Apparatus and method for making a window covering having operable vanes.

DEVICE AND METHOD OF ELABORATION OF WINDOW COVER THAT HAS OPERABLE TABLETS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to roofs for architectural openings or voids, and more specifically, to the apparatus and methods associated with the manufacture of these covers.

Background of the Invention

Coverings for architectural openings or voids, such as windows, doors, arcades, and the like, have assumed numerous forms for many years. The earlier forms of these covers consisted primarily of draped fabric across the architectural span and in many examples the fabric was unable to move between the extended and retracted positions relative to the span.

Coverings that can be retracted for architectural openings or voids have evolved in many different ways, including roll shapes in which a piece of flexible material can be extended from a wrapped condition on the roll to an extended position. through the architectural gap and vice versa. Other popular forms of roofing that can be retracted for an architectural opening include blinds

REF. 238362

Venetian blinds, vertical blinds, cellular blinds and different variations of these basic designs.

Commonly, current manufacturing equipment and methods for manufacturing window coverings have not sufficiently tested the handling of more than one coextensively flowing material, with the insertion of one or more lateral components for the operational assembly of all components allowing relative movement between at least two of the assembled parts.

In addition, a unique machine and method is typically designated for each different window covering design. This creates undesirable costs, increases the risk of a significant capital investment in an unsuccessful product, and leads to slow startup times for the manufacture of new products. Research and development efforts were also hindered at least in part due to a lack of flexibility to easily modify existing manufacturing equipment to build new designs.

In order to satisfy the need for flexible manufacturing equipment designs and associated methods, the present invention has been developed.

Summary of the Invention

The apparatus and method of the present invention were developed to address the need for window covering manufacturing equipment and methods that are effective in manufacturing a particular window covering design and also that could be rapidly transformed into other configurations. for the manufacture of different window cover designs.

In the present invention, the apparatus includes handling elements or assemblies that bring together one or more support structures, as well as handling assemblies that integrate slats, operating elements, and other structural features together for assembly in a few stages. These handling elements or mounts may have the ability to adjust and reconfigure in order to handle more or less support structures and other structural features depending on the design of the window coverings.

In one example, a method of manufacturing an architectural span or void cover includes supplying a support structure having at least one operating element extending along at least part of the length of the support structure, the operating element can be moved relative to the support structure, operatively connecting the upper portion of at least one slat to the support structure, operatively coupling the lower portion with at least one slat of at least one operating element, wherein the lower portion moves relative to the upper portion through displacement of at least one operating element.

In another example, a manufacturing method of an architectural gap or void cover includes movement of a first material, movement of a second material along with the first material, the second material exposing at least a portion of the first material, the supplying a third material adjacent to the first and second materials, bonding a first portion of the third material to the second material, joining a second portion of the third material with the exposed portion of the first material, and wherein movement of the second material relative to the first material causes the first portion of the third material to move relative to the second portion of the third material.

Another example of the method of the present invention for making a window covering for an architectural opening or void includes the movement of a support structure along its length, the movement of at least one adjacent operating element and together with the support structure, the insertion of a slat extending laterally through the support structure, the union of a first portion of the slat with the support structure at least around an operating element, and the union of a second portion of the slat with at least one operating element, where the first portion is located by above the second portion when the window cover is in use.

An example of an apparatus for making a window covering includes a support structure handling assembly that manipulates the support structure, an operation element handling assembly that manipulates at least one operation element, a slat handling that handles at least one slat having an upper portion and a lower portion, and an assembly station. At the assembly station, the operating element assembly positions at least one operating element along the support structure, the slat handling assembly laterally positions the slat through the support structure, and the assembly station joins the lower portion of at least one slat with at least one operating element, and joins the upper portion of the slat to the support structure and not at least one operating element.

A further example of the present inventive method includes the movement of a first material along its length, the movement of a second material along its length and at least partially coextensive with the first material, the first and the second materials are separated; the insert of a slat that has an upper portion and a lower portion between the first and second materials, the union of the upper portion with one of the first or the second materials, and the union of the lower portion with the other of the first or the second materials.

Another example of a method of making a window covering for an architectural opening or void includes moving a first folded material, which has folds or bends, along its length, positioning a first slat that has an upper portion along one side of the material, positioning a second slat having an upper portion along the other side of the material, joining the upper portion of the first slat to one side of the material adjacent a fold and joining the upper portion of the second slat to the other side of the material adjacent the fold.

A further example of an apparatus for making a window covering includes a support structure handling assembly that manipulates a support structure, an operation element handling assembly that manipulates at least one operation element, an assembly slat handling machine that handles at least one slat having a first portion and a second portion, the means operatively linking the support structure to a first slat portion, and the means operatively linking at least one operating element to a second portion of the slat.

Other aspects, features and details of the present invention may be more fully understood with reference to the following detailed description of the various embodiments taken in conjunction with the appended claims and figures.

Brief Description of the Figures

The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent more quickly from the following detailed description, which is illustrated by way of example in the figures, where:

Figures 1A-1E are views of a shutter capable of being retracted with a folding or folding slat as manufactured by the associated apparatus and method described herein.

Figure 2 is a front view of a blind capable of being retracted with folding slats showing the blind collected in its entirety around the intake or capture cylinder.

Figure 3 is a front view of a blind capable of being retracted with folding slats showing the blind partially collected around the intake cylinder.

Figure 4 is similar to Figure 3 with the shutter shown in the extended position.

Figure 5 shows the shutter capable of being retracted with folding slats with the slats in the partially folded position.

Figure 6 is a front view of the shutter capable of being retracted with folding slats with the slats in the fully folded position.

Figure 7 is a block diagram of the basic stages of operation of the apparatus.

Figure 8 is a schematic view of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention, showing the clapboard handling assembly, the supporting structure handling assembly, and the operating element handling assembly.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 9 from the opposite side, showing the tape handling assembly, the supporting structure handling assembly, and the operating element handling assembly.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention, taken from the exterior side thereof, where the assembled shutter is removed from the apparatus.

Figure 12 is a top plan view of the apparatus of the present invention.

Figure 13 is a schematic view of the support assembly handling assembly, the operating element handling assembly, the tape handling assembly, and the clapboard handling assembly.

Figure 14 is similar to Figure 13, with the mounting components actuated.

Figure 15 is a material flow diagram of the support structure and operating elements in the apparatus of the present invention.

Figure 16 is a front view of the apparatus of the present invention, although it does not show the origin roller of the support structure or the source coils of the operating elements.

Figure 17A is a section taken along line 17A-17A in Figure 16, and shows the adhesive being dispensed onto the bottom tab of a board.

Figure 17B is a section taken along line 17B-17B of Figure 16 and shows the adhesive being dispensed onto the top tab of a board.

Figure 17C is a representative cross section of a slat used in the assembly of the shutter capable of being retracted with folding slats, having the adhesive applied to both the upper and lower portions of the tongue.

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center of Figure 19, which includes the vacuum transport system for the ribbon handling assembly and the vacuum transport system for the ribbon handling assembly.

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with the fusion bar that engages with the operating elements and the belt.

Figure 25C is an enlarged partial view of Figure 25Ά.

Figure 25D is a bottom perspective view of Figure 25A showing the relationship of the melting bar, tape, and operating element.

Figure 25E is an enlarged partial view of Figure 25B showing the fusion bar in clutch with operating elements and tape.

Figure 25F is a bottom perspective view of Figure 25E.

Figure 25G shows two lengths of tape attached with two operating elements.

Figure 26 is a section taken along line 26-26 of Figure 20.

Figure 27A is a section taken along line 27A-27A of Figure 26.

Figure 27B is similar to Figure 27A, except that it shows the fusion bars in clutch with the board during the final stage of assembly.

Figure 27C is an enlarged partial view of Figure 27A.

Figure 27D is an enlarged partial view of Figure 27B.

Figure 27E is a section taken along line 27E-27E of Figure 27D.

Figure 27F is a section taken along line 27F-27F of Figure 27D.

Figure 27G is a section taken along line 27G-27G of Figure 27F.

Figure 27H is a section taken along line 27H-27H of Figure 27E.

Figure 271 is a section taken along line 271-271 of Figure 27E.

Figure 27J is a section taken along line 27J-27J of Figure 27H.

Figure 27K is a section taken along line 27K-27K in Figure 27G.

Figure 28A is a representative cross section of another window covering capable of being manufactured with the associated inventive apparatus and method.

Figure 28B is a representative schematic of the apparatus of the present invention for use in manufacturing a different window covering.

Figure 28C is a schematic view of a further embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, further showing the manufacture of the different window cover of Figure 28B.

Figure 29A is a simplified view of a window covering having a folded support sheet with slats extending outside either side of the folded support sheet.

FIG. 29B is a schematic view of one embodiment of the apparatus described herein, for the manufacture of the window covering shown in FIG. 29A.

Figure 29C is a schematic view of the apparatus shown in Figure 29B showing the fusion bar in clutch with the slat for the window cover assembly shown in Figure 29A.

Figure 30A is a schematic view of an adhesive application station that places the adhesive on the top surface of the tape.

Figure 30B is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing an adjustable roller that provides relative movement of the operating elements with respect to the slat before the final stage of assembly.

Figure 31 is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, showing material flow stations and bonding operation.

Figure 32 is a view of a portion of one embodiment of the conveyor or belt handling assembly, including the supply reel, the gluing station, the accumulator, the cutting station, and a portion of the conveyor of the belt conveyor. .

Figure 33 is a representative sectional view of the belt vacuum conveyor and the cutting station of the belt conveyor assembly.

Figures 34 and 34A show a representative section taken along line 34-34 of Figure 33 and shows a position of the push rod and the structure of the tie bar used for coupling the operating element with the headband.

