Patent ID: 8549823
Filing Date: 2013-10-08
Classification: B31B,B65B

Abstract:
1. A method of forming a carton assembly for a group of packages of smoking articles with a packaging machine comprising: assembling a plurality of packages of smoking articles into a desired configuration to form a group of packages, the desired configuration being substantially box-shaped; supplying a piece of film material of a predetermined size; folding the film material over the group of packages such that film material forms a U-shape to cover a top surface of the group of packages, to form front and back portions to cover at least a portion of opposing front and back surfaces of the group of packages, to form first extended portions of the film material to extend beyond side edges of the top surface, and to form second and third extended portions of the film material to extend beyond side edges of the respective front and back surfaces of the group of packages; tucking the first extended portions of film material to be flush with opposing left and right sides of the group of packages; folding the second extended portions of film material to be flush with the left and right sides of the group of packages; folding the third extended portions of film material to be flush with the left and right sides of the group of packages, such that the tucked and folded portions of film material on the left and right sides of the group of packages form left and right overlapping portions; heating the left and right overlapping portions for a first period of time to seal together the film material forming the overlapping portions; and heating at least a portion of the film material surrounding the group of packages for a second period of time to heat shrink the film material to a confining fit about the group of packages, whereby a bottom surface of the group of packages remains uncovered by the film material.