EP2001768A1

EP2001768A1 - Pack for a group of objects, in particular bundle pack for cigarette packs

Info

Publication number: EP2001768A1
Application number: EP07722752A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Johann Köster
Original assignee: Focke and Co GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Focke and Co GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2006-03-21
Filing date: 2007-01-11
Publication date: 2008-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 2027-01-11
Also published as: EP2001768B1; ATE538051T1; DE102006013280A1; WO2007107190A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a pack for a group of objects, in particular a bundle pack for a group of cigarette packs (10). The pack or bundle pack has a blank (11, 12) made from foldable packaging material for receiving a set of pack contents, in particular for a group of cigarette packs (10). Furthermore, the pack or bundle pack has an outer casing (27) which surrounds the pack contents and the blank (11, 12) and is made from a preferably transparent material, in particular from a cellophane or plastic film. According to the invention, there is provision for the blank (11, 12) to have an opening aid for opening the outer casing (27) (and the blank). As a result of the bundle pack being opened by the tear-open strip (23) of the blank (11, 12), the tear-open thread which is otherwise customary on the outer casing (27) can be omitted. The material saving which is associated with this leads to less expensive production of the bundle pack. The omission of the tear-open thread on the outer casing (27) is, however, also particularly advantageous if the outer casing (27) consists of a (polypropylene) film which is shrunk by thermal treatment.

Description

Package for ₍ a group of items, in particular package of packages for cigarette packs

description

The invention relates to a pack for a group of articles, in particular a bundle pack for a group of cigarette packs, with a blank of foldable packaging material for receiving a package contents, in particular the group of cigarette packs, and with an outer envelope surrounding the blank and the package contents, preferably transparent Material, in particular of a cellophane or plastic film, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such packs are known, for example, as bundle packs for cigarettes, so-called cigarette rods. These are large packs of a plurality of individual cigarette packs. These are usually arranged in rows. A particularly popular pack of cigarettes consists of ten packs of cigarettes, divided into two rows of five packs of cigarettes each. The cigarette packs of a first row lie with their front and back on the cigarette packs of an adjacent second row. The pack contents, for example, assembled in this or another formation, are held together by a blank, which in packs of cigarettes consists predominantly of paper or thin cardboard. The blank may be provided on the outside with a decorative and / or informative printing, for example, as an indication of the manufacturer of the goods and the cigarette brand. To protect the blank and the contents of the package from adverse environmental influences, an outer covering is still provided. Usually, the outer cover is made of an at least partially transparent or transparent plastic or cellophane film, for example of polypropylene, which allows the buyer to take a look at the contents of the package and the prints on the blank. In addition, to improve the appearance of the package, it is increasingly common practice to heat-treat the outer package so that it fits tightly around the blank with the package contents. For this purpose, so-called shrink films are used as material for the outer sheath. Such materials have a significant shrinkage on exposure to heat. The opening of such bundle packs, and in particular with a heat-treated, ie shrunk outer wrapper, could be improved. Occasionally, the outer wrapper rests so closely around the package contents, in particular due to the shrinking process, that the opening and / or removal of the outer wrapper is possible only with great effort.

The invention is therefore an object of the invention to improve a package of the type mentioned and in particular to allow a simpler opening outer sheath.

To solve this problem, a pack has the features of claim 1. Accordingly, it is provided that the blank has an opening aid for opening the outer sheath. Accordingly, the opening aid is at least not associated with the outer covering, but rather with the blank, so that, for example, a separate tear-off thread attached to the outer covering can be dispensed with. Such a solution has the particular advantage that the outer sheath has an improved appearance due to the lack of tear thread after the shrinkage process due to a smaller number of residual folds in the outer sheath.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the opening aid of the blank is designed such that the blank and the outer covering can be opened by actuating the opening aid of the blank. In this way, the opening aid of the blank fulfills a dual function and preferably at the same time permits an opening of both the blank and the outer wrapping.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the opening aid of the blank, in particular a tear strip, is directed in the longitudinal direction of the pack such that the outer wrapper can be opened by actuating the opening aid of the blank in the longitudinal direction of the pack. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is further provided that the opening aid, in particular the tear strip, extends over substantially the entire length of the pack, such that upon actuation of the opening aid, the outer wrapper accordingly over substantially the entire Length of the pack is opened. In this way, the outer sheath can be removed particularly easily after actuation of the opening aid.

