The method includes indentifying the beer keg to a brewery which fills the keg and for identifying the date on which the beer keg is filled. A sensor system is attachable to or built into the beer keg for identifying the temperature of the beer and for locating the keg. A communication system directly transmits information between the brewery and the sensor system on the keg.

The invention relates to a tap head (1) for connecting to a keg (9), in particular for a bar system, the tap head (1) having a tap head body (3), and a pressurization-gas supply line (7) and a beverage removal line (6) being formed in the tap head body (3), such that a 3/2-way valve (2) is formed directly on or in the tap head body (3) in the pressurization-gas supply line (7), which 3/2-way valve connects either the pressurization-gas supply line (7) from a gas source to the interior of the keg (11) or connects, in a gas-conducting manner, the interior of the keg (11) to the environment (U).

A drink dispenser system includes an ingredient supply container including a beverage ingredient, and a source of water. An ingredient supply sensor is operatively associated with the ingredient supply container and configured to sense when the ingredient supply container is empty or nearly empty and generate a signal indicative of the empty or nearly empty state. A handheld dispenser in fluid communication with the ingredient supply container and the source of water includes an indicator. A controller communicates with the ingredient supply sensor and is configured to cause activation of the indicator in response to the signal from the sensor indicative of the empty or nearly empty state.

The present invention relates to a water dispensing device control method, which includes: a step of allowing a call word in a sound shape uttered from a user to be input into a microphone; a step of identifying the input call word in a sound identifying module and outputting guiding sound of identifying the call word through a speaker; a step of allowing the desired discharge water amount in the sound shape uttered from the user to be input into the microphone; a step of identifying the input desired water discharge amount in the sound identifying module and outputting guiding sound of identifying the water discharge amount through the speaker; a step of allowing a user to input a water discharge order; a step of allowing water discharge to be implemented while a water discharge valve is opened; and a step of allowing the water discharge to be finished while the water discharge valve is closed when the water discharge flow rate detected in a flow rate sensor reaches the input desired water discharge amount.

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.

A dispensing system includes one or more digital image capture devices for capturing images in a dispenser well and a digital image analyzer operatively coupled to the digital image capture device(s) for analyzing the images for use in regulating a dispensing operation. The digital image analyzer evaluates digital images captured by the digital image capture device(s) to determine various characteristics of a container placed in the dispensing well, such as the height and position of the container.

A dispensing system may be configured to dispense a custom product based on a user selection. The user selection may be provided via a user interface of the dispensing system. The user interface may simultaneously display selectable icons for the available types of products (e.g., types of beverages) and other icons for modifying a chosen product (e.g., a flavoring or additive to a beverage, such as a sweetener or a cherry flavoring). The user interface may receive input from a user in order for the user to select a custom product (e.g., a custom drink) and the dispensing system may dispense the custom product to the user.

A networked system for providing and maintaining a set of liquid dispenser stations is described. The fluid dispensers communicate with a managing/supervisory cloud server via an interposed base station. The fluid dispensers communicate locally with the base station via wireless communication network links. The base station operates as an accumulator of status/usage information provided by the dispenser stations and bridge for passing information and control commands between the cloud server and the individual dispenser stations. The dispenser stations are configured with control processors (controllers) to facilitate performing a variety of local control operations associated with dispensing liquids that have been cooled (or heated) prior to dispensing by the dispenser stations. Additionally, the dispenser stations cooperatively operate with the cloud server (via the base station) to support a variety of real time control and maintenance operations relating to the dispenser stations operating at potentially thousands of distinct geographic locations.

A dispensing unit is operatively associated with a refrigeration appliance for selectively dispensing water and ice at a dispensing station. The dispensing unit includes an actuator that is movable to selected positions in order to support the dispensing of the water and ice. The dispensing unit can include a passageway through which ice is dispensed, and an ice door can be provided for selectively opening and closing the passageway to the dispensing of ice. In one aspect, the ice door can be opened and closed mechanically and in another aspect, the ice door can be opened and closed electromechanically. The dispensing unit also can provide for the position of a water-dispensing nozzle to be adjusted for the purpose of dispensing water to receptacles outside a recessed area at which the nozzle is located and to provide for the activation of illuminating devices to indicate operating conditions at the refrigeration appliance.

A water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a housing accommodating components for generating cold water and/or hot water; and a water chute which protrudes from a front surface of the housing, in which the water chute includes a water cock through which cold water or hot water flows; and a light emitting element which is mounted on the water cock to emit ultraviolet rays, in which the water cock includes a water inflow part which extends in a transverse direction and has a water inflow passage formed therein; and a water outflow part which extends in a direction intersecting the water inflow part at an end of the water inflow part and has a water outflow passage formed therein, in which the light emitting element is disposed on an upper side of the water outflow part, and in which the water outflow passage is configured to be connected to a plurality of chambers having different diameters from each other to form a stepped longitudinal sectional shape.