JP7120787B2 - Packaging box for smoking articles and method for manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a packaging box for smoking articles which is longitudinally elongate in shape and has a tobacco end and a filter end in a longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal axis.

More specifically, the wrapper has a first region facing the first end of the cigarette corresponding to the tip or smokable side of the cigarette, and longitudinally spaced from the first region. and a second region facing the second end of the cigarettes corresponding to the filter side.

The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a packaging box for smoking articles.

More specifically, the packaging box has a hermetically sealed wrapping that is placed around the group of cigarettes.

Soft cigarette packs and rigid hinged lid cigarette packs are known.

The soft wrapper includes a protective foil wrapper placed around the group of cigarettes and a sheet of paper material placed around the foil wrapper to protect all but the top of the group of cigarettes; Prepare.

Normally, the packaging box is opened from the top end and the cigarettes are removed from the top end by the second end corresponding to the filter area.

Rigid packing boxes, which are generally in the shape of a parallelepiped having four side walls, a top end and a bottom end, consist of an inner wrapping formed of foil paper wrapped around a group of cigarettes, a container body and a container. an outer container comprising a lid that hinges along a horizontal hinge line formed on the back of the container.

With respect to the top surface, the lid also constitutes the aforementioned upper end of the outer container of the packaging box and can be opened to expose the upper end of the inner wrapper when rotated to an open position, and the cigarettes are filtered through the filter. The second end corresponding to the area is taken out through the upper end of the inner wrapper.

Also provided between the inner wrapper and the outer container is a collar that is integral with the container itself and protrudes each time the lid is moved to the open position.

Both types of packaging boxes are packaged in an outer wrapper of plastic material (polypropylene) having a thin tear tape used to tear open the outer wrapper. This packaging material is not completely airtight and therefore does not seal the contents of the packaging box.

Hermetically sealed packaging boxes are currently being developed that have substantially the same shape and characteristics as rigid packaging boxes. These packaging boxes have an inner packaging that is hermetically sealed.

The wrapper is of the openable and reclosable type and is removable from the closed position so that the cigarettes can be accessed and removed and then returned to the closed position to reclose the wrapper. has a tab that allows

This reclosable type hermetically sealed packaging is usually obtained from a flow-pack machine in which a group of cigarettes is packaged in a thermoplastic film.

During the packaging process, the cigarettes that make up the group can be disturbed and therefore reinforcing elements are applied to the group of cigarettes.

The reinforcing element is usually formed of thin paperboard and is placed inside the wrapping material to at least partially surround the group of cigarettes and to be sealed in the finished packaging box.

In order to adequately fulfill the function of holding the tobacco together as a group, the reinforcing element must be tightly wrapped around the group of cigarettes and must be structurally stable.

The reinforcing element can be constructed by folding and gluing a suitably shaped blank.

Usually, in the case of both soft packs and hard packs, the first end (smokable tobacco end) of the cigarettes is at the bottom and the area where the second (filter) end opens the packet to retrieve the cigarettes. A group of cigarettes is placed in a respective packaging box, with the uppermost lying position.

Current market demand is that the first end (smokable end) of the cigarettes, in both the case of soft packs and hard packs, is located near the upper end where the area for opening the package and removing the cigarettes is located. and a group of cigarettes is required to be placed in each packaging box with the second (filter) end of the cigarettes located at the bottom.

These requirements are the solution to date, particularly in the case of packaging cigarettes, particularly in the case of re-openable inner wrappers that require sealing and have reinforcing elements that are wrapped around a group of cigarettes. is exactly the opposite.

It will be appreciated that current reinforcement elements have drawbacks, as their shape is specifically designed to allow tobacco to be extracted by the second filter end.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a packaging box for smoking articles and a method of making the same that overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

More particularly, the present disclosure is capable of holding smoking articles together while closing the packaging box, and more particularly with the (smokable) end of the tobacco facing the top of the packaging box. It is an object of the present invention to provide a packing box for smoking articles (eg, cigarettes) that optimizes the function of reinforcing elements that stabilize a group of smoking articles when placed.

This object is fully achieved by the packaging box and method of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.

More particularly, the present invention provides a group of smoking articles having a longitudinally elongated shape and having a tobacco end and a filter end, a hermetically sealed wrapper, and a reinforcing element. To provide a packaging box for smoking articles comprising:

The group of smoking articles includes a first region facing the tobacco end of the smoking article and longitudinally spaced from the first region and facing the filter end of the smoking article. and a second region.

