U.S. patent application number 11/785514 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-23 for cigarette package and method of fabricating the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to Japan Tobacco Inc.. Invention is credited to Ryuichi Kashimura, Hitoshi Tanbo.
Application Number | 20070193896 11/785514 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36202912 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070193896 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tanbo; Hitoshi ; et
al. |
August 23, 2007 |
Cigarette package and method of fabricating the same
Abstract
A cigarette package has an inner pack 12 obtained by wrapping a
cigarette bundle in aluminum-evaporated paper (inner wrapper), a
tongue-lid inner box 10 that sealedly contains the inner pack 12,
and a hinged-lid outer box 2 that contains the inner box 10, the
package in which the inner box 10 is formed by folding an inner
blank around the inner pack 12, and the inner blank has a layer
structure in which a polypropylene resin layer is formed on each
side of an aluminum layer.
Inventors: |
Tanbo; Hitoshi; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Kashimura; Ryuichi; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Assignee: |
Japan Tobacco Inc.
|
Family ID: |
36202912 |
Appl. No.: |
11/785514 |
Filed: |
April 18, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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PCT/JP05/19013 |
Oct 17, 2005 |
|
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11785514 |
Apr 18, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/259 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 11/58 20130101;
B32B 27/10 20130101; B32B 2307/31 20130101; B32B 7/12 20130101;
B32B 1/00 20130101; B65B 19/20 20130101; B32B 2255/205 20130101;
B65B 43/10 20130101; B65D 81/24 20130101; B32B 2439/40 20130101;
B32B 2250/40 20130101; B32B 2255/12 20130101; B32B 27/32 20130101;
B65D 85/1045 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/259 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/10 20060101
B65D085/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 19, 2004 |
JP |
2004-304156 |
Claims
1. A cigarette package comprising: an inner pack obtained by
wrapping a cigarette bundle in an inner wrapper; an inner box
sealedly containing said inner pack, and including a box body with
an open end and a lid for opening/closing the open end of the box
body, wherein the box body and the lid are formed of an inner
blank, said inner blank being heat-sealable and having a shielding
layer therein with respect to aroma and flavor components released
from the cigarette bundle; and a hinged-lid outer box formed of a
paper outer blank and containing said inner box.
2. The cigarette package according to claim 1, wherein: said inner
blank includes a metal layer serving as the shielding layer and a
resin layer serving as a heat-seal layer laminated on each side of
the metal layer.
3. The cigarette package according to claim 2, wherein: the metal
layer and the resin layer are made of aluminum and polypropylene,
respectively.
4. The cigarette package according to claim 2, wherein: the lid is
connected to a rear wall of the box body through a self hinge and
includes a tongue portion superposed upon and detachably
heat-sealed to a front face of the box body.
5. The cigarette package according to claim 4, wherein: the box
body has a pair of inner top flaps provided to the open end
thereof, the inner top flaps being detachably heat-sealed to the
tongue portion.
6. The cigarette package according to claim 4, wherein: the lid has
re-adhesiveness with respect to the box body.
7. The cigarette package according to claim 4, wherein: the package
further includes an emanating source for emanating aroma to between
said inner box and said outer box.
8. The cigarette package according to claim 4, wherein: said inner
box has a print area in an outer surface thereof.
9. A method of fabricating a cigarette package, comprising the
steps of: wrapping a cigarette bundle in an inner wrapper to form
an inner pack; folding around said inner pack an inner blank to
form an inner box including a casing body with an open end and a
lid for opening/closing the open end of the casing body, and
sealedly containing said inner pack, said inner blank being
heat-sealable and having shieldability with respect to aroma and
flavor components released from the cigarette bundle; and folding a
paper outer blank around said inner box to form a hinged-lid outer
box containing said inner box.
