MXPA98007979A - Method for assembling full packaging - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is a method for assembling filled packages together in a secondary packaging, this method comprising the steps of pulling a film around a forming shoulder with a filling head, which forms a tubular configuration of the film in a sealed filling operation. in vertical form, completely or partially sealing the vertical edges of the film, sealing the formed tubular film on the opposite end to the filling head to form a lower seal and having an open bag representing a secondary packing, filling the secondary package with more than one filled primary packing, sealing the open end of the secondary packing with the primary packing filled to form an upper seal and cutting the secondary packing closed above the top seal

Description

METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING FILLED PACKAGING FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for assembling filled packages in a secondary package.

ANTECEDE TES ^ A jNVE CTQN A large variety of primary packages have been described which are suitable for packing any type of granular and liquid substances, for example detergents. A constant concern of the manufacturers is to provide packaged products that are convenient to handle and in particular to store. Especially during storage, it is usually preferred to pack the primary packaging in secondary packaging. Secondary packaging has the function of simply keeping the primary packaging grouped together "or also protecting the primary packaging from external influences during storage and transportation. Most of a filled primary package is usually combined in a packaging assembly that is The outside cover is usually made of a cardboard (corrugated) material, this outer cover is able to protect the primary packaging from most external influences, and the outer cover is able to withstand the primary packaging derived load stacked preventing the primary packaging from loading the assembly load "if desired." However, the cost of manufacturing said outer cover is relatively high, so packaging manufacturers need to reduce packaging costs necessary to handle- store and transport filled primary packaging. Packaging manufacturers require packing primary packaging in secondary packaging in a simple way. Another possibility is to group primary filled packages into flexible secondary packages that are not capable of supporting the load of a stacked assembly of other packaging groups. However, these flexible secondary packages are either too tight or too loose around the filled primary packages. When the flexible secondary packing becomes too tight around the filled primary packing, the primary packing can be deformed by the tension force exerted by the tight packing of the secondary packing. Primary filled pouches "especially filled flexible pouches" can be deformed in such a way that the primary pouches provide a less stable surface for appending additional groups of primary packages. In contrast, if the grouping of the flexible secondary packaging is very loose around the filled primary packaging contained therein, the primary packages are free to move around or invert inside the secondary packaging. This uncontrolled movement of the primary packages within the secondary packaging could result in an outer contour of the grouping that offers more stable surface for stacking additional groups of primary packages. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for assembling filled packages in a secondary packaging that is cost effective and easy to pack and that is tight enough to avoid any uncontrolled movement of the primary packages within the package. secondary without any deformation on the outer contour of the primary packaging.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a method for assembling filled packages together in a secondary package. This method comprises the steps of '(1) feeding a film < 1 > in a vertical filling-sealing machine (= VFFS) in a flat confi uration »(2) bringing the film towards the formation shoulder (10)» the forming shoulder comprises a filling head (11) and extends in a vertical tube »(3) pull the film around the forming shoulder (10) forming a tubular configuration of the film. (4) Seal completely or partially the vertical edges <2) of the film »(5) sealing the tubular film formed on the opposite end to the filling head < 11) to form a lower seal (3) and having an open bag that represents a secondary packing »(6) fill the secondary packing with a filled primary packing by dropping the primary packing through the filling head formation and through the open end of the secondary packaging; (7) sealing the open end of the secondary package substantially tightly around the filled primary packages contained in the secondary package to thereby form an upper seal (4) and closing the secondary packing around the filled primary packages »(8) ) Cut the secondary packing closed above the upper seal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of part of the packaging machine showing the method for assembling filled packages together in a second package according to the present invention. Figure 2 illustrates the method for measuring the resistance of the cake formed by a granular or powder detergent. p?; 5CR * p? iPN, PPT L1.APA PE A INVENCIÓ.

According to the present invention »any type of solid product» granulate or liquid is filled in a primary package. The primary packaging is any suitable packaging to contain a specific product. The primary packaging may include bottles, cartons or flexible bags. Preferably, the primary packages according to the present invention are made of a material selected from the group consisting of? paper tissue »metal» paper »cardboard (corrugated) and a combination thereof. As plastic materials, polyolefin can be used, such as polyethylene (= PE) or polyethylene terephthalate (oriented) or polypropylene (oriented) or a combination thereof. When the primary package is a bottle, it is preferably made of plastic and manufactured by blow-molding and / or injection molding. When the primary packaging is a cardboard »the cardboard is made of cardboard and is made by forming a piece of cardboard. When the primary package is made of a multilayer material »for example as a flexible bag» the intermediate layers may comprise a barrier layer against perfume »a gas barrier layer» an oxygen barrier layer »a barrier layer against the moisture or a combination thereof. Preferably the intermediate layer is made of a material selected from the following group consisting of * aluminum sheet »ethylvinyl alcohol copolymer < = EVOH > »Lacquer coating and a combination thereof. Possible lacquer coatings are »for example» lacquer-2KB 9A 91T 920 Flexplastol * or lac-2KB 9A 919 920 Flexplastolw commercially available from BASF Lacke + Farben AG »Stuttgart. Primary packages comprising multiple layers can be obtained by laminating or extruding the layers together. The lamination of layers means that the different layers are fixed to each other in a solid state, that is to say the different layers are not fused together as in the extrusion process. In the rolling process, lower temperatures are used with respect to the extrusion. As a preferred option, a reinforcing layer can be used on at least one side of the intermediate layers to reinforce the bond between the intermediate layers and the other layers. Said reinforcing layer is preferably made of glue. A glue that is preferred is a polyurethane-based adhesive. Polyurethane-based adhesives are intended to cover all polyurethane-based adhesives known to those skilled in the art. In particular, solvent-based (including water) and solvent-free adhesive systems comprising polyurethane are useful for the purpose of the present invention. This layer can also be applied on both sides of said intermediate layer and / or of the other layers. Preferably "when the primary package is a flexible bag" the flexible bag is an erect or self-erect bag. This flexible and erect bag can be formed in different possible ways. One possibility is a bag with reinforcements. Such bags are described, for example, in EP-A-620 156 »DE-A-2 520 084» DE-A-3 926 72T and EU-3 659 775 which are incorporated herein by way of further reference. These documents best describe the training and filling processes of these bags. Another possibility is a bag having an expanded bottom base as described for example in EP-A-0 626 319 and / or EP-A-0 681 970 which are incorporated herein for further reference. The same documents are written also the corresponding training and filling processes of these bags. When the primary package is a flexible bag, the flexible bag preferably has a free portion of air. This means that the flexible bags are not completely filled with the contained substance and the remaining part of the volume of the bag is under a partial or substantially complete vacuum. This vacuum is maintained starting from an unfilled and flat bag during the filling and sealing operation. The free portion of air is preferably bent to create an almost flat surface. This almost flat surface is large enough to support the base of another stacked bag. The free portion of air bent to an almost flat surface is preferably eroded by suitable means. These fastening means can be »for example» selected from the group consisting of? ligatures »adhesive tapes» tirae »plastics film bands» shrinkable plastic film bands and any combination thereof. These fastening means are placed partially or completely around the bag, keeping the free portion of air on a bent surface and falling flat, thus preventing this almost flat surface from unfolding. The bending of the air-free portion and the fastening means are better described and illustrated in EP-A-0 681 970, which is incorporated herein by way of further reference. The primary packaging can contain any type of solid substance »granulated or liquid. Preferably the substance is a detergent. When the substance is a detergent in a granulated form contained in a flexible bag, the granulated or powdered detergent preferably has a cake disintegration force of less than or equal to 200 g / cm *. "Cake disintegration force" is the force required to disintegrate a detergent cake and is measured according to the method described hereinafter. The term "cake" means in this text that the granulated or powdered detergent is glued or adhered between forming pieces when placed under a compressive force, such as a top load. The cake formation can be such that the detergent agglomerates to form an insoluble block. The "cake formation" of a detergent can adversely affect the washing properties of the detergent itself. The so-called "cake disintegration force" is a measurement of the cake formation of a granular or powder detergent. The "cake disintegration force" is defined as the force necessary to disintegrate a cake detergent. This means that the lower the cake decay force value, the less the detergent will cake. For example, a cake disintegration force of 0 g / cm8 * means that the detergent na is made cake. The cake disintegration force of a granular or powder detergent varies with the composition or method of manufacture of the detergent itself. Therefore »especially when the flexible bags are filled with granular or powder detergent susceptible to cake formation and the filled and flexible bags have to bear a load like that of an assembly of filled and flexible bags» it is important to take care of that the detergent has a cake disintegration force below a certain value. The cake disintegration force of a granulated or powdered detergent is measured and determined in the following manner. The apparatus for measuring the cake disintegration force is shown in Figure 2 and comprises a cylinder (110) »a sleeve (111)» a lid (112) »a locking pin (114)» a weight (115) and a force gauge (not shown). The cylinder further comprises a hole (118) into which the locking pin can be inserted. The cylinder is raised on its closed base (119) »whereupon the cylinder is filled with detergent through the upper end opposite (120). First »the locking pin (114) is inserted into the hole (l?) And then the sleeve (111) is slid over the outer surface of the cylinder until the sleeve rests on the locking pin. (121) of the sleeve remains higher than the upper end (120) of the cylinder.The open volume between the upper end of the cylinder and the upper end of the sleeve has the following dimensions? 6.35 cm in diameter and 3 cm in height. it is filled with a detergent to the upper end of the sleeve and flush with the upper end of the sleeve The cover (112) is now placed on the upper part of the sleeve (111), preferably the lid is made of a very lightweight »but strong enough to withstand a load and capable of compressing the detergent A preferred material is Perspex (from ICI) The weight (115) is now placed on top of the lid. The total weight of the lid (112) together with the weight (115) is 5 kg. The lid is additionally fastened to the sleeve to prevent it from moving. The ejaculation of the cap to the sleeve is achieved in accordance with the present method by stretching an elastic band around suitable lugs (122) on the cap and the cylinder. Once the weight is placed on top of the lid »the locking pin (114) is removed from the hole (118). In this way »the weight compresses the detergent located between the lid (112) and the upper end (120) of the cylinder. The weight is left in accordance with the measurement parameter of the present invention for two minutes. Subsequently »the weight is removed from the top of the lid. All the elastic bands are also removed. The sleeve (111) is now smoothly slid down towards the closed end (119). Consequently, the detergent located between the lid (112) and the upper end (120) of the cylinder is no longer confined by any side wall. In principle, this detergent is free to flow out of this region. However, the free flow of the detergent * located in this region depends on the formation of detergent cake experienced during the compression of the weight (115). In fact, a partial cake formation of the detergent in this region can prevent a free flow of the detergent. It has been discovered that by applying a force on the detergent located in this region, the possibly agglomerated detergent disintegrates so that the detergent can be free to flow out again. The force required to observe this free flow of the detergent from this region is the cake disintegration force according to the present measurement method. The force of cake disintegration is measured by a force gauge that is applied on the center of the lid (112). By pressing the force gauge more and more on the lid »an increasing amount of force is applied to the detergent. The force at which the detergent is floated and flows freely away from the region between the cap and the open end of the cylinder is considered as the decaying force of the detergent cake. These measurements of the cake disintegration force are made at about 20 ° C and within about 45% and 70% relative humidity.

