EP3196148B1 - Package of tobacco articles comprising a sealed inner package - Google Patents
Package of tobacco articles comprising a sealed inner package Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3196148B1 EP3196148B1 EP17161209.6A EP17161209A EP3196148B1 EP 3196148 B1 EP3196148 B1 EP 3196148B1 EP 17161209 A EP17161209 A EP 17161209A EP 3196148 B1 EP3196148 B1 EP 3196148B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- cigarettes
- stiffener
- package
- lateral
- sealed inner
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Active
Links
- 241000208125 Nicotiana Species 0.000 title claims description 16
- 235000002637 Nicotiana tabacum Nutrition 0.000 title claims description 16
- 239000003351 stiffener Substances 0.000 claims description 71
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims description 27
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 claims description 18
- 239000003292 glue Substances 0.000 claims description 13
- 235000019504 cigarettes Nutrition 0.000 description 90
- 238000012856 packing Methods 0.000 description 65
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 17
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 11
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 11
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 11
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 8
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 235000019506 cigar Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000003068 static effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004320 controlled atmosphere Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011261 inert gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
- B65D75/52—Details
- B65D75/58—Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during package manufacture
- B65D75/5827—Tear-lines provided in a wall portion
- B65D75/5833—Tear-lines provided in a wall portion for tearing out a portion of the wall
- B65D75/5838—Tear-lines provided in a wall portion for tearing out a portion of the wall combined with separate fixed tearing means, e.g. tabs
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
- B65B19/02—Packaging cigarettes
- B65B19/025—Packaging cigarettes in webs of flexible sheet material
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
- B65B19/02—Packaging cigarettes
- B65B19/12—Inserting the cigarettes, or wrapped groups thereof, into preformed containers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
- B65B19/02—Packaging cigarettes
- B65B19/22—Wrapping the cigarettes; Packaging the cigarettes in containers formed by folding wrapping material around formers
- B65B19/221—Wrapping the cigarettes; Packaging the cigarettes in containers formed by folding wrapping material around formers in one or more straight paths
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
- B65B19/02—Packaging cigarettes
- B65B19/22—Wrapping the cigarettes; Packaging the cigarettes in containers formed by folding wrapping material around formers
- B65B19/228—Preparing and feeding blanks
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B35/00—Supplying, feeding, arranging or orientating articles to be packaged
- B65B35/10—Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles
- B65B35/24—Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles by endless belts or chains
- B65B35/243—Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles by endless belts or chains using cooperating conveyors engaging the articles simultaneously
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
- B65B43/08—Forming three-dimensional containers from sheet material
- B65B43/10—Forming three-dimensional containers from sheet material by folding the material
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
- B65B43/12—Feeding flexible bags or carton blanks in flat or collapsed state; Feeding flat bags connected to form a series or chain
- B65B43/126—Feeding carton blanks in flat or collapsed state
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B51/00—Devices for, or methods of, sealing or securing package folds or closures; Devices for gathering or twisting wrappers, or necks of bags
- B65B51/10—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof
- B65B51/26—Devices specially adapted for producing transverse or longitudinal seams in webs or tubes
- B65B51/30—Devices, e.g. jaws, for applying pressure and heat, e.g. for subdividing filled tubes
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
- B65B61/20—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for adding cards, coupons or other inserts to package contents
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
- B65B9/10—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs
- B65B9/20—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs the webs being formed into tubes in situ around the filling nozzles
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
- B65B9/10—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs
- B65B9/20—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs the webs being formed into tubes in situ around the filling nozzles
- B65B9/2014—Tube advancing means
- B65B9/2028—Rollers or belts
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D77/00—Packages formed by enclosing articles or materials in preformed containers, e.g. boxes, cartons, sacks or bags
- B65D77/02—Wrapped articles enclosed in rigid or semi-rigid containers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
- B65D85/07—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles
- B65D85/08—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles rod-shaped or tubular
- B65D85/10—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles rod-shaped or tubular for cigarettes
- B65D85/1018—Container formed by a flexible material, i.e. soft-packages
- B65D85/1027—Opening devices
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
- B65D85/07—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles
- B65D85/08—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles rod-shaped or tubular
- B65D85/10—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles rod-shaped or tubular for cigarettes
- B65D85/1036—Containers formed by erecting a rigid or semi-rigid blank
- B65D85/1045—Containers formed by erecting a rigid or semi-rigid blank having a cap-like lid hinged to an edge
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
- B65D85/07—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles
- B65D85/08—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles rod-shaped or tubular
- B65D85/10—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles rod-shaped or tubular for cigarettes
- B65D85/1036—Containers formed by erecting a rigid or semi-rigid blank
- B65D85/1045—Containers formed by erecting a rigid or semi-rigid blank having a cap-like lid hinged to an edge
- B65D85/1048—Containers formed by erecting a rigid or semi-rigid blank having a cap-like lid hinged to an edge characterized by the shape of the container
Definitions
- a rigid, hinged-lid packet of cigarettes comprises an inner package comprising a foil-wrapped group of cigarettes; and a rigid outer container housing the inner package.
- the outer container comprises a cup-shaped container housing the group of cigarettes and having an open top end; and a cup-shaped lid hinged to the container to rotate, with respect to the container, between an open position and a closed position opening and closing the open end respectively.
- each group of cigarettes may possibly fall out of shape, i.e. the cigarettes in the group may shift out of position, thus resulting in the formation of an irregularly shaped sealed inner package which is inevitably rejected.
- Number 1 in Figures 1, 2 and 3 indicates as a whole a rigid packet of cigarettes.
- Packet 1 of cigarettes comprises a cup-shaped outer container 2, which is made of cardboard, has a hinged lid, and houses a sealed inner package 3 ( Figure 2 ).
- Sealed inner package 3 encloses a parallelepiped-shaped group 4 of cigarettes ( Figure 5 ) and, at the top and front, has a central cigarette extraction opening 5 extending over part of a front wall and part of a top wall of sealed inner package 3.
- the cigarettes in group 4 are cylindrical with a longitudinal axis.
- Sealed inner package 3 comprises a reclosable (i.e. 'open-close') sealing flap (i.e.
