Abstract
Finishing and extruding method comprising the steps of obtaining a press tool and a finishing and extruding apparatus defining a plurality of elongated inner tapered hole surfaces, having a plurality of pre-rolled paper cones, containing smokeable materials, loaded into the plurality of corresponding elongated inner tapered hole surfaces of the apparatus, folding excess paper of each of the plurality of pre-rolled paper cones over using tines of the press tool, pressing each top of the folded paper of the plurality of pre-rolled paper cones using the press tool to flatten and begin to close each top of the folded paper of the plurality of pre-rolled paper cones with pressure, and pressing and extruding each of the plurality of closed pre-rolled paper cones with the press tool deeper into each of the corresponding elongated tapered hole surfaces in the apparatus to finish closing and to eject each cigarette into a catcher.
Claims
1. A method of producing a plurality of consistently dimple-closed cigarettes, comprising: Obtaining a press tool and a finishing and extruding apparatus defining a plurality of elongated inner tapered hole surfaces, having a plurality of pre-rolled paper cones loaded into the plurality of corresponding elongated inner tapered hole surfaces of the apparatus, each of the plurality of pre-rolled paper cones having smokeable material filled therein; Folding excess paper of each of the plurality of pre-rolled paper cones over using tines of the press tool; Pressing each top of the folded paper of the plurality of pre-rolled paper cones using the press tool to flatten and begin to close each top of the folded paper of the plurality of pre-rolled paper cones with pressure; and Pressing and extruding each of the plurality of closed pre-rolled paper cones with the press tool deeper into each of the corresponding elongated tapered hole surfaces in the apparatus to finish closing and to eject each cigarette into a catcher.
2. The method of producing a plurality of consistently dimple-closed cigarettes of claim 1, further comprising: Loading the plurality of elongated inner tapered hole surfaces of the finishing and extruding apparatus further comprising a packing apparatus, with the plurality of pre-rolled paper cones and filling the plurality of pre-rolled paper cones with smokeable material; and Shaking the loaded extruding apparatus via shaking of the packing apparatus for between 20-30 seconds to achieve an appropriate pack.
3. The method of producing a plurality of consistently dimple-closed cigarettes of claim 2, further comprising: Obtaining a metering tray with spacer sheets wherein during the loading of the plurality of pre-rolled paper cones, the metering tray and as many spacer sheets as needed are placed on top of the plurality of elongated inner tapered hole surfaces of said extruding apparatus to fill the plurality of pre-rolled paper cones with metered amount of smokeable material.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein finishing and closing produces a dimple or Dutch Crown close.
5. A method of producing a plurality of consistently dimple-closed cigarettes from partially closed pre-filled paper cones having smokeable materials therein, comprising: Obtaining a press tool and a finishing and extruding apparatus defining a plurality of elongated inner tapered hole surfaces and having a plurality of pre-filled paper cones loaded, wherein each of the plurality of pre-filled paper cones is held by corresponding one of said plurality of elongated inner tapered hole surfaces of the apparatus; and Pressing and extruding each of the plurality of partially closed pre-filled paper cones with the press tool deeper through each of the corresponding elongated inner tapered hole surfaces to fold and close, and thereby finish, each cigarette and to eject each cigarette into a catcher.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF DRAWINGS
[0104] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a portion of an embodiment of a pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus (hereafter also referred to as a cigarette manufacturing apparatus or the apparatus) in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure, with a plurality of tapered holes oriented in a pattern of 10 rows and 10 columns and a supporting structure comprised of two legs, the apparatus shown being loaded with filling material, such as marijuana.
[0105] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A and further showing broken out a portion of the plate of the apparatus of FIG. 1A, wherein the plate and dotted lines show how the tapered holes may hold a plurality of pre-rolled cones.
[0106] FIG. 1C is a top view of the portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A and further showing some of the rightmost tapered holes empty, some of the next rightmost tapered holes holding pre-rolled cones, and some of the leftmost tapered holes holding pre-rolled cones filled with filling material.
[0107] FIG. 2A is a side view of an embodiment of a packing and crimping device portion of a filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure, the device having a plurality of thin rods oriented in a pattern of two offset rows and adapted for use with the apparatus of FIGS. 1A-1C.
[0108] FIG. 2B is a side view of another embodiment of a packing and crimping device portion of a filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure, the device having a plurality of thin rods oriented in a pattern of a row that are each comprised of a spring and a plastic tip adapted for use with the portion of the filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus of FIGS. 1A-1C.
[0109] FIG. 3 is a partially-exploded side view of another embodiment of a closing and extruding device portion of a filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure, the device having a plurality of tubes, with a portion of the handle shown broken out, as well as with dotted lines, to show how the plurality of tubes attach to the handle.
[0110] FIG. 4 is a close-up longitudinal cross-section side view of a tapered hole of a portion of an embodiment of a pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure, showing the tapered hole holding a pre-rolled cone filled with material within the plate, and further showing a thin rod of a packing and crimping device inserted into the pre-rolled cone.
[0111] FIG. 5 is a close-up longitudinal cross-section side view of a tapered hole of a portion of an embodiment of a pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure, showing the tapered hole holding a pre-rolled cone filled with material within the plate, and further showing a thin rod of a packing and crimping device in the process of crimping the upper edge of the pre-rolled cone.
[0112] FIG. 6 is a close-up longitudinal cross-section side view of a tapered hole of a portion of an embodiment of a pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure, showing the tapered hole holding a pre-rolled cone filled with material within the plate, and further showing a tube of a closing and extruding device pushing against the crimped upper edge to close the pre-rolled cone.
[0113] FIG. 7 is a close-up longitudinal cross-section side view of a tapered hole of a portion of an embodiment of a pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure, showing the tapered hole, and further showing a tube of a closing and extruding device pushing and extruding a finished cigarette from the tapered hole.
[0114] FIG. 8 is a side view of a combination packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device portion of a filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus and having a plurality of thin rods and tubes oriented in a row in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure, the device being shown partially broken out to show the internal structure and workings of the device at a portion of the handle, as well as with dotted lines to show how the handle attaches to the tubes, the thin rods, and the springs.
[0115] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a portion of a pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure, with a plurality of tapered holes oriented in a pattern of 10 rows and a supporting structure comprised of two legs that differ from the supporting structure of FIGS. 1A-1C.
[0116] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a portion of a pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure, with a plurality of tapered holes oriented in a pattern of 10 rows and a supporting structure comprised of four legs.
[0117] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure, with a single tapered hole and a supporting structure comprised of two legs, and a combination packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device comprised of one thin rod and one tube.
[0118] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a portion of a pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure, with a plurality of tapered holes oriented in a pattern of a row and a supporting structure comprised of two legs.
[0119] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a three-pronged packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device portion of a filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus and having a first type of prong comprising a plurality of crimping rods, a second type of prong comprising a plurality of tamping rods, and a third type of prong comprising a plurality of ejecting rods extending from a handle.
[0120] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a portion of an embodiment of a pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure, with a plurality of tapered holes oriented in a pattern of 10 rows and 10 columns and a base comprised of two legs, having a thicker plate size than shown in FIGS. 1A-1C.
[0121] FIG. 15 is an exploded view of an embodiment of a pre-rolled paper cone filling, packing, finishing and extruding apparatus (hereafter also referred to as a cigarette manufacturing apparatus, the extruding and finishing apparatus or the apparatus) in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure, with a material receiving part that is a tray with a rim and a working surface with a plurality of holes oriented in a pattern of 11 rows and 11 columns, and an extruding apparatus that is a plate in use with a metering tray, with one spacer sheet and a packing apparatus.
[0122] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the pre-rolled paper cone filling, packing, finishing and extruding apparatus of FIG. 15, showing how the metering tray, the pre-rolled paper cone filling, packing, finishing and extruding apparatus, and the packing apparatus can be stacked together as a unit.
[0123] FIG. 17 is a close-up longitudinal cross-section side view of another embodiment of an extruding apparatus of an embodiment in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure, showing the elongated inner tapered hole surface formed by a tube, such as a stainless steel tube, attached to an underside of a working tray with a bracket, wherein there are shown the tapered hole surface's larger opening at the receiving portion and its smaller opening at the extruding portion, and further showing a chamfered-tip rod of a pressing tool (same one as that of FIG. 18) pushing and extruding to eject a dimple-closed finished cigarette from the extruding portion of the elongated inner tapered hole surface.
[0124] FIG. 18 is a side view of another embodiment of a closing and extruding device portion of a filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure, the device having a plurality of rods, each with a chamfered-tip end and attached to the handle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0125] The present disclosure provides various embodiments of a pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus (hereafter referred to also as a cigarette manufacturing apparatus or the apparatus), use applications thereof, and related methods of filling, packing, finishing, and extruding cigarettes, such as marijuana cigarettes, onto a catcher. Some embodiments disclosed herein may be just a finishing and extruding apparatus, portions of the same, use applications thereof, and related methods of finishing, and extruding cigarettes, such as marijuana cigarettes, onto a catcher.
[0126] Some terminologies have changed as improvements have been made to the apparatus. It will be appreciated that each elongated inner tapered hole surface serves to define a tapered hole, and therefore it will be appreciated that these terms are referring to similar portions without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. Further, the terms thin rod, crimping rod, and tines each refer to same/similar parts of the invention in different embodiments of the apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. Still further, the terms tube, tamping and ejecting rod, chamfered end rod, and concave tip-end rods refer to same/similar parts of the invention in different embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. In some embodiments, chamfered tip-end rod has replaced tubes, but this serves to do the same/similar functions of closing and ejecting. The type of the ejecting rod, whether a tube with a concave tip, convex tip, or chamfered tip, does not matter as much as long as the diameter is not too large or too narrow, to allow for a dimple, also known as an origami fold or a Dutch Crown, closing of the cigarette during extrusion. In embodiments with the three-pronged packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device, tamping and ejecting rod have been separated into two different types of rods, tamping rod and closing and ejecting rod or ejecting rod, without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that as different pre-rolled cone sizes come out, the elongated inner tapered hole surface length (or in an embodiment the plate thickness), as well as the diameters of tapered holes, diameters and lengths of crimping rods (aka thin rods or tines), tamping and ejecting rods (aka tubes or concave tip-end rods), tamping rods, ejecting rods, and closing and ejecting rods (aka chamfered tip-end rods) may change to accommodate the change in pre-rolled cone diameters and lengths without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. Further, it will be appreciated that any of the following plates with different thicknesses (or elongated inner tapered hole surface different lengths) may be used in connection with the packing and crimping device, the closing and extruding device, the combination packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device, and the three-pronged packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device, all without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.
