Systems and methods for dispensing consumable liquids are disclosed. An example networked system includes a server and a plurality of beverage dispenser stations. Each of the beverage dispenser stations includes a filler including a filler outlet configured to deliver a beverage into a container, an RFID reader configured to read an RFID tag fixed to a water filter through which water for the beverage is to flow, and a controller. The controller is configured determine a duration-of-use of the water filter and a volume of water that has passed through the water filter. Each of the beverage dispenser stations also includes a network communications interface configured to communicate the duration-of-use and the volume of water to the networked administrative server to track use of the water filter among the plurality of beverage dispenser stations.

A networked system for providing and maintaining a set of liquid dispenser stations is described. The fluid dispensers communicate with a managing/supervisory cloud server via an interposed base station. The fluid dispensers communicate locally with the base station via wireless communication network links. The base station operates as an accumulator of status/usage information provided by the dispenser stations and bridge for passing information and control commands between the cloud server and the individual dispenser stations. The dispenser stations are configured with control processors (controllers) to facilitate performing a variety of local control operations associated with dispensing liquids that have been cooled (or heated) prior to dispensing by the dispenser stations. Additionally, the dispenser stations cooperatively operate with the cloud server (via the base station) to support a variety of real time control and maintenance operations relating to the dispenser stations operating at potentially thousands of distinct geographic locations.

An apparatus, system, and method for beverage dispensing, and control and management of a beverage dispenser. The beverage dispenser can have an enclosure. The enclosure includes a base section, a control section, and a dispensing section. The base section can be configured to house one or more BIBs, and support one or more beverage containers. The control section can be configured to house a heating device, one or more pumps, control circuits, communication circuits, distribution circuits, and fluid management systems. The dispensing section can be configured to house a computing device, one or more fluid dispensers, and support a brewing or mixing container. The brewing or mixing container can allow for the brewing, mixing, or blending of a beverage that can be dispensed to one or more beverage containers. The beverage dispenser can communicate through a computer network to a management, maintenance, and support portal.

Content containers and vessels, one aspect including a chocolate dispensing vessel, having a generally fluid-tight enclosure, chocolate substantially filling the fluid-tight enclosure, a fluidic conduit extending through the fluid-tight enclosure, and a fluidic valve operationally connected to the fluidic conduit and positioned outside of the fluid-tight enclosure. The chocolate is solid state at room temperature and the chocolate softens to a liquid state in the temperature range from 26 to 36 degrees Celsius.

Proposed is a touchless water dispensing control system, wherein water dispensing operation is possible without requiring physical contact between a user and a water supply device. In an embodiment, proposed are: a touchless water dispensing control system for a water supply device, the water dispensing control system including at least two water dispensing valves, a touchless locking operation module detecting an approaching object, a touchless water dispensing operation module detecting the approaching object, and a controller comparing a user's gesture patterns received from each of the locking operation module and the water dispensing operation module with a preset condition and controlling operation of the water dispensing valves on the basis of a result of comparison; and a water dispensing control method using the same.

Systems and methods for preparing and dispensing food contents, typically molten chocolate. In one aspect, a method for treating chocolate includes placing a quantity of chocolate in a pressure-controllable environment; heating the quantity of chocolate to a temperature of about 115 degrees Fahrenheit; decreasing the pressure of the pressure-controllable environment to about 5 Torr; and holding the pressure of the pressure-controllable environment at about 5 Torr for a predetermined period of time. Additional steps may include decreasing the pressure of the pressure-controllable environment to about 5 Torr at an average rate of about 8 Torr per minute; heating the quantity of chocolate to a temperature of about 115 degrees Fahrenheit may occur at a rate of about 2 degrees Fahrenheit per minute; and/or heating the quantity of chocolate to a temperature of about 115 degrees Fahrenheit may occur at a rate of no more than 1 degree Fahrenheit per minute.

A dispenser cartridge (10) which comprises a first and a second cartridge shell (11, 12). The two cartridge shells (11, 12) are connected via a hinge (14). The two cartridge shells delimit a receiving space (25) for tubular bags. Each cartridge shell has a cooling trough (30) which, apart from an inlet port (26) and ventilation openings (33), is closed to the receiving space (25) for the tubular bags by a thermally conductive plate (18). The receiving volume of the cooling trough (30) is kept as low as possible. The depth of the cooling trough (30) corresponds to a maximum of twice the thickness of the thermally conductive plate (18). The greater the volume of the receiving space (25) for corresponding tubular bags, the greater the thickness of the thermally conductive plate (18).

A control device, for a water purifier, that dispenses hot water and that includes: an input unit that is configured to receive a command signal; and a controller that is configured to control the water purifier based on the command signal, wherein the controller is configured to: control power output of a heating unit that is configured to heat water stored in a hot water tank of the water purifier, and based on the power output of the heating unit, control temperature of hot water dispensed by the water purifier is disclosed.

Systems for dispensing chocolate, in one aspect including an exterior housing with first volume; a vertical support member; a base support member; a dispenser guiding member within the first volume; an extruder connection member extending through the housing and having a first end within the housing and a second end outside of the housing, defining a pivot axis; an extruder member connected to the first end; a lever connected to the second end; at least one extruder guide member within the first volume and connected to the extruder member; and at least one extruder guide rail connected to the housing within the first volume and capable of receiving the at least one extruder guide member; and where manual actuation of the lever pivots the extruder member in cooperation with the at least one extruder guide member.

A conduit for a liquid dispenser which includes a tube for carrying liquid and a heating device for heating at least a section of the tube. The heating device includes a part for fixing the heating device to the tube. The part is a part injection-moulded over the tube along at least a section of a length of the tube. A method of producing the conduit and a use thereof.