Abstract: The present application provides a micro-ingredient tower for filling a container with a number of different micro-ingredients. The micro-ingredient tower may include a number of micro-ingredient containers therein and a nozzle head. The nozzle head may include a number of dispensing needles therein such that each of the dispensing needles doses a micro-ingredient into the container.

Abstract: One embodiment may include a machine for providing beverages. The machine may include a reader configured to read data representative of an available balance for a user to obtain beverages from the machine from a machine-readable medium and electronics. The electronics may be configured to receive the data from the machine-readable medium in response to the user positioning the machine-readable medium within reading distance of the reader, enable the user to dispense a beverage into a vessel, and update the available balance of the machine-readable medium so as to reduce or prevent the user from dispensing unlimited beverages.

Abstract: The present application provides a filling line for filling a container with one of a number of different beverages. The filling line may include a water circuit with a counter-pressure nozzle to fill the container with carbonated water and one or more micro-ingredient towers with a number of micro-ingredients therein positioned downstream of the counter-pressure nozzle to fill the container with the micro-ingredients.

Abstract: A dispenser is configured to dispense food products at varying nutritive levels by dispensing a combination of sweeteners in a predetermined ratio from a plurality of sweetener sources. Using a predetermined combination of sweeteners in a predetermined ratio for a selected nutritive level for a given product ensures that the dispensed product will have a desirable flavor profile while at the same time providing increased consumer choice. A combination of caloric, mid-calorie, low calorie, and/or non-caloric sweeteners may be dispensed to produce a food product with a specified caloric level or nutritive level. For a given nutritive level selected, the product dispenser may dispense different combinations of sweeteners and/or different ratios of sweeteners for different brands or products to be dispensed. Likewise, for a given brand or product, the product dispenser may dispense different combinations of sweeteners and/or different ratios of sweeteners for different selected nutritive levels.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include systems and methods for providing dynamic ingredient matrix reconfiguration in a product dispenser. In one example, a method for configuring a dispenser apparatus may include determining one or more current associations between some or all of a plurality of ingredient packages and one or more of a plurality of dispensing devices associated with the dispenser apparatus. The method may include determining whether a current association of the one or more current associations has changed with respect to at least one previous association between some or all of the plurality of ingredient packages and one or more of the plurality of dispensing devices, and in response to ascertaining that the current association has changed, modifying an association table based at least on the one or more current associations, the association table being representative of the at least one previous association.

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: A system for dispensing one or more beverages is disclosed. The system may include a nozzle, one or more macro-ingredients in fluid communication with the nozzle, and a number of micro-ingredients in fluid communication with the nozzle. The nozzle is configured to dispense a beverage formed by the one or more macro-ingredients and one or more of the micro-ingredients.

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: The present application provides a filling line for filling a container with one of a number of different beverages. The filling line may include a water circuit with a counter-pressure nozzle to fill the container with carbonated water and one or more micro-ingredient towers with a number of micro-ingredients therein positioned downstream of the counter-pressure nozzle to fill the container with the micro-ingredients.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include systems and methods for providing dynamic ingredient matrix reconfiguration in a product dispenser. In one example, a method for configuring a dispenser apparatus may include determining one or more current associations between some or all of a plurality of ingredient packages and one or more of a plurality of dispensing devices associated with the dispenser apparatus. The method may include determining whether a current association of the one or more current associations has changed with respect to at least one previous association between some or all of the plurality of ingredient packages and one or more of the plurality of dispensing devices, and in response to ascertaining that the current association has changed, modifying an association table based at least on the one or more current associations, the association table being representative of the at least one previous association.

Abstract: The present application provides a micro-ingredient tower for filling a container with a number of different micro-ingredients. The micro-ingredient tower may include a number of micro-ingredient containers therein and a nozzle head. The nozzle head may include a number of dispensing needles therein such that each of the dispensing needles doses a micro-ingredient into the container.

