Packet for products in the cigarette industry, and method and device for producing the same

Abstract

A packet for cigarette industry products, having a casing which, preferably on all sides, surrounds a group of cigarette industry products as the packet content, wherein the casing is formed from a packaging material, and wherein folding tabs of the packaging material are connected to one another by seams. Preferably all seams are formed by crimping folding tabs of the packaging material that bear on one another in the overlap region of those folding tabs that bear on one another. The invention also relates to corresponding devices and methods for producing such packets.

Claims

1. A packet (10) for cigarette industry products, having a casing (13) which, preferably on all sides, surrounds a group (12) of cigarette industry products as the packet content, wherein the casing (13) is formed from a packaging material having folding tabs, wherein the folding tabs of the packaging material are connected to one another by seams (23), wherein at least two of the folding tabs of the packaging material at least partially overlap each other in overlap regions; wherein at least one of the seams (23) is formed by crimping the folding tabs of the packaging material that bear on one another in the overlap regions of those of the folding tabs that bear on one another so as to form crimps, and wherein the crimps are disposed so that the crimps do not intersect grooves (40) applied in the overlap regions of the folding tabs such that the crimps end before each of the grooves (40) and the crimps are interrupted in the region of each of the grooves (40).

2. The packet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seams (23) are formed exclusively by crimping.

3. The packet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seams (23) that are formed by crimping are configured as fin seams.

4. The packet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the casing (13) has a large-area front side (17), a corresponding, opposite, large-area rear side (18), narrow sides (19) which connect the front side (17) and the rear side (18) to one another, as well as a base side (20) and an opposite end side (21), wherein the base side (20) and the end side (21) are in each case adjacent to the front side (17), the rear side (18) and the narrow sides (19).

5. The packet as claimed in claim 4, wherein one of the seams (23), namely a transverse seam of the casing (13), runs across the front side (17) or the rear side (18) of the casing (13) so as to be directed transversely to a longitudinal axis of the casing (13).

6. The packet as claimed in claim 5, wherein another one of the seams (23), namely a longitudinal seam of the casing (13), runs in each case along the narrow sides (19) of the casing (13) so as to be directed parallel to a longitudinal axis of the casing (13).

7. The packet as claimed in claim 6, wherein the longitudinal seam is folded in the region of narrow sides (19) of the casing (13) in the direction of a front side (17) or a rear side (18) of the casing (13).

8. The packet as claimed in claim 7, wherein, in casings (13) having seams (23) folded in the direction of a front side (17), the packet (10) in the region of narrow sides (19) of the casing (13) does not have a collar (27) and the folded-over seams (23) are fastened to the casing (13) by adhesive bonding in order to avoid a collision between a lid (26) of the packet (10) and the folded-over seams (23) when closing the lid (26).

9. The packet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grooves (40) are applied parallel to the seams (23).

10. The packet as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of the grooves (40) extend parallel to a neighboring one of the seams (23) and each of the grooves are disposed on that side of the neighboring one of the seams (23) that faces the package content.

11. The packet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seams (23) are disposed in such a manner that the number of folding tabs that bear on one another in the overlap regions and are to be connected to one another by crimping is limited to fewer than 5 of the folding tabs.

12. The packet as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the seams (23) have an intersecting profile in an intersection region (55) of the seams (23) that at least in part has an interruption in one or more of the seams (23) such that the seams (23) do not overlap with the crimps in the intersection region (55).

13. The packet as claimed in claim 12, wherein, in the overlap region of the folding tabs, the crimps are interrupted along a portion of the seams (23), and in that these interruptions of the crimps are disposed in the intersection region (55) such that the crimps do not overlap with the seams (23) in the intersection region (55).

14. The packet as claimed in claim 12, wherein the crimps are modified in the overlap region of the folding tabs, namely in terms of a density of the crimps and/or an alignment of the crimps, and in that correspondingly modified portions of the crimps are disposed in the intersection region (55).

15. The packet as claimed in claim 1, wherein regions of the packaging material that face the packet content are composed exclusively of paper, or in that the packaging material is composed exclusively of paper.

