Method And Apparatus For Stacking Strip Material Of Cellular Blind Fabrics
OwnerLorin Zittinginventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A stacker assembly for manufacturing an expandable integral blind, formed by adhering a plurality of cells formed from strip material, has opposing walls forming a stacking chamber and a rotating mechanism coupled to the stacking chamber for engaging the expandable integral blind. The rotatable mechanism actuates in response to the compression force of the expandable integral blind. A plurality of conveyor belts are used to supply the strip material to the stacker assembly, as well as introduce the strip material into the stacking chamber.
Claims17
A stacker assembly for manufacturing an expandable integral blind formed by adhering a plurality of cells formed from strip material, the stacker assembly comprising:
- a first outer conveyor belt and a second outer conveyor belt, each outer conveyor belt configured to engage a top surface of a strip of material being conveyed;
- a center conveyor belt positioned between the first and second outer conveyor belts, the center conveyor belt configured to engage a bottom surface of the strip of material;
- the outer conveyor belts and center belt configured to convey the strip of material into a stacking chamber, the stacking chamber formed by two opposing walls;
- a plurality of clamping tabs below each wall configured to clamp the top edges of the strip of material, the clamping tabs positioned beneath the first and second outer conveyor belts;
- and
- a plurality of support fingers configured to support a stack formed from the plurality of strips of material.
A method of using a stacker assembly for manufacturing an expandable integral blind formed by adhering a plurality of cells formed from strip material, the method comprising:
- supplying a plurality of strips of material in succession to a stacker assembly, the strips of material conveyed into a stacking chamber using a first outer conveyor belt and a second outer conveyor belt, each outer conveyor belt configured to engage a top surface of the strip of material being conveyed, and a center conveyor belt positioned between the first and second outer conveyor belts, the center conveyor belt configured to engage a bottom surface of the strip of material;
- securing the conveyed strip of material in the stacking chamber using a plurality of clamping tabs;
- retracting the first and second outer conveyor belts from contact with the conveyed strip of material;
- raising the center conveyor belt and conveyed strip of material while simultaneously withdrawing the clamping tabs so that the conveyed strip of material contacts and adheres to a previously conveyed strip of material, forming a stack;
- lowering the center conveyor belt and supporting the stack on a plurality of support fingers;
- and
- positioning the outer conveyor belts and center conveyor belt to engage a successive strip of material.
A stacker assembly for manufacturing an expandable integral blind formed by adhering a plurality of cells formed from strip material, the stacker assembly comprising:
- opposing walls forming a stacking chamber;
- and
- a rotating mechanism coupled to the stacking chamber for engaging the expandable integral blind;
- wherein, the rotatable mechanism actuates in response to the compression force of the expandable integral blind.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.