Multi-chambered time-release laundry condensation bead structure

Abstract

The present application provides a multi-chamber time-release laundry condensation bead structure, which comprises at least three mutually independent and sealed chambers, each chamber is completely separated by a physical isolation wall, and each chamber is encapsulated with different washing care functional contents. The present application has a differentiated dissolution rate in the washing process by the thickness, material or coating of the outer wall of each chamber, thereby realizing the time-sequential release of first main washing stain removal and then care softening, and optimizing the washing effect. In addition, each chamber is coded with a specific color, so that the function is visualized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of daily chemical product technology, specifically relating to a multi-chamber, time-release laundry detergent pod structure. Background Technology

[0002] Laundry detergent pods, as a modern laundry product, typically consist of a thin, water-soluble polymer film encapsulating a concentrated detergent solution. During use, the pod dissolves with the wash water, releasing its contents in one go. This design offers advantages such as convenient dosage and avoids direct hand contact with the detergent. As the market has evolved, consumers expect a single pod to offer multiple functions, including stain removal, color protection, fabric softening, and even fragrance retention. This necessitates encapsulating various chemical functional ingredients within the pod. However, simply mixing and encapsulating these disparate ingredients in a single chamber can lead to serious stability issues. For example, active oxygen ingredients with excellent stain removal and bleaching effects, such as sodium percarbonate, can easily release highly oxidizing hydrogen peroxide during storage. Similarly, equally effective biological stain-removing ingredients, such as proteases and lipases, are extremely sensitive to oxidative environments. The coexistence of these two can cause rapid enzyme deactivation during storage, resulting in a significant decrease in enzyme activity upon opening. Likewise, some cationic fabric softeners that impart a soft touch to fabrics may interact with anionic surfactants, causing precipitation or reducing their respective effectiveness. This is one of the core contradictions currently facing multifunctional beads: the problem of coexistence of chemically incompatible components.

[0003] To address the issue of incompatible components, existing technologies have proposed some preliminary physical isolation solutions. Some solutions propose a dual-chamber structure, using a partition to divide the inside of the pod into two spaces, each containing a different liquid. This method, to some extent, delays direct contact between incompatible components. However, these solutions often only focus on isolation under static storage conditions, neglecting the fact that washing is a dynamic process. Modern washing machine programs, especially the increasingly popular quick wash programs designed to save water and time, typically compress the washing and rinsing stages into a very short time. If all the components in the pod, regardless of their function (whether for main wash stain removal or rinsing softening), are released simultaneously at the beginning of the wash, conflicting effects and internal friction will occur. Oxygen-based stain removers require a certain alkaline environment and time to fully exert their effects at the beginning of the wash; if alkaline-sensitive enzymes have also been released at this time, their activity will be inhibited.

[0004] Furthermore, the ideal time for fabric softeners or fragrance ingredients to work is during the final rinse cycle, allowing them to effectively adhere to the fabric fibers. If they are released too early during the main wash, most of them will be flushed away as wastewater, resulting in a waste of the effective ingredients and a failure to provide the desired conditioning effect. Some existing technologies attempt to roughly control the dissolution sequence by changing the thickness of the films in different chambers, but this control is passive and crude, failing to actively adapt to the phased changes in water temperature, mechanical force, and pH of the washing solution during the washing process. This results in insufficient precision in release control, making it unable to perfectly match the intelligent programs of modern washing machines.

[0005] Therefore, it is necessary to design a multi-chamber, time-release laundry pod structure. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, a multi-chamber time-release laundry pod structure is provided.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0008] A multi-chamber time-release laundry pod structure is disclosed, comprising at least three independent and sealed chambers, which are completely separated by physical isolation walls and each chamber contains different washing and care functional contents.

[0009] The laundry detergent pod structure includes a first chamber for encapsulating an active oxygen-based stain remover, a second chamber for encapsulating an enzyme preparation, and a third chamber for encapsulating a fabric care agent. The first, second, and third chambers are arranged sequentially along a straight line. The outer walls of the first and second chambers are fused together at a first connection point at their tangent points, and the outer walls of the second and third chambers are fused together at a second connection point at their tangent points.

[0010] The preparation method of this laundry detergent pod structure includes the following steps: First, spherical water-soluble film shells of the first chamber, second chamber, and third chamber are prepared respectively; then, under hot air conditions of 45 to 60 degrees Celsius, the predetermined contact points on the outer walls of the shells of the first and second chambers are pressurized and brought into contact for 1 to 3 seconds to fuse them together, forming a first connection point; after cooling, the pre-connected first and second chamber assembly is pressurized and brought into contact with the predetermined contact point of the shell of the third chamber under the same conditions to fuse them together, forming a second connection point, thereby obtaining an integrated three-chamber shell structure; finally, the corresponding contents are filled into each chamber shell and sealed.

