Packaging of a stack of confectionery pellets and the like

[0001] The present invention relates to packaging of a gum dragee pillar.

Background of the invention [0002] It is known to provide confectionery in the form of individual coated tablets, lozenges, tablets or the like. For example, chewing gum may be offered in the form of dragees that have a relatively hard outer shell or coating and a soft center. These dragees usually have a shape similar to a small pillow. Other confectionery products are also made in a similar form. For example, hard candy (drops), candies, chocolates, toffee or mint lozenges can be delivered in the form of drops or pastilles, as can be the case with other types of sweets, both hard and soft. For ease of use, the terms dragees and dragees will be used below, but it should be understood that it is intended that these terms also include other similar configurations such as lozenges, tablets and the like.

[0003] The terms gum and chewing gum as used herein include bubble gum.

[0004] When packing confectionery products in the form of dragees, it is known to arrange a series of dragees in close proximity, one next to the other, to form a post whose longitudinal axis passes through all the dragees in this post , and to wrap this dragee post into a wrapper in the form sheet. The wrapper surrounds this post circumferentially so that its one side edge overlaps the other and is in this position immobilized by means of a binder, which causes tight sealing of the wrapper. In this arrangement, said lateral edges are positioned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of this post. The wrapper is longer than the post of individual confectionery products, whereby the ends of the wrapper extend further than the ends of this post. Each end of the wrapper is folded to form end closing flaps that overlap the corresponding end of the post, forming a region of the end wall. Said flaps are usually held in place with an adhesive so that the wrapper is a tight tubular confectionery packet.

[0005] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a post 10 of chewing gum pellets 12, packed in a known manner in a wrapper 14. This wrapper 14 typically

EP 2 207 735 B1 includes a single or multi-layer film sheet to keep the contents fresh. Sometimes, a second inner wrapper, wrapped around a rubber dragee pillar, in a similar manner to said main or outer wrapper 14, is applied before the use of said outer wrapper. This is known as the "double wrap". However, in many cases only a single wrapper is used, which is referred to as "single curl." Many other confectionery products are packed in this way.

[0006] A common practice that makes it easier for a user to access said confectionery is to use a tear line marker in or on the wrapper, which helps the user to tear the package along a predetermined line to open the package. One known form of the tear line marker is a tear strip 20 that extends circumferentially around said confectionery post near one end, but at a distance from it. The arrangement is such that the consumer can grab the free end of the tear strip and pull to tear the wrapper along the line of the strip, removing the region of the end wall 18 of this packet. This allows access to confectionery dragees, which can be removed from the package one piece at a time. US 2003/0080015 A1 discloses packaging of this type.

[0007] In known packaging solutions, the tear strip 20 is spaced towards the center of the wrap from the end of said post by a distance that is approximately equal to the thickness of a single dragee 12. This facilitates the production of the package and its opening, however, causes a number of problems. Firstly, when opening the wrapper, when the end of the wrapper is removed - there is a risk of losing the first dragee 12a at the top of the post, which projects at least partly above said tear strip 20. Secondly, after opening the wrapper and removing the first piece of confectionery 12a, the end of the remaining sidewall of this wrapper will tend to be at or near the outside of the second dragee 12b in this post at the tear-off point. As a result, such a wrapper cannot be reclosed after opening so that at least the outside of the second consecutive confectionery 12b from this post is exposed to the risk of contamination or softening before use. There is also a risk that the other dragees located in the said column may fall out of the packaging, which will not be effective

EP 2 207 735 B1 closed from the open end. These problems occur especially where the post is individually wrapped, due to the lack of an internal wrap to assist in packaging and protecting the dragees. [0008] A further disadvantage of the known method of packaging chewing gum pellets is that it may be cumbersome for the consumer to remove further pellets. If the open end of the wrapper is wrapped after removing the first or second lozenge, the consumer will first have to unroll the packet before the next dragee can be removed. However, even after folding, the packaging will not be smooth, making it difficult for the consumer to easily remove further dragees.

