WO2010140026A1

WO2010140026A1 - Dispenser device for washing products

Info

Publication number: WO2010140026A1
Application number: PCT/IB2009/054016
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cesarino Galassi; Adriano Orioli
Original assignee: Packaging Imolese S.P.A.
Priority date: 2009-06-05
Filing date: 2009-09-15
Publication date: 2010-12-09
Also published as: IT1394484B1; ITBO20090369A1

Abstract

Dispenser device for washing products and the like comprising a closed container (1), suitable to contain a measured amount of product and suitable to be inserted in a washing machine in order to release said measured amount of product into the water during the washing process. Said container (1) comprising at least a first portion (2) made of material which is suitable to absorb the colouring agents dispersed in the water and a second portion (3) made of a water-soluble material suitable to dissolve when it reaches the water, in order to allow the immediate release of said measured amount of product into the washing water.

Description

Description Title of Invention: DISPENSER DEVICE FOR WASHING

PRODUCTS

Technical Field

[1] The present invention regards a single-dose dispenser device for washing product, suitable to have a particular use in the field of domestic and industrial washing of clothes and linen. Background Art

[2] In the domestic and industrial washing of clothes and linen, it is known the necessity of adding various additives to the detergents, adjuvants and specific products, in order to obtain effects such as the removal of spots, the reduction of limestone solved in the water, the sanitization and softening treatment of the fabrics. To such end, it turns out to be particularly advantageous to use single-dose dispenser devices, of the disposable type, suitable to be inserted in the washing machines with the clothes to be washed and to release a predetermined amount of product during the washing process.

[3] It is also well known the problem of the undesired colouration of the clothes due to the migration of the colorants from the clothes to the water and from the water to other clothes having different colour, if they are washed together.

[4] In order to solve such problem, it was introduced the use of textile articles suitably treated, able to capture the colorants dissolved into the water and to avoid the successive redeposition thereof. For example, Italian patent application VA2006A000006 discloses a non- woven fabric support treated through a cationic se- questrator of colorants, able to efficiently absorb the colouring agents dispersed in the water. In particular, it is provided the use of pieces of non- woven fabric treated chemically, suitable to be inserted into the washing machines with the clothes to be washed.

[5] Patent application EP 08165548.2 describes a device for capturing the colorants dispersed in the water, comprises a textile substrate and chemical additive of the cationic type.

[6] In order to better satisfy such exigencies, it has been suggested to use particular single-dose dispenser devices, which comprise a textile material container, of the type of non- woven fabric, suitably treated to absorb the colouring agents dispersed in the water. Such container, water permeable, is suitable to contain a predefined amount of product, usually as a powder. During the washing process, the product contained in the container is dissolved into the washing water and flows out through filtration through the walls of the container. [7] But even such device does not allow to efficiently perform the capture of the colorants dissolved in the water and the simultaneous treatment of the washing water through additive agents. In fact, it has been observed that the time for releasing the additive agents contained in the internal container is very slow, such agents having to flow through the external walls of the container by filtration. As a consequence, such agents will not be able to be efficient during the first washing phases, at the disadvantage of the final result.

[8] Furthermore, it has been observed that the process of filtration of the additive agents through the non- woven fabric walls of the container interferes with the chemical treatment applied to the textile material, which allows to efficiently capture the dispersed colouring agents. As a consequence, the efficiency of the process of absorption of the colouring agents dispersed in the water is significantly decreased.

[9] A further drawback of the described devices consists of the poor protection that the non- woven fabric container is able to provide to the substances contained therein. This happens, in particular, in the frequent case in which the additive agents are compounds sensitive to humidity. In such case, the additive agents can undergo deteriorations and lose their own efficiency. Disclosure of Invention

[10] The task of the present invention isto solve the above mentioned drawbacks, by devising a single-dose dispenser device for washing product able to quickly and completely release its own content, at the moment in which it reaches the water.

[11] A further scope of the invention is to provide a dispenser device able to capture the colorants dissolved in the water.

[12] A further scope of the invention is to provide a dispenser device able to release the own content without interfering with the chemical treatments applied to the walls of the same device.

[13] Another scope of the present invention is to provide a dispenser device able to efficiently protect the active substances contained therein from the external agents, in particular from humidity.

[14] Another scope of the invention is to provide a dispenser device of simple constructive and functional conception, having a securely reliable functioning, of versatile use as well as of relatively economic cost.

[15] The cited scopes are attained, according to the present invention, by the single-dose dispenser device for washing products according to claim 1. Brief Description of the Drawings

[16] Details of the invention shall be more apparent from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the single-dose dispenser device for washing products according to the invention, illustrated for indicative purposes in the united drawings, wherein:

[17] figure 1 shows a front view of the device according to the invention;

[18] figure 2 shows a cross section view of the device according to the invention, according to the trace A-A illustrated in figure 1 ;

[19] figures 3 and 4 show an analogous cross section view of various embodiments of the device according to the invention. Best Mode of Carrying out the Invention

[20] With particular reference to such figure, the single-dose dispenser device for washing products is indicated in its entirety with 1. The device 1 comprises a closed container suitable to contain a measured amount of product, usually as a powder. But it is possible to provide that the device 1 can usefully contain products of various types, for example gel, granular products, paste or solid products. The active substance contained in device 1 can be an additive, an adjuvant for the washing or another specific product to obtain effects such as the removal of the spots, the reduction of the limestone dissolved in the water, the sanitization and the disinfection, the softening treatment of the fabrics and the like.

[21] The container 1 has a first portion 2, made of material suitable to absorb the colouring agents dispersed in the water. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first portion 2 is made of non- woven fabric, suitably chemically treated, as already known, for example through application of cationic sequestrators of colorants.

