MXPA02010584A - Pouched compositions. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to free flowable compositions in a pouch which contain different free flowable components fixed in different regions and to process for making these pouched compositions. The pouch and the compartment(s) thereof are preferably made from stretchable, elastic film which is water soluble. The compositions are preferably cleaning compositions or fabric care compositions.

Description

COMPOSITIONS IN BAG TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to compositions in a bag having a compartment containing different components fixed in different regions and a method for manufacturing these bag compositions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Currently cleaning compositions come in many forms of products, such as granules, liquids and tablets, each has its advantages and disadvantages. Recently, tablets have acquired a renewed interest, because they are easy to handle by the consumer and easy to dose ('unit dose') and additionally have an additional advantage that allow incompatible ingredients to be incorporated separately from each other, for example in different layers. This can reduce the contact area of these incompatible materials and thus reduce the occurrence of any reaction between such materials.

However, in order to make the tablets stable in storage and to avoid the breakage of the tablets during handling, the ingredients have to be compressed together and binding agents are generally needed to ensure that the tablets do not break. This can reduce its solubility and dispersibility, which is undesirable for consumers and also from an operational point of view. Thus, alternative ways or better ways are required to provide easy-to-handle unit dose products according to which different ingredients can be present easily separated from one another (for example to reduce intimate contact and to improve the stability of ingredients). incompatible) that do not produce dust or break. The inventors have now discovered an improved way of providing improved products to solve the aforementioned problems, specifically by incorporating a product in a bag in a specific manner, so that the aforementioned requirements are satisfied. Bags for detergents as such are known in the art to be useful for providing unit dose compositions and for separating ingredients from one another. For example, the United States Patent 5,224,601 describes a package made with different compartments for different materials. However, this type of structure and also other bags that are known in the art have their problems and often require a complicated manufacturing path and a relatively large amount of sheet material. The inventors have now discovered improved particulate bag compositions which are such that intimate contact with different components thereof is reduced, without the need to compact them to the extent of tablets without the need for difficult structures, such as separate multiple compartments, for Separate different ingredients from each other. In the products of the invention, the different components of the composition are specifically packed tightly in different regions of one and the same compartment or bag, so that they are substantially immobilized or fixed and remain in this way during handling and storage. However, because the components are still in powder or granulated form and are not glued to one another like tablets, the dispersion of the composition comprising these components in water is very rapid. In this way, improved storage stability of for example incompatible ingredients such as enzymes and bleaches is achieved, with a minimum of bag material and with very good product supply and performance. Additionally, improved methods for forming the composition in a bag are provided, such that the components in the regions remain fixed or immobilized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a composition in a bag, the composition comprises two or more particulate components and the bag comprises one or more compartments that disintegrate in water, soluble in water or dispersible in water, according to which at least two of the components are present in one and the same compartment and each forms one forms a fixed region in the aforementioned compartment. In particular, the composition in a bag of the invention is obtained by a process comprising the steps of: a) obtaining an open bag comprising an open compartment; b) Insert a particulate component before at least one other particulate component in the open compartment and / or introduce a particulate component in a different part of the open component than at least one other particulate component; and c) subsequently closing the open compartment so as to obtain a bag with a compartment (water-soluble or water-dispersible) comprising fixed regions of above-mentioned particulate components. The components are so tightly packed that the regions are fixed, while the composition still flows freely (which is You can see when the bag is removed). This provides the advantages outlined above. Typically this can be done by overfilling the open compartment, using stretchable and preferably elastic material for the compartment, or by using heat-shrinkable material for the compartment or filling and closing the open compartment under reduced pressure or still empty. The composition in the bag preferably is such that the volumetric density of the composition after closing the compartment is 5% to 45% or even 35%, preferably 5% to 30% or even 10% to 25% higher than the average of the volumetric density of the components before entering the compartment. Preferably, the bag as a whole is soluble in water. Preferably the composition is a cleaning composition or composition for the care of the fabric or composition that is added during rinsing. The invention also provides methods for making the bag compositions of the invention, for example by the method described above and preferred methods as claimed and described below in the present invention. A preferred process is such that it results in a non-uniform thickness of the compartment material, which can provide very rapid release of produced inside the water, or can help control the release time of the different components to the wash water.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Compositions and components thereof The composition of the invention is present in a bag and in the present invention is also mentioned as a bag composition. The composition comprises at least two different particulate components. Generally, the particulate component is a powder or granules, extruded material or flakes. When used in the present invention, 'different' means that a component has at least one different chemical property, for example at least one different ingredient, that the other component or components, or a component has at least one physical property different from the other component or components. Typically, one component comprises one or more oxidizing ingredients and another component comprises one or more reducing ingredients or oxidizable ingredients. Examples are described later in the present invention. The particulate components are present in the compartment such that they form fixed or immobilized regions within this compartment.

