WO2006061065A1

WO2006061065A1 - Dispensing device

Info

Publication number: WO2006061065A1
Application number: PCT/EP2005/011806
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roy Van Heesen
Original assignee: Unilever Plc; Unilever N.V.; Hindustan Lever Limited
Priority date: 2004-12-08
Filing date: 2005-11-03
Publication date: 2006-06-15
Also published as: GB0426888D0; EP1819866A1

Abstract

A dispensing device (1) for treating laundry in a washing machine, the device comprising a receptacle (2) for housing one or more laundry unit dose products e.g. tablets, the device being characterised in that the device comprises a compressible flotation device (35) .

Description

DISPENSING DEVICE

The invention relates to a process for washing laundry in a washing machine by employing a receptacle for dispensing at least one laundry tablet. The invention also relates to a dispensing device for carrying out the above process.

Dispensing devices for laundry tablet compositions are known.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a dispensing device for dispensing one or more laundry unit dose products to treat laundry in a washing machine, the device comprising a flexible, loose fitting receptacle the receptacle comprising one or more dispensing apertures and an opening for reception of the one or more laundry unit dose products and a closure member to close the opening so as to prevent passage of the one or more laundry unit dose products through the receptacle opening, wherein the closure member is (a) buoyant so as to further act as a flotation member during a washing operation and (b) resiliently compressible to allow compression when in contact with the laundry during a washing operation and tablets during storage, and expansion to a volume adding configuration during a washing operation.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a process for treating laundry in a washing machine by employing the above dispensing device, together with one or more laundry unit dose products comprising the step of _ O _

inserting the one or more laundry unit dose products into the receptacle and closing the receptacle using the closure member; inserting the receptacle into the washing machine together with the laundry to be treated and then performing a laundry treatment operation.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a dispensing device according to the first aspect of the invention in combination with a laundry unit dose product and instructions for use according to the method of the second aspect of the invention.

In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a dispensing device according to the first aspect of the invention in combination with a laundry unit dose product and instructions for use according to the method of the second aspect of the invention, wherein the dispensing device is initially stored compressed within the closed package.

Incorporating a flotation device is advantageous. The receptacle can float in the wash liquor thereby enhancing travel of the laundry unit dose product composition throughout the laundry, thereby improving treatment of the laundry by said composition.

Compression of the closure device on contact with fabric/clothing during a wash cycle minimises damage to such fabric/clothing. Preferably, the closure device is resiliently compressible in more than one direction. Advantageously the closure device is compressible in all directions. Preferably, the device is manually compressible up to half, and more preferably up to a third of its original (uncompressed) volume.

However the device should be at the same time robust enough to withstand repeated washing. Therefore the foam should not be so highly compressible so as to render the closure device prone to break-up under washing conditions.

The volume adding function is provided by the closure device by being resilient so it expands to its original volume on removal of compression forces. The inclusion of such a volume adding member decreases the incidence of lodging of the device within the door seal, posting of the device in the door seal and facilitates the finding of the device after a washing operation.

By combining the functions of a floatation, closure and volume adding into one single member the device can be compact and so not impinge on the volume needed within the receptacle for it to be loose fitting around one or two laundry unit dose products.

This inturn has a positive environmental impact by reducing the amount of packaging material required for each pack. When great numbers of packs are produced and sold, this has also positive influence on transport costs. In a preferred, embodiment the closure device comprises a foam material. In one embodiment it comprises ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA) foam of the closed cell type.

EVA foam is advantageous because it is highly heat resistant and so retains its sponginess even during/after high temperature wash cycles.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the closure device has no rigid parts. For example the device may solely consist of a body of EVA foam, which is compressible in all directions.

Preferably, the receptacle comprises a net bag with a plurality of apertures for permitting the passage of an aqueous solution there through.

Preferably the net has an average mesh size of 1 - 15mm In one embodiment of the process, the average mesh size is at least 4mm and in one embodiment it is approximately 5mm. Alternatively the mesh size may be approximately 10mm.

Preferably the receptacle opening has a diameter which is at least double the maximum diameter of the unit dose product (s) . For example if the unit dose product/s comprise cylindrical disc shaped tablet (s) with diameter 4-5cm, the diameter of the receptacle opening is preferably 8-lOcm.

