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WO2002050240A1 - Article de lavage - Google Patents

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Publication number
WO2002050240A1
WO2002050240A1 PCT/EP2001/014266 EP0114266W WO0250240A1 WO 2002050240 A1 WO2002050240 A1 WO 2002050240A1 EP 0114266 W EP0114266 W EP 0114266W WO 0250240 A1 WO0250240 A1 WO 0250240A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
water solubility
pack
water
solubility
washing device
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/EP2001/014266
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Jelles Vincent Boskamp
Mirjam Sta
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Hindustan Unilever Ltd
Unilever NV
Original Assignee
Hindustan Lever Ltd
Unilever NV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hindustan Lever Ltd, Unilever NV filed Critical Hindustan Lever Ltd
Priority to AU2002227988A priority Critical patent/AU2002227988A1/en
Publication of WO2002050240A1 publication Critical patent/WO2002050240A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
    • C11D17/00—Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties
    • C11D17/04—Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties combined with or containing other objects
    • C11D17/041—Compositions releasably affixed on a substrate or incorporated into a dispensing means
    • C11D17/042—Water soluble or water disintegrable containers or substrates containing cleaning compositions or additives for cleaning compositions
    • C11D17/044—Solid compositions
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
    • C11D17/00—Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties
    • C11D17/0047—Detergents in the form of bars or tablets
    • C11D17/0065—Solid detergents containing builders
    • C11D17/0073—Tablets

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a washing device comprising cleaning compositions in the form of tablets.
  • the tablets may be suitable for use in machine dishwashing, the washing of fabrics or other cleaning tasks.
  • Detergent compositions in tablet form and intended for fabric washing have been described in a number of patent documents including, for example EP-A-711827, WO-98/42817 and WO-99/20730 (Unilever) and are now sold commercially.
  • Tablets containing bleach for use as an additive to a fabric washing liquor have been disclosed in US-A-4013581 (Huber/Procter and Gamble) .
  • Tablets containing a water-softening agent, for use as an additive in cleaning are sold commercially and are one form of tablet disclosed in EP-A-838519 (Unilever) .
  • Tablets of composition suitable for machine dishwashing have been disclosed in EP-A-318204 and US-A-5691293 and are sold commercially.
  • Tablets have several advantages over powdered products : they do not require measuring and are thus easier to handle and dispense into the wash-load, and they are more compact, hence facilitating more economical storage.
  • EP-A-576 234 discloses a dispensing device for laundry treatment tablets comprising a sleeve of elastic material which is stretched against its elasticity and conforms tightly to the tablets and which has apertures which are sufficiently large to allow water to flow therethrough.
  • WO98/40550 describes a process for washing laundry employing a receptacle for tablets wherein the receptacle is a loosely fitting net bag having apertures with an average mesh size between 1 and 10 mm.
  • the use of the above re-usable receptacles has the disadvantage that prior to the washing process it requires a multi-step process to remove the tablets from their packaging material and then to insert the tablets into the receptacle. Furthermore the use of these receptacles has the disadvantage that after the washing cycle has been completed the receptacle needs to be found and removed from the laundry.
  • the present invention aims to provide a convenient way of packaging cleaning tablets wherein preferably one or more of the above mentioned problems are addressed.
  • a washing device comprising at least one tablet of compacted particulate cleaning composition in a water soluble pack, wherein the pack comprises;
  • At least one part of high water solubility and (ii) at least one part of medium water solubility, and further wherein the at least one part of medium water- solubility has a solubilisation time in water at 20°C of at least 60 seconds more than the solubilisation time of the at least one part of high water solubility and forms a structure capable of enclosing the at least one tablet after solubilisation of the at least one part of high water solubility.
  • a water soluble packaging material suitable for packaging one or more cleaning tablets to form a washing device wherein the packaging material comprises; (i) at least one part of high water solubility, and
  • a water soluble pack for at least one tablet of compacted particulate cleaning composition wherein the pack comprises; (i) at least one part of high water solubility, and (ii) at least one part of medium water solubility, and further wherein the at least one part of medium water- solubility has a solubilisation time in water at 20°C of at least 60 seconds more than the solubilisation time of the at least one part of high water solubility and forms a structure capable of enclosing the at least one tablet after solubilisation of the at least one part of high water solubility.
