U.S. patent application number 14/394891 was filed with the patent office on 2015-03-12 for automatic detergent dispensing device.
The applicant listed for this patent is RECKITT & COLMAN (OVERSEAS) LIMITED. Invention is credited to Edmund Pedley.
Application Number | 20150069086 14/394891 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46261830 |
Filed Date | 2015-03-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150069086 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pedley; Edmund |
March 12, 2015 |
AUTOMATIC DETERGENT DISPENSING DEVICE
Abstract
The present invention comprises an independent automated
detergent dosing device suitable for use in a ware-washing device.
The device comprises at least one chamber that is sealed with a
non-water soluble film; and wherein the at least one chamber
contains a detergent composition and wherein the detergent
composition is dosed by the controlled removal of the non-water
soluble film from the at least one chamber such that the chamber is
exposed to the wash liquor.
Inventors: |
Pedley; Edmund; (Hull,
GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
RECKITT & COLMAN (OVERSEAS) LIMITED |
Berkshire |
|
GB |
|
|
Family ID: |
46261830 |
Appl. No.: |
14/394891 |
Filed: |
April 18, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
April 18, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB2013/050981 |
371 Date: |
October 16, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
134/93 ;
134/100.1; 68/17R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 15/4463 20130101;
A47L 15/4472 20130101; A47L 15/4445 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/129 |
International
Class: |
A47L 15/44 20060101
A47L015/44 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 25, 2012 |
GB |
1207231.0 |
Claims
1. An automated detergent dosing device suitable for use in a
ware-washing device having one or more wash cycles with a wash
liquor, the automated detergent dosing device comprising: at least
one chamber that is sealed with a non-water soluble film; and a
treatment composition contained in at least one chamber; wherein
the treatment composition is dosed by the controlled removal of the
non-water soluble film from at least one chamber such that at least
a portion of the treatment composition is exposed to the wash
liquor.
2. The device of claim 1 comprising two or more chambers.
3. The device of claim 1 comprising three or more chambers.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a multi-dosing
device working across multiple wash cycles without needing to be
replenished with treatment composition.
5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device removes the
non-water soluble film from two or more different chambers in a
single wash cycle.
6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device has multiple
chambers arranged in at least one rack with a single continuous
non-water soluble film across all of the chambers within the at
least one rack.
7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the device has at least
three racks and each rack is independently removable from the
device.
8. The device according to claim 7, wherein there are at least two
different racks, and each rack contains chambers with the same
treatment composition and each rack comprises a different treatment
composition from the other racks.
9. The device according to claim 7 further comprising an electric
motor, wherein the controlled removal of the non-water soluble film
is carried out by the electric motor.
10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the electric motor is
configured such that when driven in one direction it removes a
non-water soluble film from one of the at least three racks, and
when driven in the opposite direction it removes a non-water
soluble film from another of the at least three racks.
11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the removal of the
non-water soluble film from the chamber is total.
12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the removal of the
non-water soluble film is partial, achieved by the removal of a
thin ribbon within the non-water soluble film.
13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the removal of the
non-water soluble film is partial, achieved by the puncturing of
the film over the chamber.
14. (canceled)
15. An automated detergent dosing device comprising: a first
chamber sealed with a first non-water soluble film; and a first
treatment composition contained in the first chamber; wherein the
first treatment composition is dosed by a controlled removal of at
least a portion of the first non-water soluble film from the first
chamber such that at least a portion of the first treatment
composition exits the chamber.
16. The device according to claim 15 further comprising a second
chamber sealed with a second non-water soluble film and containing
a second treatment composition, wherein the second treatment
composition is dosed by a controlled removal of at least a portion
of the second non-water soluble film from the second chamber such
that at least a portion of the second treatment composition exists
the chamber.
17. The device according to claim 16 further comprising a third
chamber sealed with a third non-water soluble film and containing a
third treatment composition, wherein the third treatment
composition is dosed by a controlled removal of at least a portion
of the third non-water soluble film from the third chamber such
that at least a portion of the third treatment composition exits
the chamber.
