Laundry Washing Machine Equipped with a Treating Agents Dispenser

Abstract

A laundry washing machine (1) connectable to a water mains (E, E′) has a cabinet (2) supporting a washing tub (3) external to a rotatable washing drum (4) suited to receive laundry and a treating agents dispenser (20) connectable to the water mains (E, E′) by means of at least one supply valve (40a, 40b, 40c, 40d, 40e). The treating agents dispenser (20) has a drawer (22) and a supporting structure (21) on which the drawer (22) can slide along a sliding axis (S). A water distributor (35) includes at least one inlet connector (36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e) adapted to connect the at least one supply valve (40a, 40b, 40c, 40d, 40e) to at least one water conveying line (120a, 120b, 120c, 120d, 120e) for conveying water to a reservoir (23a, 23b, 23c, 23d) or to the washing tub (3). The at least one inlet connector (36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e) extends along a main axis (X) which is inclined with respect to the sliding axis (S).

Claims

1. A laundry washing machine connectable to a water mains comprising a cabinet supporting a washing tub enclosing a rotatable washing drum suited to receive laundry and a treating agents dispenser connectable to said water mains by means of at least one supply valve, said treating agents dispenser comprising: a drawer and a supporting structure on which said drawer can slide along a sliding axis; a water distributor comprising at least one water conveying line for conveying water to a reservoir or to said washing tub and at least one inlet connector, said at least one inlet connector being adapted to connect said at least one supply valve to said at least one water conveying line; wherein said at least one inlet connector extends along a main axis which is inclined with respect to said sliding axis.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said reservoir comprises a compartment of said drawer suitable to receive an agent for treating laundry.

3. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said reservoir comprises a container suitable to receive a water softening product to be used in a water softening device of the laundry washing machine.

4. A machine according to claim 3, wherein said container is supported by said drawer or by said supporting structure or is external to said treating agents dispenser.

5. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said main axis is perpendicular with respect to said sliding axis.

6. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said main axis is arranged in a vertical plane or substantially vertical plane, when said treating agents dispenser is mounted in an operational position.

7. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said sliding axis is arranged in a horizontal or substantially horizontal plane, when said treating agents dispenser is mounted in an operational position.

8. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said at least one inlet connector is integrally made with said water distributor.

9. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said water distributor comprises a first part and a second part structured for being reciprocally coupled.

10. A machine according to claim 9, wherein said at least one inlet connector is integrally made with one of said first or second parts of said water distributor.

11. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said at least one inlet connector is coupled to said water distributor.

12. A machine according to claim 11, wherein said at least one inlet connector is part of a unit sandwiched between said first and second parts.

13. A machine according to claim 1, further comprising a pipe fluidly connecting said at least one inlet connector to said at least one supply valve.

14. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said drawer is movable in a withdrawal direction in order to extract said drawer from said supporting structure and is movable in a pushing direction in order to insert said drawer into said supporting structure.

15. A machine according to claim 14, wherein said withdrawal direction and/or said pushing direction is parallel to said sliding axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be highlighted in greater detail in the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, provided with reference to the enclosed drawings. In the drawings, corresponding characteristics and/or components are identified by the same reference numbers. In such drawings:

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a laundry washing machine equipped with a treating agents dispenser with the drawer in its opened loading position according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0040] FIG. 2 shows the laundry washing machine of FIG. 1 with the front side wall and the upper side wall removed therefrom;

[0041] FIG. 3 is a partial perspective rear view of the laundry washing machine of FIG. 2 with the drawer in its closed position;

[0042] FIG. 4 shows some elements of FIG. 3 isolated from the rest;

[0043] FIG. 5 shows a plan top view of FIG. 4;

[0044] FIG. 6 shows an element of FIG. 4 isolated from the rest;

[0045] FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of FIG. 6;

[0046] FIG. 8 shows a plan upper view of a particular of FIG. 7;

