Compaction apparatus and related methods

A compaction apparatus for compacting a smokeable product in production of smoking articles, comprising:

• a) a frame for removably receiving a cone pallet, the cone pallet including a plurality of cavities, each cavity holding a respective cone filled with a volume of the smokeable product, each cone having an open upper end;
• b) a compaction mechanism supported by the frame, the compaction mechanism including:
• (i) at least one pin extending along a pin axis and alignable above the open upper end of a respective cone, and when aligned, the pin movable relative to the cone pallet from a pin retracted position, in which the pin is spaced apart from the smokeable product in the cone, toward a pin advanced position in which a lower portion of the pin is inserted into the volume of the smokeable product in the respective cone, the pin forming an empty column in the volume of the smokeable product when withdrawn;
• and
• (ii) a pallet vibratory drive coupled to the cone pallet when the pallet is received in the frame for vibrating the cone pallet to induce collapse of the smokeable product into the column.

A compaction apparatus for compacting a smokeable product in production of smoking articles, comprising:

• a) a frame for removably receiving a cone pallet, the cone pallet including a plurality of cavities, each cavity holding a respective cone filled with a volume of the smokeable product, each cone having an open upper end;
• b) a compaction mechanism supported by the frame, the compaction mechanism including:
• i. at least one pin extending along a pin axis and alignable above the open upper end of a respective cone, and when aligned, the pin is movable relative to the cone pallet from a pin retracted position, in which the pin is spaced apart from the smokeable product in the cone, toward a pin advanced position in which a lower portion of the pin is inserted into the volume of the smokeable product in the respective cone;
• and
• ii. at least one tamping rod separate from the pin and having a tamping face alignable above the open upper end of the respective cone, and when aligned, the tamping face is moveable relative to the cone pallet from a tamping retracted position in which the tamping face is spaced apart from the smokeable product in the cone, toward a tamping advanced position in which the tamping face is urged downwardly against an upper surface of the volume of smokeable product to exert a compressive force thereon.