10. The fabricating method according to claim 9, wherein: the
fabricating method further includes a step of applying an aromatic
substance for emanating aroma to at least either an outer side of
said inner blank or an inner side of said outer blank, prior to the
folding operation of said inner and outer blanks.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a cigarette package having
excellent properties for preserving the aroma and flavor of
cigarettes or filter cigarettes and to a method of fabricating the
same.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] As a cigarette package of this type, a hinged-lid package is
widely used. The hinged-lid package includes an inner pack obtained
by wrapping a bundle of cigarettes or filter cigarettes in
aluminum-evaporated paper and an outer box for containing the inner
pack. The outer box has a box body and a hinged lid. The outer box
is further wrapped in a transparent film, which has a tear
tape.
[0003] The aluminum-evaporated paper wrapping the cigarette bundle
is simply folded around the cigarette bundle, so that there are a
lot of gaps between overlapping portions in which the
aluminum-evaporated paper overlaps itself. Therefore, aroma
components released from the cigarette bundle escape into the box
through the gaps.
[0004] The outer box itself has a gap between the box body and the
hinged lid, too. The film wrapping the outer box is useful for
protecting the cigarette bundle from outside moisture, but is not
suitable to block the escape of aroma and flavor components.
[0005] After the cigarette package is produced, the aroma and
flavor components of the cigarette bundle gradually escape outside
from the cigarette package. This diminishes the quality of the
cigarettes or filter cigarettes, and a best-before date on the
cigarette package cannot be set late.
[0006] In order to resolve the above problem, cigarette packages
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,760 and International Publication
No. 02/079052 have been known. Each of these well-known cigarette
packages includes a sealed-type inner pack contained in an outer
box. The inner pack of the package shown in the former publication
has an inner frame with the shape of the letter U in section, which
holds a cigarette bundle, and an inner wrapper for wrapping the
cigarette bundle with the inner frame. The inner wrapper is made of
a heat-sealable sheet material.
[0007] The inner package of the cigarette package shown in the
latter publication has a box-like shape similar to the outer box
and includes a heat-sealable inner blank for wrapping a cigarette
bundle.
[0008] The former inner pack has the inner frame in between the
inner wrapper and the cigarette bundle. Therefore, when the inner
wrapper is heat-sealed, the inner frame is useful for blocking the
heat produced by the heat sealing and transmitted from the inner
wrapper to the cigarette bundle. Made of relatively thick paper,
however, the inner frame easily absorbs the aroma and flavor
components released from the cigarette bundle. This is undesirable
for long-term preservation of the aroma and flavor of the cigarette
bundle.
[0009] The presence of the inner frame requires the step of folding
the inner frame as a pre-step of the regular step of forming an
inner pack in the process of cigarette package fabrication. In the
folding step, the inner frame is folded around the cigarette bundle
and is so arranged as to directly contact the cigarette bundle.
During the folding process of the inner frame, the cigarettes or
filter cigarettes of the cigarette bundle are prone to loosen. In
order to fold the inner frame around the cigarette bundle
accurately and reliably, a section for carrying out the folding
step cannot avoid being complicated in structure. In addition, it
is impossible to fold the inner frame at high speed. Accordingly,
when the folding section is inserted in the production line of
cigarette packages, the production rate of the cigarette packages
in the production line is reduced.
[0010] In the case of the latter inner pack, the inner blank is
folded around the cigarette bundle, so that the folding operation
of the inner blank can be carried out in the same manner as the
folding operation of the outer box. However, the inner blank
directly wraps the cigarette bundle, so that the heat produced by
the heat sealing has a bad influence upon the aroma and flavor of
the cigarette bundle at the time of heat-sealing the inner
blank.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0011] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
cigarette package capable of preserving aroma and flavor of a
cigarette bundle satisfactorily and extending a best-before date.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a fabricating
method for fabricating the cigarette package without
difficulty.
[0012] In order to accomplish the objects, a cigarette package
according to the present invention comprises an inner pack obtained
by wrapping a cigarette bundle in an inner wrapper, an inner box
sealedly containing the inner pack, and including a casing body
with an open end and a lid for opening/closing the open end of the
casing body, wherein the casing body and the lid are being formed
of an inner blank, the inner blank being heat-sealable and having a
shielding layer therein with respect to aroma and flavor components
released from the cigarette bundle, and a hinged-lid outer casing
formed of a paper outer blank and containing the inner casing.
