JP2018138473A - Smoking article pack - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a pack for a smoking article that can reduce the displacement of overlapping panels at the end of a lid / box and can reduce the risk of peeling of a side panel, and a method for manufacturing the same. A pack 10 for a smoking article including a front wall 13 and a rear wall 14 connected by opposing side walls 16 includes a box portion 11 having an open end and a box portion hinged by a hinge line on the pack rear wall 14. And a lid 12 movable so as to selectively open and close the open end of the box portion. The lid 12 includes a front wall 13b, an upper wall, a rear wall, and opposing first and second side walls 16b. At least a part of the lower edge portion 37 of the lid front wall extends in the horizontal direction and parallel to the hinge line. The angle between the seam and the rear wall defined where the lower edge of the lid first side wall abuts the box upper edge of the pack first side wall is below the rear wall and the second side wall of the lid. The edge is greater than the angle between the seam defined at the point of contact with the box top edge 34 of the opposite second side wall of the pack 10. [Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a pack for smoking articles. In particular, the present invention relates to a pack including a box portion having an open upper end portion, and a hinge-type lid that is connected to the box portion and is movable so as to open and close the upper end opening portion of the box portion.

  Cigarettes may be sold in packs. The pack stores and protects cigarettes.

  In this specification, a pack for a smoking article including a front wall and a rear wall connected by a pair of side walls, wherein the pack is hingedly connected to the box portion by a hinge portion on the pack rear wall and a box portion having an open end. A lid movable to selectively open and close the open end of the box portion, the lid including a front wall, an upper wall, a rear wall and opposing first and second side walls, and a lower edge of the lid front wall At least a portion extending horizontally and parallel to the hinge line, and a seam defined at a location where the lower edge of the first side wall of the lid abuts the upper box edge of the first side wall of the pack ( The angle between the rear wall and the rear wall is between the seam and the rear wall defined where the lower edge of the lid second side wall abuts the box upper edge of the opposite second side wall of the pack. A pack larger than the angle of is provided.

  The seam on the first side wall may be shorter than the seam on the second side wall.

  The pack may include an inner frame that includes a front panel and a side panel coupled thereto. The inner frame may be disposed inside the box and protrude from the opening end. The inner frame may also include protruding tabs designed to frictionally engage the lid to hold the lid in a closed position at each side edge of the front panel. The protruding tab on one side wall of the inner frame may be smaller than the protruding tab on the other side wall of the inner frame.

  The protruding tab on the first side wall of the pack may be smaller than the protruding tab on the second side wall of the pack.

  The smaller protruding tab may be shorter than the other protruding tab in the longitudinal direction of the pack.

  The protruding tab may protrude the same distance from the inner frame.

  The front wall of the pack may include a cutout so that a portion of the inner frame is exposed when the lid is in the closed position.

  The pack may include parallelepipeds having larger front and rear walls and smaller side walls.

  The angle between the back wall of the pack and the seam on the first side wall may be between 70 and 80 degrees, may be between 75 and 80 degrees, and may be about 77 degrees.

  The angle between the back wall of the pack and the seam on the second side wall may be between 50 and 65 degrees, may be between 55 and 65 degrees, and may be about 60 degrees.

  The difference between the angle between the back wall of the pack and the seam on the first side wall and the angle between the back wall of the pack and the seam on the second side wall may be between 5 and 30 degrees. It may be between ˜25 degrees, may be between 15 and 20 degrees, and may be about 17 degrees.

  The pack may further include a seal extending between the lid and the box to cover the seam on the first side wall of the pack.

  A part of the lower edge of the lid front wall that extends in the horizontal direction and parallel to the hinge line may be centrally located with respect to the entire width of the lid.

  In this specification, there is a method for manufacturing a pack for smoking articles, the step of folding a card blank around a bundle of smoking articles in a pack manufacturing apparatus to form a pack for containing the smoking article, and folding the blank. During and / or after the step of forming the pack, the cigarette bundle and the blank are formed on the second side wall or a portion of the blank that forms the second side wall that precedes the transport direction, and the first side wall or the first side And transporting the blank portion forming the side wall in a subsequent state in the transport direction.

  The process of forming the pack by folding the pack blank includes the steps of forming each of the first and second side walls by overlapping each pair of panels of the blank, and pasting each pair of overlapping panels with an adhesive. May be included.

  The method of the present invention may further include applying a seal to cover the seam on the first sidewall of the pack after forming the pack.

  The seal may include a label affixed to the first side wall of the pack.

  The method of the present invention may further comprise the step of applying a cellophane wrap around the formed pack. The step of attaching the cellophane wrap includes the step of transporting the pack into the cellophane sheet with the second side wall leading and the first side wall following, the step of folding the cellophane sheet around the pack, A step of sealing the edges together.

  Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It is a perspective view of the pack of the 1st embodiment of a closed state. It is a right view of the pack of FIG. FIG. 3 is a left side view of the pack of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the pack of FIGS. 1-3 in an open state. FIG. 5 is a front view of the pack of FIGS. 1-4 in an open state. FIG. 6 is a left side view of the pack of FIGS. 1 to 5 in a closed state with a tax stamp seal attached to a predetermined location. It is a flowchart showing the production line of smoking article pack production. 7 is a blank for forming the pack of FIGS.

