CA2783065A1

CA2783065A1 - Cigarette pack and method of producing the same

Info

Publication number: CA2783065A1
Application number: CA2783065A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Henry Buse; Johann Koster; Jurgen Schwecke
Original assignee: Focke and Co GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Focke and Co GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2011-07-19
Filing date: 2012-07-17
Publication date: 2013-01-19
Anticipated expiration: 2032-07-17
Also published as: DE102011109233A1; CA2783065C; BR102012017861A2; EP2548819A1; RU2012130492A; CA3071741A1; EP2548819B1; BR102012017861B1; CA3071746A1; RU2637887C2

Abstract

A cuboidal pack (10), in particular for cigarettes, is enclosed by an outer wrapper (11) made of sheet material. The latter is removed with the aid of a tear-open strip (19). A revenue-stamp label (23) is positioned on the pack (10), in the region of a rear wall (14) of the same, such that upon actuation of the tear-open strip and/or upon removal of the outer wrapper (11), the label (23) is severed along at least one perforation line (29) such that one piece (24) remains connected to the pack (10) and another piece (25) remains connected to the outer wrapper (11).

Description

CIGARETTE PACK AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME
Description The invention relates to packs having an outer wrapper made of sheet material, in particular cigarette packs, configured according to the preamble of Patent Claim 1.
In particular cigarette packs are usually provided with a specially designed blank which, in particular for fiscal reasons, has to be destroyed when the pack is opened for the first time. This applies to the revenue-stamp label which is customary in many countries.

It is known for the (revenue-stamp) label to be positioned such that, when the outer wrapper made of sheet material is severed by means of a tear-open strip or tear-open thread, the label is severed and thus rendered invalid. For this purposes, the label is positioned on the inside of the inner wrapper by means of glue, to be precise in the region of the inner tear-open strip, and therefore the label is severed upon actuation of the tear-open strip (EP 0 803 450 B1). It is also known for the label, in addition, to be connected permanently to the pack.
Upon actuation of the tear-open strip, the label is severed, but the resulting pieces remain on the pack in their entirety when the outer wrapper is removed (EP 0 895 946 B1).

The invention further develops, and improves, the technology of destroying labels in packs with an outer wrapper made of sheet material. The object on which the invention is based consists in designing, and arranging, the label, the outer wrapper and/or the tear-open strip such that, for all embodiments of (cuboidal) pack, it is possible to ascertain that the label has been rendered invalid.

In order to achieve this object, the pack according to the invention is designed with the features of the characterizing part of Claim 1.

Accordingly, in the case of the pack according to the invention, it is achieved that, upon actuation of the tear-open means for the outer wrapper and/or upon removal of the said outer wrapper, at least one piece of the label is removed, that is to say on account of corresponding connection to the outer wrapper. At least one other, defined piece of the label remains on the

2 pack, and therefore, even once the outer wrapper has been removed, the original presence of a label and the fact that the latter has been destroyed can be ascertained exclusively by way of the pack.

The (rectangular) label is provided preferably with at least one weakening line, in particular one perforation line, which runs essentially transversely to the longitudinal extent and is positioned such that the piece(s) of the label remaining on the pack upon removal of the outer wrapper is (are) bounded by a defined, precise peripheral edge - on account of the weakening line.

In order to bring about the specific severing or division of the label during the opening operation, this label is connected to the pack, on the one hand, and to the inside of the outer wrapper, on the other hand, by means of defined (glue) connections, wherein regions of glue, in particular strips of glue or spots of glue, are assigned to the one piece for connection to the pack and the other piece for connection to the outer wrapper. Of further significance is the fact that the weakening line of the label influences the shape of, or course taken by, the tear lines or tear edges produced in the sheet material of the outer wrapper by the tear-open strip, in particular by way of oblique or diverging weakening lines. The tear-open strip, for severing the outer wrapper, is arranged in a particular position, on the one hand, relative to the areas of glue, which are arranged on different sides of the label, and, on the other hand, relative to the perforation line or the perforation lines, and therefore, upon removal of the outer wrapper, severing takes place between the pieces assigned to the pack, on the one hand, and the pieces assigned to the outer wrapper, on the other hand.

For the production of packs designed according to the invention, use is made preferably of methods and apparatuses which constitute a further development of conventional technologies (EP 0 895 946 B1). According to a first embodiment of the method and of the apparatus, a continuous (sheet-material) web for the outer wrapper is provided in a correctly positioned manner, by means of a glue head, with areas of glue, in particular with areas of PSA (pressure sensitive adhesive), in order for the label to be positioned on the web. This adhesive is applied by a hot-melt process. In a subsequent (second) glue station, the label is provided with glue on the free side - with offset relative positioning - in order to be connected to the pack. The glue applied in this second glue station may likewise be permanent PSA. As an alternative, it is possible for conventional hot-melt adhesive to be applied to the free side of the label fixed on

3 the web, in order to form the areas of glue which connect the label to the pack. Following completion of the pack, these areas of glue are activated by heat and pressure.