Preferably, the receptacle is reusable. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the closure device further comprises a drawstring, wherein the closure member is attached to the drawstring to close and lock the receptacle opening in an open or closed orientation.

In the case of a closure comprising no rigid parts e.g. a sponge body, it may comprise a through-hole or channel through which the string passes. The resilience of the material and the size of the hole and/or channel may serve to keep the device in place on the string in the open or closed position.

The device may incorporate a base part or parts which are e.g. tightly woven so as to prevent the passage of dry particles or powder therethrough during filling of the bag with unit dose products. This has the advantage that any powder or particles coming from the tablets do not escape on to a work surface/floor during filling. However, because the remaining part of the receptacle can be left with a course mesh, the function of this course mesh is not interfered with.

Typically, the receptacle is produced from a material capable of withstanding temperatures for the machine washing or drying of laundry, especially up to 150⁰C. With regard to the net material one example is sold under the trade name NETLON. However other materials capable of withstanding the above temperatures are envisaged. The laundry unit dose product may comprise for example a tablet and/or water soluble capsule containing a laundry composition and/or gel product (such as gel cube) and may comprise any suitable composition which may comprise a compacted particulate laundry composition containing one or more detergent-active compounds.

Tablet compositions

Laundry tablets for use in the present invention generally have a weight of from 2 to 20Og, more preferably of from 20 to 10Og, most preferably of from 20 to 8Og.

Surfactant compounds

The tablets of the invention typically comprise one or more organic surfactants. Many suitable detergent-active compounds are available and are fully described in the literature, for example, in "Surface-Active Agents and Detergents", Volumes I and II, by Schwartz, Perry and Berch.

The surfactant may be anionic (soap or non-soap), cationic, zwitterionic, amphoteric, nonionic or a combination of these.

Detergent-active compounds can be used include soaps and synthetic non-soap anionic and nonionic compounds.

Anionic surfactant may be present in an amount from 0.5 to 50% by weight, preferably from 2% or 4% up to 30% or 40% by weight of the composition. Suitable examples include alkyl benzene sulphonates, particularly sodium linear alkyl benzene sulphonates having an alkyl chain length of C8-C15; olefin sulphonates; alkane sulphonates; dialkyl sulphosuccinates; and fatty acid ester sulphonates.

Suitable nonionic surfactant compounds include in particular the reaction products of compounds having a hydrophobic group and a reactive hydrogen atom, for example, aliphatic alcohols, acids, amides or alkyl phenols with alkylene oxides, especially ethylene oxide.

Specific nonionic surfactant compounds are alkyl (Cg22) phenol-ethylene oxide condensates, the condensation products of linear or branched aliphatic C 20 primary or secondary alcohols with ethylene oxide, and products made by condensation of ethylene oxide with the reaction products of propylene oxide and ethylene-diamine. In a fabric washing composition, these organic surfactants preferably provide from 5 to 50% by weight of the overall composition.

Water- softening agent Tablets for use according to this invention may contain a so-called water-softening agent, which serves to remove or sequester calcium and/or magnesium ions in the water. In the context of a detergent composition containing organic surfactant, a water-softening agent may be referred to as a detergency builder.

When a water-softening agent (or detergency builder) is present, the amount of it is likely to lie in a broad range from 5%wt, preferably 15%wt up to 98%wt of the composition. The amount is likely to be from 15 to 80%wt, more usually 15 to 60%wt of the composition. Water-softening agents may be provided wholly by water- soluble materials, or may be provided in large part or even entirely by water-insoluble material with water-softening properties.

Alkali metal aluminosilicates are strongly favoured as environmentally acceptable detergency builders for fabric washing. Suitable crystalline sodium aluminosilicate ion- exchange materials are described, for example, in GB 1 429 143 (Procter & Gamble) . The preferred sodium aluminosilicates of this type are the well known commercially available zeolites A and X, the newer zeolite P described and claimed in EP-A-384 070 (Unilever) and mixtures thereof. This form of zeolite P is also referred to as "zeolite MAP". One commercial form of it is denoted "zeolite A24" (ex Ineos Silicas, UK) .

