Patent Publication Number: US-2021169133-A1

Title: Cone loading device and method therefor

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present application relates generally to the technical field of tobacco and herbal smoking articles, and more specifically, to the technical field of a device to load and form a user determined number of smoking articles using preformed conical paper wrappers. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Hand rolling smoking articles, such as cigarettes and the like, is a well-known practice. In one process, rolling paper may be formed into a cone and used to scoop up small amounts of grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs. The maker of the smoking article may then hold the open end of the cone upward allowing the small amount to fall into the cone. This process continues until a desired amount of grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs is held within the cone. The maker may use a rod or similar object to compact the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs into the cone. This process is repeated until the cone is filled and compacted with the desired amount of grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs. The open end of the cone is then sealed to prevent the materials from falling out thereby forming the smoking article. 
     Unfortunately, rolling individual smoking articles is time consuming. The time-consuming process is a major problem for manufacturers since it directly relates to the cost effectiveness which is critical aspect of revenue. Further, rolling individual smoking articles may cause inconsistency in the smoking articles. This may be due to the smoking articles being unevenly filled and/or compacted with the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs. Unevenly filling and/or compacting the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs may adversely affect burn rates and temperatures of the smoking articles. That, in turn, can adversely affect the smoke flavors and result in the generation of unwanted combustion byproducts during the material burn. 
     Presently, there are mechanical devices that may be used to load grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs into pre-rolled cones. While these devices do work, there are some inherent issues. First, some grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs have a tendency to clump together. The clumping of the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs may cause the devices to clog-up. The clogging of the device may cause uneven filling of the pre-rolled cones or worse, non-filling of the pre-rolled cones. Further, these devices do not proper compress the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs in the pre-rolled cones nor do they properly seal the pre-rolled cones once the pre-rolled cones are loaded with the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs. 
     Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a system and method that overcomes the above. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one embodiment, a device for automated loading and forming smoking articles is disclosed. The device has a pre-rolled cone holder holding a plurality of pre-rolled cones. A loading mechanism loads individual pre-rolled cones in the pre-rolled cone holder with a predefined amount of material. A filling mechanism deposits the predefined amount of material in the loading mechanism. The filling mechanism monitors an amount of material loaded in the filling mechanism and sends a signal to stop loading the filling mechanism with the material when a predefined amount has been loaded. A dispensing mechanism sends the material to the filling mechanism. The dispensing mechanism stops the sending of material when the filling mechanism sends the signal to stop loading the filling mechanism with the material when a predefined amount has been loaded. A hopper is in communication with the dispensing mechanism storing the material. A shaker is coupled to the hopper shaking the material in the hopper preventing the material from sticking together. 
     In accordance with one embodiment, a device for automated loading and forming smoking articles is disclosed. The device has a pre-rolled cone holder holding a plurality of pre-rolled cones. A loading mechanism loads individual pre-rolled cones in the pre-rolled cone holder with a predefined amount of material. A compacting mechanism compresses the predefined amount of material loaded into each of the pre-rolled cones. A sealing mechanism compresses an open end of each of the pre-rolled cones preventing the material loaded into each of the pre-rolled cones from falling out. A filling mechanism deposits the predefined amount of material in the loading mechanism. The filling mechanism monitors an amount of material loaded in the filling mechanism and sends a signal to stop loading the filling mechanism with the material when a predefined amount has been loaded. A dispensing mechanism sends the material to the filling mechanism. The dispensing mechanism stops sending of material when the filling mechanism send the signal to stop loading the filling mechanism with the material when a predefined amount has been loaded. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present application is further detailed with respect to the following drawings. These figures are not intended to limit the scope of the present application but rather illustrate certain attributes thereof. The same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
         FIG. 1  is an elevated perspective view of an exemplary cone loading and forming device in accordance with one aspect of the present application; 
         FIG. 2  is side view of the exemplary cone loading and forming device in accordance with one aspect of the present application; 
         FIG. 3  is a magnified top view of an exemplary hopper used in the cone loading and forming device of  FIGS. 1 and 2  in accordance with one aspect of the present application; 
         FIG. 4A  is a top view of exemplary filling and loading mechanisms used in the cone loading and forming device of  FIGS. 1 and 2  in accordance with one aspect of the present application; 
         FIG. 4B  is a side view of an individual exemplary filling and loading mechanisms used in the cone loading and forming device of  FIGS. 1 and 2  in accordance with one aspect of the present application; 
         FIG. 5  is an elevated perspective view of exemplary pre-rolled cone loading mechanisms used in the cone loading and forming device of  FIGS. 1 and 2  in accordance with one aspect of the present application; 
         FIG. 6A  is an elevated perspective view of exemplary compacting mechanisms used in the cone loading and forming device of  FIGS. 1 and 2  in accordance with one aspect of the present application; 
         FIG. 6B  is a side view of the exemplary compacting mechanisms shown in  FIG. 6A  with several of the compacting mechanism removed and guide rails retracted in accordance with one aspect of the present application; and 
         FIG. 7A  is a side view of exemplary sealing mechanisms used in the cone loading and forming device of  FIGS. 1 and 2  in accordance with one aspect of the present application; 
         FIG. 7B  is a side view of the exemplary sealing mechanisms shown in  FIG. 7A  closing an open end of a smoking article in accordance with one aspect of the present application. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE APPLCIATION 
     The description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently preferred embodiments of the disclosure and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present disclosure can be constructed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the disclosure in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and sequences can be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. 
