EP4386126A1

EP4386126A1 - Household appliance with extraction device for salt container and method for operating such a househole appliance

Info

Publication number: EP4386126A1
Application number: EP22213627.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ella BLAICH; Carlo Antonio LEONE; Marco Pessot; Francesco Sacilotto
Original assignee: Electrolux Appliances AB
Current assignee: Electrolux Appliances AB
Priority date: 2022-12-14
Filing date: 2022-12-14
Publication date: 2024-06-19

Abstract

A household appliance (100) is provided. The household appliance comprises a water softening system (WSS) configured to receive fresh water having a first level of hardness and to provide softened water having a second level of hardness lower than the first level of hardness. The water softening system comprises: - a water softening agent container (145) configured to store a water softening agent capable of reducing a hardness of the fresh water; - a removable salt container (150) configured to contain salt for regenerating the water softening agent stored in the water softening agent container; - a housing (H) for accommodating the removable salt container (150), the housing comprising a cavity (CV) for slidingly inserting the salt container into the housing in an inward direction (XI), and for slidingly extracting the salt container from the housing in an outward direction (XO); and - a system for coupling/decoupling the salt container (150) to/from the housing (H), configured to be selectively switched between: - a coupled condition in which the salt container (150) is fastened to the housing (H), thereby preventing sliding of the salt container inside the cavity (CV), and - a decoupled condition in which the salt container (150) is unfastened from the housing (H), thereby allowing sliding of the salt container inside the cavity (CV). The system for coupling/decoupling the salt container comprises an extraction device (ED) configured to move the salt container (150) in the outward direction (XO) when the system is switched from the coupled condition to the decoupled condition.

Description

Technical field

The present disclosure generally relates to the field of laundry treatment appliances (hereinafter, concisely, "household appliances"), and particularly to household appliances for treating (e.g., washing) laundry, such as laundry washing appliances and laundry washing appliances also implementing laundry drying functions (also referred to as washers/dryers), comprising a water softening system.

Background art

A conventional household appliance is configured to treat laundry located in a (e.g., rotatable) drum by providing process liquids in a washing tub housing the rotatable drum.
Process liquids may comprise (e.g., depending on a selected treatment cycle and/or on a current phase of the selected treatment cycle) plain water or a treatment mixture comprising water mixed with proper treatment agents, including, but not limited to, washing detergents, rinsing detergents, bleaches and softeners detergents.
Since the hardness of the water (i.e., the amount of minerals, largely calcium and magnesium, dissolved in the water) may negatively affect the performance of the household appliance (e.g., in that components or parts of the household appliance that are in direct contact with hard or excessively hard water may become encrusted with limestone, thereby prematurely impairing the correct operation thereof) and/or of the treatment cycles (e.g., in that laundry treated by using hard or excessively hard water may become stiff, subjected to premature tear and wear, and cause skin irritation), a modern type of household appliance comprises a water softening system configured to receive fresh water and to provide a softened water having a reduced hardness than the fresh water.
Typically, the water softening system comprises a water softening agent container configured to store a water softening agent (such as an ion-exchange resin) capable of reducing the hardness of the fresh water by reaction of the fresh water with the water softening agent.
Typically, the water softening system comprises a salt container configured to store salt, which is used for regenerating the water softening agent contained in the water softening agent container during a water softening agent regeneration procedure. Particularly, the salt container is configured to receive the fresh water, generate a mixture of salt and fresh water to produce a brine, and channel the brine into the water softening agent container to allow regeneration of the water softening agent.
The salt container is generally accommodated within the household appliance in a corresponding housing and must be accessible to a user, to allow the user to refill it with new amounts of salt.

Summary

The Applicant has realized that the current household appliances provided with a water softening system are not satisfactory, in particular those comprising a salt container located in a bottom portion of the appliance and which can be accessed only from the front part.
Indeed, it is very difficult to access the cavity of a salt container horizontally arranged in a bottom portion of the appliance when it has to be refilled with salt or cleaned from residual brine or salt. Therefore, to simplify these operations, the salt container has to be extracted by the user from the household appliance.
Since the salt container is accommodated in a housing located in an internal portion of the household appliance, the salt container is usually difficult to be reached by hand from the user. Moreover, since the housing for the salt container typically surrounds and encloses the salt container, it is very difficult for a user to manage to grasp the salt container when fitted in the housing.
This problem is exacerbated by the not negligible size and weight of typical salt containers.
In view of the above, the Applicant has devised a household appliance that is not affected by the above-mentioned drawbacks, and particularly a household appliance capable of allowing a simple and easy extraction of the salt container, which is at the same time simple and cost-effective.
An aspect of the present invention relates to a household appliance.
The household appliance comprises a water softening system configured to receive fresh water having a first level of hardness and to provide softened water having a second level of hardness lower than the first level of hardness.
The water softening system comprises a water softening agent container configured to store a water softening agent capable of reducing a hardness of the fresh water.
The water softening system comprises a removable salt container configured to contain salt for regenerating the water softening agent stored in the water softening agent container.
The water softening system comprises a housing for accommodating the removable salt container.
The housing comprises a cavity for slidingly inserting the salt container into the housing in an inward direction, and for slidingly extracting the salt container from the housing in an outward direction.
The water softening system comprises a system for coupling/decoupling the salt container to/from the housing.
The system for coupling/decoupling the salt container is configured to be selectively switched between:

a coupled condition in which the salt container is fastened to the housing, thereby preventing sliding of the salt container inside the cavity, and
a decoupled condition in which the salt container is unfastened from the housing, thereby allowing sliding of the salt container inside the cavity. The system for coupling/decoupling the salt container comprises an extraction device configured to move the salt container in the outward direction when the system is switched from the coupled condition to the decoupled condition.

