WO2023275710A1

WO2023275710A1 - Packet of smoking articles and method of producing the same

Info

Publication number: WO2023275710A1
Application number: PCT/IB2022/055946
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luca PARADISO; Giuliano Gamberini
Original assignee: G.D S.P.A.
Priority date: 2021-07-01
Filing date: 2022-06-27
Publication date: 2023-01-05
Also published as: CN117881613A; IT202100017303A1

Abstract

A packet (1) of smoking articles and method of producing it. The packet (1) comprises: a group of articles (30); a wrapper (2) that encloses the group of articles (30) and that comprises an opening (3) for extracting the articles (30), a bottom wall (4), a front wall (5) and a rear wall (6); a repositionable closing label (7) that is fixed to the wrapper (2) to open and close the extraction opening (3) of the wrapper (2); a container (8) which houses the wrapper (2), and which includes an opening (9) for extracting the wrapper (2) from the container (8), and a rear wall (10); a cover (11) which has a rear wall (12) hinged to the rear wall (10) of the container (8) to rotate between an open configuration (A) and a closed configuration (B); an element (14) for lifting the wrapper (2), which is fixed to the cover (11) and to the rear wall (6) of the wrapper (2) so that, when the cover (11) is moved from the closed configuration (B) to the open configuration (A), the wrapper (2) slides with respect to the container (8) through the opening (9) of the container (8) and is partially extracted from the container (8).

Description

PACKET OF SMOKING ARTICLES AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME

The present invention relates to a pack of smoking articles and a relative production method. In particular, the present invention refers to a packet of rigid smoking articles with a hinged cover.

The terminology “smoking articles” refers to articles in the tobacco sector such as, for example, traditional cigarettes or of the HNB (heat-not-burn) type, cigars, electronic cigarettes, and cartridges for electronic cigarettes.

The present invention can be advantageous applied to a packet of cigarettes to which the following discussion will explicitly refer, without thereby losing generality.

Packets of cigarettes are known that comprise: a group of cigarettes; a wrapper that encloses the group of cigarettes, and that includes an opening for extracting the cigarettes from the wrapper; a repositionable closing label that is fixed to the wrapper and closes the extraction opening of the wrapper; a cup-shaped container that houses the wrapper; a cover that is hinged to the container to rotate between an open configuration wherein it allows access to the wrapper, and a closed configuration wherein it prevents access to the wrapper.

The wrapper can be formed starting from a blank of cardboard material that is folded around the group of cigarettes and whose walls are stably fixed with glue points to form a stable containment element. One example of this wrapper is described in document EP1373097A1.

Alternatively, the wrapper could be formed from a sheet of heat-sealable material that bears the closing label and is wrapped around the group of cigarettes. In this case, as described in document EP2250103A1, the wrapper is enclosed around the group of cigarettes by welding: in particular, the packet includes a weld transverse to the group of cigarettes and two side welds parallel to the group of cigarettes.

In both cases described above, when the cover is brought into the open configuration, no surface of the wrapper is visible as the upper wall and the front wall are covered (almost entirely) by the closing label.

Furthermore, even when the closing label is lifted, the surface of the wrapper that is in view is very small due to the extraction opening of the cigarettes: in this case, the surface of the wrapper in view is limited to the frame of the extraction opening to which the closing label adheres.

In order to increase the visible surface of the wrapper, for example, to carry information and/or advertising messages and/or graphic signs, the height of the front wall of the cover could be increased in order to reduce the height of the front wall of the container. However, this solution requires a redesign of a traditional cigarette packet, and is not feasible on packaging machines already present on the market unless substantial modifications are made.

The object of the present invention is to provide a packet of smoking articles that overcomes the aforesaid drawback. In other words, it is an object of the present invention to provide a packet of smoking articles that allows, when the cover is brought into the open configuration, increasing of the visible surface of the wrapper so as to allow the display of any information and/or advertising messages and/or graphic signs.

The object of the present invention is also a relative method for making the aforesaid packet.

In accordance with the present invention, a packet of smoking articles is provided and a relative production method according to what is claimed in the attached claims.

The claims describe preferred embodiments of the present invention forming an integral part of the present description.

The proposed packet of smoking articles overcomes the aforesaid drawback by sliding the wrapper with respect to the container, which is caused by the movement of the cover from the closed configuration to the open configuration. In particular, in order to obtain the aforesaid sliding, the container comprises an opening for extracting the wrapper from the container, and the packet comprises a lifting element of the wrapper, which is fixed to the cover and to the rear wall of the wrapper, so that when the cover is moved from the closed configuration to the open configuration, the wrapper is partially extracted from the container through the container opening.

Therefore, with the lifting of the wrapper from the container, a portion of the front wall of the wrapper is advantageously made visible. This portion may include information and/or advertising messages and/or graphic signs.

The aforesaid packet may be obtained by means of several production methods.

A first proposed production method involves attaching the lifting element to the rear wall of the wrapper and only subsequently fixing the lifting element to the blank forming the cover.

A second proposed production method, alternative to the first, firstly involves attachment of the lifting element to the blank forming the cover (which can be in extended or partially folded form), and only subsequently fixing the lifting element to the wrapper.