18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the first, second and
third chambers are arranged on a rack, and wherein the first,
second and third non-water soluble films comprise a single
continuous non-water soluble film across the first, second and
third chambers.
19. The device according to claim 17, wherein the first non-water
soluble film, the second non-water soluble film, and the non-water
soluble film each comprise the same non-water soluble film.
20. The device according to claim 18 comprising at least three
racks.
21. The device according to claim 20, wherein the first treatment
composition, the second treatment composition, and the third
treatment composition each comprise the same treatment composition.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to an independent device suitable for
dosing a detergent composition into a ware-washing machine. By
independent, this means that the device is suitable for use inside
any commercial ware-washing machine and operates independently of
the control mechanisms of the ware washing machine. Alternatively
the device may have the capacity for some interaction with the
control systems of the ware washing machine.
[0002] This invention preferably relates to a device capable of
using/dosing multiple detergent compositions, rinse aids, and other
additives within one complete wash cycle of an automatic washing
machine. The various cleaning compositions may be dosed into the
machine at varying quantities, times, sequences, and for varying
durations during a washing machine cycle. The use of multiple
cleaning compositions allows for increased and optimized cleaning
performance.
[0003] Preferably the device is suitable for use in an automatic
dishwashing machine.
[0004] Current conventional systems used in automatic dishwashers
only dose one detergent composition per wash cycle with the
optional addition of a rinse agent composition at the very end of
the washing machine cycle. The detergent compositions are primarily
either enzymatic based or incorporate a hypohalite oxidative bleach
(e.g. sodium hypochlorite, sodium dichloroisocyanurate, etc.).
[0005] Enzymatic detergents provide excellent cleaning on enzyme
sensitive soils (primarily protein and starch based) but fail to
provide performance on hard to remove stains, such as coffee, tea,
and tomato stains.
[0006] Hypohalite based (for example, chlorine bleach based)
detergents provide excellent cleaning on the hard to remove stains
but fail to provide performance on the enzyme sensitive soils.
[0007] Because enzymes and hypohalite oxidizing bleaches are
incompatible within the same formula matrix, the consumer must make
a trade-off decision on performance and use one detergent
composition or the other. This presents an obvious dilemma to the
consumer--whether to get good cleaning on an enzymatic sensitive
stain to the detriment of a hard to remove stain or vice versa.
[0008] The use of multiple detergent compositions within one
washing machine cycle would mitigate this trade-off decision and
provide optimal performance across the range of stains and soils
normally encountered in an automatic dishwasher. However, given the
incompatibility of enzyme based detergents and hypohalite
detergents, the detergent compositions must be kept separate and
dosed at different times so that the performance of each detergent
is not affected by the presence of the other detergent.
[0009] In addition the separation of these ingredients also has a
major benefit in terms of storage stability of the detergent
composition.
[0010] One of the principle difficulties associated with automatic
detergent dispensing devices is that of controlling the release of
the detergent.
[0011] Release mechanisms are usually complicated and add
significant cost to a device. With a multidosing device capable of
releasing different ingredients separately, this problem multiplies
as each agent requires a separate mechanism. Solid dispensing
devices can become jammed as powders or solid detergent tabs swell
from the ingress of humidity. Liquids require accurate measurement
and separate pumping mechanisms. However liquids often increase the
general detergent composition stability problems, both in terms of
shelf storage and machine storage where they would be subject to
multiple heat cycles.
[0012] It is an objective of the present invention to provide a
simple, reliable and cost effective method of controlling the
release of a treatment composition from a dispensing device. The
method may be used with solid or liquid treatment compositions. It
is preferable that each dose be separated from the other so that
any humidity ingress would only effect a single dose and not all
the dose present in the device.
[0013] At its most elemental the present invention comprises an
independent automated detergent dosing device suitable for use in a
ware-washing device. The device comprises at least one chamber that
is sealed with a non-water soluble film; and wherein the at least
one chamber contains a treatment composition and wherein the
treatment composition is dosed by the controlled removal of the
non-water soluble film from the at least one chamber such that the
chamber is exposed to the wash liquor by direct ingress of the wash
liquor to the chamber or via gravity.
