Swing-open tobacco package stop tab alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing swing-open cigarette packets have ineffective stop members that fail to consistently prevent the inner container from fully opening, leading to potential misalignment and operational issues.
Innovation Solution
A rigid swing-open package design featuring a single central stop tab that projects from the inner container and is glued to the outer container, with a mechanism that ensures precise alignment and stopping of the inner container's rotation, utilizing a through hole in the outer container for manual opening and a retaining member to maintain the closed position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a pair of stop tabs and stop pockets are used to limit extraction of the inner container, then the opening position is defined, but the stop tab may not correctly enter the stop pocket leading to ineffective stopping
Solution Approach 1:
The stop tab and stop pocket are merged into a single integrated component where the stop tab is formed as an extension of the outer container wall itself. This eliminates the alignment problems between separate components and ensures reliable stopping at the defined opening position.
Solution Approach 2:
The stopping function is extracted from a separate stop pocket component and integrated directly into the outer container structure through the stop tab. This simplifies the mechanism and eliminates alignment issues between separate parts.
2Extent of automation
If a hinged lid with retention elements is used to automatically open and close, then the lid operation is automated, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The package structure itself provides the opening function through the swing-open inner container. The user simply pulls the inner container to open it, and the stop tab automatically limits the opening position. Closing is achieved by simply pushing the inner container back, eliminating the need for complex automatic lid mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A rigid, swing-open package of tobacco articles having: a group of tobacco articles; an inner container housing the group of tobacco articles; an outer container housing the inner container; a main hinge connecting the inner container to the outer container to allow the inner container to rotate between a closed position and an open position; and a stop member, which limits extraction of the inner container from the outer container and so defines a fully-open position of the inner container with respect to the outer container; the stop member being provided with a stop tab having an inner panel hinged at one end to the inner container, an outer panel glued to a wall of the outer container, and an intermediate panel hinged to the inner panel on one side and to the outer panel on the opposite side.