EP1531177A1 - Packaging unit for paste containing water-soluble materials, device for processing such a packaging unit and process for washing clothes - Google Patents

Abstract

The packaging (5), for a paste containing water-soluble materials as reagents for a commercial washing machine, is a film tube which is closed at both ends (51,52) and sealed by clips (53,54) or an adhesive.

Description

The invention relates to a packaging unit for a water-soluble substances containing Paste, in particular of comparatively poorly water-soluble compounds, and an apparatus for processing such Packaging Unit. It further relates to a method for washing Laundry in an industrial car wash, especially in one Counter-current washing machine.

For industrial or commercial washing of laundry, on the one hand to treat a comparatively large amount of laundry, on the other hand comparatively complex contaminants safely from the laundry can be removed, a so-called countercurrent washing machine for Use come. Such a countercurrent washing machine, as for example is known from DE 198 12 386 A1, usually includes a number of laundry compartments in succession in one direction for washing. These working chambers, which are built around a common axis of rotation are pivotable, each for receiving a specific amount of laundry and for performing a chamber specific treatment step, such as a pre-wash, a main wash or a conditioner. Depending on the respectively provided treatment step, the supply can of reagents in the so-called wash liquor in the respective working chamber or at another suitably selected feed point of the countercurrent washing machine be provided.

In such washing operations is usually chosen with a suitable A combination of reagents, usually a cleaning component, an alkali component and / or a bleach or disinfectant contains. This is to be treated hygiene laundry using compounds based on active chlorine or compounds based on active oxygen bleached and disinfected. Commercially available oxygen-containing compounds are for example hydrogen peroxide in the temperature range of 85 ° - 90 ° Celsius or peracetic acid in the temperature range of 60 ° - 70 ° Celsius. recently contain bleach and disinfectant imidoperoxycarboxylic acids, in particular Phthalimidoperoxohexanoic acid (PAP), especially in the temperature range from 40 ° - 50 ° Celsius unfold their effect.

The feed of those based on these or other suitable active ingredients Reagents in the industrial washing machine to form the in it used wash liquor is usually demand-based. The can Reagents are kept in powder form, the on-demand supply of powder batches is provided in the industrial washing machine. However, a problem with such a concept may be that the meterability Such powder due to possibly changing parameter dependent Flowability or the like is limited. With regard to the usual Design target for industrial car washes that the addition of reagents for environmental and cost reasons, not beyond the actual Need to be done on the other hand, but also too low a dosage must be omitted to ensure the specified wash targets, is the Supply of reagents in powder form therefore only conditionally suitable.

Alternatively, the feeding of the reagents in liquid form, in particular in Form of suspensions, done. Especially when using the above However, materials is problematic in that the compounds mentioned have only a relatively low water solubility. So is for example, the solubility of PAP only 200 mg / l of water. The long-chain Peracids are therefore used in the form of aqueous suspensions which but they start to separate after only a few weeks of storage. Especially the logistical handling of such suspensions is thus comparatively consuming.

As a result, many attempts to produce stable suspensions are, for example the said imidoperoxycarboxylic acids have been undertaken (cf. e.g. EP 0 610 010 B1, EP 0 497 337 B1, EP 0 442 549 B1, EP 0 435 379 D1, EP 0 386 566 A1, EP 0 337 516 A2). All of the above methods have but because of the material properties mentioned shortcomings in terms of durability of the suspensions produced.

The invention is therefore based on the object, a concept for the provision of suspensions containing in particular the said materials Use in an industrial washing machine specify with the particular low logistical and operational costs a reliable and needs-based feeding of the industrial washing machine with reagents is possible. For this purpose, in particular a suitable packaging unit for the required for the formation of reagents agents are specified. Furthermore, a suitable for processing said packaging unit Device can be specified. Furthermore, a method for washing of laundry in an industrial washing machine, at with a particularly low cost and high reliability one needs-based feeding of required reagents into the industrial Washing machine is possible.

With regard to the packaging unit, the stated object is achieved according to the invention dissolved by a paste completely containing a water-soluble substance filled film tube whose two ends are closed.

The invention is based on the consideration that due to the described Disadvantages of providing the reagents in powder form and also in liquid form to ensure the stated design objectives Modified concept for the delivery and presentation of the reagents forming active ingredients should be selected. This is provided, the feed the reagents in the industrial washing machine basically in liquid Form, ie in the form of suspensions to make. To reduce it associated logistical and operational expenses should be the respective suspension but only immediately at the place of use and timely to the intended feed time getting produced. The formation of the reagents in the suspension However, the necessary active substances should be in a particularly compact, comparatively highly concentrated form held and stored, wherein just before the actual use of the production of the suspension by Dissolution of the active ingredients in water or another suitable solvent is provided. For storage, transport and other handling is provided, which may be relatively highly concentrated To provide active ingredients in the form of a paste, one for the production the suspension should be particularly suitable portioning.