[0127] Referring generally to FIGS. 1A-1C, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of a portion 100 of a pre-rolled cone filling, packing, crimping, finishing, and extruding apparatus in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure. The apparatus portion 100 preferably comprises a plate 110 in an embodiment of the invention, having a working surface 111, an extruding surface 114 parallel to the working surface 111, and a rim portion 112. The plate 110 may preferably be of a thickness adapted to facilitate crimping of a pre-rolled cone 800, and preferably a plurality of cones 800, as filling material 810, such as marijuana, is introduced into the cone. After, filling, packing, crimping, and finishing, the pre-rolled cones 800 are extruded through the plate 110 past the extruding surface 114 and onto a catcher 850, such as a floor, a tabletop, or a basin. The preferred thickness for the plate 110 is at least 1.5625 inches thick and no more than 1.6875 inches thick when adapted for size 98 mm and 109 mm pre-rolled cones 800. The plate 110 may be made of known materials in the art, such as wood, metal, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), plastic, acrylic, and other moldable and machinable materials. It will be appreciated that an alternative embodiment of the disclosure may comprise other apparatus defining a plurality of elongated inner tapered hole surfaces, each defining an entrance portion and an exit portion, the entrance portion communicating with the working tray and the exit portion defining an extrusion area where finished cigarettes come out of each of the elongated tapered holes, is intended to be broadly claimed hereinit being the case that it may be considered in its broadest aspects in terms of the size and shape of each tapered hole or tube adapted for use with one of a filling and packing device and/or a crimping and an extruding device.
[0128] Thus, in an embodiment, the length of the tapered hole may preferably be at least 1.5625 inches long, and preferably no more than 1.6875 inches long (i.e., assuming it is made of plastic), for producing cigarettes from a known 109 mm or 98 mm paper cone size, but whether the pre-rolled cone is 109 mm, 98 mm, 84 mm, 70 mm, or some other size, the claimed apparatus and method hereof is for an apparatus comprising a chosen tapered whole length, or thickness of plate or tray, depending on the size of the cone and the material used for the plate, tray, or interconnecting members defining the holes, whether metal, plastic, wood, rubber, or some other suitable material. Thus, for example, while a length or plate thickness that is between 1.5625 and 1.6875 inches wide and made of plastic, as is specifically disclosed herein as an exemplary embodiment, is well-suited for preparing cigarettes from a 109 mm or 98 mm paper cone, a smaller length, or less thick plate or tray, would be appropriately suited for smaller paper cones. And this length, or thickness, for determining the optimum length of the tapered hole for any given size of paper cone, depends on the coefficient of friction of the surface of the material used to define the tapered hole. The smoother the surface of the tapered hole is, the longer the hole must be in order to naturally accomplish the crimping function as further described herein upon extrusion, and the greater the friction of the material forming the tapered hole is, the shorter the hole may be in order to naturally accomplish the crimping function upon extrusion as further described herein.
[0129] Thus, a summary of example suitably sized vertically aligned holes (about their relative center points) for the device of the disclosure, suitable for given known sizes of rolling papers, and not meant to be limiting but rather instructive, is presented as follows:
TABLE-US-00004 Opening Diameter of Areas of Holes in Size of Paper Holes Square Inches 109 mm Top Hole .5 .196 to .109 Bottom Hole .375 98 mm Top Hole .472 .175 to .098 Bottom Hole .355 84 mm Top Hole .430 .145 to .072 Bottom Hole .305 70 mm Top Hole .408 .130 to .074 Bottom Hole .308
[0130] Note that when pressing pre-rolls, the entire hole, or more accurately the pre-roll paper in the hole, is never filled completely to the top, because there needs to be a gap or opening at the top of the paper in order to be able to have enough paper to fold over and close the pre-roll. Thus, usually there is about a quarter of an inch to an eighth of an inch of excess paper left unfilled at the top of each filled paper before closing and pressing. Also note that the taper of each hole is preferably designed so as to correspond to the taper of the pre-roll papers the holes are designed to support, or cup, to hole them in place as they are sitting in the holes awaiting filling (or in the case of a device of the present disclosure used for extruding pre-filled papers, as they are sitting in the holes awaiting extrusion).
[0131] The aforementioned sizes work for the following materials because when machined or molded they all have a similar surface in terms of smoothness: Plastics, such as HDPE, UHMW, Acetal, Nylon, etc., Aluminum, molded polyurethane, and hard wood. Softer woods have been found to be less smooth (as determined and learned in earlier embodiments of the disclosure), and therefore the thickness of the plate, or length of the elongated inner tapered hole surface, may be smaller (in thickness or length) than described above.
[0132] HDPE may be most commonly used, because of durability, smoothness, and for the best price point to machineability, but it will be appreciated that aluminum may be the best, for example, if there is a desire to freeze work trays for the purpose of reducing the stickiness of resins to prevent gumming up of the holes. Aluminum or other metal material may also be used for enhanced durability, since plastic can crack over time when pressure is applied during the extruding process.
[0133] Referring to the primary embodiment of the disclosure comprising the plate 110, it defines at least one tapered hole 113. The tapered holes 113 are preferably a plurality of tapered holes 113 for this embodiment and the tapered holes 113 are oriented in a pattern of 10 rows. The rows may be offset as shown, they may be arranged into columns, or the tapered holes 113 may be arranged into any other desirable pattern. The tapered holes 113 are wider where they communicate with the working surface 111 and narrows as they extend further away from the working surface 111. The tapered holes 113 receive and hold pre-rolled cones 800 and are preferably designed to hold 98 mm and 109 mm pre-rolled cones 800. Each of the tapered holes 113 correspond to the taper of a pre-rolled cone 800 to facilitate crimping of the pre-rolled cone 800 as the pre-rolled cone 800 is pushed down into the tapered hole 113.
[0134] The base 120 attached to the plate 110 may be two legs 120 as illustrated, but another number of legs may be used. The two legs 120 in this embodiment are attached to the plate 110 using screws 122, but other means of attachment known in the art, such as glue, may be used. The embodiment portion shown in FIG. 1A also has handles 121 attached to the legs 120 for easy portability of the apparatus 100. The base 120 holds the plate 110 up in a position sufficiently spaced from the catcher 850 to allow the pre-rolled cones 800 to partially hang out of the corresponding tapered holes 113 while the tapered holes 113 hold the pre-rolled cones 800. The catcher 850 may be any surface that may be used to catch and gather extruded cigarettes, such as a table, a floor, a bin, or a basin. There should be enough space for the extruded cigarette to fall onto, or into, the catcher 850.
[0135] The filling materials 810, such as marijuana, from a container means 860 may be poured onto the working surface 111 as illustrated. The rim 112 prevents the filling material 810 from spilling off the plate 110 while the plate 110 is tilted and shaken sideways so the filling material 810 enters into the tapered holes 113 and falls into the pre-rolled cones 800 held within the tapered holes. Packing and crimping devices, and closing and extruding devices are not shown in FIG. 1A-1C, but will be detailed below in FIGS. 2-3 and later FIGS.
[0136] Referring specifically to FIG. 1B, there is shown a perspective view of a portion 100 of an embodiment of the pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus of FIG. 1A and showing a broken plate 110 segment to show how pre-rolled cones 800 may be received by the tapered holes 113. The left most corner of the plate 110, including some of the rim 112 and the working surface 111, is illustrated as broken to show two tapered holes 113 broken into halves and shown as solid lines within the plate 110. Four of the tapered holes 113 are shown in dotted lines to represent the outline of the tapered holes 113 defined within the plate 110. As described in FIG. 1A, the tapered hole 113 is wider where it communicates with the working surface 111 of the plate 110. Each of the tapered holes 113 correspond to the taper of a pre-rolled cone 800 to facilitate crimping of the pre-rolled cone 800 as the pre-rolled cone 800 is pushed down the tapered hole 113. Two pre-rolled cones 800 are present in two outlined tapered holes 113 to show how each tapered hole 113 would receive and hold a pre-rolled cone 800. As illustrated, each tapered hole 113 is slightly bigger than a pre-rolled cone 800 to allow downward movement of the pre-rolled cone 800 as it is filled, packed, crimped, closed, and extruded from the plate 110. The pre-rolled cones 800 may preferably be of 98 mm size and 109 mm size. Two of the dotted tapered holes 113 are left empty as comparison. A handle 121 attached to the base 120 and the base 120 as two legs 120 attached to the plate 110 are also illustrated to allow easy shaking of this portion 100 of the apparatus to allow better filling of materials 810 on the working surface 111 and into the pre-rolled cones 800.
[0137] Referring specifically to FIG. 1C, there is shown atop view of the portion 100 of the embodiment of the pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus of FIGS. 1A and 1B. The portion 100 of the apparatus of FIGS. 1A and 1B has a plate 110, a working surface 111, and a rim portion 112. A base 120, comprising two legs 120 in this embodiment, is attached to the plate 110, using screws 122. However, other means of attachment, such as glue, may be used. The two legs 120 are shown each with a handle 121 for easy positioning and moving of the portion 100 of the apparatus, but it will be appreciated that handles could also be attached directly to the plate 110. As discussed in connection with FIGS. 1A and 1B, the plate 110 defines 100 tapered holes 113 in a pattern oriented in 10 rows for this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1C, the leftmost two columns of tapered holes 113 each receives and holds a pre-rolled cone 800 filled with the filling material 810 (shaded gray), which preferably may be marijuana. The next four columns of tapered holes 113 to the right are each shown having received and holding a pre-rolled cone 800 to illustrate how pre-rolled cones 800 may be received and held in the tapered holes 113. The four rightmost columns of tapered holes 113 are empty to illustrate the tapering of the tapered holes 113.
[0138] Referring to FIG. 2A, there is shown a side view of an embodiment of a packing and crimping device 130 of a pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure. The packing and crimping device 130 comprises a handle 131 attached to at least one thin rod 132, which is a plurality of thin rods 132 for this embodiment. The thin rods 132 may be attached to the handle 131 by inserting the thin rod 132 into hollowed out areas of the handle 131 and securing by fastener means 133 as shown in FIG. 2A. However, other means of attachment known in the art, such as glue or force fit, may be used. The embodiment shown in FIG. 2A has 20 thin rods 132 oriented in a pattern of two rows, and it is meant to be used with a plate 110 having tapered holes 113 oriented in a pattern of at least two rows. For example, this embodiment of the packing and crimping device 130 may be used with the 10-row plate 110 of FIGS. 1A-1C. Thin rods 132 may preferably be made of metal, but other materials, such as plastic, may be used. The handle 131 may be made of known materials in the art, such as wood, metal, HDPE, plastic, acrylic, and other moldable and machinable materials.
[0139] FIG. 2B is a side view of another embodiment of a packing and crimping device 130 portion of a cigarette manufacturing apparatus in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure. The packing and crimping device comprises a handle 131 attached to at least one thin rod 132 that are a plurality of thin rods 132 oriented in a pattern of a row for this embodiment. The handle 131 may be made of known materials in the art, such as known materials in the art, such as wood, metal, HDPE, plastic, acrylic, and other moldable and machinable materials. The plurality of thin rods 132 in this embodiment are 10 thin rods 132 that are each comprised of a spring 134 and a plastic tip 135. Each spring 134 attaches interposed and interconnecting between the handle 131 and the plastic tip 135. The spring 134 may be attached to the handle 131 by attachment means known in the art, such as glue or embedding the end of the spring 134 into the handle 131. The spring 134 may preferably be of diameter big enough for the plastic tip 135 to be inserted and held secure within the spring 134. Other means of attaching the plastic tip 135 to the spring 134 known in the art, such as glue, may be used. The spring 135 portion of the thin rod 132 allows more delicate placement of the thin rod 132 within a tapered hole (not shown) and within a pre-rolled cone (not shown). The spring 135 also allows for flexibility in action for the plastic tip 135 of the thin rod 132 to easily move in a circular pattern when the packing and crimping device 130 fills and crimps a pre-rolled cone 800. It will be appreciated the handle 131 and thin rods 132 will be constructed, for example possibly with a plurality of pieces combined in such a way as to partially enclose the thin rods, and for example bolts similar to bolts 133 of FIG. 2A, and in a way that will lend structural strength to the device needed in order to withstand pressures of tamping, packing, and crimping as contemplated herein. The packing and crimping device 130 is adapted for use with the apparatus 100 of FIGS. 1A-1C. However, the packing and crimping device 130 may be used with any other embodiment of the apparatus 100 that has at least 10 tapered holes (not shown) in a row, such as the apparatus 100 of FIG. 12.
