A beverage dispenser for dispensing beverage from one or more beverage units. Each of the beverage units includes a respective beverage unit outlet, and a respective support structure supporting beverage and orienting the respective beverage unit outlet. The dispenser includes a refrigerator in which the beverage unit(s) are receivable; a respective inlet, within the refrigerator, for each of the beverage units; at least one a dispensing outlet for dispensing beverage into drinking vessels; one or more fluid paths from the inlet(s) to the dispensing outlet(s); a guide arrangement co-operable with the support structure(s) to guide the beverage unit(s) so that each respective beverage unit outlet co-operates with its respective inlet to form a respective dry break connection through which beverage is conveyable on route to the dispensing outlet(s) via the fluid path(s).

Disclosed herein is a protective housing for carrying a rigid vessel. In use, the vessel will contain liquid. The housing comprises a casing. The casing includes a peripheral wall, a base and a top. The base and top are connected to the peripheral wall to define a volume for containing the vessel. The protective housing further comprises an impact absorber. The impact absorber is disposed, in use, between the vessel and casing to reduce transferral, to the vessel, of a force applied to the casing. There is also an aperture in the casing for accessing a closure section of the vessel while the vessel is in the protective housing.

A water ejecting apparatus includes a case and a water ejection unit connected to the case. The water ejection unit includes a fixed cover connected to the case, having atop dead point and a bottom dead point, and including a lifting gear provided between the top dead point and the bottom dead point, a lifting cover movably coupled to the fixed cover, a lifting motor coupled to the lifting cover and a gear module interworking with the lifting motor and the lifting gear, a water ejection nozzle for ejecting water, a signal detecting unit that detects a frequency generation (FG) signal generated by the lifting motor during an operation of the lifting motor, and a controller configured to control the operation of the lifting motor upon determining that the lifting cover reaches the top dead point or the bottom dead point based on the FG signal.

A stirrer includes a stirring shaft; a plurality of mixing wings extending from the lower end of the stirring shaft and spaced from each other around the stirring shaft; and a conical hub connecting the lower ends of the mixing wings.

A cooling system is provided for contact cooling of a beverage container. The system comprises a cooling element, a cooling contact body thermally conductively connected to the cooling element and arranged to be in thermally conductive contact with the container, a sensor module arranged to provide a sensor signal having a sensor value indicative of a contact area between the cooling contact body and the container and a processing unit arranged to control operation of the cooling element in response to the sensor signal. The contact area or another indicator for quality of contact between the cooling contact body and the beverage container determines a transfer rate of thermal energy between the beverage container and a beverage contained therein on one hand to the cooling contact body and the cooling element on the other hand. A cooling system with this method of operation allows efficient use of energy provided.

Systems and methods, including a system for metering, mixing, and dispensing liquids, such as alcoholic and non-alcoholic liquids and solutions, are provided. In one instance, the system includes a controller operatively coupled to a first pump and a second pump. The first pump and the second pump are coupled to a first liquid source and a second liquid source, respectively. The controller controls flow rates at each of the first pump and the second pump. The system includes a valve coupled to a source supply of a third liquid, including pressurized carbonated water. The system includes a fluid connector coupled to the first pump, the second pump, the valve, and a dispenser. The connector receives the first liquid, the second liquid, and the third liquid, such that a fourth liquid, including a combination of the first liquid, the second liquid, and the third liquid, is dispensable from the dispenser.

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 liquid dispenser for dispensing a consumable liquid from a container. The dispenser includes a cabinet configured to receive one or more containers in an inverted position such that liquid is induced by gravity to flow out of an open interior of the container though a dispensing opening. A positive pressure valve assembly is mounted to the dispensing opening of the container prior to insertion of the container into the cabinet. The valve assembly includes a cap connected to the dispensing opening and a discharge tube extending from the cap. A flow restrictor of the valve assembly is positioned to selectively open and close the discharge tube to control the flow of liquid from the container. A one-way valve is positioned between the open interior of the container and a supply of air. The one-way valve allows air flow into the container as the fluid is discharged to maintain a positive pressure within the container.

A beverage dispenser configured to be mounted to a vertical wall wherein the beverage dispenser provides dispensing of a beverage while suspended on the wall. The present invention includes a support frame wherein the support frame defines the peripheral edges of the shape of the support frame. The support frame includes a central aperture surrounded by a plurality of support members. A cover member is secured to the front side of the support frame so as to cover the central aperture. A bladder is suspendedly mounted within the central aperture of the support frame and extends downward from the upper end to the lower end of the support frame. The bladder includes a nozzle that is journaled through a hole in the cover member so as to provide dispensing of a beverage subsequent the beverage dispenser being secured to a wall. The cover member includes decorative indicia.

A bottle filling station may include a liquid dispenser configured to dispense liquid. A pan may be configured to collect at least a portion of the dispensed liquid. A sensor may detect a presence of a liquid container. A controller may control the liquid dispenser to dispense liquid when the liquid container is approximately near the sensor.