The builder may also be a water-soluble phosphorus- containing inorganic softener for example alkali-metal orthophosphates, metaphosphates, pyrophosphates and polyphosphates. Specific examples of inorganic phosphate detergency builders include sodium and potassium tripolyphosphates, orthophosphates and hexametaphosphates. Non-phosphorus water-soluble detergency builders may be organic or inorganic. Inorganics that may be present include alkali metal (generally sodium) carbonate; while organics include polycarboxylate polymers, such as polyacrylates, acrylic/maleic copolymers, and acrylic phosphonates, monomeric polycarboxylates such as citrates, gluconates, oxydisuccinates, glycerol mono- di- and trisuccinates, carboxymethyloxysuccinates, carboxymethyloxymalonates, dipicolinates and hydroxyethyliminodiacetates.

Bleach system Tableted compositions according to the invention may contain a bleach system. This preferably comprises one or more peroxy bleach compounds, for example, inorganic persalts or organic peroxyacids, which may be employed in conjunction with activators to improve bleaching action at low wash temperatures. If any peroxygen compound is present, the amount is likely to lie in a range from 10 to 85% by weight of the composition. If the tablet contains surfactant and detergency builder, the amount of peroxygen compound bleach is unlikely to exceed 25% of the composition. Preferred inorganic persalts are sodium perborate monobydrate and tetrahydrate, and sodium percarbonate, advantageously employed together with an activator. Bleach activators, also referred to as bleach precursors, have been widely disclosed in the art.

Disintegration-promoting particles

As mentioned above, tablets may optionally contain disintegration-promoting particles to promote disintegration. Such particles typically contain at least 40% (of their own weight) of one or more materials selected from

• compounds with a water-solubility exceeding 50 grams per

100 grams water

• water swellable materials such as for example cellulose, cross-linked polyethylene glycol, cross linked polyvinyl pyrrolidone or an acrylic/maleic copolymer phase I sodium tripolyphosphate

• sodium tripolyphosphate which is partially hydrated so as to contain water of hydration in an amount which is at least 0.5% by weight of the sodium tripolyphosphate in the particles.

The quantity of disintegration-promoting particles may be from 1 or 5% up to 30 or 40%wt of the tablet. The quantity may possibly be from 8% up to or 30%wt or more. However, it is within this invention that the amount of water-soluble disintegration-promoting particles is low, below 5%wt of the tablet or region, reliance being placed on water insoluble water swellable disintegration particles.

Further optional ingredients.

Detergency enzymes may be employed in tablets and are commonly employed in the form of granules or marumes, optionally with a protective coating, in amount of from about 0.1% to about 3.0%wt of the composition. These granules or marumes present no problems with respect to compaction to form a tablet.

The tablets of the invention may also contain a fluorescer (optical brightener) , for example, Tinopal (Trade Mark) DMS or Tinopal CBS available from Ciba-Geigy AG, Basel, Switzerland.

Tinopal DMS is disodium 4, 4 'bis- (2-morpholino-4-anilino-s- triazin-β-ylamino) stilbene disulphonate; and Tinopal CBS is disodium 2, 2 ' -bis- (phenyl-styryl) disulphonate. An antifoam material is advantageously included if organic surfactant is present; especially if a tablet is primarily intended for use in front-loading drum-type automatic washing machines.

Tablets may include an amount of an alkali metal silicate.

Fabric-softening or conditioning compositions

Laundry compositions may provide, in addition or as an alternative to other wash functions, fabric softening benefits. Such compositions may comprise a compacted granular fabric conditioning composition and may comprise a fabric softening clay optionally in combination with an organic fatty softening material. Especially preferred fabric softeners comprise a clay mineral softener, such as bentonite, in combination with a pentaerythritol ester compound as further described herein.

Useful combinations, of such softener may vary from about

80%, to about 90%, by weight, of clay, and from about 10% to about 20%, by weight, of fatty softening material such as a pentaerytbritol compound (often abbreviated herein as "PEC") . The clays that are useful components of the invented products are those which cooperate with the organic fatty softener materials to provide enhanced softening of laundry.