A further alternative of the method consists in the operation of connecting the label, which is fixed (in the first instance) on the web, to the pack being carried out separately from the preparation of the web. In this case, glue, in particular cold-setting glue, is applied to the packs supplied to a blank station, to be precise specifically in the region of the label which is to be placed in position. When the blank for the outer wrapper (provided with label) is folded around the pack, this causes the label to be connected to the pack via the areas of glue applied to the pack.

According to a further alternative, glue can be applied to the separately supplied labels. In a first method step, separate labels are provided with (cold-setting) glue on a side facing the packs and are then placed in the correct position on the pack. Thereafter, glue, preferably conventional hot-melt adhesive, is applied to the free outer side of the label (on the pack) in an offset position. The blank is then folded in the conventional manner and the hot-melt adhesive is activated by heat.

Further details of the pack and of the production method will be explained in more detail hereinbelow with reference to the drawings, in which:

Fig 1 shows a perspective illustration of a (cigarette) pack with an outer wrapper and label, Fig 2 shows, on an enlarged scale, the pack according to fig 1 in a horizontal section taken along section plane II-II in fig 1, Fig 3 shows a perspective illustration of the pack according to fig 1 during a phase of outer-wrapper removal, Fig 4 shows an illustration corresponding to fig 1 for a different exemplary embodiment, Fig 5 shows, on an enlarged scale, a horizontal section taken along section plane V-V
from fig 4, Fig 6 shows an illustration analogous to fig 3 relating to the exemplary embodiment of fig 4, Fig 7 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a pack in an illustration analogous to figs 1 and 4,

4 Fig 8 shows, on an enlarged scale, a horizontal section VIII-VIII in fig 7, Fig 9 shows an illustration analogous to figs 3 and 6 relating to the exemplary embodiment of fig 7, Fig 10 shows a schematic side view of an apparatus for positioning labels and outer wrappers on packs, and Fig 11 shows, likewise in a schematic side view, another embodiment of an apparatus for producing packs with an outer wrapper and label.

Packs 10 for sensitive consumer goods, in particular for cigarettes, are often enclosed by an outer wrapper 11 made of sheet material in order to protect the pack contents.
The pack 10 and outer wrapper 11 form, in conceptual terms, a pack unit. The exemplary embodiments shown relate to cigarette packs 10 made of thin cardboard. In concrete terms, a pack 10 of the "shell and slide" type is shown. The latter comprises, as standard, an inner pack, that is to say a slide 12, and an outer pack, that is to say a shell 13. The slide 12 is usually designed as a tray-like container. The shell 13 comprises an essentially rectangular blank which is folded to form a cross-sectionally rectangular hollow body which is open at both ends. A (large-surface-area) rear wall 14 has a flap connection 15, that is to say a peripheral flap, which is connected to a wall flap of the rear wall 14 by adhesive bonding.

The outer wrapper 11 preferably comprises a sheet-material blank which fully encloses the pack 10. In the case of the present embodiment, the outer wrapper 11 is folded around the 10 such that an end side or front side 16 of the pack 10 - in the case of the present exemplary embodiment an upper, open side of the shell 13 - has a continuous, closed covering or wall of the outer wrapper 11. Opposite, in the region of a base wall (not shown), sheet-material flaps overlap. Furthermore, complex folds, that is to say so-called envelope folds, are provided in the region of narrow side surfaces of the outer wrapper 11.

In order to open the pack 10 for the first time, the outer wrapper 11 is wholly or partially removed. An opening aid, configured as a tear-open strip 19 or tear-open thread is provided for this purpose. The tear-open strip 19 extends preferably around the pack 10, in the present case in the region of a front side, rear side 14, base side and front side 16, to be precise (approximately) in a vertical (imaginary) centre plane. The tear-open strip 19 is connected to the blank of the outer wrapper 11 on the inside throughout, preferably by adhesive bonding.

In order to grip the tear-open strip 19 upon opening of the pack unit, a grip tab 20 is formed at a free end. Gripping this grip tab 20 and pulling the tear-open strip 19 causes the latter to sever the sheet material of the outer wrapper 10 continuously on either side. In the case of the present example for the arrangement of the tear-open strip 19, removal of the latter gives rise to two

5 cap-like part-wrappers 21, 22, which can be pulled off laterally from the pack 10 (fig 3). The grip tab 20 is preferably arranged at the bottom, in the region of a base wall and/or opposite to the front side 16, and is exposed, for manual gripping purposes, on the rear side of the pack unit or the rear wall 14.

