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US 2003/0079408 A1Published application
Conveyable cover former and fastening system
OwnerDonald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeterinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims43
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.
6 more elements
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.
6 more elements
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.
6 more elements
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.
2 more elements
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.
2 more elements
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.
3 more elements
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.
2 more elements
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.
2 more elements
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.
3 more elements
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.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.