Such clays include the montmorillonite-containing clays which have swelling properties (in water) and which are of smectite structure, so that they deposit on fibrous materials, 3 especially cotton and cotton/synthetic.blends, such as cotton/polyester, to give such fibers and fabrics made from them a surface lubricity or softness. The best of the smectite clays for use in the present invention is bentonite and the best of the bentonites are those which have a substantial swelling capability in water, such as the sodium and potassium bentonites. Such swelling bentonites are also known as western or Wyoming bentonites, which are essentially sodium bentonite. Other bentonites, such as calcium bentonite, are normally non-swelling and usually are, in themselves, unacceptable as fabric softening agents. However, it has been found that such non- swelling bentonites exhibit even better fabric softening in combination with PECs than do the swelling bentonites, provided that there is present in the softening composition, a source of alkali metal or other solubilizing ion, such as sodium (which may come from sodium hydroxide, added to the composition, or from sodium salts, such as builders and fillers, which may be functional components of the composition) . Among the preferred bentonites are those of sodium and potassium, which are normally swelling, and calcium and magnesium, which are normally non-swelling. Of these it is preferred to utilize calcium (with a source of sodium being present) and sodium bentonites. The bentonites employed may be produced in the United States of America, such as Wyoming bentonite, but also may be obtained from Europe, including Italy and Spain, as calcium bentonite, which may be converted to sodium bentonite by treatment with sodium carbonate, or may be employed as calcium bentonite. Also, other montmorillonite-containing smectite clays of properties like those of the bentonites described may be substituted in whole or in part for the bentonites described herein and similar fabric softening results will be obtained.

The swellable bentonites and similarly operative clays are of ultimate particle sizes in the micron range, e.g., 0,01 to 20 microns and of actual particle sizes in the range of No's. 100 to 400 sieves, preferably 140 to 325 sieves, U.S. Sieve Series. The bentonite and other such suitable swellable clays may be agglomerated to larger particle sizes too, such as 60 to 120 sieves, but- such agglomerates are not preferred unless they include the PEC ('s) too (in any particulate products) .

The organic softener can be anionic, cationic or nonionic fatty chains (C10-C22 preferably C₁₂ Ci₈) . Anionic softeners include fatty acids, soaps.

Preferred organic softeners are nonionics such as fatty esters, ethoxylated fatty esters, fatty alcohols and polyols polymers. The organic softener is most preferably a higher fatty acid ester of a pentaerythritol compound, which term is used in this specification to describe higher fatty acid esters of pentaerythritol, higher fatty acid esters of pentaerythritol oligomers, higher fatty acid esters of lower alkylene oxide derivatives of pentaerythritol and higher fatty acid esters of lower alkylene oxide derivatives of pentaerythritol oligomers. Pentaerythritol compound is often abbreviated as PEC herein, which description and abbreviation may apply to any or all of pentaerythritol, oligomers, thereof and alkoxylated derivatives thereof, as such, or more preferably and more usually, as the esters, as may be indicated by the context.

The oligomers of pentaerythritol are preferably those of two to five pentaerythritol moieties, more preferably 2 or 3, with such moieties being joined together through etheric bonds. The lower alkylene oxide derivatives thereof are preferably of ethylene oxide or propylene oxide monomers, dimers or polymers, which terminate in hydroxyls and are joined to the pentaerythritol or oligomer of pentaerythritol through etheric linkages. Preferably there will be one to ten alkylene oxide moieties in each such alkylene oxide chain, more preferably 2 to 6, and there will be one to ten such groups on a PEC, depending on the oligomer. At least one of the PEC OH groups and preferably at least two, e.g., 1 or 2 to 4, are esterified by a higher fatty acid or other higher aliphatic acid, which can be of an odd number of carbon atoms.

The higher fatty acid esters of the pentaerythritol compounds are preferably partial esters. And more preferably there will be at least two free hydroxyls thereon after esterification (on the pentaerythritol, oligomer or alkoxyalkane groups) . Frequently, the number of such free hydroxyls is two or about two but sometimes it may by one, as in pentaerytbritol tristearate. The higher aliphatic or fatty acids that may be employed as esterifying acids are those of carbon atom contents in the range of 8 to 24, preferably 12 to 22 and more preferably 12 to 18, e.g., lauric, myristic, palmitic, oleic, stearic and behenic acids. Such may be mixtures of such fatty acids, obtained from natural sources, such as tallow or coconut oil, or from such natural materials that have been hydrogenated. Synthetic acids of odd or even numbers of carbon atoms may also be employed. Of the fatty acids lauric and stearic acids are often preferred, and such preference may depend on the pentaerythritol compound being esterified.

