Container for preparation of a beverage and machine for automated filling of the container

Abstract

A container for the preparation of a beverage and a machine for the filling of containers for the preparation of the beverage. The container includes an outer cup, an inner cup nesting inside the outer cup, and a filter disposed between a sidewall of the outer cup and a sidewall of the inner cup and covering a bottom opening of the inner cup. The machine includes a first zone configured to dispense a container from a stack of containers, a second zone configured to fill the container with a beverage substrate, a third zone configured to seal the container and dispense a filled container, and a carriage configured to transport the container between the first and second zones, and between the second and third zones.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container for the preparation of a beverage comprising:
 an outer cup having a base, a frustoconically shaped sidewall, and an opening opposite the base;   an inner cup nesting inside the outer cup; the inner cup having a bottom opening, a frustoconically shaped sidewall, and a top opening opposite the bottom opening; and   a filter disposed between the sidewall of the outer cup and the sidewall of the inner cup and covering the bottom opening of the inner cup.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall of the outer cup includes a radially outwardly protruding lip surrounding the opening of the outer cup, and wherein the sidewall of the inner cup includes a radially outwardly protruding lip surrounding the top opening of the inner cup. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the lip of the outer cup and the lip of the inner cup are each have a folded over and flattened configuration, and wherein the lip of the outer cup and the lip of the inner cup are heat sealed together. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3  further comprising a rim on the periphery of the base of the outer cup. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the rim has a folded over and flattened configuration and is heat sealed to the base. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , further comprising a lid disposed on the radially outwardly protruding lip of the inner cup. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the lid is heat sealed to the radially outwardly protruding lip of the inner cup. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the inner cup and the outer cup comprise compostable, heat sealable paper, wherein the filter comprises compostable paper, and wherein the lid comprises one of compostable, heat sealable paper and compostable, heat sealable film. 
     
     
         9 . A machine for the filling of containers for the preparation of a beverage, the machine comprising:
 a first zone configured to dispense a container from a stack of containers;   a second zone configured to fill the container with a beverage substrate;   a third zone configured to seal the container and dispense a filled container;   a carriage configured to transport the container between the first and second zones, and between the second and third zones.   
     
     
         10 . The machine of  claim 9 , wherein the third zone includes a lid dispenser for receiving a stack of lids and dispensing lids one at a time to the container disposed on the carriage at the third zone. 
     
     
         11 . The machine of  claim 10 , wherein the third zone further includes a heat seal vacuum head having a heating element for sealing a lid on the container disposed on the carriage at the third zone. 
     
     
         12 . The machine of  claim 11 , wherein the third zone further includes a wheel gear having a knob disposed on one side thereof around the periphery of the wheel gear, and an elevating carriage supporting the heat seal vacuum head, wherein the knob is set into a channel in the elevating carriage whereby rotation of the wheel gear with the knob in the channel causes the elevating carriage to move up and down. 
     
     
         13 . The machine of  claim 12 , wherein the elevating carriage includes a shaft rotatably attached to the heat seal vacuum head, wherein the heat seal vacuum head rotates on the shaft as the elevating carriage is raised and lowered. 
     
     
         14 . The machine of  claim 13 , wherein the heat seal vacuum head is configured to rotate upward to pick a lid from the lid dispenser and rotate back down to the container in the carriage, and while holding the lid, the heat seal vacuum head is configured to press downward onto the top of the container, while the heating element in the heat seal vacuum head heat seals the lid onto the container. 
     
     
         15 . The machine of  claim 9 , wherein the third zone includes:
 a film cartridge configured to advance a film from a first end of the film cartridge to a second end of the film cartridge and to dispose the film above the container at a time the container is disposed on the carriage at the third zone; and   a heat sealing mechanism configured to seal the container with the film.   
     
     
         16 . The machine of  claim 15 , wherein the third zone further includes a film advance gear configured to lower the heat sealing mechanism against the film disposed above the container on the carriage at the third zone. 
     
     
         17 . The machine of  claim 16 , wherein the heat sealing mechanism includes:
 a heat plate configured for sealing the film; and   a circular blade configured for cutting a circular hole in the film around the container.   
     
     
         18 . The machine of  claim 15 , wherein the carriage includes:
 a seat mechanism;   a hinged ejector mechanism opposite the hinged ejector mechanism, wherein the hinged ejector mechanism includes a first hinged member and a second hinged member each having an inner end and an outer end; wherein when the hinged ejector mechanism is closed, the inner end of one of said first and second hinged members is disposed adjacent the inner end of the other one of said first and second hinged members.   
     
     
         19 . The machine of  claim 18 , wherein the outer end of each of the first and second hinged members includes a finger having a groove, and wherein each of the first and second hinged members further includes a pivot intermediate the inner end and the outer end to about which the first and second hinged members are configured to pivot. 
     
     
         20 . The machine of  claim 19 , wherein the third zone further includes first and second ejector pins, wherein the carriage is advanced through the third zone, the first and second ejector pins are configured to enter the grooves and rotate the fingers to cause the first and second hinged members to pivot, pushing against the container, and sending the container outside of the machine.