  • a method of laundering fabrics comprising the step of contacting the fabrics in the presence of water with a washing device comprising at least one tablet of compacted particulate cleaning composition in a water soluble pack and wherein the pack comprises;
  • At least one part of high water solubility and (ii) at least one part of medium water solubility, and further wherein the at least one part of medium water- solubility has a solubilisation time in water at 20°C of at least 60 seconds more than the solubilisation time of the at least one part of high water solubility and forms a structure capable of enclosing the at least one tablet after solubilisation of the at least one part of high water solubility.
  • a method of producing a washing device comprising at least one tablet of compacted particulate cleaning composition in a water soluble pack
  • said method comprises the step of placing the at least one tablet in a water soluble pack comprising: (i) at least one part of high water solubility, and (ii) at least one part of medium water solubility, and further wherein the at least one part of medium water- solubility has a solubilisation time in water at 20°C of at least 60 seconds more than the solubilisation time of the at least one part of high water solubility and forms a structure capable of enclosing the at least one tablet after solubilisation of the at least one part of high water solubility.
  • 'high water solubility' and 'medium water solubility' refer to the relative times taken for these two parts of the pack to solubilise. It is not an absolute measure of solubility in water.
  • a 'high water solubility' part of the pack solubilises in water in a shorter time than does a 'medium water solubility' part.
  • This slower solubilisation time of the 'medium water solubility' part may be bought about, for example, by varying the thickness of the pack or the composition of the material used to form it, or it may have a slower rate of solubilisation in water at the temperature of use.
  • the pack is sealed after the at least one tablet is placed therein.
  • the pack is a flexible enclosure for the tablets such as a sachet or bag.
  • a sachet or bag Especially preferred are loosely fitted packs; especially suitable are flow wrapped packs.
  • the packs may be closed and enclose one or more tablets (e.g. sealed or otherwise closed) .
  • the packs may be empty or filled with one or more tablets and be re-openable (e.g. for inserting one or more tablets into the pack).
  • a pack is used wherein the part of high water solubility dissolves in the wash water prior to substantial disintegration or dissolution of the cleaning tablet and the part of medium water solubility dissolves after the substantial disintegration or dissolution of the cleaning tablets.
  • the part of the pack which is of high water solubility comprises, or is composed of, several discrete elements or areas which after they have dissolved provide apertures in the pack. These apertures are preferably permeable for water and for solubilised or disintegrated cleaning composition but are preferably too small to allow the passage therethrough of substantially whole tablets.
  • the pack comprises a substantially continuous pattern of medium water solubility with discrete areas of high water solubility interspersed throughout the pattern.
  • the pattern is preferably a grid-like pattern.
  • a net-like structure remains (which is of medium water solubility) and which is capable of enclosing and retaining the tablets until the tablets have themselves substantially disintegrated.
  • the term 'net' as used herein includes a web-type structure having a substantially continuous network or grid pattern with apertures formed between the network or grid.
  • the pack comprises, or is composed of, a film material comprising discrete regions of high water solubility material and a continuous pattern of material of medium water solubility.
  • the pack comprises, or is made of, a film of high water solubility to which is applied a continuous pattern of material such that those parts of the film to which the continuous pattern has been applied are of medium water solubility in the pack.
  • a continuous pattern of a high water solublity material is applied to a film of the same material and the resulting film is used to produce the pack.
  • the parts of the pack that comprise the high water solublity material both as the film and the continuous pattern applied thereon are of medium water solubility and the parts of the pack that comprise the high water solublity material as the film only are of high water solubility.
  • the pack comprises, or is made of, an inner layer or film of medium water solubility which forms an open continuous structure (e.g. a net-like structure) capable of retaining the tablet, the inner layer or film being enclosed by an outer layer or film of high water-solubility.
  • DE 19941480 discloses water soluble sachets for detergent compositions which when in contact with a suitable solvent forms pores in the sachet to allow the ingress of water.
  • EP-A-1 072 675 describes a detergent product in packaging which has a high resistance to moisture but a major part of which is dispersible in a solvent.
  • the package comprises a hydrophilic material and a hydrophobic material.
  • EP-A-253 566 describes a laundry product which comprises a particulate laundry composition releasably contained within a sachet formed of a film of water-soluble material, the film having an outer covering of a flexible, apertured, water- insoluble but water permeable non-woven, textile or paper sheet material .
  • EP-A-337 568 describes detergent sachets for laundry which sachets comprise readily water dispersible water soluble cellulose and cellulose fibers coated with water soluble PNA.
