CN109153494B

CN109153494B - Container and method

Info

Publication number: CN109153494B
Application number: CN201780029451.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: F·安东; P·布古安; L·查特莱恩; T·卡约
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Current assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Priority date: 2016-05-31
Filing date: 2017-05-29
Publication date: 2020-03-13
Anticipated expiration: 2037-05-29
Also published as: EP3464120A1; WO2017207458A1; BR112018072402A2; JP2019517430A; KR20180132840A; BR112018072402B1; EP3464120B1; RU2696646C1; JP6732956B2; CN109153494A; KR102105327B1

Abstract

A container comprises a charge of a bundle of consumer goods in a liner, wherein the liner comprises an opening flap assembly consisting of a front tear section and a rear tear section of the liner that overlap in a sleeve fold and attach to each other at the top of the liner bundle.

Description

Container and method

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a container for consumer goods having a bundle. The container is particularly useful as a container for elongate smoking articles such as cigarettes.

Background

Smoking articles such as cigarettes and cigars are typically packaged in rigid hinge-lid containers having a box and a lid connected to the box about a hinge line extending across a rear wall of the container. Such hinge-lid containers are typically constructed from a single piece of sheet cardboard blank. In use, the lid is pivoted about the hinge line to open the container and thereby gain access to the bundle of smoking articles disposed within the cartridge.

The bundles of smoking articles disposed within the cartridges are typically wrapped in an inner liner of metallised paper, metal foil or other flexible sheet material. To access the bundle of smoking articles within the inner liner of an unopened container, a consumer typically must first open the lid of the container and remove a pre-perforated upper portion or pull tab of the inner liner.

European patent EP2155568 discloses a hinge-lid container with a sealing bundle that opens automatically when the lid of the container is opened. However, sealed bundles are relatively expensive and require non-standard machinery to manufacture at high speeds. This would be desirable if there were a simple possibility to manufacture automatically opening packages. It is an object of the present invention to provide a container for consumer goods which simplifies the opening of the container.

Disclosure of Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a container for consumer goods, wherein the container comprises a housing having a box and a lid, wherein the lid is hingedly attached to the box along a lid hinge line and the lid comprises a front wall. Further, the container includes a bundle of consumer goods disposed within the housing. The bundle comprises a top wall protruding from the box and wherein the bundle further comprises a liner folded around the consumer articles to form the bundle. The liner forms an envelope fold on the top wall of the bundle. According to the invention, the cuff folder comprises a liner top front flap, wherein the liner top front flap depends from a front panel of the liner; and a liner top back flap, wherein the liner top back flap depends from the back panel of the liner. The liner top front flap and the liner top back flap are arranged such that the liner top front flap and the liner top back flap at least partially form an overlap.

Further, the liner includes a front tear section depending from the liner front panel along the front line of weakness, wherein the front tear section forms a portion of the liner top front flap. Further, the liner includes a rear tear-in section depending from the liner back panel along the back line of weakness, wherein the rear tear-in section forms a portion of the liner top rear flap in the overlap region. Additionally, the liner further comprises a back flap adhesive region in the overlap region, wherein the back flap adhesive region permanently attaches the front tear section to the back tear section in the overlap region. Thus, the opening flap assembly is created such that the opening flap allows access to the consumer goods contained within the bundle.

According to the invention, by simply providing two lines of weakness (front and one on the back) and applying adhesive, an opening flap is created from the standard inner bundle, which can be used by the consumer to open and close the bundle. At the same time, an additional protective liner remains around the front upper portion of the bundle outside of the opening flap to provide additional protection to the consumer goods, for example, for the filter end of the smoking articles outside of the access opening created by the opening flap assembly. In addition, if combined with conventional hinge-lid packs for smoking articlesIn contrast, for example Flip-

Type, then the more visible liner remains on the front wall of the liner bundle, which may be used, for example, for consumer communication. In some embodiments, the adhesive region extends in an overlap outside the area of the rear tear-in section and the front tear-out section. In this way, the remaining portions of the cuff folds will remain attached to each other even after opening the opening flap assembly. In such embodiments, the glued remainder of the wrapper fold will create a well-defined access opening. In addition, the connection between the remaining portions of the wrapper folds will generally increase the structural strength of the bundle and thus the protection of the consumer goods contained within the bundle.

