Systems and methods for obtaining information from beverage tablets of different sizes

Abstract

Beverage machines and methods of preparing a beverage from a beverage tablet using a beverage machine are disclosed. A beverage machine can receive a beverage tablet and a tablet holder may hold the beverage tablet. Information may be obtained from a surface of the beverage tablet using a photosensitive detector. The photosensitive detector may obtain first information from a first tablet surface disposed at a first distance from a contact surface of the tablet holder as well as from a second tablet surface disposed at a second distance from the contact surface. Liquid may be introduced to the beverage tablet to form a beverage.

Description

K0502.70281WQ00- 1 - SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OBTAINING INFORMATION FROM BEVERAGE TABLETS OF DIFFERENT SIZESCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. provisional application serial number 63 / 770,559, filed March 12, 2025, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD

[0002] Disclosed embodiments are related to systems and methods for obtaining information for prepping a beverage.BACKGROUND

[0003] Beverages can be formed by combining one or more ingredients within a beverage machine. For example, a beverage ingredient from a beverage ingredient capsule may be combined with liquid to form a beverage. In some cases, beverage ingredients are provided in the form of a beverage tablet.SUMMARY

[0004] According to some aspects, a method for preparing a beverage from a beverage tablet using a beverage machine is provided. In some embodiments, the method may include receiving, by a beverage machine, a first beverage tablet having first indicia. The method may also include holding the first beverage tablet with a tablet holder, where the tablet holder has a contact surface that contacts the first beverage tablet. The method may also include obtaining, with a photosensitive detector of the beverage machine, first information from the first indicia. The method may also include introducing liquid from a liquid supply to the first beverage tablet to form a beverage. The photosensitive detector may be configured to obtain information from a first tablet type and a second tablet type. The first tablet type may have a first size such that indicia of a beverage tablet of the first tablet type is positioned a first distance from the contact surface when held by the tablet holder. The second tablet type may have a second size such that indicia of a beverage tablet of the second13569083.1tablet type is positioned a second distance from the contact surface when held by the tablet holder. The first size may be different from the second size, and the first distance may be different from the second distance. The first beverage tablet may be of the first tablet type, and the first indicia may be at the first distance from the contact surface when the first information is obtained with the photosensitive detector.

[0005] According to some aspects, a beverage machine for preparing a beverage from a beverage tablet is provided. In some embodiments, the beverage machine may include a tablet holder configured to receive and hold a beverage tablet such that a contact surface of the tablet holder contacts the beverage tablet. The beverage machine may include a photosensitive detector that is configured to obtain information from a first tablet type and a second tablet type. The first tablet type may have a first size such that indicia of a beverage tablet of the first tablet type is positioned a first distance from the contact surface when held by the tablet holder. The second tablet type may have a second size such that indicia of a beverage tablet of the second tablet type is positioned a second distance from the contact surface when held by the tablet holder. The first size may be different from the second size, and the first distance may be different from the second distance.

[0006] It should be appreciated that the foregoing concepts, and additional concepts discussed below, may be arranged in any suitable combination, as the present disclosure is not limited in this respect. Further, other advantages and novel features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description of various nonlimiting embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0007] The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures may be represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. In the drawings:

[0008] FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of a package-less beverage tablet according to some embodiments;

[0009] FIG. IB shows a cross-sectional view of the beverage tablet of FIG. 1A taken along line B-B;13569083.1

[0010] FIG. 1C depicts a beverage tablet of first tablet type having a first size;

[0011] FIG. ID depicts a beverage tablet of a second tablet type having a second size;

[0012] FIG. 2 shows a side view of a beverage machine with a cover in an open position according to some embodiments;

[0013] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the beverage machine of FIG. 2 with the cover in a closed position according to some embodiments;

[0014] FIG. 4 shows a side view of a beverage machine with a cover in an open position according to another embodiment;

[0015] FIG. 5 shows a simplified cross-sectional view of a beverage machine supporting a first beverage tablet of a first tablet type according to some embodiments;

[0016] FIG. 6 shows the beverage machine of FIG. 5 supporting a second beverage tablet of a second tablet type according to some embodiments; and

[0017] FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of an upstream fluid system of a beverage machine according to some embodiments.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Aspects herein relate to a beverage machine configured to form beverages using beverage tablets such as the beverage tablets disclosed in embodiments below. Many brewed beverages are conventionally prepared by enclosing an amount of loose particles of beverage ingredient, such as loose coffee grinds or tea leaves, into a beverage machine. Use of loose particles of beverage ingredient to prepare brewed beverages may be inconvenient as it may require additional steps of measuring out a specific amount beverage of ingredient. Additionally, loose particles of beverage ingredient carries the potential for spillage while preparing and transporting the desired amount of beverage ingredient to and from the beverage machine. Additionally, many brewing machines that use loose particles of beverage ingredient require cleaning after each use to remove loose particles from the inside of the machine.

[0019] Single serve beverage pods have been implemented to alleviate some of these concerns. However, such beverage pods generally contain loose beverage ingredient in a disposable packaging.13569083.1

[0020] The inventors have recognized benefits of providing package-less beverage consumables that can be used with a beverage machine to form a beverage. In some embodiments, a beverage consumable comprises a tablet which includes beverage ingredient compacted into a desired shape and density. The tablet may be at least partially surrounded by a coating. Such beverage tablets may allow for the increased convenience of single-serve beverage consumables while reducing waste.

[0021] The beverage tablet may be able to hold its own shape, and thus may not require individual packaging to prevent dispersing of the beverage material prior to use in forming a beverage. The beverage tablet may be configured to be received within a beverage machine without packaging such that the beverage tablet (e.g. the beverage ingredients and / or coating) directly contacts the beverage machine (e.g. a brew chamber) during a brewing process (e.g. without requiring the beverage machine to pierce through or otherwise open packaging to access the beverage ingredients).

