System, method and apparatus for processing cartridges en masse

Abstract

A cartridge processing system can have a base to support cartridges on an underlying support surface. The base can include a rack with support holes to support respective ones of the cartridges. In addition, a tray having a tray bottom can be removably placed on tops of the cartridges. A platform with platform holes can be substantially coaxially aligned with respective ones of the support holes. The tray can have a funnel extending from the platform. The funnel can form a perimeter around the platform holes, such that the platform holes can be conduits for product to be placed in the cartridges.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cartridge processing system, comprising:
 a plurality of cartridges each comprising a cartridge top, an upper cartridge opening defined by the cartridge top, an upper rim having a radial thickness and defining a radially inner edge of the rim and a radially outer edge of the rim;   a base configured to support the cartridges, the base comprising a rack with support holes for supporting respective ones of the cartridges;   a tray comprising a tray bottom configured to be removably positioned above the base, a platform defining a plurality of platform holes extending fully through the platform, a plurality of cartridge recesses that circumscribe respective ones of the platform holes such that the cartridge recesses receive the cartridge top of the cartridges, the platform holes are substantially coaxially aligned with respective ones of the support holes, each of the platform holes has an upper platform opening and a lower platform opening.   
     
     
         2 . The cartridge processing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of plugs configured to be inserted into the cartridge tops of the plurality of cartridges, the plurality of plugs each comprise a bottom end configured to be disposed below the upper cartridge opening and inside the cartridge when the plugs are inserted into the plurality of cartridges. 
     
     
         3 . The cartridge processing system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of cartridges each comprise an uppermost surface with an uppermost edge of the cartridge tops disposed radially outward relative to the inner edge and radially inward relative to the radially outer edge,   the tray comprises a funnel extending from the platform, and a maximum diameter of the lower platform opening is smaller than a maximum diameter of the upper cartridge opening, the funnel surrounds the platform holes such that the platform holes are conduits for product to be placed in the cartridges, wherein the tray is configured to be placed on the cartridge tops such that the tray directly contacts the uppermost edge of the cartridge tops and the lower platform opening is at least partially inserted through the upper cartridge opening to contact the radially inner edge of the rim.   
     
     
         4 . The cartridge processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the base and the rack are integrally formed as a single, monolithic structure. 
     
     
         5 . The cartridge processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a plurality of bases, each of which can be selectively used with the tray. 
     
     
         6 . The cartridge processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the support holes comprise a support hole inner diameter that is greater than a cartridge outer diameter of the cartridges. 
     
     
         7 . The cartridge processing system of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the tray comprises a receptacle that engages a guide. 
     
     
         8 . The cartridge processing system of  claim 7 , wherein the guide extends from the base. 
     
     
         9 . The cartridge processing system of  claim 8 , wherein the guide has guide portions that are located on opposite lateral sides of the base. 
     
     
         10 . The cartridge processing system of  claim 9 , wherein the guide guides alignment of the tray with the base. 
     
     
         11 . The cartridge processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the tray is vertically spaced apart from the rack when the tray and base are coupled together. 
     
     
         12 . The cartridge processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the platform of the tray is opposite the tray bottom. 
     
     
         13 . The cartridge processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the tray rests directly on the tops of the cartridges. 
     
     
         14 . The cartridge processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the platform holes taper down in diameter from the platform to the tray bottom. 
     
     
         15 . The cartridge processing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a tamper configured to engage the tray, the tamper having extensions that are configured to extend through respective ones of the platform holes and into respective ones of the cartridges, wherein the extensions of the tamper comprise cylinders, and each cylinder has a distal axial length portion that is substantially equal to the plug axial depth of insertion. 
     
     
         16 . A method of processing cartridges, the method comprising:
 (a) loading cartridges in a rack, wherein the cartridges each include a cartridge top and an upper cartridge opening defined by the cartridge top, wherein the cartridges each include an upper rim having a radial thickness and defining a radially inner edge of the rim and a radially outer edge of the rim;   (b) positioning a tray above the rack, wherein the tray includes a platform defining a plurality of platform holes extending fully through the platform, wherein each of the platform holes has an upper platform opening and a lower platform opening, wherein positioning the tray comprises at least partially inserting the lower platform opening through the upper cartridge opening to contact the radially inner edge of the rim, and wherein the tray includes a plurality of cartridge recesses that circumscribe respective ones of the platform holes such that the cartridge recesses receive the cartridge top of the cartridges;   (c) loading the tray with a selected amount of product;   (d) manipulating the product in the tray to fall through the platform holes in the tray into the cartridges; and   (e) removing the tray from the rack of cartridges.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein prior to step (e), tamping the product in the cartridges, and further manipulating product remaining in the tray to fall through the platform holes into the cartridges. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising closing tops of the cartridges by inserting plugs into the cartridges, and removing the cartridges from the rack, wherein a bottom end of the plug is disposed below the upper cartridge opening and inside the cartridge. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the upper rim further defines an uppermost surface with an uppermost edge of the cartridge tops disposed radially outward relative to the inner edge and radially inward relative to the radially outer edge, and a maximum diameter of the lower platform opening is smaller than a maximum diameter of the upper cartridge opening, wherein positioning the tray comprises placing the tray directly on the cartridge tops such that the tray directly contacts the uppermost edge of the cartridge tops. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein step (g) further comprises filling the cartridges with the product to a recessed fill level within the cartridges such that an upper level of the product in the cartridges is recessed relative to the upper cartridge opening and removing the tray from the rack of cartridges when the product is at the recessed fill level.