A CQMPPgr, c_? GN PET ENTE By the term "detergent composition" is meant here "detergent compositions for laundry" as well as "composition" for automatic dishwashing and additive compositions for laundry. The detergent according to the present invention preferably has a cake disintegration force of less than or equal to 200 g / cm *. Specifically, the cake disintegration force of a granulated or powdered detergent having a density of up to 600 g / l is not greater than 200 g / cm 3 :. The cake disintegrating force of a granular or powder detergent having a density of more than 600 g / l is preferably up to 100 g / cm * »very preferably less than 90 g / cm *» even very preferably less than 80 g / cm * »still more preferably less than 60 g / cm *» and still more preferably less than 50 g / cm *. As mentioned before »the cake disintegration force is the force necessary to disintegrate an agglomerated detergent.

AGENTES TENSI0ACTIVOS ANI0NIC0S In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the detergent compositions herein are a laundry detergent composition, the compositions of the present invention typically contain one or more of the anionic surfactants described below.

PE SURFACTURING AGENT ALQUILSULFATQ The alkyl sulfate surfactants herein are water soluble salts or acids of the formula ROSO-jM wherein R is preferably a hydrocarbyl of CAO-Ca- '' preferably an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl having an alkyl component of C10-Cae, »Very preferably alkyl or hydroxyalkyl of C1S2-Clß» and M is H or a cation »eg an alkali metal cation (eg» sodium »potassium» lithium) or ammonium or substituted ammonium (v.gr) . »Methyl-» di-ethyl- and trimethylammonium cations and quaternary ammonium cations such as tetramethylammonium and dimethylpiperidinium cations and quaternary ammonium cations derived from alkylamines such as ethylamine »diethylamine» diethylamine and mixtures thereof and the like). , Typically, the alkyl chains of C_, a, -n are preferred. for lower wash temperatures (e.g. »below about 50 ° C) and the alkyl chains of CtA_? a are preferred for higher wash temperatures (eg> above about 50 ° C) .

ALCOXYLATED ALKYLSULPHATE TENSIOACTIVE AGENT The alkoxylated alkyl sulfate surfactant agents of the present are water soluble salts or acids of the formula R0 (A> nS03M wherein R is an unsubstituted alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group having an alkyl component preferably an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl of Cj.s.-Cffl.o »most preferably an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group of Ct.sub.B-Cta» A is an ethoxy or propoxy unit »m is greater than zero» typically between about 0.5 and about 6 », most preferably between about 0.5 and about 3» and M is H or a cation which can be »for example» a metal cation (eg »sodium» potassium »lithium» calcium »magnesium» etc. ) and an ammonium or substituted ammonium cation The ethoxylated alkyl sulfates as well as propsyl alkyl sulfates are contemplated herein Specific examples of substituted ammonium cations include methyl- »dimethyl-» trimethylammonium cations and quaternary ammonium cations such as tetramethylammonium and dimethylpiperidinium ions and those alkanolamin derivatives such as ethylamine »diethylamine» triethylamine »mixtures thereof and the like. Exemplary surfactant agents are polyethoxylated alkyl sulphate of Ctß-Clß (1.0) »C > 2-C1 (i E (1.0) M »alkylsulfate polyethoxy sidehalkyl of C? At-C? M (2.25)» < Clst-C1? E (2.25) M) »polyethoxylated alkyl sulfate of C? As-Clß (3.0 ) < C1! S-C1? »E (3.0) M) and polyethoxylated alkyl sulfate of C? A-Clß (4.0)» (C? Ae-C1? E (4.0) M) »where M is conveniently selected from sodium and potassium .

