Abstract: A dispensing device for a liquid, including a reservoir inside which a holding chamber for a liquid is defined; a ram movable inside the holding chamber, wherein between the ram and the seat a variable volume working chamber is defined, able to communicate with the holding chamber; and a non-return valve, arranged at the outlet opening and downstream of the seat. During the stroke of the ram from a forward end-of-stroke position to a backward end-of-stroke position the liquid flows from the holding chamber to the working chamber, and during the stroke of the ram from the backward end-of-stroke position to the forward end-of-stroke position the liquid is dispensed out from the working chamber through an outlet opening. The device further includes an actuating group arranged outside of the holding chamber and capable of contactlessly controlling motion of the ram.

Abstract: Dispensing device for a liquid, comprising a reservoir (3) inside which a holding chamber (3d) for a liquid is defined; a ram (16) movable inside the holding chamber (3d), wherein between the ram (16) and the seat (14d) a variable volume working chamber (14e) is defined, able to communicate with the holding chamber (3d); and a non-return valve (30), arranged at the outlet opening (12b) and downstream of the seat (14d). During the stroke of the ram (16) from a forward end-of-stroke position to a backward end-of-stroke position the liquid flows from the holding chamber (3d) to the working chamber (14e), and during the stroke of the ram (16) from the backward end-of-stroke position to the forward end-of-stroke position the liquid is dispensed out from the working chamber (14e) through an outlet opening (12b). The device further comprises an actuating group (21, 22, 23, 24) arranged outside of the holding chamber (3d) and capable of contactlessly controlling motion of the ram (16).

Abstract: Assembly (1) for dispensing washing agents in the washing chamber (C) of a washing machine, including an integrated dispensing device for washing agents (2), comprising a body (2a) which is intended to be mounted through an opening of a sheet-like wall (F) which delimits the washing chamber (C). The assembly (1) further comprises a reservoir (3) for liquid detergent which may be removably coupled to the body (2a) of the device for dispensing washing agents (2), and which may be positioned on the side of the device for dispensing washing agents (2) intended to face the washing chamber (C). The reservoir has a holding chamber (3d) for liquid detergent able to communicate with the outside of the reservoir (3) through at least one outlet opening (12b) for dispensing liquid detergent and an actuator assembly (21, 22, 23, 24) to control the dispensing of liquid detergent from the reservoir (3).

Abstract: The actuator (10) comprises a body (12) formed by a single strip of ferromagnetic material, U-shaped and including a first and a second lateral branch (14, 16) facing each other and interconnected by an intermediate branch or portion (18). A first lateral branch (14) of the body (12) has a frustoconical formation (30) which extends in the region outside the body (12). A coil (22) is fixed in the body (12), and its axis (A-A) extends in a direction essentially orthogonal to the lateral branches (14, 16) of this body (12). A ferromagnetic core (28) is mounted so as to be translatable inside the coil (22), from a rest position to a working position, as an effect of the energizing of the coil (22). One end (32) of the core (28), facing towards the first branch (14) of said body (12), has a frustoconical shape essentially complementary to the internal shape (30b) of the formation (30). The frustoconical formation (30) of the first branch (14) of said body (12) is blind and has a planar distal bottom wall (30a).

Abstract: An assembly includes a transducer and anti-flood device. The transducer receives, as an input, a pressure signal taken by a liquid held in a main container and includes a circuit, for providing, as an output, an electric control signal having a variable parameter representing the pressure signal. The anti-flood device includes a receptacle, a float and a sensor. The receptacle is arranged to receive and hold a part of liquid coming from the secondary container. The float is movably mounted in the receptacle and moves up to a height representing the level reached by the part of liquid. The sensor is configured to detect the height reached by the float and to transmit an electric level-indicating signal representing the height to the circuit. The circuit is designed to apply, to the variable parameter, a correction that is determined as a function of the level-indicating signal according to predetermined criteria.

Abstract: A dispensing device (1) for a door of a dishwasher, includes a support body (2) having first and second, longitudinally adjacent, dispensers (5-7; 9, 10), for a washing agent and a rinse agent, respectively; and an electrically controlled actuator device (13), having a stationary structure (15) and a mobile member (18), coupled to the first dispenser (5-7) such that when the door is closed a first energization of the actuator device (13) causes the dispensing of the washing agent, and coupled to the second dispenser (9, 10) through a transmission mechanism including an interconnecting member (30) which makes the mechanism operative after a first energization of the actuator device (13) after the door is closed, to allow dispensing of the rinse agent by a subsequent energization of the actuator device (13). The interconnecting member (30) has an inactive position in which the mechanism is inoperative when the door is opened.

Abstract: A valve device for an ice dispensing conduit includes a bearing structure having a passage to be coupled with the conduit, an obturator mounted rotatable in the bearing structure between a closed position and an opened position, and a motor for rotating the obturator between the closed position and the opened position. A wire made of a shape-memory material, capable of shrinking when an electric current flows therethrough, has one end anchored to the bearing structure and the other end coupled with the obturator through a transmission mechanism. A flow of an electric current in the shape-memory wire causes a shrinking thereof and a consequent rotation of the obturator towards the opened position, and an interruption of such current allows the shape-memory wire to re-expand and the obturator (12) to return towards its closed position.

Abstract: An assembly includes a transducer and anti-flood device. The transducer receives, as an input, a pressure signal taken by a liquid held in a main container and includes a circuit, for providing, as an output, an electric control signal having a variable parameter representing the pressure signal. The anti-flood device includes a receptacle, a float and a sensor. The receptacle is arranged to receive and hold a part of liquid coming from the secondary container. The float is movably mounted in the receptacle and moves up to a height representing the level reached by the part of liquid. The sensor is configured to detect the height reached by the float and to transmit an electric level-indicating signal representing the height to the circuit. The circuit is designed to apply, to the variable parameter, a correction that is determined as a function of the level-indicating signal according to predetermined criteria.

Abstract: The actuator (10) comprises a body (12) formed by a single strip of ferromagnetic material, U-shaped and including a first and a second lateral branch (14, 16) facing each other and interconnected by an intermediate branch or portion (8). A first lateral branch (14) of the body (12) has a frustoconical formation (30) which extends in the region outside the body (12). A coil (22) is fixed in the body (12), and its axis (A-A) extends in a direction essentially orthogonal to the lateral branches (14, 16) of this body (12). A ferromagnetic core (28) is mounted so as to be translatable inside the coil (22), from a rest position to a working position, as an effect of the energising of the coil (22). One end (32) of the core (28), facing towards the first branch (14) of said body (12), has a frustoconical shape essentially complementary to the internal shape (30b) of the formation (30). The frustoconical formation (30) of the first branch (14) of said body (12) is blind and has a planar distal bottom wall (30a).

Abstract: The valve device (1) comprises a bearing structure (2), stationary in operation, wherein there is defined a passage (3) intended to be coupled with an ice cube dispensing conduit in a refrigerator; an obturator (12) mounted rotatable in the bearing structure (2), between a closed position and an opened position, wherein it substantially shuts and, respectively, opens the passage (3), and an electrically-controlled motor means (W; 22, 28, 30), connected with the bearing structure (2) and coupled with the obturator (12) and adapted to cause a rotation of the obturator (12) between the closed position and the opened position.

Abstract: An actuator device which includes a fixed support structure, an actuation member movable, a biasing member tending to maintain the actuation member in a rest position, a shape-memory wire connected to the structure and to the actuation member, and an electric circuit for supplying an electric current to the shape-memory wire. The circuit includes a pair of terminals. One end of the shape-memory wire is connected to a first terminal. The circuit includes further an electric switch, including a first conducting member electrically connected with the second terminal, and a second conducting member carried by the actuation member and electrically connected with the other end of the shape-memory wire. The switch is closed when the actuation member is in the rest position, and remains closed until when the actuation member reaches a working position, and opens when the actuation member passes beyond the working position.

Abstract: A dispensing device (1) for a door of a dishwasher, includes a support body (2) having first and second, longitudinally adjacent, dispensers (5-7; 9, 10), for a washing agent and a rinse agent, respectively; and an electrically controlled actuator device (13), having a stationary structure (15) and a mobile member (18), coupled to the first dispenser (5-7) such that when the door is closed a first energisation of the actuator device (13) causes the dispensing of the washing agent, and coupled to the second dispenser (9, 10) through a transmission mechanism including an interconnecting member (30) which makes the mechanism operative after a first energisation of the actuator device (13) after the door is closed, to allow dispensing of the rinse agent by a subsequent energisation of the actuator device (13). The interconnecting member (30) has an inactive position in which the mechanism is inoperative when the door is opened.

