US 11,987,921 B2
Laundry treatment appliance with water softening system
Andrea Zattin, Solesino (IT); and Martino Bondi, Sesto Al Reghena (IT)
Assigned to Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag, Stockholm (SE)
Filed by Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag, Stockholm (SE)
Filed on Apr. 4, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/712,652.
Claims priority of application No. 21168672 (EP), filed on Apr. 15, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0333288 A1, Oct. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. D06F 39/00 (2020.01); D06F 34/22 (2020.01); D06F 39/02 (2006.01); D06F 39/08 (2006.01); D06F 39/40 (2024.01); D06F 101/20 (2020.01); D06F 103/20 (2020.01); D06F 105/52 (2020.01)
CPC D06F 39/007 (2013.01) [D06F 34/22 (2020.02); D06F 39/02 (2013.01); D06F 39/088 (2013.01); D06F 39/40 (2024.01); D06F 2101/20 (2020.02); D06F 2103/20 (2020.02); D06F 2105/52 (2020.02)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A laundry treatment appliance comprising:
a water supply unit configured to supply fresh water to the laundry treatment appliance;
a laundry treatment chamber adapted to receive laundry to be treated;
a water softening system configured to receive fresh water from the water supply unit and to generate soft water from the received fresh water;
a process liquid delivery system fluidly connected to said water supply unit, said water softening system, and at least one of:
a treatment agent delivery system configured to store a water-soluble pod containing one or more laundry treatment agents, and
a steam generator to be supplied into the laundry treatment chamber;
wherein the process liquid delivery system is configured to supply process liquid comprising fresh water supplied by the water supply unit or soft water generated by the water softening system into the laundry treatment chamber;
wherein the laundry treatment appliance is configured to perform at least one among a set of treatment cycles selectable by a user, said set of treatment cycles comprising at least one of:
a first treatment cycle in which said process liquid supplied by said process liquid delivery system further comprises said one or more laundry treatment agents contained in said water-soluble pod, and
a second treatment cycle in which the steam generator is activated for supplying steam into the laundry treatment chamber using water supplied by the process liquid delivery system;
wherein the laundry treatment appliance further comprises a control unit configured to activate the water softening system so as to provide the process liquid delivery system with soft water when one of said treatment cycles of the set of treatment cycles is selected.