Disclosed is a smart device housing configured to fixably attach to a beverage vessel comprising a domed surface at a distal end, the domed surface adjacent a wall terminating at a lip, the smart device housing comprising an exterior configured as a transformable shape enabling a locking fit between the lip and the domed surface of the beverage vessel. Also disclosed is a system wherein a smart device comprises at least one proximity, image or distance sensor having a beam of detection with a path, the sensor located and directed such the beam of detection covers a location where a coupler can be attached to the beverage vessel, the smart device configured to determine whether the coupler is attached to the beverage vessel by measuring whether the path is obstructed by the coupler. Also disclosed is a method of determining the fill status of a beverage container.

The invention relates to bases for positioning tap pouch with a mechanism for aiding the emptying, which consists of the bases and the mechanism that exerts pressure on the tap pouch.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show in front view and rear view the base (1) in perspective. In these figures, a typical configuration of the base (1) is shown where the four legs (5) protrude, the front side (3), the port (4) through which the taps (7) protruding from the pouches (6) and (12), when these are placed on the surface (2), are passed. On the surface (2), the ports (10) and (11) are shown, in which the bases (15) of the mechanism (9) for aiding the emptying of the pouches (12) are mounted.

In FIG. 10, the components of the mechanism (9) for aiding the emptying are shown in exploded form as mentioned below. The cylindrical part (13), the arms (14). The arms (14) are mounted on the bases (15). The ends (27) are inserted in the gap (28). The rotation spring (18), after passing through the concentric holes (21) and (25) and the slots (22) and (26) operates as a shaft of the rotation points of the arms (14).

A storage and dispensing system for beverage accessories is provided. The storage and dispensing system for beverage accessories has a planar base, a single-serve beverage pod storage container, and a plurality of drinking accessory dispensing channels. The pod storage container includes at least one sidewall disposed orthogonally to a top surface of the planar base. The pod storage container also includes a channel that is sized to receive a single pod at a time. A gate is disposed on a terminal end of the channel which prevents pods from sliding out of the channel. Each of the plurality of accessory dispensing channels is sized to receive at least one drinking accessory such as a cup or lid.

A cleaning valve for cleaning a beverage dispensing device is provided. The cleaning valve may include a valve body having a valve opening, a valve lever coupled to the valve body and configured to move the valve body between a product dispense position and a sanitize position, a product port configured to alternatively output a beverage product and a sanitizer based on a position of the valve lever, and a sanitizer port configured to receive the sanitizer from a sanitizer reservoir. The valve opening may be configured to create a first fluid communication path when the valve lever is in the product dispense position to allow the beverage product to output from the product port, and may be configured to create a second fluid communication path when the valve lever is in the sanitize position to allow the sanitizer to output from the product port.

A beverage dispensing device comprising a beverage reservoir, a receptacle that receives a beverage container including a beverage and discharges the beverage from the beverage container into the beverage reservoir, a cutting mechanism that opens the beverage container to release the beverage, a cooling system comprising one or more thermoelectric coolers including one or more plate-like surfaces along the flow path wherein the cooling system performs at least one of chilling or warming the beverage that flows over at least part of the plate-like surface. The beverage dispensing device further comprising a pump that transfers the beverage from the beverage reservoir to the cooling system, an aeration component that receives and aerates the beverage from the cooling system, and a discharge nozzle coupled to the aeration component that dispenses the beverage.

An appliance for making a drink individually. The appliance includes a plurality of containers. Each container includes a vessel and a head screwed onto the vessel. A base defines a plurality of housings each receiving a container, and being provided with a housing outlet and a pressurizing inlet connected with a drain valve and a pressurizing valve of the container, respectively. A funnel is mounted under the housing outlets. Structure transfers by pressurization, into the funnel, ingredients contained in the containers housed in the housings. The vessel and the head of at least one container include polarizing surfaces of the vessel and of the head, respectively, configured to form, together, a container polarizing surface that can cooperate with a housing polarizing surface to ensure a predetermined positioning of the container with respect to the housing.

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 hydration system including a fluid reservoir, a fluid path in communication with the reservoir, and a magnetic quick connect interposed in the fluid path is disclosed. A fluid delivery system for a hydration system is also disclosed that includes a magnetic quick connect interposed in a fluid delivery path of the delivery system. The magnetic quick connect can also be used in a wide variety of fluid delivery systems. A kit for forming a fluid delivery system for a hydration system is also disclosed, as are various components of a hydration system.

A machine intended for cooling and draining contents of a metal beverage can comprising a refrigerated housing intended to receive a can; a tube projecting into the refrigerated housing and defining a bore. The machine further includes a removable subassembly including a stirrer mounted to slide with respect to the tube to pass through the bore between an upper position in which the stirrer projects above the upper edge of the tube and a position in which the stirrer is set back with respect to the upper edge of the tube; a duct having an outlet orifice and an inlet orifice communicating with the bore; a plug blocking or opening selectively the outlet orifice of the duct.

A beverage dispensing apparatus having a height-adjustable support member for supporting a beverage vessel at a plurality of different support positions. The beverage dispensing apparatus may include a beverage dispensing outlet for dispensing a beverage and a movable support member having a top surface for supporting a beverage vessel below the beverage dispensing outlet. The movable support member may include an inner telescoping element and an outer telescoping element. An actuation assembly may be operably coupled to the movable support member to move the movable support member to modify a distance between the top surface of the movable support member and the beverage dispensing outlet. Activation of the actuation assembly may cause both the inner and outer telescoping elements to move simultaneously either towards or away from the beverage dispensing outlet.