[0022] In some embodiments, the beverage tablet comprises a solid body comprising a beverage ingredient. For example, one or more beverage ingredients of the beverage tablet may be formed into a solid body by compression, adhesion, solidification in a mold, or any of a variety of other suitable methods for making a rigid body from one or more beverage ingredients.

[0023] In some embodiments, a package-less beverage consumable (e.g., a beverage tablet) may include a coating disposed along at least a portion of the outer surface at the periphery of the consumable. In some embodiments, the coating may bind the beverage ingredients within the interior of the consumable. In some embodiments, the beverage ingredients held within the coating may be loose, such as loose ground coffee, or compacted. The coating may be a food grade binder, an alginate, edible, soluble, or any other suitable material. In some embodiments, the coating may serve as a barrier to reduce infiltration of oxygen and / or moisture such as to maintain freshness of the beverage ingredients. Material of the package-less beverage consumable, including a coating of the consumable if one is present, may directly contact some portion of the beverage machine, such as the brew chamber, before brewing the beverage, without intervening packaging in-between.

[0024] In some embodiments, the beverage tablet may be formed in a variety of sizes, and the beverage machine may be capable of receiving and forming beverages from beverage13569083.1tablets in the variety of sizes. In some embodiments, the beverage machine may be configured to form different styles of brewed beverages (e.g. espresso, double-shot espresso, drip coffee, iced coffee, etc.) from different sized beverage tablets. For instance, a smaller beverage tablet may be configured to form an espresso, while a larger beverage tablet may be configured to form drip coffee, and an even larger beverage tablet may be used to form iced coffee. In some embodiments, the beverage tablet may be generally cylindrical, and different sizes of beverage tablet may be formed by altering a height of the beverage tablet. In some embodiments, the beverage tablet may have generally flat end surfaces. In some embodiments, the beverage tablet may have convex (e.g., domed) or concave end surfaces.

[0025] In some embodiments, the beverage machine may include a brew assembly configured to receive a beverage tablet in an open configuration and to move to a closed configuration, where water or other beverage precursor liquid is introduced into the brew assembly from a liquid supply to form a beverage. The brew assembly may be configured to receive beverage tablets having different heights.

[0026] In some cases, information may be obtained from a beverage tablet. In some embodiments, such information may be used to prepare a beverage from the beverage tablet. For example, a beverage tablet can include indicia that may be disposed on one or more surfaces of the beverage tablet. Such indicia may be machine-readable. The indicia may provide various types of information, such as the type of beverage tablet, the expiration date, the lot / batch number, beverage preparation parameters (such as temperature, pressure, flow rate, volume, etc.), or any other suitable information. In some embodiments, the indicia may be logos or artwork.

[0027] The inventors have thus recognized a need and associated benefits for obtaining information from beverage tablets having different sizes (e.g. different heights) using the same beverage machine. For example, a beverage machine capable of obtaining information and preparing beverages from beverage tablets having different heights may reduce the cost and / or time associated with preparing beverages from the beverage tablets as well as enable the beverage machine to prepare different kinds of beverages to improve convenience and the user experience.

[0028] Examples of different kinds of beverage include, but are not limited to, espresso, americano, drip coffee, iced coffee, etc. In some embodiments, different beverage13569083.1tablet sizes may be associated with different beverage types. For example, the beverage machine may prepare espresso from a smaller beverage tablet and drip coffee from a larger beverage tablet.

[0029] In some cases, a method for preparing a beverage from a beverage tablet using a beverage machine includes receiving the beverage tablet with the beverage machine. For example, a tablet holder of the beverage machine can receive and / or hold the beverage tablet. The tablet holder can contact the beverage tablet at least via a contact surface of the tablet holder and in some cases with grippers to grip the beverage tablet. In some embodiments, a cover of the beverage machine may be opened to allow the beverage machine to receive the beverage tablet.

[0030] Information may be obtained from the beverage tablet, e.g., from a tablet surface of the beverage tablet, using a photosensitive detector. In some cases, the photosensitive detector is a scanner adapted to read information on the tablet surface, although the photosensitive detector may be any other appropriate photosensitive detector as the disclosure is not limited in this sense, e.g., a camera adapted to image the tablet surface.

[0031] The photosensitive detector may have an appropriate depth of field covering a range of distances in which information may be obtained by the photosensitive detector. For example, the photosensitive detector may obtain information from a surface of a beverage tablet while the surface is disposed at a first position as well as at a second position within the depth of field of the photosensitive detector. In other words, the first and second positions may be within a depth of field of the photosensitive detector, e.g., within a range of distances where the photosensitive detector is in focus and can obtain accurate information such as an appropriately focused image or reading of the beverage tablet.

[0032] In some embodiments, the photosensitive detector is coupled to the cover and may be adapted to move with the cover. The photosensitive detector in some cases may initiate obtaining information from the tablet surface in response to the cover moving to the open position. For example, the beverage machine may include a processor operatively coupled to the photosensitive detector and a sensor (e.g., a switch such as a microswitch) adapted to sense a position of the cover. The processor may receive a signal from the sensor that the cover is in a certain position, e.g., open, and may control the photosensitive detector to obtain the information from the tablet surface. In some embodiments, the beverage13569083.1machine may include one or more lights configured to illuminate the beverage tablet which may assist in obtaining information using the photosensitive detector. As will be discussed further, in some embodiments, the controller may communicate or prompt a user to communicate brew parameters for forming the beverage based at least in part on the obtained information.

[0033] Turning to the figures, specific non-limiting embodiments are described in further detail. It should be understood that the various systems, components, features, and methods described relative to these embodiments may be used either individually and / or in any desired combination as the disclosure is not limited to only the specific embodiments described herein.

