ES2375369T3 - MULTI-PHASES LAUNDRY TREATMENT PADS. - Google Patents

Abstract

One or more laundry treatment tablets in combination with a package wherein the one or more laundry treatment tablets are packaged individually or in groups corresponding with a unit dose, i) the one or more laundry treatment tablets having a plurality of discrete phases with differing compositions, wherein at least one first phase of the tablet(s) is a smooth phase having an outer surface and at least one second phase of the tablet(s) is a solid phase comprising compacted particulate material; and ii) the package comprising an inner surface, at least one region of which bears an adhesive.

Description

Multi-phase laundry treatment pills

The invention relates to multi-phase laundry treatment tablets containing a soft phase (or gel) and a solid phase and a packaging thereof.

Detergent compositions in the form of tablets have advantages over powdered products in that they do not require a measurement and, therefore, are easier to handle and supply in the wash load.

The tablets of a treatment composition are generally prepared by compressing or compacting an amount of the composition in the form of particles.

Pills comprising two or more separate areas have also been described. For example, WO

04/012416 describes the production of multi-phase molded structures comprising a combination of molded core structures and a pre-mix in the form of particles. WO 00/61717 describes a detergent tablet characterized in that at least part of its outer surface is semi-solid. WO 00/04129 describes a multi-phase detergent tablet comprising a first phase in the form of a shaped structure having at least one mold therein and a second phase in the form of a compressed particle-shaped solid. in said mold. WO 99/24549 describes a detergent tablet comprising a compressed solid structure and an uncompressed gelatinous part disposed in a mold of said structure. WO 99/27069 refers to a tablet comprising a compressed and an uncompressed phase in which the uncompressed phase improves the stability of the perfume components.

There are also previous publications on forms of stable, solid and / or transparent soft or gel detergent compositions. In GB 1578289, a composition comprising detergent soap and solvent for detergent sticks has been proposed for use in washing or pretreatment of dry cleaning. It has recently been suggested, for example, in EP 1,405,900, EP 1,375,636, EP 1,405,901, EP 1,405,902, EP 1,418,224 and WO 03/104380 to prepare tablets comprising a soft or semi-soft phase. solid.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved laundry treatment tablet (s).

According to a first aspect of the invention, one or more laundry treatment tablets are provided in combination with a container, in which one or more laundry treatment tablets are packaged individually or in groups corresponding to a unit dose.

i) the one or more laundry treatment tablets having a plurality of discrete phases with different compositions, in which at least a first phase of the tablet (s) is a soft phase having an external surface and at least a second phase of the tablet (s) is a solid phase comprising a material in the form of compacted particles; Y

ii) the package comprising an internal surface, of which at least one area carries an adhesive.

45 The provision of an internal surface bearing an adhesive provides several advantages. First of all, any matter in the form of dispersed particles such as granules or powder that has been eroded or disintegrated from the solid phase of the tablet or each tablet, can be adhered to the adhesive instead of the first frosted phase.

In addition to this, the laundry treatment tablets themselves are attached to the inner surface that the adhesive carries. When the package comprises more than one laundry treatment tablet, the tablets are less likely to move against each other in the package and, therefore, friction between the tablets is reduced. Therefore, the probability of fractures in the tablets and the amount of granules / powder created is reduced.

55 If a particulate matter of the first phase is attached to the soft phase, this may impair the appearance of the soft phase, turning off any brightness and / or translucency or transparency. It can also reduce the visual contrast between the two phases, thus reducing the visual perception to the consumer that there are two different layers, each having a different compositional function.

The container

The container can be rigid or flexible.

The package may comprise one or more seals that may be sealed using an adhesive. Adhesive

The employee may comprise natural rubber latex and / or dispersions of synthetic polymers. The sealing adhesive can be used, for example, expanded, to provide at least one area of the invention.

Preferably, the package is a film container such as a fluid covering or fluid wrap covering comprising a tubular film bag with a longitudinal seam and two transverse seams.

