Embodiments described herein relate to systems and methods of extracting liquid from empty barrels. In one aspect, a method includes heating a barrel with less than about 10 ml of free liquid disposed therein to expand pores in the barrel. The method further includes applying, after the heating, a negative pressure to an interior of a vessel in which the barrel is disposed, such that an amount of liquid is extracted from the barrel. The method includes collecting, after the applying, the amount of liquid within a collection container. In some embodiments, collecting the amount of liquid includes pumping the liquid through a tube that is disposed between an outer surface of the barrel and the collection container. In some embodiments, heating the barrel is via a heated blanket wrapped around the barrel. In some embodiments, heating the barrel is via placing the barrel in an oven.

System for dispensing a beverage into a container (18) comprising at least one dispenser unit (10). The dispenser unit (10) comprises at least one beverage outlet port and a movable seal member (34) which is configured to form a sealing barrier between at least a portion of the container (18) and the dispenser head. In this way the container is pressurised before filling, so as to avoid excessive foaming.

A beverage server for pouring a beverage includes tubular through-screw portion 4, gas supply tube 2, gas supply device 3, gate valve 43, tubular pouring portion 5, and check valve 51. The gate valve is configured to be opened and closed with the pouring portion. The pouring portion has beverage supply hole 53 formed at a lower end portion thereof. Food additive gas supplied from the gas supply device is supplied from the gas supply tube to the through-screw portion and supplied to internal space S through a space between an outer wall of the pouring portion and an inner wall of the through-screw portion. The food additive gas exerts a pressing force that causes the beverage to flow to the inside of the pouring portion through the beverage supply hole, open the check valve, and be poured through an orifice of the pouring portion.

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 device are provided for dispensing a beverage. The method comprises cooling a beverage to a first temperature below a melting point of the beverage, receiving a beverage container with a storage volume for receiving the beverage, pressurising the storage volume of the beverage container up to a first pressure, dispensing the beverage into the pressurised storage volume of the beverage container, and decreasing the pressure in the storage volume of the beverage container to ambient pressure, wherein the beverage is cooled to a first temperature below a melting point of the beverage prior to decreasing the pressure in the storage volume of the beverage container to ambient pressure. The device may be arranged to perform parts of the method.

Ingredient dispensing systems and methods in a fluid mixture system using a monitored chamber pressure are disclosed. One system includes a chamber, an inlet to the chamber, a set of ingredient reservoirs, in the chamber, storing a respective set of ingredients and sealed by a respective set of valve, a pressure source, and a controller. The system is programmed to set a pressure of the chamber using the pressure source and the inlet to the chamber. The system is also programmed to dispense, using the pressure, at least two ingredients from the respective set of ingredients by actuating at least two valves from the respective set of valves.

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 system for dispensing a liquid from a bottle 13 comprises an assembly 17, 18 and a stopper 19 to be introduced into a bottleneck, which stopper can be separated from the assembly. The stopper 19 comprises a liquid dispensing pipe 14, 16 with a electromagnetic valve 15 and a gas path 12 having a check valve 11 therein. The assembly comprises a solenoid 10 and a tank 1 containing gas for driving the liquid from the bottle. The tank is connected via a further electromagnetic valve 3 to gas pipes 8 and 9. The stopper which closes off the bottle can be connected to the assembly such that gas pipe 9 connects with check valve 12 and solenoid 10 surrounds electromagnetic valve 15. By actuating programmable button switch 4 both electromagnetic valves 3, 15 open for a preset time so that a metered quantity of liquid is dispensed from the bottle. Alternatively, another button switch 5 allows to dispense a non-preset volume of liquid.

Devices and methods for extracting a beverage from a container, such as a wine bottle. Beverage can be extracted from a container by inserting a needle through a container closure, such as a cork, delivering pressurized gas into the container via the needle, and dispensing beverage from the container via the needle. A pressure regulator may control a pressure of gas introduced into the container, and a lance used to pierce a pressurized gas cylinder may include a leading face arranged to reliably pierce a cylinder closure. The regulator may include valve features to reduce valve chatter or hammering and provide a more reliable pressure seal.

This invention is a refrigeration, dispensing, and management system for beverage and beverage containers that includes a tap attached to an upper door and a supply line; a recess base in a recess of a housing; a slide slidably carried by the recess base having a slot; a pressurized gas cylinder connected to the housing and attached to a gas line in fluid communications with the supply line wherein the gas cylinder contains gas selected from the group consisting of O.sub.2, CO.sub.2, N.sub.2 or other inert gas; and, a cap placed on the beverage container so that when the tap is opened, pressurized gas enters the cap and the snorkel through an inlet defined in the cap, forces gas into the beverage container, and forces the beverage out of the outline defined in the cap, through the supply line and out of the tap.