Classifications

• • 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
  • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
  • B65D5/20—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides to form a container body, e.g. of tray-like form
  • B65D5/28—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides to form a container body, e.g. of tray-like form with extensions of sides permanently secured to adjacent sides, with sides permanently secured together by adhesive strips, or with sides held in place solely by rigidity of material
• • 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
  • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
  • B65D5/42—Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
  • B65D5/64—Lids
  • B65D5/66—Hinged lids
  • B65D5/6626—Hinged lids formed by folding extensions of a side panel of a container body formed by erecting a "cross-like" blank
• • 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

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a package of tobacco articles, to a blank for a package of tobacco articles, and to a method of folding a blank to form a package of tobacco articles .
• a so-called 'shoulder box' package of cigarettes comprising a flat, open- topped box containing a group of cigarettes normally arranged in two superimposed layers; and a lid hinged to the box by a sticker glued to the box and lid.
• a collar inside the box projects from the lateral walls of the box towards the lid to guide and support the lid as it is opened and closed, and to hold the closed lid in contact with the box by interfering slightly with the free movement of the lid.
• 'Shoulder box' packages of cigarettes are currently made using a first blank which is gummed and folded to form the box; a second blank separate from the first, and which is gummed and folded to form the lid; a third blank separate from the first and second, and which is folded to form a collar which is inserted inside and glued to the lateral walls of the box; and a sticker which is glued about the box and lid to hinge the lid to the box.
• the tobacco articles are preferably cigarettes .
• a package of tobacco articles a blank for a package of tobacco articles, and a method of folding a blank to form a package of tobacco articles, as claimed in the accompanying Claims .
• Figure 1 shows a front view in perspective of a package of tobacco articles in accordance with the present invention and in a closed configura ion;
• Figure 2 shows a front view in perspective of the Figure 1 package of tobacco articles in an open configuration
• Figure 3 shows a front view in perspective of the Figure 1 package of tobacco articles in an open configuration, with the group of tobacco articles removed;
• Figure 4 shows a rear view in perspective of the Figure 1 package of tobacco articles in an open configuration
• Figure 5 shows a cross section of a rear portion of the Figure 1 package of tobacco articles in a closed configuration
• Figure 6 shows a plan view of a blank from which to form the Figure 1 package of tobacco articles
• Figures 7 and 8 show two, respectively front and rear, plan views of the Figure 6 blank, showing the gummed areas ;
• Figure 9 shows a view in perspective of how the Figure 6 blank is folded before being combined with the group of tobacco articles to form the Figure 1 package;
• Figures 10 and 11 show two, respectively front and rear, plan views of the Figure 6 blank folded partly, before being combined with the group of tobacco articles ;
• Figures 12-17 show schematic views in perspective of how the partly folded blank in Figures 10 and 11 is folded about the group of tobacco articles to form the Figure 1 package;
• Figure 18 shows a front view in perspective of an alternative embodiment of the Figure 1 package of tobacco articles in an open configuration, with the group of tobacco articles removed;
• Figure 19 shows a plan view of a blank from which to form the package of tobacco articles in Figure 18.
• Number 1 in Figures 1-4 indicates as a whole a so- called 'shoulder box' package of cigarettes.
• Package 1 of cigarettes comprises a flat, open- topped box 2 containing a wrapped group 3 of cigarettes (tobacco articles), i.e. a group of cigarettes (not shown) wrapped in a sheet of foil wrapping material; and a lid 4 hinged to box 2 to rotate between a closed position ( Figure 1) , in which lid 4 closes an open top end 5 of box 2, and an open position ( Figures 2-4) , in which lid 4 is lifted off box 2 to access group 3 of cigarettes through the open top end 5 of box 2.
• a closed position Figure 1
• Figures 2-4 open position
• box 2 is parallelepiped- shaped, and has a bottom wall 6 opposite the open top end 5; a front wall 7 and rear wall 8 opposite and parallel to each other; and two parallel lateral walls 9 interposed between walls 7 and 8.
• Lid 4 is in the form of a cup-shaped parallelepiped, and has a top wall 10 which is opposite and parallel to bottom wall 6 of box 2 when lid 4 is closed; a front wall 11 and rear wall 12 opposite and parallel to each other, and which are parallel to and superimposed on corresponding front and rear walls 7 and 8 of box 2 when lid 4 is closed; and two parallel lateral walls 13 which are parallel to and superimposed on corresponding lateral walls 9 of box 2 when lid 4 is closed.
