Patent ID: 7322166

Claim:
An apparatus for unwrapping a package of frangible articles bearing a wrapping material, said wrapping material having a rear portion and a forward end bearing a forward tab, said forward tab adapted to open said wrapping material on said forward end when pulled, said apparatus comprising: (a) a support member for supporting said package; (b) a grasping mechanism adapted to grasp said forward tab and to pull said forward tab so as to open said wrapping material on said forward end; (c) an engaging mechanism adapted to engage said rear portion and pull said wrapping material so as to remove said wrapping material from said frangible articles; (d) a sandwich product assembly station comprising an extruder nozzle mounted for discharge of a comestible filling material in the downward direction and disposed adjacent said support member; and (e) a sandwich indexing wheel rotatably mounted below said support member, said indexing wheel defining a plurality of circumferentially positioned pockets for receiving and transferring assembled sandwiches for conveyance.