Single station covering and fastening system

Abstract

An apparatus and method for forming a cover about an article and for automatically fastening the cover to the article, and optionally for automatically placing a label on the covered article. The article may be an article such as a potted plant and the cover may be a decorative cover. The invention satisfies the need for a means for rapidly covering and fastening the cover about an article with a minimal amount of manual effort and in a location having a limited amount of available space. The apparatus comprises a platform having at least one opening sized to receive the article. The apparatus comprises a tying device for automatically applying a band or fastener about a portion of the outer surface of the covered article for fastening the cover about the article after the sheet is formed into a cover about the article.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for fastening a cover about an article, comprising: 
 providing a platform having a support surface formed thereon and an opening extending through the support surface, the opening sized to receive a cover forming means and having a cover forming means disposed therein, the cover forming means having contacting portions and sized to receive an article having an upper end, a lower end, and an outer peripheral surface;    placing a sheet of material in a cover forming position over the opening and on the support surface wherein the sheet of material, in the cover forming position, is positioned over the cover forming means;    providing the article;    positioning the article in a position over the sheet of material and in a position wherein the lower end of the article is disposed generally above and near the portion of the sheet of material which is above the cover forming means;    forming a covered article by moving the article in a direction which causes the lower end of the article to engage a portion of the sheet of material, the article and portions of the sheet of material passing through the cover forming means causing the sheet of material to contact or nearly contact both the outer peripheral surface of the article and the contacting portions of the cover forming means as the article is moved wherein the sheet is pressed about the outer peripheral surface of the article to form a cover about the article, the cover having an inner surface facing the outer peripheral surface of the article and an exposed outer surface;    automatically applying a fastener about a portion of the outer surface of the cover of the article for fastening the cover about the article; and    removing the covered article from the platform.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of placing the sheet of material, the material further comprises a material selected from a group of materials consisting of paper, metal foil, cloth (natural or synthetic), denim, burlap or polymer film or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  comprising the additional step of providing means for releasably securing the sheet of material in the cover forming position for generally immobilizing the sheet until after the sheet has been formed about the article.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of placing a sheet of material on the support surface is performed automatically.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of providing the article, the article is further defined as a flower pot containing a botanical item therein.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  comprising the additional step of moving the platform to a site where the article is provided.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of forming a covered article is performed automatically by using an automatic pick and place means to pick up an article and place it into the opening to form the covered article.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of automatically applying a fastener, the fastener is selected from a group consisting of elastic or non-elastic string, wire, thread, elastic, ribbon, wire and tape.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  comprising the additional step of engaging an automatic labeling means and automatically applying a label to a portion of the outer surface of the cover of the article.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of removing the covered article further comprises automatically removing the covered article from the opening of the platform.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fastener is applied about the cover of the article to a portion of the cover which is above the cover forming means.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fastener is applied about the cover of the article to a portion of the cover which is below the cover forming means.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  comprising the additional step of mechanically retracting the fastener for providing clearance of the opening which extends through the support surface.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  comprising the additional step of automatically elevating the covered pot to a position at least partially above the platform for facilitating the removal of the covered article from the platform.  
     
     
         15 . A method for processing an article, comprising: 
 providing a platform having a support surface formed thereon and an opening extending through the support surface, the opening sized to receive a cover forming means and having a cover forming means disposed therein, the cover forming means having contacting portions and sized to receive an article having an upper end, a lower end, and an outer peripheral surface;    placing a sheet of material in a cover forming position over the opening and on the support surface wherein the sheet of material, in the cover forming position, is positioned over the cover forming means;    providing the article;    positioning the article in a position over the sheet of material and in a position wherein the lower end of the article is disposed generally above and near the portion of the sheet of material which is above the cover forming means;    forming a covered article by moving the article in a direction which causes the lower end of the article to engage a portion of the sheet of material, the article and portions of the sheet of material passing through the cover forming means causing the sheet of material to contact or nearly contact both the outer peripheral surface of the article and the contacting portions of the cover forming means as the article is moved downward wherein the sheet is pressed about the outer peripheral surface of the article to form a cover about the article, the cover having an inner surface facing the outer peripheral surface of the article and an exposed outer surface;    automatically applying a fastener about a portion of the outer surface of the cover of the article for fastening the cover about the article;    automatically applying a label to a portion of the outer surface of the cover of the article; and    removing the covered article from the platform.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein step of automatically applying a label occurs prior to the step of automatically applying a fastener.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein in the step of placing the sheet of material, the material further comprises a material selected from a group of materials consisting of paper, metal foil, cloth (natural or synthetic), denim, burlap or polymer film or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  comprising the additional step of providing means for releasably securing the sheet of material in the cover forming position for generally immobilizing the sheet until after the sheet has been formed about the article.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the step of placing a sheet of material on the support surface is performed automatically.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein in the step of providing the article, the article is further defined as a flower pot containing a botanical item therein.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15  comprising the additional step of moving the platform to a site where the article is provided.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the step of forming a covered article is performed automatically by using an automatic pick and place means to pick up an article and place it into the opening to form the covered article.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15  wherein in the step of automatically applying a fastener, the fastener is selected from a group consisting of elastic or non-elastic string, wire, thread, elastic, ribbon, wire and tape.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the step of removing the covered article further comprises automatically removing the covered article from the opening of the platform.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the fastener is applied about the cover of the article to a portion of the cover which is above the cover forming means.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the fastener is applied about the cover of the article to a portion of the cover which is below the cover forming means.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 15  comprising the additional step of mechanically retracting the fastener for providing clearance of the opening which extends through the support surface.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 15  comprising the additional step of automatically elevating the covered pot to a position at least partially above the platform f or the removal of the covered article from the platform  
     
