EP1549195A1

EP1549195A1 - Melamine foam sheet article and method for making same

Info

Publication number: EP1549195A1
Application number: EP03757131A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jean Sauniere
Original assignee: J.S.O.
Current assignee: J.S.O.
Priority date: 2002-06-11
Filing date: 2003-06-10
Publication date: 2005-07-06
Also published as: CN1658784A; WO2003103469A1; FR2840523A1; FR2840523B1; AU2003255650A1; US20050202232A1; JP2005528945A

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for making an article (1) comprising at least a sheet melamine (2, 2') foam piece with thickness sufficiently thin to exhibit flexibility and no flexural elasticity, which consists in: cutting by peeling a melamine foam block (40) into a strip with thickness sufficiently thin to exhibit flexibility and no flexural elasticity, and in making the article (1) using at least one sheet melamine foam piece derived from said strip. An article obtained by the inventive method can be used for many applications, in particular, in for surface cleaning, where it can advantageously be substituted for a standard double-faced sponge substantially identically. Such an article exhibits, when used as a towelette, flexibility and no flexural elasticity which makes it easy to use. Moreover, it is more hygienic than a double-faced sponge since it is disposable.

Description

MELAMINE FOAM SHEET ARTICLE (S) AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF

The present invention relates to the field of articles comprising at least one piece of melamine foam.

In certain applications, it could be useful to have articles composed of at least one sheet of melamine foam, or comprising at least one such sheet of melamine foam. However, to date, no industrial process exists for manufacturing a piece of melamine foam in the form of a sheet of sufficiently small thickness to be flexible and non-elastic in bending.

- Melamine foams are flexible open-cell foams made from melamine resin and are essentially characterized by very low density, good sound and thermal insulation qualities, good chemical resistance to solvents and aggressive agents, excellent dimensional stability, ... They are generally used in the building sector, and in that of transport (automobile, railway, aeronautical construction ...).

More singularly, for their capacity to absorb liquids and their abrasive power, melamine foams are also involved in the design of certain types of sponge. However, because of their great mechanical fragility, in particular in tearing and rubbing, they have so far been exploited only in the form of blocks or layers of relatively large thickness (JP 2001-258809, DE 201 09 652 Ul), at least of the order of a centimeter. No method was then known which made it possible to produce parts of sufficiently small thickness to obtain a flexible and non-elastic sheet in bending, in particular of thickness less than a millimeter. What is more, we do not know how to obtain sheets of fine foam from such a brittle and brittle material. In addition, obtaining direct a layer of melamine foam with a thickness of less than a millimeter is not compatible with the known processes for the synthesis of melamine foams.

The invention also extends to the applications of such pieces of sheet-shaped melamine foam, that is to say to articles comprising at least one piece of sheet-shaped melamine foam. Such an article of various format, can be the subject of numerous applications. It can for example be formed from a tape or a strip which can be cut on site as a covering for floors, walls or the surface of any rooms.

But more particularly, it can be useful as an article for cleaning surfaces intended for domestic or professional use (factories, laboratories, hospital environment ...) -in particular for maintenance or cleaning (household tasks, washing of vehicles ...) -. The invention thus particularly relates to articles of the rag, mop, paper towel, wipe type, which can be used both in wet cleaning and in non-wet cleaning.

In the area of cleaning surfaces, both domestic and professional, we traditionally use rags, cloths, mops ... Usually made of canvas, especially cotton, these have, in addition to an ability to absorb liquids, solidity and resistance adapted to their use, which sometimes requires intensive rubbing (dusting, washing floors, dishes ...). Regularly rinsed and / or washed after single or multiple use, these items are often intended for repeated use and are intended to have a fairly long service life.

These pieces of canvas, often smelly and rather repulsive in appearance, are the benchmark for mites, microbes, fungi, and are a source of unsanitary conditions. Also, for essentially hygienic reasons, it is preferable that these articles, used in stages of cleaning of surfaces, be discarded quickly after a single use.

Recently, disposable articles have been developed which are made essentially of cellulose fibers, such as absorbent paper in rolls, often called "household paper" or "paper towel". In addition to providing better hygiene (because discarded after a single use), the paper towel greatly facilitates the daily lives of housewives and significantly reduces the load of detergents. However, because they are made mainly of fibers. cellulose, in order to reduce the cost, these articles present not only a certain softness to the touch which reflects an inability to scrub, but also another major drawback: their brittleness. Therefore, they are poorly suited to intensive rubbing on a surface to be cleaned, and even less when this surface has a certain roughness. In addition, their fragility increases when they are moistened. Impossible to wring out without damaging their structure, they become inoperative once waterlogged.