The pack 10 or the pack unit is provided with a separate blank, that is to say a label 23, which, when the pack unit is opened for the first time, should be destroyed and partially removed. The label 23 is, in particular, a fiscal or revenue-stamp label. This should be placed in position such that it is destroyed by the initial-opening operation.

The label 23 here is positioned on a large-surface-area wall of the pack 10, in the present case on the rear wall 14 of the shell 13, to be precise adjacent to an upper periphery of the rear wall 14 and adjacent to the front side 16. The rectangular, elongate or strip-like label 23 extends transversely to the longitudinal extent of the pack 10.

The pack unit is designed such that the label 23 is divided by the outer wrapper 11 being removed, in particular by means of the tear-open strip 19. As a result, at least one piece 24 of the label 23 should remain on the pack 10, that is to say should remain connected to the same.
At least one other piece 25 of the label 23 adheres to the outer wrapper 11, and is thus disposed of. For this purpose, the label is connected to the pack 10, on the one hand, and to the inside of the outer wrapper 11, on the other hand, that is to say at a different location, by different connecting means, in the present case by glue. The tear-open strip 19 is positioned between the functionally associated connecting locations of the label 23, and therefore at least two pieces 24, 25 of the label 23 are produced directly or indirectly by the label 23. The label 23 is severed directly by the tear-open strip 19, which, for this purpose, runs on the inside of the label 23, that is to say between the label 23 and the pack 10 or rear wall 14.

In the case of the exemplary embodiment according to figs 1 to 3, the label 23 is connected to the pack 10, in this case to the rear wall 14, by a first strip 26 of glue.
The strip 26 of glue extends peripherally more or less over the entire width of the label 23. At least one further glue

6 connection or a further strip 27 of glue is arranged at a distance from the first strip 26 of glue, and essentially parallel to the same, to be precise on the opposite side of the label 23, in order to connect the latter to the inside of the outer wrapper 11. The tear-open strip 19 is positioned between these two strips 26, 27 of glue, with the result that, upon actuation of the tear-open strip 19, the label 23 is severed between the strips 26, 27 of glue, which act on opposite sides.
The piece 24 with the strip 26 of glue remains connected to the pack 10 and the piece 25 with the strip 27 of glue remains connected to the outer wrapper 11.

The dimensioning of the label 23 gives rise, in the present case, to the provision of a third strip 28 of glue, which is arranged in the region of the piece 25, for connecting the label 23 to the outer wrapper 10, likewise parallel to, and at an equal distance from, the adjacent strip 27 of glue, and therefore the label 23 is fixed by glue, overall, in a manner corresponding to its geometrical shape.

A further special feature is the arrangement of at least one weakening line in or on the label 23, in the present case a perforation line 29 extending transversely to the label 23 over the entire width of the same. The arrangement in figs 1 to 3 means that the perforation line 29 is located parallel to the tear-open strip 19, and at a small distance from the same, on the side assigned to the strip 26 of glue. Upon actuation of the tear-open strip 19, the piece 24 (on the pack 10) is thus provided with a precise, defined boundary, that is to say corresponding to the weakening line (fig 3). A further perforation line can, as an alternative, be positioned on the other side of the tear-open strip 19, that is to say adjacent to the strip 27 of glue. At any rate, a relatively small piece 24 of visually pleasing form is connected permanently to the pack 10. A
remaining piece of the label 23, upon actuation of the tear-open strip 19, is gripped by the latter and removed 25 from the label 23 on account of the tear-open strip 19 being connected to the label 23 by adhesive (fig 3).

The embodiment according to figs 4 to 6 shows, by way of example, the same embodiment of pack 10 (slide/shell pack). The outer wrapper 10 with tear-open strip 19 is also arranged in the 30 same way.

In the case of this exemplary embodiment, the label 23 is fixed such that, upon severing or removal of the outer wrapper 11, the label 23 is severed into the pieces 24, 25.