Both proposed production methods are extremely simple and can be implemented in packaging machines of a known type without requiring major modifications to said machines.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate some non-limiting examples of implementation, wherein:

- Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a packet of smoking articles of the present invention with the cover in a closed configuration;

- Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the packet of Figure 1,

- Figure 3 is a front perspective view of the packet of Figure 1 with the cover in an open configuration;

- Figure 4 is a perspective view of the wrapper and the closing label of the packet of Figures 1-3;

- Figure 5 is a perspective view of the group of smoking articles of the packet of Figures 1-3;

- Figure 6 is a perspective view of the stiffening element contained in the wrapper of Figure 4;

- Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of an additional embodiment of the packet of Figure 1 with the cover in a closed configuration;

- Figures 8, 9, and 10 are views similar to those of Figure 7 wherein the cover is in different operating positions;

- Figure 11 is a perspective view of the packet of Figure 10 wherein the wrapper and the closing label have been removed to better highlight other details of the packet;

- Figure 12 is a side view of the packet of Figure 11;

- Figure 13 is a perspective view from above of the packet of Figure 11;

- Figure 14 is a plan view of the blank for producing the lifting element of the packet of Figures 1-6 and Figures 7-13;

- Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of an additional embodiment of the packet of Figure 1 with the cover in a closed configuration; - Figure 16 is a plan view of the blank for producing the lifting element of the packet of Figure 15;

- Figure 17 is a plan view of the blank for producing the container and the cover of the packet of Figures 1-6, Figures 7-13 and Figure 15.

Preferred embodiments of the invention

In accordance with the attached Figures, numeral 1 indicates - as a whole - a packet of smoking articles subject of the present invention.

The terminology “smoking articles” refers to articles of the tobacco industry such as, for example, traditional cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, aerosol-generating cigarettes (for example, the “heat-not-bum” type HNB), and cigars.

The packet 1 of smoking articles comprises: a group of smoking articles 30; a wrapper

2 that has a parallelepiped shape, which encloses the group of smoking articles 30 and which comprises an opening 3 for extracting the smoking articles 30, a bottom wall 4, which is shaped to support the group of smoking articles 30, a front wall 5 and a rear wall 6, which are mutually opposite and rise from the bottom wall 4; a repositionable closing label 7, which is fixed to the wrapper 2 to open and close the extraction opening

3 of the wrapper 2; a container 8 which houses the wrapper 2 and which includes an opening 9 for extracting the wrapper 2 from the container 8, and a rear wall 10 set against the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2; a cover 11, which has a rear wall 12 that is hinged to the rear wall 10 of the container 8, at a first hinge line 13, to rotate between an open configuration A wherein it allows access to the wrapper 2, and a closed configuration B wherein it prevents access to the wrapper 2.

In the following description of the packet 1, terms such as “height”, “width” and “thickness” will be used to define the dimensioning of the packet 1, assuming that packet 1 is arranged in such an arrangement that the development direction X of the smoking articles 30 is vertical (Figure 5). Therefore, the bottom and top walls (of the wrapper 2 and/or of the container 8 and/or of the cover 11) are arranged, respectively, “at the bottom” and “at the top” while the front and rear walls (of the wrapper 2 and/or of the container 8 and/or of the cover 11) are arranged, respectively, “in front” and “behind”. This orientation of the packet 1 is illustrated in Figure 1. In particular, with reference to the illustrated embodiment, the development direction of the smoking articles 30 coincides with the prevalent development direction of the packet 1. According to an alternative embodiment, not illustrated, the development direction of the smoking articles 30 may be orthogonal with respect to the prevalent development direction of the packet 1

With reference to Figure 1, the term height “h” means the length measured parallel to the development direction of the smoking articles 30; the term width “w” means the length measured orthogonally to the development direction of the smoking articles 30 and parallel to the front and rear walls; the term thickness “t” means the length measured orthogonally to the development direction of the smoking articles 30 and parallel to the side walls. These definitions of height, width and thickness apply with reference to the container 8, the wrapper 2 and the cover 11.

With particular reference to Figures 1-3, the container 8 has a parallelepiped shape, is cup-shaped and has the opening 9 at the upper end. The container 8 comprises, in addition to the rear wall 10, a bottom wall 21 opposite to the opening 9, a front wall 22 opposite and parallel to the rear wall 10, and two side walls 23 opposite and parallel to each other. Four longitudinal edges are defined between the front and rear walls 22, 10 and the side walls 23. Four transverse edges are defined between the front, rear and side walls 22, 10, 23 and the bottom wall 21.

In accordance with Figures 1 and 2, the container 8 has a rectangular cross-section. Alternatively, the container 8 could have a cross-section having a different shape, for example, square or triangular.

With further reference to Figures 1 and 2, the longitudinal and transverse edges of the container 8 are straight. Alternatively, the longitudinal and/or transverse edges of the container 8 could be rounded or beveled.

With further reference to Figures 1-3, the cover 11 is also cup-shaped.

