Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein that include providing a cooler with a supply duct, a plurality of shelf plenums connected in fluid communication with the supply duct, and a return duct to implement precise temperature control over an internal cooling space of the cooler. Each of the shelf plenums may include openings disposed in a top surface of each shelf plenum. A supply airflow generated by a fan of a refrigeration system may pass the supply airflow through the supply duct to each of the plurality of shelf plenums, where the supply airflow may exit the shelf plenums through the openings in each shelf plenum to directly contact beverages and/or food products disposed on the top surface of the shelf plenums. The cooler may be further operated to supercool liquid beverages below a freezing point of the beverages without causing solidification and/or crystallization of the beverages.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming caramels having reduced low molecular weight species such as 4-MeI. The low-4-MeI caramels produced by this method have improved stability and taste relative to those known in the art. The invention also extends to the caramels produced by the disclosed methods and the use of such caramels in food and beverages.

Abstract: Disclosed are bio-based polyester fibers, particularly a PET fibers, and a method of making the same by: contacting a bio-based MEG composition with a diacid composition to form a polyester composition; and spinning and/or drawing the resulting polyester composition into a fiber; wherein the bio-based MEG composition comprises: a) monoethylene glycol (MEG); and b) from about 1 ppm to about 5000 ppm of at least one C3-C12 1,2-diol, wherein the C3-C12 1, 2-diol is linear, branched, or cyclic.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to steviol glycosides, as well as compositions comprising such steviol glycosides. The present invention further extends to methods of preparing and purifying such steviol glycosides and methods for enhancing the flavor or sweetness of consumables using these steviol glycosides and compositions. The present invention extends to consumables comprising steviol glycosides, where the such steviol glycosides are present in a concentration at or below their sweetness recognition threshold, and wherein such steviol glycosides enhance the sweetness of the consumable.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser is disclosed herein. The beverage dispenser may include a housing configured to house at least one beverage container therein. The beverage container may include an identification tag associated therewith. At least one identification tag reader may be disposed within the housing. The identification tag reader may be configured to detect the identification tag associated with the beverage container. The beverage dispenser also may include a user interface disposed about an exterior of the housing. The user interface may include at least one beverage identification area that corresponds to the beverage container. At least one controller may be in communication with the at least one identification tag reader and the user interface. The controller may be configured to update the beverage identification area based at least in part on the identification of the beverage container by the identification tag reader.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dispensing a product are provided. A plurality of product ingredients are associated with a product dispenser that is operable to form a plurality of selectable products from the plurality of products ingredients. Input for a selected product is received and a recipe that defines the ratio of product ingredients for forming the selected product is identified. The dispense of each of the respective product ingredients is commenced based at least in part on the identified recipe, and the dispense of each of the respective product ingredients is independently monitored during the dispense of the selected product.

Abstract: Agitating a plurality of fluid packages in a tower. The housing tower may include a stationary tower as well as an agitation device. The agitation device may include an agitation chassis assembly and an agitation rack tower. The plurality of fluid packages may be received at the agitation rack tower. Once received, the plurality of fluid packages may be connected to a pump assembly, wherein the pump assembly is located at the agitation chassis assembly. In addition, the agitation rack tower may be agitated relative to the agitation chassis assembly about a pivot point located on the agitation rack tower.

Abstract: Disclosed is an acid-resisting alloy catalyst comprising nickel, one or more rare earth elements, stannum and aluminum. The acid-resistant alloy catalyst is low-cost and stable, and does not need a carrier, and can be stably used in continuous industrial production, thus achieving a low production cost.

Abstract: The present application thus provides a beverage dispensing system for combining a macro-ingredient flow and a carbonated water flow. The beverage dispensing system may include a nozzle, a carbonated water source in communication with the nozzle via a carbonated water conduit and a carbonated water recirculation conduit, a macro-ingredient source in communication with the nozzle via a macro-ingredient conduit, and a macro-ingredient pump and an air chamber in communication with the macro-ingredient conduit. The carbonated water recirculation conduit is in communication with the air chamber for heat exchange therewith.

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: A beverage supply apparatus may include a touch panel for receiving an operation to select a main syrup from among different types of syrups stored in a number of syrup tank that is diluted with water or carbonated water to form a main beverage and for receiving an operation to select a topping syrup that is added to the main beverage as a flavor. The beverage supply apparatus also may include a nozzle in which the main beverage is produced by mixing water or carbonated water with the main syrup in a predetermined ratio and then the undiluted topping syrup is mixed with the main beverage to produce a beverage.

Abstract: Containers are provided that include a body structure having a top end that defines an opening, a sealed base end, and a sidewall structure extending between the top and base ends, in which the sidewall structure has an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface defining an interior space, and a protective coating that includes a diamond-like carbon on at least a portion of the exterior surface of the sidewall structure. Methods for enhancing the mechanical strength of containers are also provided.

Abstract: The present application describes a product dispenser. The product dispenser may include at least one macro-ingredient source, at least one micro-ingredient source positioned about the dispenser, a diluent source, a dispensing valve, a number of pumps or metering devices, and a user interface. The user interface receives a request for a product type and instructs the pumps or metering devices to dispense a predetermined type and ratio of macro-ingredients, micro-ingredients, and diluent to the dispensing valve for a predetermined flow rate.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems and methods for generating potable water from contaminated water sources, particularly well water. By eliminating the purified water holding tank, employing a combination of source tank with carbon and reverse osmosis filters in series, and using an actuated pump to supply impure water from the source, a simple on-demand system is provided that is especially adapted for use in remote locations. The system and method are particularly useful where only direct current power, such as from a solar photovoltaic panel power, is available.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention may provide a frozen beverage dispenser capable of dispensing multiple frozen beverage flavors.

Abstract: Juice products and associated methods are provided that include a fruit or vegetable juice having one or more polyphenols, and an anti-browning agent that includes acerola in an amount effective to reduce oxidation of the one or more polyphenols by polyphenol oxidase (PPO). For example, the disclosed method can include providing a juice having one or more polyphenols, in which the juice is a fruit or vegetable juice, and adding an anti-browning agent to the juice, in which the anti-browning agent includes acerola in an amount effective to inhibit oxidation of the one or more polyphenols by polyphenol oxidase (PPO).

Abstract: The present application provides a dispensing nozzle assembly. The dispensing nozzle assembly may include a core module assembly and an injector ring assembly surrounding the removable core module assembly. The injector ring assembly may include a number of first paths surrounding the core module assembly and extending to a dispensing ring and a number of second paths surrounding the first paths and extending to the dispensing ring.

Abstract: Provided is a method for preparing a diol. In the method, a saccharide and hydrogen as raw materials are contacted with a catalyst in water to prepare the diol. The employed catalyst is a composite catalyst comprised of a main catalyst and a cocatalyst, wherein the main catalyst is a water-insoluble acid-resistant alloy; and the cocatalyst is a soluble tungstate and/or soluble tungsten compound. The method uses an acid-resistant, inexpensive and stable alloy needless of a support as a main catalyst, and can guarantee a high yield of the diol in the case where the production cost is relatively low.