Abstract: [en] the present invention provides a method of manufacturing an aerosol generating product (1), especially a smoking article, the method comprising the steps of: providing an elongate element (2) of aerosol generating material (3), especially a rod element of smoking material, such as tobacco; providing an elongate element (7) of filter material (8); assembling the elongate element (2) of aerosol generating material (3) with the elongate element (7) of filter material (8) to form or produce the aerosol generating product (1); wherein the method includes forming perforations or holes (17) in the element (7) of filter material (8) before the assembling step.

[en] 1.  claims:   a method of manufacturing an aerosol generating product (l), especially a smoking article, the method comprising the steps: providing an elongate element (2) of aerosol generating material (3), especially a rod element of smoking material, such as tobacco; providing an elongate element (7) of filter material (8); assembling the said elongate element (2) of aerosol generating material (3) with the elongate element (7) of filter material (8) to provide the aerosol generating product (1); wherein the method includes forming perforations or holes (17) in the element (7) of filter material (8) before the assembling step.
 2.a method according to claim 1, wherein the elongate element (7) of filter material (8) comprises the filter material (8) wrapped or enclosed by at least one layer (9) of sheet material, and wherein the step of forming perforations or holes (17) in the filter rod element (7) comprises forming perforations or holes (17) in the at least one layer of sheet material (9).
3. a method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the perforations or holes (17) are formed randomly in the element (7) of filter material.
4. a method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the perforations or holes (17) are formed regularly in the element (7) of filter material. a method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the perforations or holes (17) are formed around a circumference of the element (7) of filter material.   a method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the perforations or holes (17) are arranged or formed longitudinally in the element (7) of filter material.  0    a method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of forming perforations or holes (17) in the element (7) of filter material includes moving the element (7) of filter material (8) relative to a perforating device or hole forming device (40), and preferably rotating the element (7) of filter material about a longitudinal axis thereof.   a method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of forming the perforations or holes (17) in the element (7) of filter material (8) includes irradiating the filter element (7), and particularly a plurality of filter elements (7) comprised in a filter rod member (20), with at least one laser beam, whereby the perforations or holes (17) are formed by means of at least one laser beam.   a method according to claim 6, wherein the at least one laser beam is movable with respect to the element (7) or rod member (20) of filter material, preferably movable along a longitudinal direction and/or in a transverse direction with respect to the elongate element of filter material, wherein the at least one laser beam is either a continuous or a pulsed laser source.   a method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the assembling step comprises arranging an end (12} of the elongate element (2) of aerosol generating material (3) adjacent to or in abutment with an end (13) of the elongate element (7) of filter material (8) and joining or fastening the said elements (2, 7) together via at least one layer (14) of sheet material or wrapper that covers or wraps the said elements (2, 7) at least in a region of their ends (12, 13).   11. a method according to claim 10, wherein the at least one5 layer (14) of sheet material or wrapper that covers or wraps said elements (2, 7) in the assembling step is a non-porous material.   a method according to claim 10 or 11, further comprising: forming perforations or holes (18), before or after the assembling step, in the at least one layer (14) of sheet material or wrapper which covers or wraps said elements (2, 7) in the assembling step.   a method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate element (7) of filter material (8) is a rod element comprising cellulose acetate tow that is wrapped or enclosed by at least one layer of paper. 14. an aerosol generating product, and especially a smoking article, manufactured or obtained by a method according to any one of the preceding claims.


Abstract: [en] a filter cigarette (1) comprises a rod (2) of smokable material, and a mouth piece (3) attached to the rod, the mouth piece (3) comprising an element (5) rotatable with respect to the rest of the filter cigarette about the longitudinal axis thereof such that a user can vary the ventilation of the filter cigarette and a fixed element that (6) is fixed relative to the rod (2). there is also a strength indicator comprising a scale (21) extending circumferentially around at least one of the periphery of the rotatable element (5) or the periphery of a part of the cigarette that is fixed relative to the rod (2) of smokable material, and a cursor element (40) on the other of the periphery of the rotatable element (5) or the periphery of a part of the cigarette that is fixed relative to the rod (2) of smokable material to the scale, wherein the scale (21) comprises at least two linear colour shaded sections (211, 212) arranged such that the lightest shades of the at least two sections are positioned at a distance that is closer to one another than the distance between the darkest shades.

[en]   claims   1. a filter cigarette comprising: a rod of smokable material; a mouth piece attached to the rod, the mouth piece comprising an element rotatable with respect to the rest of the filter cigarette about the longitudinal axis thereof such that a user can vary the ventilation of the filter cigarette, and a fixed element that is fixed relative to the rod; and a strength indicator comprising: a scale extending circumferentially around at least one of the periphery of the rotatable element or the periphery of a part of the cigarette that is fixed relative to the rod of smokable material, and a cursor element on the other of the periphery of the rotatable element or the periphery of a part of the cigarette that is fixed relative to the rod of smokable material to the scale, wherein the scale comprises at least two linear colour shaded sections arranged such that the lightest shades of the at least two sections are positioned at a distance that is closer to one another than the distance between the darkest shades.
2. a filter cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the lighter shades of at least one of the sections is substantially longitudinally aligned with the cursor element when the strength indicator is arranged in a position representing a minimum level of strength.
3. a filter cigarette according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the darker shades of at least one of the sections is substantially longitudinally aligned with the cursor element when the strength indicator is arranged in a position representing a maximum level of strength.
4. a filter cigarette according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least two sections are symmetrical about the longitudinal axis of the cigarette.
5. a filter cigarette according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least two sections are offset from one another along the longitudinal axis of the cigarette.
6. a filter cigarette according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least two sections are colour shaded bands.
7. a filter cigarette according to any preceding claim, wherein one or more of the at least two sections comprise shades of a single colour.
8. a filter cigarette according to claims 1 to 6, wherein one or more of the at least two sections comprise shades of more than one colour.
9. a filter cigarette according to any preceding claim, wherein each of the at least two sections comprise the same shades of colour(s).
10. a filter cigarette according to any of claim 1 to 8, wherein each of the at least two sections comprise different shades of colours.   1 1.
 11.a filter cigarette according to any preceding claim, wherein the shades of the at least two sections have different dimensions in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cigarette.
12. a filter cigarette according to any preceding claim, wherein the shades of the at least two sections are of the same dimensions in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cigarette.


Abstract: [en] a substance delivery component for an inhaler device is provided. the substance delivery component comprises a shell of deformable material defining a closed inner chamber containing at least one flowable substance. the shell comprises at least one pressure activated valve for controlled delivery of substance(s) from the inner chamber upon application of external force to the shell.

[en]   claims   1. a substance delivery component for an inhaler device, comprising a shell of deformable material defining a closed inner chamber containing at least one flowable substance, wherein the shell comprises at least one pressure activated valve for controlled delivery of substance(s) from the inner chamber upon application of external force to the shell.
2. a substance delivery component according to claim 1, wherein the flowable substance has a viscosity between 1 and 500,000 centipoise at 25 degrees c, more preferably between 1 and 5,000 centipoise at 25 degrees c, yet more preferably between 1 and 1000 centipoise at 20 degrees c, and most preferably between 50 and 250 centipoise at 20 degrees c.
3. a substance delivery component according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the at least one pressure activated valve comprises any of:    • a duckbill valve, preferably having a single slit, a triple slit or a cross slit;  • a membrane having at least one slit therethrough, preferably a cross slit; or    • a domed membrane having at least one slit therethrough, preferably a cross slit.
4. a substance delivery component according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one pressure activated valve is formed integrally with the shell.
5. a substance delivery component according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one pressure activated value is further provided with a sealant substance configured to seal the valve, the sealant substance being frangible upon application of external force to the shell and/or degradable upon exposure to moisture, smoke and/or air.
6. a substance delivery component according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the shell is elastically deformable and preferably comprises elastomeric material, most preferably any of: silicone, flurosilicone, fluoroelastomer or rubber.
7. a substance delivery component according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a porous material inside the inner chamber adapted to carry the flowable substance(s) in use, the porous material preferably comprising sponge, foam, hydrogel, fibrous wadding or matting or any other inert and fully or partially compressible solid carrier or adsorbent substance.
8. a substance delivery component according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a filling aperture through which the flowable substance(s) can be inserted into the inner chamber, and a sealing member configured to close the filling aperture.
9. a substance delivery component according to any of the preceding claims, comprising at least two pressure activated valves for controlled delivery of substance(s) from the inner chamber including first and second valves arranged either:    • at approximately 180 degrees from one another so as to deliver substance(s) in substantially opposite directions from one another; or  • at between 45 and 135 degrees from one another, preferably substantially 90 degrees, so as to deliver substance(s) in different, non- parallel directions from one another.
10. a substance delivery component according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inner chamber comprises at least two separate sections thereof, each section being adapted to contain a flowable substance in use, and each section being provided with a pressure activated valve for controlled delivery of the substance from the respective section of the inner chamber upon application of external force to the shell.
 1 1. a substance delivery component according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the maximum external diameter of the component is between 1 and 10 mm, more preferably 3 to 5 mm, and the length of the component is between 1 and 30 mm, more preferably 3 to 10 mm.
12. a substance delivery component according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inner chamber has a volume of between 1 and 200 microlitres, preferably between 5 and 200 microlitres, more preferably between 20 and 100 microlitres.
13. an inhaler device comprising a substance delivery component according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein preferably the inhaler device is an aerosol generating device..
14. an aerosol generating device comprising: a heating assembly; an energy storage component; and a substance delivery component according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the flowable substance is an aerosol generating material.
15. an aerosol generating device comprising: a heating assembly; an energy storage component, a reservoir containing an aerosol generating material in use; and a substance delivery component according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the flowable substance is an additive substance, and wherein either:    (a) the at least one pressure activated valve is configured to direct the controlled delivery of flowable additive substance towards the heating assembly in use; or    (b) the at least one pressure activated valve is configured to direct the controlled delivery of flowable additive substance into the reservoir in use.