As an opening aid may preferably be provided a tear strip, which is formed by at least one perforation line in the region of an elongated side wall of the blank. Preferably, the tear strip is formed in an edge region of the blank, in particular in the region of a connecting tab of the blank. The connection tab can be used after the first opening of the pack as a tab for re-closing the blank.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the outer sheath has a cut formed preferably by punching, which is positioned corresponding to the opening aid of the blank in the outer sheath, in particular corresponding to a free, in particular lateral end of the tear strip. In this way, access to the opening aid of the blank by the substantially closed outer sheath is possible.

A further special feature consists in the fact that the blank in the perforation line has additional cuts, which extend starting from a particular printed top of the blank in the webs formed between the perforation cuts in the blank, in particular such that the additional cuts have a smaller incision depth than the perforation cuts. In this way, an unwanted tearing of the blank obliquely to the perforation line can be counteracted.

Further details of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the following description, by the way and the drawings.

Preferred embodiments of the package according to the invention are explained below with reference to the drawing. In this shows:

1 a spread blank for a bundle pack,

2 shows a further spread blank for a Gebiπdepackung, 3 shows a closed bundle pack from a blank according to FIG. 1 or 2 with an outer wrapper in a spatial representation, FIG.

Fig. 4 shows a detail of the bundle pack according to FIG. 3, namely a

Grip bottle for opening the bundle pack in an enlarged view,

5 is a schematic representation of the opening of the bundle pack,

Fig. 6 shows a folded blank according to FIG. 2 with open top and

Package contents,

7 shows a folded blank according to FIG. 1 with opened top side and

Package contents,

Fig. 8 is a continuous web for the production of blanks for

Outer cladding, and

9 is a vertical section through a perforation according to section line VIII - VIII in Fig. 1 and 2 respectively.

The preferred embodiments of a package illustrated in the drawings refer to bundle packs for a group of cigarette packs 10. This type of pack pack is also referred to in practice as a cigarette rod. Several, in the present case ten cigarette packs 10 are formed in an ordered group and surrounded by a blank 11, 12. This is expediently made of thin cardboard, but may also be made of other suitable packaging materials, such as paper or foil.

The resulting due to the blank 11, 12 packing unit is here an elongated, cuboid structure. This geometric shape results from the arrangement of the cigarette packs 10 in two rows of packages. Each of these pack rows consists of the same number of cigarette packs 10, in the present case five. The cigarette packs 10 of the two pack rows lie with their large-scale sides, thus with front and back together. Within the pack rows are adjacent cigarette packs 10 with narrow sides together.

The group of cigarette packs 10 is completely surrounded by the folded and closed blank 11, 12. This consists of a front wall 13, an opposite rear wall 14, between these arranged, narrow, elongated side walls 15, 16 and also opposite end walls 17, 18. Further, folding flaps for forming the end walls 17, 18 are provided, the laterally projecting on both sides of some walls of the blanks 1 1, 12 are arranged.

1 shows a so-called "European blank" 11. Here, the end walls 17, 18 of the blank 11 each consist of a rectangular cover flap 19 and two trapezoidal side tabs 20, 21. The latter is rectangular and covers the end walls 17, 18 as outer lobe completely off. The two cover tabs 19 are arranged on both sides of the rear wall 14, whereas the four side tabs 20, 21 on both sides of the elongated side walls 15, 16 are formed. As can be seen in comparison with FIG. 7, the front wall 13 forms an upper side of the bundle pack. The cigarette packs lie within a shell-like packaging part formed by rear wall 14, side walls 15, 16 and end walls 17, 18. In this way, after opening the blank 11, the front sides of all cigarette packs 10 of the upper row of packs are visible.

