TWI490146B - Method of cigarette packaging and cigarette packaging system - Google Patents

Description

Cigarette packaging method and cigarette packaging system

The present invention relates to a cigarette packaging method, a cigarette packet tracking method, and a corresponding cigarette packaging system.

Many governments are concerned about curbing the black market for tobacco products, so these governments often require tobacco companies to track cardboard boxes, cartons, or even single cigarette packs from the factory to the first purchaser of these products.

Typically, cigarette packs are sold to the first purchaser in cartons containing between 50 and 2000 cigarette packs. Before the cigarettes are packaged into cartons, there are often intermediate steps in which several cigarette packs are first loaded into the cartons, and then a fixed number of cartons are loaded into the carton. The number of cigarette packs in the carton and the number of cartons in the carton are all in the range of 10 to 100.

A conventional method of tracking a carton having a plurality of cigarette packets from a factory to its first purchaser includes the steps of providing a carton code to the carton and providing a carton code to the carton loaded in the carton. Generally, the carton code and the carton code are machine readable codes. During the packaging of the cigarette, the carton code is linked to the carton code of the carton into which the carton is loaded. Then, when the first purchaser orders the carton or during the delivery process, the identity of the first purchaser of the carton is linked to the corresponding carton code in the database. Thus, the carton can be tracked to its first purchaser.

The average factory carton manufacturing speed is in the range of 20 to 120 cartons per minute. The average factory produces significantly more cigarette packets per minute. A typical manufacturing unit with a high speed machine produces between 500 and 1200 cigarette packets per minute. It is expected that such manufacturing units will be faster in the future and the number of cigarette packets produced per minute may increase.

Because of the high manufacturing speed of the average manufacturing unit, it is almost impossible to track individual cigarette packs to their first purchaser, and the fact that the manufacturing unit often uses different generations of cigarette making machines increases the tracking of individual cigarette packs to their first The difficulty of the purchaser.

Therefore, even if the tracking of the carton is now feasible, it is impossible to track individual cigarette packages from the factory to its first purchaser.

A method for providing taxable product information and a corresponding tracking system are described in US Patent No. 2001/0032138 A1 and European Patent No. EP 1 134 679 A2. In order to track individual product packages to the purchaser, such as cigarette packs, it is recommended to provide identification indicators such as a laser code or logo on each package. Preferably, the identification indicator may comprise a serial number, wherein all of the cigarette packets packaged to the same carton may have the same serial number. Thus, it can be linked to a cigarette pack and a carton that is sold to its purchaser. However, the methods and systems described in U.S. Patent No. US 2001/0032, 138 A1 and European Patent No. EP 1 134 679 A2 are very time consuming and are therefore virtually impossible to use for high manufacturing speeds of average cigarette manufacturing units.

European Patent EP 1 645 992 A1 describes a method of marking an article of manufacture in which each single article of manufacture has a unique code. The code for the item is provided by a general dispenser, such as via a secure network connection or on a CD-ROM. The method of the European patent EP 1 645 992 A1 provides an opportunity to track the marking of an item from the consumer back to the manufacturing unit according to the marking method. However, the European patent EP 1 645 992 A1 does not provide a single cigarette packet tracking method from the manufacturing unit to a purchaser.

Furthermore, DE 199 51 140 A1 describes a method for controlling the integrity of a single cigarette pack, however, the method described in DE 199 51 140 A1 is not suitable for tracking a single cigarette pack from a manufacturing unit to a first purchaser.

According to the prior art, it is almost impossible and time consuming to join the cigarette packs loaded into the carton to the carton box (the carton with the cigarette pack is loaded here).

It is an object of the present invention to provide an opportunity to track a single cigarette pack from a manufacturing unit to a first purchaser.

Aspects of the invention are set forth in items 1 and 9 of the independent patent application.

Further aspects of the invention are within the scope of the respective dependent patents.

In a preferred embodiment, the method may include the additional step of providing a unique carton code in the carton; and recording all unique codes of the first unique code detected and the cigarette packets packaged to the same carton as the first unique detected Code to unique carton code information.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method, the first unique code and the second unique code are detected in the first carton after packaging the first cigarette packet and the second cigarette packet in the first carton, and the detected in the first carton The first unique code and the second unique code are transferred to the database to record at least the two cigarette packages having the first unique code and the second unique code are packaged in the same paper tray to the database.

In another preferred embodiment of the method, the first carton has an internal carton code, wherein at least the two cigarette packages having the first unique code and the second unique code are recorded in the same carton. It contains additional information linking the first unique code and the second unique code to the internal carton code.

