A system for dispensing fluid is provided in which a first fluid cartridge and a second fluid cartridge each comprise a first spout at corresponding fluid outlets, and wherein a docking location is provided for docking each of the fluid cartridges such that the first spout is adjacent the second spout. The system may further comprise a drop sensor for detecting a number of drops dispensed from the fluid cartridges at a drop detection location. The docking location may define a specific orientation for any cartridge docked at the docking location, and the cartridges may be wedge shaped and may each taper towards their corresponding spouts. Also provided is a fluid cartridge comprising a cartridge housing, a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet above a fluid fill level, and a syphon for transporting fluid from inside the cartridge to the fluid outlet.

The present invention discloses a beverage dispenser, including: an inlet connected to a water source; an outlet for dispensing the water to a user vessel; at least one filter element having an input and an output for filtered water; a pump for pumping water to the input of the filter element; a flow sensor connected between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the flow sensor determines the actual flow rate of the water; at least one water preparation element connected between the output for outputting filtered water and the outlet and adapted to prepare the water for drinking by a human, wherein the water preparation element comprises a water preparation rate input by which the water preparation rate of the water preparation element can be controlled; and a controller connected to the water preparation rate input of the water preparation element and the flow sensor, wherein the controller controls the water preparation rate of the water preparation element by a signal to the water preparation rate input such that the water preparation rate is proportional to the actual flow rate.

The present invention discloses a beverage dispenser, including: an inlet connected to a water source; an outlet for dispensing the water to a user vessel; at least one filter element having an input and an output for filtered water; a pump for pumping water to the input of the filter element; a flow sensor connected between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the flow sensor determines the actual flow rate of the water; at least one water preparation element connected between the output for outputting filtered water and the outlet and adapted to prepare the water for drinking by a human, wherein the water preparation element comprises a water preparation rate input by which the water preparation rate of the water preparation element can be controlled; and a controller connected to the water preparation rate input of the water preparation element and the flow sensor, wherein the controller controls the water preparation rate of the water preparation element by a signal to the water preparation rate input such that the water preparation rate is proportional to the actual flow rate.

An appliance for the production and dispensing of malt based fermented beverage has a malt based fermented beverage concentrated inlet, liquid lines, a water inlet, a pressurized gas inlet, a carbonation unit having a water inlet and a pressurized gas inlet, a mixing unit in which the carbonated water and malt based fermented beverage concentrate are mixed. The appliance further has a gas pressure regulating means for varying the gas at the inlet of the carbonation unit.

A decompression mechanism may include a decompression case having an inlet that receives a beverage and an outlet that discharges the beverage; a decompression inner member including an inner body positioned inside of the decompression case and a guide formed in a spiral shape on an outer circumference of the inner body and in contact with an inner face of the decompression case; and a decompression channel defined between the decompression case and the decompression inner member. The decompression channel may have an input opening in communication with the inlet and an output opening in communication with the outlet, and a cross-sectional area of the decompression channel may increase as the decompression channel extends from the input opening to the output opening.

A carbonated beverage dispenser includes a tank to store carbonated water, a carbon dioxide source, and a release valve configured to release gas from the tank. The release valve may be actuated to mix the contents of the tank to increase the temperature homogeny and carbon dioxide homogeny in the tank. The tank may include sensors to monitor the temperature of the water and the amount of carbon dioxide dissolved therein.

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 carbonated beverage dispenser includes a tank to store carbonated water, a carbon dioxide source, and a release valve configured to release gas from the tank. The release valve may be actuated to mix the contents of the tank to increase the temperature homogeny and carbon dioxide homogeny in the tank. The tank may include sensors to monitor the temperature of the water and the amount of carbon dioxide dissolved therein.

Apparatus (10) for the preparation of aerated drinks, comprising: an aerator stage (20) comprising: a removable aerator bottle (30) defining a chamber (32) for receiving a liquid to be aerated; an aerator bottle interface (40) operative to engage the removable aerator bottle (30) and seal the chamber (32) thereof; a gas inlet line (60) operative to fluidly connect a gas source (50) to the aerator bottle interface (40); and a gas supply mechanism (70) for controlling supply of gas from the gas source (50) to the aerator bottle interface (40) via the gas inlet line (60); an aerated liquid dispenser stage (100) comprising: an aerated liquid dispenser outlet (110); a liquid outlet line (120) operative to fluidly connect the aerator bottle interface (40) to the aerated liquid dispenser outlet (110) to allow aerated liquid to flow from the chamber (32) of the removable aerator bottle (30) to the aerated liquid dispenser outlet (110); and a liquid flow controller (130) for controlling discharge of aerated liquid from the removable aerator bottle (30) to the aerated liquid dispenser outlet (110) via the liquid outlet line (120); and a flavouring liquid dispenser stage (200) comprising: a flavouring liquid dispenser (210) comprising a flavouring liquid dispenser outlet (212), wherein the flavouring liquid dispenser (210) comprises a flavouring liquid dispenser mechanism (214) that is activated by gas pressure; and a gas outlet line (220) including a gas outlet (222) provided in the aerator bottle interface (40); wherein the apparatus further comprises a pressure control stage (240) comprising: a gas reservoir (250) connected to the gas outlet line (220) and operative to store pressurised gas received from the removable aerator bottle (30) during an initial aeration step; and an exhaust mechanism (242) operative to vent gas from the removable aerator bottle (30) during a subsequent venting step in order to lower the level of gas pressure in the removable aerator bottle (30) prior to discharge of the aerated liquid from the removable aerator bottle (30) via the aerated liquid dispenser stage (100).

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.