ES2743679T3 - Bag making device - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus (1) for making bags, the apparatus (1) comprising: - a first film source (21) supplying a first film (11), and a pattern printed on the first film (11), - a second source ( 22) of film providing a second film (12), - a composition source, - a bag manufacturing unit comprising a filling system (120) for forming bags from the first film (11), the second film (12) and composition, - a control system to monitor and adjust the position of the pattern on the bags, characterized in that the first film (11) is soluble in water and comprises polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) or a copolymer resin of the same.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Bag making device

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of apparatus for manufacturing bags comprising a water-soluble film of polyvinyl alcohol resin (PVOH), a pattern that is printed on the film and a composition at least partially enclosed in the film .

Background of the invention

It is desired to prepare bags comprising a water soluble film comprising PVOH with a pattern printed on it. Due to the physical and chemical properties of the film comprising PVOH, getting the correct position of the pattern printed on the bag can be complicated. In fact, when creating a bag in the bag manufacturing unit, maintaining the registration or synchronization of the printed pattern with the bag can be complicated. If registration is not achieved, an unwanted distortion of the pattern shape in the bag can be observed. When the printed pattern is printed through several print stations, adjusting the different parts of the pattern can also be difficult.

US-3405502A describes an apparatus for manufacturing bags that carry a printed pattern. It also describes a control system for monitoring and adjusting the position of the pattern on the bags, but makes no reference to water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol films.

US-20090123679A describes bags made of water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol printed films. Summary of the Invention

The inventors have discovered that bags comprising a printed water soluble PVOH film with a printed pattern better positioned using an apparatus according to the invention could be obtained.

The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for manufacturing bags, the apparatus (1) comprising:

- a first film source that supplies a first film (21), and a pattern printed on the first film (21),

- a second film source that provides a second film (22),

- a source of composition,

- a bag manufacturing unit comprising a filling system (130) for forming bags from the first film (21), the second film (22) and the composition,

- a control system to monitor and adjust the position of the pattern on the bags,

characterized in that the first film (21) is soluble in water and comprises polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) or a copolymer resin thereof.

Although the properties of the viscoelastic material of the PVOH film make it difficult, the apparatus of the invention can provide a printed bag with an improved position of the pattern printed on the bag. The invention also relates to bags made by the apparatus according to the invention.

Description of the drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an apparatus according to the invention

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of a flexographic printing station in the drum

Detailed description of the invention

The device

As shown in Figure 1, the apparatus (1) comprises a first film source (21) and a second film source (22). The apparatus (1) may comprise a roll (21) of film to be printed. The film (11) comprises a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer. The film can be unwound from a spindle or a reel. The device can comprise a film unwinder (31). The apparatus may comprise an automatic splicer (41). The apparatus may comprise an accumulator / dancer system (51) for controlling the tension and unwind speed. The voltage and / or the measurement speed can be controlled in the input feed of the printing unit using a feed roller (61), which may or may not be coupled with load cells measuring the voltage. The apparatus may comprise a pretreatment station (70) of the film. The pretreatment station of the film can provide a corona treatment to increase diffusion capacity and / or deposition of the compound to be printed (eg, dye or ink). The apparatus may comprise an endless rotation system such as a rotating drum (110). The apparatus may comprise a printing system (80) for printing on the film. The printing system may comprise a plurality of independent printing stations (81, 82, 83). The printing system can comprise three printing stations. The printing stations may be arranged in the rotating drum. The apparatus may comprise one or more (for example, at least two, for example, at least three) stations (91, 92, 93) for drying and / or curing. The drying and / or curing station may be arranged in the rotating drum. The apparatus may comprise two or more driven rollers (61, 62, 64). The apparatus may comprise an adjustment system such as a feed driven roller (61) before the printing system. The apparatus may comprise an output driven roller (62, 64) after the printing system. The apparatus comprises a control system that can comprise a registration sensor to control the position of the pattern on the bag (102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108) and, optionally, to control the quality and registration of the printed pattern. Numerous sensors appear in Figure 1 to illustrate different positions available for the sensor. Typically, of the 105-108 sensors only one is needed. The apparatus comprises a bag manufacturing unit. The bag manufacturing unit includes a filling system (120) for filling the bags with a composition. The bag manufacturing unit may comprise an endless rotation system such as a conveyor belt (130). The first film can be applied on the endless rotation system at a point (140) of placement. The bag comprises the printed film of the first film source and an additional film layer of a second film source. The additional film layer can be provided by means of an additional layer film layer (12) roller (22), a unwinder (32), a splicer (42) and / or an accumulator / dancer system (52).

The additional film layer (12) can also be printed. The additional film layer can be printed using a system comprising some or all equivalent equipment used to print the other layer. In particular, the additional layer of layer film can be printed using a system comprising a rotating drum and a printing system comprising a plurality of independent printing stations arranged in the rotating drum. The correct registration between the pattern printed on the additional film layer and the bag can be controlled by a control system similar to that used to control the registration of the printed pattern of the first film.

In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the film is printed online. In an alternative embodiment, an already printed film roll can be used.

Figure 1 illustrates a rotating drum in which three flexographic printing stations are arranged. Any one or more of these printing stations may be replaced by a different printing technology. One or more of the printing stations may be a digital printing station, such as a print-on-demand inkjet printing station, piezoelectric inkjet, thermal inkjet, a thermal transfer printing station and / or a Tonejet printing station.

Without intending to impose any theory, the apparatus of the present invention provides improved recording / synchronization for in-line printing of the water-soluble PVOH film, that is, the printing of the film as it passes through several stages to Bag making This is different from the registration / synchronization of the preprinted film that is subsequently supplied to the bag manufacturing unit in a separate operation.

