2151results about "Liquid flow controllers" patented technology

An automated fountain beverage dispensing system comprises a main body attachable to a beverage dispenser, a cup holding unit having a plurality of cup holders for holding cups, a first rail provided on the main body, a first slider arranged to slide on the first rail for extracting and moving a predetermined cup, a second rail provided on the main body, a second slider arranged to slide on the second rail, and a robotic arm unit mounted with the second slider for holding and moving the selected cup. The robotic arm unit is configured to fill the cup with a beverage by pressing one of the plurality levers of the beverage dispenser depending on what type of beverage is selected from a touch screen provided on the main body or via a POS system. The robotic arm unit is further configured to leave the filled cup in a predetermined position.

A canteen is composed of a main body, a cover, a control unit, a valve and an annular blocker. The cover is engaged with the main body, having a jointing tube protruding into the main body and two notches cut in the jointing tube. The control unit is fixed on the cover, having a jointing portion, two grooves formed in the jointing portion and reversely shaped to correspond to the notches of the cover, and a sucker bored with an outlet. The valve is installed in the control unit, having a bar to correspond to the outlet, and a guiding rod transversely extended out from its bottom to extend through the grooves and the notches of the cover. When rotating the control unit, the valve is moved up and down to be separated from or to clog the outlet, convenient for using and preventing the suction portion from contaminated.

A variable temperature control assembly for a water dispenser, using a variable water temperature selector, that delivers water to the consumer at the temperature requested on the variable temperature selector by calculating the required ratio of hot water, cold water and ambient water needed to deliver water at the temperature requested.

The inventive system and method advantageously enable superior preserved storage and selective dispensation of liquids by storing wine (or other liquids) in a pressurized environment to ensure that the stored liquid does not come into contact with air, and then by selectively dispensing a portion of the stored liquid, in accordance with a desired dispensing regime, by utilizing a controlled source of pressure force to apply a sufficient pressure to the pressurized environment to expel the desired volume of the liquid in a pressurized stream directed to a dispensing / pouring interface through a conduit or equivalent delivery system. In at least several novel embodiments thereof, the system and method of the present invention are configured for use with wine-in-bag (“WinB”) products.

A water supply device for supplying water for consumption includes a hot-water tank and a pipeline for conveying water with a temperature below 65° C. to a draw-off point. The water supply device further includes an inlet valve configured for allowing or blocking inflow of fresh water into the hot-water tank feed, a return pipe that connects the line for conveying water with a temperature below 65° C. to the hot-water tank for returning water, and a return pipe valve fitted in the return pipe to allow or to block flow of water through the return pipe, in such a way that by blocking the inlet valve and opening the return pipe valve, a circulation circuit is formed for the at least partial sterilization of the line for conveying water with a temperature below 65° C.

The disclosure generally relates to an automated modular dispensing platform for creating customized beverages (e.g., using various sauces, syrups, sweeteners, colors and / or flavors added to a base beverage). The automated dispensing platform may simultaneously aggregate beverage modifiers or ingredients (e.g., sweetener, flavor, and / or color) and facilitate automated, efficient cleaning cycles for modular beverage dispensers.

The disclosure generally relates to an automated modular dispensing platform for creating customized beverages (e.g., using various sauces, syrups, sweeteners, colors and / or flavors added to a base beverage). The automated dispensing platform may simultaneously aggregate beverage modifiers or ingredients (e.g., sweetener, flavor, and / or color) and facilitate automated, efficient cleaning cycles for modular beverage dispensers.

Embodiments described herein provide a self-contained, above-the-counter beverage dispenser that allows for personalization of flavor intensity, temperature, and carbonation levels. The system can have a small form factor that allows it to sit on a countertop and below upper cabinetry. The dispenser can dispense carbonated beverages, still beverages, flavored beverages, hot beverages, cold beverages, and combinations thereof. Moreover, unlike existing systems, embodiments described herein may maintained by a user without special training, tools, or technical expertise. The dispenser can include consumable components, such as ingredient cartridges, a gas cylinder, and a filter. Each of these consumable components can be replaced easily without any tools or special training or expertise. Additionally, all consumables can be accessible behind a door on the front of the machine, making them readily accessible by only opening the front door.

The present embodiments relate to systems and methods relating to a capsule containing a liquid concentrate and a device capable of creating a gas-infused liquid, such as a nitro-infused cold beverage or iced coffee. The device can include a cold-water tank and a cooling system to chill cold water. The device can also include a gas reservoir including a gas. The device can also include a fluidic capsule connector that includes capsule connector configured to connect to a capsule and establish a pressurized chamber in a cavity of the capsule that is removably connected to the capsule connector, a liquid entrance valve that can configured to provide a stream of cold water and gas to the pressurized chamber. The fluidic capsule connector can also include a dispense port configured to direct a flow of the gas-infused liquid from the pressurized chamber to a dispensing tap.

