, the controller130may detect that the metering tank118is completely filled when a pressure sensor detects a rise in pressure indicating that the water has reached the top of the metering tank118. Water in the tank may be heated, if desired, by way of a heating element123whose operation is controlled by the controller130using input from a temperature sensor or other suitable input. Water in the metering tank118may be dispensed via a metering tank conduit119to a brew chamber120or other beverage forming station. The brew chamber120may include any beverage making ingredient, such as ground coffee, tea, a flavored drink mix, or other substance, e.g., contained in a cartridge10. Liquid may be discharged from the metering tank118by pressurizing the metering tank with air provided by an air pump121that causes the liquid to be discharged out of a tube117and into the metering tank conduit119. Completion of the dispensing from the metering tank118may be detected in any suitable way, such as by detecting a pressure drop in the metering tank118, by detecting a water level change in the metering tank118, use of a flow meter, or using any other viable techniques. Liquid may alternately be discharged from the metering tank118by the pump112operating to force additional liquid into the tank118, thereby displacing water out of the tank118and to the brew chamber. A flow sensor or other suitable device may be used to determine the amount of liquid delivered to the tank118, and thus the amount of liquid delivered to the brew chamber. Alternately, the pump12may be a piston-type or metering pump such that a known volume of liquid may be delivered from the pump112to the tank118, thus causing the same known volume to be delivered to the brew chamber120. Liquid may be introduced into the cartridge10at any suitable pressure, e.g., 1-2 psi or higher.

The beverage forming apparatus100may also include one or more sonic emitters53to interact with the cartridge10during beverage formation. The sonic emitter53may be moveable so as to move into contact with or otherwise suitable position relative to the cartridge10in the brew chamber120, or may be stationary with the cartridge10moved into suitable position relative to the emitter53. The sonic emitter53may include any suitable components, such as one or more piezoelectric elements that function as an ultrasonic transducer, an electromagnetic device (such as a speaker driver) that produces ultrasonic energy, a mechanical device that produces sonic energy (such as a motor driven rod or other component that is caused to vibrate at a suitable frequency of 10 Hz to 100 kHz or more), and so on. The sonic emitter53may also include one or more acoustic coupling components, such as a rubber gasket, water bath or other element that helps to couple acoustic or other vibrational energy to the cartridge10. The controller130may also include a suitable control or driver circuit to cause the sonic emitter53to emit sonic energy. In one embodiment, the sonic emitter53can include an ultrasonic vibratory transducer such as a Model XL-2000 model with probe specifications of a CML-4 with a P-1 microprobe, manufactured and obtained from Qsonica, LLC. This ultrasonic transducer operates at frequencies of about 22 kHz.

The beverage forming apparatus (e.g., the controller130) may include a RFID tag reader or other arrangement suitable to identify a cartridge or type of cartridge and control apparatus operations (such as operation of the sonic emitter53, water temperature, water volume, etc.) based on the cartridge or type of cartridge. For example, cartridges may include an RFID tag, barcode, alphanumeric text, a color code, or other machine readable indicia that the controller130can read or otherwise identify. Based on the indicia (which may include a serial number, an alphanumeric text string, a name or type of beverage medium in the cartridge, a type of drink to be formed using the cartridge, etc.), the controller130may vary the apparatus operation to adjust the type of beverage produced. In some embodiments, the indicia may be used to determine whether, and to what extent, a sonic emitter or other drive system should be operated to introduce sonic energy to the cartridge. As mentioned above, some beverage types may require more or less (or no) sonic-energy induced movement for beverage formation, and the controller130may operate the sonic emitter53accordingly. In addition, or alternately, cartridges could be made to accommodate different sonic excitement of beverage media, etc., e.g., by providing differently sized, shaped or otherwise configured motion creating structure for different types of cartridges. Thus, in some embodiments, the sonic emitter53may always operate in the same way, but control of whether sonic-induced motion is provided to the cartridge interior may be made by the presence, absence or other characteristics of motion creating structure associated with the cartridges. For example, in embodiments where no vibratory motion is desired in a cartridge interior, no motion creating structure may be provided. In other embodiments where vibratory motion is desired, motion creating structure may be provided that couples with the sonic emitter to transmit sonic energy to the interior space. However, in both cases, the sonic emitter may be operated in the same way when using both types of cartridges.

