Cone loading device and method therefor

A device for automated loading and forming smoking articles comprising:

• a pre-rolled cone holder holding a plurality of pre-rolled cones;
• a loading mechanism loading individual pre-rolled cones in the pre-rolled cone holder with a predefined amount of material;
• a compacting mechanism compressing the predefined amount of material loaded into each of the pre-rolled cones;
• a sealing mechanism compressing an open end of each of the pre-rolled cones preventing the material loaded into each of the pre-rolled cones from falling out;
• a filling mechanism depositing the predefined amount of material in the loading mechanism, the filling mechanism monitoring an amount of material loaded in the filling mechanism and sending a signal to stop loading the filling mechanism with the material when a predefined amount has been loaded;
• and
• a dispensing mechanism sending the material to the filling mechanism, the dispensing mechanism stopping the sending of material when the filling mechanism send the signal to stop loading the filling mechanism with the material when a predefined amount has been loaded.