Patent Publication Number: US-2022213633-A1

Title: Improved laundry softener dispensing in laundry machines

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to the field of laundry treatment machines (hereinafter, concisely, “laundry machines”), and particularly to laundry machines for treating, e.g. washing, items (such as linen, clothes, garments, shoes, and the like), such as laundry washing machines and laundry washing machines also implementing laundry drying functions (also referred to as washers/dryers). More particularly, the present invention relates to a laundry machine with an improved rinsing system and to a corresponding method for treating laundry. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     According to known techniques, laundry machines are configured to perform laundry treatment cycles (hereinafter, concisely, “treatment cycles”) which typically include different phases during which laundry to be washed is subjected to corresponding treatments. A treatment cycle usually comprises at least one washing phase in which laundry to be washed is treated by means of water and a laundry detergent, followed by one or more rinsing phases. Each rinsing phase provides for treating laundry with the addition of fresh water, i.e. water taken from the main water supply, and, after the treatment is over, a draining of said water. In order to provide the laundry with beneficial properties, such as for example softness, long lasting perfume, sanitization, and/or tear resistance, it is known to add a rinse additive during one or more of the rinsing phases. For example, a laundry softener may be added during the last rinsing phase. 
     For these purposes, a laundry machine typically comprises a drawer having drawer reservoirs for containing one or more laundry treatment agents (hereinafter, concisely, “treatment agents”) comprising, among the others, laundry detergents and laundry softeners. 
     In the present disclosure, by “laundry detergent” it is intended a chemical product adapted to be used by the laundry machine in a washing phase of a laundry treatment cycle for removing stains and dirt from the laundry load. 
     Moreover, in the present disclosure, by “laundry softener” it is intended a chemical product adapted to be used by the laundry machine in a rinsing phase of a laundry treatment cycle subsequent to the washing phase for treating the laundry load 
     in order to soften and relax the textile fibres or composition thereof, contributing to their preservation over time. 
     Standard laundry machines are equipped with a drawer usually comprising at least two drawer reservoirs each one adapted to contain a single dose of a respective treatment agent for performing a single treatment cycle. For example, a first mono-dose reservoir may be arranged to contain a single dose of a laundry detergent, and a second mono-dose reservoir may be arranged to contain a single dose of a laundry softener. 
     In an increasingly common type of laundry machine, the drawer comprises one or more reservoirs each one adapted to contain multiple doses of a respective treatment agent for performing multiple treatment cycles (hereinafter referred to as multi-dose reservoirs) by means of an auto-dosing system that is designed to dispense a metered amount of treatment agent to perform a treatment cycle. Just as an example, in case of two multi-dose reservoirs, a multi-dose reservoir may be arranged to contain multiple doses of a laundry detergent, whereas the other multi-dose reservoir may be arranged to contain multiple doses of a laundry softener. In this class of laundry machines, the laundry machine implements an auto-dosing functionality in which, at each treatment cycle (and when the auto-dosing functionality is activated), a predetermined amount of treatment agent (usually referred to as treatment agent dose) is automatically taken from the multi-dose reservoir(s) (e.g., by means of one or more pump devices associated therewith) and dispensed to a treatment chamber (such as a washing tub). 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The Applicant has realized that washing machines of known type are not capable of applying softener to laundry in a satisfactory way. Indeed, Applicant has observed that laundry which has been treated in a standard washing machine with the use of laundry softener does not often benefit in full from the expected beneficial properties of the used softener. 
     Applicant has found that this drawback is caused by the presence of laundry detergent residuals on the laundry load which hinder a good and uniform adhesion of laundry softener to the textile fibres of the laundry load. 
     In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a laundry machine and a corresponding method able to overcome these, as well as other, drawbacks, and particularly it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for treating laundry in a laundry machine and a corresponding laundry machine which allow an improved benefit of the beneficial properties of laundry softener. 
     Applicant has found that when a laundry treatment cycle provides for the use of a laundry softener, it is advantageous to set the number of rinsing phases to be carried out to a number sufficiently high to remove from the laundry load residuals of laundry detergent which can hinder a good and uniform adhesion of laundry softener to the textile fibres of the laundry load. 
