APPLIANCE FOR DRYING LAUNDARY WITH AUXILIARY DE-FLUFF FILTER

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to laundry treatment appliances or machines. In more detail, the present invention refers to appliances for drying laundry, both for domestic and professional use. More particularly, the present invention relates to a de-fluff filter.

[0002] Drying and washing/drying laundry machines - which will be referred to simply as laundry machine in the following - typically comprise a casing substantially parallepiped-shaped. The casing accommodates a laundry treating chamber, comprising a drum, generally rotatable, apt to contain the laundry to be dried, in the case of a washing/drying laundry machine, the drum is rotatably contained in a tub. A front panel of the casing has a loading opening to access the treating chamber for loading/unloading the laundry, and a door is provided for closing the loading opening, particularly during the laundry machine operation.

[0003] The casing also accommodates the electrical, electronic, mechanical, and hydraulic components necessary for the operation of the laundry machine. Particularly, laundry-drying capable machines features an air circuit (comprising, for example, fans, air ducts, a moisture condensing unit, a heating unit, etc.) adapted to heat air, blow it into the drum where it removes moisture from the laundry, suck out from the drum the moisturized air, de-moisturize the air and reiterate such actions thereby performing a laundry drying cycle. An example of a laundry and/or drying appliance comprising such a lint filter is disclosed in document JP 2011-115439.

[0004] During a washing and/or drying process, the laundry under treatment typically loses lint particles or fluff. The fluff is generally light and tiny, thus it can be brought out from the drum by the hot drying air flowing therein and then into the air circuit.

[0005] Once in the air circuit, the fluff is likely to accumulate therein, thereby possibly obstructing air ducts of the air circuit or negatively affecting the operation of one or more of its components (e.g., fluff may deposit on a fan, to the extent of possibly causing the latter to operate with a lower efficiency or completely stop it). In general, fluff accumulation has a detrimental effect on the laundry drying machine operation.

[0006] Therefore de-fluff filters have been designed for the purpose of retaining the fluff so as to prevent it from damaging the laundry machine components. Nevertheless, the de-fluff filter needs to be periodically cleaned to avoid it to get clogged, event that may reduce the laundry machine efficiency or even cause a laundry drying machine malfunction, at least of the air circuit thereof. To this purpose, the de-fluff filter is usually removably accommodated in a filter seat within the air circuit, for example in a position located at the front of the casing in a top portion thereof, i.e. in position that are easily reachable by a user. Such de-fluff filter positions complicate the arrangement of the drying air circuit path causing the drying air flow to lose a great amount of its energy and hence reducing the drying performance of the appliance.

[0007] An example of such de-fluff filter is provided by the UK Patent No. GB1554725 in which a tumble drying machine has an airflow arrangement comprising passage means through which air is conveyed from a rotatable clothes drum to a discharge opening and which has a portion located behind a control panel at the front of the machine, lint filter means accommodated in the portion of the passage means adjacent the control panel, and cover means which is displaceable to give access to the lint filter means. De-fluff filter proposed in GB1554725 is subject to an uneven accumulation of fluff within the filter due to the complicate path of the drying air flow.

[0008] The Applicant has tackled the problem of devising a laundry machine comprising a de-fluff filter arrangement with an improved structure and a corresponding positioning thereof within the air circuit of the laundry machine adapted to improve the efficiency of the drying process.

[0009] The Applicant has devised a de-fluff filter that is easy to insert into, and to remove out of a corresponding housing, and homogenously distributes the drying air flow.

[0010] The present invention is a laundry machine as defined by claim 1 and which is adapted to dry laundry by means of a flow of drying air. The laundry machine comprises a casing for accommodating components necessary for the operation of the laundry machine. Inside the casing, a laundry treating chamber adapted to contain the laundry to be dried is provided and a casing top element incorporates at least part of an air circuit in fluid communication with the laundry treating chamber through an inlet opening and through an outlet opening, and defining an air-path for the flow of drying air between said inlet and outlet openings. Said casing top element comprises a filter housing for removably accommodating a de-fluff filter, said filter housing being provided in the air-path and being accessible through a housing aperture provided on the casing top element, a de-fluff filter for trapping fluff and/or lint particles carried by the flow of drying air crossing said de-fluff filter, the de-fluff filter comprising a filtering element, a hollow chamber accessible through an inlet aperture and through an outlet portion, a cover element and a filter box having a bottom wall a rear sidewall, a front sidewall, a first transversal sidewall, and a second transversal sidewall, said sidewalls delimiting a top aperture which is closable by the cover element movably coupled to the filter box. The de-fluff filter further comprises, in the hollow chamber, a plurality of air guiding elements that guide the flow of drying air from said inlet aperture, being provided in said rear sidewall, to said outlet portion, being comprised in said second transversal sidewall, wherein the plurality of air guiding elements subdivide the filter box in sub-chambers having a sectional area that increases along the drying air flow direction path and distribute homogenously the flow of drying air inside the hollow chamber and along the outlet portion of the de-fluff filter.

[0011] Preferred features of the present invention are set in the dependent claims.

[0012] In an embodiment of the invention, wherein said outlet portion comprises a frame that encloses a plurality of windows separated from each other by separation elements, the separation elements extending from a lower portion of the frame at the bottom wall of the filter box up to a higher portion of the frame at the top aperture, the filtering element being coupled to the outlet portion superimposed to the plurality of windows.

[0013] In an embodiment of the invention, the filter housing comprises an opened side having a second frame defining a plurality of side windows separated one another by further separating elements, each one of said plurality of side windows being adapted to be aligned with a corresponding window of the plurality of windows of the outlet portion of the de-fluff filter when the latter is inserted in the filter housing.

[0014] In an embodiment of the invention, the plurality of air guiding elements comprise an air guiding wall provided in the filter box and extending between a portion of the first transversal sidewall close to the rear wall and an end of the second transversal sidewall adjacent to the front sidewall.

[0015] In an embodiment of the invention, the plurality of air guiding elements further comprise one or more air guiding blades provided on the cover element of the de-fluff filter, the air guiding blades being designed in such a way to reach the bottom wall of the filter box, when the cover element is in the closed position.

[0016] In an embodiment of the invention, wherein the de-fluff filter further comprises a closing element hinged to the first transversal sidewall and to the second transversal sidewall close to the rear sidewall for closing the inlet aperture by abutting an abutment element provided at the inlet aperture, and adapted to be pivoted towards the top aperture by the flow of drying air.

[0017] In an embodiment of the invention, the laundry machine further comprises an adapter element adapted to fluidly connect the inlet opening with the de-fluff filter via the inlet aperture, and wherein the de-fluff filter further comprises a protruding frame that surrounds the inlet aperture the protruding frame being adapted to engage with a gasket element provided around an aperture of the adapter element.

[0018] In an embodiment of the invention, the de-fluff filter further comprises an ejection device adapted to eject the de-fluff filter by pressing a pushbutton portion.

[0019] In an embodiment of the invention, the de-fluff filter further comprises a cover support coupled with the front sidewall adapted to protrude outwards the aperture when the de-fluff filter is inserted in the filter housing, the cover support being adapted to engage with an aesthetic cover.

[0020] In an embodiment of the invention, the casing top element comprises a moisture condensing element.

[0021] In an embodiment of the invention, the casing top element comprises a heat pump apparatus.

[0022] In an embodiment of the invention, the laundry machine is a washing/drying laundry machine.

[0023] In an embodiment of the invention, wherein in the upper part of the front wall, a machine control panel is located, and, aside the control panel, a drawer is provided, which is part of a washing treatment products dispensing arrangement, for loading laundry washing treatment products like detergents and softeners, the de-fluff filter is vertically superposed to the washing treatment products dispensing arrangement.

