Patent Publication Number: US-9903062-B2

Title: Laundry washing machine

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to a laundry washing machine. 
     In particular, the present invention relates to a front-loading home laundry washing machine, to which the following description refers purely by way of example without this implying any loss of generality. 
     As is known, currently marketed front-loading home laundry washing machines generally comprise: a substantially parallelepiped-shaped outer boxlike casing structured for resting on the floor; a substantially bell-shaped washing tub which is suspended in floating manner inside the casing, directly facing a laundry loading/unloading through opening realized in the front wall of the casing; a substantially cylindrical elastically-deformable bellows, which connects the front opening of the washing tub to a laundry loading/unloading opening formed in the front wall of the casing; a porthole door which is hinged to the front wall of the casing to rotate to and from a closing position in which the door closes the laundry loading/unloading opening in the front wall of the casing for watertight sealing the washing tub; a substantially cylindrical, bell-shaped revolving drum structured for housing the laundry to be washed, and which is housed inside the washing tub with its concavity facing the laundry loading/unloading opening and in axially rotating manner so as to be able to freely rotate about its substantially horizontally-oriented longitudinal axis; and finally an electrically-powered motor assembly which is structured for driving into rotation the revolving drum about its longitudinal axis inside the washing tub. 
     Like other home laundry washing machines, this type of laundry washing machines is furthermore provided with a fresh-water supply circuit structured for selectively drawing a fresh water from the water mains according to the washing cycle manually-selected by the user via a control panel generally located on the front wall of the boxlike casing, and channeling said water into the washing tub. Detergent dispensing assembly is generally located inside the boxlike casing, immediately above the washing tub, and is structured for selectively feeding into the washing tub. According to the washing cycle manually-selected by the user, a given amount of detergent, softener and/or other washing agent is suitably mixed with the fresh water arriving from the water mains. 
     This detergent dispensing assembly generally comprises a detergent drawer which is usually divided into a number of detergent compartments each structured for being manually fillable with a corresponding detergent product, and which is fitted/inserted in manually extractable manner into a completely recessed drawer housing whose entrance is located on front wall of the boxlike casing, above the porthole door. The bottom of the drawer housing instead directly communicates with the inside of the washing tub via a drain duct. 
     The fresh-water supply circuit is structured for drawing fresh water from the water mains and selectively and alternatively channeling said water into any one of the detergent compartments of the detergent drawer, so as to selectively flush the detergent, softener or other washing agent out of the compartment and down on the bottom of the drawer housing, and afterwards sweep the detergent, softener or other washing agent away from the bottom of the drawer housing directly into the washing tub. 
     As is known the hardness of the fresh water used for washing deeply negatively influences the cleaning efficiency of the detergents and softeners used in the washing cycle, thus the user is usually requested to considerably increase, when the hardness degree of the tap water is too high, the amount of detergent and softener used in the washing cycle and/or to mix the detergent with a given amount of very expensive, generally polycarboxylates-based, water-softening chemical product. 
     To solve this problem the European patent application No. 1085118 discloses a front-loading home laundry washing machine provided with an internal water softening device capable of reducing, during each washing cycle, the hardness degree of the tap water used in the pre-washing and washing phases of the washing cycle. This water softening device uses ion-exchange resins to restrain calcium and magnesium ions (Ca++ an Mg++) dissolved in the fresh water channeled to the washing tub, and uses brine (i.e. salt water) to periodically regenerate these ion-exchange resins. Salt water, in fact, is able to remove from the ion-exchange resins the calcium and magnesium ions previously combined/fixed to said resins. 
     Unluckily integration of the salt reservoir on the back of the detergent drawer has brought to a very complicated detergent-dispenser structure with a consequent significant increase in the detergent dispenser overall production cost. More specifically, in European patent application No. 1085118 the salt reservoir on the back of the detergent drawer is connected to the regeneration-resin container via a very complicated siphon assembly arranged at center of the same salt reservoir. 
     Moreover the capacity of the salt reservoir on the back of the detergent drawer is too limited for the everyday-use typical of a traditional home laundry washing machine. It is unacceptable for a normal user to refill the salt reservoir every 3-4 washing cycles. Furthermore the brine accidentally coming out of the salt reservoir accumulates on the bottom of the drawer housing which is in direct communication with the upper portion of the washing tub, thus the brine can reach quite easily the outer surface of the revolving drum that is generally made of metal, and therefore cause a quick rusting up of the revolving drum. 
     Moreover, the ion-exchange resins have a relatively short average lifetime due to the high frequency of the regeneration process. In fact all fresh water used in the washing-cycle crosses the internal water softening device for being softened. 
     Last but not less important, the internal water softening device disclosed in European patent application No. 1085118 has a very limited operation flexibility which narrows the number of different washing cycles on hand of the user. 
     Aim of the present invention is to realize an internal water softening device designed to eliminate the drawbacks referred above. 
     SUMMARY OF SELECTED INVENTIVE ASPECTS 
     In compliance with the above aims, according to the present invention there is provided a laundry washing machine comprising an outer casing and, inside said outer casing, a washing tub, a rotatable drum which is arranged in axially rotating manner inside the washing tub and is structured for receiving the laundry to be washed, a detergent dispensing assembly which is structured for supplying detergent into the washing tub, a first fresh-water supply circuit which is structured for selectively channeling a flow of fresh water from the water mains towards the detergent dispensing assembly and/or the washing tub, and a water softening device which is interposed between the first fresh-water supply circuit and the detergent dispensing assembly or the washing tub, and is structured for reducing the hardness degree of the fresh water supplied to the washing tub; wherein the detergent dispensing assembly comprises a detergent container which is provided with a plurality of detergent compartments each fillable with a respective detergent product, and a detergent flush circuit which receives the fresh water from the water softening device and is structured for selectively spilling/pouring the fresh water arriving from the water softening device into any one of said detergent compartments; and a second fresh-water supply circuit is provided, which connects the water mains to the detergent flush circuit of the detergent dispensing assembly, bypassing the water softening device, and which is structured so as to control/regulate the flow of fresh water from the water mains towards said detergent flush circuit so as to selectively spill/pour non-softened fresh water into any one of the detergent compartments of the detergent container, and/or so as to channel the non-softened fresh water towards the washing bypassing the detergent compartments of the detergent container. 
     Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing machine is furthermore characterized by comprising an electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor or similar valve assembly which is arranged downstream of the water softening device, and is structured for selectively and alternatively channeling the softened fresh water arriving from the water softening device towards the various detergent compartments the detergent container; the second fresh-water supply circuit connecting the water mains to said electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor or similar valve assembly bypassing the water softening device. 
     Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing machine is furthermore characterized in that the detergent flush circuit is structured for spilling/pouring a shower of water droplets by gravity into the various detergent compartments of the detergent container. 
     Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing machine is furthermore characterized in that the detergent flush circuit of the detergent dispensing assembly comprises a sprinkler head which is located above the detergent container and is provided with a number of shower-making portions each of which is aligned to a corresponding detergent compartment of the detergent container and is structured for feeding a shower of water droplets by gravity only into said detergent compartment; and in that the electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor is located upstream of the sprinkler head, and is structured for channeling the fresh water selectively and alternatively towards the various shower-making portions of the sprinkler head. 
     Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing machine is furthermore characterized in that the electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor or similar valve assembly is a rotatable hydraulic distributor. 
     Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing machine is furthermore characterized in that the second fresh-water supply circuit comprises an electrically-controlled on-off valve which is fluidically interposed between the water mains and the inlet of the detergent flush circuit of the detergent dispensing assembly, and is able to control/regulate the flow of fresh water from the water mains towards the inlet of said drawer flush circuit. 
     Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing machine is furthermore characterized in that the water softening device comprises: a water-softening agent container which is crossed by the fresh water arriving from the fresh-water supply circuit and is filled with a water softening agent able to reduce the hardness degree of the fresh water flowing through the same water-softening agent container; a regeneration-agent reservoir which is structured to receive a salt or other regeneration agent for performing a regeneration of the water softening function of the water softening agents stored into the water-softening agent container; and a water supply circuit which is structured for selectively channeling a given amount of fresh water into the regeneration-agent reservoir to form brine; and in that the water-softening agent container is interposed between the fresh-water supply circuit and the detergent flush circuit of the detergent dispensing assembly. 
     Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing machine is furthermore characterized in the water softening device furthermore comprises an electrically-powered brine-circulating pump assembly which is interposed between the water-softening agent container and the regeneration-agent reservoir and is structured for moving/transferring the brine from the regeneration-agent reservoir to the water-softening agent container when activated, and for watertight sealing/isolating the regeneration-agent reservoir from the water-softening agent container when deactivated. 
     Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing machine is furthermore characterized in that the water softening device furthermore comprises valve assembly which is interposed between the water-softening agent container and the regeneration-agent reservoir and which is structured for selectively allowing the brine to flow by gravity from the regeneration-agent reservoir to the water-softening agent container. 
     Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing machine is furthermore characterized in that the regeneration-agent reservoir comprises a regeneration-agent container which is fillable with a given quantity of regeneration agents, and in that the water supply circuit of the water softening device is structured for selectively spilling/pouring a shower of water droplets by gravity into said regeneration-agent container. 
     Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing machine is furthermore characterized in that the water supply circuit of the water softening device comprises a sprinkler head which is located above the regeneration-agent container and is structured for feeding a shower of water droplets by gravity into said regeneration-agent container; and a valve assembly which is located upstream of said sprinkler head and is structured for selectively channeling the fresh water arriving from the fresh-water supply circuit, or directly from the water mains, towards said sprinkler head. 
     Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing machine is furthermore characterized in that the valve assembly of the water supply circuit of the water softening device is located downstream of the water-softening agent container so as to selectively channel towards the sprinkler head the fresh water coming out of the same water-softening agent container. 
     Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing machine is furthermore characterized in that the water supply circuit of the water softening device branches off from the hydraulic distributor, and in that the electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor incorporates the valve assembly of the water supply circuit of the water softening device. 
     Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing machine is furthermore characterized by also comprising a first water drain line which is connected to the electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor and is structured for channeling the brine or fresh water arriving from the water softening device into the washing tub, or into a drain sump that extends downwards from the bottom of the washing tub, or into a water filtering assembly that is interposed between the drain sump of the washing tub and the suction of a water circulating pump and of a water exhaust pump of the laundry washing machine, or into the water exhaust pump. 
     Preferably, though not necessarily, the laundry washing machine is furthermore characterized in that the water softening device additionally comprises a second water drain line which is structured for selectively draining the brine or fresh water out of the water-softening agent container and channeling said brine or fresh water directly into the washing tub, or into a drain sump that extends downwards from the bottom of the washing tub, or into a water filtering assembly that is interposed between the drain sump of the washing tub and the suction of a water circulating pump and of a water exhaust pump of the laundry washing machine, or into the water exhaust pump. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a front-loading, home laundry washing machine realized in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, with parts removed for clarity; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the  FIG. 1  laundry washing machine with parts removed for clarity; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the top portion of the  FIG. 1  laundry washing machine in a first operating position; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the top portion of the  FIG. 1  laundry washing machine in a second operating position; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the internal detergent dispensing assembly and the internal water softening device of the  FIG. 1  laundry washing machine; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view of the  FIG. 5  detergent dispensing assembly and water softening device; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view of a first alternative embodiment of the internal detergent dispensing assembly and water softening device of the  FIG. 1  laundry washing machine; and 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic view of a second alternative embodiment of the internal detergent dispensing assembly and water softening device of the  FIG. 1  laundry washing machine. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 , reference number  1  indicates as a whole a home laundry washing machine which comprises: a preferably, though not necessarily, substantially parallelepiped-shaped, rigid outer boxlike casing  2  which is structured for resting on the floor; a preferably substantially cylindrical, bell-shaped hollow washing tub  3  which is arranged inside the casing  2  with its opening or mouth directly facing a laundry loading/unloading pass-through opening realized in the front wall  2   a  of boxlike casing  2 ; a preferably substantially cylindrical, elastically-deformable bellows (not shown) watertight connecting the front opening or mouth of washing tub  3  to the laundry loading/unloading opening realized in the front wall  2   a  of casing  2 ; and a substantially cylindrical, bell-shaped revolving drum (not shown) structured for housing the laundry to be washed, and which is housed in axially rotating manner inside the washing tub  3  so as to be able to freely rotate about its longitudinal reference axis. 
     In the example shown, in particular, the revolving drum is housed in axially rotating manner inside the washing tub  3  with its front opening directly faced/aligned to the laundry loading/unloading opening on the front wall  2   a  of casing  2 , and the drum rotation axis is preferably arranged locally substantially coincident with the substantially horizontally-oriented longitudinal reference axis L of washing tub  3 . 
     Furthermore in the example shown the hollow washing tub  3  is preferably suspended in floating manner inside the casing  2  via a suspension system preferably, though not necessarily, comprising a couple of upper coil springs  4  connecting the upper portion of the washing tub  3  to the top of the boxlike casing  2 , and a couple of lower vibration dampers  5  connecting the bottom portion of the washing tub  3  to the bottom of the boxlike casing  2 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 , the laundry washing machine  1  furthermore comprises:
         a porthole door  7  which is hinged to the front wall  2   a  of casing  2  to rotate about a preferably, though non necessarily, vertically-oriented reference axis to and from a closing position in which the peripheral border of the porthole door  7  rests completely on front wall  2   a  for closing the laundry loading/unloading opening and watertight sealing the washing tub  3 ;   an electrically-powered motor assembly  8  which is structured for driving into rotation the revolving drum about its longitudinal reference axis inside the washing tub  3 ;   a detergent dispensing assembly  9  which is housed inside the casing  2  in easily reachable manner by the user, and is structured for selectively feeding into the washing tub  3 , according to the selected washing cycle, a given amount of detergent, softener and/or other washing agent suitably mixed with the fresh water arriving from the water mains, or even simply a given amount of fresh water arriving from the water mains; and   a fresh-water supply circuit  10  which is arranged/interposed between the water mains and the detergent dispensing assembly  9  or between the water mains directly the washing tub  3 , and is structured so as to control/regulate the flow of fresh water from the water mains towards the detergent dispensing assembly  9  and/or the washing tub  3 .       

     In addition to the above, the laundry washing machine  1  furthermore comprises, inside casing  2 , an internal water softening device  11  which is arranged/interposed between the fresh-water supply circuit  10  and the detergent dispensing assembly  9 , so as to be crossed by the fresh water flowing from the water mains towards the detergent dispensing assembly  9 , and is structured for selectively reducing, during each washing cycle, the hardness degree of the fresh water drawn from the water mains and channeled to the detergent dispensing assembly  9 . 
     With referenced to  FIGS. 1 and 6 , in the example shown, in particular, the fresh-water supply circuit  10  preferably comprises an electrically-controlled on-off valve  12  which is arranged/interposed between the water mains and the water softening device  11 , and is able to control/regulate the flow of fresh water from the water mains towards the water softening device  11 ; and a hosepipe  13  connecting the on-off valve  12  directly to the inlet of the internal water softening device  11  which, in turn, has the outlet connected to the detergent dispensing assembly  9 . In the example shown, in particular, the electrically-controlled on-off valve  12  is preferably attached to the rear wall of casing  2 . 