Abstract: [en] the present invention provides a pouch for containing a fibrous material, comprising a wall defining a cavity and extending in an axial direction of the pouch, a top portion, a bottom portion, and a dispensing aperture for dispensing fibrous material from the pouch in use. the dispensing aperture is smaller than a largest dimension of the bottom portion in a plane orthogonal to the axial direction such that the dispensing aperture allows the user to dispense any fibrous material contained within the pouch in a substantially rod-like shape.

[en] 1. a pouch for containing a fibrous material, comprising: a wall defining a cavity and extending in an axial direction of the pouch;a top portion;a bottom portion; anda dispensing aperture for dispensing fibrous material from the pouch in use,wherein the dispensing aperture is smaller than a largest dimension of the bottom portion in a plane orthogonal to the axial direction, such that the dispensing aperture allows the user to dispense any fibrous material contained within the pouch in a substantially rod-like shape.
2. a pouch according to claim 1, wherein the pouch further comprises the fibrous material contained within the cavity and/or the fibrous material is tobacco.
3. a pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein the dispensing aperture is less than 80 percent of the largest dimension of the bottom portion in a plane orthogonal to the axial direction, and more preferably less than 50 percent of the largest dimension of the bottom portion in a plane orthogonal to the axial direction, and yet more preferably less than 30 percent of the largest dimension of the bottom portion in a plane orthogonal to the axial direction.
4. a pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein the dispensing aperture is elongate.
5. a pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein the dispensing aperture is located at the bottom portion of the pouch or at the top portion of the pouch.
6. a pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein a largest dimension of the top portion in a plane orthogonal to the axial direction is smaller than that at the bottom portion in a plane orthogonal to the axial direction.
7. a pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein a shape of the pouch tapers from the bottom portion to the top portion to form an apex.
8. a pouch according to claim 7, wherein the dispensing opening is formed within the apex.
9. a pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein the pouch is formed from at least one sheet of material that is folded in use.
10. a pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein the pouch is made of material comprising oriented polypropylene (opp), polyethylene terephthalate (pet), metallised polyethylene terephthalate (mpet) or polyethylene (pe), or any combination thereof.
11. a pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein the pouch further comprises a second aperture for dispensing fibrous material from the pouch in use.
12. a pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein the dispensing aperture and/or the second aperture is configured to be re-sealable, and wherein optionally, the means for re-sealing the pouch comprises a zip lock.
13. a pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein the pouch further comprises one or more indicators defining the dispensing aperture and/or the second aperture, and wherein optionally, the one or more indicators comprise markers or perforations.
14. a method for making a pouch for containing a fibrous material, comprising: providing at least one sheet of material for forming the pouch;folding the sheet to form the walls of the pouch;providing a dispensing aperture on the pouch at which fibrous material may be dispensed from the pouch in use; anddepositing a sealing material to seal the walls of the pouch and to define an inner space for holding fibrous material.
15. a method according to claim 14, further comprising: reducing the inner space towards the top portion of the pouch to leave some sacrificial pouch material; andpunching out a section of the sheet to eliminate the sacrificial pouch material.


Abstract: [en] the invention relates to a method for pasteurizing tobacco contained in a pouch. the method has the steps of: providing a pouch that includes a pocket, the pocket having a mouth for providing access to the interior of the pocket and having a closure extending along the mouth; filling the pocket with tobacco through the mouth; sealing the pocket such that there is an imperfect seal and pasteurizing the tobacco contained in the pocket of the pouch. the invention further relates to a pouch that contains tobacco, prepared by the present method.

[en] 1. a method for pasteurizing tobacco contained in a pouch, wherein the method comprises the steps of: providing a pouch comprising a pocket, the pocket having a mouth for providing access to the interior of the pocket and having a closure extending along the mouth;filling the pocket with tobacco via the mouth;sealing the pocket such that there is an imperfect seal; andpasteurizing the tobacco contained in the pocket of the pouch.
2. the method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the preliminary step of forming the pouch from a sheet of material.
3. the method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pocket of the pouch comprises at least one micro-perforation in the pocket of the pouch to allow for fluid communication between the interior and exterior of the pocket.
4. the method according to claim 3, wherein the at least one micro-perforation has a cross-sectional area of less than 0.01 mm2.
5. the method according to any preceding claim, wherein the closure comprises a first closure strip.
6. the method according to claim 5, wherein the imperfect seal is formed by sealing the closure strip such that at least one channel is retained to allow for fluid communication between the interior and exterior of the pocket.
7. the method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing is obtained by heat sealing a heat-activatable adhesive or by ultrasonic welding of the sheet of material or by pressure sealing a pressure sensitive adhesive.
8. the method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method further comprises a step of sealing the pouch such that there is a perfect seal, after the step of pasteurization of the tobacco.
9. the method according to claim 8, wherein the step of sealing comprises sealing the channel in the first closure strip or the addition of a second closure strip, beside the first closure strip which is subsequently sealed.
10. the method according to claim 8, wherein the step of sealing comprises closing the at least one microperforation.
11. the method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the step of pasteurisation includes applying microwave radiation to the pouch.
12. a pouch for containing tobacco, obtainable by the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11.
13. the pouch according to claim 12, wherein the pouch is made of material comprising oriented polypropylene (opp), polyethylene terephthalate (pet), metallised polyethylene terephthalate (mpet), polyethylene (pe) or any combination thereof.
14. the pouch according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the pouch material has an oxygen transmission rate (otr) value comprised between 1 and 800 cm3/m2/24h/1atm, preferably between 1 and 400 cm3/m2/24h/1atm.
15. the pouch according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the pouch material has a water vapour transmission rate (wvtr) value comprised between 0.1 and 4 g/m2/day, preferably between 0.2 and 3.5 g/m2/day.


Abstract: [en] there is described packaging comprising: a housing for containing products, said housing comprising an opening arranged to allow access to such products; a lid movable with respect to the housing between a closed position in which said lid prevents access to said opening and an open position in which the opening is accessible; magnetic biasing means arranged to bias the lid towards the open position by magnetic force; and releasable locking means for keeping the lid in the closed position. blanks for forming the housing and lid of such packaging and a method for forming such packaging are also described.