[0024] These, and others, features and advantages of the solution according to the present invention will be better understood with reference to the following detailed description of some embodiments thereof, provided for illustrative and not restrictive purposes, to be read in conjunction with the attached drawings. In this regard, it is expressly intended that the drawings are not necessarily to scale and that, unless specified otherwise, they simply aim to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures. In particular:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a laundry machine according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2A is a perspective view of the laundry machine of Figure 1, showing a top thereof in exploded view;

Figure 2B is a perspective view of a base element of the top of the laundry machine according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3A is a perspective exploded view of a de-fluff filter according to the embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3B is a cross-sectional perspective view on IIIB-IIIB axis of a de-fluff filter according to the embodiment of the present invention comprising an enlarged view of a portion of a transversal sidewall thereof;

Figure 3C is a perspective view with removed parts of a de-fluff filter and of an inlet aperture of a de-fluff filter housing according to the embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3D and 3E are two cross-sectional side views on IIIDE-IIIDE axis of a rear portion of a de-fluff filter according to the embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3F is a perspective view from below of a de-fluff filter according to the embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3G and 3H show two perspective views of the de-fluff filter showing a lid thereof in a closed and in an opened position, respectively, with enlarged views highlighting features of the lid;

Figure 4A is a plan view of a top base element with a de-fluff filter inserted according to the embodiment of the present invention, featuring portions in transparency for highlighting mechanical interaction between the two;

Figure 4B is an plan view of the top base element of Figure 4A with the de-fluff filter in a released condition;

Figure 5A is a perspective view of an auxiliary de-fluff filter according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5B is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an air circuit of a laundry machine along a V-V axis in which housing grooves accommodate the auxiliary de-fluff filter of Figure 5A, and

Figure 5C is a cutaway and exploded view of a portion of the air circuit comprising the housing grooves and of the auxiliary de-fluff filter.

[0025] With reference to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a laundry machine, globally denoted as 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] The laundry machine 100 comprises a laundry treatment chamber 105 for accommodating the items to be dried or washed and dried, such as clothes, garments, linen, and similar laundry items. Preferably, the laundry treatment chamber 105 includes a drum (not shown) rotatably mounted inside a machine cabinet or casing 110, and in case the laundry machine 100 is a washing/drying laundry machine the drum is arranged within a tub (not shown) housed in the machine casing or cabinet 110.

[0027] The casing 110 generally accommodates all the electrical, electronic, mechanical, and hydraulic components necessary for the operation of the laundry machine. The casing 110 has generically a parallelepiped shape, with a front wall 115, two side walls 120 (only one visible in Figure 1), a rear wall (not visible), a basement and a top element, or simply top 125. The front wall 115 is provided with an opening for accessing the drum and with an associated door 117 for closing the opening. In the upper part of the front wall 115, a machine control panel 130 is located, and, aside the control panel 130, a drawer 135 is provided, which is part of a washing treatment products dispensing arrangement, for loading laundry washing treatment products like detergents and softeners. The top 125 closes the casing 110 from above, and defines a worktop.

[0028] In one embodiment of the invention, a de-fluff filter (aesthetic) cover 140 is exposed on the control panel 130 on the front wall 115, e.g. above the drawer 135, and flush therewith. Preferably, the de-fluff filter cover 140 may comprise a pushbutton portion 145 (which purpose will be described in the following).

[0029] Reference is now made to Figures 2A-2B, which are a perspective view of the laundry machine 100 with its top 125 in exploded view and a perspective view of a base element 205 of the top 125 with some parts removed.

[0030] In one embodiment of the invention, the top 125 integrates part of an air circuit adapted to circulate drying air across the laundry treating chamber 105 for drying the laundry stored therein (as described in greater detail below).

[0031] The top 125 comprises the base element 205, which has an inlet opening 210 and an outlet opening 215, the inlet opening 210 being in fluid communication with the laundry treatment chamber 105 through a chamber outlet, the outlet opening 215 being in fluid communication with a fan arrangement 216.

[0032] The fan arrangement 216 comprises a fan and a corresponding fan duct, the fan produces the drying air flow inside the air circuit by sucking drying air from the outlet opening 215 and blowing the drying air into the laundry treatment chamber 105, the outlet opening 215 and the laundry treatment chamber 105 being both fluidly connected to the fan arrangement 216.

[0033] In the region of the base element 205, preferably near the front-left corner thereof, a filter housing 217 is provided suitable to house a de-fluff filter 218 (described in greater detail below). Preferably, the filter housing 217 has roughly a right trapezoid outline in plan view (e.g., similar to a grand piano), with a shorter sidewall 217a (corresponding to a lesser base of the right trapezoid) in fluid communication with the chamber outlet by means of the inlet opening 210, and a larger sidewall 217b (opposite to the shorter sidewall 217a, and corresponding to a greater base of the right trapezoid) that has a housing aperture 219 opened on the machine front wall 115 preferably in a separating wall 205a (visible in Figure 5C) of the base element 205, preferably in a portion adjacent to the control panel 130, even more preferably above the drawer 135 for allowing the insertion of the de-fluff filter 218. Moreover, the filter housing 217 comprises a right sidewall 217c substantially corresponding to a portion of a lateral sidewall of the base element 205 of the top 125 (and corresponding to the right leg of the right trapezoid) and a transversal opened side 217d, preferably inclined (opposite to the right sidewall 217c and corresponding to the inclined leg of the right trapezoid).

[0034] In one embodiment of the present invention, the inlet opening 210 is fluidly connected to an adapter element 212, which is provided to fluidly connect the inlet opening 210 with the filter housing 217 and the de-fluff filter 218 (when inserted in the filter housing 217). Preferably, but not limitatively, the adapter element 212 may be a parallelepiped-shape element adapted to be coupled to the base element 205, with conical or cylindrical passage(s) provided therein with two opposite apertures to fluidly connect the inlet opening 210 with the de-fluff filter 218. The adapter element 212 may be made of any suitable material, e.g. a polymeric material, and is coupled to the base element 205 by means of any suitable coupling arrangement, e.g. by tightly fitting a rear portion of the filter housing 217 (adjacent to the shorter sidewall 217a).

[0035] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the aperture facing the filter housing 217 of the adapter element 212 is surrounded by a gasket element 212a which protrudes towards the inside of the filter housing 217. In alternative embodiments of the present invention in which the adapter element 212 is not provided, an alternative gasket element may be directly provided around the inlet opening 210.

[0036] In one embodiment of the present invention, the transversal opened side 217d comprises a frame 220 that defines a plurality of side windows 220a separated one from the other by separating elements, such as for example mullion elements 220b, preferably prism-shaped. Preferably, at the frame 220 housing grooves (not shown in Figures 2A and 2B, but visible in Figure 5B where are denoted with the references 505u and 505l) adapted to house an auxiliary filter 221 (described in detail in the following) are provided. Advantageously, a plurality of flap elements 222 may be provided. The flap elements 222 protrude from the frame 220 opposite to the filter housing 217 in order to direct the drying air flow exiting the transversal opened side 217d towards the rest of the air circuit defined in the top 125.

[0037] In the central region of the base element 205, there is accommodated a first heat-exchanging unit, such as a moisture condensing element 225, for example comprising an evaporator of a heat pump apparatus. The moisture condensing element 225 is adjacent to the transversal opened side 217d, and thus the external surface of the former is in fluid communication with the latter. Next to the moisture condensing element 225, opposite to the filter housing 217, there is provided a second heat-exchanging unit, such as a drying air heating element 230, for example comprising a condenser of the heat pump apparatus. The moisture condensing element 225 has the function of dehydrating the drying air, by cooling it down; the drying air heating element 230 has instead the function of heating the dehydrated drying air. A compressor (not shown) for the heat pump may be attached to the base element 205 in correspondence of the front-right corner thereof, the body of the compressor protruding from below the base element 205. In an alternative embodiment, the compressor may be located in the bottom of the casing 110, attached to the basement of the laundry machine 100, and be fluidly connected to the moisture condensing element 225 accommodated in the top 125 by means of flexible pipes that preferably run along a rear corner of the casing 110 or along the laundry treatment chamber 105 of the laundry machine 100. In a different embodiment of the present invention, the laundry machine 100 may comprise an air-air or an air-water heat exchanger apparatus and an electric heater instead of the heat pump apparatus.

[0038] The base element 205 of the top 125 is covered by an inner panel 235, that covers essentially the moisture condensing element 225, the drying air heating element 230 and the de-fluff filter 218. The top 125 is completed by an outer (aesthetic) panel 240. The base element 205 and the inner panel 235 define an air-path that conveys the moisture-laden air coming from the laundry treatment chamber 105 (through the inlet opening 210) towards the de-fluff filter 218, preventing the moisture-laden air from entering directly the moisture condensing element 225 or the drying air heating element 230 (i.e., before being filtered by the de-fluff filter 217), and then the drying air flow follows the air-path from the de-fluff filter 218 to the heating element 230, passing through the moisture condensing element 225, and eventually reaching the outlet opening 215.

[0039] Preferably, the top 125, once assembled, forms a unit that is ready to be mounted to the casing 110, simply by placing it in the correct alignment, so that the openings 210 and 215 matches the chamber outlet and an intake of the fan arrangement 216, respectively, thus realizing a closed air circuit comprising the laundry treatment chamber 105 and the air-path defined by the base element 205 and the inner panel 235, and the fan arrangement 216. The top 125 may then be secured to the casing 110 by conventional means (e.g., by means of gluing, screwing or other connecting means).

