EP1819867A1 - Dispositif de distribution - Google Patents

Dispositif de distribution

Info

Publication number
EP1819867A1
EP1819867A1 EP05811354A EP05811354A EP1819867A1 EP 1819867 A1 EP1819867 A1 EP 1819867A1 EP 05811354 A EP05811354 A EP 05811354A EP 05811354 A EP05811354 A EP 05811354A EP 1819867 A1 EP1819867 A1 EP 1819867A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
receptacle
tablets
base
laundry
dispensing device
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP05811354A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Roy Van Unilever R & D Vlaardingen HEESEN
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Unilever PLC
Unilever NV
Original Assignee
Unilever PLC
Unilever NV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Unilever PLC, Unilever NV filed Critical Unilever PLC
Publication of EP1819867A1 publication Critical patent/EP1819867A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
    • D06F39/02—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
    • D06F39/024—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents mounted on the agitator or the rotating drum; Free body dispensers

Definitions

  • Dispensing devices for laundry tablet compositions are known.
  • a dispensing device in combination with one or more laundry tablets packaged individually or in groups, corresponding with a unit dose, to treat laundry in a washing machine
  • the dispensing device comprising a receptacle the receptacle comprising a base region, an upper region and a plurality of dispensing apertures having an average size of l-20mm and an opening for reception of the one or more laundry unit dose products wherein the dispensing apertures are situated in the upper region of the receptacle and any base apertures in the base of the device have an average size of less than 1mm, and the tablets have a diametrical fracture stress of 10-4OkPa.
  • the invention provides a process for treating laundry in a washing machine by employing the above dispensing device in combination with one or more laundry unit dose products the process comprising the step of removing the said one or more tablets from the packaging and inserting the one or more laundry unit dose products into the receptacle, inserting the receptacle into the washing machine together with the laundry to be treated and then performing a laundry treatment operation.
  • a dispensing device according to the first aspect of the invention in combination with instructions for use according to the method of the second aspect of the invention.
  • Tablets having a diametrical fracture stress of 10-4OkPa have improved dissolution properties.
  • the diametrical fracture stress of the tablet is linked to the compression stress used to form the tablet. By selecting a lower diametrical stress, a lower compression stress is required, making the tablet less dense and therefore exhibiting better dispersion and dissolution properties.
  • the diametrical fracture stress may be 10-2OkPa. Such tablets exhibit even better dissolution properties.
  • the tablet remains unbroken up until they are in the wash water. Indeed because the tablet may already be fractured or even broken up into pieces, this provides the advantage that there is less need for dispersants in the tablet formulation. The level of dispersants can therefore be set more freely.
  • the amount of disintegrating agents such as water swellable polymers can be reduced.
  • the amount of such polymers, such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose SCMC, is preferably less than 0.5% and even more preferably less than 0.1% and more preferably 0%.
  • the level of disintegrants may be less than 5%, preferably less than 0.5%, more preferably less than 0.1% and even more preferably 0%.
  • a tablet having less than 45% by weight of phosphate or poly-phosphate compounds, more preferably less than 30% even more preferably less than 15 and most preferably 0% of phosphate or poly-phosphate compounds. Reducing the level of phosphate or polyphosphate makes the tablet more environmentally acceptable.
  • Dispersants may be provided in the form of disintegrating- promoting particles. Such particles typically contain at least 40% (of their own weight) of one or more:
  • water swellable materials such as for example cellulose, cross-linked polyethylene glycol, cross linked polyvinyl pyrrolidone or an acrylic/maleic copolymer
  • sodium tripolyphosphate which is partially hydrated so as to contain water of hydration in an amount which is at least 0.5% by weight of the sodium tripolyphosphate in the particles.
  • the total quantity of disintegration-promoting particles may be less than 5%wt and preferably less than 1% and more preferably 0% of the tablet.
  • the upper region of the dispensing device and/or the base region may comprise a mesh structure.
  • the respective mesh structures may be joined together or they may be formed integrally.
  • the dispensing apertures may additionally extend to the base of the receptacle, wherein the base is enclosed by a cover and any apertures in the cover have an average size of less O
