Patent ID: 6202387
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: B65B,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparatus for banding a wrapped silverware arrangement with a two-sided segment of banding material bearing an adhesive on one side thereof which requires appropriate treatment in order that the adhesive is rendered tacky and thereby capable of adhering to a surface against which the adhesive-bearing side of the segment is placed into contact, and wherein the wrapped silverware arrangement includes at least one item of silverware which has been wound within a napkin into a wrapped arrangement of elongated form, the apparatus comprising:a frame;a jaw assembly supported by the frame and including opposing jaw members which are joined together to accommodate movement of the jaw members relative to one another between an open condition at which the jaw members define an open mouth through which the wrapped silverware arrangement can be moved sideways into a position between the jaw members and a closed condition at which the wrapped silverware arrangement is captured between the jaw members in a manner which permits the wrapped arrangement to be rotated about its longitudinal axis while in a captured condition between the jaw members;means connected to the jaw assembly for moving the jaw members between the open and closed conditions;clamp means joined to the jaw assembly for releasably holding a segment of banding material adjacent the jaw assembly including opposing clamp members which are movable toward and away from one another between an open condition at which an end of the banding material segment can be accepted between the clamp members and a closed condition at which the end of the banding material segment is clamped therebetween;means for moving the clamp members of the clamp means between the open and closed conditions;means disposed at a first station for introducing an end of the banding material segment between the clamp members when the clamp members are in the open condition so that by subsequently moving the clamp members to the closed condition, the end of the banding material segment is held between the clamp members;means for moving the jaw assembly, with its jaw members arranged in the open condition and one end of a banding material segment held between the clamp members, from the first station and onto the wrapped silverware arrangement so that the banding material segment is draped across the wrapped silverware arrangement and so that subsequent movement of the jaw members to the closed condition captures the silverware arrangement between the jaw members and positions the banding material segment in a U-shaped arrangement about the wrapped silverware arrangement and the release of the banding segment by the clamp members places the one end of the banding material segment in an exposed condition; andmeans for treating a region of adhesive borne by one side of the exposed end of the banding material segment to render the adhesive of the region tacky and so that subsequent rotation of the wrapped silverware arrangement about its longitudinal axis moves the tacky region of adhesive into contact with another surface region of the banding material segment so that the banding material segment is secured to itself in a band about the wrapped silverware arrangement.