JP2809698B2 - Method and apparatus for machine washing laundry with granular products - Google Patents

Description

The invention belongs to the field of washing laundry with machines. The subject is a product which is currently marketed in solid form, especially in powder form, used in the washing operation, such as a new washing agent which is able to optimally use detergents or other special additives which are active during washing. Is the way. The invention also relates to an apparatus for performing such a method.

Washing is increasingly being carried out mechanically with products in powder form, granules or other solid forms of particles. Machines for washing laundry are mainly drum type machines, although so-called agitator / pulsator type machines also exist. Regardless of the type of machine used, specialists know that the conditions of use of such products are far from optimal. In fact, there is a practical problem to achieve a uniform distribution of the granular product in the cleaning medium in the machine tub and its dissolution. In the text below, a more detailed explanation is given of the technical problems involved in the case of powdered detergents, but obviously the same problem applies to other forms of detergents as to any additive active at the time of washing. It also happens in some cases.

The dividers or containers are usually set up so that an appropriate amount of powder detergent can be placed before the actual washing operation. It is believed that the active powder product is taken up with water in the tub of the machine at an advanced stage of the process. However, it will be observed that the powder detergent is not totally taken up by the water, so that a considerable amount of the residue remains in the dispensing vessel. Therefore, the required amount of powder detergent is not actually consumed, which reduces the cleaning efficacy. Moreover, the containers in the washing machine are always soiled with residues from previous operations. This difficulty is well known and has been the subject of numerous complaints on the part of the user.

Another technical problem arising from the use of powder washing is the incomplete dissolution of the active product in the tub, where powder taken up by the water and that could not be properly dissolved therein is found at the bottom of the tub. It falls directly. Depending on the type of machine, the loss of product from the drainage system can reach 20% of the initial volume placed in the container. Undissolved powder is removed directly into the machine drainage, ultimately requiring the user to increase the powder volume to ensure optimal cleaning.

To avoid the above disadvantages and loss of detergent in the dispensing container, some users have relied on their own solution to put the washing powder directly into the drum of the washing machine before starting the washing operation. This method is obviously only used in the case of top-opening drum machines, and does not in itself eliminate the disadvantages. fact,
It is believed that the losses in the distribution vessel are eliminated, but this is not the case for losses in the drainage system, and the losses are only slightly reduced in this case. In either case, this solution is not satisfactory because the powder passes through the holes in the drum and comes into direct contact with the laundry. Dissolution of the particles of the detergent powder by which the drum is brought into contact with the laundry upon rotation of the drum in water does not have a favorable effect on the latter. Often the detergent particles are colored, and consequently the colored granules of the detergent may dissolve by releasing the colorant into the laundry, causing the latter coloration. Similarly, when it is desired to obtain good cleaning performance, when the detergent composition contains a peroxide compound, the associated granules, such as perborate granules, will degrade upon contact with the laundry and become lighter. Colors may decolorize.

Thus, there is a clear technical problem associated with the fact that detergents or cleaners in particulate form do not meet the optimal dissolution conditions in water during washing.

In order to solve such a problem, the applicant has come up with a method in which the device is first filled with detergent and then the device is placed in a machine with the laundry to be washed. In fact, the Applicant has developed this concept in the case of liquid detergents in essence, but as a reference to explain such a technical content, filed on April 18, 1984, filed on Apr. 2,563,250.
French Patent Application No. 84/6151, which is published under the name No. 1 and entitled "Method for washing laundry with a liquid detergent in a machine and an apparatus for its application" is shown.
In this case, the detergent contained in the device gradually diffuses into the washing medium and the laundry in the machine. As an example, the device has a filling opening and an opening for the gradual release of liquid into the laundry during washing.

