A liquid dispensing apparatus includes: a plurality of liquid source containers; a plurality of liquid flow paths, each flow path having a first end and a second end, each respective first end disposed in one-to-one fluid flow relationship with a respective one of the plurality of containers; a plurality of non-drip dispensing valves, each valve disposed in one-to-one fluid flow relationship with the second end of a respective one of the plurality of flow paths; at least one liquid flow conveyance device configured and disposed to transport liquid from each one of the containers to an associated one of the valves via an associated one of the flow paths; and a controller comprising a processing circuit responsive to executable instructions which when executed by the processing circuit facilitates dispensing of one or more of the liquids from an associated container to an associated valve.

Computationally implemented methods and systems include acquiring user information associated with one or more users for use in generating one or more customized food items that are customized specifically for the one or more users, the user information to be acquired including at least one or more user preferences related to integrity of one or more food ingredients to be included in the one or more customized food items; and directing generation of the one or more customized food items for the one or more users, the one or more customized food items having been customized to show one or more visual indicators that provide customized information that has been customized in accordance, at least in part, with the acquired user information. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text.

A computationally implemented system and method that is designed to, but is not limited to: electronically receiving user status information regarding a particular individual living being including living being identification associated with the particular individual living being to at least in part electronically generate, based at least in part upon the user status information, one or more selection menus electronically identifying at least in part one or more candidate ingestible products, the electronically generated one or more selection menus to be electronically outputted to provide, via electronically enabled input in response thereto, selection opportunity of the one or more candidate ingestible products subject to ingestion by the particular individual living being prior to selection of at least one candidate ingestible product as at least one selected ingestible products via the electronically enabled input in response to the electronically outputted one or more selection menus.

A system for dispensing one or more products can include one or more product containers, each with a port for dispensing a product, a housing with one or more container cavities for removably receiving the product containers, one or more quantity sensors for detecting a quantity of product within one or more product containers, one or more actuators for dispensing product from one or more product containers, and a controller configured to monitor or control one or more aspects of the system.

A system of food and/or beverage preparation comprises a base station which is configured to down-link signals representative of items available for consumption from a venue, and a user interfacing network unit which is configured to display selectable options representative of food and/or beverage items and which is configured to allow a user to input selections from the items, the inputted selections being up-linked in the form of representative signals to the base station, the base station being further configured to communicate signals representative of the selections to a preparation station, wherein the base station comprises a filtration module which is configured to exclude a selection of down-link signals in response to a user input; whereby the down-link signals are reduced in accordance with the selection and thereby leading to a reduction of displayed selectable options.

A system and method for guiding the assembly of a food or beverage item including a number of components is disclosed. The system includes a starting point device having a controller. The starting point device is operable to receive the details of the food item, which includes the components required to create the food or beverage item. The controller is in communication with multiple dispensers and bins that each include one or more of the components and an indicator. The controller activates the indicators associated with each of the components of the food or beverage item either sequentially or simultaneously to indicate to the staff member all of the components that need to be added to the food or beverage item. As each component is added, the indicator is deactivated until all of the components have been added. Once the food or beverage item is created, the controller indicates that the next food or beverage item can be created.

In one embodiment, a system includes: a robotic arm assembly; a plurality of components arranged around the robotic arm assembly and positioned within reach of the robotic arm assembly; and a controller configured to control operation of the robotic arm assembly within the system. Each of the plurality of components is configured to either: store ingredients under predetermined environmental conditions; store food preparation tools; dispense ingredients; blend, cook, or assemble ingredients into a completed food item; provide cleaning functionality to the system and/or components thereof; provide user access to completed food items; or display information relevant to a food item or preparation thereof to users. Methods of using such systems to prepare and dispense food items are also disclosed, and generally include translating recipes into instructions executable by the robotic arm assembly and/or components of the system, communicating such instructions to the robotic arm assembly, and executing such instructions.

An autonomous delivery system for a vehicle is described and includes a plurality of cubbies for retaining items for delivery to users, wherein each of the cubbies comprises a door for selectively enabling access to contents of the cubby, wherein each of the doors comprises a selectively transparent display and wherein upon arrival at a delivery destination, the selectively transparent displays communicate to a recipient associated with the delivery destination in which one of the cubbies a delivery associated with the recipient is retained; and an authentication system for authenticating the recipient and, subsequent to successful authentication of the recipient, permitting access to contents of the one of the cubbies in which the delivery associated with the recipient is retained.

A method and system for encouraging the selection of healthy products with a vending machine are provided. The method includes providing a vending machine that displays an inventory of products. Each product of the inventory of products includes a dispensing countdown time displayed on the vending machine. The method also includes receiving a first customer selection of a first product from the inventory of products, where the first product has a first dispensing countdown time. Additionally, the method includes actuating a countdown timer to count down to zero seconds from the first dispensing countdown time. The method also includes dispensing the first product once the countdown timer reaches zero seconds. The first product is only dispensed if a customer does not select a second product having a second dispensing countdown time before the first dispensing countdown time counts down to zero seconds.

The present invention includes methods and apparatus for the automated provision of goods through the use of scanning systems. More specifically, the present invention provides a method for automatically conveying which goods are being ordered, where the goods will be picked up, an associated method of payment, kitchen fulfillment, item tracking, and automatic delivery by a dispenser apparatus. In preferred embodiments, the present invention is applied to the automated ordering and pick-up of food items at a fast food restaurant and delivery to a food dispenser at a customer location.