In other aspects of the invention, methods for forming a beverage using a cartridge and sonic energy are provided. Some embodiments in this regard may provide one or more of the following advantages: (1) increasing the speed of forming a beverage, (2) increasing the strength of a beverage, (3) producing different qualities of beverages, (4) increasing the degree of extraction of a beverage material during brewing, and/or (5) enabling the use of beverage media that would otherwise be unusable for a given application (e.g., allow the use of a fine powdered material that, in the absence of sonic-induced movement, would not be expected to fully dissolve into liquid introduced into a cartridge). In one embodiment shown inFIG. 48a method for forming a beverage includes, in step S10, providing a beverage cartridge arranged for use in a beverage forming machine to make a beverage. The cartridge may include a container having a closed interior space and a beverage medium located in the interior space. As discussed above, the cartridge may take any of a variety of forms, e.g., may be permeable or impermeable, may have a sachet, pod, or other form, may include relatively rigid and/or flexible elements, may be arranged to maintain a specific shape or shapeless, may include a filter or not, if a filter is included, it may be located in the interior space of the cartridge and/or at the cartridge exterior (e.g., like that in many beverage pods), and so on.

In some embodiments, the cartridge may include a sonic receiver attached to or otherwise associated with the container and arranged to transmit vibratory or other sonic energy from a sonic emitter located outside of the closed interior space into the interior space for interaction with the beverage medium. For example, the cartridge may include an acoustically compliant portion that is arranged to vibrate in response to exposure to acoustic energy so that the acoustically compliant portion introduces sonic energy having a desired frequency and/or intensity into the interior space of the cartridge. The acoustically compliant portion may have a physical structure, material composition or arrangement, or other features that allow the acoustically compliant portion to operate as desired.

In other embodiments, a sonic receiver of the cartridge may include a notch, groove, recess, or other depression in a portion of the container, such as a sidewall, bottom, lid or other part of the cartridge. (It should be understood that a cartridge need not include a bottom, sidewall and/or lid. Some embodiments, such as a spherically shaped container, may not have any defined bottom or lid, for example.) The notch, groove, etc. may engage with a sonic emitter or other vibratory drive system so as to couple at least a portion of the cartridge with the drive system. In other embodiments, the sonic receiver may include a protrusion or other portion that is received by a sonic emitter, e.g., a portion of the container may be received into a hole, recess or other depression of the sonic emitter. The sonic receiver may be transparent, or substantially transparent to acoustic energy emitted by the sonic emitter, allowing the sonic emitter to introduce sonic energy directly into the cartridge. In other arrangements, the sonic receiver may transmit sonic energy into the interior space of the cartridge.

In step S20, liquid may be introduced into the closed interior space of the cartridge. Any suitable liquid may be introduced into the interior space, such as water, filtered, carbonated or otherwise processed water, milk, juice, coffee extract, etc. Introduction of the liquid may be done in any suitable way, such as by piercing the container, e.g., with a needle, and injecting liquid into the closed interior space. In other embodiments, pressurized liquid may be applied to the exterior of the cartridge container to cause one or more openings to form so as to admit the liquid. In other embodiments, the liquid may be simply poured into the cartridge, e.g., where a lid of the cartridge is removed to allow water to be poured into the cartridge. The liquid may be introduced under pressure, e.g., 1-2 psi or more, and may be introduced at any suitable flow rate and along with any other suitable materials, such as air bubbles entrained in the liquid, solid materials suspended in the liquid, etc.

In step S30, sonic energy may be introduced into the closed interior space of the cartridge while liquid introduced into the closed interior space is present in the cartridge. Sonic energy may be introduced in any of the ways described above, including inserting an ultrasonic emitter probe into the cartridge, positioning a sonic emitter in contact with or suitably near a sonic receiver of the cartridge, and so on. Sonic energy may be transmitted directly through the container, or may be introduced by an acoustically compliant portion of the cartridge that vibrates in response to exposure to sonic energy and by the vibration introduces sonic energy into the interior space. In some embodiments, a sonic emitter may cause movement of a motion creating structure in the cartridge to cause movement of the beverage medium in the closed interior space. For example, a vibratory drive system may move a part of the cartridge, which causes a motion creating structure to move within the interior space of the cartridge, thereby causing motion of the beverage medium, liquid in the interior space, a filter in the cartridge, etc.

