Water Soluble Pouch Weakened Seam for Fast Dissolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water soluble pouches take too long to dissolve, which is a problem in the context of using more efficient washing and cleaning product formulations that require immediate product release in less water and with less power.
Innovation Solution
A process for producing a multi-chamber water soluble pouch with a weakened seam line formed during sealing, using a tool and die to create a trench in the seam that dissolves first when exposed to water, allowing for quicker separation of chambers and release of products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the pouch is made robust for handling, then the mechanical stability is improved, but the dissolution time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pouch is divided into multiple chambers separated by weakened lines. These weakened lines create segments that can separate during dissolution, allowing the pouch to break down into smaller parts more quickly while still maintaining structural integrity during handling. The segmentation principle directly addresses the contradiction by creating a structure that is both robust and easily dissolvable.
Solution Approach 2:
The pouch structure incorporates localized variations in thickness and strength. The weakened lines are specific local areas with reduced material properties, while the rest of the pouch maintains full strength for handling. This local quality approach allows different parts of the same object to have different properties - robust in most areas, easily dissolvable in specific lines.
2Reliability
If multi-chamber pouches are used to hold different products, then product separation is improved, but the release speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-chamber design with weakened separation lines allows the pouch to segment into individual chambers during dissolution. This segmentation ensures products remain separated initially (maintaining reliability) but then quickly release as the weakened lines dissolve and chambers separate (increasing speed).
Solution Approach 2:
The weakened lines are pre-formed during manufacturing, preparing the pouch structure for rapid separation. This preliminary action of creating easy-break points ensures that when the pouch contacts water, the chambers can quickly separate without requiring significant force or time, thus improving release speed while maintaining product separation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The pouches dissolve faster, enabling quicker release of products into the washing environment, improving product dispersion and avoiding potential interactions between different product components.
Implementation Method 1
the weakened line is formed in the seam by pressing the seam between the tool, which is the outer surface of the mould, and the die which is movable
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention describes a process for producing a water soluble pouch (1) comprising: providing a mould (21) with a first cavity (23) and a second cavity (24), providing a first film (6) over the mould (21), deep drawing the first film (6) into the first cavity (23) of the mould forming an open first chamber (4) and into the second cavity (24) of the mould forming an open second chamber (5); providing a second film (7) over the filled chambers; and a sealing step which comprises joining the second film (7) to the first film (6) in the seam (8) area therefore closing the first chamber (4) and the second chamber (5); wherein in a process step, a weakened line (13) is formed in the seam (8) such that at least the first chamber (4) can be separated from second chamber (5), wherein in the weakened line (13) the thickness of the superposed first film (6) and second film (7) in the seam is reduced in at least one position between the first chamber (4) and the second chamber (5), and preferably wherein the weakened line (13) is in form of a trench in the seam.