Beverage cartridge filling and sealing system

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a beverage cartridge assembler. A dispensing element stores a certain amount of a substance for brewing. A carriage secures an open beverage cartridge beneath the dispensing element. Actuation of a lever rotates the dispensing element to release a certain amount of the substance from the dispensing element into the open beverage cartridge. The lid of the beverage cartridge is sealed as the carriage moves along a first axis. A beverage cartridge includes sidewalls with a plurality of vertical notches to permit the sidewalls to flex inward. The sidewalls include a first filter, and a bottom portion that includes a second filter thicker than the first filter.

1 . A beverage cartridge assembler comprising:
 a dispensing element to store a certain amount of a substance for brewing;   a carriage comprising a pair of cupping arms to secure an open beverage cartridge beneath the dispensing element, the carriage further comprising a rotating lid holder on which to situate a lid of the open beverage cartridge;   a lever linked to the dispensing element so as to rotate the dispensing element, in response to the lever being actuated, and release the certain amount of the substance stored in the dispensing element into the open beverage cartridge; and   a lid closing pin arranged to contact the rotating lid holder of the carriage in order to rotate the lid holder and seal the lid of the beverage cartridge as the carriage moves in a first direction along a first axis.   
     
     
         2 . The beverage cartridge assembler of  claim 1 , further comprising a hopper for storage of an additional amount of the substance for brewing, the hopper comprising an opening with a channel to allow the certain amount of the substance to be received by the dispensing element. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage cartridge assembler of  claim 2 , wherein the hopper further comprises a coffee grinder. 
     
     
         4 . The beverage cartridge assembler of  claim 1 , further comprising a sliding linkage arm arranged to slide in the first direction along the first axis as the carriage also moves in the first direction along the first axis. 
     
     
         5 . The beverage cartridge assembler of  claim 4 , further comprising a beverage cartridge storage chamber to store a plurality of additional open beverage cartridges, the beverage cartridge storage chamber comprising a rotating sleeve. 
     
     
         6 . The beverage cartridge assembler of  claim 5 , wherein the sliding linkage arm is arranged to make mechanical contact with the rotating sleeve, while the sliding linkage arm moves in a second direction along the first axis, to discharge an additional open beverage cartridge into the cupping arms of the carriage. 
     
     
         7 . The beverage cartridge assembler of  claim 5 , wherein the open beverage cartridge comprises sidewalls with a plurality of vertical notches to permit the sidewalls to be flexible, in response to stacked in the beverage cartridge storage chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The beverage cartridge of  claim 7 , wherein the beverage cartridge has a diameter and an angle such that the sidewalls are at a distance of less than 0.005 inches of a brewing chamber wall, in response to the beverage cartridge being placed in a brewing chamber. 
     
     
         9 . A beverage cartridge comprising:
 sidewalls in a first position, the sidewalls having a plurality of vertical notches so as to permit the sidewalls to flex inward into a second position, in response to pressure being applied on the beverage cartridge, the sidewalls being able to return to the first position in response to the pressure on the beverage cartridge being released.   
     
     
         10 . The beverage cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein the beverage cartridge has a diameter and an angle such that the sidewalls are at a distance of less than 0.005 inches of a brewing chamber wall, in response to the beverage cartridge being placed in a brewing chamber. 
     
     
         11 . A beverage cartridge comprising:
 a sidewall that includes a first filter;   a bottom portion that includes a second filter thicker than the first filter; and   a plurality of slits on the bottom portion to support the second filter.   
     
     
         12 . The beverage cartridge of  claim 11 , wherein the first filter is approximately 0.005 inches thick. 
     
     
         13 . The beverage cartridge of  claim 12 , wherein the second filter is approximately 0.010 inches thick.