  Referring to FIGS. 1-6, a pack 10 is shown that includes a box 11 and a hinged lid 12 of a first embodiment. The pack includes a front wall 13 and a rear wall 14, left and right side walls 15, 16 connecting them, and a top wall 17 and a bottom wall 18. The front wall 13 and the rear wall 14 are the larger walls of the pack and are on the same plane. The left and right side walls 15 and 16 are smaller walls with respect to the front wall 13 and the rear wall 14 and are on the same plane.

  The front wall 13 includes a box front wall 13a and a lid front wall 13b. Similarly, the rear wall 14 and the left and right side walls 15 and 16 include a box rear wall 14a, left and right side walls 15a and 16a and a lid rear wall 14b, and left and right side walls 15b and 16b, respectively.

  The lid 12 is hingedly connected to the box 11 at a hinge line 19 on the pack rear wall 14 where the lid rear wall 14b contacts the box rear wall 14a. The hinge line 19 is horizontal and parallel to the top wall 17 and the bottom wall 18 of the pack. The box is at the top of the box and includes an opening 20 for removing the pack contents. Opening and closing of the opening can be selected by turning the lid 12.

The inner frame 21 is housed inside the box 11. The inner frame 21 includes a front panel 22 and left and right side panels 23 and 24. These panels contact the inner surface of the box front wall 13a and the left and right side walls 15a and 16a of the box, respectively. The inner frame 21 is attached to a predetermined location and protrudes from the opening 20 of the box 11. The inner frame 21 includes protruding locking tabs 25 and 26 at left and right ends 27 and 28 where the front panel 22 contacts the left and right side panels 23 and 24, respectively. As shown in FIG. 5, d ₁ <d ₂ , the left protruding locking tab 25 is shorter than the right protruding locking tab 26.

The upper edge 29 of the box 11 is formed asymmetrically. The upper edge 29 includes a lower depression 30 positioned approximately in the middle of the front wall 13a, an inclined edge 31 angled upward from the left side of the depression 30 toward the left wall 15a, and the depression 30 And a horizontal edge 32 extending horizontally from the right side toward the right side wall 16a. The box upper edge 33 on the left side of the pack extends approximately straight from the inclined edge 31 to the end of the hinge line 19, and the box upper edge 34 on the right side of the pack extends from the horizontal edge 32 to the hinge line 19. It extends approximately linearly to the end of the. Accordingly, since the end of the inclined edge 31 on the left side of the pack is higher than the end of the horizontal edge 32 on the right side of the pack, the rear wall 14 and the left box upper edge 33 are shown in FIGS. larger than the angle theta ₂ between the angle theta ₁ is a rear wall 14 and the right box on the edge 34 between.

Although the present invention is not limited to a particular angle, in one embodiment, angle θ ₁ is 70-80 ° and angle θ ₂ is 50-65 °. Accordingly, the difference between the angle θ ₁ and the angle θ ₂ may be 5 to 30 °. In another embodiment, angle θ ₁ may be 75-80 °, angle θ ₂ may be 55-65 °, and the difference between angle θ ₁ and angle θ ₂ may be 10-25 °. In another embodiment, angle θ ₁ is 75-80 °, angle θ ₂ is about 60 °, and the difference between angle θ ₁ and angle θ ₂ may be 15-20 °. In yet another embodiment, angle θ ₁ may be about 77 °, angle θ ₂ may be about 60 °, and the difference between angle θ ₁ and angle θ ₂ may be about 17 °.

The lower edge portion of the lid side wall has a shape corresponding to the upper edge portions 33 and 34 of the box side wall, and abuts when the lid is closed. Thus, the shut lines or seams 35, 36 are formed on both sides of the pack where the lower edge of the lid touches the upper edge 33, 34 of the box, each with the edges 33, 34 against the rear wall 14. The same angles θ ₁ and θ ₂ are formed. Since the angles θ ₁ , θ ₂ formed by the shut lines or seams 35, 36 and the rear wall 14 are different, the seam 35 on the left side of the pack is shown in FIG. 2 and 3 as l ₁ <l ₂ . It is shorter than the right seam 36. In particular, l ₁ is shorter than the seam of a smoking article pack having a conventional hinged lid such as the pack disclosed in Patent Document 1 below.

  FIG. 8 shows a blank 39 for forming the pack 10 of the first embodiment. The blank 39 can be folded at a fold line (shown by a broken line). The box front wall 13a and the box rear wall 14a, the lid front wall 13b and the lid rear wall 14b, and the pack top wall 17 and the pack bottom wall 18 have the same reference numerals. The hinge wire 19 is formed at a folding line between the box rear wall 14a and the lid rear wall 14b. The lid lower edge portion 37 is formed at a folding line between the lid front wall 13 b and the inner tab 40 that is folded inside the lid 12. The blank includes box left side panels 41, 42. When forming the pack, the box left side wall 15a is formed by laminating these panels. Similarly, the box right side wall 16a is formed by overlapping and bonding the box right side panels 43 and 44. The left and right side walls 15b and 16b of the lid are formed by overlapping and bonding the lid left side panels 45 and 46 and the lid right side panels 47 and 48, respectively. The location of the adhesive for affixing the panels is indicated by a cross-hatched region “G”, and the rounded edge of the pack is formed by a number of cut / embossed parallel lines “L” .