However, the practical difficulty arises in many cases when trying to apply the concept of pure detergents from pure to simple. These difficulties are attributed to the fact that the dissolution of detergent solid particles in the wash water is not satisfactorily ensured if such detergent is placed in a device with openings and then such device is placed in the laundry. Comes from. In fact, it was observed that the presence of openings on the device that could ensure the diffusion of the detergent did not satisfactorily dissolve the powder. The increase in the number and / or size of the openings presents a drawback as mentioned at the beginning of the description, namely the loss of powder in the drainage system and / or the contact of the particles with the laundry while the particles remain solid. Not a satisfactory solution.
Similarly, a decrease in the number and / or size of the openings results in a gradual blockage of the openings by the wet powder, as previously observed,
As a result, the detergent can no longer remain in the device to perform its cleaning function. Thus, all of the above indicates that it is generally not possible to use a powder detergent in an optimal way in a metering and diffusing device that has proven to be perfectly suitable for liquid detergents. .

French Patent Application No. 87/641, filed May 6, 1987 on "Methods and Apparatus for Washing Laundry with Machines"
In U.S. Pat. No. 3, the applicant has proposed the use of a metering and diffusing device which contains the detergent in solid form and predissolves the powder prior to gradual release into the cleaning medium. By way of example, such a device comprises a body capable of being filled with a desired amount of detergent, a removable means for closing the body, the body or said means having a hole or opening for the release of detergent. Wherein the device has means for separating the device side having the holes or openings from the side containing the particulate detergent,
It is envisaged that the measures allow free passage of the washing water and in fact prevent large and uncontrolled release of the particulate detergent. One device structure that has shown substantial results of great interest is a rotating device that can be closed with a removable cap and that has holes that allow both water to enter the interior of the device and diffusion of the detergent. It has the overall shape of the main body,
Such a device more particularly comprises a part of the body containing the particulate detergent and at least one plate mounted in the device so as to be able to separate the cap, said plate itself having a higher surface area than if it were a hole or opening in the cap. Has at least one small opening. In this case, the perforated plate allows the particulate detergent to be stored in the apparatus body, while dissolving the detergent in the wash water before discharging into the washing machine.

The Applicant has solved the technical problem described in French Patent Application No. 87/6413, while the active product initially used in granular form was diffused into the washing medium and the laundry and gradually The concept of dispersion was kept on the other hand, and the research was continued to ensure prior dissolution of the product before diffusion. In fact, while keeping the simple structure, further improvements have been made to the devices already proposed for this purpose, in particular:-the increasingly important need for environmental protection, i.e. plastics which are not normally destroyed in the natural environment in this respect; Reducing the amount of plastic material used in the equipment to meet regulatory requirements aimed at reducing product waste;-minimizing the need to meet packaging, transport and storage requirements. It would be desirable to develop a metering and dispersing device that would allow for achieving volume;-eliminating noise generated by the metering and dispersing device in the washing machine to meet certain user expectations.

As will become apparent from the following description, the present invention provides for these while retaining all the advantages of the metering and dispersing devices already proposed for granular detergents, in particular the devices which form the subject of said patent application FR 87/6413. To provide solutions to the technical and other problems of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a machine in which a reusable type metering and spreading device is filled with active granular products during washing, this device is put into the machine together with the laundry to be washed, after which washing is carried out in a conventional manner. The invention relates to a method for washing laundry, in which the device comprises a flexible sheath (fl) in the form of a bag extending around at least one opening.
exible sheeath), said opening being able to fill the bag with the desired amount of product corresponding to substantially one washing operation and being at least partially open during washing, wherein the aqueous washing medium Characterized in that it penetrates into the bag at least through the opening of the bag from the aspect of gradual dissolution of the product, so that the particulate product is gradually released through at least the opening of the bag, mainly during washing of the aqueous solution .

According to the present invention, the bag is made of a material that can retain the granular product without passing it in solid form and resist the washing and drying temperatures of the laundry in the machine.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the material from which the bag is made, the aqueous cleaning medium penetrates the bag through the bag towards the particulate product contained therein and results from the gradual dissolution of the particulate product to form the bag. It is contemplated that the active aqueous solution passing therethrough can be diffused from the inside of the bag to the outside. In this aspect, the bag is permeable to water. Penetration of the aqueous cleaning medium is achieved through both the opening of the bag and the bag, and diffusion or release of the active solution of the product is also achieved through both the opening of the bag and the bag.

