CA1243855A - Process for washing clothes in a machine with a liquid detergent and device for applying the process - Google Patents
Process for washing clothes in a machine with a liquid detergent and device for applying the processInfo
- Publication number
- CA1243855A CA1243855A CA000479281A CA479281A CA1243855A CA 1243855 A CA1243855 A CA 1243855A CA 000479281 A CA000479281 A CA 000479281A CA 479281 A CA479281 A CA 479281A CA 1243855 A CA1243855 A CA 1243855A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- liquid detergent
- clothes
- washing
- vents
- machine
- 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.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00
- D06F39/02—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
- D06F39/024—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents mounted on the agitator or the rotating drum; Free body dispensers
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Textile Engineering (AREA)
- Detergent Compositions (AREA)
- Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)
- Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Process for washing clothes in a washing machine, which comprises using a liquid detergent which is released gradually into the washing medium from a special device placed in the drum of the machine at the same time as the clothes instead of being released from the dispenser provided for the detergent on the washing machine. The device contains a predetermined volume of liquid detergent composition and has a plurality of open vents extending through its sidewall above the level of the detergent composition. The vents are sized to facilitate gradual release of the liquid detergent composition as the device rotates in the washing machine.
Process for washing clothes in a washing machine, which comprises using a liquid detergent which is released gradually into the washing medium from a special device placed in the drum of the machine at the same time as the clothes instead of being released from the dispenser provided for the detergent on the washing machine. The device contains a predetermined volume of liquid detergent composition and has a plurality of open vents extending through its sidewall above the level of the detergent composition. The vents are sized to facilitate gradual release of the liquid detergent composition as the device rotates in the washing machine.
Description
3~5Si - 1 ~
The present invention relates to a process for ~ashing and cleaning clothes in a washing machine with a liquid detergent which is introduced gradually into the washing medium from a rechargeable device pLaced in the drum of the machine together with the clothes to be washed;
the invention also relates to the device ~for carrying out this process.
Liquid detergent compositions for washing clothes are commercially available. They have a variety of advan-tageous properties compared with the numerous granulardetergent compositions, but they have no~ become as widely used as might have been expected in v;ew of their proper-ties, because they are to some extent unsuitable for use in the majority of washing machines curren~ly on the 1S market~
In fact, whether these machines are front loaders with a horizontal rotarr drum, or top loaders, the dis-pensers for the measure of detergen~ used for each washing cycle are generally rather unsuitable for holding liquid detergents and subsequently dispersing them in the washing bath, the majority of the machines currently used by housewives in fact having been designed at a time when only powdered or granular detergents were on the market.
The Applicant Company has found that part of the liquid detergent composition placed ;n the dispenser of the machine before it is switched on is often unable to be used for the wash.
In fact, the whole of the washing product is carried away with the first few ml of water introduced into the machinej and, in most cases, this water goes directly into filling the empty;ng circu;ts of the machine, in which the previous washing operation had only left a very small quantity of ~a~er~
When the washing product has entered ~his circuit, virtually none of it will migrate into the washing bath with which the clothes are impregnated, either during the filling of the machine or during the actual wash, and it ~ 3~
The present invention relates to a process for ~ashing and cleaning clothes in a washing machine with a liquid detergent which is introduced gradually into the washing medium from a rechargeable device pLaced in the drum of the machine together with the clothes to be washed;
the invention also relates to the device ~for carrying out this process.
Liquid detergent compositions for washing clothes are commercially available. They have a variety of advan-tageous properties compared with the numerous granulardetergent compositions, but they have no~ become as widely used as might have been expected in v;ew of their proper-ties, because they are to some extent unsuitable for use in the majority of washing machines curren~ly on the 1S market~
In fact, whether these machines are front loaders with a horizontal rotarr drum, or top loaders, the dis-pensers for the measure of detergen~ used for each washing cycle are generally rather unsuitable for holding liquid detergents and subsequently dispersing them in the washing bath, the majority of the machines currently used by housewives in fact having been designed at a time when only powdered or granular detergents were on the market.
The Applicant Company has found that part of the liquid detergent composition placed ;n the dispenser of the machine before it is switched on is often unable to be used for the wash.
In fact, the whole of the washing product is carried away with the first few ml of water introduced into the machinej and, in most cases, this water goes directly into filling the empty;ng circu;ts of the machine, in which the previous washing operation had only left a very small quantity of ~a~er~
When the washing product has entered ~his circuit, virtually none of it will migrate into the washing bath with which the clothes are impregnated, either during the filling of the machine or during the actual wash, and it ~ 3~
2 -ill be elimirated ~;th the F;rst empty;n9 operation. The loss~s, i.e. ehe unut~ d ~ash1ng prsduct~ can be sub-stane;al, particu~arly ;n certain types o~ washing mach;ne.
A conslderable pro~ort;on of ~he liquid composition placed in the dispenser provided for a solid vash;ng product is not utilized. The magnitude of this loss depends especially on the volume of the emptying circuit upstream of the pump, the water inlet speed and the position of the ~ater inlet point. One can understand that, in a number of cases, a method for uashing in a machine using a liquid detergent ;s more costly than it ought to be, and it is not sur-prising that the housewife, una~are of the losses incurred, prefers not to use a liquid dëtergent despite its advan-tageous properties.
