Apparatus and methods for combining beverage containers and snack food hanging pouches

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for manufacturing snack food hanging pouches, and for combining beverage containers and snack food hanging pouches, are disclosed. A combined beverage and snack food package according to the invention can include a beverage container and a snack food hanging pouch that is suspended from the protrusion of the beverage container. A snack food hanging pouch according to the invention can include a pouch portion that is adapted to contain a snack food item, and a hanger portion that is attached to the pouch portion, having a hanging hole that is adapted to fit onto the protrusion of a beverage container. The pouch portion can be adapted to contain a loose snack food item or a packaged snack food item.

1 . Apparatus for manufacturing a snack food hanging pouch, the apparatus comprising: 
 a delivery hopper that delivers a snack food item into a tubular pouch material; and    a pouch forming assembly that severs a snack food hanging pouch from the tubular pouch material, wherein the snack food hanging pouch contains the snack food item and has a hanging hole via which the snack food hanging pouch can be suspended from a protrusion of a beverage container.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a former that wraps a sheet of pouch material film about a longitudinal axis to form the tubular pouch material.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pouch forming assembly comprises a pair of opposing sealer/stripper heads that seal and sever the pouch material to form the snack food hanging pouch.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the sealer/stripper heads includes a first seal former that forms a first seal and a second seal former that forms a second seal such that the snack food item is contained between the first seal and the second seal.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the sealer/stripper heads includes a first cutter that strips the snack food hanging pouch away from the tubular pouch material.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the sealer/stripper heads includes a hole cutter that forms the hanging hole.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the sealer/stripper heads includes a hole sealer that forms a reinforcement seal around at least a portion of the hanging hole.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the sealer/stripper heads includes a perimeter sealer that forms a closure seal along at least a portion of a perimeter of the hanging pouch.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the snack food hanging pouch includes a hanger portion, and at least one of the sealer/stripper heads includes a perimeter cutter that cuts the tubular pouch material to form a perimeter of the hanger portion.