The method of the present invention can be applied to any granular product as long as it is active at the time of washing, not limited to a solid detergent, and the granular product may be a bleaching agent such as a chlorine or active oxygen (peroxide compound) releasing agent. Agent, bleach catalyst, bleach accelerator,
Fungicides, foam control agents, whitening agents, anti-soil redeposition agents, enzymes, softeners, substances that have an oil-soil removal effect or, in lieu of them, do not act directly on the soil, but can be used in machine washing and washing processes Ingredients are selected, for example, from substances which can ensure the protection of the internal parts and elements of the washing machine.

In this description, the term "granular product" refers to powders, granules, flakes, which can be dissolved in water under normal laundry conditions.
It includes any form of solid product, such as pellets and other similar physical structures. In the process according to the invention, the detergents provided in the form of so-called high-density particles, which are already being developed in existing countries, are important. They offer advantages in packaging, transport and storage, based on the reduced volume they have, compared to similar products in the past.
However, due to their chemical composition and their physical structural characteristics, such high-density granular detergents tend to be more lossy in more distribution vessels and drain circuits than conventional powder detergents. The dissolving capacity of these new detergents is in some cases lower than with known products.
The individual packages used for these high-density granular detergents have a small volume, which means that less space is required for inserting the metering and spreading device. These new technical problems arising from the advent of high-density granular detergents are also solved by the method of the invention using a metering and diffusing device essentially comprising a bag of flexible material.

The apparatus used in the present invention consists of sachets or pockets which may contain detergents or additives useful for cleaning, some known means of the prior art which allow such products to be present in granular form in the sachet. Is different in many ways. First, prior art pockets or sachets contain known quantities of product and cannot be reused. These designs do not allow a gradual release of the product, the latter being completely dispensed either immediately after the start of the wash cycle or at the time of the wash. The device of the present invention does not exhibit the disadvantages of prior art sachets or pockets. According to the invention, the device is of the reusable type, and the amount of product (detergent or any additive) is measured as desired by the presence of an opening that serves for product filling. Moreover, those skilled in the art will recognize that prior art sachets or pockets must have walls that are soluble in water or a wash medium to diffuse the active product, or that the walls are insoluble in water and Know that a dissolvable joint or joint must be provided to release the In the first case,
That is, in the case of water-soluble walls, there is no problem with the washing machine, except that sachets or pockets are difficult to actually store and market due to their hygroscopicity. Therefore, this solution is not technically acceptable unless very expensive measures are taken with respect to wall design.
On the other hand, in the case of insoluble sachets or pockets, the latter body is released at the same time as the active product and seriously impairs the elements of the washing machine, and empty pockets or sachets can have various effects, such as shutting off drain circuits. Causes a type of failure. Such practical difficulties are well known to those skilled in the art and need not be described in further detail.

Unlike prior art measures, the device of the present invention is collected at the end of the wash without any risk to the machine, which is absolutely essential to the practical requirements of the user.

The method of the present invention can be used with various devices, including flexible bags.

The material from which the flexible bag is made can be any material that is sufficiently resistant to water and cleaning media at temperatures applied during washing and drying in the range of about 150 ° C or less. It may be a type. Thus, it may be a woven or non-woven material made from natural or synthetic fibers or mixtures thereof. Specifically, formed from a pure cotton flexible sheath, either in the form of a fabric having a mesh opening of about 0.5 mm or less, or in particular a nonwoven article having an opening in the range of 0.5-0.8 mm. Use the bag. Bags are also formed from extruded or coextruded films with perforations. The latter dimensions can vary within wide limits depending on the nature and particle size of the granular product. For example, films having perforations of about 380 microns can be used. However, the material of the bag need not be a textile material. The sheath can also be made from a trellis of a plastic material or a sheet of paper or other porous cellulosic material that is resistant to water. If the material required for the flexible bag itself does not have sufficient resistance to water, it is covered with a water-resistant coating. In the case of porous paper, for example, the coating consists of a latex binder mixed with a hydrophobic substance.