Abstract: An actuator device which includes a stationary support structure, a movable member displaceable relative to the structure, and a wire of a shape-memory material, which extends in the structure between two anchoring elements and the movable member such that the wire shortens when an electric current flows therethrough, causing a displacement of the movable member against the action of a counteracting member. In the structure there are provided two deflection members disposed along the path of the shape-memory wire, each one between the movable member and the corresponding anchoring element of the wire, such as to cause a deflection of the wire between each anchoring element and the movable member.

Abstract: An assembly including an integrated device for dispensing washing agents, having a body intended to be mounted in an opening of a sheet-like wall which delimits the washing chamber and which has a peripheral formation which protrudes towards the outside and is intended to abut against the surface of the wall surrounding the opening, on the side of the wall which faces the washing machine; and an ozone-generating device, with a housing which has an outlet opening and contains electric ozone-flow generating means suitable for emitting a flow of ozone towards the outlet opening, so as to introduce it into the washing chamber of the machines.

Abstract: The assembly (1) comprises an integrated device (2) for dispensing washing agents, comprising a body (2a) intended to be mounted in an opening (G) of a sheet-like wall (F) which delimits the washing chamber (C) of a dishwashing machine (WD) and which has a peripheral formation (2b) which protrudes towards the outside and is intended to abut against the surface of this wall (F) surrounding the opening (G), on the side of this wall (F) which faces the washing chamber (C); and an ozone-generating device (3), with a housing (3a) which has an outlet opening (39) and contains an electric ozone-flow generator (34, 36) suitable for emitting a flow of ozone towards said outlet opening (39), so as to introduce it into the washing chamber (C) of the machine (WD). In the body (A) of the washing-agent dispensing device (2) there is defined an outlet chamber (13) able to communicate, in the condition of use, with the washing chamber (C) and having an inlet passage (45) accessible from the outside.

Abstract: An actuator device which includes a stationary support structure, a movable member displaceable relative to the structure, and a wire of a shape-memory material, which extends in the structure between two anchoring elements and the movable member such that the wire shortens when an electric current flows therethrough, causing a displacement of the movable member against the action of a contrast member. In the structure there are provided two deflection members disposed along the path of the shape-memory wire, each one between the movable member and the corresponding anchoring element of the wire, such as to cause a deflection of the wire between each anchoring element and the movable member.

Abstract: An actuator device which includes a fixed support structure, an actuation member movable, a contrast member tending to maintain the actuation member in a rest position, a shape-memory wire connected to the structure and to the actuation member, and an electric circuit for supplying an electric current to the shape-memory wire. The circuit includes a pair of terminals. One end of the shape-memory wire is connected to a first terminal. The circuit includes further an electric switch, including a first conducting member electrically connected with the second terminal, and a second conducting member carried by the actuation member and electrically connected with the other end of the shape-memory wire. The switch is closed when the actuation member is in the rest position, and remains closed until when the actuation member reaches a working position, and opens when the actuation member passes beyond the working position.

Abstract: A device for detecting the level of a liquid in a container, includes an optical structure facing at least partly the region inside the container in a position corresponding to a predefined level of the liquid and having a main surface, a first side surface and a second side surface which are inclined at about 45° with respect to the main surface and about 90° relative to each other; and an emitter and a receiver facing the main surface of the optical structure and able to send a radiation beam towards the first side surface and, respectively, receive a radiation beam emitted by the emitter and reflected by the first and second side surfaces, when the level of the liquid inside the container is lower than the predefined level. The structure extends mainly outside the container and faces the region inside the container only opposite the first side surface.

Abstract: The dispensing device (1) comprises a first releasing device (2) for a detergent, including a receptacle (4) and an associated openable cover (5), and a second releasing device (3) for a rinsing agent. These releasing devices (2, 3) are intended to be activated at successive times in a washing cycle by successive energizations of a single electrically operable actuator (11) which is mechanically coupled thereto in such a way that a first energization of the actuator (11) is able to modify the state of the first releasing device (2) without changing the state of the second releasing device (3), and a successive energization of the actuator (11) is such as to cause the activation of the second releasing device (3).

Abstract: The sensor apparatus is intended to detect the level of a liquid, gel or powder substance contained in a receptacle and includes an emitter able to emit radiation and a receiver able to receive and convert into an electric signal radiation which is emitted by the emitter and the intensity of which is variable depending on the quantity or level of substance present in the receptacle. The emitter is designed to emit visible radiation and the apparatus also includes a visible optical indicator and an optical element able to couple optically the emitter to the optical indicator so that, when the quantity or level of the substance in the receptacle is lower than a predetermined threshold, a fraction of the radiation generated by the emitter is able to light up the optical indicator.