Abstract: Systems and methods for dispensing compositions, such as beverages, are provided. A beverage dispenser may be configured to receive input corresponding to a selection of a beverage, and in response, a graphical representation of the beverage at a display device. The beverage dispenser may receive additional input corresponding to an adjustment of an amount of an ingredient of the selected beverage, and in response, the graphical representation of the beverage may be updated. The graphical representation of the beverage may include graphics depicting the beverage container, the volume of liquid in the beverage container, and the adjusted ingredient.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a dispensing system and a sanitizing system. The apparatus has a dispensing mode and sanitizing mode. The dispensing system may comprise a first valve and at least one component, the at least one component having an inner surface. The first valve is opened to send a free-flowing material to the at least one component when the apparatus is in the dispensing mode. The first valve is closed when the apparatus is in the sanitizing mode. The sanitizing system comprises a processing unit having a discharge cell configured to initiate a cold plasma discharge in an air flow. A tank may be configured to receive the air flow from the discharge cell of the processing unit and expose water in the tank to the air flow for a time sufficient to provide dissolution of ozone from the air flow into the water and form ozone-containing water.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a dispensing system and a sanitizing system. The apparatus has a dispensing mode and sanitizing mode. The dispensing system may comprise a first valve and at least one component, the at least one component comprising an inner surface. The first valve has an open position to send a free-flowing material to the at least one component when the apparatus is in the dispensing mode, in a closed position when the combination is in the sanitizing mode. The sanitizing system comprises a processing unit, having an electrochemical cell configured to produce an anolyte solution and a catholyte solution. The sanitizing system comprises a second valve having an open position to send the anolyte solution and the catholyte solution to the at least one component when the apparatus is in the sanitizing mode. The second valve has a closed position when the apparatus is in the dispensing mode.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dispensing compositions, such as beverages, are provided. A beverage dispenser may be configured to receive input corresponding to a selection of a beverage, and in response, a graphical representation of the beverage at a display device. The beverage dispenser may receive additional input corresponding to an adjustment of an amount of an ingredient of the selected beverage, and in response, the graphical representation of the beverage may be updated. The graphical representation of the beverage may include graphics depicting the beverage container, the volume of liquid in the beverage container, and the adjusted ingredient.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a dispensing system and a sanitizing system. The apparatus has a dispensing mode and sanitizing mode. The dispensing system may comprise a first valve and at least one component, the at least one component having an inner surface. The first valve is opened to send a free-flowing material to the at least one component when the apparatus is in the dispensing mode. The first valve is closed when the apparatus is in the sanitizing mode. The sanitizing system comprises a processing unit having a discharge cell configured to initiate a cold plasma discharge in an air flow. A tank may be configured to receive the air flow from the discharge cell of the processing unit and expose water in the tank to the air flow for a time sufficient to provide dissolution of ozone from the air flow into the water and form ozone-containing water.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dispensing compositions, such as beverages, are provided. A beverage dispenser may be configured to receive input corresponding to a selection of a beverage, and in response, a graphical representation of the beverage at a display device. The beverage dispenser may receive additional input corresponding to an adjustment of an amount of an ingredient of the selected beverage, and in response, the graphical representation of the beverage may be updated. The graphical representation of the beverage may include graphics depicting the beverage container, the volume of liquid in the beverage container, and the adjusted ingredient.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a dispensing system and a sanitizing system. The apparatus has a dispensing mode and sanitizing mode. The dispensing system may comprise a first valve and at least one component, the at least one component having an inner surface. The first valve is opened to send a free-flowing material to the at least one component when the apparatus is in the dispensing mode. The first valve is closed when the apparatus is in the sanitizing mode. The sanitizing system comprises a processing unit having a discharge cell configured to initiate a cold plasma discharge in an air flow. A tank may be configured to receive the air flow from the discharge cell of the processing unit and expose water in the tank to the air flow for a time sufficient to provide dissolution of ozone from the air flow into the water and form ozone-containing water.

