Apparatus for Wrapping a Napkin Around One or More Silverwares
This disclosure relates generally to an assembling apparatus, and more particularly, to an automated wrapping apparatus for wrapping one or more silverwares into napkin or napkin. The apparatus (100) comprises a napkin holding structure (104) configured to hold a plurality of napkins (105), a napkin suction table (106) mounted above the napkin holding structure (104) for transporting one of the plurality of napkins (105) from the napkin holding structure (104) to a folding platform (107). A plurality of dispensers (108) is also provided and is being adapted to hold one or more silverware (102) and dispense one of the one or more silverware (102) mounted above the folding platform (107). The apparatus (100) is further provided with a rolling device (110) below a folding platform (107) for rolling the napkin (101) with the one or more silverware (102). Also, at least one sterilizing means is configured in the plurality of dispensers (108) for sterilizing the one or more silverware (102) prior to wrapping in the napkin (101).
This disclosure relates generally to an assembling apparatus, and more particularly, to an automated wrapping apparatus for wrapping a napkin around one or more silverwares.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSUREGenerally, napkins and silverwares are placed on eating tables in restaurants. The silverwares are the cutlery or other eating utensils, such as forks, knives, and spoons. The silverwares are generally placed inside napkins before the usage of the silverwares. The normal process of placing the silverwares inside the napkins is made by rolling the silverwares inside the napkins. Wrapping napkin around silverwares is normally carried out by manual process either by designated staff or employees of the restaurants. This is done by putting the silverware inside each of the napkins and roll before the usage as per restaurant requirement in required pattern. The process of rolling of the napkins having the silverwares manually is a tedious and mundane job for the employees. Also, there are chances of napkins missing any of the cutleries such as knife, fork and spoon due to human error. Also, there exists no quality check before placing the napkins with silverwares on the tables.
Various devices have come up for automatic napkin-silverware rolling process. Various existing automated devices have one or more limitations such as bulk or heavy in nature and non-portable and less hygienic due to no sterilization of the silverwares during rolling process.
In view of the aforementioned limitations, there was a need to develop automatic rolling apparatus that rolls napkins or napkin around a set of hygienic silverwares.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREThe shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure.
In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides for an apparatus for wrapping a napkin around one or more silverware. The apparatus comprising a napkin holding structure configured to hold a plurality of napkins. A napkin suction table is mounted above the napkin holding structure for transporting one napkin from the napkin holding structure to a folding platform. The apparatus is also provided with dispensers which are being adapted to hold one or more silverwares and dispense one of the one or more silverware mounted above the folding platform. A rolling device is provided below a folding platform for rolling the napkin with the one or more silverwares. The apparatus further comprises a sterilizing means is configured in the dispensers for sterilizing the one or more silverware prior to wrapping in the napkin.
In one embodiment, the one or more silverware is selected from a group comprising forks, spoons, knifes and chopsticks.
In one embodiment, the sterilizing means is selected from a group comprising heating elements and ultraviolet tubes.
In one embodiment, the heating elements are configured around outer surface of the dispensers and are heated up to about 180° F. for sterilizing the one or more silverware.
In one embodiment, the apparatus is provided with a metallic frame to support components of the apparatus.
In one embodiment, the folding platform is located below the plurality of dispensers and configured into a first portion and a second portion for folding the napkin.
In one embodiment, the second portion is configured into folding sectors and a non-folding sector.
In one embodiment, the plurality of napkins is made of material selected from paper and fabric.
In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises housing for holding the rolled silverware-napkin set.
In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a duct connected to the housing for transporting the rolled silverware-napkin set to a collection box.
In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a microcontroller for controlling the operations of the apparatus.
In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides for method of operating the apparatus. The method comprising acts of moving the napkin holding structure with preloaded napkins upwards to touch bottom of the napkin suction table. The napkin suction table provides suction power to pick up one napkin at a time. After the napkin holding structure is moved, the napkin suction table is moved for placing the picked napkin onto the folding platform. Upon placing the picked napkin, the napkin suction table is moved back to position above the napkin holding structure. Once the napkin suction table is moved back, a first fold on the napkin is performed for placing predetermined set of silverwares. The first fold is performed by folding the folding platform. After the first fold, dispensers are positioned to dispense pre-sterilized set of silverwares from each of the plurality of the dispensers. The heating elements present in the plurality of the dispensers sterilize the silverwares by heating the silverwares to a predetermined temperature. After ensuring that the dispensers are suitably positioned above the napkin, predetermined sterilized set of silverwares is dispensed onto the folded napkin. Once the predetermined set of silverwares is dispensed into the napkin, further folds of the napkin are performed using folding sectors. Once the folding is completed, the napkin containing silverwares are rolled using a rolling device and thereafter moved to the housing.
In one embodiment, the apparatus is controlled automatically using a microcontroller installed in the apparatus.
In one embodiment, the rolling device is raised up to the folding platform after dropping the rolled silverware-napkin set in the housing in order to receive next folded silverware-napkin set for rolling.
In one embodiment, the rolled silverware napkin set is wrapped with a predesigned band or predesigned ribbon.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:
The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSUREIn the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented herein. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated and make part of this disclosure.
