WO2020254406A1 - Emballage contenant des capsules hydrosolubles - Google Patents

Emballage contenant des capsules hydrosolubles Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2020254406A1
WO2020254406A1 PCT/EP2020/066765 EP2020066765W WO2020254406A1 WO 2020254406 A1 WO2020254406 A1 WO 2020254406A1 EP 2020066765 W EP2020066765 W EP 2020066765W WO 2020254406 A1 WO2020254406 A1 WO 2020254406A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
capsule
capsules
laundry
compartments
compartment
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2020/066765
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Deborah Jane Cooke
Marina MIXTRO SERRASQUEIRO
Original Assignee
Unilever Plc
Unilever N.V.
Conopco, Inc., D/B/A Unilever
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Unilever Plc, Unilever N.V., Conopco, Inc., D/B/A Unilever filed Critical Unilever Plc
Publication of WO2020254406A1 publication Critical patent/WO2020254406A1/fr

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Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
    • C11D17/00—Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties
    • C11D17/04—Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties combined with or containing other objects
    • C11D17/041—Compositions releasably affixed on a substrate or incorporated into a dispensing means
    • C11D17/042—Water soluble or water disintegrable containers or substrates containing cleaning compositions or additives for cleaning compositions
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D1/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
    • B65D1/34—Trays or like shallow containers
    • B65D1/36—Trays or like shallow containers with moulded compartments or partitions
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D65/00—Wrappers or flexible covers; Packaging materials of special type or form
    • B65D65/38—Packaging materials of special type or form
    • B65D65/46—Applications of disintegrable, dissolvable or edible materials
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D77/00—Packages formed by enclosing articles or materials in preformed containers, e.g. boxes, cartons, sacks or bags
    • B65D77/04—Articles or materials enclosed in two or more containers disposed one within another

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a direct-to-consumer package containing laundry or machine dish wash water-soluble capsules made from water-soluble film, and containing a substrate treatment composition.
  • Capsules are generally packaged in plastic tubs or plastic bags. More recently capsules have been made sold packaged in plastic (PET) trays which are themselves packaged in paperboard boxes which are designed for‘direct-to-consumer’ (DTC) brands which can be delivered through a letterbox (so can be delivered when consumers are not at home to open the door). For postal delivery via a slot in a door, post box etc. the package needs to be shallow (e.g. in the UK less than 2 cm in height) and narrow in width (in the UK less than 33 cm). Practically, the volume cannot be increased by increasing the length or the package would be unsuitable for kitchen storage by many consumers.
  • PET plastic
  • DTC direct-to-consumer
  • DTC-delivery An additional requirement of DTC-delivery is that the capsules must fit into a shallow package. Any unfilled volume in the packaging decreases the number of capsules that can be transported per package. Few capsules per pack is undesirable from a consumer experience, environmental and cost perspective.
  • Capsules with multiple compartments are desirable that they can be, given the right design, appeal to the consumer amongst other things.
  • volumes (absolute and relative) of each compartment are dictated by performance and required dosing volume.
  • the capsule needs to perform various functionsns e.g. cleaning etc.
  • the present application provides a laundry or machine dish wash product comprising a tray package containing a plurality of multi-compartment water-soluble capsules resting on a flat base, each multi-compartment capsule comprising at least two compartments, each compartment comprising flexible film containing a respective substrate treatment composition wherein the at least two compartments are arranged transversely across the capsule and have different relative heights whereby adjacent capsules are arranged to mutually overlap one another by superposition of at least one compartment from each respective caspule so providing one or more interlocked stacks of capsules wherein the fill level of each capsule as a percentage of total volume of any given compartment is at least 60%.
  • the invention provides space-efficient storage capsule arrangements for capsules which are made from flexible ( and so fast dissolving) film, but which can be stacked and packaged to fit through a letterbox thus being suitable for direct-to-consumer delivery.
  • Capsules of the invention generally have a width (x-direction) and length (y-direction) and height or depth (z-direction) - see Figure 1 where coordinate axes in the x, y and z direction are shown assist in the explanation of the relative arrangement of features of the capsule
  • ‘transverse’ and‘transversely’ means extending in any direction generally within an x-y plane of the capsule.
  • the compartments having different heights provide a stepped profile in at least one direction. So, for example, in the case of two compartments, these could generally of equal size in plan view (looking down the z-axis) (as in figure 1a ) but when viewed from each side of the capsule one can see one higher compartment (z-direction), and the height difference gives a stepped profile (as in fig 1 b).
  • the higher compartments may be in any suitable arrangement, and the lower compartments may also be in any suitable arrangment.
