Improvements in or relating to water-soluble pouches

Abstract

A method and apparatus for producing multi-compartment water-soluble pouches 38 from a base web 27 and a lidding web 35 is disclosed. The apparatus includes a rotatable former 21 having compartment forming cavities 23 into which the base web 27 can be formed. The former 21 is configured so that compartments 26,29,32 of a pouch 38 can be formed and filled sequentially and thereafter all compartments 26,29,32 closed and sealed by affixing the lidding web 35 to the base web 27.

1 . A continuous motion rotatable forming machine for producing multi-compartment water-soluble pouches, the machine comprising a rotatable former having compartment forming cavities into which a base web can be formed, wherein the forming machine is configured so that at least one compartment of a pouch is formed and filled before at least one other compartment of the pouch is formed and filled, and only once all compartments have been filled is the pouch closed and sealed by affixing a lidding web. 
     
     
         2 . A machine according to  claim 1  in which the lidding web comprises a web of formed filled and sealed pouches. 
     
     
         3 . A machine according to  claim 1  comprising two formers of which at least one is a horizontal former wherein each former is able to produce water-soluble pouches comprising one or more compartments, the lidding films of which are then sealed or bonded together to form a combined pouch. 
     
     
         4 . A machine according to  claim 1  comprising two formers of which at least one is a horizontal former wherein each former is able to produce water-soluble pouches comprising one or more compartments, the lidding film of pouches on one former closing pouches on the other former to form a combined pouch. 
     
     
         5 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method of making a water soluble multi-compartment pouch on a continuous motion rotatable forming machine having compartment forming cavities into which a base web can be formed, wherein the forming machine is configured so that at least one compartment of a pouch is formed and filled before at least one other compartment of the pouch is formed and filled, and only once all compartments have been filled is the pouch closed by sealing with a lidding web. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein the multi-compartment water-soluble pouch is affixed to a second closed pouch such that the combined pouch comprises four water-soluble substrates. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein the lidding web of the multi-compartment water-soluble pouch comprises a lidding web comprising a second closed pouch such that the combined pouch comprises three water-soluble substrates. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 13  wherein the second closed pouch comprises one or more compartments. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 14  wherein the second closed pouch comprises one or more compartments.