Patent Publication Number: US-9889983-B2

Title: Cigarette package and method for production thereof

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2013/001070, filed Apr. 12, 2013, published in German, which claims priority from German Patent Application No. 10 2012 008 168.5, filed Apr. 25, 2012, all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
     The invention relates to a packaging for piece goods, in particular for cigarettes, having the features of the preamble of claim  1 . The invention also relates to methods for producing such (cigarette) packagings. 
     The present packaging (for cigarettes) is composed of an outer packaging and at least one inner packaging which is pivotable for the movement between an open position and a closed position, wherein said inner packaging is obliquely inclined when in the open position. It is preferable for two inner packagings to be arranged in a common outer packaging (EP 2 017 198 B1). In the case of said known design, the (two) inner packagings are, on the top side, either open or, in the case of a hinged-lid box embodiment, provided with a pivotable hinged lid. The blanks for the inner packagings are formed so as to be processed in accordance with the principle of longitudinal folding. Here, an inner base wall is adjoined, to both sides, by folding lobes for side walls on the one hand and for an outer wall and inner wall of the inner packaging on the other hand. 
     The invention is concerned with developments with regard to the configuration of such packagings and the field of technology for the production of said packagings. The object on which the invention is based is that of designing a (cigarette) packaging, with in particular two inner packagings, such that the packaging as a whole is appealing, easy to handle and dimensionally stable. The requirements for industrial production should also be met. 
     To achieve said object, the packaging according to the invention is formed with the features of claim  1 . 
     The blank for the (two) inner packagings is accordingly designed in each case such that an inner base wall is adjoined, to both sides, by folding lobes for the side walls of the inner packaging. Said folding lobes are in turn adjoined, to both sides, by folding lobes which, for the formation of an outer wall on the one hand and an inner wall on the other hand, are folded so as to mutually overlap and are connected to one another (by means of adhesive). The outwardly directed free wall of the inner packaging—outer wall—is accordingly of double-layer form (as is the opposite inner wall). The side walls are composed of one material layer. 
     A further special feature consists in that the inner packagings, which in the open position are open at the top side, are covered in the closed position by a closing lobe or by two at least partially overlapping closing lobes. At least one closing lobe is formed as a continuation of the (inner) folding lobe of the inner wall. By connection to a face wall of the outer packaging, the closing lobe is actuated in the sense of an opening or closing movement during the opening and closing processes. Furthermore, the inner packagings are of cup-shaped form, wherein the side walls and outer wall and inner wall extend substantially over the full height (inner dimension) of the outer packaging. 
     It is also of significance from a production aspect that, owing to the design of the inner packaging, said inner packaging need only be produced in one design. Of the inner packagings supplied individually or in pairs (for example in the case of two-lane production) to an outer packaging, the second in each case is rotated through 180° in order to achieve the relative position corresponding to the overall packaging. 
     The production at least of the inner packaging is performed in accordance with the folding and filling concept specified in U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,393. 
    
    
     
       Further features of the packagings and of the production technique will be explained in more detail below on the basis of the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows an unfolded blank for an inner packaging, 
         FIG. 2  shows an unfolded blank for an outer packaging, 
         FIG. 3  shows the blank of the outer packaging after first folding steps, 
         FIG. 4  shows a finished inner packaging in a perspective illustration, 
         FIG. 5  shows a finished (overall) packaging, likewise in a perspective illustration, 
         FIG. 6  shows first production steps for the production of an inner packaging, 
         FIG. 7  shows the inner packaging in a partially finished position, in a perspective view, 
         FIG. 8  shows final production steps for the inner packaging, likewise in a perspective view, 
         FIG. 9  shows steps for the production of the complete packaging, in a perspective view, 
         FIG. 10  shows final production steps for the packaging as per  FIG. 5 , in a perspective view, 
         FIG. 11  shows the packaging in the open position of one inner packaging, in a perspective view, and 
         FIG. 12  shows a vertical section through the packaging as per  FIG. 11  in the section plane XII-XII in  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     The preferred embodiment of a packaging for cigarettes is composed of three sub-packagings, specifically an outer packaging  10  and two inner packagings  11 ,  12 . The latter are movably fixed in the common outer packaging  10 . By means of pivoting movement, each inner packaging  11 ,  12  can be individually moved from a closed position ( FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 12 , left-hand side) into an open position ( FIG. 12 , right-hand side). In said open position, the packaging contents (cigarettes) are accessible. The inner packagings  11 ,  12  are designed such that, in the closed position ( FIG. 5 ), they substantially completely fill the interior of the outer packaging  10 . Open narrow sides of the outer packaging  10  are completely covered by the inner packaging  11 ,  12 . 
     Blanks for the inner packaging  11 ,  12  and outer packaging  10  are illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  respectively in unfolded form. The blank of the inner packaging  11 ,  12  has a central region for forming an inner base wall  13 . Connected to said inner base wall are mutually opposite folding lobes which form mutually opposite side walls  14 ,  15  in the inner packaging  11 ,  12 . On the longitudinal sides of said folding lobes there are arranged further folding lobes, specifically an external outer lobe  16 , an internal outer lobe  17 , and opposite these, in each case an external inner lobe  18  and an internal inner lobe  19 . By corresponding folding and mutual overlap, the lobes that are respectively assigned to one another, these being  16  and  17  on the one hand and  18  and  19  on the other hand, form an outer wall  20  and an inner wall  21  of the inner packaging  11 ,  12 , which is thus closed in an encircling manner. 
     In the present case, the packaging is designed such that externally situated upright packaging edges formed by the inner packagings  11 ,  12  are in the form of rounded edges  22 ,  23 . The blank for the inner packaging  11 ,  12  ( FIG. 1 ) is, in the region of outwardly directed packaging edges for forming the rounded edges and  23 , formed with a multiplicity of parallel grooves as a transition between the side wall  14  and external outer lobe  16  and also between the side wall and internal outer lobe  17 , and opposite, specifically between side walls  14 ,  15  on the one hand and external inner lobe  18  and internal inner lobe  19  on the other hand, there is formed an embossed line for a packaging edge  24 ,  25  which is right-angled in cross section. 
     The inner packaging  11 ,  12  folded from the blank as per  FIG. 1  is substantially of cup-shaped form, that is to say is open on the top side (withdrawal side) ( FIG. 11 ,  FIG. 12 ). The outer wall  20  with the folding lobes  16 ,  17  extends over the full height of the outer packaging  10  (inner dimension). The inner wall  21  is formed with a somewhat smaller height in order to permit the oblique inclination of the inner packaging  11 ,  12  during the opening and closing processes. The side walls  14 ,  15  are preferably both provided with a recess  26  which extends from an upper edge of the inner packaging  11 ,  12  and which ensures access to the cigarettes when the inner packaging  11 ,  12  is open. The dimensions are preferably selected such that packaging contents in block form, specifically a cigarette block  27 —a group of cigarettes with an inner wrapping composed of paper, tinfoil or foil—have a slightly smaller height than the inner wall  21  and a somewhat smaller height than the outer wall  20  ( FIG. 12 ). 
     The inner packagings  11 ,  12  are advantageously provided with closure means on the (top, open) withdrawal side. Said closure means are composed of at least one cover lobe  28  which, in a closed position ( FIG. 4 ), extends substantially over the full dimension of the opening of the inner packaging  11 ,  12 . The cover lobe  28  is matched to the contour of the inner packaging  11 ,  12 , and in the exemplary embodiment shown, is accordingly provided with rounded corners  29 . The cover lobe  28  is in the present case formed as a continuation of a side wall of the inner packaging  11 ,  12 , in particular of the inner wall  21 . The internal inner lobe  19  is provided with a corresponding elongation for forming the cover lobe  28  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     The cover lobe  28  interacts with a counterpart lobe, in the present example with a corner lobe  30  which has considerably smaller dimensions and which is arranged opposite on the outer wall  20 , specifically on the internal outer lobe  17  of the outer wall  20 . In the initial position ( FIG. 4 ), the lobes  28 ,  30  are folded over one another and connected to one another. The cover lobe  28  and corner lobe  30  accordingly extend in the plane of the open side of the inner packagings  11 ,  12 , directly above the cigarette block  27 . The externally situated cover lobe  28  is connected to the internally situated corner lobe  30  by means of an adhesive (glue points  31  in  FIG. 7 ). 
     The inner packagings  11 ,  12  are configured, in the region of the inner base wall  13 , such that connecting lobes  32 ,  33  are provided as a continuation of the internal outer lobe  17 , that is to say opposite the corner lobe  30 , and a connecting lobe  33  is provided as a continuation of the internal inner lobe  19 . In the finished inner packaging  11 , said folding lobes  32 ,  33  bear against the inner base wall  13  ( FIG. 6 ). 
     The cigarette block  27 , as contents of an inner packaging  11 ,  12 , is composed of a group of cigarettes which is surrounded on all sides by an inner blank  34  composed of tinfoil, paper, foil or the like. In the example, the inner blank  34  is arranged, in accordance with the longitudinal folding principle, with side lobes  35  and face lobes  36  folded in particular in the manner of an envelope. By means of a transversely oriented punched or perforated line, a flap  37  is created which can be pulled off upon first use and which provides access to the cigarettes. A function of the closing lobes  28 ,  30  of the inner packaging  11 ,  12  consists in securing the fold of the inner blank  34 , in particular the face lobe  36 , during the production of the packaging and subsequently. 
     For the opening of the inner packaging  11 ,  12 , the closing lobes  28 ,  30  can be separated from one another—using a corresponding adhesive. In the present case, the inner lobe, specifically the corner lobe  30 , is designed and/or arranged such that, when the inner packaging  11 ,  12  is opened, the corner lobe  30  remains on the cover lobe  28  (inner side). The corner lobe  30  is in this case separated from the connection to the inner packaging  11 ,  12 , in the present case from the internal outer lobe  17 . The corner lobe  30  is connected to the folding lobe  17  merely via (two edge-side) residual connections  38 . The residual connections are separated from one another by means of a preferably central punched cut  39 . When the cover lobe  28  is opened for the first time, the corner lobe  30  is accordingly torn away from the connection, and remains on the inner side owing to the glue connection ( FIG. 12 ). 
     The outer packaging  10  is composed of a blank ( FIG. 2 ) which is formed, in accordance with the longitudinal folding principle, with an outer base wall  40 . The latter is adjoined, via transversely oriented fold lines, by regions or folding lobes of side walls of the laterally open outer packaging  10 . Said side walls are a front wall  41  and an opposite rear wall  42 . Folding lobes, specifically reinforcement lobes  43 ,  44 , are arranged in each case laterally on the walls  41 ,  42 . Said reinforcement lobes are folded toward the inner side of the outer walls  41 ,  42  along upright fold lines  51  in a first production step of the outer packaging  10  ( FIG. 3 ). The reinforcement lobes  43 ,  44  are dimensioned so as to cover substantially the full area of the inner side of the walls  41 ,  42 . 
     To form a closed, laterally open sleeve, a folding lobe for a top wall  45  of the outer packaging  10  is arranged on one packaging wall, in the present case on the front wall  41 . Said top wall is of (approximately) the same size as the outer base wall  40  and—in the case of a design with rounded edges  22 ,  23 —is provided with rounded corners  46 . A connecting tab  47  is arranged on a free edge of the top wall  45 . Said connecting tab is, in the finished outer packaging  10 , connected to the inner side of the rear wall  42 , in the present case by means of two groups of glue points  48 . Said glue points are advantageously applied to the inner side of the rear wall  42 , specifically in the region of an edge-side material strip  49  which is formed by virtue of the reinforcement lobes  43 ,  44  assigned to the rear wall  42  being of set-back or shortened designed ( FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 ). In this way, a multi-layered structure is avoided, because the connecting tab  47  lies flush with the reinforcement lobes  43 ,  44 . 
     The blank for the outer packaging  10  is provided with punched-out portions, specifically grip openings  50 , which in the case of the unfolded blank ( FIG. 2 ) extend across the fold lines  51  to both sides in the region of the walls  41 ,  42  on the one hand and of the lateral folding lobes  43 ,  44  on the other hand. When the reinforcement lobes  43 ,  44  are folded, free grip openings  50  are thus formed on both sides of the walls  41 ,  42 . The open recess thus formed makes it possible for the inner packagings  11 ,  12  to be manually gripped in order that these can be (partially) pulled out of the outer packaging  10 . 
     Furthermore, punched-out portions are formed in the region of in each case one of the two folding lobes  43 ,  44 , specifically firstly an edge-side recess  52  and secondly, directly adjacent thereto, an elongate punched hole  53  with obliquely inclined edges as support elements for the inner packagings  11 ,  12 . In the folded position ( FIG. 3 ), the punched-out portions  52 ,  53  form single-layer depressions with corresponding support edges on the inner side of the walls  41 ,  42 . The corresponding configurations of the reinforcement lobes  43  are offset, that is to say arranged on opposite sides of the outer walls  41 ,  42 . In the finished outer packaging  10 , too, the engagement means thus formed are arranged on opposite or offset sides. 
     In the closed position ( FIG. 5 ), the (two) inner packagings  11 ,  12  bear against one another in an upright position within the outer packaging  10 . By being (partially) pulled out, said inner packaging is moved into an open position ( FIG. 12 , right-hand side), that is to say in the present case into an oblique position. The open position of the inner packaging  11 ,  12  may be defined by means of stops or connecting elements. In the present case, the cover lobe  28  serves, in the closed position, as an upper cover of the inner packaging  11 ,  12  ( FIG. 12 , left-hand side). In the open position, said inner packaging is secured by the cover lobe  28 , which, as a retention element, is connected to the top wall  45  of the outer packaging, specifically by means of glue points assigned to each inner packaging  11 ,  12  or to each cover lobe  28 . In the present case, two rows of glue points  54  with in each case six glue points are arranged on the inner side of the top wall  45 . 
     During the opening movement of an inner packaging  11 ,  12 , the cover lobe  28  is formed, with corresponding deformation, from a stretched position with a bend in the region of the transition to the inner lobe  19  into an opposite stretched position or angled position corresponding to the right-hand side of  FIG. 12 . The cover lobe  28  is therefore provided with a multiplicity of transversely oriented linear joints which are formed by material deformation and/or by punching. In the closed position of the inner packaging  11 ,  12  ( FIG. 12 , left-hand side), a main joint  55  defines the right-angled kink of a horizontal cover part into a vertical connecting part to the inner lobe  19 . Said part of the cover lobe  28  forms a compensation means owing to the inner wall  21  that is formed with a relatively low height, such that the cover lobe  28  can bear against the inner side of the top wall  45  when the inner packaging is closed. 
     A further, edge-side linear joint, specifically an opening joint  56 , serves for the acute-angled deflection of the cover lobe  28  when an inner packaging  11 ,  12  ( FIG. 12 , right-hand side) is in an open position. The joint  56  forms a delimitation with respect to a planar retention limb  57  as part of the cover lobe  28 . The retention limb  57  is (permanently) connected to the inner side of the top wall  45 , in the present case by means of glue points  54 . A rim joint  58 —spaced apart from the main joint  55 —is situated at the height of an upper free rim edge of the external inner lobe  18 . Said transverse joint permits a right-angled or acute-angled deflection of the cover lobe  28  on the upper edge of the internal outer lobe  17  ( FIG. 12 , right-hand side). A further joint line in the region of the cover lobe  28  serves for ease of deformation thereof during the opening and closing movement. The cover lobe  28  simultaneously serves as a retention and delimiting means for the open position of the inner packaging  11 ,  12 . 