  • the dispensing apertures in the base region are completely closed or reduced in size by the cover.
  • the receptacle may comprise a net bag having a mesh structure, the dispensing apertures extend to the base which is enclosed by a cover, which may have base apertures as defined above.
  • This structure has the advantage that it enables a relatively simple construction.
  • the receptacle may be rigid or flexible. Preferably it is loose-fitting with respect to the tablet/s thereby allowing the tablets to move freely within the receptacle and so aiding dissolution.
  • the dispensing apertures preferably have an average size of l-15mm. In one embodiment the average size is approximately 5mm.
  • the maximum average size of the base apertures is preferably 0.8mm or less and further preferably 0.5mm or less and even more preferably 0.1mm.
  • the invention also envisages the arrangement where there are no apertures eg. if a waterproof base is used, or if the apertures are covered by a coating or a covering material.
  • the base material may comprise a closely woven material having a mesh structure, wherein the mesh apertures provide the base apertures.
  • the material of the base may be any suitable material. Preferably, it is polyester.
  • the base may comprise a base wall which may be provided by e.g. a gusset region. However the receptacle may not have such a wall or gusset arrangement e.g. if lower edges of side walls are joined together. In this arrangement the base is more apparent when the tablet or tablets have been inserted so as to force lower regions of the side walls to form an effective base. In this case, the base will comprise lower regions of the side walls.
  • any apertures in a lower part of any side wall/s are also restricted to the average size as described for the base apertures.
  • the height of these lower parts preferably corresponds approximately with the height of the tablet.
  • the height of the lower parts is greater than the height of the tablet.
  • the height of the or each lower part is approximately l-3cm, and further preferably it is approximately 1.5-2cm. In one embodiment it is approximately 1.7mm.
  • the upper region having dispensing apertures occupies a major part of the total surface area of the receptacle, this major part preferably being in the range of 60% to 95% and more preferably 70% to 95% and even more preferably 80% to 95%.
  • This is advantageous because it ensures the maximum area having the optimum dispensing function due to the presence of dispensing apertures whilst at the same time allowing for the base to prevent leakage during filling.
  • the total surface area is approximately 300-400cm 2 and the upper surface occupies approximately 180 - 380 cm 2 .
  • the diameter of the receptacle opening is greater than the size of dispensing apertures and further preferably it is greater in diameter than the diameter of a least one tablet.
  • the receptacle opening has a diameter which is at least double the maximum diameter of the unit dose product (s) .
  • the diameter of the receptacle opening is preferably 8-lOcm.
  • the dispensing device is re-usable, and is produced from a material capable of withstanding temperatures for the machine washing or drying of laundry, especially up to 150 0 C.
  • a material capable of withstanding temperatures for the machine washing or drying of laundry especially up to 150 0 C.
  • the net material one example is sold under the trade name NETLON.
  • NETLON the trade name
  • the dispensing device may provide a closure device which may comprise a foam material.
  • a closure device which may comprise a foam material.
  • it comprises ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA) foam of the closed cell type.
  • EVA foam is advantageous because it is highly heat resistant and so retains its compressibility and resistance even during/after high temperature wash cycles
  • the laundry unit dose product may further comprise discrete regions of uncompacted material such as a gel.
  • Laundry tablets for use in the present invention generally have a weight of from 2 to 20Og, more preferably of from 20 to 10Og, most preferably of from 20 to 8Og.
  • the tablets of the invention typically comprise one or more organic surfactants.
  • organic surfactants Many suitable detergent-active compounds are available and are fully described in the literature, for example, in "Surface-Active Agents and Detergents", Volumes I and II, by Schwartz, Perry and Berch.
  • the surfactant may be anionic (soap or non-soap), cationic, zwitterionic, amphoteric, nonionic or a combination of these.
  • Detergent-active compounds can be used include soaps and synthetic non-soap anionic and nonionic compounds.
  • Anionic surfactant may be present in an amount from 0.5 to 50% by weight, preferably from 2% or 4% up to 30% or 40% by weight of the composition.
  • Suitable examples include alkyl benzene sulphonates, particularly sodium linear alkyl benzene sulphonates having an alkyl chain length of C8-C15; olefin sulphonates; alkane sulphonates; dialkyl sulphosuccinates; and fatty acid ester sulphonates.