- sealing flap 6 is applied externally to the packing material of sealed inner package 3.
- sealing flap 6 is either formed in two-layer packing material of sealed inner package 3, or is in the form of a frame applied to the inside of the packing material of sealed inner package 3.
- sealing flap 6 has a grip tab 7 with no re-stick adhesive and located close to, normally beneath, extraction opening 5.
- sealed inner package 3 comprises a U-shaped stiffener (i.e. tray) 8 made of cardboard (identical to that of outer container 2) and which is inserted inside sealed inner package 3, contacting group 4 of cigarettes.
- Stiffener 8 comprises a front wall 9 positioned contacting the cylindrical lateral walls of the cigarettes in group 4; two lateral walls 10 on opposite sides of front wall 9 and positioned contacting the cylindrical lateral walls of the cigarettes in group 4; and a bottom wall 11 positioned contacting the tips of the cigarettes in group 4.
- Front wall 9 preferably has a top recess 12 located at cigarette extraction opening 5, so that front wall 9 does not overlap cigarette extraction opening 5.
- stiffener 8 serves to reinforce and maintain the shape of sealed inner package 3, to prevent sealed inner package 3 from collapsing, when some of the cigarettes are removed, and so complicating withdrawal of the remaining cigarettes and, in particular, opening and closing of sealing flap 6.
- stiffener 8 serves to hold the cigarettes in group 4 together in the right position.
- Figures 13 and 14 show an alternative example of the Figure 6 , 7 and 8 stiffener 8, which is formed from the blank 18 shown in Figure 15 , and which differs from the Figure 6 , 7 and 8 stiffener 8 by having no appendix 15, and by the tip of bottom tab 14 being inserted (by elastically deforming bottom tab 14) through slit 16 to form a joint between bottom tab 14 and through slit 16.
- Figures 29 and 30 show an alternative example of the Figure 6 , 7 and 8 stiffener 8, which differs from the Figure 6 , 7 and 8 stiffener 8 by having no appendix 15, no through slit 16, and no projection 17; and by bottom tab 14 being folded 90° with respect to bottom wall 11.
- Forming unit 30 comprises a hopper 34 with four outlets; and a forming belt conveyor 35 supporting a number of forming pockets 36.
- Forming conveyor 35 feeds each forming pocket 36 from an input station 37, located in front of an outlet of hopper 34 and where a group 4 of cigarettes is expelled from the outlet of hopper 34 into forming pocket 36, to an output station 38 where the group 4 of cigarettes is expelled from forming pocket 36.
- Forming unit 30 also comprises a folding belt conveyor 39 supporting a number of folding pockets (not shown) and extending parallel to and alongside forming conveyor 35.
- Slide surface 47 is static (i.e. mounted in a fixed position) and is connected to an elevator 47a movable vertically between a bottom position ( Figure 38 ), in which elevator 47a is located at output station 41 of folding conveyor 39, and a top position (not shown in Figure 38 ), in which elevator 47a is located at coupling station 43.
- Slide surface 47 has a through opening, through which a stiffener 8 is raised by elevator 47a.
- elevator 47a is moved into the bottom position to pick up a stiffener 8, and is then raised to feed stiffener 8 into coupling station 43, where stiffener 8 intercepts and couples with a corresponding group 4 of cigarettes (i.e.
- group 4 of cigarettes impacts bottom wall 11 of stiffener 8, thus drawing stiffener 8 along with it).
- the end of slide surface 47 around the through opening is designed to finish folding bottom tab 14 and appendix 15 as stiffener 8 is pushed up by elevator 47a.
- strip 33 of packing material is already complete with extraction openings 5 covered with open-close sealing flaps 6, which are formed and applied respectively at work stations (not shown) upstream from packing unit 32.
- extraction openings 5 covered with open-close sealing flaps 6 are located on the opposite side of the tubular wrapping to the longitudinal heat-seal, and are centred between the two transverse heat-seals.
- extraction openings 5 covered with open-close sealing flaps 6 may be located on the same side as the longitudinal heat-seal and, as opposed to being centred, may be more or less asymmetrical in shape and/or position.
- a folding device downstream from heat-sealing device 51 folds each transverse fin 61 ninety degrees and presses it onto the corresponding sealed inner package 3 (i.e. onto a lateral wall of the corresponding sealed package 3).
- Each transverse fin 61 is preferably fixed (heat-sealed or glued) to the corresponding sealed inner package 3 (i.e. to a lateral wall of the corresponding sealed package 3) so that it remains permanently contacting sealed inner package 3.
- each stiffener 8 is fed into a forming pocket 36 on forming conveyor 35, upstream from hopper 34; and each group 4 of cigarettes is transferred from hopper 34 into forming pocket 36 (containing stiffener 8) and directly into stiffener 8.
- folding conveyor 39 for folding stiffeners 8 is located upstream from forming conveyor 35 to feed stiffeners 8, already folded, to the start of forming conveyor 35.
- packing machine 26 only comprises packing section 27 for producing sealed inner packages 3, which are marketed as they are, without outer containers 2 (i.e. each packet 1 of cigarettes only comprises a sealed package 3, and has no outer container 2); or else a further packing machine (separate from and fully independent of packing machine 26) receives sealed inner packages 3 from packing machine 26, and forms outer containers 2 about sealed inner packages 3.
- the system connecting bottom wall 11 and lateral walls 10 has no glue, thus eliminating any glue inside sealed inner package 3, and the possibility of the substances in the glue somehow altering the taste and/or aroma of the tobacco in the cigarettes.
- packet 1 of cigarettes described may also be used for producing a carton of cigarettes, which is substantially the same as packet 1 described, except that it contains a group of packets of cigarettes as opposed to a group of cigarettes, or for producing a packet of cigars or similar, which is substantially the same as packet 1 described, except that it contains a group of cigars or similar, as opposed to a group of cigarettes.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)
- Cartons (AREA)
Description
- The present invention relates to a package of tobacco articles comprising a sealed inner package.
- The present invention may be applied to advantage to a rigid packet of cigarettes, to which the following description refers purely by way of example.
- Rigid, hinged-lid packets of cigarettes are currently the most widely marketed, by being easy to produce and easy and practical to use, and by effectively protecting the cigarettes inside.
