Transparent Detergent Packaging with Coated Particles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Concentrated particulate detergent compositions, while offering environmental and cost savings, are less noticeable on retail shelves due to smaller package sizes, and visually appealing packaging often requires additional materials that negate these savings.
Innovation Solution
The use of large, hard-coated detergent particles with a transparent packaging system that allows for visible product display, reducing dust accumulation and maintaining transparency, combined with a coating that enhances flowability and reduces stickiness, enabling a visually appealing and environmentally friendly packaging solution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If concentrated particulate detergent compositions are used, then environmental and cost savings are achieved through reduced package size, but the package becomes less noticeable on retail shelves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by using transparent packaging that allows the colored detergent particles to be visible, creating visual appeal without additional materials. The detergent particles themselves provide the color and visual interest through their composition and arrangement within the transparent package.
2Ease of manufacture
If visually appealing packaging is used to make the package more noticeable, then retail shelf visibility is improved, but additional materials are required that negate environmental savings
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent packaging serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the necessary containment for the detergent particles, enables visual appeal by displaying the colored particles, and maintains environmental benefits by using minimal material. The packaging structure itself becomes the visual display mechanism rather than requiring separate decorative elements.
3Illumination intensity
If conventional powders are used in transparent packaging, then transparency is achieved, but fine dusting coats the inner surfaces and affects transparency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the particle size and surface properties of the detergent particles. The particles are formulated with specific size ranges and surface characteristics that prevent them from breaking down into fine dust that would coat the packaging interior, thereby maintaining transparency while still providing the necessary detergent functionality.
4Ease of operation
If liquid formulations are used, then flowability is achieved, but they coat the inner surfaces of reservoirs and affect transparency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating particles with specific surface characteristics in different regions of the particle structure. The particles have controlled surface properties that allow them to flow freely while resisting adhesion to the packaging surfaces, maintaining transparency even during pouring and dispensing operations.
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 solution provides a visually appealing and environmentally friendly packaging option that maintains transparency and flowability, effectively communicating the product's quality and reducing material waste while ensuring the product remains attractive on store shelves.
Implementation Method 1
the particle core is then at least partially covered by a particle coating layer of a water soluble coating material including double salt combinations of alkali metal carbonates and sulfates that reduces the surface area of the particle
Implementation Method 2
The coating reduces the stickiness of the hygroscopic surfactant core to a point where the particles are free flowing across a surface
Implementation Method 3
transparent packaging system that allows for visible product display
Implementation Method 4
a gentle tap releases them from the surface. Such tapping creates audible feedback to the user to guide them as to the movement of the particles
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A packaged product comprising a combination of a concentrated particulate detergent composition (5) and a package (1, 11), said package comprising a reservoir containing the composition, the reservoir comprising at least one transparent portion and wherein at least 70% by number of the particles of the composition comprising a high - surfactant hard core and a coating and wherein all particles are at least 0. 2 mm diameter.