Whirlpool Corporation

Whirpoll Corporation

Kevin Michael Chase

Farhad Ashrafzadeh

Brian P Janke

Shreecharan Kanchanavally

Tony Lee Koenigsknecht

Ronald L Voglewede

James Kerner

Philip A Anselmino

Marcus Roland Fischer

Guolian Wu

Randell Lee Jeffery

Neomar Giacomini

Jerry M Visin

Michele Wilcox

Jerold Michael Visin

Martin D Lewis

Aaron Edward Showers

Rahul Dudhe

Kate E Presnell

Joel Matthew Sells

Anderson Bortoletto

Matthew Edward Young

Joshua George Abdoo

Ariana Bruno

Matthew J Nibbelink

Thomas Dell Spicer

Maria Paola Pirovano

Aravind Nagarajan

Nihat O Cur

Ameresh Babu Viswanathan

Douglas David Leclear

Leif A Norland

Gregory Gene Hortin

Jim J Pastryk

Jordan Robert Fountain

Cristiano Vito Pastore

Peter Richmond

Gil Anthony Gaska

Lindsey Ann Wohlgamuth

Tiemen T Van Dillen

Larry T Bashark

John Richard Wisnoski

Michael Edward Stagg

Andrea Gallivanoni

Brandon Michael Dawson

Tushar Ashok Kalbande

Christopher D Cullen

Collin Andrew Stipe

Gregory Edward Bauman

Natalie Anne Hillmann

Andrea Ferrise

Shawn F Olsson

Ajit Janardan Manohar

Rahul R Pandey

Jonathan C Valentine

Sugosh Venkataraman

Christopher J Reinke

Kitman Chan

Jordan Cohen

Andrew Gilgallon

Dan Medore

Surisack Phouapanya

John A Williams

Martin P Winik

Amy Lauren Siwek

Ryan Dean McCollum

Matthew Russel Schwartz

Brian Wendling

Rahul Mehta

Vashishtha Kadchhud

Greg Hatch

Morounkeji Fatunde

Josh Abdoo

Larissa Ducci De Araujo

Randall Lee Jeffrey

Larry Thomas Bashark

An appliance includes a temperature control system, a light source, and a spectrometer. The spectrometer works in conjunction with the light source to obtain a measured value of a foodstuff. The measured value is at least one of an absorbance value, a transmittance value, and a reflectance value. The measured value from the foodstuff is compared to a reference value for the foodstuff.

Foodstuff sensing appliance

A cooking assistance appliance can include a body, at least one camera, at least one sensor, and an imaging device for capturing an image of a cooking appliance. The cooking appliance can provide for monitoring use of the cooking appliance, as well as assisting the user in operating the cooking appliance. Additionally, the cooking assistance appliance can be integrated into a hood or a microwave oven and vent combination above a stovetop.

Cooking assistance appliance

A dispensing system includes one or more digital image capture devices for capturing images in a dispenser well and a digital image analyzer operatively coupled to the digital image capture device(s) for analyzing the images for use in regulating a dispensing operation. The digital image analyzer evaluates digital images captured by the digital image capture device(s) to determine various characteristics of a container placed in the dispensing well, such as the height and position of the container.

Hands free, controlled autofill for a dispenser

An appliance including an ice manipulation reservoir capable of receiving ice having a base, wherein the base includes a first level and a second level, with the first level descending gradually to the second level. A first ice modification member is disposed inside the ice manipulation reservoir adjacent the first level of the base, and a second ice modification member is disposed inside the ice manipulation reservoir adjacent the second level of the base. A motor is operably connected with the ice manipulation reservoir and includes an output shaft. An impeller is connected with the output shaft proximate to the plurality of ice modification members, with the impeller being operable between a first directional rotation, and a second directional rotation.

Modular bucket and door architecture to deliver three ice functions

A refrigerator includes a sensing system for detecting multiple physical characteristics of ice cubes produced therein. The system includes a digital image capture device coupled to a digital image analyzing system which captures digital images of the ice in the refrigerator and analyzes the images to detect characteristics associated with the ice. A notification arrangement can be employed to convey information about the ice to a user of the refrigerator.

Ice imaging system

A refrigerator includes a dispenser having a dispenser well, a control for regulating a product dispensing operation, and an optical sensing system includes a camera within the dispenser well in communication with a controller for controlling the filling of a container within the dispenser well based on image data. The image data can used to detect at least one of a presence of a container in the dispenser well, a height of liquid within the container, a height of ice within the container and a shape of the container within the dispenser well, as well as to adjust a dispensing rate of product.

Select fill sensor system for refrigerator dispensers

A method of descaling a water dispensing system included in a refrigerator appliance with a water dispenser is disclosed. The method of descaling includes the step of removing a water filter cartridge from a filter port of the refrigerator appliance wherein the filter port is in fluid communication with the water dispenser. The method also includes the step of inserting a descaling cartridge containing descaling fluid into the filter port of the refrigerator appliance. The method further includes the step of advancing the descaling fluid from the descaling cartridge through the water dispenser.

Consumable descaling cartridges for a refrigerator appliance

A liquid dispensing apparatus and system for controlling the delivery of liquid additives is disclosed. In one aspect, liquid additives are delivered to a beverage preparation system through a multiple inlet pump for preparing a finished beverage. In another aspect, additives from liquid additive containers are delivered to a beverage preparation system through a multiple inlet and pumping section pump for preparing a finished beverage. Other additives are communicated through the beverage dispensing system for maintaining and cleaning the system and the multiple inlet pump for ensuring the hygienical integrity of the system throughout its use.

Multiple inlet dispensing apparatus and system for preparing beverages

A refrigerator is provided which includes a cabinet. A first compartment and second compartment are disposed within the cabinet. A first door provides access to the first compartment and a second door provides access to the second compartment. A beverage dispensing system is operatively connected to the cabinet. A machine vision system associated with the beverage dispensing system. The machine vision system has an imaging device.

Beverage dispensing system with machine vision

A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a freezer compartment, a fresh food compartment, a door providing access to the refrigerator, and a beverage dispensing system. The beverage dispensing system includes a beverage cartridge. The beverage cartridge includes a filter, a pump, and a beverage medium, wherein the beverage medium is combined with water to produce a flavored beverage. The beverage medium may be a powder or a syrup, which when mixed with water, produces a desired flavored beverage. The beverage cartridge is combined and connected with the beverage dispensing unit to filter and pump water in to pass through and mix with the flavor medium to produce a flavored beverage which may be passed through the refrigerator to an output where a user can fill a container with the flavored beverage.

Refillable consumable beverage flavoring cartridge

A clear ice making system and method utilizes an ice forming tray pivotally connected to opposing side walls of an icemaker housing. Ice forming fingers of a dedicated evaporator extend into fluid within the ice forming tray, and are cooled by communication with the refrigerant circulating system of the refrigerator. A motor oscillates the ice forming tray about a longitudinal axis at a frequency of about 0.4-0.6 hertz as fluid channels freezes on the ice forming fingers over time, forming clear ice pieces. During an ice dispensing event, the motor pivots the ice making tray about the longitudinal axis such that fluid remaining within the ice making tray drains into a fluid reservoir below. The ice forming fingers are then heated to release the clear ice pieces for transfer from the fresh food compartment to the freezer compartment of the refrigerator.

Icemaker with swing tray

Growing community of inventors

Saint Joseph, MI, United States of America

Kevin Michael Chase