Abstract: The present application provides a beverage dispenser for dispensing a beverage in a contactless fashion. The beverage dispenser may include a number of adjacent dispensing valves with each of the dispensing valves including a nozzle and a contactless dispensing valve system. The contactless dispensing valve system includes one or more proximity sensors positioned under the nozzle of each of the adjacent dispensing valves.

Abstract: Monk fruit extracts containing mogrol glycosides such as mogroside V may be treated with enzymes under specific reaction conditions to shift distribution of the Siamenoside I reaction product. Modified enzymes are also employed to shift Siamenoside I distribution to increase yield of Siamenoside I and reduce reaction contaminants. Methods of purifying bioconversion reaction product are also described. Siamenoside I obtained using these methods is a useful sweetener and flavor enhancer for food and beverage compositions and the like.

Abstract: A kiosk maintains a list of pre-paid orders. A first authentication process enables a consumer to select their order on the kiosk so as to receive the product or service that was remotely paid for via a mobile application. Authentication of the consumer selecting the order is performed based upon sending an order authentication notification to the mobile application that completed the order. If the user of the mobile application provides a positive authentication reply, the kiosk is unlocked to fulfill the order. The consumer may alternatively be authenticated by providing a personal identification number (PIN) that is associated with the order or associated with a user of the mobile application. Authentication using the PIN enables a consumer to interact with the kiosk to receive the previously ordered product or service without having to access their mobile phone or mobile application that was used to place the order.

Abstract: Athletes in an athletic organization are provided access to a network of beverage dispensers associated with the organization. User profiles for each of the athletes are actively synchronized on the beverage dispensers within the network in response to changes to any of the user profiles. The user profiles are centrally maintained on a profile database and each profile includes performance parameters and personal parameters. Different users are given different levels of access to the user profiles. Each athlete is given access to view their entire profile and make modifications to personal parameters in their profile. Likewise, trainers or other training staff of the athletic organization are given access to view personal parameters of athlete's profiles and access to make modifications to performance parameters. Upon receiving a selection of an athlete's profile, a dispenser in the network is configured according to the personal and performance parameters stored in their profile.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a beverage nucleator system that can initiate ice crystal nucleation by application of a directed flow of pressurized gas to the exterior of the fluid container containing a supercooled beverage. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a beverage nucleator system for a supercooled beverage container which may include a frame having a beverage container aperture for receiving a beverage container therein and a gas outlet positioned within the beverage container aperture for directing a flow of pressurized gas at a beverage container received therein.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser maintains a profile queue with profile data of “close” consumer mobile computing devices. Each profile in the profile queue maintains one or more beverages previously selected by a consumer, such as favorite beverage(s), mixed or blended beverages, and/or past or future beverage order(s). Each profile in the profile queue is additionally associated with a profile identifier, such as a name, screen name, social media picture, avatar, alphanumeric identifier, other such text or graphics recognizable by a consumer to be associated with their corresponding profile. Upon navigation to an appropriate screen on the beverage dispenser, a display on the beverage dispenser shows the profile identifiers or one or more of the previously selected beverages in the profiles of “close” consumer mobile computing devices. In this way, a consumer is able to quickly access their previously selected beverages without actively manipulating their mobile device.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A microwave appliance provides safe heating of packaged food products at an efficiency greater than 90%. A temperature sensor positioned about a product holder is configured to sense a temperature of the package. A product identification scanner identifies a type of food product, a type of packaging, and/or a size of packaging being inserted into the microwave appliance. The product identification may be used to obtain a dielectric constant and/or electrical conductivity of the product. An electric field detector verifies that a suitable product has been inserted into the microwave appliance and is used to estimate a volume of the packaged food product. Accordingly, even partially full packaged food products may be safely re-heated to a desired temperature. As opposed to a time-based operation with traditional microwave appliances, operation of the microwave appliance may be adjusted based on the product identification scanner, temperature sensor, and electric field detector.

Abstract: Methods of preparing concentrated solutions of crystalline steviol glycoside compositions having relatively high rebaudioside M content are provided herein. The concentrated solutions are stable and can be used to prepared beverage syrups and, ultimately, beverages. Methods of preparing beverage syrups and beverages are also detailed herein.

Abstract: A purified composition of steviol glycoside molecules is described. The composition imparts desirable taste, flavor and flavor modifying properties to food, beverages, and other consumable products.

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: This disclosure provides new closure and finish structures suited for small and light-weight carbonated beverage packaging that provide surprisingly improved carbonation retention and greater shelf life, while still achieving light weight. This closure and finish presented herein are particularly suited to small PET containers for carbonated beverages, for example less than or about 400 mL and provide good carbonation retention and shelf life.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein that include providing a beverage dispensing machine with a cleaning system comprising a first water branch and a second water branch connected in fluid communication with a three-way valve, a cleaning supply connected in fluid communication with the second water branch via a pump, and a nozzle. The three-way valve may be operated in a “dispensing mode” to provide a flow of at least one of water and carbonated water through the first water branch and a flowpath of the three-way valve to the nozzle, and operated in a “cleaning mode” to provide a flow of a cleaner, and optionally a flow of at least one of water and carbonated water, through the second water branch and a secondary flowpath of the three-way valve to the nozzle to clean the nozzle and/or a drain of the beverage dispensing machine.

Abstract: The present application provides a nutating pump assembly for pumping a fluid. The nutating pump assembly may include a nutating pump and an air vent chamber assembly in fluid communication with the nutating pump.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser and method for operating a beverage dispenser may include receiving a handshake request from a mobile device of a user. A communications link may be established with the mobile device. Responsive to receiving control data associated with a beverage order from the mobile device, a physical function may be caused to be performed by the beverage dispenser.

Abstract: A frozen product dispenser provides a controller to control the rate of freezing and the temperature range of a frozen product. The controller monitors the temperature of the product as well as the torque applied to a scrapper blade. For example, the torque may be measured based on monitoring a current draw of a scrapper motor. The torque may be tracked over time to determine a rate of change in the torque. The rate of freezing may be controlled by setting a maximum rate of increase in the torque. Upon determining that the rate of increase in the monitored torque exceeds the maximum rate, a compressor for the frozen product dispenser may be turned off for a predetermined period of time and/or a hot gas bypass may be opened. A heat transfer medium may decouple thermal contact between an evaporator and the product to control the rate of freezing.

Abstract: A microwave appliance provides safe heating of packaged food products at an efficiency greater than 90%. A temperature sensor positioned about a product holder is configured to sense a temperature of the package. A product identification scanner identifies a type of food product, a type of packaging, and/or a size of packaging being inserted into the microwave appliance. The product identification may be used to obtain a dielectric constant and/or electrical conductivity of the product. An electric field detector verifies that a suitable product has been inserted into the microwave appliance and is used to estimate a volume of the packaged food product. Accordingly, even partially full packaged food products may be safely re-heated to a desired temperature. As opposed to a time-based operation with traditional microwave appliances, operation of the microwave appliance may be adjusted based on the product identification scanner, temperature sensor, and electric field detector.

Abstract: A system for optimizing blending for mass production produced products. The system may 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 machine and process for managing a connection with a portable terminal may include a detector for detecting a person. A transmitter may be configured to transmit a wireless signal in response to the detector detecting a person within a predetermined range of the machine. A receiver may be configured to receive a connection request signal from the portable terminal that has received the wireless signal. An identification unit may be configured to identify, in response to receiving the connection request signal, a portable terminal in communication with the machine, and establish a connection with the identified portable terminal. The machine may be a vending machine or a beverage dispenser.