[0034] FIGS. 1A and IB show a perspective and cross-sectional view respectively of a beverage tablet 100 according to an embodiment. The beverage tablet includes a body 102, which includes one or more beverage ingredients formed into a solid body by compression, adhesion, solidification in a mold, or any of a variety of other suitable methods for making a rigid body from one or more beverage ingredients. Compressed beverage ingredient may be any beverage ingredient or combination of beverage ingredients for forming a brewed beverage. For example, beverage ingredient may be coffee grinds, tea leaves, a combination of coffee grinds or tea leaves and additives such as powdered creamer, or any other conventional brewed beverage ingredient. The beverage tablet may have a cylindrical shape having a first end 106 (“tablet surface” with reference to a beverage tablet as used herein may be used interchangeably with “first end”), a second end 108, and an intermediate region 110 (“side surface” with reference to a beverage tablet as used herein may be used interchangeably with “intermediate region”). However, it should be appreciated that other shapes are possible. The beverage tablet may have a height H and a diameter D. The height H and / or diameter D may be different for other embodiments and are not limited to those shown in the figures.

[0035] In some embodiments, the body 102 of the beverage tablet may be at least partially covered by a coating 104. In some embodiments, the coating 104 may be configured to seal the beverage ingredient of the body 102 to preserve the beverage ingredient by limiting the amount of water or air a beverage ingredient is exposed to. In13569083.1some embodiments, the coating 104 may also be configured to help retain the body 102 in its shape after being formed.

[0036] In some embodiments, coating 104 may be configured to be malleable when wet, in order to allow for deforming of the beverage tablet 100 during a brew process without fracturing or tearing the coating 104. Coating 104 may be configured to be pierced by needles to allow introduction of water into the beverage tablet 100, and extraction of brewed beverage from the beverage tablet. In some embodiments, the coating 104 may be water impermeable, such that water is prevented from flowing in or out of the beverage tablet at locations other than locations where the beverage tablet 100 is pierced. The coating may have any suitable number of layers, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 layers, or more.

[0037] In some embodiments, one or more surfaces of a beverage tablet may be marked with indicia to indicate information about the beverage tablet. Different types of indicia may be marked on the coating. Some indicia may be machine-readable, and may be read by a beverage machine and / or a mobile device or remote resource. In some embodiments, the machine-readable indica may be a barcode, including, but not limited to: one-dimensional barcodes (also called linear barcodes), two-dimensional barcodes (also called matrix codes, e.g. QR codes), and any other suitable barcode. FIG. 1A depicts various types of indicia marked on a tablet surface 225. Indicia 116a shown in FIG. 1 A is an example of a machine-readable indicia: a barcode. Some indicia may be text that can be read by a human user and / or a machine. In some embodiments, the text may also be read by the beverage machine and / or a mobile device or remote resource. Indicia 116b shown in FIG. 1 A is an example of indicia in the form of human-readable text: “Dark Roast”. Such text may help to inform the user of the beverage tablet type.

[0038] Some indicia may be logos that can be read by a human user and / or a machine. In some embodiments, the logo may inform the human user and / or machine of which company produced the beverage tablet. Indicia 116c shown in FIG. 1 A is an example of indicia in the form of a logo. In some embodiments, more than one type of indicia may be marked on a beverage tablet, and a mix of machine-readable only and / or both machine and human readable indicia may be present. For example, the beverage tablet 100 of FIG. 1A has three different types of indicia: barcode indicia 116a (which may be machine-readable only),13569083.1text indicia 116b (which may be both human and machine readable), and logo indicia 116c (which may be both human and machine readable).

[0039] Where a coating is present on a beverage tablet, the indicia may be positioned in any suitable manner relative to the coating. In some embodiments, the indicia is positioned on and external to the coating, and the coating may have one or more layers. In some embodiments, the indicia is covered by at least one layer of coating. The indicia may, in some embodiments, be covered by a plurality of layers of coating. In some embodiments, the indica is sandwiched between two layers of coating. In some embodiments, the indicia may be positioned directly on the solid body of beverage ingredient, with one or more layers of coating covering the indicia.

[0040] The indicia may be formed by any suitable process and made with any suitable material. In some embodiments, the indicia may be etched into the beverage tablet, such as etched into a coating of the beverage tablet, e.g., by using a laser or other suitable process. In some embodiments, the indicia may be ink-based. In some embodiments, the indicia may be on a label that is attached to the beverage tablet. Any other suitable arrangement for the indicia may also be used.

[0041] In the illustrative embodiment shown in FIG. IB, the indicia 116 is positioned on and external to the coating 104. However, it should be appreciated that any suitable position of the indicia may be utilized in other embodiments. It should be appreciated that, in some embodiments, one or more layers of coating may only partially surround the body of beverage ingredient, and do not fully surround the body of beverage ingredient. For example, in some embodiments, one layer of coating may fully surround the body of beverage ingredient, while another layer of coating may only partially surround the body of beverage ingredient.

[0042] As discussed above, the beverage machine is configured to obtain information from beverage tablets of different sizes. FIG. 1C depicts a first beverage tablet 100 of first tablet type having a first size, and FIG. ID depicts a second beverage tablet 100’ of a second tablet type having a second size. The first beverage tablet 100 has first indicia 117 positioned on a tablet surface 225 and the second beverage tablet 100’ has second indicia 119 positioned on a tablet surface 225. The second beverage tablet 100’ has a larger size than the first beverage tablet 100. In this example, the second beverage tablet 100’ has a larger size than13569083.1the first beverage tablet 100 due to the second beverage tablet 100’ having a greater height H2 compared to the height Hl of the first beverage tablet 100. However, it should be appreciated that one or more different dimensions may be altered to provide tablet types of different sizes. For example, in addition or as an alternative to the height, diameter may be altered to provide different tablet sizes. While the example shown in FIGS. 1C and ID depict two tablet types, a beverage machine may be configured to obtain information from more than two different tablet types.

