Packing technology for a vented pre-roll

Abstract

Apparatus for packing a biomass, such as a cannabis, pre-roll including packing mold, skewer, plunger and top cap that create and maintain a tightly packed biomass core with a vent hole. A filter that may be used with the packing mold includes a baffle with elongate planar filter parts that holds the core in place.

1 . A mold assembly for packing a biomass pre-roll, comprising:
 mold parts connectable to define a mold with a cavity therein, the cavity having an open end on a top end of the mold;   a skewer sized to extend along a length of the cavity between the mold parts;   a plunger sized to be inserted into the cavity and the plunger including a skewer channel passing up through the plunger, the plunger operable to be driven into the cavity and down over the skewer, while the skewer remains in place in the cavity; and   a top cap configured to connect on the top end of the mold, the top cap including a plug extension protruding from an inner surface, the plug extension sized to protrude into the cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The mold assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising: a releasable lock between the top cap and the mold. 
     
     
         3 . The mold assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising: a skewer hole extending through the plug extension. 
     
     
         4 . The mold assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the skewer has a twist along its length. 
     
     
         5 . The mold assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the skewer is steel. 
     
     
         6 . The mold assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mold includes a second cavity similar to the cavity. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for packing a biomass pre-roll, comprising:
 a base including a support area for holding a pre-roll mold in an upright position;   guide rails coupled to the base and extending upwardly beside the support area;   a top plate mounted to ride along the guide rails; and   a first plunger mounted on an underside of the top plate, the plunger being elongate with a long axis extending substantially parallel to the guide rails and aligned with the support area.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first plunger includes an open channel extending along the long axis to accommodate a packing skewer. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising a hole in the top plate aligned with the open channel. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising a skewer extending through the first plunger along which the first plunger is configured to slide. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7  further comprising a second plunger mounted on an underside of the top plate, the second plunger being spaced from and extending parallel to the first plunger. 
     
     
         12 . A method for producing a biomass product for a pre-roll, the method comprising:
 assembling a mold to define a cavity within the mold;   positioning a skewer in the cavity in a position with the skewer protruding from an open end of the cavity;   threading the skewer through a lengthwise channel in a plunger; and   driving the plunger into the cavity while introducing biomass material between the plunger and the open end of the cavity, such that the biomass is packed into the cavity around the skewer to produce the biomass product.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the plunger is on a driving structure and driving includes forcing the driving structure down while the mold is held in a support area. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising installing a top cap onto the mold with a portion of the top cap protruding into the cavity to hold the packed biomass in the cavity. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein installing the top cap includes threading the top cap over the skewer and securing the top cap to the mold while the skewer remains in the cavity. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising removing the skewer from the packed biomass to leave a vent hole in the biomass product. 
     
     
         17 . A filter for a biomass pre-roll, comprising:
 a cylindrical housing including an open inner diameter extending from a first end to an opposite end, a long axis defined between the first end and the opposite end;   a ledge in the inner diameter; and   a baffle in the cylindrical housing stopped against the ledge, the baffle including a plurality of planar filter media substructures extending parallel to the long axis.   
     
     
         18 . The filter of  claim 17 , wherein the baffle is integral to the cylindrical housing. 
     
     
         19 . The filter of  claim 17 , further comprising adhesive securing the baffle in the cylindrical housing.