     The present disclosure relates to a device to load and form smoking articles using preformed conical paper wrappers. The device allows a user to select the number of smoking articles to form. The device is able to prevent clumping and separates any type of grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs to allow even filling of the pre-rolled cones. The device is able to compact the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs in the pre-rolled cones and properly seal the pre-rolled cones once the pre-rolled cones are loaded with the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs. 
     Referring to the FIGs., a device  10  may be seen for loading preformed conical paper wrappers  12  with grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs. The device  10  may have one or more hoppers  12 . The hopper  12  may be used to store and dispense the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs. The hopper  12  may be container having an open top area  12 A. The open top area  12 A may allow one to load the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs into the hopper  12 . In the present embodiment, the hopper  12  may have a rectangular configuration. However, this is shown as an example and should not be seen in a limiting manner. The hopper  12  may come in other geometrical configurations without departing from the spirt and scope of this invention. 
     An interior area of the hopper  12  may have sloping interior wall  12 B. The sloping interior walls may help to funnel the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs in the hopper  12  towards one or more openings  14 . The openings  14  may allow the hopper  12  to dispense the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs from the hopper  12 . 
     A dispensing mechanism  16  may be in communication with each opening  14  of the hopper  12 . The hopper  12  may deposits the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs into each of the dispensing mechanisms  16 . The dispensing mechanisms  16  may then be used to deliver the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs from the hopper  12  to a desired destination. 
     In accordance with one embodiment, each dispensing mechanism  16  may have a chamber  16 A. The chamber  16 A may be located below the opening  14 . The grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs may be delivered from the hopper  12  through the opening  14  to the chamber  16 A. An expelling device  16 B may force the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs out of the chamber  16 A and down a channel  16 C to a filling mechanism  18 . In accordance with one embodiment, the expelling device  16 B may be an air piston, air value or the like which may use air to dispense the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs out of the chamber  16 A and down the channel  16 C. The use of air to dispense the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs out of the chamber  16 A may also help to prevent the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs from clumping together. It should be noted that the above are given as examples and should not be seen in a limiting manner. Other types of expelling devices  16 B may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     The filling mechanism  18  may be positioned at the distal end of the channel  16 C. The dispensing mechanism  16  may load the filling mechanism  18  with a predetermined amount of the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs. The filling mechanism  18  may then be used to transfer the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs from the dispensing mechanism  16  to a pre-rolled cone  46  as discussed below. 
     The filling mechanism  18  may be configured to dispense a predefined amount of the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs from the chamber  16 A of the dispensing mechanism  16 . This may ensure that all smoking articles produced by the device  10  may have approximately the same amount of grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs. This may provide consistency in the product produced by the device  10 . 
     The filling mechanism  18  may have a container  20 . The container  20  may be movably positioned at the distal end of the channel  16 C. The container  20  may be used to collect the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs being dispensed from the channel  16 C via the chamber  16 A. The container  20  may be positioned on a movable platform  21 . The movable platform  21  may allow the device  10  to position the container under the distal end of the channel  16 C and to dispense the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs stored in the container  20  when a predetermined amount of the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs has been dispensed into the container  20 . 