[0013] Since the cigarette package comprises a sealed-type inner
box in between the inner pack and the outer box having ordinary
figures, as long as the inner box is not opened, the aroma and
flavor components released from the inner pack never escape into a
gap between the outer box and the inner box or escape outside the
outer box through the gap. Consequently, the cigarette package of
the present invention is excellent in retaining quality of the
cigarette bundle and extends a best-before date of the cigarette
bundle.
[0014] Specifically, the inner blank for forming the inner box may
include a metal layer serving as the shielding layer and a resin
layer serving as a heat-seal layer laminated on each side of the
metal layer. In this case, it is preferable that the metal layer
and the resin layer be made of aluminum and polypropylene,
respectively. Such an inner blank excels not only at shieldability
with respect to the aroma and flavor of the cigarette bundle but
also at heat-sealability.
[0015] The lid is connected to a rear wall of the box body through
a self hinge and includes a tongue portion. The tongue portion is
superposed upon and detachably heat-sealed to a front face of the
box body. In this case, the box body preferably further has a pair
of inner top flaps that are provided to the open end of the box
body and detachably heat-sealed to the tongue portion. Such inner
top flaps enhance sealing performance of the inner box.
[0016] It is further preferable that the lid has re-adhesiveness
with respect to the box body. By so doing, even if the inner box is
once opened, the sealing performance of the inner box can be
retained.
[0017] The cigarette package of the present invention may also have
an emanating source for emanating aroma to between the inner box
and the outer box or have a print area in an outer surface of the
inner box.
[0018] The present invention also provides a method of fabricating
the cigarette package. The fabricating method comprises the steps
of wrapping a cigarette bundle in an inner wrapper to form an inner
pack; folding around the inner pack an inner blank to form an inner
box including a casing body with an open end and a lid for
opening/closing the open end of the box, and sealedly containing
the inner pack, the inner blank being heat-sealable and having
shieldability with respect to aroma and flavor components released
from the cigarette bundle; and folding a paper outer blank around
the inner box to form a hinged-lid outer box containing the inner
box.
[0019] The fabricating method can be implemented simply by
inserting a section for forming the inner box in between a section
for forming the inner pack and a section for forming the outer box
in a production line of cigarette packages. In addition, the
inner-box forming section can be obtained by an arrangement similar
to the outer-box forming section. As a result, the fabricating
method of the present invention is capable of fabricating the
cigarette package without difficulty.
[0020] The fabricating method may further include a step of
applying an aromatic substance for emanating aroma to at least
either an outer side of the inner blank or an inner side of the
outer blank prior to the folding operation of the inner and outer
blanks.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cigarette package of
a first embodiment, partially broken away;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an inner pack contained
in an inner box of the cigarette package of FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the inner box of FIG. 2
in a closed position;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the inner box of FIG. 2
in an open position;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a sheet material used as
an inner blank for the inner box;
[0026] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the cigarette package
of FIG. 1 in an open position;
[0027] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a cigarette package of
a second embodiment;
[0028] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a cigarette package of
a third embodiment;
[0029] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a method of fabricating the
cigarette packages;
[0030] FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a part of a production
line of the cigarette packages;
[0031] FIG. 11 is a view showing a part of a procedure of folding
the inner blank in the order from (a) to (d);
[0032] FIG. 12 is a view showing the rest of the procedure of
folding the inner blank in the order from (e) to (g); and
[0033] FIG. 13 is a view showing a state in which the inner box is
heat-sealed from above and beneath in the position shown in FIG. 12
(g).
BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0034] FIG. 1 shows a cigarette package of a first embodiment.
[0035] The cigarette package has a hinged-lid outer box 2. The
outer box 2 is formed by folding a paper outer blank. An upper
portion of the outer box 2 is formed into a lid 4. The lid 4 is
connected to a rear face of the outer box 2 through a self hinge 5.
The self hinge 5 arrows the lid 4 to make a rotating movement. When
the lid 4 is turned around the self hinge 5 from the position shown
in FIG. 1, the outer box 2 is opened. The outer box 2 is further
wrapped in a transparent film 8, which has a tear tape 6.
