Abstract: The specification discloses a basin disposed in a top portion of a drying appliance, the basin having a fluid drain therein connected to a basin drain line. The appliance includes a water valve in fluid communication with a water source having an outlet in fluid communication with the basin and a tee connector disposed in a drain line of a washing appliance for draining fluid from the basin.

Abstract: A system recommends home devices to users. The recommended home devices are identified based at least on the environment where the home devices are to be placed. The system analyzes images representing the environment where a home device is to be placed. Characteristics of the environment are analyzed and used to identify home devices that are compatible with the environment. The system may employ one or more machine learning models to analyze the images. The recommended home devices can be further identified based on users' specification for home devices and/or users' profiles. The system provides previews of the recommended home devices to users such that the users can review placement of the home devices in the environment.

Abstract: The specification discloses a basin disposed in a top portion of a drying appliance, the basin having a fluid drain therein connected to a basin drain line. The appliance includes a water valve in fluid communication with a water source having an outlet in fluid communication with the basin and a tee connector disposed in a drain line of a washing appliance for draining fluid from the basin.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a first storage compartment defining a first interior volume. A first evaporator is configured to cool air that flows past. A first plenum includes a first air outlet, a second air outlet and a first air inlet disposed between the first and second air outlets. The first air inlet is configured to receive air into the first plenum from the first interior volume. The first plenum is configured to flow the air received in the first air inlet over the first evaporator to cool the air. The first and second air outlets are configured to flow the cool air from the first plenum into the first interior volume.

Abstract: A control system is provided for a washing machine including a cabinet, a wash tub positioned within the cabinet and a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub. The control system includes a plurality of supports including two diagonally arranged supports. The plurality of supports are configured to support the washing machine on a surface. At least one load sensor is positioned with respect to each support of the two diagonally arranged supports. The at least one load sensor is configured to detect at least one force component applied to each support by a load within the wash basket. The at least one load sensor is further configured to generate a signal representative of the at least one force component. A controller is in signal communication with the at least one load sensor. The controller is configured to detect an operating load placement condition within the wash basket in response to at least one signal received from the at least one load sensor.

Abstract: A method for defrosting an evaporator of a refrigeration sealed system, the system including at least one refrigeration compartment and a controller operatively coupled to a compressor, an evaporator, an evaporator fan and a condenser fan, wherein the method includes initiating a defrost cycle, operating the sealed system to prechill the refrigeration compartment, and selectively operating the evaporator fan and the condenser fan to raise a temperature of the evaporator.

Abstract: A method of switching refrigerant flow between a path to a freezer evaporator in a freezer compartment and a path to a fresh food evaporator in a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator includes providing a three-way valve with at least three operational positions in flow communication with the path to the fresh food evaporator and the path to the freezer evaporator. A temperature difference (dtZ) between a freezer compartment temperature and a freezer evaporator evaporating temperature is measured. A temperature difference (dtF) between a fresh food compartment temperature and a fresh food evaporator evaporating temperature is measured. The operation of the three way valve is controlled based on at least one of dtZ and dtF.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a first storage compartment defining a first interior volume. A first evaporator is configured to cool air that flows past. A first plenum includes a first air outlet, a second air outlet and a first air inlet disposed between the first and second air outlets. The first air inlet is configured to receive air into the first plenum from the first interior volume. The first plenum is configured to flow the air received in the first air inlet over the first evaporator to cool the air. The first and second air outlets are configured to flow the cool air from the first plenum into the first interior volume.

Abstract: A control system is provided for a washing machine including a cabinet, a wash tub positioned within the cabinet and a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub. The control system includes a plurality of supports including two diagonally arranged supports. The plurality of supports are configured to support the washing machine on a surface. At least one load sensor is positioned with respect to each support of the two diagonally arranged supports. The at least one load sensor is configured to detect at least one force component applied to each support by a load within the wash basket. The at least one load sensor is further configured to generate a signal representative of the at least one force component. A controller is in signal communication with the at least one load sensor. The controller is configured to detect an operating load placement condition within the wash basket in response to at least one signal received from the at least one load sensor.

