A liquid dispensing system comprises a container enclosing a chamber. A flexible bag in the chamber contains a first liquid. First and second conduits are contained in the chamber. The first conduit connects the chamber to an outlet port in the container were the second conduit connects the bag to the first conduit. A supply source introduces a pressurized second liquid into the chamber. The first conduit serves to direct an exiting flow of the second liquid from the chamber to the outlet port, with the pressurized second liquid serving to collapse the bag and expel the first liquid contained therein via the second conduit to the first conduit for mixture with the exiting flow of the second liquid. The second conduit lacks flow restrictions, such as metering orifices or the like.

A faucet system comprises a first user interface connected to a first valve, a first inlet conduit and/or a second inlet conduit, and a first outlet conduit, and a second user interface connected to a second valve, a third inlet conduit, and a second outlet conduit. The second valve is operated by a selection unit that outputs an electrical signal. A third user interface is connected to an electrically operated pump that conveys liquid via a fourth inlet conduit upstream of the pump to a third outlet conduit downstream of the pump. The third user interface comprises an input unit that outputs an electrical signal based on which the pump is operated with respect to the conveying rate and/or the operation time of the pump. Each selection possibility of the input unit is associated to a different electrical signal. A liquid additive is supplied via the fourth inlet conduit.

A free-standing appliance may include a cabinet, a water source, an icemaker, an ice bin, a cold water line, and one or more other features. The icemaker may be mounted within the cabinet downstream from the water source to receive water therefrom. The ice bin may be disposed within the cabinet downstream from the icemaker to receive ice therefrom. The cold water line may be mounted to the cabinet and define a cold water outlet downstream from the water source in fluid isolation from the icemaker.

Disclosed is a fluid dispensing system useful for applying lotions and the like comprising a substantially rigid body having a hollow interior space and a discharge hole accessing the hollow interior space. A collapsible bag, disposed within the interior space and containing a fluid to be dispensed, has an open end in fluid communication with the discharge hole where an applicator is also engaged to permit the fluid to flow from the applicator. A pressure pump for increasing the pressure within the interior space to displace the fluid out of the bag and through the discharge hole thereby causing the fluid to flow from the applicator, is attached to the body. In another practice, the fluid dispensing system comprises a squeezable body having at least one vent hole.

Beverage composition and methods for preparing beverages are disclosed. In one embodiment, an alcohol-based syrup is provided. The alcohol-based syrup is combinable with water to form a beverage that replicates an alcoholic cocktail. The syrup is dispensed in selected proportions with water through a typical soda gun or soda machine to achieve consistent drink quality. A large quantity of syrup can be easily dispensed to produce a significant number of consistent and high quality alcoholic beverages. Alcoholic beverages are dispensed in a speedy fashion allowing restaurants and other beverage-serving establishments to provide quality beverages to many customers in a quick and consistent fashion. The syrup is easily stored and transported to ensure longer shelf life than traditional cocktail ingredients. In other embodiments, the alcohol-based syrups are storable in portable pouches allowing consumers to conveniently and safely transport the alcohol-based syrups and combine them with water to form high quality beverages.

A beverage dispenser maintains a profile queue with profile data of “close” consumer mobile computing devices. Each profile in the profile queue maintains one or more beverages previously selected by a consumer, such as favorite beverage(s), mixed or blended beverages, and/or past or future beverage order(s). Each profile in the profile queue is additionally associated with a profile identifier, such as a name, screen name, social media picture, avatar, alphanumeric identifier, other such text or graphics recognizable by a consumer to be associated with their corresponding profile. Upon navigation to an appropriate screen on the beverage dispenser, a display on the beverage dispenser shows the profile identifiers or one or more of the previously selected beverages in the profiles of “close” consumer mobile computing devices. In this way, a consumer is able to quickly access their previously selected beverages without actively manipulating their mobile device.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for monitoring beverage dispenser. A system for controlling beverage quality comprises a beverage dispenser monitoring unit comprising: a plurality of weight sensors each positioned below one of a plurality of syrup containers connected to a beverage dispenser, and a first network adapter configured to communicate with a control unit. The control unit configured to detect a low weight reading from a weight sensor of the plurality of weight sensors of the beverage dispenser monitoring unit via the second network adapter, determine a syrup container of the plurality of syrup containers associated with the weight sensor, and provide a notification of low syrup level indicating the syrup container to at least one of the plurality of user interface devices.

An apparatus for making a beverage includes a housing, a first receptacle, a second receptacle, a cutting assembly, a water source, and at least one water outlet. The first receptacle is positioned in the housing for accepting a first beverage container containing a liquid. The second receptacle is positioned in the housing for accepting a second beverage container containing a liquid. The cutting assembly has a cutting blade that is movable relative to the first and second receptacles for opening the first and second containers substantially simultaneously so that liquid stored therein can be at least in part evacuated. The water source is coupled to the housing The at least one water outlet is associated with one or more of the first and second receptacles for adding water to the liquid from the first and second beverage containers from the water source.

A liquid dispensing system comprises a container enclosing a chamber. A flexible bag in the chamber contains a first liquid. First and second conduits are contained in the chamber. The first conduit connects the chamber to an outlet port in the container where the second conduit connects the bag to the first conduit. A supply source introduces a pressurized second liquid into the chamber. The first conduit serves to direct an existing flow of the second liquid from the chamber to the outlet port, with the pressurized second liquid serving to collapse the bag and expel the first liquid contained therein via the second conduit to the first conduit for mixture with the exiting flow of the second liquid. The second conduit lacks flow restrictions, such as metering orifices or the like.

A system and method to supply nitrogen gas is provided. Ambient air is compressed and stored in a storage receiver and then nitrogen is separated from the compressed air in a nitrogen membrane separation unit. The separated nitrogen is stored in a nitrogen storage tank under pressure and released through a pressure control valve. The system is confined to a small footprint and is useful as a nitrogen source where conventional compressed nitrogen tanks are a safety or space issue. Systems to prepare nitrogen infused beverages are also provided.