WO2023281624A1

WO2023281624A1 - Blank for forming spacer member, spacer member, and package for stick-shaped tobacco article

Info

Publication number: WO2023281624A1
Application number: PCT/JP2021/025437
Authority: WO
Inventors: 将安里
Original assignee: 日本たばこ産業株式会社
Priority date: 2021-07-06
Filing date: 2021-07-06
Publication date: 2023-01-12

Abstract

This blank for forming a spacer member accommodated in an accommodation section of a package together with a stick-shaped tobacco article comprises a base panel and a spacer panel. The spacer panel includes a raised panel connected to the base panel so as to be foldable into a raised orientation and a plurality of changeable panels connected sequentially to the raised panel. Each of the plurality of changeable panels can be switched between a raised orientation in which the changeable panel is arranged facing the raised panel and a non-raised orientation in which the changeable panel is arranged facing the base panel. When assembling the spacer member, the number of stick-shaped tobacco articles that can be accommodated can be changed by changing the changeable panels folded into the raised orientation.

Description

A blank for forming a spacer member, a spacer member, and a package for a bar-shaped tobacco article

The present invention relates to a blank for forming a spacer member, a spacer member, and a package for stick-shaped tobacco articles.

As a package (packaging) for a stick-shaped tobacco article, for example, a so-called soft package formed of thin paper and a so-called hard package formed by assembling paperboard into a box shape are widely known. A plurality of, for example, a predetermined number of, for example, 20 stick-shaped tobacco articles are accommodated in the accommodating portion formed in such a package for stick-shaped tobacco articles.

In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for packages for stick-shaped tobacco articles, which contain fewer stick-shaped tobacco articles than existing packages. On the other hand, if the number of tobacco rods is reduced without changing the package size, the excess space in the storage portion increases, causing the tobacco rods to move inside the storage portion. There is a risk that the stick-shaped tobacco article may be damaged due to the collision between the article and the inner wall surface of the container. On the other hand, if the package size is to be changed according to the number of rod-shaped tobacco articles to be accommodated, it will be necessary to significantly modify the existing packaging equipment.

As a means for solving such problems, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses that a spacer member for restricting the movement of the bar-shaped tobacco article is accommodated in the accommodating portion of the package. The spacer member is formed by folding a blank.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2018-508427 Japanese Patent Publication No. 2018-500248

In a package for stick-shaped tobacco articles containing a spacer member, if it is desired to change the number of the bar-shaped tobacco articles to be accommodated, it is necessary to change the size of the spacer member according to the number of the rod-shaped tobacco articles. However, in the prior art, it is necessary to prepare different blanks according to the size of the spacer member. Therefore, it was necessary to modify the existing packaging equipment to a large extent, and it was not easy to change the number of rod-shaped tobacco articles.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of easily changing the number of stick-shaped tobacco articles to be accommodated in a storage portion of a package for stick-shaped tobacco articles.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following configurations. That is, the present invention
A blank for forming a spacer member that can be accommodated in an accommodation portion formed in a package for rod-shaped tobacco articles and that can change the number of the rod-shaped tobacco articles that can be accommodated in the accommodation portion, ,
a base panel arranged along the inner wall of the package for stick-shaped tobacco articles when stored in the storage portion;
a spacer panel connected to the base panel via a first folding line;
with
The spacer panel includes an upright panel connected to the base panel via the first folding line so as to be able to be folded into a standing posture with respect to the base panel, and a second folding line parallel to the first folding line. a plurality of variable panels sequentially connected to the standing panel;
further comprising a fixing part for fixing to the base panel the farthest variable panel connected to the farthest position with respect to the standing panel among the plurality of variable panels,
Depending on whether or not each of the plurality of variable panels is folded along the second folding line, an upright posture is arranged to face the upright panel, and a non-upright posture is arranged to face the base panel. and can be switched to
The storable quantity is variable by changing the variable panel that is folded into the standing posture when assembling the spacer member.
A blank for forming a spacer member.

When assembling the spacer member from such a blank, the upright panel is in the upright posture, one of the plurality of variable panels is in the upright posture, and the other variable panels are in the non-upright posture, so that the spacer member has a flat portion. A stepped portion is formed. Therefore, in the blank according to the present invention, by changing the variable panel that is folded in the standing posture, the size of the stepped portion is changed in multiple stages, and the number of spacer members that can be accommodated when the spacer member is accommodated in the accommodating portion is changed. configured to allow According to this, by changing the folding method when assembling the spacer member, it is possible to change the number of rod-shaped tobacco articles that can be accommodated. In other words, it is possible to change the number of stick-shaped tobacco articles with one type of blank. Therefore, when changing the number of rod-shaped tobacco articles that can be accommodated, it is not necessary to prepare different types of blanks for each spacer member according to the number of accommodateable tobacco articles. This makes it possible to easily change the number of rod-shaped tobacco articles to be accommodated in the accommodation section.

Moreover, in the present invention,
Width dimensions of the upright panel and the variable panel in a direction orthogonal to the first folding line may be equal.

Moreover, in the present invention,
The package for stick-shaped tobacco articles includes a pair of side walls facing each other on the left and right, and a pair of front and rear walls facing each other on the front and back,
The spacer member may be accommodated in the accommodating portion such that the base panel is along one of the pair of front and rear walls.

Moreover, in the present invention,
Both ends of the base panel in a direction orthogonal to the first folding line may be in contact with the pair of side walls, respectively, so that movement of the spacer member accommodated in the accommodation portion in the left-right direction may be restricted. .

Moreover, in the present invention,
The rod-shaped tobacco article is formed in a cylindrical shape,
In the storage portion, the rod-shaped tobacco articles are stored side by side in a staggered arrangement,
A width dimension of the upright panel and the variable panel in a direction orthogonal to the first folding line may be smaller than a diameter of the bar-shaped tobacco article.

Moreover, in the present invention,
A width dimension of the upright panel and the variable panel in a direction orthogonal to the first fold line may be 75% or more and 95% or less of the diameter of the bar-shaped tobacco article.

Moreover, in the present invention,
In the accommodation portion in which the spacer member is not accommodated, a row of six rod-shaped tobacco articles aligned left and right is sandwiched from the front and back by a row of seven rod-shaped tobacco articles aligned left and right. The rod-shaped tobacco article can be accommodated in such an arrangement,
The number of variable panels may be nine.

Further, in the present invention, one of an insertion piece and an insertion opening into which the insertion piece can be inserted is formed as the fixed portion in the farthest variable panel,
The other of the insertion piece and the insertion opening is formed in the base panel,
The farthest variable panel may be fixed to the base panel by inserting the insertion piece into the insertion opening.

Moreover, in the present invention,
A pair of slits extending in a direction orthogonal to the first folding line is formed across the upright panel and the variable panel adjacent to the upright panel,
With the upright panel in the upright position and the variable panel adjacent to the upright panel in the non-upright position, the area sandwiched between the pair of slits in the upright panel is superimposed on the base panel and on the upright panel. A region sandwiched between the pair of slits in the adjacent variable panels may be set in a standing posture.

The present invention can also be specified as a spacer member assembled from the blanks described above.