Thus, the present invention provides a flexible bag that includes holes or openings of various shapes and sizes, either with the sheath or wall organized, as in the case of a fabric, or randomly, as in the case of a non-woven material. The description has been given based on the preferred embodiment used. However, due to the need of the present invention, it is also possible to use a flexible bag whose sheath is completely impermeable to water and cleaning media, in which case the liquid inside and outside the bag Movement occurs only through the opening in the bag. Such an embodiment is virtually possible by taking the steps provided with respect to the opening means so that the granular product can be pre-dissolved as described below.

The shape of the bag can also vary greatly, and it is possible to adapt this shape to the type of granular product used according to the important features of the invention and the conditions under which the product must be released, for example Is shown below, for example, the bag may be a substantially cylindrical sheath extending around the opening, in which case the diameter of the sheath is substantially the same as for the opening. However, it is also possible to use a sheath that tapers from the opening or extends outwards from it on the other hand. The tapered sheath ensures relatively fast release with the particulate product, while the flared sheath releases relatively slowly. Moreover, since the device according to the invention is of the reusable type and allows the user to measure the desired amount of the granular product, the flexible bag will have several marks depending on the filling level and thus the variable amount of the granular product. Can have.

It has already been mentioned that the device according to the invention has at least one opening which allows both the filling of the active ingredient in the bag and its release in the form already dissolved into the washing medium and into the laundry inside the machine. Have been. In a preferred and simplest embodiment, the device includes a single opening having any cross-section, such as circular, oval, square, square, and the like. Satisfactory substantive results have been obtained with openings having a circular cross section.

Suitably, the opening of the bag is defined by means that serve as a support for the sheath of the bag. This is simply obtained by a ring having the required cross section as for the opening. The ring is made of a material of varying hardness, the only condition being that the opening remain open during cleaning. The material from which the ring is made may be a plastic or metal material or, alternatively, wood or cardboard, made resistant to water and any other similar material. Satisfactory substantive results are obtained with plastic materials that are easy to work with to achieve the desired ring configuration. For example, polyethylene and polypropylene are particularly suitable.

It has already been described that the opening of the bag should be kept at least partially open during washing in order to gradually release the aqueous solution of the active product. Thus, in extreme cases, a flexible bag device with a fully open opening is used, except that it is common to use a device that additionally includes means capable of covering it except for the predefined opening where the opening is located. Preferred. Numerous embodiments are possible, provided that the means are:-filling the bag with the particulate product;-preventing the granular product from remaining in the bag in large quantities in the form of a wash;-ensuring prior dissolution of the granular product. So that the washing medium is brought closer to the inside of the bag so that the release of the particulate product essentially takes place in the form of a solution which at least partially passes from the inside of the bag to the outside through the opening; The condition is that it is accompanied by a ring which defines the opening that has been made possible.

Obviously, the means for covering the opening must be adapted to the shape and nature of the ring that defines it.
A detailed illustrative example is provided below. Satisfactory substantive results are obtained in the case of a ring with radial walls converging on the solid central region, so that an opening is formed between each said radial wall. The wall in question may be straight or otherwise have a special profile, for example a spiral. However, many other modifications are possible: for example, a wall concentric with the ring and extending inwardly thereof is arranged inside the bag defining the opening, and the radial wall is provided with the intermediate partition and Provided between the outer rings.

Routine testing allows one of ordinary skill in the art to select the shape and dimensions of the opening formed by the opening to obtain the best result depending on the type of finished product used during cleaning. An illustrative example is provided below.

According to a supplementary aspect, the shape of the ring surrounding the flexible bag is selected to facilitate measurement of the granular product in a large size pack, eg, a barrel. For this purpose, the ring is arranged such that its outer end functions as a measuring tank. To facilitate gripping, the ring may have an embossed or indented irregular surface, in which case it can be firmly gripped with a finger. However, it is also possible to fix on the ring a component enabling its gripping. Such components may be permanent, in which case they are preferably small in size,
Or, alternatively, the part comprises a large handle that can be fixed in a removable manner on the body of the ring by any suitable means.

