| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 222064000 | Material level control | 33 |
| 20080251534 | APPLIANCE CONTROLLER SYSTEM FEATURING AUTOMATIC BEVERAGE DISPENSER SHUTOFF SYSTEM - An appliance controller is provided featuring one or more modules configured for providing power to an appliance that receives fluid from a fluid supply system, for receiving a fluid supply system signal indicating that the fluid is not being provided to the appliance and for disconnecting the power to the appliance. The one or more modules may take the form of an appliance controller circuit having a first circuit part configured for providing power to an appliance that receives fluid from a fluid supply system; and a second circuit part configured for receiving a fluid supply system signal indicating that the fluid is not being provided to the appliance and disconnecting the power to the appliance. The appliance controller may form part of an appliance controller system having appliances, appliance controllers and the fluid supply system. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20090008409 | Optical Filling Level Detection Device for Powdered Material - The invention relates to a filling level detection device for powdered material. The filling level detection device has a storage unit and a sensor. The storage unit has a container provided with a discharge aperture for discharging metered quantities of powdered material. The sensor has a light source for transmitting a light beam, and a detection unit for detecting a light intensity. A wall of the container at least in one zone is at least partially transparent to light transmitted by the light source. In addition, the sensor is placed outside the container in such a way that the light source directs the light beam onto the zone in the wall of the container, and the detection unit intercepts light reflected by the powdered material and emerging through the zone in the wall of the container. The light source and the detection unit are placed in one horizontal plane. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090314801 | HANDS FREE, CONTROLLED AUTOFILL FOR A DISPENSER - A dispensing system includes a digital image capture device focused on a dispenser well for capturing images of containers in the dispenser well and a digital image analyzer operatively coupled to the digital image capture device. The digital image analyzer evaluates digital images of containers captured by the digital image capture device to determine physical parameters of each container placed in the dispensing well. An actual dispensing operation is automatically regulated based on characteristics of the container. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20100140292 | DISPENSER - Provided is a dispenser including an ice-making water tank for storing ice-making water and an auger-type ice-making machine for producing ice chips by freezing the ice-making water in the ice-making water tank. The auger-type ice-making machine includes a refrigeration casing into which the ice-making water is supplied, and the refrigeration casing and the drain pan are connected to each other through the intermediation of an ice-making water drain pipe. The ice-making water in the refrigeration casing is drained at predetermined time points, and the drain pan is washed with the ice-making water thus drained. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20120085781 | Liquid Delivery System, Liquid-Delivery Switching Device, and Liquid-Flowpath Regulating Device - A liquid supply system capable of being serviced and hygienically maintained easily. A beer storage barrel switching device ( | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120138632 | HOT AND COLD BEVERAGE DISPENSER - An apparatus and method may be configured for detecting selection between a hot version and a cold version of a beverage, causing opening of a first of a plurality of valves and closing of a second of the plurality of valves for providing water to a first of a plurality of mixing chambers based on the selection, causing delivery of beverage concentrate to the first mixing chamber, controlling a flow rate of the water and a flow rate of the beverage concentrate into the mixing chamber for mixing of the water with the beverage concentrate in a controlled ratio to create the beverage, and dispensing the beverage from the mixing chamber. | 06-07-2012 |
| 20130119083 | OZONE FOAM DISPENSER - A method of generating ozone containing fluid comprising: drawing atmospheric air into an air compartment, generating ozone within the air compartment from air in the air compartment by conversion within the compartment of oxygen in the air within the compartment into ozone to form ozonated air, discharging the ozonated air from the air compartment, mixing the ozonated discharged air with a flowable fluid to form a ozonated fluid-air mixture, and passing the ozonated fluid-air mixture out a discharge outlet. Preferrably the method is carried out in a dispenser utilizing a piston pump to draw air through a corona discharge ozone generator and to draw liquid from a liquid reservoir and simultaneously pass both the ozonated air and liquid through a foam generator to generate foam. | 05-16-2013 |
| 20140144936 | MASS-BASED DISPENSING USING OPTICAL DISPLACEMENT MEASUREMENT - A dispensing system and methods employed therein uses optical displacement sensing to control dispensation of one or more products. An optical displacement sensor measures displacement of a load beam supporting a vessel from which the product is to be dispensed. The displacement of the load beam is related to the amount (weight) of the product remaining in the vessel. The system may thus control dispensation of the product based on the optical displacement measurements. | 05-29-2014 |