[0040] In the laundry machine 100, when operated in dryer mode (i.e., for drying items stored in the drum), drying air (i.e., warm and dry air) is typically caused to flow through the drum 105 inside the laundry treating chamber 105, where the items to be dried are contained. The drying air binds to moisture particles from the laundry and/or dispersed within the laundry treating chamber 105 and carries them away. The drying air may also carry away fluff (e.g., generated from the laundry during laundry treating processes) from the laundry together with moisture particles. After exiting the drum through the chamber outlet, the flow of now moisture-laden drying air passes through the de-fluff filter 218 where substantially any fluff carried by the drying air flow together with moisture particles is caught and remains trapped. Instead, the moisture-laden drying air is conveyed towards the moisture condensing element 225, where the moisture-laden drying air is at least partially dried, i.e. dehydrated, and such dehydrated drying air flow is then heated by the air heating element 230 through which the drying air flows, which heats the drying air up to a drying temperature (e.g., set by a user through the control panel 130 via the selection of a drying program). Then the drying air is sucked by the fan through the fan intake and is caused to pass again through the drum 105 drying the laundry therein stored and then repeating the cycle just described.

[0041] Considering now Figures 3A-3H, they are different views of the de-fluff filter 218 according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0042] The de-fluff filter 218 is designed to be inserted inside the filter housing 217 preferably through the housing aperture 219 exposed on the front wall 115. Preferably, the de-fluff filter 218 is designed such as an extractable drawer.

[0043] The de-fluff filter 218 comprises a filter box 303, a cover element, such as for example a lid 306, and in addition it may preferably comprise a closing element, such a swinging bulkhead 309, an ejection device 312, and a locking element 315.

[0044] The filter box 303 has a parallelepiped shape, preferably with a roughly rectangular trapezoid base. For example, the filter box 303 of the filter housing 217 may have a shape similar to that of a grand piano, with a rear sidewall 303a, a front sidewall 303b, a first transversal sidewall 303c, a second transversal sidewall 303d, preferably curved, and a bottom wall 303e. The sidewalls 303a, 303b, 303c, 303d delimit a top aperture 303t of the filter box 303. The filter box 303 may be made in any suitable material, such as for example a suitable polymer (e.g., Polypropylene PP).

[0045] Preferably (as can be appreciated in Figure 2B), the filter box 303 is designed in such a way that, once the de-fluff filter 218 is inserted into the filter housing 217, the former substantially tightly fits the latter. Even more preferably, the sidewalls 303a and 303c are adapted to substantially flank the sidewalls 217a and 217c, respectively, of the filter housing 217 and may contact them, while the front sidewall 303b substantially closes the housing aperture 219 and the second transversal sidewall 303d faces the transversal opened side 217d of the filter housing 217, preferably remaining separated therefrom.

[0046] Preferably, the filter box 303 is designed in such a way that its second transversal sidewall 303d remains spaced apart from the transversal opened side 217d of the filter housing 217, thus defining a gap between the second transversal sidewall 303d and the transversal opened side 217d.

[0047] The second transversal sidewall 303d operates substantially as a filtering portion and as an outlet portion of the de-fluff filter 218. The second transversal sidewall 303d comprises a frame 318 that encloses a plurality of windows 318a separated from each other by separating elements, such as for example box mullion elements 318b, preferably parallelepiped shaped. The box mullion elements 318b extend from a lower portion of the frame 318 (at the bottom wall 303b) of the filter box 303 up to a higher portion of the frame 318 (at the top aperture 303t). Advantageously, the box mullion elements 318b are designed to align with the mullion elements 220b of the transversal opened side 217d (once the de-fluff filter 305 is inserted into the filter housing 217), in such a way to not to hinder the drying air flow.

[0048] The filter box 303 further comprises a filtering element, such as for example a filtering mesh 321 preferably rectangular and is sized with a length and a height substantially equal to a length and a height of the second transversal sidewall 303d. The filtering mesh 321 is coupled to the second transversal sidewall 303d covering the apertures of the windows 318a in such a way to filter the drying air flow passing therethrough (as will be described in greater detail in the following). The filtering mesh 321 is preferably coupled to the second transversal sidewall 303d on an internal face thereof (i.e., facing the inside of the filter box 303). The filtering mesh 321 may be made in any suitable material, such as for example a suitable polymer (e.g., Polyethersulfone or "PES") that may be over-injected onto the internal face of the second transversal sidewall 303d. Alternatively, the filtering mesh 321 may be attached to the frame 318 of the second transversal sidewall 303d in any other suitable manner (e.g., by gluing together the filtering mesh 321 and the second transversal sidewall 303d) or, conversely, may be removably coupled with the frame 318 (e.g., by providing suitable snap-fit engage elements). Alternatively, a plurality of smaller filtering meshes may be provided each one adapted to be coupled to a respective window 318a.

[0049] It should be noted that the mullion elements 318b, along enhancing the structural strength of the frame 318 also enhance a robustness of the filtering mesh 321 preventing deformation of the filtering mesh 321 that the air flow may provoke, e.g. a bending of the central portion of the filtering mesh 321 in the direction of the flow of air that could cause a concentration of trapped fluff in such bent central portion.

[0050] The filter box 303 preferably also comprises a cover support 324 attached to (or, alternatively, formed integral with) the front sidewall 303b. The cover support 324 is designed to protrude outwards from the aperture 219 in the larger sidewall 217b in order to support the de-fluff filter cover 140 (when the de-fluff filter 218 is inserted into the filter housing 217). Preferably, the cover support 324 comprises a tab 327 protruding substantially transversal to the front sidewall 303b towards the rear sidewall 303a on an end of the cover support 324. For example, the de-fluff filter cover 140 may be coupled to the cover support 324 by means of one or more snap-fit elements (not shown), each fitting a corresponding coupling element, such as holes 324a, provided on the cover support element 324. In other embodiments according to the present invention, a tab may be placed in a different position and/or more than just a tab may be provided.

[0051] The cover support 324, the front sidewall 303b and/or the de-fluff filter cover 140 may be either formed as different elements that can be engaged one another in any suitable known manner, or as a one-piece element.

[0052] In alternative embodiments of the present invention, an alternative cover element may be provided featuring a grasping element (such as for example a handle).

[0053] The rear sidewall 303a of the filter box 303 comprises an inlet aperture 330 which is adapted to receive the drying air flow coming from the laundry treatment chamber 105 through the inlet opening 210 in the shorter sidewall 217a. Preferably the outlet portion, i.e. the second transversal sidewall 303d, has a greater extension than the inlet aperture 330, such that the filtering mesh 321 arranged on the outlet portion 303d may have a wide extension. Preferably, the rear sidewall 303a is also provided with a protruding frame 333 that surrounds the inlet aperture 330 and protrudes from a border of the filter box 303surrounding the inlet aperture 330 towards the outside of the filter box 303. The protruding frame 333 is adapted to engage with the gasket element 212a of the adapter element 212 preferably in an airtight manner (thus fluidly connecting the de-fluff filter 218 with inlet opening 210).

[0054] Advantageously, the swinging bulkhead 309 is provided at the inlet aperture 330. The swinging bulkhead 309 has a shape, e.g. substantially rectangular, adapted to close, preferably seal, the inlet aperture 330. The swinging bulkhead 309 is designed to have a weight such that a kinetic force of the drying air flow (schematically represented by an arrow in Figure 3E) from the laundry treatment chamber 105 is able to swing the bulkhead towards inside of the filter box 303 (thus, clearing the inlet aperture 330). The swinging bulkhead 309 may be made in any suitable material, e.g. a polymer.

[0055] Preferably, the swinging bulkhead 309 is hinged to the first transversal sidewall 303c and to the second transversal sidewall 303d close to the rear sidewall 303a. For example, the swinging bulkhead 309 may be provided with two protruding pins 309a on opposite shortest sides (at top corners thereof), which are adapted to be inserted into two matching rear bores 336, a first one provided in the first transversal sidewall 303c and a second one provided in the second transversal sidewall 303d. Preferably, at the inlet aperture 330 an abutment element 330a is provided that is adapted to prevent the swinging bulkhead 309 from swinging towards the outside of the filter box 303 (i.e., the swinging bulkhead 309 is allowed to swing only towards the inside of the filter box 303). Thanks to the swinging bulkhead 309 and the abutment element 330a it is possible to prevent, or substantially reducing, any spurious flow of air from the de-fluff filter 218 towards the inlet opening 210 (i.e., opposite to the direction desired for the flow of drying air).

