DE60109483T3 - CLEANING PROCESS - Google Patents

Abstract

A water-soluble pouch suitable for use in machine dishwashing and which comprises a plurality of compartments in generally superposed or superposable relationship, each containing one or more detergent active or auxiliary components, wherein at least one of the plurality of compartments of the water-soluble pouch comprises a liquid composition and wherein the preferred pouch has a volume of from about 5 to about 70 ml and a longitudinal/transverse aspect ratio in the range from about 2:1 to about 1:8, more preferably from about 1:1 to about 1:4. The water-soluble pouch allows for optimum delivery of dishwashing detergent.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention is in the field of dishwashing, and more particularly relates to the use of a water soluble multi-compartment bag adapted to fit into the dispenser of the dishwasher and dispenses product into the pre-wash, main wash and / or rinse cycle of the dishwasher. The pouch contains a cleaning composition which is released upon disintegration of the pouch.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It has been found that units of dishwashing detergent provided in units are more attractive and convenient for some consumers because it eliminates the need for the consumer to meter the product, thus allowing for more accurate metering and avoiding wasteful overdosage or underdosing. For this reason, machine dishwashing detergent products in tablet form have become very popular. Detergent products in pouch form are also known in the art, having the advantage over tablets of avoiding contact of the consumer's fingers with the dishwashing composition which may contain bleaching agents and / or other irritants.

The machine dishwashing process typically includes an initial pre-wash cycle, a main wash cycle, and multiple hot rinse cycles. If the detergent is added at the beginning of the main wash cycle, better performance is achieved than adding the detergent in the pre-wash cycle as it can be lost with the first water. For laundry washing machines, the detergent can be added to the drum or dispenser, but for dishwashers, the detergent is generally added to the main wash cycle via a dispenser to avoid premature prewash dissolution. The amount of detergent is therefore limited by the volume of the dispenser. Dispensers vary from manufacturer to manufacturer in volume and shape. In the case of bulk detergents (i.e., powder, paste, and liquids), the volume of the dispenser is a critical factor. In the case of unitized dosage forms, such as tablets, the geometry and shape of the dispenser also play a major role.

The tablets can be designed so that their size and shape fits all machines. One of the disadvantages of detergent tablets is that in their manufacturing process the additional step of powder compaction is required. This lowers the enzymatic activity and slows the rate of dissolution of the ingredients that make up the tablet, or requires the use of complex and expensive disintegration systems, or complicates the differential resolution of the active detergent ingredients.

Some detergent ingredients used in dishwashing detergent compositions are liquids. The inclusion of these liquid ingredients in a solid detergent composition can be difficult or expensive. In addition, certain ingredients are preferably transported in liquid form and supplied to detergent manufacturers and require additional and sometimes expensive process steps to be incorporated into a solid detergent composition. An example of these detergent ingredients are surfactants, especially nonionic surfactants, which are typically liquid at room temperature or are typically shipped in liquid form and supplied to detergent manufacturers. Another example is organic solvents.

Current methods of incorporating liquid ingredients into solid detergent compositions involve absorbing the liquid ingredient onto a solid carrier, for example by mixing, agglomeration or spray-on methods. Typically, because of the difficulty and cost of incorporating these liquid ingredients into a solid detergent, solid detergent compositions comprise only minor amounts of these liquid detergent ingredients. In addition, the incorporation of liquid ingredients into solid detergent compositions can affect the dissolution properties of the composition (for example, as a result of the formation of surfactant gel phases), increase the moisture absorption of water-sensitive ingredients and also lead to fluidity problems. It would be advantageous to have a detergent composition in which the various ingredients can be in their natural state, ie, liquid or solid. This would simplify the manufacturing process, increase the stability of the ingredients, and also allow the dispensing of liquid ingredients before or after dispensing solid ingredients. For example, the differential would be Use of dissolution of active ingredients in the case of enzyme / bleach compositions to prevent the oxidation of enzymes by the bleaching agent in the dishwashing liquor. It would also be advantageous to separate bleach from perfumes.

Another factor that can contribute to the inefficient delivery of drugs to the rinse fluid is, in the case of tablets, the need to include carriers, such as porous materials, that have the ability to bind liquid actives, binders, and disintegrators. In particular, the incorporation of liquid surfactants into powdered detergent composition can cause considerable processing difficulties and also the problem of poor dissolution by the formation of surfactant gel phases.

There is still a need for a unitized multi-chamber dosage form that fits into the dispensers of different types of dishwashers and allows the simultaneous dispensing of incompatible ingredients and ingredients in various physical forms. There is also a need for a simplified manufacturing process for the production of multi-compartment pouches and multi-compartment pouches having improved strength, handling, and dissolution properties as well as superior aesthetic properties.

Multi-chamber bags are already known in the art, see for example EP-A-0414462 . EP-A-0593952 and WO-A-0183669 ,

The most common method of making water-soluble bags with products such as cleaning products is the so-called vertical form-fill-seal method. In this case, a vertical tube or a tube is formed by folding a film. The lower end of the tube is sealed or welded to obtain an open pouch. This bag is partially filled and left empty at the top, whereupon the upper part of the open bag is then sealed to each other so that the bag can be closed and the next open bag formed. The first bag is then separated and the process is repeated. The bags formed in this way are usually in the form of a pillow.

A second known method of manufacturing bags is based on the use of a molding apparatus having a series of mold cavities and the formation of open bags of film in these cavities, which can then be filled and sealed. In this method, the bag material of the bag is used more effectively, and the method is more flexible in terms of bag shapes and ingredients used. However, the method is of limited use in industrial applications because it can not produce large quantities of bags (per unit of time) in a simple and efficient manner.

A third proposed method is to form bags in troughs on the surface of a circular roll. In this case, a film is passed around the roller, and pockets are formed, which are passed under a filling machine to fill the open pockets. The filling and sealing must take place at the highest (top) point of the circle described by the roller, e.g. For example, bottling usually occurs just prior to the beginning of the circular downward movement of the rotary roller and sealing immediately after the beginning of its downward movement.

A problem associated with the vertical filling machine is that the method is not very effective: the method is intermittent and very slow, for example due to changes in the speed of the method from one step to the next step, and each bag forming step introduces usually only to one strand of bags in one direction; so only a limited number of bags per minute can be formed. Moreover, large quantities of film are used per product unit because the bags can not be completely filled by this method, there is a significant sealing seam along the vertical dimension of each bag, and the method does not allow the film to stretch. There is also no great flexibility in the shapes of the formed bags.

The problems associated with the second method using a mold cavity former also include the fact that the method is intermittent (or a stepwise method) and that the method is slow and involves acceleration and deceleration, which is the overall velocity reduces and moreover causes a loss of product fill from the open bags. In addition, the yield of this process (per unit time) is not very high.

The method of the circular roll overcomes some of the disadvantages of these methods, as it does not involve speed changes (no acceleration / deceleration), furthermore it can easily provide bags arranged in two dimensions and the shape of the bags can be varied to some extent. However, the loss of fill from the bags due to the circular motion can be quite significant, as this spills product onto the sealing surface and this can lead to problems in sealing (leaking seals). Also, the bags can not be completely filled with this method, since the filling loss is then an even greater problem. This process has even more significant problems when used for liquid products that are more likely to cause large fill losses due to the circular motion. Moreover, filling and sealing must be performed near the highest point of the circular path of the roll, greatly reducing the overall speed and yield of the bag-forming process.

In addition, all known methods are mainly intended for the production of single-chamber bags. There is still a need for a process for preparing multi-compartment water-soluble pouches which overcomes the foregoing problems, namely a continuous process that has a high production rate and reduces the amount of film used for each pouch. There is also a need for a process for making multi-compartment, water-soluble pouches that have improved strength and are designed for use in dishwashers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the bag includes upper and lower outer walls generally opposed to each other, skirt-like sidewalls forming the sides of the bag, and one or more inner dividing walls separating different chambers from each other, and each of the upper and lower outer walls and apron-like sidewall formed by thermoforming, vacuum forming or a combination thereof.

Thus, according to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method according to claim 1 comprising a machine dishwashing product in the form of a water-soluble bag using a plurality of chambers in generally superimposed relationship, each chamber containing another detergent-active ingredient Auxiliary components, a first chamber comprising a liquid composition comprising nonionic surfactant and a second chamber comprising a powder composition, wherein the weight ratio of the liquid to the solid composition is from 1:30 to 30: 1, wherein the Pouches have upper and lower outer walls generally facing each other, a skirt-like sidewall, and one or more inner partitions, and wherein each of the upper and lower outer walls and the skirt-like sidewall is formed by thermoforming, vacuum forming, or a combination thereof earth.

In a preferred embodiment, each inner divider wall of the water-soluble multi-compartment pouch is secured to an outer or side wall of the pouch along a single seal seam or both outer and sidewall of the pouch along a plurality of seal seams that do not at least partially overlap. Preferably, each partition is secured to one or more outer or side walls by hot or solvent seals.

In particularly preferred embodiments, at least one inner dividing wall of the multi-chamber bag is secured to an upper or lower outer wall along a first continuous sealing seam, and the outer wall and / or the dividing wall are secured to the skirt-like sidewall along a second continuous sealing seam, the sealing seams being secured in the In the case of welds, they essentially do not overlap and, in the case of solvent seals, at least partially do not overlap.

Non-intersecting seal seams are particularly advantageous in the case of multi-compartment pouches made by a process comprising various non-simultaneous steps of heat sealing. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the heat-sealing mechanism involves the step of water evaporation from the film, therefore, it is very difficult to achieve a good intersecting seal if the two seal seams are not formed simultaneously. Heat-sealing is preferred in cases where the bags are filled with water-sensitive ingredients. Solvent sealing can lower processing costs, produce stronger seal seams, and speed up the process. Partially non-intersecting sealing seams allow the arrangement of several chambers of different sizes one above the other.

Preferably, at least one inner dividing wall of the multi-chamber bag is secured to the upper outer wall along a first sealing seam defining the waistline of the skirt-like wall, wherein the second non-intersecting or at least partially non-intersecting sealed seam preferably extends below the sealed seam defining the waistline in the direction of lower outer wall is offset. The apron-like sidewall is also preferably lightly gathered or folded in the finished pouch to provide a mattress-like appearance.

Thus, according to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method as claimed in claim 6 which uses a machine dishwashing product in the form of a water-soluble bag comprising a plurality of chambers in generally superimposed relationship, each chamber containing another effective detergent ingredient. a first chamber comprising a liquid composition and a second chamber comprising a powder composition, wherein the weight ratio of the liquid to the solid composition is from 1:30 to 30: 1, the bag having an upper and a lower outer wall, generally facing one another, comprising a skirt-like sidewall and one or more interior partitions, wherein at least one inner divider wall is attached to an upper or lower outer wall along a first weld, and one or both of the outer wall and the divider wall is on the apron-like side wall are attached along a second weld and wherein the welds are at least partially non-overlapping.

