Abstract: An appliance including a housing and a cylindrical dispenser supported by the housing, the cylindrical dispenser including a body which defines an opening and a plurality of outlets arranged around a bottom portion of the body and around the opening. The appliance includes a water supply apparatus supported by the housing and in fluid communication with the cylindrical dispenser, a container holder supported by the housing and configured to removably hold a plurality of containers, and a plurality of pumps supported by the housing and configured to operate with the water supply apparatus and the containers held by the container holder. The appliance also includes a user beverage requester supported by the housing and a computer supported by the housing, the computer connected to the user beverage requester and configured to control the plurality of pumps to cause the dispensing of a beverage.

Abstract: An appliance including a housing, a dispenser, and a water supply mechanism. The appliance includes a drink supply mechanism configured to removably hold a plurality of drink supply containers, a user interface panel, and a computer. The computer is configured to: cause the user interface panel to display a plurality of different images, each image associated with a different one of a plurality of different beverages which correspond to a drink supply in at least one of the plurality of drink supply containers held by the drink supply mechanism, enable the user interface panel to receive an input from a user of a selected one of the plurality of different displayed images, and after receiving the input from the user of the selected one of the plurality of different displayed images, cause the dispenser to dispense the beverage corresponding to the selected image.

Abstract: An appliance having a housing including a body defining a compartment and a door attached to the body, a water supplier including a first valve actuator configured to cause water to be dispensed by the water supplier, a supply container holder configured to hold a supply container for a liquid supply, at least one user input device including a touch screen configured to enable a user to make an input to request dispensing of the liquid supply from the supply container, a supply dispenser including a second valve actuator and configured to cause the liquid supply in the supply container to be selectively dispensed from the supply container based on the input made by the user using the touch screen, and a dispensing computer configured to receive a dispense signal from the touch screen, in response to receipt of the dispense signal, cause the second valve actuator to cause the liquid supply in the supply container to be dispensed from the supply container for a first period of time to dispense an appropriate am

Abstract: A dishwasher having at least one door defining at least part of a washing area when the door is closed. The dishwasher has at least one supply housing supported by the door, and the supply housing is sized to hold an amount of liquid dish washing supply which is sufficient for a plurality of wash cycles. The dishwasher also has at least one dispenser supported by the door, and the dispenser has an outlet positioned on the door. Also, the dishwasher has an indicator operable to indicate how much of the liquid dish washing supply remains in the supply housing.

Abstract: An appliance supply distribution and dispensing system and method for distributing appliance supplies to a home or business and which involves a computerized system which facilitates dispensing or using one or more supplies from an appliance. The computerized system monitors the supply level(s) and, when necessary, automatically orders and delivers additional supplies. In addition, the computerized system automatically detects dispensing, use or appliance problems and orders and arranges for repair service.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing apparatus for a residential refrigerator. The beverage dispensing apparatus includes a drink supplier including a drink supply canister holder for holding a plurality of drink supply canisters, a plurality of valve actuators for causing the drink supply to be selectively released from the drink supply canisters, a water supplier for selectively supplying carbonated water and non-carbonated water for producing the beverages, a gas supplier for supplying CO2 gas to carbonate the carbonated water provided by the water supplier and for supplying CO2 gas or other gas for pressurizing the drink supply canisters to provide a consistent flow rate of the drink supply from the drink supply canisters, a fluid director for facilitating the mixing of the drink supply from one of the drink supply canisters and the carbonated or non-carbonated water from the water supplier and one or more beverage requesters for enabling users to request one of a plurality of beverages.

Abstract: An appliance supply distribution and dispensing system and method for distributing appliance supplies to a home or business and which involves a computerized system which facilitates dispensing or using one or more supplies from an appliance. The computerized system monitors the supply level(s) and, when necessary, automatically orders and delivers additional supplies. In addition, the computerized system automatically detects dispensing, use or appliance problems and orders and arranges for repair service.

Abstract: A dishwasher having at least one actuator, at least one input device, at least one processor and at least one door defining at least part of a washing area when the door is closed. The dishwasher has at least one supply housing supported by the door, and the supply housing is sized to hold an amount of liquid dish washing supply which is sufficient for a plurality of wash cycles. The actuator is operable to cause movement of the liquid dish washing supply from the supply housing toward the washing area. The input device is operable to receive different inputs associated with different portions of the liquid dish washing supply. The processor is programmed to cause the actuator to cause movement of the different portions toward the washing area for different wash cycles.

Abstract: A drink supply container valve assembly connectable to a drink supply container for a beverage dispensing apparatus of a refrigeration device. The drink supply container valve assembly has a support connectable to an end of the container, a gas inlet valve mounted to the support, and a drink supply outlet valve mounted to the support.

