A fluid mixture dispensing system using a membrane to seal multiple reservoirs is disclosed. The multiple reservoirs each contain a respective ingredient. The reservoirs are coupled to respective orifices in a plate. The respective ingredients are dispensable via the respective orifices. The membrane seals the respective orifices. The ingredients are dispensed into one or more channels formed between the membrane and the plate. In specific embodiments, the membrane is an integral part of a cartridge which contains the multiple reservoirs. In specific embodiments, the cartridge includes an inlet and an outlet. A solvent flows from the inlet to the outlet through the one or more channels, and the ingredients are dispensed into the solvent in the one or more channels.

Fluid mixture dispensing systems, devices and methods are disclosed. A device includes a set of pressurized ingredient reservoirs, a mixing area configured to receive at least one ingredient from the set of pressurized ingredient reservoirs, a pressure source, an accumulator chamber, a set of valves, and a controller. The controller is programmed to operate the set of valves to pressurize the accumulator chamber using the pressure source. The controller is further programmed to operate the set of valves to set a pressure in at least one of the set of pressurized ingredient reservoirs using the accumulator chamber.

A beverage pouring device includes a cradle that is moveable between a first position and a second position under a dispensing spigot. The cradle supports a glass and moving the cradle to the second position actuates a valve to dispense beverage into the glass. After partially filling the glass, the cradle automatically returns to the first position and the device continues filling the glass to a desired volume. The device starts and stops the flow of beverage automatically to arrive at a desired volume within the glass. The automatically moving cradle helps with foam control while allowing the glass to be filled hands-free which allows the user to do other tasks while the glass is being filled. The device tracks beverage statistics and sends these statistics to a remote computing device, as well as provides an alert when the beverage source approaches emptiness.

A water dispenser for a refrigerator including a water discharge nozzle fluidly connected to a water source, a valve configured to selectively block the fluid connection, and an actuator operated to allow water to be dispensed. The water discharge nozzle is pivotally mounted to a surface of the refrigerator to pivot between a retracted position and an extended position. In the extended position, the water discharge nozzle is extended outwards beyond the surface of the refrigerator. The water discharge nozzle is biased towards one of the extended and retracted positions. The valve is configured to block the fluid connection between the water discharge nozzle and the water source when the water discharge nozzle is in the retracted position. When the water discharge nozzle pivots to the extended position, the valve is operated to enable fluid connection between the water discharge nozzle and the water source.

Ingredient dispensing systems and methods are disclosed. A disclosed system includes an ingredient reservoir and an electromechanical valve configured so that, when the electromechanical valve is activated, an ingredient is dispensed from the ingredient reservoir. The disclosed system also includes a current sensor configured to measure a current draw of the electromechanical valve. The disclosed system also includes a controller programmed to sample the current draw from the current sensor and to detect a dispense error of the electromechanical valve based on the sampled current draw.

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.

In some embodiments of a fluid dispensing system: (1) two or more mixing channels are fluidly connected to (a) a mixing chamber fluidly connected to a dispenser, (b) a particular two or more solvent reservoirs, and (c) a respective one or more ingredient reservoirs, wherein each of the ingredient reservoirs is configured to dispense into a respective one of the mixing channels; and (2) a controller is programmed to receive a request for a fluid mixture, and, in response control the system to: mix, in the mixing channels to form an intermediate fluid mixture, a respective predetermined amount of solvent from each of the particular solvent reservoirs and a respective predetermined amount of the ingredients from some of the ingredient reservoirs; flow, to the mixing chamber and then to the dispenser, the intermediate fluid mixture; and dispense the requested fluid mixture (including the intermediate fluid mixture) via the dispenser.

The disclosure herein discloses a distributor, which includes a keg head, a valve element, an elastic member, and a valve element switch configured to control the valve element to act. The keg head is provided with a liquid inle, a liquid outlet, and a valve element mounting hole. The valve element includes a control portion controlling the communication or disconnection between the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet and a switch connecting portion configured to be connected to the valve element switch. The valve element is provided with a first matching body. The valve element switch is provided with a second matching body. The elastic member acts on the valve element such that the first matching body tends to move to abut against the second matching body. According to the disclosure herein, the valve element is in floating connection to the valve element switch.

A hand-held beverage dispenser includes a handle body, within which multiple valve units are contained. Two sets of fluid flow paths are provided into the handle body. The sets of fluid flow paths are mutually exclusive one to the other. Each flow path of the first set is in fluid communication with each valve unit, whereas only a predetermined one of the second set of fluid flow paths is in fluid communication with each valve unit. Each valve unit includes a flow control valve and a selection valve. The selection valve determines on an ad hoc basis which of the first set of flow paths will be utilized at any given time, while the flow control valve provides single action simultaneous ON-OFF control of fluid flows through both the selected flow path and the predetermined flow path.

In some embodiments of a fluid dispensing system: (1) two or more mixing channels are fluidly connected to (a) a mixing chamber fluidly connected to a dispenser, (b) a particular two or more solvent reservoirs, and (c) a respective one or more ingredient reservoirs, wherein each of the ingredient reservoirs is configured to dispense into a respective one of the mixing channels; and (2) a controller is programmed to receive a request for a fluid mixture, and, in response control the system to: mix, in the mixing channels to form an intermediate fluid mixture, a respective predetermined amount of solvent from each of the particular solvent reservoirs and a respective predetermined amount of the ingredients from some of the ingredient reservoirs; flow, to the mixing chamber and then to the dispenser, the intermediate fluid mixture; and dispense the requested fluid mixture (including the intermediate fluid mixture) via the dispenser.