According to an important feature of the present invention, the choice of the specific type of metering and diffusing device having a flexible bag is tailored to the active product used during washing. Thus, devices in which the openings remain completely open during cleaning and do not include any closing means are used containing detergents or additives in which the components only slowly dissolve in water. Examples of detergent compositions having such characteristics are as follows: alkyl sulfates 7-10% fatty acids 1-3% aluminum and sodium silicates 15-25% water-soluble polymers 1-3% sodium silicates 3 -8% Sodium sulfate 10-40% Sodium carbonate 5-10% Alcalase (enzyme) 0-2% In the above compositions and other examples below, all parts are by weight unless otherwise indicated. .

Other examples of detergent compositions used to clean delicate articles and used in metering and diffusing devices with open openings are: Alkyl sulfate 10-20% Fatty acids 1-3% Silicon Aluminum and sodium 20-30% Sodium silicate 1-5% Sodium sulphate 20-40% Sodium carbonate 0-5% Additives which can also be used in such metering and diffusing devices, for example, give a softening effect to the wash water Product.

Metering and dispersing devices that include openings with closure means can be used with the primary cleaning detergent, in which case it is appropriate to avoid direct contact between the laundry and certain components thereof. Examples of the main cleaning detergent compositions included in this category include the following compositions: Alkyl sulfate 7-10% Fatty acid 1-3% Aluminum silicate and sodium 15-25% Water soluble polymer 1-3 % Sodium perborate 10-25% Sodium silicate 3-8% Sodium sulfate 10-40% Sodium carbonate 5-10% Alcalase (enzyme) 0-2% In a supplementary method, the composition is N, N, N It contains up to 5% of a bleach accelerator such as', N'-tetraacetylethylenediamine or alternatively isononylhydroxybenzenesulfonate.

In fact, the volume of the flexible bag must be selected as a function of the measured active product dispensed during the wash. If this is a detergent composition, a suitable volume value for a flexible bag is about 250-400 ml, in which case the weight is
150-250 g / cleaning amount of granular detergent can be placed therein.

The method of the present invention using a metering and spreading device with a flexible bag allows the use of detergent compositions that are not currently found to be practical due to the fact that they are not properly dispensed from containers or partitions equipped with washing machines. That's worth noting. This is also the case for certain high-density detergent compositions already mentioned above. However, similar attention is paid to other detergent compositions having normal solubility in water. Thus, the method of the present invention provides a detergent composition that exhibits better cleaning performance, for example, by reducing or eliminating the charge of the sodium sulfate type while increasing properties such as, for example, anionic and nonionic surfactants. It is also possible to use. Moreover, the present invention can be used with particulate products of various particle sizes, provided that those skilled in the art can use some of the available metering and diffusion devices in selecting the most appropriate device depending on the nature of the active product. It has the following parameters: the material from which the flexible bag is manufactured and its shape, the opening with or without closure means, the shape of the opening and the closure means, if any, and Dimensions as well as other similar parameters.

Where this description is given in terms of openings or openings, these terms are meant to describe passages in particulate form or in any form through which a liquid, paste product or other product can pass.

The above description and the following specific examples describe in detail the technical problems solved by the present invention and the advantages it has.

The method of the present invention is directed to detergents, additives or other active cleaning agents that are actually utilized in the laundry in the machine in particulate form to increase the concentration of the detergent solution in contact with the laundry and thus enhance cleanability and performance. Products can be distributed.

The present invention virtually eliminates the loss of active products, especially of detergents, which occurs when using a weighing divider in a washing machine, and reduces losses in the machine drain circuit.

The amount of plastic material used in the metering and diffusing device is very low, as it defines the opening and is reduced to only the ring material with the flexible bag. In some cases, there is no need to use a plastic material to make such a ring. Thus, the present invention provides good environmental protection since the material from which the device is manufactured is degraded very much in the natural environment.