At least one of the plurality of chambers of the water-soluble bag comprises a powdered or compressed powdery composition. The powder composition typically comprises conventional solid materials used in dishwashing detergents, such as builders, alkalinity sources, enzymes, bleaches, etc. The powder composition may be in the form of a dry powder, hydrated powder, agglomerates, encapsulated materials, extrudates, tablets or blends thereof. Also useful are water-soluble bags having different chambers comprising different powder compositions, as a rule, compositions in different chambers comprise incompatible active ingredients or active ingredients which must be dispensed at different times during the dishwashing process. It is advantageous to have bleaching agents and enzymes in different chambers.

In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the powder chambers comprises particulate bleach. The bleaching agent is preferably selected from inorganic peroxides including perborates and percarbonates, organic peroxyacids including preformed monoperoxycarboxylic acids such as phthaloylamidoperoxyhexanoic acid, and diacyl peroxides.

In the case of powder compositions, differential resolution can be achieved, for example, by varying the degree of powder compaction and / or the particle size of the powder compositions in the same or different compartments. Another way to achieve differential resolution is to use water-soluble films of different thickness or degree of solubility or different rate of solubility under use conditions. The film solubility can be controlled by, for example, pH, temperature, ionic strength or any other means. For the purposes of achieving a phased or sequential delivery of detergent actives, it is preferred that each of the chambers of the bag have a different rate of decomposition or different dissolution profile under use conditions.

At least one of the chambers of the water-soluble bag comprises a liquid composition. The liquid compositions include conventional liquid materials used in dishwashing detergents, such as nonionic surfactants, or the organic solvents described below. In preferred embodiments, the liquid composition comprises cleansing enzyme. The water-soluble bags have a chamber comprising a liquid composition and another chamber comprising a solid composition. In the case of liquid compositions, particularly liquid compositions, enclosed in a secondary packaging, it is desirable to have in the composition a water content which is similar to the water content in the film to avoid water transfer from one to another. In cases where the water content in the composition is lower than in the film, water may migrate from the film to the composition and make the water-soluble bag brittle. For similar reasons, it is also desirable to have a similar amount of plasticizer in the composition and in the film.

In another embodiment, at least one of the chambers of the water-soluble bag comprises a composition in the form of a paste. The multi-compartment bags may also include compositions in the form of a gel or a wax.

In preferred embodiments, at least one of the compositions of the water-soluble pouch comprises an organic solvent system that is compatible with the water-soluble pouch. The organic solvent system may simply function as a liquid carrier, however, in preferred compositions, the solvent may aid in the removal of coked, baked, or burnt-on soil, and thus has a detergent function of its own. The organic solvent system (comprising a single solvent compound or a mixture of solvent compounds) preferably has a volatile organic content above 0.13 kPa (1 mmHg) and more preferably above 0.013 kPa (0.1 mmHg) of less than 50% by weight. %, preferably less than 20% by weight and more preferably less than 10% by weight of the solvent system. The content of volatile organic compounds of the solvent system is defined herein as the content of organic components in the solvent system having a vapor pressure above the prescribed limit at 25 ° C and atmospheric pressure.

The organic solvent system for use herein is preferably selected from organoamine solvents, including alkanolamines, alkylamines, alkyleneamines, and mixtures thereof; alcoholic solvents, including aromatic, aliphatic (preferably C ₄ -C ₁₀ ) and cycloaliphatic alcohols, and mixtures thereof; Glycols and glycol derivatives, including C ₂ -C ₃ (poly) alkylene glycols, glycol ethers, glycol esters and mixtures thereof; and mixtures selected from organoamine solvents, alcoholic solvents, glycols and glycol derivatives. In a preferred embodiment, the organic solvent comprises organoamine (especially alkanolamine) solvent and glycol ether solvent, preferably in a weight ratio of about 3: 1 to about 1: 3, wherein the glycol ether solvent is ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, Propylene glycol monobutyl ether and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the glycol ether is a mixture of diethylene glycol monobutyl ether and propylene glycol butyl ether, especially in a weight ratio of 1: 2 to 2: 1.

A method of making the pouches comprises the steps of: i) forming a first moving web of filled and optionally sealed pouches detachably mounted on a first moving (preferably rotating) endless surface; ii) forming a second moving web of filled and optionally sealed pouches detachably mounted on a second moving (preferably rotating) endless surface; iii) superimposing and sealing or securing the first and second moving webs to form a superposed and sealed web; and iv) separating the stacked and sealed web into a plurality of water-soluble multi-compartment bags. Preferably, the second movable endless surface moves synchronously with the first moving endless surface. This facilitates the continuous implementation of the method.

The first web of filled open pouches may be closed with any web sealant, such as a film of pouch forming material, but in a preferred embodiment is preferably closed with the second pouch web, thereby avoiding the use of an additional film layer. The web closure means preferably moves synchronously with the first endless surface and the first web of open pouches thereon. Preferably, the second web is reversed from bags prior to closing the first web of open pouches, which is preferred from the viewpoint of facilitating the overlay in the web sealing process.

The first moving web of open pouches may be formed by, for example, feeding a water-soluble film into a molding apparatus having a series of mold cavities. The troughs can be of any size and shape, with rectangular troughs having a support surface suitable for the dispensers of most dishwashers being preferred for use herein. Aside from the convenience of fit in dispensers, rectangular pouches inherently have regions of different film thickness on the foil, which can help improve the dissolution profile of the pouch.

The open bags may be formed by thermoforming, for example by heating the wells or by applying heat in any other known manner, such as by blowing in hot air or by using heating lamps. If necessary, this process can be vacuum assisted to more easily drive the film into the trough. As an alternative, open bags may be formed by vacuum forming, which process may be heat assisted to simplify the process. In general, thermoforming is primarily a plastic forming process, while vacuum forming is primarily an elastic forming process. These two methods can be combined to produce bags of any desired degree of elasticity / plasticity.

The first web of open pouches is preferably formed on a first rotating endless surface, which surface is preferably horizontal or substantially horizontal during filling of the pouches.

A preferred method comprises the steps of forming and filling a moving horizontal or substantially horizontal web of open pouches detachably mounted on a first moving endless surface and closing the web of open pouches with a pre-formed filled and filled pouch overlying sealed pouches that move in sync. The first endless surface preferably moves in continuous horizontal or substantially horizontal motion and preferably in continuous horizontal rectilinear motion during filling of the first moving web of open pouches.

Preferably, the first open web of open pouches is filled by a product filling station that includes means for filling quantities of one or more product feed streams into each of the open pouches. Preferably, this filling station is arranged to move synchronously with the first sheet of open bags during the filling step, thereby avoiding any acceleration / deceleration of the open bags during filling and consequent spillage of cleaning agent and contamination of the sealing surface. The horizontal rectilinear movement of the first web of open pouches allows full or further filling of the open pouches, resulting in better utilization of the film. Alternatively, the filling station may be stationary.

The detergent product may be dispensed into each of the open pouches by a single dispenser or dispenser with a single dispenser or means for delivering a single product feed stream, which is preferred in cases where a single premixed composition is to be placed in the pouch. In the case of multicomponent liquid compositions, each pouch may be filled by a plurality of filling means or a means for feeding a plurality of product feed streams, each filling means dispensing another liquid composition (or a component thereof), thus eliminating the premixing step. In the case of multicomponent powder compositions, each bag may also be filled by means of a plurality of fillers, each dispensing a powder composition (or a component thereof) to form different product layers. In the case of powdered compositions, it is advantageous to use a masking tape having an opening of the same size or slightly smaller than the opening of the open bag to avoid contamination of the sealing surface.

The first web of open pouches may optionally be sealed and sealed with foil after filling and prior to overlaying and sealing the second moving web of pouches. The second panel of bags may be made separately, but in preferred embodiments the second panel of bags is horizontal or substantially horizontal during bag filling. In a preferred method, the step of filling the second moving horizontal web of open pouches is performed by means of a second product filling station moving in synchronism with the second endless surface. In one method, the filling station comprises means for dispensing a plurality of product feed streams, as described above in the case of the open web filling station for the first web. If the first web is itself sealed with film before the two webs are overlapped, the two webs may optionally be secured together along a discontinuous seam seal.

Although both the first and second endless surfaces and the corresponding web of pouches may be configured for movement in either a horizontal rectilinear or curvilinear manner during bag filling, a method is preferred herein wherein the continuous surface during the filling step moving the first moving web of open pouches in horizontal rectilinear motion and wherein the second endless surface is moving in a substantially horizontal rectilinear or curvilinear motion during the filling step of the second moving web of open pouches.

Preferably, the second endless surface rotates in a direction opposite to the first endless surface.

The bags of the second web are also preferably covered, sealed and sealed after filling and prior to laying on the first web of bags and sealing the two webs with a film sealant. Preferred for use herein is heat sealing, by each. known medium can be carried out, for example by direct application, infrared, ultrasound, high frequency, laser. Solvent sealing may alternatively be used herein.

The web of two-chamber bags formed in this manner is then divided into individual bags, for example by means known per se. Preferably, the bags are made with constant spacing at a constant speed, which can simplify the automation of the packaging process. Although the method described above is directed to the manufacture of two-chambered bags, multi-chambered bags having more than two chambers can be made in a similar manner, for example, by superimposing and sealing three or more webs of bags. Also very useful for use herein are multi-compartment bags in which at least one of the chambers is divided horizontally into a plurality of chambers.

• a) Bilden und teilweises Befüllen einer bewegten Bahn offener Beutel, die lösbar auf einer sich bewegenden endlosen Oberfläche angebracht sind, wobei das teilweise Befüllen so stattfindet, dass genügend Platz für die Bildung einer zweiten Kammer in derselben Mulde gelassen wird;
• b) Schließen und Versiegeln der bewegten Bahn mit Bahnenverschlussmitteln, die sich synchron damit bewegen, wobei das Bahnenverschlussmittel in die teilweise gefüllten Beutel eingeführt wird, so dass mehrere geschlossene und übereinander angeordnete offene Kammern gebildet werden;
• c) Füllen, Schließen und Versiegeln der übereinander angeordneten offenen Kammern mithilfe eines zweiten Bahnenverschlussmittels, das sich synchron mit der bewegten Bahn bewegt; und
• d) Trennen der Bahn in mehrere wasserlösliche Mehrkammerbeutel.

Another method of making the bags herein comprises:

• a) forming and partially filling a moving web of open pouches detachably mounted on a moving endless surface, the partial filling taking place leaving enough space for the formation of a second chamber in the same well;
• b) closing and sealing the moving web with web-closing means moving in synchronism with the web-closing means being inserted into the partially filled pouches to form a plurality of closed and stacked open chambers;
• c) filling, closing and sealing the stacked open chambers by means of a second web closure means moving in synchronism with the moving web; and
• d) separating the web into several water-soluble multi-chamber bags.

In the above method, the formation of multi-chambered bags requires only a moving endless surface, which may be useful from the standpoint of capital cost. Each bag is formed in a single trough. After the web of open pouches has been formed, each open pouch is partially filled, closed and sealed to form a second open chamber, which in turn is filled, closed and sealed. In a preferred embodiment, the sealing steps are carried out by means of solvent seals.