A hermetically sealed wrapper encloses a group of smoking articles, has an opening for access to the smoking articles, and can be opened and closed again using a sealing panel applied to the opening itself. .

A reinforcing element is disposed within the wrapper and positioned to at least partially contact the group of smoking articles.

The reinforcing element has a front wall, a rear wall, two side walls and at least one top end wall.

An annular portion of the reinforcing element which is closed on four sides and encloses the group of smoking articles is defined by the front wall, the rear wall and the side walls.

Suitably, the at least one upper end wall is arranged to partially cover the first region of the group of smoking articles so as to form an uncovered portion of the first region facing the wrapper.

An opening for removing the smoking articles from the wrapper is positioned to at least partially overlap the uncovered portion of the first region of the group of smoking articles.

Suitably, the packaging material enclosing the group of smoking articles is a flexible type packaging box for the smoking articles which can be wrapped in a film of a sheet of paper material and plastic material or can be unwrapped. or constitute an inner packaging box adapted to be inserted into a rigid paperboard container to form a rigid hinge lid type packaging box.

By providing at least one upper end wall disposed in the first region of the group of smoking articles, the tobacco-side ends of the smoking articles can be effectively protected while the user presses against the sealing panel. The sealing panel can thus be closed by applying a closing action.

The dependent claims correspond to various envisaged aspects of the invention.

Further features and advantages of the present invention are set forth in the following non-limiting description of preferred but not exclusive embodiments of cigarette packaging boxes and methods of making the same, with reference to the accompanying drawings. will become clearer from

1 is a schematic perspective view of a packaging box for smoking articles according to the invention, more particularly a packaging box for smoking articles in which the inner wrapper is arranged around a group of smoking articles; FIG. Figure 2 is a perspective view of a packaging box for smoking articles with a rigid hinged lid having an inner wrapper of the type shown in Figure 1; Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a group of smoking articles contained in the packaging box of Figure 1; Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of a blank used to construct the reinforcing element contained in the packaging box of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a first schematic perspective view of a reinforcing element containing the group of smoking articles of Figure 2 constructed using the blank of Figure 3; Figure 4 is a second schematic perspective view of a reinforcing element containing the group of smoking articles of Figure 2 constructed using the blank of Figure 3; 2 schematically shows the steps in the method of manufacturing the packaging box of FIG. 1;

With reference to the accompanying drawings, reference number 1 generally designates a packaging box for smoking articles 2 .

It should be noted that, in fact, FIG. 1 shows a group of 3 which, in the case of a soft type packaging box, can also be packaged in a length of paper material except for the top edge, as will be explained in more detail below. It should be noted that the smoking article 2 is shown with an inner wrapping disposed around it.

This disclosure also refers to cigarettes 2, but more generally to any smoking article that is elongated along its longitudinal axis and has a tobacco end and a filter end, such as in the tobacco industry. It should also be noted that it is also applicable to segments such as heat-not-burn products.

Furthermore, the packaging box 1 is a soft, flexible packaging for smoking articles that can be wrapped in a sheet of paper material and plastic material film (not shown) or can be unwrapped, as shown in FIG. type packaging box, or an inner packaging box configured to be inserted into a rigid paperboard container to form a rigid hinge-lid type packaging box, as shown in FIG. 1A. can.

As shown in FIG. 2, each cigarette 2 is elongated along a longitudinal axis "A" and has a first end 201 corresponding to the tobacco end and a second end 201 corresponding to the filter end. 202.

At the first end 201 and the second end 202, the tobacco 2 has planes that intersect the longitudinal axis.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2 each cigarette 2 has a filter 203 at the second end 202 .

For each packaging box 1, the cigarettes 2 are grouped into groups 3 of cigarettes 2 which are similarly arranged and oriented, i.e. all the cigarettes 2 of the group 3 have their first ends 201 on the same side. , all second ends 202 are also on the same side. Thus, a first end 301 of the cigarettes 2 of the group 3 and a second end 302 of the cigarettes 2 of the group 3 are defined.

Group 3 of cigarettes 2 has a first region 303 facing first end 201 of cigarettes 2 , ie facing first end 301 of group 3 of cigarettes 2 . Similarly, the group 3 of cigarettes 2 has a second region 304 facing the second end 202 of the group 3 of cigarettes 2 , ie facing the second end 302 of the group 3 of cigarettes 2 .