Figure 35 is a representative section similar to Figure 34, and shows a position of the push rod and tie bar structure that are used for coupling the operating element to the tape.

Figure 36 is a representative section similar to Figure 34, and shows a position of the push rod and tie bar structure that are used for coupling the operating element to the tape.

Figure 37 is a representative section similar to Figure 34, and shows a position of the push rod and the structure of the tie bar that are used for coupling the operating element with the tape.

Figure 38 is a representative section similar to Figure 34, and shows a position of the push rod and tie bar structure that are used for coupling the operating element to the tape.

Figure 39 is a view of a portion of one embodiment of the board transport or handling assembly, including material supply reels, shirring or folding wheels, gluing stations, folding forms, cooling reel, accumulator and the cutting station.

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line 47-47 of Figure 39.

Figure 48 is a representative sectional view of the assembly station, which includes the ribbon and clapboard vacuum conveyors, the tie bar that couples the tape to the operating elements, and the tie bars that couple the combined tape and operating elements to the tablet, and the supporting structure with the tablet.

Figure 49 is a section taken along line 49-49 of Figure 48, and shows the materials interleaved before the joining step is performed.

Figure 50 is a section similar to Figure 49, and shows the interleaved materials after the bonding step is performed.

Figure 51 is a representative section of a two-component filament for use as an alternative operating element.

Figure 52 is a representative section of a staple that is being used to join the board to the operating element, in this case, also with a support piece, as an alternative joint structure.

Detailed description of the invention

The invention described herein refers to an apparatus and method associated with the manufacture of a panel for covering an architectural opening or hole, one embodiment of the panel can be a blind that can be retracted with slats that can be operated or manipulated. The splints can be operated if they are folded, turned, collected or that have another type of individual or collective movement. For the best understanding of the characteristics of the apparatus and the methods involved in its use, the first part of this application addresses the structure of a modality of a blind that can be retracted with folding slats. The second part addresses the associated apparatus and method used to manufacture the retractable shutter. It is contemplated that the apparatus could be configured to make other types of blinds.

The shutter susceptible to retraction 50 in the present invention is shown in different operating positions in Figures 1A-1E. This blind includes an open support fabric 52 (such as the chiffon), a plurality of slats 54 connected to the open support fabric, and operating elements 56 for movement of the slats between the closed and open positions. The open support fabric in this embodiment is in the form of a thin sheet of fabric or open fabric. In this embodiment, the diaphanous support fabric, or sheet, is of a rectangular configuration that has the top and bottom edges and the left and right side edges, with a tightened or loaded bottom rail that is secured to the bottom edge of the fabric diaphanous support.

As shown in Figures 1A-1E, the retractable shutter 50 with folding slats 54 can be moved from a first position or closed position as shown in Figure 1A, to a folded position or open position, as shown in Figures 1C or 1E. Figure IB shows an intermediate position in the transition from the first position to the final position. Figure 1C shows the splint 54 in the fully folded position. The nodes 58 in the operating elements 56 are included here to show the movement of the operating elements relative to the diaphanous support fabric. Figure ID shows a perspective view of a section of the blind 50 of the present invention, showing two adjacent slats joined with the transparent support fabric 52, with the operating elements 56 (cords) extending along the extension of the sheer fabric 52 and in a transverse direction to the slats 54. Figure 1E shows the slats in the open or retracted positions based on the actuation of the operating elements.

In an embodiment as shown in Figure 2, the diaphanous support fabric 52 is suspended along its upper edge of the generally cylindrical roller 60 located on the front rail 62 of the blind 50, with the roller being mounted to its selective movement rotated and inverted around a horizontal central axis in a conventional way. As seen in Figure 2, the roll is provided with an identical first slot 64 and a second slot 66 that extend in the axial direction and are circumferentially spaced apart, which open through the periphery of the roll with the first slot that supports the upper edge of the see-through support fabric 52. The upper edge of the diaphanous support fabric could be hemmed so that a rod can be inserted through the hem and it can be placed longitudinally in the slot where it is held by a pair of lips defined on the periphery of the roller in where the slot opens through the periphery. The lips are separated by a distance smaller than the diameter of the rod, so that the rod and the hemmed top edge of the see-through support fabric are confined within slot 64. Alternately, a polyethylene strip could be used to wedge the top edge of the fabric into groove 64 without the need for a hemmed structure as described above.

The bottom edge of the see-through support fabric 52 can be pinned or loaded, such as a rod 55 admitted into a hemmed receptacle 57, such as the one shown in Figure 3. The load could also be provided by a structural rail attached to the bottom of the see-through support fabric 52. The load could not be at the bottom edge of the see-through support fabric 52, but could instead be generally in the middle part of the length of the see-through support fabric, or at the bottom portion of the see-through support fabric 52. Figure 3 also shows the lower edge 59 of the lowermost splint 54 that could include a load attached thereto, such as a rod located in a hemmed section, or other type of weight, to help pull down the elements. of operation and cause the lower edge of the splint to descend more quickly. Because the operating elements are attached to the lower portion of the splint 54, if the lower portion of the lower splint were loaded, the winch will assist in pulling down the operating elements 56 when desired by the user. .

This overall structure allows the shutter 50 to be retracted around and unwound from the roll as the roll is rotated.

The retractable shutter described herein also includes a plurality of vertically extending flexible operating elements 56 (see Figures 5 and 6), which are horizontally spaced across the width of the panel, with the upper ends of the operating elements being secured on the roller in the second slot 66. This joining of the second slot is accomplished by tying the upper ends of each flexible operating element 56 to a rod that is inserted into a second slot 66 and is retained therein as described with respect to the first slot 64. The operations act on the slats 54 as described in greater detail below.

The structure from which the shutter is suspended, retracted, and activated could have different cylinder shapes on a lintel as previously described. Also, the blind could be wound around the cylinder in a different direction so that it hangs on the other side of the cylinder as desired.

As shown in Figures ID and 1E, the plurality of elongated slats 54 is suspended in a generally horizontal manner across the front face of the see-through support fabric 52 at vertically spaced locations. Each slat 54 has a generally rectangular configuration, although other configurations are contemplated, and is made of a flexible material and has a front portion 68 and a rear portion 70, as best shown in Figures IB and 1C. The rear portion 70 is optional and could be made of a variety of materials or fabrics and could allow or block the passage of light. The front portion and the rear portion of each splint are joined together to form a unitary structure. The top edge of the front portion is folded back and down to form an upper tab 72. The bottom edge of the front portion is folded back and up to form a bottom tab 74. The upper edge 71 of the rear portion 70 is joined with the inner edge of the upper tab 72 and the lower edge 73 of the rear portion 70 is joined with the inner edge of the lower tab 74, as best shown in Figures IB and 1C. As shown in Figures 1 and IB, the bottom edge 73 of the rear portion 70 is attached a short distance outside the terminal edge of the bottom tab 74. This relative location is variable based on the desired actuation and aesthetics of the slat 54 as it moves from its closed position to its open position, and can be changed as desired for any desired configuration.

Front 68 and rear 70 portions combine to form slat structure 54. As previously described as rectangular slats, the slats could be any desired shape with the ability to provide the functionality described herein. The clapboard structure is effectively a tube with deformation properties in order to achieve the desired aesthetic effect when in the closed and open positions. Each slat structure 54 defines an upper and lower longitudinal edge having a rearward facing portion. In this example, this rear facing portion is contiguous with the upper 72 and lower 74 tabs formed through the front portion 68. The rearward facing portion 72 at the top edge and the rearward facing portion 74 at the bottom edge of each slat structure serve as the general bonding locations to the see-through support fabric, as described in greater detail below. .

The slats 54 are operatively joined with the diaphanous support fabric 52 along the upper 72 and lower 74 tabs located inwardly in the manner to be described hereafter. The exposed or front face 76 of each slat between the tabs has a length, such that each slat 54 overlaps the adjacent slat when the cover is in the closed position. See Figures 1A and ID. In the closed position, each slat 54 is substantially flat and generally parallel with the see-through support fabric 52. It is contemplated that in some embodiments, no overlap is governed, and some portion of the exposed see-through support fabric 52 could be seen between the slats adjacent 54, depending on the dimension of each slat 54 and the desired aesthetic appearance. These variations in the final structure are contemplated by the associated apparatus and method as described herein. Each flexible operating element 56 hangs in a substantially vertical direction the full height of the sheer fabric 52 and is secured at separate locations along its length on the bottom tongue 74 of each slat, so that if the operation, the bottom edge of each slat would be raised synchronously towards the top tongue of each respective slat 54 to thereby define a gap or open space between the slats through which vision and / or light are permitted. As will be appreciated, because each slat 54 is made of a flexible material and generally folds along its longitudinal center when in the open position, movement of the lower edge 78 towards the upper edge 80 causes it to fold the splint or expanding forward as seen for example in Figures IB and 1C. During this transition from a closed position to an open position, the splint 54 in cross-section changes from being generally flat as shown in Figure 1A in the closed position to an arched shape in the open position shown in Figure 1C.

Flexible operating elements 56 are shown as monofilament cords although they may assume different forms, including but not limited to strips of fabric or other materials, cords of synthetic or natural fibers, or the like. The operating elements could have a variety of cross sections including, circular, oval, rectangular, square or other geometric shapes and could even be irregular in shape. The operating elements 56 need not be attached to each slat 54, but could instead be attached to any desired slat so that they can move between an open position and a closed position. Examples of the operating elements provided herein as well as anywhere herein are considered operating means in the context of this description and the appended claims.