The front tear section and the rear tear-in section may be attached using any suitable technique or combination of techniques, for example, bonding the front tear section and the rear tear-in section with a permanent adhesive, a peelable adhesive, or a micro-suction structure. The adhesive may be applied to the front tear section before the front tear section is brought into contact with the rear tear-in section. Alternatively or additionally, adhesive may be applied to the rear tear-in section before the rear tear-in section contacts the front tear-in section.

Depending on the shape of the line of weakness, the opening flap assembly may take any suitable shape or combination of shapes and have any suitable dimensions. The line of weakness may be continuous or discontinuous (e.g. perforated). Further, the lines of weakness may be formed using any suitable technique or combination of techniques, such as laser cutting or mechanical cutting (e.g., die or kiss cutting). The line of weakness may comprise any suitable depth in a direction transverse to the inner and outer surfaces of the wrapper. Preferably, the line of weakness has a depth of at least about 90% of the total thickness of the wrapper. More preferably, the line of weakness has a depth of about 100% of the total thickness of the wrapper. Any suitable percentage of material may be maintained along the line after the line of weakness has been formed. Preferably, between about 5% and about 25% of the liner material remains along the line after the line of weakness has been formed.

The bundle may be more securely sealed along the line of weakness prior to the first opening of the container. This may increase the shelf life of the consumer goods contained within the container.

The liner may comprise any suitable material or combination of materials and may comprise any suitable number of layers. Preferably, the liner is formed from a metal foil or metallised paper. The liner may be formed as a laminate of a metallized polyethylene film and a liner material. The liner may have a thickness of between about 10 microns and about 50 microns and preferably about 20 microns to about 80 microns. Additionally, the liner may have a top coat that accepts printing.

Preferably, the opening flap assembly is attached to the inner surface of the lid by a front adhesive region such that, upon opening of the lid, the opening flap assembly is separated from the liner along the line of weakness and is hinged to the remainder of the liner along an opening flap assembly hinge line. This advantageously allows the consumer to open the container and liner in a single action. In addition, the attachment of the opening flap assembly to the lid will prevent the opening flap assembly from falling back to its original position when the package is in an open state, which could potentially partially obstruct the access opening. Preferably, the opening flap assembly is attached to the lid so as to create an s-shape in the opening flap assembly when viewed from the side. The s-shape is attractive and additionally facilitates smooth and continuous opening of the lid, for example in case the package is opened for the first time and the weakening line still needs to be broken in an embodiment of the package according to the invention. In these cases, an s-shape is preferred over, for example, a c-shaped form of the opening flap assembly, which would require the line of weakness to be broken simultaneously along its entire length during the time when the initial opening movement is initiated.

The front tear-away section may be attached to the inner surface of the lid using any suitable technique or combination of techniques, for example, a permanent adhesive, a peelable adhesive, or a micro-suction structure. Adhesive may be applied to the front tear section before the front tear section is brought into contact with the inner surface of the lid. Alternatively or additionally, the adhesive may be applied to the inner surface of the lid before the inner surface of the lid contacts the front tear-in section.

The container may take any form suitable for holding consumer goods. For example, as already mentioned, the container may be a hinge-lid container having one or more hinge lids connected to a box containing consumer goods. In one or more embodiments, the container may be a slide and shell container having an internal slide mounted within the housing for containing consumer goods. Where the container is a slide shell container, the outer shell or inner slide may comprise one or more hinged lids. The container, inner frame, bundle, and outer liner may be formed from any suitable material, including, but not limited to, cardboard, paperboard, plastic, metal, or combinations thereof. The weight of the cardboard may be between about 100 grams per square meter and about 350 grams per square meter.

Preferably, the rear tear-in section is located below the front tear-out section in the overlap region. Further, it is preferred that the rear tear-in section extends from the bundle back wall into the liner top rear flap. With such a design, the access opening for the bundle is enlarged. This may allow easier access to the consumer goods contained within the bundle.

Preferably, the back weakening line comprises a c-shaped end section on the back wall of the bundle, said section terminating the back weakening line on either side. The c-shaped end section of the back weakening line will prevent the tear along the weakening line from propagating further towards the bottom of the back wall of the bundle. Thus, a well-defined position of the hinge of the opening flap assembly is achieved.