The fixation of the regions limits the direct contact of the components of the composition with one another, preferably only the area where the regions touch, without the need for separate compartment structures for the components. Typically, regions are formed by introducing a particulate component into an open compartment before another particulate component, so that layers of components are obtained. Alternatively, or additionally, this may be formed by introducing a component into a different part of the open compartment. Typically, the regions are fixed and immobilized by tightly packing the components together and ensuring that there is substantially no free head space within the compartment that allows the powders to move. Typically, the tight packing is such that the volumetric density of the components after closing the compartment and thus the volumetric density of the compositions in the bag is from 5% to 45% preferably to 35%, preferably 5% or even 10%. % to 30% or even 25% or it may be preferred that this be from 8% to 20% or even 15% higher than the average volumetric density of the components before being incorporated into the bag. The volumetric density of a component before being incorporated into the bag composition can be determined by the Repour Cup method, as described in ISO 3424- 1975-E. The average volumetric density of the components before incorporating into the compartment is determined first by measuring the volumetric density of each component using ISO 3423. Then, a weighted average is calculated based on the percentage by weight of the component in the final composition. For example, a bag consists of a compartment with a composition consisting of two components A and B. Component A is present in 40% by weight of the final composition. Component B is present in 60% by weight of the final composition. Component A has a Repour Cup volumetric density (as measured by ISO 3424) of 500 g / l. Component B has a bulk density of 800 g / l (as measured by ISO 3424). The average volumetric density of the composition before being incorporated into the bag is therefore ((500 x 0.4) + (800 x 0.6)) = 680g / l. The average volumetric density of the packaged composition, after closing the compartment, can be determined by a volume displacement method. A container with a wide neck and a collection arm is filled with a solvent of known density, which should not affect the material of the compartment or bag, up to the level of the collection arm. The bagged composition to be tested is accurately weighed and then immersed in the liquid, for example by using a piece of thin metallic wire. The amount of liquid that is displaced by the bag composition in the liquid leaves the container at through the arm and this is collected and weighed carefully. The volume of this displaced liquid is easily calculated from the known weight and density of the liquid. The density and volume replacement due to the bag material (instead of the composition within it) can be measured or calculated. This is subtracted from the liquid volume replacement as measured in the aforementioned test. Then you can calculate the density of the composition. (The errors associated with the thin wire used to immerse the bag are minor and are not taken into account). Depending on the material of the bag or compartment, a suitable liquid can be selected. For example, for water-soluble material such as PVA, the preferred liquid is glycerol. This is because the bags may contain microscopic holes in the film as a result of stretching. Using a viscous solvent such as glycerol will minimize any errors due to the infiltration of liquid into the bag. Nonionic surfactants such as Neodol 235 are also useful. The formation of fixed regions and tight packing can be carried out by increasing the packing efficiency and reducing the space between the particles of the components, for example by vibrating the components in the shape of the open compartment, allowing the particles of components to settle for a period of time, modestly increasing the pressure, for example by applying a pressure of up to 20MPa, preferably up to 10MPa or more preferably up to 5MPa or even up to 2MPa, in case of using any pressure, as long as the components and the composition flow freely. The volumetric density of the component can be achieved by a compaction step. Typically, the particulate component is first placed in the open compartment, and then a pressure is exerted on the aforementioned component causing the volume density of the aforementioned component to increase from 5% to 50%, preferably 10% or 15% or 20%, and preferably 45% or 40%, or 35% or 30% of the original volume density of the component before the compaction step. The pressure can be exerted in the form of a solid body, which is typically of a size and shape that is capable of fitting into the opening of the open compartment. The solid body is capable of applying pressure to the aforementioned component. Preferably, the solid body applies a pressure of up to 20 MPa, preferably up to 10 MPa or more preferably up to 5 MPa or even up to 2 MPa, to the particulate component. To ensure tight packing of the components in the compartments, the particulate components are for example introduced into the open compartment (preferred methods of this are described below) so that the open compartment is preferably filled almost completely, typically so that at least 95% of the volume of that open compartment form, preferably so less than 98% or even at least 100% of the open compartment form is filled, before closing the aforementioned open compartment form, or it may still be preferred that the form be excessively filled with the components, i.e. volume of the components is more than 100% of the volume of the form, preferably more than 105% or more preferably more than 110% or even more preferably more than 115%. With this, the closure of the open compartment that is 95% full or more ensures that there is only a very limited headspace in the compartment after closing and thus very limited movement of the components in those compartments, ie , that the regions formed by the components are fixed. The composition in the bag in the present invention can be obtained for example by a process comprising: a) obtaining an open bag comprising an open compartment; b) Insert a particulate component before at least one other particulate component in the open compartment and / or introduce a particulate component in a different part of the open component than at least one other particulate component; and c) subsequently closing the open compartment so as to obtain a bag with a compartment comprising fixed regions of above mentioned particulate components.

In a preferred process, step c) of the aforementioned process can be carried out under reduced pressure, below atmospheric pressure, preferably by applying a vacuum, so that after filling and closing under reduced pressure or vacuum, a compartment packed tightly. The compartment is preferably formed of a stretchable material, preferably a film, preferably an elastic film, as described below in the present invention. This is particularly useful in case the open compartment is completely filled or even excessively filled, and closed by a stretchable film, so that by stretching the part of the film that is used to close the compartment and / or by stretching the film of the open compartment, a tight packing and fixed regions are obtained. Then the use of an elastic material is preferred, to ensure that tight packing remains in the course of the tempo. Alternatively, the open compartment is rigid and in step b) the components are introduced into the open compartment so that at least 100%, preferably at least 105% of the open compartment is occupied by the components, and the open compartment then preferably it is closed with a stretchable material.

