The invention relates to a flow separation device (100), which may be provided in a beverage preparation device (1). The flow separation device (100) in particular effects an easier separation (redirection) of a flow. The flow separation device (100) comprises a first delivery line (30) to drain water from a buffer tank (2), a branching section (29) provided downstream the first delivery line (30), wherein the branching section (29) branches the first delivery line (30) into a second delivery line (28) and a third delivery line (23), each of the second and third delivery line (28, 23) leading to a respective discharge outlet (22; 24), and a flow rate control device (26) for delivering water through the flow separation device (100) and for adjusting the flow rate of the water. Each of the second delivery line (28) and third delivery line (23) comprises a respective section (281; 231), wherein said sections (281, 231) are arranged such that if water is delivered by the flow rate control device (26) at a flow rate below a defined threshold value the water is delivered beyond the section (281) of the second delivery line (28) but not beyond the section (231) of the third delivery line (23), thereby discharging the water via the discharge outlet (22) of the second delivery line (28), and if water is delivered by the flow rate control device (26) at a flow rate at or above the defined threshold value the water is at least partially delivered beyond the section (231) of the third delivery line (23), thereby discharging the water at least partially via the discharge outlet (24) of the third delivery line (23).

A beverage preparation system and a method for preparing a beverage thereby, which includes at least one ingredient container for containing an ingredient; a dispenser for dispensing said ingredient from said at least one ingredient container for preparation of a beverage; a controller for controlling the operation of the dispense; and a wireless communication module associated with the controller for receiving instructions from a remote device via wireless communication to exercise control via the controller upon the dispenser for reserving a specific portion of said ingredient in the ingredient container.

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.

A method of tracking liquid consumption includes receiving an input from a user to dispense liquid from a liquid dispenser, determining an identity of the user, determining a volume of liquid dispensed from the dispenser, and confirming that the correct user is consuming the dispensed liquid.

Methods and systems for accurately and securely dispensing high value beverages are presented herein. A beverage distribution system includes one or more replaceable beverage cartridges mounted to a beverage dispensing device. Each of the beverage cartridges includes a fluid reservoir with an output port, an output control valve, a flowmeter, and a local controller. The local controller receives signals from the flow meter and determines a cumulative amount of beverage fluid dispensed from the beverage cartridge based on the received signals. In one embodiment, the beverage dispensing device includes a fluid pump and a master controller. The master controller also estimates the cumulative amount of beverage fluid dispensed from each beverage cartridge based on control commands communicated to each beverage cartridge. If a difference between the estimated cumulative amounts of fluid dispensed from a beverage cartridge exceeds a predetermined threshold value, an alert is generated.

A container whose content can be removed easily by a consumer. The container should be inexpensive to produce while being extremely easy to operate by the consumer, should provide a high degree of flexibility with respect to the choice of the propellant gas (pressure and type of gas) and should achieve a long storage life for the contents, even after the container has been tapped. The container comprises a fill chamber (40), a pressure chamber (6) and a pressure valve (10). The fill chamber (40) is formed by a container base (2), a container wall (7) and a container upper face (8), and a first pressure (p.sub.B) prevails in the fill chamber (40). The pressure chamber (6) is formed by the container base (2) and a pressure chamber base (5) and a second pressure (p.sub.D) prevails in the pressure chamber (6). The pressure valve (10) is connected to the container base (2) and the pressure chamber base (5). The pressure valve (10), when open, establishes fluid communication between the fill chamber (40) and the pressure chamber (6), and the pressure valve (10), when closed, separates the fill chamber (40) and the pressure chamber (6) in a fluid-tight manner from one another.

The invention relates to a method and a system for beverage preparation according to a person-specific, individual recipe. The method for preparing a beverage according to an individual recipe takes place by using a preparation device comprising a positioning device for a drinking vessel and a receiving device for an identification feature. The method includes creating an individual recipe, storing the individual recipe in a recipe pool of a data storage unit, whereby the data storage unit can be reached via an EDP network, linking the identification feature to the recipe pool, positioning the drinking vessel into the preparation device, receiving the identification feature, retrieving the recipe pool that is linked to the identification feature, preparing the beverage according to a recipe from the recipe pool, and filling the beverage into the drinking vessel by the preparation device.

A water output device is provided. The water output device comprises a housing mechanism; a water purification mechanism, which comprises a water purifier located within the housing mechanism; a refrigeration mechanism, which comprises a compressor located within the housing mechanism; a tank assembly, which comprises a first tank mechanism configured for providing hot water, and second tank mechanism configured for providing ice water and soda water; the first tank mechanism comprises a hot water tank in communication with the water purifier; the second tank mechanism comprises a ice water tank in communication with the water purifier, a soda water tank located within the ice water tank, a water pump in communication with the ice water tank and the soda water tank respectively, and a cooling pipe spirally extended into the ice water tank.

Systems and methods have demonstrated the capability of rapidly cooling the contents of pods containing the ingredients for food and drinks. Some machines include a refrigeration system to cool food or drink in a pod. The machines include an evaporator defining a receptacle sized to receive the pod. The evaporator includes an inlet port to receive refrigerant and an outlet port to discharge refrigerant.

A system and method detection of an empty keg is provided. Carbonated beverages from a keg communicates a carbonated alcoholic beverage to a liquid beverage sensor in fluid communication with the bulk keg. The liquid beverage sensor includes at least one phase detection sensor capable of identifying a foam or gas-liquid interface (Float on Beer Detector), at least one pressure sensor, at least one flow sensor, or at least one temperature sensor. A controller in operative communication with the TCB communicates with the control valve, the actuation button and in communication with the sensors. Upon detection of a low float level for the FOB detector, or low system pressure, or high system temperature, an alarm and/or override of the control of the tap is accomplished.