Gibson, Simon John (11 Westminster Way, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire LE65 2SX, GB)
| 1. | A covering cutter comprising a plurality of cutting modules, each module comprising a cutting die and a cutting member, each cutting die having an aperture adapted to locate a window covering, each cutting member having a cutting surface moveable across the aperture to cut a covering located in the die and actuation means to operate movement of each cutting member such that all of the cutting members are moved across their respective apertures upon each operation of the actuation means. |
| 2. | A covering cutter according to Claim 1, in which the cutting modules are arranged substantially linearly in use. |
| 3. | A covering cutter according to Claim 2, in which the cutting modules are arranged substantially horizontally in use. |
| 4. | A covering cutter according to any preceding claim, in which a carriage plate is provided to mount the cutting members. |
| 5. | A covering cutter according to any preceding claim, in which a die plate is provided to mount the cutting dies. |
| 6. | A covering cutter according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, in which cutting members are replaceably mounted. |
| 7. | A covering cutter according to Claim 5 or Claim 6, in which the cutting dies are replaceably mounted. |
| 8. | A covering cutter according to any preceding claim, in which each cutting member is moveable substantially vertically. |
| 9. | A covering cutter according to any preceding claim, in which each cutting module further comprises guide means for guiding movement of the cutting member relative to the die. |
| 10. | A covering cutter according to any of Claims 4 to 9, in which the actuation means is arranged to drive the carriage plate upon which the cutting members are mounted. |
| 11. | A covering cutter according to any preceding claim, in which more than one aperture is provided upon any of the cutting dies. |
| 12. | A covering cutter according to any preceding claim, in which the profile of an aperture corresponds to a head rail, a casing, a fabric material or any other part of a window covering. |
| 13. | A covering cutter according to Claim 11 or Claim 12, in which the or each cutting member comprise a plurality of cutting surfaces corresponding to each aperture of the die. |
| 14. | A covering cutter according to any preceding claim comprising measuring means to enable a window covering to be cut to a desired length. |
| 15. | A covering cutter according to Claim 14, in which the covering is an elongate window blind and the measuring means comprises a measuring scale extending in the direction of elongation of the window blind. |
| 16. | A covering cutter according to Claim 14 or Claim 15, in which the measuring scale is provided on a worktop, upon which the cutting modules are mounted. |
| 17. | A covering cutter according to any preceding claim, in which covering support members are provided spaced from each cutting module to support a respective covering in use. |
| 18. | A covering cutter according to Claim 17 when dependent on Claim 16, in which the covering support members are mounted on the worktop. |
| 19. | A covering cutter according to any of Claims 15 to 18, in which the measuring scale is arranged such that, in use, it is arranged to be adjacent a blind supported on the support member and located in the cutting die. |
| 20. | A roller blind cutter for cutting a roller blind comprising a tube having a longitudinal axis and a covering material wrapped around the tube, the roller blind cutter comprising a base having mounted thereon support means for supporting the roller blind in a cutting position, a mounting plate being mounted to the base moveably in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube in the cutting position, a first cutting surface being mounted on a first face of the mounting plate, a second cutting surface being mounted on a second opposite face of the mounting plate, the first and second cutting surfaces thereby being spaced in the direction of the longitudinal axis, the mounting plate having an aperture, the cutting surfaces being mounted in facing relationship on opposite sides of the aperture such that a roller blind in the cutting position is received within the aperture and movement of the mounting plate in a first direction causes the first cutting surface to cut the blind at a first position along its length and movement of the mounting plate in a second, reverse direction being limited by limiting means for limiting the extent of movement in the second direction such that the second cutting surface cuts the covering material at a second position along the length of the blind and is prevented from cutting the tube. |
| 21. | A roller blind cutter according to Claim 20, in which the support means comprises driven support means for rotating the blind about its longitudinal axis in use. |
| 22. | A roller blind cutter according to Claim 20 or Claim 21, in which the support means comprises clamp means for securely retaining the blind in the cutting position. |
| 23. | A roller blind cutter according to any of Claims 20 to 22, in which the mounting plate is pivotally mounted on the base. |
| 24. | A roller blind cutter according to any of Claims 20 to 23, in which the first cutting surface comprises a perimeter surface of a first cutting wheel. |
| 25. | A roller blind cutter according to Claim 24, in which the first cutting wheel is freely rotatably mounted. |
| 26. | A roller blind cutter according to Claims 20 to 25, in which the second surface comprises a perimeter surface of a second cutting wheel. |
| 27. | A roller blind cutter according to Claim 26, in which the second cutting wheel is fixedly mounted. |
| 28. | A roller blind cutter according to any of Claims 20 to 27 further comprising indexing means for rotating the fixedly mounted cutting wheel through a predetermined angle after each cut. |
| 29. | A roller blind cutter according to Claim 28, in which the indexing means comprises an indexing gear, having notches, mounted on the base, in communication with an indexing arm mounted on the mounting plate. |
| 30. | A roller blind cutter according to any of Claims 20 to 29, in which the first and second cutting surfaces are typically spaced by upto 20mm. |
| 31. | A roller blind cutter according to any of Claims 20 to 30, in which measuring means is provided to enable the blind to be cut to a desired length. |
| 32. | A roller blind cutter according to Claim 31, in which the measuring means comprises a measuring scale extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the blind. |
| 33. | A roller blind cutter according to Claim 32, in which the measuring scale comprises the measuring scale of any of Claims 15 to 19. |
| 34. | A window covering cutter according to any of Claims 1 to 19 and a roller blind cutter according to any of Claims 20 to 33 mounted on a common surface having a common measuring scale for cutting a window covering or a roller blind to a desired length. |
Currently due to the various shapes and materials of coverings that are available, window covering cutters have a number of cutting dies for each type of covering. These cutting dies are required to be aligned with a cutting surface prior to operation of a cutting action.