OTHER AGENTS TENSIQACTIVQS ANI0NICOS Other anionic surfactants useful for detersive purposes may also be included in the laundry detergent compositions of the present invention can a without the species described above. These may include salts (including »for example» sodium salts »potassium» ammonium and substituted ammonium »such as mono-> di- and triethanolamine salts) of soap» to the linear benzene sulfonates of C «, -Cao »primary or secondary alkanesulfonates of Cß-C2s!» Sulphonated polycarboxylic acids prepared by sulphonation of the alkaline earth metal citrate crosslinked product »v.gr» as described in the specification of British Patent No. 1 »082» 179 »polyglycol ether alkyl esters of Cß-C3t (containing haeta 10 moles of ethylene oxide) f sul fonatoe alkyl glycerol» fatty acid ethoxylates »fatty sulfonates oleic icerolic graphene» alkylphenylethylene oxide ether sulfates »paraffinsulfonates» alkylsulphates »isethionates such as acylisethionates» N-acyl taurates »alkylsuccinates and sulfasuccinates» monosters of sulfosuccinates (especially saturated and unsaturated Ciae-Clm monoesters) »di-ethers of sulfosuccinates (especially saturated and unsaturated CA-Cta diesters) »acyl sarcosinates» alkyl sulfates Ipól saccharides such as alkyl sulfates ilpaliglucoside (the nonionic non-sulfated compounds described below) »branched primary alkyl sulphates and alkyl polyethoxy carboxylates such as those of the formula R0 (CHSClCH? 0) CHaeC00-M * wherein R is a Cu-C alkyl? ? t k is an integer from 0 to 10 »and M is a soluble salt-forming cation. Resin acids and hydrogenated resin acids are also suitable »such as colophonic acids» hydrogenated colonic acids and resin acids and hydrogenated resin acids present in a wood oil derivatives. Additional oils are written in "Suface Active Agent and Detergents" (Vol. I and 11 by Schwartz »Perry and Berch). A variety of such surfactants are also generally described in the US patent. 3 »929» 678 >; Issued on December 30, 1975 to Laughiin and others »column 23» line 58 to column 29 »line 23 (incorporated herein by reference).

The surfactants which are preferred to be used in the compositions of the present invention are alkyl sulfates, alkoxylated alkyl sulphates and mixtures thereof. When included herein, the laundry detergent compositions of the present invention typically comprise from about 1% to about 40%, preferably from about 3% to about 20%, by weight of said anionic surfactants.

NON-IONIC TENSITIVE AGENTS Laundry detergent compositions herein also preferably contain a nonionic surfactant. Although any nonionic surfactant can be normally employed in the present invention it has been found that two nonionic families are particularly useful. These are nonionic surfactants based on alkoxylated (especially ethoxylated) alcohols and those nonionic surfactants based on amidation products of fatty acid esters and N-pol ihydroxylic amine. The amide products of ether and the amines are generally known as polyhydroxy fatty acid amides. Particularly useful in the present invention are mixtures comprising two or more nonionic surfactants wherein at least one surfactant is selected from each of the groups of alkoxylated alcohols and the polydihydroxy fatty acid amides. Suitable nonionic surfactants produced by the condensation of alkylene oxide groups (hydrophilic in nature) with an organic hydrophobic compound can be aliphatic or athenolic in nature. The length of the polyoxyalkylene group which is condensed with any particular hydrophobic group can be easily adjusted to produce a water-soluble compound having the desired degree of equilibrium between the hydrophilic and hydrophobic elements. Particularly preferred for use in the present invention are nonionic surfactants such as polyethylene oxide condensates of alkylphenols, e.g., the condensation products of alkylphenols having an alkyl group containing from about 6 to 16 carbon atoms. »Either in a straight or branched chain configuration» with an amount of about 4 to 25 moles of ethylene oxide pair of alkylphenol. Preferred nonionics are the water-soluble condensation products of aliphatic alcohols containing from 8 to 22 carbon atoms "either straight or branched chain" with an average of up to 25 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. Particularly preferred are the condensation products of alcohols having an alkyl group containing from 9 to 15 carbon atoms with from about 2 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol and condensation products of polyethylene glycol with ethylene oxide. . Very preferred are the condensation products of alcohols having an alkyl group containing from about 12 to 15 carbon atoms with an average of about 3 to 7 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol, preferably 3 to 5. The nonionic surfactant system herein can also include a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide component. The polyhydroxy fatty acid amides can be produced by reacting a fatty acid ester with a N-amine hydroxy iodine. The preferred amine for use in the present invention is N- (R1) -CH2 .CH20H) 4-CH2 ~ 0H and the preferred ether is a methyl ester of C12-C20 fatty acid. Most preferred is the reaction product of N-methyl lucamine with C12-C20 fatty acid methyl ester. The methods of making hydroxylic acid fatty acid amines have been described in WQ 92 6073 »published on April 16, 1992. This application describes the preparation of polyhydric acid amides in the presence of solvents. In a highly preferred embodiment of the invention » N-met i l luca is reacted with a C12-C20 methyl ester. It also mentions that the formulator of granular detergent compositions may find it convenient to operate the amidation reaction in the presence of solvents comprising alkoxylated C12-C14 alcohols, especially ethoxylate (EO 3-8) (page 15 »line 22-27). This directly produces nonionic surfactant systems or those preferred in the present invention, such as those comprising N-methyl Iglucamide and C12-C14 alcohols with an average of 3 ethoxylated groups per molecule. The non-ionic surfactant systems and granular detergents made from such systems have been described in WO 92 6160 published on April 16, 1992. Eeta elicaitud deecribe (example 15) a granular detergent composition prepared by mixing fine dieperaion in a Eirich RV02 mixer comprising N-met i Igluca ida (10%) and non-ionic surfactant (10%). These two patent applications describe agent systems; ionic surfactant together with suitable manufacturing processes for its synthesis "which have been found to be suitable for use in the present invention. The polyhydroxy fatty acid amide may be present in compositions of the present invention at a level of from 0% to 50% by weight of the detergent component or composition »preferably from 5% to 40% by weight» very preferably from 10% to 30% by weight. % in weigh. Also useful as the non-ionic surfactant of the surfactant systems of the present invention are the alkylapolysaccharides described in the US patent. 4 »565» 647 »Filling» issued on January 21, 1996. »having a hydrophobic group containing from about 6 to about 30 carbon atoms» preferably from about 10 to about 16 carbon atoms and a polysaccharide » e.g., a polysulfide is a hydrophilic group containing from about 1.3 to about 10, preferably from about 1.3 to about 3, most preferably still from about 1.3 to about 2.7 units of saccharide. Any reducing saccharide containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms can be used, eg, glucose portions, galactose and galactose can be substituted for the glucoside proportions (optionally, the hydrophobic group is fixed at positions 2-3. 4- etc »thus giving a glucose or galactose as opposed to glucoside or galactoside). The intersaccharide linkages may be "eg" between position one of the additional saccharide units and positions 2- »3-» 4- and / or 6- in the above saccharide units. Preferred alkyl polyglucosides have the formula R * 0 (C ^ Ha ^ O),. (glycosyl), .. wherein Fl * are selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkylphenyl, hydroxyalkyl, and mixtures thereof in which the alkyl groups contain from about 10 to about 18, preferably from about 12 to about 14. carbon atoms »N is 2 or 3» preferably 2 »t is from 0 to about 10» preferably from about 1.3 to about 3 »most preferably from about 1.3 to about 2.7. The glucosyl is preferably derived from glucose. In order to prepare these compounds, the alcohol or alkyl alcohol is first formed and then reacted with glucose or a glucose source to form the glucoside (fixation at position 1). The additional glycosyl units can then be fixed between their position 1 and the 2 " 3 " 4 and / or 6 of the above glycosyl units preferably with position 2 predominating.

