Coated detergent composition and manufacture process

[0001] The present invention relates to a coated detergent composition and a method for its preparation. More specifically, the present invention relates to a coated detergent tablet, wherein the coating is applied to the tablet by direct contact of the powder coating material with the tablet, and then leveling the powder particles in such a way that a homogeneous "sintered" coating layer (film) is obtained.

[0002] There is an increasing interest in this field regarding coated detergent tablets due to the fact that detergent compositions having, for example high pH values, should not come in direct contact with the skin of users. Typically, the tablet coating is applied by contacting the liquid or solution of the coating material with the surface of the tablet, e.g. by spraying, dipping, rolling, or the like, followed by drying the coated tablet.

[0003] EP-A 1 360 271 and US 2004/0014631 A1 describe coating a detergent tablet where the tablets are transported on an apertured conveyor belt and through these openings the coating material is pressed down, contacting the underside of the tablets, at the same time the tablets are transported through a curtain of coating material to contact the top surface of the tablet with the coating material.

[0004] WO 02/097025 A1 describes the preparation of a coated detergent tablet by applying a sugar or sugar derivative to the tablets, followed by heating the tablet to cure said sugar (a derivative).

[0005] WO 02/49771 A1 describes the electrostatic application of a powdered material to solid dosage forms in an electric field.

[0006] EP 824 344 A1 discloses powder coating compositions suitable for the coating of powdered pharmaceutical tablets.

The object of the present invention is to provide a coated detergent tablet, wherein such a tablet should be made in an efficient process giving a homogeneous coating protecting the tablet components as well as the skin of the user.

[0008] This object has been achieved by the method of making a coated detergent tablet, comprising the steps of claim 1.

[0009] In the following, any detergent and / or additive compositions will be included in the term "detergent." Such a detergent composition may be in the form of a granulate, or in any uncrushed solid form, such as in the form of bars or tablets or briquettes. Below, the word "tablet" includes any form of unground solids. Such a tablet can have any shape. Preferably, the solid detergent tablet is made in a shape suitable to ensure uniform dissolution of the tablet in the washing liquid. According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the detergent and / or additive composition may contain any of the ingredients known in the field of dishwashing, washing, or softening water. Such ingredients may include, for example, surfactants, suds suppressants,

[0010] A particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention is a shaped mold for use in mechanical dishwashing, made from a particulate detergent composition, at

This detergent composition contains any ingredients typical of such compositions. These ingredients do not limit the present invention.

[0011] According to the present invention, a predetermined quantity of detergent is coated with a soluble or water-soluble material to obtain a coated detergent tablet as a "unit of a coated detergent". The term "coated detergent unit" means the amount of detergent suitable for one wash. However, two or more of the units of the coated detergent of the present invention can be used in a single wash to meet different washing parameters such as degree of soiling, number of washes, volume of mechanical washing device, water hardness, water temperature, and type of detergent. Such a coating is made of a material capable of dissolving in water or for dissolution under the influence of temperature.

[0012] Such a unit of the coated detergent according to the present invention is placed in a mechanical device without any further manipulation. This is possible because a coating is formed of a soluble material that is soluble or dispersible in water. Providing detergent in a coated form has many advantages. First, such a unit of coated detergent protects against losses by spilling the detergent and / or additive composition. Spreading may occur during metering, and / or dispensing, into the mechanical dispenser of the washing device, or into the dispensing device. Second, such a unit of coated detergent eliminates the need for the user to estimate the required portion / dose / composition of a given composition, and to ensure

Step (b): Providing Powdered Coating Material [0013] According to the present invention, in one step the detergent tablet is at least partially coated with the powder coating material. Such powder may be of any materials as defined in claim 1 and which may be transformed into a homogeneous coating. Preferably, suitable materials used are listed below. Such a material is contacted with a detergent tablet and then transformed into a homogeneous "molten" layer (film). In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the powder exhibits such properties that allow the powder to adhere sufficiently to the detergent tablet. Such properties may be, for example, the tackiness of the powder or powder components, the electric charge of the powder material, or the like (dipole moment), however, also a non-tacky and uncharged powder material may be used, e.g. in the case where the tablet itself has or has been produced with a certain degree of surface tackiness. Therefore, the powder of the coating material does not necessarily have to be charged, but can be used as an uncharged material, but preferably the detergent tablet of the present invention is at least partially coated with an electrostatically charged powder. A description of electrostatic charging can be found, for example, in the Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemistry Technology, 4th edition. but may be used as an uncharged material, however, preferably the detergent tablet of the present invention is at least partially coated with an electrostatically charged powder. A description of electrostatic charging can be found, for example, in the Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemistry Technology, 4th edition. but may be used as an uncharged material, however, preferably the detergent tablet of the present invention is at least partially coated with an electrostatically charged powder. A description of electrostatic charging can be found, for example, in the Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemistry Technology, 4th edition.

