SMOKABLE PAPER CONE LOADING DEVICE

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the provisional patent application identified by U.S. Ser. No. 63/680,765, filed Aug. 8, 2024, titled “SMOKABLE PAPER CONE LOADING DEVICE,” the entire contents of which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The cannabis, hemp, and related industries have experienced rapid growth, driven by evolving regulatory landscapes and increasing consumer acceptance. With this expansion, the demand for cannabis preroll products—popular for their convenience, portability, and consistent dosing—has surged. As the market continues to mature, manufacturers are faced with the dual challenge of scaling production to meet rising demand while adhering to strict quality control standards.

The production of cannabis prerolls is a multifaceted process that includes the loading of smokable paper cones into specialized preroll machines. In conventional systems, the loading of these cones is performed manually, requiring labor-intensive, time-consuming efforts. Workers must individually insert each cone into the machine, a process that not only decreases operational efficiency but also contributes to worker fatigue and slows overall production rates

As consumer demand for preroll products continues to increase, there is an urgent need for innovations that enhance production efficiency and scalability. Traditional methods of cone loading no longer suffice in meeting the growing need for rapid, cost-effective manufacturing solutions. Accordingly, a device that facilitates the simultaneous loading of multiple pre-formed smokable cones would greatly improve production efficiency by reducing manual labor, minimizing operator fatigue, and streamlining the overall manufacturing process.

Accordingly, a need exists for a smokable paper cone loading device that allows for the efficient and simultaneous loading of multiple pre-formed cones into a production system. It is to such systems and methods that the presently disclosed inventive concepts are directed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more implementations described herein and, together with the description, explain these implementations. The drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale, and certain features and certain views of the figures may be shown exaggerated, to scale or in schematic in the interest of clarity and conciseness. Not every component may be labeled in every drawing. Like reference numerals in the figures may represent and refer to the same or similar element or function. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a smokable paper cone loading device in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a bottom angled view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top angled view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an internal view of an exemplary embodiment of a gripper assembly of the smokable paper cone loading device in a first position.

FIG. 7 is an internal view of view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6 in a second position.

FIG. 8 is an internal view of an alternative embodiment of a gripper assembly of the smokable paper cone loading device in a first position.

FIG. 9 is an internal view of view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 8 in a second position.

FIG. 10 is an internal view of an alternative embodiment of a release assembly of the smokable paper cone loading device in a first position.

FIG. 11 is an internal view of view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 10 in a second position.

FIG. 12-15 illustrates various steps of an exemplary method of simultaneously loading a plurality of pre-formed smokable paper cones.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the inventive concept disclosed herein in detail, it is to be understood that the inventive concept is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components or steps or methodologies set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The inventive concept disclosed herein is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting in any way.

In the following detailed description of embodiments of the inventive concept, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the inventive concept. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, however, that the inventive concept within the disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the instant disclosure.

As herein, the term “cone,” “cones,” “prerolls,” “preroll cone(s),” “pre-formed cones(s),” or any variation thereof, are intended to broadly encompass any hollow, elongate container or structure including, but not limited to, conical shapes, adapted to hold, contain, or dispense a variety of loose or particulate materials, such as, for example, herbs, cannabis, granules, or similar substances.

As used in the description herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having,” or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, unless otherwise noted, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may also include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive and not to an exclusive “or”. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by one of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).

In addition, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components of the embodiments herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the inventive concept. This description should be read to include one or more, and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise. Further, use of the term “plurality” is meant to convey “more than one” unless expressly stated to the contrary.

As used herein, qualifiers like “substantially,” “about,” “approximately,” and combinations and variations thereof, are intended to include not only the exact amount or value that they qualify, but also some slight deviations therefrom, which may be due to computing tolerances, computing error, manufacturing tolerances, measurement error, wear and tear, stresses exerted on various parts, and combinations thereof, for example.

As used herein, any reference to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “one example,” “for example,” or “an example” means that a particular element, feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment and may be used in conjunction with other embodiments. The appearance of the phrase “in some embodiments” or “one example” in various places in the specification is not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, for example.

The use of ordinal number terminology (i.e., “first”, “second”, “third”, “fourth”, etc.) is solely for the purpose of differentiating between two or more items and, unless explicitly stated otherwise, is not meant to imply any sequence or order or importance to one item over another or any order of addition.

