Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
  • B65D85/07—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles
  • B65D85/08—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles rod-shaped or tubular
  • B65D85/10—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles rod-shaped or tubular for cigarettes
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
  • B65B19/02—Packaging cigarettes
  • B65B19/22—Wrapping the cigarettes; Packaging the cigarettes in containers formed by folding wrapping material around formers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
  • B65B61/18—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for making package-opening or unpacking elements
  • B65B61/182—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for making package-opening or unpacking elements by applying tear-strips or tear-tapes
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
  • B65D75/52—Details
  • B65D75/58—Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during package manufacture
  • B65D75/66—Inserted or applied tearing-strings or like flexible elements
  • B65D75/68—Inserted or applied tearing-strings or like flexible elements extending through wrapper closure or between wrapper layers

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a tear tape for a product wrapper.
• a tear tape for a product wrapper.
• many consumer products are provided in a package which is overwrapped with a sealed wrapper.
• Such a wrapper may be provided by cellophane, metal foil, or similar product.
• wrappers can prevent contamination of a product within an internal package by preventing air or any other fluid from passing through the wrapper, and provide a good indication to an end consumer of the authenticity of the contents of a product, such wrappers can be difficult to remove.
• a tear tape in the wrapper the tear tape often being positioned within the wrapper such that it has an exposed tab which can be lifted and pulled by an end user to tear the wrapper and assist in its removal.
• Such a tear tape normally divides the wrapper in two so an upper half can be removed by an end user to access the inner packaging and the contents thereof.
• a tear-tape for opening a product wrapper, said tear-tape comprising at least one band to be provided on a surface of the product wrapper, wherein the tear-tape comprises at least two intersecting branches and wherein the intersection between said branches is located between distal ends of a first branch such that, in use, opening of said product wrapper follows a first opening stage along said first branch, from a first end thereof, followed by a second stage along the two intersecting branches, from said intersection until at least one of a second end of the first branch and an end of the second branch.
• the tear-tape of the present invention advantageously ensures that the external wrapper of a cigarette packaging can be torn away from the packaging at once in a single movement.
• Tearing of the tear tape may be a two-stage process; tearing may be initiated in a first stage along a single, preferably linear, direction from a first end of the first branch of the tear-tape to create a clear cut in the wrapper and then in a second stage along the two branches after the intersection of the branches, which ensures that a large piece or band of wrapper is cut and torn to unwrap the packaging in a single opening movement.
• the wrapper can thus be entirely removed from the packaging in one move such that a user does not have to separately remove two parts of the wrapper as is the case with tear-tapes known from the prior art.
• the at least two intersecting branches of the tear-tape may be made of a single unitary band.
• the at least two intersecting branches of the tear-tape may be made of at least two separate adhesive bands intersecting each other.
• the angle a between the at least two intersecting branches may be between 1 ° and 80°, preferably between 50° and 75°, and more preferably between 35° and 55°.
• the at least two branches may intersect to provide a Y- shaped junction located between said distal ends of the first of the two intersecting branches.
• at least one of the two branches may be linear or comprises at least one linear segment starting from an end of the tear-tape.
• a product wrapper formed from a sheet of tearable material comprising a tear-tape as described above.
• a method for producing a product wrapper formed from a sheet of tearable material comprising a tear- tape as described above comprising the steps of:
• the method of the present invention may further comprise the steps of:
• the method of the present invention further comprises a step of cutting the sheet of tearable material next to an end of the first branch of the tear-tape extending between two opposite sides of the sheet to provide a tearing tab in the wrapper, and cutting the sheet of material and wrapping an individual cut portion of the sheet material around a pack such that the distal ends of the first branch are located adjacent to a first face of the pack and the intersection between the two branches overlies a face adjacent to the first face of said pack.
• the method of the present as described above is intended for wrapping a cigarette pack.
• Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a tear tape according to the present invention in a closed position
• Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a tear tape according to the present invention during opening
• Figure 3 is a plan view of a wrapper according to the present invention comprising a tear tape according to the present invention.
• Figure 4 shows an exemplary apparatus for performing a method to make a tear- tape according to the invention.
• a tear tape 1 is provided on a product wrapper 6.
• the tear tape 1 comprises an adhesive band 2 which, in use, is adhered to the surface 7 of the product wrapper 6.
• the adhesive band 2 is configured to comprise first and second branches 3, 4 which meet at an intersection 8 on the tear tape 1.
• Band 2 can be formed as a unitary adhesive component with the separate branches 3, 4 prior to application onto the surface 7 of the wrapper 6. It can also be formed from two or more separate adhesive bands 2, 5 forming the separate branches 3, 4.
