Abstract: Disclosed in the present invention are a metal heating body, a metal heating device, and a metal heating body manufacturing method. The metal heating body comprises a metal base material and an electric heating layer; the electric heating layer is provided with a heating area and an insulation area; the insulation area isolates the heating area from the metal base material; the metal heating body is provided with at least two electrode layers; the at least two electrode layers are at least partially provided in the heating area or located at two ends of the heating area.

Abstract: Systems and methods for testing and diagnosing malfunctions in a liquid dispenser are provided. In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides a testing and diagnosing system including a pre-tester configured to test for and collect testing data regarding an operational status of the liquid dispenser and in communication with the liquid dispenser, a communication central module configured to receive information from the testing device and the pre-tester, and a database management system configured to operate, monitor and control the testing device, the pre-tester and/or the communication central module.

Abstract: A water heating assembly is disclosed the includes a core heating element and an outer tube in which the core heating element is arranged. Also disclosed are methods for producing and using the water heating assembly.

Abstract: A system, a feeding device, and a method enable a terminal device of a pet owner to directly and/or indirectly communicate with the feeding device. The feeding device can monitor and/or feed the pet. For example, components of the feeding device, along with a sensor worn by the pet and in communication with the feeding device, can monitor the pet. A cloud database may compile and may perform an analysis of health and wellness information and food consumption data sent from the feeding device and may communicate with the terminal device of the pet owner bidirectionally. The analysis can use data from a consumer-club of pets to provide best service. The feeding device can also communicate with the terminal device of the pet owner bidirectionally, either directly using one or more wireless connections or indirectly using the cloud database.

Abstract: A liquid purification apparatus is disclosed, along with methods of producing and using same.

Abstract: A heating component comprising a housing, at least one heating component and at least one connecting member; the heating component is disposed within the housing, and the connecting member is disposed on at least one side of the outer wall of the housing; the connecting member is assembled to the housing; the connecting member comprises a slot and a slot wall; the slot wall is located on the periphery of the slot; at least a part of the slot wall is outwardly recessed; the heating component comprises at least one chamber, and the chamber comprises a space formed between the slot wall and the outer wall of the housing; the connecting member comprises a first connecting port and a second connecting port; the first connecting port is connected to the chamber, and the second connecting port is also connected to the chamber; the first connecting port is connected to the second connecting port through the chamber.

Abstract: A beverage preparation machine includes first and second cameras for capturing first and second images of a receptacle. The beverage preparation machine further includes a control unit configured to determine a receptacle volume based on the first and second images and to determine a beverage volume to be dispensed based on the receptacle volume and the selected filling level or percentage. Regardless of the shape, volume, and/or material of the receptacle, the filling level or percentage for dispensing the beverage can be freely selected via a user interface.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a water heating assembly (10) comprising a heating element (12) and a tube (11). The heating element (12) is arranged within the tube (11) forming a gap (19) between the heating element (12) and an inner wall of the tube (11) and is adapted to heat water within the gap (19). The water heating assembly comprises a spacer element (13) arranged within the gap (19). The invention is further directed to a method for producing a water heating assembly according to the present invention as well as a method for heating water by using the water heating assembly according to the present invention.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to remote data collecting systems and methods. In a general aspect, the present invention provides a remote data collecting system comprising a measuring device having at least two scales in communication with a web server. The web server can be used to display data from the measuring device on a website to be accessed by one or more users, for example, using a computing device. The remote data collecting system is particularly useful for real-time, uncontrolled environment (e.g., in-home) product testing.

Abstract: A beverage preparation machine includes first and second cameras for capturing first and second images of a receptacle. The beverage preparation machine further includes a control unit configured to determine a receptacle volume based on the first and second images and to determine a beverage volume to be dispensed based on the receptacle volume and the selected filling level or percentage. Regardless of the shape, volume, and/or material of the receptacle, the filling level or percentage for dispensing the beverage can be freely selected via a user interface.

Abstract: A beverage system for providing a cold beverage is disclosed that includes a water supply unit for providing water, cooling means arranged downstream of the water supply unit 100, dispensing means for dispensing a beverage arranged downstream of the cooling means, valve means arranged downstream of the cooling means and upstream of the dispensing means, and a control module adapted to operate the valve means. A beverage machine that includes the beverage system and methods for using the beverage machine are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system, a feeding device, and a method enable a terminal device of a pet owner to directly and/or indirectly communicate with the feeding device. The feeding device can monitor and/or feed the pet. For example, components of the feeding device, along with a sensor worn by the pet and in communication with the feeding device, can monitor the pet. A cloud database may compile and may perform an analysis of health and wellness information and food consumption data sent from the feeding device and may communicate with the terminal device of the pet owner bidirectionally. The analysis can use data from a consumer-club of pets to provide best service. The feeding device can also communicate with the terminal device of the pet owner bidirectionally, either directly using one or more wireless connections or indirectly using the cloud database.