[0014] In the present invention, the term "removed" or "removal"
can mean the complete and total removal of the film from the
chamber. Alternatively it can also mean only a partial removal of
the film such that the treatment composition within the chamber can
enter the wash liquor. This can be via gravity of by wash liquor
ingress into the chamber through the partial removal of the
film.
[0015] The removal of the film can be achieved by a variety of
methods. A partial removal may happen by a simple piercing of the
film with a blade or point, such that most of the film still
remains in contact with the chamber while the treatment composition
is exposed.
[0016] However it is preferred that the film is totally removed
from the chamber. Once removed the chamber and its contents are
completely exposed to the wash liquor. The method is simple and
effective. The method is not prone to jamming or measurement
inaccuracy.
[0017] It is a further object of the present invention is to
provide a device capable of dispensing a plurality of treating
compositions into a multistage automatic washing machine, the
device comprising at least two chambers, each chamber containing a
detergent or treating composition, wherein the detergent is
released into the wash cycle by the removal of a film layer from
the chamber, exposing the chamber to the wash liquor.
[0018] Each chamber encloses a three dimensional space of
sufficient volume to contain a treatment composition. This may be
between 1 and 100 cm.sup.3, more preferably between 2 and 50
cm.sup.3, more preferably between 3 and 20 cm.sup.3 and most
preferably between 5 and 10 cm.sup.3.
[0019] Each chamber has an outer surface that is preferably
predominantly solid and immovable. This may be achieved by
tensioning a flexible and deformable chamber. However each chamber
has at least one external surface that comprises a removable thin
non-water soluble film.
[0020] The chambers may have any three dimensional shape desired.
They may be regular polygons or they may be irregular. They may be
shaped to enable efficient packing within the device.
[0021] Preferably the chambers are combined together to form racks
of the chambers. The chambers can be combined in any pattern. The
racks may comprise linear lines of chambers for example. Or the
racks may comprise a circular pattern of chambers.
[0022] The device may comprise one or more racks of chambers. Each
rack may contain chambers comprising the same or different
treatment compositions.
[0023] Preferably the device may comprise two or more racks of
chambers, more preferably three or more racks of chambers and most
preferably four or more racks of chambers.
[0024] The surface area of each chamber that comprises a removable
film is preferably less than 50% of the total area, more preferably
less than 40% of the total area more preferably less than 30% of
the total area and most preferably less than 20% of the total
area.
[0025] The chambers are preferably rectangular or square in
profile. Preferably the removable film covers one face of the
chamber or chambers.
[0026] Preferably the chambers have a height of between 0.2 and 5.0
cm, width of 0.2 and 5.0 cm and a length of 0.2 and 5.0 cm. More
preferably the chambers have a height of between 0.5 and 1.5 cm, a
width of between 1.0 and 3.0 cm and a length of between 2.0 and 4.0
cm.
[0027] Preferably the film is polymeric.
[0028] Non-limiting examples of suitable thin film materials are
polyethylene, polypropylene and PET. The films may also have more
than one layer and comprise more than one material. Potentially
this may include metal foils. The skilled person will be aware of
other suitable materials.
[0029] Preferably the thin film is between 5 .mu.m and 500 .mu.m
thick, more preferably between 10 .mu.m and 200 .mu.m thick, more
preferably between 25 .mu.m and 150 .mu.m thick and most preferably
between 50 .mu.m and 100 .mu.m thick.
[0030] Preferably the device is responsive to external conditions
and releases the contents of the chambers when optimal in the wash
cycle. Alternatively the device may operate on a simple timing
basis.
[0031] If the device is to be sensitive to wash conditions to
release the treatment compositions, the device may comprise one or
more sensors.
[0032] Alternatively the device may simply be heat sensitive and
possess one or more bimetallic strips or a wax motor.
[0033] Preferably the device will comprise two or more sensors and
most preferably three or more sensors.