- A rigid, hinged-lid packet of cigarettes comprises an inner package comprising a foil-wrapped group of cigarettes; and a rigid outer container housing the inner package. The outer container comprises a cup-shaped container housing the group of cigarettes and having an open top end; and a cup-shaped lid hinged to the container to rotate, with respect to the container, between an open position and a closed position opening and closing the open end respectively.
- A sealed (i.e. airtight) inner package has recently been proposed comprising a cigarette extraction opening closed by an open-close sealing flap (the sealing flap is applied with non-dry, re-stick glue enabling it to be stuck repeatedly in the closed position closing the cigarette extraction opening).
- Patent
US6237760A1 and Patent ApplicationDE102009060134A1 describe two examples of a sealed inner package containing a group of cigarettes and having a cigarette extraction opening closed by an open-close sealing flap. The group of cigarettes inside the sealed inner package is enclosed in a stiffener inserted inside the sealed inner package, directly contacting the cigarettes, and which comprises a front wall contacting the cylindrical lateral walls of the cigarettes; two lateral walls on opposite sides of the front wall and contacting the cylindrical lateral walls of the cigarettes; and a bottom wall contacting the tips of the cigarettes. - Patent Application
WO2011110272A1 describes a packing method for producing a sealed inner package containing a group of cigarettes. As a whole, the packing method described is substantially conventional, by causing the group of cigarettes to intercept a flat sheet of packing material, so that the sheet of packing material folds into a 'U' about the group of cigarettes. - To improve the efficiency of the packing cycle described in Patent Application
WO2011110272A1 , Patent ApplicationWO2011110272A1 proposes a further packing method for producing a sealed inner package containing a group of cigarettes. This further method is based on the so-called 'flow-pack' method, in which a tubular wrapping is formed about a succession of groups of cigarettes by continuously and longitudinally heat-sealing a web of packing material folded into a tube; and the tubular wrapping is heat-sealed and cut transversely, upstream and downstream from each group of cigarettes, into individual sealed inner packages. - When forming the tubular wrapping using the packing method described in Patent Application
WO2011110272A1 , however, each group of cigarettes may possibly fall out of shape, i.e. the cigarettes in the group may shift out of position, thus resulting in the formation of an irregularly shaped sealed inner package which is inevitably rejected. - Patent Application
WO2013053408A1 belongs to the state of the art according to Art. 54(3) EPC and discloses a package of tobacco articles comprising a sealed inner package provided with a stiffener, which is located inside the sealed inner package contacting the group of tobacco articles and has a connecting system for connecting a bottom wall to lateral walls, to prevent movement of the two lateral walls with respect to the bottom wall. - It is an object of the present invention to provide a package of tobacco articles comprising a sealed inner package, and which is designed to eliminate the above drawbacks and at the same time is cheap and easy to produce.
- According to the present invention, there is provided a package of tobacco articles comprising a sealed inner package, as claimed in the accompanying Claims.
- A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
-
Figure 1 shows a front view in perspective of a packet of cigarettes, not forming part of the present invention, in a closed configuration; -
Figure 2 shows a front view in perspective of theFigure 1 packet of cigarettes in an open configuration; -
Figure 3 shows a rear view in perspective of theFigure 1 packet of cigarettes in a closed configuration; -
Figure 4a shows a front view in perspective of a sealed inner package of theFigure 1 packet of cigarettes; -
Figures 4b and 4c show front and rear views in perspective respectively of theFigure 4a sealed inner package prior to folding lateral heat-seal fins; -
Figure 5 shows a view in perspective of a group of cigarettes enclosed in theFigure 4 sealed inner package; -
Figure 6 shows a view in perspective of a stiffener inserted inside theFigure 4 sealed inner package; -
Figure 7 shows a longitudinal section of theFigure 6 stiffener; -
Figure 8 shows a view in perspective of theFigure 6 stiffener, illustrating the way in which a tab on the bottom wall is folded; -
Figure 9 shows a spread-out view of a blank from which to form theFigure 6 stiffener; -
Figures 10-27 and29-31 show alternative solutions for theFigure 6 stiffener and/or the blank from which to form theFigure 6 stiffener not forming part of the present invention; -
Figure 28 shows an embodiment of theFigure 6 stiffener in accordance with the present invention; -
Figure 32 shows a schematic view in perspective, with parts removed for clarity, of a packing machine for producing theFigure 1 packet of cigarettes and not forming part of the present invention; -
Figures 33 and34 show two schematic views in perspective, with parts removed for clarity, of a packing unit of theFigure 32 packing machine, for producing the sealed inner package inFigure 4 ; -
Figure 35 shows a schematic plan view, with parts removed for clarity, of the packing unit inFigures 33 and34 ; -
Figure 36 shows a schematic plan view of material flow on theFigure 33 and34 packing unit; -
Figure 37 shows a schematic view in perspective of how theFigure 9 blank is folded to form theFigure 6 stiffener; -
Figure 38 shows a schematic section, with parts removed for clarity, of a coupling conveyor of theFigure 33 and34 packing unit; -
Figure 39 shows a schematic view in perspective, with parts removed for clarity, of a packing conveyor of theFigure 33 and34 packing unit; -
Figure 40 shows a schematic view in perspective of material flow on an end portion of theFigure 39 packing conveyor; -
Figures 41 ,42 and43 show three schematic views in perspective, with parts removed for clarity, of a variation of theFigure 33 and34 packing unit. - Number 1 in