OTHER SURFACTANT AGENTS The laundry detergent compositions of the present invention may also contain zwitterionic and zwitterionic cationic surfactants and non-ionic surfactants other than those already described herein including the semi-polar non-ionic amine oxides described below. . Suitable cationic detersive surfactants for use in the detergent compositions of the present invention are those having a long chain hydrocarbyl group. Examples of such cationic surfactants include ammonium surfactants such as alkylidene tri-methylammon halide and those surfactants having the formula CR * (0Ra) s, 3CRJ (OR = »&gs; Rs, RnN * > (- where Fl * is an alkyl group or to the benzy which has from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain »each R3 is selected from the group consisting of -CH ^ CH -, -» -CH- HICH .-.) - »-CHZCH (CHa0H) -» -CH ^ CH-BCH-J- »and mixtures thereof »each R- * is selected from the group consisting of C-C-hydroxyalkyl alkyl of C4-C ^» benzyl ring structures formed by the union of two groups R * »~ CHseCH0H-CH0HC0R * CH0HCHa , OH wherein R * is any hexose to hexose polymer having a molecular weight of less than about 1 000 and hydrogen when and is not 0; Rβ is the same as R * or ee an alkyl chain wherein the total number of carbon atoms of R * plus R8 * is no more than about 18"each y is from 0 to about 10 and the sum of the y values is from 0 to about 15" and X is any compatible anion. surfactants cationics useful herein are also described in the U.S. 4 »228.044, Cambre» issued on October 14, 1980 »incorporated herein by reference. When included herein, the detergent compositions of the present invention typically comprise from 0% to about 25%, preferably from about 3% to about 15%, by weight of said cationic surfactants. The ampholytic surfactants are also suitable for use in the laundry detergent compositions of the present invention. These surfactants can be broadly described as aliphatic derivatives of secondary or tertiary amines "or aliphatic derivatives of heterocyclic secondary and tertiary amines in which the aliphatic radical can be straight or branched chain. One of the aliphatic substituents contains at least about 8 carbon atoms »typically from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms» and at least one contains a water-soluble salt group »eg» carboxy »sulfonate» sulfate . See the patent of E.U.A. 3 »929» 678 »of Laughiin et al.» Issued December 30, 1975 in column 19 »lines 18-35 (incorporated herein by reference) for examples of ampholytic surfactants. When included herein, the detergent compositions of the present invention typically comprise from 0% to about 15%, preferably from about 1% to about 10%, by weight of said ampholytic surfactants. Terylene zwitterionic surfactants are also suitable in laundry detergent compositions.

These surfactants can be broadly described as derivatives of secondary and tertiary amines »derivatives of secondary and tertiary amines heterocycline or quaternary ammonium derivatives» quaternary phosphsnin to tertiary sulfonium compounds. See the patent of E.U.A. No. 3 »929» 678 of Laughiin et al. »Issued December 30, 1975» in column 19 »line 38 to column 22» line 48 (incorporated by reference herein) for examples of ternary zwitterionic surfactants. When included herein, the laundry detergent compositions of the present invention typically comprise from 0% to about 15%, preferably from about 1% to about 10%, by weight of said zwitterionic surfactants. The semi-polar nonionic surfactants are a special category of ionic surfactants including water-soluble amine oxides containing an alkyl portion of from about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms and 2 selected portions of the group consisting of alkyl groups and hydroxyalkyl groups containing from about 1 to about 3 carbon atoms; water soluble phosphine oxides containing an alkyl portion of from about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms and two portions selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups and hydroxyalkyl groups »Containing from about 1 to about 3 carbon atoms.

The non-ionic surfactant surfactants include the amine oxide surfactants having the formula 0R3 (0R '*) > (N < Ra) SE DETERGENT MEJQRADOR The laundry detergent compositions and automatic dishwashing compositions herein contain a detergency builder, preferably non-phosphate builders, although species including phosphate in the content of the present invention are not excluded. These may include But are not restricted to carbonates »bicarbonates» silicates »aluminosilicates» alkali metal carboxylates and mixtures of any of the foregoing. The builder system is present in an amount of 1% to 80% by weight of the composition »most preferably from 20% to 60% by weight» in the laundry detergent compositions herein and from 1% to 30%. % by weight »in the laundry detergent compositions of the present. The appropriate silicates are those that have a SiO- ^ a ^ O ratio on the scale of 1.6 to 3.4 »the so-called amorphous silicates of SiO-g ratios? a-gO from 2.0 to 2.8 being preferred.

Within the silicate class »the highly preferred materials are the crystalline layered sodium silicates of the general formula Na Si X *., + L-yws » where it is sodium or hydrogen "x is a number from 1.9 to 4 and and in a number from 0 to 20. Crystalline stratified sodium silicates of that type are described in EP-A-0164514 and methods for their preparation are described in DE -A-3417649 and DE-A-3742043. For the purposes of the present invention, x in the above general formula has a value of 2 »3 or 4 and is preferably 2. Most preferably M is sodium and y is 0» and a preferred example of this formula comprises the form of a -Si-üO.,. These materials are available from Hoechst AG FRG as respectively NaSKS-5 »NaSKS-7» NaSKS-11 and NaSKS-6. The most preferred material is Na-uSi-jOa »NaSKS-6. The crystalline layered silicates are incorporated either as dry mixed solids or as co-solid components of agglomerates with other components. Although a scale of alumina ion exchange materials can be used, the preferred aluminosilicate sodium zealites have the unit cell formula.

Na "C (A10 -,.).,. SiOssJy] -? H.,. 0 where z and y are by the ores approximately 6 »the molar ratio of zay is about 1.0 to about 0.4 and z is about 10 to about 264. The amorphous hydrous aluminosilicate materials useful in the present have the empirical formula? M "(MAl0S? -ySi0ß wherein M is sodium »potassium» ammonium or substituted ammonium »z is from about 0.5 to about 2 and y is 1» said material having a magnesium ion exchange capacity of at least 50 milligrams equivalent of CaCO-, of hardness per gram of anhydrous aluminosilicate. The zeolite to A of hydrated sodium with a particle size of about 0.01 to 10 microns is preferred. The aluminosilicate ion exchange builder materials herein are in hydrated form and contain about 10% to about 28% water by weight if they are crystalline and even larger amounts of water if amorphous. The highly preferred crystalline aluminosilicate ionee exchange materials contain from about 18% to 22% water in their crystal matrix. The crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange materials are further characterized by a particle diameter of about 0.1 ml to about 10 microns. Amorphous materials are often smaller »e.g.» to less than about 0.01 microns. Preferred ion exchange materials have a particle size diameter of about 0.2 microns to about 4 microns. The term "particle size diameter" herein represents the weight average particle size diameter of a given ion exchange material determined by standard analytical techniques such as, for example, microscopic determination using an electron microscope. swept. The aluminosilicate ionee exchange materials useful in the practice of that invention are commercially available. The alu inoeilicates useful in this invention may be crystalline or amorphous in structure and may be naturally occurring or synthetically derived. A method for producing ionic alumina ion exchange materials is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3 »985» 669 »Krummel et al.» Issued October 12, 1976 »incorporated herein by reference. The preferred synthetic crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange materials and useful herein are available under the designations Zealite A »Zealite X» P and MAP »the last species being described in EPA 384 070. In an especially preferred embodiment» the material of ion exchange of licato alumines is a? eol ta A that has the formula Nata6C (AlOse) ls < Si0_t-? Ha0 wherein x is from about 20 to about 30 »especially around 27 and has a particle size generally less than 5 microns. Suitable carboxylate detergency builders containing a carbaxyl group include lactic acid »glycolic acid» and ether derivatives thereof as described in the Belgian patents Nos. 831 »368» 821 »369 and 821» 370. The polycarboxi latoe containing doe carboxyl group include the water soluble saltse of succinic acid »malonic acid» acid (eti lendioxy> diacetic »maleic acid» diglycolic acid »tartaric acid» tartronic acid and fumaric acid »as well as the ethercarbaxy latos described in the German offenlegenschrift 2 »446» 686 and 2 »445» 687 and US Patent No. 3 »935» 257 and the sulfini Icarboxylates described in Belgian Patent No. 840 »623. Polycarboxylates containing three groups Carboxylics include, in particular, "water-soluble citrates" and acontats and citraconates derived from succinates, such as the carboxy and i isuccinates described in the British patent Na. 1 »379» 241 » lactaxisuccinates described in Dutch Application No. 7205973, and oxy-polycarboxylate materials such as 2-oxa-l-1,3-propane tri carboxylates described in British Patent No. 1 »387» 447. Policarboxy cans containing four carboxy groups include oxydisuccinate as described in British Patent No. 1 »261» 829 »1» and 1 »2» 2-ethane tetracarboxylates » 1 »1» 3 »3-propanotetracarboxylates and 1» 1 »2» 3-propanotetra-carboxylates. Polycarboxy cans containing sulfo substituents including the eulfoeuccinate derivatives are described in British Patent Nos. 1, 398, 421 and 1, 398, 422 and in US Pat. No. 3 »936» 448 »and the sulfonated pyrolysed citrates described in British Patent No. 1» 082 »179» while polycarboxylates containing phosphine substituents are described in British Patent No. 1 »439» 00. Polycarboxylates alicyclic and heterocyclic include cyclopentan-cis »cis» cis-tetracarboxylates »cyclopentadienidopentacarba ilatos» 2 »3» 4 »5- tetrahydrofuran-cie» cie-tetracarboxi latoe »2» 5-tetrahydrofuran-cie-dicarboxy latos »2» 2 »5» 5-tetrahi drafuran-tetracarboxylates »1» 2 »3» 4 »5» 6-hexane hexacarboxylates and carboxymethyl derivatives of polyhydric alcohols such as sorbitol »mannitol and xylitol. Aromatic polycarboxylates include mellitic acid, pyramethyl acid and the phthalic acid derivatives described in the British patent Na. 1 »425» 343.

