Technical Field

The present application relates generally to an herbal matter packing system, and in particular to a device that lubricates the compression walls to facilitate packing of herbal matter into a paper tube.

Description of the Prior Art

Herbal cigarettes are an alternative to tobacco. However, herbal matter can create manufacturing problems that differ from tobacco. Because herbs may have different moisture content, surface structure and cut than tobacco, they may adhere to the walls of the packing device used to fill the cigarette paper tube. This results in jamming of the packing machine. In addition, the herbal matter may deposit residue onto the walls which may accumulates over time.

It is desired that a system be developed that reduces adhesion of the herbs to the walls of the packing machine. It would also be desirable to decrease residue formation on the walls. Both of these advantages will enhance operation of the packing machine by reducing the probability of the machine jamming.

A lubrication system for packing herbal matter is necessary. Although great strides have been made, considerable shortcomings remain.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The novel features believed characteristic of the application are set forth in the appended claims. However, the application itself, as well as a preferred mode of use, and further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a block diagram of a system for packing herbal matter according to a preferred embodiment of the present application;

Figure 2 is a cross section of an exemplary implementation of the system for packing herbal matter of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary system of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross section of an alternative implementation of the system for packing herbal matter of Figure 1 ; and

Figure 5 is a cross section of an alternative implementation of the system for packing herbal matter of Figure 1 .

While the system of the present application is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the application to the particular embodiment disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the process of the present application as defined by the appended claims.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Illustrative embodiments of the preferred embodiment are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business- related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

In the specification, reference may be made to the spatial relationships between various components and to the spatial orientation of various aspects of components as the devices are depicted in the attached drawings. However, as will be recognized by those skilled in the art after a complete reading of the present application, the devices, members, apparatuses, etc. described herein may be positioned in any desired orientation. Thus, the use of terms to describe a spatial relationship between various components or to describe the spatial orientation of aspects of such components should be understood to describe a relative relationship between the components or a spatial orientation of aspects of such components, respectively, as the device described herein may be oriented in any desired direction.

The system in accordance with the present application overcomes one or more of the above-discussed problems commonly associated with existing methods and devices of masking odors and providing desirable scents into the air. Specifically, the system of the present application is configured to operate in particular within a vehicle and provide a passenger the capability of selectively introducing a designated scent into the air. The scent is introduced into the vent system of the vehicle and distributed via the forced air flow via the blower motor. The system is configured to grant the user the ability to adjust the timing of dispersion, potency of dispersion, and the particular scent dispersed in embodiments where multiple storage units are available. Additionally, the control unit is configured to be an interface for the user to regulate the system and can monitor the air quality in the environment and automatically regulate dispersion of the scent. These and other unique features of the system are discussed below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The system will be understood, both as to its structure and operation, from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description. Several embodiments of the assembly are presented herein. It should be understood that various components, parts, and features of the different embodiments may be combined together and/or interchanged with one another, all of which are within the scope of the present application, even though not all variations and particular embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should also be understood that the mixing and matching of features, elements, and/or functions between various embodiments is expressly contemplated herein so that one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate from this disclosure that the features, elements, and/or functions of one embodiment may be incorporated into another embodiment as appropriate, unless otherwise described.

The system of the present application includes a storage unit containing a volume of scented matter, a release mechanism in communication with the storage unit, and a control unit in communication with the release mechanism and configured to regulate the dispersion of scented matter from the storage unit in accordance with the desires of a user. The control unit is an interface for the passenger to regulate scent dispersion. A sensor is also optionally included to monitor air quality from the ambient air. These and other unique features of the system and method are described herein below.