[0014] Here, preferably powders are charged by taking a static charge from another charged object by induction. This is accomplished by direct charging, the powder coming into contact with a high-voltage conductor (electrode) and an electric charge, usually negative, placed on the powder, before being atomized. Typically, an external source with a voltage of 20 - 125 kV, preferably 30 - 100 kV, is used. The voltage gradient in the vicinity of the atomizer and detergent tablet is determined by using charged coating particles, a charged metal atomizer, or an electrode near the atomizer as the local source of the high voltage field. The electrostatic force acts on each powder particle depending on the load it carries and the gradient of the field. The particle trajectory is determined by all forces acting on the particle. These forces include angular momentum, resistance, gravity, and electrostatic forces. The field lines affecting the coating particles are very similar to those of the iron particles placed between the two magnets. When using this method, the powder particles that would normally pass the detergent material are attracted to it, and a portion or all sides of the detergent tablet can be coated.

[0015] The key parameters that determine whether the powder is suitable for electrostatic coating application is the ability to load / Chargeability /, and charge removal time / Charge Relaxation Time /. Charging capacity is measured in coulombs / kg and indicates the level of charge that can be obtained for a given powder. Powder with a charging capacity of 1 x 10-⁶ C / kg or more is considered suitable for electrostatic coating application. The charge removal time is measured in seconds (s) and shows how quickly the powder loses its charge. A value less than 0.1 second is considered a fast time of removing the load, and a value greater than 100 seconds is considered to be slow.

The electrostatic properties of powders are determined by professional laboratories, such as, for example, Chilworth Technologies of Southampton, UK.

[0016] Preferred powders have an average particle size of 0.5 μm to 500 μm, preferably 1 μm to 350 μm, and more preferably 5 to 250 μm. The particle size can be determined by laser diffraction using a "Mastersizer TM Type S Long Bed 2.18" particle size apparatus from Malvern Instruments, Malvern, England. This device uses a laser diffraction technique to determine particle size and particle size distribution of fine powders. A small sample of the powder is fluidized with dry compressed air and transferred through a sieve to a measuring cell in which it is exposed to a laser beam. The laser light scattering pattern is characteristic of the particle size distribution. The Malvern computer hardware analyzes this pattern based on spherical particles and presents the results in the form of a particle diameter histogram / Particle Diameter Histogram /. The computer program also calculates the parameter D (v, 50), which is the particle size for which 50% of the sample is smaller and 50% is larger than the given size. This parameter is also known as the mass median diameter (MMD).

[0017] It is advantageous if the absolute density of the powder particle is from 100 g / L to 2000 g / L, as measured by means of the method piknometrii heliowa / Helium Pyconometry /. Pycnometers measure density by calculating the difference in weight between a full and empty pycnometer and its known volume. For the purposes of the present invention, measurements can be carried out using the Accupyc 1330 pycnometer (available from Microneritics,

Norcross, Georgia, USA).

[0018] Any suitable powder or mixture of powders, including powder coating material, may be used.

A.) at least one soluble or soluble polymer in water selected from:

A1) proteins (more than 100 amino acids up to "full-length proteins", e.g. up to 2,500 amino acids), or a peptide having at least 10, and preferably at least 50, more preferably at least 80 and most preferably at least 100 amino acids . Alternatively, such a protein or peptide has a molecular weight of 20,000 to 350,000 g / mol, and preferably 100,000 to 300,000 g / mol. Most preferably, the protein is gelatin or a peptide thereof. Enzymes in their active form are not beneficial.

A3) shellac, preferably defatted,

A4) polyvinyl alcohol.

The coating may consist essentially of one of these polymers or a mixture of at least two of them.

The coating material may additionally contain

B.) low molecular sugars containing 1 to 10 sugar units, or any amino acid, preferably natural amino acids or mixtures of sugars, mixtures of amino acids or mixtures of sugars and amino acids.

C.) a mixture of the compounds mentioned under A.) and B.), in particular the compounds given under A1.) And B.);

D.) a mixture of compounds mentioned under A.), B.) or C.) with further homo- and / or block copolymers;

E.) mixture of compounds mentioned in points A.), B.), C.) or D.) with non-ionic, amphoteric, anionic or cationic compounds, such as: shellac, polyethylene glycol (PEG), (co) polymers of poly (meth) acrylic acid), vinyl acetate, quaternized polyvinyl alcohol, or derivatives thereof;

F.) a mixture of compounds mentioned under A.), B.), C.), D.) or E.) with either non-ionic, amphoteric, anionic or cationic compounds, such as:

a) water-soluble non-ionic polymers from the group consisting of:

a1) poly (vinylpyrrolidones), a2) copolymers of vinyl pyrrolidone / vinyl ester, a3) cellulose ethers;