Finally, the use of the term “at least one” or “one or more” will be understood to include one as well as any quantity more than one. In addition, the use of the phrase “at least one of X, V, and Z” will be understood to include X alone, V alone, and Z alone, as well as any combination of X, V, and Z.

As discussed above, there exists a need for a smokable paper cone loading device that allows for the efficient and simultaneous loading of multiple pre-formed cones into a production system.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-5, shown therein are front, bottom angled, top, top angled isometric, and exploded views, respectively, of an exemplary embodiment of a pre-formed cone loading system 10 in its assembled, unloaded configuration according to the instant disclosure.

The pre-formed cone loading system 10 comprises a gripper assembly 14 and a release assembly 18 that are interconnected and rigidly maintained in a spaced relation by a plurality of spacers 22.

The gripper assembly 14 may include an upper section 30, a lower section 34, and a gripper slider 38 disposed intermediate the upper section 30 and the lower section 38.

The upper section 30 of the gripper assembly 14 defines a substantially planar upper surface 42 and a plurality of downwardly extending longitudinal sidewalls 49 depending from the peripheral edges of the upper surface 42 of the upper section 30. The upper section 30 further defines a plurality of through-holes 50 extending completely through its thickness, the through-holes 50 dimensioned and configured to receive a plurality of pre-roll cones 166 (as shown and described below with reference to FIGS. 12-15) or similar articles. The through-holes 50 of the upper section 30 are arranged in a predetermined geometric pattern. In some embodiments, the through-holes 50 are arranged longitudinally in rows and laterally in columns, forming a grid-like configuration.

Similarly, the lower section 34 of the gripper assembly 14 defines a plurality of through-holes 54 extending completely through its thickness. The through-holes 50 of the upper section 30 is precisely aligned relative to the corresponding through-holes 54 of the lower section 34, establishing a shared longitudinal axis. The through-holes 50 of the upper section 30 and the through-holes 54 of the lower section 34 are axially aligned to collectively define a bore configured to receive and retain pre-formed cones.

Although the present disclosure describes an embodiment in which the upper section 30 comprises a plurality of through holes 50 and the lower section 34 comprises a plurality of through holes 54, with the through holes 50, 54 of the upper section 30 and lower section 34 aligning to form a single passageway, it will be understood that, in some embodiments, the upper section 30 and lower section 34 may be integrally formed as a single housing member. In such embodiments, the plurality of aligned through holes may be configured as a plurality of vertically oriented cone receptacles extending through the housing member, each cone receptacle having an open upper end and an open lower end to define a continuous, vertically oriented passageway corresponding to the alignment of the upper and lower through holes in the separated-section embodiments.

The lower section 34 of the gripper assembly 14 exhibits a generally planar base structure having an upper surface 58 and an opposing lower surface 62. Extending integrally from the upper surface 58 and along opposing longitudinal edges are a pair of sidewalls 66. The sidewalls 66 and the upper surface 58 of the lower section 34 collectively define an elongated internal channel 70 extending along the longitudinal axis of the griping assembly 14, as shown in FIG. 5. The sidewalls 66, in combination with the upper surface 58 of the lower section 34, form a substantially U-shaped profile. This configuration facilitates the guided, reciprocal movement of the gripper slider 38 within the lower section 34.

As shown in FIG. 5, the sidewalls 66 of the lower section 34 incorporate a series of complementary engagement features 74—such as, for example, ridges, grooves, cammed lobes, or detent-style notches—arranged in a predetermined longitudinal pattern. These engagement features 74 extend along at least a portion of the length of each sidewall 66 and are arranged mirror-symmetrically disposed on the opposing sidewalls 66. The engagement features 74 are configured to mechanically interface with corresponding features formed along the lateral edges of the gripper slider 38, thereby guiding and constraining the gripper slider's 38 movement within the lower section 34.

The upper section 30 and the lower section 34 each have substantially identical lateral dimensions such that when brought together, the respective opposing side edges of the upper section 30 and the lower section 34 are aligned and capable of being securely coupled, whether by fasteners 26, mating features, or interference fits. When the upper section 30 is seated atop the lower section 34, the longitudinal sidewalls 46 of the upper section 34 rest upon and are supported by the corresponding longitudinal sidewalls 46 of the lower section 34, defining a recess 162, as shown in FIG. 4.