  • WO 00/04125 describes a detergent composition in a bag made from a water-soluble film.
  • Sachets comprising non-laundry preparations are also known, for example, US 5 780 418 which discloses a granular bathing agent packed in a non woven or woven sachet .
  • Water soluble packaging materials suitable for producing the pack according to the invention are widely disclosed in the literature.
  • the water soluble pack comprises one or more water soluble polymers Suitable polymers include for example polyester amides, polyvinyl alcohol, co-polymers of vinyl alcohol and methacrylate, polyethylene oxide, alginates, cellulose ethers such as carboxymethyl celluloses and methylcelluloses (for example, hydroxy alkyl methylcelluloses such as hydroxy ethyl methylcellulose, hydroxy butyl methylcellulose and hydroxy propyl methylcellulose) , water soluble starch derivatives, gelatin and combinations thereof.
  • Suitable polymers include for example polyester amides, polyvinyl alcohol, co-polymers of vinyl alcohol and methacrylate, polyethylene oxide, alginates, cellulose ethers such as carboxymethyl celluloses and methylcelluloses (for example, hydroxy alkyl methylcelluloses such as hydroxy ethyl methylcellulose, hydroxy butyl methylcellulose and hydroxy propy
  • the desired degree of solubility of the pack, or a part thereof, can be achieved by selection of the type of packaging material and/or its thickness.
  • a single material may be used to form the pack and the differences in water solubility for different parts of the pack are achieved by varying the thickness of that material in the different parts.
  • the differences in water solubility are achieved by using two or more different materials .
  • a pack made from a thin polyethylene oxide film having applied to its surface a grid-like pattern of further polyethylene oxide will have a relatively short solubilisation time for those parts of the pack formed only from the film (which when dissolved form apertures in the remaining grid-like structure) and a longer solubilisation time those parts of the pack formed from film to which the grid-like pattern has been applied.
  • the pack material may comprise a plasticiser.
  • Suitable plasticisers include polyethylene glycols such as PEG 200 (molecular weight) .
  • One preferred combination of materials to be used in the pack is polyvinylalcohol and methyl celluloses such as hydroxy alkyl methylcelluloses such as hydroxy ethyl methylcellulose, hydroxy butyl methylcellulose and hydroxy propyl methylcellulose.
  • the pack is a sachet or bag enclosing one or more cleaning tablets .
  • the pack loosely fits around the tablet (s).
  • the pack is closed e.g. by sealing.
  • the pack may be re-openable and this is especially advantageous if the number of tablets per cleaning operation can be varied.
  • the pack is a flow-wrapper pack.
  • the part of the pack which is of high water solubility is composed of several discrete elements (or regions) which after they have dissolved leave apertures in the pack which are preferably permeable to water and to dissolved or disintegrated parts of the cleaning tablet.
  • the apertures are preferably too small to allow passage of the substantially whole tablets therethrough.
  • the pack may comprise a continuous matrix of medium water solubility having, for example, the form of a grid-like pattern. The parts of the pack between this matrix, for example forming discrete inner spaces of the grid-like pattern, have a high water solubility.
  • the pack comprises a film, the film comprising discrete regions of high water solubility and a continuous pattern of medium water solubility.
  • the discrete parts of the pack having high water solubility will dissolve first at which time the remaining part of the pack (the matrix) will not yet be substantially dissolved.
  • the pack comprises a film of high water solubility to which is applied thereto a continuous pattern of a material (of the same or lesser solubility in water) such that parts of the film to which the continuous pattern has been applied are of medium water solubility.
  • a material of the same or lesser solubility in water
  • the parts of the film to which no additional (continuous) material has been applied will dissolve first whereafter the continuous medium water solubility part (matrix) will remain until dissolved itself.
  • the arrangement of the medium water solubility part of the pack is chosen such that this part (after solubilisation of the high water solubility part) is capable of enclosing and retaining the cleaning tablets for a desired period of time.
  • the medium water solubility part of the pack is of a grid-like pattern, this will form a water soluble net comprising apertures which is capable of enclosing and retaining the tablets upon solubilisation of the high water solubility part of the pack.
  • the apertures so formed between the remaining grid should be sufficiently large (open enough) to allow the passage of water and transfer of the tablet material once disintegrated into small enough pieces or once dissolved.
  • the shape of the medium water solubility part of the pack (or material) is chosen such that it forms a net shaped pack capable of retaining the tablets while they are substantially intact.