In contrast, Fig. 2 shows a so-called "American blank" 12. Again, on both sides of the rear wall 14 of the blank 12, a substantially rectangular cover flap 19 is provided. The side tabs 20, 21 are each arranged on both sides of the front wall 13 and a side wall 15. The side tabs 20 on both sides of the front wall 13 are approximately trapezoidal, whereas the side tabs 21 are formed on both sides of the side wall 15 is approximately triangular with a rounded outer tip. The comparison with Fig. 6 shows that the side wall 15 forms the bottom of the bundle pack and that the cigarette packs 10 are positioned standing in the bundle pack, so that at opened top of the front sides of the cigarette packs 10 in the area of the lid are visible.

In both cases, the end walls 17, 18 formed by the fact that first the side tabs 20, 21 folded on both sides of the blank by 90 ° and thus erect. Thereafter, the cover tab 19 is placed from the outside on the two side tabs 20, 21 and connected by gluing with them.

Furthermore, in each of the blanks 11, 12 connecting tabs 22 are provided which are arranged adjacent to the front wall 13 of the blanks 11, 12. The

Connecting tabs 22 are used to close the blanks 11, 12, or for connecting the front wall 13 with the adjacent side wall 16. Quasi as a counterpart to

Connecting tabs 22, the blanks 11, 12 a tear strip 23 as

Opening aid on. The tear strip 23 and the connecting tabs 22 extend over substantially the entire length of the front wall 13 on the one hand and the

Side wall 16 on the other hand and are connected to each other in the closed package, preferably by gluing.

The tear strip 23 is arranged in the region of the side wall 16 or is opposite to this by an easily severable weakening line, preferably one

Perforation line 24, delimited, which extends over preferably substantially the entire length of the side wall 16 and thus the bundle pack. Incidentally, the various regions of the blanks 11, 12 can be delimited from one another by preferably pre-embossed fold lines 25. The tear strip 23 is arranged on the edge of the blank 11, 12, namely on a free edge of the blank 11,

12 in the region of the side wall 16. The tear strip 23 and the connecting tabs 22 have on both sides no side tabs.

The tear strip 23 has a pull tab 26 in the region of a lateral free end. In the embodiments shown, this grip tab 26 is formed by a U-shaped punching. The pull tab 26 is preferably slightly laterally beyond the side wall 16. With the help of the handle tab 26, the tear strip 23 can be taken and separated under separation of the perforation line 24 from the blank 11, 12 for opening the bundle pack. For this, the blank 11, 12 is first folded along the preferably embossed fold lines 25 and then filled with the contents of the package and finally closed. For this purpose, the connecting tab 22 is glued to the side wall 16 in the region of the tear strip 23. The side flaps 20, 21 and the cover flap 19 are folded in the manner described and also connected by sizing. This creates a closed cigarette rod.

Subsequently, the cigarette rod is hammered into an outer sheath 27. The outer sheath 27 is preferably made of an at least partially transparent or transparent material. In the present case, a polypropylene film is used as outer sheath 27, which is also shrinkable by heat treatment.

Individual blanks for the outer wrapper 27 are severed from a continuous web of material 28 which can be pulled off a reel not shown in the drawing (Figure 9). The individual blanks for the outer sheath 27 are separated out of the material web 28 by a separating cut 29 and separated in this way. Subsequently, the blank for the outer wrapper 27 can be kept ready for wrapping the cigarette rod. Preferably, this is done so that the blank for the outer wrapper 27 is stored in a vertical plane and the cigarette rod is moved through the blank, with U-shaped wrapping of the bar into the blank for the outer wrapper 27. Thereafter, the blank is cut for the outer wrap 27, wrapped around the rod like a tube, with side flaps of the blank for the outer wrapper 27 projecting laterally beyond the bar. The side flaps are finally folded in the area of the end walls 17, 18 couvert-like and closed. In the longitudinal direction of the package transverse longitudinal edges of the blank for the outer sheath 27 are connected together. The joining of the side flaps and longitudinal edges can be done by sealing a respective overlap region.

