# US 2014/0154350 A1 · Process and Mould for Thermoforming Containers

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- Number: US 2014/0154350 A1
- Document ID: US20140154350A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/090,805
- Filed: 2013-11-26
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2000-08-25
- Assignees: Reckitt Benckiser (UK) Limited
- Applicants: Reckitt Benckiser (UK) Limited
- Inventors: Geoffrey Robert Hammond; Richard Rogers
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140154350A1

## CPC

- B29C 51/261: {Handling means, e.g. transfer means, feeding means (B29C51/44 takes precedence)}
- B29C 51/18: Thermoforming apparatus
- B29C 51/30: Moulds
- B32B 1/00: Layered products having a non-planar shape
- B65B 9/042: {for fluent material}
- B65B 47/02: with means for heating the material prior to forming
- B29C 51/002: {characterised by the choice of material}
- B29K 2995/0059: Degradable
- B29K 2995/0062: water-soluble
- Y10T 428/1352: Polymer or resin containing [i.e., natural or synthetic]
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00)
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

The present invention is a method of manufacturing water-soluble containers using a horizontal intermittent motion thermoforming machine comprising: a) locating a first water-soluble film over a mould, said mould containing a plurality of pocket forming cavities, defined by side walls and a base, in a 2-dimensional array, each cavity being surrounded by a planar surface of the mould on all sides in which the shortest dimension of the planar surface between two adjacent cavities is at least 3 mm and between an edge of the mould and the closest cavity is at least 1.5 mm; b) thermoforming the first film to produce a plurality of pockets; c) at least partially filling the pockets with a composition; and d) sealing the plurality of the at least partially filled pockets.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-40. (canceled)

### Claim 41

A horizontal intermittent motion thermoforming machine comprising a mould, wherein said mould contains a plurality of pocket forming cavities, defined by side walls and a base, in a 2-dimensional array, each cavity being surrounded by a planar surface of the mould on all sides in which the shortest dimension of the planar surface between two adjacent cavities is at least 3 mm and between an edge of the mould and the closest cavity is at least 1.5 mm, and in which the cavities are positioned in the array such that there are a plurality of continuous strips of uninterrupted planar surface of the mould from a leading to a trailing edge of the mould, wherein bottom corners, formed where the cavity side walls meet the cavity base and edges, formed where the cavity side walls meet an upper surface of the mould, are rounded.

### Claim 42 (depends on 41)

A horizontal intermittent motion thermoforming machine as claimed in claim 41, comprising a plurality of support means for supporting said water-soluble film, said plurality of support means being arranged along at least some of said plurality of continuous strips of uninterrupted planar surface of said mould.

### Claim 43 (depends on 42)

A horizontal intermittent motion thermoforming machine as claimed in claim 42, wherein said plurality of support means are rails, bars, filaments, wires, ropes or cables.

### Claim 44 (depends on 43)

A horizontal intermittent motion thermoforming machine as claimed in claim 43, wherein said plurality of support means are wires or rails.

### Claim 45 (depends on 3)

A horizontal intermittent motion thermoforming machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said plurality of support means are arranged along at least every other one of said plurality of continuous strips.

### Claim 46 (depends on 45)

A horizontal intermittent motion thermoforming machine as claimed in claim 45, wherein said plurality of support means are arranged along each of said plurality of continuous strips.