Pressure controlled method for dispensing a carbonated beverage

A method for operating a system to dispense a carbonated beverage into a serving container at an establishment, that method comprising:

• connecting a reservoir of the system to a source which supplies the carbonated beverage at a first pressure level that is greater than atmospheric pressure;
• holding carbonated beverage in the reservoir at a second pressure level that is less than the first pressure level and substantially greater than atmospheric pressure;
• when dispensing the carbonated beverage into the serving container is desired, opening a vent passage between the reservoir and an ambient environment to lower pressure in the reservoir to substantially the atmospheric pressure;
• dispensing a quantity of carbonated beverage from the reservoir into the serving container, after pressure in the reservoir is at substantially the atmospheric pressure;
• sensing how much carbonated beverage is contained in the reservoir;
• transferring the carbonated beverage from the source to the reservoir when less than a first predefined amount of carbonated beverage is contained in the reservoir;
• closing the vent passage when at least a second predefined amount of carbonated beverage is contained in the reservoir;
• and
• terminating transfer of the carbonated beverage in response to at least a second predefined amount of carbonated beverage being contained in the reservoir.

A method for operating a system to dispense a carbonated beverage into a serving container at an establishment, that method comprising:

• connecting a reservoir of the system to a source which supplies the carbonated beverage at a first pressure level that is greater than atmospheric pressure;
• maintaining carbonated beverage in the reservoir at a second pressure level that is less than the first pressure level and substantially greater than atmospheric pressure;
• when dispensing the carbonated beverage into the serving container is desired, opening a vent passage between the reservoir and an ambient environment to lower pressure in the reservoir to substantially the atmospheric pressure;
• dispensing a quantity of carbonated beverage from the reservoir into the serving container, after pressure in the reservoir is at substantially the atmospheric pressure;
• sensing how much carbonated beverage is contained in the reservoir;
• transferring the carbonated beverage from the source to the reservoir when less than a first predefined amount of carbonated beverage is contained in the reservoir;
• closing the vent passage when at least a second predefined amount of carbonated beverage is contained in the reservoir;
• and
• terminating transfer of the carbonated beverage a predetermined period of time after closing the vent passage.