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.

The present system generally relates to a fluid flow system where a controller and motor pump assemblies are used to optimize the control of fluid flow through the system. The controller samples the back electromotive force of the motor and pump assemblies and is able to utilize the sampled back electromotive force in conjunction with predefined target back electromotive force values, preferably empirically determined and tuned to an induvial motor and for a select fluid, to tune the voltage applied to the system, control the back electromotive force of the system and, by extension, control the flow of fluid.

A system for dispensing beverages into a receptacle controls both the dispense flow rate of a carbonated beverage and also uses bottom filling of the receptacle to limit entrainment and bubble formation during the dispense process. More particularly, the present application provides for using two separate flow paths for dispensing beverage with a first path employed initially for a low flow rate and a second path employed thereafter to fill the receptacle.

The present system generally relates to a fluid flow system where a controller and motor pump assemblies are used to optimize the control of fluid flow through the system. The controller samples the back electromotive force of the motor and pump assemblies and is able to utilize the sampled back electromotive force in conjunction with predefined target back electromotive force values, preferably empirically determined and tuned to an individual motor and for a select fluid, to tune the voltage applied to the system, control the back electromotive force of the system and, by extension, control the flow of fluid.

A removable reservoir water dispensing system which includes a water dispenser body with a built-in water reservoir and a coupling for connecting a removable water reservoir to the built-in reservoir. A drainage pipe, through which water is drained from the built-in reservoir, extends through a bottom of the built-in reservoir. The drainage pipe has a first end and a second end. The second end is connected to a dispensing faucet on the water dispenser body. The first end extends vertically into the built-in water reservoir for at least one third of a height of the built-in water reservoir. Water in the built-in water reservoir, positioned below the first end of the drainage pipe, is unable to pass through the drainage pipe to the dispensing faucet and is always resident in the built-in water reservoir at a pre-set dispensing temperature.

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.

A fermentation and aging apparatus may include a fermentation tank defining an accommodation space in which a beverage is accommodated, a refrigerant cycle device configured to cool the fermentation tank and the beverage, a temperature sensor mounted on an outer circumferential surface of the fermentation tank, and a controller configured to control driving of the refrigerant cycle device based on a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor and a predetermined storage temperature, check a remaining amount of the beverage accommodated in the fermentation tank, and reset a storage temperature of the beverage when the checked remaining amount is lower than a predetermined reference amount.

A method of controlling operation of a beverage dispenser, includes the following steps: selecting a water recipe from a plurality of water recipes, wherein each water recipe defines a set concentration of minerals to be solved in the water and wherein the water is mineralized based on the water recipe by adding minerals by a mineralization device; verifying, whether the user is allowed to adjust a user adjustable a property of the water to be mineralized by the mineralization device according to water recipe, wherein the user adjustable property comprises at least one of a set temperature of the water to be mineralized and a set carbonization of the water to be mineralized; preparing the water by at least one water preparation element according to the user adjustable property; and outputting the mineralized water to a user vessel; and further includes at least one of the following steps: activating on a display a temperature user interface element for adapting the temperature of the water to be mineralized in a predetermined temperature range, if the user is allowed to adapt the set temperature within the predetermined temperature range; and activating on the display a carbonization user interface element for adapting the set carbonization of the water to be mineralized in a predetermined CO2 concentration range, if the user is allowed to adapt the set carbonization within the predetermined CO2 concentration range.

A beverage dispensing device prepares and dispenses a beverage. The dispensing device includes a housing which has a beverage unit with a liquid inlet and a beverage outlet. The beverage unit has a receiver for at least one container containing a unit dose of concentrated beverage ingredient to be dispensed, and an ingredient discharge. The beverage unit has a liquid line. The liquid line first section extends from the base liquid inlet to a receiver liquid inlet to guide base liquid into the unit dose of beverage ingredient through the beverage discharge into the liquid line second section that extends from the ingredient discharge to the beverage outlet. A mixing chamber is defined in the liquid line. Temperature regulator is provided in the mixing chamber or the mixing chamber comprises an inlet for pressurized fluid for expanding the fluid in the mixing chamber.

Supply chain systems and methods are disclosed for monitoring fluid levels in liquid containers, such as kegs. Embodiments include sensors that fit within a keg's false bottom, measure the weight of the keg, and transmit the weight information to a computer database via a wireless network. Other embodiments include an RFID device with information about a characteristic of the liquid within a keg (such as brand and/or type of beer) that may be attached to the keg and paired with the sensor so the sensor can transmit information about the characteristic of the liquid in the keg. In alternate embodiments, the sensor's transmitter is short range and an uplink/gateway is used to receive information from the sensor and relay that sensor's information to a broader wireless network. Multiple containers in close proximity may each be fitted with an RFID device and sensor and communicate their individual information to the database.