Process and apparatus for making water soluble pouches

Abstract

A process and apparatus for forming water soluble pouches.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A process for forming a plurality of water soluble pouches comprising the steps of:
 providing a water soluble first web;   feeding said first web onto a forming surface comprising a plurality of pockets;   thermoforming said first web to conform said first web to said pockets to form chambers, each of said chambers surrounded by a land area of said first web;   providing an assembled manifold, wherein said assembled manifold comprises:   a frame; and   a plurality of integrally formed fluid distributors joined to said frame;   wherein each of said integrally formed fluid distributors comprises a primary flow path; and   wherein said primary flow path is in fluid communication with a plurality of secondary flow paths;   dispensing substrate treatment composition from said secondary flow paths into said chambers;   providing a water soluble second web; and   sealing said water soluble second web to said land areas of said water soluble first web to form said plurality of water soluble pouches.   
     
     
         17 . The process for forming a plurality of water soluble pouches according to  claim 16 , wherein each of said secondary flow paths is devoid of inactive corners within said secondary flow paths. 
     
     
         18 . The process for forming a plurality of water soluble pouches according to  claim 17 , wherein said frame has a machine direction and cross direction orthogonal to said machine direction, wherein each of said fluid distributors comprises a plurality of said primary flow paths aligned with one another in said machine direction. 
     
     
         19 . The process for forming a plurality of water soluble pouches according to  claim 18 , wherein each of said primary flow paths aligned with one another in said machine direction are in fluid communication with a separate secondary flow path. 
     
     
         20 . The process for forming a plurality of water soluble pouches according to  claim 18 , wherein each of said fluid distributors comprises a plurality of said primary flow paths aligned with one another in said cross direction, wherein each of said primary flow paths are in fluid communication with separate fluid distributors. 
     
     
         21 . The process for forming a plurality of water soluble pouches according to  claim 20 , wherein said integrally formed fluid distributor distributes two or more said substrate treatment compositions that differ from one another. 
     
     
         22 . The process for forming a plurality of water soluble pouches according to  claim 18 , wherein said assembled manifold comprises a plurality of said primary flow paths aligned with one another in said cross direction. 
     
     
         23 . The process for forming a plurality of water soluble pouches according to  claim 18 , wherein each of said secondary flow paths terminates at a separate nozzle. 
     
     
         24 . The process for forming a plurality of water soluble pouches according to  claim 16 , wherein said primary flow paths and secondary flow paths comprise a material selected from the group consisting of titanium 6-4, cobalt-chrome, and stainless steel. 
     
     
         25 . The process for forming a plurality of water soluble pouches according to  claim 16 , wherein said frame and said plurality of integrally formed fluid distributors joined to said frame are integrally formed with one another. 
     
     
         26 . An assembled manifold comprising:
 a frame; and   a plurality of integrally formed fluid distributors joined to said frame;   wherein each of said integrally formed fluid distributors comprises a primary flow path; and   wherein said primary flow path is in fluid communication with a plurality of secondary flow paths.   
     
     
         27 . The assembled manifold according to  claim 26 , wherein each of said secondary flow paths is devoid of inactive corners within said secondary flow paths. 
     
     
         28 . The assembled manifold according to  claim 27 , wherein said frame has a machine direction and cross direction orthogonal to said machine direction, wherein each of said fluid distributors comprises a plurality of said primary flow paths aligned with one another in said machine direction. 
     
     
         29 . The assembled manifold according to  claim 28 , wherein each of said secondary flow paths aligned with one another in said machine direction are in fluid communication with a separate primary flow path. 
     
     
         30 . The assembled manifold according to  claim 28 , wherein each of said fluid distributors comprises a plurality of said primary flow paths aligned with one another in said cross direction, wherein each of said primary flow paths are in fluid communication with separate fluid distributors. 
     
     
         31 . The assembled manifold according to  claim 28 , wherein said assembled manifold comprises a plurality of said primary flow paths aligned with one another in said cross direction. 
     
     
         32 . The assembled manifold according to  claim 28 , wherein each of said secondary flow paths terminates at a separate nozzle. 
     
     
         33 . The assembled manifold according to  claim 26 , wherein said primary flow paths and secondary flow paths comprise a material selected from the group consisting of titanium 6-4, cobalt-chrome, and stainless steel. 
     
     
         34 . The assembled manifold according to  claim 26 , wherein said frame and said plurality of integrally formed fluid distributors joined to said frame are integrally formed with one another. 
     
     
         35 . A process for filling a portion of a water soluble pouch comprising the steps of:
 providing an assembled manifold of  claim 26 ; and   dispensing liquid substrate treatment composition from said assembled manifold into a portion of said water soluble pouch.