Method of producing overwrap material, and a pack furnished with the material produced

Abstract

Transparent outer wrappers for cigarette packets are prepared by advancing a continuous strip of overwrap material along a given feed path in a given direction, piercing a predetermined area of the strip with a series of slits spaced apart one from another and extending nominally transverse to the feed direction, and bonding a narrow ribbon to the strip along the predetermined area, aligned on at least one portion of the slits; the strip then passes under a blade shaped so as to cut a series of “U” notches spaced apart one from the next, each creating a pull tab at the end of the ribbon, before being divided ultimately into leaves by a pair of contrarotating cutter rollers equipped with respective blades. Each single leaf serves as a wrapper for a relative pack, fashioned so that when torn open by pulling the ribbon, the ribbon encounters the slit and initiates two break lines extending away from the ribbon on either side to facilitate the removal of the wrapper in its entirety.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration showing the preparation of an overwrap material in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 2 to 6 show different solutions for the embodiment of a detail in the illustration of FIG. 1, viewed in plan from above;

FIG. 7 is a perspective illustration showing a packet of cigarettes furnished with the overwrap material;

FIG. 8 is a perspective illustration showing a packet of cigarettes furnished with the overwrap material, in which the material is partially torn.

Claims

1. A method of producing overwrap material, including the steps of: causing a continuous strip of overwrap material to advance along a predetermined feed path in a predetermined feed direction;processing a predetermined area of the strip of overwrap material in such a way as to make at least one slit or incision having a geometrical component transverse to the feed direction;applying a ribbon of small transverse dimensions to the strip, along the predetermined area.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of making at least one slit is effected prior to the step of applying the ribbon of small transverse dimensions.

3. A method as in claim 1, including the step of making at least one U-shaped notch in the predetermined area of the strip, effected after the step of applying the ribbon.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of applying the ribbon of small transverse dimensions involves placing the selfsame ribbon so as to coincide with at least one portion of the at least one slit.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of applying the ribbon of small transverse dimensions involves placing the selfsame ribbon alongside the at least one slit.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of making the at least one slit involves placing the slit at right angles to the longitudinal dimension of the ribbon of small transverse dimensions.

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of making the at least one slit involves placing the slit at an oblique angle to the longitudinal dimension of the ribbon of small transverse dimensions.

8. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of making the at least one slit involves creating a slit of chevron shape presenting a vertex over which the ribbon is applied.

9. A method as in claim 8, wherein the at least one slit of chevron shape is disposed with the vertex oriented in a direction coinciding with the tear direction of the ribbon of small transverse dimensions.

10. A method as in claim 8, wherein the at least one slit of chevron shape is disposed with the vertex oriented in a direction opposite to the tear direction of the ribbon of small transverse dimensions.

11. A method as in claim 1, including a step of making a succession of slits along the predetermined area of the strip.

12. A method as in claim 3, including the further steps, effected following the step of making the at least one U-shaped notch, of dividing the strip into discrete leaves and feeding the leaves to an overwrapping unit.

13. A method as in claim 2, including a step, effected following the step of applying the ribbon of small transverse dimensions, of winding the strip onto a reel for use by an overwrapping unit.

14. A pack furnished with a protective wrapper, consisting in a leaf of overwrap material and a ribbon of small transverse dimensions bonded to a predetermined area of the selfsame material, wherein the wrapper presents at least one slit made in the predetermined area of the overwrap material and having a geometrical component transverse to the longitudinal dimension of the ribbon of small transverse dimensions.

15. A pack as in claim 14, wherein the at least one slit appears substantially rectilinear.

16. A pack as in claim 15, wherein the ribbon is placed over a central portion of the at least one slit lying between two respective ends of the selfsame slit.

17. A pack as in claim 15, wherein the ribbon is placed over one end of the at least one slit.

18. A pack as in claim 15, wherein the slit is located alongside the ribbon.

19. A pack as in claim 14, wherein the at least one slit extends at right angles to the longitudinal dimension of the ribbon.

20. A pack as in claim 14, wherein the at least one slit extends at an oblique angle to the longitudinal dimension of the ribbon.

21. A pack as in claim 14, wherein the at least one slit is of chevron-like shape, presenting a vertex over which the ribbon of small transverse dimensions is placed.

22. A pack as in claim 21, wherein the vertex of the at least one slit is oriented in a direction coinciding with a tear direction of the ribbon.

23. A pack as in claim 21, wherein the vertex of the at least one slit is oriented in a direction opposite to a tear direction of the ribbon.

24. A pack as in claim 14, wherein the outer wrapper presents a notch of “U” shape made in the predetermined area of the overwrap material and creating a tab at one end of the ribbon such as can be gripped and pulled to tear the wrapper.

25. A pack as in claim 14, wherein the wrapper comprises a succession of slits made in the predetermined area of the strip and spaced apart one from the next.

26. A packet of cigarettes, characterized in that it comprises a pack as in any of claim 14.