[0140] FIG. 3 is a partially-exploded side view of an embodiment of a closing and extruding device 140 in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure, with a portion of the handle 141 shown broken out, as well as with dotted lines, to show how the plurality of tubes 142 attach to the handle 141. It will be appreciated that the handle 141 may be comprised of a plurality of pieces combined in such as a way to partially enclose bolts 143 and portions of the tubes 142. The closing and extruding device 140 comprises a handle 141 attached to at least one tube 142, which may preferably be a plurality of tubes 142. In this embodiment, the plurality of tubes 142 are 10 tubes 142. Each of the tubes 142 is attached to the handle 141 by a bolt 143 with a shaft 144 that is inserted within the tube 142 in order to give the device structural strength to withstand pressing and extruding pressures. The length of the shaft 144 of the bolt 143 may preferably be 1-2 millimeters shorter than the length of the tube 142. The bolt 143 may be made of metal, such as stainless steel, but other materials known in the art, such as plastic or acrylic, may be used. The bolt 143 may attach to the handle 141 by inserting the bolt 143 and tube 142 combination into a hollow 146 within the sleeve that fits tightly around the bolt 143 and the tube 142 combination. Other means of attachment known in the art, such as glue, may be used.
[0141] Each of the tubes 142 are designed to be of a larger diameter than the thin rods (shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B) and has a concaved tip 145, which allows for catching and closing of crimped upper edges of pre-rolled cones (not shown). The tube 142 may preferably be made of plastic, such as Nylon, or any other material such as wood, metal, aluminum, or the like, suitable to the purpose of being sufficiently rigid to be used to push and compress the filled pre-rolled cones out of the plate, as shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, and through the tapered hole as shown in FIGS. 1A-1C. The handle 141 may be made of known materials in the art, such as wood, metal, HDPE, plastic, acrylic, and other moldable and machinable materials.
[0142] FIG. 4 is a close-up longitudinal cross-section side view of a tapered hole 113 in a plate 110, or other form of a defined tapered hole 113, of an embodiment of a pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure. The tapered hole 113 is wider where the tapered hole 113 communicates with the working surface 111 of the plate 110 and narrower where the tapered hole 113 communicates with the extruding surface 114 of the plate 110. The tapered hole 113 is shown holding a pre-rolled cone 800 filled with filling material 810, marijuana 810 in this illustration, within the plate 110. The circular dotted line within the pre-rolled cone 800 represents the top of the filling material 810 that has filled the pre-rolled cone 800. The portion of the pre-rolled cone 800 above the circular dotted line is the upper edge 801 of the pre-rolled cone that will be crimped as shown in FIG. 5. A thin rod 132 of a packing and crimping device 130 is shown inserted into the pre-rolled cone 800 and standing above the top of the filling material 810, in a position ready to start the packing and crimping process once the pre-rolled cone has been filled. The thin rod 132 is attached to a handle 130.
[0143] A thin rod of a combination packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device 230, 230 (shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 11) of an embodiment of a pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus 200, 200, 200 (shown in FIGS. 9-11) in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure would work the same as the thin rod 132 of the packing and crimping device 130 shown in FIG. 4 at this stage of filling, packing, and finishing (crimping and/or folding).
[0144] FIG. 5 is a close-up longitudinal cross-section side view of a tapered hole 113 of an embodiment of a plate 110, or other form of a defined tapered hole 113, of a pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure, and represents a continuation of the filling, packing, closing, and extruding apparatus (and associated method as described hereinafter) started in FIG. 4. The tapered hole 113 is wider where the tapered hole 113 communicates with the working surface 111 of the plate 110 and narrower where the tapered hole 113 communicates with the extruding surface 114 of the plate 110. The tapered hole 113 is shown holding a pre-rolled cone 800 filled with filling material 810, marijuana, within the plate 110. The circular dotted line within the pre-rolled cone 800 represents the top of the filling material 810 that has filled the pre-rolled cone. The portion of the pre-rolled cone 800 above the circular dotted line is the upper edge 801 of the pre-rolled cone.
[0145] In FIG. 5, a thin rod 132 of a packing and crimping device 130 is shown inserted into the pre-rolled cone 800. The thin rod 132 is attached to a handle 130. As an operator moves the handle 130 and pushes and moves the thin rod 132 in a circular pattern repeatedly within the pre-rolled cone 800, marijuana 810 will begin to pack. As marijuana 810 is pushed down the body of the pre-rolled cone by the motion, marijuana 810 will stick to the side and the upper edge 801 of the pre-rolled cone and will tend to pull the upper edge down towards the top of the material represented by the dotted circular line. Thus this portion of the process must be gently repeated in a circular up and down motion away from the sides of the paper at first to avoid too early of crimping of the pre-rolled cone. As the repeated circular pattern motion and the pressure from the operator starts to push the pre-rolled cone 800 down into the tapered hole 113 (after filling has been completed and initial crimping of the pre-rolled cone is now desired), the gradual narrowing of the tapered hole 113 will cause the upper edge 801 of the pre-rolled cone to come closer together. As the pre-rolled cone 800 continues to move down the tapered hole 113, the stickiness of the marijuana 810 will cause the ever-closer upper edge 801 to crimp into a crimped edge 802.
[0146] A thin rod 232, 232 (shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 11) of a combination packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device 230, 230 (shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 11) of a portion of an embodiment of a pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus (portions of which are shown in FIGS. 9-10, and the entire apparatus of which is shown in FIG. 11) in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure would work the same as the thin rod 132 of the packing and crimping device 130 shown in FIG. 4 at this stage of the filling, packing, and finishing operation. However, as the pre-rolled cone 800 is pushed further into the tapered hole 113, 213, 213, 213 of the apparatus portion 200, 200, 200 and an operator puts more pressure into the handle 231, 231, of the combination packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device 230, 230, the spring 234 above the thin rod will start to compress and portions of the thin rod 232, 232 will be pulled up into the tube 242, 242 until the spring is maximally compressed and the tube is engaged.
[0147] FIG. 6 is a close-up longitudinal cross-section side view of a tapered hole 113 of a plate 110, or other form of a defined tapered hole 113, of an embodiment of a pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure, and an extruding apparatus or portion continuation of the filling, packing, and closing, portions illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The tapered hole 113 is wider where the tapered hole 113 communicates with the working surface 111 of the plate 110 and narrower where the tapered hole 113 communicates with the extruding surface 114 of the plate 110. The tapered hole 113 is shown holding a pre-rolled cone 800 filled with filling material 810, marijuana, within the plate 110. The circular dotted line within the pre-rolled cone 800 represents the top of the filling material 810 that has filled the pre-rolled cone. The portion of the pre-rolled cone 800 above the circular dotted line is the upper edge 801 of the pre-rolled cone.
[0148] A tube 142 of a closing and extruding device 140 is shown pressing against the now packed pre-rolled cone 800. The tube 142 is attached to a handle 140. The tube 142 is thicker in diameter than the diameter of the thin rod 132 (shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) and has a concaved tip 145, thereby easily catching onto the crimped edge 802 of the pre-rolled cone 800. Pushing of the tube 142 into the tapered hole 113 causes the crimped edge 802 of the pre-rolled cone 800 to catch and fold down. As the operator continues to push the tube 142 onto the pre-rolled cone 800 within the tapered hole 113, the motion causes all the folds of the crimped edge 802 to close and compacted into a closed top 803. The pushing of the tube 142 against the pre-rolled cone 800 also moves the pre-rolled cone further down into the tapered hole 113, getting it ready for an extrusion phase.
[0149] A tube 242, 242 of a combination packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device 230, 230 (shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 11) of an embodiment of a pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus (a portion of which is shown in FIGS. 9-10, and the entire apparatus of which is shown in FIG. 11) in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure would work the same as the tube 142 of the closing and extruding device 140 shown in FIG. 6 at this extruding stage of the operation. As discussed, the spring 234 should be maximally compressed, sliding the thin rod 232, 232 upwardly such that the tube should be engaged and ready for usage at this extruding phase of the operation.
[0150] FIG. 7 is a close-up longitudinal cross-section side view of a tapered hole 113 of a plate 110, or other form of a defined tapered hole 113, of an embodiment of a pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure, and there is shown an apparatus portion for continuation in an extruding method portion of the filling, packing, and closing method portions illustrated in FIGS. 4-6. The tapered hole 113 is wider where the tapered hole 113 communicates with the working surface 111 of the plate 110 and narrower where the tapered hole 113 communicates with the extruding surface 114 of the plate 110. A closing and extruding device 140 and its handle 141 and a tube 142 are shown. As the concaved tip 145 of the tube 142 pushes against the now closed pre-rolled cone 800 (not yet extruded as shown in FIG. 6), until the finished cigarette 820 is pushed further down into the tapered hole 113 where finally it is extruded from the tapered hole 113 and the plate 110 onto, or into, the catcher 850. In FIG. 7, the tube 142 has been pushed all the way into the tapered hole 113 with sufficient force to push past the extruding surface 114 and extrude the finished cigarette 820 onto the catcher 850, which may preferably be a flat surface such as a tabletop. The finished cigarette 820 thus extruded is ready for immediate user consumption by smoking.
[0151] A tube 242, 242 (shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 11) of a combination packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device 230, 232 (shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 11) of an embodiment of a pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus (a portion of which is shown in FIGS. 9-10, and the entire apparatus of which is shown in FIG. 11) in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure would work the same as the tube 142 of the closing and extruding device 140 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.
[0152] FIG. 8 is a side view of a combination packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device 230 having at least one thin rod 232 of a plurality of thin rods 232, and having at least one tube 242 of a plurality of tubes 242 in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure. The plurality of thin rods 232 and the plurality of tubes 242 are 10 thin rods 232 and 10 tubes 242 oriented in a row for this embodiment. The combination packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device 230 is shown partially broken out at the leftmost portion of the handle 231 to show the internal structure and workings of the combination packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device 230.