The cover 11 has an upper wall 24 (which, when the cover 11 is in the closed configuration B, is parallel and opposite to the bottom wall 21 of the container 8), a front wall 25 (which, when the cover 11 is in the closed configuration B, is coplanar with the front wall 22 of the container 8), a rear wall 12 (which is connected to the rear wall 10 of the container 8 by means of the first hinge line 13 and, when the cover 11 is in the closed configuration B, it is coplanar with the rear wall 10 of the container 8), and two side walls 26 parallel and opposite to each other (which, when the cover 11 is in the closed configuration B, are coplanar and adjacent to the corresponding side walls 23 of the container 8). Four longitudinal edges are defined between the front and rear walls 25, 12 and the side walls 26. Four transverse edges are defined between the front, rear and side walls 25, 12, 26 and the upper wall 24.

In accordance with Figures 1 and 2, the cover 11 has a rectangular cross-section equal to the cross-section of the container 8. Alternatively, the cover 11 could have a cross- section having a different shape, for example, square or triangular.

With further reference to Figures 1 and 2, the longitudinal and transverse edges of the cover 11 are straight. Alternatively, the longitudinal and/or transverse edges of the cover 11 could be rounded or beveled.

The container 8 is made of paper material. The cover 11 is made of paper material. In particular, the container 8 and the cover 11 are made of cardboard, that is, of a paper material having a certain grammage so as to give rigidity to the container 8 and to the cover 11.

The container 8 and the cover 11 are obtained starting from a single blank 20 of wrapping material (for example, cardboard). One of the possible embodiments of the blank 20 is illustrated in Figure 17.

With reference to Figure 17, the blank 20 comprises a first part 8’ intended to form the container 8 and a second part 11 ’ intended to form the cover 11. The first part 8’ and the second part 1 G are connected at a weakening line that defines the first hinge line 13 of the packet 1.

With reference to Figure 17, the weakening lines of the blank 20 are illustrated with dashed lines, while the cutting lines of the blank 20 are illustrated with solid lines. Furthermore, the areas of the blank 20 on which glue is applied to fix the panels together so as to define the container 8 and the cover 11 illustrated in Figures 1-3 are indicated with gray hatched areas.

The first part 8’ of the blank 20 comprises: a first panel 10’ intended to form the rear wall 10 of the container 8; a second panel 2G connected to the first panel 10’ and intended to form the bottom wall 21 of the container 8; a third panel 22’ connected to the second panel 2G and intended to form the front wall 22 of the container 8; four side panels 23’ laterally connected to the first panel 10’ and to the third panel 22’ and intended to define the side walls 23 of the container 8; a pair of flaps connected either to two of the side panels 23 ’ or to the second panel 21 ’ intended to be fixed to the bottom wall 21 of the container 8.

The second part 11 ’ of the blank 20 comprises: a first panel 12’ intended to form the rear wall 12 of the cover 11; a second panel 24’ connected to the first panel 12’ and intended to form the upper wall 24 of the cover 11; a third panel 25’ connected to the second panel 24’ and intended to form the front wall 25 of the cover 11; four side panels 26’ laterally connected to the first panel 12’ and to the third panel 25’ and intended to define the side walls 26 of the cover 11 ; a pair of flaps connected either to two of the side panels 26’ or to the second panel 24’ intended to be fixed to the upper wall 24 of the cover 11; a fourth panel 27’, which is connected to the third panel 25’ and which is intended to form - together with the third panel 25’ - the front wall 25 of the cover 11. In fact, the fourth panel 27’ is intended to be folded by 180° with respect to the third panel 25’ and to be glued to the third panel 25’.

With reference to Figure 4, the wrapper 2 has a parallelepiped shape and encloses the group of smoking articles 30.

The wrapper 2 comprises the opening 3 for extracting the smoking articles 30, the bottom wall 4, which is shaped to support the group of smoking articles 30 (and which is opposite the extraction opening 3), the front wall 5 and the rear wall 6, which are mutually opposite and rise from the bottom wall 4.

The wrapper 2 also comprises an upper wall 27 which is opposite and parallel to the bottom wall 4 and a pair of side walls 28, which are opposite and parallel to each other and which rise from the bottom wall 4.

The extraction opening 3 is obtained at the upper wall 27 and the front wall 5 of the wrapper 2.

The packet 1 comprises a repositionable closing label 7, which is fixed to the wrapper 2 to open and close the extraction opening 3 of the wrapper 2. The term repositionable means that the closing label 7 can be detached and reattached to the wrapper 2 several times. The closing label 7 is fixed to the wrapper 2, at least around the extraction opening 3, with a repositionable glue, that is, a glue that does not dry and that allows opening and closing of the label 7 several times.

With reference to Figures 3 and 4, the closing label 7 extends at the front wall 5, the upper wall 27 and the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2. Furthermore, this closing label 7 comprises a grip flap 70 (glue-free), which allows the user to grasp the closing label 7 to open and close the extraction opening 3.

With reference to Figures 7-10, the closing label 7 extends at the front wall 5, the upper wall 27 and the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2, and comprises a fastening flap 71, which is fixed to the front wall 25 of the cover 11. In this embodiment, when the cover 11 is moved from the closed configuration B to the open configuration A, the closing label 7 is detached and re-attached “automatically” to the wrapper 2.

It should be noted that this peculiarity inherent in the closing label 7 is the only difference between the embodiment of the packet 1 illustrated in Figures 1-6 and the embodiment of the packet 1 illustrated in Figures 7-13. Therefore, all the other characteristics described with reference to the packet of Figures 1-6 are also valid for the packet 1 illustrated in Figures 7-13.