Thus, by making it possible to overcome these unavoidable losses, the present invention is particularly useful.
It relates to an improved process for washing and cleaning clothes in a ~ashing mach;ne of a common type, 2û which compr;ses using a detergent in the liquid state, ~he viscosity of ~hich is such that it can flow freely, even at room temperature. In this improved process, ~he sa;d detergent is released progressively into the washing bath from a device placed in the drum of the m~chine together with the clothes to be washed, i.e. from a free body dispenser~
instead of being in~roduced from the dispenser provided by the washing machine manufacturer for holding the washing product.
The process consists in pouring into an appropriate device a predetermined quantity - depending especially on the quantity of clothes to be washed, the degree of soiling and the capacity of the machine - of a liquid detergent, then placing the device in the drum of the machine together with the clothes to be washed, and then sw;tching on and allo~ing the usual ~ashing cycle of the machine ~o proceed;
the device containing the ~ashing produc~ will preferably be placed to~ards the top of the tank, in the drum. Thus, as the drum in the majority of present-day washing machines does not start to ro~ate until the tank has filled, ~he device ~ill only start to empty when it is in the presence ". .~
5~
of a sufficient quant;ty of water to prevent prolonged contact of ~he dry or ju~t damp clothes ~ith the concen-trated detergent. Ho~ever, it is also possible to place the dev;ce at the bottom of the drum, espec;ally ;n the S case ~here the drum starts to rotate as soon as the ~ater ;s adm;tted, or even ;n the m;ddle of the clothes. The house~ife ~;ll have no d;ff;culty in choosing the pos;~ion best suited to the part;cular circumstances of her ~ash.
When spinning has ended, the dev;ce is removed from the ~ashing machine together with the clean clothes and put aside for subsequent use.
this dev;ce, ~hich ;s another subject of the in-vent;on, possesses at least~one f;ll;ng or;f;ce, the d;mens;ons of ~h;ch are sufficient to enable the ~ashing agent to be introduced easily9 irrespective of its vis-cosity and the shape and mouth of the ~ashing agent con-ta;ner. This orifice is prov;ded with adapted closure means wh;ch can be movable and may or may not be fixed to the body of the dev;ce, including plugs, caps and the like, or can be a permanent f;xture l;ke funnels f;xed around the neck of the orifice and enter;ng the dev;ce, of uhich the length and diameter at the ;nner end are such that a l;quid wh;ch has entered the dev;ce ;s practically unable to come out aga;n. It can be seen that, in the latter case~
2~ the filling orifice can be identical to one of the open liquid vents with which the device must be provided. I~he number and shape of these liquid vents are not critical; it is possible to have a single vent, two to ten vents or a multitude of very small vents up to about 100; preference is given to devices provided with two or four vents throu~h which the liquid will be released gradually. The diamRter or cross dimension of the wents is generally between 2 mm and 10 mm in the case oE the devices which have from 2 to 8 of these.
It ;s obvious that, as not all the liquid vents are generally prov;ded ~ith closure systems, they must be located above the maximum filling level of the device; on ~he other hand, the;r respect;ve positions are arb;trary.
Those skilled in the art will be capable of determining, by means of routine experiments, the number of these vents as a function of their shape, their position and the vis-cosity of the liquid ~ashing agent used, s~ that the whole ~,~
~3~
of the said agent is discharged into the washing bath in about 1 to 10 minu~es~ preferably in about 3 minutes. I~
is obviously necessary to make allo~ances for the fac~
that, for a given device filled with a given washing agent, the emptying time will depend on the diameter of the drum of the machine in which it is used, its speed of rotation and even how full of clothes the drum is.
The device can be made of a variety of materials, which must be unbreakable and withstand tel~peratures up to abou~ 100C. A large number of synthetic polymers will be suitableO for example low density polyethylene, poly-propylene or other elastomers.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the walls of the device will be made of a transparent material or will have a transparent ~indow so that the house~ife can see the level ~hich the liquid has reached in the device during the filling operation, in order to avoid any in-advertent overflow.
In a preferred embodiment, ~he device carries reference marks indicating the volume of li~uid introduced when the reference mark is reached9 it will ~hen be possible to use the same device for washing machines of different capacities or to adapt the quanti~y of ~ashing agent ~o the operation which is to be carried out.
Furthermore, to eliminate any risk of premature wear on ~he clothes by rubbing, the device has a smoo~h outer surface and no sharp corners; its ~alls are rela-tively st;ff9 ho~ever, so that the device is not made difficult to handle when full by the deformation of the walls resulting from the pressure exerted by the fingers gripping the device.
In a preferred embodiment, the device will have a sufficiently wide base for it to be perfectly stable and for it not to be knocked over by a clumsy movement, especiaLly while it is being filled with the washing agent~
Means for fixing the device to the drum of ~he machine, such as suction discs or hooks, are provided-in a variant of the device of the inven~ion. They make it possible ~o restrict the noise caused by the device rolling ~2~55 in the drum during the washing cycle and the rubbing of the device against the clothes during spinning; in any case, the device is heLd against the walls of the drum ~ith the clothes.