The formation of fixed regions and tight packing can also be achieved by using a shrinkable material for the compartment, whereby the surface area is reduced during or after the closure of the open compartment by shrinking the material. A suitable material is for example a heat-shrinkable material. The formation of the open compartment or open form can be done by any known means. The preferred open forms are manufactured by introducing a material to form the compartment on a mold, then a vacuum is applied to the mold, so that the material adopts the shape of the mold, it is also mentioned as being formed under vacuum. Another preferred method is thermoforming to cause the material to take the shape of the mold. The introduction of the components can be carried out by any suitable method to introduce materials that flow freely into the molds. Even when the compartment comprises at least two particulate components a liquid component can be added. It may be preferred that first a first particulate component is introduced into the open compartment, then sprayed onto a small amount of liquid, typically 0.5-10% or even 1% to 5% by weight of the first component, preferably water and subsequently the second one is added component in particles. In this way, the regions can be even more fixed or immobilized. The component comprises at least an amount of at least one particulate compound, but typically the component comprises at least two particulate compounds, preferably completely mixed to form the component. Because the component in the bag compartment is fixed in fixed regions, the interaction between the different components is reduced. This allows the incorporation into a composition of incompatible ingredients, by separating these prefixed regions. The composition in the present invention can be any particulate composition, in particular any granulated or powdered composition that freely flows to be delivered to, and active in, water. Preferred compositions are beverages, edible compositions, pharmaceutical compositions, personal care compositions, cleansing compositions, compositions for the care or conditioning of the fabric; more preferably, the compositions in the present invention are cleansing compositions or fabric care compositions, preferably hard surface compositions, more preferably laundry or dishwashing compositions, including detergents, pretreatment or soaking compositions or fabric conditioners, and other compositions that are added in the rinse. When used in cleaning compositions the component may contain any active cleaning ingredient. Particularly preferred are active ingredients such as surfactants, chelating agents, builders, enzymes, perfumes, bleaches, bleach activators, fabric softeners, fabric conditioners, anti-bacterial agents, effervescence sources, brighteners, photobleaching agents. Compositions for the care of the fabric preferably comprise one or more softening agents, such as quaternary ammonium compounds and / or softening clays, and preferably additional agents such as anti-wrinkle auxiliaries, perfumes, chelating agents, fabric integrity polymers. Generally, water is present at a level of from 0% to 10%, more preferably from 0.2% to 5% or even 0.2% to 3%, or even from 0.5% to 2% by weight of the compartment, preferably from the bag. Typically, the composition comprises an amount of such a magnitude of a cleaning composition, that one or a plurality of the bag compositions are or are sufficient for a wash. Even though the nature of the composition in the bag is such that it readily dissolves or disperses in water, it may be preferred that disintegrating agents such as effervescence sources, polymers or clays which swell with water are present in the same material of the bag or compartment, and / or in the composition that is inside, in particular sources of effervescence based on an acid or a carbonate source. Suitable acids include organic carboxylic acids such as fumaric acid, maleic acid, malic acid, citric acid; Suitable carbonate sources include sodium salts of carbonate, bicarbonate, percarbonate. Preferred levels for disintegration aids or sources of effervescence or both are from 0.05% to 15% or even from 0.2% to 10% or even from 0.3 to 5% by weight of the composition in the bag. In particular, for cleaning compositions, it is advantageous that one component comprises at least one or more enzymes and another component comprises a peroxygen bleach such as a percarbonate salt. The component containing the peroxygen bleach is then free of enzymes, while the component comprising the enzyme may comprise a bleach activator, but no peroxygen bleach. It is also advantageous to include the bleaching agents, but in particular the peroxygen bleach in a different component than any hygroscopic materials or anhydrous or hydratable materials including excessively dried materials, such as aluminosilicates, salts or anhydride acids.

When the bag compositions are such that they have a visually distinguishable upper and lower side, and then, when the regions are in the form of layers, it may also be advantageous to include in the ingredients non-gelling detergents of the lower layer, such as salts and water-soluble acids, including for example salts and effervescent acids such as carbonate salts and organic carboxylic acids such as citric acid, and in a higher or higher layer potentially gelling ingredients such as anionic and nonionic surfactants. Then, it is advantageous to include any peroxygen bleach in the lower layer and any enzymes in the upper layer, if required. It has been found that when a composition in a bag of this type is introduced into the wash via a dispensing device, in particular a dispensing compartment, a faster and more total washing delivery is achieved. It may be advantageous to include any surfactant and bleach agent within the compartment so that it is supplied prior to any softening agents in the compartment or bag. It may still be possible that part or all of the components are not pregranulated, such as agglomerates, spray-dried, extruded, before being incorporated into the compartment, that the component is a mixture of powdered ingredients mixed in dry or even raw materials. It is preferred that for example less than 60% or even less than 40% or even less than 20% of the component are pregranulated granules that flow freely. Furthermore, it has been found to be advantageous for cleaning operation, when the cleaning compositions in the present invention or the material of the compartment or bag, preferably both the composition and the aforementioned material, comprise one or more chelating agents, in particular EDDS. or EDTA or HEDP. It has also been discovered that the presence in the wash water of high levels of certain dissolved materials from the compartment or bag having free hydroxy groups can have a negative effect on the removal of clay stains, under certain washing conditions. Therefore, it is not only advantageous to use as little compartment material as possible and thus preferably use a bag with only one compartment, but it has also been found to be advantageous to incorporate a polyalkoxylated compound into the composition or bag material. , preferably a polyalkoxylated alcohol, preferably having an average carbon chain length of alcohol of 11 to 24, preferably 12 to 20 or even 14 to 18, and an average degree of alkoxylation of at least 20 or even at least 40 or still at least 70. Very preferred are from 0.1% to 8%, or even from 0.5 to 5%, or even from 0.8% to 3% by weight of the composition in a bag of such a compound; very preferred is TAE8O.

