A method of determining a sold-out state of a beverage dispenser is provided. The method includes providing a beverage dispenser including a pump having a gas exhaust port, a dispensing valve, and a sensor disposed on the pump gas exhaust port. The method may include activating the beverage dispenser to dispense a beverage through the dispensing valve and during the activating, sensing a gas exhaust pattern of the pump. The method may also include generating a signal based on the sensed gas exhaust pattern and determining whether the beverage dispenser is in a normal-pour state or a sold-out state. The method may also include providing feedback about the sold-out state to a user interface of the beverage dispenser.

A dispensing apparatus is described having a beverage source, containing a carbonated beverage liquid, and a dispensing tap. The dispensing apparatus includes a dispense tube disposing the beverage source in fluid communication with the dispensing tap and an infusion chamber arranged in connection with the dispense tube and configured to infuse an infusing ingredient with the carbonated beverage liquid. The dispensing apparatus includes a sensing unit configured to determine a level of carbon-dioxide in the liquid downstream of the infusion chamber. The dispensing apparatus includes a carbon-dioxide source coupled to the dispense tube via a valve. The dispensing apparatus further includes a control unit configured to operate the valve to allow flow of carbon-dioxide gas based on the determined level of carbon-dioxide in the carbonated beverage liquid, so as to bring the level of carbon-dioxide to a pre-defined level.

A soap dispensing device having a soap replenishing notification function comprises a liquid soap container, a soap dispensing body, a soap dispenser connected with the liquid soap container and a control box. The liquid soap container is internally provided with a liquid level detection unit capable of emitting a liquid soap replenishing signal. The soap dispensing body is provided on a countertop and connected with the liquid soap container, and has a liquid soap replenishing light display area, an induction area capable of emitting an induction signal and a soap dispensing head. The control box is used for receiving the liquid soap replenishing signal and the induction signal, wherein the liquid soap replenishing light display area is formed on the soap dispensing body according to the liquid soap replenishing signal, and a liquid soap is supplied by the soap dispensing head according to the induction signal.

Provided is a portable, self-contained beverage apparatus. The 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.

A soap dispensing device having a soap replenishing notification function comprises a liquid soap container, a soap dispensing body, a soap dispenser connected with the liquid soap container and a control box. The liquid soap container is internally provided with a liquid level detection unit capable of emitting a liquid soap replenishing signal. The soap dispensing body is provided on a countertop and connected with the liquid soap container, and has a liquid soap replenishing light display area, an induction area capable of emitting an induction signal and a soap dispensing head. The control box is used for receiving the liquid soap replenishing signal and the induction signal, wherein the liquid soap replenishing light display area is formed on the soap dispensing body according to the liquid soap replenishing signal, and a liquid soap is supplied by the soap dispensing head according to the induction signal.

Provided is a portable, self-contained beverage apparatus. The 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.

Bottom-loading bottled water dispensers are disclosed that include hot water sanitizing capabilities (and, optionally, UV light sanitizing features). The dispensers include a water bottle that is operably connected to a pump that is configured to extract water from the bottle and force the water through one or more tubes and into a cold tank. The cold tank includes an evaporator that is configured to chill the water in the cold tank. The dispensers further include a hot tank that is fluidly coupled to the cold tank through one or more tubes, with the hot tank being attached to a heating element that is configured to heat the water in the hot tank. In addition, the dispensers include an electronic control board that is configured to heat a volume of water contained in the cold tank above a defined threshold temperature and for a defined period of time that is effective to sanitize the internal surfaces of the cold tank.

Certain embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a method that may include identifying at least one metric for a fluid flowing through a line from a vessel to a dispenser. The method may include identifying a reference value for the at least one metric for the fluid. The method may include performing an analysis of the fluid based on the at least one metric for the fluid. The method may include comparing results of the analysis with the reference value. The method may include performing at least one action based on determining that there has been a change in the at least one metric relative to the reference value.

An embodiment relates to an automatic water supply device comprising: a container seating portion, one side of which is open such that a container is placed; a water intake member arranged on the upper portion of the container seating portion so as to supply the container with a liquid; a container height measuring unit and a water level measuring unit arranged to be adjacent to the water intake member, respectively; and a control unit for comparing the height of the container, which is measured by the container height measuring unit, and the water level, which is measuring by the water level measuring unit, thereby checking whether the water level inside the container reaches a preset height or not, and adjusting the water level inside the container using the result of the checking, wherein the container height measuring unit comprises a plurality of first optical sensors for sensing both ends of the upper end of the container, and can measure the height of the container in response to the result of sensing by the first optical sensors.

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.