The slats by themselves could be made of any material that includes but is not limited to woven or non-woven fabrics, vinyls, metal hinged plate or other materials. Each slat 54 could also have a different configuration, so that it is made of a single layer or multiple layers of material, or the flexibility of the material can vary from flexible and folding to semi-rigid with folds or axes to allow the slat to Efficiently fold or change settings during operation moving from the closed position to the open position. Examples of the slats provided herein, as well as either side herein, are considered slat means for operation in the context of this description and the appended claims.

The transparent support fabric 52 could be any flexible or foldable sheet of other materials with different structures and levels of transparency (from opaque to light), and could be woven or non-woven materials and made of natural and / or handmade materials. The transparent support fabric could be characterized as a support or backing for the structure of the blind. The transparent support fabric could also be one or more non-continuous support strips across the width of the blind. These support strips could be monofilament cords, natural cords, strings or straps, or some other discrete structure. The support strips could be equally or unevenly spaced across the width of the slat. The transparent support fabric could also be made of strips of material coupled or joined together, which extend in the horizontal and / or vertical direction. The individual strips of material could be joined together along their side edges or could overlap each other. The see-through support fabric could also be in sections of substantially rigid material extending in the horizontal direction (thin strips or slats) operatively joined together, such as the slats operatively or rotatably joined or connected together. The term joined in this context includes one adjacent to the other or separated from each other. The slats can also be made of plastic, wood, metal or other suitable materials. The diaphanous support fabric referred to above is also referred to as a support structure or back, as well as other examples provided herein are considered support means in the context of this description and the appended claims.

In the operation of the window cover or blind described herein, the top tab 72 of each slat 54 is connected to an open support fabric 52 across the width of the open support fabric. The -operation elements 56 extend between the diaphanous support fabric 52 and the upper tongue 72 of each slat and, where the operating elements 56 extend between these two elements, the upper tongue 72 of the slat and the diaphanous fabric Support pieces 52 are not joined together to allow the operating element to move relative to the two. The operating elements 56 are joined with the lower tongue 74 of each slat 54 and the lower tongue 74 of each slat 54 is not joined with the transparent support fabric 52, so that when the operating elements are pulled up, the Lower tab 74 of each slat would be pulled toward upper tab 72 of each slat 54 to displace slats 54 from the collectively closed position to. collectively open position, as shown in the transition from Figure 1Ά to Figure 1C and from Figure ID to Figure 1E.

The upper tab 72 of each slat 54 is connected to the diaphanous support fabric through an adhesive, gluing, or other means (which are collectively referred to herein as adhesives) that securely joins the two structures together. In the manufacturing process, the adhesive is not activated at the locations where the operating element 56 passes between the upper tab 74 of the slat 54 and the transparent support fabric 52, thus allowing the operating element 56 to move freely relative to top tab 72 of splint 54 and see-through support fabric 52.

The bottom tab 74 of each board 54 is connected to each operating element 56 with a tie strip or tape 82 (see Figure 25G). Bonding strip or tape 82 is a backing or blocking material on which the adhesive is applied. The adhesive side of the tape 82 is pressed against the operating elements 56 to adhere the operating elements with the tape 82. Tape 82 is impermeable to the adhesive so that it prevents the adhesive from flowing through the tape and bonds the transparent support fabric 52 in subsequent processing steps. In this way, the operating elements 56 are joined with the lower tab 74 of the slat 54, yet the lower tab 74 of the slat 54 is not joined with the transparent support fabric 52, which allows the lower edge 78 to the slat 54 moves up and down with respect to the transparent support fabric 52 based on the movement of the operating elements 56. The adhesive that is used to hold the tape 82 in the operating elements 56 is also used to bond the combination of tape 82 and the operating elements 56 to the lower tab 74 of the slat 54. Additional adhesive or other adhesives could also be used. .

In the particular embodiment of the retractable shutter 50 with folding slats 54 described herein, the highest (or top) tab 72 has a smaller height than the lowest (bottom) tab 74. See Figures IB and 1 C. The bottom edge 78 of the bottom tab 74 in the closed position of the retractable blind 50 overlaps the top edge 80 of the immediately adjacent underlying tape (see Figure ID). Thus, when the blind 50 is in the closed position, vision and / or light through the blind is minimized (based on the underlying opacity of the sheet material and the slat material). As noted previously, the slats 54 could be spaced apart from each other when in the closed position, depending on the aesthetics desired in any particular design configuration.

The operation of the blind is probably best illustrated in Figures 2-6. In this example, slats 54 are made of a single layer of material and have a fold or fold formed therein by an angular cross-section profile. In Figure 2, the shutter is shown fully retracted and wrapped entirely around roller 60 with the bottom edge of the panel being located along the rear side of the roller. As roller 60 is rotated counterclockwise, as seen in Figures 2-6, shutter 50 in its closed position lowers by gravity with each slat 54 that is substantially flat and overlaps the next adjacent lower splint. The shutter 50 remains in this generally flat closed orientation through the position shown in Figure 3 and until it reaches the nearly complete and extended position of Figure 4, at which point the joint slot 64 of the open support fabric in the roller 60 it is in the upper part of the roller and the joint groove 60 of the operating element 56 is in the rear of the roller. The additional counterclockwise rotation movement of the roller clock hands 60 to the position in Figure 5 shows the operating elements 56 being pulled up relative to the open support fabric 52 by forward movement. of the second slot 66 in which the operating elements are anchored. As the operating elements 56 are raised relative to the diaphanous support fabric 52, they simultaneously lift the lower edge 78 of each slat 54 causing the slat to bend, fold or deform outward with the lower edge 78 of each tablet 54 that is being separated from the upper edge 80 of the next adjacent lower tablet. Continuous counterclockwise rotation of the roller clockwise 60 toward the position in Figure 6, which is the limit of its counterclockwise rotation, causes the second slot 66 to be located next to the front of the roll, the bottom edge 78 of each slat 54 having been raised as much as it will be raised, so the shutter is in the fully open positions with maximized slat spacings 54.

In reverse rotation of roller 60, i.e. clockwise from the position of Figure 6, the second slot 66 will initially move to the position of Figure 5 allowing the lower edge 78 of each slat 54 falls by gravity to the position of Figure 4, where the slats are closed in their entirety and in a substantially coplanar relationship with the open support fabric. Continuous rotation in the clockwise direction of rotation causes the shutter 50 in its closed condition to be wrapped around roller 60 until it once again resumes the retracted position of Figure 2.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the shutter can be fully retracted, as illustrated in Figure 2, or can be lowered with the slats 54 in their fully closed position to the desired degree until the shutter is fully extended as shown in Figure 4, even though slats 54 are closed. Further rotation of roller 60 causes slats 54 by themselves to retract and generate gaps between adjacent slats through which vision and / or light is allowed through the panel. As will be appreciated, in this mode the slats can only be opened when the panel is fully extended, even though with the slats closed, the degree of extension of the blind 50 through the architectural opening can be at any desired degree. It is envisaged that a different drive system allowing more independent drive of the operating elements could allow the slats to be driven when the blind is only partially deployed.

Hereinafter, an apparatus 84 and associated method of assembling the shutter capable of being retracted with folding slats is described as described above. As shown schematically in Figure 7, the associated apparatus and method effectively employs a splint preparation section 86, an open support tissue preparation section 88, and an operating element preparation section. 90 to facilitate that the three sections are assembled into a product capable of being operated, which is then finished in the form of the final product in a convenient manner. The apparatus for carrying out the assembly method is shown schematically in Figure 8, and has an open support tissue transport assembly 92, an element transport assembly Operating 94, a board transport assembly 96 and a belt transport assembly 98. All of these four assemblies converge into joint assembly 100 where slat 54 and operating elements 56 are operatively linked with open support fabric 52. The present embodiment of apparatus 84 performing the method of the present invention is a cross-shaped structure with an open support tissue transfer assembly 92 and an operating element transport assembly 94 extending from the bottom to the top in Figure 8. In general, the see-through support fabric 52 and the operating elements 56 move along the extent and direction of movement of the see-through support fabric through apparatus 84. The slat transport assembly 96 is positioned outside on one side of the diaphanous support tissue transport assembly 92, and the tape transport assembly 98 are positioned outside on the opposite side of the diaphanous support tissue transport assembly 92 from the slat transport assembly 96. The slat transport assembly 96 and tape transport assembly 98 each function to prepare the slat 54 and tape 82 for adhesion to the clear support fabric 52 and also to facilitate movement of the appropriate length of the slat 54 and the tape 82 transverse to the length (eg, across the width of) of the see-through support fabric 52, as will be described in greater detail below. It should be understood that the board transport assembly 96 and the belt transport assembly 98 could be located on the same side as the other, above or below one with respect to the other and that multiple of these stations can be located at along the extension of the support diaphanous tissue transport assembly 92, depending on the particular design of the blind 50 that is being built in the apparatus 84. In Figure 8, the diaphanous support tissue transport assembly 92 and the operating element transport assembly 94 are shown side by side. This is a representation convenience. As will be further described below, the flow of the operating element is below the flow of the diaphanous support fabric, as required for the particular bonding structure described herein. The junction assembly 100 is shown in Figure 8 coextensive and adjacent to the insertion location of the splint 54, and downstream of the introduction of the tape 82 to the diaphanous support tissue transport assembly 92. This position could also

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vary depending on the particular design of the shutter 50 being produced. In bonding assembly 100, apparatus 84 joins slat 54 with diaphanous support fabric 52 and the combination of tape 82 and operating element 56 with slat 54, as also described in greater detail below.

