Additive dispensing cartridge for use in capsule beverage machine

Abstract

Various implementations include an additive dispensing cartridge for use in a capsule beverage machine. The cartridge includes a main housing, a first seal, and a second seal. The main housing has one or more walls at least partially defining a reservoir. The main housing has a central axis, a first end, and second end. The main housing further includes a first flange extending radially outwardly from the first end of the main housing and a second flange extending radially outwardly from the second end of the main housing. The first seal is coupled to the first flange of the main housing. The second seal is coupled to the second flange of the main housing. The walls of the main housing are configured to collapse in a direction parallel to the central axis when force is applied to the first end and the second end of the main housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A n additive dispensing cartridge for use in a capsule beverage machine, the cartridge comprising:
 a main housing having one or more walls at least partially defining a reservoir, the main housing having a central axis, a first end, and second end opposite and spaced apart along the central axis from the first end, wherein the main housing further includes a first flange extending radially outwardly from the first end of the main housing and a second flange extending radially outwardly from the second end of the main housing;   a first seal coupled to the first flange of the main housing; and   a second seal coupled to the second flange of the main housing,   wherein the one or more walls of the main housing are configured to collapse in a direction parallel to the central axis when force is applied to the first end and the second end of the main housing.   
     
     
         2 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the first seal and the second seal comprise a member selected from the group consisting of metal foil, plastic, paper, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the main housing comprises a member selected from the group consisting of a polymer, a metal foil, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the second flange includes one or more anchors extending radially outwardly from a perimetrical edge of the second flange, wherein the one or more anchors are configured to hingedly bend adjacent to the second flange in a rotational direction away from the first end of the main housing. 
     
     
         5 . The cartridge of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more anchors includes two or more anchors, wherein each of the two or more anchors are spaced apart from each other along the perimetrical edge of the second flange. 
     
     
         6 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , further including an adhesive on an outwardly facing surface of second seal. 
     
     
         7 . The cartridge of  claim 6 , further including a label coupled to the second seal by the adhesive, wherein the label fully covers the adhesive opposite the second seal. 
     
     
         8 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , further including a transfer disk, wherein the transfer disk includes a base and one or more hollow piercing needles, wherein each of the one or more hollow piercing needles has a needle longitudinal axis, a first needle end, and a sharp second needle end opposite and spaced apart along the needle longitudinal axis from the first needle end, wherein the first needle end is coupled to the base such that the one or more hollow piercing needles extend from the first needle end to the second needle end toward the second end of the main housing. 
     
     
         9 . The cartridge of  claim 8 , wherein the base of the transfer disk is coupled to an inwardly facing surface of the first seal. 
     
     
         10 . The cartridge of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more hollow piercing needles includes three or more hollow piercing needles. 
     
     
         11 . The cartridge of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more hollow piercing needles has a largest cross-sectional area as measured in a first plane perpendicular to the needle longitudinal axis and a smallest cross-sectional area as measured in a second plane perpendicular to the needle longitudinal axis, wherein the largest cross-sectional area is located adjacent the first needle end and the smallest cross-sectional area is located adjacent the second needle end, wherein the one or more hollow piercing needles are tapered along the needle longitudinal axis from the largest cross-sectional area to the smallest cross-sectional area. 
     
     
         12 . The cartridge of  claim 8 , wherein each of the one or more hollow piercing needles includes a side opening extending into an interior hollow space of the hollow piercing needle. 
     
     
         13 . The cartridge of  claim 12 , wherein the side opening is located adjacent the first needle end. 
     
     
         14 . The cartridge of  claim 8 , wherein the cartridge has a largest cross-sectional area as measures in a plane perpendicular to the central axis, wherein the largest cross-sectional area is less than or equal to two inches. 
     
     
         15 . The cartridge of  claim 14 , wherein the largest cross-sectional area is about two inches. 
     
     
         16 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the second flange is configured to be disposed on a top surface of a capsule for a capsule beverage machine. 
     
     
         17 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , further including a liquid contained within the reservoir. 
     
     
         18 . The cartridge of  claim 17 , wherein the liquid includes a liquid flavoring. 
     
     
         19 . The cartridge of  claim 17 , wherein the liquid includes a liquid sweetener. 
     
     
         20 . The cartridge of  claim 17 , wherein the liquid includes a liquid creamer.