A refrigerator is provided, including a cabinet formed with at least one refrigerated compartment and a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet via a hollow hinge to selectively open and close at least a portion of the refrigerated compartment. A water heater is mounted on an exterior surface of the cabinet about the hollow hinge and configured to heat water supplied from the refrigerator. A hot water dispenser is positioned on the door that is configured to dispense hot water supplied from the water heater into a receiver vessel, and a hot water conduit is guided through the hollow hinge and extending from the water heater to the hot water dispenser to supply the hot water from the heater to the dispenser. A method of dispensing hot water is also provided. The method utilizes at least two distinct, user-initiated steps to permit the dispensing of hot water.

An ice chest includes a main body and a hinged lid. The main body includes a first internal compartment, second internal compartment and third internal compartment. The first and second internal compartments are separated from one another by a barrier that is capable of thermal transfer, but prohibits liquid transfer. The third internal compartment is positioned directly below the first and second internal compartments and positioned above the bottom of the main body. The third internal compartment is also capable of retaining liquid received through the first internal compartment. A porous barrier is positioned between the first and third internal compartments and filters liquid flowing from the first to the third internal compartment. The main body also includes a filtered spout capable of providing a second filtering mechanism and a release mechanism for liquid being retained in the third internal compartment.

The refrigerator of the present embodiment comprises: a cabinet including a storage space; a door configured to open or close the storage space and including a dispenser; and a hinge device configured to rotatably connect the door to the cabinet, wherein the door comprises: a door frame including a door opening disposed at a position spaced apart from the center of rotation by the hinge device; a door liner coupled to the door frame and including an ice-making compartment wall forming an ice-making compartment; and an ice maker accommodated in the ice making compartment to produce ice, and a horizontal distance from a front surface of the door to the center of the door opening is greater than the distance from the front surface of the door to the center of rotation, and the horizontal distance from the front surface of the door to the center of the door opening is smaller than the distance from the front surface of the door to a front wall facing the front surface of the door among walls forming the ice-making compartment.

A refrigerating container includes: a container body, having a receiving cavity for receiving liquid, wherein at least a portion of the container body is thermally conductive; a refrigeration assembly, having a refrigeration surface and a heat-conducting surface opposite to the refrigeration surface; wherein the refrigeration surface is in contact with the container body to cool the container body to cool the liquid received in the container body; and a heat dissipation assembly, being in contact with the heat conducting surface to dissipate heat from the refrigeration assembly to an outside of the container body.

The present invention relates to a fully automated frozen food dispensing system that combines precision ingredient blending with dynamic viscosity control and clean-in-place functionality. The system comprises a mixing cylinder containing a rotatable auger, a refrigeration system with a compressor in thermal communication with the cylinder, and a blending manifold having multiple ingredient inlets and a blending chamber. A controller includes motor sensor, and pressure sensors to regulate ingredient delivery, monitor auger torque and product temperature, and cycle the refrigeration system to maintain a target viscosity. The system further supports automated portion control, product-specific dispense timing, gas injection, and pasteurization. Cleaning cycles may be initiated without manual disassembly, involving thawing, purging, rinsing, and verification using sensor feedback. Optional connectivity enables cloud-based monitoring, diagnostics, and remote operation. The invention is suitable for commercial, unattended, or kiosk-based frozen food service environments, enabling hygienic, repeatable, and labor-free operation over extended durations.

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.

A cooler assembly includes an insulted main container and a pump assembly configured to pump contents of the main container through a tube to a spigot. An electronic control board includes a pressure-sensing switch that senses pressure differentials or fluid movement when the spigot is opened and closed, causing a triggering event. Triggering events are used to activate and deactivate the pump to dispense fluid from the main container.

The present invention relates to a fully automated frozen food dispensing system that combines precision ingredient blending with dynamic viscosity control and clean-in-place functionality. The system comprises a mixing cylinder containing a rotatable auger, a refrigeration system with a compressor in thermal communication with the cylinder, and a blending manifold having multiple ingredient inlets and a blending chamber. A controller includes motor sensor, and pressure sensors to regulate ingredient delivery, monitor auger torque and product temperature, and cycle the refrigeration system to maintain a target viscosity. The system further supports automated portion control, product-specific dispense timing, gas injection, and pasteurization. Cleaning cycles may be initiated without manual disassembly, involving thawing, purging, rinsing, and verification using sensor feedback. Optional connectivity enables cloud-based monitoring, diagnostics, and remote operation. The invention is suitable for commercial, unattended, or kiosk-based frozen food service environments, enabling hygienic, repeatable, and labor-free operation over extended durations.

A cooling device is provided for cooling a beverage in a dispensing line. The device comprises two heat exchangers for exchanging thermal energy between the beverage and a coolant fluid in a cooling circuit; the coolant fluid having a lower temperature than the beverage. Placing the two heat exchangers in series relative to the dispensing line, provides two-stage cooling, allowing more accurate cooling. This may be improved by placing brute force cooling to a particular temperature window, followed by accurate cooling. This makes the cooling process is less sensitive to whatever the initial temperature of the beverage may be. Relative to the cooling circuit for the coolant, the two heat exchangers may be placed in parallel and, optionally, further in parallel to a buffer circuit. A distribution module may be provided to control distribution of coolant over the heat exchangers, optionally from the buffer, to control temperature of the beverage.

A refrigerator includes: a main body comprising a storage room; a door rotatably coupled to the main body and configured to open or close the storage room; and a water supply device on a rear surface of the door. The water supply device includes: a water supply case comprising a bucket installation space; a water level sensor configured to detect a water level of a water bucket in the bucket installation space; a first water supply port configured to supply water to the water bucket based on the water level of the water bucket that is detected by the water level sensor; a lever in the water supply case and configured to be manually operable; and a second water supply port configured to supply water based on operation of the lever by a user.