Introduced here are systems for customized formulation and production of cleaning products and associated methods for using those systems. A system may include a computer-implemented platform (also referred to as a formulation platform or production platform) that is communicatively connected to an interactive dispensing machine responsible for making cleaning products. An individual or company may be permitted to select, create, or modify formulas via the production platform, while the interactive dispensing machine can produce cleaning products in accordance with those formulas.

Apparatus for dispensing a beverage in which a bottle containing the beverage is placed in a cradle and a portion of the beverage flows into a heat exchanger in which the beverage is heated or cooled to a desired temperature. The heat exchanger may be divided into at least two zones with the beverage being heated or cooled to the desired temperature in an inlet zone and the beverage being maintained at the desired temperature in an outlet zone.

A beverage production system is provided that includes a turntable configured to receive a cup from a cup dispensing station; a cabinet disposed at least partly above the turntable and defining an interior space; a lidding and printing assembly provided in the interior space of the cabinet that is operable to provide a lid on the cup and provide indicia on the lid; and an extension system configured to retain the lidding and printing assembly in a ready position located within the interior space of the cabinet and to extend the lidding and printing assembly from the interior space relative to the ready position in a maintenance position.

According to one aspect, a method is provided for measuring a physical quantity of a container placed in a detection area, using a time-of-flight sensor. The method comprises, using a processor, receiving a histogram or a matrix of histograms generated from a light pulse emitted by a time-of-flight sensor and reflected by the container, each histogram being formed of bins corresponding to distinct times of flight, extracting, for each histogram, a first histogram bin that indicates a pulse rising edge, so as to obtain a matrix of first histogram bins, and determining the height, the diameter, the position of the container and/or the filling height of the container from the matrix of first histogram bins.

A system and method for dispensing and managing cooking oil are disclosed. The system comprises a dispenser unit with an oil reservoir, a sensing unit for measuring dispensed oil, a dispensing mechanism, a microcontroller, and a communication module for wireless data transmission. A user device, running a mobile application, receives usage data, processes it against predefined thresholds, and provides real-time feedback. A cloud server stores historical data, applies machine learning algorithms for personalized suggestions and alerts, and integrates with external health applications and smart kitchen appliances. This invention enables precise monitoring, intelligent management, and promotes healthier oil consumption habits through data-driven insights and seamless connectivity.

A method for dispensing a beverage from a bottle that includes communicating a dispensing authorization message from a control unit to at least one of a server interface carried by a beverage server and a pour spout secured to a bottle, wherein the dispensing authorization message at least one of includes or initiates a dispensing command, and wherein the pour spout responds to the dispensing command by opening a spout valve through which a beverage flows from the bottle and out of the pour spout.

A removable additive assembly includes a vessel and a pump module or nozzle housing. The vessel defines an interior volume configured to hold an additive, such as a flavoring and/or nutritional (e.g., vitamin) additive. The pump includes an actuator that is configured to attach to a reciprocating coupler that can drive the pump to create cyclical intake and discharge strokes to pump the additive through the nozzle. The removable additive assembly may be a portion or component of an additive assembly that includes actuating components and one or more reciprocating couplers configured to drive one or more pumps of one or more removable additive assemblies.

Introduced here are systems for customized formulation and production of cleaning products and associated methods for using those systems. A system may include a computer-implemented platform (also referred to as a formulation platform or production platform) that is communicatively connected to an interactive dispensing machine responsible for making cleaning products. An individual or company may be permitted to select, create, or modify formulas via the production platform, while the interactive dispensing machine can produce cleaning products in accordance with those formulas.

A removable additive assembly includes a vessel and a pump module or nozzle housing. The vessel defines an interior volume configured to hold an additive, such as a flavoring and/or nutritional (e.g., vitamin) additive. The pump includes an actuator that is configured to attach to a reciprocating coupler that can drive the pump to create cyclical intake and discharge strokes to pump the additive through the nozzle. The removable additive assembly may be a portion or component of an additive assembly that includes actuating components and one or more reciprocating couplers configured to drive one or more pumps of one or more removable additive assemblies.