[en]   claims:   1. packaging comprising: a housing for containing products, said housing comprising an opening arranged to allow access to such products; a lid movable with respect to the housing between a closed position in which said lid prevents access to said opening and an open position in which the opening is accessible; magnetic biasing means arranged to bias the lid towards the open position by magnetic force; and releasable locking means for keeping the lid in the closed position.
2. packaging according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic biasing means are provided by a first magnetised component comprised in the housing and a second magnetised component comprised in the lid, said first and second magnetised components being arranged to face one another with like poles such that there is a repellent force between the housing and the lid when the lid is in the closed position.
3. packaging according to claim 2, wherein the first and second magnetised components are at least partly located in regions of the housing and lid respectively which overlap in the closed position.
4. packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein said releasable locking means comprise a locking tab comprised in one of the lid or housing and a corresponding aperture or recess comprised in the other of the lid or housing, said locking tab and aperture or recess being arranged to engage one another in the closed position.
5. packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein the lid substantially contains the housing in the closed position.
6. packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein at least a part of the lid is pivotable with respect to the housing about a hinge to effect movement between the open and closed positions.
7. packaging according to claim 6 as dependent on claim 5, wherein: the housing is an open-topped box comprising a front wall, a bottom wall, a back wall and two side walls; the lid is a hinged lid box comprising a front wall, a bottom wall, a top wall, a back wall and two side walls, the hinge being comprised in said back wall of the lid and said side and front walls of the lid being separated into upper and lower parts with respect to the hinge such that: the upper parts of the front and side walls and the top wall of the lid are pivotable about the hinge with a part of the back wall of the lid above the hinge, and the lower parts of the front and side walls and the bottom wall of the lid are pivotable about the hinge with a part of the back wall of the lid below the hinge; the housing is slidably received in the lid and is oriented such that the bottom walls of the housing and lid are adjacent when the lid is in the closed position; the first magnetised component is comprised in the bottom wall of the housing; and the second magnetised component is comprised in the bottom wall of the lid.
8. packaging according to claim 6, wherein: the housing is an open-topped box comprising a front wall, a bottom wall, a back wall and two side walls; the lid is attached along a hinge line to the back wall of the housing and comprises a top wall, a back wall, a front wall and two side walls; the lid is arranged such that its front and side walls at least partially overlap the front and side walls of an inner frame extending from the housing in the closed position; the first magnetised component is comprised in a front wall of the inner frame; and the second magnetised component is comprised in the front wall of the lid.
9. packaging according to claim 8 as dependent indirectly on claim 4, wherein said releasable locking means comprise: the locking tab comprised in one of a front or side wall of the inner frame and the corresponding aperture or recess comprised in one of the front or side walls of the lid; and/or the aperture or recess comprised in one of a front or side wall of the inner frame and the corresponding locking tab comprised in one of the front or side walls of the lid.
10. packaging according to claim 5, wherein the housing is movable within the lid in a sliding or swinging motion between the closed position and the open position.
 1 1. packaging according to claim 10, wherein: the housing is an open-topped box comprising a front wall, a bottom wall, a back wall and two side walls; the lid is an open-sided box comprising a front wall, a back wall, a side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall; and the first and second magnetised components are respectively comprised in a side wall of the housing and the side wall of the lid.
12. packaging according to any preceding packaging claim, wherein said magnetic biasing means comprise one or more of: permanent magnets, ferromagnetic coatings, ferromagnetic metals, composite ferromagnetic materials or rare-earth magnets.
13. a blank for forming the housing of the packaging according to any of claims 10 to 12, comprising: two main panels for forming the front and back walls of the housing; two side panels for forming the side walls of the housing; and a bottom panel for forming the bottom wall of the housing; wherein one of the side panels comprises the first magnetic component.
14. a blank for forming the lid of the packaging according to any of claims 10 to 12, comprising: two main panels for forming the front and back walls of the lid; a connecting panel between said two main panels and articulated thereon along fold lines to form the side wall of the lid; and a flap articulated along a fold line at each longitudinal end of one of the two main panels to form the top wall and the bottom wall of the lid; wherein said connecting panel comprises the second magnetic component.
15. a method for forming packaging according to any of claims 10 to 12, comprising folding the blanks of claims 13 and 14 and inserting the housing formed by the folded blank of claim 13 into the lid formed by the folded blank of claim 14.


Abstract: [en] a pack for smoking articles comprising: a body made of a substantially flexible material, having a front wall and a rear wall connected to each other by side walls and a bottom wall, the front wall, rear wall and side walls defining a top opening opposite the bottom wall; a lid made of a substantially flexible material, for closing the opening of the body, comprising a lid front wall and a rear wall connected by side walls and a lid top wall, the lid being articulated between a closed position and an open position about a hinge connecting the rear wall of the body and the rear wall of the lid; and a closure mechanism having a female part and a male part arranged in the body and the lid respectively or having a female part and male part arranged in the lid and body respectively, wherein the female and male part are configured to engage with each other to retain the lid in the closed position, wherein at least one of the female and male parts comprises plastic material.

[en]   claims   1. a pack for smoking articles comprising: a body made of a substantially flexible material, having a front wall and a rear wall connected to each other by side walls and a bottom wall, the front wall, rear wall and side walls defining a top opening opposite the bottom wall; a lid made of a substantially flexible material, for closing the opening of the body, comprising a lid front wall and a rear wall connected by side walls and a lid top wall, the lid being articulated between a closed position and an open position about a hinge connecting the rear wall of the body and the rear wall of the lid; and a closure mechanism having a female part and a male part arranged in the body and the lid respectively or having a female part and male part arranged in the lid and body respectively, wherein the female and male part are configured to engage with each other to retain the lid in the closed position, wherein at least one of the female and male parts comprises plastic material.
2. the pack according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the female and male parts comprises a plastic strip.
3. the pack according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the female and male parts comprises a substantially flat base and at least one protruding member extending therefrom.
4. the pack according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the female part comprises at least one recessed portion to receive and engage with at least a portion of the male part.
5. the pack according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the female part comprises at least one protruding member.
6. the pack according to claim 5, wherein the at least one protruding member is resiliently biased, such that it can engage with the male part.
7. the pack according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein both the female part and the male part have a substantially flat base and at least one protruding member extending from the flat base.
8. the pack according to claim 5, wherein the female part comprises two protruding members spaced from each other, wherein the recessed portion is positioned between the protruding members.
9. the pack according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the male part comprises a protruding member in the form of a stem having an engagement part capable of reversible engagement with the female part, such that in use the closure mechanism retains the pack in a closed configuration.
10. the pack according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the male part comprises a flexible hinged blade.
 1 1. the pack according to any preceding claim, wherein the body further comprises an inner frame attached on inner faces of the front wall and side walls of the body and extending vertically from the front wall of the body.
12. the pack according to claim 1 1, wherein one of the female part and the male part is arranged in the front wall of the body or a front wall of the inner frame, and one of the female part and the male part is arranged in an inner side of the lid front wall.
13. the pack according to claim 1 1 or 12, wherein the female or male part of the closure mechanism protrudes through an aperture in the front wall of the body or the front wall of the inner frame, such that the base of the male or female part is applied to an inner face of the front wall of the body or to inner face of front wall of the inner frame.
14. the pack according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the female part and the male part are connected to the body or inner frame and the lid of the pack using an adhesive.
15. the pack according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body and the lid are made of the same substantially flexible material, preferably wherein the substantially flexible material is cardboard.
16. a pack according to any preceding claim, wherein the pack is made out of cardboard.
17. a pack according to claim 16, wherein the male part comprises a cardboard flexible blade extending on an inner side of the lid front wall.


Abstract: [en] there is described herein packaging in the form of a hinged-lid box comprising: a housing comprising two side faces connected by a back face and a bottom face; and a lid comprising two side faces connected by a back face and a top face; wherein: at least one of said housing and said lid further comprises a front face; and the lid is connected to the housing by means of a hinge formed by an arcuate fold line connecting said back faces of the housing and the lid. there is further described herein a blank and a method for forming such packaging.

[en] 1. packaging in the form of a hinged-lid box comprising: a housing comprising two side faces connected by a back face and a bottom face; anda lid comprising two side faces connected by a back face and a top face; wherein:at least one of said housing and said lid further comprises a front face; andthe lid is connected to the housing by means of a hinge formed by an arcuate fold line connecting said back faces of the housing and the lid.
2. packaging according to claim 1, wherein said arcuate fold line curves up towards said top face from lower ends adjoining said side faces of the lid
3. packaging according to either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the perpendicular distance between the apex of said arcuate fold line and the chord of the arcuate fold line is from approximately 0.5mm to approximately 2.0mm.
4. packaging according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein both of the housing and the lid further comprise front faces.
5. packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein one or more of the faces are bowed.
6. packaging according to claim 5, wherein all faces of the packaging are bowed.
7. packaging according to either of claims 5 or 6, wherein all external edges of the packaging are arcuate.
8. packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein one or more connections between faces are by means of rounded edges.
9. packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein one or more connections between faces are by means of bevels.
10. packaging according to claim 9, wherein one or more of said bevels are defined by arcuate edges.
11. packaging according to claim 10, wherein the housing comprises a front face, further comprising: a first bevel situated on one side of said housing front face and being attached to the housing front face by a first longitudinal fold line; anda second bevel situated on the other side of the housing front face and being attached to the housing front face by a second longitudinal fold line; whereinthe first and second fold lines are curved away from the centre of the housing front face such that the housing front face is at least partially concavely bowed in a longitudinal direction.
12. packaging according to claim 11, wherein the first and second fold lines are curved away from the centre of the housing front face such that the housing front face is concavely bowed in a lateral direction.
13. packaging according to either of claims 11 or 12, wherein the housing front face is concavely bowed in a longitudinal direction from a location substantially adjacent the top face to an area substantially adjacent the bottom face.
14. a blank for forming the packaging of any preceding claim comprising: a housing front panel;two housing side panels connected by said housing front panel;a housing bottom panel;a housing back panel connected to the housing front panel by said housing bottom panel;a lid front panel;two lid side panels connected by said lid front panel;a lid top panel; anda lid back panel connected to the lid front panel by said lid top panel; whereinsaid lid back panel is connected to said housing back panel by an arcuate fold line.
15. a method for forming the packaging according to any of claims 1 to 13 comprising folding the blank according to claim 14.


Abstract: [en] the present invention provides a process and an apparatus for producing a pack (p) of smoking articles (s) comprising a magnetic closure (m) including a first magnetic closure element (m1) and second magnetic closure element (m2) which are configured and arranged to exert a magnetic force for holding the lid (l) in the closed position. the invention furthermore provides. the process comprises: assembling packaging material, including a packaging blank (b), around the charge (c) of smoking articles (s) to form a pack (p) enclosing the charge (c) of smoking articles (s), wherein the process comprises introducing the first and second magnetic closure elements (m1, m2) into the packaging material forming the pack (p) wherein the first and second magnetic closure elements (m1, m2) are introduced into the pack (p) after a step of assembling the packaging blank (b) around the charge (c) of smoking articles (s).

