Abstract: A refrigerator appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet defining a chilled chamber, a door rotatably hinged to the cabinet, a camera module, and a controller. The camera module may be mounted to the cabinet. The controller may be operably coupled to the camera module. The controller may be configured to initiate an operation routine. The operation routine may include receiving a purchase invoice, initiating an item recognition sequence within the refrigerator appliance, generating an initial recognition attempt of a first stored item based on the item recognition sequence, comparing the initial recognition attempt of the first stored item to the purchase invoice, generating a modified recognition attempt of the first stored item based on the comparison of the initial recognition attempt the first stored item to the purchase invoice, and recording a descriptor of the first stored item to an inventory within the refrigerator appliance.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a fresh food chamber, a freezer chamber, and a flexible chamber defined in a door of the refrigerator appliance. The refrigerator appliance also includes a cooling system configured to provide cooled air to the fresh food chamber, the freezer chamber, and the flexible chamber. The sealed cooling system includes a fresh food fan configured to urge air from at least a first part of the cooling system to the fresh food chamber, a door-in-door fan configured to urge air from at least a second part of the cooling system to the flexible chamber, and a freezer fan configured to urge air from a third part of the cooling system to the freezer chamber.

Abstract: An ice making system for creating clear ice and an associated method are provided. The ice making system employs a first sealed refrigerant system connected to a heat exchanger. A second sealed refrigerant system is also connected to the heat exchanger for cooling a first refrigerant of the first sealed refrigerant system. A heat exchanger heater is at least partially contained with the heat exchanger for heating the first refrigerant. A pump in the first refrigerant system is activated after heat exchanger heater has warmed the first refrigerant, enabling a cooling cycle to begin. Once sufficient clear ice has been generated, the pump is deactivated.

Abstract: An appliance includes a cabinet and a shelf assembly. The shelf assembly includes a lead screw mounted to the cabinet such that the lead screw is rotatable. A shelf support is mounted to the cabinet such the shelf support is translatable relative to the lead screw. The shelf support has a housing. A nut is disposed within the housing of the shelf support and is threaded on the lead screw. The nut has a plurality of teeth at an outer surface of the nut. A locking plunger has at least one tooth. An actuator is coupled to the locking plunger. The actuator is operable to selectively mesh the at least one tooth of the locking plunger with the plurality of teeth of the nut.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a multi-evaporator sealed vapor compression system for an appliance are provided. In one example aspect, a sealed system charged with a refrigerant fluid includes a single compressor and a first and second evaporator fluidly coupled in series. A flash tank is positioned between the evaporators. One or more valves are fluidly coupled with and positioned downstream of the flash tank and the second evaporator. The valves are operable to selectively switch the flow of refrigerant fluid between the two evaporators at a frequency such that the temperature rise in the evaporators is negligible. In another aspect, a sealed system charged with a refrigerant fluid includes a single compressor and a first and second evaporator fluidly coupled in parallel. One or more valves positioned upstream of the evaporators and one or more valves are positioned downstream of the evaporators for controlling the refrigerant flow through the sealed system.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a first liner, a second liner, a first fan, a second fan, and a return line. The cabinet may define an evaporator chamber. The first liner may be attached to the cabinet and may define a first chilled chamber having a primary air inlet, a secondary air inlet, and an air outlet. The second liner may be attached to the cabinet and may define a second chilled chamber spaced apart from the first chilled chamber, the second chilled chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet. The return line may extend in fluid communication from the air outlet of the second chilled chamber to the secondary air inlet of the first chilled chamber.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance and heating assembly, as provided herein, may include a sheath, a resistive wire, and a hydrophobic layer. The sheath may define an enclosed volume along a length between a first end portion and a second end portion. The resistive wire may be disposed within the enclosed volume to generate heat in response to an electrical current. The hydrophobic layer may be formed on the sheath along the length from the first end portion to the second end portion.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a fresh food chamber, a freezer chamber, and a flexible chamber defined in a door of the refrigerator appliance. The refrigerator appliance also includes a cooling system configured to provide cooled air to the fresh food chamber, the freezer chamber, and the flexible chamber. The sealed cooling system includes a fresh food fan configured to urge air from at least a first part of the cooling system to the fresh food chamber, a door-in-door fan configured to urge air from at least a second part of the cooling system to the flexible chamber, and a freezer fan configured to urge air from a third part of the cooling system to the freezer chamber.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet defining a chilled chamber, a door rotatably hinged to the cabinet, a camera module, and a controller. The camera module may be mounted to the cabinet. The controller may be operably coupled to the camera module. The controller may be configured to initiate an operation routine. The operation routine may include receiving a purchase invoice, initiating an item recognition sequence within the refrigerator appliance, generating an initial recognition attempt of a first stored item based on the item recognition sequence, comparing the initial recognition attempt of the first stored item to the purchase invoice, generating a modified recognition attempt of the first stored item based on the comparison of the initial recognition attempt the first stored item to the purchase invoice, and recording a descriptor of the first stored item to an inventory within the refrigerator appliance.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a door rotatably hinged to the cabinet, a user-detection assembly mounted to the cabinet, a sub-enclosure, and a controller. The sub-enclosure may define a storage volume and may be mounted to the cabinet. The sub-enclosure may include an electric lock assembly actuatable between a locked state restricting access to the storage volume and an unlocked state permitting access to the storage volume. The controller may be operably coupled to the user-detection assembly. The controller may be configured to initiate an operation routine. The operation routine may include receiving a purchase invoice, receiving a marker signal from the user-detection assembly, detecting a specific user based on the marker signal, determining the specific user corresponds to the purchase invoice, and directing the sub-enclosure to the unlocked state in response to determining the specific user corresponds to the purchase invoice.

Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber and a grow module mounted within the grow chamber for receiving a plurality of plant pods. A lighting assembly is positioned within the grow chamber and includes a plurality of lights that are independent movable and adjustable. A controller detects an abnormal growth condition, e.g., a plant growing in a single direction, the presence and location of bare or void regions within a particular plant, growth toward a pinch point, and other growth abnormalities. The lighting assembly may be adjusted to correct the abnormal grow condition, e.g., by modifying an illumination schedule, an illumination direction, an intensity, a wavelength, or another parameter of the generated light.

Abstract: An appliance includes a cabinet and a shelf assembly. The shelf assembly includes a lead screw mounted to the cabinet such that the lead screw is rotatable. A shelf support is mounted to the cabinet such the shelf support is translatable relative to the lead screw. The shelf support has a housing. A nut is disposed within the housing of the shelf support and is threaded on the lead screw. The nut has a plurality of teeth at an outer surface of the nut. A locking plunger has at least one tooth. An actuator is coupled to the locking plunger. The actuator is operable to selectively mesh the at least one tooth of the locking plunger with the plurality of teeth of the nut.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a first liner, a second liner, a first fan, a second fan, and a return line. The cabinet may define an evaporator chamber. The first liner may be attached to the cabinet and may define a first chilled chamber having a primary air inlet, a secondary air inlet, and an air outlet. The second liner may be attached to the cabinet and may define a second chilled chamber spaced apart from the first chilled chamber, the second chilled chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet. The return line may extend in fluid communication from the air outlet of the second chilled chamber to the secondary air inlet of the first chilled chamber.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet defining a fresh food (FF) chamber and a freezer (Fz) chamber, a liner, and a sealed system. The liner may define an icebox (IB) compartment. The sealed system may include a compressor, a condenser, a multi-path valve, a first expansion device, a second expansion device, a FF evaporator, an IB evaporator, and a Fz evaporator. The multi-path valve may be downstream from the condenser to selectively direct refrigerant between a fluid-parallel first restrictor path and second restrictor path. The first expansion device may be mounted in fluid communication along the first restrictor path. The second expansion device may be mounted in fluid communication along the second restrictor path. The FF evaporator may be downstream from the first restrictor path. The IB evaporator may be downstream from the FF evaporator. The Fz evaporator may be downstream from the IB evaporator.

Abstract: A dispensing system for dispensing a precise or controlled volume of fluid to a downstream assembly of an appliance is provided. As one example, the downstream assembly may be an ice making assembly and the appliance may be refrigerator appliance. In one example aspect, a dispensing system includes a housing that defines a chamber. A piston is movable within the chamber. The dispensing system also includes a plurality of valves that may be moved between various positions to move the piston between various positions. When the piston is moved within the chamber, the piston displaces a precise or controlled volume to the downstream assembly.

Abstract: A bottle support assembly positioned within a chilled chamber of a refrigerator appliance includes a support panel, a first support, and a second support. Each of the first support and the second support are pivotally mounted to the support panel and are movable between a collapsed position and a raised position. In addition, the first support and the second support each define concave support surfaces which may be positioned at different heights and may have different radiuses of curvature for supporting bottles having any size and at any angle.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a multi-evaporator sealed vapor compression system for an appliance are provided. In one example aspect, a sealed system charged with a refrigerant fluid includes a single compressor and a first and second evaporator fluidly coupled in series. A flash tank is positioned between the evaporators. One or more valves are fluidly coupled with and positioned downstream of the flash tank and the second evaporator. The valves are operable to selectively switch the flow of refrigerant fluid between the two evaporators at a frequency such that the temperature rise in the evaporators is negligible. In another aspect, a sealed system charged with a refrigerant fluid includes a single compressor and a first and second evaporator fluidly coupled in parallel. One or more valves positioned upstream of the evaporators and one or more valves are positioned downstream of the evaporators for controlling the refrigerant flow through the sealed system.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a food storage chamber. A door is positioned on the cabinet and is movable between a closed position and an open position. A door opener includes an outer case fixedly mounted to the cabinet. The door opener also includes an inner case within the outer case that is movable relative to the outer case. A finger extends from the door opener towards the door. The door opener also includes a sensor that detects relative movement between the inner case and the outer case. The finger is positioned in contact with an inner surface of the door when the door is in the closed position and the door opener is in a zero position. The sensor detects movement of the inner case from the zero position of the door opener towards the back portion of the cabinet along the transverse direction.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber and a freezer chamber below the fresh food chamber. The refrigerator appliance further includes an ice maker disposed within the cabinet outside of the freezer chamber and proximate to the fresh food chamber. The ice maker includes an ice making chamber. The ice maker is in thermal communication with the freezer chamber and the ice making chamber is not in fluid communication with the freezer chamber.

Abstract: A dispensing system for dispensing a precise or controlled volume of fluid to a downstream assembly of an appliance is provided. As one example, the downstream assembly may be an ice making assembly and the appliance may be refrigerator appliance. In one example aspect, a dispensing system includes a housing that defines a chamber. A piston is movable within the chamber. The dispensing system also includes a plurality of valves that may be moved between various positions to move the piston between various positions. When the piston is moved within the chamber, the piston displaces a precise or controlled volume to the downstream assembly.