A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a fresh food compartment and a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet and including an interior surface in communication with the fresh food compartment when the door is closed. A shelf unit is disposed adjacent the interior surface of the door, and a container is supported by the shelf unit. A fill mechanism is positioned vertically above the container and the container is configured to receive liquid from the fill mechanism. A sensor is configured to sense a property of the container or liquid received in the container. A control is in communication with the sensor and regulates a dispensing of liquid into the container based upon the sensed property. The sensor utilizes a capacitive sensor located adjacent to the container.

A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a fresh food compartment and a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet and including an interior surface in communication with the fresh food compartment when the door is closed. A shelf unit is disposed adjacent the interior surface of the door, and a container is supported by the shelf unit. A fill mechanism is positioned vertically above the container and the container is configured to receive liquid from the fill mechanism. A sensor is configured to sense a property of the container or liquid received in the container. A control is in communication with the sensor and regulates a dispensing of liquid into the container based upon the sensed property. The sensor utilizes a capacitive sensor located adjacent to the container.

A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a fresh food compartment and a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet and including an interior surface in communication with the fresh food compartment when the door is closed. A liquid dispenser is arranged on the interior surface of the door, and a container is supported on the door and configured to receive liquid from the liquid dispenser. A sensor is configured to sense a property of the container, and a control is in communication with the sensor. The control is configured to regulate dispensing of liquid into the container based upon the sensed property of the container. The sensor utilizes a magnetic sensing element located adjacent to the container.

A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a fresh food compartment and a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet and including an interior surface in communication with the fresh food compartment when the door is closed. A liquid dispenser is arranged on the interior surface of the door, and a container is supported on the door and configured to receive liquid from the liquid dispenser. A sensor is configured to sense a property of the container, and a control is in communication with the sensor. The control is configured to regulate dispensing of liquid into the container based upon the sensed property of the container. The sensor utilizes a magnetic sensing element located adjacent to the container.

A bucket assembly includes an outer bucket with an elongated slot, an inner bucket with an elongated slot, and an insert with a cooling agent that keeps a liquid in a beverage container cold. The slot in the outer bucket aligns with the slot in the inner bucket. These slots receive a handle of the beverage container.

A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a fresh food compartment and a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet and including an interior surface in communication with the fresh food compartment when the door is closed. A liquid dispenser is arranged on the interior surface of the door, and a container is supported on the door and configured to receive liquid from the liquid dispenser. A sensor is configured to sense a property of the container, and a control is in communication with the sensor. The control is configured to regulate dispensing of liquid into the container based upon the sensed property of the container. In one example, the sensor is resiliently biased into contact with the container to sense a property of the container. In another example, the control indicates a stale liquid condition if a timer expires before the container has been removed from the door.

An autofill pitcher system includes a pitcher and a dispenser. The pitcher includes at least one pitcher wall and an internal volume defined within the at least one pitcher wall. The dispenser defines a cavity. The cavity is configured to receive the pitcher. The dispenser also includes a fill tube and a sensor. The fill tube is positioned and configured to direct a flow of water from a water supply into the internal volume of the pitcher when the pitcher is received within the cavity. The sensor is positioned above the cavity and is operable to detect a fill level within the internal volume of the pitcher.

An autofill pitcher system includes a pitcher and a dispenser. The pitcher includes at least one pitcher wall and an internal volume defined within the at least one pitcher wall. The dispenser defines a cavity. The cavity is configured to receive the pitcher. The dispenser also includes a fill tube and a pod receiver. The fill tube is positioned and configured to direct a flow of water from a water supply into the internal volume of the pitcher when the pitcher is received within the cavity. The pod receiver is configured to hold a pod containing an additive. The pod receiver is in fluid communication with the internal volume of the pitcher whereby the dispenser is configured to provide the additive to the internal volume of the pitcher.

An autofill pitcher assembly having hidden venting is provided. The assembly includes a pitcher wall defining an opening at a top edge of the pitcher and a lid removably received in the opening. The lid includes a top wall, a skirt extending from a bottom surface of the top wall, a gasket disposed on the skirt, and a vent formed in the skirt between the gasket and the bottom surface of the top wall.

Disclosed is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a body which includes a storage compartment, a door which opens and closes the storage compartment and includes a dispenser, a water tank case disposed in the door, a water tank separably mounted in the water tank case, a water level sensor configured to sense a water level inside the water tank when the water tank is mounted in the water tank case, and a water tank valve configured to guide water supplied from a water supply source to the dispenser or the water tank and to prevent water from being supplied to the water tank when the water level sensor senses that a certain amount of water is stored in the water tank.