[en] a production process for producing a pack (p) of smoking articles (s), the process comprising: assembling packaging material including a packaging blank (b) around a charge (c) of smoking articles (s) to form a pack (p) enclosing the charge (c) of smoking articles (s); wherein the assembled pack (p) includes a container portion (h) to hold the charge (c) of smoking articles(s), a lid (l) that is movable between a closed position for preventing access to the smoking articles (s) in the container portion and an open position for accessing the smoking articles (s), and a magnetic closure (m) having a first magnetic closure element (mi) and a second magnetic closure element (m2) which are configured and arranged to exert a magnetic force for holding the lid(l) in the closed position; wherein the process comprises introducing the first and second magnetic closure elements (mi, m2) into the packaging material forming the pack (p), such that the first and second magnetic closure elements are positioned to substantially align with and/or contact one another when the lid (l) is in the closed position and wherein the first and second magnetic closure elements (mi, m2) are introduced, applied and/or inserted into a part of the container portion (h) or lid (l) of the packaging material forming the pack (p) after a step of assembling the packaging blank (b) around the charge (c) of smoking articles (s). a process according to claim 1, comprising opening the pack (p) and introducing, applying, and/or inserting at least one of the first and second magnetic closure elements (mi, m2) into or onto a part of the container portion (h) or lid (l), especially via an automated device, such as a pick-and-place device, for automated introduction, application, and/or insertion of the magnetic closure elements (mi, m2), and then closing the pack (p).
a process according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the first and second magnetic closure elements (mi, m2) is respectively bonded to the packaging material, e.g. adhesively bonded, with a bonding strength greater than a maximum magnetic force capable of being exerted between the first and second magnetic closure elements (mi, m2).
a process according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one of the first and second magnetic closure elements (mi, m2) is received and accommodated in a respective recess provided in the packaging material, especially in part of the packaging blank (b), the container portion (h), the lid (l), or the frame (f).
a process according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least one of the first and second magnetic closure elements (mi, m2) is introduced, applied, and/or inserted into or onto the packaging material via a carrier substrate, such as a label, e.g. an adhesive label. a process according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein one of the first and second magnetic closure elements (mi, m2) is a permanent magnet and the other of the first and second magnetic closure elements (mi, m2) is comprised of a material, such as a ferrous material, that reacts to a magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet; and/or wherein both of the first and second magnetic closure elements (mi, m2) comprise a permanent magnet.
7. an apparatus (70) for providing a magnetic closure (m) in a pack (p) of smoking articles (s), said pack (p) comprising a container portion (h) that holds a charge(c) of the smoking articles (s), and a lid (l) that is movable between a closed position for preventing access to the smoking articles (s) in the container portion (h) and an open position for accessing the smoking articles(s), wherein the apparatus (70) comprises means (71) for introducing a first magnetic closure element (mi) and a second magnetic closure element (m2) into the pack (p), such that the first and second magnetic closure elements(mi, m2) are positioned to exert a magnetic force for holding the lid (l) in the closed position.
8. an apparatus (70) according to claim 7, wherein the means (71) for introducing the first and the second magnetic closure elements (mi, m2) into the pack (p) comprises a pick-and-place device configured and arranged to convey or transport one or both of the first and second magnetic closure elements (mi, m2) from a supply (72) to the pack (p). an apparatus (70) according to claim 7 or 8, further comprising adhesive application means (75) configured to apply an adhesive to the magnetic closure elements (mi, m2) and/or to the pack (p), especially to the container portion (h) and/or the lid (l) before introduction of said magnetic closure elements (mi, m2) into the pack.
an apparatus (70) according to any of claims 7 to 9, further comprising label application means (76) configured to introduce and apply one or both of the magnetic closure elements (mi, m2) on a label to the pack (p), especially to the container portion (h) and/or to the lid (l) of the pack.
an apparatus (70) according to any of claims 7 to 10, further comprising means (73) for opening the lid (l) of the pack from the closed position to the open position and, preferably, means (74) for closing the lid (l) of the pack (p) from the open position to the closed position.
an apparatus (70) according to any of claims 7 to 11, further comprising means for holding the lid in the open position.
an apparatus (70) according to any of claims 7 to 12, further comprising a loading means (77) for guiding or feeding individual packs (p) into the apparatus (70) at an inlet thereof, unloading means (79) for guiding or discharging the packs (p) from the apparatus (70) at an outlet thereof, and conveying means (78) for transporting or transferring the packs (p) through the apparatus (70) from the inlet to the outlet, preferably a linear transfer conveyor or a rotating transfer conveyor.
14. an apparatus (70) according to any of claims 7 to 13, further comprising interface means for interfacing with a smoking articles packing system at an inlet of the apparatus and/or for interfacing with a smoking articles pack wrapping system at an outlet of the apparatus.
15. an apparatus (70) according to any of claims 7 to 14, further comprising a storage device for storing multiple packs of smoking article before or after processing in the apparatus.


Abstract: [en] the present invention provides a packaging assembly (100) for packaging one or more articles (c), comprising: a container (1) having an inner compartment (4) configured to receive and accommodate an article (c) therein and an opening (17') for accessing the compartment (4); a cover member (7) mounted on the container (1) and movable between a closed position to prevent access to the compartment (4) and an open position to permit access to the compartment (4); and a mechanism that is configured to move the cover member (7) from the open position to the closed position upon insertion of an article (c) into the compartment (4).

[en] claims: a packaging assembly (100) for packaging one or more articles (c), comprising: a container (1) having an inner compartment (4) for receiving and accommodating an article (c) therein and an opening (17') for accessing the compartment (4); a cover member (7) mounted on the container (1) and movable between a closed position to prevent access to the inner compartment (4) and an open position to permit access to the compartment (4); and a mechanism configured to move the cover member (7) from the open position to the closed position upon insertion of an article (c) into the compartment (4).
a packaging assembly (100) according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism (5) includes an actuating member (6) that is activated by the article (c) upon insertion of the article (c) into the inner compartment (4), wherein the actuating member (6) is connected to the cover member (7) to transfer an impulse imparted by the article (c) to move the cover member (7) to the closed position.
a packaging assembly (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the actuating member (6) is arranged or provided in the compartment (4) or forms a part of the container (2), the actuating member (6) comprising an abutment member for engagement by the article (c) upon insertion of the article (c) into the compartment (4).
a packaging assembly (100) according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the container (1) comprises an inner part (2) which defines or encloses the inner compartment (4) and an outer part (5) which at least partially surrounds or encompasses the inner part (2), wherein the inner part (2) includes or forms the actuating member (6) such that insertion of the article (c) moves the inner part (2) relative to the outer part (5) from one position (b) to another position (a) to move the cover member (7) from the open position to the closed position.
a packaging assembly (100) according to claim 4, wherein the inner part (5) of the container (1) is movable in a translational or sliding displacement relative to the outer part (2) between the one position (b) and the said other position (a); and/or wherein the outer part (5) is movable relative to the inner part (2) between a first position (a) and a second position (b) to move the cover member (7) between the closed position and the open position, respectively.
a packaging assembly (100) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the cover member (7) is pivotally connected to the outer part (5) via a hinge connection (8) for pivoting movement between the open position and the closed position when the inner part (5) moves relative to the outer part (2) between the one position (b) and the other position (a), respectively.
a packaging assembly (100) according to any of claims 4 to 6, wherein cover member (7) is pivotally connected to the inner part (2) via a hinge connection (16) so that the cover member (7) pivots between the open and closed positions relative to the inner part (2). a packaging assembly (100) according to any of claims 4 to 7, wherein the inner part (2) forms an inner casing and the outer part (5) forms an outer casing that surrounds the inner casing (2), especially in the form of a sleeve; and/or wherein the packaging assembly (100) further comprises biasing means (12), especially at least one spring member, which biases or urges the inner part (2) towards the first position (a) relative to the outer part (5).
a packaging assembly (100) according to any of claims 4 to 8, wherein the inner and outer parts (2, 5) include complementary latching means configured and arranged to engage and releasably latch with each other when the inner part (5) is in the said one position (b) relative to the outer part (2), thereby to hold the cover member (7) in the open position.
a packaging assembly (100) according to claim 9, wherein the complementary latching means include a first latching element (22) on an inner surface of the outer part (5) and a complementary second latching element (23) provided on an outer surface of the inner part (2), wherein one or both of the first and second latching elements (22, 23) is desirably deformable or deflectable to facilitate interlocking and/or release of the complementary latching means.
a packaging assembly (100) according to any of claims 4 to 10, wherein the inner part (2) and the outer part (5) of the container (1) include stop means (19, 20) which define the first and second positions (a, b) and limit movement of the outer part (5) relative to the inner part (2) between the first and second positions (a, b).
12. a packaging assembly (100) according to any of claims 4 to 11, wherein the inner part (2) of the container (1) is adapted to accommodate one or more elongate articles(c) in the inner compartment (4) and wherein the inner part (2) is mounted in the outer part (5) such that a proffering of the article (c) is achieved through an opening (17') in the outer part (5) when the outer part(5) is in the second position (b).
13. a packaging assembly (100) according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the cover member (7) is configured to form an closure or seal of the opening (17') in the container (1) in the closed position.
14. a packaging assembly (100) according to any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the container (1) and cover member (7) are made from a plastic material, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyurethane, preferably by injection molding.
15. a pack of articles (c) comprising a packaging assembly (100) according to any of claims 1 to 14, wherein one or more articles (c) is/are held within the compartment (4) of the container (1).