The first region 303 and the second region 304 of the cigarettes 2 of the group 3 are axially offset, i.e., longitudinally from each other (along the longitudinal direction "A" in which the cigarettes 2 are directed). They are spaced apart.

The packaging box 1 also comprises a hermetically sealed wrapper 4 enclosing a group 3 of cigarettes 2 .

The wrapper 4 is preferably formed from a thermoplastic film that is impervious to moisture and constitutes a barrier to prevent flavor loss.

The packaging material 4 has an opening indicated by a dashed line in FIG. A cigarette 2 can be taken out through the opening. The wrapper 4 also has a sealing panel 402 that is applied to the opening of the wrapper 4 so that the opening can be opened and closed for removal of the cigarettes 2 . The sealing panel 402 can be repeatedly moved from the closed position to the open position and from the open position to the closed position so that the cigarettes 2 can be extracted.

To this end, the sealing panel 402 is provided with a layer of adhesive suitable for adhering the sealing panel 402 to the wrapping material 4 even after repeated opening and closing of the sealing panel 402 . Preferably, a tab 403 having a non-adhesive portion thereon is connected to the free end of the sealing panel 402 via a line of weakness to facilitate finger gripping.

Preferably, the packaging box 1 also comprises a reinforcing element 5 made of thin cardboard or other similar material and arranged inside the packaging material 4 . The reinforcing element 5 is a generally box shaped body configured to at least partially wrap the group 3 of cigarettes 2 .

The reinforcing element 5 is in contact with the group 3 of cigarettes (on its inner surface) and is in particular arranged around the group 3 of cigarettes 2 so as to enclose at least part of the group 3 of cigarettes 2 .

In practice, the reinforcing element 5 has a front wall 501 , a rear wall 502 , two side walls 503 and at least one top end wall 504 connecting the front wall 501 and the rear wall 502 .

The reinforcing element 5 extends along the longitudinal direction "A".

In other words, the reinforcing element 5 is functionally long along a direction that is the same as the longitudinal direction along which the group 3 of cigarettes 2 extends (when the reinforcing element 5 is connected to the group 3 of cigarettes 2).

With respect to longitudinal direction "A", reinforcing element 5 has a first end and a second end. At least one top end wall 504 is arranged at the first end of the reinforcing element 5 so as to face the first region 301 of the group 3 of cigarettes 2 .

Preferably, the front wall 501 , the rear wall 502 and the side walls 503 of the reinforcing element 5 extend over the entire longitudinal length of the cigarette 2 .

4 and 5, the front wall 501, the rear wall 502 and the side walls 503 form a ring of reinforcing elements which is closed on four sides and which surrounds the group 3 of cigarettes 2. As shown in FIG.

Preferably, the tobacco-side ends 201 of the tobaccos 2 of the group 3 are partially covered over the first region 303 of the cigarettes 2 of the group 3 so as to form an uncovered portion 303' of the first region 303 of the cigarettes 2 of the group 3. Facingly, the aforementioned upper end wall 504 of the reinforcing element 5 is arranged.

The term “uncovered” is used to denote the portion that is not covered and thus accessible by simply opening the sealing panel 402 of the wrapper 4 . In other words, “uncovered” only means uncovered with respect to the reinforcing element 5 .

As to how the uncovered part is obtained, it will be clearly understood later in the disclosure when a flat blank for obtaining the reinforcing element 5 is described.

Also, the uncovered portion 303 ′ faces the packaging material 4 . Also, the opening for removing the cigarettes 2 from the wrapper is arranged to at least partially overlap the uncovered portion 303' of the first region 303 of the group 3 of cigarettes 2 .

In this way, the user may place the uncovered portion 303′ of the first region 303 of the group 3 of cigarettes 2 in order to remove the group 3 of cigarettes 2 by lifting the sealing panel 402 of the wrapper 4 to the open position. can access.

Preferably, the sealing panel 402 is formed and arranged to at least partially overlap the top end wall 504 in the opening closing configuration of the wrapper 4 .

When the cigarette 2 is a cigarette having a filter 203 and the filter 203 is positioned at the second end 202 of the cigarette 2, as in the embodiments shown in Figures 2, 4 and 5, the top end wall 504 is , contact the tip of the cigarette 2, ie the tobacco end.