In Figures 9 and 10, an assembly apparatus 84 is shown including the diaphanous support tissue transport assembly 92, the operating element transport assembly 94, the slat transport assembly 96 and the transport transport assembly of tape 98. The see-through support fabric transport assembly 92 is shown with the see-through support fabric being unwound from the material of the rolled-up piece of fabric and is drawn through the apparatus by a rear draw or tension roller (not shown ). The operating element transport assembly 94 is shown below the support diaphanous tissue transport assembly 92 and facilitates the separation and tensioning of the operating elements 56 for transport to the apparatus 84 and their attachment to the tape 82 , which will be described in greater detail later. Tablet transport assembly 96 removes prepared tablet 54 from a supply roll and applies adhesive to tabs 72 and 74 on tablet 54, and then transports the appropriate length of tablet 54 through the clear support fabric 52 in preparation for the bonding process. The belt transport assembly 98 is shown on the side of the apparatus opposite the tablet transport assembly 96 and is best seen in Figure 10. The tape transport assembly 98 applies adhesive to one side of the tape 82 and thereafter, facilitating the extension of the appropriate length of the tape through the clear support fabric 52 for operative bonding with the operating elements 56 and thereafter. , with the lower tab 74 of the tab 54.

The operation of the apparatus 84, which includes the operation of the various transport assemblies and the bonding station, is controlled through various automatic components in the control tower 102 shown adjacent to the belt transport assembly 98 in the Figures. 9 and 10. Automatic components include, but are not limited to, microprocessors, memories, logic controllers, program logic units, software, and other known systems and components that allow control of the various stages of synchronization and operation performed by the apparatus. The controller unit regulates the advance of the transparent support fabric 52 and the operating element 56, the insertion of the splint 54 and the tape 82, and the application of the adhesives, as well as, regulates the joining stage for the adhesion of the tape 54 on the operating elements and the splint 54 on the transparent support fabric 52 and the tape 82 among other aspects of the apparatus.

Figure 11 shows the outer side of the apparatus 84 where the complete shutter structure 50 is removed from the apparatus and wound on a receiving roller 104 in order to be taken to the finishing process where the shutter 50 is cut to its length and final width and the front rail, roller and bottom weights are installed and the product is ready for sale.

FIG. 12 shows a top view of apparatus 84 in its current embodiment and is a more detailed representation of the schematic shown in FIG. 8. Source or source roll 116 of the diaphanous support tissue material 52 is shown in part bottom of Figure 12 with the diaphanous support tissue material being drawn into apparatus 84 by a set of post-stretch or tension rollers 110 (see Figure 15). Below the curvature movement of the diaphanous support fabric 52, the operating elements in this embodiment shown as the monofilament line, are taken from a plurality of coils 108 on a supply or supply frame 106 and are stretched into the apparatus through the spacer elements that help ensure adequate width spacing of the operating elements 56. The operating elements 56 are drawn through the apparatus by means of the tension rollers (see Figure 15). The slat transport assembly 96 is shown to extend out to one side of the diaphanous support fabric 52 and shows the slat material 54 being initially handled and subsequently extended in the transverse direction through the diaphanous support fabric 52 by a conveyor assembly 112 as will be described in greater detail below. Similarly, on the opposite side of the diaphanous support tissue transport assembly 92 of the tablet transport assembly 96, the tape transfer assembly 98 is shown. The tape transport assembly 98 initially processes the tape 82 and uses a transport assembly 114 to translate the appropriate length of tape 82 in the transverse direction through the length of the diaphanous support tissue material 52. This will also be described in greater detail below. Figure 12 shows the diaphanous inlet support fabric 52 and the plurality of input operating elements 56 together with the lateral arrangement of the splint 54 on one side and the tape 82 on the other side for individual processing on the apparatus in order of joining all the elements together to form the blind that can be retracted 50 with the folding slats. The entire product is shown exiting the apparatus at the top, and is admitted onto the receiving roll 104 for further processing into the finished product.

Figures 13, 14, and 15 show a schematic view of the support diaphanous tissue transport assembly 92, the operating element transport assembly 94, the splint transport assembly 96, and the tape transport assembly 98. The assembly diaphanous support fabric transport 92 shows the feed roller 116 supplying the diaphanous support fabric 52 to the apparatus 84 through the bonding station 100 and out of the receiving roller 104. The operating element transport assembly 94 shows the plurality of coils 108 from which the operating elements 56 are separated, and a spacer element 118 showing the separation of the operating elements 56 before they are attached to the tape 82. The operating elements 56 are moved towards the apparatus 84 in parallel to each other for the connection with the tape 82, and subsequently, in combination with the tape, they are joined with the lower tab 74 of the board 54. Tablet transport assembly 96 shows tablet feed roller 130, two adhesive application units 132 and 134 which place the adhesive on upper 72 and lower 74 tabs on tablet 54, vacuum accumulator 136 and device cutting 138 that sections the board to the appropriate length. A vacuum transfer conveyor 112 is shown and used to move the slat across the width of the open support fabric. A pair of melt bars 140, 142 is shown above the slat vacuum conveyor 112. The melt bars (or tie bars where no heating or cooling aspects are used) 140, 142 are for the respective tie. of the see-through support fabric 52 with the upper tab 72 of the splint 54 and the combination of the tape 82 and the operating elements 56 with the lower tab 74 of the splint 54, as described in detail below. The grooves shown in the front fusion bar 140 allow the operating elements 56 to not engage with the upper tab 72 of the tab 54, as described in greater detail below.

The tape transport assembly 98 shows the tape feed roller 120, the adhesive application station 122 which places the adhesive on the tape 82 as it passes through it, the vacuum accumulator 124, the cutting mechanism 126 and the vacuum transfer conveyor 114. The melting bar 128 connecting the belt 82 with the operating elements 56, is shown below the belt vacuum conveyor 124.

In Figure 13, the tape 82 is shown to extend from the tape transport assembly 98 (through the vacuum conveyor 114) through the operating elements 56 and prior to bonding with the operating elements. Similarly, slat 54 is shown extended through diaphanous support fabric 52 by means of vacuum conveyor 112 and prior to actuation of melt bars 140, 142 to join slat 54 to diaphanous support fabric 52. and the operating elements 56. Figure 14 shows the schematic after the tape cutting mechanism 128 and the board cutting mechanism 138 have been actuated (arrows 129 are seen) and the length of the tape 82 and the length of the board 54 are suitably positioned. through the operating elements 56 and the diaphanous support fabric 52, respectively. Arrows 129 show the actuation of the various mechanisms, including the actuation of the cutting mechanisms 126 and 138, the tape melt bar 128, and the clapboard melt bars 140, 142. Optional fasteners 144 are also noted on the diaphanous support tissue material 52 which helps to hold it in place during the bonding step. Once the cutting mechanisms 126 and 138 have been actuated, the movement of the belt 82 and the slat material 54 out of its feed rollers 120, 130 continues, mainly because the adhesive application is better suited during continuous processing (however, continuous processing of the glue or adhesive application is not critical to the invention). The length of the tape 82 and the slat 54 has to be accumulated somewhere until the next section of the length is stretched through the see-through support fabric 52. As described below, vacuum accumulators 114, 112 are used to store the length of tape 82 and tablet 54 allowing adhesive applicators to work continuously, even when using tape 82 and tablet 84 in apparatus 84 they are in discrete lengths.

FIG. 15 is a schematic arrangement of a cross-sectional view of apparatus 84 of the present invention that is configured to assemble shutter 50 as previously described. The diaphanous support fabric transport assembly 92 shows the feed roller 114 on four guide rollers 146 in an arcuate path with a floating or oscillating roller 148, which is used to adjust the tension on the diaphanous support fabric to size it moves through apparatus 84. After the floating roller, the see-through support fabric moves down through the optional clamping mechanism 144 and around a roll to flow through the bonding station 100. The see-through support fabric 52 is stretched through the apparatus 84 by a pair of tension rollers 110.

The operating element transport assembly 94 is shown with the operating elements 56 being drawn from the reels 108 and positioned at least through a separating element 118, although all three are shown in this embodiment in order to locate suitably the operating elements accurately with respect to the belt 82 and accurately with respect to the last position on the transparent support fabric 52. The operating elements 56 are wound around a few rollers 150, including the oscillating or floating roller 152 for adjusting the tension of the operating elements 52 as they move through the assembly 84. The vacuum conveyor 114 of the tape conveyor assembly 98 is shown with the melting bar 128 presented on the opposite side of the operating elements thereof in order to attach the stretched belt 82 to the vacuum conveyor 114 of the conveyor assembly Tape transport 98 across the width of the see-through support fabric 52. Melting bar 128 is moved upward in this configuration to make contact with the tape and bond

<td>the</td><td>elements of</td><td>operation 56 with</td><td>the</td><td>tape 82.</td><td>The</td><td>elements</td>

<td>of</td><td>operation 56</td><td>in combination</td><td>with</td><td>tape</td><td> 82</td><td>they move</td>

<td colspan="2">then towards</td><td>the station</td><td colspan="2">assemble 100</td><td>in</td><td>where he</td>

Slat transport assembly 96 has stretched a length of slat 54 through the clear support fabric 52 and has been positioned below the pair of fusion bars 140, 142. At assembly station 100, the pair of melt rods 140, 142 are actuated to move them downward in this configuration so that they contact diaphanous fabric 52 to bond top tab 72 of slat 54 to diaphanous fabric. support with the right fusion bar 140 and to join the tape 82 and the operating elements 56 in the lower tab 74 of the slat 54 with the left fusion bar 142. As can be seen, the process flow is continuous with the diaphanous support fabric 52, the operating elements 56, the slat 54 and the belt 82 that are moving in staggered distances to the suitable location for processing in the apparatus as described.

Figure 16 shows a front view of the apparatus 84 taken as shown from Figure 12, and does not show the supply coil 116 for the diaphanous support fabric or the supply coils 108 of the operating elements. These features are described elsewhere herein. Clapboard transport assembly 96 is shown on the left side of center frame 154, tape transport assembly 98 is shown on the right side of center frame 154 and operating elements 56 and see-through support fabric 52 move towards the appliance (on the page) between and inside the central frame 154.

With respect to the board transport assembly 96, generally, the feed roll 130 of the board 54 provides the board material first to a tension pulley, subsequently to the adhesive application stations 132, 134. Tablet 54 is oriented with rear tabs 72, 74 that face upward the adhesive application stations to place a line of adhesive along and on each tab 72, 74 as tablet 54 passes through the application stations of adhesive. Once the adhesive has been applied to the upwardly facing tabs 72, 74 on tablet 54, tablet 54 runs through a vacuum accumulator 136 which stores the required length of tablet 54 for further processing , and applies constant tension to the slat transport assembly to help ensure that the slat material is not improperly tightened or is too loose in the following steps. The cutting mechanism 138 is located next to the central frame 154 and is used to section the slat material 54 into the desired length as part of the lateral transport process. The slat then runs through a tension roller (see Figure 17E) located next to center frame 154. The tension roller pulls tablet 54 from feed roller 114 and through the adhesive application, and also functions to spread the tablet over vacuum conveyor 112 to extend tablet 54 across the width of the apparatus which is coextensive. , generally, with the width of the diaphanous support fabric 52. This extension of the transverse slat 54 through the diaphanous support fabric 52 is to facilitate further processing of the blind 50 and to allow attachment of the slat 54 to the blind 50 as further described herein.

The tape transport assembly 98 is shown to the right of the center frame 154 in Figure 16 and includes the tape supply reel 120 that supplies the tape to the associated apparatus and process. Generally, the tape is pulled from the feed reel and runs through an adhesive application step 122, and thereafter, through a vacuum accumulator 124 to help ensure that the proper length of tape 82 is available for the next stage of processing. A cutting mechanism 126 is located next to the central frame 154 and is used to section the belt 82 to the desired length as part of the lateral transport process. The tape 82 is moved through a tension roller (see Figure 24) located next to the right center frame 154. The tension roller pulls the tape through the tape transport features and also functions to assist in positioning the tape 82 on the vacuum conveyor 114 in order to move the tape 82 laterally through the apparatus 84, which is generally coextensive with the width of the diaphanous support fabric.

Still referring to Figure 16 and

Figures 14 and 15, the operating elements 56 and the diaphanous support fabric 52 move between the left and right central frame members 154. The see-through support fabric 52 is transported alongside the top of the center frame in a series of roller mounts just prior to the position of the side insertion point of the deck 54 of the deck transport assembly 96, where the open fabric Supporting 52 rotates down towards the joining station in the region of the central frame and is positioned for joining with the slats 54 and the operating elements 56.

The operating elements 56 are transported on top of the central frame 154, but below the transparent support fabric 52, also in a series of roller assemblies, just before the lateral insertion point of the belt 82 of the assembly of the tape conveyor 98, where it rotates downward in the direction of the center frame region and is positioned for attachment to tape 82, and subsequently, to tab 54.

The operation of the slat transport assembly 96 is shown in Figures 17A-17E. Figure 17A depicts a section taken through adhesive application station 132 where adhesive 156 is placed on the bottom tab of the slat. Preferably this adhesive is applied in a continuous mode. Adhesive applicator 132 places adhesive 156 on bottom tab 74 as slat 54 is transported through adhesive application section on a roller 158. Figure 17B depicts adhesive application station 134 that places the Adhesive 157 on top tab 72 on slat 54. Preferably, adhesive 157 is applied continuously also as slat 54 travels on a roller 158. The end result shown in Figure 17C is that slat 54, which is positioned with tabs 72, 74 facing upward on slat transport assembly 96, has an adhesive application 156 positioned on the bottom tab. 74 and an adhesive application 157 located on the upper tongue 72.

It should be noted that in this configuration, adhesive 156 is applied at a location separate from bottom edge 78, toward top edge 80 of slat 54. This positioning of the adhesive allows bottom edge 78 of slat 54 to overlap with the edge upper 80 of adjacent lower slat 54 (see Figure ID) when shutter 50 is assembled. As shown in Figure 17C, adhesive 156 is located closer to the terminal end 158 of bottom tab 74 than to the bottom edge 78 of board 54.

Adhesive 156, 157 could be applied discontinuously and can be applied in various cross-sectional forms, and at different temperatures and viscosity levels, as desired for the particular application. Adhesive 156, 157 could also be applied in different positions on tabs 74 and 72, respectively, depending on the desired bonding structure and functionality between slat 54 and diaphanous support fabric 52. Various types of adhesives are acceptable, such as hot melt adhesives, urethane, or any adhesive that allows particular materials to be joined together in an acceptable way. In one example, adhesive 157 used on top tab 72 is EMS Griltex 6E, adhesive 156 used on bottom tab 74 is Bostik 4183 hot melt adhesive.

With the complete application of the adhesive, the splint 54 is completely prepared so that it is extended in the lateral direction through the diaphanous support fabric 52 for the joining step in the assembly station 100. However, before it is presented In the lateral extension operation, the splint 54 passes through a vacuum accumulator 136 as shown in Figures 17D and 17E. Vacuum accumulator 136 stores the appropriate length of slat 54 by allowing adhesive applicators 132, 134 to move continuously and preventing slab 54 from loosening or being too tight during processing. Vacuum accumulator 136 makes it easy for extension of slat 54 through see-through support fabric 52 to be presented accurately and precisely by accumulating the length necessary for the lateral extension step. Basically, vacuum accumulator 136 is a chamber that has a vacuum, which is pulled underneath the tablet through vacuum port 160. The vacuum pulls tablet 54 into the chamber of vacuum accumulator 136 and helps to its capture and damping during processing.

For example, the lateral extension of splint 54 onto diaphanous support fabric 52 requires approximately 90 inches (228.60 centimeters) of splint 54 that will move rapidly in precisely indexed periods. This means that once the tablet 54 moves through the adhesive application stations 132, 134, it needs to be stored in such a way that when the next length of the tablet is extended laterally through the see-through support fabric 52, the splint has been stored in a way that allows the splint to be pulled out of the storage position (i.e. of the vacuum accumulator 136) rapidly and move through the transparent support fabric 52 without accelerating the passage of the slat through any previous stage, such as the adhesive application stations 132, 134.

Figure 17E also shows the cutting mechanism 138 that sections the slat 54 to the appropriate length and the clamping mechanism 162 (which includes the advance cylinder 164) that advances the free end of the slat 54 over the vacuum transport system. 112 for lateral extension through the transparent support fabric 52. In greater detail, as tablet 54 is advanced through tablet conveying assembly 96, and once adhesives 156, 157 have been applied, tablet 54 continues through vacuum accumulator 136 and through the steering assembly where the clamping mechanism is located 162. Splint 54 passes through clamping mechanism 162 where clamping mechanism 162 is in its open position and extends to a tension roller 166 which in conjunction with vacuum transport 112 (as described in greater detail below) maintains the slat 54 and moves it across the width of the clear support fabric 52. When the appropriate length of slat 54 has been moved along vacuum conveyor 112, cutting mechanism 138 is actuated to move downward to section slat 54. The protrusion or pendant of slat 54 off the conveyor Vacuum 112 is then moved through the vacuum conveyor to the proper lateral position with respect to the diaphanous support fabric 52. This aligns the length of the slat 54 with the width of the see-through support fabric 52 for the step of joining the slat 54 to the see-through fabric and the operating elements, which is discussed in greater detail below. Once the length of slat 54 has been laterally positioned across the diaphanous support fabric, the free end of the next slat length is released from tension roller 166 and vacuum conveyor 112.

In order for the free end of the slat 54 to clutch with the tension roller 166 and the vacuum conveyor 112, the clamping mechanism 162 is actuated to fix and secure the slat material, the tension roller 166 is disengaged from the vacuum conveyor 112 and feed cylinder 164 is driven to push clamping mechanism 162, and thus, the free end of slat 54, through the retracted cutting station 138 and engages with the vacuum conveyor 112 and tension roller 166. The tension roller 166 is then moved downward to trap the free end against the vacuum conveyor 112, and together With the vacuum conveyor, stretch the splint 54 onto the vacuum conveyor.

Vacuum conveyor 112 draws a vacuum over the portion of slat 54 that overlaps the vacuum conveyor, and in combination with tension roller 166 pulls the appropriate length of slat 54 across the width of the clear support fabric 52 . At this point, the process starts once more and the cutting mechanism 138 separates the slat 54 from the input feed slat length and allows the vacuum transport 112 and the tension roller 166 to then adjust the proper position of the new section of slat 54 across width of diaphanous support fabric 52.

Once the slat section 54 is properly positioned across the width of the diaphanous support fabric 52, the slat section is moved by the tension roller 166, as well as is maintained by the vacuum of the vacuum conveyor 112 . The vacuum conveyor 112 can then control the position of the slat 54 and suitably moves it in the lateral direction for alignment across the width of the clear support fabric 52 as desired for further processing. The structure and operation of the vacuum conveyor 112 will be described in greater detail below. The extension of slat 54 across the width of the see-through support fabric 52 is presented below the see-through support fabric 52 in this particular embodiment, as will be described.

Figures 18A-18D show the operation of the tape transport assembly 98, the tape transport assembly 98 pulls the tape 82 out of the feed roll 120 and through an adhesive application station 122. The adhesive 168 is applied in tape 82 in a manner similar to applying adhesives 156 and 157 to tablet 54. Adhesive 168 is applied continuously, although it could be applied non-continuously as desired. Adhesive 168 could be applied having a variety of material characteristics, such as higher or lower viscosity, with different different cross sections as needed for a particular application. An example of a suitable adhesive for use on tape 82 is National Starch PUR 7799.

