WO2012049032A1

WO2012049032A1 - Refill and refillable packages of concentrated particulate detergent compositions

Info

Publication number: WO2012049032A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/067158
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrew Paul Chapple; John Francis Hubbard; Stephen Thomas Keningley
Original assignee: Unilever Plc; Unilever N.V.; Hindustan Unilever Limited
Priority date: 2010-10-14
Filing date: 2011-09-30
Publication date: 2012-04-19

Abstract

A refill package (11) containing a particulate detergent composition (5), wherein the composition comprises greater than 50wt% detergent surfactant, at least 70% by number of the particles comprising a core, comprising mainly surfactant, and a coating, the particles being substantially the same shape and size as one another; and the refill package comprises: i. a compressible reservoir structure (11) for containing the composition, the reservoir being compressible to a substantially flat structure ii. at least one large face iii. a narrow dispensing aperture (15)

Description

REFILL AND REFILLABLE PACKAGES OF CONCENTRATED PARTICULATE

DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS

This invention relates to refill and refillable packages of concentrated particulate detergent composition intended for use at low dosage levels, for example less than 40g dose per wash. In particular it relates to particulate detergent compositions formed by extrusion and coating.

Compact or concentrated compositions offer the advantage that pack size is reduced which is environmentally desirable. Reduced composition mass means that lightweight packaging materials can be employed. However, at the same time the consumer must still be able to use the packaged product conveniently within the laundry environment. This has a huge impact on product acceptance. Refilling can be messy involving spillage etc. and this deters users from buying more environmentally acceptable refill packs versus heavy, more material- intensive packs. More recently the market has seen various refill package features such as pour spouts etc. however these increase the material and environmental cost of such refill packages. Shelf-impact at point-of-sale retail outlets e.g. on crowded shelves in

supermarkets, may also be reduced as a result of the small product size. Visual appeal can be improved by enlarging the packaging, but may be counter productive from an environmental point of view. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved refill and refillable packaged particulate detergent composition.

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a refill package containing a particulate detergent composition, wherein the composition comprises greater than 50 wt% detergent surfactant, at least 70 % by number of the particles comprising a core, comprising mainly surfactant, and a coating, the particles being substantially the same shape and size as one another; and the refill package comprises: i. a compressible reservoir structure for containing the composition, the reservoir being compressible to a substantially flat structure;

ii. at least one large face; and

ii a narrow dispensing aperture According to another aspect, the present invention provides a refill package containing a particulate detergent composition according to the first aspect, in combination with a refillable package, said refillable package comprises: i. a rigid reservoir; and

ii. a refilling aperture.

With this arrangement, the large face of the refill provides shelf standout by means of a large area for marketing graphics etc. with minimal interruption due to the narrow dispensing aperture. The refilling operation is however highly reliable since the flow can proceed without the blockages normally associated with known laundry powders flowing via narrow dispensing apertures.

The reliable, slow and steady flow is provided by the coated particles. From the experiments with consumers, we have determined that this beneficial flow behaviour is due to the way the particles keep flowing even after any tamping down in the container. The large format of the particles does reduce the impact of stickiness as the number of potential bridging points is reduced and the force exerted by each particle when it attempts to move is much greater than a conventional powder due to the mass of each particle being approximately 25 times greater. Preferably, the narrow dispensing aperture is significantly lower in cross sectional area than the widest part of the refill package. More preferably it is less than 25% of the cross sectional area of the widest part of the refill package. Preferably the cross sectional area of the widest part of the package is measured generally parallel to the plane of the refill package base. The area of the narrow dispensing aperture may be inclined at an oblique angle (when viewed laterally) to the plane of the refill package base. Preferably the narrow dispensing aperture comprises the distal portion of a tapered portion of the package. The tapered portion may be provided by the oblique angle of the aperture.

Preferably the refilling aperture is narrow.

A narrow refilling aperture on a refillable package would not normally be desirable in a refillable package for conventional laundry compositions. However the reliable and predictable flow of the particulate composition via a narrow

dispensing aperture according to the invention allows for dispensing of the composition into a narrow aperture. This in turn prevents the ingress of large amounts of moisture which might affect the particulate composition. Preferably the large face of the refill package provides the front face (for the purposes of shelf positioning) of the package and possibly the rear. However, preferably the large face (or faces, if rear is similarly sized) is significantly larger in cross sectional area than all other faces. Thus in one embodiment, the front and rear are attached by smaller side walls, or even no side walls.

Preferably the narrow refilling aperture has a cross sectional area which corresponds with that of the narrow dispensing aperture.

Preferably the narrow dispensing aperture is at least partially insertable in the refilling aperture. This is advantageous as it means the consumer does not need to hold the refill package without support, since partial insertion will allow the refill package to receive support from the refillable package. Thus there is no need to hold the position no need for a steady hand. Refilling with partially or fully inserted refill aperture is ameliorated by the flow properties of the particulate composition: i.e. it does not need banging or tapping to break up blockages as with

conventional powder.

The narrow refilling aperture is preferably 2-5 cm in diameter. Circular shaped apertures allow filling from any angle and are advantageous. Alternatively or additionally apertures with corners locating means for supporting the refill package in position during loading.

The refillable container may be a bottle. The bottle may then be used to dose the composition by pouring into the drawer of a washing machine or a dosing shuttle.

Other packages may of course be used with the invention such as plastic tubs with large aperture.

The refillable container is preferably resealable with a closure mechanism, to avoid the flow properties being affected by ingress of large amounts of moisture, which could lead to stickiness. The closure mechanism may comprise a screw-fit mechanism to ensure proper closure. Alternatively, the closure mechanism may comprise a snap-fit mechanism, preferably with audible feedback to signal positively to the consumer that the package is closed.

The compressibility of the refill package may be achieved by folds to enable folding of the package material. Gusseting in the base and /or sides of the pack may be used. The package is preferably flexible and/or comprise a flexible material in so far as to allow folding for compression. However, the package may comprise semi-rigid or even rigid parts, such as paper or card board sections, providing this does not prevent compression.

The narrow dispensing aperture may be flexible and/or comprise a flexible material so that flexing of the aperture is provided. This assists in the at least partial insertion into the narrow refill aperture.

Preferably, the narrow dispensing aperture may comprise a pour spout. Preferably the narrow dispensing aperture e.g. spout is provided by cutting/tearing the pack or removing a portion of the pack e.g. along a line of weakening. For example the aperture may be provided by tear strip defined by perforations in the packaging material. In embodiments comprising a tapered portion, this may only be apparent after removal of a portion of the pack.

Preferably the or each package comprises at least one transparent portion. This provides positive feedback to the consumer of the reliable flow without clogging. The latter is expected so transparency allows the consumer to view the

unexpected: they learn that what they expect to happen (clogging), is not happening and so learn to trust the process without stopping to check, which would otherwise interrupt the flow.

In so far as the packaging is concerned, "transparent" means that its light transmittance is greater than 25% at wavelength of about 410-800 nm.