[0036] The outer box 2 contains an inner box 10 therein. The inner
box 10 sealedly contains an inner pack 12 as shown in FIG. 2. The
inner pack 12 includes a bundle of, for example, twenty filter
cigarettes (not shown), and an inner wrapper, or soft
aluminum-evaporated paper 14 for wrapping the cigarette bundle. The
aluminum-evaporated paper 14 is first wrapped around the cigarette
bundle in the shape of the letter U, and both ends of the
aluminum-evaporated paper 14 are overlaid with each other on the
bundle. Such wrapping of the aluminum-evaporated paper 14 forms two
rectangular lugs in the aluminum-evaporated paper 14. These lugs
protrude from respective end faces of the cigarette bundle.
Thereafter, the lugs are folded toward the respective end faces of
the cigarette bundle to cover the end faces, respectively.
[0037] The aluminum-evaporated paper 14 includes a thin base
material such as paper and an evaporated aluminum film formed on an
outer surface of the base material. The aluminum-evaporated paper
14 further has a section to be cut off 18 in one portion thereof.
The section to be cut off 18 is demarcated by a perforation line,
or cutoff line 16. When the section to be cut off 18 is separated
along the cutoff line 16, a part of the cigarette bundle is exposed
from the inner pack 12.
[0038] The inner pack 12 may include an aromatic substance such as
menthol. The aromatic substance is added directly to shred tobacco
of filter cigarettes or applied to an inner surface of the
aluminum-evaporated paper 14.
[0039] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the inner box 10 is formed
by folding an inner blank around the inner pack 12. The inner blank
is made of a heat-sealable sheet material. Lap portions of the
inner blank are overlapped with each other by the folding operation
thereof, are heat-sealed. Accordingly, the inner box 10 airtightly
contains the inner pack 12.
[0040] More specifically, a sheet material 20 for forming the inner
blank has a sectional structure shown in FIG. 5. The sheet material
20 includes base paper 22 located in the center thereof. On each
side of the base paper 22, an aluminum layer 26 as a metal layer
and a PP (polypropylene) resin layer 28 are laminated in order
through adhesive layers 24. The aluminum layers 26 serve as
shielding layers with respect to aroma and flavor components
contained in the inner pack 12, whereas the PP resin layers 28 as
heat-seal layers.
[0041] As is obvious from FIGS. 3 and 4, the inner box 10 includes
a box body 29 having an opening in an upper end thereof and a
tongue lid 30 for opening/closing the inner box 10. The tongue lid
30 has a lid portion 32 for covering the opening of the box body
19, a tongue portion 34 extended from a front edge of the lid
portion 32, for covering an upper portion of a front wall 10f in
the box body 29, and a rear wall portion 36 extending from a rear
edge of the lid portion 32. The rear wall portion 36 is connected
to a rear wall 10r of the box body 29 through a self hinge 37.
Therefore, the tongue lid 30 is arrowed to make a rotating movement
around the self hinge 37. When the tongue lid 30 is rotated from
the closed position shown in FIG. 3, the inner box 10 is opened as
illustrated in FIG. 4.
[0042] In order to allow the tongue lid 30 to make the rotating
movement, the tongue lid 30 is detachably heat-sealed to the box
body 29 when the inner box 10 is fabricated by folding the inner
blank. More specifically, the tongue portion 34 is detachably
heat-sealed to the front wall 10f of the box body 29, and the lid
portion 32 is detachably heat-sealed to right and left inner top
flaps 38. The inner top flaps 38 are connected to respective side
edges of the opening of the box body 29, to thereby partially close
the opening. The rear wall portion 36 is detachably heat-sealed to
right and left side walls of the box body 29. Broken lines in FIG.
3 and hatching in FIG. 4 indicate an area in which the tongue lid
30 is detachably heat-sealed to the box body 29.
[0043] To add more explanation, each of right and left side walls
10s of the box body 29 is formed by overlaying inner side flap and
outer side flap of the inner blank with each other. These side
flaps are undetachably heat-sealed. A bottom wall of the box body
29 is made by superposing a bottom panel of the inner blank upon
right and left inner bottom flaps. The bottom panel and the inner
bottom flaps are also undetachably heat-sealed.