In other words, the cigarette 2 is oriented such that the first end 201 is the tobacco side end, as illustrated in the embodiment shown in FIGS.

The purpose of this arrangement is to keep the cigarettes 2 out of contact with the filter 203 when they are removed from the packaging box 1 .

At least one top end wall 504 is provided which is arranged to partially cover the first region 303 of the group 3 of cigarettes 2 so that the application of some force by the user will cause the sealing panel 402 to open to the uncovered portion. There is an advantage that it is possible to prevent the tip of the cigarette 2, which is easily crushed, from being crushed and unable to return when 303' is closed again. Without the top end wall 504, the force could cause the tip of the cigarette 2 to break.

In other words, because according to the invention the crushing pressure necessary to seal the sealing panel 402 is applied to the top end wall 504 of the reinforcing element 5 without affecting the first region 303 of the group 3 of cigarettes 2, It can prevent the shape of the first region 303 of the group 3 of cigarettes 2 from collapsing when the sealing panel 402 closes the uncovered portion 303'.

Preferably, for the embodiment of the packaging box 1 shown in the accompanying drawings, the reinforcing element 5 has two top end walls 504 arranged to connect the front wall 501 and the rear wall 502, the two top ends Between the walls 504 an uncovered portion 303' of the first region 303 of the group 3 of cigarettes 2 is formed.

It should be noted in the accompanying drawings that the top end wall 504 is rectangular or square. However, different shapes are also conceivable.

Even more preferably, the two top end walls 504 constitute side shoulders adjacent to the side walls 503 of the reinforcing element 5 and corresponding sides of the first region 303 of the group 3 of cigarettes 2 . It is arranged to cover the band.

Preferably, the closure panel 402 has side portions 402' each resting against a corresponding respective top end wall 504 in a configuration for closing the opening for removal of the cigarettes 2 . Side portions 402' are preferably, but not necessarily, parallel.

In one possible form of packaging box 1 according to the invention, the reinforcing element 5 consists of a blank 6 of the type shown in FIG.

Preferably, the blank 6 is planar and generally rectangular in shape and is obtained from a sheet of paper or paperboard by blanking.

Preferably, the blank 6 comprises at least a first panel 601 and a second panel 602 (corresponding to the front wall 501 and rear wall 502 of the reinforcing element 5 respectively and extending in the main longitudinal direction); to connect the first panel 601 and the second panel 602 to configure each corresponding upper end wall 504 of the reinforcing element 5 to partially cover the first region 303 of the group 3 of cigarettes 2; and at least one connection panel 604 disposed thereon.

One dimension of connecting panel 604 , measured perpendicular to the main longitudinal direction of the extension, is smaller than first panel 601 and second panel 602 .

Also preferably, each side wall 503 of the reinforcing element 5 is constructed by at least partially overlapping a pair of side portions extending from the front wall 501 and from the rear wall 502 . Thus, the blank 6 comprises a first pair and a second pair of side wings. Each pair extends from a first panel 601 and a second panel 602 .

In other embodiments, the blank 6 may consist of only one pair of side wings 603 extending from the first panel 601 or from the second panel 602 .

Each side wing 603 is connected to a corresponding respective panel 601 , 602 along a corresponding longitudinal fold line 605 . Meanwhile, each side connecting panel 604 is connected to each first panel 601 and second panel 602 along a corresponding lateral fold line 606 that is preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal fold line 605 .

Preferably, the blank 6 has a pair of connecting panels 604 arranged to connect the first panel 601 and the second panel 602 . One dimension of each connecting panel 604 measured perpendicular to the main longitudinal direction of the extension is smaller than the first panel 601 and the second panel 602 .

The two connecting panels 604 are separated from each other by a central window 607 in the blank 6 forming the uncovered portion 303' of the first region 303 of the group 3 of cigarettes 2.

Preferably, when the blank 6 is folded, the lateral fold line 606 forms an edge 505 between the front wall 501 and the top end wall 504 which prevents the first region 303 of the group 2 of cigarettes from collapsing. . Specifically, the uncovered portion 303' of the first region 303 is thus closed by the sealing panel 402 and provides structural reinforcement to protect the tobacco tip from collapsing.

Preferably, as shown in Figure 3, the shape of the blank 6 is symmetrical with respect to a direction parallel to the main longitudinal direction of the extension.

