Cigarette Inner Pack Fin Seam Width Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cigarette packs with fin seams for sealing blocks increase the external dimensions of inner packaging, making them incompatible with standard folding boxes, and cause collisions when the lid is opened or closed.

Innovation Solution

Designing the inner pack with a cup-shaped tray and special cigarette arrangement, eliminating the collar in the folding box, and optimizing the fin seams to reduce the pack's width while maintaining strength and tightness, allowing the inner pack to rest directly on the box's side walls.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If fin seams are used for sealing the inner pack, then tightness and strength of the seam are improved, but the external dimensions of the inner packaging increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseam strengthVSAvoidpack width
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The fin seams are folded over towards the front of the sealing pack, transforming the problem from a width dimension issue to a depth dimension issue. This allows the seams to be positioned in a different spatial dimension, reducing the transverse width while maintaining seam strength through the folded construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The inner pack is divided into functional zones: the sealing block with fin seams, the collar-free design, and the tray with recesses. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the fin seams provide strength while the tray recesses accommodate the folded seams without increasing overall pack width.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Volume of stationary object

If the inner pack rests directly on the side walls of the outer pack, then space usage is optimized, but collisions occur during lid operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepack volume efficiencyVSAvoidoperation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The tray side flaps are designed to extend beyond the sealing block and form protective edges that cushion the fin seams during lid operation. This beforehand cushioning prevents collisions between the lid side walls and the fin seams, ensuring reliable operation while maintaining direct contact between the inner pack and outer pack side walls for space efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The tray side flaps act as intermediary elements between the sealing block and the outer pack side walls. These flaps provide a buffer zone that prevents direct collision between the fin seams and moving parts during lid operation, while still allowing the inner pack to rest directly on the outer pack structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Shape

If the collar is eliminated from the folding box, then the inner pack fits better, but protection during lid operation is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepack fitVSAvoidcollision risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The collar is completely removed from the folding box design, extracting the protective function from the outer pack structure and relocating it to the tray side flaps. This allows the inner pack to fit better within the outer pack dimensions while the tray flaps provide the necessary protection during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The tray side flaps serve as intermediary protective elements that replace the traditional collar function. These flaps extend beyond the sealing block to provide protection during lid operation, while allowing the inner pack to maintain direct contact with the outer pack side walls for optimal fit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3497038B1Package for cigarettes and method for the production thereof
Publication Date: 2020.10.14 FOCKE & CO (GMBH & CO KG)
  • EP3497038B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3497038B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3497038B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a cigarette package having an outer package (10) designed as a flip-top box for holding an inner package (11) made of foil, in particular a sealed package, which has upright side seams (39, 40) arranged on inner side walls (36), in a flip-top box having no collar. The inner package (11) is designed having increased dimensional stability because of the arrangement of the side seams (39, 40), which are designed as fin seams, and because of a special structure of a tray, which is arranged inside the inner package (11).