An apparatus for mass producing smokable products filled with cannabis, hemp, and/or other smokable materials includes a cone loading station that separates individual paper cones from stacks of cones, a cone weighing and filling station for dispensing precisely weighed amounts of powdered biomass into the cones, and a cone twisting station for twisting ends of the cones to complete the smokable products. A transport mechanism is provided to transfer the cones between stations and hold the cones during filling and twisting. The invention also provides a method of manufacturing smokable products that enables production steps to be performed simultaneously while also providing for capacity expansion within a limited production facility footprint.

The present invention is directed to an apparatus for grinding and depositing material, the apparatus having a grinder configured to grind material; and a chamber communicatively connected to the grinder, the chamber configured to receive at least one tube for smoking wherein, in use, the ground material is deposited in the at least one tube for smoking in the chamber.

The present invention is directed to an apparatus for grinding and depositing material, the apparatus having a grinder configured to grind material; and a chamber communicatively connected to the grinder, the chamber configured to receive at least one tube for smoking wherein, in use, the ground material is deposited in the at least one tube for smoking in the chamber.

An apparatus for filling smoking cones includes a tower that projects upright from a base to an upper extremity. A first cone holder coupled to the tower defines an inverted cone-receiving first volume that extends upright from a first closed end of the first cone holder proximate to the base to a first open end of the first cone holder proximate to the upper extremity. A second cone holder coupled to the base defines an inverted cone-receiving second volume that extends upright from a second closed end of the second cone holder between the base and the upper extremity to a second open end of the second cone holder proximate to the upper extremity. A length of the first volume from the first closed end to the first open end is greater than a length of the second volume from the second closed end to the second open end.

An apparatus for filling smoking cones includes a tower that projects upright from a base to an upper extremity. A first cone holder coupled to the tower defines an inverted cone-receiving first volume that extends upright from a first closed end of the first cone holder proximate to the base to a first open end of the first cone holder proximate to the upper extremity. A second cone holder coupled to the base defines an inverted cone-receiving second volume that extends upright from a second closed end of the second cone holder between the base and the upper extremity to a second open end of the second cone holder proximate to the upper extremity. A length of the first volume from the first closed end to the first open end is greater than a length of the second volume from the second closed end to the second open end.

A modular centrifuge apparatus for use in preparing and packing ready-made smokable products is disclosed including a drive assembly with a motor and a drive shaft rotatably coupled to the motor, the drive shaft defining a vertical direction, an axial direction, and a radial direction. The drive shaft extends along the vertical direction out of the motor. A sandwich hub having a notched portion is coupled to the drive shaft. The initiation of the motor rotates the drive shaft assembly along the axial direction. Each of a plurality of dynamic positioning talon assemblies includes a talon frame member and a binary linkage. Each talon frame member is fixedly attached to the sandwich hub using the notched portion and an upper plate, and extends outwardly therefrom along the radial direction. Each talon frame member includes at least one guide slot and at least one alignment post. The binary linkage is slidably coupled to the at least one guide slot of the talon frame member. The binary linkage is configured to move from a first position to a second position along a path defined by the at least one guide slot wherein said path extends greater than 90 degrees to the drive shaft. A plurality of pod assemblies, each including a pod that holds a plurality of zoning funnels, and is configured to move from the first position to the second position along the path defined by the vertical guide slot in response to rotational movement by the drive assembly in the axial direction.

A modular centrifuge apparatus for use in preparing and packing ready-made smokable products is disclosed including a drive assembly with a motor and a drive shaft rotatably coupled to the motor, the drive shaft defining a vertical direction, an axial direction, and a radial direction. The drive shaft extends along the vertical direction out of the motor. A sandwich hub having a notched portion is coupled to the drive shaft. The initiation of the motor rotates the drive shaft assembly along the axial direction. Each of a plurality of dynamic positioning talon assemblies includes a talon frame member and a binary linkage. Each talon frame member is fixedly attached to the sandwich hub using the notched portion and an upper plate, and extends outwardly therefrom along the radial direction. Each talon frame member includes at least one guide slot and at least one alignment post. The binary linkage is slidably coupled to the at least one guide slot of the talon frame member. The binary linkage is configured to move from a first position to a second position along a path defined by the at least one guide slot wherein said path extends greater than 90 degrees to the drive shaft. A plurality of pod assemblies, each including a pod that holds a plurality of zoning funnels, and is configured to move from the first position to the second position along the path defined by the vertical guide slot in response to rotational movement by the drive assembly in the axial direction.

A cone filling apparatus for production of smoking articles includes: (a) a cone pallet including a plurality of cavities, each cavity for holding a respective cone; (b) a delivery chute having a load end for receiving a smokeable product from a source and an unload end downstream of the load end for unloading the smokeable product from the chute; and (c) a dosing tray disposed above the pallet. The dosing tray includes a plurality of transfer sleeves. Each sleeve has an upper sleeve end for receiving smokeable product unloaded from the unload end of the chute, and a lower sleeve end for dispensing the smokeable product into a cone held in a respective cavity aligned beneath the lower sleeve end.

A cone filling apparatus for production of smoking articles includes: (a) a cone pallet including a plurality of cavities, each cavity for holding a respective cone; (b) a delivery chute having a load end for receiving a smokeable product from a source and an unload end downstream of the load end for unloading the smokeable product from the chute; and (c) a dosing tray disposed above the pallet. The dosing tray includes a plurality of transfer sleeves. Each sleeve has an upper sleeve end for receiving smokeable product unloaded from the unload end of the chute, and a lower sleeve end for dispensing the smokeable product into a cone held in a respective cavity aligned beneath the lower sleeve end.

A system and method for manufacturing a plurality of uniform cigarettes that uses air current and a vacuum to move and pack plant matter into pre-rolled cigarette papers is provided. Such an apparatus includes an air current generator with an air outlet portion and an air intake portion, a channel configured to channel air current from the air outlet portion of the air current generator, means for holding at least one pre-rolled paper in the channel so that air current generated by the air current generator passes through all pre-rolled papers, and an opening configured to receive organic leafy material and introduce the organic leafy material received into the channel. Airflow from the air current generator provides organic leafy material to the opening, the channel, and the at least one pre-rolled paper in the channel.