Abstract: Systems and methods for packaging beverage components and dispensing beverages are provided. Bag-in-box packages include connectors that contain rotary pumps. Each rotary pump includes a resiliently deformable housing and a rotor that form a plurality of chambers. The bag-in-box package may be incorporated into a dispenser system that includes a touch screen that allows users to input beverage selections.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dispensing beverages are provided. In accordance with various embodiments, beverage vendors may maintain the quality associated with a branded beverage while permitting consumers to enjoy the personalized beverages. In one embodiment, a user input may select a beverage formulation. The beverage formulation may be a commercially available branded beverage. A second user input may be received that is configured to modify a concentration of an ingredient of the selected beverage formulation. The ingredient may be a sweetener, such as a sugar. In response to the adjusting the ingredient, a concentration of at least one second ingredient may be automatically adjusted to form a recipe of a modified beverage formulation. In one embodiment, the user input adjusts a natural sugar and, in response, the carbon dioxide concentration is automatically adjusted. In another embodiment, carbon dioxide and another acid may be adjusted.

Abstract: A dispensing nozzle comprising an ultrasound emitter is disclosed. A wall of the ultrasound emitter defines a channel. The ultrasound emitter comprises an inlet, a top and a bottom. The bottom of the ultrasound emitter may comprise a conical outlet. The conical outlet comprises an outer diameter that decreases in size in a direction towards an outlet opening defined by the conical outlet. The channel may extend from the inlet to the conical outlet. The dispensing nozzle further comprises a tube. The tube may be configured to deliver free-flowing material to the inlet. The ultrasound emitter may be configured to deliver ultrasound waves to free-flowing material flowing through channel. The ultrasound emitter may be configured to induce cavitation in free-flowing material passing through the conical outlet. The cavitation may be sufficient to destroy microorganisms and reduce microbial contamination of the free-flowing material dispensed from the dispensing nozzle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dispensing beverages are provided. Aspects relate to obtaining measurements regarding dispensing an ingredient (including the dispensing conditions of the ingredient) and determining whether to adjust dispensing conditions of at least one other ingredient. In one embodiment, at least one ingredient of a recipe is not dispensed based upon a dispensing measurement. The adjustment of one or more ingredients may comprise the use of adjustable orifices, which do not require separate measurements of ingredients before dispensing, but rather may measure ingredients' parameters (including dispensing conditions) as they are dispensed. Certain embodiments relate to devices and methods that may determine if an ingredient is a non-Newtonian fluid, and if so, may be configured to conduct measurements on such fluids, including, for example, the strain stress and strain rate as the fluid passes within a conduit.