Systems and methods, including a system for metering, mixing, and dispensing liquids, such as alcoholic and non-alcoholic liquids and solutions, are provided. In one instance, the system includes a controller operatively coupled to a first pump and a second pump. The first pump and the second pump are coupled to a first liquid source and a second liquid source, respectively. The controller controls flow rates at each of the first pump and the second pump. The system includes a valve coupled to a source supply of a third liquid, including pressurized carbonated water. The system includes a fluid connector coupled to the first pump, the second pump, the valve, and a dispenser. The connector receives the first liquid, the second liquid, and the third liquid, such that a fourth liquid, including a combination of the first liquid, the second liquid, and the third liquid, is dispensable from the dispenser.

A water tank is disclosed. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a water tank may include: a tank body having a tank body space formed therein; a tank cover configured to cover the tank body space and be coupled to the tank body; a reinforcing member that is at least partially accommodated in the tank body space and is respectively coupled to the tank body and the tank cover to reinforce rigidity of the tank body or the tank cover; and a fastening part configured to couple the reinforcing member and the tank cover.

A portable water dispensing station includes: a housing; internal water supply pipework plumbed to supply water from an externally accessible water inlet coupling at the housing to one or more water dispensing outlets arranged at different points about the housing; two coaxially spaced apart transport wheels mounted near a bottom face of the housing to protrude from the bottom face such that the unit can be wheeled towards / away from a stand surface on which the unit is to be deployed in use; and a base for supporting the housing on the stand surface, with at least two base flaps permanently hinged on opposite sides of the housing for deployment between a stored position in which the base flaps extend about parallel to the respective housing sides and a self-arrestable fully deployed position extending substantially perpendicular to the respective housing sides and abutting on the stand surface.

A fuel tank assembly comprise may comprise a tank, a pump, a hose, and a hose hanger. The tank defines an interior volume for holding fluid. The pump is in communication with the interior volume of the tank and includes an output nozzle. The hose is coupled to the output nozzle and is operable to receive fluid transmitted by the pump. The hose hanger is operatively coupled to the tank and configured to retain the hose. The fuel tank assembly may also include a dispensing apparatus on a distal end of the hose for discharging fluid received from the pump.

A refrigeration device includes a refrigerated compartment, a door that seals the compartment, a dispenser opening in an exterior surface of the door, and a dispenser outlet in the opening. The refrigeration device also includes a reservoir configured to hold a substance and a conveyor configured to convey the substance from the reservoir to the dispenser outlet. Measurement sensors of the refrigeration device are configured to generate first measurement signals that are indicative a gesture of a hand in the dispenser opening. A control unit of the refrigeration device is configured to ascertain a requested fill height based upon the first measurement signals. The control unit is further configured to generate signals that cause the conveyor to convey the substance from the reservoir to a container placed under the dispenser outlet and cease conveying the substance upon the container attaining the requested fill level.

A replaceable cartridge filtration assembly for a water dispenser that has a replaceable filter cartridge that can easily installed or removed by a technician or a user of the water dispenser. The replaceable filter cartridge has a handle with locking extensions that engage notches formed in the cartridge housing that the replaceable filter cartridge fits into to lock the replaceable filter cartridge in place.

An coaxial keg connector comprising a main body (1) made of plastic and having a first inlet port (3) and a second inlet port (3) receiving a stem (2). A coaxial outlet (10) comprises an outer outlet port (11) in communication with the first inlet port (3) and an inner outlet port (12) in communication with the second inlet port. The stem (2) comprises a tubular body with a main axis (31) with an inlet and a connector for attachment to the keg at one end. The second end of the stem opposite to the first end has an outlet in fluid communication with the inner outlet port (12) and comprises a ball joint (61) rotatably mounted in and sealed with respect to the main body (1) so as to be rotatable (12) about the main axis (31) of the tubular body and rotatable (67, 68) to a limited extent about axes perpendicular to the main axis.

To provide a dispenser that dispenses abundant kinds of water such as water having different chemical characteristics such as alkali water or water having different carbonation levels at different temperatures.SOLUTION: A beverage station includes a spigot that fluid communicates with an ambient temperature water passage and where chilled water and alkali water are mixed to provide chilled alkali water. A hot water heating element is located below the spigot so that hot water flows upward for dispensing from the spigot, and a vent passage between the heating element and the spigot helps the hot water to flow from the spigot to the heating element. A refrigeration system and a carbonation system are also provided. The refrigeration system uses the ice-bank technology. An underwater agitator pump improves heat exchanged between an ice-bank and water by forced convection. The agitator pump operates based on a temperature of beverage water. A figure eight-shaped evaporator coil can provide two cylindrical ice banks and two drinking water coils to increase a water chilling capacity.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2A

A water purifier may include a water tank divided into a first water tank in which water is storable and a second water tank in which water is storable; a water temperature regulator positioned between the first water tank and the second water tank so as to contact water stored in the first water tank and water stored in the second water tank, and configured to change a temperature of the water stored in the first water tank and a temperature of the water stored in the second water tank; a first water outlet valve configured to output the water stored in the first water tank; and a second water outlet valve configured to output the water stored in the second water tank.

