MXPA02010582A - Detergent product. - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to a multi compartment pouch obtainable by a process of closing an open compartment with a pre sealed compartment. Said multi compartment pouch preferably comprises a composition and is for use in automatic washing or hand washing applications.

Description

DETERGENT PRODUCT FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to water soluble bags.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The laundry industry has tried to develop ways to minimize contact between incompatible detergent ingredients during the manufacture, transport and storage of detergent products before addition to the wash cycle. One way is the development of a water-soluble detergent bag of multiple compartments. The incompatible detergent ingredients are comprised of different compartments of said bag such that they can not come into contact with each other until said bag dissolves or disintegrates in water during the wash cycle. Examples of these multi-compartment bags are described in US4973416 and US5224601. The use of compartments that may contain different detergent ingredients is designed to overcome the problems associated with the storage of incompatible detergent ingredients, since these ingredients do not come into contact during storage as they are in separate compartments. The inventors have found that there is a risk that the detergent ingredients will spill out of the multi-compartment bags, furthermore the inventors have found that the detergent ingredients are more prone to spill out from the seals of the multi-compartment bag, especially when the compartments are sealed simultaneously, due to poor seal strength. The risk of spillage is greater when one of the compartments comprises a liquid. In addition, the inventors have found that if the compartments are sealed simultaneously, a procedure that requires the unsealed compartments to be in relatively close proximity, there is a risk that the ingredients may spill from one unsealed compartment to another during the process of sealed, due to the lack of a seal to prevent the exchange of ingredient between the two compartments during the early stages of the sealing procedure. This applies especially if one or more ingredients is a liquid. Herein, the inventors have found that by using a water-sealed compartment previously sealed to close an unsealed compartment, thereby forming a water-soluble bag of multiple compartments, said water-soluble bag of compartments Multiple is more stable having a reduced risk of spillage of ingredients from the seals of said bag both during the manufacture and during the storage of the bag. This is due to the multiple seal that is formed by the previous closing procedure. This is especially applicable if the previously sealed water-soluble compartment comprises a liquid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In a first embodiment of the invention, a multi-compartment bag made of a water soluble film and having at least two compartments is provided, said multi-compartment bag being obtained by the process of closing an open compartment with a pre-sealed compartment , the method forms a second seal in the previously sealed compartment that is in a position different from the first seal of the previously sealed compartment. In a second embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method for making a multi-compartment bag made of a water soluble film and having at least two compartments, which comprises the step of closing an open compartment with a pre-sealed compartment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Bag of multiple compartments and material thereof The bag of multiple compartments, herein referred to as "bag", has at least two, preferably two compartments. The bag of the present invention typically has a closed structure, made of materials that are described herein, enclosing a volume space that preferably comprises a composition. Said composition is described in more detail herein. The bag can have any shape, shape and material suitable for maintaining the composition, for example, without allowing the release of the composition from the bag before the bag has contact with water. The precise execution will depend on, for example, the type and amount of composition in the bag, the number of compartments in the bag, the characteristics required of the bag to maintain, protect and deliver or release the compositions. The bag can be of such size that it conveniently contains, either a unit dose amount of the composition herein, suitable for the required operation, for example a wash cycle, or only a partial dose, to allow the consumer to have greater flexibility to vary the amount used, for example, depending on the size and / or degree of soiling of the washing load.