The present invention can also be specified as a stick-shaped tobacco article package in which the spacer member and the stick-shaped tobacco article are housed in the housing portion.

According to the present invention, it is possible to easily change the number of stick-shaped tobacco articles to be accommodated in the accommodation section of the package for stick-shaped tobacco articles.

1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a package for stick-shaped tobacco articles according to an embodiment; FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the inside of a package for stick-shaped tobacco articles according to an embodiment; FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the spacer member which concerns on embodiment. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a package for stick-shaped tobacco articles according to an embodiment is opened; FIG. FIG. 4A is a plan view of a blank for forming a spacer member according to an embodiment; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a spacer member in the first stage; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a spacer member in a second stage; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a spacer member in a third stage; FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a fourth stage spacer member; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a fifth stage spacer member; FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a spacer member in a sixth stage; FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a spacer member in a seventh stage; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a package for stick-shaped tobacco articles according to a reference example; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a stick-shaped tobacco article package in which a first-stage spacer member is accommodated in an accommodating portion; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a package for stick-shaped tobacco articles in which a second stage spacer member is accommodated in an accommodation portion; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a package for stick-shaped tobacco articles in which a spacer member in a third stage is accommodated in an accommodation portion; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a package for stick-shaped tobacco articles in which spacer members in a fourth stage are housed in a housing; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a package for stick-shaped tobacco articles in which a spacer member in a fifth stage is accommodated in an accommodation portion; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a stick-shaped tobacco article package in which a spacer member in a sixth stage is accommodated in an accommodating portion; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a stick-shaped tobacco article package in which a spacer member in a seventh stage is accommodated in an accommodation portion; 1 is a diagram showing a part of a manufacturing apparatus for a package for stick-shaped tobacco articles according to an embodiment; FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. It should be noted that the material, shape, relative arrangement, etc. of the constituent elements described in the following embodiments are not meant to limit the technical scope of the invention only to them, unless otherwise specified. Absent.

[overall structure]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a package 100 for stick-shaped tobacco articles (hereinafter referred to as package 100) according to an embodiment. The arrows shown in FIG. 1 represent the front/rear, up/down, and left/right directions of the package 100 . The package 100 according to the embodiment is a so-called soft package in which a stick-shaped tobacco article is softly wrapped with thin paper. The package 100 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped case body 10 including an inner box 1, an outer box 2, and a sealing seal 3, and a transparent exterior film 20 that wraps the case body 10. - 特許庁The inner box 1 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box shape by folding an inner wrapping paper of so-called aluminum laminated paper to which aluminum foil is pasted. The outer box 2 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box shape with an open upper surface by outer wrapping paper having a trademark, a pattern, etc. printed on the outer surface, and covers the inner box 1 except for the upper surface. The sealing seal 3 is pasted from the front surface of the outer box 2 to the rear surface of the outer box 2 through the upper surface of the inner box 1. - 特許庁As a result, the inner box 1 is held by the outer box 2 and the case body 10 is formed. The case main body 10 includes a pair of

side walls

10a and 10b provided on the left and right and facing each other, and a pair of front and

rear walls

10c and 10d provided on the front and back and facing each other (see FIG. 13, etc.). The exterior film 20 is made of polypropylene and wraps the entire case body 10 . In addition, the exterior film 20 includes a tear tape 201 that divides the exterior film 20 into upper and lower parts. Although the package 100 according to this embodiment is a soft package, the package for stick-shaped tobacco articles according to the present invention is not limited to a soft package, and various packages can be adopted. The package for stick-shaped tobacco articles according to the present invention may be, for example, a so-called hard package in which a package body is formed by assembling paperboard into a box shape.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the inside of the package 100 according to the embodiment. A dashed line illustrated in FIG. 2 represents the case body 10 . As shown in FIG. 2, inside the case main body 10, a housing portion 30, which is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped space, is formed. The housing portion 30 is a space defined by the inner wall surface of the case body 10 . As shown in FIG. 2 , the package 100 includes a spacer member 4 and a plurality of cigarettes 5 accommodated in the accommodation section 30 .

The cigarette 5 is an example of the "rod-shaped tobacco article" according to the present invention, and is a smoking article having a cylindrical outer shape. As shown in FIG. 2 , the cigarette 5 is housed in the housing portion 30 such that its longitudinal direction (extending direction) coincides with the vertical direction of the case body 10 . The cigarette 5 is formed by connecting a rod, which is formed by rolling up cut tobacco with wrapping paper, to a filter via tipping paper. However, the rod-shaped tobacco article in the present invention is not limited to cigarettes, and various modes can be adopted as long as they are rod-shaped smoking articles. Examples of rod-shaped tobacco articles include cigarettes (filtered cigarettes, double-cut tobaccos (without filters)), cigars, cigarillos, electronic cigarettes, and the like.

3 is a perspective view of the spacer member 4. FIG. The spacer member 4 is a member assembled by folding a blank made of paperboard, and is the number of cigarettes 5 that can be accommodated in the accommodation portion 30 by being accommodated in the accommodation portion 30 together with the cigarettes 5. configured to be modifiable. Details of the spacer member 4 will be described later.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the state in which the package 100 has been opened. In order to take out the cigarette 5 from the package 100, first, the exterior film 20 is torn along the opening tape 201 to remove the upper portion of the exterior film 20, thereby exposing the upper surface of the inner box 1.例文帳に追加After that, as shown in FIG. 4, the upper surface of the inner box 1 is torn off avoiding the sealing seal 3, thereby forming an opening 6 in the upper surface of the case body 10. As shown in FIG. The cigarette 5 stored in the storage portion 30 can be taken out through the opening 6 .

[blank]
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a blank B1 for forming the spacer member 4. FIG. The blank B1 is formed into a substantially rectangular sheet of paperboard whose main material is pulp. The spacer member 4 is assembled by bending the blank B1. Although the performance of the paperboard is not particularly limited, the basis weight is preferably 100 to 200 [g/m ² ], more preferably 130 to 170 [g/m ² ], from the viewpoint of ensuring the strength of the spacer member and easiness of folding. It is more preferable that From the above viewpoint, the paper thickness is preferably 100 to 200 [μm], more preferably 140 to 180 [μm]. Note that the blank material according to the present invention is not limited to paper. The blank may be made of plastic material or aluminum material, for example.

The arrows illustrated in FIG. 5 represent the vertical and horizontal directions of the blank B1. As shown in FIG. 5, the blank B1 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape elongated in the horizontal direction. The vertical width of the blank B1 is substantially equal to the vertical width of the housing portion 30 of the case main body 10 . The blank B1 is divided into a base panel BP and a spacer panel SP by a longitudinally extending first folding line L1. That is, the blank B1 includes a base panel BP and a spacer panel SP connected to the base panel BP via the first folding line L1. The base panel BP and the spacer panel SP are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the first folding line L1 (that is, in the horizontal direction). The width of the base panel BP is substantially equal to the left-right width of the housing portion 30 of the case body 10 .

