PRODUCTION METHOD"

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments described here concern a packet for smoking articles, in particular a rigid packet, and the corresponding production method.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known that a packet for smoking articles, for example cigarettes, is generally formed by a box-like body covered by a disposable transparent film, for example of cellophane, polyethylene, or other similar material, which thus forms an external casing of the packet. The external casing is normally provided with a tearing or cutting strip, so-called "tear strip", able to facilitate the removal thereof, which is normally self-adhesive and is attached to the external casing. Packets for smoking articles of the type in question can be, for example, of the rigid type. Moreover, in relation to the conformation of the lid, these packets can be of the "hinged lid" type, that is to say provided with a closing lid hinged on one side of the box-like body of the packet. The packets are generally easy to produce, starting from a conventional blank, that is, from a sheet-like material such as cardstock, cardboard, paper or suchlike, suitably shaped and worked, and are easy and practical to use, protecting the smoking articles located inside them.

As well as the cardboard box-like body or suchlike and the external casing, as we said, generally consisting of a transparent film, the packet for smoking articles also comprises a stamp label, or government stamp, positioned between the casing or wrapping of the external packaging and the surface of the box-like body, normally for tax reasons.

The government stamp must normally be invalidated and destroyed, for example definitively separated into two parts, when the packet of smoking articles is opened, hence when the external casing is removed, or when the lid is opened for the first time, for example in the case of packets of the "hinged lid" type.

Various systems and methods of applying the government stamp to the packet of cigarettes are known, in order to allow them to be invalidated at first opening. In document EP-A-2.548.819, for example, a packet for smoking articles is described in which a first part of the stamp is attached by gluing it to the box-like body of the packet and a second part of the stamp is attached by gluing it to the external casing, which is removed following the first opening of the packet.

In this packet, therefore, substantially, when the external casing is removed, the stamp is invalidated by tearing it into two parts, one part remains attached to the box-like body of the packet and one part remains attached to the external casing. This is also thanks to the presence of a line of weakening and predefined breakage on the stamp.

However, this solution is rather complex, since it requires, in the process of manufacturing the packet, both a gluing station or substation able to apply one or more strips or dots of glue between one part of the stamp and the external casing, so as to reciprocally attach them, and also a gluing step on the part of the stamp intended to be attached to the box-like body of the packet.

As can easily be imagined, this process therefore requires multiple steps, which increase its complexity and, therefore, can increase the cost of the product obtained, that is, the packet for smoking articles.

Moreover, if on the one hand the glue provided between the stamp and the box-like body of the packet is not in fact visible from the outside, it turns out in any case - since normally the external casing of the packet is formed by a film made of transparent material - that the dots or strips of glue applied between the film of the external casing and the stamp applied to the box-like body are, in fact, clearly visible from the outside for a consumer, which entails obvious imperfections of the final packet for smoking articles, since such dots or strips of glue cannot, in fact, be hidden. Consequently, another disadvantage of this known solution is that it worsens the esthetic appearance of the final packet wrapped in the transparent external casing.

In general, therefore, current packets for smoking articles, provided with a government stamp that is invalidated on their first opening, are not very practical, complex to produce and also show obvious esthetic limits.

There is therefore a need to perfect a packet for smoking articles and the corresponding production method which can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

One purpose of the present invention is therefore to provide a packet for smoking articles which has a simple and efficient way of invalidating the corresponding government stamp, carried out in particular on the first opening of the packet.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a packet for smoking articles which is free of anti-esthetic elements or elements which denote a certain complexity of production, in particular in the zone used for invalidating the stamp or label.

Another purpose of the present invention is to perfect a method to produce a packet for smoking articles that is efficient, quick and simple to actuate.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes, embodiments concern a packet for smoking articles that comprises a box-like body, a stamp or label, in particular a stamp to be invalidated when the packet is first opened, for example a government stamp, and an external wrapping or casing. The stamp comprises a first section attached to a first wall of the box-like body.