Without attempting to impose any theory, soluble films and, in particular, PVOH films are very hygroscopic and sensitive to environmental conditions of humidity and temperature; which means that the PVOH film could be lengthened and deformed in the apparatus, which would also entail tracking variations and other band manipulation problems, such as wrinkles or curls. In addition, PVOH films tend to exhibit creep and relaxation behavior, which means that the material will lengthen over time when subjected to constant tension. For example, when the manufacturing system is stopped, the film will lose tension in the free web sections, and the material in those sections will have a greater variation in color-to-color placement and may have to be rejected or discarded. As a result, it would be very difficult to maintain precise positioning of successive printing patterns. Therefore, water soluble PVOH films pose challenges that are not necessarily observed in non-water soluble films.

Control system (registration sensors and adjustment system)

The apparatus comprises a control system to monitor and adjust the position of the pattern on the bags. The control system typically comprises at least one registration sensor (102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108) to monitor the registration between the bag and the printed pattern, and at least one system (61, 62 , 64, 110, 81, 82, 83) adjustment to adjust the position of the pattern on the bags. Optionally, when several independent printing stations are used, the apparatus may comprise a registration sensor and / or an adjustment system for monitoring and adjusting the registration between the plurality of independent printing stations.

Typically, drum 110 and conveyor belt 130 are not the preferred adjustment system. Modifying the speed of the conveyor belt would affect the speed of production. Typically, the adjustment system (61) before the printing stations is only useful if the film is already partially printed. Registration can be maintained in phase by repositioning the cliché rollers in the printing unit (81, 82, 83): the signal from the registration sensor is used to simultaneously reposition the 3 printing rollers to recover the failed registration. An alternative phase replenishment means consists of adjusting the first printing station to match the registration of the endless rotation system, and using the color color sensor of Fig. 1 (102 and 103) to adjust the position of the consecutive printing rollers.

The sources of variability in the process are mainly due to the variability of the properties of the raw material (that is, the modulus of elasticity, creep, thickness of the material, etc.) and the variability of the equipment (wheel wear guide, tension peaks due to the blocking of the guide wheel, incorrect transformations of the material, etc.). The control system as described herein in its various options will compensate for any variation in the process with the objective of maintaining a good register between the printed pattern and the bag manufacturing process and, optionally, will ensure a good registration between the parties. of the printed pattern that have been printed at different print stations (typically, color-to-color registration).

When the apparatus comprises several printing stations, the registration between the different printing stations can be detected by means of registration sensors (102, 103), which can, for example, identify a specific registration mark on the film for each measured color and adjust consequently the configuration of the printing stations. Other registration methods also include vision systems (104) that obtain the image of the printed pattern and compare it with a reference pattern.

The apparatus of the invention has the ability to adjust the phase of the printed pattern to the bag manufacturing process in various ways. The optimal registration method depends on the film path between the printed pattern and the bag manufacturing unit. All logging operations that occur upstream have a delay time. One or more of the registration methods can be used.

A possible feature of the registration system is the use of a printed pattern, for example, a square that corresponds to the printed pattern, as a registration marker (some very simple printed patterns can also be used as markers). The passage of the marker symbol can be used under a recording sensor (102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108) to measure the time interval between consecutive elements of the pattern printed on the bag manufacturing unit or to measure the difference in the time stamp between the position of the pattern and the reference time stamp of the endless rotation system (130).

The signal emitted by a registration sensor can be fed back to the printing stations, which can modify the speed of the printing roller (81, 82, 83) to reposition the printed pattern. The registration of the printed pattern can be adjusted differently depending on the nature of the printing stations. When flexographic printing is used, it is possible to change the position of the flat iron cylinder. When digital printing is used, the shooting time of the drop can be adjusted.

The signal provided by a recording sensor can be fed back into an adjustment system, such as a driven roller or an endless rotation system.

The speed and tension of the film during the process and the registration of the printed pattern can be guaranteed and controlled by different means, including the following.

The film tension can be adjusted by modifying the tension of the unwinder dancer (51). The tension in the unwinder can be increased by adding weight or pneumatic pressure on the dancer; This has the effect of increasing the voltage of all downstream transformations.

The film tension can be adjusted by changing the speed of a feed roller (61). The driven feed roller may comprise one or more motor rollers or pressure rollers. Changing the speed of a driven feed roller will result in a stable tension gain or a loss of tension. If there is no difference in speed or localized increases in the voltage downstream of the printing system, this change in supply voltage should not affect the phase or step of the pattern printed on the film.

It is possible to adjust the speed of an endless rotation system. A change in the rotational speed of the rotating drum in comparison to the endless rotation system of the bag manufacturing unit will result in a change of pitch of the printed pattern. In relation to the induced voltage when operating at different speeds, the diameter of the printing cliché should be scaled accordingly by reducing the printed pattern by the same percentage difference established in the line speed change of the rotating drum. The general printing process (including the driven feed roller, the printing system and the rotating drum) can be slowed down or accelerated to adjust the registration between the printed pattern registration clock and the bag manufacturing unit.

The printed pattern can be registered with the bag manufacturing unit by adjusting the speed of an output driven roller before the bag manufacturing unit (62, 64). The film tension can be adjusted by modifying the speed of an output driven roller (64). The driven output roller may comprise one or more motor rollers or pressure rollers. Any change made to an output driven roller has the same pattern passing effect as the change in the rotation speed of the drum, and a review of the diameter of the printing roller must be carried out to compensate for the stretch of the film.

Bag Making Unit

The bag manufacturing unit is the place where the process for manufacturing the bag takes place. The bag manufacturing unit comprises a filling system for forming bags from the first film, the second film and the composition. The bag-making unit of the apparatus may comprise an endless rotation system such as a conveyor belt or a drum. The first film can be applied on the endless rotation system at a point (140) of placement. Bags can be shaped and filled while being transported in an endless rotation system. The relative changes in speed between the endless rotation system and the rest of the device's elements allow adjusting the register between the position of the printed pattern and the bag.

