Application US20190320710

CONE CLOSURE APPARATUS AND RELATED METHODS
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US20190320710

1. A cone closure apparatus for production of smoking articles, comprising: (4) (3)

a) a frame;

b) at least one cone holder supported by the frame and extending along an axis, the cone holder having a lower grip surface for applying a rotational force about the axis to an outer surface of a lower filled portion of a cone received in the cone holder, the cone having an upper empty portion disposed above the lower filled portion and protruding clear of the lower grip surface to receive a counter-rotational force about the axis, in a direction opposite the rotational force; and

c) a drive supported by the frame for applying at least one of the rotational force and the counter-rotational force to twist the upper empty portion closed when the drive is energized.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drive comprises a lower drive coupled to the cone holder, the lower drive, when energized, urging rotation of the lower grip surface and the lower filled portion of the cone engaged thereby. (1) (0)

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the counter-rotational force comprises generally inhibiting rotation of the upper empty portion of the cone about the axis during rotation of the lower filled portion of the cone. (4) (0)

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the lower drive comprises a torque limiter to limit the rotational force to an amount no greater than that necessary to complete the twist closure, thereby inhibiting over twisting the cone. (2) (0)

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a speed at which the lower grip surface rotates is adjustable. (0)

8. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the upper empty portion is accessible by a hand of an operator for applying the counter-rotational force. (0)

9. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising an upper gripper supported by the frame, the upper gripper movable between a retracted position in which the upper gripper is clear of the upper empty portion of the cone, and an advanced position in which the upper gripper engages the upper empty portion of the cone to apply the counter-rotational force. (1) (0)

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an upper gripper supported by the frame, the upper gripper movable between a retracted position in which the upper gripper is clear of the upper empty portion of the cone, and an advanced position in which the upper gripper engages the upper empty portion of the cone to apply the counter-rotational force. (1) (0)

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower grip surface is generally conical, having a taper angle that matches a taper angle of the cone. (2) (0)

18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a trimming device supported by the frame, the trimming device including a cutter movable from a retracted position spaced apart from the twisted upper end of the cone to an advanced position in which the cutter engages the twisted upper end of the cone axially above the filled lower portion of the cone to trim the twisted upper end to a desired length. (0)

19. A method of closing a cone containing smokeable product in production of smoking articles, the method comprising: (3) (3)

a) inserting the cone into a cone holder having an axis, the cone holder having a lower grip surface for gripping an outer surface of a lower filled portion of the cone, the cone having an upper empty portion disposed above the lower filled portion and protruding clear of the lower grip surface;

b) energizing a drive coupled to the cone holder, the drive applying a rotational force about the axis to the lower filled portion of the cone via the lower grip surface;

c) during step (b), applying a counter-rotational force about the axis to the upper empty portion of the cone to twist the upper empty portion closed.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the counter-rotational force includes inhibiting rotation of the upper empty portion of the cone about the axis. (0)

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the counter-rotational force is applied by a hand of an operator. (0)

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the counter-rotational force is applied by opposed upper grip surfaces of a mechanical gripper moved from a retracted position to an advanced position. (0)

23. A cone closure apparatus for production of smoking articles, comprising: (3) (3)

a) a frame;

b) at least one cone holder supported by the frame and having a cavity extending along an axis for receiving a lower filled portion of a cone, the cone having an upper empty portion disposed above the lower filled portion and protruding clear of the cone holder;

c) a set of jaws supported by the frame, the jaws movable between open and closed positions, the jaws clear of the cavity and cone received therein when in the open position, and the jaws overlying the cavity when in the closed position, wherein the upper empty portion of the cone is folded downward against the lower filled portion to close the cone when the jaws move from the open position to the closed position.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein each jaw is pivotable about a respective jaw pivot axis for pivotal movement between the open and closed positions. (0)

25. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a respective jaw actuator coupled to each jaw for moving the respective jaw between the open and closed positions. (1) (0)

27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the set of jaws comprises six jaws arranged circumferentially about the cavity. (0)

28. A method of closing a cone containing smokeable product in production of smoking articles, the method comprising: (2) (2)

a) inserting a cone having a lower filled portion filled with smokeable product into a cavity of a cone holder, the cone having an upper empty portion above the lower filled portion and protruding clear of the cone holder; and

b) folding the upper empty portion downward against the lower filled portion by moving a plurality of jaws from an open position in which the jaws are clear of the cavity to a closed position in which the jaws overly the cavity.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the plurality of jaws are arranged circumferentially around the cavity, and step (b) comprises urging the jaws to the advanced position one at a time in sequence about the circumference of the cavity. (0)

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising measuring a closing force applied by the jaws against the lower filled portion when moved toward the closed position and arresting further movement of the jaws upon detecting a closing force in excess of a pre-determined value. (0)

31. A method of closing a cone containing smokeable product in production of smoking articles, the method comprising: (4) (3)

a) gripping a lower filled portion of a cone with a lower grip surface of a cone holder, the cone having an upper empty portion disposed above the lower filled portion and protruding clear of the lower grip surface;

b) gripping the upper empty portion with an upper grip surface; and

c) counter-rotating the upper empty portion relative to the lower filled portion by energizing a drive to rotate one of the upper grip surface and the lower grip surface about an axis and inhibiting rotation of the other of the upper grip surface and the lower grip surface about the axis to twist the upper empty portion closed.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein step (b) comprises gripping the upper empty portion with a hand of an operator. (0)

33. The method of claim 31, wherein step (b) comprises gripping the upper empty portion with a mechanical gripper. (0)

34. The method of claim 31, wherein energizing the drive rotates the lower grip surface about the axis and rotation of the upper grip surface about the axis is inhibited. (0)

35. The method of claim 31, wherein energizing the drive rotates the upper grip surface about the axis and rotation of the lower grip surface about the axis is inhibited. (0)

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Application US20190320710

CONE CLOSURE APPARATUS AND RELATED METHODS

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