Method for producing a portion unit of a detergent

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11939094-B2
Application number	US-202016876269-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 18, 2020
Priority date	May 16, 2019
Publication date	Mar 26, 2024
Grant date	Mar 26, 2024

Abstract

A method for producing a portion unit of a detergent by inserting a base element made from a first film portion into a deep-drawing mold that forms a holding volume from the first film portion, the holding volume having a plurality of chambers spaced apart from one another; pouring at least one detergent composition into the chambers; placing a cover element made from a second film portion onto the filled chambers; connecting the cover element to the base element, which forms a film wrapping, sealing seams being formed between adjacent wall portions of the chambers; removing the portion unit from the deep-drawing mold, wherein the outside of the film wrapping is then wetted at least in the region of the adjacent wall portions and, by pressure being exerted, the sealing seams are compressed and the adjacent wall portions are brought into contact with one another and interconnected.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for producing a portion unit of a detergent, comprising the following steps:
inserting a base element made from a first water-soluble film portion into a deep-drawing mold so as to form a holding volume from the first water-soluble film portion, the holding volume comprising a plurality of chambers which are spaced apart from one another;
pouring at least one detergent composition into the chambers;
placing a cover element made from a second water-soluble film portion onto the filled chambers;
connecting the cover element to the base element, thus enclosing the chambers, so as to form a film wrapping, sealing seams being formed between adjacent wall portions of the chambers;
removing the portion unit from the deep-drawing mold,
wherein the outside of the film wrapping is then wetted at least in the region of the adjacent wall portions and, by pressure being exerted, the sealing seams are compressed and the adjacent wall portions are brought into contact with one another and interconnected.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the film wrapping is wetted by spraying on solvent applying a solvent mist, applying water vapor, or applying a liquid film by means of a stamp, damp rollers or damp brushes.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the film wrapping is wetted by spraying on water or an aqueous solution.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the portion unit has two to ten chambers.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein adjacent chambers have complementary convex and concave wall portions.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing seams are compressed from an initial width of between 1.5 and 10 mm to a visible final width of between 0 and 5 mm.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble film portions of the base element and the cover element are formed on the basis of polyvinyl alcohol and comprise at least one layer.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the base element and the cover element are interconnected so as to form the film wrapping under the action of water and pressure, under the action of water and pressure and heating to temperatures below 95° C., or by exposure to temperatures above 90° C.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure is applied by movable pressing surfaces or by conveying the portion unit along a narrowing conveying path.

Assignees

• Henkel Ag & Co Kgaa

Inventors

• Meier Frank
• Sunder Matthias

Classifications

• B65B3/022 Primary

  Making containers by moulding of a thermoplastic material · CPC title

• B29C43/003

  characterised by the choice of material · CPC title

• B29C43/10

  Isostatic pressing, i.e. using non-rigid pressure-exerting members against rigid parts or dies · CPC title

• B29C66/0014

  Gaseous environments · CPC title

• B29C66/0016

  Liquid environments, i.e. the parts to be joined being submerged in a liquid · CPC title