The present invention relates to a laundry treating machine.

More in particular, the present invention relates to a home laundry treating machine adapted to automatically dry a given quantity of moist laundry.

In other words, the present invention relates to a home laundry washing and drying machine or to a home laundry dryer to which the following description refers purely by way of example without implying any loss of generality.

As is known, a home laundry dryer generally comprises: a substantially parallelepiped-shaped, outer box-like casing structured for resting on the floor; an horizontally-oriented, substantially cylindrical rotatable drum which is generally tubular in shape for internally accommodating the laundry to be dried and is housed in axially rotatable manner inside the casing with its circular front rim directly faced to a laundry loading-unloading opening formed in the front wall of the casing; a door hinged to the front wall of the casing to rotate to and from a closing position in which the door rests completely against the front wall of the casing to close the laundry loading-unloading opening and airtight seal the rotatable drum; an electrically- powered motor assembly which is housed inside the casing and is structured for driving into rotation the rotatable drum about its horizontally-oriented longitudinal reference axis; a closed-circuit, air circulating apparatus which is housed inside the casing and is structured to circulate through the rotatable drum a flow of hot air having a very low moisture content so as to rapidly dry the laundry located inside the drum; and finally one or more electronic control units which control both the motor assembly and the closed-circuit air circulating apparatus to perform, on command, one of the user-selectable drying cycles stored in the same central control unit.

The air circulating apparatus in turn comprises: an air duct which extends on the bottom of the box-like casing and has a first end directly connected to a first air- vent realized in the rear wall of the box-like casing, within the perimeter of the rear rim of the rotatable drum, and a second end directly connected to a second air-vent realized on the annular frame that delimits the laundry loading-unloading opening on the front wall of the appliance casing; and an electrically-powered centrifugal fan which is located along the air duct and is structured to produce an airflow that flows in closed loop through the air duct and the rotatable drum.

In more details, the flow of hot air produced by the air circulating apparatus generally enters into the rotatable drum via the first air-vent realized in the rear wall of the box-like casing, flows inside the rotatable drum for the entire length of the latter, and finally comes out of the rotatable drum via the second air-vent realized on the annular frame that delimits the laundry loading-unloading opening on the front wall of the casing.

The closed-circuit, air circulating apparatus furthermore comprises: an air- cooling device which is located along the air duct, generally upstream of the centrifugal fan considering the air flow direction, and is structured to rapidly cool the moist air arriving from the rotatable drum, so as to cause the condensation of the surplus moisture inside the airflow; an air-heating device which is located along the air duct, downstream of the air-cooling device and usually also upstream of the centrifugal fan, and which is structured for rapidly heating the dehumidified airflow arriving from the air-cooling device and directed back to the rotatable drum, so that the airflow directed back into the rotatable drum is heated to a temperature preferably, though not necessarily, higher than or equal to that of the moist air flowing out of the same rotatable drum.

The closed-circuit, air circulating apparatus is finally provided with an air filter which is placed along the air duct, upstream of the air-cooling device considering the air flow direction, to prevent the fluff and/or lint particles from reaching and clogging up the air-cooling device, the air-heating device and the centrifugal fan. Fluff and/or lint particles, in fact, tend to deposit on the air-cooling device and/or on the air-heating device impairing, in the long term, the performance of the air circulating apparatus.

In some home laundry dryers currently on the market, the air filter basically consists in a substantially wedge-shaped filtering cartridge which is structured to trap and retain fluff and/or lint particles in suspension in the air, and is fitted in removable manner into the air-vent realized on the annular frame that delimits the laundry loading-unloading opening on the front wall of the casing, so as to cover/close the whole air-vent. When the porthole door is in the wide-opened position, the user is allowed to manually extract the wedge-shaped filtering cartridge from the air-vent realized on the annular frame that delimits the laundry loading-unloading opening for periodical cleaning.

Some home laundry dryers currently on the market are finally provided with an electronic control system capable of detecting the clogging level of the air filter so as to promptly warn the user when manual cleaning of the air filter is requested. More in details, nowadays the clogging level of the air filter is determined on the basis the pressure drop at the air filter, such pressure drop may be obtained indirectly by measuring air temperature during a drying process, for example in a point of the air circuit placed downstream the air filter when considering the direction of the drying air.

Unluckily determination of the clogging level of the air filter on the basis of the pressure drop at the air filter is highly imprecise. Such imprecision, may be due to measurement errors in deriving the pressure drop by indirect methods and/or by the influence that laundry placed within the laundry treating chamber and the flow amount generated by the drying air fan have in the measure of air pressure drop at the air filter.

Aim of the present invention is therefore to provide a more precise electronic control system capable of detecting the clogging level/degree of the air filter and/or the moisture level/degree of the air flowing through the same air filtering.

To comply with the above aims, the present invention can be applied to any kind of laundry treating machine having an air circulating system being formed by an open- to-ambient circuit wherein air is taken into or exhausted from the machine, or a closed circuit cyclically circulating air through a laundry treating chamber,

In compliance with the above aims, according to a first embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a laundry treating machine comprising: an outer casing preferably having a wall provided with a laundry loading/unloading pass- through opening, a drum arranged in to said outer casing and designed to receive laundry to be treated; an air circulating system designed to circulate a flow of hot air through said drum and comprising air recirculating conduct along which circulates said hot air flow; an air filtering assembly which is arranged in said recirculating conduct and is provided with a frame provided with at least one pass-through opening closed by a mesh sheet structured/dimensioned to restrain the fluff and/or lint particles in suspension into the airflow that crosses said air filtering assembly; said air filtering assembly comprises a sensor device, which is capable of measuring the amount of fluff and/or lint particles deposited on said mesh sheet and/or the moisture degree of the air flowing through the same air filtering assembly; said sensor device comprises at least two, reciprocally adjacent electrodes, preferably plate-like shaped, which are made of electrically-conductive material and are at least partially provided, preferably printed, directly over said mesh sheet.

Preferably, the laundry treating machine further comprises a local electronic control unit, which is provided on, preferably attached to, said frame of said air filtering assembly, and is electrically connected and/or in signal communication to said electrodes.

Preferably, the laundry treating machine further comprises a main control unit configured to control said laundry treating machine during a laundry treating cycle based on one or more control parameters; said local electronic control unit being configured to determine a control parameter indicative of the impedance between said electrodes and provide said determined control parameter to said main control unit.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to determine a clogging degree of said air filtering assembly based on said determined impedance.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to determine a moisture degree of said laundry load based on said determined impedance.

Preferably, the laundry treating machine comprises a fluff filter washing apparatus/system, which is designed to perform, on command, a filter cleaning cycle in order to automatically clean said air filtering assembly so as to remove the fluff and/or the lint particles from the latter; said main control unit being configured to control said fluff filter washing apparatus/system in order to perform said filter cleaning cycle based on said determined clogging degree. Preferably, said main control unit is configured to adjust one or more cleaning parameters of the filter cleaning cycle based on the determined clogging degree. Said cleaning parameters being, for example, the amount and/or pressure of washing fluid provided for cleaning the filter, the time duration of the filter cleaning process, the frequency or number of repetitions in time unit of the filter cleaning process.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to determine the filter cleaning performances of the fluff filter washing apparatus/system, i.e. the filter cleaning results at the end of one or more filter cleaning processes, and/or a malfunction of the fluff filter washing apparatus/system, based on the determined impedance.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to display via displaying means comprised in a control panel, one or more data indicative of the clogging degree and/or the moisture degree of the laundry load. Further preferably, an audible signal can also be provided.

Preferably, said main control unit comprise a communication module, which is configured to perform a wireless communication with a remote hand-held electronic apparatus of a user, for communicating data/information relating to the determined clogging degree and/or the moisture laundry load degree.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to control the laundry treating cycle based on one or more control parameters; said main control unit being configured to adjust said one or more control parameters of the laundry treating cycle based on said moisture degree and/or on said filter clogging degree.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to determine one or more parameters that characterize the laundry loaded in said drum based on said determined moisture degree. Such parameters being preferably the laundry weight, the laundry type.

Preferably, each electrode includes at least one conductive strip/track, which is made of electrically-conductive material and is provided on, and preferably printed directly over the mesh sheet.

Preferably, the conductive strip/track of an electrode extends over the mesh sheet so as to form, in at least a number of sensing areas, a substantially comb-shaped pattern which is adjacent and intercalated to a corresponding substantially comb-shaped pattern of the conductive strip of the other electrode.

Preferably, each electrode includes a plate-like electric terminal, which is made of electrically-conductive material, is electrically connected to the conductive strip, and is preferably printed directly over the mesh sheet.

Preferably, each plate-like electric terminal of the electrode is designed to be at least partially covered by a portion of the frame of the air filtering assembly, and is preferably electrically connected and/or in signal communication to said local electronic control unit via an electric wire provided in or on, and preferably embedded into, said frame.

Preferably, said main control unit being configured to generate via the control panel, one or more message indicative of a request of cleaning said air filtering assembly, based on said determined clogging degree.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to activate said fluff filter washing apparatus/system in response to a command that user has imparted by means of a control panel.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to determine said impedance after having performed said filter cleaning cycle, and determine whether the cleaning cycle of said air filtering assembly was performed correctly and/or has reached pre- determined cleaning results, based on said determined impedance.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to determine the clogging degree of the air filtering assembly during, and preferably at the beginning of, a laundry treating cycle selected by user.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to display to the user via the control panel, data indicative of the clogging degree during, and preferably at the beginning of, a treating cycle.

Preferably, the air circulating system comprises a heat-pump circuit provided with an electrically-powered refrigerant compressing device; said main control unit being configured to control said electrically-powered refrigerant compressing device based on said determined moisture level and/or air filter clogging degree. Preferably, the electrically-powered refrigerant compressing device comprise a variable speed compressor; said main control unit being configured to adjust the speed of said compressor and/or power supplied thereto, based on said determined moisture degree and/or air filter clogging degree.

Preferably, said heat-pump circuit comprises an electrically-controlled expansion valve; said main control unit being configured to control the opening/closing of said expansion valve based on said determined moisture degree and/or air filter clogging degree.

Preferably, said heat-pump circuit comprises a fan device designed to cool said electrically-powered refrigerant compressing device, said main control unit being configured to control the fan device based on said determined moisture degree and/or air filter clogging degree.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to adjust the speed of the drum based on said moisture degree and/or air filter clogging degree determined during said treating cycle.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to estimate the end of the treating cycle based on said determined moisture degree and/or air filter clogging degree.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to estimate the laundry load based on said determined moisture degree and/or air filter clogging degree.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to estimate the kind or type of laundry load based on said determined moisture degree and/or air filter clogging degree.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to adapt a treating cycle based on the estimated laundry load and/or estimated kind/type of laundry.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to adjust the drying options selected by the user by the control panel based on said determined moisture degree and/or air filter clogging degree.

Preferably, said local electronic control unit comprises communication means configured to perform a wireless communication for transmitting said control parameters to said main control unit. Preferably, said local electronic control unit and said main control unit are connected one another by means of two electrical connectors, wherein a first electrical connector is comprised in said air filtering assembly.

Preferably, the first electrical connector of said air filtering assembly comprises a plurality of pins which are electrically connected to respective terminals of said local electronic control unit.

Preferably, two pins of the first electrical connector of said air filtering assembly are used to supply electric power to said local electronic control unit.

Preferably, two pins of the first electrical connector of said air filtering assembly are associated to the communication of data/signals.