Practical tests have also shown that using a metering and diffusing device with a flexible bag does not produce any noise in the machine during the cleaning operation. Due to its low weight, the device does not cause any damage to the laundry.

A very small volume metering and diffusing device can keep it together with the particulate product, such as detergents and other additives useful for cleaning, in an optimal packaging manner. Thus, individual packs containing large amounts of granular product and / or packs that are themselves small in volume can be used.
The device in question is very easy to handle and store, since it only takes up very little space.

Unlike pockets and sachets containing a predetermined amount of active product,
According to the invention, a desired amount of product can be used depending on its properties. The most suitable metering and spreading device for the product characteristics is consequently selected, in which case the type of device is tailored to the individual product pack.

The method of the present invention is very easy to implement, since the metering and diffusing device serves to directly measure the granular active product. Once the washing operation has been completed, the device is easily recovered from the machine, after which it can be reused. Even if the user forgets the device in the machine or in the dryer, this does not pose any problem not only to them but also the laundry in subsequent washing operations.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention provides great flexibility in solving various technical problems when washing laundry with a granular active product by machine.

The present invention will be described by way of the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, without any limitation.

The metering and dispersing device, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1, essentially comprises a ring 1 (support member) and a bag 2 of a flexible material such as, for example, cotton fabric. The size of the openings in the fabric 2 must be such that the free passage of granular products, especially detergents, placed inside the bag, even in the case of the final particles, can be prevented. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the bag 2 has a generally cylindrical overall shape, but variants are also shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, where different shapes are described.

In FIG. 2, the device 20 includes a ring 21 that supports a flexible bag 22 that tapers to a point. Apparatus of Fig. 3
30 includes a ring 31 and a flexible bag 32, the latter diverging from the opening defined by ring 31.
The shape of the bag can change the properties that allow the granular product to be stored inside the bag, and thus the diffusivity of the already dissolved form of the granular product in the wash media and laundry. Thus, the bag 22 in FIG. 2 shows a faster diffusion characteristic than the bag 32 in FIG. 3, but in that case the structure of the ring 31 and the corresponding opening is the same.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the mounting of the flexible bag 42 on the support ring 41. In this example, the ring is made of a plastic material such as, for example, polypropylene. It is formed from an outer wall 43 connected to an inner wall 44, the inner wall of which is substantially straight.
Between these two walls is provided a compartment 45 into which the end 46 of the bag 42 is inserted. Bag 42 is ring 41
Any suitable means, such as adhesives, that can withstand the temperatures applied in the washing machine, such as those applied during drying at temperatures below 150 ° C, to ensure that they are supported by Can also be used.

FIG. 5 shows in plan view the structure of a ring which has shown substantial results in practicing the method of the invention.
It essentially includes a peripheral wall 51 equipped similarly to the ring 41 shown in FIG. A pellet 52 is placed in the center of the ring 51, from which a certain number (in the selected example this number is six) of parts 53 extends in the form of turbine blades. Opening between parts 53
57 are formed. Rings of the type shown in FIG. 5 both make it possible to fill the associated flexible bag and to prevent a large release of the particulate product from the opening 57. In fact, during operation of the machine, the device moves about simultaneously with the laundry, increasing the chance of contact between the granular product and the cleaning medium, the latter penetrating simultaneously through the holes and openings 57 of the flexible bag. On the other hand, the granular product does not actually come out in solid undissolved form due to the presence of the blade 53. Obviously, the example of FIG. 5 is for illustration only. Numerous other variations are also shown. For example, FIG. 6 shows a ring including a linear radial partition 64 for forming a peripheral wall 61, an inner hub 62 and an opening 67 therebetween. In FIG. 7, the peripheral wall 71 is a concentric intermediate wall.
A ring including 73 and an inner hub 72 is shown. Wall 71
And 73 are provided with a radial partition 74, thereby forming an opening 77 therebetween. Similarly, between the wall 73 and the inner hub 72, a radial partition 75 for forming an opening 78 therebetween is provided. Fifth
The results corresponding to the case of the device shown are obtained by a suitable choice of the number and size of the openings that can be made therewith using the device of FIGS.

