Abstract: Technologies are described herein for converting the output of a pressure sensitive mat into an image and processing the image to identify the products present on the mat. An example system includes a processor configured to read pressure values from the plurality of pressure sensors on the pressure sensitive mat and generate an image with each pixel in the image encoding a value corresponding to a pressure value read from the pressure sensitive mat. A server may be configured to receive the image from the processor and process the image to identify one or more types of products that may be present on the pressure sensitive mat for each product package detected to be present on the pressure sensitive mat based on a combination of two or more of a shape of the product package, one or more dimensions of the product package, or a weight of the product package.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are described for dispensing consumable products. An example method may include generating, at a controller associated with a beverage dispenser, a beverage composition record for a beverage that is formulated via an ingredient matrix and dispensed at the beverage dispenser, where the ingredient matrix comprises multiple ingredient packages each comprising a beverage ingredient. The method may include writing depletion data to the ingredient package or to a data processing device associated with the ingredient package for each ingredient package from which a beverage ingredient was included in the dispensed beverage, wherein the depletion data is based at least in part on the beverage composition record.

Abstract: A beverage supply apparatus for supplying multiple types of beverage. The beverage supply apparatus may include a number of nozzles for discharging multiple types of beverages, a touch panel for displaying options for the multiple types of beverages while also receiving a selection operation for one beverage from among the multiple types of beverages, a number of physical buttons that correspond to the number of nozzles and that receive an instruction for discharge of the beverage selected by the selection operation, and a control unit that specifies, from among the physical buttons, the physical button corresponding to the nozzle from which the beverage selected by the selection operation will be discharged, and controls the touch panel in such a way as to provide notification of the physical button specified.

Abstract: A system and method may present, by a first application being executed by an electronic device, a first user interface that enables a user to select a food item and/or non-food item for purchase at a retail establishment. In response to receiving, by the first application, a request from the user using the first user interface to purchase a beverage at the retail establishment, a second application may be linked with the first application. A data repository inclusive of selectable beverage options available for dispensing by a beverage dispenser at the retail establishment may be accessed. The second application may present a second user interface for selection of a selectable beverage option. A selected beverage instruction code representative of a selected beverage may be generated and communicated to the beverage dispenser at the retail establishment to cause the beverage dispenser to be configured for dispensing the selected beverage.

Abstract: A control architecture for use with beverage product dispensers is provided. Instructions may be received at an interface module for performing one or more requested dispenser operations. The interface module may send the instructions to a dispense module. The dispense module may translate the instructions to predetermined commands associated with a dispenser. The one or more requested dispenser operations may then be performed based on the predetermined commands from the translated instructions.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser for dispensing beverages and process may include a fluid container containing a fluid ingredient, a conduit fluidly connected to the fluid container, and an electrical conductivity sensor. The electrical conductivity sensor may be (i) fluidly connected to the conduit, and (ii) configured to sense an electrical conductivity of the fluid ingredient flowing through the conduit. The electrical conductivity sensor may further be configured to output (i) a first electrical signal in response to sensing an air bubble, and (ii) a second electrical signal in response to not sensing an air bubble.

Abstract: This disclosure provides new containers, preforms, methods, and designs for small and light-weight carbonated beverage packaging that provide surprisingly improved carbonation retention and greater shelf life, while still achieving light weight. This disclosure is particularly drawn to small PET containers for carbonated beverages, for example less than or about 400 mL, and methods and designs for their fabrication that attain unexpectedly good carbonation retention and shelf life.

Abstract: Polymers and copolymers, and systems and methods for processing the same. Advantageously, the polymers and copolymers of the present invention have undergone processing in a falling strand devolatilizer and rotary disk finisher such that a low-cost, low-energy, and high-production-rate product is produced.

Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning a dispensing nozzle assembly of a beverage dispenser is disclosed. The dispensing nozzle assembly may include a macro-ingredient/diluent outlet and a number of micro-ingredient outlets surrounding the macro-ingredient/diluent outlet. The cleaning device may include a handle, a head end rotatably attached to the handle, a guidance protrusion extending from the head end, a first set of bristles extending from the head end and surrounding the guidance protrusion, and a second set of bristles extending from the head end adjacent to the first set of bristles.