Preferably pins of the first electrical connector of said air filtering assembly which are associated to the communication of data/signals are also used to supply electric power to said local electronic control unit.

Preferably, the air filtering assembly is structured to be fitted in removable manner into the air duct.

Preferably, the air filtering assembly is structured to form a wedge-shaped, air- filtering cartridge which is preferably fitted in removable manner into one of the two ends/mouths of the air duct.

Preferably, the air filtering assembly is structured/dimensioned for being inserted in manually extractable manner into the air- vent realized on the annular frame that delimits, preferably on casing front wall, the laundry loading-unloading opening of casing.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to determine that the air filtering assembly is inserted or removed, even partially, from the air duct, based on presence/absence of data/signals generated by said local electronic control device.

Preferably, the air filtering assembly further includes a preferably substantially basin-shaped, rigid shell or frame which is structured/dimensioned for being inserted in manually extractable manner into the air-vent realized on the annular frame that delimits, preferably on casing front wall, the laundry loading-unloading opening of casing preferably so as to plug/fill up substantially the whole clear section of said air duct, and which is provided with at least one and preferably a plurality of huge pass- through openings each completely closed by a first mesh sheet suitably structured/dimensioned to restrain the fluff and/or lint particles in suspension into the airflow that crosses the air filtering assembly; the air filtering assembly further includes a sensor device comprising at least two, reciprocally adjacent plate-like electrodes which are made of electrically-conductive material and are at least partially provided on, preferably printed, directly over said first mesh sheet, and a local electronic control unit, which is provided on, preferably attached to, said basin-shaped, rigid shell or frame in a position adjacent to said plate-like electrodes.

Preferably the electrodes are printed over the first mesh sheet by means of a printing machine.

Preferably, the air filtering assembly comprises a first air filtering member comprising a substantially bag or pocket- shaped, air-filtering shell which is divided into two valve-like pieces which are selectively separable to one another, and which are laterally hinged to one another approximately at the bottom of the first air-filtering shell so that the first air- filtering shell or vessel openable in a book- like manner.

Preferably, the local electronic control unit of sensor device is embedded into or preferably covered by, a resin block which is firmly attached to the rigid shell or frame of the first air filtering member, or directly into a portion of the rigid shell or frame.

Preferably the sensor device includes an electric connector which is provided with a number of connecting pins each electrically connected to and/or in signal communication with the local electronic control unit, and is located outside of the first air filtering member, preferably integral with the basin-shaped rigid shell or frame, so as to couple, when the air-filtering assembly is fitted into the air-vent, with a complementary second electric connector whinch, in turn, is located at the air-vent and is electrically connected to and/or in signal communication with the main electronic control unit.

Preferably, the air filtering assembly further comprises a second air filtering member comprising a substantially bag or pocket-shaped, air-filtering shell or vessel which is fitted/recessed into said first air-filtering member, so as to be crossed by substantially the same airflow that crosses the first air-filtering member and which is structured to restrain the fluff and/or lint particles in suspension into the airflow;

Preferably, the sensor device is capable of measuring the amount of fluff and/or lint particles deposited on the mesh sheet/s of the second basin-shaped air filtering member, and/or the moisture degree of the air flowing through the same air filtering assembly.

Preferably, the two plate-like electrodes are at least partially provided on, preferably printed directly over, a corresponding mesh sheet of the second air filtering member preferably by means of a printing machine.

Preferably, the local electronic control unit is provided on, and further preferably attached to, the rigid shell or frame of the second basin-shaped air filtering member.

Preferably, each plate-like electric terminal is designed to be at least partially covered by a portion of the basin- shaped shell or frame of the second air filtering member, and is preferably electrically connected to, and/or in signal communication with, the local electronic control unit via an electric wire provided on, and preferably embedded into, the frame of the second air filtering member.

Preferably the conductive strip/s of each electrode and the corresponding electric terminal/s are preferably located on the outer face of the mesh sheet, i.e. on the face turned towards the outside of the second basin-shaped second air filtering member.

Preferably, the local electronic control unit of sensor device is embedded into or preferably covered by a resin block which is firmly attached to the rigid shell or frame of the second air filtering member, or directly into a portion of the same rigid shell or frame.

Preferably, the local electronic control unit wireless communicates with the main electronic control unit and is preferably electrically powered via electromagnetic - coupling.

Preferably, the air filtering assembly includes a single, preferably substantially plate- shaped, air filtering member which is placed, preferably in removable manner, along the air duct, and is preferably dimensioned so as to locally match with the clear section of the air duct, thus to be crossed by the whole airflow f that flows inside of the air duct.

Preferably, the plate-like air filtering member includes a preferably substantially rectangular-shaped, plate- like rigid frame, which is preferably structured/dimensioned to locally match with the clear section of the air duct, and which is provided with at least one, and preferably a plurality of, huge pass-through openings each completely closed by a mesh sheet suitably structured/ dimensioned to restrain the fluff and/or lint particles in suspension into the air that crosses the air filtering assembly.

Preferably, the plate-like rigid frame of the air filtering member is preferably provided with at least two adjacent, preferably substantially rectangular-shaped, pass- through openings each completely closed by a mesh sheet suitably structured/dimensioned to restrain the fluff and/or lint particles in suspension into the air.

Preferably, the plate-like rigid frame is furthermore made of plastic material, preferably via an injection molding process.

Preferably the flat rigid frame is moreover injection molded over the/each mesh sheet.

Preferably, the mesh sheet is made of a polymeric material, further preferably polyethylene or polypropylene.

Preferably, the air filtering assembly includes a sensor device which is capable of measuring the amount of fluff and/or lint particles deposited on the mesh sheet s of the plate-like air filtering member, and/or the moisture degree of the air flowing through the same air filtering member.

Preferably, the electrodes are at least partially provided on, and further preferably printed directly over, a corresponding mesh sheet of plate-like air filtering member; and the local electronic control unit is preferably provided on, and further preferably attached to, the rigid frame of the plate-like air filtering member, and is electrically connected to both electrodes.

Preferably, the conductive strip extends over the mesh sheet so as to form, in at least one and preferably a number of sensing areas, a substantially comb-shaped pattern which is preferably adjacent and intercalated to a corresponding substantially comb-shaped pattern of the conductive strip of the other electrode.

Preferably, each electrode includes, for each conductive strip, a plate-like electric terminal which is made of electrically-conductive material, is electrically connected to the conductive strip and is preferably printed directly over the mesh sheet preferably by means of a printing machine.

Preferably, each plate-like electric terminal is designed to be at least partially covered by a portion of the rigid frame of the plate-like air filtering member.

Preferably, the local electronic control unit is provided on, and further preferablt embedded into, a resin block which is firmly attached to the rigid frame of the platelike air filtering member, or directly into a portion of a rigid frame.

Preferably, the electric connector is integral with the rigid frame of the air filtering member so as couple, when the air-filtering assembly is fitted into the air duct, with a complementary second electric connector which, in turn, is incorporated into the air duct and is electrically connected to the main electronic control unit.

According to an embodiment, the present invention further relates to a laundry treating machine comprising: an outer casing having a front wall provided with a laundry loading/unloading pass-through opening, a drum arranged in to said outer casing and designed to receive laundry to be treated; an air circulating system designed to circulate a flow of hot air through said drum and comprises air recirculating conduct along which circulates said hot air flow;

an air filtering assembly which is arranged in said recirculating conduct and is provided with a frame having at least one pass-through opening closed by a filtering surface structured/dimensioned to restrain the fluff and/or lint particles in suspension into the airflow that crosses said air filtering assembly; the air filtering assembly comprises: an air filtering member preferably box-like shaped, which is structured to be fitted/inserted in into the frontal hollow housing or seat and is dimensioned to be crossed by the whole airflow that flows inside of the air duct; and a manually operable front panel which is arranged/located on a front side of the box-like air filtering member, so as to close the entrance of the frontal hollow housing or seat when air filtering assembly is completely fitted into the hollow housing; the air filtering assembly further comprises a sensor device, which is capable of measuring the amount of fluff and/or lint particles deposited on the box-like air filtering member; said sensor device comprises a mesh sheet coupled to the box-like air filtering member in order to be in contact with said fluff and/or lint particles deposited/accumulated in said boxlike air filtering member, and at least two, reciprocally adjacent electrodes, preferably plate-like shaped, which are made of electrically-conductive material and are at least partially printed directly over said mesh sheet, and a local electronic control unit, which is provided on, and preferably attached to, said frame of said air filtering assembly, and is electrically connected to and/or in signal communication with said electrodes.

Preferably, the air filtering member includes a box-like rigid shell or frame which is provided with a first huge pass-through opening dimensioned to allow the free entrance of the air inside the box-like rigid shell or frame, and with at least one and preferably a plurality of, second huge pass-through openings each completely closed by a first mesh sheet suitably structured/dimensioned to restrain the fluff and/or lint particles in suspension into the air that crosses the air filtering assembly; said electrodes of the sensor device being at least partially provided on, and preferably printed directly over said first mesh sheet of the box-like air filtering member.

Preferably, the laundry treating machine further comprises a main control unit configured to control said laundry treating machine during a laundry treating cycle based on one or more control parameters; said local electronic control unit being configured to determine a control parameter indicative of the impedance between said electrodes and provide said determined control parameter to said main control unit.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to determine a clogging degree of said air filtering assembly based on said determined impedance.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to determine a moisture degree of said laundry load based on said determined impedance.

Preferably, the laundry treating machine comprises a fluff filter washing apparatus/system which is designed to perform, on command, a filter cleaning cycle in order to automatically clean said air filtering assembly so as to remove the lint particles from the latter; said main control unit is configured to control said fluff filter washing apparatus/system in order to perform said filter cleaning cycle based on said determined clogging degree.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to adjust one or more cleaning parameters of the filter cleaning cycle based on the determined clogging degree. Said cleaning parameters being, for example, the amount and/or pressure of washing fluid provided for cleaning the filter, the time duration of the filter cleaning process, the frequency or number of repetitions in time unit of the filter cleaning process.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to determine filter cleaning performances of the fluff filter washing apparatus/system, i.e. the filter cleaning results at the end of one or more filter cleaning processes, and/or a malfunction of the fluff filter washing apparatus/system, based to the determined impedance.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to display by means of displaying means comprised in a control panel mounted on said casing one or more data indicative of the clogging degree and/or the moisture degree of the laundry load. Further preferably, an audible signal can also be provided.

Preferably, said main control unit comprise a communication module, which is configured to perform a wireless communication with a remote hand-held electronic apparatus of a user, for communicating data/information relating to the determined clogging degree and/or the moisture laundry load degree.

Preferably said main control unit is configured to adjust one or more control parameters of the laundry treating cycle based on said moisture degree and/or on said filter clogging degree.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to determine one or more parameters that characterized the laundry loaded in said drum based on said determined moisture degree. Such parameters being preferably the laundry weight, the laundry type.

Preferably, each electrode includes at least one conductive strip/track, which is made of electrically-conductive material, and is provided on, and preferably printed directly over the first mesh sheet.

Preferably, the conductive strip/track furthermore extends over the first mesh sheet so as to form, in at least a number of sensing areas, a substantially comb-shaped pattern which is adjacent and intercalated to a corresponding substantially comb- shaped pattern of the conductive strip of the other electrode.

Preferably, each electrode includes a plate-like electric terminal which is made of electrically-conductive material, is electrically connected to the conductive strip, and is preferably printed directly over the mesh sheet.

