GB2337034A - Windowed package of packets of cigarettes - Google Patents

Abstract

A package comprises an outer covering 2 containing packets 3 of cigarettes each of which bears a graphic emblem 6, the covering having a window 14 of the same shape as the graphic emblem 6. The window 14 is positioned to show the emblem 6 on one of the packets 3 and may be larger than the emblem. The covering may be a carton formed from a blank and including a hinged lid 20, or a wrapper of flexible material, Figure 2. The window 14 may be sealed by a layer 17 of transparent material and there may be a respective window in more than one face of the package.

Description

1 A carton for packets of cigarettes is 2337034

The present invention relates to a carton for packets of cigarettes. The term "carton" is used in the course of the following specification to describe both a pack employing a wrapper of rigid consistency fashioned from a precreased stiff diecut blank, and a pack employing a wrapper of soft consistency fashioned from a sheet of pliable material. The term "wrapper" is used to indicate both the wrapper of the carton and the outer wrapper of a packet of cigarettes accommodated internally of the carton. The outer wrapper of a packet of cigarettes can be rigid or soft. In the case of the rigid type, the packet is fashioned from a precreased flat diecut blank such as can be formed, for example, into a container of rigid embodiment with a hinged lid accommodating a group of cigarettes enveloped by an inner wrapper.

2 1 In the case of the soft or crush type cigarette packet, the outer wrapper is fashioned from a sheet of pliable wrapping material partially enveloping the corresponding group of cigarettes, the group in turn being preassembled and enveloped by an inner wrapper. The wrapper of the carton and that of an individual packet accommodated by the carton will in general exhibit a substantially rectangular parallelepiped appearance, defined typically by four longitudinal side faces and two transversely disposed end faces. Naturally, the dimensions exhibited by the wrapper of the carton are proportionately greater than the dimensions exhibited by the wrapper enveloping each of the single packets placed inside the carton, so that the surface area presented by the faces of the carton wrapper is comparatively large in relation to the area presented by the faces of the wrapper enveloping the single packet. Conventionally, the outer wrapper of a cigarette packet carries printed matter on the front face, consisting in selected logos and graphic emblems indicating both the brand and the organoleptic properties of the cigarettes contained inside the 3 r, packet. In the case of the brand, the distinctive graphic emblem is bounded typically by an essential outline of predetermined profile that identifies a given shape recognizable immediately as indicating the brand of the cigarettes. It is also customary for the distinctive graphic emblems on the wrappers of the individual packets to be reproduced on the wrapper of the carton. Consequently, additional manufacturing steps are required for the purpose of printing the logos and graphic emblems on the faces of the carton wrappers and, in particular, it will be appreciated that the printed matter in question occupies a surface of somewhat large proportions, for the reasons stated above. Also, it is often the case that the shapes of the brand marks are impressed in relief directly onto the wrapping material, for example by embossing or goffering processes. This further operating step dictates the use not only of additional printing equipment as already intimated, but also of special calendering rolls, likewise of dimensions greater than those used for impressing the wrappers of the 4 single packets, which in turn must be replaced on each occasion for each of the numerous brands of cigarettes manufactured. It will be observed from the foregoing that there are drawbacks with the printing processes and the embossing and goffering processes conventionally adopted, firstly as regards the significant number of dies and rolls with which the manufacturing