CA1262806A - Fabric conditioning products - Google Patents

Fabric conditioning products

Info

Publication number
CA1262806A
CA1262806A CA000310562A CA310562A CA1262806A CA 1262806 A CA1262806 A CA 1262806A CA 000310562 A CA000310562 A CA 000310562A CA 310562 A CA310562 A CA 310562A CA 1262806 A CA1262806 A CA 1262806A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
formulation
layer
fabric conditioning
substrate
area
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
Application number
CA000310562A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Ernst Stahli
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.)
UNILIVER Ltd
Original Assignee
UNILIVER Ltd
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 UNILIVER Ltd filed Critical UNILIVER Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1262806A publication Critical patent/CA1262806A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11DDETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
    • C11D17/00Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties
    • C11D17/04Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties combined with or containing other objects
    • C11D17/041Compositions releasably affixed on a substrate or incorporated into a dispensing means
    • C11D17/047Arrangements specially adapted for dry cleaning or laundry dryer related applications
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06MTREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M13/00Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with non-macromolecular organic compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment
    • D06M13/322Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with non-macromolecular organic compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment with compounds containing nitrogen
    • D06M13/46Compounds containing quaternary nitrogen atoms
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06MTREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M23/00Treatment of fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, characterised by the process

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Treatments For Attaching Organic Compounds To Fibrous Goods (AREA)
  • Chemical Or Physical Treatment Of Fibers (AREA)
  • Laminated Bodies (AREA)
  • Drying Of Solid Materials (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT
A sheet form fabric conditioner for use in a tumble dryer comprises a substrate carrying a fabric conditioning formulation exposed at the major surfaces of the sheet. The formulation forms a thin layer on each surface and the layers are embossed with channels. If these channels are visible after a drying cycle then sufficient conditioner remains for another cycle. The conditioner is manufactured by a process in which a product having a layer of fabric conditioning formulation on at least one surface of a substrate of sheet form is subjected to heat and/or pressure on at least one defined area of the layer of formulation to reduce the formulation depth within that area.

Description

~L26zao6 cC1014 This invention relates to a process for manufacturing a fabric conditioning product intended for use with laundered fabrics in a tumble drying machine.
Products of this general class comprise an absorbent flexible substrate having a fabric conditioning formulation layer on at least one surface.
The products are used by being placed in a tumble dryer with laundered fabrics. The presence of water and heat in the dryer assists the transfer of conditioning formulation from the substrate to the fabrics as the latter and the substrate tumble together. Products of this class have been described in US 3442 692 (C.J. Gaiser) and US 3686 025 (D.~.
Morton).
The substrate will preferably have absorbent properties so that some of the fabric conditioning formulation is within the substrate.
The substrate is of general sheet form intended to tumble with the laundered clothes in the dryer. The substrate may be of woven or non-woven fabric prepared from natural or synthetic fibers, for example cellulosic fibers.
The substrate may have an integral form being prepared from a sheet of non-absorbent or absorbent polymeric material for example polyethylene or polyurethane respectively.

~ cC101~
~262806 The climensions of the substrate are not critical but commercial products will usually have side lenths of from about 12 cms to abou-t 30 cms. ~he substrate thickness will be selec-ted -to provide the desired absorbency, fle~ibility and delivery characteristics.
The -fahric conditioning formllla-tion will contain a material able to provide a bene:Cit on the dried fabric.
This benefi-t will usually be ~abric so~tening and ~aterials providing this benefit are exemplified by ~Ior-ton and are well characterised in -the li-terature on fabric softening.
Materials of this type will usually proYide a reduction in static elec-tricity retained on the fabric. ~a-terials providing reduction in s-tatic wi-thout fabric softening may ~e present as a fabric conditioning material. The formulation may contain a perfume for deposition on the fabric during treatment.
The conditioning ma-terial may be present in admi~ture with a material assisting in formation of the product or delivery of the formulation. Thus to reduce the softening poin-t of a conditioner, for example a softener, to the -tempera-ture range in which it transfers to fabrics in a tumble dryer an organic liquid, for example a long chain alcohol ethoYylated with from about 7 to about 9 moles of ethylene oxide, may be included in the formulation. The fabric conditioning composition preferably has a softening point in the range from about 35C -to about 80C.
A commercial product before use will have thejformulation exposed on at ieast one surface, while after complete use the substrate will be seen. ~he difference between the formulation cC101~
126280~
surface and substrate surface can be visually appreciated but differences in the appearance of the formulation surface during use calmot be seen. This non-appreciation of differences during use is of importance ~hen only part of tbe formula~ion is used in a single ~Yash cycle, A person desiring to re-use the product to obtain complete use of the formulation l~ould not ~now i~ only a minor part of the formulation had been used or i~ a minor insufficient part remained for U8 e in tbe next cycle.

