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US 2003/0079409 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.
Claims41
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.
6 more elements
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.
5 more elements
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.
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 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.
2 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 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.
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 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.
6 more elements
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.
2 more elements
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.
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 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.
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 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.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.