AU724055B2

AU724055B2 - Cleaning concentrate

Info

Publication number: AU724055B2
Application number: AU53975/96A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Uwe Hilsenbek; Reinhold Holle; Andreas Kauth; Brigitte Kuhner
Original assignee: Alfred Kaercher SE and Co KG
Current assignee: Alfred Kaercher SE and Co KG
Priority date: 1996-03-22
Filing date: 1996-03-22
Publication date: 2000-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 2016-03-22
Also published as: AU5397596A; ATE195336T1; ES2151154T3; NO984347D0; EP0888448B1; NO984347L; WO1997035955A1; DE59605732D1; EP0888448A1; DK0888448T3

Abstract

The aim is to improve the ease of handling, storage life and ruggedness of a cleaning concentrate used for producing usable aqueous cleaning solutions in cleaning agent storage tanks of cleaning machines, in particular high-pressure cleaners, spray extraction systems and the like. To that end it is proposed that the cleaning concentrate should include a component which releases gas on contact with water and the cleaning concentrate should be packed in measured doses in water-soluble capsules.

Description

Cleaning Concentrate The invention relates to a cleaning concentrate for the production of ready to use aqueous cleaning solutions in cleaning agent storage tanks of cleaning machines, in particular highpressure cleaners, spray extraction systems or the like.

Cleaning concentrates known hitherto are either available in larger units in highly concentrated aqueous solution, also partially in measured doses, or are supplied packaged in measured doses in powder or tablet form.

The concentrated form of cleaning agent is gaining increasing importance in relation to the sale of ready to use cleaning solutions, since with the sale of concentrates a large part of the storage capacity and transport capacity and also packaging material may be saved.

On the other hand, cleaning concentrates have the disadvantage that they require more care in handling so that the user of the respective cleaning machines does not come into contact with the concentrate. A similar problem appears with the childproof packaging of the cleaning concentrates.

The object of the invention is to propose a cleaning concentrate which is simple to handle without risk to persons, is easily stored and sufficiently stable for handling.

This object is achieved according to the invention with a cleaning concentrate of the aforementioned type in that the cleaning concentrate comprises a component which releases gas on 2 contact with water, and that the cleaning concentrate is packaged in measured doses in a water-soluble covering.

A particular problem in the preparation of a cleaning concentrate according to the invention results from directing the cleaning concentrate towards use in cleaning agent storage tanks of cleaning machines, in particular high-pressure cleaners, spray extraction systems or the like, in which extremely precise care must be taken to prevent solid particles from remaining in the ready to use cleaning solutions, which can lead relatively quickly to blockages in dosing devices, spray nozzles etc., or can at least impair the cleaning effect of the machine.

Water-soluble packaging for washing additives for washing textiles are known per se (cf. DE-A 34 15 880). In 15 these cases, water-soluble packaging in the form of bags are used to enhance the washing performance of washing agents containing so-called bleaching activators to increase the bleaching effect, which enhance the bleaching i 9effect of per compounds and protect against the penetration of moisture and thus against premature deactivation of the bleaching effect. In the case of these washing additives the packaging has time to dissolve during the entire washing cycle in the washing machine, and therefore the problems to be expected in association with high-pressure cleaners, spray extraction systems or the like are oe completely inconsequential here.

The dissolving times given for water additives in the prior art in association with this amount to at least minutes at a temperature of 30'C for the water additives to be dissolved safely and completely. It must be taken into considerationhere that the washing liquor is kept in constant motion during the washing cycle, which substantially helps the packaging to dissolve.

In the areas of usage envisaged for the cleaning concentrates according to the invention water with a temperature of only 150 to 18 0 C is frequently used, with the consequence that significantly longer dissolving times H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\53975-96.doc 7/07/00 3 would have to be adhered to for safety. Such long dissolving times are not acceptable, however, when using cleaning concentrates in high-pressure cleaners, spray extraction systems etc., since, in contrast to washing textiles in washing machines, treatment can not occur during the dissolution phase of the cleaning concentrate.

It is only after complete dissolution, in particular of the packaging, that a cleaning solution, which does not contain any solids and may be processed without any problem, can be obtained. In addition, it is not possible with these systems to keep the cleaning solution in motion by means of the system or to ensure thorough mixing by other means.

