Mobile product dispensers for storing and dispensing products to consumers at various locations. A mobile product dispensers may include a product dispensing system, a user interface, a powertrain system, and a control unit. The mobile product dispenser may freely roam or follow a predetermined path within its environment of operation, and may engage with and service consumers along its route. A consumer may also summon the mobile product dispenser to a location using a user device such as a smartphone, smartwatch, or the like. The control unit may enable the mobile product dispenser to autonomously travel within its environment of operation and/or to navigate to the location of a consumer.

Systems for filling and dispensing free-flowing contents into and out of a container, the container comprising: a top and a bottom, a plurality of vertical walls extending between the bottom and the top, an ice portal disposed in the top, the ice portal having a removable cap for filling an ice chamber with ice, a removable container cap, a tube vertically disposed in the container cap, the tube extending between a beverage bag and a gate valve above the container cap, an air hose disposed in the container cap parallel with the tube, an air bag attached to a bottom end of the air hose, the air bag being adjacent to the beverage bag, such that a volume between the bags and an interior of the plurality of vertical walls is the ice chamber, and a beverage flow portal protruding longitudinally from a side of the gate valve.

In an approach for pouring control, a processor recognizes that a user requests material from a dispenser with a container. A processor evaluates the container via one or more sensors. A processor determines that the user is allowed to receive the material. A processor, in response to determining that the user is allowed to receive the material, triggers the dispenser to pour the material into the container. A processor monitors the dispenser pouring the material. A processor determines that an anomaly is detected during pouring the material. A processor, in response to determining that the anomaly is detected during pouring the material, signals the dispenser to stop the pouring.

Systems for filling and dispensing free-flowing contents into and out of a container, the container comprising: a top and a bottom, a plurality of vertical walls extending between the bottom and the top, an ice portal disposed in the top, the ice portal having a removable cap for filling an ice chamber with ice, a removable container cap, a tube vertically disposed in the container cap, the tube extending between a beverage bag and a gate valve above the container cap, an air hose disposed in the container cap parallel with the tube, an air bag attached to a bottom end of the air hose, the air bag being adjacent to the beverage bag, such that a volume between the bags and an interior of the plurality of vertical walls is the ice chamber, and a beverage flow portal protruding longitudinally from a side of the gate valve.

In accordance with one aspect, there is provided a sports hydration apparatus configured for utilisation with a particular type of existing fluid reservoir bladder. As such, there is provided sports hydration apparatus comprising: electric componentry housing; an annulus rotatably coupled to the housing, the annulus defining peripheral exterior threading for engaging a threaded opening of a fluid containing bladder such that, in use, the annulus is able to rotate with respect to the housing to screwably engage the threaded opening and wherein the housing and the annulus cooperate to seal the threaded opening when the annulus is screwed in; hydration hosing transitioning through the housing in a fluidtight manner, the hosing comprising an interior inlet hose portion which reaches within the bladder for drawing fluid therefrom and an exterior outlet hose; a mouthpiece and wherein the exterior outlet hose reaches the mouthpiece; an electric pump operably coupled to the hydration hosing to pump the fluid through the hydration hosing; and wherein the housing houses electric componentry comprising: a wireless receiver operably coupled to the electric pump, the wireless receiver configured for receiving wireless control instructions from a dispensing controller device to selectively operate the electric pump. Other aspects of sports hydration apparatuses are also provided.

An apparatus for autonomously cooking a food product and dispensing said food product into a container, the apparatus comprising: a housing; a plurality of cooling chambers, a plurality of cooking chambers, a plurality of storage chambers, a plurality of primary dispensing chambers, and a plurality of secondary dispensing chambers disposed in a column arrangement within the apparatus; at least one food container disposed within at least one of the plurality of cooling chambers; a plurality of mixer augers disposed within the at least one food container; a series of induction plates adapted to be heated by a series of induction energizers, the series of induction plates and induction energizers being associated with each cooking chamber; and roller conveyor tables disposed throughout the pluralities of primary and secondary dispensing chambers, the roller conveyor tables being adapted to traverse the container such that to receive the cooked food product.

A system, device and method of use includes a data processing system configured to enable a first entity to control dispensing of a consumable provided in a package. An Internet-of-Things (IoT) device is directly associated with the package. A communications system communicatively couples the IoT device with the data processing system. The package may be a beer keg. The IoT device may include a valve for controlling the package by selecting an operating state for the valve. The data processing system enables a user to remotely control the valve. The IoT device captures and communicates consumable data, such as environmental data, location data, consumption data, and transactional data, to the data processing system. Transactional data may include payment information provided by a consumer. The IoT device controls the operating state of the valve based upon the payment information provided by the consumer.

Various beverage preparation systems and methods are disclosed. The beverage preparation system can include a dispensing unit configured to receive beverage, such as a shot of espresso, from a beverage preparation machine. The dispensing unit can include a dispensing unit with a first end and a second end. The dispensing unit can be rotatable between an upright position and an inverted position. The dispensing unit can be configured to receive the beverage through the second end when the dispensing unit is in the upright position, and can be configured to receive cleansing fluid through the second end when the dispensing unit is in the inverted position. In some embodiments, when the dispensing unit is in an intermediate position between the upright and inverted positions, the dispensing unit is configured to dispense the beverage out of the first end and into a cup or other vessel.

A beverage dispenser having a beverage-level indicating system. The beverage dispenser includes a housing and a dispensing head arranged on the housing for dispensing a beverage into a beverage container. The beverage dispenser further includes a beverage-level sensor arranged on the housing and which determines a beverage level within the beverage container without contacting the beverage within the beverage container, a beverage-level indicator that provides a visual indication of the beverage level within the beverage container, and a control unit that causes the beverage-level indicator to indicate the beverage level within the beverage container based on the beverage level as determined by the beverage-level sensor.

A portable hydration system and various components are disclosed. The system utilizes a pump to transfer potable liquid (e.g. water) from a liquid container to a user during challenging activities (e.g. endurance motorcycle riding).