5 and 6 are shown only for the purpose of explanation by those skilled in the art. One of ordinary skill in the art will be able to use the structure that is the subject of FIGS. 4-23 in French Patent Application No. 87/6413, filed May 6, 1987, which has been previously described and incorporated herein by reference. Is also good.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a ring with certain components inside which function as closures to prevent the particulate product from being released in solid form from the inside of the bag. However, it is entirely possible to use a ring with the bag completely open, depending on the nature of the granular product used. This type of ring is shown in FIGS. For purposes of explanation, the ring of FIG. 8 includes a peripheral wall 81 equipped with a tab 82 that can function as a gripping means. tab
82 facilitates the introduction of the granular product when the granular product is measured in a bag for weighing by bag. Ninth
The figure shows a variant in which a handle 92 is provided on the ring 91, but this handle is shown cut away,
It can be releasably secured at 93 by any suitable quick fastening means, especially scissors or mounting.

FIG. 10 shows another variation, in which the ring 101 has an irregular surface at the outer end to facilitate finger grip. In the selected example, these irregularities are, for example, indentations 102
And at least one other recess 103 adapted to the index finger of the same hand. Thus, the user can extremely easily nill in filling the accompanying bag
You can grab 101.

The metering and diffusing device used in the present invention was shown in FIGS. 4-10 with a ring defining a circular opening. This shape is not particularly important, and it is also possible to use ellipses or other types of contours. It has already been described. Because of the need for cleaning, a device without sharp edges is preferred, in which case no damage is caused to the laundry. For this reason, a round or oval structure is usually preferred over a square or square cross-section structure, even with rounded ends. In any case, one skilled in the art will employ any shape or structure, especially if the ring is made of a plastics material, since its manufacture is simplified by known molding techniques such as injection molding. I can do this. However, as already mentioned above, it is not unavoidable that the ring is made of a plastic material, and other materials are also suitable.

The present invention is again illustrated by the following specific examples relating to the practice of the method of the present invention. In all these examples, capacitors 250-400 having a shape similar to that shown in FIG.
A metering and spreading device containing a ml flexible bag was used. The opening was defined by a polypropylene ring as described above in FIG. In the tests reported below, washing of the laundry was performed with a detergent amount in the range of 150-250 g. In one test, bags were made from cotton fabric and the mesh openings had a size of about 0.5 mm or less. Other tests were performed with non-woven cotton bags having openings in the range of about 0.5-0.8 mm with equivalent results.

The active products in the tests used were the main cleaning detergent compositions as defined below: Alkyl sulfate 7-10% Fatty acids 1-3% Aluminum silicate and sodium 15-25% Water-soluble polymer 1- 3% Sodium perborate 10-25% Sodium silicate 3-8% Sodium sulfate 10-40% Sodium carbonate 5-10% Alcalase (enzyme) 0-2% All above parts are given by weight. In one test, less than 5% of a bleach accelerator, ie, tetraacetylethylenediamine, was added to the composition. In all cases, excellent results were obtained with respect to cleaning performance.

A comparative test was performed to evaluate the dissolution rate for one and similar primary detergent granular detergent compositions of the type described above under similar conditions as when washing laundry with a machine. A metering device of the present invention was used comprising a co-extruded polypropylene film bag having a ring as shown in FIG. 5 and an opening of about 380 microns. Moreover, a similar test was carried out on a weighing device comprising the same, but expanded ring of solid polypropylene body. In both cases, the capacity of the device was about 200 g. The results obtained indicate that the dissolution rate of the composition may be higher in the case of the device according to the invention, as indicated by the measured amounts relating to the amount of detergent released into the bath for 8 to 10 minutes after placing the device in the machine. Showed fast. This is very favorable for washing laundry.

