A multiple beverage dispensing system is housed within an ice chest having a plurality of interior sections and a lid. Within a central section is an ice screw which is configured to pull ice stored within the central section out of the device through an exterior door. The other two (2) exterior sections house a plurality of cylindrical fluid dispensing containers. Each container is plumbed to be in communication with an individual exterior tap. Each tap is disposed adjacent the exterior ice door.

A beverage production system is provided that includes a cup dispensing station configured to dispense cups and a beverage dispensing station configured to dispense a beverage. The beverage production system also includes a turntable assembly having a central axis, an inner turntable including a row of cup receptacles, and an outer turntable disposed circumferentially about the inner turntable. The inner turntable configured to rotate about the central axis to align the cup receptacles of the row with the cup dispensing station and the beverage dispensing station. The turntable assembly configured to align an opening in the turntable assembly with a cup receptacle in the row, the opening adjacent the outer turntable. The beverage production system also having an actuator configured to move a cup positioned in the cup receptacle in the row onto the outer turntable.

An apparatus and method for automated preparation and delivery of a beverage. A first cup-transfer-mechanism is configured to receive a cup from a cup dispenser and to move the cup along a first axis within the apparatus during the preparation of the beverage. A second cup-transfer mechanism is configured to receive the cup containing the beverage from the first cup-transfer mechanism after the beverage has been prepared, wherein the second cup-transfer mechanism is configured to move the cup along at least one of a second axis and a third axis within the apparatus, wherein the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis are mutually perpendicular. A pick-up station where the customer picks up its beverage is configured to receive the cup from the second cup-transfer mechanism and to make room to receive subsequent cups without requiring human interaction. Multiple beverages can be prepared and delivered simultaneously.

A beverage production system is provided that includes a turntable assembly comprising a central axis. The turntable assembly further includes an inner turntable and an outer turntable disposed circumferentially about the inner turntable. The beverage production system also includes a cup dispensing station configured to dispense cups onto one of the inner or outer turntables. The beverage production system also includes a beverage dispensing station configured to dispense a beverage into the cups.

A water dispensing apparatus includes a dispensing hole through which hot water is dispensed, a heating passage unit communicating with the dispensing hole; a heating unit for heating water flowing through the heating passage unit, an input unit for inputting a hot water dispensing command for dispensing the hot water through the dispensing hole, a hot water valve for adjusting a flow of the hot water heated in the heating passage unit, and a controller for controlling the heating unit.

An automated fountain beverage dispensing system comprises a main body attachable to a beverage dispenser, a cup holding unit having a plurality of cup holders for holding cups, a first rail provided on the main body, a first slider arranged to slide on the first rail for extracting and moving a predetermined cup, a second rail provided on the main body, a second slider arranged to slide on the second rail, and a robotic arm unit mounted with the second slider for holding and moving the selected cup. The robotic arm unit is configured to fill the cup with a beverage by pressing one of the plurality levers of the beverage dispenser depending on what type of beverage is selected from a touch screen provided on the main body or via a POS system. The robotic arm unit is further configured to leave the filled cup in a predetermined position.

Food product dispensing machines and methods for dispensing food product into a cup. The food product dispensing machine includes a cup holder having a target element, a sensor that senses the target element, and a controller. The cup holder is configured to hold a cup such that the cup prevents the sensor from sensing at least a portion of the target element. The controller determines whether a cup is present in the cup holder and/or a size of the cup based on a remaining portion of the target element that is sensed by the sensor when the cup is held by the cup holder. Drive mechanisms are configured to move the first and second cup holders along first and second radial paths, respectively, with respect to the common dispensing position. An indicator is configured to indicate a remaining number of cup dispenses to the user.

A cup dispensing system in an automated dispensing beverage dispensing system receives a first supply of cups at a first dispensing assembly with a first selective release device and receives a second supply of cups at a second dispensing assembly with a second selective release device. The first and second dispensing assemblies respectively coincide with first and second indexed locations on a cup conveyance system. The cup dispensing system operates to dispense a first cup from the first dispensing assembly to the first indexed location and a second cup from the second dispensing assembly to the second indexed location.

Devices, systems, and methods for generating customized beverages. In a method of creating a prepared beverage, the method comprises the steps of receiving a beverage order from an individual via software instruction, instructing the creation of a prepared beverage using a drink creation system based upon the beverage order, the drink creation system comprising a first cart having a plurality of beverage receptacles therein, a beverage dispenser coupled to the plurality of beverage receptacles, and a dispenser controller in communication with the beverage dispenser, selecting a beverage cup based upon the software instruction, dispensing the prepared beverage using the beverage dispenser, and delivering the prepared beverage to a location based upon the software instruction.

An apparatus for preparing custom-ordered beverages is disclosed. The apparatus includes cup dispensers, beverage dispensing systems having dispensing heads, two cup-transfer mechanisms, two pick-up stations, and a disposal bin. Each of the pick-up stations includes a conveyer and a set of beverage pick-up windows. The first cup-transfer mechanism transports a cup from a cup dispenser to a dispensing head to fill the cup with beverage. The second cup-transfer mechanism transports the cup with filled beverage to one of two pick-up stations. A conveyer at one of the two pick-stations moves the cup with filled beverage and stops to present it at each pick-up window at one of the two pick-stations. If a customer does not pick the cup within an allocated amount of time, it will be dropped into the disposal bin.