The composition may also comprise liquid compounds or gels or solutions of compounds, for example liquid or gel nonionic surfactant, liquid fabric softening agents, preferably then contained in a separate compartment of the bag. Another preferred ingredient is a perhydrate bleach, such as the percarbonate salts, particularly the sodium salts, and / or a bleach precursor or organic peroxyacid activating compound. 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 is preferably free of any salts of perborate or borate salts. It has been found that borates and percarbonates interact with these hydroxy-containing materials and can reduce the dissolution of materials and also that this can result in reduced performance. Preferred activators or precursors are the alkyl percarboxylic precursor compounds of the imide type including the N, N, N1N1 tetra-added alkylene diamines wherein the alkylene group contains from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, particularly those compounds in which the alkylene group contains 1, 2 and 6 carbon atoms such as tetraacetyl ethylenediamine (TAED), sodium 3,5,5-tri-methyl hexanoyloxybenzenesulfonate (iso-NOBS), sodium nonanoyloxybenzenesulfonate (NOBS, sodium acetoxybenzenesulfonate (ABS) and pentaacetyl glucose, but also alkyl peroxyacid substituted amide precursor compounds. Very preferred ingredients for use in the present invention are one or more enzymes. Preferred enzymes include the commercially available lipases, cutinases, amylases, neutral and alkaline proteases, cellulases, endolases, esterases, pectins, lactases and peroxidases which are conventionally incorporated in detergent compositions. Suitable enzymes are discussed in U.S. Patents 3,519,570 and 3,533,139. Preferred commercially available protease enzymes include those marketed under the trademarks Alcalase, Savinase, Primase, Durazym, and Esperase by Novo Industries NS (Denmark), those marketed under the brand name Maxatase, Maxacal and Maxapem by Gist-Brocades, those marketed by Genencor International, and those marketed under the brand name Opticlean and Optimase by Solvay Enzymes. Preferred amylases include, for example, α-amylases that are obtained from a special strain of B. iicheniformis, which is described in more detail in GB-1, 269,839 (Novo). Preferred commercially available amylases include, for example, those marketed under the trademark Rapidase by Gist-Brocades, and those marketed under the trademark Termamyl, Duramyl and BAN by Novo Industries NS. Very preferred amylase enzymes may be those described in PCT / US 9703635, and WO95 / 26397 and W096 / 23873. The lipase can be of fungal or bacterial origin and is obtained, for example, from a strain that produces lipase from Humicola sp., Thermomvces sp. or Pseudomonas sp. including Pseudomonas pseudoalcaliaienes or Pseudomonas fluorescens. The lipase of chemically or genetically modified mutations of these strains are also useful. A preferred lipase is derived from Pseudomonas pseudoalkali. which is described in the European Patent Awarded EP-B-0218272. Another preferred lipase in the present invention is obtained by donating the gene of Humicola lanuginosa and expressing the gene in Aspergillus oryza, as a host, as described in European Patent Application EP-A-0258 068, which is commercially available from Novo. Industries NS, Bagsvaerd, Denmark, under the trademark Lipolase. This lipase is also disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,810,414, Huge-Jensen et al., Issued March 7, 1989. Anionic surfactants, including salts (including, for example, sodium, potassium salts) are also preferred. , ammonium, and substituted ammonium such as mono-, di and triethanolamine salts) of the anionic sulfate, sulfonate, carboxylate and sarcosinate surfactant, preferably linear or branched alkyl benzene sulfonate, alkyl sulfates and alkyl ethoxy sulfates, isethionates, N-acyl taurates, amides of acid grades of methyl tauride, alkylsuccinates and sulfosuccinates, monoesters of sulfosuccinate (especially saturated and unsaturated C12-C18 monoesters), sulfosuccinate diesters (especially saturated and unsaturated C6-C14 diesters), N-acyl sarcosinates. It is most preferred that when anionic surfactants are present, at least one alkyl sulfate surfactant, preferably a branched alkyl sulfate surfactant, is preferably present, preferably at a level of 1% to 20% or even 15% by weight of the component or composition. Also preferred are nonionic surfactants such as nonionic surfactants which are selected from the nonionic condensate classes of alkylphenols, nonionic ethoxylated alcohols, nonionic ethoxylated / propoxylated fatty alcohols, nonionic ethoxylated / propoxylated condensates with propylene glycol, and non-ionic ethoxylated condensation products with propylene oxide / ethylene diamine adducts. Cationic surfactants and softening agents may also be included in the present invention, for example quaternary ammonium surfactants and softening agents, and choline ester surfactants. - Coloring agent such as iron oxides and hydroxides, azo dyes, natural dyes, may also be present in the composition or preferably in the compartment or bag material, preferably they are present at levels of 0.001% and 10% or even 0.01 to 5% or even 0.05 to 1% by weight of the composition in the bag. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the composition in the bag comprises a first particulate component forming a first fixed region in the bag compartment and comprising perfume, and a second particulate component forming a second fixed region in the bag. The bag compartment comprises an element that is selected from the group consisting of bleach, nonionic surfactant, polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of 4000 or more, enzyme, and combinations thereof. Typically, the second component is free of perfume. In this preferred embodiment of the present invention, the perfume in the composition is more stable since it is contained in a fixed layer separated from the aforementioned ingredients causing instability of the perfume. This allows the perfume to remain stable in the composition comprising the perfume destabilizing ingredient.