A supplemental comparative test was performed to demonstrate the benefits exhibited by the metering and spreading device with a flexible bag when washing laundry with a machine. The tests reported below were based on a device of the invention comprising, on the one hand, a cotton fabric bag secured to a ring of the type shown in FIG. 5 and, on the other hand, on the same ring as in FIG. This was done with an apparatus containing a bonded rigid polypropylene body. In all cases, the previously defined granular detergent composition for main cleaning was used.

The test conditions for washing the laundry with the machine were as follows: Washing machine type: commercial Mir and Siemens (Mi
ele and Siemens) Washing machine Washing temperature: 30 ° C, 60 ° C and 90 ° C respectively Washing cycle: main wash only Water hardness: average value equivalent to tap water from main system Drying: in shaker type dryer Load of laundry: Daily 2kg (30 ° C) and 3kg (60 and 90 ° C) daily household goods fabrics, 4 pairs / test with identical properties for comparison, 24 comparative tests The cleaning results are evaluated by skilled personnel and are therefore particularly characteristic The samples were evaluated 288 times visually (ie 12 times / test).

The good ratio (61) on the side of the flexible bag device of the present invention.
%) Was clearly higher than with the rigid device (39%).

Thus, the above results show the superiority of the performance obtained by the present invention when washing laundry with a machine.

As those skilled in the art will readily appreciate, many modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, in the above examples, the present invention has all been described above with respect to its application to granular detergents,
However, the present invention is useful in the case of other granular active products which are useful for cleaning and are provided separately and exert their special effects during the cleaning cycle selected either at the beginning of the cleaning cycle or at the time of the cleaning. It must be understood that also can be applied.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a metering and diffusing device used in the method of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing a modification. FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, showing another modification. FIG. 4 is a sectional view for explaining a method of mounting the flexible bag on the support ring. FIG. 5 is a plan view of a ring defining an opening of the bag. FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, showing a modification. FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIGS. 5 and 6, showing another modification. FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a ring having gripping means. FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8, showing a modification. FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 8, showing another modification.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-63-222796 (JP, A) JP-A-1-287199 (JP, A) JP-A-56-128192 (JP, A) 505824 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model Application No. Sho 58-117291 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Application No. Sho 63-147194 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Application No. Sho 58-117290 (JP, U) US Pat. (US, A) US Patent 4014105 (US, A) US Patent 3,048,993 (US, A) British Patent 1298454 (GB, B) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) D06F 35/00, 39/00-39/02

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] 1. A machine in which a reusable metering and spreading device is filled with a granular product which is active during washing, which device is put into the machine together with the laundry to be washed, after which washing is carried out in a customary manner. Wherein the device comprises a flexible sheath in the form of a bag extending around at least one opening, through which approximately 1
The bag is filled with a desired amount of product corresponding to the number of washing operations, and the opening is formed from a support member supporting the flexible sheath and remains at least partially open during washing so that the granular product gradually That the aqueous cleaning medium penetrates into the interior of the bag through at least the opening of the bag so that the particulate product is gradually released during washing at least through the opening of the bag, mainly in the form of an aqueous solution. Features method. 2. The bag material impregnates the aqueous cleaning medium into the particulate product contained within the bag, and the active aqueous solution resulting from the gradual dissolution of the particulate product passes through the bag and the bag material is The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises a material that diffuses from inside to outside. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the device has a single opening, the cross section of which is circular. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the support member of the flexible sheath comprises a ring having a cross section defining an opening. 5. The material of which the ring is made of plastic material such as polyethylene or polypropylene, metal or wood or cardboard which is made water-resistant instead.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the substance is any similar substance. 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the ring has a plurality of partitions extending radially toward a center portion, and an opening is formed between the radial partitions. 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the radial partitions are helical. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the support member of the flexible sheath comprises a ring forming an opening, and the ring has a permanent handle or a removable handle on the ring body. . 9. A metering and dispersing device for a granular product which is active when washing laundry with a machine, as implemented in the method according to claim 1. Description: