ITUB20154894A1 - Pack of cigarettes and method to make it happen. - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

"Pack of cigarettes and method of making it."

The present invention relates to a packet of cigarettes, or other smoking articles having a first and a second end and an elongated shape along a longitudinal direction; the invention also concerns a method for making the package.

A cigarette packet contains a plurality of cigarettes side by side to form a group. Furthermore, the packet typically comprises an outer wrapper, which can be rigid or soft, and an inner wrapper, in direct contact with the cigarettes, which can be made for example from aluminum foil wrapped around the group of cigarettes.

As for the internal wrapping, the use of a sealed wrapping is known, made using a thermoplastic film and equipped with a resealable opening for removing cigarettes.

Examples of this type of solution are provided by the following patent documents of the same Applicant: WO2014013478, WO2014013479, and WO2014013479; other examples are described in the following patent documents: WO9849072, WO2015062681, WO2013053408, WO2011 110272, WO2011069575 and WO20 li 032625.

To wrap the group of cigarettes with thermoplastic film, it is necessary to manipulate the group of cigarettes in a special machine or machine section, for example belonging to the flow-pack type.

In such manipulation, there is a risk that the cigarettes of the group will break down; therefore, a reinforcing element or collar is applied to the group of cigarettes. The reinforcing element is made of thin cardboard, at least partially surrounds the group of cigarettes and, in the finished package, is positioned inside the sealed wrapping.

To effectively perform its function of retaining the cigarettes of the group, the reinforcing element must be enveloping with respect to the group of cigarettes. In this regard, the solutions described in documents WO20140I3478, WO20140I3479, WO2014013479, W020I3053408, WO9849072 and WO2011069575 are disadvantageous because the reinforcing element is not very enveloping and does not guarantee that the cigarettes of the group do not break down during the handling to make the sealed wrapping.

Another problem that prevents the reinforcing element from effectively holding the cigarettes of the group in position is related to the mechanical stability of the reinforcing element itself. In this regard, it is noted that the solutions of the patent documents WO2011110272 and WO2011032625 are inconvenient since the reinforcing element has poor stability. In particular, the reinforcing element of WO2011110272 is shaped like a case and tends to sag, while the reinforcing element of WO2011032625 is not very strong, especially in the head areas of the group of cigarettes.

Another problem related to the creation of the sealed wrapping is given by the fact that cigarettes are subjected to considerable mechanical stress, which risks causing damage to the cigarettes themselves, especially in the filter area. In this light, it can be observed that the solution of document WO2015062681, as well as those of documents WO2014013478, WO20I4013479, WO2014013479, W02013053408, WO9849072 and WO2011069575, is limited because it does not effectively protect both head areas of the group of cigarettes, with particular regard to the area near the opening for the extraction of cigarettes, where the cigarette filters are positioned.

The object of the present invention is to make available a packet of cigarettes (or of other smoking articles having a first and a second end and an elongated shape along a longitudinal direction) and a method for making it that overcome the drawbacks of the prior art mentioned above.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a particularly precise sealed packet of cigarettes that is simple and simple to make and a relative method for making it.

A further object of the present invention is to propose a sealed packet of cigarettes which is particularly convenient to store.

Another object is to provide a sealed packet of cigarettes which is particularly practical to use.

Said objects are fully achieved by the package and by the method object of the present invention, which are characterized by what is contained in the claims reported below.

In particular, the invention relates to a package of smoking articles, in particular smoking articles having a first and a second end and an elongated shape along a longitudinal direction. In the following we will refer in particular to cigarettes, for simplicity of description, without this being intended to limit the scope of the patent to cigarettes only.

The pack contains a group of cigarettes, side by side and lined up. The group of cigarettes has a first zone, facing the first end of the cigarettes, and a second zone, facing the second end of the cigarettes. The first and second zones of the group of cigarettes are arranged in succession to each other along the longitudinal direction defined by the group of cigarettes, from the first to the second end; that is, the first and second zones of the packet are longitudinally spaced.