systems in question must be equipped, and secondly as regards the considerably high additional costs. The object of the present invention is to fashion a carton in such a manner that the aforementioned drawbacks can be overcome, by avoiding the steps of printing and embossing and/or goffering the wrapper from which the carton is formed. A further object of the invention is to arrive at situation whereby cartoning machines installed and operating along the respective packaging lines are able to make use of neutral, non-specific wrapping material devoid of printed matter or patterns in relief but nonetheless allowing recognition of the brand displayed on the packets of cigarettes within the carton. The stated objects are duly realized according to the present invention in a carton for packets of cigarettes, comprising at least one wrapper of substantially parallelepiped appearance exhibiting relative side faces and end faces and containing a plurality of packets of cigarettes each presenting at least an outer wrapper that bears a distinctive graphic emblem identifiable by an essential profile delineating a predetermined shape, characterized in that the wrapper of the carton presents at least one window, occupying at least one face, of which the outline similarly delineates the essential profile of the shape exhibited by the distinctive graphic emblem reproduced on the outer wrapper of each single packet enclosed within the wrapper. The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which: -fig 1 is a perspective illustration of the carton according to the present invention, seen in a first embodiment; -fig 2 is the perspective illustration of a carton as in fig 1, seen in an alternative embodiment; -fig 3 is a perspective illustration representing part of a wrapping line afforded by a packaging 6 machine designed to fashion the carton of fig 1; -fig 4 is a perspective illustration representing part of a wrapping line afforded by a packaging machine designed to fashion the carton of fig 2. With reference to figs 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes a carton comprising a wrapper 2 intended to envelop packets 3 of cigarettes, each appearing substantially parallelepiped in shape and furnished with an outer wrapper 4 presenting side faces 5, at least, on which predetermined graphic emblems 6 are reproduced, identifying the brand of the cigarettes (not illustrated) contained in the packet 3. The distinctive graphic emblem 6 indicating the brand is bounded by an essential outline 7 defining a predetermined essential profile 8; the profile in turn identifies a predetermined shape 9 by which the particular brand of cigarettes is immediately recognizable. The single packets 3 are arranged generally in two stacked rows 10 with their adjoining flank faces breasted in mutual contact, so that the wrapper 2 exhibits a substantially flattened parallelepiped shape with a predominating longitudinal axis 11, as 7 illustrated in figs 1 and 2, of which the lateral or side faces are denoted 12 and the transverse or end faces denoted 13. As discernible from figs 1 and 2, at least one side face 12 presented by the wrapper 2 of the single carton 1 displays a window, denoted 14, of which the outline 15 delineates the essential profile 8 of the shape 9 selected for the distinctive graphic emblem 6 indicating the brand of cigarette, which is reproduced on the exposed surface of the face 5 presented by the outer wrapper 4 of each packet 3 enclosed within the wrapper 2 of the carton 1. it is generally the case that the dimensions of the opening afforded by the window 14 and therefore by the outline 15, through which the graphic emblem 6 of one packet 3 is revealed in its entirety, will be greater than the peripheral dimensions of the selfsame graphic emblem 6, so that the outline 15 of the window 14 describes a shape 16 of dimensions greater than those presented by the shape 9 of the graphic emblem 6 framed in the window 14, albeit the proportions maintained between the shape 16 on the carton and the shape 9 on the packet 3 are such as to ensure a close visual similarity.