     An aspect of the present invention relates to a method for treating laundry in a laundry machine comprising a rotatable drum adapted to receive laundry to be treated and a washing tub enclosing said drum. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the laundry machine comprises a water supply apparatus configured to supply water into said washing tub. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the laundry machine comprises a control unit programmed to carry out a laundry treatment cycle. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the laundry machine comprises a laundry treatment agent dispensing device adapted to deliver into the washing tub at least one laundry treatment agent between a laundry detergent and a laundry softener. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, said laundry treatment agent dispensing device comprises a first reservoir adapted to be at least partially filled with said laundry detergent and a second reservoir adapted to be at least partially filled with said laundry softener. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the laundry machine comprises a control system, in signal communication with the control unit, providing a softener signal adapted to take a first value indicating that no laundry softener quantity will be delivered into the washing tub during said laundry treatment cycle, and a second value indicating that a laundry softener quantity will be delivered into the washing tub during said laundry treatment cycle. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method comprises performing a washing phase in which the laundry treatment agent dispensing device delivers said detergent into the washing tub. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises performing a number of rinsing phases wherein detergent used in the washing phase is removed from laundry by using water provided by said water supply apparatus. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit sets the number of rinsing phases to be performed according to whether the value taken by the softener signal is the first value or the second value. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control system sets said softener signal to the second value in response to the reception of a command input by a user. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, said command input by the user is input by the user through a user device being external to the laundry machine. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, said second reservoir comprises a multi-dose reservoir configurable to contain a number of doses of said laundry softener sufficient to carry out several laundry treatment cycles. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method comprises automatically drawn up from said multi-dose reservoir a corresponding dose of laundry softener and deliver it into the washing tub during said laundry treatment cycle if the softener signal takes said second value. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control system sets said softener signal to the second value in response to the reception of a softener presence signal indicative of the presence of said laundry softener in the second reservoir. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, said second reservoir comprises a mono-dose reservoir configurable to be manually filled with a single dose of said laundry softener sufficient for a single laundry treatment cycle. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit sets a first number of rising phases, wherein said performing a number of rinsing phases comprises performing said first number of rinsing phases if the value taken by the softener signal is equal to the first value. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit modifies said first number of rinsing phases to a second number of rinsing phases if the value taken by the softener enabling signal is equal to the second value. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, said performing a number of rinsing phases comprises performing said second number of rinsing phases if the value taken by the softener signal is equal to the second value. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, if the control unit assesses that the second reservoir does not contain laundry softener, the second number of rinsing phases is set equal to the first number of rinsing phases. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first number of rinsing phases is lower than the second number of rinsing phases. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, said having the control unit set a first number of rising phases or modify said first number of rinsing phases to a second number of rinsing phases if the value taken by the softener signal is equal to the second value comprises setting said first number of rinsing phases or modifying said first number of rinsing phases to the second number of rinsing phases according to one or more of the following:
         a laundry weight estimation performed in a laundry weight estimation phase;   a laundry treatment cycle selection command set by a user in a laundry treatment cycle selection phase;   a laundry type selection command set by a user in a laundry type input phase;   a laundry treatment cycle duration time set by a user in a laundry treatment cycle duration time setting phase;   a signal provided by a sensor adapted to sense the amount of detergent dispersed in water and/or the water turbidity during a rinsing phase and/or at the end thereof;   a laundry treatment agent minimum dose selection command set by a user in a laundry treatment agent minimum dose input phase.       

     According to an embodiment of the present invention, during each rinsing phases the control unit controls the water supply apparatus to supply a respective amount of water into the washing tub. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, if the softener signal takes the second value and the control unit assesses that the second reservoir is lower than a predefined dose amount, the control unit controls the water supply apparatus during a last rinsing phase to supply an amount of water into the washing tub that it is lower than the amounts of water supplied by the water supply apparatus during the previous rinsing phases. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention the control unit causes the laundry treatment agent dispensing device to deliver into the washing tub said laundry softener during a last rinsing phase of said number of rinsing phases if the softener signal takes the second value. 
     Another aspect of the present invention relates to a laundry machine comprising a rotatable drum adapted to receive laundry to be treated and a washing tub enclosing said drum. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, said laundry machine comprises a water supply apparatus configured to supply water into said washing tub. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, said laundry machine comprises a control unit programmed to carry out a laundry treatment cycle. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, said laundry machine comprises a laundry treatment agent dispensing device adapted to deliver into the washing tub at least one laundry treatment agent between a laundry detergent and a laundry softener. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, said laundry treatment agent dispensing device comprises a first reservoir adapted to be at least partially filled with said laundry detergent and a second reservoir adapted to be at least partially filled with said laundry softener. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, said laundry machine comprises a control system, in signal communication with the control unit, providing a softener signal adapted to take a first value indicating that no laundry softener quantity will be delivered into the washing tub during said laundry treatment cycle, and a second value indicating that a laundry softener quantity will be delivered into the washing tub during said laundry treatment cycle. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, said control unit is configured to perform a washing phase in which the laundry treatment agent dispensing device delivers said detergent into the washing tub. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, said control unit is further configured to perform a number of rinsing phases wherein detergent used in the washing phase is removed from laundry by using water provided by said water supply apparatus. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit is configured to set the number of rinsing phases to be performed according to whether the value taken by the softener signal is the first value or the second value. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, said second reservoir comprises a multi-dose reservoir configurable to contain a number of doses of said laundry softener sufficient to carry out several laundry treatment cycles and said laundry treatment agent dispensing device is adapted to automatically drawn from said multi-dose reservoir a corresponding dose of laundry softener and deliver it into the washing tub. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, said laundry machine further comprises a cabinet and a drawer adapted to slide with respect to the cabinet between an extracted position and a retracted position. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the laundry treatment agent dispensing device is housed in the drawer. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the laundry treatment agent dispensing device is housed in the cabinet outside the drawer. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the laundry treatment agent dispensing device is in fluid communication with the cabinet. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the laundry machine is a laundry washing machine or a combined laundry washer/dryer. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, said second reservoir comprises a mono-dose reservoir configurable to be manually filled with a single dose of said laundry softener sufficient for a single laundry treatment cycle. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, said mono-dose reservoir comprises a softener sensor in signal communication with the control system and configured to provide to the control system an indication about the presence or absence of laundry softener in the mono-dose reservoir. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control system is configured to accordingly set the value of the softener signal according to said indication. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ANNEXED DRAWINGS 
       These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent by the following description of some exemplary and non-limitative embodiments thereof; for its better intelligibility, the following description should be read making reference to the attached drawings, wherein: 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  show perspective views of a laundry machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1C  is a side view of the laundry machine without a side wall of the cabinet; 
         FIG. 2A  is a top view of a drawer of the laundry machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2B  is a top view of a drawer of the laundry machine according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3 , illustrates some components/units/modules/apparatuses of the laundry machine in terms of functional blocks, and 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a flowchart of a method for treating laundry when a selected laundry treatment cycle is carried out by the laundry machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to the drawings,  FIGS. 1A and 1B  show perspective views of a laundry machine  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     According to the exemplary, not limiting, embodiment herein considered, the laundry machine  100  is a laundry washing machine for treating, e.g. washing, laundry. In any case, although in the following description explicit reference will be made to a laundry washing machine, this should not to be construed as a limitation; indeed, the present invention applies to other types of laundry machines (for example combined washers/dryers, i.e. washing machines also having laundry drying functions). 
