Packaging for products in the cigarette industry

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging for products (11) of the cigarette industry, comprising a carton part (22) for receiving a packaging content (29) and comprising a lid (23) for closing the carton part (22), the lid (23) and the carton part (22) bearing against one another by means of respective closing edges when the packaging (10) is closed. The invention is characterised in that the lid (23) and carton part (22) are connected temporarily to one another in the region of at least one closing edge, specifically until the packaging (10) is opened for the first time.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a package for products of the cigarette industry, comprising a box part for receiving the contents of the package and a lid for closing the box part, wherein the lid and box part abut each other with their respective closing edges when the package is closed, according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] The present invention relates in particular to packaging for alternative tobacco products, for example, packaging for aroma capsules arranged in blister packs. In this market segment, increasing sales figures are expected due to a general trend towards alternative products. On the other hand, such products have only been marketed for a relatively short time, and the market is changing relatively rapidly, so that tobacco companies are often forced to react quickly to market changes and new requirements.

[0003] On the other hand, packaging for alternative tobacco products must also be subject to the requirement that it can be produced quickly and cost-effectively on packaging machines.

[0004] In addition, the consumer of tobacco products (regardless of whether they are conventional or alternative tobacco products) has an interest in being able to reliably determine whether the contents of the package are intact and / or original.

[0005] From EP 1 961 675 A1, a cigarette pack is known comprising a box part 8 and a tongue lid 10. The tongue lid 10 includes an upper wall 12 and a tongue 14, which is adapted such that the upper wall closes an open end of the box part 8 and the tongue lies over a front wall 30 of the box part 8 when the cigarette pack is manufactured. Furthermore, the pack has a pair of connecting tabs 20 which are connected to opposite side edges of the tongue 14 by perforation lines 26. These perforation lines are separated when the pack is opened for the first time.

[0006] Based on this, the invention aims to propose measures that can be used to implement the aforementioned requirements.

[0007] A packaging according to the invention has the features of claim 1.

[0008] Preferably, the lid and box part can be connected to each other in the area of ​​at least one closing edge by a residual connection, namely along a separable perforation line.

[0009] Furthermore, it may be provided that the front wall of the box part is not connected to the lid.

[0010] Furthermore, it may be provided that the front wall of the lid is designed to serve as a tuck tab after the package has been opened for the first time, with the tuck tab being able to be inserted between the front wall of the box part and the package contents to close the package.

[0011] In all packaging variants, it can be provided that the packaging is formed as a hard package from a single piece of suitable packaging material.

[0012] Furthermore, all packaging variants may be designed so that the packaging is formed from a single piece.

[0013] Both packaging variants may also be designed so that the packaging does not have a collar.

[0014] Further preferred details of the invention can be found in the description and the drawings.

[0015] Preferred embodiments are described below with reference to the drawing, whereby only the third embodiment is shown in accordance with Figs. 8 to 10 a solution according to the invention is shown. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a package for cigarette industry products in a three-dimensional representation with the lid closed before initial use; Fig. 2 shows the package according to Fig. 1 with the lid open, Fig. 3 the package according to Figs. 1 and 2 with the lid closed after initial use, Fig. 4 a cutout for the packaging according to Figs. 1 to 3, Fig. 5 a second embodiment of a package for products of the cigarette industry in a three-dimensional representation with closed lid before first use, Fig. 6 the package according to Fig. 5 with the lid open, Fig. 7 a cutout for the packaging according to Figs. 5 and 6 Fig. 8 shows a third embodiment of a package for cigarette industry products in a three-dimensional representation with the lid closed before initial use; Fig. 9 shows the package according to Fig. 8 with the lid open, Fig. 10 a cutout for the packaging according to Figs. 8 and 9 , Fig. 11 a schematic spatial representation of part of a device for manufacturing the packages according to Figs. 1 to 10 , and Fig. 12 a schematic spatial representation of a second part of a device according to Fig. 11 .

[0016] The invention relates to the manufacture of packages 10 for products 11 of the cigarette industry. In this case, the products 11 are flavor capsules arranged in a special blister pack 12. However, the packages 10 shown can also contain other products 11 of the cigarette industry within the scope of the invention.

[0017] The aroma capsules mentioned as examples contain tobacco, e.g., in granulated form, and preferably various flavorings, and can be consumed in suitable devices. The packages 10 contain, in addition to the actual products 11, an information leaflet, e.g., in the form of a coupon 13, and are designed as hard packaging. Such packages 10 can be sold as so-called refill packs.

