DETERGENT OFFER FORM

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a detergent packaging form comprising an outer package and detergent granules arranged in assorted configurations within the outer package. In particular, the invention relates to detergent packaging forms comprising assorted detergent granules and outer packages with high fill levels.

[0002] The packaging and presentation of detergents and cleaning agents are subject to constantly changing requirements. For some time now, a major focus has been on convenient dosing by the consumer and simplifying the steps required for washing or cleaning. One technical solution is offered by pre-portioned detergent or cleaning agent dosing units, such as water-soluble containers with one or more compartments for powdered or liquid detergents or cleaning agents. Another technical solution is provided by detergent tablets, which can be single-phase or multi-phase.

[0003] Both water-soluble containers and detergent tablets are generally hygroscopic due to the active ingredients they contain. To prevent water absorption, the pre-portioned detergent or cleaning agent dosing units are individually packaged using waterproof packaging materials, such as flow packs based on water-insoluble polymer films. Alternatively, multiple detergent or cleaning agent dosing units can be packaged in a single container, which itself has a water vapor barrier, thus reducing water access to the dosing units.

[0004] Regardless of whether the packaging materials used to reduce water ingress enclose single or multiple detergent or cleaning agent dosing units, their use is undesirable for ecological reasons. Therefore, one goal of developing innovative detergent packaging formats is to provide solutions and designs that, based on recycled, recyclable, or biodegradable materials, realize the technical advantages of non-recyclable, non-biodegradable, or non-biodegradable materials to the greatest extent possible. Optimizing and further developing existing sustainable technical solutions offers a starting point for this development.

[0005] A technical problem that receives particular attention with regard to detergent or cleaning agent dosing units, especially detergent or cleaning agent tablets, is ensuring the transport and storage stability of these units. The term "transport and storage stability" encompasses both ensuring the physical stability of the detergent or cleaning agent dosing units, for example, against breakage, and ensuring the chemical stability of the detergent or cleaning agent dosing units, for example, against premature degradation and the resulting degradation of the unit's shape. A classic approach to ensuring the transport and storage stability of detergent or cleaning agent tablets involves packaging them in individual flow packs with three-sided welds and the characteristic finned seams of these flow packs.These flow packs are typically made from non-biodegradable, water-insoluble polymer films and, in addition to the detergent or cleaning agent dosing unit, also enclose a considerable volume of air. This air volume, along with the aforementioned fin seams, ensures the physical integrity of the dosing units under mechanical stress due to their damping effect. Furthermore, the water-insoluble polymer films prevent unwanted water ingress from the ambient air, thus also chemically stabilizing the detergent or cleaning agent dosing units. Packaging systems with an octagonal base for tablet-shaped items are described in international patent application WO 2004 / 058580 A1.

[0006] German patent application DE 100 18 003 A1 concerns packaging for cylindrical detergent tablets.

[0007] Cuboid-shaped washing or cleaning agents are disclosed in international application WO 2004 / 046297 A1.

[0008] Patent GB 957,821 describes blanks for cardboard boxes with reinforcing flaps.

[0009] Against the background of the previously described prior art, the application aimed to provide detergent portion units that can be manufactured using simplified processes, possess high transport and storage stability, and can be easily packaged using minimal amounts of packaging material. Finally, the detergent portion units should offer high product performance and be easy and safe for the consumer to handle.

[0010] A detergent offering form according to claim 1 is suitable for solving these tasks.

[0011] Surprisingly, it has been found that in outer packaging with a high fill level, the cavities in the side walls of the outer packaging, which are characteristic of the subject matter of the claim, improve the storage and transport stability of the detergent molded bodies.

[0012] The outer packaging is preferably designed as a one-piece folding carton. Preferred outer packaging has a flat base whose largest diagonal is greater than the height of the outer packaging. This design of the outer packaging increases its stability and allows for easy opening and removal. It is particularly preferred if the outer packaging has a flat base whose largest diagonal is more than twice, preferably more than four times, the height of the outer packaging.

[0013] To achieve a high fill level, it has proven advantageous for the outer packaging to have a rectangular base. For the same reason, and to improve the stackability of the outer packaging, it is preferred that the outer packaging has a lid that is parallel to the base. Cuboid-shaped outer packaging is particularly preferred. To increase storage stability, especially the chemical stabilization of the detergent molds, it has proven advantageous for the outer packaging to be resealable. Suitable closure elements include, for example, adhesive, snap, or plug-in elements, with adhesive and plug-in elements being particularly preferred. Examples of closure elements are snap closures or releasable adhesive closures.