[0011] The pressure of the pressurized contact is 0.5 to 2.0 N, the wind speed of the hot air is 1 to 3 m / s, and the spherical water-soluble film shell is prepared by a drip molding method, wherein the drip molding liquid used in the drip molding method is an aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol with a concentration of 8% to 12%.

[0012] The polyvinyl alcohol used to prepare the outer wall of the third chamber is cross-linked modified. The cross-linking agent is glutaraldehyde, and the amount added is 0.3% to 1.0% of the dry basis mass of polyvinyl alcohol. The cross-linking reaction is carried out under acidic conditions with a pH of 2.5 to 3.5 and in a water bath at 50 to 60 degrees Celsius with stirring for 40 to 90 minutes.

[0013] The material in the first chamber is selected from any one of blue, white, green, yellow, and purple; the material in the second chamber is selected from any one of blue, white, green, yellow, and purple; and the material in the third chamber is selected from any one of blue, white, green, yellow, and purple.

[0014] The outer wall thickness of the first chamber is 50 to 75 micrometers, the outer wall thickness of the second chamber is 60 to 85 micrometers, and the outer wall thickness of the third chamber is 70 to 100 micrometers.

[0015] The outer wall or inner surface of the second chamber is covered with an alkali-resistant coating, which is composed of sodium alginate and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose in a mass ratio of 1:1 to 1:3. The dry basis weight of the coating is 2% to 8% of the weight of the film on the outer wall of the second chamber.

[0016] The method for applying the alkali-resistant coating includes the following steps: dissolving sodium alginate and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose in deionized water at 60 to 70 degrees Celsius to prepare a mixed adhesive solution with a mass concentration of 1% to 3%; immersing the molded second chamber shell in the mixed adhesive solution for 3 to 10 seconds and then pulling it out at a uniform speed of 5 to 15 millimeters per second; subsequently placing the coated shell in a calcium chloride solution at 40 to 50 degrees Celsius with a calcium ion concentration of 0.5 to 1.5 mol per liter for crosslinking and curing for 1 to 5 minutes; and finally rinsing with deionized water and drying.

[0017] The active oxygen-based stain remover contains sodium percarbonate and sodium bicarbonate in parts by weight, wherein the sodium percarbonate is 40 to 60 parts by weight and the sodium bicarbonate is 10 to 20 parts by weight.

[0018] The active oxygen-based stain remover also includes sodium silicate, sodium metasilicate, sodium citrate, sodium sulfate, and disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate, wherein the sodium silicate is in the amount of 2 to 7 parts by weight, the sodium metasilicate is in the amount of 1 to 4 parts by weight, the sodium citrate is in the amount of 0.5 to 4 parts by weight, the sodium sulfate is in the amount of 2 to 10 parts by weight, and the disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate is in the amount of 0.1 to 0.5 parts by weight;

[0019] The enzyme preparation comprises a complex enzyme of protease and lipase, wherein the activity unit of the protease is 150,000 to 300,000 U per gram, and the amount of the protease added is 1 to 3 parts by weight; the activity unit of the lipase is 10,000 to 50,000 U per gram, and the amount of the lipase added is 0.5 to 2 parts by weight.

[0020] The enzyme preparation also includes sorbitol and sodium citrate, wherein the amount of sorbitol added is 5 to 10 parts by weight, and the amount of sodium citrate added is 2 to 4 parts by weight;

[0021] The fabric care agent comprises an amino silicone oil emulsion and fragrance microcapsules. The solid content of the amino silicone oil emulsion is 30%, the amount of the amino silicone oil emulsion added is 0.5 to 15 parts by weight, and the amount of the fragrance microcapsules added is 1 to 8 parts by weight.

[0022] The care agent also includes polyethylene glycol 400 and polyvinylpyrrolidone K30, wherein the amount of polyethylene glycol 400 added is 5 to 15 parts by weight, and the amount of polyvinylpyrrolidone K30 added is 0.2 to 5 parts by weight.

[0023] Compared with the prior art, the advantages and beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0024] 1. This invention encapsulates three potentially conflicting chemical components—an active oxygen-based stain remover, an enzyme preparation, and a fabric conditioner—in separate compartments by creating at least three independent and sealed chambers, completely separated by physical partitions. This physical isolation design completely blocks any contact pathways between the components during storage. Therefore, it effectively prevents problems such as hydrogen peroxide released from the active oxygen component causing enzyme protein inactivation, or precipitation reactions between cationic softeners and anionic surfactants, ensuring long-term product stability during shelf life and allowing each active ingredient to maintain its intended efficacy during user use.

