US Patent 11369133 Cone filling apparatus and related methods

A cone filling apparatus for production of smoking articles includes: (a) a cone pallet including a plurality of cavities, each cavity for holding a respective cone; (b) a delivery chute having a load end for receiving a smokeable product from a source and an unload end downstream of the load end for unloading the smokeable product from the chute; and (c) a dosing tray disposed above the pallet. The dosing tray includes a plurality of transfer sleeves. Each sleeve has an upper sleeve end for receiving smokeable product unloaded from the unload end of the chute, and a lower sleeve end for dispensing the smokeable product into a cone held in a respective cavity aligned beneath the lower sleeve end.