[22] Withthe first portion 2 of the container 1 is associated a second portion 3, made of water-soluble material, suitable to allow the products contained in the device 1 to quickly come into contact with the washing water. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second portion 3 is made of water-soluble material in the form of non- woven fabric of film, suitable to dissolve quickly in contact with the water.

[23] In the embodiment illustrated in figure 1, the second portion 3 shapes a bag completely closed, suitable to contain the cited product to be distributed in the washing water. Practically, the second portion 3 contains the products to be dispensed and separate it from the outside.

[24] The outer envelope 2 and the inner bag 3 are coupled together peripherally through welding. The welding is preferably made close to the outer edges, for example along the welding lines 5 represented with dashed lines in figure 1. This usefully allows to form with a single welding operation both envelopes and the respective coupling.

[25] The functioning of the single-dose dispenser device for washing products according to the invention results easily understandable form the preceding description.

[26] The container 1 is inserted into the washing machine with the clothes to be washed, before beginning the washing cycle. Just after the insertion of the water in the washing machine, it comes into contact with the inner bag 3 containing the product, through the window 4 of the outer envelope 2. Being made of water-soluble material, the bag 3 dissolves immediately in contact with the water, causing the exit of the product contained therein. The product then quickly diffuses in the washing water through the window 4.

[27] The outer envelope 2, made of material suitable to absorb the colouring agents dispersed in the water, such as non- woven fabric chemically treated with cationic type additives, remains integral and during the washing process performs the aforesaid function of capturing the colorants dissolved in the water.

[28] The dispenser devicefor washing products according to the invention reaches the aim of allowing the fast and complete release of its content, at the moment in which it reaches the water.

[29] In particular, thanksto the presence of the window 4, the device 1 reaches the scope of allowing the release of its content without interfering with the chemicals treatments applied to the walls of the container.

[30] An advantage of the device according to the invention, due to the specific configuration and to the materials used, in particular to the presence of the inner bag of water-soluble material, is constituted by the fact that it allows to protect efficiently the active substances contained in it from the outer agents, in particular from the humidity.

[31] Finally it must be pointed out that the device according to the invention results easy to manufacture so as to have a contained cost, suitable to the exigencies of a convenience good.

[32] In order to manufacture the container it is therefore provided to prearrange a first band of the aforesaid material suitable to absorb the colouring agents dispersed in the water and a second band of water-soluble material. From such bands are obtained respectively a first portion 2 suitable to form the outer envelope and a second portion 3 suitable to form the inner bag, successively fed at a station for loading the washing product to be dispensed. In a suitable phase relation, one provides to practice the window 4 on the first portion 2.

[33] At the loading station, a predefined amount of product is fed on the second portion of water-soluble material. Such second portion of water-soluble material is then suitably folded, in order to form the bag that contains completely the fed product. Both portions are then welded peripherally together to close the container.

[34] It is to observe that the dispenser device according to the present invention is susceptible of numerous variants all entering in the same inventive concept, as a function of the various exigencies of use. For example it is possible to provide that the container is constituted by a single envelope for containing the product to be dispensed, made of a material suitable to absorb the colouring agents dispersed in the water for a first portion 2, and of water-soluble material for a second portion 3 (see fig. 3). Alternatively it is possible to provide that the envelope containing the product to be dispensed is constituted by two parts 3 of water-soluble material, and is united, in correspondence of at least one of its edges, to a lap of material for capturing the colourants (see fig. 4).

[35] In practice, the embodiment of the invention, the materials used, as well as the shape and dimensions, may vary depending on the requirements.

[36] Should the technical characteristics mentioned in each claim be followed byreference signs, such reference signs were included strictly with the aim of enhancing the understanding the claims and hence they shall not be deemed restrictive in any manner whatsoever on the scope of each element identified for exemplifying purposes by such reference signs.

Claims

[Claim 1] Dispenser device for washing products, comprising a closed container (1), suitable to contain a measured amount of product and destined to be inserted into a washing machine in order to release said measured amount of product into the water during the washing process, characterized in that said container (1) comprises at least a first portion (2) made of a material which is suitable to absorb the coloring agents dispersed in the water and a second portion (3) made of a water-soluble material suitable to dissolve when it reaches the water, in order to allow the immediate release of said measured amount of product into the washing water.

[Claim 2] Dispenser device according to claim 1, characterized in that said second portion (3) of the container (1) made of a water-soluble material shapes a bag suitable to completely contain said measured amount of product to supply and to separate it from the outside, said bag being destined to completely dissolve when it reaches the washing water.

[Claim 3] Dispenser device according to claim 2, characterized in that said first portion (2) made of a material which is suitable to absorb the coloring agents dispersed in the water shapes an outer envelope suitable to contain at least partially said bag (3) containing the product to supply.

[Claim 4] Dispenser device according to claim 3, characterized in that said envelope (2) has at least a window (4) suitable to connect said inner bag (3) with the outside, in order to allow said bag (3) to swiftly reach the washing water.

[Claim 5] Dispenser device according to the previous claims, characterized in that said first and second portion (2, 3) are peripherally coupled during the forming process, through welding of the respective edges along welding lines (5).

[Claim 6] Dispenser device according to the previous claims, characterized in that said first portion (2) of the container (1) is made of non- woven fabric, chemically treated to absorb the coloring agents dispersed in the water.

[Claim 7] Dispenser device according to the previous claims, characterized in that said second portion (3) of the container (1) is made of water- soluble material such as non- woven fabric or film.

[Claim 8] Method for supplying washing products characterized in that it provides for holding a measured amount of product into a container (1) comprising at least a first portion (2) made of a material which is suitable to absorb the coloring agents dispersed in the water and a second portion (3) made of a water-soluble material suitable to dissolve when it reaches the water, in order to allow the immediate release of said measured amount of product into the washing water.