[0018] To guarantee the authenticity and integrity of the packages, each package is equipped with a tamper-evident seal that is broken upon first opening the package, i.e., the first use of the package. The broken seal shows a break line in a location visible to the consumer, indicating that the package has already been opened and is therefore not new.

[0019] Products of the cigarette industry also include tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigarillos and the like, but also novel tobacco products, such as heat-not-burn products or liquid carriers for e-cigarettes, etc. Common features of the packages shown in Figs. 1 to 10:

[0020] The packages 10 are made from a single-piece or one-part cut 14 of packaging material, e.g. cardboard.

[0021] The packages 10 are cuboid in shape with a large front surface 15 and a back surface 16 opposite the front surface 15. Narrow sides 17 extend between the front surface 15 and the back surface 16. A bottom surface 18 and an opposite top surface 19 run transversely to the front surface 15, back surface 16 and narrow sides 17.

[0022] The side surfaces meet at the packing edges, with the packing edges 20 between the front 15 or back 16 and the respective narrow sides 17 having a right-angled cross-section in this case. These packing edges 20 are generally also referred to as the upright packing edges 20 originating from a packing 10 standing on its bottom side 18. The upright packing edges 20 run parallel to an imaginary longitudinal axis of the packings 10. The upright packing edges 20 can, of course, also have a chamfered or rounded cross-section.

[0023] The other packing edges 21, i.e., between the bottom side 18 or the top side 19 and the front side 15, back side 16 and narrow side 17, run perpendicular to the packing edges 20. In the present case, the packing edges 21 are formed at right angles in cross-section.

[0024] The packages 10 have a box part 22 and a lid 23. The lid 23 is pivotally mounted on the box part 22 for opening and closing the package 10, for example along a linear hinge 24. The packages 10 are thus designed in the manner of a folding box.

[0025] Box part 22 and lid 23 abut each other at their closing edges when the package 10 is closed or the lid 23 is closed. Since the shape of the closing edges differs depending on the embodiment, it will be described below when the specific features of each embodiment are discussed.

[0026] All packs of 10 do not have a collar.

[0027] The coupon 13 is also arranged in the packages 10. The coupon 13 is located between the front wall 30 of the box part 22 and the actual package contents 29.

[0028] The package contents 29 consist of two blister packs 12 containing the actual products 11. The blister packs 12 have a special structure, which will be explained later in connection with the manufacturing processes. Within the scope of the invention, the number of blister packs 12 can, of course, also vary.

[0029] The two blister packs 12 forming the package contents 29 are placed against each other, with the same orientation of the two blister packs 12. Both a standing and a lying arrangement of the blister packs 12 is conceivable.

[0030] Box part 22 and lid 23 are formed by one or more walls or flaps of the blank 14. The names of the walls of box part 22 and lid 23 are derived from the respective side of the package 10 on which the wall is located. For example, box part 22 has a front wall 30 located in the area of ​​the front 15 of the package 10 and corresponding side walls 31, a back wall 32, and a bottom wall 33 in the area of ​​the narrow side 17, the back 16, and the bottom 18. The same applies accordingly to the lid 23, which in all embodiments has an end wall 34 in the area of ​​the top 19 of the package 10 and a front wall 35 in the area of ​​the front 15 of the package 10. Furthermore, in all embodiments, the narrow sides 17 of the packages 10 are formed, depending on the embodiment, at least partially by interconnected side flaps 36.

[0031] The tamper-evident seal mentioned at the outset is formed in all three embodiments by a residual connection, in particular by a perforation line 37. This residual connection always extends in the area of ​​the closing edges between the box part 22 and the lid 23. It is not essential that the residual connection extends completely across all closing edges. Sectional or partial arrangements of the residual connection on a portion of the closing edges are also conceivable.

[0032] Of course, other types of residual connections are also possible, whereby it is preferably ensured that the tamper-evident seal cannot be re-established after the first use of the package 10 in order to counteract tampering.

[0033] The advantage of perforation line 37 is that after separation, a kind of "break edge" is created, with a rough or jagged edge, by which the consumer can recognize or feel that the package 10 has already been opened. Features of the first embodiment (Figs. 1 to 4):

[0034] The in Fig. 4 The blank 14 shown for the package 10 resembles a classic folding carton blank. The previously mentioned side flaps 36, forming the side walls of the package 10, are located on both sides of the back wall 32 and the front wall 30. Corner flaps 39 are arranged on both sides of the bottom wall 33 and connected to the side flaps 36 on both sides of the back wall 32. The corner flaps 39 are separated from the bottom wall 33 by a die-cut 40.

[0035] Side flaps 41 are formed on both sides of the end wall 34 of the lid 23, each of which is temporarily connected to the end wall 34 via a perforation line 37 until the first use or opening of the package 10.

[0036] Furthermore, a pull tab 42 is arranged in extension of the front wall 35 of the lid 23.

[0037] Another special feature of the blank 14 is that a connecting flap 43 is formed in the front wall 30 of the box part 22, which is separated from the rest of the blank 14 or the rest of the front wall 30 by a perforation line 37.

[0038] In the illustrated embodiment, the perforation line 37 is approximately U-shaped and the connecting tab 43 is arranged at the edge of an upper end of the front wall 35.

[0039] The perforation line 37 can also be formed in a partial area as a punch cut through the material of the blank 14, for example in a lower area, parallel to the upper edge of the blank of the front wall 30. The punch cut can also extend further into the area of ​​the two transverse legs of the U-shaped boundary line.

[0040] In this case, the lid 23 is designed as a lid flap, with the end wall 34 and the front wall 35, as well as the pull tab 42.

[0041] The side flaps 41 of the lid 23 are connected to the side walls 31 of the box part 22 by means of adhesive 28. Preferably, a hot melt adhesive is used. Other types of adhesive are also conceivable within the scope of the invention.

[0042] The connecting tab 43 is attached to the inside of the front wall 30 of the lid 23 by gluing with adhesive 28. Hot melt adhesive can also be used here.

[0043] The lid 23 has no back wall because the linear hinge 24 is arranged between the end wall 34 of the lid 23 and the back wall 32 of the box part 22. However, this can be deviated from within the scope of the invention.

[0044] The pull tab 42 has a slightly smaller width than the front wall 30 and converging side edges along the longitudinal direction of the cut 14. The pull tab 42 is separated from the front wall 30 by a fold line 44.

[0045] A locking tab 45 is also arranged on the front of the lid 23. In the illustrated embodiment, the locking tab 45 is located in the area of ​​the fold line 44 and extends on both sides of it into the area of ​​the pull tab 42 as well as into the area of ​​the front wall 35 of the lid 23. The locking tab 45 can be formed by a die-cut in the material of the blank 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the locking tab 45 has a trapezoidal shape.

[0046] Corresponding to the locking tab 45, a locking slot 46 is arranged in the front wall 30 of the box part 22. The locking slot 46 is also formed by a punch cut in the material of the blank 14 and, in the illustrated embodiment, is approximately U-shaped.

[0047] The bonding areas of the package 10 are indicated in the drawings by glue dots. It is understood that other application patterns can also be used within the scope of the invention, in particular glue strips or other flat application patterns.

[0048] For unopened packages 10 ( Fig. 1 The pull tab 42 lies flat against the front wall 30 of the box part 22. The consumer can lift the pull tab 42 and open the lid 23 using the pull tab 42. When the lid 23 is opened, or when the package 10 is used for the first time, the perforation lines 37 between the side flaps 41 and the end wall 34 are torn. The same applies to the perforation lines 37 in the area of ​​the connecting flap 43 ( Fig. 2 ).

[0049] To reseal the package 10 or the lid 23, the lid flap is placed back onto the box part 22 and the locking tab 45 is engaged with the locking slot 46 ( Fig. 3 ).

[0050] The two blister packs 12, intended as package contents 29, are arranged upright in the box part 22 in this case. The coupon 13 is located between the front wall 30 of the box part 22 and the package contents 29. Special features of the second embodiment (Figs. 5 to 7):

[0051] The package 10 of the second embodiment is essentially the same as the package 10 of the first embodiment, which is why only the differences to this version of the package 10 will be explained below.

[0052] Unlike in the first embodiment, the blister packs 12 are arranged horizontally in the second embodiment, which is why the package 10 is designed as a transverse package that is wider than it is high.

[0053] Furthermore, in this variant the side flaps 41 on the lid 23 are missing. The lid 23 is therefore only connected to the box part 22 via the connecting tab 43 and, in particular, not in the area of ​​the narrow sides 17.

[0054] Furthermore, the pull tab 42 is integrated into the front wall 35 of the lid 23 and does not connect to the front wall 35.

[0055] Furthermore, reference is made to the preceding description of the first embodiment. Special features of the third embodiment (Figs. 8 to 11):

[0056] The third embodiment is very similar to the first embodiment with regard to the basic construction of the blank 14 and the packaging 10.

[0057] However, the connecting tab, the pull tab and plug-in tab as well as the plug slot are missing.

