Patent Application
20220295869
The present invention generally relates to smoking product making system and more particularly the present invention pertains to devices and methods for making a plurality of smoking products (e.g., cannabis joints, spliff and cigarettes) by closing the pre-rolled cones filled with smoking material.
Rolling papers are conventionally used for making smoking products such as cigarettes, joints and so on. The rolling papers generally are thin, rectangular and tissue-like paper and generally, an operator or similar personnel manually makes smoking products by dropping the smoking material such as tobacco, cannabis and so on onto the rolling paper and then the operator bundles the rolling paper in the desired shape. Then, the bundled rolling paper requires closure of ends such that the smoking material does not fall out. The smoking product so formed has a substantially cylindrical or conical shape having smoking material uniformly packed inside it.
Nowadays, pre rolled cones are trending in market as they are quick and easy to use even for beginners. The pre-rolled cones does not require high skill and precision as compared to rolling papers as the operator does not have to roll the pre rolled cones in the desired shape. The operator can simply insert the smoking material in the pre rolled cones, either manually or using techniques/machines conventionally known in the art and then close the pre rolled cones to ensure the smoking material does not fall out from the pre rolled cones. The closure of open ends of pre rolled cones is a manual and a time consuming task and further, proper closing of the open ends of pre rolled cones depend on the skill level of the operator. The force exerted by the operator for closing the pre rolled cones are not standardized for all pre rolled cones thereby increasing chances for improper closing of many pre rolled cones.
Many attempts to provide solutions to some of the problems discussed hereinabove may be found in the prior art, such as for example: US20120138075A1 discloses steps of preparing a cigarette or cigar with filter tip. As disclosed in the patent application, the final step for the preparation of cigarette requires twisting first end of cone to close open volume and keep tobacco filler material compacted. The cigar or cigarette is then ready to smoke with a filter tip at its second end.
However, twisting the open end of each pre rolled cone for closing each pre rolled cone is a manual and time consuming task. When making a large number of smoking products from pre rolled cones, time required for closing the open end of the pre rolled cone increases and also, lots of pre rolled cones are not properly closed leading to leaking or deterioration of the smoking material in the smoking product. Further, twisting the open end of each pre rolled cone one at a time requires manual effort by the operator. The method is greatly influenced by human factors, and operator must twist the open end of all the pre rolled cones with equal precision (force, method), which is difficult to achieve even for highly skilled workers/operators.
US20190320710A1 discloses a cone closure apparatus for production of smoking articles. The apparatus includes: (a) a frame; and (b) at least one cone holder supported by the frame and extending along an axis. The cone holder has a lower grip surface for applying a rotational force about the axis to an outer surface of a lower filled portion of a cone received in the cone holder. The cone having an upper empty portion disposed above the lower filled portion and protruding clear of the lower grip surface to receive a counter-rotational force about the axis, in a direction opposite the rotational force. The closure apparatus further includes (c) a drive supported by the frame for applying at least one of the rotational force and the counter-rotational force to twist the upper empty portion closed when the drive is energized. However, twisting the open end of each pre rolled cone for closing each pre rolled cone is a time consuming task. Further, the prior art US20190320710A1 involves use of electrical components such as drives, thereby limiting the use of the cone closure apparatus in environments where electricity is readily available. Further, the electrical components will require proper maintenance/servicing, which would lead to increase in costs related to production of a smoking product.
Thus, in the light of the above-mentioned background art, it is evident that, there is a need for a device and method for simultaneously closing the open end of a plurality of pre rolled cones with equal precision that would be simple in terms of design and at the same time could overcome above discussed drawbacks.
Before the present systems and methods, enablement are described, it is to be understood that this application is not limited to the particular systems, and methodologies described, as there can be multiple possible embodiments which are not expressly illustrated in the present disclosures. It is also to be understood that the terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing the particular versions or embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present application.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a smoking product making system as well as method capable of simultaneously producing a plurality of smoking products.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a closure device capable of closing a plurality of pre rolled cones simultaneously, wherein the closure device comprises a base plate having a plurality of raised projections.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a closure device capable of closing a plurality of pre rolled cones with equal precision by applying equal forces for closing a plurality of pre rolled cones.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for closing open end of pre rolled cones by using the closure device wherein the method involves bringing the closure device in contact with a plurality of pre rolled cones to simultaneously close open ends of plurality of pre rolled cones.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an ejector device which assists in simultaneous removal of the plurality of closed pre rolled cones, wherein the ejector device comprises an ejector plate having a plurality of raised projections.
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a smoking product making system as well as method for simultaneously producing a plurality of smoking products. The smoking product making system comprising: a receptacle comprising a plurality of holes, wherein each hole comprises a top opening and a bottom opening and each hole is configured to releasably hold a pre rolled cone wherein each pre rolled cone is at least partially filled with a smoking material and comprises a top end and a bottom end; a closure device comprising a base plate and a plurality of raised projections extending from the base plate, wherein each raised projection is configured to fold an extended portion of each pre rolled cone projecting outside the top opening of the hole; thereby closing the top end of each pre rolled cone. A predefined sequence of movements of the closure device relative to the receptacle simultaneously closes top ends of a plurality of pre rolled cones such that each raised projection folds an extended portion of a pre rolled cone projecting outside the top opening of the hole.
