CIGARETTE PACKING PROCESSES, SYSTEMS, AND PRODUCTS

Abstract

Provided herein are systems, apparatuses, and methods of manufacturing high quality cigarettes, as well as products produced thereby. Such systems, apparatuses, and methods are particularly suitable for manufacturing products using smokable materials that are generally considered difficult to process, such as those that have high resin content, low density (or are fluffy), and/or are sticky (e.g., cannabis flower).

Claims

1. A system for manufacturing a cigarette, the system comprising: an apparatus for reducing the average size of a raw material (e.g., whole or parts of tobacco and/or cannabis leaf and/or flower, and/or dried herbs) to produce raw material particles; an apparatus configured to segregate raw material particles having a defined particle size from larger raw material bodies; a raw material storage reservoir for containing segregated raw material particles having a defined particle size; a wrapper storage apparatus for containing one or more pre-formed wrapper roll; a loading apparatus comprising a receiving surface configured to receive segregated raw material particles having a defined particle size from the raw material storage reservoir (e.g., and the loading apparatus further comprising a removable base upon which the one or more pre-formed wrapper roll rest when loaded within the loading bore, wherein removal of the removable base facilitates loading of one or more filled pre-formed wrapper roll into a gas packing apparatus); a gas packing apparatus comprising a seating body, seating body having one or more seating bore therein (e.g., therethrough), the seating bore configured to receive one or more pre-formed wrapper roll therewithin, and a gas manifold configured to receive pressurized gas (e.g., air) (e.g., 1-100 psi) through at least one inlet and to expel pressurized gas through one or more manifold outlet into one or more of the one or more pre-formed wrapper rolls seated within the seating body of the gas packing apparatus; an apparatus configured to apply vibration to the loading apparatus; and a physical packing apparatus configured to apply physical pressure to segregated raw material particles having a defined particle size that are contained within one or more pre-formed wrapper rolls seated within one or more bore of the loading apparatus.

2. A system for manufacturing a cigarette, the system comprising: a gas packing apparatus comprising a seating body, seating body having one or more seating bore therein (e.g., therethrough), the seating bore configured to receive one or more pre-formed wrapper roll therewithin, and a gas manifold system configured to receive pressurized gas (e.g., air) (e.g., 1-100 psi, such as about 20 psi to about 50 psi) through at least one manifold inlet and to expel pressurized gas (i) through one or more manifold outlet and (ii) into one or more of the one or more of the seating bores of the seating body.

3. A system for manufacturing a cigarette, the system comprising: an apparatus for reducing the average size of a raw material (e.g., whole or parts of tobacco and/or cannabis leaf and/or flower, and/or dried herbs) to produce raw material particles; an apparatus configured to segregate raw material particles having a defined particle size from larger raw material bodies; a wrapper storage apparatus for containing one or more pre-formed wrapper roll (e.g., wherein the wrapper storage apparatus is configured to load the pre-formed wrapper roll(s) into the seating body); and a gas packing apparatus comprising a seating body, seating body having one or more seating bore therein (e.g., therethrough), the seating bore configured to receive one or more pre-formed wrapper roll therewithin, and a gas manifold system configured to receive pressurized gas (e.g., air) (e.g., 1-100 psi, such as about 20 psi to about 50 psi) through at least one manifold inlet and to expel pressurized gas (i) through one or more manifold outlet and (ii) into one or more of the one or more of the seating bores of the seating body; and an apparatus configured to apply vibration to the loading apparatus.

4. A system for manufacturing a cigarette (e.g., tobacco or cannabis), the system comprising: a raw material storage reservoir for containing raw material particles (e.g., of tobacco and/or cannabis leaf and/or flower, and/or herbs); a vacuum packing apparatus comprising a seating body configured to seat one or more pre-formed wrapper roll therewithin, and a vacuum manifold comprising one or more vacuum manifold inlet, the one or more vacuum manifold inlet configured (i) receive reduced pressure (e.g., <1 atm) therein; and (ii) to draw air or gas through one or more pre-formed wrapper roll seated within the seating body of the vacuum packing apparatus and into the one or more vacuum manifold inlet.

5. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the raw material particles have a defined particle size.

6. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the raw material particles having a defined particle size have an average size (e.g., longest dimension) of about 5 mm or less (e.g., about 3 mm or less, or about 2 mm or less).

7. The system of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an apparatus for reducing the average size of a raw material to produce raw material particles.

8. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus for reducing the average size of the raw material is configured to chop, grind, tear, and/or whip the raw material into smaller bodies.

9. The system of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an apparatus configured to segregate raw material particles having a defined particle size from larger raw material bodies.

10. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus for segregating raw material particles having a defined particle size is a sieve (e.g., wherein the sieve mesh forms openings through which particles of a desired size fall throughthe openings may be any shape and have any suitable aspect ratio).

11. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sieve is configured to shake or vibrate.

12. The system of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a wrapper storage apparatus for containing one or more pre-formed wrapper roll.

13. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wrapper storage comprises one or more hollow body(s) (e.g., of any suitable shape, such as cylindrical, etc.), each hollow tube having a length or height sufficient to receive and store a plurality of pre-formed wrapper rolls therewithin.

14. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hollow body of the wrapper storage comprises a receiving end configured to receive pre-formed wrapper rolls therethough and a dispensing end configured to dispense pre-formed wrapper rolls therethrough (e.g., delivering such pre-formed wrapper rolls into a loading apparatus).

15. The system of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an gas manifold configured to receive pressurized gas through at least one manifold inlet and to expel pressurized gas through one or more manifold outlet and into the receiving end of one or more hollow tube of the wrapper storage (e.g., thereby facilitating dispensing a pre-formed wrapper roll into a loading apparatus).

16. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the seating body comprises one or more bores therethrough, each of the one or more bores comprising a first opening and a second opening, the one or more bore being configured to receive one or more of the one or more pre-formed wrapper rolls (e.g., from the wrapper storage apparatus) through the first opening and into the bore, and the one or more bore being configured to secure the one or more of the one or more one or more pre-formed wrapper rolls therewithin.

17. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the one or more bores configured to receive and secure no more than one pre-formed wrapper at any given time.

18. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more bores of seating body are in the shape of a conical frustum (e.g., wherein the first opening is larger than the second opening).

19. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pre-formed wrapper roll has a conical or cylindrical (or other suitable three-dimensional) configuration.

20. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more bores of seating body are in the shape of a conical frustum, wherein the first opening is larger than the second opening, and wherein the apex angle of the bore is within 10 degrees (e.g., within 5 degrees) of the apex angle of the pre-formed wrapper roll.

21. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving surface is configured to facilitate delivery of the segregated raw material particles having a defined particle size from the receiving surface into the one or more pre-formed wrapper rolls seated within the loading apparatus.

22. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more outlets of the gas manifold are configured to interface with some or all of the first opening(s) of the one or more of the bores of seating body.

23. The system of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an apparatus configured to apply vibration (e.g., speakers, tapping, etc.) to the loading apparatus.

24. The system of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a packing apparatus configured to apply physical pressure to segregated raw material particles having a defined particle size that are contained within one or more pre-formed wrapper rolls seated within one or more bore of the loading apparatus

25. A method for manufacturing a cigarette, the method comprising: reducing the average size of a raw material (e.g., whole or parts of tobacco and/or cannabis leaf and/or flower) to produce raw material particles; separating raw material particles having a defined particle size from larger raw material bodies to provide segregated raw material particles; stocking a raw material storage reservoir with the segregated raw materials particles; providing a a wrapper storage apparatus stocked with a plurality of pre-formed wrapper rolls; loading the plurality of seated, pre-formed wrapper rolls with the segregated raw materials particles; applying vibration to the plurality of loaded wrapper rolls; seating a seating body of a gas packing apparatus with a plurality of pre-formed wrapper rolls (e.g., transferring such pre-formed wrapper rolls from the wrapper storage apparatus to the loading apparatus if loading is done in the gas packing apparatus, or transferring the plurality of loaded wrapper rolls to the gas packing apparatus if loaded by hand or using a loading apparatus); gas packing the segregated raw materials particles in the plurality of loaded wrapper rolls by applying pressurized gas (e.g., 1-100 psi) thereto; and physically packing the segregated raw materials particles in the plurality of loaded wrapper rolls.