     The laundry machine  100  preferably comprises a number of electrical/electronic/mechanical/hydraulic components for the operation of the laundry machine  100 . However, for the sake of conciseness, only components of the laundry machine  100  being relevant for the understanding of the present invention will be mentioned and discussed in the following. 
     The laundry machine  100  preferably comprises a (e.g., parallepiped-shaped) cabinet  105 , which preferably accommodates a treatment chamber (i.e., a laundry washing chamber in the example herein considered of a washing machine) for performing a laundry treatment cycle on laundry load housed therein (e.g., a washing cycle or program in the example herein considered of a washing machine). As visible in  FIG. 1C , which shows a side view of the laundry machine  100  without a side wall of the cabinet  105 , the treatment chamber preferably comprises a washing tub  110  and, within it, a rotatable washing basket or drum  115  adapted to contain the laundry load to be treated (e.g., washed). 
     A cabinet front has a loading opening providing an access to the drum  115  for loading/unloading the laundry load, a door  120  (shown in a closed position in  FIGS. 1A-1C ) being provided for sealably closing the loading opening during the operation of the laundry machine  100 . 
     The laundry machine  100  preferably comprises a laundry treatment agent dispensing device  125  (only partially visible in  FIG. 1A ) for dispensing treatment agent towards the washing tub  110  to be used during the selected laundry treatment cycle. 
     The laundry treatment agent dispensing device  125  preferably comprises one or more reservoirs (“multi-dose reservoirs”) each one adapted to contain a number of doses of a treatment agent (such as washing detergents, bleaches and softeners) sufficient to carry out several laundry treatment cycles. 
     In other words, the laundry machine  100  is advantageously configured to implement an auto-dosing functionality in which, at each laundry treatment cycle (and, preferably, when the auto-dosing functionality is activated), an amount of treatment agent (also referred to as treatment agent dose) is automatically taken (e.g. by means of pump devices) from the multi-dose reservoir(s). 
     In the exemplary considered embodiment, the multi-dose reservoirs are provided in a drawer  130  of the laundry machine  100 . The drawer  130  is preferably provided on a top part of the cabinet front of the laundry machine  100 , and is adapted to slide within a corresponding drawer seat  130 (S), along a longitudinal or sliding direction X, between an extracted position (shown in  FIG. 1A ) and a retracted position (shown in  FIG. 1B ). The sliding direction X is for example parallel to a rest surface, such as the floor, on which the laundry machine  100  preferably rests in operation (i.e., when it is installed in the user premises). In operation, the laundry machine  100  rests on the rest surface, such as the floor, and uprightly extends from it along a vertical direction Z orthogonal to the sliding direction. 
     According to alternative embodiments of the present invention, at least a portion of the laundry treatment agent dispensing device  125 , such as for example the multi-dose reservoirs, is provided in a different section of the cabinet  105  (outside the drawer  130 ), or simply in fluid communication with the cabinet (such as in case the multi-dose reservoirs are external tanks located outside the cabinet and connected with the latter through external pipes). 
     With reference now also to  FIG. 2A , it shows a top view of the drawer  130  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     The drawer  130  preferably comprises a drawer handle  205  allowing the user to slidably move the drawer  130  between the extracted position and the retracted position when it is fitted in the drawer seat  130 (S), and a drawer body  210  to which the drawer handle  205  is adapted to be mounted or coupled or connected (advantageously, in a removable or reversible way). When the laundry machine  100  is installed and the drawer  130  is fitted in the drawer seat  130 (S), the drawer handle  205  identifies, along the sliding direction X, a drawer front (which advantageously forms part of the cabinet front when the drawer  130  is in the retracted position). 
     In the exemplary considered embodiment, the drawer  130  (particularly, the drawer body  210 ) comprises two multi-dose reservoirs  210 ( 1 ),  210 ( 2 ), with the multi-dose reservoir  210 ( 1 ) that may for example be configurable to contain multiple doses of a (liquid) laundry detergent and with the multi-dose reservoir  210 ( 2 ) that may for example be configurable to contain multiple doses of a (liquid) softener—although this should not be construed limitatively. 
     The drawer  130  (particularly, the drawer body  210 ) preferably comprises one or more (two, in the example at issue) channels  215 ( 1 ),  215 ( 2 ) associated with the multi-dose reservoirs  210 ( 1 ),  210 ( 2 ) (in the example herein considered, each channel  215 ( 1 ),  215 ( 2 ) is associated with a respective one of the multi-dose reservoirs  210 ( 1 ),  210 ( 2 ), the channel  215 ( 1 ) being for example associated with the multi-dose reservoir  210 ( 1 ) and the channel  215 ( 2 ) being for example associated with the multi-dose reservoir  210 ( 2 )). Each channel  215 ( 1 ),  215 ( 2 ) is preferably adapted to channel water and/or one or more treatment agent doses towards a region of the drawer seat  130 (S) that allows a mixture between the water and the treatment agent dose(s) (hereinafter referred to as mixing region): the mixing region may for example be or comprise a bottom wall of the drawer seat  130 (S) (not visible in the figures) in fluid communication with the washing tub  110 . 