  FIG. 7 is a schematic flow chart of an example of a production line for producing a pack 10 of smoking articles, in which a cigarette (S1) is placed in a cigarette stand (S2), and foil is supplied from a foil supply section (S3). Then, the cigarette bundle is packaged (S4). An inner frame blank is supplied from the blank reel (S5) and is arranged to cover the cigarette bundle wrapped with foil (S6). The pack blank 39 is supplied from the blank stack (S7) to the blank stand (S8), and in the bonding operation (S9), the inner frame and the pack blank 39 are bonded at the essential portion G, and the pack blank 39 is bent and pressed (S10). Is placed on the cigarette bundle and folded around it to complete the finished product pack 10. In order to keep the contents fresh until the consumer opens, the pack 10 is formed and then wrapped with cellophane and sealed (S11).

Through the above manufacturing process, particularly in step S10 for folding and pressing, and thereafter, the pack 10 is transported in the manufacturing apparatus with the side wall of the pack facing in the direction of travel. Through the folding step S10, the leading side of the pack is pressed and held on the holding surface, while the fingers of the device fold the remaining blank panels around the cigarette bundle to form an assembled pack. Thus, the packed panels that overlap on the leading side are continuously pressed in place to ensure that the panels are glued and accurately aligned. However, the panels that overlap on the following side can only be folded in place by the movement of the fingers of the device that is quickly retracted. This fast folding can cause misalignment of the overlapping panels at the end of the trailing lid / box. This is particularly noticeable at the seam due to the inclination angle. The seam forms a shut line between the lid and the box. As the inclination angle of the seam becomes steeper, the displacement becomes larger and becomes prominent. The angle θ ₁ between the pack rear wall 14 and the seam 35 on the trailing side wall 15 is larger and accordingly the seam 35 (l ₁ ) on the trailing side wall than the seam 36 (l ₂ ) on the leading side wall. ) Is short, the ends of the lid / box face more perpendicular to each other and the seam 35 is more horizontal (ie, more parallel to the top wall 17 and bottom wall 18 of the pack). By doing so, the displacement of any side panel can be reduced. Therefore, when the pack 10 is transported through the apparatus, the direction of the pack is determined so that the left side wall 15 is the trailing side and the right side wall 16 is the leading side.

Further, the trailing side portion of the pack when passing through the apparatus is easily damaged, and the panel overlapping the blanks forming the pack side wall is likely to be peeled off. When the angle θ between the back wall of the pack and the seam decreases, the upper part of the box side wall adjacent to the hinge line forms a sharper tip, and it becomes difficult to paste the side panel to the tip. Becomes easy to peel off. By increasing the angle θ ₁ between the pack rear wall 14 and the seam 35 on the following (left) side wall 15, the sharpness of the top end of the box side wall 15 a adjacent to the hinge line 19 is reduced. It becomes easy to paste up to the tip, and the risk of peeling of the overlapping panels 41 and 42 is reduced. The same applies to the panels 45, 46 of the lid side wall 15b that follows. This is very beneficial. This is because, as described above, the panels 41/42 and 45/46 that overlap on the following side wall of the pack 10 are not pressed as long as the panel on the preceding side wall and are not fixed in place, and are not adhesively bonded. This is because the time for forming a reliable bond is short. By reducing the sharpness of the tip, the risk of peeling of the outermost panels 42 and 45 is reduced. A pack with a small seam angle resulting in a lower box top edge and a longer lid front wall has several advantages beyond those described above. For example, it is easy to take out the contents, and it is possible to secure a large space for a locking tab for securely closing the lid on the inner frame protruding from the box. Thus, it is beneficial for both arrangements that the pack of this embodiment has a different seam angle on each side wall.

Further, a part of the pack manufacturing process includes a step of placing a tax stamp 38 so as to cover the seam of the pack edge (see FIG. 6). The stamp 38 may be an adhesive label itself or a label attached to a pack. The stamp must be torn when the pack is first opened, and requires a force that affects the lid 12 to break. Having _one side wall of the pack with a short seam 35 (l ₁ ) reduces the length to tear and reduces the force required to open the pack. This allows the consumer to open more easily. In FIG. 6, the stamp 38 extends so as to cover only the left side wall 15 of the pack 10. However, the tax stamp 38 may also be placed over the short seam 35 of the pack left side wall 15 and may extend across the adjacent trailing edge of the pack 10 around the rear wall 14 and across the hinge line 19. .

  By designing the locking tabs 25 and 26 on the inner frame 21 asymmetrically, the force required for opening can be further reduced. Since the locking tab 25 is shorter than the locking tab 26, the frictional force applied to the inside of the lid 12 is reduced. Therefore, when the pack 10 is opened and the lid 12 is opened, the friction resistance of the left side of the pack is lower than that of the right side. This makes it possible to compensate for the increased opening force required for the tax stamp on the left side, not the right side of the pack, and to break and open the tax stamp with the help of a small initial tilt when opening the lid. . The pack can be easily opened with one hand.

