The present invention relates to a coupling device (1) for connection to a flexible container (3) comprising a plastic foil for dispense of food product (2) in fluid form out of the same, comprising an outlet valve (10) with a first end comprising at least one hole-creating part (11) for penetration of the container on connection to the same and a through-flow channel (20) which merges into a second end for further transfer of food product.

A portable, self-contained beverage apparatus includes a container assembly having a known storage capacity for storing a consumable liquid, and a dispensing assembly disposed within the container assembly that dispenses variable, non-zero quantities of additives into the consumable liquid. The dispensing assembly includes multiple apertures structured and arranged to retain vessels containing the additives to be dispensed into the consumable liquid. The beverage apparatus also includes a level sensor disposed within the container assembly that determines a consumable liquid level of the consumable liquid stored in the container assembly. In certain embodiments, one or more positive displacement pumping mechanisms are configured to pump additive liquid from additive containers into a beverage chamber.

Methods for treating and preparing chocolate. In one aspect, a method includes heating a quantity of chocolate to a temperature of about 46 degrees Celsius; decreasing the pressure of in a pressure-controllable environment to about 25 Torr; holding the pressure of the pressure-controllable environment at about 25 Torr for a first predetermined period of time; decreasing the pressure of the pressure-controllable environment to about 5 Torr; and holding the pressure of the pressure-controllable environment at about 5 Torr for a second predetermined period of time. Other aspects include ceasing heating the quantity of chocolate; decreasing pressure occurs at an average rate of about 150 Torr per minute; decreasing pressure occurs at an average rate of about 4 Torr per minute; and others.

An automatic smoothie machine having three vertical heating plates arranged in a sequential parallel manner creating a pair of food cartridge cavities. The two outer heating plates are movable and the middle heating plate is stationary. The two outer heating plates configured to provide cyclic pressure to the pair of food cartridge. Each of the pair of food cartridges are maintained within each of the pair of food cartridge cavities in a manner to allow the pre-cut dispensing end to be arranged along a bottom portion of each of the pair of food cartridge cavities in order to allow the volume of food matter to be ejected downwards. At least one sensor configured to detect dispensing of the volume of food matter and terminate the operation of the automatic smoothie machine.

Various aspects of the invention described herein relate to a removable connector assembly, and methods of use and manufacture thereof. More particularly, certain embodiments relate to apparatus and methods to provide a connection to a spout disposed upon a container, such as upon a bag holding fluid. Embodiments of connector assemblies comprise an elongated outer housing, an inner housing, and a slider assembly for moving the outer surface of the sleeve member over the inner surface of the outer housing wall in a lengthwise motion to position the spout connector upon the spout and secure the spout connector in said position.

A water purifier includes a main body including a water supply pipe provided therein and a water chute connected to the main body to discharge drinking water. The water chute is capable of rotating about the main body in a left and right direction and has a length adjustable in a forward and backward direction and an upward and downward direction.

Provided is a portable, self-contained beverage apparatus. The beverage apparatus includes a container assembly having a known storage capacity for storing a consumable liquid, and a dispensing assembly disposed within the container assembly that dispenses variable, non-zero quantities of additives into the consumable liquid. The dispensing assembly includes multiple apertures structured and arranged to retain vessels containing the additives to be dispensed into the consumable liquid. The beverage apparatus also includes a level sensor disposed within the container assembly that determines a consumable liquid level of the consumable liquid stored in the container assembly.

A storage container for a cylindrical tube of viscous construction material includes a body dimensioned to receive a cylindrical tube of viscous construction material. A nozzle enclosure is attached to a top end of the body and is dimensioned to receive a nozzle of a cylindrical tube of viscous construction material. A plug is positioned in the nozzle enclosure and dimensioned to fit into an inner diameter of the nozzle of the cylindrical tube of viscous construction material. A gasket is positioned between the body and the nozzle that substantially prevents air in the body from entering into the nozzle enclosure. A base seals the cylindrical tube of viscous construction material in the body.

A system and method enabling superior preserved storage, preservation, and management of selective dispensation of beverages (e.g., wine), by storing the beverages in a pressurized environment, and then by selectively dispensing a portion of the stored beverage, in accordance with a desired dispensing regime, by utilizing a controlled source of pressure force to apply a sufficient pressure to the pressurized environment to expel the desired volume of the beverage in a pressurized stream directed to a remote dispensing/pouring interface through a liquid delivery system. In at least one embodiment, the system and method are configured for use with compressible wine-in-bag (WinB) product containers placed into at least one pressurized chamber and interfaced with a liquid delivery system. Advantageously, the system and method are scalable from use in conjunction with a single WinB product, to a large electronically-controlled beverage dispensing infrastructure implementation operable to interface with various hospitality management systems.

The inventive system and method advantageously enable superior preserved storage and selective dispensation of liquids by storing wine (or other liquids) in a pressurized environment to ensure that the stored liquid does not come into contact with air, and then by selectively dispensing a portion of the stored liquid, in accordance with a desired dispensing regime, by utilizing a controlled source of pressure force to apply a sufficient pressure to the pressurized environment to expel the desired volume of the liquid in a pressurized stream directed to a dispensing/pouring interface through a conduit or equivalent delivery system. In at least several novel embodiments thereof, the system and method of the present invention are configured for use with wine-in-bag (WinB) products.