Proposed is a cartridge system for making a beverage, the cartridge system being insertable into a beverage preparation machine and comprising a cartridge that includes a reservoir filled with a beverage substance; and a cartridge receptacle; the cartridge receptacle includes a mixing chamber fluidically connectable to the reservoir, and a fluid feed line extending into the mixing chamber; characterized in that the cartridge system comprises an intermediate cap, the cartridge includes a first connection means, the intermediate cap includes a first mating connection means that is complementary to the first connection means, and the first mating connection means is connected to the first connection means.

A flavorant container for use in a beverage system is provided. The flavorant container can be retained by a beverage system to dispense flavorant, which can be mixed with carbonated and/or uncarbonated water. In one embodiment, the flavorant container includes a container, a cap, and one or more features located on the cap. The features can include an inlet that is able to receive pressurized air, and an outlet that is able to dispense a flavorant when the inlet receives the pressurized air. The features can also include at least one raised protrusion that is capable of being retained by a complimentary pattern located on a beverage system in order to properly seat the flavorant container in the beverage system.

Proposed is a cartridge system for making a beverage, the cartridge system being insertable into a beverage preparation machine and comprising: a cartridge that includes a reservoir filled with a beverage substance; and a cartridge receptacle connected to the cartridge; the cartridge receptacle includes a mixing chamber fluidically connectable to the reservoir, and a fluid feed line extending into the mixing chamber; the cartridge includes a cartridge wall, and the cartridge system includes a sealing element for closing the reservoir; characterized in that a seal between the cartridge and the cartridge receptacle is formed by a sealing means.

The invention relates to a cartridge receiver (10) for producing a drink (70) using a cartridge (2) that comprises a reservoir (6) filled with a drink substance (7), it being possible to insert the cartridge receiver (10) into a drink preparation machine (3) and connect it to the cartridge (2), wherein the cartridge receiver (10) comprises a mixing chamber (8) that can be brought into fluidic connection with the reservoir (6), and a fluid supply (12) that opens into the mixing chamber (8). The invention is characterised in that the cartridge receiver (10) comprises a mandrel guide (80) and a puncturing mandrel (73) that is displaceably mounted within said mandrel guide (80), wherein the puncturing mandrel (73) can be displaced between a retracted position in which said puncturing mandrel (73) is positioned at a distance from a sealing element (18) of the cartridge (2), and an extended position in which said puncturing mandrel (73) pierces the sealing element (18) and projects into the reservoir (6). The outer wall of the puncturing mandrel (73) comprises at least one lateral channel (71) for conducting the drink substance (7) in the direction of the mixing chamber (8) when the sealing element (18) has been pierced.

The invention relates to a dispenser having a cartridge holder.

The disclosure generally relates to an automated modular dispensing platform for creating customized beverages (e.g., using various sauces, syrups, sweeteners, colors and/or flavors added to a base beverage). The automated dispensing platform may simultaneously aggregate beverage modifiers or ingredients (e.g., sweetener, flavor, and/or color) and facilitate automated, efficient cleaning cycles for modular beverage dispensers.

A cartridge and an associated beverage mixture dispensing system are disclosed. The cartridge is detachable from the associated beverage mixture dispensing system. The cartridge includes a casing and at least twenty ingredient reservoirs located within the casing and storing at least twenty respective ingredients. The cartridge also includes a dispensing interface for dispensing the at least twenty ingredients into the beverage mixture dispensing system. The at least twenty ingredient reservoirs include a first reservoir of a concentrated salt and a second reservoir of a concentrated food grade acid. The remaining ingredient reservoirs include additional concentrated ingredients. The beverage mixture dispensing system includes a solvent reservoir and a receiving interface for receiving the at least twenty ingredients from the cartridge. The beverage mixture dispensing system also includes a mixing area fluidly connected to the solvent reservoir and the at least twenty ingredient reservoirs.

Systems and methods for sanitizing a fluid mixture dispensing system are disclosed. One system comprises at least one reservoir for storing a substance, a mixing area, and a controller. The controller is programmed to cause the system to execute a mixing cycle and a cleaning cycle. During the mixing cycle the substance is dispensed from the at least one reservoir to the mixing area to prepare an ingestible fluid mixture. During the cleaning cycle, the substance is dispensed from the at least one reservoir to the mixing area to sanitize the mixing area.

The invention relates to a dispenser having a cartridge holder.

A fluid mixture dispensing system using a membrane to seal multiple reservoirs is disclosed. The multiple reservoirs each contain a respective ingredient. The reservoirs are coupled to respective orifices in a plate. The respective ingredients are dispensable via the respective orifices. The membrane seals the respective orifices. The ingredients are dispensed into one or more channels formed between the membrane and the plate. In specific embodiments, the membrane is an integral part of a cartridge which contains the multiple reservoirs. In specific embodiments, the cartridge includes an inlet and an outlet. A solvent flows from the inlet to the outlet through the one or more channels, and the ingredients are dispensed into the solvent in the one or more channels.