  • the apertures in such a net can vary in size and may, for example, have an average size in the range of from 0.5 to 100mm 2 , more preferred from 0.7 to 25mm 2 , most preferred from 1 to 15mm 2 .
  • the strength of the net can be adapted such that it is strong enough to enclose and retain the tablets preferably for a period sufficient to allow the substantial disintegration or dissolution of the tablets.
  • the high water solubility part of the pack dissolves on average of from 10 to 90%, more preferably of from 30 to 70%, even more preferably of from 35 to 65% of the original surface area of the pack is constituted by apertures.
  • a net when a net is formed, preferably 10 to 90% of the surface area of the net is constituted by apertures, more preferably 30 to 70%.
  • the pack comprises an inner layer of material which is of medium water solubility and which forms an open continuous structure capable of retaining the at least one tablet (for example a net-like structure as described above) and wherein the inner layer is enclosed in an outer film of high water-solubility.
  • the water soluble material used to form the pack may be a film material, which can be of substantially uniform material or of non-woven texture.
  • Non-woven films are preferred for bleach containing tablets because oxygen gas formed on storage of the tablets can escape through the small apertures in the non-woven film.
  • Substantially uniform PVA film can for example be purchased from Chris Craft, Chicago, U.S.A., reference CC8534, and thermally non woven PVA fabric from BFF Nonwovens, Bridgewater, U.K., product name SOLUFAB HEN30.
  • the parts of the pack which form a grid like pattern and which are of medium water solubility can, for example, be produced by the application of pressure, heat, ultrasonics or a combination of these.
  • the water soluble film preferably is mainly composed of poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) or of a co-polymer of poly vinyl alcohol and poly methyl acrylate (PVA-PMA) .
  • PVA poly vinyl alcohol
  • PVA-PMA poly methyl acrylate
  • the term poly vinyl alcohol as used herein also includes partially hydrolysed poly vinyl acetates.
  • the water soluble film can also contain minor quantities of plasticizers, antifoams, anti-oxidants, surfactants, perfumes and the like.
  • the exterior surface of the film may be treated with BITREXTM to discourage ingestion of the package of the invention by children.
  • the thickness of the high water solubility part of the pack will generally depend on the type of material used but will usually be in the range of from 10 to lOOO ⁇ m, preferably 20 to 80 ⁇ m, most preferably 40 to ⁇ O ⁇ m.
  • the thickness of the medium water solubility part of the pack will generally also be in these ranges. If the pack is made of a single type of material the thickness of the high water solubility part of the pack will be less than the thickness of the medium water solubility part of the pack.
  • the high water solubility part of the pack may have a thickness in the range of from 25 to 55 ⁇ m and the medium water solubility part of the pack may have a thickness in the range of from 65 to 500 ⁇ m, preferably 70 to 200 ⁇ m.
  • the application of energy to a part or all of the pack or film generally reduces the water solubility thereof.
  • the energy can be applied in the form of heat, pressure, ultrasonics or a combination thereof. Therefore the application of energy to selected parts can provide the desired pattern on high water solubility areas (to which no or only a limited amount of energy is applied) and on medium water solubility areas (to which the energy is applied) . Examples of preferred methods to prepare the desired combination of high water solubility areas and medium water solubility areas in accordance to the inventions are:
  • the pack may be of any suitable shape and construction.
  • the most convenient shapes from the viewpoints of both manufacture and packing are square and rectangular, but any other desired shape is also within the scope of the invention.
  • a pack in accordance to the invention can suitably be tested by placing the pack on a gauze with square openings of 1 cm size each and submerging the pack in a beaker containing 1 litre of tap-water at a temperature of 20°C.
  • the solubilisation of the pack is visually monitored over time and the solubilisation time is the time period by which the entire (part of the) packaging material is solubilised.
  • the solubilisation time is the time at which substantially all of the relevant part of the pack are solubilised.
  • the measurement should preferably be repeated e.g. 5 to 10 times so that an average solubilisation time can be calculated.
  • the weight of the tablet on the gauze is measured as a function of time until the tablet has completely disintegrated and fallen through the openings in the pack and gauze.
  • the part of the pack which is of high water solubility preferably has a solubilisation time in water of 20°C of less than 300 seconds, more preferably less than 200 or 180 seconds, most preferably less than 60 seconds.