This invention proposes a process for manufacturing a product which gives the product user a guide to the amount of formulation remaining on the product after use. More specifically, the invention provides a process in which a product having a layer of fabric conditioning formulation on at least one surface of a substrate of sheet form is subjected to heat and/or pressure on at least one defined area of the layer of formulation to reduce the formulation depth within that area. Preferably the formulation is reduced to a level below which there is sufficient formulation for another cycle of use.
The amount of formulation in the level below the area of reduced depth is made sufficient to provide another cycle of use by empirically studying the amounts of form-ulation below the area of xeduced depth with changes in the formulation and processing variables. Pressure may be used alone to form the area of reduced depth but it is preferably used together with the application of heat to soften the `4 G

~262~306 l~yer of formulation. The pressure will be exerted by a member and if a heated member is used the heating may be achieved by, electrically heating the member. A preferred form of reduced depth area is channels, i.e. elongate areas, which may form a pattern.
The fabric conditioning product comprises a sub~
strate of sheet form with a layer of a fabric conditioning formulation exposed on at least one major surface, in which the layer has at least one area of reduced depth on its surface.

~ he area may be continuous, i.e. form an interconnected pattern, or discontinuous areas may be present. The area or areas will be ~isible to tbe user until the layer of formulation is used down to the level of tbe reduced depth area or areas. The area or areas may form a repeating pattern over the surfaca. ~be area or areas of reduced depth may form a brand name, or a decorative design.
The area o~ reduced depth ,may extend down to the substrate surface. A product with an area of this type ' may be prepared by printing the formulation onto selected areas oi the substrate eaving other areas uncovered.

In this embodiment di9sappearance of the reduced depth area indicates the product is effectively exhausted.
The area may extend to a depth in the formulation layer below which depth there is sufficient formulation to be effective in anotber treatment cycle. Therefore while the area of reduced depth is visible sufficient formulation remains for another cycle Or use; in this embodiment also dissappearance of the reduced depth area indicates tbe product is exhausted.

_ 5 -. . ,. , ~

~26:2806 Preferably the area of reduced depth is formed by indenting the formulation layer after the latter has been formed to a constant depth on the substrate.
An example of a product and method for its manufacture will now be given.
An absorbent non-woven polyester substrate having a weight of about 30g~m2 was used. ~he impregnation process was performed on a strip of substrate about 21.5 cm wide; this strip was subsequently perforated at intervals of about 28 cm so that sheets of 21.5 cm by 28 cm could be torn from a roll and used in a tumble dryer.
~ he strip was impregnated by passing it through a molten batb of a ~ormulation comprising a commercially available dimethyl ditallow (hardened) a~monium chloride and Cll-C15 secondary alcohol ethoxylated Yith 12 moles of ethylene oxide in the weight ratio of 75:25. An effective amount ~f perfume was also present in the bath. The formulation was absorbed within the substrate and also formed layers on the substrate surfaces. After the formulation layers had solidified the strip was compressed between a heated wire grill and a base plate to form a visible pattern of channels of reduced depth on the surface contacted by the wire grill.
An aligned pattern was formed on the formulation surface contacting the base plate by conduction of heat and pressure through the impregnated substrate. The channels on bot~
surfaces extended down to the substrate.
A sheet was torn from the perforated strip and used in a tl~ble dryer with laundered textiles which were provided with a fabric softening benefit. After the treatment cycle t-~C101~
~ 628~6the pat-tern was no-t visible; -this showed there was not sufficien-t formula-tion available for another cycle.
~ he wire grill is preferably heated -to a temperature jus-t above the sof-tening point of -the formula-tion. Bo-tb sides of -the strip nnay be subjected to a source o:~ heat and pressure by -the use of aligned grills or equivalent area , . . .
~orming means.
A suitable devioe for ma~ing -t1he areas o-f reduced depth is an electrically heated metal rod covered with an insulating high mel-ting point polymer. The rod or bar lS movable to~ards a non-heated rod covered wi-th rubber. ~he -two rods are aligned so that an impregnated substrate placed bet~Yeen -the rods is subjec-ted -to bea-t and pressure along a line when -the rods are brough-t -together. A device of -this foxm is manufactured and sold by Bosch Limited.
Ano-ther device for forming -the area of reduced depth is -to have co-opera-ting hea-ted rollers be-tween the nip of which is passed the impregnated substrate.
One or both of -the rollers will carry on its surface a means for exerting pressure on the surface of -the layer of formulatlon.
In the general application of this inven-tion the areas of reduced depth will be a minor proportion of the surface area.
~he minimum surface area to allo~ -the con-trast -to be apprecia-ted uay be about 5% o~ -the total. The ~aximum proportion of the total surface having a reduced depth may be up to about 500~o~ preferably up to abou-t 400/o and more preferably up to about 300~o~

:

.'' ' .