The process for manufacturing the bag can be continuous or intermittent. The process comprises the general steps for forming an open bag, preferably forming a water soluble film in a mold to form said open bag, filling the open bag with a composition, closing the open bag filled with the composition and preferably using a second film. Water soluble to form the bag. The second film may also comprise compartments, which may or may not comprise compositions. Alternatively, the second film may be a second closed bag containing one or more compartments, used to close the open bag. Preferably, the process is one in which a bag band is manufactured, which is then cut to form individual bags.

Alternatively, the first film can be formed in an open bag comprising more than one compartment. In this case, the compartments formed from the first bag may be in a lateral orientation or of the "tire and tire" type. The second film may also comprise compartments, which may or may not comprise compositions. Alternatively, the second film may be a second closed bag used to close the multi-compartment open bag.

Alternatively, the compartments may all be located in a face-to-face arrangement. In said arrangement, the compartments may be connected to each other and share a dividing wall or they may be substantially separated and simply held together by a connector or bridge. Alternatively, the compartments may be arranged in a "tire and tire" orientation, that is, a first compartment is located next to a second compartment, but the first compartment at least partially surrounds the second compartment, but does not completely contain the Second compartment

The unit dose article or any of its compartments may have a substantially square, rectangular, oval, elliptical, supereliptic, circular, or any other form suitable for the application. The shape may or may not include excess material that may be present as an edge or flange at the point where two or more films seal each other. It substantially means herein that the form gives the general impression of being, for example, square. It can have rounded corners and / or non-straight faces, but in general it gives the impression of being square, for example.

The bag can be manufactured by thermoforming, vacuum forming or a combination thereof. The bags can be sealed using any sealing method known in the art. Suitable sealing methods may include heat sealing, solvent sealing, pressure sealing, ultrasonic sealing, pressure sealing, laser sealing or a combination thereof.

The bag can be dusted with a dusting agent. Dusting agents may include talc, silica, zeolite, carbonate or mixtures thereof.

An illustrative means for manufacturing the bag of the present invention is a continuous process for manufacturing a bag, comprising the steps of:

to. continuously supplying a first water soluble film on a horizontal part of an endless rotation system, comprising a plurality of molds, or on a non-horizontal part thereof, and moving the film continuously towards said horizontal part;

b. form from the film located in the horizontal part of the endless rotation system, and in the surface molds, a band of open bags, placed horizontally and in continuous motion;

c. fill the band of open bags placed horizontally and in continuous motion with a composition, to obtain a horizontally positioned band of full open bags;

d. close the band of open bags, preferably continuously, to obtain closed bags, preferably by supplying a second water-soluble film on the band of open and filled bags placed horizontally, to obtain closed bags; Y

and. optionally, seal the closed bags to obtain a band of closed bags.

The second water soluble film may comprise at least one open or closed compartment.

In one embodiment, a first film is combined with a second film, preferably where the first and the second film are joined and sealed together with a suitable means, and preferably where the second film has a rotating drum configuration. In this configuration, the bags are filled at the top of the drum and then preferably sealed with a layer of film, the closed bags come down to meet the first film of bags, preferably open bags, preferably formed on a horizontal shaping surface . It has been found that it is especially suitable to place the rotating drum unit on top of the horizontal shaping surface unit.

Preferably, the resulting closed bag film is cut to produce individual bags. Preferably, the distance between the placement point (140) and the registration sensor to control the position of the pattern on the bags is as short as possible. Preferably, the distance between the placement point and the means for adjusting the position of the pattern on the bags is as short as possible. Preferably, the distance between the registration sensor to control the position of the pattern on the bags and the means for adjusting the position of the pattern on the bags is as short as possible.

The distance (d1) between the placement point (140) and the registration sensor (e.g., 106) to control the position of the pattern on the bags may be less than 5 meters, preferably less than 2 m, between 1 cm and 1 m or between 2 cm and 50 cm or between 5 cm and 25 cm.

The distance (d2) between the placement point (140) and the adjustment system (e.g., 64) to adjust the position of the pattern on the bags may be less than 5 meters, preferably less than 2 m, between 1 cm and 1 m or between 2 cm and 50 cm or between 5 cm and 25 cm.

The distance (d3) between the sensor (e.g. 106) to control the position of the pattern on the bags and the adjustment system (e.g., 64) to adjust the position of the pattern on the bags can be less than 5 meters, preferably less than 2 m, between 1 cm and 1 m or between 2 cm and 50 cm or between 5 cm and 25 cm.

The distances d1, d2 and d3, respectively, refer to the length of the film path between the registration sensor, the adjustment system and the placement point.

The total length of the section corresponds to the length of the longest film path between d1, d2 and d3. The total length of the section is also equal to (d1 d2 d3) / 2. The longer the total length of the section, the longer the registration operation will take.

The sum d1 + d2 + d3 may be less than the distance (d4) between the placement point and the roller (21). The ratio (d1 + d2 + d3) / d4 may be less than 0.5 or less than 0.2 or less than 0.1.

The movie

The first film supplied by the first film source comprises a resin comprising polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) or a copolymer thereof. The film of the present invention is soluble or dispersible in water. The water soluble film preferably has a thickness of 20 to 150 micrometers, preferably 35 to 125 micrometers, even more preferably 50 to 110 micrometers, most preferably about 76 micrometers.