[0043] In some embodiments such as the depicted embodiments of FIGs. 2 and 3, a controller 216 may control the photosensitive detector 204 to obtain information from, e.g., capture an image of and / or read information from, the beverage tablet 100 when a photosensitive detector 204 is properly positioned relative to the beverage tablet 100. This may be done in different ways, such as by detecting the relative positions of the photosensitive detector 204 and beverage tablet 100, a position of the photosensitive detector 204 relative to other portions of a beverage machine 200, and / or a position of a component of the beverage machine 200 to which the photosensitive detector 204 is attached. In one example discussed herein, a sensor 218 such as a switch may sense when a cover of the beverage machine 200 is in an open position where the photosensitive detector 204 may be in a proper position to obtain information from the beverage tablet 100. For example, FIG. 2 shows an arrangement in which a photosensitive detector 204 is mounted to a cover 213 of the beverage machine 200 and the sensor 218 is configured to sense the position of the cover 213.

[0044] In some embodiments, the cover 213 includes one or more inlets 228 which may be adjacent the photosensitive detector 204 and arranged to introduce liquid into the beverage tablet 100, although embodiments with alternative means for introducing liquid to the beverage tablet to form a beverage may be used. In some embodiments, the one or more inlets comprise one or more inlet needles configured to pierce and inject liquid into the beverage tablet to form a beverage from the beverage tablet. The cover 213 is movable relative to the capsule holder 212 between open and closed positions.

[0045] In the depicted embodiment of FIG. 2, the photosensitive detector 204 comprises an optical sensor with an optical axis 204a that extends generally downward and away from the cover 213. The optical axis 204a is a general line along which the13569083.1photosensitive detector 204 may receive optical information for obtaining information, such as reading information and / or capturing an image, within a depth of field. In some embodiments, the photosensitive detector 204 may be arranged so that the most accurate information from, e.g., a best quality image of, the beverage tablet 100 is generally captured when the optical axis 204a is perpendicular to the tablet surface 225 of the beverage tablet 100. However, as discussed further below, in some embodiments, the photosensitive detector 204 may be configured to obtain information from the beverage tablet 100 when the optical axis 204a is angled non-perpendicularly relative to the beverage tablet 100, and a nonperpendicular angle may provide preferred conditions for obtaining the information according to some embodiments, such as reduced image glare. Regardless, in some embodiments, the controller 216 may control the photosensitive detector 204 to obtain information from the beverage tablet 100 when the optical axis 204a is perpendicular to the tablet surface 225 of the beverage tablet 100. Determination of when the optical axis 204a is perpendicular to the tablet surface 225 of the beverage tablet 100 may be performed in different ways. For example, a trigger mechanism may include the sensor 218 that detects when the cover 213 is at a particular angle relative to the remainder of the housing of the beverage machine 200 that corresponds to the optical axis 204a being oriented vertically. When the controller 216 determines that the cover 213 is at the particular angle (and optionally moving toward the closed position), the controller 216 may cause the photosensitive detector 204 to obtain information from the beverage tablet 100. The sensor may be a Hall effect sensor, switch, limit switch, microswitch, any other appropriate switch, potentiometer, encoder, an accelerometer or other suitable device to detect the position of the cover 213. In one example, a switch is configured to detect and communicate when the cover 213 is an open position to the controller 216, and the controller 216 may control the photosensitive detector to initiate obtaining information from the tablet surface 225 in response to the cover 213 being in the open position. Alternately, the sensor may detect a position of the photosensitive detector 204 relative to the beverage tablet 100, e.g., that the photosensitive detector 204 is directly over the tablet surface 225 of the beverage tablet 100, which may cause the photosensitive detector to obtain information.

[0046] In some embodiments, when the sensor detects that the cover is in the open position, the photosensitive detector may repeatedly attempt to obtain information, e.g. by13569083.1repeatedly scanning the area below the detector, repeatedly taking images of the area, or otherwise repeatedly attempt to obtain information. In some cases, the photosensitive detector may automatically discontinue attempts to obtain information after a certain amount of time has elapsed. In some embodiments, the photosensitive detector 204 may repeatedly attempt to obtain information as the cover 213 is being moved toward the closed position, and the controller 216 may determine which of the obtained information includes desired information (e.g., optimal information) of the beverage tablet 100 including suitable characteristics indicative of a tablet surface 225. For example, the photosensitive detector 204 may repeatedly capture image data as the cover 213 is being moved toward the closed position, and the controller 216 may determine which of the captured images includes a desired image of the beverage tablet 100, e.g., by image analysis of the image data that reveals a particular image as including suitable characteristics indicative of a tablet surface 225.

[0047] While FIG. 3 shows the cover 213 in the closed position in which the beverage tablet 100 is at least partially enclosed for forming a beverage, the position of the cover in FIG. 2 where the optical axis 204a is perpendicular to the tablet surface 225 of the beverage tablet 100 may be the open position (i.e., the farthest extent to which the cover 213 can be moved from the closed position) or may be between the open and closed positions. Thus, the photosensitive detector 204 may be positioned at an optimal or otherwise desired position relative to a beverage tablet to obtain information from a beverage tablet when the cover 213 is at the open position, or the photosensitive detector 204 may be better positioned for obtaining information from the beverage tablet when the cover 213 is somewhere between the open and closed positions. Note as well that although in this embodiment the photosensitive detector 204 is arranged to obtain information from the beverage tablet when the optical axis 204a is perpendicular to the tablet surface 225, this is not required in all embodiments. Instead, the photosensitive detector 204 may be controlled to obtain information from the beverage tablet when the optical axis 204a is at other angles relative to the tablet surface 225 or other beverage tablet portion.

