Method for packaging finished tobacco goods in a master box

Abstract

In a method for packaging finished tobacco goods in a master box first a PE liner which is foreseen of an EVOH barrier or an Aluminium liner is folded in the master box. This can be done by an automatic machine or manually. In the manual embodiment the liner, already cut on the right sizes including a seal in the bottom, is pulled over a mall which has the same size as the master box. Then the master box is pulled over the mall including the liner. Then the master box including the liner is pulled of the mall and the master box is ready for storage. Next the master box with liner is filled with finished tobacco goods and sachets with oxygen and/or humidity absorbers are placed in the master box. Then the master box is placed in a vacuum room and the pressure in the vacuum room and in the liner and the master box is reduced. Next Nitrogen is injected in the vacuum room and/or the master box. Then the liner and the master box is sealed and the box is closed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for packaging finished tobacco goods in a master box, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a liner made of PE with an EVOH barrier, or aluminium;   lining the master box with the liner;   filling the master box, with the liner, with the finished tobacco goods;   placing sachets with oxygen absorbers in the master box;   placing the master box in a vacuum room;   reduce pressure in the vacuum room and in the liner and the master box;   injecting Nitrogen in the vacuum room and the master box;   repeating the steps of reducing pressure and injecting Nitrogen several times; and   sealing the liner and the master box.   
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the method further comprises the step of placing sachets with humidity absorbers into the master box before placing the master box in the vacuum room. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of lining the master box is done by an automatic machine which cuts a part of a tube foil, seals the bottom of the liner, and folds the liner into the master box. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of lining the master box is done manually by pulling the liner, already cut on the right size and including a seal, over a mall which has the same size as the master box, pulling the master box over the mall including the liner, pulling the liner over the flaps of the master box, and pulling the master box including the liner. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein before placing the master box in the vacuum room, the vacuum room is tailor made with a working space inside that is slightly larger than the master box with the flaps in an open or side wards position.