[0058] In this case, the front wall 35 of the lid 23 is designed as a plug-in tab 45, which is inserted between the front wall 30 and the coupon 13 when the lid 23 is closed. To facilitate this, the side edges of the front wall 35 are designed to converge.

[0059] As in the first embodiment, the side flaps 41 are connected to the end wall 34 by perforation lines 37 and to the side flaps 36 or the side walls 31 by glue 28. During the first use, the perforation lines 37 are separated and a lid flap is formed from the end wall 34 and the front wall 35.

[0060] To facilitate opening the package 10, a recess 47, preferably located at the edge, is formed in the area of ​​an upper edge of the front wall 30 of the box part 22, through which the consumer can open the lid 23. Preferably, the recess 47 is arranged approximately centrally in the front 15 of the package 10.

[0061] The package contents 29 and the coupon 13 are arranged upright in the package 10 as in the first embodiment. Device and method Figs. 11 and 12

[0062] Fig. 11 shows a section of a device for the production of the package 10, namely in the area of ​​handling the blister packs 12 on the way into the partially folded blank 14.

[0063] A special feature lies in the type of blister pack 12 itself. Each blister pack 12 has two areas: a first area in which the actual products 11, e.g., the aroma capsules, are enclosed or packaged in the blister pack 12, and a second area in which the blister pack 12 has a flap 50. The two areas or sections of the blister pack 12 are separated from each other by a fold line 51, so that the flap 50 can be folded or pivoted.

[0064] The blister packs 12 are initially fed in flat (unfolded) so that both areas are in the same plane. The blister packs 12 are then folded, with the flap 50 being rotated 180° around the fold line 51 so that it rests against the first area. In this configuration, the folded blister pack 12 is then fed to the blank 14.

[0065] The unfolded blister packs 12 are transported on two (first) conveyors 52, 53, with the area containing the products 11 resting on the conveyors 52, 53 and the flap 50 protruding laterally.

[0066] In the illustrated embodiment, the blister packs 12 are arranged lying down on the conveyors 52, 53 which run in a horizontal plane. The blister packs 12 are spaced apart from each other and their longitudinal extent is parallel to the conveying direction as indicated by arrow 54.

[0067] During the preferably continuous transport of the blister packs 12 on the conveyors 52, 53, the flaps 50 are folded in a first folding step transversely to the first area of ​​the blister packs 12, preferably at about 90° to this area. This can be done by means of a suitable folding device, for example a folding diverter or a movable folding device. In the horizontal arrangement of the conveyors 52, 53 shown, the flaps 50 are folded downwards.

[0068] In a second folding step, the tabs 50 are folded into their final position so that they lie (below) against the first area containing the aroma capsules. This second folding step is performed in a fundamentally similar way on both conveyors 52 and 53, but at different times.

[0069] Fig. 11It can be seen that both conveyors 52 and 53 run parallel to each other, with a small gap between them. This gap exists not only laterally but also vertically. Conveyors 52 and 53 are arranged in two different, but parallel, planes. In this case, conveyor 52 is arranged in a plane that is above the plane in which conveyor 53 runs. Accordingly, conveyor 52 is offset laterally and vertically from conveyor 53.

[0070] The second folding step for the blister packs 12 transported on conveyor 52 takes place during a transfer of the partially folded blister packs 12 from conveyor 52 to conveyor 53. A preferably stationary folding plate 55 is located between the two conveyors 52 and 53, acting as the folding element. The partially folded blister packs 12 are pushed from one conveyor 52 to the other conveyor 53 by means of a (first) transfer conveyor 56, whereby the protruding flaps 50 are folded by contact with the folding plate 55 in accordance with the second folding step described above. The folded blister packs 12 are then deposited from conveyor 52 onto partially folded blister packs 12 on conveyor 53.

[0071] After further transport of the stacks of two blister packs 12 on conveyor 53, they are fed to a second conveyor 57. A (second) transfer conveyor 58 serves this purpose, pushing the blister packs 12 laterally from conveyor 53 and feeding them to a transverse conveyor that extends between conveyor 53 and conveyor 57. During this pushing process, the tabs 50 of the blister packs 12 at the bottom of the stacks are also folded by a further 90°. As with the folding of the tabs 50 of the blister packs 12 on conveyor 52, a folding plate 55 can be provided for this purpose, which folds the tabs 50. Alternatively, a transport plate 59 can be provided, for example, in the area of ​​the transfer conveyor 58, on which the blister packs 12 rest, and which, like the folding plate 55, serves as a folding element.

[0072] In the configuration of conveyors 52, 53 described here, the transfer conveyors 56, 58 are each arranged above the transport path of conveyors 52, 53. The transfer conveyors 56, 58 each have carriers 60 with which the blister packs 12 are gripped and pushed off. The transfer conveyors 56, 58 run transversely to the conveyors 52, 53. Before the blister packs 12 are pushed off by the carriers 60, they are stopped by stops 61.

[0073] On conveyor 57, the folded blister packs 12 are transported in pairs, one above the other. Here, the transport again takes place with longitudinal extension parallel to the transport direction towards a partially folded blank 14 held in a pocket 62 of a folding revolver 63.

[0074] The formation of the small stacks from two flat, superimposed blister packs 12 can be achieved by simultaneously pushing two blister packs 12 out of the area of ​​the transfer conveyor 58 or its transport plate 59 by a carrier 64 of the conveyor 57. Other, common methods of stacking are also conceivable.

[0075] Following conveyor 57, the stacks containing two blister packs 12 enter the working area of ​​a platform 65. In the area of ​​the platform 65, a coupon 13 is placed onto the two blister packs 12. The coupons 13 are supplied from a coupon magazine 66 in the usual manner.

[0076] The stage 65, which can be moved back and forth in the direction of conveying, as indicated by double arrow 67, then serves to feed the package contents 29 with coupon 13 into the partially folded blank 14 on the adjacent folding turret 63, using a pusher 68.

[0077] The folding of the blank 14 around the package contents 29 is essentially completed on the folding turret 63. As a rule, only the walls of the narrow sides 17 are folded after the folding turret 63.

[0078] Fig. 12Figure 1 shows the processing of the blanks 14 on the folding turret 63. Starting from a feeding station, where the previously unfolded blanks 14 are stamped into a pocket 62 of the folding turret 63 by means of a punch 69 and are partially folded or erected in the process, the blanks 14 are transported further, followed by the feeding of the blister packs 12 with coupon 13 as already described. Next, the front wall 30 of the box part 22 is folded down and glue 28 is applied to the connecting flap 43 via a glue valve 70. Then, the front wall 35 of the lid 23 is folded down and glued to the connecting flap 43. In the last station on the folding turret, the side flaps 41 are folded into the plane of the side walls 31, and the blank 14 is ejected from the folding turret 63 and transferred to a downstream conveyor 71.There, glue 28 is applied to a part of the side flaps 36 by means of glue valves 72 arranged on both sides of the conveyor 71, and these are then folded to form the side walls 31. Concluding remarks

[0079] The discussion in Fig. 11 and 12 The device shown is essentially involved in handling the blister packs 12 on their way to the cutting station 14. However, this is independent of the design of the packs 10, so the devices can also be used in connection with differently designed packs 10.

[0080] The details of the exemplary implementations described here, such as specific types of glue or particular process steps, may be optional, even if not explicitly mentioned. Therefore, these features can be replaced by other means or steps, or omitted altogether, if this seems sensible or necessary in a particular case.

Claims

1. Pack for products (11) from the cigarette industry, having a box part (22) for accommodating pack contents (29) and having a lid (23) for closing the box part (22), wherein the lid (23) and the box part (22) bear against one another with respective closing edges when the pack (10) is closed, and wherein the lid (23) and the box part (22) are connected to one another in the region of at least one closing edge temporarily, namely until the pack (10) is opened for the first time, and wherein the lid (23) is formed as a lid tab, and has a front wall (35) and an end wall (34), characterized in that side flaps (41) of the lid (23) are formed laterally with respect to the end wall (34), which are connected on the one hand to the end wall (34) via a respective residual connection and on the other hand to side walls (31) of the box part (22) by adhesive bonding.

2. Pack according to Claim 1, characterized in that the lid (23) and the box part (22) are connected to one another in the region of the at least one closing edge by a residual connection, namely along a separable perforation line (37).

3. Pack according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the front wall (30) of the box part (22) is not connected to the lid (23).

4. Pack according to Claim 3 or any of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the front wall (35) of the lid (23) is configured to serve as a plug-in tab after the pack (10) has been opened for the first time, wherein the plug-in tab can be inserted between the front wall (30) of the box part (22) and the pack contents (29) in order to close the pack (10).

5. Pack according to Claim 1 or any of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the pack (10) is formed as a hard pack from a blank (14) made of corresponding packaging material.

6. Pack according to Claim 1 or any of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the pack (10) is formed from a one-part blank (14).

7. Pack according to Claim 1 or any of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the pack (10) does not have a collar.

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