Preferably, the film has a moisture vapor transfer rate of 1-20 g / m2 / day and more preferably 1-10 g / m2 / day in order to protect the tablets that are individual tablets or of packaged hygroscopic groups corresponding to a unit dose.

In a preferred embodiment, the tablets are packaged in pairs and, more preferably, next to each other.

The adhesive may be placed in an area or areas of the inner surface of the container that is adjacent to the solid phase. This makes it possible for the adhesive to collect the powder / residue from the solid phase before it reaches the soft phase.

Additionally, there may be adhesive in an area or zones adjacent to the soft phase.

The adhesive can be applied to the inner surface of the packaging material before it is formed in the package, for example, by fluid wrap. The material of the package may also comprise a shellac on its outer surface to enable storage of the packaging material before the formation of the container. The release lacquer may comprise a solvent based on polyamide and will prevent the layers of the packaging material from adhering during storage of the rolled film in a roller. Alternatively, the adhesive can be applied during container formation. The adhesive can be used to form the longitudinal seal of a fluid wrap container.

In this case, the adhesive can be applied longitudinally (corresponding to the longitudinal seal) and / or in points

25 successively transversely (corresponding to the end seals) of the fluid wrap packaging material, whereby the area (s) is placed and / or sized in relation to the final configuration, so that the area or areas of adhesive remains exposed inside the package, after the formation procedure. These exposed areas provide the at least unique adhesive carrying area of the invention.

Preferably, the laundry treatment tablet of the invention cleanses, softens and / or refreshes the laundry fabrics that are being treated in the washing machine. Most preferably, it is a laundry cleaning tablet capable of cleaning the laundry fabrics.

The areas of the tablet are preferably separate layers in a cleaning tablet. However, an area

A discrete pill could also have other shapes, for example, one or more core (s) or insertion (s). Preferably, a "phase" is a discrete area of the tablet having a particular composition and / or particular physical nature such as morphology, texture or appearance.

The tablets used in the present invention can be of any suitable form, for example, spherical or polyhedral (which can be of square or rectangular cross-section). However, preferably, they are cylindrical in shape in which the two main surfaces (upper side and lower side) are substantially smooth. In one embodiment, the outer surface of the soft phase is domed to facilitate the application of pretreatment.

The multi-phase tablets used in the present invention comprise at least one soft phase and at least one solid phase. It may also comprise at least one intermediate phase if the soft phase comprises a relatively high level of liquid component in order to improve the stability of the tablet during storage.

Soft phase

For the purposes of this invention, the term "soft phase" refers to compositions that, on the one hand, are solid enough to retain their shape at room temperature and, on the other hand, look soft. Soft textures are generally of low or zero porosity and have, at a normal viewing distance, the

The appearance of a continuous phase as opposed, for example, to the porous and particulate appearance of a material in the form of compacted particles.

Preferably, the soft phase is transparent or translucent.

Preferably, the soft phase of the tablet is a semi-solid phase. For the purposes of this invention, the term semi-solid refers to compositions that, on the one hand, are sufficiently solid to retain their shape at room temperature, but which are also not completely solid. A suitable test to check if a composition can be considered a semi-solid is described, for example, in EP 1,375,636.

65 The other phases of the laundry treatment tablet are possibly separated layers in the tablet, preferably substantially smooth layers. Preferably, the soft phase covers a substantial part of the upper surface of the other phase, for example, preferably at least 65%, more preferably at least 75%, most preferably more than 90% or even substantially all of The upper surface of the other phase is covered by the first soft phase. For the purposes of the invention, the term "upper surface" refers to one of the main sides of the laundry treatment tablet which, by placing the tablet in a

5 smooth surface, could be classified as the upper surface. Especially preferably, the other phase of the tablet is suitably a layer of material in the form of compacted particles, which preferably has a substantially smooth upper surface.

