A beverage-making apparatus includes a fermentation tank assembly including a fermentation tank having an opening formed therein and a fermentation tank cover configured to open and close the opening. The beverage-making apparatus also includes a refrigeration cycle apparatus including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. The refrigeration cycle apparatus is configured to circulate a refrigerant therethrough and to control a temperature of the fermentation tank as the evaporator is disposed at the fermentation tank. The beverage-making apparatus further includes a heat insulating wall surrounding both the fermentation tank and the evaporator.

A beverage-making apparatus includes a fermentation tank assembly including a fermentation tank having an opening formed therein and a fermentation tank cover configured to open and close the opening. The beverage-making apparatus also includes a refrigeration cycle apparatus including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. The refrigeration cycle apparatus is configured to circulate a refrigerant therethrough and to control a temperature of the fermentation tank as the evaporator is disposed at the fermentation tank. The beverage-making apparatus further includes a heat insulating wall surrounding both the fermentation tank and the evaporator.

A beverage-making apparatus includes a fermentation tank assembly including a fermentation tank having an opening formed therein and a fermentation tank cover configured to open and close the opening. The beverage-making apparatus also includes a refrigeration cycle apparatus including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. The refrigeration cycle apparatus is configured to circulate a refrigerant therethrough and to control a temperature of the fermentation tank as the evaporator is disposed at the fermentation tank. The beverage-making apparatus further includes a heat insulating wall surrounding both the fermentation tank and the evaporator.

An apparatus comprises a dispensing system and a sanitizing system. The apparatus has a dispensing mode and sanitizing mode. The dispensing system may comprise a first valve and at least one component, the at least one component having an inner surface. The first valve is opened to send a free-flowing material to the at least one component when the apparatus is in the dispensing mode. The first valve is closed when the apparatus is in the sanitizing mode. The sanitizing system comprises a processing unit having a discharge cell configured to initiate a cold plasma discharge in an air flow. A tank may be configured to receive the air flow from the discharge cell of the processing unit and expose water in the tank to the air flow for a time sufficient to provide dissolution of ozone from the air flow into the water and form ozone-containing water.

A water-dispensing device includes a cold water tank and a fill valve. The tank is in selective fluid communication with a water intake via the fill valve. The device further includes a cold dispensing valve, a spigot in selective fluid communication with the tank via the cold dispensing valve, an ozone generator in fluid communication with the tank, and a drip tray positioned beneath the spigot. The drip tray is in fluid communication with a drain via a drain hose. A controller is configured to perform a cleaning operation by: (i) activating the ozone generator to ozonate water stored in the tank, (ii) opening the cold dispensing valve to empty the tank by dispensing the ozonated water from the tank through the spigot and into the drip tray, and (iii) upon determining the tank is empty, opening the fill valve to refill the tank.

Systems and methods are disclosed herein that include providing a beverage dispensing machine with a cleaning system comprising a first water branch and a second water branch connected in fluid communication with a three-way valve, a cleaning supply connected in fluid communication with the second water branch via a pump, and a nozzle. The three-way valve may be operated in a dispensing mode to provide a flow of at least one of water and carbonated water through the first water branch and a flowpath of the three-way valve to the nozzle, and operated in a cleaning mode to provide a flow of a cleaner, and optionally a flow of at least one of water and carbonated water, through the second water branch and a secondary flowpath of the three-way valve to the nozzle to clean the nozzle and/or a drain of the beverage dispensing machine.

A system and method for the automated dispensing of bulk keg wine is provide having, in combination: integrated temperature control; pressure monitoring; automated purging; and integrated point of sale data acquisition for determining inventory usage statistics for each keg of wine dispensed. The system provides for precise measurement of each portion. An error alarm system warns an operator about beverage tank low level. A system for forcing the flashing of poor quality beverage. Recording of all delivery process events allows for operator or management review and control.

Bottom-loading bottled water dispensers are disclosed that include hot water sanitizing capabilities (and, optionally, UV light sanitizing features). The dispensers include a water bottle that is operably connected to a pump that is configured to extract water from the bottle and force the water through one or more tubes and into a cold tank. The cold tank includes an evaporator that is configured to chill the water in the cold tank. The dispensers further include a hot tank that is fluidly coupled to the cold tank through one or more tubes, with the hot tank being attached to a heating element that is configured to heat the water in the hot tank. In addition, the dispensers include an electronic control board that is configured to heat a volume of water contained in the cold tank above a defined threshold temperature and for a defined period of time that is effective to sanitize the internal surfaces of the cold tank.

The present invention provides acidic or basic cleaning compositions for use in cleaning food and beverage industry processing equipment and pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry processing equipment wherein the compositions of the invention comprise a food-equipment-safe acidic or basic cleaning compound and a food-equipment-safe colorimetric indicator of pH to show the desired acid or basic conditions during storage prior to the start of a cleaning cycle and after storage and during a cleaning cycle. The cleaning compositions of the invention are particularly useful in, for example, CIP cleaning processes.

A drinking water dispenser includes a cold water tank and a hot water tank. A cold water outlet pipeline connects the cold water tank to a cold water outlet. A hot water outlet pipeline connects the hot water tank to a hot water outlet. A first pipeline connects an inlet pipeline to the cold water tank. A circulation pump circulates hot water in a disinfection mode. The first pipeline is connected to the cold water tank through a vertical pipe installed in the cold water tank with an open upper end. A second pipeline connects the inlet pipeline to the hot water tank. A circulation pipeline connects the hot water outlet pipeline to the cold water outlet pipeline. A check valve is installed in the circulation pipeline allowing water to flow only from the hot water outlet pipeline to the cold water outlet pipeline.