     The container  20  may be positioned on a sensor  22 . The sensor  22  may be used to monitor the amount of the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs being dispensed into the container  20 . Once the predefined amount of the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs has been dispensed into the container  20 , the sensor  22  may signal the expelling device  16 B to stop sending the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs down the channel  16 C to the container  20 . 
     In accordance with one embodiment, a cover  24  may be positioned over the opening  14  in the hopper  12 . The cover  24  may be movable to allow the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs to be dispensed from the hopper  12  through the opening  14  to the dispensing mechanism  16 . The cover  24  may be moved to open/close the opening  14  in order to load the dispensing mechanism  16 . A sensor  24 A may be positioned on the chamber  16 A. The sensor  24 A may be used to monitor the amount of grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs in the chamber  16 A. When the level of grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs in the chamber  16 A falls below a desired level, the sensor  24 A may signal the cover  24  to open in order to dispense additional grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs into the chamber  16 A. 
     In order to prevent clumping of the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs, the hopper  12  may have a shaking mechanism  26 . The shaking mechanism  26  may be coupled to the hopper  12 . The shaking mechanism  26  may shake/vibrate the hopper  12 . The shaking/vibrating of the hopper  12  may cause the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs to move and be dispensed from the hopper  12  out of the openings  14 . The shaking/vibrating of the hopper  12  may also cause the continuous movement of the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs, thereby preventing the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs from clumping and sticking together. 
     In accordance with one embodiment, the shaking mechanism  26  may be a platform  28  upon which the hopper  12  is attached thereto. The platform  28  may move back and forth, vibrate or the like causing the hopper  12  to move as well. The movement of the hopper  12  may cause the continuous movement of the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs thereby dispensing and preventing the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs from clumping and sticking together. 
     After the sensor  22  has signaled the expelling device  16 B to stop sending the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs down the channel  16 C to the container  20 , the sensor  22  may signal the dispensing mechanism  18  to unload the container  20 . The sensor  22  may signal the dispensing mechanism  18  to dump the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs loaded in the container  20  into a loading mechanism  34 . The sensor  22  may signal the movable platform  21  to rotate and dispense the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs stored in the container  20  into the loading mechanism  34 . The loading mechanism  34  may then be used to transfer the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs into a pre-rolled cone  46  as will be disclosed below. 
     The loading mechanism  34  may be used to load individual pre-rolled cones  46  with the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs. The loading mechanism  34  may direct the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs from the container  20  into an individual pre-rolled cone  46 . The loading mechanism  34  may have a funnel device  36 . The funnel device  36  may have a head section  38  having an open top area  40 . The head area  38  may taper down to a neck section  42 . The neck section  42  may be positioned over a pre-rolled cone holder  44  allowing the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs to be loaded into a pre-rolled cone  46  positioned in the pre-rolled cone holder  44 . In accordance with one embodiment, the pre-rolled cone holder  44  may hold a plurality of pre-rolled cones  46 . Once an individual pre-rolled cone  46  is filled, a corresponding pre-rolled cone  46  may be positioned under the loading mechanism  34  in order to be loaded with the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs. 
     In accordance with one embodiment, the pre-rolled cone holder  44  may be formed of a base member  48 . In the present embodiment, the base member  48  may be cylindrical in shape. However, this may be shown as an example and should not be seen in a limiting manner. The base member  48  may have a plurality of channels  50  formed therein. In accordance with one embodiment, each channel  50  may be conical in shape. Each channel  50  may extend through the base member  48 . The channels  50  may be used to house individual pre-rolled cone  46 . Each channel  50  may be configured to hold one pre-rolled cone  46  therein with a closed bottom section of the pre-rolled cone  46  extending out of the corresponding channel  50  and an open end of the pre-rolled cone  46  may extend out of the channel  50  and above a top surface  48 A of the base member  48 . 
     The base member  48  may be positioned on a platform  52 . In accordance with one embodiment, the base member  48  may be movable on the platform  52 . The base member  48  may move in order to position each channel  50  under the loading mechanism  34  in order to load corresponding pre-rolled cones  46  with the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs. In the present embodiment, the base member  48  may rotate on the platform  52  in order to position each channel  50  under the loading mechanism  34 . 