  • Suitable nonionic surfactant compounds include in particular the reaction products of compounds having a hydrophobic group and a reactive hydrogen atom, for example, aliphatic alcohols, acids, amides or alkyl phenols with alkylene oxides, especially ethylene oxide.
  • nonionic surfactant compounds are alkyl (Cg22) phenol-ethylene oxide condensates, the condensation products of linear or branched aliphatic C 20 primary or secondary alcohols with ethylene oxide, and products made by condensation of ethylene oxide with the reaction products of propylene oxide and ethylene-diamine.
  • these organic surfactants preferably provide from 5 to 50% by weight of the overall composition.
  • Water- softening agent Tablets for use according to this invention may contain a so-called water-softening agent, which serves to remove or sequester calcium and/or magnesium ions in the water.
  • a water-softening agent may be referred to as a detergency builder.
  • water-softening agent or detergency builder
  • the amount of it is likely to lie in a broad range from 5%wt, preferably 15%wt up to 98%wt of the composition.
  • the amount is likely to be from 15 to 80%wt, more usually 15 to 60%wt of the composition.
  • Water-softening agents may be provided wholly by water soluble materials, or may be provided in large part or even entirely by water-insoluble material with water-softening properties.
  • Alkali metal aluminosilicates are strongly favoured as environmentally acceptable detergency builders for fabric washing.
  • Suitable crystalline sodium aluminosilicate ion- exchange materials are described, for example, in GB 1 429 143 (Procter & Gamble) .
  • the preferred sodium aluminosilicates of this type are the well known commercially available zeolites A and X, the newer zeolite P described and claimed in EP-A-384 070 (Unilever) and mixtures thereof.
  • This form of zeolite P is also referred to as "zeolite MAP".
  • zeolite A24 Ex Ineos Silicas, UK
  • the builder may also be a water-soluble phosphorus- containing inorganic softener for example alkali-metal orthophosphates, metaphosphates, pyrophosphates and polyphosphates.
  • inorganic phosphate detergency builders include sodium and potassium tripolyphosphates, orthophosphates and hexametaphosphates.
  • Non-phosphorus water-soluble detergency builders may be organic or inorganic.
  • Inorganics that may be present include alkali metal (generally sodium) carbonate; while organics include polycarboxylate polymers, such as polyacrylates, acrylic/maleic copolymers, and acrylic phosphonates, monomeric polycarboxylates such as citrates, gluconates, oxydisuccinates, glycerol mono- di- and trisuccinates, carboxymethyloxysuccinates, carboxymethyloxymalonates, dipicolinates and hydroxyethyliminodiacetates.
  • alkali metal generally sodium
  • organics include polycarboxylate polymers, such as polyacrylates, acrylic/maleic copolymers, and acrylic phosphonates, monomeric polycarboxylates such as citrates, gluconates, oxydisuccinates, glycerol mono- di- and trisuccinates, carboxymethyloxysuccinates, carboxymethyloxymalonates, dipicolinates and hydroxyethyliminodiacetates.
  • Bleach system Tableted compositions according to the invention may contain a bleach system.
  • This preferably comprises one or more peroxy bleach compounds, for example, inorganic persalts or organic peroxyacids, which may be employed in conjunction with activators to improve bleaching action at low wash temperatures. If any peroxygen compound is present, the amount is likely to lie in a range from 10 to 85% by weight of the composition. If the tablet contains surfactant and detergency builder, the amount of peroxygen compound bleach is unlikely to exceed 25% of the composition.
  • Preferred inorganic persalts are sodium perborate monobydrate and tetrahydrate, and sodium percarbonate, advantageously employed together with an activator.
  • Bleach activators also referred to as bleach precursors, have been widely disclosed in the art.
  • Detergency enzymes may be employed in tablets and are commonly employed in the form of granules or marumes, optionally with a protective coating, in amount of from about 0.1% to about 3.0%wt of the composition. These granules or marumes present no problems with respect to compaction to form a tablet.
  • the tablets of the invention may also contain a fluorescer (optical brightener) , for example, Tinopal (Trade Mark) DMS or Tinopal CBS available from Ciba-Geigy AG, Basel, Switzerland.
  • a fluorescer optical brightener
  • Tinopal Trade Mark
  • Tinopal CBS available from Ciba-Geigy AG, Basel, Switzerland.
  • Tinopal DMS is disodium 4, 4 'bis- (2-morpholino-4-anilino-s- triazin-6-ylamino) stilbene disulphonate; and Tinopal CBS is disodium 2, 2 ' -bis- (phenyl-styryl) disulphonate.
  • An antifoam material is advantageously included if organic surfactant is present; especially if a tablet is primarily intended for use in front-loading drum-type automatic washing machines.
  • Tablets may include an amount of an alkali metal silicate.
  • Laundry compositions may provide, in addition or as an alternative to other wash functions, fabric softening benefits.
