Patent Description:
Laundry appliances (such as laundry washing/drying machines and drying machines) configured to dry laundry generally comprise a laundry chamber configured for housing a laundry load (including articles such as clothes and other textiles) and for causing drying air circulating therethrough to remove moisture from the laundry load.

<CIT> discloses a washing and drying machine with a drawer receptacle provided in the upper housing region. When the machine is to operate as a washing machine, a washing-agent flush-in tray is inserted into the drawer receptacle, and when it is to operate as a laundry drier, the washing-agent flush-in tray is taken out of the drawer receptacle and replaced by a lint separator.

<CIT> discloses a laundry washing/drying appliance comprising a laundry chamber for containing laundry to be washed/dried, an air circulation system adapted to cyclically circulate drying air through the laundry chamber during a drying process, and a washing products dispensing conduit adapted to dispense washing products into the laundry chamber during a washing process. An amount of drying air within the laundry chamber is allowed to leave the air circulation system during the drying process.

A class of laundry appliances provides to dry the laundry load inside the laundry chamber by circulating drying air through the laundry chamber in a substantially closed air circuit. This air circuit provides that (damp) air leaving the laundry chamber is passed through a demoisturizing unit, where it is demoisturized, and then through a heating unit, where it is heated up to form dry and hot air that is then fed again inside the laundry chamber for evaporating moisture from the laundry load.

Laundry appliances are known whose operation is configured to be switched between a standard "laundry drying mode" directed to dry laundry inside the laundry chamber and an "ambient air dehumidification mode" directed to remove humidity from the room wherein the laundry drying appliance is located.

<CIT> discloses a dryer having a dryer housing comprising a housing front face for supplying objects to a drying chamber, and a processing air channel for guiding processing air and located inside the housing. An exhaust air duct guides exhaust air from the chamber. The face comprises a recess region, where an adapter and another adapter are insertable into the recess region. A normal drying process of the objects in the chamber is carried out during utilization of the former adapter. A space containing the dryer is dehumidified during utilization of the latter adapter.

The Applicant has found that the known laundry appliances capable of selectively drying laundry inside the laundry chamber or removing humidity from the room wherein the laundry drying appliance is located are affected by drawbacks.

For example, the solution disclosed in <CIT> is not efficient, because of the increased complexity due to the requirement of using two different adapters to be selectively inserted in a dedicated recess area. In addition to the increased complexity, this solution is affected by the further disadvantage of forcing the user to find a place where storing either of the two adapters which is not in use.

The Applicant has faced the problem of devising a satisfactory solution able to overcome the above-discussed drawbacks.

In particular, one or more aspects of the solution according to specific embodiments of the invention are set out in the independent claims, with advantageous features of the same solution that are indicated in the dependent claims, with any advantageous feature provided with reference to a specific aspect of the solution according to an embodiment of the invention that applies mutatis mutandis to any other aspect thereof.

An aspect of the solution according to one or more embodiments of the invention relates to a laundry drying appliance.

The laundry appliance comprises a cabinet.

The laundry appliance further comprises a laundry chamber rotatably enclosed within the cabinet for containing laundry to be dried.

The laundry appliance further comprises a drying air flow system for passing said air through the laundry chamber, said drying air flow system comprising an air demoisturizing unit configured to demoisturize said air.

The laundry appliance further comprises a filter seat arranged within the drying flow system for removably receiving an air filter.

The air filter is movable from a first position wherein it is inserted into said filter seat to filter drying air leaving the laundry chamber, to a second position wherein it is removed from said filter seat and detached from the appliance and viceversa;.

The laundry drying appliance is configured to operate in a laundry dryer mode when the air filter is in the first position, and in an ambient air dehumidification mode to dehumidify air in the ambient outside the cabinet when the air filter is said second position.

The laundry drying appliance further comprises a movable wall system arranged within said filter seat and operable, by moving said air filter from one to the other of said first and second positions, to configure the drying air flow system such that:.

Said movable wall system is configured so that, when the air filter is in said second position, the operation of the movable wall system causes the volume of the filter seat to be split in:.

In this way, the switching between the laundry dryer operative mode and the vambient air dehumidification operative mode of the laundry appliance can be easily performed in a very efficient way. Indeed, the movable wall system is advantageously adapted to accordingly configure the drying air flow system of the laundry appliance by simply inserting or removing the air filter unit from the filter seat, without having to be forced to manage different dedicated adapters.