[0047] FIG. 9 shows a lateral side view of FIG. 7;

[0048] FIG. 10 shows a sectional view of FIG. 8 sectioned along line X°-X°;

[0049] FIG. 11 shows a further preferred embodiment in a view similar to FIG. 6;

[0050] FIG. 12 shows an exploded view of FIG. 11;

[0051] FIG. 13 shows an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0052] The present invention has proved to be particularly advantageous when applied to laundry washing machines, as described below. It should in any case be underlined that the present invention is not limited to laundry washing machines. On the contrary, the present invention can be conveniently applied to laundry washing-drying machines (i.e. laundry washing machines which can also dry laundry). In the present description, therefore, the term “laundry washing machine” will refer to both simple laundry washing machine and laundry washing-drying machine.

[0053] A laundry washing machine 1 equipped with a treating agents dispenser according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10.

[0054] The laundry washing machine 1 comprises an external casing or cabinet 2, in which a washing tub 3 is provided that contains a perforated washing drum 4 where the laundry to be treated can be loaded. The cabinet 2 comprises a vertical front side wall 2a, a vertical rear side wall 2b, two vertical lateral side walls 2c, 2d and an upper side wall 2e. The cabinet 2 is provided with a loading/unloading door 8 which allows access to the drum 4. The tub 3 is preferably suspended in a floating manner inside the cabinet 2, advantageously by means of a number of coil springs and shock-absorbers 17.

[0055] The drum 4 is advantageously rotated by an electric motor (not shown) which preferably transmits the rotating motion to the shaft of the drum 4, advantageously by means of a belt/pulley system (not shown). In a different embodiment of the invention, the motor can be directly associated with the shaft of the drum 4.

[0056] The drum 4 is advantageously provided with holes which allow the liquid flowing therethrough. Said holes are typically and preferably homogeneously distributed on the cylindrical side wall of the drum 4.

[0057] The tub 3 is preferably connected to the cabinet 2 by means of an elastic bellows 7, or gasket. The bellows 7 is preferably S-shaped.

[0058] Laundry washing machine 1 advantageously comprises a control unit (not shown), connected to the various parts of the laundry washing machine 1 in order to ensure its operation. Laundry washing machine 1 preferably comprises an interface unit 16, connected to the control unit, accessible to the user and by means of which the user may select and set the washing parameters, like for example a desired washing program. Usually, other parameters can optionally be set by the user, for example the washing temperature, the spinning speed, etc. The interface unit 16 preferably comprises a display 16a which displays machine working conditions.

[0059] The unit interface 16 then preferably comprises one or more selector devices which allow to select the appropriate washing program and/or to set other parameters. For example, the selector devices may comprise a selector 16b (a rotary knob) which advantageously allows to select the appropriate washing program. The selector devices may then preferably comprise push buttons.

[0060] The laundry washing machine 1 advantageously comprises a treating agents dispenser 20 to supply treating agents into the tub 3 during a washing cycle. Treating agents may comprise, for example, detergents, rinse additives, fabric softeners or fabric conditioners, waterproofing agents, fabric enhancers, rinse sanitization additives, chlorine-based additives, etc.

[0061] Advantageously, the treating agents dispenser 20 comprises a supporting structure 21, connected to the cabinet 2, internally to the latter, preferably by suitable fixing means, comprising, for example, screws or rivets, not illustrated, or also glue, or welding. Preferably, the supporting structure 21 comprises a housing, more preferably a box-shaped housing 21.

[0062] In the enclosed Figures, the housing 21 is advantageously substantially parallelepiped, and it is connected to the frontal side wall 2a of the cabinet 2, opportunely in an upper region of the latter, positioned above the tub 3. The housing 21 contains a removable drawer 22 which can be extracted from the housing 21, such as to protrude from the cabinet 2 in an opened position, as illustrated for example in FIGS. 1 and 2, or can be fully inserted into the housing 21 in a closed position, as illustrated for example in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.

