Patent ID: 7032774
Filing Date: 2006-04-25
Classification: B65B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for delivering coupons to a dispensing location, the coupons being provided as a continuous web of successive coupons with a forwardmost coupon having a trailing edge connected by a web portion to a leading edge of a following coupon, each successive coupon being similarly connected in the continuous web, said apparatus comprising: an infeed assembly having an upper infeed belt and a lower infeed belt, movement of at least one of the infeed belts being driven by an infeed motor, wherein the upper infeed belt and the lower infeed belt are functionally connected to one another by a biased linkage so as to allow the infeed assembly to accommodate three-dimensional coupons; a delivery assembly having an upper delivery belt and a lower delivery belt, movement of at least one of the delivery belts being driven by a delivery motor, wherein the upper delivery belt and the lower delivery belt are functionally connected to one another by a biased linkage so as to allow the infeed assembly to accommodate three-dimensional coupons; and, a controller in communication with an activation input, a coupon staging sensor, and a coupon delivery sensor connected thereto, the coupon staging sensor positioned within the apparatus such that it is capable of sensing coupons between the infeed assembly and the delivery assembly, the coupon delivery sensor positioned within the apparatus such that it is capable of sensing coupons as they are dispensed from the apparatus, the controller connected to the infeed drive motor and the delivery motor.