Patent Document

This application is a Divisional Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/554,155, entitled “FLOWER HANDLING APPARATUS AND METHOD”, filed Jul. 20, 2012, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention pertains to the art of flower handling, and more particularly, to a flower trimming and packing system for floral bouquets. 
     2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
     The process of mass producing floral bouquets for sale at a supermarket or the like can be an expensive and labor intensive process. In general, bouquet components must first be sorted, grouped according to desired characteristics, arranged in a desired bouquet configuration, packaged, and shipped to a desired location. Often, flowers are initially sorted and bundled at a location remote from a bouquet distributing center, which prepares and transports the flowers to retailers or wholesalers. Methods have been developed for automating the sorting and bundling of flowers. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,899 depicts a method and apparatus for sorting and bundling flowers, which sorts flowers individually, bundles the flowers, cuts the stems of the flowers, and moves the bundles via a conveyor. Another system and method set forth in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/457,629 allows a user to arrange floral elements in a desired array to produce twisted floral bouquets in large quantities, which may then be shipped to a retailer or distribution center. However, such methods are concerned with the initial grouping of flowers, and do not address downstream processing of floral bundles or bouquets. 
     It is well established that cut flowers can become dehydrated between the time they are cut and the time they are delivered to a wholesaler or retailer for sale. Wholesalers and retailers may attempt to counter this shipping related dehydration by re-cutting the stressed flowers upon arrival to remove part of the stem so that the stem can resume drawing water. However, floral bundles or bouquets may be heavily stressed by the time a retailer gets the bundles or bouquets. Further, manually cutting the bundles or bouquets can be a labor intensive process that introduces further damage to the floral elements. Therefore, there is seen to be a need in the art for a flower handling system and method that allows large quantities of floral bundles or bouquets to be kept fresh through delivery to a wholesaler or retailer. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a flower handling system comprising a loading station for opening dry-packed flowers and distributing the flowers to one or more cutting stations, a finishing station wherein workers take steps to finish the flowers, and a boxing station where the fluid-filled buckets of flowers are packed into boxes for shipping. The cutting station includes a positioning arm in communication with a controller. A carrier portion of the positioning arm includes at least one side wall defining an opening for receiving flower bundles therein, and a base portion mounting the positioning arm to a frame such that the positioning arm is configured to transport flower bundles between a first location and a second location during a processing cycle. The base portion includes a pivoting connector enabling the carrier portion to rotate from a first position wherein an axis extending through the opening extends in a first direction, to a second position wherein the axis extends at an angle with respect to the first direction. A cutting apparatus including a cutting blade is positioned to cut the stems of the flower bundles held by the positioning arm as the positioning arm moves from the first location to the second location. Additionally, a clamping arm is located above an end station on the first bucket conveyor, and includes first and second clamping portions adapted to move from an open position to a closed position. 
     Further, a fluid supplying outlet positioned above the first bucket conveyor is configured to dispense fluid into a bucket positioned on the bucket conveyor. In a preferred embodiment, the cutting station further includes a bucket separating device including a destacking unit extending between side walls of a bucket support, wherein, each of the side arms includes a support ledge and a wedge. A control unit is configured to move the destacking unit between a first position wherein a rim of a bottom bucket is supported on the support ledges, and a second position wherein the wedges extend between the rim of the bottom bucket and a rim of a second bucket nested within the bottom bucket such that the rim of the bottom bucket is no longer supported on the top walls of the respective support ledges and the bottom bucket drops by gravity onto the first conveyor. 
     In use, a worker inserts the stems of a plurality of flower bundles into the opening of the positioning arm at the first location, and actuates a switch to begin an automated processing cycle. In one example, one dozen flower bouquets each including one dozen flowers are inserted into the positioning arm. A plate moveable within the opening of the carrier portion extends to engage and secure the flower bundles within the positioning arm. The controller then causes the positioning arm to rotate about the pivoting connector from the first position wherein the flower bundles are substantially horizontally aligned, to the second position wherein the flower bundles are substantially upright. The positioning arm is then transported between the first location and the second location such that the stems of the plurality of flower bundles are transported past, and are severed by, the cutting apparatus. A debris carrying conveyor located beneath the cutting apparatus catches cut stems and other debris falling from the cutting apparatus and deposits the debris into a debris bin. A bar extending from the positioning arm contacts a flower filled bucket located at the end station as the positioning arm moves from the first location to the second location, and pushes the flower filled bucket onto a second bucket conveyor, which then carries the flower filled bucket toward the finishing station. 
