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 cover forming means in a cover forming position, the cover forming means having contacting portions and sized and shaped to receive an article;    disposing a sheet of material in a position adjacent the cover forming means;    providing the article;    moving the article into the cover forming means wherein the sheet of material is pressed about the article to form the cover about the article;    providing a fastener applicating means;    conveying the cover forming means and the article therein from a cover forming position to a fastening position adjacent the fastener applicating means;    automatically applying a fastener about a portion of the cover of the article for fastening the cover about the article; and    removing the article with the cover fastened thereabout.    
     
     
         2 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 1 , wherein in the step of placing 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 placing a sheet of material on the support surface 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 pot containing a botanical item therein.  
     
     
         5 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 1 , wherein the step of moving the article is performed automatically by using an automatic pick and place means to pick up an article and place it into the cover forming means to form a covered 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, the fastener is selected from the group consisting of elastic or non-elastic string, thread, bands, ribbon, wire and tape.  
     
     
         7 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener applicating means is a tying device.  
     
     
         8 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 1 , wherein the step of removing the covered article is preceded by returning the cover forming means to the cover forming position.  
     
     
         9 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 4 , wherein the pot is further characterized as having an upper end and wherein the fastener is applied about a portion of the cover of the pot which extends above the upper end of the pot.  
     
     
         10 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 4 , wherein the pot is further characterized as having an upper end and wherein the fastener is applied about a portion of the cover of the pot which is disposed below the upper end of the pot.  
     
     
         11 . A pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process comprising the steps of: 
 providing cover forming means conveyable in a cover forming position, the cover forming means having contacting portions and sized and shaped to receive a pot;    disposing a sheet of material in a position adjacent the cover forming means;    providing the pot, the pot having an inner surface and an outer surface;    moving the pot into the cover forming means wherein the sheet of material is pressed about the outer surface of the pot to form a cover about the pot;    providing a fastener applicating means;    conveying the cover forming means and the pot therein from a cover forming position to a fastening position adjacent the fastener applicating means;    automatically applying a fastener about a portion of the cover on the outer surface of the pot for fastening the cover about the pot; and    engaging an automatic labeling means and automatically applying a label to a portion of the cover of the pot.    
     
     
         12 . A pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process comprising the steps of: 
 providing cover forming means in a cover forming position, the cover forming means having contacting portions and sized and shaped to receive a pot;    disposing a sheet of material in a position adjacent the cover forming means;    providing the pot, the pot having an inner surface and an outer surface;    moving the pot into the cover forming means wherein the sheet of material is pressed about the outer surface of the pot to form a cover about the pot;    providing a fastener applicating means;    conveying the cover forming means and the pot therein from a cover forming position to a fastening position adjacent the fastener applicating means;    automatically applying a fastener about a portion of the cover on the outer surface of the pot for fastening the cover about the pot; and    removing the pot with the cover fastened thereabout.    
     
     
         13 . The pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 12 , wherein in the step of placing 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 pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 12 , wherein the step of placing a sheet of material on the support surface is performed automatically.  
     
     
         15 . The pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 12 , wherein the pot is further defined as a flower pot having a botanical item disposed therein.  
     
     
         16 . The pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 12 , wherein the step of moving the pot is performed automatically by using an automatic pick and place means to pick up a pot and place it into the cover forming means to form a covered pot.  
     
     
         17 . The pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 12 , wherein in the step of automatically applying a fastener, the fastener is selected from the group consisting of elastic or non-elastic string, thread, bands, ribbon, wire and tape.  
     
     
         18 . The pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 12 , wherein the fastener applicating means is a tying device.  
     
     
         19 . The pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 12 , wherein the step of removing the covered pot is preceded by returning the cover forming means to the cover forming position.  
     
     
         20 . The pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 12 , wherein the pot is further characterized as having an upper end and wherein the fastener is applied about a portion of the cover of the pot which extends above the upper end of the pot.  
     
     
         21 . The pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 12 , wherein the pot is further characterized as having an upper end and wherein the fastener is applied about a portion of the cover of the pot which is disposed below the upper end of the pot.  
     
     
         22 . An article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by an apparatus for processing the article, the apparatus comprising: 
 cover forming means having contacting portions and sized and shaped to receive an article and further adapted such that a sheet of material disposed adjacent the cover forming means is formed into a cover about the article when the article is moved into the cover forming means;    rail means for conveying the cover forming means and the article therein from a cover forming position to a fastener applicating position;    fastener applicating means for automatically applying a fastener about a portion of the cover of the article for fastening the cover about the article; and    drive means for conveying the cover forming means via the rail means to the fastener applicating position adjacent the fastener applicating means and for returning the cover forming means via the rail means to the cover forming position.    
     
     
         23 . An article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by an apparatus for processing the article, the apparatus comprising: 
 cover forming means having contacting portions and sized and shaped to receive an article and further adapted such that a sheet of material disposed adjacent the cover forming means is formed into a cover about the article when the article is moved in a direction which causes the article to engage a portion of the sheet of material, the article and portions of the sheet of material passing into the cover forming means causing the sheet of material to contact or nearly contact both the article and the contacting portions of the cover forming means as the article is moved wherein the sheet of material is pressed about the article to form the cover about the article;    conveying means for conveying the cover forming means and the article therein from a cover forming position to a fastener applicating position;    fastener applicating means for automatically applying a fastener about a portion of the cover of the article for fastening the cover about the article; and    drive means for conveying the cover forming means via the conveying means to the fastener applicating position adjacent the fastener applicating means and for returning the cover forming means via the conveying means to the cover forming position.    
     