Abstract: A method of switching refrigerant flow between a path to a freezer evaporator in a freezer compartment and a path to a fresh food evaporator in a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator includes providing a three-way valve with at least three operational positions in flow communication with the path to the fresh food evaporator and the path to the freezer evaporator. A temperature difference (dtZ) between a freezer compartment temperature and a freezer evaporator evaporating temperature is measured. A temperature difference (dtF) between a fresh food compartment temperature and a fresh food evaporator evaporating temperature is measured. The operation of the three way valve is controlled based on at least one of dtZ and dtF.

Abstract: A method of switching refrigerant flow between a path to a fresh food evaporator in a fresh food compartment and a path to a freezer evaporator in a freezer compartment of a refrigerator, wherein the fresh food evaporator is coupled to a first fan and the freezer evaporator is coupled to a second fan, and wherein the method includes providing a three way valve with at least three operational positions in flow communication with the fresh food path and the freezer path, switching the three way valve between the operational positions, activating the first fan, deactivating the second fan, and delivering the refrigerant.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a plurality of walls forming a refrigeration compartment, an evaporator is positioned proximate at least one of the walls, a thermal insulator is positioned proximate the evaporator, and an airflow duct is positioned proximate the thermal insulator such that the thermal insulator is between the evaporator and the airflow duct.

Abstract: A method of switching refrigerant flow between a path to a fresh food evaporator in a fresh food compartment and a path to a freezer evaporator in a freezer compartment of a refrigerator, wherein the fresh food evaporator is coupled to a first fan and the freezer evaporator is coupled to a second fan, and wherein the method includes providing a three way valve with at least three operational positions in flow communication with the fresh food path and the freezer path, switching the three way valve between the operational positions, activating the first fan, deactivating the second fan, and delivering the refrigerant.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerating compartment configured to preserve food, the compartment including a plurality of walls forming a cavity, a door coupled to the compartment configured to cover the cavity when in a closed position, and a passageway positioned on at least one of the walls and the door such that air within the cavity is in flow communication with air outside the cavity when the door is in the closed position.

Abstract: An ice maker includes a mold including at least one cavity for containing water therein for freezing into ice, a water supply including at least one valve for controlling water flow into the mold, an ice removal heating element operationally coupled to the mold, and an ice maker control system operationally coupled to the valve and the ice removal heating element and configured to control the valve, control the ice removal heating element, and provide a signal to a refrigerator control system.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a plurality of walls forming a refrigeration compartment, an evaporator is positioned proximate at least one of the walls, a thermal insulator is positioned proximate the evaporator, and an airflow duct is positioned proximate the thermal insulator such that the thermal insulator is between the evaporator and the airflow duct.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for defrosting an evaporator of a refrigeration sealed system is described. The system includes a controller operatively coupled to an evaporator fan, a condenser fan and a defrost heater, and the method includes operating the sealed system until a selected time till defrost interval expires, initiating a defrost cycle when the time till defrost interval expires, and selectively operating the sealed system to raise a temperature of the evaporator while the defrost heater is inactivated.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a plurality of walls forming a refrigeration compartment, an evaporator is positioned proximate at least one of the walls, a thermal insulator is positioned proximate the evaporator, and an airflow duct is positioned proximate the thermal insulator such that the thermal insulator is between the evaporator and the airflow duct.

Abstract: An automated cooking system (10) cooks food (12) accompanied by machine-readable indicia, such as a bar code (16) read by a reader (18). Cooking data, including function coefficients, are accessed from an Internet server (20) based on the information in the bar code. An oven (40) cooks the food in phases in response to the cooking data and one or more monitored food parameters of humidity, temperature and weight. The cooking is controlled by functions in which one or more food parameters are multiplied by coefficients that vary according to food type.

Abstract: Appliances (102, 102, 106 and 108) are controlled by providing a source (2016, 112) of command fields (CMD, FIG. 2) that include a context subfield (Community, FIG. 4) defining operating modes and a command subfield (Command, FIG. 4) defining operations to be performed within the context subfield. A network (119) transmits the command fields between the source and the appliance. A controller (112, 116) processes the command fields so that an operation defined by one of the command subfields is performed.