A water purifier or other liquid dispenser may sense a height of the inlet of a container accurately through an infrared transmitter and an infrared receiver that are disposed at different positions of a water discharge module moving vertically. Additionally, in the water purifier, the water discharge module may discharge purified water at a point spaced a certain distance apart from the inlet of the container, based on infrared sensing, thereby preventing the inlet of the container from contacting the lower surface of the water discharge module.

A water purification apparatus includes: a flow path; a dispenser provided at one end of the flow path; a user interface provided on the dispenser; a valve provided in the flow path; a valve drive operatively connected to the valve; a flow sensor provided in the flow path; a memory storing instructions; and a processor operatively connected to the user interface, the valve drive, the flow sensor, and the memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to: control, based on an input obtained through the user interface, a start of discharging a liquid by controlling the valve drive to open the valve and discharge the liquid, identify, based on an output signal of the flow sensor, a discharged amount of the liquid after the start of discharging the liquid, and control, based on a resumption of discharging of the liquid after a stop of discharging the liquid, the user interface to display a total discharged amount of the liquid discharged before the stop of discharging of the liquid and after the start of discharging of the liquid.

Aspects of the present disclosure include a connector that interfaces a beverage dispenser with an external water supply. The connector includes a backflow preventer that only allows water to flow from the external water supply to the beverage dispenser. Some aspects of the connector also include a pressure regulator configured to reduce incoming water pressure to a desired pressure. The connector is configured to be mounted to a suitable surface, such as the rear of the beverage dispenser.

Provided is a water purifier. The water purifier includes a water purifier body provided with a filter, purifying raw water supplied from the outside, and supplying purified water, a water discharge module of which at least a portion is coupled to protrude to the front of the water purifier body so that at least a portion thereof rotates or is elevated with respect to the water purifier body and which is provided with a water discharge nozzle, which supplies the purified water supplied from the water purifier body to a user, in a lower end thereof, a driving unit providing power providing power required for the rotation and elevation of the water discharge module, a detection unit installed in the water purifier body or the water discharge module to recognize a position and size of a container placed around the water purifier body, and a control unit receiving position information and size information of the container from the detection unit to control the driving unit so that the water discharge nozzle moves above the container.

A method for operating a water dispenser, the water dispenser having a water supply, a carbon dioxide supply, an outlet for pouring water into a container placed below the outlet, a controller and a user interface, the method including the following steps, which are executed in response to an activation of the water dispenser via the user interface: determining a nominal value of a water volume (V) that is to be filled into the container determining a nominal value of a waiting period (WP) by means of the controller determining nominal values of a first partial volume (V1) and a second partial volume (V2) by means of the controller (V1+V2=V), in particular by determining a volume ratio (R) with R=V1/V for dividing the water volume (V) into the partial volumes (V1, V2) pouring the first partial volume (V1) through the outlet waiting through the waiting period (WP) pouring the second partial volume (V2) through the outlet.

A refrigerator may be provided with a dispenser which includes a nozzle pipe; a light source that radiates ultraviolet light from one end of the nozzle pipe to an inner space of the nozzle pipe, a window that is provided between the one end of the nozzle pipe and the light source, and a liquid supplying hose barb connected to the nozzle pipe via an elbow. Liquid exiting the elbow swirls as ultraviolet light is irradiated onto the liquid.

A refrigerator may be provided with a dispenser which includes a nozzle pipe; a light source that radiates ultraviolet light from one end of the nozzle pipe to an inner space of the nozzle pipe, a window that is provided between the one end of the nozzle pipe and the light source, and a liquid supplying hose barb connected to the nozzle pipe via an elbow. Liquid exiting the elbow swirls as ultraviolet light is irradiated onto the liquid.

A water ejecting apparatus includes a case and a water ejection unit coupled to one side of the case. The water ejection unit includes a first lifting cover connected to the case and allowing a lifting gear to be fixed thereto, a second lifting cover movably accommodated inside the first lifting cover, a lifting motor coupled to the second lifting cover and configured to interwork with the lifting motor, and a water ejection nozzle installed at a lower end of the second lifting cover and configured to allow water to be ejected therethrough. The lifting gear has gear teeth is provided on one side thereof in an up-down direction and at least one reinforcing hole or reinforcing recess provided on the other side thereof.

A bottle filling station may include a liquid dispenser configured to dispense liquid. A pan may be configured to collect at least a portion of the dispensed liquid. A sensor may detect a presence of a liquid container. A controller may control the liquid dispenser to dispense liquid when the liquid container is approximately near the sensor.

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.