Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for a first link to rotate about a pin joint, a second link rotatably coupled to the first link, the second link having a nozzle at a first end and a weight at a second end opposite the first end, and a fluid inlet including a funnel portion and an opening, the funnel portion having a conical taper converging towards the opening.

A sanitary touch-free automatic condiment dispensing apparatus and method of use. The automatic sanitary touch-free condiment dispensing apparatus includes a two-stage detection process for detecting and automatically dispensing a pre-determined amount of a condiment/sauce (e.g., ketchup, mustard, mayo, food sauces, desert sauces, syrups, salad dressing, etc.) or another fluid (e.g., soap, shampoo, etc.). without accidental or wasteful dispensing.

In one embodiment, a liquid dispenser includes a liquid reservoir, a measurement device providing at least one signal indicative of the amount of liquid remaining in the liquid reservoir, an electrically actuated valve coupled to a tube outlet exiting from a bottom of the liquid reservoir, and a processor. The processor is electrically connected to the measurement device and operatively coupled to and controlling operation of the valve. Further, the processor is configured to determine a valve open time for dispensing a requested amount of liquid. The valve open time depends upon a preliminary time based on the requested amount and at least one signal from the measurement device, and an adjustment to the preliminary time based on a difference between a requested amount and a measured amount determined by the measurement device for at least one previous dispense.

A system for dispensing a flowable food product from a reservoir is provided. A wall of the reservoir defines an aperture therethrough allowing the flowable food product to exit the reservoir. The system includes a valve having a base member having a first passageway extending therethrough and a moving member having a second passageway extending therethrough, the moving member configured to slide relative to the base member between a closed position in which the first passageway and the second passageway do not overlap and an open position in which the first passageway and the second passageway overlap. When the moving member is in the open position, an axis extending through the first passageway and the second passageway extends through the aperture in the reservoir.

A method and system for blending and dispensing liquid cannabis enables dispensaries, pharmacies or other users to fulfill custom cannabis blends of THC, CBD terpenes, and the like. The variety of custom cannabis blends would accommodate the wide range of formulas needed to satisfy the next stage of the cannabis industry. Personalized cannabis solutions can be created using the hardware and software of the method and system.

In one aspect, fuel inventory data characterizing a level of fuel stored at a fuel storage facility can be received from a sensor in operable communication with the fuel storage facility. Flow meter data characterizing an amount of fuel dispensed from the fuel storage facility by a fuel dispenser nozzle can be received from a flow meter in fluid communication with the fuel dispenser nozzle and the fuel storage facility. Fuel transaction data characterizing the dispensing of fuel by the fuel dispenser nozzle and the dispensing of the fuel by one or more additional fuel dispenser nozzles in fluid communication with the fuel storage facility can be received. An estimate of meter drift characterizing a change in calibration of the flow meter can be determined based on the fuel inventory data, the flow meter data, and the fuel transaction data. The estimate of meter drift can be provided.

A dispenser for dispensing a flowable food product from a flexible reservoir supported by the dispenser is provided. The dispenser includes a frame and a body coupled to the frame. The body defines a cavity for receiving the flexible reservoir. The body includes: a bottom wall defining an opening; a sloped wall extending upward from the bottom wall and the opening, the sloped wall promoting a flow of flowable food product from the flexible reservoir towards the opening; and a pair of side walls extending upward from the bottom wall and the sloped wall. The dispenser further includes a fitment acceptor at least partly received in the opening. Additionally, a shape of the fitment acceptor corresponds with a shape of the opening such that the fitment acceptor is only correctly received in the opening one way.

Described herein is a fuel authorization program that vehicles enrolled in the fuel authorization program to provide fuel tank sensor data in each fuel authorization request, so that an amount of fuel authorized will be limited to the amount needed to fill the vehicle's fuel tank, reducing a likelihood that fuel will be diverted. In at least some embodiments, the fuel authorization controller at the vehicle automatically uses the fuel tank sensor data and known tank size to include in a fuel authorization request sent to a fuel vendor data defining how much fuel is required to fill the vehicle fuel tanks. In at least some embodiments, the fuel vendor consults data from a source other than the vehicle (such as records maintained by the fuel authorization program) to determine how large the vehicles fuel tanks are, and to calculate how much fuel is required.

A vehicle or machine may include a consumable that requires refilling, such as fuel. Refilling the consumable may occur at a regular interval and the amounts may be recorded. Based on the past intervals and amounts, there may be modifications to future amounts. The weight of the consumable on a vehicle may decrease efficiency. Accordingly, the amount of consumable should be kept to a minimum to avoid carrying excess weight. Reducing an amount of the consumable upon replenishment can improve efficiency of the vehicle.

A dispensing machine for dispensing fluid products comprising a dispensing zone (15) in which elongated support means (12) are disposed, configured to support a plurality of removable containing units (11) of the fluid products in a stationary manner along a longitudinal axis (X) is disclosed. The dispensing zone (15) further includes translation means (20) configured to allow moving a receptacle (18) positioned on a metering unit and disposed on the translation means (20) substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction (X) to delivery positions substantially vertically below said containing units (11) and measurement means (16) configured to meter a quantity of fluid product that is delivered from a containing unit (11) to the receptacle (18) in a delivery position corresponding to the respective containing unit. Also disclosed is the use of such dispensing machine for preparing customized formulations of fluid products as well as a method for preparing user-defined target formulation from a plurality of dispensable fluid products.