| 20140312062 | Liquid Delivery System and Liquid-Flowpath Regulating Device - Easily serviced and hygienically maintained liquid supply system. A liquid storage vessel switching device switches between vessels to supply liquid uninterruptedly. Provided in a first connection tube is a liquid cutoff device, including a loop section, for switching the system between allowing/cutting-off supplying of liquid to a dispenser through the first connection tube. Utilizing the liquid cutoff device eliminates, along the first connection tube, intervening conventional valves having structural components that come in direct contact with the supplied liquid, and on which sponges or other cleaning elements might get caught. The inner wall of the first connection tube may thus be cleaned readily with a sponge or the like. Beverages such as beer thus can easily be kept hygienically and served. | 10-23-2014 |
| 20150034669 | MATERIAL DELIVERY METHOD AND SYSTEM - The present invention provides a method of discharging dry bulk material from a container. The method comprises the steps of applying vibration to the container in accordance with a predetermined vibration application routine. A resultant amplitude of vibration of the container resulting from the applied vibration is then monitored to facilitate the determination of a level of dry bulk material present in the container. In the event that the determined level of dry bulk material is above a predetermined level, the application of vibration to the container is ceased for a predetermined time interval. In the event that the determined level of dry bulk material is at or below a predetermined level, the application of vibration to the container is maintained in accordance with the predetermined vibration application routine. | 02-05-2015 |
| 20150351521 | SYSTEM COMPRISING AN ELECTRONIC MEANS EXECUTING A PROGRAM AND CONTROLLING AN ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM - A cosmetic or dermatological system includes a packaging and dispensing device including one or more compositions on the basis of which a product is delivered, an adjustment system coupled or able to be coupled to the packaging and dispensing device, making it possible to modify the amount dispensed and/or at least one property of the product dispensed by the packaging and dispensing device, a processor configured to execute a program and acting automatically on the adjustment system, or for indicating to the user an action to be exerted on the adjustment system, to make the adjustment evolve in the course of the use of the device, the program determining the evolution of the adjustment as a function at least of a quantity representative of the number of uses of said device or of the amount of said product or of at least one of said compositions and already dispensed. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20160009504 | ADHESIVE DISPENSING DEVICE HAVING OPTIMIZED CYCLONIC SEPARATOR UNIT | 01-14-2016 |
| 20160046478 | WATER DISPENSER - A water dispenser is provided which a first water level sensor configured to detect the water level in a cold water tank a second water level sensor configured to detect the water level in a buffer tank, an atmosphere communication line mounted to the cold water tank such that the interior of the cold water tank is maintained at atmospheric pressure, an air passage pipe through which the air layer in the cold tank communicates with the air layer in the buffer tank, and an abnormality water level sensor configured to detect that the water level in the cold tank has reached an abnormal level. | 02-18-2016 |
| 222065000 | Full and/or empty interlock | 3 |
| 20140263432 | BEVERAGE APPARATUS WASTE BIN LEVEL DETECTION - A beverage forming method and system in which a waste bin arranged to collect leaked or spilled liquid has a liquid level sensor and can be removed from the beverage forming machine, e.g., to allow disposal of the waste bin contents. One or more electrical contacts on the waste bin can be connected to the level sensor and electrically connect to control circuitry of the beverage forming machine when the waste bin is received by the machine. A liquid level detected by the level sensor may correspond to a fill level that is far less than the maximum volume of the waste bin, allowing beverage production to be prevented unless the waste bin can collect the full volume of a beverage dispensed. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20150335208 | TWO-PART FLUID DELIVERY SYSTEMS - Exemplary dispensers, pumps and refill units for dispensing a liquid soap and concentrate mixtures are disclosed herein. An exemplary foam dispenser system includes a foamable liquid container, a concentrate container, an air source for providing pressurized air and a mixing chamber. One or more liquid conduits place the contents of the foamable liquid container in fluid communication with the mixing chamber. One or more air passages place the air source in fluid communication with the mixing chamber. An outlet conduit out of the mixing chamber is also provided. One or more concentrate conduits place the contents of the concentrate container in fluid communication with one of the liquid conduits, the air conduits, the mixing chamber and the outlet conduit. Mix media located within the outlet conduit. | 11-26-2015 |
