CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from Italian Patent Application No. 102018000003664 filed on 16/03/2018, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a rigid packet of smoking articles and a method for manufacturing the same. In particular, the packet object of the present invention is a slide opening type packet.

PRIOR ART

A rigid packet of cigarettes is known which comprises a first group of cigarettes, a second group of cigarettes, and a container containing the same.

Said container has a parallelepiped shape and comprises a bottom wall, an extraction opening which is opposed to the bottom wall and from which the cigarettes can be extracted, and a partition wall arranged in the container to divide its internal volume into a first chamber and in into a second chamber: the first group of cigarettes is arranged in the first chamber and the second group of cigarettes is arranged in the second chamber.

Moreover, the packet comprises a sleeve-shaped casing which is arranged externally to the container so that the casing and the container are slidably coupled to each other to be movable between an opening position, in which access to the cigarettes is allowed, and a closing position in which the extraction opening of the container is closed.

The container described above, like the casing, is obtained starting from a single blank in a flat configuration which is suitably folded along respective weakening lines.

However, from the production point of view of the aforementioned packet by using automatic machines (i.e. from the "machinability" point of view of the aforementioned packet), the packet can be complicated since the blank for manufacturing the container is rather bulky and with a high number of folds to be made .

Utility model CN202686921U describes a rigid packet of cigarettes with a slide opening and comprising an outer container having two opposite extraction openings and an inner container which has two compartments and that is inserted inside the outer container; the inner container can be extracted from one side to withdraw the cigarettes from a compartment and can be extracted from the opposite side to withdraw the cigarettes from the other compartment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a rigid packet of smoking articles, and a respective manufacturing method, which overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

The aforementioned object has been achieved by a rigid packet of smoking articles and by a method for manufacturing the same according to the appended claims.

The container of the packet, object of the present invention, is manufactured by means of three frames (the first frame, the second frame and the third frame) each obtained by folding respective blanks.

Therefore, the fact of manufacturing the container starting from three distinct blanks allows to handle components of reduced dimensions with respect to what occurred for the packet of prior art and to reduce the number of folds to be made: advantageously, the proposed packet is easier to manufacture by using automatic machines (in other words, the "machinability" of the packet is improved) .

Moreover, the proposed conformation of the three frames allows to obtain a packet that is easier to manufacture by using automatic machines and, at the same time, to optimize the material used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described with reference to the annexed drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting embodiment thereof, wherein:

- Figure 1 is a perspective front view of an embodiment of the packet object of the present invention, in a closing position;

- Figures 2 and 3 are perspective front views of the packet of Figure 1, in opening positions;

Figures 4 and 5 are front views, front and rear of the container, respectively, of the packet of Figure 1;

Figures 6-8 are plan views of a first blank, of a second blank and of a third blank, respectively, used to manufacture the container of Figures 4 and 5;

- Figure 9 is a plan view of a blank for manufacturing the casing of the packet of Figure 1;

- Figures 10-16B are perspective views of respective operative steps of the method for manufacturing the packet object of the present invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the attached Figures, a rigid packet of smoking articles, object of the present invention, has been generally denoted with the reference numeral 1.

The term "smoking articles" refers to articles relating to the tobacco field such as cigarettes, cigars, electronic cigarettes or tobacco pieces for "heat-not-burn" (HNB) articles. Generally, a smoking article is a tubular element having an axis of longitudinal development.

With reference to the attached Figures, a preferred embodiment of the packet 1, object of the present invention, is described in the following.

The packet 1 comprises a first group 2 of smoking articles and a second group 3 of smoking articles each comprising a first face 20, 30 and a container 4 that contains the first group 2 and the second group 3 of smoking articles. The container 4 comprises an extraction opening 40 for extracting the smoking articles of the first group 2 and the second group 3.

Furthermore, the packet 1 comprises a casing 5 arranged externally to the container 4, wherein the casing 5 and the container 4 are slidably coupled to each other to be movable between an opening position A, in which access to the smoking articles of the first group 2 and/or of the second group 3 is allowed, and a closing position B in which the extraction opening 40 is closed.