Abstract: A beverage order fulfillment system allows for beverage fulfillment from a mobile device without requiring a custom software application on the mobile device but uses a web connection to control beverage dispenser operations instead. The mobile device incorporates web browser software, and the web browser software is configured to initiate communication sessions with the at least one server. Data entry options are displayed on the interactive GUI for the first computer to communicate beverage selection commands to the beverage dispensing software, via the at least one server, in a respective instance of beverage fulfillment. The at least one server incorporates web socket application program interfaces (APIs) stored on the at least one server and configured to connect a communications link to the beverage dispenser and the web browser software on the first computer.

Abstract: Technologies are disclosed herein for providing content management for deploying and updating a fleet of resources. A system for providing content management may include a web server or other apparatus configured to receive a local content request from a local device of a fleet of resources, the local content request comprising a canonical uniform resource locator (URL) that uniquely identifies the local device. The web server may be further configured to analyze the local content request to determine if the URL matches one or more rewrite rules, formulate a response to the local content request based on the analyzing, and transmit the formulated response.

Abstract: A system for optimizing blending. The system can include a processor configured to aggregate material information, aggregate production information, model consumer liking of the at least one product, and provide plan information for controlling production resources based on the material information, the production information, and the consumer liking. The material information can be associated with a product input of the at least one product. The production information can be associated with the production resources of the at least one product.

Abstract: A product storage device (1) includes: first and second product storage chambers (52, 53) for storing products and for cooling or heating the stored products; a product delivery port (31) to which a product stored in the first or second product storage chamber (52, 53) is dispensed; and a control unit (10) configured to set one of the first and second product storage chambers (52, 53) as a preliminary chamber in which stored products are not available for dispensing and set the other as a product dispensing chamber in which stored products are available for dispensing, and configured to sequentially change product storage chambers to be set as the preliminary chamber.

Abstract: A system and method a method may include receiving (i) beverage composition data of a requested beverage, and (ii) a user identifier of a user requesting the beverage. Responsive to receiving an instruction to dispense the requested beverage, the requested beverage may be dispensed. The beverage composition data may be stored in a dispensed beverage record. A verification as to whether or not the dispensed beverage is a qualified beverage pour may be performed. Responsive to determining that the dispensed beverage is a qualified beverage pour, a counter may be increased. Responsive to determining that the counter value crosses a threshold value, a first message may be communicated to a mobile electronic device of the user, otherwise, a second message may be communicated to the mobile electronic device.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser and process of dispensing a beverage may include pumping a micro-ingredient from a micro-ingredient container via a fluid path toward a nozzle to dispense a beverage inclusive of the micro-ingredient. The micro-ingredient may be reverse pumped via the fluid path back to the micro-ingredient container to cause an air bubble in the fluid path to be pushed into the micro-ingredient container.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a beverage vending device is provided that includes a network interface and one or more processors. The beverage vending device also includes a computer-readable tangible medium with instructions stored thereon that direct the one or more processors to establish contact with an available network and locate a second beverage vending device on the network. The computer-readable tangible medium also has instructions stored thereon that direct the one or more processors to establish contact with the second beverage vending device on the network, and communicate with the second beverage vending device via the network.

Abstract: A plate heat exchanger is disclosed herein. In some instances, the plate heat exchanger may be disposed in an ice bin of a beverage dispenser for cooling one or more fluids. The plate heat exchanger may include a top plate, a bottom plate, an outer boundary wall, and a fluid flow path disposed between the top plate and the bottom plate. The fluid flow path may include an inlet and an outlet. A fin may be disposed within the fluid flow path from the top plate to the bottom plate between the inlet and the outlet.

Abstract: Polyester multilobed prepolymer pellets and methods of making and using the same are provided. The multilobed polyester pellets have an increased surface area to volume ratio which improves intraparticle diffusion mass transfer rates resulting in a reduction of pellet drying and solid state polymerization processing times.

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.