Package containing packets for smoking articles with spacer support and corresponding assembly process

Abstract

Box package (100, 200, 300, 400) for packets (40, 50) of smoking articles comprising both a plurality of packets (40, 50) for smoking articles arranged along one or more rows, and also a box ( 111, 211, 311, 41 1 ) having parallelepiped shape and defining a housing compartment (115, 215, 315, 415) for said plurality of packets (40, 50), and a spacer support (112, 212, 312, 412) configured to support said plurality of packets (40, 50) in said housing compartment (115, 215, 315, 415).

Description

[0001] “PACKAGE CONTAINING PACKETS FOR SMOKING ARTICLES WITH SPACER SUPPORT AND CORRESPONDING ASSEMBLY PROCESS”

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention concerns a box package for packets of smoking articles comprising a spacer support which is configured to keep the packets of smoking articles arranged in an orderly manner according to the provided configuration.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] According to current legislation, smoking articles are subject to particular taxation by government authorities. This tax regime applies both to traditional smoking articles, such as cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, shredded tobacco for cigarettes, and also to electronic cigarettes, that is, those inhaler or vaporizer devices that do not provide for the direct combustion of tobacco.

[0006] From a practical point of view, the tax on these items is implemented by applying a government stamp on the outside of the packet containing the smoking articles.

[0007] There are many ways to apply this government stamp and they vary depending on the national legislation in question.

[0008] In many countries, the government stamp is applied on the packet directly by the producer of the smoking articles. To this end, the producer is equipped with the devices suitable for applying the stamp on the packet, after it has been formed and closed around an organized group of smoking articles. Sometimes, the same automatic packaging machine provides a processing station dedicated to the application of the stamp. In this case, the stamp application station is built according to the producer’s needs, since it is designed and sized according to the specific type of packets processed by that particular packaging machine.

[0009] In other countries, the legislation provides that the government stamp is directly applied on the packets by the competent government agency. This means that the producer of smoking articles, after having produced and packaged them, sends them to the government site for the application of the stamp. Here, the box packages that enclose the packets are temporarily opened and arranged on a printing machine, in which special printing heads apply the stamps on the packets. Subsequently, the packages are reclosed and returned to the producer for subsequent marketing.

[0010] A disadvantage of the procedure whereby the stamp is applied by the government agency is that it is long and costly, both in terms of time and money.

[0011] Examples of box packages for packets of smoking articles suitable for undergoing the government stamp application procedure are described in US-B- 11.167.913 and US-A-4.932.534.

[0012] In these solutions, the packets are arranged side by side in their housing compartment, leaving exposed a bottom wall of the packets on which the government stamp is affixed, after the closeable fins of the box package containing the packets have been opened.

[0013] Further examples of packages for containing packets for smoking articles are described in documents WO 2021 / 144279 Al, US 1 953 418 A and DE 91 02 901 Ul .

[0014] Since in government printing machines the position of the printing heads is fixed, they are able to correctly apply the government stamp only on one type of packets for smoking articles, having a parallelepiped shape and standard sizes. For example, the standard sizes of the top or bottom wall on which the stamp is usually applied are 22.5x56 mm.

[0015] A disadvantage encountered during the process of applying the government stamp using printing machines known in the art is that they are not able to correctly affix the stamp in the intended position on a group of special packets, for example having different sizes from the standard ones indicated above.

[0016] At present, the packages known in art are not able to support packets for smoking articles having a special format during the procedure of applying the government stamp in an efficient and flexible manner. When the package contains packets with a reduced format, the surface that remains exposed for the application of the government stamp is not arranged flush with the edge of the package, but recessed with respect to that edge. In this case, it is evident that the printing heads are not able to reach this surface, which is recessed within the packets’ housing compartment, and therefore the packages known in the art are not able to guarantee the correct execution of the government stamp application step.

[0017] There is therefore the need to provide a package containing packets for smoking articles with spacer support and a corresponding assembly process that can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

[0018] One purpose of the present invention is to provide a package for packets for smoking articles comprising a spacer support capable of supporting the packets at least during the procedure of applying, or printing, the government stamp thereon.

[0019] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a package comprising a spacer support capable of keeping the packets positioned in an orderly manner inside it.

[0020] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a package comprising a spacer support which allows to support “special” packets, that is, ones with different sizes from standard packet sizes.

[0021] It is also a purpose of the present invention to provide a package comprising a spacer support thanks to which it is possible to use the same equipment known in the art, in particular the same printing machines, even to apply the government stamp on “special” packets with sizes and / or shapes different from standard ones.

[0022] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a spacer support for packets of smoking articles which is economical and simple to produce.

[0023] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a process of assembling a package containing packets for smoking articles and a spacer support which is simple, rapid and does not require complex equipment to be implemented.

[0024] The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

[0025] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims describe other characteristics of the present invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

[0027] In accordance with the above purposes and to resolve the technical problem disclosed above in a new and original way, also achieving considerable advantages compared to the state of the prior art, a box package according to the present invention for packets of smoking articles comprises:

[0028] - a plurality of packets arranged along one or more rows, each packet having parallelepiped shape and comprising two opposite front walls, two opposite side walls, a lower wall and a top wall; - a box having a parallelepiped shape formed by two opposite side walls and two opposite head walls delimiting a housing compartment in which the plurality of packets is housed, and comprising an access opening configured to allow the packets to be extracted from or inserted into the housing compartment of the packets, wherein the access opening is defined by an upper edge of the side and head walls of the box and with which at least one flap of a lid is hinged, the upper edge being arranged at a given box height with respect to an abutment plane on which the package rests with the access opening facing upward.

