Packaging for Tobacco Industry Products

Abstract

Packaging for tobacco industry products such as cigarettes comprises a closed container ( 1 ) having a main body ( 2 ) and a flip top ( 3 ), coated with a continuous layer of transparent plastics material ( 6 ) to provide an air-tight seal. The container ( 1 ) can be pressurised with e.g. nitrogen gas through a one-way valve ( 8 ). The package can be biodegradable, with the container ( 1 ), its interior wrapping ( 5 ) and outer coating ( 6 ) all being made of biodegradable material.

1 . A package, comprising
 a closed container that contains tobacco industry products, and a coating of plastics material that has been applied to the container in a layer that provides an airtight seal between the interior and exterior of the container.   
     
     
         2 . The package according to  claim 1 , including a valve to that establishes a pressure differential between the interior and exterior of the container. 
     
     
         3 . The package according to  claim 1 , with a pressure differential between the inside and the outside of the container. 
     
     
         4 . The package according to  claim 2 , wherein the pressure differential comprises increased pressure within the container. 
     
     
         5 . The package according to  claim 3 , wherein the container contains an inert gas. 
     
     
         6 . The package according to  claim 1 , including an interior wrapping between the container and the tobacco industry products. 
     
     
         7 . The package according to  claim 6 , wherein the interior wrapping is biodegradable. 
     
     
         8 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a main body and a lid that when opened provides access to the tobacco industry products, the layer of plastics material providing a seal between the main body and the lid. 
     
     
         9 . The package according to  claim 8 , including a line of weakness in the layer of plastics material to facilitate opening of the lid. 
     
     
         10 . The package according to  claim 8 , including a tear strip that provides the line of weakness. 
     
     
         11 . The package according to  claim 9 , wherein the line of weakness comprises a line of reduced thickness in the plastics layer. 
     
     
         12 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is made of air-permeable material and the plastics layer extends over the entire exterior surface of the container. 
     
     
         13 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is made of carton board material. 
     
     
         14 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein the plastics layer comprises a polypropylene polymer or a polyethylene polymer. 
     
     
         15 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein the plastics layer includes an additive to facilitate decomposition of the plastics material. 
     
     
         16 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein the plastics layer includes an additive to enhance the airtight seal provided by the plastics material. 
     
     
         17 . A method of packaging tobacco industry products, comprising
 applying an airtight sealant coating of plastics material to a container containing the tobacco products airtight.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein applying includes spray-coating the exterior of the container with the plastics material. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein applying includes passing the container through a curtain of liquid coating material. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein applying includes wrapping the container with a sheet of meltable plastics material and melting the sheet to form the coating. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , including passing the container through a tunnel fed with heated air to melt the wrapping. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , including allowing the container to free-fall downwardly through the tunnel against an upward flow of the heated air. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein applying includes dipping the container in the plastics material to form the layer. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the container comprises a main body and a lid that when opened povides access to the tobacco industry products, the layer of plastics material providing:
 a seal between the main body and the lid, and   a line of weakness in the layer of plastics material that facilitates opening of the lid.   
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , including providing a tear strip on the container either before or after applying the plastics layer. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 17 , including creating a pressure differential between the interior and the exterior of the container when coated with the plastics material. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26 , including fitting a valve to the container and establishing the pressure differential through the valve. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 26 , including pumping a gas into the container to create a positive pressure therein. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 17 , including providing an additive in the plastics material to facilitate decomposition of the plastics material. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 17 , including providing an additive in the plastics material to enhance the quality of airtight seal provided by the applied plastics material. 
     
     
         31 . An apparatus for packaging tobacco industry products, the apparatus comprising:
 a packaging device operable to pack tobacco products into a container, and a coating device operable to coat the container with a plastics material in a layer that provides an airtight seal.   
     
     
         32 . The apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein the coating device comprises a spray coating device. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein the coating device is operable to create a curtain of liquid coating material through which the container passes. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein the coating device is operable to wrap the container with a sheet of meltable plastics material and melt the sheet to form the coating. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus according to  claim 34 , including a tunnel fed with heated air to melt the wrapping. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein the tunnel is disposed vertically so that the container free-falls downwardly through the tunnel against an upward flow of the heated air. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus according  claim 31  including a device for fitting a valve to the container for establishing a pressure differential between the interior and exterior thereof. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus according to  claim 37 , including a gaseous supply source for pumping gas into the container through the valve. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus according to  claim 37 , including a vacuum pump for evacuating gas from the container through the valve. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus according to  claim 31  including a device for fitting a tear strip to the container. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus according to  claim 31 , including a device for forming a line of weakness in the plastics layer on the container. 
     
     
         42 . A package comprising:
 a container, and tobacco products within a flexible hermetically sealed bag, within the container.   
     
     
         43 . The package according to  claim 42 , including a valve in the bag that establishes a pressure differential between the interior and exterior of the bag. 
     
     
         44 . The package according to  claim 42 , including means for rupturing the hermetically sealed bag and allowing access to the tobacco products. 
     
     
         45 . The package according to  claim 42  wherein the container is made of carton board and the bag is made of plastics material. 
     
     
         46 . The package according to  claim 42 , wherein the tobacco industry products comprise cigarettes.