The present invention relates to a method, apparatus and universal container for natural carbonation of beverages, which will be used in the food industry, in particular in the production of beer, sparkling wines and carbonated fruit drinks. The method of naturally occurring carbonation of beverages involves the operations of feeding with fermenting substrate, adding water, adding yeast, fermenting the resulting liquid mixture. The fermentation is carried out in a specialized container at an optimum temperature of 8° C. to 23° C., depending on the yeast species. The fermentation process lasts for 3 to 4 days and is accompanied by an increase in container pressure to 2 bar.

A system for dispensing fluid. The system includes a fluid cartridge having a fluid outlet spout, a carbonated fluid outlet, a still water outlet, and a non-contact drop sensor for detecting a number of drops dispensed from the fluid outlet spout. The fluid outlet spout, the carbonated fluid outlet, and the still water outlet are configured to dispense fluid into a beverage vessel.

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 new and improved touchless flowable product dispenser which is to be utilized to reduce the amount of bacteria and germs transmitted when a customer wishes to dispense a flowable product, such as, for example, various condiments into a container. This invention allows large quantities of the flowable product to be stored and dispensed without customer contact, thereby reducing the risk of germ and bacteria transmission inside of a restaurant, particularly during infectious disease events or calendar seasons.

A tank having an integrated insulation structure includes a tank body having an accommodating space formed therein; a foamed case surrounding the outer peripheral surface of the tank body; and a foamed insulation material formed by a foaming agent expanding after being introduced into a space between the outer peripheral surface of the tank body and the foamed case. The foamed insulation material is integrated with the tank body and the foamed case through foaming, the foamed case includes a plurality of parts surrounding the tank body, and at least some of the plurality of parts having a structure manufactured in a planar figure shape to be foldable thereafter so as to correspond to the exterior of the tank body.

Containers are provided for use with a beverage dispensing device. The container can include a container body defining a hollow interior and a cap. The cap can have an end wall with a first collar and a second collar projecting therefrom, and first and second recesses surrounding the first and second collars and formed in a surface of the end wall. The first collar has an inlet valve therein, and the second collar has an outlet valve therein, and the first and second collars are spaced apart from one another.

A flavorant container for use in a beverage system is provided. The flavorant container can be retained by a beverage system to dispense flavorant, which can be mixed with carbonated and/or uncarbonated water. In one embodiment, the flavorant container includes a container, a cap, and one or more features located on the cap. The features can include an inlet that is able to receive pressurized air, and an outlet that is able to dispense a flavorant when the inlet receives the pressurized air. The features can also include at least one raised protrusion that is capable of being retained by a complimentary pattern located on a beverage system in order to properly seat the flavorant container in the beverage system.

The present invention relates to a bottom chime for a beverage keg. The bottom chime is configured to be push fitted onto the keg, and to subsequently be removable from the keg, for example to enable recycling of the bottom chime separately to the keg. The bottom chime comprises a plurality of inwardly extending engagement elements that are configured to form a snap fit engagement with a corresponding plurality of recesses provided in the body of the keg.

The invention relates to a cartridge system (1) for producing a bever-age (70), wherein the cartridge system (1) can be introduced into a beverage preparation machine (3). The invention also relates to a cartridge (2) which comprises a reservoir (6) filled with a beverage substance (7) and to a cartridge receiving region (10) connected to the cartridge (2). The cartridge receiving region (10) has a mixing chamber (8) which can be fluidically connected to the reservoir (6) and a fluid feed line (12) which opens into the mixing chamber (8). The mixing chamber (8) has a beverage discharge (11), through which the beverage (70) made of the mixture of the beverage substance (7) and the fluid supplied by the fluid feed line (12) in the mixing chamber (8) is dispensed, said beverage discharge (11) comprising a tubular line piece (30). The invention is characterized in that the line piece (30) is designed such that the main extension direction (31) of the line piece (30) runs at an angle α (33) to the longitudinal axis (32) of the cartridge (2).

What is proposed is a cartridge system (1) for producing a beverage (70), wherein the cartridge system (1) can be inserted into a beverage preparation machine (3) and has a cartridge (2), which comprises a reservoir (6) filled with a beverage substance (7), and a cartridge receptacle (10), which is connected to the cartridge (2), wherein the cartridge receptacle (10) has a mixing chamber (8), which can be fluidically connected to the reservoir (6), and a fluid supply line (12), which opens into the mixing chamber (8), wherein, furthermore, the cartridge (2) is manufactured at least in part from aluminum. Also proposed is a method for producing this cartridge system (1).