  Packing with one hand by touching the upper edge 29 of the box front wall 13a and a part of the front panel 22 of the inner frame 21 in the region of the recess 30 where the lower edge 37 of the lid front wall 13b is lowered. It becomes easier to open the box. It is easy to put a finger on the lid lower edge portion 37 and it is easy to open the pack 10.

The lower edge of the front wall 13b of the cover 12 on opposite corners at which the lid front wall 13b to have a seam angle theta ₁ and theta ₂ differ in the side walls 15 and 16 are adjacent to the two lids sidewalls 15b, 16b Different heights. The lower edge of the lid front surface may extend linearly between these different heights. However, as an embodiment, a part of the lower edge portion 37 of the lid front wall 13b is horizontal and parallel to the pack upper surface 17, the bottom wall 18, and the hinge line 19. By doing so, it is possible to avoid a very sharp tip between the seam and the pack rear wall 14 on the side wall of the pack when the lower edge of the lid front wall is downward over the entire width of the front wall of the pack 10. As described above, the sharp tip causes a problem of separation and peeling of the overlapping panels. This embodiment can avoid this problem. Further, the direction in which the lid is pushed open by the horizontal portion of the lower edge portion 37 of the lid front wall 13 b is perpendicular to the hinge line 19. From this, when the lower edge of the front wall of the lid is downward over the entire width of the front wall of the pack 10, the performance is improved more naturally than when the lid is pushed open compared to the hinge line and the oblique relationship. The lid can be opened.

  The horizontal portion of the lower edge portion 37 of the lid front wall 13b is a natural position for the user to push open the pack lid 12, and the center of the lid front wall 13b can be opened naturally and intuitively. It is preferable that it exists in.

  In the pack 10 of the embodiment shown in the figures and described in the specification, all four vertical edges of the pack are rounded, but the present invention is not intended to be limited to this design. Alternative embodiments include different designs for the ridge edges. For example, a bevel or right angle or front is rounded and the back is right, such as a right angle.

  For the purpose of solving various problems and developing technology, this entire disclosure, including the illustrations, illustrates various embodiments in which the claimed invention may be implemented to provide better packs than before. . The advantages and features of this disclosure are merely illustrative of exemplary implementations and are not exhaustive and / or exclusive. They are submitted only to aid understanding and to teach the claimed principles. They should be understood as not being representative of all claimed inventions. Of course, advantages, embodiments, illustrations, functions, features, structures and / or other aspects of the disclosure are not limited to what is disclosed, as defined by the claims or equivalents of the claims. . Other embodiments may be utilized and changes may be made without departing from the scope and / or intent of the disclosure. Various embodiments may appropriately include various combinations of the described elements, components, features, parts, processes, techniques, and the like, or may be configured solely from these, or may be mainly configured. Good. In addition, this disclosure includes other inventions not currently claimed. There is a possibility of claiming these inventions in the future.

International Publication No. 98/22367 Pamphlet

  The present invention relates to a pack for smoking articles. In particular, the present invention relates to a pack including a box portion having an open upper end portion, and a hinge-type lid that is connected to the box portion and is movable so as to open and close the upper end opening portion of the box portion.

  Cigarettes may be sold in packs. The pack stores and protects cigarettes.

In this specification, a pack for smoking articles comprising a front wall and a rear wall connected by a pair of side walls, pack saw including a parallelepiped having a large front wall and a rear wall as well as less side walls than, pack opening A box having an end and a lid that is hingedly connected to the box by a hinge line on the back wall of the pack, and a lid that is movable so as to selectively open and close the open end of the box, the lid being a front wall, an upper wall, Including a rear wall and opposing first and second side walls, wherein at least a portion of the lower edge of the lid front wall extends horizontally and parallel to the hinge line, and the lower edge of the first side wall of the lid is The angle between the rear wall and the seam defined at the abutment of the first side wall of the pack with the box top edge is such that the lower edge of the second side wall of the lid is opposite the second side of the pack. much larger than the angle between the seam and the rear wall defined in the box on the edge that contacts portions of the side walls, package The front wall of the includes a notch such that a portion of the inner frame is exposed when in the position in which the lid is closed, the notch may have packs are offset laterally with respect to the center of the front wall of the pack Provided.

  The seam on the first side wall may be shorter than the seam on the second side wall.

  The pack may include an inner frame that includes a front panel and a side panel coupled thereto. The inner frame may be disposed inside the box and protrude from the opening end. The inner frame may also include protruding tabs designed to frictionally engage the lid to hold the lid in a closed position at each side edge of the front panel. The protruding tab on one side wall of the inner frame may be smaller than the protruding tab on the other side wall of the inner frame.

  The protruding tab on the first side wall of the pack may be smaller than the protruding tab on the second side wall of the pack.

  The smaller protruding tab may be shorter than the other protruding tab in the longitudinal direction of the pack.

  The protruding tab may protrude the same distance from the inner frame.

