A dispensing system includes one or more digital image capture devices for capturing images in a dispenser well and a digital image analyzer operatively coupled to the digital image capture device(s) for analyzing the images for use in regulating a dispensing operation. The digital image analyzer evaluates digital images captured by the digital image capture device(s) to determine various characteristics of a container placed in the dispensing well, such as the height and position of the container.

A liquid dispensing device includes a liquid extraction system that extracts a liquid from a container. The liquid dispensing device includes an identification system that identifies a type of the liquid. The liquid dispensing device includes a liquid preservation system that prevents degradation of the liquid. The liquid may be wine or other liquids.

A system for producing a cooled liquid and a heated liquid. Such a system may be embodied in the form of a unitary apparatus configured to dispense chilled water and near boiling water for human consumption. In one form, there is provided a system for heating and cooling a liquid, the system including: a liquid cooling unit having a heat output component, and a first liquid heater configured to hold and heat a liquid. The first liquid heater is configured to retain a first body of the liquid about the heat output component such that the liquid is heated, and furthermore that a temperature gradient is formed and maintained within the first body of the liquid.

Disclosed herein is beverage dispensing system including, in some embodiments, a housing including a dispensing platform, one or more valves at least partially below the dispensing platform, one or more valve-controlling modules respectively disposed in one or more cutouts of the housing, and an embedded system including the one or more valve-controlling modules and a central module communicatively coupled to the one or more valve-controlling modules. Each valve may include a beverage-container coupler extending from the valve through a corresponding opening in the dispensing platform configured to couple with bottom-fillable beverage containers for use with the beverage dispensing system. Each valve-controlling module may include a user-facing touchpad with one or more buttons configured to control a corresponding valve of the one or more valves. The embedded system may be configured for beverage dispensation as well as analytics, communications, payment processing, or a combination thereof related to beverage dispensation.

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 representative system includes: an exterior housing defining an interior compartment; a water tank disposed within the interior compartment; a filtration system configured to receive a flow of water from outside the exterior housing, filter the flow of water and provide filtered water to the water tank; an ice maker, disposed along a first flow path from the water tank, configured to produce ice from the filtered water provided from the first flow path; an ice bin configured to receive the ice from the ice maker; a user interface configured to receive a user input corresponding to a request for chilled water; a water control valve, disposed along a second flow path from the water tank, configured to receive the filtered water provided from the second flow path and provide a controlled flow of the filtered water to the ice bin in response to the user input such that the controlled flow of the filtered water is cooled by the ice in the ice bin to form chilled water; and a water dispenser fluidly communicating with the ice bin and configured to provide the chilled water outside of the exterior housing according to the user input.

A liquid dispensing device includes a needle. The needle is adapted to penetrate a container without tearing out a portion of the container. The portion of the container is near a point of penetration on the container. The liquid dispensing device includes a motion control system. The motion control system is configured to rotate the needle while the needle penetrates the container.

A representative system includes: an exterior housing defining an interior compartment; a water tank disposed within the interior compartment; a filtration system configured to receive a flow of water from outside the exterior housing, filter the flow of water and provide filtered water to the water tank; an ice maker, disposed along a first flow path from the water tank, configured to produce ice from the filtered water provided from the first flow path; an ice bin configured to receive the ice from the ice maker; a user interface configured to receive a user input corresponding to a request for chilled water; a water control valve, disposed along a second flow path from the water tank, configured to receive the filtered water provided from the second flow path and provide a controlled flow of the filtered water to the ice bin in response to the user input such that the controlled flow of the filtered water is cooled by the ice in the ice bin to form chilled water; and a water dispenser fluidly communicating with the ice bin and configured to provide the chilled water outside of the exterior housing according to the user input.

A dispensing system for dispensing a precise or controlled volume of fluid to a downstream assembly of an appliance is provided. As one example, the downstream assembly may be an ice making assembly and the appliance may be refrigerator appliance. In one example aspect, a dispensing system includes a housing that defines a chamber. A piston is movable within the chamber. The dispensing system also includes a plurality of valves that may be moved between various positions to move the piston between various positions. When the piston is moved within the chamber, the piston displaces a precise or controlled volume to the downstream assembly.

A beverage dispensing system includes a cabinet with a dispensing station. The cabinet includes therein a refrigeration system, a cooling fluid system, and a refrigerated compartment having therein a cooling system and a beverage source coupled with the dispensing station. The cooling fluid system circulates a cooling fluid through the refrigeration system such that the refrigeration system cools the cooling fluid. The cooling fluid system further normally circulates the cooling fluid through the dispensing station to cool beverage therein. The cooling fluid system directs the cooling fluid from the dispensing station to the cooling system when necessary to cool the refrigerated compartment. A beverage fluid system resides in the cooling fluid system between the beverage source and the dispensing station such that the cooling fluid system cools beverage flowing through the beverage fluid system prior to delivery of beverage to the dispensing station for dispensing therefrom.