Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing pieces of flexible material from a length thereof (such as tubes 30 from plastics tubing 4) has a rotor 6 with a port 9 through which the tubing 4 is fed. Rotation of the rotor about its axis 7 displaces an end 4' of the tubing over a cutter 15 to cut the tube piece. The tube piece 30 may be gripped by jaws 23 on a turret 20 and carried to a transfer station 31 at which the tube piece 30 may be picked up by jaws 71 on a vertically displaceable head 60 of a locating unit 3. The head 60 rotates with a turret 56 and is displaced vertically under cam control 62, 63 for fitting an end 30A of the tube piece into a component, such as an open topped container 40, in a seat 52 beneath the head 60. The container 40 may be conveyed to the seat 52 in a filling and sealing line for forming a beverage package.

Abstract: A carbonated beverage dispensing system includes a carbonation bowl 1 having a chamber 2 with a frusto conical upper part 4. Water is admitted to the chamber 2 as a mist through nozzle 7 and CO2 is admitted to the chamber through inlet 8 to provide a carbonated water reservoir. Carbonated water is driven under pressure of CO2 in the headspace of chamber 2 through a metering unit 42 and mixed at 27 with beverage syrup for dispensing through tap 29. When the dispense system is dormant a microprocessor 70 actuates pump 13 to introduce water which raises the level of the reservoir into the frusto conical part 4 so that the surface area of the reservoir exposed to the CO2 is reduced to alleviate excessive absorption of CO2 by the water in the reservoir. The system may be applied for post mix of carbonated water with beverage syrup or to pre-mix of beverage syrup with un-carbonated water and which mixture is subsequently carbonated.

Abstract: A beverage package and a method of forming such a package has a can 1 within a primary chamber 5 of which is located an insert 6 having a secondary chamber 10. The insert has a seating in the form of a bore 11 within which is received the lower end of a tube 15. The tube 15 is fitted to the insert whilst the latter is positioned in the can. When the can is charged with beverage such as beer 20 having gas in solution and sealed to form a headspace 21 containing gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric, beer from the chamber 20 may fill the tube 15. The secondary chamber 10 contains gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric and on opening the container the headspace 21 de-pressurises causing beverage and/or gas from the secondary chamber to be ejected through the tube 15 and such ejection causes froth to be developed in the headspace 21.

Abstract: A beverage package has a sealed container 1 containing beer 11 having gas in solution and forming a headspace 16 containing gas at pressure greater than atmospheric. A hollow insert 7 is located in the container and is responsive to a pressure differential developed on opening the top 5 of the container to inject beer and/or gas therefrom into the beer 11 whereby to liberate gas 17 from solution and form froth in the headspace 16. A baffle plate 12 on the insert 7 restrains the liberation of gas 17 to a minor proporation of the volume of beer 11 so that when the beer is poured into a glass, gas can evolve naturally from the beer to produce "sparkle". As an alternative to the beer and/or gas injection bubble initiation, gas from solution in the minor proporation of the volume of beer may be liberated by contact of that beer with a bubble initiating material.