In the clothes washing and cleaning process accor ding to the invention, the device described above is filled with a liquid detergent. This comprises the usual components, i.e. at least one surface-active agent ~ith a liquid vehicle, and, if appropriate, deeergency adjuvants ~builders), foam regulators, enzymes and enzyme stabilizers~
bleaching agents, soil suspending agents and textile con ditioners.
The liquid detergent compositions used in the washing process of the invention can also contain fluores-cent brighteners, perfumes, colourants, opacifiers, antioxidants~ bactericides~ bulking agents and the like.
The surface-active agents present in the composi-tions used in the process of the invention can be anionic, non-ionic, ampholytic or zwitterionic; mixtures of these can also be used. Exampl~s of these surface-active agents are given in Patent Application EP-A-0,028~865; a cationic surface-active agent can also be added, as in the said patent application, page 5, line 32 to page 7, line 21.
The quantity of surface-active agents present in the liquid compositions i5 generally between 5X and 70X by weight of the ~hole, and it generally depends on whether or not deter-gency adjuvants are present; if the latter are present~
the quantity is smaller. Among the ~ell-kno~n adjuvants, there may be mentioned the alkali metal salts of phosphates and polyphosphates~ of nitrilotriacetic acid and of citric acid, or alternatively the synthetic zeolites.
The liquid vehicle of the composition can be ~ater, an organic solvent such as aliphatic mcnoalcohols and polyalcohols having up to 6 carbon atoms and their ethers, or mixtures thereof.
Amon~ the optional compounds in the liquid washing composition, there may be mentioned the well-known seques-tering agents such as polyacrylates~ poLymaleates and co-polymers of unsaturated acids and methyl vinyl ether, and ~2~ 55 also soil suspending agents such as polyvinylpyrrolidone and the sodium salt of carboxymethylcellulose, hydrotropic agents such as salts of alkylarylsulphonic acids, and foam regula-tors such as C16 to C22 fatty acids and polysiloxanesO
All these compounds can be introduced into liquid washing compositions which can be used in the process according to the invention, in variable quantities well known to the specialist.
Polydialkylsiloxanes can also be introduced into the liquid washing compositions for their softening properties.
The quantity of liquid washing agent used in the process according to the invention obviously depends on the composi-tion of the agent r the nature and state of the clothes to be washed and the capacity of the washing machine. The devices according to the invention can contain from approximately lO0 to 400 ml of liquid and their total internal volume will be from about 150 ml to about 500 mll but it is perfectly possible to design smaller devices for very effective washing agents or larger devices for washing machines used in service enterprises~
Different devices according to the invention are des-cribed below, by way of examples, with reerence to the attached drawings:
Figure lA is a top view of one embodiment of a device according to the invention, Figure lB is a cross-sectional side view of a screw cap for the device of the first embodiment~
Figure lC is a cross sectional side view of the device shown in Figure lA, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side view of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention, and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a third embodiment of a device according to the invention.
The device of the first embodiment shown in Figures lA, lB and lC has a maximum diameter of 105 mm and a height of 65 mm without the screw p]ug. The container 1 is made of 313~
transparent polyethylene. The walls have a thickness of 0.6 mm. The diameter of the filling orifice 2 is 40 mm and the diameter of the two liquid vents 3 is 5 mm; the vents 3 are 45 mm from the bottom of the container 1 (distance measured vertically). The body of the container 1 carries two level marks 4 corresponding to volumes of 130 ml and 180 ml res-pectively. A wire ending in hooks, (not shown) which can fit into the holes made in the surface of the drums, may option-ally be clamped around the neck of the container 1. The screw cap 5 screws tightly over the neck of the container 1.
The device of the second embodiment shown in Figure 2 is a hollow sphere 10 of diameter 80 mm, which is truncated so that the sphere 10 rests on a ~lat bottom 11, and of which the lockable lid 12 with a hinge 13 and a latch 14 is in the shape of a spherical portion matching the shape of the sphere 10 and the liquid introduction orifice which has been made therein by cutting along a plane. The device, made of opaque polypropylene, has a transparent window 15 in which two volume marks 1~ are drawnO The li~uid vents 17~
of which there are three, (two shown) are located above the upper filling level.
The device of the third embodiment shown in Figure 3 is a hollow ring 20 of external diameter ~ cm and internal diameter 3 cm, in which a 2 cm circular hole has been made in order to serve as the filling orifice 21. This orifice 21 is provided with a lid 22 having a hinge 23 and a locking device 24. Four orifices 25 (two shown) of diameter 3 mm are made in the upper part of the ring 20.
In a specific example of how the process according to the invention is carried out, the device of the invention shown in Figure 1 is filled with 220 ml of a liquid washing agent consisting of:
~2~
Percentage (by weight) sodium dodecylbenzenesulphonate ~linear dodecyl) 11.3 triethanolamine alkyl(copra)-sulphate 4.0 ethoxylated alcohol (Cl3_17; 7C2H4O 12.0 fatty acid (Cl2 to Cl4) 10~0 oleic acid 5.0 diethylenetriaminepentamethylphosphonic acid 0.6 ethanol 8.6 propanediol 3.0 NaOH for a final pH of 7 7 secondary components The filled device is placed in a commercial front-loading washing machine, on top of the clothes to be washed, and the washing and spinning cycle is allowed to proceed normally. At the end of the operation, the clothes and the device are removed from the machineO The device contains only a few drops of water and can be put away for subsequent use.
