The present invention provides a method for controlling a hot water supply apparatus, the method comprising: a first step of receiving a hot water exhalent signal; a second step of determining whether a cup is a first cup or a recurring cup; and a third step of, when the cup is the first cup, providing hot water to a user by using a first cup providing algorithm, and when the cup is the recurring cup, providing hot water to the user by using a recurring cup providing algorithm, wherein in the third step, the amount of water supplied to a heating module for heating water is adjusted in stages.

A liquid dispenser may include a container having an upper opening, a pump provided in the container, a pipe through which liquid discharged from the pump is transferred, a top plate having an upper surface over which liquid flows, a filter assembly provided below the top plate, a base provided below the container, and a thermoelectric element provided in the base to cool the liquid in the container.

Apparatuses and methods for liquid control are provided. A liquid control apparatus may be for selectively treating and/or substituting a liquid flow from at least one of a plurality of supply lines. The ultimate liquid flow is for dispensing to a user by way of a liquid supply fixture such as a tap. The apparatus comprises a liquid conditioning module for connection in-line with at least one of the plurality of supply lines. The liquid conditioning module receives a diverted liquid flow of the at least one supply line from an upstream portion of the supply line. It then outputs a selectively treated and/or substituted liquid flow for returning to a downstream portion of the supply line for dispensing to the user. The apparatus has at least one flow sensor, each flow sensor associated with one of the plurality of supply lines. It has a controller, the controller configured to receive information indicative of the liquid flow of at least one of the plurality of supply lines from the at least one flow sensor. The controller, upon the occurrence of a predetermined flow characteristic, is operable to activate the liquid conditioning module to treat and/or substitute the liquid flow from one or more of the liquid conditioning module connected supply lines in order to provide a treated and/or substituted liquid flow at the liquid supply fixture.

A liquid dispenser may include a container having an upper opening, a pump provided in the container, a pipe through which liquid discharged from the pump is transferred, a top plate having an upper surface over which liquid flows, a filter assembly provided below the top plate, a base provided below the container, and a thermoelectric element provided in the base to cool the liquid in the container.

Described herein is a nozzle for controlling foam of a carbonated beverage product produced by a beverage making machine, and associated system and method of use thereof. The nozzle can include an engagement portion configured for releasable attachment with the beverage making machine. The nozzle can further include a funnel portion extending elongated from the engagement portion and that is configured to converge a flow of the carbonated beverage product. The nozzle can further include a dispense portion to establish a stream of the carbonated beverage product into a receptacle. An alignment feature on an exterior of the nozzle can define an offset between a wall of the receptacle and the stream of the carbonated beverage product.

A method and system for preparing and providing a carbonized liquid. A liquid to be carbonized is provided in a tank. A gas is introduced into the tank to form the carbonized liquid. The gas may be introduced to the tank by way on an injecting nozzle located at an outlet end of a gas inlet duct inside the tank and/or located spaced apart from the liquid stored in the tank. The carbonized liquid is discharged from the tank via an outlet duct using a pressure difference between the pressure prevailing in the tank and a pressure prevailing in the outlet duct and/or at an outlet end of the outlet duct. When in normal operation mode, the gas having entered the tank is leaving the tank substantially only via the outlet duct.

A beer dispenser having a nozzle for positioning above a container and dispensing beer into the container. The dispenser includes at least one imaging device for generating at least one image of the dispensed beer, and a processor. The processor determines a measured foam height and a liquid upper surface from the at least one image of the dispensed beer, and adjusts a distance between the nozzle and the liquid upper surface as the beer is dispensed to control the measured foam height.

The present system generally relates to a fluid flow system where a controller and motor pump assemblies are used to optimize the control of fluid flow through the system. The controller samples the back electromotive force of the motor and pump assemblies and is able to utilize the sampled back electromotive force in conjunction with predefined target back electromotive force values, preferably empirically determined and tuned to an induvial motor and for a select fluid, to tune the voltage applied to the system, control the back electromotive force of the system and, by extension, control the flow of fluid.

The present invention provides a hot-water supply device comprising: a flow control valve for controlling the flow rate of water supplied from the outside; a heating module for heating water passed through the flow control valve and guided thereto; a hot-water discharge valve for opening or closing a channel through which the water heated by the heating module is discharged; an input unit for receiving a hot-water discharge signal; and a controller for controlling the flow control valve, the heating module, and hot-water discharge valve such that the flow rate of water supplied to the heating module is controlled step by step by the flow control valve according to signals received by the input unit.

A system for dispensing temperature-controlled milk using only gas pressure, pressure-choke points, and timing controls. Specifically, a system comprising one or more fluid containers stored in a temperature controlled setting, a flow control unit that controls the flow of chilled milk via gas-operated control solenoids, food-grade, air driven pumps, and pinch valves, a temperature-controlled umbilical, and a milk dispensing tower that is in electrical communication with the flow control unit and allows for the measured dispensation of product at a constant temperature, all without the use of any moving valves or other components.