A system and method for closing and sealing a cone filled with a smokable material provides a cone filler control system, a plurality of cone inserts each including a tapered inner wall defining a taper lock area for holding a cone filled with smokable material, and an insert ring provided at a lower end of each cone insert, each of the plurality of cone inserts removably inserted in corresponding cone receptacles residing in a cone carousel, a cone tamper actuator for compacting smokable material in a filled cone, a cone closer system including a gripper actuator for closing the cone top of the filled cone, and a cone sealing drive system including a motor with a drive wheel operated to impart a rotational force on the insert ring of each cone insert to rotate both the cone insert and a filled cone to form a wick seal at the end of the filled cone.

The present invention relates to a device and method for rolling a paper tube around ground material to form a cigarette. In an embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises an openable chamber configured to receive ground material, the chamber having a first end and a second end; a rolling assembly disposed within the chamber, the rolling assembly receiving paper and forming a paper tube around the ground material, the rolling assembly having a first end and a second; and a first gear assembly at the first chamber end and communicatively connected the first end of the rolling assembly, and a second gear assembly at the second chamber end and communicatively connected to the second end of the rolling assembly, the first and second gear activating the rolling assembly when rotated to roll the paper around the ground material forming a cigarette.

The present invention relates to a device and method for rolling a paper tube around ground material to form a cigarette. In an embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises an openable chamber configured to receive ground material, the chamber having a first end and a second end; a rolling assembly disposed within the chamber, the rolling assembly receiving paper and forming a paper tube around the ground material, the rolling assembly having a first end and a second; and a first gear assembly at the first chamber end and communicatively connected the first end of the rolling assembly, and a second gear assembly at the second chamber end and communicatively connected to the second end of the rolling assembly, the first and second gear activating the rolling assembly when rotated to roll the paper around the ground material forming a cigarette.

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.

The present invention relates to a device and method for rolling a paper tube around ground material to form a cigarette. In an embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises an openable chamber configured to receive ground material, the chamber having a first end and a second end; a rolling assembly disposed within the chamber, the rolling assembly receiving paper and forming a paper tube around the ground material, the rolling assembly having a first end and a second; and a first gear assembly at the first chamber end and communicatively connected the first end of the rolling assembly, and a second gear assembly at the second chamber end and communicatively connected to the second end of the rolling assembly, the first and second gear activating the rolling assembly when rotated to roll the paper around the ground material forming a cigarette.

The present invention relates to a device and method for rolling a paper tube around ground material to form a cigarette. In an embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises an openable chamber configured to receive ground material, the chamber having a first end and a second end; a rolling assembly disposed within the chamber, the rolling assembly receiving paper and forming a paper tube around the ground material, the rolling assembly having a first end and a second; and a first gear assembly at the first chamber end and communicatively connected the first end of the rolling assembly, and a second gear assembly at the second chamber end and communicatively connected to the second end of the rolling assembly, the first and second gear activating the rolling assembly when rotated to roll the paper around the ground material forming a cigarette.

A twisting apparatus has a rotor driven around an axis by an electric motor, a microcontroller; three elastomeric balls at ends of pivot arms mounted to a lower surface of the rotor such that arms may pivot to move the elastomeric balls toward or away from the central axis, a clutch mechanism having a clutch plate with pins interacting with the pivot arms such that rotation of the rotor from a stopped position in one direction closes the elastomeric balls toward the central axis, and rotation of the rotor from a stopped position in the opposite direction retracts the elastomeric balls; and a detection device sending a trigger event to the micro-controller. The trigger event closes the elastomeric balls on the cigarette end, then reverses to release.

A twisting apparatus has a rotor driven around an axis by an electric motor, a microcontroller; three elastomeric balls at ends of pivot arms mounted to a lower surface of the rotor such that arms may pivot to move the elastomeric balls toward or away from the central axis, a clutch mechanism having a clutch plate with pins interacting with the pivot arms such that rotation of the rotor from a stopped position in one direction closes the elastomeric balls toward the central axis, and rotation of the rotor from a stopped position in the opposite direction retracts the elastomeric balls; and a detection device sending a trigger event to the micro-controller. The trigger event closes the elastomeric balls on the cigarette end, then reverses to release.

A sub-unit of a smoking article includes a tubular wrapper which extends along a main axis of extension and internally defines a containment chamber containing a filling material of the tobacco industry. The tubular wrapper has an access opening on at least one of its ends for access to the containment chamber. The sub-unit also includes at least one closing element applied to the at least one end of the tubular wrapper to define a closing wall for closing the access opening. The closing element extends transversely to the main axis of extension in such a way as to at least partly close the access opening.