EXA~PLE 2
A conslderable pro~ort;on of ~he liquid composition placed in the dispenser provided for a solid vash;ng product is not utilized. The magnitude of this loss depends especially on the volume of the emptying circuit upstream of the pump, the water inlet speed and the position of the ~ater inlet point. One can understand that, in a number of cases, a method for uashing in a machine using a liquid detergent ;s more costly than it ought to be, and it is not sur-prising that the housewife, una~are of the losses incurred, prefers not to use a liquid dëtergent despite its advan-tageous properties.
Thus, by making it possible to overcome these unavoidable losses, the present invention is particularly useful.
It relates to an improved process for washing and cleaning clothes in a ~ashing mach;ne of a common type, 2û which compr;ses using a detergent in the liquid state, ~he viscosity of ~hich is such that it can flow freely, even at room temperature. In this improved process, ~he sa;d detergent is released progressively into the washing bath from a device placed in the drum of the m~chine together with the clothes to be washed, i.e. from a free body dispenser~
instead of being in~roduced from the dispenser provided by the washing machine manufacturer for holding the washing product.
The process consists in pouring into an appropriate device a predetermined quantity - depending especially on the quantity of clothes to be washed, the degree of soiling and the capacity of the machine - of a liquid detergent, then placing the device in the drum of the machine together with the clothes to be washed, and then sw;tching on and allo~ing the usual ~ashing cycle of the machine ~o proceed;
the device containing the ~ashing produc~ will preferably be placed to~ards the top of the tank, in the drum. Thus, as the drum in the majority of present-day washing machines does not start to ro~ate until the tank has filled, ~he device ~ill only start to empty when it is in the presence ". .~
5~
of a sufficient quant;ty of water to prevent prolonged contact of ~he dry or ju~t damp clothes ~ith the concen-trated detergent. Ho~ever, it is also possible to place the dev;ce at the bottom of the drum, espec;ally ;n the S case ~here the drum starts to rotate as soon as the ~ater ;s adm;tted, or even ;n the m;ddle of the clothes. The house~ife ~;ll have no d;ff;culty in choosing the pos;~ion best suited to the part;cular circumstances of her ~ash.
When spinning has ended, the dev;ce is removed from the ~ashing machine together with the clean clothes and put aside for subsequent use.
this dev;ce, ~hich ;s another subject of the in-vent;on, possesses at least~one f;ll;ng or;f;ce, the d;mens;ons of ~h;ch are sufficient to enable the ~ashing agent to be introduced easily9 irrespective of its vis-cosity and the shape and mouth of the ~ashing agent con-ta;ner. This orifice is prov;ded with adapted closure means wh;ch can be movable and may or may not be fixed to the body of the dev;ce, including plugs, caps and the like, or can be a permanent f;xture l;ke funnels f;xed around the neck of the orifice and enter;ng the dev;ce, of uhich the length and diameter at the ;nner end are such that a l;quid wh;ch has entered the dev;ce ;s practically unable to come out aga;n. It can be seen that, in the latter case~
2~ the filling orifice can be identical to one of the open liquid vents with which the device must be provided. I~he number and shape of these liquid vents are not critical; it is possible to have a single vent, two to ten vents or a multitude of very small vents up to about 100; preference is given to devices provided with two or four vents throu~h which the liquid will be released gradually. The diamRter or cross dimension of the wents is generally between 2 mm and 10 mm in the case oE the devices which have from 2 to 8 of these.
It ;s obvious that, as not all the liquid vents are generally prov;ded ~ith closure systems, they must be located above the maximum filling level of the device; on ~he other hand, the;r respect;ve positions are arb;trary.
Those skilled in the art will be capable of determining, by means of routine experiments, the number of these vents as a function of their shape, their position and the vis-cosity of the liquid ~ashing agent used, s~ that the whole ~,~
~3~
of the said agent is discharged into the washing bath in about 1 to 10 minu~es~ preferably in about 3 minutes. I~
is obviously necessary to make allo~ances for the fac~
that, for a given device filled with a given washing agent, the emptying time will depend on the diameter of the drum of the machine in which it is used, its speed of rotation and even how full of clothes the drum is.
The device can be made of a variety of materials, which must be unbreakable and withstand tel~peratures up to abou~ 100C. A large number of synthetic polymers will be suitableO for example low density polyethylene, poly-propylene or other elastomers.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the walls of the device will be made of a transparent material or will have a transparent ~indow so that the house~ife can see the level ~hich the liquid has reached in the device during the filling operation, in order to avoid any in-advertent overflow.
In a preferred embodiment, ~he device carries reference marks indicating the volume of li~uid introduced when the reference mark is reached9 it will ~hen be possible to use the same device for washing machines of different capacities or to adapt the quanti~y of ~ashing agent ~o the operation which is to be carried out.