Roller blind cutters use a mechanism whereby a rotatable circular blade is used for cutting.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a covering cutter comprising a plurality of cutting modules, each module comprising a cutting die and a cutting member, each cutting die having an aperture adapted to locate a window covering, each cutting member having a cutting surface moveable across the aperture to cut a covering located in the die and actuation means to operate movement of each cutting member such that all of the cutting members are moved across their respective apertures upon each operation of the actuation means.
Advantageously there is no need to align a cutting die with a cutting surface operated by the actuation means prior to use of the die.
The cutting modules may be arranged substantially linearly, preferably substantially horizontally in use. A carriage plate may be provided to mount the cutting members. A die plate may be provided to mount the cutting dies. The cutting members may be replaceably mounted. The cutting dies may be replaceably mounted.
Each cutting member may be moveable substantially vertically. Each cutting module may further comprise guide means for guiding movement of the cutting member relative to the die.
The actuation means may be arranged to drive the carriage plate upon which the cutting members are mounted. The actuation means may comprise hydraulic actuation means.
One of the cutting modules may comprise a pleated blinds cutting module, a head rail cutting module, a metal blinds cutting module, a roller- laths/vertical blinds module or a faux wood blinds module, for example.
More than one aperture may be provided upon any of the cutting dies.
The profile of an aperture may correspond to a head rail, a casing, a fabric material or any other part of a window covering. Each cutting member may comprise a plurality of cutting surfaces, for example corresponding to each aperture of the die.
Preferably the covering is an elongate window blind.
Measuring means may be provided to enable a window covering to be cut to a desired length. The measuring means may comprise a measuring scale extending in the direction of elongation of the window blind.
The measuring scale may be provided on a worktop, upon which the cutting modules are mounted. Covering support members may be provided spaced from each cutting module to support a respective covering in use. The covering support members are preferably mounted on the worktop. Each covering support member may be mounted on an end plate mounted on the worktop.
The measuring scale is arranged such that, in use, it is arranged to be adjacent a blind supported on the support member and located in the cutting die. The blind may thus be conveniently cut to a desired length with reference to the measuring scale by a user.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a roller blind cutter for cutting a roller blind comprising a tube having a longitudinal axis and a covering material wrapped around the tube, the roller blind cutter comprising a base having mounted thereon support means for supporting the roller blind in a cutting position, a mounting plate being mounted to the base moveably in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube in the cutting position, a first cutting surface being mounted on a first face of the mounting plate, a second cutting surface being mounted on a second opposite face of the mounting plate, the first and second cutting surfaces thereby being spaced in the direction of the longitudinal axis, the mounting plate having an aperture, the cutting surfaces being mounted in facing relationship on opposite sides of the aperture such that a roller blind in the cutting position is received within the aperture and movement of the mounting plate in a first direction causes the first cutting surface to cut the blind at a first position along its length and movement of the mounting plate in a second, reverse direction being limited by limiting means for limiting the extent of movement in the second direction such that the second cutting surface cuts the covering material at a second position along the length of the blind and is prevented from cutting the tube.
The support means may comprise driven support means for rotating the blind about its longitudinal axis in use. The support means may comprise clamp means for securely retaining the blind in the cutting position.
The mounting plate may be pivotally mounted on the base.
The first cutting surface may comprise a perimeter surface of a first cutting wheel which may be freely rotatably mounted.
The second surface may comprise a perimeter surface of a second cutting wheel which may be fixedly mounted.