Examples of some esters (PECs) within the present invention follow:

Monopentaerythritol Esters

Ri-CH₂-C(CH₂-R₂) (CH₂-R₄J-CH₂-R₃

Monopentaerythritol Dilaυrate

Ri = CH₃- (CH₂ ) _Io-COO- R₂ = CH₃- (CH₂) _I0-COO- R₃ = OH R₄ = OH

Monopentaerythritol Monostearate

R₁ = CH₃- (CH₂) _I6-COO-

R₂ = OH

R₃ = OH

R₄ = OH

Monopentaerythritol Distearate

Ri = CH₃- (CH₂) _I6-COO- R₂ = CH₃- (CH₂) _I6-COO- R₃ = OH R₄ = OH

Monopentaerythritol Tristearate Ri = CH₃- (CH₂) _I6-COO- R₂ = CH₃- (CH₂) _I6-COO- R₃ = CH₃-(CH₂)_I6-COO- R₄ = OH

Monopentaerythritol Monobehenate

R₁ = CH₃- (CHs)_2O-COO- R₂ = OH R₃ = OH R₄ = OH

Monopentaerythritol Dibehenate

Ri = CH₃-(CH_S)₂₀-COO- R₂ = CH₃-(CH_S)₂₀-COO- R₃ = OH R₄ = OH

Dipentaerythritol Esters

HO-CH₂-C ( CH₂ORi ) ( CH₂OR₃ ) -CH₂-O-CH₂-C ( CH₂OR₂₃ ) ( CH₂OR₄ ) -CH₂-OH Dipentaerythritol Tetralaurate

Ri = CH₃- ( CH₂ ) _I0-CO R₂ = CH₃- ( CH₂ ) _I0-CO

R₃ = CH₃- ( CH₂ ) _I0-CO

R₄ = CH₃- ( CH₂ ) _I0-CO

Dipentaerythritol Tetrastearate

Ri = CH₃-(CH₂)_I6-CO

R₂ = CH₃-(CH₂)_I6-CO

R₃ = CH₃-(CH₂)I₆-CO

R₄ = CH₃-(CH₂)₁₆-CO

Pentaerythritol 10 Ethylene Oxide Ester

R₁-CH₂-C (CH₂-O- ( CH₂-CH₂O)_nH) (CH₂-O- ( CH₂-CH₂O)_n*H) - CH₂-R₂ n + n* = 10

Monopentaerythritol 10 Ethylene Oxide Distearate

Ri = CH₃- (CH₂) ₁₆-C00- R₂ = CH₃- (CH₂) _I6-COO- Pentaerythritol 4 Propylene Oxide Esters

Ri-CH₂-C (CH₂-O- ( CH₂-CH-CH₂O)₂H) (CH₂-O- ( CH₂-CH-CH₂O)₂H)-CH₂-R₂ Monopentaerythritol Propylene Oxide Monostearate

Ri = CH₃- (CH₂) _I6-COO- R₂ = OH Monopentaerythritol 4 Propylene Oxide Distearate

R₁ = CH₃- (CH₂) _I6-COO- R₂ = CH₃- (CH₂) _I6-COO- Although in the formulas given herein some preferred pentaerythritol compounds that are useful are illustrated it will be understood that various other such pentaerythritol compounds within the description thereof may also be employed herein, including such as pentaerythritol dihydrogenated tallowate, pentaerythritol ditallowate, pentaerythritol dipalmitate, and dipentacrythritol tetratallowate.

In addition, to enhance the softening efficacy of the fabric conditioning compositions described above, or as an alternative, cationic softeners such as conventional quaternary ammonium softening compounds may optionally be added (in minor amounts if in addition to the above compositions) .

The combination of bentonite and organic fatty softening material may be generally from about 10% to about 99% bentonite and from about 1% to about 90% fatty softening material, preferably from about 50% to about 95% bentonite and about 5% to about 50% fatty softening material, and most preferably from about 80% to 90% bentonite and from about 10% to about 20% fatty softening-material.

Further ingredients These which can optionally be employed in laundry tablets of the invention include anti-redeposition agents such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose, straight-chain polyvinyl pyrrolidone and the cellulose ethers such as methyl cellulose and ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, heavy metal sequestrants such as EDTA; perfumes; and colorants or colored speckles.