Preferably, the film has a water solubility of at least 50%, preferably at least 75% or even at least 95%, measured by the method described herein using a glass filter with a maximum pore size of 20 micrometers:

50 grams ± 0.1 grams of film material are added to a previously weighed 400 ml beaker and 245 ml ± 1 ml of distilled water are added. This is vigorously stirred on a Labline magnetic stirrer model No. 1250 or equivalent and a 5 cm magnetic stirrer, set at 600 rpm, for 30 minutes at 24 ° C. The mixture is then filtered through a sintered glass filter with folded paper for analysis with a pore size as defined above (max. 20 micrometers). Water is removed from the collected filtrate by any conventional method and the weight of the remaining material is determined (which is the fraction dissolved or dispersed). Next, the percentage of solubility or dispersibility can be calculated.

The film comprises a polymeric material comprising PVOH or a copolymer thereof. The film may comprise 10% by weight of PVOH or a copolymer thereof; for example, from 30% to 100%, or at least 50%, or at least 70%, or at least 90% by weight of PVOH or a copolymer thereof. The film material can be obtained by molding, blow molding, extrusion or blow extrusion of the polymeric material, as is known in the art. The film may comprise additional polymeric material (s).

Other polymeric materials include polymers, copolymers or derivatives thereof suitable for use as a stock material, such as polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyalkylene oxides, acrylamide, acrylic acid, cellulose, cellulose ethers, cellulose esters, cellulose amides, acetates of polyvinyl, polycarboxylic acids and their salts, polyamino acids or peptides, polyamides, polyacrylamide, copolymers of maleic / acrylic acids, polysaccharides including starch and gelatin, natural gums such as xanthan and carrageenans. Other polymeric materials include water soluble acrylate polyacrylates and copolymers, methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, dextrin, ethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, maltodextrin, polymethacrylates and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and combinations thereof. Preferably, the level of polymer in the bag material is at least 60% by weight. The polymer can have any weight average molecular weight, preferably from about 1000 to 1,000,000, more preferably from about 10,000 to 300,000, even more preferably from about 20,000 to 150,000.

The use of polymer blends may be beneficial to control the mechanical and / or dissolution properties of the bag, depending on its application and the required needs. Suitable mixtures include, for example, mixtures in which a polymer has a water solubility greater than another polymer and / or in which a polymer has a greater mechanical strength than that of another polymer. Also suitable are mixtures of polymers having different weight average molecular weights, for example, a mixture of PVA or a copolymer thereof with a weight average molecular weight by weight of about 10,000-40,000, preferably about 20,000 and of PVA or copolymer thereof, with a weight average molecular weight of preferably 100,000 to 300,000, preferably approximately 150,000. Also suitable in the present invention are polymer blend compositions, for example, comprising mixtures of hydrolytically degradable and water soluble polymers, such as polylactide and polyvinyl alcohol, obtained by mixing polylactide and polyvinyl alcohol, typically comprising about 1% -35% by weight of polylactide and about 65% to 99% by weight of polyvinyl alcohol. Of preferred use in the present invention are polymers that are from about 60% to about 98% hydrolyzed, preferably from about 80% to about 90% hydrolyzed, to improve the dissolution characteristics of the material.

Preferred films have a good solution in cold water, ie distilled water without heating. Preferably, said films have a good solution at temperatures of 24 ° C, even more preferably 10 ° C. Good dissolution means that the film has a water solubility of at least 50%, preferably at least 75% or even at least 95%, measured by the method described herein using a glass filter with a pore size maximum of 20 micrometers, described above.

Preferred films are those supplied by Monosol with the commercial references M8630, M8900, M8779, M8310, the films described in US-6,166,117 and US-6,787,512 and PVA films of the corresponding solubility and deformability characteristics. Other preferred films are those described in US-2006/0213801, WO 2010/119022, and US-6787512.

Water soluble films comprise a resin comprising one or more PVA polymers or copolymers thereof. Preferably, said water soluble film resin comprises a mixture of PVA polymers. For example, the PVA resin may include at least two PVA polymers, wherein herein the first PVA polymer has a viscosity lower than that of the second PVA polymer. A first PVA polymer can have a viscosity of at least 8 centipoise (cP), 10 cP, 12 cP or 13 cP and, at most, 40 cP, 20 cP, 15 cP or 13 cP, for example, in a range of about 8 cP to about 40 cP, or 10 cP to about 20 cP, or about 10 cP to about 15 cP, or about 12 cP to about 14 cP, or 13 cP. In addition, a second PVA polymer can have a viscosity of at least about 10 cP, 20 cP or 22 cP and, at most, about 40 cP, 30 cP, 25 cP or 24 cP, for example, in a range of about 10 cP at about 40 cP, or from 20 to about 30 cP, or from about 20 to about 25 cP, or from about 22 to about 24, or about 23 cP. The viscosity of a PVA polymer is determined by measuring a freshly made solution using a Brookfield LV type viscometer with UL adapter as described in British Standard EN ISO 15023-2: 2006 Annex E Brookfield test method. It is an international practice to establish the viscosity of aqueous solutions of 4% polyvinyl alcohol at 20 ° C. It should be understood that all viscosities specified herein in cP refer to the viscosity of a 4% aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol at 20 ° C, unless otherwise indicated. Similarly, when it is described that a resin has (or does not have) a specific viscosity, unless otherwise indicated, it is provided that the specified viscosity is the average viscosity for the resin, which inherently has a corresponding molecular weight distribution .

The individual PVA polymers may have any suitable degree of hydrolysis, provided that the degree of hydrolysis of the PVA resin is within the ranges described herein. Optionally, the PVA resin may also include, or alternatively, a first PVA polymer having a PM in a range of from about 50,000 to about 300,000 daltons or from about 60,000 to about 150,000 daltons; and a second PVA polymer having a PM in a range of about 60,000 to about 300,000 daltons or about 80,000 to about 250,000 daltons.