Preferably, each plate-like electric terminal is designed to be at least partially covered by a portion of the frame, and is preferably electrically connected to said local electronic control unit via an electric wire provided in or on, and preferably embedded into said frame.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to generate by the control panel one or more message indicative of a request of cleaning said air filtering assembly, based on said determined clogging degree.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to activate said fluff filter washing apparatus/system in response to a command imparted by said user via said control panel.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to determine said impedance after having performed said filter cleaning cycle, and determine whether the cleaning cycle of said air filtering assembly has been performed correctly based on said determined impedance.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to determine the clogging degree of the air filtering assembly during, and preferably at the beginning of a laundry treating cycle selected by user.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to display to the user by the control panel, data indicative of the clogging degree during, and preferably at the beginning of a treating cycle selected by user.

Preferably, the air circulating system comprises a heat-pump circuit provided with an electrically-powered refrigerant compressing device; said main control unit being configured to control said electrically-powered refrigerant compressing device based on said determined moisture level and/or air filter clogging degree.

Preferably, the electrically-powered refrigerant compressing device comprises a variable speed compressor; said main control unit being configured to adjust the speed of said compressor and/or power supplied thereto, based on said determined moisture degree and/or air filter clogging degree.

Preferably, said heat-pump circuit comprises an electrically-controlled expansion valve; said main control unit being configured to control the opening of said expansion valve based on said determined moisture degree and/or air filter clogging degree.

Preferably, said heat-pump circuit comprises a fan device designed to cool said electrically-powered refrigerant compressing device, said main control unit is configured to control the fan device based on said determined moisture degree and/or air filter clogging degree.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to adjust the speed of the drum based on said moisture degree and/or air filter clogging degree determined during said treating cycle.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to estimate the end of the treating cycle based on said determined moisture degree and/or air filter clogging degree.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to estimate the laundry load based on said determined moisture level.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to estimate the kind or type of laundry load based on said determined moisture degree and/or air filter clogging degree.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to adapt a treating cycle based on estimated laundry load and/or estimated kind/type of laundry.

Preferably, said main control unit is configured to adjust the drying options selected by the user by the control panel based on said determined moisture degree and/or air filter clogging degree.

Preferably, said local electronic control unit comprises communication means configured to perform a wireless communication for transmitting said control parameter to said main control unit.

Preferably, said local electronic control unit and said main control unit are connected one another by means of two electrical connectors, wherein a first electrical connector is arranged in said the box-like air filtering member.

Preferably, the electrical connector of the box-like air filtering member comprises a plurality of pins which are electrically connected to respective terminals of said local electronic control unit.

Preferably, two pins of the electrical connector of said the box-like air filtering member are used to supply electric power to said local electronic control unit.

Preferably, two pins of the electrical connector of said the box-like air filtering member are associated to data signals.

Preferably pins of the first electrical connector of said air filtering assembly which are associated to the communication of data/signals are also used to supply electric power to said local electronic control unit.

Preferably, said main control unit is further configured to determine that the box-like air filtering member is inserted or removed, even partially, in/from said frontal hollow housing or seat based on presence/absence of data/signals received from said local electronic control device.

Preferably, the first huge pass-through opening defines the air inlet of the boxlike air filtering member and the second huge pass-through opening/s closed by said first mesh sheet s define/s the air outlet of the box-like air filtering member.

Preferably, the box-like rigid shell or frame is provided with a series of substantially rectangular-shaped, adjacent pass-through openings formed on a same sidewall of the box-like rigid shell or frame

Preferably the manually operable front panel and/or the box-like rigid shell or frame is/are furthermore made of plastic material, preferably via an injection molding process.

Preferably the box-like rigid shell or frame is injection molded over the/each mesh sheet. Preferably, the box-like rigid shell or frame is divided into substantially parallelepiped-shaped, rigid box-like container and into a substantially flat upper lid arranged to close the upper opening of the box-like container.

Preferably, the box-like air filtering member comprises one or more inner air- channeling fins that extends inside the box-like rigid shell or frame, from the upper lid up to the bottom of box-like container, and are suitably bent/shaped so as to guide the air entering into the air filtering member towards the sidewall of the box-like rigid shell or frame.

Preferably, the sensor device is capable of measuring the amount of fluff and/or lint particles deposited on the first mesh sheet/s of the box-like air filtering member, and/or the moisture degree of the air flowing through the same air filtering member.

Preferably, the sensor device comprises: at least two, reciprocally adjacent platelike electrodes which are made of electrically-conductive material and are at least partially provided and preferably printed, directly over a corresponding first mesh sheet of the air filtering member; and a local electronic control unit which is preferably recessed into the box-like rigid shell or frame of the air filtering member, and is electrically connected to and/or in signal communication with both electrodes.

Preferably the local electronic control unit of sensor device is recessed into a corresponding seat realized on the rigid shell or frame of the box-like air filtering member.

Preferably, the sensor device of the box-like air filtering member, includes an electric connector, which is provided with a number of connecting pins each electrically connected to and/or in signal communication with the local electronic control unit, and is integral with the manually operable front panel of the box-like air filtering member, so as to couple, when the air-filtering assembly is fitted into the frontal hollow housing or seat , with a complementary second electric connector which, in turn, is preferably located at the entrance of the frontal hollow housing or seat and is electrically connected to and/or in signal communication with the main electronic control unit.

Preferably, each plate-like electric terminal is preferably designed to be at least partially covered by a portion of the rigid shell or frame of the box-like air filtering member, and is preferably electrically connected to and/or in signal communication with the local electronic control unit via an electric wire provided on, and preferably embedded into, the rigid shell or frame of the of the box-like air filtering member.

Preferably, the plate-like electrodes of sensor device, rather than being located on the first mesh sheet of the box-like air filtering member, are placed on a further supporting mesh or film which, in turn, is placed or embedded on one of the inner air- channeling fins of the box-like air filtering member.

Preferably, the plate-like electrodes are furthermore at least partially provided on, and preferably printed directly over the supporting mesh or film of the box-like air filtering member by means of a printing machine.

Preferably, each electrode comprises: at least one conductive strip which is made of electrically-conductive material, and is provided on and preferably printed directly over the supporting mesh or film of the box-like air filtering member preferably by means of a printing machine; and optionally also a plate-like electric terminal which is made of electrically-conductive material, is electrically connected to the conductive strip, and is provided on and preferably printed directly over the supporting mesh or film preferably by means of a printing machine.

Preferably, each plate-like electric terminal is designed to be at least partially covered by a portion of the inner air-channeling fins of the box-like air filtering member, and is preferably electrically connected to and/or in signal communication with the local electronic control unit.

The present invention further relates to a method to realize an air filtering assembly for laundry treating machine comprising the steps of:

forming at least one piece of mesh sheet preferably via a weaving process; providing, preferably printing, further preferably using a printing machine, the electrodes over said piece of mesh sheet;

placing the/each mesh sheet inside a mold shaped to form the rigid frame of the air filtering member, preferably together with the electric wires;

injection molding the rigid frame over the/each mesh sheet and preferably also over the electric wires, so as to form the whole plate-like air filtering member ;

and attaching or placing the local electronic control unit to the rigid frame so as to electrically connect the local electronic control unit to/on the electrodes via the electric wires, so as to complete the sensor device and thus realize the air filtering assembly.

Preferably, the method comprises the step of covering the local electronic control unit with a resin to protect it from humidity and dirt.

Preferably, the method comprises the step of performing a correct alignment of the printed mesh sheet inside the cavity of the mold, by means of at least a mechanical marker present/formed in the printed mesh sheet, and adapted to match with a complementary second mechanical marker present inside the cavity of the mold.

Preferably, the mechanical marker is a cut-out portion of the printed mesh sheet. Preferably, the method comprises the step of perform a correct alignment of the printed mesh sheet inside the cavity of the mold, by means of at least an optical marker present/formed in the printed mesh sheet.

Preferably, the optical marker is the strip/s of one of the two electrodes.

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, with parts removed for clarity, of a laundry treating machine realized in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the laundry treating machine shown in Figure 1 , sectioned along the mid-plane thereof and with parts removed for clarity; Figure 3 is an enlarged view of part of the laundry treating machine shown in Figure 2, with parts removed for clarity;

Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views of the air filtering assembly of the laundry treating machine shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the air filtering assembly shown in Figures 4 and 5, in an opened configuration and with parts removed for clarity; - Figure 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the air filtering assembly shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the air filtering assembly shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6;

Figure 9 is a schematic view of the various steps of the production method of the air filtering assembly shown in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is an alternative embodiment of the laundry treating machine shown in Figure 1 with the corresponding air filtering assembly; Figures 11 and 12 are perspective views of the air filtering assembly shown in Figure 10 with parts removed for clarity;

Figure 13 is a partly exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the air filtering assembly shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12; Figure 14 shows a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of an air filtering assembly that may be used for modifying the air filtering assembly shown in Figures 4 to 9;

Figure 15 shows a schematic view of a further alternative embodiment of an air filtering assembly that may be used for modifying the air filtering assembly shown in Figures 4 to 9;

Figure 16 is an alternative embodiment of the laundry treating machine shown in Figure 1 with the corresponding air filtering assembly. With reference to Figures 1 and 2, reference number 1 denotes as a whole a home laundry treating machine adapted to automatically dry a given quantity of moist laundry, i.e. a home laundry washing and drying machine or a home laundry dryer.

In the example shown, in particular, the laundry treating machine 1 is preferably a home laundry dryer and therefore it preferably comprises: a preferably, though not necessarily, parallelepiped-shaped, outer box-like casing 2 which is structured for resting on the floor and is provided with reciprocally-faced, substantially vertically- oriented, front and rear walls 2a and 2b; a substantially cylindrical hollow rotatable drum 3 which is structured for accommodating the laundry to be dried, and is fixed in axially rotating manner inside the box-like casing 2, directly facing a laundry loading- unloading pass-through opening formed on the front wall 2a of casing 2; and a door 4 hinged to the front wall 2a of casing 2 so to be able to rotate about a preferably, though not necessarily, vertically-oriented reference axis, to and from a closing position in which the door 4 rests completely against the front wall 2a to close the laundry loading- unloading opening and substantially airtight seal the rotatable drum 3.

Inside the box-like casing 2, the laundry dryer 1 preferably additionally comprises: an electrically-powered motor assembly 5 which is structured for driving into rotation the rotatable drum 3 about its longitudinal reference axis L; a closed- circuit, air circulating apparatus 6 which is structured to circulate through the rotatable drum 3 a flow of hot air having a low moisture level, and which flows over and rapidly dries the laundry located inside the drum 3; and finally a main electronic control unit 7 which controls both the motor assembly 5 and the air circulating apparatus 6 to perform, on command, one of the user-selectable drying cycles preferably, though not necessarily, stored in the same central control unit.

With reference to Figure 2, in particular, the rotatable drum 3 preferably basically consists in a substantially cylindrical-shaped, rigid tubular body which is preferably made of metal material and extends inside the box-like casing 2 coaxial to a preferably substantially horizontally-oriented, longitudinal reference axis L while remaining locally substantially aligned to the laundry loading-unloading opening on the front wall 2a of the box-like casing 2. Preferably rotatable drum 3 furthermore rests on a number of idle supporting rollers 8 which are arranged approximately at the two axial ends of the tubular body 3 with their rotation axis locally substantially parallel to the longitudinal reference axis L of the drum 3, and are fixed to the box-like casing 2 in free revolving manner so as to allow the drum 3 to freely rotate about its longitudinal reference axis L inside the box-like casing 2.