26. A method for manufacturing a cigarette, the method comprising: loading a plurality of pre-formed wrapper rolls with raw materials particles to form a plurality of loaded wrapper rolls; seating a gas packing apparatus (e.g., seating body thereof) with a plurality of pre-formed wrapper rolls (e.g., transferring such pre-formed wrapper rolls from a wrapper storage apparatus to the gas packing apparatus if loading is done in the gas packing apparatus, or transferring the plurality of loaded or filled pre-formed wrapper rolls to the gas packing apparatus if loaded by hand or using a loading apparatus); and packing the raw materials particles in the plurality of loaded wrapper rolls by applying pressurized gas (e.g., 1-100 psi) thereto (e.g., a first opening thereof).

27. A method for manufacturing a cigarette, the method comprising: loading a plurality of pre-formed wrapper rolls with raw materials particles to form a plurality of loaded wrapper rolls; seating a vacuum packing apparatus with a plurality of pre-formed wrapper rolls (e.g., transferring such pre-formed wrapper rolls from a wrapper storage apparatus to the gas packing apparatus if loading is done in the gas packing apparatus, or transferring the plurality of loaded or filled pre-formed wrapper rolls to the gas packing apparatus if loaded by hand or using a loading apparatus); and packing the raw materials particles in the plurality of loaded wrapper rolls by applying reduced pressure thereto (e.g., a second opening thereof).

28. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the raw materials comprise whole or parts of tobacco and/or cannabis leaf and/or flower.

29. The method of any of the preceding claims, further comprising reducing the average size of a raw material to produce raw material particles.

30. The method of any of the preceding claims, further comprising reducing the average size of the raw material by chopping, grinding, tearing, and/or whipping the raw material into smaller bodies.

31. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the raw material particles have a defined particle size.

32. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the raw material particles having a defined particle size have an average size (e.g., longest dimension) of about 5 mm or less (e.g., about 3 mm or less, or about 2 mm or less).

33. The method of any of the preceding claims, further comprising stocking a raw material storage reservoir with the segregated raw materials particles.

34. The method of any of the preceding claims, further comprising separating raw material particles having a defined particle size from larger raw material bodies to provide segregated raw material particles.

35. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein separating the raw material particles having a defined particle size from larger raw material bodies comprises sifting the particles through a sieve mesh.

36. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein separating the raw material particles having a defined particle size from larger raw material bodies comprises placing the particles on a sieve mesh and shaking or vibrating the sieve mesh.

37. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pre-formed wrapper rolls comprise a crutch a wrapper material.

38. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the crutch facilitates holding of the wrapper material in the configuration of the pre-formed wrapper roll.

39. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pre-formed wrapper rolls are in a cylindrical or conical shape.

40. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pre-formed wrapper rolls are in the shape of a cone.

41. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pre-formed wrapper rolls have a first end and a second end, the first end being open to the interior of a three-dimensional structure defined by a wrapper material.

42. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pre-formed wrapper rolls have a first end and a second end, the first end having a first opening to the interior of a three-dimensional structure defined by a wrapper material, and the second end (e.g., the apex in a conical shape) having a second opening to the interior of the three-dimensional structure, the second opening being smaller than the first opening (e.g., with a rolled or folded paper crutch configured within the interior structure in proximity to the second end).

43. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pre-formed wrapper rolls have a first end and a second end, the first end having a first opening to the interior of a three-dimensional structure defined by a wrapper material, and a porous filter body being configured within the interior structure in proximity the second end.

44. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wrapper material comprises paper and/or tobacco and/or cannabis leaf.

45. The method of any of the preceding claims, further comprising stocking a wrapper storage apparatus with a plurality of pre-formed wrapper rolls.

46. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the wrapper storage comprises one or more hollow tube(s) (e.g., of any suitable shape, such as cylindrical, etc.), each hollow tube having a length or height sufficient to receive and store a plurality of pre-formed wrapper rolls therewithin.

47. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the hollow tube of the wrapper storage comprises a receiving end configured to receive pre-formed wrapper rolls therethough and a dispensing end configured to dispense pre-formed wrapper rolls therethrough (e.g., delivering such pre-formed wrapper rolls into a loading apparatus).

48. The method of any of the preceding claims, further comprising applying a pressurized gas to the receiving end of one or more hollow tube of the wrapper storage (e.g., thereby facilitating dispensing a pre-formed wrapper roll into a loading apparatus).

49. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of pre-formed wrapper rolls are loaded with raw materials (e.g., 0.2 to 5 g of raw materials, depending on the size of the pre-formed wrapper roll).

50. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of pre-formed wrapper rolls are loaded with raw materials are loaded with a pre-determined volume of raw materials.

51. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pre-determined volume of raw materials is determined by measuring the volume of a known mass of raw materials (e.g., different raw materials have different densities).

52. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein (e.g., prior to loading) the one or more of the plurality of pre-formed wrapper rolls is loaded into a loading apparatus, the loading apparatus comprising a loading body, the loading body having one or more loading bore therethrough, the one or more of the plurality of pre-formed wrapper rolls being loaded into the plurality one or more loading bore.

53. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the loading apparatus further comprises a receiving surface, and the process comprising charging the receiving surface with raw material particles (e.g., from a raw material storage reservoir).

54. The method of any of the preceding claims, further comprising applying vibration (e.g., by tapping, using speakers, or the like) to the plurality of loaded wrapper rolls.

55. The method of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising applying vibration to the seated, loaded pre-formed wrapper roll (e.g., facilitating a (e.g., preliminary) packing of the raw material particles into the pre-formed wrapper roll).

56. The method of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising transferring loaded pre-formed wrapper rolls to a gas packing apparatus (e.g., wherein the loading apparatus further comprises a removable base upon which the one or more pre-formed wrapper roll rest when loaded within the loading bore, and the process further comprising removal of the removable base facilitating transfer of the one or more filled pre-formed wrapper roll into a gas packing apparatus).

57. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gas packing apparatus comprises a seating body, the seating body comprising a plurality of bores therethrough into which the pre-formed wrapper rolls are seated.

58. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bores of the seating body each comprise a first bore opening and a second bore opening, the pre-formed wrapper rolls being loaded into the bore through the first bore opening and seated within the bore.

59. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bores of the seating body each comprise a first bore opening and a second bore opening, the pre-formed wrapper rolls having a first end and a second end, the first end being passed through the first and then second bore openings before being seated within the bore.

60. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pre-formed wrapper rolls each comprise a first end and a second end, the pre-formed wrapper rolls having a first end and a second end, the first end having a first wrapper opening to the interior of a three-dimensional structure defined by a wrapper material, and the second end (e.g., the apex in a conical shape) having a second wrapper opening to the interior of the three-dimensional structure, the second wrapper opening being smaller than the first wrapper opening, wherein a (e.g., rolled or folded paper) crutch or porous filter is configured within the interior structure of the pre-formed wrapper roll in proximity to the second end, and wherein the entirety of the crutch or porous filter is outside of the bore (i.e., extended beyond the second bore opening) (e.g., facilitating tight packing at or near the filter or crutch, providing an overall good, uniform packing in the final product).

61. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the entirety of the crutch or porous filter is at least 0.5 mm (e.g., at least 1 mm, at least 2 mm, at least 3 mm, or the like) outside of the bore (i.e., when seated, the entirety of the crutch or filter, plus an additional amount protrudes from the second bore opening).

62. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pre-formed wrapper roll has a conical configuration and the bore has a conical configuration (e.g., a conical frustrum), and wherein the pre-formed wrapper roll has a conical configuration has an apex angle that is within 10 degrees (e.g., within 5 degrees, within 3 degrees, or the like) of an apex angle of the bore conical configuration (e.g., facilitating packing by ensuring gas flow through the pre-formed wrapper roll, rather than around it).

63. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pre-formed wrapper rolls each have an exterior surface and the loading apparatus bores have an interior surface, and wherein when seated, the exterior surface of the pre-formed wrapper roll is no more than 2 mm (e.g., no more than 1 mm, no more than 0.5 mm, or the like) from the interior surface of the apparatus bore (at its closest) (e.g., at any point within the bore wherein the pre-formed wrapper roll is seated, at the first wrapper opening, or both) (e.g., facilitating packing by ensuring gas flow through the pre-formed wrapper roll, rather than around it).

64. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the one or more bores receive no more than one pre-formed wrapper roll (e.g., at any given time).

65. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein gas packing the raw materials particles in the plurality of loaded wrapper rolls by providing pressurized gas (e.g., 1-100 psi, such as measured in line prior to expulsion into an opening described herein, such as through a gas manifold described herein) into the first wrapper opening.

66. The method of any one of the preceding claims, gas packing the raw materials particles in the plurality of loaded wrapper rolls by providing pressurized gas (e.g., 1-100 psi) into the first bore opening.

67. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pressurized gas flows into the bore through a first bore opening and out of the bore through a second bore opening.

68. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pressurized gas flows into the wrapper roll through a first wrapper opening and out of the wrapper roll through a second wrapper opening (e.g., facilitating good packing without adverse effects when the pressure is removed due to back pressure effects, and/or facilitating removal of too small particles that would otherwise be consumed or inhaled by a user).

69. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein gas packing the raw materials particles in the plurality of loaded wrapper rolls by providing pressurized gas to at least one inlet of a gas manifold, and bringing at least one outlet of the gas manifold in proximity to (e.g., in contact with, such as forming at least a partial seal with) at least one (e.g., multiple) (first) bore opening(s).

70. The method of any of the preceding claims, further comprising physically packing (e.g., with a dowel and/or piston) the raw materials particles in a plurality of loaded wrapper rolls (e.g., seated within the bores of loading apparatus).

71. The method of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising applying an additive to an external surface of the wrapper material (e.g., by spraying, dipping, painting, or other method an additive (e.g., oil) or a solution or suspension thereof).

72. The method of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising twisting and/or removing a portion of or the first end of the wrapper material (e.g., a portion that extends (e.g., in the direction of the first end or opening) beyond the packed raw material particles within the pre-formed wrapper roll).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0115] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary gas packing apparatus provided herein.

[0116] FIG. 2 illustrates another angle and close up view of an exemplary gas packing apparatus provided herein.

[0117] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary gas manifold provided herein for packing raw material within a wrapper roll.

[0118] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary gas manifold in association or proximity with a gas packing apparatus, such as to provide a pressurized gas or gas flow into and through a gas packing apparatus, in particular, the bores thereof.

[0119] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary conical wrapper roll provided herein.

[0120] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary conical wrapper roll loaded into an exemplary gas packing apparatus provided herein.

[0121] FIG. 7 illustrates a cross section of an exemplary alternate seating body structure of a gas packing apparatus provided herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0122] In certain instances, provided herein are processes, apparatuses, systems, and products thereof. In specific instances, provided herein are processes, apparatuses, systems suitable and/or capable of producing cigarettes (e.g., including tobacco cigarettes, cannabis cigarettes (also known as cannabis pre-rolls), and other enlongated smokable objects, such as objects suitable for drug delivery via smoking). Products provided herein, and as made possible using the processes, systems, and apparatuses described herein, are uniquely capable of being utilized for a broad range of raw materials, including those that are fluffy, sticky, high-resin content, and/or are generally difficult to process. Such raw materials include, by way of non-limiting example, tobacco products, cannabis products, herb products and the like. Cannabis products include, by way of non-limiting examples, those with high (e.g., greater than 0.5 wt. %) cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and/or other cannabinoid content.