Embodiments of the present invention disclose an ejection devices as well as methods for at least partially ejecting a plurality of pre rolled cones having closed top ends from the receptacle.
In an embodiment, the plurality of holes formed in the receptacle is formed as a plurality of through holes, wherein each through hole extends from the top surface of the receptacle to the bottom surface of the receptacle. Each through hole comprises a top opening formed on a top surface and a bottom opening formed on a bottom surface of the receptacle. The ejector device comprises an ejector plate and a plurality of raised projections extending from the ejector plate, wherein each raised projection of the ejector plate is configured to push the bottom end of the pre rolled cone through the bottom opening of the receptacle.
In another embodiment, the ejection devices/methods could utilize other means/techniques to at least partially eject/remove a plurality of pre rolled cones having closed top ends from the receptacle. The means/techniques can include but not limited to inverting and/or shaking the receptacle, applying pressurized air/gas to remove pre rolled cones, using vacuum removal of pre rolled cones and so on.
In an embodiment, a pair of handles may be provided on the closure device to enable grasping by the hands of the operator for moving the closure device.
In another embodiment, the smoking product making system comprises a locking enclosure for removable interlocking with the second portion of the receptacle.
In another embodiment, the bottom end of each pre rolled cone includes a filter tip.
In another embodiment, the length of the plurality of raised projections of the ejector device is smaller than the length of the holes of the receptacle.
In another embodiment, the length of the plurality of raised projections of the ejector device is equal or larger than the length of the holes of the receptacle.
In another embodiment, the ejector device comprises a plurality of sidewalls extending from the peripheral edges of the ejector plate.
In another embodiment, the numbers of sidewalls are less or equal to the number of edges of the ejector plate of the ejector device.
Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. There is shown in the drawings example embodiments, however, the application is not limited to the specific system and method disclosed in the drawings.
Some embodiments, illustrating its features, will now be discussed in detail. The words “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” and “including,” and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items. It must also be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Although any methods, and systems similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments, the preferred methods, and systems are now described. The disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary.
The various features and embodiments of closure device and method of the present invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying figures, namely
Referring to accompanying figures, especially
According to an embodiment as shown in
According to another embodiment as shown in
According to various embodiments as shown in
According to an embodiment as shown in
Referring to accompanying figures, especially
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
In another embodiment, as shown in
In another embodiment, the cross sectional area of each raised projection 134 is selected such that the raised projection 134 is form fit (close fit) with the extended portion 128 of a pre rolled cone 120 when the closure device 130 is pushed against the plurality of pre rolled cones 120 present/disposed within the plurality of holes 116 of the receptacle 110 (as shown in
In another embodiment, the cross sectional area of each raised projection 134 is selected such that the plurality of raised projections 134 compresses the smoking material filled in the plurality of pre rolled cones 120 when the closure device 130 is pushed against the plurality of pre rolled cones 120 disposed within the plurality of holes 116 of the receptacle 110 (as shown in
Referring to
Referring to
In an embodiment, the downward force exerted by the plurality of raised projections 134 compresses the smoking material (as seen in
In another embodiment, the downward force exerted by the raised projections 134 results in tamping of the extended portion 128 of the pre rolled cones 120. The tamping of the extended portion 128 reduces the length L (as shown in
Afterwards, the closure device 130 is moved/pulled away from the receptacle 110 and then the closure device 130 is moved in a horizontal plane substantially parallel to the top surface 113 in a specific direction as shown in
In another embodiment, the inward radial movements of each raised projection 134 relative to the receptacle 110 may be followed by moving/pushing the closure device 130 towards the receptacle 110 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the top surface 113 to further fold down the specific portion and/or compress the smoking material to form a hollow extended portion 128 using similar method as shown in
Afterwards, the closure device 130 is moved/pulled away from receptacle 110 and then the closure device 130 is moved in a horizontal plane in an another direction substantially parallel to top surface 113 as shown in
In another embodiment, the inward radial movement of each raised projection 134 may be followed by moving/pushing the closure device 130 towards the receptacle 110 in a direction substantially perpendicular to top surface 113 to further fold down the another portion and/or compress the smoking material to form a hollow extended portion 128 using similar method as shown in
By repeating steps of radially moving each raised projection 134 of the closure device 130 towards the extended portion from multiple directions and optionally followed by moving/pushing the closure device 130 in a direction substantially perpendicular to top surface 113 towards the receptacle (as shown in
The rigid support surface supports movement of the closure device 130 relative to the receptacle 110 as it is capable of withstanding forces exerted by the closure device 130 on the receptacle 110. The receptacle 110 is placed on the rigid support surface during closing of the top end 124 of the pre rolled cones 120.
In an embodiment, the rigid support surface includes a ground surface including but not limited to table top, machine top, floor surface and so on.
Referring to
The rigid support surface supports movement of the closure device 130 relative to the receptacle 210 as it is capable of withstanding forces exerted by the closure device 130 on the receptacle 210. The receptacle 210 is placed on the rigid support surface during closing of the top end 124 of the pre rolled cones 120. Further, the rigid support surface prevents expulsion of the smoking material and/or pre rolled cone 120 from the bottom opening 218 of the plurality of through holes 216 of the receptacle 210.
In an embodiment, the rigid support surface includes a ground surface including but not limited to table top, machine top, floor surface and so on.
In another embodiment, the rigid support surface comprises a locking enclosure that is placed on a ground surface. The locking enclosure is configured to removably interlock with the second portion 114 of the receptacle 210 (as can be seen in
Various ejection devices as well as methods for at least partially ejecting a plurality of pre rolled cones 120 having closed top ends 124 from the receptacle (110, 210) will now be described.
In an embodiment, the ejection devices/methods could utilize other means/techniques to at least partially eject/remove a plurality of pre rolled cones 120 having closed top ends 124 from the receptacle (110, 210). The means/techniques can include but not limited to inverting and/or shaking the receptacle, applying pressurized air/gas to remove pre rolled cones, using vacuum removal of pre rolled cones and so on.
Referring to
In an embodiment, a plurality of sidewalls 146 extends from the peripheral edges of the ejector plate 142. The sidewalls 146 acts as a guide member such that when the receptacle 210 (as can be seen in
In another embodiment not shown in figures, the ejector device may not include sidewalls. Instead, the ejector device may just comprise an ejector plate and a plurality of raised projections extending from the ejector plate.
Referring to
Referring
Afterwards as shown in
In an embodiment as shown in
In another embodiment (not shown in figures), the raised projection 144 of the ejector device 140 has an overall length equal to or more than the overall length of the through holes 216 of the receptacle 210 to completely eject the pre rolled cones 120, when the receptacle 210 is pushed towards the ejector device 140.
A variety of methods for inserting the plurality of pre rolled cones 120 in the receptacle 110 will now be described.
In an embodiment, firstly, the plurality of pre rolled cones 120 are manually inserted by an operator one-by-one into the plurality of holes 116 of the receptacle 110 by using hands. Then afterwards, the pre rolled cones 120 inserted in the plurality of holes 116 are filled with intended smoking material through top end 124 using any conventionally known devices/methods already known in the prior art.
In another embodiment, the pre rolled cones 120 are first filled with the smoking material and then afterwards, the pre-filled pre rolled cones 120 are inserted one-by-one in the plurality of holes 116 using any conventionally known devices/methods already known in the prior art.
In another embodiment, a method of transferring the plurality of pre rolled cones 120 filled with the smoking material from a variety of filling machines/bases known in the art to the receptacle 110 will be describe d. The variety of filling machines/bases can include but not limited to manual pre rolled filling devices, electric vibrating pre rolled filling machines and so on.
Referring to
In various embodiments of the present invention, a variety of methods for inserting the plurality of pre rolled cones 120 in the receptacle 110 are described. However, it is obvious to the one skilled in the art that the plurality of pre rolled cones 120 can be inserted in the receptacle 210 using similar variety of methods with little or no variation.
It should be understood that the receptacle 110, the closure device 130, and the ejector device 140 may be constructed from substantially rigid materials selected from but not limited to metals, plastics, ceramics, wood and composites or any combinations thereof. Further, the receptacle 110, the closure device 130, and the ejector device 140 are made using conventional manufacturing processes such as but not limited to molding, machining, casting, 3D printing and so on.
According to various embodiments of the present invention, the movement of the various components e.g. the receptacle 110, the closure device 130, and the ejector device 140 is manually done by an operator using his/her hands. However, it should be understood that the movement of the various components e.g. the receptacle 110, the closure device 130, and the ejector device 140 could be enabled automatically using machines/machine platforms/robotic manipulators which would carry/transport the various components of the present invention for desired movement. The movement of various components using machines would allow automation of the smoking product making system as well as method and would be useful in mass production of plurality of smoking products.
In the embodiments described above it is seen that product making system 100 is being used to close and eject the pre rolled cones 120 having a substantially conical shape. However, it should be understood that rolling papers of other shapes known in the art, or varying sizes can be substituted for the pre rolled cones including but not limited to cylindrical shape, polygonal shape and so on.
In various embodiments of the present invention, a receptacle 110 comprising a plurality of holes 116 is considered for sake of simplicity. However, it is obvious to the one skilled in the art that the receptacle 210 comprising a plurality of through holes 216 could be considered for various embodiments of the present invention with little or no variation.
It should be understood according to the preceding description of the present invention that the same is susceptible to changes, modifications and adaptations, and that the said changes, modifications and adaptations fall within scope of the appended claims.
