Systems and methods for a closing machine

Abstract

A closing machine including a cone loading/unloading station, at least one pick and place gripper, a holder assembly, a closing station, and a collection station. The cone loading/unloading station is configured to receive a lower tube assembly and a tray including a plurality of cones. The at least one pick and place gripper is configured to grab at least one cone of the plurality of cones. The holder assembly is configured to receive the at least one cone and move the at least one cone through the closing machine. The closing station is configured to receive the at least one cone from the holder assembly and configured to close an end of the at least one cone. The holder assembly is further configured to release the at least one cone into the collection station.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A closing machine comprising:
 a cone loading/unloading station configured to receive a lower tube assembly and a tray including a plurality of cones from a separate station, wherein the cone loading/unloading station, the lower tube assembly, and the tray defines a locking mechanism that is configured to maintain the lower tube assembly and the tray in position on the cone loading/unloading station;   at least one gripper configured to grab at least one cone of the plurality of cones in the lower tube assembly;   a holder assembly configured to receive the at least one cone from the at least one gripper and move the at least one cone through the closing machine; and   a closing station configured to receive the at least one cone from the holder assembly and configured to close an end of the at least one cone.   
     
     
         2 . The closing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a collection station, wherein the holder assembly is further configured to release the at least one cone into the collection station.   
     
     
         3 . The closing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a twisting station configured to twist the end of the at least one cone to close the end of the at least one cone.   
     
     
         4 . The closing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a folding station comprising at least one pneumatic piston configured to press the end of the at least one cone to close the end of the at least one cone.   
     
     
         5 . The closing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cut station comprising at least one cutter configured to cut off excess material from the end of the at least one cone.   
     
     
         6 . The closing machine of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a vacuum configured to collect the excess material from the end of the at least one cone.   
     
     
         7 . A method of closing a plurality of prerolled cones, the method comprises:
 receiving, with a cone loading/unloading station in a closing machine, a lower tube assembly and a tray including a plurality of cones from a separate station;   grabbing at least one cone using a gripper;   depositing the at least one cone into a holder assembly using the gripper; and   closing an end of each of the cones using a closing station.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 cutting excess material from an end of the cones using a cut station.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 tamping the cones using a tamp station.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 releasing the cones in a collection station.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein closing an end of each of the cones using a closing station comprises twisting an end of each of the cones. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein twisting an end of each of the cones comprises:
 gripping the end of the cones with a twisting gripper; and   twisting the twisting gripper with a closing motor.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein closing an end of each of the cones using the closing station comprises folding an end of each of the cones. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein folding an end of each of the cones using the closing station comprises:
 pressing the end of the cones with a first pneumatic piston; and   pressing the end of the cones with a second pneumatic piston, wherein the first pneumatic piston is oriented at a first angle relative to the end of the cones and the second pneumatic piston is oriented at a second angle relative to the end of the cones different than the first angle.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the separate station is a measuring station or a tamping station. 
     
     
         16 . A method of manufacturing a plurality of prerolled cones using a system comprising:
 measuring a predetermined amount of product using a measuring station;   filling the measured predetermined amount of product in at least one cone using the measuring station, wherein the at least one cone is positioned in a cavity of a lower tube assembly in a tray during filling;   receiving the lower tube assembly, the tray, and the at least one cone into a closing machine from a separate station;   locking the lower tube assembly and the tray into a cone loading/unloading station using a locking mechanism;   grabbing the at least one cone using a gripper;   depositing the at least one cone into a holder assembly using the gripper; and   closing an end of each of the cones using a closing station.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the separate station is a measuring station or a tamping station. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 cutting excess material from an end of the at least one cone using a cut station.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 transporting the lower tube assembly, the tray, and the at least one cone to a tamping station; and   tamping the at least one cone using a tamping station.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 releasing the at least one cone in a collection station.