Abstract: A liquid purification apparatus (100), comprises a reservoir (101) for liquid (102) and a primary irradiation device (106, 301); characterized in that it has a directional valve (107, 500) which is mobile between a recirculating position and a discharging position where the liquid (102) flows through circulation tubes (105, 305, 501; 115, 306, 502) having at least one portion substantially transparent to ultraviolet light disposed within said primary irradiation device (106, 301); wherein when said directional valve (107, 500) is in the recirculating position, said reservoir (101), said circulation tubes (105, 305, 501), said directional valve (107, 500,115, 306, 502) form a closed loop. This invention eliminates any dead-space or dead-corners from the apparatus and also prevents the re-contamination of the whole system.

Abstract: A vibration monitoring system (109) for a liquid food producing apparatus, comprising: data storage means (130) storing nominal vibration data (170), said nominal vibration data representing the nominal vibration performance of the liquid food producing apparatus; data acquisition means (110) acquiring acquired vibration data (160), said acquired vibration data pertaining to the vibration of the liquid food producing apparatus while functioning; data processing means (120) processing said acquired vibration data (160) into at least processed vibration data (165), said processed vibration data being of a similar format than the nominal vibration data (170); data comparison means (140) yielding a comparison information (175) representative of the comparison of said processed vibration data (165) and said nominal vibration data (170); and display means (155), or display connection means for connecting display means, for displaying said comparison information (175) and/or information issued from said compariso

Abstract: The invention concerns a chilled beverage dispenser comprising:—a beverage cooling reservoir (1) comprising a thermo-electric device (2) and a temperature sensor (10),—a beverage supply (3),—a pump (4) for pumping the beverage from the beverage supply to the beverage cooling reservoir,—a line (5) for dispensing chilled beverage from 51 the outlet (9) of the beverage cooling reservoir, said line comprising a dispense valve (51), wherein the dispenser comprises a beverage recirculation line (6) for recirculating the beverage from the beverage cooling reservoir outlet (9) through the pump (4) back to the beverage cooling reservoir.

Abstract: The invention concerns a dosing unit for a powder dispenser comprising two dosing chambers (2,3) each chamber comprising: one upstream inlet (21, 31) and one downstream outlet (22, 32), an upstream means (23, 33) for opening and closing the inlet, a downstream means (24, 34) for opening and closing the outlet, the upstream means (23, 33) closing the inlet (21, 31) when the downstream means (24, 34) opens the outlet (22, 32) and reciprocally, wherein the upstream means (23) of the first chamber closes the first chamber (2) when the upstream means (33) of the second chamber opens the second chamber (3) and reciprocally.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to remote data collecting systems and methods. In a general aspect, the present invention provides a remote data collecting system comprising a measuring device having at least two scales in communication with a web server. The web server can be used to display data from the measuring device on a website to be accessed by one or more users, for example, using a computing device. The remote data collecting system is particularly useful for real-time, uncontrolled environment (e.g., in-home) product testing.

Abstract: Systems and methods for testing and diagnosing malfunctions in a liquid dispenser are provided. In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides a testing and diagnosing system including a pre-tester configured to test for and collect testing data regarding an operational status of the liquid dispenser and in communication with the liquid dispenser, a communication central module configured to receive information from the testing device and the pre-tester, and a database management system configured to operate, monitor and control the testing device, the pre-tester and/or the communication central module.

Abstract: The invention concerns a dosing unit for a powder dispenser comprising two dosing chambers (2,3) each chamber comprising: one upstream inlet (21, 31) and one downstream outlet (22, 32), an upstream means (23, 33) for opening and closing the inlet, a downstream means (24, 34) for opening and closing the outlet, the upstream means (23, 33) closing the inlet (21, 31) when the downstream means (24, 34) opens the outlet (22, 32) and reciprocally, wherein the upstream means (23) of the first chamber closes the first chamber (2) when the upstream means (33) of the second chamber opens the second chamber (3) and reciprocally.

Abstract: A device for preparing a whipped food, including a container portion that contains a food component and that is configured for receiving a fluid for mixing with the food component to produce a fluid mixture. A film conditioning conduit is associated with the container portion to receive the fluid mixture with gas bubbles entrained therein as a food product. The conduit includes a restriction channel associated with the container portion downstream thereof to receive the food product. The restriction channel has a cross-section sufficiently small and a length sufficiently large to selectively feed bubbles in the food product that are smaller than a preselected maximum bubble size. The conduit also includes a deceleration channel and fluid communication with the restriction channel downstream thereof to receive the food product. The deceleration channel substantially reduces the flow speed of the food product.