[0025] 2. The first chamber outer wall of this invention is 25 to 40 micrometers thick, the second chamber is 60 to 80 micrometers thick, and the third chamber is 100 to 130 micrometers thick. Combined with crosslinking modification of the polyvinyl alcohol material on the outer wall of the third chamber, the dissolution and rupture sequence of each chamber in aqueous solution is controlled. The thinner outer wall of the first chamber ensures that the active oxygen-based stain remover is rapidly released during the initial main wash stage, establishing the alkaline environment required for stain removal. The thicker and modified outer wall of the third chamber delays the release of the fabric care agent, allowing it to take effect only in the subsequent rinsing stage. This timing control based on material thickness and properties actively adapts to the water flow and stage changes of modern washing machine programs, achieving the ideal effect of "main wash for stain removal first, followed by rinsing for care," avoiding the internal consumption or waste of efficacy caused by improper release timing of ingredients.

[0026] 3. This invention protects the internal enzyme preparation by coating the entire outer wall or inner surface of the second chamber containing the enzyme preparation with an alkali-resistant coating composed of sodium alginate and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose. During the initial washing stage, when the active oxygen-based detergent in the first chamber is released and may temporarily raise the pH of the washing solution, this coating can, to some extent, block the direct impact of the alkaline environment on the enzyme molecules, creating a relatively gentle transition space for the enzyme preparation. After the coating gradually dissolves over a preset time, the enzyme preparation is released and exerts its effect in a more suitable environment, thereby significantly improving the activity retention rate and efficiency of the enzyme during complex washing processes.

[0027] 4. This invention designs the first, second, and third chambers to be blue, white, and purple, respectively, by adding phthalocyanine blue, titanium dioxide, and permanent violet as pigments to the corresponding polyvinyl alcohol aqueous solutions. This color coding system establishes an intuitive visual language: blue is associated with active oxygen stain removal, white with bio-enzyme cleaning, and purple with softening care. It not only enhances the product's recognizability and aesthetics but, more importantly, provides users with clear functional indications, allowing them to understand the product's multiple functions without reading complex instructions, lowering the barrier to entry, and simultaneously strengthening the visual communication of the brand's technological features. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0029] In the specific embodiments of this application, the sources of various main raw materials are briefly described as follows:

[0030] Sodium percarbonate: Puyang Shengkai Environmental New Material Technology Co., Ltd.

[0031] Sodium silicate: Langfang Pengcai Fine Chemical Co., Ltd.

[0032] Disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate: Shijiazhuang Junsai Chemical Technology Co., Ltd.

[0033] Proteases and lipases: Genentech (China) Biotechnology Co., Ltd.

[0034] Sorbitol: Shandong Runhe Biotechnology Co., Ltd.

[0035] Sodium citrate: Qingdao Haiweisen Biotechnology Co., Ltd.

[0036] Amino silicone oil emulsion: Guangzhou Tinci Advanced Materials Co., Ltd.

[0037] Fragrance Microcapsules: Firmenich (China) Fragrance & Flavor Co., Ltd.

[0038] Polyethylene glycol 400: Jiangsu Haian Petrochemical Plant

[0039] Polyvinylpyrrolidone K30: Jiangyin Jiafeng Chemical Co., Ltd.

[0040] Sodium alginate: Qingdao Mingyue Seaweed Group Co., Ltd.

[0041] Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose: Hebei Baiwei Biotechnology Co., Ltd.

[0042] Calcium chloride: Tianjin Bohai Chemical Co., Ltd.

[0043] Polyvinyl alcohol: Anhui Wanwei High-Tech Materials Co., Ltd.

[0044] Glutaraldehyde: Wuhan Yuanda Hongyuan Co., Ltd.

[0045] Phthalocyanine Blue, Titanium Dioxide, and Permanent Violet: Zhejiang Xinkai Technology Group Co., Ltd.

[0046] The technical solution of this application is as follows:

[0047] A multi-chamber time-release laundry pod structure is disclosed, comprising at least three independent and sealed chambers, which are completely separated by physical isolation walls and each chamber contains different washing and care functional contents.

[0048] The laundry detergent pod structure includes a first chamber for encapsulating an active oxygen-based stain remover, a second chamber for encapsulating an enzyme preparation, and a third chamber for encapsulating a fabric care agent. The first, second, and third chambers are arranged sequentially along a straight line. The outer walls of the first and second chambers are fused together at a first connection point at their tangent points, and the outer walls of the second and third chambers are fused together at a second connection point at their tangent points.

[0049] The preparation method of this laundry detergent pod structure includes the following steps: First, spherical water-soluble film shells of the first chamber, second chamber, and third chamber are prepared respectively; then, under hot air conditions of 45 to 60 degrees Celsius, the predetermined contact points on the outer walls of the shells of the first and second chambers are pressurized and brought into contact for 1 to 3 seconds to fuse them together, forming a first connection point; after cooling, the pre-connected first and second chamber assembly is pressurized and brought into contact with the predetermined contact point of the shell of the third chamber under the same conditions to fuse them together, forming a second connection point, thereby obtaining an integrated three-chamber shell structure; finally, the corresponding contents are filled into each chamber shell and sealed.