Abstract: [en] the present disclosure generally relates to the field of packaging, for example for tobacco products, more particularly the field of cigarette packaging, blanks used in the construction of such packaging and methods of constructing such packaging. according to one aspect there is provided packaging (100) comprising: an inner packet part (120); and an outer packet part (110) configured to have said inner packet part disposed therein, and to allow movement of said inner packet part relative to the outer packet part between a fully closed position and a fully open position along a predefined path; wherein the inner and outer packet parts (110, 120) each comprise, in regions thereof which at least partially overlap when said packaging is in said fully closed position, one or more magnetised components, at least one of the inner and outer packet parts comprising a plurality of said magnetised components having polarities which alternate along said predefined path.

[en]    claims:   1. packaging comprising: an inner packet part; and an outer packet part configured to have said inner packet part disposed therein, and to allow movement of said inner packet part relative to the outer packet part between a fully closed position and a fully open position along a predefined path; wherein the inner and outer packet parts each comprise, in regions thereof which at least partially overlap when said packaging is in said fully closed position, one or more magnetised components, at least one of the inner and outer packet parts comprising a plurality of said magnetised components having polarities which alternate along said predefined path.
2. packaging according to claim 1, wherein the magnetised components are arranged such that, when the packaging is in the fully closed position, magnetic attraction between one or more of the magnetised components of the inner packet part and one or more of the magnetised components of the outer packet part acts to keep the packaging fully closed.
3. packaging according to claim 2, wherein the magnetised components are arranged such that said magnetic attraction is sufficient to keep the packaging from falling open, regardless of orientation of the packaging, but insufficient to prevent a user from opening the packaging by hand.
4. packaging according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one of the inner and outer packet parts comprise at least three of the magnetised components having polarities which alternate along the predefined path.
5. packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein movement of the inner packet part between the fully open position and the fully closed position comprises linear movement and/or rotational movement.
6. packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein each of said magnetised components is in the form of a strip disposed with its longitudinal extent substantially perpendicular to the predefined path.
7. packaging according to claim 6, wherein the width of said strips is approximately 2.0mm.
8. packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein the thickness of the magnetised components is between approximately 0.1 mm and approximately 0.5mm.
9. packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein the magnetised components comprise extruded magnetic material or adhesive-backed magnets.
10. packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein: the inner packet part comprises a front wall, a back wall, two side walls and a bottom wall, said front and back walls being substantially parallel to one another and connected in a spaced relationship by at least said side walls and said bottom wall to form an open-topped box; and the outer packet part comprises a front wall, a back wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, said front and back walls being substantially parallel to one another and connected in a spaced relationship by at least said top wall and said bottom wall to form an open-sided box.
 1 1. packaging according to any preceding claim, comprising means for reversible connection between the inner and outer packet parts configured such that the inner packet part can be removed and replaced.
12. a blank for forming the inner packet part of any preceding claim, comprising: at least two main panels for forming front and back walls; at least one connecting panel between said two main panels and articulated thereon along fold lines for forming a bottom wall; and at least one flap articulated along a fold line at each transverse end of at least one of the two main panels to form side walls; wherein at least one of the two main panels comprises one or more of the magnetised components.
13. a method of making the inner packet part of any of claims 1 to 1 1, comprising folding a blank according to claim 12.
14. a blank for forming the outer packet part of any of claims 1 to 1 1, comprising: at least two main panels for forming front and back walls; at least one connecting panel between said two main panels and articulated thereon along fold lines for forming a side wall; and at least one flap articulated along a fold line at each longitudinal end of at least one of the two main panels to form top and bottom walls; wherein at least one of the two main panels comprises one or more of the magnetised components.
15. a method of making the outer packet part of any of claims 1 to 1 1, comprising folding a blank according to claim 14.


Abstract: [en] a hinge-cover cigarette pack (10) comprises an inner box (1) having a top face, a bottom face and a plurality of longitudinal faces connecting the top face to the bottom face, one of the longitudinal faces being a front face. the pack further comprises a cover (2) arranged to cover the entire surface of the front face when the pack is in a closed position, the cover being hingedly attached to a first longitudinal side face of the inner box. the pack also comprises a linking element for attaching the cover to a second longitudinal side face of the inner box, the linking element being arranged to bias the relative position of the inner box to the cover in a first configuration, which first configuration is approximately half-way between a fully open configuration and a fully closed configuration.

[en] claims 1. a hinge-cover cigarette pack comprising: an inner box having a top face, a bottom face and a plurality of longitudinal faces connecting the top face to the bottom face, one of the longitudinal faces being a front face; a cover arranged to cover the entire surface of the front face when the pack is in a closed position, the cover being hingedly attached to a first longitudinal side face of the inner box; and a linking element for attaching the cover to a second longitudinal side face of the inner box, the hinge-cover pack being characterised by: the linking element is arranged to bias the relative position of the inner box to the cover in a first configuration, which first configuration is approximately half-way between a fully open configuration and a fully closed configuration.
2. the hinge-cover cigarette pack of claim 1, wherein: the inner box is an octagonal parallelepiped having a top face, a bottom face, a front face, a rear face, two side face and four bevel faces; and the cover being fixed to both the rear face of the inner box and, via the linking element, to one of the bevel faces of the inner box.
3. the hinge-cover cigarette pack of any of the preceding claims, wherein: the cover, when closed, is essentially of the shape of an octagonal parallelepiped having a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall, a rear wall, two side walls and three bevel walls; the rear wall of the cover being arrange to be fixed to the rear face of the inner box.
4. the hinge-cover cigarette pack of any of the preceding claims, wherein the cover and the inner box are arranged such that, in a closed position: the front wall of the cover is superimposed on the front face of the inner box; the top wall of the cover covers the top face of the inner box; the bottom wall of the cover covers the bottom face of the inner box; and the side walls of the cover cover the side faces of the inner box.
5. the hinge-cover cigarette pack of any of the preceding claims further comprising: biasing means for biasing the pack in the closed position.
6. the hinge-cover cigarette pack of any of the preceding claims, further comprising: a tab fixed to one of the four bevel faces such that it is operable as a handle to facilitate the opening of the pack by a user.
7. a blank for producing the inner box of any of the preceding claims, the blank being characterised by: a rear panel disposed between a first front panel and a second front panel, the first front panel being arranged to be fixed under the second front panel when the blank is folded into the inner box.
8. the blank of claim 6, wherein the first front panel is provided with a first aperture for accessing the interior of the inner box and the second front panel is provided with a second aperture for accessing the interior of the box, the first aperture having smaller dimensions than the second aperture.
9. the blank of claim 7, wherein the second aperture is covered by a removable panel made of the same material as the inner box.
10. a blank for producing the cover of any of claims 1 to 6, the blank being characterised by: a first top wall panel and a second top wall panel arranged to be folded and fixed upon one another; a first bottom wall panel and a second bottom wall panel arranged to be folded and fixed upon one another; a first front wall panel and a second front wall panel being arranged to be folded on top of each other in order to form the front wall of the cover; a rear panel suitable to be attached to the rear face of the inner box; and a linking element attached to the second front wall and being suitable to attach the front wall to the inner box and further being arranged to bias the relative position of the inner box to the cover in a first configuration, which first configuration is approximately half-way between a fully open configuration and a fully closed configuration.


Abstract: [en] a method of cigarette packaging, the method comprising the steps of: packing at least a first cigarette packet (52a) labeled with a first unique code (12a) and a second cigarette packet (52b) labeled with a second unique code (12b) into a first carton (10) and recording an information (56) that at least the two cigarette packets (52a, 52b) with the first unique code (12a) and the second unique code (12b) are packed into the same carton (10) in a database; packing the first carton (10) into a case (20); detecting the first unique code (12a) in the case (20) and reading from the database all the unique codes (12b) of the cigarette packets (52b) that are packed into the same carton (10) as the detected first unique code (12a). furthermore, a method for tracking cigarette packets (52a, 52b) and a cigarette packaging system is described.

