# US 6,931,818 B2 · Method and apparatus for packing flower bouquets > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,931,818 B2 - Document ID: US6931818B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/778,682 - Filed: 2004-02-13 - Published: 2004-12-16 - Granted: 2005-08-23 - Earliest claimed: 2003-02-14 - Assignees: Createch Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Paulus Maria van der Laan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6931818B2 ## CPC - B65B 25/023: {Packaging flower bouquets} - 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 invention relates to a work method and apparatus for packing flower bouquets (3), in which large amounts of flower bouquets (3) are transported transversely on a conveyor belt (4) to a lifting conveyor belt (7) to a mounted thereon transversely placed feeding belt (17), which has compartments (20) which constantly contain a flower bouquet (3), which is brought from a horizontal to a vertical position, in which a box-shaped cell space (22) is created and a cross partition turns away and subsequently the flower bouquet (3) falls through a trap door instrument (24) into an already opened cover (25) and is then further processed and brought to a collecting box for shipment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for packing flower bouquets comprising the steps of: feeding a plurality of flower bouquets transversely in a first direction via a first conveyor to a second conveyor, wherein the plurality of flower bouquets are conveyed in an approximately horizontal orientation and are separated by a horizontal distance; lifting the plurality of flower bouquets via the second conveyor to a third conveyor placed at a right angle to the first conveyor; rotating the plurality of flower bouquets through an angle of rotation from an approximately horizontal position to an approximately vertical position via the third conveyor, wherein the third conveyor includes compartments forming approximately box shaped cell spaces; dropping the plurality of flower bouquets, stems first, from the third conveyor onto a trap door instrument; wrapping the plurality of flower bouquets; dropping the wrapped plurality of flower bouquets from the trap door instrument onto a fourth conveyor, and transporting the wrapped flower bouquets via the fourth conveyor to collection boxes for packaging and shipment of the wrapped plurality of flower bouquets. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the width of the first conveyor and the second conveyor is approximately 700 mm and the horizontal distance between the flower bouquets is approximately 500 mm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the angle of rotation is approximately 90 degrees. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the trap door instrument is fed by an automated feeding machine adapted to the packing process. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein wrapping the plurality of flower bouquets further comprises wrapping the packed stems of the flower bouquet using an automated taping machine. ### Claim 6 An apparatus for packing flower bouquets comprising: a first conveyor, wherein said first conveyor is oriented approximately horizontally; a second conveyor adjacent to said first conveyor, wherein said second conveyor includes a first end and a second end, further wherein said second end is elevated with respect to said first end; a third conveyor adjacent to said second conveyor and oriented at a right angle relative to said second conveyor, wherein said third conveyor includes lateral and cross partitions, wherein said cross partitions are spaced a distance, and said lateral and cross partitions are provided at a height, to form compartments into which flower bouquet may be dropped, further wherein said third conveyor includes a first conveyor portion that is approximately horizontal and a second conveyor portion that is approximately vertical, wherein said second conveyor portion runs along a vertical plate to create a box-shaped cell space; and a trap door instrument adjacent to said second conveyor portion of said third conveyor; and a fourth conveyor adjacent to said trap door instrument. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the height of the lateral and cross partitions is approximately 100 mm and the distance between cross partitions is approximately 700 mm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said first conveyor and said second conveyor are approximately 800 mm wide and said third conveyor is approximately 200 mm wide. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said trap door instrument includes two conical constructed halves and a cover, which open simultaneously so flower bouquets fall stems first through said trap door instrument. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said trap door instrument further comprises an automated feeding machine and an automated taping machine.