With further reference to Figure 4, the wrapper 2 is a sealed-type wrapper. This wrapper 2 is obtained from a sheet of heat-sealable wrapping equipped with an incision at the extraction opening 3 of the wrapper 2, and provided with the closing label 7 (applied to said heat-sealable wrapping sheet). In particular, the wrapper 2 is formed by folding the heat-sealable wrapping sheet around the group of smoking articles 30 and the closing welds of the wrapper 2 are made: a first weld defines the transverse welding fin 29 at the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2; a pair of welds defines the closure with “soap” type folds of the side walls 28 of the wrapper 2. As an alternative to what is illustrated, the transverse welding fin 29 can be arranged in a different area of the wrapper 2 (for example, at the bottom wall 4) and/or the pair of welds that define the side walls 28 of the wrapper 2 may define a pair of side fins.

With particular reference to Figures 4-6, this embodiment of the wrapper 2 encloses a stiffening element 31 inside it (made from a cardboard blank), which is interposed between the wrapper 2 and the group of smoking articles 30. The stiffening element 31 comprises at least one front wall 32 and a pair of side walls 33 to enclose the group of smoking articles 30 in a U-shape. It is understood that the stiffening element 31 may take different shapes and/or dimensions than those illustrated.

As an alternative to the wrapper 2 illustrated in Figure 4, the wrapper 2 could be made from a blank of wrapping material (for example, cardboard, possibly multilayer). In this case, the wrapper 2 is formed by folding the blank around the group of smoking articles 30 and the relative walls of the wrapper are fixed together with glue. In this embodiment, the closing label 7 could be applied to the blank of wrapping material in planar form (i.e. before it is folded around the group of smoking articles 30) or after said blank has been folded around the group of 30 smoking articles.

It should be noted that the terminology “bottom wall 4 of the wrapper 2 shaped to support the group of smoking articles 30” means that the bottom wall 4 is shaped in such a way as to support the group of smoking articles 30 even in the case wherein it is spaced apart from the bottom wall 21 of the container 8. In this case, for example, a bottom wall 4 of the wrapper 2 formed by two flaps not fixed to each other would not have this capacity to support the group of smoking articles 30.

The packet 1 subject of the present invention comprises a lifting element 14 of the wrapper 2, which is fixed to the cover 11 and to the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2 so that, when the cover 11 is moved from the closed configuration B to the open configuration A, the wrapper 2 slides with respect to the container 8 through the opening 9 of the container 8 and is partially extracted from the container 8.

Therefore, the lifting element 14 causes the sliding of the wrapper 2 with respect to the container 8 following the movement of the cover 11 from the closed configuration B to the open configuration A, and vice versa.

Advantageously, when the cover 11 is in the open configuration A, the wrapper 2 is partially extracted from the container 8, and the visible surface of the wrapper 2 is increased (in particular the visible surface of the front wall 5) with respect to when the cover 11 is in the closed configuration B.

With reference to Figures 7-10, a sequence of opening the cover 11 in a packet 1 subject of the present invention is illustrated. With reference to Figure 7, the cover 11 is in the closed configuration B, and the wrapper 2 is completely housed in the container 8; in other words, the bottom wall 4 of the wrapper 2 is arranged in contact (resting) on the bottom wall 21 of the container 8. With reference to Figures 8 and 9, the cover 11 is in partially open configurations, and the wrapper 2 is extracted each time from the container 8; in other words, the bottom wall 4 of the wrapper 2 is moved away from the bottom wall 21 of the container 8. With reference to Figure 10, the cover 11 is in the open configuration A and the wrapper 2 is extracted from the container 8; in other words, the bottom wall 4 of the wrapper 2 is at a maximum distance from the bottom wall 21 of the container 8. With further reference to Figure 10, the height of the front wall 5 of the wrapper 2 that is extracted from the container 8 is greater than when the cover 11 is in the closed configuration B (Figure 7).

Preferably, the thickness of the wrapper 2 is less than the thickness of the container 8. Advantageously, the sliding of the wrapper 2 with respect to the container 8 is facilitated. Preferably, the difference D in thickness between the wrapper 2 and the container 8 is included in a range between 0.3 and 0.7 mm (Figure 7).

Preferably, the wrapper 2 comprises a printed and/or embossed portion at the front wall 5, which is extracted from the opening 9 of the container 8 when the cover 11 is in the open configuration A (Figures 3 and 10).

Therefore, this printed and/or embossed portion is the portion of the front wall 5 of the wrapper 2 which, when the cover 11 is in the closed configuration B, is covered by the front wall 22 of the container 8, and when the cover 11 is in the open configuration A is extracted and not facing the front wall 22 of the container 8. Advantageously, this portion of the front wall 5 of the wrapper 2 can be used to print and/or emboss advertising and/or information messages and/or graphic signs.

With further reference to Figures 7-10, a first embodiment of the lifting element 14 is described below (the same lifting element 14 of the packet of Figures 1-6). This lifting element 14 comprises a first portion 15, which is fixed to the cover 11, in particular to the rear wall 12 of the cover 11, a second portion 16, which is fixed to the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2 and a third portion 17, which connects the first portion 15 to the second portion 16. In particular, the lifting element 14 consists of the first portion 15, which is fixed to the cover 11, the second portion 16, which is fixed to the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2 and the third portion 17, which connects the first portion 15 to the second portion 16.