The spacer panel SP is divided into an upright panel P1 and a plurality of variable panels P2 by a plurality of second folding lines L2 extending parallel to the first folding lines L1 (that is, extending in the vertical direction). That is, the spacer panel SP includes an upright panel P1 and a plurality of variable panels P2. The upright panel P1 is connected to the base panel BP via the first folding line L1. A plurality of variable panels P2 are sequentially connected to the upright panel P1 via the second folding lines L2. That is, the upright panel P1, the variable panel P2 adjacent to the upright panel P1, and the variable panel P2 adjacent to each other are connected via the second folding line L2. The upright panel P1 and the plurality of variable panels P2 are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the first folding line L1 (that is, in the horizontal direction).

As shown in FIG. 5, the first folding line L1 is a lead in which the pressing crease L1a shown by the broken line and the notch L1b shown by the solid line are alternately arranged so that the blank B1 can be easily folded along the first folding line L1. It is formed as a ruled line. Similarly, the second folding lines L2 are formed as lead creases in which pressing creases L2a indicated by dashed lines and notch L2b indicated by solid lines are alternately arranged so that the blank B1 can be easily folded along the second folding lines L2. ing. However, the first folding line and the second folding line of the present invention are not limited to this. The first folding line and the second folding line may be ruled lines that do not include notches, or may be perforated rules.

Here, if the number of variable panels P2 is n (integer) and the number of second folding lines L2 is m (integer), n=m=9 in this example. That is, there are nine variable panels P2 and nine second folding lines L2. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of variable panels and second folding lines can be selected as appropriate. Hereinafter, among the plurality of variable panels P2, the variable panel P2 that is p (p≦n, an integer) in order from the upright panel P1 is referred to as a variable panel P2p. The spacer panel SP of this embodiment has variable panels P21 to P29. Among the variable panels P21 to P29, the variable panel P21 is an adjacent variable panel adjacent to the upright panel P1, and the variable panel P29 is the farthest variable panel connected to the farthest position from the upright panel P1. Among the plurality of second folding lines L2, the q-th (q≤m, an integer) second folding line L2 in order of proximity from the upright panel P1 is referred to as a second folding line L2q. The spacer panel SP of this embodiment has second folding lines L21 to L29.

Here, in the spacer panel SP of this embodiment, the width dimensions (horizontal width) in the lateral direction of the upright panel P1 and the variable panels P21 to P29 are all equal. Specifically, the distance between the first folding line L1 and the second folding line L21, the distance between the adjacent second folding lines L2, and the side edge of the second folding line L29 and the variable panel P29 (that is, the spacer panel SP ) are all equal. Furthermore, the width dimensions of the upright panel P1 and the variable panel P2 are set smaller than the diameter of the cigarette 5 . Specifically, the width dimension w1 is set so that the ratio of w1 to d1 is 85.6%, where w1 is the width dimension of the upright panel P1 and the variable panel P2, and d1 is the diameter of the cigarette 5. there is However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the width dimension of the upright panel and the variable panel may be different. The width of the spacer panel SP is set larger than the width of the base panel BP by two widths of the variable panel P2.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a pair of slits SL1, SL1 extending in a direction orthogonal to the first folding line L1 (that is, in the lateral direction) is formed across the upright panel P1 and the variable panel P21 adjacent to the upright panel P1. formed. Similarly, a pair of laterally extending slits SL2, SL2 are formed across the variable panel P27 and the variable panel P28. Hereinafter, the area sandwiched between the pair of slits SL1 and SL1 in the upright panel P1 will be referred to as flap F1, and the area sandwiched between the pair of slits SL1 and SL1 in the variable panel P21 will be referred to as flap F2. Also, the area sandwiched between the pair of slits SL2 and SL2 in the variable panel P27 is referred to as flap F3, and the area sandwiched between the pair of slits SL2 and SL2 in the variable panel P28 is referred to as flap F4.

In addition, an insertion piece E1 is formed at the side end of the variable panel P29, which is the farthest variable panel (that is, the side end of the spacer panel SP). Further, an insertion opening E2 into which the insertion piece E1 can be inserted is formed near the side end of the base panel BP. The insertion piece E1 corresponds to an example of the "fixing part" according to the present invention.

[Assembly of spacer member]
As described above, since the spacer panel SP is configured to include the upright panel P1 and the plurality of variable panels P2, the shape of the spacer member 4 depends on how the blank B1 is folded when the spacer member 4 is assembled. can be changed step by step. The assembly of the spacer member 4 will be described in detail below.

6 is a cross-sectional view of the spacer member 4 in the first stage, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the spacer member 4 in the second stage, FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the spacer member 4 in the third stage, and FIG. 9 is a spacer in the fourth stage. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the spacer member 4 in the fifth stage, FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the spacer member 4 in the sixth stage, and FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the spacer member 4 in the seventh stage. 6 to 12 show cross sections perpendicular to the first folding line L1.

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 12, in the spacer member 4, the blank B1 is folded along the first folding line L1 so that the upright panel P1 is in an upright posture with respect to the base panel BP. Here, depending on whether or not each of the plurality of variable panels P2 is folded along the second folding line L2, each of the variable panels P2 is arranged in an upright posture facing the upright panel P1 and in a base panel BP. It is possible to switch the posture with the non-standing posture arranged opposite to.

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 12, in the spacer member 4, the upright panel P1 is folded at a right angle along the first folding line L1 and is in the upright posture. The variable panel P2 is folded at right angles with respect to the second folding line L2 and is in an upright position, and the other variable panels P2 are in a non-upright position. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 12, among the variable panels P2 in the non-upright posture, the variable panel P2 positioned farther from the upright panel P2 than the variable panel P2 in the upright posture is arranged at a position overlapping the base panel BP. The variable panel P2, which is closer to the standing panel P1 than the variable panel P2 in the standing posture, is arranged at a position spaced apart from the base panel BP. As a result, the spacer member 4 is formed with a flat portion indicated by 41 and a stepped portion indicated by reference numeral 42 . The flat part 41 is formed by the variable panel P2 in the non-upright posture, which overlaps the base panel BP among the spacer panels SP. The step portion 42 is formed by the upright panel P1, the variable panel P2 separated from the base panel BP, and the variable panel P2 in the upright position among the spacer panels SP, and forms a step with respect to the flat portion. there is A rod-shaped tobacco article non-storage portion 40 is defined by being surrounded by the base panel BP and the stepped portion 42 . The stick-shaped tobacco article non-storing portion 40 is a space in the package 100 in which the cigarettes 5 are not stored.

In this embodiment, by selecting the variable panel P2, which is folded into the standing posture when assembling the spacer member 4, from among the variable panels P22 to P29, the width of the step portion 42 differs as shown in FIGS. 6 to 12. The form of the spacer member 4 can be selected from among the first to seventh stages. 2 to 4 show the first stage spacer member 4 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the spacer member 4 at the first stage, the variable panel P22 among the variable panels P22 to P29 is in the standing posture, and the variable panels P21 and P23 to P29 other than the variable panel P22 are in the non-standing posture. , the spacer panel SP is folded. The spacer panel SP is folded at right angles at the second folding lines L21, L22, L23. Specifically, the variable panel P21 is folded along the second folding line L21 to assume the non-standing posture, the variable panel P22 is folded along the second folding line L22 to assume the standing posture, and the second folding line L23 is folded. The variable panels P23 to P29 are folded into the boundary and are in a non-standing posture. In the first stage, the variable panel P21 is separated from the base panel BP, and the variable panels P23 to P29 overlap the base panel BP. Thus, in the spacer member 4 of the first stage, a stepped portion 42 is formed by the upright panel P1 and the variable panels P21 and P22.

