Abstract:
A wrapper ( 40 ) comprising a film ( 41 ) having a plurality of reinforcing tear strips ( 42   a,    42   b ) extending at least partially across the film Each tear strip includes a tab portion ( 45   a,    45   b ). The wrapper ( 40 ) is configured such that pulling the tab of a first tear strip causes a tear to propagate through the film ( 41 ) to separate a first portion of the film attached to the first tear strip, from the remainder of the film Pulling the tab of a second tear strip causes a second tear to propagate through the film to define a second portion of the film attached to the second tear strip. The second portion of film attached to the second tear strip comprises the remainder of the film once the first portion is removed with the first tear strip. Also, an apparatus and method for manufacturing such a wrapper.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to packaging and, more particularly, wrappers for packaging and packaging including such wrappers. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Packaging is known which includes a sealed outer wrapper to be removed upon initial opening of the packaging. Such wrappers may include a tear-off strip to aid removal of the wrapper and which separates the wrapper into two portions, at least one of which is to be removed from the pack. The tear strip may remain adhered to one portion of the separated wrapper so that it is removed from the pack, leaving the other portion of the separated wrapper in place over a portion of the pack. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    In accordance with embodiments of the invention, there is provided a wrapper comprising a film having a plurality of reinforcing tear strips extending at least partially across the film, each tear strip including a tab portion, the wrapper configured such that pulling the tab of a first tear strip causes a tear to propagate through the film to separate a first portion of the film attached to the first tear strip, from the remainder of the film, and pulling the tab of a second tear strip causes a second tear to propagate through the film to define a second portion of the film attached to the second tear strip, wherein the second portion of film attached to the second tear strip comprises the remainder of the film once the first portion is removed with the first tear strip. 
         [0004]    The tabs and the first and second tear strips may be configured so that the tear each tear strip causes in the film when the respective tab is pulled, extends in a substantially opposite direction to each other. 
         [0005]    The film may comprise a first side and a second, opposite side, and the reinforcing tear strips extends from one of the first and second sides of the film. 
         [0006]    The tabs of the first and second tear strips may be located on opposite sides of the film so that the tear each tear strip causes in the film when the respective tab is pulled, extends in a substantially opposite direction to each other. 
         [0007]    A line of weakening may be formed in the film between the first and second tear strips. 
         [0008]    Each tab portion may be delimited from the respective film edge by an incision. 
         [0009]    The tear strips may be adhered to the film. 
         [0010]    The invention also provides a package comprising at least one container enveloped in a wrapper as described above. The package may comprise tobacco industry products and/or cigarette packaging. 
         [0011]    The invention also provides an apparatus for manufacturing a wrapper for packaging, comprising a supply of film and a supply of reinforcing tear strip material, a pair of rollers through which the film and tear strip material can be fed together to affix two separate portions of tear strip material on the film, and one or more cutting knives configured to form cuts intermittently through the tear strips and the film as the film is conveyed past the cutting knife/knives, wherein the cutting knife/knives are configured to form linear cuts transversely through the film to divide the film into individual wrappers, and to form tab cuts in the tear strips proximate the linear cuts to define a tab portion at one end of each tear strip of each wrapper. 
         [0012]    The supply of film may comprise a bobbin of a continuous band of film to be fed through the apparatus. 
         [0013]    The supply of tear strip material may comprise one or more bobbins of continuous ribbons of tear strip material to be fed through the apparatus. 
         [0014]    The apparatus may further comprise a splicing blade and the continuous ribbon of tear strip material is fed to the splicing blade to be cut into a plurality of tear strips prior to being affixed to the film. 
         [0015]    The apparatus may be configured to provide the pair of tear strips in parallel along the film and transversely spaced from each other. 
         [0016]    The apparatus may be configured to form the tab cuts extending across the edges of the tear strips into the film adjacent the tear strips. 
         [0017]    The apparatus may be configured to form the linear cuts intersecting the tab cuts in the region of the film adjacent the tear strips, but not to extend into the tear strips. 