     When the positioning arm reaches the second location, the clamping portions of the clamping arm are closed about the plurality of flower bundles. The plate of the positioning arm retracts, thereby releasing the flower bundles and allowing the clamping arm to rise up and withdraw the flower bundles from the positioning arm. The positioning arm is then returned to the first location. A bucket on the first conveyor is filled with conditioned water and is advanced into the end station below the clamping arm. The clamping arm is then lowered, and the flower bundles are released into the fluid-filled bucket. At this point in the process, the positioning arm is back at its first location, the clamping arm is in its original or first position, and the system is ready for another processing cycle to begin. The flower filled bucket is then transported through the finishing station to the boxing station, where it is wet-packed for shipping to a wholesaler or retailer. Thus, the present system allows for the automated cutting and loading of a plurality of finished and ready-for sale flower bouquets into fluid-filled buckets for shipping to retailers or wholesalers. Once at the retailers, each bucket can simply be unpacked and set out in a display area, where a purchaser can select a pre-wrapped flower bouquet from the plurality of flower bouquets within the bucket. Advantageously, no further processing is necessary at the retailer or wholesaler location. 
     Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The preferred embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of a flower handling system of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a cutting station of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  depicts a positioning arm of the cutting station of  FIG. 2  in a first position; 
         FIG. 4  depicts a positioning arm of the cutting station of  FIG. 2  at a second position; 
         FIG. 5  depicts a clamping arm of the cutting station of  FIG. 2  lifting flowers from the positioning arm; 
         FIG. 6  depicts the clamping arm of  FIG. 2  lowering flowers into a bucket; 
         FIG. 7  depicts a sensor system for use with the cutting station of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  depicts a more detailed view of the positioning arm of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  depicts a more detailed view of the clamping arm of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a partial side view of an alternative positioning arm arrangement of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of a cutting station of the present invention including a debris carrying conveyor; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a bucket separating device for use with a cutting station of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a top perspective view of a destacking unit of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 14  is a partial cross-sectional side view of the destacking unit of  FIG. 13 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With initial reference to  FIG. 1 , a flower handling system of the present invention is generally indicated at  20 . System  20  is configured to process pre-bundled or packaged floral elements or floral element bouquets. The term floral element or bundles as utilized herein is meant to encompass common vegetative bouquet elements such as flowers and greenery. However, all floral elements will simply be referred to as flowers hereafter for the sake of simplicity. Flower handling system  20  includes a flower unloading station  22  including a table  24  or other horizontal surface for opening boxes  26  of flower bundles, and a box transporting conveyor  28  for transporting boxes  26  from table  24  to one or more cutting stations  30   a - 30   d . A flower finishing station is generally indicated at  32 , which includes a bucket conveyor  34  for transporting buckets of flowers from cutting stations  30   a - 30   d  to a packing station generally indicated at  36 . A plurality of flower finishing stations  38   a - 38   d  are set up along bucket conveyor  34 . Packing station  36  includes a box transporting conveyor  40  that extends from a box-supplying area indicated at  42 , to a box loading station  44 . 
     In operation, workers at flower unloading station  22  cut open boxes  26  of pre-bundled flowers  50 . Each pre-bundled flower is preferably pre-packaged in plastic or paper bouquet wrapping. The opened boxes  26  are then moved onto conveyor  28  for transport to one of the plurality of cutting stations  30   a - 30   d . Workers at cutting stations  30   a - 30   d  unpack dry-packed flower bundles  50  from boxes  26  for processing through cutting stations  30   a - 30   d . Empty boxes  26  may then be conveyed to a bailer to be compacted, thereby optimizing space on the processing floor. At each cutting station  30   a - 30   d , a plurality of flower bundles  50  are cut and put in buckets  51 , which are transported to bucket conveyor  34 . Workers at finishing stations  38   a - 38   d  remove shipping netting from flower heads or perform other tasks for finishing flowers or other floral elements in flower bundles  50 . Meanwhile, wet-shipping containers or boxes  54  including plastic bags  52   a  and  52   b  located therein are transported by conveyor  40  from box-supply area  42  to box loading station  44 . In the embodiment shown, two plastic bags  52   a  and  52   b  are inserted side by side within a box  54  that is sized to receive two buckets  51 . Plastic bags  52   a  and  52   b  can be inserted into boxes  54  at box supply area  42 , or may be provided at box supply area  42  already prepared with plastic bags  52   a  and  52   b  therein. 