16. The packet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seams (23) are disposed in such a manner that the number of folding tabs that bear on one another in the overlap regions and are to be connected to one another by crimping is limited to fewer than 4 plies.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described hereunder by means of the drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a packet for cigarettes, with an opened lid;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a group of cigarettes in a casing;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of the production process for the casing according to FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a more detailed illustration of a first portion of the production process;

(6) FIG. 5 shows an intermediate product of the first portion of the production process;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a vertical section through the device according to FIG. 4 along the section line VI-VI in FIG. 4;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a vertical section through the device according to FIG. 4 along the section line VII-VII in FIG. 4;

(9) FIG. 8 shows an enlarged detail of the illustration according to FIG. 7;

(10) FIG. 9 shows a more detailed illustration of a second portion of the production process;

(11) FIG. 10 shows a vertical section through the device according to FIG. 9 along the section line X-X in FIG. 9;

(12) FIG. 11 shows a vertical section through the device according to FIG. 9 along the section line XI-XI in FIG. 9;

(13) FIG. 12 shows a vertical section through the device according to FIG. 9 along the section line XII-XII in FIG. 9;

(14) FIG. 13 shows a vertical section through the device according to FIG. 9 along the section line XIII-XIII in FIG. 9;

(15) FIG. 14 shows an enlarged detail of the packet;

(16) FIGS. 14a to c show different solutions in terms of the configuration of the overlap region of seams;

(17) FIGS. 15a and b show vertical sections through the seams in two different variants;

(18) FIG. 16 shows a vertical section through a seam in the region of the crimp;

(19) FIG. 17 shows an alternative packet;

(20) FIG. 18 shows a further alternative packet for cigarettes, having an opened lid; and

(21) FIG. 19 shows a group of cigarettes in a casing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(22) The invention will be explained hereunder by means of packets 10 for cigarettes 11. It is understood that the packets 10 are also suitable for other cigarette industry products.

(23) In the context of the application, cigarette industry products are understood to mean tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigarillos and the like, or else novel tobacco products such as heat-not-burn products or liquid carriers for e-cigarettes, for example.

(24) In the case of the packet 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a group 12 of cigarettes 11 is provided as the packet content. The group 12 is encased in a casing 13 from a packaging material. A retrieval opening 14 is able to be closed by a closure means 15 which is able to be activated multiple times.

(25) This inner packet 16 or casing 13, respectively, has a large-area front side 17, a corresponding, opposite, large-area rear side 18, as well as narrow sides 19 which connect the front side 17 and the rear side 18 to one another. Furthermore provided are a base side 20 and an end side 21 which are in each case adjacent to the front side 17, the rear side 18 and the narrow sides 19.

(26) The closure means 15 extends almost across the entire end side 21 and by way of an end region is fastened to the rear side 18. Another end of the closure means 15 extends into the region of the front side 17. The closure means 15 covers the retrieval opening 14 on all sides. Provided at a lower end of the closure means 15 is a folding tab 22 which serves for opening the closure means 15.

(27) During the production of the packet 10, the casing 13 is wrapped around the group 12 and closed by forming seams 23. Usually, a plurality of plies of the packaging material are connected to one another here.

(28) In the present case, it is provided that folding tabs of the packaging material are brought to bear on one another in the region of the two narrow sides 19 and are connected to one another by a seam 23 in the overlap region. This takes place in an analogous manner in the region of the rear side 18 of the casing 13.

(29) FIG. 2 shows that the seams 23 in the region of the narrow sides 19 are folded over after the folding tabs of the packaging material have been connected, and are placed against the narrow sides 19, wherein the seams 23 are folded in the direction of the rear side 18.

(30) A closed casing 13 in which the packet content is protected from harmful influences is formed by the seams 23. In the region of the retrieval opening 14, the casing 13 is closed by the closure means 15.

(31) The inner packet 16 or casing 13, respectively, according to FIG. 2 can find a receptacle in an outer packet 24 according to FIG. 1. In the present case, the outer packet 24 is designed as a hinge-lid packet having a box part 25 and a lid 26 pivotably disposed thereon. Furthermore, the outer packet 24 can have a collar 27.

(32) Of course, it can also be provided that the outer packet 24 is of a different construction. It is also conceivable that the outer packet 24 is absent. In this case, the terms packet 10, casing 13 and inner packet 16 are to be used synonymously.

