Provided are systems, methods, and apparatuses for a portable hydration system including a mechanical or electromechanical mechanism for dispensing additives into a liquid or other solute in a portable container. Such additives include solids, liquid, powders, and gases, and include vitamins, minerals, nutritional supplements, pharmaceuticals, and other consumables. Additives are introduced into the hydration device via closed vessels equipped with RFID tags or similar, capable of transferring data about the vessels' contents to the device. Dispensing is initiated manually by direct user action, automatically by the device, and/or externally through an associated application on a user device. Dispensing is adjustable by contextual factors such as a user's preferences, location, activity, physiologic status, and the like, obtained via APIs to third party applications or through more direct measurements or inputs. Consumption of additives and consumable liquids in the container is measured and monitored, and the data used to generate recommendations.

Among other things, a chiller for chilling water to be dispensed as part of beverages includes a tank configured to contain a cooling mass for chilling the water. A first tube in the tank is configured to be immersed in the cooling mass and to carry the water along a path from a source towards a location where the chilled water is to be dispensed as part of the beverages. A second tube is configured to be immersed in the cooling mass and to carry a coolant along a recirculation path from a coolant source and back to the coolant source. The coolant has a sufficiently low temperature to cause a frozen mass to be formed as part of the cooling mass within the tank and in the vicinity of the second tube. The first tube and the second tube are configured and positioned relative to one another within the tank so that the frozen mass occupies at least 30 percent of the volume of the cooling mass in the tank but does not touch the first tube.

A beverage discharger may include a dispenser case; a channel body at least partially disposed in the dispenser case, the channel body having a first dispenser channel defined therein that communicates with a beverage discharge channel; a discharge body coupled to the channel body and having a second dispenser channel defined therein that communicates with the first dispenser channel, the discharge body extending vertically in an elongated manner; an ascending and descending body connected to the dispenser case in an ascending and descending manner; a shaft connected to the ascending and descending body to ascend and descend with the ascending and descending body, the shaft having, at a bottom portion, a packing that opens and closes the second dispenser channel; and at least one guide rib formed on an inner face of the discharge body to guide the bottom portion of the shaft.

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.

A home beverage dispensing device for dispensing servings of a beverage, having a vessel for holding a volume of liquid. This vessel may be equipped with a refrigeration unit, or may be comprised of a removable pitcher that may be put in an external refrigerator. This invention is equipped with a radio communications controller to provide for the ability to communicate over radio frequencies such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. A special disposable beverage cartridge or beverage pouch fits into the holder. This cartridge or pouch may have pressure rupturable seals or diaphragms and contain beverage concentrate. The mixing structure also receives the optionally chilled liquid from vessel for holding a volume of liquid, and ensures that the concentrate mixes with the liquid without contacting the walls of the mixing structure.

A method including obtaining a first dye powder; mixing the first dye powder with a liquid, to form a first dye mixture; disposing the first dye mixture in a container; pressurizing the first container; opening a first valve in fluid communication with the first container, thereby to dispense the first dye mixture into secondary container; and applying the first dye mixture from the secondary container onto a portion of a fabric article, to form a tie-dye pattern on the fabric article.

Systems and methods for dispensing a product from a dispensing kiosk are provided. An example system can include: a first tank at a first location, and storing skim milk and connected to a first conduit; a second tank at the first location, and storing milk fat and connected to a second conduit; and a dispensing kiosk at a second location remote from the first location, the dispensing kiosk comprising: a terminal receiving a request, the request including a type and an amount of a product for purchase; a dispensing station adapted to receive a container, the dispensing station comprising a filling tube extended into the container for providing the product into the container based on the type and the amount in the request; a scanner adapted to read a machine-readable code on the container placed in the dispensing station; and a labeling mechanism configured to print and apply a label to the container in the dispensing station, the label including at least one of the type, the amount, a price, and a fill date of the product.

A system and method may present, by a first application being executed by an electronic device, a first user interface that enables a user to select a food item and/or non-food item for purchase at a retail establishment. In response to receiving, by the first application, a request from the user using the first user interface to purchase a beverage at the retail establishment, a second application may be linked with the first application. A data repository inclusive of selectable beverage options available for dispensing by a beverage dispenser at the retail establishment may be accessed. The second application may present a second user interface for selection of a selectable beverage option. A selected beverage instruction code representative of a selected beverage may be generated and communicated to the beverage dispenser at the retail establishment to cause the beverage dispenser to be configured for dispensing the selected beverage.

A shutoff switch for dispensing mixed beverages is presented. The shutoff switch includes a syrup inlet receiving syrup and a syrup outlet dispensing the syrup to a pump. The shutoff switch also includes a water inlet receiving water, and a water outlet dispensing the water to a either the pump or a dispensing point. Two distinct inlets and outlets for syrup and water prevent the syrup and water being mixed in the shutoff switch. The shutoff switch further includes a pressure responsive member that deforms based on pressure changes in the shutoff switch. When the deformation of the pressure responsive member reaches a threshold, an electrical gate in direct communication with the pressure responsive member opens, turning of a pump of the beverage dispensing system. Valves in either chamber of the shutoff switch can also be used as a redundant mechanical way to stop flow in the system.

The dynamic adjustment of ratios of beverages to be mixed and dispensed in creating mixed or blended beverages is provided. A selection of beverages may be received from a user interface menu displayed by a computing device. A representation of a mixed beverage comprising the beverage selections may then be displayed according to pre-assigned default ratios. An input may then be received to adjust an assigned ratio associated with one or more of the beverage selections. The computing device may then adjust an assigned ratio associated with the one or more beverage selections in response to receiving the input. The computing device may then automatically adjust assigned ratios associated with other beverage selections in the representation of the mixed beverage. The computing device may then display a representation of the mixed beverage with the adjusted ratios in the user interface.