Patent Publication Number: US-2020291563-A1

Title: Laundry washing machine

Description:
The present invention relates to a laundry washing machine. 
     More in detail, the present invention relates to a front-loading home laundry washing machine, to which the following description specifically refers purely by way of example without this implying any loss of generality. 
     As is known, a front-loading home laundry washing machine generally comprises: a substantially parallelepiped-shaped outer boxlike casing structured for resting on the floor; a substantially horizontally-oriented and approximately cylindrical washing tub which is usually suspended in floating manner inside the casing, with the front mouth directly facing a laundry loading-unloading through opening formed in the front wall of the casing; a substantially cylindrical, cup-shaped rotatable drum structured for accommodating the laundry to be washed, and which is fitted in axially rotatable manner inside the washing tub with the concavity facing the laundry loading-unloading opening, so as to be able to freely rotate inside the washing tub about the substantially horizontally-oriented, longitudinal axis of the washing tub; an elastically-deformable bellows which watertight connects the front mouth of the washing tub to the 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; and an electrically-powered motor assembly which is structured for driving into rotation the rotatable drum about its longitudinal axis inside the washing tub. 
     This type of laundry washing machine furthermore comprises: a detergent dispenser which is located inside the boxlike casing, immediately above the washing tub, and is structured for selectively feeding into the washing tub, according to the washing cycle manually-selected by the user, a given amount of detergent, softener and/or other washing agent suitably mixed with water arriving from the water mains; a fresh-water supply circuit which is structured for selectively drawing water from the water mains according to the washing cycle manually-selected by the user, and channelling said water to the detergent dispenser or directly to the washing tub; and finally an appliance control panel which is generally located on the front wall of the casing, above the laundry loading-unloading opening, and is structured for allowing the user to manually select the desired washing-cycle. 
     In the past years, several attempts have been made to incorporate, into the laundry washing machine, an electrochemical device capable of internally producing a chlorine-based sanitizing agent to be selectively mixed with water directed towards the washing tub, so as to sanitize or bleach the laundry during the washing cycle, on request of the user. 
     EP0146184 and EP0083740 disclose a laundry washing machine provided with a salt container which is adapted to contain a given amount of brine, i.e. a solution of sodium chloride (NaCl) in water, and an electrolytic cell which receives the brine from the salt container and is adapted to perform the electrolysis of said brine to produce a chlorine-based sanitizing agent which is subsequently channelled into the washing tub. 
     Unfortunately, due to the particular layout of the hydraulic circuit of the laundry washing machine, in both cases the salt container consists of a water-tight and manually-openable container which is located close to the bottom of the casing, with all problems that this entails. 
     For example, on refilling of the salt container, the user is requested to adopt an uncomfortable excessively-bended stance for manually pouring the sodium-chloride grains into the salt container. 
     Furthermore, the refilling of the salt container is a relatively long and complicated operation because the salt container is normally filled up with brine, thus there is the risk that some brine accidentally overflows from the salt container when the sodium-chloride grains (NaCl) are too quickly poured into the salt container. 
     Moreover, after refilling, salt grains accidentally remaining on the mouth of the salt container may compromise the watertight sealing of the closure plug, thus causing water leakages. 
     Aim of the present invention is to simply and make easier the manual refilling of the salt container of the laundry washing machines disclosed in EP0146184 and in EP0083740, and also to simply the hydraulic circuit of the same laundry washing machines so as to reduce the overall production costs. 
     In compliance with the above aims, according to the present invention there is provided a laundry washing machine as defined in Claim  1  and preferably, though not necessarily, in anyone of the dependent claims, or as defined in Claim  22  and preferably, though not necessarily, in anyone of the dependent claims. 
    
    
     
       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 laundry washing machine realized in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, with parts removed for clarity; 
         FIG. 2  is a second perspective view of the  FIG. 1  laundry washing machine, with parts in section and removed for clarity; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view of the top of the laundry washing machine shown in  FIG. 1 , with parts removed for clarity; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged perspective view of the detergent dispensing assembly of the laundry washing machine shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 , with parts removed for clarity; 
         FIG. 5  is a partly exploded perspective view of the detergent dispensing assembly shown in  FIG. 4 , with parts removed for clarity; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view of the detergent dispensing assembly shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a partly exploded perspective view of the detergent dispensing assembly shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , with parts removed for clarity; 
         FIGS. 8 and 9  are partly exploded perspective views of the electrolytic reactor assembly shown in  FIG. 7 , with parts removed for clarity; 
         FIG. 10  is a partially exploded perspective view of the detergent drawer of the detergent dispensing assembly shown in  FIGS. 4, 5 and 7 , with parts removed for clarity; 
         FIG. 11  is a sectioned side view of the detergent drawer shown in  FIG. 10 , with parts removed for clarity; 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of the detergent dispensing assembly shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ; whereas 
         FIGS. 13, 14 and 15  are perspective views of respective further alternative embodiments of the laundry washing machine shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 . 
     
    
    
     With reference to  FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 , reference number  1  denotes as a whole a laundry washing machine  1  preferably suitable for domestic use. 
     More in detail, the laundry washing machine  1  preferably basically comprises: a preferably substantially parallelepiped-shaped, boxlike outer casing  2  structured for stably resting on the floor; a preferably substantially horizontally-oriented, approximately cylindrical, hollow washing tub  3  which is arranged inside the casing  2  with the mouth directly facing a laundry loading-unloading opening formed on the outer casing  2 ; a substantially cylindrical, hollow rotatable drum (not shown) which is structured for accommodating the laundry to be washed, and is fitted in axially rotatable manner inside the washing tub  3  so as to be able to freely rotate about its longitudinal axis inside the washing tub  3 ; a door  4  which is hinged to the outer casing  2  so as to be manually movable to and from a closing position in which the door  4  closes the laundry loading-unloading opening on casing  2  for watertight sealing the washing tub  3 ; and an electrically-powered motor assembly  5  which is structured for driving into rotation the rotatable drum (not shown) about its longitudinal axis inside the washing tub  3 . 
     In the example shown, in particular, the washing tub  3  preferably has a preferably substantially circular-shaped, front mouth and is arranged inside the outer casing  2  with said front mouth directly facing a laundry loading-unloading opening formed on a front wall  6  of casing  2 ; whereas the door  4  is preferably hinged to front wall  6  so as to be manually movable to and from a closing position in which the door  4  closes the laundry loading-unloading opening on front wall  6  for watertight sealing the washing tub  3 . 
     Furthermore, the washing tub  3  is preferably suspended in floating manner inside the casing  2  via a suspension system that preferably, though not necessarily, comprises at least one, and preferably a couple of upper coil springs  7  connecting the upper portion of washing tub  3  to the top of casing  2 , and preferably at least one, and preferably a couple of vibration dampers  8  connecting the bottom portion of washing tub  3  to the bottom of casing  2 . 
     Preferably the laundry washing machine  1  moreover comprises an elastically-deformable tubular bellows (not shown) which watertight connects the front mouth of washing tub  3  to the laundry loading-unloading opening preferably realized on the front wall  6  of casing  2 . 
     The rotatable drum, in turn, is preferably substantially cup-shaped and is fitted in axially rotatable manner inside the washing tub  3  with the concavity facing the front mouth of washing tub  3 . Preferably the rotatable drum (not shown) is furthermore arranged inside washing tub  3  with the drum rotation axis locally substantially coaxial to the longitudinal axis of washing tub  3  (i.e. it is oriented substantially horizontally), and with the circular front mouth of the drum directly aligned and faced to the front mouth of washing tub  3 , so as to receive the laundry to be washed through the laundry loading-unloading opening present on front wall  6 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 , the laundry washing machine  1  moreover comprises, inside the casing  2 , a detergent dispenser  10  and a fresh-water supply circuit  11 . 
     The detergent dispenser  10  is located inside the casing  2  above the washing tub  3  and preferably, though not necessarily, immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall  12  of casing  2 , and is structured for selectively feeding into the washing tub  3 , preferably according to the washing cycle manually-selected by the user, a given amount of detergent, softener and/or other washing agent suitably mixed with water. 
     The fresh-water supply circuit  11 , in turn, is directly connected/connectable to the water mains, and is structured for selectively channelling, preferably according to the washing cycle manually-selected by the user, a flow of water from the water mains to the detergent dispenser  10  and/or directly to the washing tub  3 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 to 8 , the laundry washing machine  1  furthermore includes an electrochemical device  13  which is located inside the boxlike casing  2  and is capable of internally producing a chlorine-based sanitizing agent which is subsequently channelled into the washing tub  3  to perform, preferably on request of the user, a sanitizing or bleaching process of the laundry during the washing cycle. Preferably this chlorine-based sanitizing agent is moreover water-diluted bleach. 
     More in detail, the electrochemical device  13  is preferably connected to the detergent dispenser  10  and is capable of internally producing a chlorine-based sanitizing agent which is preferably subsequently channelled into the detergent dispenser  10 . On arrival into the detergent dispenser  10 , this chlorine-based sanitizing agent preferably then flows directly into the washing tub  3 , preferably, though not necessarily, together with any water directed towards the washing tub  3 . 
     The electrochemical device  13  firstly includes: an unpressurized salt container  14  which is adapted to contain a given amount of consumable salt grains, i.e. solid salt, preferably of sodium chloride (NaCl), and additionally has an unsealed loading inlet which is directly exposed or exposable to the outside of the boxlike casing  2 , and is preferably specifically designed to allow the user to easily manually pour/load the salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) directly into the same salt container  14 ; and preferably also a water supply line  15  which is adapted to channel, on command, a given amount of water into the salt container  14  so as to dissolve at least part of the salt grains contained therein and form a given amount of brine, i.e. a solution of sodium chloride (NaCl) in water. 
