Patent Publication Number: US-7210279-B1

Title: Device for wrapping a napkin about silverware and associated method

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not Applicable. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not Applicable. 
   REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
   Not Applicable. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Technical Field 
   This invention relates to wrapping devices and, more particularly, to a device for wrapping a napkin about silverware and associated method. 
   2. Prior Art 
   Within a large segment of the food service industry, food service providers serve millions of customers reusing a small inventory of silverware, also referred to as eating utensils, which are washed after each use. Because individually handling eating utensils to set places at tables is time-consuming, a significant number of food service providers supply eating utensils in bundles which are prepared well in advance of use by manually wrapping the necessary utensils in napkins. 
   While this procedure permits more rapid dispensing of utensils when needed, and facilitates the rapid resetting of tables for use, such preparation remains labor intensive. For high volume restaurants and chains, the labor costs may be in the tens of thousands of dollars annually per restaurant. If deferred, such costs could be better spent on maintaining the restaurant facility or increasing the employees&#39; pay, which in turn can increase employee morale. 
   There is a prior art example of an apparatus for automatically wrapping a napkin about silverware. This apparatus, however, is limited in that it does not automatically place a napkin in a condition for accepting silverware placed thereon nor does it automatically place the silverware upon the napkin. Instead, these steps must be manually performed before the wrapping operation is effected. It would be desirable to provide a napkin-wrapping apparatus which automatically places a napkin in position for accepting silverware placed thereon, as well as automatically wrapping the napkin around the silverware. 
   Accordingly, a need remains for a device for wrapping a napkin about silverware and its associated method in order to overcome the above-noted shortcomings. The present invention satisfies such a need by providing a utensil wrapping device that is easy and convenient to use, results in energy-, time- and cost-savings, is durable and practical in design, and improves sanitary conditions. Such a device serves as a viable and safer alternative to the traditional method of manually rolling eating utensils in a napkin. The device advantageously eliminates the need for employees to wrap the eating utensils, thus allowing them to tend to customers and other important tasks. In addition, the device keeps the eating utensils clean and sanitary, which reduces the spread of infectious diseases, as well as painful cuts to the hands from sharp knives. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device for wrapping a napkin about silverware and associated method. These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are provided by a power operated device for automatically folding napkins and the like about eating utensils. 
   The device includes a plurality of isolated hoppers defining a plurality of independent passageways converging downwardly towards a central and unitary area. Each hopper preferably includes a rotatable dispenser directly connected thereto and seated approximately midway down the passageway. Such a dispenser is simultaneously articulated for discharging a single type of the eating utensil downwardly towards the unitary area. 
   A conveyor belt assembly is horizontally disposed subjacent to the hoppers and traverses the passageways. Such a conveyor belt assembly travels along a linear path passing through the unitary area. The conveyor belt assembly may include a plurality of pulleys horizontally aligned and maintained at a static spatial relationship. A unitary belt is operably engaged about the pulleys wherein the unitary belt includes top and bottom sections vertically registered parallel to a horizontal plane. 
   A mechanism is included for selectively depositing a single napkin onto the conveyor belt during operating conditions. Such a napkin depositing mechanism is directly connected to the conveyor belt assembly and is spaced adjacent to one end portion thereof. The napkin depositing mechanism preferably includes a vertically registered pulley assembly traversing a horizontal path defined by the conveyor belt assembly. A first drive motor is operably coupled to the pulley assembly. Such a first drive motor includes a drive shaft directly mated to the pulley assembly and is selectively operable during operating conditions. A platform is directly connected to the pulley assembly and maintains a static relationship therewith such that the platform effectively moves vertically and in sync with the pulley assembly. A second drive motor includes a drive shaft directly coupled to the conveyor belt assembly. 
   A vacuum head is operably connected directly to the conveyor belt assembly and intercalated between the top and bottom sections of the unitary belt. Such a vacuum head maintains a static relationship therewith so that the vacuum head horizontally travels in sync with the conveyor belt assembly. The vacuum head is situated above a top napkin of the napkin stack and effectively transfers the top napkin across the conveyor belt assembly where the top napkin is deposited at the unitary area before the eating utensils are released from the hoppers. A motor is in fluid communication with the vacuum head for conveniently and effectively extracting a predetermined volume of air away therefrom during operating conditions. 
