A pack

Abstract

A method of packaging a bundle of tobacco industry products, wrapped in a barrier material (5), in a sheet of board material is disclosed. A packaging machine folds the sheet of board material to form a base (3) to contain a bundle, and to form a lid (2) rotatable relative to the base (3) between open and closed positions. The lid (2) has a front wall (11) and a lid front wall flap (15) having a rear face (16) that lies against an inner surface (17) of the lid front wall (11) to enable a label (9), that extends over a section of the barrier material (5) that defines an extraction opening (6), to be adhered to a front face (18) of the lid front wall flap (15) with adhesive so that the section is lifted to open the extraction opening (6) upon rotation of the lid (2) towards its open position. The method includes non-mechanically treating the front face of the lid front wall flap (15) to increase the receptivity of the lid front wall flap (15) to the adhesive used to adhere the label (9) to the front face of the lid front wall flap (15). A pack comprising a bundle of tobacco industry products wrapped in a barrier material (5) and received in a container formed from a sheet of folded board material is also disclosed.

1 . A method of packaging a bundle of tobacco industry products wrapped in a barrier material in a sheet of board material, and in which a packaging machine folds the sheet of board material to form a base to contain a bundle, and a lid rotatable relative to the base between open and closed positions, the lid having a front wall and a lid front wall flap having a rear face that lies against an inner surface of the lid front wall to enable a label, that extends over a section of the barrier material that defines an extraction opening, to be adhered to a front face of the lid front wall flap with adhesive so that the section is lifted to open the extraction opening upon rotation of the lid towards its open position,
 wherein the method includes:   non-mechanically treating the front face of the lid front wall flap to increase the receptivity of the lid front wall flap to the adhesive used to adhere the label to the front is face of the lid front wall flap.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , comprising non-mechanically treating the front face of the lid front wall flap after positioning the lid front wall flap so that its rear face lies against the inner surface of the lid front wall. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , comprising non-mechanically treating the front face of the lid front wall flap after the rear face of the lid front wall flap has been adhered to the inner surface of the lid front wall. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 2  or  3 , wherein the board comprises a surface layer or coating which is on said front face of the lid front wall flap, and the method comprises non-mechanically treating the front face of the lid front wall flap to remove at least a portion of the surface layer or coating. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to any preceding claim, comprising non-mechanically treating the front face of the lid front wall flap using a laser. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the rated power of the laser is 100 Watts, and the method comprises operating the laser at between 50% to 100% of its rated power. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 5  or  6 , comprising moving the laser relative to the front face of the lid front wall flap during treatment. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to any of  claims 5  to  7 , comprising treating the front face of the lid front wall flap using a plurality of lasers. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to any of  claims 1  to  4 , comprising non-mechanically treating the front face of the lid front wall flap with a chemical. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to any of  claims 1  to  4 , comprising non-mechanically treating the front face of the lid front wall flap using plasma. 
     
     
         11 . A method of increasing the receptivity of a surface of a sheet of board material for use in forming a container for containing a bundle of tobacco industry products, and that has a surface layer or coating, to adhesive, comprising non-mechanically treating the sheet of board material to remove at least a part of the surface layer or coating. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , comprising non-mechanically treating the sheet of board material using a laser. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 11 , comprising non-mechanically treating the sheet of board material with a chemical or plasma. 
     
     
         14 . A pack comprising a bundle of tobacco industry products wrapped in a barrier material and received in a container formed from a sheet of folded board material, the container comprising a base and a lid, the lid having a lid front wall and a lid front wall flap having a rear face that lies against an inner surface of the lid front wall, the lid being rotatable relative to the base between open and closed positions,
 wherein a front face of the lid front wall flap is non-mechanically treated to increase the receptivity of the surface of the lid front wall flap to adhesive, and   a flexible label is adhered to said non-mechanically treated front face of the lid front wall flap, and to a section of the barrier material that defines an extraction opening, so that the section is lifted to open the extraction opening when the lid is rotated into the open position.   
     
     
         15 . A pack according to  claim 14 , wherein the board comprises a surface layer or coating, and the non-mechanical treatment to a front face of the lid front wall flap removes at least a portion of the surface layer or coating. 
     
     
         16 . A pack according to  claim 15 , wherein the surface layer or coating is a metallised surface layer. 
     
     
         17 . A pack according to  claim 16 , wherein the sheet of board material is Transmet board. 
     
     
         18 . A packaging machine for packaging a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products in a sheet of board material, the packaging machine comprising:
 a folding unit for folding a sheet of board material about the bundle to form a base and a lid, the lid being attached to the base and being rotatable between open and closed positions, the lid also having a lid front wall and a lid front wall flap with a front and a rear face, the folding unit being configured to fold the lid front wall flap so that the rear face lies against an inner surface of the lid front wall,   a treatment unit to non-mechanically treat the front face of the lid front wall flap, and   an adhering unit for adhering a flexible label to the treated front face of the lid front wall flap.   
     
     
         19 . A packaging machine according to  claim 18 , wherein the treatment unit is configured to non-mechanically treat the front face of the lid front wall flap after the folding unit has folded the lid front wall flap so that the rear face of the lid front wall flap lies agains the inner surface of the lid front wall. 
     
     
         20 . A packaging machine according to  claim 18  or  19 , wherein the treatment unit comprises a laser. 
     
     
         21 . A packaging machine according to  claim 20 , wherein the rated power of the laser is 100 Watts. 
     
     
         22 . A packaging machine according to  claim 21 , comprising a controller operable to drive the laser at between 50% to 100% of its rated power. 
     
     
         23 . A packaging machine according to any of  claims 20  to  22 , comprising a drive unit to move the laser relative to the lid front wall flap during treatment. 
     
     
         24 . A packaging machine according to any of  claims 20  to  23 , wherein the treatment unit comprises a plurality of lasers. 
     
     
         25 . A packaging machine according to  claim 18  or  19 , wherein the treatment unit is configured to treat the lid front wall flap chemically. 
     
     
         26 . A packaging machine according to  claim 18  or  19 , wherein the treatment unit is configured to treat the lid front wall flap using plasma. 
     
     
         27 . Apparatus for increasing the receptivity of a surface of a sheet of board material for use in forming a container for containing a bundle of tobacco industry products and that has a surface layer or coating, to adhesive, the apparatus comprising a treatment unit for non-mechanically treating the sheet of board material to remove at least a portion of the surface layer or coating.