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

As is known, currently marketed front-loading home laundry washing machines generally comprise: a substantially parallelepiped- shaped outer boxlike casing structured for resting on the floor; a substantially bell-shaped washing tub which is suspended in floating manner inside the casing, directly facing a laundry loading/unloading through opening realized in the front wall of the casing; a substantially cylindrical elastically-deformable bellows, which connects the front opening of the washing tub to a 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; a substantially cylindrical, bell-shaped revolving drum structured for housing the laundry to be washed, and which is housed inside the washing tub with its concavity facing the laundry loading/unloading opening and in axially rotating manner so as to be able to freely rotate about its substantially horizontally-oriented longitudinal axis; and finally an electrically-powered motor assembly which is structured for driving into rotation the revolving drum about its longitudinal axis inside the washing tub.

Alike any other home laundry washing machine, this type of laundry washing machines is furthermore provided with a fresh-water supply circuit structured for selectively drawing fresh water from the water mains according to the washing cycle manually-selected by the user via a control panel generally located on the front wall of the boxlike casing, and channeling said water into the washing tub, and with detergent dispensing assembly which is generally 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 the fresh water arriving from the water mains.

This detergent dispensing assembly generally comprises a detergent drawer which is usually divided into a number of detergent compartments each structured for being manually fillable with a corresponding detergent product, and which is fitted/inserted in manually extractable manner into a completely recessed drawer housing whose entrance is located on front wall of the boxlike casing, above the porthole door. The bottom of the drawer housing instead directly communicates with the inside of the washing tub via a drain duct.

The fresh-water supply circuit is structured for drawing fresh water from the water mains and selectively and alternatively channeling said water into any one of the detergent compartments of the detergent drawer, so as to selectively flush the detergent, softener or other washing agent out of the compartment and down on the bottom of the drawer housing, and afterwards sweep the detergent, softener or other washing agent away from the bottom of the drawer housing directly into the washing tub.

As is known the hardness of the fresh water used for washing deeply negatively influences the cleaning efficiency of the detergents and softeners used in the washing cycle, thus the user is usually requested to considerably increase, when the hardness degree of the tap water is too high, the amount of detergent and softener used in the washing cycle and/or to mix the detergent with a given amount of very expensive, generally polycarboxylates-based, water-softening chemical product.

To solve this problem the European patent application No. 1085118 discloses a front-loading home laundry washing machine provided with an internal water softening device capable of reducing, during each washing cycle, the hardness degree of the tap water used in the pre-washing and washing phases of the washing cycle. This water softening device uses ion-exchange resins to restrain calcium and magnesium ions (Ca++ an Mg++) dissolved in the fresh water channeled to the washing tub, and uses brine (i.e. salt water) to periodically regenerate these ion- exchange resins. Salt water, in fact, is able to remove from the ion-exchange resins the calcium and magnesium ions previously combined/fixed to said resins.

Unluckily integration of the salt reservoir on the back of the detergent drawer has brought to a very complicated detergent-dispenser structure with a consequent significant increase in the detergent dispenser overall production cost.

Furthermore the capacity of the salt reservoir on the back of the detergent drawer is too limited for the everyday-use typical of a traditional home laundry washing machine. It is unacceptable for a normal user to refill the salt reservoir every 3-4 washing cycles.

Last but not less important, the brine accidentally coming out of the salt reservoir may fall onto the bottom of the drawer housing which communicates with the upper portion of the washing tub, thus the brine may fall down onto the outer surface of the revolving drum that is generally made of metal, and therefore cause a quick rusting up of the revolving drum.

Aim of the present invention is to realize an internal water softening device designed to eliminate the drawbacks referred above.

In compliance with the above aims, according to the present invention there is provided a laundry washing machine comprising an outer casing and, inside said outer casing, a washing tub, a rotatable drum which is arranged in axially rotating manner inside the washing tub and is structured for receiving the laundry to be washed, a detergent dispensing assembly which is structured for supplying detergent into the washing tub, a fresh-water supply circuit which is structured for selectively channeling a flow of fresh water from the water mains towards the detergent dispensing assembly and/or the washing tub, and a water softening device which is interposed between the fresh-water supply circuit and the detergent dispensing assembly or the washing tub, and is structured for reducing the hardness degree of the fresh water supplied to the washing tub;

the water softening device in turn comprising: a water- softening agent container which is crossed by the fresh water arriving from the fresh-water supply circuit and is filled with a water softening agent able to reduce the hardness degree of the fresh water flowing through the same water- softening agent container; a regeneration- agent reservoir which is structured to receive a salt or other regeneration agent for performing a regeneration of the water softening function of the water softening agents stored into the water- softening agent container; a water supply circuit which is structured for selectively channeling a given amount of fresh water into the regeneration-agent reservoir to form brine; wherein the water softening device additionally comprises a valve assembly which is interposed between the water- softening agent container and the regeneration-agent reservoir and which is structured for selectively allowing the brine to flow by gravity from the regeneration- agent reservoir to the water- softening agent container, and a water drain line structured for selectively draining the fresh water out of the resin container; and in that the water drain line of the internal water softening device comprises an electrically-powered water pump assembly which communicates with the water- softening agent container and which is structured for preventing, when deactivated, any outflow of the brine or fresh water from the water- softening agent container, and for sucking out of the water- softening agent container, when activated, the fresh water stored into the water- softening agent container.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing machine is furthermore characterized in that the valve assembly of the internal water softening device is an electrically-controlled on-off valve.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing machine is furthermore characterized in that the water drain line of the internal water softening device furthermore comprises a pipeline which connects the outlet/forcing of said water drain pump to the washing tub, or to a drain sump that extends downwards form the bottom of the washing tub, or to a water filtering assembly that is interposed between the drain sump of the washing tub and the suction of a water circulating pump and/or of a water exhaust pump of the laundry washing machine, or to the water exhaust pump.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing machine is furthermore characterized in that the regeneration- agent reservoir comprises a regeneration-agent container which is fillable with a given quantity of regeneration agents, and in that the water supply circuit of the water softening device is structured for selectively spilling/pouring a shower of water droplets by gravity into said regeneration-agent container.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing machine is furthermore characterized in that the water supply circuit of the water softening device comprises a sprinkler head which is located above the regeneration-agent container and is structured for feeding a shower of water droplets by gravity into said regeneration-agent container; and a valve assembly which is located upstream of said sprinkler head and is structured for selectively channeling the fresh water arriving from the fresh-water supply circuit or directly from the water mains towards said sprinkler head.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing machine is furthermore characterized in that the valve assembly of the water supply circuit of the water softening device is located downstream of the water-softening agent container so as to selectively channel towards the sprinkler head the fresh water coming out of the same water- softening agent container.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing machine is furthermore characterized in that the detergent dispensing assembly comprises a detergent container which is fillable with a given quantity of detergent, and a detergent flush circuit which is structured for selectively spilling/pouring water into said detergent container.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing machine is furthermore characterized in that the detergent container is provided with a number of detergent compartments each fillable with a respective detergent product, and the detergent flush circuit is structured for spilling/pouring the fresh water arriving from the water mains selectively into any one of said detergent compartments.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing machine is furthermore characterized in that the detergent flush circuit of the detergent dispensing assembly comprises a sprinkler head which is located above the detergent container and is provided with a number of shower-making portions each of which is aligned to a corresponding detergent compartment of the detergent container and is structured for feeding a shower of water droplets by gravity only into said detergent compartment.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing machine is furthermore characterized by additionally comprising an electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor which is located upstream of the detergent flush circuit, and is structured for selectively channeling the water towards the detergent flush circuit.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing machine is furthermore characterized in that the water supply circuit of the water softening device branches off from the electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor, and in that the electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor incorporates the valve assembly of the water supply circuit of the water softening device.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing machine is furthermore characterized in that the electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor is a rotatable hydraulic distributor.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing machine is furthermore characterized in that the water- softening agent container of the internal water softening device is fluidically interposed between the fresh-water supply circuit and the detergent flush circuit of the detergent dispensing assembly.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing machine is furthermore characterized by also comprising a second water drain line which is connected to the electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor and it is structured for channeling the brine or fresh water arriving from the water- softening agent container into the washing tub, or into a drain sump that extends downwards form the bottom of the washing tub, or into a water filtering assembly that is interposed between the drain sump of the washing tub and the suction of a water circulating pump and of a water exhaust pump of the laundry washing machine, or into the water exhaust pump.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing machine is furthermore characterized by also comprising an additional fresh-water supply circuit which connects the water mains directly to the detergent dispensing assembly bypassing the internal water softening device, and which is structured so as to control/regulate the flow of fresh water from the water mains towards the detergent flush circuit of said detergent dispensing assembly.