Thanks to the extraction device, the operations to be performed by a user to extract the salt container from the household appliance are strongly simplified.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the extraction device comprises a sliding element configured to slide with respect to the housing in the inward and the outward directions when the system is in the decoupled condition and to mechanical interact with the salt container when the salt container is inside the cavity.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sliding element is configured to push the salt container in the outward direction when it slides in the outward direction.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the salt container is configured to push the sliding element in the inward direction when the salt container slides into the cavity in the inward direction.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sliding element comprises an interaction portion protruding inside the cavity.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the interaction portion is configured to mechanically interact with the salt container when the salt container is inside the cavity so that it pushes the salt container in the outward direction when the sliding element slides in the outward direction.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the salt container is configured to push the interaction portion when the salt container slides in the inward direction.
More than one interaction portion may be provided, each one part of or coupled to the sliding element and protruding inside the cavity.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the extraction device further comprises an elastic element coupled to the sliding element.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the elastic element is configured to pull the sliding element in the outward direction so that the sliding element slides in the outward direction thereby pushing the salt container in the outward direction.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the elastic element is configured to be pushed by the sliding member when the salt container slides in the inward direction thereby pushing the sliding element in the inward direction.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the elastic element comprises a spring element coupled between the housing and the sliding element.
Other types of elastic elements can be provided, such as for example comprising an elastic band or belt.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the system for coupling/decoupling the salt container further comprises a first fastening element located at the salt container housing and a second fastening element located at the salt container.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first fastening element and the second fastening element are configured to be engaged with each other in the coupled condition and to be disengaged from each other in the decoupled condition.
More than one first fastening element and/or one second fastening element may be also provided.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first and second fastening elements are configured to disengage from each other when the salt container is pushed in the inward direction while the system is in the coupled condition, and the sliding element is configured to slide in the outward direction when the first and second fastening elements disengage from each other, thereby causing the elastic element to pull the sliding element in the outward direction so that the sliding element slides in the outward direction thereby causing the interaction portion to push the salt container in the outward direction.
In this way, through a small and simple pushing movement of the user, the extraction device causes the salt container to be (at least partially) pushed outside the housing, so that it can be easily grasped by the user to be extracted from the housing.
In this way, the operations for extracting the salt container from the household appliance are strongly simplified because the salt container is automatically pushed outwards without having to exploit costly (and prone to faults) motorized systems.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sliding element is configured to slide in the inward direction until the first and second fastening elements engage with each other.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first fastening element and the second fastening element comprise snap-fit elements.
According to an embodiment, the water softening system further comprises a presence detection unit for detecting a presence or absence of the salt container within the household appliance.
According to an embodiment, the housing comprises a processing unit configured to receive presence detection signals from the presence detection unit, and to provide to a control unit of the household appliance an indication of the presence of the salt container within the household appliance.
In basic embodiments in which the processing unit is omitted, the presence detection unit (when provided) may be electrically connected (e.g., directly) to the control unit. In these embodiments, the presence detection unit may transmit the presence detection signals to the control unit, and the control unit may determine an indication of the presence or absence of the salt container within the household appliance based on the received presence detection signals.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance further comprises a door for accessing salt container housing, thereby allowing access to a protruding portion of the salt container when the coupling system is in the decoupled condition.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the salt container is configured to receive the fresh water and generate a mixture of salt and fresh water to produce a brine.
According an embodiment of the present invention, when the salt container is accommodated within the cavity of the housing and fastened to the latter by the coupling system in the coupled condition the salt container is hydraulically connected to the water softening agent container.
According an embodiment of the present invention, when the salt container is accommodated within the cavity of the housing and fastened to the latter by the coupling system in the coupled condition the salt container is hydraulically connected to the water supply unit.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the salt container is accommodated within the cavity of the housing and fastened to the latter by the coupling system in the coupled condition, the salt container is fluidly connected to one or more regions of the water softening system.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the hydraulic connection between the salt container and the water softening agent container, the hydraulic connection between the salt container and the water supply unit and the fluid connection between the salt container and region(s) of the water softening system are obtained by means of one or more check valves.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the salt container housing comprises a first housing shell and a second housing shell connected to each other in a removable manner to define said cavity.
More than two housing shells may be also contemplated and configured to be connected to each other in a removable manner to define said cavity.
According to an embodiment, the housing is adapted to be fixed to the household appliance.
Another aspect of the present invention provides for a method for operating a household appliance comprising a water softening system.
The water softening system comprises a removable salt container configured to contain salt for regenerating the water softening agent stored in the water softening agent container.
The water softening system comprises a housing for accommodating the removable salt container.
The housing comprises a cavity for slidingly inserting the salt container into the housing in an inward direction, and for slidingly extracting the salt container from the housing in an outward direction.
The water softening system comprises a system for coupling/decoupling the salt container to the housing, configured to be selectively switched between:

a coupled condition in which the salt container is fastened to the housing, thereby preventing sliding of the salt container inside the cavity, and
a decoupled condition in which the salt container is unfastened from the housing, thereby allowing sliding of the salt container inside the cavity.

The system for coupling/decoupling the salt container comprises an extraction device configured to move the salt container in the outward direction when the system is switched from the coupled condition to the decoupled condition.
The extraction device comprises a sliding element configured to slide with respect to the housing in the inward and the outward directions when the system is in the decoupled condition and to mechanical interact with the salt container when the salt container is inside the cavity.
The sliding element is configured to push the salt container in the outward direction when it slides in the outward direction, and wherein the salt container is configured to push the sliding element in the inward direction when the salt container slides into the cavity in the inward direction.
The method comprises inserting the salt container into the cavity.
The method comprises pushing the salt container in the inward direction thereby pushing the sliding element so that it slides in the inward direction until the system is in the coupled condition in which the salt container is fastened to the housing.
The method comprises pushing the salt container fastened to the housing in the inward direction until the system is switched from the coupled to the decoupled condition, so that the sliding element slides in the outward direction thereby pushing the salt container in the outward direction.

