The present application provides a beverage dispensing system. The beverage dispensing system may include a syringe cartridge assembly and a nozzle. The syringe cartridge assembly may include an ingredient chamber, a water chamber, and a dosing pump such that the ingredient chamber is in communication with the nozzle and the water chamber is in communication with the dosing pump.

A beverage dispensing machine includes a dispensing valve having a first flow path configured to dispense a first fluid and a second flow path configured to dispense a second fluid such that the first fluid and the second fluid mix downstream and form a mixed beverage. A flow control device regulates flow rate of the first fluid through the first flow path, and a shutoff valve selectively closes to stop flow of the first fluid through the first flow path. A sensor is configured to sense the flow rate of the first fluid, and a controller automatically controls the flow control device to adjust the flow rate of the first fluid and thereby obtain a desired fluid ratio of the mixed beverage.

A dispenser head for in-line mixing and dispensing of beverages, which may be carbonated or nitrogenated. The dispenser head comprising a pump, a dilution mechanism, an additive mechanism, and outlet nozzle and optionally a regulation system. In use, the pump can pump concentrate liquid for the liquid product from a concentrate source to the dilution mechanism; the dilution mechanism can receive diluent liquid suitable for the liquid product from a diluent source, operable to mix the diluent liquid and the concentrate liquid and provide diluted concentrate liquid; and the additive mechanism can receive additive fluid for the liquid product from an additive source, to combine the diluted concentrate liquid and the additive fluid. The regulation system comprises a pump regulator means for regulating the quantity of concentrate liquid pumped into the dilution mechanism within the dispense period; a diluent quantity regulator means for regulating the flow of diluent liquid into the dilution mechanism; and an additive quantity regulator means for regulating the flow of additive fluid into the additive mechanism. Preferably, the dispenser head is a unitary device, which may be supplied attached to a vessel containing the concentrate.

Systems, apparatus and methods are described herein for dispensing a carbonated beverage. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a first cylinder that defines an interior region that can contain a volume of carbonated water and a first piston separating the interior region. A second cylinder is coupled to the first cylinder and defines an interior region and a second piston separating the interior region and operatively coupled to the first piston. The interior region of the second cylinder can contain a volume of beverage concentrate. A flywheel assembly is operatively coupled to the first cylinder and to the first piston and can control a predetermined ratio of a volume of carbonated water from the first cylinder and a volume of beverage concentrate from the second cylinder to be dispensed when a force is exerted on the piston by a flow of carbonated water through the first cylinder.

Methods and systems for accurately and securely dispensing high value beverages are presented herein. A beverage distribution system includes one or more replaceable beverage cartridges mounted to a beverage dispensing device. Each of the beverage cartridges includes a fluid reservoir with an output port, an output control valve, a flowmeter, and a local controller. The local controller receives signals from the flow meter and determines a cumulative amount of beverage fluid dispensed from the beverage cartridge based on the received signals. In one embodiment, the beverage dispensing device includes a fluid pump and a master controller. The master controller also estimates the cumulative amount of beverage fluid dispensed from each beverage cartridge based on control commands communicated to each beverage cartridge. If a difference between the estimated cumulative amounts of fluid dispensed from a beverage cartridge exceeds a predetermined threshold value, an alert is generated.

A dispenser head for in-line mixing and dispensing of beverages, which may be carbonated or nitrogenated. The dispenser head comprising a pump, a dilution mechanism, an additive mechanism, and outlet nozzle and optionally a regulation system. In use, the pump can pump concentrate liquid for the liquid product from a concentrate source to the dilution mechanism; the dilution mechanism can receive diluent liquid suitable for the liquid product from a diluent source, operable to mix the diluent liquid and the concentrate liquid and provide diluted concentrate liquid; and the additive mechanism can receive additive fluid for the liquid product from an additive source, to combine the diluted concentrate liquid and the additive fluid. The regulation system comprises a pump regulator means for regulating the quantity of concentrate liquid pumped into the dilution mechanism within the dispense period; a diluent quantity regulator means for regulating the flow of diluent liquid into the dilution mechanism; and an additive quantity regulator means for regulating the flow of additive fluid into the additive mechanism. Preferably, the dispenser head is a unitary device, which may be supplied attached to a vessel containing the concentrate.

Systems and methods for packaging beverage components and dispensing beverages are provided. Bag-in-box packages include connectors that contain rotary pumps. Each rotary pump includes a resiliently deformable housing and a rotor that form a plurality of chambers. The bag-in-box package may be incorporated into a dispenser system that includes a touch screen that allows users to input beverage selections.

The refillable drinking container for use with a water-dispensing system. The refillable drinking container for use with a water-dispensing system stores a fluid that is consumed as a beverage. The refillable drinking container for use with a water-dispensing system measures the stored fluid. The refillable drinking container for use with a water-dispensing system refills the fluid when the volume of the stored fluid falls below a previously determined level. The refillable drinking container for use with a water-dispensing system heats the stored fluid at a previously determined temperature.

A liquid dispenser is provided. The liquid dispenser includes a housing; a temperature control system; and a pump system. The pump system pumps multiple liquids. A method of dispensing a liquid into a beverage is also provided. A liquid dispenser includes a valve, a pump, and a nozzle. A liquid is selected from multiple liquids and a beverage shade is selected. The valve and the pump are activated to deliver the selected liquid to the nozzle in an amount that achieves the selected beverage shade.

A system for mixing a liquid beverage (e.g., a beer) from multiple liquid ingredients and dispensing the liquid beverage includes: a mixing chamber having an inlet valve and an outlet valve; a pump for drawing liquid into the mixing chamber through the inlet value; a manifold in fluid communication with the inlet valve of the mixing chamber and a source of each of the liquid ingredients (e.g., a keg); a tap associated with the mixing chamber for dispensing the liquid beverage mixed in the mixing chamber; and an electronic control module in communication with the pump, the electronic control module being programmed to cause the pump to sequentially draw a predetermined volume of more than one of the liquid ingredients into the mixing chamber, the predetermined volumes corresponding to a recipe for the liquid beverage.