| 20160097668 | FLUID LEVEL SENSOR - A capacitive fluid level sensor is provided for receiving data indicative of the level of fluid remaining in a fluid container. In various embodiments, the capacitive fluid level sensor may be spaced below and a distance away from the fluid container to be measured, and may comprise a fluid level sensor and an ambient sensor, wherein the fluid level sensor and the ambient sensor are coplanar. In various embodiments, the ambient sensor may be spaced a distance away from the fluid level sensor, such that electric fields generated by the fluid level sensor and the ambient sensor, respectively, do not overlap. Based at least in part on capacitance levels determined by the fluid level sensor and the ambient sensor, the fluid level sensor may generate data indicative of the fluid level in at least a portion of the fluid container located above the fluid level sensor. | 04-07-2016 |
| 222066000 | Empty container cutoff | 6 |
| 20100116846 | DEVICE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SOFT ICE CREAM OR SIMILAR PRODUCTS, WITH PORTIONING DEVICE AND PORTIONS COUNTING DEVICE - The invention concerns a device ( | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100147881 | Pressure activated automatic source switching dispenser system - A dispenser includes a housing that holds first and second refill units, each including a product container and a valve assembly that receives product from the product container. An actuator mechanism associates with the first refill unit and is actuated to force air into the associated valve assembly and dispense product from the valve assembly until such time as the product container associated with that valve assembly is empty. When empty, a float valve of the valve assembly prevents the actuation of the actuator mechanism and forces the actuator mechanism to associate with the second refill unit. While so associated, the first refill unit can be replaced, thus, helping to ensure that the dispenser does not run out of product. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20110259913 | BOTTOM LOADING WATER DISPENSERS WITH SLANTED BASE - Bottom loading water dispensers are disclosed. The water dispensers include a cabinet having an exterior portion and an interior portion. The interior portion of the cabinet is configured to house a water bottle, in a bottom half of the cabinet. The dispensers also include a set of water dispensing actuator buttons, which include at least one child safety latch. The dispensers further include a bottle tray disposed in the bottom half of the interior portion of the cabinet, which is configured to receive a bottom surface of the water bottle in the upright position. Importantly, the bottle tray is slanted from a front side to a backside of the tray. A front door of the water dispensers also include a drip tray assembly, which is located beneath an external tap and is integrally formed with a top portion of a front door of the cabinet. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20120325851 | PRESSURE ACTIVATED AUTOMATIC SOURCE SWITCHING DISPENSER SYSTEM - A dispenser includes a housing that holds first and second refill units, each including a product container and a valve assembly that receives product from the product container. An actuator mechanism associates with the first refill unit and is actuated to force air into the associated valve assembly and dispense product from the valve assembly until such time as the product container associated with that valve assembly is empty. When empty, a float valve of the valve assembly prevents the actuation of the actuator mechanism and forces the actuator mechanism to associate with the second refill unit. While so associated, the first refill unit can be replaced, thus, helping to ensure that the dispenser does not run out of product. | 12-27-2012 |
| 20140131385 | BOTTOM LOADING WATER DISPENSERS WITH SLANTED BASE - Bottom loading water dispensers are disclosed. The water dispensers include a cabinet having an exterior portion and an interior portion. The interior portion of the cabinet is configured to house a water bottle, in a bottom half of the cabinet. The dispensers also include a set of water dispensing actuator buttons, which include at least one child safety latch. The dispensers further include a bottle tray disposed in the bottom half of the interior portion of the cabinet, which is configured to receive a bottom surface of the water bottle in the upright position. Importantly, the bottle tray is slanted from a front side to a backside of the tray. A front door of the water dispensers also include a drip tray assembly, which is located beneath an external tap and is integrally formed with a top portion of a front door of the cabinet. | 05-15-2014 |
| 20140263433 | Beverage Dispense System and Method - The present invention relates to beverage dispense systems and methods. The systems comprise a beverage line having a distal end connectable to a beverage supply for transporting beverage from the beverage supply to a dispense font at a dispensing site. They also include a cooler for cooling beverage. The beverage line comprises a first beverage line portion extending from the distal end to the cooler within a first insulated carrier. The first insulated carrier comprises a first cooling line for transporting cooling medium through the first insulated carrier so as to allow heat exchange between the cooling medium in the first cooling line and the beverage in the first beverage line portion. | 09-18-2014 |
| 222067000 | Float-operated flow controllers | 11 |
