Cone closure apparatus and related methods

Abstract

A cone closure apparatus for production of smoking articles 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.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is as follows: 
     
         1 . A cone closure apparatus for production of smoking articles, comprising:
 a) a frame;   b) at least one cone holder supported by the frame and having a cavity extending along an axis for receiving a lower filled portion of a cone, the cone having an upper empty portion disposed above the lower filled portion and protruding clear of the cone holder;   c) a set of jaws supported by the frame, the jaws movable between open and closed positions, the jaws clear of the cavity and cone received therein when in the open position, and the jaws overlying the cavity when in the closed position, wherein the upper empty portion of the cone is folded downward against the lower filled portion to close the cone when the jaws move from the open position to the closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each jaw is pivotable about a respective jaw pivot axis for pivotal movement between the open and closed positions. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of jaw actuators, each jaw actuator being coupled to one of the jaws for moving the respective jaw between the open and closed positions. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a controller configured to operate each jaw actuator to move the jaws from the open position to the closed position sequentially about the circumference of the cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the set of jaws comprises six jaws arranged circumferentially about the cavity. 
     
     
         6 . A method of closing a cone containing smokable product in production of smoking articles, the method comprising:
 a) inserting a cone having a lower filled portion filled with smokable product into a cavity of a cone holder, the cone having an upper empty portion above the lower filled portion and protruding clear of the cone holder; and   b) folding the upper empty portion downward against the lower filled portion by moving a plurality of jaws from an open position in which the jaws are clear of the cavity to a closed positon in which the jaws overlie the cavity.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of jaws are arranged circumferentially around the cavity, and step (b) comprises urging the jaws to the closed position one at a time in sequence about the circumference of the cavity. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising measuring a closing force applied by the jaws against the lower filled portion when moved toward the closed position and arresting further movement of the jaws upon detecting a closing force in excess of a pre-determined value.