• lid 4 is hinged to box 2 by a hinge 14 connecting rear wall 12 of lid 4 to an outer connecting wall 15 integral with rear wall 8 of box 2.
• outer connecting wall 15 i.e. visible from the outside
• inner connecting wall 16 i.e.
• top wall 10 of lid 4 is larger (i.e. longer and wider) than bottom wall 6 of box 2, so that, when lid 4 is closed, front wall 11 of lid 4 is superimposed on and completely covers front wall 7 of box 2, and lateral walls 13 of lid 4 are superimposed on and completely cover lateral walls 9 of box 2.
• top wall 10 of lid 4 is only slightly larger than bottom wall 6 of box 2, so that, when lid 4 is closed, front wall 11 of lid 4 fits snugly over front wall 7 of box 2, and lateral walls 13 of lid 4 fit snugly over lateral walls 9 of box 2.
• box 2 therefore guides and supports the lid as it is opened and closed, and maintains contact between itself and the closed lid by interfering slightly with the free movement of lid 4.
• box 2 performs the functions normally performed by the collar in conventional packages of this type, thus enabling the collar to be eliminated from package 1 of cigarettes.
• Box 2 and lid 4 in Figures 1-5 are formed from a single blank 20 shown in Figure 6 and comprising a number of panels indicated using the same reference numbers, with superscripts, as for the corresponding walls of box 2 and lid 4.
• blank 20 has two inner longitudinal fold lines 21a, and a number of transverse fold lines 17 which define, between the two inner longitudinal fold lines 21a, a panel 11' forming front wall 11 of lid 4; a panel 10' forming top wall 10 of lid 4; a panel 12 ' +15 ' forming rear wall 12 of lid 4 and outer connecting wall 15 separated by hinge 14 of lid 4 ; a panel 16' forming inner connecting wall 16; a panel 8' forming rear wall 8 of box 2 ; a panel 6 1 forming bottom wall 6 of box 2; and a panel 7' forming front wall 7 of box 2.
• Blank 20 comprises two panels 13 ' which are located on opposite sides of panel 10 ' , are connected to panel 10 ' along the two inner longitudinal fold lines 21a, and form the two lateral walls 13 of lid 4; and two reinforcing wings 13 ' ' which are located on opposite sides of panels 13 ' , are connected to panels 13 1 along two outer longitudinal fold lines 21b, and are superimposed on and glued to corresponding panels 13 1 to internally strengthen lateral walls 13 of lid 4.
• Blank 20 comprises a reinforcing flap 11' 1 which is connected to panel 11' along a transverse fold line 17, and is superimposed on and glued to panel 11 ' to internally strengthen front wall 11 of lid 4.
• Blank 20 preferably comprises a through hole 22 ' formed symmetrically between panel 11' and reinforcing flap 11 ' ' , and which defines a window 22 in front wall 11 of lid 4 ( Figure 1) by which to grip and open lid 4.
• window 22 in front wall 11 of lid 4 two windows, identical to window 22 in front wall 11 of lid 4 may be formed symmetrically in lateral walls 13 of lid, and defined by corresponding through holes formed symmetrically between panels 13 ' and reinforcing wings 13 1 ' .
• Panel 11' comprises two tabs 23 which are located on opposite sides of panel 11', are connected to panel 11' along the two inner longitudinal fold lines 21a, and are glued to panels 13'.
• Panel 12 ' +15 ' comprises two tabs 24 which are located on opposite sides of panel 12 '+15', are connected to panel 12 ' +15 ' along the two inner longitudinal fold lines 21a, and are glued to panels 13 ' .
• the outer edges of the two reinforcing wings 13 ' ' are preferably shaped to negatively reproduce the shape of tabs 23 and 24, so as to in no way overlap tabs 23 and 24, while at the same time substantially completely covering the inner surface of panels 13 ' (as shown clearly in Figure 11) .
• each, tab 24 is connected to rear wall 12 of lid 4 along a non-tearable portion of an inner longitudinal fold line 21a, and is connected to outer connecting wall 15 along a tear portion of inner longitudinal fold line 21a, so that each lateral wall 13 of lid 4 is initially connected to rear wall 8 of box 2 along a tear line which is torn when unsealing lid 4.
