Abstract: An icemaker appliance includes a cabinet. A refrigeration system includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. The refrigeration system is charged with a refrigerant. The refrigeration system further includes a modulator having a reservoir and a supply conduit. The reservoir of the modulator is positioned on an outlet conduit of the evaporator. A first end portion of the supply conduit is coupled to an inlet conduit of the evaporator, and a second end portion of the supply conduit is coupled to the reservoir of the modulator. The refrigerant is flowable into and out of the reservoir of the modulator through the supply conduit of the modulator. An ice maker is positioned within the cabinet. The evaporator of the refrigeration system is coupled to the icemaker such that the refrigeration system is operable to chill the icemaker.

Abstract: A free-standing appliance may include a cabinet, a water source, an icemaker, an ice bin, a cold water line, and one or more other features. The icemaker may be mounted within the cabinet downstream from the water source to receive water therefrom. The ice bin may be disposed within the cabinet downstream from the icemaker to receive ice therefrom. The cold water line may be mounted to the cabinet and define a cold water outlet downstream from the water source in fluid isolation from the icemaker.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet, a liner, a sealed system, a conductive ice mold, a thermoelectric heat exchanger, and a water dispenser. The liner may be attached to the cabinet and define an icebox (TB) compartment. The sealed system may include a compressor to motivate refrigerant through the sealed system, and an evaporator disposed along an air path in fluid communication with the compressor to exchange refrigerant therewith. The conductive ice mold may be mounted within the IB compartment. The conductive ice mold may define a mold cavity along the air path to receive a chilled airflow from the evaporator. The thermoelectric heat exchanger (TEHE) may be disposed on the conductive ice mold to draw heat therefrom. The water dispenser may be positioned below the ice mold to direct an ice-building spray of water to the mold cavity.

Abstract: A filter cartridge assembly for an ice making appliance having a rectilinear filter cartridge with a plurality of partitions that are positioned within an internal chamber, form multiple sub-chambers, and create a non-linear pathway for the flow of water through the filter cartridge. Filter media positioned in the sub-chambers of the filter cartridge are configured to remove dissolved solids from water travelling through the filter cartridge and used by the appliance to create ice, including clear ice.

Abstract: An icemaker appliance includes a cabinet forming an ice storage compartment, a first reservoir provided within the ice storage compartment, a circulation system arranged within the first reservoir, an ice maker provided within the first reservoir to dispense ice into the ice storage compartment, a second reservoir connected to the ice storage compartment, a return line conduit connected to the second reservoir and the first reservoir to direct melt water from the second reservoir to the first reservoir, a second pump provided at the second reservoir to pump melt water through the return line conduit, and a cleanout line having a first end connected to the second reservoir and a second end exposed outside of the cabinet.

Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a grow module that is rotatably mounted within a grow chamber and that defines pod apertures for receiving a plurality of plant pods. A hydration system includes a discharge nozzle positioned within the grow chamber for selectively discharging a mist of nutrients. An electrostatic charging assembly is coupled to the discharge nozzle for selectively charging the mist of nutrients. By contrast, the plant pods may be electrically coupled to a grounding assembly for selectively grounding the root end of the plant pods. In this manner, the roots of the plants may have an opposing charge relative to the mist of nutrients such that the mist of nutrients are attracted to and deposited on the roots of plants.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing assembly may include a brewing body and a lid, as well as a contact pin or dispersion head. The brewing body may define a brew chamber to receive a brew pod. The brewing body may extend along the rotation axis between an upper end and a lower end. The brewing body may define an outlet at the lower end. The lid may be rotatably attached to the brewing body at the upper end to rotate about the rotation axis between a first position and a second position. The first position may secure the lid to the brewing body and restrict access to the brew chamber. The second position may release the lid from the brewing body.

Abstract: A dispensing assembly for an appliance includes a dispenser and a mounting panel positioned below the dispenser, the mounting panel defining a sliding pocket and a locking indentation. A tray assembly is slidably mounted to the mounting panel within the sliding pocket and includes a drip tray defining a locking flange for receipt within the sliding pocket and a plunger mechanism movably mounted to the drip tray for moving a locking pin between an engaged position where the vertical position of the drip tray is locked and a disengaged position where the drip tray is movable along the vertical direction.

Abstract: A dispensing assembly for an appliance includes a dispenser and a mounting panel positioned below the dispenser, the mounting panel defining a sliding pocket and a locking indentation. A tray assembly is slidably mounted to the mounting panel within the sliding pocket and includes a drip tray defining a locking flange for receipt within the sliding pocket and a plunger mechanism movably mounted to the drip tray for moving a locking pin between an engaged position where the vertical position of the drip tray is locked and a disengaged position where the drip tray is movable along the vertical direction.