     In accordance with one embodiment, the platform  52  may be movable. The moveable platform  52  may serve multiple purposes. For example, moving the platform  52  may allow one to move the base member away from the loading mechanism  34 . This may allow the device  10  to form additional operations on the pre-rolled cones  46  which have been filled. Further, moving the platform  52  may allow the device  10  to position each pre-rolled cone  46  under the filling mechanism  34  if the base member  48  is not movable. 
     The device  10  may have a pre-rolled cone loader  54 . The pre-rolled cone loader  54  may be used to load pre-rolled cones  46  in the pre-rolled cone holder  44 . The pre-rolled cone loader  54  may have a tube  54 A. The tube  54 A may be used to store one or more pre-rolled cones  46 . In accordance with one embodiment, the tube  54 A may hold a plurality of pre-rolled cones  46 , wherein adjacent pre-rolled cones  46  are inserted into one another. A dispensing mechanism  54 B may cause one of the pre-rolled cones  46  in the tube  54 A to be placed in a corresponding channel  50  of the base member  48 . In accordance with one embodiment, the dispensing mechanism  54 B may pull and place the pre-rolled cones  46  from the tube  54 A in a corresponding channel  50  of the base member  48   
     The device  10  may have a compacting mechanism  56 . The compacting mechanism  56  may be used to compact the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs in each pre-rolled cone  46 . The compacting mechanism  56  may be formed of a rod member  58 . The rod member  58  may be coupled to a lifting mechanism  60 . The lifting mechanism  60  may raise and lower the rod member  58  within the pre-rolled cone  46  thereby compacting the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs in each pre-rolled cone  46 . 
     In accordance with one embodiment, the compacting mechanism  56  may be positioned above the loading mechanism  34 . To ensure that the compacting mechanism  56  may be properly positioned above the loading mechanism  34 , an alignment device  59  may be used. The alignment device  59  may have an alignment rod  59 A. The alignment rod  59 A may extend down from the compacting mechanism  56 . When properly aligned, the alignment rod  59 A may be in axial alignment with an alignment opening  59 B formed in the loading mechanism  34 . The alignment rod  59 A may then be lowered into the alignment opening  59 B of the loading mechanism  34  in order to maintain proper alignment of the compacting mechanism  56  above the loading mechanism  34 . 
     The rod member  58  may be aligned with the neck section  42  of the funnel device  36 . The rod member  58  may be dimensioned to have a diameter approximately equal to that of the neck section  42 . The lifting mechanism  60  may raise and lower the rod member  58  one or more times so that the rod member  58  is lowered through the funnel device  36  down the neck section  42  and into the pre-rolled cone  46 . By raising and lowering the rod member  58  into the pre-rolled cone  46 , the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs in the pre-rolled cone  46  may be compacted. Further, the raising and lowering of the rod member  58  may clean out any grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs which may be stuck in the neck section  42  of the funnel device  36 . 
     In accordance with one embodiment, the rod member  58  may be a telescopic pole  58 A. The telescopic pole  58 A may have individual sections. Each successive section of the telescopic pole  58 A may have a smaller diameter than the previous individual section. In this embodiment, the lifting mechanism  60  may extend and retract the telescopic pole  58 A to compact the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs in the pre-rolled cone and to clean out any grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs which may be stuck in the neck section  42  of the funnel device  36 . 
     The device  10  may have a sealing mechanism  64 . The sealing mechanism  64  may be used to close the open end of the pre-rolled cone  46  once the pre-rolled cone  46  has been loaded with the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs and compacted. The sealing mechanism  64  may have an arm member  66 . A proximate end  66 A of the arm  66  may be coupled to a movement device  68 . A distal end  66 B may have a plurality of prongs  70 . The movement device  68  lowers the arm member  66  so that the plurality of prongs  70  engage an outer perimeter area of the open top of the pre-rolled cone  46 . As the movement device  68  moves further downward, the prongs  70  push the edges of the open end inward thereby closing the open top of the pre-rolled cone  46  and sealing the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs in the pre-rolled cone  46 . 
     The device  10  may have a dispensing mechanism  72 . The dispensing mechanism  72  may be used to remove the pre-rolled cone  46  from the pre-rolled cone holder  44  after the pre-rolled cone  46  has been loaded with the grounded smokable tobacco and/or herbs, compacted and sealed. 
     The foregoing description is illustrative of particular embodiments of the application, but is not meant to be a limitation upon the practice thereof. The following claims, including all equivalents thereof, are intended to define the scope of the application.