A water purifier that includes: a main body including: a filter unit, a cooling unit, and a heating unit; a first water tube through which water purified by the filter unit or water cooled by the cooling unit passes; a second water tube through which water heated by the heating unit passes; a water discharge unit that protrudes from a portion of the main body; and a water discharge cork (i) that downwardly protrudes from the water discharge unit, (ii) that is coupled to the first water tube and the second water tube, and (iii) that is configured to discharge water purified by the filter unit or water cooled by the cooling unit in a first stream and discharge water heated by the heating unit in a second stream, wherein the first stream is separated from the second stream is disclosed.

A beverage tap installation includes a tap housing defining an inner cavity and a tap head defining a liquid channel having an inlet, outlet, and a valve receiving slot. The tap head includes a valve actuator and a valve actuator operating mechanism. A removable flexible dispense tube has a beverage inlet and outlet, the flexible dispense tube includes a liquid valve lodged in the valve receiving slot and cooperates with the valve actuator. A locking mechanism allows removably mounting the tap head on the tap housing. The flexible dispense tube includes an abutment surface in proximity of the valve and the tap installation having an engaging member on the tap head or the tap installation and abutting the dispense tube when the valve is lodged in the valve receiving slot. The tap head is mounted on the tap housing and the engaging member is provided on the tap housing.

A pressurized beverage dispenser having a beverage container and a cap. The cap includes a cap body, a compressed-gas cartridge, an external straw, a discharge chamber, a metering valve, a diaphragm, and an actuator. The discharge chamber within the cap body is in fluid communication with an internal passageway of the external straw. The metering valve allows a flow of beverage from the beverage container to the discharge chamber when the metering valve is open and substantially precludes the flow of beverage when the metering valve is closed. The diaphragm opens the metering valve when the diaphragm is activated and closes the metering valve when the diaphragm is deactivated. The diaphragm also activates when a user sucks on the outlet end of the external straw to create suction within the discharge chamber. The actuator on the cap body activates the diaphragm when the user manually engages the actuator.

A method and apparatus of filing beverage combines pressurized beverage delivery (rather than gravity feed) with variable pressure control of the gas flow from the can during snift. By modulating beverage flow and especially pressure, it is possible to saturate a beverage, or optionally fill a can's widget with gas with a shorter set of fill steps. In addition, the speed of beverage filling can be dramatically increased compared to small scale systems normally used. Unlike known large scale pressure systems, the beverage bowl may be located beneath the rest of the apparatus and modulated pressure may be used, making for a smaller and more portable unit.

A beer dispensing faucet is configured to be attached to a shank connector. The shank connector has a connecting member and an internal passageway having an outlet opening positioned within the connecting member. The dispensing faucet has a housing defining a central conduit having an inlet opening and an outlet opening. The housing defines a valve seat in the central conduit and further has an aperture in communication with the central conduit. The inlet opening is dimensioned to correspond in size to the outlet opening of the internal passageway and further configured to be positioned in confronting relation to the outlet opening of the internal passageway. The housing has a connecting member configured to cooperate and connect to the connecting member of the shank connector. A valve stem is positioned in the aperture. The valve stem has a first position wherein the valve stem is engaged with valve seat to define a closed faucet position. The valve stem has a second position away from the valve seat to define an open faucet position.

A material dispensing device, a material output volume detecting device, and a related damper device for use in an automated beverage preparation apparatus are disclosed. The material output volume detecting device includes: a damper device arranged to operably buffer liquid material flowing therethrough; and a flowmeter arranged to operably measure the flow of liquid material outputted from the damper device. The damper device includes: a damper base having a material entrance hole, a material exit hole, and a material buffer chamber positioned between the material entrance hole and the material exit hole; a diaphragm covered on the material buffer chamber; and a fastening element positioned on the diaphragm and having a hollow portion. When the volume of liquid material within the material buffer chamber exceeds a predetermined amount, the diaphragm deforms to protrude outward, so that a part of the diaphragm enters the hollow portion of the fastening element.

A system and method for dispensing fluids is introduced. A preferred embodiment comprises a sealed tank, a bag containing fluid inside the sealed tank, an outlet for dispensing the liquid in the bag, and a pressure generating device to create pressure in the sealed tank.

A damper device for use in an automated beverage preparation apparatus is disclosed. The damper device includes: a damper base having a material entrance hole, a material exit hole, and a material buffer chamber positioned between the material entrance hole and the material exit hole; a diaphragm covered on the material buffer chamber; and a fastening element positioned on the diaphragm and having a hollow portion. When the volume of liquid material within the material buffer chamber exceeds a predetermined amount, the diaphragm deforms to protrude outward, so that a part of the diaphragm enters the hollow portion of the fastening element.

A material output volume detecting device for use in an automated beverage preparation apparatus is disclosed. The material output volume detecting device includes: a damper device arranged to operably buffer liquid material flowing therethrough; and a flowmeter arranged to operably measure the flow of liquid material outputted from the damper device. The damper device includes: a damper base having a material entrance hole, a material exit hole, and a material buffer chamber positioned between the material entrance hole and the material exit hole; a diaphragm covered on the material buffer chamber; and a fastening element positioned on the diaphragm and having a hollow portion. When the volume of liquid material within the material buffer chamber exceeds a predetermined amount, the diaphragm deforms to protrude outward, so that a part of the diaphragm enters the hollow portion of the fastening element.

A damper device for use in an automated beverage preparation apparatus is disclosed. The damper device includes: a damper base having a material entrance hole, a material exit hole, and a material buffer chamber positioned between the material entrance hole and the material exit hole; a diaphragm covered on the material buffer chamber; and a fastening element positioned on the diaphragm and having a hollow portion. When the volume of liquid material within the material buffer chamber exceeds a predetermined amount, the diaphragm deforms to protrude outward, so that a part of the diaphragm enters the hollow portion of the fastening element.