| CPC A24C 5/08 (2013.01) [A24C 1/02 (2013.01); A24C 1/28 (2013.01); A24C 1/44 (2013.01); A24C 5/002 (2013.01); A24C 5/06 (2013.01); A24C 5/39 (2013.01)] | 19 Claims |
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1. A device for automated loading and forming smoking articles comprising:
a pre-rolled cone holder holding a plurality of pre-rolled cones;
a loading mechanism loading individual pre-rolled cones in the pre-rolled cone holder with a predefined amount of material;
a filling mechanism depositing the predefined amount of material in the loading mechanism, the filling mechanism monitoring an amount of material loaded in the filling mechanism and sending a signal to stop loading the filling mechanism with the material when a predefined amount has been loaded;
a dispensing mechanism sending the material to the filling mechanism, the dispensing mechanism stopping the 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;
a hopper in communication with the dispensing mechanism storing the material;
a shaker coupled to the hopper shaking the material in the hopper preventing the material from sticking together; and
a sealing mechanism closing an open end of each of the pre-rolled cones preventing the material loaded into each of the pre-rolled cones from falling out, wherein the sealing mechanism comprises:
a movement device;
a single vertical arm member having a proximate end coupled to the movement device and positioned above a corresponding pre-rolled cone to be sealed; and
a plurality of angled prong members attached to the single vertical arm member, wherein an angled section of each angled prong member extends away from the single vertical arm so a bottom section of the single vertical member extending down between the angled section of each angled prong member and is untouched by the angled section of each angled prong member, wherein each of the angled prong members engages an outer perimeter of the corresponding pre-rolled cone to be sealed as the single vertical arm member moves downward, each angled prong member pushing the outer perimeter of the corresponding pre-rolled cone inward into an interior of the corresponding pre-rolled cone and a distal end of the single vertical member compacting the outer perimeter of the corresponding pre-rolled cone pushed into the interior to seal an open end of the corresponding pre-rolled cone as the movement device lowers the single vertical arm member in a single downward movement.
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