Provided is a robot, including: a controller; a plurality of actuators mechanically coupled to an end-effector mount; a first set of end-effectors magnetically coupled to the end-effector mount; and a sensor adjacent an interface between at least some of the first set of end effectors and the end-effector mount, wherein: the end effectors are magnetically coupled to the end-effector mount with magnetic couplings that decouple in response to less than 200 Newtons of force being applied to distal portions of respective end effectors in a direction opposing movement of respective end effectors driven by at least some of the actuators, and the sensor is configured to output a signal indicative of a given end effector decoupling and indicate which end effector in the first decoupled.

An automatic device for brewing beverages at least comprises an ice cube meter, at least one beverage supply device, at least one robotic arm, a feed conveyor belt, a plurality of feeders, and a film sealing machine, mainly uses the robotic arm to take up ice cubes and a beverage from the ice cube meter and the beverage supply device with a hand-shake cup, then shake and mix, and pour the shaken and mixed beverage and ice cubes into a beverage cup, the beverage cup is conveyed to pass through the feeders by the feed conveyor belt, ingredient is squeezed into the beverage cup by the feeder, and finally the beverage cup containing the beverage, ice cubes and ingredient is conveyed by the feed conveyor belt to the film sealing machine for sealing.

In order to reduce limescale formation on the continuous flow heater during operation of an apparatus for preparing freshly brewed hot beverages which has a hot water generator, which is embodied as a continuous flow heater, and a brewing apparatus, to which hot water from the hot water generator can be supplied, a controller for actuating the continuous flow heater is provided, which controller switches on the continuous flow heater for the purpose of drawing a pre-specified quantity of hot water and switches off said continuous flow heater shortly before the quantity of hot water is completely output, so that the temperature of the hot water at the output of the continuous flow heater is declining at the end of the drawing operation.

An automatic beverage brewer for coffee, tea, and the like, and more particularly, which is customizable both in physical configuration including number and location of external brewing fonts, optionally in association with a bulk brewing font and receiving container, and in automatic operation to dispense hot water to the respective fonts and a main brewing basket or baskets responsive to user inputted beverage brewing commands.

A modular brewing system is described for providing hot water and managing power to multiple brew tower modules using a single centralized boiler and power management module so as to limit the number of high-power circuits required in a coffeehouse or store. The boiler and power management module manages power of components of the centralized boiler assembly and any brew tower modules connected thereto, including the boiler heaters, the grinder motors, and the brew chamber heaters.

A nozzle-moving device has four bases, two rails, a shaft, a moving module, a brewing module, a transverse driver, and a longitudinal driver. Each one of the two rails is longitudinally connected to two of the four bases. The shaft is transversely connected to two of the four bases. The moving module is slidably mounted to the two rails. The brewing module is slidably mounted to the moving module. The transverse driver and the longitudinal driver are respectively connected to the shaft and the brewing module via timing belts, so the brewing module may move in two directions. Moreover, a user may easily change to different brewing modes via the transverse driver, the longitudinal driver, and a solenoid valve connected to the brewing module.

A portable beverage dispensing container comprises a housing and an internal beverage holding tank positioned in and contained within the housing. The internal beverage holding tank is configured to receive and store a beverage, with a dispensing nozzle on an external surface of the housing in fluid communication with the internal beverage holding tank. The housing includes one or more openings defined through a surface thereof, such that heated air can be introduced into the housing and into a space defined between the internal beverage holding tank and the housing. A satellite brewing system includes such a portable beverage dispensing container, along with a brewing station with a heater and a fan for generating heated air. When the portable beverage dispensing container is positioned at the brewing station, the heated air is directed into the space defined between the internal beverage holding tank and the housing of the shuttle.

A portable beverage dispensing container comprises a housing and an internal beverage holding tank positioned in and contained within the housing. The internal beverage holding tank is configured to receive and store a beverage, and the internal beverage holding tank is constructed from a translucent material. The housing includes an opening through a rear surface thereof, such that light from a light source (which is installed at a brewing station) can be directed through the opening and through the internal beverage holding tank, such a light pattern is projected on a sight glass window on a front surface of the housing that provides a visual indication of provide a visual indication of the level of the beverage in the shuttle, along with a visual indication of the status of the brewed beverage.

The techniques described herein provide a globally networked on-demand coffee blending and brewing system. In particular, the system herein can hold coffee beans of distinctly different origins and taste profiles in sealed environmentally controlled smart hoppers, and can dynamically grind and blend any combination of available beans based on flavor profiling to create a user's desired cup of coffee. Additionally, the network connectivity of the system herein provides advanced collaboration within the coffee community, such as for sharing coffee blends, providing feedback to all levels of the supply chain, and indicating fair trade authenticity.

A portable beverage dispensing container comprises a housing and an internal beverage holding tank positioned in and contained within the housing. The internal beverage holding tank is configured to receive and store a beverage, and the internal beverage holding tank is constructed from a translucent material. The housing includes an opening through a rear surface thereof, such that light from a light source (which is installed at a brewing station) can be directed through the opening and through the internal beverage holding tank, such a light pattern is projected on a sight glass window on a front surface of the housing that provides a visual indication of the level of the beverage in the shuttle.