EP3221500A1 - Laundry washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

Laundry washing machine (1) comprising an outer casing (2), a washing tub (3), a rotatable drum housed in axially rotatable manner inside the washing tub (3), a detergent dispenser (10) for supplying detergent into the washing tub (3), a fresh-water supply circuit (12) for selectively channelling a flow of fresh water from the water mains towards the detergent dispenser (10) and/or the washing tub (3), and an internal water softening device (14) capable of reducing the hardness degree of the fresh directed towards the detergent dispenser (10) or the washing tub (3); said laundry washing machine (1) further comprises at least a first drawer (16, 67) which is fitted/inserted in extractable manner into a corresponding drawer housing (18, 68) located/recessed inside the outer casing (2), and has a substantially basin-shaped, regeneration-agent compartment (20) suitable for being manually tillable with a given amount of consumable salt or other regeneration agent; and a water-supply line (19) for selectively channelling a flow of fresh water of the water mains towards said regeneration-agent compartment (20); said first drawer (16, 67) comprising a water delivery member (26) which is stationary fitted into the regeneration-agent compartment (20), and is suitable for receiving, from the water-supply line (19) and at least when said first drawer (16, 67) is placed in a retracted position, a flow of fresh water and spread out said fresh water into the regeneration- agent compartment (20).

Description

LAUNDRY WASHING MACHINE

The present invention relates to a laundry washing machine.

More in particular, the present invention relates to a front-loading home laundry washing machine, to which the following description refers purely by way of example without this implying any loss of generality.

As is known, a front-loading home laundry washing machine generally comprises: a substantially parallelepiped-shaped outer boxlike casing structured for resting on the floor; a substantially horizontally-oriented and approximately cylindrical washing tub which is usually suspended in floating manner inside the casing, with the front mouth directly facing a laundry loading/unloading through opening realized in the front wall of the casing; a substantially cylindrical, cup- shaped rotatable drum structured for housing the laundry to be washed, and which is fitted inside the washing tub with the concavity facing the laundry loading/unloading opening, and is supported by the washing tub in axially rotatable manner so as to be able to freely rotate inside the washing tub about its substantially horizontally- oriented, longitudinal axis; a substantially cylindrical, elastically-deformable bellows which watertight connects the front mouth of the washing tub to the laundry loading/ unloading opening formed in the front wall of the casing; a porthole door which is hinged to the front wall of the casing to rotate to and from a closing position in which the door closes the laundry loading/unloading opening in the front wall of the casing for watertight sealing the washing tub; and an electrically-powered motor assembly which is structured for driving into rotation the rotatable drum about its longitudinal axis inside the washing tub.

This type of laundry washing machine furthermore comprises: a detergent dispenser which is located inside the boxlike casing, immediately above the washing tub, and is structured for selectively feeding into the washing tub, according to the washing cycle manually-selected by the user, a given amount of detergent, softener and/or other washing agent suitably mixed with fresh water arriving from the water mains; a fresh- water supply circuit which is structured for selectively drawing fresh water from the water mains according to the washing cycle manually- selected by the user, and channelling said fresh water to the detergent dispenser or directly to the washing tub; and finally an appliance control panel which is generally located on the front wall of the casing, above the laundry loading/unloading opening, and is structured for allowing the user to manually select the desired washing-cycle.

In addition to the above, high-end front-loading laundry washing machines may optionally have an internal water softening device which is located along the fresh-water supply circuit, and is structured to selectively reduce the hardness degree of the tap water channelled towards the detergent dispenser and the washing tub. The use of softened water during the washing cycle, in fact, significantly improves cleaning performances.

More in detail, the water softening device is generally internally provided with a given amount of ion-exchange resins which are capable of restraining the calcium and magnesium ions (Ca++ and Mg++) dissolved in the water flowing through the same water softening device, so as to reduce the hardness degree of the tap water directed towards the detergent dispenser and the washing tub.

In addition to the above, since the water softening capabilities of the ion- exchange resins are used to quickly drop away after a limited number of washing cycles, this high-end laundry washing machines are generally provided with an internal reservoir of salt (NaCl) to be used for selectively producing some brine (i.e. salt water) which is periodically channeled into the water softening device to regenerate the ion-exchange resins located therein. Salt water, in fact, is able to remove from the ion-exchange resins the calcium and magnesium ions previously combined/fixed to said resins.

In EP-2554739 the salt to be used in the regeneration process of the ion- exchange resins is stowed into a specific regeneration-agent drawer which is fitted/ inserted in manually extractable manner into a corresponding substantially basin- shaped, drawer housing which is located inside the casing, above the washing tub and horizontally adjoining the substantially basin-shaped, drawer housing that accommodates the detergent drawer of the detergent dispenser, so that the entrances of the two drawer housings are arranged one immediately beside the other, on the upper left corner of the front wall of the casing, horizontally aligned to the appliance control panel.

The detergent dispenser furthermore comprises a drawer flush circuit which forms the upper lid of both substantially basin-shaped, drawer housings, receives the fresh water of the water mains from the fresh-water supply circuit and is structured for selectively pouring, when detergent drawer and regeneration-agent drawer are completely inserted into their respective drawer housings, a shower of water droplets into any one of the detergent compartments of the detergent drawer or into the regeneration-agent compartment of regeneration- agent drawer.

Aim of the present invention is to simplify the structure of the drawer flush circuit of the detergent dispenser thus to reduce the overall production costs of this component part.

In compliance with the above aims, according to the present invention there is provided a laundry washing machine comprising an outer casing and, inside said outer casing, a washing tub, a rotatable drum housed in axially rotatable manner inside the washing tub and structured for housing the laundry to be washed, a detergent dispenser which is structured for supplying detergent into the washing tub, a fresh-water supply circuit which is structured for selectively channelling a flow of fresh water from the water mains towards the detergent dispenser and/or the washing tub, and an internal water softening device capable of reducing the hardness degree of the fresh directed towards the detergent dispenser or the washing tub;

the laundry washing machine furthermore comprising at least a first drawer which is fitted/inserted in extractable manner into a corresponding drawer housing located/recessed inside the outer casing, and has a substantially basin-shaped, regeneration-agent compartment structured for being manually fillable with a given amount of consumable salt or other regeneration agent; and a water-supply line which is structured for channelling a flow of fresh water of the water mains towards said regeneration- agent compartment;

the laundry washing machine being characterized in that said first drawer comprises a water delivery member which is stationary fitted to the regeneration- agent compartment so as to move together with the first drawer, and is structured to receive, from the water-supply line and at least when said first drawer is placed in a retracted position, a flow of fresh water and spread out said fresh water into the regeneration-agent compartment.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing is furthermore characterized in that said water delivery member is fitted to the regeneration-agent compartment substantially at the upper mouth of regeneration-agent compartment.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing is furthermore characterized in that said water delivery member is additionally shaped/structured so as to form/ delimit, inside the regeneration- agent compartment, a pass-through opening shaped/dimensioned to allow the user to pour the consumable salt or other regeneration agent into the same regeneration-agent compartment.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing is furthermore characterized in that said water delivery member is provided with a water inlet structured to allow the fresh water to enter into the same water delivery member, and with one or more water outlets that fluidically communicate with said water inlet to convey fresh water into the regeneration- agent compartment; the water-supply line being structured to channel, at least when said first drawer is in the retracted position, the fresh water of the water mains towards the water inlet of said water delivery member

