Abstract: A dispensing system may be provided. The dispensing system may comprise a control architecture internal to the dispensing system. The dispensing system may further comprise an internal portion internal to the dispensing system. The internal portion may be configured to provide an internal ingredient under the control of the control architecture. An external portion may be external to the dispensing system. The external portion may be configured to provide an external ingredient to the dispensing system. The external portion may be under the control of the control architecture.

Abstract: The present application provides a merchandiser for dispensing a number of products. The merchandiser may include an a temperature controlled compartment with a number of concentric storage wheels for storing the number of products therein, an input system positioned about the temperature controlled compartment, and a vending system positioned about the temperature controlled compartment.

Abstract: The present application describes a product dispenser, such as a beverage dispenser. The product dispenser may include a nozzle, a first pump in fluid communication with a beverage base source and the nozzle, a second pump in fluid communication with a flavoring source and the nozzle, and a user interface for receiving a request for a beverage. The user interface may include a product button that represents a beverage base, and an additive button that represents a flavor, wherein in response to a first selection of the product button and a second selection of the additive button, the user interface may be adapted to instruct a dispense of the beverage base and the flavor to the nozzle at a given flow rate.

Abstract: A blending plan for concentrated consumable products, such as liquid food and beverage products, may be optimized by utilizing a computer device executing a software algorithm. The computing device receives one or more inputs associated with the blending of various components employed in producing quantities of a concentrated consumable product over a predetermined time interval. The computing device may be further utilized to apply constraints to each of the one or more inputs. The constraints may be utilized to enforce quality, raw material and component bounds, supply and demand requirements, product and component supply balance, capacity limitations and business rules in order to minimize costs and complexity associated with the production of a concentrated consumable product while maximizing quality, thereby optimizing the blending plan.

Abstract: The present application provides a merchandiser for dispensing a number of products. The merchandiser may include an ambient compartment with a number of ambient product columns with a number of ambient products therein, an X-Y drive device positioned beneath the ambient compartment, and a temperature controlled compartment positioned beneath the X-Y drive device, the temperature controlled compartment including a number of temperature controlled product columns with a number of temperature controlled products therein. The X-Y drive device receives an ambient product from one of the ambient product columns of the ambient compartment and delivers the ambient product to one of the temperature controlled product columns of the temperature controlled compartment.

Abstract: Disclosed in the present invention is a system for forming a product package by online forming, filling and sealing, the system comprising: a sterilization apparatus, a forming apparatus, a conveyor belt, a filling apparatus and a first closing apparatus. Also disclosed is a method for forming a product package by online forming, filling and sealing. The method of the present invention integrates production and filling of large-volume packages, greatly shortening the supply chain and increasing production efficiency.

Abstract: The present application provides an automated beverage dispenser for dispensing a beverage and ice into a cup. The automated beverage dispenser may include an ice dispensing station with an ice auger and a weight sensor, a beverage dispensing station, and a control device. The control device instructs the ice auger to fill the cup with a predetermined amount of ice and instructs the beverage dispensing station to fill the cup with a predetermined amount of the beverage in response to a weight of the cup as determined by the weight sensor.

Abstract: This disclosure provides effective methods for expanding the processing window for poly(ethylene furanoate) (PEF) and poly(ethylene furanoate) co-polymer (PEF co-polymer) polyester preforms, such that these preforms can be beneficially used in the fabrication of bottles and containers, including bottles for carbonated soft drinks. The processing window is expanded by, for example, pre-conditioning the PEF or PEF co-polymer preform prior to stretch blow-molding by contacting the PEF or PEF co-polymer preform with water or high (>50%) relative humidity air for a desired time period and at a temperature greater than or equal to ambient temperature, to take advantage of the unique and unexpected properties afforded the preform by water sorption at these temperatures.

Abstract: This disclosure provides reusable packaging materials, methods and designs that provide improved life cycles to the package. In one aspect, there is provided an effective and economical means for improved scuff resistance on a package, by provided the refillable container with a raised wear band around the largest circumference of the container. The wear band focuses the wear such that the abrasion pattern develops in a controlled and aesthetically benign manner.

Abstract: A system for producing a customized beverage or beverage concentrate is disclosed. The system comprises a personalization server and a distribution machine communicatively coupled to the personalization server. The personalization server is configured to receive need and want information associated with a consumer, analyze the need and want information, apply a plurality of rules to the analyzed need and want information, and produce one or more customized beverage or beverage concentrate recipes based on the analysis of the need and want information and the application of the plurality of rules. The distribution machine is configured to receive the one or more customized beverage or beverage concentrate recipes from the personalization server and produce and deliver at least one customized beverage or beverage concentrate based on the one or more customized beverage or beverage concentrate recipes to the consumer by combining one or more beverage ingredients.

Abstract: The present application provides a merchandiser. The merchandiser may include a temperature controlled compartment, a product input system adjacent to the temperature controlled compartment, and a multi-chute product dispensing mechanism positioned within the temperature controlled compartment. The multi-chute product dispensing system may include a number of product chutes in communication with a dispense activation mechanism.

Abstract: A method of creating customized beverage products includes providing a multiple stream filing system suited for producing an array of beverage products. The method also includes receiving an order for a customized beverage product from the array of beverage products. The order indicates at least one characteristic of the customized beverage product. The at least one characteristic comprises one or more of the following: a beverage formulation, a beverage additive, a package size, a package shape, or label content. The method further includes instructing the multiple stream filling system to produce the customized beverage product. The multiple stream filing system produces the customized beverage product without performing an operation to reduce contamination of the customized beverage product with ingredients from a previously produced beverage product.

Abstract: Methods of preparing highly purified steviol glycosides, particularly rebaudiosides A, D and M are described. The methods include utilizing recombinant microorganisms for converting various staring compositions to target steviol glycosides. In addition, novel steviol glycosides reb D2 and reb M2 are disclosed, as are methods of preparing the same. The highly purified rebaudiosides are useful as non-caloric sweetener in edible and chewable compositions such as any beverages, confectioneries, bakery products, cookies, and chewing gums.

Abstract: This disclosure provides new methods, compositions, containers, preforms, and designs for refillable carbonated soft drink bottles having improved caustic stress cracking resistance. The method of this disclosure combine the use of PET-based co-polyester resin that incorporates a cyclic hydrocarbon diacid co-monomer and/or a cyclic hydrocarbon diol comonomer, with a bottle design incorporating a petaloid base, for unexpectedly enhanced performance.

Abstract: A system and method of manufacturing a feedstock for producing paper fiber from fruit of a plant may include providing a by-product source inclusive of fiber from the edible fruit after a process for removing a majority of the edible fruit is used to produce a food. One or more treatment processes to brighten the fruit by-product may be performed. The feedstock may be produced from the brightened fruit by-product.

Abstract: The present application provides an intake mechanism for a product into a merchandiser. The intake mechanism may include an input tray, a reciprocating assembly to maneuver the input tray, an identification module, and an input control system. The input control system permits access to the merchandiser as the input tray is maneuvered by the reciprocating assembly if the product is identified by the identification module.