Autofill pitcher system with ice and water fill

A method of operating a refrigerator appliance, the refrigerator appliance comprising a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber, a sensor, and an autofill pitcher system, the autofill pitcher system comprising a pitcher and a dispenser defining a cavity, the pitcher comprising at least one pitcher wall and an internal volume defined within the at least one pitcher wall, the cavity configured to receive the pitcher, the dispenser comprising a fill tube and a chute, the fill tube 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 chute positioned and configured to direct one or more ice pieces from an ice supply into the internal volume of the pitcher when the pitcher is received within the cavity, the method comprising:

• filling the pitcher with water via the fill tube, wherein filling the pitcher with water via the fill tube comprises filling the pitcher with water to a first level;
• filling the pitcher with ice pieces via the chute, wherein filling the pitcher with ice pieces via the chute comprises filling the pitcher with ice pieces to a second level after filling the pitcher with water to the first level;
• detecting the level of water and ice within the internal volume of the pitcher with the sensor;
• filling the pitcher with water to a third level via the fill tube after filling the pitcher with ice pieces to the second level;
• and
• stopping fill when a level of water and ice within the internal volume of the pitcher reaches a preset level, wherein the preset level is the third level.

A refrigerator appliance comprising:

• a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber;
• an autofill pitcher system, the autofill pitcher system comprising:
• a pitcher comprising at least one pitcher wall and an internal volume defined within the at least one pitcher wall;
• and
• a dispenser defining a cavity, the cavity configured to receive the pitcher, the dispenser comprising a fill tube and a chute, the fill tube 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 chute positioned and configured to direct one or more ice pieces from an ice supply into the internal volume of the pitcher when the pitcher is received within the cavity;
• a sensor operable to detect a level of water and ice within the internal volume of the pitcher;
• and
• a controller, the controller configured for:
• filling the pitcher with water via the fill tube to a first level;
• filling the pitcher with ice pieces via the chute to a second level after filling the pitcher with water to the first level;
• filling the pitcher with water to a third level via the fill tube after filling the pitcher with ice pieces to the second level;
• and
• stopping fill when the level of water and ice within the internal volume of the pitcher reaches a preset level, wherein the preset level is the third level.