Abstract: A dispenser is configured to dispense food products at varying nutritive levels by dispensing a combination of sweeteners in a predetermined ratio from a plurality of sweetener sources. Using a predetermined combination of sweeteners in a predetermined ratio for a selected nutritive level for a given product ensures that the dispensed product will have a desirable flavor profile while at the same time providing increased consumer choice. A combination of caloric, mid-calorie, low calorie, and/or non-caloric sweeteners may be dispensed to produce a food product with a specified caloric level or nutritive level. For a given nutritive level selected, the product dispenser may dispense different combinations of sweeteners and/or different ratios of sweeteners for different brands or products to be dispensed. Likewise, for a given brand or product, the product dispenser may dispense different combinations of sweeteners and/or different ratios of sweeteners for different selected nutritive levels.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include systems and methods for providing dynamic ingredient matrix reconfiguration in a product dispenser. In one example, a method for configuring a dispenser apparatus may include determining one or more current associations between some or all of a plurality of ingredient packages and one or more of a plurality of dispensing devices associated with the dispenser apparatus. The method may include determining whether a current association of the one or more current associations has changed with respect to at least one previous association between some or all of the plurality of ingredient packages and one or more of the plurality of dispensing devices, and in response to ascertaining that the current association has changed, modifying an association table based at least on the one or more current associations, the association table being representative of the at least one previous association.

Abstract: The present application provides a cooler for cooling a beverage fluid flow. The cooler may include a thermoelectric cooling device in communication with a fluid heat exchanger with the fluid flow therein and a water permeable membrane. The cooler further may include a fan positioned about the water permeable membrane for evaporative cooling therein.

Abstract: One embodiment may include a machine for providing beverages. The machine may include a reader configured to read data representative of an available balance for a user to obtain beverages from the machine from a machine-readable medium and electronics. The electronics may be configured to receive the data from the machine-readable medium in response to the user positioning the machine-readable medium within reading distance of the reader, enable the user to dispense a beverage into a vessel, and update the available balance of the machine-readable medium so as to reduce or prevent the user from dispensing unlimited beverages.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a composition comprising storing at least one acid in an acid storage container, storing at least one acid-degradable component in a component storage container, and mixing the at least one acid from the acid storage container and the at least one acid-degradable component from the component storage container such that the at least one acid and the at least one acid-degradable component mix together to form the composition. A method and apparatus for providing a selected beverage from a plurality of selectable beverages comprising storing a number of non-sweetener beverage component concentrates separately in a respective number of beverage component storage containers and in response the selection of the selected beverage, automatically dispensing, continuously in a predetermined ratio for any volume of the beverage dispensed, any combination of at least two or more of the number of non-sweetener beverage component concentrates and a diluent.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a composition comprising storing at least one acid in an acid storage container, storing at least one acid-degradable component in a component storage container, and mixing the at least one acid from the acid storage container and the at least one acid-degradable component from the component storage container such that the at least one acid and the at least one acid-degradable component mix together to form the composition. A method and apparatus for providing a selected beverage from a plurality of selectable beverages comprising storing a number of non-sweetener beverage component concentrates separately in a respective number of beverage component storage containers and in response the selection of the selected beverage, automatically dispensing, continuously in a predetermined ratio for any volume of the beverage dispensed, any combination of at least two or more of the number of non-sweetener beverage component concentrates and a diluent.

Abstract: A packaged food product processing machine. The machine comprises a food consumer interface configured to receive a food consumer selection identifying an end state of a food product, a package cooling sub-system comprising a chilled fluid bath, a gripper component configured to agitate a package containing the food product in the chilled fluid bath and to sense a physical parameter of the food product, and a controller configured to command the gripper to control the rate of heat transfer from the package to the chilled fluid bath based on receiving an input identifying an end state selection from the food consumer interface and based on receiving an input containing a value of the physical parameter of the food product from the gripper component.

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: A system for dispensing one or more beverages is disclosed. The system may include a nozzle, one or more macro-ingredients in fluid communication with the nozzle, and a number of micro-ingredients in fluid communication with the nozzle. The nozzle is configured to dispense a beverage formed by the one or more macro-ingredients and one or more of the micro-ingredients.