Disclosed herein are systems and methods for inducing a substantially non-hazardous atmosphere encompassing a beverage container during filling, such as filling a small volume container with an alcohol product. A multi-tiered approach can be used to reduce the combustibility of the atmosphere encompassing the beverage container. For example, a ventilation module can be provided and configured to dilute vapors of the beverage liquid. Further, a chilling module can be provided and configured to reduce or maintain a reduced temperature of the beverage liquid. Further, a capture module can be provided and configured to dilute stray beverage liquid. The ventilation module, the chilling module, and the capture module can cooperate to define a non-hazardous zone encompassing the beverage container. This can allow non-hazardous rated electrical components to operate proximate and within the atmosphere associating the alcohol product during filling.

The present invention relates to a method, apparatus and universal container for natural carbonation of beverages, which will be used in the food industry, in particular in the production of beer, sparkling wines and carbonated fruit drinks. The method of naturally occurring carbonation of beverages involves the operations of feeding with fermenting substrate, adding water, adding yeast, fermenting the resulting liquid mixture. The fermentation is carried out in a specialized container at an optimum temperature of 8° C. to 23° C., depending on the yeast species. The fermentation process lasts for 3 to 4 days and is accompanied by an increase in container pressure to 2 bar.

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.

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.

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 relates to a method, apparatus and universal container for natural carbonation of beverages, which will be used in the food industry, in particular in the production of beer, sparkling wines and carbonated fruit drinks. The method of naturally occurring carbonation of beverages involves the operations of feeding with fermenting substrate, adding water, adding yeast, fermenting the resulting liquid mixture. The fermentation is carried out in a specialized container at an optimum temperature of 8° C. to 23° C., depending on the yeast species. The fermentation process lasts for 3 to 4 days and is accompanied by an increase in container pressure to 2 bar.

A refrigerator includes a body, a storage chamber, a door, a water tank to store clean water, a carbonated water production module mounted to a back surface of the door while including a carbon dioxide gas cylinder stored with carbon dioxide gas, and a carbonated water tank to produce carbonated water through mixing of the clean water with the carbon dioxide gas, a dispenser including a dispensation space formed at the door, a carbonated discharge line to connect the carbonated water tank and the dispensation space, so as to retrieve the carbonated water in the dispensation space, and a clean water discharge line to connect the water tank and the dispensation space without passing through the carbonated water tank, so as to retrieve the clean water in the dispensation space, and a carbonated water regulator to maintain a discharge pressure of the carbonated water at a predetermined pressure.

Among other things, beverages are dispensed from one or more beverage dispensers based on selections made by users. Information about the dispensing of the beverages is sent to a central server where it is used to manage a variety of functions including replacement of depleted supplies of components. Various features of the beverage dispensers enable the beverages that are dispensed to be uniform and appealing to users.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for inducing a substantially non-hazardous atmosphere encompassing a beverage container during filling, such as filling a small volume container with an alcohol product. A multi-tiered approach can be used to reduce the combustibility of the atmosphere encompassing the beverage container. For example, a ventilation module can be provided and configured to dilute vapors of the beverage liquid. Further, a chilling module can be provided and configured to reduce or maintain a reduced temperature of the beverage liquid. Further, a capture module can be provided and configured to dilute stray beverage liquid. The ventilation module, the chilling module, and the capture module can cooperate to define a non-hazardous zone encompassing the beverage container. This can allow non-hazardous rated electrical components to operate proximate and within the atmosphere associating the alcohol product during filling.

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.