In step S40, a beverage may be formed by simultaneous interaction of the liquid and sonic energy with the beverage medium. This step may include a variety of different features, such as causing materials to pass through a filter in the cartridge that would not pass through the filter in the absence of the sonic energy. For example, the beverage may be formed with a higher level of dissolved and/or suspended materials than would be present in the absence of the sonic energy. In other embodiments, the beverage may have a turbidity and/or a level of total dissolved solids that is higher than would be present in the absence of the sonic energy. In yet other embodiments, the step of forming a beverage may include causing flow of beverage medium and liquid in the interior space by exposing the interior space to the sonic energy. For example, while introducing liquid into the interior space typically will cause flow of beverage medium and liquid in the interior space, the sonic energy introduced into the cartridge may cause additional flow or other movement of beverage medium and liquid in the interior space. Such additional movement may help dissolve materials in the beverage medium and/or otherwise cause faster or more efficient extraction of materials from the beverage medium.

The inventors have performed experiments described below. These experiments are not intended to limit the scope of aspects of the invention, but rather provide support for some of the aspects of the invention described and claimed herein.

18 K-Cup brand cartridges of a decaffeinated Arabica medium roast and ground coffee were obtained from standard product-for-sale by Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (GMCR) under the trade name “Breakfast Blend Decaf.” Nine of the cartridges were brewed at the 192 deg F. water temperature at the 8 ounce setting on a “Platinum” Single Cup Coffee Brewer which is also sold by GMCR. These nine brewed samples are the “control”.

The next nine samples were also brewed on the Platinum brewer, but were subjected to externally-applied sonic energy. To apply the energy during brewing, the brewer was modified by removing the plastic housings surrounding the cartridge brew chamber, such that the sidewall of the cartridge was exposed. A “Sonicare Toothbrush” manufactured by Philips was obtained from standard product-for-sale at a retail store. The toothbrush was assembled with the brush head in place. During brewing, the back of the head of the brush (not the bristles) was pressed against the exposed wall of the cartridge and the power was switched “on”. In this instance, there was no notch or other depression in the cartridge. The sonically-vibrating head was kept pressed against the cartridge during the entire brew cycle. The wall of the cartridge vibrated due to the action of the sonic vibrations of the brush head, as evidenced by simply touching and sensing the vibrations with a finger. The nine sonically-brewed samples are the “test”.

Both the control and the test brewed coffee samples were analyzed for turbidity measurements in “NTU's”. “NTU” units are Nephelometric Turbidity Units. These were measured using a HACH model 2100N Turbidimeter, available from Hach Company. The NTU values were measured on the coffee about 5 minutes after brewing the coffee.

The results of the NTU measurements are:

One skilled in coffee technology will recognize that the coffee became more turbid as sonic power was externally applied. One skilled in coffee technology would recognize that increased turbidity is an indicator of increased coffee strength, and can be caused by suspended solids, oils and other “colloidal” substances. Surprisingly, the application of sonic energy appears to have enhanced the ability of colloidal substances to pass through a coffee filter such as a paper coffee filter. The inventors can postulate that possibly the sonic energy modified the colloidal substances and/or agitated the beverage materials to release the colloidal material and pass them through the filter.