[0056] Preferably, in the bottom wall 303e a niche 339 is formed. The niche 339 extends inwards into the filter box 303. The niche 339 comprises a side opening 339a on the transversal wall 303c and is preferably located close to the front wall 303b. Inside the niche 339, a first rail element 339b preferably protrudes from a bottom wall thereof (e.g. in a central position), parallel to the transversal wall 303c. Moreover, engagement elements, such as snap-fit elements 339c, protrude from sidewalls of the niche 339, preferably with the exception of the sidewall where the side opening 339a is formed.

[0057] The niche 339 is adapted to house the ejection device 312 that allows ejecting the de-fluff filter 218 from its housing 217 (as described in the following). The ejection device 312 allows the de-fluff filter 218 to be at least slightly ejected from the filter housing 217 so as to be easily grasped by a user.

[0058] In one embodiment of the present invention, the ejection device 312 comprises a substantially box-like container 312a, with a major side opened and a (long) lateral side lower than the others. The box-like container 312a houses a pushing element 342 adapted to engage with a matching engaging element provided in the right sidewall 217c (not shown in Figures 3A-3H, but visible in Figures 4A and 4B wherein is denoted with the reference 410) in order to block the de-fluff filter 218 in an operating position (as described in the following).

[0059] For example, the pushing element 342 comprises an engaging head 345 and a biasing element 348 (such as for example a coil spring), with the engaging head 345 that has a portion partly protruding outwards the box-like container 312a (through the lowest lateral side mentioned above) and also protruding outwardly from the side opening 339a, once the ejection device is inserted into the niche 339. The engaging head 345 is coupled to a biasing element 348, for example a coil spring, at one end of the latter, while an opposite end of the biasing element 348 contacts a (short) lateral side of the box-like container 312a.

[0060] Moreover, the ejection device 312 may comprise a second rail element 312b (provided in a bottom wall of the box-like container 312a) and engage elements, such as matching snap-fit elements 312c (provided in lateral sides of the box-like container 312a) adapted to match the snap-fit elements 339c, (if) provided in the niche 339. Advantageously, the first and second rail elements 339b and 312b are adapted to guide a sliding of the engaging head 345, which comprises rail slots 345a adapted to be fitted by the rail elements 339b and 312b, and guide slots 345b adapted to be fitted by a border on the opened side of the box-like container 312a of the ejection device 312 and by a border of the side opening 339a of the niche 339, in order to guide (longitudinally) the movements of the engaging head 345 when the latter is biased by the biasing element 348, or the whole de-fluff filter 217 is moved against such biasing (as will described in the following).

[0061] The locking element 315 is adapted to maintain the de-fluff filter 218 in the operating position once inserted into the filter housing 217.

[0062] For example, the locking element 315 is substantially an "L"-shaped lever that comprises a push portion 315a and a nose portion 315b substantially transversal to the former. The push portion 315a is preferably parallelepiped-shaped, while the nose portion 315b is substantially a stick element comprising a nose element 351. The nose element 351 protrudes transversal to the nose portion 315b, and is preferably positioned at a free end of the nose portion 315b opposite to an intersection of the two portions 315a and 315b. The nose element 351 comprises a blocking element 351a, with preferably, a cylindrical shape with an inclined top surface (inclined with a higher edge facing towards the cover support 324 and a lower edge facing towards the filter box 303 when the locking element 315 is coupled with the cover support 324) and one or more sliding elements 351b such as for example two ribs having a right triangle shape with the right angle thereof adjacent to the blocking element 351a.

[0063] At the intersection between the two portions 315a and 315b two pins 315c protrude in opposite directions from the locking element 315 substantially transversal to both the portions 315a and 315b. The locking element 315 is preferably hinged to the cover support 324 by means of the pins 315c which are inserted into corresponding pinholes 324b provided in opposite position on the cover support 324. In such a hinged position, the nose element 351 is exposed from a nose window 324b provided in a lower portion of the cover support 324. The locking element 315 also comprises a biasing element, such as a coil spring 315d, which is coupled to the push portion 315a (at a rear side thereof) at one of its ends, and contact a recessed wall 324d of the cover support 324 at the opposite end.

[0064] In an inner portion of the filter box 303 a guiding wall 354 may be preferably provided in order to guide the drying air flow from the inlet aperture 330 to the second transversal sidewall 303d. For example, the guiding wall 354 may be a curved wall connecting the first transversal sidewall 303c with an end of the second transversal sidewall 303d adjacent to the front sidewall 303b. Generally, the guiding wall 354 is designed in such a way to provide the best fluid-dynamic behaviour for the drying air flow inside the de-fluff filter box 218 (e.g., adapted to effectively direct the drying air flow homogenously towards the whole second transversal sidewall 303d generating the lowest turbulence in the drying air flow as possible).

[0065] The top aperture 303t of the filter box 303 is closed by the lid 306, preferably in an airtight manner. The lid 306 may be preferably made of a suitable polymer.

[0066] More preferably the lid 306 is made of a bi-component plastic using over-injection technology. For example, a lid frame 357, preferably comprising peripheral portion 357a and internal (reinforcing) ribs 357b, may be made of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS). Conversely, transparent panes 360 provided enclosed by the lid frame 357, preferably with each transparent pane 360 provided in position delimited by ribs 357b and/or the peripheral portion 357a of the lid frame 357, may be made of Polycarbonate (PC). The transparent panes 360 allow a user to verify the presence, and the quantity, of fluff trapped inside the filter box 303 without the need of opening it.

[0067] On the lid frame 357, a sealing border 357c is preferably provided. The sealing border 357c protrudes from the lid frame 357 from a lower side thereof (i.e., towards the inside of the filter box 303 when the lid 306 closes the top aperture 303t of the latter), and preferably along positions of the lid frame 357 that corresponds to the rear sidewall 303a, the second transversal sidewall 303d, the guiding wall 354 and a portion of the first transversal sidewall 303c of the filter box 303, in such a way to be contained inside the filter box 303 once the lid 306 is coupled with the former. Preferably, the lid borders mentioned above, the sealing border 357c and the top portion of the sidewalls 303a, 303c, and 303d are adapted to hinder the passage to fluff by forming a meandering path (as can be appreciated in the enlargement of Figure 3B). Even more preferably, the sealing border 357c and the top portion of the sidewalls 303a, 303c, and 303d are designed in such a way to couple together by a snap-fit engagement. The sealing border 357c is designed to substantially seal the top aperture 303t of the filter box 303, when in a closed position, thus allowing air entering and/or exiting a hollow chamber 361 within the de-fluff filter 218 (i.e., defined by the filter box 303 and the lid 306 in closed position in which trapped fluff remains confined) only through the inlet aperture 330 and the windows 318a in the second transversal sidewall 303d.

[0068] In one embodiment of the present invention, the sealing border 357c may also be provided with a gasket in order to obtain an improved airtight coupling with the filter box 303.

[0069] In order to allow a user easily opening (i.e., de-couple) the lid 306 from the filter box 303, one or more grasping portions may be provided, such as for example one or more opening flaps 357d, preferably at ends of the peripheral portion 357a of the lid frame 357 corresponding to the first transversal sidewall 303c and the second transversal sidewall 303d in the proximity of the rear sidewall 303a of the filter box 303.

[0070] In an embodiment of the invention, the lid 306 comprises one or more (air) guiding blades 363 (three in the figures) protruding from a lower side of the lid 306 (i.e., towards the inside of the filter box 303 when the lid 306 closes the top aperture 303t). Preferably, the guiding blades 363 are provided in positions corresponding to the ribs 357b and made in the same material of the lid frame 357 and, even more preferably, integral with the latter (thus obtaining a mechanically robust structure).

[0071] The guiding blades 363 are, preferably, designed in such a way to reach the bottom wall 303e of the filter box 303, when the lid 306 closes the top aperture 303t, thus substantially subdividing the hollow chamber 361 of the filter box 303 in sub-chambers, having preferably a sectional area that increases along the drying air flow direction path, in such a way to distribute substantially evenly the drying air flow inside the filter box 303, and a have a preferably curved shaped to provide the best fluid-dynamic behaviour for the drying air flow thus homogenously directing the drying air flow towards the filtering mesh 321 and avoiding localized fluff accumulations and consequent localized occlusions thereof.