     Preferably salt container  14  is moreover dimensioned to contain an amount of consumable salt grains sufficient for performing the sanitizing or bleaching process in several washing cycles. 
     More in detail the salt container  14  is preferably dimensioned to contain an amount of consumable salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) sufficient for producing an amount of chlorine-based sanitizing agent sufficient for performing the sanitizing or bleaching process in several washing cycles. 
     The electrochemical device  13  furthermore includes an electrolytic reactor  16  which fluidically communicates with the salt container  14 , and is adapted to collect and contain substantially the whole brine previously formed into the salt container  14 , so as to avoid any prolonged stagnation of the water/brine intro the salt container  14 . This electrochemical reactor  16  is furthermore adapted to internally convert the brine into the chlorine-based sanitizing agent, and preferably also to subsequently channel/feed said chlorine-based sanitizing agent to the detergent dispenser  10 . 
     In other words, the electrolytic reactor  16  is provided with a brine inlet communicating with the salt container  14  for receiving the brine produced into the latter, and with a sanitizing-agent outlet communicating with the detergent dispenser  10  for supplying the chlorine-based sanitizing agent to the detergent dispenser  10  or directly to the washing tub  3 . Preferably, the electrolytic reactor  16  is moreover provided with at least one air vent for releasing the air or other gas contained or formed inside the same electrolytic reactor  16 . 
     In addition to the above, the electrolytic reactor  16  is preferably located beneath the salt container  14  and preferably directly communicates with the same salt container  14  so as to allow the brine (i.e. salt water) to freely flow by gravity from the salt container  14  to the electrolytic reactor  16 . 
     More in detail, electrolytic reactor  16  preferably comprises: an unpressurized brine container  17  that directly communicates with the salt container  14  and is adapted/dimensioned to collect and contain preferably the whole brine previously formed into the salt container  14 , so as to avoid any prolonged stagnation of the water/brine intro the salt container  14 ; an electrolytic cell  18  which is preferably located/incorporated into the brine container  17  and is capable of converting the brine into a chlorine-based sanitizing agent; and preferably also a small, electrically-powered pump assembly  19  which is capable of selectively pumping the chlorine-based sanitizing agent accumulated into the brine container  17 , from the brine container  17  to the detergent dispenser  10 . Preferably the pump assembly  19 , when deactivated, is moreover capable of watertight isolating the brine container  17  from the detergent dispenser  10 . 
     In the example shown, in particular, the brine container  17  is preferably located immediately underneath the salt container  14  and preferably directly communicates with the same salt container  14  so as to allow the brine (i.e. salt water) to freely flow by gravity from salt container  14  to brine container  17 . 
     The electrolytic cell  18 , in turn, is preferably adapted to perform the electro-chlorination of the brine contained into the brine container  17 , so as to produce hydrogen gas (H 2 ) and water-diluted sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), commonly known as bleach. This water-diluted sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) preferably forms the chlorine-based sanitizing agent. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 , in the example shown, in particular, the whole electrochemical device  13  is preferably arranged inside the casing  2 , above the washing tub  3  and preferably, though not necessarily, also immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall  12  of casing  2 . 
     In other words, the salt container  14  is preferably arranged inside the casing  2  above the washing tub  3  and preferably, though not necessarily, also immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall  12  of casing  2 . Preferably the loading inlet of salt container  14  is furthermore exposed or exposable to the outside on front wall  6  of casing  2 , above the laundry loading-unloading opening. The electrolytic reactor  16 , in turn, is preferably located between the salt container  14  and the washing tub  3 , preferably substantially vertically aligned to the salt container  14 . 
     Furthermore, the whole electrochemical device  13  is preferably located immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall  12  of casing  2 , between the detergent dispenser  10  and a vertical sidewall  20  of the same casing  2 . 
     In other words, the salt container  14  is preferably located inside the boxlike casing  2 , between the detergent dispenser  10  and the vertical sidewall  20  of casing  2 , preferably substantially adjacent to the same vertical sidewall  20 . The electrolytic reactor  16 , in turn, is preferably located immediately underneath the salt container  14 , again preferably substantially adjacent to the vertical sidewall  20 . 
     Preferably the loading inlet of salt container  14  is furthermore exposed or exposable to the outside on the front wall  6  of casing  2 , immediately beneath the upper worktop or top wall  12  of casing  2 . 
     In addition to the above, the whole electrochemical device  13  is preferably adjoined to the detergent dispenser  10 . 
     More in detail, in the example shown the electrochemical device  13  and the detergent dispenser  10  preferably form a single assembly unit. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , in addition to the above, the laundry washing machine  1  furthermore comprises: an appliance electronic control unit (not shown) which is located inside the casing  2  and controls the motor assembly  5 , the detergent dispenser  10 , the fresh-water supply circuit  11  and the electrochemical device  13 , so as to automatically perform the washing cycle preferably selected by the user; and preferably also a control panel  21  which electronically communicates with said electronic control unit and is structured to allow the user to manually select the desired washing cycle preferably among a number of available washing cycles. 
     In the example shown, in particular, the control panel  21  is preferably located on the front wall  6  of casing  2 , above the laundry loading-unloading opening and preferably also immediately beneath the upper worktop or top wall  12  of casing  2 . Whereas the exposed or exposable loading inlet of salt container  14  is preferably located on the front wall  6  of casing  2  substantially horizontally aligned beside the control panel  21 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 to 11 , detergent dispenser  10 , in turn, preferably basically comprises: a detergent drawer  22  which is preferably provided with one or more substantially basin-shaped, detergent compartments  23  (two detergent compartments  23  in the example shown) each structured for being manually fillable with a given amount of detergent, softener or other washing agent, and which is fitted/inserted in manually extractable manner into a corresponding preferably substantially basin-shaped, drawer housing  24  which, in turn, is located/recessed inside the casing  2  above washing tub  3 , and whose entrance is preferably located on front wall  6  of casing  2 , preferably above the laundry loading-unloading opening; and a drawer flush circuit  25  which is connected to the fresh-water supply circuit  11  for receiving the water of the water mains, and is structured for selectively channelling/pouring, when the detergent drawer  22  is completely fitted/inserted into the drawer housing  24 , said water into any one of the detergent compartments  23  of detergent drawer  22 , so as to selectively flush the detergent, softener or other washing agent out of the same detergent compartment  23  and down onto the bottom of drawer housing  24 . 
     Preferably this drawer flush circuit  25  is furthermore directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit. 
     More in detail, the detergent drawer  22  is preferably movable inside the drawer housing  24  parallel to a substantially horizontally-oriented, longitudinal axis L of drawer housing  24  between: a retracted position (see  FIG. 5 ) in which detergent drawer  22  is completely fitted/inserted into drawer housing  24 , so as to be almost completely recessed into the front wall  6  of casing  2 ; and a completely extracted position (see  FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 ) in which detergent drawer  22  partly juts out from the front wall  6  of casing  2 , so as to expose the one or more detergent compartments  23  at once. 
     In other words, detergent drawer  22  is movable inside the drawer housing  24  in a substantially horizontally-oriented, displacement direction d which is locally substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis L of both drawer housing  24  and detergent drawer  22 , between: a retracted position (see  FIG. 5 ) in which detergent drawer  22  is almost completely recessed into the front wall  6  of casing  2  and the one or more detergent compartments  23  of detergent drawer  22  are inaccessible to the user; and a completely extracted position (see  FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 ) in which detergent drawer  22  partly juts out from the front wall  6  of casing  2 , so that all detergent compartments  23  of detergent drawer  22  are fully accessible to the user at same time. 
     In the example shown, furthermore, the entrance of drawer housing  24  is preferably located on front wall  6  of casing  2 , immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall  12  of casing  2  and substantially horizontally aligned beside the control panel  21 . Furthermore the longitudinal axis L of detergent drawer  22  and drawer housing  24 , and as a consequence the displacement direction d of detergent drawer  22 , is preferably locally substantially perpendicular to the front wall  6  of casing  2 . 
     Preferably each detergent compartment  23  is additionally dimensioned to contain a given amount of detergent, softener or other washing agent sufficient for performing only a single washing cycle. 
     In addition to the above, the detergent drawer  22  preferably has, on the bottom or on a sidewall of each detergent compartment  23 , a large through opening (not shown) which is suitably shaped/dimensioned to allow the mixture of water and detergent, softener or other washing agent formed inside the same detergent compartment  23  to freely fall on the bottom of drawer housing  24 . As an alternative to the large through opening, the detergent drawer  22  may have, inside the detergent compartment  23 , a siphon assembly (not shown) which is suitably structured/designed to selectively channel the mixture of water and detergent, softener or other washing agent formed inside the detergent compartment  23  out of the same detergent compartment  23  and down onto the bottom of drawer housing  24 . 
     The drawer flush circuit  25 , in turn, is preferably structured for directly pouring/channelling, when detergent drawer  22  is placed in the retracted position, a shower of water droplets by gravity selectively and alternatively into any one of the detergent compartments  23  of detergent drawer  22 , so as to selectively flush the detergent, softener or other washing agent out of the same detergent compartment  23  and down onto the bottom of drawer housing  24 . 
     In addition to the above, with reference to  FIGS. 3, 4, 7, 10 and 11 , the detergent drawer  22  is preferably additionally provided with a substantially basin-shaped, salt compartment  26  which is located beside the one or more detergent compartments  23 , and is structured/dimensioned for containing a given quantity of consumable salt grains to be used for producing the brine to be channelled into the electrolytic reactor  16 , i.e. into the brine container  17 . 