  • the tablets are preferably at least 90 wt% disintegrated and fallen through the opening in the pack before the medium water solubility part of the pack is solubilised.
  • a pack consists of a film containing alternating discrete areas of high water solubility film and a grid-like pattern of medium water solubility
  • the high water solubility part solubilises in about 20 seconds in water at 20°C and 90 wt% of the tablet disintegrates and falls through apertures in the pack within 120 seconds
  • the medium water solubility part of the pack should have a solubilisation time in excess of 140 seconds.
  • the pack consists of an inner grid like film of medium water solubility enclosed in an outer wrapper of high water solubility material
  • the high water solubility material solubilises in 20 seconds and 90 wt% of the tablet disintegrates and falls through apertures produced in the pack within 120 seconds
  • the part of the pack of medium water solubility should have a solubilisation time in excess of 140 seconds.
  • the part of the pack which is of medium water solubility has a solubilisation time in water at 20°C of at least 120 seconds more than the solubilisation time of the high water solubility part of the pack, more preferred at least 300 seconds more.
  • the solubilisation time of the high water solubility part of the pack is 100 seconds
  • the medium water solubility part has a solubilisation time of at least 160 seconds, more preferably at least 220 seconds, most preferably at least 400 seconds.
  • the solubility of the pack should however be such that the pack is solubilised before the end of a normal wash cycle such that the solubilised material is normally removed from the washing machine prior to rinsing.
  • the part of the pack which is of medium water solubility preferably has a solubilisation time in water of 20°C of less than 1800 seconds, more preferably less than 1200 seconds, most preferably less than 600 seconds.
  • This invention is particularly applicable to cleaning tablets which comprise both surfactant and detergency builder e.g. tablets for fabric washing and machine dishwashing.
  • Cleaning tablets for use in the present invention generally have a weight of from 2 to 200g, more preferably of from 20 to lOOg, most preferably of from 30 to 80g.
  • the tablets of the invention typically comprise one or more organic surfactants.
  • organic surfactants Many suitable detergent-active compounds are available and are fully described in the literature, for example, in "Surface-Active Agents and Detergents", Volumes I and II, by Schwartz, Perry and Berch.
  • the surfactant may be anionic (soap or non-soap) , cationic, zwitterionic, amphoteric, nonionic or a combination of these.
  • the preferred detergent-active compounds that can be used are soaps and synthetic non-soap anionic and nonionic compounds.
  • Anionic surfactant may be present in an amount from 0.5 to 50% by weight, preferably from 2% or 4% up to 30% or 40% by weight of the composition.
  • Suitable examples include alkyl benzene sulphonates, particularly sodium linear alkyl ' benzene sulphonates having an alkyl chain length of Ce-Cis; olefin sulphonates; alkane sulphonates; dialkyl sulphosuccinates; and fatty acid ester sulphonates.
  • Suitable nonionic surfactant compounds 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.
  • Nonionic surfactant compounds are alkyl (C 8 -. ) phenol- ethylene oxide condensates, the condensation products of linear or branched aliphatic C 8 -o primary or secondary alcohols with ethylene oxide, and products made by condensation of ethylene oxide with the reaction products of propylene oxide and ethylene-diamine .
  • these organic surfactants preferably provide from 5 to 50% by weight of the overall composition.
  • organic surfactant is likely to constitute from 0.5 to 8% by weight of the overall composition and is likely to consist of nonionic surfactant, either alone or in a mixture with anionic surfactant.
  • Tablets for use according to this invention may contain a so-called water-softening agent, which serves to remove or sequester calcium and/or magnesium ions in the water.
  • a water-softening agent is more usually referred to as a detergency builder.
  • water-softening agent detergency builder
  • the amount of it is likely to lie in a broad range from 5%wt, preferably 15%wt up to 98%wt of the composition.
  • the amount is likely to be from 15 to 80%wt, more usually 15 to 60%wt of the composition.
  • Water-softening agents may be provided wholly by water soluble materials, or may be provided in large part or even entirely by water-insoluble material with water-softening properties.
  • Alkali metal aluminosilicates are strongly favoured as environmentally acceptable detergency builders for fabric washing.
  • Suitable crystalline sodium aluminosilicate ion- exchange materials are described, for example, in GB 1 429 143 (Procter & Gamble) .
  • the preferred sodium aluminosilicates of this type are the well known commercially available zeolites A and X, the newer zeolite P described and claimed in EP-A-384 070 (Unilever) and mixtures thereof.