[0063] The drawer 22 preferably comprises a front panel 15 with a handle by means of which the drawer 22 can be moved from the closed position to an opened position and, vice-versa, can be moved from an opened position to the closed position. For simplicity's sake, the front panel 15 has been removed in FIG. 2.

[0064] The movement of the drawer 22 takes place along a sliding axis S and the drawer 22 can move along a withdrawal direction W when the drawer 22 is being opened and along a push direction P when the drawer 22 is being closed. The withdrawal direction W and the push direction P are preferably parallel to the sliding axis S. The movement of the drawer 22 preferably takes place on a horizontal, or substantially horizontal, plane, i.e. the sliding axis S lies on a horizontal, or substantially horizontal, plane.

[0065] The drawer 22 is preferably provided with one or more reservoirs 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d, or compartments, adapted to be filled with treating agents. In the embodiment illustrated in the Figures, there are four compartments, 23a, 23b, 23c and 23d. In different embodiments, not illustrated, the number of compartments may be different, according to the desired type and number of treating agents which are used in the particular model of laundry washing machine.

[0066] The first compartment 23a is preferably adapted for receiving a powder detergent; the second compartment 23b is preferably adapted for receiving a quantity of liquid detergent; the third compartment 23c is preferably adapted for receiving bleach; the fourth compartment 23d is preferably adapted for receiving a softener. In different embodiments, other treating agents may be used, such as fabric conditioners, waterproofing agents, fabric enhancers, rinse sanitization additives, chlorine-based additives, etc.

[0067] The compartments 23a, 23b, 23c and 23d are fluidly connected to the bottom of the housing 21, preferably to the rear portion of this bottom, in which an outlet port (not shown) is preferably provided. The outlet port is adapted to allow the flowing of a liquid into a supply pipe (not shown) fluidly connecting the treating agents dispenser 20 and the tub 3.

[0068] It is underlined that in the present application saying that a first component is “fluidly connected” to a second component means that a fluid can flow from the first component to the second component and vice versa.

[0069] The first compartment 23a of the drawer 22 is fluidly connected to the bottom of the housing 21 through an aperture 26 defined at the rear of the first compartment 23a. The aperture 26 is adapted to allow the flowing of a liquid into the supply pipe fluidly connecting the treating agents dispenser 20 and the tub 3. The other compartments 23b, 23c and 23d of the drawer 22 are preferably fluidly connected to the bottom of the housing 21 through respective siphons.

[0070] The treating agents dispenser 20 further comprises a water distributor 35, associated to the housing 21 and placed above the drawer 22 in such a way to allow the flowing of water to one or more of said compartments 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d. The water distributor 35 comprises one or more water conveying lines 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d, 120e, as illustrated in FIG. 8, adapted for selectively conveying water to one or more of said compartments 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d.

[0071] In the preferred embodiment herewith illustrated and described, there are five water conveying lines 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d, 120e. The water conveying lines 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d, 120e are opportunely shaped to create channels 70 adapted for conveying water to one or more of said compartments 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d of the drawer 22 when the latter is placed in its closed operative position.

[0072] To this purpose, the channels 70 are provided with outlets 29 facing the underlying compartments 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d that allow the passage of the water from the water distributor 35 to the underlying compartments 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d. The water conveying lines 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d, 120e comprise respective inlets 121a, 121b, 121c, 121d, 121e through which water may flow. Inlets 121a, 121b, 121c, 121d, 121e are preferably arranged close to the rear side 39 of the distributor 35. In the preferred embodiment herewith illustrated and described, there are five water conveying lines 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d, 120e and six channels 70. In different embodiments, the number and/or the shape of the water conveying lines and/or of the channels could be different according, in particular, to the number of compartments of the drawer.