[0048] In some embodiments, as seen in FIG. 4, the photosensitive detector 204 may be controlled to obtain information from the beverage tablet when the optical axis 204a’ is angled relative to the tablet surface by a non-perpendicular angle A. In some embodiments, angle A may be less than 90 degrees, 89 degrees or less, 88 degrees or less, 87 degrees or13569083.1less, 86 degrees or less, 85 degrees or less, 84 degrees or less, 83 degrees or less, 82 degrees or less, 81 degrees or less, 80 degrees or less, 75 degrees or less, 70 degrees or less360 degrees or less, or 50 degrees or less. In some embodiments, angle A may be 45 to 89 degrees, 50 to 89 degrees, 60 to 85 degrees, 70 to 85 degrees, or 80 to 85 degrees.

[0049] In some embodiments, triggering of the photosensitive detector to obtain information from the beverage tablet 100 need not have any relation to an optical axis, and the photosensitive detector 204 need not have an optical axis at all. Instead, the photosensitive detector 204 may obtain information from the beverage tablet 100 for a particular position or range of relative positions of beverage machine 200 parts that receive a beverage tablet 100, such as relative positions of a cover 213 and capsule holder 212.

[0050] FIG. 5 shows a simplified cross-sectional view of a beverage machine in an open configuration holding a first package-less beverage tablet according to some embodiments. FIG. 6 shows the same simplified cross-sectional view of the beverage machine of FIG. 5 in an open configuration holding a second package-less beverage tablet according to some embodiments. The beverage machine may be configured to form beverages from package-less beverage tablets 100 of different sizes, e.g. different heights. The beverage machine 200 may include a brew assembly 400 configured to receive a beverage tablet 100 and form a beverage using the beverage tablet 100. As will be discussed below, brew assembly 400 may be configured to receive a beverage tablet in an open configuration and form the beverage in a closed configuration. Any appropriate portion of the beverage machine may be configured to receive and / or hold the beverage tablet, e.g., a portion of the brew assembly 400 such as a tablet holder 420. In some cases, the beverage machine 200 (e.g., the tablet holder 420) may be configured to hold one beverage tablet at a time to prepare a beverage. After preparing one beverage tablet and forming a beverage, the used beverage tablet may be removed, and the tablet holder may receive another beverage tablet in order to prepare another beverage. As discussed further with respect to FIG. 7, beverage machine 200 may include an upstream fluid system 600 configured to condition and deliver water from a liquid supply 602 to operate the brew assembly 400 and mix with beverage material in the beverage tablet 100 to form the beverage. In some embodiments, the beverage flows through a brew chamber outlet 410 for subsequent dispensing. The brew assembly 400 may include one or more inlet needles configured to pierce and inject liquid13569083.1into the beverage tablet 100 and subsequently flow through the brew chamber outlet 410. In some embodiments, the brew assembly may include one or more exit needles configured to pierce into the beverage tablet 100. The exit needles may create holes in the beverage tablet to allow formed beverage to exit the tablet. In some embodiments, the exit needles may be hollow and at least some of the formed beverage exiting the beverage tablet may move through at least a portion of the needle. In some embodiments, brew assembly 400 and upstream fluid system 600 may be at least partially contained in housing 412.

[0051] As discussed herein, the beverage machine 200 may be configured to receive and / or hold beverage tablets 100 of different sizes. For example, a first beverage tablet having a first set of dimensions may be received by the beverage machine and a second beverage tablet having a second set of dimensions may also be received by the beverage machine. The first beverage tablet, for example, may have a first height which is different, e.g., lesser, than a second height of the second beverage tablet. In other examples, the first beverage tablet may have one or more of a diameter, width, length, thickness, radius, or other dimension which is different than the corresponding dimension of the second tablet. The disclosure is not limited to the beverage machine receiving and forming beverages from beverage tablets from any specific number of sets of dimensions, as any beverage tablet with an appropriate set of dimensions may be used by the beverage machine.

[0052] In some embodiments, one or more surfaces of the beverage machine may be configured to contact the beverage tablet 100 received by the beverage machine 200. For example, one or more portions of the brew assembly 400 such as the tablet holder 420 may include one or more surfaces adapted to contact the beverage tablet which is received and / or held by the tablet holder. For example, the tablet holder may include a table holder surface 409 configured to contact the beverage tablet while the beverage tablet is received and / or held by the tablet holder. In some embodiments, the tablet holder surface may be movable, although the disclosure is not limited to any surfaces of the tablet holder 420 or brew assembly 400 being movable. In some cases, the tablet holder 420 may include one or more grippers 417 configured to grip the beverage tablet 100 to hold the beverage tablet 100. In the depicted embodiment of FIGs. 5 and 6, the tablet holder 420 includes two grippers 417. The grippers 417 may move manually or automatically, e.g., controlled to move or biased in a direction, to grip the beverage tablet 100. In some cases, the grippers may be biased in a13569083.1direction towards a gripping configuration and may move away from the direction of bias to receive the beverage tablet between the grippers 417 on the tablet holder 420. In such cases, the bias may be a torsion spring configured to bias the grippers 417 towards the biased configuration.

[0053] As mentioned above, the beverage machine 200 may be compatible with different tablet types having different sizes. In FIG. 5, the first beverage tablet 100 is of a first tablet type having a first size, and in FIG. 6, the second beverage tablet 100’ is of a second tablet type having a second size. The different sizes may be attributable to different dimensions such as different heights. As such, as shown in FIG. 5, the first beverage tablet 100 having a first height Hl may be received by the beverage machine 200 on the tablet holder 420 and such that the first end 406 (which may be referred to as “tablet surface” herein) and the indicia 116 are disposed a first distance which may be equal to the first height Hl from the tablet holder contact surface 409, such as in the depicted embodiment shown in FIG. 5. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 6, the second beverage tablet 100’ having a second height H2 may be received by the beverage machine on the tablet holder and such that the first end 406 and the indicia 116 are disposed a second distance which may be equal to the second height H2 from the contact surface 409. In the depicted embodiments of FIGs. 5 and 6, the second distance may be greater than the first distance, as the second height H2 of the second tablet is greater than the first height Hl of the first tablet, thereby disposing the second tablet surface and second indicia 119 further from the contact surface 409 than the first tablet surface and first indicia 117. In some cases, such as in the depicted embodiments shown in FIGs. 5 and 6, the beverage tablet may be received by the beverage machine and oriented such that the first end of the beverage tablet may be the upper or uppermost surface of the beverage tablet with respect to a local direction of gravity. In some embodiments, including the depicted embodiments of FIGs. 5 and 6, the beverage tablet may be received by the beverage machine and oriented such that the first end of the beverage tablet may be the closest surface of the beverage tablet to the photosensitive detector 204.