The bag is made of a water soluble film, said film encloses an inner volume, said inner volume is divided between the compartments of the bag. The exact process for making said bag is described in more detail in the following. The compartment of the bag is a closed structure, made of materials described herein, which enclose a volume space comprising the components. Said volume space is preferably enclosed by a water-soluble film in such a way that the volume space is separated from the external environment. The term "separate" means, for purposes of this invention, "physically distinct, as it prevents a first ingredient comprised of a compartment from contacting a second ingredient if said second ingredient is not within the same compartment comprising said first ingredient" . The term "external environment" means, for purposes of the present invention, "anything that can not pass through the water-soluble film enclosing the compartment and not comprised by the compartment". Preferably, the volume space of the open compartment is greater than the volume space of the previously sealed compartment. Thus, it is preferred that the compartment of the bag that is derived from the open compartment have a volume space that is greater than the compartment of the bag that is derived from the compartment previously sealed. The bag preferably comprises a composition, said composition may comprise a solid component or a liquid component. If the composition comprises a solid component and a liquid component, then it is preferred that the solid component and the liquid component be comprised of two different compartments, typically such that said solid component and said liquid component are separated by a water soluble film that It acts as a barrier. Preferably, if the liquid component is present, it is comprised of the pre-sealed compartment and, at the time of formation of the bag, it is composed of the compartment of the bag which is derived from the previously sealed compartment. It may also be preferred that the pre-sealed compartment comprises a solid component, or that the open compartment comprises a liquid component, or that both the pre-sealed compartment and the open compartment comprise a solid component, or that both the pre-sealed compartment and the open compartment understand a liquid component. It is possibly preferred that the compartment containing a liquid component also comprises an air bubble, preferably the air bubble has a volume of no more than 50%, preferably no more than 40%, more preferably no more than 30%. %, more preferably of not more than 20%, more preferably not more than 10%, of the volume space of said compartment. Without wishing to adhere to a theory, it is considered that the presence of air bubbles increases the tolerance of the bag to the movement of liquid ingredients within the compartments of the bag, thus reducing the risk of liquid ingredients spilling out of the bag. The compartment is suitable for maintaining the components, for example, without allowing the release of the components from the compartment prior to the contact of the bag with the water. The compartment can have any shape, depending on the nature of the compartment material, the nature of the components or composition, the intended use, number of components, etc. Preferably, the composition is a composition that must be supplied to the water and thus the bag and the compartment or compartments thereof are designed in such a way that at least one or more of the components is released shortly after the addition to the bag. Water. It is especially preferred that at least one component is supplied to the water 3 minutes, preferably still 2 minutes or even 1 minute after contacting the bag with the water. Thus, it is preferred that the compartment and preferably the bag as a whole comprise material that is dispersed in water or more preferably that is soluble in water. The material that is dispersed in water preferred herein has a dispersibility of at least 50%, preferably at least 75% or still at least 95%, as measured by the method set forth herein below using a glass filter with a maximum pore size of 50 microns. More preferably, the material is soluble in water and has a solubility of at least 50%, preferably at least 75% or even at least 95%, as measured by the method set forth herein below using a glass filter with a maximum pore size of 50 microns, primarily: Gravimetric method for determining the water solubility or water dispersibility of the compartment material and / or the bag: 10 grams + 0J grams of material are added to a 400 ml beaker, from which the weight was determined, and 245 ml ± 1 ml of distilled water are added. This is stirred vigorously on a magnetic stirrer set at 600 rpm for 30 minutes. The mixture is then filtered through a qualitative sintered glass filter folded with the pore sizes as defined above (max 50 microns). The water is evaporated from the collected filtrate by any conventional method and the weight of the remaining polymer (representing the dissolved or dispersed fraction) is determined. Subsequently, the% solubility or dispersibility can be calculated. The bag is made from a water soluble film. Preferred films are polymeric materials, preferably polymers that are formed into a film or sheet. The film can for example be obtained by casting, blow molding, extrusion or blow extrusion of the polymer material, as is known in the art. The polymers, copolymers or their derivatives are selected from polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyalkylene oxides, acrylamide, acrylic acid, cellulose, cellulose ethers, cellulose esters, cellulose amides, polyvinyl acetates, polycarboxylic acids and salts, polyamino acids or peptides, polyamides, polyacrylamide, copolymers of maleic / acrylic acids, polysaccharides including starch and gelatin, natural gums such as xantum gum and carragum. More preferably, the polymers are selected from water-soluble acrylate polyacrylates and copolymers, methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, dextrin, ethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, maltodextrin, polymethacrylates, and most preferably, polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl alcohol copolymers, terpolyvinyl alcohol, Polymers of polyvinyl alcohol and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC). The polymer can have any weight-average molecular weight, preferably from about 1000 to 1,000,000, or even from 10,000 to 300,000 or even from 15,000 to 200,000 or even from 20,000 to 150,000. Mixtures of polymers can also be used. This can be particularly beneficial for controlling the mechanical properties and / or dissolution of the compartments or the bag, depending on their application and the needs in each case. For example, it might be preferred that a Polymer mixture is present in the material of the compartment, wherein one polymer material has a higher solubility in water than another polymer material, and / or one polymer material has a higher mechanical strength than another polymer material. It may be preferred to use a mixture of polymers, with different weight average molecular weights, for example, a mixture of PVA or a copolymer thereof with a weight average molecular weight of 10,000-40,000, preferably about 20,000, and of PVA or one of its copolymers with a weight average molecular weight of about 100,000 to 300,000, preferably about 150,000. Also, compositions of polymer blends are useful, for example, those comprising a mixture of hydrolytically degradable and water soluble polymers, such as polylactide and polyvinyl alcohol, which are obtained by mixing polylactide and polyvinyl alcohol, typically comprising 1-35% by weight of polylactide and about 65% to 99% by weight of polyvinyl alcohol, if the material should be dispersed in water or be soluble in water. It may be preferred that the polymer present in the film is hydrolyzed from 60% to 98%, preferably from 80% to 90%, to improve the dissolution of the material. Suitable examples of commercially available water soluble films include polyvinyl alcohol and partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate, alginates, cellulose ethers such as carboxymethyl cellulose and methyl cellulose, polyethylene oxide, polyacrylates and combinations thereof. More preferred are films comprising PVA polymers and having similar properties to films known under the trademark M8630, as sold by Chris-Craft Industrial Products of Gary, Indiana, US. The film herein may comprise other additive ingredients than the polymer or polymer material. For example, it may be beneficial to add plasticizers, for example, glycerol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, sorbitol and mixtures thereof, additional water, disintegrating aids. It may be useful when the composition in a bag is a detergent composition, that the bag or compartment material itself comprises a detergent additive to supply the washing water, for example organic polymeric soil release agents, dispersants, color transfer inhibitors. .

