The present application describes a product dispenser, such as a beverage dispenser. The product dispenser may include a nozzle, a first pump in fluid communication with a beverage base source and the nozzle, a second pump in fluid communication with a flavoring source and the nozzle, and a user interface for receiving a request for a beverage. The user interface may include a product button that represents a beverage base, and an additive button that represents a flavor, wherein in response to a first selection of the product button and a second selection of the additive button, the user interface may be adapted to instruct a dispense of the beverage base and the flavor to the nozzle at a given flow rate.

Dispensing nozzles and systems for dispensing edible products include a nozzle sleeve and a nozzle insert. The nozzle sleeve defines an open interior and the nozzle insert is positioned within the nozzle sleeve. A base inlet and a flavoring inlet are defined in the nozzle insert. The nozzle sleeve and the nozzle insert are configured to mix a base substance with a flavoring substance.

A beverage dispensing nozzle is provided. The beverage dispensing nozzle may include an upper portion configured to receive juice concentrate, a lower portion coupled to the upper portion and configured to receive juice concentrate from the upper portion, an agitation device configured to mix the juice concentrate and a liquid within the lower portion, and a nozzle output configured to output a mixture of the juice concentrate and the liquid mixed by the agitation device. At least one of the upper portion and lower portion may include an umbrella valve configured to regulate flow of the juice concentrate.

A beverage dispensing nozzle is provided. The beverage dispensing nozzle may include an upper portion configured to receive juice concentrate, a lower portion coupled to the upper portion and configured to receive juice concentrate from the upper portion, an agitation device configured to mix the juice concentrate and a liquid within the lower portion, and a nozzle output configured to output a mixture of the juice concentrate and the liquid mixed by the agitation device. At least one of the upper portion and lower portion may include an umbrella valve configured to regulate flow of the juice concentrate.

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 syrup pump system is disclosed including a pump housing having an internal pumping chamber, a pump motor, and a pumping mechanism driven by the motor within the pumping chamber. The pumping mechanism receives a syrup fluid at a first pressure and discharges the fluid at a second pressure which is greater than the first pressure. A pressure transducer adjacent a sensor port and in contact with a quantity of the fluid at the second pressure generates an electrical signal based upon the second pressure. A programmable micro controller receives the electrical signal from the pressure transducer and is capable of starting and stopping the pump motor. The micro controller will immediately stop the pump motor if the second pressure exceeds a predetermined maximum pressure level. The micro controller will also stop the pump motor if the second pressure falls and remains below a predetermined minimum pressure level for a predetermined first time interval.

Systems and methods of custom condiment dispensing include a reservoir of base condiment and a plurality of flavoring reservoirs. A first pump is pneumatically connected to the reservoir of base condiment. The second pump is pneumatically connected to at least one flavoring reservoir of the plurality of flavoring reservoirs. A nozzle is fluidly connected to the reservoir of base condiment and fluidly connected to the plurality of flavoring reservoirs. The nozzle is configured to simultaneously dispense the base condiment and at least one flavoring therethrough. A controller receives the user selections of the base condiment and the at least one flavoring and operates the first pump and the second pump to dispense base condiment and at least one flavoring.

A carbonated drink dispensing system includes a carbonation tank, a CO.sub.2 cylinder configured to deliver CO.sub.2 to the carbonation tank at a pressure of between 50 psi and 60 psi, a low-pressure pump configured to pump water into the carbonation tank, and a level sensor configured to determine when the water in the carbonation tank has reached a pre-determined level. The low-pressure pump is configured to stop pumping water when the level sensor determines that the water in the carbonation tank has reached the pre-determined level. The low-pressure pump starts pumping water again after a time delay.

A mixed drink producing apparatus with a dispensing container, which is formed for receiving a liquid addable to a mixed drink by the mixed drink producing apparatus and which is connected to a dispensing unit of the mixed drink producing apparatus for conducting the liquid from the dispensing container to the dispensing unit, wherein the dispensing unit has a dispensing opening, from which the mixed drink can be dispensed, and the mixed drink producing apparatus has a gas adding unit, which is disposed such that a gas output by it is directed to a jet of the liquid dispensed from the dispensing container and the gas is addable to the jet before the dispensing opening such that the orientation of the jet after the dispensing opening is variable by the gas addition. The invention also relates to a household refrigeration apparatus and to a method for producing and dispensing a mixed drink.

A manifold for a liquid dispensing system has at least two layers. The first layer has multiple through holes along its thickness direction, and one or more fluid channels perpendicular to the thickness direction. The second layer has one or more through holes along its thickness direction, each communicating with one of the through holes of the first layer. The second layer also has one or more fluid channels perpendicular to the thickness direction. The fluid channels each have an inlet at the edge of the respective layer and an outlet at one of the through holes. The second layer also has one or more holes defining valve bores. A valve in each of the valve bores controls flow of a liquid to a respective one of the fluid channels of the second layer. Also provided are a liquid dispensing system and a method of manufacturing a manifold.