  • Such compositions may comprise a compacted granular fabric conditioning composition and may comprise a fabric softening clay optionally in combination with an organic fatty softening material.
  • Especially preferred fabric softeners comprise a clay mineral softener, such as bentonite, in combination with a pentaerythritol ester compound as further described herein.
  • Useful combinations of such softener may vary from about 80%, to about 90%, by weight, of clay, and from about 10% to about 20%, by weight, of fatty softening material such as a pentaerytbritol compound (often abbreviated herein as
  • the clays that are useful components of the invented products are those which cooperate with the organic fatty softener materials to provide enhanced softening of laundry.
  • Such clays include the montmorillonite-containing clays which have swelling properties (in water) and which are of smectite structure, so that they deposit on fibrous materials, 3 especially cotton and cotton/synthetic.blends, such as cotton/polyester, to give such fibers and fabrics made from them a surface lubricity or softness.
  • the best of the smectite clays for use in the present invention is bentonite and the best of the bentonites are those which have a substantial swelling capability in water, such as the sodium and potassium bentonites.
  • Such swelling bentonites are also known as western or Wyoming bentonites, which are essentially sodium bentonite.
  • bentonites such as calcium bentonite
  • bentonites are normally non-swelling and usually are, in themselves, unacceptable as fabric softening agents.
  • a source of alkali metal or other solubilizing ion such as sodium (which may come from sodium hydroxide, added to the composition, or from sodium salts, such as builders and fillers, which may be functional components of the composition) .
  • sodium which may come from sodium hydroxide, added to the composition, or from sodium salts, such as builders and fillers, which may be functional components of the composition
  • preferred bentonites are those of sodium and potassium, which are normally swelling, and calcium and magnesium, which are normally non-swelling.
  • calcium with a source of sodium being present
  • sodium bentonites employed may be produced in the United States of America, such as Wyoming bentonite, but also may be obtained from Europe, including Italy and Spain, as calcium bentonite, which may be converted to sodium bentonite by treatment with sodium carbonate, or may be employed as calcium bentonite.
  • other montmorillonite-containing smectite clays of properties like those of the bentonites described may be substituted in whole or in part for the bentonites described herein and similar fabric softening results will be obtained.
  • the swellable bentonites and similarly operative clays are of ultimate particle sizes in the micron range, e.g., 0,01 to 20 microns and of actual particle sizes in the range of No's. 100 to 400 sieves, preferably 140 to 325 sieves, U.S. Sieve Series.
  • the bentonite and other such suitable swellable clays may be agglomerated to larger particle sizes too, such as 60 to 120 sieves, but- such agglomerates are not preferred unless they include the PEC ( 1 S) too (in any particulate products) .
  • the organic softener can be anionic, cationic or nonionic fatty chains (C10-C22 preferably C12 Ci ⁇ ) •
  • Anionic softeners include fatty acids, soaps.
  • Preferred organic softeners are nonionics such as fatty esters, ethoxylated fatty esters, fatty alcohols and polyols polymers.
  • the organic softener is most preferably a higher fatty acid ester of a pentaerythritol compound, which term is used in this specification to describe higher fatty acid esters of pentaerythritol, higher fatty acid esters of pentaerythritol oligomers, higher fatty acid esters of lower alkylene oxide derivatives of pentaerythritol and higher fatty acid esters of lower alkylene oxide derivatives of pentaerythritol oligomers.
  • Pentaerythritol compound is often abbreviated as PEC herein, which description and abbreviation may apply to any or all of pentaerythritol, oligomers, thereof and alkoxylated derivatives thereof, as such, or more preferably and more usually, as the esters, as may be indicated by the context.
  • the oligomers of pentaerythritol are preferably those of two to five pentaerythritol moieties, more preferably 2 or 3, with such moieties being joined together through etheric bonds.
  • the lower alkylene oxide derivatives thereof are preferably of ethylene oxide or propylene oxide monomers, dimers or polymers, which terminate in hydroxyls and are joined to the pentaerythritol or oligomer of pentaerythritol through etheric linkages.
  • At least one of the PEC OH groups and preferably at least two, e.g., 1 or 2 to 4 are esterified by a higher fatty acid or other higher aliphatic acid, which can be of an odd number of carbon atoms.
  • the higher fatty acid esters of the pentaerythritol compounds are preferably partial esters. And more preferably there will be at least two free hydroxyls thereon after esterification (on the pentaerythritol, oligomer or alkoxyalkane groups) . Frequently, the number of such free hydroxyls is two or about two but sometimes it may by one, as in pentaerytbritol tristearate.