Abstract: A drink supply canister for beverage dispensing apparatus for a residential refrigerator. The beverage dispensing apparatus includes a drink supplier including a drink supply canister holder for holding a plurality of the drink supply canisters, and a plurality of valve actuators for causing the drink supply to be selectively released from the drink supply canisters, a water supplier for selectively supplying carbonated water and non-carbonated water for producing the beverages, a gas supplier for supplying CO2 gas to carbonate the carbonated water provided by the water supplier and for supplying CO2 gas or other gas for pressurizing the drink supply canisters to provide a consistent flow rate of the drink supply from the drink supply canisters, and one or more beverage requesters for enabling users to request one of a plurality of beverages.

Abstract: A drink supply canister for beverage dispensing apparatus for a residential refrigerator. The beverage dispensing apparatus includes a drink supplier including a drink supply canister holder for holding a plurality of the drink supply canisters, and a plurality of valve actuators for causing the drink supply to be selectively released from the drink supply canisters, a water supplier for selectively supplying carbonated water and non-carbonated water for producing the beverages, a gas supplier for supplying CO2 gas to carbonate the carbonated water provided by the water supplier and for supplying CO2 gas or other gas for pressurizing the drink supply canisters to provide a consistent flow rate of the drink supply from the drink supply canisters, and one or more beverage requesters for enabling users to request one of a plurality of beverages.

Abstract: A refrigerator having a housing supporting a display device. The housing is configured to support at least one drink supply container which can contain a drink syrup associated with a carbonated beverage. The refrigerator has an input device coupled to the drink supply container which enables a user to cause carbonated beverage to flow to a beverage collector.

Abstract: A refrigerator having a drink supply container holder for a beverage dispensing apparatus for a residential refrigerator. The beverage dispensing apparatus includes a drink supplier including the drink supply container holder for holding or maintaining at least one and preferably a plurality of drink supply containers, and at least one and preferably a plurality of valve actuators for causing the drink supply to be selectively released from the drink supply containers, a water supplier for selectively supplying carbonated water and non-carbonated water for producing the beverages, a gas supplier for supplying CO2 gas to carbonate the carbonated water provided by the water supplier and for supplying CO2 gas or other gas for pressurizing the drink supply containers to provide a consistent flow rate of the drink supply from the drink supply containers and one or more beverage requesters for enabling users to request one of a plurality of beverages.

Abstract: A carbonated and non-carbonated water supplier for a beverage dispensing apparatus for a residential refrigerator. The beverage dispensing apparatus includes a drink supplier including a drink supply canister holder for holding a plurality of drink supply canisters, a plurality of valve actuators for causing the drink supply to be selectively released from the drink supply canisters, the water supplier for selectively supplying carbonated water and non-carbonated water for producing the beverages, a gas supplier for supplying CO2 gas to carbonate the carbonated water provided by the water supplier and for supplying CO2 gas or other gas for pressurizing the drink supply canisters to provide a consistent flow rate of the drink supply from the drink supply canisters and one or more beverage requesters for enabling users to request one of a plurality of beverages.

Abstract: An appliance supply distribution and dispensing system and method for distributing appliance supplies to a home or business and which involves a computerized system which facilitates dispensing or using one or more supplies from an appliance. The computerized system monitors the supply level(s) and, when necessary, automatically orders and delivers additional supplies. In addition, the computerized system automatically detects dispensing, use or appliance problems and orders and arranges for repair service.

Abstract: A beverage distribution and dispensing system and method for distributing drinks such as soda, juice and punch, to a home or business and which involves a computerized system which enables users to dispense such drinks from their refrigerator. The computerized system monitors its own supply levels and, when necessary, automatically orders and delivers drink syrups and CO2 gas supplies. The computerized system can automatically detect dispensing problems and orders and arranges for repair service.

Abstract: A refrigerator having a water dispenser and gas line operable to pressurize a drink supply container. The drink supply container contains drink syrup. The drink syrup and the water from the water dispenser are used to produce a beverage.

Abstract: A drink supply container for a machine which dispenses beverages. The drink supply container includes an end member having a side wall and a support connected to the side wall. The support is substantially positionable in a plane. The drink supply container also has a gas inlet valve, a portion of which extends along an axis that is perpendicular to the plane of the support. The drink supply container has a drink supply outlet valve, a portion of which extends along an axis that is perpendicular to the plane of the support.

Abstract: A drink supply container valve assembly connectable to a drink supply container for a beverage dispensing apparatus of a refrigeration device. The drink supply container valve assembly has a support connectable to an end of the container, a gas inlet valve mounted to the support, and a drink supply outlet valve mounted to the support.

Abstract: A refrigerator having a container support configured to removably support at least one liquid container having an end with a gas inlet valve and a liquid outlet valve. The refrigerator has at least one gas line and at least one gas inlet valve engager positionable adjacent to such end of the liquid container, and the gas inlet valve engager is configured to be fluidly connected to the gas inlet valve of such end of the liquid container. The refrigerator has at least one liquid outlet valve engager positionable adjacent to such end of the liquid container. The refrigerator has at least one electrical line operatively coupled to the liquid outlet valve engager.