Patent Application
20190047731
The apparatus disclosed herein, in general, relates to wrapping utensils in a napkin for placement on dining tables in hotels, restaurants, cafeterias, etc. More particularly, the apparatus disclosed herein relates to a compact automated utensil wrapping apparatus that wraps one or more utensils in a napkin in a single folding and wrapping motion, that occupies less space, and that can be operated without requirement for skilled personnel.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further disclosed in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is not intended to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter.
A utensil wrapping apparatus comprising a primary conveyor frame, a first set of belt rollers, a set of conveyor belts, a staging member, a bracket assembly, at least two napkin folders, at least two fold actuators, and a rolling station is provided. The primary conveyor frame is defined by opposing side walls. The first set of belt rollers is operably connected substantially perpendicular to the opposing side walls of the primary conveyor frame via roller axles. The belt rollers roll on corresponding roller axles. The conveyor belts are wound around the belt rollers. The conveyor belts accommodate and convey a napkin and one or more utensils placed on the napkin from an entry end towards a release end of the conveyor belts. The napkin and the utensils placed on the napkin are accommodated and supported on the conveyor belts using the staging member. The staging member is rigidly connected substantially perpendicular to upper ends of the opposing side walls of the primary conveyor frame.
The bracket assembly is positioned above the set of conveyor belts and is rigidly connected to the opposing side walls of the primary conveyor frame. The bracket assembly folds a leading corner of the conveyed napkin over the utensils. The napkin folders are positioned proximal to the bracket assembly and are hingedly connected to the upper ends of the opposing side walls of the primary conveyor frame. The napkin folders fold opposing corners of the conveyed napkin with the folded leading corner around the utensils. The fold actuators are operably attached to the opposing side walls of the primary conveyor frame. The fold actuators actuate the napkin folders for facilitating the folding of the opposing corners of the conveyed napkin with the folded leading corner around the utensils by the napkin folders.
The rolling station is positioned proximal to the bracket assembly and the fold actuators. The rolling station comprises a secondary conveyor frame, a roll starter and tuck assembly, multiple roller shafts, a second set of belt rollers, at least one drive roller, and a set of rolling belts. The secondary conveyor frame is positioned above the set of conveyor belts via first brackets rigidly connected to the opposing side walls of the primary conveyor frame. The roll starter and tuck assembly is rotatably connected to one of the roller shafts for receiving and initiating rolling and tucking of the conveyed napkin folded around the utensils. The roller shafts are operably connected to the secondary conveyor frame. The second set of belt rollers is mounted on and roll on the corresponding roller shafts.
The drive roller is operably connected to the second set of belt rollers. The drive roller is mounted on a conveyor shaft for driving the second set of belt rollers. The conveyor shaft is operably connected substantially perpendicular to the opposing side walls of the primary conveyor frame via second brackets. The set of rolling belts is wound around the second set of belt rollers that are driven by the drive roller. The rolling belts move in a direction counter to movement of the conveyor belts for rolling the conveyed napkin folded around the utensils over the conveyor belts and facilitating conveyance of the rolled napkin with the utensils over the conveyor belts to the release end of the conveyor belts.
In one or more embodiments, related systems comprise circuitry and/or programming for effecting the methods disclosed herein. The circuitry and/or programming can be any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware configured to effect the methods disclosed herein depending upon the design choices of a system designer. Also, in an embodiment, various structural elements can be employed depending on the design choices of the system designer.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For illustrating the invention, exemplary constructions of the invention are shown in the drawings. However, the invention is not limited to the specific methods and components disclosed herein. The description of a method step or a component referenced by a numeral in a drawing is applicable to the description of that method step or component shown by that same numeral in any subsequent drawing herein.
