EP0584431B1 - Package, especially for a packet of products of the tobacco industry, blank and method of assembling said package - Google Patents

Abstract

The proposed package is particularly well-suited to products of the tobacco industry, especially to cigarettes. It comprises a box part and a lid part (16) precut (13A, 13B, 13C) in the box part, an opening flap (12) being attached to the lid part. The first time the package is opened, the lid part is opened by pressing on the flap in order to detach the precut lid part from the box part. When subsequently closing the pack, the lid part is kept closed by inserting the flap inside the package. The package is obtained from a single piece blank or label (1) which includes the necessary cuts and precuts. A package of this type is sealed after manufacture, which means that the additional packaging sheet found in packages of the prior art is no longer necessary. It may be obtained from a blank of thin cardboard or one including at least one layer of a self-sealing material. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates first of all to a packaging intended in particular for products of the tobacco industry, as well as to a packaging blank, then to a method of assembling said blank necessary for making said packaging.

The packaging industry has developed a large number of blanks intended, after folding and assembly, to form a packaging for a particular product, in particular for products of the tobacco industry and in particular for cigarettes.

We distinguish for this purpose two kinds of packaging, the so-called "soft", consisting of one or more sheets of thin packaging, having a relatively low rigidity and the packaging called "box" made from a blank or a label made of thin cardboard and having a certain rigidity. It is this latter type of packaging that we will consider here. Generally a cigarette package of this type comprises a box part, in which the cigarettes are housed and a part serving as a cover. Generally, cigarettes are first covered with a composite sheet comprising an aluminized layer, then introduced into said "box" packaging which is then covered with a thin protective sheet of polypropylene or cellophane in order to preserve the sealing of the package during storage.

One finds such packages or such blanks described in several previous documents, in particular in patent FR-A-1,207,982. The way in which the closing tab of this package is made leads to several drawbacks when it is manufacturing and its use. First of all, the making of the semi-circular tongue 27 requires complicated tools, after folding the closing tongue 8 inside the package and gluing the semi-circular tongue 27 against one or the other. portions 34 or 36, there remain two slots on the upper edge of the face 3, at the ends of the semi-circular tongue 27, which does not allow the finished package to be sealed by itself, therefore it it is necessary to complete the packaging with an additional sheet, generally a thin transparent sheet, which covers the packaging and which is sealed in order to be able to store the packet of cigarettes tightly. The tightness of the cigarette pack is important during storage, so that the tobacco does not dry out, it does not lose its flavors and that any foreign odors do not penetrate inside the pack. This additional sheet requires some additional operations during the preparation of the package and also constitutes additional waste to be eliminated. In addition, the fact that the closing tab 8 is disposed inside the package is a drawback insofar as this tab can easily be damaged during the first opening of the package, when the precut 21 is completely cut out and more, since this tab is inaccessible for the opening of the package, there is no means for easily grasping the part of the cover which has to open. The packages described in patents GB-A-2,207,881 and GB-A-2,031,386 require a blank made up of two separate parts which it is necessary to assemble during manufacture, which complicates this operation and increases the cost of finished packaging. The packaging described in US-A-3,048,324 has a portion 53 which can be torn off allowing thus opening the cover. The disadvantage of this packaging, according to the two embodiments described, is that it consists of two superimposed layers which increases the use of raw material and its manufacture, therefore the cost of the finished packaging. In the two patents CA-A-670,668 and DT-C-2,207,449 the cover part consists only of a portion of the upper face of the packaging, which makes it difficult to access the cigarettes placed inside of the package.

A first object of the invention is to propose a packaging, in particular for products of the tobacco industry but which can also be used for other purposes, capable of being assembled in one piece in order to form a packaging comprising a part box and a cover part, the cover part opening widely to facilitate access to the contents, closing means being provided in order to be able to close the packaging.

Another object of the invention is to propose a package which may be made of an easily recyclable material, said package being sealed by itself, that is to say not requiring additional covering sheets for its storage.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a packaging obtained from a sheet made up or covered with a self-sealing material in order to improve its sealing and to eliminate the gluing operation of the draft.

