EP3381835B1 - Laundry product - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a detergent product, in particular for textile treatment, further in particular for textile cleaning and / or for textile washing, with a film bag comprising a plurality of bag chambers, each of which is enclosed by a water-soluble film, the bag chambers being connected by water-soluble films which are connected to one another in a sealing plane Films are formed and separated from one another by sealing sections lying in the sealing plane and the pouch chambers are each filled with a detergent preparation.

Water-soluble detergent products in the form of a single-use portion pack for textile treatment are known. Such a portion pack is used for the one-off textile treatment application usually within a textile washing machine. The detergent product has a film bag with one or more bag chambers. A detergent preparation which contains detergent substances for textile treatment, in particular for textile washing, is accommodated in each bag chamber. The use of several pouch chambers opens up the possibility of separate provision of different detergent preparations which, under certain circumstances, react chemically with one another or are not stable in storage when mixed for other reasons. In addition, the use of several, different detergent preparations within a washing process allows the release of several, functionally different detergents and / or additional substances, such as bleaching, fabric softener or fragrances. If several pouch chambers are provided, the individual detergent preparations within the pouch chambers can have the same or different consistency and are preferably of liquid consistency, for example liquid, gel-like, pasty, wax-like, or of solid consistency, for example powdery, granular, free-flowing or solid-like. The term “detergent preparation” is to be understood broadly within the meaning of the invention.

After adding the detergent products in question to water, the film dissolves and releases the detergent preparation. The film bag can be formed from several water-soluble films, the water-soluble film preferably being PVA film (polyvinyl alcohol film). The films that can be used generally consist of polyvinyl alcohol copolymers with appropriate additives such as plasticizers, water, surfactants, antioxidants, lubricants, release agents, bitter substances or salts. The film bag can be made from a water-soluble base film and a water-soluble cover film, which form the boundary walls of at least one bag chamber. The base film can be thermoformed to form at least one bag chamber, for example in a plastically deforming manner. The base film and the cover film are then sealed to one another or connected to one another in one or more sealing or connecting sections. The Sealing sections then lie in a so-called sealing plane or connecting plane of the two foils.

Detergent products with several bag compartments are for example from the DE 10 2014 102 567 A1 known. The detergent product described in the aforementioned document may comprise a plurality of compartments which may be arranged one above the other, ie one positioned above the other. In addition, arrangements are possible in which the chambers are arranged next to one another, ie positioned one next to the other. Chambers can also be arranged such that a first chamber is located next to a second chamber, but the first chamber at least partially surrounds the second chamber, but does not completely surround the second chamber. Alternatively, a chamber can also be completely enclosed by another chamber. The compartments can be of different sizes and each contain a laundry, fabric care or dishwashing composition, including pretreatment or soak compositions and other rinse compositions. The composition can also be a detergent composition or a machine dishwashing composition. The detergent composition can be used during the main wash cycle or it can be used as a pretreatment or soak composition.

A detergent product with a water-soluble bag, which has a plurality of bag chambers arranged side by side, is for example from the EP 2 617 659 B1 known. Two separate chambers are each filled with a cleaning agent, the film bag being made from a water-soluble base film and a water-soluble cover film, which are tightly connected to one another in a sealing plane. The pouch chambers are separated from one another by sealing sections lying in the sealing plane. The base film is thermoformed to form the bag chambers in a plastically deforming manner. In the sealing plane, a first bag chamber has a first base area and a second bag chamber has a second base area. The film bag has a third base surface, the first base surface of the first bag chamber having a concave section on its side facing the second bag chamber, and the second base surface of the second bag chamber having a convex section on its side facing the first bag chamber. The convex section of the second bag chamber extends into the concave section of the first bag chamber. The second base surface of the second bag chamber has at least one concave portion on the side of its convex portion, which adjoins at least one convex portion of the first base surface. This geometry is intended to achieve a certain intrinsic dimensional stability of the film bag, so that the bag chambers do not bend and bend relative to one another when the film bag is held manually. Bending or bending the bag compartments is often interpreted by users of the detergent products in question as an indication of a supposedly poor product quality.

Detergent products with geometrically simple design side by side pouches usually have an insufficient intrinsic shape stability of the foil pouch, with the result that such product designs are regarded by users as inferior in quality. In addition, the low rigidity of the detergent product goes hand in hand with inadequate machine operability in the manufacture and further processing of the products.

From the user's point of view, a large base of the foil pouch and wide sealing sections between the pouch compartments also make the (complete) dissolvability of the detergent product during a washing process appear questionable. In fact, the dissolution behavior of multi-chamber capsules corresponds to the dissolution rate and the degree of dissolution during a washing process, often not the high expectations of consumers for water-soluble detergent products. The pouch chambers of known multi-chamber capsules form contact surfaces for parts of items of laundry, such as buttons or applications, which means that the detergent product gets caught in the laundry and is then transported along with a piece of laundry and spreads out on the item of laundry. This can lead to an uneven and poorer flow around the detergent product during a washing process and thus to a delayed and inadequate dissolution of the film material, in particular the sealing seams in the central region of the film bag. Occasionally it can be observed that the bags spread out on the laundry item and under the porthole, i.e. H. the loading opening in washing machines of the front loader type, onto which quite wide rubber sleeves are conveyed. Depending on the machine manufacturer and type, the bag is only exposed to very little or no water contact, which almost inevitably leads to bag residues. In addition, the dissolution of the bag on the rubber sleeve is also made difficult by the lack of mechanical action. This effect is extremely undesirable and is in contrast to the desired situation, after which the bag is exposed to mechanical loads in the washing cycle when it comes into contact with the laundry drum and the laundry item. The geometry or shape of the bag compartments also contributes to a non-optimal dissolution behavior of the known detergent products, areas between adjacent bag compartments being formed which are poorly flowed around and are not sufficiently dissolved at the end of a washing process.

