The invention relates to a method for manufacturing an inhaler article, the inhaler article comprising a body, a capsule cavity holding a capsule, a mouthpiece element and a deformable tubular element having an open distal end, the method comprising pre-treating the distal end of the deformable tubular element to obtain a pre-treated portion with reduced structural stability, and folding the pre-treated portion inwards by at least 90 degrees to at least partially close the distal end. The invention relates also to a device for manufacturing an inhaler article and to an inhaler article obtainable by the device.

A compaction apparatus for compacting a smokeable product in production of smoking articles includes: (a) a frame for removably receiving a cone pallet. The cone pallet includes a plurality of cavities. Each cavity holds a cone filled with a volume of the smokeable product. The apparatus further includes (b) a compaction mechanism including: (i) at least one pin alignable above an open upper end of a respective cone and movable from a retracted position, in which the pin is spaced apart from the smokeable product in the cone, toward an advanced position for inserting a lower portion of the pin into the volume of the smokeable product. The compaction mechanism further includes (ii) a vibratory drive coupled to the pin and operable to vibrate the pin when the lower portion of the pin is within the volume of the smokeable product for inducing settlement of the smokeable product.

A compaction apparatus for compacting a smokeable product in production of smoking articles includes: (a) a frame for removably receiving a cone pallet. The cone pallet includes a plurality of cavities. Each cavity holds a cone filled with a volume of the smokeable product. The apparatus further includes (b) a compaction mechanism including: (i) at least one pin alignable above an open upper end of a respective cone and movable from a retracted position, in which the pin is spaced apart from the smokeable product in the cone, toward an advanced position for inserting a lower portion of the pin into the volume of the smokeable product. The compaction mechanism further includes (ii) a vibratory drive coupled to the pin and operable to vibrate the pin when the lower portion of the pin is within the volume of the smokeable product for inducing settlement of the smokeable product.

In some embodiments, a system includes a pod assembly, a dispensing assembly, a filling assembly, a spinning assembly, a twisting assembly, an unloading assembly, and an electronic control unit. The dispensing assembly can dispense a set of cones into the pod assembly, each cone having a first end and a second end, the first end being a pre-closed end. The filling assembly can fill each cone in the pod assembly with filler material. The spinning assembly can spin the pod assembly such that the filler material within each cone is compressed. The twisting assembly can twist the second end of each cone such that the second end is closed. The unloading assembly can remove each cone from the pod assembly and transfer each cone to another location separate from the pod assembly.

In some embodiments, a system includes a pod assembly, a dispensing assembly, a filling assembly, a spinning assembly, a twisting assembly, an unloading assembly, and an electronic control unit. The dispensing assembly can dispense a set of cones into the pod assembly, each cone having a first end and a second end, the first end being a pre-closed end. The filling assembly can fill each cone in the pod assembly with filler material. The spinning assembly can spin the pod assembly such that the filler material within each cone is compressed. The twisting assembly can twist the second end of each cone such that the second end is closed. The unloading assembly can remove each cone from the pod assembly and transfer each cone to another location separate from the pod assembly.

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.

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.

A pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus and methods adapted for making and extruding cigarettes, such as marijuana cigarettes, onto a catcher and applications thereof are presented. In one embodiment, an apparatus is comprised of a plate with a working surface, a rim portion, a plurality of tapered holes that hold pre-rolled cones, a base attached to the plate, a packing and crimping device with thin rods that fill, pack and crimp pre-rolled cones, and a closing and extruding device with tubes that close and extrude finished cigarettes. A method involves placing pre-rolled cones into the apparatus, pouring the filling material onto the plate and shaking it; inserting the thin rod of the packing and crimping device and moving it to pack and crimp the pre-rolled cone; inserting the tube of the closing and extruding device and closing and extruding the finished cigarettes out onto the catcher.

A pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus and methods adapted for making and extruding cigarettes, such as marijuana cigarettes, onto a catcher and applications thereof are presented. In one embodiment, an apparatus is comprised of a plate with a working surface, a rim portion, a plurality of tapered holes that hold pre-rolled cones, a base attached to the plate, a packing and crimping device with thin rods that fill, pack and crimp pre-rolled cones, and a closing and extruding device with tubes that close and extrude finished cigarettes. A method involves placing pre-rolled cones into the apparatus, pouring the filling material onto the plate and shaking it; inserting the thin rod of the packing and crimping device and moving it to pack and crimp the pre-rolled cone; inserting the tube of the closing and extruding device and closing and extruding the finished cigarettes out onto the catcher.

Apparatus and method adapted for making and extruding cigarettes, such as marijuana cigarettes, the apparatus comprised of a plate with a working surface, an extruding surface, a rim portion, a plurality of tapered holes that hold pre-rolled cones, a base attached to the plate, and having crimping means, tamping means, and extruding means for finishing cigarettes, these means provided as individual devices or a combination devices, the method comprising placing pre-rolled cones into the apparatus, pouring the filling material onto the plate and shaking it, inserting the crimping means and moving it to pack and crimp the pre-rolled cones, inserting the tamping means for closing the pre-rolled cones, and inserting the extruding means for extruding the finished cigarettes onto the catcher.