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 a cover forming apparatus;    placing a sheet of material in a cover forming position adjacent the cover forming apparatus;    positioning an article in a position adjacent the sheet of material;    forming the sheet of material into a cover about an outer peripheral surface of the article using the cover forming apparatus;    conveying a conveyable fastener applicating device via a conveying apparatus to a fastening position adjacent the cover; and    causing the conveyable fastener applicating device to automatically apply a fastener about a portion of the cover of the article thereby fastening the cover about the article.    
     
     
         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, natural cloth, synthetic cloth, denim, burlap or polymer film or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 1 , the sheet of material is placed on a support surface.  
     
     
         4 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 1 , wherein in the step of positioning 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 4 , wherein the pot is further characterized as having an upper end and wherein the fastener is applied about a portion of the sheet of material formed about the pot which extends above the upper end of the pot.  
     
     
         6 . 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 sheet of material formed about the pot which is disposed below the upper end of the pot.  
     
     
         7 . 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.  
     
     
         8 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 1 , wherein the process further comprises the additional step of applying a label to a portion of an outer surface of the cover of the article.  
     
     
         9 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 1 , wherein the covered article is removed after returning the conveyable fastener applicating device to its original position.  
     
     
         10 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener applicating device is a tying device.  
     
     
         11 . An article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process comprising the steps of: 
 providing an article;    providing a sheet of material;    forming the sheet of material about the article at a forming station;    providing a conveyable fastener applicating device at a position remote from the forming station;    moving the conveyable fastener applicating device from the position remote from the forming station to a fastener applicating position; and    causing the conveyable fastener applicating device to automatically apply a fastener about a portion of the sheet of material formed about the article.    
     
     
         12 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 11 , 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, denim, burlap, polymer film and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 11 , wherein in the step of forming the sheet of material about the article, the sheet of material is automatically formed about the article.  
     
     
         14 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 11 , wherein in the step of providing the article, the article is further defined as a pot having a botanical item therein.  
     
     
         15 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 14 , wherein the pot is further characterized as having an upper end and wherein the fastener is applied about a portion of the sheet of material formed about the pot which extends above the upper end of the pot.  
     
     
         16 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 14 , wherein the pot is further characterized as having an upper end and wherein the fastener is applied about a portion of the sheet of material formed about the pot which is disposed below the upper end of the pot.  
     
     
         17 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 11 , wherein in the step of forming the sheet of material about the article, the article is automatically moved to the forming station where the sheet of material is automatically formed about the article.  
     
     
         18 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 11 , wherein in the step of causing the conveyable fastener applicating device to automatically apply a fastener about the sheet of material formed about the article, the fastener is selected from a group of fasteners consisting of elastic or non-elastic string, thread, bands, ribbon, wire and tape.  
     
     
         19 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 11 , wherein the process further comprises the steps of: 
 providing a labeling device for applying a label to the sheet of material formed about the article; and    automatically applying a label to the sheet of material formed about the article.    
     
     
         20 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced according to the process of  claim 11 , wherein the conveyable fastener applicating device is a tying device.  
     
     
         21 . An article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by an apparatus for processing the article, the apparatus comprising: 
 a cover forming apparatus adapted to form a sheet of material into a cover about an article;    a conveyable fastener applicating device for automatically applying a fastener about a portion of an outer surface of a cover formed about the article by the cover forming apparatus;    a conveying apparatus for conveying the conveyable fastener applicating device to a fastener applicating position; and    a drive apparatus for conveying the conveyable fastener applicating device via the conveying apparatus to the fastener applicating position.    
     
     
         22 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the conveying apparatus further comprises a rail.  
     
     
         23 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the apparatus further comprises an apparatus for automatically providing a sheet of material.  
     
     
         24 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the cover forming apparatus is adapted to receive a flower pot.  
     
     
         25 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a labeling apparatus for automatically applying a label to a portion of the outer surface of the cover of the covered article.  
     
     
         26 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the apparatus further comprises an apparatus for automatically picking and placing the article for picking up the article from an article supply and placing the article adjacent the cover forming apparatus.  
     
     
         27 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the fastener applied by the fastener applicating device is selected from the group consisting of elastic or non-elastic string, thread, bands, ribbon, wire and tape.  
     
     
         28 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the apparatus further comprises an automatic removal apparatus for automatically removing the covered article.  
     
     
         29 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the fastener applicating device applies the fastener about a portion of the cover of the article in a position which extends above an upper end of the article.  
     
     
         30 . The article having a cover fastened thereabout produced by the apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the fastener applicating device applies the fastener about a portion of the cover of the article in a position which is disposed below an upper end of the article.