7 In the case of this example, the tear-open strip 19 is involved only indirectly in the severing of the label 23 and is located in the region of the outside of the label 23, that is to say between the label 23 and outer wrapper 11 (fig 5). Accordingly, the tear-open strip 19 acts, as in the case of conventional packs, exclusively for severing the outer wrapper 11. The latter is pulled off or removed from the pack 10 in order to give rise to the severing action into pieces 24, 25. For this purpose, the first (larger) piece 24 is fixed to the pack 10 - rear wall 14 -via glue connections, in the present case via spots 31 of glue, and in the region of the piece 25 is fixed to the inside of the outer wrapper 11 likewise by spots 32 of glue. The spots 31, 32 of glue are arranged in rows 33, 34 of spots in the longitudinal direction of the label 23, to be precise in respect of the spots 31 of glue, on the one hand, and spots 32 of glue, on the other hand, on different sides of the label 23. The spots 32 of glue, for fastening the piece 25 on the outer wrapper 11, have a larger surface area than the remaining spots 31 of glue. The spots 31, 32 of glue preferably consist of hot-melt adhesive. A weakening line or perforation line 29 is arranged, in turn, in a region between the differently acting spots 31, 32 of glue, and therefore the piece 24, which remains on the pack 10, has the correct severing edge.

The exemplary embodiment according to figs 7 to 9 is designed in the manner described as far as the pack unit is concerned, that is to say as far as the pack 10 and the outer wrapper 11 are concerned. The innovative special feature relates to the label 23. The latter is positioned preferably approximately centrally on the pack 10 (rear wall 14). By means of (two) weakening lines or perforation lines 35, 36 arranged at an angle to one another, the label 23, upon opening of the pack unit or of the outer wrapper 11, is divided up into three pieces, that is to say the pieces 37, 38 (permanently) connected to the pack 10 and a third piece 39, which is removed with the outer wrapper 11 and/or with the tear-open strip 19.
The label 23 is connected, in a manner corresponding to this division, to the pack 10, on the one hand, and to the outer wrapper 11, on the other hand, by areas of glue. Spots 31 of glue are provided, to be precise in rows 33, 34 of spots, in the region of the pieces 37, 38. Overall, in the present case four spots 31 of glue are assigned to each piece 37, 38.
The (central) piece 39 is positioned on the outer wrapper 11 by means of strip 40 of glue. The strip 40 of glue extends transversely over the label 23. In the present case, the strip 40 of glue is arranged in the region of the tear-open strip 19 which - like the strip 40 of glue - is positioned between the label 23 and outer wrapper 11. Accordingly, the label 23 is connected in this region

8 - piece 39 - to the outer wrapper 11 and the tear-open strip 19. The strip 40 of glue is preferably wider than the tear-open strip 19.

The perforation lines 35, 36, which diverge in the opening or tear-open direction and are arranged, in particular, in a wedge-shaped manner, influence the course taken by tearing lines 41, 42 of the sheet-material strip removed from the outer wrapper 11 (bottom of fig 9). The converging peripheries of the piece 39 mean that, as the tear-open movement continues, the removed sheet-material strip is also wedge-shaped, the tearing tearing lines 41, 42 diverging in the tear-open direction. This has an effect on the configuration of the resulting part-wrappers 21, 22, which are still narrow on one side (at the bottom). This makes it easier to remove the part-wrappers 21, 22. The operation of removing the outer wrapper 11 in full is rendered easier overall. The piece 39 remains connected to the tear-open strip 19 and/or the removed wedge piece of sheet material. Trapezoidal pieces 37, 38 are located on the pack 10 -rear wall 14.

On account of particular production methods and/or their function, the areas 26, 27, 28 or 31, 32 or 40 of glue on the label 23 consist of hot-melt adhesive or cold-setting glue. The procedure may also be such that the label 23 (with the areas of glue) is transferred onto a continuous web of the sheet material, and therefore a blank making up the outer wrapper 11, and prepared completely in respect of the label and the areas of glue, is folded around the pack 10. As an alternative, glue can be applied to the label in the region of a label apparatus and then on the free side of the label 23 positioned on the pack 10.

The technology illustrated in fig 10 is particularly suitable for the embodiment according to figs 1 to 3. Blanks for the outer wrapper 11 are severed from a continuous (sheet-material) web 43 in the region of a blank station 44 and folded around the pack 10 with the aid of a folding turret 45.
The packs 10 are transported by a supply conveyor 53 in the region of the blank station 44 with their longitudinal extent oriented in a conveying direction. The blank of the outer wrapper 11, in a first folding step, is folded in a U-shaped manner around the pack in the longitudinal direction of the same. Thereafter, the folds are formed in the region of the side surfaces 18 and, finally, the fold is formed in the region of a (rearwardly directed) base surface. The (finished) pack units 10, 11 then pass into the region of a sealing station 46, in which the folds of the outer wrapper 11 on the (sideways directed) side surfaces 18 are sealed by heat and pressure.