The product design of water-soluble multi-chamber capsules allows such designs that, from the user's point of view, are perceived as more aesthetically pleasing than single-chamber capsules and are seen as an indicator of an innovative product concept. However, the film consumption for the production of multi-chamber capsules is 10 to 50% greater than the film consumption for the production of single-chamber systems with the same total amount of the detergent preparation contained in the bag chamber or the bag chambers. In the case of detergent products with a plurality of chambers arranged one above the other, the higher film consumption is not optimized for the use of a third layer of film for producing the chambers and for detergent products with bag chambers arranged next to one another Shape of adjacent pouch chambers with wide sealing or sealing sections between the chambers. The higher film consumption leads to higher manufacturing costs. Incidentally, high film consumption is in conflict with the steadily increasing environmental awareness of users and the desire for resource-saving manufacturing processes.

WO 2015/179584 A1 , WO 2004/020288 A1 and WO 2014/170882 A1 disclose detergent products that are state of the art.

On the basis of the prior art described above, the object of the invention is to provide a generic detergent product which has a high intrinsic shape stability and enables improved use, in particular in textile washing machines, which also includes, in particular, improved dissolution behavior during the washing process. The detergent product according to the invention should be characterized in particular by a high dissolution rate and a largely residue-free dissolution during a given washing process in a textile washing machine. In addition, the detergent product should be easy to manufacture in a cost-effective and resource-saving manner with good machine operation, and should meet the high demands of users for an innovative product design.

To achieve the above object, it is proposed in a detergent product of the type mentioned at the outset that a plurality of bag chambers with the number n Anzahl 3 are provided, the bag chambers being arranged in at least one cutting plane around a common n-fold axis of rotation perpendicular to the cutting plane. By rotating the film bag or the detergent product by an angle of 360 ° / n around the axis of rotation, the arrangement of the bag chambers can be made to coincide with itself, based on the areas of the bag chambers in the cutting plane. If the film bag or the detergent product rotates about the axis of rotation and the arrangement of the bag chambers remains essentially indistinguishable from the initial state when rotated through 360 ° / n, then the film bag has an n-fold axis of rotation in the sense of the present invention. In the case of, for example, a three-fold axis of rotation, a rotation of the film bag by an angle of 120 ° in each case around the axis of rotation leads to the fact that the cut surfaces of the bag chambers in the cutting plane are again brought into congruence with themselves. This results in a total of three symmetry-equivalent or substantially congruent arrangements of the bag chambers, based on the cut surfaces of the bag chambers in the cutting plane.

The term "detergent product" is to be understood broadly within the meaning of the invention and in particular also includes those products which are used for cleaning dishes in dishwashers. The term “detergent preparation” is therefore also to be understood broadly and includes, for example, machine dishwashing detergent and rinse aid. The following explanations relating to the use of the detergent product according to the invention in textile washing machines apply correspondingly to embodiments of the invention Detergent product for use in dishwashers without going into detail.

The rotationally symmetrical configuration of the film bag with at least three bag chambers provided according to the invention leads to a product design that is characterized by a high intrinsic stability. The bending or bending over of the bag chambers relative to one another during manufacture, processing and use can be significantly reduced, so that the ability to machine is improved and the detergent product according to the invention is perceived by users to be of particularly high quality.

In addition, the arrangement of the bag chambers provided according to the invention about a common n-fold axis of rotation enables an aesthetically appealing product design to be achieved, which contributes to a high level of user acceptance.

The bag chambers can be designed to be flow-optimized and to be arranged in a flow-optimized manner relative to one another, which, when used in a textile washing machine, leads to a uniform and intensive flow around and overflow in the bag chambers combined with a rapid and largely complete dissolution of the film material. The bag chambers can in particular be designed in such a way that fewer contact surfaces are created for laundry parts, such as buttons and / or applications. Accordingly, the detergent products according to the invention are less likely to get caught on laundry items and are thereby moved more intensely during a washing process, so that a sufficiently high water contact is ensured during the washing process.

Finally, configurations of the bag chambers and their arrangement relative to one another are possible, which are characterized by a very compact construction. The compact structure leads to reduced material consumption. Manufacturing and packaging processes are simplified.

The product design, i.e. The geometrical design of the bag chambers, their size and their arrangement relative to one another, can also provide very narrow sealing sections between adjacent chambers, which leads to a reduction in the dimensions of the detergent product according to the invention and thus maximum utilization of the apparatus and machine capacities for the manufacture and the Permits transportation of the detergent products used apparatus and machines. In addition, the external appearance of the detergent products is upgraded.

The pouch chamber can be formed by at least two, preferably only two, foil layers sealed to one another in one or more sealing sections. Preferably, only adjacent and separate bag chambers are provided and no overlapping / overlapping bag chambers, so that the production of the film bag is possible with only two film layers. This leads to reduced manufacturing costs and a reduced manufacturing outlay. The film bag can be made from a water-soluble base film and a water-soluble cover film, which are tightly connected to one another in the sealing plane. The base film can be thermoformed in a plastically deforming manner to form bag chambers.

The pouch chambers are separated from one another by sealing sections lying in the sealing plane. The sealing sections can in particular be non-linear and thus ensure the desired high intrinsic dimensional stability of the detergent product.

The outer contour of the foil bag in the sealing plane can preferably be circular, triangular or square. The shaping can take place, for example, by laser cutting or punching. Other outer contours of the foil bag are not excluded.

According to the invention, the pouch chambers in the sealing plane have the same base surfaces, which are arranged around a common n-fold axis of rotation perpendicular to the sealing plane, where n is the number of pouch chambers. When the bag chambers are produced by plastic deformation of a base film in a deep-drawing tool and subsequent connection with a cover film, the shape and size of the base areas are predetermined by the contours of the chamber cavities of the deep-drawing tool. "Equal" in the sense of the invention includes an identical shape and size of the base areas or also an approximately same shape and size of the base areas, i.e. an essentially identical shape and size, so that when the film bag is rotated n times about the axis of rotation, the base surfaces in the sealing plane have essentially symmetry-equivalent appearances. In the sense of the invention, "essentially symmetry-equivalent appearances of the base areas" are present in particular if the area coverage of the base areas of the bag chambers after a rotation of the film bag starting from a 0 ° position in the initial state by 360 ° / n, i.e. for example in the case of a three-fold axis of rotation, a rotation of the film bag by 120 °, at least 90%, preferably at least 95%, in each case with reference to the initial state.

