Cigarette Pack Grip Tab Positioning Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cigarette pack opening tabs with adhesive-free grip tabs are difficult for consumers to grasp and operate effectively, as they often require manual manipulation and are not easily positioned for easy handling.
Innovation Solution
The grip tab is mechanically processed or treated with compressed air, radiation, or moisture to position it at an acute angle, making it easier to attach and use, and can be folded or deformed to create a stable functional position during the manufacturing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the grip tab is left flat and unprocessed on the opening tab, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the grip tab is difficult for consumers to grasp and operate effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The grip tab is pre-positioned at an acute angle to the opening tab during the manufacturing process, before the pack reaches the consumer. This preliminary positioning action ensures that when the consumer receives the pack, the grip tab is already in an optimal grasping position, eliminating the need for additional manual manipulation while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through integrated processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The grip tab undergoes parameter changes in its spatial orientation during manufacturing, transitioning from a flat position to an acute angle position relative to the opening tab. This parameter change in angular position is achieved through mechanical processing or treatment with compressed air, radiation, or moisture during the manufacturing process, making it easier to grasp without significantly increasing device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the grip tab is processed mechanically or with compressed air to position it at an acute angle, then it becomes easier to grasp, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the existing manufacturing process infrastructure to automatically position the grip tab at an acute angle without requiring separate manual intervention. The grip tab positioning is integrated into the existing production line, where mechanical processing or compressed air treatment is applied as part of the normal manufacturing sequence, allowing the process to serve itself rather than requiring additional complex equipment or steps.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the grip tab is folded into a 180° position and fixed by pressure elements, then it achieves a stable functional position, but the manufacturing process requires additional processing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The grip tab is pre-folded into a 180° position and pre-fixed with pressure elements during the manufacturing process, before the pack is assembled and distributed. This preliminary folding and fixing action ensures that the grip tab maintains a stable functional position throughout the product lifecycle, while the complexity of the folding mechanism is integrated into the manufacturing equipment rather than requiring additional components in the final product.
4Ease of operation
If the coating on the grip tab is exposed to heat or moisture to cause deformation, then the grip tab becomes curved and easier to grasp, but additional processing equipment is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical folding or positioning systems with non-contact methods such as heat or moisture treatment to achieve grip tab deformation. Instead of using complex mechanical arms or pressing mechanisms to fold the grip tab, the system uses thermal or moisture fields to cause the coating to expand or contract, naturally curving the grip tab into an ergonomic shape. This substitution reduces mechanical complexity while achieving the desired functional form.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures the grip tab is easily detectable and operable, enhancing user interaction with the pack by positioning it in a functional, angular manner, facilitating easier opening and closing of the pack.
Implementation Method 1
The shrinking process is to be initiated by transferring heat or electromagnetic radiation, with the result that the grip tab is deformed
Implementation Method 2
a coating, preferably on the opposite side, is exposed to moisture - moist air - with an expansion of the material and a corresponding deformation
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to the production of (cigarette) packs with an inner casing or inner pack which has an opening aid with an openings tab (10) and a gripping tab (23). The gripping tab (23) is to be treated such that the gripping tab permanently remains in a user-friendly position when the pack has been produced, in particular in a lightly inclined position. For this purpose, the gripping tab (23) is lifted from the plane of a (film) web (25) by guide elements or deflectors (46), folded, in particular by up to 180°, stabilized in this position, and then folded back. The gripping tab (23) is gripped preferably in the region of a deflection (45) of the web (25).