The first set of belt rollers 104 is operably connected substantially perpendicular to the opposing side walls 102 and 103 of the primary conveyor frame 101 via roller axles 139 exemplarily illustrated in
The set of conveyor belts 105 is wound around the first set of belt rollers 104. The set of conveyor belts 105 extends from a front end 101a of the primary conveyor frame 101 to a rear end 101b of the primary conveyor frame 101 to envelop the first set of belt rollers 104. The conveyor belts 105 are intermittent moving bands made of materials selected, for example, from urethane, nylon, fabrics, metal, rubber, etc. Rolling of the belt rollers 104 around the corresponding roller axles 139 move the conveyor belts 105 from the front end 101a of the primary conveyor frame 101 to the rear end 101b of the primary conveyor frame 101. The conveyor belts 105 accommodate and convey a napkin 501 and one or more utensils 502 placed on the napkin 501 from an entry end 105a towards a release end 105b of the conveyor belts 105 exemplarily illustrated in
The bracket assembly 133 is positioned above the set of conveyor belts 105 and is rigidly connected to the opposing side walls 102 and 103 of the primary conveyor frame 101 for folding a leading corner 501b of the conveyed napkin 501 flat over the utensils 502 as exemplarily illustrated in
The napkin folders 131a and 131b are positioned proximal to the bracket assembly 133 and are hingedly connected to the upper ends 102a and 103a of the opposing side walls 102 and 103 of the primary conveyor frame 101 respectively. The napkin folders 131a and 131b fold opposing corners 501c and 501d of the conveyed napkin 501 with the folded leading corner 501b around the utensils 502 as exemplarily illustrated in
The fold actuators 132a and 132b are operably attached to the opposing side walls 102 and 103 of the primary conveyor frame 101 for actuating the napkin folders 131a and 131b for facilitating the folding of the opposing corners 501c and 501d of the conveyed napkin 501 with the folded leading corner 501b around the utensils 502 by the napkin folders 131a and 131b respectively, as exemplarily illustrated in
The rolling station 112 is positioned proximal to the bracket assembly 133 and the fold actuators 132a and 132b. The rolling station 112 comprises a secondary conveyor frame 113, a roll starter and tuck assembly 117, multiple roller shafts 118, 119, and 120, a second set of belt rollers 121, 122, and 123, at least one drive roller 124, and a set of rolling belts 127. The secondary conveyor frame 113 is positioned above the set of conveyor belts 105 via brackets 116a and 116b. The brackets 116a and 116b are rigidly connected to the opposing side walls 102 and 103 of the primary conveyor frame 101 using fasteners 130, for example, standoff spacers, screws etc. The brackets 116a and 116b are made of materials selected, for example, from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), fiber reinforced plastic, metal, glass, plastic, ceramics, carbon steel, metal, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), stainless steel, etc. The brackets 116a and 116b fix the secondary conveyor frame 113 to the opposing side walls 102 and 103 of the primary conveyor frame 101. The secondary conveyor frame 113 comprises opposing support members 114 and 115 for providing support to the rolling station 112. The opposing support members 114 and 115 are configured, for example, as nylon side rails. The secondary conveyor frame 113 is made of materials selected, for example, from nylon, HDPE, fiber reinforced plastic or other materials such as plastics, glass, ceramics, metal, etc.
The roll starter and tuck assembly 117 is rotatably connected to one of the roller shafts, for example, the roller shaft 118 for receiving and initiating rolling and tucking of the conveyed napkin 501 folded around the utensils 502. The roller shaft 118 is operably connected to the ends 114a and 115a of the opposing support members 114 and 115 of the secondary conveyor frame 113 respectively. In an embodiment, the roller shaft 118 is rigidly connected to the ends 114a and 115a of the opposing support members 114 and 115 of the secondary conveyor frame 113 respectively. In another embodiment, the opposing ends (not shown) of the roller shaft 118 are mounted with ball bearings (not shown) and operably connected to the ends 114a and 115a of the opposing support members 114 and 115 of the secondary conveyor frame 113 respectively. The roll starter and tuck assembly 117 is mounted on the roller shaft 118 along with one column of the second set of belt rollers, for example, 121.
The second set of belt rollers 121, 122, and 123 is mounted on the corresponding roller shafts 118, 119, and 120 respectively, that are operably connected to the secondary conveyor frame 113. The belt rollers 121, 122, and 123 roll on the roller shafts 118, 119, and 120 respectively. The belt rollers 121, 122, and 123 are, for example, foam rollers. The belt rollers 121, 122, and 123 are made of materials selected, for example, from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), plastics, composites, metal, etc. The roller shaft 119 is operably connected proximal to the ends 114a and 115a of the opposing support members 114 and 115 of the secondary conveyor frame 113 respectively. In an embodiment, the roller shaft 119 is rigidly connected proximal to the ends 114a and 115a of the opposing support members 114 and 115 of the secondary conveyor frame 113 respectively. In another embodiment, the opposing ends (not shown) of the roller shaft 119 are mounted with ball bearings (not shown) and operably connected proximal to the ends 114a and 115a of the opposing support members 114 and 115 of the secondary conveyor frame 113 respectively. The roller shaft 120 is operably connected to the ends 114b and 115b of the opposing support members 114 and 115 of the secondary conveyor frame 113 respectively. In an embodiment, the roller shaft 120 is rigidly connected to the ends 114b and 115b of the opposing support members 114 and 115 of the secondary conveyor frame 113 respectively. In another embodiment, the opposing ends (not shown) of the roller shaft 120 are mounted with ball bearings (not shown) and operably connected to the ends 114b and 115b of the opposing support members 114 and 115 of the secondary conveyor frame 113 respectively. The roller shafts 118, 119 and 120 are elongated rods made of materials selected, for example, from stainless steel, fiber reinforced plastic, metal, glass, plastic, ceramics, etc.
