EP3126248B1 - Packaging comprising a container having at least one thin point and comprising a plurality of portion packages and method for detecting leaked portion packages - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a package with a container and with several portion packages, which are located in the container. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for detecting leaked portion packs in the container.

In the field of detergents and cleaning agents, the use of so-called portion packs is known, the flowable, preferably liquid detergents or cleaners (collectively referred to as detergents) included. For example, is from the DE 10 2012 212 842 A1 a sachet with a liquid detergent that is enclosed by a wrapper. The envelope is made of a material that dissolves on contact with water. If it comprises, for example, a liquid detergent, the sachet can be inserted into a corresponding detergent compartment of a dishwasher, wherein after the dissolution of the enclosure, the liquid detergent can exert its effect. Compared to a rinse tab of compressed detergent powder, an advantage of the sachet can be seen in the fact that it develops its full effect very quickly. So the portion pack can also be used well in short-term rinse programs.

When manufacturing the sachets and filling the sachets into the container, errors that cause one or more portion packs in a container to become permanently impervious can not be completely ruled out. It has been found that, as far as a sachet is faulty or damaged, a leak occurs within a certain period of time. If a portion pack does not leak during this period, it can almost be ruled out that the portion pack in the container will still be leaking afterwards. Therefore, after expiration of, for example, 14 days after filling the sachets and closing the container, it is checked whether detergent has leaked from one of the sachets.

From the WO 2014/019715 is such a package containing filled with liquid detergent or cleaning agent water-soluble film bag, known. A leakage test is carried out here by the packaging is opened and the packaging interior is examined for possibly leaked detergent out.

In addition, packaging, in particular from the meat industry, is known which serves to separate solid and liquid portions of a product. Such a package is for example in the EP 0 785 149 A1 described. It is a shell made of foamed polystyrene, which has ribs on which the product rests, wherein Recesses are formed between the ribs, in which accumulates fluid leaked from the product, to prevent in this way a permanent contact between the possibly germ-prone liquid and the product.

A reliable visual inspection of the above-described detergent packaging from the outside is often not possible, as due to certain specifications, the container should not be transparent. From the outside, therefore, the individual portion packs and possibly spilled detergent are not or at least clearly visible. Leaky detergent can not be detected due to the lack of contrast. Therefore, to check for possible leakage, the container is reopened to allow light into the container to increase the contrast. If this check reveals that detergent has escaped from the sachets, the corresponding container must be sorted out. Otherwise, the container is closed again and can now be used for further use (for example, shipping in the trade). Such leakage testing is complex and leads to additional costs, which make the production or the provision of the package more expensive.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a package with container and portion packs therein, which can be manufactured or provided inexpensively and in which a leak test is possible in a simple manner. Furthermore, it is the object of the invention to develop a simple and cost-effective method for detecting a possible leakage of the portion packs in the container.

The objects underlying the invention are achieved by a package according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 8. Preferred embodiments of the invention can be taken from the subclaims.

The packaging according to the invention has a bottom with a bottom wall, wherein in the bottom wall at least one thin point is formed with a boundary wall whose wall thickness is 0.05 to 0.5 mm and is smaller than the wall thickness of the bottom wall. The thin point has a reservoir, which serves to receive spilled detergent, wherein leaked detergent can be detected visually or with appropriate measurement technology due to the reduced wall thickness of the boundary wall, without having to open the container for it. Compared with the wall thickness of the bottom wall, the wall thickness of the thin point can be significantly reduced. If the wall thickness of the bottom wall is set to 100%, the wall thickness of the boundary wall can assume values of 10 to 70, preferably 20 to 50%.

The wall thickness of the thin spot is in a range of 0.05 to 0.5 mm (millimeters). A preferred range, the wall thickness of the boundary wall of the thin point ranges from 0.1 to 0.3 mm.

An area of the thin spot may be 0.5 to 25 mm ² (calculated in a plane parallel to the boundary wall of the thin spot). In one embodiment of the invention, the area is in a range of 3 to 15 mm ² . A ratio of the maximum extension of the thin point in one direction in said plane to a maximum extension of the thin point in a direction perpendicular thereto in the plane is preferably less than 2. If the surface is a square, this ratio would be equal to 1.

The thin spot can be designed differently. When viewed from above or below, ie perpendicular to the main extension of the bottom of the container, the thin point may be circular, but it may also have any other shapes, such as oval, triangular, quadrangular, polygonal (5-sided, 6-sided etc. ) or diamond-shaped.

Through the thin spot in the bottom wall with the reduced wall thickness in the bottom of the container, the small reservoir is defined, in which collects detergent, which consists of the im

Container located portion packs has expired. Since the wall thickness of the boundary wall of the thin point can be very small, the container can be considered transparent in the region of the thin spot despite the use of a non-transparent material. For example, in the case of a non-transparent container, the wall thickness of the boundary wall of the thin spot can be designed such that the color of the cleaning agent accumulated in the collecting basin clearly shimmers through the boundary wall of the thin spot. The cleaning agent can be colored in a distinctive color (red or blue). Thus, it is possible to detect even with the naked eye, whether cleaning agent has leaked, without the need for the per se non-transparent container must be opened.