(33) In order for the closure means 15 of the inner packet 15 to be opened, the folding tab 22 is fastened to an internal side of a front wall of the lid 26, for example by adhesive bonding. In this way, the closure means 15 is automatically opened when opening the lid 26 and automatically closed when closing the lid 26. Alternatively, it is conceivable, for example, that the closure means 15 of the inner packet 16 is opened and closed manually, for example by the consumer grasping the folding tab 22.

(34) FIG. 3 shows the substantial parts of the sequence of packaging process:

(35) The group 12 of cigarettes 11 is disposed here in a tray 28 from packaging material, wherein the tray 28 surrounds the group 12 on a plurality of sides. The tray 28 can be formed from a stiff packaging material such as thick paper or cardboard.

(36) The group 12 having the tray 28 is transported by way of a longitudinal extension being transversely to the transport direction according to the arrow 29 and is encased in a tubular manner in a material web 30 from the packaging material. The individual groups 12 having the tray 28 within the tube of the material web 30 are disposed at a mutual spacing. A continuous seam 23 which extends parallel to the transport direction according to the arrow 29 and runs in the region of the later rear side 18 of the inner packet 16 is then formed. This seam 23 hereunder is also referred to as a transverse seam because the latter extends so as to be transverse to the longitudinal extension of the inner packet 16.

(37) In the next step, the material web 30 is split up between the individual groups 12 and singularizing is thus carried out. Seams 23 which run so as to be directed transversely to the transport direction according to the arrow 29 are also formed here. These seams 23 are situated in the region of the narrow sides 19 of the inner packet 16 and hereunder are also referred to as longitudinal seams because the extent of said seams 23 runs so as to be directed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the inner packets 16.

(38) In the next step, the singularized inner packets 16 are rotated by 90? and transported with the base side 20 first in the transport direction along the arrow 31. Correspondingly, the transverse seams of the inner packets 16 now point transversely to the transport direction according to the arrow 31 and the longitudinal seams point parallel to the transport direction according to the arrow 31.

(39) Longitudinal seams which are disposed closer to the group 12 than the longitudinal seams applied first are then applied in the region of the narrow sides 19. The longitudinal seams that are applied first are therefore also referred to as provisional longitudinal seams, in contrast to the final longitudinal seams that are then applied later.

(40) The provisional longitudinal seams are then separated by severing material strips 32 and the regions of the final longitudinal seams are turned over or folded over, respectively, and placed against the narrow sides 19. Finally, regions of the packaging material that protrude beyond the narrow sides, or the base side 20 or the end side 21, respectively, are also folded. These regions can be referred to colloquially as ears 33. The ears 33 can either be folded over as shown in FIG. 2 in the region of the end side 21. It is also conceivable that the ears 33, as shown in the region of the base side 20 in FIG. 2, are inserted or injected between the group 12 and the casing 13.

(41) FIG. 4 shows a first part of the implementation of the production method in terms of plant engineering. The groups 12 having the tray 28 are transported lying on a conveying installation 34 and encased in the running material web 30 which for this purpose is guided around the groups 12 via a forming shoulder 35.

(42) The material web 30 is smoothed on the upper side by a contact pressure element 36. On the underside, folding tabs of the material web 30 by a crimping device 37 are connected to form a running seam 23 which forms the transverse seam on the packets 10.

(43) In a subsequent separating station 38, the transversely directed separation cuts are made between the groups 12, and the provisional seams 23 are applied as longitudinal seams. The singularized inner packets 16 are then transported away. The intermediate product of these first steps is shown in FIG. 5. Ventilation holes 58 which are provided in the region of the longitudinal seams can furthermore be seen here. The ventilation holes 58 are already contained in the infed material web 30 (see FIG. 4) and allow the air still present in the casing 13 to be discharged before the final longitudinal seams are applied.

(44) The mode of operation of the crimping device 37 can be readily seen from FIG. 6. Two crimping rolls 39 serve to form the seam 23 or the transverse seam, respectively. Corresponding crimping protrusions or crimping depressions, respectively, are disposed on the circumference of the two crimping rolls 39 and act on the folding tabs 22 to be connected such that the seam 23 is formed by crimping the packaging material.

(45) The seam 23, like all seams of the inner packet 16, is configured as a fin seam and thus protrudes from the remainder of the casing 13 or the inner packet 16, respectively. In this way, when the seam 23 is formed, no forces are exerted on the contents of the packet 10 or the cigarettes 11, respectively.