The invention also describes a cigarette packet tracking method comprising the steps of: The method of one of the paragraphs packs at least a first cigarette packet indicated by a first unique code and a second cigarette packet indicated by a second unique code to a carton.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and explained in detail below.

10‧‧‧carton

12, 12a-12e, 12m, UCA1, UCA2-UCAn‧‧‧ unique code

14‧‧‧transparent paper window

16‧‧‧Internal carton code

18‧‧‧Mergeable data

20‧‧‧Carton

22‧‧‧paper box code

24‧‧‧Detection side

26, 28‧‧‧Information

50‧‧‧First packaging machine

52a, 52b‧‧‧ Cigarette pack

54‧‧‧ Sensor unit

56, 64‧‧‧Information

58‧‧‧Control device

60‧‧‧Second packing machine

MCC‧‧‧paper box code

1 is a flow chart showing a first embodiment of a cigarette packaging method; FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a second embodiment of a cigarette packaging method; and FIG. 3 is a view showing a plurality of cartons packed in a carton A third embodiment of a cigarette packaging method is illustrated; and Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing a specific embodiment of a cigarette packaging system.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to refer to the

Figure 1 shows a flow chart illustrating a first embodiment of a method of packaging cigarettes.

A plurality of cigarette packs are provided in step S0 before the method begins. Each provided cigarette pack is marked with a unique code. For example, the first cigarette packet is marked with a first unique code and the second cigarette packet is labeled with a second unique code that is different from the first unique code.

Unique codes are available on cardboard, transparent plastic film for each cigarette pack, labels, stickers or stamps (sealed). Of course, the same unique code can also be provided on at least two different sides of the cigarette pack.

Preferably, the unique code is a machine readable code. This unique code can be used as a tracking code to track a single sold cigarette pack to its purchaser. Typically, the purchaser purchases a box from a tobacco company factory, such as a cardboard box, with a total number of cigarette packs between 50 and 1000. However, the government is concerned about the black market that can track and even single-sell cigarette packages from the factory to the first purchaser and thus suppress the tobacco package.

In step S1 of the cigarette packaging method, at least the first cigarette packet indicated by the first unique code and the second cigarette package indicated by the second unique code are packaged in the first carton. The number of packets of cigarettes packaged into the first carton may range, for example, from 5 to 20. The invention is not limited to the number of specific cigarette packages packaged into the first carton.

The at least two unique codes of the at least two cigarette packages packaged to the first carton are recorded in the database as part of the data that the cigarette packets having the unique codes have been packaged into the same carton in step S2. Step S2 can be performed before or after step S1. The numbers S1 and S2 do not represent the time sequence.

For example, the unique code is scanned from the set of at least two cigarette packs and then only the set of cigarette packs is packaged into the first carton. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of packets of cigarettes are packaged into a first carton, after which the first carton is scanned by a first sensor designed to detect the unique code of all cigarette packets packaged to the first carton (see below) An example of a more detailed description).

The first carton can have an internal carton code. In this case, the data stored in the database may contain additional information linking the internal carton code to the unique code of all the cigarette packages packaged in the first carton.

In an additional step S3, the first carton is packaged into a carton. The carton can be a carton box. At least a second carton that is the size of the first carton can also be packaged into the carton. The main tray packed into the carton The number is between 5 and 100.

In a further step S4, the first unique code in the carton is detected. This can be done by a second perceptron unit designed to detect the unique code of only one cigarette pack per carton in the carton. For example, the second perceptron unit can be designed to scan only one detection side of the carton and then only detect the cigarette packets of each carton closest to the detection side.

However, because the data is recorded in the database, it is possible to read all of the cigarette pack unique codes packaged in the same carton as the first unique code detected from the database in step S5. Therefore, it is not necessary to completely scan the entire carton to completely detect all the unique codes of the cigarette packs in the carton. The described method can therefore be performed in a short time using a less expensive second perceptron unit.

It is also not necessary to label the first carton with a unique code for all cigarette packs packaged in the first carton. Moreover, it is not necessary to mark the first carton with the first unique carton code, record the data linking the first unique carton code to the unique code in the first carton, and detect the first unique carton code in the carton.

The method described above provides a quick method to obtain all cigarette pack unique codes packaged into the same carton. Thus, the described method is also suitable for use in manufacturing units having high manufacturing speeds.

Figure 2 shows a flow chart illustrating a second embodiment of a method of packaging cigarettes.