And finally another object of the invention is to provide a packaging that can be used many times without excessive deformation of its parts.

In order to achieve these goals, the invention first of all proposes a packaging comprising the technical characteristics of claims 1 to 5, a blank or label for the preparation of said packaging and in accordance with claims 6 to 12 as well as a method of assembly of said label as described in claims 13 to 15.

• la figure 1A représente une forme d'exécution d'une ébauche ou d'une étiquette de paquet de cigarettes selon l'invention,
• la figure 1B représente, à échelle agrandie, une portion de l'étiquette de la figure précédente comportant trois variantes d'exécution,
• la figure 2 représente en perspective l'ébauche de la figure 1A en cours d'assemblage,
• la figure 3 représente l'ébauche précédente au cours d'une opération ultérieure d'assemblage,
• la figure 4 représente un paquet de cigarettes terminé avant sa première ouverture,
• la figure 5 représente le même paquet ouvert, et
• la figure 6 représente le même paquet refermé.

In order to better understand the invention, reference will be made to the description which follows, with reference to the drawing comprising the figures where:

• FIG. 1A represents an embodiment of a blank or a label for a packet of cigarettes according to the invention,
• FIG. 1B represents, on an enlarged scale, a portion of the label of the previous figure comprising three variant embodiments,
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the blank of FIG. 1A during assembly,
• FIG. 3 represents the previous blank during a subsequent assembly operation,
• FIG. 4 represents a packet of cigarettes finished before its first opening,
• FIG. 5 represents the same open package, and
• Figure 6 shows the same closed package.

The cigarette packet label 1, as shown seen from the back side in FIG. 1A, is obtained by cutting from a strip or from a sheet, preferably of thin cardboard or any other suitable material, preferably recyclable. . The front of the blank 1, that is to say the side not shown, preferably already includes the printing of a pattern, of the mark or of the exterior decoration of the pack of cigarettes, as can be seen schematically in the following figures .

In a known manner, the label 1 is made up of a plurality of portions which, after folding, will form the faces of the packaging, such as the front 10A, rear 10B, side 10C and 10D, lower 10E and upper 10F, as well that the connecting tabs 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, 11E, 11F, 11G and 11H and the closing tab 12. It is not absolutely necessary that two of the connecting tabs 11A and 11B or 11C and 11D be provided on the label 1, their presence only makes the label 1 symmetrical, allowing it to be cut by straight knives, while without these tongues, it is necessary to use rotary knives to obtain the label 1. The cutting of the label 1 is made according to the bold line in the figure, comprising in particular a cutout of the three main edges 12A, 12B and 12C of the closing tab 12. Three internal precut lines 13A, 13B and 13C are made, simultaneously or subsequently when the label 1 is generally cut out, the precuts 13A, 13B and 13C preferably being such that a thin portion of the thickness of the label remains on each of the precuts, so that the portions of the faces adjoining said precuts remain interconnected and define a tear line of an upper lateral corner of the pack of cigarettes. Folding ribs 14 and 14A are made, at the same time as the cuts or later. The two folding ribs 14A disposed on the upper face 10F as well as on the tongue 11G can optionally be removed depending on the rigidity of the material constituting the label 1, leaving only a fold line 14A. Gluing zones 15 are provided at suitable locations on the faces 10D, 10E and 10F, either as shown in the figure on the back side, or on corresponding portions on the front side of the blank 1. It is noted that the closing tab 12 also includes a bonding zone 15A on its part 12D close to its end directly attached to the upper face 10F, while its cut end 12E is free of glue.