In the area of the thin spot, the insulating or - generally speaking - separating effect of the bottom wall is less strongly formed due to the reduced wall thickness, so that in the reservoir of the thin point, the accumulated cleaning agent can be detected visually or with appropriate measurement (lighter). For example, the bottom of the container could be heated by a suitable input of energy such as microwaves, in which case in particular the cleaning agent located in the collecting tank absorbs heat. This heat is then transferred to the boundary wall.

In a thermal image, the heated cleaning agent in the region of the collecting basin or the heated boundary wall would constitute a heat spot. With appropriate computer-aided evaluation could thus be seen, whether cleaning agent is in the reservoir or not.

The thin spot and the portion pack are preferably designed so that none of the portion packs protrude into the reservoir or can be located partially therein. If the area of the thin spot is very small in comparison with dimensions (height, width and length) and the serving package has a certain rigidity, then a portion pack can also not project into the collecting basin in part. The sachet may have a volume greater than or equal to 4 cm ³ or 7 cm ³ . The smallest dimension of the sachet in a spatial direction (eg height, length or width) in one embodiment is to be greater than 1 cm.

In one embodiment of the invention, the sum of a height of the collecting basin and the wall thickness of the boundary wall of the thin spot essentially corresponds to the wall thickness of the bottom wall. The lower side of the boundary wall and the lower side of the bottom wall lie flush in a plane. The reduction of the wall thickness at the thin point thus leads entirely to the formation of the collecting basin. Another embodiment provides that the lower side of the boundary wall is slightly retracted relative to the lower side of the bottom wall.

In one embodiment of the invention, the sump is located at a lowest point of the container. If the cleaning agent escapes from the portion packs in the container, it flows by gravity down to the collecting basin. This ensures that even with small leaks, the reservoir is filled with the spilled detergent so as to be able to fall back on the detection of spilled detergent on a secure relationship between filled reservoir and spilled detergent. On the way to catchment basins, there must be no barriers at which spilled cleaning agent accumulates and thus does not reach the collection basin.

The bottom of the container may have inclined bottom wall portions through which the spilled detergent is selectively guided to the reservoir. If the container is standing with its bottom on a level ground, the bottom wall portions may be inclined to the horizontal. It should be noted at this point that a side wall of the container, on which the container stands in order to check the tightness of the portion package, applies here as the bottom of the container. If, for example, the container is tilted to the side for leak testing, the side wall, which is then turned downwards, then counts as the bottom.

In a further embodiment, a plurality of reservoirs or thinnings are provided, wherein a reservoir is arranged so that it can not run. This reservoir then serves as a reference reservoir. Compared to this reference sump can then make statements for one and the other collecting jaws, whether the latter are filled with spilled detergent or not.

A water-soluble sachet may comprise a water-soluble wrapper, preferably in the form of a foil, the wrapper forming a closed structure having in its interior one or more chambers for receiving one or more agents.

The shape of such a foil bag can be largely adapted to the conditions of use. For example, plastic films processed or processed, or plates, capsules and other conceivable forms come into consideration for various forms (such as hoses, cushions, cylinders, bottles, disks or the like). Preference is given to films which, for example, can be glued and / or sealed to packagings such as hoses, cushions or the like after they have been filled with an agent. With the aid of films which have a thickness of up to 100 μm, preferably 20 μm to 75 μm, it is possible to produce preferred portion packs.

Portions have packings which comprise at least one water-soluble film attached to another water-soluble packaging part, in particular another water-soluble film, material flush mounted, for example, by melting, dissolving or gluing.

In one embodiment, the water-soluble wrapper is formed from a water-soluble film material selected from the group consisting of polymers or polymer blends. The wrapper may be formed of one or two or more layers of the water-soluble film material. The water-soluble film material of the first layer and the further layers, if present, may be the same or different.

The water-soluble coating may contain polyvinyl alcohol or a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer. Water-soluble coatings containing polyvinyl alcohol or a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer have a good stability with a sufficiently high water solubility, in particular cold water solubility on.

Suitable water-soluble films for the preparation of the water-soluble coating are preferably based on a polyvinyl alcohol or a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer whose molecular weight is in the range of 10,000 to 1,000,000 mol ^-1 , preferably 20,000 to 500,000 mol ^-1 , more preferably 30,000 to 100,000 gmol ^-1 and especially from 40,000 to 80,000 gmol ^-1 .