[0153] Each of the thin rods 232 is thinner than each of the corresponding tubes 242, and each thin rod 232 is adapted to reside partially within a corresponding tube 242. The handle 231 has a hollow space 246 for each of the thin rod 232 and tube 245 combination. A spring 234 resides within the hollow space 246 and connects with a head 244 of a thin rod 232. The spring 234 allows the thin rod 232 to slide upwards and into the corresponding tube 242 as the spring 234 is compressed, as described in FIG. 6. This compressing and sliding of the thin rod 232 allows for exposure of the concaved tip 245 of the corresponding tube 242 for usage. The spring 234 may attach to the head 244 of the thin rod 232 and the handle 231 by force fit, welding, glue or any other attachment means known in the art. The spring 234 may also be freely held within the hollow space 246 without any attachment to either the head 244 of the thin rod 232 or the handle 231, such as would be the case if a union nut and threaded collar 243 were to hold the assembly in the hollow space. A tube 242 may preferably be attached to the handle 231 by a union nut 243. The tube 242 may be glued, threaded, welded, or otherwise fitted into the union nut 243 to be held in place. Other methods of attaching the tube 242 to the union nut 243 known in the art may be used. The union nut 243 may be stainless steel, but other materials known in the art may be used. The thin rods 232 may preferably be made of metal, but other materials, such as plastic, may be used. The tubes 242 may preferably be made of plastic, such as Nylon, or any other material such as wood, metal, aluminum, or the like, suitable to the purpose of being sufficiently rigid to be used to push and compress the filled pre-rolled cones 800 out of the plate 110 through the tapered holes 113. The handle 231 may be made of known materials in the art, such as wood, metal, HDPE, plastic, acrylic, and other moldable and machinable materials.
[0154] As illustrated, the leftmost portion of the handle 231 is broken out to show the hollow 246 within the handle 231 and to illustrate how a spring 234, a thin rod 232, union nut 243, and a tube 242 are attached to the handle 231. The second leftmost hollow 246, spring 234, head portion of the thin rod 232, and a portion of the union nut 243 are shown in dotted lines to outline how these parts would be held internally within the handle 241. The third leftmost is a broken apart exploded view of the spring 234, the thin rod 232, the union nut 243, and the tube 242 to illustrate how different parts are assembled.
[0155] The embodiment of combination packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device 230 in FIG. 8 has 10 thin rods 232 and its corresponding tubes 242 oriented in a pattern of one row, meant to be used with a plate 110 having tapered holes 113 oriented in a pattern of at least one row. For example, this embodiment of the combination packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device 230 may be used with the 10 row plate 210 of FIGS. 9 and 10. The dotted lines are to show how the handle 231 attaches the tubes 242, the thin rods 232, and the springs 234.
[0156] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a portion 200 an embodiment of a pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure, with at least one tapered hole 213 preferably being a plurality of tapered holes 213. The portion 200 of the pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus comprises a plate 210, a working surface 211, an extruding surface 214, and a rim portion 212. The plate 210 may preferably be of a thickness adapted to facilitate crimping of a pre-rolled cone 800 as filling material 810, such as marijuana, is introduced into the pre-rolled cone and the pre-rolled cone is extruded through the plate 210. The preferred thickness for the plate 210 is at least 1.5625 inches thick and no more than 1.6875 inches thick. The plate 210 may be made of known materials in the art, such as wood, metal, HDPE, plastic, acrylic, and other moldable and machinable materials. At least one tapered hole 213 is preferably comprised of a plurality of tapered holes 213, as shown in this embodiment, which are oriented in a pattern of 10 rows. The tapered holes 213 are widest where they communicate with the working surface 211 and narrowest where they communicate with the extruding surface 214. The tapered holes 213 receive and hold pre-rolled cones 800 and are preferably designed to hold 98 mm and 109 mm pre-rolled cones. Each of the tapered holes 213 correspond to the taper of a pre-rolled cone 800 to facilitate crimping of the pre-rolled cone as the pre-rolled cone is pushed down the tapered hole 213.
[0157] The base 220 attached to the plate 210 may be two legs 220 as illustrated, but other number of legs may be used. The two legs 220 differ in shape from the base 120 shown in FIGS. 1A-1C to show how different types of base 120, 220 may be used for the embodiments of the apparatus 100, 200. The base 220 should hold the plate 210 up in a position sufficiently spaced from the catcher 850 to allow pre-rolled cones 800 to partially hang out of the tapered holes 213 while the tapered holes 213 hold the pre-rolled cones. The catcher 850 may be any surface that may be used to catch and gather extruded cigarettes 820, such as a tabletop, a floor, or other catch basin. There should be enough space for the extruded cigarette 820 to fall onto the catcher 850. In this embodiment, the two legs 220 are attached to the plate 220 by screws 222, but other means of attachment known in the art, such as for example welding, may be used.
[0158] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion 200 of an embodiment of a pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure, with at least one tapered hole 213 being a plurality of tapered holes 213 oriented in a pattern of 10 rows and a base 220 comprised of four legs 220. The portion 200 of a pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus comprises a plate 210, a working surface 211, an extruding surface 214, and a rim 212. The portion 200 is the same in every aspect as the portion 200 of FIG. 9 except for the number of legs 220. The four legs 220 are attached to the plate 210 using screws 222, but other means of attachment known in the art, such as glue or welding, may be used.
[0159] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus, comprising portion 200 (comprising a plate 210 and base/legs 220) and portion 230 (comprising a combination packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device 230), in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure. The plate 210 of portion 200 defines a single tapered hole 213, and the base 220 is comprised of two legs 220. Further, the plate 210 of the portion 200 of the pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus further comprises a working surface 211, an extruding surface 214, and a rim 212. The plate 210 may preferably be of a thickness adapted to facilitate crimping of a pre-rolled cone 800 (see FIG. 1A) as filling material 810, such as marijuana, is introduced into the pre-rolled cone and the pre-rolled cone is extruded through the plate. The preferred thickness for the plate 210 is at least 1.5625 inches thick and no more than 1.6875 inches thick. The plate 210 may be made of known materials in the art, such as wood, metal, HDPE, plastic, acrylic, and other moldable and machinable materials. The tapered hole 213 is widest where it communicates with the working surface 211 and narrowest where it communicates with the extruding surface 214. The tapered hole 213 receives and holds pre-rolled cone 800 and is preferably designed of a size to readily hold 98 mm and 109 mm pre-rolled cones. The tapered hole 213 thus corresponds to the taper of a pre-rolled cone 800 and facilitates crimping of the pre-rolled cone as it is pushed down the tapered hole 213.
[0160] The base 220 attached to the plate 210 may be two legs 220 as illustrated, but another number of legs may be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed. The base 220 should hold the plate 210 up in a position sufficiently spaced from the catcher 850 to allow a pre-rolled cone to partially hang out of the tapered hole 213 while the tapered hole holds it. The catcher 850 may be any surface that may be used to catch and gather an extruded cigarette, and may comprise a tabletop, a floor, a catch basin, or other similar device. Accordingly, there should be enough space for the extruded cigarette to fall onto the catcher 850. In this embodiment, the two legs 220 are attached to the plate 220 by welding, or glue, but other means of attachment known in the art may be used.
[0161] FIG. 11 also illustrates a combination packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device 230 portion of a cigarette manufacturing apparatus in accordance with the invention and which is comprised of one thin rod 232 and one tube 242 attached to a handle 231. The thin rod 232 is thinner than the inside and outside diameters of the tube 242, and the thin rod 232 is adapted to reside partially within the tube 242. The handle 231 has a hollow space for the thin rod 232 and tube 245 combination as described similarly in connection with FIG. 8. A spring 234 not shown resides within the hollow 246 (not shown) and connects with a head 244 (not shown) of the thin rod 232 similarly to that described in connection with FIG. 8. The spring allows the thin rod 232 to slide upwards and into the tube 242 as the spring is compressed, as described in FIG. 8. This compressing and sliding of the thin rod 232 allows for exposure of the concaved tip 245 of the tube 242 for usage as previously described to finish and extrude the cigarette 820. The tube 242 may preferably be attached to the handle 231 by a union nut 243. The tube 242 may be glued, or otherwise fitted onto the union nut 243 to be held in place. Other methods of attaching the tube 242 to the union nut 243 known in the art may be used. The thin rod 232 may preferably be made of metal, but other materials, such as plastic, may be used. The tube 242 may preferably be made of plastic, such as Nylon, or any other material such as wood, metal, aluminum, or the like, suitable to the purpose of being sufficiently rigid to be used to push and compress the filled pre-rolled cones 800 out of the plate 210 through the tapered hole 213. The union nut 243 may be made of stainless steel any other materials known in the art suitable to the purpose of such to interconnect the tube 242 and thin rod 232 to the handle 231. The handle 231 may be made of known materials in the art, such as wood, metal, HDPE, plastic, acrylic, and other moldable and machinable materials.
[0162] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a portion 100 of a pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure, with a plurality of tapered holes 113 defined by a plate 110 and oriented in a pattern of a row, together with a base 120 comprised of two legs 120. The plate 110 of the pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus comprises a working surface 111, and a rim 112. The plate 110 may preferably be of a thickness adapted to facilitate crimping of a pre-rolled cone 800 (see FIG. 1A) as filling material 810 such as marijuana, is introduced into the pre-rolled cone (not shown) and the pre-rolled cone (not shown) is extruded through the plate 110 past extruding surface 114. The preferred thickness for the plate 110 is at least 1.5625 inches thick and no more than 1.6875 inches thick. The plate 110 may be made of known materials in the art, such as wood, metal, HDPE, plastic, acrylic, and other moldable and machinable materials. The tapered holes 113 are wider where they communicate with the plate's working surface 111, and the tapered holes become narrower where they communicate with a lower extruding surface 114 at the bottom of the plate 110. The tapered holes 113 are adapted to receive and hold pre-rolled cones 800 and are preferably designed to hold 98 mm and 109 mm pre-rolled cones. Each of the tapered holes 113 correspond to the taper of a pre-rolled cone 800 to facilitate crimping of the pre-rolled cone as it is pushed down each respective corresponding tapered hole.
[0163] The base 120 attached to the plate 110 may be comprised of two legs 120 as illustrated, but another number of legs may be used as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art. The base 120 should hold the plate 110 up in a position sufficiently spaced from the catcher 850 to allow pre-rolled cone 800 to partially hang out of the tapered holes 113 while the tapered holes hold corresponding pre-rolled cones. The catcher 850 may be any surface that may be used to catch and gather an extruded cigarette 810 (see FIG. 7), such as a tabletop, a floor, or other catch basin. There should be enough space for the extruded cigarette 820 to fall onto the catcher 850. In this embodiment, the two legs 120 are attached to the plate 120 by welding, by glue, by screws, or other means of attachment known in the art.