  • the higher aliphatic or fatty acids that may be employed as esterifying acids are those of carbon atom contents in the range of 8 to 24, preferably 12 to 22 and more preferably 12 to 18, e.g., lauric, myristic, palmitic, oleic, stearic and behenic acids.
  • Such may be mixtures of such fatty acids, obtained from natural sources, such as tallow or coconut oil, or from such natural materials that have been hydrogenated. Synthetic acids of odd or even numbers of carbon atoms may also be employed. Of the fatty acids lauric and stearic acids are often preferred, and such preference may depend on the pentaerythritol compound being esterified.
  • Ri CH 3 -(CH 2 ) I6 -COO-
  • R 2 CH 3 -(CH 2 ) I6 -COO-
  • R 3 OH
  • R 4 OH
  • R 2 CH 3 - (CH 2 ) 20 -COO-
  • R 2 CH 3 -(CH 2 ) I0 -CO
  • R 3 CH 3 - (CH 2 ) 10 -CO
  • R 4 CH 3 -(CH 2 ) I0 -CO Dipentaerythritol Tetrastearate
  • Ri CH 3 -(CH 2 ) I6 -CO
  • 2 CH 3 -(CHs) 16 -CO
  • 3 CH 3 -(CH 2 ) I6 -CO
  • 4 CH 3 -(CH 2 ) I6 -CO
  • R 1 CH 3 - (CH 2 ) I6 -COO-
  • R 2 CH 3 - (CH 2 ) 16 -C00-
  • pentaerythritol compounds that are useful are illustrated it will be understood that various other such pentaerythritol compounds within the description thereof may also be employed herein, including such as pentaerythritol dihydrogenated tallowate, pentaerythritol ditallowate, pentaerythritol dipalmitate, and dipentaerythritol tetratallowate.
  • cationic softeners such as conventional quaternary ammonium softening compounds may optionally be added (in minor amounts if in addition to the above compositions) .
  • the combination of bentonite and organic fatty softening material may be generally from about 10% to about 99% bentonite and from about 1% to about 90% fatty softening material, preferably from about 50% to about 95% bentonite and about 5% to about 50% fatty softening material, and most preferably from about 80% to 90% bentonite and from about 10% to about 20% fatty softening-material.
  • anti-redeposition agents such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose, straight-chain polyvinyl pyrrolidone and the cellulose ethers such as methyl cellulose and ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, heavy metal sequestrants such as EDTA; perfumes; and colorants or colored speckles.
  • Particle size and distribution Tablets may comprise a matrix of compacted particles.
  • the composition before compaction may have an average particle size in the range of from 200 to 2000, urn, more preferably from 250 to 1400um. Fine particles, smaller than 180pm or 200,um may be eliminated by sieving before tableting, if desired, although we have observed that this is not always essential.
  • the starting composition before compaction may for example have a bulk density of at least 400 g/litre, preferably at least 500 g/litre, and most preferably at least 600 g/litre.
  • a composition which is compacted into a tablet or tablet region may contain particles which have been prepared by spray-drying or granulation and which contain a mixture of ingredients. Such particles may contain organic detergent surfactant and some or all of any water-softening agent (detergency builder) also present in the tablet.
  • mesh size is understood that size of hole which would allow particles of equivalent size or diameter to pass through.
  • a net having a mesh size of lmm will allow all particles of average diameter of lmm or less to pass through.
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing device according to the invention.
  • Figure 2 is an enlarged schematic view of the mesh of the receptacle of the dispensing device Figure 1;
  • Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the closure device of the dispensing device of figure 1
  • Figure 4 is a view of two tablets packaged according to the invention.
  • a dispensing device 1 comprising a receptacle 2 for laundry tablets (not shown in figure 1) in the form of a flexible, loosely fitting polyester net bag 2 having hexagonal mesh structure (shown more clearly in fig 2) .
  • a receptacle 2 for laundry tablets (not shown in figure 1) in the form of a flexible, loosely fitting polyester net bag 2 having hexagonal mesh structure (shown more clearly in fig 2) .
  • hexagonal mesh structure shown more clearly in fig 2
  • the receptacle 2 comprises an upper region 7 having dispensing apertures having an average size of approximately 5mm.
  • the device also has a base 9 comprising the lower portions of the two side walls, (only one 11 shown) .
  • the base 9 is more apparent when the tablets have been inserted so as to force the lower region 9 of the side wall to form a base.
  • the base 9 is covered by a shallow sack comprising tightly woven polyester material which has a mesh size and hence base apertures of less than lmm and is in this example approximately 0.1mm.
  • the net bag 2 is, when laid flat, approximately 12cm in length and approximately 15cm in width.
  • the covered base part is (when viewed with the bag laid flat) approximately 3cm in height (and approximately 15cm in width) .
  • the total surface area is approximately 360cm 2 of which 90cm 2 (25%) is occupied by the base 9 and 270cm 2 (75%) is occupied by the upper part 7.
  • the device includes a closure device 35 which consists solely of a generally cylindrical ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam body.
  • the closure device 35 has a central longitudinal through hole 37 through which string 39 runs.
  • the string 39 is part of a drawstring closure arrangement generally indicated at 31.
  • the devices includes only flexible parts and includes no rigid parts.
  • the longitudinal through-hole 37 is dimensioned relative to the diameter of the string so as to fit tightly onto the string 39.
  • the foam body 35 can be manually drawn along the string 39 and its resilience ensures it remains in position to lock the receptacle opening 3 in an open or closed position.
  • the closed cell foam body is buoyant in the wash liquor thereby further enhancing travel of the net through the laundry and consequently dispersal of the laundry tablet composition.
  • the foam closure device is resiliently compressible which enables the closure device to expand after removal of the compressive force to provide a volume adding function within the wash but without the drawbacks of using a rigid device.
  • the inclusion of such a volume adding member decreases the incidence of lodging of the bag within the door seal, posting of the device in the door seal, facilitate the finding of the bag after a washing operation.
  • the provision of the three functions (closure, volume- adding, buoyancy) by a single device enables a more compact and simple structure. This in turn allows more space to be taken up by the receptacle providing the tablet or tablets room therewithin.
  • the dimensions (12cm x 15cm) provide a bag of manageable size but which is loose fitting for two tablets (each about 4.5 cm diameter and 1.5 cm height) .
  • the receptacle opening is located on the larger (15cm) side, providing a large opening for introducing the tablet/s.
  • the opening has a diameter of approximately 9.5cm, which is just over double the diameter of the tablet.
  • Tablets 50 are packaged in pairs corresponding with a unit dose of detergent for one wash.
  • the package is a plastic wrapper 52 which has a longitudinal seal 54 and two end seals 56,58. It can be opened by tearing longitudinally, the tear beginning at the zigzag edges 58 without contacting the tablets 50.
  • the package 52 is torn open and the detergent tablets 50 dropped in whole or in bits into the opening 3, so they fall into the base of the device.
  • the closure device 35 is then grasped between the users fingers and drawn along the string 39 to close the receptacle opening 3, where it remains in place (by the mechanism described above) , to lock the opening 3 closed.
  • any tablet pieces, loose crumbs or particulate matter from the tablets is retained within the dispensing device since it cannot leak via the base due to the tightly woven polyester with very small mesh size.
  • the device 1 and tablets contained therein are then placed in a washing machine together with the laundry to be washed and a washing operation is carried out during which the detergent tablet (s) within the bag 2 will disintegrate and dissolve.
  • the compressible flotation foam aids flotation of the net in the wash liquor, increasing dispersal of the laundry tablet composition in the liquor. Any undissolved particulate disintegration products of the tablet of a size less then 5 mm will pass out of the bag 2 and be dissolved outside the bag 2.
  • the device 1 is removed from the machine and stored for subsequent use.
  • An exemplary tablet Formulation is as follows:
  • a detergent base powder incorporating organic surfactants, a small percentage of crystalline sodium acetate trihydrate, and zeolite MAP was made using known granulation technology. It had the following composition, shown as parts by weight.
  • zeolite MAP zeolite A24
  • zeolite A24 zeolite A24
  • Antifoam is 17%wt silicon oil, 71%wt sodium carbonate and the remainder petroleum jelly and phosphate ester.
  • Fluorescer is 9.9%wt Fluorescer and 82.5%wt sodium carbonate the remainder being minor ingredients
  • TAED is 83%wt TAED in 9%wt sodium sulphate the remainder being minor ingredients.
  • Soil release polymer is 18%wt soil-release polymer, 44%wt zeolite MAP, 21%wt sodium carbonate and minor ingredients.
  • Acrylic/maleic polymer is Sokolan CP5 ex BASE (91%wt active) (6) Cellulosic swelling disintegrant (Arbocel ex Rettenmaier)
  • Tablets were made by mixing the ingredients (except for the cellulosic swelling disintegrant) and finally adding the cellulosic swelling disintegrant.
  • Tablets were made in a labscale Graseby Specac tabletting press; tablets had a weight of 32.4 grams and a strength
  • D the tablet diameter and t its thickness.
  • a second exemplary tablet formulation is exactly as for the above formulation an except that the level of the cellulosic swelling disintegrant is to 1.75% wt (and the base powder increased to 58.93% wt of the final formulation.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Detergent Compositions (AREA)

Abstract

Cette invention concerne un dispositif de distribution (1) combiné à une ou plusieurs pastilles de lessive (50) emballées individuellement ou en groupes et correspondant à une dose unitaire, et utilisé pour traiter le linge dans un lave-linge, lequel dispositif de distribution comprend un réceptacle (2), lequel réceptacle comprend une zone de base (9), une zone supérieure (7) et une pluralité d'ouvertures de distribution dont la taille moyenne est comprise entre 1 et 20 mm et une ouverture (3) conçue pour recevoir un ou plusieurs produits en dose unitaire de lessive. Selon cette invention, les ouvertures de distribution se trouvent dans la zone supérieure du réceptacle et les ouvertures de base situées dans le fond du dispositif présentent une taille moyenne inférieure à 1 mm, lesdites pastilles présentant une contrainte de rupture transversale comprise entre 10 et 40 kPa.
EP05811354A 2004-12-08 2005-11-25 Dispositif de distribution Withdrawn EP1819867A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB0426887.6A GB0426887D0 (en) 2004-12-08 2004-12-08 Dispensing device
PCT/EP2005/012860 WO2006061143A1 (fr) 2004-12-08 2005-11-25 Dispositif de distribution

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1819867A1 true EP1819867A1 (fr) 2007-08-22

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EP05811354A Withdrawn EP1819867A1 (fr) 2004-12-08 2005-11-25 Dispositif de distribution

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US20060101681A1 (en) 2004-11-17 2006-05-18 Dimplex North America Limited Flame simulating assembly
CN105238604A (zh) * 2015-11-09 2016-01-13 云南健牛生物科技有限公司 一种高稳定的含盐洗衣泡腾片及其制备方法

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB190918818A (en) * 1909-08-16 1910-08-11 Jack Stansfeld Pickford Improvements in or relating to Bags for Laundry Purposes.
CA1112004A (fr) * 1976-07-12 1981-11-10 Emiel M. Demessemaekers Article et procede pour le traitement des tissus
CA1170225A (fr) * 1980-02-18 1984-07-03 Jean-Louis Dayme Sac pour le lavage de rideaux, voilages et similaires
GB2327093B (en) * 1997-07-08 2002-03-13 Unilever Plc A detergent,detergent packaging and detergent dispensing device combination

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Title
See references of WO2006061143A1 *

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GB0426887D0 (en) 2005-01-12
WO2006061143A1 (fr) 2006-06-15

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