There is described a wine supply system. The wine supply system generally has a tank in a source building, the tank containing wine; a plurality of ducts extending between the tank and a corresponding plurality of dispensing buildings remote from the source building and from one another, at least some wine being forcingly guided from the tank to the dispensing buildings via the plurality of ducts; and a temperature maintaining device disposed along the plurality of ducts outside of the source building and the plurality of dispensing buildings, the temperature maintaining device configured for at least one of heating and cooling said ducts to maintain the wine within a given temperature range.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed for fluid flow control. A container is shaped to receive a liquid. An inlet is configured to allow the liquid to enter the container. An outlet is configured to allow the liquid to exit the container. A float is disposed within the container. A valve is actuated based on a position of the float within the container to open the valve at a first liquid level within the container and to close the valve at a different liquid level within the container.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed for fluid flow control. A container is shaped to receive a liquid. An inlet is configured to allow the liquid to enter the container. An outlet is configured to allow the liquid to exit the container. A float is disposed within the container. A valve is actuated based on a position of the float within the container to open the valve at a first liquid level within the container and to close the valve at a different liquid level within the container.

A robot includes an ingredient mold configured to process food ingredients into solid ingredients; a storage container configured to store the solid ingredients processed in the ingredient mold; a transfer tube through which the solid ingredients in the storage container pass; a feed tube connected to the transfer tube, formed with an ingredient port, and having a passage configured to guide ingredients to the ingredient port; and a feeder configured to feed the solid ingredients, which are moved to the feed tube, to the ingredient port.

Machine (1) for distributing a product stored in a container (30) comprising a storage zone (2) delimiting locations (4) for housing a container (30), a metering station (5) delimiting a chamber (6) housing a support (7) for accepting a collecting vessel (33), this support (7) being positioned vertically in line with an opening (8) providing access to the chamber (6), which opening is arranged in an upper part (61) of the chamber (6), the machine (1) further comprising a system (10) for emptying each location (4) for housing a container (30) through the opening (8) providing access to the chamber (6), and a unit (14) for controlling the machine (1). The metering station (5) comprises a sensor (13) for detecting the presence of a collecting vessel (33) inside said chamber (6). The control unit (14) is configured to operate the machine (1) on the basis of data supplied by said sensor (13), and the metering station (5) is equipped with a circuit (15) for the circulation of gaseous fluid providing communication between the chamber (6) and the outside of said chamber (6) through a forced circulation of air.

A system is provided using targeted narrowband radiation emitting devices or arrays of devices that offers a solution to the difficulties surrounding heated product dispensing. Rather than maintaining an entire reservoir of product at a raised temperature, much smaller volumes (single portions or small multiples thereof) can be held ready and at temperature to be dispensed without wasting additional energy on keeping a large volume of product warm. This is achieved by leveraging the unique, targeted nature of these devices to quickly and accurately heat a small amount of product separated out from the main reservoir and held ready for dispensing.

Systems and methods for the injection/dispensing of fluid material in a volumetrically accurate and repeatable manner via an injection cell that interconnects two reservoirs of the fluid material. The injection cell has a normally closed dispensing valve that is opened for dispensing of the fluid material during a compression cycle, and closed during a return cycle. Opening and closing of the dispensing valve is effected using either or both of pressurized air and/or a motorized linkage. During the compression cycle, independent longitudinal displacements of a piston cylinder and a piston within the injection cell act to first open the dispensing valve and subsequently eject fluid material within the piston cylinder via the opened dispensing valve. The piston cylinder and piston are returned to an initial state that facilitates reloading of the injection cell from the reservoirs and closes the dispensing valve during a return cycle.

Methods and systems for providing a resource dispenser status for a resource dispenser associated with a facility. One system includes an electronic processor. The electronic processor is configured to receive a set of signals. The electronic processor is also configured to compare a first signal included in the set of signals to a set of thresholds. The electronic processor is also configured to determine a resource dispenser status based on the comparison of the first signal to the set of thresholds. The electronic processor is also configured to generate and transmit the resource dispenser status to a remote device, wherein the remote device provides the resource dispenser status to a user.

A beverage container has a housing, a controllable flow restriction element, and at least two liquid storage compartments in the housing. The housing is relatively rotatable with respect to the controllable flow restriction element about a main axis for rotation of the controllable flow restriction element between a closed liquid flow position and an open liquid flow position. The controllable flow restriction element has openings therein within the housing. Rotation of the controllable flow restriction element toward the closed position effects the closed position. Mixing of liquids from the first liquid compartment and the second liquid compartment are effected by rotational movement of the controllable flow restriction element.

A chemical product consumption monitoring device using force sensors integrated into a sealed sensor housing for retrofit installation on liquid or solid product chemical feeding systems used in water treatment. The sensor design is flexible and can be used with products having different form factors such as discs, bottles, pellets, or pails. The sensor is used to monitor the product consumption rate based on weight or percentage for inventory management by forecasting replenishment scheduling and provide a process for automatic ordering. By combining the product consumption measurement with other sensor data from the dispenser, chemical delivery system, or process, allows tracking dispenser performance and alarming if malfunctioning. Additionally, using data from different sources provides remote visibility for scheduling maintenance and troubleshooting.