Abstract: An ice making assembly includes an ice mold defining a mold cavity and a refrigeration loop having an evaporator in thermal communication with the ice mold. A compressor is operably coupled to the refrigeration loop for circulating a flow of refrigerant through the refrigerant loop to cool the evaporator and the ice mold. After ice is formed, a flow regulating device may divert a portion of the flow of refrigerant around the condenser through a bypass conduit to slowly increase a temperature of the refrigerant within the evaporator.

Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber and a grow module rotatably mounted within the grow chamber for receiving a plurality of plant pods, the grow module defining a plurality of grow chambers spaced apart along the circumferential direction. One or more resilient sealing elements, e.g., formed from silicone, are positioned at the distal ends of the grow module to seal a gap between the grow module and the liner. The resilient sealing elements define one or more air ducts for providing a flow of air through the resilient sealing element into one of the plurality of chambers and a flow regulating device for regulating the flow of air.

Abstract: A beverage cooling system includes a first tub, a second tub nested within the first tub to define a first space therebetween for receiving a heat transfer material. A tube passes through the first space, is in thermal communication with the heat transfer material, and is configured for receiving a beverage. In operation, the second tub may be filled with ice or another cool material such that the beverage passing through the tube, which is in thermal communication with the heat transfer material and the ice, may be chilled before being dispensed to a user.

Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber and a grow module rotatably mounted within the grow chamber and defining a root chamber. A hydration system is fluidly coupled to the root chamber for selectively implementing a hydration cycle where the root chamber is charged with mist and an air circulation system selectively urges a flow of air through the root chamber to maintain a desired temperature. A controller is configured for stopping the flow of air during the hydration cycle, e.g., to minimize disruption of the hydration cycle. The stopping of the flow of air may be time-based, e.g., based on the start/end times of the hydration cycle, or may be based on moisture level, e.g., as measured by an optical sensor.

Abstract: A water dispensing system includes a faucet, a sink basin mounted beneath the faucet downstream therefrom, a first storage tank mounted below the sink basin to store a first liquid volume, a second storage tank mounted below the sink basin to store a second liquid volume, and a vapor compression system including a compressor, an evaporator in fluid communication with the compressor, the evaporator being connected to the first storage tank in conductive thermal communication, a condenser in fluid communication with the compressor, the condenser being connected to the second storage tank in conductive thermal communication, and an expansion device in fluid communication with the compressor.

Abstract: An ice-making appliance, as provided herein, may include a sink, an upper dispenser, a lower tank, and a heat exchanger. The upper dispenser may be disposed above the sink. The lower tank may be disposed below the upper dispenser to hold an initial volume of liquid water. The heat exchanger may include a mold finger may be disposed within the lower tank and to freeze a portion of the initial volume of liquid water as an ice nugget. The lower tank may define a vertical passage permitting the ice nugget to float therethrough with a remaining volume of liquid water. The upper dispenser may include an ice door. The ice door may be movable between a closed position and an open position. The open position may permit the ice nugget from the upper dispenser to the sink. Methods of operating the ice-making appliance are also provided herein.

Abstract: An ice making assembly, a provided herein, may include a conductive ice mold, a sealed refrigeration system, and a water dispenser. The conductive ice mold may define a mold cavity. The sealed refrigeration system may include an evaporator in thermal communication with the ice mold. The water dispenser may be positioned below the ice mold to direct an ice-building spray of water to the mold cavity. The water dispenser may include a dispenser base and a spray cap selectively secured to the dispenser base. The spray cap may include a nozzle head defining an outlet aperture and an attachment wing extending radially from the nozzle head into the dispenser base.

Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber and a grow module rotatably mounted within the grow chamber for receiving a plurality of plant pods, the grow module defining a plurality of grow chambers spaced apart along the circumferential direction. One or more resilient sealing elements, e.g., formed from silicone, are positioned at the distal ends of the grow module to seal a gap between the grow module and the liner. The resilient sealing elements define one or more air ducts for providing a flow of air through the resilient sealing element into one of the plurality of chambers and a flow regulating device for regulating the flow of air.

Abstract: An ice making assembly includes an ice mold defining a mold cavity and a refrigeration loop having an evaporator assembly in thermal communication with the ice mold. A compressor is operably coupled to the refrigeration loop for circulating a flow of refrigerant through the refrigerant loop to cool the evaporator assembly and the ice mold. The evaporator assembly includes a primary evaporator tube and a thermal enhancement structure, such as internal tubes and/or copper foam, placed therein to increase the refrigerant side surface area. The primary evaporator tube is deformed into a non-circular cross sectional shape and soldered or brazed onto a top wall of the ice mold.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet that defines a chilled chamber. A drawer is slidably mounted within the chilled chamber and slides between an open position and a closed position. The refrigerator appliance also includes a heating unit disposed in a stationary position within the cabinet. The heating unit is proximate the drawer when the drawer is in the closed position. As such, the heating unit is in operative communication with the drawer when the drawer is in the closed position whereby the heating unit provides heat to the drawer within the chilled chamber when the drawer is in the closed position and the heating unit is activated.