# US 5,706,628 A · Article packaging system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,706,628 A - Document ID: US5706628A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/720,961 - Filed: 1996-10-10 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1992-09-30 - Assignees: Southpac Trust International, Inc. - Inventors: Frank Craig; Joseph G. Straeter; Donald E. Weder - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5706628A ## CPC - B65B 25/026: {Packaging flower pots} - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) ## Abstract The present invention is a modular system for packaging articles for shipment. In particular, a potted plant is sorted according to a grade, placed in a decorative cover, then automatically deposited into a protective sleeve. The potted plant thus packaged is ready for containment within a shipping carton. Various components of the system may be adapted for various packaging needs and circumstances. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of packaging potted plants comprising the steps of: providing a covering station having automatic covering means for automatically applying a decorative cover; providing a plurality of potted plants, each having an exterior surface; sequentially moving each potted plant toward the covering station via conveying means; and automatically transferring the potted plant from the conveying means to the covering station by gripping the potted plant via gripping means at a position on the conveying means and automatically delivering the gripped potted plant in an upright position to the covering station where a decorative cover is automatically applied about the exterior surface of each potted plant to form a covered potted plant. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 comprising after the step of providing the plurality of potted plants, the additional step of sorting each potted plant into one of at least two grades in accordance with a predetermined grading criterion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the step of sorting each potted plant occurs before the step of applying the cover. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the step of sorting each potted plant occurs after the step of applying the cover. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the step of sorting each potted plant comprises using automatic sorting means to sort the potted plants. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the decorative cover which is applied to the potted plant is a preformed cover having an interior surface, an exterior surface, and an interior space adjacent and surrounded by the interior surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 wherein in the step of automatically applying the cover to the potted plant, the potted plant is automatically deposited into the interior space of the cover. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 wherein in the step of automatically applying the decorative cover, the cover is a preformed cover provided by automatic cover supplying means which retrieves the cover from a set of preformed covers and places the cover in a potted plant application position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the step of automatically applying a decorative cover is preceded by the step of forming a decorative cover, wherein after the cover is formed, the cover is placed in an application position at the covering station for application to a potted plant. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the step of automatically applying a decorative cover further comprises bonding the cover to the exterior surface of the potted plant. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the step of sequentially moving each potted plant further comprises conveying each potted plant on automatic conveying means. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the conveying means further comprises a conveyor belt. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising the additional step of providing a transfer means for engaging the covered potted plant for conveying the covered potted plant to a boxing station. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein the transfer means further comprises an automatic pushing means. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein the transfer means further comprises an automatic gripping means. ### Claim 16 A method of packaging a potted plant comprising the steps of: providing a sleeving station having automatic sleeve means for automatically applying a preformed sleeve; providing a plurality of potted plants, each having an exterior surface; automatically opening the preformed sleeve; sequentially conveying each potted plant to the sleeving station via conveying means; and sequentially delivering each potted plant to guiding means arranged at an end of the conveying means through which guiding means each potted plant is automatically passed downwardly and thereby automatically oriented and maintained in an upright orientation for placement into an opened sleeve and placing each such uprightly oriented potted plant into the opened sleeve forming a sleeved potted plant. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 comprising after the step of providing the plurality of potted plants the additional step of sorting each potted plant into one of at least two grades in accordance with a predetermined grading criterion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the step of conveying each potted plant is preceded by conveying the potted plant to a cover applying station wherein a decorative cover is applied about the potted plant. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein a step of sorting each potted plant occurs before the step of applying the decorative cover. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein a step of sorting each potted plant occurs after the step of applying the decorative cover. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the decorative cover is a preformed cover having an interior surface an exterior surface, and an interior space adjacent and surrounded by the interior surface. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 wherein in the step of applying the decorative cover to the potted plant, the potted plant is automatically deposited into the interior space of the cover. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 wherein in the step of applying the decorative cover to the potted plant, the potted plant is manually deposited into the interior space of the cover. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 wherein in the step of applying the decorative cover, the cover is a preformed cover provided by automatic cover supplying means which retrieves the cover from a set of preformed covers and places the cover in an application position. ### Claim 25 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the step of applying a decorative cover is preceded by the step of providing a cover which has been formed by a mold type cover forming means, wherein after the cover is formed, the cover is placed in an application position for application to the potted plant. ### Claim 26 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein in the step of applying the decorative cover to the potted plant, the cover is applied about the exterior surface of the potted plant by an appressing cover forming means which appresses a sheet of material about the external surface of the potted plant to form the decorative cover. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26 wherein the cover forming means comprises a plurality of pivoting members which act together to appress the sheet of material about the external surface of the potted plant. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 wherein the step of applying a decorative cover further comprises bonding the cover to the exterior surface of the potted plant. ### Claim 29 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the step of applying a decorative cover further comprises bonding the cover to the exterior surface of the potted plant. ### Claim 30 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the step of conveying each potted plant further comprises conveying each potted plant on automatic conveying means. ### Claim 31 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the conveying means further comprises a conveyor belt. ### Claim 32 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 comprising the additional step of sealing an upper portion of the sleeve of the sleeved potted plant. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32 wherein the step of sealing further comprises using an automatic sealing device. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33 wherein the step of sealing further comprises pressure-sensitive sealing. ### Claim 35 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32 wherein the step of sealing further comprises heat sealing. ### Claim 36 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32 wherein the step of sealing further comprises sonic sealing. ### Claim 37 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32 wherein the step of sealing further comprises vibratory sealing. ### Claim 38 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 further comprising the additional step of providing a transfer means for engaging the sleeved plant and placing the sleeved plant into a carton. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The method of claim 38 wherein the transfer means further comprises an automatic pushing means. ### Claim 40 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32 wherein the transfer means further comprises an automatic gripping means. ### Claim 41 A method of packaging a potted plant comprising the steps of: providing a covering station having automatic covering means for automatically applying a decorative cover; providing a plurality of potted plants, each having an exterior surface; automatically sorting each potted plant into one of at least two grades in accordance with a predetermined grading criterion; sequentially moving each potted plant thus sorted toward the covering station via conveying means; and automatically transferring the potted plant from the conveying means to the covering station by gripping the potted plant via the gripping means at a position on the conveying means and automatically delivering the gripped potted plant in an upright position to the covering station where a decorative cover is automatically applied about the exterior surface of a potted plant to form a covered potted plant. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41 wherein in the step of providing a potted plant, the potted plant further comprises a living potted plant. ### Claim 43 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41 wherein the decorative cover which is applied to the potted plant is a preformed cover having an interior surface, an exterior surface, and an interior space adjacent and surrounded by the interior surface. ### Claim 44 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41 wherein in the step of automatically applying the decorative cover to each potted plant, the decorative cover is applied about the exterior surface of each potted plant by a cover forming means which appresses a sheet of material about the external surface of the potted plant to form the cover. ### Claim 45 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41 wherein the automatic covering means comprises an apparatus having a plurality of pivoting members which act together to appress a sheet of material about the external surface of the potted plant to form the decorative cover. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The method of claim 45 wherein the step of applying a decorative cover further comprises bonding the decorative cover to the exterior surface of the potted plant. ### Claim 47 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41 wherein the step of automatically applying a decorative cover further comprises bonding the decorative cover to the exterior surface of the potted plant. ### Claim 48 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41 wherein the step of sequentially moving the potted plant further comprises conveying the potted plant on automatic conveying means. ### Claim 49 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41 wherein the conveying means further comprises a conveyor belt. ### Claim 50 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41 further comprising the additional step of providing a transfer means for engaging the covered plant and placing the covered plant into a carton. ### Claim 51 (depends on 50) The method of claim 50 wherein the transfer means further comprises an automatic pushing means. ### Claim 52 (depends on 50) The method of claim 50 wherein the transfer means further comprises an automatic gripping means. ### Claim 53 A method of packaging a potted plant comprising the steps of: providing a sleeving station having automatic sleeving means for automatically applying a sleeve; providing a plurality of potted plants, each having an exterior surface; automatically sorting each potted plant into one of at least two grades in accordance with a predetermined grading criterion; automatically opening the preformed sleeve; sequentially conveying each sorted potted plant to the sleeving station via conveying means; and sequentially delivering each potted plant to guiding means arranged at an end of the conveying means through which guiding means each potted plant is automatically passed downwardly and thereby automatically oriented and maintained in an upright orientation for placement into an opened sleeve and placing each such uprightly oriented potted plant into the opened sleeve forming a sleeved potted plant. ### Claim 54 (depends on 53) The method of claim 53 wherein in the step of providing a potted plant, the potted plant further comprises a living potted plant. ### Claim 55 (depends on 53) The method of claim 53 wherein the step of sequentially conveying each potted plant further comprises conveying each sorted potted plant on automatic conveying means. ### Claim 56 (depends on 53) The method of claim 53 wherein the conveying means further comprises a conveyor belt. ### Claim 57 (depends on 53) The method of claim 53 comprising the additional step of sealing an upper portion of the sleeve of the sleeved potted plant. ### Claim 58 (depends on 57) The method of claim 57 wherein the step of sealing further comprises using an automatic sealing device. ### Claim 59 (depends on 57) The method of claim 57 wherein the step of sealing further comprises heat sealing. ### Claim 60 (depends on 57) The method of claim 57 wherein the step of sealing further comprises sonic sealing. ### Claim 61 (depends on 57) The method of claim 57 wherein the step of sealing further comprises vibratory sealing. ### Claim 62 (depends on 57) The method of claim 57 wherein the step of sealing further comprises pressure-sensitive sealing. ### Claim 63 (depends on 53) The method of claim 53 further comprising the additional step of providing a transfer means for engaging the sleeved potted plant and placing the sleeved potted plant into a carton. ### Claim 64 (depends on 63) The method of claim 63 wherein the transfer means further comprises an automatic pushing means. ### Claim 65 (depends on 63) The method of claim 63 wherein the transfer means further comprises an automatic gripping means. ### Claim 66 A method of packaging a potted plant comprising the steps of: providing a covering station having automatic covering means for automatically applying a decorative cover; providing a plurality of potted plants, each having an exterior surface; sequentially moving each potted plant toward the covering station via conveying means; automatically delivering the potted plant from the conveying means in an about upright position to the covering station; and automatically applying the decorative cover about the exterior surface of each potted plant at the covering station to form a covered potted plant. ### Claim 67 A method of packaging a potted plant comprising the steps of: providing a covering station having automatic covering means for automatically applying a decorative cover; providing a plurality of potted plants, each having an exterior surface; sequentially moving each potted plant toward the covering station via conveying means; sorting each potted plant into one of at least two grades in accordance with a predetermined grading criterion; automatically delivering the potted plant from the conveying means in an about upright position to the covering station; and automatically applying the decorative cover about the exterior surface of each potted plant at the covering station to form a covered potted plant. ### Claim 68 A method of packaging a potted plant comprising the steps of: providing a sleeving station having automatic sleeving means for automatically applying a preformed sleeve; providing a plurality of potted plants, each having an exterior surface; automatically opening the preformed sleeve; sequentially conveying each potted plant to the sleeving station via the conveying means; and sequentially delivering each potted plant to the sleeving station oriented and maintained in an about upright orientation for placement into the opened sleeve and placing each such uprightly oriented potted plant into the opened sleeve forming a sleeved potted plant. ### Claim 69 A method of packaging a potted plant comprising the steps of: providing a sleeving station having automatic sleeving means for automatically applying a preformed sleeve; providing a plurality of potted plants, each having an exterior surface; sorting each potted plant into one of at least two grades in accordance with a predetermined grading criterion; automatically opening the preformed sleeve; sequentially conveying each potted plant to the sleeving station via the conveying means; and sequentially delivering each potted plant to the sleeving station oriented and maintained in an about upright orientation for placement into the opened sleeve and placing each such uprightly oriented potted plant into the opened sleeve forming a sleeved potted plant.