In a water purifier or other liquid dispenser, a sensor configured to transmit and receive a distance measuring signal is installed in a water discharge module moving vertically or disposed at the front of a main body, to sense a height of the inlet of a container accurately without a no-response duration of the sensor. Additionally, in the water purifier, the water discharge module discharges purified water at a point spaced a certain distance apart from the inlet of the container, to prevent the inlet of the container from contacting the lower surface of the water discharge module.

An autofill pitcher system is provided that includes a removable pitcher, a dispenser, and a controller. The removable pitcher includes a magnet supported for rotation between a first position and a second position. The controller is configured to open a valve in the dispenser to direct water to the pitcher when a sensor in the dispenser detects the magnet and close the valve when the sensor does not detect the magnet.

A water-dispensing device includes a cold water tank and a fill valve. The tank is in selective fluid communication with a water intake via the fill valve. The device further includes a cold dispensing valve, a spigot in selective fluid communication with the tank via the cold dispensing valve, an ozone generator in fluid communication with the tank, and a drip tray positioned beneath the spigot. The drip tray is in fluid communication with a drain via a drain hose. A controller is configured to perform a cleaning operation by: (i) activating the ozone generator to ozonate water stored in the tank, (ii) opening the cold dispensing valve to empty the tank by dispensing the ozonated water from the tank through the spigot and into the drip tray, and (iii) upon determining the tank is empty, opening the fill valve to refill the tank.

A method for controlling sterilization of a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a housing accommodating components for generating cold water and/or hot water; a water chute which protrudes from a front surface of the housing and includes a water outflow part extending downward; and a light emitting element which is mounted inside the water chute corresponding to an upper end of the water outflow part and emits ultraviolet rays for sterilization, and the method includes when a sterilization mode is started, turning on the light emitting element for a first set time and to emit ultraviolet rays through the water outflow part; and after the lapse of the first set time, turning off the light emitting element for a second set time to stop emission of ultraviolet rays, in which a sterilization cycle is defined as a sum of the first set time and the second set time, in which the sterilization mode is started at the same time when the water purifier is powered on, and in which the first set time is set such that the sterilization mode is performed for one day so that the amount of ultraviolet rays emitted to the outside of the water outflow part is less than 3 mJ/cm.sup.2 during the accumulated on time of the light emitting element.

A liquid dispenser station includes a liquid dispenser configured to dispense liquid that passes through a filter. The filter is disposed within the liquid dispenser station. The liquid dispenser has an access door to provide access to the filter. The filter includes a key to open the access door.

A versatile water delivery system is disclosed. The versatile water delivery system includes one or more features - such as a quick-connect bubbler, a multipurpose connection mount, and/or an easy-to-use pushbutton - to enable the water delivery system to adaptably operate in a number of different environments for various types of users.

A water-dispensing device includes a source water intake, a spigot, and first and second filters arranged between the intake and the spigot. The first filter includes a first inlet and outlet. At least the first inlet includes a first electrically controlled valve for selectively placing the first filter in fluid communication with the intake. The second filter includes a second inlet and outlet. At least the second inlet includes a second electrically controlled valve for selectively placing the second filter in fluid communication with the intake. A controller is configured to: (i) receive a water selection from a user, and (ii) configure the first and second valves based on the selection such that water flowing from the intake toward the spigot will enter any of the first and second filters corresponding to the selection and bypass any of the first and second filters that do not correspond to the selection.

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 refrigerator includes a main body that defines a storage space, a door configured to open or close the storage space, and a dispenser located in the door and configured to dispense cooled water and purified water. The refrigerator also includes a purified water input part that inputs a command for dispensing the purified water, a cooled water input part that inputs a command for dispensing the cooled water, and a dispensing amount input part that sets an amount of purified water to be dispensed based on the purified water being selected through the purified water input part. The refrigerator further includes a filter device located within the storage space to purify water supplied from a water supply source, and a water tank storing water that has passed through the filter device in a cooled state.

The present disclosure concerns a user-operable beverage dispenser 100 having a beverage dispensing mechanism that enables dispensing of beverage by a hands-free or hands-contactless operation. A vessel-supporting shelf 110 is pivotably articulated to the housing 102 and is displaceable about a pivot axis 112 between an open state in which the shelf 110 is parallel to a base of the housing 102 and configured to support a removable vessel thereon below a dispensing outlet 118, and a closed state in which the shelf 110 is substantially parallel to a sidewall portion of the housing 102, a beverage dispensing actuation element 120 located on a sidewall portion of the housing 102; and when in the closed state of the shelf 110, a section of the shelf is aligned and in contact with said beverage dispensing actuation element 120, such that application of pressure by the vessel onto said section of the shelf 110 when in the closed state causes actuation of the beverage dispensing element 120, and when in the open state of the shelf 110, the beverage dispensing actuation element 120 is user-accessible by the vessel directly.