The transparent layer of the package according to the invention preferably has a transmittance of more than 25%, more preferably more than 30%, more preferably more than 40%, more preferably more than 50% in the visible part of the spectrum (approx. 410-800 nm). Alternatively, absorbency of transparent layer may be measured as less than 0.6 (approximately equivalent to 25% transmitting) or by having transmittance greater than 25% wherein % transmittance equals: 1 x 100%

/j Q absorbency

Conversely, absorbency of the opaque layer may be measured as more than 0.6. For purposes of the invention, as long as one wavelength in the visible light range has greater than 25% transmittance, the container is considered to be

transparent.

All percentages, unless indicated otherwise, are intended to be percentages by weight.

Suitable materials for the package include, but are not limited to: polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), polyamides (PA) and/or

polyethylene terephthalate (PETE), polyvinylchloride (PVC); and polystyrene (PS). The container may be formed by extrusion, moulding e.g. blow moulding from a preform or by thermoforming or by injection moulding.

Alternatively, absorbency of bottle may be measured as less than 0.6

(approximately equivalent to 25% transmitting) or by having transmittance greater than 25% wherein % transmittance equals: 1 10^absorbency x 100% and

corresponding absorbency levels for the remaining preferred levels above.

Suitable materials for the transparent inner layer of the package include, but are not limited to: polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), polyamides (PA) and/or polyethylene terephthalate (PETE), polyvinylchloride (PVC); and polystyrene (PS). The container may be formed by extrusion, moulding e.g. blow moulding from a preform or by thermoforming or by injection moulding.

Preferably the refill package is provided with a handle to aid pouring into the refillable device.

Preferably the refillable package is provided with a dose measuring device, or scoop. Preferably, each particle having perpendicular dimensions x, y and z, wherein x is from 0.2 to 2 mm, y is from 2.5 to 8 mm (preferably 3 to 8 mm), and z is from 2.5 to 8 mm (preferably 3 to 8 mm).

The amount of coating on each coated particle is advantageously from 10 to 45, more preferably 20 to 35 % by weight of the particles.

The number percentage of the packaged composition of particles comprising the core and coating is preferably at least 85%. Preferably the coating of the coated particles comprises water insoluble inorganic salt.

The coated particles preferably comprise from 0.001 to 3 wt% perfume. The core of the coated particles preferably comprises less than 5 wt%, even more preferably less than 2.5 wt% inorganic materials.

The coating is preferably sodium carbonate, optionally in admixture with a minor amount of SCMC and further optionally in admixture with one or more of sodium silicate, water soluble fluorescer, water soluble or dispersible shading dye and pigment or coloured dye.

The particles are desirably oblate spheroids with diameter of 3 to 6 mm and thickness of 1 to 2 mm.

At least some, and preferably a major portion by number of the particles may be coloured other than white, as this makes it easier to see them to determine that the required dose level has been reached. Multicoloured, e.g. some blue and some white, particles have been found to provide even higher visual definition for the optimum control of dose.

In PCT/EP2010/055256 and PCT/EP2010/055257 there is described a process for manufacturing detergent particles comprising the steps of: a) forming a liquid surfactant blend comprising a major amount of surfactant and a minor amount of water, the surfactant part consisting of at least 51 wt% linear alkylbenzene sulfonate and at least one co-surfactant, the surfactant blend consisting of at most 20 wt% nonionic surfactant;

b) drying the liquid surfactant blend of step (a) in an evaporator or drier to a

moisture content of less than 1 .5 wt% and cooling the output from the evaporator or dryer;

c) feeding the cooled material, which output comprises at least 93 wt% surfactant blend with a major part of LAS, to an extruder, optionally along with less than 10 wt% of other materials such as perfume, fluorescer, and extruding the surfactant blend to form an extrudate while periodically cutting the extrudate to form hard detergent particles with a diameter across the extruder of greater than 2 mm and a thickness along the axis of the extruder of greater than 0.2 mm, provided that the diameter is greater than the thickness; d) optionally, coating the extruded hard detergent particles with up to 30 wt% coating material, preferably selected from inorganic material and mixtures of such material and nonionic material with a melting point in the range 40 to 90°C.

To facilitate extrusion it may be advantageous for the cooled dried output from the evaporator or drier stage (b) comprising at least 95 wt% preferably 96 wt%, more preferably 97 wt%, most preferably 98 wt% surfactant to be transferred to a mill and milled to particles of less than 1 .5 mm, preferably less than 1 mm average diameter before it is fed to the extrusion step (c).

To modify the properties of the milled material a powdered flow aid, such as Aerosil®, Alusil®, or Microsil®, with a particle diameter of from 0.1 to 10 pm may be added to the mill in an amount of 0.5 to 5 wt%, preferably 0.5 to 3 wt% (based on output from the mill) and blended into the particles during milling.

The output from step b, or the intermediate milling step, if used, is fed to the extruder, optionally along with minor amounts (less than 10 wt% total) of other materials such as perfume and /or fluorescer, and the mixture of materials fed to the extruder is extruded to form an extrudate with a diameter of greater than 2 mm, preferably greater than 3 mm, most preferably greater than 4 mm and preferably with a diameter of less than 7 mm, most preferably less than 5 mm, while periodically cutting the extrudate to form hard detergent particles with a maximum thickness of greater than 0.2 mm and less than 3 mm, preferably less than 2 mm, most preferably less than about 1 .5 mm and more than about 0.5 mm, even 0.7 mm. Whilst the preferred extrudate is of circular cross section, the invention also encompasses other cross sections such as triangular, rectangular and even complex cross sections, such as one mimicking a flower with rotationally symmetrical "petals". Indeed the invention can be operated on any extrudate that can be forced through a hole in the extruder or extruder plate; the key being that the average thickness of the extrudate should be kept below the level where dissolution will be slow. As discussed above this is a thickness of about 2 mm. Desirably multiple extrusions are made simultaneously and they may all have the same cross section or may have different cross sections. Normally they will all have the same length as they are cut off by the knife. The cutting knife should be as thin as possible to allow high speed extrusion and minimal distortion of the extrudate during cutting. The extrusion should preferably take place at a temperature of less than 45°C, more preferably less than 40°C to avoid stickiness and facilitate cutting. The extrudates according to the present process are cut so that their major dimension is across the extruder and the minor dimension is along the axis of the extruder. This is the opposite to the normal extrusion of

surfactants. Cutting in this way increases the surface area that is a "cut" surface. It also allows the extruded particle to expand considerably along its axis after cutting, whilst maintaining a relatively high surface to volume ratio, which is believed to increase its solubility and also results in an attractive biconvex, or lentil, appearance. Elsewhere we refer to this shape as an oblate spheroid. This is essentially a rotation of an ellipse about its minor axis.

It is surprising that at very low water contents the LAS containing surfactant blends can be extruded to make solid detergent particles that are hard enough to be used without any need to be structured by inorganic materials or other structurants as commonly found in prior art extruded detergent particles. Thus, the amount of surfactant in the detergent particle can be much higher and the amount of builder in the detergent particle can be much lower.

Preferably the blend in step (a) comprises at least about 60 wt%, most preferably at least about 70 wt% surfactant and preferably at most about 40 wt%, most preferably at most 30 wt% water, the surfactant part consisting of at least 51 wt% linear alkyl benzene sulphonate salt (LAS) and at least one co-surfactant; Preferably, the co-surfactant is chosen from the group consisting of: SLES, and nonionic, together with optional soap and mixtures thereof. The only proviso is that when nonionic is used the upper limit for the amount of nonionic surfactant has been found to be 20 wt% of the total surfactant to avoid the dried material being too soft and cohesive to extrude because it has a hardness value less than 0.5 MPa.

Preferably, the surfactant blend is dried in step (b) to a moisture content of less than 1 .2 wt%, more preferably less than 1 .1 wt%, and most preferably less than 1 wt%.

Drying may suitably be carried out using a wiped film evaporator or a Chemithon Turbo Tube® drier. The extruded hard detergent particles may be coated by transferring them to a fluid bed and spraying onto them up to 40 wt% (based on coated detergent particle) of inorganic material in aqueous solution and drying off the water.

If the coating material is not contributing to the wash performance of the composition then it is desirable to keep the level of coating as low as possible, preferably less than 35 wt% even less than 30 wt%, especially for larger extruded particles with a surface area to volume ratio of greater than 4 mm^"1.

Surprisingly we have found that the appearance of the coated particles in a package is very pleasing. Without wishing to be bound by theory, we believe that this high quality coating appearance is due to the smoothness of the underlying extruded and cut particle. By starting with a smooth surface, we unexpectedly found it easy to obtain a high quality coating finish (as measured by light reflectance and smoothness) using simple coating techniques. The invention also provides a detergent composition comprising at least 70 wt%, preferably at least 85 wt% of coated particles made using the process according to the invention. However, compositions with up to 100 wt% of the particles are possible when basic additives are incorporated into the extruded particles, or into their coating. The composition may also comprise, for example, an antifoam granule.

When the particle is coated it is preferred if the coating is coloured. Particles of different colours may be used in admixture, or they can be blended with contrasting powder. Of course, particles of the same colour as one another may also be used to form a full composition. As described above the coating quality and appearance is very good due to the excellent surface of the cut extrudates onto which the coating is applied in association with the large particle size and S/V ratios of the preferred particles.

It is particularly preferred that the detergent particles comprise perfume. The perfume may be added into the extruder or premixed with the surfactant blend in the mill, or in a mixer placed after the mill, either as a liquid or as encapsulated perfume particles. In an alternative process, the perfume may be mixed with a nonionic material and blended. Such a blend may alternatively be applied by coating the extruded particles, for example by spraying it mixed with molten nonionic surfactant. Perfume may also be introduced into the composition by means of a separate perfume granule and then the detergent particle does not need to comprise any perfume.

The Surfactant Blend

Surfactant blends that do not require builders to be present for effective detergency in hard water are preferred. Such blends are called calcium tolerant surfactant blends if they pass the test set out hereinafter. Thus, it may be advantageous if the extruded core is made using a calcium tolerant surfactant blend according to the test herein described. However, the invention may also be of use for washing with soft water, either naturally occurring or made using a water softener. In this case, calcium tolerance is no longer important and blends other than calcium tolerant ones may be used.

LAS can be at least partially replaced by MES, or, less preferably, partially replaced by up to 20 wt % PAS. Blending

The surfactants are mixed together before being input to the drier. Conventional mixing equipment is used. Drying

To achieve the very low moisture content of the surfactant blend, scraped film devices may be used. A preferred form of scraped film device is a wiped film evaporator. One such suitable wiped film evaporator is the "Dryex system" based on a wiped film evaporator available from Ballestra S.p.A.. Alternative drying equipment includes tube-type driers, such as a Chemithon Turbo Tube® drier, and soap driers.

Chilling and Milling

The hot material exiting the scraped film drier is subsequently cooled and broken up into suitable sized pieces to feed to the extruder. Simultaneous cooling and breaking into flakes may conveniently be carried out using a chill roll. If the flakes from the chill roll are not suitable for direct feed to the extruder then they can be milled in a milling apparatus and/or they can be blended with other liquid or solid ingredients in a blending and milling apparatus, such as a ribbon mill. Such milled or blended material is desirably of particle size 1 mm or less for feeding to the extruder. It is particularly advantageous to add a milling aid at this point in the process. Particulate material with a mean particle size of 10 nm to 10 pm is preferred for use as a milling aid. Among such materials, there may be mentioned, by way of example: aerosil®, alusil®, and microsil®. Extruding and Cutting

The extruder provides further opportunities to blend in ingredients other than surfactants, or even to add further surfactants. However, it is generally preferred that all of the anionic surfactant, or other surfactant supplied in admixture with water; i.e. as paste or as solution, is added into the drier to ensure that the water content can then be reduced and the material fed to and through the extruder is sufficiently dry. Additional materials that can be blended into the extruder are thus mainly those that are used at very low levels in a detergent composition: such as fluorescer, shading dye, enzymes, perfume, silicone antifoams, polymeric additives and preservatives. The limit on such additional materials blended in the extruder has been found to be about 10 wt%, but it is preferred for product quality to be ideal to keep it to a maximum of 5 wt%. Solid additives are generally preferred. Liquids, such as perfume may be added at levels up to 2.5 wt%, preferably up to 1 .5 wt%. Solid particulate structuring (liquid absorbing) materials or builders, such as zeolite, carbonate, silicate are preferably not added to the blend being extruded. These materials are not needed due to the self structuring properties of the very dry LAS-based feed material. If any is used the total amount should be less than 5 wt%, preferably less than 4 wt%, most preferably less than 3 wt%. At such levels no significant structuring occurs and the inorganic particulate material is added for a different purpose, for instance as a flow aid to improve the feed of particles to the extruder.

The output from the extruder is shaped by the die plate used. The extruded material has a tendency to swell up in the centre relative to the periphery. We have found that if a cylindrical extrudate is regularly sliced as it exits the extruder the resulting shapes are short cylinders with two convex ends. These particles are herein described as oblate spheroids, or lentils. This shape is pleasing visually.

Coating

An advantageous variant of the process takes the sliced extruded particles and coats them. This allows the particles to be coloured easily. It also further reduces the stickiness of the hygroscopic surfactant core to a point where the particles are free flowing. Coating makes them more suitable for use in detergent compositions that may be exposed to high humidity for long periods.

By coating such large extruded particles the thickness of coating obtainable by use of a coating level of say 5 wt% is much greater than would be achieved on typically sized detergent granules (0.5-2mm diameter sphere).

The extruded particles can be considered as oblate spheroids with a major radius "a" and minor radius "b". Hence, the surface area(S) to volume (V) ratio can be calculated as:

When <≡ is the eccentricity of the particle. For optimum dissolution properties, this surface area to volume ratio must be greater than 3 mm-1 . However, the coating thickness is inversely proportional to this coefficient and hence for the coating the ratio "Surface area of coated particle" divided by "Volume of coated particle" should be less than 15 mm-1 .

Although the skilled person might assume that any known coating may be used, for instance organic, including polymer, it has been found to be particularly advantageous to use an inorganic coating deposited by crystallisation from an aqueous solution as this appears to give positive dissolution benefits and the coating gives a good colour to the detergent particle, even at lower coating levels. An aqueous spray-on of coating solution in a fluidised bed may also generate a further slight rounding of the detergent particles during the fluidisation process. Suitable inorganic coating solutions include sodium carbonate, possibly in admixture with sodium sulphate, and sodium chloride. Food dyes, shading dyes, fluorescer and other optical modifiers can be added to the coating by dissolving them in the spray-on solution or dispersion. Use of a builder salt such as sodium carbonate is particularly advantageous because it allows the detergent particle to have an even better performance by buffering the system in use at an ideal pH for maximum detergency of the anionic surfactant system. It also increases ionic strength, which is known to improve cleaning in hard water, and it is compatible with other detergent ingredients that may be admixed with the coated extruded detergent particles. If a fluid bed is used to apply the coating solution, the skilled worker will know how to adjust the spray conditions in terms of Stokes number and possibly Akkermans number (FNm) so that the particles are coated and not significantly agglomerated. Suitable teaching to assist in this may be found in EP1 187903, EP993505 and Powder technology 65 (1991 ) 257-272 (Ennis). It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that multiple layered coatings, of the same or different coating materials, could be applied, but a single coating layer is preferred, for simplicity of operation, and to maximise the thickness of the coating. The amount of coating should lie in the range 3 to 50 wt% of the particle, preferably 20 to 40 wt% for the best results in terms of anti-caking properties of the detergent particles.

The Extruded Particulate Detergent Composition The coated particles dissolve easily in water and leave very low or no residues on dissolution, due to the absence of insoluble structurant materials such as zeolite. The coated particles have an exceptional visual appearance, due to the

smoothness of the coating coupled with the smoothness of the underlying particles, which is also believed to be a result of the lack of particulate structuring material in the extruded particles.

SHAPE

The coated detergent particle is curved. The coated detergent particle is preferably lenticular (shaped like a whole dried lentil), an oblate ellipsoid, where z and y are the equatorial diameters and x is the polar diameter; preferably y = z. The size is such that y and z are at least 3 mm, preferably 4 mm, most preferably 5 mm and x lies in the range 1 to 2 mm. The coated laundry detergent particle may be shaped as a disc.

CORE COMPOSITION

The core is primarily surfactant. It may also include detergency additives, such as perfume, shading dye, enzymes, cleaning polymers and soil release polymers. SURFACTANT

The coated laundry detergent particle comprises between 50 to 90 wt% of a surfactant, most preferably 70 to 90 wt %. In general, the nonionic and anionic surfactants of the surfactant system may be chosen from the surfactants described "Surface Active Agents" Vol. 1 , by Schwartz & Perry, Interscience 1949, Vol. 2 by Schwartz, Perry & Berch, Interscience 1958, in the current edition of "McCutcheon's Emulsifiers and Detergents" published by Manufacturing

Confectioners Company or in "Tenside Taschenbuch", H. Stache, 2nd Edn., Carl Hauser Verlag, 1981 . Preferably the surfactants used are saturated.

1 ) Anionic Surfactants

Suitable anionic detergent compounds that may be used are usually water-soluble alkali metal salts of organic sulphates and sulphonates having alkyl radicals containing from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms, the term alkyl being used to include the alkyl portion of higher acyl radicals. Examples of suitable synthetic anionic detergent compounds are sodium and potassium alkyl sulphates, especially those obtained by sulphating higher C8 to C18 alcohols, produced for example from tallow or coconut oil, sodium and potassium alkyl C9 to C20 benzene sulphonates, particularly sodium linear secondary alkyl C10 to C15 benzene sulphonates; and sodium alkyl glyceryl ether sulphates, especially those ethers of the higher alcohols derived from tallow or coconut oil and synthetic alcohols derived from petroleum. Most preferred anionic surfactants are sodium lauryl ether sulphate (SLES), particularly preferred with 1 to 3 ethoxy groups, sodium C10 to C15 alkyl benzene sulphonates and sodium C12 to C18 alkyl sulphates. Also applicable are surfactants such as those described in

EP-A-328 177 (Unilever), which show resistance to salting out, the alkyl polyglycoside surfactants described in EP-A-070 074, and alkyl monoglycosides. The chains of the surfactants may be branched or linear. Soaps may also be present. The fatty acid soap used preferably contains from about 16 to about 22 carbon atoms, preferably in a straight chain configuration. The anionic contribution from soap may be from 0 to 30 wt% of the total anionic. Use of more than 10 wt% soap is not preferred.

Preferably, at least 50 wt % of the anionic surfactant is selected from: sodium C1 1 to C15 alkyl benzene sulphonates; and, sodium C12 to C18 alkyl sulphates.

Preferably, the anionic surfactant is present in the coated laundry detergent particle at levels between 15 to 85 wt%, more preferably 50 to 80 wt%.

2) Non-Ionic Surfactants

Suitable non-ionic detergent compounds which may be used 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 either alone or with propylene oxide. Preferred nonionic detergent compounds are C6 to C22 alkyl phenol- ethylene oxide condensates, generally 5 to 25 EO, i.e. 5 to 25 units of ethylene oxide per molecule, and the condensation products of aliphatic C8 to C18 primary or secondary linear or branched alcohols with ethylene oxide, generally 5 to 50 EO. Preferably, the non-ionic is 10 to 50 EO, more preferably 20 to 35 EO. Alkyl ethoxylates are particularly preferred. Preferably the non-ionic surfactant is present in the coated laundry detergent particle at levels between 5 to 75 wt%, more preferably 10 to 40 wt%.

Cationic surfactant may be present as minor ingredients at levels preferably between 0 to 5 wt%. Preferably all the surfactants are mixed together before being dried. Conventional mixing equipment may be used. The surfactant core of the laundry detergent particle may be formed by roller compaction and subsequently coated with an inorganic salt.

Calcium Tolerant Surfactant System

In another aspect the core is calcium tolerant and this is a preferred aspect because this reduces the need for a builder.

Surfactant blends that do not require builders to be present for effective

detergency in hard water are preferred. Such blends are called calcium tolerant surfactant blends if they pass the test set out hereinafter. However, the invention may also be of use for washing with soft water, either naturally occurring or made using a water softener. In this case, calcium tolerance is no longer important and blends other than calcium tolerant ones may be used.

Calcium-tolerance of the surfactant blend is tested as follows: The surfactant blend in question is prepared at a concentration of 0.7 g surfactant solids per litre of water containing sufficient calcium ions to give a French hardness of 40 (4 x 10-3 Molar Ca2+). Other hardness ion free electrolytes such as sodium chloride, sodium sulphate, and sodium hydroxide are added to the solution to adjust the ionic strength to 0.05M and the pH to 10. The adsorption of light of wavelength 540 nm through 4 mm of sample is measured 15 minutes after sample preparation. Ten measurements are made and an average value is calculated. Samples that give an absorption value of less than 0.08 are deemed to be calcium tolerant. Examples of surfactant blends that satisfy the above test for calcium tolerance include those having a major part of LAS surfactant (which is not of itself calcium tolerant) blended with one or more other surfactants (co-surfactants) that are calcium tolerant to give a blend that is sufficiently calcium tolerant to be usable with little or no builder and to pass the given test. Suitable calcium tolerant co- surfactants include SLES 1 -7EO, and alkyl ethoxylate non-ionic surfactants, particularly those with melting points less than 40°C.

A LAS/SLES surfactant blend has a superior foam profile to a LAS Nonionic surfactant blend and is therefore preferred for hand washing formulations requiring high levels of foam. SLES may be used at levels of up to 30%.

A LAS/NI surfactant blend provides a harder particle and its lower foam profile makes it more suited for automatic washing machine use.

THE COATING

The main component of the coating is the water soluble inorganic salt. Other water compatible ingredients may be included in the coating. For example fluorescer, SCMC, shading dye, silicate, pigments and dyes.

Water Soluble Inorganic Salts

The water soluble inorganic salts are preferably selected from sodium carbonate, sodium chloride, sodium silicate and sodium sulphate, or mixtures thereof, most preferably 70 to 100 wt % sodium carbonate. The water soluble inorganic salt is present as a coating on the particle. The water soluble inorganic salt is preferably present at a level that reduces the stickiness of the laundry detergent particle to a point where the particles are free flowing. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that multiple layered coatings, of the same or different coating materials, could be applied, but a single coating layer is preferred, for simplicity of operation, and to maximise the thickness of the coating. The amount of coating should lay in the range 1 to 40 wt% of the particle, preferably 20 to 40 wt%, even more preferably 25 to 35 wt% for the best results in terms of anti-caking properties of the detergent particles.

The coating is applied to the surface of the surfactant core, by crystallisation from an aqueous solution of the water soluble inorganic salt. The aqueous solution preferably contains greater than 50g/L, more preferably 200 g/L of the salt. An aqueous spray-on of the coating solution in a fluidised bed has been found to give good results and may also generate a slight rounding of the detergent particles during the fluidisation process. Drying and/or cooling may be needed to finish the process.

By coating the large detergent particles of the current invention the thickness of coating obtainable by use of a coating level of say 5 wt% is much greater than would be achieved on typically sized detergent granules (0.5-2 mm diameter sphere).

For optimum dissolution properties, this surface area to volume ratio must be greater than 3 mm^"1. However, the coating thickness is inversely proportional to this coefficient and hence for the coating the ratio "Surface area of coated particle" divided by "Volume of coated particle" should be less than 15 mm^"1.

A preferred calcium tolerant coated laundry detergent particle comprises 15 to 100 wt% anionic surfactant of which 20 to 30 wt % is sodium lauryl ether sulphate. Dye

Dye may advantageously be added to the coating, as noted above it may also be added to the surfactant mix in the core. In that case preferably the dye is dissolved in the surfactant before the core is formed.

Dyes are described in Industrial Dyes edited by K.Hunger 2003 Wiley-VCH ISBN 3-527-30426-6. Dyes are selected from anionic and non-ionic dyes Anionic dyes are negatively charged in an aqueous medium at pH 7. Examples of anionic dyes are found in the classes of acid and direct dyes in the Color Index (Society of Dyers and Colourists and American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists). Anionic dyes preferably contain at least one sulphonate or carboxylate groups. Non-ionic dyes are uncharged in an aqueous medium at pH 7, examples are found in the class of disperse dyes in the Color Index.

The dyes may be alkoxylated. Alkoxylated dyes are preferably of the following generic form: Dye-NR1 R2. The NR1 R2 group is attached to an aromatic ring of the dye. R1 and R2 are independently selected from polyoxyalkylene chains having 2 or more repeating units and preferably having 2 to 20 repeating units. Examples of polyoxyalkylene chains include ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, glycidol oxide, butylene oxide and mixtures thereof. A preferred polyoxyalkylene chain is [(CH2CR3HO)x(CH2CR4HO)yR5) in which x+y < 5 wherein y > 1 and z = 0 to 5, R3 is selected from: H; CH3;

CH20(CH2CH20)zH and mixtures thereof; R4 is selected from: H;

CH20(CH2CH20)zH and mixtures thereof; and, R5 is selected from: H; and, CH3 A preferred alkoxylated dye for use in the invention is:

Preferably the dye is selected from acid dyes; disperse dyes and alkoxylated dyes.

Most preferably the dye is a non-ionic dye. Preferably the dye is selected from those having: anthraquinone; mono-azo; bis- azo; xanthene; phthalocyanine; and, phenazine chromophores. More preferably the dye is selected from those having: anthraquinone and, mono-azo

chromophores. In a preferred process, the dye is added to the coating slurry and agitated before applying to the core of the particle. Application may be by any suitable method, preferably spraying on to the core particle as detailed above.

The dye may be any colour, preferable the dye is blue, violet, green or red. Most preferably the dye is blue or violet.

Preferably the dye is selected from: acid blue 80, acid blue 62, acid violet 43, acid green 25, direct blue 86, acid blue 59, acid blue 98, direct violet 9, direct violet 99, direct violet 35, direct violet 51 , acid violet 50, acid yellow 3, acid red 94, acid red 51 , acid red 95, acid red 92, acid red 98, acid red 87, acid yellow 73, acid red 50, acid violet 9, acid red 52, food black 1 , food black 2, acid red 163, acid black 1 , acid orange 24, acid yellow 23, acid yellow 40, acid yellow 1 1 , acid red 180, acid red 155, acid red 1 , acid red 33, acid red 41 , acid red 19, acid orange 10, acid red 27, acid red 26, acid orange 20, acid orange 6, sulphonated Al and Zn

phthalocyanines, solvent violet 13, disperse violet 26, disperse violet 28, solvent green 3, solvent blue 63, disperse blue 56, disperse violet 27, solvent yellow 33, disperse blue 79: 1 .

The dye is preferably a shading dye for imparting a perception of whiteness to a laundry textile. The dye may be covalently bound to polymeric species. A combination of dyes may be used. The Coated Detergent Particle

Preferably, the coated detergent particle comprises from 70 to 100 wt%, more preferably 85 to 90 wt%, of a detergent composition in a package.

Preferably, the coated detergent particles are substantially the same shape and size by this is meant that at least 90 to 100 % of the coated laundry detergent particles in the in the x, y and z dimensions are within a 20 %, preferably 10%, variable from the largest to the smallest coated laundry detergent particle in the corresponding dimension. Water Content

The particle preferably comprises from 0 to 15 wt% water, more preferably 0 to 10 wt%, most preferably from 1 to 5 wt% water, at 293K and 50% relative humidity. This facilitates the storage stability of the particle and its mechanical properties. Other Ingredients

The ingredients described below may be present in the coating or the core. Fluorescent Agent

The coated laundry detergent particle preferably comprises a fluorescent agent (optical brightener). Fluorescent agents are well known and many such

fluorescent agents are available commercially. Usually, these fluorescent agents are supplied and used in the form of their alkali metal salts, for example, the sodium salts. The total amount of the fluorescent agent or agents used in the composition is generally from 0.005 to 2 wt%, more preferably 0.01 to 0.1 wt%. Suitable Fluorescers for use in the invention are described in chapter 7 of

Industrial Dyes edited by K. Hunger 2003 Wiley-VCH ISBN 3-527-30426-6.

Preferred fluorescers are selected from the classes distyrylbiphenyls,

triazinylaminostilbenes, bis(1 ,2,3-triazol-2-yl)stilbenes, bis(benzo[b]furan-2- yl)biphenyls, 1 ,3-diphenyl-2-pyrazolines and courmarins. The fluorescer is preferably sulphonated.

Preferred classes of fluorescer are: Di-styryl biphenyl compounds, e.g. Tinopal (Trade Mark) CBS-X, Di-amine stilbene di-sulphonic acid compounds, e.g. Tinopal DMS pure Xtra and Blankophor (Trade Mark) HRH, and Pyrazoline compounds, e.g. Blankophor SN. Preferred fluorescers are: sodium 2 (4-styryl-3-sulfophenyl)- 2H-napthol[1 ,2-d]triazole, disodium 4,4'-bis{[(4-anilino-6-(N methyl-N-2

hydroxyethyl) amino 1 ,3,5-triazin-2-yl)]amino}stilbene-2-2' disulfonate, disodium 4,4'-bis{[(4-anilino-6-morpholino-1 ,3,5-triazin-2-yl)]amino} stilbene-2-2' disulfonate, and disodium 4,4'-bis(2-sulfostyryl)biphenyl. Tinopal® DMS is the disodium salt of disodium 4,4'-bis{[(4-anilino-6-morpholino- 1 ,3,5-triazin-2-yl)]amino} stilbene-2-2' disulfonate. Tinopal® CBS is the disodium salt of disodium 4,4'-bis(2-sulfostyryl)biphenyl. Perfume

Preferably, the composition comprises a perfume. The perfume is preferably in the range from 0.001 to 3 wt %, most preferably 0.1 to 1 wt %. Many suitable examples of perfumes are provided in the CTFA (Cosmetic, Toiletry and

Fragrance Association) 1992 International Buyers Guide, published by CFTA Publications and OPD 1993 Chemicals Buyers Directory 80th Annual Edition, published by Schnell Publishing Co.

It is commonplace for a plurality of perfume components to be present in a formulation. In the compositions of the present invention it is envisaged that there will be four or more, preferably five or more, more preferably six or more or even seven or more different perfume components.

In perfume mixtures preferably 15 to 25 wt% are top notes. Top notes are defined by Poucher (Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists 6(2):80 [1955]).

Preferred top-notes are selected from citrus oils, linalool, linalyl acetate, lavender, dihydromyrcenol, rose oxide and cis-3-hexanol.

It is preferred that the coated laundry detergent particles do not contain a peroxygen bleach, e.g., sodium percarbonate, sodium perborate, and peracid.

Polymers

The composition may comprise one or more further polymers. Examples are carboxymethylcellulose, poly (ethylene glycol), polyvinyl alcohol), polyethylene imines, ethoxylated polyethylene imines, water soluble polyester polymers polycarboxylates such as polyacrylates, maleic/acrylic acid copolymers and lauryl methacry late/acrylic acid copolymers. Enzymes

One or more enzymes are preferably present in the composition. Preferably the level of each enzyme is from 0.0001 wt% to 0.5 wt% protein.

Especially contemplated enzymes include proteases, alpha-amylases, cellulases, lipases, peroxidases/oxidases, pectate lyases, and mannanases, or mixtures thereof. Suitable lipases include those of bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically modified or protein engineered mutants are included. Examples of useful lipases include lipases from Humicola (synonym Thermomyces), e.g. from H. lanuginosa (T. lanuginosus) as described in EP 258 068 and EP 305 216 or from H. insolens as described in WO 96/13580, a Pseudomonas lipase, e.g. from P. alcaligenes or P. pseudoalcaligenes (EP 218 272), P. cepacia (EP 331 376), P. stutzeri (GB

1 ,372,034), P. fluorescens, Pseudomonas sp. strain SD 705 (WO 95/06720 and WO 96/27002), P. wisconsinensis (WO 96/12012), a Bacillus lipase, e.g. from B. subtilis (Dartois et al. (1993), Biochemica et Biophysica Acta, 1 131 , 253-360), B. stearothermophilus (JP 64/744992) or B. pumilus (WO 91/16422).

Other examples are lipase variants such as those described in WO 92/05249, WO 94/01541 , EP 407 225, EP 260 105, WO 95/35381 , WO 96/00292, WO 95/30744, WO 94/25578, WO 95/14783, WO 95/22615, WO 97/04079 and WO 97/07202, WO 00/60063, WO 09/107091 and WO09/1 1 1258. Preferred lipase enzymes include Lipolase™ and Lipolase Ultra™, Lipex™

(Novozymes A/S) and Lipoclean™.

The method of the invention may be carried out in the presence of phospholipase classified as EC 3.1 .1 .4 and/or EC 3.1 .1.32. As used herein, the term

phospholipase is an enzyme that has activity towards phospholipids.

Phospholipids, such as lecithin or phosphatidylcholine, consist of glycerol esterified with two fatty acids in an outer (sn-1 ) and the middle (sn-2) positions and esterified with phosphoric acid in the third position; the phosphoric acid, in turn, may be esterified to an amino-alcohol. Phospholipases are enzymes that participate in the hydrolysis of phospholipids. Several types of phospholipase activity can be distinguished, including phospholipases A1 and A2 which hydrolyze one fatty acyl group (in the sn-1 and sn-2 position, respectively) to form lysophospholipid; and lysophospholipase (or phospholipase B) which can hydrolyze the remaining fatty acyl group in lysophospholipid. Phospholipase C and phospholipase D (phosphodiesterases) release diacyl glycerol or

phosphatidic acid respectively. Suitable proteases include those of animal, vegetable or microbial origin.

Microbial origin is preferred. Chemically modified or protein engineered mutants are included. The protease may be a serine protease or a metallo protease, preferably an alkaline microbial protease or a trypsin-like protease. Suitable protease enzymes include Alcalase™, Savinase™, Primase™, Duralase™, Dyrazym™, Esperase™, Everlase™, Polarzyme™, and Kannase™, (Novozymes A/S), Maxatase™, Maxacal™, Maxapem™, Properase™, Purafect™, Purafect OxP™, FN2™, and FN3™ (Genencor International Inc.).

The method of the invention may be carried out in the presence of cutinase.

classified in EC 3.1 .1 .74. The cutinase used according to the invention may be of any origin. Preferably, cutinases are of microbial origin, in particular of bacterial, of fungal or of yeast origin.

Suitable amylases (alpha and/or beta) include those of bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically modified or protein engineered mutants are included. Amylases include, for example, alpha-amylases obtained from Bacillus, e.g. a special strain of B. licheniformis, described in more detail in GB 1 ,296,839, or the Bacillus sp. strains disclosed in WO 95/026397 or WO 00/060060. Suitable amylases are Duramyl™, Termamyl™, Termamyl Ultra™, Natalase™, Stainzyme™,

Fungamyl™ and BAN™ (Novozymes A/S), Rapidase™ and Purastar™ (from Genencor International Inc.).

Suitable cellulases include those of bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically modified or protein engineered mutants are included. Suitable cellulases include cellulases from the genera Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Humicola, Fusarium, Thielavia,

Acremonium, e.g. the fungal cellulases produced from Humicola insolens, Thielavia terrestris, Myceliophthora thermophila, and Fusarium oxysporum disclosed in US 4,435,307, US 5,648,263, US 5,691 , 178, US 5,776,757, WO 89/09259, WO 96/029397, and WO 98/012307. Cellulases include Celluzyme™, Carezyme™, Endolase™, Renozyme™ (Novozymes A/S), Clazinase™ and Puradax HA™ (Genencor International Inc.), and KAC-500(B)™ (Kao

Corporation).

Suitable peroxidases/oxidases include those of plant, bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically modified or protein engineered mutants are included. Examples of useful peroxidases include peroxidases from Coprinus, e.g. from C. cinereus, and variants thereof as those described in WO 93/24618, WO 95/10602, and WO 98/15257. Peroxidases include Guardzyme™ and Novozym™ 51004

(Novozymes A/S). Further suitable enzymes are disclosed in WO2009/087524, WO2009/090576, WO2009/148983 and WO2008/007318.

Enzyme Stabilizers

Any enzyme present in the composition may be stabilized using conventional stabilizing agents, e.g., a polyol such as propylene glycol or glycerol, a sugar or sugar alcohol, lactic acid, boric acid, or a boric acid derivative, e.g., an aromatic borate ester, or a phenyl boronic acid derivative such as 4-formylphenyl boronic acid, and the composition may be formulated as described in e.g. WO 92/19709 and WO 92/19708.

Sequestrants may be present in the detergent particles. The invention will be further described with reference to the following non-limiting examples.

EXAMPLES In example 1 coated large detergent particles are manufactured, following the process in PCT/EP2010/055256.

EXAMPLE 1 - Preparation of the coated particles Surfactant raw materials were mixed together to give a 67 wt% active paste comprising 85 parts LAS (linear alkyl benzene sulphonate), 15 parts Nonionic Surfactant. The raw materials used were:

LAS: Unger Ufasan 65

Nonionic: BASF Lutensol AO30 The paste was pre-heated to the feed temperature and fed to the top of a wiped film evaporator to reduce the moisture content and produce a solid intimate surfactant blend, which passed the calcium tolerance test. The conditions used to produce this LAS/NI blend are given in Table 1 .

Table 1

^*analysed by Karl Fischer method

On exit from the base of the wiped film evaporator, the dried surfactant blend dropped onto a chill roll, where it was cooled to less than 30°C. After leaving the chill roll, the cooled dried surfactant blend particles were milled using a hammer mill, 2% Alusil® was also added to the hammer mill as a mill aid. The resulting milled material is hygroscopic and so it was stored in sealed containers. The cooled dried milled composition was fed to a twin-screw co-rotating extruder fitted with a shaped aperture plate and cutter blade. A number of other components were also dosed into the extruder as shown in Table 2. Table 2

The average particle diameter and thickness of samples of the extruded particles were found to be 4.46 mm and 1 .13 mm respectively. The standard deviation was acceptably low.

The particles were then coated using a Strea 1 fluid bed. The coating was added as an aqueous solution and coating completed under conditions given in Table 3. Coating wt% is based on weight of the coated particle.

Table 3

Coated particles composition is given in Table 4. Table 4

The coated extruded particles have an excellent appearance due to their high surface smoothness. Without wishing to be bound by theory it is thought that this is because the uncoated particles are larger and more flattened than usual detergent particles and that their core has a much lower solids content than usual (indeed it is free of solid structuring materials, unlike prior art coated extruded particles).

Example 2

We measured the ratio of Tapped BD to Poured BD for the coated particles from example 1 (oblate spheroids) and two conventional laundry detergent powders. The results are given in table 5.

Poured BD - The bulk density of the whole detergent composition in the

uncompacted (untapped) aerated form, determined by measuring the increase in weight due to pouring the composition to fill a 1 litre container. In fact the container is overfilled and then excess powder removed by moving a straight edge over the brim to leave the contents level to the maximum height of the container. Tapped BD - The BD container was fitted with a removable collar to extend the height of the container. This extended container was then filled via the poured BD technique. The extended container was then placed on a Retsch Sieve Shaker and allowed to vibrate/tap for 5 min using the 0.2mm/"g" setting on the instrument. The collar was then removed and the excess powder levelled as per the standard BD measurement, the mass of the container measured and the Tapped BD calculated in the usual way.

Table 5

^*extruded 5mm diameter and cut to 1 mm thick before spray coating with sodium carbonate solution to give a particle having a 30 wt% sodium carbonate coating which is an oblate spheroid with slightly flattened sides resulting from the extrusion.

As can be seen from table 1 the larger coated particles of the invention settle down in much the same way as the prior art powders. The small difference in the ratios of Poured BD to tapped BD is not significant. Example 3

We measured settling volume after tapping for 1 min using the Retsch sieve shaker at a setting of 0.2 mm/"g". The results are given in table 6.

Table 6

Only the crystals flowed freely out of the measuring cylinder after this experiment. In contrast, both of the prior art powders were compacted and the cylinder needed tapping to get them to flow.

Example 4

Standard DFR (Dynamic Flow Rate) is measured in ml/sec using a cylindrical glass tube having an internal diameter of 35 mm and a length of 600 mm. The tube is securely clamped with its longitudinal axis vertical. Its lower end is terminated by means of a smooth cone of polyvinyl chloride having an internal angle of 15 DEG and a lower outlet aperture of diameter 22.5 mm. A beam sensor is positioned 150 mm above the outlet, and a second beam sensor is positioned 250 mm above the first sensor. To determine the dynamic flow rate of a detergent composition sample, the outlet aperture is temporarily closed, for example, by covering with a piece of card, and detergent composition is poured into the top of the cylinder until the detergent composition level is about 100 mm above the upper sensor. The outlet is then opened and the time t (seconds) taken for the detergent composition level to fall from the upper sensor to the lower sensor is measured electronically. The DFR is the tube volume between the sensors, divided by the time measured. We mounted this equipment onto the sieve shaker set at 0.2mm/"g" for 1 min. The shaking or vibration being done after filling the cylinder and before the outlet is opened. Each sample was given one "prod" after vibration to initiate flow as the outlet was narrow and tended to block with all powders. If one prod was insufficient to start flow then zero flow rate was recorded. Results are given in table 7.

Table 7

It can be seen from table 7 that the crystals have much improved retention of their flow properties under these conditions - it remained to be determined whether this better retention of flow for the crystals was due to their greater size, their non- spherical shape, or their coating (it being assumed that the spherical powders were not coated). Example 5

The DFR of the uncoated crystals was worse than the smaller spherical coated particles under both tests (tapped and untapped). Uncoated crystals do however, flow much better than the uncoated prior art powders. It is thus feasible to use a small proportion of uncoated crystals in the composition, say up to 30% of the total particles, preferably up to 15 % by number. Surprisingly, from table 8, the coated crystals, despite their superior appearance to the uncoated crystals have a lower DFR then the uncoated ones, hence the coating is improving appearance but not the flow. However, the coated crystals do have a very consistent DFR as seen in table 3 (in fact they seem to flow the same way reliably no matter what their history).

Various non-limiting embodiments of the invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the following figures in which:

Figure 1 shows a refill and refillable package combination according to one aspect of the invention; and

Figure 2 shows the refillable package of figure 1 without closure, Referring to the drawings, a refill and refillable package combination is shown, comprising a refillable package 1 and a refill pack 3.

Both packages 1 and 3 are shown containing a particulate detergent composition 5, wherein the composition 5 comprises greater than 50 wt% detergent surfactant, at least 70 % by number of the particles comprising a core, comprising mainly surfactant, and a coating, the particles being substantially the same shape and size as one another. The composition 5 is as described in the above examples. The refill package comprises a compressible reservoir structure 1 1 for containing the composition 5. The reservoir is compressible by means of a flexible plastic sheet material together with the side gusseting 13, so as to be compressible to a substantially flat structure (not shown). The refill package comprises a large front face which has minimal interference by a narrow dispensing aperture defined by tear lines 15. The large face of the refill package provides the front face (for the purposes of shelf positioning) of the package and also the rear is similarly sized. However, preferably all other faces are substantially smaller.

The large face of the refill provides shelf standout by means of a large area for marketing graphics etc. However refilling is highly reliable since the flow can proceed without the blockages normally associated with known laundry powders flowing via narrow dispensing apertures. The reliable, slow and steady flow is provided by the coated particles.

The narrow dispensing aperture is significantly lower, and here, less than 25% of the cross sectional area of the widest part (the base) of the refill package. The area of the narrow dispensing aperture is inclined at an oblique angle (when viewed laterally) to the plane of the refill package base - this is due to the orientation of the tear lines. The narrow dispensing aperture comprises the distal portion of a tapered portion (i.e. corner) of the package. The compressibility of the refill package may be achieved by folds to enable folding of the package material. Gusseting in the base and /or sides of the pack may be used. The package is preferably flexible and/or comprise a flexible material in so far as to allow folding for compression. However, the package may comprise semi-rigid or even rigid parts, such as paper or card board sections, providing this does not prevent compression. The narrow dispensing aperture is flexible due to the flexible material so that flexing of the aperture is provided. This assists in the at least partial insertion into the narrow refill aperture.

The refillable package comprises a rigid reservoir 17 and refilling aperture 19 (shown more clearly in Figure 2). The refilling aperture 19 is narrow.

dispensing aperture according to the invention allows for dispensing of the composition into a narrow aperture. This in turn prevents the ingress of large amounts of moisture which might affect the particulate composition.

The narrow refilling aperture has a cross sectional area which corresponds with that of the narrow dispensing aperture such that narrow dispensing aperture is at least partially insertable in the refilling aperture. This is advantageous as it means the consumer does not need to hold the refill package without support, since partial insertion will allow the refill package to receive support from the refillable package. Thus there is no need to hold the position no need for a steady hand. Refilling with partially or fully inserted refill aperture is ameliorated by the flow properties of the particulate composition: i.e. it does not need banging or tapping to break up blockages as with conventional powder.

The narrow refilling aperture approximately 4 cm in diameter. Circular shaped apertures allow filling from any angle and are advantageous. Alternatively or additionally apertures with corners locating means for supporting the refill package in position during loading.

The refillable container is a transparent PET bottle. The bottle may then be used to dose the composition by pouring into the drawer of a washing machine or a dosing shuttle.

The refillable container is resealable with a closure mechanism, to avoid the flow properties being affected by ingress of large amounts of moisture, which could lead to stickiness. The closure mechanism comprises a screw-fit mechanism or a snap-fit mechanism. It comprises audible feedback to signal positively to the consumer that the package is closed. The refillable package is resealable by zip or other means. The refill package comprises a transparent window 7.

Transparency provides positive feedback to the consumer of the reliable flow without clogging. The latter is expected so transparency allows the consumer to view the unexpected: they learn that what they expect to happen (clogging), is not happening and so learn to trust the process without stopping to check, which would otherwise interrupt the flow.

In so far as the packaging is concerned, "transparent" means that its light transmittance is greater than 25% at wavelength of about 410-800 nm. The transparent layer of the package according to the invention preferably has a transmittance of more than 25%, more preferably more than 30%, more preferably more than 40%, more preferably more than 50% in the visible part of the spectrum (approx. 410-800 nm). Alternatively, absorbency of transparent layer may be measured as less than 0.6 (approximately equivalent to 25% transmitting) or by having transmittance greater than 25% wherein % transmittance equals:

1 x 100%

10 ^a'^5Sor'^5ency

Conversely, absorbency of the opaque layer may be measured as more than 0.6.

For purposes of the invention, as long as one wavelength in the visible light range has greater than 25% transmittance, the container is considered to be

transparent.

Alternatively, absorbency of bottle may be measured as less than 0.6

corresponding absorbency levels for the remaining preferred levels above. Suitable materials for the transparent inner layer of the package include, but are not limited to: polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), polyamides (PA) and/or polyethylene terephthalate (PETE), polyvinylchloride (PVC); and polystyrene (PS). The container may be formed by extrusion, moulding e.g. blow moulding from a preform or by thermoforming or by injection moulding.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only.

Claims

A refill package containing a particulate detergent composition, wherein the composition comprises greater than 50 wt% detergent surfactant, at least 70 % by number of the particles comprising a core, comprising mainly surfactant, and a coating, the particles being substantially the same shape and size as one another; and the refill package comprises: a compressible reservoir structure for containing the compositi reservoir being compressible to a substantially flat structure

at least one large face

a narrow dispensing aperture.

A refill package containing a particulate detergent composition according to claim 1 wherein the narrow dispensing aperture is significantly lower in cross sectional area than the widest part of the refill package.

A refill package containing a particulate detergent composition according to any preceding claim wherein the narrow dispensing aperture is less than 25% of the cross sectional area of the widest part of the refill package.

A refill package containing a particulate detergent composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the area of the narrow dispensing aperture is inclined at an oblique angle (when viewed laterally) to the plane of the refill package base.

A refill package containing a particulate detergent composition according to any preceding claim wherein the narrow dispensing aperture comprises the distal portion of a tapered portion of the package.

6. A refill package containing a particulate detergent composition according to any preceding claim wherein the narrow refilling aperture is insertable into the refilling aperture.

7. A refill package containing a particulate detergent composition according to any preceding claim wherein the compressibility is achieved by folding, gusseting in the base and/or sides.

8. A refill package containing a particulate detergent composition according to any preceding claim wherein the narrow dispensing aperture comprises a pour spout.

9. A refill package containing a particulate detergent composition according to any preceding claim wherein the narrow dispensing aperture is provided by cutting/tearing the pack or removing a portion of the pack.

10. A refill package containing a particulate detergent composition according to any preceding claim comprising at least one transparent portion, such that its light transmittance is greater than 25% at wavelength of about

410-800 nm.

1 1 . A refill package according to any preceding claim, in combination with a refillable package, wherein said refillable package comprises: i. a rigid reservoir

ii. a refilling aperture.

12. A refill and refillable package combination according to claim 1 1 wherein the refilling aperture is narrow.

13. A refill and refillable package combination according to claim 1 1 or claim 12 wherein the refillable package is resealable with a closure mechanism, the closure mechanism comprising a mechanism for audible feedback to signal positively to the consumer that the package is closed.

14. A refill and refillable package combination according to any of claims 1 1 -13 comprising at least one transparent portion, such that its light transmittance is greater than 25% at wavelength of about 410-800 nm.

15. A refill package substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

16. A refill and refillable package combination substantially as hereinbefore

described with reference to and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.