To the thereby formed drug portions during transport, storage or other handling against degradation or other harmful To be able to protect environmental influences, the formed portions should be suitable and kept easily packaged. This is the Packing unit provided which portions to the formation of the reagents Contains provided paste.

The packaging unit preferably consists of multilayer tubular film made of plastic, in particular, a diffusion of ingredients in the Prevents environment, and in known per se fillers from the Food industry with a freshly made paste of particular poorly soluble substances such as imidoperoxycarboxylic acids (the Suspension of imidoperoxycarboxylic acids is in commercial Suspending devices, e.g. an ultra-thorax from Janke & Kunkel manufactured) can be filled. Preferably, one suitable selected layer sequence and / or combination of coextruded polyamide and Ploymeren used. To fill the cylindrical tubes can thereby commercially available filling machines are used, as for example under the Designation Robot-DB are commercially available.

The presentation of the intended for the detergent or cleaning agents In the form of the paste, among other things, a particularly storage-based and easy to handle portioning, with the capacity of the packaging unit preferably about 5 kg. The portioning of the hoses can, for example, with standard clipper, especially the Double clipper ICA 8700 from Poly-Clip System GmbH & Co. KG, Frankfurt, Germany respectively. For long term storage, this is the packaging unit forming film tube expediently closed on both sides, with a Particularly high density can be achieved by the film tube advantageously is closed with closure clips or closing threads or in alternative advantageous embodiment has a sealable plastic and on glued, welded or sealed at both ends.

Preferably, the film tube is made of a plastic. Plastic can consist in particular of any soft plastics. When Plastics that are co-extruded have proved to be particularly suitable Polyamides and other polymers, for example copolyamides, Polyesters, polyethylenes, polypropylenes or modified polyolefins.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the paste for producing a liquid washing or detergent designed. These are preferably in the paste as water-soluble substances imidoperoxycarboxylic acids as bleach or disinfectant contain. In a further advantageous embodiment, the paste as Detergent powdered active microparticles with wetting agents and is free held by adjusting means. The microparticles preferably have one Size of 1-150 μm preferably 5-100 μm, in particular 10-80 μm and in particularly advantageous embodiment about 10 microns. The production can by fine grinding by means of high-performance mills. Straight through the Choice of such a particle size is compared to the conventional one Particle sizes in powdered detergents a particularly high specific surface achievable, so that the Auflsöungsgeschschwindigkeit the powdery detergent and thus the subsequent cleaning especially is favored. As active substances thereby all usual raw materials of the Detergents or cleaning agents are used. Especially through the use said microparticles is a flowable with the suitable wetting agents Paste obtained by means of a rapid dissolution when added in water as Solvent is achieved.

With regard to the device for processing such a packaging unit the stated object is achieved with an insertion shaft for the packaging unit, are provided on the knife for opening the packaging unit. The Device is thus designed specifically for the use of the packaging unit, wherein when inserting the packaging unit into the insertion shaft as the Envelope provided for the paste film by the provided on the insertion shaft Knife is slit open so that the paste is reliably released. Subsequently, the thus released paste can be fed to a stirred tank in which the dissolution of the paste in supplied water for formation a suspension takes place.

The introduction shaft is preferably assigned to a first stirred tank, in which the mixing ratio of the mixture of the paste with supplied Water-forming suspensions can be adjusted. The first stirring tank in this case preferably has a stirrer, which is a homogenization of the Suspension and a particularly uniform distribution of the paste in the supplied Water causes. The agitator can, for example, alternating and with a relatively low speed of about 100 - 200 U / min the suspension stir. In the first stirred tank, the suspension becomes discontinuous in the correct one Solvent ratio set and especially because of the paste microparticles homogenized in a very short time homogenized.

Preferably, the device further comprises in addition to the first stirred tank a second stirred tank for providing the suspension to an end user is provided. In the second stirred tank, which has one with a Pump provided Umpumpleitung is connected to the first stirred tank is advantageously arranged a second agitator. The first in the stirred tank contained suspension is doing via the pumped circulation in the second stirred tank pumped, in which the suspension until delivery to the end user is kept homogeneous by alternating stirring and continuously as needed via a suction line to the intended end user washer extractor or car wash can be delivered.

To a particularly needs-based feed the suspension in the car wash or to ensure the end user is included in the discharge line advantageously connected a metering valve. This ensures that the in the liquid phase reproached drugs comparatively accurate dosed can be delivered to the end user.