The PVA resin may also include one or more additional PVA polymers having a viscosity in a range of about 10 to about 40 cP and a degree of hydrolysis in a range of about 84% to about 92%.

When the PVA resin includes a first PVA polymer having an average viscosity of less than about 11 cP and a polydispersity index in a range of about 1.8 to about 2.3, then, in one embodiment, the resin PVA contains less than about 30% by weight of the first PVA polymer. Similarly, when the PVA resin includes a first PVA polymer having an average viscosity of less than about 11 cP and a polydispersity index in a range of about 1.8 to about 2.3, then, in another type of Non-exclusive embodiment, the PVA resin contains less than about 30% by weight of a PVA polymer having a PM of less than about 70,000 daltons.

Of the total PVA resin content in the film described herein, the PVA resin may comprise from about 30 to about 85% by weight of the first PVA polymer, or from about 45 to about 55% by weight of the first polymer of PVA. For example, the PVA resin may contain approximately 50% by weight of each PVA polymer, wherein the viscosity of the first PVA polymer is approximately 13 cP and the viscosity of the second PVA polymer is approximately 23 cP.

One type of embodiment is characterized in that the PVA resin includes from about 40 to about 85% by weight of a first PVA polymer having a viscosity in a range of about 10 to about 15 cP and a degree of hydrolysis in a range of approximately 84% to approximately 92%. Another type of embodiment is characterized in that the PVA resin includes from about 45 to about 55% by weight of the first PVA polymer, which has a viscosity in a range of about 10 to about 15 cP and a degree of hydrolysis in a range of approximately 84% to approximately 92%. The PVA resin may include from about 15 to about 60% by weight of the second PVA polymer, which has a viscosity in a range of about 20 to about 25 cP and a degree of hydrolysis in a range of about 84% to about 92% A contemplated class of embodiments is characterized in that the PVA resin includes from about 45 to about 55% by weight of the second PVA polymer.

When the PVA resin includes a plurality of PVA polymers, the PDI value of the PVA resin is greater than the PDI value of any individual polymer, including that of PVA. Optionally, the PDI value of the PVA resin is greater than 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3.0 , 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4.0, 4.5 or 5.0.

Preferably, the PVA resin has a weighted average degree of hydrolysis (H °) between about 80 and about 92%, or between about 83 and about 90%, or about 85 and 89%. For example, the H ° value for a PVA resin comprising two or more PVA polymers is calculated by the formula 77 ° = • Hj), where Wi is the percentage by weight of the respective PVA polymer and Hi is the degree of (p) respective hydrolysis. In addition, it is desirable to choose a PVA resin having a weighted record viscosity between about 10 and about 25, or between about 12 and 22 or between about 13.5 and about 20. The p for a PVA resin comprising two or More PVA polymers are calculated using the formula p = ê Wi 'ln ^, where y, is the viscosity of the respective PVA polymers.

It is also desirable to choose a PVA resin having a Resin Selection Index in the range of 0.255 to 0.315 or 0.260 to 0.310 or 0.265 to 0.305 or 0.270 to 0.300 or 0.275 to 0.295, preferably 0.270 to 0.300. The RSI is calculated using the formula; £ ^{(w ¡} | ^{| i ¡} - ^{| i £} |) / £ ^{(W Í | i;)} , where | J ^t is seventeen, j ⁱ is the average viscosity of each of the respective PVOH polymers and W ⁱ is the percentage by weight of the respective PVOH polymers.

Even more preferred films are water soluble copolymer films comprising at least one negatively modified monomer with the following formula:

[Y] - [G] n

where Y represents a vinyl alcohol monomer and G represents a monomer comprising an anionic group and the index n is an integer from 1 to 3. G can be any suitable comonomer capable of transporting the anionic group; more preferably, G is a carboxylic acid. G is preferably selected from the group consisting of maleic acid, itaconic acid, coAMPS, acrylic acid, vinylacetic acid, vinylsulfonic acid, allylsulfonic acid, ethylenesulfonic acid, 2-acrylamido-1-methylpropanesulfonic acid, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, 2-Methylacrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid and mixtures thereof.

The anionic group G is preferably selected from the group consisting of OSO ³ M, SO ³ M, CO ² M, OCO ² M, OPO ³ M ^2, OPO ³ HM and OPO ² M. More preferably the anionic group G is selected from the group consisting of OSO ³ M, SO ³ M, CO ² M, and OCO ² M. Most preferably, the anionic group G is selected from the group consisting of SO ³ M and CO ² M.

Naturally, different film materials and / or films of different thicknesses can be used in the manufacture of the compartments of the present invention. An advantage of selecting different films is that the resulting compartments can have different solubility or release properties.

The film-shaped material herein may also comprise one or more additive ingredients. For example, it may be beneficial to add plasticizers, for example, glycerol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, sorbitol and mixtures thereof. Other additives may include water and functional detergent additives, including the surfactant, to release washing water, for example, organic polymeric dispersants, etc.

The second film supplied by the second film source may have one or more of the properties described above for the first film.

The bag

The bag is manufactured in the bag manufacturing unit.

The bag can be a bag of one or more compartments. The bag may form a compartment comprising a composition. The composition may be comprised within the compartment and is enclosed by the film. The composition may be at least partially enclosed by the water-soluble film on which a pattern is printed, said pattern being on the side of the film that looks into or out of the bags.