[0014] For sustainability reasons, recycled and / or recyclable materials are preferred for the production of the outer packaging. Preferably, the packaging materials are based on renewable raw materials. The use of packaging materials based on pulp and recycled paper is particularly preferred.

[0015] In a first preferred embodiment, the outer packaging is made of cardboard. Besides its availability and recyclability, the advantages of cardboard lie in the wide variety of available grades and basis weights. Preferred cardboards have a basis weight of 150 to 400 g / m².

[0016] Corrugated board, which has proven technically superior to cardboard in some respects, is used in a particularly preferred embodiment for manufacturing the outer packaging. Corrugated board is characterized by high strength despite its low weight and is a suitable material for storage and transport, even in large containers.

[0017] A further significant technical advantage of corrugated cardboard in connection with the present invention is its void volume. Designing the side walls of the outer packaging to include voids has proven surprisingly advantageous for the physical stability of the detergent containers. Preferably, at least one of the side walls has a void volume of at least 10% by volume of the side wall's volume. Further improved stabilization of the detergent containers can be achieved if at least two of the side walls have void volumes of at least 10% by volume of the respective side wall's volume. It is particularly advantageous if two opposing side walls of the outer packaging have void volumes of at least 10% by volume of the respective side wall's volume.Detergent packaging formats are particularly preferred in which all side walls of the outer packaging have a hollow volume that amounts to at least 10% by volume of the volume of the respective side wall.

[0018] In addition to physical stability, the chemical stability of the detergent containers is surprisingly also improved by integrating cavities into the side walls of the outer packaging. One possible explanation is that the cavities, which interrupt the material of the side walls, make it more difficult for water to penetrate from the outside into the interior of the outer packaging, and / or that the cavities in the side walls buffer the ingress of moisture.

[0019] For the aforementioned reasons, particularly preferred outer packagings have one or more side walls in which the void volume is at least 20 vol.%, preferably at least 40 vol.% of the volume of the respective side wall.

[0020] The hollow volume in the side walls of the outer packaging can be achieved, for example, by using corrugated cardboard. A preferred alternative or complement to corrugated cardboard are hollow-edge boxes or boxless boxes, which, due to their design, are suitable for achieving hollow volumes of 10% by volume and higher.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the outer packaging is designed as a one-piece folding carton and comprises a base and four side panels hinged to the base, as well as a lid and at least three side panels hinged to the lid. The one-piece design of the outer packaging increases its stability and simplifies its manufacture.

[0022] As previously stated, preferred outer packaging is resealable. A particularly preferred embodiment is a folding carton with hinged lids, wherein, in the closed state, parts of the lid preferably overlap at least partially with other parts of the carton. Examples include detergent packaging formats in which the outer packaging is in the form of a one-piece folding carton and has a base and four side surfaces hinged to the base, as well as a lid and at least three side surfaces hinged to the lid. In the closed state, the side surfaces of the outer packaging hinged to the lid overlap with the side surfaces hinged to the base of the outer packaging in such a way that the outer surfaces of the side surfaces hinged to the lid are in contact with the inner surfaces of the side surfaces hinged to the base of the outer packaging.In this embodiment, the lid closure is preferably reinforced by friction between the overlapping box parts. This type of lid closure, in which the side surfaces hinged to the lid surfaces are guided into the interior of the box, can lead to problems with lid closure in the case of high fill levels, particularly when the outer packaging is filled with detergent pellets that expand in volume during storage, because the side surfaces hinged to the lid surface are difficult to insert into the interior of the box.

[0023] Against this background, it may be appropriate to provide alternative detergent packaging formats in which the outer packaging is in the form of a one-piece folding box and has a base surface and four side surfaces hinged to the base surface, as well as a lid surface and at least three side surfaces hinged to the lid surface, and in the closed state the side surfaces of the outer packaging hinged to the lid surface overlap with the side surfaces hinged to the base surface of the outer packaging in such a way that at least one inner surface of a side surface hinged to the lid surface is in contact with at least one outer surface of the side surfaces hinged to the base surface of the outer packaging.