The circular front rim 3f of drum 3 surrounds the laundry loading-unloading opening realized on the front wall 2a of box-like casing 2 and is coupled in substantially airtight and axially rotating manner to the same front wall 2a, preferably with the interposition of a first circular sealing gasket. The circular rear rim 3r of drum 3 in turn abuts against the rear wall 2b of box-like casing 2 and is coupled in substantially airtight and axially rotating manner directly to the same rear wall 2b with the interposition of a second circular sealing gasket. Front and rear circular sealing gaskets are therefore substantially coaxial to the longitudinal reference axis L of the drum 3.

The flow of hot air produced by the air circulating apparatus 6 preferably enters into the rotatable drum 3 through the rear mouth/opening of the drum 3, i.e. the mouth of tubular body 3 delimited by the rear rim 3r, flows inside drum 3 for the entire length of the latter, and finally comes out of the drum 3 through the front mouth/opening of the drum 3, i.e. the mouth of tubular body 3 delimited by the front rim 3f, or vice versa.

In other words, with reference to Figures 2 and 3, the flow of hot air produced by air circulating apparatus 6 preferably enters into the rotatable drum 3 via a first air- vent 9 which is preferably incorporated in the rear wall 2b of casing 2 locally aligned/faced to the rear mouth/opening of the drum 3, i.e. within the perimeter of the rear rim 3r of tubular body 3, and comes out of the rotatable drum 3 via a second preferably substantially slot-shaped, air- vent 10 which is incorporated in the annular frame that, on front wall 2a, delimits the laundry loading-unloading opening of boxlike casing 2.

With reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the air circulating apparatus 6 in turn is preferably structured for gradually drawing air from rotatable drum 3 ; cooling down the air arriving from rotatable drum 3 so to extract and retain the surplus moisture in the air drawn from rotatable drum 3; heating the dehumidified air to a predetermined temperature, normally higher than the temperature of the air from rotatable drum 3 ; and finally feeding the heated, dehumidified air back into the rotatable drum 3, where it flows over, to rapidly dry, the laundry inside the drum.

In other words, the air circulating apparatus 6 provides for continually dehumidifying and heating the air circulating inside rotatable drum 3 to rapidly dry the laundry inside the drum 3.

More in detail, the air circulating apparatus 6 preferably comprises: an air duct 11 having its two mouths/ends in direct communication with, i.e. fluidly connected to, the inside of rotatable drum 3 preferably on opposite sides of the latter; and an electrically-powered centrifugal fan 12 or other type of air circulating pump, which is located along air duct 11 to produce, inside the air duct 11 , an airflow f that flows through the rotatable drum 3 and over the laundry inside drum 3.

In the example shown, in particular, the air duct 11 preferably has a first end in direct communication with, i.e. fluidly connected to, the air-vent 9 located in the rear wall 2b of casing 2, and a second end in direct communication with, i.e. fluidly connected to, the air- vent 10 located in the annular frame that delimits the laundry loading-unloading opening on front wall 2a.

Moreover the air circulating apparatus 6 preferably comprises: an air-cooling device 13 which is located along the air duct 11 preferably, though not necessarily, upstream of the centrifugal fan 12, and is structured to rapidly cool the moist air arriving from rotatable drum 3, so as to cause the quick condensation of the surplus moisture inside the airflow f; and an air-heating device 14 which is located along the air duct 11 , downstream of the air-cooling device 13 and preferably also upstream of the centrifugal fan 12, and which is structured for rapidly heating the dehumidified airflow f arriving from the air-cooling device 13 and directed back to rotatable drum 3, so that the airflow f directed back into the rotatable drum 3 is heated to a temperature preferably, though not necessarily, higher than or equal to that of the moist air flowing out of the same rotatable drum 3.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, in the example shown, in particular, the box- like casing 2 preferably includes: a substantially parallelepiped-shaped lower supporting basement 16 which is structured for resting on the floor; and a substantially parallelepiped-shaped upper box-like cabinet 17 which is rigidly fixed to the top of the lower supporting basement 16 and it is dimensioned to house the rotatable drum 3.

In other words, the rotatable drum 3 preferably extends inside the upper box-like cabinet 17, immediately above the supporting basement 16. Thus the laundry loading- unloading opening of box-like casing 2 is preferably realized in the front wall of the upper box-like cabinet 17; and door 4 is hinged to the front wall of the same upper box-like cabinet 17.

The lower supporting basement 16 in turn is preferably structured for internally housing part of the air circulating apparatus 6. More in detail, a central/intermediate section of the air duct 11 preferably extends within the lower supporting basement 16, and the air-cooling device 13, the air-heating device 14 and the centrifugal fan 12 of air circulating apparatus 6 are preferably located inside said central/intermediate section of the air duct 11.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the lower supporting basement 16 is moreover structured to directly support the drum-supporting rollers 8. In other words, the idle rollers 8 that support in free revolving manner the drum 3 are preferably fixed in free axially rotating manner directly to the top of the lower supporting basement 16.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, preferably the air-cooling device 13 and the air-heating device 14 of the air circulating apparatus 6 are furthermore respective heat exchangers of a heat-pump circuit 18.

In other words, the air circulating apparatus 6 preferably includes a heat-pump circuit 18 which is structured to rapidly cool down the air flowing along the air duct 11 and subsequently rapidly heating up the same air.

More in detail, the heat-pump circuit 18 preferably comprises a first and a second air/refrigerant heat exchanger, both located inside the air duct 11 preferably upstream of the centrifugal fan 12.

The first air/refrigerant heat exchanger, traditionally referred to as the "evaporator" of the heat-pump circuit, is located inside the air duct 11 preferably upstream of centrifugal fan 12, and it is structured to remove/absorb heat from the airflow f arriving from rotatable drum 3, thus forming the air-cooling device 13 of the air circulating apparatus 6.

The second air/refrigerant heat exchanger, traditionally referred to as the "condenser" of the heat-pump circuit, is instead located inside the air duct 11 downstream of the first air/refrigerant heat exchanger 13, and it is structured to release heat to the airflow f arriving from the first air/refrigerant heat exchanger 13, thus forming the air-heating device 14 of the air circulating apparatus 6.

In the example shown, in particular, the first and second air/refrigerant heat exchangers 13 and 14 are recessed one after the other inside the central/intermediate section of air duct 11 which is integrated into the lower supporting basement 16 of box-like casing 2.

In addition to the above, the heat-pump circuit 18 furthermore comprises: an electrically-powered refrigerant compressing device 19 and an expansion valve or similar passive/operated refrigerant expansion device.

The refrigerant compressing device 19 is interposed between the refrigerant- outlet of heat exchanger 13 and the refrigerant-inlet of heat exchanger 14, and it is structured for compressing the gaseous-state refrigerant directed towards heat exchanger 14 so that refrigerant pressure and temperature are much higher at the refrigerant- inlet of heat exchanger 14 than at the refrigerant-outlet of heat exchanger 13. The expansion valve or similar passive/operated refrigerant expansion device (for example a capillary tube, a thermostatic valve or an electrically-controlled expansion valve) is interposed between the refrigerant-outlet of heat exchanger 14 and the refrigerant- inlet of heat exchanger 13, and it is structured so as to cause a rapid expansion of the refrigerant directed towards the heat exchanger 13, so that refrigerant pressure and temperature are much higher at the refrigerant-outlet of heat exchanger 14 than at the refrigerant-inlet of heat exchanger 13.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the centrifugal fan 12 of air circulating apparatus 6, in turn, is preferably located on the back of the supporting basement 16, i.e. on the rear wall 2b of the box-like casing 2, and it is structured so as to produce an airflow f that flows from the central/intermediate section of the air duct 11 to the air- vent 9 located in rear wall 2b of casing 2.

More in particular, in the example shown the centrifugal fan 12 of the air circulating apparatus 6 is preferably at least partly housed/recessed into the lower supporting basement 16 of casing 2, i.e. into the rear wall 2b of the box-like casing 2, roughly at the end of the central/intermediate section of the air duct 11 , and the outer volute or impeller housing of the centrifugal fan 12 is shaped/structured so as to directly communicate, i.e. be fluidly connected to, both with the central/intermediate section of the air duct 11 and with the air- vent 9 integrated in the rear wall 2b of the box-like casing 2.

With reference to Figures 2 and 3, the air circulating apparatus 6 additionally comprises an air filtering assembly 100 which is structured to trap and retain fluff and/or lint particles in suspension in the air, and is placed along the air duct 11, preferably upstream of the air-cooling device 13, so as to prevent the fluff and/or lint particles in suspension in the airflow f from reaching and clogging up the air-cooling device 13, the air-heating device 14 and the centrifugal fan 12.

Preferably the air filtering assembly 100 is furthermore fitted in removable manner into the air duct 11.

In the example shown, in particular, the air filtering assembly 100 is preferably structured to form a preferably substantially wedge-shaped, air-filtering cartridge which is fitted, preferably although not necessarily in removable manner, into one of the two ends/mouths of the air duct 11.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the air- filtering cartridge 100 is preferably fitted in removable manner into the air- vent 10 realized on the annular frame that delimits, on front wall 2a, the laundry loading-unloading opening. Furthermore this air-filtering cartridge is preferably dimensioned so as to close the whole air- vent 10, i.e. the mouth of air duct 11, preferably without protruding from the annular frame that delimits, on front wall 2a, the laundry loading-unloading opening of casing 2.

With reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6, the air filtering assembly 100 preferably comprises:

- a first, substantially basin-shaped, air filtering member 101 which is structured/dimensioned so as to be inserted in manually extractable manner into the air-vent 10 realized on the annular frame that delimits, on front wall 2a, the laundry loading-unloading opening of casing 2, preferably so as to plug/fill up substantially the whole clear section of the air duct 11 , and which is provided with at least one and preferably a plurality of huge permeable-to- air portions that are suitably structured/dimensioned to restrain the fluff and/or lint particles in suspension into the airflow f that crosses the same basin-shaped air filtering member; and optionally

- a substantially plate like, upper lid 102 which has a permeable-to-air structure, closes the whole upper mouth of the basin-shaped air filtering member 101 and is preferably additionally shaped/dimensioned so as to also match with the opening of the air- vent 10.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the first air filtering member 101 may include a preferably substantially basin-shaped, rigid shell or frame 103 which is structured/dimensioned for being inserted in manually extractable manner into the air- vent 10 realized on the annular frame that delimits, on front wall 2a, the laundry loading-unloading opening of casing 2, preferably so as to plug/fill up substantially the whole clear section of the air duct 11 , and which is provided with at least one and preferably a plurality of huge pass-through openings 104 each completely closed by a mesh sheet 105 suitably structured/dimensioned to restrain the fluff and/or lint particles in suspension into the airflow f that crosses the air filtering assembly 100.

Preferably, the substantially basin-shaped shell or frame 103 moreover has at least one and preferably a pair of reciprocally-faced, main flat walls 106, and the pass- through opening/s 104 is/are formed on said main flat wall/s 106.

In the example shown, the substantially basin-shaped shell or frame 103 preferably has a substantially V- or U-shaped cross-section, and the pass-through openings 104 are preferably formed on both the reciprocally-faced and reciprocally- inclined, main flat walls 106 of the rigid shell or frame 103.

