Filled Cone Packaging With Vibration Packing and Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for filling paper cones with loose particles, such as crumbled dried leaves, result in non-uniform packing, clumping, and manual handling issues, leading to inconsistent burn rates, airflow disruptions, and increased machine friction causing heat and resin buildup.
Innovation Solution
An automated packaging apparatus with a cooling circuit and sub-components like grinder wheels, folding tips, and a folder station that maintain consistent temperature and uniform packing, using vacuum and air pressure to ensure precise folding and sealing of cones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If mechanical tamping is used to pack leaves into cones, then the leaves are compacted, but the packing becomes non-uniform with clumps forming and the paper cones may rip
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a vibration mechanism that oscillates at high frequency to pack leaves into cones uniformly. The vibration causes the leaves to settle densely without forming clumps, eliminating the need for mechanical tamping that causes non-uniform packing and ripping. The vibrational energy allows leaves to compact themselves evenly throughout the cone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical tamping system with a vibrational packing system. Instead of applying direct mechanical pressure that causes clumping and tearing, the system uses vibrational motion to achieve compacting, substituting a different physical mechanism that achieves the same packing density without the harmful side effects.
2Ease of manufacture
If vibrations alone are used to fill cones, then the process is simple, but the leaves remain too loose and do not pack densely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the vibrational packing mechanism with additional leaf manipulation components that gently compress and settle the leaves during vibration. This merging of vibrational energy with controlled compression achieves dense packing without requiring harsh mechanical tamping, maintaining process simplicity while improving packing density.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual filling and closing of cones is used, then flexibility is high, but productivity is low and uniformity is inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs automated mechanisms where the cone holder automatically positions and secures cones, and the vibration mechanism automatically packs leaves into each cone as it passes through. The system performs the filling and sealing operations autonomously without manual intervention, dramatically increasing productivity while maintaining uniformity through consistent automated operation.
4Productivity
If automated filling systems are used, then productivity increases, but friction generates heat that causes resin buildup and clumping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses the heat generation problem by incorporating cooling elements that actively remove heat from the processing area. The cooling system counteracts the frictional heating, preventing resin buildup and clumping while maintaining the high-speed automated filling process. This converts the harmful thermal effect into a controlled parameter that is actively managed.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Achieves uniform filling and sealing of cones, preventing clumping, maintaining consistent burn rates, and reducing machine friction and resin buildup, thereby enhancing productivity and product quality.
Implementation Method 1
The friction between the machine parts and the product (and simply among the product itself) generates heat that increases the base temperature of the product
Implementation Method 2
The folder tip may have an outer circumference that is configured to surround the distal end of the cone and a central portion, such as an axial pin. With the axial pin inserted into the distal end of the cone, the vacuum is applied to the exterior of the cone
Implementation Method 3
air pressure may be injected into the interior of the cone through an axial pin of the folding tip
Data Source
AI summary
The technology described herein generally relates to an automated packaging apparatus, system and method that packages loose particles into containers. More specifically, loose plant matter, such as crumbled dried leaves, are processed by the apparatus to be supplied to successive paper cones. The apparatus includes a number of temperature controlled sub-assemblies to reduce heat and resin buildup and maintain the accurate processing of the leaves.