Automatic utensil wrapping machine

Abstract

The automatic utensil wrapping machine is an apparatus for wrapping a napkin around one or more utensils for use as a place setting. The apparatus comprises a housing, a support frame and an assembly of elements mounted to the support frame. The assembly of elements includes a napkin lifting station, a napkin wrapping station, a napkin transfer station, a utensil transfer station, and a napkin folding station. The apparatus wraps each napkin around a predetermined amount of utensils without the need for human contact. The napkins are wrapped by first positioning a stack of napkins on the lifting station, then individually transferring napkins from the lifting station to the wrapping station. The utensils are then transferred from the individual cartridges and placed onto the napkin. Two opposing corners of the napkin are then folded over and the napkin is subsequently wrapped around the utensils.

1 - 13 . (canceled)  
   
   
       14 . A method of wrapping a napkin around one or more utensils, said method comprising the steps of: 
 positioning a stack of napkins on a napkin lifting station;    individually transferring napkins from said lifting station to a napkin wrapping station;    transferring a plurality of utensils from a plurality of utensil storage cartridges to said napkin wrapping station and positioning the utensils on the napkin;    folding two opposing comers of the napkin over itself; and    wrapping the napkin around the utensils.    
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14  wherein said napkin transfer step includes releasably engaging the napkins individually with a napkin transfer plate having a plurality of suction devices disposed on its bottom surface and then lifting and carrying each napkin to said napkin wrapping station.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 14  wherein said utensils transfer step includes gripping an individual utensil from each of said utensil storage cartridges and transporting them to a utensil feeding conveyor belt that transfers the utensils onto a napkin positioned on the napkin wrapping station.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 14  wherein said wrapping step includes placing the napkin across a gap between adjacent, counter-rotating wrapping belts that feed the napkin onto a pair of winding rollers that roll the napkin around the utensils and then once the napkin is rolled, lowering the winding rollers so the napkin falls onto an exit conveyor and exits said napkin wrapping station.  
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further including the step of transporting the wrapped napkins along said exit conveyor through an output opening.