[0009] CA 2 479 492 A1 discloses a packaging for a confectionery post comprising a wrapper, which wrapper has on one side a plurality of spaced apart notches. The user can separate the wrapper along each score line for one-handed access to the contents, but this arrangement has the disadvantage that the packaging cannot be easily reclosed.

[0010] WO 2006/075231 A1 discloses packaging for a post of confectionery products comprising a rigid container body closed at one end by a hinged lid.

[0011] WO 2004/101375 A1 discloses a similar tubular container equipped with a hinged lid but intended for relatively small pieces of confectionery products. The container is formed from a blank made of a rigid but susceptible material such as cardboard.

[0012] Although the use of a rigid container with an end closure such as that described in WO 2006/075231 A1 and WO 2004/101375 A1 overcomes many of the problems associated with the prior art wrapper discussed above, the manufacture of such packaging is relatively expensive. In addition, many consumers prefer the feeling of soft packaging, especially if the packaging is used for gum pellets that can be worn by the consumer in their pocket.

[0013] There is therefore a need for packaging a confectionery pellet in dragees that overcomes or at least alleviates some or all of the problems associated with known packaging.

[0014] There is a need in particular for packaging a dragee confectionery pellet that can be reclosed and opened again more easily than the known packaging, which, however, is relatively easy and cheap to produce.

[0015] There is also a need for an improved method of packaging a confectionery pellet in dragees that overcomes or at least mitigates the disadvantages of the prior art methods.

Summary of the Invention [0016] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a packaging for a confectionery pellet in dragees, which package has a tubular packet formed from a flexible wrapper that surrounds and closes the post and the lid component closed again after opening, attached to this packet near its one end, which lid element includes a base connected to a side wall region of the packet close to said one end and a cap attached to the base providing movement between a closed position in which the cap closes said one end and an open position in which one end is exposed, with what the cap has such a configuration that being in the open position fulfills the function of a container to keep the dragee released from this packet, in which the inner surface of the cap is bonded to the region of the end wall of the packet, and the wrapper has a weakened strength line positioned such that at the first movement of the hood from the closed position to the open position, the wrapper tears along this weakened strength line forming a hole in the packet through which the dragees can be dispensed and released.

[0017] The base and the cap may have means for cooperation configured so that the cap is kept closed and can be released from this position.

[0018] This base may be bonded to the side wall region of the packet.

[0019] Said cap may be connected to the base by means of a hinge, providing movement between the closed and open positions.

[0020] Said lid element may be made of cardboard.

[0021] The wrapper may comprise a plastic material, preferably PET.

[0022] Said dragee confectionery product may be gum dragees.

[0023] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of packaging a stack of confectionery pellets, the method comprising:

providing a flexible wrapper having a weakened strength line;

closing the confectionery pellet post in a tubular packet formed from a flexible wrapper such that the line of weakened strength at least partially surrounds at least part of the end wall region at one end of the packet;

providing a lid that recloses after opening, encompassing the base and the cap connected to the base providing movement;

attaching the base of this lid element to the side wall region of the package, near said one end of the post, such that the cap can be moved between a closed position in which the cap closes said one end and an open position in which said one end is exposed, with what the cap is configured so that being in the open position acts as a reservoir to hold the dragee released from this packet;

the bonding of the inner surface of this cap with the region of the end wall of the packet in such a system that at the first displacement of the cap from the closed position to the open position, the wrapper tears along this line of weakened strength forming a hole in the packet through which the dragees can be dispensed and released.

[0024] The step of providing the reclosable after opening the end member of the lid may include providing the end member of the lid having means to cooperate to hold the cap in a closed position, with the possibility of releasing it from that position.

[0025] The step of attaching the base to the sidewall region of the packet may include bonding the base to the sidewall region.

[0026] The step of providing a reclosable after opening the lid member may may providing providing a lid member in which the cap is connected to the base by a hinge, providing movement between the closed and open positions.

[0027] The step of providing a reclosable after opening the lid member may include forming the lid member from cardboard.

[0028] The flexible wrapper may comprise a plastic, preferably PET.

[0029] The confectionery dragees may be gum pellets.

