Beverage forming apparatus

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling operation of a beverage forming machine arranged for use with cartridges of different types, or receiving an upwardly flowing beverage from a cartridge. A beverage outlet may be movable to receive beverage from a cartridge of a first type, and to not receive beverage from a cartridge of a second type. Different cartridge characteristics may be detected by multiple detectors, e.g., for detecting a presence/absence of a cartridge, a cartridge type and/or an authorization feature.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A beverage forming apparatus, comprising:
 a frame arranged to support components of the beverage forming apparatus;   a cartridge holder arranged to hold a cartridge during formation of a beverage using the cartridge;   an inlet arranged to direct fluid into a cartridge held by the cartridge holder in a downward direction;   a first beverage outlet arranged to receive beverage from a cartridge held by the cartridge holder such that flow of beverage from the cartridge is in an upward direction; and   a liquid supply system at least partially supported by the frame arranged to provide a liquid for combination with a beverage medium in a cartridge held by the cartridge holder to form a beverage.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising a cover arranged to cooperate with the cartridge holder to at least partially enclose a cartridge held by the cartridge holder for formation of a beverage using the cartridge. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the inlet and first beverage outlet are mounted to the cover. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the cartridge holder includes an opening and is arranged to engage with a cartridge placed in the opening and support a weight of the cartridge, the cartridge holder being arranged to receive and engage with first and second cartridges having a different size and/or shape in a region where the cartridge holder engages with the cartridges. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the cartridge holder includes a second beverage outlet that is movable relative to the opening between first and second positions based on a size and/or shape of a cartridge held by the cartridge holder. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the second beverage outlet is arranged to not receive beverage from a cartridge in the first position, and is arranged to receive beverage from a cartridge in the second position. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the second beverage outlet is positioned outside of a cartridge receiving area of the cartridge holder in the first position, and the second beverage outlet is positioned within a cartridge receiving area of the cartridge holder in the second position. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the first beverage outlet is arranged to receive beverage from a first cartridge placed in the cartridge holder, and the second beverage outlet is arranged to receive beverage from a second cartridge placed in the cartridge holder. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the inlet and the first beverage outlet each include a piercing element to pierce a cartridge. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the piercing elements of the inlet and the first beverage outlet face downwardly. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the piercing elements are arranged to pierce a lid of a first cartridge in the cartridge holder. 
     
     
         36 . apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the lid is formed of a flexible sheet material and the inlet and first beverage outlet are arranged to form a seal with the lid. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising a cartridge that is receivable by the cartridge holder and is arranged to receive liquid from the inlet in a downward direction and to provide beverage to the first beverage outlet in an upward direction. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the cartridge is arranged to be pierced by the inlet and by the first beverage outlet, and the cartridge is pierced by the inlet at a position above a location where the cartridge is pierced by the first beverage outlet. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the cartridge includes a lid that is piercable to receive liquid from the inlet and is piercable to provide beverage to the first beverage outlet. 
     
     
         40 . A method for forming a beverage using a beverage forming apparatus, comprising:
 providing a beverage forming apparatus including a cartridge holder arranged to engage with and support a cartridge placed in the cartridge holder;   providing a cartridge in the cartridge holder;   introducing fluid into the cartridge in the cartridge holder to form a beverage, the fluid being introduced into the cartridge in a downward direction; and   receiving beverage from the cartridge in the cartridge holder, the beverage flowing in an upward direction while exiting from the cartridge.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising moving a cover to at least partially enclose a cartridge held by the cartridge holder. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the step of introducing fluid includes introducing liquid from an inlet of the cover into the cartridge held by the cartridge holder. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the step of moving a cover includes piercing the cartridge to form an inlet opening in the cartridge through which fluid is introduced into the cartridge. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the step of moving a cover includes piercing the cartridge to form an outlet opening in the cartridge through which beverage exits the cartridge. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising piercing the cartridge to form an inlet opening in the cartridge through which fluid is introduced into the cartridge, and piercing the cartridge to form an outlet opening in the cartridge through which beverage exits the cartridge. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the steps of piercing the cartridge include piercing a lid of the cartridge formed of a flexible sheet material to form the inlet and outlet openings. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the inlet opening is formed above the outlet opening. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising forming a seal with the cartridge at the inlet and outlet openings. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising conducting a flow of the beverage received from the cartridge downwardly to a user's container. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the step of providing a cartridge includes providing a first or second cartridge in the cartridge holder, the first and second cartridges having a different size and/or shape, and
 wherein the step of receiving a beverage includes receiving a beverage that exits the cartridge in an upward direction if a first cartridge is provided in the cartridge holder, and includes receiving a beverage that exits the cartridge in a downward direction if a second cartridge is provided in the cartridge holder.   
     
     
         51 - 66 . (canceled)