EP 2 190 968 B1

b) water-soluble amphoteric polymers from the group consisting of:

b1) copolymers of alkylacrylamide / acrylic acid, b2) copolymers of alkylacrylamide / methacrylic acid, b3) copolymers of alkylacrylamide / methylmethacrylic acid, b4) copolymers of alkylacrylamide / acrylic acid / alkylaminoalkyl (meth) acrylic acid, b5) copolymers of alkylacrylamide / methacrylic acid / alkylaminoalkyl acid ( meth) acrylic, b6) copolymers of alkylacrylamide / methyl methacrylic acid / alkylaminoalkyl (meth) acrylic acid, b7) copolymers of alkylacrylamide / alkylmethacrylate / alkylaminoethyl methacrylate / alkylmethacrylate, b8) copolymers:

b8i) unsaturated carboxylic acids, b8ii) cationically derivatized unsaturated carboxylic acids, b8iii) optionally other ionic or non-ionic monomers,

c. water-soluble zwitterionic polymers from the group consisting of:

c1) copolymers of acrylamidealkyltrialkylammonium chloride / acrylic acid, and their salts with alkali metal and ammonium, c2) copolymers of acrylamidealkyltrialkylammonium chloride / methacrylic acid, and their salts with alkali metal and ammonium, c3) copolymers of methacryloylmethane / methacrylate,

d. water-soluble anionic polymers from the group consisting of:

d1) copolymers of vinyl acetate / crotonic acid, d2) copolymers of vinyl pyrrolidone / vinyl acrylate, d3) acrylic acid / ethyl acrylate terpolymers / N-tert.-butylacrylamide, d4) grafted polymers of vinyl esters, acrylic acid esters or methacrylic acid, either alone or in a mixture copolymerized with crotonic acid, acrylic acid or methacrylic acid with polyalkylene oxides and / or poly (alkylene glycols), d5) grafted and cross-linked copolymers with copolymerization:

d5i) of at least one nonionic type monomer, d5ii) of at least one ionic type monomer,

D5iii) poly (ethylene glycol), and d5iv) of a cross-linking agent, d6) copolymers obtained by copolymerizing at least one monomer from each of the following three groups including:

d6i) esters of unsaturated alcohols and short chain saturated carboxylic acids and / or short chain ester of saturated alcohols and unsaturated carboxylic acids, d6ii) unsaturated carboxylic acids, d6iii) esters of long chain carboxylic acids and unsaturated alcohols, and / or esters of carboxylic acids from the group d6ii) with saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched alcohols

C8-18, d7) terpolymers of crotonic acid, vinyl acetate, and allyl or methallyl ester, d8) tetrapolymers and pentapolymers with:

d8i) crotonic acid, or allyloxyacetic acid, d8ii) vinyl acetate, or vinyl propionate, d8iii) branched allyl or methallyl esters, d8iv) vinyl ethers, vinyl esters, or straight-chain allyl or methallyl esters, d9) crotonics of crotonic acid from one or more monomer from the group consisting of ethylene, vinylbenzene, vinylmethylether, acrylamide, and their water-soluble salts, d10) terpolymers of vinyl acetate, crotonic acid and vinyl esters of saturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acid branched at the α-position,

e) water-soluble cationic polymers from the group consisting of:

e1) quaternized cellulose derivatives, e2) polysiloxanes containing quaternary groups, e3) cationic guar derivatives, e4) polymer dimethyldiallylammonium salts and their copolymers with esters and amides of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid, e5) copolymers of vinyl pyrrolidone with quaternary derivatives of dialkylaminoacrylate and methacrylate,

E6) copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone / methimidazolinium chloride, e7) quaternized poly (vinyl alcohol), e8) polymers known according to INCI names as polyquaternium 2, polyquaternium 17, polyquaternium 18 and polyquaternium 27.

[0019] All compounds mentioned under F.) are described in detail in EP 1 173 539 B1.

[0020] The compositions mentioned in the points marked A.) to F.) may optionally contain a binding material.

[0021] For the coating compositions A.) to C.), such compositions may contain at least 5% by weight, preferably at least 15% by weight, more preferably at least 35% by weight, most preferably at least 50% by weight and particularly preferably at least 60% by weight and up to 100% by weight, or up to 95% by weight, up to 90% by weight, or up to 80% by weight of the materials mentioned under A.) to C.), each of the materials may be included in the described amounts, giving a sum of 100%, or a total of 95%, or it may be a sum of 90% or 80% of the coating. The materials mentioned under A.) or B.) are preferred, and the materials mentioned under A1) and / or B) are particularly preferred. Materials listed in point A.),

[0022] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the coating material comprises at least 35% of at least one of the components listed in point A.), preferably a component from A1), and at least 1% of one of the components from B.), preferably at least one sugar. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the coating material comprises at least 80% of at least one of the components listed under A.), preferably a component from A1) as the only film forming component without adding any further components from the above list. In all embodiments of the invention, in particular in both preferred embodiments of the invention, the coating material may further comprise a plasticizer as defined below.

