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US 6,546,700 B2Granted
Method for packaging a potted plant
AssigneeSouthpac Trust International, Inc.
InventorsFrank Craig, Joseph G. Straeter, Donald E. Weder
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is a modular system for packaging articles for shipment. In particular, a potted plant is placed in a 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.
Claims20
A method of packaging a potted plant comprising the steps of:
- providing a potted plant having an exterior surface;
- providing an automatic covering apparatus for automatically applying a cover to the potted plant, the cover having an interior space;
- transferring the potted plant to the automatic covering apparatus;
- automatically applying the cover about the potted plant by non-manually disposing the potted plant into the interior space of the cover to form a covered potted plant;
- and
- bonding the cover about the potted plant via a bonding material.
3 more elements
A method of packaging a potted plant comprising the steps of:
- providing a potted plant having an exterior surface;
- providing an automatic covering apparatus for automatically applying a cover to the potted plant, the cover having an interior space;
- transferring the potted plant to the automatic covering apparatus;
- automatically applying the cover about the potted plant by non-manually disposing the potted plant into the interior space of the cover to form a covered potted plant;
- and
- bonding the cover about the potted plant via a band.
3 more elements
A method of packaging a potted plant comprising the steps of:
- providing a potted plant having an exterior surface;
- providing an automatic covering apparatus for automatically applying a cover to the potted plant, the cover having an interior space;
- transferring the potted plant to the automatic covering apparatus;
- automatically applying the cover about the potted plant by non-manually disposing the potted plant into the interior space of the cover to form a covered potted plant;
- and
- bonding the cover about the potted plant via a tie.
3 more elements
A method of packaging a potted plant comprising the steps of:
- providing a potted plant having an exterior surface;
- providing an automatic covering apparatus for automatically applying a cover to the potted plant, the cover having an interior space;
- transferring the potted plant to the automatic covering apparatus;
- automatically applying the cover about the potted plant by non-manually disposing the potted plant into the interior space of the cover to form a covered potted plant;
- and
- bonding the cover about the potted plant via a ribbon.
3 more elements
A method of packaging a potted plant comprising the steps of:
- providing a potted plant having an exterior surface;
- providing an automatic sleeving apparatus for automatically applying a sleeve to the potted plant;
- automatically transferring the potted plant to the automatic sleeving apparatus;
- automatically applying a sleeve about the potted plant by non-manually disposing the potted plant into the sleeve to form a sleeved potted plant;
- and
- bonding the sleeve about the potted plant via a bonding material.
3 more elements
A method of packaging a potted plant comprising the steps of:
- providing a potted plant having an exterior surface;
- providing an automatic sleeving apparatus for automatically applying a sleeve to the potted plant;
- automatically transferring the potted plant to the automatic sleeving apparatus;
- automatically applying a sleeve about the potted plant by non-manually disposing the potted plant into the sleeve to form a sleeved potted plant;
- and
- bonding the sleeve about the potted plant via a band.
3 more elements
A method of packaging a potted plant comprising the steps of:
- providing a potted plant having an exterior surface;
- providing an automatic sleeving apparatus for automatically applying a sleeve to the potted plant;
- automatically transferring the potted plant to the automatic sleeving apparatus;
- automatically applying a sleeve about the potted plant by non-manually disposing the potted plant into the sleeve to form a sleeved potted plant;
- and
- bonding the sleeve about the potted plant via a tie.
3 more elements
A method of packaging a potted plant comprising the steps of:
- providing a potted plant having an exterior surface;
- providing an automatic sleeving apparatus for automatically applying a sleeve to the potted plant;
- automatically transferring the potted plant to the automatic sleeving apparatus;
- automatically applying a sleeve about the potted plant by non-manually disposing the potted plant into the sleeve to form a sleeved potted plant;
- and
- bonding the sleeve about the potted plant via a ribbon.
3 more elements
A method of packaging a potted plant comprising the steps of:
- providing a potted plant having an exterior surface;
- sorting the potted plant into one of at least two grades in accordance with a predetermined grading criterion;
- providing an automatic sleeving apparatus for automatically applying a sleeve to the sorted potted plant;
- transferring the sorted potted plant to the automatic sleeving apparatus;
- automatically applying a sleeve about the sorted potted plant by non-manually disposing the sorted potted plant into the sleeve to form a sleeved potted plant;
- and
- bonding the sleeve about the potted plant via a bonding material.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.