         [0018]    The invention also provides a method of manufacturing a wrapper for packaging comprising applying two separate portions of a reinforcing tear strip material to a film, forming linear cuts transversely through the film to divide the film into individual wrappers, forming tab cuts in the tear strips proximate the linear cuts to define a tab portion at one end of each tear strip of each wrapper. 
         [0019]    The method may comprise feeding the supply of film as a continuous band of film from a bobbin. 
         [0020]    The method may comprise feeding the portions of tear strip material as continuous ribbons of tear strip material from one or more bobbins. 
         [0021]    The method may comprise forming the separate portions of reinforcing tear strip material by feeding a continuous ribbon of tear strip material to a splicing blade and cutting the continuous ribbon of tear strip material using the splicing blade into the plurality of portions of reinforcing tear strip material. 
         [0022]    The method may comprise providing the tear strips in parallel along the film and transversely spaced from each other. 
         [0023]    The method may comprise forming the tab cuts extending across the edges of the tear strips into the film adjacent the tear strips. 
         [0024]    The method may comprise forming the linear cuts intersecting the tab cuts in the region of the film adjacent the tear strips, but not extending into the tear strips. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]    Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompany drawings, in which: 
           [0026]      FIG. 1  shows a pack including a wrapper of a first embodiment of the invention partially unwrapped therefrom; 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  shows the pack of  FIG. 1  with a first tear strip partially removed; 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  shows the pack of  FIGS. 1 and 2  with the first tear strip and upper portion of the film wrap removed therefrom; 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  shows a pack including a wrapper of a second embodiment of the invention including an enlarged view of a portion of the pack; 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  shows a schematic drawing of an apparatus for manufacturing a wrapper of the first embodiment of the invention, and enveloping a pack with such a wrapper; 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  shows a first view of a portion of the wrapper of the first embodiment of the invention part-way through the manufacturing process; 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  shows a second view of a portion of a the wrapper of the first embodiment of the invention part-way through the manufacturing process; 
           [0033]      FIG. 8  shows a first cutting roller of the apparatus of  FIG. 5 ; and 
           [0034]      FIG. 9  shows a second cutting roller of the apparatus of  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0035]    A pack including a wrapper  40  of a first embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIG. 1  and comprises a film  41  having first and second sides  43 ,  44  which overlap at one side wall  2  of the pack  1  and are heat sealed together at the overlap. The film  41  includes two tear strips  42   a,    42   b,  parallel to and spaced a small distance from each other and extending around the perimeter of the pack  1 . The two tear strips  42   a,    42   b  are permanently adhered to the film  41 , extend from the first side  43  to the second, opposite side  44  of the film  41 , and are disposed between the film  41  and the pack  1 . The two tear strips  42   a,    42   b  have respective tab portions  45   a,    45   b  at one remote end which are not adhered to the underlying film  41  and are delineated from the surrounding film to which they are attached by cuts around the tab portions  45   a,    45   b.    
         [0036]    The wrapper  40  must be removed when a user wishes to access the contents of the pack  1 . A first part of the removal process is shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . A user pulls the tab portion  45   a  of the first tear strip  42   a  which detaches from around the pack  1  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) and tears the film  41  with it, causing the film  41  to separate into an upper portion  41   a  and a lower portion  41   b.  Since the first tear strip  42   a  is permanently adhered to the film  41 , the upper portion  41   a  of the film  41  comes away from the pack  1  with the first tear strip  42   a,  leaving the lower portion  41   b  of the film  41  and the second tear strip  42   b  still on the pack  1  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). The user then pulls the tab portion  45   b  of the second tear strip  42   b  away from the pack  1  which initially tears the film  41 , and then pulls with it the lower portion  41   b  of the film  41  away from the pack  1 . 
         [0037]    The above configuration of wrapper  40  enables the wrapper  40  to be completely, cleanly and efficiently removed from the pack  1  in two parts  41   a,    41   b  using respective tear strips  42   a,    42   b.  In the embodiment shown, the film  41  does not include any lines of weakening between or adjacent the tear strips  42   a,    42   b  to facilitate the tearing of the film  41 . This provides a cleaner appearance to the packaging and, in use during wrapper removal, the tear in the film  41  generally propagates from the or each cut surrounding the tab portion  45   a,    45   b  and continues though the film  41  adjacent the tear strip  42   a,    42   b.  However, the invention is not intended to be limited to such an embodiment and the film  41  may alternatively be provided with a line of weakening, such as a stamped, embossed, scored or perforated line, extending between or adjacent the tear strips  42   a,    42   b  to guide the tearing of the film  41  during wrapper removal. 
         [0038]    The wrapper  40  of the first embodiment of the invention may also comprise an oriented film to facilitate tearing in a desired direction during the unwrapping process. This is a film which is produced having an internal structure giving it increased strength in a certain direction. An oriented film can tear relatively easily in one direction and such a tear will propagate in a straight line through the film, but the tear will generally not deviate from this line, and the film offers increased resistance to tearing in any other direction. Accordingly, using an oriented film facilitates a tear propagated from a nick or cut following a straight path around the pack perimeter. 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a wrapper  60  of a second embodiment of the invention is shown wrapped around a pack  1  of smoking articles, and is similar to the wrapper  40  of the first embodiment of the invention and likewise comprises a film  61  having two tear strips  62   a,    62   b,  parallel to and spaced a small distance apart from each other and extending around the perimeter of the pack  1 , each having respective tab portions  65   a,    65   b  at one remote end thereof which meet at a v-shaped central nick  67 . However, the tab portions  65   a,    65   b  are shaped in an edge  63  of the film  61  and are wider than the width of the tear strips  62   a,    62   b.  The edge of the film  63  at the opposite side of each tab  65   a,    65   b  from the central nick  67  includes a further outer nick  68 . The film  61  includes a line of weakening  66  extending around the pack  1  between the two tear strips  62   a,    62   b,  extending from the central nick  67 , which may be perforations, a score line, or a line of thinner material of the film  61 . 
         [0040]    Removal of the wrapper  60  from the pack  1  involves pulling the first tab portion  65   a  away from the pack  1 . This causes a tear in the film  61  to propagate from the outer nick  68  of the first tab portion  65   a  around the pack  1 , and also for the film  61  to tear along the line of weakening  66 , thereby allowing a strip of film, with the first tear strip  62   a  attached thereto, to be detached from around the pack  1 . An upper portion  61   a  of the film  61  comes away from the pack  1  with the first tear strip  62   a  and the attached strip of film  61 . The second tab portion  61   b  is then pulled which causes a tear in the film  61  to propagate from the outer nick  68  of the second tab portion  65   b  around the pack  1 , thereby allowing a strip of film, with the second tear strip  62   b  attached thereto, to be detached from around the pack, which pulls with it a remaining lower portion  61   b  of the film  61 . As with the first embodiment, the configuration of wrapper  60  of the second embodiment enables the wrapper  60  to be completely, cleanly and efficiently removed from the pack  1  in two parts using respective tear strips  62   a,    62   b.  Also, the film  61  may comprise an oriented film for the same reasons as mentioned above. 
         [0041]    In  FIGS. 1-4 , the wrappers  40 ,  60  are shown configured such that, when the packs are viewed from above, the tear strips  42   a,    42   b,    62   a,    62   b  tear around the perimeter of the pack in an anti-clockwise direction, or from left to right across the front (first major face of the pack the tear encounters) of the pack. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not intended to be limited to this particular configuration and may equally be arranged in an opposite configuration such that the tear strips  42   a,    42   b,    62   a,    62   b  tear around the perimeter of the pack in a clockwise direction when viewed from above, such that, across the first major face of the pack the tear encounters, the tear proceeds from the right to the left side. 
         [0042]    Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described above in relation to wrappers enveloping a single pack of smoking articles, such wrappers of the invention are intended to be usable as an outer wrapping around alternative configurations of packaging, such as around multiple packs of smoking articles bundled together, either ‘naked’ or in a carton holding, for example, 10 or 20 packs of smoking articles, or around tins or other containers, such as snus containers. Furthermore, such container(s) to be wrapper with wrappers of the invention, do not necessarily need to be parallelepiped in shape, and may comprise other shapes, for example, cylindrical container(s). The various embodiments of the invention are shown and described above as wrappers for packs of smoking articles, or smoking article packaging having various embodiments of outer wrapper. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to such use and it will be appreciated that the invention is equally applicable to wrappers and packaging for any other, non-tobacco industry use. 
         [0043]    In the embodiments described above, the wrappers are described as being heat sealed along a seam at an overlap of the wrapper. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to such sealing means, and alternatives are intended within the scope of the invention, such as glue or other adhesive. 
         [0044]    In the embodiments described above, the tear tape(s) are described as being adhered to the respective film, although the invention is not intended to be limited to such construction and the tear tape(s) may alternatively be heat sealed to the respective film or comprise other means of sealing thereto. Additionally, although the tear tapes are described as being provided on the inside surface of the wrapper when wrapped around a pack, the tear tapes may equally be provided on the outside of the respective wrapper. 
         [0045]    The film and tear strips of the wrappers of the invention described above may be made of a variety of materials, including, but no limited to, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), cellulose acetate film, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene oxide (PEOX), polyethylene, cellophane, Natureflex™ or polyactic acid (PLA). Furthermore, combinations of such materials may be used for the film/tear strips respectively. In addition, the film and/or the tear strip material used in the wrappers may be of approximately 200 microns in thickness to approximately 4 microns in thickness. 
         [0046]    An apparatus  300  for manufacturing a wrapper  40  of the first embodiment of the invention is shown schematically in  FIG. 5  and comprises a film bobbin  301 , a pair of tape application rollers  303 , a first pair of guide rollers  304 , a first pair of cutting rollers  305 , a second pair of cutting rollers  306 , a second pair of guide rollers  307 , and a wrapping station  308 . Since the wrapper  40  of the first embodiment of the invention comprises two separate tear strips  42   a,    42   b  then the apparatus  300  comprises first and second tape bobbins  302   a,    302   b.    
         [0047]    A continuous band of film  309  is fed from the film bobbin  301 , and continuous strips of tear tape  310   a,    310   b  are fed from the first and second tape bobbins  302   a,    302   b  to the tape application rollers  303 , where the tear tapes  310   a,    310   b  are applied to the band of film  309 . The tear tapes  310   a,    310   b  may have adhesive pre-applied on one side thereof or adhesive may be applied thereto at an adhesive application station (not shown) between the tape bobbins  302   a,    30   b  and the tape application rollers  303 . 
         [0048]    A view of a section of the continuous film  309  with tear tapes  310   a,    310   b  applied thereto at position P 3  of  FIG. 5 , is shown in  FIG. 6 . Here, the spacing of the tear tapes  310   a,    310   b  is exaggerated for the sake of clarity, compared to the spacing of the tear tapes  42   a,    42   b  in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
         [0049]    After passing the tape application rollers  303 , the band of film  309  passes through a first pair of guide rollers  304  which control the speed at which the band of film  309  is fed through the apparatus  300 . 
         [0050]    The band of film  309  then passes through a first pair of cutting rollers  305  comprising a knife roller  305   a  and a contrast roller  305   b.  The knife roller  305   a,  shown in  FIG. 8 , includes a pair of knife blades  311   a,    311   b  shaped and positioned to form cuts  312  in the tear tapes  310   a,    310   b  and film  309 , the knife blades  311   a,    311   b  being configured to form a generally C-shaped cuts. 
         [0051]    The band of film  309  then passes through the second pair of cutting rollers  306 , which includes a knife roller  306   a  and a contrast roller  306   b.  The second knife roller  306   a  is shown in  FIG. 9  and includes a series of straight knife blades  315  configured to cut across the band of film  309 . The cuts  316  extend across the band of film  309  but small uncut tab regions  317  are left at either side of the band of film  309 . Also, the knife blades  315  are configured not to cut across the tab regions  45   a ,  45   b,  and the band of film  309  formed after leaving the second pair of cutting rollers  306  (at point P 4  in  FIG. 5 ) is shown in  FIG. 7 , which shows the band of film  309  for forming the wrapper  40  of the first embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . Referring to the ‘C’ shaped cut  312  formed in the wrapper  40 , the linear cuts  316  cross the tails  318  of the ‘C’ cut in the film  309  to ensure a clean separation of the tabs  45   a,    45   b  of the tear strips  42   a,    42   b  from the preceding wrapper  40 , but the linear cuts  316  do not extend as far as the tear strips  310   a,    310   b  so as to avoid weakening the tabs  45   a,    45   b  or tear strips  42   a,    42   b  of the finished wrapper  40 . 