Also known are cleaning wipes of intermediate structure between that of single-use articles and that of multiple use. These wipes are composed of a thickness of foam or natural or synthetic fibers, woven or agglomerated (non-woven), which can be previously impregnated, before their marketing, with a lotion intended to act on the stains and thus reduce the 'rubbing effort. The liquid compositions which may be used are generally detergents, antibacterial and / or fungicidal solutions, etc. Such ready-to-use articles do not require wetting or the addition of other conventional household products. The amount of lotion is adjusted so that the wipe can have the best possible effectiveness against soiling and maintain a satisfactory solidity for a more or less specific application. However, these wipes which are pleasant to handle have insufficient scouring power when dealing with stubborn stains, such as for example dry stains and encrusted in a surface which is not entirely. smooth.

Also known as “two-sided” sponges, which combine a scouring pad, a few millimeters thick, with a conventional sponge. absorbent with greater thickness (greater than 1 cm), and make it possible to remove the dirt by rubbing through the scouring face and to carry out a wet cleaning and / or absorption thanks to the thickness of the sponge.

There are also known sponge-type cleaning articles having a bifunctional body, both absorbent and scouring, made of melamine foam (JP 2001-258809, DE 201 09 652 IU). Because of the very great tear and abrasion fragility which characterizes melamine foams, these bifunctional bodies have so far shown significant thicknesses, at least of the order of a centimeter, and cannot be used as such. To remedy these holding defects, JP 2001-258809 recommends adding a gripping element to it in an elastic foam of mechanical resistance, in particular in traction and tearing, greater than that of melamine foams. DE 201 09 652 Ul proposes to modify the cellular structure of melamine foams by thermocompression and, possibly, to carry out a surface embossing to modify their roughness and thus improve their cleaning power.

Although still very widespread in the current domestic landscape, whether they are two-sided and / or made of melamine foam, these sponges do not meet hygiene requirements and even less sanitary requirements. Indeed, in recent years, an awareness of the presence of germs has become clearer inside the homes. Among these germs, in particular of the bacterial type, some have proved, on several occasions, fatal for humans. This is the case with salmonella and listeria. The transmission of bacteria mainly by infected water and food, a slightly damp sponge, never completely clean, is a hot spot of contamination and a cradle favorable to the proliferation of millions of bacteria. This is revealed by a study carried out in the "experimental kitchen" of the Institut Pasteur (Institut Pasteur - archives 01/010605).

Thus, there is today a real need to replace sponges, whatever they are, with cleaning articles meeting the sanitary and hygienic criteria. However, there is currently no article capable of satisfactorily replacing absorbent and scouring sponges and which, while being disposable, retains qualities and properties equivalent to those of these sponges in each of their common applications (ranging from simple cleaning of a smooth surface, to scrubbing an old pan hanging food to cooking).

The invention therefore aims first of all to propose a method of manufacturing an article comprising at least one piece of melamine foam in the form of a sheet of thickness sufficiently small to be flexible and non-elastic in bending, and which is compatible with the constraints of industrial operations, particularly in terms of cost and profitability. The invention also aims to propose such an article.

The invention aims in particular to propose a cleaning article which is both absorbent and scouring, and moreover disposable, that is to say intended for a single use, or almost single (some successive uses).

The invention also aims to propose such an article of inexpensive composition and manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article which is strong enough to be able to assume cleaning tasks requiring intense rubbing on a rough surface, even in the wet state, or even in the presence of a large amount of water. .

The present invention relates, firstly, to a method of manufacturing an article comprising at least one piece of melamine foam in the form of a sheet of thickness sufficiently small to be flexible and not elastic in bending, in which, unrolling a block of melamine foam into a ribbon of sufficiently low thickness to be flexible and non-elastic in bending, and the article is produced using at least one piece of melamine foam in the form of a sheet obtained from this ribbon.

Mention may be made, as melamine foam used as starting material according to the invention, of that manufactured according to the process described in US Patent 4,666,948 or BASOTECT®, manufactured and marketed by the company BASF, Germany.

The invention is based on the demonstration, and this for the first time, of the possibility of obtaining pieces of melamine foam of sufficiently small thickness to obtain a flexible and non-elastic sheet in bending, in particular of lesser thickness. to the millimeter. To do this, in a method according to the invention, a block of melamine foam is cut by unrolling, by means of an uncoiler.