  • This form of zeolite P is also referred to as "zeolite MAP".
  • zeolite A24 Ex Ineos Silicas, UK
  • the builder may also be a water-soluble phosphorus-containing inorganic softener for example alkali-metal orthophosphates, metaphosphates, pyrophosphates and polyphosphates .
  • inorganic phosphate detergency builders include sodium and potassium tripolyphosphates , orthophosphates and hexametaphosphates .
  • Non-phosphorus water-soluble detergency builders may be organic or inorganic .
  • Inorganics that may be present include alkali metal (generally sodium) carbonate; while organics include polycarboxylate polymers, such as polyacrylates, acrylic/maleic copolymers, and acrylic phosphonates , monomeric polycarboxylates such as citrates, gluconates, oxydisuccinates, glycerol mono- di- and trisuccinates, carboxymethyloxysuccinates , carboxymethyloxymalonates, dipicolinates and hydroxyethyliminodiacetates . Bleach system
  • compositions according to the invention may contain a bleach system.
  • This preferably comprises one or more peroxy bleach compounds, for example, inorganic persalts or organic peroxyacids, which may be employed in conjunction with activators to improve bleaching action at low wash temperatures. If any peroxygen compound is present, the amount is likely to lie in a range from 10 to 85% by weight of the composition. If the tablet contains surfactant and detergency builder, the amount of peroxygen compound bleach is unlikely to exceed 25% of the composition.
  • Preferred inorganic persalts are sodium perborate monohydrate and tetrahydrate, and sodium percarbonate, advantageously employed together with an activator.
  • Bleach activators also referred to as bleach precursors, have been widely disclosed in the art .
  • a tablet may optionally also contain particles to promote disintegration.
  • Such particles typically contain at least 40% (of their own weight) of one or more materials selected from
  • water swellable materials such as for example cellulose, cross-linked polyethylene glycol, cross- linked polyvinyl pyrrolidone or an acrylic/maleic copolymer
  • the quantity of disintegration-promoting particles may be from 1 or 5% up to 30 or 40%wt of the tablet. The quantity may possibly be from 8% up to 25 or 30%wt or more. However, it is within this invention that the amount of water-soluble disintegration-promoting particles is low, below 5%wt of the tablet or region, reliance being placed on water insoluble water swellable disintegration particles.
  • Detergency enzymes may be employed in the tablets and are commonly employed in the form of granules or marumes, optionally with a protective coating, in amount of from about 0.1% to about 3.0%wt of the composition. These granules or marumes present no problems with respect to compaction to form a tablet.
  • the tablets of the invention may also contain a fluorescer (optical brightener) , for example, Tinopal (Trade Mark) DMS or Tinopal CBS available from Ciba-Geigy AG, Basel, Switzerland.
  • Tinopal DMS is disodium 4, 4 'bis- (2-morpholino-4-anilino-s- triazin-6-ylamino) stilbene disulphonate; and
  • Tinopal CBS is disodium 2, 2 '-bis- (phenyl-styryl) disulphonate.
  • An antifoam material is advantageously included if organic surfactant is present; especially if a detergent tablet is primarily intended for use in front-loading drum-type automatic washing machines .
  • a tablet of the invention includes an amount of an alkali metal silicate.
  • a tablet for machine dishwashing will frequently contain at least 20 wt% silicate.
  • Further ingredients which can optionally be employed in fabric washing detergent tablets of the invention include anti- redeposition agents such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose, straight-chain polyvinyl pyrrolidone and the cellulose ethers such as methyl cellulose and ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, fabric-softening agents; heavy metal sequestrants such as EDTA; perfumes; and colorants or colored speckles.
  • a tablet of this invention is preferably a matrix of compacted particles .
  • the composition before compaction has an average particle size in the range of from 200 to 2000 ⁇ rn, more preferably from 250 to 1400 ⁇ m. Fine particles, smaller than 180 ⁇ m or 200 ⁇ m may be eliminated by sieving before tableting, if desired, although we have observed that this is not always essential .
  • the starting composition before compaction may for example have a bulk density of at least 400 g/litre, preferably at least 500 g/litre, and most preferably at least 600 g/litre.
  • a composition which is compacted into a tablet or tablet region may contain particles which have been prepared by spray-drying or granulation and which contain a mixture of ingredients .
  • Such particles may contain organic detergent surfactant and some or all of any water-softening agent (detergency builder) also present in the detergent tablet.