Figures 1, 2 and 3 indicates as a whole a rigid packet of cigarettes. Packet 1 of cigarettes comprises a cup-shapedouter container 2, which is made of cardboard, has a hinged lid, and houses a sealed inner package 3 (Figure 2 ). Sealedinner package 3 encloses a parallelepiped-shaped group 4 of cigarettes (Figure 5 ) and, at the top and front, has a central cigarette extraction opening 5 extending over part of a front wall and part of a top wall of sealedinner package 3. The cigarettes ingroup 4 are cylindrical with a longitudinal axis. Sealedinner package 3 comprises a reclosable (i.e. 'open-close') sealing flap (i.e. sealing panel) 6 designed to sealextraction opening 5 and coated on the underside with non-dry, re-stick glue (i.e. non-dry glue allowing the sealing flap to be detached and re-attached repeatedly). That is, sealingflap 6 normally adheres to sealedinner package 3 toseal extraction opening 5, and can be detached temporarily from sealedinner package 3 to free, and so withdraw a cigarette through, extraction opening 5. - In the example shown in the attached drawings, sealing
flap 6 is applied externally to the packing material of sealedinner package 3. In alternative embodiments, sealingflap 6 is either formed in two-layer packing material of sealedinner package 3, or is in the form of a frame applied to the inside of the packing material of sealedinner package 3. - As shown more clearly in
Figure 4 , sealingflap 6 has agrip tab 7 with no re-stick adhesive and located close to, normally beneath,extraction opening 5. - As shown in
Figures 6 ,7 and 8 , sealedinner package 3 comprises a U-shaped stiffener (i.e. tray) 8 made of cardboard (identical to that of outer container 2) and which is inserted inside sealedinner package 3, contactinggroup 4 of cigarettes.Stiffener 8 comprises afront wall 9 positioned contacting the cylindrical lateral walls of the cigarettes ingroup 4; twolateral walls 10 on opposite sides offront wall 9 and positioned contacting the cylindrical lateral walls of the cigarettes ingroup 4; and abottom wall 11 positioned contacting the tips of the cigarettes ingroup 4.Front wall 9 preferably has atop recess 12 located at cigarette extraction opening 5, so thatfront wall 9 does not overlap cigarette extraction opening 5. - Each
lateral wall 10 comprises alateral tab 13, which is folded 90° with respect tolateral wall 10 ontobottom wall 11.Bottom wall 11 comprises abottom tab 14, which is folded 180° with respect to and ontobottom wall 11; andbottom tab 14 comprises anappendix 15, which is folded 90° with respect tobottom tab 14 ontofront wall 9. - Stiffener 8 has no glue, and comprises a jointing system to hold
bottom wall 11 andlateral walls 10 in position. The jointing system comprises a U-shaped throughslit 16 formed throughfront wall 9, along the fold line betweenfront wall 9 andbottom wall 11; and aU-shaped projection 17 formed onbottom tab 14, along the fold line betweenbottom tab 14 andappendix 15.Projection 17 onbottom tab 14 is inserted throughslit 16 in front wall 9 (by elastically deforming projection 17) to form a joint, betweenprojection 17 and throughslit 16, which holdsbottom wall 11 andlateral walls 10 in position, by requiring significant deformation for its release. Throughslit 16 is formed by making a U-shaped cut throughfront wall 9, along the fold line betweenfront wall 9 andbottom wall 11. Likewise,projection 17 is formed by making a U-shaped cut throughappendix 15, along the fold line betweenappendix 15 andbottom tab 14. - In the finished packet 1 of cigarettes,
stiffener 8 serves to reinforce and maintain the shape of sealedinner package 3, to prevent sealedinner package 3 from collapsing, when some of the cigarettes are removed, and so complicating withdrawal of the remaining cigarettes and, in particular, opening and closing of sealingflap 6. When producing sealedinner package 3, on the other hand, and as described in detail below,stiffener 8 serves to hold the cigarettes ingroup 4 together in the right position. -
Figure 9 shows a blank 18, which is folded to form thestiffener 8 inFigures 6 ,7 and 8. Figure 8 clearly shows the cuts defining throughslit 16 andprojection 17. -
Figure 10 shows a variation of theFigure 9 blank 18. TheFigure 10 blank 18 differs from theFigure 9 blank 18 by comprising a 'logo', which is visible in positive form at top recess 12 (i.e. at the part ofstiffener 8 visible throughextraction opening 5 of sealed inner package 3), and in negative form atbottom tab 14 and appendix 15 (in this way, theFigure 10 blank 18 can be formed from a continuous web of cardboard with no waste). -
Figures 11 and 12 show an alternative example of theFigure 6 ,7 and 8 stiffener 8, which differs from theFigure 6 ,7 and 8 stiffener 8 by comprising anappendix 15 reduced to a minimum in size. -
Figures 13 and 14 show an alternative example of theFigure 6 ,7 and 8 stiffener 8, which is formed from the blank 18 shown inFigure 15 , and which differs from theFigure 6 ,7 and 8 stiffener 8 by having noappendix 15, and by the tip ofbottom tab 14 being inserted (by elastically deforming bottom tab 14) throughslit 16 to form a joint betweenbottom tab 14 and throughslit 16. -
Figures 16 and 17 show an alternative example of theFigure 6 ,7 and 8 stiffener 8, which is formed from the blank 18 shown inFigure 18 , and which differs from theFigure 6 ,7 and 8 stiffener 8 by having no throughslit 16 and noprojection 17, and byfront wall 9 having a through slit 19 (typically inverted-U-shaped) through whichappendix 15 is fitted (by elastically deforming through slit 19). In other words, the jointing system comprises the inverted-U-shaped throughslit 19 infront wall 9; andappendix 15 onbottom tab 14, which is folded 90° with respect tobottom tab 14 ontofront wall 9, at and to fit inside throughslit 19.Figure 19 shows a variation of theFigure 18 blank 18, which differs from theFigure 18 blank 18 by comprising a 'logo', which is visible in positive form at top recess 12 (i.e. at the part ofstiffener 8 visible throughextraction opening 5 of sealed package 3), and in negative form atbottom tab 14 and appendix 15 (in this way, theFigure 19 blank 18 can be formed from a continuous web of cardboard with no waste). -