Furthermore, to eliminate any risk of premature wear on ~he clothes by rubbing, the device has a smoo~h outer surface and no sharp corners; its ~alls are rela-tively st;ff9 ho~ever, so that the device is not made difficult to handle when full by the deformation of the walls resulting from the pressure exerted by the fingers gripping the device.
In a preferred embodiment, the device will have a sufficiently wide base for it to be perfectly stable and for it not to be knocked over by a clumsy movement, especiaLly while it is being filled with the washing agent~
Means for fixing the device to the drum of ~he machine, such as suction discs or hooks, are provided-in a variant of the device of the inven~ion. They make it possible ~o restrict the noise caused by the device rolling ~2~55 in the drum during the washing cycle and the rubbing of the device against the clothes during spinning; in any case, the device is heLd against the walls of the drum ~ith the clothes.
In the clothes washing and cleaning process accor ding to the invention, the device described above is filled with a liquid detergent. This comprises the usual components, i.e. at least one surface-active agent ~ith a liquid vehicle, and, if appropriate, deeergency adjuvants ~builders), foam regulators, enzymes and enzyme stabilizers~
bleaching agents, soil suspending agents and textile con ditioners.
The liquid detergent compositions used in the washing process of the invention can also contain fluores-cent brighteners, perfumes, colourants, opacifiers, antioxidants~ bactericides~ bulking agents and the like.
The surface-active agents present in the composi-tions used in the process of the invention can be anionic, non-ionic, ampholytic or zwitterionic; mixtures of these can also be used. Exampl~s of these surface-active agents are given in Patent Application EP-A-0,028~865; a cationic surface-active agent can also be added, as in the said patent application, page 5, line 32 to page 7, line 21.
The quantity of surface-active agents present in the liquid compositions i5 generally between 5X and 70X by weight of the ~hole, and it generally depends on whether or not deter-gency adjuvants are present; if the latter are present~
the quantity is smaller. Among the ~ell-kno~n adjuvants, there may be mentioned the alkali metal salts of phosphates and polyphosphates~ of nitrilotriacetic acid and of citric acid, or alternatively the synthetic zeolites.
The liquid vehicle of the composition can be ~ater, an organic solvent such as aliphatic mcnoalcohols and polyalcohols having up to 6 carbon atoms and their ethers, or mixtures thereof.
Amon~ the optional compounds in the liquid washing composition, there may be mentioned the well-known seques-tering agents such as polyacrylates~ poLymaleates and co-polymers of unsaturated acids and methyl vinyl ether, and ~2~ 55 also soil suspending agents such as polyvinylpyrrolidone and the sodium salt of carboxymethylcellulose, hydrotropic agents such as salts of alkylarylsulphonic acids, and foam regula-tors such as C16 to C22 fatty acids and polysiloxanesO
All these compounds can be introduced into liquid washing compositions which can be used in the process according to the invention, in variable quantities well known to the specialist.
Polydialkylsiloxanes can also be introduced into the liquid washing compositions for their softening properties.
The quantity of liquid washing agent used in the process according to the invention obviously depends on the composi-tion of the agent r the nature and state of the clothes to be washed and the capacity of the washing machine. The devices according to the invention can contain from approximately lO0 to 400 ml of liquid and their total internal volume will be from about 150 ml to about 500 mll but it is perfectly possible to design smaller devices for very effective washing agents or larger devices for washing machines used in service enterprises~
Different devices according to the invention are des-cribed below, by way of examples, with reerence to the attached drawings:
Figure lA is a top view of one embodiment of a device according to the invention, Figure lB is a cross-sectional side view of a screw cap for the device of the first embodiment~
Figure lC is a cross sectional side view of the device shown in Figure lA, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side view of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention, and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a third embodiment of a device according to the invention.
The device of the first embodiment shown in Figures lA, lB and lC has a maximum diameter of 105 mm and a height of 65 mm without the screw p]ug. The container 1 is made of 313~
transparent polyethylene. The walls have a thickness of 0.6 mm. The diameter of the filling orifice 2 is 40 mm and the diameter of the two liquid vents 3 is 5 mm; the vents 3 are 45 mm from the bottom of the container 1 (distance measured vertically). The body of the container 1 carries two level marks 4 corresponding to volumes of 130 ml and 180 ml res-pectively. A wire ending in hooks, (not shown) which can fit into the holes made in the surface of the drums, may option-ally be clamped around the neck of the container 1. The screw cap 5 screws tightly over the neck of the container 1.
The device of the second embodiment shown in Figure 2 is a hollow sphere 10 of diameter 80 mm, which is truncated so that the sphere 10 rests on a ~lat bottom 11, and of which the lockable lid 12 with a hinge 13 and a latch 14 is in the shape of a spherical portion matching the shape of the sphere 10 and the liquid introduction orifice which has been made therein by cutting along a plane. The device, made of opaque polypropylene, has a transparent window 15 in which two volume marks 1~ are drawnO The li~uid vents 17~
of which there are three, (two shown) are located above the upper filling level.
The device of the third embodiment shown in Figure 3 is a hollow ring 20 of external diameter ~ cm and internal diameter 3 cm, in which a 2 cm circular hole has been made in order to serve as the filling orifice 21. This orifice 21 is provided with a lid 22 having a hinge 23 and a locking device 24. Four orifices 25 (two shown) of diameter 3 mm are made in the upper part of the ring 20.