Unwinding, a technique used in the wood industry, enables a cylinder of material to be cut into thin strips. To do this, a tangential cut is made of said cylinder of material rotated in front of a sharpened blade, the distance between the axis of rotation of said cylinder and the blade gradually decreasing during the rotation of the cylinder. The thickness of the ribbon depends essentially on the result between the speed of rotation of the cylinder and the speed of approximation of the axis of rotation and the blade of the unwinder.

In general, in the wood industry, the tape cut by the blade is also cut transversely and possibly longitudinally to obtain blades used, for example, in the manufacture of packaging crates.

The inventor noted with surprise that despite the great fragility and the brittle nature of melamine foams, the cutting by unrolling of a block of melamine foam into a thin continuous strip, flexible, not elastic in bending, is possible with a high reliability (little risk of ribbon breaking during unwinding) and high speed. This observation made it possible for the first time to obtain pieces of melamine foam of sufficiently small thickness to be flexible and not elastic in bending.

At the present time, no other technique is known which makes it possible to obtain a layer of melamine foam with a thickness less than a millimeter. Advantageously, a method according to the invention is implemented for the manufacture of an article having two opposite main free faces of total thickness sufficiently small to be flexible and elastic in bending, characterized in that each piece of melamine foam at least one layer, called reinforcing layer, so that at least one of the main free faces of said article has a scouring free face at least partly formed by at least one piece of melamine foam.

A method according to the invention thus makes it possible to manufacture, from a melamine foam, articles particularly advantageous for cleaning. These articles, due to their small thickness, are flexible and can be used as a paper towel, cloth or wipe. However, they have an abrasive free face, not smooth, which advantageously allows intensive scouring operations. Requiring very little material and materials already commercially available at moderate prices, the manufacturing cost of these articles can be very low so that they can be produced and marketed for single or almost single use.

To obtain an article with a thickness sufficiently small to be flexible and non-elastic in bending, ribbons of thickness less than or equal to 1 mm are preferably cut by unwinding, preferably of the order of 0β mm.

Advantageously and according to the invention, each piece of melamine foam is assembled to at least one reinforcing layer. so as to obtain a layer of melamine foam having a main face defining a scouring free face of the article and, superimposed on the layer of melamine foam, such a reinforcing layer having a main face defining the other free face of the article Article.

According to the invention, a layer of thin melamine foam is simply superimposed on a layer of reinforcement made of a suitable material. Such an assembly makes it possible to obtain an article of the wipe type, with a main free face formed by the layer of melamine foam and another main free face formed by the reinforcing layer. The reinforcing layer may be a layer of melamine foam. It can also be a layer made of a material distinct from a melamine foam, adapted to have a higher tear strength than that of melamine foam. In this case, the reinforcing layer makes it possible, throughout its use, to maintain the entire layer (s) of melamine foam.

Advantageously, a method according to the invention makes it possible to manufacture an article of which at least one of the main free faces is an absorbent free face at least partly formed by at least one piece of absorbent material. This piece of absorbent material can constitute a reinforcing layer of an absorbent material, of melamine foam or not.

According to a preferred embodiment, an article is produced comprising a layer of melamine foam having a main face defining the scouring free face of the article and, superimposed on the layer of melamine foam and made of an absorbent material, a reinforcing layer having a main face defining the absorbent free face of the article.

Thus, although it may resemble an article of paper towel or wipe type, due to its flexibility, its small thickness and its disposable nature, an article according to the invention has good tear resistance and advantageously provides the functional advantages of a two-sided sponge: absorption and scouring capacity. An article produced according to the invention makes it possible to advantageously replace conventional two-sided sponges in an at least substantially equivalent manner, while also having great flexibility which facilitates its use, and while being disposable, therefore more hygienic.

Advantageously and according to another alternative embodiment, the opposite main free faces of an article according to the invention are both scouring and formed by two distinct layers of melamine foam between which at least one reinforcing layer is interposed. Advantageously and according to the invention, an article is produced with a total thickness of less than 5 mm, preferably of the order of 0.85 to 2 mm.

Advantageously and according to the invention, each reinforcing layer is produced from a fibrous material mainly containing fibers chosen from: cellulose fibers, natural textile fibers, synthetic textile fibers.

Advantageously and according to the invention, each reinforcing layer is produced from a material chosen from: a cellulose nonwoven, a viscose nonwoven, a perforated cotton nonwoven, a polyamide knitted mesh, a gauze cotton, polyurethane foam, polyethylene foam.

