CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S.

provisional applications serial number 62/158,220, filed May 7,2015, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

[0002] Disclosed embodiments are related to juicing systems that combine juice with other liquids to form a juice beverage.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Devices for extracting fresh juice from food matter such as fruits and vegetables have been developed over the years for both home and commercial markets. Typical commercial juicers tend to be large, expensive, and are unsuitable for home or small retail environments. Systems more suitable for home and small retail environments have utilized several different methods for extracting juice from the food matter as described below. Such systems typically require food matter to be prepared for juicing, for example, by cutting the food matter into appropriately sized pieces. Furthermore, typical juicers may require different components or configurations to extract juice from different types of food matter, and are thus not well suited for preparing custom juice blends.

[0004] In centrifugal-type juicers, food matter is fed through a chute, or other entrance, where a set of mechanical blades rotating at a high speed cut and/or grind the food matter to a pulp. Centripetal force is then applied by rapidly rotating the food matter to separate juice from the pulp through a filter. A second type of home and retail juicer is a masticating juicer which uses an auger to crush the food matter into a pulp. The resulting pulp is further compressed by the auger to extract juice through an associated filter. Another type of juicer is a hydraulic press juicer which typically uses a hydraulic press to compress food matter between one or more surfaces that are in direct contact with the food matter to extract the juice. [0005] Other systems for preparing beverages such as soft drinks have also been developed for both home and commercial markets. Typical beverage systems are configured to combine concentrated flavoring ingredients, such as syrups, with carbonated water or other similar ingredients to form a beverage.

SUMMARY

[0006] In one embodiment, a juicing system includes a pressing chamber configured to press one or more juicer cartridges to extract juice from food matter contained therein. The juicing system also includes a supplemental liquid dispensing system configured to dispense one or more supplemental liquid ingredients. The extracted juice and supplemental liquid ingredients combine to form a custom beverage.

[0007] In another embodiment, a method for dispensing juice includes pressing one or more juicer cartridges in a pressing chamber to extract juice from the food matter contained within the juicer cartridges, and dispensing the extracted juice. The method further includes dispensing one or more supplemental liquid ingredients with a supplemental liquid dispensing system.

[0008] 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 non- limiting embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

[0009] In cases where the present specification and a document incorporated by reference include conflicting and/or inconsistent disclosure, the present specification shall control. If two or more documents incorporated by reference include conflicting and/or inconsistent disclosure with respect to each other, then the document having the later effective date shall control.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0010] 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:

[0011] Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of a juicing system;

[0012] Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of another embodiment of a juicing system;

[0013] Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of a pressing chamber;

[0014] Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of a pressing chamber including a mixing chamber;

[0015] Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of a juicer cartridge; and

[0016] Fig. 6 is a flow chart depicting one embodiment of a method for dispensing a custom beverage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The inventors have recognized drawbacks related to the use of typical juicers and other beverage systems. Typical juicers, such as centrifugal juicers, masticating juicers, and typical press juicers, are exposed to food matter and extracted liquids during use. Due to the use of complex mechanisms within these juicers, crushed and/or pulped food matter left after juice extraction may become entrapped in the machinery of these juicers, making cleanup difficult. If not completely cleaned, undetected food matter left behind within a juicer may become a food safety hazard. Furthermore, typical juicers may need to be cleaned between instances of juicing to prevent undesirable contamination of different flavors.

[0018] Moreover, beverage systems for preparing soft drinks or other beverage mixtures typically mix concentrated flavoring ingredients (e.g. syrups) with an additional beverage such as carbonated water. The flavoring ingredients utilized by such systems are often high in sugar and/or contain artificial flavors or preservatives, and therefore lack the natural flavor, nutrients and/or other health benefits associated with fresh squeezed juice.

[0019] In view of the above, the inventors have recognized numerous benefits associated with a juicing system capable of providing custom beverages including freshly squeezed juice and one or more supplemental liquid ingredients which may mix with the juice, without the need to prepare individual ingredients as well as dealing with the complex operation and cleaning associated with a typical juicing system. For example, the inventors have found that providing a juicing system that includes individual juicer cartridges and affords simple operation can be advantageous. Such a juicing system may press one or more associated juicer cartridges containing single or multiple ingredients to extract fresh juice from the food matter, and combine the juice with one or more supplemental liquid ingredients to create a custom beverage, while minimizing and/or eliminating contact between the juicer and the associated food matter and/or extracted juice.

[0020] In one embodiment, a juicing system includes a pressing chamber sized and shaped to receive one or more juicer cartridges. The pressing chamber may include one or more displaceable pressing surfaces which may be driven by a suitable drive mechanism. Displacement of the one or more pressing surfaces may compress a juicer cartridge in the pressing chamber in order to apply pressure to the food matter and extract juice therefrom. In some embodiments, the pressing chamber also may include an outlet area configured to receive an outlet portion of a juicer cartridge. As described in more detail below, the juicing system also includes a supplemental liquid dispensing system configured to dispense one or more additional liquids to mix with the extracted juice. Depending on the particular embodiment, the outlet area of the pressing chamber and an outlet of the supplemental liquid dispensing system may be constructed and arranged such that the outlets of the one or more juicer cartridges and the supplemental liquid dispensing system outlet extend beyond the outlet area of the juicing system. Such a configuration may help to reduce or eliminate contact between the juicing system and any extracted juice or other liquid ingredients in order to minimize contamination and/or cleanup.

