Cigarette Packet Spacer Integration via Tearable Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing packing machines and methods for producing packets of cigarettes with spacers inside face challenges in efficiently and cost-effectively forming groups of cigarettes, especially when the spacer is arranged inside the inner package, leading to complex production, hindered extraction, and an unpleasant appearance.

Innovation Solution

A packing machine and method that uses spacers made of low-density plastic or cardboard, arranged inside the inner package to stabilize the cigarettes, with a tearable portion design that exposes only the cigarettes during opening, hiding the spacers and facilitating easy extraction, and a standard packing machine with minor modifications for production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the filler element is arranged inside the inner package, then the group of cigarettes is stabilized and gaps are prevented, but the production becomes complex and extraction is hindered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of cigarette groupVSAvoidproduction complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a tearable portion as an intermediary element between the filler and the cigarettes. This tearable portion allows the filler to remain inside the inner package for stabilization while enabling easy separation during extraction. The tearable portion acts as a mediator that resolves the conflict between maintaining stability and enabling easy extraction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The inner package is segmented into distinct functional zones: a first portion containing the cigarettes, a second portion containing the filler, and a tearable portion connecting them. This segmentation allows the filler to stabilize the cigarette group while the tearable portion enables clean separation for extraction, reducing production complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If the filler element is arranged inside the inner package, then the cigarette group is stabilized, but the appearance becomes unpleasant and extraction is complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of cigarette groupVSAvoidextraction ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The tearable portion serves as an intermediary that facilitates easy extraction. It allows the consumer to separate the filler-containing portion from the cigarette-containing portion with a simple tearing motion, making extraction as easy as pulling apart two sections without needing to navigate around filler elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The filler element is effectively extracted from the direct interaction zone with cigarettes by placing it in a separate second portion of the inner package. The tearable portion enables this extraction to be easily executed by the consumer, separating the stabilizing function from the extraction path.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of manufacture

If a standard packing machine is used without modifications, then manufacturing costs are reduced, but the ability to accommodate spacers inside the inner package is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidmachine adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The inner package is designed with dynamic characteristics - the tearable portion allows the package structure to change state from closed to separated. This dynamic design enables standard packing machines to handle the package through minor adjustments while maintaining the ability to accommodate spacers inside, as the separation occurs after the primary packaging operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The tearable portion is pre-configured during manufacturing to enable future separation. This preliminary action of creating the tearable connection allows standard machines to complete the packaging operation without complex modifications, while the pre-prepared tearable structure enables easy subsequent separation for extraction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2982607B1Packing machine and packing method for producing a packet of smoking articles provided with at least one spacer arranged inside the group of smoking articles

Publication Date: 2016.12.28 GD SPA

AI summary

A packing machine (18) and packing method for producing a packet (1) of smoking articles, which has an inner package (3) enclosing at least one group (4) of smoking articles and at least one spacer (5); the packing machine (18) has: a group-forming unit (19) having a group-forming pocket (26) for housing the group (4) of smoking articles and the spacer (5), a group-forming conveyor (25) which feeds the group-forming pocket (26) along a group-forming path (P), a first feed station (S1) to insert the spacer (5) inside the group-forming pocket (26), and a second feed station (S2) to insert the group (4) of smoking articles inside the group-forming pocket (26); and a packing unit (20) which receives the group (4) of smoking articles together with the spacer (5) from the group-forming unit (19) and wraps a sheet (21) of packing material about the group (4) of smoking articles and the spacer (5) to form the inner package (3).