[0023] For the coating compositions labeled D.) to F.), such compositions may contain at least 5% by weight, and preferably at least 15% by weight, and more preferably at least 35% by weight, and most preferably at least 50 wt% of the compounds mentioned under A.) to C.), preferably those mentioned under A1), and / or at B.), and 5 to 95, preferably 10 to 75, more preferably 15 to 50% % by weight of at least one of the compounds mentioned in items D.) to F.) as further compounds.

[0024] A preferred low-molecular weight water-soluble compound is any type of peptide or amino acid.

[0025] A particular advantage of these materials is, on the one hand, their water solubility / dispersibility in water and, on the other hand, the non-toxicity of these compounds.

[0026] It has been found that the use as a material for the production of a water-soluble / water-dispersible coating of gelatin compounds or amino acids as soluble / capable of solubility /

A water-dispersible material is particularly suitable, in particular for exhibiting very short dissolution / dispersion times, and because they are harmless (commonly used in food ingredients) and also because they give very little residue when used. On the other hand, the use of these materials ensures a very fast manufacturing process.

[0027] With regard to the material, the solubility / solubility / dispersibility in water is defined herein when more than 99% of the coating (layer) of such material is dissolved within 15 minutes, and preferably within 10 minutes, in a beaker containing 1 liter of deionized water with 40 ° C, which is stirred using 200 rpm / rpm). It is noted that such materials can be used as components of the coating, which itself may not be soluble but, for example, dispersible, if only the coating containing this material dissolves in water.

[0028] Preferred soluble / dispersible materials are proteins or peptides (at least 10 mer), in particular gelatine or derivatives, or peptide fragments thereof. All of the mentioned materials are preferably used in the form of a powder having an average particle size in the dry state below 1,000 μm, preferably below 500 μm, and more preferably 250 μm or less, and particularly preferably between 20 and 200 μm. It is particularly advantageous if more than 80% of the powder particles have a particle size of the powder of less than 200 μm.

[0029] Another suitable and preferred material is shellac, which is preferably used in a degreased form. Further suitable compounds are "low molecular weight compounds", such as C 3 -C 6 sugars in aldose or ketose form, such as allose, altrose, glucose, mannose, gulose, idose, galactose, talose, psicose, fructose, sorbose, tagatose, xylose, ribulose, ribose, arabinose, xylose, lycososis, trerose, erythrosis, erythritol, dihydroxyacetone, or glycerol aldehyde, or disaccharides, e.g. sucrose, lactose, maltose, or Isomalt, or oligosaccharides containing 3 to 10 sugar units, or amino acids , preferably natural amino acids (commonly found in natural proteins), but not limited to the examples mentioned. A particularly preferred low molecular weight compound is Isomalt ST sugar, containing 6-OaD-glucopyranosyl-D-glucitol dihydrate units and 1-OaD-glucopyranosyl-D-mannitol. Further information on these sugars is available on the website<a href="http://www.chemistryworld.de/preise/prs-html/analysen/2444-spz.htm">www.chemistryworld.de/preise/prs-html/analysen/2444-spz.htm</a>.

[0030] Such materials may be used either individually or as a mixture of individual materials. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, said material (s) from points labeled A.) to F.) may form one layer on the surface of the unit composition, and in an alternative and preferred embodiment of the invention the unit composition has at least two layers of the aforementioned materials, wherein the layers may comprise different materials selected from those listed under A.) to F.) as well as different combinations of material (s) from the points labeled A.) to F.), as higher.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, the water-soluble film system may comprise a plasticizer of at least 0.01%, preferably at least 0.1%, more preferably at least 0.5%, and most preferably at least 1%, and up to 30%, preferably up to 20%, more preferably up to 15% by weight, or even more preferably about 10% or less of the coating.

[0032] Suitable types of plasticizers include solvents. In the case where water is used as the at least one plasticizer solvent, the total plasticizer content may be

EP 2 190 968 B1 up to 40%. The addition of a plasticizer may reduce brittleness and may reduce the shrinkage of the produced layer resulting from the increased properties of the layer.

[0033] Preferred examples of such plasticizers include water, mono lower alkyl alkylene glycol ether wherein lower is C1 to C6, glycerol, polyalcohols, ethylene glycols, propylene glycols, polyethylene glycols, ethoxylated or propoxylated ethylene or propylene glycol esters or glycerol, glycerol triacetate, acylated monoglycerides, triethyl citrate, tributyl citrate, acetyltriethyl citrate, acetyltributyl citrate, diethylphthalate, glycerol carbonate and propylene carbonate, but are not limited thereto.

[0034] A preferred type of plasticizers include polyethylene glycols (PEGs) of medium molecular weight. Preferably, such materials have molecular weights of at least 150. PEG compounds with a molecular weight in the range of 200 to 3,000 are most preferred. Another preferred type of plasticizer includes low molecular weight methyl esters. Such materials are substances of the general formula: RC (O) -OCH 3 in which the R substituent is in the range from 1 to 18. Examples of suitable lower molecular weight methyl esters include methyl acetate, methyl propionate, methyl octanoate, and methyl dodecanoate.