By way of nonlimiting examples only, among the commercially available materials which can act as an absorbent reinforcing layer according to the invention and which it is sufficient to associate integrally with the layer (s) of foam. of melamine to obtain an article according to the invention, mention may be made of sheets of absorbent paper of cellulose fibers, handkerchiefs of paper, dusting cloths made of cellulose or cotton wadding, pieces of gauze used in the medical or cosmetic ...

It is understood that the use of an absorbent material, different from a melamine foam, as a reinforcing layer according to the invention is only a variant implementation of a method according to the invention. For certain applications, this variant implementation of the invention can be advantageously envisaged in order to improve the capacity for absorbing liquids and the performance of an article according to the invention. In the case of an article according to the invention, intended for example for dry scrubbing or any other task where the absorption of liquids is not an important criterion, the presence of an absorbent reinforcing layer is not not indispensable. Any layer of any suitable material with a higher tear resistance than that of the melamine foam layer may be suitable (a sheet of paper, cardboard, a plastic film, etc.). Advantageously and according to the invention, at least part of the thickness of said article is impregnated with a liquid composition, before packaging.

Thanks to the chemical stability of melamine foams and their resistance to solvents and chemicals (in general in accordance with standard DLN 53428), it is possible to consider soaking said article with liquid compositions of very varied natures and compositions.

Advantageously and according to the invention, a liquid composition is used chosen from: a detergent, a solvent, a bacteriostatic and / or bactericidal disinfectant composition, water, or a mixture of these.

An article produced according to a process according to the invention can be used for various purposes, for example domestic or industrial cleaning, but not only. An article according to the invention is also suitable for cleaning and personal care (for cosmetic or curative purposes), for example as a bath sponge, make-up remover, gum or wipe intended for removing dead skin, cotton or disinfecting dressing ... Also, in this perspective of application, it is advantageously impregnated at least part of its thickness with a liquid composition chosen from: a moisturizing solution, a soap, a deodorant, a perfume, a makeup-removing composition, an emoUient, an ointment, an antiseptic, water, hydrogen peroxide, or a mixture of these.

As a variant, one incorporates into at least part of. the thickness of said article a solid composition capable of dissolving in the presence of a liquid - in particular water - so as to be able to release an active agent. Advantageously, in order to preserve the functional and structural characteristics of an article obtained according to the invention, and more particularly the functional characteristics of the liquid or solid composition, at least during a storage period of adequate duration, said article is packaged under waterproof packaging, individual or collective. Advantageously and according to the invention, when an impregnation of said article is carried out with a liquid composition as defined above, use is made of a packaging compatible with this impregnation.

Advantageously and according to the invention, the different layers of said article are laminated two by two by means of an intermediate heat-activatable adhesive film.

The use of a heat-activatable film as a means adapted to allow the cohesion of the various constituent layers of an article according to the invention is presented here only as an alternative embodiment. It therefore in no way limits the scope of the invention, in particular to an indirect bonding of these different layers. The choice of methods, and in particular the adhesive composition, allowing the cohesion of these layers, is generally appreciated as a function of the nature of the reinforcing layer.

In some cases, no adhesive composition is necessary, for example when the reinforcing layer has, by itself, a cohesive power with the melamine foam. This is the case, for example, when the reinforcing layer is produced by printing or spraying, directly on one side of a layer of melamine foam, with an aqueous composition suitable for forming a film which is found on drying. thus directly glued to the melamine foam.

The invention extends to an article obtained by a method according to the invention. Said article comprises at least one piece of melamine foam in the form of a sheet of thickness which is sufficiently small to be flexible and not elastic in flexion. Advantageously and according to the invention, said article is characterized:

- in that at least one of the main free faces is a scouring free face, at least partly formed by at least one piece of melamine foam, - in that it comprises at least one layer, called the reinforcing layer, associated with each piece of melamine foam opposite the part of the scouring free face formed by this piece.

Advantageously and according to the invention, at least one of the pieces of melanin foam is of thickness less than or equal to 1 mm, preferably of the order of 0.8 mm.

Advantageously, the article according to the invention comprises a layer of melamine foam having a main face defining a scouring free face of the article and, superimposed on the layer of melamine foam, a reinforcing layer having a main face defining the 'other free side of the article. An article according to the invention can thus be very simple to produce and simply consist of the superposition of a layer of melamine foam and of a reinforcement layer of a suitable material. Such an article according to the invention therefore has a main free face formed by the flexible non-elastic layer in bending of melamine foam and another main free face formed by the reinforcement layer also flexible in non-elastic in bending.

Advantageously and according to the invention, at least one of the main free faces of the article is an absorbent free face at least partly formed by at least one piece of absorbent material. This piece of absorbent material can be the reinforcing layer itself, or even the

(the) room (s) or layer (s) of melamine foam.