[mt]  the  1 a cigarette packing method, the method comprising the following steps: the  packaging at least a first unique machine readable code (12a) is marked with a first cigarette packet (52a) and a second marked by a unique machine-readable code (12b) and a second cigarette packet (52b) to a first cassette (10) and having the first unique machine readable code (12a) and the second unique machine-readable code (12b) of at least the two cigarette packets (52a, 52b) of the packaging to the same tray (10) of the item (56) to record in a database;  the first sheet cassette (10) packaging a carton (20);  detect the carton (20) in the first unique machine-readable code (12a);  enter the by detect unique machine-readable code (12a) the library and read the packaging from the database to the same tray (10) cigarette packets (52b) the unique machine-readable code (12b) as the by detect unique machine-readable code (12a).
 such as the method described in a patent range, the method includes the following additional steps:  provide a unique carton code on the carton (20) (22);  record links the detected first unique machine readable code (12a) and the packaging to the same tray (10) of the cigarette packets (52b) of all of the unique machine-readable code (12b) as the warp detection the first unique machine-readable code (12a) of the material (26,64) to the unique carton code (22).
 3. patent scope of a method described in the packaging of the first cigarette packet (52a) and the second cigarette packet (52b) to the first sheet cassette (10), wherein the first a unique machine-readable code (12a) and the second unique machine readable code (12b) lies in the detection of the first cassette (10), and wherein the detection of the through the first unique machine-readable code (12a) and the second unique machine readable code (12b) system transfer to the database records having the first unique machine readable code (12a) and the second unique machine-readable code (12b) at least the two cigarette a package (52a, 52b) packaging item (56) to the same tray (10) from the database.
 4., such as the method described in section 3 of the patent range, wherein the first tray (10) is allowed from the outside of the tray (10) detects the closing of the first unique machine based at least in part by the readable code (12a) and the second unique machine-readable code (12b) of the material.
 5., such as the method described in a patent range, where the first unique machine readable code (12a) system since detect the closing tray (20), the outside of the carton (20).
 6. such as the method described in section 1 of the patent range, wherein at least a third unique machine readable code (12) marked with a third cigarette packets (52) and a fourth unique machine-readable a fourth code (12) marked cigarette packets (52) to the packaging to a second sheet cassette (10), and wherein the second sheet cassette (10) line is loaded into the carton (20).
 7. apply the method described in the patent range 1, wherein the first sheet cassette (10) having an internal carton code (16), and wherein the first unique machine readable code (12a) and the second unique machine readable code (12b) at least the two cigarette packets (52a, 52b) of packaging to the same tray (10) by the recording material (56) contains a link to the first unique the machine-readable code (12a) and the second unique machine-readable code (12b) to the internal carton code (16) an additional information (18).
 8. a method of tracking cigarette packets (52a, 52b), the method includes the following steps:  method of packaging according to the patent application range 1-7 wherein one of at least a first unique machine readable code (12a) marked on a first cigarette packet (52a) and marked by a second unique machine readable code (12b) and a second cigarette packet (52b) to a carton (20).
 a cigarette package  9. system, comprising:  a control device (58) having a database; the  designed for packaging at least a first unique machine-readable code (12a) marked a first cigarette packet (52a) and a second unique machine-readable code (12b) labeled second cigarette packet (52b) to a first cassette (10) within a first packing machine (50);  is designed for the detection of the first sheet cassette (10) in at least the first unique machine readable code (12a) and the second unique machine readable code (12b) and provided with the first unique machine readable code (12a) and the second unique machine-readable code (12b) at least the two cigarette packets (52a, 52b) of the packaging to the same tray (10) within the item (56) to the control unit (58) in a first sensor unit (54), wherein the control unit (58) are designed to provide information (56) in the database for the record of the warp; the  designed for packaging at least the first tray (10) to a carton (20) within a second packaging machine (60);  the carton (20) is designed to detect the first unique machine readable code (12a) and transmits the warp detection the first unique machine-readable code (12a) to the control unit (58) and a second sensor unit (62), wherein the control unit (58) are designed to read from the database package to the same tray (10) of the cigarette packets (52b) of all of the unique machine-readable code (12b) as the detection of the the via the first unique machine-readable code (12a).
 10. such as described in chapter 9 of the patent scope of the cigarette packaging system, wherein the the second sensor unit (62) series further designed to detect the carton (20) on a unique carton code (22) and transferring the warp to detect unique carton code (22) to the control unit (58), and wherein the control unit (58) further design record of an item (28) on the database, the item (28) connecting the unique carton code (22) to the first unique machine readable code (12a) and the packaging to the same tray (10) of the cigarette packets (52b) of all of the unique machine-readable code (12b) as the warp detect the first unique machine-readable code (12a).


Abstract: [en] problem to be solved: to provide a visual inspection device and a visual inspection method capable of performing a visual inspection relating to different objects such as foreign matters and dirt and a lack of a spot tablet or the like concurrently and with a high degree of precision with respect to an inspection object having a spot pattern and a recess part.solution: a visual inspection device includes: a visible light illumination 3 for irradiating visible light to an inspection object s; a non-visible light illumination 4 for irradiating non-visible light to the inspection object; imaging means 2 for catching a color image and a non-visible light image of the inspection object; foreign matter detection means for detecting foreign matters and dirt included in the inspection object from the color image; and lack detection means for detecting a lack in the inspection object by comparatively processing the non-visible light image and the previously recorded basic non-visible light image. in the color image, a spot pattern is emphasized much more than a shadow of a recess part in the surface of the inspection object, and in the non-visible light image, the shadow of the recess part is emphasized much more than the recess part of the spot pattern.

[mt]  1.  an appearance inspection apparatus for inspecting the appearance of the test object with a speckled pattern and recesses on the surface, and the visible light illumination for irradiating visible light to the inspection object, and invisible light illumination for illuminating the invisible light to the inspection object, an imaging means for capturing a color image and an invisible light image of said inspection object, and the normal color region detecting means for determining the color component area of the normal color of the inspection object based on the appearance frequency of each color component in a color image in advance the inspection object, a first inspection color information setting means for setting a color component region other than the color component area of the detected said normal color by the normal color region detecting means as the first inspection color information, summarizes the color components included in a predetermined frequency range based on the frequency of appearance of each color component in a color image of the inspection object, second inspection color information for setting the color component area as a second inspection color information and setting means, said first inspection color information registered respectively by the color selection to the first inspection color information setting means and the second inspection color information setting means the color image of the inspection target object obtained by said image pickup means and a color determination means for determining the image area of a specific color component corresponding to the second inspection color information, a foreign matter detecting means for detecting foreign matter and dirt contained in the inspection object by determining the size of the image area of said specific color component obtained by the color determining means, anda missing detecting means for detecting a missing of the inspection object by comparison with the basic black light images prerecorded with the invisible light image, in the color image, the than the shadow of the recesses in the surface of the inspection object is to emphasize the speckled pattern, in the invisible light image is characterized by emphasizing the shadow of the recess than the spots pattern visual inspection equipment.
 2.  and the visible light illumination and said image capturing means, than the shadow of the recesses in the surface of the inspection object are disposed so as to emphasize the speckled pattern, and the invisible light illumination and said image capturing means, than the spots pattern the appearance inspection apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it is arranged to emphasize the more shadows of the recess.
 3.  the invisible light illumination, the appearance inspection apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is located in proximity to the inspection object than the visible light illumination.
 4.  the visible light illumination, the appearance inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is formed in a dome shape.
 5.  the invisible light illumination, the appearance inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it is formed in an annular shape.
 6.  the normal color area detection means according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that included in the color component area of the normal color shade of the recesses of the inspection object as part of the normal color visual inspection equipment.
 7.  the invisible light illumination, the appearance inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the irradiation with ultraviolet or infrared radiation.
 8.  a visual inspection method for inspecting the appearance of the test object with a speckled pattern and recesses on the surface, an imaging step of irradiating with visible light and invisible light to the inspection object and imaging a color image and an invisible light image of said inspection object, previously obtained color component area of the normal color of the inspection object based on the appearance frequency of each color component in a color image of the inspection object, the color component area other than the color component area of the normal color first and examination color information is set as, together with the color components included in a predetermined frequency range based on the frequency of appearance of each color component in a color image of the inspection object, and sets the color component area as a second inspection color information, the the color image to color sorting to obtain the image area of a specific color component that corresponds to the first inspection color information and the second inspection color information, the size of the image area of said specific color component of the test object a foreign object detection step of detecting foreign matter and dirt contained in the inspection object is determined, comparing the basic invisible light image of the invisible light image and prerecorded said inspection object, and a, and a missing detection step of detecting a missing included in the inspection object, in the imaging process, the than the shadow of the recesses in the surface of the inspection object is imaged with the color image to emphasize the speckled pattern, wherein it is the invisible light image is also emphasized the shadow of the recess than the mottled appearance inspection method characterized by imaging the.