[0024] For the aforementioned reasons, detergent packaging forms are also preferred in which the outer packaging is in the form of a one-piece folding box and has a bottom surface and four side surfaces hinged to the bottom surface, as well as a lid surface and at least three side surfaces hinged to the lid surface, and in the closed state the side surfaces of the outer packaging hinged to the lid surface overlap with the side surfaces hinged to the bottom surface of the outer packaging in such a way that all inner surfaces of the side surfaces hinged to the lid surface are in contact with the outer surfaces of the side surfaces hinged to the bottom surface of the outer packaging.

[0025] In another alternative embodiment, the outer packaging is in the form of a one-piece folding box with a base surface and four side surfaces attached to the base surface, a top surface and four side surfaces attached to the top surface, an intermediate surface which connects a side surface of the base surface with a side surface of the top surface, In the following embodiment, when closed, the side surfaces of the outer packaging hinged to the lid surface overlap with the side surfaces hinged to the bottom surface of the outer packaging such that three of the inner surfaces of the side surfaces hinged to the lid surface are in contact with the outer surfaces of the side surfaces hinged to the bottom surface of the outer packaging, and the intermediate surface is located between the outer surface of the side surface hinged to the bottom surface and the inner surface of the side surface hinged to the lid surface. This embodiment facilitates easier opening of the outer packaging. Simultaneously, when closed, the outer packaging forms a three-fold overlapping soap surface in the area of ​​the intermediate surface, which is formed by a side surface hinged to the bottom surface, the intermediate surface, and the side surface hinged to the lid surface.This reinforced side wall stabilizes the outer packaging during storage and transport.

[0026] Due to the characteristic hollow side walls of the invention, the previously described outer packaging with overlapping side walls can be repeatedly opened and closed without any significant reduction in the friction occurring between the overlapping side walls. A possible explanation for this could be the compressibility of the side walls caused by the hollow walls.

[0027] A characteristic of preferred outer packaging is the COBB value of the cardboard used in its manufacture, which is below 25 g / m², preferably below 20 g / m². The COBB value is a measure that describes the resistance of paper and cardboard to moisture absorption. A high COBB value means that water penetrates more easily. A low COBB value means that water penetrates the material only with difficulty. The COBB value is determined according to DIN EN ISO 535 at 20 g / m² at 20 °C and standard pressure. Particularly preferred detergent packaging formats are characterized by the fact that the cardboard used to manufacture the folding carton has a COBB value below 25 g / m², preferably below 20 g / m².

[0028] Corresponding COBB values ​​can be achieved in various ways. In an alternative embodiment, the outer packaging comprises, for example, a water-insoluble cover film, preferably a polyethylene cover film. Water-insoluble cover films are generally suitable for preventing or at least reducing the ingress of water or water vapor through the outer packaging into the interior of the outer packaging.

[0029] To avoid unnecessary packaging components, water-insoluble cover films are preferably applied only to the outside or inside of the outer packaging. For effective limitation of moisture ingress, full coverage is preferred.

[0030] The advantages of fully covering the outside of the outer packaging include improved printability of the outer packaging surface and the prevention of water ingress into the cellulose-based packaging material, thus preventing, for example, the formation of surface water stains or swelling of the outer packaging.

[0031] Surprisingly, covering the entire inside of the outer packaging has proven advantageous for the adhesion of unwrapped detergent tablets, especially unwrapped detergent tablets. When an unwrapped tablet is combined with an inner lining of the cardboard outer packaging made of water-insoluble film, the adhesion of the tablets to the cardboard surface is increased. This reduces slippage and the associated mechanical shocks and damage to the tablets, particularly during transport.

[0032] Despite the aforementioned technical advantages, for reasons of sustainable production and packaging of the detergent molded bodies, it may be preferable if the outer packaging does not include a water-insoluble top film.

[0033] Biodegradable hydrophobic coatings or impregnations have proven to be viable alternatives to water-insoluble top films. The use of biodegradable hydrophobic coatings or impregnations comprising a substance from the group consisting of vegetable oils, vegetable or animal waxes, lignin and lignin derivatives, celluloses and cellulose derivatives, polylactic acid and polylactic acid derivatives is particularly preferred.