[0050] The pressure of the pressurized contact is 0.5 to 2.0 N, the wind speed of the hot air is 1 to 3 m / s, and the spherical water-soluble film shell is prepared by a drip molding method, wherein the drip molding liquid used in the drip molding method is an aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol with a concentration of 8% to 12%.

[0051] The polyvinyl alcohol used to prepare the outer wall of the third chamber is cross-linked modified. The cross-linking agent is glutaraldehyde, and the amount added is 0.3% to 1.0% of the dry basis mass of polyvinyl alcohol. The cross-linking reaction is carried out under acidic conditions with a pH of 2.5 to 3.5 and in a water bath at 50 to 60 degrees Celsius with stirring for 40 to 90 minutes.

[0052] The materials in the first, second, and third chambers are blue, white, and purple, respectively. The colors are achieved by adding phthalocyanine blue, titanium dioxide, and permanent violet as pigments to the polyvinyl alcohol aqueous solutions in the corresponding first, second, and third chambers, respectively. The amount of each pigment added is 0.5% to 1.5% of the dry weight of the polyvinyl alcohol.

[0053] The outer wall thickness of the first chamber is 50 to 75 micrometers, the outer wall thickness of the second chamber is 60 to 85 micrometers, and the outer wall thickness of the third chamber is 70 to 100 micrometers.

[0054] The outer wall or inner surface of the second chamber is covered with an alkali-resistant coating, which is composed of sodium alginate and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose in a mass ratio of 1:1 to 1:3. The dry basis weight of the coating is 2% to 8% of the weight of the film on the outer wall of the second chamber.

[0055] The method for applying the alkali-resistant coating includes the following steps: dissolving sodium alginate and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose in deionized water at 60 to 70 degrees Celsius to prepare a mixed adhesive solution with a mass concentration of 1% to 3%; immersing the molded second chamber shell in the mixed adhesive solution for 3 to 10 seconds and then pulling it out at a uniform speed of 5 to 15 millimeters per second; subsequently placing the coated shell in a calcium chloride solution at 40 to 50 degrees Celsius with a calcium ion concentration of 0.5 to 1.5 mol per liter for crosslinking and curing for 1 to 5 minutes; and finally rinsing with deionized water and drying.

[0056] The active oxygen-based stain remover contains sodium percarbonate and sodium bicarbonate in parts by weight, wherein the sodium percarbonate is 40 to 60 parts by weight and the sodium bicarbonate is 10 to 20 parts by weight.

[0057] The active oxygen-based stain remover also includes sodium silicate, sodium metasilicate, sodium citrate, sodium sulfate, and disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate, wherein the sodium silicate is in the amount of 2 to 7 parts by weight, the sodium metasilicate is in the amount of 1 to 4 parts by weight, the sodium citrate is in the amount of 0.5 to 4 parts by weight, the sodium sulfate is in the amount of 2 to 10 parts by weight, and the disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate is in the amount of 0.1 to 0.5 parts by weight;

[0058] The enzyme preparation comprises a complex enzyme of protease and lipase, wherein the activity unit of the protease is 150,000 to 300,000 U per gram, and the amount of the protease added is 1 to 3 parts by weight; the activity unit of the lipase is 10,000 to 50,000 U per gram, and the amount of the lipase added is 0.5 to 2 parts by weight.

[0059] The enzyme preparation also includes sorbitol and sodium citrate, wherein the amount of sorbitol added is 5 to 10 parts by weight, and the amount of sodium citrate added is 2 to 4 parts by weight;

[0060] The fabric care agent comprises an amino silicone oil emulsion and fragrance microcapsules. The solid content of the amino silicone oil emulsion is 30%, the amount of the amino silicone oil emulsion added is 0.5 to 15 parts by weight, and the amount of the fragrance microcapsules added is 1 to 8 parts by weight.

[0061] The care agent also includes polyethylene glycol 400 and polyvinylpyrrolidone K30, wherein the amount of polyethylene glycol 400 added is 5 to 15 parts by weight, and the amount of polyvinylpyrrolidone K30 added is 0.2 to 5 parts by weight.

[0062] This invention utilizes the thickness, material, or coating of the outer walls of each chamber to achieve differentiated dissolution rates during washing, thereby enabling a sequential release of substances—primarily for stain removal followed by conditioning and softening—to optimize washing results. Furthermore, each chamber is color-coded for visual clarity.

[0063] The present invention will be described in detail below through examples and comparative examples, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to these examples. Unless otherwise specified, the chemical reagents and raw materials used in the following examples and comparative examples are all conventional commercially available products.

[0064] Example 1

[0065] This embodiment provides a multi-chamber, time-release laundry detergent pod structure and its preparation method.

[0066] First, spherical water-soluble film shells for each chamber were prepared. The preparation was carried out using a drip molding method, with the dripping solution being a 12% polyvinyl alcohol aqueous solution, and the coagulation bath being a mixed aqueous solution of saturated borax and 20% sodium sulfate at a mass concentration of 10℃. By controlling the drip molding process, the shells for the first, second, and third chambers were prepared respectively.

