Washing Machine With An Improved Washing/Rinsing-Liquid Inlet Circuit

Abstract

A washing machine ( 1 ) has a washing tub ( 5 ) containing a rotary perforated drum ( 6 ), and a washing/rinsing-liquid dispenser ( 8 ) including a housing ( 9 ) and a drawer ( 10 ), removably associated to the housing ( 9 ), provided with one or more compartments ( 11 a , 11 b ) adapted to be filled with washing and/or rinsing products. The washing/rinsing-liquid dispenser has a water distributor ( 14 ) provided with at last two inlet connectors ( 15 a , 15 b ), connectable, upstream, to a water source, and fluidly connected, downstream, to an air-gap ( 16 ) from which at least two ducts ( 17 a , 17 b ) branch off. The at least two ducts are fluidly connected to the inlet connectors ( 15 a , 15 b ) and adapted for conveying water to the compartments ( 11 a , 11 b ). A water line ( 13 ), fluidly connects the washing/rinsing-liquid dispenser ( 8 ) and the tub ( 5 ). The washing/rinsing-liquid dispenser ( 8 ) has a by-pass line ( 20 ), fluidly connected, upstream, to at least one of the inlet connectors, and extending substantially from the air-gap ( 16 ). The by-pass line is fluidly separated from the ducts ( 17 a , 17 b ) and from the compartments ( 11 a , 11 b ), and is adapted to allow the flow of clean water from the washing/rinsing-liquid dispenser ( 8 ) to the tub ( 5 ).

1 . A washing machine comprising:
 a washing tub containing a rotary perforated drum;   a washing/rinsing-liquid dispenser comprising a housing and a drawer, removably associated to said housing, provided with one or more compartments adapted to be filled with washing and/or rinsing products, said washing/rinsing-liquid dispenser comprising a water distributor provided with at last two inlet connectors, connectable, upstream, to a water source, and fluidly connected, downstream, to an air-gap from which at least two ducts branch off, said at least two ducts being fluidly connected to said inlet connectors and adapted for conveying water to said compartments; and   a water line, fluidly connecting said washing/rinsing-liquid dispenser and said tub,   wherein, said washing/rinsing-liquid dispenser comprises a by-pass line, fluidly connected, upstream, to at least one of said inlet connectors, and extending substantially from said air-gap, said by-pass line being fluidly separated from said ducts and from said compartments, and being adapted to allow the flow of clean water from said washing/rinsing-liquid dispenser to said tub.   
     
     
         2 . A washing machine, according to  claim 1 , wherein said by-pass line comprises a first conduit portion extending substantially from said air-gap and obtained in a region of said water distributor not occupied by said ducts, said first conduit portion being fluidly connected, upstream, to one or more of said inlet connectors, and being fluidly separated from said one or more compartments. 
     
     
         3 . A washing machine, according to  claim 2 , wherein said first conduit portion extends, from said air-gap, substantially longitudinally across said water distributor towards a frontal end of said water distributor. 
     
     
         4 . A washing machine, according to  claim 2 , wherein said first conduit portion extends towards the rear end of said water distributor. 
     
     
         5 . A washing machine, according to  claim 1 , wherein said by-pass line comprises a second conduit portion fluidly connected, upstream, to the first conduit portion, and, downstream, to said tub, said second conduit portion being fluidly separated from said one or more compartments. 
     
     
         6 . A washing machine, according to  claim 5 , wherein said second conduit portion is provided in/at a lateral wall of said housing. 
     
     
         7 . A washing machine, according to  claim 6 , wherein said second conduit portion is arranged in proximity to the frontal end of said housing, opposite to said inlet connectors. 
     
     
         8 . A washing machine, according to  claim 6 , wherein said second conduit portion extends substantially longitudinally along said lateral wall of said housing. 
     
     
         9 . A washing machine, according to  claim 5 , wherein said second conduit portion is provided at least partially in/at said housing and at least partially in/at said drawer. 
     
     
         10 . A washing machine, according to  claim 5 , wherein said second conduit portion is provided totally in/at said drawer. 
     
     
         11 . A washing machine, according to  claim 10 , wherein said second conduit portion is obtained between the bottom of said drawer and an external tray fixed to said bottom. 
     
     
         12 . A washing machine, according to  claim 10 , wherein said second conduit portion is obtained in a single-piece construction with said drawer, in such a way that said second conduit portion is fluidly separated from said compartments. 
     
     
         13 . A washing machine, according to  claim 9 , wherein said second conduit portion is fluidly connected, downstream, to said water line, via an aperture obtained in said housing. 
     
     
         14 . A washing machine, according to  claim 1 , wherein said water line comprises one or more single-piece elements comprising a first conduit, fluidly connecting said one or more compartments and said tub, and a second conduit, fluidly separated from said first conduit, said second conduit being fluidly connected, upstream, to said by-pass line, and being fluidly connected, downstream, to said tub, said first and second conduits being obtained in single-piece construction. 
     
     
         15 . A washing machine, according to  claim 1 , wherein a recirculation circuit is provided, adapted to drain the washing/rinsing-liquid from the bottom of said tub and to re-admit this re-circulated washing/rinsing-liquid into an upper region of said tub, said recirculation circuit being fluidly connected to the second conduit of one of said one or more single-piece elements, in such a way that said re-circulated washing/rinsing-liquid is admitted into said tub via said second conduit.