9 In the region of a first glue subassembly 47, the web 43 is provided with glue, to be precise with regions of glue which serve for connecting the labels 23 to the web 43. In the case of the embodiment according to figs 1 to 3, accordingly, two parallel strips 27, 28 of glue are applied to the web 43 by correspondingly cyclic actuation of the glue subassembly 47.
Preferably, PSA, that is to say a permanently adhering glue, is transferred onto the web 43 by a hot-melt process.
In a subsequent transfer station 48, labels 23 are placed and/or pressed in a precisely positioned manner onto the web 43, that is to say in the region of the strips 27, 28 of glue. The labels 23 are supplied individually by a label subassembly 49 and placed on the web 43 by a pair 50 of rollers. An (upper) roller is assigned a perforation mechanism for producing the transversely directly perforation line 29, in this case a blade roller 51 with a circulating perforation blade.

The web 43 then runs through a further gluing station with a glue subassembly 52. The latter is designed in a manner analogous to the glue subassembly 47 and is controlled such that glue is applied to the outside of the labels 23 for connection to the pack 10. In the case of the exemplary embodiment according to figs 1 to 3, this glue is in the form of the strips 26 of glue.
The areas of glue on the free side of the labels 23 can likewise consist of PSA or, as an alternative, of conventional hot-melt adhesive.
The web 43 with the labels 23 then passes into the region of a transfer station 59, in which a tear-open strip 19 is applied in the form of a continuous strip - coming from a reel - to the web 43 and connected thereto by means of glue throughout. In the region of the labels 23, the tear-open strip 19 is connected to the free (upwardly directed) side of the label 23, to be precise in a position between the areas 26 of glue, on the one hand, and the areas 27, 28 of glue, on the other hand. The tear-open strip 19 is placed in position, in the present case, centrally on the web 43.

A further, special alternative consists in glue for connecting the label 23 to the pack 10 being applied to the latter and in the connection being made thereafter. The packs

10 are provided with glue (in the region of the label 23 which is to be placed in position) as they are being supplied to the blank station 44, and are then provided with the outer wrapper

11 in the region of the blank station 44. The glue, preferably spots of cold-setting glue, is applied to the upwardly directed, free (rear) wall 14 of the pack. For this purpose, a gluing mechanism 55, preferably with glue nozzles, is arranged above the (horizontal) movement path of the packs 10.

The web 43 prepared in the manner described passes into the region of the blank station 44.
5 There, blanks for the outer wrapper 11 are severed from the web 43 and folded, in a folding process which is known in principle, around the packs 10. If use is made of areas of glue which consist of hot-melt adhesive which can be reactivated by means of heat, this supply of heat can take place in the region of a shrink-wrapping station 57 for handling packs 10 with an outer wrapper 11 made of shrink-wrapping sheet material.
The technology according to fig 11 is particularly suitable for packs with applications of glue running the longitudinal direction of an (elongate) label, that is to say, in the present case, for processing labels 23 with rows 33, 34 of spots 31, 32 of glue.

The (sheet-material) web 43, which, in this exemplary embodiment too, is pulled off from reels, in the first instance is provided continuously with the tear-open strip 19 (by adhesive bonding in the region of the transfer station 58). The thus conventionally prepared web 43 (with centrally running tear-open strip 19) is supplied to the blank station 44 in order for the blanks of the outer wrapper 11 to be produced by severing from the web 43.
In the case of this technology, the label 23 is supplied to the pack 10 (in the glued state), connected to the same and provided on the free side with the necessary areas of glue. On the supply conveyor 53, a belt conveyor with stops for each pack 10, the packs 10 are moved past a label apparatus 54, which is positioned above the supply conveyor 53, and a label 23 is placed in position on each pack 10. The label 23 is provided with glue on the side facing the pack 10 and is fixed by means of a pressure-exerting mechanism (belt). In the label apparatus 54, each label 23 is provided with the transversely directed perforation line 29. Furthermore, a gluing mechanism 55 applies glue to the free side of the label 23. In the present case, rows 33, 34 of spots 31, 32 of glue - in particular cold-setting glue - are applied, by glue nozzles, to the label 23, which has the longitudinal extent oriented in the conveying direction. These spots of glue constitute areas of glue by which the label 23 is fixed on the pack 10 (rear wall 14). The label apparatus 54 is preferably designed in a manner corresponding to the illustration and description in WO 2007/087885 Al, albeit with the proviso that the label 23 is applied (approximately) centrally to the pack 10.

Since, in the region of the label apparatus 54, the labels 23 have the longitudinal extent oriented in the conveying direction, the rectangular or cuboidal packs 10 on the supply conveyor 53, accordingly, are oriented transversely to the conveying direction, and therefore the label 23 can be positioned as shown (longitudinal extent transverse to the rear wall 14).
The rear wall 14 here is directed upwards.