[0073] The water distributor 35 preferably comprises a lower part 35a and an upper closing part 35b structured for being reciprocally coupled to form the water distributor 35. The two parts 35a, 35b are preferably coupled by welding and/or glueing and/or joint. The water distributor 35 preferably has a substantially flattened configuration. The water distributor 35 preferably extends along the sliding axis S and preferably lies in the horizontal, or substantially horizontal, plane when the treating agents dispenser 20 is mounted in an operational position.

[0074] The water distributor 35 is apt to be connected to a first external water source E which could comprise, for example, the plumbing of the building in which the laundry washing machine 1 is installed. The first water source E is preferably a source for the adduction of cold water. In the embodiment illustrated in the enclosed Figures the water distributor 35 is further apt to be connected to a second external water source E′. The second water source E′ is preferably a source of warm or hot water. The second water source E′ can be fed with warm or hot water obtained, for example, by a solar thermal collector.

[0075] The laundry washing machine 1 is therefore provided with a first inlet duct 7a and a second inlet duct 7b for the hydraulic connection to the first water source E and the second water source E′, respectively. To this purpose, the rear side wall 2b of the cabinet 2, as illustrated in FIG. 3, preferably comprises a first aperture 11 which receives the first inlet duct 7a and a second aperture 12 which receives the second inlet duct 7b. The first and second inlet ducts 7a, 7b are preferably associated to a valves assembly 40.

[0076] The valves assembly 40 preferably comprises five controllable valves 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d and 40e, preferably of the electromagnetic type, opportunely controlled by the control unit. Preferably, first, second, fourth and fifth controllable valves 40a, 40b, 40d and 40e are fluidly connected to the first inlet duct 7a and the third controllable valve 40c is fluidly connected to the second inlet duct 7b.

[0077] The valves assembly 40 allows adduction of cold and/or hot water from the water sources E, E′ to the conveying lines 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d, 120e of the distributor 35, as further described later. The valves assembly 40 is preferably fixedly associated to the cabinet 2. Preferably the valves assembly 40 is fixedly associated to the inner side of the vertical rear side wall 2b.

[0078] According to an aspect of the invention, the water distributor 35 comprises one or more inlet connectors 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d and 36e fluidly connected to said one or more water conveying lines 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d, 120e and the respective inlets 121a, 121b, 121c, 121d, 121e. Inlet connectors 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d and 36e are opportunely connected to the valves assembly 40 through respective pipes 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d and 34e. Preferably, the first inlet connector 36a is connected through the first pipe 34a to the first controllable valve 40a, the second inlet connector 36b is connected through the second pipe 34b to the second controllable valve 40b, the third inlet connector 36c is connected through the third pipe 34c to the third controllable valve 40c, the fourth inlet connector 36d is connected through the fourth pipe 34d to the fourth controllable valve 40d and the fifth inlet connector 36e is connected through the fifth pipe 34e to the fifth controllable valve 40e.

[0079] Cold and/or hot/warm water is conveyed to one or more of said compartments 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d of the drawer 22 by selectively activating one or more of the valves 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d, 40e and making the water flow through the respective pipe 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, 34e and water conveying line 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d, 120e up to the outlets 29. In other preferred embodiments, not illustrated, in the drawer there can be more than four compartments, and in the water distributor there can be more than six channels, each one fluidly communicating with a different region of the water distributor which is positioned in such a way to be placed above a different compartment of the drawer when the latter is placed in its closed operative position; also in this case, by acting on the controllable valves, it is possible to selectively feed a desired channel with water coming from the water source.

[0080] In further embodiments, not illustrated, in the drawer there can be less than four compartments, even just one, and in the water distributor there can be less than six channels, each one fluidly communicating with a different region of the water distributor which is positioned in such a way to be placed above a different compartment of the drawer when the latter is placed in its closed operative position; also in this case, by acting on the controllable valves, it is possible to selectively feed a desired channel with water coming from the water source.