[0164] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a three-pronged packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device 330 having a first type of prong (also referred to as first prong) 371, a second type of prong (second prong) 372, and a third type of prong (third prong) 370. The first prong 371 may be comprised of at least one crimping rod 332 (similar to that referred to as thin rod 132 in FIGS. 1, 2A, 4 and 5, 144 in FIG. 2A, 132 in FIG. 2B, 232 in FIGS. 8, and 242 in FIG. 11) but preferably be comprised of a plurality of crimping rods 332, each with a narrow flat tip 335 similar to a slotted screwdriver tip. The plurality of crimping rods 332 will be adapted to align with the plurality of tapered holes. The narrow flat tip 335 is used to pack the pre-rolled cone with filling material, such as marijuana, and to crimp the upper edge of the pre-rolled cone. The crimping rod 332 is of a diameter that allows for easy and sufficient packing of the filing material into the pre-rolled cone, and the narrow flat tip 335 is so designed to easily catch and crimp down the upper edge of the pre-rolled cone as the material fills and sticks to the upper edge of the pre-rolled cone. The second prong 372 may be comprised of at least one tamping rod 342 but preferably be comprised of a plurality of tamping rods 342. The plurality of tamping rods 342 will be adapted to align with the plurality of tapered holes. Each tamping rod 342 may preferably have a concaved tip 345 (as viewed in a cross-section view of the tip) and a diameter larger than a diameter of each of the crimping rod 332. The concaved tip 345 allows for easier catching and closing of the crimped upper edge of the pre-rolled cone as pressure is applied on the tamping rod 342 to push each pre-rolled cone further down the corresponding tapered hole. However, the tamping rod 342 may have a flattened tip (as viewed in a cross-section view of the tip) in other embodiments. The third prong 370 may be comprised of at least one ejecting rod 352 but preferably be comprised of a plurality of ejecting rods 352. Each ejecting rod 352 may preferably have a flat tip (as viewed in cross-section view of the tip) and a smaller diameter and a longer length than each of the tamping rods 342. The separation of tamping and ejecting rod (similar to that previously referred to as tube 142 in FIGS. 3, 6, and 7, as tube 242 in FIG. 8, and as tube 242 in FIG. 11) into separate tamping rods 342 and ejecting rods 352 has advantages of easier tamping and ejecting. As shown in FIG. 13, the plurality of crimping rods 332 is oriented in a row to form the first prong 371, the plurality of tamping rods 342 is oriented in a row to form the second prong 372, and the plurality of ejecting rods 352 is oriented in a row to form the third prong 373. Each of the crimping rod 332 of the first type of prong 371, the tamping rod 342 of the second type of prong 372, and the ejecting rod 352 of the third type of prong 370 may be preferably comprised of polyoxymethylene (POM), which is a machinable plastic. However, other materials known in the art may be used. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a narrow flat tip 332 may be applied to the crimping rod (thin rod shown as 132 in FIGS. 2A, 4 and 5, as 132 in FIG. 2A, as 132 in FIG. 2B, as 232 in FIG. 8, and as 232 in FIG. 11).
[0165] As shown in FIG. 13, the handle 331 of the three-pronged packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device 330 may preferably be comprised of an elongated pole 331 with a first holdable surface 380 at one end of the pole 331 and a second holdable surface 381 on the opposite end of the pole 331. The first and second holdable surfaces 380, 381 extend beyond the length of a longest side of the plate (not shown) so there is enough grip space for a person to hold the handle 331 by the two holdable surfaces 380, 381 without hitting the plate or rim around the plate with the person's knuckles when the first, second, or third type of prong 371, 372, 370 of the three-pronged packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device 330 is inserted into the tapered holes of the plate. The handle 331 also comprises a middle portion 382 between the first holdable surface 380 and the second holdable surface 381. The first, second, and third type of prongs 371, 372, 370 extend from the middle portion 382 of the pole 331 at 120 degrees apart from one another around the circumference of a transverse cross-section middle portion 382 of the pole 331. The 120 degrees angle between the first, second and third prongs 371, 372, 370 is preferrable, but other degrees of angles may be used. The handle 331 may be of different shape than a circular cross-section pole 331 and any other shape suitable to the purpose may be used. The handle 331 of the three-pronged packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device 330 may preferably be made HDPE. However, the handle may be made of other materials suitable to the purpose, such as wood.
[0166] Referring still to FIG. 13, the at least one crimping rod 371 of the first type of prong of the three-pronged packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device 330 preferably comprises a plurality of crimping rods 332, each preferably having a narrow flat tip (similar to that of a typical slotted head screw driver), adapted to align with the plurality of tapered holes (e.g., 113, 113, 213, 213, 313), wherein a wider portion of the tip appearing as a screw driver tip is prevented from going further into the tapered hole so as to not over-pack the cones 800 using this portion of the tool 330. The at least one tamping rod 372 of the second type of prong of the three-pronged packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device preferably comprises a plurality of tamping rods 342, each preferably having a concaved tip 345 as shown magnified at 342 (though cross-section flat tip may be used as well) and a diameter larger than a diameter of each of the plurality of crimping rods, adapted to align with the plurality of tapered holes 113, 113, 213, 213, 313. The at least one ejecting rod 370 of the third prong of the three-pronged packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device 330 preferably comprises a plurality of ejecting rods 352, each preferably having a flat tip 355 (viewed in cross-section) and a smaller diameter and a longer length than each of the tamping rods 342, that are likewise adapted to align with the plurality of tapered holes 113, 113, 213, 213, 313.
[0167] In accordance with an aspect and embodiment of the disclosure, the at least one tapered hole 113, 113, 213, 213, 313 comprises a plurality of tapered holes oriented in a pattern of rows. The at least one crimping rod 371 of the first type of prong of the three-pronged packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device 330 comprises a plurality of crimping rods 342 that align with a plurality of tapered holes in at least one row. The at least one tamping rod 372 of the second type of prong of the three-pronged packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device comprises a plurality of tamping rods 342 that align with a plurality of tapered holes 213, 213 in at least one row. The at least one ejecting rod 370 of the third prong of the three-pronged packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device 330 comprises a plurality of ejecting rods 352 that align with a plurality of tapered holes 113, 113, 213, 213, 313 in at least one row.
[0168] It will be appreciated that in accordance with the various aspects and embodiments of the disclosure, each of the at least one tapered holes defined in the plate is adapted to correspond to the taper of a pre-rolled cone, such that when the crimping rod (thin rod) of the packing and crimping device, the combination packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device, or three-pronged packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device gently packs each pre-rolled cone with filling material such as marijuana, each pre-rolled cone is packed but is preferably not yet pushed further into the pre-rolled cones' respective tapered holes. This pushing, or extruding, ideally doesn't happen until a later step than the filling and packing steps are completed so that additional material may be filled into the pre-rolled cone before an upper edge of the paper of the cone gets crimped-which crimp would prevent further material (such as marijuana) from getting into the cones. Once each pre-rolled cone is completely filled and packed, it is ready to be finished and extruded. Thus, it will thus be appreciated that the crimping rod (thin rod) is first used gently to pack each pre-rolled cone with material without first crimping the upper edge of each pre-rolled cone, since doing so may prevent further filling of the cones if necessary. After filling and gentle packing is completed, some initial crimping may be imparted by the crimping rod (thin rod) since the stickiness of the marijuana being packed into the pre-rolled cone with the crimping rod (thin rod) causes some crimping. And this is why packing must be done gently to prevent too early of crimping. After completion of using the crimping rod (thin rod), the tamping and extruding rod (or tube) of the closing and extruding device, the combination packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device, or the tamping rod of three-pronged packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device is then applied to each tapered hole having a filled and packed pre-rolled cone therein, the tamping and ejecting rod (or tube as mentioned in a prior embodiment) or the tamping rod thus being used to push each pre-rolled, filled, and packed cone further into its respective tapered hole. This process, known as closing, causes each pre-rolled cone to begin to crimp further in earnestor further crimp as some initial crimping may have already begun with the filling and packing process (due to the stickiness of the marijuana pulling the paper inwardly with use of the packing and crimping device). And as each filled and packed pre-rolled cone is pushed further into its respective tapered hole using the tamping and ejecting rod (tube) or tamping rod, the upper edge of each pre-rolled cone is folded further inwardly. In other words, as each pre-rolled cone is pushed further into its tapered hole with the tamping and ejecting rod (tube) or tamping rod, they further close forming each finished cigarette. Then, the tamping and ejecting rod (tube) of the closing and extruding device, the combination packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device, or ejecting rod of the three-pronged packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device, is used to extrude each finished cigarette until each finished cigarette is simultaneously pushed further and further into its respective narrowest point in the tapered hole communicating with the extruding surface of the plate, and they are still further extruded until each finished cigarette is finally pushed past the extruding surface and out onto, or into, the catcher.
[0169] In an embodiment, as seen in FIG. 14, the plate 310 may be thicker (or alternatively thinner as well) than the plate 110 seen in FIG. 1A-1C. FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a portion 300 of a pre-rolled cone filling, packing, crimping, finishing, and extruding apparatus in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure. The apparatus portion 300 comprises a plate 310, having a working surface 311, an extruding surface 314 parallel to the working surface 311, and a rim portion 312. The plate 310 defines a plurality of tapered holes 313 communicating with the working surface 311 and the extruding surface 314. Each tapered hole 313 is wider where it communicates with the working surface 311 and narrower where it communicates with the extruding surface 314. In FIG. 14, the base 320 attached to the plate 310 comprise two legs with a handle 321 on each side. The base 320 is secured to the plate using screws 322. The difference between plates 110 shown in FIG. 1A-1C and plate 310 in FIG. 14 is the thickness of the plate. The plate 310 may be of a thickness adapted to handle filling and crimping of any pre-rolled paper cone 800 of sizes between and including 50 mm through and including 150 mm. Thus, the thickness of the plate 310 may be any thickness required to close any commercially manufactured size of the pre-rolled paper cone 800 (smaller or larger), such as sizes of 84 mm, 98 mm, 109 mm, or any other size that is currently commercially available or may become available in the future, all while functioning as described herein to allow packing, crimping, and/or extruding of finished cigarettes. The thickness of the plate 310 is adapted to provide the amount of resistance required to close the pre-rolled cones 800 for each size. In such embodiment, the tapered holes 313 defined in the plate 310 is adapted to correspond to the taper of a pre-rolled cone 800 of sizes between and including 50 mm through and including 150 mm. As the pre-rolled cone 800 increases in size and diameter, each tapered hole 113 diameter at where it meets the working surface 311 of the plate and diameter at where it meets the extruding surface 314 of the plate preferably will increase to accommodate the corresponding pre-rolled cone 800 size and diameter while still functioning as described herein. The diameters and lengths of the crimping rod (thin rod), tamping and ejecting rod (tube), tamping rod and ejecting rod will preferably change to accommodate the new plate thickness and tapered hole dimeters. While the thickness of the plate, the diameters and lengths of tapered holes, crimping rods, tamping and ejecting rods, tamping rods, and ejecting rods change, it will be appreciated that apparatus 300 of FIG. 14 functions the same as that of FIGS. 1A-1C as described previously. Two examples, one with plate 311 at 2 inches thick and one with plate 311 at 1.875 thick, are shown in the table below showing exemplary dimensions:
TABLE-US-00005 Tapered Hole Tapered Hole Diameter at Diameter at Plate Working Extruding Crimping Rod Tamping Rod Ejecting Rod Thickness Surface Surface Diameter Length Diameter Length Diameter Length 2 12.5 mm 9.85 mm 0.25 2.375 0.375 2.5 0.3125 3 inches inches inches inches inches inches inches 1.875 10.75 mm 7.85 mm 0.25 2.375 0.3125 2.5 0.25 2.875 inches inches inches inches inches inches inches
[0170] Of course, it will be appreciated that these lengths and diameters may vary slightly as different extrusion surface materials are used, and thus different hole surface lengths/plate thicknesses are used.