The term "filling" as used herein includes both "partial" and "complete" filling of a bag or chamber thereof. An open pouch or chamber is considered to be completely filled when the product fills at least about 90% of the volume of the open pouch or chamber. "Partial" filling is to be understood accordingly.

• a) Bilden und teilweises Befüllen einer bewegten Bahn offener Beutel, die lösbar auf einer sich bewegenden endlosen Oberfläche angebracht ist;
• b) Schließen der bewegten Bahn mit Bahnenverschlussmitteln, die sich synchron damit bewegen, wobei das Bahnenverschlussmittel in die teilweise gefüllten Beutel eingeführt wird, so dass mehrere geschlossene und übereinander angeordnete offene Kammern gebildet werden;
• c) Füllen und Schließen der übereinander angeordneten offenen Kammern mithilfe eines zweiten Bahnenverschlussmittels, das sich synchron mit der bewegten Bahn bewegt;
• d) Versiegeln der Bahn und des ersten und zweiten Bahnenverschlussmittels; und
• e) Trennen der Bahn in mehrere wasserlösliche Mehrkammerbeutel.

In a slightly modified version of this process, the sealing step is performed at a later stage of the process. The method comprises the following steps:

• a) forming and partially filling a moving web of open pouches detachably mounted on a moving endless surface;
• b) closing the moving web with web-closing means moving in synchronism with the web-closing means being introduced into the partially filled pouches to form a plurality of closed and stacked open chambers;
• c) filling and closing the stacked open chambers by means of a second web closure means moving in synchronism with the moving web;
• d) sealing the web and the first and second web closure means; and
• e) separating the web into several water-soluble multichamber bags.

In a preferred embodiment of this method, the sealing step is performed by ultrasonic sealing.

In another variant of this approach, the web of open pouches in step (a) becomes either partially or completely filled with a first composition comprising a detergent active or adjuvant and thereafter either the composition is densified or the pouch is enlarged to allow sufficient space for the formation of the detergent second chamber to provide. In the case of the powder composition, densification may be achieved by compression, impact, pounding, vibration, etc., where the densification is preferably such that an increase in bulk density of at least about 5%, preferably at least about 10%, and most preferably at least about 20%. more preferably at least about 30% is provided. The final bulk density is preferably at least about 0.6 g / cm ^3, more preferably at least about 0.8 g / cm ^3, more particularly at least about 1 g / cm ^3. Means for enlarging the bag include means for changing the size or volume of the well, for example a movable bottom section, a variable size or variable volume insert, etc.

• a) Bilden und Befüllen einer bewegten Bahn offener Beutel, die lösbar auf einer bewegten endlosen Oberfläche angebracht sind;
• b) Schließen und Versiegeln der bewegten Bahn mit einem Bahnenverschlussmittel, das sich synchron damit bewegt, so dass mehrere geschlossene Kammern gebildet werden;
• c) Bilden einer Vertiefung in einigen oder allen der in Schritt (b) gebildeten geschlossenen Kammern, so dass mehrere offene Kammern, die über den geschlossenen Kammern angeordnet sind, gebildet werden;
• d) Füllen, Schließen und Versiegeln der übereinander angeordneten offenen Kammern mithilfe eines zweiten Bahnenverschlussmittels, das sich synchron mit der bewegten Bahn bewegt; und
• e) Trennen der Bahn in mehrere wasserlösliche Mehrkammerbeutel.

In alternative embodiments, the stacked open chambers may also be formed after the step of closing and sealing the moving web of open pouches, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) forming and filling a moving web of open pouches detachably mounted on a moving endless surface;
• b) closing and sealing the moving web with a web closing means which moves in synchronism therewith to form a plurality of closed chambers;
• c) forming a depression in some or all of the closed chambers formed in step (b) to form a plurality of open chambers disposed over the closed chambers;
• d) filling, closing and sealing the stacked open chambers by means of a second web closure means moving in synchronism with the moving web; and
• e) separating the web into several water-soluble multichamber bags.

• a) Bilden und Befüllen einer bewegten Bahn offener Beutel, die lösbar auf einer bewegten endlosen Oberfläche angebracht sind;
• b) Schließen der bewegten Bahn mit einem Bahnenverschlussmittel, das sich synchron damit bewegt, so dass mehrere geschlossene Kammern gebildet werden;
• c) Bilden einer Vertiefung in einigen oder allen der in Schritt (b) gebildeten geschlossenen Kammern, so dass mehrere offene Kammern, die über den geschlossenen Kammern angeordnet sind, gebildet werden;
• d) Füllen und Schließen der übereinander angeordneten offenen Kammern mithilfe eines zweiten Bahnenverschlussmittels, das sich synchron mit der bewegten Bahn bewegt;
• e) Versiegeln der Bahn und des ersten und zweiten Bahnenverschlussmittels; und
• f) Trennen der Bahn in mehrere wasserlösliche Mehrkammerbeutel.

In yet another slightly modified version of this method, the sealing step is performed in a later stage of the method, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) forming and filling a moving web of open pouches detachably mounted on a moving endless surface;
• b) closing the moving web with a web-closing means that moves in synchronism therewith to form a plurality of closed chambers;
• c) forming a depression in some or all of the closed chambers formed in step (b) to form a plurality of open chambers disposed over the closed chambers;
• d) filling and closing the stacked open chambers by means of a second web closure means moving in synchronism with the moving web;
• e) sealing the web and the first and second web sealant; and
• f) separating the web into several water-soluble multi-chamber bags.

For purposes of forming the wells, the closed chambers may be subjected to a powder compression step as described above, optionally with means such as vent holes provided in the web to allow air extraction from the compressed chambers.

In all these process aspects, during the filling of the open pouches and stacked open chambers of the moving web, the continuous surface preferably moves in continuous horizontal or substantially horizontal, preferably rectilinear, motion. Alternatively, the movement may be intermittent, although less preferred. It is also preferred that the steps of filling be performed by means of a product filling station moving in synchronism with the endless surface. Conveniently, the product filling station may include means for filling quantities of multiple product feed streams into each of the chambers.

Preferably, the multi-compartment bags made by any of the methods described herein comprise a plurality of chambers containing a powdered composition and a plurality of chambers containing a liquid, gel or paste-like composition. It is further understood that through the use of suitable feed stations, it is possible to produce multi-compartment bags comprising a number of different or different powder compositions and / or different or different liquid, gel or paste compositions. This may be particularly valuable for the preparation of unit dosage forms that exhibit new visual and / or other sensory effects.

The pouches herein may be provided in a display package comprising an outer package, such as a transparent container, for example a transparent or translucent paperboard or transparent or translucent bottle, which visually or more than one water-soluble pouch or other unit dose of detergent product contains otherwise sensory distinguishable groups. By "visually distinguishable" it is meant herein that the groups may be distinguished in terms of shape, color, size, pattern, ornament, etc. Otherwise, the groups are distinguishable in terms of providing a unique sensory signal, such as smell, sound, feel, etc.

Preferably, a transparent, preferably transparent dishwashing pack is provided, wherein the number of distinct groups of sachets or other unit doses is at least 2, preferably at least 3, more preferably at least 4 and especially at least 6 and wherein the number of unit doses per pack is at least about 10, preferably at least about 16 and more preferably at least about 20. Preferably, the unit doses are multi-compartment bags, each compartment itself possibly being different visually or otherwise from the remainder of the chambers in an individual bag. Preferably, the groups of bags differ in color. In the case of multi-compartment pouches, at least one group of pouches has a chamber which differs visually, for example in terms of color, from the corresponding chambers in one or more other groups of pouches. Preferably, in such embodiments, all bag groups have at least one 'common' chamber, ie their appearance is the same from group to group. Preferably, the visually distinguishable chamber contains a liquid, gel or paste; the general chamber contains a powder or a tablet. The pouches may be arranged in the package in any form, either random or in order, for example in suitable arrangements comprising layers wherein each pouch comprises at least one chamber which is in color from the chambers of the remaining pouches therein Layer different. The pack may be made of plastic or any other suitable material, provided that the material is strong enough to protect the bags during transport. This type of package is also very useful because the user does not have to open the package to see how many bags are left, the different colored bags are very easy to stand out from the outer package. Alternatively, the package may have an opaque outer packaging, possibly with indicia or ornaments that represent the visually different contents of the package.

In another package embodiment, distinguishable groups contain bags of different perfumes. The fragrances can be fragrances associated with colors, for example yellow with a lemon smell, pink with a strawberry smell, blue with a sea odor etc.

The methods of making multi-chambered bags described herein may be adapted to form a plurality of bags in a plurality of sensory different groups as described above, each of which is filled with a corresponding sensorially different composition. This simplifies the production of the display case according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention uses water-soluble multi-chamber bags of optimum shape and dimensions for placement in the dispensers of most dishwashers. The bags of the present invention allow for optimal use of the dispenser of the dishwasher as well as optimal dispensing and storage of dishwashing compositions without sacrificing the convenience of the unit dosage form. The unitized multi-chamber dosage forms include unit dosage forms comprising in separated chambers either powder, liquid or paste. Particularly useful compositions are those containing an organic solvent which can dissolve baked, cooked or burnt soils. The invention also uses multi-chamber designs that allow the differential delivery of compositions contained in different chambers.

The dishwashing composition or ingredients for use herein are contained in the interior volume of the bag and are typically separated from the outside environment by a protective wall of water-soluble material. Typically, various components of the composition contained in different compartments of the bag are separated by a protective wall of water-soluble material.

The chambers of the water-soluble bag may differ in color, for example, a first chamber may be green or blue, and a second chamber may be white or yellow. One compartment of the bag may be opaque or semi-opaque, and a second compartment of the bag may be translucent, transparent or semi-transparent. The chambers of the bag may be the same size and the same internal volume or have different sizes and different internal volumes.

Suitable water-soluble pouches include, for example, dual-chamber pouches comprising loose powder, compacted powder or a tablet in a first chamber and a liquid, paste or waxy or translucent gel detergent in a second chamber. The second liquid, paste or gel chamber could also contain a separately packaged powder, for example in the form of microbeads, strips or one or more bead beads, allowing the effect of sustained or sequential release. If the first chamber comprises a tablet, this tablet may have a recess of such a size and geometric shape (eg rectangular, round or oval) that the second chamber can be partially or completely absorbed. In pouches comprising powders in the first chamber, the powder may be arranged in layers which may be of different colors.

Multi-compartment bags with three compartments may have superimposed compartments of any geometrical shape in a sandwiched arrangement, for example with either loose or compacted powder in the two outer compartments and a liquid, paste or waxy or translucent gel in the middle compartment. On the other hand, the liquid, paste or waxy or translucent gel may be in the two outer chambers and may contain solid suspended solids and granules, and the powder may be present in the middle chamber. A multi-chamber bag may also have in the first chamber a tablet with more than one well and a number of other chambers that are wholly or partially in the wells of the tablet.