According to the present invention there is also provided an operating method of a laundry washing machine of the type comprising an outer casing and, inside the outer casing, a washing tub, a rotatable drum which is arranged in axially rotating manner inside the washing tub and is structured for receiving the laundry to be washed, a detergent dispensing assembly which is structured for supplying detergent into the washing tub, a fresh-water supply circuit which is structured for selectively channeling a flow of fresh water from the water mains towards the detergent dispensing assembly and/or the washing tub, and a water softening device which is interposed between the fresh-water supply circuit and the detergent dispensing assembly or the washing tub, and is structured for reducing the hardness degree of the fresh water supplied to the washing tub;

the water softening device in turn comprising: a water- softening agent container which is crossed by the fresh water arriving from the fresh-water supply circuit and is filled with a water softening agent able to reduce the hardness degree of the fresh water flowing through the same water- softening agent container; a regeneration- agent reservoir which is structured to receive a salt or other regeneration agent for performing a regeneration of the water softening function of the water softening agents stored into the water- softening agent container; a water supply circuit which is structured for selectively channeling a given amount of fresh water into the regeneration-agent reservoir to form brine;

the operating method of the laundry washing machine being characterized by comprising the steps of: channeling a given amount of fresh water into the regeneration-agent reservoir so as to form the brine; sucking out of the water- softening agent container the fresh water stored into the same water- softening agent container up to substantially empty said water- softening agent container; transferring the brine from the regeneration-agent reservoir to the water- softening agent container; leaving the brine inside the water- softening agent container for a time interval enough to perform the regeneration of the water softening function of the water softening agents; and finally channeling new pressurized fresh water from the water mains into the water- softening agent container for pushing the brine out of the same water- softening agent container.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the operating method is furthermore characterized in that the suction of the fresh water stored into the water-softening agent container is performed by means of an electrically-powered water pump assembly which communicates with the water- softening agent container, and which is structured for preventing, when deactivated, any outflow of the brine or fresh water from the water- softening agent container, and for sucking out of the water- softening agent container, when activated, the fresh water stored into the water- softening agent container.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the operating method is furthermore characterized in that the transfer of the brine is performed by temporarily opening a valve assembly which is interposed between the water- softening agent container and the regeneration- agent reservoir, and which is structured for selectively allowing the brine to flow by gravity from the regeneration-agent reservoir to the water-softening agent container.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the operating method is furthermore characterized in that the suction of the fresh water stored into the water-softening agent container and the pushing of the brine out of the water- softening agent container are performed through two different water drain lines.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the operating method is furthermore characterized in that the suction of the fresh water stored into the water-softening agent container is performed after the channeling a given amount of fresh water into the regeneration-agent reservoir so as to form the brine.

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

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

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

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the top portion of the Figure 1 laundry washing machine in a first operating position;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the top portion of the Figure 1 laundry washing machine in a second operating position;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the internal detergent dispensing assembly and the internal water softening device of the Figure 1 laundry washing machine;

Figure 6 is a schematic view of the Figure 5 detergent dispensing assembly and water softening device; whereas

Figure 7 is a schematic view of a first alternative embodiment of the internal detergent dispensing assembly and water softening device of the Figure 1 laundry washing machine; whereas

Figure 8 is a schematic view of a second alternative embodiment of the internal detergent dispensing assembly and water softening device of the Figure 1 laundry washing machine.

With reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, reference number 1 indicates as a whole a home laundry washing machine which comprises: a preferably, though not necessarily, substantially parallelepiped-shaped, rigid outer boxlike casing 2 which is structured for resting on the floor; a preferably substantially cylindrical, bell-shaped hollow washing tub 3 which is arranged inside the casing 2 with its opening or mouth directly facing a laundry loading/unloading pass-through opening realized in the front wall 2a of boxlike casing 2; a preferably substantially cylindrical, elastically- deformable bellows (not shown) watertight connecting the front opening or mouth of washing tub 3 to the laundry loading/unloading opening realized in the front wall 2a of casing 2; and a substantially cylindrical, bell-shaped revolving drum (not shown) structured for housing the laundry to be washed, and which is housed in axially rotating manner inside the washing tub 3 so as to be able to freely rotate about its longitudinal reference axis.

In the example shown, in particular, the revolving drum is housed in axially rotating manner inside the washing tub 3 with its front opening directly faced/ aligned to the laundry loading/unloading opening on the front wall 2a of casing 2, and the drum rotation axis is preferably arranged locally substantially coincident with the substantially horizontally-oriented longitudinal reference axis L of washing tub 3.

Furthermore in the example shown the hollow washing tub 3 is preferably suspended in floating manner inside the casing 2 via a suspension system preferably, though not necessarily, comprising a couple of upper coil springs 4 connecting the upper portion of the washing tub 3 to the top of the boxlike casing 2, and a couple of lower vibration dampers 5 connecting the bottom portion of the washing tub 3 to the bottom of the boxlike casing 2.

With reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the laundry washing machine 1 furthermore comprises:

- a porthole door 7 which is hinged to the front wall 2a of casing 2 to rotate about a preferably, though non necessarily, vertically-oriented reference axis to and from a closing position in which the peripheral border of the porthole door 7 rests completely on front wall 2a for closing the laundry loading/unloading opening and watertight sealing the washing tub 3;

- an electrically-powered motor assembly 8 which is structured for driving into rotation the revolving drum about its longitudinal reference axis inside the washing tub 3;

a detergent dispensing assembly 9 which is housed inside the casing 2 in easily reachable manner by the user, and is structured for selectively feeding into the washing tub 3, according to the selected washing cycle, a given amount of detergent, softener and/or other washing agent suitably mixed with the fresh water arriving from the water mains, or even simply a given amount of fresh water arriving from the water mains; and

a fresh- water supply circuit 10 which is arranged/interposed between the water mains and the detergent dispensing assembly 9 or between the water mains and directly the washing tub 3, and is structured so as to control/ regulate the flow of fresh water from the water mains towards the detergent dispensing assembly 9 and/or the washing tub 3.

In addition to the above, the laundry washing machine 1 furthermore comprises, inside casing 2, an internal water softening device 11 which is arranged/ interposed between the fresh- water supply circuit 10 and the detergent dispensing assembly 9, or between the fresh-water supply circuit 10 and the washing tub 3, so as to be crossed by the fresh water flowing from the water mains towards the detergent dispensing assembly 9 or directly towards the washing tub 3, and is structured for selectively reducing, during each washing cycle, the hardness degree of the fresh water drawn from the water mains and channeled to the detergent dispensing assembly 9 or directly to the washing tub 3.

In the example shown, in particular, the internal water softening device 11 is preferably interposed between the fresh- water supply circuit 10 and the detergent dispensing assembly 9.

With referenced to Figures 1 and 6, in the example shown the fresh-water supply circuit 10 preferably comprises an electrically-controlled on-off valve 12 which is arranged/interposed between the water mains and the water softening device 11, and is able to control/regulate the flow of fresh water from the water mains towards the water softening device 11; and a hosepipe 13 connecting the on-off valve 12 directly to the inlet of the internal water softening device 11 which, in turn, has the outlet connected to the detergent dispensing assembly 9. In the example shown, in particular, the electrically-controlled on-off valve 12 is preferably attached to the rear wall of casing 2.

Furthermore the fresh- water supply circuit 10 is preferably also provided with a one-way valve 14 which is located immediately downstream of the on-off valve 12, i.e. between the on-off valve 12 and the inlet of the water softening device 11, and is structured to allow the fresh water to only flow along hosepipe 13 from the water mains to the water softening device 11 and not vice versa. The internal water softening device 11 is therefore located downstream of the electrically-controlled on- off valve 12, and also downstream of the one-way valve 14 if present.

With reference to Figures 1-6, the detergent dispensing assembly 9 is, in turn, preferably housed inside the boxlike casing 2 immediately above the washing tub 3, so as to emerge from the front wall 2a of boxlike casing 2 above the laundry loading/unloading opening of casing 2, and preferably also beside the appliance control panel 15 which is located on front wall 2a of casing 2, above the laundry loading/unloading opening and immediately beneath the top wall of casing 2. Preferably the detergent dispensing assembly 9 furthermore comprises a detergent drawer 16 which is fitted/inserted in manually extractable manner into a completely recessed drawer housing 17 which, starting from front wall 2a of casing 2, extends substantially horizontally inside the boxlike casing 2 while remaining above the washing tub 3, and communicates with the outside of casing 2 via a front entrance or opening 17a realized on front wall 2a of casing 2 immediately above the laundry loading/unloading opening. The detergent drawer 16 is therefore manually movable inside the drawer housing 17 in a preferably substantially horizontally- oriented, displacement direction between a working position (see Figure 1) in which the detergent drawer 16 is completely recessed inside the drawer housing 17 preferably while at same time closing the front entrance or opening 17a of the same drawer housing 17, and a completely extracted position (see Figures 3 and 4) in which the detergent drawer 16 partly juts out from the front wall 2a of casing 2 through the front entrance or opening 17a of the drawer housing 17.

In the example shown, in particular, the detergent drawer 16 is preferably movable inside the drawer housing 17 along a substantially horizontally-oriented, displacement direction which is also locally substantially perpendicular to the front wall 2a of casing 2.

With reference to Figures 5 and 6, the detergent dispensing assembly 9 furthermore comprises a drawer flush circuit 19 which is structured for selectively spilling/pouring a given amount of fresh water arriving from the water mains directly into the detergent drawer 16, so as to flush the detergent, softener or other washing agent out of the same detergent drawer 16 and down into the bottom portion of drawer housing 17; and a drain duct 18 which connects the bottom portion of drawer housing 17 to the inside of washing tub 3 for channeling this mixture of water and detergent, softener or other washing agent into the washing tub 3.

In the example shown, in particular, the drawer flush circuit 19 is preferably structured for spilling/pouring a dense shower of water droplets by gravity into the detergent drawer 16. The bottom portion of drawer housing 17, in turn, is preferably shaped/structured so as to form a substantially funnel-shaped catchment basin which communicates with the inside of washing tub 3 via the drain duct 18. The drain duct 18 is furthermore preferably connected to the upper portion of washing tub 3.

With reference to Figure 6, the water softening device 11 is preferably interposed between the fresh-water supply circuit 10, i.e. the electrically-controlled on-off valve 12 or the one-way valve 14 if present, and the inlet of the drawer flush circuit 19 of detergent dispensing assembly 9, so as to be crossed by the fresh water flowing from the water mains towards the drawer flush circuit 19.

In other words, the fresh- water supply circuit 10 is connected to the inlet of the internal water softening device 11, and the outlet of the internal water softening device 11 is connected to the inlet of the drawer flush circuit 19.

With reference to Figures 3, 4 and 6, in the example shown, in particular, the detergent drawer 16 is preferably divided into a number of detergent compartments 16a (three detergent compartments in the example shown) each of which is manually fillable with a respective washing agent; and the drawer flush circuit 19 is structured for selectively and alternatively spilling/pouring the fresh water arriving from the water mains into any one of the detergent compartments 16a of the detergent drawer 16, so as to selectively flush the detergent, softener or other washing agent out of said compartment 16a and down into the funnel-shaped catchment basin on the bottom of drawer housing 17.

In other words, the drawer flush circuit 19 is structured for spilling/pouring the softened fresh water arriving from the internal water softening device 11 selectively and alternatively into one or more of the detergent compartments 16a of detergent drawer 16.

With reference to Figures 5 and 6, in the example shown, in particular, the drawer flush circuit 19 of detergent dispensing assembly 9 is preferably structured for selectively and alternatively spilling/pouring a dense shower of water droplets by gravity into one or more of the detergent compartments 16a of detergent drawer 16, and preferably comprises: a sprinkler head 20 which is associated to the drawer housing 17 so as to be located immediately above the detergent drawer 16 when the latter is completely inserted/recessed into the drawer housing 17, and which is provided with a number (three in the example shown) of shower-making portions/ sections 20a each of which is preferably substantially aligned to a corresponding detergent compartment 16a of the detergent drawer 16 and is structured for feeding a dense shower of water droplets by gravity into the detergent compartment 16a located immediately beneath.