[0021] A juicing system as described herein may allow for preparation of a custom beverage including freshly squeezed juice and any suitable supplemental liquid ingredients. Suitable supplemental liquids for mixing with the extracted juice include, but are not limited to, various forms of water such as tap water, distilled water, mineral water, carbonated water, tonic water, alkaline water, or water infused with tea, herbs, flowers or other ingredients, or other liquids such as alcoholic beverages (e.g. spirts, wine, etc.), soft drinks, nut milks such as almond milk, syrups, or oils. Further, it should be understood that in some embodiments, a juicing system may dispense only extracted juice, only supplemental liquid ingredients, or any suitable combination of juice and supplemental liquid ingredients to form a desired custom beverage, as the disclosure is not so limited.

[0022] In some embodiments, a juicing system includes a controller configured to allow a user to control a number of aspects of a beverage dispensed by the juicing system. For example, the controller may be configured to permit a user to select a desired volume of juice and/or supplemental liquid ingredients to be dispensed. In some instances, the controller may further be configured to determine an appropriate combination of volumes of juice and supplemental liquid ingredients to provide a desired custom beverage in a desired volume. The controller may be connected to a display, such as an LED, LCD or bistable display, to indicate which selections have been made by a user, or to also indicate the status of the juicer. The controller also may be connected to an interface to allow a user to select a number of appropriate beverage features. For example, the interface may include a touch screen or mechanical buttons. However, in some embodiments, the interface also may include internet connectivity and/or wireless connectivity such as Bluetooth or similar systems to allow a user to control the juicing system remotely via apps on mobile devices, or through a web interface. In view of the above, a juicing system may include any suitable system to allow for selection of any number of appropriate beverage features, or any other appropriate means of controlling the juicer as the disclosure is not so limited.

[0023] In some embodiments, a juicing system may further include a reader configured to read information related to a juicer cartridge which may be included on a portion of a the juicer cartridge. For example, a juicer cartridge may include a bar code, quick response (QR) code, radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, or any other suitable indicator which may be read by an associated reader located on the juicing system. The indicator may include information related to a particular recipe for a custom beverage, and the juicing system may read the indicator an dispense juice and/or one or more supplemental liquid ingredient(s) according to the recipe. A controller, as described above, may be connected to the reader and may control a number of aspects of the preparation of a custom beverage based on the recipe information included on the indicator. In some embodiments, an indicator may include information related to the flavor and/or type of juice disposed within a particular juicer cartridge, and the controller may adjust the relative volumes of juice and supplemental liquid ingredients dispensed to provide a desired ratio according to the recipe. For example, a custom beverage including a strongly flavored juice may require a smaller ratio of juice to supplemental liquids compared to a custom beverage including a lightly flavored juice. In other embodiments, a juicing system may be adapted to accept various sizes of juicer cartridges containing different amounts of food matter. In such embodiments, an indicator on a juicer cartridge may include information related to the size of the juicer cartridge, and the juicing system may read the indicator and adjust the volume of

supplemental liquids dispensed accordingly during preparation of a custom beverage. Here too the information may also include recipe information for a desired beverage. Although certain types of information which may be included on an indicator are discussed above, it should be understood that a juicer cartridge may include any suitable information. Further, a juicing system may include any suitable reader for reading an indicator, and may control any aspect of the preparation of a custom beverage in view of the information included on the indicator.

[0024] It should be understood that a juicing system may control any aspects of the preparation of a custom beverage based on any suitable combination of input from a user and information read from an indicator on a juicer cartridge. For example, in some embodiments, a beverage may be prepared based only on input from a user. In such embodiments, a user may interact with a controller or other components of a juicing system to manually adjust each aspect of a custom beverage, including, but not limited to, particular juicer cartridges and/or supplemental liquid ingredients, a ratio of the volume of extracted juice to

supplemental liquid ingredients, and a total volume of a custom beverage. In other embodiments, a beverage may be prepared based only on information which a juicing system reads from an indicator. For example, a juicing system may read a recipe or other

information on a juicer cartridge and automatically adjust all of the In further embodiments, a beverage may be prepared based on a combination of information read from a juicer cartridge and user input. For example a juicing system may read a recipe from a juicer cartridge, and a user may fine tune or otherwise adjust the recipe via a controller on the juicing system.

