A pre-roll filling system is provided. A pre-roll receiving component is operable to receive a plurality of pre-rolls. The pre-rolls are arranged in at least one row extending along a longitudinal axis. A translating component is operable to translate the pre-roll receiving component along the longitudinal axis. A filling component including at least one needle component is operable to deposit infusion material via at least one needle into the pre-rolls as the pre-roll receiving component translates along the longitudinal axis.

Pre-roll infusing apparatus includes fluid vessel, a fluid pump and an infusion needle for spraying fluid into the pre-roll. An elevator includes a tube nest for receiving a support tube containing the pre-roll and selectively raises the pre-roll to be pierced by the needle. A needle heater is supported for travel along the needle as the elevator moves up and down. The elevator tube nest includes a motor-driven rotatable base for rotating the support tube and pre-roll during infusion. A stepper motor equipped with an encoder controls the raising and lowering of the elevator. The needle may include two or more spaced spray ports. A needle pointer indicates to a user the location of the needle spray ports. The fluid vessel includes a stirrer motor, and the current draw thereof is used to determine the viscosity of the fluid. Different support tubes are provided to accommodate different pre-roll styles.

Pre-roll infusing apparatus includes fluid vessel, a fluid pump and an infusion needle for spraying fluid into the pre-roll. An elevator includes a tube nest for receiving a support tube containing the pre-roll and selectively raises the pre-roll to be pierced by the needle. A needle heater is supported for travel along the needle as the elevator moves up and down. The elevator tube nest includes a motor-driven rotatable base for rotating the support tube and pre-roll during infusion. A stepper motor equipped with an encoder controls the raising and lowering of the elevator. The needle may include two or more spaced spray ports. A needle pointer indicates to a user the location of the needle spray ports. The fluid vessel includes a stirrer motor, and the current draw thereof is used to determine the viscosity of the fluid. Different support tubes are provided to accommodate different pre-roll styles.

A rolling system including a measuring station. The measuring station includes a hopper for receiving a smokable product, a vibratory bowl for receiving the smokable product from the hopper, a weigh bowl for receiving the smokable product from the vibratory bowl, a weigh module attached to the weigh bowl for measuring the smokable product in the weigh bowl, and a puck defining a plurality of cavities for receiving the smokable product therein. Each cavity of the plurality of cavities is configured to receive a predetermined amount of smokable product within a predetermined tolerance of the predetermined amount.

A rolling system including a measuring station. The measuring station includes a hopper for receiving a smokable product, a vibratory bowl for receiving the smokable product from the hopper, a weigh bowl for receiving the smokable product from the vibratory bowl, a weigh module attached to the weigh bowl for measuring the smokable product in the weigh bowl, and a puck defining a plurality of cavities for receiving the smokable product therein. Each cavity of the plurality of cavities is configured to receive a predetermined amount of smokable product within a predetermined tolerance of the predetermined amount.

The present application includes a system for packing herbal matter into a hollow paper tube. The system is comprised of a set of compression members which together define a volume, an ejector opening aligned with the volume, a pusher, and a lubrication member in communication with the volume that disposes a lubricant selectively within the volume. The ejector is configured to hold the paper tube. The pusher is configured to translate the herbal matter through the volume toward the ejector opening and at least partially into the paper tube.

The present application includes a system for packing herbal matter into a hollow paper tube. The system is comprised of a set of compression members which together define a volume, an ejector opening aligned with the volume, a pusher, and a lubrication member in communication with the volume that disposes a lubricant selectively within the volume. The ejector is configured to hold the paper tube. The pusher is configured to translate the herbal matter through the volume toward the ejector opening and at least partially into the paper tube.

A method for combining segments of a smoking article, comprises the steps of: providing a group of segments having a heat source (10; 20) and an aerosol-forming substrate (11; 21) the aerosol-forming substrate (10; 20) being arranged such that a remote end (112; 212) thereof faces away from the heat source (10; 20) while a near end (112; 211) thereof abuts the heat source (10; 20), feeding an airflow directing truncated hollow cone (13; 23) having a widest end (131; 231) and a truncated narrowest end (130; 230) such that the truncated narrowest end (130; 230) is arranged to face the remote end (112; 212) of the aerosol-forming substrate (11; 21), and moving the truncated hollow cone (13; 23) towards the remote end (112; 212) of the aerosol-forming substrate (11; 21) to abut the remote end (112; 212) thereof or to extend into an indentation (113; 213) in the remote end (112; 212) thereof.

A method for combining segments of a smoking article, comprises the steps of: providing a group of segments having a heat source (10; 20) and an aerosol-forming substrate (11; 21) the aerosol-forming substrate (10; 20) being arranged such that a remote end (112; 212) thereof faces away from the heat source (10; 20) while a near end (112; 211) thereof abuts the heat source (10; 20), feeding an airflow directing truncated hollow cone (13; 23) having a widest end (131; 231) and a truncated narrowest end (130; 230) such that the truncated narrowest end (130; 230) is arranged to face the remote end (112; 212) of the aerosol-forming substrate (11; 21), and moving the truncated hollow cone (13; 23) towards the remote end (112; 212) of the aerosol-forming substrate (11; 21) to abut the remote end (112; 212) thereof or to extend into an indentation (113; 213) in the remote end (112; 212) thereof.

The present apparatus and system relate to a machine and components thereof adapted to fill packages and which may be utilized according to a method. The machine progresses a package via a conveyor through sub-stations, such as a cone trimmer, product conveyor, packing head, folding station, and injection station. The cone trimmer trims the package to a desired length, the product conveyor deposits product into the packing head, the packing head packs the product in the package, the folding station folds the package, and the injecting station injects the package.