A system or method for carbonating a liquid includes receiving, in a sealed container of a carbonator of a drink dispenser system, a predetermined amount of liquid, identifying a predetermined carbonation level associated with a flavoring material, and setting a target pressure of the sealed container based on the predetermined carbonation level. The target pressure is selected from a plurality of different target pressures. The system or method also can include releasing pressurized carbon dioxide from a carbon dioxide source into the sealed container holding the predetermined amount of the liquid therein until an internal pressure of the sealed container is substantially equal to the target pressure. The system or method can also include dispensing, into a drink container, the flavoring material and the liquid from the sealed container of the carbonator.

A carbonation system for a beverage appliance or machine that can include a liquid chamber and a carbonation chamber separated from the liquid chamber by a wall of the carbonation chamber is disclosed herein. In some implementations, the liquid chamber is defined by a liquid tank (e.g., a water tank), and the carbonation chamber is defined by a carbonation tank. The carbonation system can move liquid (e.g., water) from the liquid chamber to the carbonation chamber and introduce carbonating gas (e.g., carbon dioxide) into the carbonation chamber to create a carbonated liquid (e.g., a carbon dioxide water dissolution, such as carbonated water, sparkling water, or seltzer).

Water dispensing apparatus comprises modular components including but not limited to an easily accessible water heating module, and a water carbonation module including an easily accessible carbonation tank bracket for holding a carbonation tank. The water dispensing apparatus further comprises a water dispensing faucet comprising an easily adjustable back pressure implement for adjusting the back pressure and, therefore, controlling mixing of carbon dioxide and water and the flow rate thereof for sparkling water dispensed therefrom.

A carbonation machine may include a carbonation head, a holder that is configured to hold a gas canister, the holder comprising a connector with a socket configured to enable linear insertion of a valve of the canister into the socket, the socket including a seal with at least one lateral opening to enable fluidic flow between one or more laterally oriented ports of the valve and a conduit of the holder while preventing leakage of gas from the fluidic flow, and a holding mechanism configured to hold a lateral projection from the canister after insertion of the valve into the socket such that the valve remains in the socket, and an activation mechanism configured to operate the valve to release the gas from the canister when inserted into the socket so as to enable the gas to flow via the conduit to the carbonation head.

A carbonated drink dispensing system includes a carbonation tank, a CO.sub.2 cylinder configured to deliver CO.sub.2 to the carbonation tank at a pressure of between 50 psi and 60 psi, a low-pressure pump configured to pump water into the carbonation tank, and a level sensor configured to determine when the water in the carbonation tank has reached a pre-determined level. The low-pressure pump is configured to stop pumping water when the level sensor determines that the water in the carbonation tank has reached the pre-determined level. The low-pressure pump starts pumping water again after a time delay.

A dispensing apparatus is described having a beverage source, containing a carbonated beverage liquid, and a dispensing tap. The dispensing apparatus includes a dispense tube disposing the beverage source in fluid communication with the dispensing tap and an infusion chamber arranged in connection with the dispense tube and configured to infuse an infusing ingredient with the carbonated beverage liquid. The dispensing apparatus includes a sensing unit configured to determine a level of carbon-dioxide in the liquid downstream of the infusion chamber. The dispensing apparatus includes a carbon-dioxide source coupled to the dispense tube via a valve. The dispensing apparatus further includes a control unit configured to operate the valve to allow flow of carbon-dioxide gas based on the determined level of carbon-dioxide in the carbonated beverage liquid, so as to bring the level of carbon-dioxide to a pre-defined level.

The present invention is directed to a portable container for a beverage, such as beer, from a Sixth barrel or Cornelius keg. The portable container is specifically designed for storing, cooling, transporting and dispensing a beverage, such as beer. The portable container has a self-contained container of CO.sub.2, a regulator, and a tap for the keg.

Water dispensing apparatus comprises modular components including but not limited to an easily accessible water heating module and a water cooling module. The water dispensing apparatus further comprises a rotatable bracket on a front wall thereof for connecting a carbon dioxide tank thereto and disposing the same within a compartment within the front wall thereof.

Water dispensing apparatus comprises modular components including but not limited to an easily accessible water heating module, and a water carbonation module including an easily accessible carbonation tank bracket for holding a carbonation tank. The water dispensing apparatus further comprises a water dispensing faucet comprising an easily adjustable back pressure implement for adjusting the back pressure and, therefore, controlling mixing of carbon dioxide and water and the flow rate thereof for sparkling water dispensed therefrom.

The invention discloses a soda machine with automatic gas filling and residual amount detection functions and a use method thereof. Compared with the prior art, the soda machine is safer to operate, cannot carry out automatic gas filling under the condition that the operation of the soda machine is not standard and can only carry out manual gas filling by a user under a special condition, so that the safety is higher; and meanwhile, the amount of residual carbon dioxide gas can be measured in real time according to the weight of the carbon dioxide gas cylinder, so that the user can conveniently prepare the standby carbon dioxide gas cylinder in time, and more convenience is achieved.