Process and device for preparing a packaging blank and packaging prepared by such blank

• US 6,234,943 B1
• Filed: 10/07/1997
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Philip Morris USA Incorporated (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Philip Morris USA Incorporated (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Copin, Maurice
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, PETER DUNG BA
• Application Number:
  US08/946,425
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 53/51, 531/336, 531/338, 493/11, 493/22, 493/66, 493/61, 493/363, 493/936, 493/63
• US Class Current: 493/11
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 5/32 with the record carrier formed by the work itself
• CPC Class Codes: B26F 1/22 to form non-rectilinear cuts, e.g. for tabs
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/006 Controlling; Regulating; Measuring; Improving safety
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/146 using tools mounted on a drum
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/5833 for tearing out a portion of the wall
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/1072 Bundle of cigarette packs

Abstract

Packaging, particularly for a carton of cigarette packs, includes opening structure permitting easy access to one or more of the objects or packs of cigarettes which it contains. The opening structure includes a line of pre-weakened resistance, comprising pre-cuts, either passing completely through the material constituting the packaging or incompletely through the thickness of that material. Individual pre-cuts may be separated by interconnected attachment portions. The line of weakened resistance may partially or completely surround a surface disposed on one, two, or three faces of the packaging. Structure for starting the opening may be provided. A process and a device permitting such packaging are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A process of preparing an opening structure on a packaging blank which permits easy access to rigid objects contained in the packaging blank when wrapped around the rigid objects, comprising the steps of:

providing a sheet of paper or polypropylene material as the packaging blank, said sheet having periodic markings thereupon;

producing a line of weakened resistance at the opening structure by means of a pre-cutting device synchronized with the periodic markings upon the sheet.

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the sheet is a continuous sheet, the process further comprising a step, subsequent to the step of producing the line of weakened resistance, of cutting the sheet into discrete packaging blanks.

3. A process according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is a discrete packaging blank, the process further comprising removing one of the packaging blanks from a stack and feeding the packaging blank to the pre-cutting device.

4. A process according to claim 1, wherein the step of producing the line of weakened resistance is carried out on a machine comprising means for feeding and driving the sheet constituting the packaging blank.

5. A process according to claim 1 wherein the step of producing the line of weakened resistance is carried out by pressure of a pre-cutting roller against the sheet constituting the packaging blank when the sheet is driven in a longitudinal direction.

6. A process according to claim 5 wherein the line of weakened resistance is position adjustable over the length of the packaging blank by means of a detector cell detecting the position of a mark printed on the packaging blank and acting upon angular keying of driving means for the pre-cutting roller via a control unit.

7. A process according to claim 1, wherein the step of producing the line of weakened resistance is carried out by pressure of a pre-cutting die against the sheet constituting the packaging blank when the sheet is not being driven in a longitudinal direction.

8. A process according to claim 1, further comprising a step of printing indicia on the sheet adjacent the line of weakened resistance.

9. A process according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is a film is polypropylene.

10. A process according to claim 1, further comprising folding the sheet into a carton having two end faces and four side faces, the opening structure being entirely within one of the side faces.

11. A process according to claim 1, further comprising folding the sheet into a carton having two end faces and four side faces, the opening structure being entirely within two of the side faces, the line of weakened resistance passing across a side edge of the carton at two locations adjacent the end faces of the carton.

12. A process according to claim 1, further comprising folding the sheet into a carton having two end faces and four side faces, the opening structure being entirely within three of the side faces, the line of weakened resistance passing across two side edges of the carton at four locations adjacent the end faces of the carton.

13. A process according to claim 1, further comprising folding the sheet into a carton having two end faces and four side faces, the opening structure permitting individual access to each of ten packs of cigarettes contained in the carton.

14. An apparatus for preparing an opening structure on a carton, said carton being formed from a sheet of paper or polypropylene material, comprising:

a means for periodically advancing the sheet,

a pre-cutting die actuable during a period of time when the sheet is not moving, said die pressing on the sheet to form a line having weakened resistance to tearing thereupon, the pre-cutting die being driven by a first actuator and the means for periodically advancing the sheet being driven by a second actuator, the first and second actuators being controlled independently of each other by a controller.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising means for folding the sheet into a carbon having two end faces and four side faces, the opening structure being entirely within one of the side faces.

16. An apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a printing device which prints an image upon the sheet.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the printing device is configured to print indicia in close proximity to the line of weakened resistance.

18. An apparatus according wherein claim 14 wherein the pre-cutting die has at least one cutting BLADE with a cutting edge in the shape of an arc.

19. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the line of weakened resistance surrounds an area of the sheet on at least one face of the carton.

20. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the line of weakened resistance further includes a portion for cutting a starting portion to facilitate opening the carton.

21. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the pre-cutting die cooperates with a support surface such that the sheet is pressed between the pre-cutting die and the support surface.

22. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the controller receives an input from a detector cell detecting a mark printed on the sheet and the controller synchronizes actuation of the pre-cutting die with detection of the mark by the detector cell.

23. An apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a means for attaching an adhesive label to the opening structure.

24. An apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising means for folding the sheet into a carton having two end faces and four side faces, the opening structure being entirely within two of the side faces, the line of weakened resistance passing across a side edge of the carton at two locations adjacent the end faces of the carton.

25. An apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising means for folding the sheet into a carton having two end faces and four side faces, the opening structure being entirely within three of the side faces, the line of weakened resistance passing across two side edges of the carton at four locations adjacent the end faces of the carton.

26. An apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising means for folding the sheet into a carton having two end faces and four side faces, the opening structure permitting individual access to each of ten packs of cigarettes contained in the carton.

27. A device for preparing an opening structure on a carton formed from a sheet of paper or polypropylene material, the device comprising:

a transport device for moving the sheet in a longitudinal direction;

a sensing device comprising at least one sensor for sensing a periodic marking on the sheet;

a pre-cutting device pressing an opening structure on the sheet, said pre-cutting device and transport device being controlled by a controller in response to the sensing device, the pre-cutting device being driven by a first actuator and the transport device being driven by a second actuator, the first and second actuators being controlled independently of each other by the controller.

28. A device according to claim 27 wherein the pre-cutting device comprises a roller having a cylindrical outside surface with cutting portions to produce a line of weakened resistance on the sheet while the sheet is being transported in a longitudinal direction.

29. A device according to claim 27 wherein the pre-cutting device comprises a die having a flat surface with cutting portions to produce a line of weakened resistance on the sheet while the sheet is not being transported in a longitudinal direction.

30. A device according to claim 27 wherein the pre-cutter includes a portion for cutting a starting portion to facilitate opening the carton.

31. A device according to claim 27 wherein the sheet is continuous, and the device further comprises at least one cutting roller for cutting the sheet into a series of separate packaging blanks.

32. A device according to claim 27, further comprising means for folding the sheet into a carton having two end faces and four side faces, the opening structure being entirely within one of the side faces.

33. A device according to claim 27, further comprising means for folding the sheet into a carton having two end faces and four side faces, the opening structure being entirely within three of the side faces, the line of weakened resistance passing across two side edges of the carton at four locations adjacent the end faces of the carton.

34. A device according to claim 27, further comprising means for folding the sheet into a carton having two end faces and four side faces, the opening structure permitting individual access to each of ten packs of cigarettes contained in the carton.

35. A device according to claim 27, further comprising means for folding the sheet into a carton having two end faces and four side faces, the opening structure being entirely within two of the side faces, the line of weakened resistance passing across a side edge of the carton at two locations adjacent the end faces of the carton.