Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PACKAGE FOR A WATER-SOLUBLE CAPSULE
The present invention relates to a package or container for
one or more water-soluble capsules containing a detergent
composition.
Detergent compositions for machine washing of laundry are
provided in many forms such as free-flowing powders,
liquids. Detergents in the form of compressed powder
tablets are also commonly available.
Tablets have several advantages over free-flowing powdered
products and these are well documented, in particular, as
they do not require measuring they are thus easier to handle
and dispense into the wash load and allow for accurate
dosing of detergent.
More recently water-soluble capsules of detergent
composition in liquid and other forms have been introduced.
Water-soluble capsules generally comprise a detergent
composition encapsulated with water-soluble film, such as
polyvinyl alcohol. Encapsulation allows for handling
without direct contact with the detergent composition. This
is especially advantageous when the detergent composition
includes aggressive cleaning components which would irritate
the skin on direct contact.
Also, unlike tablets, the use of water-soluble packages
enables discretising of particulate detergent composition
without the need for compaction. Therefore the problems in
solubility arising from compaction of particulate detergent
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are not encountered with water-soluble packages of this type
of detergent.
A further advantage of water-soluble capsules is that this
allows discretising of other types of detergent e.g. liquid.
Liquid is far more readily dissolvable than compressed
powder and so not prone to the dissolution problems
encountered with. tablets formed in this way.
However, a problem encountered with water-soluble capsules
is that the water soluble film material is vulnerable to
increased levels of ambient humidity during storage and this
can lead to premature dissolution of the film and as a
result the capsule may rupture and release it contents.
In the case of liquid-filled capsules, leaked liquid from a
single ruptured capsule could, if not contained, lead to the
dissolution of an entire package of capsules, which is
highly undesirable.
Another problem is that if, during storage, the film of the
water soluble capsule becomes damp, it may then increase the
possibility of in-wash lodging as a tacky film is more
likely to stick to the washing machine door before it has
chance to be caught up in the main wash.
One solution might be to use waterproof but this can result
in high temperatures (within the packaging) in many
environments and this can contribute to film degradation.
Thus, it can be seen that the significant benefits of
increased solubility offered by encapsulation with water
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soluble film can be severely compromised by the
susceptibility of the film to deteriorate during storage.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a
package for containing water-soluble capsules of detergent,
which overcome at least some of the above mentioned
problems. In particular, it is an object of the invention
to provide packaging for water-soluble capsules containing a
detergent composition, which is protected against the effect
of ambient moisture and is also simple, low-cost and
convenient to use.
Accordingly, in one aspect the invention provides one or
more water-soluble capsules containing a detergent
composition in combination with a package containing said
one or more water-soluble capsules, characterised in that
the package is formed from a material which. has a Moisture
Vapour Transfer Rate (M.V.T.R) of between 0.25 g/m~/day to
10 g/m2/day at 38 °C and 90o relative humidity, and
preferably between 0.25 g/m2/day to 5 g/m2/day at 38 °C and
90% relative humidity.
With this arrangement, the water soluble capsules can be
protected from ambient humidity during storage, by a
simplified packaging.
A further problem is that many existing packages are
unsuitable for encapsulated detergent - as they are designed
for powders (e. g. boxes/bags from which powder is scooped)
or liquids (bottles/refill bags from which the liquid is
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poured) or boxes in which tablets are stacked. Such
packaging does not capitalise on such characteristics of
water-soluble film encapsulated detergent such as the
possibility of direct handling.
Thus, advantageously, the package is self-standing by means
of a collapsible base portion which expands from a collapsed
position to an expanded position when one or more capsules
is/are placed on the base, and is collapsible when empty so
as to make the package substantially flat.
With this arrangement, the amount of plastic packaging
material disposed in the environment can be substantially
decreased as there is no need to also provide a separate
support structure to allow the package to stand upright.
The provision of a self-standing package is particularly
advantageous when used with encapsulated detergent, as the
capsules can be conveniently retrieved by reaching into the
standing package, even when there is only a single capsule
remaining therein.
Preferably the package is formed as a single-walled body.
The term "single-walled" should be construed as meaning that
at any point the is only one wall thick. It includes a body
comprising one or more walls which have a laminate
structure.
The invention will be more clearly understood from the
following description of some embodiments thereof, given by
way of example only, with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which:-
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Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sealed package
containing a round-shaped water-soluble capsule of liquid
detergent, according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a front view of the package of Figure 1, shown
empty;
Figure 3 is a plan view of the package of Figure 1, viewed
from the base;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
invention;
Figure 5 is a front view of the package of figure 4;
Figure 6 is a plan view of the package of Figure 4, viewed
from the base; and
Figure 7 is a side view of the package of figure 4.
The packaging system of the invention is intended to
consist of a consumer unit containing the detergent
composition of the invention and designed to be used/stored
as such in the consumer homes.
