EP4573026A1

EP4573026A1 - Container for tobacco articles, and associated pack of tobacco articles and manufacturing method

Info

Publication number: EP4573026A1
Application number: EP23757902.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Oliver BAUMHOEFER; Yuta Onuma; Roland Maier; Neil Mcinnes
Original assignee: JT International SA
Current assignee: JT International SA
Priority date: 2022-08-18
Filing date: 2023-08-16
Publication date: 2025-06-25
Also published as: US20260035162A1; CN119731096A; WO2024038120A1; JP2025528651A; KR20250053077A

Abstract

The present inventions concerns a container (12) for tobacco articles (14), each tobacco article (14) comprising a filter; the container (12) comprising: - an outer box (31); - an inner liner (32) inserted in the outer box (31) and configured to receive tobacco articles (14), the inner liner (32) defining an internal surface designed to be in contact with the tobacco articles (14) and an external surface in contact with the outer box (31); wherein at least one surface of the inner liner (32) is coated with an anti-staining coating (45) comprising a first anti-staining layer comprising ethyl cellulose to prevent or minimise staining from oily chemical substances contained in the filters (26) of the tobacco articles (14).

Description

Container for tobacco articles, and associated pack of tobacco articles and manufacturing method

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a container for tobacco articles. The present invention also concerns a pack of tobacco articles and a manufacturing method associated to such a container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tobacco articles, as for example conventional cigarettes or tobacco sticks intended to be used with heat-not-burn devices, are usually packaged into containers protecting them during transport. Such containers can be made of renewable raw material like paperboard and often comprise a structured composition. This composition includes generally a rigid outer box preserving the shape of the container and a flexible inner liner preserving the freshness and the taste of the tobacco articles.

Modern tobacco articles are made using more and more sustainable materials. For example, nowadays, acetate filters used conventionally in cigarettes may be replaced by paper filters which can be easily recycled. However, conventional containers for tobacco articles are not always perfectly adapted to store the tobacco articles including sustainable materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One of the aims of the invention is to propose a container for tobacco articles suitable for storing any type of tobacco articles and notably, tobacco articles made of sustainable materials.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a container for tobacco articles, each tobacco article comprising a filter; the container comprising:

- an outer box; - an inner liner inserted in the outer box and configured to receive tobacco articles, the inner liner defining an internal surface designed to be in contact with the tobacco articles and an external surface in contact with the outer box; wherein at least one surface of the inner liner is coated with an anti-staining coating comprising a first anti-staining layer comprising ethyl cellulose to prevent or minimise staining from oily chemical substances contained in the filters of the tobacco articles.

In tobacco articles made of sustainable materials, conventional acetate filters are usually replaced by filters made of paper or any other sustainable material. This type of filters can conduct to a harsh smoke when they are used without additional chemical substances which are usually oily. Using of such oily substances leaves stain marks on the inner liner. This causes a poor appearance of the container when it is used by the user.

The invention proposes to adapt the container for storing such type of tobacco articles using a special anti-staining coating on at least one surface of the inner liner. Thus, stain marks can be avoided on surfaces of the container and the container can preserve its original appearance during the whole using period.

Additionally, using of ethyl cellulose is particularly advantageous since it is not harmful and can be easily applied on materials conventionally used to form the inner liner, like paper or aluminium. It is also very efficient against stains, notably of oily nature. Moreover, ethyl cellulose does not deliver heat seal capabilities. This is desired to prevent sticking of the tobacco articles to the inner liner once the container is sealed. Particularly, the melting point of the ethyl cellulose is generally comprised between 240 and 255°C which is above the temperatures applied during the packing manufacturing.

Additionally, ethyl cellulose creates a flexible enough surface that can allow the inner liner to be embossed either for design purposes or for technical needs, without breaking the anti-staining barrier. Moreover, ethyl cellulose is a thermoplastic and can be formed when is warmed. As it forms a very thin layer, the frictional heat of the embossing roller is sufficient to prevent cracking and promotes the forming.

In the whole specification, by “ethyl cellulose” it is understood a derivative of cellulose in which some of the hydroxyl groups on the repeating glucose units are converted into ethyl ether groups. In the preferred embodiment, the molecular level of ethyl cellulose is described by the CAS No 9004-57-3. According to some embodiments, the dry weight of the anti-staining coating is comprised between 1 and 5 gsm.

This dry weight is particularly adapted when for example an inner liner comprising paper is used. In this case, the basis weight of the paper of the inner liner can for example be comprised between 50 and 90 gsm. As known as such, dry weight specifies the weight of the layer of the coating after all liquid constituents are evaporated.