When the bag is a multi-compartment bag, the compartments preferably have a different aesthetic appearance. A difference in aesthetics can be achieved in any suitable way. A compartment of the bag may be made of a translucent, transparent, semi-transparent, opaque or semi-opaque film, and the second compartment of the bag may be made of a different film selected from a translucent, transparent, semi-transparent, opaque or semi-opaque film in a manner that the appearance of the compartments be different. The compartments of the bag can have the same size or volume. Alternatively, the compartments of the bag may have different sizes, with different internal volumes. The compartments may also be different from each other in terms of texture or color. In this way, one compartment can be bright while the other is matte. This can be easily achieved if one side of the water soluble film is always glossy, while the other has a glossy finish. The films may be transparent or translucent, and the composition contained therein may be colored. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a first compartment has a color selected from the group consisting of white, green, blue, orange, red, yellow, pink or purple and a second compartment has a different color selected from the group consisting of white, yellow, orange, blue or green.

The compartments of a multi-compartment bag may be independent, but preferably they are attached in any suitable way. Most preferably, the second and optionally the third or subsequent compartments are superimposed on the first compartment. In one embodiment, the third compartment may be superimposed on the second compartment, which in turn is superimposed on the first compartment in a sandwich type configuration. Alternatively, the second and third and optionally the subsequent compartments may all be superimposed on the first compartment. However, it is also provided that the first, second, and optionally the third and subsequent compartments can be joined together by face-to-face joints. In a preferred embodiment the present bag comprises three compartments that They consist of a larger compartment and two smaller compartments. The second and third smaller compartments are superimposed on the first largest compartment. Alternatively, the smaller second, third and fourth compartments can be superimposed on the larger compartment. The size and geometry of the compartments is chosen so that this arrangement can be achieved.

The geometry of the compartments can be the same or different. In a preferred embodiment, the second and optionally the third or subsequent compartments have a different geometry and shape to the first compartment. In this embodiment, the second and optionally the third or subsequent compartments are arranged in a design on the first compartment. Said design can be decorative, educational, illustrative for example to illustrate a concept or instruction, or to indicate the origin of the product. In a preferred embodiment the first compartment is the largest compartment that has two sealed faces around the perimeter. The second compartment is smaller covering less than 75%, more preferably less than 50% of the surface area of a face of the first compartment. In the embodiment where there is a third compartment, the previous structure is identical, but the second and third compartments cover less than 60%, more preferably less than 50%, even more preferably less than 45% of the surface area of a face of the first compartment

The bag may comprise at least two films that are sealed together.

The bags can be packaged in an outer container. Said outer container may be a transparent or partially transparent container, such as for example a transparent or translucent bag, tube, cardboard or bottle. The container can be made of plastic or any other material with the condition that the material is strong enough to protect the bags during transport. This type of container is also very useful because the user does not need to open the container to see how many bags are left. Alternatively, the package may have an outer package that does not allow to see therethrough, possibly with signs or illustrations that represent the visually different contents of the package.

The bags of the present invention are suitable for cleaning applications, especially for laundry or dishwashing applications. The bags are suitable for hand or machine wash conditions. If it involves machine washing, the bag can be administered from the dispensing drawer or can be added directly to the drum of the clothes washer.

The bag may comprise from 5 g to 50 g, for example from 15 g to 50 g, or from 25 g to 50 g of composition.

During the process of preparing a bag, the pattern printed on the bag may have a different shape from the pattern printed on the first film. The different form may consist of a different size, a different text or an image curvature.

The composition

The composition may be a liquid, a solid or a tablet. The term "liquid" includes liquid, paste, waxy, or gel compositions. The liquid composition may comprise a solid. The solids may include powder or agglomerate such as, for example, microcapsules, beads, noodles or one or more pearl balls or mixtures thereof. Said solid element can provide a technical advantage, to add during washing or as a pretreatment component, delayed or sequenced release. Alternatively it can provide an aesthetic effect. The compositions of the present invention may comprise one or more of the ingredients mentioned below.

The composition may comprise a surfactant. The total level of surfactant may be in the range of about 1% to 80% by weight of the composition. The surfactant used may be of the anionic, non-ionic, hybrid ion, ampholytic, semi-polar or cationic type, or they may comprise compatible mixtures of these types. More preferably, the surfactants are selected from the group consisting of anionic, nonionic, cationic surfactants and mixtures thereof. The detersive surfactants useful in the present invention are described in US 3,664,961, issued to Norris on May 23, 1972, US 3,919,678, granted to Laughlin et al. on December 30, 1975, US-4,222,905, granted to Cockrell on September 16, 1980, and US-4,239,659, granted to Murphy on December 16, 1980.

The composition may comprise a rheology modifier, an adjuvant, a bleaching system, a bleach activator, a bleach catalyst and / or an enzyme.

The compositions may comprise a beneficial agent for tissue care. Here, "beneficial fabric care agent" refers to any material that can provide tissue care advantages such as fabric softening, color protection, pellet / lint reduction, anti abrasion, anti wrinkle. and similar to garments and fabrics, especially in garments and cotton fabrics, when a suitable amount of material is present in the garment / fabric. Non-limiting examples of beneficial agents for tissue care include cationic surfactants, silicones, polyolefin waxes, latex, oily sugar derivatives, cationic polysaccharides, polyurethanes, fatty acids and mixtures of the same. The beneficial agents for tissue care when present in the composition, are suitable at levels of up to about 30% by weight of the composition, more typically from about 1% to about 20%, preferably from about 2% to about 10%

The compositions may comprise a beneficial agent for the care of automatic dishwashers. Here, "beneficial agent for the care of automatic dishwashers" refers to any material that can provide gloss, quick drying, or protection advantages for metal, glass or plastic. Non-limiting examples of beneficial agents for the care of automatic dishwashers include organic gloss polymers, especially sulfonated / carboxylated polymers, surface modifying polymers or surfactants that contribute to rapid drying, metal care agents such as benzotriazoles and metal salts , including zinc salts, and anticorrosive agents, including silicates, e.g. eg, sodium silicate.