The first portion 15 and the third portion 17 are hinged together at a second hinge line 18. Preferably, the second hinge line 18 is parallel to the first hinge line 13.

When the cover 11 is in the closed configuration B, the second hinge line 18 is arranged closer to the bottom wall 4 of the wrapper 2 than the first hinge line 13. Conversely, when the cover 11 is in the open configuration A, the second hinge line 18 is arranged farther away from the bottom wall 4 of the wrapper 2 than the first hinge line 13.

The third portion 17 of the lifting element 14 is glue-free. In other words, the third portion 17 of the lifting element 14 is neither fixed to the wrapper 2 nor to the cover 11 : the first portion 15 has the function of fixing the lifting element 14 to the cover 11 and the second portion 16 has the function of fixing the lifting element 14 to the wrapper 2. The third portion 17 has the function of deforming during the movement of the cover 11 between the open configuration A and the closed configuration B, and vice versa.

With reference to Figure 7, the second portion 16 of the lifting element 14 is fixed to the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2 at a first gluing area 16a and a second gluing area 16b. The first gluing area 16a fixes the lifting element 14 at about half the height of the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2. The second gluing area 16b fixes the lifting element 14 to the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2 near the bottom wall 4. The second gluing zone 16b is optional; it is useful above all in the production of the packet 1 as will become clearer later on.

The first gluing area 16a and the second gluing area 16b may be identified as horizontal strips of glue arranged between the lifting element 14 and the wrapper 2. It is understood that the gluing areas of the second portion 16 of the lifting element 14 to the wrapper may be different in position, shape and extension with respect to what is illustrated.

This first embodiment of the lifting element 14 is formed starting from the blank 14’ illustrated in Figure 14. This blank 14’ is made of cardboard with a grammage preferably between 180 g/m² and 380 g/m².

This blank 14’ has a quadrilateral shape and comprises: a first panel 15’ (rectangular) intended to define the first portion 15 of the lifting element 14; a second panel 17’ (rectangular), which is connected to the first panel 15’ at the second hinge line 18, and which is intended to define the third portion 17 of the lifting element 14; a third panel 16’ (rectangular), which is connected to the second panel 17’ and which is intended to define the second portion 16 of the lifting element 14.

In particular, the second panel 17’ extends between the second hinge line 18 and one end of the first gluing area 16a (illustrated in Figure 14 as a hatched area) arranged on the third panel 16’. In other words, the second panel 17’ and the third panel 16’ are made in a single body and are not separated by any weakening line; the first gluing area 16a defines an edge (one end) of the third panel 16’.

The blank 14’ has a height substantially equal to the height of the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2. Consequently, the lifting element 14 has a height substantially equal to the height of the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2 (see Figure 4 wherein the cover 11 is in the closed configuration B). Advantageously, the material necessary to create the mechanism for lifting the wrapper 2 with respect to the container 8 is reduced. In accordance with an alternative embodiment, the lifting element 14 may have a lower height than the height of the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2. Advantageously, this allows saving of material. For example, the second portion 16 of the lifting element 14 could have a smaller extension. For example, the second portion 16 could coincide with the extension of the first gluing area 16a (in this embodiment, the second gluing area 16b would not be provided).

Preferably, the distance between the first hinge line 13 and the second hinge line 18 is between 2 mm and 3 mm. In this case, the height of the third portion 17 of the lifting element 14 is between 20 mm and 30 mm.

With reference to Figure 10, when the cover 11 is in the open configuration A, the distance between the bottom wall 4 of the wrapper 2 and the bottom wall 21 of the container 8 is approximately double the distance between the first hinge line 13 and the second hinge line 18.

The blank 14’ has a smaller width with respect to the width of the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2. Consequently, the lifting element 14 has a smaller width than the width of the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2. Preferably, the lifting element 14 has a width that is 10-15 mm smaller than the width of the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2. Advantageously, this width of the lifting element 14 allows it to deform more easily (and, therefore, with less probability of damage and/or permanent deformations) to complete the rotation of the lifting element 14 together with the cover 11.

With reference to Figure 15, a further embodiment of the packet 1 subject of the present invention is illustrated, which only differs from the packet 1 of Figures 7-14 in the conformation of the lifting element 14. In particular, everything that has been described with reference to the packets 1 of Figures 1-14 is also valid with reference to the packet 1 of Figure 15 unless otherwise specifically indicated.

With reference to Figure 15, a second embodiment of the lifting element 14 is illustrated as an alternative to that illustrated in Figure 7.

In this second embodiment, the lifting element 14 comprises - similarly to the first embodiment illustrated in Figure 7 - a first portion 15, which is fixed to the cover 11, in particular to the rear wall 12 of the cover 11, a second portion 16, which is fixed to the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2 and a third portion 17, which connects the first portion 15 to the second portion 16. In particular, also in this second embodiment, the lifting element 14 consists of the first portion 15, which is fixed to the cover 11, the second portion 16, which is fixed to the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2 and the third portion 17, which connects the first portion 15 to the second portion 16.