[0034] The sensors may comprise a pH sensor, water sensor
(including for example a conductivity sensor, total internal
reflection or vibration sensor) turbidity sensor, temperature
sensor, light sensor or combinations thereof. The invention is not
limited to these sensor types. The skilled person may include other
sensors.
[0035] The device may comprise basic computational capability to
interpret the inputs from multiple sensors. This will allow the
device to correctly interpret when to release the different
components in the wash cycle.
[0036] Preferably the device has at least two different types of
treatment compositions, more preferably at least three different
treatment compositions and more preferably at least four different
treatment compositions.
[0037] Each treatment composition may be held separately in its own
dedicated refill rack. Or alternatively each rack may hold
different treatment compositions.
[0038] A treatment composition for the purposes of the present
invention means any chemical or enzymatic formulation suitable for
use in a ware washing machine. The skilled person is aware of
suitable formulations that may be used with the device of the
present invention.
[0039] Examples of suitable treatment compositions are bleaching
compositions, enzyme compositions, surfactant compositions,
pre-treatment compositions, rinse aid compositions, water treatment
compositions and combinations thereof.
[0040] Preferably the film is removed by the action of an electric
motor and associated gearing. This may collect the film on a
roller. The roller may be present on or in a refill rack. The
removal may be partial or total.
[0041] It is preferred that the device will be powered by a
battery. This is preferred for the advantages batteries provide in
terms of high energy density, simplicity and low cost.
[0042] Alternative sources of energy for the device are [0043] Some
form of capacitor (capacitor/super capacitor/ultra capacitor)
[0044] Heat from the automatic washing machine [0045] Water flow
from the automatic washing machine
[0046] Powering the device from heat from the machine or water flow
from the machine provide environmental advantages as no separate
power source is required from the device. It may then take all its
energy needs from the machine.
[0047] In a preferred embodiment the device comprises four
different treatment compositions.
[0048] Treatment Compositions
[0049] Preferably the treatment compositions are detergent
compositions.
[0050] Any composition that is suitable for use in cleaning may be
used in the device of the present invention.
[0051] The compositions may be in a solid form, liquid form gel
form, paste form or gaseous form. The preferred form for the
treatment compositions is solid. In the form of either powder or
tablet. This is because a solid form provides the best stability
for the many ingredients of the treatment compositions.
[0052] Non-limiting examples of treatment compositions that are
suitable for use in the device of the present invention are given
below.
[0053] Bleaching Composition.
[0054] Any type of bleaching compound conventionally used in
dishwashing detergent compositions may be used according to the
present invention. Preferably the bleaching compound is selected
from inorganic peroxides or organic peracids, derivates thereof
(including their salts) and mixtures thereof. Especially preferred
inorganic peroxides are percarbonates, perborates and persulphates
with their sodium and potassium salts being most preferred. Sodium
percarbonate and sodium perborate are most preferred, especially
sodium percarbonate.
[0055] Organic peracids include all organic peracids traditionally
used as bleaches, including, for example, perbenzoic acid and
peroxycarboxylic acids such as mono or diperoxyplphthalic acid,
2-octyldiperoxysuccinic acid, diperoxydodecanedicarboxylic acid,
diperoxy-azelaic acid and imodoperoxycarboxylic acid and,
optionally, the salts thereof. Especially preferred is
phthalimidoperhexanoic acid (PAP).
[0056] The skilled person will be aware of other bleaching
compositions that could be used with the present invention.
[0057] Bleach Activators
[0058] Suitable bleach activators such as TAED may be used in
combination with the bleaching compound as desired. Bleach
catalysts such Mn based compounds or salts may be used e.g.
manganese acetate. The bleach activators may be in a separate
treatment solution or may be combined in the same treatment
composition as the bleach compound.
[0059] Rinse Aids
[0060] Preferably the cartridge chamber that is activated in the
rinse segment contains a rinse agent. Suitable rinse aid components
are: include surfactants such as those mentioned below, acids, such
as citric acid and hydrotropes such as sodium cumene sulphate.
[0061] The skilled person will be aware of what formulations can be
prepared that make effective rinse aids.