(46) Another particularity lies in that a groove 40 is applied together with the application of the seam 23 or the transverse seam, respectively. The groove 40 runs parallel to the seam 23, specifically on that side of the seam 23 that faces the inner packet 16.

(47) In the present case, the groove 40 is applied by the crimping device 37 or the crimping rolls 39, respectively. To this end, the crimping rolls 39 have a corresponding groove protrusion 41 or a corresponding groove depression 42, respectively.

(48) FIGS. 7 and 8 show the singularization of the inner packets 16 in the separating station 38. Rotating rollers here are disposed on both sides of the packet web. A first roller 43 possesses separating blades 45 which are disposed on the circumference of the roller 43 and which collaborate with a counterpart 46 on the counter roller 44 in order to sever the packaging material between the groups 12. The counterpart 46 on the counter roller 44 can be configured like the separating blade 45 or as a simple block on which the separating blade 45 comes to bear in order to sever the packaging material.

(49) Crimping tools 47, by way of which the provisional seams 23 are applied, are disposed on both sides of the separating blade 45 or the counterpart 46, respectively.

(50) FIGS. 9 and 13 show the second part of a potential implementation of the production method in terms of plant engineering. Here, after being rotated by 90?, the inner packets 16 are transported by way of the base side 20 first and moved through a longitudinal crimping station 48. In the longitudinal crimping station 48, two pairs of crimping rolls 49, by way of which the final longitudinal seams are applied parallel to the provisional longitudinal seams, are disposed on both sides of the inner packets 16, The crimping rolls 49 are configured in a manner analogous to that of the crimping rolls 39, thus also have means for applying a groove 40.

(51) Disposed upstream of the crimping rolls 49 are guides 50, by way of which the provisional longitudinal seams are fed to the crimping rolls 49 in a precisely positioned manner.

(52) FIG. 12 shows that separating blades 51, by way of which the material strips 32 are severed, are provided on both sides of the inner packets 16, above and below the packet web. FIG. 13 shows a gluing apparatus 52, which is disposed so as to be adjacent to the packet web and by way of which glue portions 53 can be dispensed against a narrow side 19 of the inner packet 16 in order to secure the longitudinal seams in their position after they have been folded over. Such a gluing apparatus 52 is also disposed on the other side of the packet web in order to dispense glue portions 53 against the other narrow side 19 of the inner packet 16 (FIG. 12). Both gluing apparatuses 52 are disposed below the fin seams.

(53) As a further particularity, it is provided that the packaging material is composed of a paper web. A pure paper web is preferably provided as the packaging material. However, it is also conceivable that the packaging material is configured in such a way that (at least) the side facing the package contents is composed of paper. It is also conceivable that the paper web is fully or partially treated in order to increase the tightness, in particular in relation to moisture, for example by using a coated paper web.

(54) As a result, with the aid of the method described, an aroma-tight or moisture-tight packet 10 can be produced, the seams 23 of which are formed exclusively by crimping the packaging material as a fin seam. In the context of the invention, it is also conceivable that individual seams 23 are produced in a different way, but the exclusive formation of the seams by crimping is preferred.

(55) Further particular measures are explained hereunder by means of FIGS. 14 and 15. FIG. 14 herein shows a lateral region of an inner packet 16. The profiles of the individual seams 23 are illustrated.

(56) The provision longitudinal seam can be seen externally on the overlap region of the folding tabs. Since the provisional longitudinal seam does not have to guarantee a permanent closure of the casing 13, the individual crimping areas are disposed at a mutual spacing. The final longitudinal seam, in which the individual crimping regions are disposed close to one another, runs parallel to this in order to ensure a tight closure of the casing 13 in the region of the seam 23.

(57) The groove 40, which is used to fold over the seam region, can be seen directly next to the final longitudinal seam. The separation cut 54 runs between the two longitudinal seams.