The bags may be packaged in a string, wherein each bag is individually separable by a perforated line. Thus, each bag can be torn off individually by the consumer of the rest of the strand.

The pouches for use herein are multi-chambered pouches having a first chamber comprising a liquid composition and a second chamber comprising a powdered composition wherein the weight ratio of the liquid to the solid composition is from 1:30 to 30: 1, preferably 1: 1 to 1:25 and more preferably 1:15 to 1:20.

To allow them to be deformed and fitted into a dispenser when put under pressure, bags or pouches containing a liquid component typically contain an air bubble having a volume of up to about 50%, preferably up to about 40%. , more preferably up to about 30%, more preferably up to about 20%, more preferably up to about 10% of the volume of the chamber.

The pouch is preferably made of a pouch material which is water soluble or dispersible and has a water solubility of at least 50%, preferably at least 75% or even at least 95% as measured by the method described below using a glass filter having a maximum pore size of 20 microns.

50 grams ± 0.1 grams of pouch material are placed in a preweighed 400 ml beaker and 245 ml ± 1 ml of distilled water are added. This is stirred vigorously with a magnetic stirrer set at 600 rpm for 30 minutes. The mixture is then filtered through a folded qualitative sintered glass filter having a pore size as defined above (20 microns max.). The water is dried from the collected filtrate by any conventional method, and the weight of the remaining material (representing the dissolved or dispersed fraction) is determined. Thereafter, the percent solubility or the percent dispersibility can be calculated.

Preferred bag materials are polymer materials, preferably polymers, which are formed into a film or a sheet. The bag material can be obtained, for example, by casting, blow molding, extruding or extrusion blow molding the polymer material as known in the art.

Preferred polymers, copolymers or derivatives thereof suitable for use as pouch materials are selected from polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyalkylene oxides, acrylamide, acrylic acid, cellulose, cellulose ethers, cellulose esters, cellulose amides, polyvinyl acetates, polycarboxylic acids and salts, polyamino acids or peptides, polyamides , Polyacrylamide, copolymers of maleic / acrylic acids, polysaccharides, including starch and gelatin, natural gums, such as xanthan gum and carrageenan. More preferred polymers are selected from polyacrylates and water-soluble acrylate copolymers, methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose sodium, dextrin, ethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, maltodextrin, polymethacrylates and most preferably selected from polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl alcohol copolymers and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the concentration of polymer in the bag material, for example a PVA polymer, is at least 60%.

The polymer may have any weight average molecular weight, preferably about 1000 to 1,000,000, more preferably about 10,000 to 300,000, even more preferably about 20,000 to 150,000.

Blends of polymers can also be used as the bag material. This may be beneficial in controlling the mechanical and / or solution properties of the chambers or bag, depending on the application and the requirements required. Suitable mixtures include, for example, blends in which one polymer has higher water solubility than another polymer and / or one polymer has higher mechanical strength than another polymer. Also suitable are polymer blends having different weight average molecular weights, for example a blend of PVA or a copolymer thereof having a weight average molecular weight of about 10,000-40,000, preferably about 20,000, and a PVA or a copolymer thereof having an average molecular weight ( Weight average) of about 100,000 to 300,000, preferably about 150,000.

Also useful herein are polymer blend compositions comprising, for example, hydrolytically degradable and water-soluble polymer blends, such as polylactide and polyvinyl alcohol, obtained by blending polylactide and polyvinyl alcohol, typically containing about 1-35 weight percent polylactide and about 65 weight percent % to 99% by weight of polyvinyl alcohol.

Preferred for use herein are polymers that are hydrolyzed to about 60% to about 98%, preferably about 80% to about 90% hydrolyzed to improve the dissolution properties of the material.

Most preferred pouch materials are PVA films, known under the trade designation Monosol M8630, as sold by Chris-Craft Industrial Products of Gary, Indiana, USA, and PVA films having appropriate solubility and ductility properties. Other films suitable for use herein include films known under the trade designation PT film, or the K series of films available from Aicello or VF-HP film available from Kuraray.

The bag material herein may also include one or more additional ingredients. It may, for example, be low, plasticizer, z. For example, glycerol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, sorbitol and mixtures thereof. Other additives include functional detergent additives to be delivered to the wash liquor, for example, organic polymeric dispersants, etc.

The detergent and cleaning compositions herein may comprise conventional detergent-active ingredients and may also include organic solvents having a cleaning function and organic solvents having a carrier or diluent function or other specialized function. The compositions are generally constructed and include one or more active detergent ingredients which may be bleaches, surfactants, sources of alkalinity, enzymes, thickeners (in the case of liquid, paste, cream or gel compositions), corrosion inhibitors (e.g., sodium silicate), and blasting - And binders (in the case of powder, granules or tablets) may be selected. Highly preferred detergent ingredients include a builder compound, an alkalinity source, a surfactant, an enzyme and a bleach.

Unless otherwise specified, the ingredients described below may be included in either the organic solvent compositions and / or the detergent or cleaning compositions.

The organic solvents should be selected to be compatible with the dinnerware / cookware as well as the various parts of an automatic dishwashing machine. In addition, the solvent system should be effective and safe to use, with a volatile organic content above 0.13 kPa (1 mmHg) (and preferably above 0.013 kPa (0.1 mmHg)) of less than about 50% by weight. , preferably less than about 30% by weight, more preferably less than about 10% by weight of the solvent system. They should also have a very mild, pleasant smell. The individual organic solvents used herein generally have a boiling point above about 150 ° C, a flash point above about 100 ° C, and a vapor pressure below about 0.13 kPa (1 mmHg), preferably below 0.013 kPa (0.1 mmHg) at 25 ° C and atmospheric pressure.

Solvents that can be used herein include: i) alcohols such as benzyl alcohol, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, furfuryl alcohol, 1,2-hexanediol, and other similar materials; ii) amines such as alkanolamines (eg primary alkanolamines: monoethanolamine, monoisopropanolamine, diethylethanolamine, ethyldiethanolamine; secondary alkanolamines: diethanolamine, diisopropanolamine, 2- (methylamino) ethanol; ternary alkanolamines: triethanolamine, triisopropanolamine); Alkylamines (eg primary alkylamines: Monomethylamine, monoethylamine, monopropylamine, monobutylamine, monopentylamine, cyclohexylamine), secondary alkylamines: (dimethylamine), alkyleneamines (primary alkyleneamines: ethylenediamine, propylenediamine) and other similar materials; iii) esters such as ethyl lactate, methyl ester, ethyl acetoacetate, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether acetate, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether acetate and other similar materials; iv) glycol ethers such as ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol butyl ether, and other similar materials; v) glycols such as propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, hexylene glycol (2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol), triethylene glycol, composition and dipropylene glycol, and other similar materials; and mixtures thereof.

surfactant

In the methods of the present invention for use in automatic dishwashing, the detersive surfactant, preferably by itself or in combination with other ingredients (ie suds suppressors), is low foaming. Surfactants useful herein include anionic surfactants such as alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl benzene sulfonates, alkyl glyceryl sulfonates, alkyl and alkenyl sulfonates, alkyl ethoxy carboxylates, N-acyl sarcosinates, N-acyl taurates, and alkyl succinates and sulfosuccinates where the alkyl, alkenyl, or acyl moiety linear or branched C ₅ -C ₂₀ , preferably C ₁₀ -C ₁₈ ; cationic surfactants, such as chloroesters ( US-A-4228042 . US-A-4239660 and US-A-4260529 and mono C ₆ -C ₁₆ N-alkyl or alkenyl ammonium surfactants, wherein the remaining N positions are substituted by methyl, hydroxyethyl or hydroxypropyl groups; nonionic surfactants with a low and high cloud point and mixtures thereof including nonionic alkoxylated surfactants (especially ethoxylates derived from primary C ₆ -C ₁₈ alcohols are derived), ethoxylated-propoxylated alcohols (eg. B. BASF Poly-Tergent ^® SLF 18 ), epoxy-capped poly (oxyalkylated) alcohols (e.g., BASF poly-Tergent ^® SLF18B -. see WO 94/22800 ), Ether-capped poly (oxyalkylated) alcohol surfactants, and polymeric polyoxyethylene / polyoxypropylene block compounds such as PLURONIC ^®, REVERSED PLURONIC ^® and TETRONIC ^® from BASF-Wyandotte Corp., Wyandotte, Michigan, USA; amphoteric surfactants such as the C ₁₂ -C ₂₀ alkyl amine oxides (preferred amine oxides for use herein include C ₁₂ lauryl dimethyl amine oxide, C ₁₄ and C ₁₆ hexadecyldimethyl amine oxide) and alkyl amphocarboxylic surfactants such as Miranol ^™ C2M; and zwitterionic surfactants, such as the betaines and sultaines; and mixtures thereof. Suitable surfactants herein are for example in US-A-3,929,678 . US-A-4,259,217 . EP-A-0414549 . WO-A-93/08876 and WO-A-93/08874 disclosed. Surfactants are typically present at a level of from about 0.2 wt% to about 30 wt%, more preferably from about 0.5 wt% to about 10 wt%, most preferably about 1 Wt .-% to about 5 wt .-% of the composition present. Preferred surfactants for use herein are low foaming and include low cloud point nonionic surfactants and blends of higher foaming surfactants with low cloud point nonionic surfactants which act as suds suppressors for them.

Builder

Builders suitable for use in detergent and cleaning compositions herein include water-soluble builders such as citrates, carbonates and polyphosphates, e.g. Sodium tripolyphosphate and sodium tripolyphosphate hexahydrate, potassium tripolyphosphate and mixed sodium and potassium tripolyphosphate salts; and partially water-soluble or insoluble builders, such as crystalline sheet silicates ( EP-A-0164514 and EP-A-0293640 ) and aluminosilicates, including zeolites A, B, P, X, HS and MAP. The builder is typically present at a level of from about 1 wt% to about 80 wt%, preferably from about 10 wt% to about 70 wt%, most preferably about 20 wt% to about 60% by weight of the composition.

