An apparatus and process for preventive maintenance for nozzle elements of a fuel dispenser or recharging station can include a nozzle preventive maintenance apparatus (e.g. fuel dispenser nozzle preventive maintenance apparatus or vehicle recharging nozzle preventive maintenance apparatus). The nozzle preventive maintenance apparatus can be configured to communicate with a sensor element of a nozzle to evaluate the operational status of that sensor element. In the event the testing determines that the sensor element is malfunctioning or broken, the apparatus can respond by scheduling or ordering maintenance to repair the component so the failure can be identified quickly and resolved to try and avoid the chance that a user may attempt to utilize a nozzle with a non-functioning element and have a negative experience in use of a dispenser (e.g. fuel dispenser or electricity dispenser that can be considered a recharging station).

A liquid volume transfer system includes: a liquid infusion device, including a first communication module, a first controller and a first flow rate detecting module; a liquid container, including a second communication module; and an unmanned aerial vehicle, including a third communication module, a third controller and a second flow rate detecting module. The first controller obtains a remaining liquid volume value from the second communication module through the first communication module, and determines a target infused liquid volume value based on the remaining liquid volume value and a total infused liquid volume value; after completion of infusion, the total infused liquid volume value is sent to the second communication module through the first communication module; the third controller obtains the total infused liquid volume value through the third communication module, and sends the remaining liquid volume value to the second communication module through the third communication module after spraying.

A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a fresh food compartment and a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet and including an interior surface in communication with the fresh food compartment when the door is closed. A shelf unit is disposed adjacent the interior surface of the door, and a container is supported by the shelf unit. A fill mechanism is positioned vertically above the container and the container is configured to receive liquid from the fill mechanism. A sensor is configured to sense a property of the container or liquid received in the container. A control is in communication with the sensor and regulates a dispensing of liquid into the container based upon the sensed property. The sensor utilizes a capacitive sensor located adjacent to the container.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for beverage dispensing. In one aspect, a client device requests activation of a beverage system at the given location. An authorization request is transmitted to a control terminal of a given location that includes a client identifier and requests confirmation that a user of the client device meets minimum age requirements for dispensing beverages provided by the beverage system. The confirmation is received that the user of the client device is approved to use the beverage system, and the beverage system is activated for use by the user of the client device, and a command is transmitted that is required to open a valve of the beverage system located between a beverage source and a beverage dispenser that controls beverage flow when the valve is open.

A system for monitoring flow conditions of fluid flowing from a product container through a solenoid pump. The system includes at least one solenoid pump comprising a solenoid coil, which, when energized, produces a stroke of the solenoid pump, at least one product container connected to the at least one solenoid pump wherein the at least one solenoid pump pumps fluid from the at least one product container during each stroke, at least one PWM controller configured to energize the at least one solenoid pump, at least one current sensor for sensing the current flow through the solenoid coil and producing an output of the sensed current flow, and a control logic subsystem for controlling the flow of fluids through the solenoid pump by commanding the PWM controller and for monitoring the current through the solenoid pump by receiving the output from the current sensor, wherein the control logic subsystem uses the measured current flow through the solenoid coil to determine whether the stroke of the solenoid pump is functional.

A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a fresh food compartment and a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet and including an interior surface in communication with the fresh food compartment when the door is closed. A shelf unit is disposed adjacent the interior surface of the door, and a container is supported by the shelf unit. A fill mechanism is positioned vertically above the container and the container is configured to receive liquid from the fill mechanism. A sensor is configured to sense a property of the container or liquid received in the container. A control is in communication with the sensor and regulates a dispensing of liquid into the container based upon the sensed property. The sensor utilizes a capacitive sensor located adjacent to the container.

A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a fresh food compartment and a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet and including an interior surface in communication with the fresh food compartment when the door is closed. A liquid dispenser is arranged on the interior surface of the door, and a container is supported on the door and configured to receive liquid from the liquid dispenser. A sensor is configured to sense a property of the container, and a control is in communication with the sensor. The control is configured to regulate dispensing of liquid into the container based upon the sensed property of the container. The sensor utilizes a magnetic sensing element located adjacent to the container.

A retail fueling environment comprises a plurality of fuel dispensers located so that each defines at least one refueling position. Site automation electronics are in communication with the plurality of fuel dispensers. A fueling position availability indicator system is also provided, including a plurality of position indicators indicating availability status of at least one associated refueling position. Detection electronics are operative to ascertain data regarding transaction status of refueling transactions at the refueling positions. In addition, processing electronics are operative to determine a state of each of the position indicators based at least in part on the transaction status. A position indicator control device is operative to produce control signals to the position indicators.

A system for managing beverage sales and inventory, and for enabling customers to pour their own beverages while preventing shrinkage is disclosed. The system enables a user to access a beverage from a beverage dispenser by presenting a beverage-pour tracking device. The beverage dispenser can prevent a user from accessing the beverage without the beverage-pour tracking device. Further, the system can confirm whether the user is permitted to access the beverage dispenser before enabling the user to access the dispenser.

An apparatus remotely provides refueling management instructions for a vehicle. One or more initial vehicle parameters are determined, including an initial quantity of fuel, a plurality of route parameters including a starting point, an ending point and an estimated average fuel efficiency of the vehicle, and a plurality of refueling parameters including one or more refueling locations. The sufficiency of an initial quantity of fuel is evaluated in relation to the estimated average fuel efficiency and a distance to be traveled by the vehicle equal to a difference between the ending point and the starting point. One or more current vehicle parameters are interpreted at a first predetermined time, a refueling agenda is created, and an associated predetermined refueling amount at each of the identified one or more refueling locations is determined.