Embossed Cigarette Pack Panels for Thermal Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cigarette packs are adversely affected by heat during the manufacturing and packaging process, leading to moisture loss and degradation of tobacco, and users experience difficulty opening smooth-faced packs.
Innovation Solution
A cigarette pack design featuring embossed panels with protuberances or depressions that create air gaps between the wrapper and the pack surface, reducing heat transfer and providing a tactile grip, while also allowing for improved access and handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the pack surface is made smooth for conventional manufacturing, then the manufacturing process is simple, but heat transfer to the tobacco is excessive causing moisture loss and quality degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The pack surface is given non-uniform texture through embossed formations (protuberances or depressions) at specific locations. These localized surface variations create air gaps between the wrapper and pack surface, reducing heat transfer to the tobacco while maintaining simple manufacturing processes. The formations are strategically positioned to provide thermal insulation without complicating the overall manufacturing approach.
Solution Approach 2:
Air gaps created by the embossed formations act as an intermediary layer between the heat source (wrapper/pack surface) and the tobacco. This air layer mediates heat transfer by providing thermal insulation, reducing the direct thermal contact between the pack surface and the tobacco, thereby preventing moisture loss and quality degradation during manufacturing and storage.
2Ease of manufacture
If the pack surface is made smooth for conventional design, then the manufacturing process is simple, but user purchase and handling is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The pack surface incorporates localized embossed formations (protuberances or depressions) that create tactile variations. These localized surface features provide grip points for user fingers, enabling easier handling and opening of the pack. The formations are strategically positioned on the pack surface to enhance user interaction without requiring complex manufacturing processes, thus resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and ease of operation.
3Reliability
If heat is applied during packaging process, then the wrapper sealing is effective, but the smoking articles suffer moisture loss and quality degradation
Solution Approach 1:
Air gaps created by the embossed formations serve as a thermal intermediary layer between the wrapper and the tobacco during the heat sealing process. This air layer reduces heat conduction to the tobacco, allowing the wrapper to be effectively sealed while minimizing moisture loss and quality degradation of the smoking articles. The formations act as a protective barrier that mediates the thermal interaction during packaging.
Solution Approach 2:
The pack surface is segmented into multiple raised or depressed formations that create discrete air gaps between the wrapper and the pack surface. This segmentation distributes the thermal insulation effect across multiple locations, ensuring that heat reaches the wrapper for effective sealing while the air gaps prevent excessive heat transfer to the tobacco, thereby maintaining moisture balance and quality.
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 embossed design significantly reduces heat transfer to the tobacco, maintaining product quality and shelf life, and enhances user handling and opening ease.
Implementation Method 1
the or each panel includes a plurality of formations extending out of the plane of a surface of the panel... significantly reduces heat transfer to the tobacco
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure addresses aspects of a PACK FOR SMOKING ARTICLES, wherein smoking articles may include, but are not limited to, cigarettes and the like. This disclosure details a pack for smoking articles comprising a plurality of planar panels, and a blank for producing such a pack. In one embodiment, at least one of the panels includes a plurality of formations extending out of the plane of a surface of the panel(s). In one non-limiting implementation, the formations may provide protection for the contents of the pack from subsequent processes performed thereon.