The production of polyvinyl alcohol is usually carried out by hydrolysis of polyvinyl acetate, since the direct synthesis route is not possible. The same applies to polyvinyl alcohol copolymers which are prepared from correspondingly polyvinyl acetate copolymers. It is preferred if at least one layer of the water-soluble coating comprises a polyvinyl alcohol whose degree of hydrolysis makes up 70 to 100 mol%, preferably 80 to 90 mol%, particularly preferably 81 to 89 mol% and in particular 82 to 88 mol%.

In addition, a polymer selected from the group consisting of (meth) acrylic acid-containing (co) polymers, polyacrylamides, oxazoline polymers, polystyrenesulfonates, polyurethanes, polyesters, polyethers, polylactic acid, or mixtures of the above may be additionally used in a polyvinyl alcohol-containing film material suitable for producing the water-soluble coating Be added polymers.

Preferred polyvinyl alcohol copolymers include, in addition to vinyl alcohol, dicarboxylic acids as further monomers. Suitable dicarboxylic acids are itaconic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid and mixtures thereof, with itaconic acid being preferred.

Likewise preferred polyvinyl alcohol copolymers include, in addition to vinyl alcohol, an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, its salt or its esters. Particularly preferably contain such

Polyvinyl alcohol copolymers in addition to vinyl alcohol, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylic acid esters, methacrylic acid esters or mixtures thereof.

It may be preferred that the film material contains further additives. The film material may include, for example, plasticizers such as dipropylene glycol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerin, sorbitol, mannitol or mixtures thereof. Further additives include, for example, release aids, fillers, crosslinking agents, surfactants, antioxidants, UV absorbers, antiblocking agents, anti-sticking agents or mixtures thereof.

Suitable water-soluble films for use in the water-soluble coatings are films sold by the company MonoSol LLC, for example under the designation M8630, C8400 or M8900. Other suitable films include films named Solublon® PT, Solublon® GA, Solublon® KC or Solublon® KL from Aicello Chemical Europe GmbH or the films VF-HP from Kuraray.

According to a further embodiment, the water-soluble film may also be formed, at least in part, from a pulp-based material. The pulp-based material may in particular be a water-soluble paper. In this connection, it is particularly preferable that the water-soluble film is entirely formed of a water-soluble paper. In particular, it is preferable that the water-soluble paper is printed.

The sachet may have one or more compartments, with different means included in the compartments. For example, in one compartment or compartment the liquid detergent may be collected, while in another compartment another liquid detergent is contained.

1. a) Tiefziehen von einer ersten Folie zum Bilden einer Kavität;
2. b) Befüllen der Kavität mit einem fließfähigen Reinigungsmittel;
3. c) Überdecken der Kavität mit einer zweiten Folie;
4. d) Versiegelung der zweiten Folie mit der ersten Folie zum Bilden einer geschlossenen Umhüllung, die mit dem fließfähigen Reinigungsmittel befüllt ist.

The sachet may be made by a process comprising the following steps:

1. a) deep drawing of a first film to form a cavity;
2. b) filling the cavity with a flowable cleaning agent;
3. c) covering the cavity with a second foil;
4. d) sealing the second film with the first film to form a closed enclosure filled with the flowable cleaning agent.

It is generally preferred that the portion package measures at least one lateral dimension equal to or more than 31.7 mm. Another lateral dimension is greater than or equal to 20 mm, with a thickness of at least 10 mm. Additionally or alternatively it is preferred that the sachet does not fit in a cylinder according to ISO standard 8124-1 (second edition, dated 2009-03-15), 5.2 and thus passes the "small parts test".

A sachet may contain a (machine) dishwashing detergent whose ingredients are preferably selected from the group consisting of anionic, nonionic, cationic and amphoteric surfactants, especially nonionic rinse surfactants, builders, co-builders, chelants, pH adjusters, bleaches, bleach activators, bleach catalysts , Enzymes, thickeners, sequestering agents, electrolytes, alkali metal hydroxides or carbonates, corrosion inhibitors, in particular silver protectants, glass corrosion inhibitors, foam inhibitors, dyes, fragrances, bitter substances, and antimicrobial agents.

A typical frame formulation for a preferably usable automatic dishwashing agent comprises the following substances: Tripolyphosphate (e) 10-40% by weight sulfopolymer 2.5-15% by weight polycarboxylate 0.1-10% by weight Nonionic surfactant (s) 0.5-10% by weight phosphonate 0.5-10% by weight Protease preparation (s) 0.1-5% by weight Amylasezubereitung (s) 0.1-5% by weight, the data in% by weight are based on the total agent. Preferably, instead of a part, and in particular of the complete tripolyphosphate in the formulation, in particular 10-50 wt .-% citrate or MGDA or GLDA or EDDS or IDS (iminodisuccinic acid) or mixtures of two or three of these substances can be used.

Furthermore, the liquid / gel formulations solvents, especially polyhydric alcohols or mixtures containing them, on. Preference is given to 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, glycerol, polyethylene glycols, in particular liquid polyethylene glycols, alkanolamines (preferably between 0 and 10 wt .-%) and optionally water and mixtures thereof. The organic solvents or mixtures thereof are preferably contained in a total amount of 5 to 70 wt .-%. Preference is given to compositions (especially those containing organic solvents) having a water content of less than 24% by weight.

As nonionic surfactants, it is possible to use all nonionic surfactants known to the person skilled in the art. Low-foaming nonionic surfactants are preferably used, in particular alkoxylated, especially ethoxylated and / or propoxylated, low-foaming nonionic surfactants. With particular preference, the automatic dishwashing detergents contain nonionic surfactants from the group of the alkoxylated alcohols, for example those nonionic surfactants having a C9-15 alkyl group with 1 to 4 ethylene oxide units followed by 1 to 4 propylene oxide units followed by 1 to 4 ethylene oxide units followed by 1 to 4 propylene oxide units and / or end-capped polyoxyalkylated nonionic surfactants, for example the C4-22 Fatty alcohol (EO) 10-80-2-hydroxyalkyl ethers, in particular also the C8-12 fatty alcohol (EO) 22-2-hydroxydecyl ethers and the C4-22 fatty alcohol (EO) 40-80-2-hydroxyalkyl ethers. the C2-26 fatty alcohol (PO) 1- (EO) 15-40-2-hydroxyalkyl ethers, especially the C8-10 fatty alcohol (PO) 1- (EO) 22-2-hydroxydecyl ethers.

Depending on the configuration, e.g. In addition, sodium carbonate to 5-40 wt .-%, sodium percarbonate to 5-18 wt .-%, bleach activator (s) to 0.5-5 wt .-% and / or bleach catalyst (as a solid, dispersed in the liquid, and en) to 0.01-1 wt .-% (in each case based on the total agent).

The sachet of the package according to the invention contains a cleaning agent, which is preferably liquid. By "liquid" is meant that the detergent is flowable at a temperature of 20 ° C.

The cleaning agent may contain water. If the coating according to the invention is water-soluble, it should be noted that said cleaning agent contains water in such an amount that the film does not dissolve on contact with the said cleaning agent. If a water-soluble material is used for the casing according to the invention, it is preferred if said cleaning agent has a water content of less than 15% by weight, preferably less than 10% by weight and more preferably less than 8% by weight. %, in each case based on the total liquid detergent.

The sachets may be suitable for both manual and machine washing and cleaning of soft and hard surface articles. They are preferably used in the manual or automatic washing of textiles and in the manual or automatic cleaning of dishes. If necessary, they can be used in combination with other detergent or cleaner portions. As said cleaning agents are thus particularly liquid cleaning agents for hard surfaces (such as dish cleaners or household cleaners), and liquid laundry detergents.

The detergent is within the scope of a preferred embodiment as a liquid laundry detergent. Its ingredients do not destroy the structural integrity of the water-soluble coating. If the agent used is a liquid detergent, it may contain one or more substances from the group of surfactants, builders, bleaches, bleach activators, bleach catalysts, enzymes, enzyme stabilizers, electrolytes, pH adjusters, perfumes, perfume carriers, fluorescers, dyes, hydrotopes, foam inhibitors, Silicone oils, anti-redeposition agents, grayness inhibitors, anti-shrinkage agents, anti-wrinkling agents, color transfer inhibitors, antimicrobial agents, non-aqueous solvents, germicides, fungicides, antioxidants, preservatives, corrosion inhibitors, antistatic agents, bittering agents, ironing auxiliaries, repellents and impregnating agents, opacifiers, skin-care active substances, swelling agents and slip resistant, plasticizing components, fillers and UV absorbers.

In particular, it is preferred that the textile detergent is added to its intended use without the addition of further washing or cleaning agents.
The present in the sachets, liquid laundry detergents can 1 to 80 wt .-% of surfactants selected from the group consisting of anionic, nonionic, cationic, zwitterionic surfactants and amphoteric surfactants and mixtures thereof and soaps have. They are preferably contained in a total amount up to 50 wt .-%. Preferred anionic surfactants are soaps, alkylbenzenesulfonates, alkanesulfonates, methyl ester sulfonates, α-olefinsulfonates, alkyl sulfates and fatty alcohol polyglycol ether sulfates. Preferred nonionic surfactants are fatty alcohol polyglycol ethers, fatty alcohol ethoxylates, fatty amine ethoxylates, ethoxylated triacylglycerols and mixed ethers (alkylated on both sides of polyethylene glycol), alkyl polyglucosides, sucrose esters, sorbitan esters, fatty acid N-methylglucamide and amine oxides.

By "soaps" is meant salts of fatty acids. The Na or K or ammonium salts of fatty acids, in particular of C _12-18 fatty acids, are suitable. It is particularly preferred if said textile detergent as an anionic surfactant soap (in particular in amounts of 0.5 to 30 wt.%, In a further advantageous manner 1 to 25 wt%, in particular in amounts of 5 to 18 wt .-%, relative to the total agent).

It is particularly preferred if said textile detergent contains alkylbenzenesulfonate, preferably linear alkylbenzenesulfonate (LAS), and / or alkyl sulfates, advantageously in amounts of from 0.1 to 30% by weight, more preferably from 5 to 25% by weight, in particular in amounts of 5 to 20 wt .-%, based on the total agent.

It is further preferred that said textile detergent contains nonionic surfactant, in particular in amounts of 0.01 to 30 wt.%, Particularly preferably 5.0 to 25 wt .-%, each based on the total agent. Ethoxylated fatty alcohol is especially preferred as the nonionic surfactant. The combination of LAS and / or alkyl sulfates with ethoxylated fatty alcohol is particularly preferred.

R²

für einen linearen oder verzweigten, substituierten oder unsubstituierten Alkylrest,

AO

für eine Ethylenoxid- (EO) oder Propylenoxid- (PO) Gruppierung,

m

für ganze Zahlen von 1 bis 50 stehen.

As a preferred nonionic surfactant said textile detergents contain at least one fatty alcohol alkoxylate of the formula

R ^{2 is} -O- (AO) _m -H,

in the

R ²

a linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl radical,

AO

for an ethylene oxide (EO) or propylene oxide (PO) grouping,

m

stand for integers from 1 to 50.

In the abovementioned formula, R ^{2 is} a linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl radical, preferably a linear, unsubstituted alkyl radical, particularly preferably a fatty alcohol radical. Preferred radicals R ² are selected from decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, eicosyl radicals and mixtures thereof, where the representatives with even number of carbon atoms Atoms are preferred. Particularly preferred radicals R ² are derived from C ₁₂ -C ₁₈ -fatty alcohols, for example coconut fatty alcohol, tallow fatty alcohol, lauryl, myristyl, cetyl or stearyl alcohol or C ₁₀ -C ₂₀ -oxo alcohols.

AO represents an ethylene oxide (EO) or propylene oxide (PO) moiety, preferably an ethylene oxide moiety. The subscript m is an integer from 1 to 50, preferably from 1 to 20 and especially from 2 to 10. Most preferably, m is the numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8.

The anionic surfactants, as well as the soaps originally used, may be in the form of their sodium, potassium, magnesium or ammonium salts. Preferably, the anionic surfactants are in the form of their sodium salts. Further preferred counterions for the anionic surfactants are also the protonated forms of choline, triethylamine, monoethanolamine (MEA), triethanolamine (TEA) or methylethylamine.

In addition, the said laundry detergents may additionally contain at least one organic group-free solvent having 2 to 6 carbon atoms (preferably in an amount of 1.0 to 25% by weight, more preferably in an amount of 5.0 to 20% by weight) more preferably in an amount of 7.5 to contain.

Said solvent is preferably selected from ethanol, glycerol, 1,2-propylene glycol and mixtures thereof.

The liquid laundry detergent packaged in the portion pack according to the invention preferably has a pH in the range from 6 to 10, in particular from 7.5 to 10.

• 0,1 bis 30 Gew. %, in weiter vorteilhafter Weise 5 bis 25 Gew-%, insbesondere in Mengen von 5 bis 20 Gew.-% Alkylsulfat und/oder Alkylbenzolsulfonat enthält (vorzugsweise lineares Alkylbenzolsulfonat (LAS)),
• 0,01 bis 30 Gew. %, besonders bevorzugt 5,0 bis 25 Gew.-%, nichtionisches Tensid,
• 1,0 bis 30 Gew. %, in weiter vorteilhafter Weise 1 bis 25 Gew-%, insbesondere in Mengen von 5 bis 20 Gew.-%, Seife,
• Wasser in einer Menge von weniger als 15 Gew.-%, bevorzugt von weniger als 10 Gew.-% und mehr bevorzugt von weniger als 8 Gew.-%.

A preferred embodiment of a liquid detergent suitable for the portion package contains based on the total weight of said textile detergent

• From 0.1 to 30% by weight, more preferably from 5 to 25% by weight, in particular from 5 to 20% by weight, of alkyl sulfate and / or alkylbenzenesulfonate (preferably linear alkylbenzenesulfonate (LAS)),
• From 0.01 to 30% by weight, particularly preferably from 5.0 to 25% by weight, of nonionic surfactant,
• From 1.0 to 30% by weight, more preferably from 1 to 25% by weight, in particular from 5 to 20% by weight, of soap,
• Water in an amount of less than 15% by weight, preferably less than 10% by weight, and more preferably less than 8% by weight.

An example of a liquid laundry detergent which can be used in the portion pack is: ingredients Wt .-% C ₁₀ -C ₁₃ -alkylbenzenesulfonic acid 21.0 C ₁₃ -C ₁₅ -alcohol with 8 EO 22.5 C _12-18 fatty acid 17.5 glycerin 13.0 1,2-propanediol 13.5 ethanol 3.26 phosphonate 0.3 Monoethanolamine 6.4 Dyes, enzymes (cellulase, amylase & protease), optical brightener, perfume 0.8 water 1.74

The container may be molded from plastic and, for example, be an injection molded part. Preference is given to plastics selected from the group of polyolefins. Particularly preferred are the following plastics from the class of polypropylenes; Polyethylene; Polypropylene-containing blends; Polyethylene-containing blends; Polypropylene-containing co-polymers and / or random co-polymers; Polyethylene-containing co-polymers. The container is preferably made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), or their derivative-based plastics. Also, colored plastics can be used.

Side walls of the container may be opaque (opaque), with a label or additional layer being non-transparent, while the actual container material is transparent or transparent. The floor may be formed without a label or additional layer, so that this is then transparent and transparent. It is also possible that the container is transparent (translucent), but not transparent.

The container may also be formed of transparent plastic, wherein the container wall on the inside is so rough (dull / diffuse) that the container wall is not transparent. Preferably, the container wall is partially transparent when it comes into contact with the detergent.

In one embodiment of the invention, the package has a closure with which the container can be closed. The closure can be designed as a tamper-evident closure. The tamper-evident closure has means by which it can be reliably estimated whether the container has been reopened after the initial closure. For example, the package may be provided with a security seal which is destroyed when the container is opened. Alternatively or additionally, the closure may also be designed as a child safety closure. In particular, in a container with tamper-evident and / or child safety closure, the verification of leakage of the portion packs located in the container can be significantly simplified by the invention, since the closure no longer has to be released from the container for checking.

The inventive method for detecting spilled detergent in a package, as described here in its various embodiments, provides that the package is fed to a detection device which, depending on the detection of detergent in the reservoir a signal for sorting out or a signal generated for reuse of the packaging. The process can be fully automatic.

In one embodiment, a camera system of the detection device creates an image of the container bottom or at least a portion of the container bottom in which the thin point is located. This figure can be evaluated with the help of a computer. For example, a container can be accurately positioned by a transport system in a predetermined position over a camera of the camera system. The camera system now creates a photo of the container bottom, wherein due to the predetermined position of the container, the position of the thin spot on the figure is already known. If it is a digital photo, then the thin spot can be assigned a specific field of pixels. For example, if these pixels predominantly display the color blue, since there is blue-colored cleaning agent in the collecting basin, this recognizes a software for evaluating the pixels and generates a corresponding signal for sorting out the packaging. If the analysis of the pixels leads to a different result, the method generates another signal (for further use). It is also possible that to generate the signal for reuse a unique Evaluation signal must be present, for example, all located in the field of the Sammelbeckens pixels must be white or gray.

Before creating the image, the container can be heated in the area of the container bottom. For example, the container bottom can be heated by a suitable heat source, such as microwaves. The liquid detergent absorbs the energy of the microwaves and heats up accordingly. Liquid detergent in contact with the bottom of the container releases heat to the bottom wall. In particular, when the reservoir is filled with spilled detergent, there is a special temperature distribution at the bottom of the container. With the aid of a thermal imaging camera, this temperature distribution can be recorded and the corresponding thermal image evaluated, for example in comparison with reference images. In the evaluation, it can be taken into account that portion packs lying directly on the container bottom are also heated by the microwaves and correspondingly can be seen on the latter. However, the zone of elevated temperature due to the application of a portion pack on the container bottom differs from the shape of the collecting basin. With a corresponding image recognition, the shape of the collecting basin or the shape of the zone of elevated temperatures due to the collecting basin can be distinguished from other forms of elevated temperatures, now conditioned by the placement of a portion package on the container bottom.

Alternatively, infrared radiation could also be used as the heat source. In this case, the container bottom formed of plastic would heat up. Heat is transferred to the liquid detergent in areas where the tank bottom is in direct contact with liquid detergent. In these areas, thus, possibly after the expiration of a certain cooling or compensation phase, a different temperature results than where no heat can flow away from the heated plastic. This can also be detected by thermal images. In particular, it can be determined whether there is detergent in the reservoir.

The evaluation of the wall temperature can be done immediately after the heat input or only after said cooling or balancing phase (for example, greater than 5, 10 or 30 seconds). In the former case, especially with only a temporary heat input, the heat absorbing wall material is warmer where no heat can flow to the detergent. However, if a certain amount of time is waited for after the (possibly longer lasting) heat input, the wall material will be warmer, where the likewise heated detergent is applied and the heat is stored there longer due to the higher heat capacity than in the mere wall material.

It is also possible to determine other, temperature-independent measured values, which depend on a level of the collecting basin. Thus, the inventive method is not limited to the detection of the temperature of the container bottom. For example, the method can also determine on the basis of ultrasonic waves or X-rays whether or not there is (leaked) cleaning agent in the collecting basin.

Figur 1

im Querschnitt eine erfindungsgemäße Verpackung mit Behälter, Verschluss und Portionspackungen;

Figur 2

einen vergrößerten Ausschnitt eines Bodens des Behälters der Figur 1;

Figur 3

Teile einer Spritzgussform für den Behälter der Figur 1;

Figur 4

ein Ablaufdiagramm für ein erfindungsgemäßes Verfahren zur Detek-tion ausgelaufener Portionspackungen; und

Figur 5

schematisch eine Detektion mit Hilfe von Ultraschallwellen.

Reference to the embodiments illustrated in the figures, the invention is explained in detail. Show it:

FIG. 1

in cross-section a packaging according to the invention with container, closure and sachets;

FIG. 2

an enlarged section of a bottom of the container of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3

Parts of an injection mold for the container of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4

a flow chart for a method according to the invention for the detection of leaked portion packages; and

FIG. 5

schematically a detection by means of ultrasonic waves.

FIG. 1 shows in cross section a package, which is designated in its entirety by 1. The packaging 1 comprises a container 10 and a closure 20, both of which are made of a non-transparent plastic or have a layer which is non-transparent. The container contains a plurality of portion packs 30, which are shown only schematically. A portion pack 30 comprises a thin wrapper 31 and a cleaning agent 32, which is enclosed by the wrapper 31. The wrapper 31 may be a substantially flexible, water-soluble film of polyvinyl alcohol. The cleaning agent 32 may be a rinsing agent for use in a dishwasher. The sachet 30 may alternatively also contain a detergent for washing textiles.

The container 10 has a bottom 11 with a bottom wall 12, which is flat here and is arranged opposite the closure. In the bottom wall 12, two thin bodies 40 are formed, which should be equally spaced to a central axis 13 of the container 10. In the following, reference will only be made to one of the two thin areas 40. It is sufficient according to the invention if only one thin spot is present

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged section of the bottom 11. The thin section 40 has a small reservoir 41 and a boundary wall 42. A wall thickness of the boundary wall 42 is denoted by x and should be 0.3 mm in the embodiment shown. A wall thickness of the bottom wall 12 is denoted by y and should be 0.7 mm. From the difference of y and x results in a height of the collecting basin 41 of 0.4 millimeters. A diameter D of the round collecting basin 31 viewed from above should be 1.2 mm, so that this results in an area of the thin spot 40 or the collecting basin 41 of approximately 1.13 mm ² . It should be noted that the wall thicknesses shown in the figures to the dimensions of the container 10, the closure 20 and the portion packs 30 are not significantly represented. The volume enclosed by the container 10 and the closure 20 may be 200 to 3000 cm ³ .

If one of the portion packs 30 located in the container 10 leaks, the liquid cleaning agent 32 emerges from this leaking portion pack 30 and flows downwards in the direction of the bottom 11 due to gravity (see FIG FIG. 1 ). Since the thin point 40 is located in a lowest point of the container 10 (in fact, there are two thin areas 40), the spilled detergent collects in the reservoir 41. In the event of a large leakage or a leakage of multiple portion packages 30 may be that the entire floor 11 is covered with spilled detergent 32. But even in this case, the reservoir 31 is filled with detergent. Due to the wall thickness x, which is reduced with respect to the wall thickness y, the boundary wall 42 of the thin area 40 is transparent, in contrast to the rest of the container bottom. At least, shimmers through the boundary wall 42, the color of the light of the spilled detergent 32, which is located in the reservoir 31.

For the detection of leaked cleaning agent, a suitable camera system (not shown) is used, which is to be arranged here below the container 1. The camera system creates a recording of the container bottom 11. This recording can be fed to an evaluation, which shows whether the reservoir 31 is filled with detergent. If this is the case, then it can be concluded that at least one of the portion packs 30 is leaking. Otherwise, it can be assumed that all sachets 30 are tight, otherwise the spilled detergent would have to be in the reservoir 41.

FIG. 3 shows fragmentary cross-section parts of an injection mold 50 through which the container 10 can be produced by injection molding. The injection mold 50 has an outer mold part 51 and an inner mold part 52. Outer molding 51 and inner molding 52 are spaced from each other by the distance y. By inserting a pin 53 in the inner mold part 52, the thin point 40 can be realized with the reservoir 41. In particular, by using the pin 53, an existing injection mold for a container without thin spot can be retrofitted such that the container 10 for the packaging according to the invention 1 can be produced. For this purpose, only a small hole must be drilled or milled into the inner mold part 52, in which the pin 53 is inserted.