Within this recess 162, the gripper slider is operatively positioned. The gripper slider 38 is dimensioned and configured to fit substantially within the space created by the conjunction of the upper 30 and lower 34 sections. In the assembled state, the gripper slider 38 is sandwiched between the upper 30 and lower 34 sections, with at least a portion of the gripper slider 38 is housed entirely within the aforementioned recess 162. This arrangement permits the gripper slider 38 to move or be actuated as intended, while also being securely retained within the shell-like structure formed by the coupled upper 30 and lower 34 sections.

The lateral edges of the gripper slider 38 incorporate edge features 82 that correspond to the engagement features 74 of the sidewalls 66 of the lower section 34, ensuring accurate positioning and smooth operational movement. The edge features 82 may provide mechanical constraint, positional feedback, and operation stability.

The gripper slider 38 defines a plurality of apertures 78 extending therethrough, which are selectively alignable with the plurality of through-holes 50 of the upper section 30 and the corresponding plurality of through-holes 54 of the lower section 34. In operation, the gripper slider 38 is configured to move between a first position and a second position. In a first, closed position, the plurality of apertures 78 of the gripper slider 38 are non-coaxially offset relative to the through-holes 50 of the upper section 30 and the through-holes 54 of the lower section 34, thereby interrupting the axial bore and preventing passage of pre-formed cones. In the first, closed position, there exists overlap between the apertures 78 of the gripper slider 38 and the through-holes 54 of the lower section 34, reducing the effective aperture area such that a portion of the pre-formed cones 166 are gripped and restrained from passing through the gripper assembly 14.

In a second, open position, the apertures 78 of the gripper slider 38 are coaxially aligned with the through-holes 50 of the upper section 50 and the through-holes 54 of the lower section 34, thereby forming a continuous passage through the gripper assembly 14 to permit insertion and passage of pre-formed cones 166. The apertures 78 of the gripper slider 38 precisely correspond to the through-hole patterns of the upper section 30 and the lower section 34 when in the second, open position, while providing controlled offset when in the first, closed, gripping position.

The lateral edges of the gripper slider 38 are received within the internal channel 70 formed by the sidewalls 66 of the lower section 34, such that the interengagement between the gripper slider's 38 edge features 82 and the sidewall engagement features 74 constrains the gripper slider 38 to reciprocating linear motion along the longitudinal axis of the gripper assembly 14. This engagement further prevents lateral or vertical displacement of the slider 38 during actuation.

The release assembly 18 may include an upper portion 94, a lower portion 98, and a release slider 102 disposed intermediate the upper portion 94 and the lower portion 98.

The upper portion 94 of the release assembly 18 defines a substantially planar upper surface 106 and a plurality of downwardly extending longitudinal sidewalls 110 depending from the peripheral edges of the upper surface 106 of the upper portion 94. The upper portion 94 of the release assembly 18 further defines a plurality of through-holes 114 extending completely through its thickness, the through-holes 114 dimensioned and configured to receive pre-formed cones 166 from the gripper assembly 14. The through-holes of the upper portion are axially aligned with the through-holes of upper section 30 and lower section 34 of the gripper assembly 14. The through-holes 114 of the upper portion 94 are arranged in a predetermined geometric pattern. In some embodiments, the through-holes 114 are arranged longitudinally in rows and laterally in columns, forming a grid-like configuration.

Similarly, the lower portion 98 of the release assembly 18 defines a plurality of through-holes 118 extending completely through its thickness. The through-holes 118 of the lower portion 98 of the release assembly 18 is precisely aligned relative to the corresponding through-holes 114 of the upper portion 94 of the release assembly 18, establishing a shared longitudinal axis. The through-holes 114 of the upper portion and the through-holes 118 of the lower portion 98 are axially aligned to collectively define a bore configured to receive and retain pre-formed cones.

Although the present disclosure describes an embodiment in which the upper portion 94 comprises a plurality of through holes 114 and the lower portion 98 comprises a plurality of through holes 118, with the through holes 114, 118 of the upper portion 94 and lower portion 98 aligning to form a single passageway, it will be understood that, in some embodiments, the upper portion 94 and lower portion 98 may be integrally formed as a single housing member. In such embodiments, the plurality of aligned through holes may be configured as a plurality of vertically oriented cone receptacles extending through the housing member, each cone receptacle having an open upper end and an open lower end to define a continuous, vertically oriented passageway corresponding to the alignment of the upper and lower through holes in the separated-section embodiments.