Advantageously, a reinforcing layer according to the invention is made of an absorbent material, distinct from a melamine foam, adapted to have a tear strength greater than that of melamine foam. Thus, although it may resemble an article of paper towel or wipe type, because of its small thickness, its flexibility, its lack of elasticity in bending and its disposable nature, an article according to the invention has good cohesion, good tear resistance and advantageously provides the functional advantages of a two-sided sponge: absorption and scouring capacity. It has particularly good scouring properties superior to known wipes. An article according to the invention can therefore replace a conventional two-sided sponge at least substantially equivalent. An article according to the invention also has, like a wipe, flexibility and an absence of elasticity in bending which facilitate its use. In addition, it is disposable, and therefore more hygienic than a two-sided sponge.

Advantageously and according to another variant of the invention, the main opposite free faces of an article according to the invention are both scouring and are thus formed by two distinct layers of melamine foam between which is interposed at least one layer of reinforcement . . Advantageously, an article according to the invention has a thickness of less than 5 mm, preferably of the order of 0.85 to 2 mm, that is to say much less than that of a conventional sponge.

Advantageously and according to the invention, each reinforcing layer is made of a fibrous material mainly containing fibers chosen from: cellulose fibers, natural textile fibers, synthetic textile fibers.

Advantageously and according to the invention, each reinforcing layer can also be made of a material chosen from: a cellulose nonwoven, a viscose nonwoven, a perforated cotton nonwoven, a polyamide knitted mesh, a cotton gauze, polyurethane foam, poryethylene foam.

Advantageously, at least part of the thickness of an article according to the invention can be impregnated with a liquid composition, before its packaging (for storage, transportation and marketing). Advantageously and according to the invention, the liquid composition is chosen from: a detergent, a solvent, a bacteriostatic and / or bactericidal disinfecting composition, water, or a mixture of these.

Advantageously and as a variant, at least part of the thickness of an article according to the invention is impregnated with a liquid composition chosen from: a moisturizing solution, a soap, a deodorant, a perfume, a make-up removing composition, emoUient, ointment, antiseptic, water, hydrogen peroxide, or a mixture of these.

Instead of being soaked in a liquid composition, an article according to the invention can also advantageously incorporate, in at least part of its thickness, a solid composition intended to dissolve in the presence of a liquid - in particular water - so as to be able to release an active agent.

Advantageously, an article according to the invention is packaged in order to preserve its functional characteristics, and more particularly those of the liquid or solid composition, at least during a storage period of adequate duration.

Advantageously, an article according to the invention is packaged in sealed packaging, individually (closed pocket for example) or collective (closed dispenser box). When an article in accordance with the invention is impregnated with a liquid composition as defined above, the packaging chosen is compatible with this impregnation.

Advantageously and according to the invention, the different layers and / or parts of an article according to the invention can be laminated by means of an intermediate heat-activatable adhesive film.

The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing an article comprising at least one piece of melamine foam as well as an article obtained by this method, which can be intended for multiple applications, and more particularly cleaning and / or maintenance of surfaces, characterized, in combination, by all or some of the characteristics above or below.

Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following examples which refer to the appended figures, in which:

- Figure 1 shows a general view of an article. absorbent and scouring according to the invention,

- Figures 2 and 3 show partial sectional views of two alternative embodiments of an absorbent and scouring article according to the figure 1 ; FIG. 2 thus represents a first variant of an article according to the invention, a single main free face of which is made of melamine foam, and FIG. 3 shows a second variant and for which the two main free faces are of melamine foam, - Figure 4 illustrates the multiple use of an article according. the invention,

- Figure 5 is a schematic representation of an unwinder for implementing a method according to the invention.

In Figure 1 is shown an article 1 bi-layer according to the invention, which by its thinness, advantageously less than 5 mm - in particular of the order of a millimeter - and its flexibility, is similar to a cleaning article disposable cloth, paper towel or wipe.

As shown in Figure 4, such an article, very flexible and not elastic in bending, allows good grip and pleasant handling. By its scouring power, its capacity to absorb liquids and a good tear resistance, it is suitable for many cleaning operations (wet or non-wet cleaning) of surfaces 5 and advantageously fulfills the functions of a conventional two-sided sponge .

As shown in FIG. 4, this article 1 allows cleaning operations with less effort such as dusting, cleaning of solid dirt not encrusted on the surface 5, sponging of a liquid 6 ... It also allows intensive scouring operations on surface 5, even if it has a certain roughness. This scrubbing, which is done by a simple rubbing, can call on the abrasive power alone of article 1, or involve other household products in order to facilitate this operation.