     The opening and closing positions are furthermore made perceptible using sensory means. The recesses  52  and the punched holes  53  of the outer packaging  10  are assigned a counterpart tab  59  on the associated wall—side wall  14 —of the inner packaging  11 ,  12 . The counterpart tab  59  is pivotable about a joint line along the fold line of the packaging edge  24 , and is in the form of a projecting tongue. The counterpart tab is situated within a punched-out portion  60  of the side wall  14 . 
     In the closed position of the packaging ( FIG. 12 , left-hand side), the counterpart tab  59  is situated in its initial position, specifically in the plane of the side wall  14 . During the opening movement of the inner packaging  11 ,  12 , a free edge of the counterpart tab  59  initially comes into contact with a free edge of the recess  52  (contour of the reinforcement lobe  43 ). Here, during continued movement of the inner packaging  11 ,  12 , the counterpart tab  59  is pivoted through approximately 180° and is oriented substantially counter to the original position. Here, the counterpart tab  59  acts as a leaf spring which enters into the punched hole  53  with a noise and in tactile fashion. During the return movement of the inner packaging  11 ,  12 , the processes take place in the reverse sequence. 
     The inner packagings  11 ,  12  are fixed in a special way in the region of the outer base wall  40 . Owing to U-shaped punching, the latter is provided with articulated tabs  61 ,  62  at both sides. Each articulated tab is assigned to an inner packaging  11 ,  12 . The articulated tabs  61 ,  62  are in each case pivotable along transversely oriented linear joints  66 , specifically with the associated inner packaging  11 ,  12  from the horizontal closed position into the obliquely inclined open position ( FIG. 12 , right-hand side). The inner packagings  11 ,  12  are connected to said movable or pivotable part of the outer base wall  40 , specifically by means of glue points  63 . In the present case, each articulated tab  61 ,  62  is provided with two rows of in each case three glue points  63  ( FIG. 9 ). When the inner packaging  11 ,  12  is open, the articulated tabs  61 ,  62  are situated in an oblique plane, corresponding to the oblique inclination of the inner packaging  11 ,  12 . 
     One special feature is the production of the (complete) packaging. The blank for the inner packagings  11 ,  12  is firstly prepared with regard to the function of the corner lobe  30  by virtue of the latter being folded through 180° ( FIG. 6 ). In this way, the residual connections  38  are pre-weakened such that, during the opening of the finished packaging, reliable severing of the corner lobe  30  from the outer lobe  17  is ensured. The corner lobe  30  is folded back into the initial position for the further folding process. 
     Subsequently, the blank of the inner packaging  11 ,  12  is processed in the manner of a conventional blank for a hinged-lid box. By insertion of the blank into the pocket of a folding turret, parts of the blank or folding lobes, specifically the folding lobes  17  and  19  and a blank limb with the parts  14 ,  16  and  18 , are uprighted. The connecting lobes  32 ,  33  are, at the same time as the likewise uprighted inner base wall  13 , placed into the correct position for the packaging ( FIG. 6 ). The folding lobes  28 ,  30  are pivoted to the side such that the separately produced cigarette block  27  can be inserted, with a base wall directed forward, into the region of the partially folded blank as far as the base wall  13 , specifically while being supported on the side wall  15  situated at the bottom in the plane of movement. 
     The folding lobes  28 ,  30 , specifically firstly the corner lobe  30  and then the cover lobe  28 , are subsequently folded into the closed position so as to produce the connection. The cigarette block  27 , and in particular the exposed face-side fold  36 , is thereby secured. 
     The upright limb of the blank ( FIG. 7 ) is folded so as to abut against the cigarette block  27  ( FIG. 8 ). The packaging is introduced into a packaging lane, specifically with the folding lobes  28 ,  30  pointing forward in the direction of movement. During this period of transport, glue is applied by means of glue nozzles  64  to sidewardly oriented surfaces of the inner packaging  11 ,  12 , in the present case to the internal outer lobe  17  and the internal inner lobe  19 . In a further step, the folding lobes  16 ,  18  are folded so as to abut against the folding lobes  17 ,  19 , and are connected to the latter. The production of the inner packaging  11 ,  12  is thereby completed. 