[0025] Depending on the embodiment, the juicing system may extract juice from the food matter contained in one or more juicer cartridges disposed in the pressing chamber by compressing the one or more juicer cartridges with a press. For example, in one embodiment, the press includes one or more displaceable platens. The displaceable platens may be arranged in the pressing chamber and connected to an appropriate drive mechanism, such as an electromechanical, hydraulic, or pneumatic system configured to displace the platens and compress the one or more juicer cartridges. Alternatively, other ways of applying pressure to a juicer cartridge may be used including, for example, rollers, a sphincter, a twisting mechanism, a roll up mechanism, a vacuum mechanism, an auger, or any other appropriate mechanism as the disclosure is not so limited.

[0026] A juicing system according to the present disclosure may include any suitable supplemental liquid dispensing system for dispensing additional liquids to mix with juice extracted from the juicer cartridges. In one embodiment, a supplemental liquid dispensing system may include a reservoir which a user may fill with a suitable supplemental liquid ingredient, such as those described above. The reservoir may be fluidly connected to a pump system configured to deliver the supplemental liquid ingredient from the reservoir to an outlet of the supplemental liquid dispensing system where it may be dispensed into a beverage container. In some embodiments, the supplemental liquid dispensing system may include a plurality of reservoirs each connected to an associated pump system. Each of the plurality of reservoirs may contain a different liquid ingredient to allow for the preparation of a variety of different custom beverages, whether singularly or in combination.

[0027] Alternatively, in some embodiments, a reservoir may not be included. In such embodiments, a supplemental liquid dispensing mechanism may include a tube or other suitable inlet which may be inserted into a separate vessel containing a desired supplemental liquid ingredient. The tube may be connected to a suitable pump system configured to draw the supplemental liquid ingredient from the vessel so that it may be dispensed into a user's beverage container. Such embodiments may be beneficial to allow for a user to easily switch between various supplemental liquid ingredients for the preparation of different custom beverages without the need to drain and/or clean a reservoir between uses.

[0028] Although a pump system is described above to dispense the supplemental liquid ingredients, it should be understood that a pump may not be included in some embodiments. For example, supplemental liquid ingredients may be delivered and dispensed via a gravity feed system or siphon mechanism. In some instances, a juicing system may be connected via a tube or other suitable attachment interface to a faucet, tap, or other similar supply line to dispense tap water or other liquids which may be provided in a separate liquid system. Such systems may have an internal liquid pressure suitable to deliver and dispense the liquid. Accordingly, it should be understood that any suitable system capable of delivering and/or dispensing one or more supplemental liquids may be used, as the disclosure is not so limited.

[0029] Depending on the particular embodiment, the supplemental liquid dispensing system may dispense one or more supplemental liquids concurrently with the pressing of the one or more juicer cartridges in the pressing chamber and associated extraction of juice. Concurrent dispensing of the extracted juice and supplemental liquid ingredients may promote mixing of the various ingredients to form a homogenous custom beverage. In some embodiments, the supplemental liquid dispensing system may control the rate at which a supplemental liquid ingredient is dispensed such that the liquid is dispensed during the entire pressing process. Such an embodiment may promote mixing of extracted juice and supplemental liquid ingredients throughout pressing. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the supplemental liquid dispensing system may not dispense supplemental liquid ingredients during pressing. For example, the supplemental liquid dispensing system may dispense supplemental liquid ingredients before pressing begins, after pressing has finished, or during a portion of the pressing process. In some instances, operation of a juice press and supplemental liquid dispensing system may be carried out in multiple, alternating steps. For example, a press may partially compress a juicer cartridge to extract a portion of the juice contained therein, and subsequently the supplemental liquid dispensing system may dispense a portion of the supplemental liquid ingredients; this process may repeat until the desired amount of juice and supplemental liquid ingredients are dispensed. In view of the above, it should be understood that any suitable relative timing for the pressing of a juicer cartridge and dispensing of a supplemental liquid ingredient may be used to prepare a custom juice beverage, as the disclosure is not so limited.

[0030] In some embodiments, a supplemental liquid dispensing system also may include one or more systems to modify the supplemental liquid ingredients before dispensing. For example, a supplemental liquid dispensing system may include a carbonation system configured to add carbon dioxide gas to a supplemental liquid ingredient prior to dispensing. In one embodiment, a reservoir in a supplemental liquid dispensing system may be filled with a non-carbonated (still) beverage. During dispensing, the supplemental liquid dispensing system may transport a desired volume of the liquid to an intermediate chamber and the carbonation system may subsequently add a suitable amount of carbon dioxide gas to the liquid to form a carbonated liquid. The carbonated liquid may then be delivered to a beverage container where it may mix with extracted juice to form a carbonated custom juice beverage. Such an embodiment may be beneficial to ensure a desired level of carbonation in a supplemental liquid ingredient, and also may reduce the chance of dispensing a "flat" or otherwise under-carbonated supplemental liquid ingredient. Furthermore, although a carbonation system is described above, it should be understood that other systems for modifying a supplemental liquid ingredient may be used, such as an alkilinization system, or any other suitable system.

