Device for automatically wrapping eating utensils in a napkin

Abstract

An improved device for automatically wrapping eating utensils in a napkin of the type having hoppers for holding the eating utensils sortingly, a tray for holding the napkin, a staging assembly for receiving the napkin from the tray and the eating utensils from the hoppers on top of the napkin, a wrapping assembly for wrapping the napkin around the eating utensils so as to form a wrapped set of eating utensils, and a banding assembly for providing a band around, so as to hold together, the wrapped set of eating utensils. The improvement includes an ultraviolet light assembly disposed in each of the hoppers and which generates ultraviolet light directly upon all surfaces of the eating utensils after the eating utensils have been loaded into the hoppers so as to sanitize the eating utensils from contaminates the eating utensils picked up prior to, and during, loading of the eating utensils into the hoppers.

The invention claimed is:  
     
         1 . An improved device for automatically wrapping eating utensils in a napkin of the type having hoppers for holding the eating utensils sortingly and having interior surfaces with heights for facing and surrounding the eating utensils and mouths for introducing the eating utensils therein, a tray for holding the napkin, a staging assembly operatively connected to the hoppers and to the tray for receiving the napkin from the tray and the eating utensils from the hoppers on top of the napkin, a wrapping assembly operatively connected to the staging assembly for wrapping the napkin around the eating utensils so as to form a wrapped set of eating utensils, and a banding assembly operatively connected to the wrapping assembly for providing a band around, so as to hold together, the wrapped set of eating utensils, said improvement comprising an ultraviolet light assembly disposed in each of the hoppers and generating ultraviolet light directly upon all surfaces of the eating utensils after the eating utensils have been loaded into the hoppers so as to sanitize the eating utensils from contaminates the eating utensils picked up prior to, and during, loading of the eating utensils into the hoppers.  
     
     
         2 . The improved device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said improvement further comprises said ultraviolet light assembly comprising a lid cooperating with, and selectively closing the mouths of, the hoppers.  
     
     
         3 . The improved device as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said improvement further comprises said lid having an interior surface for facing the eating utensils when said closes the mouths of the hoppers.  
     
     
         4 . The improved device as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said improvement further comprises said ultraviolet light assembly further comprising a ultraviolet light reflective material directly covering all of said interior surface of said lid so as to completely line said lid with said ultraviolet light reflective material.  
     
     
         5 . The improved device as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said improvement further comprises said ultraviolet light reflective material further directly covering all of the interior surfaces of each of the hoppers so as to completely line the hoppers with said ultraviolet light reflective material.  
     
     
         6 . The improved device as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said improvement further comprises said ultraviolet light reflective material directly covering all of the interior surfaces of each of the hoppers being continuous with said ultraviolet light reflective material directly covering all of said interior surface of said lid when said lid closes the mouths of the hoppers so as to form completely ultraviolet light reflective chambers for holding the eating utensils.  
     
     
         7 . The improved device as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said improvement further comprises said ultraviolet light reflective material being a sheet.  
     
     
         8 . The improved device as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said improvement further comprises said ultraviolet light assembly further comprising a plurality of ultraviolet germicidal lamps disposed on said ultraviolet light reflective material in said hoppers.  
     
     
         9 . The improved device as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said improvement further comprises said plurality of ultraviolet germicidal lamps extending the heights of the interior surfaces of the hoppers completely.  
     
     
         10 . The improved device as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said improvement further comprises each of said ultraviolet germicidal lamps being tubular.  
     
     
         11 . The improved device as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said improvement further comprises each of said ultraviolet germicidal lamps generating said ultraviolet light with a wavelength of 253.7 nanometers for destroying bacteria and other microorganisms, including mold spores, yeast, and virus resident on the eating utensils loaded in the hoppers.  
     
     
         12 . The improved device as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said improvement further comprises at least one ultraviolet germicidal lamp extending along said ultraviolet light reflective material on each interior surface of each hopper, and when said lid closes the mouths of the hoppers and forms said completely ultraviolet light reflecting chambers, said ultraviolet light generated by said plurality of ultraviolet germicidal lamps reflects off all of said ultraviolet light reflective material in said completely ultraviolet light reflecting chambers and impacts upon all of the surfaces of the eating utensils, and in doing so, sanitizes the eating utensils from contaminates the eating utensils picked prior to, and during, loading of the eating utensils into the hoppers, while said lid prevents said ultraviolet light from escaping from said completely ultraviolet light reflecting chambers and into the ambient, and in doing so, prevents said ultraviolet light from causing radiation sickness.