[0171] In an embodiment, the plate is adapted to handle filling and crimping of any pre-rolled paper cone of sizes between and including 98 mm through and including 109 mm. This plate may be preferably used to produce a cigarette containing 1 g of marijuana. In this embodiment, the plate is preferably 2 inches thick, the tapered hole is preferably 12.5 mm in diameter where it communicates with the working surface of the plate and preferably 9.85 mm in diameter where it communicates with the extruding surface of the plate. Each crimping rod of the first type of prong of the three-pronged packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device is preferably 0.25 inches in diameter and preferably 2.375 inches in length. Each tamping rod of the second type of prong of the three-pronged packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device is preferably 0.375 inches in diameter and preferably 2.5 inches in length. Each ejecting rod of the third type of prong of the three-pronged packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device is preferably 0.3125 inches in diameter and preferably 3 inches in length.
[0172] In a different embodiment, the plate is adapted to handle filling and crimping of any pre-rolled paper cone of sizes between and including 70 mm through and including 84 mm. This plate may preferably be used to produce a cigarette containing 0.5 g of marijuana. This embodiment of plate is preferably 1.875 inches thick, and the tapered hole is preferably 10.75 mm in diameter where it communicates with the working surface of the plate and preferably 7.85 mm in diameter where it communicates with the extruding surface of the plate. Each crimping rod of the first type of prong of the three-pronged packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device is preferably 0.25 inches in diameter and preferably 2.375 inches in length. Each tamping rod of the second type of prong of the three-pronged packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device is preferably 0.3125 inches in diameter and preferably 2.5 inches in length. Each ejecting rod of the third type of prong of the three-pronged packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device is preferably 0.25 inches in diameter and preferably 2.875 inches in length.
[0173] In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a pre-rolled cone finishing and extruding method for filling, packing, finishing, and extruding cigarettes, such as marijuana cigarettes, onto, or into, a catcher, is comprised of: [0174] Step A: obtaining a pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding working apparatus with a plate, or tray, comprising a working surface, an extruding surface, or extruding area, and a rim portion, and the plate, or a plurality of tubes, defining a plurality of tapered holes communicating with the working surface and the extruding surface, wherein the plurality of tapered holes are wider where each tapered hole communicates with the working surface and narrower where each tapered hole communicates with the extruding surface of the plate, or the extruding area, wherein the working apparatus is adapted to receive and hold a plurality of pre-rolled cones into the plurality of tapered holes, a base attached to the working apparatus, wherein the base is sufficiently spaced from the catcher to allow the plurality of pre-rolled cones received by the plurality of tapered holes to be suspended at least sufficiently spaced from the catcher to allow for extruding of the plurality of finished cigarettes past extruding surface onto, or into, the catcher, a packing and crimping device having a handle attached to a plurality of thin rods adapted to fill, pack and crimp a corresponding plurality of pre-rolled cones within the plurality of tapered holes, and a closing and extruding device having a handle attached to a plurality of tubes that is thicker (e.g., has a larger diameter) than the plurality of thin rods, and is adapted to close the plurality of pre-rolled cones and extrude a plurality of finished cigarettes from within the plurality of tapered holes; [0175] Step B: placing a plurality of pre-rolled cones into the plurality of tapered holes; [0176] Step C: pouring the filling material, such as marijuana, for the plurality of pre-rolled cones onto the working surface of the plate such that the filling material is contained within the working surface by the rim portion; [0177] Step D: shaking and tilting the plate to guide the filling material into the plurality of pre-rolled cones held in the plurality of tapered holes; [0178] Step E: repeating steps B through D until the plurality of pre-rolled cones are filled; [0179] Step F: inserting each thin rod of the packing and crimping device into the plurality of tapered holes with the plurality of pre-rolled cones and moving each thin rod of the packing and crimping device in a gentle up and down circular pattern repeatedly within the plurality of tapered holes (but in the center of each hole at first away from the pre-rolled paper cone edges) to pack the marijuana into the plurality of pre-rolled cones; [0180] Step G: continuing the up and down circular pattern closer to the pre-rolled paper cone edges causing the upper edge of each pre-rolled cone to crimp inwardly as the pressure from each thin rod begins, with more pressure applied to push each pre-rolled cone slightly further into each corresponding tapered hole to bring the upper edge of each pre-rolled cone inwardly and such that the stickiness of the marijuana also pulls the upper edge of each pre-rolled cone inwardly; [0181] Step H: inserting each tube of the closing and extruding device into corresponding tapered holes, and pushing the crimped end of each pre-rolled cone to fold to close off the pre-rolled cone; and [0182] Step I: exerting further pressure onto the closing and extruding device having the plurality of tubes located in corresponding tapered holes, to extrude the plurality of finished cigarettes out of the plurality of tapered holes past the extruding surface and onto, or into, the catcher.
[0183] In accordance with another aspect and embodiment of the disclosure, a pre-rolled cone finishing and extruding method for filling, packing, finishing, and extruding cigarettes, such as marijuana cigarettes, onto a catcher, is comprised of the following steps: [0184] Step A: obtaining a pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus comprising an extruding apparatus comprising one of a plate and a tray, and comprising a working surface, an extruding surface or extruding area, and a rim portion, wherein the plurality of tapered holes communicating with the working surface and the extruding surface, or extruding area, are wider where each tapered hole communicates with the working surface and narrower where each tapered hole communicates with the extruding surface of the plate, or extruding area, the extruding apparatus adapted to receive and hold a plurality of pre-rolled cones into the plurality of tapered holes, a base attached to the working apparatus wherein the base is sufficiently spaced from the catcher to allow the plurality of pre-rolled cones received by the plurality of tapered holes to be suspended at least sufficiently spaced from the catcher to allow for extruding of a plurality of finished cigarettes, and a combination packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device having a handle attached by means of a plurality of springs to a corresponding a plurality of thin rods adapted to fill and crimp a corresponding plurality of pre-rolled cones within the plurality of tapered holes, the handle also being attached to the plurality of hollow tubes within which each corresponding thin rod partially resides, each hollow tube's inner and outer diameters being wider than each corresponding thin rod and adapted to close and extrude the finished cigarettes from within the plurality of tapered holes; [0185] Step B: placing a plurality of pre-rolled cones into the plurality of tapered holes; [0186] Step C: pouring the filling material, such as marijuana, for the plurality of pre-rolled cones onto the working surface of the plate such that the filling material is contained within the working surface by the rim portion; [0187] Step D: shaking and tilting the plate to guide the filling material into the plurality of pre-rolled cones in the plurality of tapered holes; [0188] Step E: repeating steps B through D until the plurality of pre-rolled cones are filled; [0189] Step F: inserting each thin rod of the combination packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device into the plurality of tapered holes with the plurality of pre-rolled cones and moving the plurality of thin rods of the combination packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device around in a gentle up and down circular pattern repeatedly within the plurality of tapered holes (but in the center of each hole at first away from the pre-rolled paper cone edges) to pack the marijuana into the plurality of pre-rolled cones; [0190] Step G: continuing the up and down circular pattern closer to the pre-rolled paper cone edges causing the upper edge of each of the plurality of pre-rolled cones to crimp inward as the pressure from the plurality of thin rods begins, with more pressure applied to push each of the plurality of pre-rolled cones slightly further into each of the corresponding plurality of tapered holes to bring the upper edge of each the plurality of pre-rolled cones inwardly and such that the stickiness of the marijuana also pulls the upper edges of the plurality of pre-rolled cones inwardly; [0191] Step H: pushing down further so as to cause the plurality of tubes of the combination packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device and pushing the crimped end of each of the plurality of pre-rolled cones to fold to close off the plurality of pre-rolled cones; and [0192] Step I: exerting further pressure onto the combination packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device to extrude the plurality of finished cigarettes out of the plurality of tapered holes and past the extruding surface onto, or into, the catcher.
[0193] In accordance with another aspect and embodiment of the disclosure, a pre-rolled cone finishing and extruding method for filling, packing, finishing, and extruding cigarettes, such as marijuana cigarettes, onto a catcher, is comprised of the following steps: [0194] Step A: obtaining a pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus comprising an extruding apparatus with one of a plate and a tray, and comprising a working surface, an extruding surface or extruding area, and a rim portion, with the plate, or tray, defining a plurality of holes aligned with and communicating with a plurality of tapered holes, wherein the plurality of tapered holes are wider where each tapered hole communicates with the working surface, and narrower where each tapered hole communicates with the extruding surface, or area, the extruding apparatus adapted to receive and hold a plurality of pre-rolled cones into the plurality of tapered holes, a base attached to the extruding apparatus, wherein the base is sufficiently spaced from the catcher to allow the plurality of pre-rolled cones received by the plurality of tapered holes to be suspended at least sufficiently spaced from the catcher to allow for extruding of the plurality of finished cigarettes from the plurality of tapered holes past the extruding surface and onto the catcher, a three-pronged packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device having a handle having a first prong, a second prong, and a third prong extending from the handle, the first prong having a plurality of crimping rods each having a narrow flat tip, adapted to fill and crimp the plurality of pre-rolled cones within the plurality of tapered holes, the second prong having a plurality of tamping rods each with one of a flat and a concaved tip, each tamping rod having a diameter that is larger than each crimping rod, adapted to close the corresponding plurality of pre-rolled cones within the plurality of tapered holes, and the third prong having a plurality of ejecting rods each with a flat tip, each ejecting rod smaller in diameter and longer in length than each tamping rod, adapted to extrude a plurality of finished cigarettes from within the plurality of tapered holes; [0195] Step B: placing a plurality of pre-rolled cones into the plurality of tapered holes; [0196] Step C: pouring the filling material, such as marijuana, for the plurality of pre-rolled cones onto the working surface of the plate such that the filling material is contained within the working surface by the rim portion; [0197] Step D: shaking and tilting the plate to guide the filling material into the plurality of pre-rolled cones in the plurality of tapered holes; [0198] Step E: repeating steps B through D until the plurality of pre-rolled cones are filled; [0199] Step F: inserting each of the plurality of crimping rods of the three-pronged packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device into each of the corresponding plurality of tapered holes with the plurality of pre-rolled cones and moving the plurality of crimping rods of the three-pronged packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device around in a gentle up and down circular pattern repeatedly within the plurality of tapered holes (but in the center of each hole at first away from the pre-rolled paper cone edges) to pack the marijuana into the plurality of pre-rolled cones; [0200] Step G: continuing the up and down circular pattern closer to the pre-rolled paper cone edges, causing the upper edge of each of the plurality of pre-rolled cones to crimp inward as the pressure from each of the plurality of crimping rods begins, with more pressure applied to push each of the plurality of pre-rolled cones slightly further into each of the corresponding plurality of tapered holes to bring the upper edge of each the plurality of pre-rolled cones inwardly and such that the stickiness of the marijuana also pulls the upper edges of the plurality of pre-rolled cones inwardly; [0201] Step H: removing the plurality of crimping rods and inserting the plurality of tamping rods of the three-pronged packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device, and pushing the crimped end of each pre-rolled cone to fold to close off the pre-rolled cone; and [0202] Step I: removing the plurality of tamping rods and inserting the plurality of ejecting rods of the three-pronged packing, crimping, closing, and extruding device and exerting pressure onto the closing and extruding device to extrude the plurality of finished cigarettes out of the plurality of tapered holes past the extruding surface and onto the catcher.