     Furthermore the fresh-water supply circuit  10  is preferably also provided with a one-way valve  14  which is located immediately downstream of the on-off valve  12 , i.e. between the on-off valve  12  and the inlet of the water softening device  11 , and is structured to allow the fresh water to only flow along hosepipe  13  from the water mains to the water softening device  11  and not vice versa. The internal water softening device  11  is therefore located downstream of the electrically-controlled on-off valve  12 , and also downstream of the one-way valve  14  if present. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-6 , the detergent dispensing assembly  9 , in turn, is preferably housed inside the boxlike casing  2  immediately above the washing tub  3 , so as to emerge from the front wall  2   a  of boxlike casing  2  above the laundry loading/unloading opening of casing  2 , and preferably also beside the appliance control panel  15  which is located on front wall  2   a  of casing  2 , above the laundry loading/unloading opening and immediately beneath the top wall of casing  2 . 
     Preferably the detergent dispensing assembly  9  furthermore comprises a detergent drawer  16  which is fitted/inserted in manually extractable manner into a completely recessed drawer housing  17  which, starting from front wall  2   a  of casing  2 , extends substantially horizontally inside the boxlike casing  2  while remaining above the washing tub  3 , and communicates with the outside of casing  2  via a front entrance or opening  17   a  realized on front wall  2   a  of casing  2  immediately above the laundry loading/unloading opening. The detergent drawer  16  is therefore manually movable inside the drawer housing  17  in a preferably substantially horizontally-oriented, displacement direction between a working position (see  FIG. 1 ) in which the detergent drawer  16  is completely recessed inside the drawer housing  17  preferably while at same time closing the front entrance or opening  17   a  of the same drawer housing  17 , and a completely extracted position (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) in which the detergent drawer  16  partly juts out from the front wall  2   a  of casing  2  through the front entrance or opening  17   a  of the drawer housing  17 . 
     In the example shown, in particular, the detergent drawer  16  is preferably movable inside the drawer housing  17  along a substantially horizontally-oriented, displacement direction which is also locally substantially perpendicular to the front wall  2   a  of casing  2 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the detergent dispensing assembly  9  furthermore comprises a drawer flush circuit  18  which is structured for selectively spilling/pouring a given amount of fresh water arriving from the water mains directly into the detergent drawer  16 , so as to flush the detergent, softener or other washing agent out of the same detergent drawer  16  and down into the bottom portion of drawer housing  17 ; and a drain duct  19  which connects the bottom portion of drawer housing  17  to the inside of washing tub  3  for channeling this mixture of water and detergent, softener or other washing agent into the washing tub  3 . 
     The water softening device  11  is interposed between the fresh-water supply circuit  10 , i.e. the electrically-controlled on-off valve  12  or the one-way valve  14  if present, and the inlet of the drawer flush circuit  18  of the detergent dispensing assembly  9 , so as to be crossed by the fresh water flowing from the water mains towards the drawer flush circuit  18 . 
     In other words, the fresh-water supply circuit  10  is connected to the inlet of the internal water softening device  11 , and the outlet of the internal water softening device  11  is connected to the inlet of the drawer flush circuit  18 . 
     In the example shown, in particular, the bottom portion of drawer housing  17  is preferably shaped/structured so as to form a substantially funnel-shaped catchment basin which communicates with the inside of washing tub  3  via the drain duct  19 . The drain duct  19 , in turn, is preferably, though not necessarily, connected to the upper portion of washing tub  3 . 
     In addition to the above, with reference to  FIGS. 3, 4 and 6 , the detergent drawer  16  is divided into a number/plurality of detergent compartments  16   a  (three detergent compartments in the example shown) each of which is manually fillable with a respective washing agent; and the drawer flush circuit  18  is structured for spilling/pouring the softened fresh water arriving from water softening device  11  selectively and alternatively into any one of the detergent compartments  16   a  of the detergent drawer  16 , so as to selectively flush the detergent, softener or other washing agent out of the same compartment  16   a  and down into the funnel-shaped catchment basin on the bottom of drawer housing  17 . 
     In other words, the laundry washing machine  1  is provided with an electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor  20  or similar valve assembly, which is arranged downstream of the internal water softening device  11 , i.e. between the outlet of the water softening device  11  and the various detergent compartments  16   a  of the detergent drawer  16 , and is structured for selectively and alternatively channeling the softened fresh water arriving from the water softening device  11  towards the various detergent compartments  16   a  of detergent drawer  16 . 
     In the example shown, in particular, the drawer flush circuit  18  is preferably structured for spilling/pouring a dense shower of water droplets by gravity into the various detergent compartments  16   a  of the detergent drawer  16 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , in the example shown, in particular, the drawer flush circuit  18  of detergent dispensing assembly  9  is preferably structured for selectively and alternatively spilling/pouring a dense shower of water droplets by gravity into each detergent compartment  16   a  of detergent drawer  16 , and preferably comprises:
         a sprinkler head  21  which is associated to the drawer housing  17  so as to be located immediately above the detergent drawer  16  when the latter is completely inserted/recessed into the same drawer housing  17 , and which is provided with a number (three in the example shown) of shower-making portions/sections  21   a  each of which is preferably substantially aligned to a corresponding detergent compartment  16   a  of the detergent drawer  16  and is structured for feeding a dense shower of water droplets by gravity into the detergent compartment  16   a  located immediately beneath; and   the electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor or valve assembly  20  which is located upstream of the sprinkler head  21 , i.e. between the sprinkler head  21  and the water softening device  11 , and is structured for channeling the softened fresh water arriving from the water softening device  11  selectively and alternatively towards the various shower-making sections/portions  21   a  of the sprinkler head  21 .       

     In other words, the softened fresh water coming out from the water softening device  11  arrives to the hydraulic distributor  20  which channels/directs said softened fresh water selectively and alternatively towards one or more of the shower-making sections/portions  21   a  of the sprinkler head  21 . 
     In the example shown, in particular, each shower-making section/portion  21   a  of sprinkler head  21  is preferably vertically aligned to a respective detergent compartment  16   a  of detergent drawer  16 , and is preferably structured for feeding a dense shower of water droplets exclusively into the detergent compartment  16   a  located immediately beneath. 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , in the example shown, in particular, the drawer housing  17  preferably comprises a substantially basin-shaped lower vessel which is connected to the inside of washing tub  3  via the drain duct  19 , and a preferably substantially flat, upper lid or cover  22  which is structured to close the top of the basin-shaped lower vessel so as to be located immediately above the detergent drawer  16  when the latter is completely inserted/recessed into the drawer housing  17 , and the sprinkler head  21  of drawer flush circuit  18  is preferably supported by said upper lid or cover  22 . 
     In the example shown, in particular, the upper lid or cover  22  is preferably structured so as to incorporate the sprinkler head  21  of the drawer flush circuit  18 . 
     In other words, an area of the upper lid or cover  22  of drawer housing  17  forms the sprinkler head  21  of the drawer flush circuit  18 , and is therefore divided into a number (three in the example shown) of shower-making portions, each of which is vertically aligned to a corresponding detergent compartment  16   a  of the detergent drawer  16 , and is structured for receiving the fresh water from the electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor  20  and for feeding a dense shower of water droplets by gravity exclusively into the detergent compartment  16   a  located immediately beneath. 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , alike the sprinkler head  21 , in the example shown the hydraulic distributor  20  is preferably, though not necessarily, incorporated into the upper lid or cover  22  of drawer housing  17 . In an alternative embodiment the electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor  20  may be arranged inside the boxlike casing  2 , far away from the upper lid or cover  22  of drawer housing  17  directly supporting the sprinkler head  21 . 
