LAUNDRY WASHING MACHINE

Abstract

A laundry washing machine having an outer casing, washing tub, rotatable drum inside the tub, detergent dispenser, and fresh-water supply circuit for channeling fresh water to the tub. The machine has an electrochemical device having: an electrolytic cell to convert brine into chlorine-based sanitizing agent, an unpressurized salt container to contain consumable salt grains, a water supply line to channel water into the salt container to dissolve the salt grains and form brine, and an unpressurized brine container that communicates with the salt container and collects brine formed in the salt container to avoid prolonged stagnation of the water/brine in the salt container. The electrolytic cell communicates with the brine container so as to receive the brine contained therein.

Description

The present invention relates to a laundry washing machine.

More in detail, the present invention relates to a front-loading home laundry washing machine, to which the following description specifically 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 formed in the front wall of the casing; a substantially cylindrical, cup-shaped rotatable drum structured for accommodating the laundry to be washed, and which is fitted in axially rotatable manner inside the washing tub with the concavity facing the laundry loading-unloading opening, so as to be able to freely rotate inside the washing tub about the substantially horizontally-oriented, longitudinal axis of the washing tub; an 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 water arriving from the water mains; a fresh-water supply circuit which is structured for selectively drawing water from the water mains according to the washing cycle manually-selected by the user, and channelling said 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 the past years, several attempts have been made to incorporate, into the laundry washing machine, an electrochemical device capable of internally producing a chlorine-based sanitizing agent to be selectively mixed with water directed towards the washing tub, so as to sanitize or bleach the laundry during the washing cycle, on request of the user.

EP0146184 and EP0083740 disclose a laundry washing machine provided with a salt container which is adapted to contain a given amount of brine, i.e. a solution of sodium chloride (NaCl) in water, and an electrolytic cell which receives the brine from the salt container and is adapted to perform the electrolysis of said brine to produce a chlorine-based sanitizing agent which is subsequently channelled into the washing tub.

Unfortunately, due to the particular layout of the hydraulic circuit of the laundry washing machine, in both cases the salt container consists of a water-tight and manually-openable container which is located close to the bottom of the casing, with all problems that this entails.

For example, on refilling of the salt container, the user is requested to adopt an uncomfortable excessively-bended stance for manually pouring the sodium-chloride grains into the salt container.

Furthermore, the refilling of the salt container is a relatively long and complicated operation because the salt container is normally filled up with brine, thus there is the risk that some brine accidentally overflows from the salt container when the sodium-chloride grains (NaCl) are too quickly poured into the salt container.

Moreover, after refilling, salt grains accidentally remaining on the mouth of the salt container may compromise the watertight sealing of the closure plug, thus causing water leakages.

Aim of the present invention is to simply and make easier the manual refilling of the salt container of the laundry washing machines disclosed in EP0146184 and in EP0083740, and also to simply the hydraulic circuit of the same laundry washing machines so as to reduce the overall production costs.

In compliance with the above aims, according to the present invention there is provided a laundry washing machine as defined in Claim 1 and preferably, though not necessarily, in anyone of the dependent claims, or as defined in Claim 22 and preferably, though not necessarily, in anyone of the dependent claims.

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

FIG. 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;

FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of the FIG. 1 laundry washing machine, with parts in section and removed for clarity;

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

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the detergent dispensing assembly of the laundry washing machine shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, with parts removed for clarity;

FIG. 5 is a partly exploded perspective view of the detergent dispensing assembly shown in FIG. 4, with parts removed for clarity;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the detergent dispensing assembly shown in FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 7 is a partly exploded perspective view of the detergent dispensing assembly shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, with parts removed for clarity;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are partly exploded perspective views of the electrolytic reactor assembly shown in FIG. 7, with parts removed for clarity;

FIG. 10 is a partially exploded perspective view of the detergent drawer of the detergent dispensing assembly shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7, with parts removed for clarity;

FIG. 11 is a sectioned side view of the detergent drawer shown in FIG. 10, with parts removed for clarity;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of the detergent dispensing assembly shown in FIGS. 4 and 5; whereas

FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 are perspective views of respective further alternative embodiments of the laundry washing machine shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, reference number 1 denotes as a whole a laundry washing machine 1 preferably suitable for domestic use.

More in detail, the laundry washing machine 1 preferably basically comprises: a preferably substantially parallelepiped-shaped, boxlike outer casing 2 structured for stably resting on the floor; a preferably substantially horizontally-oriented, approximately cylindrical, hollow washing tub 3 which is arranged inside the casing 2 with the mouth directly facing a laundry loading-unloading opening formed on the outer casing 2; a substantially cylindrical, hollow rotatable drum (not shown) which is structured for accommodating the laundry to be washed, and is fitted in axially rotatable manner inside the washing tub 3 so as to be able to freely rotate about its longitudinal axis inside the washing tub 3; a door 4 which is hinged to the outer casing 2 so as to be manually movable to and from a closing position in which the door 4 closes the laundry loading-unloading opening on casing 2 for watertight sealing the washing tub 3; and 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.

In the example shown, in particular, the washing tub 3 preferably has a preferably substantially circular-shaped, front mouth and is arranged inside the outer casing 2 with said front mouth directly facing a laundry loading-unloading opening formed on a front wall 6 of casing 2; whereas the door 4 is preferably hinged to front wall 6 so as to be manually movable to and from a closing position in which the door 4 closes the laundry loading-unloading opening on front wall 6 for watertight sealing the washing tub 3.

Furthermore, the washing tub 3 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.

Preferably the laundry washing machine 1 moreover comprises an elastically-deformable tubular bellows (not shown) which watertight connects the front mouth of washing tub 3 to the laundry loading-unloading opening preferably realized on the front wall 6 of casing 2.

The rotatable drum, in turn, is preferably substantially cup-shaped and is fitted in axially rotatable manner inside the washing tub 3 with the concavity facing the front mouth of washing tub 3. Preferably the rotatable drum (not shown) is furthermore arranged inside washing tub 3 with the drum rotation axis locally substantially coaxial to the longitudinal axis of washing tub 3 (i.e. it is oriented substantially horizontally), and with the circular front mouth of the drum directly aligned and faced to the front mouth of washing tub 3, so as to receive the laundry to be washed through the laundry loading-unloading opening present on front wall 6.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, the laundry washing machine 1 moreover comprises, inside the casing 2, a detergent dispenser 10 and a fresh-water supply circuit 11.

The detergent dispenser 10 is located inside the casing 2 above the washing tub 3 and preferably, though not necessarily, immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2, and is structured for selectively feeding into the washing tub 3, preferably according to the washing cycle manually-selected by the user, a given amount of detergent, softener and/or other washing agent suitably mixed with water.

The fresh-water supply circuit 11, in turn, is directly connected/connectable to the water mains, and is structured for selectively channelling, preferably according to the washing cycle manually-selected by the user, a flow of water from the water mains to the detergent dispenser 10 and/or directly to the washing tub 3.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 8, the laundry washing machine 1 furthermore includes an electrochemical device 13 which is located inside the boxlike casing 2 and is capable of internally producing a chlorine-based sanitizing agent which is subsequently channelled into the washing tub 3 to perform, preferably on request of the user, a sanitizing or bleaching process of the laundry during the washing cycle. Preferably this chlorine-based sanitizing agent is moreover water-diluted bleach.

More in detail, the electrochemical device 13 is preferably connected to the detergent dispenser 10 and is capable of internally producing a chlorine-based sanitizing agent which is preferably subsequently channelled into the detergent dispenser 10. On arrival into the detergent dispenser 10, this chlorine-based sanitizing agent preferably then flows directly into the washing tub 3, preferably, though not necessarily, together with any water directed towards the washing tub 3.

The electrochemical device 13 firstly includes: an unpressurized salt container 14 which is adapted to contain a given amount of consumable salt grains, i.e. solid salt, preferably of sodium chloride (NaCl), and additionally has an unsealed loading inlet which is directly exposed or exposable to the outside of the boxlike casing 2, and is preferably specifically designed to allow the user to easily manually pour/load the salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) directly into the same salt container 14; and preferably also a water supply line 15 which is adapted to channel, on command, a given amount of water into the salt container 14 so as to dissolve at least part of the salt grains contained therein and form a given amount of brine, i.e. a solution of sodium chloride (NaCl) in water.

Preferably salt container 14 is moreover dimensioned to contain an amount of consumable salt grains sufficient for performing the sanitizing or bleaching process in several washing cycles.

More in detail the salt container 14 is preferably dimensioned to contain an amount of consumable salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) sufficient for producing an amount of chlorine-based sanitizing agent sufficient for performing the sanitizing or bleaching process in several washing cycles.

The electrochemical device 13 furthermore includes an electrolytic reactor 16 which fluidically communicates with the salt container 14, and is adapted to collect and contain substantially the whole brine previously formed into the salt container 14, so as to avoid any prolonged stagnation of the water/brine intro the salt container 14. This electrochemical reactor 16 is furthermore adapted to internally convert the brine into the chlorine-based sanitizing agent, and preferably also to subsequently channel/feed said chlorine-based sanitizing agent to the detergent dispenser 10.

In other words, the electrolytic reactor 16 is provided with a brine inlet communicating with the salt container 14 for receiving the brine produced into the latter, and with a sanitizing-agent outlet communicating with the detergent dispenser 10 for supplying the chlorine-based sanitizing agent to the detergent dispenser 10 or directly to the washing tub 3. Preferably, the electrolytic reactor 16 is moreover provided with at least one air vent for releasing the air or other gas contained or formed inside the same electrolytic reactor 16.

