A liquid product distribution network includes a liquid product distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus for operation in association with a tap handle flow monitoring and reporting apparatus. The liquid product distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus includes a radio transmitter device and sensing circuitry for sensing and communicating physical properties associating with the keg. A tap handle flow monitoring and reporting apparatus senses flow of a liquid through a tap includes a tap handle radio transmitter device for fitting within and protected by a tap handle and a low-energy consumption tap handle radio/processing module. A mobile communications device with geographic position sensing device and/or said tap handle flow monitoring and reporting apparatus passively and without user interaction within the liquid product distribution network, without using network uplink/gateway circuit devices for sensing and reporting fluid storage, flow, and financial operations relating to the distribution of said liquid product throughout the liquid product distribution network.

A dispensing head includes a fastening portion fastened to a mouth of a beverage container, a connecting portion to which a gas coupling connected to a gas cylinder via a gas tube is connected, a gas channel configured to cause the connecting portion and the beverage container to communicate with each other, a dispensing portion configured to dispense a beverage injected from the beverage container by a pressure of a gas supplied to the beverage container via the gas channel, and an operation inhibition mechanism configured to inhibit an operation for connecting the gas coupling to the connecting portion in a state in which the fastening portion is not fastened to the mouth.

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 (7) and shoulder portion (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 closure for a beverage keg is provided, comprising an outer housing wall defining at least a portion of a valve housing and an inner duct that is located within the outer housing wall. The inner duct extends through at least a portion of the valve housing to define a flow path through the closure. The outer housing wall and the inner duct are integrally formed together as part of a single housing component.

A removal system (1) with an interface 5a for releasable connection to an extraction head (2) of the removal system (1), such that the tube (5) can be used as a single-use part for removing fluid from a container.

A beverage dispensing system for dispensing beverage from a beverage container, having a dispense head adapted to be connected to the beverage container. The dispense head having a housing having a through-going bore, and an activation handle pivotally mounted to the housing and movable between at least a deactivated position and an activated position. The beverage dispensing system further having a replaceable connection unit adapted to be connected with the dispense head and having a hollow piston member removably insertable into the bore of the housing and a dispensing line connected to the hollow piston member, whereby the hollow piston member is axially displaceable between a deactivated position and an activated position, and when in the activated position, the hollow piston member fluidly connects the extractor tube and the dispensing line to dispense beverage from the beverage container. The invention further relates to a connection unit for a beverage dispensing system, a dispense head for a beverage dispensing system, use of such dispense head as well as to a method for connecting and disconnecting the replaceable connection unit to a beverage container.

A liquid product distribution network includes a keg distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus associated with a keg. The apparatus includes a radio transmitter device and sensing circuitry for sensing and communicating physical properties associating with the keg. A top or bottom chime of keg physically protects the sensing circuitry during keg distribution in the keg distribution network. The apparatus also includes a battery power supply unit fitted within and protected by the top or bottom chime. The apparatus further includes a unique identifier associated with the sensing and reporting device. The apparatus further includes a mobile communications device is configured to identify the keg based on the unique identifier associated with the sensing and reporting device embedded therein, and receive and process the radiofrequency signals from the radiofrequency signal transmission circuitry of the identified keg passively and without user interaction, for monitoring the physical properties and location of the keg.

A liquid product dispensing container device for affixes to a liquid product dispensing container, such as a beer keg, for monitoring, controlling and/or optimizing flow of a liquid product delivered to consumers from the liquid product dispensing container. The liquid product dispensing container device includes a casing for attaching it to the liquid product dispensing container. The liquid product dispensing container device includes a power source, a radio transmitter circuit, a radio/processing module processing radio signal transmissions of information relating to the liquid product dispensing container. An antenna associates with the radio/processing module for sending and receiving the radio signal transmissions between the radio/processing module and at least one stationary reader and/or mobile device.

A beverage dispensing device includes a container for a liquid beverage to be dispensed, a beverage dispensing line, and a gas line. A keg connector connects the keg interior with the dispensing and gas lines by coupling the keg connector to a container closure. A storing compartment has means for receiving at least two containers. An elongated tapping column is fixed to the top plate and provided with a tapping valve element. The means for receiving at least two containers permits container storage in a dispensing position with its longitudinal axis forming a storing angle of ±30° with respect to the top plane. The keg connector has a height measured along the longitudinal axis between the container's bottom end, and the furthest point of the keg connector coupled to the closure of the connector is not more than 5% greater than the height of the container without keg connector.

A device for dispensing liquid from a container includes a dispensing tube to dispense the liquid through a dispensing valve. A gas tube feeds pressurized gas into the container. The upstream end of the gas tube connects to a source of pressurized gas. A three way valve is coupled to the downstream end of the gas tube. The three way valve includes a keg duct in communication with the interior of the container, a gas duct connected to the downstream end of the gas tube, and a vent duct. The three way valve can switch from a dispensing position in which the keg duct is in communication with the gas duct, and out of communication with the vent duct, to a venting position in which the keg duct is in fluid communication with the vent duct and out of fluid communication with the gas duct.