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:
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 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 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).

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 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
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).
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 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 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 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).

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 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 removable from the
container holder (28; 68; 108; 158) when the container holder (28; 68; 108; 158) is in the first
position.
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 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 (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
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).

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.