CA2638426A1

CA2638426A1 - Window covering sizing method and apparatus

Info

Publication number: CA2638426A1
Application number: CA 2638426
Authority: CA
Inventors: Thomas A. Caputo; Neil L. Casstevens; Mark A. Fox; Clifford Birch
Original assignee: Newell Window Furnishing Inc
Current assignee: Hunter Douglas Industries Switzerland GmbH
Priority date: 2007-07-31
Filing date: 2008-07-30
Publication date: 2009-01-31
Anticipated expiration: 2028-07-30
Also published as: CA2638426C

Abstract

A method and apparatus for cutting a window covering comprises saw for cutti ng the window blind. A clamp assembly moves the window covering relative to the saw. A controller moves the clamp assembly to automatically position the window covering relative to the saw. The saw is moved into engagement with the window covering to cut the window covering.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cutting a window covering comprising:
a first saw and a second saw for cutting the window blind;
a clamp assembly for moving the window covering relative to the first and second saws; and a controller for moving the clamp assembly to automatically position a first end of the window covering relative to the first saw and the second end of the window covering relative to the second saw.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said clamp assembly comprises a member for engaging the window covering to locate the center of the window covering.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said member comprises a pin, said pin engaging a mating hole on said window covering.

4. The apparatus of claim I further including a platform that supports the window covering.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further including a lateral support surface located adjacent to the front edge of the platform.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said lateral support surface comprises a plurality of rollers.

7. The apparatus of claim I wherein said first saw and said second saw reciprocate to cut the window covering.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a stationary clamp is located adjacent each of said first saw and said second saw to hold the window covering during the cutting operation.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the damp assembly comprises a clamping jaw that can be extended to trap the window covering against the lateral support surface.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said clamp assembly is mounted on a carriage that is reciprocated to move the window covering.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a user interface to enable a user to input data.

12. An apparatus for cutting a window covering comprising:
a first saw and a second saw for cutting the window blind;
a clamp assembly for moving the window covering relative to the first and second saws;
a controller for moving the damp assembly to automatically position a first end of the window covering relative to the first saw and the second end of the window covering relative to the second saw;
a package for holding the window covering such that the window covering and package are cut by the first saw and the second saw.

13. The apparatus of daim 12 wherein the package comprises a cardboard box that holds the window covering in position during the cutting operation.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein a centering bracket is attached to the window covering at the center thereof.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the package is comprises product identification information in the form of a bar code that is readable by an optical scanner.

16. A method of cutting a window covering comprising:

locating a clamp assembly at the center of the window covering;
receiving a desired size of the window covering;
determining a distance the center of the package must be positioned from a saw to obtain the desired size of the window covering;
automatically moving the clamp assembly such that the center of the package is positioned said distance from the saw;
engaging the window covering with the saw.

17. The method of claim 16 further including creating and storing a record memory for the window covering.

18. The method of claim 17 further including populating the record with information related to the cutting of the window covering.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the information includes location information.

20. The method of claim 16 further including receiving the type of window covering.

21. The method of claim 16 further including extending the clamp assembly to force the window covering against a lateral support surface.

22. The method of claim 16 further including receiving mount information of the window covering.

23. The method of claim 22 further including deducting a predetermined length from the desired size based on the mount information.

24. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of determining includes dividing the desired size by two to obtain a half length.

25. The method of claim 16 reading a bar code provided on the window covering.

26. The method of claim 25 comparing the desired size entered by the user to an actual size of the blind as read off of the bar code to verify that the desired size as entered by the user is valid for the size blind put in the NWF SIS
machine.

27. The method of claim 26 providing a look up table that lists a range of blind sizes that are valid for any given stock size blind and comparing the desired size to the range of valid sizes.

28. A device for cutting a window covering comprising:
means for receiving a window covering;
means for cutting said window blind;
means for receiving a cut size for said window covering;
means for locating said window covering relative to said means for cutting;
means for controlling said means for locating based on the cut size.