The disclosure generally relates to an ingredient-based dispensing system for creating customized beverages with ingredients (e.g., using various sauces, syrups, sweeteners, colors and / or flavors added to a base beverage). The ingredient-based dispensing system may include a volume-based dispensing system for automatically dispensing ingredients with a varying viscosity (e.g., sauces) and a time-based dispensing system for automatically dispensing ingredients with a consistent viscosity (e.g., flavors, syrups, and / or colors).

Some embodiments disclosed herein relate to a device for transferring precise amounts of fluid from at least one source container to at least one target container. In some embodiments, the fluid is first transferred from the source container (e.g., a vial) through a connector to an intermediate measuring container (e.g., a syringe). In some embodiments air can pass through an air inlet and enter the vial to compensate for the volume of fluid withdrawn from the vial. An air check valve or a bag or a filter can prevent the fluid from escaping through the air inlet. The precisely measured amount of fluid can then be transferred from the intermediate measuring container to the target container (e.g., an IV bag). In some embodiments the connector can include a source check valve and a target check valve to direct fluid first from the source container to the intermediate measuring container and then from the intermediate measuring container to the target container. Some embodiments of the device can include a motor and a controller for automatically actuating a plunger of the syringe to transfer the desired amount of fluid.

A sensor coupled to a computer can sense a pressure of a buffer tank. A computer can determine a start of dispensing a beverage from a beverage dispenser. The computer can determine that an elapsed time from the start of dispensing the beverage reaches a predefined duration threshold. The computer can measure a particular pressure of the buffer tank when determining that the elapsed time reaches the predefined duration threshold. The computer can determine that the particular pressure falls below a predefined pressure threshold. The computer can generate an order to replace a water filter of the beverage dispense in response to the particular pressure at the elapsed time falling below the predefined pressure threshold.

A system and method for dispensing fluids is introduced. A preferred embodiment comprises a sealed tank, a bag containing fluid inside the sealed tank, an outlet for dispensing the liquid in the bag, and a pressure generating device to create pressure in the sealed tank.

Some embodiments disclosed herein relate to a device for transferring precise amounts of fluid from at least one source container to at least one target container. In some embodiments, the fluid is first transferred from the source container (e.g., a vial) through a connector to an intermediate measuring container (e.g., a syringe). In some embodiments air can pass through an air inlet and enter the vial to compensate for the volume of fluid withdrawn from the vial. An air check valve or a bag or a filter can prevent the fluid from escaping through the air inlet. The precisely measured amount of fluid can then be transferred from the intermediate measuring container to the target container (e.g., an IV bag). In some embodiments the connector can include a source check valve and a target check valve to direct fluid first from the source container to the intermediate measuring container and then from the intermediate measuring container to the target container. Some embodiments of the device can include a motor and a controller for automatically actuating a plunger of the syringe to transfer the desired amount of fluid.

A control device, for a water purifier, that dispenses hot water and that includes: an input unit that is configured to receive a command signal; and a controller that is configured to control the water purifier based on the command signal, wherein the controller is configured to: control power output of a heating unit that is configured to heat water stored in a hot water tank of the water purifier, and based on the power output of the heating unit, control temperature of hot water dispensed by the water purifier is disclosed.

The disclosure generally relates to an automated modular dispensing platform for creating customized beverages (e.g., using various sauces, syrups, sweeteners, colors and / or flavors added to a base beverage). The automated dispensing platform may simultaneously aggregate beverage modifiers or ingredients (e.g., sweetener, flavor, and / or color) and facilitate automated, efficient cleaning cycles for modular beverage dispensers.

Provided is a storage container that includes a body that defines an interior of the storage container, and a bag contained within the interior of the storage container. The bag is constructed of an elastomer, includes an opening, and defines a bag interior configured to contain a material. The storage container further includes a material valve assembly coupled to a portion of the body. The material valve assembly is coupled to the bag and configured to selectively provide fluid communication between the bag interior and an external environment of the storage container.

A drink station is provided with an alkaline filter cartridge in fluid communication with an ambient temperature water line provide alkaline water, and with a chilled water mixed with the alkaline water at a spigot to provide chilled alkaline water. A hot water heating element is located below the spigot so hot water flows upward for dispensing from the spigot, with a vent line between the heating element and spigot helping hot water to flow from the spigot to the heating element. A refrigeration system and a carbonation system is also provided. The refrigeration system uses the ice-bank technology. A submersible agitator pump improves heat exchanged between ice-bank and water by forced convection. The agitator pump operating based on the temperature of the drinking water. A figure eight evaporator coil can provide two cylindrical ice banks and two chilled water coils to increase the chilled water capacity.

A bottom loaded water dispenser having a water dispensing area that can be elongated to accommodate any size refillable bottle or other container, including large or wide based bottles or refillable containers. The bottom loaded water dispenser accommodates a standard bottom loaded water bottle. The bottom loaded water dispenser has a door that fits into the recess of the dispenser housing that does not interfere with bottom loaded water bottle and allows the drip tray to be adjusted to any height under the dispensing nozzle.

An insulated container having an internal chamber, a second container received within the internal chamber, a spigot assembly extending through a passageway through a wall of the insulated container and removably coupled to the second container, the spigot assembly being in fluid communication with the second container for dispensing liquid out of the insulated container.