Procedure for closing the open compartment The bag is obtained by the procedure of closing an open compartment with a compartment previously sealed. Said method comprises the step of closing an open compartment with a previously sealed compartment. Said process forms a second seal in a position different from the first seal of the previously sealed compartment. Preferably, said second seal has a diameter superficial equivalent to the first seal of the previously sealed compartment. The procedure for closing the open compartment closes the open compartment to obtain a closed compartment, said method of closing an open compartment with a compartment previously sealed in the present is referred to as a "closing procedure". An open compartment has a volume space that is not separated from the outside environment. The method of closing the open compartment forms a compartment having a volume space that is separated from the outside environment, such that a compartment is a closed compartment, such as a compartment of the multi-compartment bag of the invention. The formation of the open compartment can be done by any known method. Typically, the open compartment is formed by fitting a water-soluble bag around a mold and vacuuming the film so that it is flush with the interior surface of the mold, thus forming a volume space that is not separated from the outside environment, said volume space being the indentation or niche formed under vacuum in said water soluble film. The preferred open compartments are made by introducing the film to form the compartment in a mold, subsequently applying a vacuum to the mold, so that the material adopts the shape of the mold, also mentioned as a empty. Another preferred method is the thermoforming to obtain the material to adopt the shape of the mold. The method for closing typically comprises the steps of: (i) bringing the pre-sealed compartment and the open compartment into close proximity, preferably so that at least part of the water-soluble film enclosing the volume space of the previously sealed compartment also partially enclose the volume space of the open compartment; and (ii) closing the open compartment by a sealing process, said sealing process forms a seal in the open compartment for closing said compartment and also forms a second seal in the compartment sealed previously to a position different from the seal already present. If a mold is used in the procedure to produce the bag, especially if a mold is used in the process step to close the open compartment with a pre-sealed compartment, then preferably the pre-sealed compartment is formed in a mold other than the mold used to close the open compartment with the compartment previously sealed. Preferably, the open compartment is closed with the same material as the material of the open compartment. The material for the closure, and thus preferably also the material of the compartment open, preferably it is thermoplastic so that it can be closed by heat sealing. Alternatively, a thermoplastic coating may be provided, either over the entire material or only in the areas where the seals should be formed. Sealing can also be done by solvent welding. Suitable heat sealable materials include polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyethylene oxide, acrylic resins and mixtures thereof, in particular polyvinyl alcohols (PVA). These heat sealable materials can also be used in combination with other water soluble materials or dispersed in water. The pre-sealed compartment is typically sealed prior to contact with the open compartment such that any ingredient that is comprised in the volume space of the pre-sealed compartment is separated from the outside environment. The pre-sealed compartment typically comprises at least one seal, preferably only one seal, prior to the procedure for closing the open compartment. Typically, the seal formed by the closure process has a surface diameter greater than the seal already present in the previously sealed compartment. Higher equivalent surface diameter, typically means that the diameter of the second seal is greater than the diameter of the first seal. Typically, the seal formed by the closing procedure closes the open compartment, adds a second seal to the previously sealed compartment, and form a multi-compartment bag by structurally contacting the open compartment and the pre-sealed compartment to form a multi-compartment bag.

Composition The bag preferably comprises a composition, typically said composition is contained in the volume space of the compartments of the bag. Typically, the composition comprises such an amount of cleaning composition, that one or a plurality of bagged compositions are sufficient for one wash cycle. Preferably, the composition comprises at least one surfactant and at least one builder. The composition may comprise a solid component and a liquid component. Preferably, the pre-sealed compartment comprises a liquid component. Said liquid component and said solid component are described in greater detail herein.

Liquid component If present, the liquid component is comprised of a compartment of the bag. Preferably, said compartment is a compartment other than the compartment comprising the component solid. The term "liquid component" includes components in the form of a viscous liquid and / or a gel. The liquid component preferably comprises (by weight of the liquid component) at least 50%, preferably at least 55%, more preferably at least 60%, more preferably at least 70%, more preferably at least 80% of the surfactant. Typically, the surfactant is a liquid at room temperature. Preferably, the surfactant is a nonionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant or a combination thereof, more preferably the surfactant is a nonionic surfactant. Preferably, said liquid component of the invention comprises a solvent or a perfume. Preferably, said liquid component comprises (by weight of the liquid component) at least 2%, more preferably at least 5%, more preferably at least 10%, more preferably at least 40% perfume. Preferably, said liquid component comprises (by weight of the liquid component) from 0.1% to 30%, more preferably from 5% to 25%, more preferably from 10% to 20% solvent. Preferably, said solvent is an alcohol-based solvent, more preferably said solvent is ethanol and / or an n-butoxy propoxy propanol. Preferably, the liquid component is substantially liquid since at least 90%, more preferably at least 95%, more preferably at least 98% of the ingredients comprised by the liquid component are in liquid form at room temperature.

