Package making – Methods – Forming a cover adjunct or application of a cover adjunct to...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-02
2001-03-20
Johnson, Linda (Department: 3721)
Package making
Methods
Forming a cover adjunct or application of a cover adjunct to...
C053S137200, C053S590000, C156S538000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202387
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the preparation of table settings for use in the food service industry and relates, more particularly, to the means and methods for banding a wrapped arrangement of silverware for use in a place setting.
In the food service industry, a great deal of time is normally devoted to the wrapping of silverware (i.e. also referred to in the art as eating utensils or flatware) within a napkin for use in a table setting. Of course, by simply winding items of silverware within a napkin does not ordinarily place the arrangement in a condition which prevents the napkin from inadvertently unwrapping from the silverware unless the wound arrangement is carefully handled. Preferably, therefore, the wound silverware arrangement is banded with a piece of tape or some other segment of banding material which encircles the wrapped arrangement along its longitudinal axis and thereby binds and maintains the arrangement in a wrapped condition.
In our above-referenced pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/188,814 filed Nov. 9, 1998, we describe a silverware-wrapping apparatus which employs a worktable within which is provided an upwardly-opening trough for accepting a napkin and silverware items positioned therein. The napkin is automatically placed over the opening of the trough in a spread condition and then silverware items are automatically directed onto the napkin so that the silverware falls to the bottom of the trough thereby positioning the napkin between the silverware and the bottom of the trough. A pair of rotatable blades is positioned within the trough for automatically spinning the napkin and silverware items about the longitudinal axis of the trough until the napkin and silverware items are wound in a wrapped arrangement. However, no means are described in connection with that wrapping apparatus for banding the wrapped silverware.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved means and method for banding wrapped silverware.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a means which is well-suited for banding wrapped silverware while the wrapped silverware is positioned within the worktable trough of the wrapping apparatus described in our referenced patent application.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide such a means whose banding operation is automatic and is capable of banding wrapped silverware relatively quickly.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a means which is uncomplicated in construction yet effective in operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention resides in an apparatus and method for banding a wrapped silverware arrangement with a two-sided segment of banding material bearing an adhesive on one side thereof which must be appropriately treated in order that the adhesive is rendered tacky and thereby capable of adhering to a surface against which the adhesive-bearing side of the segment is placed into contact, and wherein the wrapped silverware arrangement includes at least one item of silverware which has been wound within a napkin into a wrapped arrangement of elongated form.
The apparatus of the invention includes a frame and a jaw assembly supported by the frame. The jaw assembly includes opposing jaw members which are joined together to accommodate movement of the jaw members relative to one another between an open condition at which the jaw members define an open mouth through which the wrapped silverware arrangement can be moved sideways into a position between the jaw members and a closed condition at which the wrapped silverware arrangement is captured between the jaw members in a manner which permits the wrapped arrangement to be rotated about its longitudinal axis while in its captured condition. Means are connected to the jaw assembly for moving the jaw members between the open and closed conditions, and clamp means are joined to the jaw assembly for releasably holding a segment of banding material adjacent the jaw assembly. To this end, the clamp means includes opposing clamp members which are movable toward and away from one another between an open condition at which an end of the banding material segment can be accepted between the clamp members and a closed condition at which the end of the banding material segment is clamped therebetween. Means are also associated with the clamp means for moving the clamp members of the clamp means between the open and closed conditions.
The apparatus further includes means disposed at a first station for introducing an end of the banding material segment between the clamp members when the clamp members are in the open condition so that by subsequently moving the clamp members to the closed condition, the end of the banding material segment is held between the clamp members. In addition, there is provided means for moving the jaw assembly, with its jaw members arranged in the open condition and one end of a banding material segment held between the clamp members, from the first station and onto the wrapped silverware arrangement so that the banding material segment is draped across the wrapped silverware arrangement and so that subsequent movement of the jaw members to the closed condition captures the silverware arrangement between the jaw members and positions the banding material segment in a U-shaped orientation, or arrangement, about the wrapped silverware arrangement and the subsequent release of the banding segment by the clamp members places the one end of the banding material segment in an exposed condition. Also included in the apparatus is means for treating a region of adhesive borne by one side of the exposed end of the banding material segment to render the adhesive of the region tacky and so that subsequent rotation of the wrapped silverware arrangement about its longitudinal axis moves the tacky region of adhesive into contact with another surface region of the banding material segment so that the banding material segment is secured to itself in a band wound about the wrapped silverware arrangement.
The method of the invention includes the steps performed by the apparatus of the invention. More specifically, an end of the banding material segment is introduced between the clamp members at a first station when the clamp members are in the open condition and the clamp members are subsequently moved to the closed condition so that the end of the banding material segment is held between the clamp members. The jaw assembly is thereafter moved, while its jaw members are arranged in the open condition and one end of a banding material segment is held between the clamp members, from the first station to a second station at which the jaw assembly is moved onto the wrapped silverware arrangement so that the banding material segment is draped across the wrapped silverware arrangement. The jaw members are subsequently moved to the closed condition so that the silverware arrangement is captured between the jaw members and the banding material segment is positioned in a U-shaped orientation about the wrapped silverware arrangement. In addition, the clamp members are moved to the open condition to release the banding material segment from the clamp members and thereby place the one end of the banding material segment in an exposed condition. A region of adhesive borne by one side of the exposed end of the banding material segment is thereafter treated to render the adhesive of the region tacky, and the wrapped silverware arrangement is subsequently rotated about its longitudinal axis so that the tacky region of adhesive is moved into contact with another surface region of the banding material segment so that the banding material segment is secured to itself in a band about the wrapped silverware arrangement.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4601154 (1986-07-01), Ausnit
patent: 5237801 (1993-08-01), Hillam et al.
patent: 5428941 (1995-07-01), Staub
patent: 5469688 (1995-11-01), Dunbar
patent: 5614042 (1997-03-01), Nishide et al.
Brown William Edward
Clanton Dwight
Gray Charles Woodard
Mudd Reginald M.
Johnson Linda
McKee Michael E.
Mudd Reginald M.
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