The apparatus includes a reservoir (2), a liquid source (1), a carbon dioxide source (12), a non-return valve (8), a carbonating vessel (7) to receive liquid from the reservoir (2) via the non-return valve (8), a gas inlet (15) to receive carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide source (12), and a dip tube (16) to withdraw carbonated liquid from the carbonating vessel. A pressure relief valve (20) vents gas from the carbonating vessel (7), and a dispense valve (18) controls the supply of carbonated liquid from the dip tube (16) to a dispense outlet (17). A charge control valve (14) controls the supply of carbon dioxide to the carbonating vessel (7). The apparatus has the following modes of operation-charge: the dispense valve (18) is held closed while the charge control valve (14) is opened to admit a charge of carbon dioxide into the carbonating vessel (7); dispense/refill: the dispense valve (18) is opened to dispense carbonated liquid while liquid flows into the carbonating vessel from the reservoir (2) via the non-return valve (8). The carbonated beverage can

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Disclosed is a water dispenser. The water dispenser includes a water outlet component; a water cooling module for accessing a water source, an output port of the water cooling module being communicated with the water outlet component through a first water pump; and/or a water heating module, an input port of the water heating module accessing the water source through a second water pump, an output port of the water heating module being communicated with the water outlet component, the water outlet component accessing the water source through the second water pump.

A water output device is provided. The water output device comprises a housing mechanism; a water purification mechanism, which comprises a water purifier located within the housing mechanism; a refrigeration mechanism, which comprises a compressor located within the housing mechanism; a tank assembly, which comprises a first tank mechanism configured for providing hot water, and second tank mechanism configured for providing ice water and soda water; the first tank mechanism comprises a hot water tank in communication with the water purifier; the second tank mechanism comprises a ice water tank in communication with the water purifier, a soda water tank located within the ice water tank, a water pump in communication with the ice water tank and the soda water tank respectively, and a cooling pipe spirally extended into the ice water tank.

A refrigerator utilizes a quick fill dispenser that incorporates a fluid storage receptacle that is easily removable for cleaning and/or dispensing independently of the refrigerator, and that is coupled to a dock through a combined inlet/outlet through which the receptacle is filled and fluid is dispensed through the receptacle. A dock closure may also be used to inhibit fluid flow through the combined inlet/outlet when the fluid storage receptacle is removed.

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.

A system and method for transferring beverage such as wine from a source container to a destination container. First and second transfer heads can be configured to sealingly engage with an opening of source and destination containers, respectively. The container opening(s) can have a closure such as a cork or septum and the transfer heads can sealingly engage with the container opening without removing the closure, e.g., by passing one or more needles through the closure. The transfer heads and the source container can be held by a support, and the first transfer head can be mounted for pivotal movement relative to the support, e.g., about a horizontal axis, to accommodate differently sized and/or shaped containers. Pressurized gas, e.g., used to purge and/or pressurize the containers, and beverage flow can be routed from one of the transfer heads to the other.

A method and dispensing apparatus for dispensing one or more liquids from a liquid storage container operably connected to the dispensing apparatus. The one or more liquids may include cold water, cold carbonated water, hot water and/or ambient temperature water. The dispensing apparatus preferably is a self-contained dispensing apparatus, i.e., a dispensing apparatus having its own source of liquid. The dispensing apparatus further preferably includes a housing storing a first cooled liquid reservoir and a second cooled liquid reservoir. The first cooled liquid reservoir preferably stores cold water and the second cooled liquid reservoir preferably stores cold carbonated water. A thermal link preferably connects the first cooled liquid reservoir and the second cooled liquid reservoir to cause thermal energy to be transferred between the first cooled liquid reservoir and the second cooled liquid reservoir.

A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a door, and a dispenser located at the door. The dispenser includes a dispenser case located at an outer surface of the door, an extraction nozzle located at an upper portion of a recessed part of the dispenser, a hot water module located at a rear portion of or behind the recessed part, and a hot water module case that accommodates the hot water module. The hot water module is configured to heat, by induction heating, water supplied to the hot water module and to supply the heated water to the extraction nozzle, and the hot water module case couples to a rear wall of the dispenser case.

The present invention provides a beverage machine with at least three distinct zones 1, 3, 4. A first zone 1 for storing a liquid or semi-liquid product at ambient temperature, a second zone 3 for processing the stored product, in particular for cooling the product to a predetermined serving temperature, and a third zone 4 for storing the cooled product and maintaining it at the predetermined serving temperature. From the third zone 4 an iced beverage can be dispensed.

Disclosed are a water storage tank bladder, a manufacturing method therefor, the water storage tank including the bladder, and a water treatment apparatus including the water storage tank. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the water storage tank bladder used in the water storage tank to receive and store water and discharge the stored water has a lower side of which the thickness can be thicker than the thickness of the upper side of the bladder and thicker than the thickness of the lateral sides of the bladder.