Bag, v compartment (s) thereof The bag in the present invention has a closed structure, made of materials that is described in the present invention, enclosing a volumetric space comprising the composition. In this way, the bag can have any shape and material that is suitable for holding the composition before use, e.g., without allowing the release of the composition. composition of the bag before contacting the composition in water bag. The exact execution will depend on for example the type and amount of the composition in the bag, the number of compartments in the bag, the characteristics that are required of the bag to hold, protect and deliver or release the compositions. The bag may be of a size that conveniently contains or a quantity of unit dose of the composition in the present invention, suitable for the required operation, for example when the composition is a detergent composition, this may be an amount sufficient for a wash, or only a partial dose, to allow the consumer greater flexibility to vary the amount used, for example depending on the size and / or degree of soiling of the washing load. Preferably, the bag composition is formed in a mold with a round or flat bottom and circular walls. Thus, it is also preferred that the bag composition be a spheroid or more preferably in cylinder form. The bag has one or more compartments, of which at least one holds two components in different particles. In a preferred embodiment, all of the particulate components are present in one and the same compartment of the bag; it may be preferred that the bag has only one compartment. This reduces the material that is required to form the compartment and bag. However, it may be preferred that one or more additional compartments for liquid component are present in addition to the compartment comprising the two or more particulate components. The compartment of the bag has a closed structure, made of materials that are described in the present invention, which encloses a volumetric space comprising the components. In this way, the compartment is suitable for holding the particulate components before use, e.g., without allowing the release of the components of the compartment before contacting the composition in a bag with water. The compartment can have any shape, depending on the nature of the compartment material, the nature of the components or composition, the proposed use, the amount of the components, etc. If more than one compartment is present, the compartments are linked or connected to each other by any means, for example sealing by heat sealing or by dampening sealing, glued by any known glue material, examples of these are described below. in the present invention. Preferably, the compartment or preferably the bag as a whole is made of a material that is stretchable, as disclosed in the present invention. This for example facilitates the closure of the open compartment form that is filled by more than 95% by volume or even 100% or even excessively filled as described above. On the other hand, preferably the material is elastic, to ensure that tight packing and fixing of the regions remain during handling, e.g., to ensure that no (additional) head space can be formed after closure of the compartment. Preferred stretchable materials have a maximum stretch degree of at least 150%, preferably at least 200%, more preferably at least 400% as determined by comparing the original length of a piece of material with the length of this piece of material immediately before breaking due to stretching, when a force of at least 1 Newton is applied. Preferably, the material is such that it has a degree of stretching as before, when a force of at least 2 Newtons, or even at least 3 Newtons is used. Preferably, it has this degree of stretch when a force of the aforementioned lower limits is used, but not greater than 20 Newton, or even 12 Newton, or even 8 Newton. For example, a piece of film with a length of 10 cm and a width of 1 cm and a thickness of 40 microns is stretched longitudinally with an increase in tension, to the point that it breaks. The degree of extension just before the break can be determined and calculated by continuously measuring the length and the degree of stretch. For example, this piece of film with an original length of 10 cm can be stretched with a force of 9.2 Newton to 52 cm immediately before the break, and then has a maximum stretch of 520%. The force to stretch a piece of film of this type (10 cm x 1 cm x 40 microns) to a degree of 200% preferably must be at least 1 Newton, preferably at least 2 Newton, more preferably at least 2.5 or more. still 3 Newtons, and preferably no more than 20 Newtons, preferably less than 12 Newtons, more preferably less than 8 Newtons. This in particular ensures that the elastic force remaining in the film after forming is high enough to immobilize the powder within the bag, but not so high that the film can not be pulled into a vacuum mold of reasonable depth . As is clear from the definition in the present invention, the stretchable material is defined by a degree of stretch that is measured when it is not present as a closed bag. However, as stated above, the material is preferably stretched when the compartment is formed. This can be seen for example by printing a grid over the material, eg, film, before stretching, then forming a compartment with the component of this material with the grid. It can be seen that the squares of the grid are elongated and thus stretched. The elasticity of the stretchable material of the compartment, and preferably the bag as a whole can be defined as the recovery of elasticity '. This can be determined by stretching the material for example to an extension of 200%, as discussed above, and measuring the length of the material after releasing the stretching force. For example, a piece of film 10 cm long and 1 cm wide and 40 microns thick is stretched lengthwise to 20 cm (200% extension) with a force of 2.8 Newton (as indicated above) and then withdraw strength. The film immediately returns to a length of 12 cm, which means an elastic recovery of 80%. The elasticity of the bag material mentioned in the present invention is the elasticity at the time of manufacture of the bag. The prolonged stretching, for example that typically occurs during storage of the bag, will reduce the elasticity of the bag material due to Plastic shift It is preferred that at the time of manufacturing the bag or compartment thereof, the compartment material has an elasticity so that the elastic recovery is 20% to 100%, more preferably 50% to 60% or even more preferably 75%. % or even 80% to 100%. In this way, the material of the compartment and preferably the bag as a whole is stretched during the formation and / or closure of the compartment or bag, so that the resulting bag composition has a compartment or bag that is at least partially stretched. Typically and preferably, the degree of stretch is non-uniform throughout the compartment or bag, due to the training and closing procedure. For example, when a film is placed in a mold and an open compartment is formed by vacuum forming (and then filled with the components and then closed) the part of the film at the bottom of the mold, which is further away from The closing points will be stretched more than at the top. Preferably, the elastic material that is farthest from the hole, eg, the material at the bottom of the mold, will stretch further and be thinner than the material closer to the hole, e.g., at the top of the mold. It may therefore be preferred that the component to be supplied first to the water be comprised in the lower layer of the compartment, and a component to be supplied to the water at a later stage be comprised in a subsequent layer, closer to the top of the compartment. Alternatively, or additionally, it may be preferred that the component less sensitive to moisture be comprised in the lower layer of the compartment and a component more sensitive to moisture be comprised in a subsequent or higher layer. Another advantage of using stretchable material and also preferably elastic material is that the stretching action, when the shape of the compartment is formed and / or when the compartment is closed, it stretches the material unevenly, resulting in a compartment and bag having a non-uniform thickness. This allows control of the dissolution / disintegration of the water soluble pouches in the present invention, and for example the sequential release of the components of the composition in the water bag. Preferably, the material is stretched so that the variation in thickness in the compartment or bag the bag formed from the stretched material is from 10 to 1000%, preferably 20% to 600%, or even 40% to 500% or even 60% a 400% This can be measured by any method, for example by the use of an appropriate micrometer.