     
         24 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein 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.  
     
     
         25 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the article is further characterized as having an upper end and wherein the fastener is applied about a portion of the cover of the article which extends above the upper end of the article.  
     
     
         26 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a sheet support surface and means for automatically placing the sheet of material on the support surface.  
     
     
         27 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the cover forming means is adapted to receive a flower pot.  
     
     
         28 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the article is further characterized as having an upper end and wherein the fastener is applied about a portion of the cover of the article which is disposed below the upper end of the article.  
     
     
         29 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the apparatus further comprises means for automatically picking and placing the article for picking up the article from an article supply and placing the article into the cover forming means to form a covered article.  
     
     
         30 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the fastener applied by the fastener applicating means is selected from the group consisting of elastic or non-elastic string, thread, bands, ribbon, wire and tape.  
     
     
         31 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the apparatus further comprises automatic removal means for automatically removing the article having a cover fastened thereabout.  
     
     
         32 . An article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by an apparatus for processing the article, the apparatus comprising: 
 cover forming means having contacting portions and sized and shaped to receive an article and further adapted such that a sheet of material disposed adjacent the cover forming means is formed into a cover about the article when the article is moved into the cover forming means;    conveying means for conveying the cover forming means and the article therein from a cover forming position to a fastener applicating position;    fastener applicating means for automatically applying a fastener about a portion of the cover of the article for fastening the cover about the article;    labeling means for automatically applying a label to a portion of the cover formed about the article; and    drive means for conveying the cover forming means via the conveying means to the fastener applicating position adjacent the fastener applicating means and for returning the cover forming means via the conveying means to the cover forming position.    
     
     
         33 . A pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced by an apparatus for fastening a sheet of material about the pot, the apparatus comprising: 
 cover forming means having contacting portions and sized and shaped to receive a pot and further adapted such that a sheet of material disposed adjacent the cover forming means is formed into a cover about the pot when the pot is moved into the cover forming means;    rail means for conveying the cover forming means and the pot therein from a cover forming position to a fastener applicating position;    fastener applicating means for automatically applying a fastener about a portion of the cover of the pot for fastening the cover about the pot; and    drive means for conveying the cover forming means via the rail means to the fastener applicating position adjacent the fastener applicating means and for returning the cover forming means via the rail means to the cover forming position.    
     
     
         34 . A pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced by an apparatus for fastening a sheet of material about the pot, the apparatus comprising: 
 cover forming means having contacting portions and sized and shaped to receive a pot and further adapted such that a sheet of material disposed adjacent the cover forming means is formed into a cover about the pot when the pot is moved in a direction which causes the pot to engage a portion of the sheet of material, the pot and portions of the sheet of material passing into the cover forming means causing the sheet of material to contact or nearly contact both the pot and the contacting portions of the cover forming means as the pot is moved wherein the sheet of material is pressed about the pot to form the cover about the pot;    conveying means for conveying the cover forming means and the pot therein from a cover forming position to a fastener applicating position;    fastener applicating means for automatically applying a fastener about a portion of the cover of the pot for fastening the cover about the pot; and    drive means for conveying the cover forming means via the conveying means to the fastener applicating position adjacent the fastener applicating means and for returning the cover forming means via the conveying means to the cover forming position.    
     
     
         35 . The pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein 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.  
     
     
         36 . The pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the pot is further characterized as having an upper end and wherein the fastener is applied about a portion of the cover of the pot which extends above the upper end of the pot.  
     
     
         37 . The pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a sheet support surface and means for automatically placing the sheet of material on the support surface.  
     
     
         38 . The pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the pot is further characterized as having an upper end and wherein the fastener is applied about a portion of the cover of the pot which is disposed below the upper end of the pot.  
     
     
         39 . The pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the apparatus further comprises means for automatically picking and placing the pot for picking up the pot from a pot supply and placing the pot into the cover forming means to form a covered pot.  
     
     
         40 . The pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the fastener applied by the fastener applicating means is selected from the group consisting of elastic or non-elastic string, thread, bands, ribbon, wire and tape.  
     
     
         41 . The pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the apparatus further comprises removal means for automatically removing the pot having a cover fastened thereabout.  
     
     
         42 . A pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced by an apparatus for fastening a sheet of material about the pot, the apparatus comprising: 
 cover forming means having contacting portions and sized and shaped to receive a pot and further adapted such that a sheet of material disposed adjacent the cover forming means is formed into a cover about the pot when the pot is moved into the cover forming means;    conveying means for conveying the cover forming means and the pot therein from a cover forming position to a fastener applicating position;    fastener applicating means for automatically applying a fastener about a portion of the cover of the pot for fastening the cover about the pot;    labeling means for automatically applying a label to a portion of the cover formed about the pot; and    drive means for conveying the cover forming means via the conveying means to the fastener applicating position adjacent the fastener applicating means and for returning the cover forming means via the conveying means to the cover forming position.    
     
     
         43 . An article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process comprising the steps of: 
 providing cover forming means in a cover forming position, the cover forming means having contacting portions and sized and shaped to receive an article;    disposing a sheet of material in a position adjacent the cover forming means;    providing the article;    moving the article into the cover forming means wherein the sheet of material is pressed about the article to form a cover about the article;    providing a fastener applicating means;    conveying the cover forming means from a cover forming position to a fastening position adjacent the fastener applicating means;    automatically applying a fastener about a portion of the cover of the article for fastening the cover about the article; and    engaging an automatic labeling means and automatically applying a label to a portion of the cover formed about the article.