CHELATING AGENTS The detergent compositions herein may also optionally contain one or more iron and / or manganese chelating agents. Such chelating agents can be selected from the group consisting of aminocarbamate and aminophosphonate, optionally substituted aromatic chelating agents and mixtures thereof all defined below. Without pretending to be limited to the theory, it is believed that the benefit of these materials is due in part to their exceptional ability to remove iron and manganese ions from wash solutions through the formation of soluble chelates. Aminocarbates useful as optional chelating agents include eti lendiaminotetraacetates »N-hydroxyeti leti lendiaminotriacetatos» or tri-lotriacetates »eti lendia inatetrapraion tes» t ieti lentetraminohexaacet tss »diethylenetria inopentaacetatos and ethanoldiglicines» alkali metal salts »ammonium and substituted ammonium the same and mixtures thereof. The inophosphates are also suitable for use as chelating agents in the compositions of the invention when at least low levels of total phosphorus are allowed in detergent compositions and include the lendiaminetetrakis (methylenphosphonates) as DEC-DEST1"*. The aminofoefonatoe do not contain alkyl or alkenyl groups with more than about 6 carbon atoms The optionally substituted aromatic palletic acid chelating agents are also useful in the compositions herein. See U.S. Patent No. 4,812,044 issued on May 21, 1984 Connor et al. Preferred compounds of that type in acid form are dihydroxydisulfobenzenes such as 1,2-dihydroxy-3,5-disulphobenzene A preferred biodegradable chelator for use herein is inodisuccinate eti lendia. "EDDS") »especially the CS» S3 isomer as described in the US patent 4 »704» 33 »November 3, 1987» to Hartman and Perk ins. If used, ethers chelating agents will generally comprise from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the detergent compositions herein. Most preferably, if they are used, chelating agents will comprise from about 0.1% to about 3.0% by weight of said compositions. Of the above, the preferred palicarboxylates are hydroxycarboxylates containing up to three carboxy groups per molecule, very particularly citrates. The granular detergent compositions and the automatic dishwashing compositions herein have a pH of greater than 8.5"preferably in the range of 9 to 11. The granular laundry compositions herein are preferably in a" compact form "with a overall density of at least 650 g / l, preferably at least 750 g / l, but can also be in conventional form with densities on a scale of 200 g / l to 700 g / l. In another embodiment of the invention, compositions for automatic dishwashing are provided? Compositions for automatic dishwashing typically contain "in addition to percarbonate" a detergency builder "as described above" a source of alkalinity "such as silicate or carbonate" those ingredients equaling up to 70% of the formulation. Optional ingredients include polymere and enzymes. In another embodiment of the invention, additive compositions for laundry are provided? said compositions typically contain the bleaching agent at levels of 15 to 80% by weight.

OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS Other known ingredients for use in detergent compositions can also be used as optional ingredients in the various embodiments of the present invention such as bleach activators, bleach catalysts, other bleaching agents, polymers, enzymes, foam suppressants, antiperspirant, antiperspirant and antiperspirant. fabrics »in particular fabric softening clay» as well as dyes »fillers» optical brighteners »pH adjusting agents» alkalinity sources which are detergent builders »enzyme stabilizers» hydrotropes »solvents» perfumes.

PARTICLES OF PERCARBQNATO The compositions herein contain from 1% to 40% »preferably from 3% to 30% by weight» very preferably from 5% to 25% by weight of alkali metal percarbonate bleach in the form of particles having an average size of 250 to 900 microns »preferably 500 to 700 microns. When the compositions of the present laundry additives »the level of percarbonate is from 20% to 80% by weight. The alkali metal percarbonate bleach is generally in the form of an eodium salt. Sodium percarbonate is an addition compound that has a formula corresponding to 2NaasC0;, 3 ^^^^. To increase the stability under storage, the percarbonate bleach can be coated with an additional mixed salt of an alkali metal sulfate and carbonate. Dicote coatings together with coating processes have been described in GB-1 »66» 799 »granted to Interox on March 9, 1977. The weight ratio of the mixed salt to percarbonate coating material is on the scale of 1? 2000. ai? 4 »preferably from 1? 99 to 1? 9» and most preferably from 1? 49 to 1? 19. Preferably the mixed ee of eodium sulfate and sodium carbonate having the general formula Na2SO4. n .Na2C0"where n is from 0.1 to 3" preferably n is 0.3 to 1.0 and most preferably n is 0.2 to 0.5. Other suitable coating materials are sodium silicate with an SiOa.?NaSE0 ratio of 1.6? 2 to 2.8? 1 »and magnesium silicate. The commercially available carbonate / sulfate-coated percarbonate bleach may include a low level of a heavy metal sequestrant such as EDTA »1-hydroxyethylidene-1-diphosphonic acid (HEDP) or an α-inophosphanate which is incorporated during the manufacturing procedure.

WHITENING ACTIVATORS The present compositions, especially the laundry detergent compositions and laundry additives described above, preferably contain from 1% to 20% by weight of the composition, preferably from 2% to 15% by weight, most preferably from 3% to 10% by weight. % by weight of a peroxyacid bleach activator »in addition to the bleaching agent described above. Loß peraxi acid bleach activators (bleach precursors) as additional bleaching components in accordance with the invention can be selected from a wide range of classes and preferably are those containing one or more N- or O-acyl groups. Suitable classes include anhydrides »esters» 5 amides and acylated derivatives of imidazoleß and oximes »and examples of useful materials within these classes are described in GB-A-1586789. The most preferred classes are esters such as those described in GB-A-836 988 »864» 798 »1 147 871 and 2 143 231 and amides such as those described in GB-A-855 735 and 1 246 338. Particularly preferred bleaching activating compounds as additional bleaching components according to the invention are the compounds N-N »NrN 'tetraacetyl of the formula 15 0 0 11 I! CH-j H-j \ / 20 N- (CHß) ^ N • where x can be 0 or an integer between i and 6. Examples include tetraacetylmethanediamine (TAMD) in which x =: l »tetraacety leti lendiamine (TAED) where x = 2 and tetraacetyl hehexy lendiamine (TAHD) where x = 6. These compounds and analogous compounds are described in GB-A-907 356.

The most preferred peroxy acid bleach activator as an additional component is TAED. Another preferred class of peroxyacid bleach compounds are the substituted amido compounds of the following general formulas? R * _ c _ f _ Rz _ c _ 0 R »_ N _ c _ Ra _ c _ L If! II I II II 0 R 0 0 R 0 0 0 wherein R1 is an aryl or caryl group with from about 1 to about 14 carbon atoms. "R * is an alkylene, arylene and alkarylene group containing from about 1 to about 14 carbon atoms" and R is H or a group alkyl "aryl or alkaryl containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and L may be essentially any residual group. R1 preferably contains from about 6 to 12 carbon atoms. R * preferably contains about 4 to 8 carbon atoms. R * can be a straight or branched chain alkyl »substituted aryl or alkylaryl which contains branching or substitution or both and which may originate either from synthetic sources or from natural sources, including for example bait grease. Analogous structural variations are permissible for R *. The substitution may include alkyl »aryl» halogen »nitrogen» sulfur and other typical subtitle groups or organic compounds. Rβ is preferably H or methyl. R * and Rß must not contain more than 18 carbon atoms in total. Substituted amido bleach activating compounds of this type are described in EP-A-170386. Another class of bleach activators to be used in combination with percarbonate comprises 6-octanoamidocaproi loi benzenesulphonate of Cß »" and / or Cto »2-phenyl - (4H) 3 »1-benzaxazin-4-ana» benzoyl lactam preferably benzoyl caprolactam and nonanoyl lactam »preferably nonanai lcaprolactam.

AGE TES PE B ANQUEO The detergent compositions for granular laundry »compositions for automatic dishwashing or laundry additives can contain an additional bleaching agent» in addition to percarbonate. The additional bleaching agent "if used" is either an inorganic persalt such as perborate »persulfate or a preformed organic peracid or periodic acid such as N-N-phthaloi laminoperoxy caproic acid» 2-carboxy-phthaloi lamidoperoxy caproic acid »N-N-phthaloi-laminoperoxy-valeric acid» nano-amide of peraxiadipic acid »1-12-diperoxy-decanoic acid» peraxibenzoic acid and substituted ring-substituted ibenzoic acid »onoperoic acid (salt of magnesia hexahydrate) and diperoxy acid lyric acid .

PP E ERqS Also useful are several organic polymers, some of which may also function as detergent builders to improve detergency. Among said polymers there may be mentioned lower sodium carboxylic acid celluloses and hydroxylated lower sodium celluloses such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium methyl cellulose, and sodium hydroxypropyl cellulose, and iv allyl alcohol alcohols (which also commonly include some palivinyl acetate). »Pal iacri licks» pal iacri latoß and several copol »such as those of maleic and acrylic acids. The molecular weights for these polymers vary widely, but most are within the range of 2,000 to 100,000. Also useful are the terpolymers of maleic acid / acrylic and vinyl alcohol having a molecular weight ranging from 3,000 to 70,000. The polymeric polycarboxylate detergent enhancers are described in US Pat. 3 »308» 067 »Diehl» issued on March 7, 1967. Said materials include the water-soluble salts of homo- and copolymers of aliphatic carboxylic acids such as maleic acid »itaconic acid» mesaconic acid »fumaric acid» aconitic acid » citraconic acid and methylenemalonic acid. Polyasparate and polyglutamate dispersion agents can be used especially in conjunction with zeolite builders. Dispersing agents such as polyaspartate preferably have a molecular weight of about 10.00. Other useful polymers include species known as soil release polymers such as those described in EPA 185427 and EPA 311 342. Other suitable polymers for use herein include heat transfer inhibiting polymer such as co-pal ivinylpirrolidane »polyvinylpyrridine» N-oxide »N-vinylpyrrolidone» N-imidazole »polvini loxizolidone or pol vin limi dazol.

ENZYMES Enzymatic materials may be incorporated into the detergent compositions herein. Suitable are the protease »lipases» cellulases »peroxidases» amylases and mixtures thereof. A suitable lipase enzyme is manufactured and sold by Novo Industries A / S (Denmark) under the trade name Lipalase and is mentioned together with other suitable lipases in EP-A-0258068 (Novo Nordisk). Suitable cellulases are described in e.g. »W0-91 / 17243 and W091 / 17244 (Novo Nardisk). Preferred commercially available protease enzymes are those sold under the tradenames Alcalase and Savinase by Novo Industries A / S (Denmark) and Maxatase by International Bia-Synthetics »Inc. (The Netherlands). Other proteases include pratease A (see European patent application 130 »756» published on January 9, 1985) and protease B (see European patent application Serial No. 87303761.8) filed on April 28, 1987 and European patent application 130 »756» Bott et al. »published on January 9, 1985). The peroxidase enzymes are used in combination with oxygen sources »eg» percarbonate »perborate» persulfate »hydrogen peroxide» etc. They are used for "bleaching in solution" »that is» to avoid the transfer of dyes or pigments Removed from the substrates during washing operations to other substrates in the wash solution. Peroxidase enzymes are known in the art and include »for example» horseradish peroxidase »l kinase and halogenoperoxidase such a chloro and bromopero idase. The detergent compositions containing peraxidase are described by way of example in the International PCT application WO 89/099813 and in WO 91/05839. Amylases include »for example» bacterial amylases obtained from a special strain of B. I i cheniforms »described in more detail in GB-1» 296 »839 (Novo). The commercially available amylases that are preferred include »for example» Rapidase »sold by International Bio-Synthetics Inc. and Termamyl» sold by Novo Nordisk A / S. Fungal amylases such as Fungamyl amylase * »sold by Novo Nordisk can also be used.

PREFERRED PROCEDURE FOR MANUFACTURING THE DETERGENT COMPOSITION FOR LAUNDRY OF THE PRESENT In a preferred process for manufacturing the detergent compositions of the present invention, in particular when a high overall density is desired, part or all of the surfactant contained in the finished composition is incorporated in the form of separate particles, said particles may be in the form of eeca ae »pills» discs »noodles» ribbons »but they are preferably in the form of granules. The most preferred way to process the particles is by agglomerating powders (such as, eg, aluminosilicate, carbonate) with highly active surfactant pastes and controlling the particle size of the resulting agglomerates within specified limits. Said process includes mixing an effective amount of powder with a highly active surfactant paste in one or more agglomerators such as a pan agglomerator, an S-shaped blade mixer or most preferably an in-line mixer such as those manufactured by Schugi (The Netherlands). ) BV »29 Chroamstraat 8211 AS» Lelyßtad »The Netherlands and Gebrueder Lodige Maschinenbau GmbH» D-4790 Paderborn 1 »ElsenerstraQe 7-9, Poetfach 2050» Germany. A high shear mixer such as a Ladige CB (trade name) is most preferably used. A highly active surfactant paste comprising 50 wt% to 95 wt%, preferably 70 wt% to 85 wt%, of surfactant is used. The surfactant system can comprise any of the anionic, nonionic, cationic, amphoteric and zwitterionic surfactant groups or mixtures thereof. The paste can be pumped into the agglomerator at a temperature high enough to maintain a pumpable viscosity but low enough to avoid degradation of the surface-active agents. A pulp operating temperature of 50 ° C to 80 ° C is typical. A particularly suitable process for manufacturing surfactant particles from highly active surfactant pulps is described in more detail in EP 510 746 »published on October 28, 1992. The free-flowing surfactant particles made by the process described above are mixed then with other detergent components such as the particles containing the alkali metal percarbonate to produce a finished detergent composition. This mixing can take place in any suitable equipment. Liquid detergents such as the ionic surface-active agent and the perfume can be sprayed on the surface of one or more of the constituent granules or on the finished composition.