It was all the more surprising that the dissolving behaviour of the cleaning concentrate, i.e. in particular its packaging, can be substantially improved and reduced to acceptable periods of time in the minute range if a component which releases gas on contact with water is added. It is important here that the packaging is in close contact to the cleaning concentrate.

This gas-releasing component causes gas to be released as soon as the cleaning concentrate located inside the packaging comes into contact with water, i.e. on formation of the first leakage point in the packaging, and this gas inflates and ultimately bursts the packaging, thereby fully exposing the cleaning concentrate to the surrounding water. The ensuing boost in gas development 0: leads to an agitation effect which intensively accelerates the dissolution of the water-soluble packaging as well as the other components of the concentrate.

Only then is a cleaning concentrate obtained which can offer acceptable dissolving times for the formation of usable aqueous cleaning solutions. In this case, the automatic mixing effect or agitation effect of the cleaning concentrate becomes particularly significant, since these are used in the cleaning storage tanks of cleaning machines which must be sealed in normal operation and therefore have relatively small openings, into which H:\Luisa\Kep\Speci\53975-96 .do0c 7/07/00 4 agitators or the like cannot be easily inserted. Moreover, a factor against preparation of usable aqueous cleaning solutions outside the cleaning agent storage tanks is that the operator may then come into contact with the cleaning solution during transfer of the ready to use cleaning solution into the cleaning agent storage tank, and special precautionary measures may have to be taken as a result.

Moreover, this is relatively complicated and requires that a vessel with contents comparable to those of the cleaning agent storage tank to be made ready.

The cleaning concentrates encased in measured doses according to the invention may be put together with the packaging into the cleaning tank, in which either water is already present as part of the intended cleaning .15 solution or into which a similar quantity of water has been i 0.-fed after introduction of the cleaning concentrates according to the invention. The cleaning concentrate can be present in highly concentrated form because of the packaging.

Moreover, the cleaning concentrates encased in measured doses according to the invention have the advantage that the cleaning agent may be precisely measured in doses for predetermined tank contents, so that an optimum cleaning effect may be achieved with minimum use of cleaning agent. A precise dosage also poses no further problem for inexperienced users.

ooo ~The cleaning concentrate can be presented according to the invention in liquid, viscous or dry form, in which case with the liquid or flowable form it must be assured that the cleaning concentrate does not attack the water-soluble packaging and create leakage points.

However, the concentrate is preferably used as a dry substance. The dry substance may be packaged in the water-soluble covering in powder form and also, as preferred, pressed in tablet form. The tablet form has the advantage over the loose powder form that it is present in even more compact form and can be simply combined to form H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\53975-96.doc 7/07/00 5 larger units.

The packaging is preferably a type of foil packaging, in which case the foil itself is preferably transparent and thereby permits optical control of the condition of the tablets and/or powder.

Of advantage, for example, are packages in which a deep-drawn lower packaging part is provided with depressions to receive the cleaning concentrate in measured doses, in particular in tablet form, and the lower part is then sealed with a lidding foil. If as a result of production contact of the package with the cleaning concentrate is too free for quick activation of the gasreleasing component, the packaging can be shrunk onto the concentrate by heat treatment in a further step.

15 The foil packaging is preferably firstly laid loosely around the tablets and welded, and then shrunk onto the cleaning concentrate so that close contact between the foil packaging and the cleaning concentrate results. This contact and also the coating applied to the tablets ensure, that the dissolving process occurs at the highest possible speed, since as soon as a leak is formed in the covering, contact of the cleaning concentrate inside with the water entering from outside occurs immediately. The packaging then bursts practically instantaneously as a result of the gas released by the cleaning concentrate or its gasreleasing component.

Any water-soluble polymer material which may be processed into foils, in particular with thicknesses of to 100 pm, for example, may firstly be used.

For example, foils on a gelatine base are suitable, however their limited storage stability may cause problems in many cases.

The packaging is preferably produced from watersoluble polyvinyl alcohol or derivatives thereof or, for example, PVA/vinyl acetate resin blends or mixtures with other polymers, e.g. polyacrylic acid (cf. DE 31 48 931 C).

