Device for holding and dispensing utensils for wrapping apparatus

• US 7,513,089 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2007
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard Howard Rubin
• Original Assignee: Richard Howard Rubin
• Inventors: Rubin, Richard Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): DESAI, HEMANT
• Application Number:
  US11/854,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20080000855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 534/61, 531/51, 531/54, 535/40, 532/04, 532/11, 532/16, 532/53, 221/141, 221/193, 221/92, 221/123, 221/131, 221/132, 221/41, 221/197, 221/196, 221/276, 221/231, 221/277, 221/266, 221/265, 221/282
• US Class Current: 53/253
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 11/00 Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material bundling articles by applying narrow strips or bands of flexible material B65B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 13/02 Applying and securing binding material around articles or groups of articles, e.g. using strings, wires, strips, bands or tapes
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 27/105 by means of adhesive tape
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 55/16 by irradiation

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide for a wrapping apparatus and associated methods and a cassette device for holding utensils. The wrapping apparatus may include a first holder for holding first items to be wrapped. The wrap is placed on a rotating table when the rotating table is rotated into a first position. One of the first items to be wrapped is moved from the first holder onto the wrap on the rotating table when the rotating table is rotated to a second position. A wrapping mechanism then wraps the first item in the wrap.

Claims

1. A cassette device for holding a plurality of eating utensils, the cassette device for use with a wrapping apparatus for wrapping the eating utensils, comprising:

means for holding the eating utensils within the cassette, wherein the cassette device is adapted to be loadable into the wrapping apparatus while holding the eating utensils, and is adapted to be loadable into a dishwasher for cleaning of the eating utensils while they are loaded in the cassette device, wherein the means for holding the eating utensils comprises a plurality of holders, each of the holders for holding one of the eating utensils, and each of the holders further comprises a clip for physically holding one of the eating utensils in place, wherein the plurality of holders form a belt within the cassette device.

2. The cassette device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of holders are attached to each other.

3. The cassette device of claim 1, wherein the belt is a rotating belt.

4. The cassette device of claim 3, further comprising a gear in contact with the rotating belt, and a motor, the gear and the motor for selectively causing the belt to rotate.

5. The cassette device of claim 1, wherein the clip is openable to release the corresponding eating utensil.

6. The cassette device of claim 1, further comprising openings formed in the cassette to allow water to enter the cassette for cleaning of the eating utensils.