Preferably the shell or frame 103 may be made of plastic material, preferably via an injection molding process. Preferably the shell or frame 103 is moreover injection molded over the/each mesh sheet 105.

The/each mesh sheet 105, in turn, is preferably made of plastic material, such as for example polyethylene or polypropylene, or any other non-electrically-conductive material.

In addition to the above, according to an exemplary embodiment, the basin- shaped air filtering member 101, or better the basin- shaped rigid shell or frame 103, is preferably divided into two concave and complementary hemi-pieces 107 which are selectively separable to one another, and each of which preferably incorporates a respective main flat wall 106 of the shell or frame 103. Preferably, said two hemi- pieces 107 are furthermore laterally hinged to one another so that the whole basin- shaped shell or frame 103 is openable in a book-like manner.

According to an exemplary embodiment illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6, the two hemi-pieces 107 of the basin-shaped shell or frame 103 are preferably reciprocally joined via at least one and preferably a pair of connecting hinges 108 that are preferably located approximately at the bottom of the basin-shaped shell or frame 103, i.e. opposite to the permeable-to-air upper lid 102, and allows reciprocal rotation of the two hemi-pieces 107 about a common reference axis A preferably substantially parallel to both main flat walls 106.

Likewise the basin-shaped shell or frame 103, the permeable-to-air upper lid 102 is preferably divided into two complementary hemi-pieces 109 which are selectively separable to one another, and each of which is preferably realized in one piece with a respective hemi-piece 107 of the basin-shaped shell or frame 103.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the air filtering assembly 100 may preferably include a manually-operated snap-on locking mechanism 110 which is adapted to selectively rigidly lock the two hemi-pieces 107 of the basin-shaped shell or frame 103 to one another when they are reciprocally coupled to form/compose the basin- shaped shell or frame 103, thus preventing any unintended opening of the basin- shaped shell or frame 103.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the manually-operated snap-on locking mechanism 110 is preferably incorporated into the permeable-to-air upper lid 102, and is preferably structured for selectively maintaining the two hemi-pieces 109 stably in abutment to one another so as to form/compose the permeable-to-air upper lid 102.

With reference to Figures 3 and 6, preferably the air filtering assembly 100 additionally comprises a second, substantially basin-shaped, air filtering member 111 which is located within the first basin-shaped air filtering member 101, beneath the upper lid 102, so as to be crossed by substantially the same airflow f that crosses the first basin-shaped air filtering member 101.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the second basin-shaped air filtering member 111 is preferably fitted into the first basin-shaped air filtering member 101 in detachable manner, and is preferably structured/dimensioned to match with the upper portion of the first basin-shaped air filtering member 101 so as to be crossed by substantially the same airflow f that crosses the first basin-shaped air filtering member 101.

Likewise the first basin-shaped air filtering member 101, also the second air filtering member 111 is provided with at least one and preferably a plurality of huge permeable-to-air portions that are suitably structured/dimensioned to restrain the fluff and/or lint particles in suspension into the airflow f that crosses the same basin-shaped air filtering member 111.

According to an exemplary embodiment, likewise the first basin-shaped air filtering member 101, the second air filtering member 111 includes a preferably substantially basin-shaped, rigid shell or frame 113 which is preferably structured/dimensioned to match with the upper portion of the basin-shaped shell or frame 103, and which is provided with at least one and preferably a plurality of huge pass-through openings 114 each completely closed by a mesh sheet 115 suitably structured/dimensioned to restrain the fluff and/or lint particles in suspension into the airflow f that crosses the air filtering assembly 100.

Preferably, each pass-through opening 114 of the second basin-shaped shell or frame 113 is aligned to a pass-through opening 104 of the first basin-shaped shell or frame 103.

According to an exemplary embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 and 6, also the second basin-shaped shell or frame 113 preferably has at least one and preferably a pair of reciprocally-faced, main flat walls 116 each preferably adjacent to a corresponding flat wall 106 of the first basin-shaped rigid shell or frame 103, and the pass-through opening/s 114 is/are formed on said main flat wall/s 114.

In the example shown, the basin-shaped shell or frame 113 preferably has a substantially V- or U-shaped cross-section, and the pass-through openings 114 are preferably formed on both the reciprocally-faced and reciprocally-inclined, main flat walls 116 of the second basin-shaped shell or frame 113.

Preferably, the second basin-shaped shell or frame 113 is furthermore made of plastic material, preferably via an injection molding process. Preferably, the second basin-shaped shell or frame 113 is moreover injection molded over the/each mesh sheet 115.

The/each mesh sheet 115, in turn, is preferably made of plastic material, such as for example polyethylene or polypropylene, or any other non-electrically-conductive material.

Preferably, the mesh sheet/s 115 of the second air filtering member 111 is/are furthermore structured to restrain fluff and/or lint particles having greater dimensions than that restrained by the mesh sheet/s 105 of the first air filtering member 101.

Preferably, likewise the first basin-shaped shell or frame 103, the second basin- shaped shell or frame 113 is preferably divided into two concave and complementary hemi-pieces 117 which are selectively separable to one another, and each of which preferably incorporates a respective main flat wall 116 of the shell or frame 113. Preferably, said two hemi-pieces 117 are furthermore laterally hinged to one another so that the whole basin-shaped shell or frame 113 is openable in a book- like manner.

According to an exemplary embodiment illustrated in Figure 6, the two hemi- pieces 117 of the basin-shaped shell or frame 113 are preferably reciprocally joined via at least one and preferably a pair of connecting hinges 118 that are preferably located approximately at the bottom of the basin-shaped shell or frame 113, i.e. opposite to the permeable-to-air upper lid 102, and allows reciprocal rotation of the two hemi-pieces 117 about a common reference axis B preferably substantially parallel to main flat walls 116 and preferably also substantially parallel to reference axis A. In other words, each hemi -piece 117 of the second basin-shaped shell or frame 113 is recessed/accommodated into a corresponding hemi-piece 107 of the first basin-shaped shell or frame 103.

With reference to Figures 4, 5 and 6, the air filtering assembly 100 additionally includes a sensor device 120 which is capable of measuring the amount of fluff and/or lint particles deposited on the mesh sheet/s 105 of the first air filtering member 101, and/or the moisture degree of the air flowing through the same air filtering assembly 100. Preferably, the sensor device 120 comprises: at least two, reciprocally adjacent plate-like electrodes 121a and 121b which are made of electrically-conductive material and are at least partially printed directly over a corresponding mesh sheet 105 of the first air filtering member 101 ; and a local electronic control unit 122 which is preferably attached to the rigid shell or frame 103 of the first air filtering member 101, and is electrically connected to both electrodes 121a and 121b.

Preferably, the electrodes 121a and 121b are furthermore printed over the mesh sheet 105 by means of a printing machine.

The local electronic control unit 122 is furthermore electronically connected to the main electronic control unit 7, and is configured to determine a control parameter indicative of the impedance value between the two electrodes 121a and 121b and to communicate said control parameter to the control unit 7.

In the example shown, in particular, each electrode 121a, 121b includes at least one electrical conductive track or strip 123 which is made of electrically-conductive material, and is printed directly over the mesh sheet 105 preferably by means of a printing machine. Preferably, this conductive strip 123 furthermore extends over the mesh sheet 105 so as to form, in at least one and preferably a number of sensing areas, a substantially comb-shaped pattern which is preferably adjacent and intercalated to a corresponding substantially comb-shaped pattern of the conductive strip 123 of the other electrode 121a, 121b.

Preferably each electrode 121a, 121b furthermore includes, preferably for each conductive strip 123, a plate-like electric terminal 124 which is made of electrically- conductive material, is electrically connected to the conductive strip 123, and is preferably printed directly over the mesh sheet 105 preferably by means of a printing machine.

With reference to Figure 6, each plate-like electric terminal 124 is preferably designed to be at least partially covered by a portion of the basin-shaped shell or frame 103 of the first air filtering member 101, and is preferably electrically connected to the local electronic control unit 122 via an electric wire 125 preferably embedded into the same shell or frame 103. Preferably the conductive strip/s 123 of each electrode 121a, 121b and the corresponding electric terminal/s 124 are preferably located on the inner face of the mesh sheet 105, i.e. on the face turned towards the inside of the basin-shaped air filtering member 101.

The local electronic control unit 122 of sensor device 120, in turn, is preferably embedded into a resin block 126, which is firmly attached to the rigid shell or frame 103 of the first air filtering member 101, or directly into a portion of the rigid shell or frame 103.

With reference to Figures 3 and 6, preferably the sensor device 120 finally includes an electric connector 128 which is provided with a number of connecting pins each electrically connected to the local electronic control unit 122, and is located outside of the first air filtering member 101, preferably integral with the basin-shaped rigid shell or frame 103, so as couple, when the air-filtering assembly 100 is fitted into the air- vent 10, with a complementary second electric connector 129, in turn, is located at the air-vent 10 and is electrically connected to the main electronic control unit 7.

With reference to the different embodiment illustrated in Figure 7, as an alternative, the main control unit 7 is configured to determine the amount of fluff and/or lint particles deposited on a mesh sheet/s 115 of the second basin-shaped shell or frame 111.

With reference to Figure 7, according to a second embodiment of the air filtering assembly 100, the sensor device 120 is capable of measuring the amount of fluff and/or lint particles deposited on the mesh sheet/s 115 of the second basin-shaped air filtering member 111, and/or the moisture degree of the air flowing through the same air filtering assembly 100.

Therefore the two plate-like electrodes 121a and 121b are at least partially printed directly over a corresponding mesh sheet 115 of the second air filtering member 111 preferably by means of a printing machine.

The local electronic control unit 122, in turn, is preferably attached to the rigid shell or frame 113 of the second air filtering member 111, and is electrically connected to both electrodes 121a and 121b. Again the local electronic control unit 122 is electronically connected to the main electronic control unit 7, and is configured to determine a control parameter indicative of the impedance value between the two electrodes 121a and 121b and to communicate said control parameter to the control unit 7.

More in detail, also in this embodiment, each electrode 121a, 121b includes at least one conductive strip 123, which is made of electrically-conductive material, and is printed directly over the mesh sheet 115 preferably by means of a printing machine. Preferably this conductive strip 123 furthermore extends over the mesh sheet 115 so as to form, in at least one and preferably a number of sensing areas, a substantially comb-shaped pattern which is preferably adjacent and intercalated to a corresponding substantially comb-shaped pattern of the conductive strip 123 of the other electrode 121a, 121b.

Preferably, the thickness of a conductive strip 123 may be comprised between about 0,2 mm and about 0,8 mm.

Preferably, the electrical conductive strips 123 are printed over the mesh sheet

115 so that the ratio between the thickness of an electrical conductive strip 123 and the distance between two adjacent conductive strips 123 is greater than about 1,5.

Preferably electrical conductive strips 123 are printed over the mesh sheet 115 so that the ratio between the thickness of an electrical conductive strip 123 and the distance between two adjacent conductive strips 123 is lower than about 4.

Preferably each electrode 121a, 121b furthermore includes, preferably for each conductive strip 123, a plate-like electric terminal which is made of electrically- conductive material, is electrically connected to the conductive strip 123, and is preferably printed directly over the mesh sheet 115 preferably by means of a printing machine.

