A fluid-driven chemical product dispensing system dispenses fluid chemical product concentrates. The dispensing system includes a fluid drive unit powered by flow of a fluid, such as a diluent, and a pump which delivers the fluid chemical product concentrate from a supply to a destination. Upon exit from the fluid drive unit, the diluent is also delivered to the destination, where it mixes with the dispensed fluid chemical product concentrate to form a use solution. The dilution ratio of the volume of fluid chemical product concentrate dispensed per unit time versus the volume of diluent exiting the drive unit per unit time is constant over a defined range of diluent flow rates.

A method of using a frozen food product dispensing machine includes producing, by the frozen food product dispensing machine, a frozen food product, and dispensing, by the frozen food product dispensing machine, the frozen food product through a nozzle passage of a nozzle coupled to the frozen food product dispensing machine. The nozzle defines a food product inlet fluidly coupled to the frozen food product dispensing machine and a food product outlet. The nozzle passage extends between the food product inlet and the food product outlet. The method includes introducing, by a cleaning fluid source, a cleaning fluid into the nozzle passage through a cleaning fluid inlet in the nozzle. The cleaning fluid inlet is fluidly coupled to the nozzle passage between the food product inlet and the food product outlet.

An apparatus comprises a dispensing system and a sanitizing system. The apparatus has a dispensing mode and sanitizing mode. The dispensing system may comprise a first valve and at least one component, the at least one component having an inner surface. The first valve is opened to send a free-flowing material to the at least one component when the apparatus is in the dispensing mode. The first valve is closed when the apparatus is in the sanitizing mode. The sanitizing system comprises a processing unit having a discharge cell configured to initiate a cold plasma discharge in an air flow. A tank may be configured to receive the air flow from the discharge cell of the processing unit and expose water in the tank to the air flow for a time sufficient to provide dissolution of ozone from the air flow into the water and form ozone-containing water.

A manifold having a first side, a second side, a first channel extending from the first side to the second side, and a second channel extending from the first side to the second side is disclosed. The first channel and the second channel each define a linear longitudinal axis. In one embodiment, the first channel longitudinal axis and the second channel longitudinal axis are oblique to the first side and the second side of the manifold. The manifold of the present disclosure provides channels that can be easily cleaned and allow for an increased flow performance.

A pour spout, for attaching to a bottle, has a first wireless transceiver and a valve for selectively controlling flow of a beverage from the bottle. A server interface, adapted to be carried by a person who serves beverages, has a second wireless transceiver. A control unit is provided to wirelessly communicate with the second transceiver. In one mode, the pour spout transmits a spout identifier to the server interface, which responds by transmitting the spout identifier and a server identifier to the control unit. The control unit responds with a reply transmission causing the server interface to command the pour spout to open the valve. In another mode, a person selects a cocktail, that results in the control unit sending designations of a plurality of liquor ingredients to the server interface. The server interface controls dispensing each of the plurality of liquor ingredients.

A beverage dispenser includes an inlet for drawing a liquid from a source and an outlet for outputting a beverage to a portable user vessel. A demineralization device demineralizes the liquid from the source and has an input and an output. The input of the demineralization device is coupled with the inlet. A beverage preparation device has an input and an output. The input of the beverage preparation device is coupled with the output of the demineralization device and the output of the beverage preparation device is coupled with the outlet. The beverage preparation device, the outlet, all active components and all passive components downstream of the demineralization device contacting the beverage are made of a biological inert material, particularly a biological inert metal, on any surface contacting the water. All couplings of the beverage dispenser are manufactured such that stagnation even of small quantities of beverage is avoided.

A filling apparatus includes a container, a conveyor system for transporting the container and a fill nozzle for filling the container. The fill nozzle includes a product inlet for receiving an edible liquid and a chamber fluidly connected to the product inlet. The fill nozzle also includes an elastomeric seal located within the chamber and a piston located at least partially within the chamber. The piston has a capillary tube selectively fluidly connected to the chamber. The capillary tube includes a capillary tube inlet and a capillary tube outlet. In a static state, the elastomeric seal seals the capillary tube inlet to prevent the edible liquid from flowing into the capillary tube inlet. In a filling state, the elastomeric seal does not seal the capillary tube inlet, allowing the edible liquid to flow into the capillary tube inlet, out of the capillary tube outlet and into the container.

A front push tap dispenser has a flow configuration and a sealed configuration. The tap comprises a tap body, a spring button member and a valve seal member, with the two members connected by a flexible stem having two ends, each end connected to the spring button member and the valve seal member. When in the sealed configuration the spring button holds the flexible stem and the valve seal member so the valve seal member is sealingly engaged to the inner wall of the dispensing port. When in the flow configuration the spring button is depressed, which causes the flexible stem and the valve seal to move downwardly to unseal the dispensing port to allow fluid to be dispensed. When the spring button is released, it elastically springs back to the undepressed position, causing the valve seal member to sealingly engage with the inner wall of the dispensing port.

A manifold having a first side, a second side, a first channel extending from the first side to the second side, and a second channel extending from the first side to the second side is disclosed. The first channel and the second channel each define a linear longitudinal axis. In one embodiment, the first channel longitudinal axis and the second channel longitudinal axis are oblique to the first side and the second side of the manifold. The manifold of the present disclosure provides channels that can be easily cleaned and allow for an increased flow performance.

A corrosion-resistant member according to the present disclosure includes a substrate that is composed of an aluminum-oxide-based ceramic and a covering layer that is composed of an OAlC layer that is located on the substrate.