     As exemplary illustrated, the channels  215 ( 1 ),  215 ( 2 ) are preferably provided, along the sliding direction X, behind the multi-dose reservoirs  210 ( 1 ),  210 ( 2 ) (from the drawer front). 
     Advantageously, the channels  215 ( 1 ),  215 ( 2 ) (or at least one thereof) extend vertically or substantially vertically with respect to the rest surface (such as the floor) on which the laundry machine  100  rests in operation (the channels  215 ( 1 ),  215 ( 2 ) thus extending substantially along the vertical direction Z), thereby allowing the treatment agent dose(s) (and advantageously water from a water supply apparatus, as better discussed below) to fall towards the mixing region of the drawer seat  130 (S) by gravity; in order to achieve it, each channel  215 ( 1 ),  215 ( 2 ) advantageously comprises a top channel input for receiving the water from the water supply apparatus, and a bottom channel output facing the bottom wall of the drawer seat  130 (S); in operation, the bottom channel outputs of the channels  215 ( 1 ),  215 ( 2 ) are arranged for delivering the water and the treatment agent dose(s) to the bottom wall of the drawer seat  130 (S), and hence to the washing tub  110 . 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the laundry treatment agent dispensing device  125  also comprises one or more (e.g. two) drawer reservoirs each one adapted to contain a single dose of a respective treatment agent for performing a single treatment cycle. 
     For this purpose, in the exemplary considered embodiment, the drawer  130  also comprises one or more (e.g. two) drawer reservoirs  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ), preferably provided between the drawer handle  205  and the multi-dose reservoirs  210 ( 1 ),  210 ( 2 ) along the sliding direction X, and each one adapted to contain a single dose of a respective treatment agent for performing a single treatment cycle (hereinafter referred to as mono-dose reservoirs  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 )). 
     For example, the mono-dose reservoir  220 ( 1 ) may be arranged to contain a single dose of a powder or liquid laundry detergent, whereas the mono-dose reservoir  220 ( 2 ) may be arranged to contain a single dose of a powder or liquid or pearl laundry softener. 
     The laundry machine  100  also comprises pump devices (such as peristaltic pump devices, for example fixed-flow or variable-flow peristaltic pump devices) adapted to draw up treatment agent doses from the multi-dose reservoirs  210 ( 1 ),  210 ( 2 ), with each pump device that is preferably associated with a respective multi-dose reservoir  210 ( 1 ),  210 ( 2 ). In the example herein considered of two multi-dose reservoirs  210 ( 1 ),  210 ( 2 ), two pump devices each one for drawing up treatment agent doses from a respective multi-dose reservoir  210 ( 1 ),  210 ( 2 ) are provided, each dose being adapted to be used for a corresponding laundry treatment cycle. The pump devices are not visible in the figure, in that they are advantageously enclosed (at least partially) in a same case  235 . 
     The pump devices are preferably provided behind the channels  215 ( 1 ),  215 ( 2 ) (from the drawer front) along the sliding direction X, and each one comprises a respective suction side in fluid communication (e.g., through a respective suction pipe of the drawer  130 ) with the multi-dose reservoir  210 ( 1 ),  210 ( 2 ) for drawing up the treatment agent dose(s) therefrom, and a respective delivery side in fluid communication (e.g., through a respective delivery pipe of the drawer  130 ) with the channel  215 ( 1 ),  215 ( 2 ) for delivering the treatment agent dose(s) thereto. 
     The concepts of the present invention directly apply also to laundry machines  100  equipped with a laundry treatment agent dispensing device  125  without multi-dose reservoirs, in which the drawer  130  comprises only the mono-dose drawer reservoirs  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ) (as shown in  FIG. 2B ). 
     As mentioned above, the laundry machine  100  preferably comprises a water supply apparatus  131  for feeding water towards the washing tub  110  during phases of a selected laundry treatment cycle. 
     In the exemplary considered embodiment, the water supply apparatus  131  forms a top of the drawer seat  130 (S), thus allowing the water to be fed to the channels  215 ( 1 ),  215 ( 2 ) (and/or to the mono-dose reservoirs  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ), when provided) from above. The water supply apparatus may for example comprise water conduits and electrically-controlled valves, illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-1C  through schematically representations thereof. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-1C , the water is supplied into the washing tub  110  from the water supply apparatus  131  by making it flow through the drawer  130  and then through the mixing region of the drawer seat  130 (S). 
     The water which reached the washing tub  110  can, in this case, selectively contain one of the treatment agents contained in the reservoirs of the drawer  130 . This situation corresponds to the case in which the auto-dosing functionality is activated and water is channeled through the channels  215 ( 1 ),  215 ( 2 ) together with a dose of treatment agent taken from a multi-dose reservoir  210 ( 1 ),  210 ( 2 ) (i.e., by activating the pump devices), or to the case in which the auto-dosing functionality is disabled and water is channeled through one of the mono-dose reservoirs  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ) containing treatment agent. 
     Moreover, water which reached the washing tub  110  can be clean if water is channeled through the channels  215 ( 1 ),  215 ( 2 ) without activating the pump devices or if water is channeled through an empty mono-dose reservoir  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ). 
     In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a separate water supply pipe (not illustrated) can be provided, which supply exclusively clean water into the washing tub  110 , bypassing the drawer  130 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1C , the laundry machine  100  comprises an electric motor  132  (e.g. a three-phase electric motor or a bi-phase electric motor, such as a permanently excited synchronous motor or an asynchronous motor or a brushless direct current motor or an induction motor) adapted to rotate the drum  115  within the washing tub  110 . Preferably, the electric motor  132  is adapted to rotate the drum  115  at variable speeds, depending on the currently performed phase of the selected treatment cycle. 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 1C , a heating system  133  (for example comprising a heating resistor) for heating the liquid inside the washing tub  110  is preferably provided at the bottom region of the washing tub  110 . 
