Abstract: The invention provides an improved method for dispensing beverages from a collapsible liner fitted with a disposable valve. It comprises an external tap actuator with hand operated lever and integrated external dispense nozzle. The collapsible liner valve is located inside the housing of the external tap actuator. The external tap actuator's hand operated lever is configured in several ways to be compatible with three commercially available collapsible liner taps. When the hand operated lever opens the valve, the beverage flows into the said dispense nozzle which delivers the liquid to a beverage container such as a glass or carafe.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring density of a liquid that comprises a float unit having a sealed hollow casing that contains a first magnet and a strain-gauge unit having a sealed hollow casing that contains a strain gauge and a second magnet arranged coaxially to the first magnet. Coaxiality of the magnets is provided by means of a guide rod installed on the casing of the strain-gauge unit and used to guide the float unit by inserting the guide rod into the central opening of the float unit casing. A characteristic feature of the sensor is that changes in the density of the liquid that cause displacement of the float cause detectable deformations of the strain gauge via forces of magnetic interaction between the first and second magnets without physical contact between the magnets. Since the elements of the sensor are located in sealed casings, they are not subject to damage and do not require maintenance.

Abstract: A wine-making pressing and fermenting apparatus that contains a compression-fermentation tank and a press plate moveable relative to the bottom of the tank due to engagement of a lead screw with a nut. According to one embodiment, the nut is fixed to the press tube that extends downward from the tank cover and engages the lead screw threaded into the nut from below and driven into rotation by the motor located under the tank in the tank supporting structure. According to another embodiment, the nut is fixed to the tank tube that extends upward from the tank bottom and engages the lead screw threaded into the nut from above and driven into rotation by the motor located over the tank and supported by the tank cover. The press plate has a plurality of through openings for squeezing out the grape juice.