According to some embodiments, the anti-staining coating further comprises a second anti-staining layer having substantially the same composition as the first antistaining layer.

Advantageously, both anti-staining layers can be applied in a similar way, using for example substantially the same coating process and varnish substance. Double-layer structure makes it possible to obtain a homogeneous coating even in case of a relatively rough surface like a paper surface. Particularly, this double-layer structure avoids irregularities in the coating, e.g., non or thinly coated spots, which could appear due to the surface’s roughness.

According to some embodiments, the or each anti-staining layer is formed from a compound comprising ethyl cellulose solved in a composition of solvents. This compound can form a varnish or a lacquer. Preferably, the mass ratio of the ethyl cellulose in the compound is for example comprised between 20% and 70%, advantageously between 30% and 60% and is preferably substantially equal to 35%.

Preferably, each solvent may comprise acetates such as ethyl acetate, isoproyl acetate or n-propyl acetate as well as ethanol. The solvents are advantageously used to adjust the viscosity of the ink/varnish/lacquer and can vary massively based on the climate conditions, printing press speed, drying capabilities, etc. Preferably, the mass ratio of the solvents in the compound is for example comprised between 30% and 80%, advantageously between 40% and 70% and is preferably substantially equal to 65%.

According to some embodiments, the or each anti-staining layer is applied by rotogravure or flexographic printing technology. These technologies make it possible to apply homogeneously the coating while using existing machines and installations.

According to some embodiments, the or at least one anti-staining layer is embossed. Advantageously, this layer is embossed together with the inner liner.

An embossed surface may be used for design purposes (images, text, symbols, etc.) as well as for technical needs (folding lines, cutting lines, attaching means, etc.), without breaking the integrity of the coating.

According to some embodiments, the or each anti-staining layer presents non-sealing properties upon heating.

These features prevent sticking of the tobacco articles to the inner liner once the container is sealed by heating.

According to some embodiments, the anti-staining coating is applied on the inner surface of the inner liner.

Since the inner surface of the inner liner is in direct contact with the tobacco articles, these features prevent oily stains which could appear when the container is closed during for example its transportation.

According to some embodiments, the anti-staining coating is applied on each surface of the inner liner.

These surfaces may for example comprise an inner surface of the inner liner in direct contact with the tobacco articles and an outer surface of the inner liner. The anti-staining coating on the outer surface of the inner liner prevents oily stains which could appear when a tobacco article is handled by the user during for example its extraction from the container. This also prevents against oily stains which could appear further to contact of the user’s fingers with the inner liner.

According to some embodiments, the inner liner comprises aluminium and/or paper. For example, the inner liner comprises a laminate of paper and aluminium. These materials can be easily coated by the anti-staining coating according to the invention. In some embodiments, the inner liner can be formed by a paper sheet which is coated by the anti-staining coating on one of its surfaces and by an aluminium coating on its other surface. For example, the anti-staining coating can be applied on the inner surface in direct contact with the tobacco articles and the aluminium coating can be applied on the outer surface. According to other embodiments, the inner liner is formed from an aluminium sheet or paper sheet with at least one of its surfaces coated with the anti-staining layer.

The present invention also relates to a pack of tobacco articles comprising:

- a container as defined above;

- a plurality of tobacco articles received in the container, each tobacco article comprising a filter.

According to some embodiments, each filter comprises paper based material, advantageously made of paper based material.

Thus, the filter is a sustainable filter and recycling of tobacco articles after their using can be easily performed.

According to some embodiments, each filter comprises an oily substance.

Such an oily substance can balance the taste of the generated smoke to make it less harsh while passing through the filter, notably through a sustainable filter made for example of paper (e.g., paper sheet or natural cellulose nonwoven). The oily substance can be polypropylene glycol (known as PPG). The PPG can be in liquid or gelled form.

The invention also relates to a manufacturing method of a container as defined above, comprising:

- a first coating step comprising applying a first anti-staining layer on a sheet intending to form the inner liner;

- an assembling step comprising assembling the outer box and the inner liner to form the container.

The assembling step can be performed according to any known technique. For example, the inner liner can be inserted in the outer box once this last has been formed. According to another embodiment, the sheet intending to form the outer box is first attached to the inner liner and then, both elements are folded to form the desired shape of the container. The tobacco articles can be inserted inside the container after the assembling step. Alternatively, the tobacco articles are provided before the assembling step and are put inside the container during the assembling step.

According to some embodiments, the manufacturing method further comprises a second coating step comprising applying a second anti-staining layer on the first antistaining layer.

