# US 12,178,238 B2 · Tobacco/herb loading device and method therefor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,178,238 B2 - Document ID: US12178238B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/356,971 - Filed: 2021-06-24 - Published: 2022-12-29 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2021-06-24 - Applicants: Kims Industry - Inventors: Sahin Cakan; Keun-Soo Shin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178238B2 ## CPC - A24C 5/06: with pressing-chamber - A24C 5/002: {Feeding arrangements for individual paper wrappers} - A24C: MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES ## Abstract A device for automated loading and forming smoking articles has a conveyer unit holding and moving a plurality of conical paper wrappers. A dispensing unit is coupled to and positioned above the conveyer unit. The dispensing unit stores pre-grounded tobacco leaf/herbs, loads a predetermined amount of the pre-grounded tobacco leaf/herbs into a designated conical paper wrapper of the plurality of conical paper wrappers, and compacts the pre-grounded tobacco leaf/herbs loaded into the designated conical paper wrapper. The conveyer unit moves the designated conical paper wrapper to a desired location under the dispensing unit to load and compact the predetermined amount of the pre-grounded tobacco leaf/herbs into the designated conical paper wrapper. The conveyer unit then moves a next conical paper wrapper to the desired location after the dispensing unit loads and compacts the predetermined amount of the pre-grounded tobacco leaf/herbs into the designated conical paper wrapper. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for automated loading and forming smoking articles comprising: a conveyer unit holding and moving a plurality of conical paper wrappers; and a dispensing unit coupled to and positioned above the conveyer unit, the dispensing unit storing pre-grounded tobacco leaf/herbs, loading a predetermined amount of the pre-grounded tobacco leaf/herbs into a designated conical paper wrapper of the plurality of conical paper wrappers, and compacting the pre-grounded tobacco leaf/herbs loaded into the designated conical paper wrapper: wherein the conveyer unit moves the designated conical paper wrapper to a desired location under the dispensing unit to load and compact the predetermined amount of the pre-grounded tobacco leaf/herbs into the designated conical paper wrapper and moves a next conical paper wrapper to the desired location after the dispensing unit loads and compacts the predetermined amount of the pre-grounded tobacco leaf/herbs into the designated conical paper wrapper; wherein the dispensing unit comprises; a storage unit holding the pre-grounded tobacco leaf/herbs; a disbursing device coupled to the storage unit dispensing the pre-grounded tobacco leaf/herbs within the storage unit; a loading device directing the pre-grounded tobacco leaf/herbs dispensed from the storage unit to the designated conical paper wrapper; a moving device pushing the pre-grounded tobacco leaf/herbs dispensed from the storage unit into the loading device; a compacting device pushing and compacting the pre-grounded tobacco leaf/herbs in the designated conical paper wrapper; and a depth sensor coupled to the compacting device allowing the compacting device to monitor if the designated conical paper wrapper has a torn bottom area or missing bottom area. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, comprising a base coupled to the conveyer unit and the dispensing unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, comprising a collection area formed on the base. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, comprising a sealing device closing an open end of each of the plurality of conical paper wrappers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, comprising: a control unit coupled to the conveyer unit and the dispensing unit; and a motor unit coupled to the control unit, the conveyer unit and the dispensing unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, comprising a control panel coupled to the control unit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the conveyer unit comprises: a rotating platform; a plurality of sections formed around a perimeter of the rotating platform, wherein a first section of the plurality of sections collects the pre-grounded tobacco leaf/herbs; and a cone holding device stored in each remaining section of the plurality of sections. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein the conveyer unit comprises a lifting device raising and lowering the cone holding device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein the cone holding device comprises: a support body; and a cone holder slidably coupled to the support body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, comprising: a locking tab formed on a bottom of the cone holder; a lip formed around a perimeter of the rotating platform; and a plurality of notches formed along the lip. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the storage unit comprises: a platform; a channel formed in the platform; a storage capsule placed within the channel for holding the pie-grounded tobacco leaf/herbs; and a floor movable in an up and down manner within the storage capsule. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the disbursing device comprises a rod member coupled to the floor, wherein raising of the rod member moves the floor upwards to dispense the pre-grounded tobacco leaf/herbs and lowering the rod member moves the floor downward. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the moving device is a sliding block moving across a top opening of the storage capsule. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the loading device is a funnel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the compacting device is a rod member moving in an up and down manner. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, comprising a compacting sensor coupled to the compacting device allowing the compacting device to exert a same amount of pressure each time.