     Finished buckets of flowers  51  are transferred from bucket conveyor  34  to a box  54  at the box loading station  44 . In the embodiment shown, a bucket  51  of finished flowers is inserted into each of bags  52   a  and  52   b  in a box  54 , such that each bucket of flowers is contained within its own plastic bag within box  54 . Boxes  54  can then be transported for further processing. For example, in a preferred system, boxes  54  are further transported through a box labeling machine and a box closing and taping machine (not shown). Boxes  54  are then loaded onto a palletizer and shrink wrapped before being loaded into vehicles for transport to a desired destination. 
     It should be appreciated that the number and position of stations within system  20  may vary. For example, system  20  could be configured with more or less cutting stations  30   a - 30   d  and finishing stations  38   a - 38   d . Advantageously, system  20  allows for the timely mass processing of dozens of pre-packaged flower bouquets, including the cutting of stems and immediate wet packing of the flowers in buckets of conditioned water. Details regarding the cutting of the flowers will now be discussed with reference to  FIGS. 2-6 . 
     As all cutting stations  30   a - 30   d  are substantially identically constructed, only the details of cutting stations  30   a - 30   d  will now be discussed with reference to cutting station  30   a  in  FIG. 2 . In general, cutting station  30   a  includes a frame  80 , a first bucket conveyor  82 , a second bucket conveyor  84 , a flower positioning arm  86 , a clamping arm  88  and a cutter  90 . First and second bucket conveyors  82  and  84  are preferably belt type conveyors, which include continuously moving respective belts  85   a  and  85   b . Frame  80  can take on any configuration necessary to support the various elements of cutting station  30   a . In the embodiment shown, positioning arm  86  is moveably mounted on a horizontal track  94  supported by vertical posts  95   a  and  95   b . Similarly, clamping arm  88  is moveably mounted to a vertical track  96 , which is supported by horizontal posts  98   a  and  98   b . Additionally, cutting station  30   a  includes a fluid supply system indicated at  100 , having an outlet nozzle  102  for directing conditioned water into a plurality of buckets  51   a - 51   c.    
     The manner in which cutting station  30   a  is operated through one complete processing cycle will now be discussed with reference to  FIGS. 2-6 . In use, a worker places a plurality of pre-bundled flowers  50  on the upper support surface  103  of a table  104 . Table  104  can be free-standing or can be supported by frame  80 . Table  104  is sized to receive flower bundles  50  having a number of different lengths. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of different colored strips or other indicia  105  indicate the desired position for the bundles of flowers  50 , depending on the desired final length of the flowers. Once a desired number of flower bundles  50  have been stacked, a worker gathers all of the bundles of flowers  50  and inserts the stems of the flowers into an opening  108  of a carrier portion  109  of positioning arm  86  defined by interconnected side walls  110 . Side walls  110  are preferably sized to receive the stems from at least one dozen bundles of flowers  50 . The flower bundles  50  are preferably in the form of a bouquet including one dozen or one half dozen flowers. Once the flowers are positioned within opening  108 , a worker actuates a switch  112  to start an automated processing cycle controlled via at least one controller indicated at  114 . For the sake of simplicity, control lines connecting controller  114  to various elements of cutting station  30   a , including switch  112 , are not depicted in  FIGS. 2-6 . Preferably, the one or more controllers  114  are in the form of a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). Although depicted as located on table  104 , it should be appreciated that switch  112  can be located anywhere convenient to a worker operating cutting station  30   a.    