Brief description of the annexed drawings

These and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be made apparent by the following description of an exemplary and non-limitative embodiment thereof; for its better intelligibility, the following description should be read referring to the attached drawings, wherein:

Figure 1A shows a perspective view of a household appliance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 1B shows, in terms of simplified functional blocks, a hydraulic/electric circuit of the household appliance of Figure 1A according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 2A shows a perspective front view of a housing accommodating a salt container of the household appliance of Figures 1A and 1B in a retracted position according to the exemplary embodiment;
Figure 2B shows a perspective front view of the housing accommodating the salt container in an extracted position according to the exemplary embodiment.
Figure 3A and Figure 3B show top views of the housing accommodating the salt container of Figure 2A and Figure 3B , respectively, according to the exemplary embodiment;
Figure 4A shows a sectional view of the housing accommodating the salt container of Figure 3A taken along section plane IVA-IVA according to the exemplary embodiment;
Figure 4B shows a sectional view of the housing accommodating the salt container of Figure 3B taken along section plane IVB-IVB according to the exemplary embodiment;
Figure 5A shows a sectional view of the housing accommodating the salt container of Figure 3A taken along section plane VA-VA according to the exemplary embodiment.
Figure 5B shows a sectional view of the housing accommodating the salt container of Figure 3B taken along section plane VB-VB according to the exemplary embodiment;
Figure 6 shows a perspective back view of the housing accommodating the salt container of Figure 2A according to the exemplary embodiment;
Figure 7 shows a perspective and partially exploded rear view of a lower housing shell of the housing according to the exemplary embodiment;
Figure 8A shows a flow chart illustrating in terms of functional blocks main operations of a method for inserting the salt container into the housing of the household appliance according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 8B shows a flow chart illustrating in terms of functional blocks main operations of a method for extracting the salt container from the housing of the household appliance according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of an exemplary embodiment

