A portable, self-contained beverage apparatus includes a container assembly having a known storage capacity for storing a consumable liquid, and a dispensing assembly disposed within the container assembly that dispenses variable, non-zero quantities of additives into the consumable liquid. The dispensing assembly includes multiple apertures structured and arranged to retain vessels containing the additives to be dispensed into the consumable liquid. The beverage apparatus also includes a level sensor disposed within the container assembly that determines a consumable liquid level of the consumable liquid stored in the container assembly. In certain embodiments, one or more positive displacement pumping mechanisms are configured to pump additive liquid from additive containers into a beverage chamber.

A portable, self-contained beverage apparatus includes a container assembly having a known storage capacity for storing a consumable liquid, and a dispensing assembly disposed within the container assembly that dispenses variable, non-zero quantities of additives into the consumable liquid. The dispensing assembly includes multiple apertures structured and arranged to retain vessels containing the additives to be dispensed into the consumable liquid. The beverage apparatus also includes a level sensor disposed within the container assembly that determines a consumable liquid level of the consumable liquid stored in the container assembly. In certain embodiments, one or more positive displacement pumping mechanisms are configured to pump additive liquid from additive containers into a beverage chamber.

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.

Methods and systems directed to dispensing fluids, such as beverages, using wireless technology are provided. Aspects relate to a beverage dispenser with a dispensing system housing, a valve housing positioned exterior to the dispensing system housing and extending from the dispensing system housing. The valve housing may be configured to dispense a beverage and include self-contained electronics disposed within an interior area of the valve housing. In some embodiments, the beverage dispenser has one or more additional valve housings positioned exterior to the dispensing system housing. The valve housing may be configured to dispense a beverage and include self-contained electronics disposed within an interior area of the valve housing.

A radio frequency identification (RFID) dispenser that includes low cost electronic components that can read and write to the tag of a refill cartridge. In one embodiment, the reader utilizes a multi band pass filter to convert the radio frequency identification into a digital signal that is processed by a controller to perform a dispensing function representative to the code of the tag. In another embodiment, the controller utilizes an internal comparator to convert the radio frequency identification into a digital signal that is processed by a controller to perform a dispensing function representative to the code of the tag. The dispenser in both embodiments also includes a pair of transistors that write to the RFID tag of the refill cartridge. A dispenser according to the invention also includes the capability to read and/or write to tags upon cartridges employed by the dispenser, and augmenting the operation of the dispenser as a function thereof. Additionally, a dispenser of variable size is presented that is adaptable, through adjustable partitions or a telescoping cup, to receive and maintain cartridges of various sizes.

A portable, self-contained beverage apparatus includes a container assembly having a known storage capacity for storing a consumable liquid, and a dispensing assembly disposed within the container assembly that dispenses variable, non-zero quantities of additives into the consumable liquid. The dispensing assembly includes multiple apertures structured and arranged to retain vessels containing the additives to be dispensed into the consumable liquid. The beverage apparatus also includes a level sensor disposed within the container assembly that determines a consumable liquid level of the consumable liquid stored in the container assembly. In certain embodiments, one or more positive displacement pumping mechanisms are configured to pump additive liquid from additive containers into a beverage chamber.

A container management system (1) with a number of containers (2) which have identifying, electronically readable codes assigned to them, and with a number of dispensing/filling stations configured for dispensing a liquid from the container (2) or supplying said container with a fluid. The dispensing/filling stations are associated with electronic reading units by means of which the codes of containers (2) can be read. Data read by the electronic reading units are fed into a cloud-based computer system (13) configured for storing and analyzing the data.

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.

An example system for detecting a beer keg includes a transmitter assembly attached to the beer keg, a receiver assembly attached to a handle for attaching to the mouth of the beer keg, and a data processing apparatus in communication with the receiver assembly. The transmitter assembly includes a memory storing a unique identifier for the beer keg, a wireless transmitter for transmitting a wireless signal encoding the unique identifier, and a loop antenna positioned around a mouth of the beer keg. The receiver assembly includes a reader for reading the wireless signal from the transmitter beacon when the handle is attached to the mouth. The data processing is programmed to detect the unique identifier based on the wireless signal read by the reader.

Automatic identification and pairing authentication systems, devices, and methods capable of identifying and verifying the pairing of kegs and taps regardless of the position of a tap relative to a keg on which it is installed. Such a system includes an identification (ID) unit integrated onto a keg and a pairing device integrated onto a tap, wherein the ID unit and the pairing device communicate through a wireless connection.