In addition to the above, the electrolytic reactor 16 is preferably located beneath the salt container 14 and preferably directly communicates with the same salt container 14 so as to allow the brine (i.e. salt water) to freely flow by gravity from the salt container 14 to the electrolytic reactor 16.

More in detail, electrolytic reactor 16 preferably comprises: an unpressurized brine container 17 that directly communicates with the salt container 14 and is adapted/dimensioned to collect and contain preferably the whole brine previously formed into the salt container 14, so as to avoid any prolonged stagnation of the water/brine intro the salt container 14; an electrolytic cell 18 which is preferably located/incorporated into the brine container 17 and is capable of converting the brine into a chlorine-based sanitizing agent; and preferably also a small, electrically-powered pump assembly 19 which is capable of selectively pumping the chlorine-based sanitizing agent accumulated into the brine container 17, from the brine container 17 to the detergent dispenser 10. Preferably the pump assembly 19, when deactivated, is moreover capable of watertight isolating the brine container 17 from the detergent dispenser 10.

In the example shown, in particular, the brine container 17 is preferably located immediately underneath the salt container 14 and preferably directly communicates with the same salt container 14 so as to allow the brine (i.e. salt water) to freely flow by gravity from salt container 14 to brine container 17.

The electrolytic cell 18, in turn, is preferably adapted to perform the electro-chlorination of the brine contained into the brine container 17, so as to produce hydrogen gas (H₂) and water-diluted sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), commonly known as bleach. This water-diluted sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) preferably forms the chlorine-based sanitizing agent.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, in the example shown, in particular, the whole electrochemical device 13 is preferably arranged inside the casing 2, above the washing tub 3 and preferably, though not necessarily, also immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2.

In other words, the salt container 14 is preferably arranged inside the casing 2 above the washing tub 3 and preferably, though not necessarily, also immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2. Preferably the loading inlet of salt container 14 is furthermore exposed or exposable to the outside on front wall 6 of casing 2, above the laundry loading-unloading opening. The electrolytic reactor 16, in turn, is preferably located between the salt container 14 and the washing tub 3, preferably substantially vertically aligned to the salt container 14.

Furthermore, the whole electrochemical device 13 is preferably located immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2, between the detergent dispenser 10 and a vertical sidewall 20 of the same casing 2.

In other words, the salt container 14 is preferably located inside the boxlike casing 2, between the detergent dispenser 10 and the vertical sidewall 20 of casing 2, preferably substantially adjacent to the same vertical sidewall 20. The electrolytic reactor 16, in turn, is preferably located immediately underneath the salt container 14, again preferably substantially adjacent to the vertical sidewall 20.

Preferably the loading inlet of salt container 14 is furthermore exposed or exposable to the outside on the front wall 6 of casing 2, immediately beneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2.

In addition to the above, the whole electrochemical device 13 is preferably adjoined to the detergent dispenser 10.

More in detail, in the example shown the electrochemical device 13 and the detergent dispenser 10 preferably form a single assembly unit.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, in addition to the above, the laundry washing machine 1 furthermore comprises: an appliance electronic control unit (not shown) which is located inside the casing 2 and controls the motor assembly 5, the detergent dispenser 10, the fresh-water supply circuit 11 and the electrochemical device 13, so as to automatically perform the washing cycle preferably selected by the user; and preferably also a control panel 21 which electronically communicates with said electronic control unit and is structured to allow the user to manually select the desired washing cycle preferably among a number of available washing cycles.

In the example shown, in particular, the control panel 21 is preferably located on the front wall 6 of casing 2, above the laundry loading-unloading opening and preferably also immediately beneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2. Whereas the exposed or exposable loading inlet of salt container 14 is preferably located on the front wall 6 of casing 2 substantially horizontally aligned beside the control panel 21.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 11, detergent dispenser 10, in turn, preferably basically comprises: a detergent drawer 22 which is preferably provided with one or more substantially basin-shaped, detergent compartments 23 (two detergent compartments 23 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 preferably substantially basin-shaped, drawer housing 24 which, in turn, is located/recessed inside the casing 2 above washing tub 3, and whose entrance is preferably located on front wall 6 of casing 2, preferably above the laundry loading-unloading opening; and a drawer flush circuit 25 which is connected to the fresh-water supply circuit 11 for receiving the water of the water mains, and is structured for selectively channelling/pouring, when the detergent drawer 22 is completely fitted/inserted into the drawer housing 24, said water into any one of the detergent compartments 23 of detergent drawer 22, so as to selectively flush the detergent, softener or other washing agent out of the same detergent compartment 23 and down onto the bottom of drawer housing 24.

Preferably this drawer flush circuit 25 is furthermore directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit.

More in detail, the detergent drawer 22 is preferably movable inside the drawer housing 24 parallel to a substantially horizontally-oriented, longitudinal axis L of drawer housing 24 between: a retracted position (see FIG. 5) in which detergent drawer 22 is completely fitted/inserted into drawer housing 24, so as to be almost completely recessed into the front wall 6 of casing 2; and a completely extracted position (see FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7) in which detergent drawer 22 partly juts out from the front wall 6 of casing 2, so as to expose the one or more detergent compartments 23 at once.

In other words, detergent drawer 22 is movable inside the drawer housing 24 in a substantially horizontally-oriented, displacement direction d which is locally substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis L of both drawer housing 24 and detergent drawer 22, between: a retracted position (see FIG. 5) in which detergent drawer 22 is almost completely recessed into the front wall 6 of casing 2 and the one or more detergent compartments 23 of detergent drawer 22 are inaccessible to the user; and a completely extracted position (see FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7) in which detergent drawer 22 partly juts out from the front wall 6 of casing 2, so that all detergent compartments 23 of detergent drawer 22 are fully accessible to the user at same time.

In the example shown, furthermore, the entrance of drawer housing 24 is preferably located on front wall 6 of casing 2, immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2 and substantially horizontally aligned beside the control panel 21. Furthermore the longitudinal axis L of detergent drawer 22 and drawer housing 24, and as a consequence the displacement direction d of detergent drawer 22, is preferably locally substantially perpendicular to the front wall 6 of casing 2.

Preferably each detergent compartment 23 is additionally 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, the detergent drawer 22 preferably has, on the bottom or on a sidewall of each detergent compartment 23, a large through opening (not shown) which is suitably shaped/dimensioned to allow the mixture of water and detergent, softener or other washing agent formed inside the same detergent compartment 23 to freely fall on the bottom of drawer housing 24. As an alternative to the large through opening, the detergent drawer 22 may have, inside the detergent compartment 23, a siphon assembly (not shown) which is suitably structured/designed to selectively channel the mixture of water and detergent, softener or other washing agent formed inside the detergent compartment 23 out of the same detergent compartment 23 and down onto the bottom of drawer housing 24.

The drawer flush circuit 25, in turn, is preferably structured for directly pouring/channelling, when detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, a shower of water droplets by gravity selectively and alternatively into any one of the detergent compartments 23 of detergent drawer 22, so as to selectively flush the detergent, softener or other washing agent out of the same detergent compartment 23 and down onto the bottom of drawer housing 24.

In addition to the above, with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 7, 10 and 11, the detergent drawer 22 is preferably additionally provided with a substantially basin-shaped, salt compartment 26 which is located beside the one or more detergent compartments 23, and is structured/dimensioned for containing a given quantity of consumable salt grains to be used for producing the brine to be channelled into the electrolytic reactor 16, i.e. into the brine container 17.

Preferably the salt compartment 26 is moreover dimensioned to contain an amount of consumable salt grains sufficient for producing an amount of chlorine-based sanitizing agent sufficient for performing the sanitizing or bleaching process in several washing cycles.

More in detail, in the example shown the salt compartment 26 is preferably dimensioned to contain a maximum amount of salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) preferably equal to approximately 0.6 Kg (Kilos) and which suffices for successfully performing the sanitizing or bleaching process during a number of washing cycles preferably ranging between 5 and 15.

The salt container 14 of electrochemical device 13, therefore, is preferably incorporated into the detergent dispenser 10, or rather into the detergent drawer 22 of detergent dispenser 10. The electrolytic reactor 16, in turn, is preferably adjoined to the drawer housing 24 of detergent dispenser 10.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 11, furthermore the salt compartment 26 is preferably arranged, on detergent drawer 22, beside the one or more detergent compartments 23 transversally to the displacement direction d of detergent drawer 22, i.e. transversally to the longitudinal axis L of detergent drawer 22, so that both detergent compartment/s 23 and salt compartment 26 are allowed to almost contemporaneously come out from the front wall 6 of casing 2 when detergent drawer 22 moves from the retracted position to the extracted position.

Detergent drawer 22 is therefore movable inside drawer housing 24 in displacement direction d between: a retracted position (see FIG. 5) in which detergent drawer 22 is completely recessed into the front wall 6 of casing 2, so that both detergent compartment/s 23 and salt compartment 26 are inaccessible to the user; and a completely extracted position (see FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7) in which detergent drawer 22 partly juts out from the front wall 6 of casing 2, so that both detergent compartment/s 23 and salt compartment 26 are simultaneously fully exposed and accessible to the user.

The drawer flush circuit 25 of detergent dispenser 10, in turn, is preferably additionally structured for selectively and separately channelling, when detergent drawer 22 is in the retracted position, the water of the water mains also into the salt compartment 26, so that said water can dissolve some of the salt grains contained into the salt compartment 26 to form the brine (i.e. salt water).

In other words, the water supply line 15 of electrochemical device 13 is preferably incorporated into the detergent dispenser 10, or rather into the drawer flush circuit 25 of detergent dispenser 10.