[0029] The package also comprises a spacer support arranged opposite the access opening and having a support wall on which the plurality of packets abuts when housed in the housing compartment. The support wall is arranged at a first height complementary to a second predefined height of each packet, so that the packets of the plurality of packets have their top wall flush with the upper edge. The second height is identical for all packets of the plurality of packets, and corresponds to the distance between the lower wall and the top wall of the packet.

[0030] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the second height is lower than the box height.

[0031] Doing so achieves at least the following advantage, namely that once the opening of the box has been determined by acting on the lid, the top wall of the packages is made available to a printing machine, or one which performs other operations, without needing to extract the packets from the housing compartment or providing approaching movements of the printing heads because the packets are arranged flush with the upper edge of the box.

[0032] A spacer support conceived in this way allows to correctly and stably preposition the packets inside the housing compartment, bringing any “special” packet back to the sizes, in particular the height, of a “standard” or traditional packet, so that it can be processed by most, or all, of the equipment and machinery widespread in the smoking articles sector, without needing long and laborious adaptation or set-up operations, and without requiring the purchase of special machinery capable of processing only particular packet formats.

[0033] It is clear that this is particularly advantageous because it facilitates the automatic execution of processing steps that have to be performed on the packets. For example, thanks to the spacer support according to the present invention, the step of applying a government stamp on one of the walls of the packets for smoking articles can be carried out using the printing machines known in the art, regardless of the sizes and shapes of the packets, without these machines requiring particular adaptations or preliminary adjustments.

[0034] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the spacer support is formed by an insert having the support wall and at least two opposite support legs branching off substantially perpendicularly from two sides of the support wall. The shape thus conceived has the advantage of making the spacer support particularly economical and simple to produce, as well as providing the adequate stiffness both for the static support of the packets and also for the dynamic support thereof when a processing force is applied thereon.

[0035] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, each support leg of the insert faces a respective inner face of one of the side walls of the box.

[0036] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the insert is a distinct component from the box and has support legs in abutment with a bottom wall of the box.

[0037] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the insert is housed within the box and the box comprises a bottom wall opposite to the access opening and on which the at least two opposite support legs abut.

[0038] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the insert can be attached to the box.

[0039] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the support wall is flat and has a plan extension equal to, or slightly smaller than, a plan extension of the bottom wall.

[0040] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the insert can have two opposite parallel containment walls in continuity with the at least two opposite support legs, and on an opposite side with respect to the support wall.

[0041] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, each support leg of the insert can be formed by at least one flap obtained from a fin that is delimited by a U-shaped cut on the support wall and bent 90° with respect to the support wall.

[0042] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, each containment wall comprises a plurality of separation elements arranged between two adjacent packets of a row of the plurality of packets, each separation element being obtained by cutting out a portion of the respective containment wall which is folded within the housing compartment.

[0043] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the insert can advantageously be formed by a single blank.

[0044] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the insert and the box are made of a paper material, wherein the thickness and / or grammage of the spacer support is greater than the thickness and / or grammage of the box, respectively. Using paper material to produce the spacer support makes the latter ecological, light and compact, which is important in order to not significantly increase disposal, transport and storage costs, which are typically proportional to the weight and / or volume of the objects to be transported or stored.

[0045] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the insert can have a uniform thickness between 0.5 mm and 5 mm.

[0046] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the box, or a blank starting from which the box is made, can have a uniform thickness between 0.2 mm and 0.5 mm.

[0047] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the paper material of the insert can have a uniform grammage between 250 g / m2and 700 g / m2. The paper material of the box, or of the box’s blank, can have a uniform grammage between 180 g / m2and 250 g / m2.

[0048] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the insert is made starting from a sheet of corrugated cardboard having a uniform thickness.

[0049] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the spacer support can have a uniform thickness preferably equal to about 1.5 mm and grammage equal to about 350 g / m2.

[0050] In accordance with a variant of the present invention, the spacer support is made using a bottom wall of the box folded into a “U” shape so as to create the support wall.

[0051] In accordance with another variant of the present invention, the box has two facing rows of support elements formed along opposite edges of the box, each support element having a first face orthogonal to a bottom wall and parallel to the side walls, and a second face parallel to the bottom wall and orthogonal to the side walls, the second faces of the support elements being arranged on a same plane so as to create the support wall.

[0052] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process of assembling a box package according to the present invention, comprising the steps of: i) providing the box already formed, or as a flat blank to be formed, to a packaging machine; ii) feeding the insert already formed, or as a flat blank to be formed, to the packaging machine; iii) positioning the insert inside the housing compartment; iv) inserting a plurality of packets within the housing compartment through the access opening, arranging the lower wall of the packets in abutment with the support wall of the insert.

[0053] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the step iv) has been carried out either after the step iii) or simultaneously with the step iii).

[0054] DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, with the associated modifications, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

[0056] - fig. 1 is a perspective, schematic view of a box package according to the present invention comprising a plurality of packets of smoking articles, a box and a spacer support;

[0057] - fig. 2 is a cross-section view of the box and of the spacer support of fig. 1 in assembled configuration;

[0058] - fig. 3 represents a blank of the spacer support of figs. 1 and 2;

[0059] - fig. 4 represents a blank of the box of figs. 1 and 2;

[0060] - fig. 5 is a perspective, schematic view of the box which is part of the box package according to another embodiment in which the spacer support is integrated with the box;

[0061] - fig. 6 is a cross-section view of the box of fig. 5;

[0062] - fig. 7 represents a blank of the box of figs. 5 and 6;

[0063] - fig. 8 is a perspective, schematic view of the box which is part of the box package according to a variant of the box of figs. 5 and 6;

[0064] - fig. 9 is a cross-section view of the box of fig. 8;

[0065] - fig. 10 represents a blank of the box of figs. 8 and 9;

[0066] - fig. 11 is a perspective, schematic view of a box package in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

[0067] - fig. 12 is a cross-section view of the package of fig. 11;

[0068] - fig. 13 is a top view of the package of fig. 11 ;

[0069] - fig. 14 represents a blank of the spacer support of figs. 11-13.

