Automatic gloving machine and method and glove package for use therewith

• US 20060144878A1
• Filed: 09/23/2005
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Llewellyn Angelo Williams
• Original Assignee: Llewellyn Angelo Williams
• Inventors: Williams, Llewellyn Angelo
• Granted Patent: US 7,805,772 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 223/111
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 25/904 for gloves glove hooks A47G25/92
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 42/40 Packages or dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 42/50 Devices for putting-on or removing

Abstract

A method and apparatus for gloving a person and a gloving package. The method includes automatically advancing a glove package or packages containing gloves from a storage location to a location where they are accessible to a persons hands so that the person can glove himself or herself without contaminating the gloves. The apparatus comprises of a gloving machine for applying gloves to the hands of a person. The gloving package is comprised of a top and bottom layer and a means for securing glove(s) within the layers.

Claims

1. A gloving machine for applying gloves to the hands of a person, said gloving machine comprising:

an actuator mounted on to the frame of said gloving machine and to a crank clutch assembly operable to generate a movement upon receiving at least one foot press by the person;

a drive assembly for advancing a package of gloves from a storage area to a gloving position accessible to the hands of the person to be gloved, the drive assembly including a drive gear or pulley connected to said crank clutch assembly to turn a driven gear, a chain or belt placed partially around said driven gear or pulley to produce a friction so that rotation of the driven gear or pulley will move the chain or belt, a supply roll gear, a top layer take-up gear, and a bottom layer take-up gear to rotate;

said drive assembly supply roll gear and said top layer take-up gear and said bottom layer take-up gear respectively mounted to a glove packet supply spool, to a top layer take-up spool, and to a bottom layer take-up spool;

said glove packet supply spool and said top layer take-up spool and said bottom layer take-up spool being operable respectively to hold a glove packet supply roll, to hold an upper layer take-up roll, and to hold a lower layer take-up roll;

a lower-upper layer splitter wedge operable to separate a glove pair top package layer from a glove pair lower package layer;

a rear upper surface roller, an upper surface roller, and a front platen lower surface roller mounted to a platen surface and operable during the advancing or the package of gloves for moving the lower package layer through the machine with a controlled amount of friction.

2. The gloving machine of claim 1, further comprising a transparent shield mounted on the body of the assembly to separate the upper body of the user from the glove packages and to protect internal parts of the machine from contamination from without the machine.

3. The gloving machine of claim 1, wherein an air pump and intake filter or a source of compressed gas is utilized to provide a source of positive air pressure within the machine to further limit entry of contaminants.

4. The gloving machine of claim 1, wherein an optional tensioner assembly connected to a tensioner arm engaged with the said belt or chain by a spring, said spring being attached to a support for maintaining tension of said belt or chain during operation.

5. The gloving machine of claim 1, further comprising a gloving package, wherein the gloving package is disposed internal to the gloving machine and comprises

a substantially planar sheet form bottom package layer;

a glove pair including a first glove and a second glove arranges in side-by-side relationship;

glove attachment means for detachably securing the glove pair to the bottom package layer; and

a substantially planar sheet form top package layer overlying the glove pair and substantially secured and detachably sealed to the bottom package layer for containing the glove pair and maintaining a desired degree of sanitation or sterility.

6. A gloving machine for applying gloves said gloving machine comprising:

an actuator mounted on to a frame and to a motor control unit for operator foot to press;

said actuator activating an upper layer take-up spool motor and gear assembly and a lower layer take-up spool motor and gear assembly, forcing a lower layer take-up spool drive gear or pulley turn a lower layer take up spool driven gear or pulley in a clockwise direction by rotating a lower layer take up spool drive chain or belt placed around said lower layer take up spool drive gear or pulley and said lower layer take up spool driven gear or pulley;

a lower-upper layer splitter wedge to separate a glove pair top package layer;

a rear upper surface roller;

an upper surface roller; and

a front platen lower surface roller mounted on to a platen surface.