The lower portion 98 of the release assembly 18 exhibits a generally planar base structure having an upper surface 122 and an opposing lower surface 126. Extending integrally from the upper surface 122 and along and along opposing longitudinal edges are a pair of sidewalls 130. The sidewalls 130 and the upper surface 122 of the lower portion 98 collectively define an elongated internal channel 134 extending along the longitudinal axis of the release assembly 18, as shown in FIG. 5. The sidewalls 130, in combination with the upper surface 122 of the lower portion 98, form a substantially U-shaped profile. This configuration facilitates the lateral movement of the release slider 102 within the internal cavity 138, ensuring proper alignment of pre-formed cones 166 during operation.

The release slider 102 is positioned below the upper portion 94 and is dimensioned to fit securely within an internal cavity 138 defined by the mated upper 94 and lower portions 98, as shown in FIG. 4. The release slider 102 may comprise a solid, unitary body devoid of apertures, perforations, or openings, serving as a mechanical barrier element that selectively obstructs or permits passage of pre-formed cones 166 through the plurality of through-holes 118 formed in the lower portion 91. The lateral edges of the release slider 102 are received within the internal channel 134 formed by the sidewalls 130 of the lower portion 98.

In operation, the release slider 102 is configured to move between a first position and a second position. In the first, closed position, the release slider 102 is positioned within the internal channel 134 of the of the lower portion 98 and aligned with the plurality of through-holes 54 of the lower section 34. In this position, the release slider 102 acts as a sealing barrier preventing downward passage and release of pre-formed cones 166 through the through-holes 118 of the lower portion 98. In the second, open position, the release slider 102 may be withdrawn from the lower portion 98, exposing the through-holes 118 of the lower portion 98 and enabling free, unobstructed passage of pre-formed cones 166 through the through-holes 118 of the lower portion 98.

The spacers 22 maintain a predetermined distance between the gripper assembly 14 and the release assembly 18. This predetermined distance may be determined by cone geometry and stacking requirements. The spacers 22 may include threaded holes for receiving fasteners 26. The fasteners 26 may provide structural connection between the gripper assembly 14, release assembly 18, and the spacers 22.

In certain embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the gripper slider 38 may be operative coupled to the biasing mechanism 86 configured to urge the slider toward a default position—typically the closed position in which the apertures 78 of the gripper slider 38 are non-aligned with the through-holes 50, 54 of the upper section 30 and the lower section 34. The biasing mechanism 86 may include, but is not limited to, mechanical springs, resilient members, elastic bands, magnetic elements, or compliant structures integrated into the lower section 34 or the gripper slider 38 itself. These components apply a restoring force that returns or retains the gripper slider 38 in its default position when external actuation force is applied. To enable user operation, the gripper slider 38 further includes one or more actuation members 90, such as tabs, levers, handles, or grip extensions, which extend through a slot, recess, or opening formed at a longitudinal end of the gripper assembly 14. Upon application of force via the actuation member 90 the biasing force is overcome, allowing the gripper slider 38 to transition into an open position. In certain embodiments, the gripper assembly 14 may further include positional retention or locking features, such as detents, latches, cammed surfaces, or frictional interfaces, configured to temporarily maintain the gripper slider 38 in a selected position and prevent unintended movement during operation.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, in one alternative embodiment, the gripper slider 38 is configured as a solid, unitary body devoid of apertures, perforations, or any openings. In such embodiments, the gripper slider 38 serves as a mechanical barrier element that selectively obstructs or permits the passage of pre-formed cones through the plurality of through-holes 54 formed in the lower section 34 of the gripper assembly 14.

In this configuration, the sidewalls 66 of the lower section 34 may not include any mechanical features—such as ridges, detents, or stops—configured to restrict or limit the translational movement of the gripper slider 38 within the internal channel 70 defined by the opposing sidewalls 66 of the lower section 34. Similarly, the opposing longitudinal edges of the gripper slider 38 maybe be devoid of any engagement structures or protrusions that would otherwise interact with corresponding features on the sidewalls 66 to constrain movement. As a result, the gripper slider 38 is freely slidable along the longitudinal axis of the lower section 34 and may be fully inserted into or completely withdrawn from the internal channel 70.