[0067] Subsequently, the chambers are connected and assembled. Under hot air conditions of 45°C and a wind speed of 3 meters per second, a pressure of 0.5 Newtons is applied to the outer walls of the first and second chamber shells at a predetermined tangential contact point for 3 seconds, causing the polyvinyl alcohol material at the contact point to fuse and form the first connection point. After cooling and solidification, under the same hot air conditions, a pressure of 0.5 Newtons is applied to the predetermined contact point of the connected first and second chamber assembly with the shell of the third chamber for 3 seconds to form the second connection point, thereby obtaining an integrated three-chamber shell structure.

[0068] Then, the contents of each chamber are prepared and filled. The first chamber is filled with an active oxygen-based stain remover, the composition of which, by weight, is: 60 parts by weight of sodium percarbonate, 20 parts by weight of sodium bicarbonate, 7 parts by weight of sodium silicate, 4 parts by weight of sodium metasilicate, 4 parts by weight of sodium citrate, 10 parts by weight of sodium sulfate, and 0.5 parts by weight of disodium EDTA. The second chamber is filled with an enzyme preparation, the composition of which, by weight, is: 3 parts by weight of protease with an activity unit of 300,000 U / g; 0.5 parts by weight of lipase with an activity unit of 50,000 U / g; 10 parts by weight of sorbitol; and 2 parts by weight of sodium citrate. The third chamber is filled with a fabric care agent, the composition of which, by weight, is: 15 parts by weight of an amino silicone oil emulsion with a solid content of 30%, 8 parts by weight of fragrance microcapsules, 5 parts by weight of polyethylene glycol 400, and 5 parts by weight of polyvinylpyrrolidone K30. After filling the aforementioned contents into the corresponding empty chambers, they are sealed.

[0069] Finally, the outer wall of the chamber was further processed. The polyvinyl alcohol used to prepare the outer wall of the third chamber underwent crosslinking modification. Glutaraldehyde was used as the crosslinking agent, added at 1.0% of the dry weight of the polyvinyl alcohol. The crosslinking reaction was carried out under acidic conditions (pH 3.5) and stirred in a 50°C water bath for 90 minutes. An alkali-resistant coating was applied to the entire outer wall of the second chamber. This coating was composed of sodium alginate and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose in a 1:1 mass ratio, with the dry weight of the coating being 8% of the weight of the film on the outer wall of the second chamber. The coating method was as follows: Sodium alginate and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose were dissolved in deionized water at 70°C to prepare a 3% (w / w) mixed adhesive solution; the molded empty shell of the second chamber was immersed in this mixed adhesive solution for 3 seconds and then pulled out at a uniform speed of 15 mm / s; subsequently, the coated empty shell was placed in a calcium chloride solution at 40°C with a calcium ion concentration of 1.5 mol / L for crosslinking and curing for 5 minutes; finally, it was rinsed with deionized water and dried.

[0070] In this embodiment, the outer wall thickness of each chamber is designed as follows: the outer wall thickness of the first chamber is 50 micrometers, the outer wall thickness of the second chamber is 60 micrometers, and the outer wall thickness of the third chamber is 70 micrometers. The color of each chamber is achieved by adding pigments to its corresponding polyvinyl alcohol aqueous solution: phthalocyanine blue is added to the first chamber, titanium dioxide is added to the second chamber, and permanent violet is added to the third chamber. The amount of all pigments added is 1.5% of the dry weight of polyvinyl alcohol.

[0071] Example 2

[0072] In this embodiment, the similarities to those in Embodiment 1 will not be repeated, and the differences are as follows:

[0073] First, the dripping solution used to prepare the cavity shell is an 8% polyvinyl alcohol aqueous solution, the sodium sulfate in the coagulation bath has a mass concentration of 10%, and the solution temperature is 20℃.

[0074] The chamber connection process was carried out under hot air conditions at 60°C and a hot air velocity of 1 m / s. The pressure for forming the first connection point was 2.0 N, and the contact time was 1 second; the pressure for forming the second connection point was also 2.0 N, and the contact time was 1 second.

[0075] The formulations of the contents of each chamber are adjusted by weight as follows: The active oxygen-based stain remover in the first chamber contains 40 parts by weight of sodium percarbonate, 10 parts by weight of sodium bicarbonate, 5 parts by weight of sodium silicate, 2 parts by weight of sodium metasilicate, 2 parts by weight of sodium citrate, 6 parts by weight of sodium sulfate, and 0.3 parts by weight of disodium EDTA. The enzyme preparation in the second chamber contains 1 part by weight of protease (150,000 U / g), 2 parts by weight of lipase (10,000 U / g), 5 parts by weight of sorbitol, and 4 parts by weight of sodium citrate. The fabric care agent in the third chamber contains 25 parts by weight of amino silicone oil emulsion, 3 parts by weight of fragrance microcapsules, 10 parts by weight of polyethylene glycol 400, and 2 parts by weight of polyvinylpyrrolidone K30.