[0072] Preferably, the guiding blades 363 are designed in such a way to be aligned with the mullion elements 318b of the frame 318, thus avoiding to hinder the drying air flow passing through the de-fluff filter 218.

[0073] In other embodiments of the present invention, alternative guiding blades may be provided protruding from the bottom wall of the filter box instead from the lid.

[0074] In order to be pivotally coupled to the filter box 303, the lid 306 comprises a couple of hinges 366, preferably protruding substantially at opposite ends of a front side of the lid 306 (i.e., corresponding to the front sidewall 303b of the filter box 303). Each hinge 366 protrudes from the lid frame 357 transversally thereto and has a pin 366a in its turn protruding from the center of a flat portion 366b transversally thereto, with the flat portion 366b that is preferably substantially circular.

[0075] Each pin 366a is adapted to engage a matching front bore 369 provided on the first transversal sidewall 303c and on the second transversal sidewall 303d in a location adjacent to the front sidewall 303b. Each flat portion 366b is provided with a couple of notches 366c separated by a substantially 90° angle (even though greater or smaller angles are not excluded) along the periphery of the flat portion 366b, and adapted to engage a corresponding bump 371 provided in a recessed portion of the first transversal sidewall 303c and of the second transversal sidewall 303d close to the front sidewall 303b. Preferably, a first one of the notches 366c and the pin 366a define a line substantially parallel to the peripheral portion 357a of the lid frame 357, while a second one of the notches 366c define with the same pin 366a a line substantially transversal to the peripheral portion 357a of the lid frame 357.

[0076] The engagement between the bumps 371 and the notches 366c substantially parallel to the lid 306 defines a closed position in which the lid 306 closes the top aperture 303t, while the engagement between the bumps 371 and the notches 366c substantially transversal to the lid 306 defines an opened position in which the lid 306 is transversal to the top aperture 303t.

[0077] Having outlined the structures of the top 125 of the laundry machine 100 and the de-fluff filter 218, the insertion and the removal of the de-fluff filter 218 from its housing 217 are now described, by making reference to the Figures 4A and 4B that are top views with removed parts of the base element 205 of the top 125 with the de-fluff filter 218 shown in an inserted position and in a released position inside the filter housing 217, respectively.

[0078] As mentioned above, the de-fluff filter 218 is inserted into the filter housing 217 through the housing aperture 219 with the rear sidewall 303a of the filter box 303 first, and with the lid 306 in the closed position. During the insertion of the de-fluff filter 218, the engaging head 345 intercepts and engages the matching engaging element 410 formed in the right sidewall 217c of the filter housing 217. The engaging head 345 remains substantially blocked in a position abutting the matching engaging element 410, while the de-fluff filter 218 is further inserted into the filter housing 217. Thanks to such an abutment, the biasing spring 348 is compressed (i.e., switches from an elongated condition to a shrunk condition accumulating potential energy). It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the rail elements 339b and 312b maintain the engaging head 345 in correct position, i.e. preventing any torsion thereof due to the lateral abutment with the matching engaging element 410 combined with the increasing compression provided by the insertion of the de-fluff filter 218 into the filter housing 217.

[0079] Once the insertion of the de-fluff filter 218 in the filter housing 217 is completed, the protruding frame 333 (protruding from the inlet aperture 330 of the filter box 318) engages the gasket element 210a obtaining a substantially airtight fluid connection with the inlet opening 210 of the filter housing 217. Substantially at the same time, the nose element 351 engages with a lower border of a nose slot 420 formed in the base element 205 close to the aperture 219. The nose element 351 engaging the lower border of the nose slot 420 prevents the biasing element 348 of the ejection device 312 from extending back into the elongated condition, thus maintaining the de-fluff filter 218 in the inserted position inside the filter housing 217.

[0080] In order to prevent incorrect insertions in the filter housing 217 of the de-fluff filter 218, the de-fluff filter 218 can preferably be inserted in the filter housing 217 only if the tab 327 is inserted inside a tab slot 425 that is provided on the separating wall 205a of the base element 205, which substantially separates the control panel 130 from the inner portion of the top 125, preferably in a position close to the aperture 219.

[0081] A user can easily unlock the de-fluff filter 218 from its housing 217 simply by pressing the pushbutton portion 145 of the aesthetic cover 140 of the de-fluff filter 218.

[0082] The pushbutton portion 145 is provided with an appendage 435 (even though more appendages may be provided as well) that contacts the push portion 315a of the locking element 315. Therefore, by pushing the pushbutton portion 145 the pushing action is transferred to the push portion 315a, which causes the locking element 315 to pivot about the axis defined by its two pins 315c. This pivoting makes the sliding elements 351b intercept the lower border (i.e., the more external border) of the nose slot 420 with their inclined edges deforming in a non-permanent manner the nose portion 315b. Such deformation disengages the blocking element 351a of the nose element 351 from the nose slot 420, which in its turns allows the biasing element 348 of the pushing element 342 to extend in the elongated condition (thus releasing the stored potential energy as a kinetic force). The extension of the biasing element 348, with the engaging head 345 still abutting the matching engaging element 410, provokes the de-fluff filter 218 to slide out from the filter housing 217 through the aperture 219 for a releasing length substantially corresponding to the difference between the length of the biasing element 348 in the rest condition and the length of the biasing element 348 in the compressed condition (such release length is advantageously designed in such a way to allow an easy grasping of the de-fluff filter 218 by a user). It should be noted that the sliding of the de-fluff filter 218 out from the filter housing 217 is substantially rectilinear thanks to the rails 339b and 312b which prevents the lateral swaying of the de-fluff filter 218.

[0083] The de-fluff filter 218 according to the present invention is thus adapted to be easily positioned and removed inside its filter housing 217.

[0084] Particularly, the ejection device 312, the locking device 315 and the tab 327 provide a simple and efficient arrangement that ensure a correct insertion in operating position of the de-fluff filter 218 inside the filter housing 217 (with substantially no air leakages inside the top 125). This ensures that the correct insertion of the de-fluff filter 218 completes the air-path for the drying air, since the de-fluff filter 218 forms a fundamental portion thereof. Indeed, the de-fluff filter 218 along with trapping the fluff carried by the drying air flow, particularly thanks to the guiding wall 354 and the blades 363, directs the drying air flow towards the moisture condensing unit 225 with a minimal generation of turbulences and with a homogeneous distribution thereof along the whole length of the transversal opened side 274d, thus improving the heat exchanging operation of the heat exchanger 225 and 230.

[0085] Moreover, the ejection device 312 and the locking device 315 according to the present invention allow an effortless releasing of the de-fluff filter 218 for the user (it is just needed to push the pushbutton 145 and then manually complete the extraction of the de-fluff filter 218). Such effortless releasing together with the transparent panes 360 and with the positioning of the de-fluff filter 218 within the top 125 of the laundry machine 100, greatly simplify the de-fluff filter 218 inspection and cleaning by a user lowering the chance of a clogging of the de-fluff filter 218 due to lack of maintenance and a consequent reduction of efficiency of the drying air circuit.

[0086] The auxiliary de-fluff filter 221 and its housing arrangement are now described by making reference to Figures 5A - 5C, which show a perspective view of the auxiliary de-fluff filter 221 and a cross-sectional view along the V-V axis of the transversal opened side 217d with the auxiliary de-fluff filter 221 inserted in corresponding housing grooves 505u and 505l, and a cutaway and exploded view of such housing grooves 505u, 505l and of the auxiliary de-fluff filter 221, respectively.

[0087] The auxiliary de-fluff filter 221 is substantially a strip-like element that comprises a filtering portion 510f and a grasping portion 510g. Preferably, the filtering portion 510f and the grasping portion 510g are made in one piece of any suitable material, such as a resilient polymer.

[0088] The filtering portion 510f comprises a frame 515 that encircles at least one, but preferably a plurality of filtering meshes 520 separated by auxiliary mullion elements 525 (i.e., each auxiliary mullion element 525 divides two corresponding adjacent filtering meshes 520 between which the auxiliary mullion element 525 is provided). Preferably, the filtering meshes 520 are narrower (i.e., finer) than the filtering mesh 321 of the de-fluff filter 218 is, in order to trap small fluff particles escaped from the latter.

[0089] Also in this case, the auxiliary mullion elements 525, bestow an enhanced robustness to each one of the plurality filtering meshes 520 preventing deformation of the filtering meshes 520 that the air flow may provoke.