SECONDARY PACKAGE According to the present invention, more than one primary packing filled with others in a secondary package. A secondary package containing a packed primary packing group is hereinafter referred to as the shipping unit. Preferably, the boarding unit is given a rectangular shape. In this way »the boarding unit is suitable to be stacked with other similar boarding units for storage and transportation. A complete pallet stack assembly is obtained by stacking several of these shipping units. The secondary package may preferably be made of a wrapping film. Preferably, the wrapping film can be made of polyethylene or paper films. A paper-based film is preferably a film made from a layer of a plastic film laminated to a paper layer. Most preferably, polyethylene films have a thickness in the range of about 20 μm to 200 μm, most preferably in the range of about 50 μm to 100 μm. Bare paper films preferably have a pee on the scale of about 50 g / m * to 200 g / m *. For example »a film based on Paper is made of a polyethylene layer having a thickness of 50 μm and a layer made of paper having a weight of 80 g / m *. The process of packing the filled primary packings (15) in the secondary packaging according to the present invention is achieved with a conventional vertical packing machine »called the vertically-shaped vertical presser-seller (= VFFS). In figure 1 a partial perspective view of said vertical packing machine is shown. These vertical packing machines include, among others, at least one forming shoulder (10). The method for manufacturing the secondary packaging with the VFFS is a continuous intermittent process. The film (1) is fed into the VFFS machine in a flat configuration. This film is taken to the formation shoulder (10) which is also the filling head (11). The film is pulled around the forming shoulder (10) which extends in a vertical tube. Pulling the plastic film around the forming shoulder "ße gives the plastic film a tubular configuration with vertical overlapping edges (2). "Vertical" in the sense that edge is parallel to the filling direction of the VFFS machine. To maintain the tubular configuration of the plastic film, the overlapping vertical edges 2 of the film are completely or partially sealed to one another with the longitudinal seal 12. preferably "the vertical edges are sealed only partially" ie "the seal is interrupted in at least one region along the vertical bars (2). The interruption in the seal gives free access to the interior of the secondary packaging. The dimension of this interrupted seal is such that it is possible for a vessel to insert at least one finger in the interrupted region, but not large enough to allow the exit of filled primary packages. Preferably, the dimension of the interrupted region is such that the insertion of a hand becomes possible. By allowing the user to insert at least one finger or a hand in the interrupted region, the opening of the secondary package is facilitated by detaching the partial seal along the vertical edges (2). Preferably, more than one region interrupted with the partial seals is achieved along the vertical edges (2). For example, the vertical edge (2) is 80 cm long, a stamp of 2 cm long is interrupted by 11 cm before the next eello of 2 cm. This is repeated in the long vertical edge up to 80 cm. The same can be done for a vertical edge (2) that measures 50 cm long. The tubular shaped film is further seated on the opposite end to the filling head to thereby form a lower seal (3) with the cross seal located within the outer fasteners (14). The bag formed in this manner is a secondary packing (20) according to the present invention having an open end towards the filling head of the forming shoulder. This secondary packing can now be filled with several primary packing 'filled through the filling head and the open end. The filled primary packages (15) are dropped through the filling head (11) into the secondary packing (20) through the open end of the secondary package. The primary packages are stacked from the bottom seal (3) of the secondary package. Preferably, the filled primary packings are dropped into the secondary packing so that the filled primary packets are turned into the secondary packing during their fall into this secondary raft. This is especially important when the shape of the filled primary packaging allows a minimum packing space at a specific address "and not in a different direction" which could force the secondary packaging to require an increased packing space. In fact »for rectangular filled primary packaging» for example »the length of the secondary packaging can be reduced by aligning the filled primary packing along the width and not the length or height of the primary packaging. This is preferably achieved by adjusting the dimension of the secondary package with the dimensions of the filled primary packages. As an example, the secondary packaging has a rectangular shape and the following dimensions? length of approximately 38 cm »about 14.5 cm wide and a height of approximately 14.5. Consequently, four flexible bags having dimensions of approximately 9.2 cm long, 14.5 cm wide and 14.0 cm high can be packed in this secondary package described above. Preferably, the primary filled packages that must enter a secondary package are assembled first. Gathering the filled primary packages together is also achieved without using any means of restraint »such as tape wrapping for example. Therefore »the filled and assembled primary packages are dropped as a complete package into the secondary package. It has been discovered that this meeting of the filled primary packing also ensures that the bags are filled and do not turn upside down or in any other direction during their fall in the secondary packaging. Preferably, external fasteners (14) of the VFFS maintain the secondary packing around the lower seal during filling of the secondary package. External fasteners are normally used to hold the film while sealing and / or cutting the film. In fact »the film is normally fixed between the two halves of external fasteners before sealing and / or cutting. In this case »the film around the lower seal is first fixed between the outer midadee of the outer fastener during filling with the filled primary packing to support the fall of the primary packing filled into the secondary packing. This is to prevent the secondary packing film from being stretched upwards to break during the fall and the stacking of the filled primary packages. It has been discovered that the total weight that can be dropped in this way through the filling head in the secondary packaging without any danger for the external fasteners ee of up to 25 kg. However »the VFFS can be provided with an additional support medium to withstand the drop of filled primary packing that can carry a larger load. Once the secondary gasket is filled with several filled primary gaskets and the lower gasket (3) is cooled sufficiently "the outer fasteners (14) are opened and the secondary gasket with the filled primary gaskets is advanced to a holding means ( 16). The holding means holds the secondary packing filled with the primary packing during the advance of the secondary packing until all the filled primary packages contained in the secondary packing are under the cross seal. This support system is located under the outer fasteners (14). Preferably the support means is made of a movable plane in a direction parallel to the filling of the secondary packaging with the primary packages. The secondary filled packing that is supported by the holding means reduces the stress on the secondary packing film which reduces the possibility of rupture of this film. The holder means also aids in adjusting the height of the top seal on the secondary package with respect to the height of the primary packages filled into the secondary package. Accordingly, the holding means ensures that the upper seal closes the upper end of the secondary packing closely around the filled bags. Preferably, the maintenance system is also capable of lifting the secondary packing filled with the primary packing to the cross seal to correct the position of the upper seal on the secondary packing. Accordingly, the primary packing filled into the secondary package is wrapped in a sufficiently narrow manner so that the primary packaging has less space to rotate or turn face down into the secondary package. This means that the secondary packing filled with the filled primary packing forms a compact package. However, the secondary packaging does not exert any tension force on the contained filled packages. Therefore »the secondary packaging prevents the filled primary packaging» especially when filled flexible bags are »deformed by the secondary packaging. In fact, the flexible and rectangular filled pouches can be deformed into a round shape when the filled pouches are grouped together in a narrow film wrap. The round shape of the filled flexible rafts is disadvantageous when they stack packets of filled flexible bags one over the other, since the stability of the stack is less with respect to stacked rectangular bags. With another preferred option before sealing the upper end opposite the lower seal of the secondary packaging the outer fasteners are preferably substantially closed again and the film advancement system of the film in the VFFS is reversed. In this way »the secondary package is pulled up again until the filled primary packages are at least partially pressed against the outer fasteners. In fact, the external fasteners are substantially closed so that the filled primary packing can not pass through the external fasteners. Preferably, the exterior ejetadorers are closed more than 50%, very preferably at approximately 80%. This reduces the length of the film used for a second package. Accordingly, the primary packages filled within the secondary package are wrapped in a sufficiently narrow manner so that the primary packages have space to turn or turn face-down inside the secondary package. This means that the secondary packaging filled with the primary packaging forms a compact package. It has been discovered that the wrapping of the primary packing filled with the secondary packing is improved additionally if this reversal of the film advancement system in the VFFS is combined with the support system »as described above. Furthermore, the secondary filled packing that is held by the half holder reduces the tension on the secondary packaging film, which reduces the breaking ability of this film. To make an upper seal (4) opposite the lower seal (3) the outer fasteners are completely sealed. Once the fasteners are completely closed, a superior seal is made opposite the lower eello, completely closing the secondary packing with the primary packing filled. Moreover »this closed secondary package is cut ßobre ßello ßuperior. Once the upper part is cooled, the closed and finished secondary gasket is released from the outer fasteners. This packing system described above uses a film wrap narrow enough to make a package of primary packages without deforming the primary packages. In fact, the filled primary packages are not under normal tension within the secondary packaging according to the present invention compared to a narrow film, for example. However, the primary packages are grouped closely enough so that the primary packages are prevented from moving substantially within the secondary packaging. Preferably, the lower seal (3) and / or the upper seal (4) are interrupted seals and not continuous seals. Normally the overlapping vertical edges (2) along the lower seal and the upper seal are completely sealed to the lower and upper seal. However, this allows the exit of a filled primary package located at one end of the secondary package near the lower or upper seal. In fact »only around the middle part of the secondary packaging» the opening of the overlapping vertical edges is wide enough to allow the filled primary packing to come out of the secondary packing. A filled primary package that is at one end can only exit the secondary package ßi the filled primary packages located in the middle portion of the secondary package are first removed from the interior of the secondary package. Accordingly »only when the filled primary packings located on a limb can be brought almost to the middle portion of the secondary packing» these can be removed from the secondary packing. On the contrary, it has been found that if the overlapping vertical edges (2) are not completely sealed or partially sealed to the lower and / or upper seal of the secondary packaging at least in the region (2a) of overlap of the vertical edges. along the bottom and / or top seal »all filled primary packages can be removed from the secondary package more easily and commonly with the complete procedure as outlined above. In fact, the non-sealed or partially sealed part of the overlapping vertical edges allows a sufficient widening of the opening between the vertical edges also near the lower and / or upper seal. Consequently, a primary package filled at the end of a secondary package can be extracted directly from the secondary package more easily and commonly without first emptying the secondary package.

