A signaling apparatus paces a free pour count and choreographs a movement to stop pouring. The apparatus emits a first signal after an approximately 200-ms time interval and a series of subsequent signals every approximately 400-ms thereafter. The first time interval approximates a first time, measured from a moment the sensor detects the start of the pour, needed to dispense a first unit of beverage through the pour spout, minus a second time needed to react to a signal and stop the pour. The 400-ms time interval approximates the time required to dispense each subsequent unit of beverage through the pour spout. In one embodiment, the signaling apparatus emits sequential pulses according to the pattern Y-Y-Y-Y-G-Y-Y-R, wherein Y is yellow, G is green, and R is red, wherein each pulse represents a quarter-ounce increment, the green pulse represents a standard pour, and the red pulse represents a full pour.

A system for tracking a volumetric change of a fluid or solid in a container is provided. A sensing device may be interconnected to any container, wherein the sensing device comprises a fluid sensor, an orientation sensor, and a communication unit for electronic communication. For example, the sensing device may communicate via Bluetooth with an electronic device such as a smart phone. When the container is filled with a fluid, the sensing device senses drinking gestures and records any changes in the volume of the fluid. This information is transmitted to the electronic device wherein an application may keep track of various drinking events and notify a user of the same. Thus, the application may notify a user to drink water, alert the user of daily goals, etc. The sensing device and the overall fluid tracking system may serve as an intersection for users, friends, marketers, bottle makers, etc.

A dispensing system for a beverage comprises in a tap system a bore for housing a duct. Along the bore, close to or on the duct, at least two electrodes are provided such that at least at some locations along the duct, the two electrodes are provided opposite to one another with the duct in between, thus constituting a capacitor. An oscillating signal is provided to one electrode and a signal is read out from the other electrode. As a beverage is drawn through the duct in a container, capacitance of the capacitor changes. The flowing beverage may have different characteristics, but capacitance may also change as the beverage in the duct is in conducting contact with a container that may be in contact with an earth contact. The change of capacitance results in a change of the amplitude of a detection circuit connected to the second electrode.

A dispensing system for a beverage comprises in a tap system a bore for housing a duct. Along the bore, close to or on the duct, at least two electrodes are provided such that at least at some locations along the duct, the two electrodes are provided opposite to one another with the duct in between, thus constituting a capacitor. An oscillating signal is provided to one electrode and a signal is read out from the other electrode. As a beverage is drawn through the duct in a container, capacitance of the capacitor changes. The flowing beverage may have different characteristics, but capacitance may also change as the beverage in the duct is in conducting contact with a container that may be in contact with an earth contact. The change of capacitance results in a change of the amplitude of a detection circuit connected to the second electrode.

In a method for continuously supplying a metering device with different batches of one and the same liquid medium, a progressive addition of the medium of a new batch takes place during a batch change.