Smokable paper cone loading device

Abstract

A device and method for loading multiple pre-formed smokable paper cones are disclosed. The device includes a gripping assembly and a release assembly, each comprising a housing with a plurality of vertically oriented cone receptacles. Stacks of pre-formed cones are inserted into the receptacles of the first housing, where a first slider retains or releases the lowermost cone in each stack. Upon actuation, these cones are dispensed into corresponding receptacles in the second housing, which are aligned axially with those of the first housing. A second slider in the release assembly then allows selective release of the cones from the device for further processing or packaging. The two housings are spaced apart by fixed spacers to maintain alignment and spacing. This system allows for controlled, sequential dispensing of cones while preserving the alignment of remaining cones, enabling high-throughput, hands-free operation ideal for commercial cone-filling applications.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A smokable paper cone loading device, comprising:
 a gripping assembly, including:
 a first housing member having a first plurality of vertically oriented cone receptacles, each receptacle having open upper and lower ends and configured to receive and align cone columns, each cone column comprising a stack of pre-formed cones arranged in vertical alignment such that each cone rests directly atop the next; 
 a first slider disposed within the first housing member and movable between a first position, in which the cone columns are retained within the first plurality of vertically oriented cone receptacles, and a second position, in which the lowermost pre-formed cone of each cone column is released through the open lower ends of the first plurality of vertically oriented cone receptacles; 
   a release assembly, including:
 a second housing member having a second plurality of vertically oriented cone receptacles axially aligned with the first plurality of vertically oriented cone receptacles, each receptacle having open upper and lower ends; 
 a second slider disposed within the second housing member and movable between a first position, in which the lowermost pre-formed cones are retained within the second plurality of vertically oriented cone receptacles, and a second position, in which the lowermost pre-formed cones are released through the open lower ends of the second plurality of vertically oriented cone receptacles; 
   
       a plurality of spacers extending between the first housing member and the second housing members, the plurality of spacers maintaining a predetermined distance between the first and second housing members;
   wherein actuation of the first slider from the first position to the second position dispenses the lowermost pre-formed cone of each cone column from the first housing member into the corresponding receptacle of the second housing member; and   wherein actuation of the second slider from the first position to the second position dispenses the lowermost pre-formed cone of each cone column from the second housing member, while the remaining pre-formed cones of each cone column remain retained within the first housing member.   
 
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first housing member comprises an upper section and a lower section, each section defining a plurality of through holes, the through holes of the upper section and the lower section being axially aligned to form the first plurality of vertically oriented cone receptacles. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the second housing member comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, each portion defining a plurality of through holes, the through holes of the upper portion and the lower portion being axially aligned to form the second plurality of vertically oriented cone receptacles. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the second slider comprises a solid slider element configured to block the second plurality of vertically oriented tube receptacles when in the first position and to allow passage of cones when in the second position. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first slider comprises a perforated slider element defining a plurality of holes that create a gripping action on cones when offset relative to the first plurality of vertically oriented tube receptacle, and allow free cone passage when aligned with the first plurality of vertically oriented tube receptacles. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of bolts securing together the gripping assembly, the spacers, and the release assembly, wherein heads of lower bolts are configured as alignment features for mating with preroll packing machinery. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the first slider is biased toward the first position in which the offset hole pattern between the first slider and the first plurality of vertically oriented tube receptacles produces a gripping action on cones positioned within the first plurality of vertically oriented receptacles. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein manual actuation of a handle overcomes the biasing force to move the first slider to the second position in which holes in the first slider align with the first plurality of vertically oriented receptacles of the first housing member, permitting cone movement. 
     
     
         9 . A method of simultaneously loading a plurality of pre-formed smokable paper cones, the method comprising:
 a) inserting a plurality of cone columns into a first plurality of through-holes of a first housing member, each cone column comprising a stack of pre-formed cones arranged in vertical alignment such that each cone rests directly atop the next;   b) positioning a first slider within the first housing member in a first position to retain the cone columns within the first plurality of vertically oriented cone receptacles;   c) actuating the first slider to a second position to release the lowermost pre-formed cone of each cone column through the open lower ends of the first plurality of vertically oriented cone receptacles into a second plurality of vertically oriented cone receptacles of a second housing member, the second plurality of vertically oriented cone receptacles axially aligned with the first plurality of vertically oriented cone receptacles;   d) positioning a second slider within the second housing member in a first position to retain the lowermost pre-formed cones within the second plurality of vertically oriented cone receptacles;   e) actuating the second slider to a second position to release the lowermost pre-formed cone of each cone column through the open lower ends of the second plurality of vertically oriented cone receptacles.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising repeating steps (c) through (e) to successively release subsequent lowermost pre-formed cones from each cone column, thereby allowing consecutive layers of cones to be dispensed until all pre-formed cones have been released from the device.