Moreover, the proposed solution does not require the provision of a dedicated opening in the casing of the laundry appliance for accessing the drying air flow in order to change its configuration, because in the proposed solution said configuration can be easily performed by accessing the drying air flow through the filter seat.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the movable wall system comprises first and second wall members pivotally coupled to the filter seat and configured to be rotated between:.

According to another embodiment, the movable wall system comprises first and second wall members pivotally coupled to the filter seat and configured to be rotated between:.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the filter seat comprises a seat opening provided between said ceiling portion and said floor portion to receive the air filter therein.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the second wall member of the movable wall system comprises said air introduction opening and air exhausting opening formed thereon to partly obstructing the seat opening when the air filter is in the second position.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, said first wall member and said second wall member are configured to be rotated from the unfolded position to the folded position when said air filter element is being inserted in the filter seat through said seat opening to reach said first position.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, said first wall member forms an angle comprised between <NUM>° and <NUM>° with respect to the ceiling portion of the filter seat when the first wall member is in the unfolded position.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, said second wall member comprises a profiled member on a first face of the second wall member facing inside the filter seat when the second wall member is in the unfolded position.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, said profiled member is configured as a cam of a cam system comprising a follower provided as a profiled edge of the first wall member, so that the rotation of the second wall member toward the folded position causes a corresponding rotation of the first wall member toward the folded position.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, said profiled member of said second wall member has a chamfered shape protruding from said first face of the second wall member.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, said profiled member of said second wall member has a shape substantially corresponding to an oblique triangular prism.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, said second wall member comprises at least one elastic element biased in such a way that the second wall member is rotated from the folded position to the unfolded position when the filter element is being extracted from the filter seat.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, said drying air flow system comprises an air heating unit configured to heat up air demoisturized by the demoisturizing unit.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, said air demoisturizing unit comprises an evaporation unit and said air heating unit comprises a condenser unit, of a heat pump system.

According to an embodiment of the present invention said air demoisturizing unit comprises an evaporation unit and said air heating unit comprises a condenser unit, of a heat pump system which is designed for condensing an amount of moisture ranging from <NUM> liters/day to <NUM> liters/day from an ambient at <NUM> and <NUM>% of relative humidity. Said 'day' being intended as a time of <NUM> hours.

In a preferred embodiment said heat pump system is designed for condensing an amount of moisture ranging from <NUM> liters/day to <NUM> liters/day from an ambient at <NUM> and <NUM>% of relative humidity. Said 'day' being intended as a time of <NUM> hours. According to an embodiment of the present invention, said air demoisturizing unit comprises an air/air heat exchanger unit and said air heating unit comprises an heating resistor.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, said air demoisturizing unit comprises an air/water exchanger unit and said air heating unit comprises an heating resistor.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, said cabinet comprises sidewalls and a box-like structure acting as worktop arranged on the sidewalls so as to close the inner volume of the cabinet from above.

According to an embodiment of the present invention said air demoisturizing unit comprises an evaporation unit and said air heating unit comprises a condenser unit, of a heat pump system and the evaporation unit and/or the condenser unit is/are arranged within a volume of a box-like structure acting as worktop arranged on cabinet sidewalls so as to close the inner volume of the cabinet from above, said box-like structure having an height ranging from <NUM> to <NUM> and a width and/or a length ranging from <NUM> to <NUM>.

In another embodiment of the present invention, said box-like structure is formed by walls having a thickness ranging from <NUM>,<NUM> to <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, said box-like structure comprising an air duct forming part of said drying air flow system, said filter seat being arranged within the air duct for removably receiving the air filter therein.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, said box-like structure comprises:.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a worktop configured to form the top wall of a laundry drying appliance cabinet by being arranged on sidewalls thereof so as to close the inner volume of the cabinet from above.

The worktop comprises a movable wall system arranged within said filter seat, said movable wall system being operable by moving the air filter from one to the other of said first and second positions to configure the air duct such that:.

The proposed worktop comprising the movable wall system can be easily installed in a standard laundry drying appliance by simply replacing the old worktop with the proposed one. In this way, a standard laundry appliance can be enriched with the possibility of operating in an ambient air dehumidification operative mode without having to modify the component housed in the cabinet.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, said air duct is further provided with an air heating unit configured to heat up air demoisturized by the demoisturizing unit.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, said upper wall comprises a removable portion located at the movable wall system for accessing said movable wall system.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, said movable wall system is at least partially coupled to said removable portion of the upper wall.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method to operate a laundry drying appliance in a laundry dryer mode so as to dry laundry contained in the laundry chamber, or in an ambient air dehumidification mode to dehumidify air in the ambient outside the cabinet of the appliance.