  • Lower and higher are relative terms in that it is the height of each compartment relative to to the other compartments.
  • the lower height compartment is less that or equal to half the height of the higher compartment. This allows overlapping by supposition of the lower height compartmets, without increasing the overall height of the stack beyond the height of a single capsule.
  • Overlapping may be partial or whole.
  • the lower height compartments may completely overlap such that, when a stack is viewed in plan view the uppermost comparment is aligned in the x-y plane with the lowermost compartment.
  • At least two or more of the capsules have a common shape so that multiple capsules can be interlocked in packages on a fast moving manufacturing line, without the need to pre-sort capsules into sub groups of like capsules.
  • the capsules may comprise a generally L-shaped section in side view or they may comprise a T-shaped section.
  • the capsule may be any suitable shape.
  • Multi-compartment water-soluble detergent capsules for cleaning etc laundry and dish wash subtrates are preferably made by thermoforming sheets of water-soluble film, typically polyvinyl alcohol.
  • thermoforming it is meant that a first sheet of film is subjected to a moulding process to form recesses in the film. The process involves heating the film to soften it and also the application of vacuum to hold the film in the moulds. The recesses are then filled. The capsules are completed by overlaying a second sheet over the filled recesses and sealing it to the first sheet of film around the edges of the recesses to form a flat sealing web. Relaxation of the first film typically then causes the applied second sheet to bulge out when the vacuum is released from the first sheet of film in the mould.
  • capsule compartment may not be flat but have a convexly curved upper profile.
  • the height of the capsule compartment is measured at the peak (maximum height) of the upper profile.
  • Capsules may overlap in pairs, and mulitple pairs may be located side-by-side on the base.
  • capsules may overlap in groups of three or more in one stack, so that at least one capsule in the stack overlaps with at least two or more adjacent capsules in that stack. All the capsules within the package may be overlapping with at least one other capsule. The may be single stack of capsules, all the capsules in that stack overlapping at least one adjacent capsules.
  • the or each overlapping capsule overlaps with an inverted adjacent capsules.
  • the capsules are arranged with a first capsule resting on its base and overlaping at least a portion of an adjacent capsule which is inverted relative to the first capsule so as to overlap.
  • the overlap occurs by superposition of respective lower height
  • Superposition and resultant overlap is at least partialy, and preferably wholly overlap.
  • the lower portions of the multi-capsule stacks provide multiple feet to steady the stacks against roll.
  • the feet are most effective in preveting roll in a direction the overlap.
  • Compartments may be any width and/or length. Two or more of the compartments may have a common shape and size when viewed from the top, in plan view.
  • anti-roll may be provided by side-by side compartments within capsules.
  • Comparments with adjacent edges which are generally straight will produce two compartments whose anti-roll effect will be in a direction generally orthoganol to the direction of the adjacent edges/adjoining seal, in a transverse plane.
  • capsule compartments have curved e.g.“S”-shaped connecting parts (e.g. seals) provided there is substantially equal weight in each capsule compartment.
  • the relative weight of side-by side compartments is preferably be in the range 1 :1 to 1 :3 and more preferably in the range 1 :2 and even more preferably 1 :1 to 1.5.
  • each capsule may comprise two sheets of water-soluble film, the two sheets of film being sealed together by a sealing web extending around the periphery of the capsule.
  • the capsule may further comprise an internal sealing web which partitions the capsule to provide said at least two compartments.
  • the sealing web lies in a sealing plane such that compartments extend at least below the sealing plane when viewed from a side of the capsule.
  • the compartments may be completely separate.
  • the internal sealing web bisects the capsule to provide two or more distinct and separate comparments, separating the contents of these compartments. This is advantageous in that the partitioning will extend to a greater part of the capsule and give greater stability.
  • the internal sealing web extends across the capsule to connect the peripheral sealing web of opposing sides of the capsule.
  • the internal sealing web may comprise curved portions, when viewed in plan view is curved for over 50%, preferably over 60% more preferably over 70% of its entire length.
  • the sealing web may be“S”-shaped.
  • the internal sealing web may have a substantially continuously curved shape. In embodiments at least 90% of the length of the or each internal sealing web is curved, preferably at least 95%, more preferably substantially all of the or each internal sealing web is curved.
  • the length of each internal sealing web is measured between respective end points where the internal sealing web joins (becomes) the annular sealing. This has been found to resist folding or drooping of the capsule when it is extracted from the tray and so prevents a trailing edge of the capsule dragging behind and inadvertently rubbing/disrupting the capsules remaining in the tray.
  • the internal sealing web may include straight portions.