According to a first alternative embodiment of the invention, an article 1 has a single layer of melamine foam 2. Represented in FIG. 2 in the lower part, this has a main surface at least substantially equal to that of the main faces free from item 1. In other words the free and scouring main face, 3 of the single layer of foam melamine 2 alone forms the scouring free face of article 1, adapted to be able to be applied to a surface 5 to be treated - in particular to be cleaned - and to exert a scouring effect there when rubbed against this surface 5.

This layer of melamine foam 2 has a thickness less than a millimeter, for example of the order of 0.8 mm.

The layer of melamine foam 2 is obtained by unrolling an initial block of melamine foam by means of an unwinder, for example, one of the models sold by the company FECICBN-KIRFEL, Germany.

As starting material suitable for implementing a method according to the invention, mention may be made of BASOTECT® manufactured and marketed by the company BASF, Germany. BASOTECT® is generally sold by this company in the form of a block of dimensions 2500 x 1250 x 500 mm, but can also be sold with special dimensions on request. Figure 5 gives a schematic overview of the general operation of a conventional unwinder.

Schematically, an unwinder consists of an upper shaft 10 and a lower shaft 20 cylindrical, arranged parallel to each other, and driven. separately rotated by two synchronous motors. The upper shaft 10, slidably mounted at its ends on a pair of guide rails 11a and 11b, is driven in translation along said rails 11a and 11b by the very rotation of the upper shaft 10 around its axis. This rotation brings about the progressive approximation of the axis of the upper shaft 10 of the cutting edge of the fixed elongated blade 30, placed below the upper shaft 10 and substantially in the horizontal plane defined by the axis of the lower shaft. 20. The elongated blade 30, of cutting edge extending over at least part of the length of the upper shaft 10, allows a tangential cutting, in tape, of a cylindrical piece of revolution of melamine foam 40 mounted on the 'upper shaft 10. The cut foam tape is then wrapped around the lower shaft 20, as and when cutting. The setting and adjustment of the cutting conditions, depending on the desired thickness of the ribbon and the nature of the material worked, falls within the competence of a person skilled in the art familiar with the operation of the unwinders. When the block of melamine foam is in an initial parallelepiped shape, it is mounted on the upper shaft 10 of the unwinder and is gradually delivered until a cylinder of revolution 30 is obtained. It is only then that may draw one end of the ribbon which will be fixed to the lower shaft 20. From the foam ribbons thus obtained, sheets of the desired formats are drawn. These are laminated on sheets adapted to ^office of reinforcing layers 4, of main surface combined with that of the sheets of melamine and tear strength greater than that of the latter. As a reinforcement layer 4, it is possible to use an absorbent paper, for example a handkerchief, a paper towel, or a cotton fiber canvas, for example a dusting cloth ... Such associations allow the 'obtaining a thin and flexible article, with a high resistance to tearing, allowing a good grip and having a great ease of use. Other materials, absorbent or not, can also be used and are chosen according to the absorption capacity of the liquids and also according to the mechanical resistance desired for the final product.

Laminating can be done indirectly very simply using various types of adhesive. For example, hot pressing laminating is particularly appreciated. To do this, a film of heat-activated adhesive material, not appearing in FIG. 2, is interposed between the two constituent layers 2 and 4 of article 1 and a hot pressure exerted opposite the contact zones makes it possible to secure all.

Other embodiments lead to the manufacture of article 1. For example, it is possible to carry out, at first, a two-layer structure: layer of melamine foam and reinforcement layer, naturally cohesive or laminated, of large surface area (of dimensions much greater than 250 × 250 mm) and the thickness of the layer of melamine of which is less than or equal to millimeter. From this two-layer structure, articles 1 of the desired dimensions are released by a final cut.

Without limitation, a second range of articles 1 is proposed in accordance with the invention. An article 1, as shown in FIG. 3, comprises two layers of melamine foam 2 ′, exposing towards the outside two free scouring faces 3 ′. These two layers of melamine foam 2 'are held together by a reinforcing layer 4'. This reinforcing layer 4 ′, laminated to the two layers of melamine foam 3 ′, provides both better resistance to tearing. Made of absorbent material, the reinforcing layer 4 ′ can also improve the absorption capacity of the assembly. The two ranges of articles presented above are ideal for non-wet cleaning of a solid surface or cleaning it with a slight moistening.

