JP2009154926A5 - - Google Patents

Claims (34)

A sealed container (1) for housing tobacco industrial products (4), a coating (6) of a plastic material applied to the container as a layer forming an airtight seal between the interior and exterior of the container, and the container A package comprising a valve (8) for creating a pressure difference between the interior and the exterior . The package of claim 1 , wherein the pressure differential includes an increase in pressure within the container. The package of claim 1 , wherein the container contains an inert gas. The package according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , comprising an inner packaging material (5) between the container and the tobacco product.   The package of claim 4, wherein the inner packaging material is biodegradable. The container includes a main body (2) and a lid (3) that can be opened to reach the tobacco industrial product, and the plastic material layer forms a seal between the main body and the lid , to facilitate opening of the lid, further comprising a line of weakness in the plastics material layer, a package according to any one of claims 1-5. 7. Package according to claim 6 , comprising a tear strip (7) for providing the line of weakness. The package of claim 6 , wherein the line of weakness comprises a line of reduced thickness in the plastic layer. The package according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein the container is made of a carton paperboard material. It said plastic layer is a polymer, including for example polypropylene or polyethylene, package according to any one of claims 1-9. Wherein the plastic layer comprises an additive which promotes the decomposition of the plastic material package according to any one of claims 1-10. Wherein the plastic layer comprises an additive for improving the hermetic sealing property is formed by the plastic material package according to any one of claims 1 to 11. Applying a coating of plastic material to a container containing tobacco products to seal the container, and attaching a valve to the container to create a pressure difference between the interior and exterior of the container. Including packaging methods for tobacco industry products. 14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the coating is applied by spray coating the exterior of the container with the plastic material. 14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the coating is applied by passing the container through a curtain of liquid coating material. 14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the coating is applied by wrapping the container with a sheet of meltable plastic material and melting the sheet to form the coating. The method according to claim 16 , comprising melting the packaging material by passing the container through a tunnel supplied with hot air. 18. A method according to claim 17 , comprising the step of free-falling the container down in the tunnel and colliding with the rising flow of hot air. The method of claim 13 , comprising immersing the container in the plastic material to form the layer. The container includes a main body and a lid that can be opened to reach the tobacco industry product, and the plastic material layer forms a seal between the main body and the lid, allowing the lid to be opened. 20. A method according to any one of claims 13 to 19 including providing a line of weakness in the plastic material layer to achieve. 21. The method of claim 20 , comprising providing a tear strip on the container either before or after applying the plastic layer. 22. A method according to claims 13-21 comprising the step of pumping a gas into the vessel to create a positive pressure therein. 23. A method according to any one of claims 13 to 22 , comprising the step of adding an additive into the plastic material to promote the degradation of the plastic material. 24. A method according to any one of claims 13 to 23 , including the step of adding an additive into the plastic material to improve the hermetic seal formed by the plastic material. A packaging mechanism (12) operable to package tobacco products in a container; a coating mechanism (16, 17, 18) for coating the container with a layer of plastic material forming an airtight seal; and the container And a mechanism for attaching a valve to the container for creating a pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the container . 26. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the coating mechanism comprises a spray coating mechanism. 26. Apparatus according to claim 25 , wherein the coating mechanism is operable to form a curtain (21) of liquid coating material through which the container passes. 26. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the coating mechanism is operable to wrap the container with a sheet (24) of meltable plastic material and melt the sheet to form the coating. 29. Apparatus according to claim 28 , comprising a tunnel (25) supplied with hot air for melting the packaging material. 30. The apparatus according to claim 29 , wherein the tunnel is arranged vertically so that the container falls freely down the tunnel and impinges on the rising flow of hot air. 31. Apparatus according to any one of claims 25 to 30, comprising a gas supply (20) for pumping gas into the vessel through the valve. 26. The apparatus of claim 25 , comprising a vacuum pump for evacuating gas from the container through the valve. 33. Apparatus according to any one of claims 25 to 32 including a mechanism for attaching a tear strip to the container. 34. Apparatus according to any one of claims 25 to 33 , including a mechanism for forming a line of weakness in the plastic layer on the container.