The unique code is applied to each of the plurality of cigarette packs in step S0. Next, a fixed number of cigarette packages are packaged in the first carton in step S10. A fixed number of cigarette packs may for example be in the range between 5 and 20. Then close the first carton or seal it with an adhesive.

In the next step S11, the unique code of all the cigarette packets in the first carton is detected by the first sensor unit. The unique code is detected from the outside of the first carton in the first carton. Therefore, it is advantageous to manufacture the first carton, at least part of the material of the first carton is allowed to be self-sealing A paper box (such as bare transparent plastic film material or carton material) detects the unique code material on the outside.

The detected unique code of all cigarette packets in the first carton is transferred to a database to store data in which the cigarette packets having these unique codes have been loaded into the same first carton. This is done in step S12. Moreover, the first inner carton code can be coupled to the first carton. In this case, the unique code system detected by the first sensor unit is coupled to the first internal carton code in the database.

Steps S10 to S12 may be repeated at least once to package a fixed number of cigarette packets to at least the second carton. Next, the unique code of the cigarette pack collected in the second carton is scanned and recorded in the database according to the description provided above.

The first carton is loaded into the carton in a further step S13. Preferably, at least the second carton is also loaded into the carton in step S13. The number of cartons loaded into the carton can range from 5 to 50. Then close the carton or seal it with an adhesive.

At an additional step S14, the unique code of a cigarette pack collected in each of the cartons of the carton is detected by the second perceptron unit. Thus, for each carton in the carton, a unique code for a single cigarette pack can be attached to the carton. The number of unique codes detected by the second perceptron unit is then equal to the number of cartons collected in the same carton. The total number of cigarette packs in the carton is significantly higher than the number of cartons in the carton.

Because of the technique of the present invention, it is not necessary to detect all of the unique codes of the entire number of cigarette packs in the carton. Therefore, it is not necessary to design a second sensor unit to detect all unique codes in the carton. Thus, the second perceptron unit can be manufactured at low cost.

Preferably, the second sensor unit is arranged on the open side of the carton. Each carton can be arranged in a carton in such a way that the carton wall can contact the open side. In this case, the second sensor unit is designed to detect the cigarette pack of each of the cartons closest to the open side.

In order to obtain the unique code of all the cigarette packs in the carton box, the unique code input database detected by the second sensor unit and all the unique cigarettes of the cigarette packs loaded into the same carton with the unique code detected are from the database. Read (step S15). Method steps S14 and S15 can be performed more quickly than scanning the entire carton to detect all unique codes in the carton.

In a further step, not shown in Figure 2, the second sensor unit can also detect the unique carton box code provided on the carton box and transfer the unique carton box code to the database. In this case, the unique carton box code can be linked to all cigarette pack unique codes in the carton.

Moreover, the method of Figure 2 can be used in a cigarette packet tracking method. When the carton is sold to the purchaser, the identity of the purchaser can be recorded along with the unique carton box code. This can be done easily and quickly when the purchaser orders or purchases a carton.

Because the data stored in the database can be linked to the unique code of all cigarette packs in the carton and the identity of the purchaser. Even if the total number of cigarette packs in the carton is in the range of 100 to 2000, this step can be performed very quickly. Thus, each of the sold cigarette packets can be tracked to its purchaser.

Of course, the method of Figure 1 can also be part of a similar tracking method for cigarette packs.

It is not necessary to scan all unique codes for each sold cigarette pack during the ordering or purchase of a cigarette pack. Therefore, this cigarette packet tracking method is very time-saving and does not require expensive equipment.

Figure 3 shows a third embodiment of a method of packaging a plurality of cartons into a carton to illustrate the method of packaging cigarettes. For a better description, zoom in on one of the trays.

Each illustrated carton 10 contains a packet of cigarettes labeled with unique codes 12a through 12m. Each unique code 12a to 12m is different from the other unique codes 12a to 12m of other cigarette packages packaged in the carton 10. For example, the first unique code 12a of the first cigarette pack (not shown) and the other unique one in the carton 10 The special code 12b to 12m is different. The second unique code 12b of the second cigarette pack (not shown) is also different from the third unique code 12c of the third cigarette pack (not shown) and the fourth unique code 12d of the fourth cigarette pack (not shown), and many more. Of course, the third unique code 12c is also different from the fourth unique code 12d and other unique codes 12e to 12m. In this example, the carton 10 contains 10 cigarette packs. However, the invention is not limited to a particular number of cigarette packets in the carton 10.