Material of the bag and the compartment Preferably, the composition is a composition to be supplied to the water and thus, the bag and the compartment (s) thereof are designed so that at least one or more of the Components are released in, or immediately after, the moment of addition to water. In this way it is preferred that the compartment and preferably the bag as a whole comprise material that is dispersible in water and more preferably soluble in water. It is especially preferred that at least one component be supplied to the water before 3 minutes, preferably even before minutes even before 1 minute after contacting the composition in a water bag. The preferred water dispersible material in the present Invention has a dispersibility of at least 50%, preferably at least 75% or even at least 95%, as measured by the method that is discussed later in the present invention using a glass filter and 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 below in the present invention using a glass filter with a maximum pore size of 20 microns, specifically: Gravimetric method to determine the solubility in water or dispersibility in water of the material of the compartment and / or bag: 10 grams ± 0.1 gram of material is added in a bottle of 400 ml, from which the weight has been determined, and 245 ml + 1 ml of distilled water is added. This is stirred vigorously on a magnetic stirrer at 600 rpm for 30 minutes.

Then, the mixture is filtered through a qualitative sintered glass filter bent with the pore sizes as defined above (maximum 20 or 50 microns). The water is dried from the collected filtrate by any conventional method, and the weight of the remaining polymer (which is the dissolved or dispersed fraction) is determined. Then, the percentage of solubility or dispensability can be calculated. Preferred materials are polymeric materials, preferably polymers that are formed into a film or sheet. The material in the form of a film can be obtained for example by casting, molding by blowing, extruding or extruding by blowing the polymeric material, as is known in the art. Preferred polymers, copolymers or derivatives thereof are selected from polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyalkylene oxides, acrylamide, acrylic acid, cellulose (modified), cellulose ethers or esters (modified), cellulose amides, polyvinyl acetates, polycarboxylic acids and its salts, polyamino acids or peptides, polyamides, polyacrylamide, maleic / acrylic acid copolymers, polysaccharides including starch and gelatin, natural gums such as xanthan and carrageenan. More preferably the polymer is selected from water-soluble acrylate polyacrylates and copolymers, methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, dextrin, ethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, maltodextrin, polymethacrylates, more preferably polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl alcohol copolymers and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC). The polymer can have any weighted average molecular weight, preferably from about 1,000 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 advantageous for controlling the mechanical and / or dissolving properties of the compartment or bag, depending on the application of these and the required requirements. For example, it may be preferred that a mixture of polymers be present in the compartment material, while that a polymeric material has a greater water solubility than other polymeric material, and / or a polymeric material has a higher mechanical strength than other polymeric material. It may be preferred that a mixture of polymers, having different weighted average molecular weights, for example a mixture of PVA (or a copolymer thereof) and / or HPMC of a weighted average molecular weight of 10,000-40,000, is preferably used, preferably about 20,000, and of the PVA (or copolymer thereof) and / or HPMC with a weight average molecular weight of about 100,000 to 300,000, preferably about 150,000. Also useful are polymer blend compositions, for example comprising a mixture of hydrolytically degradable and water soluble polymers such as polylactide and polyvinyl alcohol, which is achieved by mixing polylactide and polyvinyl alcohol, typically comprising 1-35% by weight of polylactide and about 65% to 99% by weight of polyvinyl alcohol, in case the material will be soluble in water. It may be preferred that the polymer present in the compartment material be 60% to 98% hydrolyzed, preferably 80% to 90%, to improve the dissolution of the material. Most preferred are materials that are water-soluble stretchable and elastic materials comprising PVA polymer having properties such as PVA films that are marketed under the same name.