In the fully closed configuration, as shown in FIG. 8, the gripper slider 18 is received within the internal channel 70 of the lower section 34 and is positioned such that it is aligned with and covers the plurality of through-holes 54 of the lower section 34. In this position, the gripper slider 38 acts as a sealing barrier that prevents the downward passage and release of pre-formed cones 166 through the through-holes 54 of the lower section, effectively retaining and confining the cones 166 within the gripper assembly 14.

In the open configuration, as shown in FIG. 9, the gripper slider 38 is withdrawn from the lower section 34, thereby exposing the through-holes 54 of the lower section 34 that were previously blocked. With the gripper slider 38 removed, there is no obstructing surface covering the through-holes 54, which enables free passage of the pre-formed cones 166 through the through-holes 54 of the lower section 34.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, in one alternative embodiment, the sidewalls 130 of the lower portion 98 of the release assembly further includes a series of complementary engagement features 142—such as, for example, alternating ridges and grooves, cammed lobes, or detent-style notches—arranged in a predetermined longitudinal pattern. These engagement features 142 extend along at least a portion of the length of each sidewall 130 and are arranged mirror-symmetrically disposed on the opposing sidewalls 130.

In such embodiments, the release slider 102 of the release assembly 18 defines a plurality of apertures 146 extending therethrough, which are selectively alignable with the plurality of through-holes 114 of the upper portion 94 and the plurality of through-holes 118 of the lower portion 98. In operation, the release slider 102 is configured to move between a first position and a second position. In a first, closed position, the plurality of apertures 146 of the release slider 102 are non-coaxially offset relative to the through-holes 114 of the upper portion 94 and the through-holes 118 of the lower portion 98, thereby interrupting the axial bore and preventing passage of pre-formed cones. In the closed position, the release assembly 18 components are positioned to create substantial overlap between the apertures 146 of the release slider 102 and the through-holes 118 of the lower portion 98, reducing the effective aperture area such that a portion of the pre-formed cones 166 are rest on solid material of the upper surface 122 of the lower portion 98.

In a second, open position, the apertures 146 of the release slider 102 are coaxially aligned with the through-holes 114 of the upper portion 94 and the through-holes 118 of the lower portion 98, thereby forming a continuous passage through the release assembly 18 to permit insertion and passage of pre-formed cones.

Further, in such embodiments, the lateral edges of the release slider 102 are received within the internal channel 134 formed by the sidewalls 130 of the lower portion 98, such that the interengagement between the release slider's 102 edge features 150 and the sidewall engagement features 142 constrains the release slider 102 to reciprocating linear motion along the longitudinal axis of the release assembly 18. This engagement further prevents lateral or vertical displacement of the slider during actuation.

The engagement features 142 are configured to mechanically interface with corresponding features formed along the lateral edges of the release slider 102, thereby guiding and constraining the release slider's 102 movement within the lower portion 98.

Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, in one alternative embodiment, the release slider 102 may be operative coupled to a biasing mechanism 154 configured to urge the slider toward a default position—typically the first, closed position in which the apertures 146 of the release slider 102 are non-aligned with the through-holes 114, 118 of the upper portion 94 and the lower portion 98. The biasing mechanism 154 may include, but is not limited to, mechanical springs, resilient members, elastic bands, magnetic elements, or compliant structures integrated into the lower portion 98 or the release slider 102 itself. These components apply a restoring force that returns or retains the release slider 102 in its default position when external actuation force is applied. To enable user operation, the release slider 102 further includes one or more actuation members 158, such as tabs, levers, handles, or grip extensions, which extend through a slot, recess, or opening formed at a longitudinal end of the release assembly 18. Upon application of force via the actuation feature 158 the biasing force is overcome, allowing the release slider 102 to transition into a second, open position.

Turning now to FIGS. 12-15, there are illustrated various embodiments of the method of simultaneously loading a plurality of pre-formed cones, as performed by the system disclosed herein.

In an initial inserting step, as shown in FIG. 12, a plurality of cone columns 170 are systematically placed into gripper assembly 14 from above while the gripper slider 38 and the release slider 102 are positioned in their respective closed positions. Specifically, the cone columns 170 are inserted into the plurality of through-holes 50 of the upper section 30 of the gripper assembly 14.