  • Tablets for use in accordance to the invention may be embodied as tablets for machine dishwashing. Such tablets typically contain a high proportion of water soluble salts, such as 50 to
  • a detergent base powder incorporating organic surfactants, a small percentage of crystalline sodium acetate trihydrate, and zeolite MAP was made using known granulation technology. It had the following composition, shown as parts by weight.
  • zeolite MAP zeolite A24
  • the amount of zeolite MAP (zeolite A24) in the table above is the amount which would be present if it was anhydrous. Its accompanying small content of moisture is included as part of the moisture and minor ingredients.
  • the base powder and other ingredients were mixed together as set out in the following table.
  • Antifoam is 17%wt silicon oil, 71%wt sodium carbonate and the remainder petroleum jelly and phosphate ester.
  • Fluorescer is 9.9%wt fluorescer and 82.5%wt sodium carbonate the remainder being minor ingredients
  • TAED is 83%wt TAED in 9%wt sodium sulphate the remainder being minor ingredients.
  • Soil release polymer is 18%wt soil-release polymer, 44%wt zeolite MAP, 21%wt sodium carbonate and minor ingredients.
  • Acrylic/maleic polymer is Sokolan CP5 ex BASF (91%wt active)
  • Tablets were made in a labscale Graseby Specac tabletting press; tablets had a weight of 32.4 grams and a strength (expressed in terms of the diametrical fracture stress) of approximately 25k Pa.
  • D the tablet diameter and t its thickness .
  • Two tablets are enclosed in a loosely fitting net (in the shape of a flow wrap) made of polyvinylalcohol having apertures of about 12mm 2 and about 45 apertures per 10 cm 2 with the thickness of the net being such that the solubilisation time in water at 20°C is about 600 seconds.
  • the net is enclosed in continuous thin film of polyvinylalcohol in the form of a flow wrap.
  • the thickness of the material was chosen such that the time to full solubilisation in water at 20° C for the net is about 200 seconds.
  • the formulation was prepared by granulating the components in a high shear granulator. Subsequently the composition was mixed with further ingredients as given below:
  • Tablets were made in a Graseby Specac labscale tabletting press with a weight of 37.5 grams. Tablets had a diametrical fracture stress (DFS) of 31 ⁇ 1.5 kPa. Disintegration was measured in accordance to example 1.
  • DFS diametrical fracture stress
  • Two tablets were enclosed in a loosely fitting closed bag composed of a thin film of polyvinylalcohol to which a grid like pattern was applied by means of pulse sealing.
  • the grid like pattern had windows of 12mm 2 and on average 4.5 windows per cm 2 .
  • the thickness of the polyvinyl-alcohol film was chosen such that the windows have a solubilisation time in water at 20°C of about 200 seconds.
  • the time of the punch sealing treatment to apply the slower dissolving grid was chosen to give a solubilisation time of about 300 seconds which is more than the time needed for disintegration of the tablets.
  • a 9cm x 9cm water soluble package for laundry detergent tablets was made comprising a medium water solubility polymer grid
  • HBMC high water solubility film
  • HPMC high water solubility film
  • PEG 200 high water solubility film
  • the medium water solubility polymer grid was made using a silicon rubber mould with triangular shaped grooves (about 2mm wide and 0.5mm thick).
  • the grooves were filled with a 15%wt polyvinylalcohol solution (88% hydrolysed, wt 88,000) which was allowed to dry in the grooves of the mould. This was repeated three times to provide a medium water solubility film of the dimensions given.
  • HBMC Hydroxy Butyl Methyl Cellulose
  • HPMC hydroxy propyl content 7-12%wt and methoxyl content 28-30%wt
  • Polyethyleneglycol 200 plasticiser was made by heating half of the water to 90°C, adding the polymer mixture and then adding the other half of the water, all under continuous stirring. This solution was added to the top of the PVA film in the mould and allowed to dry at ambient for 24 hours.
  • the dried film formed 10 x 10mm high water solubility discrete parts of the pack of 150 microns thickness in the spaces between the medium water solubility PVA grid.
  • a commercially available zeolite built laundry tablet was put into the water soluble pack which was then sealed.
  • the dissolution of the laundry tablet inside the soluble pack (and of the unpackaged laundry tablet) was measured by placing the packaged tablet in a hemispherical rotating cage having a diameter of 140 mm and a mesh size of 1mm x 1 mm and rotating the cage at 200 RPM in 9 litres of 15° French Hardness water at
  • the conductivity of the water was measured as a function of time.