M8630 commercial reference as they are marketed by Chris-Craft Industrial Products of Gary, Indiana, USA. Preferably, the level of a polymer type (e.g., commercial mixture) in the film material, for example PVA polymer, is at least 60% by weight of the material or film, preferably at least 60% or even at least 70% or even at least 80 or 90%. The upper level is up to 100%, but typically 99% or even 98% by weight. The material in the present invention may comprise other additive ingredients than the polymer or polymeric material. For example, it may be advantageous to add plasticizers, for example, glycerol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, sorbitol and mixtures thereof, additional water, disintegration aids. It may be useful when the composition in a bag is a detergent composition, that the bag or the same compartment material comprises a detergent additive to be supplied to the washing water, for example organic polymeric agents for the release of dirt, dispersants, transfer inhibitors. of the dye. The material in the form of a film can be coated, preferably only on one side, with any coating method and with any coating agent, depending on the properties required; for example, it may be advantageous to coat the film so that the compartment or bag or composition within, is more stable in storage and / or less sensitive to moisture and / or acts as an improved moisture barrier. A very useful way is to coat the material or film on one side with a coating that stops the dissolution of the film, before the formation of the compartment and this monkey before the stretching of the material or film. Then, by stretching the material or film, the coating is also stretched, resulting in cracks in the coating and / or uneven distribution of the coating on the material and thus on the compartment. This then still ensures stability against moisture during storage, while the presence of cracks or uneven distribution still ensures the required dissolution in use. Accordingly, it is possible to manufacture a bagged composition that is resistant to handling with wet fingers when it is picked up at the sides but will still release the product quickly when immersed in water due to the breakage of the film at the thinnest points. Any coating material can be used, particularly useful are hydrophobic coatings, or polymers with low water solubility, lower than defined above in the present invention. The compartment material can be a shrinkable material, so that the surface area can be reduced during or after the closure of the open compartment by shrinking the material.

Preferably, the open compartment is closed with a piece of the same material as the material of the open compartment. The closure material and thus preferably also the open compartment material or material of the form, is preferably thermoplastic so that it can be closed by heat sealing. Alternatively, a thermoplastic coating can be provided, either on top of the entire material or just in the areas where the seals are to be formed. The sealing can also be carried out by soldering or soldering by wetting. Suitable heat sealable materials include polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyether oxide, acrylic resins and mixtures thereof, in particular polyvinyl alcohols.

EXAMPLES EXAMPLE 1 A piece of Chris-Craft M-8630 film, 38 microns thick, is placed on top of a mold and fixed in its proper place. The mold consists of a cylindrical shape with a diameter of 45 mm and a depth of 25 mm. A layer of rubber 1 mm thick remains 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 into the mold and the film is pulled to an exact level with the interior surface of the mold. 20 g of a detergent powder mixture comprising percarbonate salt and water-soluble salts and organic acids, typically carbonate salts, citric acid and / or citrate, enzymes, bleach activator and surfactant are poured into the mold. This powder mixture has a volumetric density of 860 g / l before being poured into the mold. Then, 20 g of a powder detergent mixture is poured into the mold. This powder mix has a volumetric density of 90 g / l before being poured into the mold. The mold is filled between 95% to 105%. Then, a sheet of the same film M-8630 is placed on top of the mold with the powder and the first layer of film is sealed by applying an annular piece of flat metal with an inner diameter of 46 mm and that metal is heated under moderate pressure on the rubber ring at the edge of the mold, to heat seal the two pieces of film together. The metal ring is typically heated to a temperature of 140-146 ° C and applied for up to 5 seconds. The film is stretched during this procedure.

The volumetric density of the bag composition was then tested by the method described above and found to be 1020 g / l. The bags that are manufactured by the aforementioned method, released the product when submerged in 5 liters of water at 10 ° C in less than 10 seconds.

EXAMPLE 2 A two-ply bag composition containing a detergent composition is prepared in the following manner. A piece of 38-micron film is placed on a mold of the following dimensions and fixed in its proper place so that the film is at an exact level with the upper part of the mold. The circular diameter of the bottom of the mold is 28mm; the circular diameter of the upper part of the mold is 37mm; the depth of the mold is 18 mm. A vacuum is applied to the film so that it is pulled into the mold and is at an exact level with the sides of the mold. 11.75 grams of the following component (A) is poured into the film in the mold.

