Apparatus and method for packaging cones

A cone dispenser system, comprising:

• a cone filler control system;
• a cone stack feed tube,
• wherein the cone stack is defined by a cone stack feed tube inlet and a cone stack feed tube outlet,
• wherein the cone stack feed tube inlet is configured to receive a stack of cones, and
• wherein the stack of cones slides down the cone stack feed tube to the cone stack feed tube outlet:
• a roller drive motor communicatively coupled to the cone filler control system, wherein the cone filler control system controls operation of the roller drive motor;
• a roller coupled to the roller drive motor,
• wherein the roller is located below the cone stack feed tube outlet,
• wherein the roller is fixed in a stationary position when the roller drive motor is not actuated by the cone filler control system,
• wherein the roller is rotated for a predefined duration by the roller drive motor when the roller drive motor is actuated by the cone filler control system,
• wherein a leading cone in the stack of cones is frictionally secured by the roller when the drive motor is not actuated so that the stack of cones is retained within the cone stack feed tube;
• and
• a cone chute defined by a cone chute inlet and a cone chute outlet,
• wherein the cone chute inlet is located below the roller,
• wherein the cone stack feed tube outlet is located above a cone receptacle,
• wherein the roller rotates to draw the leading cone out from the cone stack feed tube outlet and into the cone chute inlet in response to actuation of the roller drive motor for the predefined duration by the cone filler control system, and
• wherein the leading cone travels through the cone chute into the cone receptacle after the leading cone has entered into the cone chute.