The inner frame may include a depression at its upper edge. Inner frame recess is bottom edge And opposite side edges, which are opposite to the bottom edge of the recess. It may be symmetrical. That is, the opposing side edges are different with respect to the vertical direction of the pack. It may extend at an angle.

  The angle between the back wall of the pack and the seam on the first side wall may be between 70 and 80 degrees, may be between 75 and 80 degrees, and may be about 77 degrees.

  The angle between the back wall of the pack and the seam on the second side wall may be between 50 and 65 degrees, may be between 55 and 65 degrees, and may be about 60 degrees.

  The difference between the angle between the back wall of the pack and the seam on the first side wall and the angle between the back wall of the pack and the seam on the second side wall may be between 5 and 30 degrees. It may be between ˜25 degrees, may be between 15 and 20 degrees, and may be about 17 degrees.

  The pack may further include a seal extending between the lid and the box to cover the seam on the first side wall of the pack.

  A part of the lower edge of the lid front wall that extends in the horizontal direction and parallel to the hinge line may be centrally located with respect to the entire width of the lid.

The pack may include a vertical ridge edge where the side wall intersects the front and rear walls, and the vertical ridge edge. The part may be rounded.

The lower edge of the first side wall of the lid and the lower edge of the second side wall of the lid are each configured as a single straight line. It may be. The box top edge of the first side wall and the box top edge of the second side wall are each a single straight It may be configured as a line. The edges of such a lid and box are located on the rear wall and front of the lid and box respectively. It may extend between the walls. The edge of such a lid and box is a pad where the front and rear walls meet the side walls. It may extend between each edge of the hook. That is, the lower edge of the first side wall of the lid is packed A seam defined at the abutment with the upper edge of the box on the first side wall of the first side wall and a lower edge of the second side wall of the lid Both seams established at the point of contact with the top edge of the box on the opposite side wall of the pack are both straight. Line, configured as a single straight line.

The lid may be connected to the box only at the hinge line.
  The pack may be configured such that the side wall portion of the lid does not extend into the box portion.

The cutout on the front wall of the pack is offset laterally with respect to the recess at the upper edge of the inner frame. May be.

  In this specification, there is a method for manufacturing a pack for smoking articles, the step of folding a card blank around a bundle of smoking articles in a pack manufacturing apparatus to form a pack for containing the smoking article, and folding the blank. During and / or after the step of forming the pack, the cigarette bundle and the blank are formed on the second side wall or a portion of the blank that forms the second side wall that precedes the transport direction, and the first side wall or the first side And transporting the blank portion forming the side wall in a subsequent state in the transport direction.

  The process of forming the pack by folding the pack blank includes the steps of forming each of the first and second side walls by overlapping each pair of panels of the blank, and pasting each pair of overlapping panels with an adhesive. May be included.

  The method of the present invention may further include applying a seal to cover the seam on the first sidewall of the pack after forming the pack.

  The seal may include a label affixed to the first side wall of the pack.

  The method of the present invention may further comprise the step of applying a cellophane wrap around the formed pack. The step of attaching the cellophane wrap includes the step of transporting the pack into the cellophane sheet with the second side wall leading and the first side wall following, the step of folding the cellophane sheet around the pack, A step of sealing the edges together.

  Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It is a perspective view of the pack of the 1st embodiment of a closed state. It is a right view of the pack of FIG. FIG. 3 is a left side view of the pack of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the pack of FIGS. 1-3 in an open state. FIG. 5 is a front view of the pack of FIGS. 1-4 in an open state. FIG. 6 is a left side view of the pack of FIGS. 1 to 5 in a closed state with a tax stamp seal attached to a predetermined location. It is a flowchart showing the production line of smoking article pack production. 7 is a blank for forming the pack of FIGS.

  Referring to FIGS. 1-6, a pack 10 is shown that includes a box 11 and a hinged lid 12 of a first embodiment. The pack includes a front wall 13 and a rear wall 14, left and right side walls 15, 16 connecting them, and a top wall 17 and a bottom wall 18. The front wall 13 and the rear wall 14 are the larger walls of the pack and are coplanar. The left and right side walls 15 and 16 are smaller walls with respect to the front wall 13 and the rear wall 14 and are on the same plane.

  The front wall 13 includes a box front wall 13a and a lid front wall 13b. Similarly, the rear wall 14 and the left and right side walls 15 and 16 include a box rear wall 14a, left and right side walls 15a and 16a and a lid rear wall 14b, and left and right side walls 15b and 16b, respectively.

  The lid 12 is hingedly connected to the box 11 at a hinge line 19 on the pack rear wall 14 where the lid rear wall 14b contacts the box rear wall 14a. The hinge line 19 is horizontal and parallel to the top wall 17 and the bottom wall 18 of the pack. The box is at the top of the box and includes an opening 20 for removing the pack contents. Opening and closing of the opening can be selected by turning the lid 12.

The inner frame 21 is housed inside the box 11. The inner frame 21 includes a front panel 22 and left and right side panels 23 and 24. These panels contact the inner surface of the box front wall 13a and the left and right side walls 15a and 16a of the box, respectively. The inner frame 21 is attached to a predetermined location and protrudes from the opening 20 of the box 11. The inner frame 21 includes protruding locking tabs 25 and 26 at left and right ends 27 and 28 where the front panel 22 contacts the left and right side panels 23 and 24, respectively. As shown in FIG. 5, d ₁ <d ₂ , the left protruding locking tab 25 is shorter than the right protruding locking tab 26.