[0031] A supplemental liquid dispensing system also may include a cooling and/or heating system to control the temperature of any supplemental liquid ingredients. For example, a cooling system may be used to lower the temperature of one or more

supplemental liquid ingredients before dispensing to allow for the preparation of a chilled custom beverage. In some instances, a supplemental liquid ingredient may be stored at a low temperature, and it may be desirable to raise the temperature, for example up to room temperature, before dispensing. Accordingly, a cooling or heating system may allow for a supplemental liquid dispensing system to dispense a supplemental liquid ingredient at any suitable temperature.

[0032] As noted above, in some embodiments, it may be desirable to avoid contact between the juicing system and the extracted juice, food matter, and/or any supplemental liquid ingredients, in order to minimize contamination and/or cleanup. In such embodiments, the juicing system may be configured such that the outlets of the one or more juicer cartridges and the supplemental liquid dispensing system extend beyond an outlet area of the juicing system. Such a configuration may allow extracted juice and any supplemental liquid ingredients to be dispensed directly into a user's beverage container without contacting the juicing system. However, it should be understood that in some embodiments, extracted juice and/or supplemental liquid ingredients may contact portions of the juicing system, as the disclosure is not so limited. For example, a juicing system may include a mixing chamber into which juice extracted from the one or more juicer cartridges and supplemental liquid ingredients dispensed by the supplemental liquid dispensing system are dispensed such that they may mix to form a homogeneous custom beverage. The mixing chamber may include a single outlet for dispensing the custom beverage into a user's beverage container. Such an embodiment may allow for dispensing of the custom beverage in a single stream, which may make dispensing easier and/or cleaner compared to embodiments with multiple outlet streams. Depending on the particular embodiment, the mixing chamber may be removable for washing.

[0033] In certain embodiments, it may be desirable for a juicing system to dispense a selectable volume of a custom beverage. For example, in some embodiments, the volume of a beverage produced by a juicing system is between about 1 ounce and 20 ounces (0.03 liters and 0.6 liters), 1 ounce and 16 ounces (.03 liters and 0.5 liters), 6 ounces to 12 ounces (0.2 liters and 0.35 liters), 20 ounces to 80 ounces (0.6 liters and 2.4 liters), 80 ounces to 140 ounces (2.4 liters and 4.0 liters), or any other appropriate volume as the disclosure is not so limited. The volume selected by a user may correspond to either one or a combination of the volume ranges noted above as the disclosure is not so limited. Additionally, while in some embodiments a user may select a beverage volume to be dispensed, in other embodiments, a juicing system may deliver a preset volume. Therefore, it should be understood that a juicer system may be operated in any number of ways to deliver an appropriate juice volume.

[0034] Depending on the beverage volume to be delivered and the desired amount of juice to be included in a custom beverage, juicer cartridges used with the juicing system may be any number of different sizes. For example, a juicer cartridge may include between about 1 ounce and 20 ounces (0.03 kg to 0.6 kg), 20 ounces to 80 ounces (0.6 kg to 2.3 kg), 80 ounces to 160 ounces (2.3 kg to 4.5 kg), or any other appropriate mass of food matter. When a juicer cartridge is compressed by an associated juicing system, the food matter contained therein may produce a ratio of juice volume in liters (L) to food matter mass in kilograms (kg) that is between about 0.4 L/kg to 0.85 L/kg, 0.5 I/kg to 0.75 L/kg, or any other appropriate ratio. Similar ratios for fluid ounces of juice produced to mass ounces of food matter are obtained. This juice yield may be in response to a final compression force applied to the juicer cartridge and food matter contained therein that is between about 6700 N to 35,600 N (1500 pounds to 8000 pounds) for a consumer appliance, about 7750 N to 44,500 N (1750 pounds to 10,000 pounds) for an office or corporate appliance, and about 8900 N to 53,400 N (2000 pounds to 12,000 pounds) for a restaurant or food service appliance.

[0035] For the sake of clarity, the juicer cartridges and juicing systems described herein generically refer to the use of food matter from which juice may be extracted.

However, it should be understood that the food matter used in both the juicer cartridges and juicer systems may correspond to any appropriate food matter. For example, food matter may include such nonlimiting items as: fruit; vegetables; meat; fish; plant matter; flavorings; dietary supplements such as vitamins, protein powders, ginseng; and/or any other ingestible product that might be desirably included in a beverage.

[0036] In some instances, it may be desirable for different components of a juicing system to be cooled or refrigerated in order to provide a chilled custom beverage.

Furthermore, cooling may aid in preserving the food matter contained in the juicer cartridges, which may be perishable. For example, a pressing chamber of a juicing system may be chilled in order to keep juicer cartridges which may be stored in the pressing chamber at a desired temperature while the juicer is idle. Depending on the embodiment, other elements of the juicer may be chilled. For example, the press may be chilled, including for example chilled pressing surfaces which can help to chill the food matter while it is compressed for juice extraction. In such an embodiment, chilled pressing surfaces may further aid in reducing any heat which is generated during the juicing process due to friction. Furthermore, various components of the supplemental liquid delivery system may be chilled such as a reservoir or internal plumbing/tubing.