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , once switch  112  is actuated, a plate  116  positioned along one of side walls  110  within opening  108  is moved from a first position adjacent one of side walls  110 , as depicted in  FIG. 1 , to a second, clamping position wherein a contact surface of plate  116  is pressed against a top surface of the plurality of flower bundles  50  located within opening  108 , in order to secure flower bundles  50  within positioning arm  86 . Positioning arm  86  is connected to a base portion  118  via a pivoting connector  119 . Once plate  116  has secured a plurality of flower bundles  50  within opening  108 , controller  114  causes positioning arm  86  to rotate about pivoting connector  119  such that an axis extending through opening  108  is moved from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position. In other words, flowers held within opening  108  are pivoted from a substantially horizontal position shown in  FIG. 3 , to an upright, substantially vertical position shown in  FIG. 4 . Next, base portion  118  is caused to move along horizontal track  94  from a first location on a first side of cutter  90 , to a second location on the opposing side of cutter  90 , as depicted in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . As positioning arm  86  carries flower bundles  50  past cutter  90 , stems of flower bundles  50  are cut as they contact a rotating circular blade  122 , as depicted in  FIG. 4 . A debris collector  124  is located below blade  122  to collect severed stems or other floral debris falling from flower bundles  50 . In the first embodiment shown, debris collector  124  is in the form of a bin or the like. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 4 , a bucket of flowers  51   a  prepared in a previous processing cycle is located at an end station  125  of first bucket conveyor  82 . As previously noted, first bucket conveyor  82  is preferably a continuously moving belt conveyor, such that bucket  51   a  positioned within end station  125  abuts a stop (not shown) to hold the bucket in place as belt  85   a  of conveyor  82  continuously slides beneath the bucket  51   a . As positioning arm  86  moves past blade  122 , a bucket engaging portion of a bucket contacting bar  126  extending from base portion  118  contacts bucket  51   a  and pushes bucket  51   a  off of belt  85   a  and onto belt  85   b  of second bucket conveyor  84 .  FIG. 5  depicts bucket  51   a  being conveyed away from end station  125  on belt  85   b  by the continuously moving second bucket conveyor  84 . Once positioning arm  86  reaches a predetermined location above end station  125 , first and second clamping portions  127   a  and  127   b  of clamping arm  88  are actuated by controller  114  to move from an initial resting or open position shown in  FIG. 4 , to a closed position wherein flower bundles  50  extending upward from positioning arm  86  are gripped between first and second clamping portions  127   a  and  127   b , as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , clamping arm  88  is movably supported on vertical track  96  by the connection of a base portion  130  to vertical track  96 . Once flower bundles  50  are secured between first and second clamping portions  127   a  and  127   b , controller  114  causes plate  116  to retract, releasing flower bundles  50 . Next, controller  114  causes clamping arm  88  to move upward along vertical track  96  such that flower bundles  50  are completely removed from positioning arm  86 . 
     At some point in the processing cycle prior to the position arm  86  moving vertically along track  96 , controller  114  causes a predetermined amount of fluid to discharge into an empty bucket  51   b  positioned below outlet nozzle  102 . Preferably, the fluid comprises water having a desired amount of floral preservatives. It should be understood that a pump and fluid supply (not shown) cooperate to supply the fluid to nozzle  102 . The details of the fluid supply system are not considered part of the invention and will not be discussed in detail. In general, any number of known fluid supply systems could be utilized with the present invention. Once positioning arm  86  is moved vertically, controller  114  causes a stopper arm  128  extending across a portion of belt  85   a  to retract, thereby allowing a fluid filled bucket  51   b  to be carried by the continuously moving belt  51   b  into position at end station  125 . Stopper arm  128  is immediately extended once bucket  51   b  is released in order to stop the next bucket  51   c  below outlet nozzle  102 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , once clamping arm  88  has reached a predetermined position on vertical track  96 , controller  114  causes positioning arm  86  to return to its first position at its initial or starting location. Meanwhile, controller  114  causes clamping arm  88  to lower the flower bundles  50  held therein into fluid-filled bucket  51   b . Next, the first and second clamping portions  127   a  and  127   b  open to release the flower bundles  50 , and return clamping arm  88  to an initial resting position. At this point it should be understood that a full processing cycle has been completed, and elements of cutting station  30   a  have returned to their initial or starting position, which is depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
     Preferably, the position of the various elements of cutting station  30  are sensed by a combination of sensors, which communicate with controller  114 . Sensors for use with the present invention include light, pressure or other types of known sensors. One example of such a sensing system is set forth in  FIG. 7 . In use, once a worker has inserted a plurality of flower bundles  50  into positioning arm  86 , the worker then actuates switch  112 . A pressure sensor  140  connected to stopper arm  128  senses when a fluid-filled bucket, such as bucket  51   b , is in a holding station below nozzle  102  and communicates the same to controller  114 . If a fluid-filled bucket  51   b  is present, controller  114  starts a processing cycle by extending plate  116  and rotating positioning arm  86  approximately 90 degrees. Positioning arm  86  is then moved horizontally past cutter  90  to a position above end station  125 . A photoelectric sensor  142  senses the position of positioning arm  86  above end station  125  and actuates clamping arm  88  to close about the flower bundles  50  within positioning arm  86 . Once photoelectric sensor  142  senses that clamping arm  88  is in a closed position, controller  114  retracts plate  116  to release flower bundles  50  within positioning arm  86 . Thereafter, controller  114  causes clamping arm  88  to rise to a second vertical position. When a pressure sensor  146  detects that clamping arm  88  is in the second vertical position, controller  114  causes stopper arm  128  to retract, thereby allowing fluid filled bucket  51   b  to advance into end station  125 . Controller  114  also causes positioning arm  86  to return to its home location, then rotate 90 degrees to return to its starting position. Controller  114  then causes clamping arm  88  to lower the flower bundles  50  into fluid filled bucket  51   b , and release the flower bundles  50 , thereby returning clamping arm  88  to its home or start position. 