     The outer packaging  10  is also produced by means of special working steps. As per  FIG. 9 , the (unfolded) blank is initially provided with rows of glue points. In each case two rows of glue points  65  are applied to the front wall  41  and rear wall  42  on both sides of a central line. Said glue points serve for the fixing of the reinforcement lobes  43 ,  44  that are subsequently folded against the inner side of the front wall  41  and rear wall  42 . The glue points  48  for the fixing of the connecting tab  47  may be applied simultaneously and in the same line. 
     In a common gluing station, the glue points  54  are also applied to the top wall  45  and the glue points  63  are also applied to the articulated tabs  61 ,  62  of the outer base wall  40 . 
     The blank, provided with the corresponding glue points, of the outer packaging  10  is placed into an angled position with uprighted outer base wall  40  and uprighted rear wall  42  after the folding of the lobes  43 ,  44 , analogously to the inner packagings  11 ,  12 . The two inner packagings  11 ,  12  that bear against one another by way of the inner walls  21  are then pushed or placed onto the front wall  41 . The top wall  45  is subsequently uprighted, and the connecting tab  47  is folded. The upright rear wall  42  is subsequently folded against the two inner packagings  11 ,  12 , wherein a connection to the connecting tab  47  is formed. The production of the packaging is thereby completed. 
     The inner packagings  11 ,  12  are produced in corresponding design, specifically either individually in succession or (in the case of two-lane production) adjacent to one another in pairs. In the former case, the successive inner packagings  11 ,  12  are initially placed together in pairs—correspondingly to the design of the overall packaging. Owing to the relative positions, one of the inner packagings is then rotated through 180° such that the inner walls  21  of the inner packagings  11 ,  12  that belong together face toward one another ( FIG. 9 ). The counterpart tab  69  and punched-out portion  60  are positioned on opposite sides of the individual packagings  11 ,  12 . The blank of the outer packaging  10  is prepared correspondingly. 
     The top and bottom walls  40 ,  45 , which are preferably formed with corresponding dimensions, of the outer packaging  10  are preferably formed with slightly larger dimensions than the face-side contours of the inner packagings  11 ,  12 , such that, when the packaging is closed, the outer base wall  40  and the top wall  45  project by way of edge regions slightly beyond the inner packagings  11 ,  12  in the region of the free open sides. 
     The present packaging can substantially be produced using conventional packers (for hinge-lid packagings). 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
           10  Outer packaging 
           11  Inner packaging 
           12  Inner packaging 
           13  Inner base wall 
           14  Side wall 
           15  Side wall 
           16  External outer lobe 
           17  Internal outer lobe 
           18  External inner lobe 
           19  Internal inner lobe 
           20  Outer wall 
           21  Inner wall 
           22  Rounded edge 
           23  Rounded edge 
           24  Packaging edge 
           25  Packaging edge 
           26  Recess 
           27  Cigarette block 
           28  Cover lobe 
           29  Rounded corner 
           30  Corner lobe 
           31  Glue point 
           32  Connecting lobe 
           33  Connecting lobe 
           34  Inner blank 
           35  Side lobe 
           36  End lobe 
           37  Flap 
           38  Residual connection 
           39  Punched cut 
           40  Outer base wall 
           41  Front wall 
           42  Rear wall 
           43  Reinforcement lobe 
           44  Reinforcement lobe 
           45  Top wall 
           46  Rounded corner 
           47  Connecting tab 
           48  Glue point 
           49  Material strip 
           50  Grip opening 
           51  Fold line 
           52  Recess 
           53  Punched hole 
           54  Glue point 
           55  Main joint 
           56  Opening joint 
           57  Retaining limb 
           58  Rim joint 
           59  Counterpart tab 
           60  Punched-out portion 
           61  Articulated tab 
           62  Articulated tab 
           63  Glue point 
           64  Glue nozzle 
           65  Glue point 
           66  Linear joint