A part 54 of the pin 53, which is in the inserted state of the inner mold part 52 also does not necessarily have to be circular. The protruding part 54 determines the shape of the thin spot 40 and the collecting basin 41. The shape can be very characteristic (for example star-shaped, in the form of a kidney or bony with a constriction). This characteristic shape can be helpful in the detection of cleaning agent located in the collecting basin 41, since it represents a clear demarcation feature for portion packs which at least partially rest directly on the container bottom and thus also leave an impression on the container bottom.

The method according to the invention will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In block 100, the portion packs 30 are filled into the container 10. Thereafter, in block 101, the container 10 is closed by placing the closure 20 on the open edge of the container 10. Thereafter, for a certain time, the package consisting of container 10, sachets 30 and closure 20 located therein is stored for a certain time (for example, 1 to 20 days, preferably 3 to 15 days) (see block 102). During this time, it is evident whether the portion packs 30 are tight, since, according to experience, a first-time release of the cleaning agent 32 from the wrapper 31 is very unlikely. In addition, it takes a certain amount of time until the cleaning agent 32, which has run out of a portion pack 30, reaches the collecting basin 41 and accumulates there.

After storage, the supply to a detection device (block 103). In the detection device, query 104 is made as to whether cleaning agent 32 is located in collecting basin 41. If the answer to this question is "yes", then at least one leaked portion pack 30 is assumed and the corresponding pack 1 is sorted out or stored for error analysis (block 105). If the answer is "no", obviously no cleaning agent has leaked out and the relevant packaging 1 can be supplied to the intended further use (block 106). For example, after passing through the detection device, the packaging 1 can be packed with other packaging on a pallet and transported away for trading.

FIG. 5 shows schematically a detection of leaked cleaning agent 33 by means of ultrasonic waves 110. Ultrasonic waves 110 (longitudinal waves or transverse waves) are introduced from an ultrasonic sensor 111 (transmitter and receiver) with a suitable contact medium 112 such as silicone or rubber. Based on the reflected signals 113,114,115 it is possible to detect a leak. If the reservoir 41 is empty, only signals 113 and 114 are generated. However, is the reservoir 41 with leaked Detergent 33 filled, so the signal 115 is generated in addition to the signal 113,114, the latter may be weakened, but characteristic of a leak. If the ultrasonic sensor 111 receives the signal 115, the packaging 1 is sorted out according to the method according to the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

packaging

10

container

11

ground

12

bottom wall

13

central axis

20

shutter

30

sachet

31

wrapping

32

cleaning supplies

33

leaked cleaning agent.

40

thin place

41

melting pot

42

boundary wall

50

injection mold

51

Outer molding

52

Interior molding

53

Pin code

54

protruding part

100

block

101

block

102

block

103

block

104

query

105

block

106

block

110

ultrasonic waves

111

ultrasonic sensor

112

Contact medium

113

signal

114

signal

115

signal

Claims (11)

1. Packaging (1) comprising a container (10) and a plurality of portion packets (30) located inside the container (10), a portion packet (30) including a liquid cleaning agent (32) and a wrapping (31) that encloses the liquid cleaning agent (32), and the container (10) comprising a base (11) that has a base wall (12), characterized in that in the base wall (12) at least one thin portion (40) having a boundary wall (42) is formed, the wall thickness of which is 0.05 to 0.5 mm and smaller than the wall thickness of the base wall (12), the thin portion (40) comprising a collection basin (41) which is used for receiving cleaning agent (32) that has leaked out, and it being possible for cleaning agent (32) that has leaked out to be detected visually or by means of appropriate measuring technology on account of the reduced wall thickness of the boundary wall (42), without the container (10) having to be opened for this purpose.
2. The packaging (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the thin portion (40) has a surface area of from 0.5 to 25 mm².
3. The packaging (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sum of a height of the collection basin (41) and the wall thickness of the boundary wall (42) of the thin portion (40) corresponds substantially to the wall thickness of the base wall (12).
4. The packaging (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the collection basin (41) is located at the deepest point of the container (10).
5. The packaging (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, when the container (10) stands with the base (11) thereof on level ground, the base wall (12) comprises base wall regions that are inclined relative to the horizontal.
6. The packaging (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the container (10) is an injection-molded part made from plastics material.
7. The packaging (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a tamper-proof seal and/or a child-proof seal are provided.
8. A method for detecting cleaning agent (32) that has leaked out in a packaging (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the packaging is supplied to a detection apparatus, the detection apparatus generating a signal on the basis of whether cleaning agent (32) is detected in the collection basin (41), which signal is used to either reject or further process the packaging (1).
9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that a camera system produces an image of the container base (12) and/or the thin portion (40) and evaluates said image by means of a computer.
10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that, before generating the image, the container (10) is heated in the region of the container base (11) and the camera system produces a thermal image.
11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that a measurement value is determined that depends on a fill level of the collection basin (41).

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