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 gas pressure regulating means for varying the gas at the inlet of the carbonation unit.

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. The carbonation unit is capable of generating gaseous bubbles having an average major dimension at the carbonated water outlet of the carbonation unit of less than 0.75 mm, preferably less than 0.50 mm, highly preferably between 0.25 and 0.75 mm.

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 flow rate controller at the liquid line which connects to the inlet of the carbonation unit and/or at the liquid line which fluidly connects the carbonation unit to the mixing unit.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser has a housing in which a first liquid inlet is connectable to a base liquid source. The housing also contains a second liquid inlet connectable to a base liquid source or to a pressurized gas source and a pair of jet mixers. First and second liquid lines connect the respective first and second liquid inlets and jet mixers. A first ingredient container contains a first beverage ingredient, the pod or capsule provided in a first ingredient container receiving means, and a second ingredient container containing a second beverage ingredient, the ingredient container provided in a second ingredient container receiving means. The first and second ingredient containers are configured such that upon providing a liquid stream in the respective liquid lines, the beverage ingredient is discharged from the ingredient container into the liquid stream. A beverage outlet is in liquid communication with the jet mixer.

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: 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, an in-line carbonation unit having a water inlet and a pressurized gas inlet, and a mixing unit in which the carbonated water and malt based fermented beverage concentrate are mixed.

Abstract: A method of dispensing a malt-based beverage dispenses into a receptacle ready for consumption and for use in an on-trade or off-trade environment. The method has the following steps. The step of composing a first component of the dispensed beverage is performed during dispensing by mixing a liquid with carbon dioxide and/or nitrogen. The step of adding the first component to at least a second beverage component so as to form the dispensed beverage is performed. The carbon dioxide and/or nitrogen is scented.

Abstract: A dispensing appliance prepares and dispenses a malt based fermented beverage (MBFB) by mixing an MBFB concentrate with a carbonated diluent. The dispensing appliance has a mixing chamber for mixing the MBFB concentrate and the carbonated diluent. The mixing chamber is defined by walls and is divided by a mid-plane normal to a longitudinal axis, X, into an upper portion and a lower portion.

Abstract: A stopcock controls the flow of a liquid under pressure through a dispensing tube with an upstream portion separated by the stopcock from a downstream portion. The stopcock includes a housing portion with a chamber defined by a housing peripheral wall surrounding a longitudinal z-axis. The housing peripheral wall has an inner surface of revolution with a housing inlet opening connectable to the upstream portion of the dispensing tube. The stopcock includes an outlet connector connectable to the downstream portion of the dispensing tube and comprising an outlet opening. A plug defined by a plug outer peripheral wall snugly fitting the inner surface of revolution of the housing peripheral wall. The plug can rotate within the chamber about the longitudinal z-axis.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing apparatus comprises a container containing a beverage and further comprises a dispensing tube composed of three sections: (A) A cartridge formed by a frame defining a perimeter of an inner area and supporting in said inner area a channel forming a serpentine; (B) An upstream dispensing tube section fluidly connecting the interior of the container to an inlet of the channel; (C) A downstream dispensing tube section fluidly connecting an outlet of the channel to a tapping valve; and (D) A beverage dispensing appliance provided with a cooling unit comprising a first and second cooling plates separated from one another by a distance defining an insertion slot, wherein the distance separating the first from the second 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, wherein the first and second surfaces cooling plates contact the channel and apply a pressure thereon deforming the channel.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing device including a base having a support plate is disclosed. The device has a peripheral wall jutting out of the bottom of the support plate and extending along the perimeter of the support plate defining with the bottom surface an inner volume of the base. A source of pressurized gas is lodged in the inner volume of the base, with a device for connecting the source of pressurized gas to the interior of a beverage container outside the inner volume of the base. An elongated tapping column extends normal to the top surface of the base, having an elongated inner channel bringing in fluid communication the inner volume with a tapping valve head located at the opposite top, outlet end of the tapping column. The height of the peripheral wall allows the beverage dispensing device to dispense beverages when standing on the top surface of a counter.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing device includes a container for a liquid beverage to be dispensed, a beverage dispensing line, and a gas line. A keg connector connects the keg interior with the dispensing and gas lines by coupling the keg connector to a container closure. A storing compartment receives at least two containers. An elongated tapping column is fixed to the top plate and provided with a tapping valve element. The receiving device has at least two containers permits container storage in a dispensing position with its longitudinal axis forming a storing angle of ±30° with respect to the top plane. The keg connector has a height measured along the longitudinal axis between the container's bottom end, and the furthest point of the keg connector coupled to the closure of the connector is not more than 5% greater than the height of the container without keg connector.

Abstract: An appliance for dispensing a beverage is disclosed. The appliance has a housing that defines an inner space for a beverage keg. The keg extends along a gravitational direction, X1, parallel to the gravity field, from a top position to a bottom position, wherein the top position is higher in the gravity field than the bottom position when the appliance is in use. A pressure unit pressurizes the interior of the keg. A tap unit dispenses beverages from the keg driven by pressure. A cooling unit cools the beverage in the keg. The cooling unit is suitable for cooling a specific cold area of the keg's outer wall to a temperature lower than any other point of the keg. The cold area of the keg is located in the top third portion of the keg according to the X1 direction.

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: 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 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 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: The present invention describes methods, systems, and appliances that allow a user to prepare a wide array of different types of customizable beverages using various combinations of base liquids and ingredients. These methods, systems and appliances allow users to design and prepare various types of beverages, both carbonated and non-carbonated, that incorporate various ingredients. These methods, systems, and appliances allow for such beverages to be prepared at varying pressures and temperatures, allowing users to custom-design individual servings of beverages such as beers, wines, ciders, and spirits.

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.