EP3625321B2 - Method for producing gel-like preparations - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a process for producing gel-form washing or cleaning agents. EP2746379A1 discloses the production of liquid detergent preparations by mixing a perfume-free solution with a solution containing surfactant and perfume.

From the EN 10 2010 055 770 A1 is a process for producing cosmetic and/or dermatological emulsions 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 production is relatively inflexible. In addition, various sensitive ingredients, particularly 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 due to the high viscosity of the substances to be mixed. In some cases, vacuum is used to eliminate bubbles, but this also leads to the loss of volatile ingredients, particularly fragrances.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved process for producing gel-form washing or cleaning agents in which the aforementioned disadvantages do not occur.

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

According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for producing gel-form washing or cleaning agents comprises providing a premix on a batch production line, wherein the premix contains at least water, glycerin and surfactants. The method further comprises adding supplements to the premix, wherein the supplements comprise at least fragrances, on a filling line following the batch production line.

According to the invention, supplements, in particular fragrances, are added at a late stage in production, namely on a filling line. A filling line is understood here and below to be the part of a production line from which the finished product is filled, for example, into individual quantity containers. Upstream of the filling line is the batch production line, in which all ingredients apart from the supplements are mixed and on which the almost finished product is held in a collecting container if necessary to be fed to the filling line.

By adding supplements immediately before filling, continuous, cost-effective production is achieved, which reduces the formation of bubbles and allows for the very gentle addition of sensitive fragrances. In addition, the process is particularly flexible and cleaning effort is minimized, as the finished product can be varied in the filling line by varying the supplements added there.

According to the invention, a first starting mixture containing water, glycerin and liquid non-ionic surfactants and a second starting mixture containing at least fatty alcohol ethoxylates (FAEO) are provided to prepare the premix. The two starting mixtures are mixed in a mixer of the batch production line. This can in particular be a static mixer.

This makes the premix particularly easy to process and minimises the formation of bubbles.

According to one embodiment, the premix is provided on the batch production line at a temperature of at least 60 °C, in particular at least 75 °C. 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 on the filling line at temperatures of no more than 40°C. In particular, the supplements can be mixed on the filling line at room temperature.

These relatively low temperatures have the advantage that temperature-sensitive substances, especially fragrances, but also dyes, are not exposed to high temperatures for long periods of time, which could destroy them.

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

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

This approach has the advantage that different branches of filling lines provide different end products. Production can therefore be varied in some parameters in the final section of filling by adding different additives. This has the advantage that production is particularly economical and flexible. In particular, cleaning effort and waste are reduced because the same premix on the batch production line can be used for different end products on different filling lines.

Figur 1

schematisch eine Produktionslinie für gelförmige Wasch- oder Reinigungsmittel 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.

Figure 1

schematically a production line for gel-form washing or cleaning agents according to a method according to an embodiment of the invention and

Figure 2

a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a production line 1 for producing gel-form washing 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 quantity of the washing or cleaning agent by mixing different starting substances. In the filling line 3, the finished washing or cleaning agent is filled, for example, into a number of individual quantity containers. According to the invention, supplementary agents are also added on the filling line 3.

On batch production line 2, the gel-form detergent or cleaning agent is not yet finished, but a premix is provided which still has to be supplemented with the additives in order to obtain the finished gel-form detergent or cleaning agent.

On the batch production line 2, a first starting mixture 4 is first provided. The first starting mixture 4 contains at least water, glycerin and liquid non-ionic surfactants. This first starting mixture 4 is typically provided at a temperature of about 80 °C. 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 collection 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 fatty alcohol ethoxylates (FAEO). The second starting mixture 6 is also typically provided at a temperature of 80 °C. 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 outlet 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 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 supplementary agent 10 is added to the premix and mixed with it in a mixer 11, in particular a static mixer. The first supplementary agent 10 contains in particular at least one first fragrance. Furthermore, the first supplementary agent 10 in the embodiment shown contains a first dye. This produces the gel-like washing or cleaning agent. It can be kept in a collecting container 12 for filling and, if necessary, circulated until filling.

In the second branch 9 of the filling line 3, a second supplementary agent 13 is added to the premix instead of the first supplementary agent 10. In the Figure 1 In the embodiment shown, a second supplementary agent 13 is used which comprises at least a second fragrance and a second colorant. The second supplementary agent 13 is added to the premix at a temperature of 25°C in order to obtain the finished gel-like washing or cleaning agent with a second fragrance and a second colorant.

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

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

In a second step 200, the two starting mixtures 4, 6 are mixed together, in particular by means of a static mixer 7.

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

In a fourth step 400, at least one supplementary agent 10, 13 is added to the premix on the filling line 3. In a fifth step 500, the finished gel-like washing or cleaning agent is filled.

List of reference symbols

1

production line

2

Batch production line

3

Filling line

4

first starting mixture

5

Collection container

6

second output mix

7

mixer

8th

first branch

9

second branch

10

first supplements

11

mixer

12

Collection container

13

second supplements

14

mixer

15

Collection container

100

Step

200

Step

300

Step

400

Step

500

Step

Claims (7)

1. A method for preparing gel-like washing or cleaning agents, 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)

   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).
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the premixture is provided on the batch production line (2) at a temperature of at least 60 °C.
3. The method according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the premixture is provided on the batch production line (2) at a temperature of at least 75 °C.
4. The method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the additives (10, 13) are admixed at temperatures of at most 40 °C on the filling line (3).
5. The method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the additives (10, 13) are admixed at room temperature on the filling line (3).
6. The method according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, in addition to fragrances, at least one dye is also admixed on the filling line (3).
7. The method according to one of claims 1 to 6, 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.

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