[0035] Further suitable types of plasticizers include nonionic surfactants.

[0036] Preferred nonionic surfactants contained in the resin provide benefits in the form of suds suppression. Alkylethoxylate alcohol condensates with from 1 to 80 moles of alkylene oxide (linear / branched aliphatic / aromatic, optionally substituted with C2 to C20 alkylene) are suitable for such use. The alkyl alcohol chain may be either straight or branched, primary or secondary, and generally contains from 6 to 22 carbon atoms. Especially preferred are the condensation products of alcohols having alkyl groups containing from 8 to 20 carbon atoms with 2 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. In this sense, suitable surfactants include POLY-TERGENT nonionic surfactants^® SLF-18B from Olin Corporation.

Here, suitable surfactants for use are the C 6 -C 18 fatty alcohol ethoxylates and C 6 -C 18 mixed ethoxylated / propoxylated fatty alcohols. Preferred ethoxylated fatty alcohols are C10-C18 ethoxylated fatty alcohols with an ethoxylation degree of from 3 to 50, and C12-C18 ethoxylated fatty alcohols having an ethoxylation degree of 3 to 40 are most preferred. Preferably, the mixed ethoxylated / propoxylated fatty alcohols have an alkyl chain length of 10 to 18 carbon atoms, the degree of ethoxylation is from 3 to 30 and the degree of propoxylation is from 1 to 10.

[0038] Here, suitable condensation products are ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic base produced by the condensation of propylene oxide with propylene glycol. Preferably, the hydrophobic part of these compounds has a molecular weight of from 1,500 to 1,800, and shows insolubility in water. Examples of compounds of this type include certain commercially available PluronicTM surfactants sold by BASF.

[0039] Also suitable for use are the condensation products of ethylene oxide with the product obtained by reacting propylene oxide and ethylene diamine. The hydrophobic moiety of these products consists of a reaction product of ethylene diamine and an excess of propylene oxide, and generally has a molecular weight

The examples of this type of nonionic surfactant include certain commercially available Tetronic ™ compounds marketed by BASF.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the polymer system may comprise a system of mixed nonionic surfactants.

[0041] Suitable compounds include fatty esters of mono- or polyhydric alcohols having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon chain. The fatty acid portion of the fatty acid ester can be obtained from mono- or polycarboxylic acids having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon chain. Suitable examples of monocarboxylic fatty acids include behenic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, myristic acid, lauric acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid, valeric acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid, beta, beta ' -dihydroksyizomasłowy. Examples of suitable polycarboxylic acids include: n-butyl-malonic acid, isocitric acid, citric acid, maleic acid, malic acid and succinic acid. The radical from the fatty alcohol in the fatty ester can be represented by a mono- or polyhydric alcohol having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon chain. Examples of suitable fatty alcohols include behenyl alcohol, arachidyl, cocoyl, lauryl, and oleiowy, ethylene glycol, glycerol, ethanol, isopropanol, vinyl alcohol, diglycerol, xylitol, sucrose, erythritol, pentaerythritol, sorbitol or sorbitan. Preferably, the fatty acid and / or fatty alcohol group in the adjunct fatty ester material has from 1 to 24 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain. Here, preferred fatty esters are esters of ethylene glycol, glycerol and sorbitan, in which a portion of the ester derived from a fatty acid normally contains moieties selected from behenic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid or myristic acid. Also highly preferred are glycerol esters. Specific examples of fatty alcohol esters to be used herein include: stearyl acetate, all-lactitate, cocoyl isobutyrates, oleyl maleate, oleyl dimaleate, and tallowoyl propionate. Useful fatty acid esters herein include: xylitol monopalmitate, pentaerythritol monostearate, sucrose monostearate, glycerol monostearate, ethylene glycol monostearate, sorbitan esters. Suitable sorbitan esters include sorbitan monostearate, sorbitan palmitate, sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan monomyristate, sorbitan monobehenate, sorbitan mono-oleate, sorbitan dilaurate, sorbitan distearate, sorbitan dibehenate, sorbitan dioleate, sorbitan as well as mixed tallow-alkyl mono- and all-sorbitan esters. Glycerol monostearate, glycerol mono-oleate, glycerol monopalmitate, glycerol monobehenate, and glycerol distearate are also preferred glycerol esters herein. Further suitable agents include triglycerides, mono- or diglycerides, and their fully or partially hydrogenated derivatives, and any mixtures thereof. Suitable sources of fatty acid esters include vegetable and fish oils, and animal fats. Suitable vegetable oils include soybean oil, cotton oil, castor oil / castor, olive oil, arachidonic oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, grape oil, palm oil and corn oil. and glycerol distearate, are also preferred glycerol esters herein. Further suitable agents include triglycerides, mono- or diglycerides, and their fully or partially hydrogenated derivatives, and any mixtures thereof. Suitable sources of fatty acid esters include vegetable and fish oils, and animal fats. Suitable vegetable oils include soybean oil, cotton oil, castor oil / castor, olive oil, arachidonic oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, grape oil, palm oil and corn oil. and glycerol distearate, are also preferred glycerol esters herein. Further suitable agents include triglycerides, mono- or diglycerides, and their fully or partially hydrogenated derivatives, and any mixtures thereof. Suitable sources of fatty acid esters include vegetable and fish oils, and animal fats. Suitable vegetable oils include soybean oil, cotton oil, castor oil / castor, olive oil, arachidonic oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, grape oil, palm oil and corn oil. Suitable sources of fatty acid esters include vegetable and fish oils, and animal fats. Suitable vegetable oils include soybean oil, cotton oil, castor oil / castor, olive oil, arachidonic oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, grape oil, palm oil and corn oil. Suitable sources of fatty acid esters include vegetable and fish oils, and animal fats. Suitable vegetable oils include soybean oil, cotton oil, castor oil / castor, olive oil, arachidonic oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, grape oil, palm oil and corn oil.

[0042] Waxes, including microcrystalline waxes, are usable as lubricants, although they are much less preferred in the present invention because of their poor water solubility. Preferred waxes have a melting point in the range of 35 ° C to 110 ° C and generally contain from

Up to 70 carbon atoms. Preferred are paraffinic and microcrystalline waxes that are composed of long-chain saturated hydrocarbon compounds.

[0043] As a further component of the coating composition, a layer of inorganic compounds, for example aluminum salts, or pigments, such as SiO2, may be included. The addition of inorganic materials may reduce the tackiness of the formed layer and may enhance the "fusion" or crosslinking / curing of the coating material.

[0044] A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes at least one coating material selected from the materials listed under points A.), B.) or C.) and a plasticizer. A mixture of particulate protein material, preferably gelatin, or peptides thereof, optionally with sugar as defined in section B) and a plasticizer, preferably PEG, polyalcohol or glycerol, particularly preferably glycerol, is particularly preferred to form a sprayable / spreadable and preferably for imparting a charge to a powder having the above-mentioned particle size and applying this powder to the detergent tablet by any suitable method, for example by one of the methods set out below.

[0045] In one preferred embodiment, the coating material comprises component A.) in an amount of 70% to 100%, particularly preferably gelatine, or peptides thereof, and a plasticizer in an amount of 0 to 30%.

[0046] After production, the coating is about 0.1% to 20%, preferably 0.2% to 15%, and more preferably 0.5% to 10% of the tablet.

A preferred coating system according to the invention fulfills one or more of the following physical parameters:

a) high suitability for coated materials (e.g. detergents) such that an effective barrier is provided for the materials covered, and compatibility with hydroscopic and corrosive materials.

b) high water solubility, e.g. 0.1-1.0 g, of the coating material of the composition of the present invention dissolved within 15 minutes, and preferably within 10 minutes, in a 1 liter water beaker at 40 ° C, using mixing with 200 rpm / rpm), and for 20 minutes at 20 ° C, under the same conditions. To meet these properties, the material may contain a solubility modifying additive.

[0047] In this sense, it will be clear that any additives are substantially soluble or dispersible in water such that the entire system retains its ability to dissolve in water / dispersibility in water.

Step (c): powder coating process [0048] The powder material, preferably a charged powder, can be applied to the tablet by any suitable method. In the case of using an uncharged powder, it may be contacted with tablets, e.g. by blowing, spraying, splashing or pouring the powder over the tablet, either in the chamber or on the surface of the tablet, wherein in a preferred embodiment, either the tablet or the powder is at least somewhat sticky. In one

In the preferred process, the powder particles are given a negative charge, and then such charged particles are directed to the tablet bodies. Preferably, the powder coating operation is carried out in special tents for spraying. In a typical high voltage system, the powder is held in the fluidized bed reservoir, injected into the air stream, and leads to the charging gun where it is charged passing through the corona discharge field. As an alternative to the dispensing system according to the invention, e.g. a screw dispensing system or a heated dispensing system are suitable. The charged powder is transported to the detergent material to be coated using a combination of electrostatic and aerodynamic forces. Preferably, the powder should be displaced towards the tablet by aerodynamic forces, so as to bring the powder particles close to the substrate, where the electrostatic forces then predominate and cause the particles to settle. Then a part of the powder is held by electrostatic forces on the surface of the substrate. Therefore, preferably, the powder coating process comprises at least a step of providing a charged or uncharged powder for direct contact with the tablet, and allowing the powder to adhere to the tablet. The tablet is coated, thus it is a positive pole in relation to the negatively charged powder. preferably, the powder coating process comprises at least a step of supplying a charged or uncharged powder for direct contact with the tablet and allowing the powder to adhere to the tablet. The tablet is coated, thus it is a positive pole in relation to the negatively charged powder. preferably, the powder coating process comprises at least a step of supplying a charged or uncharged powder for direct contact with the tablet and allowing the powder to adhere to the tablet. The tablet is coated, thus it is a positive pole in relation to the negatively charged powder.

[0049] A preferred process involves loading a powder, e.g. a pure gelatin powder, or a gelatin powder containing 0.01% to 20%, preferably 0.1% to 10% plasticizer, such as glycerol, from the electrode incorporated in the powder sprayer. Tablets may be suspended in a device that touches the tablets only on a very small area. Such a device also ensures the earthing of the tablet. Alternatively, the tablets may be placed on a conveyor, preferably on a transmission belt, or a conveyor with a wire or mesh structure. In a preferred embodiment, the tablets are suspended in the device and are transported first through the powder application area and then, without being removed, by the moisture / steam region explained below. The resulting powder spread on a tablet is usually very homogeneous, however, it may still contain some irregularities. It is particularly advantageous if the charged powder tends to stick to both sides of the tablet so that the side opposite to the spray gun is also covered. In addition, it has generally been found that the adhesion between the charged powder and the tablet is stronger than the adhesion between the uncharged powder and the tablet. This shortens the process time and reduces powder losses in subsequent production steps. Multiple spray guns may be used, or multiple passes through a single spray gun if powder coating of the substrate is particularly difficult. In addition, it has generally been found that the adhesion between the charged powder and the tablet is stronger than the adhesion between the uncharged powder and the tablet. This shortens the process time and reduces powder losses in subsequent production steps. Multiple spray guns may be used, or multiple passes through a single spray gun if powder coating of the substrate is particularly difficult. In addition, it has generally been found that the adhesion between the charged powder and the tablet is stronger than the adhesion between the uncharged powder and the tablet. This shortens the process time and reduces powder losses in subsequent production steps. Multiple spray guns may be used, or multiple passes through a single spray gun if powder coating of the substrate is particularly difficult.

[0050] A suitable coating system is a gun, such as the Versa Spray II IPS Automatic Powder Spray Gun from the Versa Spray II IPS 2-Gauge Control Unit, and a coating tent available from Nordson Corporation, Westlake, Ohio, USA. Further suitable spraying systems are spray systems offered and supplied by J. Wagner GmbH, Markdorf, Germany, see<a href="http://www.wagner-group.de/portal/proszek_de_wag.684360.html">http://www.wagnergroup.de/portal/proszek_de_wag.684360.html</a>

Step (d): forming a uniform coating, e.g. by applying moisture / steam on the powder coated tablet After contacting the charged dry powder with the tablet, the particulate coating is transformed into a homogeneous &amp; quot; fused &amp; quot; dissolvable / dispersible layer in the coating water. layer (membrane).

[0052] It has been found that by placing the tablets in the suspension device or on the conveying elements during the charging process, it is possible to achieve an appropriate distribution of the powder on the tablet. It has also been found that certain irregularities or irregularities in the distribution are not relevant, even if it is important that the final tablet has a coating of substantially constant thickness, since further leveling occurs when the powder is converted into a molten homogeneous film. Thus, the present invention allows uniform application of the required coating thickness on the surface of the detergent tablet. Although the present invention may involve the use of additional energy to convert the powder to a molten film, but the amount of energy required then may be substantially less than what is needed when applying a liquid coating containing a coating substance dissolved in a suitable solvent and when this solvent must be evaporated after application of the coating. This is particularly important in the case of detergent tablets, because usually such tablets contain highly water-soluble substances, as well as substances very sensitive to temperature, such as active enzymes. Thus, neither a large amount of water nor a solvent loading nor the tablet being subjected to high temperatures for a long period of time is desirable. This is particularly important in the case of detergent tablets, because usually such tablets contain highly water-soluble substances, as well as substances very sensitive to temperature, such as active enzymes. Thus, neither a large amount of water nor a solvent loading nor the tablet being subjected to high temperatures for a long period of time is desirable. This is particularly important in the case of detergent tablets, because usually such tablets contain highly water-soluble substances, as well as substances very sensitive to temperature, such as active enzymes. Thus, neither a large amount of water nor a solvent loading nor the tablet being subjected to high temperatures for a long period of time is desirable.