[0123] In some instances, products according to the instant disclosure and produceable thereby include products those that highly consistent and uniform throughout the product. In certain instances such products have good and uniform packing of raw materials therein. A primary concern of packing difficult to pack raw materials (e.g., fluffy, sticky, and/or high resin materials) is that it is extremely difficult to achieve good and consistent packing of the raw material at the base of the cigarette (i.e., the end near the crutch or away from the loading opening or near the end that is inserted into the mouth of a user). In certain instances, such poor packing ultimately leads to poor packing throughout the product as the raw materials settle and the packing density somewhat homogenizes. In some instances, the result is an inferior product that the burns unevenly, runs, canoes, or the like. Moreover, in certain instances, inconsistent packing throughout the product causes inconsistent burning and can make it difficult to pull or draw air through the product while using. By contrast, in certain instances herein, products provided herein have a uniform pack density throughout the product, including proximal to the crutch or mouthpiece thereof and/or distal to the loading end of thereof.

[0124] Also, illustrated in the figures herein are are representative and non-limiting examples of certain components described herein.

[0125] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary seating body 100 portion of a gas packing apparatus provided herein. As illustrated, the seating body 100 comprises a body 101 portion, with a plurality of bores 102 (seating bores) configured through the body 101 portion of the seating body 100. In some instances, the seating bores 102 have a first opening 103 and a second opening 104 (not shown, but configured distal to the first opening 103). In some embodiments, a pre-formed wrapper roll is loaded into a seating bore 102 through. FIG. 2 illustrates another angle and close up view of an exemplary seating body 100 of the gas packing apparatus. As illustrated, the exemplary seating body 100 comprises a plurality of seating bores 102, each seating bore with a first opening 103 and a second opening 104. As illustrated, the seating bore 102 has a conical configuration, with the first opening 103 being larger than the second opening 104. As discussed herein, such a configuration allows for a close association between a conical wrapper roll and the inner surface of the seating bore 102.

[0126] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary gas manifold portion of a gas packing apparatus (or system) provided herein. In some instances, the gas packing apparatus comprises a gas manifold system 303 comprising a manifold outlet body 300 and seating body 100, such as wherein the manifold outlet body 300 is configured to interface with the seating body 100, such as illustrated in FIG. 4. As illustrated in the exemplary gas manifold outlet body 300, the gas manifold outlet body comprises at least one inlet 301, to which pressurized gas is provided (e.g., via a tube from a gas manifold body, such as illustrated). Further, as illustrated the exemplary gas manifold outlet body 300 comprises a plurality of manifold outlets 302. In some instances, a manifold or manifold system 303 provided herein comprises a manifold body 304 comprising an inlet (not shown), such as connected to a pressurized gas source (not shown), and one or more outlet 305. In some instances, the one or more outlet 305 of the manifold body 304 is connected (e.g., by a connector 306, such as piping or tubing) to one or more inlet 301 of a manifold outlet body 300, such as wherein the manifold outlet body 300 has one or more inlet 301 connected to one or more outlet 302, such as wherein the one or more outlet 302 is configured to interface with one or more bore (e.g., opening thereof) of a seating body described herein. In certain embodiments, a manifold body 304 comprises one or more outlet 305, with a pressure gauge 307 connected thereto. In some instances, such a pressure gauge facilitates quality control of the gas being provided into a corresponding bore of a seating body associated therewith. In other instances, the manifold and the manifold outlet body are integrated into a single body, such as wherein the manifold comprises an inlet and one or more outlet, such as wherein the one or more outlet is configured to interface with one or more bore (e.g., opening thereof) of a seating body described herein. For the avoidance of confusion, a manifold described herein may refer to either a manifold system 303 or a manifold outlet body 300, as long as the requirements described for the manifold are satisfied, such as comprising at least one inlet (xxx or 301) and at least one outlet 302. FIG. 4 illustrates how the manifold outlets 302 are brought into proximity with the bore opening(s) 103.