[0044] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the front wall 10f of the box body
29 has a U-shaped aperture 40 in an upper portion thereof. When the
inner box 10 is formed, the aperture 40 is airtightly blocked by
the tongue portion 34 being heat-sealed to the front wall 10f.
[0045] The cigarette package is opened in the following order.
First, an upper portion of the transparent film 8 is cut away along
the tear tape 6, to thereby expose the lid 4 of the outer box 2
from the transparent film 8. Subsequently, the lid 4 is opened to
expose the tongue lid 30 of the inner box 10 from the outer box 2.
The tongue lid 30 is opened while the heat sealing between the
tongue lid 30 and the box body 29 is released as shown in FIG. 6,
to thereby expose an upper portion of the inner pack 12. The
section to be cut off 18 of the inner pack 12 is then cut off, and
the filter cigarettes packed in the inner pack 12 can be taken out
from the inner box 10, namely the cigarette package.
[0046] Before the tongue lid 30 of the inner box 10 is opened for
the first time, the inner pack 12 is sealed within the inner box
10. Therefore, after the cigarette package is produced, the aroma
and flavor components of the filter cigarettes never escape outside
the inner box 10 before the tongue lid 30 is first opened. As a
consequence, the cigarette package is capable of preventing quality
deterioration of the filter cigarettes and extending a best-before
date of the filter cigarettes.
[0047] As the outer box 2 is produced by folding the outer blank,
so the inner box 10 is formed by folding the inner blank.
Accordingly, the cigarette package can be fabricated by inserting
an inner-box forming section similar to an outer-box forming
section for the outer box 2 as a pre-stage for the outer-box
forming section in the production line of cigarette packages, and
implementing the step of forming the inner box 10, in which the
inner pack 12 is sealed, at the inner-box forming section.
[0048] FIG. 7 shows a cigarette package according to a second
embodiment.
[0049] The cigarette package of FIG. 7 includes a seal 42 instead
of the transparent film 8. The seal 42 connects the front wall of
the outer box 2 and the lid 4, and prevents the cigarette package
from being tampered with as the transparent film 8 does.
[0050] FIG. 8 shows a cigarette package according to a third
embodiment.
[0051] In the case of the cigarette package shown in FIG. 8, a part
or whole of the inner box 10 can be pulled out from the open end of
the outer box 2, so that an outer surface of the inner box 10 can
be widely exposed from the outer box 2. Therefore, for instance, as
shown by a broken line, it is possible to secure a print area PS
such as advertisement in the front wall 10f of the box body 29. The
print area PS may be secured also in the side walls 10s and the
rear wall 10r of the box body 29.
[0052] The cigarette package may further include therein an
emanating source 44 of aroma similar to one added to the filter
cigarettes. The emanating source 44 is produced by applying an
aromatic substance such as menthol onto an inner surface of the
outer box 2 or the outer surface of the inner box 10. After the
cigarette package is produced, the aroma released from the
aroma-emanating source 44 is maintained so as to be filled in the
gap between the outer box 2 and the inner box 10. When the lid 4 of
the outer box 2 is first opened, the aroma emanates from the gap
between the outer box 2 and the inner box 10. Consequently, before
opening the inner box 10, the smoker, or consumer, can enjoy the
same aroma as the one added to the filter cigarettes in the inner
pack 12.
[0053] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a method of fabricating the
cigarette package.
[0054] As is apparent from FIG. 9, the fabricating method wraps a
cigarette bundle in the aluminum-evaporated paper 14 to form the
inner pack 12 (Step S1), sealedly wraps the inner pack 12 by
folding the inner blank (inner-pack wrapping) to form the inner box
10 (Step S2), and then wraps the inner box 10 by folding the outer
blank (inner-box wrapping) to form the outer box 2 (Step S3).
[0055] Thereafter, the fabricating method further wraps the outer
box 2 in the transparent film 8 (Step S4) or attaches the seal 42
to the outer box 2 (Step S5), whereby the cigarette package shown
in FIG. 1 or 7 is fabricated.