Figures 20, 21 and22 show an alternative example of theFigure 6 ,7 and 8 stiffener 8, which is formed from the blank 18 shown inFigure 23 , and which differs from theFigure 6 ,7 and 8 stiffener 8 by having noappendix 15, no throughslit 16, and noprojection 17, and bylateral tabs 13 havingslits 20 into whichbottom tab 14 fits (by elastically deforming lateral tabs 13). -
Figures 24 ,25 and 26 show three alternative examples of theFigure 9 blank 18, which differ from theFigure 9 blank 18 by having nobottom tab 14, noappendix 15, no throughslit 16, and noprojection 17; bylateral tabs 13 havingslits 20; and bybottom wall 11 having twoslits 21. Whenlateral tabs 13 are superimposed onbottom wall 11, each slit 20 fits inside a corresponding slit 21 (by elastically deforming relative lateral tab 13). -
Figure 27 shows an alternative example of theFigure 6 ,7 and 8 stiffener 8, which differs from theFigure 6 ,7 and 8 stiffener 8 by having nobottom tab 14, noappendix 15, no throughslit 16, and noprojection 17, and bybottom wall 11 having twoslits 21. Whenlateral tabs 13 are superimposed onbottom wall 11, the tip of eachlateral tab 13 deforms elastically to fit inside acorresponding slit 21. -
Figure 28 shows an embodiment of theFigure 6 ,7 and 8 stiffener 8 in accordance with the present invention, which differs from theFigure 6 ,7 and 8 stiffener 8 by having nobottom tab 14, noappendix 15, no throughslit 16, and noprojection 17; by the twolateral tabs 13 being connected to opposite ends ofbottom wall 11, and being folded 90° with respect tobottom wall 11 ontolateral walls 10; and by eachlateral wall 10 comprising alateral wing 22, which is folded 180° with respect to and ontolateral wall 10 to enclose a correspondinglateral tab 13. Eachlateral wing 22 has twoprojections 23, which (by deforming elastically) fit through corresponding throughslits 24 infront wall 9 to form a joint betweenprojections 23 and throughslits 24. -
Figures 29 and 30 show an alternative example of theFigure 6 ,7 and 8 stiffener 8, which differs from theFigure 6 ,7 and 8 stiffener 8 by having noappendix 15, no throughslit 16, and noprojection 17; and bybottom tab 14 being folded 90° with respect tobottom wall 11. -
Figure 31 shows an alternative example of theFigure 9 blank 18, which differs from theFigure 9 blank 18 by having nobottom tab 14, noappendix 15, no throughslit 16, and noprojection 17; and by eachlateral tab 13 being glued byglue 25 tobottom wall 11. In other words, in all the embodiments shown inFigures 6-30 ,stiffener 8 has no glue, and comprises a jointing system to holdbottom wall 11 andlateral walls 10 in position; whereas, in theFigure 31 embodiment,stiffener 8 has no jointing system, but has two areas ofglue 25 to holdbottom wall 11 andlateral walls 10 in position. In an alternative embodiment (not shown) perfectly equivalent to the one inFigure 31 , the twolateral tabs 13 are connected to opposite ends ofbottom wall 11, are folded 90° with respect tobottom wall 11 ontolateral walls 10, and are glued byglue 25 tolateral walls 10. - Choosing which of the above solutions for
stiffener 8 to employ depends on the relationship between the thickness ofgroup 4 of cigarettes (and therefore the size ofbottom wall 11 of stiffener 8) and the size of recess 12 (which, to avoid waste, also affects the shape and size ofbottom tab 14 and appendix 15) . -
Number 26 inFigure 32 indicates as a whole a packing machine for producing packet 1 of cigarettes inFigures 1, 2 and 3 .Packing machine 26 comprises apacking section 27 for producing sealedinner packages 3; and a follow-uppacking section 28 for producingouter containers 2 by foldingrigid blanks 29 about the sealedinner packages 3 from packingsection 27. - As shown in
Figure 33 , packingsection 27 comprises a formingunit 30 for producinggroups 4 of cigarettes, and for producingstiffeners 8 by foldingblanks 18; acoupling unit 31 forfitting groups 4 of cigarettes withrespective stiffeners 8; and apacking unit 32 for producing sealedinner packages 3 by folding and heat-sealing astrip 33 of packing material (complete withextraction openings 5 and superimposed sealing flaps 6) aboutgroups 4 of cigarettes fitted withrespective stiffeners 8. - Forming
unit 30 comprises ahopper 34 with four outlets; and a formingbelt conveyor 35 supporting a number of formingpockets 36. Formingconveyor 35 feeds each formingpocket 36 from aninput station 37, located in front of an outlet ofhopper 34 and where agroup 4 of cigarettes is expelled from the outlet ofhopper 34 into formingpocket 36, to anoutput station 38 where thegroup 4 of cigarettes is expelled from formingpocket 36. Formingunit 30 also comprises afolding belt conveyor 39 supporting a number of folding pockets (not shown) and extending parallel to and alongside formingconveyor 35. Foldingconveyor 39 feeds each folding pocket from aninput station 40, where a blank 18 is fed into the folding pocket; through a number of folding stations, where blank 18 is folded (completely or partly) to form astiffener 8; and to anoutput station 41, where thestiffener 8 is expelled from the folding pocket. - As shown in
Figure 38 ,coupling unit 31 comprises acoupling conveyor 42, which is positioned perpendicular to formingconveyor 35 andfolding conveyor 39, picks up eachgroup 4 of cigarettes atoutput station 38 of formingconveyor 35,couples group 4 of cigarettes with acorresponding stiffener 8 at a coupling station 43 (located over and aligned vertically withoutput station 41 of folding conveyor 39), and feedsgroup 4 of cigarettes, fitted withstiffener 8, to aninput station 44 of packingunit 32. Couplingconveyor 42 comprises anendless belt 45 fitted with a number ofpaddles 46, which pushgroups 4 of cigarettes along aslide surface 47 connectingoutput station 38 of formingconveyor 35 to inputstation 44 of packingunit 32. -