     The various elements of cutting station  30   a  may be operated pneumatically, electronically, or by any combination of standard operating mechanisms. In the preferred embodiment, cutter  90  is run continuously, and powered by a dedicated electric motor (not shown). Similarly, first and second conveyors  82  and  84  are powered by one or more electric motors (not shown). Various other elements of cutting station  30   a  are preferably pneumatically operated via the at least one controller  114 . More specifically, controller  114  controls a set of pressurized valves, based in part on feedback from a number of sensors, such as sensors  140 ,  142  and  146 , which enable selective actuation of pistons to move the various elements of cutting station  30   a .  FIG. 8  shows a more detailed view of positioning arm  86 , including pneumatic lines  150 - 152 , which actuate respective pistons to control the rotation of positioning arm  86  about pivoting connector  119 , control the movement of base portion  118  along horizontal track  94 , and move plate  116  from a first position to a second, clamping position. For example, a piston  154  housed within a piston housing  155  is extended when pressurized air is sent through line  150  by controller  114 , thereby extending plate  116  to secure flower bundles  50  within opening  108 . The use of pneumatic systems to actuate pistons is generally known, and therefore, additional details of the pneumatic operators will not be discussed herein. 
     With respect to clamping arm  88 , it should be understood that any number of known mechanical arm configurations may be adapted for use with the present invention. However, one clamping arm  88  is depicted in more detail in  FIG. 9 . First and second clamping portions  127   a  and  127   b  are connected to a central carrier  158  via respective wings  160   a ,  160   b . More specifically, first and second clamping portions  127   a  and  127   b  are connected via respective hinges  162   a  and  162   b  to wings  160   a  and  160   b . In turn, wings  160   a  and  160   b  are connected to central carrier  158  via pivoting connectors  164   a  and  164   b . A curved pivot bar  166  is slidably connected to respective wings  160   a  and  160   b  through pins  168   a ,  168   b  housed within respective slots  170   a ,  170   b . In use, controller  114  actuates a series of pistons (not shown) to open and close clamping arm  88  about flower bundles  50 . More specifically, clamping portions  127   a  and  127   b  pivot about respective hinges  162   a  and  162   b  while wings  160   a  and  160   b  pivot about respective pivoting connectors  164   a  and  164   b  to swing clamping portions  127   a  and  127   b  inwardly towards one another. As clamping portions  127   a  and  127   b  swing together, pins  168   a  and  168   b  travel within respective slots  170   a  and  170   b  from a first position shown, to a second distal position. 
     Although depicted as including generally horizontal and vertical tracks  94  and  96 , it should be appreciated that sloped or angled configurations could also be utilized, depending on the desired configuration of frame  80  and the space available for cutting station  30   a . Other alterations can be made to the configuration of cutting station  30   a  without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, in an alternative embodiment depicted in  FIG. 10 , an alternative cutter  90 ′ is configured to hold cutting blade  122  at an angle with respect to horizontal, and positioning arm  86 ′ is controlled by the at least one controller  114  such that the positioning arm  86 ′ rotates from an initial position wherein flowers held therein are substantially horizontally aligned, to an intermediate position wherein flowers held therein are at an angle with respect to horizontal, as depicted in  FIG. 10 . The angle of positioning arm  86 ′ can be chosen to optimize the cutting of flower stems by cutter  90 ′. Once flower stems are severed by cutter  90 ′, controller  114  then causes positioning arm  86 ′ to rotate to a final position whereby flower bundles held therein are substantially vertically aligned for transport to end station  125 . 
     In a preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 11 , debris collector  124  is in the form of a debris carrying conveyor  178  located beneath cutter  90  and positioned to catch debris falling from the cutter  90 , wherein the debris carrying conveyor  178  is configured to carry debris from a position below cutter  90  to a debris bin  180 . Angled plexiglass panels indicated at  181  are utilized to direct falling debris onto conveyor  178 . It should be appreciated that one of more cooperating debris carrying conveyors  178  can be arranged in any desired configuration to carry chopped stems and other debris from below cutter  90  to a location more easily accessible to workers, thereby improving the ability of workers to dispose of the debris. 
     Although buckets  51  may be manually deposited on first bucket conveyor  82 , in a preferred embodiment of the invention, a bucket separating device  200  is utilized in conjunction with cutting station  30   a . See  FIG. 12 . Bucket separating device  200  includes a frame  202  supporting a stack  203  of buckets  51  above first bucket conveyor  82 . More specifically, a support  204 , including four connected side walls  206   a - 206   d , is attached to frame  202  and provides support for stack  203  as well as a housing  208 . Housing  208  includes at least first and second opposing side walls, one of which is shown at  210 , that prevent stack  203  from undesirable horizontal tipping or shifting. Details of support  204  will now be discussed in more detail with reference to  FIG. 13 . 
     A destacking unit  224  extends between opposing first and second side walls  206   a  and  206   b  within support  204 , and is connected to a control unit  225  through a side wall  206   c  via a piston  227 . Destacking unit  224  includes first and second opposing side arms  228 ,  229 . Each of first and second opposing side arms  228 ,  229  includes a respective wedge  232   a ,  232   b  and a supporting ledge  252   a ,  252   b  attached thereto. Each wedge  232   a ,  232   b  is substantially triangular shaped, with a wide base  240  tapering down to a tip  242 . At a first, starting position, a lip  250  of a bottom bucket  51   e  rests on opposing ledges  252   a ,  252   b  to support bottom bucket  51   e , and thus the entire stack  203 , in a suspended position above conveyor  82 . See  FIGS. 12 and 13 . 
     In use, control unit  225  is actuated, thereby causing piston  226  to extend and shift destacking unit  224  from a position abutting side wall  206   c  to a position removed from side wall  206   c  in the direction of stack  203 . As destacking unit  224  is advanced, bucket  51   e  is held in a substantially stationary position by support  204  such that supporting ledges  252   a    252   b  slide with respect to lip  250 . Simultaneously, respective tips  242  of wedges  232   a ,  232   b  are driven between lip  250  of bottom bucket  51   e , and a lip  254  of a bucket  51   f  nested within bottom bucket  51   e , as depicted in  FIG. 13 . As the destacking unit  224  is further advanced, supporting ledges  252   a ,  252   b  are pushed beyond lip  250  such that bucket  51   e  is no longer supported by supporting ledges  252   a ,  252   b , and lip  254  of bucket  51   f  is supported by respective top surfaces  258  of wedges  232   a  and  232   b . Without the support of supporting ledges  252   a ,  252   b , bottom bucket  51   e  simply falls by gravity onto first bucket conveyor  82  below. As discussed above, first bucket conveyor  82  is preferably continuously run, such that buckets dropping onto conveyor  82  from bucket separating device  200  will be immediately carried to cutting station  30   a , where it will advance in turn through the cutting station  30   a  as described above. 
     Advantageously, the cutting stations  30   a - 30   d  of the present invention eliminates the need for floral element stems to be the same length or aligned, since cutter  90  automatically severs flower stems at the same level relative to positioning arm  86 . Further, the present invention enables processing of dozens of flower bouquets simultaneously, resulting in flowers spending less time in dry packed boxes. Although described with reference to preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be readily understood that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. For instance, although shown as shipping two buckets of flowers per shipping container, any desired shipping container can be utilized to ship any desired number of buckets. Further, various safety features may be implemented, such as a safety stop button (not shown) to immediately turn off cutter  90  and other elements of the apparatus, or safety glass to shield elements of the apparatus. In general, the invention is only intended to be limited by the scope of the following claims.

Technology Category: b