The first portion 15 and the third portion 17 are hinged together at a second hinge line 18. Preferably, the second hinge line 18 is parallel to the first hinge line 13. When the cover 11 is in the closed configuration B, the second hinge line 18 is arranged closer to the bottom wall 4 of the wrapper 2 than the first hinge line 13. When the cover 11 is in the open configuration A, the second hinge line 18 is arranged farther away from the bottom wall 4 of the wrapper 2 than the first hinge line 13.

Furthermore, differently from the first embodiment, the third portion 17 and the second portion 16 of the lifting element 14 are hinged to each other at a third hinge line 19. In particular, the third hinge line 19 is parallel to the second hinge line 18.

The third portion 17 of the lifting element 14 is identified as the portion between the second hinge line 18 and the third hinge line 19. Said third portion 17 is glue-free. In other words, the third portion 17 of the lifting element 14 is neither fixed to the wrapper 2 nor to the cover 11 : the first portion 15 has the function of fixing the lifting element 14 to the cover 11, and the second portion 16 has the function of fixing the lifting element 14 to the wrapper 2.

With reference to Figure 15, the second portion 16 of the lifting element 14 is fixed to the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2 at a first gluing area 16a and a second gluing area 16b. The first gluing area 16a fixes the lifting element 14 at about half the height of the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2. The first gluing zone 16a is arranged in proximity to the third hinge line 19. The second gluing area 16b fixes the lifting element 14 to the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2 near the bottom wall 4. The second gluing zone 16b is optional; it is useful above all in the production of the packet 1 as will become clearer later on.

The first gluing area 16a and the second gluing area 16b may be identified as horizontal strips of glue arranged between the lifting element 14 and the wrapper 2. It is understood that the gluing areas of the second portion 16 of the lifting element 14 to the wrapper 2 may be different in position, shape and extension with respect to what is illustrated.

This second embodiment of the lifting element 14 is formed starting from the blank 14’ illustrated in Figure 16. This blank 14’ is made of cardboard with a grammage preferably between 180 g/m² and 380 g/m². This blank 14’ has a quadrilateral shape and comprises: a first panel 15’ (rectangular) intended to define the first portion 15 of the lifting element 14; a second panel 17’ (rectangular), which is connected to the first panel 15’ at the second hinge line 18, and which is intended to define the third portion 17; and a third panel 16’, which is connected to the second panel 17’ at the third hinge line 19, and which is intended to define the second portion 16.

The blank 14’ has a height substantially equal to the height of the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2. Consequently, the lifting element 14 has a height substantially equal to the height of the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2 (Figure 15).

In accordance with an alternative embodiment, the lifting element 14 may have a lower height than the height of the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2. For example, the second portion 17 of the lifting element 14 could have a smaller extension. For example, the second portion 16 could coincide with the extension of the first gluing area 16a (in this embodiment, the second gluing area 16b would not be provided).

All the characteristics described with reference to the embodiment of the lifting element 14 of Figures 1-14 are also valid for the lifting element of Figures 15-16, unless otherwise specified.

A first embodiment of the method for producing one of the embodiments of the packet 1 described above is described below. This method is also the subject of the present invention.

Said method comprises the steps of: wrapping a group of smoking articles 30 in a sheet of wrapping material forming the wrapper 2; applying the repositionable closing label 7 to the wrapper 2, before or after wrapping the group of smoking articles 30; fixing the lifting element 14 to the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2; providing a blank 20 having a first part 8’ intended to form the container 8 and a second part 11 ’ intended to form the cover 11; after fixing the lifting element 14 to the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2, folding the blank 20 around the wrapper 2 and fixing the lifting element 14 to the second part 1 G of the blank 20 (in other words, the lifting element 14 is fixed to the panel 12’ of the blank 20 intended to form the rear wall 12 of the cover 11) so that, when the cover 11 is moved from the closed configuration B to the open configuration A, the wrapper 2 slides with respect to the container 8 through the opening 9 of the container 8 and is partially extracted from the container 8. Preferably, a stack of blanks 14’ intended to form the lifting element 14 are stored (in a hopper) and picked up one at a time.

The first embodiment of the method involves applying the lifting element 14 onto the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2. Preferably, before applying the lifting element 14 to the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2, glue (for example, of the “hot melt” type) is applied to the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2. Alternatively, this glue could be applied to the lifting element 14 (at the panel of the blank 14’ intended to form the second portion 16 of the lifting element 14).

Furthermore, in order to fix the lifting element 14 to the second part 1 G (in particular to the first panel 12’) of the blank 20, the method involves applying a glue (preferably water-based) to the blank 20.

The use of a water-based glue in order to fix the lifting element 14 and the blank 20 together makes it possible to avoid instantaneously immobilizing the mutual position of the lifting element 14 with respect to the blank 20 (since the water-based glue takes some time to dry); this is advantageous because it allows small displacements of the lifting element 14 in order to adapt itself to the fully formed packet 1 and to the cover 11 in the closed configuration B.

A second embodiment of the method for producing one of the embodiments of the packet 1 described above is described below. This method is also the subject of the present invention. This second embodiment of the method is an alternative to the first embodiment in that the blank 14’ intended to form the lifting element 14 is first coupled to the blank 20 and only then is fixed to the wrapper 2.