According to one embodiment, the stamp also comprises a second section inserted and trapped between at least one pair of overlapping flaps of the external casing, the flaps being reciprocally joined and positioned on a second wall of the box-like body.

In particular, according to some embodiments the packet can be the rigid type. Moreover, according to other embodiments, the packet can be the hinged-lid type.

According to other embodiments, the wall of the box-like body on which the first section of the stamp is attached is able to accommodate a part of the external casing without overlapping and reciprocally joined flaps.

The first section of the stamp can be attached on one of the walls with a bigger surface of the box-like body. In accordance with possible embodiments, the first section of the stamp is attached on a rear wall of the box-like body and the second section of the stamp is positioned in correspondence with the bottom wall of the box-like body.

The stamp can comprise a line of weakening and predefined breakage, made between the first section and the second section of the stamp.

The external casing can also comprise an opening strip independent of the position of the sections of the stamp and in particular of its line of weakening, therefore the strip does not interfere with the line of weakening.

The external casing can also comprise a substantially U-shaped wrapping part positioned in correspondence with a wall of the box-like body independent of the walls of the box-like body in correspondence with which the sections of the stamp are positioned.

The wall on which the substantially U-shaped wrapping part is positioned can be the upper wall of a lid of the box-like body.

Preferably the wall on which the substantially U-shaped wrapping part is positioned is opposite the wall on which the second section of the stamp is inserted and trapped between the flaps of the external casing.

In some embodiments the first section of the stamp can have a bigger surface than the second section of the stamp.

The invention also concerns a method for making a packet for smoking articles comprising a box-like body and a stamp, in particular a stamp to be invalidated when the packet is first opened, comprising a first section attached to a wall of the box-like body. According to a characteristic aspect of the invention, the method provides to: apply the stamp on the box-like body so that it provides a second free section; wrap the box-like body by means of a sheet or film that makes an external casing, so as to obtain, on another wall of the box-like body, at least a pair of overlapping flaps between which the second free section of the stamp remains inserted and trapped; join the flaps between which the second section of the stamp is inserted, and possible other parts of the external casing, so as to complete the packet for smoking articles.

The method preferably provides a first step of folding a first flap of the external casing on the other wall of the box-like body, and a subsequent step of folding a second flap of the external casing and of folding the second section of the stamp on the first flap, so that the second section of the stamp is inserted between the flaps.

The method can also provide a step of translation of the box-like body toward the sheet or film that makes the external casing, so as to obtain a substantially U- shaped wrapping part of the external casing, positioned in correspondence with a wall of the box-like body

The method can also provide at least a welding step carried out in correspondence with the wall of the box-like body where the flaps of the external casing are positioned, between which the second section of the stamp is inserted, so as to reciprocally join the flaps.

The invention also concerns an apparatus for making a packet for smoking articles, provided with a box-like body and a stamp, in particular a stamp to be invalidated when the packet is first opened, comprising a first section attached to a first wall of the box-like body. According to a characteristic aspect of the invention, the apparatus comprises at least a first folding element able to fold a first flap of a sheet or film that makes an external casing on a wall of the box-like body, at least a second folding element, able to fold a second flap of the sheet or film, and at least a free section of the stamp on the first flap, and at least a welding device able to join the two flaps between which the section of the stamp is inserted and trapped.

These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure will be better understood with reference to the following description, drawings and attached claims. The drawings, which are integrated and form part of the present description, show some forms of embodiment of the present invention, and together with the description, are intended to describe the principles of the disclosure.

The various aspects and characteristics described in the present description can be applied individually where possible. These individual aspects, for example aspects and characteristics described in the specification or in the attached dependent claims, can be the object of divisional applications.

