# US 2021/0078739 A2 · Method and device for positioning portion packets

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- Number: US 2021/0078739 A2
- Document ID: US20210078739A2
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A2
- Application number: 16/344,168
- Filed: 2017-10-26
- Published: 2021-03-18
- Earliest claimed: 2016-11-09
- Assignees: Swedish Match North Europe AB
- Applicants: Swedish Match North Europe AB
- Inventors: Patrik SÖDERSTRÖM; Daniel HAFSTAD
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210078739A2

## CPC

- B65B 5/08: Packaging groups of articles, the articles being individually gripped or guided for transfer to the containers or receptacles
- B65B 5/061: {Filled bags}
- B65B 5/101: {by gravity (B65B5/12 and B65B5/108 take precedence)}
- B65B 29/00: Packaging of materials presenting special problems
- B65B 39/007: {Guides or funnels for introducing articles into containers or wrappers}
- B65B 39/12: movable towards or away from container or wrapper during filling or depositing
- A24F 23/00: Cases for tobacco, snuff, or chewing tobacco
- B65B 2220/18: the primary packaging being bags the subsequent secondary packaging being rigid containers, e.g. cardboard box
- B65B 2230/00: Aspects of the final package
- 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)
- A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06)

## Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method for positioning portion packets of a product for oral use into a container by means of a compartment unit. The compartment unit comprises a plurality of compartments with a respective discharge opening. The method comprises: a) positioning the compartment unit at a first distance (d1) from a bottom wall of the container with the discharge openings facing a storage volume of the container, b) introducing at least one portion packet into i-th compartment of the compartment unit, the portion packet thereby assuming a first three-dimensional orientation with the at least one portion packet being in contact with the bottom wall of the container and at least partly remaining in the i-th compartment, wherein i is an integer going from 1 to n, n being the number of compartments to be loaded, n≥2, c) moving the compartment unit in relation to the container thereby causing reconfiguration of each portion packet to a second three-dimensional orientation being different from the first three-dimensional orientation. The disclosure further relates to a device for positioning portion packets of a product for oral use into a container. The disclosure also relates to a container comprising a plurality of portion packets of a product for oral use.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for positioning portion packets of a product for oral use into a container by means of a compartment unit,
said container comprising a bottom wall and a side wall together defining a storage volume, said container having a height direction,
said compartment unit comprising a plurality of compartments, each with a respective discharge opening,
said method comprising:
a) positioning said compartment unit at a first distance (d1) from said bottom wall of said container with said discharge openings facing said storage volume of said container,
b) introducing at least one portion packet into an i-th compartment of said compartment unit , said portion packet thereby assuming a first three-dimensional orientation with said at least one portion packet being in contact with said bottom wall of said container and at least partly remaining in said i-th compartment, wherein i is an integer going from 1 to n, n being the number of compartments to be loaded, n≥2,
c) moving said compartment unit in relation to said container thereby causing reconfiguration of each said portion packet to a second three-dimensional orientation being different from said first three-dimensional orientation,
characterized in that
said compartments are arranged in a compartment pattern forming a first sequence being a full circle, a semi-circle or any other part of a circle,
and in that step c comprises
c1′) positioning said compartment unit in relation to said container at a second distance (d2), which may be equal to said first distance (d1), from said bottom wall of said container, wherein a portion of each said portion packet is outside said corresponding compartment and another portion of each said portion packet is inside said corresponding compartment, and
c2′) moving said compartment unit in relation to said container by relative movement of said compartment unit in a reconfiguration plane being perpendicular to said height direction (H) of said container, when positioned at said second distance (d2) from said bottom wall of said container, thereby causing reconfiguration of each said portion packet to said second three-dimensional orientation,
wherein step c2′ is performed by a rotational movement in said reconfiguration plane of said compartment unit in relation to said container.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein steps c1′ and c2′ are performed simultaneously, or at least partly simultaneously, such that said compartment unit is positioned in relation to said container to said second distance (d2) from said bottom wall at the same time as said compartment unit is moved in said reconfiguration plane.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein step c further comprises
c1) moving said compartment unit in relation to said container by relative movement in said height direction (H) of said container at least until each said portion packet is located outside said corresponding compartment, and
c2) allowing each said portion packet to fall down on an adjacent portion packet, such that one portion packet partly overlaps with said adjacent portion packet in said second three-dimensional orientation.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 further comprising:
d) displacing said compartment unit in relation to said container in said height direction (H) of said container, such that said compartment unit applies pressure to said portion packets when assuming said second three-dimensional orientation.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein in step b said portion packet is introduced such that one of its edges faces said bottom wall of said container.

### Claim 6

A device for positioning portion packets of a product for oral use into a container, said device comprising
a compartment unit, comprising a plurality of compartments for receiving at least one portion packet, and
a positioning unit, having an axial direction (A), said positioning unit being adapted to displace said compartment unit in a first displacement motion in said axial direction (A),
characterized in that
said compartments are arranged in a compartment pattern forming a first sequence being a full circle, a semi-circle or any other part of a circle, and wherein said positioning unit is adapted to displace said compartment unit by a rotational movement in a second displacement motion in a reconfiguration plane being perpendicular to said axial direction (A).

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The device according to claim 6, wherein said compartments are arranged in a compartment pattern forming said first sequence and in a second sequence being a full circle, a semi-circle or any other part of a circle, said second sequence being concentric with said first sequence.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The device according to claim 6, wherein said device comprises a centre column located at a centre of said compartment unit, said centre column being displaceable in relation to said compartments in said axial direction (A).

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The device according to claim 6, wherein each of said compartments has
an entrance end, at which a portion packet may be introduced into said compartment,
a retaining end opposite said entrance end, said retaining end preventing said portion packet from further movement,
a discharge opening facing in a direction perpendicular to a straight line drawn between said entrance end and said retaining end.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The device according to claim 6 further comprising
a transport unit configured to transport individual portion packets to said compartment unit, wherein said transport unit comprises a product channel arranged for transportation of individual portion packets.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The device according to claim 10, wherein said product channel is configured to introduce each said portion packet into said compartment with a predefined three-dimensional orientation in relation to said compartment.

### Claim 12

A container comprising a plurality of portion packets of a product for oral use, said container comprising a bottom wall and a side wall together defining a storage volume, in which said portion packets are contained, said container having a height direction (H),
said portion packets having a pillow-like shape, said shape comprising two parallel short edges and two parallel long edges, which are perpendicular to said short edges, said portion packets being arranged such that one portion packet partly overlaps with an adjacent portion packet,
characterized in that
said portion packets are arranged in a first sequence being a full circle, a semi-circle or any other part of a circle, and
said portion packets are arranged such that one of said short edges of each said portion packet abuts said bottom wall of said container.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The container according to claim 12, wherein said portion packets are arranged in said first sequence being a full circle, a semi-circle or any other part of a circle and in a second sequence, being a full circle, a semi-circle or any other part of a circle being concentric with said first sequence.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The container according to claim 12, said portion packets having a minimal extension s, wherein said portion packets are arranged in said first sequence being a full circle, a semi-circle or any other part of a circle,
and wherein a centre space located at a centre of said circle is free from said portion packets,
said centre space having a diameter ds, wherein ds≥s, and yet ds≤dc−2s, wherein dc is a diameter of said container.