Abstract: The invention is a closure for the aperture of a pressure driven dispensing container. The closure includes (a) an outer shell having a planar base including an outer first main surface and an inner second main surface. The base includes a dispensing aperture fluidly connecting the outer surface to the inner surface and receives a dispensing tube. An outer peripheral skirt juts out of the inner surface and seals the closure to the aperture of the container. The closure also includes (b) a flexible valve in contact with the inner surface located within the outer peripheral skirt and defining an interior passageway having a first opening at one end adjacent to and in fluid communication with the first dispensing aperture and having a second opening at the other end of the passageway, wherein the flexible valve is resiliently biased so that it naturally shuts and seals the second opening.

Abstract: A tap for dispensing a beverage has a housing defining a channel for dispensing and a dispensing valve arranged in the housing. The valve is operable by a handle and connected via a tap drive shaft and a gear transmission to a valve drive shaft. The gear transmission has at least two cooperating gear wheels. The gear transmission could have a variable gear ratio. A method for manufacturing a tap for dispensing a beverage is disclosed.

Abstract: A dispensing assembly having a container containing a liquid to be dispensed and a dispensing tube bringing in fluid communication with ambient the volume inside the container containing the liquid. The dispensing tube has a flexible, resilient portion ending in an outlet of diameter, D, and is engaged in a pinch valve system. The pinch valve system has a squeezing member suitable for squeezing and obturating a section of the flexible portion located at a distance, h, from the outlet. The ratio, h/D, of the distance, h, to the outlet diameter, D, is not more than 2, preferably, not more than 1.5, more preferably, not more than 1.0.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser and method for mixing one or more beverage components with at least one carbonated liquid is disclosed. The beverage container has at least one dispenser beverage inlet connected or connectable to a source of a beverage component. The beverage container has at least one dispenser carbonated liquid inlet connected or connectable to a source of a carbonated liquid. A mixing device for mixing one or more beverage components with at least one carbonated liquid into a final beverage is provided. The beverage container has a dispenser outlet for dispensing the final beverage. The mixing device has one or more double jet mixers.

Abstract: A keg connector for coupling a dispensing line and gas line to a keg is disclosed having a closure with a sealed dispensing opening and gas opening. The connector has a mono-block body with a top plate structure having a perimeter, upper surface, lower surface, and clamping system. The clamping system has two clamping legs jutting from the lower surface of the top plate, and two levers jutting out of the upper surface of the top plate, each lever has a coupled end fixed to the opposite portions of the perimeter of the top plate as the hinge ends of the two legs. The connecter has a dispensing tube with an upstream portion jutting out of the lower surface of the top plate, and a gas tube with a downstream portion jutting out of the lower surface of the top plate parallel to the upstream portion of the dispensing tube.

Abstract: A can for containing a liquid having a top end is disclosed. The top end has a dispense area defined by a first score line and a pull tab coupled to the top end by a rivet. The pull tab has a puncturing end for breaking the first score line and pushing into the interior of the can without detaching the dispense area to open a dispense aperture. A vent area is defined by a second score line and positioned on the opposite side of the rivet. The first and second score lines are separated by at least one torsion stripe of the can top material for acting as a hinge by torsion upon lifting the actuating end of the pull tab. As the dispense aperture is opened by pushing the dispense area into the interior of the can, a vent aperture is opened by pulling the vent area outwards.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrally blow-molded bag-in-container (2) having an integrally blow-molded 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-molding a bag-in-container, having an inner layer and an outer layer, wherein the preform forms a two-layer container upon blow-molding, 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.

Abstract: The invention is an integrally blow-moulded bag-in-container and preform 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 invention is an integrally blow-moulded bag-in-container and preform 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 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: A polyester composition is suitable for food and beverage packaging. The polyester composition is obtained by blending: (a) 90-97 wt. % of a thermoplastic polyester selected from polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalene, and mixtures thereof, (b) 2-6 wt. % of MXD6, (c) 1-5000 ppm of a cobalt salt, (d) 0.1-1000 ppm ethylene glycol (EG), and (e) 0.1-1000 ppm of pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA).

