# US 10,766,688 B2 · Pack for cigarettes and method and apparatus for producing said pack > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,766,688 B2 - Document ID: US10766688B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/777,794 - Filed: 2016-11-02 - Published: 2018-11-22 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-12-10 - Assignees: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.) - Applicants: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co. KG) - Inventors: Henry Buse - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766688B2 ## CPC - B65B 19/228: {Preparing and feeding blanks} - B65B 61/005: {for removing material by cutting} - B65B 61/02: for perforating, scoring {, slitting,} or applying code or date marks on material prior to packaging {(scoring ampoules B65B3/006)} - B65B 61/18: for making package-opening or unpacking elements - B65B 61/184: {by applying tabs over discharge openings, e.g. over discharge openings defined by tear or score lines} - B65D 85/1027: {Opening devices} - B65D 85/10568: {opening of the lid opens simultaneously an inner package within the container} - B65B 19/28: Control devices for cigarette or cigar packaging machines - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract A cigarette pack in the form of a sealing pack consisting of an inner pack in the form of a foil block and an outer pack in the form of a hinge-lid box. An opening aid of the foil block is provided with a removal opening which is formed as an open recess as a result of punching during the production of a blank for the foil block, in particular in the region of a continuous foil web. Said removal opening, which is free right from the start, is closed by a closure tab which is able to be opened and closed multiple times on account of a corresponding glue connection. The closure tab is preferably connected permanently to the inside of a lid front wall of the outer pack by means of an actuating tab. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pack for cigarettes (10) or other smoking articles comprising: an outer pack (25) in the form of a hinge-lid pack with a box part (26) and a lid (27); and an inner pack in the form of a foil block (11), the foil block (11) being formed from a blank (12) of foil which surrounds a cigarette group, wherein the foil block (11) comprises an opening aid (18) in an end-face region of an inner front wall (13) of the foil block (11) and at least in a part region of an inner end wall (17), wherein the opening aid (18) comprises a closure means in the form of a closure tab (20) which is arranged on an outside surface of the foil block (11) and is fastened on the foil block (11) by means of releasable adhesion, and for opening the foil block (11) the closure tab (20) is pulled at least in part away from the foil block (11) and, as a result, exposes a removal opening (19) at least in part, wherein: a) the removal opening (19) is a free opening which is produced during a production process of the foil block (11), wherein to create the removal opening (19) the foil blank (12), or a foil web (36) for producing the foil blank (12), is provided with the removal opening (19), which is formed as a result of a punching process, wherein an opening lug (35), which also is formed where applicable by the punching process, is completely removed; b) the closure tab (20) covers the removal opening (19) completely and on all sides in a closed position with an overlapping edge or overlapping strip (21, 22, 23) which extends all around the removal opening (19); c) the closure tab (20) is free of adhesives in a region of the removal opening (19), wherein the adhesive-free region of the closure tab (20) is slightly greater in size than the region or a surface of the removal opening (19) and runs all around and surrounds the removal opening (19); and d) the closure tab (20) comprises a glue-free actuating tab (24) in a region of the inner front wall (13). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the overlapping edge or overlapping strip (21, 22, 23) comprises gluing or glue fields applied on the inside of the closure tab (20) for connection of the closure tab (20) to the foil block (11), and the gluing or glue fields comprises regions of varying intensity or strength of adhesion in such a manner that in a region of the removal opening (19) start, a bonding zone in the form of a transverse strip (22) region of the overlapping edge or overlapping strip (21, 22, 23) is realized with a comparatively weaker degree of bonding, then a region in the form of a longitudinal strip (21) region of the overlapping edge or overlapping strip (21, 22, 23) with a comparatively stronger degree of bonding, and then a further region in the form of an anchoring strip (23) region of the overlapping edge or overlapping strip also with a higher degree of bonding. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closure tab (20) or the actuating tab (24) thereof is connected permanently to an inside of a lid front wall (31) of the outer pack (25). ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The pack as claimed in claim 3, wherein the closure tab (20) is connected by means of a glue strip (32) and/or glue dots (41) on a free outside surface of the actuating tab (24). ### Claim 5 A pack for cigarettes (10) or other smoking articles comprising: an outer pack (25), in the form of a hinge-lid box/hinge-lid pack with a box part (26) and a lid (27); and an inner pack in the form of a sealing block, with the sealing block being formed from a blank (12) of material which surrounds a cigarette group, wherein the sealing block comprises an opening aid (18) in an end-face region of an inner front wall (13) of the sealing block and at least in a part region of an inner end wall (17), wherein the opening aid (18) comprises a closure means in the form of a closure tab (20) which is arranged on an outside surface of the sealing block and is fastened on the sealing block by means of releasable adhesion, and for opening the sealing block the closure tab (20) is pulled at least in part away from the sealing block and, as a result, exposes a removal opening (19) at least in part, wherein: a) the removal opening (19) is a free opening which is produced during a production process of the sealing block, wherein to create the removal opening (19) the blank (12), or a web (36) for producing the blank (12), is provided with the removal opening (19), which is formed as a result of a punching process, wherein an opening lug (35), which also is formed where applicable by the punching process, is completely removed; b) the closure tab (20) covers the removal opening (19) completely and on all sides in a closed position with an overlapping edge or overlapping strip (21, 22, 23) which extends all around the removal opening (19); c) the closure tab (20) is free of adhesives in a region of the removal opening (19), wherein the adhesive-free region of the closure tab (20) is slightly greater in size than the region or a surface of the removal opening (19) and runs all around and surrounds the removal opening (19); and d) the closure tab (20) comprises a glue-free actuating tab (24) in a region of the inner front wall (13). ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The pack as claimed in claim 5, wherein the overlapping edge or overlapping strip (21, 22, 23) comprises gluing or glue fields applied on the inside of the closure tab (20) for connection of the closure tab (20) to the sealing block, and the gluing or glue fields comprises regions of varying intensity or strength of adhesion in such a manner that in a region of the removal opening (19) start, a bonding zone in the form of a transverse strip (22) region of the overlapping edge or overlapping strip (21, 22, 23) is realized with a comparatively weaker degree of bonding, then a region in the form of a longitudinal strip (21) region of the overlapping edge or overlapping strip (21, 22, 23) with a comparatively stronger degree of bonding, and then a further region in the form of an anchoring strip (23) region of the overlapping edge or overlapping strip (21, 22, 23) also with a higher degree of bonding. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The pack as claimed in claim 5, wherein the closure tab (20) or the actuating tab (24) thereof is connected permanently to an inside of a lid front wall (31) of the outer pack (25). ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The pack as claimed in claim 7, wherein the closure tab (20) is connected by means of a glue strip (32) and/or glue dots (41) on a free outside surface of the actuating tab (24). ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The pack as claimed in claim 5, wherein the adhesive-free region of the closure tab (20) which runs all around and surrounds the removal opening (19) forms a glue-free strip with a width of approximately 1.5 mm.