It is understood that any aspect or characteristic that is discovered, during the patenting process, to be already known, shall not be claimed and shall be the object of a disclaimer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

- fig. 1 is a three-dimensional view of a packet for smoking articles according to the invention;

- fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal section of the present invention;

- fig. 3 is a three-dimensional view of the present packet without the external wrapping or casing;

- fig. 4 is a schematic view of a covering group of the packets for smoking articles;

- fig. 5 is a three-dimensional view of the present packet during a wrapping or packaging step;

- fig. 6 is another three-dimensional view of the present packet during another wrapping or packaging step.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

We will now refer in detail to the various embodiments of the present invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings. Each example is supplied by way of illustration of the invention and shall not be understood as a limitation thereof. For example, the characteristics shown or described insomuch as they are part of one embodiment can be adopted on, or in association with, other embodiments to produce another embodiment. It is understood that the present invention shall include all such modifications and variants.

Before describing these embodiments, we must also clarify that the present description is not limited in its application to details of the construction and disposition of the components as described in the following description using the attached drawings. The present description can provide other embodiments and can be obtained or executed in various other ways. We must also clarify that the phraseology and terminology used here is for the purposes of description only, and cannot be considered as limitative.

With reference to the accompanying drawings and in particular figs. 1 and 2, a packet 10 for smoking articles according to embodiments described here comprises a box-like body 1 1 wrapped by an external casing 12 to wrap or surround it. The external casing 12 can be made of a film or sheet of suitable material. The material of the external casing 12 can be for example cellophane, polyethylene or other similar polymer material, for example plastic, deformable and flexible, used for packaging, and in particular it can be transparent. Typically, the packet 10 in question is the rigid type.

In possible embodiments, the box- like body 1 1 of the packet 10 can comprise a closing lid 13 and a containing body 1 1a, for example cup-shaped with an upper access aperture, inside which the smoking articles can be contained, such as cigarettes or suchlike. Typically, the smoking articles are disposed in the containing body 1 1a in organized groups and can be wrapped by an internal wrapping sheet, for example made of foil or metallized paper, or wrapped in an internal airtight casing, for example an aluminum-polyethylene polylaminate or suchlike.

The packet 10 according to some embodiments described here can be the "hinged lid" type, that is to say that the lid 13 is hinged and can rotate with respect to the containing body 1 la (see for example fig. 3) of the box-like body 1 1 by means of a hinge 14, which can be made directly on the containing body 1 la, for example by weakening or creasing the same.

The external casing 12 has an opening or tear-off strip 15, so-called "tear strip", of a known type, which completely surrounds it and facilitates its removal, ripping the external casing 12, so that the packet 10 can be accessed to open it, by means of the lid 13, and for the removal of the smoking articles. Typically, the strip 15 is self-adhesive and, thanks to this property, is thus attached to the external casing 12.

The strip 15, normally, can be associated with a tongue 32 protruding from the external casing 12, able to be taken and put under traction by the consumer, to facilitate triggering the tearing of the strip 15.

The opening strip 15 is directed, by way of example, in a longitudinal direction of the packet 10, but it could also be directed in a transverse or variously inclined direction.

The packet 10 also comprises a stamp 16, for example a label, a stamp label or government stamp, which has to be invalidated when the packet 10 is first opened, therefore, in this case, when the external casing 12 is removed.

The stamp 16 comprises a first section 16a stably attached, in particular glued, to a first wall 17 of the box-like body 1 1. In other variants, the first section 16a could be attached to a wall 19, opposite the first wall 17.

Moreover, the stamp 16 comprises a second section 16b inserted and trapped between two flaps 12a and 12b of the external casing 12, see in particular the section of fig. 2. In other words, the second section 16b comes to be disposed in a pocket defined by the overlapping of the two flaps 12a and 12b of the external casing 12. The two flaps 12a and 12b of the external casing 12 are made integral with each other by means of heat-welding, so that, in practice, the second section 16b, once trapped in the pocket as defined above, comes to be stably constrained between the two flaps 12a and 12b of the external casing 12, but without being glued or attached directly to the external casing 12.