The reinforcing element 5 has no bottom wall. Advantageously, the method of producing the packaging box 1 according to the method described below allows the group 3 of cigarettes 2 to be accurately inserted into the partially formed reinforcing element 5 from the bottom of the reinforcing element 5. Including process.

The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a packaging box 1 for smoking articles that is elongated in longitudinal direction "A" and has a tobacco end and a filter end.

The method preferably includes the steps of providing a blank 6 having one or more of the characteristics described above and providing a batch 3 of cigarettes 2 of the type described above.

The method also includes constructing the reinforcing element 5 from the reinforcing blank 6 and connecting the reinforcing element 5 with the group 3 of cigarettes 2 .

The method further contains a group 3 of cigarettes 2 to which the reinforcing element 5 is connected using a thermoplastic film having openings from which the cigarettes can be removed and which can be opened and reclosed by the sealing panel 402. It includes the step of constructing a packaging material 4 that is hermetically sealed.

Preferably, the step of forming the reinforcing element 5 and connecting the reinforcing element 5 to the group 3 of cigarettes 2 comprises:
The connecting panels 604 of the blank 6 are grouped together such that the connecting panels 604 constitute a top end wall 504 which is arranged to partially cover the first region 303 to form an uncovered portion 303' of the first region 303. the step of placing in contact with the first region 303 of the cigarette 2 of 3;
folding the blank 6 into a "U" shape such that the first panel 601 and the second panel 602 are parallel to each other and oriented along the longitudinal direction "A";
folding at least one first pair of side wings 603 to form the side walls 503 of the reinforcing element 5;
including.

Preferably, the wrapper 4 is arranged to overlap the group 3 of cigarettes 2 and the uncovered portion 303' of the first region 303 of the group 3 of cigarettes 2, i.e. the portion of the connection panel 604 that is not covered. and a reinforcing element 5 having an opening for taking out the .

In a preferred embodiment, a first pair of side wings 603 extend from the first panel 601 . Blank 6 may also include a second pair of side wings 603 extending from second panel 602 . In that case, the step of constructing the side walls 503 of the reinforcing element 5 includes folding and overlapping the first pair of side wings 603 and the second pair of side wings 603 (the method also includes and bonding the second pair of side wings together).

If the first pair of side wings 603 extend from the first panel 601, as shown in FIG. 6, forming the reinforcing elements 5 and connecting the reinforcing elements 5 to the group 3 of smoking articles 2 includes:
folding the first pair of side wings 603 so that they are arranged at an angle to the first panel 601;
folding the connection panel 604 perpendicular to the first panel 601;
pressing the group 3 of smoking articles 2 such that the tobacco end 201 contacts the connecting panel 604, wherein a pressing force is applied to the filter end 202 of the smoking articles 2;
folding the second panel 602 such that the first panel 601 and the second panel 602 are parallel to each other and oriented along the longitudinal direction A;
in the order described above.

This embodiment of the method ensures that even when a group 3 of smoking articles 2 is pushed into contact with the connection panel 604, the smoking articles 2 will not move out of alignment with each other. There is an advantage that Furthermore, in the packaging box 1 obtained, the smoking articles 2 are pushed from the filter side end 202 but can be removed by the tobacco side end 201 . This is made possible by the special shape of the reinforcing element 5. FIG.

Figure 6 schematically shows the steps of one possible embodiment of the method of manufacturing the packaging box 1 according to the invention.

Reference numeral 100 designates a punching station where the reinforcing blanks 6 are punched from a continuous web 101 of thin paperboard. The blanks are delivered to a delivery drum (not shown) rotating about a rotational path 102 such that the blanks are at least partially folded along the first line of weakness 605 and the second line of weakness 606 to receive the group 3 of cigarettes 2 . be done.

An at least partially completed blank 6 is placed in a filling station 103 . At the filling station 103 , each group 3 of cigarettes 2 supplied from a supply line 104 arranged along the rotational path 102 is pushed into a corresponding at least partially folded stiffening element 5 .

Upon completion, the reinforcing element 5 containing the group 3 of cigarettes 2 is delivered to a wrapping station 105 which places the wrapping material 4 around the reinforcing element 5 and then an application station 106 which applies the sealing panel 402 . sent to.

At this point, the packaging box 1 can be inserted into a rigid cardboard container to form, for example, a rigid hinge-lid type packaging box.

