A modular liquid vending system positionable at a selected location for a selected period of time, and method of using same, including a housing having a floor, opposing side walls and opposing end walls. At least one fill terminal is positioned within the housing and has an outlet accessible by a customer to provide a selected quantity of the liquid. At least one storage tank suitable for storing the liquid is positioned within the housing and is connected to the fill terminal. The vending system is transportable by a vehicle to the selected location for the selected period of time.

Provided are a water dispensing apparatus and a control method of the water dispensing apparatus. The water dispensing apparatus includes a main body, and an infrared sensing device. The infrared sensing device includes a mounting support, an electric control board having an infrared transmitting device and an infrared receiving device. The infrared receiving device is configured to receive an infrared ray transmitted by the infrared transmitting device. The mounting support has a first through hole at a position corresponding to the infrared transmitting device, and a second through hole at a position corresponding to the infrared receiving device.

A liquid dispensing system can intelligently dispense liquid from a liquid source to a receptacle via a spout. A controller may be connected to a sensor in a housing of the liquid dispensing system with the housing supporting a liquid dispensing spout connected to a liquid source. The controller can generate, and execute, a liquid dispensing strategy that alters an angle of the liquid dispensing spout with respect to a liquid receptacle to optimize liquid flow into the receptacle.

A master control device in the configuration of a wand may control pre-programmed aspects of the user's environment using RFID/NFC tags and RFID/NFC readers to initiate pre-programmed behavior in a computer database. This pre-programmed behavior be the control of items that rely on electricity and/or gas, such as lights, electric fireplaces, electric valves, activating the listening feature on a home assistant, accruing a balance, paying for items with a topped-up balance, and locking and unlocking doors. This master control device can be used in the connected home or business, such as a pub, restaurant, hotel, or immersive experience.

A beverage dispenser includes a source of a base fluid, a source of a concentrate, and an assembly configured to receive and dispense the base fluid and the concentrate together as a mixed beverage having a predetermined base fluid-to-concentrate ratio. An actuator is configured to control flow of the base fluid and the concentrate to the assembly. The assembly is configured to premix a first portion of the base fluid with the concentrate to form a premixed concentrate, and to then dispense a combination of the premixed concentrate and a second portion of the base fluid as the mixed beverage having the predetermined base fluid-to-concentrate ratio. The actuation of the actuator causes an uninterrupted dispense of the base fluid and the concentrate from the source of the base fluid and the source of the concentrate, respectively, to the assembly, and from the assembly to a consumer of the mixed beverage.

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 liquid dispensing system can intelligently dispense liquid from a liquid source to a receptacle via a spout. A controller may be connected to a sensor in a housing of the liquid dispensing system with the housing supporting a liquid dispensing spout connected to a liquid source. The controller can generate, and execute, a liquid dispensing strategy that alters an angle of the liquid dispensing spout with respect to a liquid receptacle to optimize liquid flow into the receptacle.

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 method and device are provided for dispensing a beverage. The method comprises cooling a beverage to a first temperature below a melting point of the beverage, receiving a beverage container with a storage volume for receiving the beverage, pressurising the storage volume of the beverage container up to a first pressure, dispensing the beverage into the pressurised storage volume of the beverage container, and decreasing the pressure in the storage volume of the beverage container to ambient pressure, wherein the beverage is cooled to a first temperature below a melting point of the beverage prior to decreasing the pressure in the storage volume of the beverage container to ambient pressure. The device may be arranged to perform parts of the method.

A dispenser for dispensing milk from a bulk container. The dispenser is mounted outside of a refrigerator and the bulk container is stored within the refrigerator. The dispenser is provided with means for conveying the milk from the bulk container to a pouring spout. Several bulk containers may be connected together to form a large bulk container of milk that is kept refrigerated in its entirety.