The package includes a sealed wrapper, which encloses the group of cigarettes. The sealed wrapping is made of a film of thermoplastic material. The sealed wrapper has an opening for removing cigarettes. In addition, preferably, the package has a sealing panel, applied to the opening of the sealed wrapping, to allow repeated closing and opening.

The package also includes a soft wrapper, which is a wrapper made from floppy paper. This wrapper is in direct contact with the group of cigarettes, and wraps it at least partially. In particular, the wrapper surrounds the group of cigarettes on the side wall and on at least one of said first and second ends of the group itself.

The wrapping is positioned inside the sealed wrapping. Therefore, this envelope constitutes an internal envelope for the package. The sealed wrapping constitutes an external envelope for the package.

It should be noted that the expression "soft paper" means a paper with a low weight, in particular less than the weight of a rigid paper or cardboard. In particular, the paper used in the wrapper has a weight of less than 170 g / m2, preferably less than 120 g / m2 (or 110 g / m2); for example, the weight is between 90 and 70 g / m2, or, preferably, between 90 and 110 g / m2.

The fact that the group of cigarettes is directly in contact with the soft wrapping and further wrapped in the sealed wrapping allows the package to be made in a particularly simple and precise way, while guaranteeing the preservation of the tobacco aroma (thanks to the wrapping Sealed).

In fact, the soft wrapping in direct contact with the group of cigarettes is simple to make and allows to make the sealed wrapping in a machine (or station or machine section) of the flow pack type in a particularly easy way, because the cigarettes of the group, being wrapped on at least five sides by the soft casing, are effectively kept in position without the need to use a rigid reinforcement element (ie a small frame or cardboard collar).

The casing has a front wall, a rear wall and two side walls, which surround the four sides of the side wall of the group of cigarettes, and a bottom wall, which covers the second end of the group of cigarettes.

In an example of embodiment, the wrapper leaves the first end of the group of cigarettes uncovered; in this case, to withdraw a cigarette it is necessary to open a sealed wrapper. To facilitate the extraction of cigarettes, it is also provided that the casing has a flare on its front wall.

In this case, only the second end of the group of cigarettes is closed by the wrapper (the first is left uncovered).

In another example of embodiment, it is envisaged that the wrapper completely surrounds the group of cigarettes, on all six sides.

In this case, the casing also has a top wall, which covers the second end of the group of cigarettes.

In an example of embodiment, the thermoplastic film of the sealed wrapping is transparent (or semi-transparent); preferably, said transparent sealed wrapping is (substantially) devoid of decorations; it can be colored or, more preferably, not colored.

In this case, preferably, the envelope is externally decorated, that is, it has at least one logo and / or writing on its external surface, visible through the sealed wrapping. In this way, preferably, the package consisting of the group of cigarettes, the decorated wrapping (internal) and the transparent sealed wrapping (external) above is (or can be) a finished package.

In another example of embodiment, the sealed wrapping is opaque, or non-transparent; in this case, preferably, the externally colored and / or decorated sealed wrapping.

In this case, the envelope is made of white paper, without decorations.

It should also be noted that, regardless of the embodiments mentioned above, it is also provided to wrap the sealed package in an external envelope (further than the envelope positioned inside the sealed package in contact with the cigarettes), which can be soft or stiff.

Preferably, the package also includes a sealing panel, applied to the opening of the sealed wrapping and movable to open and close the opening of the sealed wrapping. Preferably, the sealing panel has an adhesive zone. Furthermore, preferably, the sealing panel has and a gripping tab, positioned in proximity to the adhesive zone.

In an embodiment, the sealing panel is arranged to cover a central area of the first end of the group of cigarettes.

In this case, preferably, the adhesive area of the sealing panel is positioned on the front wall of the enclosure.

In another embodiment, the sealing panel is arranged to cover a lateral region of the first end of the group of cigarettes.