With particular reference to Figures 4 and 5, the container 4 comprises: a first frame 6 comprising a central wall 60, a first side wall 61 and a second side wall 62 that extend from central wall 60, the which first frame 6 wraps the first group 2 of smoking articles leaving at least the first face 20 free; a second frame 7, which comprises a central wall 70, a first side wall 71 and a second side wall 72 which extend from the central wall 70, the which second frame 7 wraps the second group 3 of smoking articles, leaving at least the first face 30 free.

The packet 1 further comprises a third frame 8 that comprises a central wall 80, which faces the first face 20, 30 of the first group 2 and the second group 3 of smoking articles, a first side wall 81, which extends from the wall central 80 and that is fixed to the first side wall 61 of the first frame 6, and a second side wall 82, which extends from the central wall 80 and that is fixed to the second side wall 72 of the second frame 7.

Therefore, the container 4 is formed by the appropriate arrangement and conformation of the first frame 6, the second frame 7 and the third frame 8. Accordingly, the fact that the container 4 is not made, by means of a frame, in a single body (such as the prior art packet described in the preamble of the present description) , allows to handle components of reduced dimensions in order to manufacture the packet 1. Advantageously, the packet 1 is simpler to manufacture with automatic machines (in other words, the packet 1 has an improved "machinability" ) .

Moreover, the conformation of the first frame 6, the second frame 7 and the third frame 8 allows to obtain a packet 1 in which the material used is optimized. The term "group of smoking articles" means a set of smoking articles arranged in a parallelepiped conformation (Figure 10) . In detail, the smoking articles are arranged with the respective development axes parallel to one another so as to form a set having a substantially parallelepiped shape. In particular, each group of smoking articles, first 2 and second 3, comprises a first face 20, 30 (parallel to the development axis of the smoking articles), a second face 21, 31 opposite and parallel to the first face 20, 30, an upper face 22, 32 (orthogonal to the development axis of the smoking articles), a lower face 24, 34 opposite and parallel to the upper face 22, 32, and a pair of side faces 23, 33.

With reference to the embodiment of the packet 1 illustrated in the figures, the first group 2 and the second group 3 of smoking articles are (completely) wrapped by a wrapping 10 made starting from a sheet of wrapping material (for example, foil) . This wrapping 10 comprises a weakening line (not illustrated) so that a part of said wrapping 10 is tearable by the smoker upon the first opening of the packet 1.

According to embodiments not illustrated, the wrapping could only partially wrap the first group and the second group of smoking articles (for example, the wrapping may not be visible from the outside of the container) or, as a further alternative, the wrapping could be of the sealed type. In the latter case, the wrapping could be made starting from a sheet of heat-sealable material and could have an extraction opening, for extracting the smoking articles, that is opened and closed by the smoker by means of a label.

As a further alternative, the packet 1 may not comprise any wrapping; in this case the first group and the second group of smoking articles are already exposed upon the first opening of the packet 1.

It should be noted that the first group 2 of smoking articles and the second group 3 of smoking articles can comprise articles of different types or have wrappings of different types. For example, the wrapping of the first group 2 could be a traditional foil wrapping and the wrapping of the second group 3 could be a scented foil wrapping, for example menthol.

With particular reference to Figure 4, the second side wall 62 of the first frame 6 is arranged side-by-side (preferably arranged in contact) with the first side wall 71 of the second frame 7 and the central wall 60 of the first frame 6 is aligned with the central wall 70 of the second frame 7. In other words, the second side wall 62 of the first frame 6 is arranged in contact with the first side wall 71 of the second frame 7, the central wall 60 of the first frame 6 and the central wall 70 of the second frame 7 are arranged on the same plane.

The container 4 comprises a bottom wall 41 (preferably rectangular-shaped) opposed to the extraction opening 40. According to the illustrated embodiment, the bottom wall 41 comprises: a first flap 63 which extends from the central wall 60 of the first frame 6, a second flap 73 which extends from the central wall 70 of the second frame 7 and a third flap 83 which extends from the central wall 80 of the third frame 8 and that is fixed to the first flap 63 and to the second flap 73.