Initially, since in this step the gripper assembly 14 is in its closed position, where the apertures 78 of the gripper slider 38 are non-coaxially offset relative to the through-holes 50, 54 of the upper section 30 and the lower section 34 of the gripper assembly 14, the pre-formed cones 166 are prevented from passing through gripper assembly 14 to the release assembly 18.

Next, in an actuating step, as shown in FIG. 13, the gripper slider is temporarily actuated to its second, open position. In the second position, the apertures 78 of the gripper slider 38 are aligned with the through-holes 50, 54 of the upper section 30 and the lower section 34 of the gripper assembly 14. This permits unimpeded passage of the bottommost (first layer) of pre-formed cones 166 through the gripper assembly 14 to the release assembly 18. Meanwhile, the release slider remains in its first, closed position to retain the first layer of pre-formed cones 166 within the release assembly 18. Once the first layer of pre-formed cones 166 becomes positioned between the gripper assembly 14 and the release assembly 18, the gripper slider 38 is actuated to its first, closed position, to securely retain the remaining layers (second layer, n layer) of the cone columns 170 above the upper surface 42 of the upper section 30 of the gripper assembly 14.

Subsequently, in a releasing step, as shown in FIG. 14, the release slider 102 is actuated to its second, open position. In the second position, the release slider may be withdrawn from the lower portion 98 of the release assembly 18, enabling free passage of the first layer of pre-formed cones 166 from the release assembly 18 through the through-holes 118 of the lower portion 98.

In some embodiments, the system 10 is positioned such that the pre-formed cones are released from the release assembly 18 into corresponding cone receptacles of a preroll packing device positioned below for further processing.

Finally, in a resetting step, as shown in FIG. 15, the release slider 102 is actuated to its first, closed position, where the release slider 102 is positioned within the internal channel 134 of the lower portion 98 and aligned with the plurality of through-holes 118 of the lower portion. In this closed position, the release slider 102 serves as a sealing barrier preventing downward passage and release of the pre-formed cones from the release assembly 18

Following the resetting step, the system 10 is positioned for subsequent operational cycles. The gripper slider 38 may be actuated to its second, open position to release a subsequent layer 178, 182 of pre-formed cones through the gripper assembly 14, as shown in FIG. 15.

Each cone column comprises a stack of pre-formed cones arranged in vertical alignment such that each cone 166 rests directly atop the next. Each stack may comprise two or more cones 166 depending on cone length, apparatus configuration, and production requirements.

In the inserted position, the bottommost cones (first layer) 174 are positioned between the gripper assembly 14 and the release assembly 18, such that a portion of the cones 166 rests on a solid portion, nonperforated portion of the release slider 102, and a portion proximate the top end of each cone 166 is securely retained within the plurality of apertures 78 of the gripper slider 38. Further, the remaining cones 166 of the cone column 170 (second layer 178, n layer 182), become positioned above the upper surface 42 of the upper section 30 of the gripper assembly 14.

The plurality of apertures 78 of the gripper slider 38 may be offset along the direction of travel.

The gripper slider 38 is disposed between the upper section 30 and the lower section 34 and is dimensioned and configured to reciprocate in a linear fashion relative to the lower section 34 along the longitudinal axis defined by the sidewalls 66 of the lower section 34

It is to be understood that the steps disclosed herein may be performed simultaneously or in any desired order. For example, one or more of the steps disclosed herein may be omitted, one or more steps may be further divided in one or more sub-steps, and two or more steps or sub-steps may be combined in a single step, for example. Further, in some exemplary embodiments, one or more steps may be repeated one or more times, whether such repetition is carried out sequentially or interspersed by other steps or sub-steps. Additionally, one or more other steps or sub-steps may be carried out before, after, or between the steps disclosed herein, for example.

From the above description, it is clear that the inventive concept(s) disclosed herein are well adapted to carry out the objects and to attain the advantages mentioned herein, as well as those inherent in the inventive concept(s) disclosed herein. While the embodiments of the inventive concept(s) disclosed herein have been described for purposes of this disclosure, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made and readily suggested to those skilled in the art which are accomplished within the scope and spirit of the inventive concept(s) disclosed herein.