If the general production of the label 1 is known in the art, certain arrangements must be made for the production of the closing tab 12 as well as for the precut lines 13A, 13B and 13C, so that the label 1 responds to the invention. After assembly of the packaging, the surface portion of the label limited by the two fold lines or the two fold ribs 14A as well as the precut lines 13A, 13B and 13C will form the cover part 16 of the packaging. , see Figures 4 to 6. This is why the dimensions of this part are important so that the opening is sufficient; the dimensional ratios indicated below are suitable for a pack of cigarettes but they may need to be adapted for the packaging of another product. The precut 13B is made transversely on an upper portion of the lateral face 10C, the distance between the cutout 12C and the precut 13B, defining the portion 10G of the face 10C, is variable depending on the height of the package, possibly being from about 10% to 20% of said height; the two precuts 13A and 13C being arranged symmetrically on an upper lateral portion of the front face 10A, respectively rear 10B, each of said precuts having an end connected to the precut 13B and starting obliquely to join the folding rib 14 forming the upper edges 17 respectively of the front face 10A and the rear face 10B in a variable position according to the length of said edges, which can be from about 30% to 50% of said length. In addition, the length of the closure tongue 12 is greater than the distance between the cutout 12C and the precut 13B, the area 12D of said tongue comprising the bonding area 15A corresponding approximately to this distance.

FIG. 1B represents three possible variants of the label 1, these three variants being independent of each other, one or more of said variants being able to be provided on the label 1. First, the cutting 12C may include a recess 12F causing a slight widening of the end portion 12E of the closing tab 12. Thus, when this end portion 12E is introduced inside the package to close it, as indicated below, the 12F offset will contribute to maintaining the package in the closed position. We also note in this figure that the precuts 13A, 13B and 13C are different from those described above insofar as they are not complete and each include one or more tear-out tabs 13D which will be torn off when the first opening of the package. It is finally possible to provide one or more reinforcing ribs 14B, arranged parallel to each other and to the oblique precuts 13A and 13C, in order to reinforce the two lateral faces of the opening / closing portion of the packaging. These reinforcing ribs 14B are made at the same time and in the same way as the folding ribs 14 and 14A. By the presence of the reinforcing ribs 14B, the cover part of the packaging will have greater rigidity and will therefore remain in shape, even after numerous opening / closing of the packaging.

FIG. 2 schematically shows a pack of cigarettes being assembled, the portions of the label 1 forming the front walls 10A, rear 10B, side 10C and 10D and the bottom wall 10E having already been folded and assembled known manner. It is obvious that the assembly operations described here are done on an automatic machine, at the same time as the filling of the package, and that FIGS. 2 and 3 only serve to illustrate the assembly steps. During the step of FIG. 2, the tongue 11G is folded over the tongue 11A in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 shows the last step of assembling the package, the upper face 10F is first folded over the tongue 11G and is held there by gluing 15, then the closing tongue 12 is then folded over the upper portion 10G of the lateral face 10C of the package, being held there by the gluing 15A of the rear part 12D of the tongue, the front part 12E free of adhesive from the tongue 12 coming to be positioned below the precut 13B, superimposed on the face 10C.

This figure shows an embodiment preferential of the succession of steps for folding the different faces of the package: it is also possible to obtain a package by first folding the portion 10F to which the tongue 12 is attached over the tongue or tongues 11A and 11C, then by folding down the tongue 12 in the same manner as described above and finally by folding down the portion 11G which then forms the upper face of the package. The gluing zones 15 must then be adapted as a function of this type of folding.

The finished package is shown in FIG. 4, where it can be seen that the closing tab 12 is formed in one piece, directly in the continuity of the upper face 10F of the package. Since said part is directly glued over the interior tabs and that the precuts 13A, 13B and 13C are still closed, the portion of the packaging forming a cover 16 is intimately linked to the rest of the packaging; the cigarette pack is therefore waterproof and can therefore be stored and sold as is, without it being necessary to cover it with an additional protective sheet.

The front part 12E of the tongue 12, which is superimposed on the lateral face 10C of the package, can thus easily be grasped by a finger of the user and, since its rear part 12D is glued to the upper portion 10G of said lateral face , drive the entire upper lateral portion acting as a cover 16 by tearing the tear-off primer made up of the three precuts 13A, 13B and 13C, pivoting it around the folding rib or the possible folding line 14A in order to make appear the contents of the package, as shown in Figure 5.

After extracting a cigarette, it is possible to close the packet, this time by inserting the end 12E of the tongue inside the packet, either behind the edge formed by the remainder of the precut 13B, as seen in FIG. 6. Thus, it it is possible to close the package, it remaining kept closed by the end 12E of the closing tab 12.