The composition may comprise a suitable auxiliary cleaning material that includes, but is not limited to: enzyme stabilizing systems; antioxidants, opacifying agent, adolescent agent, dye, sequestering agents including fixing agents for anionic dyes, complexing agents for anionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof; optical or fluorescent brighteners; polymers for dirt release; dispersants; suds suppressors; dyes; dyes; hydrotropes such as toluenesulfonates, cumenesulfonates and naphthalenesulfonates; color spots; perfumes and microcapsules of perfume, pearls, spheres or colored extrudates; clay softening agents, alkalinity sources and mixtures thereof.

Rotating drum

The apparatus may comprise a rotating drum. A rotating drum is typically useful when the apparatus prints the first film source and when several printing stations are used. Given the properties of the viscoelastic material of the film comprising PVOH, the printing system requires constant adjustments of the web, both in the tension and in the speed of the film. The use of a rotating drum can help maintain good recording accuracy between the different printing stations.

The use of a rotating drum can offer the advantage of controlled measurement conditions throughout the printing process. This allows greater accuracy of color-to-color registration and constant tension during the printing process; Likewise, the process is not affected by changes in time-dependent material properties, such as creep.

The rotating drum can hold the film in place by friction, preventing any unwanted displacement of the film between each of the printing stations.

Printing system

The apparatus may comprise a printing system. The printing system can be used to print the first film source and / or the second film source. The printing system may comprise two or more print stations, for example, three or more print stations. Some or all of the printing stations may be arranged in a rotating drum. At least two (for example, at least three) of the printing stations may be arranged in the rotating drum when they are present. It may be preferable that all printing stations are arranged in the rotating drum. When one or more printing stations are not arranged on the rotating drum, they may be arranged on an endless horizontal rotating surface.

One or more (for example, two or more, or three or more) of the printing stations may be a flexographic printing station. One or more (for example, two or more, or three or more) of the printing stations may be a digital printing station. The printing system may comprise one or more print stations selected from the following: digital printing station, flexographic printing station, rotogravure printing station, rotogravure printing station, lithography, porous and screen printing printing station, printing station Typography printing, pad printing and combinations thereof. For use herein, the flexographic printing station is preferred.

One or more printing stations can be used to apply an over polish varnish (overprint varnish - OPV) or other printable materials to the film. One or more printing stations can be used to apply a first layer on the film to improve the following printing stages, e.g. For example, to improve the adhesion of compounds such as ink or dye on the film. Alternatively, the OPV or the first layer could be applied to the film by any alternative technique, such as painting or spraying.

As shown in Figure 2, the flexographic printing station (s) may comprise an plate-holder cylinder (94) with printing cliché (98) (e.g., print shirts), an anilox roller (96), a scraper (95) and / or a source (97) of ink. One or more flexographic printing stations may comprise a camera system and a compound delivery system. The chamber scraper of the compound to be printed can homogeneously distribute the compound in the anilox cells from the delivery system of the compound. The cylinder holder can comprise printing clichés. One or more of the flexographic stations may comprise an iron cylinder with a diameter at least twice smaller than the diameter of the rotating drum. For example, the flat iron cylinder can have a diameter between 0.02 and 0.50, or between 0.05 and 0.35, or between 0.10 and 0.20 times the diameter of the rotating drum.

The printing cliché can consist of printing plates or printing shirts. The printing cliché can be manufactured in a light-sensitive polymer, in which UV light selectively hardens the parts of the cliché that will print the pattern; With the wash cycles, the remaining unexposed soft polymer will be removed. These plates are generally known as photopolymer plates.

The pattern in the cliché can be laser engraved. Another common method to make clichés is by chemical attack of a metal mold, which once prepared is pressed against the cliché of the polymer to form the printing cliché.

The printing cliché can be mounted on the printing rollers using a double-sided tape. The printing cliché can be mounted on the printing rollers by means of a sleeve system. The sleeve system can allow a rapid change between different patterns.

The surface of the printing cliché can be modified to improve the supply of the compound to be printed, both physically and chemically. The modification of the surface can be physical, for example, an increase in the roughness of the local surface and / or oriented micro-prints, with the aim of increasing the extraction of the compound to be printed from the anilox and its deposition on the film. The chemical modification of the surface includes the coating of the printing cliché, or the appropriate choice of the material of the printing cliché to calibrate the surface energy of the adhesion with the printed compound.

It is possible to choose the diameter of the cylinder holder to ensure that the residence time of the compound is minimal; a large plate-holder cylinder facilitates drying on the surface of the plates, with the consequent deterioration of print quality and precision due to the accumulation of dry compound, for example, of dry ink.

The contact pressure between the printing cliché and the film can be adjusted both on the operator side and on the actuator side to achieve the desired print quality. A higher printing pressure will only lead to a minimal increase in the transfer of the plate compound, but will increase the overall reliability of the printing unit against the risk of running out of contact between the rollers. Excessive pressure between the cliché and the print drum could lead to plate wear and loss of print quality.

The choice of the anilox roller may depend on the compound (eg, ink) used. According to one embodiment of the invention, the anilox roller does not need to have a specific geometry of the engraved cells (square, hexagonal, circular, pentagonal, etc.), provided that the nominal volume with which the anilox roller can supply ink is between 1 BCM (1 billion cubic micrometers) and 15 BCM with a value of lines per inch (LPI) ranging from 50 to 1200 LPI. The surface of the anilox roller covered with engraved cells can be between 20 and 70%. The angle defines the angle of the cells in reference to the axis of the printable material transfer roller. Preferably the angle is 30 degrees, 45 degrees or 60 degrees. The line count indicates how many cells are per linear inch. A low line count will allow you to print a dense layer of ink, while a high line count will allow finer details in printing. Both cell volume and line count can be closely correlated. For a quick change and a clean design, a sleeve system can be adopted for the removal and cleaning of the anilox rollers. The printing system can be designed in such a way that it allows quick removal of the anilox roller sleeves.

