The present invention refers to a semiautonomous apparatus (1) for preparation and distribution of edible products, such as for example beverages, that presents a subsystem of preparation of edible products based upon portions (2) of edible substances, for example capsules of roasted and ground coffee for preparing coffee of the espresso type, and comprising at least one brewing device (4), and a subsystem of propulsion and locomotion (5), and further presenting a control device (8) provided so that can control said systems and so that the operation of said brewing device (4) and of said propulsion and locomotion means (5) is mutually exclusive, so that said semiautonomous apparatus (1) does not provide edible products while being moved by respective propulsion and locomotion means (5).

A beverage operations control system of an establishment such as a bar communicates with numerous wireless beverage control devices that monitor and control the pouring of beverages. The system provides monitoring and predictive analysis based on the monitoring, including real-time modifications to the operations of the beverage control devices.

An integrated front-of-house and back-of-house restaurant operations system integrates automated and manual restaurant operations into an order-based system. The system interfaces with disparate devices and systems to provide order-based monitoring and control of operations within an establishment.

Provided is a method for controlling at least one of a container treatment machine and a beverage treatment machine, wherein the treatment machine treats at least one of containers and beverages using predeterminable parameters, wherein at least one control device controls the treatment machine at least temporarily taking into account the parameters, and wherein these parameters are input at least temporarily by an input device, and wherein, by an information output device, information is output at least temporarily to a user, the information being characteristic of a status of at least one of the machine and of data input by the user. According to embodiments of the invention, the information is at least partially output in image form.

A mobile robot configured for vending consumable items. A system configured for vending consumable items comprising a mobile robot, a vending terminal, and a server communicating with each of the other two. A method for vending consumable items using a mobile robot. A method for on-demand consumable item delivery by a mobile robot.

An apparatus may receive data. The data may include first data and second data. The first data may be received from a set of sensor devices located within one or more dispensing devices. The second data may be received from one or more devices located external to the one or more dispensing devices. The apparatus may process the data to generate a model. The apparatus may receive sensor data. The apparatus may determine a response action associated with the particular dispensing device based on the sensor data and the model. The apparatus may provide information associated with causing the response action to be implemented.

Disclosed are a device enabling coffee preparing apparatus to provide user with ordered coffee and method for operating same, which may enable the coffee preparing apparatus to block a user other than an orderer from picking up the prepared coffee and provide the prepared coffee to the orderer by generating identification information matched to a coffee order requested from each of user terminals to enable picking-up of the coffee corresponding to the coffee order, transmitting the identification information matched to the coffee order requested from each of the user terminals to each of the user terminals, transmitting an identification information input request message to a user terminal requesting a coffee order corresponding to a coffee preparation completion message from the coffee preparing apparatus, comparing identification input from a user of the user terminal in response to the identification information input request message with identification information transmitted to the user terminal, and requesting the coffee preparing apparatus to perform a provision operation on the coffee corresponding to the identification information transmitted to the user terminal when the input identification information is the same as the transmitted identification information.

A vending machine with a reduced vertical height and footprint has a horizontal roller surface system for delivering vending products. The horizontal roller system includes actuated rollers and trays that move on top of the rollers. The products are present on top of the trays; the rollers actuate to deliver the trays, and the products, to a delivery portal. Some embodiments of the vending machine have a transparent top to allow the interior of the vending machine, and particularly the roller surface, to be visible from the exterior of the vending machine. The reduced height and size of the vending machine enables it to be placed in locations that are unavailable to conventional vending machines.

A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a chilled chamber; a dispenser provided on the cabinet, the dispenser defining a dispenser recess, the dispenser including a nozzle for dispensing liquid water or ice; a user input provided on the dispenser; and one or more controllers operably connected with the dispenser, the one or more controllers configured to perform an operation. The operation includes receiving a first input signal apart from the appliance, the first input signal including a first requested volume of liquid; storing the first requested volume of liquid within the dispenser; directing an emission of a notification via the user input in response to storing the first requested volume of liquid; and initiating a dispensing action from the nozzle after directing the emission of the notification.

Upon selection of a product selection icon on a user interface of a beverage vendor, a price per amount of the product is displayed to clearly depict product costs while also providing flexibility for having products of different price points. After selection of the product and upon successful payment validation, a dispensing gauge displays an amount of product dispensed and total current cost of a dispensing session at a location of the product selection icon. A selectable dispense icon is provided upon the successful payment to facilitate dispensing the selected product and a product icon is provided proximate to the selectable dispense icon. Within the dispensing session, upon selection of a second product selection icon, the dispensing gauge moves to the second product selection icon and accumulates additional cost for the transaction based on a cost per amount of a second product associated with the second product selection icon.