  • the sealing web may comprise any suitable shape and may comprise e.g. both straight and inclined sections, so that comparments are, in plan view, irregular polygons or regular polygons, or it may be in the form of a grids (to provide many small comparments) or it may comprise a “Z” shaped portion to provide compartments meeting at seal with is inclined.
  • each capsule is in the range 5g ⁇ m £ 30g preferably 10g ⁇ m ⁇ 30g.
  • the sealing web is formed from fusing, e.g. thermoforming, a first and second sheet of water-soluble film during manufacture of the capsule.
  • the capsules are cut apart to leave part of the flat sealing web as an annular "skirt" around each capsule when it is removed from the mould.
  • the sealing web is flat when in the mould it may deform a little when removed from the mould.
  • the profile of the capsule usually relaxes slightly away from having a“mould perfect” profile after it is released from the mould.
  • this specification refers to flat sealing webs and/or a sealing plane associated with the sealing web, the reference is to a sealing web that is moulded flat.
  • the sealing web comprises an annular sealing web or skirt that lies in the x-y plane and is referred to herein as the sealing plane.
  • the sealing web also comprises one internal sealing web, which lies in the sealing plane and extends lengthways (in the y direction). Each of the two compartments may extend similarly above and below (z direction) the sealing plane.
  • reference herein to the width of a feature is a reference to the dimension in the x direction, that being parallel to the sealing (x- y) plane.
  • Reference herein to the length of a feature is a reference to the dimension (direction, axis) in the y direction.
  • Reference herein to depth or height of a feature, or to a feature being, or extending,“above” or“below” is a reference to the dimension (direction, axis) in the z direction, i.e. perpendicular to the sealing plane (x-y plane).
  • “Top plan view” is a reference to the view in the z direction.
  • the terms“above”,“below”,“up”, “down”,“top” etc are relative not absolute terms and they are used accordingly herein, and to aid understanding.
  • the capsule shape has approximate rotational symmetry (point symmetry), suitably second order rotational symmetry, rotation being in the sealing plane.
  • point symmetry suitably second order rotational symmetry, rotation being in the sealing plane.
  • the origin is the capsule’s centre point in the sealing plane.
  • rotation of the capsule by 180 degrees around its centre point will superpose the rotated compartments coincident (at least in terms of shape) on the pre rotation compartments. This is a characteristic of the preferred inverted side
  • the capsule colour may also have such symmetry.
  • the capsule may have shape symmetry as above but no rotational symmetry (point symmetry) in terms of colour or or opacity, put another way, it can be said to have first order rotational symmetry, with rotation being in the sealing plane the origin is the capsule’s centre point in the sealing plane. And so, in embodiments, rotation of the capsule by 360 degrees around its centre point will superpose the rotated compartments (coincident in terms of colour) on the pre-rotation compartments. This has advantage when groups of/all capsules can be arranged on the tray, oriented in a common direction, more specifically, with a common rotational orientation in the sealing plane.
  • each individual element can be visually picked out because the respective compartments of adjacent pairs in the array will have a different colours/opacity.
  • the human brain naturally seeks out patterns and so if the compartments have different colours/ opacity, each capsule is more discernable versus an adjacent capsule than for capsules having a single compartment or having a single colour or both.
  • that human brain can therefore recognize the arrangement as a pattern and further recognize the individual units of the pattern.
  • SPP superior pattern processing
  • the capsule has no plane of symmetry (mirror or reflection symmetry) other than (optionally) the sealing plane.
  • the capsule suitably has no plane of symmetry in a plane perpendicular to the sealing plane.
  • the capsules may comprise stacked compartments, e.g. a lower level of compartments and an upper level of compartments, lower and upper compartments being connected e.g. by welding, thermoforming.
  • stacked compartments e.g. a lower level of compartments and an upper level of compartments, lower and upper compartments being connected e.g. by welding, thermoforming.
  • two thermoformed "capsules” are stacked to form a multi-compartment capsule whereby a first "capsule” having two smaller liquid compartments joined together with foldable flat seals is then used to seal (close) a larger compartment.
  • it is preferred that at least the lowermost part of the capsule has at least two compartments.
  • each of the at least two compartments contain a different substrate treatment composition.
  • one of the compartments composition which differs in terms of ingredients and/or rations to the compostion of at least one other of the compartments.
  • the compositions may differ in terms of colour (e.g. dyes, pigments), opacity (selection of ingredients, or inclusion/exclusion of opacifiers) or cleaning, conditioning or care ingredients.
  • the sealing plane which is within, suitably in the middle of, the product when viewed from the side.
  • the compartments extend above and below the sealing plane and this may be for a similar amount / volume.
  • the volume of the compartments extending below the sealing plane may be considered the base of the capsule.
