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 self-venting closure assembly includes a closure body having a deck with a peripheral mounting skirt and an annular seal on an underside of the deck adjacent to the peripheral mounting skirt, further including a circular valve seat within the center portion of the deck, and a plurality of vent openings circumferentially spaced within the valve seat, all surrounded by an annular spillover wall. An elastomeric umbrella valve is centrally mounted to the deck and has a frustoconical valve flap arranged on an underside of the valve seat. The valve flap cooperates with the vent openings to normally seal the vent openings but permits air to flow into an interior of the closure body when a vacuum is applied to an interior of the container on which the closure is mounted.

The invention relates to a domestic machine for dispensing beverage, comprising a removable water tank, a water filtration system, at least one circulation pump for moving the water to a dispensing point associated with a beverage capsule, the machine comprising a heating section comprising a heater configured to heat the water to be dispensed, a cooling section comprising a cooling device configured to cool the water to be dispensed, and a carbonating section comprising a carbonating device configured to dissolve CO.sub.2 in the water to be dispensed, the machine comprising a control panel for selecting a hot drink, a cold drink or a carbonated drink, by activating at least one of said sections.

A beverage dispenser inclues a housing and a base liquid nozzle arranged on the housing and configured to dispense a base liquid. The beverage dispenser further includes an additive nozzle arranged on the housing and configured to dispense an additive. The beverage dispenser includes a user interface arranged on the housing, and the user interface is configured to receive a first selection of a base liquid and at least one of a temperature of the base liquid and a carbonation level of the base liquid, and a second selection of an additive. The beverage dispenser is configured to dispense the base liquid from the base liquid nozzle based on the first selection, and wherein the additive nozzle is configured to dispense the additive based on the second selection.

A beverage container cooling unit has: (a) a housing having a slot for receiving a container therein, (b) a cooling element having a cold supply, (c) a heat conductive panel enabling heat transfer between a container provided in the slot and the cold supply; wherein the heat conductive panel has two material layers fixed against one another: (I) a first material layer defining a cooling surface facing the container receiving slot and an opposed surface, said first layer made of a material having a thermal expansion coefficient of X.sub.1; (ii) a second material layer having a contact surface facing positioned against the opposed surface of the first material layer and a second opposed surface, the second material layer having a thermal expansion coefficient of X.sub.2, different from X.sub.1, the difference in thermal expansion causing the conductive panel to bulge at a change in temperature.

Systems, apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture provide for a beverage dispensing system configured to form one of a plurality of available types of carbonated and non-carbonated beverage types in response to a user selection.

A soda carbonation and dispensation system and method are provided. The system includes a carbonated water pump and motor assembly operable to draw fresh water into carbonator tanks and circulate the water through a chiller system. A carbon dioxide source is connected to the carbonator tanks to produce carbonated water. The system also includes a water level sensor connected to a controller, a plurality of syrup containers, a syrup pump, syrup regulator valves, a brix capacitor, a dispensing tower and faucets connected to the dispensing tower housing. The controller operates the water pump and motor assembly to maintain a water level within a predetermined range and to maintain continuous flow and refrigeration of the carbonated water, which optimizes carbonation. The brix capacitor receives chilled carbonated water and chilled syrup in separate lines. Carbonated water is circulated to the faucets through a manifold in the brix capacitor and then circulated back into the carbonator tanks. Valves are provided in the brix capacitor to manipulate carbonated water and syrup flow rates and pressures into the faucets. The system maintains the carbonated water and syrup at a refrigerated temperature and a predetermined maximum pressure. When a faucet is opened, the carbonated water and syrup mix as they flow laminarly into a container. The result is consistently optimum carbonation when the beverage is dispensed.

A carbonated beverage dispensing system, which may be embodied as a unitary apparatus including electrically powered on-bench, under-bench or freestanding water cooling units. The system has a dispensing unit including a first source of liquid having a relatively high level of carbonation, a second source of liquid having a relative low or zero level of carbonation, a mixer in liquid connection with the first and second sources of liquid configured to mix liquid from the first and second sources, and a controllable pump to convey liquid from the first or second source of water at a variable flow rate to the mixer. The flow rate of the variable pump is controllable to provide a beverage having a variable mixture of liquids from the first and second sources of liquid to provide a beverage having a level of carbonation intermediate to that of the first and second sources of liquid.

Described herein is a beverage system that is configured to produce beverages having different characteristics, such as different levels of carbonation including producing substantially non-carbonated beverages and carbonated beverages with a single machine. The beverage system includes a beverage appliance and a beverage container. The beverage container includes a beverage material, which can include a flavoring ingredient for a target beverage. The beverage appliance is used to access the beverage material from the beverage container and produce the target beverage. The beverage appliance and beverage container are adaptable to produce the target beverage having any of a range of carbonation levels or other characteristics.

A beverage container cooling unit has: (a) a housing having a slot for receiving a container therein, (b) a cooling element having a cold supply, (c) a heat conductive panel enabling heat transfer between a container provided in the slot and the cold supply; wherein the heat conductive panel has two material layers fixed against one another: (I) a first material layer defining a cooling surface facing the container receiving slot and an opposed surface, said first layer made of a material having a thermal expansion coefficient of X.sub.1; (ii) a second material layer having a contact surface facing positioned against the opposed surface of the first material layer and a second opposed surface, the second material layer having a thermal expansion coefficient of X.sub.2, different from X.sub.1, the difference in thermal expansion causing the conductive panel to bulge at a change in temperature.