The laundry washing machine 1 furthermore comprises an electrically- controlled hydraulic distributor 21 or similar valve assembly which is located upstream of the sprinkler head 20, i.e. between the sprinkler head 20 and the water softening device 11, and is structured for channeling the fresh water arriving from the fresh- water supply circuit 10 through the water softening device 11, selectively and alternatively towards the various shower-making sections/portions 20a of the sprinkler head 20.

In other words, the softened fresh water coming out from the water softening device 11 arrives to the electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor 21 or similar valve assembly which channels/directs said softened fresh water selectively and alternatively towards one or more of the shower-making sections/portions 20a of the sprinkler head 20.

In the example shown, in particular, each shower-making section/portion 20a of sprinkler head 20 is preferably vertically aligned to a respective detergent compartment 16a of the detergent drawer 16, and is preferably structured for feeding a dense shower of water droplets exclusively into the detergent compartment 16a located immediately beneath.

With reference to Figure 6, the drawer housing 17 preferably comprises a substantially basin-shaped lower vessel which is connected to the inside of washing tub 3 via the drain duct 18, and a preferably substantially flat, upper lid or cover 22 which is structured to close the top of the basin-shaped lower vessel so as to be located immediately above the detergent drawer 16 when the latter is completely inserted/recessed into the drawer housing 17, and the sprinkler head 20 of the drawer flush circuit 19 is preferably supported by said upper lid or cover 22.

In the example shown, in particular, the upper lid or cover 22 is preferably structured so as to incorporate the sprinkler head 20 of the drawer flush circuit 19.

In other words, an area of the upper lid or cover 22 of drawer housing 17 forms the sprinkler head 20 of the drawer flush circuit 19, and is therefore divided into a number (three in the example shown) of shower-making portions, each of which is vertically aligned to a corresponding detergent compartment 16a of detergent drawer 16, and is structured for receiving the fresh water from the hydraulic distributor 21 and for feeding a dense shower of water droplets by gravity exclusively into the detergent compartment 16a located immediately beneath.

With reference to Figure 5, alike the sprinkler head 20, in the example shown the hydraulic distributor 21 is preferably, though not necessarily, incorporated into the upper lid or cover 22 of drawer housing 17. Obviously in an alternative embodiment the electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor 21 may be arranged inside the boxlike casing 2, far away from the upper lid or cover 22 of drawer housing 17 directly supporting the sprinkler head 20.

More in particular, in the example shown the electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor 21 preferably, though not necessarily, consists in an electrically-controlled rotatable hydraulic distributor 21 which is located immediately upstream of the sprinkler head 20, i.e. between the sprinkler head 20 and the water softening device 11, and is structured for channeling the fresh water arriving from the water softening device 11 selectively and alternatively towards the various shower-making sections/portions 20a of the sprinkler head 20.

The rotatable hydraulic distributor 21 preferably comprises a rotatable water diverter 21a which is recessed in axially rotating manner into the upper lid or cover 22; and an electric motor or other electrically-operated rotatable actuator 21b which is fixed to the lid or cover 22 beside of the rotatable water diverter 21a, and is mechanically connected to the central shaft of the rotatable water diverter 21a preferably, though not necessarily, via a crank-rod mechanism, so to directly control/ vary the angular position of the rotatable water diverter 21a.

The upper lid or cover 22 of drawer housing 17, in turn, is preferably provided with a first internal water channel 22a that connects the inlet of the rotatable water diverter 21a to the outlet of the water softening device 11 so as to channel the fresh water arriving from the water softening device 11 directly to the inlet of the rotatable water diverter 21a; and a number of second internal water channels 22b each connecting a respective outlet of the rotatable water diverter 21a to a corresponding shower-making portion 20a of the sprinkler head 20, i.e. of the lid or cover 22.

The softened fresh water from the water softening device 11 therefore arrives to the inlet of the rotatable water di verier 21a and is selectively channeled/directed to one of the shower-making portions of the upper lid or cover 22 according to the angular position of the rotatable water diverter 21a.

In a different non- shown embodiment, the electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor 21 may consists of an appropriate number of electrically-controlled on-off valves which are preferably, though not necessarily, incorporated into the upper lid or cover 22 of the drawer housing 17, and each of which is interposed between the outlet of the water softening device 11 and a respective shower-making section/ portion 20a of the sprinkler head 20 for directly controlling the flow of fresh water towards the corresponding shower- making section/portion 20a of sprinkler head 20.

Moreover, the drawer flush circuit 19 is preferably additionally provided with a number of air-break assemblies 24 each located immediately downstream of a corresponding water outlet of the rotatable water diverter 21a, i.e. along a corresponding second internal water channel 22b of the upper lid or cover 22 of the drawer housing 17.

With reference to Figures 1-6, the internal water softening device 11 instead is preferably housed inside the boxlike casing 2 preferably immediately beside the detergent dispensing assembly 9, so that both the detergent dispensing assembly 9 and the water softening device 11 are directly exposed or exposable on the outside of boxlike casing 2, one beside the other, for being preferably independently accessible by the user at any moment.

The water softening device 11 furthermore basically comprises a water- softening agent container 26 and a regeneration-agent reservoir 27.

The water- softening agent container 26 is crossed by the fresh water arriving from the fresh-water supply circuit 10, and is filled with a water softening agent able to reduce the hardness degree of the fresh water flowing through the same water- softening agent container 26. More in particular, the water- softening agent container 26 has an inlet connected to the fresh- water supply circuit 10 and an outlet connected to the detergent dispensing assembly 9, so as to be crossed by the fresh water flowing from the water mains to the detergent dispensing assembly 9.

The water- softening agent container 26 is therefore fluidically interposed between the fresh-water supply circuit 10 and the detergent dispensing assembly 9, or more specifically between the fresh- water supply circuit 10 and the inlet of the drawer flush circuit 19 of detergent dispensing assembly 9, or better the inlet of the electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor 21, so as to be crossed by the fresh water flowing from the water mains to the inlet of the drawer flush circuit 19.

The regeneration-agent reservoir 27 instead is fluidically connected to the water- softening agent container 26 and is structured for receiving a given quantity of salt or other regeneration agent which is able to regenerate the water softening function of the water softening agents stored inside the water- softening agent container 26.

Obviously the water- softening agent container 26 and the regeneration-agent reservoir 27 are both housed inside the casing 2, and the regeneration-agent reservoir 27 is furthermore preferably arranged inside the casing 2 immediately adjacent to the detergent dispensing assembly 9 in a direction locally substantially parallel to the front wall 2a of casing 2, so that both the detergent dispensing assembly 9 and the regeneration-agent reservoir 27 of the water softening device 11 are directly exposed or exposable on the outside of boxlike casing 2, one beside the other, for being preferably independently accessible by the user at any moment.

In particular, the regeneration- agent reservoir 27 of the water softening device 11 is housed inside the boxlike casing 2 immediately adjacent to the drawer housing 17, preferably on the side of the drawer housing 17 directly faced to the adjoining side wall 2b of boxlike casing 2, and is provided with a corresponding independent inlet which is exposed or exposable to the outside of the boxlike casing 2 beside the inlet of detergent dispensing assembly 9, i.e. beside the front entrance or opening 17a of the drawer housing 17. This independent inlet is suitable for loading the salt or other regeneration agents inside the regeneration-agent reservoir 27.

