Window covering cutting apparatus and methods
AssigneeSprings Window Fashions LP
InventorsCletis Swopes, Joyce Rogowski, Steven Neumaier, James Laubmeier, Kipley Carpenter
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Abstract
A cutdown machine and method are disclosed. The cutdown apparatus preferably includes a pair of cutting assemblies for simultaneously cutting the ends of a window covering. Additionally, a calculation apparatus and method for use in conjunction with the cutdown machine are also disclosed. The calculation apparatus may be a stand alone unit, or preferably integrated into the cutdown machine. The calculation apparatus preferably calculates and automatically positions a stop element in the cutdown machine, in connection with desired end window covering dimensions and related stock window covering sizes.
Claims20
An Apparatus for cutting a window covering having first and second ends, a headrail, a bottom rail and window covering material extending therebetween, said apparatus comprising:
- a user interface for receiving information relating to said window covering;
- a base;
- a stationary cutting assembly and a moveable cutting assembly supported on said base, each cutting assembly including a die and a shear adapted to cut said headrail and a saw adapted to cut said window covering material and said bottom rail;
- and
- a stop that is automatically positioned with respect to said stationary cutting assembly in response to said information received by said user interface, said stop allowing for said moveable cutting assembly to be properly positioned.
A method of simultaneously cutting first and second ends of a window covering in a cutting machine comprising:
- entering information relating to said window covering into a user interface of said cutting machine;
- selecting an appropriately sized window covering;
- inserting a first end of said window covering into a die of a stationary cutting assembly of said cutting machine;
- inserting a second end of said window covering into a die of a moveable cutting assembly of said cutting machine;
- activating said cutting assemblies so as to simultaneously cut the first and second ends of said window covering.
A method for calculating cutting dimensions for trimming a window covering comprising:
- providing the type of said window covering;
- providing measurements of said window covering;
- providing mounting information of said window covering;
- verifying previously entered information;
- referring to a data matrix of acceptable and available window covering sizes based on the previously entered information;
- prompting a user to select a starting window covering size from a selected group, the selected group being a subset of said data matrix;
- and
- calculating a stop value based upon the selected window covering size.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.