As shown in FIG. 7, among the variable panels P22 to P29, the variable panel P23 of the variable panels P22 to P29 is in the standing posture, and the variable panels P21, P22, P24 to P29 other than the variable panel P23 are in the non-standing posture. The spacer panel SP is bent so that it becomes The spacer panel SP is folded at right angles at the second folding lines L21, L23, L24. Specifically, the variable panels P21 and P22 are folded along the second folding line L21 to assume the non-standing posture, and the variable panel P23 is folded along the second folding line L23 to assume the standing posture, and the second folding line L23 is folded. The variable panels P24 to P29 are folded at the boundary of L24 and are in a non-standing posture. In the second stage, the variable panels P21 and P22 are separated from the base panel BP, and the variable panels P24 to P29 overlap the base panel BP. Thus, in the spacer member 4 of the second stage, a stepped portion 42 is formed by the upright panel P1 and the variable panels P21 to P23.

As shown in FIG. 8, among the variable panels P22 to P29, the variable panel P24 of the variable panels P22 to P29 is in the standing posture, and the variable panels P21 to P23 and P25 to P29 other than the variable panel P24 are in the non-standing posture. The spacer panel SP is bent so that it becomes The spacer panel SP is folded at right angles at the second folding lines L21, L24, L25. Specifically, the variable panels P21 to P23 are folded along the second folding line L21 to assume the non-standing posture, and the variable panel P24 is folded along the second folding line L24 to assume the standing posture, and the second folding line L24 is folded. The variable panels P25 to P29 are folded at the boundary of L25 and are in a non-standing posture. In the third stage, the variable panels P21-P23 are separated from the base panel BP, and the variable panels P25-P29 overlap the base panel BP. Thus, in the spacer member 4 of the third stage, a stepped portion 42 is formed by the upright panel P1 and the variable panels P21 to P24.

As shown in FIG. 9, among the variable panels P22 to P29, the variable panel P25 of the variable panels P22 to P29 is in the standing posture, and the variable panels P21 to P24 and P26 to P29 other than the variable panel P25 are in the non-standing posture. The spacer panel SP is bent so that it becomes The spacer panel SP is bent at right angles at the second folding lines L21, L25, L26. Specifically, the variable panels P21 to P24 are folded along the second folding line L21 to assume the non-standing posture, and the variable panel P25 is folded along the second folding line L25 to assume the standing posture, and the second folding line L25 is folded. The variable panels P26 to P29 are folded in at L26 and are in a non-standing posture. In the fourth stage, the variable panels P21-P24 are separated from the base panel BP, and the variable panels P26-P29 overlap the base panel BP. Thus, in the spacer member 4 of the fourth stage, a stepped portion 42 is formed by the upright panel P1 and the variable panels P21 to P25.

As shown in FIG. 10, among the variable panels P22 to P29, the variable panel P26 of the variable panels P22 to P29 is in the standing posture, and the variable panels P21 to P25 and P27 to P29 other than the variable panel P26 are in the non-standing posture. The spacer panel SP is bent so that it becomes The spacer panel SP is folded at right angles at the second folding lines L21, L26, L27. Specifically, the variable panels P21 to P25 are folded along the second folding line L21 to assume the non-standing posture, and the variable panel P26 is folded along the second folding line L26 to assume the standing posture, and the second folding line L26 is folded. The variable panels P27 to P29 are folded in at L27 and are in a non-standing posture. In the fifth stage, the variable panels P21-P25 are separated from the base panel BP, and the variable panels P27-P29 overlap the base panel BP. Thus, in the spacer member 4 of the fifth stage, a stepped portion 42 is formed by the upright panel P1 and the variable panels P21 to P26.

As shown in FIG. 11, among the variable panels P22 to P29, the variable panel P27 of the variable panels P22 to P29 is in the standing posture, and the variable panels P21 to P26, P28, and P29 other than the variable panel P27 are in the non-standing posture. The spacer panel SP is bent so that it becomes The spacer panel SP is folded at right angles at the second folding lines L21, L27, L28. Specifically, the variable panels P21 to P26 are folded along the second folding line L21 to assume the non-standing posture, and the variable panel P27 is folded along the second folding line L27 to assume the standing posture, and the second folding line L27 is folded. The variable panels P28 and P29 are folded in at L28 and are in a non-standing posture. At the sixth stage, the variable panels P21 to P26 are separated from the base panel BP, and the variable panels P28 and P29 overlap the base panel BP. Thus, in the spacer member 4 of the sixth stage, a stepped portion 42 is formed by the upright panel P1 and the variable panels P21 to P27.

As shown in FIG. 12, in the spacer member 4 of the seventh stage, the variable panel P28 out of the variable panels P22 to P29 is in the upright posture, and the variable panels P21 to P27 and P29 other than the variable panel P28 are in the non-upright posture. , the spacer panel SP is bent. The spacer panel SP is folded at right angles at the second folding lines L21, L28, L29. Specifically, the variable panels P21 to P27 are folded along the second folding line L21 to assume the non-standing posture, and the variable panel P28 is folded along the second folding line L28 to assume the standing posture, and the second folding line L28 is used as the boundary. The variable panel P29 is folded with L29 as the boundary and is in the non-standing posture. At the sixth stage, the variable panels P21 to P27 are separated from the base panel BP, and the variable panel P29 overlaps the base panel BP. Thus, in the spacer member 4 of the seventh stage, a stepped portion 42 is formed by the upright panel P1 and the variable panels P21 to P28.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the insertion piece E1 formed in the variable panel P29, which is the side end of the spacer panel SP and is the farthest variable panel, is inserted into the insertion opening E2 formed in the base panel BP. By being inserted, the variable panel P29 is fixed to the base panel BP. Although FIG. 3 shows the spacer member 4 at the first stage, the insertion piece E1 is similarly inserted into the insertion opening E2 at the second to seventh stages. The spacer member 4 is assembled by bending the spacer panel SP to form the stepped portion 42, inserting the insertion piece E1 into the insertion opening E2, and fixing the variable panel P29, which is the farthest variable panel, to the base panel BP. . As described above, the width of the spacer panel SP is larger than the width of the base panel BP by twice the width of the upright panel P1 and the variable panel P2. Due to the standing posture, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 12, in the spacer member 4, the side edges of the spacer panel SP and the side edges of the base panel BP are aligned. Therefore, in the first to seventh stages, the width of the spacer member 4 is constant at the width of the base panel BP, and substantially equal to the left-right width of the accommodating portion 30 . In addition, since the blank B1 is not vertically folded in the assembly of the spacer member 4, the vertical width of the spacer member 4 is the same as the vertical width of the base panel BP in the first to seventh stages. It is approximately the same as the vertical width.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 12, in the spacer member 4, the flap F1, which is the region sandwiched between the pair of slits SL1 and SL1 in the upright panel P1 in the upright posture, is superimposed on the base panel BP, and is not upright. A flap F2, which is a region sandwiched between a pair of slits SL1, SL1 in the variable panel P21 in the posture, is in the standing posture. Further, as shown in FIG. 12, in the spacer member 4 at the seventh stage, the flap F3, which is the region sandwiched between the pair of slits SL2, SL2 in the variable panel P27 in the non-standing posture, assumes the standing posture. A flap F4, which is a region sandwiched between a pair of slits SL2, SL2 in a certain variable panel P28, is superimposed on the base panel BP. As a result, the stepped portion 42 is reinforced, the panel in the upright posture is less likely to fall, and deformation of the stepped portion 42 and the bar-shaped tobacco article non-storing portion 40 is suppressed.

As described above, in this embodiment, the width dimension in the horizontal direction of the upright panel P1 and all the variable panels P2 is set equal. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 12, in the first to seventh stages, the height of the upright panel P1 in the upright posture and the height of the variable panel P2 in the upright posture are the same, and the step portion 42 , the variable panel P2 in the non-standing posture is parallel to the base panel BP. In addition, since all the variable panels P2 have the same width dimension w1, the height of the stepped portion 42 in the first to seventh stages is constant at w1.

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 12, the number of variable panels P2 in the non-standing posture that constitute the step portion 42 is increased by one in the order of the first stage, the second stage, . . . the seventh stage. , the width of the step portion 42 increases stepwise. By widening the stepped portion 42 stepwise, the cross-sectional area of the bar-shaped tobacco article non-storage portion 40 in the cross section orthogonal to the first folding line L1 also increases stepwise. Since the width dimension of the upright panel P1 and all of the variable panels P2 are the same, the width of the step portion 42 increases by w1, which is the width dimension of the variable panel P2, and the cross-sectional area of the tobacco article non-storage portion 40 has the width dimension w1. increases by the square of .

Thus, in this embodiment, the width of the stepped portion 42 and the cross-sectional area of the bar-shaped tobacco article non-storage portion 40 differ depending on which variable panel P2 is set to the standing posture. Therefore, it is possible to change the width of the stepped portion 42 and the cross-sectional area of the bar-shaped tobacco article non-storing portion 40 by changing the variable panel P2 that is folded into the standing posture.

[Function of spacer member]
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view orthogonal to the vertical direction of a package X for stick-shaped tobacco articles according to a reference example. In FIG. 13 , illustration of the exterior film 20 is omitted, and the case body 10 is illustrated in a simplified manner. A package X is a reference example for explaining the arrangement of the cigarettes 5 in the accommodation portion 30 and corresponds to the package 100 without the spacer member 4 . Specifically, the accommodation portion 30 of the package X does not accommodate the spacer member 4, but accommodates the maximum number of cigarettes 5 that can be accommodated. As shown in FIG. 6, in the accommodating portion 30 in which the spacer member 4 is not accommodated, a row of six cigarettes 5 aligned in the left and right direction is arranged in a row of seven cigarettes 5 aligned in the left and right direction. A total of 20 cigarettes 5 can be accommodated in such an arrangement that they are sandwiched between them.

Hereinafter, the columns in which the cigarettes 5 are arranged side by side in the storage section 30 will be referred to as the first, second, and third columns from the front. The first row is the frontmost row of the storage section 30 . As shown in FIG. 13, in the accommodation portion 30 in which the spacer members 4 are not accommodated, the cigarettes 5 can be accommodated in an arrangement of 7 cigarettes in the first row, 6 cigarettes in the second row, and 7 cigarettes in the third row. be. In addition, the cigarettes 5 are accommodated in the accommodation portion 30 such that the cigarettes 5 in rows adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction are alternately arranged in the left-right direction. That is, the cigarettes 5 are accommodated side by side in a staggered arrangement in the accommodating portion 30 . In the first to third rows, the cigarettes 5 are arranged side by side without gaps. Also, each of the cigarettes 5 in the second row is in contact with two cigarettes 5 adjacent to each other on the left and right in the first row. Further, the distance between the pair of

side walls

10a and 10b is set so that the lateral width of the housing portion 30 is equal to the width of seven cigarettes 5. As shown in FIG.

Here, the number of cigarettes 5 that can be accommodated in the accommodation portion 30 is defined as the number of cigarettes that can be accommodated. Further, the number of accommodation portions 30 in which no spacer member 4 is accommodated is defined as the maximum number of accommodation possible. The maximum quantity that can be accommodated is the quantity that can be accommodated in package X, which is 20 as described above. However, the maximum number of cigarettes that can be accommodated in the accommodating portion according to the present invention is not limited to 20, and the arrangement of the bar-shaped tobacco articles is not limited to the arrangement described above.

14 to 20 are diagrams for explaining the relationship between the shape of the spacer member 4 and the number of cigarettes 5 that can be accommodated. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the package 100 in which the spacer member 4 of the first stage is accommodated in the accommodating portion 30, FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the package 100 in which the spacer member 4 of the second stage is accommodated in the accommodating portion 30, and FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the package 100 in which the third stage spacer member 4 is housed in the housing portion 30, FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the package 100 in which the fourth stage spacer member 4 is housed in the housing portion 30, and FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the package 100 in which the spacer members 4 of five stages are housed in the housing portion 30, FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the package 100 in which the spacer members 4 of the sixth stage are housed in the housing portion 30, and FIG. 20 is the seventh stage. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the package 100 in which the spacer member 4 of is housed in the housing portion 30. FIG. FIGS. 14 to 20 show cross sections perpendicular to the first fold line L1, in which the number of cigarettes 5 that can be accommodated is accommodated in the accommodation section 30. As shown in FIG. 14 to 20, illustration of the exterior film 20 is omitted, and the case body 10 is illustrated in a simplified manner.

As shown in FIGS. 14 to 20, the spacer member 4 has the extending direction of the first folding line L1 aligned with the extending direction of the cigarette 5, and the base panel BP along the front wall 10c of the case body 10. , is accommodated in the accommodation portion 30. As shown in FIG. At this time, the width of the spacer member 4 is the same as the width of the base panel BP, and is substantially equal to the left-right width of the housing portion 30 of the case body 10. The lateral movement of the spacer member 4 housed in the housing portion 30 is restricted by abutting on the

side walls

10a and 10b of the housing portion 30, respectively. The vertical width of the spacer member 4 is the same as the vertical width of the base panel BP, and is substantially equal to the vertical width of the housing portion 30 of the case body 10. By contacting the upper and lower walls, the vertical movement of the spacer member 4 accommodated in the accommodation portion 30 is restricted. 14 to 20, the flat portion 41 of the spacer member 4 contacts the cigarettes 5 in the first row, and the stepped portion 42 contacts the cigarettes 5 in the second row.

As shown in FIGS. 14 to 20, in the package 100, the spacer member 4 is housed in the housing portion 30, so that the rod-shaped tobacco article non-housing portion 40 inside the stepped portion 42 and the stepped portion are formed in the housing portion 30. As shown in FIGS. 42, an outer tobacco rod-shaped article receiving portion 50 is defined. The stick-shaped tobacco article non-storage portion 40 is a space in which the cigarettes 5 are not stored. The rod-shaped tobacco article storage portion 50 is a space in which the cigarette 5 is stored. The maximum number of cigarettes 5 that can be stored in the bar-shaped tobacco article storage portion 50 is the number of cigarettes 5 that can be stored in the package 100 . That is, in the package 100 , the stepped portion 42 of the spacer member 4 accommodated in the accommodation portion 30 functions as a spacer that limits the number of cigarettes 5 that can be accommodated in the accommodation portion 30 . Thus, in the package 100, the quantity that can be accommodated can be made smaller than the maximum quantity that can be accommodated when the spacer member 4 is not accommodated in the accommodation section 30. FIG.

Here, as the cross-sectional area of the rod-shaped tobacco article non-accommodating portion 40, which is the space inside the stepped portion 42, increases as the width of the stepped portion 42 increases, the rod-shaped tobacco article accommodating portion 50, which is the space outside the stepped portion 42, increases. Since the cross-sectional area of is reduced, the number of cigarettes 5 that can be accommodated is also reduced. In this embodiment, the form of the spacer member 4 can be selected from the first stage to the seventh stage in which the cross-sectional area of the bar-shaped tobacco article non-receiving portion 40 differs depending on which variable panel P2 is set to the standing position. By doing so, the cross-sectional area of the rod-shaped tobacco article accommodating portion 50 can be changed. Thereby, the number of cigarettes 5 that can be accommodated can be changed by changing the shape of the spacer member 4 .

As described above, the height of the stepped portion 42 in the first to seventh stages is constant at the width dimension w1 of the upright panel P1 and the variable panel P2, and the width dimension w1 is smaller than the diameter d1 of the cigarette 5. Therefore, the number of cigarettes 5 that can be arranged in the first row closest to the base panel BP of the spacer member 4 among the first to third rows increases or decreases depending on the form of the spacer member 4 .

Here, as shown in FIGS. 14 to 20 , in the accommodation portion 30 , the columnar cigarettes 5 are arranged in a staggered arrangement on the left and right, and the cigarettes 5 in the first row are in contact with the flat portion 41 of the spacer member 4 . They are in contact with each other. In this state, the distance between the flat portion 41 and the second row of cigarettes 5 arranged between the left and right adjacent cigarettes 5 in the first row is 85.6% of the diameter d1 of the cigarettes 5 . On the other hand, as described above, the ratio of the width dimension w1 of the upright panel P1 and the variable panel P2 to the diameter d1 of the cigarette 5 is 85.6%. That is, the width dimension w1 of the panel is equivalent to the distance between the flat portion 41 and the portion of the cigarettes 5 in the second row that is closest to the flat portion 41 . The height of the stepped portion 42 in the first to seventh stages is constant at 85.6% of the diameter d1 of the cigarette 5. As shown in FIG. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 14 to 20, the front and rear positions of the second row of cigarettes 5 contacting the stepped portion 42 and the front and rear positions of the second row of cigarettes 5 contacting the first row of cigarettes 5 are aligned. there is That is, in the first to seventh stages, the front and rear positions of the cigarettes 5 in the second row are aligned.

Below, we will explain the amount that can be accommodated in each of the 1st to 7th stages. In the example shown in FIG. 14, the spacer member 4 of the first stage is housed in the housing portion 30, so that the stepped portion 42 occupies a space equal to or less than one cigarette 5 in the first row. As a result, as shown in FIG. 14, the number of cigarettes 5 that can be arranged in the first row is six, and the number of cigarettes that can be accommodated is 19, which is one less than the maximum number of cigarettes that can be accommodated, which is 20 cigarettes. .

In the example shown in FIG. 15 , the stepped portion 42 of the spacer member 4 in the second stage occupies a space larger than one cigarette 5 and not larger than two cigarettes 5 , thereby reducing the number of cigarettes 5 that can be arranged in the first row. The quantity is 5, and the number of storable bottles is 18, which is 2 less than the maximum storable quantity.

In the example shown in FIG. 16 , the stepped portion 42 of the spacer member 4 in the third stage occupies a space larger than two cigarettes 5 but not more than three cigarettes 5 , thereby reducing the number of cigarettes 5 that can be arranged in the first row. The number is 4, and the number of storable items is 17, which is 3 less than the maximum storable amount.

In the example shown in FIG. 17, the stepped portion 42 of the spacer member 4 in the fourth stage occupies a space larger than three cigarettes 5 but not more than four cigarettes 5, so that the number of cigarettes 5 that can be arranged in the first row is increased. The quantity is 3, and the storable quantity is 16, which is 4 less than the maximum storable quantity.

In the example shown in FIG. 18, the stepped portion 42 of the spacer member 4 in the fifth stage occupies a space larger than four cigarettes 5 but not more than five cigarettes 5, thereby reducing the number of cigarettes 5 that can be arranged in the first row. The quantity is 2, and the number of storable bottles is 15, which is 5 less than the maximum storable quantity.

Here, when the number of cigarettes 5 in the first row is reduced one by one, the lateral width of the first row decreases by the diameter d1 of the cigarettes 5, whereas the width of the stepped portion 42 of the spacer member 4 increases by w1, which is the width dimension of the variable panel P2, in the order of the first step to the seventh step. Therefore, if the configuration of the spacer member 4 is increased step by step to decrease the number of cigarettes that can be accommodated, the difference between the diameter d1 and the width dimension w1 accumulates, and the difference between the stepped portion 42 and the cigarettes 5 in the first row is accumulated. The gap gradually increases. In this example, the width dimension w1 is set to 85.6% of the diameter d1. Therefore, as shown in FIG. A gap g1 between the stepped portion 42 and the first row of cigarettes 5 is 2/3 or more of the diameter d1 of the cigarettes 5. As shown in FIG. In order to reduce the gap between the stepped portion 42 and the cigarettes 5 in the first row, as shown in FIG. Two cigarettes 5 may be arranged in a row. As shown in FIG. 19, the case main body 10 is deformed to the outside of the housing portion 30 to increase the lateral width of the housing portion 30, thereby increasing the number of cigarettes 5 that can be housed, and the spacer member 4 is placed in the sixth stage and placed in the sixth stage. Two cigarettes 5 can be arranged in one row. That is, it is possible to increase the number of storable items to 15 at the sixth stage in which the width of the step portion 42 is larger than that at the fifth stage. As a result, the gap between the stepped portion 42 and the cigarettes 5 in the first row can be made smaller than in the case of the fifth stage while the number of cigarettes 5 that can be accommodated is set to 15 cigarettes. By applying the spacer member to the soft package in this way, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom in changing the quantity that can be accommodated. Even if the case main body cannot be deformed, if the contents are soft like cigarettes, it is possible to increase the number of contents that can be accommodated by compressing the contents.

In the example shown in FIG. 20 , the stepped portion 42 of the spacer member 4 in the seventh stage occupies a space larger than five cigarettes 5 but not more than six cigarettes 5 , thereby reducing the number of cigarettes 5 that can be arranged in the first row. The quantity becomes 1, and the number that can be accommodated is 14, which is less than the maximum quantity that can be accommodated by 6.