In other words, the regeneration-agent reservoir 27 of the water softening device 11 comprises a regeneration-agent container which is manually fillable with a given quantity of regeneration agents and is housed inside the casing 2 into a corresponding second outer housing, and the front wall 2a of the boxlike casing 2 is provided with a second pass-through opening through which the regeneration-agent container is accessible by the user.

Preferably this independent inlet of the regeneration-agent reservoir 27 is furthermore located on the front wall 2a of boxlike casing 2 immediately adjacent to the inlet of detergent dispensing assembly 9, i.e. immediately adjacent to the front entrance or opening 17a of the drawer housing 17.

With reference to Figures 1-6, the water softening device 11 in particular comprises:

- a water- softening agent container 26 which is filled with a given amount of ion-exchange resins (not shown) capable to restrain the calcium and/or magnesium ions (Ca++ an Mg++) dissolved in the fresh water flowing across the resin container 26, and which is interposed between the fresh- water supply circuit 10, i.e. the on-off valve 12 or the one-way valve 14 if present, and the drawer flush circuit 19 of the detergent dispensing assembly 9; and

- an outside-accessible regeneration-agent reservoir 27 which is structured for receiving a given amount (for example half a Kilo or one Kilo) of salt grains (Sodium Chloride) or similar regeneration chemical agent, and is housed inside the boxlike casing 2 preferably immediately adjacent the drawer housing 17 of detergent dispensing assembly 9 in a direction substantially parallel to the front wall 2a of casing 2, so to emerge from a corresponding pass-through opening realized on the front wall 2a of the boxlike casing 2 immediately beside the entrance/front opening 17a of the drawer housing 17.

The ion-exchange resins (not shown) stored into the water- softening agent container 26 form the water softening agents of the water softening device 11.

In the example shown, in particular, the water- softening agent container 26, hereinafter also referred to as the resin container 26, is preferably interposed between the fresh-water supply circuit 10, i.e. the on-off valve 12 or the one-way valve 14 if present, and the inlet of the hydraulic distributor 21 so to be crossed by the fresh water flowing from the on-off valve 12 to the hydraulic distributor 21.

The water-softening agent container 26 of the water softening device 11 is furthermore located beneath the regeneration- agent reservoir 27, and the water softening device 11 furthermore comprises:

- a water supply circuit 28 which is structured for channeling, on command, a given amount of fresh water into the regeneration-agent reservoir 27 so to at least partly dissolve the salt or other regeneration agents stored therein and form a given amount of brine (i.e. salt water); and

- an electrically-controlled on-off valve 29 which is arranged/interposed between the water- softening agent container 26 and the regeneration- agent reservoir 27, and is structured to selectively and alternatively put the regeneration-agent reservoir 27 in direct communication with the water- softening agent container 26 for allowing the brine to flow by gravity from the regeneration-agent reservoir 27 to the water- softening agent container

26, or to completely watertight seal/isolate the regeneration-agent reservoir 27 from the water-softening agent container 26.

More specifically, the water supply circuit 28 is preferably structured for selectively spilling/pouring, on command, a dense shower of water droplets by gravity into the regeneration-agent reservoir 27, so to at least partly dissolve the salt or other regeneration agents stored therein and form a given amount of brine (i.e. salt water).

With reference to Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5, in the example shown, in particular, the regeneration-agent reservoir 27 preferably comprises a salt drawer 31 which is dimensioned for being manually fillable with said given amount of salt grains or other water- softening chemical agent, and is fitted/inserted in manually extractable manner into a completely recessed second drawer housing 32 which, starting from front wall 2a of casing 2, extends substantially horizontally inside the boxlike casing 2 immediately beside the drawer housing 17 of the detergent dispensing assembly 9, while remaining above the washing tub 3, and communicates with the outside of casing 2 via a corresponding front entrance or opening 32a which is preferably realized on front wall 2a of casing 2 locally immediately adjacent to the entrance or front opening 17a of the drawer housing 17 of the detergent dispensing assembly 9.

Alike detergent drawer 16, the salt drawer 31 of regeneration-agent reservoir 27 is manually movable inside the drawer housing 32 in a preferably substantially horizontally-oriented, displacement direction between a working position (see Figure 3) in which the salt drawer 31 is completely recessed inside the corresponding drawer housing 32 preferably while at same time closing the front entrance or opening 32a of the same drawer housing 32, and a completely extracted position (see Figure 4) in which the salt drawer 31 partly juts out from the front wall 2a of casing 2 through the front entrance or opening 32a of the corresponding drawer housing 32.

The displacement direction of the salt drawer 31 is furthermore preferably locally substantially parallel to the displacement direction of detergent drawer 16, thus detergent drawer 16 and salt drawer 31 are able to jut out from the front wall 2a of casing 2 while remaining locally substantially parallel to one another.

In the example shown, in particular, the salt drawer 31 is preferably fixed to/supported by a longitudinal rail or telescopic runner (not shown) which is arranged into the drawer housing 32 locally substantially parallel to the insertion and extraction direction of the salt drawer 31, so as to allow the manual displacement of the salt drawer 31 in and out of the drawer housing 32. Preferably a push-pull mechanism (not shown) is also arranged into the drawer housing 32 to ease the manual insertion and extraction of salt drawer 31.

Alike the bottom portion of drawer housing 17, the bottom portion of drawer housing 32 is preferably shaped/structured so as to form a substantially funnel- shaped catchment basin wherein the brine accumulates, and the on-off valve 29 directly communicates with the bottom of the drawer housing 32 so as to be able to selectively put the funnel-shaped catchment basin of drawer housing 32 in direct communication with the beneath located resin container 26.

In particular, with reference to Figure 5, the on-off valve 29 of the internal water softening device 11 is preferably, though not necessarily, located/incorporated on the bottom of the drawer hosing 32, i.e. on the bottom of the regeneration- agent reservoir 27. Lastly, with reference to Figure 5, the drawer housing 32 of the regeneration- agent reservoir 27 is preferably, though not necessarily, realized in one piece with the drawer hosing 17 of the detergent dispensing assembly 9.

With reference to Figures 4, 5 and 6, the water supply circuit 28 of water softening device 11, in turn, is preferably structured for spilling/pouring a dense shower of the water droplets by gravity directly into the salt drawer 31 when the salt drawer 31 is completely inserted into the drawer housing 32, and the bottom and/or at least one of sidewalls of the salt drawer 31 have a water-permeable structure, so as to form the brine directly into the substantially funnel-shaped catchment basin on the bottom of drawer housing 32.

In the example shown, in particular, the bottom and at least one of the two longer sidewalls of salt drawer 31 have a meshed structure so as to allow the fresh water spilled/poured into the salt drawer 31 to freely reach and at least partly dissolve the salt grains located inside the salt drawer 31 to form a give amount of brine which drops directly on the funnel-shaped catchment basin present on the bottom of drawer housing 32.