The second coating step is advantageously performed after the first coating step and before the assembling step. In some embodiments, a drying step consisting in drying the first anti-staining layer can be performed between the first and the second coating steps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention and its advantages will be better understood upon reading the following description, which is given by way of non-limiting examples and which is made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a pack of tobacco articles according to the invention, the pack comprising a container for tobacco articles according to the invention;

- Figure 2 is a schematic view of one of the tobacco articles of Figure 1 ; and

- Figure 3 is a schematic view of an installation used for manufacturing the container of Figure 1 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Before describing the invention, it is to be understood that it is not limited to the details of construction set forth in the following description. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure that the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. The expression “substantially equal to” is understood hereinafter as an equality at plus or minus 10% and preferably at plus or minus 5%.

As used herein, the term “aerosol generating device” or “device” may include a vaping device to deliver aerosol from an aerosol generating article received in the device, for example comprising tobacco and also called tobacco article. The device may be portable. “Portable” may refer to the device being for use when held by a user. The device may be adapted to generate a variable amount of aerosol, e.g. by activating a heating system for a variable amount of time (as opposed to a metered dose of aerosol) using a trigger. The trigger may be user activated, such as a vaping button and/or inhalation sensor. The inhalation sensor may be sensitive to the strength of inhalation as well as the duration of inhalation to enable a variable amount of vapor to be provided (so as to mimic the effect of smoking a conventional combustible smoking article such as a cigarette, cigar or pipe, etc.).

As used herein, the term “tobacco substrate” or “aerosol generating substrate” is used to designate any material that is able to form aerosol. The aerosol is generally obtained by a temperature increase of the aerosol generating substrate, such as at a temperature less than 400°C, preferably up to 350°C. The aerosol generating substrate may, for example, comprise or consist in an aerosol-generating solid that may be in the form of a rod, which contains processed tobacco material, a crimped sheet or oriented strips of reconstituted tobacco (RTB), or any combination of these. The aerosol generating substrate may comprise one or more of: nicotine, caffeine or other active components. Optionally, a taste modifying agent is added to the tobacco substrate to enhance the taste of the released aerosol. The taste modifying agent may be a flavourant (e.g., menthol), a taste enhancer, a sweetener, a cooling agent (e.g., WS 3, Coolact, etc.) and combinations thereof. For example, the taste modifying agent can be a plurality of flavouring micro-chips comprising a polysaccharide and/or starch matrix and flavour such as described in EP2279677B, EP2682007B, EP2682009B, EP3533348A or W02015029750A.

As used herein, the term “aerosol” may include a suspension of precursor as one or more of: solid particles; liquid droplets; gas. Said suspension may be in a gas including air. Aerosol may be formed by the aerosol generating substrate and may comprise one or several components of it. A pack of tobacco articles 10 is schematically shown in Figure 1. In reference to this Figure, the pack 10 comprises a container 12 and a plurality of tobacco articles 14 received in the container 12.

The number of the tobacco articles 14 received in the container 12 can vary according to different embodiments of the invention. It can for example be comprised between 1 and 50, advantageously between 10 and 25. For simplicity reasons, it will be considered in the further description that the tobacco articles 14 are substantially identical between them and only one tobacco article 14 will be described in reference to Figure 2. It should however be understood that according to different embodiments of the invention, the tobacco articles 14 may be different between them and define for example different shapes and/or tastes and/or tobacco compositions and/or flavourings and/or external designs, etc. Each tobacco article 14 is for example a stick designed to be heated by an aerosol generating device (also known as Heat-not-Burn or HNB device) to form aerosol. According to another embodiment, each tobacco article 14 is an RMC-type cigarette (Ready-made-Cigarette). In other words, each tobacco article 14 can be a conventional cigarette.

Referring to Figure 2, the tobacco article 14 presents an elongated shape extending along an article axis between an upstream end 23 and a mouth end 24. The tobacco article 14 comprises a tobacco substrate 25 adjacent to the upstream end 23, a filter 26 adjacent to the mouth end 24 and a wrapper 28 wrapping together the tobacco substrate 25 and the filter 26. The wrapper 28 is for example a known wrapper comprising a tipping paper, at least one plug wrap and a cigarette paper. The wrapper 28 extends advantageously around the article axis keeping unwrapped the transversal surfaces of the tobacco substrate 25 and the filter 26 respectively at the upstream end 23 and the mouth end 24. In some embodiments, the tobacco article 14 may further comprise a cooling or distancing element (not-shown) arranged between the tobacco substrate 25 and the filter 26.

