EP3625321B1 - Method for producing gel-like preparations - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for producing gel-like substances, in particular gel-like washing or cleaning agents. EP 2746379 A1 discloses the production of liquid detergent preparations by mixing a perfume-free solution with a solution containing surfactant and perfume.

From the DE 10 2010 055 770 A1 a process for the production of cosmetic and / or dermatological emulsions is known in which all ingredients are mixed in several stages in a batch production line. The finished emulsion is then pumped to a filling line and filled.

Such a procedure has the disadvantage that the production is relatively inflexible. In addition, various sensitive ingredients, especially fragrances and dyes, are exposed to very high temperatures for long periods of time. This leads to a partial loss of these substances in the production line. In addition, it is often difficult to work without bubbles because of the high viscosity of the substances to be mixed. In some cases, a vacuum is used to remove bubbles, which, however, also leads to the loss of volatile ingredients, especially fragrances.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved process for the production of substances in gel form in which the disadvantages mentioned do not occur. In particular, the process should be suitable for the production of gel-form detergents and cleaning agents.

This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claim. Further embodiments are the subject of the subclaims.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for producing substances in gel form comprises providing a premix on a batch production line, the premix containing at least water, glycerol and surfactants. The method further comprises adding supplements to the premix, the supplements comprising at least fragrances, on a filling line following the batch production line.

According to the invention, supplements, in particular fragrances, are thus metered in at a late point in time in production, specifically only on a filling line. Here and in the following, a filling line is understood to mean that part of a production line from which the finished product is filled, for example into single-volume containers. Upstream of the filling line is the batch production line, in which the mixing of all ingredients apart from the Supplements takes place and on which the almost finished product is optionally held in a collecting container in order to be fed to the filling line.

By adding supplements just before bottling, continuous, cost-effective production is achieved, in which the formation of bubbles can be reduced and in which sensitive fragrances can be added very gently. In addition, the process is particularly flexible and the cleaning effort is minimized, since a variation of the finished product is still possible in the filling line by varying the supplements added there.

According to one embodiment, a first starting mixture containing water, glycerol and liquid nonionic surfactants and a second starting mixture containing at least fatty alcohol ethoxylates (FAEO) are prepared to provide the premix. The two starting mixtures are mixed in a mixer on the batch production line. This can in particular be a static mixer.

In this way, the premix is particularly easy to process and the formation of bubbles is minimized.

According to one embodiment, the premix is provided at a temperature of at least 60 ° C., in particular of at least 75 ° C., on the batch production line. Such high temperatures on the batch production line have the advantage that the premix has a relatively low viscosity and the individual components can be mixed well.

According to one embodiment, the supplements are mixed in at temperatures of at most 40 ° C. on the filling line. In particular, the supplements can be mixed in at room temperature on the filling line.

These relatively low temperatures have the advantage that temperature-sensitive substances, in particular fragrances, but also dyes, are not exposed to high temperatures over a long period of time, which could destroy them.

In addition to fragrances, at least one color can also be added on the filling line.

According to one embodiment, the premix is divided into at least two parts after the batch production line, which are further treated on different filling lines, with a first part of the premix other supplements being added than a second part.

This approach has the advantage that different branches of filling lines provide different end products. The production can thus be varied in some parameters in the last phase of the bottling process by adding different supplements. This has the advantage that production is particularly economical and flexible. In particular, the cleaning effort and waste are reduced because the same premix can be used on the batch production line for different end products on different filling lines.

Figur 1

schematisch eine Produktionslinie für gelförmige Substanzen gemäß einem Verfahren gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung und

Figur 2

ein Ablaufdiagramm eines Verfahrens gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung.

Embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below with reference to figures. Show in it

Figure 1

schematically a production line for gel-like substances according to a method according to an embodiment of the invention and

Figure 2

a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a production line 1 for the production of gel-like substances, in particular for the production of gel-like detergents or cleaning agents. The production line 1 is divided into a batch production line 2 and a subsequent filling line 3. In the batch production line 2, a batch is produced, ie a large amount of the substance by mixing different starting substances. In the filling line 3, the finished substance is filled, for example, into a number of individual quantity containers. According to the invention, supplements are also added on the filling line 3.

Accordingly, the gel-like substance is not yet finished on the batch production line 2, but a premix is provided, which has to be supplemented by the supplements in order to obtain the finished gel-like substance.

A first starting mixture 4 is initially provided on the batch production line 2. The first starting mixture 4 contains at least water, glycerine and liquid nonionic surfactants. This first starting mixture 4 is typically provided at a temperature of approximately 80.degree. The components of the first starting mixture can be mixed statically or dynamically, for example by means of a planetary mixer. After mixing, the first starting mixture 4 can be kept in a collecting container 5 for further steps.

A second starting mixture 6 is then added to the first starting mixture 4, the second starting mixture 6 containing in particular fatty alcohol ethoxylates (FAEO). The second starting mixture 6 is also typically at one temperature of 80 ° C provided. The first starting mixture 4 and the second starting mixture 6 are mixed in a mixer 7, in particular a static mixer, to provide the premix. The finished premix is thus available at the exit of the batch production line 2 at a temperature of 80 ° C.

On the subsequent filling line 3, the premix can be divided into different branches. In the in Figure 1 In the embodiment shown, the premix is divided into a first branch 8 and a second branch 9 of the filling line 3. In the first branch 8 of the filling line 3, a first supplement 10 is added to the premix and mixed with it in a mixer 11, in particular a static mixer. The first supplement 10 contains in particular at least one first fragrance. Furthermore, in the embodiment shown, the first supplement 10 contains a first dye. The gel-like substance is thus obtained. It can be held in a collecting container 12 for filling and, if necessary, can be circulated until it is filled.

In the second branch 9 of the filling line 3, a second supplement 13 is added to the premix instead of the first supplement 10. In the in Figure 1 The embodiment shown, a second supplement 13 is used, which has at least a second fragrance and a second dye. The second supplement 13 is metered into the premix at a temperature of 25 ° C. in order to obtain the finished gel-like substance with a second fragrance and a second color.

As in the first branch, a collecting container 15 can also be provided in the second branch 9, in which the finished gel-like substance is kept ready for filling and, if necessary, is circulated.

Figure 2 FIG. 11 shows a flow chart of the based on FIG Figure 1 described procedure. In a first step 100, a first starting mixture 4 and a second starting mixture 6 are provided on the batch production line 2 at temperatures of approximately 80 ° C.

In a second step 200, the two starting mixtures 4, 6 are mixed with one another, in particular with the aid of a static mixer 7.

In a third step 300, the premix obtained in this way is fed to a filling line 3 of the production line 1.

On the filling line 3, in a fourth step 400, at least one supplement 10, 13 is added to the premix. In a fifth step 500, the finished gel-like substance is filled.

List of reference symbols

1

production line

2

Batch production line

3

Filling line

4th

first starting mixture

5

Collection container

6th

second starting mixture

7th

mixer

8th

first branch

9

second branch

10

first supplements

11

mixer

12th

Collection container

13th

second supplements

14th

mixer

15th

Collection container

100

step

200

step

300

step

400

step

500

step

Claims (8)

1. A method for preparing gel substances, wherein the method comprises:

   - providing a premixture on a batch production line (2), the premixture containing at least water, glycerol and surfactants, and

   - admixing additives (10, 13) with the premixture, the additives (10, 13) comprising at least fragrances, on a filling line (3) downstream of the batch production line (2).
2. The method according to claim 2, wherein a first starting mixture (4) containing water, glycerol and liquid non-ionic surfactants and a second starting mixture (6) containing at least fatty alcohol ethoxylates are provided for preparing the premixture, and the two starting mixtures (4, 6) are mixed in a mixer (7) of the batch production line (2).
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the premixture is provided on the batch production line (2) at a temperature of at least 60 °C.
4. The method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the premixture is provided on the batch production line (2) at a temperature of at least 75 °C.
5. The method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the additives (10, 13) are admixed at temperatures of at most 40 °C on the filling line (3).
6. The method according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the additives (10, 13) are admixed at room temperature on the filling line (3).
7. The method according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, in addition to fragrances, at least one dye is also admixed on the filling line (3).
8. The method according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, after the batch production line (2), the premixture is divided into at least two parts which are further treated on different filling lines (3), wherein different additives (10, 13) are admixed with a first part of the premixture than with a second part.

Images