     The laundry machine  100  preferably comprises a drain apparatus  134  in fluid communication with a bottom region of the washing tub  110  and configured to withdrawn drain liquid (e.g., water possibly mixed with treatment agent and/or dirty particles) therefrom. The drain apparatus  134  is coupled with an outlet circuit (not illustrated) ending outside the cabinet  105  and, optionally, a recirculation circuit (not illustrated) adapted to recirculate the drained liquid back into the washing tub  110 . 
     Returning back to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the laundry machine  100  preferably comprises a user interface  135 , the user interface  135  being preferably provided on the top part of the cabinet front, more preferably next to the drawer seat  130 (S) along a transversal direction Y orthogonal to the longitudinal X and vertical Z directions. 
     The user interface  135  may for example comprise a display unit (such as a light emitting polymer display (LPD), a liquid crystal display, a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display, or an organic light-emitting diode display) for visually displaying one or more pieces of information (such as information about a status of one or more components of the laundry machine  100  and/or information about a status of the treatment cycle, for example information about a residual time to the end of the ongoing treatment cycle, and/or information about a current phase of the ongoing treatment cycle, and/or selected parameters for the ongoing treatment cycle), and one or more control elements for allowing the user to select a treatment cycle and to control one or more operating parameters of the selected treatment cycle (such as, but not limited to, temperature, laundry load dirt level, spin speed, start time delay, drawer reservoir selection, selection of the type(s) of treatment agent). The control elements may for example comprise physical control elements, i.e. control elements whose activation/deactivation is associated with displacements of mechanical components (such as the rotary knob visible in  FIGS. 1A-1C ), and/or one or more virtual control elements, i.e. control elements whose activation/deactivation is associated with touch-sensitive electric components. 
     The laundry machine  100  may also comprise a connection device (not illustrated), for example a network interface controller or network adapter, for allowing a (e.g., wired or wireless) data exchange between the laundry machine  100  and an external, i.e. remote, device, for example a user device, being external to the laundry machine  100 . The user device may for example be a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smartphone (as herein exemplary illustrated), a tablet, a wearable smart device (such as a smartwatch) or other mobile device having processing, input/output and memory units adapted to run software applications (i.e. mobile applications in the example at issue of a smartphone as user device). 
     Even if in the present disclosure reference will be explicitly made to the case in which a user is interacting with the laundry machine  100  for providing inputs/commands through the user interface  135 , the concepts of the present invention directly apply to the case in which said inputs/commands are provided to the laundry machine  100  through the abovementioned user device external to the laundry machine  100 . 
     The laundry machine  100  preferably comprises a control unit  140  for controlling the laundry machine  100  (the control unit  140  being schematically illustrated as a dashed rectangle in  FIGS. 1A and 1B ). 
     In order to show how the control unit  140  interacts with the laundry machine  100 , reference will be now made to  FIG. 3 , in which some of the components/units/modules/apparatuses of the laundry machine  100  are schematically depicted through functional blocks. 
     The control unit  140  is coupled with the user interface  135  for receiving instructions input by the user, such as for example a selected treatment cycle and operating parameters thereof. 
     For the purposes of the present invention, according to the received instructions, the control unit  140  is configured to provide power and interact, during selected phases of the selected treatment cycle, with one or more of the following:
         the water supply apparatus  131  (for controlling the delivery of clean water and/or water mixed with selected treatment agents into the washing tub  110 ),   the laundry treatment agent dispensing device  125  (for controlling the delivery of doses of selected treatment agents when the auto-dosing functionality is enabled),   the heating system  133  (for setting the temperature of the water inside the washing tub  110 ),   the electric motor  132  (for causing tumbling or spinning of the laundry load), and   the drain apparatus  134  (for withdrawing liquid from the washing tub  110   d.          

     Preferably, but not necessarily, the control unit  140  may be also interfaced with one or more sensor devices located in different portions of the laundry machine  100  and configured to collect data during the execution of the phases of the selected treatment cycle. 
     For example, the control unit  140  may be interfaced with one or more turbidity sensors  160  located in the washing tub  110  (see  FIG. 1C ) for receiving a turbidity signal TS indicative of an amount of laundry detergent dispersed in the water included in the washing tub  110  and/or a turbidity level of the water included in the washing tub  110 . 
     Moreover, the control unit  140  may be interfaced with a laundry load sensor  170  for receiving a laundry load signal LS indicative of the amount (e.g., kilograms) of laundry loaded in the washing drum  115 . As a non-limitative example, the laundry load sensor  170  may comprise a sensor located at the electric motor  132  (see  FIG. 1C ) and configured to measure electric quantities variations in the electric motor  132  induced by torque variations on the motor shaft depending on the amount of laundry load inside the washing drum  115 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a flowchart  400  of a method for treating laundry when a selected laundry treatment cycle is carried out by the laundry machine  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     It has to be appreciated that the flow chart  400  illustrates only phases of the selected laundry treatment cycle which are relevant for the understanding of the embodiments of the invention, while other phases needed for the execution of the selected laundry treatment cycle that are well known to those skilled in the art will be neither depicted nor described for the sake of brevity. 