A special feature relates to the arrangement of an incision on the blank for the outer sheath 27. In the illustrated embodiments, the incision is through Attachment of a punching cut formed on the blank for the outer sheath 27, which in this way has a punched cut 32 serving as an incision. The punching 32 is attached to the outer sheath 27 in such a way that it is arranged corresponding to the grip tab 26 in the finished bundle pack (FIG. 4). For better understanding, corresponding folding lines 33 are indicated in FIG. 9, which delimit the individual regions of the blank for the outer covering 27 from each other. Successively, the blank for the outer sheath 27 has areas associated with the side wall 16, the front wall 13, the side wall 15 and the rear wall 14. The punching 32 is correspondingly mounted so that it is arranged in the region associated with the side wall 16 and slightly protrudes into the region of the side lobes, which is associated with the end wall 17.

As can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4, the gripping tab 26 and the punching 32 are arranged in a corner region of the bundle pack. The fact that the gripping tab 26 and the punching 32 protrude laterally beyond the bundle pack, both can be taken in a simple manner, for example with thumb and forefinger as shown in Fig. 5. By operating the opening aid, namely the tear strip 23 of the blank 11, 12 in the longitudinal direction of the bundle pack, not only the blank 11, 12 but also the outer sheath 27 is opened in one operation. According to the selected arrangement of the tear strip 23, the opening of the bundle pack over the entire length of the same takes place.

Another feature is shown in Fig. 4. Accordingly, the pull tab 26 of the tear strip 23 and the outer sheath are connected to each other at least in the region of the U-shaped punch 32. This solution has the advantage that in the attempt to open the bundle pack is not accidentally detected only the outer sheath. The connection can be made for example by sealing or gluing. Preferably, a hot-melt adhesive is used, which is attached to the blank 11, 12 or the outer sheath 27 and activated after the film impact of the rod. The adhesive may be formed as a glue point 34.

Furthermore, Fig. 4 shows that the punching 32 is formed substantially U-shaped. The punching 32 also has larger dimensions than the grip tab 26, so that the punched portion of the outer sheath 27 laterally over the grip tab 26th protrudes. The punching 32 also extends from the pack edge with a leg 35 a little way in the longitudinal direction of the pack in the outer sheath 27 inside.

By the opening of the outer sheath 27 through the tear strip 23 of the blank 11, 12 can be dispensed with the usual tear thread on the outer sheath 27. The associated saving of material leads to a more cost-effective production of the bundle pack.

The waiver of the tear thread on the outer sheath 27 is also particularly advantageous if the outer sheath 27 consists of a (polypropylene) film which has shrunk by heat treatment. Normally, the tear thread is attached to the outer wrap 27 before the bar is wrapped in the outer wrap 27, so that the outer wrap 27 has a greater material thickness in the region of the tear thread. However, this greater material thickness is disadvantageous when shrinking the outer sheath 27, since wrinkles, namely so-called "shrinkles" form in the region of the tear thread. With the bundle pack according to the invention, this problem is also solved.

Another advantage of the bundle pack results from the orientation of the opening aid on the blank 11, 12. The fact that the tear strip 23 is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the bundle pack, the outer sheath 27 is opened over the entire length of the bundle pack, which significantly facilitates access to the contents of the package ,

Of particular importance is the positioning of the opening aid in the region of a longitudinal packing edge, namely here between side wall 16 and front wall 13. After the operation of the tear strip 23 not only the outer sheath 27 is completely opened and easy to remove, but also the blank 11 is opened in that access to the contents of the package is possible. In the case of the so-called "European blank" 11, the blank 11 can also be closed again because the connecting tab 22 can be inserted as a plug-in tab between the cigarette packs 10 and the side wall 16 (FIG. 3). To facilitate the insertion side edges of the connecting tab 22 are formed chamfered. To be sure Closure of the rod after the first opening of the blank 11 to ensure by operating the opening aid, the connecting tabs 22 is formed longer than in conventional packages, as lacking by the removed tear strip 23, a portion of the side wall 16.