[0037] While a refrigerated system is described above, it should be understood that juicing systems that do not include refrigeration, or include other means of cooling, are also contemplated as the disclosure is not so limited. For example, passive cooling techniques may involve the installation of pre-chilled materials such as ice packs into a juicing system. Alternatively, active cooling systems may be used to provide refrigeration including, but not limited to conventional refrigeration cycles, evaporative cooling, thermoelectric devices, magnetic refrigeration devices, or any other suitable device capable of removing heat from a system. Such cooling systems are disclosed in international application PCT/US2014/034676 filed Apr. 18, 2014, published as WO 2014/182423, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. [0038] Turning now to the figures, several nonlimiting embodiments are described in further detail. While specific embodiments are described below, it should be understood that the various components, systems, and methods of operation this described herein may be combined in any desirable fashion as the current disclosure is not so limited.

[0039] Fig. 1 depicts one exemplary embodiment of a juicing system 100. The juicing system includes a housing 102 that supports various components of the juicing system. A pressing chamber 104 is configured to press one or more associated juicer cartridges 300 containing food matter with one or more displaceable platens 106. Juice extracted from the food matter is dispensed from one or more outlets 108 into a suitable beverage container 120.

[0040] The juicing system 100 further comprises a supplemental liquid dispensing system 110 such that a juice beverage may be formed. The supplemental liquid dispensing system includes a pump 112 configured to convey an supplemental liquid ingredient 114 from a reservoir 116 to an outlet 118 of the supplemental liquid dispensing system; the supplemental liquid ingredient 114 is dispensed into the beverage container 120 where it may mix with extracted juice to form a custom beverage. The outlet 118 of the supplemental liquid dispensing system and reservoir 116 are fluidly connected via a suitable plumbing or tubing system (not depicted) which may be contained within the housing 102. As depicted in the figure, the beverage container 120 may be disposed within a dispensing area 122 which corresponds to any suitable configuration including a flat tray located beneath the pressing chamber outlet 106 and the beverage delivery system outlet 118.

[0041] The supplemental liquid dispensing system 110 further includes a temperature adjustment system 117 configured to change the temperature of the supplemental liquid ingredient 114. As described above, the temperature control system may include a cooling system and/or a heating system. For example, a cooling system may include solid state cooling system such as a Peltier cooler, a heat sink, a refrigeration system, a passive cooling system, or any other suitable system for reducing the temperature of a liquid. A heating system may include any suitable heating element. For example, a resistive heating element such as a wire disposed in or around the reservoir 116, or in any portion of the internal tubing or plumbing of the supplemental liquid dispensing system 110. In some embodiments, a temperature adjustment system may further include a temperature measurement device such as a thermometer, thermocouple, or thermistor to monitor the temperature of the supplemental liquid ingredient 114.

[0042] Fig. 2 depicts another embodiment of a juicing system 200 including a supplemental liquid dispensing system 210 suitable for use with a separate vessel 216 containing a supplemental liquid ingredient 114. For example, the vessel 216 may be a bottle or other similar container comprising the original packaging of the supplemental liquid ingredient 114. Tubing 218 is inserted into the vessel 216 and further coupled to the pump 112. Similar to the above described embodiment, the supplemental liquid dispensing system 210 may include a temperature adjustment system 117 and any suitable internal plumbing to provide fluid communication between the vessel 216 and the outlet 118 of the supplemental liquid dispensing system.

[0043] A juicing system 100 may also include a controller 124 as shown in the figures. The controller may correspond to any appropriate system including one or more processors, a computer, or other similar computing device. Additionally, these processing devices may be integrated with, externally connected, or remotely connected with the juicing system as the disclosure is not so limited. In either case, the controller is constructed to control various components and operation of the juicing system. For example, the controller 124 may be connected to a plurality of buttons, a touch screen, or other appropriate interface to enable a user to select one or more parameters of a custom beverage, such as the volume of extracted juice and supplemental liquid ingredients which are dispensed, or a particular ratio of juice to supplemental liquid ingredients. The controller may then operate the juicing system including controlling operation of the pressing chamber and/or supplemental liquid dispensing system to dispense an appropriate amount of juice and/or supplemental liquid ingredients to form a desired custom beverage. In some embodiments, the controller may further include a display arranged to provide information to a user such as the status of the system. A display may also aid in selecting appropriate parameters for juicing including the flavors of juicer cartridges, supplemental liquid ingredients, the ratio of juice to supplemental liquid ingredients, a particular recipe for a custom beverage including a predefined ratio of one or more types of juice and one or more supplemental liquid ingredients, or the desired beverage volume. [0044] Referring now to Fig. 3, an embodiment of a pressing chamber 104 is shown in more detail. The pressing chamber 104 is shaped and sized to receive one or more juicer cartridges 300. For simplicity, the embodiment depicted in Fig. 3 shows only a single juicer cartridge disposed in the pressing chamber. The pressing chamber 104 further includes a press corresponding to one or more displaceable platens 106 for applying pressure to the one or more juicer cartridges 300. For example, as depicted in the figures, a pair of opposing platens 106 may be displaced towards each other in directions Tl and T2 in order to apply a pressure to compress the one or more juicer cartridges located in the pressing chamber.