Abstract: [en] a cigarette pack comprises a box having a bottom face and a plurality of longitudinal faces, the longitudinal faces comprising a front face, a rear face, and first and second side faces connecting the front and rear faces and defining together with the bottom face an internal compartment for receiving a bundle of cigarettes. an openable lid comprises front face, a rear face, a top face and first and second side faces, said lid being hingedly connected on its rear face to the rear face of the box along a hinge line such that the lid is movable with respect to the box about said hinge line between a closed position and an open position. an inner frame is positioned within the box and comprising at least first and second side walls positioned adjacent to the first and second longitudinal side faces and extending beyond top ends thereof into the lid when the lid is in a closed position, wherein said inner frame side walls are bent inwardly towards the interior of the internal compartment of the box and away from being parallel with first and second side faces of the lid in its closed position.

[en] 1. a cigarette pack comprising: a box having a bottom face and a plurality of longitudinal faces, the longitudinal faces comprising a front face, a rear face, and first and second side faces connecting the front and rear faces and defining together with the bottom face an internal compartment for receiving a bundle of cigarettes;an openable lid comprising front face, a rear face, a top face and first and second side faces, said lid being hingedly connected on its rear face to the rear face of the box along a hinge line such that the lid is movable with respect to the box about said hinge line between a closed position and an open position; andan inner frame positioned within the box and comprising at least first and second side walls positioned adjacent to the first and second longitudinal side faces and extending beyond top ends thereof into the lid when the lid is in a closed position, wherein said inner frame side walls are bent inwardly towards the interior of the internal compartment of the box and away from being parallel with first and second side faces of the lid in its closed position.
2. a pack according to claim 1, wherein the length (lh) of the hinge line is shorter than the length (lb) of bottom and top sides of rear faces.
3. a pack according to claim 2, wherein the distance (dr) between longitudinal sides of the rear face varies continuously from the bottom side of said rear face to the hinge line between the length (lb) of said bottom side to the length (lh) of the hinge line.
4. a pack according to claim 3, wherein the distance (dr) between longitudinal sides of the rear face decreases from the bottom side of said rear face to the hinge line.
5. a pack according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the distance (dr) between longitudinal sides of the rear face varies linearly.
6. a pack according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the distance (dr) between longitudinal sides of the rear face varies non-linearly.
7. a pack according to claim 2, wherein the distance (dr) between longitudinal sides of the rear face from the bottom side of said rear face to the hinge line varies discontinuously between the length (lb) of said bottom side to the length (lh) of the hinge line.
8. a pack according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the front and rear faces of the pack are substantially planar.
9. the pack of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the front and rear faces of the pack are connected to each other via the side faces such that they define right-angled, bevelled or rounded corners.
10. the pack according to any preceding claim wherein the first and second walls of the inner frame are bent towards a sagittal plane substantially perpendicular to the front or rear face of the box.
11. the pack according to any of claims 2 to 10, wherein the length (lh) of the hinge line is between 0,2 to 5 mm shorter than the length (lb) of the bottom side of the rear face.
12. a blank for forming the box of the pack according to any of claims 2 to 11, comprising: - a first main panel (21) to form a front face of the box;- a second main panel (25) to form a rear face of the box;- a first intermediate panel (24) connected at first ends of said first and second main panels along parallel first and second folding lines (l1, l2) to form a bottom face of the box;- first and second counter panels (22, 23) connected on longitudinal sides of the first main panel along third and fourth folding lines (l3, l4);- third and fourth counter panels (26, 27) connected on longitudinal sides of the second main panel respectively along fifth and sixth folding lines (l5, l6), wherein- the first and second counter panels and the third and fourth counter panels are arranged to form longitudinal side faces of the box by superimposition and fastening of counter panels of the first main panel with those of the second main panel upon construction of the box;- a second intermediate panel (28) forms a rear face of the lid and connected to a second end of the second main panel along a hinge line (h) parallel to the first and second folding lines (l1, l2);- a top panel (29) forms a top face of the lid connected to the second intermediate panel along a seventh folding line (l7) parallel to the hinge line;- a front panel (30) forms a front face of the lid connected to the top panel along an eighth folding line (l8) parallel to the seventh hinge line (l7); and- first and second lateral flaps (34, 35) are foldable on sides of the second intermediate panel (28) and third and fourth lateral flaps (32, 33) foldable on sides of the front panel (30) to form side faces of the lid by superimposition and fastening of the third and fourth flaps onto the first and second flaps respectively upon construction of the box, wherein the length (lh) of the hinge line (h) is shorter than the length (lb) of the second folding line (l2) between the second main panel (25) and the first intermediate panel (24).
13. a blank according to claim 12, wherein the distance (dr) between the fifth and sixth folding lines varies continuously from the second folding line to the hinge line between the length (lb) of said second folding line to the length (lh) of the hinge line.
14. a blank according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the distance (dr) between the fifth and sixth folding lines decreases from the second folding line to the hinge line.
15. a blank according to claim 12, wherein the distance (dr) between the fifth and sixth folding lines varies discontinuously from the second folding line to the hinge line between the length (lb) of said second folding line to the length (lh) of the hinge line.


Abstract: [en] the present invention provides a self-supporting smokers' article comprising an elongate element which comprises reconstituted tobacco. the smokers' article can be used to flavour consumer-made smoking items such as roll-your-own or make-your-own smoking items.

[en] 1. a self-supporting smokers' article for flavouring a consumer-made smoking item, wherein the smokers' article comprises an elongate element comprising reconstituted tobacco.
2. the smokers' article according to claim 1, wherein the elongate element has a thickness of from 0.10 mm to 0.50 mm.
3. the smokers' article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the elongate element has a width of from 1 mm to 10 mm.
4. the smokers' article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate element has a length of from 40 mm to 110 mm.
5. the smokers' article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate element further comprises an additive.
6. the smokers' article according to claim 5, wherein the additive is selected from the group consisting of extracts, naturally-derived additives, natural aroma chemicals, nature-identical aroma chemicals, artificial aroma chemicals, solvents, fixatives, stabilisers or a combination thereof.
7. the smokers' article according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the additive is present in an amount of from about 1 wt percent to 5 wt percent.
8. the smokers' article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate element spans substantially the length of a consumer-made smoking item.
9. a pack of smokers' articles comprising a plurality of smokers' articles according to any one of the preceding claims.
10. the pack according to claim 9, wherein each elongate element is frangibly connected to an adjacent elongate element.
11. the pack according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the plurality of elongate elements are frangibly connected to a base element.
12. a dispenser comprising a plurality of smokers' articles according to any one of claims 1 to 8 or comprising a pack of smokers' articles according to any one of claims 9 to 11.
13. a tobacco pouch comprising a pack according to any one of claims 9 to 11 or a dispenser according to claim 12.
14. use of the smokers' article as defined in any one of claims 1 to 8 to flavour a consumer-made smoking item.
15. the use according to claim 14, wherein the consumer-made smoking item is a roll-your-own (ryo) or a make-your-own (myo) smoking item.


Abstract: [en] vaporisable material and capsule for use in vapour generating devicea method for producing a vaporisable material comprising plant fibres suitable for use in a vapour generating device 1 (i.e. a simulated smoking device with electrical or chemical heating means such as an electric cigarette), which generates a vapour by heating the vaporisable material. the method comprises the step of reducing the particle size of the plant fibres to less than 1.5 mm. several particle size ranges are combined to produce the material. the particle size may be reduced by cutting and the cut fibres may be sieved to separate fibres of different particle sizes. the vaporisable material may have plant fibres with a particle size ranging from 0.85 to 0.25 mm, further comprising a humectant. the material may have a moisture content of 5 wt percent or less. preferably the plant material is tobacco. the vaporisable material may be packaged in a capsule (20, figure 2), which may be gas-impermeable, and which opens upon heating. the humectant may be propylene glycol (propane-1,2-diol) in an amount of 20 60 wt percent.

[en] claims 1. a method for producing a vaporisable material comprising plant fibres for use in a vapour generating device which generates a vapour by heating the vaporisable material, the method comprising reducing the particle size of the plant fibres to less than 1.5 mm and mixing plant fibres of at least two ranges of particle size.
2. a method according to claim 1, wherein the step of reducing the particle size of the plant fibres comprises a step of cutting the plant fibres.
3. a method according to claim 2, wherein the method comprises a further step of sieving the cut plant fibres after the cutting step to separate fibres of different particle sizes.
4. a method according to any of claims i to 3, further comprising a step of drying the plant fibres to a moisture content of about 5 wt percent or less.
5. a method according to any of claims ito 4, comprising the following steps: i. drying the plant fibres to a moisture content of about 5 wt percent or less; u. cutting the plant fibres; ui. sieving the cut plant fibres after the cutting step to separate fibres of different particle sizes; iv. adding at least one humectant to the plant fibres; and v. mixing the dried sieved cut plant fibres with the humectants.
6. a method according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the vaporisable material comprises tobacco.
7. a method for producing a vaporisable material comprising plant fibres for use in a vapour generating device which generates a vapour by heating the vaporisable material, the method comprising the step of reducing the particle size of the plant fibres by cutting the fibres and further characterised in that the plant fibres are not crushed or ground.
8. a method according to claim 7, wherein the plant fibres are cut to a particle size of less than 1.5 mm.
9. a method according to claim 8, comprising a further step of mixing cut plant fibres of at least two ranges of particle size.
10. a method according to any of claims 7 to 9, comprising a further step of adding at least one humectant to the plant fibres.
11. a method according to any of claims 7 to 10, comprising an initial step of drying the plant fibres to a moisture content of about 5 wt percent or less.
12. vaporisable material for use in a vapour generating device obtainable by the method of any of claims ito 6 or the method of any of claims 7 to 11.
13. vaporisable material comprising plant fibres having particle size values ranging from 0.85 to 0.25 mm and a humectant, and preferably comprising particles having particle size values within two more of the ranges 0.85- 0.60 mm, 0.60-0.40 mm and 0.40-0.25 mm.
14. a capsule containing vaporisable material according to claim 12 or claim 13.