[0056] The fabrication of the cigarette package of FIG. 8 uses an
inner blank previously printed with advertisement or the like. An
outer blank for forming the outer box 2 is folded around the inner
box 10 and is not bonded to the inner box 10. The fabrication of
the cigarette package with the aroma-emanating source 44 uses an
inner blank and/or an outer blank in which an aroma substance is
applied to at least either an outer side of the inner blank or an
inner side of the outer blank.
[0057] FIG. 10 schematically shows a part of the production line of
the cigarette package.
[0058] The production line includes a packing section 70, an
inner-box forming section 72, and an outer-box forming section 74.
The sections 70, 72 and 74 are arranged in order from an upstream
side of the production line. The sections 70, 72 and 74 have
horizontal wrapping turrets 76, 78 and 80, respectively. The
wrapping turrets are capable of rotating intermittently. As is
apparent from FIG. 10, the wrapping turrets 76, 78 and 80 are
located in order adjacently to each other. Circumferences of two
adjacent wrapping turrets overlap each other. Each of the wrapping
turrets has a plurality of pockets. The pockets are arranged at
regular intervals in a circumferential direction of the
corresponding wrapping turret.
[0059] When the wrapping turret 76 is intermittently rotated, and
one of the pockets of the wrapping turret 76 is positioned at an
inlet position P.sub.1, the pocket receives the aluminum-evaporated
paper 14 with a cigarette bundle CB. At this point, the
aluminum-evaporated paper 14 is wrapped around the cigarette bundle
CB in the shape of the letter U. Subsequently, the wrapping turret
76 is further intermittently rotated, so that the cigarette bundle
CB, together with the aluminum-evaporated paper 14, is transferred
toward an outlet position of the wrapping turret 76, that is, an
inlet position P.sub.2 of the wrapping turret 78. During this
transferring process, the aluminum-evaporated paper 14 is folded,
and the inner pack 12 is produced (Step S1).
[0060] At the inlet position P.sub.2, the pockets of the wrapping
turret 76 can coincide with the respective pockets of the wrapping
turret 78. When one of the pockets coincides with the corresponding
pocket, the pocket of the wrapping turret 78 receives the inner
pack 12 from the corresponding pocket of the wrapping turret 76 and
the inner blank 46. The wrapping turret 78 is further
intermittently rotated, and the inner pack 12 and the inner blank
46 are transferred toward an outlet position of the wrapping turret
78, that is, an inlet position P.sub.3 of the wrapping turret 80.
During this transferring process, the inner blank 46 is folded
around the inner pack 12. Overlapping portions formed by this
particular folding operation are heat-sealed, to thereby form the
inner box 10 (Step S2).
[0061] FIGS. 11 and 12 specifically show a routine of folding the
inner blank 46.
[0062] The inner blank 46 as shown in FIG. 11 (a) is supplied to
the inlet position P.sub.2 of the wrapping turret 78. The inner
pack 12 formed in the wrapping turret 76 is positioned above the
inner blank 46 that has been supplied.
[0063] At the inlet position P.sub.2, the inner pack 12 is pushed
into the pocket of the wrapping turret 78 with the inner blank 46.
At this point, as illustrated in FIG. 11 (b), the inner pack 12 is
superposed upon a rear panel 48 (the rear wall 10r of the inner box
10) of the inner blank 46. At the same time, right and left inner
side flaps 50 are folded against the respective side faces of the
inner pack 12, so that the inner pack 12 is sandwiched between the
inner side flaps 50. The inner side flaps 50 are connected to the
respective sides of the rear panel 48 through fold lines.
[0064] In the next phase, the wrapping turret 78 is intermittently
rotated, and the inner pack 12 is moved from the inlet position
P.sub.2 and placed in a folding position together with the inner
blank 46. At the folding position, as illustrated in FIG. 11 (c),
right and left inner bottom flaps 52 and right and left inner top
flaps 38 of the inner blank 46 are folded against bottom and upper
faces of the inner pack 12, respectively. The flaps 52 and 54 are
connected to the respective ends of the inner side flaps 50 through
fold lines.