[Package manufacturing method]
FIG. 21 is a diagram showing part of a manufacturing apparatus for the package 100 according to the embodiment. In FIG. 21, a supply device 300, which is part of the manufacturing equipment, is illustrated. The supply device 300 is a device that bundles a predetermined number of cigarettes 5 and spacer members 4 to be contained in the package 100 to form an aligned group 7 and supplies the aligned group 7 to a packaging device (not shown). . As shown in FIG. 21 , the supply device 300 includes a supply section 301 , a pusher mechanism 302 , a guide section 303 and a conveyor 304 .

First, a predetermined number of cigarettes 5 and spacer members 4 assembled in a form corresponding to the predetermined number are supplied to the supply section 301 from a hopper (not shown). The number of cigarettes 5 is a storable quantity determined by the shape of the spacer member 4 . In the supply portion 301, the directions of the cigarettes 5 and the spacer member 4 are aligned. Next, the cigarette 5 and the spacer member 4 supplied to the supply portion 301 are pushed into the guide portion 303 by the pusher mechanism 302 . The guide portion 303 has a guide wall 303a inclined so as to converge toward the outlet. As the cigarettes 5 and the spacer member 4 pass through the guide portion 303 , they are bundled together to form the aligned group 7 . The aligned group 7 that has passed through the guide portion 303 is accommodated in a pocket 304a of the conveyor 304, and the conveyor 304 transports the aligned group 7 to the packaging device along the supply direction D1. After that, the aligned group 7 is packaged by a known method by a packaging device to form a package 100 .

[Action/effect]
As described above, the blank B1 for forming the spacer member 4 according to this embodiment is arranged along the inner wall (the front wall 10c in this example) of the package 100 when it is housed in the housing portion 30 of the package 100. and a spacer panel SP connected to the base panel BP via a first folding line L1. Furthermore, the spacer panel SP includes a standing panel P1 connected to the base panel BP via a first folding line L1 so as to be foldable into a standing posture with respect to the base panel BP, and a second folding line L2 parallel to the first folding line L1. and a plurality of variable panels P2 successively connected to the upright panel P1 via. In addition, the blank B1 further includes a fixing portion for fixing the farthest variable panel (variable panel P29 in this example), which is connected to the farthest position with respect to the upright panel P1 among the plurality of variable panels P2, to the base panel BP. ing. The plurality of variable panels P2 can be switched between an upright posture and a non-upright posture depending on whether or not each of them is folded along the second folding line L2. The storable quantity is variable by changing the variable panel P2 that is folded as a posture.

When assembling the spacer member 4 with such a blank B1, the upright panel P1 is in the upright posture, one of the plurality of variable panels P2 is in the upright posture, and the other variable panel P2 is in the non-upright posture. A flat portion 41 and a stepped portion 42 are formed in the member 4 . Therefore, in the blank B1 according to the present embodiment, the size of the stepped portion 42 (in this example, the width of the stepped portion 42) is changed in multiple stages by changing the variable panel P2 that is folded into the standing posture, and the spacer member 4 is configured to be able to change the quantity that can be accommodated when 4 is accommodated in the accommodation portion 30 .

When the spacer member 4 formed of such a blank B1 is accommodated in the accommodation portion 30, the stepped portion 42 occupies a predetermined space, so that the spacer member 4 is not accommodated in the accommodation portion 30. , the number of cigarettes 5 that can be accommodated can be reduced. That is, even if the number of cigarettes 5 accommodated in the accommodation portion 30 is reduced without changing the volume of the accommodation portion 30, the step portion 42 functions as a spacer that fills the gap between the cigarettes 5 and the case body 10. It is possible to prevent the cigarettes 5 from moving inside the housing portion 30 , and to prevent the cigarettes 5 from being damaged due to the collision between the cigarettes 5 or the collision between the cigarettes 5 and the inner wall surface of the housing portion 30 . Thus, according to the blank B1 according to this embodiment, the number of cigarettes 5 to be housed in the package 100 can be reduced without changing the package size. If the packaging size is to be changed according to the number of cigarettes 5 to be accommodated, it is necessary to significantly modify the packaging device. The quantity of cigarettes 5 can be reduced.

Further, the blank B1 according to the present embodiment is configured such that the number of cigarettes 5 that can be accommodated can be changed by changing the folding method when assembling the spacer member 4 . That is, it is possible to change the number of cigarettes 5 with one type of blank. Therefore, when changing the number of cigarettes 5 that can be accommodated, it is not necessary to prepare different types of blanks for each spacer member according to the number of cigarettes that can be accommodated. Thereby, the number of cigarettes 5 to be accommodated in the accommodation portion 30 can be easily changed.

Further, in the blank B1 according to the present embodiment, the width dimensions of the upright panel P1 and the variable panel P2 in the direction perpendicular to the first folding line L1 are all set to be equal, so that the variable panel P2 folded in the upright posture can be either Even if there is, the stepped portion 42 can be made parallel to the flat portion 41 . As a result, the cigarettes 5 in contact with the stepped portion 42 are aligned parallel to the flat portion 41, so that the cigarettes 5 can be neatly arranged.

Further, the spacer member 4 according to the present embodiment is accommodated in the accommodation portion 30 so that the base panel BP is along the front wall 10c of the case body 10, so that among the cigarettes 5 accommodated in the accommodation portion 30, The number of cigarettes 5 (in this example, the cigarettes 5 in the first row) on the front wall 10c side can be changed. The spacer member 4 may be accommodated in the accommodation portion 30 with the base panel BP along the rear wall 10d of the case body 10. In this case, the cigarette 5 (in this example, the third The number of cigarettes 5) in the row can be changed.

In addition, the blank B1 according to the present embodiment contacts the pair of

side walls

10a and 10b of the case main body 10 at both ends of the base panel BP in the direction orthogonal to the first folding line L1, thereby It is configured to restrict the movement of the accommodated spacer member 4 in the left-right direction. As a result, it is possible to suppress the lateral position of the spacer member 4 from deviating significantly.

Further, in this embodiment, the cigarettes 5 as the bar-shaped tobacco articles are formed in a columnar shape, and the cigarettes 5 are accommodated in the accommodation portion 30 side by side in a staggered arrangement. The width dimension w1 in the direction perpendicular to the first folding line L1 is made smaller than the diameter d1 of the cigarette 5. As shown in FIG. Thereby, the height of the stepped portion 42 can be made lower than the diameter d1 of the cigarette 5 . Furthermore, in this embodiment, the ratio of the width dimension w1 to the diameter d1 is 85.6%. As a result, the height of the stepped portion 42 is 85.6% of the diameter d1 of the cigarette 5, and the position of the cigarettes 5 in the second row (the second left and right rows from the front row) in contact with the stepped portion 42 and the first The front and rear positions of the cigarettes 5 in the second row abutting on the cigarettes 5 in the row (front row) can be aligned. As a result, the cigarettes 5 can be neatly arranged. Although the ratio of the width dimension w1 to the diameter d1 of the cigarette 5 is not limited to 85.6%, it is preferably 75% or more and 95% or less in consideration of the thickness of the blank B1 from the viewpoint of the appearance described above. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

Further, in the present embodiment, in the accommodating portion 30 in which the spacer member 4 is not accommodated, a row of six cigarettes 5 aligned in the left and right direction is arranged in a row of seven cigarettes 5 aligned in the left and right direction. A cigarette 5 can be accommodated in such an arrangement that it is sandwiched between the blanks B1, and the number of the variable panels P2 of the blank B1 is nine. According to this, it is possible to change the size of the stepped portion 42 in seven steps depending on which variable panel P2 is to be folded in the standing posture. By selecting the stage of the stepped portion 42, the number of cigarettes 5 arranged in the first row, that is, the front row can be reduced within the range of 1 to 6 cigarettes. As a result, it is possible to flexibly cope with a decrease in the number of cigarettes 5 housed in the housing portion 30 .