In order to ensure that the overlapping vertical edges (2) are not sealed or only partially sealed to the lower (3) and / or lower (4) seal, the crossed eello comprises an interruption in the eel area corresponding to all or part of the the overlapping vertical edges. This interruption in the sealing area prevents the overlapping vertical edges from being completely sealed together with the lower and / or upper seal of the secondary packing. The partial seal of the verticalee rims overlapping the lower and / or upper eello further prevents the overlapping vertical edges from becoming loose and bending around. In fact »the loosening or bending of the overlapping vertical edges can be an impediment to the handling of the secondary packaging. The packaging of the primary packages according to the present invention as described above also allows reducing the coefficients of the packaging necessary for the handling, storage and transportation of the filled primary packaging. Moreover, the packaging of primary packaging in secondary packaging according to the present invention is relatively easy, which also reduces manufacturing costs. Preferably, the closed and finished secondary packing falls on a feed section leading to the closed secondary packing containing the filled bags to a place where the secondary packages can be stacked one on top of the other to form a pallet. It has been found that the granulated or powdered detergent according to the present invention contained in the pouches and stacked one on top of the other within the secondary packaging as described above does not substantially form cakes, whereby the detergent is not adhered or agglomerated to form a insoluble block. Preferably, mooring sheets are placed between the stacked shipping units. Lashing sheets increase friction between stacked shipping units. As a result, the mooring sheets substantially prevent any slippage of the shipping units when they are stacked one on top of the other, increasing the stability of the pallet. Another possibility to substantially prevent any slippage of the shipping units when stacked one on top of the other is to apply a glue or adhesive to part of the outermost surface of the secondary packing or to make the secondary packing of an embossed film. Adhesive glue may be sprayed onto copper at least part of the outermost surface of the secondary packing. The embossed film is preferably made of anti-slip dimples raised at least over certain areas of the secondary packaging film before the film is taken to the forming wall of the VFF'S machine. For improved stability of the pallet »the embossed film can be combined with the lacing sheet described above. In addition »the complete pallet can be additionally stabilized» especially for transportation »with a narrow film» for example »wrapped around the pallet. The pallet made as described above allows to eliminate any additional outer cases that load the weight or load of the stacked assembly. This results in a substantial savings in costs on the total amount of packaging material used to make pallets suitable for storage and transportation. Moreover »waste is also substantially reduced. In fact »the outer cases are not normally re-used» but simply discarded. It has been found that the pallet according to the present invention can reduce the trappings by at least 50% »preferably at least 80% compared to pallets using corrugated cardboard as outer cases.

EXAMPLE Was the following granular laundry detergent composition prepared? % in weigh Agglomerate of anionic surfactant 30 Compacted stratified silicate granule (supplied by Haechst under the trademark S S-6) 18 Percarbonate ** 25 Aggregate of TAED 9 Foam suppressor agglomerate 2 Perfume capsule 0.2 Dense granulated soas ash 8.4 Acrylic copolymer ico-maleic granulate 3.2 Enzymes 3.6 Granulated dirt release polymer 0.6 100 * The agglomerates of anionic surfactant were made of a 78% active surfactant paste comprising C45AS / C35AE3S (alkylsulfate / alkylethoxyheulfate) in the ratio of T0? 20 »The palette was agglomerated with a powder mix according to with the procedure described in EPA 510 746. The granule of anionic surfactant surfactant had a composition of 30% C45AS »7.5% C35AE3S» 24% zeolite, % carbonate, 2.5% CMC »12% acrylic ico / maleic copolymer and moisture balance. ** Percarbonate coated with 2.5% carbonate / sulfate with an average particle size of 500 microns. The mixture of granulated ingredients listed above was placed inside a 140-liter rotating drum operating at 25 rpm. While the drum was running, a mixture of non-ionic surfactant (C25E3) and a 20% aqueous solution of optical brightener was sprayed at 14? 1 on the granulated mixture haeta a level of 7% by weight of the granulated components. The spray time was approximately 1-2 minutes. Immediately afterwards "perfume was sprayed" at a level of 0.5% by weight of the granulated components »while the drum rotated. Then »without stopping the rotation of the drum» a flow aid was slowly added to the mixer »taking about 30 seconds. The type of flow aid used in the example was partially hydrated zeolite A (6% moisture) and the addition level was 8%. Once the addition of flow aid was completed, the mixer was left to spin for approximately 1 minute and then stopped. The finished product was then removed from the rotating drum. The finished product had a cake forming force of 50 g / cm * to about 20 g / cm *. This finished product was filled into a flexible bag and the flexible bags were grouped in a shipping unit within a secondary package according to the present invention. These shipping units were then stacked in an assembly forming a pallet. It has been discovered that the pallet is sufficiently stable during storage and transportation. Furthermore, it has been discovered that the detergent composition inside the flexible bags is substantially caked. This was true whenever the detergent composition was located in the stacked assembly. It has been found that even the detergent composition located in the lowest position of the stacked assembly "where the full weight of the rest of the pallet is loaded" does not substantially form cakes.

Claims (8)

NQVEPAD LA ^ NVE gíON REJV? N DATIONS

1. - A method for assembling filled packages in a secondary packaging »further characterized because the method comprises the steps of? (1) feeding a film (1) in a vertically vertical machine (l = VFFS) in a flat configuration? (2) take the film towards the forming part (10) »the forming shoulder comprises a filling head (11) and extends in a vertical tube; (3) pull the film around the forming shoulder (10) forming a tubular confi uration of the film »(4) completely or partially eellate the vertical edges (2) of the film? (5) sealing the tubular film formed on the opposite end to the filling head (11) to form a lower seal (3) and having an open bag representing a secondary packing »" (6) filling the secondary package with more than a filled primary packing (15) dropping the primary packings through the filling head (11) of the forming shoulder (10) and through the open end of the secondary packing "(7) sealing the open end of the secondary packing in substantially narrow around the filled primary packages contained in the secondary package to thereby form an upper seal (4) and closing the secondary package around the filled primary packages "(8) cut the secondary package closed above the upper seal (4)

2. A method according to claim 1 »further characterized in that external fasteners (14) of the VFFS hold the secondary package around the lower seal (3) during the filling of the secondary packaging with the primary packing filled (15).

3. A method according to any of the preceding claims "further characterized in that the filled primary packages (15) are first grouped together before dropping them into the secondary packaging.

4. A method according to any of the preceding claims "further characterized in that the VFFS machine further comprises a support system (16) for holding and preferably lifting the secondary packing filled with the primary packaging (15).

5. A method according to any of claims 2 to 4 »characterized in that before sealing the open end opposite the lower seal (3) of the secondary packaging» the external fasteners (14) are closed substantially and the advance system of film in the VFFS is reversed.

6. A method according to any of the preceding claims "further characterized in that the closed secondary packaging falls on a feed section leading to the secondary sealed packaging containing the filled primary packaging (15) to a site where the secondary packaging They can be stacked one on top of the other to form a pallet.

7. A method according to any of the preceding claims "further characterized in that the seal along the vertical edges (2) is interrupted at least in a region whose size is such that it is possible for a user ineert by at least one finger in the interrupted region "but not large enough to allow the exit of filled primary packages.

8. A method according to any of the preceding claims "further characterized in that the lower seal (3) and / or the upper seal (4) are interrupted seals.