Slide surface 47 is static (i.e. mounted in a fixed position) and is connected to anelevator 47a movable vertically between a bottom position (Figure 38 ), in whichelevator 47a is located atoutput station 41 of foldingconveyor 39, and a top position (not shown inFigure 38 ), in whichelevator 47a is located atcoupling station 43.Slide surface 47 has a through opening, through which astiffener 8 is raised byelevator 47a. In actual use,elevator 47a is moved into the bottom position to pick up astiffener 8, and is then raised to feedstiffener 8 intocoupling station 43, wherestiffener 8 intercepts and couples with acorresponding group 4 of cigarettes (i.e. as it moves along,group 4 of cigarettes impactsbottom wall 11 ofstiffener 8, thus drawingstiffener 8 along with it). In a preferred embodiment, the end ofslide surface 47 around the through opening is designed to finish foldingbottom tab 14 andappendix 15 asstiffener 8 is pushed up byelevator 47a. - As shown in
Figure 39 , packingunit 32 comprises a packingconveyor 48, which feeds eachgroup 4 of cigarettes (fitted with respective stiffener 8) along a straight packing path P. A fixed folding device 49 (shown schematically inFigure 35 ) winds strip 33 of packing material longitudinally, i.e. parallel to packing path P, about packing path P to bring the two opposite edges ofstrip 33 of packing material into contact and so form a tubularwrapping enclosing groups 4 of tobacco articles (fitted with respective stiffeners 8).Packing unit 32 also comprises a heat-sealing device 50 (shown schematically inFigures 35 and40 ) located downstream from foldingdevice 49, and which heat-seals the two opposite overlapping edges ofstrip 33 of packing material longitudinally, i.e. parallel to packing path P, to stabilize the tubular wrapping.Packing unit 32 also comprises a heat-sealing device 51 (shown schematically inFigures 35 and40 ) located downstream from heat-sealingdevice 50, and which heat-seals and cuts the tubular wrapping transversely, i.e. perpendicularly to packing path P, upstream and downstream from eachgroup 4 of cigarettes (fitted with respective stiffener 8), to complete sealedinner packages 3. - It is important to note that packing
conveyor 48 feeds eachgroup 4 of cigarettes (fitted with respective stiffener 8) transversely along packing path P, i.e. with the longitudinal axes of the cigarettes perpendicular to packing path P and to the longitudinal heat-seal, and parallel to the transverse heat-seals. Feedinggroups 4 of cigarettes along the packing path in this way is extremely important, by enabling the formation of sealedinner packages 3 with the transverse heat-seals along the lateral walls, and with no heat-seals at all on the bottom wall and, more importantly, on the top wall in whichextraction opening 5 is formed. - As stated,
strip 33 of packing material is already complete withextraction openings 5 covered with open-close sealing flaps 6, which are formed and applied respectively at work stations (not shown) upstream from packingunit 32. Onstrip 33 of packing material,extraction openings 5 covered with open-close sealing flaps 6 are located on the opposite side of the tubular wrapping to the longitudinal heat-seal, and are centred between the two transverse heat-seals. In a different embodiment not shown,extraction openings 5 covered with open-close sealing flaps 6 may be located on the same side as the longitudinal heat-seal and, as opposed to being centred, may be more or less asymmetrical in shape and/or position. - As shown in
Figure 39 , packingconveyor 48 comprises a static (i.e. stationary)slide surface 52, along which eachgroup 4 of cigarettes slides, and about which strip 33 of packing material is wound; and apush device 53 located overgroups 4 of cigarettes, and which pushes eachgroup 4 of cigarettes along packing pathP. Push device 53 comprises aconveyor belt 54, which is located over eachgroup 4 of cigarettes, extends parallel to packing path P, presses eachgroup 4 of cigarettes againstslide surface 52, and comprisespaddles 55, which project fromconveyor belt 54 and are positioned upstream and downstream from, to define a seat for, eachgroup 4 of cigarettes. - Finally, packing
unit 32 comprises afeed conveyor 56, which receivesgroups 4 of cigarettes from couplingconveyor 42 atinput station 44, and feedsgroups 4 of cigarettes ontoslide surface 52.Feed conveyor 56 comprises two parallel, side byside conveyor belts 57 located beneathgroups 4 of cigarettes, and on whichgroups 4 of cigarettes rest. Eachconveyor belt 57 comprisespaddles 58, which project fromconveyor belt 57 and are positioned upstream and downstream from, to define a seat for, eachgroup 4 of cigarettes. - In a preferred solution, packing
unit 32 comprises twoconveyor belts 59 positioned facing each other on opposite sides of packing path P, directly upstream from heat-sealingdevice 50. Asstrip 33 of packing material is wound, the twoconveyor belts 59 press on opposite sides of the tubular wrapping to compress the two opposite longitudinal edges of the tubular wrapping transversely (i.e. the twoconveyor belts 59 press on the longitudinally oriented bottom wall and top wall of each sealedinner package 3 in the making). - As shown more clearly in
Figure 40 , longitudinally heat-sealing (by means of heat-sealing device 50) the two opposite overlapping edges ofstrip 33 of packing material to stabilize the tubular wrapping produces alongitudinal fin 60, which initially projects perpendicularly from the tubular wrapping. In a preferred solution, heat-sealingdevice 50 forming the longitudinal heat-seal is connected to a folding device, which folds thelongitudinal fin 60 ninety degrees and presses it onto the tubular wrapping. Likewise, each transverse heat-seal (by heat-sealing device 51) on the tubular wrapping produces atransverse fin 61, which initially projects perpendicularly from (i.e. from a lateral wall of) the corresponding sealedinner package 3. In a preferred solution, a folding device downstream from heat-sealingdevice 51 folds eachtransverse fin 61 ninety degrees and presses it onto the corresponding sealed inner package 3 (i.e. onto a lateral wall of the corresponding sealed package 3). Eachtransverse fin 61 is preferably fixed (heat-sealed or glued) to the corresponding sealed inner package 3 (i.e. to a lateral wall of the corresponding sealed package 3) so that it remains permanently contacting sealedinner package 3. - It is important to note that, whereas each
transverse fin 61 must be fixed to remain permanently contacting the corresponding sealedinner package 3, the transverse heat-seals provide for holding thelongitudinal fin 60 permanently contacting the corresponding sealedinner package 3. -
