The present invention provides a hot-water supply device comprising: a flow control valve for controlling the flow rate of water supplied from the outside; a heating module for heating water passed through the flow control valve and guided thereto; a hot-water discharge valve for opening or closing a channel through which the water heated by the heating module is discharged; an input unit for receiving a hot-water discharge signal; and a controller for controlling the flow control valve, the heating module, and hot-water discharge valve such that the flow rate of water supplied to the heating module is controlled step by step by the flow control valve according to signals received by the input unit.

A contactless interface for a beverage dispenser including a sensor and circuitry. The sensor has a field of view and is configured to sense an object located in a detection zone of the sensor. The detection zone is an area within the field of view and at a distance less than a maximum detection distance from the sensor. The circuitry is configured to output a detection signal while the object is sensed within the detection zone. The detection signal is an electrical signal.

A multiple-piece vacuum-insulated heating tank for use in a water dispenser includes a threaded cover, a thermal insulation cover, and a heating tank body. The threaded cover is mounted on an upper opening of the heating tank body and includes a plastic cover and a protective cover mounted on and around the plastic cover. The thermal insulation cover is fitted in the upper opening and includes an upper cover and a lower cover. The lower cover is cup-shaped; is mounted with a heating tube, a water inlet pipe, a water outlet pipe, a thermowell, a temperature-sensing heat pipe, a heat collector block, and two snap-action thermostats at the bottom side; and has a sidewall formed with a step adjacent to the bottom side. The heating tank not only has a multiple-piece structure that facilitates mass production and maintenance, but also dispenses with electronic temperature control as is conventionally required.

A platform for onsite creation of consumable liquids is provided. The platform includes a liquid generating machine, a set of cubes, compatible bottles, and a user interface device. The liquid generating machine may include a water storage module, a cube module, a liquid making module and a bottle filling and cleaning module. The platform decentralizes the production of consumable liquids, such as drinking waters, enhances the consumer's experience, significantly increases consumers' choices, all while simplifying the consumption process (buying the water, carrying it, getting rid of/recycling the plastic bottle, etc.). The platform includes customizable liquid generating recipes associated with the cubes that may be provided through a network or local database and a security feature that allows the authorization of users to generate and access controlled liquids.

The invention relates to a device (10), a container (20), a system (100) comprising the device (10) and the container (20), and a method for delivering frozen or chilled beverages. The device (10) is provided for receiving a container (20) comprising a frozen product and for processing the frozen product of the container (20) for delivering a frozen or chilled beverage, wherein the container (20) comprises a first end (20a), a second end (20b) and a sidewall (20c) extending between the first end (20a) and the second end (20b). The device (10) comprises a slicing element (60) and a driving unit (50) configured to rotate the container (20) and thus the frozen product about a rotation axis for rotating the frozen product relative to the slicing element (60) in order to slice the frozen product. The device (10) further comprises a reading unit (41) configured to read a machine-readable identification element (22) of the container (20), wherein the reading unit (41) is positioned such that an identification element (22) provided on the sidewall (20c) of the container (20) is readable by the reading unit (41), when the container (20) is rotating about the rotation axis.

A beverage-making apparatus includes a fermentation tank assembly including a fermentation tank having an opening formed therein and a fermentation tank cover configured to open and close the opening. The beverage-making apparatus also includes a refrigeration cycle apparatus including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. The refrigeration cycle apparatus is configured to circulate a refrigerant therethrough and to control a temperature of the fermentation tank as the evaporator is disposed at the fermentation tank. The beverage-making apparatus further includes a heat insulating wall surrounding both the fermentation tank and the evaporator.

A water dispenser is provided. The water dispenser may include a main body, a rotator installed to be rotatable in a horizontal direction in the main body and including a water discharger, a rotation guide rail having a predetermined curvature within the main body, and a rotation guide protrusion provided in the rotator and slidably coupled to the rotation guide rail to guide rotation of the rotator.

A beverage dispenser includes an inlet for drawing a liquid from a source and an outlet for outputting a beverage to a portable user vessel. A demineralization device demineralizes the liquid from the source and has an input and an output. The input of the demineralization device is coupled with the inlet. A beverage preparation device has an input and an output. The input of the beverage preparation device is coupled with the output of the demineralization device and the output of the beverage preparation device is coupled with the outlet. The beverage preparation device, the outlet, all active components and all passive components downstream of the demineralization device contacting the beverage are made of a biological inert material, particularly a biological inert metal, on any surface contacting the water. All couplings of the beverage dispenser are manufactured such that stagnation even of small quantities of beverage is avoided.

The present invention provides a method for controlling a hot water supply apparatus, the method comprising: a first step of receiving a hot water exhalent signal; a second step of determining whether a cup is a first cup or a recurring cup; and a third step of, when the cup is the first cup, providing hot water to a user by using a first cup providing algorithm, and when the cup is the recurring cup, providing hot water to the user by using a recurring cup providing algorithm, wherein in the third step, the amount of water supplied to a heating module for heating water is adjusted in stages.

Automatic beverage vending machine that has a milk supply circuit includes a cold milk tank, a variable speed milk pump, a steam generator, a milk heater, and an electronic milk control unit. The electronic milk control unit is electrically connected to the milk pump and to an air solenoid valve. The electronic milk control unit is configured to cause the milk supply circuit to deliver smooth or frothed, hot or cold milk. The electronic milk control unit is also configured to determine milk-related quantities including the type of cold milk contained in the cold milk tank, the temperature of the cold milk contained in the cold milk tank, the amount of foam to dispense, and the type of milk to dispense, and to control operation of the milk pump and of the air solenoid valve based on the determined milk-related quantities.