Said method includes the steps of: wrapping a group of smoking articles 30 in a sheet of wrapping material forming the wrapper 2; applying the repositionable closing label 7 to the wrapper 2, before or after wrapping the group of smoking articles 30; providing a blank 20 having a first part 8’ intended to form the container 8 and a second part 1 G intended to form the cover 11; fixing the lifting element 14 to the second part 1 G of the blank 20, said blank 20 has a planar or partially folded shape; after having fixed the lifting element 14 to the second part 1 G of the blank 20, fixing the lifting element 14 to the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2, and folding the blank 20 around the wrapper 2, forming the container 8 and the cover 11.

Preferably, a stack of blanks 14’ intended to form the lifting element 14 are stored (in a hopper) and picked up one at a time.

The second embodiment of the method envisages fixing the blank 14’ intended to form the lifting element 14 to the blank 20 (in particular, to the panel 12’, which will form the rear wall 12 of the cover 11). Fixing of the blank 14’ intended to form the lifting element 14 to the blank 20 may take place when the blank 20 (also pre-washed from a relative stock) is in planar form. Alternatively, fixing of the blank 14’ intended to form the lifting element 14 to the blank 20 can take place when the blank 20 has already been partially folded.

In order to fix the lifting element 14 to the blank 20 (in particular, to the first panel 12’), the method involves applying a glue (preferably of the “hot melt” type) to the lifting element 14 (at the panel of the blank 14’ intended to form the second portion 16 of the lifting element 14). After applying said glue, the lifting element 14 is deposited on the blank 20 and pressed to make it adhere to said blank 20.

After fixing the lifting element 14 to the second part 1 G of the blank 20, the method involves fixing the lifting element 14 to the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2; for this object, the method involves applying glue (preferably a water-based glue) to the lifting element 14. Alternatively, said glue could be applied to the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2 (this glue could be of the “hot melt” type or of the water-based type).

According to an embodiment, the step of fixing the lifting element 14 to the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2 and folding the blank 20 around the wrapper 2 comprises - in order - the steps of: before or after fixing the lifting element 14 to the second part 1 G of the blank 20, folding the blank 20 into an L shape (for example, by inserting the blank 20 into a pocket of a wrapping wheel and fixing the lifting element 14 to the blank 20 before or after having inserted it into the pocket); arranging the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2 facing the lifting element 14 (for example, moving the wrapper 2 inside the pocket with a radial movement of the wrapper 2, and positioning the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2 facing the lifting element 14 but spaced apart from it; advantageously the wrapper 2 is not dragged on the glue); pressing the wrapper 2 onto the lifting element 14 to fix the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2 to the lifting element 14 (for example, with a movement parallel to the axis of the wrapping wheel of the wrapper 2); folding the blank 20 around the wrapper 2 to form the container 8 and the cover 11.

It should be noted that folding the blank 20 into an L-shape means keeping the first panel 10’ of the first part 8’ of the blank 20 and the first, second, third, fourth panel 12’, 24’, 25’, 27’ of the second part 11 of the blank 20 aligned in a plane (i.e. the panels 10’, 12’, 24’, 25’, 27’ are kept planar with each other), and arranging the second and third panels 2G, 22’ of the first part 8’ of the blank 20 transversely (orthogonally) with respect to the plane in which the panels 10’, 12’, 24’, 25’, 27’ lie. It should be noted that the second and third panels 2 , 22’ of the first part 8’ of the blank 20 are aligned with each other in a plane (i.e. the panels 2 , 22’ are planar with each other).

In accordance with a variant embodiment, the step of fixing the lifting element 14 to the rear wall 6 of the wrapper 2 and folding the blank 20 around the wrapper 2 comprises - in order - the steps of: after having fixed the element 14 to the second part 1 of the blank 20 (preferably in planar conformation), fixing the lifting element 14 to the rear wall of the wrapper 2 (in other words, the blank 20 and the lifting element 14 are deposited on the wrapper 2 held in a pocket of a wrapping wheel); folding the blank 20 and the lifting element 14 around the wrapper 2 to form the container 8 and the cover 11

The packet 1 of cigarettes described above has numerous advantages.

In the first place, the packet 1 of cigarettes described above allows increasing the portion of the front wall 5 of the wrapper 2, which is made visible to the user once the cover 11 has been brought into the open configuration A. Advantageously, this portion of the front wall 5 of the wrapper 2 can be used to carry information and/or advertising messages and/or graphic signs.

Furthermore, the proposed packet 1 allows increasing the portion of the front wall 5 of the wrapper 2, which is made visible to the user in an extremely simple way and with a reduced consumption of material.

The production methods of the proposed packet 1 are also extremely simple and achievable by means of the packaging machines already present on the market.

Claims

1. A packet (1) of smoking articles (30), comprising: a group of smoking articles (30); a wrapper (2), which has a parallelepiped shape, which encloses the group of smoking articles (30), and which comprises an opening (3) for extracting the smoking articles (30), a bottom wall (4), which is conformed to support the group of smoking articles (30), a front wall (5) and a rear wall (6) opposite to each other and which rise from the bottom wall (4); a repositionable closing label (7), which is fixed to the wrapper (2) to open and close the extraction opening (3) of the wrapper (2); a container (8) which houses the wrapper (2), and which comprises an opening (9) for extracting the wrapper (2) from the container (8), and a rear wall (10) set against the rear wall (6) of the wrapper (2); a cover (11), which has a rear wall (12) hinged to the rear wall (10) of the container (8), at a first hinge line (13), to rotate between an open configuration (A) in which it allows access to the wrapper (2) and a closed configuration (B) wherein it prevents access to the wrapper (2); the packet (1) being characterized in that it comprises a lifting element (14) of the wrapper (2), which is fixed to the cover (11) and to the rear wall (6) of the wrapper (2) so that, when the cover (11) is moved from the closed configuration (B) to the open configuration (A), the wrapper (2) slides with respect to the container (8) through the opening (9) of the container (8) and is partially extracted from the container (8).

