Cigarette Pack Inner Collar Thermal Sealing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Designing cigarette packs with a sealed block configuration is material-intensive and complex, requiring additional production efforts, and existing solutions struggle to connect folding flaps without harming the cigarettes, while also needing to be compatible with conventional packaging machines.

Innovation Solution

A cigarette pack configuration featuring a dimensionally stable outer hinge-lid box with an inner sealed block having a continuous fin seam connecting the inner rear wall and side walls, and an inner collar to protect the cigarettes, along with a method of production that uses thermal sealing and mechanical aids to secure the collar in a three-dimensional folded form, allowing for efficient and aroma-tight packaging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional packaging machines are used for producing sealed block packs, then compatibility with existing equipment is improved, but the packs become material-intensive and complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with conventional packaging machinesVSAvoidpack configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pack is divided into separate functional components: an inner pack containing the cigarettes, an inner collar providing support, and an outer pack for protection. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining compatibility with conventional packaging equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inner pack with inner collar is nested within the outer pack, creating a compact hierarchical structure. This nesting approach reduces overall complexity while maintaining the protective and structural functions required by conventional packaging machines.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Strength

If folding flaps are connected by sealing with heat and pressure, then the sealed block structure is improved, but harmful effects are transmitted to the cigarettes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealed block structure strengthVSAvoidthermal and mechanical damage to cigarettes

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing process is extracted and applied only to the folding flaps of the pack structure, not to the cigarettes themselves. The inner collar acts as a buffer that prevents thermal and mechanical stress from reaching the cigarettes during the sealing of the outer pack.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The inner collar serves as an intermediary element between the sealing process and the cigarettes. It absorbs and isolates the harmful thermal and mechanical effects, protecting the cigarettes while still allowing the outer pack to be properly sealed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the inner collar is secured in three-dimensional folded form with mechanical aids, then protection of cigarettes from mechanical and thermal loads is improved, but production complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of cigarettesVSAvoidproduction process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The inner collar is pre-formed into its three-dimensional folded structure before being placed in the pack. This preliminary formation allows the collar to provide immediate mechanical protection without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms during the packaging process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The inner collar's three-dimensional folded structure is designed to self-secure through its own geometry and material properties, eliminating the need for additional mechanical aids or complex fastening mechanisms. The structure maintains its form through inherent stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 simplifies the pack configuration and production method, reducing material intensity and ensuring effective protection of cigarettes from mechanical and thermal loads while being compatible with conventional packaging machines, resulting in a more straightforward and efficient handling and production process.

Implementation Method 1

is fixed on the sealed block by adhesive bonding by way of an all-round connecting periphery

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesive bonding: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

with a continuous connecting seam which extends over the entire width—transversely to the cigarettes—of the sealed block and is configured in the form of a fin seam

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal sealing:

Data Source

PatentUS10710760B2Method for producing a package for cigarettes

Publication Date: 2020.07.14 FOCKE & CO (GMBH & CO KG)

AI summary

An aroma-tight cigarette pack with an outer pack (12) configured in the form of a hinge-lid box, and also with an inner pack (11) configured in the form of a sealed block with an opening aid which can be used a number of times. The opening aid has a removal opening (51) which extends in a sub-region of an inner front wall (39) and of an adjacent inner end wall (41) and is covered over by a closure label (54) with an adhesively bonding connecting periphery (55). The inner pack (11) has closure seams (37) which are designed in the form of fin seams.