[0070] To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can be conveniently incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

[0071] DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

[0072] With reference to figs. 1-4, 5-7, 8-10, 11-14, these describe, respectively, a first, a second, a third and a fourth embodiment of a box package 100, 200, 300, 400 according to the present invention in which, in the following description, common elements will be identified with a homologous numbering, which follows the numbering of the corresponding embodiment of the package.

[0073] According to some embodiments, the package 100, 200, 300, 400 comprises a plurality of packets for smoking articles, such as cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos, arranged side by side along one or more rows, typically two, a box-shaped body, hereafter box 111, 211, 311, 411 for the plurality of packets, and a spacer support 112, 212, 312, 412 conformed to support the plurality of packets in a position such as to facilitate any automated processing thereon, for example, but not only, the application of government stamps.

[0074] In the following description, the packets that are part of the package 100, 200, 300, and their walls, will be identified with reference numbers 40-44, while the packets that are part of the package 400, and their walls, will be identified with reference numbers 50-54. In general terms, the difference between the two types of packets 40, 50 may be a difference in one or more of their characteristic sizes.

[0075] Referring for example to figs. 1 and 11 , respectively, each packet 40, 50 of said plurality of packets is in the form of a rectangular-based parallelepiped and comprises two opposite front walls 41, 51, two opposite side walls 42, 52, a lower wall 43, 53 and a top wall 44, 54. The front walls 41, 51 can have a greater extension than the side walls 42, 52.

[0076] During normal use of the packet to access its contents, the top wall 44, 54 can be the one from which the smoking articles are extracted. However, as will be clarified hereafter in the description, when the packet 40, 50 is inserted inside the box 11 1, 211, 311, 411 the functional connotation of the walls can change depending on the very positioning of the packets 40, 50.

[0077] In an embodiment shown in fig. 1 , purely by way of a non-limiting example, the sizes of a packet 40 can be equal to 20.9x51.3 mm, these values being understood as the width and height, respectively, of the lower wall 43, which defines the base of the parallelepiped, or also of the top wall 44. The height of the two side walls 42 can be equal to approximately 63.6 mm.

[0078] In another embodiment shown in fig. 1, purely by way of a non-limiting example, the sizes of a packet 50 can be equal to 20.9x60.6 mm, these values being understood as the width and height, respectively, of the lower wall 53, which defines the base of the parallelepiped, or also of the top wall 54. The height of the two side walls 42 can be equal to approximately 48 mm.

[0079] In an alternative embodiment, each packet 40, 50 can have the shape of a squarebased parallelepiped, in which the front walls 41, 51 and the side walls 42, 52 have the same extension, as well as the lower wall 43, 53 and the top wall 44, 54.

[0080] According to a possible arrangement inside the box 11 1 of fig. 1 , but this also applies to the boxes 211, 311 of figs. 5, 6 and 8, 9, the packets 40 can advantageously be arranged up against each other without gaps between them, both in relation to two adjacent packets 40 of the same row and also between two adjacent packets 40 of parallel rows. The packets 40 can be positioned in such a way that respective front walls 41 of each packet 40 of a first row are in reciprocal abutment, completely overlapping each other, with front walls 41 of respective packets 40 of a second row. Two contiguous packets 40 of a same row can be arranged in such a way that respective facing side walls 42 are in reciprocal abutment, completely overlapping each other.

[0081] According to another possible arrangement inside the box 411 of figs. 11-13, the packets 50 can advantageously be arranged interspaced with each other, at least the adjacent ones of a same row. Two facing packets 50 of parallel rows can be arranged in such a way that respective front walls 51 are in reciprocal abutment.

[0082] According to some embodiments, with reference for example to figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, the box 111, 211, 311, 411, which has a parallelepiped shape with, as an example, a rectangular base, is formed by two opposite side walls 119, 219, 319, 419 and by two opposite head walls 120, 220, 320, 420 which delimit a housing compartment 115, 215, 315, 415 within which the plurality of packets 40, 50 is housed.

[0083] The packets 40, 50 can be positioned in the housing compartment 115, 215, 315, 415 according to one of the above-described arrangements, as for example visible in fig. 1 and figs. 11-13, or according to other possible arrangements, not shown.

[0084] The box 111, 211, 311, 411 comprises a closed bottom wall 116, 216, 316, 416 that delimits the housing compartment 115, 215, 315, 415 at the lower part, and is opposite an access opening 117, 217, 317, 417 by means of which the packets 40, 50 can be extracted from, or inserted into, the housing compartment 115, 215, 315, 415. The side 119, 219, 319, 419 and head walls 120, 220, 320, 420 are hinged to the bottom wall 116, 216, 316, 416.

[0085] The access opening 117, 217, 317, 417 is defined by an upper edge 118, 218, 318, 418 of the side 119, 219, 319, 419 and head walls 120, 220, 320, 420.

[0086] The box 111, 211, 311, 411 comprises, hinged to the upper edge 118, 218, 318, 418, a lid 121, 221, 321, 421.

[0087] The lid 121, 221, 321, 421 is formed by at least one fin, in this specific case two fms, for example a first fin 121 A, 221 A, 321 A, 321 A and a second fin 121B, 221B, 32 IB, 42 IB, which have a total areal extension essentially equal to that of the bottom wall 116, 216, 316, 416.

[0088] In other embodiments, not shown, the lid 121, 221, 321, 421 can be formed by a single fin, or by three or more fms.

[0089] The fms 121 A, 221 A, 321 A, 421 A and 121B, 221B, 321B, 421B can be opened to provide access to the housing compartment 115, 215, 315, 415, for example to pick up the packets 40, 50 or to perform one or more processes on them, such as the application of the government stamp, and then closed in order to close the box 111, 211, 311, 411 at the end of the operation.

[0090] In the example of figs. 1 and 2, the opening of the fms 121 A, 121B can make the top wall 44 of the packets 40 available to a printing machine (not shown) provided with special printing heads for the application of the government stamps.

[0091] In an embodiment shown in figs. 1, 2, 4, 5-7 and 8-10, by way of a non-limiting example, the sizes of the bottom wall 116, 216, 316 can be equal to 42x258.9 mm, these values being understood as the width and length, respectively, of the bottom wall 16; the sizes of the side walls 119, 219, 319 can be equal to 75x258.9 mm, these values being understood as the height and length, respectively, of the side walls 119, 219, 319. The height of the side walls 119, 219, 319 corresponds to a box height H.

[0092] In another embodiment shown in figs. 11, 12, the sizes of the bottom wall 416 of the box 411 can be equal to 47x273 mm, these values being understood as the width and length, respectively, of the bottom wall 416; the sizes of the side walls 419 can be equal to 75x273 mm, these values being understood as the height and length, respectively, of the side walls 419. The height of the side walls 419 corresponds to a box height H.

[0093] It is therefore noted that a box 111, 211, 311, 411 having the aforementioned measurements is suitable to contain two rows of five packets 40, 50 each, in which the packets 40, 50 that have the measurements previously disclosed by way of example are perfectly contained in the housing compartment 115, 215, 315, 415 with a very limited clearance, useful only to allow their insertion and extraction.

[0094] With reference to fig. 4, this shows the flat development, or blank, of the box 111 in accordance with the embodiment of the package 100 of figs. 1-2.

[0095] This blank comprises first longitudinal creasing lines 122 parallel to each other separating the bottom wall 116 from the side walls 119, second longitudinal creasing lines 123 parallel to the first longitudinal creasing lines 122 separating the side walls 119 from the respective fin 121 A, 12 IB of the lid 121, and third transverse creasing lines 124, orthogonal to the first and second longitudinal creasing lines 122, 123, separating the bottom wall 116 and the side walls 119 from the head walls 120.

[0096] The first, second and third creasing lines 122, 123, 124 are essentially hinging lines that allow the aforementioned walls to bend, for example by about 90°, with respect to the wall adjacent thereto when the box 111 is shaped.

[0097] Each head wall 120 can be formed by a main fin 120A essentially defining the head wall, the fin 120A being hinged to one of the two side walls 119, and by two reinforcement tongues 120B, 120C, of which a first reinforcement tongue 120B is hinged to the other side wall 119 and a second reinforcement tongue 120C is hinged to the bottom wall 116, which are conformed to be folded against the main fin 120 A from the inner side, that is, from the side of the housing compartment 115.

[0098] According to some embodiments, with reference to figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12 the spacer support 112, 212, 312, 412 is arranged opposite the access opening 117,

[0099] 217. 317. 417.

[0100] The spacer support 112, 212, 312, 412 has an essentially flat support wall 113, 213, 313, 413 on which the plurality of packets 40, 50 abuts within the housing compartment 115, 215, 315, 415.

[0101] The support wall 113, 213, 313, 413 can advantageously have a plan extension essentially equal to a plan extension of the bottom wall 116, 216, 316, 416 of the box 111, 211, 311, 411, both being rectangular. The packets 40, 50 are therefore completely supported.

[0102] The support wall 113, 213, 313, 413 is substantially opposite the access opening

[0103] 117. 217. 317. 417.

[0104] The support wall 113, 213, 313, 413 is arranged at a first height Hl (figs. 1, 2, 6, 9, 11, 12) complementary to a second predefined height H2 (visible in fig. 1 and figs. 11-12) of each packet 40, 50, so that the packets of the plurality of packets 40, 50 have the top wall 44, 54 flush with the upper edge 118, 218, 318, 418.

[0105] Here and hereafter in the description, by the term “top wall” we mean the wall of the packet 40, 50 which, in relation to the positioning of the latter inside the housing compartment 115, 215, 315, 415 and with respect to the other packets 40, 50, is exposed to the access opening 117, 217, 317, 417, in other words it is visible from above once the lid 121, 221, 321, 421 is opened, that is, it is directly available to undergo processing.

[0106] For example, alternatively to what shown in fig. 1, the packets 50 could be oriented with the side wall arranged upward which, based on the above considerations, assumes the functional connotation of top wall. Such an arrangement is shown by way of example in figs. 11-13, where the elements identified with the number 52 have, in this case, the function of top walls of the packets 50, while the opposite lower walls abut on the support wall 413. The second height H2 is lower than the height H of the box 111, 211, 311, 411, hereafter also box height H, and identical for all packets of the plurality of packets 40, 50. The second height H2 corresponds to the distance between the lower wall 43, 53 and the top wall 44, 52 of the packet 40, 50, see for example fig. 1 and fig. 11, respectively.

[0107] The box height H is defined as the distance between the bottom wall 116, 216, 316, 416, in particular a lower surface thereof defining an abutment plane of the box 111, 211, 311, 411, and the upper edge 118, 218, 318, 418. In other words, such box height H equals the height of the side 119, 219, 319, 419 or head wall 120, 220, 320, 420 measured starting from the lower surface of the bottom wall 116, 216, 316, 416 up to the upper edge 118, 218, 318, 418.

[0108] According to some embodiments of the package 100, 400 (figs. 1, 2, 11-13, respectively), the spacer support 112, 412 is formed by an insert 139, 439 having the support wall 113, 413 and at least two support legs 114, 414 in continuity with the support wall 113, 413. Therefore, in the embodiments of the package 100, 400, the spacer support 112, 412 is a distinct component from the box 111, 411. In this case, the package 100, 400 is formed by three distinct assemblies / components: the plurality of packets 40, 50, the box 111, 411 and the spacer support 112, 412, that is, the insert 139, 439.

[0109] In the example embodiment of figs. 1, 2, the spacer support 1 12 is formed by an insert folded into the shape of a “U” in which the support wall 113 defines a flat horizontal segment of the “U” and the two support legs 114 define the two branches of the “U”. Each of the two support legs 114 advantageously develops in a continuous manner for the entire length of the support wall 113.

[0110] With reference to figs. 1, 2, 11, 12, the first height Hl of the spacer support 112, 412 can be defined as the height of the support legs 114, 414, that is, the distance between a lower end of the support legs 114, 414 and an upper end of the support wall 113, 413.

[0111] According to some embodiments, the support wall 113 can be solid (figs. 1-3 and 5). By the term “solid” we mean that the support wall 13 is without discontinuities such as holes, openings, windows.

[0112] However, as visible in fig. 11 for example, solutions in which holes, openings, windows are made on the support wall 413 are not excluded. In this case, such windows are functional for the definition of the support legs 414, as will be described below.

[0113] With reference to figs. 1, 2, 11, 12, the support legs 114, 414 are substantially parallel and facing each other. The support legs 114, 414 branch off substantially perpendicularly from two opposite sides of the support wall 13.

[0114] According to a variant applicable to all the embodiments described here, the support legs 114, 414 can be slightly inclined outward.

[0115] According to embodiments shown in figs. 1-2, 11-13, the insert 139, 439 is housed within the box 111, 411, resting on the bottom wall 116, 416.

[0116] In particular, the support legs 114, 414 of the insert 139, 439 are in abutment with the bottom wall 116, 416 of the box 111, 411.

[0117] The support legs 114, 414 of the insert 139, 439 are substantially parallel to the side walls 119, 419 of the box 111, 411, each support leg 114, 414 being adjacent and facing a respective inner face of the side walls 119, 419.

[0118] In a possible embodiment, the spacer support 112, 412 can be fixed to the box 111 , 411 , for example to the bottom wall 116, 416 and / or to one or both of the side walls 119, 419 and / or to one or both of the head walls 120, 420.

[0119] In an embodiment shown, solely by way of a non-limiting example, in figs. 1- 3, the sizes of the support wall 113 of the insert 139 can be equal to 38x258.9 mm, these values being understood as the width and length, respectively, of the support wall 113; the sizes of the support legs 114 can be equal to 8x258.9 mm, these values being understood as the height and length, respectively, of the support legs 114.

[0120] In another embodiment shown, by way of a non-limiting example, in figs. 11- 14, the sizes of the support wall 413 of the insert 439 can be equal to 45x273 mm, these values being understood as the width at the widest point and the length of the support wall 413, respectively; the sizes of the support legs 414 can be equal to 9.4x273 mm, these values being understood as the height and the overall length, respectively, of the support legs 414.

[0121] It is therefore noted that the insert 139, 439 is perfectly contained within the housing compartment 115, 415 with a very limited clearance, useful only to allow its insertion and extraction.

[0122] With reference to fig. 3, this shows the flat development, or blank, of the spacer support 112, that is, of the insert 139 in accordance with the embodiment of figs. 1 , 2. This blank has an essentially rectangular shape and comprises fourth longitudinal creasing lines 125 separating the support wall 113 from the two support legs 114 which are arranged on the longer sides of the support wall 113.

[0123] With particular reference to the embodiment of the package indicated with reference number 400 (figs. 11-13), the insert 439 that forms the spacer support 412 also has two parallel and opposite containment walls 431 in continuity with the opposite support legs 414, and on an opposite side with respect to the support wall 413.

[0124] Each support leg 414 is formed by a plurality of flaps 414A distanced apart along the length of the support wall 413.

[0125] The flaps 414A are obtained from individual fins delimited by a U-shaped cut on the support wall 413 and bent 90°, that is, they are vertical, with respect to the support wall 413, in particular with respect to a part of the support wall 13 that remains horizontal.

[0126] Each containment wall 431 comprises a plurality of separation elements 432 arranged between two adjacent packets 50 of a row of the plurality of packets 50.

[0127] The separation elements 432 are protruding toward the inside of the housing compartment 415 (figs. 12, 13) and configured to delimit positioning compartments in which to stably arrange and retain each packet 50, preventing any movements thereof in a longitudinal direction of the insert 439.

[0128] The separation elements 432 are arranged one after the other at a distance D (fig. 13), measured along the longitudinal development of the insert 439, which is equal to a predetermined and constant value, so as to arrange and retain the packets 50 in the respective positioning compartments at a constant pitch with respect to each other, the pitch being coordinated with the distance D.

[0129] In one embodiment, the distance D is at least equal to or greater than a characteristic size of the packet 50, preferably defined as the length of the side wall 52 which in this case assumes the operational connotation of top wall. In the example described here, the distance D is therefore at least equal to or greater than 48 mm.

[0130] Each separation element 432 is obtained by cutting out a portion of the respective containment wall 431 that is folded within the housing compartment The separation elements 432 can be advantageously created as pre-cut tongues 433 integrated in the containment wall 431.

[0131] According to one embodiment, each separation element 432 is formed from a pair of tongues 433.

[0132] In an alternative embodiment, not shown, each separation element 432 can be formed from a single tongue 433.

[0133] With reference to fig. 14, this shows the flat development, or blank, of the spacer support 412, that is, of the insert 439 in accordance with the embodiment of figs. 11-13.

[0134] Such blank comprises centrally the support wall 413 and laterally the containment walls 431.

[0135] On each side of the support wall 413 there are obtained a series of creasing segments 436 aligned and spaced out by cutting segments 437 concatenated in a “U” in the direction of an axis of symmetry of the blank and defining the aforementioned flaps 414A.

[0136] The separation elements 432 are also obtained on each containment wall 431.

[0137] In this specific case, each separation element 432 is formed by a pair of tongues 433, wherein each tongue 433 is joined to the containment wall 431 by a respective joining line 434, while the tongues 433 are separated from each other by a cutting line 435. The joining lines 434 and the cutting line 435 are reciprocally parallel to each other and to the length of the insert 439. Other cutting lines connect the joining lines 434 of the two tongues 433 to allow them to be separated on the two longer sides thereof.

[0138] Recesses 438, for example of a semi-circular shape, can also be made on one or both of the containment walls 431 , which during use serve to verify the orientation of the cardboard.

[0139] According to some embodiments, the insert 139, 439 is made of a paper material with thickness SI and / or grammage G1 greater than the thickness S2 and / or grammage G2 of the paper material with which the box 111, 411 is made. This is because the insert 139, 439 has to have a rigidity such as to allow the packets 40, 50 to be supported without undergoing bending or deformation that would compromise the correct positioning of the packets 40, 50 with respect to the upper edge 118, 418 of the box 111, 411.

[0140] The paper material can be paper, cardboard or paperboard.

[0141] By the term “grammage” or “basis weight” we mean the weight of a paper material per unit of area. In other words, it refers to the density of a paper material and is measured in grams per square meter (g / m2).

[0142] According to possible embodiments, the insert 139, 439 that forms the spacer support 112, 412, that is, its blank, has a uniform thickness SI between about 0.5 mm and about 5 mm. According to a variant, the thickness of the support wall and the thickness of the support legs can be different.

[0143] According to some embodiments, which can be combined with all the embodiments described here, the box 111, 211, 311, 411, that is, its blank, has a uniform thickness S2 between about 0.2 mm and about 0.5 mm. The box 111, 211, 311, 411 is advantageously made of a paper material such as paper, cardboard or paperboard.

[0144] According to possible embodiments, the insert 139, 439 that forms the spacer support 112, 412, that is, its blank, has a uniform grammage G1 between about 250 g / m2and about 700 g / m2. According to a variant, the grammage of the support wall and the grammage of the support legs can be different.

[0145] According to possible embodiments, the box 111, 211, 311, 411, that is, its blank, has a uniform grammage G2 between about 180 g / m2and about 250 g / m2.

[0146] According to a possible example embodiment, the spacer support 112, 412 can be made of cardboard, advantageously corrugated to increase stiffness, with thickness SI of about 1.5 mm and grammage G1 of about 350 g / m2.

[0147] According to possible embodiments, the box 111, 211, 311, 411 can be made of smooth paperboard with thickness S2 of about 0.3 mm and grammage G2 of about 220 g / m2.

[0148] According to a variant of the package indicated with reference number 200 (figs. 5, 6), the spacer support 212 can be an integral part of the box 211. In this case, the bottom wall 216 is raised in the direction of the housing compartment 215, or of the access opening 217, defining, itself, the spacer support 212 (fig. 5), with a conformation similar to the one previously described.

[0149] In other words, the spacer support 212 is made by means of the bottom wall 216 of the box 211 folded into a “U” shape toward the access opening 217 in order to create both the support wall 213, essentially flat, and the support legs 214. In this case, the support legs are defined by a contiguous portion of the side walls 219 and of the bottom wall 216.

[0150] With reference to fig. 7, this shows the flat development, or blank, of the box 211 in accordance with the variant of the package 200 with integrated spacer support 212 just described (figs. 5, 6). In this case, each of the two support legs 214 is arranged between the bottom wall 216 and the respective side wall 219 of the box 211, being separated with respect thereto by fifth and sixth longitudinal creasing lines 226, 227 which can optionally provide a series of cuts. A flat part of the bottom wall 216 therefore acts as a raised support wall 213 for the packets 40.

[0151] According to another variant of the package indicated with reference number 300 (figs. 8, 9), in which the spacer support 312 is an integral part of the box 311, the bottom wall 316 is formed by a lowered flat part 316A and by a plurality of raised support elements 316B, which project toward the access opening 317.

[0152] With particular reference to fig. 9, the box 311 has two facing rows of support elements 316b obtained along opposite comers of the box 311.

[0153] The support elements 316B substantially have a stepped shape.

[0154] Each support element 316B has a first face 316B’ orthogonal to the bottom wall 316 and parallel to the side walls 319, and a second face 316B” parallel to the bottom wall 316 and orthogonal to the side walls 319.

[0155] The second faces 316B” of the support elements 316B are arranged on a same plane so as to create the support wall 313.

[0156] The support elements 316B develop, vertically, for a height equal to the first height Hl, complementary to the second predefined height H2 of each packet 40, so that the packets of the plurality of packets 40 are arranged with the top wall 44 flush with the upper edge 318 of the box 311. In particular, the first face 316B’ develops, vertically, for the first height Hl.

