The present invention relates to a water filter cartridge, with a housing and a flow path for air for ventilating a water tank storing water to be processed by the water filter cartridge. The latter is distinguished in that the flow path has a first water barrier.

An electrically operated beverage maker, in particular electrically operated coffee machine, having at least one component which is subjected to wear and tear and hence maintenance-relevant, wherein at least one load parameter which characterises an actual wear and tear of the maintenance-relevant component can be determined, and in that at least one reliability parameter of the maintenance-relevant component can be calculated, taking into account the specific load parameter(s) of the maintenance-relevant component.

A portable drinking water filter system, such as a pitcher, having a sleeve and a floatable body including a filter opening configured to receive a water filter, the floatable body having a seal extending outward from an outer surface of the floatable body. The floatable body is disposed in a sleeve cavity such that a body seal engages the sidewall and restricts water from passing between the floatable body and the sidewall. The seal is configured to create friction with the sidewall, wherein the friction created when the floatable body rises in the sleeve is different than when the floatable body lowers in the sleeve. The friction created when the floatable body rises in the sleeve is greater than when the floatable body lowers in the sleeve, allowing the floatable body to auto-retract toward a cavity base without burping.

Described herein includes sample liquid purification apparatus, systems, and techniques of use. The purification apparatus generally can operate to reduce a temperature of a precursor liquid within a beverage machine or appliance. For example, a thermally conductive body can define a heat sink having a tortuous path for propagation of the precursor therethough, facilitating temperature reduction. The purification apparatus can further generally operate to sanitize or otherwise reduce a level of contaminants in the precursor liquid. For example, an energy source, such as a light emitting diode, can be arranged or integrated with the thermally conductive body to emit ultraviolet radiation toward the precursor liquid within the thermally conductive body.

A drinks preparation machine for preparing a drink can be operated in multiple operational modes and includes a liquid container, a drinks preparation device for preparing the drink using a liquid, at least one fluid line which is connected to the liquid container and drinks preparation device, a receiving device for receiving a liquid filter in a predetermined filter position, a sensor for detecting a liquid filter, and a control device which controls a supply of a liquid from the liquid container into the fluid line. The control device is designed to prompt a liquid to be supplied into the at least one fluid line as a function of the signal of the sensor. In at least one of the operational modes, the liquid supply can be prompted independently of whether a liquid filter is placed in the predetermined filter position, and in at least one other of the operational modes, the liquid supply cannot be prompted when a liquid filter is placed in the predetermined filter position.

A fluid treatment system is provided, comprising a capacitive deionization (CapDI) system for removing dissolved solids from a fluid. A controller is arranged in a closed feedback loop with the CapDI system to verify whether measured conductivity of the fluid corresponds to a set point conductivity value, and if the measured conductivity of the fluid does not correspond to the set point conductivity value, adjust the operation of the CapDI system to match the set point conductivity value. A pump selectively pressurizes the fluid such that purified fluid is at a pressure greater than line pressure of the fluid treatment system. An accumulator provided downstream of the CapDI system maintains the purified fluid at a pressure greater than the line pressure and intermittently delivers purified fluid to a use device. The purified fluid stored in the accumulator comprising chlorine and or chloramine so as to reduce microbial growth when stored in the accumulator.

A dispensing apparatus for dispensing a beverage preparation ingredient from a pod. The dispensing apparatus comprises a pod support region configured to support a pod, an actuator configured to engage with a corresponding actuator engagement region of the pod, and a rotation mechanism for rotating the pod. The apparatus is configured to cause the actuation member to cause an opening to be formed in a pod supported by the pod support region. The apparatus is further configured to cause the rotation mechanism to cause the pod to rotate about an axis of rotation during a dispensing operation, so as to cause the beverage preparation ingredient to be released from the pod via said opening.

The present invention is directed to a water-hardness reducing apparatus (100) for reducing the formation of chalk deposits in a water supply (101) adapted to be coupled with a beverage generating apparatus (103), comprising, a cation exchange element (107), which is in fluidic connection with a water source (105) of the water supply (101) for supplying water, wherein the cation exchange element (107) is adapted to remove cations from the supplied water to obtain cation reduced water, a first pH sensor (109), which is positioned downstream of the cation exchange element (107), wherein the first pH sensor (109) is adapted to assess a first pH value of the cation reduced water, a lye supplying element (113), which is positioned downstream of the cation exchange element (107), wherein the lye supplying element (113) is adapted to supply lye to the cation reduced water, and a controller (111), which is connected to the first pH sensor (109) and to the lye supplying element (113), wherein the controller (111) is configured to activate the lye supplying element (113) for supplying lye to the cation reduced water, depending on the assessed first pH value of the cation reduced water.

A water container for a beverage making machine includes side walls and a bottom, whereon there is a connecting union to the beverage making machine. The connecting union of the water container includes two apertures for water, where one aperture is an outlet aperture and the other aperture is an inlet aperture.

A system, apparatus and method are provided for preparing water for human consumption. Water from a public or other source is input to the system or apparatus and is filtered internal or external to the system/apparatus. A temperature adjustment may be applied, such as cooling or heating the water to a specific or approximate temperature. One or more water enhancements may be added to the water, in specified amounts or proportions. Enhancements potentially include flavoring agents, sweeteners, vitamins, nutrients, minerals, carbonation, and so on. A given combination of enhancements and corresponding amounts, and possibly other characteristics (e.g., the temperature, a quantity of water to prepare), may be saved as a recipe. The system, apparatus and method operate in association with an application or online service for creating, sharing, and preparing recipes.