Window covering sizing method and apparatus
AssigneeHunter Douglas Industries Switzerland GmbH
InventorsThomas A. Caputo, Neil L Casstevens, Mark A. Fox, Clifford Birch
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for cutting a window covering comprises 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 the window covering relative to the saw. The saw is moved into engagement with the window covering to cut the window covering.
Claims22
A system for sizing of a window covering, said system comprising:
- a stationary platform configured to support the window covering;
- a lateral support surface extending from said stationary platform;
- a cutting device configured to cut the window covering along a cutting plane;
- a clamping device movable in a first direction to clamp the window covering against said lateral support surface;
- a drive configured to move both said clamping device positioned above the stationary platform and and the window covering relative to said lateral support surface and across said stationary platform in a second direction towards said cutting plane to position the window covering relative to said cutting device;
- and
- a controller configured to automatically control the operation of said clamping device and said drive, said controller configured to determine a distance that a portion of the window covering must be moved relative to said cutting device to allow the window covering to be cut to a desired size, said controller automatically controlling said drive to position the window covering relative to the cutting plane based at least in part on the determined distance by moving said clamping device and the window covering relative to both said lateral support surface and said stationary platform in the second direction;
- wherein, when said clamping device is moved in the first direction to clamp the window covering against said lateral support surface, a clamped portion of the window covering is clamped between said clamping device and said lateral support surface in the first direction.
A method for sizing a window covering using a sizing apparatus including a clamping device positioned above a stationary platform, a lateral support surface extending from the stationary platform, and a cutting device configured to cut the window covering along a cutting plane, said method comprising:
- controlling, with a computing device, an operation of the clamping device to clamp the window covering in a first direction against the lateral support surface, a clamped portion of the window covering being clamped between the clamping device and the lateral support surface in the first direction;
- determining, with the computing device, a distance to move the window covering in a second direction to allow the window covering to be cut to a desired size;
- and
- controlling, with the computing device, an operation of a drive to move both the clamping device and the window covering relative to the lateral support surface and across the stationary platform in the second direction to position the window covering relative to the cutting plane of the cutting device based on the determined distance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.