With particular reference to Figures 2-5, the container 4 is cup-shaped and has a parallelepiped shape. The container 4 comprises, in addition to the bottom wall 41, a side wall 42 that rises from the bottom wall 41 and that defines the extraction opening 40. Said side wall 42 has four walls two-by- two opposite and parallel to one another.

Furthermore, the container 4 comprises a partition wall which is arranged inside the container 4 and divides the container 4 into a first chamber, in which the first group 2 of smoking articles is housed, and in a second chamber, in which the second group 3 of smoking articles is housed. Said partition wall is defined by the second side wall 62 of the first frame 6 and by the first side wall 71 of the second frame 7.

Preferably, the first side wall 61 of the first frame 6 and the second side wall 62 of the first frame 6 are orientated substantially orthogonal to the central wall 60; the first flap 63 is also orientated substantially orthogonal to the central wall 60. Similarly, the first side wall 71 of the second frame 7 and the second side wall 72 of the second frame 7 are orientated substantially orthogonal to the central wall 70; the second flap 73 is also orientated substantially orthogonal with respect to the central wall 70. Furthermore, the first side wall 81 of the third frame 8 and the second side wall 82 of the third frame 8 are also orientated substantially orthogonal to the central wall 80; moreover, the third flap 83 is also orientated substantially orthogonal to the central wall 80. According to the embodiment illustrated, the first group 2 and the second group 3 of smoking articles have the same dimensions. Also, the first frame 6 and the second frame 7 have the same dimensions and the same shape.

In detail, the width of the respective central walls 60, 70 is equal to the width of the first face 20, 30 of the first group 2 and the second group 3 of smoking articles. Furthermore, the first side wall 61, 71 and the second side wall 62, 72 of the first frame 6 and the second frame 7 are shaped to cover the side faces 23, 33 of the first group 2 and the second group 3, respectively.

The third frame 8 has different dimensions to the first frame 6 and to the second frame 7. In detail, the width of the central wall 80 of the third frame 8 is equal to the sum of the width of the central wall 60 of the first frame 6 and the central wall 70 of the second frame 7.

Preferably, the first frame 6, the second frame 7 and the third frame 8 are made of cardboard or paperboard. Alternatively, they could be made of a plastic material.

With reference to Figures 6-8, the first frame 6, the second frame 7 and the third frame 8 are obtained by folding a first blank 6', a second blank l ^r and a third blank 8', respectively, each comprising a central panel 60', 70', 80' designed to define the central wall 60, 70, 80 of the respective frame 6, 7, 8, a first side panel 61', 71', 81' which extends from the central panel 60', 70', 80' and that is designed to define the first side wall 61, 71, 81 of the respective frame 6, 7, 8, a second side panel 62', 72', 82' which extends from the central panel 60', 70', 80' and that is designed to define the second side wall 62, 72, 82 of the respective frame 6, 7, 8.

The first side panel 61', 71' 81' and the second side panel 62', 72', 82' that extend from opposite sides of the respective central panel 60', 70', 80'. Furthermore, the first side panel 61', 71', 81' and the second side panel 62', 72', 82' are separated from the respective central panel 60', 70', 80' by means of weakening lines which facilitate the folding of the first side panel 61', 71', 81' and second side panel 62', 72', 82' with respect to the central panel 60', 70', 80'.

Furthermore, the first blank 6', the second blank 7' and the third blank 8', each comprise a bottom panel 63', 73', 83' which extend from the central panel 60', 70', 80' and that is designed to define the bottom wall 41 of the container 4.

Preferably, the first blank 6' can be obtained starting from a reel of material (discarding any scrap material) . Similarly, also the second 7' blank can be obtained starting from a reel of material (discarding any scrap material) . The first blank 6' and the second blank 7' can be obtained starting from the same reel of material or from two reels of different materials. Furthermore, the first blank 6' and the second blank 7', at least at the surface exposed to the outside of the container 4, can be of different colors and/or be printed with different prints .