• the angle a between the two branches 3, 4 is approximately 45° but it can be anywhere between 1 ° and 80°, or preferably between 5° and 75°, and even more preferably between 35° and 55°.
• the angle a between each branches 3, 4 of the adhesive band 2 can be chosen and adjusted in the previously defined range depending on the shape and/or size of the product to be wrapped in wrapper 6 to ensure efficient and complete tearing of the wrapper 6 in a single opening action by an end user.
• Figure 4 shows an exemplary apparatus for performing a method to make a tear tape 1 according to the present invention.
• the apparatus provides two separate adhesive bands 2, 5 forming branches 3, 4 of the tear tape 1.
• a bobbin 33 provides a sheet of film 6 which is passed over a number of rollers and ultimately cut by a film cutting rotary knife 35 and wrapped using a wrapping wheel over packs 1 1 to form over wrapped packs 1 1 and 6 on a conveyor 37.
• a spool of tear tape 31 is provided via a rolling cutting knife component 32 onto the surface of the film 6.
• the spool 31 and knife component 32 are inclined at an angle to the direction of movement of the film 6 such that individual cut tear tape components 5 are applied at an angle to the direction of movement of the film 6 that is selected at a desired angle in the range described above with reference to the end wrapping product.
• the individual band 5 may be adhered to the surface of the film 6 by traditional adhesive or other forms as will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art.
• band 5 is then passed onward from where the bands 5 are applied to the film 6 at location A to a location B where a bobbin 34 of band2 is also applied to the film 6 at a location at which it forms an intersection with a respective band 5.
• the band 2 may be applied on the surface 7 using adhesive or other known techniques.
• the film 6 is passed through a cutting knife 35 and individual sections of film, together with the adhered bands 2, 5 forming a tear-tape according to the present invention, are wrapped using the wrapping wheel 36 over individual packs 11.
• Inclined band 5 is provided by cut strips from spool 31 of adhesive band material.
• the cut strips are positioned at regular intervals and maintained with a vacuum belt on the product wrapper film 6 which is unwound in a continuous manner in a product packaging line.
• the cut strips forming bands 5 join the main horizontal adhesive band 2 of the tear-tape 1 dispensed from a bobbin 34 during the unwinding process.
• a product wrapper film 6 with inclined and horizontal adhesive bands 2, 5 forming a unitary tear tape 1 is produced and can be wrapped inline wrapped around packs 1 1 to be wrapped.
• the product wrapper 6 can be provided as an overwrap over packaging 11 such as a cigarette pack as shown in figures 1 and 2.
• a tab 9 is provided on the product wrapper 6 such that an end portion of the band 2 is within the tab 9, thereby forming the starting or grasping end of the tear-tape 1.
• a user of the product within the packaging 1 1 can grasp the tab 9 to remove the tear-tape 1 from the wrapper 6. Pulling on the tab 9 initiates a first stage of the opening of the wrapper 6, wherein the band 2 breaks the wrapper 6, along a first linear direction, in a clean linear cut at a first angle relative to the packaging 1 1 until the intersection 8 of the branches 3, 4 is reached, the intersection 8 being located over a main face of the packaging 1 1.
• the location of the intersection 8 between the distal ends of the main band 2 of the tear-tape 1 is preferably located at a distance from the distal ends of the main band 2.
• the intersection 8 may be located mid-way along the component of main band 2 that extends over a main face of the packaging 11.
• a particular advantage of this arrangement is that it ensures that, when the wrapper 6 is placed over packaging 11 , the ends of the band 2, forming the first branch 3 of the tear-tape 1 , are located adjacent to a first face of the packaging 1 1 , preferably a side face of a cigarette packaging 1 1 as shown in the figures. Meanwhile, the intersection 8 overlies a main face 7 of said packaging 11 which is adjacent to the first face. This configuration ensures proper initiation of the wrapper opening process during the first stage and complete removal of said wrapper 6 starting from the intersection 8 during the second stage of the opening.
• the present invention provides a tear tape and associated outer wrap for a product which is simple and cost effective to manufacture, yet which is also beneficial to an end consumer in terms of improved removal of the wrapper and access to the contents of internal packaging.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)
• Wrappers (AREA)
• Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)
• Decoration Of Textiles (AREA)
• Package Frames And Binding Bands (AREA)
• Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
• Adhesive Tapes (AREA)
• Manufacture Of Macromolecular Shaped Articles (AREA)
• Adhesives Or Adhesive Processes (AREA)

Priority Applications (9)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=48628725

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (13)

Cited By (6)

Citations (6)

Family Cites Families (2)

• 2013
  • 2013-06-18 CA CA2876031A patent/CA2876031C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2013-06-18 EP EP13729397.3A patent/EP2861507B1/en active Active
  • 2013-06-18 EA EA201492108A patent/EA027389B1/ru not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2013-06-18 JP JP2015517730A patent/JP6301323B2/ja active Active
  • 2013-06-18 ES ES13729397.3T patent/ES2586721T3/es active Active
  • 2013-06-18 WO PCT/EP2013/062651 patent/WO2013189944A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2013-06-18 HU HUE13729397A patent/HUE029297T2/en unknown
  • 2013-06-18 PL PL13729397T patent/PL2861507T3/pl unknown
  • 2013-06-18 DK DK13729397.3T patent/DK2861507T3/en active
  • 2013-06-18 KR KR1020157000226A patent/KR102077121B1/ko active IP Right Grant
  • 2013-06-18 MX MX2014015441A patent/MX355799B/es active IP Right Grant
  • 2013-06-18 PT PT137293973T patent/PT2861507T/pt unknown
  • 2013-06-18 SG SG11201408223UA patent/SG11201408223UA/en unknown

Patent Citations (6)

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