[0053] According to the present invention, the dry powder coating is transformed into a fused film, for example by using water as moisture / steam (moisture) on such a coating. However, preferably as little moisture is used per tablet as possible. In a particularly preferred embodiment, energy and moisture are used in the form of steam. For this reason, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tablet, after being coated with a dry powder, is transferred to an atmosphere containing moisture at elevated temperatures, e.g. at temperatures in the range of 20 to 150 ° C, and preferably 40 to 120 ° C, more preferably in the range not exceeding 100 ° C, but it may be 60 ° C. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the dry powder coating has a high content of at least one of the materials cited above in A.) or B.), which is, for example, a protein such as gelatin and / or amino acid (s). Such a powder coating can be quickly converted to a molten film by applying a moist warm atmosphere to the coating, preferably a warm atmosphere saturated with water. Another possibility is to spray a very fine water mist or haze on a tablet coated with a dry powder, preferably at elevated temperatures. Of course, the amount of water / moisture that is contacted with the dry powder should not exceed the content which - optionally in combination with the temperature used - is necessary to obtain a homogeneous "fused" membrane layer. In particular, increase the water content to the level in which the detergent components can react in any way with water should be avoided. It is particularly advantageous if water / moisture is added in such an amount that its content does not dissolve the powder coating (creating a solution on the surface of the tablet), but it provides swelling / expansion of the coating powder to a degree that a homogeneous "fused" film layer is formed. Preferably, this amount of water should be completely absorbed by the dry powder coating. In a preferred embodiment of the invention this is achieved by contacting the powder coated tablet for only 0.1 to 15 seconds, preferably 1 to 10 seconds, more preferably 1 to 5 seconds with the atmosphere supersaturated with water vapor. membrane layer. Preferably, this amount of water should be completely absorbed by the dry powder coating. In a preferred embodiment of the invention this is achieved by contacting the powder coated tablet for only 0.1 to 15 seconds, preferably 1 to 10 seconds, more preferably 1 to 5 seconds with the atmosphere supersaturated with water vapor. membrane layer. Preferably, this amount of water should be completely absorbed by the dry powder coating. In a preferred embodiment of the invention this is achieved by contacting the powder coated tablet for only 0.1 to 15 seconds, preferably 1 to 10 seconds, more preferably 1 to 5 seconds with the atmosphere supersaturated with water vapor.

[0054] The parameters that can be used in step (d) of the present invention are: the amount of moisture used to "melt" the powder to a homogeneous (film) layer, the time in which the detergent tablets are kept under "melting" conditions. These parameters can be combined in such a way that in

They affect the detergent compositions to a very small extent, and the coating powder is blended into a homogeneous (film) layer. Specific specific conditions suitable for effectively converting any of the coatings to a molten film without seriously affecting the detergent compositions can be readily determined from routine experimentation.

Optional step (a): contacting the tablet with a plasticizing agent [0055] A further possibility of improving the smoothness and flexibility and ensuring the lower friability of the coating is to carry out an additional optional step (a), which is contacting the tablet with a plasticizing agent. In the case where step (a) is carried out, the plasticizing agent is provided to the tablet as a separate layer, wherein the layer may be a "closed" layer, or it may be partially spread on the tablet without uniformly covering the entire surface. The plasticizing agent used in this step may be of the same type (s) as the plasticizers mentioned above, as well as a mixture of at least two, three or more thereof, as well as sugars, in particular low molecular weight sugars,

[0056] Such plasticizing agent (s) may be applied by any suitable means or processes, for example by spraying a liquid or solution, plasticizing agent, or by applying from a roll, or by contacting any solid plasticizing agent with the tablet, as well as in an electrostatic field, as described above.

In particular in this case when the plasticizing agent is brought into contact in the form of a solution or liquid with the tablet, the powder of the coating material can be contacted with the tablet immediately without charging the powder, because the tablet itself becomes to some extent sticky by contacting it. with a solution or liquid, a plasticizing agent.

Optional step (e): cooling the coated tablet [0058] After applying moisture, in step (d) the tablet can be cooled. The cooling may be carried out by blowing air, preferably cooled air, over the tablet, or by any other suitable means. Tablet cooling, on the one hand, accelerates the film formation process, e.g. from the thermoplastic coating (film) layer to give a durable layer, and on the other hand, improves the durability of detergent components, in particular heat-sensitive components such as, for example, enzymes. In particular, it is emphasized that according to the invention it is not necessary to dry the coated tablet after coating, because the coating material preferably adsorbed all of the moisture delivered in the coating layer.

EP 2 190 968 B1

Optional step (f): use of the separating agent on the coated tablet [0059] Both after step (d) or after step (e), the tablet comprising the film layer can be contacted with the resolving agent. Such a resolving agent may reduce any residual stickiness of the already formed layer, for example if the tablet is further processed if the layer is not completely solidified. Furthermore, the release agent can serve as a protection for the film layer against moisture from the air, or moisture from the user's skin, before the tablet is inserted into the liquid as intended.

[0060] The amount of the separating agent may be as desired, however usually a quantity range of 0.01 to 1g, preferably 0.01 to 0.7g, is sufficient for a 20g tablet.

[0061] Such a resolving agent may be any of the agents used and known in the art, preferably the separating agent is, for example, polyvinyl alcohol, poly (vinylpyrrolidone), starch, talc, zinc oxide, aluminum salts, sugars, e.g. Isomalt, any oily or wax particles, or any other suitable remedy.

[0062] Although in general the method of the present invention will be used to coat a tablet that no longer receives any coating after being formed, it may also be used to apply a coating to the top of an already covered or partially coated tablet. The method can be carried out as a continuous process. In practice, the advantages are significant if coating can be carried out continuously.