8 The window 14 of the carton illustrated in figs 1 and 2 is sealed by adding a layer 17 of transparent material, typically polypropylene, in such a way that it is possible to see through the window 14 while maintaining a substantially airtight closure of the wrapper 2. In the example of fig 1, the wrapper 2 consists in a wrapper 18 of rigid embodiment appearing as a box element 19 with a hinged lid 20. In particular, the lid 20 coincides with the upwardly directed side face 12 of the wrapper 18, whereas the bottom 21 of the box element 19 coincides with the downwardly directed side face 12 of the wrapper 18, parallel and opposite to the upwardly directed face 12. Being essentially the embodiment of the carton 1, the wrapper 18 likewise presents two longitudinal flank faces 43, and two end faces 44 coinciding with the relative transverse faces 13. In this instance the window 14 is fashioned in the lid 20 and the packets of cigarettes 3 enveloped by the rigid wrapper 18 are of the rigid box type, for example with a hinged lid. As discernible in fig 3, the box element 19 and the hinged lid 20 of the rigid wrapper 18 are obtained 9 in conventional manner from a flat diecut blank 22 that differs from the familiar blank used for the manufacture of a rigid carton 1 in that it presents a window 14, as described above. In particular, cartons 1 of the type in question are obtained by advancing a plurality of precreased diecut blanks 22 from a relative magazine 27 along a predetermined path 23 and in a given direction 24 established by a wrapping line 25 that constitutes one portion 26 of a conventional packaging machine, toward a punching station 28 also located along the line 25. The punching station 28 is equipped with a punch assembly 29 comprising a pair of rollers 30 and 31 disposed on opposite sides of the aforementioned path 23 and keyed to respective rotating shafts 32 and 33. The rollers 30 and 31 operation interactively and are contrarotatable about respective axes 34 and 35 in directions indicated by arrows denoted fl and f2 in fig 3. The outer cylindrical surface 36 of one roller 30 is equipped with a cutter 37 functioning as a punch designed to operate in conjunction with the outer cylindrical surface 38 of the remaining roller 31, which functions as a die. The cutter 37 affords an edge 37a of which the outline coincides with the shape 16 of the window 14. In operation, the blanks 22 are picked up singly from the magazine 27 and fed cyclically toward the punching station 28 at intervals dictated by the operating tempo of the packaging line 25; as each blank 22 passes through the punch assembly 29, the cutting edge 37a afforded by the one roller 30 will strike against the cylindrical surface 38 of the other roller 31 and pierce a predetermined portion which in the example of fig 3 coincides with the lid 20 of the wrapper 2, generating a circumscribed cut 39 of which the outline 40 coincides with the shape 16 of the window 14. Once the window 14 has been cut, the blank advances along the path 23 toward a conventional wrapping station forming part of the packaging machine and represented schematically by the block denoted 41, where the rigid wrapper 18 is folded around the packets 3 of cigarettes to form a rigid carton 1. In the example of fig 2, the wrapper 2 consists in a soft wrapper 42 of the type enveloping what is 11 referred to simply as a "pack" by persons skilled in the art, which similarly to the rigid wrapper 18 presents four longitudinal side faces 12, and more exactly a top face 45, a bottom face 46 and two flank faces 47, also two end 'Laces 48 coinciding with the transverse faces 13. Observing fig 2, the window 14 is cut into the top face 45, and the packets 3 accommodated internally of the wrapper 42 are packets of the soft or crush type. As discernible from fig 4, the wrapper 42 is formed in conventional manner from a sheet 49 of pliable wrapping material, which differs from a sheet of conventional type for soft packs in that it has the window 14 incorporated into one face. In particular, this type of carton 1 is fashioned from a continuous strip 50 of pliable or floppy wrapping material advanced longitudinally along a predetermined path 23 and in a given direction 24 established by a wrapping line 25 constituting one portion 26 of a conventional packaging machine, in this instance equipped with a cutting station 51; on arrival at the cutting station 51, the strip 50 is divided into discrete sheets 49 which are then 12 supplied to a relative punching station 28 located along the line 25. The cutting station 51 in question comprises a pair of knives 52, conventional in embodiment, such as will slice through the strip 50 along a transverse line 54 cyclically and at intervals determined by the operating tempo of the packaging line 25, thus generating the single sheets 49. The punching station 28 and the corresponding punch assembly 29 are substantially identical to those described with reference to the example of fig 3, and will therefore not be described further. In operation, the strip 50 is advanced along the packaging line 25 into the cutting station 51 and divided transversely into discrete sheets 49; these are then directed through the punch assembly 29, where the cutting edge 37a of the one roller 30 strikes against the cylindrical surface 38 of the other roller 31 in the manner described previously with reference to the rigid blanks 22, piercing a predetermined portion of the sheet 49 which in the example of fig 4 coincides with the top face 45 of the wrapper 42, and generating a cut 39 of which the outline 40 coincides with the shape 16 of the 13 window 14. Once the window 14 has been cut, the sheet 49 will advance along the path 23 toward the aforementioned wrapping station 41, where it is folded around the packets 3 of cigarettes to form a soft carton 1, or 'A pacC. Adopting an alternative solution also illustrated in fig 4, the single wrapping sheets 49 might be procured already cut and stacked in a magazine 53, from which they will be taken up at timed intervals and advanced toward the punch assembly 29. Whilst in the examples of figs 1 and 2 the carton 1 has a window 14 cut into one side face 12 only of the respective wrapper 18 or 42, it is obvious that the selfsame widow 14 might be located on any one of the side faces 12. In addition, it will be seen in figs 3 and 4 how the cutout 55 produced by the punch is distanced from the packaging line 25 in the direction denoted f3 by suitable scrap disposal means, for example a conventional extractor system (not illustrated). F inally, it will be appreciated that by preparing a wrapper 2 with a window 14 of given outline 15 and shape 16 as described above, be it a wrapper 42 of 14 the soft type or a wrapper 18 of the rigid type, it becomes feasible to manufacture cartons on a normal packaging line 25 using blanks 22 or sheets 49 of a neutral and non-specific wrapping material devoid of print or other embossed or goffered decorative effects, and accordingly, the objects stated at the outset are fully realized.