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:.

With reference to the drawings, <FIG> is a perspective view of a laundry appliance <NUM> wherein concepts according to embodiments of the present invention can be applied.

The laundry appliance <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is a laundry washing/drying machine configured to wash and dry laundry. However, it is understood that the concepts of the present invention may be applied to other kinds of laundry appliances capable of drying laundry, such as in case the laundry appliance <NUM> is a drying machine configured only to dry laundry.

The laundry appliance <NUM> comprises a cabinet <NUM>, for example a substantially parallepiped-shaped cabinet <NUM>, having a front wall <NUM>(<NUM>), two side walls <NUM>(s) (only one visible in <FIG>), and a bottom wall (not visible in <FIG>).

The cabinet <NUM> encloses an inner compartment housing a laundry chamber (not visible in <FIG>) for containing laundry to be treated (e.g., dried and/or washed) and accessible through an access door <NUM> (shown in closed configuration). According to an embodiment of the present invention, the laundry chamber is rotatably enclosed within the cabinet <NUM>, so that it can rotate with respect to the latter for promoting tumbling of laundry. Preferably, the laundry chamber is a rotatable drum. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the laundry chamber is a rotatable drum housed in a washing tub (not visible in the figures). In the embodiments of the invention in which the laundry appliance <NUM> is a drying machine configured only to dry laundry, the washing tub is not provided.

As will be described in detail in the following, the laundry appliance <NUM> comprises a drying air flow system for passing air through the laundry chamber.

The laundry appliance <NUM> comprises a box-like structure <NUM> acting as a (e.g., ready-to-mount) worktop (hereinafter simply referred to as "worktop") arranged on the side walls <NUM>(s) so as to close the inner volume of the cabinet <NUM> from above. The worktop <NUM> may be advantageously covered by a covering panel <NUM> for aesthetical purposes.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a portion of the drying air flow system for passing air through the laundry chamber is housed inside the worktop <NUM>.

The laundry appliance <NUM> comprises a filter seat <NUM> configured for removably receiving a removable air filter unit <NUM>. As it will be described in greater detail in the following, the air filter unit <NUM> is configured in such a way that, when it is inserted in the filter seat <NUM>, (damp) air coming from the laundry chamber is expediently filtered from fluff.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the filter seat <NUM> is located at a front portion of the worktop <NUM>.

Preferably, the laundry appliance <NUM> further comprises a drawer <NUM> for containing one or more laundry treatment agents (or, concisely, treatment agents), such as liquid and powder treatment agents including, but not limited to, washing detergents, rinsing detergents, bleaches and softeners. Advantageously, the drawer <NUM> is configured to slide into a drawer seat <NUM>, preferably provided on a top part of the front wall <NUM>(<NUM>) of the cabinet <NUM>, between an extracted position and a retracted position (shown in <FIG>). In the embodiments of the invention in which the laundry appliance <NUM> is a drying machine configured only to dry laundry, the drawer <NUM> is not provided.

Preferably, the laundry appliance <NUM> further comprises a user interface <NUM>, the user interface <NUM> being preferably provided on a top part of the front wall <NUM>(f) of the cabinet <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the laundry appliance <NUM> is configured to operate in two different operative modes, and particularly in:.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the operation of the laundry appliance <NUM> can be switched between the laundry dryer operative mode and the ambient air dehumidification operative mode based on the position of the air filter unit <NUM>, particularly with respect to the filter seat <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the air filter unit <NUM> is in a first position wherein it is inserted into the filter seat <NUM>, the laundry appliance <NUM> is configured to operate in the laundry dryer operative mode.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the air filter unit <NUM> is in a second position wherein it is removed from the filter seat <NUM> and detached from the laundry appliance <NUM>, the laundry appliance <NUM> is configured to operate in the ambient air dehumidification operative mode.

<FIG> conceptually shows how the drying air flow system of the laundry appliance <NUM> - identified with reference <NUM> - is configured according to an embodiment of the present invention when the laundry appliance <NUM> is in the laundry dryer operative mode, i.e., when the air filter unit <NUM> is inserted in the filter seat <NUM>.

<FIG> conceptually shows how the drying air flow system <NUM> is configured according to an embodiment of the present invention when the laundry appliance <NUM> is in the ambient air dehumidification operative mode, i.e., when the air filter unit <NUM> is removed from the filter seat <NUM> and detached from the laundry appliance <NUM>.

When the laundry appliance <NUM> is in the laundry dryer operative mode, laundry to be dried is expected to be located inside the laundry chamber - the laundry chamber being identified in <FIG> and <FIG> with reference <NUM>. When instead the laundry appliance <NUM> is in the ambient air dehumidification operative mode, the laundry chamber <NUM> is expected to be empty.

By making reference to <FIG>, when the laundry appliance <NUM> is in the laundry dryer operative mode, the drying air flow system <NUM> is configured to circulate drying air in a substantially closed air circuit through the laundry chamber <NUM> (containing laundry to be dried) and the air filter unit <NUM>.

The air flow system <NUM> comprises a main air duct <NUM>, a delivery air duct <NUM> and a return air duct <NUM>.

The delivery air duct <NUM> is fluidly connected to an input opening IN(<NUM>) of the laundry chamber <NUM> for supplying it with drying air. The return air duct <NUM> is fluidly connected to an output opening OUT(<NUM>) of the laundry chamber <NUM> for taking moisture-laden air (damp air) derived from the laundry drying process.

The main air duct <NUM> is provided between (and connecting) the delivery air duct <NUM> and the return air duct <NUM>. The return air duct <NUM> is fluidly connected to an air inlet aperture IN(<NUM>) of the main air duct <NUM> for introducing in the main air duct <NUM> damp air coming from the laundry chamber <NUM>. The delivery air duct <NUM> is fluidly connected to an air outlet aperture OUT(<NUM>) of the main air duct <NUM> for receiving drying air to be provided to the laundry chamber <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the main air duct <NUM> is comprised in the worktop <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the filter seat <NUM> is housed in the main air duct <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the filter seat <NUM> comprises between a filter seat ceiling portion and a filter seat floor portion a seat opening <NUM> configured to receive the air filter unit <NUM>. According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the air filter unit <NUM> is inserted in the filter seat <NUM>, the filter unit <NUM> closes the seat opening <NUM>, preventing a fluid communication between the inner volume of the filter seat <NUM> and the ambient outside the laundry appliance <NUM>. According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the air filter unit <NUM> is removed from the filter seat <NUM>, the inner volume of the filter seat <NUM> is in fluid communication with the ambient outside the laundry appliance <NUM> through the seat opening <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the filter seat <NUM> comprises an air input IN(<NUM>) for receiving air and an air output OUT(<NUM>) for exhausting air. The air input IN(<NUM>) and the air output OUT(<NUM>) are in fluid communication with the inner volume of the filter seat <NUM>. When the air filter unit <NUM> is inserted in the filter seat <NUM>, air received from the air input IN(<NUM>) is filtered so that fluff is trapped within the air filter unit <NUM> body. In this way, air exhausted through the air output OUT(<NUM>) advantageously does not include (or at least includes a reduced amount) of said fluff.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the air input IN(<NUM>) is in fluid communication with the air inlet aperture IN(<NUM>) of the main air duct <NUM>, in such a way to allow air coming from the laundry chamber <NUM> reaching the inner volume of the filter seat <NUM>. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the air input IN(<NUM>) and the air inlet aperture IN(<NUM>) coincides.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the air flow system <NUM> comprises an air demoisturizing unit <NUM> configured to demoisturize air. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the demoisturizing unit <NUM> is housed in the main air duct <NUM>. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the air demoisturizing unit <NUM> is arranged in the main air duct <NUM> downstream the filter seat <NUM>. In this way, the demoisturizing unit <NUM> is configured to receive, and demosisturize, air exhausted from the air output OUT(<NUM>).

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the air flow system <NUM> comprises an air heating unit <NUM> configured to heat up air. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the air heating unit <NUM> is housed in the main air duct <NUM>. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the air heating unit <NUM> is downstream the air demoisturizing unit <NUM>. In this way, the air heating unit <NUM> is configured to receive, and heat up, air that has been demoistured by the air demoisturizing unit <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the air demoisturizing unit <NUM> comprises an evaporation unit and said air heating unit <NUM> comprises a condenser unit, of a heat pump system.

Said heat pump system further comprises a compressor, an expansion valve and a piping arrangement connected thereto so as to drive a refrigerant fluid through the evaporation unit and the condenser unit.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the air demoisturizing unit <NUM> comprises an air/air heat exchanger unit and the air heating unit <NUM> comprises a heating resistor.

In particular, said air/air heat exchanger unit may comprise a first path wherein a cooling air flow circulates and a second path, which has no fluid communication with the first path, wherein air exhausted from the air output OUT(<NUM>) circulates. The cooling air flow can consist in a forced flow of air taken from the ambient surrounding the laundry drying appliance <NUM>.

More in particular, the heating resistor can be an electric resistor.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the air demoisturizing unit <NUM> comprises an air/water exchanger unit and the air heating unit <NUM> comprises a heating resistor.

In particular, said air/water exchanger unit may comprise a water delivery device that provides for a cool surface in thermal contact with air exhausted from the air output OUT(<NUM>).

More particularly, water provided to said air/water exchanger unit can be supplied by water mains which the laundry drying appliance <NUM> is fluidly connected to.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the air flow system <NUM> comprises a motor-driven fan <NUM> configured to promote air circulation through the air flow system <NUM> and the laundry chamber <NUM> (and through the air filter unit <NUM> when inserted in the filter seat <NUM>). According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fan <NUM> is housed in the main air duct <NUM>, for example between the air heating unit <NUM> and the air outlet aperture OUT(<NUM>). It is understood that the fan <NUM> may be provided in different positions of the main air duct <NUM> or generally of the air flow system <NUM>, provided that it is arranged to promote air circulation through the air flow system <NUM> and the laundry chamber <NUM>. In particular, the fan <NUM> may have its air inlet arranged at the air outlet aperture OUT(<NUM>) and its air outlet in fluid communication with the input opening IN(<NUM>) of the laundry chamber <NUM>.

More in particular, the fan <NUM> may be a centrifugal fan.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a further filter element <NUM> is advantageously provided in the air flow system <NUM>, such as inside the main air duct <NUM>, for example between the air output OUT(<NUM>) of the filter seat <NUM> and the air demoisturizing unit <NUM>.

When the laundry appliance <NUM> is in the laundry dryer operative mode (<FIG>), under fan <NUM> action, damp air leaving the laundry chamber <NUM> (i.e., air loaded with damp collected from the laundry inside the laundry chamber <NUM>) flows through the return air duct <NUM> and reaches the main air duct <NUM> through the air inlet aperture IN(<NUM>). Such air enters the air filter unit <NUM> housed in the filter seat <NUM> through the air input IN(<NUM>). Corresponding filtered air is exhausted from the air output OUT(<NUM>) of the filter seat <NUM> and passes through the air demoisturizing unit <NUM>, wherein it is cooled down and demoisturized. The demoisturized air is then passed through the air heating unit <NUM>, wherein it is heated up. The resulting demoisturized and heated air leaves the main duct <NUM> through the air outlet aperture OUT(<NUM>), and reaches the laundry chamber <NUM> passing through the delivery air duct <NUM> and the input opening IN(<NUM>).

In this way, a substantially closed air circuit is defined, causing drying air circulate though the laundry chamber <NUM> and the air filter unit <NUM> so as laundry inside the laundry chamber is dried.

Advantageously, in order to compensate possible insufficient cooling capacity at the air demoisturizing unit <NUM> with respect to heating capacity at the air heating unit <NUM>, which could result in dangerous overheating, a secondary air duct <NUM> may be provided to cause cooler ambient air be mixed with the drying air. For example, said secondary air duct <NUM> may be in fluid communication with the main air duct <NUM>, for example between the fan <NUM> and the air outlet aperture OUT(<NUM>). In order to compensate for the additional air provided through the secondary air duct <NUM>, the laundry chamber <NUM> may be provided with a secondary output opening OUT(S) configured to allow an amount of damp air within the laundry chamber <NUM> to be vented outside.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the laundry appliance <NUM> further comprises a movable wall system <NUM> arranged within the filter seat <NUM> and operable, by moving the air filter unit <NUM> from a position wherein it is inserted into the filter seat <NUM> to a position wherein it is removed from the filter seat <NUM> and detached from the laundry appliance <NUM>, and vice versa, to configure the drying air flow system <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the movable wall system <NUM> is adapted to configure the drying air flow system <NUM> to circulate drying air in a substantially closed air circuit through the laundry chamber <NUM> and the air filter unit <NUM> when the air filter unit <NUM> is inserted into the filter seat <NUM> (as illustrated in <FIG>).

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the movable wall system <NUM> is adapted to configure the drying air flow system <NUM> to put the laundry chamber <NUM> in fluid communication with the ambient outside the cabinet <NUM> by means of an air introduction opening IN(<NUM>) and an air exhausting opening OUT(<NUM>) provided by the movable wall system <NUM> when the air filter unit <NUM> is removed from the filter seat <NUM> and detached from the laundry appliance <NUM> (see <FIG>).