Indexing means may be provided for rotating the fixedly mounted cutting wheel through a predetermined angle after each cut. The predetermined angle may be any angle as desired but is conveniently less than 40°, and preferably is 20°. The indexing means may comprise an indexing gear, having notches, mounted on the base, in communication with an indexing arm mounted on the mounting plate.
The first and second cutting surfaces may be typically spaced by upto 20mm. In a preferred embodiment they are spaced by about 4mm.
Measuring means may be provided to enable the blind to be cut to a desired length. The measuring means may comprise a measuring scale extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the blind. The measuring scale may comprise the measuring scale of the first aspect of the invention.
According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a window covering cutter according to the foregoing first aspect of the invention and a roller blind cutter according to the foregoing second aspect of the invention mounted on a common surface having a common measuring scale for cutting a window covering or a roller blind to a desired length.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a cutting machine according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a carriage plate of a covering cutter of the machine of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a die plate of a covering cutter of the machine of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a roller blind cutter of the machine of Figure 1; and Figure 5 shows measuring means of the machine of Figure 1.
Referring to Figure 1, a blind cutting machine 10 suitable for cutting roller blinds, pleated blinds, headrails, metal blinds and roller lath/vertical blinds is shown. The machine 10 has a worktop 12, a roller blind cutter 14 at a first end of the worktop 12 and a window covering cutter 16 at the same end of the worktop 12. A cabinet 18 is provided beneath the worktop 12 at its first end to house mechanisms such as motors and a hydraulic unit which drive the roller blind cutter 14 and the window covering cutter 16. The worktop 12 is provided with a cover 20 to cover the roller blind cutter 14, window covering cutter 16 and any blinds being cut for safety reasons. Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the window covering cutter 16 comprises a carriage plate 22 having various cutting members attached to it-the form of these cutting members will be described in more detail below.
The carriage plate 22 is attached to a hydraulic ram 24 powered by a first electric motor 26 housed in the cabinet 18.
A front carriage guide 28 and a rear carriage guide 30 are provided to guide vertical movement of the carriage plate 22. Bolt holes 32 are formed in the carriage guides 28,30. The various cutting surfaces are fixed to the carriage plate 22 and from its front side to its rear side, the carriage plate 22 comprises a vertical headrail blade 34, a corded metal shear blade 36, a pleated and corded shear blade 38 and a razor 40.
Referring to Figure 2, the corded metal shear blade 36 has two cutting surfaces 36', 36"since it is required to have different cutting properties for different components of the covering to be cut.
Referring to Figure 3, the window covering cutter 16 further comprises a die plate 42 having on one surface various cutting dies corresponding to the type of window covering to be cut. The cutting dies are removeably mounted via simple bolt arrangements and can conveniently be replaced by alternative cutting dies as required. Corresponding bolt holes are provided in the cutting dies and the carriage plate 22. when a die is required to be replaced, its bolt is removed and the die is slideable from the carriage plate 22. Aperture 100 (Figure 3) on the die plate 42 is left vacant for a die to be added when required. Bolt holes 44 are provided along the front and rear sides of the die plate 42 and these bolt holes 44 are profiled to correspond to the bolt holes 32 of the front 28 and rear 30 carriage guides. Towards the front of the die plate 42 is provided a roller lath/vertical blind cutting die 46, adjacent which is a metal Venetian blinds cutting die 48, adjacent which is a headrail blind cutting die 50, adjacent which is a pleated blind cutting die closest to the rear side of the die plate 42. Each module comprises apertures suitable for receiving a different type of blind, including apertures for headrails, the blinds themselves, bottom rails and any other component features.
On an opposite surface of the die plate 42 to the cutting dies, covering support attachments are mounted to stabilise coverings being cut.
The die plate 42 is attached by means of the bolt holes 44 to the carriage guides 28,30 such that the carriage plate 22 carries the blades 34,36, 38,40 across and flush with the cutting dies 46,48, 50, and 52 in use.
Referring to Figure 4, the roller blind cutter 14 comprises a base 56 mounted on the worktop 12 (not shown in Figure 4). Support means in the form of a clamp 58 mounted on the base 56 is provided to secure an elongate roller blind 60 in a cutting position. The clamp 58 is a standard screw type clamp. The support means is driven to rotate the blind about its longitudinal axis and a simple pulley and belt arrangement 62 is provided for this purpose-this is driven by an electric motor 64.
A mounting plate 68 is pivotally mounted to the base 56 and is pivotal in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the roller blind 60 in the cutting position. The mounting plate 68 includes a central aperture 70 and has a thickness of about 4mm. The mounting plate 68 has a first face 72 and a second opposite face 74 which is closer to the centre of the roller blind 60 than the first face 72 when the roller blind 60 is in the cutting position.