[0062] Water Softeners
[0063] Preferably the cartridge chamber that is activated in the
treatment segment contains an anti-lime agent or a water treatment
agent. Water softeners include phosphates and non phosphates such
as MGDA, GLDA and citrate.
[0064] Anti Corrosion Agents
[0065] Preferred silver/copper anti-corrosion agents are
benzotriazole (BTA) or bis-benzotriazole and substituted
derivatives thereof. Other suitable agents are organic and/or
inorganic redox-active substances and paraffin oil. Benzotriazole
derivatives are those compounds in which the available substitution
sites on the aromatic ring are partially or completely substituted.
Suitable substituents are linear or branch-chain C.sub.1-20 alkyl
groups and hydroxyl, thio, phenyl or halogen such as fluorine,
chlorine, bromine and iodine. A preferred substituted benzotriazole
is tolyltriazole.
[0066] It is known to include a source of multivalent ions in
detergent compositions, and in particular in automatic dishwashing
compositions, for anti-corrosion benefits. For example, multivalent
ions and especially zinc, bismuth and/or manganese ions have been
included for their ability to inhibit such corrosion. Organic and
inorganic redox-active substances which are known as suitable for
use as silver/copper corrosion inhibitors are mentioned in WO
94/26860 and WO 94/26859. Suitable inorganic redox-active
substances are, for example, metal salts and/or metal complexes
chosen from the group consisting of zinc, manganese, titanium,
zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, cobalt and cerium salts and/or
complexes, the metals being in one of the oxidation states II, III,
IV, V or VI. Particularly suitable metal salts and/or metal
complexes are chosen from the group consisting of MnSO.sub.4,
Mn(II) citrate, Mn(II) stearate, Mn(II) acetylacetonate, Mn(II)
[1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonate], V.sub.2O.sub.5,
V.sub.2O.sub.4, VO.sub.2, TiOSO.sub.4, K.sub.2TiF.sub.6,
K.sub.2ZrF.sub.6, CoSO.sub.4, Co(NO.sub.3).sub.2 and
Ce(NO.sub.3).sub.3. Any suitable source of multivalent ions may be
used, with the source preferably being chosen from sulphates,
carbonates, acetates, gluconates and metal-protein compounds. Zinc
salts are specially preferred glass corrosion inhibitors.
[0067] Enzymes
[0068] Any type of enzyme conventionally used in detergent
compositions may be used according to the present invention. It is
preferred that the enzyme is selected from proteases, lipases,
amylases, cellulases, pectinases, laccases, catalases and all
oxidases, with proteases and amylases, especially proteases being
most preferred. It is most preferred that protease and/or amylase
enzymes are included in the compositions according to the
invention; such enzymes are especially effective for example in
dishwashing detergent compositions. Any suitable species of these
enzymes may be used as desired.
[0069] Surfactants
[0070] Surfactants can form key components of detergent
compositions. There are four main classes of surfactants are
anionic, cationic, amphoteric and non-ionic.
[0071] Non-ionic surfactants are preferred for automatic
dishwashing (ADW) detergents since they are defined as low foaming
surfactants. The standard non-ionic surfactant structure is based
on a fatty alcohol with a carbon C.sub.8 to C.sub.20 chain, wherein
the fatty alcohol has been ethoxylated or propoxylated. The degree
of ethoxylation is described by the number of ethylene oxide units
(EO), and the degree of propoxylation is described by the number of
propylene oxide units (PO).
[0072] The length of the fatty alcohol and the degree of
ethoxylation and/or propxylation determines if the surfactant
structure has a melting point below room temperature or in other
words if is a liquid or a solid at room temperature.
[0073] Surfactants may also comprise butylene oxide units (BO) as a
result of butoxylation of the fatty alcohol. Preferably, this will
be a mix with PO and EO units. The surfactant chain can be
terminated with a butyl (Bu) moiety.
[0074] Preferred solid non-ionic surfactants are ethoxylated
non-ionic surfactants prepared by the reaction of a mono-hydroxy
alkanol or alkylphenol with 6 to 20 carbon atoms. Preferably the
surfactants have at least 12 moles, particularly preferred at least
16 moles, and still more preferred at least 20 moles, such as at
least 25 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol or
alkylphenol.