By making reference to <FIG>, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the movable wall system <NUM> is configured to split the inner volume of the filter seat <NUM> in two volume portions when the air filter unit <NUM> is removed from the filter seat <NUM> and detached from the laundry appliance <NUM>, and particularly in:.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the air filter unit <NUM> is removed from the filter seat <NUM> and detached from the laundry appliance <NUM>, the air introduction opening IN(<NUM>) and the air exhausting opening OUT(<NUM>) are in fluid communication with the ambient outside the cabinet <NUM> through the seat opening <NUM>.

When the laundry appliance <NUM> is in the ambient air dehumidification operative mode (<FIG>), under fan <NUM> action, ambient air is sucked inside the first volume portion <NUM> of the filter seat <NUM> through the air introduction opening IN(<NUM>). This air is exhausted from the air output OUT(<NUM>) of the filter seat <NUM> and enters the main air duct <NUM>, passing through the air demoisturizing unit <NUM>, wherein it is cooled down and demoisturized, and through the heating unit <NUM>, wherein it is heated up. The resulting demoisturized and heated air leaves the main duct <NUM> through the air outlet aperture OUT(<NUM>), and reaches the laundry chamber <NUM> passing through the delivery air duct <NUM> and the input opening IN(<NUM>). Advantageously, the provision of a further filter element <NUM> in the air flow system <NUM>, in addition to the air filter unit <NUM>, allows air exhausted from the air output OUT(<NUM>) to be filtered before reaching the air demoisturizing unit <NUM> and the heating unit <NUM>.

When the laundry appliance <NUM> operates in the ambient air dehumidification operative mode no laundry is expected to be provided in the laundry chamber <NUM>, therefore, air leaving the laundry chamber <NUM> from the output opening OUT(<NUM>) is dry air. Said dry air flows through the return air duct <NUM>, and reaches - through the air inlet aperture IN(<NUM>) - the second volume portion <NUM> of the filter seat <NUM>, and then is exhausted in the ambient outside the cabinet <NUM> through the air exhausting opening OUT(<NUM>).

In this way, the ambient where the laundry appliance <NUM> is located is efficiently dehumidified.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the movable wall system <NUM> comprises wall members pivotally coupled to the filter seat <NUM>. According to an embodiment of the present invention, said wall members are pivotally coupled to the ceiling portion of the filter seat <NUM>.

In another embodiment, however, said wall members may be pivotally coupled to a floor portion <NUM> (See <FIG>) of the filter seat <NUM>.

By making reference to <FIG>, in which the ceiling portion of the filter seat <NUM> is identified with reference <NUM>, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the movable wall system <NUM> comprises a first wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) and a second wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) pivotally coupled to the ceiling portion <NUM> of the filter seat <NUM>.

According to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in <FIG>, the first wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) is pivotally coupled to the ceiling portion <NUM> by means of two hinge elements <NUM>, and the second wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) is pivotally coupled to the ceiling portion <NUM> by means of further two hinge elements <NUM>. It is understood that similar considerations apply in case the first wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) and/or the second wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) is/are pivotally coupled to the ceiling portion <NUM> with a different number of hinge elements or with a different kind of coupling elements. Moreover, the concepts of the present invention can be applied to cases in which the first wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) and/or the second wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) is/are coupled to a different portion of the filter seat <NUM>, such as the floor portion or the side portions of the filter seat <NUM>.

By making reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, illustrating the filter seat <NUM> with the ceiling portion <NUM> removed, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the first wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) and the second wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) are configured to be rotated between:.

It is underlined that although <FIG> corresponds to the case in which the air filter unit <NUM> is located inside the filter seat <NUM> (i.e., when the air filter unit <NUM> is in the first position), the air filter unit <NUM> has not been depicted in said figure for the sake of clarity.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the air introduction opening IN(<NUM>) and the air exhausting opening OUT(<NUM>) are located on the second wall member <NUM>(<NUM>).

According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the first wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) and the second wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) are in the unfolded position, the second wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) is arranged to obstruct the seat opening <NUM>. The obstruction of the seat opening <NUM> by the second wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) when the latter is in the unfolded position is only partial, because air is advantageously allowed to pass through the air introduction opening IN(<NUM>) and the air exhausting opening OUT(<NUM>).

As illustrated in <FIG>, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the first wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) and the second wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) are configured to be rotated from the unfolded position to the folded position when the air filter unit <NUM> is being inserted in the filter seat <NUM> through the seat opening <NUM>.