By dividing the device into a first and a second stirred tank is a functional decoupling of essential treatment steps in the Provision of the suspension accessible to the end user. In the first Stirring can set the correct mixing ratio of the suspension be, wherein the dissolution of the paste in the supplied water, the homogenization the suspension can take place. The first stirred tank thus serves for actual production of the suspension. The second stirring container, however, can as a reservoir for the end user and thus in the manner of a buffer memory for on-demand storage of the already completed suspension serve. The agitator disposed therein thus causes the therein suspension is kept homogeneous and thus for the end user is available at any time. By dividing the production of the suspension on the one hand and providing the suspension to the end user is thus a particularly flexible and needs-based production of the suspension possible without having downtime when loading the end user with the suspension would have to be accepted.

Advantageously, the first and / or the second stirred tank is in each case with a Number of level sensors. This ensures that in good time a replenishment of the held in the respective stirred containers Stocks can take place, so that an uninterrupted supply of the downstream end user is ensured.

With regard to the method for washing laundry, in particular in a countercurrent washing machine, in which a washing liquor provided as a wash liquor If necessary, reagents are fed, the task mentioned Solved by dissolving the reagents by dissolving one in a packaging unit the above-mentioned paste prepared in water.

The paste is advantageously in a first stirred tank in water dissolved, with the resulting medium then in a second Stirring vessel is transferred, from which it is necessary for feeding into the Washing liquid is tapped.

The advantages achieved by the invention are in particular that by the administration of the active substances in paste form intended for the formation of the reagents, in particular due to the microparticles used therein Particle size of about 10 microns, a particularly high active surface area and thus a particularly high concentration of the active ingredients in this dosage form is reachable. It is therefore possible at the time of delivery or Loading industrial washes the necessary logistical and Handling effort to keep particularly low, for example, the Weight of the required container also less than half of the previously required sizes can be reduced. The Presenting the active ingredients in the form of the paste thus reliably allows the Preparation of the feeding of the reagents in the industrial Washes provided on-site suspensions, being straight through the Preservation in the above-mentioned packaging unit a particularly high Shelf life can be achieved.

Figur 1 eine Verpackungseinheit für eine Paste, und

Figur 2 eine Vorrichtung zur Verarbeitung der Verpackungseinheit nach Figur 1.

An embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing. Show:

1 shows a packaging unit for a paste, and

FIG. 2 shows a device for processing the packaging unit according to FIG. 1.

The same parts are provided in both figures with the same reference numerals.

The packaging unit 5 according to FIG. 1 is for receiving a water-soluble Substances containing paste provided. This paste is itself specific designed for the preparation of a liquid detergent or cleaning agent and therefore includes suitable agents for this purpose. It can be used as water-soluble Substances, in particular imidoperoxycarboxylic acids, as bleaching and disinfecting agents and / or pulverized active microparticles, optionally with wetting agents, as a cleaning agent be provided. The active microparticles used in the embodiment have an average particle size of about 10 microns, can all be common raw materials for the formation of detergents or cleaners.

For receiving the paste, the packaging unit 5 comprises a film tube, the one out for a particularly long shelf life in terms of high Tightness and mechanical strength suitable plastic material chosen is made. The plastic can be designed in particular multi-layered and from a suitable combination of coextruded polyamides and others Be formed polymers.

To produce a particularly dense packaging is the packaging unit 5 forming film tube at its two ends 51,52 sealed.

In the embodiment, these ends are each with suitable closure clips 53.54 closed. Alternatively or additionally, the ends 51, 52 but also closed with sealing threads or glued, welded or sealed be.

The packaging unit 5 is in particular in terms of their dimensions for designed a particularly easy handling and storage. To with regard to portioning, a batch weight of about 5 kg is packaged on Paste provided.

To provide reagents for on-demand loading of an industrial Washing machine or washer from the paste is the in Figure 2 illustrated device 6 for processing the packaging unit 5 is provided. The device 6 is designed, by dissolution of the packaging unit 5 paste contained in supplied water a suspension then, if necessary, a not shown in Figure 2, the device 6 downstream as an end user industrial Washer can be fed.

For the preparation of the suspension of the paste, the device 6 comprises a first stirring container 7, in the interior of which the packaging unit 5 via a Insertion shaft 71 can be introduced. This insertion shaft is doing with a Number of knives 75 provided on the passage of the packaging unit 5 whose Slit the film tube. Thus, at the entrance of the packaging unit 5 in the interior of the first stirred tank 7 unimpeded release of the entrained paste guaranteed.

In the interior of the first stirred tank 7 further opens one with a Valve lockable supply line 76 for water. After adding one Packing unit 5 in the first stirring container 7 is thus for adjusting a predetermined mixing ratio, the metered addition of a suitable Amount of water possible, in which carried in the packaging unit 5 Paste can be dissolved to form a suspension. to Homogenization and reliable formation of the desired suspension the first stirring container 7 in this case with one of a motor 72 driven Agitator 73 provided. The agitator 73 is for use with comparatively low speed of about 100-200 rpm, possibly alternating and with about 5 minute breaks, designed. This is a comparatively short-term dissolution of the paste to form the suspension and the Homogenization of the materials obtained guaranteed.