The film bag can have between three and ten bag chambers, preferably between three and five bag chambers, which can have the same or different detergent preparations. Accordingly, the pouch chambers can be arranged around a three to nine-fold axis of rotation, preferably about a three or four or five-fold axis of rotation. Despite the high number of chambers, the arrangement of the bag chambers around an n-fold axis of rotation enables a compact and flow-optimized construction with the advantages mentioned above.

In the case of a film bag with a circular or polygonal, for example quadrangular or triangular, outer contour of the film bag in the sealing plane, a centrally arranged n-fold axis of rotation is provided, around which the bag chambers are arranged. This allows a very compact structure of the detergent product according to the invention. Incidentally, this makes it possible to achieve a product design that is very appealing to the user with the smallest possible sealing sections. The consumer acceptance for the use of the detergent products according to the invention is accordingly high.

Although not mandatory, at least two bag compartments, preferably all bag compartments, preferably have the same filling volume and / or the same spatial shape. The term "same" includes an identical filling volume and / or an identical spatial shape or also an approximately identical filling volume and / or an approximately identical spatial shape, which means a deviation in the filling volume of less than 20%, preferably less than 10%, more preferably of less than 5%, and / or a non-identical, but from the point of view of the user essentially identical appearance of the bag chambers when viewed spatially. With the same design of the bag chambers, a high intrinsic stability of the film bag can be ensured and an intensive and uniform flow around all the bag chambers can be achieved, so that they dissolve essentially at the same time. Incidentally, fewer attack surfaces are created in three-dimensional space, on which laundry items, such as buttons or applications, can get caught and then unwantedly transport the foil bag. Finally, the manufacture of the detergent product according to the invention is simplified by the formation of bag compartments of the same size and the manufacturing costs are reduced. The filling volume of the bag chambers can be in the range between 1 ml and 50 ml, preferably in the range between 2 ml and 15 ml.

To achieve the object set above, it is expedient if the base surface of the bag chamber lying in the sealing plane is axially asymmetrical. The base surface is axisymmetric if it cannot be mapped onto itself by means of a vertical axis mirroring on a mirror axis running through the base surface. Due to the axis asymmetry, flow conditions at the bag chamber can be achieved, which lead to an improved and more uniform dissolution of the film material when the detergent product is used in one washing process. A specific arrangement of the pouch chambers relative to one another can also achieve a compact construction of the foil pouch, the width of the sealing sections between adjacent pouch chambers being able to be reduced. A modern product design with unusual bag chamber shapes is possible, which draws the user's eye more closely to the bag chambers and their contents. This contributes to a high level of consumer acceptance compared to the detergent product according to the invention. Against this background, a preferred embodiment of the invention provides drop-shaped, leaf-shaped or yin and yang-shaped base surfaces of the bag chamber. A particularly preferred one The contour of the pouch chamber in the sealing plane is characterized by a narrow convex end section and a wide convex end section of the contour opposite in the longitudinal direction of the pouch chamber. The contour can be characterized by a first circular shape with a smaller inner radius placed on the narrow end section and a second circular shape with a larger inner radius placed on the wider end section, the ratio of the larger inner radius to the smaller inner radius being more than 3: 1, preferably more than 5 : 1, more preferably more than 8: 1, or more than 12: 1. When the film bag is produced in a deep-drawing mold, the inner radii are predetermined by the cavities of the deep-drawing mold. Between the narrow convex end section and the wide convex end section, the contour can be provided by a concave or straight inner section directed towards the center of the film bag and a convex or straight outer section directed towards the outer edge of the film bag, from which a drop-shaped, leaf-shaped or Yin and Yang-shaped Base area of the bag chamber can result.

An advantageous embodiment of the bag chamber contour in the sealing plane can provide that in each case a broad convex end section of the contour of a first bag chamber adjoins or lies opposite a concave or straight inner section and / or a narrow convex end section of the contour of an adjacent second bag chamber. Alternatively or in addition, the narrow convex end section of the contour of the second bag chamber can also encompass sections of the wide convex end section of the contour of the adjacent first bag chamber from the outside. Alternatively or in addition, the wide convex end section of the contour of the first bag chamber can intersect a tangent which is placed on the wide convex end section and on the narrow convex end section of the contour of the adjacent second bag chamber. The wide convex end section of the first bag chamber then extends into a concave region of the contour of the second bag chamber. The contours described above allow a product design that is characterized by a very compact arrangement of the pouch chambers on the foil pouch.

In particular, the transitions of the bag chambers in the circumferential direction of the film bag can be characterized by narrow sealing sections. The sealing sections can have a maximum width of less than 5 mm, preferably less than 3 mm, more preferably only 2 mm or less, in particular in the radially outer regions between two adjacent bag chambers. Accordingly, the detergent product is less likely to get caught on laundry items. This results in intensive contact of the film bag with the washing liquor, the washing drum and the laundry during a washing process and prevents spreading on the laundry item, which results in an improved dissolution behavior of the film bag. Incidentally, a higher intrinsic stability of the detergent product can be achieved in this way. From the point of view of the user, the product design can be made modern and interesting due to the unusual shape of the pouch chambers, whereby the user has narrow sealing sections between the Bag chambers perceives little and the user's attention is drawn to the bag chamber and its contents.

In order to achieve the most homogeneous flow possible to the bag chambers and good dissolution behavior as well as high intrinsic dimensional stability with the narrowest possible sealing sections between the bag chambers, the outer sections of the contours of the bag chambers in the sealing plane can lie at least essentially on a common circumferential line, which is essentially circular , elliptical, superelliptical, square, rectangular or triangular course.

In connection with the invention, it has been shown that particularly advantageous flow conditions at the pouch chambers and an overall very good dissolution behavior of the foil pouch can be achieved if a bisector of the base surface of a pouch chamber in the sealing plane is left or right-turning and if, preferably, one is left - Or clockwise rotation of all bag compartments is provided. The base surfaces of all bag compartments can have outer contours and / or inner contours with the same direction of curvature at least in sections. The area bisectors of all pouch chambers of the foil pouch are then bent in the same direction, that is to say either to the left or to the right, which leads to an aesthetically pleasing appearance of the detergent product according to the invention. Incidentally, a curvature of the bag compartments in the same direction can contribute to the detergent product coming into intensive contact with the detergent solution and the laundry parts in the washing drum and to a certain extent "migrating" through the detergent solution without getting stuck on certain laundry parts and without riding on the laundry item or even causing it Porthole to be promoted.