In a specific example of how the process according to the invention is carried out, the device of the invention shown in Figure 1 is filled with 220 ml of a liquid washing agent consisting of:
~2~
Percentage (by weight) sodium dodecylbenzenesulphonate ~linear dodecyl) 11.3 triethanolamine alkyl(copra)-sulphate 4.0 ethoxylated alcohol (Cl3_17; 7C2H4O 12.0 fatty acid (Cl2 to Cl4) 10~0 oleic acid 5.0 diethylenetriaminepentamethylphosphonic acid 0.6 ethanol 8.6 propanediol 3.0 NaOH for a final pH of 7 7 secondary components The filled device is placed in a commercial front-loading washing machine, on top of the clothes to be washed, and the washing and spinning cycle is allowed to proceed normally. At the end of the operation, the clothes and the device are removed from the machineO The device contains only a few drops of water and can be put away for subsequent use.
EXA~PLE 2
3.2 kg of clothes are introduced into a BR~NDT top-loading washing machine of 5 kg capacity, the drum of which starts to rotate while the tank is filling with water. Before the machine is closed, a device according to Figure l, filled with 180 ml of a liquid washing agent of viscosity 0.12 Pa.S, is placed on the clothes. It is found that all the washing agent passes into the washing bath in l minute 30 seconds after the drum has started rotating, the complete machine cycle lasting about 50 minutes.
A wash is carried out under the same conditions as in Example 2, but with a PHILIPS washing machine; in this case, the device releases the washing agent in 3 minutes.
A wash is carried out under the same conditions as in Example 2, but with a PHILIPS washing machine; in this case, the device releases the washing agent in 3 minutes.
Claims (11)
1. A process for washing and cleaning clothes in a washing machine with a liquid detergent, characterized in that the said detergent is released gradually into the washing medium from a device placed in the drum of the machine at the same time as the clothes to be washed.
2. The process according to claim 1, which consists in:
a) pouring into the device a predetermined quantity of a liquid detergent and, if necessary, closing the filling orifice, b) placing the said device in the drum of the machine together with the clothes to be washed, and c) switching on and allowing the usual washing cycle of the machine to proceed.
a) pouring into the device a predetermined quantity of a liquid detergent and, if necessary, closing the filling orifice, b) placing the said device in the drum of the machine together with the clothes to be washed, and c) switching on and allowing the usual washing cycle of the machine to proceed.
3. The process according to claim 2, characterized in that the device is placed in such a way that the liquid detergent which it contains does not flow out onto the clothes before the drum starts rotating.
4. The process according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the device is placed towards the top of the drum filled with clothes.
The process according to claim 1, 2 or 3, character-ized in that the device is fixed to the inner wall of the drum by a suitable means.
6. The process according to claim 1, 2 or 3, character-ized in that the liquid detergent with which the device is filled is composed of:
a) 5 to 70% by weight of a surface-active agent chosen from anionic, non-ionic, amphoteric and zwitter-ionic surface-active agents or mixtures thereof, b) a liquid vehicle and, if appropriate, c) conventional additives for detergents, including detergency adjuvants, enzymes and foam regulators, fabric conditioners, including fabric softeners, and secondary components chosen from fluorescent brighteners, perfumes, colourants, opacifiers, bactericides and the like.
a) 5 to 70% by weight of a surface-active agent chosen from anionic, non-ionic, amphoteric and zwitter-ionic surface-active agents or mixtures thereof, b) a liquid vehicle and, if appropriate, c) conventional additives for detergents, including detergency adjuvants, enzymes and foam regulators, fabric conditioners, including fabric softeners, and secondary components chosen from fluorescent brighteners, perfumes, colourants, opacifiers, bactericides and the like.
7. A free body detergent dispenser for a washing machine, said dispenser comprising a hollow body containing a predetermined volume of a liquid detergent composition and being adapted for placement in a washing machine along with the clothes to be washed, said body having a bottom end adapted to provide a stable base and a filling orifice at the opposite end, a plurality of open vents extending through the sidewall of said body, each of said vents being positioned above the level of said liquid detergent composition when said dispenser rests on said bottom end, said vents having cross dimensions which range from about 2 to about 10 mm to facilitate gradual release of said liquid detergent composition through the vents as the body moves with the clothes being washed in the washing machine during the washing cycle.
8. The dispenser of claim 7 in which said predetermined volume of liquid detergent is in the range of from about 100 to about 400 ml.
9. The dispenser of claim 8 in which there are from about 2 to about 8 vents and said vents are sized to release said predetermined volume of liquid detergent within about 1 to about 10 minutes of operation of the washing machine.
10. The dispenser of claim 7 in which said body has at lease one volume level marking provided in a transparent wall thereof.
