Apparatus and method for packaging cones

A cone top sealing system that closes and seals a cone filled with a smokable material, said cone top sealing system comprising:

• a cone filler control system;
• a plurality of cone inserts each including an interior having an inner wall that progressively tapers inwards towards a lower end defining a taper lock area configured to hold a cone filled with smokable material, each of said plurality of cone inserts removably inserted to rotate and move freely within a corresponding cone receptacle residing in a cone carousel, each lower end including an elastomeric ring;
• at least one cone actuator including a first tamper head, wherein said at least one cone actuator retracts and extends within the cone filled with smokable material;
• a gripper actuator including a first gripper arm in parallel with a second gripper arm, a first seal plate attached to said first gripper arm, and a second seal plate, a third seal plate, and a spacer attached to said second arm where said spacer is captured between said second seal plate and said third seal plate defining a plate gap, said parallel gripper arms moveable towards, and away from each other;
• a cone sealing drive system including a motor with a shaft, and a drive wheel affixed to the distal end of said shaft, said drive wheel removably engaging an insert ring of each of said plurality of cone inserts;
• wherein the cone filler control system is configured to communicate a first control signal to actuate the at least one cone actuator and extend the first tamper head downward into the cone filled with smokable material to pack said smokable material therein, and to capture said cone filled with smokable material within said taper lock area of one of said plurality of cone inserts;
• wherein the cone filler control system is configured to communicate a second control signal to operate the motor and rotate the drive wheel a predetermined time period to impart a rotating force on an insert ring of one of said plurality of cone inserts holding said cone filled with smokable material to rotate said cone filled with smokable material;
• and
• wherein the cone filler control system is configured to communicate a third control signal to actuate the gripper actuator forcing the gripper arms to move towards each other so that the seal plates close a cone top of said cone filled with smokable material while said one of said plurality of cone inserts holding said cone filled with smokable material rotates to twist said cone top and form a wick seal at the end of said cone filled with smokable material.

A method of closing and sealing a cone filled with a smokable material, said method comprising:

• providing a cone filler control system;
• providing a plurality of cone inserts each cone insert including a cylindrical body having an interior including an inner wall that progressively tapers inwards towards a lower end defining a taper lock area for readily holding or configured to hold a cone filled with smokable material, each of said plurality of cone inserts removably inserted to rotate and move freely within a corresponding cone receptacle residing in a cone carousel, said lower end of each of said plurality of cone inserts including a elastomeric ring;
• communicating a first control signal from the cone filler control system to actuate at least one cone actuator and extend a first tamper head downward into a cone filled with smokable material packing said smokable material, and capturing said cone filled with smokable material within said taper lock area of one of said plurality of cone inserts;
• communicating a second control signal from the cone filler control system to operate a motor including a shaft, and a drive wheel affixed to the distal end of said shaft, said motor operated to rotate the drive wheel a predetermined time period to impart a rotating force on an elastomeric ring of one of said plurality of cone inserts to rotate said cone filled with smokable material simultaneously with said one of said plurality of cone inserts;
• and
• communicating a third control signal from the cone filler control system to actuate a gripper actuator including a first gripper arm including a first seal plate, and a second gripper arm including another seal plate, said gripper actuator actuated to force said gripper arms to move towards each other for said seal plates to close said cone top of said cone filled with smokable material while said cone filled with smokable material is rotated, via, the drive wheel, twisting said cone top to form a wick seal at the end of said cone filled with smokable material.