Additive dispensing for washing machine appliances

Abstract

A washing machine appliance is provided, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a tub positioned within the cabinet, a wash basket, an additive drawer, and a front baffle. The wash basket may be rotatably mounted within the tub. The wash basket may define a wash chamber for receiving articles for washing. The additive drawer may define a pod compartment mounted to the cabinet. The front baffle may extend between the tub and the cabinet. The front baffle may define an outlet aperture along a fluid path between the pod compartment and the wash chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A front-load washing machine appliance comprising:
 a cabinet;   a tub positioned within the cabinet;   a wash basket rotatably mounted within the tub, the wash basket defining a wash chamber for receiving articles for washing;   an additive drawer defining a pod compartment mounted to the cabinet; and   a front baffle extending between the tub and the cabinet, the front baffle defining an outlet aperture along a fluid path between the pod compartment and the wash chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The front-load washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the additive drawer is mounted above the wash basket. 
     
     
         3 . The front-load washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the additive drawer is slidably mounted to move linearly along the cabinet in a transverse direction. 
     
     
         4 . The front-load washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet aperture defines a spray path directed into the wash chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The front-load washing machine appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the spray path is directed rearward into the wash chamber and away from the front baffle. 
     
     
         6 . The front-load washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the wash basket defines a rotation axis, and wherein the outlet aperture is defined above the rotation axis along a vertical direction. 
     
     
         7 . The front-load washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the tub defines a top apex and a bottom apex, and wherein the outlet aperture is circumferentially offset from the top and bottom apexes. 
     
     
         8 . The front-load washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a door movably attached to the cabinet to move between an open position permitting access to the opening and a closed position restricting access to the opening, the door comprising a central body and a perimeter rim extending outward from the central body, wherein the central body is in selective contact with the front baffle in the closed position.   
     
     
         9 . The front-load washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fluid line extending from a first end to a second end, the first end being mounted to the additive drawer downstream from the pod compartment, the second end being mounted to the front baffle upstream from the outlet aperture.   
     
     
         10 . The front-load washing machine appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the first end is mounted rearward from the second end. 
     
     
         11 . A front-load washing machine appliance comprising:
 a cabinet;   a tub positioned within the cabinet;   a wash basket rotatably mounted within the tub, the wash basket defining a wash chamber for receiving articles for washing and a rotation axis about which the wash basket rotates;   an additive drawer defining a pod compartment mounted to the cabinet; and   a front baffle extending between the tub and the cabinet, the front baffle defining an outlet aperture along a fluid path between the pod compartment and the wash chamber, the outlet aperture being disposed radially inward from the tub and above the rotation axis.   
     
     
         12 . The front-load washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the additive drawer is mounted above the wash basket. 
     
     
         13 . The front-load washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the additive drawer is slidably mounted to move linearly along the cabinet in a transverse direction. 
     
     
         14 . The front-load washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the outlet aperture defines a spray path directed into the wash chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The front-load washing machine appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the spray path is directed rearward into the wash chamber and away from the front baffle. 
     
     
         16 . The front-load washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the tub defines a top apex and a bottom apex, and wherein the outlet aperture is circumferentially offset from the top and bottom apexes. 
     
     
         17 . The front-load washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a door movably attached to the cabinet to move between an open position permitting access to the opening and a closed position restricting access to the opening, the door comprising a central body and a perimeter rim extending outward from the central body, wherein the central body is in selective contact with the front baffle in the closed position.   
     
     
         18 . The front-load washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a fluid line extending from a first end to a second end, the first end being mounted to the additive drawer downstream from the pod compartment, the second end being mounted to the front baffle upstream from the outlet aperture.   
     
     
         19 . The front-load washing machine appliance of  claim 18 , wherein the first end is mounted rearward from the second end.