Among other things, beverages are dispensed from one or more beverage dispensers based on selections made by users. Information about the dispensing of the beverages is sent to a central server where it is used to manage a variety of functions including replacement of depleted supplies of components. Various features of the beverage dispensers enable the beverages that are dispensed to be uniform and appealing to users.

Among other things, beverages are dispensed from one or more beverage dispensers based on selections made by users. Information about the dispensing of the beverages is sent to a central server where it is used to manage a variety of functions including replacement of depleted supplies of components. Various features of the beverage dispensers enable the beverages that are dispensed to be uniform and appealing to users.

Among other things, beverages are dispensed from one or more beverage dispensers based on selections made by users. Information about the dispensing of the beverages is sent to a central server where it is used to manage a variety of functions including replacement of depleted supplies of components. Various features of the beverage dispensers enable the beverages that are dispensed to be uniform and appealing to users.

A method of dispensing fluids with variable carbonation. The method includes receiving a selection of a carbonation level of a beverage and determining a valve timing scheme to achieve the selected carbonation level.

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.

The present disclosure relates to automatic drink preparation. The apparatus can be communicatively coupled to ordering tablets and user interfaces for requesting cocktails. The apparatus can include a nozzle with a first pipe having a first diameter, a second pipe having a second diameter, and a third pipe having a third diameter. Each pipe can be fluidly coupled to a tube. Each tube can be fluidly coupled to a peristaltic pump that can pump fluids such as soda, alcohol, or syrup. The apparatus can include a first conveyor and a second conveyor to convey containers to the nozzle. The nozzle can move along a gantry to position above either of the conveyors, and the pumps can pump fluids through the tubes to the pipes in the nozzle for release into the containers.

An example method comprises receiving a control signal to open a first valve of a compressible liquid container within an airtight pressurized container, retrieving a first dispensing profile, each dispensing profile indicating at least one valve and, for each valve, a predetermined period of time for keeping a particular valve open, each of the valves controlling transport of contents a different compressible liquid container contained within the airtight pressurized container to a dispensing system, for each of the one or more valves identified in the first dispensing profile: opening the particular valve identified in the first dispensing profile for the particular predetermined period of time to transport contents over a first liquid transport conduit that is coupled to a particular releasable coupling and the particular valve, and closing the particular valve after the particular predetermined period of time to dispense an amount of contents of the particular compressible liquid container.

A beverage dispensing valve includes a housing defining a chamber with an inlet for receiving a fluid and an outlet for dispensing the fluid. A piston is located in the chamber and subjected to a fluid pressure exerted by the fluid received via the inlet. The piston is moved axially in the chamber by the fluid pressure such that the piston determines a flow characteristic of the fluid dispensed via the outlet. A plunger is received in the chamber, and the fluid pressure tends to move the piston towards the plunger. A spring tends to move the piston away from the plunger, against the fluid pressure. The plunger is axially registered in the chamber in discrete plunger positions, and each plunger position sets a discrete limit on axial movement of the piston thereby determining a predetermined flow characteristic of the fluid dispensed via the outlet.

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 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.