As a result, the drawer flush circuit 25 is preferably structured for selectively and separately pouring/channelling, when the detergent drawer 22 is completely fitted/inserted into drawer housing 24, the water arriving from the fresh-water supply circuit 11 into any one of the detergent compartments 23 and also into the salt compartment 26.

In case of each detergent compartment 23, the poured water serves to selectively flush the contents of the detergent compartment 23 out of the same compartment 23 and down on the bottom of drawer housing 24 via the corresponding through opening or siphon assembly. In case of salt compartment 26, the poured water serves to dissolve some of the consumable salt grains contained into the salt compartment 26 to form the brine (i.e. salt water).

With reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, in addition to the above the detergent drawer 22 preferably has, on the bottom of salt compartment 26, a large pass-through drain opening 27 which is suitably shaped/dimensioned to allow the brine (i.e. the salt water) formed inside the salt compartment 26 to freely fall by gravity on the bottom of drawer housing 24.

The fresh water that the drawer flush circuit 25 selectively pours/channels into the salt compartment 26, therefore, serves to dissolve some of the consumable salt grains contained therein to form the brine (i.e. salt water) that subsequently freely fall by gravity on the bottom of drawer housing 24 via the drain opening 27.

With reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 7, 10 and 11, in the example shown, in particular, detergent drawer 22 preferably comprises: a substantially basin-shaped, drawer main body 28 which is fitted/inserted in axially sliding manner into the drawer housing 24, and is shaped/dimensioned to be totally recessed/accommodated inside the drawer housing 24; and a manually-sizable front panel 29 which is arranged/located on a front side of the drawer main body 28, so as to close the entrance of drawer housing 24 when detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position. The drawer main body 28, furthermore, is preferably made in a one piece construction via an injection moulding process, and the one or more detergent compartments 23 and the salt compartment 26 are preferably directly formed on the drawer main body 28, one side by side the other.

Preferably, the detergent drawer 22 additionally includes a preferably manually-removable, water-permeable cover 30 that closes the drain opening 27, and additionally has a water-permeable structure designed for preventing the salt grains to accidentally spill out of the salt compartment 26 via the drain opening 27 and, at same time, for allowing the brine to freely flow out of the salt compartment 26 via the drain opening 27.

Preferably the water-permeable cover 30 furthermore has a water-permeable structure suitably designed/dimensioned to slow down the outflow of the brine from the salt compartment 26 via the drain opening 27, thus to temporary increase/rise the level of the water/brine into the salt compartment 26.

In other words, the water-permeable cover 30 is arranged above the drain opening 27 so as to completely cover the latter, and is preferably structured to allow the passage of the water/brine through the same water-permeable cover 30 with a flowrate which is lower than that of the water channelled/poured into the salt compartment 26 by the water supply line 15, or rather by the drawer flush circuit 25, so as to cause a temporary increase/rise of the level of the water inside the salt compartment 26.

The drain opening 27 and the water-permeable cover 30, therefore, form a brine draining system that allows the brine formed inside the salt compartment 26 to freely fall by gravity on the bottom of drawer housing 24 preferably after a short stay (for example 1 to 3 minutes) into the salt compartment 26.

With particular reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, preferably the water-permeable cover 30 has a substantially platelike structure and preferably moreover extends inside the salt compartment 26 above the whole bottom of the salt compartment 26, preferably slightly spaced from, and locally substantially parallel to, the bottom of salt compartment 26, so as to form a thin air gap immediately above the bottom of salt compartment 26. Said thin air gab allows the brine to quickly flow on the bottom of the salt compartment 26 towards the drain opening 27.

In the example shown, in particular, the water-permeable cover 30 preferably consists in a rigid platelike body which is preferably made of plastic material, which preferably substantially copies the shape of the bottom of salt compartment 26, and which has a microperforated structure suitably dimensioned to slow down the flow of the brine through the same platelike body 30 thus to cause a temporary increase/rise the level of the water/brine into the salt compartment 26, above the same platelike body 30.

More in detail, the central portion of platelike body 30 is preferably provided with a plenty of substantially evenly distributed, transversal pass-through microslots or microholes 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 platelike body 30 with a flowrate preferably ranging between 0.4 and 1 litre/min (litre per minute). The flowrate of the water poured into the salt compartment 26 instead preferably ranges between 5 and 8 litre/min (litre per minute).

In addition to the above, with reference to FIGS. 4, 7, 10 and 11, the detergent drawer 22 preferably additionally comprises a manually openable, upper lid assembly 31 which is firmly fitted on the drawer main body 28, on top of the salt compartment 26, and is structured to selectively close the upper mouth of salt compartment 26, preferably so as to almost completely cover said upper mouth.

Furthermore, the upper lid assembly 31 is additionally structured so as to be able to receive, from drawer flush circuit 25 and at least when detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, a flow of water and to channel said water into the beneath-located salt compartment 26, preferably while spreading out the same water inside the salt compartment 26.

In other words, the upper lid assembly 31 is preferably provided with a water inlet which is faced to the outside of salt compartment 26 and is structured to allow the water to enter into the same upper lid assembly 31, and with one or more water outlets which are faced to the inside of salt compartment 26, fluidically communicate with said water inlet, and are finally suitably structured to allow the water previously entered into the upper lid assembly 31 through the water inlet to come out of the lid assembly 31 and fall into the salt compartment 26.

The drawer flush circuit 25, in turn, is preferably structured to selectively channel, when detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, a flow of water towards the water inlet of the upper lid assembly 31.

In other words, drawer flush circuit 25 is preferably additionally structured to selectively channel, when detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, the water arriving from the fresh-water supply circuit 11 towards the water inlet of lid assembly 31 which, in turn, is structured to distribute the water arriving from drawer flush circuit 25 into the salt compartment 26, so as to dissolve some of the consumable salt grains contained into the salt compartment 26 and form the brine (i.e. the salt water) that falls on the bottom of drawer housing 24 via the drain opening 27.

In addition to the above, in the example shown the water inlet of lid assembly 31 is preferably furthermore structured to selectively couple in a stable, though easy detachable manner, with the drawer flush circuit 25 for receiving the water arriving from fresh-water supply circuit 11, only when the detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position; whereas the upper lid assembly 31 is preferably structured to drip the water into the salt compartment 26.

According to an alternative embodiment, however, the drawer flush circuit 25 could be structured to selectively channel, when detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, a flow of water directly into the salt compartment 26 of detergent drawer 22 bypassing the upper lid assembly 31.

With reference to FIGS. 7, 10 and 11, in the example shown, in particular, the upper lid assembly 31 preferably comprises: a platelike member 32 which is structured to rigidly fit into the upper rim of the salt compartment 26 to substantially completely cover/close the upper mouth of the salt compartment 26; and a preferably substantially rectangular-shaped, manually-movable trapdoor 33 which is arranged to close a complementary-shaped, pass-through opening which is preferably formed nearly in the middle of platelike member 32, and is moreover suitably shaped/dimensioned to allow the user to easily manually pour/load the consumable salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) into the same salt compartment 26.

More in detail, the manually-movable trapdoor 33 is preferably flag-hinged to platelike member 32 at one of the two longer sides of the central pass-through opening, so as to be able to freely rotate about a reference axis locally substantially coplanar to the platelike member 32 and preferably also substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis L of both drawer housing 24 and detergent drawer 22.

Preferably the platelike member 32 furthermore has a hollow structure and is provided with a water inlet 34 which is suitably structured to watertight couple, when detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, with the drawer flush circuit 25 thus to allow the water to enter into the platelike member 32; and with one or more water-outlets 35 which are arranged on the lower face of platelike member 32, preferably all around the central pass-through opening closed by trapdoor 33, so as to face the inside of salt compartment 26.

The drawer flush circuit 25, in turn, is preferably structured to selectively couple, when detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, with the water inlet 34 of platelike member 32, so as to be able to channel the water of the water mains directly into the platelike member 32 of lid assembly 31. Each water-outlet 35, in turn, allows the water previously entered into the platelike member 32 to slowly come out of platelike member 32 and freely fall into the salt compartment 26.

Preferably the water-outlets 35 of platelike member 32 are furthermore suitably shaped/structured to pour a shower of water droplets by gravity into the salt compartment 26.

With reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 7, the drawer housing 24, in turn, is preferably divided into two separated and substantially basin-shaped, bottom portions 36 and 37 which are located, when detergent drawer 22 is placed in retracted position, one underneath all detergent compartments 23 of detergent drawer 22 and the other underneath the salt compartment 26 of detergent drawer 22.

More in detail, the bottom of drawer housing 24 is preferably divided by a substantially vertical, partitioning wall into two separated and substantially basin-shaped bottom portions 36 and 37, which are arranged side by side to one another transversally to the displacement direction d of detergent drawer 22 inside drawer housing 24, i.e. transversally to the longitudinal axis L of drawer housing 24.

The basin-shaped bottom portion 36 of drawer housing 24 is vertically aligned, when detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, to the one or more detergent compartments 23 of detergent drawer 22 for receiving/collecting the mixture of water and detergent, softener or other washing agent falling down from any one of the detergent compartments 23, and moreover directly communicates with the beneath-located washing tub 3.

More in detail the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 preferably directly communicates with the inside of washing tub 3 via a specific connecting duct 38 that branches off from the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 and ends directly into the beneath-located washing tub 3. The connecting duct 38 allows the mixture of water and detergent, softener or other washing agent to quickly and freely flow by gravity directly into washing tub 3.

The basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24, in turn, is vertically aligned, when detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, to the salt compartment 26 of detergent drawer 22 and for receiving/collecting the brine (i.e. the salt water) trickling/falling down from the salt compartment 26 of detergent drawer 22 via drain opening 27, and moreover directly communicates with the beneath-located electrolytic reactor 16.

