EP3886671A1 - Customised unit dose products - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for creating a customized collection of laundry or machine dishwashing unit dose products bespoke to multiple treatment loads, the method using a computer module which is configured to receive customization data concerning said multiple treatment loads based on one or more of the following criteria: substrate state; substrate identity such as type and / or colour; user requirements and/or user preferences; and wherein the method comprises the steps of providing to said computing module, customization data relating to one or more of the aforementioned criteria and then, causing the computing module to determine, based on said provided customization data, a customized collection comprising multiple unit dose products, the customized collection optimised with respect to said provided customization data, and each unit dose product comprising one or more compartments whereby the or each compartment contains a segregated substrate treatment composition.

Description

CUSTOMIZED UNIT DOSE PRODUCTS

Technical Field

This invention relates to customised collections of unit dose products.

Background

Unit dose products (such as water soluble capsules and tablets) for washing substrates such as fabrics, household items such as crockery, cutlery etc are generally sold in packages containing multiple unit dose products all of a common format and formulation. For many consumers, no one unit dose product fulfils all of their needs. As a result, many consumers buy and store more than one unit dose product. With laundry product, selections include biological and non-biological products, products specifically formulated for white or colours or wools/silk, stain removal products and / or benefit agents. In total, this can amount to a relatively large number of boxes stored in consumers’ kitchens, utility rooms, garages or basements. This also requires users to know which product is suitable for each load, and to understand and appreciate when and which additional stain removal products and / or benefit agents should be used together.

More recently unit dose capsules have been made sold under‘direct-to-consumer’ (DTC) brands. One such product is“Smol Capsules”. The capsules have a single compartment containing either biological or non-biological formulation. A further product is“Dropps” which are also capsules which can be purchased by type e.g. by selecting a particular formulation, or groups (‘bundles’) of pre-defined customized collections such as

Fragrance Free Household Bundles which consist of 32 pods of Unscented Sensitive Skin Laundry Detergent Pods + 32 pods of Unscented Dishwasher Detergent Pods. by selecting a particular formulation, or groups of groups (‘bundles’) of pre-defined customized collections such as Fragrance Free Household Bundles which consist of 32 pods of Unscented Sensitive Skin Laundry Detergent Pods + 32 pods of Unscented Dishwasher Detergent Pods. The present application and the proposals herein seeks to provide an improved unit dose product especially in connection with the consumer experience and improved substrate cleaning.

Summary of the Invention

In a first aspect the invention provides a method for creating a customized collection of laundry or machine dishwashing unit dose products bespoke to multiple treatment loads, the method using a computer module which is configured to receive customization data concerning said multiple treatment loads based on one or more of the following criteria:

(i) substrate state;

(ii) substrate indentity such as type and / or colour;

(iii) user requirements; and

(iv) user preferences; and

the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing to said computing module, customization data relating to one or more of said criteria (i) to (iv) and then,

(b) causing the computing module to determine, based on said provided customization data, a customized collection comprising multiple unit dose products, the customized collection optimised with respect to said provided customization data and comprising multiple unit dose products, each unit dose product comprising one or more

compartments whereby the or each compartment contains a segregated substrate treatment composition.

In a second aspect the invention provides a method for providing a customized collection of laundry or machine dishwashing unit dose products bespoke to multiple treatment loads, the method using a computer module which is configured to receive customization data concerning said multiple treatment loads based on one or more of the following criteria:

(i) substrate state;

(ii) substrate indentity such as type and / or colour;

(iii) user requirements; and (iv) user preferences; and

the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving customization data relating to one or more of said criteria (i) to (iv) and then,

(b) causing the computing module to determine, based on said customization data, a customized collection comprising multiple unit dose products, the customized collection optimised with respect to said customization data s, each unit dose product comprising one or more compartments whereby the or each compartment contains a segregated quantity of a substrate treatment composition.

Suitably, the customized collection includes at least two different substrate treatment compositions, each in different, segregated compartments. Preferably the customized collection comprises at least three, more preferably at least four, most preferably at least five different segregated substrate treatment compositions.

Multiple substrate treatment compositions within a customized collection may be co ordinated e.g. for use in a particular substrate treatment regime or according to a particular user preference or requirement. For example, fragrance free regimes may require all substrate treatment compositions to be free of fragrance and furthermore, free of components which, while not comprising fragrances per se, have a strong odour (as these might then require some sort of masking fragrance).

Compartments may be in a common (multi-compartment) unit dose product or they may be separate unit dose products.

The customized collection may comprise a group or groups of unit dose products in compartments which are intended to be used together.

The compartments may differ in terms of ingredients of the respective composition and/or ratios of ingredients within the compostion. Additionally or alternatively the compositions may differ in terms of cues such as colour (e.g. dyes, pigments), opacity (selection of ingredients, or inclusion/exclusion of opacifiers) and/or function e.g. cleaning, conditioning or care or anti-malodour or perfume or santizing ingredients. Cues such as from relative colour/opacity may correspond to the ingredients and / or function of the compositions.

With the arrangement, the consumer may be provided with a customized collection of unit dose products personalized in the sense that the compositions provided are suited to that customers particular substrate treatment needs, preferably in multiple substrate treatment operations.

In a third aspect, the invention provides a computer-implemented method of creating a customized collection of laundry or machine dishwashing unit dose products bespoke to mulitple treatment loads, the method comprising the steps: a. receiving customization data provided by a user based on one or more of the following criteria

(I) substrate state; (ii) substrate identity such as type and / or colour;

(iii) user requirements; and

(iv) user preferences; b. comparing by means of a data processing device said customization data with substrate treatment composition data stored on a computer readable storage medium thereby formulating a customized collection of multiple unit dose products, the

customized collection being optimised with respect to said customization data and comprising multiple unit dose products, each unit dose product comprising one or more compartments whereby the or each compartment contains a segregated quantity of a substrate treatment composition Said substrate treatment composition data may comprise at least one or, and preferably all of the following: i. data relating to individual substrate compositions; ii. data relating to individual substrate compositions associated with the

customization data in terms of (i) substrate state and/or (ii) substrate identity and/or (iii) user requirement and/or (iv) user preferences; iii. data relating to combinations of said individual substrate compositions; and iv. data relating to various treatment categories associated with the customization data in terms of (i) substrate state and/or (ii) substrate identity and/or (iii) user requirement and/or (iv) user preferences.

In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a data processing device comprising means for carrying out the steps of the method of the second aspect of the invention and any preferred/optional features.

In a fifth aspect, the invention provides a computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the steps of the method of the second aspect of the invention and any preferred/optional features.

In a sixth aspect, the invention provides a computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the steps of the method of the second aspect of the invention and any preferred/optional features.

In a seventh aspect the invention provides a multifunction device, comprising: (i) a user interface which may be a graphical user interface ;

(ii) one or data processing devices; (iii) at least one computer-readable medium; and one or more computer programs, wherein the one or more computer programs are stored in the computer-readable medium and configured to be executed by the one or more data processing devices, and the one or more computer programs including instructions for the method of the first aspect of the invention.

Preferably the computer-readable medium comprises or has stored thereon said customization data. Preferably said bespoke recipe is stored on said computer readable storage medium.

The customized data may be displayed e.g. on a display and/or some/all customization data may be provided as audio e.g. read out to/by the user using the microphone/speaker and audio functions of a computer module, such as may be found on a smart phone.

The received customization data (as provided by the consumer) may be selected from displayed customization data so that the consumer selects from pre-defined choices. Alternatively or additionally the consumer may provide customization data which is not selected from a given data set but which is given on an ad hoc basis.

Definitions

Throughout the present specification, the following terms and expressions are used with meanings as below:

Singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

"And/or" as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. "Comprises" and/or "comprising," specifies the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,

components, and/or groups thereof.

“Display” includes any means for displaying data e.g. the customization data and any other data and may include graphical images either in visual form to present an image visible to the human eye, and/or in tactile form (for visually impaired users).

“Substrate” means any suitable substrate including fabric, fabric articles, garments, bedding, towels etc., and dishes, where“dishes" is used herein in a generic sense, and encompasses essentially any items which may be found in a dishwashing load, including crockery chinaware, glassware, plasticware, hollowware and cutlery, including silverware.

“Module” includes any functional system which may comprise computer code being executed on a generic or a custom processor, or a hardware machine implementation of the function, e.g. on an application-specific integrated circuit.

“Unit dose” means a unitized amount of treatment composition. A unit dose may correspond to the required single dose for a treatment process , or it may simply be the smallest dose possible within a variable-dose treatment regime, such that multiple unit doses (two, three, four or above) may be combined and used within a single treatment regime. Preferred unit dose products are sachets, water soluble capsules or tablets.

Most preferred are water soluble capsules. The products are provided pre-measured and unitised so there is no measuring of the dosage in a unit dose by the consumer.

“Treatment process” includes washing, treating with rinse additives, conditioning, softening, cleaning, stain removal, scrubbing, refreshment, freshening, sanitizing in any of the treatment devices as defined herein, including treating substrate/s e.g. washing, rinsing, drying in manual or automatic fabric / dish-washing machines; immersing in washing receptacles such as a tub or drum whether manual or automatic treatment therein; spraying substrate/s with sprays from sprayer devices; stain treatment by direct application of bottles, pump-dispensers, tottle, bottle. For spray devices bottles, tottles, the unit dose may be diluted in water in situ in the bottle and then the bottle shaken to help dissolution. The term“treatment” should be construed accordingly.

“Treatment device” means any manual or automatic fabric / dish-washing machine, washing receptacle such as a tub or drum, spray devices e.g. spray bottle, pump- dispenser, tottle, bottle. For spray devices bottles, tottles, the unit dose may be diluted in water in situ in the bottle and then the bottle shaken to help dissolution.

“Treatment load” means one or more substrates, including groups of related substrates (same colour, type of e.g. fabric ) which the user wishes to treat in a treatment process. The treatment load may be termed“laundry load” in laundering or where the treatment is washing (for any substrate) a“wash load”.

Computer Module

Suitable computer modules for employment of the invention may include any suitable computing device e.g. desktop computer, portable communications devices including portable multifunction devices such as a mobile telephone that also contains other functions, such as personal data/digital assistant (PDA, VPA); laptops, tablet computers and wearable electronic devices such as watches; as well as integral computing devices installed in treatment devices such as washing machine controllers,‘smart’ packaging and dispensers.

The customization data is preferably displayed using a display and/or audio or touch or motion (of a computing device) e.g. vibrations. Accordingly the computer module preferably includes audio functionality including audio capture elements and audio analysis functionality, for example keyword extraction, such that audio content spoken by the user can be analyzed for relevant data and/or audio output such that data prompting the consumer to provide data, can be read out loud.

Ul Preferably the display comprises a user interface (Ul). The Ul may be presented to the user as part of the display e.g. on a digital display screen. The customization data may be input via a user interface (Ul). The Ul may be part of the display as described above or at least part of the Ul may include other/additional devices such as keyboard, mouse etc. Preferably the Ul preferably comprises a graphical user interface (GUI) or it may be a text-based Ul. Data may be input by e.g. Ul a user via various user interaction mechanisms including: manipulation of buttons, touch-sensitive surface of the display itself (e.g., touch screen displays and/or touch pads), or other touch devices (track pads), voice commands, gestures or other suitable methods.

Methods of the invention may include the step of communicating with a remote device such as a mobile phone, tablet or laptop, washing machine, (via e.g. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular) to receive customization data from said remote device. Accordingly, the Ul and any associated computing devices of the invention may be operable to communicate with said remote device in this manner.

Customized collection

Once the customized collection is created, it may then be delivered to be picked up by the consumer. Preferably the customized collection is bespoke to multiple e.g. a series of treatment loads.

Each unit dose product may comprise a single compartment. Accordingly the method may comprise the step dispensing multiple unit dose products when treating treatment loads requiring combinations of products / substrate treatment compositions.

Combinations may be required to achieve a certain quanity of the composition, or obtain a certain mix of (different) compositions or both. One or more capsules may be made using mulitple, different film types so that dissolution may be controlled e.g. triggered by wash liquor characteristics such as surfactant concentration. In one embodiment dilution of the surfactant to reduce its concentration dissolves one film to as dispense the contents of a compartmetn in the rinse stage(s) of the treatment process. Each unit dose product comprising multiple compartments whereby each compartment contains a different substrate treatment composition. The method may comprise the step of dispensing a single unit dose products (with multiple compartments) eg. when treating treatment loads requiring multiple treatment formulations. The collection may comprise at least two differentiated multi-compartment unit dose products and more preferably at least three and most preferably at least four. The compositions of each compartment are preferably optimized relative to the customization data. This provides a highly

customized collection with the convenience of only requiring the consumer to use a single unit dose in any treatment process.

For example, the user may specify multiple requirements which would present a formulation problem due to incompatible ingredients (e.g. protease enzymes with other enzymes). Providing multi-compartments removes the need for user to select the correct combination of unit dose proucts, and also can provide a distinctive shape and also colour combinations/ arrangement aiding selection.

The unit dose products may be provided with two or more compartments.

Preferably these are located side-by-side extending transversely across the unit dose product. Such side-by-side arrangement are especially advantageous for planar packaging arrangements which are suitable for letter box delivery e.g. tray packaging comprising a substantially level base whereby the unit dose products are located side-by- side on the base which facilitates selection of the correct unit dose product.

Dispensing Method

With the arrangement of the invention, a bespoke customized collection of substrate treatment products can be provided. The customized collection may be designed as a palette of various different compositions, from which one or more unit dose products are selected (following instructions) for use in various substrate treatment regimes.

The consumer after making the selection, can e.g. dose the substrate treatment products into the washing machine (which can be a laundry or machine dish washing machine) or into another treatment device, selecting from a customized collection which is tuned to their particular household. Accordingly, in a further aspect the invention provides a method of treating a substrate, the method comprising the steps

(a) selecting one or more unit dose products from a bespoke customized collection of unit dose products wherein the customized collection is bespoke to multiple treatment loads, based on customization data relating to one or more of the following criteria:

(i) substrate state data;

(ii) substrate type and / or colour;

(iii) user requirements; and

(iv) user preferences

(b) using selected one or more unit dose products in a substrate treatment process.

The unit dose product may be placed in a treatment device prior to commencement of a treatment process. The treatment process is prefereably aqueous and thus, water is added.

In embodiments where the unit dose product comprises capsules these are preferably, and conveniently, placed directly into the liquid which will form a wash liquor or into the area where this liquid will be introduced. Water soluble capsules dissolve on contact with the liquid, thereby releasing the treatment composition from the separate compartments and allowing them to form the desired wash liquor.

Customization Data

Substrate State may comprise soils, stains, odours, colour-fade, etc.

(i) Stain identity

The stain identity data may be displayed in the form of one or more lists of individual stains such as stains commonly encountered when treating the substrate in question. So, for example if the user plays outdoor sports or works outside/gardening regularly, then mud and grass may be commonly encountered. The user may be prompted to select one or more stains from said list/s. Alternatively, the user may be prompted to de-select one or stains (i.e. those not present on the article to be laundered) from said list/s.

Recently selected stains may be displayed (for example, the last five or ten from previous uses) or most frequently selected over the device’s history.

To assist the user, displayed data may be filtered, for example to group stains by, for example, a‘Food and Drink’ category or stain colour. The user may be prompted to de select one or stains (i.e. those not present on the article to be laundered) from said‘type’ list/s. For example, an Outdoor’ category may list mud and grass which the consumer then deselects stains not present on the article to be laundered.

Each category may then be divided into subcategories such as“Fruit and Veg”,“Oils and Fats” and/or even individual stains, etc. In other words, the stain selection may be presented as multiple filterable lists, e.g. a second filterable list within a first filterable list. Stain identity be displayed by indirect criteria of infers a particular stain / stain type e.g. user type, user behaviour, user location, location environment, weather and any combination thereof. Thus, stain identity may be based on one or more of the following categories:

1. User Activity e.g. Sport/Gym indoor (sweat stains), Sport outdoor (sweat stains, mud stain),

2. Weather (humid implies certain garment will carry more sweat stains, wet weather more mud stains, sun may imply sun-screen stains)

3. Dining (inferring food/drink stains)

4. Garment user: Kids Play and Outdoor (mud and grass stains), Baby (body stains),

5. Garment type: Bedding (body stains)

6. User Location (may indicate presence certain minerals in mud stains depending on location, may indicate ionic/pH strength of wash water so affecting stain treatment needs such as sequestrant) Advantageously, user location may be obtained from GPS data, electronic calendars or other user data sources which may be stored on the computer readable medium or obtained by remote connection (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cellular).

Certain individual stain data may remain hidden and not displayed. This feature may be activated according to consumer preference for less or more detail in data. Accordingly, the user may need to select only categories of e.g. activity, weather and the stain selection calculated from that data. Alternatively, the data may be presented as multiple filterable lists, e.g. a second filterable list (e.g. of individual stains) within a first filterable list (of e.g. categories). Preferably the customized collection can be designed from one or more of the filterable lists, so they may have input selections from a first list then decide to speed up the process and so the customized collection can be formulated from the first list without further selections from second or further lists.

(ii) Substrate identity

Substrate may include fabric colour (e.g. whites, lights, coloureds or mixed). As a result, the customized collection may be formulated to include a bleach / whitening ingredient composition (for whites) or that minimal or no bleach ingredient composition should be added in the case of certain e.g. coloured fabric washes. Alternatively, or additionally, the substrate identify may be a type e.g. fabric type (e.g. the type of fibres in a fabric e.g. cotton, polycotton, polyester).

Substrate identity may further include/be based on substrate usage data such as whether a fabric is used for underwear, sportswear, technical fabrics/garments with special surface finishes/properties etc.

Substrate e.g fabric type may be derived from the provided data regarding user behaviour, user location, location environment, weather, images of user or substrates obtained by a camera device or smart mirror deviceand any combination thereof.

Treatment options (and from that customized collections) may be derived from substrate e.g. fabric type by first establishing usage, and these options may comprise stain but also additionally or alternatively other treatments. Thus, the displayed substrate e.g. fabric identity data may comprise one or more of the following categories: 1. User behaviour e.g. Sport/Gym (infers bright colour or whites, breathable fabrics and swim-wear which require milder detergents)

2. Use environment Weather e.g. rain (infers waterproof/showerproof fabrics which may require milder detergents and waterproofing)

3. Used as bedding, towels (infer cotton and polyester, infers particular perfume needs)

4. Garment user e.g. baby (infers soft fabrics or cotton fabrics)

5. Garment type e.g. Bedding (inferring sweat and requiring) malodour/pefume treatment needs), or Sports/Technical (requiring mild detergent and e.g. waterproofing, anti-malodour)

6. Work Shirts (imply cotton, polyester and creasing, require wrinkle release)

A user profile is created comprising customization data relevant to a specific user. The user profile may comprise contextual data, other than the customization data The contextual data may comprise non-laundry and/or non-machine dish washing data. The contextual data may comprise data such as calendar or GPS data, etc. The user profile criteria may be derived directly from data regarding user behaviour, user location / environment, weather and any combination thereof. Such data may be readily accessible on a user smartphone or other computing module. Thus, over time, new or updated customization data may be infered from the user profile. For example,

fabric identity data may be directly based on user profile criteria (since the user experience etc will affect fabric) without establishing fabric type. Thus, the displayed fabric data may be based on one or more of the following user profile categories:

1. User Activity e.g. Sport/Gym (infers anti-maldour treatment), outdoor dining (infers perfume/anti-malodour treatment to deal with smoke smells, nicotine smells);

2. User environment such as weather e.g. rain (infers waterproofing); humid office (infers anti-malodour, fresh perfume treatment)

3. User age e.g. baby (no/less perfume, mild detergent);

Substrate identity data may also be obtained e.g. read from readable tags on substrates such as garments e.g. RFID which might give colour type, dye type, finish type, fibre types present etc. Preferably multiple user profile data based on customization data relevant to a specific user may be created and stored (on storage media). With this feature the user can build a user profile such that customized collections can be personally tailored.

Advantageously, user profile data may include location /event data obtained from GPS data, electronic calendars or other user data sources which may be stored on the computer readable medium or obtained by remote connection (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cellular). The derived substrate e.g. fabric identity data and any inferred treatment may also be displayed as a suggestion for selection by the user. The fabric identity data may be displayed in the form of one or more lists of individual fabric identities. The user may be prompted to select one or more susbstrate identity from said list/s.

Recently selected substrate identities may be displayed (for example, the last five or ten from previous uses) or most frequently selected over a time period.

(iii) User requirements

Optionally, a user may input certain requirements. User requirements differ from user preference as in that they must be accommodated by methods determining the customized collection. An example of a user requirement is to exclude ingredients, for example because a family member has an intolerance (for example, suffers skin irritation). User requirements may be treated as hard constraints which are not overridden.

(iv) User preferences

Optionally, a user may input certain preferences. These may be accommodated in determining the customized collection, but are balanced (i.e. there is a comparison) against treatment performance and other selections. For example, a user may select“not perfumed” or“perfumed”, a specific type of perfume. User preferences may be treated as soft constraints which may be overridden when compared with treatment performance needs and other selections/requirements.

Preferably, said customization data is based on at least two, more preferably three and most preferably all four criteria (i) to (iv)

(i) substrate state; (ii) substrate indentity such as type and / or colour;

(iii) user requirements; and

(iv) user preferences.

Customization data may be provided directly or derived from other data e.g. user type, user behaviour, user location, location environment, weather and any combination thereof.

Preferably said customization data is at least in part indirectly derived from other data e.g. user type, user behaviour, user location, location environment, weather, images of consumer’s clothes e.g. on consumer which are taken and recognised over time or images of e.g. their wardrobe, and any combination thereof. Preferably said

customization data is at least in part indirectly derived from user profile data. Preferably said customization data is obtained from image analysis devices, optical analysis devices e.g. NIR, IR or any detectable image information readings from e.g. a suitable instrument on a washing machine or handheld instrument.

Where categories of data e.g. fabric type, user activity are displayed, multiple categories may be selected. This may allow more precise tuning of the customized collection.

Mulitple category selection is preferably interdependent such that the selection of bedding prevents e.g. the addition of waterproofing, and the selection of Humid and Outdoor Sport may trigger an increase in sweat-stain treatments.

A search function may be incorporated such that the user is prompted to enter data in the form of a query. The query may be posed as“I want to clean sports kits . ?” or“I need to remove grass stains”. The provided data may then be compared against said ingredient combination data to derive a bespoke customized collection or customized collections. The ingredient combination data comprises (i) multiple ingredient

composition data; (ii) multiple combinations of said ingredient compositions; and (iii) multiple treatment (e.g. stain) categories related to said ingredient composition

combinations and the provided data in the form of a query may be compared against any or all of these data groups. Said multiple ingredient composition data comprises multiple compositions of laundry treatment ingredients. The invention combines these ingredients based on user input to design a bespoke laundry treatment customized collection.

Multiple combination data includes multiple combinations of the ingredient compositions and preferably includes ingredient composition ratios (which may be by volume, weight etc.) The multiple combinations of the ingredients represent the bespoke customized collections.

These may be predetermined combinations already stored in memory associated with the computing module, or user defined.

Multiple treatment (e.g. stain, perfume, anti-malodour, etc.) categories are related to said ingredient composition combinations.

The substrate treatment compositions may comprise any one or more of the following non-exclusive list by way of example only. Each composition may be mutually exclusive of other ingredients, so e.g. the detergent base may excludes perfume and enzyme and bleach and vice versa.

• detergent base

• builders and sequesterants

• enzyme,

• bleach system

• pH adjusters

• fabric rinse conditioner

• fabric care composition

• perfume booster

• stain treatment compositions comprising a detergent base and an enzyme system comprising a plurality of enzymes

• pre-treatment / direct application composition which may optionally be for use in sprayers, scrubbing devices etc

• wash-in technical treatments e.g. waterproofing, anti-bacterial, stain-proofing refresh and re-wear compositions which may optionally be for use in sprayers comprising any one or more of: perfume, anti-malodour component/s and anti wrinkle components e.g. silicone

chelating materials,

water conditioning agents to achieve the aims of building, increasing the ionic strength or adjusting the native pH range of the source water and hence wash solution (can provide example materials)

laundry serums comprising with perfume, care benefit agents such as colour care agents, etc.

dye catchers, dye transfer inhibitors.

Unit Dose

The unit dose may comprise tablets, capsule or any suitable unit dose format. Preferably any outer wrapping or packaging of the unit dose (aside from any outer packaging such as a box to contain the unit doses) is water soluble. Preferably the unit dose product comprises water soluble capsules.

The unit dose products may be any particular shape, such as cuboid, cube, spherical, pillow-shaped, tetrahedron, etc.

Unit Dose arrangements within outer packaging

In one aspect the present application provides a laundry or machine dishwashing product comprising a package, the package containing a bespoke customized collection of unit dose products the unit dose products bespoke to multiple treatment loads as defined by user customization data in methods as described herein, wherein the unit dose products are located in said package in an arrangement corresponding to the customization data.

The arrangement may correspond to the customization data by spatial arrangements of related unit dose products which may be used together and/or products not to be used together. Spatial arrangments may include grouping or segregating by e.g. differential rotation or by stacking or alignment in rows or columns or lines of unit dose products. The unit dose product and the packaging may have corresponding colour or opacity to indicate related products.

With this design, the arrangement of the unit dose product can convey technical instructions for use to the consumer. For examples, capsules may be arranged in groups or sub groups according to different treatment regimes and/or treatment devices dictated by the customization data provided. The unit dose products may be coloured to co-ordinate with colours of the packaging so as to convey such instructions. The substrate treatment compositions may be coloured and / or any containers e.g. film, shell, etc may be coloured. Such colouration may be advantageous where one or more unit dose products in a collectoin are dictated by user requirements - e.g. segregation of perfumed and unperfumed unit dose products.

Packaging may be a box or tray, each unit dose product containing at least two compartments, said compartments containing segregated substrate treatment

compositions and being located side-by-side extending transversely across the unit dose product, and the tray package comprising an approximately level base whereby the unit dose products are located side-by-side on the base. Compartments are preferably located side-by-side in a notional row extending transversely across the capsule.

Effectively, the lower portions of the compartments provide multiple feet to steady the capsule against roll. The feet are most effective in preveting roll in a direction of the above-mentioned notional row.

This arrangement is especially advantageous for unit dose products which are shaped with an convex outer profile. Unit dose products with an convex outer profile may have a tendancy to roll back and forth when stored on level bases and this may disrupt arrangements which are important because they form part of the instructions for use. Rolling unit dose products may also cause impact-damage between adjacent capsules.

The arrangement provides a planar/tray-type package of unit dose products which can be easily viewed but with greater stability under motion of the tray due to the compartmentalization of the product providing at least two separate points of contact with the tray base. The lower part of the unit dose product contacts the base and the weight is more evenly spread (in the plane of the tray base) as compared with a single

compartment product which, if convex has only one point of contact about which it may rotate. This arrangement reduces disruption of an array of capsules on the tray base such that ordered arrangements can be reliably used for ease of consumer selection.

This arrangement can be used without wedging unit products against each other.

Wedging can weaken products especially if they have outer walls such as with capsules or if they are soft for fast dissolution as with some tablets.

Side-by side compartments with adjacent faces/ edges which are generally straight (e.g. as produced by a generally straight adjoining connecting part sealing web) will produce two compartments whose anti-roll effect will be in a direction generally orthoganol to the direction of the adjacent edges/adjoining seal, in a transverse plane. However asymmetrical arrangements are possible e.g. where compartments have curved e.g.“S”- shaped connecting parts (e.g. seals in capsules) provided there is substantially equal weight in each capsule compartment. By this it is meant that the relative weight of side- by side compartments is preferably be in the range 1 :1 to 1 :3 and more preferably in the range 1 :2 and even more preferably 1 :1 to 1.5. For“S”-shaped compartments, as the radius of curvature of the adjacent edges/adjoining seal increases, the direction anti-roll effect will effectively rotate about the z axis. Thus a deeply curved“S”-shaped connecting parts/seal will produce an anti-roll effect orthogonal to a notional line connecting the top and bottom of the“S”. Thus the connecting part/seal can be shaped to select the effective direction of the anti-roll mechanism.

Capsules

The unit dose products may comprise capsules. Each capsule may comprise two sheets of water-soluble film, the two sheets of film being sealed together by a sealing web extending around the periphery of the capsule and an internal sealing web which partitions the capsule to provide said at least two segregated compartments.

The internal sealing web may have a substantially continuously curved shape. In embodiments at least 90% of the length of the or each internal sealing web is curved, preferably at least 95%, more preferably substantially all of the or each internal sealing web is curved. The length of each internal sealing web is measured between respective end points where the internal sealing web joins (becomes) the annular sealing.

This has been found to resist folding or drooping of the capsule when it is extracted from the tray and so prevents a trailing edge of the capsule dragging behind and inadvertently rubbing/disrupting the capsules remaining in the arrangement/packaging.

The internal sealing web may include straight portions. The sealing web may “Z” shaped.

Preferably the mass (m) of each capsule is in the range 15g < m < 30g

Preferably, any compartments are of similar size and in particular have a similar volume. This achieves a better weight distribution laterally.

Figure 6 illustrates a unit dose product (exemplfied as a capsule) used in the present invention. Coordinate axes in the x, y and z direction are shown in Figure 6 to assist in the explanation of the relative arrangement of features of the capsule. Indeed, Figure 6 is discussed here to aid understanding of the subsequent discussion of the shape and configuration of the three-compartment capsule of the present invention. The capsule of Figure 6 comprises two compartments. The two compartments are arranged side-by-side on a notional row extending transversly (in x-y plane), in the width direction (x direction) across the capsule. Each of the two compartments is elongate in that it has a length (y direction) that is greater than its width (x direction). The long axis of each compartment lies in the y direction.

The sealing web is formed from fusing, e.g. thermoforming, a first and second sheet of water-soluble film during manufacture of the capsule. The sealing web comprises an annular sealing web or skirt that lies in the x-y plane and is referred to herein as the sealing plane. The sealing web also comprises one internal sealing web, which lies in the sealing plane and extends lengthways (in the y direction). Each of the two

compartments may extend similarly above and below (z direction) the sealing plane.

It follows that reference herein to the width of a feature (e.g. width of a compartment) is a reference to the dimension in the x direction, that being parallel to the sealing (x, y) plane. Reference herein to the length of a feature (e.g. length of a compartment, or the lengthwise direction or long axis of a compartment) is a reference to the dimension (direction, axis) in the y direction. Reference herein to depth of a feature, or to a feature being, or extending,“above” or“below” is a reference to the dimension (direction, axis) in the z direction, i.e. perpendicular to the sealing plane (x-y plane). “Top plan view” is a reference to the view in the z direction. Naturally, the terms“above”,“below”,“up”, “down”,“top” etc are relative not absolute terms and they are used accordingly herein, and to aid understanding.

Unit dose products such as capsules may comprise stacked compartments, e.g. a lower level of compartments and an upper level of compartments, lower and upper

compartments being connected e.g. by welding, thermoforming.

Unit Dose Product Arrangements

The unit dose products may be arranged in any suitable manner in outer packaging. For example they form a single-layer arrangement of capsules on the tray. This is advantageous in that they are segregated from impact from products on top. Preferably the products are arranged in a side by side arrangement.

Preferably the unit dose products are arranged such that filled compartments are spaced apart. Unit dose shapes may include a rectangle, square, circle and oval, hexgaon etc.

Packaging

The packaging may be any suitable form.

It may comprise a tray, which may comprises a level base. The tray may comprise peripheral wall/s which may extend upwards from the periphery of the level base. The tray may comprise one or more internal walls to segregate groups of capsules but individual segregation of capsules is not necessary. There may be a plurality of trays, which themselves may be arrange side by side or stacked e.g. in drawers for bulk purchasing.

The outer package may be a flexible sleeve or it may be rigid device, e.g. having a box construction.

Preferably the tray contains at least two, more preferably at least three differented unit dose products. By differentiated it is intended to include comprising at least one compartment containing a different substrate treatment composition

Unit Dose Volume

For capsules, volume includes both liquid composition and any air or other gas that may be present (e.g. arising from headspace from the fill process). In embodiments each compartment volume is > 10ml, suitably > 12ml, > 14ml, > 16ml, or > 17ml

In embodiments, the total compartment volume (total volume of all compartments) is > 10ml, > 15ml, > 20ml, > 22ml, > 24ml, > 26ml or > 28ml. In embodiments the total compartment volume (total volume of all compartments) is < 40ml, < 38ml, < 36ml, < 34ml, < 32ml, < 30ml, < 28ml, < 26ml or < 25ml. In embodiments the total compartment volume (total volume of all compartments) is in the range 15 to 36ml, 20 to 36ml, 22 to 36ml, 24 to 34ml, 28 to 32 ml, or 22 to 26ml.

Regarding the extent of fill (fill level), in embodiments the amount of liquid treatment composition as a % of total volume of any given compartment is at least 60%, suitably at least 70%, 80% or 90%, preferably at least 92%, 94%, 96% or 98%. Suitably the % is substantially the same for all compartments.

Preferably the height (h) of each unit dose product is 22 mm or less.

Preferably both the width (w) and the length (I) of each unit dose product is greater than 31 mm.

In embodiments the capsule has a linear dimension of length and width of suitably >50mm, > 60mm, > 70mm or > 75mm. In embodiments the maximum linear dimension is < 100mm, suitably < 90mm, < 80mm < 50mm < 40mm or < 35mm.

For example, in the case of embodiments in which the unit dose has a polygonal shape with straight sides meeting at vertices, then the maximum height corresponds to the distance between opposing vertices of the polygon. Linear dimensions of width and height are measured as linear dimensions. Thus, the width is the linear measurement in the x direction (along the x axis) using a top plan view of the unit dose product, including any outer sealing web as found on capsules. The length is a linear measurement in the y direction (along y axis) using a top plan view, including any outer sealing web.

In embodiments the unit dose product has an effective diameter of > 31 mm. To determine the diameter, the unit dose product is placed inside a cylinder having an internal dimension of 31 mm without compression. If it fits entirely within the chamber it will be < 31 mm.

The water-soluble film

Unit dose products comprising capsules may comprise water-soluble films.

Suitable films include Monosol M4045 and Monosol M8045 (75, 82, 88 & 90 micron) and Aicello PT films (PT 75 & 90).

Rotational Symmetry

The unit dose product shape may have approximate rotational symmetry (point symmetry), suitably second order rotational symmetry, rotation being in the sealing plane. Suitably the origin is the capsule’s centre point in the sealing plane. And so, in

embodiments, rotation of the capsule by 180 degrees around its centre point will superpose the rotated compartments coincident (at least in terms of shape) on the pre rotation compartments. This is a characteristic of the preferred inverted side

compartments. The capsule colour may also have such symmetry.

In embodiments the capsule may have shape symmetry as above but no rotational symmetry (point symmetry) in terms of colour or or opacity, put another way, it can be said to have first order rotational symmetry, with rotation being in the sealing plane the origin is the capsule’s centre point in the sealing plane. And so, in embodiments, rotation of the capsule by 360 degrees around its centre point will superpose the rotated compartments (coincident in terms of colour) on the pre-rotation compartments. This has advantage when groups of/all capsules can be arranged on the tray, oriented in a common direction, more specifically, with a common rotational orientation in the sealing plane. This presents an array having a distinct pattern but where each individual element can be visually picked out because the respective compartments of adjacent pairs in the array will have a different colours/opacity. The human brain naturally seeks out patterns and so if the compartments have different colours/ opacity, each capsule is more discernable versus an adjacent capsule than for capsules having a single compartment or having a single colour or both. Thus, with this feature, that human brain can therefore recognize the arrangement as a pattern and further recognize the individual units of the pattern.

This arrangement is then more easily evaluated by the superior pattern processing (SPP) capabilities of the human brain and the consumer can then more easily extract an individual capsule from the tray without inadvertently picking up other capsules at the same time which would be undesirable.

In embodiments the capsule has no plane of symmetry (mirror or reflection symmetry) other than (optionally) the sealing plane. In particular, as will be clear from the discussion herein regarding preferred configurations for the compartments, the capsule suitably has no plane of symmetry in a plane perpendicular to the sealing plane.

Substrate Treatment Composition

The substrate treatment composition may be any type of cleaning composition for which it is desirable to provide a dose thereof in a water-soluble capsule. Preferably it is a fabric treatment composition or a dishwashing / treatment composition. However, any household cleaning/treatment composition may be used.

In the case of multi-compartment unit dose products, the compartments may be filled with a common form of product (liquid, powder, gel, beads etc) or the compartments may be different - and tuned to provide components in their most readily usuable format. Suitable compositions that may be split into different components for use in the present invention include those intended for laundry (fabric cleaning, softening and/or treatment) or machine dishwashing. Preferred are laundry compositions, particularly laundry cleaning compositions.

The mulitple compartment capsules comprise different parts of a treatment composition which, when combined, make up the full treatment composition. By that is meant that the formulation of each of the parts of the treatment composition is different either in its physical form (e.g. viscosity), its composition or, preferably its colour/opacity.

Compartments may comprise sequestrants, enzymes, bleach catalysts, perfume, builders etc.

By filled it is meant that the compartment contains liquid and possibly also a gas bubble. The presence of the gas bubble provides some protection from compression of the compartment due to its compressibility. The gas is preferably air trapped in the compartment during manufacture. Compartments are separated by the sealing web as described herein.

Preferred fluids have a viscosity in the range 100 to 1000 cPs.

Liquid composition in each of the compartments preferably has a low water content of less than 10 wt%, more preferably from 0.5 to 9 wt% water, most preferably from 1 to

7 wt%.

Surfactant

The detergent composition may comprise one or more organic surfactants. Many suitable detergent-active compounds are available and are fully described in the literature, for example, in "Surface-Active Agents and Detergents", Volumes I and II, by Schwartz, Perry and Berch. The organic surfactant may be anionic (soap or non-soap), cationic, zwitterionic, amphoteric, nonionic or mixture of two or more of these. The preferred organic surfactants are mixtures of soap, synthetic non-soap anionic and non ionic compounds optionally with amphoteric surfactant.

Anionic surfactant may be present in an amount from 0.5 to 50 wt%, preferably from

2 wt% or 4 wt% up to 30 wt% or 40 wt% of the detergent composition. Suitable examples include alkyl benzene sulphonates, particularly sodium linear alkyl benzene sulphonates having an alkyl chain length of C5-C15; olefin sulphonates; alkane sulphonates; dialkyl sulphosuccinates; and fatty acid ester sulphonates.

Suitable nonionic surfactant compounds 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. Specific nonionic surfactant compounds are alkyl (C8-22 ) phenol-ethylene oxide condensates, the condensation products of linear or branched aliphatic C8-20 primary or secondary alcohols with ethylene oxide, and products made by condensation of ethylene oxide with the reaction products of propylene oxide and ethylene-diamine.

In a fabric washing detergent composition, these organic surfactants preferably comprise 5 to 50 wt% of the detergent composition. In a machine dishwashing composition, organic surfactant is likely to constitute from 0.5 to 8 wt% of the detergent composition and preferably consists of nonionic surfactant, either alone or in a mixture with anionic surfactant.

Builders and seguestrants

The detergent compositions may contain a so-called detergency builder which serves to remove or sequester calcium and/or magnesium ions in the water. Soluble builder may be added to the liquid composition. For example sodium citrate or a soluble sequestrant, for example, Dequest 2066, which may also assist with stabilising the liquid.

The builder or sequestrant material is preferably fully soluble so as to eliminate the possibility of unwanted and unsightly residues on fabrics. For that reason Alkali metal aluminosilicates are not favoured.

Non-phosphorus water-soluble detergency builders may be organic or inorganic.

Inorganic builders that may be present include alkali metal (generally sodium) carbonate; while organic builders include polycarboxylate polymers, such as polyacrylates, acrylic/maleic copolymers, and acrylic phosphonates, monomeric polycarboxylates such as citrates, gluconates, oxydisuccinates, glycerol mono- di and trisuccinates,

carboxymethyloxysuccinates, carboxymethyloxymalonates, dipicolinates and

hydroxyethyliminodiacetates. Electrolytes such as sodium carbonate are not preferred due to the way they suppress the solubility of polyvinylalcohol.

Bleach System

The detergent composition may contain a bleach system. This preferably consists of an air bleaching catalyst. For example the catalyst being a ligand of the formula (I) complexed with a transition metal, selected from Fe(ll) and Fe(lll),

Where R1 and R2 are independently selected from:

C1-C4-alkyl,

C6-C10-aryl, and, a group containing a heteroatom capable of coordinating to a transition metal, wherein at least one of R1 and R2 is the group containing the heteroatom; preferably at least one of R1 or R2 is pyridin-2-ylmethyl. More preferably the catalyst is one in which R1 is pyridin- 2-ylmethyl. Most preferably R1 is pyridin-2-ylmethyl and R2 is methyl;

R3 and R4 are independently selected from hydrogen, C1-C8 alkyl, C1-C8-alkylene-0- C1-C8-alkyl, C1-C8-alkylene-0-C6-C10-aryl, C6-C10-aryl, C1-C8-hydroxyalkyl, and - (CH2)nC(0)0R5;

wherein R5 is independently selected from: hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl, n is from 0 to 4, and mixtures thereof; preferably R3=R4= -C(0)0Me and,

each R is independently selected from: hydrogen, F, Cl, Br, hydroxyl, C1-C4-alkyO-, -NH- CO-H, -NH-CO-C1-C4-alkyl, -NH2, -NH-C1-C4-alkyl, and C1-C4-alkyl; preferably each R is hydrogen,

X is selected from C=0, -[C(R6)2]y- wherein Y is from 0 to 3, preferably 1 , each R6 is independently selected from hydrogen, hydroxyl, C1-C4-alkoxy and C1-C4-alkyl preferably X is C=0.

Most preferably the catalyst is ([Fe(N2py3o)CI]CI) with structure (II):

11

Also known as lron(1 +), chloro[rel-1 ,5-dimethyl (1 R,2S,4R,5S)-9,9-dihydroxy-3-methyl- 2,4-di(2-pyridinyl-kN)-7-[(2-pyridinyl-kN )methyl]-3,7-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-1 ,5- dicarboxylate-kN3, kN7]-, chloride (1 :1 ), (OC-6-63)[CAS Registry Number 478945-46-9].

To avoid possible gassing of ingredients it is preferred to avoid the use of persalt or peracid bleaching species in the capsules.

Further optional ingredients

Detergency enzymes may be employed in the compositions.

The compositions may also contain a fluorescer (optical brightener), for example, Tinopal (T rade Mark) DMS or Tinopal CBS available from Ciba-Geigy AG, Basel, Switzerland.

Tinopal DMS is disodium 4,4'bis-(2-morpholino-4-anilino-s-triazin-6-ylamino) stilbene disulphonate; and Tinopal CBS is disodium 2,2'-bis-(phenylstyryl) disulphonate. An antifoam material is advantageously included when organic surfactant is present; especially if the detergent composition is primarily intended for use in front-loading drum- type automatic washing machines. Soap is a suitable antifoam.

Further ingredients which can optionally be employed in laundry detergent compositions of the invention include antiredeposition agents such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose, straight-chain polyvinyl pyrrolidone and the cellulose ethers such as methyl cellulose and ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, fabric-softening agents; perfumes; and colorants or coloured speckles.

Combinations of aspects

A number of proposals and aspects are described herein, which proposals and aspects are intended to be combined to achieve improved or cumulative benefits. Thus, any one aspect may be combined with any other aspect. Similarly the optional features associated with any one of the aspects may apply to any one of the other aspects.

Description of Embodiments

The invention will now be further described with reference to the following non limiting embodiments and with reference to the drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a laundry product in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view showing a further laundry product according to embodiments of the invention; Figure 3 is a top plan view of an arrangement of a unit dose products according to embodiments of the invention;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a tray, sleeve and outer packaging box according to an embodiment of the invention (unit dose product not shown). Figure 5 is a schematic top plan view of a two compartment capsule used in the arrangements of figures 1 to 3;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the capsule of figure 5 in relation to axis x,y,z;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the capsule in relation to axis x,y,z as illustrated in Figure 5; Figure 8 is a cross sectional view of the capsule illustrated in Figure 5;

Referring to the drawings, customized collection of laundry (or machine dishwashing) unit dose products are illustrated. The collections have been created bespoke to multiple treatment loads of a consumer, using a computer module configured to receive customization data concerning said multiple treatment loads based on one or more of the following criteria:

(i) substrate state;

(ii) substrate indentity such as type and / or colour;

(iii) user requirements; and (iv) user preferences.

The consumer provides the customization data relating to one or more of said criteria (i) to (v) via a programme (app) running on e.g. a smart phone. Based on said provided customization data, a customized collection comprising multiple unit dose products is created. Creation may occur on locally, e.g on the smartphone or the smartphone may via wireless or cellular network connect with a remote computing device to do this. The customized collection is optimised with respect to the customization data provided by the consumer.

With reference to figures 1 -3 laundry products according to embodiments of the invention are shown. Each product shown comprses a tray 100, 200, 300, containing a plurality of unit dose products, 101 , 201 , 301. The unit dose products comprise liquid-filled water soluble capsules and/or tablets - each figure shows a different arrangement. Each unit dose product comprises one or more compartments whereby the or each compartment contains a segregated substrate treatment composition. The capsules are dual compartment capsules with compartments 101a ,101 b, 201 a, 201 b, 301 a, 301 b. The tablets are shown in figure 3, references 303, 305, 307, 309. The tablets are a mixture of single compartment 303, 305 and multi-compartment 307, 309. Only the upper tablet compartments are visible, but in multi-compartment variant, further compartments are included, the compartments are located one above the other in a notional column extending longitudinally along the tablet. Generally, tablets may be compartmentalized with or without an outer layer, membrane, wrapper.

Compartments within a single unit dose product each contain a different fabric treatment composition from other compartments in the same unit dose product. Different compositions have different colours and/or opacity - as denoted by differentiated colour/pattern in the drawings. The capsules comprise a coloured compartment 101 a, 201 a and 301 a, and an opaque compartment 101 a, 201 b and 301 b. The compartments are located side-by-side in a notional row extending transversely across the capsule.

The customized collection of Figure 1 provides unit dose products arranged in groups 150, 152, 154, 156, 158. Each group of capsules is different in terms of composition. The compartments have different compositions which can be any of the below including combinations: • detergent base

• builders and sequesterants

• enzyme,

• bleach system · pH adjusters

• fabric rinse conditioner

• fabric care composition

• perfume booster

• stain treatment compositions comprising a detergent base and an enzyme system comprising a plurality of enzymes

• pre-treatment / direct application composition which may optionally be for use in sprayers, scrubbing devices etc

• wash-in technical treatments e.g. waterproofing, anti-bacterial, stain-proofing

• refresh and re-wear compositions which may optionally be for use in sprayers comprising any one or more of: perfume, anti-malodour component/s and anti-wrinkle components e.g. silicone

• chelating materials,

• water conditioning agents to achieve the aims of building, increasing the ionic strength or adjusting the native pH range of the source water and hence wash solution (can provide example materials)

• laundry serums comprising with perfume, care benefit agents such as colour care agents, etc. dye catchers, dye transfer inhibitors. The customized collection of figure 1 comprises at least five different segregated substrate treatment compositions - the coloured may each be different as well as the opaque, or some/all opaque compartments may all have a common composition.

The substrate treatment compositions are co-ordinated for use in different substrate treatment regimes. Group 150 are main wash cleaning; group 152 are care /conditioning formulations; group 154 are formulated for sensitive skin, group 156 are stain treatment formulations and group 158 are refresh and rewear formulations.

Fragrance free group 154 components are selected to avoid a strong odour (as these might then require some sort of masking fragrance).

Figure 2 is a collection in a similar pack to figure 1 , but created by different customization data. This tray arrangement only includes capsules, and the rotational alignment indicates groups (pairs) of unit dose products intended to be used together.

Figure 3 is a further collection in a similar pack to that of figure 1 and 2, but created by different customization data. In this arrangement, there are capsules and tablets as described herein. The unit dose products are in groups, shaped and coloured according to function: a group of laundry fragrance free main wash capsules 301 , and four lines of different tablets 303, 305,307,309. Tablets with a circular cross section 303, 307 are main wash tablets without enzymes, and tablets with a square cross section 305, 309 include enzymes. Tablets having a paler colour - 303, 305 exclude fragrance.

The tray package has a substantially level base (not shown in figures 2,3) and the capsules are located side-by-side on the base. Referring now to figure 5, this shows dual compartment capsules from arrangements in figures 1-3. The capsules have multiple (here 2) compartments located side-by-side in a notional row across the capsule are shown. These can be filled with performance levels of fabric treatment fluids so providing a firm and plump capsule with convex outer profile seen in capsule 501 but with greater stability under motion of the tray. Thus the capsules can be arranged without wedging against each other. The compartmentalization of the capsule provides at least two separate points of contact by means of lower portions of the capsule which provide feet 503, 505 with the tray base 500 such that the weight is more evenly spread (in the plane of the tray base) as compared with a single compartment capsule as shown in figure 8, which has only one point of contact 803 about which the capsule may rotate. The capsule-tray arrangement of the invention reduces disruption of an array of capsules on the tray base such that ordered arrangements, as seen in figures 1-3 can be reliably used without wedging. The feet 503, 505 are most effective in preveting roll of the capsule in a direction of the above-mentioned notional line.

The compartments located side-by-side are of a similar in shape and size, and have the same volume. Each capsule comprises two sheets of water-soluble film, the two sheets of film being sealed together by a sealing web extending around the periphery of the capsule and internal sealing web which partitions the capsule to provide said at least two compartments. The sealing web lies in a sealing plane such that compartments extend at least below the sealing plane when viewed from a side of the capsule, as in figure 7 see 503 and 505. The internal sealing web bisects the capsule to provide two distinct and separate comparments, separating the contents of these compartments 501 a and 501 b.

The compartments each of which defines a respective substantially liquid-tight and hermetically sealed chamber containing a respective volume of liquid product.

The internal sealing web has a substantially continuously curved shape to resist folding or drooping of the capsule when it is extracted from the tray and so prevents a trailing edge of the capsule dragging behind and inadvertently rubbing/disrupting the capsules remaining in the tray. The capsules have asymmetrical compartments with “S”-shaped internal sealing web The“S”-shape has a gentle curvature so that the direction of the anti-roll effect is approximately parallel with a notional line connected the top and bottom of the“S”.

The capsule shape has approximate rotational symmetry (point symmetry), suitably second order rotational symmetry, rotation being in the sealing plane. Suitably the origin is the capsule’s centre point in the sealing plane. And so, in embodiments, rotation of the capsule by 180 degrees around its centre point will superpose the rotated compartments coincident (at least in terms of shape) on the pre-rotation compartments.

The capsules have no rotational symmetry (point symmetry) in terms of colour or or opacity, put another way, it can be said to have first order rotational symmetry, with rotation being in the sealing plane the origin is the capsule’s centre point in the sealing plane. And so, in embodiments, rotation of the capsule by 360 degrees around its centre point will superpose the rotated compartments (coincident in terms of colour) on the pre rotation compartments. This has advantage when groups of/all capsules are arranged on the tray, as is figure 3, oriented in a common direction, more specifically, with a common rotational orientation in the sealing plane, this presents an array having a pattern but where each individual element can be visually picked out because the respective compartments of adjacent capsules in the array will have a different colours/opacity.

The human brain naturally seeks out patterns and so if the compartments have different colours/ opacity, each capsule is more discernable versus an adjacent capsule than for capsules having a single compartment or having a single colour or both. Thus, with this feature, that human brain can therefore recognize the arrangement as a pattern and further recognize the individual units of the pattern this arrangement is then more easily evaluated by the superior pattern processing (SPP) capabilities of the human brain and the consumer can then more easily extract an individual capsule from the tray without inadvertently picking up other capsules at the same time which would be undesirable. Referring to figure 4, trays used in the examples comprise a substantially level base with peripheral wall/s which extend upwards from the periphery of the level base. The tray is contained within a flexible sleeve and accessible by sliding out via an slot. The unit dose products form a single-layer arrangement on the tray, spaced apart.

Examples of‘main wash’ laundry liquid compositions dispensed to each of the compartments are as follows:

Compartment 1 Compartment 2

Surfactants Surfactant

Polymer cleaning Polymer cleaning

Sequestrant Sequestrant

Enzymes Water

Fluorescer Hydroptrope

Water Opacifier

Hydrotrope

Dyes (colour 2 ¹ colour 1 )

Perfume

The composition of compartment #1 is formulated, including through the use of an opacifier, so as to provide a white opaque composition. The second central compartment is formulated, including provision of suitable dyes, to provide a blue colour. Side compartment #2 is formulated, including provision of suitable dyes, to provide a purple colour. For capsules, fill volume vs. brimful volume is aimed at a minimum of 80%. For example, for a 28 ml liquid fill the cavity volume is thus at most 35 ml. The multi-compartment capsule is produced by a process of thermoforming. Such a process may advantageously comprise the following steps to form the capsule:

(a) placing a first sheet of water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol film over a mould having sets of cavities, each set comprising at least two cavities arranged side-by-side;

(b) heating and applying vacuum to the film to mould the film into the cavities and hold it in place to form corresponding recesses in the film;

(c) filling the different parts of a fabric treatment composition, each of which may have a different colour/opacity (as well as different treatment function) into the side and central recesses, the parts together forming a full detergent composition;

(d) sealing a second sheet of film to the first sheet of film across the formed recesses to produce a multi-compartment capsule having compartments located on opposite connected to each other and separated by a continuous internal sealing web;

(e) cutting between the capsules so that a series of multi-compartment compartment capsules are formed, each capsule containing a part of a treatment composition in multiple compartments (one central and two side compartments).

Sealing can be done by any suitable method for example heat-sealing, solvent sealing or ultrasound sealing or UV sealing or a combination thereof. Particularly preferred is water sealing. Water sealing may be carried out by applying moisture to the second sheet of film before it is sealed to the first sheet of film to form the seal areas. A preferred thermoforming process uses a rotary drum on which the forming cavities are mounted. A vacuum thermoforming machine that uses such a drum is available from Cloud LLC. The capsules according to the invention could also be made by

thermoforming on a linear array of cavity sections. Machines suitable for that type of process are available from Hoefliger. The following example description is focussed onto the rotary process. A skilled person will appreciate how this would be adapted without inventive effort to use a linear array process.

The capsules are then arranged on the tray in arrangements as described herein.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for creating a customized collection of laundry or machine dishwashing unit dose products comprising tablets or capsules bespoke to multiple treatment loads, the method using a computer module which is configured to receive customization data concerning said multiple treatment loads based on one or more of the following criteria:

(i) substrate state;

(ii) substrate indentity such as type and / or colour;

(iii) user requirements; and

(iv) user preferences;

and wherein the method comprises the steps of:

(a) providing to said computing module, customization data relating to one or more of said criteria (i) to (iv) and then,

(b) causing the computing module to determine, based on said provided

customization data, a customized collection comprising multiple unit dose products, the customized collection optimised with respect to said provided customization data, and each unit dose product comprising one or more compartments whereby the or each compartment contains a segregated substrate treatment composition.

2. The computer-implement method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving customization data relating to one or more of said criteria (i) to (iv) and then,

(b) causing the computing module to determine, based on said customization data, a bespoke customized collection comprising multiple unit dose products, the customized collection optimised with respect to said customization data and comprising multiple unit dose products, each unit dose product comprising one or more compartments whereby the or each compartment contains a segregated quantity of a substrate treatment composition.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the customized collection includes at least two different substrate treatment compositions, each in different, segregated compartments.

4. The computer implemented method of any preceding claim wherein multiple substrate treatment compositions within a customized collection are co-ordinated.

5. The computer implemented method of any of claims 3-4 wherein the substrate

treatment compositions differ in terms of any one of:

(i) ingredients or amounts e.g. ratios of ingredients;

(ii) cues;

(iii) function.

6. The computer-implemented method of any preceding claim further comprising the step of comparing by means of a data processing device said customization data with substrate treatment composition data stored on a computer readable storage medium thereby formulating a customized collection of multiple unit dose products, the customized collection being optimised with respect to said customization data and comprising multiple unit dose products, each unit dose product comprising one or more compartments whereby the or each compartment contains a segregated quantity of a substrate treatment composition.

7. A computer-implemented method according to claim 6 wherein said substrate

treatment composition data comprises at least one of the following: i. data relating to individual substrate compositions; ii. data relating to individual substrate compositions associated with the

customization data in terms of (i) substrate state and/or (ii) substrate identity and/or (iii) user requirement and/or (iv) user preferences; iii. data relating to combinations of said individual substrate compositions; and iv. data relating to various treatment categories associated with the customization data in terms of (i) substrate state and/or (ii) substrate identity and/or (iii) user requirement and/or (iv) user preferences.

8. A computer-implemented method according to any preceding claim including the step of communicating with a remote device such as a mobile phone, tablet or laptop, washing machine to receive customization data from said remote device.

9. A computer-implemented method according to any preceding claim wherein substrate state comprises stain identity.

10. A computer-implemented method according to any preceding claim wherein substrate identity data is obtained from readable tags on substrates.

11. A computer-implemented method according to any preceding claim wherein a user profile is created comprising customization data relevant to a specific user.

12. A method of treating a substrate, the method comprising the steps of (a) selecting one or more unit dose products from a bespoke customized collection of unit dose products wherein the customized collection is bespoke to multiple treatment loads, based on customization data relating to one or more of the following criteria:

(i) substrate state data;

(ii) substrate type and / or colour;

(iii) user requirements; and

(iv) user preferences

(b) using selected one or more unit dose products in a substrate treatment process.

13. A laundry or machine dishwashing product comprising a package, the package

containing a bespoke customized collection of unit dose products the unit dose products bespoke to multiple treatment loads as defined by user customization data in methods of any of claims 1 - 14, wherein the unit dose products are located in said package in an arrangement corresponding to the customization data.

14. A data processing device comprising means for carrying out the steps of the method of any of claims 1-13.

15. A computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the steps of the method of any preceding claim.

16. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the steps of the method of any preceding claim.