~ `,. '': `

Claims (3)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A process for manufacturing a multiple use fabric conditioning product wherein a product having a layer of fabric conditioning formulation on at least one surface of a substrate of sheet form is subjected to heat and/or pressure on at least one defined area of the layer of formulation to reduce the formulation depth within that area.
2. A process for manufacturing a fabric conditioning product which process comprises the steps of:
(i) providing a substrate in flexible sheet form;
(ii) providing on at least one major surface of said substrate a layer of fabric conditioning formula-tion, said layer having an exposed area, and said, fabric conditioning agent having a softening point between about 35°C and 80°C; and (iii) subjecting at least one region occupying between about 5% and about 50% of said exposed surface area, before use of the product in a tumble dryer, to heat to uniformly reduce the depth thereof such that the layer presents a visually uneven surface of sharply defined configuration.
3, A process for manufacturing a fabric conditioning product which comprises the steps of:
(i) providing a substrate in flexible sheet form;

(ii) providing on at least one major surface of said substrate a layer of fabric conditioning formulation, said layer having an exposed area, and said fabric conditioning agent having a softening point between about 35°C and about 80°C; and (iii) subjecting at least one region occupying between about 5% and about 50% of said exposed surface area, before use of the product in a tumble dryer, to pressure to uniformly reduce the depth thereof such that the layer presents a visually uneven surface of sharply defined configuration.
CA000310562A 1977-09-06 1978-09-01 Fabric conditioning products Expired CA1262806A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB37152/77 1977-09-06
GB3715277 1977-09-06

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1262806A true CA1262806A (en) 1989-11-14

Family

ID=10394182

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000310562A Expired CA1262806A (en) 1977-09-06 1978-09-01 Fabric conditioning products

Country Status (15)

Country Link
JP (1) JPS5450696A (en)
AT (1) AT371160B (en)
AU (1) AU522397B2 (en)
BE (1) BE870189A (en)
CA (1) CA1262806A (en)
CH (1) CH644794A5 (en)
DE (1) DE2838852A1 (en)
DK (1) DK392078A (en)
FI (1) FI63266C (en)
FR (1) FR2402028A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2005741B (en)
IT (1) IT1109105B (en)
NL (1) NL179934C (en)
SE (1) SE7809351L (en)
ZA (1) ZA785021B (en)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH643779A5 (en) * 1978-01-27 1984-06-29 Herbert Glatt TISSUE CONDITIONING BODY AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A TISSUE CONDITIONING BODY.
GB1603940A (en) * 1978-04-11 1981-12-02 Procter & Gamble Fabric conditioning articles for use in laundry dryers
JPS55143511U (en) * 1979-04-03 1980-10-15
US4423105A (en) * 1982-08-02 1983-12-27 Colgate-Palmolive Company Article for clothes conditioning and method of making same
JPS5943171A (en) * 1982-08-31 1984-03-10 ライオン株式会社 Article for treating fiber product
JPS59112069A (en) * 1982-12-17 1984-06-28 花王株式会社 Product for treating garment

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3686025A (en) * 1968-12-30 1972-08-22 Procter & Gamble Textile softening agents impregnated into absorbent materials
AU3394971A (en) * 1970-10-20 1973-04-05 Colgate Palmolive Co Conditioning of fabrics
BE793211A (en) * 1971-12-24 1973-06-22 Ciba Geigy CONTINUOUS DRY TRANSFER PRINTING PROCESS ON ORGANIC AND CRYSTALLIZATION TABLECLOTHS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROCED
US4004685A (en) * 1972-03-07 1977-01-25 Economics Laboratory, Inc. Treatment of fabrics in machine dryers
GB1548000A (en) * 1975-04-09 1979-07-04 Unilever Ltd Fabric treating product

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU3954178A (en) 1980-03-13
NL7809084A (en) 1979-03-08
IT1109105B (en) 1985-12-16
AT371160B (en) 1983-06-10
FI63266C (en) 1983-05-10
ZA785021B (en) 1980-04-30
DE2838852C2 (en) 1987-06-11
DE2838852A1 (en) 1979-03-15
NL179934C (en) 1986-12-01
AU522397B2 (en) 1982-06-03
FI63266B (en) 1983-01-31
FR2402028B1 (en) 1983-04-22
CH644794A5 (en) 1984-08-31
DK392078A (en) 1979-03-07
ATA638878A (en) 1982-10-15
GB2005741A (en) 1979-04-25
IT7869050A0 (en) 1978-09-05
GB2005741B (en) 1982-06-30
JPS5450696A (en) 1979-04-20
FI782711A (en) 1979-03-07
FR2402028A1 (en) 1979-03-30
BE870189A (en) 1979-03-05
SE7809351L (en) 1979-03-07

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Legal Events

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