• This feature is particularly useful when producing package 1 of cigarettes, by keeping lid 4 in the closed position when transferring package 1 from the packing machine on which it is produced, to a cellophaning machine for applying a transparent overwrap to package 1.
• Blank 20 comprises two panels 9' which are located on opposite sides of panel 6 ' , are connected to panel 6 ' along the two inner longitudinal fold lines 21a, and form the two lateral walls 9 of box 2.
• Each panel 9' comprises a tab 25 connected to panel 9' along a transverse fold line 17, and which is glued to panel 8 ' ; and a tab 26 connected to panel 9' along a transverse fold line 17 at the opposite end to tab 25, and which is glued to panel 7 1 .
• FIGs 7 and 8 show the front- face areas of blank 20 applied with glue 18 ( Figure 7) , and the rear- face areas of blank 20 applied with glue 19 ( Figure 8) .
• the gumming layout of blank 20 shown in Figures 7 and 8 may obviously be varied, e.g. by increasing the rear- face areas of blank 20 applied with glue 19, and accordingly reducing the front-face areas of blank 20 applied with glue 18.
• blank 20 is first folded on its own (i.e. before group 3 of cigarettes is placed on panel 6') by folding panel 12 ' +15 ' 180° about transverse fold line 17a with respect to and onto panel 16 ' , and by folding panel 16' 180° about transverse fold line 17b with respect to and onto panel 8'.
• Panels 12 ' +15 1 and 16' are preferably folded simultaneously 180° with respect to panels 16' and 8', so as to form a Z-shaped fold, and obviously after first applying glue 18 and 19 to panels 15', 16' and 8' as shown, for example, in Figures 7 and 8.
• Blank 20 is preferably folded on its own (i.e.
• reinforcing flap 11' ' 180° about a transverse fold line 17 with respect to and onto panel 11', and by folding each reinforcing wing 13'' 180° about corresponding outer longitudinal fold line 21b with respect to and onto corresponding panel 13 1 .
• reinforcing flap 11' 1 and reinforcing wings 13' ' are folded 180° with respect to panel 11' and panels 13 '
• reinforcing flap 11 ' ' , reinforcing wings 13 ' ' , and panels 11' and 13' are applied with glue 18 as shown, for example, in Figure 7.
• blank 20 When folded as described above, blank 20 appears as shown in Figures 10 and 11. At this point, group 3 of cigarettes is placed on blank 20, in particular on panel 6' of blank 20; and blank 20 is folded about group 3 of cigarettes to form box 2 and lid 4 about group 3 of cigarettes .
• each panel 9' forming a lateral wall 9 of box 2 is folded 90° about an inner longitudinal fold line 21a with respect to panel 6' and onto group 3 of cigarettes.
• each tab 25 is folded 90° about a transverse fold line 17 with respect to a corresponding panel 9 ' and onto group 3 of cigarettes; and each tab 26 is folded 90° about a transverse fold line 17 with respect to a corresponding panel 9' and onto group 3 of cigarettes.
• panel 11' (together with reinforcing flap 11'' superimposed on and glued beforehand to panel 11') is folded about a transverse fold line 17 with respect to panel 10' and onto group 3 of cigarettes.
• panel 11', panel 10', panel 12 ' +15 ' , panel 16' and panel 8' are folded 90°, each tab 23 is folded 90° about an inner longitudinal fold line 21a with respect to panel 11' and onto group 3 of cigarettes; and each tab 24 is folded 90° about an inner longitudinal fold line 21a with respect to panel 12 ' +15 ' and onto group 3 of cigarettes .
• each panel 13' (together with the corresponding reinforcing wing 13 ' ' superimposed on and glued beforehand to panel 13') is folded 90° about an inner longitudinal fold line 21a with respect to panel 10 ' and onto group 3 of cigarettes to complete package 1 of cigarettes.
• panels 12 ' +15 ' and 16', reinforcing flap 11'' and reinforcing wings 13 ' ' folded before placing group 3 of cigarettes on blank 20, are folded off the packing machine (e.g. at the factory where blanks 20 are made, or on a dedicated folding machine upstream from the packing machine) , and subsequent folding of blank 20 about group 3 of cigarettes is performed on a packing machine (e.g. an ' X6 ' produced by GD Societa per Azioni) .
