Water-Soluble Unit Dose Filling Nozzle Stringing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
During the manufacturing of water-soluble unit dose articles, the liquid laundry detergent composition tends to form a 'string' that can separate from the filling nozzle and fall on unintended areas, leading to seal failures and premature rupture of the unit dose articles.
Innovation Solution
The use of a liquid laundry detergent composition containing a first anionic surfactant with a specific mixture of surfactant isomers, which reduces the time it takes for the 'string' to break, allowing for increased manufacturing speeds without compromising seal integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the manufacturing apparatus speed is reduced to allow sufficient time for the liquid detergent string to separate from the nozzle, then seal failures are prevented, but manufacturing efficiency decreases and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the liquid detergent composition by adjusting viscosity, surface tension, and rheological properties. These parameter modifications cause the liquid to break away from the nozzle faster (reducing string breaking time), which allows the manufacturing apparatus to operate at higher speeds without causing seal failures, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and productivity
2Reliability
If the liquid laundry detergent composition viscosity is increased to prevent string formation, then seal integrity is improved, but the liquid detergent flows more slowly reducing filling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the viscosity parameter of the liquid detergent composition to a specific range. This controlled viscosity adjustment prevents excessive string formation while maintaining adequate flow rate for efficient filling, thereby achieving both seal integrity and filling speed without requiring a trade-off between the two parameters
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 described solution effectively reduces the string breaking time, minimizing the risk of seal failures and enabling higher manufacturing efficiencies and reduced costs.
Implementation Method 1
The action of gravity pulls this volume of liquid down, which eventually separates from the end of the nozzle
Implementation Method 2
the inherent viscosity of the liquid laundry detergent compositions causes a volume of the liquid to remain attached to the end of the nozzle
Data Source
AI summary
A water-soluble unit dose article containing a water-soluble film a liquid laundry detergent composition having a first anionic surfactant, and a method of making the water-soluble unit dose article.