  • the capsules resting on a flat base. By this, it is intended to mean that the (weight of the) capsules are supported by the base, when in a non-inverted position.
  • the package preferably comprises a tray.
  • the tray preferably comprises a substantially level base whereby the capsules are stacked on the base.
  • the capsules form a single-layer arrangement of capsules on the tray but with adjacent capsules at least partially overlapping . This is advantageous in that the capsules fill the small space not subject to the weight of capsules placed on top.
  • the capsules are arranged in a side by side arrangement on the tray base.
  • the capsules are arranged such that filled compartments are spaced apart.
  • peripheral sealing webs are also spaced apart but they may touch or even overlap provided the film of the compartments are spaced apart.
  • the tray comprises a level base.
  • the tray may comprise peripheral wall/s which may extend upwards from the periphery of the level base.
  • the tray may comprise one or more internal walls to segregate stacks or groups of capsules but individual segregation of capsules is not necessary.
  • the present application provides a laundry or machine dish wash product comprsing a tray containg a plurality of water-soluble capsules, each capsule containing at least two compartments, said compartments containing a substrate treatment composition and being located side-by-side extending transversely across the capsule, and the tray package comprising a substantially level base whereby the groups of the capsules are located side-by-side on portions of the base.
  • Each portion may comprise a peripheral wall extending upwardly, and located around the periphery of the base.
  • Trays are generally moved, in use, for example they may be held at an angle (e.g. to open) or they may be slidable within an outer packaging in a drawer arrangement.
  • the tray may comprise a hinged lid or flap and the capsules are arranged such that the rows of capsule compartments (or internal sealling web if present) is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the hinge mechanism.
  • This offers the advantage that as the user opens the lid and the box is moved forwards as is natural, the direction of the anti-roll mechanism is aligned with the direction that the box moves. The same effect but in reverse occurs during closing.
  • the hinged lid is preferaby pivotable about the hinge to overlie the base to close the tray.
  • the tray is contained within an outer package or sleeve via an opening or slot.
  • the capsules are arranged such that the notional row (or internal sealling web if present) is substantially parallel to the direction of travel as the tray slides out of the outer package via the opening.
  • the notional row may be substantially parallel to the opening/ slot of the outer package.
  • the outer package may be a flexible sleeve or it may be rigid device, e.g. having a box construction.
  • Each of the preferred proposals relates to a particular aspect of the shape, structure or configuration of the partitioned water-soluble capsule.
  • Volume is conveniently calculated based on the volume of the corresponding cavity in the mould used to make the capsule. Volume includes both laundry / machine dish wash composition and any air or other gas that may be present (e.g. arising from headspace from the fill process).
  • each compartment volume is 3 0.5ml, 3 10ml, suitably 3 12ml, 3 14ml, 3 16ml, or 3 17ml.
  • the total compartment volume (total volume of all compartments) is 3 10ml, 3 15ml, 3 19ml, 3 22ml, 3 24ml, 3 26ml or 3 28ml.
  • the total compartment volume (total volume of all compartments) is £ 40ml, £ 38ml, £ 36ml, £ 34ml, £ 32ml, £ 30ml, £ 28ml, £ 26ml or £ 19ml.
  • the total compartment volume (total volume of all compartments) is in the range 15 to 36ml, 20 to 36ml, 22 to 36ml, 24 to 34ml, 28 to 32 ml, or 22 to 26ml.
  • the amount of treatment composition as a % of total volume of any given compartment is at least 60%, suitably at least 70%, 80% or 90%, preferably at least 92%, 94%, 96% or 98%.
  • the % is substantially the same for all compartments.
  • Capsules with the fill levels of the invention are plump and firm and so have the structual rigidity to allow stacking of the capsules in an interocking arrangement.
  • each of the compartments extends 3 5mm, 3 6mm, 3 7mm, 3 8mm, or 3 9mm, and suitably £ 30mm, £ 25mm or £ 22mm above the sealing plane (z direction), as measured in a direction perpendicular to the sealing plane.
  • each compartment extends 3 5mm, 3 6mm, 3 7mm, 3 8mm, or 3 9mm, and suitably £ 30mm, £ 25mm or £ 22mm below the sealing plane.
  • the terms“above” and “below” are relative not absolute terms and are used accordingly; here they can be understood to refer to opposite directions perpendicular to the sealing plane.
  • each capsule is 22 mm or less.
  • the total height of capsules when placed in their stacked arrangemnt is 22 mm or less.
  • both the width (w) and the length (I) of each capsule is greater than 31 mm.
  • the capsule has a linear dimension of length and width of suitably 345mm and preferably 331 mm.