Preferably, the front tear section extends from the bundle front wall into the liner top front flap. With such a design, the access opening of the bundle may be enlarged and may allow easier access to the consumer goods contained within the bundle. In particular, the combination of features that extend into the back wall using the post-tear section may create an opening that allows access to the consumer goods from three sides. This may be particularly advantageous when attempting to remove rod-shaped articles, such as smoking articles, from the bundle.

Preferably, the transverse width of the front tear section is greater than the transverse width of the rear tear section. This is particularly advantageous where the liner front top flap overlies the liner rear top flap as it may prevent the rear tear-in section from hooking into the edge of the opening in the liner in the overlap region.

In addition, this is particularly advantageous as it creates a larger open front of the bundle. Thus, access to the articles within the bundle is improved.

Another advantage is to simplify alignment between features in the envelope folds at the top of the bundle. This is particularly important for the application of the adhesive. For example, when adhesive is applied to the outside of the inner section of the cuff fold at a smaller rear tear-in section, the adhesive is less likely to squeeze out from the sides because the outer section of the cuff fold carries a larger front tear-out section.

Preferably, the liner further comprises an envelope fold on the bottom wall of the bundle. Alternatively or additionally, the liner further comprises an envelope fold on one or more of the side walls of the bundle. Preferably, at least a portion of the outer surface of the bundle is permanently attached to a corresponding portion of the inner surface of the rear wall of the box. Preferably, at least a portion of the outer surface of the bundle is permanently attached to a corresponding portion of the inner surface of the front wall of the box. This may improve the structural strength of the bundle as a whole.

The container may also include an internal frame disposed within the case. The internal frame may be positioned between the bundle and the front wall of the cassette or within the bundle. When positioned within the bundle, the inner frame is positioned such that the front wall of the bundle is between the inner frame and the box front wall. The inner frame includes a front wall and a pair of opposing side walls. Preferably, the inner frame is U-shaped. The term "U-shaped" is used herein to refer to a shape comprising three portions, wherein a first portion and a third portion are parallel to each other and extend in the same direction perpendicular to a second portion.

Preferably, the front wall of the inner frame is positioned such that the front wall of the bundle is interposed between the front wall of the inner frame and the front wall of the box. Advantageously, the internal frame with a large surface area provided adjacent the front wall of the bundle increases the structural strength of the container.

Preferably, the inner frame comprises a cut-out at the top of the front wall. The cut-out preferably corresponds substantially to the access opening and is arranged such that the consumer goods within the bundle can be more easily accessed. In the case where the inner frame includes a cutout, the height of the inner frame is defined as the distance from the bottom of the inner frame to the cutout.

The internal frame may contain internal stiffeners within the bundle. Preferably, the inner stiffener preferably comprises at least one layer of material, such as cardboard-like (where present) used to make the inner frame.

The container according to the invention may be in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped having right-angled longitudinal and right-angled transverse edges. Alternatively, the container may contain one or more rounded longitudinal edges, rounded lateral edges, chamfered longitudinal edges, or chamfered lateral edges, or a combination thereof. For example, a container according to the present invention may include (but is not limited to) one or more of the following features:

one or two longitudinal rounded or chamfered edges on at least one of the front and rear walls;

one or two transverse rounded or chamfered edges on at least one of the front and rear walls;

one longitudinal rounded edge and one longitudinal chamfered edge on the front wall, or one transverse rounded edge and one transverse chamfered edge on the rear wall;

one longitudinal rounded edge and one longitudinal chamfered edge on the front wall, and one transverse rounded edge and one transverse chamfered edge on the rear wall;

one or two transverse rounded or chamfered edges on the front wall, and one or two longitudinal rounded or chamfered edges on the front wall; and

two longitudinal rounded or chamfered edges on the first side wall, or two transverse rounded or chamfered edges on the second side wall.

Where the container comprises one or more rounded edges, it is preferred that the blank from which the container is formed comprises three, four, five, six or seven score lines or fold lines to form each rounded edge in the assembled container. The score line or fold line may be on the inside of the container or on the outside of the container. Preferably, the score lines or fold lines are spaced between about 0.3mm and 4mm from each other.

Preferably, the spacing of the fold or score lines varies with the thickness of the laminar blank. Preferably, the spacing between the fold or score lines is between about 0.5 and about 4 times greater than the thickness of the laminar blank.

