A pre-formed cone filling apparatus (100) is disclosed for filling paper cones (130) with a ground product such as tobacco or another leaf- or plant-based product such as cannabis The apparatus 100 has individual cone holders (110) mounted vertically on the circumference of a horizontally-oriented rotating wheel (120). The cone holders move in pairs between a number of processing stations which are located around the circumference of the wheel (120). The processing stations include a loading station (200) for loading an individual cone (130) into each cone holder (110), a seating station (300) to ensure the cones (130) are correctly seated in the holders (110) and correctly shaped, a filling station (500) for filling a cone with the product, and a closing station (600) for closing the open end of the filled cone. The filling station also has primary and secondary tamping pins for controlling the product density during and after filling.

A pre-formed cone filling apparatus (100) is disclosed for filling paper cones (130) with a ground product such as tobacco or another leaf- or plant-based product such as cannabis The apparatus 100 has individual cone holders (110) mounted vertically on the circumference of a horizontally-oriented rotating wheel (120). The cone holders move in pairs between a number of processing stations which are located around the circumference of the wheel (120). The processing stations include a loading station (200) for loading an individual cone (130) into each cone holder (110), a seating station (300) to ensure the cones (130) are correctly seated in the holders (110) and correctly shaped, a filling station (500) for filling a cone with the product, and a closing station (600) for closing the open end of the filled cone. The filling station also has primary and secondary tamping pins for controlling the product density during and after filling.

A device for grinding and mixing of herbs and/or tobacco and/or spices, preparing and dispensing of cigarettes is disclosed. The device includes a single removable grinder/mixing unit 1200 that is extractable from the device and storable in a separate container 1600. The modular function enables convenient removal of any remaining herbs and/or tobacco and/or spices from the device for storage, and permits use of another grinder/mixing unit 1200 in the device for the grinding and mixing of other material.

A device for grinding and mixing of herbs and/or tobacco and/or spices, preparing and dispensing of cigarettes is disclosed. The device includes a single removable grinder/mixing unit 1200 that is extractable from the device and storable in a separate container 1600. The modular function enables convenient removal of any remaining herbs and/or tobacco and/or spices from the device for storage, and permits use of another grinder/mixing unit 1200 in the device for the grinding and mixing of other material.

A cone staging apparatus for production of smoking articles includes (a) a frame, and (b) a cone pallet releasably supported by the frame. The cone pallet includes a plurality of cavities. Each cavity has an open upper end for receiving a cone therein. The apparatus further includes (c) a cone magazine adjacent the frame for holding a supply of cones. The cone magazine includes at least one escapement alignable over the open upper end of a respective cavity of the cone pallet to facilitate transferring a single cone from the supply of cones to the respective cavity.

A cone staging apparatus for production of smoking articles includes (a) a frame, and (b) a cone pallet releasably supported by the frame. The cone pallet includes a plurality of cavities. Each cavity has an open upper end for receiving a cone therein. The apparatus further includes (c) a cone magazine adjacent the frame for holding a supply of cones. The cone magazine includes at least one escapement alignable over the open upper end of a respective cavity of the cone pallet to facilitate transferring a single cone from the supply of cones to the respective cavity.

A system and method for closing and sealing a cone is provided. One embodiment extends a first closing head in a first downward slant onto an open top of the cone filled with the smokable material to form a first fold on the top of the cone; extends a sealing head downward onto the first fold; extends a second closing head in a second downward slant onto the open top of the cone to form a second fold on the top of the cone; extends the sealing head downward onto the first fold and the second fold; extends a third closing head in a third downward slant onto the open top of the cone to form a third fold on the top of the cone; and extends the sealing head downward onto the first fold, the second fold, and the third fold.

A system and method for closing and sealing a cone is provided. One embodiment extends a first closing head in a first downward slant onto an open top of the cone filled with the smokable material to form a first fold on the top of the cone; extends a sealing head downward onto the first fold; extends a second closing head in a second downward slant onto the open top of the cone to form a second fold on the top of the cone; extends the sealing head downward onto the first fold and the second fold; extends a third closing head in a third downward slant onto the open top of the cone to form a third fold on the top of the cone; and extends the sealing head downward onto the first fold, the second fold, and the third fold.

A device for forming tips of a rod-like article, characterized in that it comprises: a drum conveyor (26) having at least one flute (28) for transferring the rod-like article (1, 5, 10, 15) transversally to an axis (k) of the rod-like article (1, 5, 10, 15), wherein the flute (28) for transferring the rod-like article (1, 5, 10, 15) is configured to move along a first circular path (s); a first pressing element (32, 51) configured to move along a second circular path (r) and a second pressing element (33, 45, 53) configured to move along a third circular path (t), wherein the third circular path (t) is located opposite to the second circular path (s) with respect to the first circular path (r), wherein the first pressing element (32, 51) and the second pressing element (33, 45, 53) form a pair (34, 47, 50) of the pressing elements located opposite to each other, wherein at least one pressing element (32, 33, 51, 53) of the pair (34, 47, 50) of the pressing elements (32, 33, 45, 51, 53) has a concave forming surface (35, 36, 52, 54), wherein the pressing elements (32, 33, 45, 51, 53) are configured to move linearly along an axis (Y) of the flute (28) that is transverse to the first circular path (s) towards and away from each other, wherein the first circular path (s), the second circular path (r) and the third circular path (t) are arranged coaxially.

A device for forming tips of a rod-like article, characterized in that it comprises: a drum conveyor (26) having at least one flute (28) for transferring the rod-like article (1, 5, 10, 15) transversally to an axis (k) of the rod-like article (1, 5, 10, 15), wherein the flute (28) for transferring the rod-like article (1, 5, 10, 15) is configured to move along a first circular path (s); a first pressing element (32, 51) configured to move along a second circular path (r) and a second pressing element (33, 45, 53) configured to move along a third circular path (t), wherein the third circular path (t) is located opposite to the second circular path (s) with respect to the first circular path (r), wherein the first pressing element (32, 51) and the second pressing element (33, 45, 53) form a pair (34, 47, 50) of the pressing elements located opposite to each other, wherein at least one pressing element (32, 33, 51, 53) of the pair (34, 47, 50) of the pressing elements (32, 33, 45, 51, 53) has a concave forming surface (35, 36, 52, 54), wherein the pressing elements (32, 33, 45, 51, 53) are configured to move linearly along an axis (Y) of the flute (28) that is transverse to the first circular path (s) towards and away from each other, wherein the first circular path (s), the second circular path (r) and the third circular path (t) are arranged coaxially.