Solid component If present, the solid component is comprised of a compartment of the bag. Preferably, said compartment is a compartment other than the compartment comprising the liquid component. Said solid component preferably comprises (by weight of the solid component) at least 10%, more preferably at least 20%, more preferably at least 30% solid material insoluble in water. Preferably, said water-insoluble solid material includes water-insoluble builders, preferably the water-insoluble builder is an aluminosilicate, or fabric softening agents not soluble in water such as clay. Preferably, said water insoluble solid material comprises a water insoluble builder. Preferred water-insoluble builders are described in more detail herein below. Said solid composition preferably comprises at least one detergent ingredient selected from the group consisting of builder, chelating agent, bleaching agent, bleach activator, enzyme, brightener, suds suppressor and dye.

Preferably, said detergent ingredient is in the form of a solid. It may still be possible that some or all of the ingredients of the solid component are not pre-granulated, such as agglomeration, spray-dried, extruded, prior to incorporation into the compartment, and that the component is a mixture of powdered ingredients mixed in dry or even raw material. It is preferred that for example less than 60% or even less than 40% or even less 20% of the component are previously granulated granules that flow freely. Preferably, the solid component is substantially solid since at least 90%, preferably at least 95%, more preferably at least 98% of the ingredients comprised by the solid component are in solid form. Preferably, the solid component comprises ingredients that are difficult or costly to include in a substantially liquid composition or that are typically transported and delivered as solid ingredients that require additional processing steps to enable them to be included in a substantially liquid composition.

Preferred ingredients of the liquid and solid components The composition herein typically comprises ingredients. These ingredients are described herein below. The composition may comprise a liquid component and a component solid. Typically, ingredients that are preferably manufactured and processed in a solid form are comprised of the solid component and ingredients that are preferably manufactured and processed in a liquid form are comprised of the liquid component. The preferred amounts of ingredients described herein are% by weight of the composition herein as a whole and not% by weight of a solid component or a liquid component which may comprise said ingredient.

Water Insoluble Detergency Meter The composition herein preferably comprises a water insoluble builder. Preferably, the water-insoluble builder is comprised of the solid component. Preferably the builder Noluble in water is in solid form. Examples of water insoluble detergency builders include sodium aluminosilicate. The aluminosilicate material may be in hydrated form and preferably is crystalline, containing from 10% to 28%, more preferably from 18% to 22% of water in a bound form. The aluminosilicate zeolites can be materials as they occur in nature, but are preferably synthetically derived. Synthetic crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange materials are available under the designations Zeolite A, Zeolite B, Zeolite P, Zeolite X, Zeolite HS and mixtures thereof.

Chelating agents The composition herein preferably comprises a chelator. "Heavy chelating agent" refers herein to components that act to sequester (chelate) heavy metal ions. These components may also have calcium and magnesium chelating capacity, but preferably show selectivity to bind heavy metal ions such as iron, manganese and copper. Chelating agents are generally present at a level of 0.05% to 2%, preferably from 0.1% to 1.5%, more preferably even from 0.25% to 1.2% and even more preferred, from 0.5% to 1% by weight of the composition of the present invention. Suitable chelating agents for use herein include organic phosphonates, such as aminoalkylene poly (alkylene phosphonates), alkali metal 1-hydroxy bisphosphonates, and nitrile trimethylene phosphonates. Preferred among the above species are penta (methylene phosphonate) of diethylenetriamine, tri (methylene phosphonate) of ethylenediamine, tetra (methylene phosphonate) of hexamethylenediamine and 1,1-diphosphonate of hydroxy-ethylene. Other chelating agents suitable for use herein include nitrilotriacetic acid and polyaminocarboxylic acids such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, ethylenetriaminpentaacetic acid, ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid, ethylenediaminediglutaric acid, 2-hydroxypropylenediamindisuccinic acid or any salts thereof. Especially preferred is ethylene diamine N, N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS) or the alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium, or substituted ammonium salts thereof, or mixtures thereof.