[0090] The grasping portion 510g is provided at one end of the auxiliary de-fluff filter 221 and comprises a grip portion 530 preferably adapted to be firmly gripped with only two fingers by a user, e.g. the grip portion 530 comprises a plurality of ribs 535 preferably formed transversal to a largest side of the auxiliary de-fluff filter 221 for enhancing a grip from the user. The grasping portion 510g also comprises a finger hole 540 adapted to be hooked by a finger of a user in order to more easily extract the auxiliary de-fluff filter 221 from the top 125 of the laundry machine 100.

[0091] At the border between the grasping portion 510g and the filtering portion 510f, at opposite positions on a rim 550 of the frame 515 of the auxiliary de-fluff filter 221 at least two elastic engagement element 545 are preferably provided. Preferably, each elastic engagement element 545 substantially comprises a bump 545a protruding outwardly from the rim 550 of the auxiliary de-fluff filter 221 and an eyelet 545b just beneath the bump 545a.

[0092] In one embodiment of the invention, the auxiliary de-fluff filter 221 can be easily made to slide into a path defined by housing grooves 505u and 5051 by a user. The auxiliary de-fluff filter 221 is inserted inside the top 125 through an auxiliary slot 555 positioned adjacent to (preferably between) the housing aperture 219 and the tab slot 425 in the front sidewall 205b of the base element 205, for example by a user holding the auxiliary de-fluff filter 221 by its grasping portion 510g. Preferably the auxiliary slot 555 is positioned in such a way to be hidden by the cover element 140 when the de-fluff filter 218 is inserted in the filter housing 217.

[0093] The housing grooves 505u and 505l runs in the inner panel 235 and in the base element 205, respectively, parallel and opposite to each other (when the inner panel 235 covers the base element 205), and preferably adjacent to the frame 220 of the transversal opened side 217d of the filter housing 217. A distance between the housing grooves 505u and 505l is designed to substantially correspond to the cross-sectional height of the auxiliary de-fluff filter 221, in such a way that the latter slidably fits the former (as can be appreciated in Figure 5B).

[0094] The auxiliary de-fluff filter 221 is inserted inside the top 125 through the auxiliary slot 555 positioned adjacent to the housing aperture 219 until the bumps 545a trespass corresponding engagement portions (not shown) protruding from the housing grooves 505u and 505l in opposite positions (e.g., towards each other). When pressed against the engagement portions, the bumps 545a of the two elastic engagement elements 545 are deformed, i.e. the bumps 545a bend inwards closing the respective eyelet 545b, thus the elastic engagement elements 545 trespass the engagement portions and the auxiliary de-fluff filter 221 reach a working position. In the engaged position the bumps 545a may return in their normal (i.e., protruding) configuration abutting against the engagement portions, thus securing the auxiliary de-fluff filter 221 in its working position, i.e. completely inserted in the housing path defined by housing grooves 505u and 505l (even though embodiments of the present invention featuring bumps that remains compressed when the auxiliary de-fluff filter is in its working position are not excluded). It should be noted that the auxiliary de-fluff filter 221 follows the bend defined by the housing grooves 505u and 505l (which substantially corresponds to a bend of the transversal opened side 217d, as can be appreciated in the exploded view of Figure 5C) thanks to its resiliency.

[0095] Advantageously, a sidewall 560 of the auxiliary slot 555, preferably the sidewall separating the auxiliary slot 555 from the housing aperture 219, is provided with an aperture 560a extending towards the inside of the filter housing 217 from the auxiliary slot 555. The aperture 560a allows the user easily and completely fitting the auxiliary de-fluff filter 221 in the path defined by housing grooves 505u and 505l, since the grasping portion 510g may be hold by the user (through the aperture 560a) until the auxiliary de-fluff filter 221 is brought in its working position.

[0096] During the laundry machine 100 operation, the auxiliary de-fluff filter 221 is adapted to trap in its meshes 520 fluff that has possibly escaped from the de-fluff filter 217 in order to prevent such fluff from reaching the heat exchanging units 225 and 230.

[0097] The auxiliary de-fluff filter 221 provides an improved filtering capability to the air circuit by further reducing an amount of fluff able to reach the moisture condensing unit 225 and/or the air heating element 230, thus considerably lowering the possibility of malfunction or efficiency reduction connected to fluff dispersed in the air circuit of the laundry machine 100. The position of the auxiliary de-fluff filter 221 allow a user to perform an inspection and a cleaning thereof contextually with the inspection and the cleaning of the de-fluff filter 218, while the strip-like shape of the auxiliary de-fluff filter 221 allows a cleaning as easy as possible thereof (e.g., it may be sufficient to rinse the auxiliary de-fluff filter with some water).

[0098] It should be noted that the laundry machine 100 may operate also without the auxiliary de-fluff filter 221 in its working position, i.e. with only the de-fluff filter 218 filtering the air flow coming from the laundry treatment chamber 105. Indeed, in alternative embodiments of the present invention, the auxiliary filter 221 and the housing grooves 505u and 505l may be omitted.

Claims

1. A laundry machine (100) adapted to dry laundry by means of a flow of drying air, comprising:

a casing (110) for accommodating components necessary for the operation of the laundry machine (100);

inside the casing, a laundry treating chamber (105) adapted to contain the laundry to be dried, said casing further comprising a front wall (115) provided with an opening for accessing the laundry treating chamber (105);

a casing top element (125) incorporating at least part of an air circuit in fluid communication with the laundry treating chamber (105) through an inlet opening (210) and through an outlet opening (215), and defining an air-path for the flow of drying air between said inlet (210) and outlet (215) openings, said casing top element (125) comprising:

a filter housing (217) for removably accommodating a de-fluff filter (218), said filter housing (217) being provided in the air-path and being accessible through a housing aperture (219) provided on the casing top element (125);

a de-fluff filter (218) for trapping fluff and/or lint particles carried by the flow of drying air crossing said de-fluff filter (218), the de-fluff filter (218) comprising a filtering element (321), a hollow chamber (361) accessible through an inlet aperture (330) and through an outlet portion (303d), a cover element (306) and a filter box (303) having a bottom wall (303e) a rear sidewall (303a), a front sidewall (303b), a first transversal sidewall (303c), and a second transversal sidewall (303d), said sidewalls delimiting a top aperture (303t) which is closable by the cover element (306) movably coupled to the filter box (303);

characterized in that
the de-fluff filter (218) further comprises, in the hollow chamber (361), a plurality of air guiding elements (354, 363) that guide the flow of drying air from said inlet aperture (330), being provided in said rear sidewall (303a), to said outlet portion (303d), being comprised in said second transversal sidewall (303d), wherein the plurality of air guiding elements (354, 363) subdivide the filter box (303) in sub-chambers having a sectional area that increases along the drying air flow direction path and distribute homogenously the flow of drying air inside the hollow chamber (361) and along the outlet portion (303d) of the de-fluff filter (218).

2. The laundry machine (100) according to claim 1, wherein said outlet portion (303d) comprises a frame (318) that encloses a plurality of windows (318a) separated from each other by separation elements (318b), the separation elements (318b) extending from a lower portion of the frame (318) at the bottom wall (303b) of the filter box (303) up to a higher portion of the frame (318) at the top aperture (303t), the filtering element (321) being coupled to the outlet portion (303d) superimposed to the plurality of windows (318a).

3. The laundry machine (100) according to claim 2, wherein the filter housing (217) comprises an opened side (217d) having a second frame (220) defining a plurality of side windows (220a) separated one another by further separating elements (220b), each one of said plurality of side windows (220a) being adapted to be aligned with a corresponding window (318a) of the plurality of windows (318a) of the outlet portion (303d) of the de-fluff filter (218) when the latter is inserted in the filter housing (217).

4. The laundry machine (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of air guiding elements (354, 363) comprise an air guiding wall (354) provided in the filter box (303) and extending between a portion of the first transversal sidewall (303c) close to the rear wall (303a) and an end of the second transversal sidewall (303d) adjacent to the front sidewall (303b).

5. The laundry machine (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of air guiding elements (354, 363) further comprise one or more air guiding blades (363) provided on the cover element (306) of the de-fluff filter (218), the air guiding blades (363) being designed in such a way to reach the bottom wall (303e) of the filter box (303), when the cover element (306) is in the closed position.

6. The laundry machine (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the de-fluff filter (218) further comprises a closing element (309) hinged to the first transversal sidewall (303c) and to the second transversal sidewall (303d) close to the rear sidewall (303a) for closing the inlet aperture (330) by abutting an abutment element (330a) provided at the inlet aperture (330), and adapted to be pivoted towards the top aperture (303t) by the flow of drying air.

7. The laundry machine (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an adapter element (212) adapted to fluidly connect the inlet opening (210) with the de-fluff filter (218) via the inlet aperture (330), and wherein the de-fluff filter further comprises a protruding frame (333) that surrounds the inlet aperture (330) the protruding frame (333) being adapted to engage with a gasket element (212a) provided around an aperture of the adapter element (212).

8. The laundry machine (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the de-fluff filter (218) further comprises an ejection device (312) adapted to eject the de-fluff filter (218) by pressing a pushbutton portion (145).

9. The laundry machine (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the de-fluff filter (218) further comprises a cover support (324) coupled with the front sidewall (303b) adapted to protrude outwards the aperture (219) when the de-fluff filter is inserted in the filter housing (217), the cover support (324) being adapted to engage with an aesthetic cover (140).

10. The laundry machine (100) according to any preceding claim, wherein said casing top element (125) comprises a moisture condensing element (225).

11. The laundry machine (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the casing top element (125) comprises a heat pump apparatus.

12. The laundry machine (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the laundry machine (100) is a washing/drying laundry machine.

13. The laundry machine (100) according to claim 12, wherein in the upper part of the front wall (115), a machine control panel (130) is located, and, aside the control panel (130), a drawer (135) is provided, which is part of a washing treatment products dispensing arrangement, for loading laundry washing treatment products like detergents and softeners, wherein the de-fluff filter (218) is vertically superposed to the washing treatment products dispensing arrangement (135).

Ansprüche

1. Wäschemaschine (100), die dazu ausgelegt ist, Wäsche mittels einer Strömung von Trocknungsluft zu trocknen, umfassend:

eine Einhausung (110) zum Aufnehmen von Komponenten, die für den Betrieb der Wäschemaschine (100) erforderlich sind;

in der Einhausung, eine Wäschebehandlungskammer (105), die dazu ausgelegt ist, die zu trocknende Wäsche zu fassen, wobei die Einhausung ferner eine vordere Wand (115) umfasst, die mit einer Öffnung für einen Zugang zu der Wäschebehandlungskammer (105) bereitgestellt ist;

ein Einhausungsoberseitenelement (125), das zumindest einen Teil eines Luftkreislaufs in Fluidverbindung mit der Wäschebehandlungskammer (105) über eine Einlassöffnung (210) und über eine Auslassöffnung (215) einschließt und einen Luftweg für die Strömung von Trocknungsluft zwischen den Einlass(210)- und Auslass(215)-Öffnungen definiert, wobei das Einhausungsoberseitenelement (125) umfasst:

ein Filtergehäuse (217) zum entfernbaren Aufnehmen eines Flusenfilters (218), wobei das Filtergehäuse (217) in dem Luftweg bereitgestellt ist und über einen Gehäusedurchgang (219) zugänglich ist, der an dem Einhausungsoberseitenelement (125) bereitgestellt ist;

einen Flusenfilter (218) zum Auffangen von Flusen- und/oder Fusselteilchen, die durch die Strömung von Trocknungsluft, die den Flusenfilter (218) durchquert, mitgeführt werden, wobei der Flusenfilter (218) ein Filterungselement (321), eine Hohlkammer (361), die über einen Einlassdurchgang (330) und über einen Auslassabschnitt (303d) zugänglich ist, ein Abdeckungselement (306) und einen Filterkasten (303) umfasst, der eine untere Wand (303e), eine hintere Seitenwand (303a), eine vordere Seitenwand (303b), eine erste querlaufende Seitenwand (303c) und eine zweite querlaufende Seitenwand (303d), aufweist, wobei die Seitenwände einen oberen Durchgang (303t) begrenzen, der durch das Abdeckungselement (306), das beweglich mit dem Filterkasten (303) gekoppelt ist, verschließbar ist;

dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
der Flusenfilter (218) ferner in der Hohlkammer (361) eine Mehrzahl von Luftleitelementen (354, 363) umfasst, die die Strömung von Trocknungsluft von dem Einlassdurchgang (330), der in der hinteren Seitenwand (303a) bereitgestellt ist, zu dem Auslassabschnitt (303d), der in der zweiten querlaufenden Seitenwand (303d) enthalten ist, leiten, wobei die Mehrzahl von Luftleitelementen (354, 363) den Filterkasten (303) in Teilkammern unterteilen, die eine Querschnittsfläche aufweisen, die sich entlang des Trocknungsluftströmungsrichtungspfads erhöht, und die Strömung von Trocknungsluft innerhalb der Hohlkammer (361) und entlang des Auslassabschnitts (303d) des Flusenfilters (218) gleichmäßig verteilen.

2. Wäschemaschine (100) nach Anspruch 1, wobei der Auslassabschnitt (303d) einen Rahmen (318) umfasst, der eine Mehrzahl von Fenstern (318a) umschließt, die durch Trennelemente (318b) voneinander getrennt sind, wobei sich die Trennelemente (318b) von einem unteren Abschnitt des Rahmens (318) an der unteren Wand (303b) des Filterkastens (303) nach oben zu einem höheren Abschnitt des Rahmens (318) an dem oberen Durchgang (303t) erstrecken, wobei das Filterungselement (321) mit dem Auslassabschnitt (303d) gekoppelt ist, der zu der Mehrzahl von Fenstern (318a) überlagert ist.

3. Wäschemaschine (100) nach Anspruch 2, wobei das Filtergehäuse (217) eine geöffnete Seite (217d) umfasst, die einen zweiten Rahmen (220) umfasst, der eine Mehrzahl von Seitenfenstern (220a) definiert, die durch weitere Trennelemente (220b) voneinander getrennt sind, wobei jedes der Mehrzahl von Seitenfenstern (220a) dazu ausgelegt ist, mit einem entsprechenden Fenster (318a) der Mehrzahl von Fenstern (318a) des Auslassabschnitts (303d) des Flusenfilters (218) ausgerichtet zu werden, wenn der letztere in das Filtergehäuse (217) eingesetzt wird.

4. Wäschemaschine (100) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Mehrzahl von Luftleitelementen (354, 363) eine Luftleitwand (354) umfassen, die in dem Filterkasten (303) bereitgestellt ist und sich zwischen einem Abschnitt der ersten querlaufenden Seitenwand (303c) nahe zu der hinteren Wand (303a) und einem Ende der zweiten querlaufenden Seitenwand (303d) angrenzend an die vordere Seitenwand (303b) erstreckt.

5. Wäschemaschine (100) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Mehrzahl von Luftleitelementen (354, 363) ferner eine oder mehrere Luftleitschaufeln (363) umfassen, die an dem Abdeckungselement (306) des Flusenfilters (218) bereitgestellt sind, wobei die Luftleitschaufeln (363) auf solche Weise ausgestaltet sind, dass sie die untere Wand (303e) des Filterkastens (303) erreichen, wenn das Abdeckungselement (306) in der geschlossenen Position ist.

6. Wäschemaschine (100) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Flusenfilter (218) ferner ein Verschlusselement (309) umfasst, das an der ersten querlaufenden Seitenwand (303c) und an der zweiten querlaufenden Seitenwand (303d) nahe zu der hinteren Seitenwand (303a) gelenkig angebracht ist, um den Einlassdurchgang (330) durch Anstoßen an ein Anschlagelement (330a) zu verschließen, das an dem Einlassdurchgang (330) bereitgestellt ist und dazu ausgelegt ist, durch die Strömung von Trocknungsluft hin zu dem oberen Durchgang (303t) geschwenkt zu werden.

7. Wäschemaschine (100) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, ferner umfassend ein Adapterelement (212), das dazu ausgelegt ist, die Einlassöffnung (210) fluidisch mit dem Flusenfilter (218) über den Einlassdurchgang (330) zu verbinden, und wobei der Flusenfilter ferner einen hervorragenden Rahmen (333) umfasst, der den Einlassdurchgang (330) umgibt, wobei der hervorragende Rahmen (333) dazu ausgelegt ist, mit einem Dichtungselement (212a) in Eingriff zu kommen, das um einen Durchgang des Adapterelements (212) bereitgestellt ist.

8. Wäschemaschine (100) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Flusenfilter (218) ferner eine Auswurfvorrichtung (312) umfasst, die dazu ausgelegt ist, den Flusenfilter (218) durch Drücken eines Drucktastenabschnitts (145) auszuwerfen.

