A semiautonomous apparatus (1) for preparation and distribution of edible products, e.g. beverages, having a subsystem of preparation of edible products based upon portions (2) of edible substances, for example capsule of ground coffee beans for preparing expresso coffee, and comprising at least one brewing device (4), and a subsystem of propulsion and locomotion comprising propulsion and locomotion means (5). The apparatus (1) comprises a casing (3) with a generally parallelepiped, cylindrical shape, or other, that configures a top area that develops at all width and all length at the highest level of said casing (3). The top area comprises a plurality of service regions (31, 32) distributed in coherent manner in the top area of said casing (3). The first service region (31) presents first and second openings (11, 12) for introduction of portions (2) and for discharging beverage in a direction opposite to the gravity force.

A beverage supplying device, wherein the device is provided with a controller for discharging the beverage selected from multiple types of beverages from a prescribed nozzle, and a storage unit for storing data that indicates the dilution ratio of each of the beverages, the remaining amount of each of the syrups, and the supply amount per container of the beverage. The controller calculates the discharge amount per container of syrup used to produce the selected beverage on the basis of the data indicating the dilution ratio of the selected beverage, and the data indicating the supply amount per container of the beverage. Next, the controller calculates the number of selected beverages available for sale on the basis of the data indicating the remaining amount of syrup used to produce the selected beverage and the calculated discharge amount, and displays available-for-sale numbers.

A beverage supplying device, wherein the device is provided with a controller for discharging the beverage selected from multiple types of beverages from a prescribed nozzle, and a storage unit for storing data that indicates the dilution ratio of each of the beverages, the remaining amount of each of the syrups, and the supply amount per container of the beverage. The controller calculates the discharge amount per container of syrup used to produce the selected beverage on the basis of the data indicating the dilution ratio of the selected beverage, and the data indicating the supply amount per container of the beverage. Next, the controller calculates the number of selected beverages available for sale on the basis of the data indicating the remaining amount of syrup used to produce the selected beverage and the calculated discharge amount, and displays available-for-sale numbers.

A dispenser is provided for dispensing a hygiene product. The dispenser includes; a time-of-flight sensor for measuring a position of an object relative to the dispenser; and a controller configured to selectively operate at least one function of the dispenser based on the measured position of the object relative to the dispenser. A method of operating at least one function of a dispenser for dispensing a hygiene product is also provided. The method includes measuring with a time-of-flight sensor a position of an object relative to the dispenser; and using a controller to selectively operate the at least one function of the dispenser based on the measured position of the object relative to the dispenser.

A product dispenser is configured to dispense products subject to a warning and products not subject to a warning, the product dispenser further configured to transmit a product warning notice only in response to a request to dispense a product subject to the warning. In another embodiment, a product dispenser is configured to dispense a food or beverage product and provide information indicative of an attribute of the food or beverage product, such as nutrition facts, as it is being dispensed. In another embodiment, a product dispenser is configured to enable a user to request a customized product from the product dispenser, to determine a first profile for the customized product blend, compare the first profile to a second profile, and reformulate the customized product blend to a dispensed product blend comprising a third profile approximating the second idealized profile.

A product dispenser is configured to dispense products subject to a warning and products not subject to a warning, the product dispenser further configured to transmit a product warning notice only in response to a request to dispense a product subject to the warning. In another embodiment, a product dispenser is configured to dispense a food or beverage product and provide information indicative of an attribute of the food or beverage product, such as nutrition facts, as it is being dispensed. In another embodiment, a product dispenser is configured to enable a user to request a customized product from the product dispenser, to determine a first profile for the customized product blend, compare the first profile to a second profile, and reformulate the customized product blend to a dispensed product blend comprising a third profile approximating the second idealized profile.

A beverage producing apparatus capable of producing a plurality of types of beverages, includes: a display unit configured to display levels of a plurality of types of characteristics concerning a beverage of a type instructed by a user; and a control unit configured to control a producing operation of the beverage of the type selected by the user.

A secure evaluation assembly in which an encrypted communication of cardholder data from an input device to a remote host processing system may be securely evaluated. The secure evaluation assembly includes antitampering control electronics and a memory. The secure evaluation assembly memory contains information needed to decrypt data encrypted according to a first encryption method and information needed to encrypt data according to a second encryption method. Further, the secure evaluation assembly memory is encrypted according to a third encryption method. The antitampering control electronics are operative to decrypt the secure evaluation assembly memory and are further operative to decrypt cardholder data encrypted according to the first encryption method to produce unencrypted cardholder data. Finally, the antitampering control electronics are operative to evaluate the unencrypted cardholder data and encrypt the unencrypted cardholder data according to the second encryption method if the unencrypted cardholder data is payment cardholder data.

A secure evaluation assembly in which an encrypted communication of cardholder data from an input device to a remote host processing system may be securely evaluated. The secure evaluation assembly includes antitampering control electronics and a memory. The secure evaluation assembly memory contains information needed to decrypt data encrypted according to a first encryption method and information needed to encrypt data according to a second encryption method. Further, the secure evaluation assembly memory is encrypted according to a third encryption method. The antitampering control electronics are operative to decrypt the secure evaluation assembly memory and are further operative to decrypt cardholder data encrypted according to the first encryption method to produce unencrypted cardholder data. Finally, the antitampering control electronics are operative to evaluate the unencrypted cardholder data and encrypt the unencrypted cardholder data according to the second encryption method if the unencrypted cardholder data is payment cardholder data.

A coffee machine 1 having a body part 3, a door 2 that is openably and closably supported by the body part 3 and a cup station at which a cup is placed, the coffee machine 1 supplying milk from a milk nozzle 25 a distal end of which is disposed above the cup, to the cup placed at the cup station, in which the coffee machine 1 includes a movable nozzle support unit 27 that supports the milk nozzle 25 and is disposed in the body part 3 so as to be movable between a first position at which the distal end of the milk nozzle 25 is above the cup while the door 2 is closed and a second position at which the distal end of the milk nozzle 25 is retracted from above the cup and a nozzle movement unit 50 that moves a pusher 52 so as to extend to and retract from the door 2. The pusher 52 is extended to push the movable nozzle support unit 27 and move the movable nozzle support unit 27 to a supply position.