In examples, a material, such as raw or processed grain, may be dispensed (e.g., by a vibratory feeder) and charge associated therewith may be neutralized (e.g., by an ion generator). The material may then be suspended within a fluid flow. The fluid flow may pass through a treatment chamber, where material suspended therein is exposed to one or more light sources. The light sources may emit UVB, UVC, and/or VUV light, which may have germicidal and/or photocatalytic effects. In some examples, the flow is carried through the treatment chamber by a quartz tube, which may be doped or the interior of which may be coated by titanium dioxide. As an example, when the titanium dioxide is exposed to the UVB light, an oxidation reaction may occur, which may have germicidal, cleaning, and/or odor-reducing effect,. among other examples. The treated material may ultimately settle out of the flow and be collected.

Devices, systems, and methods for a nitrogen-infused smoothie vending machine can a refrigeration system including an insulated housing and refrigerator for cooling an interior portion of the insulated housing, a smoothie storage system including a pressurizable storage vessel for storing smoothie product and an agitation system for agitating smoothie product within the pressurizable storage vessel, the pressurizable storage vessel arranged within the insulated housing, a nitrogen system configured for providing nitrogen for infusion of smoothie product, and a dispensing system configured for dispensing nitrogen-infused smoothie product for consumption. A control system can include at least one processor arranged for execution of instructions stored in memory, and communications circuitry for communicating signals to and from the processor, the control system configured for governing operation of the nitrogen system to provide nitrogen gas for infusion into the smoothie product, and configured for governing operation of the dispensing system for dispensing nitrogen-infused smoothie product.

Devices, systems, and methods for a nitrogen-infused smoothie vending machine can a refrigeration system including an insulated housing and refrigerator for cooling an interior portion of the insulated housing, a smoothie storage system including a pressurizable storage vessel for storing smoothie product and an agitation system for agitating smoothie product within the pressurizable storage vessel, the pressurizable storage vessel arranged within the insulated housing, a nitrogen system configured for providing nitrogen for infusion of smoothie product, and a dispensing system configured for dispensing nitrogen-infused smoothie product for consumption. A control system can include at least one processor arranged for execution of instructions stored in memory, and communications circuitry for communicating signals to and from the processor, the control system configured for governing operation of the nitrogen system to provide nitrogen gas for infusion into the smoothie product, and configured for governing operation of the dispensing system for dispensing nitrogen-infused smoothie product.

A secure drinking assembly includes a container that may contain a beverage. A valve is coupled to the container and the valve selectively opens and closes the container. A security lock is coupled to the container. The security lock may be manipulated thereby facilitating the security lock to receive a security code. The security lock actuates the valve to selectively open the container when the security lock receives the security code.

A method for distributing product using a consumer refillable packaging in a retail environment comprises manufacturing a liquid product at a point of manufacture. The liquid product is then transferred to a retail location in a refillable canister, which is mounted in a storage room as part of a delivery subsystem for communicating the liquid product from the storage room to a refill station in a retail floor space. Consumers operate the refill station to refill a refillable container with the liquid product from the canister in the storage room via the refill station.

A method for distributing product using a consumer refillable packaging in a retail environment comprises manufacturing a liquid product at a point of manufacture. The liquid product is then transferred to a retail location in a refillable canister, which is mounted in a storage room as part of a delivery subsystem for communicating the liquid product from the storage room to a refill station in a retail floor space. Consumers operate the refill station to refill a refillable container with the liquid product from the canister in the storage room via the refill station.

There is described a precision dispenser for liquids, in particular medications, which allows the remote control of all operations associated with dispensing the medication to the patient so as to avoid abuses.

A liquid filling and dispensing method comprises determining whether a user account is valid; if the user account is valid: enabling a user to obtain operating parameters of a processing assembly configured to collect and transfer liquid to a filling assembly; enabling the user to find a fill location having the filling assembly, wherein the fill assembly is configured to fill a validated container with liquid; and enabling the user to initiate filling of the container with the liquid at the filling assembly.

A liquid filling and dispensing method comprises determining whether a user account is valid; if the user account is valid: enabling a user to obtain operating parameters of a processing assembly configured to collect and transfer liquid to a filling assembly; enabling the user to find a fill location having the filling assembly, wherein the fill assembly is configured to fill a validated container with liquid; and enabling the user to initiate filling of the container with the liquid at the filling assembly.

A networked system for providing and maintaining a set of liquid dispenser stations is described. The fluid dispensers communicate with a managing/supervisory cloud server via an interposed base station. The fluid dispensers communicate locally with the base station via wireless communication network links. The base station operates as an accumulator of status/usage information provided by the dispenser stations and bridge for passing information and control commands between the cloud server and the individual dispenser stations. The dispenser stations are configured with control processors (controllers) to facilitate performing a variety of local control operations associated with dispensing liquids that have been cooled (or heated) prior to dispensing by the dispenser stations. Additionally, the dispenser stations cooperatively operate with the cloud server (via the base station) to support a variety of real time control and maintenance operations relating to the dispenser stations operating at potentially thousands of distinct geographic locations.