Preferably, said lateral area of the first end of the group of cigarettes covered by the sealing panel is confined to an area less than (or equal to or substantially equal to) half of the area defined by the first end of the group of cigarettes.

In this case, preferably, the adhesive area of the sealing panel is positioned on one of the side walls of the envelope; in particular, on the side wall of the wrapper adjacent to the side area of the first end of the group of cigarettes covered by the sealing panel. The present description also provides a method for making a packet of cigarettes or other smoking articles having a first and a second end and an elongated shape along a longitudinal direction.

The method preferably comprises a step of forming a group of cigarettes.

The method comprises a step of wrapping the group of cigarettes by means of a wrapper made of soft paper and positioned in direct contact with the group of cigarettes.

This package is made in such a way as to surround the group of cigarettes at least on the side wall and on the second end; it is also envisaged that the wrapper also provides for surrounding the first end of the group with the wrapper (in this case, preferably, a label is also positioned across the wrapper, transversely, at the centerline of the first end of the group of cigarettes ).

The method includes a phase of wrapping the group of cigarettes and the wrapping surrounding at least in part the group of cigarettes itself, in a sealed wrapping having an opening for removing the cigarettes.

This sealed wrapping is preferably made by means of a film of thermoplastic material.

The wrapping step also includes, preferably, the preparation of a sealing panel to close said opening for the extraction of cigarettes, in which the sealing panel has, preferably, one or more of the characteristics described above.

The invention also provides a packing machine for packaging in a packet a group of cigarettes or other smoking articles having a first and a second ends and an elongated shape along a longitudinal direction.

The machine comprises a first wrapping section, designed to be fed with blanks of soft paper and with cigarettes (loose). The first wrapping section is configured to form groups of cigarettes starting from the loose cigarettes and to form elements starting from the blanks of soft paper; the first wrapping section couples the blanks of soft paper to corresponding groups of cigarettes to surround them at least in part, according to one or more of the characteristics described above.

Furthermore, the machine includes a second wrapping section, of the flow-pack type. This second wrapping section is designed to be fed with a succession of articles, in which each article consists of a group of cigarettes and a corresponding soft wrapper. The second wrapping section is configured to enclose the individual items inside a sealed wrapping, made of a film of thermoplastic material. The sealed wrapping is also equipped with an opening for removing cigarettes and a sealing panel applied to the opening of the sealed wrapping itself.

In a possible example of embodiment, it is envisaged that the machine also includes a third wrapping section, configured to create an external wrapping applied externally to the sealed wrapping. In particular, the third wrapping section is preferably configured to create a rigid box-like body containing the sealed wrapping and equipped with a lid hinged to the box-like body itself. Alternatively, said outer casing is provided to be of the soft type.

The first wrapping section is not described in detail, because it is substantially known, for example from patent document EP2716555B1, referred to herein for reference to the characteristics of the wrapping section used to wrap a soft wrapper (of soft paper) around a group of cigarettes.

This and other characteristics will be more evident from the following description of a preferred embodiment, illustrated purely by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawing tables, in which:

Figure I schematically illustrates a packing machine according to the present description;

Figure 2 illustrates a group of cigarettes;

Figure 3 illustrates the group of cigarettes of Figure 2, wrapped in an internal wrapper according to the present description;

- figure 4 the group of cigarettes of figure 3, wrapped in an internal wrapper according to a variant embodiment;

Figure 5 shows the group of cigarettes of Figure 3, wrapped in an internal wrapper according to a further variant embodiment;

Figure 6 illustrates a package according to the present description;

Figure 6A illustrates the package of Figure 6, according to a variant embodiment;

Figure 7 illustrates the package of Figure 6, according to an embodied variant.

In the figures, 1 indicates a package of other smoking articles. Specifically, but not exclusively, pack 1 is a pack of cigarettes 2.

Each cigarette 2 is elongated along a longitudinal axis and has a first end 201 and a second end 202. At these first and second ends 201 and 202, the cigarette 2 has surfaces arranged transversely to the longitudinal axis. In an embodiment, the cigarette 2 has a filter 203 at the second end.