| 20090242586 | WATER INTAKE SAFEGUARD FOR BOTTLED WATER DISPENSERS - Devices and methods for dispensing bottled water are provided. More particularly, devices and methods for preventing water from overflowing out of bottled water coolers are provided. According to certain embodiments, a bottled water dispenser is provided which comprises: (1) a water bottle; (2) a pump; (3) a control unit which instructs the pump to inject air into the water bottle (or, under certain circumstances, to cease injecting air into the water bottle); (4) a cold tank that receives water from the water bottle through an inlet tube and one-way valve; and (5) a baffle disposed within the cold tank. The invention provides that upon a volume of water within the cold tank exceeding a threshold level, a surface of the water contacts and exerts a force on the baffle, which causes the baffle and the one-way valve to close the inlet tube. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090321476 | BOTTLED WATER COOLERS HAVING A LEAKAGE-PROOF BOTTLE RECEPTACLE WITH A MOVING BAFFLE - Bottled water dispensers are disclosed that include a water bottle receptacle. The water bottle receptacle includes a first and second floating baffle (with a hole disposed in the center portion of the second floating baffle). A raised ring having a triangular cross-sectional shape is located at the bottom portion of the receptacle, which makes contact with the second floating baffle, when the second floating baffle is buoyantly forced upwards into the raised ring to close an aperture through which water is transferred from the water bottle into a cold tank of the water dispenser (during hot water sterilization procedures, when the water level in a cold tank of the dispenser exceeds a threshold level). The second floating baffle is effective to prevent the undesirable heating of water contained within the water bottle during such hot water sterilization procedures. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20100252570 | BOTTOM LOADING WATER COOLER - Bottom loading water coolers are disclosed, which include (1) a cabinet having an exterior portion and an interior portion; (2) a water bottle disposed in the bottom half of the interior portion of the cabinet; (3) a cold tank disposed in the top half of the interior portion of the cabinet and above the water bottle; (4) a bottle tray disposed in the bottom half of the interior portion of the cabinet that is configured to receive the water bottle in an upright position, such that the bottle tray may be reversibly pulled out of, and pushed into, the interior portion of the cabinet; (5) a pump that injects air into the water bottle at defined and periodic intervals; and (6) a specialized probe for transferring water from the water bottle to the cold tank (and for delivering air from a pump to the water bottle). | 10-07-2010 |
| 20110056981 | ENERGY SAVING BAFFLE FOR WATER COOLER - A water cooler assembly and/or liquid dispensing apparatus and method for using same, including an energy-saving baffle, which may take the form of a conventional or bottom load water cooler. Additionally, various other, alternative features may be included, such as: a door stop mechanism; an adjustable drip tray assembly; a leak stop mechanism; an adjustable bottle interface accommodating dimensional variations in water bottles; an instaboil feature; and various programmable dispensing and visual display modes. | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110163123 | LIQUID APPLIANCE AND TRANSPORT LOCK - A liquid appliance ( | 07-07-2011 |
| 20120055953 | BEVERAGE DISPENSER - A beverage dispenser is proposed which includes a soft raw water container and which makes it possible to spontaneously use up drinking water in the container. A water passage tube ( | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120074166 | BOTTLED WATER COOLERS HAVING A LEAKAGE-PROOF BOTTLE RECEPTACLE WITH A MOVING BAFFLE - Bottled water dispensers are disclosed that include a water bottle receptacle. The water bottle receptacle includes a first and second floating baffle (with a hole disposed in the center portion of the second floating baffle). A raised ring having a triangular cross-sectional shape is located at the bottom portion of the receptacle, which makes contact with the second floating baffle, when the second floating baffle is buoyantly forced upwards into the raised ring to close an aperture through which water is transferred from the water bottle into a cold tank of the water dispenser (during hot water sterilization procedures, when the water level in a cold tank of the dispenser exceeds a threshold level). The second floating baffle is effective to prevent the undesirable heating of water contained within the water bottle during such hot water sterilization procedures. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20140151395 | Unknown - A device for discharging water from an inner space of a temporary water retention tank through a first discharge passage ( | 06-05-2014 |
| 20150129607 | ENERGY SAVING HOT TANK FOR WATER COOLER - An energy efficient water cooler assembly and/or liquid dispensing apparatus and method for using same, including an energy-saving baffle, which may take the form of a conventional or bottom load water cooler, and which may be either gravity-driven or pump-fed. | 05-14-2015 |
| 20170233236 | Manual Water Bottle Connection System for Bottom Load Water Coolers | 08-17-2017 |
| 222069000 | For vent only | 1 |
| 20130105513 | REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE WITH CHILLED WATER DISPENSER | 05-02-2013 |
