Systems, methods and cartridges for carbonating or otherwise dissolving gas in a precursor liquid, such as water, to form a beverage. Carbonating gas can be provided to a tank via the tank outlet, thereby purging at least a portion of a dispense line leading from the tank to a dispensing station. A single pump may be used to deliver liquid to the tank, e.g., for carbonation, and to pump pressurized air to dispense liquid from the tank. A water trap may help remove moisture from carbonating gas.

The present invention discloses a system and method for sequentially toggling a peristaltic pump disposed within a thermal cubicle for order-specific mixing of ingredients in a intermediary reservoir based on a recipe flow logic, the method comprising the steps of: receiving data input from a user via the user interface; based on the received input data, controlling at least one thermoelectric element disposed within an outer shell and inner conductive lining of at least one thermal cubicle to heat or cool said thermal cubicle; and based on the received input data, sequentially pumping a heated or cooled ingredient into the at least one tubular piping in fluid communication with any one of, or combination of, an intermediary reservoir for order-sensitive mixing of at least one other ingredient and, or directly to the pour outlet for dispensing.

Methods and systems are provided for mixing and heat exchange of fluids. In one example, a fluid mixing and heat exchange device includes a hot water tank, a mixing chamber spaced away from the hot water tank and fluidly coupled to a first liquid reservoir, a first chilling module fluidly coupled to the mixing chamber, a coolant tank fluidly coupled to the first chilling module, a radiator fluidly coupled to the coolant tank, and a dispensing manifold fluidly coupled to the mixing chamber and adapted to dispense a mixed and chilled fluid mixture to a plurality of fluid vessels.

Exemplary embodiments include tanks for cooling liquid where at least two thermoelectric chips come into contact with and cool a plurality of conductive fins that each extend into the interior of the tank where they come into contact with and thereby chill fluid as it is housed in and flows between two connected chambers within the tank.

Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of apparatus, systems and methods relating to transfer of fluids to/from containers and/or storage/transport of fluids in containers. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus comprises a container including a fitment having an opening. The apparatus may include a valve within the fitment. The valve may be configured to inhibit fluid flow out of the container. The apparatus may also include a transfer tube configured to be positioned through the opening of the fitment. The transfer tube may engage and open the valve to thereby provide an open passage to/from the container.

A beverage making machine may be arranged to cool a precursor liquid in a tank using a cooling liquid in a cooling container disposed around the tank. The cooling liquid may be freezable to form ice, e.g., to provide the system with improved cooling capacity and/or speed. A plurality of fins may extend between the tank and the cooling container, with each of the plurality of fins being physically attached to the cooling container or the tank and being arranged to conduct heat from the tank and/or from the cooling liquid. The plurality of fins may include first portions attached to the tank and extending outwardly, and second portions attached to the cooling container and extending inwardly. Side surfaces of corresponding first and second portions may be in contact with each other to aid in transferring heat via the fin portions.

Machines, devices, and methods for generating and dispensing mixed beverages are disclosed. An exemplary beverage machine includes a liquid storage container, an additive ingredient chamber, a mixing chamber, a piston for providing fluid movement into and/or out of the mixing chamber, and a cooling system. The cooling system may be configured to recycle heat rejected from the liquid storage container to provide a heat source for warming a mixed beverage contained in the mixing chamber, in addition to other functions and components.

A chilled liquid dispensing system includes a vessel with phase change material that can be charged by a thermoelectric module via a first heat sink. A liquid (e.g., beverage) can be pumped through a conduit submerged in the phase change material to cool or chill the liquid to a temperature below ambient temperature. The chilled liquid dispensing system can be incorporated into a liquid dispensing machine (e.g., beverage dispensing machine).

The invention relates to an installation (1) for preparing a beverage, in particular a wine, for tasting, said installation (1) including a liquid flow pipe (2) equipped with at least one feed inlet (3) for feeding in beverage for preparation, and a with at least one dispensing outlet (4) for dispensing the prepared beverage. Said pipe (2) is provided with Peltier-effect cooling and/or heating means (5) and with aeration means (6) for cooling and/or heating and for aerating the inside of the pipe (2), the two means being disposed along the pipe over different segments of said pipe that are referred to respectively as the cooling and/or heating segment (7) and as the aeration segment (8).

A liquid dispenser may include a container having an upper opening, a pump provided in the container, a pipe through which liquid discharged from the pump is transferred, a top plate having an upper surface over which liquid flows, a filter assembly provided below the top plate, a base provided below the container, and a thermoelectric element provided in the base to cool the liquid in the container.