     Preferably the salt compartment  26  is moreover dimensioned to contain an amount of consumable salt grains sufficient for producing an amount of chlorine-based sanitizing agent sufficient for performing the sanitizing or bleaching process in several washing cycles. 
     More in detail, in the example shown the salt compartment  26  is preferably dimensioned to contain a maximum amount of salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) preferably equal to approximately 0.6 Kg (Kilos) and which suffices for successfully performing the sanitizing or bleaching process during a number of washing cycles preferably ranging between 5 and 15. 
     The salt container  14  of electrochemical device  13 , therefore, is preferably incorporated into the detergent dispenser  10 , or rather into the detergent drawer  22  of detergent dispenser  10 . The electrolytic reactor  16 , in turn, is preferably adjoined to the drawer housing  24  of detergent dispenser  10 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3 and 11 , furthermore the salt compartment  26  is preferably arranged, on detergent drawer  22 , beside the one or more detergent compartments  23  transversally to the displacement direction d of detergent drawer  22 , i.e. transversally to the longitudinal axis L of detergent drawer  22 , so that both detergent compartment/s  23  and salt compartment  26  are allowed to almost contemporaneously come out from the front wall  6  of casing  2  when detergent drawer  22  moves from the retracted position to the extracted position. 
     Detergent drawer  22  is therefore movable inside drawer housing  24  in displacement direction d between: a retracted position (see  FIG. 5 ) in which detergent drawer  22  is completely recessed into the front wall  6  of casing  2 , so that both detergent compartment/s  23  and salt compartment  26  are inaccessible to the user; and a completely extracted position (see  FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 ) in which detergent drawer  22  partly juts out from the front wall  6  of casing  2 , so that both detergent compartment/s  23  and salt compartment  26  are simultaneously fully exposed and accessible to the user. 
     The drawer flush circuit  25  of detergent dispenser  10 , in turn, is preferably additionally structured for selectively and separately channelling, when detergent drawer  22  is in the retracted position, the water of the water mains also into the salt compartment  26 , so that said water can dissolve some of the salt grains contained into the salt compartment  26  to form the brine (i.e. salt water). 
     In other words, the water supply line  15  of electrochemical device  13  is preferably incorporated into the detergent dispenser  10 , or rather into the drawer flush circuit  25  of detergent dispenser  10 . 
     As a result, the drawer flush circuit  25  is preferably structured for selectively and separately pouring/channelling, when the detergent drawer  22  is completely fitted/inserted into drawer housing  24 , the water arriving from the fresh-water supply circuit  11  into any one of the detergent compartments  23  and also into the salt compartment  26 . 
     In case of each detergent compartment  23 , the poured water serves to selectively flush the contents of the detergent compartment  23  out of the same compartment  23  and down on the bottom of drawer housing  24  via the corresponding through opening or siphon assembly. In case of salt compartment  26 , the poured water serves to dissolve some of the consumable salt grains contained into the salt compartment  26  to form the brine (i.e. salt water). 
     With reference to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , in addition to the above the detergent drawer  22  preferably has, on the bottom of salt compartment  26 , a large pass-through drain opening  27  which is suitably shaped/dimensioned to allow the brine (i.e. the salt water) formed inside the salt compartment  26  to freely fall by gravity on the bottom of drawer housing  24 . 
     The fresh water that the drawer flush circuit  25  selectively pours/channels into the salt compartment  26 , therefore, serves to dissolve some of the consumable salt grains contained therein to form the brine (i.e. salt water) that subsequently freely fall by gravity on the bottom of drawer housing  24  via the drain opening  27 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 7, 10 and 11 , in the example shown, in particular, detergent drawer  22  preferably comprises: a substantially basin-shaped, drawer main body  28  which is fitted/inserted in axially sliding manner into the drawer housing  24 , and is shaped/dimensioned to be totally recessed/accommodated inside the drawer housing  24 ; and a manually-sizable front panel  29  which is arranged/located on a front side of the drawer main body  28 , so as to close the entrance of drawer housing  24  when detergent drawer  22  is placed in the retracted position. The drawer main body  28 , furthermore, is preferably made in a one piece construction via an injection moulding process, and the one or more detergent compartments  23  and the salt compartment  26  are preferably directly formed on the drawer main body  28 , one side by side the other. 
     Preferably, the detergent drawer  22  additionally includes a preferably manually-removable, water-permeable cover  30  that closes the drain opening  27 , and additionally has a water-permeable structure designed for preventing the salt grains to accidentally spill out of the salt compartment  26  via the drain opening  27  and, at same time, for allowing the brine to freely flow out of the salt compartment  26  via the drain opening  27 . 
     Preferably the water-permeable cover  30  furthermore has a water-permeable structure suitably designed/dimensioned to slow down the outflow of the brine from the salt compartment  26  via the drain opening  27 , thus to temporary increase/rise the level of the water/brine into the salt compartment  26 . 
     In other words, the water-permeable cover  30  is arranged above the drain opening  27  so as to completely cover the latter, and is preferably structured to allow the passage of the water/brine through the same water-permeable cover  30  with a flowrate which is lower than that of the water channelled/poured into the salt compartment  26  by the water supply line  15 , or rather by the drawer flush circuit  25 , so as to cause a temporary increase/rise of the level of the water inside the salt compartment  26 . 
     The drain opening  27  and the water-permeable cover  30 , therefore, form a brine draining system that allows the brine formed inside the salt compartment  26  to freely fall by gravity on the bottom of drawer housing  24  preferably after a short stay (for example 1 to 3 minutes) into the salt compartment  26 . 
     With particular reference to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , preferably the water-permeable cover  30  has a substantially platelike structure and preferably moreover extends inside the salt compartment  26  above the whole bottom of the salt compartment  26 , preferably slightly spaced from, and locally substantially parallel to, the bottom of salt compartment  26 , so as to form a thin air gap immediately above the bottom of salt compartment  26 . Said thin air gab allows the brine to quickly flow on the bottom of the salt compartment  26  towards the drain opening  27 . 
     In the example shown, in particular, the water-permeable cover  30  preferably consists in a rigid platelike body which is preferably made of plastic material, which preferably substantially copies the shape of the bottom of salt compartment  26 , and which has a microperforated structure suitably dimensioned to slow down the flow of the brine through the same platelike body  30  thus to cause a temporary increase/rise the level of the water/brine into the salt compartment  26 , above the same platelike body  30 . 
     More in detail, the central portion of platelike body  30  is preferably provided with a plenty of substantially evenly distributed, transversal pass-through microslots or microholes each preferably having a cross-sectional area lower that 3 mm 2  (square millimetres), so as to allow the flow/passage of the brine/water through the platelike body  30  with a flowrate preferably ranging between 0.4 and 1 litre/min (litre per minute). The flowrate of the water poured into the salt compartment  26  instead preferably ranges between 5 and 8 litre/min (litre per minute). 
     In addition to the above, with reference to  FIGS. 4, 7, 10 and 11 , the detergent drawer  22  preferably additionally comprises a manually openable, upper lid assembly  31  which is firmly fitted on the drawer main body  28 , on top of the salt compartment  26 , and is structured to selectively close the upper mouth of salt compartment  26 , preferably so as to almost completely cover said upper mouth. 
     Furthermore, the upper lid assembly  31  is additionally structured so as to be able to receive, from drawer flush circuit  25  and at least when detergent drawer  22  is placed in the retracted position, a flow of water and to channel said water into the beneath-located salt compartment  26 , preferably while spreading out the same water inside the salt compartment  26 . 
     In other words, the upper lid assembly  31  is preferably provided with a water inlet which is faced to the outside of salt compartment  26  and is structured to allow the water to enter into the same upper lid assembly  31 , and with one or more water outlets which are faced to the inside of salt compartment  26 , fluidically communicate with said water inlet, and are finally suitably structured to allow the water previously entered into the upper lid assembly  31  through the water inlet to come out of the lid assembly  31  and fall into the salt compartment  26 . 
     The drawer flush circuit  25 , in turn, is preferably structured to selectively channel, when detergent drawer  22  is placed in the retracted position, a flow of water towards the water inlet of the upper lid assembly  31 . 
     In other words, drawer flush circuit  25  is preferably additionally structured to selectively channel, when detergent drawer  22  is placed in the retracted position, the water arriving from the fresh-water supply circuit  11  towards the water inlet of lid assembly  31  which, in turn, is structured to distribute the water arriving from drawer flush circuit  25  into the salt compartment  26 , so as to dissolve some of the consumable salt grains contained into the salt compartment  26  and form the brine (i.e. the salt water) that falls on the bottom of drawer housing  24  via the drain opening  27 . 
     In addition to the above, in the example shown the water inlet of lid assembly  31  is preferably furthermore structured to selectively couple in a stable, though easy detachable manner, with the drawer flush circuit  25  for receiving the water arriving from fresh-water supply circuit  11 , only when the detergent drawer  22  is placed in the retracted position; whereas the upper lid assembly  31  is preferably structured to drip the water into the salt compartment  26 . 