[0127] In some embodiments, an outlet of a manifold provided herein comprises a sealing body configured therearound. In certain embodiments, the sealing body is any shape and made of any suitable material (e.g., plastic, rubber, or the like) to facilitate providing a good seal at the manifold outlet and seating bore junction. In some embodiments, the sealing body 308 comprises a surrounding body 309, the surrounding body 309 surrounding the outlet 302, and configured to seat around an opening of a seating bore of a seating body described herein (e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6). In further or alternative embodiments, the sealing body 308 comprises a protruding portion 310, such that the protruding portion 309 is configured to seat within a seating bore of a seating body described herein (e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 6).

[0128] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary conical wrapper roll 500 provided herein. The illustrated wrapper roll has an overall length 501. In addition, the illustrated wrapper roll comprise wrapper material 502 and a crutch 503 configured within the wrapper roll 501. The crutch 503 has a length 504. As discussed herein, in certain embodiments, when seated within a seating body of a gas packing apparatus, the wrapper extends beyond the second opening of the gas packing apparatus by a length of at least the length of the crutch 504. Moreover, in certain embodiments, the entirety of the wrapper body passes through the first opening of the seating bore, indicating that the length of the bore is, in some instances, no greater than the length 505 of the wrapper roll that excludes the crutch 503. In some embodiments, processes and apparatuses provided herein comprise or are configured to provide pressurized gas (and raw materials) into a first (e.g., larger or receiving) opening 506 of a wrapper roll 500. As illustrated, in certain embodiments, the pre-formed wrapper roll 500 further comprises a second (e.g., smaller) opening 507, the second opening 507 having a crutch 503, such as a rolled paper or filter, configured in proximity thereof. In certain embodiments, the pre-formed wrapper roll 500 comprises a wrapper material 502 configured in a rolled (e.g., cylindrical or conical) shape and having an interior surface defining an interior space, the crutch 503 being configured within the interior space and in proximity to the second (e.g., smaller, such as in a conical configuration) opening 507. In certain embodiments, the process comprises applying pressurized gas to the first opening 506 of the pre-formed wrapper roll 500, such pressurized gas flowing into the pre-formed wrapper roll 500 and out of the second opening 507 of the pre-formed wrapper roll 507. In some embodiments, the wrapper roll 500 comprises a crutch 503 in proximity to the second opening 507, the crutch comprising sufficient void space (e.g., is sufficiently porous) therein to allow pressurized gas to flow therethrough. FIG. 6 illustrates the gas flowing into a preformed wrapper roll 605 loaded into a seating bore 602.

[0129] FIG. 6 illustrates a cross section of an exemplary seating body 600 portion of a gas packing apparatus provided herein. As illustrated, the seating body 600 comprises a seating bore 602 configured through the seating body 600. In some instances, the seating bore 602 has a first opening 603 and a second opening 604. FIG. 6 also illustrates a pre-formed wrapper roll 605 loaded into a seating bore 602. As illustrated, the seating bore 602 has a conical (conical frustum) configuration, with the first opening 603 being larger than the second opening 604. As discussed herein, such a configuration allows for a close association between a conical wrapper roll 605 and the inner surface of the seating bore 602.

[0130] As illustrated in FIG. 6, in some instances, the entirety of a crutch 606 of a pre-formed wrapper roll 605 is configured completely outside of the seating bore 602. In other words, in some instances, the crutch 606 is passed completely through the seating bore 602 or the crutch extends beyond the second bore opening 604 in its entirety. As discussed herein, a significant difficulty in packing fluffy, stick, and/or high-resin raw materials (e.g., cannabis, such as hemp) is associated with a difficulty to achieve good uniformity in the pack at the end of the wrapper roll distal to the receiving end of the wrapper roll. In some instances, by configuring the crutch completely outside of the seating bore when packing, a tight packing is facilitated at or near the crutch (e.g., wrapped and/or rolled paper and/or filter). In certain instances, such configurations provide good overall packing within the cigarette. Other processes (particularly on a commercial scale) generally provide loose packing distal to the receiving end of the wrapper roll, leading to a loose overall pack as the raw materials settle. As such, in certain instances, good distal packing facilitates good overall packing over time of the cigarette, leading to good performance and burn of the cigarette when ultimately utilized (e.g., by a person in need thereof). In specific embodiments, the entirety of the crutch 606 extends beyond the seating bore 602, as well as an additional portion of the wrapper roll 607. In specific embodiments, the crutch extends beyond the seating bore by at least 0.1 mm (e.g., at least 0.2 mm, at least 0.5 mm, at least 1 mm, at least 2 mm, at least 3 mm, or the like). In other words, in some instances, when seated, the entirety of the crutch, plus an additional amount 607 protrudes from the second seating bore opening.