According to different embodiments of the invention, the tobacco substrate 25 is designed to be heated when it is used with an HNB device or to be burnt, at least partially, when it is used as an RMC-type cigarette.

The filter 26 preferably comprises a filter material wrapped by the plug wrap of the wrapper 28 to assemble the filter material. Advantageously, according to the invention, the filter material is a sustainable material, like for example paper. In some embodiments, the filter material is made of one single sheet, like a paper tape for example, by folding this sheet to form several layers extending along the filter 26. The filter material may for example be a gathered sheet of paper.

When the filter material is paper, its basis weight is for example comprised between 20 and 120 gsm, preferably between 25 and 50 gsm. The thickness of the paper is for example comprised between 30 and 100 rm. The porosity of the paper is preferably comprised between 0 and 3000 CU. The tensile strength of the paper is for example higher than 18 N per 15 mm.

According to the invention, the filter 26 further comprises an oily substance balancing the taste of the smoke. Such an oily substance can be absorbed by the filter material and released at least partially upon heating. This oily substance may comprise polypropylene glycol (known as PPG).

Referring again to Figure 1 , the container 12 is for example a rectangular cuboid adapted for receiving the tobacco articles 14. The container 12 comprises an outer box 31 forming advantageously a rigid structure of the container 12 and an inner liner 32 inserted in the outer box 31 as it is shown in Figure 1 .

The outer box 31 comprises a main body 34 and a lid 35. The lid 35 is designed to give access to the inner liner 32 in an open position and in a closed position, form the cuboid shape of the container 12. In the example of Figure 1 , the lid 35 is in the open position. The lid 35 can be hinged to the main body 34. The outer box 31 can be formed from any conventional material, like paper, paperboard, cardboard or a combination thereof. It may further comprise a removable outer protective film.

The inner liner 32 is designed to receive the tobacco articles 14 and be in direct contact with the tobacco articles 14. The inner liner 32 is for example made of a flexible material and can comprise paper and/or aluminum. The basis weight of the paper composing the inner liner 32 is for example comprised between 50 and 90 gsm. The inner liner 32 is principally designed to preserve the freshness of the tobacco articles 14 during their storage in the container 12.

The inner liner 32 defines an opening 40 from which the tobacco articles 14 can be extracted from the inner liner 32 and inserted thereto. The opening 40 can be protected by a flexible flap 42 which is for example designed to close the opening 40 when the lid 35 is in the closed position and open the opening 40 when the lid 35 is in the open position. For this purpose, the flap 42 can be attached to the lid 35 as it is shown in Figure 1 . According to another embodiment, the flap or label 42 is not attached to the lid but to the inner liner only and is designed to be opened/closed manually by the user. In another embodiment, the flap is replaced by an upper part of the inner liner sheet removable by a tear tape.

The inner liner 32 is formed for example from a sheet defining an inner surface designed to be in direct contact with the tobacco articles 14 and an outer surface designed to be in contact with the outer box 31 . This sheet can comprise folding and/or cutting lines making it possible to form the shape of the inner liner 32 and the flap 42 upon folding and/or cutting the sheet in an appropriate way.

According to the invention, at least one surface of the inner liner 32, preferably the inner surface, is coated with an anti-staining coating 45. This anti-staining coating 45 can extend according to the whole area of the corresponding surface of the inner liner 32 (including the surface of the flap 42) or only in predetermined parts of this surface. For example, the anti-staining coating 45 can extend only in a part of the inner surface which is intended to be in contact with the tobacco articles 14, notably with the filters 26 of the tobacco articles 14. For example, the anti-staining coating 45 can extend only on the inner surface of an upper side of the inner liner 32 which is contact with the mouth ends 24 of the tobacco articles 14 as it is shown in Figure 1. According to another example, the antistaining coating 45 extends only on the inner surface of the flap 42. In this case, it prevents oily stains on the visible portion of the flap 42 when it is opened, as shown in Figure 1 . Moreover, according to some examples, the anti-staining coating 45 can also extend at least on some parts of the outer surface of the inner liner 32. These parts can for example correspond to the exposed parts of this inner liner 32 when the lid 35 is in the open position and/or to a removable part of the inner liner to allow access to the tobacco articles, e.g., by use of a tear tape. According to another example, the anti-staining coating 45 extends according to the whole area of the outer surface of the inner liner 32.