More in detail the basin-shaped bottom portion 37 preferably directly communicates with the inside of the beneath-located electrolytic reactor 16, or rather with the inside of the beneath-located brine container 17, so as to allow the brine to freely flow by gravity from the basin-shaped bottom portion 37 to the electrolytic reactor 16, or rather to the brine container 17, and accumulate therein.

With reference to Figures from 4 to 7, the drawer flush circuit 25 of detergent dispenser 10, in turn, preferably comprises: a platelike water conveyor 40 which is suitably structured/designed to form the upper lid of the drawer housing 24, so as to be located immediately above the detergent drawer 22 when the latter is placed in the retracted position, i.e. when the latter is completely inserted/recessed into the drawer housing 24 (see FIG. 5), and is provided with a number of water delivery portions each suitably structured to allow the outflow of water from the platelike water conveyor 40 towards the beneath-located detergent drawer 22; and preferably also an electrically-operated, water distributor 41 which is connected to the fresh-water supply circuit 11 for receiving the fresh water of the water mains, and is suitably structured to selectively channel said fresh water towards any one of the water delivery portions of platelike water conveyor 40. Preferably the water distributor 41 is furthermore directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit.

More in detail, in the example shown the water conveyor 40 is preferably located immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2.

Preferably the platelike water conveyor 40 furthermore has, on its lower face (i.e. on the side directly facing the bottom of drawer housing 24), a group of first water delivery portions which are locally substantially vertically aligned, when the detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, each to a respective detergent compartment 23 of detergent drawer 22. Each first water delivery portion of platelike water conveyor 40 is suitably structured to let the water arriving from water distributor 41 to slowly fall into the beneath-located detergent compartment 23.

In the example shown, in particular, each first water delivery portion of platelike water conveyor 40 is preferably structured to pour by gravity a shower of water droplets directly into the beneath-located detergent compartment 23.

Preferably the platelike water conveyor 40 furthermore has, on its lower face, a second water delivery portion which is substantially vertically aligned, when the detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, to the salt compartment 26 of detergent drawer 22, and is suitably structured to let the water arriving from water distributor 41 to slowly fall into the beneath-located salt compartment 26.

More in detail, the second water delivery portion is preferably structured to couple with the water inlet 34 of upper lid assembly 31 for channelling the water into the upper lid assembly 31.

In the example shown, in particular, the second water delivery portion preferably consists in a male or female hydraulic connector (not visible in the figures) that protrudes from the lower face of platelike water conveyor 40 (i.e. on the side directly facing the bottom of drawer housing 24), locally parallel to the displacement direction d, and is suitably arranged to couple, when the detergent drawer 22 is placed in the retracted position, in detachable manner with a complementary second hydraulic connector which is incorporated into the water inlet 34 of upper lid assembly 31, or rather into the water inlet 34 of platelike member 32, so as to put the upper lid assembly 31 in direct fluid communication with the platelike water conveyor 40.

With reference to FIG. 6, preferably the platelike water conveyor 40 moreover has, on its lower face (i.e. on the side directly facing the bottom of drawer housing 24), a third water delivery portion which is both substantially vertically aligned to the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 of drawer housing 24 and misaligned to the detergent drawer 22 placed in retracted position.

This third water delivery portion of platelike water conveyor 40 is suitably structured to pour/channel the water arriving from water distributor 41 directly into the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 of drawer housing 24, without affecting/reaching the detergent compartment/s 23.

The drawer flush circuit 25, therefore, is preferably also capable of selectively channelling the water of the water mains directly into the washing tub 3 bypassing the detergent compartment/s 23 of detergent drawer 22.

Preferably the platelike water conveyor 40 moreover has, on its lower face (i.e. on the side directly facing the bottom of drawer housing 24), a fourth water delivery portion which is both substantially vertically aligned to the basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24 and misaligned to the detergent drawer 22 placed in retracted position.

This fourth water delivery portion of platelike water conveyor 40 is suitably structured to pour/channel the water arriving from the water distributor 41 directly into the basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24, without affecting/reaching the salt compartment 26.

The drawer flush circuit 25, therefore, is preferably also capable of selectively channelling the water of the water mains directly into the electrolytic reactor 16, or rather into the brine container 17 of electrolytic reactor 16, bypassing the salt compartment 26 of detergent drawer 22.

Therefore, in the example shown the laundry washing machine 1 is preferably additionally provided with an auxiliary water supply line capable of selectively channelling the water of the water mains directly into the brine container 17 of electrolytic reactor 16.

With reference to FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7, the electrically-operated, water distributor 41, in turn, is preferably discrete from the platelike water conveyor 40, and is preferably firmly coupled/associated to the platelike water conveyor 40 at a corresponding coupling socket (not visible in the figures) preferably realized on the lower face of the platelike water conveyor 40.

Preferably this water distributor 41 furthermore has a water inlet (not visible in the figures) which directly communicates with the fresh-water supply circuit 11 for directly receiving the water of the water mains; and a number of water outlets 42 which are located, preferably one side by side the other, on the interface portion of water distributor 41 suited to couple with the complementary coupling socket present in the platelike water conveyor 40.

The platelike water conveyor 40, in turn, is preferably provided with a number of independent water inlets (not visible in the figures) that are located at coupling socket and separately communicate each with a respective water delivery portion of the same water conveyor 40 via a corresponding internal connecting channel 43 extending inside the body of the platelike water conveyor 40. Each water outlet 42 of water distributor 41 is preferably structured to watertight couple/connect, at coupling socket of platelike water conveyor 40, with a corresponding water inlet of the same water conveyor 40.

In the example shown, in particular, the water distributor 41 preferably consists in an electrically-operated, discrete flow-diverter module which is firmly attached to the outside of platelike water conveyor 40, at said coupling socket, and is directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit so as to selectively and alternatively channel the water arriving from the fresh-water supply circuit 11 towards any one of the water delivery portions of platelike water conveyor 40.

More in detail, the discrete flow-diverter module 41 preferably internally accommodates: a rotatable flow diverter which is capable of channelling, according to its angular position, the water entering into the same flow-diverter module 41 via the water inlet towards any one of the water outlets 42; and an electrically-operated driver assembly (not shown) which is mechanically connected to the rotatable flow diverter and is capable of controlling/varying the angular position of the same flow diverter according to the electronic signals arriving from the appliance electronic control unit.

With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, preferably the platelike water conveyor 40 of drawer flush circuit 25 is moreover fludically connected to the electrolytic reactor 16 for receiving the chlorine-based sanitizing agent produced therein, and is additionally provided with an internal sanitizing-agent delivery line 44 structured/designed for separately channelling the chlorine-based sanitizing agent arriving from electrolytic reactor 16 directly into the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 of drawer housing 24, preferably without affecting/reaching the detergent compartment/s 23.

In other words the platelike water conveyor 40 is preferably fludically connected to sanitizing-agent outlet of electrolytic reactor 16.

More in detail, the sanitizing-agent delivery line 44 of water conveyor 40 preferably includes: a sanitizing-agent inlet 45 preferably directly communicating with the sanitizing-agent outlet of electrolytic reactor 16 for receiving the chlorine-based sanitizing agent produced therein; and a sanitizing-agent delivery portion which directly communicates solely with the sanitizing-agent inlet 45 via a specific internal connecting channel 46 extending inside the body of platelike water conveyor 40, and which is located on the lower face of the water conveyor 40 (i.e. on the side directly facing the bottom of drawer housing 24), both substantially vertically aligned to the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 of drawer housing 24 and preferably misaligned to the detergent drawer 22 placed in retracted position.

The sanitizing-agent delivery portion of platelike water conveyor 40 is preferably suitably structured to directly pour/channel the chlorine-based sanitizing agent arriving from the electrolytic reactor 16 directly onto the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 of drawer housing 24, actually without affecting/reaching the detergent compartment/s 23. When arrived into the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 of drawer housing 24, this chlorine-based sanitizing agent freely flows by gravity along the connecting duct 38 up to the washing tub 3, preferably, though not necessarily, together with any water or mixture of water and detergent, softener or other washing agent almost contemporaneously arriving into the basin-shaped bottom portion 36.

Preferably the platelike water conveyor 40 additionally includes: an air inlet 47 that directly communicates with the air vent of electrolytic reactor 16 for receiving any air or other gas contained or formed inside the electrolytic reactor 16; and preferably also a corresponding internal air duct that extends inside the body of the water conveyor 40 and is adapted to exhaust said air or other gas out of the same platelike water conveyor 40. More specifically, said internal air duct preferably ends into one or more holes adapted to discharge inside the drawer housing 24 the air or other gas arriving from the electrolytic reactor 16.

With reference to FIG. 7, in the example shown, in particular, the sanitizing-agent inlet 45 of water conveyor 40 preferably consists in a first male of female hydraulic connector which preferably protrudes downwards from the lower face of platelike water conveyor 40 (i.e. from the side directly facing the bottom of drawer housing 24) spaced apart from the coupling socket of platelike water conveyor 40, and while remaining locally substantially perpendicular to the same lower face of platelike water conveyor 40.

The air inlet 47 of water conveyor 40, in turn, preferably consists in a second male of female hydraulic connector which preferably protrudes downwards from the lower face of platelike water conveyor 40 (i.e. from the side directly facing the bottom of drawer housing 24) both adjacent to the hydraulic connector of sanitizing-agent inlet 45 and spaced apart from the coupling socket of platelike water conveyor 40, and while remaining locally substantially perpendicular to the lower face of platelike water conveyor 40.