  • the capsule has a linear dimension of length and width of suitably 320mm, 3 30mm.
  • the maximum linear dimension is £ 50mm, suitably £ 40mm, £30mm.
  • the length is 40mm and the width is 30 mm.
  • the maximum height corresponds to the distance between opposing vertices of the polygon.
  • Linear dimensions of width and height are measured as linear dimensions.
  • the width is the linear measurement in the x direction (along the x axis) using a top plan view of the capsule, including any outer sealing web.
  • the length is a linear measurement in the y direction (along y axis) using a top plan view of the capsule, including any outer sealing web.
  • capsule has an effective diameter of 3 31 mm.
  • the capsule is placed inside a cylinder having an internal dimension of 31mm without compression. If it fits entirely within the chamber it will be ⁇ 31 mm.
  • a first film is applied to the cavity of the mould to form recesses, the recesses are filled with liquid composition and a second film is applied to the filled recesses so as to seal-in the liquid compositions and thereby form the compartments.
  • the films are flexible and in particular are flexible after the capsule manufacturing process i.e. after they have been made into capsules. This allows for fast dissolution of the capsule.
  • the capsules dissolve in the range 30s to 30 minutes at which point they release the contained composition into the wash liquor.
  • the or each compartment comprises a flexible film.
  • the rigidity of the capsule compartments is obtained by fill level, i.e. the pressure generated by the stored composition on the flexible film which encloses / contains that composition.
  • the first film thickness is from 50 to 150 micrometer, from 60 to 120 micrometer, or from 80 to 100 micrometer.
  • the average thickness of the first film will be from 30 to 90 micrometer, or from 40 to 80 micrometer.
  • the second film is typically of a similar type to that used for the first film, but slightly thinner. Thus, in embodiments, the second film is thinner than the first film.
  • the ratio of thickness of the first film to the thickness of the second film is from 1 :1 to 2:1.
  • the second film thickness (pre-thermoforming) is from 20 to 100 micrometer, from 25 to 80 micrometer, or from 30 to 60 micrometer.
  • the water-soluble film comprises polyvinyl alcohol or a polyvinyl alcohol derivative.
  • film materials can for example be produced by a process of blowing or casting.
  • the water-soluble film can also contain plasticizers, antifoams, anti-oxidants, surfactants, perfumes and the like.
  • the film may be printed with information regarding the contents. Suitable films include Monosol M4045 and Monosol M8045 (75, 82, 88 & 90 micron) and Aicello PT films (PT 75 & 90).
  • each internal sealing web serving connect and space apart the adjacent compartments.
  • annular sealing web or skirt has an area of £ 1500mm 2 , £ 1400mm 2 ,
  • a smaller skirt area (also known as flange area) is desirable for the reasons explained herein, namely reduced wastage and reduced likelihood of undesirable residue, as well as improved consumer perception and handling experience.
  • the maximum width of the skirt is £ 12mm, £ 10mm, £ 9mm, £ 8mm, or £ 7mm.
  • the width of the annular sealing web is, at any one location on the periphery of the capsule, the distance between the outermost edge of the compartment that defines the inner edge of the annular web at the said location and the outermost edge of the annular web at the said location, measured radially on a notional line extending from the centre of the capsule in the sealing plane, to the said outermost edge.
  • the maximum width of the annular sealing web is 3 1 mm, 3 2mm or 3 3mm.
  • the annular sealing web or skirt defines the periphery of the capsule and hence provides the capsule with its overall shape.
  • Capsule shapes may include any suitable shape but preferred shapes are those tessellatable shapes e.g. rectangle, square, hexgaon, etc.
  • Internal sealing webs are those tessellatable shapes e.g. rectangle, square, hexgaon, etc.
  • each internal sealing web has, in the sealing plane, curved portions and may comprise a substantially continuously curved shape.
  • the internal sealing web comprises straight portions.
  • the internal sealing web may be substantially (along 3 90% preferably 3 95% of its length) straight
  • each internal web has a curved profile whose radius of curvature is in the range 10mm to 25mm or 12mm to 22mm.
  • each internal sealing web is substantially constant. In embodiments the width of each internal sealing web is £ 3mm, or £ 2mm.
  • the footprint of the capsule is capable of being tessellated. This avoids wastage of the water-soluble film sheets in production of the capsules.
  • the multi-compartment capsule is produced by a process of thermoforming. Such a process may advantageously comprise the following steps to form the capsule:
  • sealing can be done by any suitable method for example heat-sealing, solvent sealing or UV sealing or ultra-sound sealing or any combination thereof. Particularly preferred is water-sealing. Water sealing may be carried out by applying moisture to the second sheet of film before it is sealed to the first sheet of film to form the seal areas.
  • thermoforming process uses a rotary drum on which the forming cavities are mounted.
  • a vacuum thermoforming machine that uses such a drum is available from Cloud LLC.
  • the capsules according to the invention could also be made by
  • thermoforming on a linear array of cavity sections machines suitable for that type of process are available from Hoefliger. The following example description is focussed onto the rotary process. A skilled person will appreciate how this would be adapted without inventive effort to use a linear array process.
  • the capsules are then arranged on the tray in arrangements as described herein.
  • the substrate is any suitable substrate including substrate, substrate articles, garments, bedding, towels etc., and dishes, where“dishes” is used herein in a generic sense, and encompasses essentially any items which may be found in a dishwashing load, including crockery chinaware, glassware, plasticware, hollowware and cutlery, including silverware.
  • the treatment composition may be any type of treatment composition for which it is desirable to provide a dose thereof in a water-soluble capsule.
  • compartments may be filled with a liquid. However, compartments may also be filled with gels, powders or any combination thereof. So, for example, some capsules may have a liquid-containing compartment and a powder-containing compartment, or there may be liquid-gel, gel-powder combinations (each form e.g. liquid, gel, powder in a different compartment).
  • suitable compositions that may be split into different components for use in the present invention include those intended for laundry (substrate cleaning, softening and/or treatment) or machine dish washing.
  • the mulitple compartment capsules may comprise different parts of a treatment composition which, when combined, make up the full treatment composition.
  • a treatment composition which, when combined, make up the full treatment composition.
  • the formulation of each of the parts of the treatment composition is different either in its physical form (e.g. viscosity), its composition or, preferably its colour/opacity.
  • Compartments may comprise sequestrants, enzymes, bleach catalysts, perfume, builders etc.
  • the compartments of the capsule will be filled with the substrate treatment composition.
  • filled it is meant that the compartment contains liquid and possibly also a gas bubble.
  • the presence of the gas bubble provides some protection from compression of the compartment due to its compressibility.
  • the gas is preferably air trapped in the
  • composition-containing compartments are separated by the sealing web as described herein.
  • Preferred liquids have a viscosity in the range 100 to 1000 cPs.
  • the or each liquid composition in compartments preferably has a low water content of less than 10 wt%, more preferably from 0.5 to 9 wt% water, most preferably from 1 to 7 wt%.
  • the detergent composition may comprise one or more organic surfactants.
  • organic surfactants Many suitable detergent-active compounds are available and are fully described in the literature, for example, in "Surface-Active Agents and Detergents", Volumes I and II, by Schwartz,
  • the organic surfactant may be anionic (soap or non-soap), cationic, zwitterionic, amphoteric, nonionic or mixture of two or more of these.
  • the preferred organic surfactants are mixtures of soap, synthetic non-soap anionic and non ionic compounds optionally with amphoteric surfactant.
  • Anionic surfactant may be present in an amount from 0.5 to 70 wt%, preferably from 2 wt% or 4 wt% up to 30 wt% or 40 wt% of the detergent composition.
  • alkyl benzene sulphonates particularly sodium linear alkyl benzene sulphonates having an alkyl chain length of C5-C15; olefin sulphonates; alkane sulphonates; dialkyl sulphosuccinates; and fatty acid ester sulphonates.
  • Suitable nonionic surfactant compounds include in particular the reaction products of compounds having a hydrophobic group and a reactive hydrogen atom, for example, aliphatic alcohols, acids, amides or alkyl phenols with alkylene oxides, especially ethylene oxide.
  • Specific nonionic surfactant compounds are alkyl (C8-22 ) phenol-ethylene oxide condensates, the condensation products of linear or branched aliphatic C8-20 primary or secondary alcohols with ethylene oxide, and products made by condensation of ethylene oxide with the reaction products of propylene oxide and ethylene-diamine.
  • organic surfactants preferably comprise 5 to 60 wt% of the detergent composition.
  • organic surfactant is likely to constitute from 0.5 to 8 wt% of the detergent composition and preferably consists of nonionic surfactant, either alone or in a mixture with anionic surfactant.
  • the detergent compositions may contain a so-called detergency builder which serves to remove or sequester calcium and/or magnesium ions in the water.
  • Soluble builder may be added to the liquid composition.
  • sodium citrate or a soluble sequestrant, for example, Dequest 2066 which may also assist with stabilising the liquid.
  • the builder or sequestrant material is preferably fully soluble so as to eliminate the possibility of unwanted and unsightly residues on substrates. For that reason Alkali metal aluminosilicates are not favoured.
  • Non-phosphorus water-soluble detergency builders may be organic or inorganic.
  • Inorganic builders that may be present include alkali metal (generally sodium) carbonate; while organic builders include polycarboxylate polymers, such as polyacrylates, acrylic/maleic copolymers, and acrylic phosphonates, monomeric polycarboxylates such as citrates, gluconates, oxydisuccinates, glycerol mono- di and trisuccinates,
  • alkali metal generally sodium
  • organic builders include polycarboxylate polymers, such as polyacrylates, acrylic/maleic copolymers, and acrylic phosphonates, monomeric polycarboxylates such as citrates, gluconates, oxydisuccinates, glycerol mono- di and trisuccinates,
  • Electrolytes such as sodium carbonate are not preferred due to the way they suppress the solubility of polyvinylalcohol.
  • the detergent composition may contain a bleach system.
  • a bleach system This preferably consists of an air bleaching catalyst.
  • the catalyst being a ligand of the formula (I) complexed with a transition metal, selected from Fe(ll) and Fe(lll),
  • R1 and R2 are independently selected from:
  • R1 and R2 are a group containing a heteroatom capable of coordinating to a transition metal, wherein at least one of R1 and R2 is the group containing the heteroatom; preferably at least one of R1 or R2 is pyridin-2-ylmethyl. More preferably the catalyst is one in which R1 is pyridin- 2-ylmethyl. Most preferably R1 is pyridin-2-ylmethyl and R2 is methyl;
  • the catalyst is ([Fe(N2py3o)CI]CI) with structure (II):
  • Detergency enzymes may be employed in the compositions.
  • compositions may also contain a fluorescer (optical brightener), for example, Tinopal (Trade Mark) DMS or Tinopal CBS available from Ciba-Geigy AG, Basel, Switzerland.
  • a fluorescer optical brightener
  • Tinopal DMS is disodium 4,4'bis-(2- orpholino-4-anilino-s-triazin-6-yla ino) stilbene disulphonate
  • Tinopal CBS is disodium 2,2'-bis-(phenylstyryl) disulphonate.
  • An antifoam material is advantageously included when organic surfactant is present; especially if the detergent composition is primarily intended for use in front-loading drum- type automatic washing machines. Soap is a suitable antifoam.
  • antiredeposition agents such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose, straight-chain polyvinyl pyrrolidone and the cellulose ethers such as methyl cellulose and ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, substrate-softening agents;
  • perfumes and colorants or coloured speckles.
  • the capsules described herein are suitable for use in a substrate treatment method, suitably a laundry or machine dish washing method.
  • a further aspect of the present invention provides use of capsules as described herein in a method of cleaning, suitably a laundry or machine dish washing method.
  • the method includes placing the capsule in the drum or dosing drawer or any dosing device of a washing machine prior to commencement of a wash cycle.
  • the capsules are particularly suitable for use in (substrate) washing machines and in dishwashing machines amongst other applications. They can also be used in manual laundry or dishwashing operations.
  • the capsules according to the invention are preferably, and conveniently, placed directly into the liquid which will form the wash liquor or into the area where this liquid will be introduced. The capsule dissolves on contact with the liquid, thereby releasing the detergent composition from the separate compartments and allowing them to form the desired wash liquor.
  • Figure 1a is a plan view of a capsule of the invention
  • Figure 1b is a side view of the capsule of figure 1a;
  • Figure 1c is a side view of two stacked capsules of figure 1 ;
  • Figure 2a is a plan view of another capsule of the invention.
  • Figure 2b is a side view of the capsule of figure 1 a;
  • Figure 2c is a side view of two stacked capsules of figure 2a.
  • Figures 1a and 1b illustrate an exemplary capsule according to one aspect of the present invention. Coordinate axes in the x, y and z direction are shown assist in the explanation of the relative arrangement of features of the capsule. Indeed, Figure 1 is discussed here to aid understanding of the subsequent discussion of the shape and configuration of the multicompartment capsule of the present invention.
  • the capsule of Figure 1 comprises two compartments. The two compartments are arranged side-by-side on a notional row extending transversly (in x-y plane), across the width, in the x direction, across the capsule. Each of the two compartments is elongate in that it has a length (y direction) that is greater than its width (x direction). The long axis of each compartment lies in the y direction.
  • Capsules 1 of figure 1 are packaged in a tray package having a substantially flat base indicated (not shown in full) by reference numeral 3.