A form of the base surface of the bag chamber lying in the sealing plane is particularly advantageous for an improved dissolution behavior, in which the width of the base surface transverse to the bisector starting from a narrow convex end section of the contour of the bag chamber in the sealing plane initially along the bisector in the direction of an opposite wide one convex end portion of the contour increases steadily until a maximum value of the width is reached. The width can then decrease again up to the wide convex end section. Correspondingly, the cross-sectional area of the bag chamber perpendicular to the sealing plane, starting from the narrow convex end section of the contour, can increase continuously along the bisector until a maximum value is reached, and then decrease again until the wide convex end section is reached. The bag chamber can then have a helical structure both in the two-dimensional space in the sealing plane and in the three-dimensional space in the direction of rotation or rotation of the bisectors. In this case, the cross-sectional area of the bag chamber can initially increase over a longer section of the bisector until the maximum value is reached, and then after If the maximum value is reached, it drops again over a shorter section. The same can apply to the width of the base area.

The subsequent bag chamber can then follow with the same cross-sectional profile, the maximum cross-sectional area of a subsequent bag chamber being equal to the maximum cross-sectional area of a previous bag chamber or larger or smaller than the maximum cross-sectional area of a previous bag chamber. If the contour of the pouch chamber in the sealing plane has a narrow convex end section and a wide convex end section opposite the narrow convex end section, the maximum cross section or the maximum width of the pouch chamber can be in the region of the center point of a circular arc placed on the inside of the wide convex end section lie.

In order to achieve a greater swirl in the central region of the film bag, at least one central chamber arranged in the central region of the film bag can be provided, the bag chambers then being arranged around the central chamber. This optimizes the dissolving behavior of the detergent product and provides a high level of stability against unwanted folding over of the bag compartments when the detergent product is held.

The central chamber is separated from each bag chamber by a sealing section, the central chamber being able to be equidistant from each bag chamber. The minimum width of the sealing section between a bag chamber and the central chamber can be less than 5 mm, preferably less than 3 mm, more preferably less than 2 mm. This enables high intrinsic dimensional stability and an appealing product design from the user's point of view.

The central chamber has a base surface in the sealing plane, wherein the base surface can be circularly symmetrical or n-fold rotationally symmetrical with n as the number of pouch chambers of the foil pouch. For example, the central chamber can have a circular base surface or a polygonal base surface, preferably a square, triangular, star-shaped, propeller-shaped or fan wheel-shaped base surface. The central chamber can have, for example, a triangular base surface in the sealing plane with convexly curved corner sections and convex and / or concave and / or undulating side sections. In three-dimensional space, the central chamber can be hemispherical, for example. Through a rotationally symmetrical design of the central chamber in two-dimensional space, that is, based on a plan view of the base surface of the central chamber in the sealing plane, and / or in three-dimensional space, that is, based on a perspective view of the central chamber, the basic concept of the arrangement of the pouch chambers is one n-fold axis of rotation taken into account and further developed this basic idea to reinforce the advantages described above. This is the central chamber in particular designed differently and thus has a different spatial shape than the other bag chambers surrounding it.

The production process of the detergent product according to the invention and also the water-soluble films used to produce the product are fundamentally known to the person skilled in the art. Examples of preferred polymers, copolymers or derivatives which are suitable for use as a bag chamber, as well as suitable detergent preparations are in the DE 10 2014 102 567 A1 described.

The invention is explained in more detail below using the figures as an example. The invention is not restricted to the features and combinations of features shown in the figures.

Fig. 1

eine erste Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Waschmittelprodukts mit einem Folienbeutel mit drei Beutelkammern in einer perspektivischen Ansicht schräg von oben;

Fig. 2

eine Draufsicht auf die Basisflächen der Beutelkammern und die Basisfläche des Folienbeutels in der Siegelebene des in Fig. 1 gezeigten Waschmittelprodukts;

Fig. 3

eine Ansicht der Basisflächen der Beutelkammern und der Basisfläche des Folienbeutels in der Siegelebene des in Fig. 1 gezeigten Waschmittelprodukts von unten;

Fig. 4

eine Seitenansicht des in Fig. 1 gezeigten Waschmittelprodukts in der mit I in Fig. 2 gezeigten Blickrichtung;

Fig. 5

eine Seitenansicht des in Fig. 1 gezeigten Waschmittelprodukts in der mit II in Fig. 2 gezeigten Blickrichtung;

Fig. 6

eine Seitenansicht des in Fig. 1 gezeigten Waschmittelprodukts in der mit III in Fig. 2 gezeigten Blickrichtung;

Fig. 7

eine Seitenansicht des in Fig. 1 gezeigten Waschmittelprodukts in der mit IV in Fig. 2 gezeigten Blickrichtung;

Fig. 8

eine weitere Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Waschmittelprodukts mit einem Folienbeutel mit drei Beutelkammern und einer mittleren Zentralkammer in einer perspektivischen Ansicht schräg von oben;

Fig. 9

eine Draufsicht auf die Basisflächen der Beutelkammern und die Basisfläche des Folienbeutels in der Siegelebene des in Fig. 8 gezeigten Waschmittelprodukts;

Fig. 10

eine Ansicht der Basisflächen der Beutelkammern und der Basisfläche des Folienbeutels in der Siegelebene des in Fig. 8 gezeigten Waschmittelprodukts von unten;

Fig. 11

eine Seitenansicht des in Fig. 8 gezeigten Waschmittelprodukts in der mit I in Fig. 9 gezeigten Blickrichtung;

Fig. 12

eine Seitenansicht des in Fig. 8 gezeigten Waschmittelprodukts in der mit II in Fig. 9 gezeigten Blickrichtung;

Fig. 13

eine Seitenansicht des in Fig. 8 gezeigten Waschmittelprodukts in der mit III in Fig. 9 gezeigten Blickrichtung;

Fig. 14

eine Seitenansicht des in Fig. 8 gezeigten Waschmittelprodukts in der mit IV in Fig. 8 gezeigten Blickrichtung;

Fig. 15

eine dritte Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Waschmittelprodukts mit einem Folienbeutel mit drei Beutelkammern und mit einer kuppelartigen Zentralkammer mit dreieckförmiger Basisfläche in der Siegelebene in einer perspektivischen Ansicht schräg von oben;