Each carton 10 also has a transparent paper window 14 on the unique code 12 side of the cigarette pack in the carton 10. The first sensor unit (not shown) can then read the unique code 12 after packaging the cigarette pack to the carton 10. Therefore, it is not necessary to print the unique code 12 on the paper cassette 10.

Each carton 10 (which has a unique internal carton code 16) is available. Of course, the unique inner carton code 16 can be printed on its carton 10. However, the present technology does not require the unique internal carton code 16 to be printed on its carton 10. Rather, the present technology makes it unnecessary to print the carton code 16 on its carton 10 and is therefore more time consuming.

However, the internal carton code 16 can be linked to all of the unique codes 12 measured by the first sensor unit in the carton 10. For example, the material 18 is recorded in a (not shown) database that links the internal carton code ICCA to the unique codes UCA1, UCA2 to UCAn.

A plurality of cartons 10 are then packaged into the carton 20 . The carton 20 is provided with a carton box code 22 that can be detected by a second (not shown) second perceptron unit. The second sensor unit is also designed to detect the unique code 12 of a cigarette pack of each of the cartons 10 in the carton 20.

Preferably, the detection side 24 of the carton 20 is definable, whereby the second perceptron unit detects one side of the unique code 12. In this case, the cigarette pack unique code 12 closest to the detection side 24 can be detected by the second sensor unit.

Thus, information 26 is provided, which is linked, for example, to the box code MCC to the unique code. UCA1, UCB1, UCC1, etc. Information 18 and information 26 can be combined. Thus, each unique code 12 of the cigarette pack in the carton case 20 is joined to the carton box code 22. For example, a document 28 is provided that links the carton box code MCC to the unique codes UCA1, UCA2 to UCAn, UCB1, and the like.

Figure 4 shows a schematic diagram illustrating a particular embodiment of a cigarette packaging system.

The cigarette packaging system includes a first packaging machine 50 designed to package at least two cigarette packages 52a and 52b to the carton 10. However, the number of cigarette packs 52a and 52b packaged by the first packaging machine 50 to the carton 10 can be significantly higher. For example, the first packaging machine 50 packages the number between 5 and 20 cigarette packages 52a and 52b to a single carton 10. The first packaging machine 50 can also be designed to manufacture the carton 10 from a bare transparent plastic film material or a carton material.

Each of the cigarette packages 52a and 52b packaged by the first packaging machine 50 to the carton 10 has a unique code 12a. After packaging the cigarette packs 52a and 52b to the carton 10, the first perceptron unit 54 detects all of the unique codes 12a and 12b in the carton 10. Next, the first perceptron unit 54 transmits the data 56 containing all of the detected unique codes 12a and 12b in the same carton 10 to the control device 58.

Control device 58 includes a library (not shown). The data 56 transmitted by the first perceptron unit 54 is recorded by the control device 58 in a database. Thus, control device 58 can output or read data 56 at any time.

The carton 10 is packaged by the second packaging machine 60 to the carton 20 . Preferably, the second packaging machine 60 is designed to package the carton 10 to a single carton 20 in a range of between 5 and 50. Thus, a large number of cigarette packages 52a and 52b can be sold to the purchaser in a convenient manner.

After packaging the carton 10 to the carton 20, the second perceptron unit 62 detects the unique code 12a of only one cigarette pack 52a of each of the carton 10 in the carton 20. Moreover, the second sensor unit 62 is designed to detect the carton box code 22 provided on the carton 20. Thus, the second perceptron The element 62 is capable of transmitting data 64 to the control device 58 which links the unique code 12a of only one cigarette pack of each of the cartons 10 of the carton 20 to the corresponding carton box code 22.

The control device 58 is designed to combine the data 56 stored in the database with the data 64 transmitted by the second sensor unit 62. Thus, even if the second perceptron unit 62 detects only one unique code 12a of each of the paper cassettes 10, all of the unique codes 12a and 12b of the cigarette packs 52a and 52b in the carton case 20 and the corresponding paper box code 22 can be joined. . Thus, the system illustrated in Figure 4 provides the advantages of the specific embodiments described above.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the particular shape or form of the packets of cigarettes 52a and 52b, carton 10 or carton. For example, at least two of the cigarette packs 52a and 52b can also be bundled and then packaged in a carton in accordance with the specific embodiments described above.

