Window covering sizing method and apparatus

• US 8,631,732 B1
• Filed: 08/17/2012
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Levolor, Inc (Hunter Douglas N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Newell Window Furnishings Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Birch, Clifford, Brown, Paul Christopher, Caputo, Thomas A., Casstevens, Neil L., Doyle, Lawrence Powell, Fox, Mark A., Johnson, Brian Bellamy, Van Buren, Martin Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Peterson, Kenneth E.
• Application Number:
  US13/588,028
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 834/685, 834/686, 834/687.4, 83/85
• US Class Current: 83/468.6
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 45/003 for particular purposes
• 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: Y10T 83/0505 With reorientation of work between cuts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/764 Retractable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7763 Tool carrier reciprocable rectilinearly

Abstract

An apparatus for cutting a window covering and methods of cutting a window covering are provided. A method of operating a window covering cutting machine comprises a) packaging a window covering comprising components in a package such that first ends of the components extend beyond a first end of the package and second ends of the components extend beyond a second end of the package; b) automatically moving the package and components in a first direction of travel against a first squaring surface such that the first ends of the components are in a common plane; c) cutting the first ends of the components; d) automatically moving the package and components 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 e) cutting the second ends of the components.

Claims

1. A method of operating a window covering cutting machine comprising:

a) packaging a window covering comprising components in a package such that first ends of the components extend beyond a first end of the package and second ends of the components extend beyond a second end of the package and a valance, the valance having a first end and a second end, the valance being larger than the components;

b) automatically moving the package and components in a first direction of travel against a first squaring surface such that the first ends of the components and the first end of the valance are in a common plane wherein the first squaring surface is arranged such that it is perpendicular to the first direction of travel and comprises the face of a first saw blade;

c) cutting the first ends of the components and the first end of the valance;

d) automatically moving the package and components in a second direction of travel against a second squaring surface such that the second ends of the components and the second end of the valance are in a common plane; and

e) cutting the second ends of the components and the second end of the valance.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, prior to step b), automatically moving the package and components against a squaring plate such that the second ends of the components are in a common plane.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second squaring surface is arranged such that it is perpendicular to the second direction of travel.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the second squaring surface is the face of a second saw blade.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the second squaring surface is the face of a second saw blade.

6. The method of claim 1 moving the first squaring surface between a first position where the first squaring surface intersects the first direction of travel and a second position where the first squaring surface does not intersect the first direction of travel.

7. The method of claim 1 moving the second squaring surface between a first position where the second squaring surface intersects the second direction of travel and a second position where the second squaring surface does not intersect the second direction of travel.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the second squaring surface is the face of a second saw blade.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising retracting the first squaring surface and moving the window covering in the first direction of travel in front of a first saw.

10. The method of claim 9 rotating the first saw at high speed and moving the first saw into engagement with the components.

11. The method of claim 10 extending a clamp to hold the window covering when the first saw is moved into engagement with the components.

12. The method of claim 11 contacting the components directly with the clamp.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising retracting the second squaring surface and moving the window covering in the second direction of travel in front of a second saw.

14. The method of claim 13 rotating the second saw at high speed and moving the second saw into engagement with the components.

15. A method of operating a window covering cutting machine comprising:

a) providing a packaged window covering comprising components in a package such that first ends of the components extend beyond a first end of the package and second ends of the components extend beyond a second end of the package and a valance, the valance having a first end and a second end, the valance being larger than the components;

b) automatically moving the package and components in a first direction of travel against a first squaring surface such that the first ends of the components and the first end of the valance are in a common plane wherein the first squaring surface is arranged such that it is perpendicular to the first direction of travel and comprises the face of a first saw blade;

c) cutting the first ends of the components and the first end of the valance;

d) automatically moving the package and components in a second direction of travel against a second squaring surface such that the second ends of the components and the second end of the valance are in a common plane; and

e) cutting the second ends of the components and the second end of the valance.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising, prior to step b), automatically moving the package and components against a squaring plate such that the second ends of the components are in a common plane.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the second squaring surface is arranged such that it is perpendicular to the second direction of travel.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the second squaring surface is the face of a second saw blade.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the second squaring surface is the face of a second saw blade.

20. The method of claim 15 moving the first squaring surface between a first position where the first squaring surface intersects the first direction of travel and a second position where the first squaring surface does not intersect the first direction of travel.

21. The method of claim 15 moving the second squaring surface between a first position where the second squaring surface intersects the second direction of travel and a second position where the second squaring surface does not intersect the second direction of travel.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the second squaring surface is the face of a second saw blade.

23. The method of claim 15 further comprising retracting the first squaring surface and moving the window covering in the first direction of travel in front of a first saw.

24. The method of claim 15 further comprising retracting the second squaring surface and moving the window covering in the second direction of travel in front of a second saw.

25. The method of claim 24 rotating the first saw at high speed and moving the first saw into engagement with the components.

26. The method of claim 25 rotating the second saw at high speed and moving the second saw into engagement with the components.

27. The method of claim 26 extending a clamp to hold the window covering when the first saw is moved into engagement with the components.

28. The method of claim 27 contacting the components directly with the clamp.

29. A method of operating a window covering cutting machine comprising:

a) providing a packaged window covering comprising components in a package such that first ends of the components extend beyond a first end of the package and second ends of the components extend beyond a second end of the package;

b) automatically moving the package and components in a first direction of travel against a first squaring surface such that the first ends of the components are in a common plane, the first squaring surface being the face of a first saw blade;

c) cutting the first ends of the components;

d) automatically moving the package and components 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

e) cutting the second ends of the components.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising, prior to step b), automatically moving the package and components against a squaring plate such that the second ends of the components are in a common plane.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein the first squaring surface is arranged such that it is perpendicular to the first direction of travel.

32. The method of claim 29 further comprising moving the first squaring surface between a first position where the first squaring surface intersects the first direction of travel and a second position where the first squaring surface does not intersect the first direction of travel.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein the second squaring surface is arranged such that it is perpendicular to the second direction of travel.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the second squaring surface is the face of a second saw blade.

35. The method of claim 29 wherein the second squaring surface is the face of a second saw blade.

36. The method of claim 29 further comprising moving the second squaring surface between a first position where the second squaring surface intersects the second direction of travel and a second position where the second squaring surface does not intersect the second direction of travel.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the second squaring surface is the face of a second saw blade.

38. The method of claim 29 further comprising retracting the first squaring surface and moving the window covering in the first direction of travel in front of the first saw.

39. The method of claim 38 further comprising rotating the first saw at high speed and moving the first saw into engagement with the components.

40. The method of claim 39 further comprising extending a clamp to hold the window covering when the first saw is moved into engagement with the components.

41. The method of claim 40 further comprising contacting the components directly with the clamp.

42. The method of claim 29 further comprising retracting the second squaring surface and moving the window covering in the second direction of travel in front of a second saw.

43. The method of claim 42 further comprising rotating the second saw at high speed and moving the second saw into engagement with the components.