Where the container comprises one or more chamfered edges, it is preferred that the chamfered edge has a width of between about 1mm and about 10mm, preferably between about 2mm and about 6 mm. In one or more embodiments, the container may comprise two spaced-apart bevels formed by three parallel crease or score lines, such that two distinct bevels are formed on the edge of the container. In the case of a container comprising a chamfered edge, the bevel may be formed by two parallel fold or score lines in the sheet blank forming the container. The fold or score line may be symmetrically arranged about the edge between the first wall and the second wall. Alternatively, the fold or score line may be asymmetrically arranged with respect to the edge between the first wall and the second wall such that the bevel enters further into the first wall of the container than into the second wall of the container.

Alternatively, the container may have a non-rectangular transverse cross-section, for example a polygonal shape such as a triangle or hexagon, or an oval, semi-oval, circular or semi-circular shape.

The container according to the invention is particularly useful as a package for elongate smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos. It will be appreciated that by appropriate choice of dimensions, containers according to the invention can be designed for a different number of standard size, king size, super size, slim or super slim cigarettes.

By appropriate choice of dimensions, containers according to the invention may be designed to accommodate different total numbers of smoking articles, or different arrangements of smoking articles. For example, by appropriate selection of dimensions, a container according to the invention may be designed to accommodate a total of between ten and thirty smoking articles.

In addition to containing the bundle of smoking articles, the container may further contain other consumer goods, such as matches, lighters, extinguishing members, breath fresheners, or electronics. Other consumer goods may be attached to the outside of the container, contained within the container with the smoking articles, in a separate compartment of the container, or a combination thereof.

A cover of the housing is hingedly attached to the box and adapted to be manipulated between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, a consumer may access the consumer product disposed within the housing. The lid is hingedly attached to the box along a hinge line extending across the rear wall of the container. The term "hinge line" refers to a line about which the lid can be pivoted to open the container. The hinge line may be, for example, a fold or score line in the panel forming the rear wall of the housing.

The terms "front", "back", "upper", "lower", "side", "top", "bottom" and other terms used to describe the relative positions of the components of the container mean that the container is in an upright position with the lid at the top end and consumer goods accessible from the front upper end. The terms "left" and "right" may be used with reference to the side wall of the container when the container is in its upright position when viewed from the front.

The term "inner surface" is used throughout the specification to refer to the surface of a component of the container that faces the interior of the container (e.g., faces consumer goods) when the assembled container is in a closed position.

The term "outer surface" is used throughout the present specification to refer to the surface of a component of the container that faces the exterior of the container. For example, in one or more embodiments, the container includes an inner frame including an outer surface facing an outer shell of the container and an inner surface facing a bundle of the container.

Unless defined otherwise, all scientific and technical terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood in the art. The definitions provided herein are to facilitate understanding of certain terms used frequently herein.

According to another aspect of the invention, the invention is directed to a bundle of consumer goods, wherein the bundle comprises a top wall and wherein the bundle further comprises a liner folded around the consumer goods to form the bundle, such that the liner forms a wrapper fold on the top wall of the bundle. Thus, the cuff folder comprises a liner top front flap, wherein the liner top front flap depends from a front panel of the liner; and a liner top back flap, wherein the liner top back flap depends from the back panel of the liner such that the liner top front flap and the liner top back flap at least partially form an overlap. The liner includes a front tear section depending from the liner front panel along the front line of weakness, wherein the front tear section forms a portion of the liner top front flap. Further, the liner includes a rear tear-in section depending from the liner back panel along the back line of weakness, wherein the rear tear-in section forms a portion of the liner top rear flap in the overlap region. The liner further includes a back flap adhesive region in the overlap region, wherein the back flap adhesive region permanently attaches the front tear section to the back tear section in the overlap region creating an opening flap assembly wherein the opening flap allows access to the consumer goods contained within the bundle. Advantages and possible features of other embodiments of such bundles have been described above.