     According to an alternative embodiment, however, the drawer flush circuit  25  could be structured to selectively channel, when detergent drawer  22  is placed in the retracted position, a flow of water directly into the salt compartment  26  of detergent drawer  22  bypassing the upper lid assembly  31 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 7, 10 and 11 , in the example shown, in particular, the upper lid assembly  31  preferably comprises: a platelike member  32  which is structured to rigidly fit into the upper rim of the salt compartment  26  to substantially completely cover/close the upper mouth of the salt compartment  26 ; and a preferably substantially rectangular-shaped, manually-movable trapdoor  33  which is arranged to close a complementary-shaped, pass-through opening which is preferably formed nearly in the middle of platelike member  32 , and is moreover suitably shaped/dimensioned to allow the user to easily manually pour/load the consumable salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) into the same salt compartment  26 . 
     More in detail, the manually-movable trapdoor  33  is preferably flag-hinged to platelike member  32  at one of the two longer sides of the central pass-through opening, so as to be able to freely rotate about a reference axis locally substantially coplanar to the platelike member  32  and preferably also substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis L of both drawer housing  24  and detergent drawer  22 . 
     Preferably the platelike member  32  furthermore has a hollow structure and is provided with a water inlet  34  which is suitably structured to watertight couple, when detergent drawer  22  is placed in the retracted position, with the drawer flush circuit  25  thus to allow the water to enter into the platelike member  32 ; and with one or more water-outlets  35  which are arranged on the lower face of platelike member  32 , preferably all around the central pass-through opening closed by trapdoor  33 , so as to face the inside of salt compartment  26 . 
     The drawer flush circuit  25 , in turn, is preferably structured to selectively couple, when detergent drawer  22  is placed in the retracted position, with the water inlet  34  of platelike member  32 , so as to be able to channel the water of the water mains directly into the platelike member  32  of lid assembly  31 . Each water-outlet  35 , in turn, allows the water previously entered into the platelike member  32  to slowly come out of platelike member  32  and freely fall into the salt compartment  26 . 
     Preferably the water-outlets  35  of platelike member  32  are furthermore suitably shaped/structured to pour a shower of water droplets by gravity into the salt compartment  26 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3, 4, and 7 , the drawer housing  24 , in turn, is preferably divided into two separated and substantially basin-shaped, bottom portions  36  and  37  which are located, when detergent drawer  22  is placed in retracted position, one underneath all detergent compartments  23  of detergent drawer  22  and the other underneath the salt compartment  26  of detergent drawer  22 . 
     More in detail, the bottom of drawer housing  24  is preferably divided by a substantially vertical, partitioning wall into two separated and substantially basin-shaped bottom portions  36  and  37 , which are arranged side by side to one another transversally to the displacement direction d of detergent drawer  22  inside drawer housing  24 , i.e. transversally to the longitudinal axis L of drawer housing  24 . 
     The basin-shaped bottom portion  36  of drawer housing  24  is vertically aligned, when detergent drawer  22  is placed in the retracted position, to the one or more detergent compartments  23  of detergent drawer  22  for receiving/collecting the mixture of water and detergent, softener or other washing agent falling down from any one of the detergent compartments  23 , and moreover directly communicates with the beneath-located washing tub  3 . 
     More in detail the basin-shaped bottom portion  36  preferably directly communicates with the inside of washing tub  3  via a specific connecting duct  38  that branches off from the basin-shaped bottom portion  36  and ends directly into the beneath-located washing tub  3 . The connecting duct  38  allows the mixture of water and detergent, softener or other washing agent to quickly and freely flow by gravity directly into washing tub  3 . 
     The basin-shaped bottom portion  37  of drawer housing  24 , in turn, is vertically aligned, when detergent drawer  22  is placed in the retracted position, to the salt compartment  26  of detergent drawer  22  and for receiving/collecting the brine (i.e. the salt water) trickling/falling down from the salt compartment  26  of detergent drawer  22  via drain opening  27 , and moreover directly communicates with the beneath-located electrolytic reactor  16 . 
     More in detail the basin-shaped bottom portion  37  preferably directly communicates with the inside of the beneath-located electrolytic reactor  16 , or rather with the inside of the beneath-located brine container  17 , so as to allow the brine to freely flow by gravity from the basin-shaped bottom portion  37  to the electrolytic reactor  16 , or rather to the brine container  17 , and accumulate therein. 
     With reference to Figures from  4  to  7 , the drawer flush circuit  25  of detergent dispenser  10 , in turn, preferably comprises: a platelike water conveyor  40  which is suitably structured/designed to form the upper lid of the drawer housing  24 , so as to be located immediately above the detergent drawer  22  when the latter is placed in the retracted position, i.e. when the latter is completely inserted/recessed into the drawer housing  24  (see  FIG. 5 ), and is provided with a number of water delivery portions each suitably structured to allow the outflow of water from the platelike water conveyor  40  towards the beneath-located detergent drawer  22 ; and preferably also an electrically-operated, water distributor  41  which is connected to the fresh-water supply circuit  11  for receiving the fresh water of the water mains, and is suitably structured to selectively channel said fresh water towards any one of the water delivery portions of platelike water conveyor  40 . Preferably the water distributor  41  is furthermore directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit. 
     More in detail, in the example shown the water conveyor  40  is preferably located immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall  12  of casing  2 . 
     Preferably the platelike water conveyor  40  furthermore has, on its lower face (i.e. on the side directly facing the bottom of drawer housing  24 ), a group of first water delivery portions which are locally substantially vertically aligned, when the detergent drawer  22  is placed in the retracted position, each to a respective detergent compartment  23  of detergent drawer  22 . Each first water delivery portion of platelike water conveyor  40  is suitably structured to let the water arriving from water distributor  41  to slowly fall into the beneath-located detergent compartment  23 . 
     In the example shown, in particular, each first water delivery portion of platelike water conveyor  40  is preferably structured to pour by gravity a shower of water droplets directly into the beneath-located detergent compartment  23 . 
     Preferably the platelike water conveyor  40  furthermore has, on its lower face, a second water delivery portion which is substantially vertically aligned, when the detergent drawer  22  is placed in the retracted position, to the salt compartment  26  of detergent drawer  22 , and is suitably structured to let the water arriving from water distributor  41  to slowly fall into the beneath-located salt compartment  26 . 
     More in detail, the second water delivery portion is preferably structured to couple with the water inlet  34  of upper lid assembly  31  for channelling the water into the upper lid assembly  31 . 
     In the example shown, in particular, the second water delivery portion preferably consists in a male or female hydraulic connector (not visible in the figures) that protrudes from the lower face of platelike water conveyor  40  (i.e. on the side directly facing the bottom of drawer housing  24 ), locally parallel to the displacement direction d, and is suitably arranged to couple, when the detergent drawer  22  is placed in the retracted position, in detachable manner with a complementary second hydraulic connector which is incorporated into the water inlet  34  of upper lid assembly  31 , or rather into the water inlet  34  of platelike member  32 , so as to put the upper lid assembly  31  in direct fluid communication with the platelike water conveyor  40 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , preferably the platelike water conveyor  40  moreover has, on its lower face (i.e. on the side directly facing the bottom of drawer housing  24 ), a third water delivery portion which is both substantially vertically aligned to the basin-shaped bottom portion  36  of drawer housing  24  and misaligned to the detergent drawer  22  placed in retracted position. 
     This third water delivery portion of platelike water conveyor  40  is suitably structured to pour/channel the water arriving from water distributor  41  directly into the basin-shaped bottom portion  36  of drawer housing  24 , without affecting/reaching the detergent compartment/s  23 . 
     The drawer flush circuit  25 , therefore, is preferably also capable of selectively channelling the water of the water mains directly into the washing tub  3  bypassing the detergent compartment/s  23  of detergent drawer  22 . 
     Preferably the platelike water conveyor  40  moreover has, on its lower face (i.e. on the side directly facing the bottom of drawer housing  24 ), a fourth water delivery portion which is both substantially vertically aligned to the basin-shaped bottom portion  37  of drawer housing  24  and misaligned to the detergent drawer  22  placed in retracted position. 
     This fourth water delivery portion of platelike water conveyor  40  is suitably structured to pour/channel the water arriving from the water distributor  41  directly into the basin-shaped bottom portion  37  of drawer housing  24 , without affecting/reaching the salt compartment  26 . 
     The drawer flush circuit  25 , therefore, is preferably also capable of selectively channelling the water of the water mains directly into the electrolytic reactor  16 , or rather into the brine container  17  of electrolytic reactor  16 , bypassing the salt compartment  26  of detergent drawer  22 . 
     Therefore, in the example shown the laundry washing machine  1  is preferably additionally provided with an auxiliary water supply line capable of selectively channelling the water of the water mains directly into the brine container  17  of electrolytic reactor  16 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7 , the electrically-operated, water distributor  41 , in turn, is preferably discrete from the platelike water conveyor  40 , and is preferably firmly coupled/associated to the platelike water conveyor  40  at a corresponding coupling socket (not visible in the figures) preferably realized on the lower face of the platelike water conveyor  40 . 
     Preferably this water distributor  41  furthermore has a water inlet (not visible in the figures) which directly communicates with the fresh-water supply circuit  11  for directly receiving the water of the water mains; and a number of water outlets  42  which are located, preferably one side by side the other, on the interface portion of water distributor  41  suited to couple with the complementary coupling socket present in the platelike water conveyor  40 . 
     The platelike water conveyor  40 , in turn, is preferably provided with a number of independent water inlets (not visible in the figures) that are located at coupling socket and separately communicate each with a respective water delivery portion of the same water conveyor  40  via a corresponding internal connecting channel  43  extending inside the body of the platelike water conveyor  40 . Each water outlet  42  of water distributor  41  is preferably structured to watertight couple/connect, at coupling socket of platelike water conveyor  40 , with a corresponding water inlet of the same water conveyor  40 . 