Pressure applied to the juicer cartridges by the platens is transmitted to the food matter contained therein to extract juice from the food matter. Depending on the embodiment, each of the platens 106 may be operatively connected to an arm 126 associated with a drive system such as an electric actuator, pneumatic actuator, hydraulic actuator, or other suitable actuator capable of imparting force to the opposing platens 106 to apply the desired juicing pressure. For example, a servo motor or stepper motor might be used in certain embodiments. In some embodiments, the motor may drive a cam or other suitable drive train to provide a mechanical advantage to press the juice cartridge.

[0045] While in the embodiments shown in the figures, the juicer cartridges and platens are depicted in an orientation in which the cartridges are compressed horizontally, other orientations of the juicer cartridges and pressing elements are also contemplated, as the disclosure is not so limited. For example, in one embodiment, one or more juicer cartridges could be arranged in a vertical stack within the pressing chamber and the associated press may compress the juicer cartridges in a vertical direction rather than a horizontal direction. Such an embodiment may be advantageous as it may allow for the use of a simpler configuration of pressing elements. For example, one element of a pressing device may comprise a stationary lower wall of a juicing chamber, and a second pressing element may be displaceable in a vertical direction towards the stationary lower wall. It should also be understood that while two platens have been depicted for applying the desired juicing pressure, a single platen, a bladder, or any other appropriate press, or presses, capable of applying pressure to one or more juicer cartridges either individually, or together, within a pressing chamber also may be used. [0046] Other arrangements, configurations, orientations, and/or suitable materials for a juice press and/or pressing chamber are also described in U.S. application no. 14/229,940 filed on Mar. 30, 2014, published as US 2014/0314918, and international application

PCT/US2014/034676 filed Apr. 18, 2014, published as WO 2014/182423, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0047] In the depicted embodiment, the pressing chamber 104 includes a lower chamber wall 128 that is constructed and arranged to at least partially support the one or more juicer cartridges 300 during juicing. For example, as depicted in Fig. 3, the wall 128 defines the bottom of the pressing chamber, and may include one or more openings corresponding to the one or more pressing chamber outlets 108 and supplemental liquid dispensing system outlets 118. The outlet of the pressing chamber 108 are sized and arranged to receive the juicer cartridge outlet 302. As depicted in the figures, the juicer cartridge outlet 302 may extend past the lower chamber wall 128 such that juice extracted from the juicer cartridge is dispensed without contacting the juicing chamber or other portions of the juicing system. Similarly, the supplemental liquid dispensing system outlet 118 may extend beyond the wall 128. Such a configuration may help to or minimize cleanup and/or prevent contamination of the juicing system. In some embodiments, a portion of the pressing chamber may be openable to allow used juicer cartridges to be removed after juicing. For example, the wall 128 may include a hinge or other appropriate mechanism to allow the juicing chamber to be opened. Alternatively, a juicing system may further include an internal bin into which used cartridges may be deposited after juicing, or any other appropriate mechanism to remove a used juicer cartridge from the pressing chamber as the disclosure is not so limited.

[0048] Fig. 4 depicts a schematic representation of another embodiment of a pressing chamber 104, which further includes a mixing chamber 130. The mixing chamber is arranged such that the juicer cartridge outlets 302 and supplemental liquid dispensing system outlets 118 are directed into the mixing chamber 130 so that extracted juice and supplemental liquid ingredients may mix before being dispensed out of the outlet 108. As noted above, such mixing may promote the formation of a more homogeneous custom beverage. Further, the mixing chamber 130 may combine the juice and supplemental liquid ingredients into a single outlet stream which may allow for easier and/or cleaner dispensing of a custom beverage. In some embodiments, the mixing chamber may include movable or static mixing devices to promote mixing of the juice and supplemental liquid ingredients. Mixing also may be promoted by the arrangement of the juicer cartridge outlets 302 and supplemental liquid dispensing system outlets 118. For example, the outlets 302 and 118 may be arranged such that the respective flows collide, create a vortex effect, create turbulence, or otherwise join in a manner to promote mixing. In some embodiments, the mixing chamber 130 may be removable for cleaning.

[0049] Referring now to Fig. 5, one embodiment of a juicer cartridge 300 capable of being used with the juicing systems described herein is described in more detail. As depicted in the figure, the juicer cartridge 300 includes an outer liquid impermeable layer 304, one or more inner liquid permeable layers 310, an inner cavity 306, and an outlet 302 which provides fluid communication between the inner cavity 306 and an exterior of the juicer cartridge. The outer liquid impermeable layer 304 may be made from any suitable material capable of providing desired design criteria such as sufficient structural integrity, protection from the outside environment, breathability, and tamper resistance. Further, the outer layer 304 may be sufficiently flexible so that it may be compressed during juicing without rupturing. In the figure, the outer layer is depicted as transparent to enable visualization of the inner liquid permeable layers 310. However, it is noted that the outer layer may, or may not be transparent, as the disclosure is not so limited. The one or more liquid permeable layers 310 are located within the outer liquid impermeable layer and at least partially, or fully, surround food matter 308 located within the inner cavity 306. In some embodiments the one or more liquid permeable layers may form one or more internal pouches that contain different types of food matter within the juicer cartridge. In instances where the internal pouches contain different food matter, the pouches may be sized to appropriately

accommodate the type and amount of food matter placed therein. Therefore, it should be understood that the compartments may have any appropriate size.

