Abstract: The present invention describes appliances for preparing and dispensing beverages, such as beers, featuring a transparent window that allows a user of the appliance to view the beverage in a chamber of the appliance as that beverage is being prepared. The chamber in which the beverage is prepared can be either an integral part of the appliance or a disposable chamber that can be removed and replaced with a new disposable chamber after one or more servings of a. beverage has been prepared in the disposable chamber. The appliances can have methods for cleaning the chamber, or the chamber can be self-cleaning. If the chamber for preparing the beverage is a disposable container, it may come with a concentrated beverage already prepackaged in the container, and the casing of the container can prevent oxygen and light from penetrating the container and affecting the concentrated beverage contained within.

Abstract: 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 X1; (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 X2, different from X1, the difference in thermal expansion causing the conductive panel to bulge at a change in temperature.

Abstract: A cooling unit has (a) a cooling cartridge having (i) two foils sealed to one another along a perimeter area delimiting an inner area of the cartridge where a liquid pathway is defined between both foils, the liquid pathway making a fluid communication between an inlet and an outlet of the cooling cartridge; (ii) a web or mesh of material provided between both foils in the inner area of the cooling cartridge in the liquid pathway, the web or mesh of material has contact zones where the foils contact the web or mesh of material in the inner area of the cooling cartridge when the pressure reigning in the inner area equals ambient pressure; (b) a first cooling plate has a first surface and a second cooling plate has a second surface facing the first surface; (c) a cold source suitable for cooling said first and second surfaces, wherein the inner area of the cooling cartridge is positioned between both cooling surfaces; wherein the foils are not or only at distinct locations attached to the contact zones of the w

Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrally blow-moulded bag-in-container and preform for blow-moulding the bag-in-container. An inner layer and an outer layer are used, wherein the preform forms a two-layer container upon blow-moulding, and wherein the obtained inner layer of the container releases from the thus obtained outer layer upon introduction of a gas at a point of interface between the two layers. At least one of the inner and outer layers includes at least one additive allowing both inner and outer layers to reach their respective blow-moulding temperatures substantially simultaneously.

Abstract: The present invention describes polymer compositions that have enhanced properties as oxygen barriers, as well as manufacturing methods for such oxygen-scavenging polymers and devices composed of such oxygen-scavenging polymers. These oxygen-scavenging polymers offer several benefits over existing materials, including a reduced ability for oxygen and carbon dioxide to permeate the polymer, reduced foaming of beverages stored in containers composed of the polymers, improved moisture absorption, and increased anti-bacterial/anti-fungal properties.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus including (a) one thermoelectric cooler of the Pelletier type, having a hot surface and a cold surface is disclosed. The apparatus further includes (b) a heat sink thermally connected to the hot surface, and (c) a first and optionally a second heat conductive panels with a contact portion in thermal contact with a first and optionally a second corresponding portions of the cold surface over a first and optionally second contact areas. The contact portions of the first and optionally second heat conductive panels are pressed against the corresponding first and second portions of the cold surface with a first and respectively second contact pressures. A (d) control means controls the average temperature of the heat conductive panel. The control means includes area control means for varying the first and optionally second contact areas, and/or pressure means for controlling the first and optionally second contact pressures.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing apparatus having a container containing a beverage and a dispensing tube having three sections. The first section is a cartridge formed by a frame defining a perimeter of an inner area and supporting in the inner area a channel forming a serpentine. An upstream dispensing tube section fluidly connects the interior of the container to an inlet of the channel. A downstream dispensing tube section fluidly connects an outlet of the channel to a tapping valve. The appliance is provided with a cooling unit having a first and second cooling plates separated from one another by a distance defining an insertion slot. The distance separating the cooling plates can be varied, from a loading distance, d0, allowing the introduction of the cartridge into the slot, to a cooling distance, dc<d0, where the cooling plates contact the channel and apply pressure thereon deforming the channel.

Abstract: The invention is an integrally blow-moulded bag-in-container obtainable by blow-moulding an injection moulded multi-layer preform. The bag-in-container includes an inner layer forming, the bag and an outer layer forming the container, and a single opening, the mouth, fluidly connecting the volume defined by the bag to the atmosphere. The container further includes at least one interface vent fluidly connecting the interface between inner and outer layers to the atmosphere, wherein the bag is anchored to the outer layer at at least one point remote from the single opening and interface vent. The invention also relates to a process and a mould for the production of the blow-moulded bag-in-container.

