Apparatuses and methods for liquid control are provided. A liquid control apparatus may be for selectively treating and/or substituting a liquid flow from at least one of a plurality of supply lines. The ultimate liquid flow is for dispensing to a user by way of a liquid supply fixture such as a tap. The apparatus comprises a liquid conditioning module for connection in-line with at least one of the plurality of supply lines. The liquid conditioning module receives a diverted liquid flow of the at least one supply line from an upstream portion of the supply line. It then outputs a selectively treated and/or substituted liquid flow for returning to a downstream portion of the supply line for dispensing to the user. The apparatus has at least one flow sensor, each flow sensor associated with one of the plurality of supply lines. It has a controller, the controller configured to receive information indicative of the liquid flow of at least one of the plurality of supply lines from the at least one flow sensor. The controller, upon the occurrence of a predetermined flow characteristic, is operable to activate the liquid conditioning module to treat and/or substitute the liquid flow from one or more of the liquid conditioning module connected supply lines in order to provide a treated and/or substituted liquid flow at the liquid supply fixture.

There are provided a method and apparatus for manufacturing hydrogen-containing drinking water that can fill a packaging container with hydrogen-containing water while suppressing the change of the dissolved hydrogen concentration of the hydrogen-containing water to a low level.

A method of continuously manufacturing hydrogen-containing drinking water includes (A) a deaeration step, (B) a hydrogen dissolving step, (C) a filling step, and (D) a sealing step. Pressure is applied to water flow channels corresponding to hydrogen-containing water, which is to be injected to a packaging container in the filling step, from purified water that is to be supplied to the deaeration step. The filling step includes: a preparation stage of supplying hydrogen-containing water, to which pressure is applied, into a filling device; a deaeration stage of removing gas, which is present in the packaging container, after connecting the packaging container to the filling device; an injection stage of directly injecting the hydrogen-containing water, to which pressure is applied, into the packaging container; and a discharge stage of discharging hydrogen-containing water, which remains in the filling device, into the packaging container by introducing pressurized air into the filling device. The method further includes a step of immediately proceeding to the sealing step (D) when the injection port and the filling port are disconnected from each other.

Various systems, devices, and methods for a ratchet system for a gas canister in a beverage system are provided. In general, a beverage system is configured to form a beverage and dispense the beverage into a container. The beverage system can be a carbonation system configured to form a carbonated fluid and dispense the carbonated fluid into a container. In an exemplary embodiment, the beverage system includes a ratchet system configured to provide feedback to a user indicating that a gas source, such as a CO.sub.2 canister for a carbonation system, has been properly coupled to the beverage system. The feedback is configured to be provided to the user automatically in response to the gas source being properly coupled to the beverage system.

The present invention relates to a beverage carbonating device, including a carbon dioxide production unit that is configured to produce carbon dioxide gas by mixing reactants; a pressure container that is fluidly connected to the carbon dioxide production unit and configured to store the produced carbon dioxide gas in a pressurized gaseous state; and a gas outlet valve that is fluidly connected to the pressure container and configured to seal the pressure container when being closed and to release the carbon dioxide gas in the gaseous state from the pressure container when being opened.

A carbonation machine includes a carbonation head comprising: a carbonation lever configured to be operated by a user to assume a carbonation position to carbonate a liquid in a bottle connected to the carbonation head; a plunger for operating a valve of a gas canister between a closed position and an open position, whereby, when the carbonation lever assumes a carbonation position, the plunger causes the valve to open so as to allow carbon-dioxide from the gas canister to flow into the bottle to carbonate the liquid; and a retractor configured to interact with the carbonation lever such that when the carbonation lever assumes the carbonation position the retractor retracts during a predetermined period of time from an initial deployed state to a retracted position, so as to cause the plunger to move to the closed position and cause the valve to close.

Apparatuses and methods for liquid control are provided. A liquid control apparatus may be for selectively treating and/or substituting a liquid flow from at least one of a plurality of supply lines. The ultimate liquid flow is for dispensing to a user by way of a liquid supply fixture such as a tap. The apparatus comprises a liquid conditioning module for connection in-line with at least one of the plurality of supply lines. The liquid conditioning module receives a diverted liquid flow of the at least one supply line from an upstream portion of the supply line. It then outputs a selectively treated and/or substituted liquid flow for returning to a downstream portion of the supply line for dispensing to the user. The apparatus has at least one flow sensor, each flow sensor associated with one of the plurality of supply lines. It has a controller, the controller configured to receive information indicative of the liquid flow of at least one of the plurality of supply lines from the at least one flow sensor. The controller, upon the occurrence of a predetermined flow characteristic, is operable to activate the liquid conditioning module to treat and/or substitute the liquid flow from one or more of the liquid conditioning module connected supply lines in order to provide a treated and/or substituted liquid flow at the liquid supply fixture.

One variation of a mixing system includes: a container configured to store consumable beverages; a lid; and a mixer. The lid is configured to transiently couple to the container and includes: a housing; a mixer receptacle; a set of user controls arranged on an outer face of the lid; a set of electronics arranged within the housing and including a motor, a controller configured to actuate the motor responsive to selection of the set of user controls, and a power supply configured to supply power to the motor and the controller; and a set of supports arranged between the motor and walls of the housing and configured to absorb energy output by the motor. The mixer includes: a connector section configured to engage the mixer receptacle to couple the mixer to the motor; and a mixing section configured to mix ingredients in the container responsive to actuation of the motor.

An assembly for selectively aerating a beverage. The assembly includes a body, a diverter movable between first, second, and third positions, and an aerator in fluid communication with the diverter, the aerator including a central outlet and aeration outlets. When the diverter is in the first position, the diverter is positioned such that the beverage flows through the body and the central outlet while bypassing the aeration outlets. When the diverter is in the second position, the diverter is positioned such that the beverage flows through the aeration outlets while bypassing the central outlet. When the diverter is in the third position, the diverter is positioned such that the beverage flows through the body, a first portion of the beverage flows through the central outlet while bypassing the aeration outlets, and a second portion of the beverage flows through the aeration outlets while bypassing the central outlet.

On-the-go carbonation devices and methods are provided, which enable carbonating and enhancing liquid content in various containers, such as drinking bottles, in relation to users' preferences and activity patterns. Devices include a sealed enclosure holding a gas canister, an actuator configured to release gas from the gas canister and break a seal of the sealed enclosure, and a gas passage configured to deliver the released gas, optionally with flavoring and/or supplement additives-into the liquid. Various configurations of the devices are provided to yield predefined carbonation and mixing of additives by simple actuation. Disclosed methods of carbonation enable configuring the device to be portable and attachable to various types of liquid container. Various types of additives may be used, provided in preparation kits and monitored by an application that supports healthy consumption and enhancements of liquids.

The invention relates to a carbonation apparatus (10), in particular for the introduction of carbon dioxide to liquid, having a gas outlet which is configured to be introduced into a container (7) which can be filled with liquid, a gas connector which is fluidically connected to the gas outlet via a controllable valve (4), a control device (5) which is configured to control the valve (4), comprising, furthermore: a fixture (1) with a weight determining device for determining a weight of a gas cylinder (3) which is received in the fixture (1) and is connected to the gas connector.