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing is furthermore characterized in that the water inlet of said water delivery member is structured to couple in detachable manner with the water-supply line when said first drawer is placed in the retracted position, and to uncouple the water-supply line when said first drawer is placed in an extracted position.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing is furthermore characterized in that the one or more water outlets of said water delivery member are structured to pour a shower of water droplets into the regeneration-agent compartment.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing is furthermore characterized in that the water inlet of said water delivery member comprises a first hydraulic connector structured to couple, when said first drawer is placed in the retracted position, in detachable manner with a complementary second hydraulic connector which is located stationary inside the drawer housing and which communicates with said water-supply line.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing is furthermore characterized in that said water delivery member is fitted in detachable manner into the regeneration- agent compartment.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing is furthermore characterized in that said water delivery member comprises a frame element which is designed to fit into the upper rim of the regeneration-agent compartment, and is centrally provided with pass-through opening shaped/dimensioned to allow the user to easily manually pour the consumable salt or other regeneration agent into the same regeneration-agent compartment.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing is furthermore characterized in that said frame element is provided with a water inlet structured for receiving, when said first drawer is in the retracted position, the fresh water from the water-supply line, and with one or more water-delivery portions which are arranged on the lower side of the frame element so as to be faced to the inside of the regeneration-agent compartment, and are structured to allow the outflow of the fresh water from the frame element.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing is furthermore characterized in that the water-delivery portions are arranged on the lower face of the frame element all around the central pass-through opening.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing is furthermore characterized in that each water-delivery portion is shaped/structured so as to pour a shower of water droplets by gravity into the regeneration-agent compartment.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing is furthermore characterized in that the water inlet of said frame element comprises a first hydraulic connector that extends substantially parallel to the displacement direction of the drawer, and is structured to couple in detachable manner with a complementary second hydraulic connector which, in turn, is located stationary inside the drawer housing so as to couple with said first hydraulic connector when said first drawer is in the retracted position.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing is furthermore characterized in that said water delivery member additionally comprises a manually- movable trapdoor which is fitted to the frame element so as to be able to freely move to and from a closed position in which the trapdoor closes the central pass-through opening of said frame element.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing is furthermore characterized in that said trapdoor is substantially complementary in shape to the central pass-through opening of the frame element, and is laterally hinged to said frame element so to be able to rotate to and from a closed position in which trapdoor is arranged substantially coplanar to the frame element and closes the central pass- through opening of the same frame element.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing is furthermore characterized in that said water delivery member is additionally provided with snap- on locking means structured to firmly lock the trapdoor to the frame element when the trapdoor is arranged in the closing position.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing is furthermore characterized in that said fist drawer additionally comprises one or more substantially basin-shaped, detergent compartments which are arranged beside the regeneration- agent compartment and are each structured for being manually fillable with a given amount of detergent, softener or other washing agent.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing is furthermore characterized in that the detergent dispenser comprises a second drawer which is provided with one or more detergent compartments each structured for being manually fillable with a given amount of detergent, softener or other washing agent, and which is fitted/inserted in extractable manner into a corresponding second drawer housing which is located/recessed inside the outer casing.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing is furthermore characterized in that the second drawer is arranged horizontally beside the first drawer so that both drawers are independently movable inside the corresponding drawer housings parallel to one another.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing is furthermore characterized in that the detergent dispenser additionally comprises a drawer flush circuit which is connected to the fresh-water supply circuit, and is structured for pouring, when said first or second drawer is arranged in the retracted position, the fresh water of the water mains selectively into any one of the detergent compartments, so as to selectively flush the detergent, softener or other washing agent out of the same detergent compartment and down onto the bottom of the drawer housing.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing is furthermore characterized in that said water-supply line is part of the drawer flush circuit.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing is furthermore characterized in that the drawer flush circuit of the detergent dispenser comprises: a main water conveyor which is structured to form the upper lid of the drawer housing/s, so as to be located above said regeneration- agent compartment and said one or more detergent compartments when the said first and/or second drawer/s is/are arranged in the retracted position, and is provided with a number of water- outlets each suitably structured to allow the outflow of the water from said main water conveyor towards a corresponding detergent compartment or towards said water delivery member; and an electrically-operated, flow-diverter device which is fluidically connected to the water softening device and/or to the fresh-water supply circuit for receiving the softened or unsoftened fresh water, and is suitably structured to selectively channel said softened or unsoftened fresh water towards any one of the water-outlets of said main water conveyor.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing is furthermore characterized in that one of the water-delivery portions of said main water conveyor comprises the second hydraulic connector.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing is furthermore characterized in that the regeneration-agent compartment is dimensioned to accommodate an amount of consumable salt or other regeneration agent sufficient for performing one or more regeneration processes of water softening capabilities of the internal water softening device.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing is furthermore characterized in that the internal water softening device internally contains a given amount of ion-exchange resins capable of restraining the calcium and magnesium ions dissolved in the water that flows through the same water softening device.

A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a laundry washing machine realized in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, with parts removed for clarity;

Figures 2 is a side view of the Figure 1 laundry washing machine, with parts removed for clarity;

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the top of the Figure 1 laundry washing machine, with parts removed for clarity;

Figures 4 and 5 are two perspective views of the detergent dispensing assembly of the Figure 1 laundry washing machine, with parts removed for clarity;

Figure 6 is a partially exploded perspective view of the detergent dispensing assembly shown in Figures 4 and 5, with parts removed for clarity;

Figure 7 is a sectioned front view of the detergent dispensing assembly shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, with parts removed for clarity;

Figure 8 is a partially exploded perspective view of the detergent drawer of the detergent dispensing assembly shown in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7, with parts removed for clarity;

Figure 9 is a sectioned side view of the Figure 8 detergent drawer, with parts removed for clarity;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the upper lid of the drawer housing of the detergent dispensing assembly shown in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the water delivery member of the detergent drawer shown in Figure 8;

Figure 12 is a sectioned front view of the water delivery member shown in Figure 11 ;

Figure 13 is a sectioned side view of a portion of the detergent dispensing assembly shown in Figure 8, with parts removed for clarity;

Figures 14 and 15 are two perspective views of a second embodiment of the water delivery member shown in Figures 11 and 12; whereas

Figure 16 is a perspective view of the top of a second embodiment of the Figure 1 laundry washing machine, with parts removed for clarity.

With reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, reference number 1 indicates as a whole a laundry washing machine 1 which preferably basically comprises: a preferably substantially parallelepiped- shaped, outer boxlike casing 2 structured for resting on the floor; a preferably substantially horizontally-oriented, approximately cylindrical washing tub 3 which is arranged inside the casing 2 with the mouth directly facing a laundry loading/unloading pass-through opening realized in the front wall 4 of the outer casing 2; a substantially cylindrical, cup-shaped rotatable drum (not shown) which is structured for housing the laundry to be washed, and is fitted in axially rotatable manner inside the washing tub 3 with the concavity facing the front opening or mouth of washing tub 3, so as to be able to freely rotate about its longitudinal axis inside washing tub 3; an electrically-powered motor assembly 5 which is structured for driving into rotation the rotatable drum (not shown) about its longitudinal axis inside the washing tub 3; and a porthole door 6 which is hinged to the front wall 4 of casing 2 so as to be movable/rotatable to and from a closing position in which the door 6 closes the laundry loading/unloading opening on front wall 4 for watertight sealing the washing tub 4.

In the example shown, in particular, the rotatable drum (not shown) of laundry washing machine 1 is preferably arranged inside the washing tub 3 with the drum rotation axis locally substantially coaxial to the longitudinal axis of washing tub 3, i.e. oriented substantially horizontally, and with the circular front opening or mouth of the drum directly aligned and faced to the circular front opening or mouth of washing tub 3, so as to receive the laundry to be washed through the laundry loading/unloading opening realized on front wall 4.

The washing tub 3, in turn, is preferably suspended in floating manner inside the casing 2 via a suspension system that preferably, though not necessarily, comprises at least one, and preferably a couple of upper coil springs 7 connecting the upper portion of washing tub 3 to the top of casing 2, and preferably at least one, and preferably a couple of vibration dampers 8 connecting the bottom portion of washing tub 3 to the bottom of casing 2. Moreover the laundry washing machine 1 is preferably provided with a substantially cylindrical elastically-deformable bellows (not shown) which watertight connects the front mouth of washing tub 3 to the laundry loading/unloading opening realized on front wall 4 of casing 2.

With reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the laundry washing machine 1 furthermore comprises: a detergent dispenser 10 which is located inside the casing 2 preferably above the washing tub 3 and preferably, though not necessarily, immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall 11 of casing 2, and is structured for selectively feeding into washing tub 3, according to the washing cycle manually- selected by the user, a given amount of detergent, softener and/or other washing agent suitably mixed with fresh water; and a fresh- water main supply circuit 12 which is connectable directly to the water mains, and is structured for selectively channelling, according to the washing cycle manually- selected by the user, a flow of fresh water from the water mains to the detergent dispenser 10 or directly to the washing tub 3. Preferably the laundry washing machine 1 additionally comprises an appliance control panel 13 which is preferably located on front wall 4 of casing 2, above the laundry loading/unloading opening and preferably also immediately beneath the upper worktop or top wall 11 of casing 2, and is structured to allow the user to manually select the desired washing cycle among a number of available washing cycles.