Abstract: The invention is an integrally blow-moulded bag-in-container and preform and a method for making it. The bag-in-container has an inner layer forming the bag and an outer layer forming the container, and a mouth fluidly connecting the volume defined by the bag to the atmosphere. The container further has at least one interface vent fluidly connecting the interface between inner and outer layers to the atmosphere, wherein the at least one vent runs parallel to the interface between inner and outer layers and opens to the atmosphere at a location adjacent to, and oriented coaxially with the bag-in-container's mouth. Processes for manufacturing a preform and a bag-in-container as defined above are defined too.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for preparation of a heat shrinking polyester film. The method includes obtaining a polyester film made from a modified composition of a polyester. The composition of polyester include one or more polyester selected from but not limited to group consisting of terephthalic acid (PET), naphthalenedicarboxylic acid (PEN), 1,4-cyclohexane-di-carboxylic acid, Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), Polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT) and isophthalic acid. The composition further includes an amount of Maleic anhydride as a cross linking agent, and optionally an amount of glycol. The method further includes thermally stretching the obtained polyester film in a stretching direction under a predetermined direction under a predetermined reduced temperature. Thereafter, the polyester film is cooled thereby locking the shrink properties within the polyester film.

Abstract: The invention is an integrally blow-moulded bag-in-container and preform and a method for making it. The bag-in-container has an inner layer forming the bag and an outer layer forming the container, and a mouth fluidly connecting the volume defined by the bag to the atmosphere. The container further has at least one interface vent fluidly connecting the interface between inner and outer layers to the atmosphere, wherein the at least one vent runs parallel to the interface between inner and outer layers and opens to the atmosphere at a location adjacent to, and oriented coaxially with the bag-in-container's mouth. Processes for manufacturing a preform and a bag-in-container as defined above are defined too.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing device prepares and dispenses a beverage. The dispensing device includes a housing which has a beverage unit with a liquid inlet and a beverage outlet. The beverage unit has a receiver for at least one container containing a unit dose of concentrated beverage ingredient to be dispensed, and an ingredient discharge. The beverage unit has a liquid line. The liquid line first section extends from the base liquid inlet to a receiver liquid inlet to guide base liquid into the unit dose of beverage ingredient through the beverage discharge into the liquid line second section that extends from the ingredient discharge to the beverage outlet. A mixing chamber is defined in the liquid line. Temperature regulator is provided in the mixing chamber or the mixing chamber comprises an inlet for pressurized fluid for expanding the fluid in the mixing chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrally blow-moulded bag-in-container (2) and preform (1, 1?) for blow-moulding the bag-in-container. An inner layer (11) and an outer layer (12) are used, wherein the preform forms a two-layer container upon blow-moulding, and wherein the obtained inner layer of the container releases from the thus obtained outer layer upon introduction of a gas at a point of interface (14) between the two layers. At least one of the inner and outer layers includes at least one additive allowing both inner and outer layers to reach their respective blow-moulding temperatures substantially simultaneously.

Abstract: 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 X1; (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 X2, different from X1, the difference in thermal expansion causing the conductive panel to bulge at a change in temperature.

Abstract: An appliance for the production and dispensing of malt based fermented beverage has a malt based fermented beverage concentrated inlet, a water inlet, a pressurized gas inlet, a carbonation unit having a water inlet and a pressurized gas inlet, a mixing unit in which the carbonated water and malt based fermented beverage concentrate are mixed, wherein the appliance has a cooling unit in which the water is cooled before carbonation.

Abstract: An appliance for the production and dispensing of malt based fermented beverage has a malt based fermented beverage concentrated inlet, liquid lines, a water inlet, a pressurized gas inlet, a carbonation unit having a water inlet and a pressurized gas inlet, a mixing unit in which the carbonated water and malt based fermented beverage concentrate are mixed. The appliance further has a pressure control unit allowing control of the pressure on the water at the water inlet of the carbonation unit.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing device dispenses different types of beverages or beverage components. At least one type of beverage is a malt based beverage or beverage component. The dispensing device has multiple supply lines each extending from a corresponding supply source and having a controllable supply line valve as well as a controlling device for sequentially setting the controllable supply line valves. A beverage dispensing device contains multiple beverages or beverage components to be dispensed into a receptacle after every sequence step has been executed and during a single tapping cycle.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A closure having a base with a piercable part, defined by a sidewall extending transversally with respect to the base and a bottom thereby creating an indent therein, the sidewall and/or bottom provided with several lines of weakened material strength, wherein the lines divide the sidewall and/or bottom in several wedge formed parts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrally blow-moulded bag-in-container (2) having an integrally blow-moulded bag-in-container wherein the same polymer is in contact on either side of the interface between the inner (11) and outer layers (12). It also concerns a preform (1, 1?) for blow-moulding a bag-in-container, having an inner layer and an outer layer, wherein the preform forms a two-layer container upon blow-moulding, and wherein the thus obtained inner layer of the container releases from the thus obtained outer layer upon introduction of a gas at a point of interface between the two layers. The inner and outer layers are of the same material.