Special-Shaped Cigarette Packaging via Foldable Inner Sleeve

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cigarette packaging cases are inadequate for special-shaped cigarettes, leading to inconvenient filling, shape deformation, and instability during storage and transportation, due to the inability to maintain the special shape and fix the position of the cigarettes.

Innovation Solution

A method for manufacturing and packaging special-shaped cigarettes using inner packaging case paper with specific folding structures, such as the square-cigarette filling and compressing positioning sleeve, middle layer spacing sleeve, and partition board, which allow conventional cigarettes to be transformed into special shapes without mechanical machining.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional cigarette packaging cases are used to accommodate special-shaped cigarettes, then the packaging cost is reduced, but the cigarettes cannot maintain their shape and are prone to deformation and scattering

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepackaging costVSAvoidcigarette shape maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary component - the inner packaging case paper with folding baffles - that mediates between the conventional cigarette case and the special-shaped cigarettes. The folding baffles act as a buffer and support structure that maintains the cigarette shape while fitting within the conventional case, solving the contradiction between using conventional packaging and maintaining special shapes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The inner packaging case paper is a flexible thin film structure that can be folded into various configurations to accommodate different special-shaped cigarettes. This flexible structure adapts to the unique shapes of special-shaped cigarettes while providing necessary support, preventing deformation without requiring rigid custom-made cases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Ease of manufacture

If special-shaped cigarettes are filled into conventional packaging cases, then filling convenience is reduced, but the packaging case cost is lowered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepackaging case costVSAvoidcigarette filling convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The inner packaging case paper features dynamic folding baffles that can be adjusted and folded into different configurations. This dynamic structure allows the packaging to adapt during the filling process, making it easier to insert special-shaped cigarettes while maintaining cost-effectiveness by using a single versatile packaging design rather than custom rigid cases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If customized cigarette packaging cases are made for special-shaped cigarettes, then the cigarette shape stability is improved, but the packaging cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecigarette shape stabilityVSAvoidpackaging cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The inner packaging case paper is designed as a universal multi-functional component that can accommodate various special-shaped cigarettes (different shapes, sizes, and orientations) within conventional cigarette cases. This single versatile packaging solution provides shape stability for all special-shaped cigarettes without requiring separate customized cases for each type, thereby controlling costs.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The folding baffles in the inner packaging case paper can be adjusted in terms of their folding configuration, orientation, and positioning parameters to accommodate different special-shaped cigarette specifications. By changing these parameters rather than creating entirely new packaging structures, the system maintains shape stability across different cigarette types while avoiding the high costs of full customization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Device complexity

If conventional packaging cases are used for special-shaped cigarettes, then storage and transportation stability is reduced, but the packaging simplicity is maintained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepackaging structure simplicityVSAvoidstorage and transportation stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The inner packaging case paper is pre-folded into a stable configuration with baffles positioned to provide support and fixation for special-shaped cigarettes before they are placed in the conventional case. This preliminary structuring ensures that during storage and transportation, the cigarettes remain stable and secured, preventing movement and deformation while maintaining the overall simplicity of using conventional outer cases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4289766B1Method for manufacturing and packaging special-shaped cigarettes
Publication Date: 2025.02.12 CHINA TOBACCO YUNNAN IND
  • EP4289766B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4289766B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP4289766B1 patent drawingFigure 7~9

AI summary

A method for manufacturing and packaging a special-shaped cigarette includes the following steps: designing inner packaging case paper capable of being folded into a special-shaped cigarette accommodating cavity; folding the inner packaging case paper to form the special-shaped cigarette accommodating cavity; filling an interior of the special-shaped cigarette accommodating cavity with an ordinary cigarette; and shelving for a certain period of time, so that a cross section of the ordinary cigarette changes from a circle to a special shape, and the ordinary cigarette is accommodated in the special-shaped cigarette accommodating cavity, wherein, a diameter of an inscribed circle of the special-shaped cigarette accommodating cavity is less than a diameter of the ordinary cigarette, and a material of the inner packaging case paper is a paperboard or a food grade PVC sheet.