2. A packet (1) of smoking articles (30) according to claim 1, wherein: the lifting element (14) comprises a first portion (15), which is fixed to the cover (11), in particular to the rear wall (12) of the cover (11), a second portion (16), which is fixed to the rear wall (6) of the wrapper (2) and a third portion (17), which connects the first portion (15) and the second portion (16); the first portion (15) and the third portion (17) are hinged together at a second hinge line (18), in particular the second hinge line (18) is parallel to the first hinge line (13); when the cover (11) is in the closed configuration (B), the second hinge line (18) is arranged closer to the bottom wall (4) of the wrapper (2) than the first hinge line (13).

3. A packet (1) of smoking articles (30) according to claim 2, wherein the third portion (17) and the second portion (16) of the lifting element (14) are hinged together at a third hinge line (19), in particular the third hinge line (19) is parallel to the second hinge line (18).

4. A packet (1) of smoking articles (30) according to claims 2 or 3, wherein the third portion (17) of the lifting element (14) is glue-free.

5. A packet (1) of smoking articles (30) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the lifting element (14) is formed starting from a blank (14’), which has a quadrilateral shape and which has a maximum height equal to the height of the rear wall (6) of the wrapper (2).

6. A packet (1) of smoking articles (30) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the lifting element (14) is formed starting from a blank (14’), which has a quadrilateral shape and which has a width smaller than the width of the rear wall (6) of the wrapper (2).

7. A packet (1) of smoking articles (30) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the thickness of the wrapper (2) is smaller than the thickness of the container (8), in particular, the difference between the thickness of the wrapper (2) and the thickness of the container (8) is in a range between 0.3 mm and 0.7 mm.

8. A packet (1) of smoking articles (30) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the wrapper (2) comprises a printed and/or embossed portion at the front wall (5), which is extracted from the opening (9) of the container (8) when the cover (11) is in the open configuration (A).

9. A packet (1) of smoking articles (30) according to claim 2, wherein the lifting element

(14) consists of the first portion (15), which is fixed to the cover (11), in particular to the rear wall (12) of the cover (11), the second portion (16), which is fixed to the rear wall (6) of the wrapper (2) and the third portion (17), which connects the first portion

(15) and the second portion (16).

10. A method for producing a packet (1) of smoking articles according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of: wrapping a group of smoking articles (30) in a sheet of wrapping material forming the wrapper (2); applying the repositionable closing label (7) to the wrapper (2), before or after wrapping the group of smoking articles (30); fixing the lifting element (14) to the rear wall (6) of the wrapper (2); providing a blank (20) having a first part (8’) intended to form the container (8) and a second part (11 ’) intended to form the cover (11); after fixing the lifting element (14) to the rear wall (6) of the wrapper (2), folding the blank (20) around the wrapper (2) and fixing the lifting element (14) to the second part (1 ) of the blank (20) so that, when the cover (11) is moved from the closed configuration (B) to the open configuration (A), the wrapper (2) slides with respect to the container (8) through the opening (9) of the container (8) and is partially extracted from the container (8).

11. A method for producing a packet (1) of smoking articles according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising the steps of: wrapping a group of smoking articles (30) in a sheet of wrapping material forming the wrapper (2); applying the repositionable closing label (7) to the wrapper (2), before or after wrapping the group of smoking articles (30); providing a blank (20) having a first part (8’) intended to form the container (8) and a second part (11 ’) intended to form the cover (11); fixing the lifting element (14) to the second part (1 G) of the blank (20), which has a planar or partially folded shape; after fixing the lifting element (14) to the second part (1 G) of the blank (20), fixing the lifting element (14) to the rear wall (6) of the wrapper (2) and folding the blank (20) around the wrapper (2) forming the container (8) and the cover (11).

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the step of fixing the lifting element (14) to the rear wall (6) of the wrapper (2) and folding the blank (20) around the wrapper (2) comprises, in order, the steps of:

- before or after fixing the lifting element (14) to the second part (1 G) of the blank (20), folding the blank (20) into an L-shape;

- arranging the rear wall (6) of the wrapper (2) facing the lifting element (14);

- pressing the wrapper (2) onto the lifting element (14) to fix the rear wall (6) of the wrapper (2) to the lifting element (14);

- folding the blank (20) around the wrapper (2) to form the container (8) and the cover

(11).

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein the step of fixing the lifting element (14) to the rear wall (6) of the wrapper (2) and folding the blank (20) around the wrapper (2) comprises, in order, the steps of:

- after fixing the lifting element (14) to the second part (1 G) of the blank (20), fixing the lifting element (14) to the rear wall (6) of the wrapper (2);

- folding the blank (20) and the lifting element (14) around the wrapper (2) to form the container (8) and the cover (11).