In the blank B1 according to the present embodiment, the variable panel P29, which is the farthest variable panel, is formed with the insertion piece E1 as a fixed portion, and the base panel BP is provided with a differential panel into which the insertion piece E1 can be inserted. An inlet E2 is formed. Accordingly, by inserting the insertion piece E1 into the insertion opening E2, the variable panel P29 can be fixed to the base panel BP. In addition, the insertion piece may be formed on the base panel, and the insertion opening may be formed on the farthest variable panel.

Further, the blank B1 according to the present embodiment is formed with a pair of slits SL1, SL1 extending in a direction perpendicular to the first folding line L1 across the upright panel P1 and the variable panel P21 adjacent to the upright panel P1. , with the upright panel P1 in the upright position and the variable panel P21 in the non-upright position, the flap F1, which is the area sandwiched between the pair of slits SL1 and SL1 in the upright panel P1, is superimposed on the base panel BP, and the variable panel P21 is placed. The flap F2, which is the region sandwiched between the pair of slits SL1, SL1 in the above, is configured to be able to take an upright posture. Thereby, the strength of the step portion 42 can be increased.

In this example, the case where the number of variable panels P2 is nine has been described, but the present invention can be applied even when the number of variable panels P2 is other than nine. If the number of variable panels P2 is n, and the r (integer)-th variable panel in the order of proximity from the standing panel among the n variable panels is set to the standing posture, the conditions of n≧3 and 1<r≦n are satisfied. By filling it, a spacer member having a step can be assembled. That is, of the n variable panels, the r-th variable panel from the standing panel is in the standing posture, the variable panels other than the variable panel are in the non-standing posture, and the n-th variable panel is fixed to the base panel, A spacer member having a stepped portion can be assembled.

In this embodiment, the width of the stepped portion is changed according to which variable panel is to be folded into the upright posture, so that the number of cigarettes 5 that can be arranged in the first row, which is the front row, can be changed. , the width dimensions of the upright panel P1 and the variable panel P2 are set, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the width dimensions of the upright panel P1 and the variable panel P2 may be set so that the number of cigarettes 5 that can be arranged in the second row and the third row can be changed. In other words, even if the blank is configured so that the number of bar-shaped tobacco articles arranged in front and back in the storage portion can be changed by changing the height of the stepped portion according to which variable panel is folded in the standing posture. good.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, appropriate modifications can be made to the above embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the blank may be printed or stamped to provide the spacer member with advertising, couponing, or other functions.

100 Package for stick-shaped tobacco article 30 Housing portion 4 Spacer member 5 Cigarette (an example of a stick-shaped tobacco article)
B1...Blank BP...Base panel SP...Spacer panel P1...Upright panel P2...Variable panel L1...First folding line L2...Second Folding line E1・・・Insert piece (an example of a fixed part)
E2・・・Inlet

Claims

A blank for forming a spacer member that can be accommodated in an accommodating portion formed in a package for rod-shaped tobacco articles and that can change the number of the rod-shaped tobacco articles that can be accommodated in the accommodating portion, which is the quantity that can be accommodated. ,
a base panel arranged along the inner wall of the package for stick-shaped tobacco articles when stored in the storage part;
a spacer panel connected to the base panel via a first folding line;
with
The spacer panel includes an upright panel connected to the base panel via the first folding line so as to be able to be folded into a standing posture with respect to the base panel, and a second folding line parallel to the first folding line. a plurality of variable panels sequentially connected to the standing panel;
further comprising a fixing part for fixing to the base panel the farthest variable panel connected to the farthest position with respect to the standing panel among the plurality of variable panels,
Depending on whether or not each of the plurality of variable panels is folded along the second folding line, an upright posture is arranged to face the upright panel, and a non-upright posture is arranged to face the base panel. and can be switched to
When assembling the spacer member, the storable quantity is variable by changing the variable panel that is folded into the standing posture.
A blank for forming the spacer member.
Width dimensions of the upright panel and the variable panel in a direction orthogonal to the first folding line are all equal,
A blank for forming the spacer member of claim 1.
The package for stick-shaped tobacco articles includes a pair of side walls facing each other on the left and right, and a pair of front and rear walls facing each other on the front and back,
The spacer member is accommodated in the accommodating portion such that the base panel is along one of the pair of front and rear walls.
A blank for forming a spacer member according to claim 1 or 2.
Both ends of the base panel in a direction orthogonal to the first folding line abut against the pair of side walls, respectively, thereby restricting movement of the spacer member accommodated in the accommodation portion in the left-right direction.
A blank for forming the spacer member of claim 3.
The rod-shaped tobacco article is formed in a cylindrical shape,
In the storage portion, the rod-shaped tobacco articles are stored side by side in a staggered arrangement,
Width dimensions of the upright panel and the variable panel in a direction orthogonal to the first folding line are smaller than the diameter of the rod-shaped tobacco article.
A blank for forming a spacer member according to claim 3 or 4.
The ratio of the width dimension of the upright panel and the variable panel in the direction orthogonal to the first folding line to the diameter of the rod-shaped tobacco article is 75% or more and 95% or less.
A blank for forming the spacer member of claim 5.
In the accommodation portion in which the spacer member is not accommodated, a row of six rod-shaped tobacco articles aligned left and right is sandwiched from the front and back by a row of seven rod-shaped tobacco articles aligned left and right. The rod-shaped tobacco article can be accommodated in such an arrangement,
The number of variable panels is 9,
A blank for forming a spacer member according to any one of claims 3-6.
one of an insertion piece and an insertion opening into which the insertion piece can be inserted is formed as the fixed portion in the farthest variable panel,
The other of the insertion piece and the insertion opening is formed in the base panel,
The farthest variable panel is fixed to the base panel by inserting the insertion piece into the insertion opening.
A blank for forming a spacer member according to any one of claims 1-7.
A pair of slits extending in a direction orthogonal to the first folding line is formed across the upright panel and the variable panel adjacent to the upright panel,
With the upright panel in the upright position and the variable panel adjacent to the upright panel in the non-upright position, the area sandwiched between the pair of slits in the upright panel is superimposed on the base panel and on the upright panel. The area sandwiched between the pair of slits in the adjacent variable panels can be set to a standing posture,
A blank for forming a spacer member according to any one of claims 1-8.
A spacer member assembled from blanks for forming the spacer member according to any one of claims 1 to 9.
A package for stick-shaped tobacco articles, in which the spacer member according to claim 10 and the stick-shaped tobacco articles are accommodated in the accommodating portion.