[0065] At the next folding position, as illustrated in FIG. 11 (d),
a bottom panel 54 of the inner blank 46 is folded against the
bottom face of the inner pack 12 with a front panel 56.
Simultaneously, a tongue lid panel 58 is folded against the upper
face of the inner pack 12. The bottom panel 54 and the tongue lid
panel 58 are connected to the rear panel 48 through fold lines.
[0066] At this point, the bottom panel 54 is superposed upon the
inner bottom flaps 52, and the bottom panel 54 and the inner bottom
flaps 52 form a bottom wall of the inner box 10. A lid portion 32
of the tongue lid panel 58 is superposed upon the inner top flaps
38, and the lid portion 32 and the inner top flaps 38 form an upper
wall of the inner box 10.
[0067] At the next folding position, as illustrated in FIG. 12 (e),
the front panel 56 of the inner blank 46 is folded against a front
face of the inner pack 12, and the front panel 56 forms the front
wall 10f of the inner box 10.
[0068] At the next folding position, as illustrated in FIG. 12 (f),
outer side flaps 60 are folded toward the respective side faces of
the inner pack 12 and superposed upon the respective inner side
flaps 50. The side flaps 50 and 60 form side walls of the inner box
10. The outer side flaps 60 are connected to the respective sides
of the front panel 56 through fold lines.
[0069] At the next folding position, as illustrated in FIG. 12 (g),
the tongue portion 34 of the tongue lid panel 58 is folded against
the front face of the inner pack 12 to be superposed upon the front
face, and the folding operation of the inner blank 46 is
finished.
[0070] Thereafter, at this folding position, as shown by arrows,
the inner box 10 is heat-sealed on all four sides. The panels and
flaps forming the bottom and side walls of the inner box 10 are
undetachably bonded to each other. At the same time, the lid
portion 32 of the tongue lid 30 is detachably attached to the inner
top flaps 38. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the inner box 10 is
heat-sealed from above and beneath. The tongue portion 34 and the
rear wall portion 36 of the tongue lid 30 are detachably attached
to the front wall 10f and the side walls 10s of the inner box 10,
respectively. At this point, the fabrication of the inner box 10 is
completed.
[0071] As stated above, the heat sealing with respect to the inner
box 10 is carried out all at once after the folding operation of
the inner blank 46 is finished. Therefore, there is no fear that
the heat-sealing step drastically reduces the production rate of
the inner box 10.
[0072] As illustrated in FIG. 10, the completed inner box 10 is
supplied to the outlet position of the wrapping turret 78, that is,
the inlet position P.sub.3 of the wrapping turret 80. At the inlet
position P.sub.3, the pocket of the wrapping turret 80 receives the
inner box 10 from the wrapping turret 78 and the outer blank. The
inner box 10 and the outer blank are transferred toward an outlet
position P.sub.4 by the intermittent rotation of the wrapping
turret 80. During this transferring process, the outer blank is
folded around the inner box 10, to thereby form the outer box 2.
Subsequently, the outer box 2 is removed from the outlet position
P.sub.4 of the wrapping turret 80 and is supplied to a
film-wrapping apparatus or seal-attaching apparatus.
[0073] The present invention is not limited to the above
embodiments and may be modified in various ways.
[0074] For instance, the tongue lid 30 of the inner box 10 may be
bonded to the box body 29 by using an adhesive that enables
resealing, instead of the detachable heat sealing or in addition to
such heat sealing. In this case, the tongue lid 30 has
re-adhesiveness with respect to the box body 29. For this reason,
even if the tongue lid 30 is once opened, the tongue lid 30 is
capable of credibly closing the opening and aperture of the box
body 29 again, which makes it possible to keep the inside of the
inner box 10 in a substantially sealed state.
[0075] In the case where the cigarette package shown in FIG. 8 is
fabricated, the outer side of the inner blank 46 and/or the inner
side of the outer blank is previously applied with the aromatic
substance that emanates aroma, prior to the folding operation of
these blanks.
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