         [0052]    After the cut band of film  309  exits the second pair of cutting roller  306 , it passes through a further pair of guide rollers  307  to be fed into a wrapping station  308  where a succession of packs of smoking articles  1  are fed in the direction of arrow C, each one plunging into the mid point of the end-most wrapper  40 , which causes the tab regions  317  to sever, separating the wrapper  40  from the band of film  309  and the pack  1  is then wrapped and sealed with the wrapper  40 . 
         [0053]    Although the second knife roller  306   a  is configured to leave uncut tab regions  317  proximate the edges of the band of film  309 , the invention is not limited to this configuration and the linear cuts  316  may extend entirely to the edges of the band of film  309  to fully separate individual wrappers  40  from each other prior to the pack wrapping stage. 
         [0054]    Although the cuts are described as being formed in the band of film  309  by pairs of cutting rollers  305 ,  306 , the invention is not limited to this particular embodiment and instead, the band of film  309  may pass between a knife mounted on a cam, and a bearing or roller, such that the knife reciprocates to form the desired cuts intermittently along the passing band of film  309 . In such an embodiment, the knife may be mounted on a plate to stamp the cuts into the film. 
         [0055]    Instead of the respective tear tapes  310   a,    310   b  being fed from separate bobbins  302   a,    302   b,  multiple tear tapes could alternatively be supplied from a single bobbin. Furthermore, a single wide strip of tear tape material could be fed to a splicing roller or other splicing means, which could cut the tear tape material lengthwise into the desired number of tear tapes, which could subsequently be fed to the film to be adhered thereto. 
         [0056]    As used herein, the term “smoking article” includes smokeable products such as cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes and also heat-not-burn products. The smoking article may be provided with a filter for the gaseous flow drawn by the smoker. 
         [0057]    A tobacco industry product refers to any item made in, or sold by the tobacco industry, typically including a) cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, tobacco for pipes or for roll-your-own cigarettes, (whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes); b) non-smoking products incorporating tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes such as snuff, snus, hard tobacco, and heat-not-burn products; and c) other nicotine-delivery systems such as inhalers, lozenges and gum. This list is not intended to be exclusive, but merely illustrates a range of products which are made and sold in the tobacco industry. 
         [0058]    In order to address various issues and advance the art, the entirety of this disclosure shows by way of illustration various embodiments in which the claimed invention(s) may be practiced and provide for superior packaging wrappers. The advantages and features of the disclosure are of a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. They are presented only to assist in understanding and teach the claimed principles. It should be understood that they are not representative of all claimed inventions. As such, certain aspects of the disclosure have not been discussed herein. That alternate embodiments may not have been presented for a specific portion of the invention or that further un-described alternate embodiments may be available for a portion is not to be considered a disclaimer of those alternate embodiments. It will be appreciated that many of those un-described embodiments incorporate the same principles of the invention and others are equivalent. Thus, it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and/or spirit of the disclosure. As such, all examples, implementations, and/or embodiments are deemed to be non-limiting throughout this disclosure. Also, no inference should be drawn regarding those embodiments discussed herein relative to those not discussed herein other than it is as such for purposes of reducing space and repetition. Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. Some of the disclosed features, elements, implementation, etc., may be mutually contradictory, in that they cannot be simultaneously present in a single embodiment. Similarly, some features are applicable to one aspect of the disclosure, and inapplicable to others. In addition, the disclosure includes other inventions not presently claimed. Applicant reserves all rights in those presently unclaimed inventions including the right to claim such inventions, file additional applications, continuations, continuations in part, divisions, and/or the like thereof. As such, it should be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, function, features, structural, and/or other aspects of the disclosure are not to be considered limitations on the disclosure as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims.