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 and an upper end;    providing a sheet of material;    positioning the article in a position over the sheet of material;    forming the sheet of material about the outer peripheral surface of the article so that the sheet of material 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;    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 exposed outer surface 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 forming the sheet of material about the outer peripheral surface of the article, 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 fastener applicating means is a tying device.  
     
     
         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 forming the sheet of material about the outer peripheral surface of the article is performed automatically by using an automatic pick and place means for picking up the article and for placing the article in a cover forming position whereby the sheet of material is formed into the cover extending about 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, 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  comprising the additional step of engaging an automatic labeling means and automatically applying a label to a portion of the exposed outer surface of the cover of the article.  
     
     
         8 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 4 , 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.  
     
     
         9 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 4 , 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.  
     
     
         10 . A pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process comprising the steps of: 
 providing a pot having an upper end, a lower 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 lower end and the outer peripheral surface of the pot wherein the sheet of material is pressed about at least a portion of the lower end and the outer peripheral surface of the pot to form the cover about the pot;    providing a fastener applicating means for automatically applying a fastener about the cover;    conveying the pot having the cover formed about at least a portion of the lower end and the outer peripheral surface thereof to a fastening position of the fastener applicating means;    automatically applying a fastener via the fastener applicating means about a portion of the cover of the pot for fastening the cover about the pot; and    removing the pot with the cover fastened thereabout.    
     
     
         11 . The pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 10 , wherein the fastener is applied about a portion of the cover of the pot which extends above the upper end of the pot.  
     
     
         12 . The pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 10 , wherein the fastener is applied about a portion of the cover of the pot which is disposed below the upper end of the pot.  
     
     
         13 . The pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 10 , wherein in the step of placing the sheet of material about at least a portion of the lower end and the outer peripheral surface of the pot, 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 10 , wherein the fastener applicating means is a tying device.  
     
     
         15 . The pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 10 , 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 10 , wherein the step of forming the sheet of material about the outer peripheral surface of the pot is performed automatically by using an automatic pick and place means for picking up the pot and for placing the pot in a cover forming position whereby the sheet of material is formed into the cover extending about at least a portion of the lower end and the outer peripheral surface of the pot.  
     
     
         17 . The pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 10 , 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 10 , comprising the additional step of engaging an automatic labeling means and automatically applying a label to a portion of the cover of the article.  
     
     
         19 . An article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by an apparatus for processing the article, the apparatus comprising: 
 cover forming means for forming a sheet of material into a cover about an article;    conveying means for conveying the cover forming means and the article having the cover formed thereabout 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 of the fastener applicating means and for returning the cover forming means via the conveying means to the cover forming position.    
     
     
         20 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the sheet of material is selected from the group of materials consisting of paper, metal foil, cloth (natural or synthetic), denim, burlap, polymer film and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         21 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the apparatus further comprises means for automatically placing the sheet of material on the cover forming means.  
     
     
         22 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the cover forming means is adapted to receive a flower pot.  
     
     
         23 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the apparatus further comprises means for automatically picking up the article from an article supply and for placing the article in the cover forming position in the cover forming means.  
     
     
         24 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 19 , 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.  
     
     
         25 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the apparatus further comprises automatic removal means for automatically removing the article having the cover fastened thereabout by the fastener.  
     
     
         26 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the article is further characterized as having an upper end and wherein the fastener applicating means applies the fastener about a portion of the cover of the article which extends above the upper end of the article.  
     
     
         27 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the article is further characterized as having an upper end and wherein the fastener applicating means applies the fastener about a portion of the cover of the article which is disposed below the upper end of the article.  
     
     
         28 . 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 for forming a sheet of material into a cover which extends about at least a portion of a pot;    conveying means for conveying the cover forming means and the pot having the cover formed thereabout 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 when same are in the fastener applicating position; and    drive means for conveying the cover forming means via the conveying means to the fastener applicating position of the fastener applicating means and for returning the cover forming means via the conveying means to the cover forming position of the cover forming means.    
     
     
         29 . The pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 28 , 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.  
     
     
         30 . The pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the apparatus further comprises means for automatically positioning the sheet of material on the cover forming means.  
     
     
         31 . The pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the apparatus further comprises means for automatically picking up the pot from a pot supply and for placing the pot in the cover forming position in the cover forming means.  
     
     
         32 . The pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 28 , 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.  
     
     
         33 . The pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the apparatus further comprises automatic removal means for automatically removing the pot having the cover fastened thereabout by the fastener.  
     
     
         34 . The pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the pot is further characterized as having an upper end and wherein the fastener applicating means applies the fastener about a portion of the cover of the pot which extends above the upper end of the pot.  
     
     
         35 . The pot having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the pot is further characterized as having an upper end and wherein the fastener applicating means applies the fastener about a portion of the cover of the pot which is disposed below the upper end of the pot.  
     
     
         36 . 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 for forming a sheet of material into a cover which extends about an article;    providing a sheet of material;    providing the article;    moving the article and the sheet of material into the cover forming means wherein the sheet of material is pressed about the article to form the cover about the article, the cover having an outer surface;    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 thereabout from the cover forming position to a fastening position of 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 for automatically applying a label to a portion of the outer surface of the cover of the article.    
     
     
         37 . 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 for forming a sheet of material into a cover which extends about at least a portion of a pot, the cover forming means sized and shaped to receive the pot;    disposing the sheet of material in a position adjacent the cover forming means;    providing the pot;    moving the pot and the sheet of material into the cover forming means wherein the sheet of material is pressed about the pot to form the cover about the pot, the cover having an outer surface;    providing a fastener applicating means for automatically applying a fastener about the cover;    conveying the cover forming means and the pot having the cover formed thereabout from the cover forming position to a fastening position of the fastener applicating means;    automatically applying the fastener about a portion of the cover of the pot for fastening the cover about the pot; and    engaging an automatic labeling means for automatically applying a label to a portion of the outer surface of the cover of the pot.    
     
     
         38 . An article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by an apparatus for processing the article, the apparatus comprising: 
 cover forming means for forming a sheet of material into a cover about an article;    rail means for conveying the cover forming means and the article having the cover formed thereabout from a cover forming position to a fastener applicating position;    fastener applicating means for automatically applying a fastener about a portion of the cover for fastening the cover about the article when same are disposed in the fastener applicating position; and    drive means for conveying the cover forming means via the rail means to the fastener applicating position of the fastener applicating means and for returning the cover forming means via the rail means to the cover forming position.    
     
     
         39 . An article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by an apparatus for processing the article, the apparatus comprising: 
 cover forming means sized and shaped to receive an article for forming a sheet of material into a cover about the article when the article and sheet of material are moved into the cover forming means, the cover having an outer surface;    conveying means for conveying the cover forming means and the article having the cover formed thereabout 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 outer surface of the cover of the article; and    drive means for conveying the cover forming means via the conveying means to the fastener applicating position of the fastener applicating means and for returning the cover forming means via the conveying means to the cover forming position.    
     
     
         40 . 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 sized and shaped to receive a pot for forming a sheet of material into a cover about at least a portion of the pot when the pot is moved into the cover forming means;    rail means for conveying the cover forming means and the pot having the cover formed thereabout 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 of the fastener applicating means and for returning the cover forming means via the rail means to the cover forming position.    
     
     
         41 . 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 for forming a sheet of material into a cover extending about a pot, the cover having an outer surface;    conveying means for conveying the cover forming means and the pot having the cover formed thereabout 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 outer surface of the cover; and    drive means for conveying the cover forming means via the conveying means to the fastener applicating position of the fastener applicating means and for returning the cover forming means via the conveying means to the cover forming position.