The hydraulic connector of sanitizing-agent inlet 45 and, if present, the hydraulic connector of air inlet 47 are preferably adapted to watertight couple with corresponding and complementary hydraulic connectors present in the electrolytic reactor 16.

With reference to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, the brine container 17 of electrolytic reactor 16, in turn, preferably includes a pair of unpressurized storage tanks or vessels 48 and 49 that are horizontally adjoined to one another and are in permanent fluid communication to one another via a pass-through opening 50, which is directly formed in the partitioning wall between the same storage tanks or vessels 48 and 49, preferably adjacent to the bottom of both storage tanks or vessels 48 and 49.

Obviously, due to the presence of pass-through opening 50 the level of the liquid is always the same in both unpressurized storage tanks or vessels 48 and 49.

In combination to one another, these unpressurized storage tanks or vessels 48 and 49 are preferably dimensioned to receive and accumulate substantially the whole brine arriving on the same bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24.

More in detail, in the example shown the ensemble of storage tanks 48 and 49 is preferably firmly fixed/secured to the drawer housing 24 and to the platelike water conveyor 40 by means of one or more anchoring screws and/or one or more releasable mechanical couplings, and is preferably dimensioned to catch and accumulate a given amount of brine preferably ranging between 100 and 250 ml (millilitres).

Additionally, the unpressurized storage tank or vessel 48 is preferably located immediately underneath the drawer housing 24, preferably substantially vertically aligned to the basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24, and directly communicates with the basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24 so as to receive the brine arriving on the same bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24.

In other words, the brine inlet of electrolytic reactor 16 is preferably located in the unpressurized storage tank or vessel 48.

Preferably the unpressurized storage tank 48 is furthermore rigidly fixed/secured to the bottom of drawer housing 24 by means of one or more anchoring screws and/or one or more releasable mechanical couplings.

Furthermore the storage tank or vessel 48 is preferably directly connected to the superjacent basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24 so that the brine arriving onto the bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24 is allowed to freely flow by gravity into the same storage tank or vessel 48.

More in detail, in the example shown the storage tank or vessel 48 preferably directly communicates with the basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24 via at least one and preferably a pair of tubular extensions 51 that protrude downwards from the bottom of drawer housing 24, directly communicate with the basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24, and lastly directly fit in substantially watertight manner each into a respective complementary-shaped opening 52 formed on top wall of the same storage tank or vessel 48.

In other words the storage tank or vessel 48 preferably directly communicates with the basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24 via one or more tubular extensions 51 protruding downwards from the bottom of drawer housing 24 and directly communicating with the superjacent basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24.

With reference to FIGS. 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9, the unpressurized storage tank or vessel 49, in turn, internally accommodates the two, preferably platelike, electrodes 53 of electrolytic cell 18, and is preferably located between the storage tank or vessel 48 and the vertical sidewall 20 of casing 2. Furthermore the unpressurized storage tank or vessel 49 preferably directly communicates with the platelike water conveyor 40 of detergent dispenser 10, so as to be able to feed the chlorine-based sanitizing agent and optionally also the air or other gas contained or formed inside the same storage tank or vessel 49 to the platelike water conveyor 40.

In other words, the sanitizing-agent outlet and preferably also the air vent of electrolytic reactor 16 are preferably located in the unpressurized storage tank or vessel 49.

More in detail, in the example shown the unpressurized storage tank or vessel 49 preferably has a flattened boxlike structure and is preferably arranged adjacent to a sidewall of the drawer housing 24, preferably nearly perpendicular to the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2 and/or nearly parallel to vertical sidewall 20 of casing 2. Preferably the unpressurized storage tank or vessel 49 furthermore extends downwards beyond the bottom of drawer housing 24, locally substantially tangent to the unpressurized storage tank or vessel 48.

Preferably the upper edge of storage tank or vessel 49 moreover stably abuts against the platelike water conveyor 40, and the sanitizing-agent outlet and the air vent of electrolytic reactor 16 are preferably located on this upper edge.

More in detail, the unpressurized storage tank or vessel 49 preferably has, on its upper edge, two hydraulic connectors 55 and 57 which are complementary to the hydraulic connectors 45 and 47 of platelike water conveyor 40, and are adapted to couple in substantially watertight manner with the hydraulic connectors 45 and 47 of platelike water conveyor 40.

Preferably the storage tank or vessel 49 is finally rigidly fixed/secured to the platelike water conveyor 40 and/or to the drawer housing 24 by means of one or more anchoring screws and/or one or more releasable mechanical couplings.

With reference to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, preferably the electrolytic cell 18 of electrolytic reactor 16 in turn comprises: the aforesaid two, preferably platelike, electrodes 53 accommodated in the unpressurized storage tank or vessel 49; and preferably also an electric power unit (not shown) which is preferably controlled by, or incorporated into, the appliance electronic control unit, and is adapted to selectively apply a given electric DC voltage to the electrodes 53 preferably so as to cause the electro-chlorination of the brine contained into the brine container 17, i.e. into the ensemble of storage tanks 48 and 49, thus preferably producing hydrogen gas (H₂) and water-diluted sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), commonly known as bleach.

This sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) is the chlorine-based sanitizing agent that pump assembly 19 subsequently moves into the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 of drawer housing 24 via the platelike water conveyor 40 of detergent dispenser 10.

According to an alternative embodiment, the electrolytic cell 18 may also include a water-permeable partitioning septum or membrane (not shown) that divides the inside of storage tank or vessel 49 into two complementary inner compartments each accommodating a respective platelike electrode 43. In this case, the DC voltage applied on electrodes 53 causes the electrolysis of the sodium chloride (NaCl) and the consequent production of chlorine (Cl) and sodium hydroxide (caustic soda).

With reference to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, the pump assembly 19, in turn, is preferably firmly fixed/secured to both storage tanks or vessels 48 and 49, and is capable of pumping/moving, on command of the appliance electronic control unit, the chlorine-based sanitizing accumulated into the ensemble of unpressurized storage tanks or vessels 48 and 49, from the ensemble of storage tanks or vessels 48 and 49 to the platelike water conveyor 40 of detergent dispenser 10.

More in detail, the pump assembly 19 is preferably configured to suck the chlorine-based sanitizing agent from the bottom of storage tank or vessel 48 and to feed/pump said chlorine-based sanitizing agent into an auxiliary vertical duct 58 that preferably extends in pass-through manner inside the storage tank or vessel 49, up to the platelike water conveyor 40 of detergent dispenser 10.

In other words, the vertical duct 58 preferably extends inside the storage tank or vessel 49 up to the hydraulic connector 55 located on the upper side of storage tank or vessel 49.

Preferably, when deactivated, the pump assembly 19 is moreover capable of watertight isolating the ensemble of unpressurized storage tanks or vessels 48 and 49 from the platelike water conveyor 40 of detergent dispenser 10.

More in detail, in the example shown the pump assembly 19 preferably basically comprises an electrically-powered membrane pump or other electrically-powered volumetric pump, which preferably has a first duckbill valve or other non-return valve at suction mouth of the pump, and a second duckbill valve or other non-return valve at delivery mouth of the pump. The suction mouth 19a of the pump is preferably directly connected to the storage tank or vessel 48, preferably close to bottom of storage tank or vessel 48 and/or close to the pass-through opening 50 communicating with storage tank or vessel 49, and preferably also beneath a filtering structure 59 located inside the same storage tank or vessel 48. The delivery mouth of the pump, in turn, is preferably connected to the lower mouth of vertical duct 58 via a tubular connecting member 60 preferably additionally capable of firmly locking the pump to the ensemble of storage tanks or vessels 48 and 49.

With reference to FIG. 9, preferably the electrolytic reactor 16 additionally includes a detector device 61 capable of monitoring/detecting the level and/or salinity degree of the water or brine momentarily contained into the brine container 17, i.e. into the ensemble of storage tanks 48 and 49, and which preferably electronically communicates with the appliance electronic control unit.

In the example shown, in particular, the detector device 61 is preferably located inside the storage tank or vessel 48, preferably above the filtering structure 59, and preferably comprises: a first floating member 62 capable of floating when the liquid contained into the storage tank or vessel 48 is either fresh water or salt water; a second floating member 23 capable of floating solely when the water contained into the storage tank or vessel 48 is fresh water; and a local electronic control unit 64 capable of detecting when each of the two floating members 62 and 63 arrive on top of storage tank or vessel 48.

With particular reference to FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7, the fresh-water supply circuit 11 of laundry washing machine 1, in turn, comprises: a main water delivery line 70 which is connected/connectable to the water mains and is structured to channel, on command, the fresh water of the water mains towards the drawer flush circuit 25 of detergent dispenser 10, or rather towards the water inlet of water distributor 41; and optionally also an auxiliary water delivery line 71 which is connected/connectable to an alternative external water source of hot fresh water (for example the hot branch of the piping, fittings, and fixtures generally involved in the distribution and use of hot water in a domestic building), and is structured to independently channel, on command, the hot fresh water of said alternative water source towards the washing tub 3, preferably via the platelike water conveyor 40 of detergent dispenser 10.

Obviously both main water delivery line 70 and auxiliary water delivery line 71 are preferably directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit.

Preferably, the main water delivery line 70 basically comprises: a first electrically-operated on-off valve 72 which is preferably located on a rear wall of boxlike casing 2, preferably immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2, is directly connectable to the water mains, and is preferably directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit; and a first tube 73 connecting the on-off valve 72 to the water inlet of the water distributor 41.