Figure 18B shows adhesive 168 once it is applied to tape 82. In the operation of tape transport assembly 98 after application of adhesive 168, tape 82 passes through a cooling cylinder in order to adequately condition adhesive 168 for the following processing steps. Because in the particular embodiment described herein, adhesive 168 is applied to the underside of tape 82, it is preferred that the tape be twisted so that the adhesive side is up and away from the cooling roll as it passes through the cooling roll, and thereafter, the tape is twisted so that the adhesive continues to spread downward from the tape for balancing processing. The tape could be of a non-woven material, woven, plastic or other suitable material.

Vacuum accumulator 124 is used in belt transport assembly 98 in a similar way to slat transport assembly 96. In the same way as with clapboard processing, the length of the tape 82 is extended across the width of the see-through support fabric 52 during processing, and thus, the tape 82 must be stored in a mode where a Sufficient length is available for extension through the operating elements while allowing the adhesive to be applied continuously (if desired). The use of vacuum accumulator 124 by tape 82 solves this problem, as it does for tablet 54. Vacuum accumulator 124 is shown in Figures 18C and 18D. Vacuum port 170 draws a vacuum into the vacuum chamber, which in turn draws tape 82 into the vacuum chamber in order to store the required length of tape. A sufficient length of tape is drawn into vacuum accumulator 124 to allow continuous application of the adhesive and indexed application of tape 82 to apparatus 84 across the width of the operating elements.

56, similar to slat transport assembly 96. The width of vacuum chamber 124 is the same as or slightly larger than the width of belt 82.

As with the clapboard transport assembly 96, the tape transport assembly 98 also includes a cutting mechanism 126 along with a clamping mechanism 172 and a cylinder advance mechanism 174 in order to allow the end free of the tape, once cut, it is extended to the tension roller 176 and onto the vacuum conveyor 114 for the tape. As shown in Figure 18D, the clamping mechanism 172 and the advance cylinder 174 are located upstream of the cutting mechanism 126, so that when the cutting mechanism cuts the belt 82 and the belt section is advanced over the vacuum conveyor 124, the newly formed free end of the tape can be advanced toward tension roller 17 6 ​​and in length over vacuum conveyor 114 to pull the next section of tape 82 through operating elements 56. After the cut is presented and the section of the belt 82 is advanced through the operating elements 56 on the vacuum conveyor 114, the newly formed free end of the belt is advanced towards the tension roller 17 6 ​​and the conveyor vacuum 114 in the same manner as previously described with slat transport assembly 96.

Figure 19 is a section through the length of the apparatus 84 and shows the feed roller 116 for the diaphanous support fabric 52, the supply or supply coils 108 of the operating elements 56, the cross section of each of vacuum conveyors 112, 114 for both belt 82 and slat 54, fusion bar 128 connecting operating elements 56 with belt 82, as well as fusion bars 140, 142 for the assembly process 100 in the final assembly of the slat 54 with the diaphanous support fabric 52. Likewise, Figure 19 shows the pair of tension rollers 110 that pull the diaphanous support fabric 52 and the operating elements 56 through the apparatus 84, as well as the catch reel 104 of the assembled shutter 50 once it is completed and continues through the apparatus 84.

Figure 19 similar to Figure 15 shows the respective flow paths or access paths for the open support fabric 52, as well as the operating elements 56. The central frame structure 154 supports the apparatus and the necessary roller guides to carry out the process defined herein. The see-through support fabric 52 travels in a line along its longitudinal dimension, and the operating elements 56 move concurrently with the see-through support fabric 52. In Figure 19, the flow of the see-through fabric Support 52 as well as operating elements 56 is from right to left along the length of the central frame structure 154. The central frame structure 154 is divided into general sections: the source or source section 178 where the diaphanous support fabric 52 as well as the materials of the operating element 56 are stored and drawn from its storage units; an operating section 180 where the diaphanous support fabric 52 as well as the operating elements 56, the slats 54 and the belt 82 are assembled together; and subsequently, the recovery section 182 where the assembled shutter 54 is received on the roller 104. The origin or source section 178 of the central frame 154 of the apparatus 84 is shown on the right in Figure 19. The origin roll 116 The diaphanous support fabric 52 is shown attached to frame 154 and provides the diaphanous support fabric 52 to apparatus 84, as will be described hereafter. The coil rack or rack 108 supplying the plurality of operating elements 56 is also shown operatively associated with the central frame structure 154 and also in the source section 178 of the central frame structure. As the see-through support fabric 52 and the operating elements 56 wind their shape along the central frame structure 154, they both pass from the source or source section 178 of the central frame to the operating section 180 of the frame center where the operating elements 56 pass through a portion of the tape transport assembly 98 where the tape 82 is attached to the operating elements 56. The vacuum conveyor 114, as well as the melting bar 128 which are used for the attachment of the belt 82 to the operating elements 56 are movably associated with the central frame structure 154 to allow adjustment relative to the tape 82.

Downstream from where the belt 82 is attached to the operating elements 56 is the assembly station 100. At the assembly station 100, the slat 54 is transported in a lateral direction across the width of the open support fabric 52 by vacuum transport portion 112 of slat transport assembly 96. Pair of melt rods 140, 142 is located in assembly station 100 for use in the final assembly stage. Downstream of the assembly station 100 a tension roller 110 is used to stretch the diaphanous support fabric 52 and the operating elements 56 through the apparatus 84 of their respective original structures, by means of the tape handling assembly 88 , through the assembly station 100 and in the direction of the third section 182 of the central frame structure, the catch roller 104. Pickup or takeup roller 104 is powered by its own motor to facilitate capturing of assembled shutter 50.

As shown in Figure 19, the see-through support fabric 52 extends from the source roll 116 upward to the top of the central frame structure 154 and through a selection of rollers and is inserted into the flow of process just upstream of assembly station 100. The operating elements 56 are stretched from their plurality of source or source coils 108 upward to the top of the central frame structure 154, though below the open support fabric 52, and through a classification of rollers and separation mechanisms 118 as described below, and is introduced into the process flow just before the position of the melting bar 128 used to join the operating elements 56 with the tape 82. Once the belt 82 and the operating elements 56 are joined together, the combination of the belt 82 and the operating elements 56 is advanced along the process flow to the assembly station 100, where the tablet 54 is conveyed across the width of the see-through support fabric 52, and the belt 82 attached to the operating elements 56 is aligned with the bottom tab 74 of the slat 54, and the combination of the see-through support fabric

52, slat 54 and operating elements 56 attached to tape 82 are assembled together through the use of melting bars 140, 142.

In apparatus 84, operating elements 56 in combination with tape 82 are guided between slat 54 which is located below operating elements 56 with tabs 72, 74 facing upward, and the fabric diaphanous support 52 which is located above the operating elements 56. This configuration is shown in greater detail below. During use of the melting bars 140, 142 in the assembly station 100, these interleaved materials are secured together to form the operable or manipulated shutter assembly 50 shown in Figures 1A-1E.

Figure 20 shows a close-up detail of both the belt vacuum conveyor 114 and the assembly station 100. In the belt station, which includes the belt transfer conveyor 114 and the melting bar 128 for the connection of the operating elements 56 with the belt 82, the belt 82 is adhered to the vacuum conveyor 114 by force of vacuum transport through the material the diaphanous fabric and is connected to the operating elements 56 using the melting bar 128. The combination of the operating elements 56 and the belt 82 then advances towards the assembly station 100 where the slat 54 is introduced in a lateral direction from the slat transport assembly 96 on the vacuum conveyor 112 below the combination. of the operating element 56 and the belt 82, and the clear support fabric 52 is guided through the assembly station 100 over the combination of the operating elements 56 and the tape 82 to form a sandwich of these materials. Activation of the double melt bars 140, 142 together couples the upper 72 and lower 74 tabs of the slat 54, the operating elements 56, the tape 82 and the diaphanous support fabric 52 as described in greater detail below. After the assembly step at the assembly station 100, the assembled shutter product 50 exits the assembly station 100 and is wound onto the take-up roll 104 as previously described.

An alignment mechanism 184 that guides or centers the vacuum feed conveyor 112 for the tape transport assembly 98 is also shown in Figure 20. The adjusting mechanism 184 is a lead or regulating screw type structure that allows the vacuum lead conveyor 114 to be moved relative to the center frame 154 of the apparatus 84 (along the length of the open fabric flow 52) to ensure that the vacuum belt is suitably positioned to apply sufficient suction to the delegate belt 82 so that it is capable of advancing across the width of the diaphanous support fabric 52 as necessary. Any type of significant misalignment would cause the belt to not adhere to the vacuum conveyor and therefore not to advance properly.

The operating element transport assembly 96 is best shown in Figures 19, 21, 22 and 23. Figures 19 and 21 show the coils 108 from which the operating elements 56 are stretched during processing. A plurality of these coils 108 are joined in a panel 186 with the operating elements 56, in this case a monofilament line, which extends upward to a comb-like initial structure 190 (generally 118) to create the desired gap. between the monofilament lines. Figure 21 shows each coil 108 having a tension structure 188 associated with it to help ensure that the monofilament line is properly tensioned through processing and that it is not improperly loosened or tightened during the process. In the present embodiment, turnbuckles 188 are heavy bars that are placed against coil ring 108 to create a frictional resistance to coil movement and unwinding of operating elements 56. Greater weight creates greater resistance and greater tension. Heavy bars are rotatably attached to panel 186. Other types of turnbuckles would suffice.

