Beverage dispensers, systems, and methods are provided for producing a beverage flavored mixture/solution based on instructions from a mobile device (also referred to as an electronic device) and without requiring a user to touch the beverage dispenser (e.g., reducing the spread of germs through touching shared surfaces). The beverage dispensers, systems, and methods described may also be advantageous in allowing for monitoring of use of a beverage dispenser, billing users, and tracking liquid intake. The beverage dispensers, systems, and methods may enable a greater tracking and control compared to conventional beverage dispensers.

A cock (10) that receives and discharges the carbonated water from a nozzle (70) includes: a first flow path (4S); and a second flow path (46). A flow path transverse Closs-section has an annular shape. The second flow path has an outer diameter larger than that of the first flow path and having a flow path cross-sectional area smaller than that of the first flow path; and a shaft (50) which forms the inner circumferential surface of the second flow path. the shaft having a ring-shaped groove (52) formed over the outer circumference of the shaft in a part of the second flow path that is connected to the first flow path, wherein a longitudinal center axis line (C1) of the first flow path is nonparallel to and does not intersect with a longitudinal center axis line (C2) of the second flow path.

A post-mix drink dispenser includes a mixer body securable to a drink dispensing system and having at least one beverage concentrate inlet and outlet sheltered within a downwardly open cavity in the bottom thereof; a diluent channel formed exterior to the cavity and about a lower sidewall of the mixer body; and a nozzle housing securable in place about the mixer body. The dispenser includes an air channel formed in a wall portion of the nozzle housing, a diffuser to organize flows of diluent along the interior surface of the nozzle housing, or both a vent and a diffuser. The air channel includes provisions to impede ingress of diluent, and to contain flow through the channel of liquid beverage components. The diffuser may be formed unitary with the nozzle housing, or may be selectively removable from the drink dispenser.

A cartridge and an associated beverage mixture dispensing system are disclosed. The cartridge is detachable from the associated beverage mixture dispensing system. The cartridge includes a casing and at least twenty ingredient reservoirs located within the casing and storing at least twenty respective ingredients. The cartridge also includes a dispensing interface for dispensing the at least twenty ingredients into the beverage mixture dispensing system. The at least twenty ingredient reservoirs include a first reservoir of a concentrated salt and a second reservoir of a concentrated food grade acid. The remaining ingredient reservoirs include additional concentrated ingredients. The beverage mixture dispensing system includes a solvent reservoir and a receiving interface for receiving the at least twenty ingredients from the cartridge. The beverage mixture dispensing system also includes a mixing area fluidly connected to the solvent reservoir and the at least twenty ingredient reservoirs.

A beverage dispensing system includes a nozzle assembly and a valve system, the nozzle assembly including a nozzle body having a diffuser chamber, a mixing chamber, and one or more cooling channels formed therein, a diffuser disposed within the diffuser chamber, and a manifold having one or more cooling channels formed therein and being configured to receive a flow of a base fluid and a flow of a concentrate for mixing of the base fluid and the concentrate in the mixing chamber to provide a beverage, and the valve system including one or more valves for regulating respective flow rates of each of the base fluid and the concentrate to substantially achieve a target mix ratio of the base fluid to concentrate within the mixing chamber.

Systems and methods for sanitizing a fluid mixture dispensing system are disclosed. One system comprises at least one reservoir for storing a substance, a mixing area, and a controller. The controller is programmed to cause the system to execute a mixing cycle and a cleaning cycle. During the mixing cycle the substance is dispensed from the at least one reservoir to the mixing area to prepare an ingestible fluid mixture. During the cleaning cycle, the substance is dispensed from the at least one reservoir to the mixing area to sanitize the mixing area.

A fluid mixture dispensing system using a membrane to seal multiple reservoirs is disclosed. The multiple reservoirs each contain a respective ingredient. The reservoirs are coupled to respective orifices in a plate. The respective ingredients are dispensable via the respective orifices. The membrane seals the respective orifices. The ingredients are dispensed into one or more channels formed between the membrane and the plate. In specific embodiments, the membrane is an integral part of a cartridge which contains the multiple reservoirs. In specific embodiments, the cartridge includes an inlet and an outlet. A solvent flows from the inlet to the outlet through the one or more channels, and the ingredients are dispensed into the solvent in the one or more channels.

A fluid mixture dispensing system using a membrane to seal multiple reservoirs is disclosed. The multiple reservoirs each contain a respective ingredient. The reservoirs are coupled to respective orifices in a plate. The respective ingredients are dispensable via the respective orifices. The membrane seals the respective orifices. The ingredients are dispensed into one or more channels formed between the membrane and the plate. In specific embodiments, the membrane is an integral part of a cartridge which contains the multiple reservoirs. In specific embodiments, the cartridge includes an inlet and an outlet. A solvent flows from the inlet to the outlet through the one or more channels, and the ingredients are dispensed into the solvent in the one or more channels.

Fluid mixture dispensing systems, devices and methods are disclosed. A device includes a set of pressurized ingredient reservoirs, a mixing area configured to receive at least one ingredient from the set of pressurized ingredient reservoirs, a pressure source, an accumulator chamber, a set of valves, and a controller. The controller is programmed to operate the set of valves to pressurize the accumulator chamber using the pressure source. The controller is further programmed to operate the set of valves to set a pressure in at least one of the set of pressurized ingredient reservoirs using the accumulator chamber.

Ingredient dispensing systems and methods are disclosed. A disclosed system includes an ingredient reservoir and an electromechanical valve configured so that, when the electromechanical valve is activated, an ingredient is dispensed from the ingredient reservoir. The disclosed system also includes a current sensor configured to measure a current draw of the electromechanical valve. The disclosed system also includes a controller programmed to sample the current draw from the current sensor and to detect a dispense error of the electromechanical valve based on the sampled current draw.