In fact, therefore, while the first section 16a can, for example, be glued to the first wall 17 of the box-like body 1 1, and therefore can have suitable stitches or dots of glue, the second section 16b does not have any gluing means, dots or strips of glue and is constrained to the external casing 12 merely by the fact that it is inserted and trapped between the two flaps 12a and 12b folded over each other as described above.

This has the advantage that the steps of making the packet 10 are less complex and expensive than in the state of the art, since it is not necessary to provide any delivery of glue on the second section 16b and to glue it onto the external casing 12.

Another advantage is also correlated to the esthetic improvement of the final packet 10, since there are no visible dots or strips of glue between the second section 16b and the external casing 12 and, therefore, the final consumer will appreciate a greater cleaning and a greater value of the esthetics and design of the packet 10.

In some embodiments, the stamp 16 is attached to the box-like body 1 1 in such a position that when the packet 10 is wrapped by the external casing 12, the opening strip 15 and the stamp 16 do not overlap or intersect, that is, the stamp 16 is in a position not affected by the strip 15, which is therefore outside the stamp 16, and can be, for example, on the side of the stamp 16, as in the attached drawings, but not overlapping it.

In some embodiments, the sections 16a and 16b of the stamp 16 are separated by a line 18 of weakening and predefined breakage, made for example by appropriate processing of the stamp 16, such as punching, incision, segmental incision, creasing, segmental creasing or a combination of these.

The box-like body 1 1, see also fig. 3, comprises as we said the wall 17, which in this case represents the rear side of the packet 10, a wall 19, which in this case is the front side, or front wall, of the packet 10, and four lateral walls 20, 21 , 22, 23. Normally, the wall 17 or 19 has a larger surface than the walls 20, 21, 22 or 23.

For example, the wall 17 and the wall 19 can be respectively the bigger rear wall and the bigger front wall of the box-like body 1 1. On the contrary, the walls 20, 22 can be the smaller lateral walls and the wall 21 can be the smaller bottom wall of the box-like body 11.

In this specific case, the rear wall 17 and front wall 19 can be formed by a first portion of rear wall 17a and respectively front wall 19a of the containing body 11a and a second portion of rear wall 17b and respectively front wall 19b of the closing lid 13.

Instead, the lateral walls 20, 22 can be formed by a first portion of lateral wall 20a and respectively 22a of the containing body 1 1a and a second portion of lateral wall 20b and respectively 22b of the closing lid 13.

The wall 21 can be the smaller bottom wall of the containing body 1 la of the box-like body 1 1.

Finally, the wall 23 can be the smaller upper wall of the closing lid 13.

Consequently, in possible embodiments, the rear and front walls 17 and 19 are the walls with the largest surface of the packet 10. As we will see, in correspondence with the walls 17 and 19, in positioning the external casing 12, no welding operation of the flaps of the external casing 12 itself are carried out, whereas in correspondence with the walls 20, 21 and 22, the edges of the external casing 12 are welded, for example by heat- welding, in this case a welding of the bottom flaps and a welding of the lateral flaps, to define a closure of the so-called envelope type.

On the wall 23, which defines the upper side of the lid 13, the external casing 12 is wound to form a substantially U-shaped wrapping part 12c.

The substantially U-shaped wrapping part 12c could also possibly be provided on another of the walls 20, 21 or 22 of the box-like body 1 1.

Naturally, the substantially U-shaped wrapping part 12c is positioned in correspondence with a wall of the box-like body 11, in this example the wall 23, independent of the wall in correspondence with which the flaps 12a, 12b of the external casing 12 are positioned which trap the second section 16b of the stamp 16, in this case the wall 21, or second wall 21.

In possible embodiments, the second wall 21 is adjacent to the first wall 17. In particular, in possible implementations, the first wall 17 on which the first section 16a of the stamp 16 is provided and the second wall 21 on which the second section 16b of the stamp 16 is provided, can be contiguous or adjacent walls, in particular consecutive walls, one of which is transverse, more particularly perpendicular, to the other.