Preferably, the first soft phase is a layer having an average thickness of 0.5 to 10 mm, more preferably 6 mm, for example 1.5 to 5 mm. Preferably, the total weight of the soft phase is 1 to 40 grams, more preferably 3 to 30 grams, most preferably 4 to 10 grams, preferably the level of non-soap surfactants in the soft phase is 0.5 to 10 grams, more preferably 1 to 7 grams.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first soft or semi-solid phase comprises 4-100% p of

15 non-soapy surfactants (based on the total weight of the soft phase), more preferably 5-95% p, most preferably the first phase is predominantly non-soapy surfactants, for example more than 60% p, for example, 70 at 90% p. It has been found that the combination of a separate soft or semi-solid phase and these high levels of surfactants provide very good dispersant and cleaning properties for the tablet.

Also advantageously, the soft or semi-solid phase may comprise soap, for example, at a level of 0.1 to 10% p based on the weight of the soft or semi-solid part. Especially preferably, the soap is present at a level of at least 1% p of the soft phase. In a very preferred embodiment of the invention, the level of C16 soaps is relatively high, particularly it is preferred that at least 50% p of the soap is a

C16 soap, even more preferably 60 to 100% of the soap is a C16 soap.

Also advantageously, the first soft phase of the tablet comprises at least 5% p of diluent materials having a dielectric constant of 5 to 16. Also preferably, the molecular weight of the diluents is 50 to 250, for example 100 to 200 Preferred examples of diluents are, for example, triethylene glycol dimethyl ether or diethylene glycol ethyl ether or mixtures thereof. Preferably, the level of the diluents is 5 to 40% p, more preferably 2 to 30, most preferably 10-25% p based on the weight of the soft phase. Also preferably, the diluents used in the soft phase preferably have an ignition point of at least 75 ° C, most preferably above 80 ° C or even above 90 ° C.

The soft or semi-solid phase preferably comprises nothing or only low levels of water. Preferably, the water level is less than 20% p based on the weight of the semi-solid phase, more preferably less than 15% p, most preferably 5 to 12% p. Most preferably the soft or semi-solid phases are substantially free of water, which means, apart from the low humidity levels (for example, for neutralization or as crystallization water) no additional added water is present.

In one embodiment, the outer surface of the soft phase may comprise 5 to 25 rounded grooves in order to improve the dissolution rate of the soft phase of the tablet and reduce contact between the user and the soft phase. Preferably, the rounded grooves are of a size that prevents the projection of the peaks of the

45 grooves through the openings of the supply device.

The soft phase can be prepared by preparing the ingredients together until they melt to form a substantially homogeneous liquid, followed by cooling to solidification and, if it is necessary to cut form the desired shape and size in some other way.

Solid phase

The second phase is a solid phase of compacted material. The weight of the solid phase may suitably vary in the range of 1 to 60 grams, more preferably 10 to 50 grams, most suitably 20 to 40 grams.

55 grams

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second phase comprises nothing or only low levels of surfactants. Preferably, the level of surfactants in the second phase is less than 10% p (based on the total weight of the second phase, more preferably 0 to 9% p, most preferably 1 to 8% p.

The second phase can be prepared by compression or fusion. Preferably, the second phase is a composition in the form of compacted particles. The second phase preferably comprises tablet ingredients other than surfactants. Examples of these ingredients are detergency builders, bleaching system, enzymes, etc. Preferably, the detergency builders in the tablet are predominantly present in the second phase. Preferably, the bleaching system is predominantly present in the second phase. Preferably, enzymes are predominantly present in the

second stage. For the purposes of this invention, the expression "predominantly present" refers to a situation in which at least 90% p of an ingredient is present in the second phase, more preferably more than 98% p, most preferably 100% substantial p. Materials that can be used in tablets of this invention will be discussed in more detail below.

5 Surfactant compounds

The compositions that are used in the tablets of the invention will contain one or more detergent surfactants. In a laundry treatment composition, these provide 5 to 50% by weight of the overall composition

10 of the tablet, more preferably 8 or 9% by weight of the overall composition up to 40% or 50% by weight. The surfactant can be anionic (soapy or non-soapy), cationic, hybrid ion, amphoteric, non-ionic or a combination thereof.