Another feature is shown in FIG. Shown is a vertical section through the blank 11, 12 in the region or along the perforation line 24. This is formed by perforations 36 which extend in the longitudinal direction of the perforation 24 and with which the blank 11, 12 is completely severed, ie continuously from a Top 37 to a bottom 38 of the blank 11, 12. Between the perforations 36 remain spaced apart webs 39 as a residual connection between the tear strip 23 and the side wall 16 stand. The peculiarity relates to the attachment of additional separating cuts or incisions in the perforation line 24. The webs 39 are each cut from the printed top 37 of the blank 11, 12 or scored. The additional incisions 40 produced in this way extend over the entire width of the webs 39 but only a part of the height thereof.

In the embodiment shown, the incision depth is about one third of the height of the webs 39. The incised regions of the webs 39 are characterized in Fig. 8 by a simple hatching, whereas the remaining cross section of the webs 39 is characterized by a cross-hatching. An advantage of this solution is that an unwanted tearing of the blank 11, 12 transversely to the perforation line 24 when operating the opening aid can be counteracted at least.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 cigarette pack 39 bridge

11 cut 40 incision

12 cut

13 front wall

14 rear wall

15 side wall

16 side wall

17 front wall

18 front wall

19 cover lobes

20 side lobes

21 side lobes

22 connecting tabs

23 tear strips

24 perforation line

25 fold line

26 handle strap

27 outer sheath

28 material web

29 separating cut

30 side lobes

31 longitudinal edge

32 punching

33 fold line

34 glue point

35 thighs

36 perforation cut

37 top

38 bottom

Claims

claims

A pack of a group of articles, in particular a pack of packs for a group of cigarette packs (10), with a blank (11, 12) of foldable packaging material for holding a pack contents, in particular the group of packs of cigarettes (10), and with a blank (11, 12) and the outer package (27) surrounding the package contents of preferably transparent material, in particular of a cellophane or plastic film, characterized in that the blank (11, 12) has an opening aid for opening the outer envelope (27).

2. Pack according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening aid of the blank (11, 12) is designed such that the outer sheath (27) by actuation of the opening aid of the blank (11, 12) is to be opened.

3. A package according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening aid of the blank (11, 12), in particular a tear strip (23), is directed in the longitudinal direction of the pack, such that the outer sheath (27) by actuation of the opening aid of the blank ( 11, 12) is to be opened in the longitudinal direction of the pack.

4. Pack according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening aid, in particular the tear strip (23), extends over substantially the entire length of the pack, such that upon actuation of the opening aid, the outer sheath (27) corresponding to substantially the entire length of the pack is opened.

5. A package according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that as opening aid a tear strip (23) is provided which by a

Perforation line (24) preferably in the region of an elongated side wall (16) of the blank (11, 12) is formed.

6. Pack according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tear strip (23) in an edge region of the blank (11, 12) is formed, in particular in the region of an edge of the side wall (16) of the blank (11, 12) and between the side wall (16) and a large front wall (13) or rear wall (14) of the blank (11, 12).

7. Pack according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer sheath (27) is formed without tear thread or the like.

8. Pack according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer sheath (27), the blank (11, 12) substantially completely encloses.

9. Pack according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer sheath (27) shrunk by heat treatment

Shrink film is.

10. A package according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer sheath (27) has a preferably formed by punching incision (32) which is positioned corresponding to the opening aid of the blank (11, 12) in the outer sheath (27), in particular Corresponding to a free, in particular lateral end of the tear strip (23), which preferably serves as a grip tab (26) for actuating the opening aid.

11. A package according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the region of the notch (32) access to the opening aid of the blank (11, 12) by the otherwise closed outer sheath (27) is possible.

12. A pack according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the grip tab (26) and / or the incision (32) is arranged in the region of a packing corner.

13. Pack according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the incision (32) is formed substantially U-shaped and preferably in terms of shape and / or dimensions with the handle tab (26) of the tear strip (23) corresponds.

14. A package according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tear strip (23) and the outer sheath (27) are firmly connected to each other in at least one point, in particular by a in the region of the grip tab (26) positioned glue point (34).

15. Pack according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blank in the perforation line (24) additional incisions (40), starting from a particular printed top (37) of the blank (1 1, 12) in between Perforation sections (36) in the blank (11, 12) formed webs (39) extend, in particular such that the additional incisions (40) have a smaller incision depth than the perforation cuts (36).