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Application US20190320710
Published 2019-10-24
Cone Closure Apparatus And Related Methods
A cone closure apparatus for production of smoking articles includes: (a) a frame; and (b) at least one cone holder supported by the frame and extending along an axis. The cone holder has a lower grip surface for applying a rotational force about the axis to an outer surface of a lower filled portion of a cone received in the cone holder. The cone having an upper empty portion disposed above the lower filled portion and protruding clear of the lower grip surface to receive a counter-rotational force about the axis, in a direction opposite the rotational force. The closure apparatus further includes (c) a drive supported by the frame for applying at least one of the rotational force and the counter-rotational force to twist the upper empty portion closed when the drive is energized.
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- 1. A cone closure apparatus for production of smoking articles, comprising:
a) a frame; b) at least one cone holder supported by the frame and extending along an axis, the cone holder having a lower grip surface for applying a rotational force about the axis to an outer surface of a lower filled portion of a cone received in the cone holder, the cone having an upper empty portion disposed above the lower filled portion and protruding clear of the lower grip surface to receive a counter-rotational force about the axis, in a direction opposite the rotational force; and c) a drive supported by the frame for applying at least one of the rotational force and the counter-rotational force to twist the upper empty portion closed when the drive is energized.
- 19. A method of closing a cone containing smokeable product in production of smoking articles, the method comprising:
a) inserting the cone into a cone holder having an axis, the cone holder having a lower grip surface for gripping an outer surface of a lower filled portion of the cone, the cone having an upper empty portion disposed above the lower filled portion and protruding clear of the lower grip surface; b) energizing a drive coupled to the cone holder, the drive applying a rotational force about the axis to the lower filled portion of the cone via the lower grip surface; c) during step (b), applying a counter-rotational force about the axis to the upper empty portion of the cone to twist the upper empty portion closed.
- 23. A cone closure apparatus for production of smoking articles, comprising:
a) a frame; b) at least one cone holder supported by the frame and having a cavity extending along an axis for receiving a lower filled portion of a cone, the cone having an upper empty portion disposed above the lower filled portion and protruding clear of the cone holder; c) a set of jaws supported by the frame, the jaws movable between open and closed positions, the jaws clear of the cavity and cone received therein when in the open position, and the jaws overlying the cavity when in the closed position, wherein the upper empty portion of the cone is folded downward against the lower filled portion to close the cone when the jaws move from the open position to the closed position.
- 28. A method of closing a cone containing smokeable product in production of smoking articles, the method comprising:
a) inserting a cone having a lower filled portion filled with smokeable product into a cavity of a cone holder, the cone having an upper empty portion above the lower filled portion and protruding clear of the cone holder; and b) folding the upper empty portion downward against the lower filled portion by moving a plurality of jaws from an open position in which the jaws are clear of the cavity to a closed position in which the jaws overly the cavity.
- 31. A method of closing a cone containing smokeable product in production of smoking articles, the method comprising:
a) gripping a lower filled portion of a cone with a lower grip surface of a cone holder, the cone having an upper empty portion disposed above the lower filled portion and protruding clear of the lower grip surface; b) gripping the upper empty portion with an upper grip surface; and c) counter-rotating the upper empty portion relative to the lower filled portion by energizing a drive to rotate one of the upper grip surface and the lower grip surface about an axis and inhibiting rotation of the other of the upper grip surface and the lower grip surface about the axis to twist the upper empty portion closed.