     Possible phases which can precede the phases depicted in  FIG. 4  may comprise that the user loads laundry into the drum  115 . Then, if the auto-dosing functionality is not activated, the user fills the mono-dose reservoir  220 ( 1 ) with a dose of a laundry detergent, and, possibly, the mono-dose reservoir  220 ( 2 ) with a dose of a laundry softener. If instead the auto-dosing functionality is activated, no manual filling of the mono-dose reservoirs  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ) is required since laundry detergent—and, possibly, laundry softener—doses are automatically drawn up from the multi-dose reservoirs  210 ( 1 ),  210 ( 2 ). Then, the user selects a desired laundry treatment cycle, and preferably controls one or more operating parameters thereof, through the user interface  135 . 
     At this point, the laundry machine  100  starts to execute the selected laundry treatment cycle, such as for example with an optional pre-washing phase followed by a (main) washing phase, the latter being globally depicted in  FIG. 4  with a functional block identified with reference  405 . During the washing phase  405  the laundry is washed with the introduction of water and laundry detergent in the washing tub  110 —by means the water supply apparatus  131  and the laundry treatment agent dispensing device  125 , respectively—and tumbled by rotation of the drum  115 —by means of the electric motor  132 . During the washing phase  405 , the water and the laundry detergent inside the washing tub  110  are preferably heated up at a proper temperature by means of the heating system  133 . At the end of the washing phase  405 , washing liquid (comprising water, laundry detergent and dirty particles) is advantageously drained to the outside of the laundry machine  100  by means of the drain apparatus  134 . 
     The washing phase  405  is followed by a number N of rinsing phases directed to remove from the laundry residual of laundry detergent and/or remaining dirty particles. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the number N of rinsing phases to be actually carried out after the washing phase  450  is set by the control unit  140  by taking into account whether or not laundry softener will be delivered into the washing tub  110  during the last rinsing phase. 
     More particularly, Applicant has found that when a laundry treatment cycle provides for the use of a laundry softener, it is advantageous to set the number of rinsing phases to be carried out to a number sufficiently high to remove from the laundry load residuals of laundry detergent which can hinder a good and uniform adhesion of laundry softener to the textile fibres of the laundry load. 
     For this purpose, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit  140  is configured to set the number N of rinsing phases according to the value taken by a softener signal SS being indicative that laundry softener will be/is delivered into the washing tub  110 . 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, said softener signal SS is generated by a softener control system  190  in signal communication with the control unit  140  and is adapted to take a first value SS(1) and a second value SS(2), wherein:
         the control unit  140  is configured to cause the laundry treatment agent dispensing device  125  to deliver into the washing tub  110  a laundry softener quantity during the laundry treatment cycle if the softener signal SS takes the second value SS(2), and   the control unit  140  is configured to control the laundry treatment agent dispensing device  125  in such a way that no laundry softener quantity is delivered into the washing tub  110  during the laundry treatment cycle if the softener signal SS takes the first value SS(1).       

     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the softener signal SS is set to the first value SS(1) when:
         the auto-dosing functionality is activated and the selected laundry treatment cycle does not provide for the use of laundry softener, or   the auto-dosing functionality is activated but the user has selected through the user interface  135  an option to disable the multi-dose compartment  210 ( 2 ), or   the auto-dosing functionality is not activated and the mono-dose reservoir  220 ( 2 ) has not been manually filled by the user with a dose of laundry softener.       

     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the softener signal SS is set to the second value SS(2) when at least one among the following conditions is verified:
         the auto-dosing functionality is activated and the selected laundry treatment cycle provides for the use of laundry softener,   the auto-dosing functionality is activated, the selected laundry treatment cycle does not provide for the use of laundry softener but the user has selected through the user interface  135  an option to enable the multi-dose compartment  210 ( 2 ) for the use of laundry softener during the selected laundry treatment cycle, and   the auto-dosing functionality is not activated and the mono-dose reservoir  220 ( 2 ) has been manually filled by the user with a dose of laundry softener.       

     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control system  190  is in signal communication with the user interface  135  (see  FIG. 3 ) for receiving from the latter indications about the selected laundry treatment cycle, preferably together with one or more operating parameters thereof input by the user through the user interface  135 , and is configured to accordingly set the value of the softener signal SS. 
     For example, if the auto-dosing functionality is activated and the selected laundry treatment cycle provides for the use of laundry softener, or if one of the operating parameters thereof set by the user provides for the use of laundry softener, the control system  190  sets the softener signal SS to the second value SS(2). When instead the selected laundry treatment cycle or if one of the operating parameters thereof set by the user does not provide for the delivering of a quantity of laundry softener, the control system  190  sets the softener signal SS to the first value SS(1). 
     In addition to or in place of the above, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the control system  190  is (also) in signal communication with a softener sensor  195  located in the mono-dose reservoir  220 ( 2 ) (see  FIG. 2A  or  FIG. 2B  and  FIG. 3 ) for receiving indications about of the presence (or absence) of a laundry softener in the mono-dose reservoir  220 ( 2 ) of the drawer  130 , and is configured to accordingly set the value of the softener signal SS. For example, the softener sensor  195  may be an optical sensor, a level sensor provided with floating elements, a capacitive sensor, a conductivity sensor, or an electrode-based sensor. 
     For example, if the auto-dosing functionality is deactivated and the user has filled the mono-dose reservoir  220 ( 2 ) with a dose of laundry softener, the presence of laundry softener in the mono-dose reservoir  220 ( 2 ) is detected by the softener sensor  195  and the control system  190  may automatically set the softener signal SS to the second value SS(2). If instead the auto-dosing functionality is deactivated but the mono-dose reservoir  220 ( 2 ) is empty, the control system  190  may automatically set the softener signal SS to the first value SS(2). 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the mono-dose reservoir  202 ( 2 ) contains an amount of laundry softener (condition detectable by means of the softener sensor  195 ), the control unit  140  may ask the user to confirm (through the user interface  135 ) the intention of using laundry softener during the execution of the selected laundry treatment cycle. 