7. The gloving machine of claim 6, wherein a transparent shield is mounted on the body of the assembly to separate the upper body of user from glove rolls to protect internal parts of the machine from contaminations.

8. The gloving machine of claim 6, wherein an air pump and intake filter, or a source of compressed gas is utilized to provide a source of positive air pressure within the machine to further limit entry of contaminants.

9. The gloving machine of claim 6, wherein an optional tensioner assembly connected to a tensioner arm engaged with the said belt or chain by a spring, said spring attached to a block for providing a tight grip of said gears by said belt or chain.

10. The gloving machine of claim 6, further comprising a gloving package, wherein the gloving package is disposed internal to the gloving machine and comprises

a substantially planar sheet form bottom package layer;

a glove pair including a first glove and a second glove arranges in side-by-side relationship;

glove attachment means for detachably securing the glove pair to the bottom package layer; and

a substantially planar sheet form top package layer overlying the glove pair and substantially secured and detachably sealed to the bottom package layer for containing the glove pair and maintaining a desired degree of sanitation or sterility.

11. A gloving package comprising:

a substantially planar sheet form bottom package layer;

a glove pair including a first glove and a second glove arranges in side-by-side relationship;

glove attachment means for detachably securing the glove pair to the bottom package layer; and

a substantially planar sheet form top package layer overlying the glove pair and substantially secured and detachably sealed to the bottom package layer for containing the glove pair and maintaining a desired degree of sanitation or sterility.

12. The gloving package of claim 11, further comprising:

means for gripping the package and for urging the package through a gloving machine transport when the package is used in conjunction with an automatic gloving machine.

13. The gloving package of claim 12, wherein a plurality of the gloving packages are connected to each other and at least one of the bottom package layer and the top package layer form or are connected to a web of material that serves at least in part to transport the glove packages.

14. The gloving package of claim 12, wherein said glove or said glove pairs are accompanied by an glove pair surround to carry said glove or said gloves and to assist at maintaining a relatively uniform package thickness between said glove or said gloves containing regions and non-glove containing regions.

15. The gloving package of claim 11, further comprising at least a partial loop supportive glove-opening attachment strip and dual fasteners for attaching the glove or gloves to a support layer.

16. The gloving package of claim 11, further comprising a full loop or full hoop supportive glove-opening attachment and a fastener for attaching the glove or gloves to a support layer.

17. The gloving package of claim 12, further comprising at least a partial loop supportive glove-opening attachment strip and dual fasteners for attaching the glove or gloves to a support layer.

18. The gloving package of claim 12, further comprising a full loop or full hoop supportive glove-opening attachment and a single faster for attaching the glove or gloves to a support layer.

19. The gloving package of claim 11, wherein a plurality of glove pair individual packets are defined along a substantially continuous web or roll of material by glove pair roll tear perforations.

20. The gloving package of claim 11, wherein pleated glove packages are used for the gloving package.

21. The gloving package of claim 11, wherein rolled glove packages are used for gloving package.

22. A gloving machine for applying gloves to the hands of a person, said gloving machine comprising:

a gloving region having a surface for supporting a packaged glove to a person, the gloving region accessible to the hand of the person to be gloved; and

a glove package transport mechanism operative to retrieve at least one glove enclosed in a substantially sealed glove package from a storage region to said gloving region.

23. The gloving machine of claim 22, further comprising the glove package, wherein the glove package is disposed internal to the gloving machine and comprises:

a substantially planar sheet form bottom package layer;

a glove pair including a first glove and a second glove arranges in side-by-side relationship;

glove attachment means for detachably securing the glove pair to the bottom package layer; and

a substantially planar sheet form top package layer overlying the glove pair and substantially secured and detachably sealed to the bottom package layer for containing the glove pair and maintaining a desired degree of sanitation or sterility.

24. The gloving machine in claim 22, wherein the packaged gloves of the glove package are stored external to a housing of the gloving machine.

25. The gloving machine in claim 22, wherein the packaged gloves of the glove package are stored internal to a housing of the gloving machine.

26-36. -36. (canceled)