[0076] The polyvinyl alcohol crosslinking modification parameters for the outer wall of the third chamber are: glutaraldehyde addition 0.3%, crosslinking reaction pH 2.5, reaction temperature 60℃, and reaction time 40 minutes. In the alkali-resistant coating of the second chamber, the mass ratio of sodium alginate to sodium carboxymethyl cellulose is 1:3, and the dry basis weight of the coating is 2% of the film weight. The coating process parameters are: adhesive preparation temperature 60℃, adhesive concentration 1%, immersion time 10 seconds, lifting speed 5 mm / s, crosslinking curing temperature 50℃, calcium ion concentration 0.5 mol / L, and curing time 1 minute.

[0077] The outer wall thickness of each chamber is as follows: 60 micrometers for the first chamber, 70 micrometers for the second chamber, and 85 micrometers for the third chamber. The amount of pigment added is 0.5% of the dry weight of polyvinyl alcohol.

[0078] Example 3

[0079] In this embodiment, the similarities to those in Embodiment 1 will not be repeated, and the differences are as follows:

[0080] During the preparation of the cavity shell, the concentration of the dripping solution is 10% polyvinyl alcohol aqueous solution, the mass concentration of sodium sulfate in the coagulation bath is 15%, and the solution temperature is 15℃.

[0081] The chamber connection process parameters are as follows: hot air temperature 52.5℃, air velocity 2 m / s. Pressure at the first connection point is 1.25 N, contact time is 2 seconds; pressure at the second connection point is 0.5 N, contact time is 3 seconds.

[0082] The contents are formulated in parts by weight as follows: First chamber: 50 parts by weight of sodium percarbonate, 15 parts by weight of sodium bicarbonate, 2 parts by weight of sodium silicate, 1 part by weight of sodium metasilicate, 0.5 parts by weight of sodium citrate, 2 parts by weight of sodium sulfate, and 0.1 parts by weight of disodium EDTA. Second chamber: 2 parts by weight of protease (225,000 U / g activity), 1.25 parts by weight of lipase (30,000 U / g activity), 7.5 parts by weight of sorbitol, and 3 parts by weight of sodium citrate. Third chamber: 20 parts by weight of amino silicone oil emulsion, 5.5 parts by weight of fragrance microcapsules, 7.5 parts by weight of polyethylene glycol 400, and 3.5 parts by weight of polyvinylpyrrolidone K30.

[0083] The modification parameters for the outer wall of the third chamber are: glutaraldehyde addition 0.65%, crosslinking pH 3.0, temperature 55℃, and time 65 minutes. The alkali-resistant coating components for the second chamber have a mass ratio of 1:2, with a dry basis weight of 5%. Coating parameters are: adhesive temperature 65℃, concentration 2%, immersion time 6.5 seconds, lifting speed 10 mm / s, crosslinking temperature 45℃, calcium ion concentration 1.0 mol / L, and time 3 minutes.

[0084] The outer wall thickness of each chamber is as follows: 75 micrometers for the first chamber, 85 micrometers for the second chamber, and 100 micrometers for the third chamber. The amount of pigment added is 1.0% of the dry weight of polyvinyl alcohol.

[0085] Comparative Example 1

[0086] In this comparative example, the similarities with Example 1 will not be repeated, and the differences are as follows:

[0087] The outer wall thickness of all three chambers is set to the same 40 micrometers, and the outer wall of the second chamber is not coated with an alkali-resistant coating, while the outer wall of the third chamber is not cross-linked modified with polyvinyl alcohol.

[0088] Comparative Example 2

[0089] In this comparative example, the similarities with Example 2 will not be repeated, and the differences are as follows:

[0090] The physical isolation walls were removed, and the contents of the first, second, and third chambers in Example 2 were directly mixed and then sealed in a large single-chamber water-soluble thin film shell.

[0091] Comparative Example 3

[0092] In this comparative example, the similarities with Example 3 will not be repeated, and the differences are as follows:

[0093] Instead of fusing the three chambers together, the three separately prepared and filled beads are simply physically mixed in one packaging bag.

[0094] Comparative Example 4

[0095] In this comparative example, the similarities with Example 1 will not be repeated, and the differences are as follows:

[0096] The dissolution order of the outer walls of the chambers was adjusted, with the outer wall of the third chamber (care agent) set to the thinnest (25 micrometers) and the outer wall of the first chamber (oxygen agent) set to the thickest (130 micrometers).

[0097] Comparative Example 5

[0098] In this comparative example, the similarities with Example 1 will not be repeated, and the differences are as follows:

[0099] The material used for the alkali-resistant coating of the second chamber was changed to ordinary silica powder that had not undergone hydrophilic modification, and it was dispersed in the coating adhesive by physical mixing.