11. The dispenser of claim 8 in which said body has at lease one volume level marking provided in a transparent wall thereof.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR8406151A FR2563250B1 (en) | 1984-04-18 | 1984-04-18 | METHOD FOR WASHING LAUNDRY IN A MACHINE WITH A LIQUID DETERGENT, AND DEVICE FOR ITS APPLICATION |
| FR8406151 | 1984-04-18 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1243855A true CA1243855A (en) | 1988-11-01 |
Family
ID=9303280
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000479281A Expired CA1243855A (en) | 1984-04-18 | 1985-04-16 | Process for washing clothes in a machine with a liquid detergent and device for applying the process |
Country Status (14)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0151549B2 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP2564263B2 (en) |
| AT (2) | AT392096B (en) |
| BE (1) | BE902094A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1243855A (en) |
| CH (1) | CH653718A5 (en) |
| DE (3) | DE3571842D1 (en) |
| ES (2) | ES285826Y (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2563250B1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2157717B (en) |
| GR (1) | GR850934B (en) |
| IE (1) | IE56617B1 (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1184370B (en) |
| NL (1) | NL8500968A (en) |
Families Citing this family (27)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2587001B1 (en) * | 1985-09-11 | 1990-02-09 | Procter & Gamble France | METERING AND DIFFUSER DEVICE, WHICH CAN BE INCORPORATED IN A CONTAINER, PARTICULARLY FOR LIQUID PRODUCTS |
| DE3542504A1 (en) * | 1985-10-03 | 1987-06-04 | Miele & Cie | Metering cup for administering washing agent in a washing machine |
| FR2606753B1 (en) * | 1986-06-30 | 1990-05-11 | Procter & Gamble France | DEVICE FOR DISPENSING POWDER LAUNDRY IN WASHING MACHINES |
| JPS6341120A (en) * | 1986-08-08 | 1988-02-22 | Mitsui Petrochem Ind Ltd | Internal stabilizing body for manufacturing device of tubular film |
| FR2617138B1 (en) * | 1987-03-25 | 1989-11-03 | Procter & Gamble | MULTI-COMPARTMENT CONTAINER FOR SINGLE USE, OBTAINING AND APPLYING, PARTICULARLY FOR WASHING LAUNDRY |
| FR2612955B1 (en) * | 1987-03-25 | 1989-07-28 | Procter & Gamble | METHOD FOR WASHING LAUNDRY AND CONTAINER FOR IMPLEMENTING SAME |
| FR2628451B2 (en) * | 1987-05-06 | 1991-08-30 | Procter & Gamble | PROCESS FOR WASHING AND SOFTENING MACHINE LAUNDRY |
| FR2627198B1 (en) * | 1988-02-11 | 1990-08-03 | Procter & Gamble | IMPROVED MACHINE WASHING PROCESS |
| EP0331542B1 (en) * | 1988-02-03 | 1996-05-08 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Method and device for washing laundry in a washing machine |
| FR2627199B1 (en) * | 1988-02-11 | 1990-08-03 | Procter & Gamble | DEVICE FOR WASHING LAUNDRY IN A MACHINE |
| US4835804A (en) * | 1988-03-25 | 1989-06-06 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Multiple compartment container laundering method |
| FR2631640B1 (en) * | 1988-05-18 | 1990-08-31 | Procter & Gamble | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR WASHING LAUNDRY IN A MACHINE WITH A PARTICULATE PRODUCT |
| FR2631639B1 (en) * | 1988-05-18 | 1991-06-21 | Procter & Gamble | METHOD FOR WASHING LAUNDRY IN A MACHINE WITH A PARTICULATE PRODUCT AND DEVICE FOR IMPLEMENTING SAME |
| FR2641551B2 (en) * | 1988-05-18 | 1991-11-22 | Procter & Gamble | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR WASHING LAUNDRY IN A MACHINE WITH A PARTICULATE PRODUCT |
| DE3906030A1 (en) * | 1989-02-27 | 1990-08-30 | Andreas Paetau | Contact-delaying container for operating a washing machine with liquid soap |
| FR2669944B1 (en) * | 1990-11-30 | 1994-02-04 | Procter & Gamble | DEVICE FOR WASHING LAUNDRY IN A MACHINE AND METHOD OF IMPLEMENTING SAME. |
| US5388298A (en) * | 1990-11-30 | 1995-02-14 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Device for the machine washing of clothes and the method of utilizing said device |
| FR2669943B1 (en) * | 1990-11-30 | 1994-02-11 | Procter And Gamble Cy | EQUIPMENT FOR THE WASHING OF LAUNDRY IN A MACHINE AND ITS METHOD OF IMPLEMENTATION. |
| GB2255985A (en) * | 1991-04-04 | 1992-11-25 | Unilever Plc | Detergent dispenser |
| IT1254893B (en) * | 1992-04-21 | 1995-10-11 | DISPENSING DEVICE FOR DETERGENTS | |
| IT228562Y1 (en) * | 1992-06-26 | 1998-04-27 | Mira Lanza S P A Ora S R L | DISPENSER-DISPENSER FOR LIQUID DETERGENT FOR WASHING MACHINES. |
| EP0872544A1 (en) | 1997-04-14 | 1998-10-21 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Dry effervescent granules and granular compositions comprising the same |