Abstract: A reusable aseptic connector is provided. The connector may be used to provide fluid communication between a bag-in-box (BIB) container and a beverage dispenser. The connector may provide aseptic properties of the connection by insulation of an inner volume of a first part and an inner volume of a second part, with the beverage component kept from contacting any of the part of the connector structure that are exposed to the environment and have a risk of induced contamination. The connector may comprise a resilient membrane and a sliding tube wherein the sliding tube is configured to have a portion move toward and through the resilient membrane to establish fluid communication between the first part and the second part, and for the portion to move away from the resilient membrane to destablish fluid communication between the first part and the second part when desired.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a dispensing system and a sanitizing system. The apparatus has a dispensing mode and sanitizing mode. The dispensing system may comprise a first valve and at least one component, the at least one component comprising an inner surface. The first valve has an open position to send a free-flowing material to the at least one component when the apparatus is in the dispensing mode, in a closed position when the combination is in the sanitizing mode. The sanitizing system comprises a processing unit, having an electrochemical cell configured to produce an anolyte solution and a catholyte solution. The sanitizing system comprises a second valve having an open position to send the anolyte solution and the catholyte solution to the at least one component when the apparatus is in the sanitizing mode. The second valve has a closed position when the apparatus is in the dispensing mode.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a dispensing system and a sanitizing system. The apparatus has a dispensing mode and sanitizing mode. The dispensing system may comprise a first valve and at least one component, the at least one component having an inner surface. The first valve is opened to send a free-flowing material to the at least one component when the apparatus is in the dispensing mode. The first valve is closed when the apparatus is in the sanitizing mode. The sanitizing system comprises a processing unit having a discharge cell configured to initiate a cold plasma discharge in an air flow. A tank may be configured to receive the air flow from the discharge cell of the processing unit and expose water in the tank to the air flow for a time sufficient to provide dissolution of ozone from the air flow into the water and form ozone-containing water.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a dispensing system and a sanitizing system. The apparatus has a dispensing mode and sanitizing mode. The dispensing system may comprise a first valve and at least one component, the at least one component comprising an inner surface. The first valve has an open position to send a free-flowing material to the at least one component when the apparatus is in the dispensing mode, in a closed position when the combination is in the sanitizing mode. The sanitizing system comprises a processing unit, having an electrochemical cell configured to produce an anolyte solution and a catholyte solution. The sanitizing system comprises a second valve having an open position to send the anolyte solution and the catholyte solution to the at least one component when the apparatus is in the sanitizing mode. The second valve has a closed position when the apparatus is in the dispensing mode.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a dispensing system and a sanitizing system. The apparatus has a dispensing mode and sanitizing mode. The dispensing system may comprise a first valve and at least one component, the at least one component having an inner surface. The first valve is opened to send a free-flowing material to the at least one component when the apparatus is in the dispensing mode. The first valve is closed when the apparatus is in the sanitizing mode. The sanitizing system comprises a processing unit having a discharge cell configured to initiate a cold plasma discharge in an air flow. A tank may be configured to receive the air flow from the discharge cell of the processing unit and expose water in the tank to the air flow for a time sufficient to provide dissolution of ozone from the air flow into the water and form ozone-containing water.

Abstract: A reusable aseptic connector is provided. The connector may be used to provide fluid communication between a bag-in-box (BIB) container and a beverage dispenser. The connector may provide aseptic properties of the connection by insulation of an inner volume of a first part and an inner volume of a second part, with the beverage component kept from contacting any of the part of the connector structure that are exposed to the environment and have a risk of induced contamination. The connector may comprise a resilient membrane and a sliding tube wherein the sliding tube is configured to have a portion move toward and through the resilient membrane to establish fluid communication between the first part and the second part, and for the portion to move away from the resilient membrane to destablish fluid communication between the first part and the second part when desired.

Abstract: A reusable aseptic connector is provided. The connector may be used to provide fluid communication between a bag-in-box (BIB) container and a beverage dispenser. The connector may provide aseptic properties of the connection by insulation of an inner volume of a first part and an inner volume of a second part, with the beverage component kept from contacting any of the part of the connector structure that are exposed to the environment and have a risk of induced contamination. The connector may comprise a resilient membrane and a sliding tube wherein the sliding tube is configured to have a portion move toward and through the resilient membrane to establish fluid communication between the first part and the second part, and for the portion to move away from the resilient membrane to destablish fluid communication between the first part and the second part when desired.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dispensing beverages are provided. Aspects relate to providing audio and/or visual feedback to users during the dispensing of a selected beverage. Audio and video files are stored electronically within the dispenser. In response to the selection of a beverage, audio and video files corresponding to the beverage are selected and presented to a user during the dispensing of the beverage. The sound file may correspond to the type of beverage being dispensed and the video may show a fill state of a beverage container.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dispensing compositions, such as beverages, are provided. A beverage dispenser may be configured to receive input corresponding to a selection of a beverage, and in response, a graphical representation of the beverage at a display device. The beverage dispenser may receive additional input corresponding to an adjustment of an amount of an ingredient of the selected beverage, and in response, the graphical representation of the beverage may be updated. The graphical representation of the beverage may include graphics depicting the beverage container, the volume of liquid in the beverage container, and the adjusted ingredient.