• a packing machine e.g. an ' X6 ' produced by GD Societa per Azioni
• rear wall 12 and inner connecting wall 16 of the box have a window 27 for simplifying withdrawal of the cigarettes from group 3, i.e. for also enabling user access to part of the rear wall, as opposed to only the top wall, of group 3 of cigarettes.
• Figure 19 shows the blank 20 from which to form the package 1 of cigarettes in Figure 18.
• the through hole 27' defining window 27 is formed through panels 8' and 16', and is specularly symmetrical astride transverse fold line 17b.
• a retaining device may be provided to hold the closed lid 4 in contact with box 2 with a given force that must be overcome to open lid 4.
• the retaining device may comprise an elastically deformable appendix projecting from front wall 11 of lid 4 and which flexes elastically to engage a corresponding seat formed in front wall 7 of box 2 (or two appendixes projecting from lateral walls 13 of lid 4, and which engage corresponding seats formed in lateral walls 9 of box 2) .
• package 1 of cigarettes may comprise an outer sticker glued to the outside of box 2 and lid 4 to cover the outer surface of box 2 and lid 4 for substantially aesthetic purposes, but which may also have a structural function of forming an additional hinge between box 2 and lid 4, and located outwards of, and operating in parallel with, hinge 14.
• reinforcing flap 11' ' and/or reinforcing wings 13' ' are eliminated.
• Reinforcing flap 11 ' ' and reinforcing wings 13 ' ' serve to conceal the cardboard edges of, and strengthen, front wall 11 and lateral walls 13 of lid 4 respectively. Though useful, these functions are not indispensable to package 1 of cigarettes, so, to save on packing material and simplify the folding of blank 20, reinforcing flap 11' ' and/or reinforcing wings 13' ' may be eliminated.
• all the edges of box 2 and lid 4 are square. In variations not shown, at least some of the longitudinal and/or transverse edges are bevelled or rounded.
• Package 1 of cigarettes as described has numerous advantages .
• box 2 and lid 4 being made from a single blank 20 which, by virtue of its design, can be processed easily on a standard packing machine.
• connection between box 2 and lid 4 is extremely strong and precise, by being mainly defined by hinge 14 formed directly on blank 20 (as opposed to simply an outer sticker, as in conventional 'shoulder box' packages). Precise positioning of the hinge between box 2 and lid 4 is particularly important, in that even the slightest inaccuracy prevents lid 4 from closing properly over box 2 (i.e. lid 4 rubs excessively against box 2, thus making it difficult to open and close) .
• the hinge area is particularly strong and rigid, thus ensuring precise, consistent rotation of lid 4 with respect to box 2 (i.e. unaffected by wear) .
• package 1 of cigarettes described does not necessarily require an outer sticker glued about box 2 and lid 4. Because it is expensive to produce and difficult to apply accurately, eliminating the outer sticker is a big cost saver. And even if an outer sticker glued about box 2 and lid 4 is opted for regardless, it may be small, thus reducing material consumption and simplifying the corresponding folding operations. The reason for this lies in box 2 and lid 4 being connected by hinge 14 formed directly on blank 20, which means the outer sticker is purely aesthetic, with no structural function.
• package 1 of cigarettes may also be applied to producing packages of other tobacco articles (e.g. cigars), or for producing cartons of cigarettes, which are substantially identical to package 1 of cigarettes described, except that they contain groups of packets of cigarettes as opposed to group 3 of cigarettes .
• other tobacco articles e.g. cigars
• cartons of cigarettes which are substantially identical to package 1 of cigarettes described, except that they contain groups of packets of cigarettes as opposed to group 3 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)
• Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)
• Shaping Of Tube Ends By Bending Or Straightening (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=42270455

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Families Citing this family (3)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 2010
  • 2010-02-15 IT IT000078A patent/ITBO20100078A1/it unknown
• 2011
  • 2011-02-15 JP JP2012552485A patent/JP5785195B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2011-02-15 RU RU2012139647/12A patent/RU2533112C2/ru not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2011-02-15 WO PCT/IB2011/000284 patent/WO2011098908A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2011-02-15 EP EP11741952.3A patent/EP2536645B1/de not_active Not-in-force
• 2012
  • 2012-08-14 ZA ZA2012/06098A patent/ZA201206098B/en unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events