Particle size and distribution

Tablets may comprise a matrix of compacted particles. The composition before compaction may have an average particle size in the range of from 200 to 2000, urn, more preferably from 250 to 1400um. Fine particles, smaller than 180pm or 200,urn may be eliminated by sieving before tableting, if desired, although we have observed that this is not always essential. The starting composition before compaction may for example have a bulk density of at least 400 g/litre, preferably at least 500 g/litre, and most preferably at least 600 g/litre. A composition which is compacted into a tablet or tablet region may contain particles which have been prepared by spray-drying or granulation and which contain a mixture of ingredients. Such particles may contain organic detergent surfactant and some or all of any water-softening agent (detergency builder) also present in the tablet. The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing device according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged schematic view of the mesh of the receptacle of the dispensing device Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the closure device of the dispensing device of figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a dispensing device 1 according to the invention, comprising a receptacle 2 for laundry tablets in the form of a flexible, loosely fitting, net bag 2 having an opening 3 and apertures 5 having an average mesh size of approximately 5 mm. (tablets not shown) .

The device includes a closure device 35 which consists solely of a generally cylindrical ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam body. The closure device 35 has a central longitudinal through hole 37 through which string 39 runs. The string 39 is part of a drawstring closure arrangement generally indicated at 31. Thus, the devices includes only flexible parts and includes no rigid parts. The longitudinal through-hole 37 is dimensioned relative to the diameter of the string so as to fit tightly onto the string 39. The foam body 35 can be manually drawn along the string 39 and its resilience ensures it remains in position to lock the receptacle opening 3 in an open or closed position.

The mesh has a hexagonal structure as shown more clearly in figure 2.

The closed cell foam body is buoyant in the wash liquor thereby further enhancing travel of the net through the laundry and consequently dispersal of the laundry tablet composition.

The foam closure device is resiliently compressible which enables the closure device to expand after removal of the compressive force to provide a volume adding function within the wash but without the drawbacks of using a rigid device. The inclusion of such a volume adding member decreases the incidence of lodging of the bag within the door seal, posting of the device in the door seal, facilitate the finding of the bag after a washing operation.

The use of the compressible closure device without any rigid parts reduces the cost and any risk of damage of the laundry due to its rigidity/shape, and further any risk of damage to the tablets whilst in storage/transit.

The provision of the three functions (closure, volume- adding, buoyancy) by a single device enables a more compact and simple structure. This in turn allows more space to be taken up by the receptacle providing the tablet or tablets room therewithin.

The net when laid flat is approximately 12 cm x 15cm. These dimensions provide a bag of manageable size but which is loose fitting for two tablets (each about 4.5 cm diameter and 1.5 cm height) .

The receptacle opening is located on the larger (15cm) side, providing a large opening for introducing the tablet/s. When the net is opened out the opening has a diameter of approximately 9.5cm, which is just over double the diameter of the tablet.

In an alternative embodiment the base of the net can be covered with a tightly woven material to prevent powder from the tablets falling onto a work surface/floor during filling of the net bag. This reduces wastage of tablet material by retaining all powder, particles from the tablet within the bag for use in the washing operation. This tightly woven base region can be made to occupy a relatively small part of the bag as compared with the part having an open mesh so as not to interfere with the function of the mesh. In use, a laundry unit dose product, here a laundry unit dose product e.g. detergent tablet 10 is placed in the device 1 by inserting the tablet 10 through the opening 3. The closure device 35 is then grasped between the users fingers and drawn along the string 39 to close the receptacle opening 3, where it remains in place (by the mechanism described above) , to lock the opening 3 closed. Generally two tablets will be used in a conventional washing operation. The device 1 and tablets (not shown) contained therein are then placed in a washing machine together with the laundry to be washed and a washing operation is carried out during which the detergent tablet (s) within the bag 2 will disintegrate and dissolve. The compressible flotation foam aids flotation of the net in the wash liquor, increasing dispersal of the laundry tablet composition in the liquor. Any undissolved particulate disintegration products of the tablet of a size less then 5 mm will pass out of the bag 2 and be dissolved outside the bag 2. When the washing operation has been completed, the device 1 is removed from the machine and stored for subsequent use.

The Tablet Formulation is as follows:

A detergent base powder, incorporating organic surfactants, a small percentage of crystalline sodium acetate trihydrate, and zeolite MAP was made using known granulation technology. It had the following composition, shown as parts by weight.