Preferably, the bundle comprises a front adhesive region closest to the front line of weakness on the front wall of the bundle. As already described above, this may be used to attach the opening flap assembly to the lid wall of the surrounding container.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of forming a bundle for consumer goods, the method comprising the steps of: providing a charge of a consumable product; providing a liner comprising a front tear-away section and a rear tear-in section; providing an adhesive in the rear adhesive region; and wrapping the liner around the charge of consumer goods to form a bundle, thereby creating a wrapper fold at the top of the bundle; such that the front tear section and the rear tear-in section overlap in the rear adhesive region. The corresponding method further includes the step of bonding the front tear section and the back tear-in section to the back adhesive region to form the opening flap assembly.

Preferably, the method further comprises the steps of: providing a container blank for a container comprising a box section and a lid section; providing adhesive on a front adhesive region on a front tear-away section of the liner; assembling a container around the bundle; and attaching the front adhesive region to the lid section of the container up to the interior of the lid such that opening the lid of the container will automatically open the access opening in the bundle covered by the opening flap assembly.

Drawings

Referring now to the drawings, some aspects of the present invention are illustrated.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of one embodiment of a container in an open position, wherein the container comprises a housing and a bundle disposed within the housing.

Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the bundle of fig. 1.

Detailed Description

Referring to fig. 1-2, there is depicted a schematic perspective view of one embodiment of a container 10 for consumer goods and a bundle 40 disposed within a housing of the container. The housing contains a box 14 and a lid 20 hingedly attached to the box 14 via a hinge line (not shown). The hinge line extends across the rear wall of the box 14 of the container 10 and serves to allow the lid 20 to be moved from the closed position to the open position as shown in figure 1. The hinge line is disposed between the lid back wall 24 and the box back wall (not shown). The box 14 further comprises box side walls 16, a box front wall 12 and a box bottom wall (not shown). The lid 20 further includes lid side walls 26, a lid top wall (not shown), and a lid front wall 22. Depending along the fold line from lid front 22 is a lid front that folds into the lid 180 degrees below panel 28 and remains parallel to lid front wall 22. The lid front below the panel 28 further comprises a lid front wall contact area 29. The lid front wall contact area 29 may cover the entire area of the lid front below the panel 28 or a portion of the lid front below the panel 28.

Within the box 14, the inner frame 30 is arranged such that some portion of the inner frame front wall may protrude from the box front wall 12, however, in some embodiments, the inner frame front wall is completely covered by the box front wall 12. The inner frame includes inner frame sidewalls 36 that may protrude from the cartridge sidewalls 16, however, in some embodiments, one or both of the inner frame sidewalls 36 are completely covered by the respective cartridge sidewall 36.

Bundle 40 at least partially defines an interior volume for housing consumer goods and includes a bundle top wall, bundle side walls 46, a bundle front wall 41, and a bundle back wall (not shown). In one or more embodiments, the container 10 may contain consumer goods, such as smoking articles, disposed within the bundle 40. The bundle 40 includes an inner liner wrapped around the consumer goods. The liner is made of a barrier material to protect the consumer goods prior to opening the container for the first time. The barrier material may be paper, metalized paper, metal foil or plastic and metal laminates. The liner material may be sealed, but may also be folded only around the consumer product.

Referring to fig. 2, a schematic perspective view of the bundle 40 of containers 10 of fig. 1 is depicted. The liner forms an envelope fold on the bundle top wall. The cuff folder includes a liner top front flap 42 and a liner top back flap 44 that form an overlap 70 on the bundle top wall.

The liner further includes a front line of weakness 52 extending in a u-shape from the upper edge of the liner top front flap 42 into the liner front wall to form a liner front tear section 50. The liner further includes a pair of generally parallel back lines of weakness 62 extending from the upper edge of the liner top back flap 44 into the liner back wall to form a liner back tear-in section 60 between the pair of generally parallel back lines of weakness 62. The back line of weakness 62 terminates in a c-shape (not shown) in the back wall of the liner so that the lower end of the back line of weakness 62 points towards the top of the bundle. This prevents the tear from propagating into the bundle back wall when the back line of weakness 62 is broken. The location of the c-shaped lower end of the back line of weakness 62 also defines the hinge area of the liner rear tear-in section 60.

Either of the lines of

weakness

52, 62 may be a perforated or scored line, for example, providing mechanical cutting or laser ablation such that if a sufficient force is applied, it breaks along the lines of

weakness

52, 62. Preferably, the force required to break the lines of

weakness

52, 62 is at least 2 times less than the force to break the liner material in order to accurately locate the access opening created when the line of

weakness

52 or 62 breaks.