By making reference back to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a profiled member <NUM> is provided on the face of the second wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) facing inside the filter seat <NUM> when the second wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) is in the unfolded position (said face being identified in the figures with reference <NUM>). According to an embodiment of the present invention, the profiled member <NUM> is configured as a cam of a cam system comprising a follower provided as a profiled edge (identified in the figures with reference <NUM>) of the first wall member <NUM>(<NUM>). In this way, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a rotation of the second wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) toward the ceiling portion <NUM> (i.e., toward the folded position) caused by a push of the air filter unit <NUM> while being inserted in the filter seat <NUM> causes a corresponding rotation of the first wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) toward the ceiling portion <NUM> (i.e., toward the folded position).

In an embodiment wherein the first wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) and a second wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) are pivotally coupled to a floor portion <NUM> of the filter seat <NUM>, a rotation of the second wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) toward the floor portion <NUM> (i.e., toward the folded position) caused by a push of the air filter unit <NUM> while being inserted in the filter seat <NUM> causes a corresponding rotation of the first wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) toward the floor portion <NUM> (i.e., toward the folded position).

According to an embodiment of the present invention, one or more elastic biasing elements are provided (in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in <FIG>, two biasing elements, identified with references <NUM>(<NUM>) and <NUM>(<NUM>)) and configured to cause the second wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) to rotate from the folded position to the unfolded position when the air filter unit <NUM> is being extracted from the filter seat <NUM>. For example, the biasing elements <NUM>(<NUM>), <NUM>(<NUM>) may be springs biased in such a way that the second wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) is rotated from the folded position to the unfolded position when the air filter unit <NUM> is being extracted from the filter seat <NUM>. Such configuration of one or more elastic biasing elements may be provided also in an embodiment wherein the first wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) and a second wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) are pivotally coupled to a floor portion <NUM> of the filter seat <NUM>.

Thanks to the proposed solution, the switching between the laundry dryer operative mode and the ambient air dehumidification operative mode of the laundry appliance <NUM> can be easily performed in a very efficient way. Indeed, the movable wall system <NUM> according to the embodiments of the present invention is advantageously adapted to accordingly configure the drying air flow system <NUM> of the laundry appliance <NUM> by simply switching the wall members <NUM>(<NUM>) and <NUM>(<NUM>) between the folded and unfolded positions, with said switching that is carried out by simply inserting or removing the air filter unit <NUM> from the filter seat <NUM>.

Particularly, according to an embodiment of the present invention:.

<FIG> is an enlarged plan view of the second wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) according to an embodiment of the resent invention. <FIG> is a sectional view of a portion of the second wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) taken along the section line B-B of <FIG> is a sectional view of the second wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) taken along the section line C-C of <FIG>.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the profiled member <NUM> of the second wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) has a chamfered shape protruding from the face <NUM>. The profiled member <NUM> is advantageously shaped to have a profile such to promote the mutual sliding between the profiled member <NUM> of the second wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) and the profiled edge <NUM> of the first wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) when the second wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) moves. The movement of the second wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) being caused by the air filter unit <NUM> when being inserted in the filter seat <NUM> for passing from the unfolded to the folded position, or by the biasing elements <NUM>(<NUM>) and <NUM>(<NUM>) when the air filter unit <NUM> is removed from the filter seat <NUM> for passing from the folded to the unfolded position.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in the figures, the profiled member <NUM> has a shape substantially corresponding to an oblique triangular prism. However, similar considerations apply in case the profiled member <NUM> has a different shape, provided that it is suitable to promote the mutual sliding between the profiled member <NUM> of the second wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) and the profiled edge <NUM> of the first wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) when the second wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) moves avoiding, or at least reducing, jamming occurrences.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first wall member <NUM>(<NUM>), and particularly its size and position, is set in such a way that the first wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) forms an angle α (visible in <FIG>) comprised between <NUM>° and <NUM>° with respect to the ceiling portion <NUM> when the first wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) is in the unfolded position and preferably touches the floor portion <NUM> of the filter seat <NUM>.

In order to avoid that the first wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) and the second wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) get jammed in the unfolded position, without being capable of switching to the folded position, the angle α may be advantageously set higher than <NUM>°, so that the first wall member <NUM>(<NUM>) is not perpendicular to the floor portion <NUM> of the filter seat <NUM> when in the unfolded position. For example, according to an embodiment of the present invention this is advantageously obtained by setting the height H of the first wall member <NUM>(<NUM>), i.e., the length thereof perpendicular to its rotation axis, greater than the distance between the ceiling portion <NUM> and the floor portion <NUM> of the filter seat <NUM>.