6 K-Cup brand cartridges each including about 12 grams of dark roast and ground coffee were obtained from standard product-for-sale by Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (GMCR) and were brewed at the 192 deg F. water temperature at the 8 ounce setting on a “B80” Coffee Brewer sold by Keurig, Incorporated. During brewing, a sonic emitter in the form of a “sonicator” Model XL-2000 model with probe specifications of a CML-4 with a P-1 microprobe, manufactured and obtained from Qsonica, LLC, was inserted through the lid of each cartridge and into the interior space about 0.25 inches. The total brew time for all power levels was about 35 seconds. The sonic energy was applied starting at about 5 seconds after the water flow was initiated and then stopped at the very end of the 35 second period. Each cartridge was brewed while the sonicator was provided with different power levels, i.e., 0, 5, 7, 11. 15 and 40 watts. Turbidity measurements (in “NTU” units) of the resulting coffee solutions were measured using a HACH model 2100N Turbidimeter, available from Hach Company about 5 minutes after brewing the coffee. “Total Dissolved Solids” (TDS) measurements were also made of the same brewed coffee samples. These measurements were also taken at about 5 minutes after brewing the coffee using a model Ultrameter II 6PII CE, available from Myron L Company. The results of the NTU and TDS measurements for the six cartridges were about:

One skilled in coffee technology will recognize that the coffee became more turbid as sonic power was increased. One skilled in coffee technology will also recognize that increased turbidity is an indicator of increased coffee strength, and can be caused by suspended solids, oils and other “colloidal” substances. Brewed coffee with sonic energy application was tasted relative to coffee in which no sonic power was applied, and was found to taste stronger when such sonic energy was applied. Surprisingly, the application of sonic energy appears to have enhanced the ability of colloidal substances to pass through a coffee filter such as a paper coffee filter. One skilled in coffee technology recognizes that paper-filtered coffee can suffer from weak taste due to the lack of such colloidal or turbidity-causing substances. The inventors can postulate that possibly the sonic energy modified the colloidal substances and/or agitated the beverage materials to release the colloidal material and pass them through the filter.

Regarding TDS, at the highest power setting between 40 and 45 watts, a dramatic increase in dissolved solids was achieved (1.190% dissolved solids) versus 1.130% dissolved solids when no power was applied. Surprisingly, lower levels of dissolved solids were achieved at power settings below 20 watts. A visual examination of the bed of coffee grounds after sonic brewing (by peeling the lid from the cartridge) showed that a channel or tunnel was formed through the bed, most likely caused by the sonic energy emanating from the tip of the probe. The inventors can postulate that the open channel or tunnel caused a portion of the water to more quickly pass through the bed of coffee and thus drop the overall extraction efficiency of dissolved solids. Yet, even though a drop in extraction efficiency of dissolved solids was observed, the extraction/suspension of turbidity-effecting substances was not, which is an entirely unanticipated result.

A “Platinum” Single Cup Coffee Brewer sold by Keurig, Incorporated was used to brew beverages using several different types of beverage media. Each cartridge was arranged with a frustoconical cup container, a foil laminate lid and, for some beverage types, a filter attached near the top rim of the cartridge. The brewer was modified to move the cartridge receiver/brew chamber outside of the brewer for attachment to the cone of a loudspeaker (i.e., a voice coil actuator) by a simple linkage. The loudspeaker was driven by a signal generator via an amplifier, allowing the cartridge and receiver to be vibrated with a range of frequencies and amplitudes. With different configurations of the loudspeaker and linkage, the cartridge and receiver could be vibrated on a horizontal axis, a vertical axis, or in a rotary manner about the vertical axis.

The brewer is designed to provide a flow with an approximately constant pressure. For most beverage types, an 8 oz volume of water is delivered through the cartridge in roughly 35 seconds. In some experiments it was found that vibrating the cartridge could result in an increased resistance to flow in the cartridge, possibly due to the cartridge filter filling up with fine particles. This would result in the brewer delivering water at a reduced flow rate. In these cases, a peristaltic pump was applied to the tubing from the brewer to the inlet of the cartridge receiver to ensure a constant flow rate. As such, the results described in the following sections were achieved under essentially constant flow rate conditions.

A number of other conditions were controlled to ensure that the observed effects were due solely to the vibration:The temperature of the brewed beverage was measured as soon as it was delivered, to check for minimal variation.The brewer was filled using “soft water,” prepared from distilled water by adding a fixed concentration of salts.The K-cups were hand-filled with a weighed amount of beverage medium, to ensure a constant fill weight.