Figures 4b and 4c show a sealedinner package 3 prior to folding (fixing) the twotransverse fins 61, andFigure 4a a sealedinner package 3 after the twotransverse fins 61 are folded (fixed). - In the
Figure 32-40 example, eachgroup 4 of cigarettes is formed on formingconveyor 35 independently and separately from thecorresponding stiffener 8; eachstiffener 8 is folded on foldingconveyor 39 independently and separately from formation of thecorresponding group 4 of cigarettes; and eachpre-formed group 4 of cigarettes is coupled oncoupling conveyor 42 with the correspondingpre-folded stiffener 8. As stated, formingconveyor 35 for forminggroups 4 of cigarettes extends parallel to and alongside foldingconveyor 38 for foldingstiffeners 8; whereascoupling conveyor 42, on which eachpre-formed group 4 of cigarettes is coupled with the correspondingpre-folded stiffener 8, is perpendicular to formingconveyor 35 andfolding conveyor 38. - In the
Figure 41-43 example, on the other hand, eachstiffener 8 is fed into a formingpocket 36 on formingconveyor 35, upstream fromhopper 34; and eachgroup 4 of cigarettes is transferred fromhopper 34 into forming pocket 36 (containing stiffener 8) and directly intostiffener 8. In this embodiment, as opposed to extending parallel to and alongside formingconveyor 35, foldingconveyor 39 for foldingstiffeners 8 is located upstream from formingconveyor 35 to feedstiffeners 8, already folded, to the start of formingconveyor 35. - For the sake of simplicity,
Figures 41-43 show asimplified stiffener 8 with onlyfront wall 9 and lateral walls 10 (i.e. with no bottom wall 11). Though, clearly,stiffener 8 in theFigure 41-43 embodiment may also be as described with reference toFigures 6-31 . - In one example, packing
unit 32 comprises a processing device for extracting air (by suction) from the tubular wrapping to form vacuum-sealedinner packages 3. Alternatively, in addition to extracting air by suction from the tubular wrapping, the processing device also injects inert gas to form controlled-atmosphere sealedinner packages 3. - In a different example not shown, packing
machine 26 only comprises packingsection 27 for producing sealedinner packages 3, which are marketed as they are, without outer containers 2 (i.e. each packet 1 of cigarettes only comprises a sealedpackage 3, and has no outer container 2); or else a further packing machine (separate from and fully independent of packing machine 26) receives sealedinner packages 3 from packingmachine 26, and formsouter containers 2 about sealedinner packages 3. - Sealed
inner package 3 described above has numerous advantages. - Firstly, it can be produced using the 'flow-pack' method, ensuring the correct shape of
group 4 of cigarettes. Essential to ensuring the correct shape ofgroup 4 of cigarettes is the fact thatstiffener 8 comprises a system for connectingbottom wall 11 tolateral walls 10, and for preventingbottom wall 11 from moving with respect to lateral walls 10 (or, conversely, preventinglateral walls 10 from moving with respect to bottom wall 11). This connecting system, in fact, increases the rigidity ofstiffener 8 and so further prevents unwanted movements of the cigarettes ingroup 4, particularly when forming the tubular wrapping. - Moreover, in some described solutions, the system connecting
bottom wall 11 andlateral walls 10 has no glue, thus eliminating any glue inside sealedinner package 3, and the possibility of the substances in the glue somehow altering the taste and/or aroma of the tobacco in the cigarettes. - Given its numerous advantages, the design of packet 1 of cigarettes described may also be used for producing a carton of cigarettes, which is substantially the same as packet 1 described, except that it contains a group of packets of cigarettes as opposed to a group of cigarettes, or for producing a packet of cigars or similar, which is substantially the same as packet 1 described, except that it contains a group of cigars or similar, as opposed to a group of cigarettes.
Claims (5)
- A package (1) of tobacco articles, comprising:a group (4) of tobacco articles;a sealed inner package (3) enclosing the group (4) of tobacco articles and having an extraction opening (5) from which to extract the tobacco articles and closed by a sealing flap (6); anda stiffener (8) located inside the sealed inner package (3), contacting the group (4) of tobacco articles, and which comprises a front wall (9) contacting the cylindrical lateral walls of the tobacco articles; two lateral walls (10) located on opposite sides of the front wall (9) and contacting the cylindrical lateral walls of the tobacco articles; and a bottom wall (11) contacting the tips of the tobacco articles;the package (1) being characterized in that:the stiffener (8) comprises a connecting system for connecting the bottom wall (11) to the lateral walls (10) of the stiffener (8), to prevent movement of the two lateral walls (10) with respect to the bottom wall (11); andthe bottom wall (11) comprises two lateral tabs (13), which are folded 90° with respect to the bottom wall (11) onto the lateral walls (10), and are secured mechanically to the lateral walls (10) by the connecting system.
- A package (1) according to Claim 1, wherein the connecting system comprises glue (25) securing the lateral tabs (13) to the lateral walls (10).
- A package (1) according to Claim 1, wherein the connecting system has no glue, and the lateral tabs (13) are secured to the lateral walls (10) by a mechanical joint.
- A package (1) according to Claim 3, wherein:each lateral wall (10) comprises a lateral wing (22), which is folded 180° with respect to and onto the lateral wall (10);the connecting system comprises at least two slits (24) formed through the front wall (9); andthe connecting system comprises, for each lateral wing (22), at least one projection (23), which fits inside a corresponding slit (24) in the front wall (9) to form a joint between the projection (23) and the slit (24) .
- A package (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, and comprising a hinged-lid outer container (2) housing the sealed inner package (3).