A back flap adhesive region is provided in the region of the overlap 70 comprising permanent adhesive bonding at least the liner back tear-in section 60 and the liner front tear-away section 50 such that the liner back tear-in section 60 and the liner front tear-away section 50 together form an opening flap assembly 80. The back adhesive region 64 may also extend further across the overlap 70, thereby adhering the liner top front flap 42 to the liner top back flap 44 creating an access opening along the lines of

weakness

52, 62 when the opening flap assembly 80 is opened to reveal the contents of the bundle.

In the lower region of the outside opening flap assembly 80 is a front adhesive region 54. The front adhesive region 54 attaches the opening flap assembly 80 to the lid front wall contact region 29.

In use, when the container 10 is first opened by pivoting the lid 20 rearwardly, the opening flap assembly 80 tears the access opening along the line of

weakness

52 or 62. When the container is subsequently closed, the opening flap assembly 80 restores the access opening in the inner bundle 40.

Claims

1. A container for consumer goods, comprising:

a housing comprising a box and a lid hingedly attached to the box along a lid hinge line, wherein the lid comprises a front wall;

a bundle of consumer goods disposed within the housing, wherein the bundle comprises a top wall protruding from the box, and wherein the bundle further comprises a liner folded around the consumer goods to form the bundle, such that the liner forms a wrapper fold on the top wall of the bundle,

wherein the envelope folder comprises:

a liner top front flap, wherein the liner top front flap depends from a front panel of the liner,

a liner top back flap, wherein the liner top back flap depends from a back panel of the liner,

such that the liner top front flap and the liner top back flap at least partially overlap,

and wherein the liner comprises a front tear section depending from the front panel of the liner along a front line of weakness, wherein the front tear section forms a portion of the liner top front flap, an

Wherein the liner comprises a rear tear-in section depending from a back panel of the liner along a rear line of weakness, wherein the rear tear-in section forms a portion of the liner top rear flap in an overlap region, and

wherein the liner further comprises a back flap adhesive region in the overlap region, wherein the back flap adhesive region permanently attaches the front tear section to the back tear section in the overlap region creating an opening flap assembly wherein an opening flap allows access to the consumer goods contained within the bundle; and is

Wherein the opening flap assembly is attached to the inner surface of the lid by a front adhesive region such that upon opening the lid the opening flap assembly is separated from the liner along the front and back lines of weakness and is hinged to the remainder of the liner along an opening flap assembly hinge line, and

wherein the lateral width of the front tear section is greater than the lateral width of the rear tear section.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the rear tear section is located below the front tear section in the overlap region.

3. The receptacle of any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the rear tear-in section extends from a bundle back wall into the liner top rear flap.

4. The container of claim 3, wherein the back line of weakness includes a c-shaped end section on the bundle back wall that terminates the back line of weakness on either side.

5. The container of any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the front tear section extends from the bundle front wall into the liner top front flap.

6. The container of any one of claims 1-2, further comprising an internal frame disposed within the box, wherein the internal frame comprises a front wall and a pair of opposing side walls.

7. The container of claim 6, wherein the internal frame is disposed between a front wall of the box and the bundle.

8. The container of any one of claims 1-2, wherein an internal stiffener is disposed within the bundle.

9. The container of any one of claims 1-2, further comprising the consumer goods, wherein the consumer goods are contained within the bundle, wherein the consumer goods are smoking articles.

10. A method of forming a container for consumer goods comprising the steps of

-providing a charge of a consumable;

-providing a liner comprising a front tear section and a rear tear section, wherein the lateral width of the front tear section is greater than the lateral width of the rear tear section;

-providing an adhesive in the rear adhesive area;

-wrapping the liner around the charge of consumer goods to form a bundle, thereby creating a wrapper fold at the top of the bundle; such that the front tear section and the rear tear-in section overlap in the rear adhesive region;

-bonding the front tear section and the rear tear-in section with the rear adhesive region to form an opening flap assembly;

-providing a container blank of a container comprising a box section and a lid section;

-providing adhesive on a front adhesive region on the front tear-away section of the liner;

-assembling the containers around the bundle; and

-attaching the front adhesive region to the lid section of the container up to the inside of the lid such that opening the lid of the container will automatically open an access opening in the bundle covered by the opening flap assembly.