A liquid product distribution network includes a liquid product distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus for operation in association with a tap handle flow monitoring and reporting apparatus. The liquid product distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus includes a radio transmitter device and sensing circuitry for sensing and communicating physical properties associating with the keg. A tap handle flow monitoring and reporting apparatus senses flow of a liquid through a tap includes a tap handle radio transmitter device for fitting within and protected by a tap handle and a low-energy consumption tap handle radio/processing module. A mobile communications device with geographic position sensing device and/or said tap handle flow monitoring and reporting apparatus passively and without user interaction within the liquid product distribution network, without using network uplink/gateway circuit devices for sensing and reporting fluid storage, flow, and financial operations relating to the distribution of said liquid product throughout the liquid product distribution network.

The present invention describes methods and devices in which concentrated beverage products, each packaged in a pressurized container, can be combined with liquids and/or other ingredients to produce one or more servings of a beverage. These products provide users with a convenient way to prepare both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (including carbonated beverages) in various serving sizes and quantities by combining the pressurized beverage concentrate with (possibly carbonated) liquids and other ingredients.

An ice-making water purifier includes a water tank unit, an instantaneous heating device, an extraction member, an ice-maker, a supply pump, an ice-making water inlet passage, an ice-making water supply valve, a flow rate sensor, and a controller configured to control driving of the supply pump and the opening and closing of the ice-making water supply valve such that purified water corresponding to a predetermined supply amount of ice-making water is supplied to the ice-maker on the basis of a flow rate value measured by the flow rate sensor. The controller controls the opening and closing of the channel such that purified water is preferentially supplied to the instantaneous heating device among the instantaneous heating device and the ice-maker.

Flavor and additive delivery systems and methods for beverage dispensers are disclosed. An example beverage dispenser includes flavor containers configured to contain flavor mixtures, a manifold configured to blend water with flavor mixtures, a flowrate sensor configured to detect a current flowrate of the water flowing to the manifold, memory configured to store instructions related to dispensing the water and the flavor mixtures, and a processor. The processor is configured to receive a request for a selected beverage, identify a ratio between the water and one or more of the flavor mixtures for the selected beverage, transmit a water control signal to cause the water to flow at a requested water flowrate, and transmit one or more first flavor control signals to cause one or more of the flavor mixtures to flow from the flavor containers based on the ratio.

According to certain embodiments, a connector for dispensing a liquid from a container comprises a main body connectable to the container and a subassembly being movable relative to the main body between an inactivated position and an activated position. The subassembly comprises inner and outer hollow piercing members. When the main body is connected to the container and the subassembly is moved from the inactivated position to the activated position, the inner hollow piercing member is arranged to pierce a seal of an inner cavity of the container, and the outer piercing member is arranged to pierce a seal of an outer cavity of the container.

Automatic identification and pairing authentication systems, devices, and methods capable of identifying and verifying the pairing of kegs and taps regardless of the position of a tap relative to a keg on which it is installed. Such a system includes an identification (ID) unit integrated onto a keg and a pairing device integrated onto a tap, wherein the ID unit and the pairing device communicate through a wireless connection.

A pressure vessel assembly is provided for use in a beverage dispensing assembly. The assembly comprises a pressure vessel comprising a housing provided by at least two shell parts, the housing comprising, a gas inlet for receiving a gas in the pressure vessel and a beverage dispensing passage, wherein the at least two shell parts are releasably connectable for forming the housing and for receiving a compressible beverage container assembly filled with a substantially non-carbonated beverage in the housing. The assembly further comprises a compressible beverage container assembly, comprising a flexible bag defining a beverage storage volume, a filling gland, connected to the flexible bag providing a gland beverage passage to the beverage storage volume, and female adapter part, connectable to the filling gland, arranged to receive at least part of a male adapter part of a dispensing line, wherein a sealing member is provided in the gland beverage passage.

A liquid dispenser may include a container having an upper opening, a pump provided in the container, a pipe through which liquid discharged from the pump is transferred, a top plate having an upper surface over which liquid flows, a filter assembly provided below the top plate, a base provided below the container, and a thermoelectric element provided in the base to cool the liquid in the container.

A smart inventory management system is described for a dispensing and blend-in-cup beverage platform including a container having an information tag that is configured to store unique information specific to a particular product, a reader configured to read the stored information from the information tag, a control board configured to host a software based decision engine which is configured to interpret the information specific to a particular product and to control one or more system components based at least in part on the information, a pump controlled by the control board and configured to pump beverage concentrates out of the containers in order to dispense the beverage concentrate into a beverage holder, and a check valve located between an opening on the container and the pump, the check valve configured to provide backflush prevention of foreign solutions into the container.

A cold water tank includes a tank body, a cover part connected to the tank body to cover an open top of the tank body, and a cooling unit disposed in the tank body to cool water stored inside the tank body so as to make cold water. The cover part is configured to have an air layer formed therein, thereby minimizing or preventing the occurrence of condensation.