Amorphous sodium silicates having a SiO ₂ : Na ₂ O ratio of from 1.8 to 3.0, preferably from 1.8 to 2.4, most preferably 2.0, may also be used herein, although from a longer standpoint Shelf life Compositions containing less than about 22%, preferably less than about 15% total silicate (amorphous and crystalline) are highly preferred.

enzyme

Suitable enzymes herein include cellulases from bacteria and fungi such as Carezyme and Celluzyme (Novo Nordisk A / S); peroxidases; Lipases such as Amano-P (Amano Pharmaceutical Co.), M1 Lipase Lipomax ^® and ^® (Gist-Brocades) and Lipolase ^® and Lipolase Ultra ^® (Novo); cutinases; Proteases such as Esperase ^®, Alcalase ^®, Durazym ^® and Savinase ^® (Novo) and Maxatase ^®, Maxacal ^®, Properase ^®, and Maxapem ^® (Gist-Brocades); α- and β-amylases such as Purafect Ox Am ^® (Genencor) and Termamyl ^®, Ban ^®, Fungamyl.RTM ^®, Duramyl ^® and Natalase ^® (Novo); pectinases; and mixtures thereof. Enzymes are preferably added herein as prills, granules or cogranulates, typically in concentrations ranging from about 0.0001% to about 2% by weight of the pure enzyme composition.

bleach

Suitable bleaching agents herein include chlorine and oxygen bleaches, especially inorganic perhydrate salts such as sodium perborate mono- and tetrahydrate, and sodium percarbonate, optionally coated to provide a controlled rate of release (see, for example GB-A-1466799 via sulfate / carbonate coatings), preformed organic peroxyacids and mixtures thereof with precursors of organic peroxyacid bleaches and / or transition metal-containing bleach catalysts (especially manganese or cobalt). Inorganic perhydrate salts are normally present in concentrations ranging from about 1 wt% to about 40 wt%, preferably from about 2 wt% to about 30 wt%, and more preferably from about 5 wt% to about 25 wt .-% of the composition. Peroxyacid bleach precursors which are preferred for use herein include precursors of perbenzoic acid and substituted perbenzoic acid; cationic peroxyacid precursors; Peracetic acid precursors such as TAED, sodium acetoxybenzenesulfonate and pentaacetylglucose; Pernonanic acid precursors such as sodium 3,5,5-trimethylhexanoyloxybenzenesulfonate (iso-NOBS) and sodium nonanoyloxybenzenesulfonate (NOBS); amide substituted alkyl peroxyacid precursors ( EP-A-0170386 ); and benzoxazine peroxyacid precursors ( EP-A-0332294 and EP-A-0482807 ). Bleach precursors are typically present in concentrations in the range of from about 0.5% to about 25%, preferably from about 1% to about 10%, by weight of the composition while the preformed organic peroxyacids themselves are usually contained in concentrations ranging from 0.5% to 25% by weight, more preferably from 1% to 10% by weight of the composition. Bleach catalysts preferred for use herein include manganese triazacyclononane and related complexes ( US-A-4246612 . US-A-5227084 ); Co, Cu, Mn and Fe bispyridylamine and related complexes ( US-A-5114611 ); and pentamine acetate cobalt (III) and related complexes ( US-A-4810410 ).

Low cloud point nonionic surfactants and suds suppressor

Suitable suds suppressors for use herein include nonionic surfactants having a low cloud point. "Cloud point," as used herein, is a well-known property of nonionic surfactants that results from the surfactant becoming less soluble with increasing temperature, the temperature at which the appearance of a second phase is observed to be the "cloud point". (see Kirk / Othmer, pp. 360-362).

As used herein, a "low cloud point" nonionic surfactant is an ingredient of a nonionic surfactant system having a cloud point of less than 30 ° C, preferably less than about 20 ° C, and even more preferably less than about 10 ° C, and most preferred less than about 7.5 ° C. Typical low cloud point nonionic surfactants include nonionic alkoxylated surfactants, especially ethoxylates derived from primary alcohol, and polyoxypropylene / polyoxyethylene / polyoxypropylene (PO / EO / PO) reverse block polymers. Furthermore, such nonionic surfactants include low cloud point, for example, ethoxylated-propoxylated alcohol (eg. As Poly-Tergent ^® SLF18 from BASF) and epoxy-capped poly (oxyalkylated) alcohols (eg. As the Poly-Tergent ^® SLF18B series of nonionic surfactants of BASF, such as in US-A-5,576,281 described).

worin R¹ ein linearer Alkylkohlenwasserstoff mit durchschnittlich ungefähr 7 bis ungefähr 12 Kohlenstoffatomen ist, R² ein linearer Alkylkohlenwasserstoff mit ungefähr 1 bis ungefähr 4 Kohlenstoffatomen ist, R³ ein linearer Alkylkohlenwasserstoff mit ungefähr 1 bis ungefähr 4 Kohlenstoffatomen ist, x eine ganze Zahl von ungefähr 1 bis ungefähr 6 ist, y eine ganze Zahl von ungefähr 4 bis ungefähr 15 ist und z eine ganze Zahl von ungefähr 4 bis ungefähr 25 ist.Preferred low cloud point surfactants are the ether-capped poly (oxyalkylated) suds suppressors having the formula:

wherein R ^{1 is} a linear alkyl hydrocarbon having an average of about 7 to about 12 carbon atoms, R ^{2 is} a linear alkyl hydrocarbon having from about 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, R ^{3 is} a linear alkyl hydrocarbon having from about 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, x is an integer of about Y is an integer from about 4 to about 15 and z is an integer from about 4 to about 25.

• (i) einem 4- bis 8-gliedrigen, substituierten oder unsubstituierten, heterocyclischen Ring, der 1 bis 3 Heteroatome enthält; und
• (ii) linearen oder verzweigten, gesättigten oder ungesättigten, cyclischen oder acyclischen, aliphatischen oder aromatischen Kohlenwasserstoffradikalen mit 1 bis ungefähr 30 Kohlenstoffatomen;
• (b) mit der Maßgabe, dass, wenn R² (ii) ist, entweder: (A) mindestens eines von R¹ ungleich C₂- bis C₃-Alkylen ist; oder (B) R² von 6 bis 30 Kohlenstoffatome aufweist, und mit der weiteren Maßgabe, dass, wenn R² von 8 bis 18 Kohlenstoffatome aufweist, R ungleich C₁- bis C₅-Alkyl ist.

Other low cloud point nonionic surfactants are the ether-capped poly (oxyalkylated) having the formula: R _I O (R _II O) _n CH (CH ₃ ) OR _III wherein R _{I is} selected from the group consisting of linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radicals containing from about 7 to about 12 carbon atoms; R _{II may be the} same or different and is independently selected from the group consisting of branched or linear C ₂ to C ₇ alkylene in a given molecule; n is a number from 1 to about 30; and R _{III is} selected from the group consisting of:

• (i) a 4- to 8-membered, substituted or unsubstituted, heterocyclic ring containing 1 to 3 heteroatoms; and
• (ii) linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, cyclic or acyclic, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to about 30 carbon atoms;
• (b) with the proviso that when R ^{2 is} (ii), either: (A) at least one of R ^{1 is} other than C ₂ to C ₃ alkylene; or (B) R ^{2 has} from 6 to 30 carbon atoms, and with the further proviso that when R ^{2 has} from 8 to 18 carbon atoms, R is other than C ₁ to C ₅ alkyl.

Other components useful herein include organic polymers having dispersant, redeposition inhibiting, soil release or other cleaning properties of the invention in amounts of from about 0.1% to about 30%, preferably from about 0.5% to about 15%, most preferably from from about 1% to about 10% by weight of the composition. Preferred anti-redeposition polymers herein include acrylic acid-containing polymers such as Sokalan PA30, PA20, PA15, PA10 and Sokalan CP10 (BASF GmbH), Acusol 45N, 480N, 460N (Rohm and Haas), acrylic acid / maleic acid copolymers such as Sokalan CP5 and acrylic / methacrylic Copolymers. Preferred soil release polymers herein include alkyl and hydroxyalkyl celluloses ( US-A-4,000,093 ), Polyoxyethylenes, polyoxypropylenes and copolymers thereof and nonionic and anionic polymers based on terephthalate esters of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and mixtures thereof.

Heavy metal sequestrants and crystallization retarders for use herein are generally present in concentrations of from about 0.005% to about 20%, preferably about 0.1% to about 10%, more preferably about 0, From 25% to about 7.5%, and most preferably from about 0.5% to about 5%, by weight of the composition, for example, diethylene triamine penta (methylene phosphonate), ethylenediamine tetra (methylene phosphonate), hexamethylene diamine tetra (methylenephosphonate), ethyl endiphosphonate, hydroxyethylene-1,1-diphosphonate, nitrilotriacetate, ethylenediaminetetraacetate, ethylenediamine-N, N'-disuccinate in their salt and free acid forms.

The compositions herein may contain a corrosion inhibitor, such as organic silver coating agents, in amounts of from about 0.05% to about 10%, preferably about 0.1% to about 5%, by weight of the composition (especially Paraffins such as Winog 70, available from Wintershall, Salzbergen, Germany), nitrogen-containing anticorrosive compounds (for example, benzotriazole and benzimidazole - see GB-A-1137741 ) and Mn (II) compounds, especially Mn (II) salts of organic ligands in amounts of from about 0.005 wt.% to about 5 wt.%, preferably about 0.01 wt.% to about 1 wt. %, more preferably about 0.02 wt.% to about 0.4 wt.% of the composition.

Other ingredients useful herein include colorants, water-soluble bismuth compounds such as bismuth acetate and bismuth citrate in concentrations of from about 0.01% to about 5%, enzyme stabilizers such as calcium ions, boric acid, propylene glycol, and chlorine bleach scavengers in amounts from about 0.01% to about 6%, Lime soap dispersant (see WO-A-93/08877 ), Suds suppressor (see WO-93/08876 and EP-A-0705324 ), polymeric dye transfer inhibitors, optical brighteners, fragrances, fillers and clay.

Liquid detergent compositions may contain minor amounts of low molecular weight primary or secondary alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanol and isopropanol which may be used in the liquid detergent of the present invention. Other suitable carrier solvents used in minor amounts include glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, sorbitol, and mixtures thereof.

The method used herein to form the first and / or second moving web involves continuously supplying a water-soluble film to an endless surface, preferably a horizontal or substantially horizontal portion of an endless surface or otherwise a non-horizontal portion thereof Surface, so that it moves continuously to the and finally to the horizontal or substantially horizontal portion of the surface. Of course, different film material and / or films of different thickness may be used in the production of the first and second moving web, where, for example, chambers having different solubility or release properties are needed.

In a preferred method of making both the first and second moving webs, a portion of the endless surface continuously moves in horizontal rectilinear motion until it rotates about an axis perpendicular to the direction of movement, typically about 180 degrees, and then he moves in the opposite direction, usually again in horizontal rectilinear motion. Finally, the surface rotates again to reach its starting position. In other methods, the surface moves in curvilinear, for example, circular motion with at least a portion of the surface being substantially horizontal for a simple but limited period of time. Where used, such methods are primarily useful for making the second moving web.

The term 'endless surface' as used herein means that the surface is continuous in at least one dimension, preferably only in one dimension. For example, the surface is preferably part of a rotating slab conveyor belt comprising troughs as described in more detail above.

The horizontal or substantially horizontal portion of the surface may have any width that is typically dependent on the number of rows of troughs across the width, the size of the troughs, and the size of the spacing between the troughs. When designed for horizontal rectilinear operation, the horizontal portion of the endless surface may have any length, usually of the number of process steps that must occur on that portion of the surface (during the continuous horizontal movement of the surface), of the time required for each step and depends on the optimum speed of the surface required for these steps. Of course, if using a lower or higher continuous speed during the process, the surface may need to be shorter or longer. For example, if multiple steps are performed on the horizontal section, the section must be longer or the speed lower than, for example, when performing only two steps on the horizontal section.