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 receiving means 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 receiving means 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 regulating means are provided in the mixing chamber or in that the mixing chamber comprises an inlet for pressurized fluid for expanding said fluid in said mixing chamber.

Abstract: A dispensing appliance allowing the loading of a container together with a dispensing tube is disclosed. After loading the container into the holding portion of the appliance, a dispensing cartridge is engaged into a receiving system provided in the dispensing portion of the appliance, which is movable with respect to the holding portion from a first loading position to a second dispensing position. The cartridge partially encases a dispensing tube with both inlet and outlet ends protruding out of first and second sides of the cartridge, such that the outlet portion of the dispensing tube is flexible. Upon engaging the cartridge into the receiving system, the outlet portion is engaged into a pinch valve while the inlet points towards the dispensing opening of the container. The dispensing tube inlet is introduced into the dispensing opening upon moving the dispensing portion of the appliance to its second dispensing position.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are provided for conducting a social interaction. A first user account may be associated with a first beverage container. A second beverage container may be detected as being proximate to the first beverage container. A second user account associated with the second beverage container may be accessed to identify a commonality between the first and second user accounts. The commonality may be objective and/or subjective information or data about the users of the first and second beverage containers. Information indicative of the commonality may be displayed on an electronic display of at least one of the beverage containers. The electronic display may be flexible such that it conforms to a curvature of the beverage container.

Abstract: A kit of parts for dispensing a liquid contained in a container is disclosed. The kit includes a pressure driven dispensing appliance. The pressure driven dispensing appliance has a device for receiving a container containing a liquid to be dispensed. The appliance also has a device for dispensing the liquid from the container, when mounted in the appliance, a chamber containing a solid adsorbent suitable for adsorbing air, and a device for fluidly connecting the chamber with the interior of the container, when mounted in the appliance. An air compressor releasibly connectable to the chamber is also included.

Abstract: A liquid pressure-reducing unit having a first half body with a contact surface and first groove extending over the contact surface is disclosed. The unit has a flexible resilient sealing element having a floor layer lining the floor of the first groove. The unit has a second half body with a contact surface and first and second walls extending out of the contact surface and defining a second groove. The contact surfaces of the first half body and second half body join, wherein the first and second walls penetrate into the first groove so that the free end of the first and second walls forms a fluid-tight contact with the flexible resilient floor layer lining the floor of the first groove, defining a fluid-tight channel bringing in fluid communication a fluid inlet with a fluid outlet. The channel is non-rectilinear and/or having a cross-section varying over the length thereof.

Abstract: A dispensing unit for dispensing a beverage from a pressurized container having a tapping column fixed to and extending normal to the top surface of a top plate with an opening and forming an elbow is disclosed. The column has an elongated inner channel bringing in fluid communication the support plate with a tapping pinch valve located in a tapping head at the elbow. The tapping pinch valve has jaws for receiving in pinching relationship the outlet end of the dispensing line and controlling flow of liquid by varying the distance between the jaws from a closed to an open position. A flexible dispensing line, having inlet and outlet ends, extends in the channel. The outlet end engages the pinch valve, and the inlet end connects to a keg. A device for opening the channel includes the pinch valve so a distance larger than the open position separates the jaws.

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 said 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 pressure dispensing container containing a liquid and closed by a closure having a first aperture offset with respect to the centroid of the closure's base is disclosed. The container is mounted on a dispensing appliance including a first tube to be inserted into the corresponding first, offset aperture of the closure. The closure further having a crenellation in its lower rim mating a crenellation in a structure for receiving the closure of the container. A closure holding structure is located in the holding portion of the appliance and is suitable for receiving in mating relationship the closure of the container such that the first offset aperture of the closure is in direct engaging relationship with the first tube of the appliance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrally blow-molded bag-in-container (2) having an integrally blow-molded 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-molding a bag-in-container, having an inner layer and an outer layer, wherein the preform forms a two-layer container upon blow-molding, 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.