     
         29 . An apparatus for fastening a cover to an article, comprising: 
 a platform having a support surface formed thereon and an opening extending through the support surface, the support surface adapted to support at least portions of a sheet of material in a position generally over the opening;    a framework for supporting the platform;    a cover forming means disposed in the opening in the support surface, the cover forming means having contacting portions for contacting the sheet of material, the opening and the cover forming means adapted for receiving an article having an upper end, a lower end, and an outer peripheral surface such that when the article is moved toward the opening the lower end of the article is caused to engage a portion of the sheet of material disposed over the cover forming means in the opening, the article and portions of the sheet of material thus passing through the cover forming means causing the sheet of material to engage the outer peripheral surface of the article and the contacting portions of the cover forming means as the article is moved wherein portions of the sheet contactingly engage or nearly engage the outer peripheral surface of the article forming a cover about the article and thereby forming a covered article, the cover of the covered article having an inner surface facing the outer peripheral surface of the article and an exposed outer surface; and    means for automatically applying a fastener about a portion of the outer surface of the covered article for fastening the cover about the article.    
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29  further comprising means for releasably securing the sheet of material in the cover forming position for generally immobilizing the sheet until after the sheet has been formed about the article.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 29  further comprising means for automatically placing a sheet of material on the support surface.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 29  further comprising means attached to the framework enabling movement of the apparatus.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 29  further comprising means for automatically applying a label to a portion of the outer surface of the cover of the covered article.  
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 29  further comprising means for automatically picking and placing the article for picking up the article from an article supply and placing the article into the opening to form the covered article.  
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 29  wherein the fastening means is able to apply a fastener selected from a group consisting of elastic or non-elastic string, wire, thread, elastic, ribbon, wire and tape.  
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 29  further comprising means for automatically removing the covered article from the opening of the platform.  
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 29  wherein the means for applying the fastener applies the fastener in a position above the cover forming means.  
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 29  wherein the means for applying the fastener applies the fastener in a position below the cover forming means.  
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 29  further comprising fastener retraction means for retracting the fastener for providing clearance of the opening which extends through the support surface.  
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 29  further comprising means for automatically elevating the covered pot to a position at least partially above the platform for facilitating the removal of the covered article from the platform.  
     
     
         41 . An apparatus for fastening a cover to an article, comprising: 
 a platform having a support surface formed thereon and an opening extending through the support surface, the support surface adapted to support at least portions of a sheet of material in a position generally over the opening;    a framework for supporting the platform;    a cover forming means disposed in the opening in the support surface, the cover forming means having contacting portions for contacting the sheet of material, the opening and the cover forming means adapted for receiving an article having an upper end, a lower end, and an outer peripheral surface such that when the article is moved in a predetermined direction the lower end of the article is caused to engage a portion of the sheet of material disposed over the cover forming means in the opening, the article and portions of the sheet of material thus passing through the cover forming means causing the sheet of material to engage the outer peripheral surface of the article and the contacting portions of the cover forming means as the article is moved wherein portions of the sheet contactingly engage or nearly engage the outer peripheral surface of the article forming a cover about the article and thereby forming a covered article, the cover of the covered article having an inner surface facing the outer peripheral surface of the article and an exposed outer surface;    means for automatically applying a fastener about a portion of the outer surface of the covered article for fastening the cover about the article; and    means for automatically applying a label to a portion of the outer surface of the cover of the covered article.    
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 41  further comprising means for releasably securing the sheet of material in the cover forming position for generally immobilizing the sheet until after the sheet has been formed about the article.  
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 41  further comprising means for automatically placing a sheet of material on the support surface.  
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 41  further comprising means for automatically picking and placing the article for picking up the article from an article supply and placing the article into the opening to form the covered article.  
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 41  wherein the fastening means is able to apply a fastener selected from a group consisting of elastic or non-elastic string, wire, thread, elastic, ribbon, wire and tape.  
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 41  further comprising means for automatically removing the covered article from the opening of the platform.  
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 41  wherein the means for applying the fastener applies the fastener in a position above the cover forming means.  
     
     
         48 . The apparatus of  claim 41  wherein the means for applying the fastener applies the fastener in a position below the cover forming means.  
     
     
         49 . The apparatus of  claim 41  further comprising fastener retraction means for retracting the fastener for providing clearance of the opening which extends through the support surface.  
     
     
         50 . The apparatus of  claim 41  further comprising means for automatically elevating the covered pot to a position at least partially above the platform for facilitating the removal of the covered article from the platform  51 . The apparatus of  claim 41  further comprising means attached to the framework enabling movement of the apparatus.