Patent ID: 7322172

Claim:
An apparatus for wrapping a napkin around one or more utensils, said apparatus comprising: a wrapping area defining a trough dimensioned to receive one or more utensils; a utensil dispenser configured to deliver one or more utensils to said trough; a napkin delivery mechanism configured to deliver a napkin to said trough; a wrapping mechanism configured to wrap the napkin around the one or more utensils to define a wrapped bundle; a tension mechanism configured to selectively limit movement of the napkin during wrapping of the napkin around the one or more utensils; wherein said tension mechanism is configured to frictionally engage a portion of the napkin proximate an edge of said trough prior to said wrapping mechanism starting to wrap the napkin around the one or more utensils; and wherein said tension mechanism is configured to stop frictional engagement of the napkin at some time after said wrapping mechanism starts wrapping the napkin, but before said wrapping mechanism completes wrapping of the napkin.