As mentioned above, the sheet forming the inner liner 32 can be made of paper. At least some parts of this sheet can be coated with an aluminum coating and at least some other parts, with the anti-staining coating as explained above. For example, the outer surface of the sheet can be at least partially or fully coated with the aluminum coating and the inner surface of the sheet can be at least partially or fully coated with the anti-staining coating. Advantageously, according to the invention, the anti-staining coating 45 comprises a first anti-staining layer and a second anti-staining layer. Each anti-staining layer can have a similar chemical composition. Particularly, each anti-staining layer comprises ethyl cellulose to prevent or minimise staining from oily chemical substances. Each anti-staining layer may further comprise solvents. The mass ratio of the ethyl cellulose is for example 35% and the mass ratio of the solvents is for example 65%.

A manufacturing method of the container 12 will now be explained. Particularly, it is initially considered that a paper and/or aluminum sheet intending to form the inner liner 32 is provided. Additionally, depending on different embodiments of the invention, the outer box 31 is provided in an assembled form or in a form of a sheet.

The manufacturing method comprises first forming of the anti-staining coating 45 on at least one surface and at least some parts of the sheet intending to form the inner liner 32. Particularly, the first and the second anti-staining layers composing the anti-staining coating 45 can be applied by rotogravure or flexographic printing technology, respectively during a first coating step and a second coating step. A drying step can also be performed between this coating steps in order to dry at least the first anti-staining layer. Another drying step can also be performed after the second coating step.

Figure 3 shows an installation 100 which can be used to carry out for example the rotogravure printing technology. The same installation 100 can be used to perform both coating steps. According to another embodiment, different installations 100 having similar structures can be used to perform consecutively the coating steps.

In reference to Figure 3, the installation 100 comprises a bath 1 10 which comprises in the particular example of the invention ethyl cellulose, solved in a composition of solvent(s), that then become a varnish or lacquer. The installation 1 10 further comprises a gravure printing cylinder 120 which rotates in the bath 1 10 and which comprises a doctor blade 130 for removing all excess varnish so as only the deeper engraved cells remain filled with varnish. Finally, the installation further comprises an impression roller 140 for pushing the sheet intending to form the inner liner 32, between this roller 140 and the cylinder 120.

After applying the anti-staining coating 45 on the inner liner 32, the manufacturing method further comprises an assembling step comprising assembling the outer box 31 and the inner liner 32 to form the container 12. According to different embodiments of the invention, this step can further include putting the tobacco articles inside the inner liner 32.

5

Claims

1. A container (12) for tobacco articles (14), each tobacco article (14) comprising a filter (26); the container (12) comprising:

- an outer box (31 );

- an inner liner (32) inserted in the outer box (31 ) and configured to receive tobacco articles (14), the inner liner (32) defining an internal surface designed to be in contact with the tobacco articles (14) and an external surface in contact with the outer box (31 ); wherein at least one surface of the inner liner (32) is coated with an anti-staining coating (45) comprising a first anti-staining layer comprising ethyl cellulose to prevent or minimise staining from oily chemical substances contained in the filters (26) of the tobacco articles (14).

2. The container (12) according to claim 1 , wherein the dry weight of the anti-staining coating (45) is comprised between 1 and 5 gsm.

3. The container (12) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the anti-staining coating (45) further comprises a second anti-staining layer having substantially the same composition as the first anti-staining layer.

4. The container (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each anti-staining layer is applied by rotogravure or flexographic printing technology.

5. The container (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or at least one anti-staining layer is embossed, advantageously with the inner liner (32).

6. The container (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each anti-staining layer presents non-sealing properties upon heating.

7. The container (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the antistaining coating is applied on the inner surface of the inner liner (32).

8. The container (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the antstaining coating (45) is applied on each surface of the inner liner.

9. The container (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner liner comprises paper having a basis weight comprised between 50 and 90 gsm.

10. The container (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner liner (32) comprises an aluminium and paper laminate.

11 . A pack (10) of tobacco articles comprising:

- a container (12) according to any one of the preceding claims;

- a plurality of tobacco articles (14) received in the container (12), each tobacco article (14) comprising a filter (26).

12. The pack (10) according to claim 12, wherein each filter (26) comprises paper based material.

13. The pack (10) according to any one of claims 1 1 to 13, wherein each filter (26) comprises an oily substance.

14. A manufacturing method of a container (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, comprising:

- a first coating step comprising applying a first anti-staining layer on a sheet intending to form the inner liner (32);

- an assembling step comprising assembling the outer box (31 ) and the inner liner (32) to form the container (12).

15. The manufacturing method according to claim 14, further comprising a second coating step comprising applying a second anti-staining layer on the first anti-staining layer.