The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 20, 1995
Filed:
Nov. 22, 1993
Floyd Lobash, Golden Valley, MN (US);
Leo W Eiden, New Hope, MN (US);
General Mills, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
Apparatus (10) is disclosed including a series of equally spaced air jets (36) in the center plate (18) of a channel (14). An end cover plate (22) and a cover (48) close the channel (14) to form a tunnel having infeed and outfeed ends. In the most preferred form, the air jets (36) are wedge-shaped depressions formed in the center plate (18) having semicircular end walls (38) including apertures (42) in fluid communication with a compressed air enclosure (44) secured to the center plate (18). The free end of a continuous strip of coupon items is inserted into the infeed end where it is under the control of the air flow created by the air jets (36) within the tunnel. A coupon item is then cut from the continuous strip and travels under the control of the air flow within the tunnel and through the outfeed end thereof. In a preferred form, the end cover plate (22) is arcuately shaped outward and downward to direct the coupon item into a hopper (32) which later receives the ready-to-eat food product. In another preferred form, the coupon item is inserted between a previously filled and sealed bag and a carton receiving such bag.