[0030] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit of parts for making a package according to the first aspect or for use in a method according to the second aspect, which kit comprises a wrapper for making a packet and recloses after opening the end lid, said end lid comprising the base to be attached to the side wall area of ​​the packet, near one end of the post and the cap connected to this base so that in the finished the completed package, the cap can be moved between a closed position in which the cap closes said one end and an open position in which said one end is exposed, the cap being so configured that being in the open position it acts as a container for to keep the dragee released from the packet, and the wrapper has a line of weakened strength located in such a way that after forming the packet from this wrap around the dragee pillar, this line of weakness at least partially surrounds at least part of the end wall region of the packet.

[0031] Said lid element may be made of a cardboard blank.

[0032] The wrapper may comprise a plastic material, preferably PET.

Detailed description of the invention [0033] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the remaining drawings, in which:

Fig. 2 schematically shows, in top view and exploded view, a chewing gum pellet wrapped in a wrapper and enclosed in this wrapper, and a lid component forming part of the package according to the invention;

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Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2 and shows the package after the lid member is attached to one end of the wrapper;

Figures 4A to 4D are a perspective view of a series of illustrations of a package according to the invention, showing opening the package and releasing the dragee;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the open end of the package of Figs. 4A to 4D with all the dragees removed; and

Fig. 6 is a chewing gum pellet post wrapped in a wrapper and enclosed in this wrapper, shown in Fig. 2, from below.

[0034] The package 29 of the confectionery pellet pillar 12 of the present invention comprises a packet 30 formed from a flexible wrap 32 and resealable after opening the end cap element 34 attached to one end of the packet. In the present implementation, the dragees 12 are chewing gum dragees and the packet is a tubular packet of generally rectangular cross-sectional shape. However, it will be understood that the shape of the package may be different and adapted to the shape of the dragees.

[0035] The wrap 32 includes a sheet of flexible material and can be formed into a tubular pack 30 using any conventional technique. For example, the sheet may be wrapped around the dragee pillar and held in this position using an adhesive to contain the dragees. As shown in Figure 2, the packet 30 is closed at both ends in such a way that it completely surrounds the dragee pillar in a conventional manner. Preferably, the wrapper is sealed so that the dragees 12 are protected from external influences until the packet is opened.

[0036] Wrap 32 can be made of any suitable material, including polymeric materials, paper or foil, or it can be a composite material. In one embodiment, the wrapper according to the invention comprises a single plastic layer 36, which may preferably be polyethylene terephthalate (PET). In an alternative implementation, the wrapper may have double PET layers, with a film underneath.

[0037] The extreme lid 34 is attached to the package 30 after it has been formed around the post. As can best be seen in Figs. 4B, 4C and 5, the end cap member 34 includes a base 38 and a cap 40 pivotally connected to this base by a hinge 42. In the present implementation, the end cap 34 is made of a cardboard blank, which is folded and glued to obtain the required shape, and hinge 42 includes a fold line.

[0038] The base 38 has a tubular form and is compatible with the outer side wall profile of the package 30. The base is attached to the side wall of the package 30 near its one end in such a way that the upper edge 44 of the base lies approximately in the same plane as the end region walls 46 of this package. The base 38 can be attached to the side wall of the packet in any suitable way, for example by bonding using an adhesive. When the wrapper 32 includes an outer layer of plastic material such as PET, the base 38 can be sealed to the wrapper by hot welding.

The cap 40 has a first main panel 48 that lies substantially parallel to and in close proximity to the region of the end wall of the packet when the cap is in the closed position as shown in Figs. 3 and 4A. The cap has a second main panel 50 that extends at right angles to the first main panel 48 and which lies substantially parallel and in close proximity to the front surface 52 of the packet when the cap is in the closed position. A pair of side panels 54, 56 extend between the first and second main panels 48, 50 holding them in their positions relative to each other. The side panels close the extreme regions of the cap and overlap the respective regions of the side wall 58, 60 of the packet when the cap is in the closed position. As can best be seen in Figs. 4D and 5, this cap forms a reservoir into which the dragee can be poured from the post when the cap is in the open position.

[0040] As illustrated in Figure 6, the wrapper 32 has a weakened strength line 61 that is positioned such that it extends around all or part of the end wall region 46 of this packet. When the extreme lid is attached to the packet, the cap is set in the closed position, and the inner surface of the first main panel 48 of this cap is welded to the region of the end wall 46

EP 2 207 735 B1 within the area delimited by the weakened line. As with the base, any suitable means can be used to bond this inner surface of the first main panel 48 to the end wall region, such as an adhesive that can be activated by heat or pressure. Again, if the wrapper 32 includes plastic, this inner side may be associated with said end wall region. The packaging in this form is presented to the consumer and the arrangement is such that when the consumer first moves the cap 40 from the closed position to the open position, the part of the region of the end wall 46 which is bonded to the first main panel 48 remains attached to this first main panel and the wrapper tears along this line of weakness, forming a hole at the end of the packet, [0041] The base 38 and the cap 40 are provided with cooperating elements that serve to keep the cap in the closed position, with the possibility of changing this position. In the present implementation, these interacting elements include a closing flap 62 that extends up and down from the upper edge of the front wall portion. through which dragees can be dispensed and released one at a time.

This tab 62 is configured to interact with one or more tabs / slats (not visible) on the inner surface of the second main panel 50 of this hood when the hood is moved to the closed position. This arrangement holds the cap 40 in the closed position until the consumer disconnects the flap 62 and the fold / strip to open the package. Advantageously, this closure system can be manufactured in accordance with the disclosure of Swiss Patent Application No. CH 534 616 to Zeiler AG, the content of which is referred to herein by reference.

[0042] Fig. 4A-4D illustrate the sequence of opening the package.

[0043] With the cap 40 in the closed position, the consumer slides the fingernail of his thumb 64 ​​between the second main panel panel 50 and the front surface 52 of the packet and pivots the second main panel panel 50 outwards to release the closing flap 62. Then, the cap can be rotated around hinge 42 to the open position as shown in Figs. 4B and 4C. As described above, when the package is opened for the first time, part of the end wall region 46

The bonded to the inner surface of the first main panel 48 of the cap is detached from the remainder of the package along a line of weakened strength creating a hole at the end of the packet through which the dragees forming the post can be dispensed and released.

[0044] The line of weakness may extend around the entire perimeter of the end wall region 46 so that the entire end wall region is removed when the package is opened, as shown in Fig. 4C. Alternatively, the weakened strength line can be configured such that only part of the end wall region 46 is removed, or such that the end wall region is only partially removed. For example, the rear edge of the end wall region near the hinge 42 may remain connected to the rear surface of the side wall portion of this packet.

[0045] Generally speaking, the consumer is expected to hold the package 29 such that the end cap member 34 is highest (at the very top) when opening the cap 40. However, as soon as the cap 40 is opened, the consumer can invert the package 29 so that the dragees slide off gravity from the depth of the packet 30 into the cap 40, as illustrated in Figure 4D. This provides a very simple and easy way to dispense dragees from the post, one at a time.

[0046] After the consumer has taken out the required number of dragees 12, the package 29 can be re-closed by moving the cap 40 back to its closed position so that the closing flap 62 again engages with said fold / strip. In this position, the cap 40 closes the open end of the packet and serves as a closing element, securely holding the remaining dragees 12 inside the packet 30.

[0047] In a preferred embodiment, the weakened strength line is formed in the wrapping by laser etching. However, other methods such as cutting / notching or perforating can be used. Preferably, the line of weakened strength extends only partially into the wrapper from its inside so as not to damage the integrity of the packet before it is opened. [0048] It can be seen that the packaging of the present invention provides a simple and economical packaging for the confectionary dragee pellet that is easy to open and which can be effectively reclosed after opening. Because

The consumer does not have to wrap and bend the open end of the packet, it is more likely that the packet will retain its shape, which will facilitate - in comparison with known packaging - the dispensing and release of further dragees. The current packaging is particularly suitable for gum pellets.

[0049] A particular advantage of the present invention is that the end cap element 40 can be attached to existing packaging systems for dragee sticks, without requiring significant redesign of the packaging or existing packaging equipment.

[0050] The above obligations are not intended to limit the scope of protection afforded by the claims, but rather to describe examples showing how the present invention can be implemented in practice.

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