US-12617904-B1 - Plastic-free dishwasher cleaning product

Abstract

Glycerin and sodium polyacrylate may be mixed at a first mixing speed for a first mixing time. Free water and a fibrillated cellulose mixture may be added to second mixer and mixed at a second mixing time speed for a second mixing time. The glycerin and the sodium polyacrylate may be mixed with the free water and fibrillated cellulose mixture at a third mixing speed for a third mixing time. One or more of sodium citrate, sodium bicarbonate, and sodium benzoate may be added and mixed at a fourth mixing speed for a fourth mixing time. Sodium carbonate may be added and mixed at a fifth mixing speed for a fifth mixing time. A surfactant mixture and optionally fragrances may be added and mixed at a sixth mixing speed for a sixth mixing time to form a final mixture, which may be transferred to molds, dehydrated, and removed.

Inventors

• Darren Gross
• Laura Hinojosa
• Zenith Phillips
• Iryna Radziievska

Assignees

• TRU EARTH ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTS INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20250915

Claims (18)

1. 1 . A dissolvable cleaning product in the form of a tablet, the dissolvable cleaning product comprising: fibrillated cellulose; surfactant solids consisting of a single alkaline stable compound having alkaline hydrotrope properties of an anionic surfactant and cloud point properties of a nonionic surfactant; sodium citrate; sodium bicarbonate; sodium carbonate; sodium benzoate; glycerin; and sodium polyacrylate.
2. 2 . The dissolvable cleaning product of claim 1 , wherein a concentration of the fibrillated cellulose is approximately 0.30 wt %.
3. 3 . The dissolvable cleaning product of claim 1 , wherein a concentration of the surfactant solids is approximately 2.52 wt % to approximately 3.53 wt %.
4. 4 . The dissolvable cleaning product of claim 1 , wherein a concentration of the sodium citrate is approximately 16.89 wt %.
5. 5 . The dissolvable cleaning product of claim 1 , wherein a concentration of the sodium bicarbonate is approximately 11.93 wt %.
6. 6 . The dissolvable cleaning product of claim 1 , wherein a concentration of the sodium carbonate is approximately 26.55 wt %.
7. 7 . The dissolvable cleaning product of claim 1 , wherein a concentration of the sodium benzoate is approximately 0.27 wt %.
8. 8 . The dissolvable cleaning product of claim 1 , wherein a concentration of the glycerin is approximately 10.84 wt %.
9. 9 . The dissolvable cleaning product of claim 1 , wherein a concentration of the sodium polyacrylate is approximately 1.08 wt %.
10. 10 . The dissolvable cleaning product of claim 1 , wherein a moisture concentration is approximately 28.41 wt % to approximately 29.61 wt %.
11. 11 . The dissolvable cleaning product of claim 1 , further comprising one or more fragrances.
12. 12 . The dissolvable cleaning product of claim 11 , wherein a concentration of the one or more fragrances is approximately 0.19 wt %.
13. 13 . The dissolvable cleaning product of claim 1 , wherein the tablet is formed via a mold.
14. 14 . The dissolvable cleaning product of claim 1 , wherein the tablet has a length of approximately 1.0 cm, a width of approximately 3.7 cm, and a height of approximately 1.5 cm.
15. 15 . The dissolvable cleaning product of claim 1 , wherein one or more vertical sides of the tablet have a slope of approximately 2°, such that an upper surface of the tablet is smaller in area than a bottom surface of the tablet.
16. 16 . The dissolvable cleaning product of claim 1 , wherein an upper surface of the tablet comprises one or more embossed and debossed portions.
17. 17 . The dissolvable cleaning product of claim 16 , wherein the one or more embossed and debossed portions form one or more of text and a design.
18. 18 . The dissolvable cleaning product of claim 16 , wherein the one or more embossed and debossed portions are formed from as corresponding raised or lowered portion of a mold.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 19/083,811, filed Mar. 19, 2025, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure generally relates to the field of cleaning products, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for making plastic-free dissolvable cleaning products which can take any shape or form and may be suitable for use in any type of dishwasher. BACKGROUND The majority of conventional cleaning products for use in a dishwasher come in as a liquid or a powder in a vessel with a dispenser. These vessels are mostly made up of plastic. Even cardboard vessels are typically lined with plastic to serve as a water barrier. Single use plastic is wreaking havoc on the environment. Only a small percentage of all plastic is actually recycled, and packaging generates the largest portion of municipal waste. Packaged products are inefficient for businesses and the people who buy them. Some dissolvable cleaning products (e.g., dishwasher pods) are typically made using plastics to either encapsulate and/or bind the cleaning product in its single use form. This presents a problem as the dishwasher pod plastics, once dissolved and/or broken down into microplastics, may enter the water supply and contribute to global pollution. In oceans alone, annual plastic pollution, from all types of plastics, was estimated at 4 million to 14 million tons in the early 21st century. Not only are microplastics harmful to ocean and aquatic life, but they are also increasingly being detected in humans. The use of plastics in cleaning pods/packages used in dishwashers poses an acute problem as these plastics do not break down completely. Microplastics can remain on drinkware, plates, and cutlery, where it is ingested by humans. These problems pose a threat on their own but also create frustration in consumers who embrace the concept of reducing impact on the environment with waste including packaging and transportation and may lead to a slower adoption by the general public. Thus, a need exists for formulations of plastic-free cleaning products for use in dishwashers that meet the needs of consumers, while also reducing the amount of waste generated in their production and shipping. SUMMARY Methods, systems, and apparatuses for forming dissolvable cleaning products. Glycerin and sodium polyacrylate may be mixed at a first mixing speed for a first mixing time. Free water and a fibrillated cellulose mixture may be added to second mixer and mixed at a second mixing time speed for a second mixing time. The glycerin and the sodium polyacrylate may be mixed with the free water and fibrillated cellulose mixture at a third mixing speed for a third mixing time. One or more of sodium citrate, sodium bicarbonate, and sodium benzoate may be added and mixed at a fourth mixing speed for a fourth mixing time. Sodium carbonate may be added and mixed at a fifth mixing speed for a fifth mixing time. A surfactant mixture and optionally fragrances may be added and mixed at a sixth mixing speed for a sixth mixing time to form a final mixture, which may be transferred to one or more molds, dehydrated, and removed from the one or more molds. In an example, the dissolvable cleaning product without fragrance may include one or more of approximately 28.60 wt % to approximately 29.61 wt % total water, approximately 0.30 wt % of the fibrillated cellulose, approximately 2.52 wt % to approximately 3.53 wt % of surfactant solids, approximately 16.89 wt % of the sodium citrate, approximately 11.93 wt % of the sodium bicarbonate, approximately 26.55 wt % of the sodium carbonate, approximately 0.27 wt % of the sodium benzoate, approximately 10.84 wt % of the glycerin, and approximately 1.08 wt % of the sodium polyacrylate. In another example, the dissolvable cleaning product with fragrance may include one or more of approximately 28.41 wt % to approximately 29.41 wt % total water, approximately 0.30 wt % of the fibrillated cellulose, approximately 2.52 wt % to approximately 3.53 wt % of the surfactant solids, approximately 16.89 wt % of the sodium citrate, approximately 11.93 wt % of the sodium bicarbonate, approximately 26.55 wt % of the sodium carbonate, approximately 0.27 wt % of the sodium benzoate, approximately 10.84 wt % of the glycerin, approximately 1.08 wt % of the sodium polyacrylate, and approximately 0.19 wt % of the one or more fragrances. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawings described below are for illustration purposes only. The drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method of forming a final mixture for a dissolvable cleaning product, according to an example of the present disclosure; FIG. 2A is a flowchart illustrating a first example of a process that may be used to form the dissolvable cleaning product from the final mixture, according to an e