Referring now to the figures wherein like reference characters identify corresponding or similar elements in form and function throughout the several views. Referring now to Figures 1 -3, diagrams of systems for packing herbal matter according to a preferred embodiment of the present application is illustrated. Herbal matter refers to any plant based matter. System 101 is comprised of a control device 103, a set of compression members 105 and 107, a volume 109, an ejector opening 1 1 1 , a pusher 1 13, and a lubrication member 1 15. The control device 103 may be electrical or mechanical, or a combination, that controls the sequence and time of actions of the system elements. Control device 103 is coupled to lubrication member 1 15, set of compression members 105 and 107 and pusher 1 13. The set of compression members 105 and 107, each with a compression wall 1 17 and 1 19 that together define the volume 109. At least one compression member 105 articulates relative to the other compression member 107 to compress herbal matter 121 . Ejector opening 1 1 1 is aligned with volume 109 and paper tube 123. Pusher 1 13 translates compressed herbal matter 121 through volume 109 toward the ejector opening 1 1 1 and at least partially into paper tube 123. Lubrication member 1 15 is in communication with volume 109 wherein lubrication member 1 15 disposes a lubricant 125 selectively within volume 109, which reduces adhesion of the herbal matter 121 to compression walls 1 17 and 1 19 and decreases residue formation on compression walls 1 1 7 and 1 19.

Operation of system 101 generally follows these steps. Compression member 105 is articulated relative to compression member 107 to accept herbal matter 121 . Herbal matter 121 is placed into volume 109. Compression member 105 articulates relative to compression member 107, compressing herbal matter 121 between compression walls 1 17 and 1 19. The air in volume 109 is not compressed but is allowed to escape. Paper tube 123 is held to ejector opening 1 1 1 , which aligns paper tube 123 with volume 109. Pusher 1 13 translates toward the ejector opening 1 1 1 , translating the herbal matter 121 ahead of it, through ejector opening 1 1 1 and at least partially into paper tube 123. Once herbal matter 121 is ejected into paper tube 123, pusher 1 13 translates away from ejector opening 1 1 1 . Lubricant 125 is disposed selectively within volume 109 using lubrication member 1 15.

If system 101 is un-lubricated, then lubrication may be accomplished by cycling system 101 through these steps without the step of placing herbal matter 121 into volume 109. Examples of lubricant 125 include herb, citrus and hemp oil to name a few. Other lubricants are contemplated.

Referring in particular to Figure 2 in the drawings, a cross section of an exemplary implementation of System 101 is illustrated. System 151 is shown. It is understood that system 151 may be scaled to any size sufficient to operate. For example, system 151 may be sized to fit on a desktop for personal use or sized for operation on a large scale in a warehouse floor for mass production of products. System 151 is representative for a desktop design or personal use. The elements within system 101 or 151 are equally applicable to any sized or scaled machinery.

Lubrication member 1 15 includes at least one lubricant injector 135 disposed in at least one compression member 107. Lubricant injector 135 is disposed in compression member 107 such that the lubricant 125 enters volume 109, defined by compression walls 1 17 and 1 19. An example of lubricant injector 135 is a spray nozzle such as a plain-orifice nozzle, a shaped orifice nozzle or an impingement nozzle. Other lubricant injectors are contemplated. More than one lubricant injector 135 may be required to cover the compression wall 1 17 and 1 19 with lubricant 125 depending on how large volume 109 is.

Lubrication member 1 15 includes a lubricant supply 131 and a valve 133. Lubricant supply 131 is coupled to valve 133 and valve 133 is coupled to lubricant injector 135. Examples of lubricant supply 131 are a pressurized cartridge or a container of lubricant 125 with a pump to supply the lubricant 125 to valve 133 at the required pressure for lubricant injector 135. Valve 133 is in communication with control device 103.

Lubrication of this exemplary implementation occurs after herbal matter 121 is packed into paper tube 123. Lubricant injector 135 may inject lubricant 125 after pusher 1 13 has translated fully toward ejector 1 1 1 opening. Alternatively, lubricant injector 135 may inject lubricant 125 after the pusher 1 13 has translated fully away from ejector opening 1 1 1 . Lubricant injection is usually most effective while compression members 105 and 107 are still together. To facilitate this, lubricant injector 135 injects lubricant 125 after the pusher 1 13 has translated fully away from the ejector opening 1 1 1 and before articulating at least one compression member 105 away from another compression member 107.

Referring in particular to Figure 3, System 151 is illustrated in this perspective view of the exemplary implementation of System 101 of Figure 1 . Paper tube 123 slips over ejector opening 1 1 1 . A catch 153 presses paper tube 123 against ejector opening 1 1 1 to keep the paper tube 123 in place while being packed. Catch 153 and various controls 155 and 157 are coupled to control device 103, facilitating operation of machine 151 .