For on-demand monitoring of the level in the first stirred tank 7 is this provided with a number of level sensors 77.

About a Umpumpleitung 9, in which a pump 91 is connected, is the first Stirring 7 output side connected to a second stirred tank 8. Of the second stirring container 8, in turn, the output side via a discharge line 86th with the final industrial consumer downstream carwash is connected, it serves as a buffer or storage container for the already finished asked suspension. Due to the division into the first stirred tank 7 and the second agitator 8 is thus the provision of suspension for the downstream end user in the second stirred tank 8 regardless of a possibly required new production of suspensions in the first Stirring 7 possible. This is a need-continuous feed of the end user with suspension even if new production of Ensures suspensions in the first stirred tank 7. For this purpose, the Interior of the second stirred tank 8 in about one to three times sized as the interior of the first stirred tank. 7

For a metered delivery of suspension to the end user is in the discharge line 86 switched a metering valve.

The second stirring container 32 is likewise drivable with a motor 38 Agitator 40 provided. This can be in the second stirred tank 32nd vorhalte suspension continuously or as needed also discontinuously be circulated so that sedimentation or the like is avoided. The vorhaltene in the second stirred tank 8 suspension can thus be particularly be kept homogeneous. For level monitoring is the second stirred tank 8 also provided with a number of level sensors 87,88.

The operation of the device 6 may be suitably automated. For example can a drop in the level in the second stirred tank 8, the for example, via the level sensors 87,88 is detectable as Tripping criterion for the new production of suspensions in the first stirred tank 7 are used. On a corresponding signal can thus the Feeding a packaging unit 5 and the resolution of the therein contained paste suitable amount of water in the first stirred tank. 7 be provided in which then by driving the agitator 73 the Production of a batch amount of suspension takes place. This can then be transferred via the pumping line 9 in the second stirred tank 8, so that the there held amount of reagents for feeding into the Consumer exceeds a prescribed minimum quantity again.

Claims (20)

Packaging unit (5) for a paste containing water-soluble substances, characterized by a film tube completely filled with the paste, the two ends (51, 52) of which are closed. Packaging unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the film tube is closed at its two ends (51,52) with closure clips or closure threads. Packaging unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the film tube has a sealable plastic and is glued, welded or sealed at its two ends (51,52). Packaging unit according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the paste comprises active ingredients for the preparation of a Flüssigwasch- or -reinigungsmittels. Packaging unit according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that in the paste as -heavy water-soluble substances imidoperoxycarboxylic acids are contained as bleaching and disinfecting agents. Packaging unit according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the paste has as cleaning agent pulverized active microparticles with wetting agents and is free of adjusting agents. Packaging unit according to claim 6, in which the microparticles comprise a Have particle size of about 1 to 150μm. Packaging unit according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the film tube is made of a plastic. Packaging unit according to claim 8, wherein the plastic consists of a Multilayer system comprising coextruded polyamide and / or polymer is formed. Device (6) for processing a packaging unit (5) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by an insertion shaft (71) for the packaging unit (5) on which knives (75) are provided for opening the packaging unit (5). Apparatus (6) according to claim 10, characterized by a design for dosing the paste contained in the packaging unit (5) with a feed line (76) for water with a certain, compared to the concentration of the paste in the packaging unit (1) lower value. Device (6) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the introduction shaft (71) for the packaging unit (5) is associated with a first stirring container (7) for adjusting the mixing ratio of the suspension resulting from the mixing of the paste with supplied water, the a stirrer (73). Apparatus (6) according to claim 12, characterized by a second stirred tank (8) for providing the suspension to an end user, in which a second agitator (83) is arranged and which is provided with a pumping line (9) provided with a pump (91). is connected to the first stirring container (7). Device (6) according to claim 13, characterized in that the second stirring container (8) for dispensing the provided suspension to an end user is provided with at least one discharge line (86). Device (6) according to claim 14, in whose discharge line (86) a metering valve is switched. Device (6) according to claim 14 or 15, the second stirring container (8) in about two to three times the internal volume of the first stirred tank (7) having. Device (6) according to one of claims 14 to 16, whose agitating container (7,8) each provided with a number of level sensors (77, 87, 88). Apparatus (6) according to any one of claims 10 to 17, which is an end user an industrial washing machine, in particular a countercurrent washing machine, assigned. Method for washing laundry, in particular in a countercurrent washing machine, in which a washing liquor provided as a wash liquor If necessary, reagents are fed, the reagents by dissolving one in a packaging unit (5) according to one of the claims 1 to 9 vorhalten paste are provided in water. A method according to claim 19, wherein the paste is in a first stirred tank (7) dissolved in water and the resulting medium then in a second stirred tank (8) is transferred from which it is necessary for Inlet is tapped into the washing liquid.

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