Abstract: The dispenser includes a bottle connector 5 for releasable sealing engagement with a neck formed on an inverted bottle 3, and a water path 6 conducts liquid from the bottle to a reservoir 7 via an optional water pump 41. The reservoir 7 is received in a thermal receptacle incorporating an evaporator plate 13 for producing ice within a bottom chamber 103 of the reservoir. The evaporator plate incorporates an electrical heating element 105 for periodically freeing the ice which enters an upper inlet chamber 100 and an ice chamber 101 separated by a baffle. Optical sensors A, B and C control ice generation. Ambient water entering the inlet chamber 100 is cooled to a temperature as low as 4° C. The chilled water then enters the ice chamber 101, from which ice-cold water can be dispensed close to zero ° C. A diverter flap 112 allows the inlet chamber 100 to continue receiving ice when the ice chamber 101 is full.

Abstract: Energy-efficient apparatus for blow moulding articles from thermoplastic material includes a mould 2 defining a mould cavity 3 for receiving a heated thermoplastic parison 4. An air duct 9 connects the mould to a low pressure accumulator 10 containing air at a first moulding pressure for use in a first blowing stage, at least one intermediate accumulator 20, 30, containing air at intermediate pressures for use in intermediate blowing stages, and a high pressure accumulator 40 containing air at a final moulding pressure for use in a final blowing stage. The capacity of each of the accumulators is about ten times greater than the volume of the mould cavity. Valves 11-41 selectively control communication between each of the accumulators and the mould cavity 3 to admit air from each of the accumulators to the mould cavity in sequence during a blowing phase, and thereby expand the parison in a stepwise manner.