With reference to Figure 7, each plate-like electric terminal 124 is preferably designed to be at least partially covered by a portion of the basin-shaped shell or frame 113 of the second air filtering member 111, and is preferably electrically connected to the local electronic control unit 122 via an electric wire 125 preferably embedded into the same shell or frame 113. Preferably the conductive strip/s 123 of each electrode 121a, 121b and the corresponding electric terminal/s 124 are preferably located on the outer face of the mesh sheet 115, i.e. on the face turned towards the outside of the second basin-shaped second air filtering member 111.

Again the local electronic control unit 122 of sensor device 120, in turn, is preferably embedded into a resin block 126 which is firmly attached to the rigid shell or frame 113 of the second air filtering member 111 , or directly into a portion of the same rigid shell or frame 113.

In this embodiment the local electronic control unit 122 preferably wireless communicates with the main electronic control unit 7 and is preferably electrically powered via electromagnetic-coupling.

According to the present invention, the local electronic control unit 122 may be configured to determine the impedance value based on the electrical capacity and/or the electrical resistance and/or conductibility measured between the electrodes 122a and 122b.

According to a preferred embodiment, the local electronic control unit 122 electronically communicates the impedance value to the main electronic control unit 7, which elaborates the received impedance value and determines the amount of fluff and/or lint particles deposited on a mesh sheet/s 115 comprised in the air filtering assembly 100 and/or the moisture degree of the air flowing through the same air filtering assembly 100.

According to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, 4, 5 and 6 the main control unit 7 is configured to determine the amount of fluff and/or lint particles deposited on a mesh sheet/s 115 of the first basin- shaped shell or frame 101.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the main control unit 7 may be configured to determine the moisture of the laundry load based on the determined moisture degree of the airflow. It is understood that the present invention is not limited to a sensor device 120 provided with two printed electrodes.

Preferably, the main control unit 7 may be further configured to determine a clogging degree associated with the amount of fluff and/or lint particles deposited on a mesh sheet/s 115, comprised in the air filtering assembly 100 and/or the moisture degree immediately before to performing a new laundry treating cycle.

Preferably, the main control unit 7 may be configured to receive the impedance value, and determine the clogging degree of that the air filtering assembly 100 based on a comparison between the impedance value and predetermined threshold impedance values associated with respective clogging degree. Preferably the clogging degree may comprise a low clogging degree, a medium clogging degree, and maximum clogging degree. The main control unit 7 may be configured to determine that air filtering assembly 100 is completely clogged when the maximum clogging degree is determined.

According to an embodiment, the laundry treating machine 1 further comprises a fluff filter washing apparatus/system (not illustrated) which is designed to perform, on command, a filter cleaning cycle in order to automatically clean the air filtering assembly 100 so as to remove the lint particles from the latter. For example, the fluff filter washing apparatus/system may correspond to the apparatus disclosed in WO2015101387 or the apparatus disclosed in WO2011139092, or may be any known similar apparatus/system.

Preferably, the main control unit 7 may be electronically/electrically connected to said fluff filter washing apparatus/system and may be configured to electronically control the operation of the fluff filter washing apparatus/system based on the determined clogging degree. Preferably, the main control unit 7 may be configured to control the fluff filter washing apparatus/system in order to perform a prefixed filter cleaning cycle on said air filtering assembly 100 when it detects the maximum clogging degree.

Preferably, the main control unit 7 may be configured to adjust the cleaning parameters, i.e. the time/duration, of the filter cleaning cycle based on the determined clogging degree. For example the main control unit 7 may reduce the set time of the filter cleaning cycle, if it detects a clogging degree lower than the maximum clogging degree, i.e. the low clogging degree or the medium clogging degree. Preferably, the main control unit 7 may be configured to display to the user by the control panel the set time and/or the adjusted time of filter cleaning cycle.

Preferably, the main control unit 7 may be further configured to display by means of displaying means comprised in the control panel (not illustrated) mounted on the casing 2 one or more data indicative of the clogging degree and/or the moisture degree of the laundry load. Preferably, the main control unit 7 may be further configured to display on or more data indicative of the clogging degree at the beginning of the laundry treating cycle. Preferably, the main control unit 7 may be further configured to repeatedly sample by means of the local electronic control unit 122 the impedance between the electrodes 122a, 122b and, at the same time, determines the clogging degree during the laundry treating cycle in order to continuously display (instant after instant) to the user by the control panel the real clogging degree determined during the laundry treating cycle.

Preferably, the main control unit 7 may be further configured to generate a warning signal so as to communicate to the user, by means of the control panel, a message requiring to clean the air filtering assembly 100, when the medium or maximum clogging degree are determined. Preferably, the main control unit 7 may be further configured to automatically interrupt the laundry treating cycle when the low, medium or maximum clogging degree is detected at the beginning of the laundry treating cycle. Preferably, the main control unit 7 may be further configured to automatically interrupt the laundry treating cycle when the maximum clogging degree is detected during the laundry treating cycle.

Preferably, the control panel may be provided with one or more input devices, i.e. a one or more push buttons or similar devices, by which the user may manually impart to the laundry treating machine 1 a filter clean command to activate the filter cleaning cycle. The main control unit 7 may be further configured to receive the filter clean command from the control panel for starting the laundry treating cycle.

Preferably, the main control unit 7 may be further configured to determine filter cleaning performances of the fluff filter washing apparatus/system and/or a malfunction of the fluff filter washing apparatus/system based to the determined impedance. Preferably, the main control unit 7 may be configured to determine the impedance value at the end, or immediately after, the filter cleaning cycle, and detects a malfunction or a cleaning performance degree of the fluff filter washing apparatus/system based on the comparison between the determined impedance and threshold impedances associated with respective clogging degrees. For example, the main control unit 7 may detect a malfunction of the fluff filter washing apparatus/system, if the determined impedance is higher than an impedance threshold associated to the maximum clogging degree.

Preferably the main control unit 7 may be further configured to generate a warning signal so as to communicate to the user, by means of the control panel, a message indicating a malfunction and/or the determined cleaning performance of the fluff filter washing apparatus/system, based on the results of the comparison between the determined impedance and the impedance thresholds associated to the clogging degrees. Preferably, the main control unit 7 may be further configured to automatically interrupt the laundry treating cycle when a malfunction of the fluff filter washing apparatus/system is determined/detected.

Preferably, the main control unit 7 may further comprise a communication module (not illustrated) which may be configured to perform a wireless communication with a remote hand-held electronic apparatus of a user, i.e. a smartphone or any similar electronic communication devices (not illustrated) for communicating data/information relating to the determined clogging degree and or the moisture laundry load degree. The remote hand-held electronic apparatus may be configured to receive and display the determined clogging degree and/or the moisture of the laundry load to the user, and may enable the user to impart a command to start the filter cleaning cycle. The hand-held remote electronic apparatus may be configured to transmit he user command to the main control unit 7 of the laundry treating machine 1 for starting the said filter cleaning cycle base on the receipt of the user command.

Preferably, the main control unit 7 may be further configured to control the electrically-powered refrigerant compressing device 19 based on said determined moisture degree. According to an embodiment, the electrically-powered refrigerant compressing device 19 may comprise a variable speed compressor the main control unit 7 may be configured to adjust the speed of said compressor, during the laundry treating cycle, based on said determined moisture degree.

According to an embodiment, the heat-pump circuit 18 may comprises an electrically-controlled expansion valve and the main control unit 7 may be configured to control the opening/closing of expansion valve based on said determined moisture level.

According to an embodiment, the heat-pump circuit 18 comprises a fan device (not illustrated) which is arranged adjacent to said electrically-powered refrigerant compressing device 19 and is designed to cool said electrically-powered refrigerant compressing device 19. Preferably, the main control unit 7 may be further configured to control the fan device based on said determined moisture level.

Preferably, the main control unit 7 may be further configured to adjust one or more control parameters of the laundry treating cycle based on said moisture degree determined during said laundry treating cycle. Preferably, the main control unit 7 may be configured to adjust the rotating speed of the drum 3 during a laundry treating cycle based on said moisture degree determined at the beginning or during said laundry treating cycle. Preferably, the main control unit 7 may be further configured to estimate the end of the laundry treating cycle based on said moisture degree determined at the beginning or during said laundry treating cycle.

The main control unit 7 may be further configured to determine one or more parameters that characterized the laundry loaded in the drum 3 based on said determined moisture degree. Preferably, the main control unit 7 may be configured to estimate the kind of fabric of the laundry load (cotton, wool, synthetic, etc ..) based on said determined moisture degree. Preferably, the main control unit 7 may be further configured to estimate the weight of the laundry load based on said determined moisture degree. Preferably, the main control unit 7 may be configured to adjust/adapt one or more control parameters of the laundry treating cycle, i.e. time/duration and/or drum speed and/or compressor speed, based on laundry load and/or the weight and/or kind of fabric of the laundry estimated at the beginning and/or during said laundry treating cycle. Preferably, the main control unit 7 may be further configured to adjust, one or more control parameter of a laundry drying cycle or comprised in a laundry treating cycle selected by a user based on said determined moisture degree. Control parameter of the drying cycle may comprise, for example, drying temperature, drying duration, ambient temperature.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the local electronic control unit 122 comprises a printed circuit board supporting electronic components, i.e. microprocessors and/or similars electronic modules, and one/or more electrical terminals. Preferably, first and second electrical terminals of the printed circuit board are electrically connected to respective plate-like electric terminals 124 of the electrodes 122a, 122b by said electric wires 125. Preferably, a third and fourth electrical terminals of the printed circuit board of the local electronic control unit 122 are electrically connected to a first and second pin respectively, of the connector 128. Preferably, the first and second pin of the connector 128 may be used to supply the electrical power to the local electronic control unit 122 and/or used to perform the data communication between the local electronic control unit 122 and the main control unit 7.

According to a different embodiment illustrated in Figure 5, the connector 128 may comprise, in addition to the first and the second pin specifically used to supply the electric energy power to the local electronic control unit 122, one or more additional pins used for the communication of data between the local electronic control unit 122 and the main control unit 7. Preferably, the communication between the main control unit 7 and the local electronic control unit 122 may be performed in a digital format.

According to an embodiment of the present invention wherein the local electronic control unit 122 is electrically powered via electromagnetic -coupling i.e. by means of an inductive supplying system (not illustrated), the air filter assembly 100 may be without the connector 128, and the local electronic control unit 122 may comprise a communication module (not illustrated) configured to perform a wireless communication for transmitting said control parameter to a wireless communication module of the main control unit 7.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sensor device 120 comprises several couple of electrodes 121a, 121b which are printed over the mesh sheet in respective sensing areas. Preferably, any sensing areas covered by a couple of electrodes 121a, 121b may be spaced from the other sensing areas.

According to an embodiment of the present invention (not illustrated), the sensor device 120 comprises three couple of electrodes 121a, 121b, wherein a first couple of electrodes 121a, 121b may be arranged in a first sensing area of the mesh sheet designed to detect a low amount of fluff and/or lint particles deposited on the mesh sheet/s, a second couple of electrodes 121a, 121b may be arranged in a second sensing area of the mesh sheet designed to detect a medium amount of fluff and/or lint particles deposited on the mesh sheet/s, and a third couple of electrodes 121a, 121b may be arranged in a third sensing area of the mesh sheet designed to detect a maximum amount of fluff and/or lint particles deposited on the mesh sheet/s.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the mesh sheet is approximatively vertically arranged, the first sensing area may be the bottom area of the mesh sheet, the third sensing area may be the upper area of the mesh sheet, and the second sensing area may be arranged between the first and the third area.