     Returning back to  FIG. 4 , the way the control unit  140  sets the number N of rinsing phases according to the value taken by the softener signal SS according to an embodiment of the present invention is described hereinbelow. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit  140  is firstly configured to calculate (block  408 ) a first (preliminary) number N1 of rinsing phases to be carried out after the washing phase  450  according to one or more of the following:
         a laundry treatment cycle selected by the user through a laundry treatment cycle selection command set by means of the user interface  135 ;   an estimation of the weight of the laundry load performed in a laundry weight estimation phase (such as for example an automatic weight estimation carried out exploiting the laundry load signal LS generated by the laundry load sensor  170  or a manual weight estimation based on commands manually input by the user);   a type of laundry load selected by the user through a laundry type selection command set by means of the user interface  135 ;   a laundry treatment cycle duration time set by the user through the user interface  135 ;   the turbidity signal TS generated by the one or more turbidity sensors  160 ;   a minimum dose of treatment agent to be delivered by the laundry treatment agent dispensing device  125  selected by the user through a laundry treatment agent minimum dose selection command set by means of the user interface  135 .       

     It has to be appreciated that while the calculation of the first number N1 of rinsing phases corresponding to block  408  has been described to be carried out just after the washing phase  405 , similar considerations apply if said calculation is made at a different time, such as for example before the washing phase  405  itself, e.g. when the laundry treatment cycle is started. 
     Then, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit  140  is configured to check the value taken by the softener signal SS and modify the previously calculated first number N1 of rinsing phase to a second number N2 if the softener signal SS has taken the second value SS(2), i.e., when the control unit  140  is configured to cause the laundry treatment agent dispensing device  125  to deliver into the washing tub  110  a laundry softener quantity (block  415 ). 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, said second number N2 is advantageously equal to or higher than the first number N1 of rinsing phases. In other words, according to an embodiment of the present invention, when laundry softener is scheduled to be delivered into the washing tub  110  during a laundry treatment cycle, the control unit  140  is configured to (potentially) increase the number of rinsing phases to be carried out to a number sufficiently high to remove from the laundry load residuals of laundry detergent which can potentially hinder a good and uniform adhesion of laundry softener to the textile fibres of the laundry load. 
     Then, the control unit  140  is configured to cause the execution of N rinsing phases, with N=N1 if the softener signal SS has taken the first value SS(1) and N=N2 if the softener signal SS has taken the second value SS(2) (blocks  420 ( 1 )- 420 (N)). 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first N−1 rinsing phases are substantially equal to each other, and for this reason only the first one (identified in  FIG. 4  with reference  420 ( 1 )) will be described in detail (blocks  430 ( 1 ),  440 ( 1 ),  450 ( 1 )). 
     The rinsing phase  420 ( 1 ) provides for a first sub-phase in which the control unit  140  controls the water supply apparatus  131  for feeding clean water into the washing tub  110  (block  430 ( 1 )). The clean water removes from the laundry load residual detergent and/or remaining dirty particles. 
     Preferably, the control unit  140  then controls the electric motor  132  to rotate the drum  115  so as to causing tumbling of the laundry load (block  440 ( 1 )). In this way, dirty water is extracted from the laundry load. 
     At this point, the control unit  140  controls the drain apparatus  134  to withdrawn said extracted dirty water from the washing tub  110  (block  450 ( 1 )). 
     The last, Nth, rinsing phase  420 (N) differs from the previous N−1 rinsing phases only if a laundry softener quantity is scheduled to be delivered into the washing tub  110  (i.e., when the softener signal SS has taken the second value SS(2)). In this latter case, after a first sub-phase (block  430 (N)) in which the control unit  140  controls the water supply apparatus  131  for feeding clean water into the washing tub  110 , the control unit  140  controls the delivering of laundry softener into the washing tub  110  (block  460 (N)), for example from the multi-dose reservoir  210 ( 2 ) if the auto-dosing functionality is activated or from the mono-dose compartment  220 ( 2 ) if the auto-dosing functionality is not activated. Then, the control unit  140  preferably controls the electric motor  132  to rotate the drum  115  so as to causing tumbling of the laundry load (block  440 (N)) and the drain apparatus  134  to withdrawn said extracted dirty water from the washing tub  110  (block  450 (N)). 
     If instead laundry softener is scheduled not to be delivered into the washing tub  110  (i.e., when the softener signal SS has taken the first value SS(1)), only the sub-phases  430 (N),  440 (N) and  450 (N) of the Nth rinsing phase  420 (N) are carried out. 
     It has to be appreciated that while the check of the value taken by the softener signal SS and the potential modification of the previously calculated first number N1 of rinsing phase to the second number N2 corresponding to block  415  has been described to be carried out just after the calculation of the first number (phase  408 ), similar considerations apply in case if the operations corresponding to block  415  are carried out at any time after phase  408  and before the last rinsing phase rinsing phase  420 (N). 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, as in the case of the first number N1 calculation, the control unit  140  may be also configured to calculate the value of the second number N2 (when the softener signal SS has taken the second value SS(2)) according to one or more among of the following:
         the selected laundry treatment cycle;   the (estimation of the) weight of the laundry load;   the type of laundry load;   the duration type of the selected laundry treatment cycle;   the turbidity signal TS;   the laundry treatment agent minimum dose.       

