1 17817019.

CLAIMS

1. An apparatus (20; 60; 100; 150) for dispensing an additive into a liquid in a
container (21), the apparatus (20; 60; 100; 150) comprising:
5 a support structure (22; 62; 102; 152);
a container holder (28; 68; 108; 158) for holding a container (21) containing a
liquid, the container holder (28; 68; 108; 158) being supported by the support structure
(22; 62; 102; 152);
a capsule holder (38, 86, 126, 180) for holding a capsule (40) containing an
10 additive; and
a manipulator device (41) operable to manipulate the capsule (40) to dispense the
additive into the container (21); and wherein the apparatus (20; 60; 100; 150) includes
a container opener (30; 80; 123; 170) operable to engage a cap (21a) on the
container (21) and to remove the cap (21a) prior to manipulation of the capsule by the
15 manipulator device (41).

2. An apparatus (20; 60; 100; 150) according to claim 1, wherein the container
opener (30; 80; 123; 170) is configured to apply a removal force to the cap (21a) to
remove it from the container (21).
20
3. An apparatus (20; 60; 100; 150) according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus (20;
60; 100; 150) is arranged so that a single operation causes the application of the removal
force by the container opener (30; 80; 123; 170) and thereafter the manipulation of the
capsule (40) by the manipulator device (41); wherein the single operation is either
25 provided by movement of the container holder (28; 68; 108; 158) from a first position to
a second position or is provided by operation of an operating lever (70) from a second
position to a third position.

4. An apparatus (20; 60; 100; 150) according to any preceding claim, wherein the
30 apparatus (20; 60; 100; 150) includes a bin (46; 206) and wherein the apparatus is
positioned to receive a capsule (40) ejected following dispensing of the additive from
the capsule (40) into the container (21).
 2 17817019.7

5. An apparatus (20; 60; 100; 150) according to any preceding claim, wherein the
container holder (28; 68; 108; 158) is rotatably mounted on the support structure (22;
62; 102; 152) for movement between a first position in which the container (21) is
disposed at an angle to the vertical and a second position in which the container (21) is
5 disposed in a substantially vertical upright position.

6. An apparatus (20; 60; 100; 150) according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the
container holder (28; 68; 108; 158) is rotatably mounted on the support structure (22;
62; 102; 152) for movement between a first position in which the container (21) is
10 disposed in a substantially vertical upright position and a second position in which the
container (21) is disposed at an angle to the vertical.

7. An apparatus (20; 60; 100; 150) according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the
manipulator device (41) is arranged to manipulate the capsule (40) to dispense the
15 additive during movement of the container holder (28; 68; 108; 158) from the first
position to the second position and is either:
a compression device (200) operable to apply a compressive force to the capsule
(40) to rupture the capsule (40); or
a cutting device or piercing device operable to penetrate the capsule (40).
20
8. An apparatus (20; 60; 100; 150) according to any of claims 5 to 7 when dependent
on any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the container opener (28; 68; 108; 158) is arranged to
remove the cap (21a) from the container (21) during movement of the container holder
(28; 68; 108; 158) from the first position to the second position by applying a removal
25 force to the cap (21a).

9. An apparatus (20; 60; 100; 150) according to any of claims 5 to 8, wherein the
container holder (28; 68; 108; 158) is movable from the second position to the first
position and the container (21) containing the liquid and dispensed additive is
30 removable from the container holder (28; 68; 108; 158) when the container holder (28;
68; 108; 158) is in the first position.
 3 17817019.7

10. An apparatus (20; 60; 100; 150) according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the
container holder (28; 68; 108; 158) is formed in the support structure (22; 62; 102; 152)
to hold a container (21) in a substantially vertical upright position and the apparatus (20;
60; 100; 150) includes an operating lever (70) movable between a first position and a
5 second position to engage the container opener (30; 80; 123; 170) with a cap (21a) fitted
to the container (21).

11. An apparatus (20; 60; 100; 150) according to claim 10, wherein the operating lever
(70) is movable from the second position to a third position and the container opener
10 (30; 80; 123; 170) is arranged to remove the cap (21a) from the container (21) during
movement of the operating lever from the second position to the third position.

12. An apparatus (20; 60; 100; 150) according to claim 11, wherein the manipulator
device (41) is arranged to manipulate the capsule (40) to dispense the additive during
15 movement of the operating lever (70) from the second position to the third position and
the manipulator device (41) is either:
a compression device (42) operable to apply a compressive force to the capsule
(40) to rupture the capsule (40); or
a cutting device or piercing device operable to penetrate the capsule (40).
20
13. An apparatus (20; 60; 100; 150) according to claim 12, wherein the operating lever
(70) is biased for return movement from the third position to the first position and the
container (21) containing the liquid and dispensed additive is removable from the
container holder (28; 68; 108; 158) when the operating lever (70) is in the first position.
25