Fig. 16

eine Draufsicht auf die Basisflächen der Beutelkammern und die Basisfläche des Folienbeutels in der Siegelebene des in Fig. 15 gezeigten Waschmittelprodukts;

Fig. 17

eine Ansicht der Basisflächen der Beutelkammern und der Basisfläche des Folienbeutels in der Siegelebene des in Fig. 15 gezeigten Waschmittelprodukts von unten;

Fig. 18

eine Seitenansicht des in Fig. 15 gezeigten Waschmittelprodukts in der mit I in Fig. 16 gezeigten Blickrichtung;

Fig. 19

eine Seitenansicht des in Fig. 15 gezeigten Waschmittelprodukts in der mit II in Fig. 16 gezeigten Blickrichtung;

Fig. 20

eine Seitenansicht des in Fig. 15 gezeigten Waschmittelprodukts in der mit III in Fig. 16 gezeigten Blickrichtung;

Fig. 21

eine Seitenansicht des in Fig. 15 gezeigten Waschmittelprodukts in der mit IV in Fig. 16 gezeigten Blickrichtung;

Fig. 22

eine dritte Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Waschmittelprodukts mit einem Folienbeutel mit drei Beutelkammern und einer kuppelartigen Zentralkammer mit einer dreieckförmigen verzehrten Basisfläche in der Siegelebene in einer perspektivischen Ansicht schräg von oben;

Fig. 23

eine Draufsicht auf die Basisflächen der Beutelkammern und die Basisfläche des Folienbeutels in der Siegelebene des in Fig. 22 gezeigten Waschmittelprodukts,

Fig. 24

eine Ansicht der Basisflächen der Beutelkammern und der Basisfläche des Folienbeutels in der Siegelebene des in Fig. 22 gezeigten Waschmittelprodukts von unten;

Fig. 25

eine Seitenansicht des in Fig. 22 gezeigten Waschmittelprodukts in der mit I in Fig. 23 gezeigten Blickrichtung;

Fig. 26

eine Seitenansicht des in Fig. 22 gezeigten Waschmittelprodukts in der mit II in Fig. 23 gezeigten Blickrichtung;

Fig. 27

eine Seitenansicht des in Fig. 22 gezeigten Waschmittelprodukts in der mit III in Fig. 23 gezeigten Blickrichtung;

Fig. 28

eine Seitenansicht des in Fig. 22 gezeigten Waschmittelprodukts in der mit IV in Fig. 23 gezeigten Blickrichtung;

Fig. 29

eine Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Waschmittelprodukts mit einem Folienbeutel mit vier Beutelkammern in einer perspektivischen Ansicht schräg von oben;

Fig. 30

eine Draufsicht auf die Basisflächen der Beutelkammern und die Basisfläche des Folienbeutels in der Siegelebene des in Fig. 29 gezeigten Waschmittelprodukts;

Fig. 31

eine Ansicht der Basisflächen der Beutelkammern und der Basisfläche des Folienbeutels in der Siegelebene des in Fig. 29 gezeigten Waschmittelprodukts von unten und

Fig. 32

eine Seitenansicht des in Fig. 29 gezeigten Waschmittelprodukts in der mit I in Fig. 30 gezeigten Blickrichtung.

Show it

Fig. 1

a first embodiment of a detergent product according to the invention with a film bag with three bag chambers in a perspective view obliquely from above;

Fig. 2

a plan view of the base surfaces of the bag chambers and the base surface of the film bag in the sealing plane of the in Fig. 1 shown detergent product;

Fig. 3

a view of the base surfaces of the bag chambers and the base surface of the film bag in the sealing plane of the in Fig. 1 shown detergent product from below;

Fig. 4

a side view of the in Fig. 1 shown in the detergent product with I in Fig. 2 shown viewing direction;

Fig. 5

a side view of the in Fig. 1 shown detergent product in the with II in Fig. 2 shown viewing direction;

Fig. 6

a side view of the in Fig. 1 shown in the detergent product with III in Fig. 2 shown viewing direction;

Fig. 7

a side view of the in Fig. 1 shown in the detergent product with IV in Fig. 2 shown viewing direction;

Fig. 8

a further embodiment of a detergent product according to the invention with a film bag with three bag chambers and a central central chamber in a perspective view obliquely from above;

Fig. 9

a plan view of the base surfaces of the bag chambers and the base surface of the film bag in the sealing plane of the in Fig. 8 shown detergent product;

Fig. 10

a view of the base surfaces of the bag chambers and the base surface of the film bag in the sealing plane of the in Fig. 8 shown detergent product from below;

Fig. 11

a side view of the in Fig. 8 shown in the detergent product with I in Fig. 9 shown viewing direction;

Fig. 12

a side view of the in Fig. 8 shown detergent product in the with II in Fig. 9 shown viewing direction;

Fig. 13

a side view of the in Fig. 8 shown in the detergent product with III in Fig. 9 shown viewing direction;

Fig. 14

a side view of the in Fig. 8 shown in the detergent product with IV in Fig. 8 shown viewing direction;

Fig. 15

a third embodiment of a detergent product according to the invention with a film bag with three bag chambers and with a dome-like central chamber with a triangular base surface in the sealing plane in a perspective view obliquely from above;

Fig. 16

a plan view of the base surfaces of the bag chambers and the base surface of the film bag in the sealing plane of the in Fig. 15 shown detergent product;

Fig. 17

a view of the base surfaces of the bag chambers and the base surface of the film bag in the sealing plane of the in Fig. 15 shown detergent product from below;

Fig. 18

a side view of the in Fig. 15 shown in the detergent product with I in Fig. 16 shown viewing direction;

Fig. 19

a side view of the in Fig. 15 shown detergent product in the with II in Fig. 16 shown viewing direction;

Fig. 20

a side view of the in Fig. 15 shown in the detergent product with III in Fig. 16 shown viewing direction;

Fig. 21

a side view of the in Fig. 15 shown in the detergent product with IV in Fig. 16 shown viewing direction;

Fig. 22

a third embodiment of a detergent product according to the invention with a film bag with three bag chambers and a dome-like central chamber with a triangular base surface consumed in the sealing plane in a perspective view obliquely from above;