Besides a satisfactory dissolving behaviour of the H:\Luisa\eep\Speci\53975-96.doc 7/07/00 6 covering, this ensures that the components converting into aqueous solution upon dissolution are environmentally acceptable. Such materials are described, for example, in JP-02-163149 A.

Moreover, the PVA material can be selected so that a cleaning promoting effect develops after dissolution in the water, in that the dissolved PVA material increases the capacity of further cleaning agent components to carry dirt.

The gas-releasing component of the cleaning concentrate can be contained in this in a proportion of up to 90% by weight or more, calculated on the basis of the total weight of the cleaning concentrate. However, substantially smaller proportions of the gas-releasing 15 component are frequently sufficient to assure an adequate .agitation effect and thus dissolution speed for the covering. In the case of additions below approximately by weight, depending on the nature of the gas-releasing component, an adequate agitation effect is no longer achieved in the surrounding cleaning agent solution in some cases. 30% by weight of the gas-releasing component is preferably used.

*go *o* H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\53975-96.doc 7/07/00 The gas-releasing component should normally generate 5 1 of gas or more per 100 g of cleaning concentrate. The gas-releasing component is preferably mixed in so that a generation of gas of approximately 7 1 to approximately 15 1 per 100 g of cleaning concentrate is observed.

Because such substances are simple to handle, a gas-releasing component is preferably used in which the released gas is carbon dioxide.

In this case, components releasing carbon dioxide are preferably used which are composed of a water-soluble acid and a watersoluble carbonate, in which case the acid is preferably selected from citric acid in anhydrous form, or its monohydrate form, or acid salts thereof, and the carbonate is preferably selected from sodium carbonate and sodium hydrogen-carbonate.

The gas-releasing component is preferably selected so that it releases cleaning promoting substance, in particular complexforming ligands, in the gas release reaction. Citric acid is also preferably used as water-soluble acid in the above-described gasreleasing system from the point of view.

The cleaning promoting effect of the substances released in the gas release reaction can be fully adequate for the cleaning effect in specific cases, e.g. in sanitary cleaners, and therefore it is absolutely conceivable within the frame of the present invention to form the contents of the covering exclusively or virtually exclusively from the gas-releasing component. If the material forming the covering can then also increase the capacity of the cleaning solution to carry dirt after its dissolution, such an embodiment may have an even greater variety of uses.

In order to utilise the carbonate quantities contained as fully as possible with respect to the release of carbon dioxide, the citric acid is preferably used in the molar ratio to hydrogen carbonate of at least 1:3 or in the molar ratio to the carbonate content of at least 2:3.

The use of analogous molar ratios is recommended if other watersoluble acids are used.

The cleaning concentrate according to the invention preferably comprises up to 40% by weight of non-ionic surfactants as detergent surfactants.

Examples of suitable non-ionic surfactants are alkyl polyethylene glycol ethers on the basis of linear C, 0 18 fatty alcohols, 1 oxo alcohols converted with ethylene oxide, fatty alcohol-based liquid alkyl polyethylene glycol ethers, alkyl glycosides and alkyl polyglycosides.

The cleaning concentrate can comprise up to 40% by weight of anionic surfactants as detergent surfactants, in which case preferred anionic surfactants are sodium alkyl benzole sulphonate and fatty alkyl ether sulphates.

If it is to be pressed in tablet form, the cleaning concentrate can contain up to 10% by weight of binding agent as tabletting auxiliary agent, whereby if the tablets are packaged by a covering in the form of a coating of a deep-drawn foil with foil lid or a shrink-wrap foil, relatively small quantities of binding agent are sufficient to provide an adequately stable tablet form together with the covering which adequately withstands the mechanical stress from production, packaging, transport until use on site in the cleaning system.

Examples of suitable binding agents are polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyethylene glycols and carboxymethylcellulose.

As a further component, the cleaning concentrate may contain up to 40% by weight of builders, in particular in the form of phosphates, silicates, carboxylates and/or NTA.

Moreover, the cleaning concentrate can contain up to 5% by weight of foam inhibitors, in particular in the form of silicone oils, phosphoric esters and paraffin oils.

Further possible additives in the cleaning concentrate are solutizers, which may be present in quantities up to 20% by weight, in particular in the form of sodium cumene sulphonate.

