Silverware and napkin rolling apparatus
First Claim
1. An automated flatware and napkin assembling apparatus comprising:
- a spoon hopper that holds stacked spoons prior to wrapping;
a fork hopper that holds stacked forks prior to wrapping;
a knife hopper that holds stacked knives prior to wrapping;
rolled paper napkinsrolled paper labels, perforated, with adhesive along one edge;
an exit slot, on which the fully wrapped and secured flatware exits the automated flatware and napkin assembling apparatus is provided at the bottom of the automation enclosure;
first upper indexing plate working in conjunction with a first lower indexing plate for providing for the dropping of one spoon and one fork at a time on a sliding chute defined by a first travel path and a second travel path;
a second upper indexing plate working in conjunction with a second lower indexing plate for the dropping of one knife at a time into the flatware trough as defined by a third travel path;
a napkin stream fed from said rolled paper napkins by a series of first indexing rollers working in a pinch roller arrangement;
a label stream fed from the rolled paper adhesive labels by a series of second indexing rollers working in a pinch roller arrangement; and
printing means in communication with said label stream for providing print on demand capacity onto individual labels forming said label stream;
wherein said first upper indexing plate, said first lower indexing plate, said second upper indexing plate, said second lower indexing plate, said first indexing rollers, and said second indexing rollers are all mechanically powered by a series of stepper motors activated by a logic controller that receives inputs from a series of sensors to direct the napkin stream into a flatware trough located at the bottom of the sliding chute.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus that wraps dinner flatware in a paper napkin in an automated manner and secures it with a paper label is disclosed. The apparatus includes input hoppers for knives, forks, spoons, and napkins which are located on the front and top part of the unit. Additionally, a roll of paper napkins and a roll of securing paper labels are provided on top with their own automatic dispensing means. A plastic cover secures the entire top of the invention to protect it from dust and dirt as well as accidental contact during operation. Internal mechanisms then take one of each piece of flatware and fold and roll it in a napkin. The completed napkin unit then drops out the bottom where it is collected for use.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. An automated flatware and napkin assembling apparatus comprising:
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a spoon hopper that holds stacked spoons prior to wrapping; a fork hopper that holds stacked forks prior to wrapping; a knife hopper that holds stacked knives prior to wrapping; rolled paper napkins rolled paper labels, perforated, with adhesive along one edge; an exit slot, on which the fully wrapped and secured flatware exits the automated flatware and napkin assembling apparatus is provided at the bottom of the automation enclosure; first upper indexing plate working in conjunction with a first lower indexing plate for providing for the dropping of one spoon and one fork at a time on a sliding chute defined by a first travel path and a second travel path; a second upper indexing plate working in conjunction with a second lower indexing plate for the dropping of one knife at a time into the flatware trough as defined by a third travel path; a napkin stream fed from said rolled paper napkins by a series of first indexing rollers working in a pinch roller arrangement; a label stream fed from the rolled paper adhesive labels by a series of second indexing rollers working in a pinch roller arrangement; and printing means in communication with said label stream for providing print on demand capacity onto individual labels forming said label stream; wherein said first upper indexing plate, said first lower indexing plate, said second upper indexing plate, said second lower indexing plate, said first indexing rollers, and said second indexing rollers are all mechanically powered by a series of stepper motors activated by a logic controller that receives inputs from a series of sensors to direct the napkin stream into a flatware trough located at the bottom of the sliding chute. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An automated flatware and napkin assembling apparatus comprising:
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a spoon hopper that holds stacked spoons prior to wrapping; a fork hopper that holds stacked forks prior to wrapping; a knife hopper that holds stacked knives prior to wrapping; rolled paper napkins rolled paper labels, perforated, with adhesive along one edge; an exit slot, on which the fully wrapped and secured flatware exits the automated flatware and napkin assembling apparatus is provided at the bottom of the automation enclosure; first upper indexing plate working in conjunction with a first lower indexing plate for providing for the dropping of one spoon and one fork at a time on a sliding chute defined by a first travel path and a second travel path; a second upper indexing plate working in conjunction with a second lower indexing plate for the dropping of one knife at a time into the flatware trough as defined by a third travel path; a napkin stream fed from said rolled paper napkins by a series of first indexing rollers working in a pinch roller arrangement; printing means in communication with said napkin stream for providing print on demand capacity onto individual napkins forming said napkin stream; a label stream fed from the rolled paper adhesive labels by a series of second indexing rollers working in a pinch roller arrangement; wherein said first upper indexing plate, said first lower indexing plate, said second upper indexing plate, said second lower indexing plate, said first indexing rollers, and said second indexing rollers are all mechanically powered by a series of stepper motors activated by a logic controller that receives inputs from a series of sensors to direct the napkin stream into a flatware trough located at the bottom of the sliding chute. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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Specification