With reference to the drawings, Figures 1A and 1B show a perspective view of a household appliance 100 and a hydraulic/electric circuit thereof, respectively, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
In the following, only relevant components of the household appliance 100 (hereinafter, appliance components) deemed relevant for the understanding of the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be discussed for the sake of conciseness.
In the following, directional terminology (such as above, below, front, rear, central, side, upper and lower) is only used for describing the household appliance (as well as the appliance components) according to an intended orientation use thereof; therefore, directional terminology should be under no circumstances construed in absolute terms. In particular, the directional terminology is referred to mutually orthogonal reference axis X, Y, and Z.
In Figure 1B , hydraulic connections among the appliance components are graphically represented by double lines. Without losing generality, the hydraulic connections may comprise rigid and/or semi-rigid (flexible) pipes. In Figure 1B , electric connections among the appliance components are graphically represented by single lines (so as to distinguish them from the hydraulic connections).
According to the exemplary embodiment, the household appliance 100 is a washing machine. In any case, although in the following description explicit reference will be made to a washing machine, this should not to be construed as a limitation; indeed, the present disclosure equivalently applies to other types of household appliances, for example combined washers/dryers (i.e., washing machines also having laundry drying functions).
According to the exemplary embodiment, the household appliance 100 comprises a control unit CU for controlling the household appliance 100.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the control unit CU is configured to control (e.g., drive, power, interact with and/or exchange data with) the appliance components (or a subset thereof, as will be progressively detailed in the following discussion), in order to manage the execution of selected treatment cycles.
The implementation of the control unit CU is not limiting for the present disclosure.
Just as an example, the control unit CU may comprise a plurality of dedicated electronic sub-units (not shown) each one aimed at controlling one or more respective appliance components, and a central electronic unit (not shown) for coordinating the plurality of dedicated control sub-units.
Just as another example, the control unit CU may comprise a single, common electronic unit.
In the following, when one or more of the appliance components are said to be operated under the control of the control unit CU, it is meant that these appliance components may be equally operated by the respective dedicated electronic units or by the common electronic unit.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the household appliance 100 comprises a (e.g., parallepiped-shaped) cabinet 105.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the household appliance 100 comprises a basement portion (not shown) provided at a bottom of the household appliance 100 and adapted to receive or accommodate one or more of the appliance components.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the household appliance 100 comprises a laundry treatment chamber, such as a washing tub 110 (schematically shown in Figure 1B ). According to the exemplary embodiment, the washing tub 110 is accommodated within the cabinet 105, the washing tub 110 for example resting on the basement portion.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the household appliance 100 comprises a (e.g., rotatable) drum, not shown in the figures, adapted to receive laundry to be treated (e.g., to be washed), or laundry load. According to the exemplary embodiment, the drum is housed within the washing tub 110.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the household appliance 100 comprises (e.g., at a cabinet front), a loading opening (not visible in the figures) providing an access to the drum (e.g., for loading/unloading the laundry load).
According to the exemplary embodiment, the household appliance 100 comprises a porthole 115 (shown in a closed position in Figure 1A ) for sealably closing the loading opening during the operation of the household appliance 100.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the household appliance 100 comprises a user interface.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the user interface comprises a physical user interface.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the user interface comprises, e.g., depending on type and/or model of household appliance, one or more interaction units associated with (e.g., for selecting and/or interacting with) corresponding functionalities of the household appliance 100. According to the exemplary embodiment, the interaction unit(s) comprise(s) one or more among a button or key (or more thereof) 120(1), a rotary knob (or more thereof) 120(2), and a display (or more thereof) 120(3).
According to the exemplary embodiment, the control unit CU is configured to control the household appliance 100 according to instructions received by a user through the user interface of the household appliance 100.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the user interface comprises warning means to provide one or more warning indications to the user.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the warning means comprises one or more warning units of, or associated with, the physical user interface.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the warning means is configured to communicate with the control unit CU. According to the exemplary embodiment, the control unit CU is electrically connected to the warning unit(s).
According to the exemplary embodiment, the warning means may be configured to provide one or more types of warning indications, for example optical and/or acoustical indications. Just as an example, the optical indication(s) may comprise a light and/or a text message and/or a symbol/icon (for example, a static or animated symbol/icon for salt container extraction and/or for salt refill). Just as an example, the acoustical indication(s) may comprise a beep sound and/or a vocal message.
Without losing generality, the warning unit(s) may comprise the display 120(3) and/or one or more sound emitters of the household appliance 100 (not shown).
According to the exemplary embodiment, the household appliance 100 comprises a process liquid supply apparatus for supplying process liquids into the washing tub 110.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the process liquids may comprise water (such as fresh water or softened water, as discussed in the following) or a treatment mixture including a treatment agent mixed with water (i.e., a treatment agent mixed with the fresh water or with the softened water).
According to the exemplary embodiment, the treatment agent may comprise one or more among a washing detergent, a rinsing detergent, a bleach and a softener.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the process liquid supply apparatus comprises a drawer 125. According to the exemplary embodiment, the drawer 125 is configured to store an amount of treatment agent sufficient for performing one or more treatment cycles, and to selectively deliver the process liquids (i.e., the water or the treatment mixture) to the washing tub 110.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the drawer 125 is adapted to slide within a drawer seat (not shown), along a sliding direction, between an extracted position (not shown) and a retracted position (shown in Figure 1A ). According to the exemplary embodiment, the sliding direction (parallel to the X axis) is parallel to a rest surface (identified by the X-Y plane), such as the floor, on which the household appliance 100 rests in operation (i.e., when it is installed in the user premises).
According to the exemplary embodiment, the drawer 125 comprises a water distribution system (not shown) for distributing the water (e.g., the fresh water or the softened water) within the drawer 125 in order to obtain the process liquids. Without losing generality, the water distribution system may comprise a flushing device (not shown) flushing the fresh water or the softened towards specific regions of the drawer 125 (such as compartments and/or channels thereof). According to the exemplary embodiment, as mentioned above, the fresh water or the softened water from the flushing device (or, more generally, from the water distribution system) may be mixed with treatment agent (so that the process liquids provided to the washing tub 110 comprise a corresponding treatment mixture) or not mixed with any treatment agent (so that the process liquids provided to the washing tub 110 comprise plain (fresh or softened water) water).
According to the exemplary embodiment, the process liquids provided to the washing tub 110 may comprise the treatment mixture or the plain water depending on a current phase of a selected (and ongoing) treatment cycle performed by the household appliance 100. Just as an example, the process liquids may comprise the treatment mixture during pre-washing and washing phases of the treatment cycle, or the plain water during wetting and rinsing phases of the treatment cycle.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the process liquids provided to the washing tub 110 may comprise the fresh water or the softened water depending on a current phase of a selected (and ongoing) treatment cycle performed by the household appliance 100. Just as an example, the process liquids may comprise the softened water during pre-washing and washing phases of the treatment cycle, or the fresh water during wetting and rinsing phases of the treatment cycle.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the household appliance 100 comprises a drain 135 (schematically shown in Figure 1B ) for allowing the process liquids contained in the washing tub 110 to be discharged from the household appliance 100. According to the exemplary embodiment, the drain 135 is located at the cabinet back, preferably at a top portion thereof.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the household appliance 100 comprises a water supply unit 140 (schematically shown in Figure 1B ) configured to supply fresh water to the household appliance 100. According to the exemplary embodiment, the water supply unit 140 is located at a cabinet back, preferably at a top portion thereof.
For the purposes of the present disclosure, the fresh water supplied by the water supply unit 140 has a high or relatively high level of hardness (i.e. a high or relatively high amount of dissolved minerals (largely, calcium and magnesium). For the purposes of the present disclosure, the level of hardness of the fresh water is higher than the level of hardness of the softened water provided by a water softening system (discussed in the following) from the fresh water.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the water supply unit 140 comprises a valve system.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the water supply unit 140 is connected to a fresh water hose (not shown). According to the exemplary embodiment, the fresh water hose is located behind the household appliance 100. According to the exemplary embodiment, the fresh water hose is connected to an external water supply (such as the water mains, not shown). According to the exemplary embodiment, the water supply unit 140 may be operated to allow selective supply of fresh water to the process liquid supply apparatus and/or to a water softening system (discussed in the following), or to prevent the supply of fresh water to both the process liquid supply apparatus and the water softening system.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the water supply unit 140 is operated under the control of the control unit CU (as conceptually represented in the figure by electrical connection between the control unit CU and the water supply unit 140). For the purposes of the present disclosure, the control unit CU may be configured to selectively allow or prevent the supply of fresh water from the water supply unit 140 to the process liquid supply apparatus, to a water softening agent container (discussed in the following) and/or to a salt container (discussed in the following).
According to the exemplary embodiment, the household appliance 100 comprises a water softening system WSS configured to receive the fresh water (e.g., from the water supply unit 140) and to provide the softened water (e.g., to the process liquid supply apparatus).
According to the exemplary embodiment, the water softening system WSS comprises a water softening agent container 145.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the water softening agent container 145 is configured to store a water softening agent capable of reducing a hardness of the fresh water. Without losing generality, the water softening agent may comprise an ion-exchange resin.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the water softening agent container 145 is configured to provide the softened water obtained from the fresh water (e.g., from the water supply unit 140) reacting with the water softening agent. In other words, the water softening agent contained in the water softening agent container 145 causes a reduction of the hardness of the received fresh water, thus obtaining the corresponding softened water.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the water softening agent container 145 is operated under the control of the control unit CU. For the purposes of the present disclosure, the control unit CU may be configured to selectively allow or prevent the supply of the softened water from the water softening agent container 145 to the process liquid supply apparatus.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the water softening system WSS comprises a salt container 150 configured to store salt. According to the exemplary embodiment, the salt stored in the salt container 150 is used for regenerating the water softening agent contained in the water softening agent container 145 during a water softening agent regeneration procedure. Particularly, according to the exemplary embodiment, the salt container 150 is configured to receive the fresh water (e.g., from the water supply unit 140), generate a mixture of salt and fresh water to produce a brine, and channel the brine into the water softening agent container 145 to allow a regeneration of the water softening agent.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the brine contained in the salt container 150 is caused to be channelled into the water softening agent container 145 by water pressure of the fresh water entering the salt container 150.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the salt container 150 is removably accommodated within the household appliance 100, for example (as illustrated) at a cabinet bottom. According to the exemplary embodiment, the household appliance 100 comprises (e.g., at a cabinet front) an opening 160 for accessing the salt container 150 and allow a user to refill it with new amounts of salt.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the household appliance 100 comprises (e.g., at a cabinet front) a door D for selectively opening/closing the opening 160.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the salt container 150 is adapted to slide within a cavity CV of a respective housing H (discussed in the following), along the sliding direction (parallel to the X axis) for being extracted/inserted from/to the household appliance 100 through the opening 160 for allowing an easy refilling of salt.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the household appliance 100 comprises a coupling system (discussed in the following) for coupling/decoupling the salt container 150 to the housing.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the coupling system is configured to be selectively switched between:

a coupled condition in which the salt container is fastened into the housing H, thereby preventing sliding of the salt container 150 inside the cavity CV, and
a decoupled condition in which the salt container is unfastened from the housing H, thereby allowing sliding of the salt container 150 inside the cavity CV.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the salt container 150 comprises an inlet channel A. According to the exemplary embodiment, a check valve 165A is arranged in the inlet channel A. According to the exemplary embodiment, when the salt container 150 is accommodated within the cavity CV of the housing H and fastened to the latter by the coupling system in the coupled condition, the salt container 150 is hydraulically connected to the water softening agent container 145 through the check valve 165A arranged in the inlet channel A of the salt container 150 and through a respective check valve 170A arranged in the housing H. In this way, when the salt container 150 is accommodated within the cavity CV of the housing H and fastened to the latter by the coupling system in the coupled condition, the salt container 150 may receive fresh water from the water supply unit 140 to produce the brine.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the salt container 150 comprises a first outlet channel B. According to the exemplary embodiment, a check valve 165B is arranged in the first outlet channel B. According to the exemplary embodiment, when the salt container 150 is accommodated within the cavity CV of the housing H and fastened to the latter by the coupling system in the coupled condition, the salt container 150 is hydraulically connected to the water supply unit 140 through the check valve 165B arranged in the first outlet channel B of the salt container 150 and through a respective check valve 170B arranged in the housing H. In this way, when salt container 150 is accommodated within the cavity CV of the housing H and fastened to the latter by the coupling system in the coupled condition, brine contained in the salt container 150 may be channelled into the water softening agent container 145 (to allow regeneration of the water softening agent) or into the drain 135 (to allow safe and easy salt container extraction to perform salt refill, as better discussed in the following).
According to the exemplary embodiment, the salt container 150 comprises a second outlet channel C. According to the exemplary embodiment, a check valve 165C is arranged in the second outlet channel C. According to the exemplary embodiment, when the salt container 150 is accommodated within the cavity CV of the housing H and fastened to the latter by the coupling system in the coupled condition, the salt container 150 is fluidly connected to one or more regions of the water softening system WSS through the check valve 165C arranged in the second outlet channel C of the salt container 150 and through a respective check valve 170C arranged in the housing H. In this way, when the salt container 150 is accommodated within the cavity CV of the housing H and fastened to the latter by the coupling system in the coupled condition, air contained inside the salt container 150 may exit the salt container (i.e., to allow air vent).
According to the exemplary embodiment, each check valve 165A, 165B, 165C arranged in a channel A, B, C of the salt container 150 is configured to interact or cooperate (e.g., couple) with the respective check valve 170A, 170B, 170C in the housing H when the salt container 150 is accommodated within the cavity CV of the housing H and fastened to the latter by the coupling system in the coupled condition.
According to the exemplary embodiment:

When the salt container 150 is inserted within the cavity CV of the housing H and fastened to the housing H by the coupling system in the coupled condition, the check valves 165A, 165B, 165C and 170A, 170B, 170C are open, thereby allowing the hydraulic connection of the salt container 150 to the water softening agent container 145, the hydraulic connection of the salt container 150 to the water supply unit 140 and the fluid connection of the salt container 150 to the external region;
when the salt container 150 is unfastened from the housing H by the coupling system in the decoupled condition, the check valves 165A, 165B, 165C and 170A, 170B, 170C are closed, thereby preventing said hydraulic and fluid connections of the salt container 150.