     More in particular, in the example shown the electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor  20  preferably, though not necessarily, consists in an electrically-controlled rotatable hydraulic distributor  20  which is located immediately upstream of the sprinkler head  21 , i.e. between the sprinkler head  21  and the water softening device  11 , and is structured for channeling the fresh water arriving from the water softening device  11  selectively and alternatively towards the various shower-making sections/portions  21   a  of the sprinkler head  21 . 
     Furthermore the rotatable hydraulic distributor  20  preferably, though not necessarily, comprises: a rotatable water diverter  20   a  which is recessed in axially rotating manner into the upper lid or cover  22 ; and an electric motor or other electrically-operated rotatable actuator  20   b  which is fixed to the lid or cover  22  beside of the rotatable water diverter  20   a , and is mechanically connected to the central shaft of the rotatable water diverter  20   a  preferably, though not necessarily, via a crank-rod mechanism, so to directly control/vary the angular position of the rotatable water diverter  20   a.    
     The upper lid or cover  22  of drawer housing  17 , in turn, is preferably provided with a first internal water channel  22   a  that connects the inlet of the rotatable water diverter  20   a  to the outlet of the water softening device  11  so as to channel the fresh water arriving from the water softening device  11  directly to the inlet of the rotatable water diverter  20   a ; and a number of second internal water channels  22   b  each connecting a respective outlet of the rotatable water diverter  20   a  to a corresponding shower-making portion  21   a  of the sprinkler head  21 , i.e. to a corresponding shower-making portion of the upper lid or cover  22 . 
     The softened fresh water from the water softening device  11  therefore arrives to the inlet of the rotatable water diverter  20   a  and is selectively channeled/directed to one of the shower-making portions of the upper lid or cover  22  according to the angular position of the rotatable water diverter  20   a.    
     In a different non-shown embodiment, the electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor  20  may consists of an appropriate number of electrically-controlled on-off valves which are preferably, though not necessarily, incorporated into the upper lid or cover  22  of the drawer housing  17 , and each of which is interposed between the outlet of the water softening device  11  and a respective shower-making section/portion  21   a  of the sprinkler head  21  for directly controlling the flow of softened fresh water towards the corresponding shower-making section/portion  21   a  of the sprinkler head  21 . 
     Moreover, the drawer flush circuit  18  is preferably additionally provided with a number of air-break assemblies  24  each located immediately downstream of a corresponding water outlet of the rotatable water diverter  20   a , i.e. along a corresponding second internal water channel  22   b  of the upper lid or cover  22  of the drawer housing  17 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-6 , the internal water softening device  11  instead is preferably housed inside the boxlike casing  2  preferably immediately beside the detergent dispensing assembly  9 , so that both the detergent dispensing assembly  9  and the water softening device  11  are directly exposed or exposable on the outside of boxlike casing  2 , one beside the other, for being preferably independently accessible by the user at any moment. 
     The water softening device  11  furthermore basically comprises a water-softening agent container  26  and a regeneration-agent reservoir  27 . 
     The water-softening agent container  26  is crossed by the fresh water arriving from the fresh-water supply circuit  10 , and is filled with a water softening agent able to reduce the hardness degree of the fresh water flowing through the same water-softening agent container  26 . More in particular, the water-softening agent container  26  has an inlet connected to the fresh-water supply circuit  10  and an outlet connected to the detergent dispensing assembly  9 , so as to be crossed by the fresh water flowing from the water mains to the detergent dispensing assembly  9 . 
     The water-softening agent container  26  is therefore fluidically interposed between the fresh-water supply circuit  10  and the detergent dispensing assembly  9 , or more specifically between the fresh-water supply circuit  10  and the inlet of the drawer flush circuit  18  of detergent dispensing assembly  9 , so as to be crossed by the fresh water flowing from the water mains to the inlet of the drawer flush circuit  18 . 
     The regeneration-agent reservoir  27  instead is fluidically connected to the water-softening agent container  26  and is structured for receiving a given quantity of salt or other regeneration agent which is able to regenerate the water softening function of the water softening agents stored inside the water-softening agent container  26 . 
     The water-softening agent container  26  and the regeneration-agent reservoir  27  are both housed inside the casing  2 , and the regeneration-agent reservoir  27  is furthermore preferably arranged inside the casing  2  immediately adjacent to the detergent dispensing assembly  9  in a direction locally substantially parallel to the front wall  2   a  of casing  2 , so that both the detergent dispensing assembly  9  and the regeneration-agent reservoir  27  of the water softening device  11  are directly exposed or exposable on the outside of boxlike casing  2 , one beside the other, for being preferably independently accessible by the user at any moment. 
     In particular, the regeneration-agent reservoir  27  of the water softening device  11  is preferably housed inside the boxlike casing  2  immediately adjacent to the drawer housing  17 , preferably on the side of the drawer housing  17  directly faced to the adjoining side wall  2   b  of boxlike casing  2 , and is provided with a corresponding independent inlet which is exposed or exposable to the outside of the boxlike casing  2  beside the inlet of detergent dispensing assembly  9 , i.e. beside the front entrance or opening  17   a  of the drawer housing  17 . This independent inlet is suitable for loading the salt or other regeneration agents inside the regeneration-agent reservoir  27 . 
     In other words, the regeneration-agent reservoir  27  of water softening device  11  comprises a regeneration-agent container which is manually fillable with a given quantity of regeneration agents and is housed inside the casing  2  into a corresponding second outer housing, and the front wall  2   a  of the boxlike casing  2  is provided with a second pass-through opening through which the regeneration-agent container is accessible by the user. 
     Preferably this independent inlet of the regeneration-agent reservoir  27  is furthermore located on the front wall  2   a  of boxlike casing  2  immediately adjacent to the inlet of detergent dispensing assembly  9 , i.e. immediately adjacent to the front entrance or opening  17   a  of the drawer housing  17 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-6 , the water softening device  11  in particular comprises:
         a water-softening agent container  26  which is filled with a given amount of ion-exchange resins (not shown) capable to restrain the calcium and/or magnesium ions (Ca++ an Mg++) dissolved in the fresh water flowing across the same agent container  26 , and which is interposed between the fresh-water supply circuit  10 , i.e. the on-off valve  12  or the one-way valve  14  if present, and the drawer flush circuit  18  of the detergent dispensing assembly  9 ; and   an outside-accessible regeneration-agent reservoir  27  which is structured for receiving a given amount (for example half a Kilo or one Kilo) of salt grains (Sodium Chloride) or similar regeneration chemical agent, and is housed inside the boxlike casing  2  preferably immediately adjacent the drawer housing  17  of detergent dispensing assembly  9  in a direction substantially parallel to the front wall  2   a  of casing  2 , so to emerge from a corresponding pass-through opening realized on the front wall  2   a  of the boxlike casing  2  immediately beside the entrance/front opening  17   a  of the drawer housing  17 .       

     The ion-exchange resins (not shown) stored into the water-softening agent container  26  form the water softening agents of the water softening device  11 . 
     More specifically, the water-softening agent container  26 , hereinafter also referred to as the resin container  26 , is interposed between the fresh-water supply circuit  10 , i.e. the on-off valve  12  or the one-way valve  14  if present, and the inlet of the hydraulic distributor  20 , so to be crossed by the fresh water flowing from the on-off valve  12  to the inlet of drawer flush circuit  18 . 
     Preferably, though not necessarily, the water-softening agent container  26  of the water softening device  11 , i.e. the resin container  26 , is furthermore located beneath the regeneration-agent reservoir  27 . 
     In addition to the above, with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the water softening device  11  furthermore comprises:
         a water supply circuit  28  which is structured for channeling, on command, a given amount of fresh water into the regeneration-agent reservoir  27  so to at least partly dissolve the salt or other regeneration agents stored therein and form a given amount of brine (i.e. salt water); and   an electrically-powered brine-circulating pump  29  which is interposed between the water-softening agent container  26  and the regeneration-agent reservoir  27  and is structured for transferring/moving, when activated, the brine (i.e. the salt water) from the regeneration-agent reservoir  27  to the water-softening agent container  26 , and for completely watertight sealing/isolating, when deactivated, the regeneration-agent reservoir  27  from the water-softening agent container  26  so as to prevent the brine (i.e. the salt water) store in the regeneration-agent reservoir  27  from flowing towards the water-softening agent container  26 .       

     More specifically, the water supply circuit  28  is preferably structured for selectively spilling/pouring, on command, a dense shower of water droplets by gravity into the regeneration-agent reservoir  27 , so to at least partly dissolve the salt or other regeneration agents stored therein and form a given amount of brine (i.e. salt water). 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 , in the example shown, in particular, the regeneration-agent reservoir  27  preferably comprises a salt drawer  31  which is dimensioned for being manually fillable with said given amount of salt grains or other water-softening chemical agent, and is fitted/inserted in manually extractable manner into a completely recessed second drawer housing  32  which, starting from front wall  2   a  of casing  2 , extends substantially horizontally inside the boxlike casing  2  immediately beside the drawer housing  17  of the detergent dispensing assembly  9 , while remaining above the washing tub  3 . The drawer housing  32  furthermore communicates with the outside of casing  2  via a corresponding front entrance or opening  32   a  which is preferably realized on front wall  2   a  of casing  2  locally immediately adjacent to the entrance or front opening  17   a  of the drawer housing  17  of the detergent dispensing assembly  9 . 
     Like detergent drawer  16 , the salt drawer  31  of regeneration-agent reservoir  27  is manually movable inside the drawer housing  32  in a preferably substantially horizontally-oriented, displacement direction between a working position (see  FIG. 3 ) in which the salt drawer  31  is completely recessed inside the corresponding drawer housing  32  preferably while at same time closing the front entrance or opening  32   a  of the same drawer housing  32 , and a completely extracted position (see  FIG. 4 ) in which the salt drawer  31  partly juts out from the front wall  2   a  of casing  2  through the front entrance or opening  32   a  of the corresponding drawer housing  32 . 
     The displacement direction of the salt drawer  31  is furthermore preferably locally substantially parallel to the displacement direction of detergent drawer  16 , thus detergent drawer  16  and salt drawer  31  are able to jut out from the front wall  2   a  of casing  2  while remaining locally substantially parallel to one another. 
     In the example shown, in particular, the salt drawer  31  is preferably fixed to/supported by a longitudinal rail or telescopic runner (not shown) which is arranged into the drawer housing  32  locally substantially parallel to the insertion and extraction direction of the salt drawer  31 , so as to allow the manual displacement of the salt drawer  31  in and out of the drawer housing  32 . Preferably a push-pull mechanism (not shown) is also arranged into the drawer housing  32  to ease the manual insertion and extraction of salt drawer  31 . 
     Like the bottom portion of drawer housing  17 , the bottom portion of drawer housing  32  is preferably shaped/structured so as to form a substantially funnel-shaped catchment basin wherein the brine accumulates, and the suction of the brine-circulating pump  29  directly communicates with the bottom of drawer housing  32  so that the brine-circulating pump  29  is able to selectively pump the brine from the funnel-shaped catchment basin of drawer housing  32  to the resin container  26 . 
     Lastly, with reference to  FIG. 5 , the drawer housing  32  of the regeneration-agent reservoir  27  is preferably, though not necessarily, realized in one piece with the drawer housing  17  of the detergent dispensing assembly  9 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 , the water supply circuit  28  of water softening device  11 , in turn, is preferably structured for spilling/pouring a dense shower of the water droplets by gravity directly into the salt drawer  31  when the salt drawer  31  is completely inserted into the drawer housing  32 , and the bottom and/or at least one of sidewalls of the salt drawer  31  have a water-permeable structure, so as to form the brine directly into the substantially funnel-shaped catchment basin on the bottom of drawer housing  32 . 
     In the example shown, in particular, the bottom and at least one of the two longer sidewalls of salt drawer  31  have a meshed structure so as to allow the fresh water spilled/poured into the salt drawer  31  to freely reach and at least partly dissolve the salt grains located inside the salt drawer  31  to form a given amount of brine which drops directly on the funnel-shaped catchment basin present on the bottom of drawer housing  32 . 
     Furthermore, with reference to  FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 , in the example shown the front panel  16   f  of the detergent drawer  16  is preferably substantially handle-shaped and is preferably dimensioned so to completely cover, when the detergent drawer  16  is completely inserted into the drawer housing  17 , both the entrance/front opening  17   a  of drawer housing  17  and the entrance/front opening  32   a  of drawer housing  32 , so to completely hide both the detergent dispensing assembly  9  and the internal water softening device  11 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , alike the drawer flush circuit  18 , the water supply circuit  28  of water softening device  11  preferably comprises:
         a sprinkler head  33  which is associated to the drawer housing  32  so as to be located immediately above the salt drawer  31  when the latter is completely inserted/recessed into the drawer housing  32 , and it is provided with a shower-making portion/section that preferably, though not necessarily, extends above the whole salt drawer  31 , and is structured for feeding a dense shower of water droplets by gravity into the salt drawer  31 ; and   a valve assembly which is located immediately upstream of the sprinkler head  33  and is structured for selectively channeling the fresh water arriving from the fresh-water supply circuit  10  towards the sprinkler head  33 .       

     Preferably, though not necessarily, the valve assembly of water supply circuit  28  is furthermore located downstream of the resin container  26  so as to selectively channel towards the sprinkler head  33  the softened fresh water coming out of the resin container  26 . 
     In the example shown, in particular, the drawer housing  32  preferably comprises a substantially basin-shaped lower vessel which is preferably arranged immediately adjacent/adjoining the substantially basin-shaped lower vessel of drawer housing  17 , and the upper lid or cover  22  of drawer housing  17  is preferably shaped/structured to additionally extend above the basin-shaped lower vessel of drawer housing  32  for closing the top of the substantially basin-shaped lower vessel of drawer housing  32 . The drawer housing  32  is therefore upwardly delimited by a portion of the upper lid or cover  22  of the detergent dispensing assembly  9 . 
     In other words, the drawer housing  32  of the regeneration-agent reservoir  27  is formed by a substantially basin-shaped lower vessel and by a portion of the upper lid or cover  22  of drawer housing  17 . 
     In the example shown, in particular, the basin-shaped vessel of drawer housing  32  is preferably realized in one piece with the basin-shaped lower vessel of drawer housing  17 . 
     Preferably the portion of the upper lid or cover  22  forming the drawer housing  32  is furthermore structured for supporting at least the sprinkler head  33  of the water supply circuit  28 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , in the example shown, in particular, the upper lid or cover  22  of drawer housing  17  is preferably structured to also incorporate at least part of the water supply circuit  28  of the water softening device  11 . 
     In particular, the upper lid or cover  22  of drawer housing  17 ,  32  is preferably structured so to also incorporate the sprinkler head  33  of the water supply circuit  28 . Therefore the upper lid or cover  22  forms a water delivery member  22  that incorporates at least part of the detergent flush circuit  18 , i.e. the sprinkler head  21  of the detergent flush circuit  18 , and at least part of the water supply circuit  28 , i.e. the sprinkler head  33  of the water supply circuit  28 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , moreover in the example shown the water supply circuit  28  of water softening device  11  preferably branches off from the hydraulic distributor  20 . 
     In particular, the water supply circuit  28  of the internal water softening device  11  preferably branches off from the drawer flush circuit  18  of the detergent dispensing assembly  9 . In other words, the water supply circuit  28  of the water softening device  11  is preferably fluidically connected to the electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor  20 , and the valve assembly of the water supply circuit  28  is incorporated into the same electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor  20 . 
     In the example shown, in fact, the upper lid or cover  22  is preferably provided with a third internal water channel  22   c  which extends inside the same upper lid or cover  22  from a corresponding outlet of the rotatable water diverter  20   a  of the hydraulic distributor  20 , and ends into the sprinkler head  33  so as to channel the fresh water coming out of the rotatable water diverter  20   a  directly into the salt drawer  31 . 
     The electric motor  20   b  of hydraulic distributor  20 , in turn, is structured to selectively place/arrange the rotatable water diverter  20   a  in a position that allows, when the brine is requested, to channel the fresh water arriving from the resin container  26  to the third internal water channel  22   c  of the upper lid or cover  22 . 
     In other words, the water supply circuit  28  comprises a third internal water channel  22   c  that branches off from a corresponding outlet of the hydraulic distributor  20  of drawer flush circuit  18 , and extends inside the upper lid or cover  22  up to reach the sprinkler head  33  immediately above the salt drawer  31 , so as to feed a shower of water droplets into the regeneration-agent reservoir  27  under direct control of the hydraulic distributor  20 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , in the example shown the laundry washing machine  1  is preferably also provided with a first water drain line  35  which is connected to a corresponding outlet of the electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor  20  or similar valve assembly, and is structured for channeling the brine or fresh water arriving from the resin container  25  preferably directly into the washing tub  3  bypassing the detergent compartments  16   a . As an alternative, the first water drain line  35  is structured for channeling the brine or fresh water arriving from the resin container  26  preferably into the drain sump  36  that extends downwards from the bottom of the washing tub  3 ; or into the water filtering assembly  37  that is interposed between the drain sump  36  of washing tub  3  and the suction of the water circulating pump  38  and/or of the water exhaust pump  39  which, in the example shown, are both preferably located on the bottom of casing  2 ; or substantially directly into the water exhaust pump  39  which drains the waste water or washing liquor outside of the laundry washing machine  441 ; or in any case into the waste-water drain line that channels the waste water or washing liquor outside the laundry washing machine  1 . 
     In other words, one of the outlets of the rotatable water diverter  20   a  of hydraulic distributor  20  is preferably connected to an auxiliary water drain line  35  which preferably, though not necessarily, ends into the washing tub  3 , or into the drain sump  36 , or into the water filtering assembly  37 , or into the water exhaust pump  39 ; and the electric motor  20   b  is structured to selectively place/arrange the rotatable water diverter  20   a  in a position that allows to channel the brine or fresh water arriving from the resin container  26  to the water drain line  35  which, in turn, channels said brine or fresh water directly into the washing tub  3 , or into the drain sump  36 , or into the water filtering assembly  37 , or into the water exhaust pump  39 . 
     In the example shown, in particular, the upper lid or cover  22  of detergent dispensing assembly  9  is preferably provided with a fourth internal water channel  22   d  which extends inside the upper lid or cover  22  from a corresponding outlet of the rotatable water diverter  20   a , to the inlet of a hosepipe  40  or the like that extend towards the bottom of casing  2  and ends directly into the washing tub  3 , or into the drain sump  36 , or into the water filtering assembly  37 , or into the water exhaust pump  39 . 
     Preferably, in addition to the hosepipe  40  and the fourth internal water channel  22   d , the auxiliary water drain line  35  may also comprise a corresponding air-break assembly arranged along the fourth internal water channel  22   d  of the upper lid or cover  22 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , the brine-circulating pump  29  of the water softening device  11  is instead preferably, though not necessarily, incorporated/located on the bottom of drawer housing  32 , i.e. on the bottom of the regeneration-agent reservoir  27 , and preferably consists in a peristaltic pump  29  or other type of volumetric pump specifically structured for transferring/moving, when activated, the brine (i.e. the salt water) from the regeneration-agent reservoir  27  to the water-softening agent container  26 , and for completely sealing/isolating, when deactivated, the regeneration-agent reservoir  27  from the water-softening agent container  26  so as to prevent the brine (i.e. the salt water) store in the regeneration-agent reservoir  27  from flowing towards the water-softening agent container  26 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 , the resin container  26 , in turn, is located inside the casing  2  preferably, though not necessarily, immediately beneath the regeneration-agent reservoir  27  and immediately beside the upper portion of washing tub  3 , so as to internally face the front wall  2   a  of casing  2 . 
     In other words, the resin container  26  is preferably located below the drawer housing  17  of detergent dispensing assembly  9 , laterally staggered with respect to the same drawer housing  17 , and within an approximately triangular pocket seat or compartment delimited by the sidewall  2   b  of the boxlike casing  2 , the upper portion of the washing tub  3 , the front wall  2   a  of casing  2 , and the drain duct  19  connecting the drawer housing  17  to the washing tub  3 . 
     Moreover, the resin container  26  is preferably realized as a completely stand-alone modular component-part or cartridge  26  which is provided with mechanical coupling members (not shown) structured for allowing a rigid and stable, though easily releasable, fastening of the stand-alone modular component-part or cartridge  26  directly to the bottom of the regeneration-agent reservoir  27 , and with hydraulic connectors (not shown) structured for allowing the stable, though easily removable, fluidical connection of the stand-alone modular component-part or cartridge  26  to the fresh water supply circuit  10 , to the detergent dispensing assembly  9 , and to the outlet of the brine-circulating pump  29 . 
     More in particular, a first hydraulic connector (not shown) of the stand-alone modular component-part or cartridge  26  is structured to directly communicate with the on-off valve  12 , or the one-way valve  14  if present, so as to allow the inflow of the fresh water into the resin container  26 . A second hydraulic connector (not shown) of the stand-alone modular component-part or cartridge  26  is structured to directly communicate with the inlet of the drawer flush circuit  18  so as to allow the outflow of the fresh water from the resin container  26  towards the hydraulic distributor  20 . A third hydraulic connector (not shown) of the stand-alone modular component-part or cartridge  26  is structured to directly communicate with the outlet of the brine-circulating pump  29  so as to allow the controlled inflow of the brine (i.e. the salt water) into the resin container  26 . 
     In addition to the above, the ion-exchange resins (not shown) are preferably, though not necessarily, confined inside the resin container  26 , into a water-permeable basket (not shown) whose volume is less than that of the resin container  26  so as to form an internal peripheral gap or interspace allowing free fresh-water circulation. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the internal water softening device  11  preferably additionally comprises a second water drain line  41  which fluidically connects the resin container  26 , i.e. the water-softening agent container  26 , either to the washing tub  3 , or to the drain sump  36 , or to the water filtering assembly  37 , or substantially directly into the water exhaust pump  39  that drains the waste water or washing liquor outside the laundry washing machine  1 , and it is structured for selectively draining the brine or fresh water out of the resin container  26  and channeling said brine or fresh water directly into the washing tub  3 , or into the drain sump  36 , or into the water filtering assembly  37 , or substantially directly into the water exhaust pump  39  that drains the waste water or washing liquor outside the laundry washing machine  1 . 