Moreover, the substantially U-shaped wrapping part 12c is positioned on a wall, for example the wall 23, free from the positioning of the sections 16a and 16b of the stamp 16, therefore independent of the positioning walls of the sections 16a and 16b of the stamp, in this example the walls 17 and 21.

On one of the walls of the box-like body 11 on which there is no welding of the flaps of the external casing 12, for example the rear wall 17, the first section 16a of the stamp 16 is attached, for example by dots 24 of glue. The dots 24 could be replaced by strips of glue, or the section 16a could be stably attached to the wall 17 by another suitable system. In other variants, the first section 16a of the stamp 16 could be attached, instead, on the front wall 19.

Fig. 4 is used to schematically describe embodiments of an apparatus 25 to make the packet 10, in particular to wrap it or package it. The apparatus 25 comprises a drum, or wheel, 26, rotatable around an axis A, for example in the direction indicated by the arrow R.

The wheel 26 comprises a series of seatings or pockets 27 to house packets 10, for example directed radially.

The box-like bodies 1 1 of the packets reach the apparatus 25 in a direction of translation T, by any suitable transfer means whatsoever, in particular in correspondence with an entrance station 26a of the wheel 26. Naturally, it is assumed that the smoking articles provided in organized groups are already housed correctly inside the box-like bodies 1 1.

Moreover, it is assumed that on the box-like bodies 1 1 the stamp 16 has already been attached, as in fig. 3, that is, with a section 16a attached to a wall 17 of the box- like body 1 1 and a free section 16b, protruding cantilevered, for example in this case from the wall 17.

In particular, the section 16b will be protruding cantilevered from the wall 17 and toward the bottom wall 21, on which, subsequently, the overlapping edges 12a and 12b of the external casing 12 will be welded to define the so-called "envelope" closure.

In correspondence with the entrance station of the wheel 26 the packets 10 therefore come close to a sheet, or film, 12' of deformable material, for example transparent cellophane, which will form the external casing 12 of each packet 10. The sheet 12' can be fed, by means of a relative reel and suitable feed means, not shown, and, moreover, can be suitably shaped and cut to size.

The packet 10 is translated on the sheet 12' so that it is wrapped by first making the substantially U-shaped wrapping part 12c on the upper wall of the lid 13, then the wall 23.

Once a box-like body 11 of a packet 10 has entered the first free seating 27' of the wheel 26, a cutting device, not shown, will cut the sheet 12', so as to partly form the external casing 12 on the box-like body 11 of the packet 10.

A first movable folding element 28 is provided to fold the first flap 12a of the external casing 12, in particular by about 90°, so that it rests on the wall 21 of the box-like body 11 of the packet 10, thus reaching the situation shown in fig. 5.

Subsequently, by a rotation of the wheel 26, the packet 10 is moved toward a further folding element 29 of the fixed type, for example a fixed folding device with an arched or helical shape, which folds the second flap 12b of the external casing 12 and the second protruding section 16b of the stamp 16, said second section 16b being associated at the lower part but not attached to the second flap 12b, for example by about 90° but in a direction opposite to the fold of about 90° of the first flap 12a described above, until the combination of the second flap 12b and second section 16b is positioned on the first flap 12a, thus arriving at the situation in fig. 6.

Downstream of the entrance station 26a, in the direction indicated by the arrow R, one or more welding stations 26b, 26c, 26d of the flaps 12a, 12b of the external casing 12 can be provided, each provided with a respective welding device 31 and in association with a folding element 29.

In particular, in the folding element 29 immediately downstream of the entrance station 26a at least one window 30 can be provided through which the corresponding welding device 31, for example heat- welding, can pass, able to join the flaps 12a and 12b of the external casing 12, between which the section 16b of the stamp 16 is inserted and trapped.

In order to reinforce the welding performed by the welding device 31, in particular the welding of the flaps 12a and 12b in correspondence with the wall 21, further welding devices 3 Γ and 31 " could be provided, for example two more, disposed for example in association with another guide element 29' with an arched shape, in different angular positions of the wheel 26.

In possible embodiments, the flaps 12a and 12b of the external casing 12 can therefore be welded substantially in three different angular positions, thanks to the use of the three welding devices 31, 31 ' and 31 " which reinforce the same welding of the flaps 12a, 12b. For example, it is possible to provide that the wheel 26 rotates one step at a time in the direction indicated by the arrow R, so as to take a packet 10 from the first welding device 31, to the second welding device 31 ' and then to the third welding device 31 ".

Once the welding of the flaps 12a, 12b is completed, the packet 10 is conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow R toward an exit station 26e of the wheel 26.

After having been processed in the wheel 26 in the operating steps described, the packet 10 can be subjected to a further closing step, on board the wheel 26 itself in correspondence with the exit station 26e and/or after it has been removed therefrom, in which, in a substantially known manner, the flaps of the external casing 12 situated in correspondence with the walls 20 and 22 will be suitably folded, made to adhere to the walls 20 and 22 and then welded, so that, in short, the packet 10 passes from the configuration in fig. 6 to the final configuration in fig. 1.

Substantially therefore, the flaps 12a and 12b of the external casing 12 between which the section 16b of the stamp 16 is inserted, are positioned in correspondence with a wall of the box-like body 11 which is subjected to welding, for example the wall 21, but it could also be another wall, for example wall 20 or 22.

As can also be seen, advantageously, the correct positioning of the section 16b of the stamp 16 is carried out simultaneously with the folding of flap 12b on flap 12a, therefore without adding further complex processing or attachment steps of this section 16b of the stamp 16.

The section 16a of the stamp 16 is attached to the box- like body 11 preferably on a wall which is not subject to welding, for example wall 17, but it could also be wail 19.

Preferably, as for example in the embodiments described using the attached drawings, once the packet 10 has been completed, the strip 15 which facilitates the opening of the external casing 12 is independent, that is, not affected by the positioning of the sections 16a, 16b of the stamp 16, and therefore it does not interfere with the stamp 16, and in particular with its line of weakening 18. In other words, the strip 15 does not intersect the stamp 16 and, in particular, it does not cross its sections 16a or 16b and/or the line of weakening 18.

Furthermore, to guarantee greater compactness and sealing of the packet 10, as we have seen, the substantially U-shaped wrapping part 12c of the external casing 12 can be made in correspondence with the lid 13.

In particular, the substantially U-shaped wrapping part 12c can be made on the wall 23 of the box-like body 1 1 opposite the wall 21 on which the flaps 12a and 12b of the external casing 12, between which the section 16b of the stamp 16 is inserted, lie and completely surround it.

It is extremely simple and immediate to open the present packet 10 and consequently invalidate the stamp 16: in fact, by acting preferably on the strip 15, the external casing 12 is removed, substantially separating it into two parts. Removing the external casing 12 from the box-like body 11 of the packet 10 determines the separation of the stamp 16 into the two sections 16a and 16b, in particular along the line of weakening 18.

In fact, since the section 16b of the stamp 16 is inserted between the flaps 12a and 12b, the removal of the external casing 12 causes the automatic and instant separation of the stamp 16 into the two sections 16a and 16b, with the consequent invalidation thereof.

Following the separation, the section 16a of the stamp 16 will remain attached to the box-like body 11 of the packet 10, while the section 16b of the stamp 16 will be removed together with the external casing 12.

The separation of the stamp 16 into the sections 16a and 16b and its consequent invalidation are further facilitated by the fact that the first section 16a stably attached to the box-like body 1 1 has a bigger surface than the second section 16b inserted between the flaps 12a and 12b of the external casing 12.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts can be made to the packet for smoking articles and its method of production as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of packet for smoking articles and corresponding method of production, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate reading: they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection claimed in the specific claims.