Claims

1) 2) A carton for packets of cigarettes, comprising at least one wrapper of substantially parallelepiped appearance exhibiting relative side faces and end faces and containing a plurality of packets of cigarettes each presenting at least an outer wrapper that bears a distinctive graphic emblem identifiable by an essential profile delineating a predetermined shape, characterized in that the wrapper of the carton presents at least one window, occupying at least one face, of which the outline similarly delineates the essential profile of the shape exhibited by the distinctive graphic emblem reproduced on the outer wrapper of each single packet enclosed within the wrapper.

A carton for packets of cigarettes, comprising at least one rigid box style wrapper of substantially parallelepiped appearance, fashioned from a flat 16 precreased diecut blank exhibiting relative side faces and end faces and containing a plurality of packets of cigarettes each presenting at least an outer wrapper that bears a distinctive graphic emblem identifiable by an essential profile delineating a predetermined shape, characterized in that the rigid box style wrapper of the carton presents at least one window, occupying at least one face, of which the outline similarly delineates the essential profile of the shape exhibited by the distinctive graphic emblem reproduced on the outer wrapper of each single packet enclosed within the wrapper.

3) A carton for packets of cigarettes, comprising at least one soft wrapper of substantially parallelepiped appearance, fashioned from a sheet of pliable wrapping material exhibiting relative side faces and end faces and enveloping a plurality of packets of cigarettes each presenting at least an outer wrapper that bears a distinctive graphic emblem identifiable by an essential profile delineating a predetermined shape, 17 characterized in that the soft wrapper of the carton presents at least one window, occupying at least one face, of which the outline similarly delineates the essential profile of the shape exhibited by the distinctive graphic emblem reproduced on the outer wrapper of each single packet enclosed within the wrapper.

4) 6) 7) A carton as in claim 2, wherein the rigid wrapper comprises a lid hinged to a box element.

A carton as in claims 1 to 4, typically comprising a wrapper of substantially flattened parallelepiped appearance with a predominating longitudinal axis and exhibiting relative longitudinal side faces and transverse end faces, wherein the window occupies at least one longitudinal side face.

A carton as in claim 5, wherein each of the side faces presented by the wrapper of the carton is occupied by a window.

A carton as in claims 1 to 6, comprising means by 18 which to seal the window, consisting in a layer of transparent material.

8) 9) 10) A carton as in claims 1 to 7, wherein the function of the window is to reveal at least one distinctive graphic emblem displayed by at least one of the packets of cigarettes enclosed within the wrapper of the carton.

A carton as in claims 1 to 8, wherein the dimensions of the opening afforded by the window are greater than the peripheral dimensions of the corresponding graphic emblem reproduced on the outer wrapper of each packet of cigarettes enclosed within the wrapper of the carton, in such a way as to describe a shape of dimensions greater than those presented by the shape of the graphic emblem yet of proportions designed to maintain a close visual similarity between the two shapes.

A carton for packets of cigarettes as in claim 2, fashioned by advancing a plurality of precreased diecut blanks along a predetermined path and in a predetermined direction, established by a wrapping 19 line constituting a portion of a packaging machine, toward a punching station; piercing at least one predetermined area of the blank coinciding with the at least one face of the rigid wrapper in such a way as to generate a circumscribed cut of which the outline coincides with the outline of the window; and causing each successive blank furnished with a window to advance along the path toward a wrapping station at which the blank is folded around a plurality of packets of cigarettes to fashion a rigid outer wrapper of a relative ca--ton.

11) A carton for packets of cigarettes as in claim 3, obtainable from a continuous strip of pliable wrapping material, and fashioned by advancing the strip longitudinally along a predetermined path and in a predetermined direction, extending through the cutting station of a wrapping line constituting a portion of a packaging machine, toward a punching station; effecting a succession of transverse cuts by which the strip is separated into a plurality of discrete sheets of wrapping material; piercing at least one predetermined area of the sheet coinciding with the at least one face of the soft wrapper in such a way as to generate a circumscribed cut of which the outline coincides with the outline of the window; and causing each successive sheet furnished with a window to advance along the path toward a wrapping station at which the sheet is folded around a plurality of packets of cigarettes to fashion a soft outer wrapper of a relative carton.

12) A carton as in claim 11, fashioned by advancing a plurality of sheets of pliable wrapping material singly and in succession from a relative magazine along a predetermined path and in a predetermined direction, established by a wrapping line constituting a portion of a packaging machine, toward a punching station; piercing at least one predetermined area of the sheet coinciding with the at least one face of the soft wrapper in such a way as to generate a circumscribed cut of which the outline coincides with the outline of the window; and causing each successive sheet furnished with a window to advance along the path toward a wrapping station at which the sheet is folded around a plurality of packets of cigarettes to fashion a 21 soft outer wrapper of a relative carton.

13) 14) A carton as in claims 10 to 12, wherein the window is produced at a punching station equipped with punching means comprising a punch and a die incorporating a cutter of which the edge presents an outline delineating the essential outline of the shape presented by the window and coinciding with the shape of the distinctive graphic emblem reproduced on the outer wrapper of each packet accommodated within the carton.

Carton for packets of cigarettes, substantially as described with reference to any figure of the accompanying drawings.