A beverage dispensing valve may include a downspout assembly having a body having walls with a slot therein, a channel, an upper and a lower opening, with the slot in the channel between the upper and lower openings. The downspout assembly may include a lateral member extending laterally from the downspout assembly and engaging the wall adjacent the slot. A pinch member may be partly enclosed within the lateral member and dimensioned to move partially through the slot. A handle and the pinch member may move the pinch member in and out of the slot. A coil spring may engage the lateral member and the pinch arm urging the pinch arm at least partially through the slot of the body. A flexible insert may be dimensioned to tightly fit against the walls of the channel of the body, the insert having an open top and an open bottom.

A drinks preparation system includes a preparation module for a brewed drink, a milk module for the delivery of milk and at least one outlet that is designed such that the brewed drink and the milk can be delivered into one and the same drinks vessel, which is placed on a placement platform, i.e. without having to rearrange the drinks vessel between the delivery of the brewed drink and the delivery of the milk. The system further includes a display device with a graphic display for the display of the delivery drinks quantity in real time. The display device is configured to display the cumulative quantity of the delivered brewed drink and of the delivered milk via a common, graphic display element. The display element therefore shows a filling level, which represents an added quantity of the two drinks shares (brewed drink, delivered milk).

A beverage supply apparatus includes cooling device 6, milk tank 5 in storage chamber 6a of cooling device 6, and detection device 7 that detects the milk. Detection device 7 has first light guide body 7c to penetrate partition wall 12 having a multilayer box body that partitions storage chamber 6a, second light guide body 7d to penetrate partition wall 12 which faces first light guide body 7c, light projection unit 7a attached to partition-wall outer-surface-side end of first light guide body 7c to project light via the body 7c, and light receiving unit 7b attached to the partition-wall outer-surface-side end of second light guide body 7d to receive light transmitted through milk tank 5 via second light guide body 7d. The detection device detects the presence or absence of or the remaining amount of milk based on a light reception state in the light receiving unit 7b.

A beverage maker includes a fermentation tank, a dispenser, a water supply heater configured to heat water supplied from a water supply pump or an external water supply source, a first channel valve that opens and closes a first channel that connects the water supply heater to the dispenser, a second channel valve that opens and closes a second channel that connects the water supply heater to the fermentation tank, and a controller that performs a first cleaning operation by guiding heated water to the dispenser through the first channel based on opening the first channel valve for a first cleaning time, and a second cleaning operation by guiding heated water to the fermentation tank through the second channel based on opening the second channel valve for a second cleaning time. The controller performs the first cleaning operation and the second cleaning operation based on an order.

A beverage maker includes a fermentation tank, a dispenser, a water supply heater configured to heat water supplied from a water supply pump or an external water supply source, a first channel valve that opens and closes a first channel that connects the water supply heater to the dispenser, a second channel valve that opens and closes a second channel that connects the water supply heater to the fermentation tank, and a controller that performs a first cleaning operation by guiding heated water to the dispenser through the first channel based on opening the first channel valve for a first cleaning time, and a second cleaning operation by guiding heated water to the fermentation tank through the second channel based on opening the second channel valve for a second cleaning time. The controller performs the first cleaning operation and the second cleaning operation based on an order.

A device for producing foam, particularly of a liquid such as milk, coffee, or the like, includes a liquid source, a source of air or another gas, a mixing device in fluid communication with the liquid source and air source adapted to mix the liquid coming from the liquid source with the air coming from the air source to generate a foam of the liquid. The device further includes a duct in fluid communication with the mixing device downstream of the mixing device, with the foam flowing along the duct in a flow direction.

The device includes a foam sensor associated with the duct and having a radiation source adapted to generate a radiation which strikes the duct along an irradiation direction incident to the flow direction.

The foam sensor further: includes a first photodiode placed on the irradiation direction or a second photodiode placed along a diffusion direction.

A device for producing foam, particularly of a liquid such as milk, coffee, or the like, includes a liquid source, a source of air or another gas, a mixing device in fluid communication with the liquid source and air source adapted to mix the liquid coming from the liquid source with the air coming from the air source to generate a foam of the liquid. The device further includes a duct in fluid communication with the mixing device downstream of the mixing device, with the foam flowing along the duct in a flow direction.

The device includes a foam sensor associated with the duct and having a radiation source adapted to generate a radiation which strikes the duct along an irradiation direction incident to the flow direction.

The foam sensor further: includes a first photodiode placed on the irradiation direction or a second photodiode placed along a diffusion direction.

A touchless beverage dispensing valve may include a downspout assembly having a body having walls with a slot therein, a channel, an upper and a lower opening, with the slot in the channel between the upper and lower openings. The downspout assembly may include a lateral member extending laterally from the downspout assembly and engaging the wall adjacent the slot. A pinch member may be partly enclosed within the lateral member and dimensioned to move partially through the slot. A touchless push bar and the pinch member may move the pinch member in and out of the slot. A coil spring may engage the lateral member and the pinch arm urging the pinch arm at least partially through the slot of the body. A flexible insert may be dimensioned to tightly fit against the walls of the channel of the body, the insert having an open top and an open bottom.

A touchless beverage dispensing valve may include a downspout assembly having a body having walls with a slot therein, a channel, an upper and a lower opening, with the slot in the channel between the upper and lower openings. The downspout assembly may include a lateral member extending laterally from the downspout assembly and engaging the wall adjacent the slot. A pinch member may be partly enclosed within the lateral member and dimensioned to move partially through the slot. A touchless push bar and the pinch member may move the pinch member in and out of the slot. A coil spring may engage the lateral member and the pinch arm urging the pinch arm at least partially through the slot of the body. A flexible insert may be dimensioned to tightly fit against the walls of the channel of the body, the insert having an open top and an open bottom.

The coffee dispenser disclosed herein may serve a single serving of coffee. The coffee dispenser may including a coffee concentrate fluid line which intersects with a water fluid line at a junction to allow mixing of coffee concentrate with water as the respective fluids flow through the coffee dispenser.