10‧‧‧carton

12, 12a-12e, 12m, UCA1, UCA2-UCAn‧‧‧ unique code

16‧‧‧Internal carton code

18‧‧‧Mergeable data

20‧‧‧Carton

22‧‧‧paper box code

24‧‧‧Detection side

26, 28‧‧‧Information

MCC‧‧‧paper box code

Claims (10)

A method of packaging a cigarette, the method comprising the steps of: packaging a first cigarette packet (52a) marked with at least a first unique machine readable code (12a) and marking with a second unique machine readable code (12b) a second cigarette pack (52b) to a first carton (10) and at least the two cigarettes that will have the first unique machine readable code (12a) and the second unique machine readable code (12b) The information (56) of the package (52a, 52b) packaged into a same carton (10) is recorded in a database; the first carton (10) is packaged into a carton (20); the carton is detected (20) The first unique machine readable code (12a); inputting the detected first unique machine readable code (12a) to the database and reading the package from the database to the same tray (10) All of the unique machine readable code (12b) of the cigarette pack (52b) is the first unique machine readable code (12a) detected. The method of claim 1, the method comprising the steps of: providing a unique carton code (22) on the carton (20); and recording the first unique machine readable code detected (12a) and all of the unique machine readable code (12b) of the cigarette pack (52b) packaged in the same carton (10) as the data of the first unique machine readable code (12a) detected ( 26, 64) to the unique carton code (22). The method of claim 1, wherein the first unique machine is readable after the first cigarette pack (52a) and the second cigarette pack (52b) are packaged to the first tray (10). The code (12a) and the second unique machine readable code (12b) are tied to the first The carton (10) detects, and wherein the detected first unique machine readable code (12a) and the second unique machine readable code (12b) are transferred to the database to record the first unique machine At least the two cigarette packets (52a, 52b) of the readable code (12a) and the second unique machine readable code (12b) are packaged into the data (56) of the same carton (10) to the database. The method of claim 3, wherein the first carton (10) detects the first unique machine readable code (12a) at least in part by allowing the outside of the first carton (10) to be closed. And the material of the second unique machine readable code (12b). The method of claim 1, wherein the first unique machine readable code (12a) is detected from the outside of the closed carton (20) in the carton (20). The method of claim 1, wherein at least a third cigarette package (52) labeled with a third unique machine readable code (12) is labeled with a fourth unique machine readable code (12) A fourth cigarette pack (52) is packaged into a second carton (10), and the second carton (10) is loaded into the carton (20). The method of claim 1, wherein the first carton (10) is provided with an internal carton code (16), and having the first unique machine readable code (12a) and the At least the two cigarette packages (52a, 52b) of the second unique machine readable code (12b) are packaged into the recorded data (56) of the same carton (10) containing the first unique machine readable code ( 12a) and the second unique machine readable code (12b) to an additional material (18) of the internal carton code (16). A method of tracking cigarette packs (52a, 52b), the method comprising the steps of: Packaging a first cigarette pack (52a) marked with a first unique machine readable code (12a) and a second unique machine readable code (12b) according to the method of one of claims 1 to 7. A second cigarette pack (52b) is marked into a carton (20). A cigarette packaging system comprising: a control device (58) having a database; a first cigarette packet (52a) designed to package at least a first unique machine readable code (12a) and a second cigarette package (52b) indicated by a unique machine readable code (12b) to a first packaging machine (50) in a first carton (10); designed to detect the first carton (10) At least the first unique machine readable code (12a) and the second unique machine readable code (12b) and provided with the first unique machine readable code (12a) and the second unique machine readable code (12b) At least the two cigarette packets (52a, 52b) are packaged into a material (56) in the same carton (10) to a first sensor unit (54) of the control device (58), wherein the control device (58) is designed to record the provided information (56) in a database; a second packaging machine (60) designed to package at least the first carton (10) into a carton (20); Detecting the first unique machine readable code (12a) in the carton (20) and transmitting a second unique readable code (12a) to the second sensor unit of the control device (58) 62), where the control device (58) designed to read from the database all of the unique machine readable code (12b) of the cigarette pack (52b) packaged to the same carton (10) as the first unique machine that is detected Reading code (12a). The cigarette packaging system of claim 9, wherein the second sensor unit (62) is further configured to detect a unique carton code (22) on the carton (20) and transmit the detected A unique carton code (22) to the control device (58), and wherein the control device (58) further designs a record (28) on the database, the data (28) linking the unique carton code (22) All of the unique machine readable code (12b) to the first unique machine readable code (12a) and the cigarette pack (52b) packaged to the same carton (10) as the first unique detected Machine readable code (12a).