The units shown are bags/pouches and can be made either from
raw stock or from preformed and/or prefolded sheet material,
and can be sealed by various means, e.g. by heat,
adhesives/glue, tapes. The bags/pouches herein are made of
films, either monolayer, including coextruded materials, or
laminated; such films are typically paper or plastic or
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combinations of the two; preferred materials for the bags
herein are plastic and/or paper laminates. Plastic,
materials are typically polyolefines, and both plastic and
paper can be virgin or recycled material; the films herein
can be printed in different ways, typically gravure, flexo,
offset. Also encompassed herein are films with moisture
barrier properties, obtained by resins, either coextruded or
in different laminated layers, or coating by e.g. lacquers.
One combination of the invention is shown, comprising a
plastic bag 1 which contains one or more water soluble
capsules 3 (only one shown) of detergent liquid.
Other shaped water-soluble capsules may be used e.g. round,
as shown in figures l, 3 and 4 or rectangular (sometimes
referred to as 'pillow-shaped')as shown in figure 5.
The plastic bag 1 is constructed from a laminar material
comprising two layers: an outer layer of polyester (PET)
which is 12 microns thick and an inner layer of low linear
density polyethylene (LLDPE) 150 microns thick. This
material has an MVTR value of 4.60 g/m2/day at 38 °C and 90%
relative humidity.
The bag has two rectangular side walls 2, 4 which are heat
(or glue)-sealed together along corresponding longitudinal
edges and which is closed at one end (the base portion 17)
by a base wall 6 and at the other end (the upper portion 18)
by 20, 22 seals both which are described below in greater
detail.
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In the base portion 17 of the bag 1 there is a base wall 6
which is formed from a rectangular sheet of plastic,
perimeter portions of which are heat(or glue)-sealed to
respective edges portions of the end portions 8, 10 of the
side walls 2,4. The sealing portion 12 (i.e. the part
forming the seal with the base wall 6) is shaped such that
the effective base area 16 is very generally elliptical (as
shown more clearly in figure 3).
At the upper end 18 of the bag 1, there is a resealable
closure member 20, which comprises a plastic zip 20 having
corresponding engagement portions fixed on respective side
walls 2,4, internally of the bag 1.
The package further includes a permanent heat or glue seal
22 in the uppermost portion 18a. Just below this portion,
there is an indent 26 in the seal section 5 and/or 7, to
assist tearing (along the dotted line 28, which may be
weakened) so as to enable removal of the upper portion 18a
(after purchase). The bag 1 can then be opened and
sealed/resealed repeatedly by use of the zip 20.
The bag 1 is self-standing on a substantially flat surface
shown generally at 14, (and which could be for example a
shelf, work top etc.,) when one or more capsules is/are
placed on the base portion: the weight of the capsule acts
downward on the base wall which thereby expands laterally to
support the capsule and as a result the package is disposed
in an upright position.
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The construction as described above allows the bag to be
formed one wall thick but self-standing and without a
supporting structure such as a box.
An alternative embodiment is constructed as shown in figures
1-3 but is formed from an alternative sheet material. In
this embodiment, the laminar material comprises two layers:
an outer layer of polyester (PET) which is 12 microns thick
and an inner layer of low linear density polyethylene(LLDPE)
180 microns thick. This material has an MVTR value of
4.50 g/m~/day at 38 °C and 90% relative humidity. This
increased thickness of the LLDPE layer provides a reduced
MVTR and additional stability for larger packs (e. g. where
say 20 -30 or more capsules are packaged).
A further embodiment is shown in figures 4-7. This bag is
structure as for the package above except that it has
outwardly curved sides which provide extra volume. The bag
may have an increased outer curvature at the base so as to
lower the centre of gravity of the package when one or more
capsules, are contained so providing a more stable package.
The package of figures 4-7 may comprise any suitable
material, such as that in the embodiment shown in figures
1-3.
The detergent liquid contained in the water soluble capsules
exemplified here comprises:
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Raw material Level (weight
percent of total)
Nonionic 20.00
Surfactant (alcohol ethoxylate)
Linear Dodecylbenzene Sulphonic Acid 20.00
Fatty acid 17.00
Monopropylene glycol 22.35
Monoethanolamine 9.65
Water, perfume, minor ingredients 11.00
In another embodiment, capsules contain a granular laundry
detergent powder as follows:
Base powder
Linear Dodecylbenzene Sulphonic Acid (Sodium salt)8.8o
Alcohol ethoxylate (C12 - C13 7 EO) 7.0%
C16 -C18 Carboxylic acid l.Oo
Zeolite 29.60
Anhydrous Sodium Carbonate 10.50
Moisture, Salts, Minors 4.1o
(All above in a granulated Base Powder)
Post-dosed ingredients
Sodium Percarbonate lB.Oo
Tetracetyl ethylenediamine 3.5%
Sodium Disilicate 5.50
Sodium Citrate 2.0%
Fluorescer, antifoam, speckles, enzyme, fragrance, minors
lO.Oa
However, it will be well appreciated that the detergent
composition may take any suitable form e.g. any liquid, gel,
granulated powder or combination thereof.
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It is of course to be understood that the invention is not
intended to be restricted to the details of the above
embodiments which are described by way of example only.