A first cutting wheel 76 is freely rotatably mounted by a tightened screw, such that it is difficult to rotate until it contacts the driven roller blind 60 during the cutting action, towards a front side of the central aperture 70 and a second cutting wheel 78 is fixed to a rear side of the central aperture 70. The mounting plate 68 is moveable in a channel 80 formed in the base 56. Extending from the mounting plate 68 in this plane of motion is a handle 82 by which the mounting plate 68 is pivotally moveable in a first direction from the front to the rear of the machine 10
and a second opposite direction from the rear to the front of the machine 10.
Movement in the second direction is limited by a mounting part 84 of the handle coming into contact with a surface of the worktop 12 (not shown in Figure 4). An index gear 86 is associated with the second cutting wheel 78 along with an index arm 88 which serves to detect movement of the mounting plate 68 corresponding to a cutting movement which leads to rotation of the second cutting wheel 78 by 20°.
A measuring scale 90 (see Figure 5) is provided along front and rear edges of the worktop 12. The same scale 90 is used to measure the length of a roller blind to be cut by the roller blind cutter 40 and the length of any blind to be cut by the window covering cutter 16. An end plate 92 has blind support members 94 which are adapted to locate the end of a blind being cut. The cutting surfaces of both the roller blind cutter 14 and the window covering cutter 16 are not at the same point along the scale 90 but an offset is factored into the blind support members 94, which have pointers indicating the final length of the blind after cutting. The use of common measuring devices between the two cutters 14,16 enables a significant saving in space compared to conventional machines.
In use, a blind to be cut using the window covering cutter 16 is positioned in the relevant cutting die 46,48, 50,52 and this may include a headrail, bottom rail, blind fabric and any other component part of the blind. A user may select and vary the length of the blind to be cut by locating the blind in the relevant support member 94 and adjusting the position of the end plate 92 on the measuring scale 90. The hydraulic ram 24 powered by the first electric motor 26 is then operated to force the carriage plate 22 vertically upwards guided by the front 28 and rear 30 carriage guides.
The blind is cut in a conventional fashion by the passage of the relevant blade 34,36, 38,40 across apertures of the corresponding cutting die 46, 48, 50, 52.
In use, a roller blind 60 is placed in the clamp 58 of the roller blind cutter 14 following which the clamp 58 is tightened. The roller blind 60 is driven by the second electric motor 64 and the mounting plate is moved via the handle 82 in the first direction from the front of the machine 10 towards the rear of the machine 10. During this movement of the mounting plate 68, the first cutting wheel 76 cuts through the entire blind 60. This includes a blind tube 96 and a fabric covering 98 wrapped around the tube 96. The blind 60 is covered in a shrink wrap material which serves to hold the fabric 98 tightly against the blind 96 throughout the cutting process. The handle 82 is next used to bring the mounting plate 68 back in an opposite direction 90 from the rear of the machine 10 to the front of the machine 10. In this movement the second cutting wheel 78 cuts through the fabric 98 of the blind 60 but not the tube 96 since the movement of the mounting plate 68 is limited by abutment of the mounting part 84 on the worktop 12. Driven rotation of the blind ensures that the fabric 98 is cut around the entire circumference of the tube 94.
The thickness of the mounting plate 68 is about 4mm and therefore the finished roller blind comprises an edge of the fabric covering 98 which is offset by about 4mm from the edge of the tube 96. Advantageously the roller blind cutter 14 provides an efficient means of producing a finished roller blind having a fabric covering edge which is inset from an edge of the tube mounting the fabric covering.
Upon completion of the movement of the mounting plate 68 in the opposite direction, the index arm 88 forces the movement of the index gear 86 by one notch on the gear 86 and this is equivalent to 20° of
movement in the present embodiment. Advantageously, a different part of the second cutting wheel 78 is then used for the next roller blind to be cut. In this way an efficient means of using the entire cutting surface of the second cutting wheel 78 is provided.
It has been found beneficial to fix the second cutting wheel 78 during cutting of the fabric 98 alone since this prevents fraying of the fabric during the cutting process. When cutting both the tube 96 and the fabric 98, it has been found that free mounting of the first cutting wheel 76 provides an efficient cutting operation-therefore no indexing means is necessary in association with the first cutting wheel 76.
Beneficially the roller blind cutter 14 and the window covering cutter 16 use the same measuring scale 90. This gives rise to a significant saving in space compared to previous machines-in which roller blind cutters and other window covering cutters were not provided on the same machine.
Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention-for example a different form of mounting plate may be envisaged in use with the roller blind cutter which perhaps provides a different form of indexing means and to offset cutting surfaces - which may be moveable linearly as opposed to pivotally. Different cutting modules may be provided for cutting different types of blinds for example wooden blinds or faux wood blinds, and the form of the carriage plate used to simultaneously operate each cutting blade may be different.