  • the capsule multi-compartment having two compartments 5 and 7, each compartment containing a respective substrate treatment composition wherein at least two compartments 5,7 are arranged transversely across the capsule 1 and have different relative heights (in z direction) whereby as shown in figure 1c, adjacent capsules can be arranged to mutually overlap one another by superposition of the shorter (lower height - in z direction) compartment from each respective caspule so providing one or more interlocked stacks of capsules.
  • the capsule compartments wholly overlap by supposition of respective compartments 5 such that in the x-y plane the comparments align.
  • FIGS 2a to 2c show a second example numberered correspondingly.
  • This capsule has three compartments, numbered 5,7,9 (the film is not shown) with a single higher compartment 5 and two lower compartments 7 and 9.
  • This capsule stacks in a similar manner to the capsule of figure 1.
  • the liquid composition dispensed to each of the compartments is as follows:
  • compartment #1 is formulated, including through the use of an opacifier, so as to provide a white opaque composition.
  • the second central compartment is formulated, including provision of suitable dyes, to provide a blue colour.
  • Side compartment #2 (and #3 if present) is formulated, including provision of suitable dyes, to provide a colour.
  • the multi-compartment capsule is produced by a process of thermoforming. Such a process may advantageously comprise the following steps to form the capsule: (a) placing a first sheet of water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol film over a mould having sets of cavities, each set comprising at least two cavities arranged side-by-side;
  • Sealing can be done by any suitable method for example heat-sealing, solvent sealing or UV sealing, ultrasound or a combination of any (e.g. two) of these. Particularly preferred is water-sealing. Water sealing may be carried out by applying moisture to the second sheet of film before it is sealed to the first sheet of film to form the seal areas.
  • thermoforming process uses a rotary drum on which the forming cavities are mounted.
  • a vacuum thermoforming machine that uses such a drum is available from Cloud LLC.
  • the capsules according to the invention could also be made by
  • thermoforming on a linear array of cavity sections machines suitable for that type of process are available from Hoefliger. The following example description is focussed onto the rotary process. A skilled person will appreciate how this would be adapted without inventive effort to use a linear array process.
  • the capsules are then arranged on the tray in arrangements as described herein.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • Detergent Compositions (AREA)
  • Wrappers (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un produit de lavage de linge ou de vaisselle qui comprend un emballage de type plateau contenant une pluralité de capsules solubles dans l'eau à plusieurs compartiments (1) reposant sur une base plate (3), chaque capsule à plusieurs compartiments comprenant au moins deux compartiments (5, 7), chaque compartiment comprenant un film souple contenant une composition de traitement de substrat respective, au moins deux compartiments (5, 7) étant agencés transversalement à travers la capsule et ayant des hauteurs relatives différentes, de sorte que des capsules adjacentes (1) sont agencés pour se chevaucher mutuellement par superposition d'au moins un compartiment de chaque capsule respective de façon à former un ou plusieurs empilements emboités de capsules (1).
PCT/EP2020/066765 2019-06-18 2020-06-17 Emballage contenant des capsules hydrosolubles WO2020254406A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19180760 2019-06-18
EP19180760.1 2019-06-18

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WO2020254406A1 true WO2020254406A1 (fr) 2020-12-24

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2022238495A1 (fr) * 2021-05-14 2022-11-17 Unilever Ip Holdings B.V. Emballage contenant des capsules hydrosolubles

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1394065A1 (fr) * 2002-06-17 2004-03-03 Unilever N.V. Sachets de détergent
WO2009022110A1 (fr) * 2007-08-10 2009-02-19 Reckitt Benckiser N.V. Emballage
WO2014019715A1 (fr) * 2012-07-30 2014-02-06 Henkel Ag & Co. Kgaa Emballage contenant des sachets en film soluble dans l'eau remplis de produit de lavage ou de nettoyage liquide
EP3002224A1 (fr) * 2014-10-02 2016-04-06 ICA S.p.A. Machine et procédé pour organiser des objets de façon alternée

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1394065A1 (fr) * 2002-06-17 2004-03-03 Unilever N.V. Sachets de détergent
WO2009022110A1 (fr) * 2007-08-10 2009-02-19 Reckitt Benckiser N.V. Emballage
WO2014019715A1 (fr) * 2012-07-30 2014-02-06 Henkel Ag & Co. Kgaa Emballage contenant des sachets en film soluble dans l'eau remplis de produit de lavage ou de nettoyage liquide
EP3002224A1 (fr) * 2014-10-02 2016-04-06 ICA S.p.A. Machine et procédé pour organiser des objets de façon alternée

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS, Columbus, Ohio, US; abstract no. 478945-46-9

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2022238495A1 (fr) * 2021-05-14 2022-11-17 Unilever Ip Holdings B.V. Emballage contenant des capsules hydrosolubles

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