     As an example of a method for treating laundry according to the flow chart  400 , if the auto-dosing functionality is activated and at the same time the selected laundry treatment cycle does not provide for the delivering of a laundry softener quantity into the washing tub  110 , or if one of the operating parameters set by the user does not provide for the delivering of a laundry softener quantity into the washing tub  110  (in both the two cases, the softener signal SS is set to the first value SS(1)), the control unit  140  may set a first number N1 of rinsing phases, where this first number N1 may depend on an estimation of the weight of the laundry load. 
     For example, if the weight of the laundry load has been estimated to be lower than a weight threshold WTH, the first number N1 is set to 2, while if the weight of the laundry load has been estimated to be higher than said weight threshold WTH, the first number is set to 3. 
     Then, since no laundry softener will be delivered into the washing tub  110  during said laundry treatment cycle, the control unit  140  controls the execution of a number N=N1 of rinsing cycles. In the exemplary case at issue, if the weight of laundry load has been assessed to be lower than the weight threshold WTH, the control unit  140  controls the execution of N=N1=2 rinsing cycles, while if the weight of laundry load has been assessed to be higher than the weight threshold WTH, the control unit  140  controls the execution of N=N1=3 rinsing cycles. 
     If instead the auto-dosing functionality is activated and at the same time the selected laundry treatment cycle provides for the delivering of a laundry softener quantity in the washing tub  110 , or if one of the operating parameters set by the user provides for the delivering of a laundry softener quantity in the washing tub  110  (in both the two cases, the softener signal SS is set to the second value SS(2)), the control unit  140  may firstly set a first number N1 of rinsing phases in the same way as for the previous case—i.e., N1=2 if the weight of the laundry load has been estimated to be lower than the weight threshold WTH, and N1=3 if the weight of the laundry load has been estimated to be higher than the weight threshold WTH−, and then calculate a second number N2 starting from said first number N1. For example, if the first number N1 has been set to 2, the control unit  140  modifies said first number N1=2 to a second number N2=3 (i.e., it increases the number of rinsing phases), while if the first number has been set to 3, the control unit  140  sets said second number N2 to 3 (i.e., it confirms the number of rinsing phases previously calculated). 
     In other words, in case laundry softener has to be delivered into the washing tub  110 , the control unit  140  acts in such a way that the number of rinsing phases that will be performed will be sufficient to favour a good and uniform adhesion of laundry softener to the textile fibres of the laundry load. 
     In the case in which the weight of the laundry load has been estimated to be lower than the weight threshold WTH, while a laundry treatment cycle which does not require delivering of laundry softener is normally carried out with a low number (e.g., 2) of rinsing phases (in order to avoid waste of water), according to an embodiment of the present invention such laundry treatment cycle is carried out with an increased number (e.g., 3) of rinsing phases when delivering of laundry softener is expected in order to favour a good and uniform adhesion of laundry softener to the textile fibres of the laundry load. 
     In the case in which the weight of the laundry load has been estimated to be higher than the weight threshold WTH, according to an embodiment of the present invention, even if delivering of laundry softener is expected, the number of rinsing phases may be not increased compared to the standard laundry treatment cycle, because the number of rinsing phases to be carried out for this case (e.g., 3) is considered to be already sufficient to favour a good and uniform adhesion of laundry softener to the textile fibres of the laundry load. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the number of rinsing phases is always increased with respect to the first number N1 when laundry softener is scheduled to be delivered into the washing tub  110 . 
     According to a still another embodiment of the present invention, the control unit  140  is configured not to increase the number of rinsing phases when the softener signal SS is set to the second value SS(2) (meaning that a laundry softener quantity is scheduled to be delivered into the washing tub  110 ) in response to a command input by the user through the user interface  135  irrespective of the actual weight of the laundry load if the control unit  140  recognizes that there is no laundry softener in neither the manual-dose reservoir  220 ( 2 ) (condition recognizable through the softener sensor  195  located in the manual-dose reservoir  220 ( 2 )) nor in the multi-dose reservoir  210 ( 2 ) (condition recognizable through a not illustrated softener sensor located in the multi-dose reservoir  210 ( 2 )). 
     In this case, the second number N2 of rinsing phase is always set equal to the first number N1 of rinsing phase, since no actual delivering of laundry softener is carried out, and therefore there is no more the reason to increase the number of rinsing phases even when the softener signal SS is set to the second value SS(2). 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, if the available amount of laundry softener in the multi-dose reservoir  210 ( 2 ) or in the manual-dose reservoir  220 ( 2 ) is assessed to be lower than a predefined dose amount (again, these conditions can be assessed through a not illustrated softener sensor located in the multi-dose reservoir  210 ( 2 ) and/or through the softener sensor  195  located in the manual-dose reservoir  220 ( 2 )), if the softener signal SS is set to the second value SS(2), the control unit  140  controls a reduction of the amount of clean water fed into the washing tub  110  by the water supply apparatus  131  during the first sub-phase  430 (N) of the last, Nth, rinsing phase  420 (N). 
     In this way, it is advantageously avoided that the (reduced amount of) laundry softener delivered in the washing tub  110  during the sub-phase  460 (N) of the last rinsing phase  420 (N) is not too much diluted, which instead would occur if the amount of water delivered in the washing tub  110  during the last rinsing phase  420 (N) was equal to the amount of water delivered in the previous N−1 rinsing phases. 
     Naturally, in order to satisfy local and specific requirements, a person skilled in the art may apply to the invention described above many logical and/or physical modifications and alterations. More specifically, although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details as well as other embodiments are possible. In particular, different embodiments of the invention may even be practiced without the specific details (such as the numeric examples) set forth in the preceding description for providing a more thorough understanding thereof; on the contrary, well known features may have been omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the description with unnecessary particulars.