In order to prevent children from swallowing the cleaning tablets by mistake, additions to the cleaning concentrate of up to 0.01% by weight of bitter substances, in particular in the form of benzyldiethyl-[(2,6-xylylcarbamoyl)-methyl]-ammonium benzoate, are normally sufficient.

In addition, the cleaning concentrate can contain the fragrance, colouring and/or filling agents usual in cleaning agents.

The cleaning concentrate according to the invention is particularly suitable for use in the production of ready to use cleaning solutions in the cleaning agent storage tanks of highpressure cleaners, spray extraction systems, window washing devices etc.

These and further advantages of the invention are explained further below on the basis of the drawing and the examples.

Individually: Figure 1 shows a perspective representation of an embodiment of a cleaning concentrate according to the invention, and Figure 2 shows a side view of the embodiment of Figure i.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a cleaning concentrate according to the invention given the overall reference 10, hereafter referred to in short as tablet, which comprises a water-soluble covering 12 as well as a pressed unit of cleaning concentrate 14 in the covering.

The covering 12 lies closely against the pressed unit 14 and is preferably shrunk onto this. In this way, as soon as a leakage point is formed somewhere in the covering 12, the water can touch the pressed unit 14 directly and thus start the gas release reaction with the subsequent bursting of the covering 12.

An equal alternative (not shown in the drawing) to shrinking the foil is packaging the tabletted cleaning concentrates in tablet or powder form in depressions of a deep-drawn foil, whereby a plurality of regularly arranged depressions are firstly formed in a foil sheet to receive the measured doses of cleaning concentrate, the cleaning concentrate is inserted in measured doses into the depressions and then sealed with a lidding foil.

The individual encased cleaning agent doses can then be combined singly or in groups in card form by a punching or cutting process, however are combined to form the sales unit, for example, to be detached singly by means of weakening lines in the deep-drawn foil and provided with a wrapping.

Depending on the composition of the pressed unit 14 or of the cleaning agent components generally contained in the covering, it is possible, if necessary by adding foam inhibitors, to form only a small foam volume, on the one hand, in the dissolution process and the release of expelled gas, so that the cleaning agent storage tank does not foam over, while on the other hand the solutions can be adjusted to be heavily foaming or non-foaming, as required, in their use in the cleaning systems.

All the desirable foaming effects from heavily foaming to nonfoaming may be adjusted thus on simultaneous control of the foamforming volume in the dissolution process of the tablet 10 or the cleaning concentrate together with the covering in the storage tank.

Some cases of application for the cleaning concentrate according to the invention are described below, this being undertaken on the basis of the example of the tablet 10 in Figures 1 and 2. The statements concerning the tablet shown in Figures 1 and 2 or its use according to the invention naturally apply to any other type of embodiment, in particular of the covering of a loose cleaning concentrate mixture in powder form or also such a mixture in liquid or viscous form.

A concentrated application solution can, of course, also be produced by dissolving the cleaning concentrate according to the invention in the storage tank of a cleaning system, and this concentrated solution can be added in measured doses, for example, in the area of high-pressure cleaner use with the application of a water stream and can thereby be diluted by a multiple, whereby the cleaning concentrate or the cleaning solution ultimately formed therefrom nevertheless fulfils its task fully.

Because of the packaging possibilities in highly concentrated form, the extent of the wrapping, e.g. of cardboard, and also the transport volume as well as the storage volume are reduced by approximately 90% in comparison to the conventional cleaning agents. The application of the cleaning concentrates according to the invention thereby leaves less waste than the conventional agents, since not only is the wrapping significantly smaller in dimension from the outset, but also because the covering of the individual doses of the cleaning concentrate dissolve and form a component of the cleaning solution and possibly even enhance the cleaning effect by increasing the dirt-carrying capacity.

12 In a typical case of application of the cleaning concentrates according to the invention two 10 g doses in the form of tablets are added to one litre of water. An example of a recipe for this is given in Table 1, wherein the corresponding 10 g tablet releases approximately 1 1 of CO 2 gas.