The upper edge 29 of the box 11 is formed asymmetrically. The upper edge 29 includes a lower depression 30 positioned approximately in the middle of the front wall 13a, an inclined edge 31 angled upward from the left side of the depression 30 toward the left wall 15a, and the depression 30 And a horizontal edge 32 extending horizontally from the right side toward the right side wall 16a. The box upper edge 33 on the left side of the pack extends approximately straight from the inclined edge 31 to the end of the hinge line 19, and the box upper edge 34 on the right side of the pack extends from the horizontal edge 32 to the hinge line 19. It extends approximately linearly to the end of the. Accordingly, since the end of the inclined edge 31 on the left side of the pack is higher than the end of the horizontal edge 32 on the right side of the pack, the rear wall 14 and the left box upper edge 33 are shown in FIGS. larger than the angle theta ₂ between the angle theta ₁ is a rear wall 14 and the right box on the edge 34 between.

Although the present invention is not limited to a particular angle, in one embodiment, angle θ ₁ is 70-80 ° and angle θ ₂ is 50-65 °. Accordingly, the difference between the angle θ ₁ and the angle θ ₂ may be 5 to 30 °. In another embodiment, angle θ ₁ may be 75-80 °, angle θ ₂ may be 55-65 °, and the difference between angle θ ₁ and angle θ ₂ may be 10-25 °. In another embodiment, angle θ ₁ is 75-80 °, angle θ ₂ is about 60 °, and the difference between angle θ ₁ and angle θ ₂ may be 15-20 °. In yet another embodiment, angle θ ₁ may be about 77 °, angle θ ₂ may be about 60 °, and the difference between angle θ ₁ and angle θ ₂ may be about 17 °.

The lower edge portion of the lid side wall has a shape corresponding to the upper edge portions 33 and 34 of the box side wall, and abuts when the lid is closed. Thus, the shut lines or seams 35, 36 are formed on both sides of the pack where the lower edge of the lid touches the upper edge 33, 34 of the box, each with the edges 33, 34 against the rear wall 14. The same angles θ ₁ and θ ₂ are formed. Since the angles θ ₁ , θ ₂ formed by the shut lines or seams 35, 36 and the rear wall 14 are different, the seam 35 on the left side of the pack is shown in FIG. 2 and 3 as l ₁ <l ₂ . It is shorter than the right seam 36. In particular, l ₁ is shorter than the seam of a smoking article pack having a conventional hinged lid such as the pack disclosed in Patent Document 1 below.

  FIG. 8 shows a blank 39 for forming the pack 10 of the first embodiment. The blank 39 can be folded at a fold line (shown by a broken line). The box front wall 13a and the box rear wall 14a, the lid front wall 13b and the lid rear wall 14b, and the pack top wall 17 and the pack bottom wall 18 have the same reference numerals. The hinge wire 19 is formed at a folding line between the box rear wall 14a and the lid rear wall 14b. The lid lower edge portion 37 is formed at a folding line between the lid front wall 13 b and the inner tab 40 that is folded inside the lid 12. The blank includes box left side panels 41, 42. When forming the pack, the box left side wall 15a is formed by laminating these panels. Similarly, the box right side wall 16a is formed by overlapping and bonding the box right side panels 43 and 44. The left and right side walls 15b and 16b of the lid are formed by overlapping and bonding the lid left side panels 45 and 46 and the lid right side panels 47 and 48, respectively. The location of the adhesive for affixing the panels is indicated by a cross-hatched region “G”, and the rounded edge of the pack is formed by a number of cut / embossed parallel lines “L” .

  FIG. 7 is a schematic flow chart of an example of a production line for producing a pack 10 of smoking articles, in which a cigarette (S1) is placed in a cigarette stand (S2), and foil is supplied from a foil supply section (S3). Then, the cigarette bundle is packaged (S4). An inner frame blank is supplied from the blank reel (S5) and is arranged to cover the cigarette bundle wrapped with foil (S6). The pack blank 39 is supplied from the blank stack (S7) to the blank stand (S8), and in the bonding operation (S9), the inner frame and the pack blank 39 are bonded at the essential portion G, and the pack blank 39 is bent and pressed (S10). Is placed on the cigarette bundle and folded around it to complete the finished product pack 10. In order to keep the contents fresh until the consumer opens, the pack 10 is formed and then wrapped with cellophane and sealed (S11).

