Cone Sealing Drive System for Variable Geometry Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Legacy cone filling devices struggle to handle cones of different shapes and sizes, and fail to control precise amounts of smokable material during the filling process.
Innovation Solution
A cone dispenser system with a cone filler control system, a roller drive motor, and a cone chute, along with a cone top sealing system that includes pneumatic or electronic actuators for precise filling and sealing, allowing for the handling of various cone sizes and shapes and ensuring accurate material dispensing and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If legacy cone filling devices are used, then the device structure is simple, but the device cannot handle cones of different shapes and sizes and cannot control precise amounts of material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements adjustable and reconfigurable filling mechanisms that can adapt to different cone geometries. The system uses programmable control to dynamically adjust filling parameters, material flow rates, and dispenser positioning based on the specific cone type being filled, enabling versatility without requiring physical reconfiguration of the entire device.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes operational parameters such as material flow rate, filling time, and dispenser position to accommodate different cone shapes and sizes. By programmatically adjusting these parameters based on pre-stored cone specifications, the system achieves adaptability while maintaining a relatively simple physical structure.
2Manufacturing precision
If legacy cone filling devices are used, then the device complexity is low, but the manufacturing precision of material dispensing is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms including sensors that monitor material flow, dispenser position, and cone filling status. This feedback is fed back to the programmable controller, which adjusts filling parameters in real-time to achieve precise material dispensing accuracy despite variations in cone geometry and material properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces manual or purely mechanical control systems with programmable electronic control systems. This substitution enables precise digital control of material flow rates, timing, and dispenser positioning, significantly improving manufacturing precision while the modular design keeps the overall system manageable in complexity.
3Productivity
If manual or simple automated filling is used, then the device complexity is low, but the productivity and consistency of filling and sealing processes are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions including cone dispensing, material filling, tamping, and sealing into a single integrated automated system. This merging of functions into one coordinated process significantly improves productivity by eliminating manual transfer steps and ensuring consistent timing and parameters across all operations, while the unified control architecture manages the complexity efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements continuous automated operation where cones are dispensed, filled, tamped, and sealed in an uninterrupted sequence. The programmable controller coordinates all operations to run continuously without manual intervention, maximizing productivity while maintaining consistent quality through automated parameter control throughout the entire process.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for closing and sealing a cone filled with a smokable material provides a cone filler control system, a plurality of cone inserts each including a tapered inner wall defining a taper lock area for holding a cone filled with smokable material, and an insert ring provided at a lower end of each cone insert, each of the plurality of cone inserts removably inserted in corresponding cone receptacles residing in a cone carousel, a cone tamper actuator for compacting smokable material in a filled cone, a cone closer system including a gripper actuator for closing the cone top of the filled cone, and a cone sealing drive system including a motor with a drive wheel operated to impart a rotational force on the insert ring of each cone insert to rotate both the cone insert and a filled cone to form a wick seal at the end of the filled cone.