A pressurized gas container associates with and supplies gas to a pressurized gas port of an appliance, such as for supplying carbon dioxide for the preparation of a carbonated drink. The container has a plug at its opening that has a barrier element that seals the container and is configured to be non-reversibly ruptured by a shaft of a gas-channeling member. The plug also has one or more sealing elements that are distinct from the barrier element and are configured for forming a gas-tight association with the shaft of the gas-channeling member. A plurality of such pressurized containers may be carried by a holder rack in a multipack. An appliance adapted for preparing or dispensing carbonated drink includes an adapter for associating with such a pressurized carbon dioxide-containing canister and for receiving the pressurized carbon dioxide therefrom.

A delivery apparatus and method for delivering liquid cryogen to a chilling application includes a liquid cryogen feed tank; a liquid cryogen conduit in fluid communication between the feed tank and the chilling application; a weight measurement device for controlling the weight of liquid cryogen to be delivered to the chilling application through the conduit; a flow controller for controlling the speed of delivery of the liquid cryogen to the chilling application; wherein the chilling application uses the liquid cryogen to produce an exhaust gas; a device for measuring the temperature of the exhaust gas, the device in operative communication with the flow controller; wherein the flow controller is configured to vary the speed of delivery of liquid cryogen in response to the temperature of the exhaust gas.

Various illustrative systems, devices, and methods of beverage carbonation system flow control are provided. A carbonation system is one example of a treatment system to which the systems, devices, and methods described herein apply. In general, a carbonation system is configured to form a carbonated fluid and dispense the carbonated fluid in a controlled manner. In an illustrative embodiment, the carbonation system is configured to begin dispensing the carbonated fluid with a pressure in a chamber of the carbonation system, in which the carbonated fluid is formed, being above atmospheric pressure. A gas is introduced into the chamber after dispensing has already started via the pressure in the chamber to drive the flow of the carbonated fluid. The gas can be introduced into the chamber according to a predetermined pressure profile.

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.

Ingredient containers for use in a beverage carbonation system are provided. The ingredient container includes a container body defining an interior hollow chamber, and a cap coupled to the opening of the container body. The container body has an opening leading to the interior hollow chamber and a cross-section with a major axis defining a width that is greater than a minor axis defining a depth. The cap has an inlet that is sealed to retain fluid within the container and that is configured to open to allow gas to be injected into the interior hollow chamber. The cap has an outlet that is sealed to retain fluid within the container and that is configured to open to allow fluid within the container to flow out through the outlet valve. The inlet and the outlet are aligned along a first axis that extends parallel to the minor axis of the container body.

The disclosure concerns a liquid dispensing system having a handheld liquid dispense device with a body portion and a dispensing head. The dispensing system includes an ingredient system located remotely from the handheld liquid dispense device, piping extending from the ingredient system to the handheld liquid dispense device, the ingredient system having a plurality of beverage ingredient sources and configured to supply beverage ingredients to the piping for the dispensing of a beverage from the handheld liquid dispense device. The dispensing system may also include a user interface device configured to receive a first user selection for a beverage and a second user selection for an ingredient modifying the beverage.

Ingredient containers for use in a beverage carbonation system are provided. The ingredient container includes a container body having a hollow interior and an opening leading into the hollow interior. The ingredient container also includes a cap positioned over the opening in the container body and including an inlet port and an outlet port. A cross-section of the cap extends substantially perpendicular to a central axis of each of the inlet port and the outlet port, and the cross-section of the cap has a shape that is a substantially circular triangle.

A container is provided to contain a liquid to be used in a liquid dispenser that is space-saving and enables checking of the amount of remaining liquid, a refilling operation, and maintenance to be readily performed. A stock solution container in which a concentrated stock solution is to be contained and that is to be used in a beverage dispenser to eject a beverage constituted by the concentrated stock solution and a diluent includes: a containing portion having a bag shape and is to contain the concentrated stock solution; and an ejecting portion for ejecting the concentrated stock solution to the outside, the ejecting portion being provided to protrude from the containing portion. An ejection port is provided at a leading end of the ejecting portion, and the concentrated stock solution is ejected from the ejection port as the containing portion deforms based on an external force.

A liquid dispenser includes: an accommodating portion to accommodate a stock solution container configured to provide an ejecting portion that protrudes from a bag-shaped containing portion containing a concentrated stock solution which is ejected from an ejection port of the ejecting portion as the containing portion deforms based on an external force; and a stock solution ejection mechanism to control ejection and stoppage of the concentrated stock solution from the stock solution container. The stock solution ejection mechanism includes: a first valve body opening/closing mechanism to open and close a first valve body arranged in a flow path from the containing portion to the ejecting portion; a second valve body opening/closing mechanism to open and close a second valve body arranged in a flow path from the ejecting portion to the ejection port; and a control mechanism for individually controlling the first and second valve body opening/closing mechanisms.

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.