Hinged-Lid Cigarette Packet Coupon Gluing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for inserting a coupon into a hinged-lid packet of cigarettes are complex and costly, leading to significant rejection of packets due to coupon misplacement during the manufacturing process.

Innovation Solution

A rigid, hinged-lid packet of cigarettes with a coupon is designed where the coupon is directly glued to the inner surface of the blank before folding, ensuring it remains in place and simplifying the production process by eliminating slippage and misalignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the coupon is placed on the front wall of the inner package and the blank is folded about the inner package and coupon to form the outer container, then the coupon can be positioned inside the outer container, but the coupon may move or misalign during the time lapse between placement and folding, requiring complicated and expensive steps to prevent movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoupon positioning accuracyVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The coupon is glued to the blank before folding, performing the positioning action in advance. This eliminates the time lapse between placement and folding, preventing coupon movement during the manufacturing process and removing the need for additional complex securing steps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The coupon placement and blank folding operations are merged into a single integrated process. By gluing the coupon to the blank before folding, the two separate steps (placement then folding) become one combined operation, simplifying the overall manufacturing process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If the coupon is placed on the front wall of the inner package and folded about with the blank, then the coupon is positioned inside the outer container, but a considerable number of packets are rejected due to coupon misplacement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidcoupon positioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The coupon is glued to the blank before folding, performing the positioning action in advance. This ensures the coupon remains in the correct position throughout the folding process, eliminating misplacement errors and reducing rejected packets

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The blank acts as an intermediary carrier that holds the coupon in a fixed position during the folding process. By attaching the coupon to the blank first, the blank serves as a stable base that prevents coupon movement, ensuring accurate final positioning

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This approach makes the production of hinged-lid packets of cigarettes cheaper and easier, significantly reducing the number of rejected packets by maintaining the coupon's position accurately during the folding process.

Implementation Method 1

the coupon is directly glued to the inner surface of the blank before folding

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP2213591B1Rigid, hinged-lid packet of cigarettes, with a coupon and manufacturing method thereof
Publication Date: 2011.08.24 GD SPA
  • EP2213591B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2213591B1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP2213591B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A packet (1) of cigarettes having a group (4) of cigarettes; an inner package (3) enclosing the group (4) of cigarettes; an outer container (2) housing the inner package (3) and having a lid (7) hinged along a hinge (8); and a coupon (21) housed inside the outer container (2), between the outer container (2) and the inner package (3), and glued to the inner surface of a first wall (11, 12) of the outer container (2).