Abstract: [en] the present invention relates to a re-closable pack (1) with a cohesive closure mechanism (14a, 14b). in particular, the invention relates to a re-closable pack (1) with a cohesive closure mechanism (14a, 14b) for consumable products, particularly cigarettes.

[en] claims 1. a re-closable pack (1) with a closure mechanism characterised in that the closure mechanism comprises two opposing cohesive surfaces (14a, 14b).2. a re-closable pack according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the opposing cohesive surfaces is a cohesive member. 3. a re-closable pack according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said cohesive surface or member is selected from the group consisting of silicon, silicon-based materials, polyolefin blends, polyethylene (pe), low density polyethylene (ldpe), polyvinyl chloride (pvc), polyvinylidene chloride (pvdc), polyethylene terephthalate (pet) and/or combinations thereof. 4. a re-closable pack according to any preceding claim, wherein said cohesive surface or member further comprises one or more tackifying agents. 5. a re-closable pack according to claim 4, wherein said tackifying agent is selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbon resins such as terpene resins, hydrogenated resins and resin esters, isotactic and atactic polypropylenes, polybutenes and/or combinations thereof. 6. a re-closable pack according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein said tackifying agent may be present in an amount of from 0.1 to 15 wt percent based on the total weight of the cohesive surface or member. 7. a re-closable pack according to any of claims 2 to 6, wherein said cohesive member has a thickness of between 10 microns and 1500 microns. 8. a re-closable pack according to any preceding claim, wherein said cohesive surface or member has a surface roughness value of between 0.5 and 4 nm. 9. a re-closable pack according to any preceding claim, wherein the surface area interaction between the opposing cohesive surfaces or members is at least 40 percent.10. a re-closable pack according to any preceding claim, wherein said pack is made out of cardboard. 11. a re-closable pack according to claim 10, wherein said pack is a cigarette pack. 12. a re-closable pack according to any preceding claim, wherein said pack further comprises a hinged lid (12) with one of the cohesive members (14a) on the inner side of the lid.13. a re-closable pack according to claim 12, wherein said cohesive members display different cling and/or gloss values. 14. a blank or set of blanks for forming the pack of any one of claims 1 to 13. 15. a method of forming the pack of any one of claims 1 to 13 by folding the blank or blanks of claim 14.


Abstract: [en] a filter cigarette (1) comprises a rod (2) of smokable material and a mouth piece (3) attached to the rod (2), the mouth piece (3) comprising an element rotatable with respect to the rest of the filter cigarette about the longitudinal axis thereof such that a user can vary the ventilation of the filter cigarette and a fixed element that is fixed relative to the rod. there is also a strength indicator comprising a scale extending at least circumferentially about at least one of the periphery of the rotatable element or a part of the cigarette that is fixed relative to the rod of smokable material, and a cursor element on the other of the periphery of the rotatable element or a part of the cigarette that is fixed relative to the rod of smokable material, wherein the scale comprises central symmetry about a point and the cursor is longitudinally aligned with the point of symmetry of the scale when the scale is arranged in a position representing a minimum level of strength of the cigarette.

[en] 1. a filter cigarette comprising: a rod of smokable material;a mouth piece attached to the rod, the mouth piece comprising an element rotatable with respect to the rest of the filter cigarette about the longitudinal axis thereof such that a user can vary the ventilation of the filter cigarette and a fixed element that is fixed relative to the rod; anda strength indicator comprising: a scale extending at least circumferentially about at least one of the periphery of the rotatable element or a part of the cigarette that is fixed relative to the rod of smokable material, and a cursor element on the other of the periphery of the rotatable element or a part of the cigarette that is fixed relative to the rod of smokable material, wherein the scale comprises central symmetry about a point and the cursor is longitudinally aligned with the point of symmetry of the scale when the scale is arranged in a position representing a minimum level of strength of the cigarette.
2. a filter cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the cursor is longitudinally aligned with one of the symmetrical extremities of the scale when the scale is arranged in a position representing a maximum level of strength of the cigarette.


Abstract: [en] a filter cigarette (1) comprises a rod (2) of smokable material, and a mouth piece (3) attached to the rod (2), the mouth piece (3)comprising an element rotatable with respect to the rest of the filter cigarette about the longitudinal axis thereof such that a user can vary the ventilation of the filter cigarette (1) and a fixed element that is fixed relative to the rod. there is also a strength indicator comprising a first scale extending circumferentially around the periphery of the rotatable element, and a second scale extending circumferentially around the fixed element, wherein each scale comprises a plurality of individual markers which can be longitudinally aligned by rotation of the rotatable element with respect to the rod (2).

[en] 1. a filter cigarette comprising: a rod of smokable material;a mouth piece attached to the rod, the mouth piece comprising an element rotatable with respect to the rest of the filter cigarette about the longitudinal axis thereof such that a user can vary the ventilation of the filter cigarette and a fixed element that is fixed relative to the rod; anda strength indicator comprising: a first scale extending circumferentially around the periphery of the rotatable element, and a second scale extending circumferentially around the fixed element, wherein each scale comprises a plurality of individual markers which can be longitudinally aligned by rotation of the rotatable element with respect to the rod.
2. a filter cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the two scales comprise identical markers being symmetrical about a separation line between the rotatable element and the rest of the cigarette in only one position of the rotatable element such that they indicate a defined level of strength of the cigarette.
3. a filter cigarette according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the individual markers in each of the scales are symmetrical about the longitudinal axis of the cigarette.
4. a filter cigarette according to claim 1 to 3 wherein the individual markers of the first scale are symmetrical to the individual markers of the second scale, about a point of symmetry located on a circumferential line placed half way between the first and second scales.
5. a filter cigarette according to claim 1 wherein at least some of the individual markers are triangular in shape.
6. a filter cigarette according to claim 2 wherein the indication of the level of strength is represented by at least one of the following features:a. the area of the matching markersb. the contrast or colour of the matching markersc. an identical shape of the matching markers.
7. a filter cigarette according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein one set of identical markers are positioned to indicate a rotational position providing a minimum strength of the cigarette, and at least one set of identical markers are positioned to provide an indication of a rotational position providing a maximum strength of the cigarette.


Abstract: [en] a method of forming a breakable capsule for a smoking article is disclosed. the method comprises the steps of: (i) providing the core of the capsule, (ii) providing said core with a capsule envelope to form said capsule, and (iii) freezing said capsule.

[en] 1. a method of forming a breakable capsule for a smoking article comprising the steps of: (i) providing the core of the capsule,(ii) providing said core with a capsule envelope to form said capsule, and(iii) freezing said capsule, wherein step (iii) may be performed before or after step (ii).
2. the method according to claim 1, wherein said core in step (i) comprises water, propylene glycol, glycerol, ethanol, polyethylene glycols, an oil or any combination thereof.
3. the method according to claim 2, wherein said core comprises at most 50 percent water by total weight of the capsule.
4. a method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said capsule envelope comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyolefin, polyacetal, polyamide, polyimide, polyester, polycarbonate, polyacrylate, elastomer, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, polystyrene, polyvinylacetate, polyvinylalcohol, polyvinylchloride and combinations thereof, preferably polyolefin.
5. the method according to any preceding claim, wherein said capsule envelope has a thickness of between 0.01 and 0.5 mm.
6. the method according to any preceding claim wherein the largest outer diameter of the capsule is between 2 and 20 mm, preferably 4 and 15 mm, more preferably between 4 and 15 mm.
7. the method according to any preceding claim, wherein the core of said capsule further comprises flavour compounds, aroma compounds, smoke modifying agents solubilising agents, emulsifying agents, gelling agents, stabilising agents or combinations thereof.
8. a method of introducing a frozen capsule into a filter for a smoking article comprising the steps of: providing a frozen capsule formed according to any of claims 1 to 7, andinserting said capsule inside a smoking article filter rod.
9. a breakable capsule for a smoking article having a liquid core and a capsule envelope around the core, and having a crush strength of 0.1 to 0.4 kp at room temperature.
10. a filter for a smoking article comprising the capsule according to claim 9.
11. a smoking article comprising a filter according to claim 10.
12. use of the capsule formed by the method according to any of claims 1 to 7 in a smoking article.