Similarly, also the third blank 9' can be obtained starting from a reel of material (discarding any scrap material) .

Preferably, the second side wall 62 of the first frame 6 is fixed (for example, by means of glue or adhesive) to the first side wall 71 of the second frame 7. Advantageously, the container 4 is more stable.

Alternatively, the second side wall 62 of the first frame 6 can face the first side wall 71 of the second frame 7 without any type of fixing. The extraction opening 40 of the container 4 comprises a first part 40a for extracting the smoking articles of the first group 2 and a second part 40b for extracting the smoking articles of the second group 3; the first part 40a and the second part 40b being separated from each other by the second side wall 62 of the first frame 6 and by the first side wall 71 of the second frame 7 (in other words, the first part 40a and the second part 40b are separated by the partition wall of the container 4) .

With reference to the embodiment illustrated in the Figures, the casing 5 is sleeve shaped. In other words, the casing 5 comprises a front wall 50, a rear wall 51 opposite and parallel to the front wall 50, an upper wall 52 which joins the front wall 50 and the rear wall 51, and a lower wall 53 which is opposite and parallel to the upper wall 52. Furthermore, the casing comprises a first opening 54 and a second opening 55 which is opposed to the first opening 54 and through which the container 4 can slide.

Preferably, the casing 5 is made of cardboard or paperboard. Alternatively, the casing 5 can be made of a plastic material.

The casing 5 can be made starting from the blank 5' illustrated in Figure 9. In Figure 9 the various parts of the blank 5' have been denoted, where possible, with accented reference numbers equal to the reference numbers which characterize the corresponding parts of the casing 5, respectively.

The blank 5' can be obtained starting from a reel of material (discarding any scrap material) .

Moreover, the packet 1 can comprise stopping means 9 for limiting the sliding of the container 4 with respect to the casing 5. Advantageously, upon opening the packet 1 the container 4 does not come out completely from the casing 5.

The stopping means 9 comprise a first tab 90, which protrudes from the casing 5 (from the upper wall 52 of the casing) and that is arranged near the first opening 54 of the casing 5 to engage, when the packet 1 is in the opening position A, with the second side wall 62 of the first frame 6. Furthermore, the stopping means 9 comprise a second tab 91, which protrudes from the casing 5 (from the upper wall 52 of the casing) and that is arranged near the second opening 55 of the housing 5 to engage, when the packet 1 is in the opening position A, in the first side wall 71 of the second frame 7.

Therefore, the container 4 slides with respect to the casing 5 in a first direction X up to the opening position A, in which access is allowed to the smoking articles of the first group 2 through the first part 40a of the extraction opening 40 (the second part 40b of the extraction opening 40 is closed; Figure 2) . Furthermore, the container 4 slides with respect to the casing 5 in a second direction Y, opposed to the first direction X, up to the opening position A, in which access to the smoking articles of the second group 3 is allowed through the second part 40b of the extraction opening 40 (the first part 40a of the extraction opening 40 is closed; Figure 3) .

According to an alternative embodiment not illustrated, the casing could comprise a single opening. In said embodiment, the stopping means can comprise a tab which protrudes from the casing (from the upper or lower wall of the casing) and that is arranged near the opening of the casing to engage, when the packet 1 is in the opening position A, with the second side wall of the second frame. Therefore, the container is slidable with respect to the casing from the closing position to the opening position A, in which access to the smoking articles of the first group and the second group is allowed through the first part and the second part of the extraction opening, respectively.

Preferably, the stopping means 9 are integral with the casing 5 (preferably, made in a single piece with the casing 5) . With particular reference to Figure 4, the first frame 6 and the second frame 7 comprise a recess 11 at the respective central wall 60, 70. In detail, said recess is formed near the extraction opening 40 of the container to favor the extraction of the smoking articles from the container 4.

Similarly, with reference to Figure 5, the third frame 8 comprises a pair of recesses 12 at the respective central wall 80. In detail, these recesses 12 are formed near the extraction opening 40 of the container 4 and faces the recesses 11 of the first frame 6 and the second frame 7.

