Methods and systems are provided for preparing a gelatin-based product. In one example, a device for preparing the gelatin-based product includes a mixing chamber for mixing a gelatin based powder with one or more liquids to form a liquid gelatin mixture, a chilling module for cooling the mixture, and a dispensing system for serving the hardened mixture. In some examples, the device may include a first mixing chamber for mixing the gelatin based powder with heated water to form a first liquid mixture, a second mixing chamber for mixing the first liquid mixture with an alcoholic beverage to form a second liquid mixture, a first chilling module for cooling the second liquid mixture prior to dispensing the second liquid mixture, and a second cooling module for hardening the second liquid mixture after it has been dispensed into one or more serving cups.

Systems and methods for dispensing beverages are provided. In accordance with various embodiments, beverage vendors may maintain the quality associated with a branded beverage while permitting consumers to enjoy the personalized beverages. In one embodiment, a user input may select a beverage formulation. The beverage formulation may be a commercially available branded beverage. A second user input may be received that is configured to modify a concentration of an ingredient of the selected beverage formulation. The ingredient may be a sweetener, such as a sugar. In response to the adjusting the ingredient, a concentration of at least one second ingredient may be automatically adjusted to form a recipe of a modified beverage formulation. In one embodiment, the user input adjusts a natural sugar and, in response, the carbon dioxide concentration is automatically adjusted. In another embodiment, carbon dioxide and another acid may be adjusted.

Embodiments of the disclosure include systems and methods for providing dynamic ingredient matrix reconfiguration in a product dispenser. In one example, a method for configuring a dispenser apparatus may include determining one or more current associations between some or all of a plurality of ingredient packages and one or more of a plurality of dispensing devices associated with the dispenser apparatus. The method may include determining whether a current association of the one or more current associations has changed with respect to at least one previous association between some or all of the plurality of ingredient packages and one or more of the plurality of dispensing devices, and in response to ascertaining that the current association has changed, modifying an association table based at least on the one or more current associations, the association table being representative of the at least one previous association.

The invention relates to a to a computer-implemented method for displaying automatically on an electronic device the updated beverage menu of a beverage dispensing machine configured to dispense a plurality of beverages. The method comprises steps for transmitting machine and beverage data from a beverage dispensing machine to a remote server and updating a database of the remote server using said machine and beverage data.

An apparatus for making a mixed drink includes a housing, a first single-serve beverage container, a second single-serve beverage container, an opening mechanism for opening the single-serve beverage containers, a chamber with an outlet, a water reservoir, and a pump. The first container holds a concentrate and the second container holds an alcohol. The chamber has an inlet for receiving the contents of the first and second containers and further includes an outlet. The water reservoir is positioned in the housing. The pump is coupled to the water reservoir for transferring water to the vicinity of the first and second containers. Water from the reservoir enters the chamber directly and/or through one or more of the containers.

Embodiments are directed to a control unit comprising an input/output interface to receive a selection of a product, a dispensing unit in communication with the control unit, the dispensing unit receiving commands from the control unit, the dispensing unit configured to generate a first portion of the product in a first position and generate a second portion of the product in a second position, and a shifting mechanism coupled to the dispensing unit, the shifting mechanism moving a product containing device from the first position to the second position when the first portion of the product is complete, wherein the dispensing unit is configured to generate a portion of a second product in the first position when the dispensing unit is generating the second portion of the product in the second position.

Embodiments of the invention include systems and methods for providing dynamic ingredient matrix reconfiguration in a product dispenser. In one embodiment, a system can include an ingredient matrix operable to receive one or more ingredient packages within respective locations. In addition, the system can include a controller in communication with the ingredient matrix and operable to execute a set of instructions operable to receive information associated with one or more ingredient packages. Furthermore, the controller can be operable to determine at least one location within the ingredient matrix for a selected one or more ingredient packages, and output the at least one location within the ingredient matrix for insertion of selected one or more ingredient packages.

A point of sale (POS) interface solution is provided to interface a POS system or POS terminal to an automated bar tending system, allowing a drink order to be entered into the automated bar tending system other than by a user interface on the automated bar tending system. The POS interface provides a drink order signal to a printer for printing a drink order on a ticket for processing a drink order and/or on a bill to present to the customer. The POS interface also provides a drink order signal to the automated bar tending system for displaying the drink order on the user interface.

Systems, apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture provide for a beverage dispensing system configured to form one of a plurality of available types of carbonated and non-carbonated beverage types in response to a user selection.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are described for dispensing consumable products. An example method may include generating, at a controller associated with a beverage dispenser, a beverage composition record for a beverage that is formulated via an ingredient matrix and dispensed at the beverage dispenser, where the ingredient matrix comprises multiple ingredient packages each comprising a beverage ingredient. The method may include writing depletion data to the ingredient package or to a data processing device associated with the ingredient package for each ingredient package from which a beverage ingredient was included in the dispensed beverage, wherein the depletion data is based at least in part on the beverage composition record.