     In the example shown, in particular, the second water drain line  41  preferably comprises a hosepipe  42  which directly connects the bottom of the resin container  26  to the washing tub  3 , or to the drain sump  36 , or to the water filtering assembly  37 , or to water exhaust pump  39 ; and an electrically-controlled on-off valve  43  which is located along the hosepipe  42  for controlling the outflow of the brine or fresh water from the resin container  26 . 
     Lastly the internal water softening device  11  is preferably also provided with water-hardness sensor means (not shown) structured for measuring the hardness degree of the fresh water coming out from the resin container  26 , i.e. the water-softening agent container  26 , directed towards the detergent dispensing assembly  9 . 
     In the example shown, in particular, the water-hardness sensor means are able to communicate with an internal electronic central control unit (not shown) which controls all electrically-operated component parts of the laundry washing machine  1 , and is housed inside the boxlike casing  2 , preferably on the back of the control panel  15  located on front wall  2   a.    
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , the laundry washing machine  1  is finally provided with a second fresh-water supply circuit  44  which connects the water mains directly to the inlet of the drawer flush circuit  18  of detergent dispensing assembly  9  bypassing the water softening device  11 , and is structured so to selectively channel to the inlet of the drawer flush circuit  18  a second flow of fresh water of the water mains. This second fresh-water supply circuit  44  therefore is able to channel the fresh water of the water mains directly towards the inlet of drawer flush circuit  18  independently from the fresh-water supply circuit  10 . Furthermore, if the water drain line  35  is present, the second fresh-water supply circuit  44  is also able to channel the non-softened fresh water directly to the washing tub  3  via the water drain line  35  bypassing all detergent compartments  16   a  of the detergent drawer  16 . 
     In other words, the fresh-water supply circuit  44  is able to channel the fresh water of the water mains directly towards the electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor  20  or similar valve assembly, bypassing the water softening device  11 . The electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor  20  then channels this non-softened fresh water selectively and alternatively towards the various detergent compartments  16   a  of the detergent drawer  16  according the washing cycle selected by the user. 
     Likewise the fresh-water supply circuit  10 , the second fresh-water supply circuit  44  preferably comprises:
         a second electrically-controlled on-off valve  45  which is fluidically interposed between the water mains and the inlet of the hydraulic distributor  20 , i.e. the inlet of the drawer flush circuit  18  of detergent dispensing assembly  9 , and is able to control/regulate the flow of fresh water from the water mains towards the inlet of the hydraulic distributor  20 , i.e. towards the inlet of the drawer flush circuit  18  or rather the entrance of the first internal water channel  22   a  of the upper lid or cover  22 ; and preferably also   a hosepipe or the like  46  connecting the on-off valve  45  directly to the inlet of the electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor  20 , i.e. to the inlet of the drawer flush circuit  18  of detergent dispensing assembly  9  or rather the entrance of the first internal water channel  22   a  of the upper lid or cover  22 , bypassing the resin container  26 .       

     Furthermore the second fresh-water supply circuit  44  preferably also comprises a second one-way valve  47  which is located downstream of the on-off valve  45 , and is structured to allow the fresh water to only flow along the hosepipe  46 , from the water mains to the inlet of the hydraulic distributor  20 , i.e. to the inlet of the drawer flush circuit  18  of detergent dispensing assembly  9 , and not vice versa. 
     General operation of home laundry washing machine  1  is clearly inferable from the above description. When the on-off valve  12  is opened the fresh water flows from the water mains to the resin container  26  of the internal water softening device  11 , wherein the ion-exchange resins reduce the hardness degree of the fresh water directed to the detergent dispensing assembly  9 . The water-hardness sensor means monitor the hardness degree of the fresh water directed to the detergent dispensing assembly  9 . 
     After having crossed the resin container  26 , the softened fresh water of the water mains reaches the detergent dispensing assembly  9  and enters into the drawer flush circuit  19  directed towards the electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor  20 . According to stage of the washing cycle, the hydraulic distributor  20  then channels said softened fresh water to one or more of the shower-making portions/sections  21   a  of the sprinkler head  21  (i.e. to one or more of the shower-making sections/portions of the upper lid or cover  22 ) for flushing the detergent, softener or other washing agent out of the corresponding detergent compartment  16   a  of the detergent drawer  16  and sweeping away said detergent, softener or other washing agent down into the washing tub via the drain duct  19 . 
     When determined that the ion-exchange resins inside the resin container  26  are no more able to reduce the hardness degree of the fresh water directed to the washing tub  3  via the detergent dispensing assembly  9 , the electronic central control unit (not shown) of laundry washing machine  1  performs, preferably immediately before the starting of the rinsing phase of the washing cycle, a regeneration process of the ion-exchange resins stored inside the resin container  26 . 
     The regeneration process may also take place during the washing phase of the washing cycle, or can take place even when no washing cycle at all is running, preferably on specific request of the user. 
     During this regeneration process, the central control unit of laundry washing machine  1  firstly arranges the hydraulic distributor  20  so to channel the fresh water coming out of the water softening device  11  towards the water supply circuit  28 , and then opens again the on-off valve  12  for enough time to form, on the bottom of drawer housing  32  (i.e. into the regeneration-agent reservoir  27 ), the whole amount of brine necessary for the resin regeneration process to take place. Before arriving into the salt drawer  31 , the fresh water flows through the resin container  26 , the rotatable water diverter  20   a  of hydraulic distributor  20  and finally the sprinkler head  33  on the upper lid or cover  22 . 
     When the whole amount of brine is formed into the regeneration-agent reservoir  27 , i.e. after having closed the on-off valve  12 , the central control unit of laundry washing machine  1  activates the brine-circulating pump  29  to transfer/move the whole amount of brine at a time from the bottom of drawer housing  32 , i.e. from the regeneration-agent reservoir  27 , to the resin container  26 , i.e. to the water-softening agent container  26 . 
     Alternatively, at beginning of the regeneration process, the central control unit of laundry washing machine  1  firstly arranges the hydraulic distributor  20  so as to channel the fresh water towards the water supply circuit  28 , and then opens for a short time the on-off valve  12  so to spill/pour a given amount of fresh water into the regeneration-agent reservoir  27  to form a small amount of brine. 
     When the small amount of brine is formed into the regeneration-agent reservoir  27 , the central control unit of laundry washing machine  1  closes the on-off valve  12  and activates the brine-circulating pump  29  so as to start transferring/moving the brine (i.e. the salt water) from the bottom of drawer housing  32 , i.e. from the regeneration-agent reservoir  27 , to the resin container  26 , i.e. to the water-softening agent container  26 . Since the resin container  26  is completely filled with the fresh water of the water mains, the brine entering into the resin container  26  pushes out of the resin container  26  the fresh water previously stored therein. This fresh water, in turn, flow towards the hydraulic distributor  20  and then towards the water supply circuit  28  up to arrive into the regeneration-agent reservoir  27  where it forms other brine to be transferred into the resin container  26 . 
     The central control unit of laundry washing machine  1  then maintains the brine-circulating pump  29  activated so as to continue circulating the fresh water in closed loop along the resin container  26  and the water supply circuit  28  for dissolving much more salt and increasing the salt degree of the brine into the resin container  26 , until when the water-softening agent container  26  is completely filled with a sufficient amount of brine. 