According to the exemplary embodiment, each check valve 165A, 165B, 165C and 170A, 170B, 170C comprises a valve body actuatable to allow passage of fluid (e.g., water or air) therethrough. According to the exemplary embodiment, each check valve 170A, 170B, 170C of the housing H comprises an actuation member (for example, in the form of a pin or stem) for valve body actuation.
According to the exemplary embodiment, when the salt container 150 is inserted within the cavity CV of the housing H and fastened to the housing H by the coupling system in the coupled condition, each actuation member actuates the valve bodies of the respective check valves 165_A,170_A, 165_B,170_B, 165_C,170_C thereby opening the check valves 165_A,170_A, 165_B,170_B, 165_C,170_C to establish the respective hydraulic and fluid connections, whereas when the salt container 150 is unfastened from the housing H by the coupling system in the decoupled condition, the actuation members do not interact with the valve bodies of the respective check valves 165_A,170_A, 165_B,170_B, 165c,170c so that each of the check valves 165_A,170_A, 165_B,170_B, 165c,170c is closed, thereby preventing the respective hydraulic and fluid connections.
In this way, spillage of the content of the water softening agent container 145 into the housing H is prevented.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the water softening system WSS comprises a draining arrangement 175, hydraulically connected to the salt container 150, configured to drain the brine from the salt container 150. Without losing generality, the draining arrangement 175 may comprise a draining pump. According to the exemplary embodiment, the draining arrangement 175 is operated under the control of the control unit CU.
According to the exemplary embodiment, as conceptually represented in Figure 1B , the draining arrangement 175 is arranged in the housing H.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the draining arrangement 175 is configured to drain the brine from the salt container 150 into the drain 135 through the washing tub 110 (i.e., by bypassing the process liquid supply apparatus). This avoids that the process liquid supply apparatus gets soiled with the brine and/or impurities thereof.
Figure 2A shows a perspective front view of the housing H accommodating the salt container 150 in a retracted position, with the salt container 150 that is fastened to the housing H by the coupling system in the coupled condition, according to the exemplary embodiment.
Figure 2B shows a perspective front view of the housing H accommodating the salt container 150 in an extracted position, with the salt container 150 that is unfastened from the housing H, i.e., when the coupling system is in the decoupled condition, according to the exemplary embodiment.
Figure 3A and Figure 3B show top views of the housing H accommodating the salt container 150 of Figure 2A and Figure 3B , respectively, according to the exemplary embodiment.
Figure 4A shows a sectional view of the housing H accommodating the salt container 150 of Figure 3A taken along section plane IVA-IVA according to the exemplary embodiment.
Figure 4B shows a sectional view of the housing H accommodating the salt container 150 of Figure 3B taken along section plane IVB-IVB according to the exemplary embodiment.
Figure 5A shows a sectional view of the housing H accommodating the salt container 150 of Figure 3A taken along section plane VA-VA according to the exemplary embodiment.
Figure 5B shows a sectional view of the housing H accommodating the salt container 150 of Figure 3B taken along section plane VB-VB according to the exemplary embodiment.
Figure 6 shows a perspective back view of the housing H accommodating the salt container 150 of Figure 2A according to the exemplary embodiment.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the housing H comprises a first (e.g., lower) housing shell 205(1) and a second (e.g., upper) housing shell 205(2) (wherein the terms lower and upper refer to lower and upper positions along the Z axis). According to the exemplary embodiment, the lower housing shell 205(1) and the upper housing shell 205(2) are connected to each other, so as to define the cavity CV adapted to slidingly receive the salt container 150. The cavity CV is visible in Figures 4A, 4B , 5A, and 5B . According to the exemplary embodiment, the lower housing shell 205(1) and the upper housing shell 205(2) are connected to each other in a removable manner. A perspective and exploded rear view of the lower housing shell 205(1) according to the exemplary embodiment is depicted in Figure 7 .
According to the exemplary embodiment, the lower housing shell 205(1) and the upper housing shell 205(2) are connected to each other by means of one or more snap-fit mechanisms 210, for example a plurality of snap-fit mechanisms 210 provided at (e.g., edge or perimeter portions of) the lower and upper housing shells.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the lower housing shell 205(1) is made of a plastic (e.g., rigid or semi rigid) material and/or of a metal material.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the upper housing shell 205(2) is made of a plastic (e.g., rigid or semi rigid) material and/or of a metal material. Without losing generality, the lower housing shell 205(1) and the upper housing shell 205(2) may be made of same, different, or partially different materials.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the housing H is adapted to be accommodated in a respective housing seat (not shown), the housing seat being for example formed in the basement portion of the household appliance 100. According to the exemplary embodiment, the housing seat has a profile matching or substantially matching a profile of the lower housing shell 205(1).
According to the exemplary embodiment, the housing H is adapted to be fixed to the household appliance 100, so as to stably keep it firm while moving the salt container 150 between the extracted and retracted positions.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the housing H is adapted to be fixed to the basement portion of the household appliance 100 by means of a fixing arrangement 215.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the housing H comprises a seat (hereinafter, pump seat) 220 for positioning the draining pump (or, more generally, the draining arrangement 175) therein.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the pump seat 220 comprises a lower pump seat portion 220(1) associated with (e.g., formed in a single piece with) the lower housing shell 205(1) and adapted to house (from below) the draining pump (or, more generally, the draining arrangement 175), and an upper pump seat portion 220(2) associated with (e.g., formed in a single piece with) the upper housing shell 205(2) and adapted to cover (from above) the draining pump (or, more generally, the draining arrangement 175). According to the exemplary embodiment, the pump seat 220 is configured to completely enclose the draining pump (or, more generally, the draining arrangement 175) when the lower housing shell 205(1) and the upper housing shell 205(1) are connected to each other.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the housing H comprises a closure lid 245 for closing the rear portion of the lower housing shell 205(1). According to the exemplary embodiment, the closure lid 245 is configured to be fixed to the rear portion of the lower housing shell 205(1), for example by means of a snap closure.
According to the exemplary embodiment, the housing H comprises a presence detection unit 250 for detecting a presence or absence of the salt container 150 within the cavity CV of the housing H. Without losing generality, the presence detection unit 250 may be based on any suitable detection principle, such as mechanical detection, electrical detection, optical detection or a combination thereof.
According to an embodiment, the housing H comprises a processing unit (not illustrated) configured to receive presence detection signals from the presence detection unit 250, and to provide to the control unit CU of the household appliance 100 an indication of the presence of the salt container within the household appliance based on the presence detection signals received from the presence detection unit 250.
According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the salt container 150 is configured to:

be inserted into the housing H by sliding in the cavity CV in an inward direction XI (i.e., directed toward the inside of the household appliance 100) parallel to the axis X, and
be extracted from the housing H by sliding in the cavity CV in an outward direction XO (i.e., directed toward the outside of the household appliance 100) opposite to the inward direction XI.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the coupling system for coupling/decoupling the salt container 150 to the housing H comprises a releasable push-push coupling mechanism including a first fastening element E1 located at the housing H and a second fastening element E2 located at the salt container 150.
According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the first fastening element E1 and the second fastening element E2 are configured to be engaged with each other when the coupling system is in the coupling condition (see Figure 4A ).
According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the first fastening element E1 and the second fastening element E2 are configured to be disengaged from each other when the coupling system is in the decoupling condition (see Figure 4B ).
According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the first fastening element E1 and the second fastening element E2 comprise snap-fit elements.
According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, starting from the coupling system in the decoupled condition - in which the first fastening element E1 is disengaged from the second fastening element E2 -, the coupling system is configured to be switched to the coupled condition by pushing the salt container 150 in the cavity CV in the inward direction XI until the first fastening element E1 engages the second fastening element E2 by snap-fit.
According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, starting from the coupling system in the coupled condition - in which the first fastening element E1 is engaged with the second fastening element E2 -, the releasable push-push coupling mechanism is configured to cause the first fastening element E1 be disengaged from the second fastening element E2 (switching thus the coupling system from the coupled condition to the decoupled condition) in response to a push of the salt container 150 in the inward direction XI.
According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the presence or absence of the salt container within the cavity CV of the housing H, related, each, to the coupled or decoupled condition, are detected by the presence detection unit 250 .
According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the coupling system comprises an extraction device ED configured to push the salt container 150 in the outward direction XO when the coupling system is switched from the coupled condition to the decoupled condition.
According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the extraction device ED comprises a sliding element 260 configured to slide with respect to the housing H in the inward direction XI and in the outward direction XO when the coupling system is in the decoupled condition.
According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the upper housing shell 205(2) is provided with a guide element 265 running parallel to the axis X and configured to guide the movement of the sliding element 260 along the inward direction XI and the outward direction XO.
According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the sliding element 260 is configured to mechanical interact with the salt container 150 when the salt container 150 is inside the cavity CV of the housing H.
For this purpose, according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the sliding element 260 comprises an interaction portion 270 protruding inside the cavity CV of the housing H, for example through the guide element 265.
According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the mechanical interaction between (the interaction portion 270 of) the sliding element 260 and the salt container 150 allows the salt container 150 to push the sliding element 260 in the inward direction XI when the salt container 150 slides into the cavity CV of the housing H in the inward direction XI.
According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the mechanical interaction between (the interaction portion 270 of) the sliding element 260 and the salt container 150 allows the sliding element 260 to push the salt container 150 in the outward direction XO when the sliding element 260 slides along the guide element 265 in the outward direction XO.
According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the extraction device ED comprises an elastic element (e.g., a spring) 275 coupled to the sliding element 260.
According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the elastic element 275 is configured to pull the sliding element 260 in the outward direction XO.
In this way, when the coupling system switches from the coupled condition to the decoupled condition, so that the first fastening element E1 disengages from the second fastening element E2, the sliding element 260 is slid by the elastic element 275 in the outward direction thereby pushing the salt container 150 inside the cavity CV in the outward direction XO. Moreover, when the salt container 150 is slid inside the cavity CV in the inward direction XO, the elastic element 275 is pushed by the sliding element 260.
According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the elastic element 275 comprises a spring element for coupling the housing H to the sliding element 260.
According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the elastic element 275 comprises a spring having a first end connected (e.g., fitted in) to a coupling portion (e.g., an eyelet) of the sliding element 260.
According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the elastic element 275 comprises a spring having a second end connected (e.g., fitted in) to a coupling portion (e.g., an eyelet) located at the upper housing shell 205(2) of the housing H.
According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the sliding element 260 is configured to slide in the inward direction IW (under the pushing force exerted by the sliding of the salt container 150 inside the cavity CV along the inward direction IW) until the first and second fastening elements E1, E2 engage with each other (i.e., until the coupled condition of the coupling system is reached).
According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the first and second fastening elements E1, E2 disengage from each other, the elastic element 275 is left free to retract, so as it drags (pull) the sliding element 260 in the outward direction XO. Therefore, because of the pulling force exerted by the retracting elastic element 275, the interaction portion 270 of the sliding element 260 pushes the salt container 150 in the outward direction XO.
In this way, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when the door D of the opening 160 (see Figure 1A) is opened, and the coupling system is switched to the decoupled condition (e.g., by pushing the salt container 150 along in the inward direction XI to disengage the first fastening element E1 from the second fastening element E2), the salt container 150 is pushed in the outward direction XO by the sliding element 260 (pulled in turn by the elastic element 275), until protruding outside the opening 160, easing the extraction of the salt container 150 from the housing H by allowing a user to grab the protruding portion of the salt container 150.
With reference now to Figure 8A , it shows a flow chart illustrating in terms of functional blocks the main operations of a method 300 performed by a user, for inserting the salt container 150 into the housing H of the household appliance 100 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
Starting from a condition in which the salt container 150 is outside the housing H of the household appliance 100, according to the exemplary embodiment the method 300 comprises opening the door D to expose the opening 160 for accessing the cavity CV of the housing H (block 302).
According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the method 300 comprises inserting the salt container 150 into the cavity CV of the housing H through the opening 160 (block 304).
According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, once the salt container 150 is inserted in the cavity CV, the method 300 comprises pushing the salt container 150 inside the cavity CV of the housing H in the inward direction XI, thereby pushing the sliding element 260 so that it slides in the inward direction XI until the first and second fastening elements E1, E2 engage with each other (i.e., until the coupled condition of the coupling system is reached) (block 306). In this way, the salt container 150 is fastened to the housing H, and the respective check valves 165_A,170_A, 165_B,170_B, 165_C,170_C are open, thereby allowing the hydraulic connection of the salt container 150 to the water softening agent container 145, the hydraulic connection of the salt container 150 to the water supply unit 140 and the fluid connection of the salt container 150 to the surrounding region external to the salt container 150 (see Figure 1B ).
According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the method 300 ends with closing the door D for preventing access to the cavity CV of the housing H (block 308).
With reference now to Figure 8B , it shows a flow chart illustrating in terms of functional blocks main operations of a method 300' performed by a user, for extracting the salt container 150 from the housing H of the household appliance 100 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
Starting from a condition in which the salt container 150 is fastened inside the housing H of the household appliance 100, according to the exemplary embodiment the method 300 comprises opening the door D to expose the opening 160 for accessing the cavity CV of the housing H (block 310).
According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the method 300' comprises pushing the salt container 150 inside the cavity CV of the housing H in the inward direction XI, so as that the fastening elements E1, E2 disengage from each other (i.e., switching the coupling system to the decoupled condition) (block 312). By having the coupling system that in the decoupled condition, the salt container 150 is unfastened from the housing H, and the respective check valves 165_A,170_A, 165_B,170_B, 165c,170c are closed, thereby preventing the hydraulic connection of the salt container 150 to the water softening agent container 145, the hydraulic connection of the salt container 150 to the water supply unit 140 and the fluid connection of the salt container 150 to the surrounding region external to the salt container 150.
According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the salt container 150 is pushed in the outward direction XO by the sliding element 260 under the pushing exerted by the elastic element 275, until a portion of the salt container 150 protrudes outside the opening 160 (block 314).
According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the method 300' comprises extracting the salt container 150 from the cavity CV of the housing H by grabbing the portion of the salt container 150 protruding outside the opening 160 (block 316).
According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the method 300' ends with closing the door D for preventing access to the (empty) cavity CV of the housing H (block 316).
Naturally, in order to satisfy local and specific requirements, a person skilled in the art may apply to the disclosure described above many logical and/or physical modifications and alterations. More specifically, although the disclosure has been described with a certain degree of particularity with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details as well as other embodiments are possible. In particular, different embodiments of the disclosure may even be practiced without the specific details (such as the numeric examples) set forth in the preceding description for providing a more thorough understanding thereof; on the contrary, well-known features may have been omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the description with unnecessary particulars.

