Patent ID: 7611031

Claim:
A beverage dispensing apparatus for a refrigerator, the beverage dispensing apparatus comprising: a drink supply container holder connectable to the refrigerator, the drink supply container holder configured to hold a plurality of drink supply containers, each of the drink supply containers having a drink supply outlet valve, wherein each of the drink supply containers can contain a drink syrup of a different flavor, each of said drink syrups associated with a different beverage; at least one drink supply outlet valve actuator connectable to the refrigerator; a water supply apparatus connectable to the refrigerator, the water supply apparatus including a carbonated water line, at least one carbonated water valve connected to the carbonated water line, and a water dispenser connected to the carbonated water valve, the water dispenser operable to dispense carbonated water; at least one water valve actuator connectable to the refrigerator, the water valve actuator positioned adjacent to the carbonated water valve; a gas supply apparatus connectable to the refrigerator, the gas supply apparatus fluidly connected to the water supply apparatus; a processor operatively coupled to the drink supply outlet valve actuator and the water valve actuator; and a memory device accessible by the processor, the memory device storing a plurality of instructions executable by the processor to: (a) determine an event associated with one of the beverages; (b) determine which one of the drink supply containers is associated with said beverage; (c) cause actuation of the drink supply outlet valve actuator, thereby causing the drink supply outlet valve of said drink supply container to open; (d) cause actuation of the water valve actuator, thereby causing the carbonated water valve to open for a period of time during which the drink supply outlet valve is open; (e) cause actuation of the drink supply outlet valve actuator, thereby enabling the opened drink supply outlet valve to close; and (f) cause actuation of the water valve actuator to enable the opened carbonated water valve to close.