Detersive surfactants Nonionic Alkoxylated Surfactants Substantially any alkoxylated nonionic surfactant may be included in the composition of the present invention. Ethoxylated and propoxylated nonionic surfactants are preferred. Preferred alkoxylated surfactants can be selected from non-ionic condensate classes of alkylphenols, non-ionic ethoxylated alcohols, ethoxylated / propoxylated non-ionic fatty alcohols, non-ionic ethoxylate / propoxylate condensates with propylene glycol and the condensation products of ethoxylate. ion with propylene oxide / ethylenediamine adducts. Nonionic alkoxylated alcohol surfactants are very preferred, the condensation products of aliphatic alcohols having from 1 to 75 moles of alkylene oxide, in particular about 50 or from 1 to 15 moles, preferably up to 11 moles, particularly the Ethylene oxide and / or propylene oxide are highly preferred nonionic surfactants. The alkyl chain of the aliphatic alcohol may be straight or branched, primary or secondary, and generally contains from 6 to 22 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred are the condensation products of alcohols having an alkyl group containing from 8 to 20 carbon atoms, from 2 to 9 moles and in particular from 3 or 5 moles, of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.

Non-ionic surfactant of polyhydroxy fatty acid amide The polyhydroxy fatty acid amides are highly preferred nonionic surfactants which are included in the composition herein. A highly preferred non-ionic polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactant for use herein is an alkyl-N-methyl glucamide of C-? 2-C? , of C? s-C? 7 and / or C- | 6-Ci8. it may be particularly preferable that the composition herein comprises a mixture of C12-C18 alkyl-N-metii glucamide and condensation products of an alcohol having an alkyl group, which contains from 8 to 20 carbon atoms with to 9 moles, and in particular 3 or 5 moles, of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.

Other Preferred Nonionic Surfactants The fatty acid amide surfactants or alkoxylated fatty acid amides may also be comprised of the composition of a present. The alkyl esters of fatty acids may also be comprised by the composition herein. The alkyl polysaccharides may also be comprised by the composition of the present, such as those having a hydrophobic group containing from 6 to 30 carbon atoms and a polysaccharide, for example, a polyglycoside, hydrophilic group containing from 1.3 to 10 units of saccharide.

Polyletylene / propylene glycols The composition of the present invention may include polyethylene and / or propylene glycol, particularly those with a molecular weight of 1,000-10,000, more particularly from 2,000 to 8,000 and more preferably about 4,000.

Anionic Surfactant The composition of the present invention preferably comprises one or more anionic surfactants. Any anionic surfactant useful for detersive purposes is appropriate. Examples include salts (including, for example, sodium, potassium, ammonium and substituted ammonium salts, such as mono-, di- and triethanolamine salts) of the anionic sulfate, sulfonate, carboxylate and sarcosinate surfactants. Preferred are anionic sulfate surfactants. Suitable anionic sulfate surfactants for use in the present invention include linear and branched primary and secondary alkyl sulphates, alkyl ethoxy sulfates, fatty oleoyl glycerol sulfates, ethylene oxide alkylphenol ether sulphates, acyl-N- sulphates (C? -C alkyl) of C -C? and -N- (hydroxyalkyl of C -? - C2) glucamine, and alkylpolysaccharide sulfates, such as the alkyl polyglucoside sulfates (the non-sulphonic non-ionic compounds are described herein). The alkyl sulfate surfactants are preferably selected from the linear and branched C9-C22 primary alkyl sulfates, more preferably the C11-C15 branched chain alkyl sulphates and the C12-C-? 4 straight chain alkyl sulphates. Suitable anionic sulfonate surfactants for use herein include C5-C20 straight or branched alkylbenzene sulfonate salts, alkyl ester sulphonates, in particular, methyl ester sulfonates, primary or secondary alkane sulphonates of C6- C22, C6-C24 olefin sulphonates, sulfonated polycarboxylic acids, alkyl glycerol sulfonates, fatty acyl glycerol sulfonates, fatty oleyl glycerol sulfonates and mixtures thereof. Other suitable anionic surfactants are the alkali metal sarcosinates. Preferred examples are the myristyl and oleoylmethyl sarcosinates in the form of their sodium salts.

Cationic Surfactant Another preferred surfactant is a cationic surfactant which may be present, preferably at a level of 0.1% a 60% by weight of the composition of the present invention, more preferably from 0.4% to 20%, still more preferably from 0.5% to 5% by weight of the composition of the present. When present, the ratio of the anionic surfactant to the cationic surfactant is preferably from 35: 1 to 1: 3, more preferably from 15: 1 to 1: 1 and even more preferably from 10: 1 to 1: 1. Preferably, the cationic surfactant is selected from the group comprising cationic ester surfactants, cationic mono-alkoxylated amine surfactants, cationic bis-alkoxylated amine surfactants and mixtures thereof. Suitable amphoteric surfactants for use herein include the amine oxide surfactants and the alkylamphocarboxylic acids. Preferred amine oxides are C-io-iß alkyldimethylamine oxide, and C? O-β acylamido-alkyldimethylamine oxide. A suitable example is an alkylamphodicarboxylic acid is Miranol ™ C2M Conc. Manufactured by Miranol, Inc., Dayton, NJ Zwitterionic Surfactant Zwitterionic surfactants can also be included in the composition of the present invention. These surfactants can be described, in general terms, as derivatives of secondary and tertiary amines, derivatives of heterocyclic secondary and tertiary amines or derivatives of quaternary ammonium compounds, quaternary phosphonium or tertiary sulfonium. Betaine and sultaine surfactants examples of zwitterionic surfactants that can be used herein.