In the embodiments of the invention described above, a portion of the drying air flow system <NUM>, and particularly the main air duct <NUM> and the filter seat <NUM>, are housed in the volume enclosed by the box-like shaped worktop <NUM> (see <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>).

In order to show in greater detail the box-like shaped worktop <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention, reference will be now made to <FIG>, which is a perspective view of an exemplary worktop <NUM> embodiment removed from the laundry appliance <NUM> and without the covering panel <NUM>. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the worktop <NUM> defines a box-like structure formed by an upper wall <NUM>, a lower wall <NUM> (visible in <FIG>), and a plurality of lateral walls <NUM> arranged substantially perpendicularly to the upper wall <NUM> and to the lower wall <NUM> so as to form a worktop inner volume.

<FIG> and <FIG> are perspective views of the worktop <NUM> - from behind and from front, respectively - without the upper wall <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the worktop <NUM> is shaped and sized so as to define the main air duct <NUM> and a number of housing sections adapted to house corresponding components of the air flow system <NUM> included in the main air duct <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the worktop <NUM> comprises a demoisturizing housing section <NUM> for housing the air demoisturizing unit <NUM> and a heating housing section <NUM> for housing the air heating unit <NUM> (see also <FIG> and <FIG>).

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the ceiling portion <NUM> of the filter seat <NUM> is defined by a portion of the upper wall <NUM> of the worktop <NUM>. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the floor portion <NUM> of the filter seat <NUM> is defined by a portion of the lower wall <NUM> of the worktop <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the upper wall <NUM> of the worktop <NUM> is advantageously provided with a removable portion, identified in <FIG> with reference <NUM>, located at, e.g., above, the movable wall system <NUM> for allowing an easy access to the movable wall system <NUM>. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the movable wall system <NUM> is at least partially coupled to said removable portion <NUM> of the upper wall <NUM>, in such a way to allow an extraction of the movable wall system <NUM> from the worktop <NUM>. For example, the extraction of the movable wall system <NUM> from the worktop <NUM> may be carried out after having removed the covering panel <NUM> from the worktop <NUM>, or after having removed a corresponding removable portion (not illustrated) of the covering panel <NUM> aligned with the removable portion <NUM> of the upper wall <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A laundry drying appliance (<NUM>) comprising:
- a cabinet (<NUM>);
- a laundry chamber (<NUM>) rotatably enclosed within the cabinet for containing laundry to be dried;
- a drying air flow system (<NUM>) for passing said air through the laundry chamber, said drying air flow system comprising an air demoisturizing unit (<NUM>) configured to demoisturize said air;
- a filter seat (<NUM>) arranged within the drying flow system for removably receiving an air filter (<NUM>);
- said air filter being movable from a first position wherein it is inserted into said filter seat to filter drying air leaving the laundry chamber, to a second position wherein it is removed from said filter seat and detached from the appliance and viceversa;
- said laundry drying appliance being configured to operate in a laundry dryer mode when the air filter is in the first position, and in an ambient air dehumidification mode to dehumidify air in the ambient outside the cabinet when the air filter is said second position;
characterised in that:
the laundry drying appliance further comprises a movable wall system (<NUM>) arranged within said filter seat (<NUM>) and operable, by moving said air filter (<NUM>) from one to the other of said first and second positions, to configure the drying air flow system (<NUM>) such that:
- when the air filter (<NUM>) is said first position, the drying air flow system is configured to circulate drying air in a substantially closed air circuit, through the laundry chamber and the air filter, and
- when the filter (<NUM>) is said second position, the laundry chamber is put in fluid communication with the ambient outside the cabinet by means of an air introduction opening (IN(<NUM>)) and an air exhausting opening (OUT(<NUM>)) provided by the movable wall system in the filter seat,
wherein said movable wall system (<NUM>) is configured so that, when the air filter (<NUM>) is in said second position, the operation of the movable wall system causes the volume of the filter seat (<NUM>) to be split in:
- a first volume portion (<NUM>) comprising said air introduction opening (IN(<NUM>)) and guiding air from the ambient outside the cabinet to the laundry chamber (<NUM>), and
- a second volume portion (<NUM>) comprising said air exhausting opening (OUT(<NUM>)) and guiding air from the laundry chamber to the ambient outside the cabinet substantially without mixing with air flowing in the first volume portion.