In the case of cleaning requiring the use of a high liquid load (cleaning of floors, dishes, etc.), it is preferable to use an article 1 comprising, as reinforcement layer 4 or 4 ′, a material with a high tolerance for water, for example a woven or a nonwoven of cotton fibers, or a gauze (rather than a nonwoven of cellulose fiber).

Article 1 may advantageously contain a liquid composition, in particular a cleaning composition (a detergent, a disinfectant, a degreaser, etc.). This article 1 then corresponds, in this case, to a ready-to-use wipe, but is distinguished considerably by its operating efficiency. Indeed, it advantageously combines the action of a conventional disposable wipe with the scouring effect of abrasive melamine foam.

In the manufacture of these wipes, the imbibition can be done as well at the level of the layer of melamine foam 2 or 2 ′, as at the level of the reinforcing layer 4 or 4 ′, when the latter has an adequate porosity.

The imbibition of article 1 can be carried out both before and after the step of laminating the different layers. However, in the case of laminating by hot pressing, an imbibition after this stage is preferred, the heat being liable to produce possible evaporation of the liquid composition and / or possible deterioration of its properties, in particular chemical properties.

For a comparable purpose, it is possible to envisage producing an article 1 containing solid particles suitable for releasing, after dissolution in contact with a liquid, in particular water, an active agent. These solid particles can be a detergent in the form of a powder or microcapsules with a hydrolyzable wall containing the active agent. In a simple manner, an article 1 can present these particles at the interface between layer of melamine foam 3 or 3 'and reinforcement layer 4 or 4'.

Claims

1 / - Method for manufacturing an article comprising at least one piece of melamine foam in the form of a sheet of sufficiently small thickness to be flexible and non-elastic in bending, in which a block of melamine foam is cut by unwinding (40) in a ribbon of sufficiently small thickness to be flexible and non-elastic in bending, and the article is produced using at least one piece of melamine foam in the form of a sheet issuing from this ribbon.

2 / - Method according to claim 1 for the manufacture of an article having two opposite main free faces of total thickness small enough to be flexible and not elastic in bending, characterized in that each piece of melamine foam is assembled (2; 2 ') at least one layer, called reinforcing layer (2; 2'; 4; 4 '), so that at least one of the main free faces of said article has a scouring free face (3; 3' ) at least partly formed by at least one piece of melamine foam (2; 2 ').

3 / - Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the said melamine foam block is cut by unwinding into a ribbon of thickness less than or equal to 1 mm.

4 / - Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the said melamine foam block is cut by unwinding into a ribbon of thickness of the order of 0.8 mm.

5 / - Method according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that each piece of melamine foam is assembled with at least one reinforcing layer so as to obtain a layer of melamine foam having a main face defining a free scouring face of the article and, superimposed on the layer of melamine foam, such a reinforcing layer having a main face defining the other free face of the article.

6 / - Method according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the reinforcing layer is a layer of melamine foam. 7 / - Method according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the reinforcing layer (4; 4 ') is made of a material, distinct from a melamine foam, adapted to have a higher tear resistance to that of melamine foam (2; 2 '). 8 / - Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, an article is produced of which at least one of the main free faces is an absorbent free face at least partially formed by at least one piece of absorbent material.

9 / - Method according to one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that an article is produced having at least one reinforcing layer (4; 4 ') in an absorbent material.

10 / - Method according to one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that an article is produced comprising a layer of melamine foam (2) having a main face defining the scouring free face (3) of the article and , superimposed on the layer of melamine foam (2) and made of an absorbent material, a reinforcing layer (4) having a main face defining the absorbent free face of the article. .

11 / - Method according to one of claims 2 to 10, characterized in that the opposite main free faces are both scouring (3 ') and formed by two distinct layers of melamine foam (2') between which are inserted minus a reinforcing layer (4 ').

12 / - Method according to one of claims 1 to 11,. characterized in that an article of total thickness less than 5 mm is produced.

13 / - Method according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that an article of total thickness of the order of 0.85 to 2 mm is produced.

14 / - Method according to one of claims 2 to 5 and 7 to 13, characterized in that each reinforcing layer (4; 4 ') is made of a fibrous material mainly containing fibers chosen from: cellulose fibers , natural textile fibers, synthetic textile fibers. 15 / - Method according to one of claims 2 to 5 and 7 to 13, characterized in that each reinforcing layer (4; 4 ') is made of a material chosen from: a nonwoven of cellulose, a non -woven in viscose, a nonwoven in perforated cotton, a knitted polyamide knit, a cotton gauze, a polyurethane foam, a polyethylene foam.

