A refrigerator including a water intake container, in which carbonated water is produced by mixture of carbon dioxide and clean water, a first dispenser assembly, which the water intake container is attached to or detached from, and which supplies carbon dioxide and clean water to the water intake container when the water intake container is attached to the first dispenser, a dispenser lever and a second dispenser assembly which discharges clean water or ice according to manipulation of the dispenser lever, but stops the discharging of clean water or ice if the water intake container is attached to the first dispenser assembly. The refrigerator may include a dispenser lever and a processor to control an ice maker to stop operation if a command is entered through a user interface and to control the ice maker to start operation if the dispenser lever is manipulated while the ice maker stops operation.

A water dispenser having beverage-making function is provided. The water dispenser can include a body defining a beverage making cavity with an open side therein; a beverage making assembly disposed in the beverage making cavity and including a beverage container for accommodating a beverage capsule, the beverage container having a first penetration member for penetrating a bottom of the beverage capsule; and a water injection mechanism for supplying water to the beverage capsule and having a second penetration member for penetrating a top of the beverage capsule.

Provided is a water supply apparatus (100) including: a cooling tank (1), a refrigerating systems and a heat exchange device (4). The cooling tank is provided with a cold water outlet (11) and suitable to connected to water source; the refrigeration system comprises a compressor (31), a condenser (32), a throttling device (33) and the evaporator (34). The heat exchange device (4) is arranged outside the cooling tank (1) and provided with a water inlet (41) and a water outlet (42) communicating with the inside of the cooling tank (1), wherein the heat exchange device (4) is constructed such that water in the cooling tank (1) flows into the heat exchange device (4) from the water inlet (41) and performs a heat exchange with the evaporator (34), the water after the heat exchange flows out from the water outlet (42) and flows back to the cooling tank (1).

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to extracting the liquid from a container (such as a bottle of wine) in varying amounts at a desired serving temperature while preserving the liquid for later consumption. Various embodiments may be built within an appliance so the consumer experience is fully automated. Embodiments may include a variety of wine preservation techniques including the use of inert gases that prevent the oxidation of wine.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to extracting the liquid from a container (such as a bottle of wine) in varying amounts at a desired serving temperature while preserving the liquid for later consumption. Various embodiments may be built within an appliance so the consumer experience is fully automated. Embodiments may include a variety of wine preservation techniques including the use of inert gases that prevent the oxidation of wine.

A refrigerator comprises a body comprising a storage compartment, a first control valve, an ice maker connected to the first control valve and to generate ice using the water discharged from the first control valve, a second control valve, a dispenser comprising an operating lever to supply the water received from the second valve by an operation of the operating lever, and an automatic water supply device to supply the water received from the second valve to a water container and to control the water container to be filled with a predetermined amount of water. The first control valve selectively guides the water received from the external water supply source to the ice maker or to the second control valve, and the second control valve selectively guides the water received from the first control valve to the dispenser or the automatic water supply device.

Apparatuses and methods for conditioning a liquid stream with a liquid dispensing system associated with a refrigerator, preparing an enhanced beverage using one or more of the individually conditioned liquid streams and a liquid enhancement device and minimizing the potential for back contamination of the liquid dispensing system are provided.

Provided is a water supply apparatus (100) including: a cooling tank (1), a refrigerating systems and a heat exchange device (4). The cooling tank is provided with a cold water outlet (11) and suitable to connected to water source; the refrigeration system comprises a compressor (31), a condenser (32), a throttling device (33) and the evaporator (34). The heat exchange device (4) is arranged outside the cooling tank (1) and provided with a water inlet (41) and a water outlet (42) communicating with the inside of the cooling tank (1), wherein the heat exchange device (4) is constructed such that water in the cooling tank (1) flows into the heat exchange device (4) from the water inlet (41) and performs a heat exchange with the evaporator (34), the water after the heat exchange flows out from the water outlet (42) and flows back to the cooling tank (1).

Portable keg cooling units, systems, and methods are described. In some examples, a portable keg cooling unit comprises a cabinet having a temperature-controlled inner compartment configured to house and cool a keg and its contents, a dispenser for dispensing beverage from the keg, and a chiller unit operable to cool beverage extracted from the keg, to ensure the beverage is at an optimal desired temperature when it reaches the dispenser to minimize undesirable foaming.

Beverage dispensing nozzles and methods are described, including structures and mechanisms for selectively purging desaturated gas from the nozzle before dispensing, for ensuring beverage in the nozzle is maintained and dispensed at an optimal desired temperature, for disinfecting beverage-contacting surfaces, and for electronically activating a pour, among other things.