[0081] According to an aspect of the invention, the inlet connectors 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e preferably each comprises a projecting body 136a, 136b, 136c, 136d, 136e extending along a main axis X which is inclined with respect to the sliding axis S. More preferably, the projecting body 136a, 136b, 136c, 136d, 136e extends downwardly and preferably along a main axis X which is perpendicular with respect to the sliding axis S. Preferably, the main axis X lies in the vertical, or substantially vertical, plane when the treating agents dispenser 20 is mounted in an operational position. More preferably, the main axis X is perpendicular to the horizontal plane when the treating agents dispenser 20 is mounted in an operational position and the water distributor 35 lies in the horizontal plane.

[0082] The projecting bodies 136a, 136b, 136c, 136d, 136e of the inlet connectors 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e are preferably cylindrically shaped. This enhances connection of the pipes 34a, 34b, 34c, 36d, 34e to the inlet connectors 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e. More preferably, the projecting bodies 136a, 136b, 136c, 136d, 136e of the inlet connectors 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e comprises an annular projecting rib 137a. This further enhances connection of the pipes 34a, 34b, 34c, 36d, 34e to the inlet connectors 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e.

[0083] In preferred embodiments, connection of the pipes 34a, 34b, 34c, 36d, 34e to the inlet connectors 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e comprises fastening means, for example clamps. Clamps preferably tighten ends of the pipes 34a, 34b, 34c, 36d, 34e around the projecting bodies 136a, 136b, 136c, 136d, 136e of the inlet connectors 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e. Preferably, the valves assembly 40 is arranged vertically below the water distributor 35, more preferably just below the free ends of the inlet connectors 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e. More generally, the valves assembly 40 is arranged spaced apart from the free ends of the inlet connectors 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e along the main axis X. Such arrangement allows to minimize the interspace between the treating agents dispenser 20 and the valves assembly 40 and allows the assembly of the treating agents dispenser 20 closer to the valves assembly 40 compared to known systems.

[0084] Advantageously, the size of the laundry washing machine 1, for example the distance between the front side wall 2a and the rear side wall 2b, may be reduced compared to known systems. On the other hand, while maintaining the same external size of the laundry washing machine 1, it is possible to increase the size of the treating agents dispensers 20, in particular of the drawer 22, compared to known systems. This helps to adopt a better design solution for the treating agents dispensers 20 and/or for the drawer 22. Said arrangement, furthermore, allows to minimize the length of the pipes 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, 34e and therefore to reduce the complexity of the laundry washing machine 1.

[0085] Pipes 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, 34e substantially comprise short L-shaped pipes portion. Pipes 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, 34e preferably comprise flexible pipes, more preferably plastic flexible pipes.

[0086] Advantageously, the arrangement according to the invention allows to reduce costs of production and assembly time of the pipes and/or of the treating agents dispensers 20. Furthermore, arrangement of the inlet connectors 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e perpendicularly with respect to the plane of the distributor 35 facilitates the manufacturing process of the distributor 35, in particular when a molding process is involved.

[0087] The inlet connectors 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e are preferably integrally made with the water distributor 35, more preferably integrally made with the lower part 35a of the water distributor 35. The water distributor 35 and/or the inlet connectors 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e are preferably made of Polypropylene (PP).

[0088] In the preferred embodiment above illustrated and described, the projecting bodies 136a, 136b, 136c, 136d, 136e of the inlet connectors 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e are parallel one to the other and extend along the main axis X. In different preferred embodiments, inlet connectors may extend along different axes one to the other and each extending along a respective axis which is preferably inclined with respect to the sliding axis S.

[0089] FIGS. 11 to 13 illustrate a further embodiment of a water distributor 235 of a treating agents dispenser according to the present invention. The water distributor 235 comprises three water conveying lines 320a, 320b, 320c adapted for selectively conveying water to one or more of the compartments of a drawer. The water conveying lines 320a, 320b, 320c are opportunely shaped to create channels adapted for conveying water to one or more of said compartments of the drawer when the latter is placed in its closed operative position. The channels are provided with outlets facing the underlying compartments that allow the passage of the water from the water distributor 235 to the underlying compartments.