Following the label apparatus 54, the pack 10 is rotated through 900 in a horizontal plane in a rotary station 58 (not illustrated in detail). The pack 10 is then positioned such that it has the longitudinal extent oriented in the conveying direction, where the front side 16 is located at the front, as seen in the movement direction. This makes possible the abovedescribed position of the outer wrapper 11 with the folds.

Prior to the packs 10 being pushed into the folding turret 45 and/or prior to the outer wrapper 11 being placed in position, glue is applied to the free side of the label 23 (on the pack 10). For this purpose, a further gluing mechanism 56 is positioned in the region of the supply conveyor 53, or upstream of the blank station 44, above the movement path of the packs 10 (following rotation of the same). This gluing mechanism 56 applies glue (spots of glue) to the label 23 in order to connect the same to the outer wrapper 11. In the case of the exemplary embodiment of figs 4 to 6, accordingly, the spots 32 of glue, in particular two spots 32 of glue, are applied by nozzles of the gluing mechanism 56. These spots of glue consist preferably of hot-melt adhesive.

Following the folding turret 45, the pack units 10/11 are folded to completion and supplied to a sealing station 46 for sealing the folds of the side surfaces 18. Thereafter, the packs pass into the region of a shrink-wrapping station 57 (for example configured according to EP 1 084 954 B1), in which heat is transmitted in order for an appropriately designed sheet material of the outer wrapper 11 to be subjected to shrink-wrapping treatment.
The heat applied also causes the spots 32 of glue to be activated and thus causes the label 23 to be connected to the outer wrapper 11.
The technology described above can also be used for other types of pack, preferably for hard packs, to be precise also in the case of the tear-open strip 19 being arranged transversely to the large-surface-area pack sides. The label 23 may also be arranged in the longitudinal direction of

12 the pack. It is also possible to use patterns of glue other than those illustrated, although the patterns of glue and the types of glue have to be fit for purpose.

13 List of designations Pack 41 Tearing line 11 Outer wrapper 42 Tearing line 12 Slide 43 Web 13 Shell 44 Blank station

14 Rear wall 45 Folding turret Flap connection 46 Sealing station 16 Front side 47 Glue subassembly 17 Outer flap 48 Transfer station 18 Side surface 49 Label subassembly 19 Tear-open strip 50 Pair of rollers Grip tab 51 Blade roller 21 Part-wrapper 52 Glue subassembly 22 Part-wrapper 53 Supply conveyor 23 Label 54 Label apparatus 24 Piece 55 Gluing mechanism Piece 56 Gluing mechanism 26 Strip of glue 57 Shrink-wrapping station 27 Strip of glue 58 Rotary station 28 Strip of glue 59 Transfer station 29 Perforation line Remaining piece 31 Spot of glue 32 Spot of glue 33 Row of spots 34 Row of spots Perforation line 36 Perforation line 37 Piece 38 Piece 39 Piece Strip of glue

Claims

1. Pack having an outer wrapper (11) made of sheet material, in particular a cigarette pack (10), and having a label (23) which is positioned between the pack (10) and outer wrapper (11) and, upon removal of the outer wrapper (11), can be severed in interaction with a tear-open strip (19), which severs the outer wrapper (11) and is positioned on the same, characterized in that the label (23), upon removal of the outer wrapper (11) and/or upon actuation of the tear-open strip (19), is severed such that at least one piece (24; 37, 38) of the label (23), on account of corresponding connection, adheres to the pack (10) and at least one other, further piece (25;
39) of the label (23) adheres to the sheet material of the outer wrapper (11) and/or to the tear-open strip (19).

2. Pack according to Claim 1, characterized in that the elongate label (23), which is arranged transversely to the tear-open strip (19), has at least one weakening line, in particular perforation line (29; 35, 36), which is directed transversely, or at an (acute) angle, to the longitudinal extent of the tear-open strip (19) such that the label (23) can be severed along the weakening line (29; 35, 36) by actuation of the tear-open strip (19), which runs preferably on the inside of the label (23), wherein at least one piece (24; 37, 38) of the label (23), this piece being connected to the pack (10), is bounded by the weakening line or perforation line (29; 35).

3. Pack according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the weakening line (29) is arranged alongside the tear-open strip (19), (approximately) parallel to the same, and to be precise on that side of the tear-open strip (19) which is assigned to the piece (24), which is fixed to the pack (10).

4. Pack according to Claim 1 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the elongate, strip-like label (23) has its longitudinal extent arranged transversely to the tear-open strip (19), and has its centre offset in relation to the latter, in particular such that the piece (25), which is connected to the outer wrapper (11), is larger than the piece (24), which is connected to the pack (10).

5. Pack according to Claim 1 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the label (23) is connected to the pack (10), on the one hand, and the outer wrapper (11), on the other hand, by means of glue or regions of glue, wherein the regions of glue are designed as strips (26, 27; 40) of glue in a direction essentially transverse to the longitudinal extent of the label (23) or of spots (31, 32) of glue, preferably in rows (33, 34) of spots in a longitudinal direction of the label (23).

6. Pack according to Claim 1 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the label (23) can be severed in part exclusively by removal of the outer wrapper (11) -following actuation of the tear-open strip (19)- , wherein the label (23) is connected by glue or spots (31, 32) of glue to the pack (10), on the one hand, and, on the other hand - in a manner offset in relation to a weakening line (29) - , to the outer wrapper (11), and the tear-open strip (19) is connected preferably exclusively to the outer wrapper (11).

7. Pack according to Claim 1 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the shape of, or the course taken by, the weakening line (29; 35, 36) of the label (23) makes it possible to influence tearing lines (41, 42) of the outer wrapper (11) upon actuation of the tear-open strip (19), wherein in particular two weakening lines (35, 36), which diverge in the direction of the tear-open operation, are each positioned on either side of the tear-open strip (19) such that an essentially wedge-shaped piece (39) can be severed from the label (23) and that part of the outer wrapper (11) which can be removed by the tear-open strip (19), and is connected thereto, is formed likewise with peripheries or tearing lines (41, 42) which diverge in the severing direction.

8. Pack according to Claim 1 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the weakening line (29), which is arranged on the label (23), or the weakening lines (35, 36), which are arranged on the label (23), is or are arranged in each case between, if appropriate, a plurality of areas of glue for connecting the label (23) to the pack (10), on the one hand, and areas of glue for connecting the label (23) to the outer wrapper (11), on the other hand.

9. Pack according to Claim 1 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the tear-open strip (19) is connected exclusively to the outer wrapper (11), in particular the inside of the outer wrapper (11), and the label (23) is connected to the pack (10), on the one hand, by regions (31) of glue and to the outer wrapper (11), on the other hand, by regions (32) of glue, wherein the tear-open strip (19) is guided preferably in the region of a piece (39) of the label (23), this piece being connected to the outer wrapper (11).

10. Pack according to Claim 1 or one of the further claims, characterized in that at least one region of glue, in particular one strip (40) of glue, is applied to the label (23) along the tear-open strip (19), wherein the strip (40) of glue is wider than the tear-open strip (19) and is connected to the severable piece (39) of the label (23).

11. Pack according to Claim 1 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the label (23) is arranged on a rear wall (14) of the pack (10), with the longitudinal extent in the direction transverse to the longitudinal orientation of the pack (10), preferably on a rear wall (14) of a shell (13) of a pack (10) of the slide-and-shell type.

12. Pack according to Claim 1 or one of the further claims, characterized in that, in the case of a cuboidal pack, the tear-open strip (19) is arranged approximately in an "imaginary" central longitudinal centre plane, wherein a grip end of the tear-open strip (19) with grip tab (20) is arranged preferably on a rear pack edge between the rear wall (14) and base wall.

13. Method of producing packs (10) having an outer wrapper (11) made of sheet material, in particular cigarette packs, and having a label (23) which is positioned between the pack (10) and outer wrapper (11) and, upon removal of the outer wrapper (11), is destroyed in interaction with a tear-open strip (19), which severs the outer wrapper (11) and is positioned on the same, characterized by the following features:
a) a continuous web (43) of sheet material is provided, in the region of a first glue station, by way of a glue subassembly (47), with regions of glue, in particular strips (27, 28) of glue, for fixing the label (23), b) in a subsequent transfer station (48), labels (23), which are provided with a weakening line (29; 35, 36), are placed on the web (43) in the region of the regions of glue, in particular with the longitudinal extent oriented transversely to the web (43), c) in a subsequent, further glue station, a glue subassembly (52) applies regions of glue, in particular strips (26) of glue, to the free side of the label (23), d) in a subsequent transfer station (58), a continuous material strip is placed, as tear-open strip (19), preferably centrally on the free, in particular upwardly oriented side of the web (43) and is connected thereto by adhesive bonding, e) the tear-open strip (19) is connected to the label (23), on the outside of the label (23), between the regions (26) of glue, on the one hand, and regions (27, 28) of glue, on the other hand, these regions of glue being arranged on different sides, f) blanks for the outer wrapper (11) are severed from the web (43) and folded around a pack (10) in each case, wherein regions (27, 28) of glue, which are arranged on the free side of the label (23), are connected to the pack (10), if appropriate by heat being supplied to the regions of glue, which consist of hot-melt adhesive.