[0075] Particularly preferred solid non-ionic surfactants are the
non-ionics from a linear chain fatty alcohol with 16-20 carbon
atoms and at least 12 moles, particularly preferred at least 16 and
still more preferred at least 20 moles, of ethylene oxide per mole
of alcohol.
[0076] The non-ionic surfactants additionally may comprise
propylene oxide units in the molecule. Preferably these PO units
constitute up to 25% by weight, preferably up to 20% by weight and
still more preferably up to 15% by weight of the overall molecular
weight of the non-ionic surfactant.
[0077] Surfactants which are ethoxylated mono-hydroxy alkanols or
alkylphenols which additionally comprise
poly-oxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer units may be
used. The alcohol or alkylphenol portion of such surfactants
constitutes more than 30%, preferably more than 50%, more
preferably more than 70% by weight of the overall molecular weight
of the non-ionic surfactant.
[0078] Another class of suitable non-ionic surfactants includes
reverse block copolymers of polyoxyethylene and poly-oxypropylene
and block copolymers of polyoxyethylene and polyoxypropylene
initiated with trimethylolpropane.
[0079] Another preferred class of non-ionic surfactant can be
described by the formula:
R.sub.1O[CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3)O].sub.x [CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O].sub.y
[CH.sub.2CH(OH)R.sub.2]
where R.sub.1 represents a linear or branched chain aliphatic
hydrocarbon group with 4-18 carbon atoms or mixtures thereof,
R.sub.2 represents a linear or branched chain aliphatic hydrocarbon
rest with 2-26 carbon atoms or mixtures thereof, x is a value
between 0.5 and 1.5 and y is a value of at least 15.
[0080] Another group of preferred non-ionic surfactants are the
end-capped polyoxyalkylated non-ionics of formula:
R.sub.1O[CH.sub.2CH(R.sub.3)O].sub.x[CH.sub.2].sub.kCH(OH)[CH.sub.2].sub-
.jOR.sub.2
where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 represent linear or branched chain,
saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon groups
with 1-30 carbon atoms, R.sub.3 represents a hydrogen atom or a
methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, 2-butyl or
2-methyl-2-butyl group, x is a value between 1 and 30 and, k and j
are values between 1 and 12, preferably between 1 and 5. When the
value of x is >2 each R.sub.3 in the formula above can be
different. R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are preferably linear or branched
chain, saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon
groups with 6-22 carbon atoms, where group with 8 to 18 carbon
atoms are particularly preferred. For the group R.sub.3.dbd.H,
methyl or ethyl are particularly preferred. Particularly preferred
values for x are comprised between 1 and 20, preferably between 6
and 15.
[0081] As described above, in case x>2, each R.sub.3 in the
formula can be different. For instance, when x=3, the group R.sub.3
could be chosen to build ethylene oxide (R.sub.3=H) or propylene
oxide (R.sub.3=methyl) units which can be used in every single
order for instance (PO)(EO)(EO), (EO)(PO)(EO), (EO)(EO)(PO),
(EO)(EO)(EO), (PO)(EO)(PO), (PO)(PO)(EO) and (PO)(PO)(PO). The
value 3 for x is only an example and bigger values can be chosen
whereby a higher number of variations of (EO) or (PO) units would
arise.
[0082] Particularly preferred end-capped polyoxyalkylated alcohols
of the above formula are those where k=1 and j=1 originating
molecules of simplified formula:
R.sub.1O[CH.sub.2CH(R.sub.3)O].sub.xCH.sub.2CH(OH)CH.sub.2OR.sub.2
[0083] The use of mixtures of different nonionic surfactants is
suitable in the context of the present invention for instance
mixtures of alkoxylated alcohols and hydroxy group containing
alkoxylated alcohols.
[0084] Other suitable surfactants are disclosed in WO 95/01416, to
the contents of which express reference is hereby made.