[0090] The water distributor 235 preferably comprises a lower part 235a and an upper closing part 235b structured for being reciprocally coupled to form the water distributor 235. The two parts 235a, 235b are preferably coupled by welding and/or glueing and/or joint. The water distributor 235 preferably has a substantially flattened configuration. The water distributor 235 preferably extends along the sliding axis S and preferably lies in the horizontal, or substantially horizontal, plane when the treating agents dispenser is mounted in an operational position.

[0091] According to the invention, the water distributor 235 comprises three inlet connectors 436a, 436b, 436c fluidly connected to said water conveying lines 320a, 320b, 320c.

[0092] According to an aspect of the invention, the inlet connectors 436a, 436b, 436c, preferably each comprises a projecting body 536a, 536b, 536c extending along a respective axis X, X, X1 which is inclined with respect to the sliding axis S. More preferably, the projecting bodies 536a, 536b of the first two inlet connectors 436a, 436b extend downwardly and preferably along a main axis X which is perpendicular with respect to the sliding axis S. More preferably, the projecting body 536c of the third inlet connector 436c extends downwardly and preferably along an axis X1 which is inclined with respect to the sliding axis S.

[0093] Preferably, the axes X, X1 lie in the vertical, or substantially vertical, plane when the treating agents dispenser is mounted in an operational position. More preferably, the axes X, X1 are perpendicular to the horizontal plane when the treating agents dispenser is mounted in an operational position and the water distributor 235 lies in the horizontal plane.

[0094] According to an aspect of the present embodiment, the inlet connectors 436a, 436b, 436c are integrally made as a separate unit 500 which is coupled to the water distributor 235. Preferably, the unit 500 is sandwiched between the two parts 235a, 235b of the water distributor 235. The unit 500 preferably then comprises interconnecting portion 550a, 550b, 550c which fluidly connect the inlet connectors 436a, 436b, 436c to the water conveying lines 320a, 320b, 320c. The interconnecting portion 550a, 550b, 550c are preferably integrally made with the inlet connectors 436a, 436b, 436c. The unit 500 is preferably arranged close to the rear side 239 of the distributor 235. This second embodiment achieves all the advantages above described for the previous embodiment.

[0095] It has thus been shown that embodiments of the invention allow the stated objects to be achieved. In particular it is possible to realize a laundry washing machine having a treating agents dispenser with reduced size compared to laundry washing machines of known type.

[0096] It is underlined that the laundry washing machines illustrated in the enclosed figures are of the front-loading type; however it is clear that the system according to the invention can be applied as well to a top-loading washing machine, substantially without any modification.

[0097] While the present invention has been described with reference to water conveying lines adapted for conveying water to one or more compartments of the drawer, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to this specific embodiment but can be extended to other embodiments. In a different embodiment, for example, a water conveying line of the water distributor may be opportunely shaped to define a by-pass line. The by-pass line preferably allows the flowing of water into the tub without entering the compartments of the drawer.

[0098] In a further different embodiment, for example, a water conveying line of the water distributor may be opportunely shaped to preferably allow the flowing of water to a reservoir/container of a water softening device of the laundry washing machine. The water softening device advantageously removes calcium, magnesium and/or certain other metal cations in hard water before it reaches the compartments of the water distributor and/or before it is conveyed directly into the tub. The water softening device advantageously comprises water softening products, such as salt, introduced into the reservoir for regenerate the softener agents provided in a further reservoir. In a preferred embodiment, the container for the water softening products is preferably supported by the drawer. In further preferred embodiments, the container for the water softening products may be preferably supported by the supporting structure of the treating agent dispenser. In other preferred embodiments, the container for the water softening products may be external to the treating agents dispenser.

[0099] While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular embodiments shown in the figures, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated and described herein; on the contrary, further variants of the embodiments described herein fall within the scope of the present invention, which is defined in the claims.