The drive roller 124 is operably connected to one column of the second set of belt rollers 123 and is mounted on a conveyor shaft 125 for driving the second set of belt rollers 121, 122, and 123. The conveyor shaft 125 is positioned coaxially within the roller shaft 120. The conveyor shaft 125 is operably connected substantially perpendicular to the opposing side walls 102 and 103 of the primary conveyor frame 101 via brackets 126a and 126b respectively. In an embodiment, the conveyor shaft 125 is rigidly connected substantially perpendicular to the opposing side walls 102 and 103 of the primary conveyor frame 101 via brackets 126a and 126b respectively. The brackets 126a and 126b are connected to the opposing side walls 102 and 103 of the primary conveyor frame 101 respectively, using fasteners 130, for example, standoff spacers, screws etc. The drive roller 124 is positioned proximal to the ends 114b and 115b of the opposing support members 114 and 115 of the secondary conveyor frame 113 respectively. The drive roller 124 is a wheeled structure made of a material selected, for example, from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), fiber reinforced plastic, metal, etc. The conveyor shaft 125 drives the drive roller 124 via a flat urethane belt of dimensions, for example, 0.5″wide×0.06″ thick.
The set of rolling belts 127 is wound around the second set of belt rollers 121, 122, and 123 that is driven by the drive roller 124. The rolling belts 127 are intermittently moving in coordination with the conveyor belts 105. The rolling belts 127 are moving bands made of materials selected, for example, from nylons, fabrics, metal, rubber, etc. The set of rolling belts 127 moves in a direction counter to the movement of the set of conveyor belts 105 for rolling the conveyed napkin 501 folded around the utensils 502 over the set of conveyor belts 105 and facilitating conveyance of the rolled napkin 501 with the utensils 502 over the set of conveyor belts 105 to the release end 105b of the set of conveyor belts 105 as exemplarily illustrated in
The motor 134 also triggers the drive roller 124 for driving the second set of belt rollers 121, 122, and 123 to roll on the roller shafts 118, 119, and 120 respectively, which facilitates movement of the set of rolling belts 127 in a direction counter to the movement of the set of conveyor belts 105 for rolling the napkin 501 folded around the utensils 502 over the set of conveyor belts 105 and conveying the rolled napkin 501 with the utensils 502 over the set of conveyor belts 105 to the release end 105b of the set of conveyor belts 105.
After the napkin folders 131a and 131b fold the napkin 501 around the utensils 502, the roll starter and tuck assembly 117 of the rolling station 112 receives the napkin 501 folded around the utensils 502 for rolling of the napkin 501 folded around the utensils 502 as exemplarily illustrated in
The operator of the utensil wrapping apparatus 100 positions a napkin 501 at the entry end 105a of the set of conveyor belts 105, proximal to the staging member 106. In an embodiment, the napkin 501 is positioned in an any “corner first” orientation on the set of conveyor belts 105 to create a channel for loading the utensils 502. The operator then positions the utensils 502, for example, a fork and a knife, on the napkin 501.
The napkin 501 with the folded leading corner 501b and the folded opposing corners 501c and 501d is then conveyed to the rolling station 112 of the utensil wrapping apparatus 100. The folded napkin 501 with the utensils 502 traverses along the set of conveyor belts 105 and enters the roll starter and tuck assembly 117 of the rolling station 112. The drive roller 124, running in conjunction with the set of conveyor belts 105, powers up the rolling station 112 and the second set of rolling belts 127 that roll on the roller shafts 118, 119, and 120 respectively. The roll starters 136 of the roll starter and tuck assembly 117 initiate the rolling of the folded napkin 501, and the tuckers 137 of the roll starter and tuck assembly 117 tuck the top layer 501a of the folded napkin 501 adjacent to one end of the utensils 502 inward during rolling to close one end of the bundle thus formed as exemplarily illustrated in
The folding and rolling functions of the utensil wrapping apparatus 100 wrap the napkin 501 around the utensils 502. The set of rolling belts 127 of the rolling station 112 move in a direction counter to the movement of the set of conveyor belts 105 as exemplarily illustrated in
The foregoing examples have been provided merely for explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the utensil wrapping apparatus 100 and the method disclosed herein. While the utensil wrapping apparatus 100 and the method have been described with reference to various embodiments, it is understood that the words, which have been used herein, are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Furthermore, although the utensil wrapping apparatus 100 and the method have been described herein with reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, the utensil wrapping apparatus 100 and the method are not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the utensil wrapping apparatus 100 and the method extend to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims. While multiple embodiments are disclosed, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, having the benefit of the teachings of this specification, that the utensil wrapping apparatus 100 and the method disclosed herein are capable of modifications and other embodiments may be effected and changes may be made thereto, without departing from the scope and spirit of the utensil wrapping apparatus 100 and the method disclosed herein.
This application claims priority to and the benefit of the provisional patent application titled “Utensil Wrapping Apparatus”, application No. 62/544,786, filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Aug. 12, 2017. The specification of the above referenced patent application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62544786 | Aug 2017 | US |