[0203] Referring specifically to FIGS. 15-18, there is shown an embodiment of the pre-rolled paper cone filling, packing, finishing and extruding apparatus 400 in use with a metering tray 900 and a packing apparatus 1000. The pre-rolled paper cone filling, packing, finishing and extruding apparatus 400 is adapted for use with a packing and crimping device 130, 130 (as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B) having at least one crimping rod 132, 132 and a closing and extruding device 140, 230 (as shown in FIGS. 3 and 8) having at least one tamping and ejecting rod 142, 242, or a combination of the two devices (as shown in FIG. 13, also referred to as a pressing tool) having at least one crimping rod 332 and at least one tamping and ejecting rod 342 for making and extruding cigarettes 820, such as marijuana cigarettes, onto a catcher 850. In an embodiment, the pre-rolled paper cone filling, packing, finishing and extruding apparatus 400 (or just the finishing and extruding apparatus) is adapted for use with a closing and extruding device 140 having at least one rod 147 with a chamfered tip-end 148 (as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, also referred to as a pressing tool) for finishing and extruding cigarettes 820, such as marijuana cigarettes, onto a catcher 850. Again, the type of the ejecting rod 147 (closing rod or ejecting and closing rod), whether a tube with a concave tip, convex tip, or chamfered tip, does not matter as much as long as the diameter is not too large or too narrow, to allow for dimple, also known as an origami fold or a Dutch Crown, closing the cigarette during extrusion. The catcher 850 can be such as a table, a floor, a bucket, or other catching device, such as a special sized tube holder (i.e., a known J-Tube Holding Tray) that sits on the table or catch tray to catch each extruded cigarette 820, for easier packaging. The pre-rolled paper cones 800 (as shown in FIGS. 1A-C, 4-6) can be about an inch into the special sized test tube holder before pressing and extruding.
[0204] The pre-rolled paper cone filling, packing, finishing and extruding apparatus 400 may comprise a tray 410 further comprising a material receiving part 410 comprised of a working surface 411 surrounded by a rim 412. The working surface 411 is adapted for receiving smokeable material 810 (as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1C) and defines at least one hole 413. The pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus 400 further comprises an extruding apparatus 420, which may be a plate 420 in some embodiments as seen in FIG. 15. Another embodiment of the extruding apparatus 420 is shown in FIG. 17. Considering FIG. 17, the extruding apparatus 420 comprises at least one elongated inner tapered hole surface 421. A receiving portion 422 of the at least one elongated inner tapered hole surface 421 defines a larger hole opening 423 that communicates with the at least one hole 413 defined in the working surface 411 of the material receiving part 410, shown as a tray 410. An extruding portion 424 of the at least one elongated inner tapered hole surface 421 defines a smaller hole opening 425. The at least one elongated inner tapered hole surface 421 interconnects the receiving portion 422 and the extruding portion 424.
[0205] FIGS. 7 and 17 are similar, except for in FIG. 17, there is shown instead of a plate 420, the extruding apparatus 420 is further comprised of a tube 398 (representative of a plurality of tubes 398) attached to an underside of the tray 410, with a bracket 399. Thus, each tube 398 defines an elongated inner tapered hole surface 421, which serves the same purpose as the plate 420 to define both a receiving portion 422 and an extruding portion 424. In this embodiment, the larger opening 423 at the receiving portion 422 communicates with the hole 413 defined in the tray 410. In FIG. 17, an embodiment of closing and extruding device 140 having at least one rod 147 with a chamfered tip-end 148 attached to a handle 141, also shown in FIG. 18, is used to extrude the finished cigarette 820.
[0206] Referring again to FIGS. 15 and 16, the pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus 400 further comprises a supporting structure 430 attached to one of the material receiving part 410 and the extruding apparatus 420. The supporting structure 430 is adapted for holding the material receiving part 410 and the extruding apparatus 420 sufficiently spaced from the catcher 850 to allow each pre-rolled paper cone 800 received by each at least one elongated inner tapered hole surface 421 to be suspended sufficiently spaced from the catcher 850 to allow for extruding of a finished cigarette 820 past the extruding portion 424 of the at least one elongated inner tapered hole surface 421 and onto the catcher 850.
[0207] In one embodiment, the extruding apparatus 420 may comprise a plate 420 in which the at least one elongated inner tapered hole surface 421 is defined. The at least one hole 413 defined in the working surface 411 is preferably a plurality of holes 413 as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, and the at least one elongated inner tapered hole surface 421 defined in the plate 420 is preferably a plurality of elongated inner tapered hole surfaces 421. In another embodiment, the material receiving part 410 may comprise a tray 410 where the working surface 411 and the rim 412 are defined. The tray 410 further defines the at least one hole 413 in the working surface 411 of the tray 410. Preferably, the at least one hole 413 defined in the working surface 411 is a plurality of holes 413 and the at least one elongated inner tapered hole surface 421 defined in the extruding apparatus 420 is a plurality of elongated inner tapered hole surfaces 421.
[0208] In some embodiments, the plate 420 or the tray 410 is adapted to handle finishing and extruding of any pre-rolled paper cone 800 of sizes between and including 98 mm through and including 109 mm. In such embodiment, the plate 420 or tray 410 is at least 2 inches thick (thus the elongated inner tapered hole surface 421 is at least 2 inches thick), the larger hole opening 423 of each elongated inner tapered hole surface 421 is at least 12.5 mm in diameter, and the smaller hole opening 425 of each elongated inner tapered hole surface 421 is at least 9.85 mm in diameter.
[0209] The apparatus shown in FIGS. 15-17 is adapted for use with the same types of packing, filing, tamping, crimping, extruding, and ejecting devices as shown and described previously herein. Therefore, they may be used the crimping rod 132, 132 of the packing and crimping device 130, 130, which as with other embodiments, may be at least 0.25 inches in diameter and at least 2.375 inches in length, and the tamping and ejecting rod 132, 242 or the chamfered tip-end rods 147 of the closing and extruding device 140, 230 may be at least 0.3125 inches in diameter and at least 3 inches in length.
[0210] In other embodiments, the plate 420, the tray 410, or other extruding part of the extruding apparatus 400, may be adapted to handle filling and crimping of any pre-rolled paper cone 800 of sizes between and including 70 mm through and including 84 mm. In such embodiments, each elongated inner tapered hole surface 421 defined in the plate 420 or the tray 410 may be at least 1.875 inches long, the larger hole opening 423 of each elongated inner tapered hole surface 421 may be at least 10.75 mm in diameter, and the smaller hole opening 425 of each elongated inner tapered hole surface 421 may be at least 7.85 mm in diameter.
[0211] FIGS. 15 and 16 show that a metering tray 900 may be used with the pre-rolled paper cone filling, packing, finishing and extruding apparatus 400 (In other embodiments, it can be just used with just a finishing and extruding apparatus). The metering tray 900 facilitates filling of at least one pre-rolled paper cone 800 loaded in the at least one elongated inner tapered hole surface 421 of the pre-rolled paper cone filling, packing, finishing and extruding apparatus 400, with a metered amount of smokeable material 810 when placed on top of the pre-rolled paper cone filling, packing, finishing and extruding apparatus 400. The metering tray 900 comprises a loading portion 910 defining at least one metered elongated hole 911, a funneling portion 920 defining at least one elongated hole 921 adapted for communicating with the at least one metered elongated hole 911 of the loading portion 910, and a slide gate 930 between the loading portion 910 and the funneling portion 920. The sliding gate 930 covers the at least one elongated hole 921 of the funneling portion 920 when in a closed position and uncovers and permits communication between the at least one metered elongated hole 911 of the loading portion 910 and the at least one elongated hole 921 of the funneling portion 920 when in an open position. The at least one metered elongated hole 911 of the loading portion 910, the at least one elongated hole 921 of the funneling portion 920, and the at least one elongated inner tapered hole surface 421 in the pre-rolled paper cone filling, packing, finishing and extruding apparatus 400 line up when the metering tray 900 is placed on top of the pre-rolled paper cone filling, packing, finishing and extruding apparatus 400 as shown in FIG. 16. The at least one metered elongated hole 911 of the loading portion 910 can be loaded with the metered amount of smokeable material 800 while the sliding gate 930 is in the closed position. The funneling portion 920 acts as a funnel for the metered amount of smokeable material 800 in the at least one metered elongated hole 911 of the loading portion 910 to fall down through the at least one elongated hole 921 of the funneling portion 920 and into the at least one pre-rolled paper cone 800 loaded in the at least one elongated inner tapered hole surface 421 of the pre-rolled paper cone filling, packing, finishing and extruding apparatus 400 due to gravity, filling each of the at least one pre-rolled paper cone 800 loaded in the at least one elongated inner tapered hole surface 421 of the pre-rolled paper cone filling, packing, finishing and extruding apparatus 400 when the sliding gate 930 is in open position Preferably, there will be pre-rolled paper cone filling, packing, finishing and extruding apparatuses 400 that have plates that are of thicknesses, or the lengths of the elongated inner tapered hole surfaces 421 of which are sized so that they can work with the working tray 900 for 109 mm, 98 mm, 84 mm, 70 mm pre-roll paper cone 800 sizes.
[0212] In the embodiment of the metering tray shown in FIGS. 15-16, a spacer sheet 940 is also used. In such embodiment, the metering tray 900 further comprises at least one spacer sheet 940 defining at least one hole 941 adapted for communicating with at least one metered elongated hole 911 of the loading portion 910. The at least one elongated hole 921 of the funneling portion 920 of this embodiment is further adapted for communicating with the at least one hole 941 of the at least one spacer sheet 940. The at least one spacer sheet 940 is adapted to be placed between the loading portion 910 and the slide gate 930. The slide gate 930 between the at least one spacer sheet 940 and the funneling portion 920 covers the at least one elongated hole 921 of the funneling portion 920 when in a closed position and uncovers and permits communication between the at least one hole 941 of the at least one spacer sheet 940 and the at least one elongated hole 921 of the funneling portion 920 when in an open position. The at least one metered elongated hole 911 of the loading portion 910, the at least one hole 941 of the at least one spacer sheet 940, the at least one elongated hole 921 of the funneling portion 920, and the at least one elongated inner tapered hole surface 421 in the pre-rolled paper cone filling, packing, finishing and extruding apparatus 400 line up when the metering tray 900 is placed on top of the pre-rolled paper cone filling, packing, finishing and extruding apparatus 400. The at least one metered elongated hole 911 of the loading portion 910 and the at least one hole 941 of the at least one spacer sheet 940 can be loaded with the metered amount of smokeable material 800 while the sliding gate 930 is in the closed position. The funneling portion 920 acts as a funnel for the metered amount of smokeable material 810 in the at least one metered elongated hole 911 of the loading portion 910 and the at least one hole 941 of the at least one spacer sheet 940 to fall down through the at least one elongated hole 921 of the funneling portion 920 and into the at least one pre-rolled paper cone 800 loaded in the at least one elongated inner tapered hole surface 421 of the pre-rolled paper cone filling, packing, finishing and extruding apparatus 400 due to gravity, filling each of the at least one pre-rolled paper cone 800 loaded in the at least one elongated inner tapered hole surface 421 of the pre-rolled paper cone filling, packing, finishing and extruding apparatus 400 when the sliding gate 930 is in open position. Preferably, the at least one spacer sheet 420 may comprise a plurality of spacer sheets 420 if necessary to accommodate larger fill projects.
