A beverage dispenser includes a system for detecting an empty state of a consumable in the dispenser. The system detects the physical movement of an element of a fluid delivery component that is fluidly connected to the consumable. The movement is triggered by the empty state of the consumable and is detected by a sensor disposed in the beverage dispenser. The system can be retrofitted into a legacy beverage dispenser with reduced installation effort.

A dispensing assembly includes a container support section and a pump support section. The container support section securely supports and holds a jug or other conventional container in an inverted position so that an outlet (which is normally facing upward) is instead facing in a generally downward orientation such that any liquids in the container will gravity feed toward the downwardly-facing outlet. A manual pump assembly is held by the pump support section. A conduit generally extends from the container outlet to an inlet of the pump assembly in order to permit fluid to flow from the container to the pump assembly. A reusable cap member having a check valve assembly and quick-connect coupling can be installed on the threaded outlet of the container. Fluid (including, without limitation, thick or highly viscous fluids) can be efficiently dispensed in controlled amounts.

A portable, self-contained beverage apparatus includes a container assembly having a known storage capacity for storing a consumable liquid, and a dispensing assembly disposed within the container assembly that dispenses variable, non-zero quantities of additives into the consumable liquid. The dispensing assembly includes multiple apertures structured and arranged to retain vessels containing the additives to be dispensed into the consumable liquid. The beverage apparatus also includes a level sensor disposed within the container assembly that determines a consumable liquid level of the consumable liquid stored in the container assembly. In certain embodiments, one or more positive displacement pumping mechanisms are configured to pump additive liquid from additive containers into a beverage chamber.

A portable, self-contained beverage apparatus includes a container assembly having a known storage capacity for storing a consumable liquid, and a dispensing assembly disposed within the container assembly that dispenses variable, non-zero quantities of additives into the consumable liquid. The dispensing assembly includes multiple apertures structured and arranged to retain vessels containing the additives to be dispensed into the consumable liquid. The beverage apparatus also includes a level sensor disposed within the container assembly that determines a consumable liquid level of the consumable liquid stored in the container assembly. In certain embodiments, one or more positive displacement pumping mechanisms are configured to pump additive liquid from additive containers into a beverage chamber.

An example apparatus includes a housing including an inlet and an outlet. The example apparatus also includes a rotor defining a bore. The rotor is disposed in the housing. The example apparatus further includes a piston disposed in the bore. A motor is operatively coupled to the rotor to rotate the rotor from a first position to a second position. The bore is to be in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet when the rotor is in the second position.

A portable, self-contained beverage apparatus includes a container assembly having a known storage capacity for storing a consumable liquid, and a dispensing assembly disposed within the container assembly that dispenses variable, non-zero quantities of additives into the consumable liquid. The dispensing assembly includes multiple apertures structured and arranged to retain vessels containing the additives to be dispensed into the consumable liquid. The beverage apparatus also includes a level sensor disposed within the container assembly that determines a consumable liquid level of the consumable liquid stored in the container assembly. In certain embodiments, one or more positive displacement pumping mechanisms are configured to pump additive liquid from additive containers into a beverage chamber.

The invention is based on an oscillating armature pump, in particular for a beverage machine, for conveying a liquid, having a pressure cylinder, a working cylinder, a working piston that has a piston part that is configured to be guided in the pressure cylinder and to delimit a pressure chamber together with the pressure cylinder, and that has a magnet element that is configured to be guided in the working cylinder, the working piston being configured to be set in stroke motion, in particular oscillating stroke motion, along a working axis in order to enlarge and/or reduce a volume of the pressure chamber.

It is proposed that the working piston has at least one first connection point that is configured to connect the piston part and the magnet element to one another, in particular directly, and to transmit forces having any direction from the magnet element to the piston part along the working axis.

An example apparatus includes a housing including an inlet and an outlet. The example apparatus also includes a rotor defining a bore. The rotor is disposed in the housing. The example apparatus further includes a piston disposed in the bore. A motor is operatively coupled to the rotor to rotate the rotor from a first position to a second position. The bore is to be in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet when the rotor is in the second position.

A portable, self-contained beverage apparatus includes a container assembly having a known storage capacity for storing a consumable liquid, and a dispensing assembly disposed within the container assembly that dispenses variable, non-zero quantities of additives into the consumable liquid. The dispensing assembly includes multiple apertures structured and arranged to retain vessels containing the additives to be dispensed into the consumable liquid. The beverage apparatus also includes a level sensor disposed within the container assembly that determines a consumable liquid level of the consumable liquid stored in the container assembly. In certain embodiments, one or more positive displacement pumping mechanisms are configured to pump additive liquid from additive containers into a beverage chamber.

A method and computer program product for defining a PWM drive signal having a defined voltage potential. The PWM drive signal has a plurality of on portions and a plurality of off portions that define a first duty cycle for regulating, at least in part, a flow rate of a pump assembly. At least a portion of the on portions of the PWM drive signal are pulse width modulated to define a second duty cycle for the at least a portion of the on portions of the PWM drive signal. The second duty cycle regulates, at least in part, the percentage of the defined voltage potential applied to the pump assembly.