(58) In an intersection region 55, the longitudinal seams intersect the transverse seam in the region of the rear side 18. In particular in FIG. 5, it can be seen that the transverse seam is folded against the casing 13 and also extends into the region of the provisional and final longitudinal seam. Since the transverse seam is folded before the longitudinal seams are formed, four plies of the packaging material have to be penetrated during crimping in the overlap region of the transverse seam with the longitudinal seams. The two plies of the transverse seam are also already crimped here. Under certain circumstances, this can lead a defective seam configuration. The applicant has recognized this and has therefore developed several solutions to this problem:

(59) A first solution according to FIG. 14a is such that a crossing of the longitudinal and transverse seams is avoided. It is accordingly provided there that the transverse seam ends shortly before the longitudinal seams.

(60) According to FIG. 14b, it is provided that the longitudinal seams have crimping regions with larger spacings, so that the longitudinal seams are modified accordingly. This can be sufficient to avoid damaging the packaging material in the seam region or to ensure sufficiently tight seams, respectively.

(61) FIG. 14c takes a different path. There, recesses 56 are formed in the folding tabs in order to reduce the number of plies. FIGS. 15a and 15b show that it is possible to reduce in this way the number of plies to be connected to two or three.

(62) FIG. 16 shows a section through two plies of the packaging material in a region of a crimp.

(63) FIG. 17 shows a second variant of packets 10 for products. Two packets 10 here are connected to one another in the region of a perforation line 57. The disposal of the seams 23 is provided so as to be somewhat different from the first exemplary embodiment, specifically having two transverse seams in the region of the base side 20 and the front side 21, and one longitudinal seam across the rear side 18 of the packets 10. As in the first exemplary embodiment, a closure means 15 is provided. The packets 10 can be manufactured in a manner similar to the packets 10 of the first exemplary embodiment. In order to form the perforation line 57, it can be provided that the roller 43 and the counter roller 44, in addition to the separating blades 45 and the counterparts 46, have further elements for applying the perforation lines 57. Packets 10, in which more than two packets are connected by perforation lines 57 in a packet strand, are also conceivable.

(64) FIGS. 18 and 19 show a variant of the packet 10 or casing 13, respectively, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. First of all, it is noticeable that, in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the collar 27 shown in the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2 is absent.

(65) The omission of the collar 27 can be for reasons of sustainability, for example, in that the material consumption in the production of the packets 10 is reduced. Of course, this also leads to a reduction in the manufacturing costs of the packet 10.

(66) The closing procedure of the lid 26 is problematic when a collar 27 is omitted. The applicant has recognized that, during the closing of the lid 26, it can arise that the lateral walls of the lid 26 collide with the seams 23 of the casing 13 that are turned over backward if they are not held by a collar 27 on the narrow sides 19 of the casing 13.

(67) To solve this problem, it is proposed to turn over the seams 23 in the region of the narrow sides 19 of the casing 13 in the direction of the front side 17 and to connect them to the narrow sides 19 of the casing 13 before the casing 13 is inserted into a packet 10. It is achieved as a result that the lateral walls of the lid 26 can slide past the seams 23 of the casing 13 in the region of the narrow sides 19 when closing the lid 26. The connection between the seams 23 and the casing 13 can serve to overcome the restoring forces of the turned-over seams 23. A hot-melt gluing 53 (hot glue track or glue point) could be used to this end, for example. In order to apply this gluing 53, the position of the gluing apparatuses 52 must be adapted accordingly, as shown by way of example in FIG. 13, so that gluing apparatuses 52 are disposed on both sides of the packet web above the fin seams.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(68) 10 Packet 11 Cigarette 12 Group 13 Casing 14 Retrieval opening 15 Closure means 16 Inner packet 17 Front side 18 Rear side 19 Narrow side 20 Base side 21 End side 22 Folding tab 23 Seam 24 Outer packet 25 Box part 26 Lid 27 Collar 28 Tray 29 Arrow 30 Material web 31 Arrow 32 Material strips 33 Ear 34 Conveying installation 35 Forming shoulder 36 Contact pressure element 37 Crimping installation 38 Separating station 39 Crimping roll 40 Groove 41 Groove protrusion 42 Groove depression 43 Roller 44 Counter roller 45 Separating blade 46 Counterpart 47 Crimping tool 48 Longitudinal crimping station 49 Crimping roll 50 Guide 51 Separating blade 52 Gluing apparatus 53 Glue portion 54 Separation cut 55 Intersection region 56 Recess 57 Perforation line 58 Ventilation hole