     In the example shown, in particular, the water distributor  41  preferably consists in an electrically-operated, discrete flow-diverter module which is firmly attached to the outside of platelike water conveyor  40 , at said coupling socket, and is directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit so as to selectively and alternatively channel the water arriving from the fresh-water supply circuit  11  towards any one of the water delivery portions of platelike water conveyor  40 . 
     More in detail, the discrete flow-diverter module  41  preferably internally accommodates: a rotatable flow diverter which is capable of channelling, according to its angular position, the water entering into the same flow-diverter module  41  via the water inlet towards any one of the water outlets  42 ; and an electrically-operated driver assembly (not shown) which is mechanically connected to the rotatable flow diverter and is capable of controlling/varying the angular position of the same flow diverter according to the electronic signals arriving from the appliance electronic control unit. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , preferably the platelike water conveyor  40  of drawer flush circuit  25  is moreover fludically connected to the electrolytic reactor  16  for receiving the chlorine-based sanitizing agent produced therein, and is additionally provided with an internal sanitizing-agent delivery line  44  structured/designed for separately channelling the chlorine-based sanitizing agent arriving from electrolytic reactor  16  directly into the basin-shaped bottom portion  36  of drawer housing  24 , preferably without affecting/reaching the detergent compartment/s  23 . 
     In other words the platelike water conveyor  40  is preferably fludically connected to sanitizing-agent outlet of electrolytic reactor  16 . 
     More in detail, the sanitizing-agent delivery line  44  of water conveyor  40  preferably includes: a sanitizing-agent inlet  45  preferably directly communicating with the sanitizing-agent outlet of electrolytic reactor  16  for receiving the chlorine-based sanitizing agent produced therein; and a sanitizing-agent delivery portion which directly communicates solely with the sanitizing-agent inlet  45  via a specific internal connecting channel  46  extending inside the body of platelike water conveyor  40 , and which is located on the lower face of the water conveyor  40  (i.e. on the side directly facing the bottom of drawer housing  24 ), both substantially vertically aligned to the basin-shaped bottom portion  36  of drawer housing  24  and preferably misaligned to the detergent drawer  22  placed in retracted position. 
     The sanitizing-agent delivery portion of platelike water conveyor  40  is preferably suitably structured to directly pour/channel the chlorine-based sanitizing agent arriving from the electrolytic reactor  16  directly onto the basin-shaped bottom portion  36  of drawer housing  24 , actually without affecting/reaching the detergent compartment/s  23 . When arrived into the basin-shaped bottom portion  36  of drawer housing  24 , this chlorine-based sanitizing agent freely flows by gravity along the connecting duct  38  up to the washing tub  3 , preferably, though not necessarily, together with any water or mixture of water and detergent, softener or other washing agent almost contemporaneously arriving into the basin-shaped bottom portion  36 . 
     Preferably the platelike water conveyor  40  additionally includes: an air inlet  47  that directly communicates with the air vent of electrolytic reactor  16  for receiving any air or other gas contained or formed inside the electrolytic reactor  16 ; and preferably also a corresponding internal air duct that extends inside the body of the water conveyor  40  and is adapted to exhaust said air or other gas out of the same platelike water conveyor  40 . More specifically, said internal air duct preferably ends into one or more holes adapted to discharge inside the drawer housing  24  the air or other gas arriving from the electrolytic reactor  16 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 7 , in the example shown, in particular, the sanitizing-agent inlet  45  of water conveyor  40  preferably consists in a first male of female hydraulic connector which preferably protrudes downwards from the lower face of platelike water conveyor  40  (i.e. from the side directly facing the bottom of drawer housing  24 ) spaced apart from the coupling socket of platelike water conveyor  40 , and while remaining locally substantially perpendicular to the same lower face of platelike water conveyor  40 . 
     The air inlet  47  of water conveyor  40 , in turn, preferably consists in a second male of female hydraulic connector which preferably protrudes downwards from the lower face of platelike water conveyor  40  (i.e. from the side directly facing the bottom of drawer housing  24 ) both adjacent to the hydraulic connector of sanitizing-agent inlet  45  and spaced apart from the coupling socket of platelike water conveyor  40 , and while remaining locally substantially perpendicular to the lower face of platelike water conveyor  40 . 
     The hydraulic connector of sanitizing-agent inlet  45  and, if present, the hydraulic connector of air inlet  47  are preferably adapted to watertight couple with corresponding and complementary hydraulic connectors present in the electrolytic reactor  16 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 , the brine container  17  of electrolytic reactor  16 , in turn, preferably includes a pair of unpressurized storage tanks or vessels  48  and  49  that are horizontally adjoined to one another and are in permanent fluid communication to one another via a pass-through opening  50 , which is directly formed in the partitioning wall between the same storage tanks or vessels  48  and  49 , preferably adjacent to the bottom of both storage tanks or vessels  48  and  49 . 
     Obviously, due to the presence of pass-through opening  50  the level of the liquid is always the same in both unpressurized storage tanks or vessels  48  and  49 . 
     In combination to one another, these unpressurized storage tanks or vessels  48  and  49  are preferably dimensioned to receive and accumulate substantially the whole brine arriving on the same bottom portion  37  of drawer housing  24 . 
     More in detail, in the example shown the ensemble of storage tanks  48  and  49  is preferably firmly fixed/secured to the drawer housing  24  and to the platelike water conveyor  40  by means of one or more anchoring screws and/or one or more releasable mechanical couplings, and is preferably dimensioned to catch and accumulate a given amount of brine preferably ranging between 100 and 250 ml (millilitres). 
     Additionally, the unpressurized storage tank or vessel  48  is preferably located immediately underneath the drawer housing  24 , preferably substantially vertically aligned to the basin-shaped bottom portion  37  of drawer housing  24 , and directly communicates with the basin-shaped bottom portion  37  of drawer housing  24  so as to receive the brine arriving on the same bottom portion  37  of drawer housing  24 . 
     In other words, the brine inlet of electrolytic reactor  16  is preferably located in the unpressurized storage tank or vessel  48 . 
     Preferably the unpressurized storage tank  48  is furthermore rigidly fixed/secured to the bottom of drawer housing  24  by means of one or more anchoring screws and/or one or more releasable mechanical couplings. 
     Furthermore the storage tank or vessel  48  is preferably directly connected to the superjacent basin-shaped bottom portion  37  of drawer housing  24  so that the brine arriving onto the bottom portion  37  of drawer housing  24  is allowed to freely flow by gravity into the same storage tank or vessel  48 . 
     More in detail, in the example shown the storage tank or vessel  48  preferably directly communicates with the basin-shaped bottom portion  37  of drawer housing  24  via at least one and preferably a pair of tubular extensions  51  that protrude downwards from the bottom of drawer housing  24 , directly communicate with the basin-shaped bottom portion  37  of drawer housing  24 , and lastly directly fit in substantially watertight manner each into a respective complementary-shaped opening  52  formed on top wall of the same storage tank or vessel  48 . 
     In other words the storage tank or vessel  48  preferably directly communicates with the basin-shaped bottom portion  37  of drawer housing  24  via one or more tubular extensions  51  protruding downwards from the bottom of drawer housing  24  and directly communicating with the superjacent basin-shaped bottom portion  37  of drawer housing  24 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9 , the unpressurized storage tank or vessel  49 , in turn, internally accommodates the two, preferably platelike, electrodes  53  of electrolytic cell  18 , and is preferably located between the storage tank or vessel  48  and the vertical sidewall  20  of casing  2 . Furthermore the unpressurized storage tank or vessel  49  preferably directly communicates with the platelike water conveyor  40  of detergent dispenser  10 , so as to be able to feed the chlorine-based sanitizing agent and optionally also the air or other gas contained or formed inside the same storage tank or vessel  49  to the platelike water conveyor  40 . 
     In other words, the sanitizing-agent outlet and preferably also the air vent of electrolytic reactor  16  are preferably located in the unpressurized storage tank or vessel  49 . 
     More in detail, in the example shown the unpressurized storage tank or vessel  49  preferably has a flattened boxlike structure and is preferably arranged adjacent to a sidewall of the drawer housing  24 , preferably nearly perpendicular to the upper worktop or top wall  12  of casing  2  and/or nearly parallel to vertical sidewall  20  of casing  2 . Preferably the unpressurized storage tank or vessel  49  furthermore extends downwards beyond the bottom of drawer housing  24 , locally substantially tangent to the unpressurized storage tank or vessel  48 . 
     Preferably the upper edge of storage tank or vessel  49  moreover stably abuts against the platelike water conveyor  40 , and the sanitizing-agent outlet and the air vent of electrolytic reactor  16  are preferably located on this upper edge. 
     More in detail, the unpressurized storage tank or vessel  49  preferably has, on its upper edge, two hydraulic connectors  55  and  57  which are complementary to the hydraulic connectors  45  and  47  of platelike water conveyor  40 , and are adapted to couple in substantially watertight manner with the hydraulic connectors  45  and  47  of platelike water conveyor  40 . 
     Preferably the storage tank or vessel  49  is finally rigidly fixed/secured to the platelike water conveyor  40  and/or to the drawer housing  24  by means of one or more anchoring screws and/or one or more releasable mechanical couplings. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 , preferably the electrolytic cell  18  of electrolytic reactor  16  in turn comprises: the aforesaid two, preferably platelike, electrodes  53  accommodated in the unpressurized storage tank or vessel  49 ; and preferably also an electric power unit (not shown) which is preferably controlled by, or incorporated into, the appliance electronic control unit, and is adapted to selectively apply a given electric DC voltage to the electrodes  53  preferably so as to cause the electro-chlorination of the brine contained into the brine container  17 , i.e. into the ensemble of storage tanks  48  and  49 , thus preferably producing hydrogen gas (H 2 ) and water-diluted sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), commonly known as bleach. 