Furthermore, with reference to Figures 1, 3 and 4, in the example shown the front panel 16f of the detergent drawer 16 is preferably substantially handle-shaped and is preferably dimensioned so to completely cover, when the detergent drawer 16 is completely inserted into the drawer housing 17, both the entrance/front opening 17a of drawer housing 17 and the entrance/front opening 32a of drawer housing 32, so to completely hide both the detergent dispensing assembly 9 and the internal water softening device 11.

With reference to Figures 5 and 6, alike the drawer flush circuit 19, the water supply circuit 28 of water softening device 11 preferably comprises: a sprinkler head 33 which is associated to the drawer housing 32 so as to be located immediately above the salt drawer 31 when the latter is completely inserted/recessed into the drawer housing 32, and it is provided with a shower-making portion/section that preferably, though not necessarily, extends above the whole salt drawer 31, and is structured for feeding a dense shower of water droplets by gravity into the salt drawer 31; and a valve assembly which is located immediately upstream of the sprinkler head 33 and is structured for selectively channeling the fresh water arriving from the fresh-water supply circuit 10 towards the sprinkler head 33. This valve assembly is preferably located downstream of the resin container 26 so as to selectively channel towards the sprinkler head 33 the softened fresh water coming out of the resin container 26.

In the example shown, in particular, the drawer housing 32 preferably comprises a substantially basin-shaped lower vessel which is arranged immediately adjacent/adjoining the substantially basin-shaped lower vessel of drawer housing 17, and the upper lid or cover 22 of drawer hosing 17 is preferably shaped/structured to additionally extend above the basin-shaped lower vessel of drawer hosing 32 for closing the top of the substantially basin-shaped lower vessel of drawer housing 32. The drawer hosing 32 is therefore upwardly delimited by a portion of the upper lid or cover 22 of the detergent dispensing assembly 9.

In other words, the drawer hosing 32 of the regeneration-agent reservoir 27 is formed by a substantially basin-shaped lower vessel and by a portion of the upper lid or cover 22 of drawer housing 17.

In the example shown, in particular, the basin-shaped lower vessel of drawer housing 32 is preferably realized in one piece with the basin-shaped lower vessel of drawer hosing 17.

Preferably the portion of the upper lid or cover 22 forming the drawer hosing

32 is furthermore structured for supporting at least the sprinkler head 33 of the water supply circuit 28.

With reference to Figure 5, in the example shown, in particular, the upper lid or cover 22 of drawer hosing 17 is preferably structured to also incorporate at least part of the water supply circuit 28 of the water softening device 11.

In particular, the upper lid or cover 22 of drawer hosing 17 is preferably structured so to also incorporate the sprinkler head 33 of the water supply circuit 28. Therefore the upper lid or cover 22 forms a water delivery member 22 that incorporates at least part of the detergent flush circuit 19, i.e. the sprinkler head 20 of the detergent flush circuit 19, and at least part of the water supply circuit 28, i.e. the sprinkler head 33 of the water supply circuit 28. With reference to Figure 6, moreover in the example shown the water supply circuit 28 of the internal water softening device 11 preferably branches off from the hydraulic distributor 21.

In particular, the water supply circuit 28 of the internal water softening device 11 preferably branches off from the drawer flush circuit 19 of the detergent dispensing assembly 9.

In other words, the water supply circuit 28 of the water softening device 11 is preferably fluidically connected to the electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor 21, and the valve assembly of the water supply circuit 28 is incorporated into the same electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor 21.

In particular, in the example shown the water supply circuit 28 of the internal water softening device 11 preferably branches off from the drawer flush circuit 19 of the detergent dispensing assembly 9. In other words, the water supply circuit 28 is fluidically connected to the rotatable hydraulic distributor 21.

With reference to Figures 5 and 6, in the example shown, in fact, the upper lid or cover 22 is preferably provided with a third internal water channel 22c which extends inside the same upper lid or cover 22 from a corresponding outlet of the rotatable water diverter 21a of the hydraulic distributor 21, and ends into the sprinkler head 33 so as to channel the fresh water coming out of the rotatable water diverter 21a directly into the salt drawer 31.

The electric motor 21b of the rotatable hydraulic distributor 21, in turn, is structured to selectively place/arrange the rotatable water diverter 21a in a position that allows, when the brine is requested, to channel the fresh water arriving from the resin container 26 to the third internal water channel 22c of the upper lid or cover 22.

In other words, the water supply circuit 28 comprises a third internal water channel 22c that branches off from a corresponding outlet of the hydraulic distributor 21, and extends inside the upper lid or cover 22 up to reach the sprinkler head 33 immediately above the salt drawer 31, so as to feed a shower of water droplets into the regeneration- agent reservoir 27 under direct control of electrically-controlled the hydraulic distributor 21.

With reference to Figures 5 and 6, in the example shown the laundry washing machine 1 is preferably also provided with an auxiliary water drain line 35 which is connected to a corresponding outlet of the electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor 21 or similar valve assembly, and is structured for channeling the brine or fresh water arriving from the resin container 26 directly into the washing tub 3; or into the drain sump 36 that extends downwards form the bottom of the washing tub 3; or into the water filtering assembly 37 that is interposed between the drain sump 36 of washing tub 3 and the suction of the water circulating pump 38 and/or of the water exhaust pump 39 which, in the example shown, are both preferably located on the bottom of the boxlike casing 2; or substantially directly into the water exhaust pump 39 which drains the waste water or washing liquor outside the laundry washing machine 1; or in any case into the waste- water drain line that channels the waste water or washing liquor outside the laundry washing machine 1.

In other words, in the example shown one of the outlets of the rotatable water di verier 21a of the rotatable hydraulic distributor 21 is preferably connected to an auxiliary water drain line 35 which preferably, though not necessarily, ends into the washing tub 3, or into the drain sump 36, or into the water filtering assembly 37, or into the water exhaust pump 39; and the electric motor 21b is preferably structured to selectively place/arrange the rotatable water diverter 21a in a position that allows to channel the brine or fresh water arriving from the resin container 26 to the auxiliary water drain line 35 which, in turn, channels said brine or fresh water directly into the washing tub 3, or into the drain sump 36, or into the water filtering assembly 37, or into the water exhaust pump 39.

In the example shown, in particular, the upper lid or cover 22 of detergent dispensing assembly 9 is preferably provided with a fourth internal water channel 22d which extends inside the upper lid or cover 22 from a corresponding outlet of the rotatable water diverter 21a, to the inlet of a hosepipe 40 that extend towards the bottom of casing 2 and ends directly into the washing tub 3, or into the drain sump 36, or into the water filtering assembly 37, or into the water exhaust pump 39.

Preferably, in addition to the hosepipe 40 and the fourth internal water channel 22d, the auxiliary water drain line 35 may also comprise a corresponding air- break assembly arranged along the fourth internal water channel 22d of the upper lid or cover 22.

With reference to Figures 2, 4 and 5, the resin container 26, in turn, is preferably, though not necessarily, located inside the casing 2, immediately beneath the regeneration-agent reservoir 27 and immediately beside the upper portion of washing tub 3, so as to internally face the front wall 2a of casing 2.