[0050] While the inner liquid permeable layer has been depicted as a pouch surrounding food, in other embodiments, the inner liquid permeable layer may simply be disposed between the food matter 308 and the outlet 302. Consequently, in such an embodiment, the juice extracted from the food matter will still be filtered prior to being dispensed from the outlet. [0051] The outer liquid impermeable layer may be made from any appropriate material. For example, the outer liquid impermeable layer may be made from an appropriate polymer (e.g. blended polyester-polyethylene, polypropylene, and others), metal foil, or any other appropriate material. Additionally, in some embodiments, it may be desirable to provide an outer layer made from a biodegradable and/or compostable material including, but not limited to, biodegradable plant-based polymers such as cellulose, cellophane, or polylactic acid.

[0052] Appropriate materials for the inner liquid permeable layers 310 for use with a juicer cartridge include, but are not limited to, a filtration membrane, a nonwoven filtration material, woven mesh, fabric filters, plates with appropriately sized holes or openings, combinations of the above, and other appropriate types of filters. Additionally, these liquid permeable layers may be made from any appropriate material including, for example, metals such as aluminum, polylactic acid, polypropylene fibers, and blended polyester-polyethylene to name a few. In one exemplary embodiment, a liquid permeable layer 310 may be made from a food-grade porous membrane comprising a plurality of pores of a desired size. Other possible embodiments for the one or more liquid permeable layers include aluminum or plastic meshes, cheesecloth, and paper filters. In view of the above, it should be understood that the one or more liquid permeable layers may correspond to any porous material including pores of a suitable size capable of filtering the juice extracted from a juicer cartridge.

[0053] The one or more liquid permeable layers 310 may have an appropriate filtration size selected according to the food matter contained in the juicer cartridge such that liquid can pass through the liquid permeable layers 310 while trapping pulp, seeds, pith, peel, and any other undesirable matter. By way of example, ginger may typically generate large, fibrous pulp matter that can be trapped by larger pores while still permitting the juice extracted from the ginger to pass through the membrane. In contrast, strawberries may be pressed into a pulp matter having small fibers and seeds, which requires a mesh filter with smaller pores to trap the seeds. While in some embodiments, a filtration size may be selected to remove substantially all of the solid material such as pulp from a juice, in some

embodiments, a filtration size of the liquid permeable layers may be selected to permit a certain portion of the solid materials to pass through. In instances where a juicer cartridge includes multiple types of food matter in separate pouches requiring different levels of filtration, a juicer cartridge 300 may include multiple liquid impermeable layers with different filtration sizes associated with the different types of food matter.

[0054] Other arrangements, configurations, orientations, and/or suitable materials for liquid impermeable layers and liquid permeable layers which may be used to make a juicer cartridge are also described in U.S. application no. 14/229,940 filed on Mar. 30, 2014, published as US 2014/0314918, and international application PCT/US2014/034676 filed Apr. 18, 2014, published as WO 2014/182423, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0055] In some embodiments, a juicer cartridge 300 may further include one or more additional compartments 312 contained within the outer liquid impermeable layer 304.

Depending on the embodiment, these one or more compartments may also be at least partially surrounded by the one or more liquid impermeable layers 304. Such compartments may contain additional ingredients such as flavorings, additives, dietary supplements such as protein supplements, vitamins, extracts, minerals, dried fruits, dried vegetables, nuts, herbs, freeze dried oils, spices, alcohol, and any other desired consumable substance. The compartments 312 may be constructed and arranged to be burstable such that they may release their contents and mix with the extracted juice when the liquid impermeable layer 204 is compressed during juicing.

[0056] Having described various components of a juicing system as well as a juicer cartridge, Fig. 6 depicts a schematic representation of a method 400 for using a juicing system to prepare a custom beverage. At block 402, a user may interact with a controller to select one or more desired beverage characteristics such as the desired beverage volume and a ratio of juice to supplemental liquid ingredients. One or more juicer cartridges are pressed in the pressing chamber of the juicing system at block 404 to extract juice from the food matter contained within the juicer cartridges. At block 406, the supplemental liquid dispensing system dispenses a desired volume of one or more supplemental liquid ingredients. As described above, the supplemental liquid dispensing system may dispense supplemental liquid ingredients at any suitable time, including before, after, or during any portion of the pressing of the one or more juicer cartridge (block 404). Furthermore, pressing of the juicer cartridge and dispensing of supplemental liquid ingredients may be performed in alternating, sequential, and/or partially or fully overlapping steps until a desired volume of a custom beverage is formed. A custom beverage is dispensed out of the suitable outlets of the juicing system at block 408, and at block 410, any used juicer cartridges are removed from the juicing chamber.