[0131] FIG. 6 also illustrates a manifold outlet 608 interfacing with a first opening 603 of the seating bore 602. As illustrated, pressurized gas (e.g., air) is provided (i) into the seating bore 602, through the first opening thereof 603, and into the first opening 609 of the pre-formed wrapper roll 605 and (ii) out of the seating bore 602, through the second opening thereof 604, and out of the second opening 610 of the pre-formed wrapper roll 605. As illustrated, around the manifold outlet 608 is a sealing body 609, which may have any suitable shape and made of any suitable material (e.g., plastic, rubber, or the like) such as to facilitate providing a good seal at the manifold outlet and seating bore junction. In some embodiments, the sealing body 609 comprises a surrounding body 610, the surrounding body 610 surrounding the outlet 608, and configured to seat around an opening of a seating bore 603 of a seating body described herein. In further or alternative embodiments, the sealing body 609 comprises a protruding portion 611, such that the protruding portion 611 is configured to seat within a seating bore 602 of a seating body described herein.

[0132] In some instances, a seating bore extends at least partially through a seating body provided herein. For example, FIG. 7 illustrates a cross section of a seating body 700 comprising a seating bore 701 configured therethrough. In the example of FIG. 7, the base 702 is indented at the second opening 703 of the seating bore 701, however, such that the second opening 703 of the seating bore 703 is not flush with the distal-most portion of the seating body base 702. In some instances, such a configuration may be preferred when it is desired to protect the crutch of a pre-formed wrapper roll (not shown), such that it does not extend outside the protective area of the seating body 700.

EXAMPLES

Example 1

[0133] Provide raw material (hemp cannabis). Measure humidity and moisture. Run raw material through grinding (whipping) process to separate stems from flower and create initial grind. Sift initial grind to further separate stems and obtain a homogenized particle size. Select pre-formed wrapper roll cone configuration and the appropriate loading apparatus (i.e., corresponding to the size and shape of the pre-formed wrapper rolls). Load wrapper rolls into loading apparatus. Charge wrapper rolls with selected mass and/or volume of homogenized raw material particles. Transfer filled wrapper rolls from loading apparatus into gas packing apparatus (chambers or bores thereof). Gas is injected directly into the top of the wrapper roll cone at 40-50 psi to create a pressure within the loaded wrapper roll. Backpressure escapes through the hole in the bottom of the wrapper roll cone. Remove packed pre-rolls from gas packing apparatus chambers. Twist the top of the paper, inspect and finish. Products produced are firm and uniform along the length of the product, as compared to comparative products that lack firmness (particularly near the cone apex or crutch configured near the cone apex) and have inconsistent firmness along the length of the product.

Example 2

[0134] Provide raw material (hemp cannabis). Measure humidity and moisture. Run raw material through grinding (whipping) process to separate stems from flower and create initial grind. Sift initial grind to further separate stems and obtain a homogenized particle size. Select pre-formed wrapper roll cone configuration and the appropriate seating body (i.e., corresponding to the size and shape of the pre-formed wrapper rolls). Load wrapper rolls into seating body. Charge wrapper rolls with selected mass and/or volume of homogenized raw material particles. Gas is injected directly into the top of the wrapper roll cone at 40-50 psi to create a pressure within the loaded wrapper roll. Backpressure escapes through the hole in the bottom of the wrapper roll cone. Remove packed pre-rolls from gas packing apparatus chambers. Twist the top of the paper, inspect and finish.