The apparatus includes a reservoir (2), a liquid source (1), a carbon dioxide source (12), a non-return valve (8), a carbonating vessel (7) to receive liquid from the reservoir (2) via the non-return valve (8), a gas inlet (15) to receive carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide source (12), and a dip tube (16) to withdraw carbonated liquid from the carbonating vessel. A pressure relief valve (20) vents gas from the carbonating vessel (7), and a dispense valve (18) controls the supply of carbonated liquid from the dip tube (16) to a dispense outlet (17). A charge control valve (14) controls the supply of carbon dioxide to the carbonating vessel (7). The apparatus has the following modes of operation-charge: the dispense valve (18) is held closed while the charge control valve (14) is opened to admit a charge of carbon dioxide into the carbonating vessel (7); dispense/refill: the dispense valve (18) is opened to dispense carbonated liquid while liquid flows into the carbonating vessel from the reservoir (2) via the non-return valve (8). The carbonated beverage can

NZ, OM, PA, PE, PG, PH, PL, PT, QA, RO, RS, RU, RW, SA, SC, SD, SE, SG, SK, SL, ST, SV, SY, TH, TJ, TM, TN, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, WS, ZA, ZM, ZW.

The invention relates to a method for producing a beverage in portions, wherein a beverage concentrate portion is mixed with a water portion, said water portion being mixed with carbon dioxide prior to being mixed with the beverage concentrate. The invention additionally relates to a device for producing a beverage in portions, wherein a beverage concentrate portion is mixed with a water portion, said water portion being mixed with carbon dioxide in a static mixer prior to being mixed with the beverage concentrate.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed herein to implement flexible bioreactor control systems. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a processor coupled to a memory, the processor programmed to determine whether the map value included in the process task object is a valid map value, the process task object to correspond to a task executed by a bioreactor, a control device or a measurement device of the bioreactor control system configuration, in response to determining the map value is a valid map value, decode the map value to identify the source location of a first input of the process task object, pull a value from the source location to update the input value of the process task object, and facilitate execution of the process task with the input value.

Systems and methods for reducing the overall current draw of a fluid mixture dispensing device are disclosed. A disclosed system includes a mixing area, a set of ingredient reservoirs, and a set of electromechanical valves. The set of electromechanical valves are in a one-to-one correspondence with the set of ingredient reservoirs, and fluidly connect the set of ingredient reservoirs and the mixing area during a respective set of dispense times. The system further includes a controller programmed to actuate at least two valves from the set of electromechanical valves to dispense, to the mixing area, at least two ingredients from the ingredient reservoirs associated with the at least two valves. The controller is programmed to actuate the at least two valves in sequence with partially overlapping dispense times and without overlapping opening times.

Proposed is a cartridge system (1) for producing a beverage, said cartridge system (1) being insertable into a beverage preparation machine (3), wherein: the cartridge system (1) includes a cartridge (2), which has a reservoir (6) filled with a beverage substance (7); and a cartridge receptacle (10) connected to the cartridge (2), said cartridge receptacle (10) having a mixing chamber (8) that can be fluidically connected to the reservoir (6); and including a fluid supply (12) that leads to the mixing chamber (8); the cartridge system (1) further comprising an identification means for identifying the cartridge system in the beverage preparation machine (3).

A flow sensor includes a fluid chamber configured to receive a fluid. A diaphragm assembly is configured to be displaced whenever the fluid within the fluid chamber is displaced. A transducer assembly is configured to monitor the displacement of the diaphragm assembly and generate a signal based, at least in part, upon the quantity of fluid displaced within the fluid chamber.

A water ejecting apparatus includes a case and a water ejection unit connected to the case. The water ejection unit includes a fixed cover connected to the case, having atop dead point and a bottom dead point, and including a lifting gear provided between the top dead point and the bottom dead point, a lifting cover movably coupled to the fixed cover, a lifting motor coupled to the lifting cover and a gear module interworking with the lifting motor and the lifting gear, a water ejection nozzle for ejecting water, a signal detecting unit that detects a frequency generation (FG) signal generated by the lifting motor during an operation of the lifting motor, and a controller configured to control the operation of the lifting motor upon determining that the lifting cover reaches the top dead point or the bottom dead point based on the FG signal.

A platform for onsite creation of consumable liquids is provided. The platform includes a liquid generating machine, a set of cubes, compatible bottles, and a user interface device. The platform effectively decentralizes the production consumable liquids, such as drinking waters, enhances the consumer's experience with a brand, significantly increases consumers' choices while simplifying the consumption process (buying the water, carrying it, getting rid of/recycling the plastic bottle, etc.). The platform includes customizable liquid generating recipes associated with the cubes that may be provided through a network or local database and a security feature that allows the authorization of users to generate and access controlled liquids.

A backblock includes a body with a cavity connected to an inlet and an outlet. A spindle is positioned with a first end within the cavity and a second end with a tab exterior of the body. A latching plate is configured for translative movement relative to the body. The latching plate includes a keyhole with a bore and a channel. The bore is dimensioned to receive the spindle and the channel is dimensioned to receive the tab. The latching plate has a first latch position proximate to the body and a second latch position spaced apart from the body. When the tab is in alignment with the channel, the latching plate can translate to the second latch position about the tab. When the tab is out of alignment with the channel, the tab retains the latching plate in the first latch position.

Systems and methods are provided for dispensing ice and at least one liquid, and related cleaning processes. In one embodiment, the system comprises an ice bin for storing a quantity of ice particles, a dispensing tube for carrying at least a first liquid, and a discharge chute in communication with a discharge outlet, wherein the discharge chute is disposed upstream of the discharge outlet. An outlet end of the dispensing tube is positioned within a portion of the ice bin at a location aligned above the discharge outlet. The ice particles and the first liquid are dispensed through the discharge outlet separately or at the same time.