The label 1 described above, as well as the package it constitutes after assembly, represent a preferred embodiment of the invention, other embodiments being possible. A particular cutout of the label 1 is shown in FIG. 1A, other cutouts are possible allowing the assembly of a package having the same characteristics as described. Similarly, the portion of the packaging forming a cover 16 has been described as being disposed on an upper lateral portion of the package, it is also possible to arrange it in a position pivoted by 90 ° along a vertical axis, that is to say -to say that the opening would then not be on one side of the package but for example on its front face. In general, the faces of the package which have been described as being the front face or the rear face then become lateral faces. The package has been described as having systematically the free end 12E of the tongue 12 arranged, during manufacture, over the upper part of the face 10C. It is also possible to provide that, during assembly of the package, this tongue end remains inside the package. This has the advantage of giving a package of which no face has a partial excess thickness, thus promoting the aesthetic appearance of the package. Label 1 has been described as consisting of a sheet of thin cardboard, preferably recycled or easily recyclable cardboard, this sheet can be laminated on one or on both sides. In contrast, it may consist of a thin sheet of synthetic material, possibly of a thin sheet of cardboard covered on both sides with a synthetic coating, said material or said synthetic coating being self-sealing, it that is to say that then it is no longer necessary to provide the bonding zones on the label, the assembled packaging being for example heated to a determined temperature so that the faces in contact adhere to one another. In this way, an absolute seal of the package can be guaranteed.

Thus the label described, assembled according to the method described, makes it possible to obtain a packaging, in particular a packet of cigarettes, meeting the intended objectives.

Claims (15)