16 / - Method according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that at least part of the thickness of said article is impregnated with a liquid composition, before packaging.

17 / - A method according to claim 16, characterized in that one uses a liquid composition chosen from: a detergent, a solvent, a bacteriostatic and / or bactericidal disinfectant composition, water, or a mixture thereof.

18 / - Method according to claim 16, characterized in that a liquid composition chosen from: a moisturizing solution, a soap, a deodorant, a perfume, a makeup-removing composition, an emoUient, an ointment, an antiseptic, water, hydrogen peroxide, or a mixture of these.

19 / - Method according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that incorporates into at least part of the thickness of said article a solid composition capable of dissolving in the presence of a liquid so as to be able to release an active agent.

20 / - Method according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that said article in sealed packaging, individual or collective.

21 / - Method according to one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that contrecoUe the different layers of said article two by two by means of an intermediate heat-activatable adhesive film.

22 / - Article comprising at least one piece of melamine foam in the form of a sheet of sufficiently small thickness to be flexible and not elastic in bending. 23 / - Article according to claim 22 having two opposite main free faces, of sufficient total thickness. weak to be flexible and not elastic in bending.

24 / - Article according to one of claims 22 or 23, characterized:

- in that at least one of the main free faces is a scouring free face at least partly formed by at least one piece of melamine foam (2; 2 '),

- in that it comprises at least one layer, called the reinforcing layer (2; 2 '; 4; 4'), associated with each piece of melamine foam (2; 2 ') opposite the part of the free scouring face (3; 3 ') formed by this part (2; 2').

25 / - Article according to one of claims 22 to 24, characterized in that at least one of the pieces of melanin foam (2; 2 ') is of thickness less than or equal to 1 mm.

26 / - Article according to one of claims 22 to 25, characterized in that at least one of the pieces of melanin foam (2; 2 ') is of the order of 0.8 mm thick.

27 / - Article according to one of claims 23 to 26, characterized in that at least one of the main free faces is an absorbent free face at least partly formed by at least one piece of absorbent material.

28 / - Article according to one of claims 24 to 26, characterized in that it comprises a layer of melamine foam having a main face defining a free scouring face of the article and, superimposed on the layer of melamine foam , a reinforcing layer having a main face defining the other free face of the article.

29 / - Article according to one of claims 24 to 28, characterized in that the reinforcing layer is made of melamine foam. 30 / - Article according to one of claims 24 to 28, characterized in that the reinforcing layer (4; 4 ') is made of a material, distinct from a melamine foam, adapted to have a higher tear resistance to that of melamine foam (2; 2 '). 31 / - Article according to one of claims 24 to 30, characterized in that the opposite main free faces (3 ') are both scouring and formed by two distinct layers of melarnin foam (2') between which is inserted minus a reinforcing layer (4 ').

32 / - Article according to one of claims 22 to 31, characterized in that it has a total thickness of less than 5 mm.

33 / - Article according to one of claims 2 to 32, characterized in that it has a total thickness of the order of 0.85 to 2 mm.

34 / - Article according to one of claims 24 to 28 and 30 to 33, characterized in that each reinforcing layer (4; 4 ') is made of a fibrous material mainly containing fibers chosen from: cellulose fibers, natural textile fibers, synthetic textile fibers.

35 / - Article according to one of claims 24 to 28 and 30 to

33, characterized in that each reinforcing layer (4; 4 ') is made of a material chosen from: a cellulose nonwoven, a viscose nonwoven, a perforated cotton nonwoven, a knitted mesh polyamide, cotton gauze, polyurethane foam, polyethylene foam.

36 / - Article according to one of claims 22 to 35, characterized in that at least part of its thickness is impregnated with a liquid composition, before its packaging. 37 / - Article according to claim 36, characterized in that the liquid composition is chosen from: a detergent, a solvent, a bacteriostatic and / or bactericidal disinfectant composition, water, or a mixture of these.

38 / - Article according to claim 37, characterized in that the liquid composition is chosen from: a moisturizing solution, a soap, a deodorant, a perfume, a makeup-removing composition, an emoUient, an ointment, an antiseptic, water, hydrogen peroxide, or a mixture of these.

39 / - Article according to one of claims 22 to 35, characterized in that it incorporates in at least part of its thickness, a solid composition intended to dissolve in the presence of a liquid so as to be able to release an agent active.

40 / - Article according to one of claims 22 to 39, characterized in that it is packaged in sealed packaging, individual or collective. 41 / - Article according to one of claims 22 to 40, characterized in that the different layers are laminated two by two by means of an intermediate heat-activatable adhesive film.