Table 1 Chemical Name Function/ Trade Name Anhydro-citric acid water-soluble acid 39% Sodium hydrogen- releasing carbon carbonate dioxide

C

16

-C,

1 fatty alcohol non-ionic surfactant with degree of ethoxylation of Alkyl benzole anionic surfactant sulphonate(Na salt) Marlon ARL 1% Polyethylene glycol binding agent/ Producer Hills

BASF

0.05% Quinoline dye 0.6% Perfume/essential oil 0.05% Polydimethyl siloxaneanti 0.003% Benzyldiethylxylylcarbamoyl) -methyl]ammonium benzoate Pluriol E 6000 dye anti-foam agent SR bitter substance Wacker approx.

14% Na tripolyphosphate builder In the production of the cleaning concentrates in powder form or tablet form according to the invention, the cleaning agent concentrates in powder and solid form are mixed together and any liquid cleaning agent components present are sprayed thereon.

This raw powder can now be packaged in measured doses in coverings, in which case the weight of the dose pack can lie in the range of single grams to several kilograms and more.

If the cleaning concentrate according to the invention is already presented in the form of tablets, the cleaning agent powder produced as above is pressed into tablets by means of a tabletting press in accordance with the predetermined quantity.

Usual tablet sizes amount to 5, 10, 20 g etc. The tablets are packaged with a water-soluble foil and are thermally welded and shrink-wrapped so that the covering 12 lies closely on the pressed tablet 14 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The usual tablet sizes go up to 1000 g and tablet diameters of up to 30 cm are very easily handled.

In the present examples a foil of PVA material (Vivinol BS1OF from Alcam) with a thickness of 40 pm is used. Similarly favourable results are achieved with the material Vivinol pm thick) from the same producer. Even quicker dissolution speeds for the foil are obtained with Vivinol AS15F foil only pm thick.

A plurality of fields of application are possible with the abovedescribed recipe (Table 1) for high-pressure cleaners, since the composition of the recipe specified in Table 1 is that of a universal cleaner. The cleaning concentrate may be used, for example, for cleaning automobiles, motor cycles, garden tools, garden furniture, sports equipment, stone and metal surfaces, glass, porcelain, plastics and painted surfaces.

In this case, the high-pressure cleaning tank is normally filled with a litre of water, two 10 g tablets with the composition in Table 1 added, the dissolution time of a few minutes allowed to pass (in the present example 4 to 5 min. with warm water at and then cleaning may then begin. In this case, the cleaning liquid formed is added in measured doses to the spray jet of the high-pressure cleaner, which can generally be varied from 0-100% for dosing in usual equipment by means of a dosing control device on the high-pressure cleaning system.

Another typical possible application for the cleaning concentrates according to the invention are the spray extraction systems, in which, for example, 2 tablets 10 with a weight of g and a recipe as listed in Tables 2 and 3 are mixed with 8 litres of water. A 20 g tablet with the recipe of Table 2 emits approximately 1.2 1 of CO 2 gas and that of Table 3 approximately 1.6 1 of CO 2 gas.

Table 2 wt.% Chemical Name 23% Citric acid x H 2 0 28% Sodium carbonate, calcinated Sodium cumene sulphonate, Ply approx.

39% Na tripolyphosphate Polyethylene glycol Function/ Trade Name water-soluble acid releasing carbon dioxide solutiser builder binding agent/ Pluriol E 6000 Producer Budenheim

BASF

C

13 -oxo alcohol with non-ionic with 12 degrees of surfactant, liquid ethoxylation

C

1 3 -oxo alcohol with non-ionic with 8 degrees of surfactant, liquid ethoxylation 0.3% Perfume oil 0.05%Polydimethyl siloxane anti-foam agent SR Wacker 0.003%Benzyldiethyl-[(2,6- bitter substance xylylcarbamoyl) -methyl] ammonium benzoate Table 3 wt.% Chemical Name Function/ Trade Name Producer 21.5%Anhydro-citric acid 29.5%Sodium hydrogencarbonate water-soluble acid releasing carbon dioxide Ci,-C 13 Alkyl benzole anionic sulphonic acid, sodium surfactant salt approx.

