The embodiments disclose a method of an intelligent beverage kiosk system for customized beverage preparation including preparing customized beverage selections for meeting a consumer's taste, recording a member's customized beverage selection for reducing member beverage delivery wait time, creating a member smart beverage cup with layered component compartment modules for downloading and ordering a member customized beverage selection, ordering member customized beverage selections using a wireless intelligent beverage kiosk application for reducing ordering time for a customized beverage selection and adjusting intelligent beverage kiosk window height for facilitating beverage delivery for drive-thru vehicle pickup.

An automated consumable dispenser with a precision method for delivering consumable ingredients in specific proportions to a container up to a specified volume. This method involves the use of a system of sensors and a micro-microprocessor, which detects, digitizes and develops a three dimensional rendering of the container, calculates the container volume and dispenses specific amounts of consumable ingredients. A user is able to pick the level in the vessel to which the consumable ingredients should be dispensed and displays the selected desired level. The embodiments described include an automated dispenser capable of dispensing beverages and food items, either separately or together.

A dispensing system includes one or more digital image capture devices for capturing images in a dispenser well and a digital image analyzer operatively coupled to the digital image capture device(s) for analyzing the images for use in regulating a dispensing operation. The digital image analyzer evaluates digital images captured by the digital image capture device(s) to determine various characteristics of a container placed in the dispensing well, such as the height and position of the container.

Food product dispensing machines and methods for dispensing food product into a cup. The food product dispensing machine includes a cup holder having a target element, a sensor that senses the target element, and a controller. The cup holder is configured to hold a cup such that the cup prevents the sensor from sensing at least a portion of the target element. The controller determines whether a cup is present in the cup holder and/or a size of the cup based on a remaining portion of the target element that is sensed by the sensor when the cup is held by the cup holder. Drive mechanisms are configured to move the first and second cup holders along first and second radial paths, respectively, with respect to the common dispensing position. An indicator is configured to indicate a remaining number of cup dispenses to the user.

A method for automatically filling a container with water and/or ice from a dispenser in a refrigerator door or within a refrigerator cavity includes the steps of: placing a container adjacent the dispenser; determining a volume of the container by using a camera associated with the dispenser, capturing a picture of the containing, visually estimating a volume of the container via a microprocessor associated with the camera or a cloud-based application associated with the camera, and converting the estimated container volume to an estimated weight based on densities of water and/or ice; filling the container with water and/or ice from the dispenser based on the estimated weight; and terminating filling of the container based on the estimated weight. And the refrigerator carrying out the method.

A system and method for dispensing a beverage includes the detection of a presence of a cup underneath a nozzle, and in response to the detected presence of the cup, a target fill height is calculated. The controller operates to begin a dispense of a beverage into the cup. A beverage fill height determined and compared to a target fill height. When the beverage fill height exceeds the target fill height, the controller operates to stop dispensing the beverage into the cup.

Disclosed herein are a water purifying device and a method for controlling the same. The water purifying device is characterized in that a water discharge module capable of moving vertically is provided with a sensor. Specifically, in the water purifying device of one embodiment, the sensor may measure a height of a container, by transmitting and receiving a signal for measuring a distance at a first point of the water discharge module, and may detect both a height of the inlet of the container and a water level, by transmitting and receiving the signal and measuring a water level at a second point of the water discharge module.

The present application provides a beverage dispenser for dispensing a beverage into a cup. The beverage dispenser may include a dispensing area with a nozzle and an optical recognition system. The optical recognition system may include a camera positioned about the dispensing area.

A dispense control system for filling a container using a dispensing assembly of a refrigerator appliance and a method for operating the same are provided. The dispense control system includes an emitter for generating a beam of energy and a scanning assembly for selectively directing the beam of energy along a scan path comprising a plurality of scan positions. A receiver detects the beam of energy reflected by the container or the liquid at each of the plurality of scan positions and a controller determines a height of the container or the liquid at each of the plurality of scan positions along the scan path based at least in part on a travel time of the beam of energy between the emitter and the receiver.

A contactless autofill dispenser includes a housing and a dispense area for receiving a cup. The dispenser includes a supply of consumable product disposed within the housing. The dispenser includes an outlet connected to the supply and extending from the housing into the dispense area for dispensing the consumable product into the cup. The dispenser includes a controller disposed within the housing and connected to the supply, wherein the controller is configured to control dispensing of the consumable product from the outlet. The dispenser includes a time of flight sensor attached to or with a direct line of sight into the dispense area and connected to the controller.