Ingredient dispensing systems and methods in a fluid mixture system using a monitored chamber pressure are disclosed. One system includes a chamber, an inlet to the chamber, a set of ingredient reservoirs, in the chamber, storing a respective set of ingredients and sealed by a respective set of valve, a pressure source, and a controller. The system is programmed to set a pressure of the chamber using the pressure source and the inlet to the chamber. The system is also programmed to dispense, using the pressure, at least two ingredients from the respective set of ingredients by actuating at least two valves from the respective set of valves.

Disclosed herein is a refrigerator and a control method thereof. The refrigerator includes a purified water tank to store water, a flow sensor to detect an amount of water supplied to the purified water tank, a purified water supply valve to open/close a purified water supply flow path to guide water stored in the purified water tank to the carbonated water tank, a carbonated water discharge valve to open/close a carbonated water discharge flow path to guide the carbonated water to the outside of the refrigerator, and a controller to detect a position where water leakage occurs by sequentially opening the purified water supply valve and the carbonated water discharge valve in a water leakage mode.

The monitoring system includes a system for indentifying the beer keg to a user 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, including at least one of the following sensors: a temperature sensor for the beer, a volume sensor for the beer present in the keg and a location sensor for the keg. A communication system transmits the sensor information to a remote data center for the user.

Disclosed is an automated smart water purification and dispensing apparatus for providing purified water to a plurality of users. The water dispensed by the automated smart water purification and dispensing apparatus employs an ION purification means and an Ozone purification means for the incoming water from the water supply. The automated smart water purification and dispensing apparatus includes a display means for providing visual information and an audio output means for providing audio information to users. The subscribers of a water-dispensing scheme proposed by a central computerized controller can receive water using a storage container having an optical code that can be read using an RFID reader of the automated smart water purification and dispensing apparatus. The central computerized controller communicates with a central server in real time for transferring information about the subscribers and for controlling water dispensing accounts associated with each of the subscribers.

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.

The invention concerns a dispenser (1) comprising: —a housing (2) defining an internal space (3), —a beverage preparation unit housed in the internal space, said beverage preparation unit being connected to an electric supply, —a door (4) to get access to the internal space of the housing, said door being assembled to the housing (2) by means of at least one hinge (5), said door comprising one element erecting from the internal surface of the door, said door being configured for switching off the electric supply of the beverage preparation unit when it opens, the switching off being due to the release of a mechanical and electric contact by the at least one erecting element, wherein the dispenser comprises a slider (6), said slider comprising: —a first part (61) configured for switching on the electric supply of the beverage preparation unit when the slider is translated from a first rest position to a second operative position, and —a second part (62) configured for engaging with a locking device (7) when the slider (6) is translated to the second operative position so that the slider is retained in said second operative position by the locking device, and wherein the element erecting from the internal surface of the door is configured for disengaging the second part of the slider from the locking device (7) when the door is closed.

A closing valve for a container for a fluid includes an outer jacket connected or connectable to an opening in the container or forming part of the container. An inner jacket is accommodated inside the outer jacket and has an opening through which the fluid can be fed to or withdrawn from the container. A closing element is positioned inside the inner jacket or between the inner jacket and the outer jacket and movable between at least a first position closing the opening and a second position clearing the opening, wherein at least the closing element is made from a polymer material. The closing element comprises a sealing member and a spring, which urges the closing element into the first position.

A device for dispensing liquid from a container includes a dispensing tube to dispense the liquid through a dispensing valve. A gas tube feeds pressurized gas into the container. The upstream end of the gas tube connects to a source of pressurized gas. A three way valve is coupled to the downstream end of the gas tube. The three way valve includes a keg duct in communication with the interior of the container, a gas duct connected to the downstream end of the gas tube, and a vent duct. The three way valve can switch from a dispensing position in which the keg duct is in communication with the gas duct, and out of communication with the vent duct, to a venting position in which the keg duct is in fluid communication with the vent duct and out of fluid communication with the gas duct.

A water purifier that includes: a filter unit that is configured to purify water; a cooling unit that is configured to cool water purified by the filter unit using cooling water; a water discharge unit that is configured to discharge water cooled by the cooling unit; a cold water flow path that couples the cooling unit to the water discharge unit and through which water cooled by the cooling unit passes; a cold water discharge valve that is coupled to a first side of the cooling unit and that is configured to control water flow inside the cold water flow path; and a check fitting unit that is coupled to a first side of the water discharge unit and that is configured to block pressure change inside the cold water flow path is disclosed.

A water purifier that includes: a main body including: a filter unit, a cooling unit, and a heating unit; a first water tube through which water purified by the filter unit or water cooled by the cooling unit passes; a second water tube through which water heated by the heating unit passes; a water discharge unit that protrudes from a portion of the main body; and a water discharge cork (i) that downwardly protrudes from the water discharge unit, (ii) that is coupled to the first water tube and the second water tube, and (iii) that is configured to discharge water purified by the filter unit or water cooled by the cooling unit in a first stream and discharge water heated by the heating unit in a second stream, wherein the first stream is separated from the second stream is disclosed.