An circumference of the anilox roller can be chosen that is not a multiple of the passage of the printing cliché, which increases the use of the cell surface. When the application so requires, the anilox roller can be tape-bonded to deliver the compound only to the parts of the pattern printing cliché and thus improve the performance of the compound by reducing solvent evaporation. The anilox roller can be manufactured in various materials with different engraving techniques. This will produce small differences in the supply of the compound to the cliché, due to the different affinity of the compounds. For example, in the case of an aqueous-based ink, a mechanically engraved chromed anilox will have a higher transfer efficiency (emptying capacity of the cells upon contact with the printing cliché) compared to a standard ceramic anilox engraved with laser with the same engraving pattern (BCM, geometry, surface coverage, etc.).

The contact pressure between the printing cliché and the anilox roller can be adjusted both on the operator side and on the actuator side to achieve the desired print quality. A higher printing pressure will result in a significant increase in the extraction of the compound from the cells of the anilox roll, which increases the amount of compound transferred to the printing cliché and, therefore, to the film. Excessive pressure between the cliché and the anilox roller could lead to cliché wear and loss of print quality.

The compound supply system may consist of a reservoir of the compound to be printed connected to a chamber scraper system by means of tubes. The constant evaporation of the solvent can be compensated by adding solvent in line by controlling the fluid properties of the compound, such as viscosity, turbidity, opacity, refractive index, density, etc. Any change in one or more of these properties is compensated by adding solvent so that the compound is printed according to the objective.

The camera system may comprise a closed chamber with a side opening that is attached to the anilox roller. The blades on the sides of the camera scraper can guarantee the measured filling of the anilox roller cells.

One or more (for example, two or more, or three or more) of the printing stations may be a digital printing station. The digital printing station includes continuous ink jet (Continuous Ink Jet, CIJ) and drop on demand (Drop on Demand, DOD), which is divided into thermal DOD and piezoelectric DOD.

The digital printing station may comprise a printhead, a supply of a compound and software and an electronic controller to control its operability and printing location.

Drying / curing station

In particular, when the apparatus prints the first film, the apparatus may comprise a drying / curing station. The drying / curing station may be between two printing stations or after the last printing station. The drying / curing station may be arranged in the rotating drum when present. The drying / curing station can reduce the drying time requirements and reduce the opening time of the necessary compound (e.g., ink). The opening time of the compound is defined by the relationship: Distance between print stations / line speed.

The drying / curing stations can transmit a heat flux to the film to dry the compound without modifying the mechanical properties of the PVOH film. In fact, too high a temperature combined with a long residence time in the drying station could melt the film or completely compromise all subsequent operations. The temperature to be used for the drying stage can vary from 5 ° C to 70 ° C with a relative humidity of less than 80%, and the residence time can be adjusted accordingly. Other forms of curing can be used in combination with suitable inks, for example, UV curing.

The printed compound

The printed pattern can comprise text elements, images, symbols. The printed design may have a different shape in the film with respect to the bag to take into account the reconfiguration during the bag manufacturing process. The printed pattern may comprise a printed compound. The printed compound is typically an ink.

The ink printed on the film preferably has a desired degree of dispersion in water. The ink can be any color, including white, red and black. The ink may be an aqueous based ink comprising from 10% to 80% or from 20% to 60% or from 25% to 45% by weight of solid. The ink may comprise 20% to 90% or 40% to 80% or 50% to 75% by weight of water.

The ink can have a viscosity measured at 20 ° C with a shear rate of 1000 between 1 and 400 cPs, or between 50 and 350 cPs, or between 100 and 300 cPs, or between 150 and 250 cPs. The measurement can be obtained with a cone-plate geometry in an AR-550 rheometer from TA instruments.

All percentages, ratios and proportions used herein are expressed as a percentage by weight of the composition, unless otherwise indicated. All average values have been calculated "by weight" of the composition or components of the foregoing, unless expressly indicated in any other way.

The dimensions and values described herein should not be construed as strictly limited to the exact numerical values indicated. But, unless otherwise indicated, each dimension should be considered to mean both the indicated value and a functionally equivalent range around that value. For example, a dimension described as "40 mm" refers to "approximately 40 mm".

Claims (10)

i. Apparatus (1) for manufacturing bags, comprising the apparatus (1): - a first film source (21) that supplies a first film (11), and a pattern printed on the first film (11), a second source (22) of film that provides a second film (12), - a source of composition, a bag manufacturing unit comprising a filling system (120) for forming bags from the first film (11), the second film (12) and the composition, - a control system to monitor and adjust the position of the pattern on the bags, characterized in that the first film (11) is soluble in water and comprises polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) or a copolymer resin thereof. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bag manufacturing unit comprises an endless rotation system (110), the first film being applied to the endless rotation system at a point of placement. 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control system comprises a registration sensor (102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108) to control the registration between the bag and the printed pattern and at least one system adjustment to adjust the position of the pattern on the bag. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the distance between the placement point (140) and the registration sensor is less than 2 meters. 5. Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the distance between the placement point and the adjustment system is less than 2 meters. 6. Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4 or 5, wherein the distance between the recording sensor (102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108) and the adjustment system is less than 2 meters. 7. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a printing system, the printing system comprising a plurality of independent printing stations (81, 82, 83). 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising an adjustment system for adjusting the register between the plurality of independent printing stations (81, 82, 83). An apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, further comprising a rotating drum, a plurality of independent printing stations (81, 82, 83) being arranged on the drum. 10. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus is a thermoforming apparatus.