A dispensing system for dispensing a precise or controlled volume of fluid to a downstream assembly of an appliance is provided. As one example, the downstream assembly may be an ice making assembly and the appliance may be refrigerator appliance. In one example aspect, a dispensing system includes a housing that defines a chamber. A piston is movable within the chamber. The dispensing system also includes a plurality of valves that may be moved between various positions to move the piston between various positions. When the piston is moved within the chamber, the piston displaces a precise or controlled volume to the downstream assembly.

A system for monitoring flow conditions of fluid flowing from a product container through a solenoid pump. The system includes at least one solenoid pump comprising a solenoid coil, which, when energized, produces a stroke of the solenoid pump, at least one product container connected to the at least one solenoid pump wherein the at least one solenoid pump pumps fluid from the at least one product container during each stroke, at least one PWM controller configured to energize the at least one solenoid pump, at least one current sensor for sensing the current flow through the solenoid coil and producing an output of the sensed current flow, and a control logic subsystem for controlling the flow of fluids through the solenoid pump by commanding the PWM controller and for monitoring the current through the solenoid pump by receiving the output from the current sensor, wherein the control logic subsystem uses the measured current flow through the solenoid coil to determine whether the stroke of the solenoid pump is functional.

A dispensing system for dispensing a precise or controlled volume of fluid to a downstream assembly of an appliance is provided. As one example, the downstream assembly may be an ice making assembly and the appliance may be refrigerator appliance. In one example aspect, a dispensing system includes a housing that defines a chamber. A piston is movable within the chamber. The dispensing system also includes a plurality of valves that may be moved between various positions to move the piston between various positions. When the piston is moved within the chamber, the piston displaces a precise or controlled volume to the downstream assembly.

A system for extracting a liquid from a container. The system comprises a liquid extraction member including a liquid extraction inlet and one or more liquid extraction outlets. The system additionally includes one or more storage vessels each defining a liquid storage inlet coupled in fluid flow communication with the extraction member via one of the liquid extraction outlets. The system additionally includes a pressure differential device operable to cause liquid to flow from the container, through the liquid extraction member, and into one or more of the storage vessels. Furthermore, the system includes one or more fluid restrictors associated with the liquid extraction member and configured to prevent fluid flow in at least one direction through the liquid extraction member to prevent liquid in the liquid extraction member from receding from the liquid extraction member back into the container.

A system for extracting a liquid from a container. The system comprises a liquid extraction member including a liquid extraction inlet and one or more liquid extraction outlets. The system additionally includes one or more storage vessels each defining a liquid storage inlet coupled in fluid flow communication with the extraction member via one of the liquid extraction outlets. The system additionally includes a pressure differential device operable to cause liquid to flow from the container, through the liquid extraction member, and into one or more of the storage vessels. Furthermore, the system includes one or more fluid restrictors associated with the liquid extraction member and configured to prevent fluid flow in at least one direction through the liquid extraction member to prevent liquid in the liquid extraction member from receding from the liquid extraction member back into the container.

A system for monitoring flow conditions of fluid flowing from a product container through a solenoid pump. The system includes at least one solenoid pump comprising a solenoid coil, which, when energized, produces a stroke of the solenoid pump, at least one product container connected to the at least one solenoid pump wherein the at least one solenoid pump pumps fluid from the at least one product container during each stroke, at least one PWM controller configured to energize the at least one solenoid pump, at least one current sensor for sensing the current flow through the solenoid coil and producing an output of the sensed current flow, and a control logic subsystem for controlling the flow of fluids through the solenoid pump by commanding the PWM controller and for monitoring the current through the solenoid pump by receiving the output from the current sensor, wherein the control logic subsystem uses the measured current flow through the solenoid coil to determine whether the stroke of the solenoid pump is functional.

A material dispensing device includes: a target nozzle for dispensing a target material to a target container; a pump arranged to operably extract the target material from the material container and to operably push the target material to flow toward the target nozzle; a material drainage port; a flow direction switch device, coupled with the target nozzle and the material drainage port, and arranged to operably receive the target material; and a control circuit. When the material dispensing device needs to output the target material to the target container, if the control circuit determines that a quality of the target material inside the material dispensing device is acceptable, the control circuit controls the flow direction switch device to guide the target material to flow toward the target nozzle, so as to dispense the target material into the target container through the target nozzle.