Various measurements were made on the beverages produced:TDS (ppm KCl at 20 degrees C.) was measured using a COM-100 conductivity meter from HM Digital. The reading was corrected for the temperature of the delivered brew (also measured by the COM-100) to give equivalent TDS at 20° C.Turbidity was measured using 2100N Turbidimeter from Hach.Brix (refractive measurement of TDS) was measured using a DR-100 L refractometer from Bellingham & Stanley Ltd.

Coffee Testing

Cartridges containing Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (GMCR) “Dark Magic” roasted coffee grounds were used. Five cartridges were run with no vibration, where the volume of beverage produced was about 8 ounces. The results are shown below:

Another five cartridges were run with horizontal vibration at 20 Hz frequency at 3.5 mm amplitude, and the results are shown below:

The vibration clearly increased the turbidity of the brewed coffee, with only a slight reduction in dissolved solids (as measured by TDS or Brix).

Cocoa Powder Testing

Cartridges containing cocoa powder were used. One difficulty in forming a beverage using cocoa powder in a beverage cartridge is achieving adequate dissolution of the powder, which can result in residual cocoa powder, either dry or partly dissolved, left in the cartridge at the end of brewing.

Fifteen total cartridges containing cocoa powder were used to form a beverage where the volume of beverage produced was about 8 ounces. Five of the cartridges were used without applying vibratory energy to the cartridges. Five other cartridges were used while applying vibratory energy at 20 Hz with an amplitude of 0.8 mm, and the remaining five cartridges were used while applying vibratory energy at 20 Hz with an amplitude of 3.5 mm. Two of the cartridges used without vibratory energy included a relatively large amount of residue, while the other three cartridges were generally residue free. Of the five cartridges used with vibration applied to them at the 0.8 mm amplitude, none showed any solid residues, and two show residual water with a slight taint of residual, dissolved cocoa. Of the five cartridges used with vibration applied to them at the 3.5 mm amplitude, none showed any solid residues, one showed residual water with some dissolved cocoa and one showed residual water with a slight taint of dissolved cocoa.

In another experiment, cartridges containing cocoa powder and two steel ball bearings (about 4 mm) were vibrated horizontally at a frequency of about 20 Hz and an amplitude of about 0.6 mm to produce an approximately 8 ounce beverage. Little or no cocoa powder was observed to remain in the cartridges after use.

Skimmed Milk Powder Testing

Natural milk powders are not typically used in cartridges: the powders tend to form lumps under the application of hot water and these lumps do not pass through the filter. As a result, synthetic creamers are often used instead. However, these can be difficult and time consuming to formulate so as to both provide a good taste and to pass through the filter.

Five cartridges containing natural milk powder were tested under each of four conditions: no vibration, 100 Hz vibration at low amplitude, 20 Hz vibration at low and high amplitude. The table below shows the mean brew time and mean mass of residue in the cartridge after leaving the cartridge to dry, the mean TDS (ppm KCl) of the delivered beverage and mean Brix of the delivered beverage. For each of these measurements, a two-tailed t-test was used to compare the results for the three vibration conditions to the “no vibration” condition. The “t-test” columns show a p-value, i.e., the probability of the vibration results and no-vibration results sharing the same mean. As can be seen, all of the three vibration conditions maintained the brew time, reduced the residual powder in the cartridge and increased the dissolved solids in the delivered brew. In particular, 20 Hz vibration at 3.5 mm amplitude resulted in virtually no residue in the cartridge and (as a result) the highest level of dissolved solids in the delivered brew.

Tea Testing

Cartridges containing tea for brewing over ice were also. Five cartridges were tested under each of five conditions: no vibration, 100 Hz vibration at low and high amplitude, 20 Hz vibration at low and high amplitude. The table below shows the mean fill weight, mean brew time and mean turbidity for each of the five conditions. For brew time and turbidity, a two-tailed t-test was used to compare the results for the four vibration conditions to the “no vibration” condition. The “t-test” columns show a p-value, i.e., the probability of the vibration results and no-vibration results sharing the same mean. As can be seen, none of the four vibration conditions significantly changed the brew time, but the last three (100 Hz, 0.077 mm amplitude; Hz, 0.8 mm amplitude; 20 Hz, 3.5 mm amplitude) resulted in significant increases in turbidity.