[0213] Preferably, to facilitate filling the pre-rolled paper cone 800 within each elongated inner tapered hole surface 421 with the smokeable material 810, a packing apparatus 1000 may be used. The packing apparatus 1000 comprises a top surface 1010 that can be placed under the extruding portion 424, so the tip of the pre-rolled cone 800 within each elongated inner tapered hole surface 421 is in contact with the top surface 1010 of the packing apparatus 1000. The top surface 1010 of the packing apparatus 1000 is preferably flat and preferably a plate made of ceramic or glass, but other known materials can be used. The packing apparatus 1000 is further comprised of a power button connected to a vibrating member 1030 that is in contact with the top surface 1010 and vibrates the top surface 1010. The vibrating member 1030 may preferably have slots to allow the supporting structure 430 of the finishing and extruding apparatus 400 to connect with the packing apparatus 1000. When turned on, the vibrating member 1030 vibrates and moves the top surface 1010 of the packing apparatus 1000 in an up and down and/or side-by-side motion. This motion causes each pre-rolled paper cone 800 within each elongated inner tapered hole surface 421 in contact with the top surface 1010 of the packing apparatus 1000 to be pushed up preferably 0.75 inches, allowing each of the pre-rolled paper cones 800 to be shaken properly so the smokeable materials 810 poured onto the material receiving part 410 and into each of the pre-rolled paper cones 800 without being bounced out and so as to become lodged between and the respective elongated inner tapered hole surfaces 421 in which each pre-rolled paper cone 800 is placed. Depending on the material the tip of the pre-rolled paper cone 800 may be made of or coated in, such as paper and/or glass, the amount the pre-rolled paper cone 800 needs to be pushed up by the vibration for filling with the packing apparatus 1000 will differ, and the space between the top surface 1010 of the packing apparatus 1000 and the extruding portion 424 may need to be adjusted. A removable packing apparatus extension surface 1040, preferably shaped like a plate, may be placed on top of the top surface 1010 of the packing apparatus 1000 to decrease the space between the tip of each pre-rolled paper cone 800 within each of the elongated inner tapered hole surfaces 421 and the packing apparatus 1000. The packing apparatus 1000 may preferably have suction cup feet.
[0214] FIG. 18 is a side view of an embodiment of a closing and extruding device 140 in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure, with the handle 141 and the plurality of rods 147 with chamfered tip-ends 148 attached to the handle 141. The closing and extruding device 140 comprises a handle 141 attached to at least one rod 147, which may preferably be a plurality of rods 147. In this embodiment, the plurality of rods 147 are 10 rods 147. The rods 147 are attached to the handle 141 using means of attachment known in the art, such as glue and bolts.
[0215] Each of the rods 147 are designed to be of a larger diameter than the thin rods (shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B) and has a chamfered tip-end 148, which allows for catching and closing of crimped upper edges of pre-rolled cones (not shown). The rod 147 may be 5/16.sup.th of an inch long for ejecting large cigarettes and th of an inch long for ejecting small cigarettes. The rod 147 may preferably be made of plastic, such as Nylon, or any other material such as wood, metal, aluminum, or the like, suitable to the purpose of being sufficiently rigid to be used to push and compress the filled pre-rolled cones through the tapered holes as shown in FIG. 17. The handle 141 may be made of known materials in the art, such as wood, metal, HDPE, plastic, acrylic, and other moldable and machinable materials.
[0216] In accordance with an aspect and embodiment of the disclosure, a method of producing a plurality of consistently dimple-closed cigarettes using such apparatuses as described above comprises the steps of: [0217] Obtaining a finishing and extruding apparatus (or a pre-rolled paper cone filling, packing, finishing and extruding apparatus) apparatus defining a plurality of elongated inner tapered hole surfaces, having a plurality of pre-rolled paper cones loaded into the plurality of corresponding elongated inner tapered hole surfaces of the apparatus, each of the plurality of pre-rolled paper cones having smokeable material filled therein; [0218] Folding excess paper of each of the plurality of pre-rolled paper cones over using tines of a press tool and rolling the tips of the tines over each top of the folded paper of the plurality of pre-rolled paper cones to start closing the plurality of pre-rolled paper cones; [0219] Pressing each top of the folded paper of the plurality of pre-rolled paper cones using concave tip-end rods of the press tool to flatten and begin to close, creating a convex dome on each top of the folded paper of the plurality of pre-rolled paper cones with pressure; and [0220] Pressing and extruding each of the plurality of closed pre-rolled paper cones deeper into each of the corresponding elongated tapered hole surfaces in the apparatus to finish closing and eject each cigarette into a catcher.
[0221] In an embodiment, the method of producing a plurality of consistently dimple-closed cigarettes may further comprise the steps of: [0222] Loading the plurality of elongated inner tapered hole surfaces of the finishing and extruding apparatus further comprising a packing apparatus, with the plurality of pre-rolled paper cones and filling the plurality of pre-rolled paper cones with smokeable material; and [0223] Shaking the loaded extruding apparatus via shaking of the packing apparatus for between 20-30 seconds to achieve an appropriate pack.
[0224] In an embodiment, the finishing and closing produces a dimple or Dutch Crown close.
[0225] In an embodiment, the method of producing a plurality of consistently dimple-closed cigarettes may further comprise the steps of: [0226] Obtaining a metering tray with spacer sheets wherein during the loading of the plurality of pre-rolled paper cones, the metering tray and as many spacer sheets as needed are placed on top of the plurality of elongated inner tapered hole surfaces of said extruding apparatus to fill the plurality of pre-rolled paper cones with metered amount of smokeable material.
[0227] In accordance with an aspect and embodiment of the disclosure, a method of producing a plurality of consistently dimple-closed cigarettes using such apparatuses as described above comprises the steps of: [0228] Obtaining a finishing and extruding apparatus defining a plurality of elongated inner tapered hole surfaces and having a plurality of pre-filled paper cones loaded, wherein each of the plurality of pre-filled paper cones is held by corresponding one of said plurality of elongated inner tapered hole surfaces of the apparatus; and [0229] Pressing and extruding each of the plurality of partially closed pre-filled paper cones through each of the corresponding elongated inner tapered hole surfaces to finish closing each cigarette and to eject each cigarette into a catcher.
[0230] Thus, those skilled in the art will recognize the inventive principles disclosed are not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein, and that various aspects of the disclosed embodiments may be combined to achieve additional embodiments.
[0231] In the preceding description, numerous details were set forth. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without some of these specific details. Additionally, one skilled in the art will recognize the inventive principles disclosed are not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein, and that various aspects of the disclosed embodiments may be combined to achieve yet additional embodiments. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring the present invention. Further, in this regard, it will be appreciated that there may be inventive aspects of the device of the disclosure presented as well. Thus, for example, it will be appreciated that an apparatus comprising just a finishing and extruding apparatus adapted for finishing and extruding pre-filled and packed paper cones may be implemented without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. Therefore, in accordance with another aspect and embodiment of the disclosure, a finishing and extruding apparatus may be adapted for use with a closing and extruding device for making and extruding cigarettes, such as marijuana cigarettes, onto a catcher. The finishing and extruding apparatus comprises an extruding apparatus. The extruding apparatus comprises (or portion thereof since one may consider the ejecting rod(s) as part of the extruding apparatus) at least one elongated inner tapered hole surface. A receiving portion of the at least one elongated inner tapered hole surface defines a larger hole opening and an extruding portion of the at least one elongated inner tapered hole surface defines a smaller hole opening. The at least one elongated inner tapered hole surface interconnects the receiving portion and the extruding portion. The finishing and extruding apparatus further comprises a supporting structure attached to the extruding apparatus. The supporting structure is adapted for holding the extruding apparatus sufficiently spaced from the catcher to allow each pre-rolled paper cone received by each at least one elongated inner tapered hole surface to be suspended sufficiently spaced from the catcher to allow for extruding of a finished cigarette past the extruding portion of the at least one elongated inner tapered hole surface and onto the catcher. In one embodiment, the extruding apparatus may comprise a plate where the at least one elongated inner tapered hole surface is defined. Further preferably, the at least one elongated inner tapered hole surface defined in the plate is a plurality of elongated inner tapered hole surfaces. In another embodiment, the extruding apparatus may comprise a tray. The tray in such embodiment defines a working surface and a rim. The tray further defines at least one hole in the working surface that communicates with the at least one elongated inner tapered hole surfaces. Preferably, the at least one hole defined in the working surface is a plurality of holes and the at least one elongated inner tapered hole surface are a plurality of elongated inner tapered hole surfaces.
[0232] In an embodiment, for example as shown more specifically in FIG. 17, it will be appreciated that the at least one elongated inner tapered hole surface 421, or alternatively a plurality of elongated inner tapered hole surfaces 421, may be formed by a plurality of tubes 398 held in place on the underside of the tray 410 by a plurality of brackets 399, or there may be provided other structures attachable to the underside of the tray 410, or otherwise extending from a working surface or tray, to perform the same function as a plate 420 defining a plurality of elongated inner tapered hole surface 421 for cigarette extrusion purposes as described previously herein in connection with the plate 110, 420.
[0233] Thus, the pre-rolled cone filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatusor a portion thereof, since one may consider the plate or tray portions of the a filling, packing, finishing, and extruding apparatus as just an extruding apparatus, and since ejecting rod(s) may also be considered as part of an extruding apparatus or a portion thereofand methods of the present disclosure address problems with prior art apparatus and methods of filling, packing, finishing, and extruding cigarettes, especially marijuana cigarettes. This is because the present apparatus and methods help to alleviate the problem of quickly mass processing marijuana into a plurality of cigarettes. Thus, the present apparatus and methods will enhance the making of a plurality of marijuana cigarettes for immediate consumption by smoking by providing means that are less expensive, more portable, require fewer persons to operate, convenient, fast, and easy. Further, it will be appreciated that the present invention may be adapted to non-human mechanical mass production means, comprising a similar plate having a rim and defining tapered holes, together with a supporting structure, a packing, finishing, closing, and/or extruding device, or devices, all operated using machine based pouring and shaking techniques, as with cams to facilitate filling, and robotic arms or booms to facilitate packing, finishing, and extruding of cigarettes, all without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed. Thus, while a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the claimed subject matter in its broader aspects. For example, it will be appreciated that one skilled in the art may mix and match the various components of the various embodiments of the claimed subject matter without departing from the true spirit of the claims. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
