Combination grinder and filling apparatus
View Patent ↗A combination grinder and filling apparatus for plant material used to deposit small particles of plant material into a pre-formed cone. The apparatus includes a rotating end cap mounted over a grinder body. Formed on the grinder body is a filling cavity in which bulk plant material is placed. Formed in the end cap or grinder body are knives that cut the plant material when the end cap is placed on the grinder body and rotated. Located under the grinder body is a collection plate with holes that allow small particles to fall into a conical-shaped receiving cavity formed on a collection body. Attached to the collection body is a lower end cap with a lower bore in which the lower neck of the collection body extends. Pressing arms located on the lower end cap automatically press against a pre-rolled cone extended around the lower neck. A plunger extends through the apparatus to pack small particles of plant material into the pre-rolled cone. An agitator coupled to the plunger is positioned in the receiving cavity and used to break up small plant particles.
1 . A combination grinder and filling apparatus, comprising:
a. a grinder body with a filling cavity;
b. a rotating upper end cap mounted over the grinder body;
c. a plurality of knives or blades located inside the filling cavity configured to cut bulk plant material deposited inside the filling cavity when the upper end cap is rotated over the grinder body;
d. a collection plate located under the grinder body, the collection plate includes a plurality of holes that allow particles of material cut inside the grinder body to pass through;
e. collection body located under and attached to the grinder body, the collection body includes a receiving cavity with a conical-shaped inside surface that extends downward and forms a lower neck with a center bore;
f. a lower end cap located under and attached to the collection body, the lower end cap includes a lower bore in which the lower neck on the collection body extends, the lower bore being larger in diameter than the lower neck enabling an end of a pre-rolled cone to be inserted into the lower bore and extended around the lower neck;
g. At least two pressing arms formed on the lower end cap configured to hold the pre-rolled cone around the lower neck, and
h. a plunger configured to extend through the upper end cap and the grinder body and into the receiving cavity in the collection body, the plunger includes a lower peg configured to force particles of plant material deposited into the receiving cavity of the collection body into the pre-rolled cone placed around the lower neck.
2 . A combination grinder and filling apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plunger is biased upward from the upper end cap.
3 . The combination grinder and filling apparatus as recited in claim 2 , further including an agitator configured to selectively engage on an end of the plunger located inside the receiving cavity, the plunger configured to selectively rotate and thereby rotate the agitator inside the receiving cavity.
4 . The combination grinder and filling apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further including a center neck extending through the grinder body in which the plunger is axially aligned and travels longitudinally therein.
5 . A combination grinder and filling apparatus as recited in claim 4 , wherein the plunger is biased upward from the end cap by a spring.
6 . The combination grinder and filling apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein each of the pressing arms is biased outward and automatically presses against the lower end and holds an end of the pre-rolled cone inserted around the lower end.
7 . The combination grinder and filling apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein each of the least two pressing arms is c-shaped and includes a contact surface configured to press against an opposite side of the lower neck.
8 . The combination grinder and filling apparatus as recited in claim 7 , further including at least one spring configured to force each of the at least two pressing arms outward from the lower end cap.
9 . The combination grinder and filling apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of holes formed in the collection plate has a diameter between ⅛ to ⅜ inch.
10 . The combination grinder and filling apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further including an agitator configured to selectively engage on an end of the plunger located inside the receiving cavity, the plunger configured to selectively rotate and thereby rotate the agitator inside the receiving cavity.
11 . The combination grinder and filling apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein the agitator engages from the end of the plunger when the plunger is forced upward from the upper end cap and disengages from the end of the plunger when the plunger is forced downward in the receiving cavity.