The present application provides a dispensing nozzle for use with a flow of a diluent and a flow of a concentrate. The beverage dispenser may include an annular concentrate path of the flow of the concentrate and an annular diluent path surrounding at least in part the annular concentrate path for the flow of the diluent. The annular diluent path may include a shallow angle leading towards the flow of the concentrate such that the flow of the diluent and the flow of the concentrate mix in or downstream of the dispensing nozzle.

An apparatus for dispensing liquid comprising: a base structure having a liquid inlet configured to receive a liquid from a liquid source, a gas inlet configured to receive gas from a gas source, a dispensing outlet connected to a liquid dispensing unit, a storage connecting portion connected to a liquid storage, and a passage arrangement configured to put at least two of the liquid inlet, the gas inlet, the dispensing outlet and the storage connecting portion into fluid communication with each other. The apparatus further comprises a valve arrangement seated in the base structure and configured to control fluid passage of the liquid inlet, the gas inlet, the dispensing outlet, and/or the storage connecting portion. The apparatus further comprises a control unit having at least one signal input configured to be connected to a user interface, and at least one signal output configured to control the valve arrangement.

A beverage mixing system provides for accurate, convenient, and reliable mixing of liquid ingredients to dispense drinks. The beverage mixing system includes a plurality of containers each including a liquid ingredient, a pumping system in fluid communication with the plurality of containers, and a fluid manifold where liquid ingredients from the plurality of containers are ultimately combined and dispensed. The fluid manifold includes a plurality of inlet ports to which fluid lines are connected fluidically connecting the plurality of containers to the fluid manifold. The beverage mixing system also includes a control system managing operation of the pumping system to ensure proper mixing of the liquid ingredients to produce fresh drinks containing a mix of the liquid ingredients.

The present application thus provides a beverage dispensing system for combining a micro-ingredient and a diluent. The beverage dispensing system may include a nozzle and a remote micro-ingredient storage system positioned at a distance from the nozzle. The remote micro-ingredient storage system may include a recirculation loop in communication with the nozzle to agitate the micro-ingredient therein.

A backblock includes a body with a cavity connected to an inlet and an outlet. A spindle is positioned with a first end within the cavity and a second end with a tab exterior of the body. A latching plate is configured for translative movement relative to the body. The latching plate includes a keyhole with a bore and a channel. The bore is dimensioned to receive the spindle and the channel is dimensioned to receive the tab. The latching plate has a first latch position proximate to the body and a second latch position spaced apart from the body. When the tab is in alignment with the channel, the latching plate can translate to the second latch position about the tab. When the tab is out of alignment with the channel, the tab retains the latching plate in the first latch position.

A beverage dispensing head includes a housing having a front, a rear, and a base that extends between the front and the rear. A mixing nozzle is configured to dispense a flow of beverage via the base. A valve is configured to control the flow of beverage via the mixing nozzle, and a switch is movable into and between a closed position in which the valve opens the flow of beverage via the mixing nozzle and an open position in which the valve closes the flow of beverage via the mixing nozzle. A lighting module disposed in the housing is configured to illuminate the front of the housing and the base of the housing when the switch is moved into the closed position.

Flavor and additive delivery systems and methods for beverage dispensers are disclosed. An example beverage dispenser includes flavor containers configured to contain flavor mixtures, a manifold configured to blend water with flavor mixtures, a flowrate sensor configured to detect a current flowrate of the water flowing to the manifold, memory configured to store instructions related to dispensing the water and the flavor mixtures, and a processor. The processor is configured to receive a request for a selected beverage, identify a ratio between the water and one or more of the flavor mixtures for the selected beverage, transmit a water control signal to cause the water to flow at a requested water flowrate, and transmit one or more first flavor control signals to cause one or more of the flavor mixtures to flow from the flavor containers based on the ratio.

A system and method for dispensing fluids is introduced. A preferred embodiment comprises a sealed tank, a bag containing fluid inside the sealed tank, an outlet for dispensing the liquid in the bag, and a pressure generating device to create pressure in the sealed tank.

Techniques for providing a reusable filled bottle are provided. A stations receives a bottle request from a user and uses information from the request to select and associate a sanitized bottle to the user. The user is charged for a bottle rental and provided with a filled reusable bottle. The user may also return the bottle to the station to have the bottle refilled or return the bottle such that the bottle rental is completed and the bottle no longer associated with the user.

A system for sensing empty soft drink syrup containers in a soda pop dispensing arrangement is provided that includes at least one soft drink syrup container; a mixing station for mixing water and CO2 with soft drink syrup to make a soda pop mixture; a pump for pumping soft drink syrup to the mixing station and beyond to be dispensed; a CO2 container providing CO2 gas; and a soda pop dispenser apparatus. The system also includes a first tubing transmission line extending between the soft drink syrup container and the pump for carrying soft drink syrup, a second tubing transmission line for carrying soft drink syrup between the pump and the mixing station, and a third tubing transmission line extending between the mixing station and the soda pop dispenser for carrying soda pop to be dispensed. An optic sensor is located and spliced in the first tubing transmission line for sensing when the first tubing transmission line is devoid of soft drink syrup, and a signal indicator electrically connected with the optic sensor provides a signal indicating when the first tubing transmission line is devoid of syrup.