In other words, the resin container 26 is preferably located below the drawer housing 17 of detergent dispensing assembly 9, laterally staggered with respect to the same drawer housing 17, and within an approximately triangular pocket seat or compartment delimited by the sidewall 2b of the boxlike casing 2, the upper portion of the washing tub 3, the front wall 2a of casing 2, and the drain duct 18 connecting the drawer housing 17 to the washing tub 3.

Moreover, the resin container 26 is preferably realized as a completely standalone modular component-part or cartridge 26 which is provided with mechanical coupling members (not shown) structured for allowing a rigid and stable, though easily releasable, fastening of the stand-alone modular component-part or cartridge 26 directly to the bottom of the regeneration-agent reservoir 27, and with hydraulic connectors (not shown) structured for allowing the stable, though easily removable, fluidical connection of the stand-alone modular component-part or cartridge 26 to the fresh water supply circuit 10, to the detergent dispensing assembly 9, and to the on- off valve 29.

More in particular, a first hydraulic connector (not shown) of the stand-alone modular component-part or cartridge 26 is structured to directly communicate with the on-off valve 12, or the one-way valve 14 if present, so as to allow the inflow of the fresh water into the resin container 26. A second hydraulic connector (not shown) of the stand-alone modular component-part or cartridge 26 is structured to directly communicate with the inlet of the drawer flush circuit 19, so as to allow the outflow of the fresh water from the resin container 26 towards the electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor 21 or similar valve assembly. A third hydraulic connector (not shown) of the stand-alone modular component-part or cartridge 26 is structured to directly communicate with the outlet of the on-off valve 29 so as to allow the inflow of the brine (i.e. the salt water) into the resin container 26. In addition to the above, the ion-exchange resins (not shown) are preferably, though not necessarily, confined inside the resin container 26, into a water-permeable basket (not shown) whose volume is less than that of the resin container 26 so as to form an internal peripheral gap or interspace allowing free fresh- water circulation.

With reference to Figures 5 and 6, the internal water softening device 11 additionally comprises a second water drain line 41 which fluidically connects the resin container 26, i.e. the water-softening agent container 26, either to the washing tub 3, or to the drain sump 36, or to the water filtering assembly 37, or substantially directly into the water exhaust pump 39 that drains the waste water or washing liquor outside the laundry washing machine 1, or in any case to the waste- water drain line that channels the waste water or washing liquor outside the laundry washing machine 1. This second water drain line 41 is structured for selectively draining the fresh water out of the resin container 26 and channelling said fresh water directly into the washing tub 3, or into the drain sump 36, or into the water filtering assembly 37, or into the water exhaust pump 39.

The water drain line 41 comprises an electrically-powered water drain pump 42 which directly communicates with the resin container 26 and is structured for preventing, when deactivated, any outflow of the brine or fresh water from the resin container 26, and for sucking out of the resin container 26, when activated, the fresh water stored into the resin container 26; and preferably also a hosepipe 43 or the like connecting the outlet/forcing of the water drain pump 42 to the washing tub 3, or to the drain sump 36, or to the water filtering assembly 37, or to the water exhaust pump 39; for channelling said fresh water to the washing tub 3, or to the drain sump 36, or to the water filtering assembly 37, or to the water exhaust pump 39.

Preferably, the water drain line is fluidly connected to the hydraulic distributor 21 to convey the water of the resin container 26 into the washing tub 3 or the water exhaust pump 39.

In the example shown, in particular, the electrically-powered water drain pump 42 preferably consists in a peristaltic pump 42 or other type of volumetric pump specifically structured for sucking out of the resin container 26, when activated, the fresh water stored into the resin container 26, and for preventing, when deactivated, any outflow of the brine or fresh water from the resin container 26.

Lastly the internal water softening device 11 is preferably also provided with water-hardness sensor means (not shown) structured to measure the hardness degree of the fresh water coming out from the resin container 26, i.e. the water- softening agent container 26, directed towards the detergent dispensing assembly 9.

In the example shown, in particular, the water-hardness sensor means are able to communicate with an internal electronic central control unit (not shown) which controls all electric ally- operated component parts of the laundry washing machine 1, and is housed inside the boxlike casing 2, preferably on the back of the control panel 15 located on front wall 2a.

With reference to Figure 6, the laundry washing machine 1 is preferably finally provided with a second fresh-water supply circuit 44 which connects the water mains directly to the detergent dispensing assembly 9, or better to the inlet of the drawer flush circuit 19 of detergent dispensing assembly 9, bypassing the internal water softening device 11, and is structured so as to control/regulate the flow of fresh water from the water mains towards the detergent dispensing assembly 9.

Alike the main fresh-water supply circuit 10, the second fresh- water supply circuit 44 preferably comprises:

- a second electrically-controlled on-off valve 45 which is arranged inside the boxlike casing 2, fluidically interposed between the water mains and the inlet of the drawer flush circuit 19 of detergent dispensing assembly 9, and is able to control/regulate the flow of fresh water from the water mains towards the inlet of the drawer flush circuit 19, i.e. the inlet of the hydraulic distributor 21 or rather the entrance of the first internal water channel 22a of the upper lid or cover 22;

- a hosepipe 46 connecting the on-off valve 45 directly to the inlet of the drawer flush circuit 19 of detergent dispensing assembly 9, bypassing the resin container 26; and optionally also

- a second one-way valve 47 which is located downstream of the on-off valve 45, and is structured to allow the fresh water to only flow along the hosepipe

46, from the water mains to the drawer flush circuit 19 of detergent dispensing assembly 9, i.e. to the inlet of the hydraulic distributor 21, and not vice versa. General operation of home laundry washing machine 1 is clearly inferable from the above description. When the on-off valve 12 is opened the fresh water flows from the water mains to the resin container 26 of the internal water softening device 11, wherein the ion-exchange resins reduce the hardness degree of the fresh water directed to the detergent dispensing assembly 9. The water-hardness sensor means monitor the hardness degree of the fresh water directed to the detergent dispensing assembly 9.

After having crossed the resin container 26, the softened fresh water of the water mains reaches the detergent dispensing assembly 9 and enters into the drawer flush circuit 16 directed towards the hydraulic distributor 21. According to the washing cycle, the hydraulic distributor 21 then channels said softened fresh water to one of shower-making portions/sections 20a of the sprinkler head 20 (i.e. to one of the shower-making sections/portions of the upper lid or cover 22) for flushing the detergent, softener or other washing agent out of the corresponding detergent compartment 16a of the detergent drawer 16 and sweeping away said detergent, softener or other washing agent down into the washing tub 3 via the drain duct 18.

When determines that the ion-exchange resins inside the resin container 26 are no more able to reduce the hardness degree of the fresh water directed to the washing tub 3 via the detergent dispensing assembly 9, the electronic central control unit (not shown) of the laundry washing machine 1 performs, preferably immediately before the starting of the rinsing phase of the washing cycle, a regeneration process of the ion-exchange resins stored inside the resin container 26.

