Conveyable cover former 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 apparatus includes a platform having at least one opening sized to allow passage therethrough of an article a conveyable cover forming assembly having contacting portions for contacting the sheet of material, and a tying device for automatically applying a band or fastener about a portion of the outer surface of a covered article for fastening a cover about the article.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process comprising the steps of: 
 providing an article having an outer peripheral surface;    providing a sheet of material;    forming the sheet of material about at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the article to provide a cover thereabout;    providing a fastener applicating means having a fastening station for applying a fastener about the cover;    moving the article having the cover formed about the outer peripheral surface of the article to the fastening station of the fastener applicating means;    automatically applying the fastener about a portion of the cover at the fastening station; and    removing the article having the cover fastened thereabout from the fastener applicating means.    
     
     
         2 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 1 , wherein in the step of providing the sheet of material, the sheet of material is selected from the group consisting of paper, metal foil, cloth (natural or synthetic), denim, burlap, polymer film, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 1 , wherein the step of forming the sheet of material about at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the article is performed automatically.  
     
     
         4 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 1 , wherein in the step of providing the article, the article is further defined as a flower pot.  
     
     
         5 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 1 , wherein in the step of forming the sheet of material about at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the article, the article is automatically moved to a cover forming position where the sheet of material is formed into the cover extending about at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the article.  
     
     
         6 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 1 , wherein in the step of automatically applying a fastener about a portion of the cover formed about at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the article, the fastener is selected from the group consisting of elastic or non-elastic string, wire, thread, elastic bands, ribbon, wire and tape.  
     
     
         7 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 1 , wherein the process further comprises: 
 providing a labeling means for automatically applying a label; and    automatically applying a label to the cover formed about at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the article.    
     
     
         8 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener applicating means is a tying device.  
     
     
         9 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 4 , wherein the flower pot is further characterized as having an upper end and wherein the fastener is applied about a portion of the cover which extends above the upper end of the flower pot.  
     
     
         10 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 4 , wherein the flower pot is further characterized as having an upper end and wherein the fastener is applied about a portion of the cover which is disposed below the upper end of the flower pot.  
     
     
         11 . An article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process comprising the steps of: 
 providing cover forming means for forming a sheet of material into a cover about an article, the sheet of material extends about at least a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the article;    forming a cover from the sheet of material which extends about at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the article by moving the article and the sheet of material into the cover forming means;    providing a fastener applicating means for automatically applying a fastener about the cover;    conveying the cover forming means and the article having the cover formed about at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the article from the cover forming means to a fastening position of the fastener applicating means;    automatically applying a fastener about a portion of the cover for fastening the cover about at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the article; and    engaging an automatic labeling means for automatically applying a label to a portion of the cover.    
     
     
         12 . A flower pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process comprising the steps of: 
 providing a flower pot having an upper end and an outer peripheral surface;    providing a sheet of material;    forming the sheet of material into a cover about at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot;    providing a fastener applicating means for automatically applying a fastener;    moving the flower pot having the cover formed about at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface thereof to a fastening position of the fastener applicating means;    automatically applying a fastener about a portion of the cover formed about at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot at the fastening position of the fastener applicating means; and    removing the flower pot having the cover fastened thereabout from the fastener applicating means.    
     
     
         13 . The flower pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 12 , wherein in the step of providing the sheet of material, the sheet of material is selected from the group consisting of paper, metal foil, cloth (natural or synthetic), denim, burlap, polymer film, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         14 . The flower pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 12 , wherein the step of forming the sheet of material about at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot is performed automatically.  
     
     
         15 . The flower pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 12 , wherein in the step of automatically applying a fastener about a portion of the cover formed about at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot, the fastener is automatically applied to a portion of the cover disposed above the upper end of the flower pot.  
     
     
         16 . The flower pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 12 , wherein in the step of forming the sheet of material into a cover about at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot, the flower pot is automatically moved to a cover forming position where the sheet of material is formed into the cover extending about at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot.  
     
     
         17 . The flower pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 12 , wherein in the step of automatically applying a fastener about a portion of the cover formed about at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot, the fastener is selected from the group consisting of elastic or non-elastic string, wire, thread, elastic, ribbon, wire and tape.  
     
     
         18 . The flower pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 12 , wherein the process further comprises: 
 providing a labeling means for automatically-applying a label; and    automatically applying a label to the cover formed about at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot.    
     
     
         19 . The flower pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 12 , wherein the fastener applicating means is a tying device.  
     
     
         20 . The flower pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 12 , wherein in the step of automatically applying a fastener about a portion of the cover formed about at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot, the fastener is automatically applied to a portion of the cover disposed below the upper end of the flower pot.  
     
     
         21 . A flower pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process comprising the steps of: 
 providing cover forming means for forming a sheet of material into a cover which extends about at least a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the flower pot;    forming a cover from the sheet of material which extends about at least a portion of the flower pot by moving the flower pot and the sheet of material into the cover forming means;    providing a fastener applicating means for automatically applying a fastener about the cover;    conveying the cover forming means and the flower pot having the cover formed about at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot from the cover forming means to a fastening position of the fastener applicating means;    automatically applying a fastener about a portion of the cover for fastening the cover about at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot; and    engaging an automatic labeling means for automatically applying a label to a portion of the cover.