   A mechanism is included for simultaneously folding the napkin and horizontally registering the eating utensils in a stacked relationship such that the napkin conveniently and effectively becomes folded about the eating utensils before being ejected from the simultaneous folding mechanism. Such a simultaneous folding mechanism preferably includes a central rod transversely oriented to the conveyor belt assembly and situated therebelow. A cylindrical drum is journaled about the rod and includes an arm monolithically formed with an outer edge thereof. A stationary rail has an arcuate shape outwardly spaced from the drum. A dynamic rail has an arcuate shape outwardly spaced from the drum and oppositely aligned with the stationary rail. Such a dynamic rail is pivotally connected to a support surface subjacent to the conveyor belt assembly. A drive motor includes an actuator arm selectively adaptable between extended and retracted positions. Such an actuator arm is directly attached to a bottom edge of the dynamic rails and thereby causes the dynamic rail to pivot about a top edge thereof when the actuator arm is biased between extended and retracted positions. 
   A receiving conveyor belt assembly is disposed beneath the simultaneous folding mechanism for advantageously transporting the combined napkin and eating utensils to a remote location. A storage bin is laid adjacent to the receiving conveyor belt and effectively houses the combined napkin and eating utensils for transit. 
   The device may further include a power operated motor and a central conduit that has axially opposed end portions directly abutted against the motor and extending vertically upward therefrom. A rotary fan is electrically mated to the power operated motor and effectively generates an air flow upwardly about the conduit. A thermo-electric heating element is seated upstream of the fan. The air flow has a first ambient temperature downstream of the heating element and has a second ambient temperature after passing upwardly through the heating element for advantageously and conveniently drying the eating utensils prior to being discharged onto the napkin during operating conditions. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
   It is noted the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a side-elevational view showing a device for wrapping a napkin about silverware and its associated method, in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side-elevational view of the device shown in  FIG. 1 , showing the device during operating conditions; 
       FIG. 3  is a side-elevational view of the device shown in  FIG. 1 , showing the device after the napkin is positioned about the eating utensils; 
       FIG. 4  is a side-elevational view of the device shown in  FIG. 1 , showing the eating utensils deposited onto the receiving conveyor belt after being wrapped within the napkin; 
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a front-elevational view of the device shown in  FIG. 5 , showing the vacuum head drive motor and the platform drive motor; and 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing the utensil drying assembly, in accordance with the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather, this embodiment is provided so that this application will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the true scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the figures. 
   The device of this invention is referred to generally in  FIGS. 1–7  by the reference numeral  10  and is intended to provide a device for wrapping a napkin about silverware and its associated method. It should be understood that the device  10  may be used to wrap napkins about many different types of implements and should not be limited in use to only wrapping napkins about eating utensils. 
   Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the device  10  includes a plurality of isolated hoppers  20  defining a plurality of independent passageways  21  converging downwardly towards a central and unitary area. Each hopper  20  includes a rotatable dispenser  22  directly connected thereto, without the use of intervening elements, and seated approximately midway down the passageway  21 . Such a dispenser  22  is simultaneously articulated for discharging a single type of the eating utensil  11  downwardly towards the unitary area. A first hopper  20 A dispenses forks  11 A, a second hopper  20 B dispenses knives  11 B and a third hopper  20 C dispenses spoons  11 C. Of course, the hoppers  20  may dispense alternate eating utensils  11  other than those mentioned herein above or additional hoppers  20  may be included for dispensing additional eating utensils  11 , as is obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 6 , a conveyor belt assembly  30  is horizontally disposed subjacent to the hoppers  20  and traverses the passageways  21 . Such a conveyor belt assembly  30  travels along a linear path passing through the unitary area. The conveyor belt assembly  30  includes a plurality of pulleys  31  horizontally aligned and maintained at a static spatial relationship. A unitary belt  32  is operably engaged about the pulleys  31  wherein the unitary belt  32  includes top  33 A and bottom  33 B sections vertically registered parallel to a horizontal plane. 
