Window Covering Sizing Method and Apparatus

• US 20160354847A1
• Filed: 08/19/2016
• Published: 12/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Levolor, Inc (Hunter Douglas N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Levolor, Inc (Hunter Douglas N.V.)
• Inventors: BEGIN, Jason, BIRCH, Clifford, BISHOP, Ryan, BROWN, Paul Christopher, CAPUTO, Thomas A., CASSTEVENS, Neil L., CLUETT, Timothy D., FOLEY, Patrick E., FOX, Mark A., GEORGI, Kristi Jane, JOHNSON, Brian Bellamy, PHILLIPS, Grant Rorie, SCOTT, William Norris, VAN BUREN, Martin Richard, VARLAMOFF, Neil John, WINDHAM, Larry Todd
• Granted Patent: US 10,639,729 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 45/003 for particular purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 45/021 with the saw blade mounted on a carriage B23D45/06, B23D45/046 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 45/105 operating within the same plane
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 59/001 Measuring or control devices, e.g. for automatic control of work feed pressure on band saw blade measuring in general G01; controlling in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 59/006 for removing or collecting chips
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/266 Devices or accessories for making or mounting lamellar blinds or parts thereof cleaning of lamellar blinds A47L4/00; joining plastics plates for making venetian blinds B29C66/437
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/30 liftable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/207 By suction means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/242 With means to clean work or tool

Abstract

An apparatus for cutting a window covering comprises a saw for cutting the window blind. A clamp assembly moves the window covering relative to the saw. A controller moves the clamp assembly to automatically position an end of the window covering relative to the saw. The saw is moved into engagement with the window covering to cut the window covering. A dust collection system comprises a shroud substantially surrounds the bottom of the saw blade where the shroud is connected to a vortex dust collector.

Claims

1-13. -13. (canceled)

14. A method for operating a window covering cutting machine when sizing a packaged window covering, the packaged window covering including components contained within a package such that first ends of the components are configured to extend beyond a first end of the package and second ends of the components are configured to extend beyond a second end of the package, the method comprising:

automatically moving the packaged window covering in a first direction of travel against a first squaring surface such that the first ends of the components are in a common plane;

cutting the first ends of the components using the window covering cutting machine;

automatically moving the packaged window covering in a second direction of travel against a second squaring surface such that the second ends of the components are in a common plane; and

cutting the second ends of the components using the window covering cutting machine.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said first squaring surface is defined by a first cutting device of the window covering cutting machine.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

said first cutting device corresponds to a first saw blade of the window covering cutting machine; and

said first squaring surface corresponds to a face of said first saw blade.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said second squaring surface is defined by a second cutting device of the window covering cutting machine.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein:

said second cutting device corresponds to a second saw blade of the window covering cutting machine; and

said second squaring surface corresponds to a face of said second saw blade.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising automatically moving the packaged window covering in said second direction of travel against said second squaring surface such that the second ends of the components are in said common plane prior to moving the packaged window covering in said first direction of travel to square the first ends of the components against said first squaring surface.

20. A method as in claim 14, wherein said first squaring surface extends substantially perpendicular to said first direction of travel.

21. A method as in claim 20, wherein:

said second squaring surface extends substantially perpendicular to said second direction of travel; and

said first and second directions of travel are parallel to each other.

22. A method as in claim 14, further comprising moving said first squaring surface between a first position, where said first squaring surface intersects a travel path for the packaged window covering along said first direction of travel, and a second position, where said first squaring surface does not intersect said travel path for the packaged window covering.

23. A method as in claim 14, further comprising:

retracting said first squaring surface away from a travel path for the packaged window covering along said first direction of travel after the first ends of the components have been moved against said first squaring surface;

automatically moving the packaged window covering in said first direction of travel such that a portion of the packaged window covering intersects a cutting path associated with said first squaring surface; and

moving said first squaring surface along said cutting path to cut the first ends of the components.

24. A method as in claim 14, further comprising:

retracting said second squaring surface away from a travel path for the packaged window covering along said second direction of travel after the second ends of the components have been moved against said second squaring surface;

automatically moving the packaged window covering in said second direction of travel such that a portion of the packaged window covering intersects a cutting path associated with said second squaring surface; and

moving said second squaring surface along said cutting path to cut the second ends of the components.

25. A method as in claim 14, further comprising clamping the packaged window covering against a surface of the window covering cutting machine prior to moving the packaged window covering in at least one of said first travel direction or said second travel direction.

26. A method as in claim 14, further comprising clamping the packaged window covering against a surface of the window covering cutting machine prior to cutting at least one of the first ends or the second ends of the component.

27. A method as in claim 14, wherein the components of the packaged window covering comprise a headrail, a bottom rail, and a covering positioned between the headrail and the bottom rail.

28. A method as in claim 27, wherein the components of the packaged window covering further comprise a valance.

29. A window covering cutting machine having a dust collection system, the machine comprising:

a cutting device configured to cut a window covering, said cutting device movable in a cutting direction;

a clamp assembly configured to move the window covering relative to said cutting device;

a controller configured to control an operation of said clamp assembly such that said clamp assembly positions an end of the window covering relative to said cutting device;

a vacuum source;

a shroud in fluid communication with said vacuum source, said shroud surrounding at least a portion of said cutting device; and

a dust collection plenum configured to draw at least one of dust or debris away from said cutting device at a location vertically above said shroud, said dust collection plenum including an inlet and an outlet, said inlet being entirely offset from a lateral side of said cutting device.

30. A machine as in claim 29, wherein said cutting device corresponds to a saw having a saw blade configured to cut the window covering.

31. A machine as in claim 30, wherein said shroud at least partially surrounds a bottom portion of said saw blade.

32. A machine as in claim 29, further comprising a first duct coupled between said vacuum source and said shroud.

33. A machine as in claim 32, further comprising a second duct coupled between said vacuum source and said dust collection plenum.

34. A machine as in claim 29, wherein:

said inlet of said dust collection plenum corresponds to an elongated inlet; and

said elongated inlet extends lengthwise in a direction substantially parallel to said cutting direction of said cutting device.