Through the above manufacturing process, particularly in step S10 for folding and pressing, and thereafter, the pack 10 is transported in the manufacturing apparatus with the side wall of the pack facing in the direction of travel. Through the folding step S10, the leading side of the pack is pressed and held on the holding surface, while the fingers of the device fold the remaining blank panels around the cigarette bundle to form an assembled pack. Thus, the packed panels that overlap on the leading side are continuously pressed in place to ensure that the panels are glued and accurately aligned. However, the panels that overlap on the following side can only be folded in place by the movement of the fingers of the device that is quickly retracted. This fast folding can cause misalignment of the overlapping panels at the end of the trailing lid / box. This is particularly noticeable at the seam due to the inclination angle. The seam forms a shut line between the lid and the box. As the inclination angle of the seam becomes steeper, the displacement becomes larger and becomes prominent. The angle θ ₁ between the pack rear wall 14 and the seam 35 on the trailing side wall 15 is larger and accordingly the seam 35 (l ₁ ) on the trailing side wall than the seam 36 (l ₂ ) on the leading side wall. ) Is short, the ends of the lid / box face more perpendicular to each other and the seam 35 is more horizontal (ie, more parallel to the top wall 17 and bottom wall 18 of the pack). By doing so, the displacement of any side panel can be reduced. Therefore, when the pack 10 is transported through the apparatus, the direction of the pack is determined so that the left side wall 15 is the trailing side and the right side wall 16 is the leading side.

Further, the trailing side portion of the pack when passing through the apparatus is easily damaged, and the panel overlapping the blanks forming the pack side wall is likely to be peeled off. When the angle θ between the back wall of the pack and the seam decreases, the upper part of the box side wall adjacent to the hinge line forms a sharper tip, and it becomes difficult to paste the side panel to the tip. Becomes easy to peel off. By increasing the angle θ ₁ between the pack rear wall 14 and the seam 35 on the following (left) side wall 15, the sharpness of the top end of the box side wall 15 a adjacent to the hinge line 19 is reduced. It becomes easy to paste up to the tip, and the risk of peeling of the overlapping panels 41 and 42 is reduced. The same applies to the panels 45, 46 of the lid side wall 15b that follows. This is very beneficial. This is because, as described above, the panels 41/42 and 45/46 that overlap on the following side wall of the pack 10 are not pressed as long as the panel on the preceding side wall and are not fixed in place, and are not adhesively bonded. This is because the time for forming a reliable bond is short. By reducing the sharpness of the tip, the risk of peeling of the outermost panels 42 and 45 is reduced. A pack with a small seam angle resulting in a lower box top edge and a longer lid front wall has several advantages beyond those described above. For example, it is easy to take out the contents, and it is possible to secure a large space for a locking tab for securely closing the lid on the inner frame protruding from the box. Thus, it is beneficial for both arrangements that the pack of this embodiment has a different seam angle on each side wall.

Further, a part of the pack manufacturing process includes a step of placing a tax stamp 38 so as to cover the seam of the pack edge (see FIG. 6). The stamp 38 may be an adhesive label itself or a label attached to a pack. The stamp must be torn when the pack is first opened, and requires a force that affects the lid 12 to break. Having _one side wall of the pack with a short seam 35 (l ₁ ) reduces the length to tear and reduces the force required to open the pack. This allows the consumer to open more easily. In FIG. 6, the stamp 38 extends so as to cover only the left side wall 15 of the pack 10. However, the tax stamp 38 may also be placed over the short seam 35 of the pack left side wall 15 and may extend across the adjacent trailing edge of the pack 10 around the rear wall 14 and across the hinge line 19. .

  By designing the locking tabs 25 and 26 on the inner frame 21 asymmetrically, the force required for opening can be further reduced. Since the locking tab 25 is shorter than the locking tab 26, the frictional force applied to the inside of the lid 12 is reduced. Therefore, when the pack 10 is opened and the lid 12 is opened, the friction resistance of the left side of the pack is lower than that of the right side. This makes it possible to compensate for the increased opening force required for the tax stamp on the left side, not the right side of the pack, and to break and open the tax stamp with the help of a small initial tilt when opening the lid. . The pack can be easily opened with one hand.

  Packing with one hand by touching the upper edge 29 of the box front wall 13a and a part of the front panel 22 of the inner frame 21 in the region of the recess 30 where the lower edge 37 of the lid front wall 13b is lowered. It becomes easier to open the box. It is easy to put a finger on the lid lower edge portion 37 and it is easy to open the pack 10.

The lower edge of the front wall 13b of the cover 12 on opposite corners at which the lid front wall 13b to have a seam angle theta ₁ and theta ₂ differ in the side walls 15 and 16 are adjacent to the two lids sidewalls 15b, 16b Different heights. The lower edge of the lid front surface may extend linearly between these different heights. However, as an embodiment, a part of the lower edge portion 37 of the lid front wall 13b is horizontal and parallel to the pack upper surface 17, the bottom wall 18, and the hinge line 19. By doing so, it is possible to avoid a very sharp tip between the seam and the pack rear wall 14 on the side wall of the pack when the lower edge of the lid front wall is downward over the entire width of the front wall of the pack 10. As described above, the sharp tip causes a problem of separation and peeling of the overlapping panels. This embodiment can avoid this problem. Further, the direction in which the lid is pushed open by the horizontal portion of the lower edge portion 37 of the lid front wall 13 b is perpendicular to the hinge line 19. From this, when the lower edge of the front wall of the lid is downward over the entire width of the front wall of the pack 10, the performance is improved more naturally than when the lid is pushed open compared to the hinge line and the oblique relationship. The lid can be opened.