The anionic surfactant may be present in an amount of 0.5 to 50% by weight, preferably 2% or 4% to 30% or 40% by weight of the tablet composition.

Synthetic anionic surfactants (i.e. non-soap) are well known to those skilled in the art. Examples include alkylbenzene sulphonates, particularly linear alkyl benzene sulphonates having a length of the C8-C15 alkyl chain, olefin sulfonates; alkanediolsulfonates; dialkyl sulphosuccinates and

20 fatty acid ester sulphonates.

The primary alkyl sulfate having the formula

-

ROS3 M +

Wherein R is an alkyl or alkenyl chain of 8 to 18 carbon atoms, especially 10 to 14 carbon atoms and M + is a solubilizing cation, is commercially significant as an anionic surfactant. The linear alkylbenzene sulphonate of the formula

wherein R is linear alkyl of 8 to 15 carbon atoms and M + is a solubilizing cation, especially sodium, it is also a commercially significant anionic surfactant.

Frequently, this linear alkyl benzene sulphonate or primary alkyl sulfate of the above formula, or a mixture thereof, will be the desired anionic surfactant and can provide 75 to 100% of any anionic non-soap surfactant in the composition.

In some forms of this invention, the amount of non-soapy anionic surfactant is in a range of 5 to 20% p of the tablet composition.

The soaps for use according to the invention are preferably sodium soaps derived from fatty acids that are produced by natural formula, for example, bovine tallow fatty acids.

Suitable nonionic surfactant compounds that can be used include, in particular the reaction products of compounds having a hydrophobic group and a reactive hydrogen atom, for example, aliphatic alcohols, acids, amides or alkyl phenols with alkylene oxides , especially ethylene oxide.

The specific non-ionic surfactant compounds are condensates of (C8-22) alkyl phenol-ethylene oxide,

50 condensation products of aliphatic, linear or branched C8-20 primary or secondary alcohols and products prepared by the condensation of ethylene oxide with the reaction products of propylene oxide and ethylenediamine.

Especially preferred are ethoxylates of primary and secondary alcohols, especially alcohols.

55 primary and secondary C9-11 and C12-15 ethoxylates with an average of 5 to 20 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.

In some laundry treatment tablets of this invention, the amount of non-ionic surfactant is in a range of 4 to 40%, better 4 or 5 to 30% by weight of the overall tablet.

60 Many non-ionic surfactants are liquids. These can be absorbed in the particles of the composition.

Detergency Enhancer

A composition that is used in tablets of the invention will usually contain from 5 to 80%, more usually 15 to 60% by weight of detergency builder. This can be provided completely by materials

5 water soluble or can be provided largely or even completely by a water insoluble material with water softening properties. The water insoluble detergency builder may be present as 5 to 80% p, better 5 to 60% p of the composition.

Alkali metal aluminosilicates are highly favorable as environmentally acceptable water-soluble detergency builders for washing machines. Alkali metal aluminosilicates (preferably sodium) may be crystalline or amorphous or mixtures thereof, having the general formula:

0.8 - 1.5 Na2O.Al2O3.0.8 - 6 SiO2.xH2O

15 These materials contain some binding water (in which each as AxH2O≅) and it is necessary that they have a calcium ion exchange capacity of at least 50 CaO / g. Preferred sodium aluminosilicates contain 1.5-3.5 SiO2 units (in the above formula). Both amorphous and crystalline materials can easily be prepared by reaction between sodium silicate and sodium aluminate, as is widely described in the literature.

Ion exchange detergents of suitable crystalline sodium aluminosilicates are described, for example, in GB 1429143 (Procter & Gamble). Preferred sodium aluminosilicates of this type are the well-known and commercially available zeolites A and E, the new zeolite D described and claimed in EP 384070 (Unilever) and mixtures thereof.

