A container whose content can be removed easily by a consumer. The container should be inexpensive to produce while being extremely easy to operate by the consumer, should provide a high degree of flexibility with respect to the choice of the propellant gas (pressure and type of gas) and should achieve a long storage life for the contents, even after the container has been tapped. The container comprises a fill chamber (40), a pressure chamber (6) and a pressure valve (10). The fill chamber (40) is formed by a container base (2), a container wall (7) and a container upper face (8), and a first pressure (p.sub.B) prevails in the fill chamber (40). The pressure chamber (6) is formed by the container base (2) and a pressure chamber base (5) and a second pressure (p.sub.D) prevails in the pressure chamber (6). The pressure valve (10) is connected to the container base (2) and the pressure chamber base (5). The pressure valve (10), when open, establishes fluid communication between the fill chamber (40) and the pressure chamber (6), and the pressure valve (10), when closed, separates the fill chamber (40) and the pressure chamber (6) in a fluid-tight manner from one another.

A compressed gas delivery adapter for use with a conventional self contained gas-powered beverage dispensing device is operative to couple the beverage dispensing device to an external source of compressed gas. The compressed gas delivery adapter is structured at one end to attach to a conventional self contained gas-powered beverage dispensing device, while mating with and sealing against an annular seal of the beverage dispensing device which typically engages an annular tip of a standard cylindrical 6.5 gram cartridge of compressed gas. At the other end, the compressed gas delivery adapter is configured to receive a hose that is connected to a larger, external compressed gas supply. In this regard, the compressed gas delivery adapter facilitates the delivery of compressed gas from an external gas supply, which may be of any size, to the conventional self contained gas-powered beverage dispensing device.

The present invention relates to a beverage container assembly for holding a beverage. The assembly comprises an outer container defining a body portion and a cylindrical neck portion. The cylindrical neck portion defines a rim located opposite the body portion. The beverage container assembly further comprises an inner bag positioned within the outer container and defining a pressure space inside the inner bag and a beverage space between the inner bag and the outer container. The beverage space is filled by beverage and the inner bag initially defines a folded state. By subjecting the inner bag) to a pressure fluid it is capable of expanding into an unfolded state in which the pressure space at least partially substitutes the beverage space. Both the inner bag and the neck portion are sealed off by a cap at a location between the rim and the body portion.

A liquid dispensing device includes a needle. The needle is adapted to penetrate a container without tearing out a portion of the container. The portion of the container is near a point of penetration on the container. The liquid dispensing device includes a motion control system. The motion control system is configured to rotate the needle while the needle penetrates the container.

A receptacle for storing, pressurizing, and dispensing packaged beverages. The receptacle includes an airtight chamber with a removable lid, wherein the joint between the lid and the chamber is also airtight. A gas valve allows for the inflow and outflow of gas, and a tap port and tap stem allow the beverage to be dispensed without breaking the seal of the chamber. A pressure relief valve allows for more rapid depressurization. The chamber can be used at high and low pressures, such as a partial vacuum, to prevent oxidation of a number of open beverages, such as beers, wines, and sodas. A pressure gauge port coupled with an optional pressure gauge allows a user to verify the appropriate pressure for the type of beverage being preserved. The gas valve may be disposed on a base of the receptacle, as may the pressure relief and/or the pressure gauge port.

A method and apparatus of filing beverage combines pressurized beverage delivery (rather than gravity feed) with variable pressure control of the gas flow from the can during snift. By modulating beverage flow and especially pressure, it is possible to saturate a beverage, or optionally fill a can's widget with gas with a shorter set of fill steps. In addition, the speed of beverage filling can be dramatically increased compared to small scale systems normally used. Unlike known large scale pressure systems, the beverage bowl may be located beneath the rest of the apparatus and modulated pressure may be used, making for a smaller and more portable unit.

Beverage dispensing assembly (1), comprising a dispenser (2) and a beverage container (3), wherein the beverage container (3) has a neck portion (7) and a shoulder portion (8) adjacent the neck portion (7), wherein the neck portion (7) is provided with at least an outflow opening and at least one gas inlet opening (9) and wherein the dispenser (2) comprises a housing (4), wherein the housing (4) is provided with a receptacle (5) for receiving at least part of the container (3), wherein the container (3) is positioned in the dispenser (2) with the neck and shoulder portion (7, 8) facing downward, such that the neck portion (7) and at least part of the shoulder portion (8) are received in the receptacle (5), wherein part of the shoulder portion (8) extends close to and/or is in contact with a wall of the receptacle (5), wherein preferably a lid (12) is provided over the container (3), enclosing a part of the container (3) extending outside the receptacle (5).

A beverage maker includes: a container; a fermentation tank; a beverage dispenser including a lever configured to control dispensing of the beverage and a limit switch configured to be turned on and off based on manipulation of the lever; a beverage dispensing channel that connects the container and the beverage dispenser and that guides the beverage; a beverage dispensing valve disposed in the beverage dispensing channel; a pressure sensor that measures gas pressure inside the container; and a controller. The controller detects whether the limit switch is turned on, opens the beverage dispensing valve to dispense the beverage accommodated in the container through the beverage dispenser based on detecting that the limit switch is turned on, determines a gas pressure value corresponding to the gas pressure inside the container measured by the pressure sensor, and determines a dispensed amount of beverage based on the gas pressure value.

A pressure control device for controlling a pressure in a beverage container comprises a gas filled pressure control chamber enclosed by a wall of the pressure control device. The wall has an inner surface facing the chamber and an outer surface facing away from the chamber, the inner surface and outer surface defining a thickness of he wall. A scavenger material is provided in the pressure control device for capturing gas that enters, during use, into the pressure control chamber. The scavenger material is distributed over the wall thickness with a predetermined concentration from the inner surface towards the outer surface of the wall such that a rate of gas capture by the scavenger material changes over time.

A machine for making an individual drink. The machine includes a pressure source, a store defining a plurality of housings, a plurality of removable containers each immobilized, in a service position, in a respective housing. Each container includes a receptacle containing an ingredient, and an upstream emptying valve allowing the ingredient to be caused to exit to the outside of the receptacle by an increased pressure generated inside the receptacle by the pressure source. The machine includes a chamber to receive the ingredients extracted from the containers, via the upstream emptying one-way valves, because of the increased pressure, so as to make the drink. The machine includes a control module able to command the increased pressures in the containers as a function of a desired composition for the drink.