Window covering sizing method and apparatus

• US 8,839,701 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2010
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• 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: 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Peterson, Kenneth E.
• Application Number:
  US12/838,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20110056345A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,527 Days
• Field of Search: 83/766, 83/769, 834/66, 834/371, 834/85
• US Class Current: 83/76.6
• 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 83/04 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/141 With means to monitor and control operation [e.g., self-regulating means]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/173 Arithmetically determined program
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/18 With operator input means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/6656 Rectilinear movement only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7763 Tool carrier reciprocable rectilinearly

Abstract

A method and apparatus for cutting a vertical window covering are disclosed. One method of operating a window covering cutting machine comprises retaining a window covering in a package such that a first end of the window covering is located at a known first position relative to the package. An engagement element is provided on the package that is located at a known second position on the package. The engagement element is moved a distance from a saw to obtain a final dimension of the window covering where the distance is calculated using the first position and the second position.

Claims

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

providing a saw;

retaining a window covering in a package such that a first end of the window covering is located at a first distance C relative to an adjacent package end,

providing a computing platform comprising a processor, the computing platform being operatively connected to the window covering cutting machine to control operation of the window covering cutting machine;

providing an engagement element on the package that is located at a second distance Z relative to the package end;

the computing platform acquiring the distances C and Z and a desired final dimension;

the computing platform calculating a third distance Y that the engagement element must be positioned relative to the saw, according to the following equation;

Y=Final Dimension−

Z+C,

providing an engagement device for engaging the engagement element;

the computing platform automatically moving the engagement device to the third distance Y from the saw;

the computing platform actuating the saw to obtain the final dimension of the window covering.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the engagement element is a hole, and the engagement device is a pin.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of actuating the saw comprises cutting the window covering and the package simultaneously.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first distance C and the second distance Z are obtained from a look-up table.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the look-up table is accessed using a bar code that identifies a type of window covering.