It should be noted that the present description refers to cigarettes 2, but, more generally, it applies to any smoking article having an elongated shape along a longitudinal axis and a first and a second ends (such as for example a cigar).

For each pack 1, the cigarettes 2 are organized in a group 3 of cigarettes 2 aligned and oriented in the same way, so that all the cigarettes 2 of the group 3 have the first ends 201 and the second ends 202 oriented in a concordant way. Therefore, in the group 3 of cigarettes a first end 301 and a second end of the group 3 of cigarettes 2 itself remain defined.

The group 3 of cigarettes has a first zone 303 facing the first end 201 of the cigarettes 2, or facing the first end 301 of the group 3 of cigarettes 2 itself; similarly, the group 3 of cigarettes has a second zone 304 facing the second end 202 of the cigarettes 2, that is, facing the second end 302 of the group 3 of cigarettes 2.

The first zone 303 and the second zone 304 of the group 3 of cigarettes 2 are staggered, i.e. spaced longitudinally (along the longitudinal direction in which the cigarettes 2 are oriented).

Packet 1 has 4 sealed wrapping, which encloses group 3 of 2 cigarettes.

The sealed wrapper 4 is made of a 401 film. The 401 film is of thermoplastic material; film 401 is impermeable to odors (i.e. it constitutes a barrier for the passage of aromas).

The sealed package 4 has an opening for the extraction of cigarettes 2. In addition, the sealed package 4 has a 402 sealant panel, applied to the opening of the sealed package 4. The sealing panel 402 is movable from a closed position to an open position and vice versa, repeatedly over time. A tab 403 having a portion free of adhesives is fixed to a free end of the sealing panel 402 to facilitate its grip with the fingers. The packet 1 comprises a wrapper 5 made of soft paper, wrapped around the group 3 of cigarettes 2 in direct contact with it.

The paper with which the wrapper 5 is made has for example a weight in the range from 90 to 170 g / m2, but more preferably the weight is less than 110 g / m2.

The wrapper 5 surrounds the group 3 of cigarettes 2 on at least five sides; in particular, it surrounds it on the side wall and on the second end 302,

It is envisaged that the wrapper 5 surrounds the group 3 of cigarettes 2 also on the first end 301; thus, it completely surrounds it, on all six sides.

In another embodiment, it is provided that the wrapper 5 leaves the first end 301 of the group 3 of cigarettes 2 uncovered. It is also provided that the wrapper 5 has a flare 502 on its own front wall, adjacent to the first end 301 of group 3 of cigarettes 2, to facilitate the extraction of cigarettes 2.

As for the closure of the wrapper 5 around the group of cigarettes, it is preferably made by means of a soap-like folding 51 at the end (or both ends, depending on the case) of the group 3 surrounded by the wrapper.

The casing 5 has a front wall, a rear wall and two side walls, which surround the four sides of the side wall of the group of cigarettes, and a bottom wall, which covers the second end of the group of cigarettes. If the wrapper 5 completely surrounds the group 3 of cigarettes 2, it also has a top (or head) wall.

The envelope 5 is positioned inside the sealed wrapper 4.

As for the film 401 of thermoplastic material of the sealed wrapper 4, it can be transparent, semi-transparent or non-transparent.

In addition, the film 401 of thermoplastic material of the sealed wrapping 4 can be externally decorated (depicting at least a logo and / or writing) or can be devoid of any decoration.

As for the envelope 5, it is provided that it has a decorated external surface, preferably depicting at least one logo and / or an inscription 503. Alternatively, the envelope 5 is provided with decorations, preferably (completely) white.

In an example of embodiment, the wrapper 5 is decorated and the sealed wrapper 4 is transparent, so that the logo and / or the wording of the wrapper decoration are visible from the outside of the package through the sealed wrapper 4.