     This sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) is the chlorine-based sanitizing agent that pump assembly  19  subsequently moves into the basin-shaped bottom portion  36  of drawer housing  24  via the platelike water conveyor  40  of detergent dispenser  10 . 
     According to an alternative embodiment, the electrolytic cell  18  may also include a water-permeable partitioning septum or membrane (not shown) that divides the inside of storage tank or vessel  49  into two complementary inner compartments each accommodating a respective platelike electrode  43 . In this case, the DC voltage applied on electrodes  53  causes the electrolysis of the sodium chloride (NaCl) and the consequent production of chlorine (Cl) and sodium hydroxide (caustic soda). 
     With reference to  FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 , the pump assembly  19 , in turn, is preferably firmly fixed/secured to both storage tanks or vessels  48  and  49 , and is capable of pumping/moving, on command of the appliance electronic control unit, the chlorine-based sanitizing accumulated into the ensemble of unpressurized storage tanks or vessels  48  and  49 , from the ensemble of storage tanks or vessels  48  and  49  to the platelike water conveyor  40  of detergent dispenser  10 . 
     More in detail, the pump assembly  19  is preferably configured to suck the chlorine-based sanitizing agent from the bottom of storage tank or vessel  48  and to feed/pump said chlorine-based sanitizing agent into an auxiliary vertical duct  58  that preferably extends in pass-through manner inside the storage tank or vessel  49 , up to the platelike water conveyor  40  of detergent dispenser  10 . 
     In other words, the vertical duct  58  preferably extends inside the storage tank or vessel  49  up to the hydraulic connector  55  located on the upper side of storage tank or vessel  49 . 
     Preferably, when deactivated, the pump assembly  19  is moreover capable of watertight isolating the ensemble of unpressurized storage tanks or vessels  48  and  49  from the platelike water conveyor  40  of detergent dispenser  10 . 
     More in detail, in the example shown the pump assembly  19  preferably basically comprises an electrically-powered membrane pump or other electrically-powered volumetric pump, which preferably has a first duckbill valve or other non-return valve at suction mouth of the pump, and a second duckbill valve or other non-return valve at delivery mouth of the pump. The suction mouth  19   a  of the pump is preferably directly connected to the storage tank or vessel  48 , preferably close to bottom of storage tank or vessel  48  and/or close to the pass-through opening  50  communicating with storage tank or vessel  49 , and preferably also beneath a filtering structure  59  located inside the same storage tank or vessel  48 . The delivery mouth of the pump, in turn, is preferably connected to the lower mouth of vertical duct  58  via a tubular connecting member  60  preferably additionally capable of firmly locking the pump to the ensemble of storage tanks or vessels  48  and  49 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 9 , preferably the electrolytic reactor  16  additionally includes a detector device  61  capable of monitoring/detecting the level and/or salinity degree of the water or brine momentarily contained into the brine container  17 , i.e. into the ensemble of storage tanks  48  and  49 , and which preferably electronically communicates with the appliance electronic control unit. 
     In the example shown, in particular, the detector device  61  is preferably located inside the storage tank or vessel  48 , preferably above the filtering structure  59 , and preferably comprises: a first floating member  62  capable of floating when the liquid contained into the storage tank or vessel  48  is either fresh water or salt water; a second floating member  23  capable of floating solely when the water contained into the storage tank or vessel  48  is fresh water; and a local electronic control unit  64  capable of detecting when each of the two floating members  62  and  63  arrive on top of storage tank or vessel  48 . 
     With particular reference to  FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7 , the fresh-water supply circuit  11  of laundry washing machine  1 , in turn, comprises: a main water delivery line  70  which is connected/connectable to the water mains and is structured to channel, on command, the fresh water of the water mains towards the drawer flush circuit  25  of detergent dispenser  10 , or rather towards the water inlet of water distributor  41 ; and optionally also an auxiliary water delivery line  71  which is connected/connectable to an alternative external water source of hot fresh water (for example the hot branch of the piping, fittings, and fixtures generally involved in the distribution and use of hot water in a domestic building), and is structured to independently channel, on command, the hot fresh water of said alternative water source towards the washing tub  3 , preferably via the platelike water conveyor  40  of detergent dispenser  10 . 
     Obviously both main water delivery line  70  and auxiliary water delivery line  71  are preferably directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit. 
     Preferably, the main water delivery line  70  basically comprises: a first electrically-operated on-off valve  72  which is preferably located on a rear wall of boxlike casing  2 , preferably immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall  12  of casing  2 , is directly connectable to the water mains, and is preferably directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit; and a first tube  73  connecting the on-off valve  72  to the water inlet of the water distributor  41 . 
     The auxiliary water delivery line  71 , in turn, preferably basically comprises: a second electrically-operated on-off valve  74  which is preferably located on the rear wall of boxlike casing  2 , preferably immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall  12  of casing  2 , is connectable to the alternative external water source and is preferably directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit; and a second tube  75  connecting the on-off valve  74  to a corresponding tubular extension  76  that preferably protrudes downwards from the lower face of the platelike water conveyor  40  preferably while remaining locally substantially perpendicular to the latter, and moreover directly communicates with one of the water delivery portions of water conveyor  40  vertically aligned to the basin-shaped bottom portion  36  of drawer housing  24 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , finally the laundry washing machine  1  preferably, though not necessarily, includes an auxiliary water drain line  80  that braches off from the drawer flush circuit  25  and preferably ends directly into the drain sump (not shown) beneath the washing tub  3 , or even directly into the suction of the electric pump that drains the waste water or washing liquor outside the laundry washing machine  1 ; and the drawer flush circuit  25  is capable of selectively channelling, towards the water drain line  80 , any kind of water arriving into the same drawer flush circuit  25 . 
     More in detail, in the example shown the water drain line  80  preferably basically includes: a drain tube  81  having a first end connected to a corresponding tubular extension  82  preferably protruding downwards from the lower face of the platelike water conveyor  40  while remaining locally substantially perpendicular to the latter, and a second end connected to the drain sump beneath the washing tub  3 ; and preferably also an air-gap device  83  located upstream of drain tube  81 . The water distributor  41  of drawer flush circuit  25 , in turn, is capable of selectively channelling, towards the drain tube  81 , any kind of water entering into the drawer flush circuit  25 . 
     General operation of the laundry washing machine  1  is easily inferable from the description above. The appliance electronic control unit controls the motor assembly  5 , the detergent dispenser  10 , and the fresh-water supply circuit  11  so as to automatically perform the washing cycle preferably selected by the user via the control panel  21 . 
     In addition to the above, if the user selects a washing cycle including a sanitizing or bleaching step, the appliance electronic control unit controls/activates the electrochemical device  13  so as to timely produce, during the washing cycle, a given amount of chlorine-based sanitizing agent to be subsequently used in the sanitizing or bleaching step of the same washing cycle. 
     More in detail, timely before the sanitizing or bleaching step, the appliance electronic control unit activates the water supply line  15  of electrochemical device  13  (i.e. controls the water distributor  41  of drawer flush circuit  25 ) so as to channel a given amount of fresh water of the water mains into the salt container  14  (i.e. into the salt compartment  26  of detergent drawer  22 ). On arriving into the salt container  14  (i.e. into the salt compartment  26  of detergent drawer  22 ), the fresh water dissolves at least part of the salt grains contained into the same salt container  14  thus forming a given amount of brine that freely flows and accumulates into the beneath-located brine container  17  of electrolytic reactor  16  (i.e. into the ensemble of storage tanks  48  and  49 ). 
     When a sufficient amount of brine is contained into the brine container  17  of electrolytic reactor  16  (i.e. into the ensemble of storage tanks  48  and  49 ), the appliance electronic control unit activates the electric power unit of electrolytic cell  18  so as to perform the electro-chlorination/electrolysis of the brine contained into the brine container  17  (i.e. into the ensemble of storage tanks  48  and  49 ). The chlorine-based sanitizing agent resulting from the electro-chlorination/electrolysis of the brine then accumulates inside the brine container  17  (i.e. inside both storage tanks  48  and  49 ). 
     After a given timespan preferably ranging between 5 and 30 minutes, the appliance electronic control unit assumes that the electro-chlorination/electrolysis of the brine contained into the brine container  17  (i.e. inside both storage tanks  48  and  49 ) is completed and that a suitable amount of the chlorine-based sanitizing agent is actually contained into the same brine container  17 . 
     Finally, when the sanitizing or bleaching step of the washing cycle is to be performed, the appliance electronic control unit activates the pump assembly  19  of electrolytic reactor  16  so as to move substantially the whole chlorine-based sanitizing agent accumulated into the brine container  17  (i.e. into both storage tanks or vessels  48  and  49 ), from the brine container  17  to the basin-shaped bottom portion  36  of drawer housing  24  preferably via the sanitizing-agent delivery line  44  of platelike water conveyor  40 . When arrived into the basin-shaped bottom portion  36 , the chlorine-based sanitizing agent freely flows by gravity into the connecting duct  38  and arrives into washing tub  3 . 
     The advantages regarding the particular layout of the electrochemical device  13  are large in number. 
     First of all, the hydraulic circuit of laundry washing machine  1  is significantly simpler than that of the laundry washing machines disclosed in EP0146184 and EP0083740, with the cost reduction that this entails. 
