Coupon applicator and methods of applying coupon strips to grocery carts

This invention relates to incentive-based treatment systems for washing and disinfecting carts, and more particularly to automated or manual continuous or batch systems and methods for cleaning and disinfection treatment of grocery-type carts and preparing the carts for consumer service, including applying advertising attachments following the cleaning operation. The system includes a method and apparatus for applying one or more "cents-off" type of coupons to the handle of a grocery cart so that customers, upon entering the store, will receive special deal coupons at the moment of entering the store which they can redeem during their subsequent shopping as an incentive to stores to clean the carts. The cleaning system may be fixed or mobile, with the use preferably being on site at stores. The coupon apparatus may be used independently of the cleaning system. An incentive-based grocery cart washing and disinfecting system including a consumer special-offer coupon applying apparatus, for use in a batch or continuous process comprising a housing having at least one pipe manifold with nozzles positioned therein to provide at least one treatment zone selected from pre-wash, wash, disinfecting, and rinse zones. In addition, blown air water-stripping/drying zones may be provided, with a heating source to assist drying. Following drying, a strip of specially adapted grocery coupons is optionally applied to the grocery cart handle, so that the coupons can be redeemed by customers during their subsequent shopping. The coupon strip comprises a leader portion and a coupon portion, and the leader can be wrapped and fixed around the grocery cart handle manually or by means of the automated machinery described. The system of the invention may be a fixed or mobile system, with the use preferably being on site at stores.