[0057] In some embodiments, a juicing system may include pre-programmed recipes for custom beverages including pre-defined ratios of volumes of specific juice flavors and supplemental liquid ingredients. For example, a user may select a recipe by interacting with a controller at block 402. The controller may provide instructions to the user, such as to provide particular flavors of juicer cartridges or supplemental liquid ingredients

corresponding to the selected recipe. The controller may then control the pressing of the juicer cartridges and dispensing of supplemental liquid ingredients (blocks 403 and 406) such that the dispensed custom beverage corresponds to the selected recipe. A juicing system also may include one or more presets of ratios of volumes of extracted juice to supplemental liquid ingredients which may, for example, correspond to a custom beverage with different concentrations of juice. For example, presets may correspond to custom beverages that are mostly juice, approximately equal parts juice and supplemental liquid ingredients, or mostly supplement liquid ingredients with a small amount of juice added as a flavoring. In some embodiments, a controller may be configured to further adjust the one or more preset ratios of volumes depending on the particular flavor of juice selected by a user.

[0058] As described above, in some embodiments, a juicing system may include a reader for reading information on an indicator disposed on a juicer cartridge. In such embodiments, a method for using a juicing system to prepare a custom beverage may further comprise reading information from the indicator. The method may further comprise adjusting one or more characteristics of a custom beverage, such as the ratio of the volume of extracted juice to the volume of supplemental liquid ingredients, based on the information read by the reader. In some embodiments, the reader may be connected to a controller such that the controller may control preparation of a custom beverage, as described above, in view of the information read by the reader.

[0059] In certain embodiments, a juicing system may further include one or more measuring devices configured to measure the quantity of liquid dispensed from a pressing chamber and/or a supplemental liquid dispensing system. A controller, as described above, may control aspects of the preparation of a custom beverage based on a measurement from the one or more measuring devices. For example, in one embodiment, a juicing system may include a flow rate measuring device arranged to measure the flow rate of juice extracted from one or more juicer cartridges. A controller may adjust the operation of a supplemental liquid dispensing system based on the measured flow rate such that a desired ratio of the volume of extracted juice to the volume of supplemental liquid ingredients volume is maintained during dispensing. Although a flow rate measuring system is described above, it should be understood that any measuring system capable of measuring the volume, mass, or any other suitable quantity of juice and/or supplemental liquid ingredients dispensed may be used, as the disclosure is not so limited.

[0060] Depending on the particular embodiment, a supplemental liquid dispensing system may be configured to dispense any suitable amount of a supplemental liquid ingredient. For example, as described above, a controller may control the operation of the supplemental liquid dispensing system in order to dispense a quantity of supplemental liquid ingredients corresponding to a desired ratio of ingredients or a particular recipe. In some embodiments, a supplemental liquid dispensing system may not be configured to dispense a particular volume, but may be configured to dispense an entire volume of supplemental liquid which may be provided by a user. For example, a user may provide a desired volume of supplemental liquid into a reservoir; during dispensing of the custom juice beverage, the supplemental liquid dispensing system may pump all of the liquid into a beverage container. The supplemental liquid dispensing system may detect when all of the liquid has been dispensed and subsequently stop operation, or alternatively, a user may manually stop operation of the supplemental liquid dispensing system.

[0061] In some embodiments, it may be desirable to control the extent to which a juicing system compresses a juicer cartridge. For example, in some embodiments, a juicing system may fully compress a juicer cartridge to extract as much juice as possible from the food matte contained within the juicer cartridge. In other embodiments, a juicing system may only partially compress a juicer cartridge. For example, a larger or "bulk" juicer cartridge may contain enough food matter for multiple servings of juice. In such embodiments, a juicing system may partially compress the larger cartridge to extract a portion of the juice from the food matter contained in the larger cartridge. The cartridge may subsequently be removed from the juicing system and stored for future use. In view of the above, it should be understood that a juicing system may be configured to extract any portion of the juice contained within a juicer cartridge.

[0062] Depending on the particular supplemental liquid ingredients used with a juicing system, it may be beneficial for a supplemental liquid dispensing system to have cleaning a function such that residue of supplemental liquid ingredients or any other contamination may be substantially removed between uses of the juicing system. For example, a juicing system may include a flushing mechanism configured to flush the supplemental liquid dispensing system with a cleaning or rinsing solution between uses. In some embodiments, a juicing system may have a separate reservoir for cleaning or rinsing fluid which may be pumped through the dispensing system. Alternatively, a user may put cleaning or rinsing fluid into a main reservoir for a cleaning cycle, or may provide a separate vessel containing cleaning or rinsing fluid in embodiments which do not include a reservoir. However, it should be understood that cleaning may not be required in some embodiments, such as those using certain supplemental liquid ingredients such as still or carbonated water which may not be prone to leaving any residue.

[0063] 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.