40.0%Na tripolyphosphate Alkyl polyethylene glycol ether of a saturated C 6

-C

18 fatty alcohol with degree of EO of Fatty acid amidopropyldimethylcarboxymethylammonium betaine Polyvinyl pyrrolidone builder Budenheim non-ionic surfactant, solid/ Lutensol AT amphoteric surfactant/ Rewoteric AM B12 binding agent/ Sokalan

BASF

Witco GmbH

BASF

Perfume oil 0.05%Polydimethyl siloxane anti-foam agent SR Wacker The tablets according to the invention for spray extraction cleaning are produced as above in association with the highpressure cleaning tablets.

The area of usage of the cleaning agents of Tables 2 and 3 lies particularly in the area of spray extraction cleaning of textile coverings, mixed fabrics and fully synthetic fibres, e.g. of fitted carpets, furniture upholstery, car seats etc.

In this case, the spray extraction system tank is filled with the necessary quantity of water (8 litres in the previous example).

The necessary number of cleaning tablets are added and after a dissolving time lasting only minutes (in the case of the recipe in Table 2 approximately 2 minutes in warm water at 40 0 C and according to Table 3 approximately 3 minutes in warm water at 0 the spray extraction cleaning can begin. In this case, the cleaning solution is used in undiluted form.

The specified dissolving times vary only slightly if water at a lower temperature is used. Hence, a dissolving time of approximately 5 minutes with cold water at 15 0 C results, for example, for the recipe in Table 3.

The considerable differences in the dissolving times of the recipes of Tables 2 and 3 show that not only is the selection of the water-soluble polymer material of the foil decisive for very good dissolving times, but further considerable improvements in the dissolving times may, moreover, be achieved by suitable formulation of the cleaning concentrate mixture.

Hence, in the recipe according to Table 3 not only does the other binding agent contribute to quicker dissolution, but also the selection of the non-ionic surfactant, which is present in this recipe as a solid, while the non-ionic surfactants of the recipe in Table 2 are liquid. The liquid surfactants probably cause the 19 active substance mixture to disperse into small particles with a large area for attack for the dissolving process.

A further area of application is that of window washing devices, whereby 5 g tablets are preferably employed here because of the normally smaller dimension of the storage tank. The 5 g dosing of the cleaning concentrate is sufficient for a quantity of 250 ml of water and is listed in detail in Table 4. The dissolving time here amounts to 3 minutes in warm water at 30 0

C.

This 5 g tablet releases approximately 0.6 1 of CO 2 gas in the dissolving process.

Table 4 wt.% Chemical Name Function/ Trade Name 35.2%Anhydro-citric acid water-soluble acid 48.4%Sodium hydrogen- releasing carbon carbonate dioxide Sodium cumene solutiser sulphonate, Ply

CI

0 -C12 fatty alcohol non-ionic ethoxylate with 6 EO surfactant 0.9% Phosphoric ester foam inhibitor/ Degressal SD Perfume oil 0.003%Benzyldiethyl- bitter substance [(2,6-xylylcarbamoyl) -methyl]ammonium benzoate Producer

BASF

These cleaning tablets can also be produced as described above in association with high-pressure cleaning tablets.

Glass and mirror surfaces form particular areas of application for the window washing devices, whereby the storage tank of the cleaning device is firstly filled again with water at a particular temperature (250 ml of water in the previous example), a 5 g cleaning agent tablet is added, few minutes are allowed to pass for the dissolution of the cleaning concentrate according to the invention together with the covering and then the cleaning work is begun.

In all the above-mentioned recipes a balance is set between the cleaning agent components and the foam regulators so that the tank is reliably prevented from foaming over. On the other hand, a good foaming capacity is observed when the cleaning solution is used in the spray jet of the high-pressure cleaner.

In particular in view of the plurality of the above-mentioned possible applications it is of particular significance that the ready to use cleaning solutions produced from the above-described cleaning concentrates according to the invention have lowtemperature stability down to O°C as well as high-temperature stability up to 50 0

C.