25 A water-insoluble detergency builder could allegedly be a layered sodium silicate as described in US 4664839. NaSKS-6 is the registered trademark for a crystalline layered silicate marketed by Hoescht (commonly abbreviated as ASKS) -6). NaSKS-6 has the form of delta-NaSiO5 layered silicate morphology. It can be prepared by methods such as those described in DE-A-3,417,649 and DE-A-3,742,043. Other of these layered silicates can be used, such as those with the general formula NaMSixO2x + 1.yH2O, in which M is sodium or hydrogen, x is a number from 1.9 to 4, preferably 2 and y is a number from 0 to 20, preferably 0.

Inorganic detergency builders containing water soluble phosphorus include orthophosphates,

35 metaphosphates, pyrophosphates and alkali metal polyphosphates. Specific examples of inorganic phosphate builders include tripolyphosphates, orthophosphates and sodium and potassium hexametaphosphates.

Non-phosphorous water soluble detergency builders can be organic or inorganic. Inorganic detergency builders that may be present include alkali metal carbonate (generally sodium); while organic detergency builders include polycarboxylate polymers such as polyacrylates, acrylic / maleic copolymers and acrylic phosphonates, monomeric polycarboxylates such as citrates, gluconates, oxydisuccinates, mono-, di- and tri-succinates of glycerol, carboxymethyloxysuccinates, carboxymethyloxycinonates hydroxyethyliminodiacetates.

At least one phase (preferably the second phase) of a laundry treatment tablet preferably includes polycarboxylate polymers, more especially acrylic / maleic polyacrylates and copolymers that can act as detergency builders and also inhibit unwanted deposition on the fabric. of laundry from the washing liquid.

Bleaching system

The tablets according to the invention may contain a bleaching system in at least one phase of a tablet, preferably in the second phase. This preferably comprises one or more peroxygen bleaching compounds, for example, inorganic persalts or organic peroxyacids, which can be used together

55 with activators to improve the bleaching action at low washing temperatures. If any peroxygen compound is present, the amount is likely to be in a range of 10 to 25% by weight of the composition.

Preferred inorganic persalts are sodium perborate monohydrate and sodium percarbonate tetrahydrate, advantageously employed together with an activator. Bleaching activators, also called bleaching precursors, have been widely described in the art. Preferred examples include peracetic acid precursors, for example, tetracetylethylenediamine (TAED), currently widely used commercially in conjunction with sodium perborate and perbenzoic acid precursors. Also of interest may be the quaternary ammonium and phosphonium bleaching activators described in US 4751015 and US 4818426 (Lever Brothers 65 Company). Another type of bleach activator that can be used, but which is not a bleach precursor, is a transition metal catalyst as described in EP-A-458397, EP-A-458398 and EP-A

549272. A bleaching system may also include a bleaching stabilizer (heavy metal sequestrant) such as ethylenediamine tetramethylene phosphonate and diethylenetriamine pentamethylene phosphonate.

As indicated above, if a bleach is present, it is a water-soluble inorganic peroxygen bleach, the amount may be from 10% to 25% by weight of the composition.

Other detergent ingredients

The laundry treatment tablets of the invention may also contain (preferably in the second phase) one of the detergency enzymes known in the art for their ability to degrade and aid in the suppression of various soils and stains. Suitable enzymes include the various proteases, cellulases, lipases, amylases and mixtures thereof, which are designed to suppress a variety of soils and fabric stains. Examples of suitable protease are Maxatase (registered trademark) supplied by the company Gist-Brocades N.V. Delft, Holland and Alcalase (registered trademark) and Savinase (registered trademark) supplied by the

15 company Novo Industri A / S Copenhagen, Denmark.

Detergency enzymes are commonly employed in the form of granules or agglomerates, optionally with a protective coating, in an amount of about 0.1% to about 3.0% by weight of the composition; and these granules or agglomerates present no problems with respect to compaction to form a pill.

The laundry treatment tablets of the invention may also contain (preferably in the second phase) a contrast agent (optical brightener), for example, Tinopal (registered trademark) DMS or Tinopal CBS available from Ciba-Geigy AG, Basel , Switzerland. Tinopal DMS is 4,4’-bis- (2-morpholino-4-amilino-s-triazin-6

Disodium hilamino-stilbene-disulfonate and Tinopal CBS is 2,2'-bis- (phenyl-styryl) -disodium disulfonate.