The auxiliary water delivery line 71, in turn, preferably basically comprises: a second electrically-operated on-off valve 74 which is preferably located on the rear wall of boxlike casing 2, preferably immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2, is connectable to the alternative external water source and is preferably directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit; and a second tube 75 connecting the on-off valve 74 to a corresponding tubular extension 76 that preferably protrudes downwards from the lower face of the platelike water conveyor 40 preferably while remaining locally substantially perpendicular to the latter, and moreover directly communicates with one of the water delivery portions of water conveyor 40 vertically aligned to the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 of drawer housing 24.

With reference to FIG. 6, finally the laundry washing machine 1 preferably, though not necessarily, includes an auxiliary water drain line 80 that braches off from the drawer flush circuit 25 and preferably ends directly into the drain sump (not shown) beneath the washing tub 3, or even directly into the suction of the electric pump that drains the waste water or washing liquor outside the laundry washing machine 1; and the drawer flush circuit 25 is capable of selectively channelling, towards the water drain line 80, any kind of water arriving into the same drawer flush circuit 25.

More in detail, in the example shown the water drain line 80 preferably basically includes: a drain tube 81 having a first end connected to a corresponding tubular extension 82 preferably protruding downwards from the lower face of the platelike water conveyor 40 while remaining locally substantially perpendicular to the latter, and a second end connected to the drain sump beneath the washing tub 3; and preferably also an air-gap device 83 located upstream of drain tube 81. The water distributor 41 of drawer flush circuit 25, in turn, is capable of selectively channelling, towards the drain tube 81, any kind of water entering into the drawer flush circuit 25.

General operation of the laundry washing machine 1 is easily inferable from the description above. The appliance electronic control unit controls the motor assembly 5, the detergent dispenser 10, and the fresh-water supply circuit 11 so as to automatically perform the washing cycle preferably selected by the user via the control panel 21.

In addition to the above, if the user selects a washing cycle including a sanitizing or bleaching step, the appliance electronic control unit controls/activates the electrochemical device 13 so as to timely produce, during the washing cycle, a given amount of chlorine-based sanitizing agent to be subsequently used in the sanitizing or bleaching step of the same washing cycle.

More in detail, timely before the sanitizing or bleaching step, the appliance electronic control unit activates the water supply line 15 of electrochemical device 13 (i.e. controls the water distributor 41 of drawer flush circuit 25) so as to channel a given amount of fresh water of the water mains into the salt container 14 (i.e. into the salt compartment 26 of detergent drawer 22). On arriving into the salt container 14 (i.e. into the salt compartment 26 of detergent drawer 22), the fresh water dissolves at least part of the salt grains contained into the same salt container 14 thus forming a given amount of brine that freely flows and accumulates into the beneath-located brine container 17 of electrolytic reactor 16 (i.e. into the ensemble of storage tanks 48 and 49).

When a sufficient amount of brine is contained into the brine container 17 of electrolytic reactor 16 (i.e. into the ensemble of storage tanks 48 and 49), the appliance electronic control unit activates the electric power unit of electrolytic cell 18 so as to perform the electro-chlorination/electrolysis of the brine contained into the brine container 17 (i.e. into the ensemble of storage tanks 48 and 49). The chlorine-based sanitizing agent resulting from the electro-chlorination/electrolysis of the brine then accumulates inside the brine container 17 (i.e. inside both storage tanks 48 and 49).

After a given timespan preferably ranging between 5 and 30 minutes, the appliance electronic control unit assumes that the electro-chlorination/electrolysis of the brine contained into the brine container 17 (i.e. inside both storage tanks 48 and 49) is completed and that a suitable amount of the chlorine-based sanitizing agent is actually contained into the same brine container 17.

Finally, when the sanitizing or bleaching step of the washing cycle is to be performed, the appliance electronic control unit activates the pump assembly 19 of electrolytic reactor 16 so as to move substantially the whole chlorine-based sanitizing agent accumulated into the brine container 17 (i.e. into both storage tanks or vessels 48 and 49), from the brine container 17 to the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 of drawer housing 24 preferably via the sanitizing-agent delivery line 44 of platelike water conveyor 40. When arrived into the basin-shaped bottom portion 36, the chlorine-based sanitizing agent freely flows by gravity into the connecting duct 38 and arrives into washing tub 3.

The advantages regarding the particular layout of the electrochemical device 13 are large in number.

First of all, the hydraulic circuit of laundry washing machine 1 is significantly simpler than that of the laundry washing machines disclosed in EP0146184 and EP0083740, with the cost reduction that this entails.

Furthermore the arrangement of the loading inlet of salt container 14 above the laundry loading-unloading opening, i.e. on the upper part of the boxlike casing 2, makes significantly easier and comfortable the manual refilling of the salt container 14. Moreover, the salt container 14 only temporarily contains the brine to be used for producing the chlorine-based sanitizing agent, thus there is actually no risk of spilling around the brine during manual refilling of the salt container 14.

Moreover the brine draining system including the drain opening 27 and the water-permeable cover 30 significantly improves the salinity degree of the brine arriving on the basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24, thus improving performances of the electrolytic cell 18.

Last, but not least, incorporation of the electrochemical device 13 into the detergent dispenser 10 greatly simplifies the assembly of the laundry washing machine 1, with a significant reduction of the overall production costs.

Clearly, changes may be made to the laundry washing machine 1 and to the electrochemical device 13 without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, according to a first non-shown alternative embodiment, the electrochemical reactor 16 could channel/feed the chlorine-based sanitizing agent directly into the washing tub 3 without involving the platelike water conveyor 40 of drawer flush circuit 25 and the basin-shaped bottom portion 36 of drawer housing 24.

In other words the pump assembly 19 could feed the chlorine-based sanitizing agent directly into washing tub 3 bypassing the detergent dispenser 10. In this alternative embodiment, therefore, the platelike water conveyor 40 of detergent dispenser 10 would lack the sanitizing-agent delivery line 44.

According to a further non-shown alternative embodiment, furthermore, the drawer flush circuit 25 of detergent dispenser 10 may lack the water distributor 41, and the fresh-water supply circuit 11 may have a number of electrically-operated on-off valves each of which is interposed between the water mains and a respective water delivery portion of platelike water conveyor 40. Preferably each of these on-off valves is furthermore directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit.

With reference to FIG. 12, according to an alternative embodiment of electrolytic reactor 16, the electrolytic cell 18 is separated from brine container 17 and is located along the fresh-water supply circuit 11, or more precisely along the main water delivery line 70 of fresh-water supply circuit 11, so as to be permanently crossed by the fresh water directed to the detergent dispenser 10 or to the washing tub 3.

In other words, in this alternative embodiment the water inlet of the drawer flush circuit 25 of detergent dispenser 10 receives the fresh water of the water mains directly from the electrolytic cell 18.

More in detail, in this alternative embodiment, the electrolytic cell 18 of electrolytic reactor 16 includes a water-tight closed container 100 which is arranged along the main water delivery line 70 of fresh-water supply circuit 11 so as to be permanently crossed by the fresh water directed towards the detergent dispenser 10, and is additionally adapted to also receive the brine previously contained into the brine container 17. Preferably the water-tight closed container 100 furthermore has nearly the same capacity as brine container 17 so as to be able to contain a given amount of water or brine preferably substantially equal to that containable into the brine container 17.

The water-tight closed container 100 internally accommodates the two, preferably platelike, electrodes 53 of electrolytic cell 18, so that electro-chlorination of the brine takes place inside the same water-tight closed container 100 and the resulting chlorine-based sanitizing agent accumulates therein.

In this alternative embodiment, therefore, the chlorine-based sanitizing agent preferably enters into the detergent dispenser 10 via the drawer flush circuit 25, or rather via the water inlet of the water distributor 41 of drawer flush circuit 25.

Obviously, in this alternative embodiment, the platelike water conveyor 40 of detergent dispenser 10 preferably lacks the sanitizing-agent delivery line 44.

The brine container 17 of electrolytic reactor 16, in turn, preferably includes a single unpressurized storage tank or vessel 101 which is again preferably located immediately underneath the drawer housing 24, and directly communicates with the basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24 so as to receive and accumulate substantially the whole brine arriving on the same bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24.

More in detail, the storage tank or vessel 101 is preferably dimensioned to catch and accumulate a given amount of brine preferably ranging between 100 and 250 ml (millilitres), and is preferably firmly attached/fixed to the bottom of drawer housing 24, preferably substantially vertically aligned to the basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24.

Preferably the storage tank or vessel 101 is furthermore fluidically connected to the superjacent basin-shaped bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24 so that the brine arriving onto the bottom portion 37 of drawer housing 24 is allowed to freely flow by gravity into the same storage tank or vessel 101.

In this alternative embodiment, furthermore, the electrolytic reactor 16 preferably comprises, in place of pump assembly 19, a small, electrically-powered pump assembly 102 which is capable of selectively pumping/moving the brine (i.e. the salt water) accumulated into the brine container 17 (i.e. into the unpressurized storage tank or vessel 101), from the brine container 17 to the water-tight closed container 100 of electrolytic cell 18. When deactivated, pump assembly 102 is preferably moreover capable of watertight isolating the brine container 17 from the electrolytic cell 18.

In other words, pump assembly 102 is interposed between the brine container 17, or rather the storage tank or vessel 101, and the water-tight closed container 100 of electrolytic cell 18.

With reference to FIG. 12, preferably, though not necessarily, the fresh-water supply circuit 11 additionally includes a second auxiliary water delivery line 104 which is connected/connectable to the water mains and is structured to channel, on command, the fresh water of the water mains towards the water inlet of water distributor 41 bypassing the water-tight closed container 100 of electrolytic cell 18. Also this second auxiliary water delivery line 104 is preferably directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit.