Component A Enzymes 2.5% Agglomerates Surface active agents 41.6% Everfescent particle 6.9% Defoamer particle 7.2% Sodium carbonate 28.8% Bleach activators 13.0% This component has a volumetric density of 725 g / l. Then, 2.5 grams of sodium percarbonate are added above component A. Sodium percarbonate has a bulk density of 1005 g / l. Then a second layer of 38 micron M-8630 film is placed on the powder and the mold and sealed to the first film layer using a heat sealing method as described in Example 1. The average volumetric density of the composition in bag before being incorporated into the bag therefore is 774 g / l. After incorporation into the bag, the bulk density of the composition was measured at 951 g / l - an increase of 23%.

EXAMPLE 3 The process as described in Example 1 is used to make a two-ply bag composition consisting of 36 grams of sodium percarbonate and 4 grams of Termamyl 120 (as supplied by Novo Industries). Sodium percarbonate forms the lower layer and the enzyme the upper layer. A single layer pouch composition is then manufactured according to the procedure described in Example 1 but with the enzymes and percarbonate homogeneously mixed together. Both bag compositions have an increase in density of 18%. In both situations the film of the bag is stretched. Both types of bag compositions are then stored under conditions of high temperature and humidity (90 ° F, 80% relative humidity) without any outside cover or packing protection. Samples were taken after 48 hours of storage and 96 hours and the activity of the enzymes in the two products were compared with each other. The activity of the enzyme in the bag of a single coat after 48 hours is only 30% of the activity of the enzyme in the double layer bag composition; the activity of the enzyme in the single layer pouch after 96 hours is only 20% of the activity of the enzyme in the single layer pouch composition.

This shows the increased storage stability through the use of fixed regions or layers to separate incompatible materials. The following are detergent compositions that can also be suitably incorporated into a bag of the invention:

Claims (19)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A composition in a bag, the composition characterized in that it comprises two or more components in particles and the bag comprises one or more compartments that disintegrate in water, soluble in water or dispersible in water, according to which at least two of the components in particles are present in one and the same compartment and each particulate component forms a fixed region in the aforementioned compartment.

2. The composition in a bag according to claim 1, further characterized in that it is obtained by a process comprising the steps of: a) obtaining an open bag comprising an open compartment; b) introducing a particulate component before at least one other particulate component into the open compartment and / or introducing a particulate component into a different part of the open component than at least one other particulate component; and c) subsequently closing the open compartment so as to obtain a bag with a compartment comprising fixed regions of the aforementioned particulate components.

3. - The composition according to claim 2, further characterized in that the method comprises the step of increasing the volumetric density of the component so that the volumetric density of the composition after closing the compartment is 5% to 35%, preferably 5% to 20% or even 10% to 25% higher than the average of the volumetric density of the components before being introduced into the compartment.

4. The composition in a bag according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the compartment is formed of a stretchable material, preferably a film, preferably a material or elastic film.

5. The composition according to claim 2 or 3, further characterized in that the compartment is formed of a flexible material, preferably stretchable and elastic and step c) is carried out under reduced pressure, lower than atmospheric pressure, preferably by means of the application of a vacuum.

6. The composition according to claim 2 or 3, further characterized in that in step b) the components are introduced into the open compartment so that at least 95% of the volume of the open compartment is occupied by the components.

7. The composition according to claim 6, further characterized in that the open compartment is rigid and in step b) the components are introduced into the open compartment so that at least 100%, preferably at least 110% of the volume of the open compartment is occupied by the components.

8. The composition according to claim 6, further characterized in that the open compartment is rigid and in step b) the components are introduced into the open compartment so that at least 95%, preferably at least 105% of the Volume of the open compartment is occupied by the components.

9. The composition according to any of claims 2 to 6 or 7 or 8, further characterized in that the compartment is formed of a shrinkable material and step c) the surface area of the compartment is reduced during or after the closure of the compartment open by shrinking the open compartment and / or compartment preferably by heat shrinking.

10. The composition according to any of claims 2 to 6 or 7 to 9, further characterized in that the open compartment is obtained by introducing a stretchable film in a mold and stretching the film so that the film takes the form of the mold, to form an open compartment, preferably by thermoforming or vacuum forming.

11. The composition in a bag according to any preceding claim, further characterized in that the compartment is form of a material of non-uniform thickness, having a thickness variation of at least 10%, preferably from 40% to 500%.

12. The composition in a bag according to any of claims 1 to 7 or 9 to 11, further characterized in that the compartment is formed of a stretch film having a maximum degree of stretch of at least 200%, and preferably an elastic recovery from 205% to 100%.

13. The composition in a bag according to any preceding claim, further characterized in that the compartment and the bag are soluble in water.

14. The composition in a bag according to any preceding claim, further characterized in that the regions are in the form of layers.

15. The composition in a bag according to any preceding claim, further characterized in that the compartment is formed of a film comprising polyvinyl alcohol polymer.

16. The composition in a bag according to any preceding claim, further characterized in that a component comprises a hygroscopic compound another component comprises a moisture-sensitive compound.

17. The composition in a bag according to any preceding claim, further characterized in that it is a composition cleaner in a bag, preferably a laundry detergent or dishes in a bag.

18. The composition in a bag according to any preceding claim, further characterized in that one component comprises an enzyme compound and another component comprises a peroxygen bleach, preferably a percarbonate salt.

19. A method according to claim 2 or 3 for manufacturing the product in a bag as in any of claims 1 to 18.