Water-soluble detergency builder The composition of the present invention may comprise a water-soluble builder agent, typically present at a level of from 0% to 36% by weight, preferably from 1% to 35% by weight, of greater preference from 10% to 35%, even more preferred, from 12% to 30% by weight of the composition or particle. Preferably, the water-soluble builder compound is an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt of phosphate present at the level that has already been described. Other typical water-soluble detergency agents include water-soluble monomeric polycarboxylates, or their acid forms, homo- or copolymeric polycarboxylic acids or their salts, wherein the polycarboxylic acid comprises at least two carboxylic radicals separated from each other by no more of two carbon atoms, borates, phosphates and mixtures of any of the foregoing. Suitable examples of water-soluble phosphate builders are alkali metal tripolyphosphates, sodium pyrophosphate, potassium and ammonium, sodium and potassium pyrophosphate and ammonium, sodium and potassium orthophosphate, polymeta / sodium phosphate where the degree of polymerization ranges from about 6 to 21, and salts of phytic acid.

Peroxide Source Another preferred ingredient is a perhydrate bleach, such as percarbonate salts, particularly sodium salts, and / or an organic peroxyacid bleach precursor. It has been found that when the bag or compartment is formed of a material with free hydroxy groups, such as PVA, the preferred bleaching agent comprises a percarbonate salt and preferably is free of any salt of perborate or borate salt. It has been seen that borates and perborates interact with these hydroxy-containing materials and reduce the dissolution of materials, and also result in reduced performance. Inorganic perhydrate salts are a preferred source of peroxide. Preferably these salts are present at a level of from 0.01% to 50% by weight, more preferably from 0.5% to 30% by weight of the composition or component. Examples of inorganic perhydrate salts include percarbonate, perphosphate, persulfate and persilicate salts. The inorganic perhydrate salts are usually the alkali metal salts. The inorganic perhydrate salt may be included as the crystalline solid without additional protection. However, for certain perhydrate salts the preferred embodiments of said granulated compositions use a coated form of the material, which provides better storage stability for the perhydrate salt in the granulated product. The alkali metal percarbonates, particularly sodium percarbonate, are preferred perhydrates herein. Sodium percarbonate is an addition compound having the formula corresponding to 2Na2CO3.3H2? 2, and which is commercially available as a crystalline solid. Potassium peroximonopersulfate is another inorganic perhydrate salt for use in the compositions herein.

Bleach activator The composition herein preferably comprises a bleach activator, preferably comprising an inorganic peroxy acid bleach precursor. It may be preferred that the composition comprises at least two peroxyacid bleach precursors, preferably at least one hydrophobic peroxyacid bleach precursor and at least one hydrophilic peroxyacid bleach precursor, as defined herein. The production of the inorganic peroxyacid occurs by means of an in situ reaction of the precursor with a source of hydrogen peroxide. The bleach activator may alternatively comprise, or also, a preformed peroxy acid bleach. The hydrophobic peroxyacid bleach precursor preferably comprises a compound having an oxy-benzenesulfonate group, preferably NOBS, DOBS, LOBS and / or NACA-OBS, as described herein. The hydrophilic peroxyacid bleach precursor preferably comprises TAED, as described herein.

Organic Peroxyacid Bleach System The composition herein preferably comprises an organic peroxyacid precursor. Production of the organic peroxyacid can occur by in situ reaction of said precursor with a source of percarbonate. In an alternative preferred embodiment, a preformed organic peroxyacid is incorporated directly into the composition. Peroxyacid bleach precursors are compounds that react with hydrogen peroxide in a perhydrolysis reaction to produce a peroxyacid. The amide substituted alkyl peroxyacid precursor compounds are also suitable for use herein.

Preformed organic peroxyacid The organic peroxyacid bleach system may contain a preformed organic peroxyacid. Preferred organic peroxyacids include diacyl peroxide and tetraacyl, especially diperoxydecanoic acid, diperoxytetradecanoic acid and diperoxyhexadecanoic acid. Mono and diperacetalic acid, mono and diperbrasyl acid and N-phthaloylaminoperoxycaproic acid are also suitable herein.