   Still referring to  FIGS. 1 through 6 , a mechanism  40  is included for selectively depositing a single napkin  12  onto the conveyor belt  30  during operating conditions. Such a napkin depositing mechanism  40  is directly connected, without the use of intervening elements, to the conveyor belt assembly  30  and is spaced adjacent to one end portion  34  thereof. The napkin depositing mechanism  40  includes a vertically registered pulley assembly  41  traversing a horizontal path defined by the conveyor belt assembly  30 . A first drive motor  42  is operably coupled to the pulley assembly  41 . Such a first drive motor  42  includes a drive shaft  43  directly mated, without the use of intervening elements, to the pulley assembly  41  and is selectively operable during operating conditions. A platform  44  is directly connected, without the use of intervening elements, to the pulley assembly  41  and maintains a static relationship therewith, which is essential such that the platform  44  effectively moves vertically and in sync with the pulley assembly  41 . A second drive motor  35  includes a drive shaft  36  directly coupled, without the use of intervening elements, to the conveyor belt assembly  30 . 
   Again referring to  FIGS. 1 through 6 , a vacuum head  37  is operably connected directly, without the use of intervening elements, to the conveyor belt assembly  30  and intercalated between the top  33 A and bottom  33 B sections of the unitary belt  32 . Such a vacuum head  37  maintains a static relationship therewith, which is important so that the vacuum head  37  horizontally travels in sync with the conveyor belt assembly  30 . The vacuum head  37  is situated above a top napkin  12 A of the napkin stack  12  and effectively transfers the top napkin  12 A across the conveyor belt assembly  30  where the top napkin  12  is conveniently and effectively deposited at the unitary area before the eating utensils  11  are released from the hoppers  20 . A motor  38  is in fluid communication with the vacuum head  37 , which is important for conveniently and effectively extracting a predetermined volume of air away therefrom during operating conditions, wherein a suction force is created for adhering the top napkin  12 A to the vacuum head  37  and allowing same to transport the top napkin  12 A along the conveyor belt assembly  30 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , a mechanism  50  is included for simultaneously folding the napkin  12  and horizontally registering the eating utensils  11  in a stacked relationship, which is vital such that the napkin  12  conveniently and effectively becomes folded about the eating utensils  11  before being ejected from the simultaneous folding mechanism  50 . This process greatly reduces the amount of time needed for folding eating utensils  11  within a napkin  12 , while also eliminating the need to employ a person to perform the task manually, which saves the user a considerably amount of time and money. Such a simultaneous folding mechanism  50  includes a central rod  51  transversely oriented to the conveyor belt assembly  30  and situated therebelow. 
   A cylindrical drum  52  is journaled about the rod  51  and includes an arm  53  monolithically formed with an outer edge  54  thereof. A stationary rail  55 A has an arcuate shape outwardly spaced from the drum  52 . A dynamic rail  55 B has an arcuate shape outwardly spaced from the drum  52  and oppositely aligned with the stationary rail  55 A. Such a dynamic rail  55 B is pivotally connected to a support surface  56  subjacent to the conveyor belt assembly  30 . A drive motor  57  includes an actuator arm  58  selectively adaptable between extended and retracted positions. Such an actuator arm  58  is directly attached, without the use of intervening elements, to a bottom edge  59 A of the dynamic rail  55 B and thereby causes the dynamic rail  55 B to pivot about a top edge  59 B thereof when the actuator arm  58  is biased between extended and retracted positions, as is best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , a receiving conveyor belt assembly  60  is disposed beneath the simultaneous folding mechanism  50 , which is crucial for advantageously transporting the combined napkin  12  and eating utensils  11  to a remote location. A storage bin  61  is laid adjacent to the receiving conveyor belt  60  and effectively houses the combined napkin  12  and eating utensils  11  for transit. 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , the device  10  further includes a utensil drying assembly  70 . Such a utensil drying assembly  70  includes a power operated motor  71  and a central conduit  72  that has axially opposed end portions  73  directly abutted, without the use of intervening elements, against the motor  71  and extending vertically upward therefrom. A rotary fan  74  is electrically mated to the power operated motor  71  and is vital for effectively generating an air flow upwardly about the conduit  72 . A thermoelectric heating element  75  is seated upstream of the fan  74 . The air flow has a first ambient temperature downstream of the heating element  75  and has a second ambient temperature after passing upwardly through the heating element  75  that is essential and advantageous for conveniently drying the eating utensils  11  prior to being discharged onto the napkin  12  during operating conditions. A drying basket  76  is directly attached, without the use of intervening elements to a top end portion  73 A of the conduit  72 . Such a drying basket is critical and advantageous for housing the eating utensils therein during operating conditions so that same can conveniently be dried by the heated air flow from the heating element  75 . 
   While the invention has been described with respect to a certain specific embodiment, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 
   In particular, with respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the present invention may include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation. The assembly and use of the present invention are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art.