[0085] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the composition according to the first aspect of the
present invention is one wherein the liquid non-ionic surfactant
has the general formula
R.sub.1-[EO].sub.n-[PO].sub.m-[BO].sub.p-Bu.sub.q
wherein:
[0086] R.sub.1 is an alkyl group of between C.sub.8 and
C.sub.20;
[0087] EO is ethylene oxide;
[0088] PO is propylene oxide;
[0089] BO is butylene oxide;
[0090] Bu is butylene
[0091] n and m are integers from 1 to 15;
[0092] p is an integer from 0 to 15; and
[0093] q is 0 or 1.
[0094] Examples of especially preferred nonionic surfactants are
the Plurafac.TM. Lutensol.TM. and Pluronic.TM. range from BASF and
Genapol.TM. series from Clariant.
[0095] The total amount of surfactants typically included in the
detergent compositions is in amounts of up to 15% by weight,
preferably of from 0.5% to 10% by weight and most preferably from
1% to 5% by weight
[0096] Preferably non-ionic surfactants are present in the
compositions of the invention in an amount of from 0.1% to 5% by
weight, more preferably 0.25% to 3% by weight and most preferably
0.5% to 2.5% by weight.
[0097] Each treatment composition is preferably held within
multiple chambers. Preferably each type of composition is held
within separate rack of chambers. A rack may be rigid or flexible.
A rack may comprise a wide range of different materials. The rack
may be injection moulded or thermoformed, for example.
[0098] A rack of chambers comprises a grouping of more than one
chamber. Preferably the chambers within a rack share one or more
external surfaces with the adjacent chamber or chambers.
[0099] Preferably the chambers are aligned and arranged in a linear
fashion
[0100] Preferably the arrangement is such that a single thin film
can form a continuous strip across all of the chambers in each
rack. And that each chamber within each rack can be opened to the
wash cycle consecutively.
[0101] Preferably the chambers have a recessed channel down each
side to accommodate each side of the film.
[0102] Preferably each rack of chambers is also separately
removable from the device. This may allow each type of composition
to be independently refilled once all of the chambers have been
exhausted.
[0103] Each rack may have a single type of treatment composition
present in all the chambers or alternatively each rack may contain
chambers with different treatment compositions.
[0104] The racks may have the same number of chambers or the racks
may have a greater or smaller number of chambers. This will depends
on the usage anticipated.
[0105] Preferably the racks of chambers will comprise between 2 and
30 chambers, more preferably between 5 and 20 chambers, more
preferably between 8 and 15 chambers and most preferably between 10
and 12 chambers.
[0106] Additionally the size of the chambers may be different for
different types of treatment composition.
[0107] Each rack of chambers may be described as a refill
cartridge. Consumers may replace these independently when they are
consumed. This allows for the fact that different treatment
compositions may be exhausted at different rates. Racks containing
formulations that will be used at the same rate may be fused
together to be replaced in a single action.
[0108] As the device may be sensor controlled and react to
conditions, the device may use more or one type of treatment
composition than the others. This allows for the most efficient use
of the chemistry. As only the expended compositions need to be
replaced.
[0109] The film covered chambers will remain water tight through
potentially multiple washing cycles. Only those chambers with their
film removed will yield their treatment compositions to the wash
cycle.
[0110] In one embodiment the rack of chambers is essentially a
planar linear arrangement of chambers. These would be orientated so
that a continuous length of sealing film will enclose all of the
chambers. In use the film will be drawn down the rack, sequentially
exposing more chambers.
[0111] In this embodiment the device would resemble a flat "plate"
shape. Two electric motors may be required to control up to four
different films (and therefore four different racks). Each motor
may be geared to move two different films with forward and reverse
motion.
[0112] In another embodiment the planar rack of chambers will be
formed into the shape of a wheel. The outer circumference of the
rack or wheel will comprise the continuous thin film. This will be
drawn down in use, sequentially exposing more chambers.
[0113] In this embodiment there would still need to be two motors
for the movement of up to four films.
[0114] In this embodiment the device would take the general shape
of a cylinder.
* * * * *