Referring now to Figure 4, System 161 is an alternative implementation of the system for packing herbal matter of Figure 1 . This embodiment is similar in form and function to that of system 151 of Figure 2, except for the differences as noted. Lubrication member 1 15 includes at least one lubricant injector 135 disposed in pusher 1 13. Lubricant injector 135 is configured to dispose lubricant 125 into volume 109 after herbal matter 121 has been ejected. An example of lubricant injector 135 is a spray nozzle such as a plain-orifice nozzle, a shaped orifice nozzle or an impingement nozzle. Other lubricant injectors are contemplated. More than one lubricant injector 135 may be required to cover compression walls 1 17 and 1 19 with lubricant 125 depending on how large volume 109 is.

Lubrication member 1 15 also includes a lubricant supply 131 and a valve 133. Lubricant supply 131 is coupled to valve 133 and valve 133 is coupled to lubricant injector 135. Examples of lubricant supply 131 are a pressurized cartridge or a container of lubricant 125 with a pump to supply the lubricant 125 to valve 133 at the required pressure for lubricant injector 135. Valve 133 is in communication with control device 103.

Disposing lubricant 125 within volume 109 using lubrication member 1 15 includes injecting lubricant 125 with lubricant injector 135 located within pusher 1 13. Injection of lubricant 125 may occur as pusher 1 13 translates away from the ejection opening. The injection of lubricant 125 may also occur after pusher 1 13 has translated fully away from the ejection opening. Lubricant injection is usually most effective while compression members 105 and 107 are still together. To facilitate this, lubricant injector 135 injects lubricant 125 after the pusher 1 13 has translated fully away from the ejector opening 1 1 1 and before articulating at least one compression member 105 away from another compression member 107.

Referring now to Figure 5, System 171 is an alternative implementation of the system for packing herbal matter of Figure 1 . This embodiment is similar in form and function to that of system 151 of Figure 2, except for the differences as noted. Lubrication member 1 15 includes lubricant applicator 237 located around a circumference of pusher 1 13. Lubricant applicator 237 is in contact with the compression walls 1 17 and 1 19. Lubricant applicator 237 is configured to dispose lubricant 125 onto the compression walls 1 17 and 1 19 as pusher 1 13 translates through volume 109. Lubricant applicator 237 is made of a material which absorbs lubricant 125 and releases lubricant 125 as it wipes across the compression walls 1 17 and 1 19. Lubricant applicator 237 may dispose lubricant 125 onto the compression walls 1 17 and 1 19 as the pusher 1 13 translates toward ejector opening 1 1 1 . Lubricant applicator 237 may dispose lubricant 125 onto compression walls 1 17 and 1 19 as pusher 1 13 translates away from ejector opening 1 1 1 .

Lubrication member 1 15 also includes a lubricant supply 231 , a valve 233, and an application channel 235. Lubricant supply 231 is coupled to valve 233. Valve 233 is coupled to application channel 235. After pusher 1 13 has translated fully away from ejector opening 1 1 1 , applicator 237 is coupled to application channel 235 to absorb lubricant 125. Valve 233 is in communication with control device 103. While lubricant supply 231 may be pressurized, is may also be under low pressure and permitting valve 233 to be open for a longer time.

The step of disposing the lubricant 125 within volume 109 using lubrication member 1 15 includes wiping compression walls 1 17 and 1 19 with a lubricant applicator 237 containing lubricant 125, the lubricant applicator 237 being coupled to the pusher 1 13. Wiping of the compression walls 1 17 and 1 19 may occur as the pusher 1 13 is translating toward the ejection opening 1 1 1 . Wiping of the compression walls 1 17 and 1 19 may occur as the pusher 1 13 is translating away from the ejection opening 1 1 1 . The current application has many advantages over the prior art including at least the following: (1 ) reduced adhesion of herbal matter to the packing machine walls; (2) the system decreases the residue formation on the walls; and (3) reduces the incidence of packing machine jamming.

The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the application may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified, and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the application. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the description. It is apparent that an application with significant advantages has been described and illustrated. Although the present application is shown in a limited number of forms, it is not limited to just these forms, but is amenable to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.