[0054] Regardless of the orientation of the beverage tablet received by the beverage machine 200, the photosensitive detector 204 may be configured to obtain information from the beverage tablet within a range of distances from the photosensitive detector to the beverage tablet. Providing a photosensitive detector 204 with an appropriate depth of field to13569083.1obtain information from the range of distances may enable the photosensitive detector to obtain information from a variety of beverage tablets, such as beverage tablets having different sizes, e.g., different heights as discussed herein. Providing the photosensitive detector 204 with an appropriate depth of field may enable the photosensitive detector to obtain information from the range of distances with appropriately focused images and / or accurately obtained information within a focused space. In the arrangement depicted in FIG.5, the first beverage tablet 100 having height Hl is at a distance Z1 from the photosensitive detector 204. In the arrangement depicted in FIG. 6, the second beverage tablet 100’ having a height H2 is at a distance Z2 from the photosensitive detector 204. The photosensitive detector has a depth of field that includes both distances Z1 and Z2. In some embodiments, the depth of field is at least 30 mm, at least 40 mm, at least 50 mm, at least 60 mm, at least 70 mm, at least 80 mm, at least 90 mm, or at least 100 mm.

[0055] The photosensitive detector 204 may be operatively coupled to a controller 216 which may be configured to control the photosensitive detector 204 and may receive the obtained information from the photosensitive detector 204. The controller 216 may be operatively coupled with appropriate portions of the beverage machine 200 such that the controller may control the beverage machine to prepare a beverage with a brew process as discussed herein, e.g., using one or more brew parameters obtained based at least in part on the information obtained from the photosensitive detector.

[0056] In some embodiments, the beverage machine 200 may include one or more lights 416 configured to illuminate the beverage tablet 100. The one or more lights may be arranged in any appropriate position(s) of the beverage machine 200 as the disclosure is not limited in this sense. In some embodiments, the one or more lights may be formed separately from or as part of the photosensitive detector 204. In some cases, such as in the depicted embodiments of FIGs. 5 and 6, the one or more lights 416 may be coupled to the cover 213 and may be configured to move with the cover 213. The one or more lights 416 may be operatively coupled to the controller 216, and the controller 216 may be configured to control the one or more lights 416, e.g., turn off and turn on, adjust levels of illumination, etc. In some embodiments, the controller 216 may be configured to control the lights to illuminate the beverage tablet 100 in response to the cover being moved to the open position, e.g., in response to a sensor 218 sensing the cover 213 being in or moving to the open position. The13569083.1sensor 218 may be any appropriate sensor discussed herein, including, but not limited to, a switch configured to sense whether the cover 213 is in the closed position, open position, and / or moving between the closed and open position. In one example, the sensor 218 is a microswitch coupled to a housing of the beverage machine 200 and configured to contact the cover 213 when the cover 213 is in the closed position and be free of contact with the cover 213 when the cover 213 is in the open position.

[0057] The beverage tablets can include appropriate indicia on any suitable location of the beverage tablet. For example, the indicia of the first beverage tablet may be disposed on the first tablet surface (e.g., the top surface of the first beverage tablet) and / or a second tablet surface (e.g. the bottom surface of the first beverage tablet). In the case of a cylindrical tablet, this could be the first and second ends of the tablet. In some cases, the indicia may be disposed on one or more side surfaces of the beverage tablet, optionally in addition to indicia being disposed on one or more of the top and bottom surfaces of the beverage tablet. As previously discussed with respect to FIGs. 2 and 3, in some cases, the beverage machine 200 may include a cover 213 which can include photosensitive detector 204. The cover 213 may be configured to move between an open position to permit a beverage tablet to be placed in the brew assembly 400, and a closed position in which the brew assembly 400 is in a closed configuration. In some embodiments, when the cover is in the closed position, the brew assembly 400 is fully enclosed in the housing 412. In some embodiments, the cover 213 is operatively connected to the brew assembly 400 via linkages, such that moving the cover from the open position to the closed position moves the brew assembly 400 between an open configuration and a closed configuration.

[0058] In some embodiments, the indicia read by the beverage machine may be interpreted by the controller 601 as corresponding to a type of beverage tablet 100 (e.g. size, roast level, etc.). Controller 601 may then present brew parameter options (e.g. volume, brew pressure, brew strength, brew temperature) to a user on a user interface 611 and / or otherwise control the upstream fluid system according to the type of beverage tablet detected according to some embodiments.

[0059] In some embodiments, the beverage machine 200 may include a dispensing flow path 414 configured to receive the beverage from the brew assembly 400 and allow the beverage to exit the housing 412 through a brew chamber outlet 410 disposed at an end of the13569083.1dispensing flow path 414. In some embodiments, dispensing flow path 414 may include various conditioning chambers configured to condition various fluid parameters (e.g. temperature, turbulence, flow rate, etc.) of the beverage prior to dispensing the beverage.

[0060] As mentioned above, beverage tablet 100 may include a body 102 formed of compacted beverage material. Body 102 may be generally cylindrical, with a first end 406 and a second end 408. It should be understood that in some embodiments, the ends of the beverage tablet 100 may be substantially identical, such that either end may be the first end 406 or the second end 408. In some embodiments, first and / or second ends are domed. In some embodiments, beverage tablet 100 includes at least one coating 104 configured to at least partially encapsulate the body 102. Coating 104 may be configured to soften when wetted, permitting the coating to stretch without ripping or fracturing.