14. Method of producing packs (10) having an outer wrapper (11) made of sheet material, in particular cigarette packs, and having a label (23) which is positioned between the pack (10) and outer wrapper (11) and, upon removal of the outer wrapper (11), is destroyed in interaction with a tear-open strip (19), which severs the outer wrapper (11) and is positioned on the same, characterized by the following features:
a) a continuous web (43) of sheet material is provided, in the region of a first glue station, by way of a glue subassembly (47), with regions of glue, in particular strips (27, 28) of glue, for fixing the label (23), b) in a subsequent transfer station (48), labels (23), which are provided with a weakening line (29; 35, 36), are placed on the web (43) in the region of the regions of glue, in particular with the longitudinal extent oriented transversely to the web (43), c) in a subsequent transfer station (58), a continuous material strip is placed, as tear-open strip (19), preferably centrally on the free, in particular upwardly oriented side of the web (43) and is connected thereto by adhesive bonding, d) the tear-open strip (19) is connected to the label (23), on the outside of the label (23), between the regions (26) of glue, on the one hand, and regions (27, 28) of glue, on the other hand, these regions of glue being arranged on different sides, e) blanks for the outer wrapper (11) are severed from the web (43) and folded around a pack (10) in each case, wherein regions (27, 28) of glue, which are arranged on the free side of the label (23), are connected to the pack (10), if appropriate by heat being supplied to the regions of glue, which consist of hot-melt adhesive, f) the packs (10) supplied in order for the outer wrapper (11) to be placed in position, during the supply operation, are provided, on the free, in particular upwardly directed (rear) wall (14), with regions (31) of glue, in particular of cold-setting glue, for connecting the label (23) to the pack (10) while the outer wrapper (11) is being placed in position.

15. Method of producing packs (10) having an outer wrapper (11) made of sheet material, in particular cigarette packs, and having a label (23) which is positioned between the pack (10) and outer wrapper (11) and, upon removal of the outer wrapper (11), is destroyed in interaction with a tear-open strip (19), which severs the outer wrapper (11) and is positioned on the same, characterized by the following features:
a) a continuous web (43) of sheet material is provided, in the region of a transfer station (59), with a continuous material strip, as a tear-open strip, which is placed preferably centrally on the free side of the web (43) and connected thereto by adhesive bonding, b) the web (43) provided with the tear-open strip (19) is supplied to a blank station (44) for producing blanks for the outer wrapper (11), c) packs (10) are supplied to the blank station (44) by a supply conveyor (53), wherein a label apparatus (54) is arranged above the supply conveyor (53) in order to supply labels to the upper side of the packs (10) on the supply conveyor (53), d) the labels (23) are transported in the region of the label apparatus (54) with their longitudinal extent oriented in the conveying direction and are provided with weakening lines (29) and, by means of a gluing mechanism (55), with regions (31) of glue, in particular of cold-setting glue, e) blanks for the outer wrapper (11) are severed from the web (43) and folded around a respective pack (10) and connected to the regions (31) of glue on the free side of the label (23).

16. Method according to Claim 13 or 14 or 15, characterized in that cuboidal packs (10) are transported through a blank station (44) with their longitudinal extent oriented in the conveying direction, and with a front side (16) located in front, such that the blank of the outer wrapper (11), starting from the front side (16), is placed in position on the pack (10) in a U-shaped manner in the longitudinal direction, wherein folds of the outer wrapper (11) are formed in the region of a base wall, which is located opposite the front side (16), such that a grip tab (20) of the tear-open strip (19) is located in the region of the base wall.

17. Method according to Claim 16 or one of the further claims, characterized by the following features:
a) the cuboidal packs (10) are transported in the region of a label apparatus (54) with their longitudinal extent oriented in the transverse direction in order for a label (23) oriented with the longitudinal extent in the conveying direction to be placed in position, b) once the label (23) has been placed in position on the pack (10), the latter is rotated through 90° in a rotary station (58) such that the packs (10) are conveyed into the region of the blank station (44) with their longitudinal extent oriented in the conveying direction.

18. Method according to Claim 13 or 14 or 15, characterized in that selected regions of glue, in particular regions (27, 28) of glue applied to the web (43) in order to fix the label (23), are formed from (hot-melt) glue with permanently adhering properties.

19. Method according to Claim 13 or 14 or 15, characterized in that areas of hot-melt glue, or hot-melt-glue connections, between the label and pack (10), on the one hand, and/or outer wrapper (11), on the other hand, are activated by the supply of heat, and the connection is thus made, in the region of a shrink-wrapping station (49) following the blank station (44) and/or a subsequent sealing station (46).