Fig. 23

a plan view of the base surfaces of the bag chambers and the base surface of the film bag in the sealing plane of the in Fig. 22 shown detergent product,

Fig. 24

a view of the base surfaces of the bag chambers and the base surface of the film bag in the sealing plane of the in Fig. 22 shown detergent product from below;

Fig. 25

a side view of the in Fig. 22 shown in the detergent product with I in Fig. 23 shown viewing direction;

Fig. 26

a side view of the in Fig. 22 shown detergent product in the with II in Fig. 23 shown viewing direction;

Fig. 27

a side view of the in Fig. 22 shown in the detergent product with III in Fig. 23 shown viewing direction;

Fig. 28

a side view of the in Fig. 22 shown in the detergent product with IV in Fig. 23 shown viewing direction;

Fig. 29

an embodiment of a detergent product according to the invention with a film bag with four bag chambers in a perspective view obliquely from above;

Fig. 30

a plan view of the base surfaces of the bag chambers and the base surface of the film bag in the sealing plane of the in Fig. 29 shown detergent product;

Fig. 31

a view of the base surfaces of the bag chambers and the base surface of the film bag in the sealing plane of the in Fig. 29 shown detergent product from below and

Fig. 32

a side view of the in Fig. 29 shown in the detergent product with I in Fig. 30 shown viewing direction.

The Figures 1 to 7; 8 to 14; 15 to 21; 22 to 28; 29 to 32 show different embodiments of detergent products 1 for textile treatment in the format of single-use sachets. Such a portion pack is used for the one-off textile treatment application usually in a textile washing machine. Each detergent product 1 has a film bag 2 with three or four bag chambers 3. Detergent preparations which can contain detergent substances for textile treatment, in particular textile washing, are accommodated in the individual bag chambers 3. Water-soluble PVA films with the type designation M8630 or M8720 from the film manufacturer Monosol can be used to produce the film bag 2. Alternatively, appropriately designed water-soluble films from other film manufacturers, such as Aicello, Nippon Gohsei or Mondi, can also be used.

The film bag 2 is formed from two water-soluble films, which can be designed as PVA films. The water-soluble foils enclose the bag chambers 3 by forming their boundary walls. The foils are connected to one another in the area of the sealing sections 4 such that the pouch chambers 3 are each completely closed by the sealing sections 4 and are separated from one another. Thus, a sealed film section is also provided between two adjacent bag chambers 3, which connects the bag chambers 3 to one another in order to achieve a single portion pack.

The bag chambers 3 each have the same base area A1 in the sealing plane or the connection plane between the foils ( Fig. 2, 3 ; 9, 10 ; 16, 17 ; 23, 24 ; 30, 31 ), while the entire detergent product 1 or the film bag 2 has the base area A2 in the sealing plane. The base area A1 of a bag chamber 3 is limited by the contour line of the respective bag chamber 2 in the sealing plane. The base area A2 of the (entire) detergent product 1 is limited by its contour line of the sealing plane. In the in the Figures 1 to 28 shown embodiments, a substantially circular or super-elliptical base surface A2 of the detergent product 1 is provided. The in the Figures 29 to 32 The embodiment shown has a substantially square base area A2 of the detergent product 1 with rounded corner areas.

In all of the illustrated embodiments, the base surfaces A1 of the bag chambers 2 each have a teardrop or teardrop shape with a narrow convex end section 5 of FIG Contour line of the respective bag chamber 3 in the sealing plane (with a smaller inner radius r1) and with a wider convex end section 6 opposite in the longitudinal direction of the bag chamber 3 (with a larger inner radius r2). Provided between the two convex sections 5, 6 at the ends of the bag chamber 3 is a concave or possibly also rectilinear connecting section 7 and a convex or rectilinear connecting section 8 radially on the outside.

The different product designs in the Figures 1 to 32 Detergent products 1 shown, that is to say in particular the geometric configuration (shape), the size and the arrangement of the bag chambers 3 relative to one another, are explained in detail. All the embodiments shown have the common feature that a plurality of bag chambers 3 with the number n ≥ 3 are provided, the bag chambers 3 in at least one cutting plane, in this case the sealing plane, around a common n-fold axis of rotation Y (perpendicular to the cutting plane) Fig. 1 , 8th , 15 , 22 , 29 ) are arranged. This provides a compact arrangement of the bag chambers 3 with narrow sealing sections 4 between the bag chambers 3, so that product capacities of the apparatus and systems used for producing the detergent product 1 can be optimally used. The bag chambers 3 are around a central area of the film bag 2 and in the circumferential direction ( Fig. 2 , Arrow 15) arranged one behind the other.

The compact arrangement of the bag chambers 3 also reduces the contact surfaces on which laundry items, such as buttons or applications, can get caught. If there is a jamming, the detergent product 1 can be held on the corresponding laundry part and transported with it, so that the circulation movements of the detergent product 1 decrease during a washing process in a textile washing machine and the foil bag 2 is washed less intensively with the washing liquid. The restricted movement of the detergent product 1 and the reduced rinsing deteriorate the dissolution behavior of the water-soluble film bag 2, namely the dissolution rate and the degree of dissolution that is achieved during a washing process.

In addition, the compact arrangement of the bag chambers 3 leads to a higher intrinsic stability of the film bag 2, which increases the user's acceptance of the detergent products 1.

An improved dissolution behavior of the film bag 3 also results from a flow-optimized configuration of the bag chambers 3 and from a flow-optimized arrangement of the bag chambers 3 relative to one another. The bag chambers 3 are flowed around in a turbulent manner in the embodiments shown, so that in particular the sealing sections 4 of the film bag lying between adjacent bag chambers 3 dissolve in a shorter time and more completely than in the case of the prior art Known detergent products 1 is the case. The transitions of the bag chambers 3 in the (radially) outer edge regions of the film bag 2 are distinguished by narrow sealing sections between adjacent bag chambers 3, so that the user's eye is directed towards the bag chambers 3 and their contents. The result is a very attractive "innovative" product design, which contributes to a high level of user acceptance.