[0061] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an upstream fluid system 600 of a beverage machine in an illustrative embodiment. As mentioned above, beverage machine 200 may include an upstream fluid system 600 located upstream of brew assembly 400. Upstream fluid system 600 may be configured to condition and deliver liquid from liquid supply 602 to the brew assembly fluid system 603, which may then deliver liquid to various components of the brew assembly 400. The upstream fluid system 600 may include, for example, a liquid supply, a liquid heater, pumps, and valves, to name a few components. The beverage machine 200 may include a controller 601 configured to receive a user’s input from a user interface 611 and control the upstream fluid system 600 to deliver liquid to the brew assembly fluid system 603with the desired brew parameters (e.g., temperature, volume, flow rate, etc.). Controller 601 may also be used to control various controllable valves (e.g. solenoid valves, electric ball valves, etc.) in the brew assembly fluid system 603in order to direct fluid flow along various flow paths, as discussed further below. The controller 601 may also be operatively and communicatively coupled to the controller 216 (not shown in FIG. 7) or otherwise may perform the functions of the controller 216 as discussed herein, including but not limited to controlling and / or receiving information from the photosensitive detector 204, one or more lights 416, sensor 218, and other appropriate portions of the beverage machine 200.

[0062] The upstream fluid system 600 may include a liquid supply 602, such as a cold-water tank. The water level of the cold-water tank may be monitored by a sensor 604. If13569083.1the sensor 604 detects that there is insufficient water in the cold-water tank, the sensor may send a signal to a user interface 611 to alert a user. Water from the cold-water tank may pass through a filter 608 and a check valve 610 before being pumped by a pump 612 into a hot water tank 614. The water may be heated within the hot water tank 614 (e.g., via a heating element inside the hot water tank 614), and / or may be heated while traveling along the pathway to the hot water tank 614 (e.g., via an in-line heater). An air pump 622 may be connected to the hot water tank 614 to introduce air into the hot water tank 614 for delivery of hot water to the brew assembly, and for purging the hot water tank and brew assembly fluid system of water and / or beverage. The beverage machine may include a pressure release valve 616 that may be connected to a pressure transducer 618 that monitors pressure levels. In the case that the pressure transducer determines that pressure levels are too high, the pressure release valve may reduce the pressure levels through a vent 620. In some embodiments, the vent 620 is passive, and not controllable. In embodiments in which the vent is controllable, the vent may be directly connected to the hot water tank. While the above embodiments of upstream fluid system 600 disclose pump 612 as delivering water to hot water tank 614, and separate air pump 622 moving water from the hot water tank 614 and though brew assembly fluid system 603, it is contemplated that a single pump may move water through the entire upstream fluid system 600 and through the brew assembly fluid system 603. It should be understood that the upstream fluid system 600 disclosed in embodiments above is only exemplary, and that any upstream fluid system configured to condition and / or deliver liquid and / or air to a brew assembly may be used.

[0063] In some embodiments, the beverage machine may have no hot water tank at all, and instead may use an in-line heater to heat liquid as the liquid travels from the cold-water tank to the brew assembly. An air pump may move liquid from the cold-water tank through the in-line heater and to the brew assembly.

[0064] In some embodiments, it may be desirable to deliver unheated water to the brew assembly fluid system 603, e.g. to pre-wet the beverage tablet or to operate a hydraulic system. The upstream fluid system 600 may include a bypass valve 624 between pump 612 and hot water tank 614. In some embodiments, the bypass valve 624 may be controlled by the controller. In other embodiments, the bypass valve 624 may be passive. In some13569083.1embodiments, the upstream fluid system 600 may not include bypass valve 624, and heated water is used to pre- wet the beverage tablet and / or operate the hydraulic system.

[0065] In some embodiments, the controller may be configured to detect the beverage tablet height (e.g., Hl and / or H2) using sensor system 641, which can include one or more photosensitive detectors as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the controller may control the upstream fluid system to deliver water to the brew assembly fluid system 603 with parameters (e.g. pressure, volume, etc.) and / or control the brew assembly fluid system to deliver water along different flow paths based on the detected height. In some embodiments, the controller may present various options to a user (e.g. beverage volume options) based on the detected height H.

[0066] The beverage machine 200 may include a user interface 611 to allow a user to control the beverage machine. A user interface may include one or more of the following: a display, one or more buttons, and one or more indicator lights. The user may provide commands to the beverage machine through the user interface 611 by, for example, pressing a button or touching a touch screen. The beverage machine may activate a beverage forming cycle, or may perform various other functions in response to the commands from the user. For example, a beverage having a first set of brew parameters (e.g. temperature, volume, brew strength, etc.) may be formed by the beverage machine 200 in response to a user inputting a first set of commands via the user interface, while a beverage having a second set of brew parameters may be formed by the beverage machine 200 in response to a user inputting a second set of commands via the user interface. Information may be communicated to the user through a display or indicator lights of the user interface.