According to an embodiment of the present invention wherein the sensor device 120 comprises a plurality of couple of electrodes 122a, 122b, the local electronic control unit 122 is configured to be selectively connected with each couple of electrodes 122a, 122b according to a sequential order so as to measure the impedance of the electrodes 122a, 122b in any sensing area.

With reference to Figure 8, according to a third embodiment the air filtering assembly 100 preferably includes a single, preferably substantially plate-shaped, air filtering member 201 which is placed, preferably in removable manner, along the air duct 11 , and is preferably dimensioned so as to locally match with the clear section of the air duct 11, thus to be crossed by the whole airflow f that flows inside of the air duct 11.

Likewise the first and second basin-shaped air filtering members 101 and 111, also the plate-like air filtering member 201 is provided with at least one and preferably a plurality of huge permeable-to-air portions that are suitably structured/ dimensioned to restrain the fluff and/or lint particles in suspension into the airflow f that crosses the same air filtering member 201.

In other words, the air filtering member 201 preferably includes a preferably substantially rectangular-shaped, plate-like rigid frame 203 which is preferably structured/dimensioned to locally match with the clear section of the air duct 11 , and which is provided with at least one and preferably a plurality of huge pass-through openings 204 each completely closed by a mesh sheet 205 suitably structured/ dimensioned to restrain the fluff and/or lint particles in suspension into the air that crosses the air filtering assembly 100.

More in detail, in the example shown the plate-like rigid frame 203 of the air filtering member 201 is preferably provided with at least two adjacent, preferably substantially rectangular-shaped, pass-through openings 204 each completely closed by a mesh sheet 205 suitably structured/dimensioned to restrain the fluff and/or lint particles in suspension into the air.

Preferably the plate-like rigid frame 203 is furthermore made of plastic material, preferably via an injection molding process. Preferably the flat rigid frame 203 is moreover injection molded over the/each mesh sheet 205.

The/each mesh sheet 205, in turn, is preferably made of plastic material, such as for example polyethylene or polypropylene, or any other non-electrically-conductive material.

Also in this third embodiment, the air filtering assembly 100 additionally includes a sensor device 220 which is capable of measuring the amount of fluff and/or lint particles deposited on the mesh sheet/s 205 of the plate-like air filtering member 201, and/or the moisture degree of the air flowing through the same air filtering member 201.

Again the sensor device 220 preferably comprises: at least two, reciprocally adjacent plate-like electrodes 221a and 221b which are made of electrically-conductive material and are at least partially printed directly over a corresponding mesh sheet 205 of the air filtering member 201; and a local electronic control unit 222 which is preferably attached to the rigid frame 203 of the plate-like air filtering member 201, and is electrically connected to both electrodes 221a and 221b.

Preferably the electrodes 221a and 221b are furthermore printed over the mesh sheet 205 by means of a printing machine.

The local electronic control unit 222 is furthermore electronically connected to the main electronic control unit 7, and is configured to determine a control parameter indicative of the impedance value between the two electrodes 221a and 221b and to communicate said control parameter to the control unit 7.

In the example shown, in particular, each electrode 221a, 221b includes at least one conductive strip 223 which is made of electrically-conductive material, and is printed directly over the mesh sheet 205 preferably by means of a printing machine. Preferably this conductive strip 223 furthermore extends over the mesh sheet 205 so as to form, in at least one and preferably a number of sensing areas, a substantially comb-shaped pattern which is preferably adjacent and intercalated to a corresponding substantially comb-shaped pattern of the conductive strip 223 of the other electrode 221a, 221b.

Preferably, the thickness of a conductive strip 223 may be comprised between about 0,2 mm and about 0,8 mm. Preferably, the electrical conductive strips 223 are printed over the mesh sheet 205 so that the ratio between the thickness of an electrical conductive strip 223 and the distance between two adjacent conductive strips 123 is greater than about 1,5. Preferably electrical conductive strips 223 are printed over the mesh sheet 205 so that the ratio between the thickness of an electrical conductive strip 223 and the distance between two adjacent conductive strips 123 is lower than about 4.

Preferably each electrode 221a, 221b furthermore includes, preferably for each conductive strip 223, a plate-like electric terminal 224 which is made of electrically- conductive material, is electrically connected to the conductive strip 223, and is preferably printed directly over the mesh sheet 205 preferably by means of a printing machine. With reference to Figure 8, each plate-like electric terminal 224 is preferably designed to be at least partially covered by a portion of the rigid frame 203 of the platelike air filtering member 201, and is preferably electrically connected to the local electronic control unit 222 via an electric wire 225 preferably embedded into the frame 203.

The local electronic control unit 222 of sensor device 220, in turn, is preferably embedded into a resin block 226 which is firmly attached to the rigid frame 203 of the plate-like air filtering member 201, or directly into a portion of said rigid frame 203.

Also in this embodiment, the sensor device 220 preferably, though not necessarily, include an electric connector 228 which is provided with a number of connecting pins (not shown) each electrically connected to the local electronic control unit 222, and is preferably integral with the rigid frame 203 of the plate-like air filtering member 201, so as couple, when the air- filtering assembly 100 is fitted into the air duct 11, with a complementary second electric connector (not shown) which, in turn, is preferably incorporated into the air duct 11 and is electrically connected to the main electronic control unit 7.

It is understood that the control functions performed by the main control unit 7 and the control functions performed by the local electronic control unit 222 comprised in the laundry treating machine of the third embodiment are identical to the control functions performed by the main control unit 7 and respectively by the local electronic control unit 122 of the laundry treating machine of the first and second embodiments above disclosed in detail.

With reference to Figure 9, the air filtering assembly 100 shown in Figure 8 is preferably realized according to a production method that includes, in sequence, the steps of:

a) forming at least one piece of mesh sheet 205 preferably via a weaving process;

b) printing, preferably using a printing machine, the electrodes 221a and 221b over said piece of mesh sheet 205; c) placing the/each mesh sheet 205 inside a mold 300 shaped to form the rigid frame 203 of the plate-like air filtering member 201, preferably together with the electric wires 225;

d) injection molding the rigid frame 203 over the/each mesh sheet 205 and preferably also over the electric wires 225, so as to form the whole platelike air filtering member 201; and finally

e) attaching the local electronic control unit 222 to the rigid frame 203 so as to electrically connect the local electronic control unit 222 to the electrodes 221a and 221b via the electric wires 225, so as to complete the sensor device 220 and thus realize the air filtering assembly 100.

Preferably, the method comprises the step of covering the local electronic control unit with a resin to protect it from humidity and dirt, thereby forming a resin block 226 containing the local electronic control unit 222. The resin block 226 may be formed before being attached to the local control unit, or the local electronic control unit 222 is first attached to the rigid frame 203 and then covered by resin.

Preferably, though not necessarily, correct alignment of the printed mesh sheet 205 inside the cavity of the mold 300 is eased by means of a mechanical marker 301 present/formed in the printed mesh sheet 205, and adapted to match with a complementary second mechanical marker (not shown) present inside the cavity of the mold 300. The mechanical marker 301 may be, for example, a cut-out portion of the printed mesh sheet 205. As an alternative, an optical marker may be used to ensure correct alignment of the printed mesh sheet 205 inside the cavity of the mold 300. The optical marker may be, for example, one of the two electrodes 221a and 221b.

The present invention relates to a foreign particle filter constituted by a frame that holds and supports a woven mesh, wherein the mesh is made with a combination of electrical insulant material and electrical conductive material, and also relates to a device or laundry treating machine that uses such filter. When this mesh is placed within a fluid flow, the sensor can measure the change of conductance and/or capacity at various frequencies in order to determine obstructions within the fluid stream, for instance in the case of the filter clogging with foreign particles and provide information to the laundry treating machine on the level of degradation of the free airflow passage through the filter and determine if the filter requires to be cleaned.

The laundry treating machine can in turn alert the user that the filter should be cleaned in order to maintain an optimum drying performance, in terms of energy and drying time, whether it be at the start, or end, or during the drying cycle.

In the case that the laundry treating machine is equipped with an automatic filter cleaning system, the laundry treating machine may perform a cleaning operation when a predetermined value of clogging is reached, in order to maintain an optimum drying performance without the need for the user to intervene. This action may occur at any point in the cycle. The behaviour of the sensor may be varied based on the programme selection for the type of clothes being dried, whether that be manual input by the user via the display panel, or wireless communication or such like, or automatically selected by the laundry treating machine, based on information from a second appliance or the recognition of the type of textiles being dried.

In the case whereby the filter assembly is removable from the laundry treating machine in order to clean the filter mesh, the sensor, whether it communicates via metal contacts in the laundry treating machine' s main body or wirelessly, can be used to determine whether or not the filter is present in-situ within the appliance.

The device includes a filter with a conductive path provided or preferably printed on the mesh able to provide electrical (capacitive, conductive. . .) measurements related to the physical properties of the fluid crossing the filter or the clogging material lying on the filter. The filter could detect when the clogging level has reached a certain threshold and the device could ask the user to clean the filter, or if the laundry treating machine is equipped with an automatic cleaning system, it could operate an automatic cleaning. The signal is used to detect the presence of the filter itself and to alert the user if the device is starting without filter. Alert the customer that the filter is clogged at the beginning of the device operation, asking to perform a cleaning before starting the cycle. The signal could be treated in different ways basing on the cycle selection on the user interface.

The device includes a board to convert the signal to a digital form. If the filter includes a board to treat the signal on the filter itself, the device could include: wireless communication system with the filter, or a wired communication system with the filter, already in a digital form, providing also the power supply, and the same connector could be use to detect the presence itself. The connector could be realized with auto- extinguishing plastic.

In other words, the invention relates to a filter, constituted by a frame that holds and supports a woven mesh, characterized in that the mesh is made with a combination of electrical insulant material and electrical conductive material, the conductive part forming a pattern composed by two paths that constitute the electrodes of an open circuit. These electrodes could be used to perform capacity, conductance or impedance measurements between them in order to obtain a signal that is influenced by some physical property of the material that is lying on the electrodes.

The filter and sensor are positioned within a fluid stream. This filter assembly is usually removable from the appliance in order to be manually cleaned.

In a first embodiment, whereby the filter is constructed of two layers, the sensor may be applied to the second filtering layer, i.e. the layer which is less exposed to solid particles, thus protecting the sensor from the said solid particles.

The circuit board which manages the sensor signal on the filter mesh may be positioned in any of the following embodiments:

The filter frame may be co-moulded with the metal contacts which transport the sensor signal from the mesh to the metal contacts or to the circuit board which manages the signal (outside the fluid stream).

The circuit board managing the sensor signal is incorporated within the filter frame, in which the circuit board may be protected by means of either: covering it with resin; or by means of a plastic casing which may be sealed by welding or by moulded snap-fit clips. In the case whereby the sensor circuit board is incorporated within the filter frame, the circuit board communicates using a digital signal.

The sensor on the filter mesh may be printed as one zone with two contacts; or as multiple zones with multiple contacts on the same mesh as shown in Figures 14 and 15. Figure 14 and 15 disclose a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of an air filtering assembly that may be used for modifying the air filtering assembly shown in Figures 4 to 9. In other words, the sensing mesh shown in Figures 14 and 15 with its supporting frame can be used in place of the sensing mesh shown in Figures 4 to 9. In Figures 14 and 15 objects already described with reference to Figures 4 to 9 have been indicated with the same reference numbers.

In the embodiment with multiple sensor zones, the zones may be connected to the same local electronic control unit as disclosed in Figure 14 or to multiple local electronic control units preferably provided or attached to the frame (103)(113)(203) of said air filtering assembly (100), as disclosed in Figure 15. The multiple zones provide different information on the fluid stream passage across the active sensing mesh.

When multiple sensor zones are connected to the same local electronic control unit (Figure 14), such unit may be able not only to convert signals from analogic to digital format but also to use signals provided by sensors to make calculations to provide a main electronic control unit with the results of such calculations via an electric connector 128, 228 to which the local electronic control unit is connected by means of electric wires.

When multiple sensor zones are connected to multiple local electronic control units (Figure 15), each of said control units may just convert signals from analogic to digital format and providing a main electronic control unit with such digital signals for required calculations via an electric connector 128, 228 to which each local electronic control unit is connected by means of electric wires. In addition or alternatively, a configuration in which multiple sensor zones are connected to multiple local electronic control units is useful to have the possibility of excluding one or more sensors from the measurements of filter clogging degree and/or moisture degree of drying air. This is particularly useful when it is recognized that one or more sensors are providing signals that are incompatible with the actual status of the filter.

Every zone may be composed by two paths of conductive material close to each other, in order to constitute the two electrodes of a capacitor or the two electrodes of an open circuit to measure the conductance or impedance between them. A separate sensor may be incorporated on the filter frame (which may be achieved by moulding part of the filter mesh with the separate sensor directly onto a plastic substrate through which there is no fluid stream or by protecting said separated sensor against deposition of fluff and/or lint particles) in which case, this additional sensing element can be used as a reference in order to provide differential readings between this reference sensor and the sensor printed on the filter mesh within the fluid stream. In terms of ease of manufacturing, the mesh may be cut in a certain form to correspond in only one orientation with respect to the filter frame to facilitate the moulding of the mesh on to the plastic frame.

The board for treating the signal should be as near as possible to the sensor, so it could be integrated in the filter frame plastic and covered through a plastic or resin injection, or a plastic cover with clips.

The board on the sensor should directly convert the signal in a digital form before communicating with the external reading device, such as the main board.

The sensor could be composed by more than one sensing zone. Every zone could be connected to a separate chip on the board to treat every zone with an independent signal, or the zones could be connected to the same chip to have an average signal.

A sensing zone of the mesh could be included in the plastic filter frame to provide a constant reference signal.

The mesh could be shaped to provide an indication for the right positioning of the mesh itself in the mould of the filter, in order to avoid wrong sensor positioning while producing the filter.

The main advantage of the system is the possibility to detect some physical properties of the fluid stream that is crossing the mesh, or of the material that is lying on the mesh.

General operation of the laundry treating machine 1 is clearly inferable from the above description, with no further explanation required.

Clearly, changes may be made to the laundry treating machine 1 as described above without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, with reference to Figures 10, 11 and 12, the air filtering assembly 100 is structured to form an air- filtering cartridge which is inserted in drawer- like manner into a corresponding hollow housing or seat 50 which entrance is located on front wall 2a of casing 2, preferably above the laundry loading-unloading opening selectively closable by door 4 and preferably also immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall 2c of casing 2. Preferably the entrance of the frontal hollow housing or seat 50 is furthermore arranged horizontally beside the appliance control panel 51 of the laundry treating machine 1.

With reference to Figures 11 and 12, in particular the air filtering assembly 100 preferably comprises: a box-like air filtering member 401 which is structured/designed to be fitted/inserted in axially sliding manner into the frontal hollow housing or seat 50 and is preferably dimensioned to match with the inner volume of the hollow housing or seat 50, thus to be crossed by the whole airflow f that flows inside of the air duct 11 ; and a manually operable front panel 402 which is arranged/located on a front side of the box-like air filtering member 401, so as to close the entrance of the frontal hollow housing or seat 50 when air filtering assembly 100 is completely fitted into the hollow housing 50.

The box-like air filtering member 401 has an air inlet 401a dimensioned to allow the free entrance of the air flowing along the air duct 11, i.e. the airflow f, and an air outlet 401b having a permeable-to-air structure suitably dimensioned to restrain the fluff and/or lint particles in suspension into the air that enters into the box-like air filtering member 401.

More in detail, the box-like air filtering member 401 preferably includes a boxlike rigid shell or frame 403 which is preferably structured/dimensioned to match with the inner volume of the hollow housing or seat 50, and which is provided with a first huge pass-through opening dimensioned to allow the free entrance of the air inside the box-like rigid shell or frame 403, and with at least one and preferably a plurality of second huge pass-through openings 404 each completely closed by a mesh sheet 405 suitably structured/dimensioned to restrain the fluff and/or lint particles in suspension into the air that crosses the air filtering assembly 100.

The first huge pass-through opening defines the air inlet 401a of the box-like air filtering member 401. The second huge pass-through opening/s 404 closed by the mesh sheet/s 405 define/s the air outlet 401b of the box-like air filtering member 401.

More in detail, in the example shown the box-like rigid shell or frame 403 is preferably provided with an series of preferably substantially rectangular-shaped, adjacent pass-through openings 404 formed on a same side wall 406 of the box-like rigid shell or frame 403.

Preferably the manually operable front panel 402 and/or the box-like rigid shell or frame 403 is/are furthermore made of plastic material, preferably via an injection molding process. Preferably the box-like rigid shell or frame 403 is moreover injection molded over the/each mesh sheet 405.

The/each mesh sheet 405, in turn, is preferably made of plastic material, such as for example polyethylene or polypropylene, or any other non-electrically-conductive material.

In addition to the above, the box-like rigid shell or frame 403 of air filtering member 401 is preferably divided into a preferably substantially parallelepiped- shaped, rigid box-like container 407 and into a substantially flat, upper lid 408 arranged to close the upper opening of the box-like container 407. Preferably the upper lid 408 is furthermore laterally hinged to one of the sidewalls of the box-like container 407.

With reference to Figure 12, preferably the box-like air filtering member 401 additionally comprises one or more inner air-channeling fins 409 that extends inside the box-like rigid shell or frame 403, from the upper lid 408 up to the bottom of boxlike container 407, and are suitably bent/shaped so as to guide the air entering into the air filtering member 401 towards the sidewall 406 of the box-like rigid shell or frame 403 preferably in a direction locally substantially perpendicular to the same sidewall 406.

Also in this embodiment, the air filtering assembly 100 additionally includes a sensor device 420 which is capable of measuring the amount of fluff and/or lint particles deposited on the mesh sheet/s 405 of the box-like air filtering member 401, and/or the moisture degree of the air flowing through the same air filtering member 401.

Again the sensor device 420 preferably comprises: at least two, reciprocally adjacent electrodes 421a and 421b which are made of electrically-conductive material, and are preferably plate-like shaped, and are at least partially provided or printed directly over a corresponding mesh sheet 405 of the air filtering member 401 ; and a local electronic control unit 422 which is preferably recessed into the box-like rigid shell or frame 403 of the air filtering member 401, and is electrically connected to both electrodes 421a and 421b.

Preferably the electrodes 421a and 421b are furthermore printed over the mesh sheet 405 by means of a printing machine.

The local electronic control unit 422 is furthermore electronically connected to the main electronic control unit 7, and is configured to determine a control parameter indicative of the impedance value between the two electrodes 421a and 421b and to communicate said control parameter to the control unit 7.

In the example shown, in particular, each electrode 421a, 421b includes at least one conductive strip 423 which is made of electrically-conductive material, and is printed directly over the mesh sheet 405 preferably by means of a printing machine. Preferably this conductive strip 423 furthermore extends over the mesh sheet 405 so as to form, in at least one and preferably a number of sensing areas, a substantially comb-shaped pattern which is preferably adjacent and intercalated to a corresponding substantially comb-shaped pattern of the conductive strip 423 of the other electrode 421a, 421b.

Preferably each electrode 421a, 421b furthermore includes, preferably for each conductive strip 423, a plate-like electric terminal 424 which is made of electrically- conductive material, is electrically connected to the conductive strip 423, and is preferably printed directly over the mesh sheet 405 preferably by means of a printing machine.

With reference to Figures 11 and 12, again each plate-like electric terminal 424 is preferably designed to be at least partially covered by a portion of the rigid shell or frame 403 of the box-like air filtering member 401, and is preferably electrically connected to the local electronic control unit 422 via an electric wire preferably embedded into the rigid shell or frame 403.

The local electronic control unit 422 of sensor device 420, in turn, is preferably recessed into a corresponding seat realized on the rigid shell or frame 403 of the box- like air filtering member 401.

Also in this embodiment, the sensor device 420 preferably, though not necessarily, include an electric connector 428 which is provided with a number of connecting pins (not shown) each electrically connected to the local electronic control unit 422, and is preferably integral with the manually operable front panel 402 of the box-like air filtering member 401, so as couple, when the air-filtering assembly 100 is fitted into the frontal hollow housing or seat 50, with a complementary second electric connector 429 which, in turn, is preferably located at the entrance of the frontal hollow housing or seat 50 and is electrically connected to the main electronic control unit 7.

With reference to Figures 11 and 12, again each plate-like electric terminal 424 is preferably designed to be at least partially covered by a portion of the rigid shell or frame 403 of the box-like air filtering member 401, and is preferably electrically connected to the local electronic control unit 422 via an electric wire preferably embedded into the rigid shell or frame 403.

As an alternative, with reference to Figure 13, the plate-like electrodes 421a and 421b of sensor device 420, rather than being located on the mesh sheet 405 of the boxlike air filtering member 401, are placed on a further supporting mesh or film 430 which, in turn, is placed or embedded on one of the inner air-channeling fins 409 of the box-like air filtering member 401.

Preferably the plate-like electrodes 421a and 421b are furthermore at least partially printed directly over the supporting mesh or film 430 by means of a printing machine.

More specifically, each electrode 421a, 421b preferably comprises: at least one conductive strip 423 which is made of electrically-conductive material, and is printed directly over the supporting mesh or film 430 preferably by means of a printing machine; and optionally also a plate-like electric terminal 424 which is made of electrically-conductive material, is electrically connected to the conductive strip 423, and is preferably printed directly over the supporting mesh or film 430 preferably by means of a printing machine.

Again each plate-like electric terminal 424 is preferably designed to be at least partially covered by a portion of the inner air-channeling fins 409 of the box-like air filtering member 401, and is preferably electrically connected to the local electronic control unit 422.

It is understood that the operations performed by the main control unit 7 and the operations performed by the local electronic control unit 422 comprised in the laundry treating machine of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 10, 11 and 12 are identical to the operations performed by the main control unit 7 and, respectively, by the local electronic control unit 122 of the laundry treating machine of the first and second embodiments above disclosed in detail.

As a further alternative embodiment of the laundry treating machine shown in Figure 1, Figure 16 discloses a laundry treating machine wherein the air filtering assembly 100 with the sensing mesh is provided on a lower part of the machine casing 2. In particular, the air filtering assembly 100 is placed upstream and in front of a drying air moisture condensing unit, such as an air-air heat exchanger or an evaporator 13 of a heap pump system. Preferably, the air filtering assembly 100 can be provided as drawer structure that can be removably placed in a receiving seat arranged in front of a drying air moisture condensing unit. The air filtering assembly 100 can be extracted from the casing 2 for cleaning purposes. Access to the air filtering assembly 100 is provided by one or more doors. The mesh sheet shown in Figure 16 may be embodied as those indicated with reference numbers 105, 115 and 205.