The in the Figures 1 to 28 Detergent products 1 shown each have three pouch chambers 3 with the same base surfaces A1 in the sealing plane, the base surfaces A1 being arranged around a common 3-fold axis of rotation Y perpendicular to the sealing plane. If the film bag 2 or the detergent product 1 rotates about the axis of rotation Y, the arrangement of the bag chambers 3 remains essentially indistinguishable from the initial state when they are rotated through 120 °, with a total of three symmetrically equivalent or substantially congruent arrangements of the base surfaces A1.

In the in the Figures 1 to 7 In the embodiment shown, the bag chambers 3 are arranged around an uninterrupted sealing section 4 in the central region of the film bag 1. The bag chambers 3 are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the bag chambers 3 or in the circumferential direction of the base surface A2 of the film bag 2 and do not overlap one another. All bag chambers 3 have the same filling volume and the same spatial shape.

It is also the case that the base surface A1 is axisymmetric. The base surface A1 can each be drop-shaped. Relative to a circular shape with a smaller inner radius r1 placed on the narrow convex end section 5 of the contour of the bag chamber 3 in the sealing plane and a circular shape with a larger inner radius r2 placed on the wider convex end section 6, the ratio of the larger inner radius r2 to the smaller inner radius r1 is in accordance with Fig. 2 at about 5: 1 or more.

How to look further Fig. 2 results, adjacent bag chambers 3 are arranged relative to one another in such a way that the wider convex end section 6 of the contour of a first bag chamber 3 is opposite the concave connecting section 7 of a second bag chamber 3 which follows in the circumferential direction. The narrower convex end section 5 of the subsequent second bag chamber 3 is offset radially outward in relation to the wider convex end section 6 of the first bag chamber 3 with respect to the bisector 10 of the two base surfaces A1 of the adjacent bag chambers 3. Here, the starting point of the bisector 10 of the base area A1 at the narrow end of a bag chamber 3 following in the circumferential direction of the film bag 2 is offset radially outward from the end point of the bisector 10 of the base area A1 at the wide end of a preceding bag chamber 3.

The wider convex end section 6 of the contour of a preceding bag chamber 3 in the sealing plane otherwise intersects a tangent 9 which is placed on the narrow convex end section 5 and on the wide convex end section 6 of the contour of a subsequent bag chamber 3 and thus extends into a concave region into the subsequent bag chamber 3.

The connecting sections 7, 8 of the contours of all the bag chambers 3 in the sealing plane have the same direction of curvature starting from the narrow convex end section 5 to the wide convex end section 6 of the respective bag chamber 3. The same applies to the bisector 10. According to Fig. 2 this results in a top view of a left-hand rotation of the base surfaces A1 of the bag chambers 3 in the direction from the narrow convex end section 5 to the wide convex end section 6 (or a corresponding clockwise rotation in a view from below of the film bag 2 according to FIG Fig. 3 ). It goes without saying that in a top view, a clockwise rotation of the base surfaces A1 of the bag chambers 3 can also be provided.

Further follows from Figure 2 that the width b of the base surface A1 of each bag chamber 3 transversely to the bisector 10 starting from the narrow convex end section 5 in the direction of the wide convex end section 6 initially increases continuously until a maximum width is reached. Then the width decreases continuously up to the wide convex end section 6. The same applies to the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the sealing plane. Here, the cross-sectional area starting from a narrow end of the bag chamber 3 (cross-sectional area = 0) in the direction of a broad end of the bag chamber 3 (cross-sectional area = 0) in the longitudinal direction of the bag chamber 3 initially increases over a greater length with a smaller slope until a maximum cross-sectional area the bag chamber 3 is reached and, after reaching the maximum cross-sectional area over a shorter length with a greater slope, drops again to zero at the wider end of the bag chamber 3. This is followed by the following bag chamber 3 with the same or similar cross-sectional profile, the maximum cross-sectional area of the following bag chamber 3 in the in the Figures 1 to 31 The embodiments shown are each equal to the maximum cross-sectional area of a preceding bag chamber 3.

The geometry of the bag chamber 3 or of its envelopes is thus both in two-dimensional space in the sealing plane (when looking at the base surfaces A1) and in three-dimensional space (with a perspective view of the bag chambers 3) in the direction of curvature of the bisector 10 by a helical structure featured.

The maximum width of a base area A1 or the maximum cross-sectional area of a bag chamber 3 can be achieved in each case in the region of the center point of a circular arc placed from the inside on the wide convex end section 6 of the contour line of the bag chamber 3 in the sealing plane.

It should also be pointed out that the convex outer connecting sections 8 of the contour lines of the pouch chambers 3 of a foil pouch 2 in the case of those shown in FIGS Figures 1 to 32 shown detergent products 1 are arranged on a common at least substantially circular or super-elliptical circumferential line 11. Other shapes of the circumferential line 11 are not excluded, for example the circumferential line 11 can have a rectangular or square shape. This also contributes to a compact structure. The smallest distance between two bag chambers 2 following in the direction of the circumferential line 11 in the sealing plane can preferably be less than 5 mm, more preferably less than 3 mm, particularly preferably less than 2 mm. Due to the deformations that occur during the production of the film bag 2 by deep drawing and due to restoring forces of the film layers, adjacent bag chambers 3 can even partially abut one another when the detergent product 1 is in use.

Below are just the differences between those in the others Figures 8 to 32 shown detergent products 1 and those already described and in the Figures 1 to 7 shown embodiment explained in more detail. Corresponding features have been identified with the same reference symbols.

The others Figures 8 to 28 Detergent products 1 shown each have a central chamber 12 in the central region of the film bag 2. The central chamber 12 is surrounded by the bag chambers 3. When used in a textile washing machine, the central chamber 12 leads to a strong swirling of the washing water in the central region of the film bag 2 between the adjacent bag chambers 3. The dissolving behavior of the film bag 2 can thus be further optimized by the central chamber 12. Basically, the central chamber 12 has a different design than the bag chambers 3 surrounding it, both with its base area A3 and with its entire spatial shape.

In the in the Figures 8 to 14 shown embodiment, a spherical central chamber 12 with a circular base surface A3 is provided in the sealing plane ( Fig. 9 ).