As the monofilament line extends from each individual coil 108, the monofilament line passes through a first comb mechanism 190 (Figure 21, or 118 in Figure 19), which adjusts the initial clearance for the bonding the monofilament with tape 82. The separation of the monofilament lines through the first comb element 190 does not have to coincide with the final separation, but is mainly required to keep the monofilament lines in an organized order for the next comb structure 192 through the which happens, is shown in Figure 22. The spacing of the operating elements can vary from product to product made in the present apparatus and using the described process, and thus, the combs have a variety of spacing slots available. Separate replaceable separation comb structures can also be used. After passing through the secondary separation comb 192, the operating elements 56 pass around an adjustable tension pulley to help maintain proper tension in the system, and finally pass through the final separation tool 194, shown in Figure 23, before being rotated at a right angle and extended toward apparatus 84 for joining operating elements 56 to tape 82. The final parting tool 194 as shown is a cylinder having a series of parallel grooves 196 formed circumferentially around the cylinder, with the bottom of each groove forming a relative V-configuration that accurately positions the operating elements 56 . Again, more than one separation of the operating elements can be obtained for different products, so that the final separation tool 194 has a plurality of differently spaced grooves 196 thereon to handle the variety of product types. Alternatively, a separation cylinder can be used that has only one slot for each operating element. It is contemplated that only a separation comb or roller could be used. After passing through the final separation roller 194, the operating elements 56 are attached to the tape 82 at longitudinally spaced intervals as described herein.

Figure 24 shows a cut through vacuum transport system 114 used to advance tape 82 across the width of the clear support fabric 52, and melting bar 128 used to join tape 82 to the operating elements. 56. Vacuum transport system 114 is oriented upside down in this example, because tape 82 has adhesive 168 positioned on its downward facing surface in this apparatus configuration.

It is anticipated that the vacuum transport system 114 can be oriented in any direction as needed to handle the belt 82 for any particular design. The vacuum transport system 114 includes a housing 198 that forms the vacuum chamber 200. The housing 198 has a lower surface 202 that is perforated to allow the vacuum drawn into the vacuum chamber 200 to be applied to the carrier band. empty 204. Vacuum carrier strip 204 travels through perforated surface 202 of vacuum chamber 200, and by itself has openings formed therein that allow vacuum to be drawn into vacuum chamber 200 so that it is applied. through band 204 to belt 82. Band 204 passes through various pulleys and rollers in order to form a continuous loop for use in advancing the carrier band through the vacuum chamber. Carrier belt 204 is driven by a drive wheel 206 which is in turn linked with a motor, and the carrier belt also has a tension wheel that helps ensure that the tension of the belt can be adjusted as needed for changes or improvements in the process or for maintenance reasons.

Beneath vacuum conveyor 114 (again, in this configuration) is melt bar 128. Melt bar 128 is used to activate the adhesive on tape 82, using heat and / or pressure, in order to of securing operating elements 56 on tape 82. Melting bar 128 is shown as a plurality of shorter segments. This is done to help ensure adequate levels of heat on each of the individual fusion bars. However, it is contemplated that the melting bar may be a long, continuous member, or that it may consist of several shorter members, as desired. The melting bar can have a continuous top edge or a jagged top edge. The key is for the melting bar to contact or activate adhesive 168 at or adjacent to operating elements 56 to bond tape 82 to operating elements 56.

Once the adhesive has been applied to tape 82 at adhesive station 122 on tape transport assembly 198, the length of tape 82 having adhesive 168 applied thereto is advanced toward apparatus 84 and so Generally, across the width of the see-through support fabric 52 through the use of the vacuum belt conveyor 114. As shown in Figure 24, the vacuum belt conveyor 114 pulls the belt 82 from right to left along the vacuum belt conveyor 114. When the correct length of tape 82 has been pulled along the conveyor 114, the cutting mechanism 126 is actuated to section the tape 82, and thereafter, the vacuum belt conveyor is advanced once more to pull the tape 82 by complete in position (i.e. in proper lateral alignment with the width of the see-through support fabric 52).

Vacuum chamber 200 has an evacuation door 208 which allows the vacuum to be rapidly dissipated in order to allow tape 82 and attached operating elements 56 to move through apparatus 84 to the next position. Typically, melting bar 128 is an electric heating bar with heat that is created through resistive heating techniques, as is well known in the art. Melting bar 128 could also be used as a pressure source to press the activated adhesives. Vacuum transport assembly 114 for belt 82 is mounted on the lead screw adjusting mechanism, as mentioned above, which in turn is attached to frame 154 to allow vacuum conveyor 114 to be moved longitudinally with respect to diaphanous support fabric 52 and relative to frame 54 to ensure belt 82 is aligned with holes in the carrier band 204 and / or as well as the holes in the perforated wall of the vacuum chamber 202 to ensure that the tape 82 is properly adhered to the carrier band by the vacuum pressure in the chamber of empty. If the belt 82 were scruffy with the vacuum force to any extent, it will not advance with the carrier belt since advancement of the belt along the carrier belt is necessary.

Figure 25A shows a section through the vacuum transport system and melting bar 128, and shows vacuum chamber 200, vacuum port 170 and perforated carrier strip 204. The perforated carrier strip is located below the perforated wall of the vacuum chamber and a section of tape 82 having adhesive 168 on its underside is shown stretched into vacuum chamber 200 through carrier strip 204 and perforated plate 202 due to vacuum pressure within the vacuum chamber. The operating element 56, in this case the monofilament line, is shown to extend in a transverse direction to the length of the tape (which is also longitudinal with the extension of the diaphanous support fabric 52), with the fusion bar 128 located below the operating elements 56.

Figure 25B shows fusion bar 128 in clutch with operating element 56 and belt 82 in order to secure operating element 56 on belt 82. Fusion bar 128 is mounted on a platform 210 and moves up and down as directed by the automatic control system 102 to adhere the operating elements 56 with the tape 82 at the appropriate time. The resistive electric heating element 212 is shown at melting bar 128 in both of Figures 25A and 25B. The spacing of the adjacent tape sections 82 attached to the operating elements 56 as shown in Figure 25B is designed to be the distance between the bottom tab 74 of each adjacent board 54. This distance could be larger or smaller depending on the width of slat 54 and the desired overlap with the next adjacent lower slat 54 when in the closed position as previously described. As noted above, the heating rod could only apply pressure without heat, or it could apply pressure and a cooling temperature.

Figures 25C, 25D and 25E show this process in greater detail. The perforated wall 202 of the vacuum chamber 200, as well as the perforated carrier strip 204 are shown in Figures 25C and 25E, with the tape 82 stretched and adhered to the carrier band 204 by virtue of the vacuum applied through the chamber of emptiness. In Figure 25C melting bar 128 is not clutching operating element 56 nor is belt 82. In Figure 25D, a perspective view similar to Figure 25C is shown showing better alignment of tape 82 with respect to vacuum openings in carrier band 204, in addition to showing linear melt bar 128 directly positioned at

<img file="MX370347B_D0002.tif" />

line with the length of tape 82 for complete adhesion of tape 82 with operating elements 56. Figure 25E shows melting bar 128 in contact with operating elements 56 and adhesive 168 in order to cause the adhesive and the operating elements 56 and the tape 82 clutch each other. FIG. 25F is a perspective representation of the cross section shown in FIG. 25E showing the longitudinal alignment of melt bar 128 with the extent of adhesive 168 and tape 82 when in contact with it. Figure 25G shows tape 82 bonded with adhesive 168 with adjacent lengths of operating elements 56 as it occurs after this bonding process is performed. In summary, melt bar 128 is used to bond tape 82 with each of one or more of operating elements 56. Tape 82 is attached at right angles to operating elements 56, although it could be attached at a angle depending on the product design. The distance between the two adjacent lengths of tape 82 once again varies based on the desired distance between the two joined lower ends 78 of the slat 54 on the see-through support fabric 52.

Figures 26 and 27A-27J show various cross sections through the board transport assembly as well as the assembly station 100. In particular, Figure 26 shows a cross section through the vacuum advance conveyor 112 used by the slats 54, the fusion bars 140, 142 are used for the union of the slat 54 with the diaphanous support fabric 52 as well as the union of the tape 82 with the slat 54. Similar to the vacuum advance conveyor 112 in the belt transport assembly 98, it is formed through a housing 214 defining a vacuum chamber 216. The upper surface 218 of the vacuum housing 214 is perforated. A port 220 is formed on the side of the vacuum housing 214 in order to allow air evacuation from the vacuum housing to create the vacuum.

A wall of vacuum chamber 216 is a door 222 used to rapidly break the vacuum and to allow the clear support fabric 52 to be advanced to the next position. This allows the vacuum to be quickly switched on and off allowing the diaphanous support fabric to advance with the attached splint 54 and operating elements 56. The carrier band 224 extends along the perforated top wall 218 of the vacuum chamber 216, the carrier band 224 is perforated by itself in order to allow the application of the vacuum from within the vacuum chamber 216 each time that is on the carrier band 224, in this case, the splint 54. The carrier belt 224 is driven by a drive roller 226, and also includes a tension roller in order to adjust and ensure that this convenient tension is applied to the carrier belt. The cutting mechanism 138, the clamping mechanism 162 and the advance cylinder 164 are shown at the left end of the vacuum conveyor 112, and were previously described with respect to the slat conveyor assembly 96. Melting bar 140 as shown in this configuration is formed of a plurality of shorter melting bars. Melting bar 140 could be a continuous melting bar or could be a plurality of shorter melting bars, as shown. Electrical conductive heating is used to raise the temperature of each melting bar although other means of heating or cooling the melting bars are contemplated as imposed by the type of adhesive used. The melting bars could be used only for the application of pressure with no heating or cooling characteristics employed. Selectively, the melting rod moves up and down with respect to the top surface of the conveyor system 112 to contact the intercalated materials passing through it. The three materials used for forming the shutter of the present invention pass between melting bars 140, 142 (not shown) and carrier band 224, as best seen in Figure 27A. The transparent support fabric 52 passes closer to the melting bars 140, 142 than to the tape 82, the operating element 56 and the slat 54 at the bottom. Tape 82 is found only below one (142) of the two melt bars, since there is a second melt bar 140, as shown in Figure 27A, and is described in greater detail below.