It may be preferred that the width of the surface is up to 1.5 meters or even up to 1.0 meter, or preferably between 30 and 60 cm. It may be preferable that the horizontal portion of the endless surface is from 2 to 20 meters or even 4 to 12 meters or even 6 to 10 or even 9 meters.

The surface is typically moved at a constant speed throughout the process, which can be any constant speed. Speeds of between 1 and 80 m / min or even 10 to 60 m / min or even 2 to 50 m / min or even 30 to 40 m / min may be preferred.

The method is preferably performed on an endless surface having horizontal movement as long as forming the web of bags, filling the bags, overlaying the second moving web of bags, sealing the two moving webs, and separating the superposed webs several multi-chamber bags is required. The bags are then removed from the surface and the surface rotates about an axis perpendicular to the direction of movement, typically about 180 degrees, and then moves in the opposite direction, usually horizontally, and then again to turn, after which step a) starts again.

Preferably, the surface is part of and / or preferably detachably connected to a moving, rotating band, for example a conveyor or slab conveyor. Preferably, the surface may then be removed and replaced with another surface having other dimensions or including wells of a different shape or size. This allows for easy cleaning of the equipment and also for use in the manufacture of various types of bags. For example, it may be a strip with a number of plates, the number and size of which depends on the length of the horizontal section and the diameter of the turning cycles of the surface, for example 50 to 150 or even 60 to 120 or even 70 to 100 plates, for example each having a length (direction of movement of plate and surface) of 5 to 150 cm, preferably 10 to 100 cm or even 20 to 45 cm.

The plates then together form the endless surface or a portion thereof, and the troughs are typically on the disk surface, for example, each disk may have a series of troughs, for example up to 20 troughs in the width direction, or also only 2 to 10 or even only 3 to 8, and for example up to 15 or even only 1 to 10 or even only 2 to 6 or even only 2 to 5 troughs in the longitudinal direction, d. H. in the direction of movement of the plates.

The surface, or usually the band attached to the surface, can be moved continuously by any known method. Preferred is the use of a zero extension chain system that drives the surface or the belt bonded to the surface.

When a slab conveyor belt is used, it preferably includes a) a main band (preferably of steel) and b) a series of plates comprising 1) a surface with troughs so that the plates form an endless surface with troughs, as described above, and 2) a vacuum well connection and 3) preferably a base plate between the plates and the vacuum well connection. Then, the plates are preferably mounted on the main band such that no air escapes from the connections between the plates. The slab conveyor belt as a whole then preferably moves along (above) a static vacuum system (vacuum chamber).

It may be preferable that the surface is connected to 2 or more different vacuum systems each providing a different negative pressure and / or providing such negative pressure in a shorter or longer period of time or for a shorter or longer duration. For example, it may be preferred that a first vacuum system continuously provide a vacuum on the area between or along the troughs / edges and another system provides a vacuum only for a certain amount of time to pull the film into the troughs. For example, the vacuum pulling the film into the trough can only be applied for 0.2 to 5 seconds, or even 0.3 to 3 or even 2 seconds, or even 0.5 to 1.5 seconds, once the film located on the horizontal section of the surface. This vacuum may preferably be such as to provide a vacuum between -10 kPa to -100 kPa (-100 mbar to -1000 mbar) or even -20 kPa to -60 kPa (-200 mbar to -600 mbar).

For example, it may be preferred that the two or more vacuum systems, or preferably pumps, be connected to the wells described above, such that each vacuum system is connected to each well, preferably so that the systems are not interconnected within the wells to completely separate the vacuums and to provide a controlled release of vacuum to the wells / surface between the wells / along the edges.

It should be understood that thus all the plates and the main band move continuously, usually at the same constant speed.

The surface or plates as described above are preferably made of corrosion resistant material which is durable and easy to clean. It may be preferred that the surface or plates, including the well regions, are made of aluminum, preferably mixed with nickel, or optionally only the outer layers comprise nickel and / or nickel-aluminum mixtures.

Preferably, at least the upper layer between and / or in the troughs of the surface of deformable elastic material, preferably at least the upper layer between the troughs. The material is usually designed to have a coefficient of friction of 0.1 or more, preferably 0.3 or more. For example, the top layer between the troughs, but even in the troughs, may be made of rubber, silicone material or cork, preferably rubber or silicone rubber. It is also preferable that the material is not too hard, for example, similar to the silicone rubber having a Shore value of 10 to 90.

The troughs may be any shape, length, width and depth, depending on the required dimensions of the bags. Also with regard to the surface, the troughs can optionally differ in size and shape from each other. For example, it may be preferred that the volume of the finished pouches be between 5 and 300 ml or even 10 and 150 ml or even 20 and 100 ml or even up to 80 ml and that the sizes of the wells be adjusted accordingly.

The feeding of the film to and usually on or over the surface and preferably on its horizontal portion is carried out continuously and thus usually at a constant speed over the entire process. This can be done by any known method, preferably using rollers from which the film unwinds. The film may be transported from the rollers to the surface by any means, for example, guided by a belt, preferably a deformable, elastic belt, for example a belt of rubber or silicone material, including silicone rubber. The material is usually designed to have a coefficient of friction of 0.1 or more, preferably 0.3 or more.

It may be preferred that the rolls unwind the film at a speed of at least 100 m / min or even 120 to 700 m / min or even 150 to 500 m / min or even 250 to 400 m / min.

Once the film is on the surface, it can be held in place by any means, e.g. B. attached to the surface or fixed. For example, the film may be held in place with clamps or staples at the edges of the surface where there are no hollows or with rollers at the edges of the surface where there are no hollows or by a band at the edges of the surface where none Hollows are to be kept down.

For ease of handling and positioning of the film, for improved accuracy and alignment reliability, and not to lose too much of the film surface (ie, in or under the clamps, staples, rollers, or the belt) and also to increase the tension of the film or to ensure a more homogeneous tension of the film, it is preferred that the film be held in position on the film by the application of vacuum, thereby drawing the film into a fixed position on the surface. In general, this is done by applying a vacuum (or negative pressure) through the surface, which is to hold the film, z. B. under the film performed. This method is even suitable if the film width is larger than the surface, so this system is more flexible than the use of clamps and clamps.

Preferably, the vacuum is applied along the edges of the film, and thus typically along the edges of the surface and / or on the surface between or around the troughs, typically along the edges of the troughs. Preferably, the vacuum is applied (at least) along the edges of the surface.

Preferably, the surface for this purpose comprises holes which are connected to a device which can provide a vacuum, as known in the art, or to a so-called vacuum chamber or so-called vacuum chambers. Thus, the surface preferably has holes along the edges of the surface and / or holes around or between the troughs.

Preferably, the holes are small, preferably with a diameter of 0.1 mm to 20 mm or even 0.2 to 10 mm or even 0.5 to 7 or even 1 to 5 mm.

Preferably, at least some of the holes are near the trough edges to reduce wrinkling in the area around the trough edges, which in a preferred embodiment serves as a sealing or welding surface therein; Preferably, the distance between the edge of the trough and the edge of the first or next hole is 0.25 to 20 mm from the edge of the trough or even more preferably 0.5 to 5 mm or even 1 to 2 mm.

It is preferred that rows of holes are present along the edge of the surface and / or along the edges of the troughs; it may be preferred that there are 2 or 3 or more rows of holes.

The use of many small holes in the manner described above ensures a more homogeneous tension of the film, and reduces the tension required to fix the film, and improves the fixation and reduces the likelihood of creasing of the film.

The use of a vacuum to hold the film in place is particularly useful if the film is subsequently pulled into the wells by using a vacuum, as described below.

The open pouches may be formed in the wells by any method and as described above, preferred methods include the use of (at least) a vacuum or vacuum to draw the foil into the wells. Preferred methods include (also) heating and / or wetting the film, thereby making the film more flexible or even stretched to assume the shape of the trough; preferably combined with the application of a vacuum to the film which pulls the film into the wells or combinations of all of these processes.

Preferably, at least vacuum is used herein. In the case of bags comprising powders, it is advantageous to provide the film with tiny holes for a number of reasons. First, to reduce the risk of film defects during bag formation, for example, film defects that cause the film to crack Secondly, to allow the escape of gases derived from the product trapped in the bag, such as by oxygenation in the case of bleach-containing powders, and thirdly by the permanent To allow delivery of perfume. If heat and / or wetting are used as well, they may be applied before, during or after application of the vacuum, preferably during or before application of the vacuum.

Thus, it is preferred that each well contain one or more holes connected to a system that can provide through these holes a vacuum on the film over the holes as described in more detail herein. Preferably, the vacuum system is a vacuum chamber comprising at least two different units, each separated into different chambers, as described herein.

Heat can be applied by any means, for example directly, by passing the film under a heating element or through hot air before it is placed on the surface or as it is on the surface, or indirectly, for example by heating the surface or applying a hot article to the film, for example at temperatures of 50 to 120 ° C or even 60 to 90 ° C, preferably for example with infrared light.

The film may be wetted by any means, for example, directly by spraying a wetting agent (including water, solutions of the film material or plasticizers for the film material) on the film before it is placed on the surface or once it is on the surface, or indirectly by wetting the surface or by applying a wet object to the film.

The filling of the first and second webs of open pouches can be accomplished by any known method of filling (moving) articles. The exact most preferred method depends on the required product shape and filling speed.

One method is, for example, flooding dosing, wherein the web of open pouches is passed along a dosing unit along a metering unit, which is static and entangles over an apparatus that accurately doses a fixed amount of product or a fixed volume of product per unit of time, with continuous horizontal or substantially horizontal movement , The problem or disadvantage of this method may be that the product is dispensed onto the areas between the open bags, which are typically used as a sealing surface; this can not only be a waste of products, but also make sealing difficult. This problem is particularly acute for products in the form of mobile liquids. Pastes or gel products are more suitable for this type of filling process.

In general, preferred methods include continuous-flow, continuous-filling, which utilizes a dispensing unit located above the open bags and having an endless, rotating surface with nozzles that typically rotates in continuous motion with the nozzles at the same speed as the bags and in the same direction so that each open bag is under the same nozzle or nozzles for the duration of the dispensing step. After the filling step, the nozzles rotate and return to their home position to begin another dispensing / filling step. Each nozzle or a series of nozzles together is preferably connected to a device that can accurately control that only a fixed amount of product or a fixed volume of product during a rotation per nozzle, thus z. B. in a bag is discharged.

Preferably, the filling / dispensing system may be such that 10 to 100 cycles (filling steps) may be performed per minute, or even 30 to 80 or even 40 to 70 per minute. This will of course be adjusted according to the size of the open pouches, surface speed, etc.