In another embodiment example, the wrapper 5 is (white and) decorated with decorations, and the sealed wrapper 4 is non-transparent, preferably colored, for example metallized, and / or is decorated. Package 1 includes a sealing panel 402, applied to the opening of the sealed wrapping 4. The sealing panel 402 is preferably movable to open and close the opening of the sealed wrapping 4.

The sealing panel 402 is arranged to cover a central zone or a lateral zone of the first end 301 of the group 3 of cigarettes 2, according to the embodiment variant. If the sealing panel 402 is arranged to cover the central zone of the first end 301 of the group 3 of cigarettes 2, the adhesive zone of the sealing panel 402 is positioned on the front wall of the envelope 5.

In the event that the sealing panel 402 is arranged to cover one of the lateral areas of the first end 301 of the group 3 of cigarettes 2, preferably, the adhesive area is positioned on one of the side walls of the envelope 5, adjacent to the opening.

Always in the case in which the sealing panel 402 is arranged to cover a lateral zone of the first end of the group of cigarettes, preferably, the lateral zone of the first end 301 of the group 3 of cigarettes 2 covered by the sealing panel 402 is confined in a an area less than or substantially equal to half the area defined by the first end 301 itself of the group 3 of cigarettes 1.

The envelope 5 is made from a soft blank 6, consisting of a shaped sheet of said soft paper.

Therefore, the present description also provides a method for making a pack 1 of cigarettes 2 or other smoking articles having a first and a second ends 201, 202 and an elongated shape along a longitudinal direction.

This method involves a phase of formation of the group 3 of cigarettes 2.

The method involves a phase of wrapping the group 3 of cigarettes into the wrapper 5 made of soft paper, by folding the soft blank 6 around the group 3 of cigarettes 2, in direct contact between the soft paper of the blank 6, or the wrapping 5 and at least a part of the external surface of the group 3 of cigarettes 2.

In particular, the wrapper 5 is positioned in direct contact with the group 3 of cigarettes, surrounding it at least on the side wall and on at least one of said first and second ends 301, 302.

The method comprises a phase of wrapping the group 3 of cigarettes 2 and the wrapper 5 in a sealed wrapper 4 having an opening for the extraction of the cigarettes 2.

This wrapping takes place by means of a film 401 of thermoplastic material, for example in a flow pack type machine.

Therefore, the present description also relates to a packing machine 100. The packing machine 100 is designed to pack in the packet 1 the group 3 of cigarettes 2, or other smoking articles having a first and a second end and an elongated shape along a longitudinal direction.

The packing machine 100 has a first wrapping section 7 and a second wrapping section 8. In an embodiment example (not shown) the machine 100 also provides a third wrapping section.

The first section 7 of the wrapping is designed to receive the soft blanks 6 (for example in stacks of blanks arranged one on top of the other) and the cigarettes 2 (for example loose, coming from a cigarette manufacturing machine 2).

The first wrapping section 7 is configured to couple the soft blanks 6 to corresponding groups 3 of cigarettes 2, to form articles consisting of groups 3 of cigarettes at least partially surrounded by corresponding wrappers 5.

The first section 7 feeds said articles to the second section 8.

The second wrapping section 8 is preferably of the flow-pack type, according to a technology known per se in the sector and therefore not described in detail and illustrated only schematically.

The second wrapping section 8 receives at its input the succession of articles consisting of the groups 3 of cigarettes 2 with the wrappers 5 coupled therein and is configured to enclose the individual items inside respective sealed wrappers 4, made with a film 801 of material thermoplastic.

The second section 8 of the wrapping makes the groups 3 of cigarettes available at the outlet, individually wrapped in the sealed wrapping 4 containing the wrapper 5 inside; preferably, these groups 3 of cigarettes individually wrapped in the sealed wrapper 4 containing inside the wrapper 5 constitute the packets 1 (finished).

In an example of embodiment, said groups 3 of cigarettes individually wrapped in the sealed wrapper 4 containing the wrapper 5 inside are further fed to the third wrapping section to be further covered by a further respective wrapper, which can be of the type soft or hard type.