[0100] Performance Test Results and Analysis

[0101] To verify the effectiveness of the technical solution of this invention, performance tests were conducted on the laundry detergent pod samples prepared in the three embodiments and five comparative examples mentioned above. The test methods are as follows: Storage stability testing was conducted according to relevant guidelines. The samples were placed in an accelerated stability test chamber at 40℃ and 75% relative humidity. Samples were taken on days 0, 30, 60, and 90 to detect the content of key active ingredients. Washing sequence testing was performed using a standard agitator washing machine at 25℃ and 150 rpm. The pods were added at the beginning of the main wash cycle. The concentration of each functional component in the washing liquid was measured over time using an online pH meter and timed sampling analysis. Three key time points were recorded: completion of active oxygen release, commencement of enzyme release, and commencement of conditioning agent release. Stain removal and conditioning effect testing was conducted using GB / T standard soiled cloth. The removal rates of protein stains and grease stains, as well as the softness (expressed as bending length) and fragrance retention (scored by a sensory evaluation panel) of the washed cotton towels were tested after washing with the pods of this invention. The specific test results are shown in Table 1.

[0102]

[0103] As shown in Table 1, after 90 days of accelerated storage, the enzyme activity retention rates of all three examples remained above 90%, significantly higher than the comparative examples. Comparative Example 2, which directly mixed incompatible components, suffered the most severe enzyme activity loss, with a retention rate of only 41.2%, directly demonstrating that single-chamber mixing and encapsulation cannot solve the problem of chemical incompatibility. Although Comparative Example 1 used a multi-chamber design, the lack of alkali-resistant protection for the second chamber meant that the enzyme could still be affected by alkaline substances slowly permeating from the first chamber during storage, resulting in slightly lower stability than the examples. This indicates that the complete separation achieved through physical isolation walls, combined with a targeted protective coating, is an effective means to fundamentally block harmful interactions between components and ensure long-term storage stability.

[0104] Regarding the time-release function, the data from Examples 1-3 clearly demonstrate the release sequence of "primary wash (oxygen stain removal) followed by conditioning (softening)". The active oxygen component is rapidly released within 2-3.5 minutes, creating an alkaline environment for stain removal; the enzyme preparation begins to be released only after 6-8.5 minutes, avoiding the initial high-alkalinity stage; and the conditioning agent is released after 15 minutes, perfectly matching the rinsing stage. In Comparative Example 1, because all chamber outer walls have the same thickness, all components are released almost simultaneously within the first 3.5 minutes of washing, causing internal attrition and a significant decrease in both stain removal and conditioning effects. Comparative Example 4 shows a reversed release order; the conditioning agent is released too early and washed away. Although the fragrance retention score is high, the improvement in softness is limited, and the stain removal effect is severely compromised due to the late release of the active oxygen agent. These comparisons demonstrate that precisely designing the thickness, material modification, and coating of each chamber outer wall to achieve active control of the dissolution rate is key to adapting the product's functions to the program sequence of modern washing machines.

[0105] Regarding the effectiveness of the integrated structure, the embodiments and Comparative Example 3 are similar in terms of component release timing and final washing effect, but Comparative Example 3 cannot achieve the visual recognition function of this invention. The mixing and packaging of three independently colored beads, unlike the fusion of the three colored chambers of this invention into a single unit, fundamentally differs in providing users with intuitive functional guidance and establishing brand recognition. The integrated structure is not merely a physical connection, but a unified carrier of function and information transmission. Data from Comparative Example 5 shows that even with a time-release structure, if the material of the protective coating is not properly selected, such as using unmodified silica, its adhesion to the substrate and its barrier effect against alkaline environments will decrease, leading to a weakened protective effect on enzymes and ultimately affecting stain removal efficiency.

[0106] Test results show that this invention, through the thickness, material, or coating of the outer wall of each chamber, enables differentiated dissolution rates during washing, thereby achieving a timed release of the detergent for stain removal followed by conditioning and softening, thus optimizing the washing effect. Furthermore, each chamber uses specific color coding to make its function visible.

[0107] The above description represents the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various improvements and modifications without departing from the principles of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A multi-chamber, time-release laundry detergent pod structure, characterized in that, The laundry pod structure contains at least three independent and sealed chambers, which are completely separated by physical partitions and each chamber contains different washing and care functional contents.

2. The multi-chamber time-release laundry pod structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The laundry detergent pod structure includes a first chamber for encapsulating an active oxygen-based stain remover, a second chamber for encapsulating an enzyme preparation, and a third chamber for encapsulating a fabric care agent. The first, second, and third chambers are arranged sequentially along a straight line. The outer walls of the first and second chambers are fused together at a first connection point at their tangent points, and the outer walls of the second and third chambers are fused together at a second connection point at their tangent points.