Claims

2. Cleaning concentrate according to claim i, characterised in that the packaging is transparent foil packaging. 15 3. Cleaning concentrate according to either claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the packaging is a foil packaging shrunk onto the cleaning concentrate. o*
4. Cleaning concentrate according to either claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the packaging is formed from a deep-drawn, preferably dimensionally stable foil forming the lower part of the packaging with a depression to receive cleaning concentrate and a foil cover which is sealable to the lower part of the packaging. Cleaning concentrate according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the concentrate is So: present as dry substance.
6. Cleaning concentrate according to claim characterised in that the dry substance is pressed in tablet form.
7. Cleaning concentrate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the packaging is made from water-soluble PVA or derivatives thereof.
8. Cleaning concentrate according to claim 7, characterised in that the packaging develops a cleaning promoting effect after dissolution in water.
9. Cleaning concentrate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the gas-releasing H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\53975-96.doc 7/07/00 23 component is contained therein in a proportion of 20% by weight or more on the basis of the total weight of the cleaning concentrate. Cleaning concentrate according to claim 9, characterised in that the gas-releasing component releases carbon dioxide.
11. Cleaning concentrate according to claim 9 or characterised in that the gas-releasing component can release approximately 5 1 of gas or more per 100 g of cleaning concentrate.
12. Cleaning concentrate according to claim 10 or 11, characterised in that the carbon dioxide releasing component of the cleaning concentrate comprises a water- soluble acid and a carbonate. 15 13. Cleaning concentrate according to claim 12, •wherein the water-soluble acid is selected from a group comprising anhydrous citric acid, citric acid monohydrate and acid salts of citric acid.
14. Cleaning concentrate according to either claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the carbonate is sodium carbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate.
15. Cleaning concentrate according to claim 12, characterised in that the water-soluble acid is citric i acid, the carbonate is sodium carbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate, the citric acid is present in the molar ratio to the hydrogen carbonate content of at least 1:3 and in the molar ratio to the carbonate content of at least 2:3.
16. Cleaning concentrate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the concentrate comprises up to 40% by weight of non-ionic surfactants as detergent substances.-
17. Cleaning concentrate according to claim 16, characterised in that the non-ionic surfactants comprise alkyl polyethylene glycol ethers formed from linear C 10 -C 18 fatty alcohols.
18. Cleaning concentrate according to claim 16 or 17, characterised in that the non-ionic surfactants comprise H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\53975-96.doc 7/07/00 24 C 13 -C 1 5 oxo alcohols converted with ethylene oxide, fatty alcohol-based liquid alkyl polyethylene glycol ethers, alkyl glycosides and/or alkyl polyglycosides.
19. Cleaning concentrate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cleaning concentrate comprises up to 40% by weight of anionic surfactants as detergent substances. Cleaning concentrate according to claim 19, characterised in that the anionic surfactants comprise sodium alkyl benzene sulphonate and/or fatty alkyl ether sulphates.
21. Cleaning concentrate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cleaning concentrate contains up to 10% by weight of binding agent. 15 22. Cleaning concentrate according to claim 21, characterised in that the binding agent comprises polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone and/or 'carboxymethylcellulose.
23. Cleaning concentrate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cleaning concentrate contains up to 40% by weight of builders.
24. Cleaning concentrate according to claim 23, wherein the builders are selected from a group consisting of phosphates, silicates, carboxylates and NTA.
25. Cleaning concentrate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cleaning i concentrate contains up to 5% by weight of foam inhibitors.
26. Cleaning concentrate according to claim wherein the foam inhibitors are silicone oils, phosphoric esters and/or paraffin oils.
27. Cleaning concentrate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cleaning concentrate comprises up to 20% by weight of a solubiliser.
28. Cleaning concentrate according to claim 27, wherein the solubiliser is sodium cumene sulphonate.
29. Cleaning concentrate according to any one of the Spreceding claims, characterised in that the cleaning H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\53975-96.doc 7/07/00 25 concentrate comprises up to 0.01% by weight of a bitter substance. Cleaning concentrate according to claim 29, wherein the bitter substance is benzyldiethyl-[(2,6- xylylcarbamoyl)-methyl]-ammonium benzoate.
31. Cleaning concentrate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cleaning concentrate comprises fragrance, colouring and/or filling agents.
32. Use of a cleaning concentrate according to any one of claims 1 to 31, for the production of a ready to use cleaning agent solution for cleaning machines.
33. Use of a cleaning concentrate according to claim 32, for the production of a ready to use cleaning solution 15 in the storage tank of a cleaning device. ooo Dated this 7th day of July 2000 S.. ALFRED KARCHER GMBH CO. "By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and 00o0 Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia D* o o «•g *ooo H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\53975-96.doc 7/07/00