Multi-ingredient beverage cartridge

Abstract

A cartridge for use in making a beverage includes an outer housing defining an inner space with a first chamber and a second chamber defined therein. A first quantity of a first beverage component is disposed in the first chamber and a second quantity of a second beverage component is disposed in the second chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cartridge for use in making a beverage, the cartridge comprising:
 an outer housing defining an inner space with a first chamber and a second chamber defined therein;   a first quantity of a first beverage component disposed in the first chamber; and   a second quantity of a second beverage component disposed in the second chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the outer housing comprises a cup. 
     
     
         3 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the first chamber comprises an upper chamber and wherein the second chamber comprises a lower chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The cartridge of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the cup includes a base, a top rim defining an opening, and a sidewall extending upward from the base to the rim; and   the cartridge further comprises:
 a seal material coupled to the top rim around the opening, the cup and the seal material defining the inner space; and 
 a separator material positioned in the inner space and secured about a periphery of the separator material to the sidewall of the cup in a manner which defines the upper chamber within the inner space between the separator material and the seal material and the lower chamber within the inner space between the separator material and the base. 
   
     
     
         5 . The cartridge of  claim 4 , wherein the seal material is positioned and configured to be pierced by a water supply nozzle of a brewing machine when the cartridge is positioned within a brewing compartment of the brewing machine, and wherein the base is structured to be pierced by a drain nozzle of the brewing machine when the cartridge is positioned within the brewing compartment of the brewing machine. 
     
     
         6 . The cartridge of  claim 4 , wherein the separator material comprises a filter material arranged in a basket-like shape. 
     
     
         7 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the first beverage component comprises a ground coffee, and wherein the second beverage component comprises a coffee creamer. 
     
     
         8 . The cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein the cup comprises a plastic material. 
     
     
         9 . The cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein the cup comprises a biodegradable material. 
     
     
         10 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the first beverage component comprises one or more of: ground coffee, creamer, a vitamin, a protein, collagen, sugar, tea, a powder drink mix, a mushroom powder, a botanical, a supplement, a medication, a non-dairy creamer, a herbal supplement, an electrolyte, a non-caloric sweetener, milk, a stimulate, a dairy product, butter, an oil, creatine, a liquid, a spice, a natural flavoring, an artificial flavoring, a powdered alcohol, a CBD based powder, and/or a THC based powder; and
 wherein the second beverage component comprises another one or more of: ground coffee, creamer, vitamin, protein, collagen, sugar, tea, powder drink mix, mushroom powder, a botanical, a supplement, a medication, a non-dairy creamer, a herbal supplement, an electrolyte, a non-caloric sweetener, milk, a stimulate, a dairy product, butter, oil, creatine, a liquid, a spice, a natural flavoring, an artificial flavoring, a powdered alcohol, a CBD based powder, and/or a THC based powder.   
     
     
         11 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the inner space has a third chamber defined therein, and wherein a third quantity of a third beverage component is disposed in the third chamber. 
     
     
         12 . A packaging machine for creating a cartridge for use in making a beverage, the cartridge comprising: a cup having a base, a top rim defining an opening, and a sidewall extending upward from the base to the rim; a seal material coupled to the top rim around the opening, the cup and the seal material defining an inner space; a separator material positioned in the inner space and secured about a periphery of the material to the sidewall of the cup in a manner which defines an upper chamber within the inner space between the separator material and the seal material and a lower chamber within the inner space between the separator material and the base; a first quantity of a first beverage component disposed in the upper chamber; and a second quantity of a second beverage component disposed in the lower chamber, the packaging machine comprising:
 a plurality of processing stations; and   a conveyance arrangement structured to convey the cup of the cartridge for use in making the beverage among the plurality of processing stations,   wherein the plurality of processing stations comprise:
 a first filler station structured to provide the second beverage component in the cup; 
 a separator station structured to provide the separator material and secure the separator material about a periphery thereof to the sidewall of the cup; 
 a second filler station structured to provide the first beverage component on the separator material in the cup; and 
 a sealing station structured to couple the seal material to the top rim of the cup around the opening. 
   
     
     
         13 . The packaging machine of  claim 12 , further comprising a cup station structured to provide the cup on or in the conveyance arrangement. 
     
     
         14 . The packaging machine of  claim 12 , wherein the conveyance arrangement comprises a multi-link conveyor arrangement. 
     
     
         15 . A method of forming a cartridge for use in making a beverage, the method comprising:
 providing a beverage component in a cup via an opening in the cup;   securing a separator material by a periphery thereof to a sidewall of the cup such that the beverage component is contained within a lower chamber defined by a portion of the cup and the separator material;   providing another beverage component in the cup on the separator material via the opening in the cup; and   coupling a seal material to a top of the cup about the opening such that the other beverage component is contained within an upper chamber defined at least by the separator material and the seal material.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the beverage component comprises a coffee creamer, and wherein the other beverage component comprises a ground coffee. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first beverage component comprises one or more of: ground coffee, creamer, a vitamin, a protein, collagen, sugar, tea, a powder drink mix, a mushroom powder, a botanical, a supplement, a medication, a non-dairy creamer, a herbal supplement, an electrolyte, a non-caloric sweetener, milk, a stimulate, a dairy product, butter, an oil, creatine, a liquid, a spice, a natural flavoring, an artificial flavoring, a powdered alcohol, a CBD based powder, and/or a THC based powder; and
 wherein the second beverage component comprises another one or more of: ground coffee, creamer, vitamin, protein, collagen, sugar, tea, powder drink mix, mushroom powder, a botanical, a supplement, a medication, a non-dairy creamer, a herbal supplement, an electrolyte, a non-caloric sweetener, milk, a stimulate, a dairy product, butter, oil, creatine, a liquid, a spice, a natural flavoring, an artificial flavoring, a powdered alcohol, a CBD based powder, and/or a THC based powder.