It is understood that the recess 11 and/or the recesses 12 can have different profiles with respect to what is illustrated in the figures .

In the following is described a method for manufacturing the packet 1 described above also object of the present invention.

With reference to Figures 10-16B, the method comprises the steps of :

a) providing a first group 2 of smoking articles and a second group 3 of smoking articles each comprising a respective first face 20, 30 (Figure 10);

b) providing a first frame 6 comprising a central wall 60, a first side wall 61 and a second side wall 62, which extend from central wall 60 and arrange the first frame 6 and the first group 2 of smoking articles so that the first frame 6 wraps the first group 2 of smoking articles, leaving the first face 20 free (Figures 12 and 13);

c) providing a second frame 7 comprising a central wall 70, a first side wall 71 and a second side wall 72, which extend from central wall 70 and arrange the second frame 7 and the second group 3 of smoking articles so that the second frame 7 wraps the second group 3 of smoking articles, leaving the first face 30 free;

d) arranging a third frame 8 which comprises a central wall 80, a first side wall 81 and a second side wall 82 which extend from the central wall 80 so that the central wall 80 faces the first face 20, 30 of the first group 2 and the second group 3 (Figure 15) ;

e) fixing the first side wall 81 of the third frame 8 to the first side wall 61 of the first frame 6 and the second side wall 82 of the third frame 8 to the second side wall 72 of the second frame 7, thus forming a container 4 to contain the first group 2 and the second group 3 of smoking articles, which container 4 comprises an extraction opening 40 for extracting the smoking articles of the first group 2 and the second group 3 (Figures 16A-16B) ;

f) arranging a casing 5 on the outside of the container 4 so that the casing 5 and the container 4 are slidably coupled to one another to be movable between an opening position A, in which access to the smoking articles of the first group 2 and/or second group 3 is allowed, and a closing position B in which the extraction opening 40 is closed.

The proposed method allows the packet 1 described above to be manufactured by handling components of reduced dimensions: advantageously, the packet 1 is easier to manufacture by using automatic machines (in other words, the packet 1 has an improved "machinability" ) .

Moreover, with reference to Figure 14, the method comprises the step of arranging the first frame 6 and the second frame 7 so as to be side-by-side the second side wall 62 of the first frame 6 and the first side wall 71 of the second frame 7 and align the central wall 60 of the first frame 6 and the central wall 70 of the second frame 7. Preferably, this step is performed after steps a) -c) .

In particular, the step of providing the first frame 6 and the second frame 7 comprises the step of respectively providing a first blank 6' and a second blank 7' in a flat configuration, the which first blank 6' and second blank 7' each comprise a central panel 60', 70', a first side panel 61', 11’ and a second side panel 62', 72', which extend from the central panel 60', 70' .

Preferably, the first blank 6' and the second blank Ί' are obtained by cutting a strip of material fed by a respective reel .

Moreover, the step of arranging the first frame 6 so as to wrap the first group 2 of smoking articles, leaving the first face 20 free comprises the steps of arranging the central panel 60' of the first blank 6’ facing a second face 21 of the first group 2 opposed to the first face 20 (Figure 12), and folding the first side panel 61' and the second side panel 62' of the first blank 6' around the first group 2 so as to wrap the first group 2 leaving the first face 20 free (Figure 13) .

In the case in which the first blank 6' also comprises the first flap 63' which extends from the central panel 60' then the step of arranging the first frame 6 wraps the first group 2 of smoking articles, leaving the first face 20 free it comprises the step of folding the first flap 63' so as to face the lower face 24 of the first group 2.

Similarly, the step of arranging the second frame 7 so as to wrap the second group 3 of smoking articles, leaving the first face 30 free, comprises the steps of arranging the central panel 70' of the second blank 7' facing a second face 31 of the second group 3 opposed to the first face 30, and folding the first side panel 71' and the second side panel 72' of the second blank 7' around the second group 3 so as to wrap the second group 3 leaving the first face 30 free. In the case in which the second blank 7' also comprises the second flap 73' which extends from the central panel 70' then the step of arranging the second frame 7 so as to wrap the second group 3 of smoking articles, leaving the first face 30 free comprises the step of folding the second flap 73' so as to face the lower face 34 of the second group 3.

The step of folding the first side panel 61' and the second side panel 62' of the first blank 6' around the first group 2 can be performed successively or simultaneously with the step of arranging the central panel 60' of the first blank 6' facing the second face 21 of the first group 2. Similarly, the step of folding the first side panel 71' and the second side panel 72' of the second blank 7' around the second group 3 can be performed subsequently or simultaneously with the step of arranging the central panel 70' of the second blank 7' facing the second face 31 of the second group 3.

The steps d) and e) (preferably in the order) are carried out after the steps a)-c) . Furthermore, always preferably, the steps d) and e) are carried out after the step of arranging the first frame 6 and the second frame 7 so as to arrange side-by-side the second side wall 62 of the first frame 6 and the first side wall 71 of the second frame 7 and align the central wall 60 of the first frame 6 and the central wall 70 of the second frame 7.

In the case in which the third frame 8 also comprises the third flap 83, then step d) comprises the step of fixing (by glue or adhesive) the third flap 83 to the first flap 63 of the first frame 6 and to the second flap 73 of the second frame 7.

In detail, step d) comprises the steps of: providing a third blank 8' in a flat configuration, the which third blank 8' comprises a central panel 80', a first side panel 81' and a second side panel 82' which extend from the central panel 80'; arranging the central panel 80' of the third blank 8' facing the first face 20 of the first group 2 and the second group 3 (Figure 15); folding the first side panel 81' and the second side panel 82' of the third blank 8' for facing the first side wall 61 of the first frame 6 and the second side wall 72 of the second frame 7, respectively (Figures 16A-16B) .

Preferably, the third blank 8' is obtained by cutting a strip of material fed by a reel.

In the case in which the third blank 8' also comprises the third flap 83' that extends from the central panel 80' then the step d) also comprises the step of folding the third flap 83 for facing the lower face of the first group 2 and the second group 3 (and, in detail, for facing the first flap 63 and the second flap 73) .

The step of folding the first side panel 81' and the second side panel 82' of the third blank 8' to respectively face the first side wall 61 of the first frame 6 and the second side wall 72 of the second frame 7 can be performed subsequently or simultaneously with the step of arranging the central panel 80' of the third blank 8' facing the first face 20 of the first group 2 and the second group 3.

With reference to Figure 11, the method can comprise the step of (completely or partially) wrapping the first group 2 of smoking articles with a wrapping 10 before wrapping the first group 2 with the first frame 6. Similarly, again with reference to Figure 11, the method can comprise the step (completely or partially) wrapping the second group 3 of smoking articles with a wrapping 10 before wrapping the second group 3 with the second frame 7.

Preferably, the step of fixing the first side wall 81 of the third frame 8 to the first side wall 61 of the first frame 6 comprises the step of arranging glue or adhesive at the first side wall 81 of the third frame 8 (or, alternatively, at the first side wall 61 of the first frame 6) . Preferably, the glue or adhesive is arranged at the first side panel 81' of the third blank 8 ' .

Similarly, the step of fixing the second side wall 82 of the third frame 8 to the second side wall 72 of the second frame 7 comprises the step of arranging glue or adhesive at the second side wall 82 of the third frame 8 (or, alternatively, at the second side wall 72 of the second frame 7) . Preferably, the glue or adhesive is arranged at the second side panel 82' of the third blank 8 ' .

The method can also comprise the step of fixing (by glue or adhesive) the second side wall 62 of the first frame 6 and the first side wall 71 of the second frame 7. In this case, the method can comprise the step of arranging glue or adhesive at the second side wall 62 of the first frame 6 and/or at the first side wall 71 of the second frame 7.

Preferably, the glue or adhesive is arranged at the second side panel 62' of the first blank 6' and/or of the first side panel 71' of the second blank 7' .