A highly preferred method for filling the open pouches suitable for a surface moving in a horizontal rectilinear motion is a reciprocal filling method. This method preferably uses a moving filling station that is reversible (changes the direction of movement) and variable in speed. The filling station usually has a series of nozzles that move at the same speed as the open (to be filled) bags and in the same direction for the period of time in which product must be placed in the open bags. Thereafter, usually when a bag is full, the nozzle stops or stops the nozzles that filled the bag, its movement together with the bag and return in the opposite direction, then stop again, so that they over another open pouches or other open pouches that still need to be filled, and then, at the same speed and in the same direction as the open pouches, to start moving in the opposite direction again until they reach the speed of the pouches, then continue at this speed and begin dispensing and filling the bag (s) as in the previous filling cycle. The speed of the return movement may be higher than the speed of movement during filling.

Each nozzle or a number of nozzles together is preferably connected to a device that can accurately control that only a fixed amount of product or a fixed volume of product during a rotation per nozzle, thus z. B. in a bag is discharged.

The filling unit or station used in the method of the invention preferably uses a flow meter and / or a positive displacement pump to dose the correct product quantities or volumes per open bag, in particular a positive displacement pump has proven to be very accurate. Here, the required amount of product or the required product volume is introduced into the pump and then fed into the nozzles. For example, if the system needs to fill 60 bags per fill cycle, typically 60 nozzles are provided, connected to 60 positive displacement pumps (one pump per nozzle, per bag), all connected to a universal product tank ,

The pumps can be adjusted according to the product to be dispensed. For example, if the product is a viscous liquid, the pumps must be stronger if rapid filling and thus rapid movement of the surface is required.

Other useful methods include flow measurement using a magnetic flow meter or mass flow meter, and a pressure flow fill / measure (which keeps the pressure constant and controls the fill time and thus the fill volume).

It may also be preferable to use a filling system in which, prior to filling, a second surface having openings each having a surface equal to or less than the surface of an open bag is placed on the continuously moving web of open bags and continuously in the direction the web is moved by bags and at the speed of the web of open pouches so that the opening remains positioned over an open pouch during the filling step and that at least the space between a part of the hollows is covered by the surface, the second surface preferably being one endless, rotatably moving tape is.

The filling then takes place through the openings on this surface or on this band so that the product can only get into the open pouches and not onto the area between the pouches that are covered. This is advantageous because the area between the open bags (between the troughs), which usually serves as a sealing surface when closing the bags, remains free of product, which ensures a better or easier seal.

The filled, open bags are then closed, which can be done by any method. Preferably, this is also done in a horizontal position and in continuous, constant motion and preferably on the horizontal portion of the endless surface described above.

In the case of the second moving web, it is preferred that sealing be accomplished by continuously feeding a second material or film, preferably a water-soluble film, over and onto the web of open pouches and then preferably sealing the first and second films together in the area between the troughs and thus between the bags. Preferably, the closure material is applied to the open pouches at the same speed and in the same direction as the open pouches.

In the case of the first moving web, it is preferred that the closing material is the second web of closed, filled bags, the closing being carried out as described above, ie by continuously placing the web of closed, filled bags on the open bags, preferably at a constant speed and in the same direction as the open pouches, and which is subsequently sealed to the first foil. Alternatively, the first moving web may also be closed by means of a sheet of material as described above for the second web prior to superimposing and sealing the first and second moving webs of bags. Such embodiments may be preferred in the case of products containing multiple liquids, or in the need to produce bags in juxtaposed relationship, but which may be stacked on top of each other.

The sealing can be done by any method. The sealing may be carried out in a discontinuous manner, for example by transporting the web from bags to another sealing area and other sealing equipment. However, the sealing is preferably carried out continuously and preferably at a constant speed, while the closed web of bags moves continuously and at a constant speed, and it may also preferably be carried out in a horizontal position, preferably also on the horizontal portion of the surface.

Preferred methods include heat sealing, solvent welding, and solvent or wet sealing. In this case, it may be preferred that only the surface which is to form the sealing seam is treated with heat or solvent. The heat or solvent may be applied by any method, preferably on the closure material, preferably only on the surfaces intended to form the seal.

Preferably, when heat sealing is used, a roll of voids may be rolled in the size of the portion of the pouch not enclosed by the trough and in a pattern of the pouches (continuously) over the pouches made under the roll. In this case, the heated roller only touches the surface which is to be the sealing surface, namely between the bags, around the edges of the troughs. In general, the sealing temperatures, of course, depending on the film material, from 50 to 300 ° C or more specifically from 80 to 200 ° C. Also useful is a movable, reversible sealer that operates like the above-mentioned reversible movable filling / dosing device and that contacts the area between the wells around the edges for a certain time to form the seal, and then from moved away from the sealing surface to return and begin another sealing cycle. In the case of heat sealing, it is important that the sealing surface of the second web with the first web not interfit with the sealing surface of the individual first and / or second web of pouches.

When solvent or wet sealing or welding is used, it may be preferred that heat be applied as well. Preferred wet or solvent seal or solvent welding methods involve selectively applying solvent to the area between the wells or onto the closure material, for example by spraying or printing on these areas, and then applying pressure to these areas to form the seal , For example, sealing rolls and belts as described above (which may optionally also provide heat) may be used.

The stacked and sealed bag webs may then be separated by a separator separating the bags from one another into separate multi-compartment bags arranged one over the other, partially separating the web such that multi-compartment bags are formed in juxtaposed relationship but can be stacked become.

The separation can be performed by any method. It may be preferred that the separation also takes place in a continuous manner and preferably at a constant speed and preferably in a horizontal position. However, the separation step need not be performed either horizontally or continuously. For example, the web may be closed (sealed) bag to the separating device, e.g. B. to another surface where the separator works, are transported. However, for ease of processing, it may be preferable to perform the step of separating on the same surface as the previous steps.

For example, the separating device may be a sharp object or a hot object, which in the latter case burns through the foil / sealing surface. Preferred may be a roller with sharp tools, such as a knife, with cavities sized and with the pattern of the pouches rolling over the pouches so that the sharp tools only contact the surface to be separated. Preferably When moving the web of pouches in one direction (e.g., continuously and / or horizontally, for example, still on the endless surface herein), a static device that contacts the area between the pouches along the direction of travel may also be used to separate the bags in the direction of movement in a continuous manner. Then, the separation between the bags in the width direction of the bag web can be performed by an intermittent separation step, for example, by briefly applying a release device to the surface, removing the separation device, and repeating this action with the next set of bags.

The bag may be of any shape and shape and be of any material suitable for grasping the product prior to use, e.g. Without allowing the release of the compositions from the bag prior to contact with the composition of the bag with water. The exact version depends on z. G., The type and amount of compositions in the bag, the number of chambers in the bag, and the characteristics that the bag must have to hold, protect, and dispense or release the compositions.

During the manufacture of the liquid-containing chamber, an air bubble is formed as a rule. This bubble can reduce the compressibility of the bag and therefore make it difficult to close the dispenser after the bag has been inserted. It has been found that closure becomes easier when the ratio of air bubble diameter to maximum width dimension of the bag base is about 1: 5 to about 1: 2. Preferably, the bubble has a diameter of about 9 to about 16 mm. The dimension of the bubble can be controlled by process parameters.

In the invention, the water-soluble pouch is usually placed in the dispenser of the dishwasher and released during the main cycle of the dishwashing process. However, the dispensers of some dishwashers are not completely watertight, mainly for two reasons, either the dispenser has some openings to allow water ingress, or the dispenser is sealed with a rubber band that may deform over time due to the high temperature of the dishwashing process , Ingress of water into the dispenser can cause the premature discharge of bag contents, which is lost at the end of the pre-wash. This problem is particularly acute in the case of bags comprising low viscosity liquid compositions wherein a substantial amount of the product may be lost prior to the main wash cycle. This problem can be circumvented by making the bag or at least the liquid containing chamber thereof of a film material designed to outlast the pre-wash and release the bag contents at or after the start of the main wash cycle. In European machines, the pre-wash is usually a cold water cycle (about 20 ° C or less) with no detergent and with a duration of about 10 to 15 minutes.

Preferably, the film material has a water solubility according to the test defined below of less than about 50%, more preferably less than about 20%, and most preferably less than about 5%, under cold water conditions (20 ° C or below) when exposed to water for at least 10 Minutes, preferably at least 15 minutes exposed; and a water solubility of at least about 50%, more preferably at least about 75%, and most preferably at least about 95%, under hot water conditions (30 ° C or above, preferably 40 ° C or above) when exposed to the water for about 5 minutes, and preferably when exposed to water for about 3 minutes. Such sheet materials are referred to herein as being substantially insoluble in cold water but soluble in warm water. Sometimes this is simply abbreviated as "warm water soluble".

50 grams ± 0.1 grams of pouch material are placed in a preweighed 400 ml beaker and 245 ml ± 1 ml of distilled water are added. This is maintained at the desired temperature by use of a water bath and with vigorous stirring with a magnetic stirrer set at 600 rpm for the desired time. The mixture is then filtered through a folded qualitative sintered glass filter with a maximum pore size of 20 microns. The water is dried from the collected filtrate by any conventional method, and the weight of the remaining material (representing the dissolved or dispersed fraction) is determined. Thereafter, the percent solubility or the percent dispersibility can be calculated.

Commercially available films which are insoluble in cold water and soluble in hot water include BP26, available from Aicello, L10 and L15, available from Aquafilm, VF-M and VM-S, available from Kuraray, and E-2060 from Monosol, a.

The multi-compartment bag comprises a first chamber comprising a liquid composition and a second chamber containing a powder or compacted powder composition. The liquid-containing chamber is preferably made of a hot water-soluble material as described above, and the chamber with the powder or compacted powder is made of cold-water-soluble material, ie, a material that is cold water (20 ° C or lower) in volume of at least 50% by weight, preferably at least 75% by weight, more preferably at least 95% by weight, when exposed to water for 5 minutes, and preferably when exposed to water for 3 minutes. Due to the operation of European dishwashers (they are filled with cold water and the cold water is heated by means of a heater), the chamber of hot water soluble material takes longer to dissolve than the chamber of cold water soluble material. This type of bag allows sustained release of the liquid composition, thus providing optimized use of the detergent composition. Preferably, the liquid composition comprises a cleaning enzyme, which is advantageous from the viewpoint of enzyme storage stability, wherein the enzyme is separated from the bleaching agent and highly alkaline materials contained in the powder or compacted powder composition. In addition, the chamber containing the liquid (substantially cold-water-insoluble and warm-water-soluble) takes longer to dissolve or decompose than the solid-containing chamber (cold-water-soluble), indicating the negative interaction between bleaching agents and enzymes and between surfactant and enzymes in the Minimizes wash liquor and provides a better removal of protein dirt and an advantage of reduced staining in the later stages of the dishwashing process.

Bag compartments containing solid compositions, especially compositions containing oxygen bleach, are commonly pierced with needles to permit the escape of any oxygen formed. However, the holes formed by the piercing also allow the escape of perfumes or unpleasant odors. For example, surfactants often adhere to an offensive odor, and when such bags are packaged in a secondary package, the unpleasant surfactant odor may concentrate in the top portion of the package and be released each time the user opens the package. This problem can be avoided by including the surfactant in the liquid composition since fluid containing chambers must be made free of holes. Thus, according to another embodiment, the liquid composition comprises a surfactant. Another advantage, when the surfactant is in the liquid phase, is that problems in applying the surfactant to the solid material are avoided. Another advantage is that the surfactant is released with a certain delay with respect to the solid composition, allowing for better performance of the bleaching agent and enzymes which may be affected by interaction between the surfactant and the dish surfaces.