     Furthermore the arrangement of the loading inlet of salt container  14  above the laundry loading-unloading opening, i.e. on the upper part of the boxlike casing  2 , makes significantly easier and comfortable the manual refilling of the salt container  14 . Moreover, the salt container  14  only temporarily contains the brine to be used for producing the chlorine-based sanitizing agent, thus there is actually no risk of spilling around the brine during manual refilling of the salt container  14 . 
     Moreover the brine draining system including the drain opening  27  and the water-permeable cover  30  significantly improves the salinity degree of the brine arriving on the basin-shaped bottom portion  37  of drawer housing  24 , thus improving performances of the electrolytic cell  18 . 
     Last, but not least, incorporation of the electrochemical device  13  into the detergent dispenser  10  greatly simplifies the assembly of the laundry washing machine  1 , with a significant reduction of the overall production costs. 
     Clearly, changes may be made to the laundry washing machine  1  and to the electrochemical device  13  without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     For example, according to a first non-shown alternative embodiment, the electrochemical reactor  16  could channel/feed the chlorine-based sanitizing agent directly into the washing tub  3  without involving the platelike water conveyor  40  of drawer flush circuit  25  and the basin-shaped bottom portion  36  of drawer housing  24 . 
     In other words the pump assembly  19  could feed the chlorine-based sanitizing agent directly into washing tub  3  bypassing the detergent dispenser  10 . In this alternative embodiment, therefore, the platelike water conveyor  40  of detergent dispenser  10  would lack the sanitizing-agent delivery line  44 . 
     According to a further non-shown alternative embodiment, furthermore, the drawer flush circuit  25  of detergent dispenser  10  may lack the water distributor  41 , and the fresh-water supply circuit  11  may have a number of electrically-operated on-off valves each of which is interposed between the water mains and a respective water delivery portion of platelike water conveyor  40 . Preferably each of these on-off valves is furthermore directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit. 
     With reference to  FIG. 12 , according to an alternative embodiment of electrolytic reactor  16 , the electrolytic cell  18  is separated from brine container  17  and is located along the fresh-water supply circuit  11 , or more precisely along the main water delivery line  70  of fresh-water supply circuit  11 , so as to be permanently crossed by the fresh water directed to the detergent dispenser  10  or to the washing tub  3 . 
     In other words, in this alternative embodiment the water inlet of the drawer flush circuit  25  of detergent dispenser  10  receives the fresh water of the water mains directly from the electrolytic cell  18 . 
     More in detail, in this alternative embodiment, the electrolytic cell  18  of electrolytic reactor  16  includes a water-tight closed container  100  which is arranged along the main water delivery line  70  of fresh-water supply circuit  11  so as to be permanently crossed by the fresh water directed towards the detergent dispenser  10 , and is additionally adapted to also receive the brine previously contained into the brine container  17 . Preferably the water-tight closed container  100  furthermore has nearly the same capacity as brine container  17  so as to be able to contain a given amount of water or brine preferably substantially equal to that containable into the brine container  17 . 
     The water-tight closed container  100  internally accommodates the two, preferably platelike, electrodes  53  of electrolytic cell  18 , so that electro-chlorination of the brine takes place inside the same water-tight closed container  100  and the resulting chlorine-based sanitizing agent accumulates therein. 
     In this alternative embodiment, therefore, the chlorine-based sanitizing agent preferably enters into the detergent dispenser  10  via the drawer flush circuit  25 , or rather via the water inlet of the water distributor  41  of drawer flush circuit  25 . 
     Obviously, in this alternative embodiment, the platelike water conveyor  40  of detergent dispenser  10  preferably lacks the sanitizing-agent delivery line  44 . 
     The brine container  17  of electrolytic reactor  16 , in turn, preferably includes a single unpressurized storage tank or vessel  101  which is again preferably located immediately underneath the drawer housing  24 , and directly communicates with the basin-shaped bottom portion  37  of drawer housing  24  so as to receive and accumulate substantially the whole brine arriving on the same bottom portion  37  of drawer housing  24 . 
     More in detail, the storage tank or vessel  101  is preferably dimensioned to catch and accumulate a given amount of brine preferably ranging between 100 and 250 ml (millilitres), and is preferably firmly attached/fixed to the bottom of drawer housing  24 , preferably substantially vertically aligned to the basin-shaped bottom portion  37  of drawer housing  24 . 
     Preferably the storage tank or vessel  101  is furthermore fluidically connected to the superjacent basin-shaped bottom portion  37  of drawer housing  24  so that the brine arriving onto the bottom portion  37  of drawer housing  24  is allowed to freely flow by gravity into the same storage tank or vessel  101 . 
     In this alternative embodiment, furthermore, the electrolytic reactor  16  preferably comprises, in place of pump assembly  19 , a small, electrically-powered pump assembly  102  which is capable of selectively pumping/moving the brine (i.e. the salt water) accumulated into the brine container  17  (i.e. into the unpressurized storage tank or vessel  101 ), from the brine container  17  to the water-tight closed container  100  of electrolytic cell  18 . When deactivated, pump assembly  102  is preferably moreover capable of watertight isolating the brine container  17  from the electrolytic cell  18 . 
     In other words, pump assembly  102  is interposed between the brine container  17 , or rather the storage tank or vessel  101 , and the water-tight closed container  100  of electrolytic cell  18 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 12 , preferably, though not necessarily, the fresh-water supply circuit  11  additionally includes a second auxiliary water delivery line  104  which is connected/connectable to the water mains and is structured to channel, on command, the fresh water of the water mains towards the water inlet of water distributor  41  bypassing the water-tight closed container  100  of electrolytic cell  18 . Also this second auxiliary water delivery line  104  is preferably directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit. 
     More in detail, the auxiliary water delivery line  104  preferably basically comprises: a third electrically-operated on-off valve  105  which is preferably located on the rear wall of boxlike casing  2 , preferably immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall  12  of casing  2 , is connectable to the water mains and is preferably directly controlled by the appliance electronic control unit; and a third tube  106  connecting the on-off valve  105  directly to the water inlet of the water distributor  41  bypassing the whole electrolytic cell  18 . 
     In this second alternative embodiment the electrochemical device  13  operates as follows. 
     Timely before the sanitizing or bleaching step, the appliance electronic control unit activates the water supply line  15  of electrochemical device  13  (i.e. controls the water distributor  41  of drawer flush circuit  25 ) so as to channel a given amount of fresh water of the water mains into the salt container  14  (i.e. into the salt compartment  26  of detergent drawer  22 ), thus dissolving at least part of the salt grains contained therein and form a given amount of brine that freely flows and accumulates into the brine container  17  (i.e. into the storage tank or vessel  101  located immediately underneath the drawer housing  24 ). 
     Either the main water delivery line  70  or the auxiliary water delivery line  104  may be used for feeding the fresh water of the water mains towards the water distributor  41  of drawer flush circuit  25 . 
     Immediately before the sanitizing or bleaching step of the washing cycle and when no further fresh water is to be channelled towards the detergent dispenser  10  or the washing tub  3 , the appliance electronic control unit firstly activates the pump assembly  102  so as to move the brine (i.e. the salt water) accumulated into the brine container  17  (i.e. into the storage tank or vessel  101 ), from the brine container  17  to the electrolytic cell  18  (i.e. to the water-tight closed container  100 ). 
     Preferably, before moving the brine to the electrolytic cell  18  (i.e. to the water-tight closed container  100 ), the appliance electronic control unit additionally puts the water outlet of electrolytic cell  18  (i.e. the water outlet of water-tight closed container  100 ) in fluid communication with the water drain line  80  so as to channel towards the drain sump any liquid coming out of electrolytic cell  18 . 
     As an alternative, the appliance electronic control unit could put the water outlet of electrolytic cell  18  (i.e. the water outlet of the water-tight closed container  100 ) in fluid communication with any one of the first or the third water-delivery portion of platelike water conveyor  40 . 
     When the brine is moved into the electrolytic cell  18  (i.e. into the water-tight closed container  100 ), the appliance electronic control unit activates the electric power unit of electrolytic cell  18  so as to perform the electro-chlorination/electrolysis of the brine contained into the electrolytic cell  18  (i.e. into the water-tight closed container  100 ). 
     Since no fresh water flows through the water-tight closed container  100  of electrolytic cell  18 , the chlorine-based sanitizing agent resulting from the electro-chlorination/electrolysis of the brine then accumulates inside the electrolytic cell  18 , or rather into the water-tight closed container  100 . 
     After a given timespan preferably ranging between 5 and 15 minutes, the appliance electronic control unit, assuming that the electro-chlorination/electrolysis of the brine contained into the electrolytic cell  18  (i.e. into the water-tight closed container  100 ) is completed, and that a suitable amount of chlorine-based sanitizing agent is actually contained into the same electrolytic cell  18  (i.e. into the water-tight closed container  100 ), controls the main water delivery line  70  of fresh-water supply circuit  11  and the drawer flush circuit  25  of detergent dispenser  10  so as to channel, through the electrolytic cell  18  (i.e. through the water-tight closed container  100 ), a flow of fresh water of the water mains that flushes the whole chlorine-based sanitizing agent accumulated into the electrolytic cell  18  (i.e. into the water-tight closed container  100 ) straight into the washing tub  3 . 
     More in detail, in this alternative embodiment, the appliance electronic control unit preferably firstly controls the water distributor  41  of drawer flush circuit  25  so as to channel any liquid arriving from the electrolytic cell  18  (i.e. from the water-tight closed container  100 ) preferably directly towards the third water-delivery portion of platelike water conveyor  40  or alternatively towards one of the first water-delivery portions of platelike water conveyor  40 ; and then temporarily opens the on-off valve  72  of water delivery line  70  so as to feed, towards the washing tub  3 , an amount of fresh water that flows though the electrolytic cell  18  (i.e. through the water-tight closed container  100 ) and flushes the whole chlorine-based sanitizing agent accumulated therein into the washing tub  3 , so as to perform the sanitizing or bleaching step of the washing cycle. 