Enzyme Another preferred optional ingredient that is useful in the present composition is one or more additional enzymes. Additional preferred enzyme materials include commercially available lipases, cutinases, amylases, neutral and alkaline proteases, esterases, cellulases, pectinases, lactases and peroxidases which are conventionally incorporated into the compositions. Preferred protease enzymes that are commercially available include those sold under the tradenames Alcalase, Savinase, Primase, Durazym, and Esperase by Novo Industries A / S (Denmark), which are sold under the trade name Maxatase, Maxacal and Maxapem by Gist-Brocades, and those sold by Genencor International, and those that have the trademark Opticlean and Optimase by Solvay Enzymes. The protease enzyme can be incorporated into the present composition at a level of 0.0001% to 4% active enzyme by weight of the composition. Preferred amylases include, for example, those sold under the tradename Rapidase by Gist-Brocades, and those sold under the tradename Termamyl and BAN by Novo Industries A / S. The amylase enzyme can be incorporated into the composition herein at a level of 0. 0001% to 2% active enzyme by weight of the composition. The lipolytic enzyme may be present at active lipolytic enzyme levels of 0.0001% to 10% by weight of the particle, preferably 0. 001% to 3% by weight of the composition, more preferably from 0.001% to 0.5% by weight of the compositions. The preferred lipase is commercially available from Novo Industri A / S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark, under the trade name Lipolase.

Foam suppression system The composition may comprise a foam suppressant at a level of less than 10%, preferably between 0.001% and 10%, preferably from 0.01% to 8%, most preferably between 0.05% and 5% in weight of the composition. Preferably, the foam suppressant is a soap, paraffin, wax or a combination thereof. If the foam suppressant is a foam suppressing silicone, then the detergent composition preferably comprises between 0.005% and 0.5% by weight of a foam suppressing silicone. The foam suppressors that are particularly preferred are the silicone antifoam compounds defined herein as any antifoaming compound that includes a silicone component. Preferred silicone antifoam compounds are siloxanes, particularly polydimethylsiloxanes having trimethylsilyl end blocking units. Other suitable antifoam compounds include the monocarboxylic fatty acids and soluble salts thereof.

Polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents The composition of the present invention may also comprise from 0.01% to 10%, preferably from 0.05% to 0.5% by weight of polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents. These polymeric agents are an addition to the polymeric material of the water soluble film. The polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents are preferably selected from polyamine N-oxide polymers, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole, polyvinylpyrrolidone polymers or combinations thereof.

Optical brightener The composition herein may also optionally comprise from 0.005% to 5% by weight of certain types of hydrophilic optical brighteners. A preferred optical brightener is 4,4 ', - bis [(4-anilino-6- (N-2-bys-hydroxyethyl) -s-triazine-2-yl) amino] -2.2 '-stilbenodisulfonic and disodium salt, which has the trade name tinopal-UNPA-GX by Ciba-Geigy Corporation. Tinopal-UNPA-GX is the preferred hydrophilic optical brightener which is useful in the compositions herein. Another preferred brightener is the disodium salt of 4,4 ,, -bis [(4-anilino-6- (N-2-bis-hydroxyethyl-N-methylamino-5-triazine-amino-4-stilbene-sulphonic acid. , which is commercially available under the trademark Tinopal 5BM-GX by Ciba-Geigy Corporation, and also the disodium salt of 4,4 ', - bis [4- amino-6-morphino-s-triazine-2-yl) amino] -2,2'-stilbenedisulfonic acid, is a preferred optical brightener and has the Tinopal trademark AMS-GX by Ciba Geigy Corporation.

Cationic Fabric Softening Agents Cationic fabric softening agents are preferably present in the composition of the present invention. Cationic fabric softening agents include tertiary amines insoluble in water or di-long chain amide materials. Preferably, these tertiary insoluble amines in water or di-long chain amide materials are included in the solid component of the composition of the present invention. Cationic fabric softening agents are typically incorporated in total levels of 0.5% to 15% by weight, typically 1% to 5% by weight.

Other Optional Ingredients Other optional ingredients suitable for inclusion in the present composition include perfumes, colorants and filler salts, with sodium sulfate being a preferred filler salt.

Washing method for laundry Preferably, the multi-component bag is dissolved or disintegrated in the water to release the solid detergent ingredients and the liquid detergent ingredients in the wash cycle. Typically, the multi-compartment bag is added to the dispersion stream, or alternatively to the tub, of an automatic washing machine. Preferably, the multi-compartment bag comprises all the detergent ingredients of the detergent composition that are used in the washing. Although it may be preferable that some detergent ingredients are not included in the multi-compartment bag, and that they are added to the wash cycle separately. In addition, one or more detergent compositions other than the detergent composition comprised by the multi-compartment bag may be used during the washing process, such that the detergent composition comprised by the multi-compartment bag is used as a pretreatment, treatment principal, after-treatment or a combination thereof during said washing process.