  The horizontal portion of the lower edge portion 37 of the lid front wall 13b is a natural position for the user to push open the pack lid 12, and the center of the lid front wall 13b can be opened naturally and intuitively. It is preferable that it exists in.

  In the pack 10 of the embodiment shown in the figures and described in the specification, all four vertical edges of the pack are rounded, but the present invention is not intended to be limited to this design. Alternative embodiments include different designs for the ridge edges. For example, a bevel or right angle or front is rounded and the back is right, such as a right angle.

  For the purpose of solving various problems and developing technology, this entire disclosure, including the illustrations, illustrates various embodiments in which the claimed invention may be implemented to provide better packs than before. . The advantages and features of this disclosure are merely illustrative of exemplary implementations and are not exhaustive and / or exclusive. They are submitted only to aid understanding and to teach the claimed principles. They should be understood as not being representative of all claimed inventions. Of course, advantages, embodiments, illustrations, functions, features, structures and / or other aspects of the disclosure are not limited to what is disclosed, as defined by the claims or equivalents of the claims. . Other embodiments may be utilized and changes may be made without departing from the scope and / or intent of the disclosure. Various embodiments may appropriately include various combinations of the described elements, components, features, parts, processes, techniques, and the like, or may be configured solely from these, or may be mainly configured. Good. In addition, this disclosure includes other inventions not currently claimed. There is a possibility of claiming these inventions in the future.

International Publication No. 98/22367 Pamphlet

Claims (18)

  A pack for smoking articles including a front wall and a rear wall connected by a pair of side walls, wherein the pack is hingedly connected to the box portion by a hinge line on the pack rear wall and a box portion having an open end. A lid movable to selectively open and close the open end, the lid including a front wall, an upper wall, a rear wall and opposing first and second side walls, and at least a portion of a lower edge of the lid front wall Extends horizontally and parallel to the hinge line, and includes a seam and a rear wall defined at a point where the lower edge of the lid first side wall abuts the upper box edge of the pack first side wall. The angle between the packs is greater than the angle between the seam and the rear wall defined at the point where the lower edge of the lid second side wall abuts the box upper edge of the opposite second side wall of the pack.   The pack of claim 1 wherein the seam on the first side wall is shorter than the seam on the second side wall.   The pack includes an inner frame including a front panel and a side panel connected to the front panel. The inner frame is disposed inside the box and protrudes from the open end, and the inner frame closes the lid on each side end of the front panel. A protruding tab on one side wall of the inner frame is smaller than a protruding tab on the other side wall of the inner frame, including a protruding tab designed to frictionally engage the lid for holding in position. The pack according to 1 or 2.   4. The pack of claim 3, wherein the protruding tab on the first side wall of the pack is smaller than the protruding tab on the second side wall of the pack.   The pack according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the smaller protruding tab is shorter than the other protruding tab in the longitudinal direction of the pack.   The pack according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the protruding tab protrudes the same distance from the inner frame.   The pack according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the front wall of the pack includes a notch so that a part of the inner frame is exposed when the lid is in a closed position.   A pack according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pack comprises parallelepipeds having large front and rear walls and smaller side walls.   The angle between the back wall of the pack and the seam on the first side wall is between about 70 and 80 degrees, between about 75 and 80 degrees, about 77 degrees. The pack according to any one of 8.   The angle between the back wall of the pack and the seam on the second side wall is between 50 and 65 degrees, between 55 and 65 degrees, approximately 60 degrees. The pack according to any one of 9.   The difference in angle between the back wall of the pack and the seam on the first side wall and the angle between the back wall of the pack and the seam on the second side wall is between 5 and 30 degrees, 11. A pack according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pack is between 17 degrees, between 25 degrees and between 15 and 20 degrees.   12. A pack according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pack further comprises a seal extending between the lid and the box so as to cover the seam on the first side wall of the pack.   The part of the lower edge portion of the front wall of the lid extending in the horizontal direction and in the direction parallel to the hinge line is located in the center with respect to the entire width of the lid. Pack of description.   A method for manufacturing a pack for smoking articles according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein a pack for accommodating smoking articles is formed by folding a card blank around a bundle of smoking articles in a pack manufacturing apparatus. The second side wall or the portion of the blank forming the second side wall precedes the transport direction during and / or after the step of forming the blank into a folded pack, And the step of transporting the first side wall or the blank part forming the first side wall in a state of being followed in the transport direction.   The process of forming the pack by folding the pack blank includes the steps of forming each of the first and second side walls by overlapping each pair of panels of the blank, and pasting each pair of overlapping panels with an adhesive. 15. The method of claim 14, comprising:   16. The method of claim 14 or 15, further comprising the step of applying a seal over the seam on the first sidewall of the pack after forming the pack.   The method of claim 16, wherein the seal includes a label affixed to the first sidewall of the pack.   The method further includes the step of attaching a cellophane wrap around the formed pack, and the step of attaching the cellophane wrap conveys the pack into the cellophane sheet with the second side wall leading and the first side wall following. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 17, further comprising the steps of: folding the cellophane sheet around the pack; and sealing the edges of the wrap together.

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