9. Wäschemaschine (100) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Flusenfilter (218) ferner eine Abdeckungshalterung (324) umfasst, die mit der vorderen Seitenwand (303b) gekoppelt ist, die dazu ausgelegt ist, von dem Durchgang (219) nach außen zu ragen, wenn der Flusenfilter in das Filtergehäuse (217) eingesetzt ist, wobei die Abdeckungshalterung (324) dazu ausgelegt ist, mit einer ästhetischen Abdeckung (140) in Eingriff zu kommen.

10. Wäschemaschine (100) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei das Einhausungsoberseitenelement (125) ein Feuchtigkeitskondensierungselement (225) umfasst.

11. Wäschemaschine (100) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei das Einhausungsoberseitenelement (125) eine Wärmepumpeneinrichtung umfasst.

12. Wäschemaschine (100) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Wäschemaschine (100) eine Wasch-/Trocknungswäschemaschine ist.

13. Wäschemaschine (100) nach Anspruch 12, wobei sich in dem oberen Teil der vorderen Wand (115) eine Maschinensteuertafel (130) befindet und neben der Steuertafel (130) eine Schublade (135) bereitgestellt ist, die Teil einer Waschbehandlungsprodukteabgabeanordnung zum Beschicken von Wäschewaschbehandlungsprodukten wie Reinigungsmitteln und Weichspülern ist, wobei der Flusenfilter (218) vertikal zu der Waschbehandlungsprodukteabgabeanordnung (135) überlagert ist.

Revendications

1. Machine de traitement du linge (100) adaptée pour sécher du linge au moyen d'un flux d'air de séchage, comprenant :

un boîtier (110) pour accueillir des composants nécessaires pour le fonctionnement de la machine de traitement du linge (100) ;

à l'intérieur du boîtier, une chambre de traitement du linge (105) adaptée pour contenir le linge destiné à être séché, ledit boîtier comprenant en outre une paroi avant (115) pourvue d'une ouverture pour accéder à la chambre de traitement du linge (105) ;

un élément supérieur de boîtier (125) intégrant au moins une partie d'un circuit d'air en communication fluidique avec la chambre de traitement du linge (105) à travers une ouverture d'entrée (210) et à travers une ouverture de sortie (215), et définissant un trajet d'air pour le flux d'air de séchage entre lesdites ouvertures d'entrée (210) et de sortie (215), ledit élément supérieur de boîtier (125) comprenant :

un boîtier de filtre (217) pour accueillir de manière amovible un filtre à peluches (218), ledit boîtier de filtre (217) étant fourni dans le trajet d'air et étant accessible à travers une ouverture de boîtier (219) fournie sur l'élément supérieur de boîtier (125) ;

un filtre à peluches (218) pour piéger des peluches et/ou des particules pelucheuses portées par le flux d'air de séchage traversant ledit filtre à peluches (218), le filtre à peluches (218) comprenant un élément filtrant (321), une chambre creuse (361) accessible à travers une ouverture d'entrée (330) et à travers une partie de sortie (303d), un élément de cache (306) et une boîte à filtre (303) ayant une paroi inférieure (303e), une paroi latérale arrière (303a), une paroi latérale avant (303b), une première paroi latérale transversale (303c), et une seconde paroi latérale transversale (303d), lesdites parois latérales délimitant une ouverture supérieure (303t) qui peut être fermée par l'élément de cache (306) couplé de manière amovible à la boîte à filtre (303) ;

caractérisé en ce que
le filtre à peluches (218) comprend en outre, dans la chambre creuse (361), une pluralité d'éléments de guidage de l'air (354, 363) qui guident le flux d'air de séchage de ladite ouverture d'entrée (330), étant fournie dans ladite paroi latérale arrière (303a), vers ladite partie de sortie (303d), étant comprise dans ladite seconde paroi latérale transversale (303d), dans laquelle la pluralité d'éléments de guidage de l'air (354, 363) sous-divisent la boîte à filtre (303) en sous-chambres ayant une surface sectionnelle qui augmente le long du trajet de direction du flux d'air de séchage et distribuent de manière homogène le flux d'air de séchage à l'intérieur de la chambre creuse (361) et le long de la partie de sortie (303d) du filtre à peluches (218).

2. Machine de traitement du linge (100) selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle ladite partie de sortie (303d) comprend un châssis (318) qui entoure une pluralité de fenêtres (318a) séparées les unes des autres par des éléments de séparation (318b), les éléments de séparation (318b) s'étendant à partir d'une partie inférieure du châssis (318) au niveau de la paroi inférieure (303b) de la boîte à filtre (303) vers une partie supérieure du châssis (318) au niveau de l'ouverture supérieure (303t), l'élément filtrant (321) étant couplé à la partie de sortie (303d) superposée sur la pluralité de fenêtres (318a).

3. Machine de traitement du linge (100) selon la revendication 2, dans laquelle le boîtier de filtre (217) comprend un côté ouvert (217d) ayant un second châssis (220) définissant une pluralité de fenêtres latérales (220a) séparées les unes des autres par d'autres éléments de séparation (220b), chacune de ladite pluralité de fenêtres latérales (220a) étant adaptée pour être alignée avec une fenêtre (318a) correspondante de la pluralité de fenêtres (318a) de la partie de sortie (303d) du filtre à peluches (218) lorsque ce dernier est inséré dans le boîtier de filtre (217).

4. Machine de traitement du linge (100) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle la pluralité d'éléments de guidage de l'air (354, 363) comprennent une paroi de guidage de l'air (354) fournie dans la boîte à filtre (303) et s'étendant entre une partie de la première paroi latérale transversale (303c) près de la paroi arrière (303a) et une extrémité de la seconde paroi latérale transversale (303d) adjacente à la paroi latérale avant (303b).

5. Machine de traitement du linge (100) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle la pluralité d'éléments de guidage de l'air (354, 363) comprennent en outre une ou plusieurs lames de guidage de l'air (363) fournies sur l'élément de cache (306) du filtre à peluches (218), les lames de guidage de l'air (363) étant conçues de manière à atteindre la paroi inférieure (303e) de la boîte à filtre (303), lorsque l'élément de cache (306) est dans la position fermée.

6. Machine de traitement du linge (100) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle le filtre à peluches (218) comprend en outre un élément de fermeture (309) articulé sur la première paroi latérale transversale (303c) et sur la seconde paroi latérale transversale (303d) près de la paroi latérale arrière (303a) pour fermer l'ouverture d'entrée (330) en venant en butée contre un élément de butée (330a) fourni au niveau de l'ouverture d'entrée (330), et adapté pour être pivoté vers l'ouverture supérieure (303t) par le flux d'air de séchage.

7. Machine de traitement du linge (100) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant en outre un élément adaptateur (212) adapté pour raccorder de manière fluidique l'ouverture d'entrée (210) au filtre à peluches (218) par le biais de l'ouverture d'entrée (330), et dans laquelle le filtre à peluches comprend en outre un châssis en saillie (333) qui entoure l'ouverture d'entrée (330), le châssis en saillie (333) étant adapté pour venir en prise avec un élément de joint (212a) fourni autour d'une ouverture de l'élément adaptateur (212).

8. Machine de traitement du linge (100) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle le filtre à peluches (218) comprend en outre un dispositif d'éjection (312) adapté pour éjecter le filtre à peluches (218) en pressant une partie de bouton-poussoir (145) .

9. Machine de traitement du linge (100) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle le filtre à peluches (218) comprend en outre un support de cache (324) couplé à la paroi latérale avant (303b) adapté pour faire saillie vers l'extérieur de l'ouverture (219) lorsque le filtre à peluches est inséré dans le boîtier de filtre (217), le support de cache (324) étant adapté pour venir en prise avec un cache esthétique (140).

10. Machine de traitement du linge (100) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle ledit élément supérieur de boîtier (125) comprend un élément de condensation d'humidité (225).

11. Machine de traitement du linge (100) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle l'élément supérieur de boîtier (125) comprend un appareil de pompe à chaleur.

12. Machine de traitement du linge (100) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle la machine de traitement du linge (100) est une machine de lavage/séchage du linge.

13. Machine de traitement du linge (100) selon la revendication 12, dans laquelle dans la partie supérieure de la paroi avant (115), un panneau de commande de machine (130) est situé, et, à côté du panneau de commande (130), un tiroir (135) est fourni, qui est une partie d'un agencement de distribution de produits de traitement de lavage, pour charger des produits de traitement de lavage du linge comme des lessives et des adoucissants, dans laquelle le filtre à peluches (218) est superposé verticalement sur l'agencement de distribution de produits de traitement de lavage (135).

Drawing