EXAMPLES EXAMPLE I A piece of Chris-Craft M-8630 film is placed on top of a small mold and fixed in place. The small mold consists of a hemispherical shape and has a diameter of 33 mm and a depth of 14.5 mm. A layer with 1 mm thick rubber is present around the edges of the mold. The mold has some holes in the mold material to allow a vacuum to be applied. A vacuum is applied to pull the film inside the mold and pull the film by matching it with the inside surface of the mold. 5 ml of the liquid component of a detergent composition is poured into the mold. Next, a second piece of Chris-Craft M-8630 film is placed on top of the small mold with the liquid component, and sealed to the first piece of film by applying an annular piece of flat metal with an inside diameter of 34 mm, and the metal is heated under moderate pressure, above the rubber ring that is on the edge of the mold to heat seal the two pieces of film, to form a pre-sealed compartment comprising the liquid component. The metal ring is usually heated to a temperature of 135 ° C to 150 ° C and applied for up to 5 seconds. The pre-sealed compartment has a 75mm edge of Chris-Craft film that extends in an outward direction from the seal, away from the center of the pre-sealed compartment, such that the pre-sealed compartment can be fixed in place and completely covers the opening of a mold having a larger diameter of 48.5 mm. Next, a third piece of Chris-Craft M-8630 film is placed on top of the larger mold and fixed in place. The largest mold consists of a cylindrical shape and has a diameter of 48.5 mm and a depth of 22 mm. A layer of rubber with 1mm thickness is present around the edges of the mold. The mold has some holes in the mold material to allow a vacuum to be applied. A vacuum is applied to pull the film inside the larger mold, and to pull the film at the level of the interior surface of the mold, to form an open compartment. 40 g of the solid component of the detergent composition are poured into the open compartment. Then, the pre-sealed compartment is placed over the top of the large mold with the solid component, and fixed in place so that the pre-sealed compartment covers the opening of the large mold and the film edge of the previously sealed compartment is placed suitably on the rubber layer that is present around the edges of the large mold, such that the edge of the film can be part of the seal that closes the open compartment.

The film edge of the pre-sealed compartment is sealed to the third layer of film by application of an annular piece of flat metal having an inside diameter of 50 mm, and the metal is heated under moderate pressure inside the rubber ring that is on the edge of the mold for heat sealing the pieces of film to each other, to form a pouch comprising two compartments, wherein a first compartment comprises the liquid component of the detergent composition, and a second compartment comprises the solid component of the detergent composition. The metal ring is usually heated to a temperature of 135 ° C to 150 ° C and applied for up to 5 seconds.

EXAMPLE II A bag was made by the procedure described in Example 1, which comprises the following liquid component and component solid. Detergent ingredients of the component Quantity (by weight of the liquefied component) liquid Nonionic surfactant 74% Solvent 12% Perfume 7% Water 2% Ingredients several to 100% Detergent ingredients of the component Quantity (by weight of the solid component) Solid cationic surfactant 5 % Bleaching agent 26% Chelating agent 0.8% Enzyme 6% Foam suppressant 1% Bleach activator 12% Sodium carbonate 6% Soap 1% Brightener 0.5% Zeolite 40% Ingredients several to 100% EXAMPLE III A bag was made with the procedure of Example I, which comprises the following liquid component and solid component.

Detergent ingredients of the component Quantity (by weight of the liquid component) liquid Nonionic surfactant 69% Solvent 9% Perfume 10% Water 3% Ingredients several to 100% Detergent ingredients of the component Quantity (by weight of the solid component) Solid Bleaching agent 36% Chelating agent 2% Enzyme 10% Foam suppressor 1% Sodium carbonate 6% Brightener 3% Zeolite 40% Ingredients several to 100%

Claims (9)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A multi-component bag made of a water-soluble film having at least two compartments, said multi-compartment bag being obtained by means of the process of closing an open compartment with a pre-sealed compartment, the process forms a second seal on the previously sealed compartment which is in a different position from the first seal of the previously sealed compartment.

2. The multi-compartment bag according to claim 1, further characterized in that the water-soluble film comprises a polyvinyl alcohol polymer, a copolymer thereof, a terpolymer thereof, or a combination thereof.

3. The multi-compartment bag according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that said closing process forms a second seal on the previously sealed compartment, said second seal has an equivalent surface diameter greater than that of the first seal .

4. The multi-compartment bag according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that said closing procedure forms a second seal on the previously sealed compartment, said second seal has a larger diameter than the first seal.

5. The multi-compartment bag according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that said multi-compartment bag comprises a composition, preferably a detergent composition.

6. The multi-compartment bag according to claim 5, further characterized in that said pre-sealed compartment comprises a liquid component.

7. The multi-compartment bag according to claim 6, further characterized in that said pre-sealed compartment comprises an air bubble.

8. The multi-compartment bag according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the compartment of the bag that is formed when closing the open compartment, has a volume space that is greater than the volume space of the sealed compartment previously.

9. A method for making a multi-compartment bag according to any of the preceding claims, said method comprising the step of closing an open compartment with a previously sealed compartment.