The in the Figures 15 to 21 The embodiment shown shows a central chamber 12, which forms a dome on the top and on the bottom of the foil bag 2 with a triangular base surface A3 in the sealing plane. The base surface A3 is characterized by more convexly curved corner sections 13 and only slightly convexly curved side sections 14. In comparison to that in FIGS Figures 8 to 14 Embodiments shown with a central chamber 12, which has a circular base surface A3 in the sealing plane, the area of the sealing sections 4 between the central chamber 12 and the adjacent bag chambers 3 can be reduced more by a central chamber 12 with a triangular base surface A3. The user perceives the sealing sections 4 between the central chamber 12 and the bag chambers 3 less strongly, which leads to an appealing aesthetic appearance of the Detergent product 1 contributes and directs the interest of the user even more to the bag chambers 3 and the detergent preparations contained therein.

The in the Figures 22 to 28 The embodiment shown has a central chamber 12 with a base surface A3, the contour of which is even more closely matched to the contour of the adjacent bag chambers 3. This leads to an extensive minimization of the size of the sealing surfaces in the middle area of the film bag 2 between the bag chambers 3. The base surface A3 of the central chamber 12 approximately has the shape of a distorted triangle with convex corner sections 13 and intermediate S-shaped or wavy side sections 14. The minimum distance between the base surface A3 of the central chamber 12 and the base surfaces A1 of the adjacent bag chambers 3 remains essentially constant over the course of the side sections 14.

The base surfaces A3 of the central chambers 12 are in the in the Figures 15 to 28 Embodiments shown each formed or arranged three-fold rotationally symmetrical.

That in the Figures 29 to 32 The detergent product 1 shown has four pouch chambers 3 which are arranged around a fourfold axis of rotation which is perpendicular to the sealing plane. Both embodiments have bag chambers 3 with drop-shaped base areas A1 lying in the sealing plane. The base areas A1 of the in the Figures 29 to 32 shown embodiment are identical. The convex wider end portion 6 of the contour line of a bag chamber 3 in the Figures 29 to 32 The embodiment shown has a greater arc length in the sealing plane than that in FIGS Figures 1 to 28 shown embodiments.

In addition, according to Fig. 30 It is provided that the outer connecting sections 8 of the contour of the bag chambers 3 are formed in a straight line in the sealing plane. The rectilinear connecting sections 8 lie on an essentially square-shaped common circumferential line 11. This achieves a very compact construction of the film bag 2 with a tight arrangement of the bag chambers 3. The base surfaces A1 of all bag chambers 3 are each arranged, starting from a narrow convex end section 5 along the bisector 10 in the direction of a wide convex end section 6 of the contour line of a bag chamber 3, in a view from above rotating to the left ( Fig. 30 ) or clockwise from below ( Fig. 31 ). Incidentally, in this embodiment, too, all bag chambers 3 are of the same design and have the same filling volume.

Reference symbol list:

1

Detergent product

2nd

Foil pouch

3rd

Bag chamber

4th

Sealing section

5

End section

6

End section

7

Connecting section

8th

Connecting section

9

tangent

10th

Bisector

11

Perimeter

12th

Central chamber

13

Corner section

14

Side section

15

arrow

Claims (13)

1. A detergent product (1), in particular for textile treatment, more particularly for textile cleaning and/or for textile washing, in the format of a single-use portion pack having a film pouch (2) comprising a plurality of pouch chambers (3), each of which is enclosed by at least one water-soluble film, the pouch chambers (3) being formed by water-soluble films connected to one another in a sealing plane and separated from one another by sealing portions (4) lying in the sealing plane, and the pouch chambers (3) each being filled with a detergent preparation,

   - the film pouch (2) having a circular or polygonal outer contour in the sealing plane and an n-fold rotational axis (Y) arranged centrally,

   - a plurality of pouch chambers (3) having the number n being provided,

   - the pouch chambers (3) being arranged in at least one sectional plane about the common n-fold rotational axis (Y) that is perpendicular to the sectional plane and

   - the pouch chambers (3) having the same base surfaces (A1) in the sealing plane and the base surfaces (A1) being arranged in the sealing plane about the common n-fold rotational axis (Y) that is perpendicular to the sealing plane, characterized in that n ≥ 3.
2. The detergent product (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the film pouch (2) has between three and ten pouch chambers (3), preferably between 3 and 5 pouch chambers (3).
3. The detergent product (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pouch chambers (3) are arranged in at least one sectional plane about a 3- to 9-fold rotational axis (Y), preferably about a 3- or 4- or 5-fold rotational axis (Y).
4. The detergent product (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two pouch chambers (3), preferably all pouch chambers (3), have the same filling volume and/or the same spatial shape.
5. The detergent product (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each pouch chamber (3) has a base surface (A1) in the sealing plane and in that this base surface (A1) is axially asymmetrical.
6. The detergent product (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the base surface (A1) is drop-shaped or Yin-and-Yang-shaped.
7. The detergent product (1) according to one of the preceding claims 5 or 6, characterized in that a surface bisector (10) of the base surface (A1) is counterclockwise or clockwise and in that, preferably, an counterclockwise or clockwise arrangement of all pouch chambers (3) is provided.
8. The detergent product (1) according to one of the preceding claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the width (b) of the base surface (A1) transverse to a surface bisector (10) of the base surface (A1) and/or the cross-sectional surface of the pouch chamber (3) perpendicular to the sealing plane initially increases over a portion of the length of the surface bisector (10) and decreases after reaching a maximum value (b_max).
9. The detergent product (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one central chamber (12) arranged in the central region of the film pouch (2) is provided and in that the pouch chambers (3) are arranged around the central chamber (12).
10. The detergent product (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the central chamber (12) is separated from each pouch chamber (3) by a sealing portion (4) and in that the central chamber (12) is at the same distance from each pouch chamber (3).
11. The detergent product (1) according to one of the preceding claims 9 or 10, characterized in that the minimum width of the sealing portion (4) between a pouch chamber (3) and the central chamber (12) is less than 5 mm, preferably less than 3 mm, more preferably less than 2 mm.
12. The detergent product (1) according to one of the preceding claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the central chamber (12) has a base surface (A3) in the sealing plane and in that the base surface (A3) is circularly symmetrical or n-fold rotationally symmetrical, n being the number of pouch chambers (3).
13. The detergent product (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the central chamber (12) has a circular base surface (A3) or a polygonal base surface (A3), preferably a square, triangular, star-shaped, propeller-shaped or fan-wheel-shaped base surface.

Images