| AU5345398A (en) * | 1997-11-06 | 1999-05-31 | Jose Francisco Mendiola Gonzalez | Reusable device for the cleaning of textile materials and the like |
| EP1072715A1 (en) | 1999-07-19 | 2001-01-31 | The Procter & Gamble Company | A dispensing device for a detergent tablet |
| US6955067B2 (en) * | 2002-03-28 | 2005-10-18 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Smart dosing device |
| US6996869B2 (en) * | 2002-11-25 | 2006-02-14 | Ecolab, Inc. | Dispensing cartridge and method of dispensing a product from a dispensing cartridge |
| EP1813708B1 (en) * | 2006-01-31 | 2019-02-20 | The Procter and Gamble Company | Dosing and dispensing device |
Family Cites Families (14)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US326185A (en) * | 1885-09-15 | Dentist s or photographer s chair | ||
| US2941309A (en) * | 1956-12-13 | 1960-06-21 | Whirlpool Co | Clothes dampener for clothes driers |
| US3095722A (en) * | 1961-06-02 | 1963-07-02 | Donald L Fox | Device for dispensing water or fabric conditioning substances in clothes washers |
| US3108722A (en) * | 1961-09-19 | 1963-10-29 | Procter & Gamble | Dispenser for fabric softener |
| US3174647A (en) * | 1962-04-09 | 1965-03-23 | Morris Nison | Free body dispensers |
| US3180538A (en) * | 1963-04-24 | 1965-04-27 | Elwood B Brown | Automatic fluid dispenser |
| US3400808A (en) * | 1966-03-01 | 1968-09-10 | Colgate Palmolive Co | Combination dispensing and measuring vessel |
| US3399806A (en) * | 1967-05-01 | 1968-09-03 | Procter & Gamble | Delayed opening dispenser |
| US4014105A (en) * | 1970-10-20 | 1977-03-29 | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Article, apparatus and method for conditioning fibrous materials with liquid conditioning composition |
| AU3394971A (en) * | 1970-10-20 | 1973-04-05 | Colgate Palmolive Co | Conditioning of fabrics |
| JPS5147412U (en) * | 1974-10-05 | 1976-04-08 | ||
| CA1112004A (en) * | 1976-07-12 | 1981-11-10 | Emiel M. Demessemaekers | Fabric treating articles and process |
| US4260054A (en) * | 1980-02-11 | 1981-04-07 | Lever Brothers Company | Laundry additive pouch |
| CA1142307A (en) * | 1980-05-16 | 1983-03-08 | John B. Tune | Fabric treatment products |
-
1984
- 1984-04-18 FR FR8406151A patent/FR2563250B1/en not_active Expired
-
1985
- 1985-04-02 DE DE8585400652T patent/DE3571842D1/en not_active Expired
- 1985-04-02 BE BE0/214769A patent/BE902094A/en unknown
- 1985-04-02 NL NL8500968A patent/NL8500968A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1985-04-02 EP EP85400652A patent/EP0151549B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1985-04-02 IT IT20202/85A patent/IT1184370B/en active
- 1985-04-02 ES ES1985285826U patent/ES285826Y/en not_active Expired
- 1985-04-02 ES ES541873A patent/ES9100004A1/en not_active Expired
- 1985-04-02 AT AT0098885A patent/AT392096B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1985-04-02 DE DE19853512050 patent/DE3512050A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1985-04-02 CH CH1426/85A patent/CH653718A5/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1985-04-02 AT AT85400652T patent/ATE44987T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1985-04-02 DE DE8509911U patent/DE8509911U1/en not_active Expired
- 1985-04-02 GB GB08508600A patent/GB2157717B/en not_active Expired
- 1985-04-16 CA CA000479281A patent/CA1243855A/en not_active Expired
- 1985-04-17 GR GR850934A patent/GR850934B/el not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1985-04-17 IE IE986/85A patent/IE56617B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1985-04-18 JP JP60083585A patent/JP2564263B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JP2564263B2 (en) | 1996-12-18 |
| AT392096B (en) | 1991-01-25 |
| BE902094A (en) | 1985-10-02 |
| GB2157717B (en) | 1987-05-07 |
| GR850934B (en) | 1985-07-18 |
| ATE44987T1 (en) | 1989-08-15 |
| FR2563250B1 (en) | 1986-12-26 |
| DE3512050A1 (en) | 1985-10-31 |
| ES9100004A1 (en) | 1990-07-01 |
| EP0151549A2 (en) | 1985-08-14 |
| ATA98885A (en) | 1990-07-15 |
| CH653718A5 (en) | 1986-01-15 |
| GB2157717A (en) | 1985-10-30 |
| IT8520202A0 (en) | 1985-04-02 |
| EP0151549B1 (en) | 1989-07-26 |
| DE8509911U1 (en) | 1985-06-20 |
| IT1184370B (en) | 1987-10-28 |
| DE3571842D1 (en) | 1989-08-31 |
| JPS6133695A (en) | 1986-02-17 |
| EP0151549A3 (en) | 1985-11-06 |
| IE56617B1 (en) | 1991-10-09 |
| FR2563250A1 (en) | 1985-10-25 |
| GB8508600D0 (en) | 1985-05-09 |
| ES285826U (en) | 1985-11-01 |
| EP0151549B2 (en) | 1995-10-04 |
| NL8500968A (en) | 1985-06-03 |
| ES285826Y (en) | 1986-06-01 |
| IE850986L (en) | 1985-10-18 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |