Smoking Article Packet Stamp Alignment and Tearing Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing packaging for smoking articles limits the free positioning of stamps, leading to alignment issues and unpleasant effects during removal, as the stamp is typically fixed in conjunction with the tear tape, restricting its placement and making correct alignment difficult.

Innovation Solution

A packet design where the stamp is fixed to the container with a free portion and a tearing element arranged between the container and the stamp, ensuring the stamp tears when the wrapping is removed, while maintaining alignment and appearance, using a weakening line and tear tape to facilitate clean tearing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the stamp is fixed to the wrapping material and then the container is wrapped, then the stamp can be torn during removal, but the positioning of the stamp is limited and alignment is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestamp tearing functionVSAvoidstamp alignment on container
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The stamp is divided into two functional parts: a fixed portion attached to the container and a free portion extending toward the wrapping material. This segmentation allows the stamp to remain properly aligned on the container while still being able to tear during wrapping removal, resolving the contradiction between reliability of tearing function and manufacturing precision of alignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The free portion of the stamp acts as an intermediary element between the container and the wrapping material. It extends from the container surface toward the wrapping material, enabling the stamp to be torn during removal without requiring the entire stamp to be fixed to the wrapping, thus maintaining both alignment precision and tearing reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If the stamp is fixed to the container with limited positioning, then alignment is easier, but the stamp cannot be freely positioned and aesthetic appearance is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestamp positioning freedomVSAvoidaesthetic appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the stamp into a fixed portion and a free portion, the invention enables free positioning of the stamp on the container while maintaining aesthetic appearance. The fixed portion ensures proper alignment during manufacturing, while the free portion can extend to visually pleasing locations without compromising positioning precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the tear tape is used to remove the wrapping, then the wrapping can be easily removed, but the stamp alignment is restricted to the tear tape position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewrapping removalVSAvoidstamp positioning freedom
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The free portion of the stamp serves as an intermediary that extends beyond the tear tape position, allowing the stamp to be positioned freely on the container while still being torn during wrapping removal. This resolves the restriction imposed by tying stamp position to tear tape location, maintaining both ease of operation and positioning freedom.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3418214B1Packet of smoking articles and method for manufacturing the same
Publication Date: 2020.01.22 GD SPA
  • EP3418214B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3418214B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3418214B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Packet (1) of smoking articles and method for manufacturing the same, which packet (1) comprises: smoking articles; a container (2) that contains the articles; a wrapping (3) that wraps the container (2); a tear tape (4) that is fixed to the wrapping (3) to facilitate the removal of the same; a stamp (5) that is fixed to the container (2) with the exception of a free portion (50); a tearing element (6) which is arranged between the container (2) and the stamp (5) at the free portion (50) and which protrudes from the free portion (50) with respective ends connected to the wrapping (3).