     In both cases, when the water-softening agent container  26  is completely filled with a sufficient amount of brine, the central control unit of laundry washing machine  1  deactivates the brine-circulating pump  29  to watertight sealing the resin container  26  from the regeneration-agent reservoir  27 , and to restrain the brine inside the resin container  26  for a predetermined time interval generally sufficient to allow the brine to remove from the ion-exchange resins the calcium and magnesium ions previously combined/fixed to said resins. 
     Preferably when the brine is restrained inside the resin container  26  for completing the regeneration process of the ion-exchange resins, the central control unit of laundry washing machine  1  also arranges the hydraulic distributor  20  so to put the outlet of the resin container  26  in direct communication with the auxiliary water drain line  35 . 
     When the regeneration process of the ion-exchange resins is completed, the central control unit of laundry washing machine  1  opens again the on-off valve  12  of the fresh-water supply circuit  10 , so that the pressurized fresh water of the water mains pushes the brine away from the resin container  26  and into the washing tub  3 , or into the drain sump  36 , or into the water filtering assembly  37 , or into the water exhaust pump  39 , via the water drain line  35 . Alternatively, the central control unit of laundry washing machine  1  opens the on-off valve  43  to drain by gravity the brine out of the resin container  26  through the water drain line  41 . 
     The brine stored in the resin container  26  therefore flows directly into the washing tub  3  or into the drain sump  36  or into the water filtering assembly  37 , or into the water exhaust pump  39 , via the water drain line  35  and/or via the water drain line  41 . 
     Finally, preferably after having closed again the on-off valves  12  and  43 , the central control unit of the laundry washing machine  1  activates the water exhaust pump  39  so to discharge the brine out of the laundry washing machine  1  preferably together with the washing or rinsing water already stored on the bottom of the washing tub  3 , and continues the washing cycle. 
     The second fresh-water supply circuit  44 , in turn, can channel the fresh water of the water mains towards the inlet of drawer flush circuit  18  bypassing the water softening device  11 , so to channel the non-softened fresh water of the water mains directly towards the inlet of hydraulic distributor  20 . Thus the electrically-controlled hydraulic distributor  20  can channel towards any one of the detergent compartments  16   a  of detergent drawer  16 , or towards the first water drain line  35  if present, either softened or non-softened (i.e. normal) fresh water of the water mains. 
     The laundry washing machine  1  is therefore able to use, during each stage of the washing cycle, i.e. laundry wetting, pre-wash, main wash, rinsing, either softened or non-softened fresh water of the water mains or a mixture of them. The second fresh-water supply circuit  44 , in fact, can channel non-softened fresh water to the inlet of the drawer flush circuit  18  of detergent dispensing assembly  9  independently from the fresh-water supply circuit  10 , thus also at the same time of the fresh-water supply circuit  10 . 
     In a less sophisticated embodiment, however, the electronic central control unit of the laundry washing machine  1  may be programmed to regenerate the ion-exchange resins stored in the resin container  26  after a given number of washing cycles. This number of washing cycles may be decided by the user on the basis of an alleged hardness degree of the fresh water coming out from the water mains. 
     In this less sophisticated embodiment the water-hardness sensor means monitor are unnecessary. 
     The advantages resulting from the presence of the second fresh-water supply circuit  44  are remarkable. The second fresh-water supply circuit  44 , in fact, allows to significantly improve the working flexibility of the laundry washing machine  1 . During the phases of the washing cycle where no detergent agents are required, such as, for example, the pre-wash and rinsing phases of the washing cycle, or even during the main washing phase, the laundry washing machine  1  can now use normal fresh water, thus significantly lengthening the time between the regenerations of the ion-exchange resins. 
     The brine-circulating pump  29 , instead, allows to produce the brine (i.e. the salt water) using the fresh water currently stored inside the resin container  26 , thus minimising the use of fresh water during the regeneration process. The brine-circulating pump  29  moreover allows to arrange the resin container  26 , i.e. the water-softening agent container  26 , spaced far away from the regeneration-agent reservoir  27 , in any place inside the boxlike casing  2 , thus even above the regeneration-agent reservoir  27 . 
     Clearly, changes may be made to the front-loading laundry washing machine  1  as described above without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     For example, in an alternative non-shown embodiment the electrically-powered brine-circulating pump  29  may be replaced by an electrically-powered pump assembly comprising a conventional electrically-powered suction pump and an on-off valve which is arranged immediately upstream of the suction pump and is structured to watertight seal the suction/inlet of the electrically-powered suction pump when the latter is deactivated, and to put the suction/inlet of the electrically-powered suction pump in direct communication with the inside of the regeneration-agent reservoir  27  when the suction pump is activated. 
     With reference to  FIG. 7 , in an alternative embodiment the water supply circuit  28  of water softening device  11  may comprise a three-way valve  50  arranged along the water line that channels the fresh water from the outlet of the resin container  26  to the inlet of the drawer flush circuit  18  of detergent dispensing assembly  9 , and the sprinkler head  33  of the water supply circuit  28  is connected to said three-way valve  50 . The three-way valve  50  is structured for selectively and alternatively-channeling the fresh water coming out of the resin container  26  either to the sprinkler head  33  for producing the brine or, according to the arrangement of the water softening device  11 , to the inlet of the drawer flush circuit  18  of detergent dispensing assembly  9 . 
     In this embodiment, therefore, the brine-circulating pump  29  circulates the fresh water in closed loop along the resin container  26  and the water supply circuit  28  without involving the hydraulic distributor  20 . Thus the water supply circuit  28  of water softening device  11  is completely separated from the drawer flush circuit  18  of detergent dispensing assembly  9 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 8 , in a second alternative embodiment the water supply circuit  28  of water softening device  11  may be structured for selectively draining fresh water directly from the water mains. In other words, the valve assembly of the water supply circuit  28  may comprise an electrically-controlled on-off valve  60  which is arranged/interposed between the water mains and the sprinkler head  33 , and is able to control/regulate the flow of fresh water from the water mains towards the sprinkler head  33 ; and a hosepipe  61  or the like connecting the on-off valve  60  directly to the sprinkler head  33 . 
     In this embodiment, the electrically-controlled on-off valve  60  is furthermore preferably dimensioned so as to have a nominal flow rate substantially equal to the nominal flow rate of the brine-circulating pump  29 , so as to transfer/move the brine little by little from the regeneration-agent reservoir  27  to the resin container  26 , thus minimising the permanency of the brine on the bottom of drawer housing  32 . 
     Preferably, though not necessarily, the water supply circuit  28  of water softening device  11  may also have an additional one-way valve  62  which is located immediately downstream of the on-off valve  60 , i.e. between the on-off valve  60  and the sprinkler head  33 , and which is structured to allow the fresh water to only flow along hosepipe  61  from the water mains to the sprinkler head  33 . 
     Also in this case, therefore, the water supply circuit  28  of water softening device  11  is completely separated from the drawer flush circuit  18  of detergent dispensing assembly  9 . 
     Furthermore, in a first non-shown less sophisticated embodiment the brine-circulating pump  29  may be replaced by an electrically-controlled on-off valve which is structured to selectively and alternatively put the regeneration-agent reservoir  27  in direct communication with the water-softening agent container  26  for allowing the brine to flow by gravity from the regeneration-agent reservoir  27  to the water-softening agent container  26 , or to completely watertight seal/isolate the regeneration-agent reservoir  27  from the water-softening agent container  26 . In this less sophisticated embodiment the water-softening agent container  26  has to be arranged beneath the regeneration-agent reservoir  27 . 
     As an alternative, in a second non-shown less sophisticated embodiment the brine-circulating pump  29  may be replaced by a passive one-way valve which is structured for allowing the brine to flow by gravity from the regeneration-agent reservoir  27  to the water-softening agent container  26 , and not vice versa.