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IT000392A ITBO20120392A1 (en) | 2012-07-20 | 2012-07-20 | PACKAGE OF SMOKE ARTICLES PROVIDED WITH A SEALED PAPER. |
PCT/IB2013/055994 WO2014013479A2 (en) | 2012-07-20 | 2013-07-22 | Package of tobacco articles comprising a sealed inner package |
EP13773362.2A EP2874909B1 (en) | 2012-07-20 | 2013-07-22 | Package of tobacco articles comprising a sealed inner package |
Related Parent Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP13773362.2A Division-Into EP2874909B1 (en) | 2012-07-20 | 2013-07-22 | Package of tobacco articles comprising a sealed inner package |
EP13773362.2A Division EP2874909B1 (en) | 2012-07-20 | 2013-07-22 | Package of tobacco articles comprising a sealed inner package |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP3196148A1 EP3196148A1 (en) | 2017-07-26 |
EP3196148B1 true EP3196148B1 (en) | 2018-09-26 |
Family
ID=46800247
Family Applications (3)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP13773362.2A Active EP2874909B1 (en) | 2012-07-20 | 2013-07-22 | Package of tobacco articles comprising a sealed inner package |
EP17161209.6A Active EP3196148B1 (en) | 2012-07-20 | 2013-07-22 | Package of tobacco articles comprising a sealed inner package |
EP17161208.8A Withdrawn EP3196147A1 (en) | 2012-07-20 | 2013-07-22 | Package of tobacco articles comprising a sealed inner package |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP13773362.2A Active EP2874909B1 (en) | 2012-07-20 | 2013-07-22 | Package of tobacco articles comprising a sealed inner package |
Family Applications After (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP17161208.8A Withdrawn EP3196147A1 (en) | 2012-07-20 | 2013-07-22 | Package of tobacco articles comprising a sealed inner package |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (3) | EP2874909B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP6251260B2 (en) |
KR (1) | KR20150031416A (en) |
IT (1) | ITBO20120392A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2014013479A2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
PL231422B1 (en) * | 2014-03-06 | 2019-02-28 | Gd Spa | Packaging with sealed inner packaging equipped with a bleeder hole controlled by a release valve, sheet of packing material and method for manufacturing the sheet of packing material |
WO2015132770A1 (en) | 2014-03-06 | 2015-09-11 | G.D Societa' Per Azioni | Package with a sealed inner package provided with a passage hole controlled by a pneumatic valve |
RU2016140250A (en) * | 2014-03-14 | 2018-04-16 | Г.Д Сочиета' Пер Ациони | PACKAGING CONTAINING A BAG OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND A WRAP CONTAINING A BAG OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS |
GB201409459D0 (en) * | 2014-05-28 | 2014-07-09 | British American Tobacco Co | Smoking article pack |
ITUB20152672A1 (en) * | 2015-07-30 | 2017-01-30 | Gd Spa | Pack of cigarettes and method to make it happen. |
DE102018005626A1 (en) * | 2018-07-17 | 2020-01-23 | Focke & Co. (Gmbh & Co. Kg) | Pack for products of the cigarette industry |
IT202000024433A1 (en) | 2020-10-16 | 2022-04-16 | Gd Spa | PACKAGING MACHINE AND WRAPPING METHOD TO PRODUCE A PACKAGE OF RIGID SMOKING ITEMS WITH A SEALED INTERNAL WRAPPING. |
IT202100002912A1 (en) | 2021-02-10 | 2022-08-10 | Gd Spa | PACKAGING MACHINE AND WRAPPING METHOD TO PRODUCE A PACKAGE OF RIGID SMOKING ITEMS WITH A SEALED INTERNAL WRAPPING |
WO2023217907A1 (en) * | 2022-05-13 | 2023-11-16 | Jt International Sa | Packet for smoking articles |
WO2023217903A1 (en) * | 2022-05-13 | 2023-11-16 | Jt International Sa | Package for collating a plurality of smoking articles |
Family Cites Families (14)
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US4347970A (en) * | 1980-08-21 | 1982-09-07 | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Container closure |
JPH0191721U (en) * | 1987-12-08 | 1989-06-15 | ||
JPH0891464A (en) * | 1994-09-27 | 1996-04-09 | Toppan Printing Co Ltd | Paper tray container to place fresh sea urchin roe, etc. on it |
IL130017A (en) * | 1996-11-21 | 2002-12-01 | Rothmans International Ltd | Packaging for smoking articles |
DE69703940T2 (en) * | 1996-11-21 | 2001-06-07 | British American Tobacco Co | PACKAGING FOR SMOKING GOODS |
CA2203597A1 (en) * | 1997-04-24 | 1998-10-24 | Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. | Freshness pack |
JPH11321846A (en) * | 1999-04-15 | 1999-11-24 | Toppan Printing Co Ltd | Simply fabricable double side-walled container |
ITBO20080080A1 (en) * | 2008-02-07 | 2009-08-08 | Gd Spa | PACKAGING OF CIGARETTES WITH AN INTERNAL ENCLOSURE PROVIDED WITH A CLOSING LABEL. |
ITBO20080411A1 (en) * | 2008-06-27 | 2009-12-28 | Gd Spa | PACKAGE FOR EXTENDED SHAPE ITEMS. |
IT1396234B1 (en) * | 2009-11-10 | 2012-11-16 | Vecchi | PACKAGE FOR SMOKE AND RELATED ARTICLES |
DE102009060134A1 (en) * | 2009-12-09 | 2011-06-16 | Focke & Co.(Gmbh & Co. Kg) | Packings, in particular for cigarettes, and method and apparatus for producing the same |
DE102010019867A1 (en) * | 2010-03-10 | 2011-09-15 | Focke & Co.(Gmbh & Co. Kg) | Pack for cigarettes and method and device for producing same |
DE102011119344A1 (en) | 2011-10-11 | 2013-04-11 | Focke & Co. (Gmbh & Co. Kg) | Pack for cigarettes and method of making same |
JP3174217U (en) * | 2011-12-27 | 2012-03-08 | ダイナパック株式会社 | Packaging box |
-
2012
- 2012-07-20 IT IT000392A patent/ITBO20120392A1/en unknown
-
2013
- 2013-07-22 WO PCT/IB2013/055994 patent/WO2014013479A2/en active Application Filing
- 2013-07-22 EP EP13773362.2A patent/EP2874909B1/en active Active
- 2013-07-22 EP EP17161209.6A patent/EP3196148B1/en active Active
- 2013-07-22 EP EP17161208.8A patent/EP3196147A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2013-07-22 KR KR20147034855A patent/KR20150031416A/en active Search and Examination
- 2013-07-22 JP JP2015522241A patent/JP6251260B2/en active Active
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
None * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP2874909B1 (en) | 2018-03-21 |
ITBO20120392A1 (en) | 2014-01-21 |
JP2015523289A (en) | 2015-08-13 |
EP2874909A2 (en) | 2015-05-27 |
WO2014013479A2 (en) | 2014-01-23 |
KR20150031416A (en) | 2015-03-24 |
WO2014013479A3 (en) | 2014-03-06 |
JP6251260B2 (en) | 2017-12-20 |
EP3196148A1 (en) | 2017-07-26 |
EP3196147A1 (en) | 2017-07-26 |
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