Preferably, fragrance is incorporated into the solid composition, where the placement of minute holes allows slow release of the fragrance before the product is used in the dishwasher.

Films that are substantially insoluble in cold water and soluble in warm water have a relatively low moisture and plasticizer content, therefore, the film would take a considerable amount of time and temperature to seal by heat sealing. These requirements can lead to damage to the film, such as holes at the point where the film is stretched in the trough, causing leaks that are particularly problematic in the case of bags containing liquid. Therefore, it is preferred that chambers of films that are substantially insoluble in cold water and soluble in warm water and that contain liquids are sealed using solvents that partially hydrate the film prior to sealing, which requires the sealant Lowers time and temperature, creates strong seals and prevents the formation of holes. In the preferred embodiment, differential solubility bags comprising a chamber comprising a liquid composition and another chamber comprising a powdered composition, wherein the liquid containing chamber is made of material substantially insoluble in cold water and in warm water Water is soluble, and the powder-containing chamber is made of material that is soluble in cold water, it is preferred that the liquid-containing chamber is sealed by solvent seals, while the liquid-containing chamber is sealed by heat sealing with the powder-containing chamber.

Although the products contained in the pouch are such that they readily dissolve or disperse in water, it may be preferred that disintegrating agents, such as soda, water-swellable polymers or clays, be present in the pouch itself and / or in the product contained therein are, in particular, sources of soda based on an acid and a carbonate source. Suitable acids include the organic carboxylic acids such as fumaric acid, maleic acid, malic acid, citric acid; Suitable carbonate sources include sodium salts of carbonate, bicarbonate, percarbonate. Preferred amounts of the decomposition aids or soda sources or both are from 0.05% to 15% or even from 0.2% to 10% or even 0.3 to 5% by weight. -% of the total composition in the bag.

Examples:

Abbreviations used in examples

Carbonat:

Wasserfreies Natriumcarbonat

STPP:

Natriumtripolyphosphat

Silikat:

Amorphes Natriumsilikat (SiO₂:Na₂O = 2:1 bis 4:1)

HEDP:

Ethan-1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonsäure

Perborat:

Natriumperboratmonohydrat

Percarbonat:

Natriumpercarbonat der Nominalformel 2Na₂CO₃·3H₂O₂

Carbonat:

Wasserfreies Natriumcarbonat

Termamyl:

α-Amylase, erhältlich von Novo Nordisk MS

Savinase:

Protease, erhältlich von Novo Nordisk MS

FN3:

Protease, erhältlich von Genencor

SLF 18:

Poly-Tergent^®, erhältlich von BASF

ACNI:

Alkylverkapptes nichtionisches Tensid der Formel C_9/11 H_19/23 EO₈-Cyclohexylacetal

C₁₄A_O:

Tetradecyldimethylaminoxid

C₁₆AO:

Hexadecyldimethylaminoxid

Duramyl:

α-Amylase, erhältlich von Novo Nordisk A/S

DPM:

Dipropylenglycolmethylether

DPG:

Dipropylenglycol

Methocel:

Celluloseverdickungsmittel, erhältlich von Dow Chemical

In the examples, the abbreviated component names have the following meanings:

carbonate:

Anhydrous sodium carbonate

STPP:

sodium tripolyphosphate

Silicate:

Amorphous sodium silicate (SiO ₂ : Na ₂ O = 2: 1 to 4: 1)

HEDP:

Ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1-

perborate:

sodium perborate

percarbonate:

Sodium percarbonate of the nominal formula 2Na ₂ CO ₃ · 3H ₂ O ₂

carbonate:

Anhydrous sodium carbonate

Termamyl:

α-amylase, available from Novo Nordisk MS

Savinase:

Protease available from Novo Nordisk MS

FN3:

Protease, available from Genencor

SLF 18:

Poly-Tergent ^®, available from BASF

ACNI:

_Alkyl-capped nonionic surfactant of the formula C _9/11 H _19/23 EO ₈ -cyclohexyl acetal

C ₁₄ A _O :

tetradecyl

C ₁₆ AO:

hexadecyl

Duramyl:

α-amylase, available from Novo Nordisk A / S

DPM:

dipropylene

DPG:

dipropylene

Methocel:

Cellulose thickener, available from Dow Chemical

In the following examples, all amounts are given in weight percent (wt%).

Examples 1 to 8

The compositions of Examples 1 to 4 are placed in a layered PVA two-compartment bag with a rectangular base. The dual chamber bag is made from a Monosol M8630 film as available from Chris-Craft Industrial Products. 17.2 g of the particulate composition and 4 g of the liquid composition are added to the two different chambers of the bag. The bag dimensions below 19.6 N (2 kg load) are: length 3.7 cm, width 3.4 cm and height 1.5 cm. The longitudinal / lateral aspect ratio thus amounts to 1.5: 3.2 or 1: 2.47. The pouch is made by a process with two endless surfaces, both surfaces moving in a continuous horizontal rectilinear motion as described herein. According to this method, a first web of bags is formed by forming and filling a first web of open pouches mounted on a first endless surface and closing the first web of open pouches with the second web of filled and sealed pouches moving in synchronism therewith. produced.

The bag is placed in the 25 ml dispenser chamber of a Bosch Siemens 6032 dishwasher, the dispenser is closed and the dishwasher is operated in its normal 55 ° C program. example 1 2 3 4 Particulate composition C ₁₄ AO 5 5 C ₁₆ AO 5 5 ACNI 5 5 SLF18 5 5 STPP 55 55 56 56 HEDP 1 1 1 1 Termamyl 1.5 1.5 FN3 2 2 percarbonate 15 15 15.5 15.5 carbonate 9 9 10 10 silicate 6 6 7 7 perfume 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 Liquid composition DPG 99.5 99.5 95 95 FN3 Liquid 2.6 2.4 Duramyl Liquid 2.0 2.4 dye 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.2 example 5 6 7 8th Particulate composition STPP 60 60 61 61 HEDP 1 1 1 1 Termamyl 1.5 1.5 FN3 2 2 percarbonate 17 17 17.5 17.5 carbonate 11 11 12 12 silicate 7 7 8th 8th perfume 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 Liquid composition DPG 59.5 59.5 55 55 FN3 Liquid 2.6 2.4 Duramyl Liquid 2.0 2.4 C ₁₄ AO 20 20 C ₁₆ AO 20 20 ACM 20 20 SLF18 20 20 dye 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.2

Claims (16)

A method of rinsing dishes / dinnerware in an automatic dishwashing machine using a machine dishwashing product in the form of a water-soluble bag comprising a plurality of chambers in a generally stacked relationship, each bag containing one or more detergent-active ingredients or auxiliary ingredients wherein the bag has a first chamber comprising a liquid composition, wherein the liquid composition comprises nonionic surfactant and a second chamber comprises a powder composition, wherein the Weight ratio of the liquid to the solid composition of 1:30 to 30: 1, wherein the bag comprises an upper and a lower outer wall, which are generally opposite each other, and a skirt-like side wall and one or more inner partitions and wherein each of the upper and the lower outer walls and the skirt-like side wall are formed by thermoforming, vacuum forming or a combination thereof and wherein the longitudinal dimension is the maximum height of the bag when the bag is on one of the bases having the maximum base area when the bag chambers are arranged one above the other in the longitudinal direction and under a static load of 19.6 N (2 kg), and wherein the transverse direction is the maximum width of the bag in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction under the same conditions. The method of claim 1, wherein each inner bulkhead is secured to an outer or side wall of the bag along a single weld or to both outer and sidewalls of the bag along a plurality of welds that at least partially do not overlap. Method according to one of claims 1 to 2, wherein each partition wall is fixed to one or more outer or side walls by hot or solvent welding. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one inner bulkhead is attached to an upper or lower outer wall along a first continuous weld, and one or both of the outer wall and the bulkhead are secured to the skirt-like sidewall along a second continuous weld, and wherein Weld seams are substantially non-overlapping in the case of heat sealing and, in the case of solvent welding, are at least partially non-overlapping. The method of claim 4, including a longitudinally extending waist region defined by the first and second welds, wherein the first weld or non-overlapping section thereof is located further inward than the second weld and longitudinally offset therefrom, the waist region and the skirt-like sidewall are generally coextensive with each other. A method of rinsing dishes / dinnerware in an automatic dishwashing machine using a machine dishwashing product in the form of a water-soluble bag comprising a plurality of chambers in generally stacked relationship, each chamber containing one or more detergent-active ingredients or adjunct ingredients, the bag a first chamber comprising a liquid composition and a second chamber comprising a powder composition, wherein the weight ratio of the liquid to the solid composition is from 1:30 to 30: 1, the bag having an upper and a lower outer wall generally facing one another, comprising a skirt-like sidewall and one or more interior partitions, wherein at least one inner divider is attached to an upper or lower outer wall attached along a first weld, and one or both of the outer walls d and the partition are secured to the skirt-like sidewall along a second weld, and wherein the welds are at least partially non-overlapping, the pouch having a generally rectangular base, and wherein the longitudinal dimension is the maximum height of the pouch when the pouch is on one of the bases which has the maximum footprint when the bag compartments are longitudinally stacked and under a static load of 19.6 N (2 kg) and the transverse direction is the maximum width of the bag in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction under the same conditions , The method of claim 6, including a longitudinally extending waist region defined by the first and second welds, wherein the first weld or non-overlapping section thereof is disposed farther inward than the second weld and longitudinally offset therefrom, the waist region and the skirt-like sidewall are generally coextensive with each other. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the plurality of chambers comprises a powder composition comprising a particulate bleach. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the plurality of chambers comprises a liquid composition comprising a cleaning enzyme. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the plurality of chambers comprises a paste, gel or wax composition. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more of the plurality of chambers comprises an organic solvent system effective to remove stale, baked and burnt stains, and wherein the organic solvent system is selected from alcohols, amines, esters, glycol ethers, glycols, terpenes and Mixtures thereof is selected. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of said plurality of chambers has a different rate of decomposition or dissolution profile under use conditions. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of the chambers is made of a material that is substantially insoluble in cold water at or below 20 ° C and is soluble in warm water at or above 30 ° C and preferably at least one other chamber Material which is soluble in cold water at or below 20 ° C. A method according to claim 12 or 13, comprising a first chamber containing a liquid composition and a second chamber containing a powder or compacted powder composition, the first chamber being made of a material soluble in hot water and the second chamber being made of a cold water soluble material , The method of claim 14, wherein the liquid composition comprises a cleansing enzyme or a surfactant. A process according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the weight ratio of the liquid to the solid composition is from 1: 1 to 1:25 and preferably from 1:15 to 1:20.