# US 2004/0069104 A1 · Modular blind cutting center > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2004/0069104 A1 - Document ID: US20040069104A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 10/611,187 - Filed: 2003-07-01 - Published: 2004-04-15 - Earliest claimed: 2001-07-23 - Assignees: Newell Window Furnishings, Inc. - Inventors: Thomas A. Caputo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20040069104A1 ## CPC - B23D 23/00: Machines or devices for shearing or cutting profiled stock (hand-held devices B23D29/00) - B23D 35/008: {Means for changing the cutting members (mounting per se B23D35/002)} - 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)} - Y10T 83/04: Processes - Y10T 83/404: By means to misalign aligned apertured tools - Y10T 83/412: Rectilinear relative movement only - Y10T 83/8727: Plural tools selectively engageable with single drive - Y10T 83/8733: Tool movable to cooperate selectively with one of a plurality of mating tools - Y10T 83/8828: Plural tools with same drive means - Y10T 83/9423: Punching tool - B23D: PLANING; SLOTTING; SHEARING; BROACHING; SAWING; FILING; SCRAPING; LIKE OPERATIONS FOR WORKING METAL BY REMOVING MATERIAL, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (making toothed gears or the like B23F; cutting metal by applying heat locally B23K; arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) - E06B: FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES (shades or blinds for greenhouses A01G9/22; curtains A47H; lids for car boots or bonnets B62D25/10; skylights E04B7/18; sunshades, awnings E04F10/00) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A blind cutting apparatus includes a support surface adapted to support a window covering, a frame disposed at the end of the support surface and a rack movable within the frame. A plurality of die assemblies are fastened to the rack, in which each die assembly includes a fixed die that has openings sized to receive the ends of the window covering and a movable die that is movable relative to the fixed die. The fixed dies and the movable dies are adapted to cut the ends of the window covering. The rack is adapted to move relative to the support surface such that a selected die assembly is adjacent the support surface and the moveable die of the selected die assembly is independently moveable of the moveable dies of the other die assemblies. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A blind cutting apparatus, comprising: a support surface adapted to support a window covering; a frame disposed at the end of the support surface; a rack movable within the frame a plurality of die assemblies fastened to the rack, wherein each die assembly includes a fixed die that has openings sized to receive the ends of the window covering and a movable die that is movable relative to the fixed die, the fixed dies and the movable dies being adapted to cut the ends of the window covering; and wherein the rack is adapted to move relative to the support surface such that a selected die assembly is adjacent the support surface and the moveable die of the selected die assembly is independently moveable of the moveable dies of the other die assemblies. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rack is adapted to move vertically. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a handle attached to a pinion gear, and a rack gear attached to the rack, wherein the rack is moved by rotation of the handle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a lift-assist system that offsets the weight of the rack. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the lift-assist system includes a gas cylinder. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a ram, wherein the ram is adapted to engage and drive the moveable die of the selected die assembly relative to the fixed die, thereby creating a shearing action. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein each movable die further includes a notch disposed on one end and adapted to receive the ram. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the ram further comprises a notch adapted to engage the notch of the movable die. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the notch of each moveable die is adapted to slide relative to the notch of the ram during vertical motion of the frame, such that an individual die assembly is engaged by the ram. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a cam, wherein the cam is adapted to drive the ram. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a hand crank attached to and adapted to rotate the cam. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the moveable die includes a first cutting surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the moveable die includes a second cutting surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the second cutting surface includes a blade fastened to the movable die. ### Claim 15 A method of selecting a window covering die assembly and sizing a window covering, comprising: disposing a window covering on a support surface; selecting a die assembly from a plurality of die assemblies affixed to a frame by moving the frame such that the selected die assembly is adjacent the support surface, wherein the selected die assembly is adapted to size the window covering and each die assembly includes a fixed die and a moveable die; inserting the ends of the window covering through openings in the fixed die; moving the moveable die of the selected die assembly relative to the fixed die to cut the ends of the window covering; and ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising moving the frame vertically. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a rotating a handle to move the frame, the handle being attached to a pinion gear, the pinion gear engaged with a rack, and the rack attached to the frame. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising engaging and driving the moveable die of the selected die assembly relative to the fixed die with a ram, thereby creating a shearing action between the moveable die and the fixed die. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising moving the rack vertically, wherein a connector on the end of the ram slides within channels disposed on the ends of each of the movable dies.