More in detail, the auxiliary water delivery line 104 preferably basically comprises: a third electrically-operated on-off valve 105 which is preferably located on the rear wall of boxlike casing 2, preferably immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2, is connectable to the water mains and is preferably directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit; and a third tube 106 connecting the on-off valve 105 directly to the water inlet of the water distributor 41 bypassing the whole electrolytic cell 18.

In this second alternative embodiment the electrochemical device 13 operates as follows.

Timely before the sanitizing or bleaching step, the appliance electronic control unit activates the water supply line 15 of electrochemical device 13 (i.e. controls the water distributor 41 of drawer flush circuit 25) so as to channel a given amount of fresh water of the water mains into the salt container 14 (i.e. into the salt compartment 26 of detergent drawer 22), thus dissolving at least part of the salt grains contained therein and form a given amount of brine that freely flows and accumulates into the brine container 17 (i.e. into the storage tank or vessel 101 located immediately underneath the drawer housing 24).

Either the main water delivery line 70 or the auxiliary water delivery line 104 may be used for feeding the fresh water of the water mains towards the water distributor 41 of drawer flush circuit 25.

Immediately before the sanitizing or bleaching step of the washing cycle and when no further fresh water is to be channelled towards the detergent dispenser 10 or the washing tub 3, the appliance electronic control unit firstly activates the pump assembly 102 so as to move the brine (i.e. the salt water) accumulated into the brine container 17 (i.e. into the storage tank or vessel 101), from the brine container 17 to the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. to the water-tight closed container 100).

Preferably, before moving the brine to the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. to the water-tight closed container 100), the appliance electronic control unit additionally puts the water outlet of electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. the water outlet of water-tight closed container 100) in fluid communication with the water drain line 80 so as to channel towards the drain sump any liquid coming out of electrolytic cell 18.

As an alternative, the appliance electronic control unit could put the water outlet of electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. the water outlet of the water-tight closed container 100) in fluid communication with any one of the first or the third water-delivery portion of platelike water conveyor 40.

When the brine is moved into the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. into the water-tight closed container 100), the appliance electronic control unit activates the electric power unit of electrolytic cell 18 so as to perform the electro-chlorination/electrolysis of the brine contained into the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. into the water-tight closed container 100).

Since no fresh water flows through the water-tight closed container 100 of electrolytic cell 18, the chlorine-based sanitizing agent resulting from the electro-chlorination/electrolysis of the brine then accumulates inside the electrolytic cell 18, or rather into the water-tight closed container 100.

After a given timespan preferably ranging between 5 and 15 minutes, the appliance electronic control unit, assuming that the electro-chlorination/electrolysis of the brine contained into the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. into the water-tight closed container 100) is completed, and that a suitable amount of chlorine-based sanitizing agent is actually contained into the same electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. into the water-tight closed container 100), controls the main water delivery line 70 of fresh-water supply circuit 11 and the drawer flush circuit 25 of detergent dispenser 10 so as to channel, through the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. through the water-tight closed container 100), a flow of fresh water of the water mains that flushes the whole chlorine-based sanitizing agent accumulated into the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. into the water-tight closed container 100) straight into the washing tub 3.

More in detail, in this alternative embodiment, the appliance electronic control unit preferably firstly controls the water distributor 41 of drawer flush circuit 25 so as to channel any liquid arriving from the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. from the water-tight closed container 100) preferably directly towards the third water-delivery portion of platelike water conveyor 40 or alternatively towards one of the first water-delivery portions of platelike water conveyor 40; and then temporarily opens the on-off valve 72 of water delivery line 70 so as to feed, towards the washing tub 3, an amount of fresh water that flows though the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. through the water-tight closed container 100) and flushes the whole chlorine-based sanitizing agent accumulated therein into the washing tub 3, so as to perform the sanitizing or bleaching step of the washing cycle.

If the electrolytic cell 18 is to be washed out before continuing the washing cycle, after having flushed out the chlorine-based sanitizing agent contained into the electrolytic cell 18, the appliance electronic control unit optionally temporarily puts the water outlet of electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. the water outlet of water-tight closed container 100) in fluid communication with the water drain line 80, and then waits the end of the sanitizing or bleaching step of the washing cycle for activating the fresh-water supply circuit 11, or rather the main water delivery line 70 of fresh-water supply circuit 11, for feeding through the electrolytic cell 18 (i.e. through the water-tight closed container 100) a flow of fresh water that bypasses the washing tub 3 and arrives straight into the drain sump (not shown) or into the suction of the electric pump thus to be drained out of the laundry washing machine 1 together with the mixture of water and chlorine-based sanitizing agent arriving from contained washing tub 3.

With reference to FIG. 13, according to a further alternative embodiment, the salt container 14 of electrochemical device 13 is preferably located/incorporated into a supplementary drawer 122 which is fitted/inserted in manually extractable manner into a corresponding, preferably substantially basin-shaped, second drawer housing 124 which is preferably discrete and spaced apart from the drawer housing 24 of detergent drawer 22, and is preferably located/recessed inside the boxlike casing 2 substantially horizontally aligned to the drawer housing 24 of detergent drawer 22.

Preferably the appliance control panel 21 is furthermore located on front wall 6 of casing 2, astride the vertical midplane of boxlike casing 2, and the entrances of drawer housings 24 and 124 are arranged on opposite sides of said control panel 20, preferably immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2.

More in detail, in this alternative embodiment the detergent drawer 22 lacks the salt compartment 26, whereas the supplementary drawer 122 is preferably provided with a substantially basin-shaped, salt compartment (not visible in FIG. 13) which is structured/dimensioned for being manually fillable with a given quantity of consumable salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) to be used for producing the brine to be channelled into the electrolytic cell 18.

The water supply line 15, in turn, is structured to selectively channel, when the supplementary drawer 122 is completely recessed into the corresponding drawer housing 124, a given amount of water into the salt container of said supplementary drawer 122 so as to dissolve at least part of the salt grains contained therein and form a given amount of brine (i.e. the salt water).

Preferably the bottom of this salt compartment is moreover provided with a large pass-through drain opening (not visible in FIG. 13) which is suitably shaped/dimensioned to allow the brine (i.e. the salt water) formed inside the same salt compartment to freely fall by gravity on the bottom of drawer housing 124.

Also in this embodiment, therefore, a prolonged stagnation of the brine inside the salt container 14 is prevented.

Likewise drain opening 27, also this latter drain opening is preferably closed by a platelike water-permeable cover (not visible in FIG. 13) having a water-permeable structure designed for preventing the salt grains contained into the salt compartment of supplementary drawer 122 to accidentally spill out of the same salt compartment and fall on the bottom of drawer housing 124.

Likewise the water-permeable cover 30, this latter water-permeable cover preferably also has a water-permeable structure which is suitably designed/dimensioned to slow down the outflow of the brine from the salt compartment of supplementary drawer 122 onto the bottom of drawer housing 124, thus to cause a temporary stay of the water into the same salt compartment.

Preferably the supplementary drawer 122 is additionally provided with a manually openable, upper lid assembly 131 which is arranged on top of the salt compartment of the same supplementary drawer 122, and is structured to selectively close the upper mouth of said salt compartment. Likewise the lid assembly 31, the lid assembly 131 is preferably structured to receive the water from the water supply line 15, and to distribute said water into the salt compartment of supplementary drawer 122.

In this alternative embodiment, the at least one unpressurized storage tank or vessel of brine container 17 is preferably located beneath drawer housing 124, and moreover preferably directly communicates with the bottom of the same drawer housing 124 so as to allow the brine (i.e. salt water) to freely flow by gravity from bottom of drawer housing 124 to the same brine container 16.

With reference to FIG. 14, in a still further alternative embodiment the appliance control panel 21 is preferably located on front of a supplementary drawer 222 which is fitted/inserted in extractable manner into a corresponding, preferably substantially basin-shaped, second drawer housing 224 which is preferably discrete and spaced apart from the drawer housing 24 of detergent drawer 22, and is preferably located/recessed inside the boxlike casing 2 substantially horizontally aligned to the drawer housing 24 of detergent drawer 22.

In this alternative embodiment, the salt container 14 of electrochemical device 13 is preferably located/incorporated into said supplementary drawer 222, behind the control panel 21.

More in detail, in this alternative embodiment the detergent drawer 22 lacks the salt compartment 26, whereas the supplementary drawer 222 is preferably provided with a substantially basin-shaped, salt compartment 226 which is structured/dimensioned for being manually fillable with a given quantity of consumable salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) to be used for producing the brine to be channelled into the electrolytic cell 18. The water supply line 15, in turn, is structured to selectively channel, when the supplementary drawer 222 is completely recessed into the corresponding drawer housing 224, a given amount of water into the salt container 226 of said supplementary drawer 222 so as to dissolve at least part of the salt grains contained therein and form a given amount of brine (i.e. the salt water).

Preferably the bottom of salt compartment 226 is furthermore provided with a large pass-through drain opening (not visible in FIG. 13) which is suitably shaped/dimensioned to allow the brine (i.e. the salt water) formed inside salt compartment 226 to freely fall by gravity on the bottom of drawer housing 224.

Also in this embodiment, therefore, a prolonged stagnation of the brine inside the salt container 14 is prevented.

Likewise the drain opening 27, this latter drain opening is preferably closed by a platelike water-permeable cover (not visible in FIG. 12) having a water-permeable structure designed for preventing the salt grains contained into salt compartment 226 of supplementary drawer 222 to accidentally spill out of salt compartment 226 and fall on the bottom of drawer housing 224.

Likewise the water-permeable cover 30, this latter water-permeable cover preferably has a water-permeable structure which is suitably designed/dimensioned to slow down the outflow of the brine from salt compartment 226 onto the bottom of drawer housing 224, thus to cause a temporary stay of the water/brine into the salt compartment 226.