[0157] The support elements 316B develop, horizontally, for a height equal to a certain width L, understood as the distance from the corresponding side wall 319 to the housing compartment 315. In other words, the second face 316B” develops, horizontally, for the width L.

[0158] According to possible embodiments, the width L of the support elements 316B can be for example equal to the first height Hl . The width L can for example measure about half the width of the support wall of the packet 40, for example the lower wall 43.

[0159] The support elements 316B are arranged on two facing rows along the side walls 319, wherein each support element 316B of a row is interspaced by the previous and next one, fig. 8.

[0160] The support elements 316B of each row are advantageously equally distanced apart. For example, the distance, or pitch, P between two consecutive support elements 316B can be between about 48 mm and about 58 mm (figs. 8, 10).

[0161] Therefore, the flat part 316A covers both a central strip of the bottom wall 316 and also the gaps between one support element 316B and the next of a same row.

[0162] The support elements 316B determine a partial flat support for the packets 40 which are supported only for an areal portion of a wall thereof, for example the lower wall 43. In this case, the stability of the packets 40, understood as correct positioning, is guaranteed by the positioning, practically without clearance, of the packets 40 both with respect to each other and also with respect to the walls defining the housing compartment 315.

[0163] With reference to fig. 10, this shows the flat development, or blank, of the box 311 in accordance with the variant of the package 300 with integrated spacer support 312 just described (figs. 8, 9). Starting from what previously shown for the embodiment of fig. 4 referring to the first embodiment of the package 100, which for the sake of brevity will not be repeated, in this case on the bottom wall 316 and on the side walls 319 there are created, respectively, a plurality of first and second creasing segments 328, 329 connected in pairs (that is, a first with a corresponding second creasing segment 328, 329) by cutting segments 330 to define the plurality of support elements 316B.

[0164] The first and second creasing segments 328, 329 are parallel to the first longitudinal creasing lines 322; the cutting segments 330 are orthogonal to the first longitudinal creasing lines 322 and pass through them.

[0165] In particular, two rows of first creasing segments 328 are made on the bottom wall 316 and one row of second creasing segments 329 is made on each side wall 319.

[0166] The creasing segments 328, 329 of a same row are advantageously equally distanced apart according to the distance or pitch P previously defined. The distance between the first creasing segments 328 and the nearest longitudinal creasing line 322 corresponds to the first height Hl that the support elements 316B have when the box 311 is formed.

[0167] The distance between the second creasing segments 329 and the nearest longitudinal creasing line 322 corresponds to the width L that the support elements 316b have when the box 311 is formed.

[0168] Some embodiments also concern a process of assembling the package 100, 200, 300, 400 according to the present invention.

[0169] In a first step SI 00, a box 111, 411 is made available or provided to a packaging machine that manages the assembly of the package 100, 400. The box 111, 411 can be fed to the packaging machine already formed according to the shape described above or as a flat blank, that is, arranged in a flat or laid out condition, see for example fig. 4. In the latter case, the packaging machine provides, by means of suitable manipulation members, to give the blank of the box 111, 411 the final shape.

[0170] In a second step S200, which can also occur at the same time as the first step SI 00, the insert 139, 439 is fed to the packaging machine already folded, for example in the shape of a “U” (figs. 1-2) or according to other shapes (figs. 11, 12), or as a flat blank, that is, arranged in a flat or laid out condition (figs. 3, 14). In the latter case, as for the first step SI 00, the packaging machine provides, by means of suitable, the same or additional manipulation members, to give the flat blank of the insert 139, 439 the final shape.

[0171] In a third step S300, the insert 139, 439 is positioned inside the housing compartment 115, 415 by means of suitable positioning members of the packaging machine, placing the support legs 114, 414 resting on the bottom wall 116, 416 of the box 111, 411.

[0172] In a fourth step S400, which can also occur at the same time as the third step, a plurality of packets 40, 50, all together or one at a time, is inserted within the housing compartment 115, 415 through the access opening 117, 417 and arranged resting on the support wall 113, 413 of the insert 139, 439, for example according to one of the previously described arrangements.

[0173] In a fifth step S500, the lid 121, 421, that is, each of the two fins 121A, 121B and 421 A, 42 IB, arranged in an open condition, is folded against the upper edge 118, 418 to close the access opening 117, 417.

[0174] According to a variant of the process just described, the second step S200 and the third step S300 are not performed, and during the first step SI 00 a box 211, 311 (figs. 5, 6 and 8, 9, respectively) is made available, or a corresponding blank (figs. 7, 10, respectively) is put into shape, having the integrated spacer support 212, 312. In this case, during the fourth step S400 the plurality of packets 40 is arranged resting on the bottom wall 216, 316 of the box 211, 311 which acts as a support wall 213, 313 of the spacer support 212, 312.

[0175] It is evident that the shapes, size values, thicknesses and grammages mentioned in the present description are merely exemplary, and can be modified without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the present invention, as a function of the sizes and shapes of the packets 40, 50 of smoking articles which have to be supported by the spacer support 112, 212, 312, 412 and contained within the housing compartment 115, 215, 315, 415 ofthe box 111, 211, 311, 411. In fact, as can be inferred from the description, the spacer support 112, 212, 312, 412 has sizes, in particular a height Hl, which are complementary to those of the packets 40, 50 that it has to support, in order to arrange the packets 40, 50 in positions whereby the government stamp can be applied in the same positions (or “coordinates”) quickly and precisely.

[0176] It is clear that modifications and / or additions of parts may be made to the package 100, 200, 300, 400 and to the process of assembling it as described heretofore, without thereby departing from the field and scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims.

[0177] It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art will be able to achieve other equivalent forms of a package containing packets for smoking articles with spacer support and corresponding assembly process, having the characteristics set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

[0178] In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate their reading and they must not be considered as restrictive factors of the field of protection defined by the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Box package (100, 200, 300, 400) for packets (40, 50) of smoking articles comprising:- a plurality of packets (40, 50) arranged along one or more rows, each packet (40, 50) having parallelepiped shape and comprising two opposite front walls (41, 51), two opposite side walls (42, 52), a lower wall (43, 53) and an opposite top wall (44, 54);- a box (111, 211, 311, 411) having a parallelepiped shape formed by two opposite side walls (119, 219, 319, 419) and two opposite head walls (120, 220, 320, 420) delimiting a housing compartment (115, 215, 315, 415) in which said plurality of packets (40, 50) is housed, and comprising an access opening (117, 217, 317, 417) configured to allow the packets (40, 50) to be extracted from or inserted into said housing compartment (115, 215, 315, 415), wherein said access opening (117, 217, 317, 417) is defined by an upper edge (118, 218, 318, 418) of said side (119, 219, 319, 419) and head (120, 220, 320, 420) walls of the box (111, 211, 311, 411) and where at least one flap of a lid (121, 221, 321, 421) is hinged, said upper edge (118, 218, 318, 418) being arranged at a given box height (H) with respect to an abutment plane on which the package (100, 200, 300, 400) can rest with the access opening (1 17, 217, 317, 417) facing upward;- a spacer support (112, 212, 312, 412) arranged opposite said access opening (117, 217, 317, 417) and having a support wall (113, 213, 313, 413) on which said plurality of packets (40, 50) abuts when housed in said housing compartment (115, 215, 315, 415), said support wall (113, 213, 313, 413) being arranged at a first height (Hl) complementary to a second predefined height (H2) of each packet (40, 50), so that the packets of said plurality of packets (40, 50) have their top wall (44, 54) flush with said upper edge (118, 218, 318, 418), said second height (H2) being identical for all packets of said plurality of packets (40, 50), and corresponding to the distance between the lower wall (43, 53) and the top wall (44, 54) of the packet (40, 50), characterized in that said second height (H2) is lower than said box height (H).

2. Package (100, 400) as in claim 1, characterized in that said spacer support (1 12, 412) is formed by an insert (139, 439) having said support wall (113, 413) and at least two support legs (114, 414) opposite each other and branching offsubstantially perpendicularly from two sides of said support wall (113, 413).

3. Package (100, 400) as in claim 2, characterized in that each support leg (114, 414) of said insert (139, 439) faces a respective inner face of said side walls (119, 419) of said box (111, 411).

4. Package (100, 400) as in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said insert (139, 439) is housed within said box (111, 411) and said box (111, 411) comprises a bottom wall (116, 416) opposite to said access opening (117, 417) and on which said at least two opposite support legs (114, 414) abut.

5. Package (400) as in any one of claims 2 - 4, characterized in that said insert (439) has two opposite parallel containment walls (431) in continuity with said at least two opposite support legs (414), and on an opposite side with respect to the support wall (413).

6. Package (400) as in claim 5, characterized in that each support leg (414) is formed by at least one flap (414A) obtained by a U-shaped cut on the support wall (413) bent 90° with respect to the support wall (413).

7. Package (400) as in claim 5 or 6, characterized in that each containment wall (431) comprises a plurality of separation elements (432) arranged between two adjacent packets (50) of a row of said plurality of packets (50), each separation element (432) being obtained by cutting out a portion of the respective containment wall (431) which is folded within the housing compartment (415).

8. Package (100, 400) as in any one of claims 2 - 7, characterized in that the insert (139, 439) is formed by a single blank.

9. Package (100, 400) as in any one of claims 2 - 8, characterized in that said insert (139, 439) and said box (111, 411) are made of a paper material, wherein the thickness (SI) and / or grammage (Gl) of the insert (139, 439) is greater than the thickness (S2) and / or grammage (G2) of the box (111, 411), respectively.

10. Package (100, 400) as in any one of claims 2 - 9, characterized in that said insert (139, 439) has a uniform thickness (SI) between 0.5 mm and 5 mm, and in that said box (111, 411) has a uniform thickness (S2) between 0.2 mm and 0.5 mm.

11. Package (100, 400) as in any one of claims 2 - 10, characterized in that said insert (139, 439) is made from a sheet of corrugated cardboard.

12. Package (200) as in claim 1 , characterized in that said spacer support (212)is made by means of a bottom wall (216) of the box (211) folded into a “U” shape so as to create said support wall (213).

13. Package (300) as in claim 1, characterized in that said box (311) has two facing rows of support elements (316B) formed along opposite edges of the box (311), each support element (316B) having a first face (316B’) orthogonal to a bottom wall (316) and parallel to the side walls (319) and a second face (316B”) parallel to the bottom wall (316) and orthogonal to the side walls (319), the second faces (316B”) of said support elements (316B) being arranged on a same plane so as to create said support wall (313).

14. Process of assembling a package (100, 400), as in any one of claims 2 to 11, comprising the following steps: i) providing (S100) said box (111, 411) already formed or as a flat blank to be formed to a packaging machine; ii) feeding (S200) said insert (139, 439) already formed or as a flat blank to be formed to said packaging machine; iii) positioning (S300) said insert (139, 439) inside said housing compartment (115, 415); iv) inserting (S400) a plurality of packets (40, 50) within said housing compartment (115, 415) through said access opening (117, 417) arranging the lower wall (43, 53) of the packets (40, 50) in abutment with said support wall (113, 413) of said insert (139, 439), wherein said step iv) has been carried out either after the step iii) or simultaneously with said step iii).

Images