An antifoam material (preferably in the second phase) is advantageously included, especially if a laundry treatment tablet is primarily intended for use in automatic front-loading type washing machines. Suitable antifoaming materials are usually in granular form, such as those described in EP 266863A (Unilever). These antifoam granules normally comprise a mixture of silicone oil, crude petrolatum, hydrophobic alkyl phosphate silica as an antifoam active material, absorbed in an inorganic carrier material based on a water soluble carbonate. Defoamer granules may be present in an amount up to 5% of the composition.

It may also be desirable for a laundry treatment tablet of the invention to include an amount of an alkali metal silicate, particularly ortho-, meta- or sodium di-silicate. The presence of these alkali metal silicates at levels, for example from 0.1 to 10% p, may be advantageous to provide corrosion protection of the mechanical washing parts, apart from providing some measure of detergency improvement and providing advantages of manufacturing treatment of the material in the form of particles that is compacted in the form of tablets.

A fabric wash tablet will generally not contain more than 15% p of silicate. Preferably, the silicate is present in the second phase of the tablet.

Other ingredients that may optionally be employed in a phase of a laundry treatment tablets of the invention (preferably the second phase) include anti-redeposition agents such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, linear chain polyvinyl pyrrolidone and cellulose esters such as methyl cellulose and ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, fabric softening agents; heavy metal sequestrants such as EDTA; perfumes and dyes or colored particles.

Other ingredients that may optionally be used in the tablets of the invention, preferably in the second phase, are dispersion aids. Examples of suitable dispersion aids are water swellable polymers (for example SCMC), highly soluble materials (for example, sodium citrate, potassium carbonate or sodium acetate) or sodium tripolyphosphate preferably with at least 40% phase form I anhydrous.

55 Particle distribution and size

The second phase of the laundry treatment tablet of this invention is preferably a matrix of compacted particles.

Preferably, the particulate composition has an average particle size in the range of 200 to 2,000 μm, more preferably 250 to 1400 μm. Fine particles, smaller than 180 μm or 200 μm can be removed by sifting before pellet formation, if desired, although it has been observed that this is not always essential.

Although the composition in the form of starting particles may in principle have any apparent density, the present invention is especially relevant for pellets prepared by compacting powders of relatively high bulk density, due to their greater tendency to exhibit disintegration and dispersion problems. These tablets have the advantage, in comparison with a tablet derived from a powder of low apparent density, that a given dose of the composition can be presented as a smaller tablet.

5 Thus, the composition in the form of starting particles may suitably have an apparent density of at least 400 g / liter, preferably 500 g / liter and perhaps at least 600 g / liter.

The tablet forming machinery for manufacturing the tablets of the invention is known, 10 for example, suitable tablet presses are available from Fette and Korch.

The formation of the tablets can be carried out at room temperature or at a temperature above the environment that may allow adequate resistance to be achieved with less pressure applied during compaction. In order to carry out the formation of tablets at a temperature that is above the

At room temperature, the particulate composition is preferably supplied to the tablet forming machinery at an elevated temperature. Naturally this will supply heat to the tablet forming machinery, but the machinery can also be heated in some other way.

The size of a pill will be suitably in the range of 10 to 160 grams, preferably 15 to 60 g,

20 depending on the intended conditions of use and whether it represents a dose for a medium load in a fabric washing machine or dishwasher or a fractional part of this dose. The pills can be any way. However, for ease of packaging, they are preferably blocks of substantially uniform cross-section such as cylinders or cuboids. The overall density of a tablet is preferably in a range of 1040 or 1050 g / liter to 1600 g / liter.

25 The above description of the tablet has been provided with reference to a tablet consisting of one or two phases. However, it will be understood that one of the phases may be composed of a limited number of discrete zones.

