An apparatus that monitors the consumption of a beverage containing vessel, while the vessel is contained in a pack, bag, or pocket. The method for monitoring includes a sensor that collects data on the beverage within the vessel, the data may be broadcast to other devices where the data is turned to information and it is displayed. The apparatus may consist of a battery, battery circuit, sensor circuit, temporary storage, sensor, and antenna. Information created may include a warning of when the vessel will be empty relative to the activity of the user.

A container capable of displaying a flow rate includes a container body and a flowmeter, a display, and a control circuit module mounted therein. The container body has a channel. The flowmeter has a conduit fluidly communicating with the channel for sensing a liquid flow. The control circuit module is signally connected to the flowmeter and the display to control the display to show a flow rate based on a measurement signal of the flowmeter.

A water-dispensing device includes a cold water tank and a fill valve. The tank is in selective fluid communication with a water intake via the fill valve. The device further includes a cold dispensing valve, a spigot in selective fluid communication with the tank via the cold dispensing valve, an ozone generator in fluid communication with the tank, and a drip tray positioned beneath the spigot. The drip tray is in fluid communication with a drain via a drain hose. A controller is configured to perform a cleaning operation by: (i) activating the ozone generator to ozonate water stored in the tank, (ii) opening the cold dispensing valve to empty the tank by dispensing the ozonated water from the tank through the spigot and into the drip tray, and (iii) upon determining the tank is empty, opening the fill valve to refill the tank.

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 beverage dispensing system includes a point of sale and one or more free-pour and/or controlled-pour spouts. The system receives data at the point of sale that includes a beverage selection entered at a user interface and determines the ingredients in the beverage selection. A dispensing instruction is sent to one of the controlled-pour spouts to dispense a quantity of the ingredient based at least in part on the beverage selection. For the free-pour spouts, a quantity of the ingredient is measured as the ingredient is dispensed from a container through a free-pour spout. The point of sale receives data that includes the identity of the ingredient and the measured quantity. A price of the beverage selection is calculated based at least in part on the ingredients dispensed and the quantities thereof. The price may be automatically calculated upon dispensing of the beverage selection.

A beverage container includes a flexible inside container and a rigid outside container. The flexible container can retain a liquid and seal the liquid from environmental air, while the surrounding rigid container facilitates handling and pouring in a form factor that reproduces the look and feel of a conventional wine bottle. A one-way valve permits pouring from the flexible container while preventing ingress of atmospheric oxygen or other contaminants. In particular, the one-way valve can be configured to retain a beverage within the flexible container until an exit path for the beverage through the valve is filled with liquid to seal the exit path and effectively eliminate any return path for ingress of air. To create a bottle-like pouring experience, the valve may automatically open to allow for the pouring of fluid when the bottle is tilted, and the valve may automatically close at the end of a pour.

A beverage dispensing system comprises a beverage dispenser electrically coupled to a point of sale. The point of sale has an input module, a beverage selection module, and a dispensing module. The input module includes a user interface configured to receive a user identification and a beverage selection. The beverage selection module receives data from the input module that includes the beverage selection and identifies an ingredient in the beverage selection. The dispensing module receives data from one or both of the input module and the beverage selection module that includes the beverage selection and the ingredient. The dispensing module also generates a beverage dispensing instruction based at least in part on the beverage selection and the ingredient. The beverage dispenser receives data from the dispensing module that includes the beverage dispensing instruction and dispenses a beverage according to the beverage dispensing instruction.

A dispenser may dispense a predetermined amount of fluid from a fluid container. The dispenser may include an actuator that applies a force to a nozzle of the fluid container to open the nozzle for a period of time based. The period of time may be based on the predetermined amount of fluid. The dispenser may include a weight sensor, wherein the weight sensor detects a weight of the fluid in a fluid container. The period of time may be based on the weight of the fluid in the fluid container.

A beverage dispense apparatus and associated method, comprises a frame (11) for removably locating and holding a sealed beverage unit package (C) in a vertical orientation. A first piercing element (14) punctures a vent opening into a headspace of the beverage package (C) and, subsequently as the first piercing element is driven downward, a second piercing element (15) punctures an outlet opening into the beverage package so that beverage can flow through a nozzle (17) under gravity. An ultrasonic transducer (16) against the nozzle (17) may supply excitation energy that breaks gas out of solution so that a creamy head is formed on the beverage in a delivery vessel underneath the frame. Control of the vent opening/vale (13) enables flow to be slowed or stopped through the nozzle (17) enabling a settle time and two-part pour.

A refrigeration device includes a refrigerated compartment, a door that seals the compartment, a dispenser opening in an exterior surface of the door, and a dispenser outlet in the opening. The refrigeration device also includes a reservoir configured to hold a substance and a conveyor configured to convey the substance from the reservoir to the dispenser outlet. Measurement sensors of the refrigeration device are configured to generate first measurement signals that are indicative a gesture of a hand in the dispenser opening. A control unit of the refrigeration device is configured to ascertain a requested fill height based upon the first measurement signals. The control unit is further configured to generate signals that cause the conveyor to convey the substance from the reservoir to a container placed under the dispenser outlet and cease conveying the substance upon the container attaining the requested fill level.