Automated system and method for shrink wrapping plants

Abstract

The present invention relates in general to an automated, high through-put system and method for shrink wrapping potted plants for packaging and shipping. In particular, the system provides the ability to shrink wrap plants by utilizing a conveyor system and a heating area with heating units having adjustable, directional nozzle heads. The system may safely shrink wrap a variety of plant container sizes and types without causing damage to the plant in the process.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system of shrink wrapping a plant, the system comprising:
 a motor;   a conveyor connected to the motor;   a shrink wrap film machine;   heat shields comprising heat shrinkable film, wherein the shrink wrap film machine deposits the heat shields onto the conveyor;   plants potted in plant containers, wherein a plant and a plant container are deposited inside a heat shield;   a heating area comprising a first and second heating unit with adjustable, directional nozzles, wherein the first heating unit discharges heated air towards a lower portion of the heat shield and the second heating unit discharges heated air towards an upper portion of the heat shield through the nozzles;   a vacuum, wherein the first and second heating units allow for an instant on-off effect at the nozzles by creating the vacuum that pulls air back into the nozzles; and   wherein the heated air safely secures the heat shrinkable film of the heat shield around the plant and plant container without damaging the plant in preparation for transport and shipping.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat shields are individually deposited into slots on the conveyor to maintain the heat shields in an upright position, wherein the slots are formed by flat bar stock panels. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the slots further comprise height adjustable pedestals. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising side rails located on each side of the conveyor to further maintain the heat shields in an upright position. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second heating units comprise an electrical duct, a squirrel cage fan, heating coils, an electrical air flow switch, air cylinders, exhaust pipes, and dampers. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the shrink wrap film machine further comprises a photo eye to trigger dispensing a heat shield onto the conveyor as the panel passes by the photo eye. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein adjusting the dampers located on the exhaust pipes controls flow rate of heated air through the nozzles. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the heating area only raises plant temperature 6-10° F. above ambient temperature while heat shrinking the heat shield around the plant and plant container. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat shields contain perforations, tear strips, weakened areas, zippers, colors, designs, and/or scents. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second conveyor, wherein the second conveyor comprises two belts;   a funnel, wherein the second conveyor grips the plant between the two belts, removes the plant from the first conveyor, and deposits it inside the funnel; and   a third conveyor comprising shipping tubes, wherein the plant is removed from the funnel into a shipping tube for transport and shipping.   
     
     
         11 . A system of shrink wrapping a plant, the system comprising:
 a motor;   a first conveyor connected to the motor;   a shrink wrap film machine;   heat shields comprising heat shrinkable film, wherein the shrink wrap film machine deposits the heat shields onto the conveyor;   plants potted in plant containers, wherein a plant and a plant container are deposited inside a heat shield;   a heating area comprising a first and second heating unit, wherein said heating units each comprise an electrical duct, a squirrel cage fan, heating coils, an electrical air flow switch, air cylinders, exhaust pipes, dampers, and adjustable, directional nozzles, further wherein the first heating unit discharges heated air towards a lower portion of the heat shield and the second heating unit discharges heated air towards an upper portion of the heat shield through the nozzles;   a vacuum, wherein the first and second heating units allow for an instant on-off effect at the nozzles by creating the vacuum that pulls air back into the nozzles;   a plant environment and a separate shrink wrap environment, wherein the heat shield acts as a barrier between the environments, further wherein the plant environment is stable and temperature controlled to protect the plant from stress and damage from the heated air;   wherein the heated air safely secures the heat shrinkable film of the heat shield around the plant and plant container without damaging the plant in preparation for transport and shipping;   a second conveyor, wherein the second conveyor comprises two belts;   a funnel, wherein the second conveyor grips the plant between the two belts, removes it from the first conveyor, and deposits it inside the funnel; and   a third conveyor comprising shipping tubes, wherein the plant is removed from the funnel into a shipping tube for transport and shipping.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the shrink wrap film machine further comprises a photo eye to trigger dispensing a heat shield onto the conveyor as the panel passes by the photo eye. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the heat shields are maintained in an upright position on the conveyor via slots and side rails. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein adjusting the dampers located on the exhaust pipes controls flow rate of heated air through the nozzles. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the heating area only raises plant temperature 6-10° F. above ambient temperature while heat shrinking the heat shield around the plant and plant container. 
     
     
         16 . A method of shrink wrapping a plant, the method comprising:
 providing a conveyor with slots and side rails, wherein the conveyor is driven by a motor with variable speed control;   providing a shrink wrap film machine with a photo eye;   providing heat shields comprising heat shrinkable film;   depositing a heat shield onto the conveyor via the shrink wrap film machine, wherein the heat shield is deposited in an upright position between the slots and side rails of the conveyor;   placing a pre-potted plant into a top opening of the heat shield;   providing a heating area comprising a first and second heating unit, wherein said heating units each comprise an electrical duct, a squirrel cage fan, heating coils, an electrical air flow switch, air cylinders, exhaust pipes, dampers, and adjustable, directional nozzles;   transitioning the plant in the heat shield into the heating area via the conveyor;   discharging heated air towards a lower portion of the heat shield through the nozzles of the first heating unit and further discharging heated air towards an upper portion of the heat shield through the nozzles of the second heating unit, wherein the heated air safely secures the heat shrinkable film of the heat shield around the plant and plant container without damaging the plant;   providing a vacuum, wherein the first and second heating units allow for an instant on-off effect at the nozzles by creating the vacuum that pulls air back into the nozzles; and   exiting the plant from the heating area via the conveyor for shipping and transport.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 providing a second conveyor comprising two belts;   providing a funnel;   providing a third conveyor comprising shipping tubes;   wherein the second conveyor removes the plant from the first conveyor by gripping the bottom portion of the plant between the two belts and transporting it to the funnel where it is deposited therein;   further wherein the plant is removed from the funnel into a shipping tube on the third conveyor for transport and shipping.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising controlling flow rate of heated air through the nozzles by adjusting the dampers located on the exhaust pipes. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein plants are in front of the nozzles discharging heated air for about two second intervals. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the heating area only raises plant temperature 6-10° F. above ambient temperature while heat shrinking the heat shield around the plant and plant container. 
     
     
         21 . A system of shrink wrapping a plant, the system comprising:
 a potted plant;   a heat shield comprising heat shrinkable film, wherein the potted plant is inserted into the heat shield;   a plant environment surrounding the potted plant, wherein the plant environment has a first temperature;   a shrink wrap environment, wherein the shrink wrap environment has a second temperature;   a conveyor, wherein the potted plant moves in and out of the shrink wrap environment via the conveyor;   a barrier between the plant environment and the shrink wrap environment formed by the heat shield;   wherein the first temperature of the plant environment is stable and causes no adverse effect on the potted plant;   wherein the second temperature of the shrink wrap environment is at least hot enough to shrink the heat shrinkable film of the heat shield;   further wherein the second temperature secures the heat shrinkable film of the heat shield around the potted plant without damaging the plant in preparation for transport and shipping; and   wherein the temperature of the shrink wrap environment can be instantly reduced via a vacuum effect while the potted plant is within the shrink wrap environment.