A water purifier includes a water tank having a cold water path inside the tank, a coolant inside the water tank, a cooling device including an evaporator inside the water tank and through which a refrigerant flows, and a compressor that is operable to compress the refrigerant. The cooling device is configured to cool the coolant to cool water flowing through a temperature sensor, which is configured to detect a temperature of the coolant and output coolant temperature information about the detected temperature of the coolant. The purifier also includes an agitator operable to agitate the coolant and a controller configured to control the compressor and the agitator to operate simultaneously and control the agitator to stop operating while the compressor is controlled to continue operating based on preset ice-making temperature information and the coolant temperature information. There is also a method of controlling a compressor and an agitator.

A method for cooling a mixed beverage formed with one or more beverage components includes circulating a refrigerant through a heat exchanger having a phase change material to cool a beverage component and sensing a temperature of the refrigerant. The method further includes detecting a first instance when the sensed temperature of the refrigerant equals a threshold refrigerant temperature, detecting a second instance when the sensed temperature of the refrigerant equals the threshold refrigerant temperature, and stopping circulation of the refrigerant when the second instance is detected.

Provided is a cooling tank comprising a tank body in which a water accommodation space is formed, a foaming case for encompassing the outer peripheral surface of the tank body, and a foam insulating material formed by a foaming agent flowing into the foaming space between the outer peripheral surface of the tank body and the foaming case, and then foaming, wherein the foam insulating material is integrated with the tank body and the case through foaming, and the case has an air outlet through which air of the foaming space is discharged during a foaming process.

Beverage chillers are disclosed. A beverage chiller may include a container platform that receives a beverage container and a chiller tank. The chiller tank may have a central axis and may have an agitator. The chiller tank may be filled with water. A conveyor may move the container platform and beverage container into the chiller tank. The container platform and beverage container may rotate in a first direction in the chiller tank and the agitator may rotate the water in a second direction.

This invention describes a device that is able to promote the rapid cooling/freezing of liquids and pasty and solid foods in general, where it is formed by several components that enable the action of cooling/freezing. Additionally, this invention describes that this device can incorporate the additional function of a refrigerator, through direct coupling of a thermal box to the cooling system of the device.

A liquid quality management device capable of being added to a liquid supply system supplying a liquid in a storage container to a dispensing device in order to cool the liquid and dispensing the liquid into a drinking container includes: a dispensing sensor; and a control device electrically connected to the dispensing sensor and configured to perform control operation of at least one of a refrigeration machine and a stirring device provided in the dispensing device at the same time when dispensing of the liquid is started.

Exemplary embodiments are generally directed to beverage chillers for chilling a hot beverage so that the hot beverage can be served as a chilled beverage in real time on demand fashion. The beverage chillers include a beverage collection section, a heat exchanger section, and a dispensing section fluidically connected relative to each other. The beverage collection section receives a beverage in a hot state. The heat exchanger section chills the beverage from the hot state to a predetermined chilled temperature. The dispensing section dispenses the beverage at or near the predetermined chilled temperature. Exemplary embodiments are also directed to methods and systems for chilling a hot beverage in real time on demand fashion.

An ice bath comprising a container, a refrigeration coil for causing liquid in the container to turn to ice, a pipe for carrying liquid to be cooled by the ice bath for dispense and a plurality of conductive probes for measuring ice thickness, wherein the conductive probes are provided between at least part of the refrigeration coil and the pipe for carrying liquid to be dispensed such that a first one of the conductive probes is provided closer to the refrigeration coil at least two other conductive probes, and thereby the at least two other conductive probes are provided closer to the piping than the first conductive probe, and wherein the second and third probes are equidistant from the refrigeration coil, the ice bath further comprising means for measuring the conductance between the first probe and the second probe, the first probe and the third probe, and the second probe and the third probe.

Beverage chillers are disclosed. A beverage chiller may include a container platform that receives a beverage container and a chiller tank. The chiller tank may have a central axis and may have an agitator. The chiller tank may be filled with water. A conveyor may move the container platform and beverage container into the chiller tank. The container platform and beverage container may rotate in a first direction in the chiller tank and the agitator may rotate the water in a second direction.

A water output device is provided. The water output device comprises a housing mechanism; a water purification mechanism, which comprises a water purifier located within the housing mechanism; a refrigeration mechanism, which comprises a compressor located within the housing mechanism; a tank assembly, which comprises a first tank mechanism configured for providing hot water, and second tank mechanism configured for providing ice water and soda water; the first tank mechanism comprises a hot water tank in communication with the water purifier; the second tank mechanism comprises a ice water tank in communication with the water purifier, a soda water tank located within the ice water tank, a water pump in communication with the ice water tank and the soda water tank respectively, and a cooling pipe spirally extended into the ice water tank.