[0034] A key feature of the detergent packaging according to the invention is its high fill level of 85 to 99 vol.% of the outer packaging. This high fill level not only reduces the amount of packaging material that can be used for each detergent insert, but also surprisingly increases the physical stability of the detergent inserts, both with regard to insert breakage and abrasion. The fill level of preferred outer packaging is 88 vol.% and 99 vol.%, preferably 92 vol.% and 99 vol.%. "Fill level" refers to the proportion of the inner volume of the outer packaging occupied by the detergent inserts contained within.

[0035] An essential component of the detergent packaging according to the invention are the detergent molded bodies. A "molded body" is a single body that stabilizes itself in its embossed shape. This dimensionally stable body is formed from a molding compound (e.g., a composition) by selectively bringing this molding compound into a predetermined shape, e.g., by pouring a liquid composition into a mold and subsequently hardening the liquid composition, or by compressing a particulate premixture, for example, as part of a tableting process.

[0036] The term "detergent particles" refers to both forms suitable for textiles and forms suitable for cleaning hard surfaces such as ceramics, glass, metal, or tiles. Detergent particles, especially those for textiles, are particularly preferred because, due to the need for rapid disintegration in the wash water, they typically have a comparatively low hardness. These particles preferably weigh between 14 g and 42 g, more preferably between 20 g and 38 g, and particularly between 24 g and 34 g.

[0037] Due to their manufacturability and ease of removal from the outer packaging, detergent molded bodies which have a flat underside, the largest diagonal of which is more than twice, preferably more than four times, the height of the detergent molded bodies, are preferred.

[0038] It is particularly preferred if the detergent granules are in the form of tablets or comprise tablets.

[0039] The cuboid detergent molds comprise a bottom, a top, and a lateral surface connecting the bottom and top. For the stability of the molds, it has proven advantageous to chamfer the edges bounding the bottom and top. To further increase the stability of the molds, it may also be advisable to round the edges of the lateral surfaces connecting the bottom and top.

[0040] The density of preferred detergent molds is 1.1 g / cm³ to 1.5 g / cm³, preferably 1.15 g / cm³ to 1.3 g / cm³. As a consequence of the high mold density and the high fill level, the detergent dispenser forms according to the invention have comparatively high densities, for example densities in the range of 0.9 g / cm³ to 1.4 g / cm³, preferably in the range of 1.05 g / cm³ to 1.3 g / cm³.

[0041] Preferred detergent molds have a rough top surface or a rough bottom surface with an average roughness of 25 µm to 1000 µm, preferably 50 µm to 800 µm. Roughness describes the deviation of a real surface from an ideally smooth surface and is determined, for example, by confocal laser scanning microscopy.

[0042] The roughness values ​​preferred according to the invention reduce the abrasion of the molded parts during manufacturing and transport and at the same time ensure sufficient adhesion of the molded parts to the material of the outer packaging and the other molded parts located in the outer packaging, thereby stabilizing them within the outer packaging.

[0043] To improve their integrity, the detergent molded bodies may have a film packaging, and it is particularly preferred if each of the detergent molded bodies has a separate film packaging.

[0044] If film packaging is used, film packaging made of a water-soluble film material is preferred. The water-soluble film material can comprise one or more structurally different water-soluble polymers. Particularly suitable water-soluble polymers include polymers from the group of (optionally acetalized) polyvinyl alcohols (PVALs) and their copolymers.

[0045] Water-soluble film materials are preferably based on a polyvinyl alcohol or a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer whose molecular weight is in the range of 10,000 to 1,000,000 gmol -1< , preferably from 20,000 to 500,000 gmol -1< , particularly preferably from 30,000 to 100,000 gmol -1< and particularly from 40,000 to 80,000 gmol -1< .

[0046] The production of polyvinyl alcohols and polyvinyl alcohol copolymers generally involves the hydrolysis of intermediate polyvinyl acetates. Preferred polyvinyl alcohols and polyvinyl alcohol copolymers have a degree of hydrolysis of 70 to 100 mol%, preferably 80 to 90 mol%, particularly preferably 81 to 89 mol%, and especially 82 to 88 mol%.

[0047] Preferred polyvinyl alcohol copolymers comprise, in addition to vinyl alcohol, an ethylene-unsaturated carboxylic acid, its salt, or its ester. Particularly preferred are such polyvinyl alcohol copolymers containing, besides vinyl alcohol, sulfonic acids such as 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (AMPS), acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylic acid esters, methacrylic acid esters, or mixtures thereof; among the esters, C1-4 alkyl esters or hydroxyalkyl esters are preferred. Further monomers include ethylene-unsaturated dicarboxylic acids, for example, itaconic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, and mixtures thereof.

[0048] Due to their availability, ease of processing and biodegradability, film packaging is preferred which consists of at least 40 wt.%, preferably at least 60 wt.% and in particular at least 80 wt.% polyvinyl alcohol.

[0049] To increase the stability of the molded bodies and to ensure a sufficient fill level in the outer packaging, it is preferred to shrink the film packaging onto the detergent molded bodies.

[0050] For reasons of sustainable design of the detergent packaging, it may be advisable to forgo foil packaging for the detergent pellets.

[0051] In fact, the detergent molds in the detergent packaging forms according to the invention have proven to be unexpectedly stable. This applies in particular to detergent tablets, which, due to their hygroscopicity, for example due to the integration of tablet disintegrants, tend to have reduced transport and storage stability.

[0052] Detergent form elements which are particularly suitable for packaging in the detergent form elements according to the invention are in particular detergent form elements which have a water absorption (2 weeks, 35°C, 80% relative humidity) above 20 mg / g, preferably above 30 mg / g.

[0053] Detergent form products suitable for packaging in detergent dispensers include those that exhibit a volume expansion (2 weeks, 35°C, 80% relative humidity) above 5 vol%, preferably above 7 vol%, and particularly from 8 vol% to 18 vol%. This type of volume increase can be observed, for example, in detergent form products containing a disintegration aid, in particular a polymeric disintegration aid, such as a disintegration aid based on polyvinylpyrrolidone or cellulose.

[0054] To reduce the packaging area per detergent body, it is preferred if the detergent offering form comprises at least ten, preferably at least twenty, particularly preferably at least thirty detergent bodies, which are arranged in a sorted manner in the outer packaging.

[0055] When integrating a larger number of detergent molded parts into the detergent dispenser, their stability can be further improved by a targeted arrangement of the molded parts. Detergent dispensers comprising at least ten, preferably at least twenty, and particularly preferably at least thirty detergent molded parts have proven advantageous. These molded parts are arranged in the outer packaging in such a way that each detergent molded part is in direct contact with at least three other detergent molded parts.

Claims

1. Detergent supply form comprising a) an outer packaging made of cardboard with a rectangular base surface, a lid surface and side walls located between the base surface and the lid surface, characterized by b) cuboid detergent moulded bodies, wherein i) the outer packaging has a filling degree of 85% by volume to 99% by volume and ii) at least one of the side walls of the outer packaging has one or more cavities whose volume is at least 10% by volume of the volume of the side wall.

2. Detergent supply form according to claim 1, wherein the outer packaging has a filling degree of 88% by volume to 99% by volume, preferably 92% by volume to 99% by volume.

3. Detergent supply form according to one of the previous claims, wherein the outer packaging is made of corrugated cardboard.

4. Detergent supply form according to one of the previous claims, wherein the outer packaging is designed as a corrugated box.

5. Detergent supply form according to one of the previous claims, wherein the outer packaging is designed as a hollow-edged box.

6. Detergent supply form according to one of the previous claims, wherein at least two of the side walls of the outer packaging have one cavity or more cavities, the volume of which is at least 10% by volume of the volume of the respective side wall.

7. Detergent supply form according to one of the previous claims, wherein at least two opposite side walls of the outer packaging have one cavity or more cavities whose volume is at least 10% by volume of the volume of the respective side wall.

8. Detergent supply form according to one of the previous claims, wherein all side walls of the outer packaging have one cavity or more cavities whose volume is at least 10% by volume of the volume of the respective side wall.

9. Detergent supply form according to one of the previous claims, wherein the volume of the one or more cavities is at least 20% by volume, preferably at least 40% by volume, of the volume of the respective side wall.

10. Detergent supply form according to one of the previous claims, wherein the detergent moulded bodies have a volume expansion (2 weeks, 35°C, 80% relative humidity) above 5% by volume, preferably above 7% by volume and in particular from 8% by volume to 18% by volume.