US 12,459,805 B2
System and method for automatic material dispensing
William T. Anniss, III, Anderson, SC (US); William Schenk, Anderson, SC (US); John T. Campbell, Pendleton, SC (US); and Raony Barrios, Anderson, SC (US)
Assigned to Electrolux Consumer Products, Inc., Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed by Electrolux Home Products, Inc., Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed on May 25, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/323,470.
Prior Publication US 2024/0391752 A1, Nov. 28, 2024
Int. Cl. F25D 29/00 (2006.01); B67D 3/00 (2006.01); G01G 15/02 (2006.01)
CPC B67D 3/0025 (2013.01) [F25D 29/00 (2013.01); G01G 15/02 (2013.01); F25D 2500/06 (2013.01); F25D 2700/06 (2013.01); G01G 2015/022 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A refrigerator appliance (10, 300) comprising:
a drip tray cover (310) comprising two strain gauge sensors (311) that are coupled to a bottom surface of the drip tray cover (310) to move together therewith;
a memory (302); and
a controller (305), wherein the controller (305) is configured to:
detect, via the two strain gauge sensors (311), a weight of a vessel on the drip tray cover (310) based on a strain experienced by the drip tray cover (310),
receive, via input from a user, one or more selections, the one or more selections indicative of an amount of material to be dispensed into the vessel, the material including liquid, ice, or any combination thereof,
dispense the material in accordance with the one or more selections,
continuously measure, via the two strain gauge sensors (311), the amount of material being dispensed in accordance with the one or more selections, and
terminate, after the vessel receives the amount of material that is measured and equivalent to the one or more selections, the dispensing of the material into the vessel.