In one embodiment, the apparatus (100) comprises a microcontroller (105) (not shown) for controlling the operations of the apparatus (100). The microcontroller (105) is integrated in the apparatus (100) which is an electronic device that is preprogrammed for instructing through electronic commands that the apparatus (100) performs as designed and as instructed through the commands after the start button is pressed.
In another exemplary embodiment, the dispensers (108a and 108b) are provided with plurality of ultraviolet tubes/lights (108c) for sterilizing the one or more silverwares (102) by killing viruses and other microorganisms that pose health hazards that may be present in the one or more silverwares (102). The UV tubes (108c) are installed in the dispensers (108a and 108b) as shown in the
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of operating the apparatus (100) is provided. The method comprising acts of moving the napkin holding structure (104) with preloaded napkins upwards to touch bottom of the napkin suction table (106), wherein the napkin suction table (106) provides suction power to pick up one napkin (101) at a time; moving the napkin suction table (106) for placing the picked napkin (101) onto the folding platform (107); moving the napkin suction table (106) back to position above the napkin holding structure (104); performing a first fold on the napkin (101) for placing predetermined set of silverwares (102); positioning the plurality of the dispensers (108) to dispense pre-sterilized set of silverwares (102) from each of the plurality of the dispensers (108), wherein the heating elements (109) or ultraviolet tubes (108c) are present in the plurality of the dispensers (108) sterilizes the silverwares (102) by heating the silverwares (102) to a predetermined temperature; dispensing sterilized set of the silverwares (102) onto the folded napkin (101); performing folds of the napkin (101) after dispensing sterilized set of silverwares (102) on the napkin (101) using folding sectors (107c); rolling the napkin (101) consisting sterilized silverwares (105) using a rolling device (110); and moving the rolled silverware-napkin set to the housing (111).
In on embodiment, the rolling device (110) is raised up to the folding platform (107) after dropping the rolled silverware-napkin set in the housing (111) in order to receive next folded silverware-napkin set for rolling.
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Claims
1. An apparatus (100) for wrapping a napkin (101) around one or more silverware (102),
- the apparatus (100) comprising: a napkin holding structure (104) configured to hold a plurality of napkins (105); a napkin suction table (106) mounted above the napkin holding structure (104) for transporting one of the plurality of napkins (105) from the napkin holding structure (104) to a folding platform (107); a plurality of dispensers (108) being adapted to hold one or more silverware (102) and dispense one of the one or more silverware (102) mounted above the folding platform (107); a rolling device (110) provided below a folding platform (107) for rolling the napkin (101) with the one or more silverware (102); and
- a sterilizing means configured in the plurality of dispensers (108) for sterilizing the one or more silverware (102) prior to wrapping in the napkin (101).
2. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more silverware (102) is selected from a group comprising forks, spoons, knifes and chopsticks.
3. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sterilizing means is selected from a group comprising heating elements (109) and ultraviolet tubes (108c).
4. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heating elements (109) are configured around outer surface of the dispensers (108a and 108b) and are heated up to about 180° F. for sterilizing the one or more silverware.
5. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1 is provided with a metallic frame (114) to support components of the apparatus (100).
6. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the folding platform (107) is located below the plurality of dispensers (108) and configured into a first portion (107a) and a second portion (107b) for folding the napkin.
7. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second portion (107b) is configured into folding sectors (107c and 107d) and a non-folding sector (107e).
8. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of napkins (105) is made of material selected from paper and fabric.
9. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1 comprises a housing (111) for holding the rolled silverware-napkin set (101).
10. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1 comprises a duct (112) connected to the housing (111) for transporting the rolled silverware-napkin set (101) to a collection box (113).
11. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1 comprises a microcontroller for controlling the operations of the apparatus (100).
12. A method of operating the apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, the method comprising acts of:
- moving the napkin holding structure (104) with preloaded napkins upwards to touch bottom of the napkin suction table (106), wherein the napkin suction table (106) provides suction power to pick up one napkin (101) at a time;
- moving the napkin suction table (106) for placing the picked napkin (101) onto the folding platform (107);
- moving the napkin suction table (106) back to position above the napkin holding structure (104);
- performing a first fold on the napkin (101) for placing predetermined set of silverwares (102);
- positioning the plurality of the dispensers (108) to dispense pre-sterilized set of silverwares (102) from each of the plurality of the dispensers (108), wherein the heating elements (109) present in the plurality of the dispensers (108) sterilizes the silverwares (102) by heating the silverwares (102) to a predetermined temperature;
- dispensing sterilized set of the silverwares (102) onto the folded napkin (101);
- performing folds of the napkin (101) after dispensing sterilized set of silverwares (102) on the napkin (101) using folding sectors (107a);
- rolling the napkin (101) consisting sterilized silverwares (105) using a rolling device (110); and
- moving the rolled silverware-napkin set to the housing (111).
13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the apparatus (100) is controlled automatically using a microcontroller installed in the apparatus (100).
14. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the rolling device (110) is raised up to the folding platform (107) after dropping the rolled silverware-napkin set in the housing (111) in order to receive next folded silverware-napkin set for rolling.
15. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the rolled silverware napkin set is wrapped with a predesigned band or predesigned ribbon.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 2, 2014
Publication Date: Jun 2, 2016
Inventor: Ashok Em Sudhakar (Las Vegas, NV)
Application Number: 14/558,052