Packaging Blank Lifting Strip Weakening for Smooth Cigarette Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods and devices for producing packaging materials with lifting strips for tobacco products do not effectively address the efficient application of weakening lines to facilitate easy removal of package contents, particularly cigarettes, during the manufacturing process.

Innovation Solution

A cutting unit is positioned upstream of the embossing unit to apply weakening lines for the lifting strip in the longitudinal direction of the continuous material web, and a magnetic roller with perforation knives is used to create transverse weakening lines, ensuring the lifting strip is connected to the blank via residual connections for orderly movement and easy removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If weakening lines are applied only in the transverse direction after embossing, then the lifting strip can be separated from the blank, but the lifting strip cannot be effectively used to move cigarettes into a raised position while maintaining connection to the pack

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of removalVSAvoidconnection maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The weakening lines are segmented into two directional components: longitudinal weakening lines (running parallel to the lifting strip) and transverse weakening lines (running perpendicular to the lifting strip). This segmentation allows the lifting strip to be partially separated while maintaining connection through the longitudinal direction, enabling both easy removal and connection maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The longitudinal weakening lines are applied in advance during the embossing process, creating pre-defined separation paths that guide the lifting strip's movement. This preliminary action ensures that when the lifting strip is pulled, it follows the predetermined longitudinal path while remaining connected to the pack until the transverse weakening lines are overcome.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If a cutting device is located upstream of the embossing device to apply longitudinal weakening lines, then the lifting strip structure is created, but the manufacturing process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelifting strip structureVSAvoidmanufacturing process
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The embossing device and cutting device are merged into a single integrated unit where the embossing process simultaneously creates both the longitudinal and transverse weakening lines. This merging eliminates the need for separate upstream and downstream cutting devices, reducing manufacturing process complexity while maintaining the lifting strip structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The embossing device is designed with multi-functionality to perform both embossing and cutting operations. By equipping the embossing device with cutting edges or integrated cutting mechanisms, it can apply both longitudinal and transverse weakening lines in a single pass, making the device universal and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3672877B2Method and device for producing a blank from a packaging material
Publication Date: 2026.05.13 FOCKE & CO (GMBH & CO KG)
  • EP3672877B2 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3672877B2 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3672877B2 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for producing a blank (22) from a packaging material, in particular from tinfoil, paper, film or the like, for wrapping a pack content of a pack for smoking goods, wherein the blank (22) has a lifting strip (38) as a removal aid for the removal of at least part of the pack content, and wherein the lifting strip (38) is delimited in the blank (22) by weakening lines (39). The invention is characterized in that a continuous material web (44) for the blanks (22) is fed to an embossing device (45) while applying an embossment to the continuous material web (44) for the blanks, and in that, by means of a cutting device (46), weakening lines (39) for the lifting strips (38) are applied to the continuous material web (44) for the blanks (32), and in that, by means of a separating device (47), individual blanks (22) are separated out of the continuous material web (44), wherein each blank (22) has weakening lines (39) for a lifting strip (38).