1. Package, especially for products of the tobacco industry, made up starting from a one-piece blank comprising a pre-cut portion (16) made up of an upper portion (10G) of a first side face (10C), of two upper side portions of a second (10A) and of a third side face (10B) of said package, the second and the third side face each being adjacent to the first side face, and of a portion of a surface (10F) forming the upper face of the package, said portion (16) being defined by a first pre-cutting line (13B) contrived across the first side face (10C), and by two lines (13A, 13C) contrived symmetrically on the second and the third side faces (10A, 10B), one end of each of the two said lines (13A, 13C) each being connected to one end of said first precutting line (13B), the opening of said package being obtained by pivoting of said pre-cut portion (16) about a fold line (14A) disposed transversely on the upper face (10F) of said package and joining the two other ends of the two pre-cutting lines (13A, 13C) contrived on said second and third side faces and connected to said upper face, so as to separate the pre-cut portion (16) of the package, characterized in that it further comprises a closure tongue (12) adjoining and over the whole width of the portion (10F) forming the upper face of said package, the length of said closure tongue being greater than the distance between the precutting line (13B) separating the upper portion (10G) from the rest of the first side face (10C) and the top edge of said package, said tongue being superimposed on and fixed to said upper portion (10G), the pivoting of said pre-cut portion being obtained by seizing a free end (12E) of the closure tongue, and in that means are provided for making the pre-cutting lines (13A, 13B, 13C) fluid-tight.
2. Package according to claim 1, characterized in that a fold rib (14A) is disposed at the location of the fold line.
3. Package according to one of the claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it can be reclosed by folding down the pre-cut package portion (16) and by inserting the end (12E) of the closure tongue (12) inside said package.
4. Package according to claim 3, characterized in that the closure tongue (12) comprises closed-position retaining means (12F).
5. Package according to one of the claims 3 or 4, characterized in that at least one reinforcing rib (14B) is made on each of the second and third side faces, on the side towards the pre-cut portion (16) of the package, parallel to the pre-cutting lines (13A, 13C).
6. Blank or label (1) for producing a package according to one of the claims 1 to 5, comprising a plurality of portions of surfaces (10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F, 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, 11E, 11F, 11G, 12) joined to one another by fold ribs (14), said portions being intended later to form faces or tongues of said package, said blank being formed in one piece, three pre-cutting lines (13A, 13B, 13C) being disposed on three surface portions (10A, 10B, 10C), the first pre-cutting line (13B) being disposed across an upper part of the surface portion intended to form a first side face (10C) of the package, the other two pre-cutting lines (13A, 13C) being disposed symmetrically, each on a surface portion intended to form a second side face (10A) and a third side face (10B) of the package, respectively, the second side face (10A) and the third side face (10B), respectively, each being adjacent to said first side face (10C), one end of each of the two said pre-cutting lines (13A, 13C) each being connected to one end of said first pre-cutting line (13B), the other end of each of the two said pre-cutting lines each being situated at the meeting point of a fold rib (14) defining the top edges (17) of surface portions defining the second side face (10A) and the third side face (10B) of the package, respectively, and of fold ribs or lines (14A), each disposed perpendicular to said fold ribs (14) on the surface portions defining the upper face (10F) and the one (11G) to be placed under said upper face at the time of assembling the package, characterized in that a closure tongue (12) adjoining and over the whole width of the portion (10F) forming the upper face of said package is cut in said blank, the length of the closure tongue (12) being greater than the distance separating the first pre-cutting line (13B) from the top edge (12C) of the first side face (10C) on which said first pre-cutting line is disposed, a fixing zone (15A) being intended to assemble the surface portion (10G) separating said first pre-cutting line (13B) from said top edge (12C) of said first side face (10C) and the surface portion (12D) of the closure tongue (12) which will be superimposed upon it, and in that the three precutting lines (13A, 13B, 13C) comprise fluid-tightness means.
7. Blank or label according to claim 6, characterized in that the pre-cutting lines (13A, 13B, 13C) are constituted by cuts of part of the thickness of said blank, the fluid-tightness means of said pre-cutting lines being made up of the remaining thickness of said blank or label.
8. Blank or label according to claim 6, characterized in that the pre-cutting lines (13A, 13B, 13C) are covered with a laminated and/or self-sealing layer constituting the fluid-tightness means of said pre-cutting lines.
9. Blank or label according to claim 6, characterized in that the pre-cutting lines (13A, 13B, 13C) are made up of partial cuts allowing at least one attachment flap (13D) constituting the fluid-tightness means of said pre-cutting lines to remain.
10. Blank or label according to one of the claims 6 to 9, characterized in that at least one reinforcement rib (14B) is made on each of the second and third side faces, on the side towards the portion (16) of the pre-cut package, parallel to the pre-cutting lines (13A, 13C).
11. Blank or label according to one of the claims 6 to 10, characterized in that it is made up of a sheet of thin cardboard and in that said fixing zone (15A) corresponds to a gluing zone.
12. Blank or label according to one of the claims 6 to 10, characterized in that it is made up of a sheet of self-sealing material or material coated with at least one layer of a self-sealing material and in that said fixing zone (15A) corresponds to a zone fixed by self-sealing.
13. Process for assembling a package starting from a one-piece blank or label according to one of the claims 6 to 12, characterized in that the surface portion of the blank (10F) attached to the closure tongue (12) is folded down after the upper side tongues (11A, 11C) have first been folded down and either before or after the surface portion (11G) facing it has been folded down, thus forming the upper face of the package, then the closure tongue (12) is next folded down against the upper part (10G) of the first sidewall (10C) comprising said first pre-cutting line (13B), following which the upper face of the package (10F) as well as the portion (12D) of the closure tongue near the fold rib (14) are fixed to the surface portions (11G, 10G) which they cover, the end (12E) of the closure tongue (12) remaining free.
14. Assembly process according to claim 13, characterized in that the upper face of the package (10F) as well as the portion (12D) of the closure tongue near the fold rib (14) are fixed by gluing to the surface portions (11G, 10G) which they cover, the end (12E) of the closure tongue (12) being free of glue.
15. Assembly process according to claim 13, characterized in that the upper face of the package (10F) as well as the portion (12D) of the closure tongue near the fold rib (14) are fixed by self-sealing to the surface portions (11G, 10G) which they cover, the end (12E) of the closure tongue (12) not being sealed.

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