The laundry treatment tablets of the invention can be manufactured by any suitable method, for example, the previous preparation of a soft phase, for example, by extrusion or extension in the molten state followed by assembly of the soft phase and the other phases. of the pill. Also, the second phase of a material in the form of compressed particles may be previously prepared followed by the in situ preparation of the soft phase, for example, by extension, coating or spraying or assembly of said compressed phase.

35 with a soft phase prepared separately. Typical treatment conditions for preparing the soft phase of the compressed phase are described, for example, in the documents described above.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some of its embodiments provided by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the base of a tablet container according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the package of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, a fluid wrap container 1 containing a pair of laundry pads 3 is illustrated.

The fluid wrap container 1 comprises a tubular plastic film bag having a longitudinal seal 5 and seals 7 at the transverse ends.

50 The longitudinal seal 5 is joined on both sides by longitudinal strips of adhesive 9 (not shown in Figure 2).

The pads 3 comprise two discrete phases: A soft phase 13 and a solid phase 11.

The solid phase 11 comprises material in the form of compacted particles. The soft phase is a translucent gel.

The pads 3 are oriented with the container 1 so that they are adjacent to the longitudinal seal and the adhesive strips 9. In this way, the strips collect any residue and / or dust that erodes / disintegrates from the solid phase (during packaging and transport) and prevents it from adhering to soft phase 3.

60 The adhesive is used in the formation of the fluid wrap. Thus, an additional step of applying the adhesive in the fluid wrap manufacturing process is not necessary. This process essentially comprises the formation of a film tube from a strip of plastic film that is wrapped and sealed longitudinally. The tube is then sequentially filled (with pads), transversely

65 sealed and cut to provide individual packages.

With the invention, the longitudinal seal is formed using a pressure sensitive adhesive applied in a wide band longitudinally with respect to the film strip.

The adhesive strip 9 is wide enough so that after the longitudinal seal 5 (fine) is formed, the seal 5 is bordered on each side by adhesive 9.

Transverse seals are also formed by adhesive.

In an alternative embodiment, the seals of the package could be formed by heat sealing and applying adhesive 10 before the sealing procedure.

There may be a combination of heat sealing / adhesive, for example, sealing with longitudinal adhesive and sealing with transverse heat.

An example of laundry treatment tablet formulation is as follows: a detergent powder of the following composition was prepared, previously granulating the granular ingredients, followed by subsequent dosing of the rest of the ingredients.

Ingredient

Parts by weight

Granules

Na-LAS

1.1

7EO non-ionic component

0.5

Soap (C16-C18)

0.1

Zeolite at 24

2.4

NaAc 3 H2O

0.3

Light soda

0.4

Humidity / minor components

0.5

Post dosing

Antifoam granules

3

ECTPHPA

62

Na disilicate

4

TAED

4

Percarbonate

17

Dequest

2

Minor components / enzymes / color

up to 100

20 Soft or semi-solid parts of the following composition were prepared:

Ingredient

Composition Parts by weight

Na-las Non-ionic component (Lutensil AO5) Soap (Pristerene 4916) * Dipropylene Glycol Water Solvent

57.5 46.1 5 30 10.7

Notes: * is a C16-C18 soap

The mixture of the composition of the semi-solid part was heated to 80 ° C and melted in molds and cooled to 20 ° C to form firm soft and semi-solid parts of 5 grams of 32 mm in diameter and 6 mm in height.

Multi-layer tablets will be prepared by previously compressing 25 grams of the powder composition in a matrix of 45 mm in diameter at 4 nN / cm2, followed by the adhesion of a soft and semi-solid part on the top of the compressed layer followed of a final compression stage at 0.1 kN / cm2. During the final compression stage, the soft and semi-solid part flows through the compaction forces to form a 3.4 mm semi-solid soft layer adhered to the top of the layer in the form of compressed particles.

