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.
Claims18
A system for sizing a window covering, said system comprising:
- a stationary platform configured to support thereon the window covering;
- a cutting device configured to cut the window covering;
- a clamp assembly including a clamping device mounted on a carriage, the clamping device and carriage configured to move across said stationary platform to move the window covering relative to said cutting device;
- a sensor supported by the carriage for movement of the sensor relative to said cutting device, said sensor configured to generate signals indicative of information associated with the window covering, said sensor arranged apart from the clamping device on the carriage;
- and
- a controller communicatively coupled to said sensor to allow said controller to receive the signals from said sensor, said controller being configured to determine a distance that at least 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 being further configured to automatically control an operation of said clamp assembly to position the window covering relative to said cutting device based at least in part on the determined distance.
A method for sizing a window covering using a sizing apparatus including a stationary platform configured to support thereon the window covering, a cutting device configured to cut the window coveting, and a clamp assembly including a clamping device mounted on a carriage, the clamping device and carriage configured to move the window covering relative to the cutting device, said method comprising:
- receiving, with a computing device, signals from a sensor supported by the carriage, said sensor arranged apart from the clamping device on the carriage, the signals being indicative of information associated with the window covering;
- determining, with the computing device, a distance to move the window covering relative to the cutting device based at least in part on the signals received from the sensor;
- and
- with the clamping device of the clamp assembly clamped against the window covering, controlling, with the computing device, an operation of the clamp assembly to move the clamping device across the stationary platform to position the window covering relative to the cutting device based on the determined distance,
- wherein the sensor is configured to move with the clamping device relative to the cutting device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.