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.

A method for operating a water dispenser, the water dispenser having a water supply, a carbon dioxide supply, an outlet for pouring water into a container placed below the outlet, a controller and a user interface, the method including the following steps, which are executed in response to an activation of the water dispenser via the user interface: determining a nominal value of a water volume (V) that is to be filled into the container determining a nominal value of a waiting period (WP) by means of the controller determining nominal values of a first partial volume (V1) and a second partial volume (V2) by means of the controller (V1+V2=V), in particular by determining a volume ratio (R) with R=V1/V for dividing the water volume (V) into the partial volumes (V1, V2) pouring the first partial volume (V1) through the outlet waiting through the waiting period (WP) pouring the second partial volume (V2) through the outlet.

Systems and methods for controlling the operation of a dispenser system are provided. In particular, one or more sensors associated with the dispenser system may be configured to detect one or more signals indicative of a container proximate the dispenser system and/or a level of water or ice within the container. The dispenser system may include an analog-to-digital converter configured to sample the detected signals at a predetermined sample frequency. The dispenser system may further include a direct memory access controller configured to store the sampled signals in memory without having to rout the sampled signals through a central processing unit associated with dispenser system. The operation of the dispenser system can then be controlled based at least in part on the sampled signals.

Systems and methods for dispensing a product are provided. A plurality of product ingredients are associated with a product dispenser that is operable to form a plurality of selectable products from the plurality of products ingredients. Input for a selected product is received and a recipe that defines the ratio of product ingredients for forming the selected product is identified. The dispense of each of the respective product ingredients is commenced based at least in part on the identified recipe, and the dispense of each of the respective product ingredients is independently monitored during the dispense of the selected product.

A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a chilled chamber; a dispenser provided on the cabinet, the dispenser defining a dispenser recess, the dispenser including a nozzle for dispensing liquid water or ice; a user input provided on the dispenser; and one or more controllers operably connected with the dispenser, the one or more controllers configured to perform an operation. The operation includes receiving a first input signal apart from the appliance, the first input signal including a first requested volume of liquid; storing the first requested volume of liquid within the dispenser; directing an emission of a notification via the user input in response to storing the first requested volume of liquid; and initiating a dispensing action from the nozzle after directing the emission of the notification.

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 beverage dispenser for dispensing a beverage into a vessel, the beverage dispenser including a vessel-receiving region in which the vessel is locatable for receiving beverage; and a sensor arrangement for providing signals based on which a distance between one or more wall portions of the vessel, when located in the vessel-receiving region, and the sensor arrangement can be determined, wherein a volume of beverage to be dispensed into the vessel can be determined based on the determined distance between one or more wall portions of the vessel and the sensor arrangement.

A beverage dispensing system is configured to facilitate communication between a point-of-sale terminal and a beverage dispenser for receiving and fulfilling beverage orders. The dispensing system comprises a translation server that maps beverage orders between the point-of-sale entry data and beverage dispenser recipe data. An automatic portion control (APC) assembly comprises a mass sensor that is configured to determine a mass of a cup resting thereon. Using the mass of the cup, the dispenser makes a cup size prediction and performs portion control dispensing operations. Based on the cup size prediction, a user interface is modified to allow for quicker interactions. The APC assembly is positioned beneath a nozzle of the beverage dispenser and comprises a removable platform assembly magnetically coupled to a mass sensor assembly. The mass sensor assembly comprises a load cell or other mass sensor.