The present invention overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art and provides access to the uncovered portion 303' of the first region 303 of the group 3 of cigarettes 2 simply by lifting the sealing panel 402 of the wrapper 4. presents the user with a packaging box 1 that allows the cigarettes 2 to be removed from the area 303, facing the first end 201 of the cigarettes 2 corresponding to the tobacco side, in a very practical way By providing and by providing a method of manufacturing the packaging box 1, the intended objectives are achieved.

By providing at least one top end wall 504, the sealing panel 402 can be effectively reclosed without crushing the cigarettes 2. FIG.

Claims (3)

A method of manufacturing a packaging box (1) for smoking articles (2) elongated along a longitudinal direction (A) having a tobacco side end (201) and a filter side end (202), comprising:
A step of providing a blank (6) formed of thin flexible paperboard to form a reinforcing element (5), said blank (6) comprising at least a first panel (601) and a second panel (602). ) and a major longitudinal direction ( A) at least one connecting panel (604) extending perpendicular to and a first pair of side wings (603) extending from said first panel (601) or said second panel (602). ), and
a group (3) of smoking articles (2) in a first region (303) facing said tobacco end (201) of said smoking articles (2); a second region (304) longitudinally spaced apart and facing the filter end (202) of the smoking articles (2); ), and
forming said reinforcing elements (5) from said blank (6) and connecting said reinforcing elements (5) to a group (3) of smoking articles (2);
said group of reinforcing elements (5) connected by means of a thermoplastic film having an extraction opening for removal of said smoking article (2), openable and closable by a sealing panel (402); 3) forming a hermetically sealed packaging (4) containing the smoking article (2);
in a method comprising
forming said reinforcing elements (5) and connecting said reinforcing elements (5) to said group (3) of smoking articles (2);
smoking in said group (3) such that said at least one connecting panel (604) forms an uncovered portion (303') of said first region (303) of said group (3) of smoking articles (2); at least one top end wall (504) arranged to face said tobacco end (201) of said smoking article (2) so as to partially cover said first region (303) of said article (2); placing said at least one connecting panel (604) of said blank (6) in contact with said first region (303) of said group (3) of smoking articles (2) to configure
folding said blank (6) into a "U" shape such that said first panel (601) and second panel (602) are parallel to each other and oriented along said longitudinal direction (A);
folding said at least one first pair of side wings (603) to form a side wall (503) of said reinforcing element (5);
contains
said wrapping material (4) comprises said group (3) of smoking articles (2) and said uncovered portions (303') of said first region (303) of said group (3) of smoking articles (2); said reinforcing element (5) having said opening for removal of said smoking article (2) arranged to overlap ;
said first pair of side wings (603) extending from said first panel (601);
forming said reinforcing elements (5) and connecting said reinforcing elements (5) to said group (3) of smoking articles (2);
folding said first pair of side wings (603) so as to position them at an angle to said first panel (601);
folding said connection panel (604) perpendicular to said first panel (601);
pressing the group (3) of smoking articles (2) such that the tobacco end (201) contacts the connecting panel (604), wherein a pressing force is applied to the filter side of the smoking articles (2); a step added to the edge (202);
folding said second panel (602) such that said first panel (601) and said second panel (602) are parallel to each other and oriented along said longitudinal direction (A);
method containing. The method of claim 1 , wherein
Said step of preparing a blank (6) is arranged to connect said first panel (601) and said second panel (602), said first panel (601) and said second panel (602) A blank (6) having a pair of connection panels (604) extending perpendicularly to said main longitudinal direction (A) in smaller dimensions, said connection panels (604) being connected to said blank (6). providing blanks (6) separated from each other by a central window (607) of
Said step of placing said at least one connecting panel (604) of said blank (6) in contact with said first region (303) of said group (3) of smoking articles (2) comprises: said window (607); placing said connecting panel (604) in contact with said first region (303) of said group (3) of smoking articles (2) so as to define two upper end walls (504) separated by contains
The step of constructing the wrapper (4) includes overlapping the window (607) with the opening for removing the smoking article (2) from the wrapper for removal of the smoking article (2). and placing a side portion (402') of said sealing panel (402) against said top end wall (504) in said opening closed configuration of claim. 3. A method according to claim 1 or 2 ,
said first pair of side wings (603) extending from said first panel (601);
said blank (6) comprises a second pair of side wings (603) extending from said second panel (602);
Said step of constructing said side walls (503) of said reinforcing element (5) includes folding and overlapping said first pair of first side wings (603) and said second pair of side wings (603). method containing.

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