Obviously the regeneration process may also take place during the washing phase of the washing cycle, or can take place even when no washing cycle at all is running, preferably on specific request of the user.

During this regeneration process, the central control unit of laundry washing machine 1 firstly arranges the electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor or similar valve assembly 21, so as to channel the fresh water arriving from the water softening device 11 towards the water supply circuit 28, and then opens again the on-off valve 12 for enough time to form, on the bottom of drawer housing 32 (i.e. into the regeneration-agent reservoir 27), the whole amount of brine necessary for the resin regeneration process to take place.

When a sufficient amount of brine (i.e. salt water) is formed into the regeneration-agent reservoir 27, the central control unit of laundry washing machine 1 closes the on-off valve 12 and activates the electrically-powered water drain pump 42 of water drain line 41 for sucking out of the resin container 26 preferably substantially the whole amount of fresh water stored into the resin container 26, and channelling said fresh water to the washing tub 3, or to the drain sump 36, or to the water filtering assembly 37, or to the water exhaust pump 39.

When the resin container 26 is substantially empty of fresh water, the central control unit of laundry washing machine 1 deactivates the electrically-powered water drain pump 42 so as to prevent again the outflow of the either fresh water or brine towards the washing tub 3, or the drain sump 36, or the water filtering assembly 37, or the water exhaust pump 39. Subsequently the central control unit opens the on-off valve 29 for a given time interval so as to allow a given amount of the brine stored into the drawer housing 32 to flow by gravity from the regeneration-agent reservoir 27 to the water-softening agent container 26. Being the electrically-powered water drain pump 42 deactivated, the brine does not enter into the water drain pump 42.

When the water- softening agent container 26 is filled with a sufficient amount of brine, the central control unit of laundry washing machine 1 closes the on-off valve 29 to restrain the brine inside the resin container 26 for a predetermined time interval generally sufficient to allow the brine to remove from the ion-exchange resins the calcium and magnesium ions previously combined/fixed to said resins.

When the regeneration process of the ion-exchange resins is completed, the central control unit of laundry washing machine 1 arranges the hydraulic distributor 21 so as to put the outlet of the water softening device 11 in direct communication with the auxiliary water drain line 35, and opens again the on-off valve 12 of the fresh- water supply circuit 10 for channeling new pressurized fresh water from the water mains to the resin container 26. The brine stored inside the resin container 26 is pushed out of the resin container 26 by this pressurized fresh water and flows towards the hydraulic distributor 21 which, in turn, channels the same brine into the washing tub 3 or into the drain sump 36 or into the water filtering assembly 37, or into the water exhaust pump 39, via the water drain line 35.

Finally, preferably after having closed again the on-off valve 12, the central control unit of the laundry washing machine 1 activates the water exhaust pump 39 so to discharge the brine out of the laundry washing machine 1 preferably together with the washing or rinsing water already stored on the bottom of the washing tub 3, and continues the washing cycle.

In a less sophisticated embodiment, however, the electronic central control unit of the laundry washing machine 1 may be programmed to regenerate the ion- exchange resins stored in the resin container 26 after a given number of washing cycles. This number of washing cycles may be decided by the user on the basis of an alleged hardness degree of the fresh water coming out from the water mains.

Obviously in this less sophisticated embodiment the water-hardness sensor means monitor are unnecessary.

The advantages resulting from the particular structure of the internal water softening device 11 are remarkable. First of all the early drainage of the resin container 26 allows to channel into the resin container 26 combined with a controlled inflow of the brine into the resin container 26, allows a much more accurate control of the salt degree of the brine channelled into the resin container 26, thus increasing the regeneration process efficiency and the average lifetime of the resins.

Moreover when the electrically-powered water drain pump 42 is deactivated, the brine is not allowed to enter into the water drain pump 42, thus avoiding any possible damage of the same water drain pump 42.

The second fresh-water supply circuit 44 bypassing the internal water softening device 11, instead, allows to improve working flexibility of the laundry washing machine 1. During pre-wash or rinse phases of the washing cycle, when detergent agents are usually not required, the laundry washing machine 1 can use normal fresh water, thus lengthening the time between the regenerations of the ion- exchange resins.

Clearly, changes may be made to the front-loading laundry washing machine

1 as described above without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, in an alternative non-shown embodiment the electrically- powered water drain pump 42 may be replaced by an electrically-powered pump assembly comprising a conventional electrically-powered suction pump and an on- off valve which is arranged immediately upstream of the suction pump and is structured to watertight seal the suction/inlet of the electrically-powered suction pump when the latter is deactivated, and to put the suction/inlet of the electrically- powered suction pump in direct communication with the inside of the resin container 26 when the suction pump is activated.

With reference to Figure 7, in a further alternative embodiment the water supply circuit 28 of water softening device 11 may comprise a three-way valve 50 arranged along the water line that channels the fresh water from the outlet of the resin container 26 to the inlet of the drawer flush circuit 19 of detergent dispensing assembly 9 or directly to the washing tub 3, and the sprinkler head 33 is connected to said three-way valve 50. The three-way valve 50 is structured for selectively and alternatively channeling the fresh water coming out of the resin container 26 either to the sprinkler head 33 for producing the brine or, according to the arrangement of the water softening device 11, to the inlet of the drawer flush circuit 19 of detergent dispensing assembly 9 or to the inside of washing tub 3.

In this embodiment, therefore, the water supply circuit 28 of water softening device 11 is completely separated from the drawer flush circuit 19 of detergent dispensing assembly 9.

With reference to Figure 8, in a further alternative embodiment the water supply circuit 28 of water softening device 11 may be structured for selectively draining fresh water directly from the water mains. In other words, the valve assembly of the water supply circuit 28 may comprise an electrically-controlled on- off valve 60 which is arranged/interposed between the water mains and the sprinkler head 33, and is able to control/regulate the flow of fresh water from the water mains towards the sprinkler head 33; and a hosepipe 61 connecting the on-off valve 60 directly to the sprinkler head 33. Thus the supply of fresh water into the regeneration-agent reservoir 27 to form the brine is no more bound by the presence of fresh water into the resin container 26 and therefore could be performed even after or contemporaneously to the suction of the brine from the resin container 26.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the water supply circuit 28 of water softening device 11 may also have an additional one-way valve 62 which is located immediately downstream of the on-off valve 60, i.e. between the on-off valve 10 and the sprinkler head 33, and which is structured to allow the fresh water to only flow along hosepipe 61 from the water mains to the sprinkler head 33.

Also in this case, therefore, the water supply circuit 28 of water softening device 11 is completely separated from the drawer flush circuit 19 of detergent dispensing assembly 9.

Finally in a further non- shown and less- sophisticated embodiment, the electrically-controlled on-off valve 29 may be replaced by a passive one-way valve which is structured for allowing the brine to flow by gravity from the regeneration- agent reservoir 27 to the water- softening agent container 26, and not vice versa.

In this case, during the resin regeneration process, the brine enters into the resin container 26 little by little when the central control unit of laundry washing machine 1 activates the electrically-powered water drain pump 42 for sucking out of the resin container 26 the fresh water stored therein.