Therefore, the third section 9 of the wrapping is configured to make an outer envelope to the sealed wrapping. For example, the third section of wrapping is configured to create a rigid box-like body containing the sealed wrapping 4 and equipped with a lid hinged to the box-like body itself. The third wrapping section exploits a technology known in itself in the field and is not described further.

Claims (1)

R I V E N D I C A Z I O N I 1) Packet (1) of cigarettes (2) or other smoking articles having a first and a second ends (201, 202) and an elongated shape along a longitudinal direction, comprising: - a group (3) of cigarettes having a first end (301), defined by the first end (201) of the cigarettes (2), a second end (302), defined by the second end (202) of the cigarettes (2), and a side wall having four sides; - a sealed package (4) enclosing the group (3) of cigarettes, made of a film (401) of thermoplastic material and having an opening for removing the cigarettes (2), characterized in that it comprises a wrapper (5 ) made of soft paper, wrapped on the group of cigarettes in direct contact with it, to surround it on the side wall and on at least one of said first and second ends (301, 302), in which said wrapper (5) is positioned inside of the sealed wrapping (4), 2) Package according to claim 1, in which the wrapping paper (5) has a weight of less than 170 g / m2. 3) Package according to claim 2, in which the wrapping paper (5) has a weight of less than 110 g / m2. 4) Package according to any of the preceding claims, in which the wrapper (5) leaves the first end (301) of the group of cigarettes (2) uncovered. 5) Package according to claim 4, in which the casing (5) has a flare on its own front wall, to facilitate the extraction of cigarettes (2), 6) Package according to any of claims 1 to 3, in which the wrapper (5) completely surrounds the group (3) of cigarettes (2), 7) Package according to any of the preceding claims, in which the film (401) of thermoplastic material of the sealed wrapping (4) is transparent. 8) Package according to claim 7, in which the envelope (5) has an external surface depicting at least one logo and writing visible through the sealed wrapping (4). 9) Package according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a sealing panel (402), applied to the opening of the sealed wrapping (4) and movable to open and close the opening of the sealed wrapping (4). 10) Package according to claim 9, wherein the sealing panel (402) is arranged to cover a central area of the first end of the group of cigarettes, 11) Package according to claim 10, wherein - the casing (5) has a front wall, a rear wall and two side walls, which surround the four sides of the side wall of the group of cigarettes, and a bottom wall, which covers the second end of the group of cigarettes; - the sealing panel (402) has an adhesive area, positioned on the front wall of the casing (5). 12) Package according to claim 9, wherein the sealing panel (402) is arranged to cover a lateral area of the first end of the group of cigarettes. 13) Package according to claim 12, in which said lateral area of the first end of the group of cigarettes covered by the sealing panel (402) is confined to an area less than half of the area defined by the first end of the group of cigarettes. 14) Package according to claim 12 or 13, wherein - the casing (5) has a front wall, a rear wall and two side walls, which surround the four sides of the side wall of the group of cigarettes, and a bottom wall, which covers the second end of the group of cigarettes; - the sealing panel (402) has an adhesive area, positioned on one of the side walls of the casing (5). 15) Package according to any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein the sealing panel (402) has an adhesive zone and a gripping tab (403), positioned in proximity to the adhesive zone. 16) Method for making a packet (1) of cigarettes (2) or other smoking articles having a first and a second end (201, 202) and an elongated shape along a longitudinal direction, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - formation of a group (3) of cigarettes having a first end (301), defined by the first end (201) of the cigarettes (2), a second end (302), defined by the second end (202) of the cigarettes (2) , and a side wall having four sides; - wrapping the group (3) of cigarettes by means of a wrapper (5) made of soft paper and positioned in direct contact with the group (3) of cigarettes, surrounding it on the side wall and on at least one of said first and second ends (301, 302); - wrapping the group (3) of cigarettes (2) and the wrapper (5) in a sealed package (4) having an opening for the extraction of cigarettes (2), using a film (401) of thermoplastic material.