     If the electrolytic cell  18  is to be washed out before continuing the washing cycle, after having flushed out the chlorine-based sanitizing agent contained into the electrolytic cell  18 , the appliance electronic control unit optionally temporarily puts the water outlet of electrolytic cell  18  (i.e. the water outlet of water-tight closed container  100 ) in fluid communication with the water drain line  80 , and then waits the end of the sanitizing or bleaching step of the washing cycle for activating the fresh-water supply circuit  11 , or rather the main water delivery line  70  of fresh-water supply circuit  11 , for feeding through the electrolytic cell  18  (i.e. through the water-tight closed container  100 ) a flow of fresh water that bypasses the washing tub  3  and arrives straight into the drain sump (not shown) or into the suction of the electric pump thus to be drained out of the laundry washing machine  1  together with the mixture of water and chlorine-based sanitizing agent arriving from contained washing tub  3 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 13 , according to a further alternative embodiment, the salt container  14  of electrochemical device  13  is preferably located/incorporated into a supplementary drawer  122  which is fitted/inserted in manually extractable manner into a corresponding, preferably substantially basin-shaped, second drawer housing  124  which is preferably discrete and spaced apart from the drawer housing  24  of detergent drawer  22 , and is preferably located/recessed inside the boxlike casing  2  substantially horizontally aligned to the drawer housing  24  of detergent drawer  22 . 
     Preferably the appliance control panel  21  is furthermore located on front wall  6  of casing  2 , astride the vertical midplane of boxlike casing  2 , and the entrances of drawer housings  24  and  124  are arranged on opposite sides of said control panel  20 , preferably immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall  12  of casing  2 . 
     More in detail, in this alternative embodiment the detergent drawer  22  lacks the salt compartment  26 , whereas the supplementary drawer  122  is preferably provided with a substantially basin-shaped, salt compartment (not visible in  FIG. 13 ) which is structured/dimensioned for being manually fillable with a given quantity of consumable salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) to be used for producing the brine to be channelled into the electrolytic cell  18 . 
     The water supply line  15 , in turn, is structured to selectively channel, when the supplementary drawer  122  is completely recessed into the corresponding drawer housing  124 , a given amount of water into the salt container of said supplementary drawer  122  so as to dissolve at least part of the salt grains contained therein and form a given amount of brine (i.e. the salt water). 
     Preferably the bottom of this salt compartment is moreover provided with a large pass-through drain opening (not visible in  FIG. 13 ) which is suitably shaped/dimensioned to allow the brine (i.e. the salt water) formed inside the same salt compartment to freely fall by gravity on the bottom of drawer housing  124 . 
     Also in this embodiment, therefore, a prolonged stagnation of the brine inside the salt container  14  is prevented. 
     Likewise drain opening  27 , also this latter drain opening is preferably closed by a platelike water-permeable cover (not visible in  FIG. 13 ) having a water-permeable structure designed for preventing the salt grains contained into the salt compartment of supplementary drawer  122  to accidentally spill out of the same salt compartment and fall on the bottom of drawer housing  124 . 
     Likewise the water-permeable cover  30 , this latter water-permeable cover preferably also has a water-permeable structure which is suitably designed/dimensioned to slow down the outflow of the brine from the salt compartment of supplementary drawer  122  onto the bottom of drawer housing  124 , thus to cause a temporary stay of the water into the same salt compartment. 
     Preferably the supplementary drawer  122  is additionally provided with a manually openable, upper lid assembly  131  which is arranged on top of the salt compartment of the same supplementary drawer  122 , and is structured to selectively close the upper mouth of said salt compartment. Likewise the lid assembly  31 , the lid assembly  131  is preferably structured to receive the water from the water supply line  15 , and to distribute said water into the salt compartment of supplementary drawer  122 . 
     In this alternative embodiment, the at least one unpressurized storage tank or vessel of brine container  17  is preferably located beneath drawer housing  124 , and moreover preferably directly communicates with the bottom of the same drawer housing  124  so as to allow the brine (i.e. salt water) to freely flow by gravity from bottom of drawer housing  124  to the same brine container  16 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 14 , in a still further alternative embodiment the appliance control panel  21  is preferably located on front of a supplementary drawer  222  which is fitted/inserted in extractable manner into a corresponding, preferably substantially basin-shaped, second drawer housing  224  which is preferably discrete and spaced apart from the drawer housing  24  of detergent drawer  22 , and is preferably located/recessed inside the boxlike casing  2  substantially horizontally aligned to the drawer housing  24  of detergent drawer  22 . 
     In this alternative embodiment, the salt container  14  of electrochemical device  13  is preferably located/incorporated into said supplementary drawer  222 , behind the control panel  21 . 
     More in detail, in this alternative embodiment the detergent drawer  22  lacks the salt compartment  26 , whereas the supplementary drawer  222  is preferably provided with a substantially basin-shaped, salt compartment  226  which is structured/dimensioned for being manually fillable with a given quantity of consumable salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) to be used for producing the brine to be channelled into the electrolytic cell  18 . The water supply line  15 , in turn, is structured to selectively channel, when the supplementary drawer  222  is completely recessed into the corresponding drawer housing  224 , a given amount of water into the salt container  226  of said supplementary drawer  222  so as to dissolve at least part of the salt grains contained therein and form a given amount of brine (i.e. the salt water). 
     Preferably the bottom of salt compartment  226  is furthermore provided with a large pass-through drain opening (not visible in  FIG. 13 ) which is suitably shaped/dimensioned to allow the brine (i.e. the salt water) formed inside salt compartment  226  to freely fall by gravity on the bottom of drawer housing  224 . 
     Also in this embodiment, therefore, a prolonged stagnation of the brine inside the salt container  14  is prevented. 
     Likewise the drain opening  27 , this latter drain opening is preferably closed by a platelike water-permeable cover (not visible in  FIG. 12 ) having a water-permeable structure designed for preventing the salt grains contained into salt compartment  226  of supplementary drawer  222  to accidentally spill out of salt compartment  226  and fall on the bottom of drawer housing  224 . 
     Likewise the water-permeable cover  30 , this latter water-permeable cover preferably has a water-permeable structure which is suitably designed/dimensioned to slow down the outflow of the brine from salt compartment  226  onto the bottom of drawer housing  224 , thus to cause a temporary stay of the water/brine into the salt compartment  226 . 
     Preferably the supplementary drawer  222  is additionally provided with a funnel-shaped lid  231  which is arranged on top of salt compartment  226  so as to ease the pouring/loading of the consumable salt grains within the salt compartment  226 . 
     In this alternative embodiment, the at least one unpressurized storage tank or vessel of brine container  17  is preferably located beneath drawer housing  224 , and moreover preferably directly communicates with the bottom of the same drawer housing  224  so as to allow the brine (i.e. salt water) to freely flow by gravity from the bottom of drawer housing  224  to the unpressurized storage tank or vessel of brine container  17 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 15 , in a still further alternative embodiment the salt container  14  of electrochemical device  13  is preferably located immediately underneath the upper worktop or top wall  12  of casing  2 , and the unsealed loading inlet of the same salt container  14  is directly accessible via a trapdoor  300  present on the upper worktop or top wall  12 . 
     More in detail, in this alternative embodiment the detergent drawer  22  lacks the salt compartment  26 , whereas the salt container  14  basically comprises: a basin-shaped container  326  which is preferably recessed into the upper worktop or top wall  12  of casing  2 , underneath the trapdoor  300  present on the upper worktop or top wall  12 , and is structured/dimensioned so as to be manually fillable with a given quantity of consumable salt grains of sodium chloride (NaCl) to be used for producing the brine to be channelled into the electrolytic cell  18 ; and preferably also a funnel-shaped lid  331  that closes the upper mouth of said basin-shaped container  326  so as to ease the pouring/loading of the consumable salt grains within the basin-shaped container  326 . 
     In this alternative embodiment, the water supply line  15  is obviously structured to selectively channel a given amount of water into the basin-shaped container  326  so as to dissolve at least part of the salt grains contained therein and form a given amount of brine (i.e. the salt water). 
     The at least one unpressurized storage tank or vessel of brine container  17 , in turn, is preferably located beneath the basin-shaped container  326  and moreover preferably directly communicates with the bottom of the basin-shaped container  326  so as to receive and accumulate the whole brine previously formed into the same basin-shaped container  326 . Also in this embodiment, therefore, a prolonged stagnation of the brine inside the salt container  14  is prevented. 
     More in detail this unpressurized storage tank or vessel of brine container  17  preferably communicates with the superjacent basin-shaped container  326  via a draining water-way structured so as to allow the brine (i.e. the salt water) formed inside the basin-shaped container  326  to freely flow by gravity into the same unpressurized storage tank or vessel. 
     Likewise drain opening  27 , this draining water-way is preferably structured for preventing the salt grains contained into the basin-shaped container  326  to accidentally fall into the beneath-located brine unpressurized storage tank or vessel of brine container  17 , and preferably also for slowing down the outflow of the brine from the basin-shaped container  326  to the beneath-located brine container  17 , so as to cause a temporary stay of the water/brine into the basin-shaped container  326 . 
     Finally, according to a further alternative embodiment, the electrolytic cell  18  may be the electrolytic cell disclosed in WO2016/162327.