5 Stirring tests of the tablets (as described below) were performed on various fluid wrap constructions:

A heat sealed fluid wrap (comparative example)

B fluid sealed cold sealed metallic wrap with adhesive

C transparent cold sealed sealed wrap with adhesive

A ’heat sealed fluid wrap

B ’cold sealed metallic cold sealed wrap with adhesive

C ’fluid wrap sealed with transparent heat with adhesive

10 Each fluid wrapper contained two laundry treatment tablets that had a composition according to the formulation example described above. The pills were placed side by side in the container.

A B and C contained pads oriented so that the solid phases of the tablet were adjacent to the longitudinal seal and the adhesive strips.

15 A ’, B’ and C ’contained tablets oriented so that the soft phase of the tablets was adjacent to the longitudinal seal and the adhesive strips.

Pill shaking test

20 The essay included the stages of:

i) fix the fluid wrap between two fixings at a distance of 10.5 cm; Y

Ii) shake the fluid wrap with the pads at a set speed of 240 revolutions per minute and an amplitude of 2.5 cm for one to two minutes.

The results of the pellet shaking test were as follows:

30 The pellet agitation test demonstrates that cold-sealed flow envelopes with adhesive, examples B, C, B 'and C', are more effective in reducing the amount of visible fine particles deposited on the soft phase of the pellet. laundry treatment compared to heat sealed fluid wraps, examples A and

Construction of fluid envelopes and orientation of the pads

Results

TO

Heat sealed fluid wrap Solid phase adjacent to longitudinal fluid wrap seal In a few seconds, fine particles are released. These were deposited in the soft phase of the tablet

B

Metallic cold sealed fluid wrap Solid phase adjacent to fluid wrap longitudinal seal Smaller amount of fine particles released during stirring, compared to A, because the tablets are more attached to the fluid wrap. Most were attached to the adhesive seal in the longitudinal seal. Very few fine particles deposited on the soft phase of the tablet

C

Transparent cold sealed fluid wrap Solid phase adjacent to fluid wrap longitudinal seal Smaller amount of fine particles released during stirring, compared to A, because the tablets are more attached to the fluid wrap. Most were attached to the adhesive seal in the longitudinal seal. Very few fine particles deposited on the soft phase of the tablet

TO'

Heat sealed fluid wrap Soft phase adjacent to longitudinal seal of fluid wrap In a few seconds fine particles released. These were deposited on the soft phase of the tablet

B’

Metallic cold sealed fluid wrap Soft phase adjacent to fluid wrap longitudinal seal Slightly more fine particles deposited on the edge of the soft phase of the tablets compared to B. Still significantly less than A and A ’

C'

Transparent cold sealed fluid wrap Soft phase adjacent to fluid wrap longitudinal seal Slightly more fine particles deposited on the edge of the soft phase of the tablet compared to C. Still significantly less than A and A ’

5 A ’.

In use, the container containing the laundry treatment tablets corresponding to a unit dose (not shown) is twisted and the tablets are dropped into the washing machine.

10 A delivery device, such as a net bag, can be used.

The above embodiments of the present invention have been described by way of example only and various modifications or alternative features can be made of what has been described and illustrated specifically within the scope of the claims, as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. .

Claims (5)

1. One or more laundry treatment pills in combination with a container, in which the one or more laundry treatment pills are packaged individually or in groups corresponding to a unit dose, 5 i) the one or more laundry treatment tablets having a plurality of discrete phases with different compositions, in which at least a first phase of the tablet (s) is a soft phase having an external surface and at least a second phase of the tablet (s) is a solid phase comprising a material in the form of compacted particles; Y 10 ii) the package comprising an internal surface, of which at least one area carries an adhesive. 2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the laundry treatment tablet cleans, softens or Cool the laundry fabrics. fifteen 3. A combination according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the second phase of the laundry treatment tablet is a layer of material in the form of compacted particle shapes. 4. A combination according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the adhesive zone (s) is located adjacent to the solid phase. 5. A combination according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the package comprises a longitudinal seal attached on at least one side by the or by each area of adhesive. A combination according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the package comprises seals at the transverse ends, of which at least one is attached on at least one side by the or by each area of adhesive.