3. The multi-chamber time-release laundry detergent pod structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, The preparation method of this laundry detergent pod structure includes the following steps: First, spherical water-soluble film shells of the first chamber, second chamber, and third chamber are prepared respectively; then, under hot air conditions of 45 to 60 degrees Celsius, the predetermined contact points on the outer walls of the shells of the first and second chambers are pressurized and brought into contact for 1 to 3 seconds to fuse them together, forming a first connection point; after cooling, the pre-connected first and second chamber assembly is pressurized and brought into contact with the predetermined contact point of the shell of the third chamber under the same conditions to fuse them together, forming a second connection point, thereby obtaining an integrated three-chamber shell structure; finally, the corresponding contents are filled into each chamber shell and sealed.

4. The multi-chamber time-release laundry pod structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, The pressure of the pressurized contact is 0.5 to 2.0 N, the wind speed of the hot air is 1 to 3 m / s, and the spherical water-soluble film shell is prepared by a drip molding method, wherein the drip molding liquid used in the drip molding method is an aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol with a concentration of 8% to 12%.

5. The multi-chamber time-release laundry pod structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The polyvinyl alcohol used to prepare the outer wall of the third chamber is cross-linked modified. The cross-linking agent is glutaraldehyde, and the amount added is 0.3% to 1.0% of the dry basis mass of polyvinyl alcohol. The cross-linking reaction is carried out under acidic conditions with a pH of 2.5 to 3.5 and in a water bath at 50 to 60 degrees Celsius with stirring for 40 to 90 minutes.

6. The multi-chamber time-release laundry detergent pod structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The material in the first chamber is selected from any one of blue, white, green, yellow, and purple; the material in the second chamber is selected from any one of blue, white, green, yellow, and purple; and the material in the third chamber is selected from any one of blue, white, green, yellow, and purple.

7. The multi-chamber time-release laundry pod structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, The outer wall thickness of the first chamber is 50 to 75 micrometers, the outer wall thickness of the second chamber is 60 to 85 micrometers, and the outer wall thickness of the third chamber is 70 to 100 micrometers.

8. The multi-chamber time-release laundry detergent pod structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, The outer wall or inner surface of the second chamber is covered with an alkali-resistant coating, which is composed of sodium alginate and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose in a mass ratio of 1:1 to 1:

3. The dry basis weight of the coating is 2% to 8% of the weight of the film on the outer wall of the second chamber.

9. The multi-chamber time-release laundry detergent pod structure according to claim 8, characterized in that, The method for applying the alkali-resistant coating includes the following steps: dissolving sodium alginate and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose in deionized water at 60 to 70 degrees Celsius to prepare a mixed adhesive solution with a mass concentration of 1% to 3%; immersing the molded second chamber shell in the mixed adhesive solution for 3 to 10 seconds and then pulling it out at a uniform speed of 5 to 15 millimeters per second; subsequently placing the coated shell in a calcium chloride solution at 40 to 50 degrees Celsius with a calcium ion concentration of 0.5 to 1.5 mol per liter for crosslinking and curing for 1 to 5 minutes; and finally rinsing with deionized water and drying.

10. The multi-chamber time-release laundry pod structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, The active oxygen-based stain remover contains sodium percarbonate and sodium bicarbonate in parts by weight, wherein the sodium percarbonate is 40 to 60 parts by weight and the sodium bicarbonate is 10 to 20 parts by weight. The active oxygen-based stain remover also includes sodium silicate, sodium metasilicate, sodium citrate, sodium sulfate, and disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate, wherein the sodium silicate is in the amount of 2 to 7 parts by weight, the sodium metasilicate is in the amount of 1 to 4 parts by weight, the sodium citrate is in the amount of 0.5 to 4 parts by weight, the sodium sulfate is in the amount of 2 to 10 parts by weight, and the disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate is in the amount of 0.1 to 0.5 parts by weight; The enzyme preparation comprises a complex enzyme of protease and lipase, wherein the activity unit of the protease is 150,000 to 300,000 U per gram, and the amount of the protease added is 1 to 3 parts by weight; the activity unit of the lipase is 10,000 to 50,000 U per gram, and the amount of the lipase added is 0.5 to 2 parts by weight. The enzyme preparation also includes sorbitol and sodium citrate, wherein the amount of sorbitol added is 5 to 10 parts by weight, and the amount of sodium citrate added is 2 to 4 parts by weight; The fabric care agent comprises an amino silicone oil emulsion and fragrance microcapsules. The solid content of the amino silicone oil emulsion is 30%, the amount of the amino silicone oil emulsion added is 0.5 to 15 parts by weight, and the amount of the fragrance microcapsules added is 1 to 8 parts by weight. The care agent also includes polyethylene glycol 400 and polyvinylpyrrolidone K30, wherein the amount of polyethylene glycol 400 added is 5 to 15 parts by weight, and the amount of polyvinylpyrrolidone K30 added is 0.2 to 5 parts by weight.

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