[0067] It should be understood that a user interface may include any number or combination of the above-mentioned components, or any other appropriate components. In some embodiments, a user interface may include only a single touch screen that both receives commands from a user and communicates information to the user. In other embodiments, a user interface may include multiple buttons and multiple indicator lights. A user interface may include knobs, scroll wheels, mechanical switches, microphones, touch sensors, light sensors, or any other suitable components configured to receive input from a user.Additionally, a user interface may include displays, lights, speakers, haptic devices, or any other suitable components configured to provide information to a user.13569083.1

[0068] While the present teachings have been described in conjunction with various embodiments and examples, it is not intended that the present teachings be limited to such embodiments or examples. On the contrary, the present teachings encompass various alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only.13569083.1

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A method for preparing a beverage from a beverage tablet using a beverage machine, the method comprising:receiving, by a beverage machine, a first beverage tablet having first indicia; holding the first beverage tablet with a tablet holder, the tablet holder having a contact surface that contacts the first beverage tablet;obtaining, with a photosensitive detector of the beverage machine, first information from the first indicia; andintroducing liquid from a liquid supply to the first beverage tablet to form a beverage, wherein the photosensitive detector is configured to obtain information from a first tablet type and a second tablet type, the first tablet type having a first size such that indicia of a beverage tablet of the first tablet type is positioned a first distance from the contact surface when held by the tablet holder, and the second tablet type having a second size such that indicia of a beverage tablet of the second tablet type is positioned a second distance from the contact surface when held by the tablet holder, the first size being different from the second size, and the first distance being different from the second distance, andwherein the first beverage tablet is of the first tablet type, and the first indicia is at the first distance from the contact surface when the first information is obtained with the photosensitive detector.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:receiving, by the beverage machine, a second beverage tablet having a second indicia, wherein the second beverage tablet is of the second tablet type;with the first beverage tablet no longer in contact with the tablet holder, holding the second beverage tablet on the tablet holder such that the contact surface contacts the second beverage tablet; andobtaining, with the photosensitive detector, second information from the second indicia when the second indicia is disposed at the second distance from the contact surface, the second distance being greater than the first distance; and13569083.1introducing second liquid from the liquid supply to the second beverage tablet to form a second beverage.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising gripping a side surface of the first beverage tablet.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising moving a cover to position the photosensitive detector to obtain the first information from the first indicia.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein moving the cover includes moving the cover from a closed position to an open position.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first beverage tablet is received by the beverage machine while the cover is in the open position.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein moving the cover causes the photosensitive detector to obtain the first information from the first indicia.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising sensing a change in position of the cover and controlling the photosensitive detector to begin obtaining the first information based at least in part on the change in position.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising piercing the first beverage tablet and injecting liquid into the first beverage tablet.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the first information includes obtaining an image of the first tablet surface using the photosensitive detector.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising illuminating a first tablet surface on which the first indicia is positioned.13569083.

112. The method of claim 1, wherein the first beverage tablet is positioned such that the first indicia is positioned on a first tablet surface that is an uppermost surface of the first beverage tablet relative to a local direction of gravity while the first information is obtained.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first indicia is positioned on a first tablet surface, and the first tablet surface is convex.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining parameters of a brew process based at least in part on the obtained first information.

15. The method of claim 2, wherein the second beverage tablet comprises a greater mass than the first beverage tablet.

16. The method of claim 2, wherein a height of the second beverage tablet is greater than a height of the first beverage tablet.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the photosensitive detector has a depth of field which at least covers both a distance from the photosensitive detector to a beverage tablet of the first tablet type and a distance from the photosensitive detector to a beverage tablet of the second tablet type.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the photosensitive detector obtains the first information from the first beverage tablet when an optical axis of the photosensitive detector is angled relative to a tablet surface on which the first indicia is positioned by a nonperpendicular angle.

19. A beverage machine for preparing a beverage from a beverage tablet, the beverage machine comprising:a tablet holder configured to receive and hold a beverage tablet such that a contact surface of the tablet holder contacts the beverage tablet; and13569083.1a photosensitive detector configured to obtain information from a first tablet type and a second tablet type, the first tablet type having a first size such that indicia of a beverage tablet of the first tablet type is positioned a first distance from the contact surface when held by the tablet holder, and the second tablet type having a second size such that indicia of a beverage tablet of the second tablet type is positioned a second distance from the contact surface when held by the tablet holder, the first size being different from the second size, and the first distance being different from the second distance.

20. The beverage machine of claim 19, further comprising grippers coupled to the tablet holder and configured to grip a side surface of the beverage tablet.

21. The beverage machine of claim 19, further comprising a cover having an open position and a closed position, the tablet holder being configured to receive the beverage tablet while the cover is in the open position, and the photosensitive detector being attached to the cover such that the photosensitive detector moves with the cover.

22. The beverage machine of claim 21, further comprising a sensor configured to sense that the cover is in the open position, wherein the photosensitive detector is configured to image indicia of the beverage tablet to obtain information in response to the sensor sensing that the cover is in the open position.

23. The beverage machine of claim 22, wherein the sensor is a microswitch.

24. The beverage machine of claim 19, further comprising one or more inlet needles configured to pierce and inject liquid into the beverage tablet.

25. The beverage machine of claim 19, further comprising one or more lights configured to illuminate a surface of the beverage tablet.13569083.

126. The beverage machine of claim 19, wherein the tablet holder is configured to hold the beverage tablet such that a surface of the beverage tablet on which the indicia is positioned is an uppermost surface of the beverage tablet relative to a local direction of gravity.

27. The beverage machine of claim 19, further comprising at least one processor operatively coupled to the photosensitive detector and configured to determine parameters of a brew process based at least in part on information obtained from the beverage tablet.

28. The beverage machine of claim 19, further comprising a sensor configured to sense a position of a cover of the beverage machine and further comprising a processor operatively coupled to the sensor and the photosensitive detector and configured to control the photosensitive detector to obtain information from the beverage tablet in response to the sensor sensing the cover is in an open position.

29. The beverage machine of claim 19, wherein the photosensitive detector has a depth of field which at least covers both a distance from the photosensitive detector to a beverage tablet of the first tablet type and a distance from the photosensitive detector to a beverage tablet of the second tablet type.

30. The beverage machine of claim 19, further comprising a controller configured to trigger the photosensitive detector to obtain information from a beverage tablet when an optical axis of the photosensitive detector is angled relative to a tablet surface on which indicia of the beverage tablet is positioned by a non-perpendicular angle.13569083.1

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