Claims

Household appliance (100) comprising a water softening system (WSS) configured to receive fresh water having a first level of hardness and to provide softened water having a second level of hardness lower than the first level of hardness, wherein the water softening system comprises:
- a water softening agent container (145) configured to store a water softening agent capable of reducing a hardness of the fresh water;

- a removable salt container (150) configured to contain salt for regenerating the water softening agent stored in the water softening agent container;

- a housing (H) for accommodating the removable salt container (150), the housing comprising a cavity (CV) for slidingly inserting the salt container into the housing in an inward direction (XI), and for slidingly extracting the salt container from the housing in an outward direction (XO); and

- a system for coupling/decoupling the salt container (150) to/from the housing (H), configured to be selectively switched between:
- a coupled condition in which the salt container (150) is fastened to the housing (H), thereby preventing sliding of the salt container inside the cavity (CV), and

- a decoupled condition in which the salt container (150) is unfastened from the housing (H), thereby allowing sliding of the salt container inside the cavity (CV), wherein:

the system for coupling/decoupling the salt container comprises an extraction device (ED) configured to move the salt container (150) in the outward direction (XO) when the system is switched from the coupled condition to the decoupled condition.
The household appliance (100) of claim 1, wherein the extraction device (ED) comprises a sliding element (260) configured to slide with respect to the housing (H) in the inward (XI) and the outward (XO) directions when the system is in the decoupled condition and to mechanical interact with the salt container (150) when the salt container is inside the cavity (CV), wherein the sliding element (260) is configured to push the salt container (150) in the outward direction (XO) when it slides in the outward direction (XO), and wherein the salt container (150) is configured to push the sliding element (260) in the inward direction (XI) when the salt container (150) slides into the cavity (CV) in the inward direction (XI).
The household appliance (100) of claim 2, wherein the sliding element (260) comprises an interaction portion (270) protruding inside the cavity (CV) and configured to mechanically interact with the salt container (150) when the salt container is inside the cavity so that it pushes the salt container (150) in the outward direction (XO) when the sliding element slides in the outward direction (XO), wherein the salt container (150) is configured to push the interaction portion (270) when the salt container (150) slides in the inward direction (XI).
The household appliance (100) of claim 2, wherein the salt container (150) comprises an interaction portion (270) protruding outside the cavity (CV) when the salt container (150) is inside the cavity (CV) and configured to mechanically interact with the sliding element (260) so that the salt container (150) is pushed in the outward direction (XO) by the mechanical interaction between the interaction portion (270) and the sliding element (260) when the sliding element (260) slides in the outward direction (XO), wherein the salt container (150) is configured to push the sliding element (260) in the inward direction (XI) by the mechanical interaction between the interaction portion (270) and the sliding element (260) when the salt container (150) slides in the inward direction (XI).
The household appliance (100) of any of claims 2 to 4 wherein the extraction device (ED) further comprises an elastic element (275) coupled to the sliding element (260), the elastic element (275) being configured:
- to pull the sliding element (260) in the outward direction (XO) so that the sliding element (260) slides in the outward direction (XO) thereby pushing the salt container (150) in the outward direction (XO), and

- to be pushed by the sliding element (260) when the salt container (150) slides in the inward direction (XI) thereby pushing the sliding element (260) in the inward direction.
The household appliance (100) of claim 5, wherein the elastic element (275) comprises a spring element coupled between the housing (H) and the sliding element (260).
The household appliance (100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the system for coupling/decoupling the salt container (150) further comprises a first fastening element (E1) located at the salt container housing (H) and a second fastening element (E2) located at the salt container (150), the first fastening element (E1) and the second fastening element (E2) being configured to be engaged with each other in the coupled condition and to be disengaged from each other in the decoupled condition.
The household appliance (100) of claim 7, wherein the first (E1) and second (E2) fastening elements are configured to disengage from each other when the salt container (150) is pushed in the inward direction (XI) while the system is in the coupled condition.
The household appliance (100) of claim 7 or 8, wherein the sliding element (260) is configured to slide in the inward direction (XI) until the first (E1) and second (E2) fastening elements engage with each other, and to slide in the outward direction (XO) when the first and second fastening elements disengage from each other.
The household appliance (100) of any of claims 6-9, wherein the first fastening element (E1) and the second fastening element (E2) comprise snap-fit elements.
The household appliance (100) of any preceding claim, further comprising a door (D) for accessing salt container housing (H), thereby allowing access to a protruding portion of the salt container (150) when the coupling system is in the decoupled condition.
The household appliance (100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein:
- the salt container (150) is configured to receive the fresh water and to generate a mixture of salt and fresh water to produce a brine;

- the housing (H) is configured to enable a hydraulic connection between the salt container (150) and the water softening agent container (145) when the coupling system is in the coupled condition, and to disable said hydraulic connection between the salt container and the water softening agent container when the coupling system is in the decoupled condition.
The household appliance (100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the salt container housing (H) comprises a first housing shell (205(1)) and a second housing shell (205(2)) connected to each other in a removable manner to define said cavity (CV).
Method (300, 300') for operating a household appliance (100) comprising a water softening system (WSS) comprising
- a removable salt container (150) configured to contain salt for regenerating water softening agent stored in a water softening agent container (145);

- a housing (H) for accommodating the removable salt container (150), the housing comprising a cavity (CV) for slidingly inserting the salt container into the housing in an inward direction (XI), and for slidingly extracting the salt container from the housing in an outward direction (XO); and

- a system for coupling/decoupling the salt container (150) to the housing, configured to be selectively switched between:

- a coupled condition in which the salt container is fastened to the housing, thereby preventing sliding of the salt container inside the cavity, and

- a decoupled condition in which the salt container is unfastened from the housing, thereby allowing sliding of the salt container inside the cavity, wherein:
the system for coupling/decoupling the salt container (150) comprises an extraction device (ED) configured to move the salt container (150) in the outward direction when the system is switched from the coupled condition to the decoupled condition, the extraction device comprising a sliding element (260) configured to slide with respect to the housing (H) in the inward (XI) and the outward (XO) directions when the system is in the decoupled condition and to mechanical interact with the salt container (150) when the salt container (150) is inside the cavity (CV), wherein the sliding element (260) is configured to push the salt container (150) in the outward direction (XO) when it slides in the outward direction, and wherein the salt container (150) is configured to push the sliding element (260) in the inward direction (XI) when the salt container (150) slides into the cavity (CV) in the inward direction(XI); the method comprising:
- inserting (304) the salt container (150) into the cavity (CV),

- pushing (306) the salt container (150) in the inward direction thereby pushing the sliding element so that it slides in the inward direction (XI) until the system is in the coupled condition in which the salt container (150) is fastened to the housing (H), and further comprising:

- pushing (312) the salt container (150) fastened to the housing (H) in the inward direction (XI) until the system is switched from the coupled to the decoupled condition, so that the sliding element (260) slides in the outward direction (XO) thereby pushing (314) the salt container (150) in the outward direction (XO).