  • the time taken to arrive at 90% of the equilibrium conductivity is the t 90 dissolution time.
  • comparative example 3A the same type of commercially available zeolite built laundry tablet was put into a conventional non-water soluble (flexible plastic/material) net and dissolution measured according to the above test.
  • comparative example 3B the dissolution of the same type of laundry tablet was measured but no type of net or pack was used. The dissolution results are given in the table below;
  • the speed of dissolution of the temporary net according to the invention can be controlled by choice of the pack materials and the thickness of the various parts of the pack.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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  • Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Detergent Compositions (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention porte sur un article de lavage comprenant au moins une pastille d'une composition particulaire compactée de lavage placée dans une enveloppe soluble dans l'eau comportant: (i) au moins une partie fortement soluble dans l'eau, et (ii) au moins une partie moyennement soluble dans l'eau présentant un temps de dissolution dans l'eau à 20 °C d'au moins 60 s de plus que celui de la partie fortement soluble dans l'eau, et formant une structure capable d'enrober la pastille après dissolution de la partie fortement soluble dans l'eau. L'invention porte également sur un film d'enrobage, sur une enveloppe, sur un procédé de lavage de tissus, et sur un procédé de production d'un article de lavage. L'invention porte en outre sur le dosage des pastilles de lavage à l'aide d'un dispositif distributeur ne présentant pas les inconvénients associés aux dispositifs distributeurs usuels tels que les filets de tissus.
PCT/EP2001/014266 2000-12-20 2001-11-30 Article de lavage Ceased WO2002050240A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2002227988A AU2002227988A1 (en) 2000-12-20 2001-11-30 Washing device

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP00204683.7 2000-12-20
EP00204683 2000-12-20

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2002050240A1 true WO2002050240A1 (fr) 2002-06-27

Family

ID=8172495

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/EP2001/014266 Ceased WO2002050240A1 (fr) 2000-12-20 2001-11-30 Article de lavage

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2002227988A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2002050240A1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2002092453A1 (fr) * 2001-05-17 2002-11-21 Reckitt Benckiser (Uk) Limited Conteneurs solubles dans l'eau comprenant un systeme de liberation de gaz
US6956016B2 (en) 2001-05-14 2005-10-18 The Procter & Gamble Company Cleaning product
EP3181674A1 (fr) * 2015-12-16 2017-06-21 The Procter and Gamble Company Article de dose unitaire soluble dans l'eau

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0337568A2 (fr) * 1988-04-11 1989-10-18 Colgate-Palmolive Company Article détergent
EP0479404A2 (fr) * 1990-10-03 1992-04-08 Unilever Plc Film pour emballage et sachet
US5780418A (en) * 1995-10-11 1998-07-14 Kao Corporation Bathing preparation
DE19941480A1 (de) * 1999-09-01 2001-03-08 Henkel Kgaa Wasch- oder Reinigungsmittel-Portion mit wasserdurchlässiger Umfassung

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0337568A2 (fr) * 1988-04-11 1989-10-18 Colgate-Palmolive Company Article détergent
EP0479404A2 (fr) * 1990-10-03 1992-04-08 Unilever Plc Film pour emballage et sachet
US5780418A (en) * 1995-10-11 1998-07-14 Kao Corporation Bathing preparation
DE19941480A1 (de) * 1999-09-01 2001-03-08 Henkel Kgaa Wasch- oder Reinigungsmittel-Portion mit wasserdurchlässiger Umfassung

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6956016B2 (en) 2001-05-14 2005-10-18 The Procter & Gamble Company Cleaning product
US7078462B2 (en) 2001-05-14 2006-07-18 The Procter & Gamble Company Cleaning product
WO2002092453A1 (fr) * 2001-05-17 2002-11-21 Reckitt Benckiser (Uk) Limited Conteneurs solubles dans l'eau comprenant un systeme de liberation de gaz
EP3181674A1 (fr) * 2015-12-16 2017-06-21 The Procter and Gamble Company Article de dose unitaire soluble dans l'eau
WO2017105854A1 (fr) * 2015-12-16 2017-06-22 The Procter & Gamble Company Article mono-dose soluble dans l'eau

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2002227988A1 (en) 2002-07-01

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