Ingredient Parts by Weight

Sodium linear alkylbenzene sulphonate 20.85 nonionic surfactant

(C13-15 branched fatty alcohol 3EO) 3.07 nonionic surfactant

C13-15 branched fatty alcohol 7EO) 5.98 Soap 1.62 zeolite A24 46.70

Sodium acetate trihydrate 5.92 Sodium carbonate 6.60 sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (SCMC) 0.64 additional moisture and minor ingredients 8.50 Total 100

The amount of zeolite MAP (zeolite A24) in the table above is the amount which would be present if it was anhydrous. Its accompanying small content of moisture is included as part of the moisture and minor ingredients.

The base powder and other ingredients were mixed together as set out in the following table. Comp A. Base powder, as above 57.18

Antifoam (1) 2.30

Fluorescer (2) 1.59

Sodium percarbonate 19.23

TAED (3) 6.48 Sodium disilicate 4.07

Soil release polymer (4) 1.40

Acrylic/maleic copolymer (5) 1.53

EDTM phosphonate 0.95 Colored speckles 1.77 Cellulosic swelling disintegrant (6) 3.50 Total 100

Wherein:

(1) Antifoam is 17%wt silicon oil, 71%wt sodium carbonate and the remainder petroleum jelly and phosphate ester.

(2) Fluorescer is 9.9%wt Fluorescer and 82.5%wt sodium carbonate the remainder being minor ingredients (3) TAED is

83%wt TAED in 9%wt sodium sulphate the remainder being minor ingredients.

(4) Soil release polymer is 18%wt soil-release polymer,

44%wt zeolite MAP, 21%wt sodium carbonate and minor ingredients. (5) Acrylic/maleic polymer is Sokolan CP5 ex BASE (91%wt active) (β) Cellulosic swelling disintegrant (Arbocel ex Rettenmaier)

Tablets were made by mixing the ingredients (except for the cellulosic swelling disintegrant) and finally adding the cellulosic swelling disintegrant.

Tablets were made in a labscale Graseby Specac tabletting press; tablets had a weight of 32.4 grams and a strength

(expressed in terms of the diametrical fracture stress) of approximately 25k Pa. The diametrical stress is defined as DFS=2*Fmax/( II*D*t) with Fmax being the tablet strength expressed as the force required to break a tablet when it is applied on its circumference. D the tablet diameter and t its thickness.

When the tablets of this example are immersed in 1 litre of tap water 20 degrees C, they require about 220 seconds before 90%wt thereof is disintegrated and/or solubilised.

In this specification the term "mesh size" is understood that size of hole which would allow particles of equivalent size or diameter to pass through. Thus a net having a mesh size of lmm will allow all particles of average diameter of lmm or less to pass through.

The above embodiments of the present invention have been described by way of example only and various alternative features or modifications from what has been specifically described and illustrated can be made within the scope of the invention, as will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A dispensing device for dispensing one or more laundry unit dose products to treat laundry in a washing machine, the device comprising a flexible, loose fitting receptacle the receptacle comprising one or more dispensing apertures and an opening for reception of the one or more laundry unit dose products and a closure member to close the opening so as to prevent passage of the one or more laundry unit dose products through the receptacle opening, wherein the closure member is (a) buoyant so as to further act as a flotation member during a washing operation and (b) resiliently compresible to allow compression when in contact with the laundry during a washing operation and tablets during storage, and expansion to a volume adding configuration during a washing operation.

2. A dispensing device according to claim 1 wherein the closure device is compressible in all directions.

3. A dispensing device according to any preceding claim wherein the closure device is compressible to half the original volume.

4. A dispensing device according to any preceding claim wherein the closure device comprises a foam material.

5. A dispensing device according to claim 4 in which the closure device comprises a ethyl vinyl acetate foam.

6. A dispensing device according to any preceding claim wherein the closure device is substantially cylindrical.

7. A process for treating laundry in a washing machine^' by employing a receptacle for dispensing one or more laundry unit dose products according to any preceding claim together with one or more laundry unit dose products comprising the step of inserting the one or more laundry unit dose products into the receptacle and closing the receptacle using the closure member; inserting the receptacle into the washing machine together with the laundry to be treated and then performing a laundry treatment operation.

8. A package for laundry unit dose products incorporating the device any of claims 1-6 including one or more laundry unit dose products in combination with instructions for use according to claim 7.

9. A dispensing device substantially as herein before described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.