In addition to the above, with reference to Figures 2 and 4-7, the laundry washing machine 1 furthermore comprises an internal water softening device 14 which is located inside the boxlike casing 2 along the fresh-water supply circuit 12 or the detergent dispenser 10, and is structured for selectively reducing, during each washing cycle, the hardness degree of the tap water that fresh-water supply circuit 12 channels towards detergent dispenser 10 or washing tub 3.

More in detail, the water softening device 14 has a water inlet and a water outlet, and is preferably internally provided with a given amount of ion-exchange resins capable of retaining the calcium and magnesium ions (Ca++ and Mg++) dissolved in the water that flows through the same water softening device 14, so as to reduce the hardness degree of the tap water directed towards the washing tub 3.

With reference to Figures 1-13, detergent dispenser 10, in turn, basically comprises: a detergent drawer 16 which is provided with one or more substantially basin-shaped, detergent compartments 17 (three detergent compartments 17 in the example shown) each structured for being manually fillable with a given amount of detergent, softener or other washing agent, and which is fitted/inserted in manually extractable manner into a corresponding substantially basin-shaped, drawer housing 18 which, in turn, is located/recessed inside the casing 2 above washing tub 3, and whose entrance is preferably located on front wall 4 of casing 2, above the laundry loading/unloading opening realized on the same front wall 4; and preferably also a drawer flush circuit 19 which is connected to the fresh- water supply circuit 12, and is structured for selectively channelling/pouring, when detergent drawer 16 is completely fitted/inserted into drawer housing 18, the fresh water of the water mains into any one of the detergent compartments 17 of detergent drawer 16 so as to selectively flush the detergent, softener or other washing agent out of the same detergent compartment 17 and down onto the bottom of drawer housing 18. More in detail, detergent drawer 16 is preferably movable inside the drawer housing 18 parallel to the substantially horizontally-oriented, longitudinal axis L of drawer housing 18 between:

- a retracted position (see Figure 2) in which detergent drawer 16 is completely fitted/inserted into drawer housing 18, so as to be almost completely recessed into the front wall 4 of casing 2; and

- a completely extracted position (see Figures 1 and 3-7) in which detergent drawer 16 partly juts out from the front wall 4 of casing 2, so as to expose the one or more detergent compartments 17 at once.

In other words, detergent drawer 16 is movable inside the drawer housing 18 in a substantially horizontally-oriented, displacement direction d which is locally substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis L of both drawer housing 18 and detergent drawer 16, between:

- a retracted position (see Figure 2) in which detergent drawer 16 is almost completely recessed into the front wall 4 of casing 2 and the one or more detergent compartments 17 of detergent drawer 16 are inaccessible to the user; and

- a completely extracted position (see Figures 1 and 3-7) in which detergent drawer 16 partly juts out from the front wall 4 of casing 2, so that all detergent compartments 17 of detergent drawer 16 are exposed and fully accessible to the user.

In the example shown, in particular, the entrance of drawer housing 18 is preferably located on front wall 4 of casing 2, immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall 11 of casing 2 and substantially horizontally aligned beside the appliance control panel 13. Moreover the longitudinal axis L of both detergent drawer 16 and drawer housing 18, and as a result the displacement direction d of detergent drawer 16 inside drawer housing 18, are preferably locally substantially perpendicular to front wall 4 of casing 2.

Preferably each detergent compartment 17 is furthermore dimensioned to contain a given amount of detergent, softener or other washing agent sufficient for performing only a single washing cycle.

In addition to the above, detergent drawer 16 preferably has, inside each detergent compartment 17, a siphon assembly which is suitably structured/designed to selectively channel the mixture of water and detergent, softener or other washing agent formed inside the detergent compartment 17 out of the same detergent compartment 17 and down onto the bottom of drawer housing 18.

As an alternative to the siphon assembly, detergent drawer 16 may have, on the bottom or on a sidewall of the detergent compartment 17, a large pass-through opening which is suitably shaped/dimensioned to allow the mixture of water and detergent, softener or other washing agent formed inside the same detergent compartment 17 to freely fall on the bottom of drawer housing 18.

The drawer flush circuit 19, in turn, is preferably structured for directly pouring, when detergent drawer 16 is placed in the retracted position, a shower of water droplets by gravity selectively and alternatively into any one of the detergent compartments 17 of detergent drawer 16, so as to selectively flush the detergent, softener or other washing agent out of the same detergent compartment 17 and down onto the bottom of drawer housing 18.

With reference to Figures 1-13, detergent drawer 16 is furthermore provided with a substantially basin-shaped, regeneration-agent compartment 20 which is located beside the one or more detergent compartments 17, and is structured for being manually fillable with a given amount of consumable salt (NaCl) or other regeneration agent suitable to be used in the regeneration process of the ion- exchange resins of the water softening device 14.

More in details, the regeneration-agent compartment 20 is preferably arranged, on detergent drawer 16, beside the one or more detergent compartments 17, so that both detergent compartment/s 17 and regeneration-agent compartment 20 are allowed to almost contemporaneously come out from front wall 4 of casing 2 when detergent drawer 16 moves from the retracted position to the extracted position.

In other words, the regeneration-agent compartment 20 is preferably arranged on detergent drawer 16 beside the one or more detergent compartments 17 transversally to the displacement direction d of detergent drawer 16, i.e. transversally to the longitudinal axis L of detergent drawer 16, so that the detergent compartment/s 17 and the regeneration-agent compartment 20 are arranged on opposite sides of a substantially vertically-oriented, reference plane which is parallel to the displacement direction d of detergent drawer 16 inside drawer housing 18, i.e. parallel to the longitudinal axis L of detergent drawer 16.

Detergent drawer 16 is therefore movable inside drawer housing 18 in the substantially horizontally-oriented, displacement direction d between:

- a retracted position (see Figure 2) in which detergent drawer 16 is completely recessed into the front wall 4 of casing 2, so that both the detergent compartment/s 17 and the regeneration-agent compartment 20 are inaccessible to the user; and

- a completely extracted position (see Figures 1 and 3) in which detergent drawer 16 partly juts out from the front wall 4 of casing 2, so that both the detergent compartment/s 17 and the regeneration- agent compartment 20 are simultaneously exposed and fully accessible to the user.

Preferably the regeneration- agent compartment 20 is moreover dimensioned to accommodate an amount of consumable salt (NaCl) or other regeneration agent sufficient for performing a plurality of regeneration processes of the ion-exchange resins of water softening device 14.

With reference to Figures 8 and 9, in addition to the above detergent drawer 16 preferably has, on the bottom of regeneration-agent compartment 20, a large pass- through draining opening 21 which is suitably shaped/dimensioned to allow the brine formed inside the regeneration- agent compartment 20 to freely fall on the bottom of drawer housing 18.

More in detail, with reference to Figures 3 and 4-9, in the example shown detergent drawer 16 preferably comprises: a single drawer-like supporting structure 23 which is preferably made in a one piece construction, and is fitted/inserted in axially sliding manner into the drawer housing 18; and a manually-sizable front panel 24 which is arranged/located on a front side of the drawer-like supporting structure 23, so as to close the entrance of drawer housing 18 when detergent drawer 16 is placed in the retracted position (see Figure 2).

The one or more basin-shaped detergent compartments 17 and the basin- shaped regeneration-agent compartment 20 are formed directly on the drawer-like supporting structure 23 one side by side the other. The manually-sizable front panel 24, in turn, is arranged/located on a front side of the drawer-like supporting structure 23, so as to be arranged locally substantially coplanar to the front face 4 of casing 2, beside the appliance control panel 13, when detergent drawer 16 is placed in the retracted position (see Figure 2).

In the example shown, in particular, the drawer-like supporting structure 23 of detergent drawer 16 is preferably made in a single piece, via an injection moulding process. Preferably the same applies to the manually-sizable front panel 24.

With reference to Figures 4-7, the drawer flush circuit 19 of detergent dispenser 10, in turn, is preferably additionally structured for selectively channelling, when detergent drawer 16 is placed in the retracted position, the fresh water of the water mains also into the regeneration-agent compartment 20, so as to dissolve some of the salt grains contained into the same regeneration-agent compartment 20 and form some brine that falls on the bottom of drawer housing 18.

In other words, drawer flush circuit 19 is directly connected to the fresh- water supply circuit 12 for receiving the fresh water of the water mains, and is suitably structured for selectively pouring/channelling, when detergent drawer 16 is completely fitted/inserted into drawer housing 18, the fresh water arriving from the water mains into any one of the detergent or regeneration-agent compartments 17, 20 of detergent drawer 16.

In case of detergent compartment/s 17, the fresh water serves to selectively flush the contents of the detergent compartment 17 out of the same compartment 17 and down on the bottom of drawer housing 18 via the corresponding siphon assembly. In case of regeneration- agent compartment 20, the fresh water serves to dissolve some salt grains contained into the regeneration- agent compartment 20 to form some brine that falls on the bottom of drawer housing 18 through opening 21.

Preferably, the internal water softening device 14 is furthermore directly connected to the drawer flush circuit 19 of detergent dispenser 7 so as to be crossed by the fresh water that is subsequently poured into the detergent compartment/s 17 of detergent drawer 16 and optionally into the regeneration-agent compartment 20, so that the hardness degree of the fresh water of the water mains poured into any one of the compartments 17, 20 of detergent drawer 16 is significantly reduced.

With reference to Figures 1 and 3-9, detergent drawer 16 is preferably additionally provided with a preferably manually-removable, water-permeable partitioning septum 25 which extends inside the regeneration-agent compartment 20 above the bottom of regeneration- agent compartment 20 and its large pass-through opening 21, and has a water-permeable structure designed for preventing the grains of consumable salt to come out of the regeneration-agent compartment 20 via the pass-through opening 21 and, at same time, for allowing the brine to trickle onto the bottom of the regeneration-agent compartment 20 and then freely flow by gravity towards the pass-through opening 21.

Preferably the partitioning septum 25 furthermore has a water-permeable structure suitably designed to slow down the outflow of the brine from the regeneration-agent compartment 20 via pass-through opening 21 for causing a temporarily stagnation of the water poured into the regeneration-agent compartment 20, above the same partitioning septum 25.

In other words, the water-permeable partitioning septum 25 is arranged above the pass-through opening 21 so as to completely cover the latter, and is preferably structured to allow the passage of the water/brine through the same partitioning septum 25 with a flowrate which is lower than that of the fresh water poured into the regeneration-agent compartment 20 by drawer flush circuit 19, thus to cause the stagnation of the fresh water above the partitioning septum 25.

Preferably the water-permeable partitioning septum 25 furthermore extends inside regeneration-agent compartment 20 slightly spaced from, and preferably also locally substantially parallel to, the bottom of regeneration-agent compartment 20, so as to form a thin air gap immediately above the bottom of regeneration- agent compartment 20.

In the example shown, in particular, the water-permeable partitioning septum 25 preferably consists in a rigid plate-like element 25 preferably made of plastic material, which substantially copies the shape of the bottom of regeneration- agent compartment 20, and has a microperforated structure which is suitably dimensioned to cause a prolonged stagnation of the water poured into the regeneration-agent compartment 20 above the partitioning septum 25.

More in detail, the central portion 25a of plate-like element 25 is preferably provided with a plenty of substantially evenly distributed, transversal pass-through microholes or microslots each preferably having a cross-sectional area lower that 3 mm² (square millimetres), so as to allow the flow/passage of the brine/water through the partitioning septum 25 with a flowrate preferably ranging between 0,4 and 1 litre/min (litre per minute). The flowrate of the fresh water poured into the regeneration-agent compartment 20 instead preferably ranges between 5 and 8 litre/min (litre per minute).

In addition to the above, with reference to Figures 1 and 3-13, detergent drawer 16 comprises a water delivery member 26 which is located stationary into the regeneration-agent compartment 20, preferably roughly at the upper mouth of regeneration-agent compartment 20, so as to move together with the drawer-like supporting structure 23, and is structured so as to be able to receive, at least when detergent drawer 16 is placed in the retracted position, a flow of fresh water preferably from the drawer flush circuit 19 and to spread out said fresh water into the beneath- located regeneration-agent compartment 20.

More in detail, the water delivery member 26 is preferably firmly fitted in detachable manner into the regeneration-agent compartment 20, preferably roughly at the upper mouth of regeneration- agent compartment 20.

Furthermore the water delivery member 26 is additionally shaped/structured so as to form/delimit inside the regeneration- agent compartment 20, preferably roughly at the upper mouth of said regeneration- agent compartment 20, a large pass- through opening suitably shaped/dimensioned to allow the user to easily manually pour the consumable salt (NaCl) or other regeneration agent into the regeneration- agent compartment 20.

In other words, the water delivery member 26 is provided with a water inlet which is structured to allow the fresh water to enter into the same water delivery member 26, and with one or more water outlets which are faced to the inside of regeneration-agent compartment 20, fluidically communicate with the water inlet and are finally suitably structured to allow the water entering into the water delivery member 26 through the water inlet to come out of the water delivery member 26 and fall into the regeneration-agent compartment 20.

The water inlet of water delivery member 26 is preferably structured for receiving, when detergent drawer 16 is placed in the retracted position, a flow of fresh water from the drawer flush circuit 19; whereas the one or more water outlets of water delivery member 26 are structured to spread out said flow of fresh water into the regeneration-agent compartment 20.

In other words, drawer flush circuit 19 is preferably structured for selectively channelling, at least when detergent drawer 16 is placed in the retracted position, the fresh water of the water mains into the water inlet of water delivery member 26, whereas the water delivery member 26 is structured to spread out the fresh water arriving from the drawer flush circuit 19 into the regeneration- agent compartment 20.

In addition to the above, in the examples shown the water inlet of water delivery member 26 is furthermore preferably structured to hydraulically couple, when the detergent drawer 16 is placed in the retracted position, in a stable, though easy detachable manner, with the drawer flush circuit 19 for receiving the fresh water of the water mains. The one or more water outlets of water delivery member 26, in turn, are preferably shaped/structured so as to pour a shower of water droplets by gravity into the regeneration- agent compartment 20.

With reference to Figures 6-9, 11 and 12, in the example shown, in particular, the water delivery member 26 preferably comprises a frame element 27 which is designed to rigidly fit into the upper rim of regeneration-agent compartment 20, and is centrally provided with a preferably substantially rectangular-shaped, large pass- through opening 28 suitably shaped/dimensioned to allow the user to easily manually pour the consumable salt (NaCl) or other regeneration agent into the regeneration- agent compartment 20.

Furthermore the frame element 27 is provided with a water inlet 29 which is preferably faced to the outside of regeneration-agent compartment 20, and is suitably structured for receiving, when detergent drawer 16 is placed in the retracted position, the fresh water from drawer flush circuit 19; and with one or more water-delivery portions 30 which fluidically communicate with the water inlet 29, are arranged on the lower face of frame element 27, preferably all around the central pass-through opening 28, so as to be faced to the inside of regeneration- agent compartment 20, and are lastly structured to allow the outflow of the fresh water from the frame element 27.

Preferably each water-delivery portion 30 is furthermore suitably shaped/ structured so as to pour a shower of water droplets by gravity into the regeneration- agent compartment 20.

More in detail, with reference to Figures 7, 8, 9, 11 e 12, in the example shown the frame element 27 is preferably provided with one or more internal water channels 31 each of which begins at water inlet 29 and extends inside the body of frame element 27 up to reach a number of water-delivery portions 30 which, in turn, are suitably structured to allow the water flowing inside the internal water channel 31 to slowly trickle into the beneath-located regeneration- agent compartment 20.

With particular reference to Figures 9, 10 and 13, in the examples shown, in particular, the water inlet 29 of frame element 27 preferably comprises a first hydraulic connector 32 which is structured to substantially watertight couple in a stable, though easy detachable manner, with a complementary second hydraulic connector 33 which, in turn, is located stationary inside the drawer housing 18 so as to couple with hydraulic connector 32 when detergent drawer 16 is placed in the retracted position, and moreover fluidically communicates with drawer flush circuit 19 for receiving the fresh water directed to the regeneration-agent compartment 20. Hydraulic connector 32 extends substantially parallel to the displacement direction d of detergent drawer 16 and is structured to substantially watertight couple with hydraulic connector 33 when detergent drawer 16 is placed in the retracted position, and to uncouple from hydraulic connector 33 when detergent drawer 16 is moves in the extracted position.

More in detail, in the examples shown hydraulic connector 32 is incorporated into the frame element 27 preferably so as to cantilevered protrude from the back of detergent drawer 16 substantially parallel to the displacement direction d of detergent drawer 16; whereas hydraulic connector 33 is arranged stationary inside the drawer housing 18 aligned to hydraulic connector 32 along the displacement direction d of detergent drawer 16.

With reference to Figures 3, 6 and 7, the bottom of drawer housing 18, in turn, is preferably divided into two substantially basin-shaped bottom portions which are vertically aligned, when detergent drawer 16 is placed in the retracted position, respectively to the one or more detergent compartments 17, and to the regeneration- agent compartment 20.

More in detail, the bottom of drawer housing 18 is preferably provided with two separated and substantially basin-shaped bottom portions 35 and 36, which are arranged side by side to one another transversally to the displacement direction d of detergent drawer 16 inside drawer housing 18, i.e. transversally to the longitudinal axis L of drawer housing 18, so as to be vertically aligned, when detergent drawer 16 is placed in the retracted position, one underneath the one or more detergent compartments 17, and the other underneath the regeneration- agent compartment 20.

The basin-shaped bottom portion 35 vertically aligned to the one or more detergent compartments 17 is structured to collect the mixture of water and detergent, softener or other washing agent coming out from any one of the detergent compartments 17 of detergent drawer 16 preferably through the corresponding siphon assembly, and preferably communicates with the inside of washing tub 3 via a delivery duct 37 which branches off from the basin-shaped bottom portion 35 of drawer housing 18 and ends directly into the beneath-located washing tub 3, so as to allow the mixture of water and detergent, softener or other washing agent to flow by gravity directly into washing tub 3.

The basin-shaped bottom portion 36 vertically aligned to the regeneration- agent drawer 20, in turn, is structured to collect the brine falling down from the regeneration-agent compartment 20 via the pass-through opening 21, and preferably fluidically communicates, via a substantially vertical and downwards-protruding pipe-extension 38, directly with the inside of a small brine tank 39 which is firmly attached to the bottom of drawer housing 18, underneath the basin-shaped bottom portion 36. The brine arriving onto the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 of drawer housing 18 is therefore allowed to flow and fall by gravity directly into the brine tank 39 through the vertical pipe-extension.

Brine tank 39, in turn, fluidically communicates with the inside of water softening device 14 via a small electric pump 40 which is structured to selectively pump the brine (i.e. the mixture of water and salt) from brine tank 39 to the water softening device 14. In the example shown, in particular, electric pump 40 is preferably an electrically-powered volumetric pump.

Preferably brine tank 39 is furthermore dimensioned to contain a maximum amount of brine approximating by excess the overall amount of brine to be pumped into the water softening device 14 for performing the whole regeneration process of the ion-exchange resins contained into the same water softening device 14.

In an alternative embodiment, however, the suction of electric pump 40 could be connected directly to a drain sump formed on the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 of drawer housing 18.

Moreover in a less sophisticated embodiment, the brine could freely flow by gravity into the water softening device 14 through a connecting duct that branches off from the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 of drawer housing 18 and ends directly into the water softening device 14. In this case, preferably an automatic one-way valve or an electrically-operated on-off valve could be arranged along said connecting duct to control the outflow of the brine towards the water softening device 14. In addition to the above, with reference to Figure 13, preferably the water inlet 28 of frame element 27, i.e. hydraulic connector 32, is furthermore structured to protrude from the back of detergent drawer 16 substantially parallel to the displacement direction d of detergent drawer 16, so as to cantilevered extend, when detergent drawer 16 is placed in the retracted position, above the adjacent basin- shaped bottom portion 35 of drawer housing 18.

In other words, the water inlet 28 of water delivery member 26 is preferably structured to cantilevered protrude from detergent drawer 16 so as to be vertically aligned, when detergent drawer 16 is placed in the retracted position, above to the basin- shaped bottom portion 35 of drawer housing 18.

With reference to Figures 3, 6 and 7, the drawer housing 18 furthermore comprises a substantially vertical, partitioning wall 42 that protrudes upwards from the bottom of drawer housing 18 while remaining locally substantially parallel to the displacement direction d of detergent drawer 16, i.e. parallel to the longitudinal axis L of drawer housing 18, and the substantially basin-shaped bottom portions 35 and 36 are arranged on opposite sides of partitioning wall 42.

In other words the vertical partitioning wall 42 is arranged between the two substantially basin-shaped bottom portions 35 and 36 of drawer housing 18.

The detergent drawer 16, in turn, is arranged astride the partitioning wall 42 so that the one or more detergent compartments 17 and the regeneration- agent compartment 20 are arranged on opposite sides of partitioning wall 42.

More in detail, with reference to Figures 6 and 7, the bottom portion of the drawer- like supporting structure 23 of detergent drawer 16 is preferably provided with a rectilinear groove 43 which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis L of detergent drawer 16, i.e. parallel to the displacement direction d of detergent drawer 16 inside drawer housing 18, between the one or more detergent compartments 17 and the regeneration- agent compartment 20, and the partitioning wall 42 of drawer housing 18 protrudes from the bottom of drawer housing 18 and extends upwards into said rectilinear groove 43.

Preferably the drawer- like supporting structure 23 of detergent drawer 16 is furthermore coupled in sliding manner to partitioning wall 42.

More in detail, the drawer-like supporting structure 23 of detergent drawer 16 is preferably structured so to abut in axially sliding manner on the straight upper crest line 42a of partitioning wall 42, so that the detergent drawer 16 rests in abutment also onto the same partitioning wall 42.

With reference to Figures 6 and 7, in the example shown, in particular, the drawer- like supporting structure 23 of detergent drawer 16 is preferably laterally engaged/coupled in axially sliding manner to drawer housing 18 via two rectilinear runners or groves 44 that extend on the two reciprocally-faced sidewalls of drawer housing 18 locally substantially parallel to the displacement direction d of detergent drawer 16, i.e. parallel to the longitudinal axis L of detergent drawer 16 and drawer housing 18. Furthermore the drawer- like supporting structure 23 of detergent drawer 16 is preferably additionally centrally coupled in axially sliding manner to drawer housing 18 at the upper crest line 42a of partitioning wall 42.

Preferably, in the example shown, the upper crest line 42a of partitioning wall 42 is furthermore covered by a longitudinal rail or insert which is made of a material having a low friction coefficient and/or self-lubricating properties, such as Teflon or similar polymeric materials.

Preferably furthermore, in the example shown, the two rectilinear runners or groves 44 and the upper crest line 42a of partitioning wall 42 are preferably tilted upwards to the horizontal by an angle lower that 5°.

With reference to Figures 4-7, 10 and 13, the drawer flush circuit 19 of detergent dispenser 10, in turn, preferably comprises:

- a plate-like water conveyor 45 which is suitably structured to form the upper lid of the substantially basin-shaped drawer housing 18, so as to be located immediately above the detergent drawer 16 when the latter is placed in the retracted position, i.e. when the latter is completely inserted/ recessed into drawer housing 18, and is provided with a number of water- delivery portions each suitably structured to allow the outflow of water from the plate-like water conveyor 45 towards the beneath located detergent drawer 16; and

- an electrically-operated, flow-diverter device 46 which is fluidically connected to the fresh- water supply circuit 12 and/or to the internal water softening device 14 for receiving unsoftened or softened fresh water, and is suitably structured to selectively channel the unsoftened fresh water arriving from fresh- water supply circuit 12 or the softened fresh water arriving from water softening device 14, towards any one of the water- delivery portions of the plate-like water conveyor 45.

More in detail, with particular reference to Figure 10, the plate-like water conveyor 45 is provided, on the side directly faced to the inside of drawer housing 18, with a group of first water-delivery portions 47 which are locally substantially vertically aligned, when detergent drawer 16 is placed in the retracted position, each to a respective detergent compartment 17 of detergent drawer 16, and are each suitably structured to allow the outflow of the fresh water from the water conveyor 45 towards the beneath-located detergent compartment 17.

In the example shown, in particular, each water-delivery portion 47 is preferably structured to pour by gravity a shower of water droplets directly into the beneath- located detergent compartment 17 of detergent drawer 16.

Preferably the plate-like water conveyor 45 is furthermore provided, on the side directly faced to the inside of drawer housing 18, with a second water-delivery portion 48 which is locally substantially vertically aligned, when detergent drawer 16 is placed in the retracted position, to the regeneration-agent compartment 20 of detergent drawer 16, and is suitably structured to allow the outflow of the fresh water from the plate-like water conveyor 45 towards the water inlet 29 of water delivery member 26.

More in detail, with reference to Figures 5 and 10, in the example shown the second water-delivery portion 48 preferably comprises the hydraulic connector 33 structured to couple, when detergent drawer 16 is completely fitted/ inserted into drawer housing 18, with the hydraulic connector 31 of frame element 27.

With reference to Figures 6 and 10, the electrically-operated, flow-diverter device 46, in turn, preferably consists in a discrete, electrically-operated, flow- diverter module which is firmly attached outside of plate-like water conveyor 45, at a coupling socket 49 preferably realized on one of the two major faces of the plate-like water conveyor 45. This discrete, electrically-operated, flow-diverter module 46 is preferably furthermore directly connected both to the fresh- water supply circuit 12 for directly receiving a flow of unsoftened fresh water, and to the water softening device 14 for directly receiving a flow of softened fresh water.

More in detail, with reference to Figure 10, the plate-like water conveyor 45 is provided with a number of water inlets 50 which are located at coupling socket 49 and separately fluidically communicate each with a respective water-delivery portion 47, 48 of water conveyor 45.

The electrically-operated, flow-diverter module 46, in turn, has a main water inlet 51 which directly communicates with the water softening device 14 for directly receiving softened fresh water, and preferably also with the fresh-water supply circuit 12 for also directly receiving unsoftened fresh water; and a number of main water outlets 52 which are located, preferably one side by side the other, at the interface portion of flow-diverter module 46 suited to couple with coupling socket 49, and are each structured to watertight couple/connect, at coupling socket 49, with a respective water inlet 50 of the plate-like water conveyor 45, preferably with the interposition of a corresponding annular sealing gasket.

Preferably the electrically-operated, flow-diverter module 46 furthermore internally accommodates a rotatable flow diverter (not shown) which is capable of channelling, according to its angular position, the water entering into flow-diverter module 46 via the water inlet 51 towards any one of the water outlets 52 of the flow- diverter module 46.

The electrically-operated, flow-diverter module 46 is therefore internally structured to selectively channel, towards any one of its water outlets 52, the water entering into the flow-diverter module 46 via the main water inlet 51 , so as to be able to selectively channel a flow of softened or unsoftened fresh water into any one of the water inlets 50 of the plate-like water conveyor 45. More in detail, with reference to Figures 5, 6, 7 and 10, in the example shown the plate-like water conveyor 45 is preferably provided with a number of internal water channels each of which separately begins at coupling socket 49, and extends inside the body of water conveyor 45 up to reach a corresponding water-delivery portion 47 or 48 of plate-like water conveyor 45. Each water outlet 52 of flow- diverter module 46, in turn, is substantially watertight coupled, at coupling socket 49, with the mouth 50 of a corresponding internal water channel of the plate-like water conveyor 45.

In addition to the above, the flow-diverter module 46 preferably furthermore comprises an electrically-operated motor assembly (not shown) which is mechanically connected to the rotatable flow diverter for controlling the angular position of the flow diverter, and optionally also an electronic control unit which is structured to directly power and control the electrically-operated motor assembly according to electric signals arriving from the main electronic central control unit (not shown) of the laundry washing machine 1.

With reference to Figures 4, 5, 6 and 10, the internal water softening device 14, in turn, is preferably fluidically connected directly to the plate-like water conveyor 45 of drawer flush circuit 19, so as to be crossed by the fresh water that is subsequently channeled towards any one of the water-delivery portions 47 of plate- like water conveyor 45 and optionally also towards the water-delivery portion 48, so that the hardness degree of the tap water directed towards any one of detergent compartments 17 and optionally also towards the regeneration- agent compartment 20 is significantly reduced.

More in detail, the water inlet and the water outlet of water softening device 14 are preferably hydraulically connected directly to the plate-like water conveyor 45 of drawer flush circuit 19, and the plate-like water conveyor 45 is provided with an auxiliary water inlet fluidically communicating solely with the water inlet of water softening device 14, and with an auxiliary water outlet fluidically communicating solely with the water outlet of water softening device 14.

The auxiliary water inlet of plate-like water conveyor 45 is structured to directly couple with the fresh- water supply circuit 12 while bypassing the flow- diverter module 46, so as to receive from the fresh-water supply circuit 12 a flow of unsoftened fresh water.

The auxiliary water outlet of plate-like water conveyor 45, in turn, is located at coupling socket 49, and is suitably structured to directly communicated with the main water inlet 51 of flow-diverter module 46, thus to channel the softened fresh water arriving from the water outlet of water softening device 14 to the main water inlet 51 of flow-diverter module 46.

More in detail, with reference to Figures 4-7 and 10, in the example shown, the internal water softening device 14 is preferably rigidly attached to a side wall of drawer casing 18 so as to be located underneath the plate-like water conveyor 45, and so as to cantilevered extend downwards beyond the bottom of drawer housing 18 and beside brine tank 39, preferably while remaining locally substantially parallel and tangent to a vertical sidewall of the outer casing 2.

The water inlet and the water outlet of water softening device 14, in turn, are preferably fluidically connected directly to the overhanging plate-like water conveyor 45 via two hydraulic connectors 55 that protrude from the lower face of the plate-like water conveyor 45, i.e. from the major face of plate-like water conveyor 45 provided with coupling socket 49 and water-delivery portions 47 and 48.

The hydraulic connector 55 suited to couple with the water inlet of water softening device 14 fluidically communicates, via a specific internal water channel of plate-like water conveyor 45, with a pipe-fitting 56 that protrudes from plate-like water conveyor 45, and is structured to watertight couple directly with the freshwater supply circuit 12 bypassing the flow-diverter module 46. Pipe-fitting 56 therefore forms the auxiliary water inlet of plate-like water conveyor 45.

The hydraulic connector 55 suited to couple with the water outlet of water softening device 14, in turn, fluidically communicates with the main water inlet 51 of flow-diverter module 46 via a specific second internal water channel of plate-like water conveyor 45 that ends at coupling socket 49.

With reference to Figures 4-6, lastly the fresh-water supply circuit 12 of laundry washing machine 1 preferably comprises two independent electrically- operated on-off valves 58 and 59, each of which is separately connectable to the water mains. The electrically-operated on-off valve 58 is directly connected to the main water inlet 51 of flow-diverter module 46 via a first connecting hosepipe or manifold 60. The electrically-operated on-off valve 59 is directly connected to the auxiliary water inlet 56 of plate-like water conveyor 45 via a second connecting hosepipe or manifold 61.

In the example shown, the fresh- water supply circuit 12 preferably moreover comprises a further independent electrically-operated, on-off valve 62 which is separately connectable to a source of hot water (namely the hot branch of the piping, fittings, and fixtures involved in the distribution and use of water in the domestic building), and is directly connected to a second auxiliary water inlet of plate-like water conveyor 45 via a third connecting hosepipe or manifold 63. This second auxiliary water inlet, in turn, preferably directly communicates with the auxiliary water outlet of plate-like water conveyor 45 via a specific internal water channel, thus to channel a flow of hot, unsoftened fresh water towards the main water inlet 51 of flow-diverter module 46.

As an alternative, this second auxiliary water inlet of plate-like water conveyor 45 may also directly communicate with the water inlet of water softening device 14, or better with the hydraulic connector 55 suited to couple with the water inlet of the water softening device 14, thus to channel a flow of hot, unsoftened fresh water towards the water inlet of water softening device 14.

General operation of the laundry washing machine 1 is similar to that of the front loading washing machine disclosed in EP-2554739, thus no other explanations are required.

The advantages resulting from the presence of the water delivery member 26 in detergent drawer 16 are remarkable. First of all, the water delivery member 26 greatly simplifies the structure of the portion of water conveyor 45 located immediately above the regeneration-agent compartment 20, with a remarkable reduction of the overall production costs of plate-like water conveyor 45. Moreover the particular structure of water delivery member 26, or better of frame element 27, allows to sprinkle the fresh water directly onto the sidewalls of regeneration-agent compartment 20, thus preventing formation of salt deposit on the sidewalls of regeneration-agent compartment 20.

Clearly, changes may be made to the laundry washing machine 1 without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, according to Figures 14 and 15, the water delivery member 26 may comprise, in addition to frame element 27, also a manually-movable trapdoor 65 which is substantially complementary in shape to the pass-through opening 28, and is preferably laterally hinged to frame element 27 so as to be able to freely rotate about a reference axis R preferably locally substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis L of detergent drawer 16, i.e. parallel to the displacement direction d of detergent drawer 16, to and from a closed position (see Figure 15) in which trapdoor 65 is arranged substantially coplanar to the frame element 27 and closes the central pass- through opening 28 of the same frame element 27.

More in detail, trapdoor 65 is preferably rotatable about axis R between a closed position (see Figure 15) in which trapdoor 65 is arranged substantially coplanar to the frame element 27 thus to close the central pass-through opening 28, and an opened position (see Figure 14) in which trapdoor 65 is rotated sideways of the central pass-through opening 28 of frame element 27 thus to allow the user to manually pour the salt grains into the regeneration-agent compartment 20 through the central pass-through opening 28.

Preferably trapdoor 65 may also rotate about reference axis R of roughly 180° with reference to the closed position (see Figure 15), so as to locally substantially cover the upper mouth of one or more of the detergent compartments 17 of detergent drawer 16.

As an alternative, trapdoor 65 could be laterally hinged to the frame element 27 so as to rotate about a reference axis R locally substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of detergent drawer 16, i.e. perpendicular to the displacement direction d of detergent drawer 16. With reference to Figure 14, in this embodiment the water delivery member 26 is preferably additionally provided with one or more snap-on locking tongues 66 which are incorporated in the trapdoor 65 and/or in frame element 27, and are suitably structured to firmly lock the trapdoor 65 to the frame element 27 in a stable, tough easy releasable manner, when trapdoor 65 is arranged in the closing position.

Obviously, trapdoor 65 could also be fitted in sliding manner on the upper face of frame element 27 so as to be able to slide horizontally, on top of the frame element 27, to and from a closed position in which trapdoor 65 is arranged above and closes the central pass-through opening 28.

In addition to the above, according to a less-sophisticated not-shown alternative embodiment of detergent dispenser 10, the drawer flush circuit 19 may be structured to solely pour the fresh water of the water mains selectively and alternatively into any one of the detergent compartments 17 of detergent drawer 16.

In this less-sophisticated embodiment, furthermore, laundry washing machine 1 may additionally comprise an auxiliary fresh-water supply line which is separately connected to the fresh-water supply circuit 12 or is separately connectable directly to the water mains, and is structured to selectively and independently channel, when detergent drawer 16 is placed in the retracted position, a flow of fresh water directly to the water inlet of the water delivery member 26 arranged/located on top of the regeneration-agent compartment 20.

In this embodiment, therefore, the water delivery member 26 receives the fresh water directly from said auxiliary fresh-water supply line bypassing the flow- diverter module 46 of detergent dispenser 10.

More in detail, the auxiliary fresh-water supply line is discrete from drawer flush circuit 19, and may comprise a further electrically-operated, on-off valve which is separately connectable to the water mains; and a hosepipe directly connecting said further electrically-operated, on-off valve to the hydraulic connector 33 stationary inside drawer housing 18.

Rather than being incorporated into the plate-like water conveyor 45 of drawer flush circuit 19 so as to fluidically communicate with the flow-diverter module 46, the stationary second hydraulic connector 33 is therefore fluidically connected, via the hosepipe, to said further electrically-operated, on-off valve for selectively receiving the fresh water of the water mains.

In addition to the above, according to a further alternative embodiment of detergent dispenser 10, the one or more detergent compartments 17 of detergent drawer 16 may be dimensioned to contain a given amount of detergent, softener or other washing agent sufficient for performing a number of washing cycles.

Detergent drawer 16, furthermore, may optionally comprise, for each detergent compartment 17, a respective electrically-powered detergent feeding pump which is structured to selectively suck the dose of detergent, softener or other washing agent necessary to perform a washing cycle from the detergent compartment 17 and pump said dose of detergent, softener or other washing agent on the basin-shaped bottom portion 35 of drawer housing 18.

According to a not-shown, a less sophisticated embodiment of drawer flush circuit 19, furthermore the electrically-operated, flow-diverter device 46 may be incorporated into the plate-like water conveyor 45 as disclosed in EP2562303.

Moreover, with reference to Figure 16, in a further alternative embodiment of laundry washing machine 1 , the regeneration-agent compartment 20 is located into a supplementary, manually extractable, regeneration- agent drawer 67 which is discrete from detergent drawer 16, and is fitted/inserted in manually extractable manner into a corresponding substantially basin-shaped, drawer housing 68 which is located/ recessed inside casing 2 horizontally beside detergent dispenser 10.

In this embodiment, therefore, the regeneration- agent compartment 20 is formed into the drawer-like supporting structure 69 of said regeneration- agent drawer 67, and the water delivery member 26, or rather frame element 27, is rigidly fitted into the upper rim of the regeneration-agent compartment 20, inside the drawer-like supporting structure 69.

Similarly to water delivery member 26, the water-permeable partitioning septum 25, if present, now rests in abutment on the bottom of regeneration- agent compartment 20, inside the drawer-like supporting structure 69. Preferably detergent drawer 16 and regeneration-agent drawer 67 are furthermore independently movable inside the respective drawer housings 18, 68 parallel to one another.

Alike detergent drawer 16, the regeneration- agent drawer 67 is therefore movable in a substantially horizontally-oriented, displacement direction between:

- a retracted position in which the regeneration-agent drawer 67 is almost completely recessed into the front wall 4 of casing 2 and the regeneration-agent compartment 20 is inaccessible to the user; and

- a completely extracted position in which the regeneration- agent drawer 67 partly juts out from the front wall 4 of casing 2, so that the regeneration-agent compartment 20 is exposed and fully accessible to the user.

In this embodiment, the drawer housing 68 that accommodates regeneration- agent drawer 67 has its own basin-shaped bottom portion for receiving the brine trickling/falling down from the regeneration- agent compartment 20 through the large pass-through draining opening 21. Brine tank 39, if present, is now firmly attach to the bottom of drawer housing 68 and is fluidically connected to the basin-shaped bottom portion of the same drawer housing 68 so as to allow the brine to freely flow by gravity from the drawer housing 68 directly into the same brine tank 39.

Hydraulic connector 33, in turn, is now located stationary inside drawer housing 68, and the hydraulic connector 32 forming the water inlet 28 of water delivery member 26, or better the water inlet 28 of frame element 27, preferably now protrudes from the back of regeneration-agent drawer 67 substantially parallel to the displacement direction d of regeneration-agent drawer 67, and is structured to substantially watertight couple in a stable, though easy detachable manner, with hydraulic connector 33 when regeneration-agent drawer 67 is placed in the retracted position.

In the example shown, furthermore, the drawer housing 68 of regeneration- agent drawer 67 is preferably realized in one piece with the drawer housing 18 of detergent drawer 16, and the plate-like water conveyor 45 of drawer flush circuit 19 is preferably structured to form the upper lid of both drawer housings 18 and 68. Detergent drawer 16 and regeneration-agent drawer 67 are therefore independently movable parallel and adjacent to one another, along a same substantially horizontally-oriented, displacement direction d which is locally substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the drawer housings 17 and 68.

Preferably, even if the regeneration-agent compartment 20 is no more incorporated in the drawer-like supporting structure 23, the manually- sizable front panel 24 of detergent drawer 16 is still dimensioned to close, when detergent drawer 16 is placed in the retracted position, both the entrance of drawer housing 18 and the adjacent entrance of drawer housing 68. Thus axial displacement of regeneration- agent drawer 67 towards the completely extracted position is exclusively allowable when detergent drawer 16 is placed in the extracted position.

Lastly, in a not-shown alternative embodiment of laundry washing machine 1 , the laundry loading/unloading opening is located on the upper worktop or top wall 11 of boxlike casing 2, and the washing tub 3 is arranged inside casing 2 with the mouth directly facing the upper worktop or top wall 11. The rotatable drum, in turn, is fitted vertically into washing tub 3 with the concavity facing the upper mouth of washing tub 3, so as to be able to rotate about a substantially vertically-oriented, longitudinal axis.

Claims

1. A laundry washing machine (1) comprising an outer casing (2) and, inside said outer casing (2), a washing tub (3), a rotatable drum housed in axially rotatable manner inside the washing tub (3) and structured for housing the laundry to be washed, a detergent dispenser (10) which is structured for supplying detergent into the washing tub (3), a fresh- water supply circuit (12) which is structured for selectively channelling a flow of fresh water from the water mains towards the detergent dispenser (10) and/or the washing tub (3), and an internal water softening device (14) capable of reducing the hardness degree of the fresh directed towards the detergent dispenser (10) or the washing tub (3);

the laundry washing machine (1) furthermore comprising at least a first drawer (16, 67) which is fitted/inserted in extractable manner into a corresponding drawer housing (18, 68) located/recessed inside the outer casing (2), and has a substantially basin-shaped, regeneration- agent compartment (20) structured for being manually fillable with a given amount of consumable salt or other regeneration agent; and a water-supply line (19) which is structured for channelling a flow of fresh water of the water mains towards said regeneration-agent compartment (20);

the laundry washing machine (1) being characterized in that said first drawer (16, 67) comprises a water delivery member (26) which is stationary fitted to the regeneration-agent compartment (20) so as to move together with the first drawer (16, 67), and is structured to receive, from the water-supply line (19) and at least when said first drawer (16, 67) is placed in a retracted position, a flow of fresh water and spread out said fresh water into the regeneration-agent compartment (20).

2. Laundry washing machine according to Claim 1, characterized in that said water delivery member (26) is fitted to the regeneration-agent compartment (20) substantially at the upper mouth of regeneration-agent compartment (20).

3. Laundry washing machine according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said water delivery member (26) is additionally shaped/structured so as to form/ delimit, inside the regeneration- agent compartment (20), a pass-through opening (28) shaped/dimensioned to allow the user to pour the consumable salt or other regeneration agent into the same regeneration-agent compartment (20).

4. Laundry washing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said water delivery member (26) is provided with a water inlet (29) structured to allow the fresh water to enter into the same water delivery member (26), and with one or more water outlets (30) that fluidically communicate with said water inlet (29) to convey fresh water into the regeneration-agent compartment (20); the water-supply line (19) being structured to channel, at least when said first drawer (16, 67) is in the retracted position, the fresh water of the water mains towards the water inlet (29) of said water delivery member (26)

5. Laundry washing machine according to Claim 4, characterized in that the water inlet (29) of said water delivery member (26) is structured to couple in detachable manner with the water-supply line (19) when said first drawer (16, 67) is placed in the retracted position, and to uncouple from said water-supply line (19) when said first drawer (16, 67) is placed in an extracted position.

6. Laundry washing machine according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the one or more water outlets (30) of said water delivery member (26) are structured to pour a shower of water droplets into the regeneration- agent compartment (20).

7. Laundry washing machine according to Claim 4, 5 or 6, characterized in that the water inlet (29) of said water delivery member (26) comprises a first hydraulic connector (32) structured to couple, when said first drawer (16, 67) is placed in the retracted position, in detachable manner with a complementary second hydraulic connector (33) which is located stationary inside the drawer housing (18, 68) and which communicates with said water-supply line (19).

8. Laundry washing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said water delivery member (26) is fitted in detachable manner into the regeneration-agent compartment (20).

9. Laundry washing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said water delivery member (26) comprises a frame element (27) which is designed to fit into the upper rim of the regeneration-agent compartment (20), and is centrally provided with pass-through opening (28) shaped/dimensioned to allow the user to easily manually pour the consumable salt or other regeneration agent into the same regeneration-agent compartment (20).

10. Laundry washing machine according to Claim 9, characterized in that said frame element (27) is provided with a water inlet (29) structured for receiving, when said first drawer (16, 67) is in the retracted position, the fresh water from the water- supply line (19), and with one or more water-delivery portions (30) which are arranged on the lower side of the frame element (27) so as to be faced to the inside of the regeneration- agent compartment (20), and are structured to allow the outflow of the fresh water from the frame element (27).

11. Laundry washing machine according to Claim 10, characterized in that the water-delivery portions (30) are arranged on the lower face of the frame element (27) all around the central pass-through opening (28).

12. Laundry washing machine according to Claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the water inlet (29) of said frame element (27) comprises a first hydraulic connector (32) that extends substantially parallel to the displacement direction (d) of the drawer (16, 67), and is structured to couple in detachable manner with a complementary second hydraulic connector (33) which, in turn, is located stationary inside the drawer housing (18, 68) so as to couple with said first hydraulic connector (32) when said first drawer (16) is in the retracted position, and to uncouple from said first hydraulic connector (32) when said first drawer (16) moves into an extracted position.

13. Laundry washing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fist drawer (16) additionally comprises one or more substantially basin-shaped, detergent compartments (17) which are arranged beside the regeneration-agent compartment (20) and are each structured for being manually fillable with a given amount of detergent, softener or other washing agent.

14. Laundry washing machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the detergent dispenser (10) comprises a second drawer (16) which is provided with one or more detergent compartments (17) each structured for being manually fillable with a given amount of detergent, softener or other washing agent, and which is fitted/inserted in extractable manner into a corresponding second drawer housing (18) which is located/recessed inside the outer casing (2).

15. Laundry washing machine according to Claim 14, characterized in that the second drawer (16) is arranged horizontally beside the first drawer (67) so that both drawers (16, 67) are independently movable inside the corresponding drawer housings (18, 68) parallel to one another.

16. Laundry washing machine according to Claim 13, 14 or 15, characterized in that the detergent dispenser (10) additionally comprises a drawer flush circuit (19) which is connected to the fresh-water supply circuit (12), and is structured for pouring, when said first or second drawer (16, 67) is arranged in the retracted position, the fresh water of the water mains selectively into any one of the detergent compartments (17), so as to selectively flush the detergent, softener or other washing agent out of the same detergent compartment (17) and down onto the bottom of the drawer housing (18).

17. Laundry washing machine according to Claim 16, characterized in that said water-supply line (19) is part of the drawer flush circuit (19).

18. Laundry washing machine according to Claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the drawer flush circuit (19) of the detergent dispenser (10) comprises: a main water conveyor (45) which is structured to form the upper lid of the drawer housing/s (18, 68), so as to be located above said regeneration-agent compartment (20) and said one or more detergent compartments (17) when the said first and/or second drawer/s (16, 67) is/are arranged in the retracted position, and is provided with a number of water-outlets (47, 48) each suitably structured to allow the outflow of the water from said main water conveyor (45) towards a corresponding detergent compartment (17) or towards said water delivery member (26); and an electrically-operated, flow- diverter device (46) which is fluidically connected to the water softening device (14) and/or to the fresh-water supply circuit (12) for receiving the softened or unsoftened fresh water, and is suitably structured to selectively channel said softened or unsoftened fresh water towards any one of the water-outlets (47, 48) of said main water conveyor (45).

19. Laundry washing machine according to Claim 18, characterized in that one (48) of the water-delivery portions (47, 48) of said main water conveyor (45) comprises the second hydraulic connector (33).

20. Laundry washing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the regeneration- agent compartment (20) is dimensioned to accommodate an amount of consumable salt or other regeneration agent sufficient for performing one or more regeneration processes of water softening capabilities of the internal water softening device (14).

21. Laundry washing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the internal water softening device (14) internally contains a given amount of ion-exchange resins capable of restraining the calcium and magnesium ions dissolved in the water that flows through the same water softening device (14).