Preferably the supplementary drawer 222 is additionally provided with a funnel-shaped lid 231 which is arranged on top of salt compartment 226 so as to ease the pouring/loading of the consumable salt grains within the salt compartment 226.

In this alternative embodiment, the at least one unpressurized storage tank or vessel of brine container 17 is preferably located beneath drawer housing 224, and moreover preferably directly communicates with the bottom of the same drawer housing 224 so as to allow the brine (i.e. salt water) to freely flow by gravity from the bottom of drawer housing 224 to the unpressurized storage tank or vessel of brine container 17.

With reference to FIG. 15, in a still further alternative embodiment the salt container 14 of electrochemical device 13 is preferably located immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2, and the unsealed loading inlet of the same salt container 14 is directly accessible via a trapdoor 300 present on the upper worktop or top wall 12.

More in detail, in this alternative embodiment the detergent drawer 22 lacks the salt compartment 26, whereas the salt container 14 basically comprises: a basin-shaped container 326 which is preferably recessed into the upper worktop or top wall 12 of casing 2, underneath the trapdoor 300 present on the upper worktop or top wall 12, and is structured/dimensioned so as to be manually fillable with a given quantity of consumable salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) to be used for producing the brine to be channelled into the electrolytic cell 18; and preferably also a funnel-shaped lid 331 that closes the upper mouth of said basin-shaped container 326 so as to ease the pouring/loading of the consumable salt grains within the basin-shaped container 326.

In this alternative embodiment, the water supply line 15 is obviously structured to selectively channel a given amount of water into the basin-shaped container 326 so as to dissolve at least part of the salt grains contained therein and form a given amount of brine (i.e. the salt water).

The at least one unpressurized storage tank or vessel of brine container 17, in turn, is preferably located beneath the basin-shaped container 326 and moreover preferably directly communicates with the bottom of the basin-shaped container 326 so as to receive and accumulate the whole brine previously formed into the same basin-shaped container 326. Also in this embodiment, therefore, a prolonged stagnation of the brine inside the salt container 14 is prevented.

More in detail this unpressurized storage tank or vessel of brine container 17 preferably communicates with the superjacent basin-shaped container 326 via a draining water-way structured so as to allow the brine (i.e. the salt water) formed inside the basin-shaped container 326 to freely flow by gravity into the same unpressurized storage tank or vessel.

Likewise drain opening 27, this draining water-way is preferably structured for preventing the salt grains contained into the basin-shaped container 326 to accidentally fall into the beneath-located brine unpressurized storage tank or vessel of brine container 17, and preferably also for slowing down the outflow of the brine from the basin-shaped container 326 to the beneath-located brine container 17, so as to cause a temporary stay of the water/brine into the basin-shaped container 326.

Finally, according to a further alternative embodiment, the electrolytic cell 18 may be the electrolytic cell disclosed in WO2016/162327.

Claims

1-44. (canceled)

45. A laundry washing machine comprising:

an outer casing;

a washing tub inside the outer casing;

a rotatable drum housed in an axially rotatable manner inside the washing tub and configured to hold laundry to be washed;

a detergent dispenser configured to supply detergent into the washing tub;

a fresh water supply circuit configured to selectively channel fresh water from an external water source to the detergent dispenser and/or the washing tub; and

an electrochemical device comprising: an electrolytic cell capable of internally converting a brine into a chlorine-based sanitizing agent to be channeled into the washing tub, an unpressurized salt container configured to contain a given amount of consumable salt grains and having an unsealed loading inlet that is directly exposed or exposable to the outside of the outer casing, a water supply line configured to selectively channel a given amount of water into the salt container to dissolve at least part of the salt grains contained therein and form a quantity of brine, and an unpressurized brine container in fluid communication with the salt container and configured to collect and contain the quantity of brine formed in the salt container to thereby avoid any prolonged stagnation of water and brine in the salt container, and wherein the electrolytic cell in in communication with or located in the brine container so as to be in contact with the quantity of brine contained in the brine container.

46. The laundry washing machine according to claim 45, wherein the brine container is located beneath the salt container and is in direct fluid communication with the salt container such that the quantity of brine flows by gravity from the salt container to the brine container.

47. The laundry washing machine according to claim 45, wherein the electrolytic cell is located inside the brine container.

48. The laundry washing machine according to claim 47, wherein the electrochemical device additionally comprises a first pump assembly configured to selectively move liquid accumulated in the brine container, from the brine container to the detergent dispenser or the washing tub.

49. The laundry washing machine according to claim 45, wherein the electrolytic cell is separated from the brine container.

50. The laundry washing machine according to claim 49, wherein the electrochemical device additionally comprises a second pump assembly configured to selectively move the quantity of brine accumulated in the brine container, from the brine container to the electrolytic cell, and wherein.

51. The laundry washing machine according to claim 50, wherein the second pump assembly, when deactivated, is configured to isolate the brine container from the electrolytic cell in a watertight manner.

52. The laundry washing machine according to claim 49, wherein the electrolytic cell is located along the fresh-water supply circuit.

53. The laundry washing machine according to claim 45, wherein the salt container and the brine container are located above the washing tub.

54. The laundry washing machine according to claim 45, wherein the unsealed loading inlet of the salt container is located on a front wall or on an upper worktop or top wall of the outer casing.

55. The laundry washing machine according to claim 45, wherein the salt container is dimensioned to contain an amount of consumable salt grains sufficient for producing an amount of chlorine-based sanitizing agent sufficient for performing a sanitizing or bleaching process in several washing cycles.

56. The laundry washing machine according to claim 45, comprising at least one drawer that is inserted in extractable manner into a corresponding drawer housing located inside the casing, and the salt container is located on the drawer.

57. The laundry washing machine according to claim 56, wherein the drawer comprises a basin-shaped salt compartment configured to contain the given quantity of consumable salt grains; and the water supply line is configured to selectively channel, when the drawer is completely inserted into the drawer housing, the given amount of water into the salt compartment so as to dissolve at least part of the salt grains contained therein and form the quantity of brine.

58. The laundry washing machine according to claim 57, wherein the drawer has a brine draining system configured to allow the brine to flow out of the salt compartment and fall on a bottom of the corresponding drawer housing after a temporary stay inside the salt compartment.

59. The laundry washing machine according to claim 57, wherein the drawer further comprises one or more basin-shaped detergent compartments that are arranged beside the salt compartment and are each configured to receive a respective given amount of detergent, softener or other washing agent; and the laundry washing machine further comprises a drawer flush circuit connected to the fresh-water supply circuit for receiving the water of the external water source, and configured to selectively channel the water into any one of the detergent compartments, so as to selectively flush the detergent, softener or other washing agent out of the respective detergent compartment and down onto the bottom of the drawer housing.

60. The laundry washing machine according to claim 59, wherein the water supply line is incorporated into the drawer flush circuit.

61. The laundry washing machine according to claim 59, wherein the drawer flush circuit comprises a platelike water conveyor that forms an upper lid of the drawer housing and is provided with a number of water delivery portions each structured to allow the outflow of water from the platelike water conveyor towards the beneath-located drawer; and wherein the electrolytic cell is in fluid communication with the platelike water conveyor for channelling the chlorine-based sanitizing agent into the washing tub via the platelike water conveyor.

62. The laundry washing machine according to claim 61, wherein the platelike water conveyor comprises an internal sanitizing-agent delivery line configured to separately channel the chlorine-based sanitizing agent arriving from the electrolytic cell directly into the bottom of the drawer housing, without passing through the detergent compartment/s of the drawer.

63. The laundry washing machine according to claim 56, wherein the brine container is located immediately underneath the drawer housing and includes an unpressurized storage tank which directly communicates with the bottom of the drawer housing so as to receive and accumulate preferably substantially the whole quantity of brine arriving on the bottom of the drawer housing.

64. The laundry washing machine according to claim 63, wherein the bottom of the drawer housing is divided in into two separated basin-shaped bottom portions which are located, when the drawer is completely inserted into the corresponding drawer housing, one beneath the detergent compartment/s and the other beneath the salt compartment of the drawer; and wherein the brine container in in communication with a one of the basin-shaped bottom portions beneath the salt compartment of the drawer.

65. The laundry washing machine according to claim 45, wherein the salt container is configured to contain a given amount of consumable salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl), and the electrolytic cell is configured to perform electro-chlorination of the brine arriving from the brine container, so as to produce water-diluted sodium hypochlorite.

66. A laundry washing machine comprising:

an outer casing;

a washing tub inside the outer casing;

a rotatable drum housed in an axially rotatable manner inside the washing tub and configured to hold laundry to be washed;

a detergent dispenser configured to supply detergent into the washing tub;

a fresh water supply circuit configured to selectively channel fresh water from an external water source to the detergent dispenser and/or the washing tub; and

an electrochemical device comprising an electrolytic cell capable of internally converting a brine into a chlorine-based sanitizing agent to be channeled into the washing tub;

wherein the detergent dispenser comprises: a drawer housing located inside the outer casing, a detergent drawer selectively insertable into the drawer housing and having one or more detergent compartments each structured for being manually fillable with a given amount of detergent, softener or other washing agent, and a drawer flush circuit connected to the fresh-water supply circuit for receiving the water of the water mains, and having a platelike water conveyor that forms an upper lid of the drawer housing with a number of first water delivery portions each structured to allow the outflow of the water of the water mains from the platelike water conveyor towards a respective beneath-located detergent compartment of the detergent drawer; and

wherein the electrolytic reactor communicates with the platelike water conveyor to channel the chlorine-based sanitizing agent into the washing tub via the platelike water conveyor.