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.

Examples disclosed herein relate to a dispensing device including a syrup unit which transmits via one or more orifices one or more syrups and water to a dispensing block, a syrup source coupled to the syrup unit which provides the one or more syrups to the syrup unit, a water source which provides water to the syrup unit, and a cf valve coupled to a first orifice upstream of a solenoid valve where the cf valve provides a first range of pressures to the solenoid valve and where the first orifice is coupled to the dispensing block.

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.

Examples disclosed herein relate to conduits, devices, systems and methods, which may include a dispensing device including a valve configured to interact with an inlet stream, the inlet stream having a first pressure, the valve having an outlet area with an outlet stream, the outlet stream having a second pressure; and a solenoid configured to interact with the outlet stream.

A method for preparing hot water of variable discharge temperature in a beverage vending machine, wherein the beverage vending machine contains a hot water generating system comprising a cold water supply line, an electrically heatable boiler, which has a boiler-side cold water inlet that can be connected to the cold water supply line for the supply of cold water from the cold water supply line into the boiler and a boiler-side hot water outlet for the discharge of water from the boiler that is heated to a maximum discharge temperature (ϑ.sub.boiler), as well as a hot water outlet line that is connected in terms of flow to the boiler-side hot water outlet and that can be closed by at least one dispensing valve, by way of which the hot water provided with a specified discharge temperature (ϑ.sub.target, ϑ.sub.target1, ϑ.sub.target2, ϑ.sub.target3, ϑ.sub.target4) for the preparation of a hot beverage can be taken from the hot water outlet line, wherein the cold water supply line can be connected alternatively to the boiler-side cold water inlet or to the boiler-side hot water outlet by way of an electrically actuatable 3/2 way valve, which, for the discharge of hot water, can be loaded with a sequence of electrical pulses, whose pulse duration (τ, τ.sub.1, τ.sub.2, τ.sub.3, τ.sub.4) is selected as a function of the specified discharge temperature (ϑ.sub.target, ϑ.sub.target1, ϑ.sub.target2, ϑ.sub.target3, ϑ.sub.target4) of the hot water.

Disclosed are embodiments of a beverage dispensing system that controls the flow of beverage based on information acquisitioned from a marker associated with a vessel for the beverage. The system utilizes a switching apparatus located in the tap of the dispensing unit that can selectively enable mechanical connection between the hand lever of the tap and the stem based on the information acquisitioned. Some embodiments include a hand tilt device for automatically controlling the flow of beverage, and a vessel tilt device to adjusting the tilt of the vessel so as to achieve a preferred pour.

A valve for dispensing metered volumes of fluid includes a valve body configured to interface with a container holding a fluid. The valve body defines a fluid lumen that extends along at least a portion of the length of the valve body. A valve tip is in communication with the fluid lumen. An actuator is positioned within the valve body. A plunger is positioned within the valve body and in communication with the fluid lumen. The plunger is moveable by the actuator to open the fluid lumen. The plunger is biased in a closed direction. The valve includes a valve cap and a controller that is configured to activate the actuator to dispense a volume of fluid from the valve.

There is provided a conversion device (150) configured to convert a manual liquid supply device (20) into an automated liquid supply device, the conversion device comprising an automated operation portion (51) and a mounting plate (110) made of a resin, the mounting plate including a back surface (110b), a front surface (110a), and a liquid discharging portion opening (111) passed through the front and back surfaces, and the conversion device further comprising spacers (120) configured to be interspersed between the front surface of the mounting plate and the automated operation portion, and configured to create a gap between the front surface and the automated operation portion.

A flavor infusion dispenser is provided. The flavor infusion dispenser may include a refrigeration unit configured to store a beverage container, a beverage tower coupled to the refrigeration unit and configured to transport a beverage from the beverage container, a faucet coupled to the beverage tower and having a handle configured to activate flow of the beverage from the beverage container through the beverage tower, a nozzle coupled to the faucet, at least one flavor container for storing flavoring for the beverage, at least one flavor line coupled to the nozzle and configured to transport flavoring from the at least one flavor container, and a pump configured to pump flavoring from the at least one flavor container to the nozzle via the at least one flavor line. The nozzle may be configured to mix the beverage and the flavoring, and dispense a flavored beverage.

Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for smart draft beer taps that can dynamically vary flow rate and control the amount of dispensed head based on one or more of sensed parameters of the beer, the draft beer environment, characteristics of the beer, and on brewery specified pouring standards. The disclosed systems provide networked data communication relating to bar draft beer pouring conditions.