As shown in Figure 27Ά, between the first fusion bar or front bar 140 and the carrier band 224 is the diaphanous support fabric 52, the operating element 56 and the upper tab 72 of the slat 54. Between the second Fusion bar or back bar 142 and carrier band 224 include the diaphanous support fabric 52, tape 82, operating element 56 and bottom tab 74 of slat 54. The two melting bars 140, 142 are spaced from each other so that they are precisely the same distance as between the upper tab 72 and the lower tab 74 of the slat, and more precisely between the upper adhesive line 157 and the lower adhesive line 156 of splint 54.

As previously described, slat 54 scaled across the width of the diaphanous support fabric 52 by vacuum conveyor 112. Generally, a portion of the free end of slat 54 is joined via a vacuum to the vacuum conveyor and also passes through tension rollers 166 next to cutting mechanism 138. To pull slat 54 across the width of diaphanous support fabric 52, carrier strip 224 advances to the right as configured in Figure 26 until the proper length of slat 54 has been pulled or stretched by the conveyor. vacuum 112, which is measured from the cutting mechanism 138. Next, the cutting mechanism 138 sections the slat 54 and the carrier band 224 advances to pull the slat 82 in its entirety within the apparatus 84 and to align it from the lateral edge to the lateral edge with the diaphanous support fabric 52, and so end-to-end of fusion bars 140, 142.

Once the fusion bars 140, 142 have been actuated to bond together the diaphanous support fabric 52, the tape 82, the operating elements 56 and the slat 54, which will be described in greater detail later, the free end of the next slat length is advanced through the clamping mechanism 162 and the advance cylinder 164 to engage with the tension roller 166 and so that it is pushed onto the vacuum advance conveyor 112, which in turn will adhere to the tablet 54 through its vacuum, and will pull the next length of the tablet to repeat the process just described.

Figure 27A shows both melting bars 140, 142 and the coupling of materials once they pass through and along vacuum conveyor 112. Vacuum chamber 216, located at the bottom of Figure 27A, shows the vacuum chamber extending approximately the width of slat 54 and including both positions of the melting bar. However, the vacuum conveyor 112 need only be as wide as necessary to adequately retain the slat for movement. Just prior to passing below the melt bar positions, all of the materials used to form the shutter 50 of the present invention are brought together in the apparatus, as previously described. The materials move at the same speed, so that they are properly aligned and the movement of these materials is indexed, so that they are stopped at the appropriate position below or adjacent to both melting bars 140, 142. Melting bar 140 joins top tab 72 of slat 54 to see-through support fabric 52 while not bonding operating elements to slat or see-through fabric, and melting bar 142 ties tape 82 and elements with the lower tab 74 of the splint 54, but not the strap 82 with the transparent support fabric 52. In Figure 27A all the materials are in position for actuating the fusion bars 140, 142 to make the mentioned joints. Inner edge 78 of slat 54 overlaps upper edge 80 of adjacent lower slat 54.

Figure 27B shows the fusion bars 140, 142 in operation during the joining process. Melting bar 140 joins the upper tab 72 of each slat 54 with the diaphanous support fabric 52 with gaps in melting bar 140 positioned above each of operating elements 56 allowing operating elements 56 to be able to move in relation to the diaphanous fabric and the splint through these separations. Melting bar 142 joins tape 82 with bottom tab 74 of this particular board 54 to effectively couple operating elements 56 with the bottom of each board 54. Tape 82 is adhesive impervious and therefore, prevents tape 82 from adhering to transparent support fabric 52. As best seen in Figure 14, at the time the bonding operation is performed, the two optional clamps or fasteners 144 are moved to retain the diaphanous support fabric 52 in a stable position and prevent it from advancing unnecessarily and undesirably in a premature way. Figures 27C and 27D are close-ups of the section shown in Figures 27A and 27B, respectively. Figure 27C shows the assembly station 100 and the position of the interleaved materials before the final bonding process using the two fusion bars 140, 142. The open support fabric 52 is closest to the fusion bars 140, 142 with the combination of the tape 82 attached to the operating elements 56 just below the transparent support fabric 52. The tape 82 attached to the operating elements 56 is only suspended below one of the melt bars 142 (in this orientation, the left melt bar shown in Figure 27C). Tablet 54 is held on top of vacuum conveyor 112. Tablet 54 is positioned with tabs 72, 74 directed upward with adhesive strips 157, 156, respectively, formed thereon.

In Figure 27D, as the melt bars 140, 142 are actuated, each of these lines up with the respective adhesive strips 158. With respect to the melt bar 140, the melt bar contacts the fabric. diaphanous support 52, with the operating elements 56 and with the adhesive 168, 157, and compresses all of these against the upper tab 72 of the slat 54. There are gaps formed in the melting bar 140, so that the regions of the melting bar aligned with the operating elements 56 do not cause the adhesive 157 to adhere to the operating elements 56, thus allowing the release element Step 56 has a free sliding relationship between the transparent support fabric 52 and the upper tongue 72 of the slat 54. With respect to melt bar 142, the left melt bar moves downward in alignment with adhesive 156, 168 to contact the clear support fabric 52, tape 54, and adhesive 168 on the underside of the Tape 82 and adhesive 156 on bottom tab 74 of board 54. Melting bar 142 causes tape 82 to adhere to bottom tab 74 of board 54 with operating elements 56 captured between the two. While this fusion bar 142 is continuous, it could have gaps at all locations except where operating elements 56 are secured to the bottom of slat 54, if desired. Also, the adhesive 156 on the bottom tab 74 might not be necessary because the adhesive 168 on the tape 82 might be enough to bond the tape 82 and the operating elements 56 with the bottom tab 74. After this stage, the fusion bars 140, 142 are retracted and the fasteners 154 of the diaphanous support fabric are also retracted, and all materials are indexed, so that the next slat 54 is advanced in position, with the tabs 72, 74 and are suitably aligned below the melting bars, and the adhesive strips of the operating elements and tape are aligned on the bottom tab 74 of the slab 54 so that the process is repeated.

Figure 27E shows how the operating elements 56 are located between the transparent support fabric 52 and the adhesive 157 on the slat 54, although they are not joined with the adhesive on the slat 54, so that the operating elements 56 can move along the longitudinal extension of the diaphanous support fabric 52 in order to drive the lower edge 78 of each slat 54. Indeed, the gaps 161 in the melting bar 140 shown in Figure 27E surround each of the operating elements 56 to ensure that the adhesive 157 does not adhere to the operating elements 56. The top layers to the Bottom between fusion bar 140 and carrier band 224 are: diaphanous support fabric 52, adhesive 157 and three layers of splint (on top tab) 72.

Figure 27F shows the operating elements secured between the tape 82 and the bottom tab 74 of the slat 54, although the tape 82 is not attached to the clear support fabric 52. The top to bottom layers between the Melting bar 142 and carrier strip 224 are: the diaphanous support fabric 52, the tape 82 and two layers of adhesive 156, 168 and three layers of material (on the bottom tongue 74).

Figure 27G shows the operating element connected between the bottom tongue 74 of the slat 54 and the tape 82, with the tape 82 not attached to the open support fabric 52, similar to Figure 27F, although from a different perspective . In this way, the operating element is fixedly attached to the lower tab 74 of the slat 54 causing the movement of the operating element 56 which drives the vertical up or down movement of the lower edge 78 of each slat 54 relative to the edge. top 80. The layers are the same as shown in Figure 27F.

Figure 27H is a section through the upper tab 72 of the splint 54 and shows the operating element 56 not attached between the adhesive 157 on the upper tab 72 of the splint 54 and the transparent support fabric 52 in a similar way to the one shown in Figure 27E, although from a different perspective. This occurs where there is a gap between the fusion bar 140 that joins the upper tongue 172 of the slat 54 with the transparent support fabric 52. This shows that the operating element 56 can move relative to the open support fabric 52 and the upper tab 72 of the slat 54. The space shown between the operating element and the adhesive may or may not be present. If not present, the operating element 56 would still be able to slide between the adhesive 157 and the diaphanous support fabric 52. The layers are the same as shown in Figure 27E.

FIG. 211 shows a portion of the upper tab 72 of the splint 54 where the upper tab 72 of the splint is secured on the open support fabric 52, without the operating element 56 passing therethrough. This occurs between the channels or gaps 161 formed in the fusion bar 140.

Figure 27J is a cross section showing the operating element 56 which is not embedded in the adhesive 157 located between the diaphanous support fabric 52 and the upper tab 72 of the slat 54. This facilitates movement between the operating element 56 and the transparent support fabric 52.

Figure 27K shows adhesive 168 and 156 attaching operating element 56 to tape 82 and bottom tab 74 of slat 54, with tape 82 not being bonded to diaphanous support fabric 52. The layers are the same as those shown in Figure 27F. Tape 82 might not be necessary if another barrier were provided to prevent adhesive 156 from adhering to diaphanous support fabric 52. For example, if the diaphanous support fabric were Teflon coated where the adhesive that makes contact with it at this stage in the process, there would not be any union between the lower part 74 of the slat and the diaphanous fabric, then the lower part of the tablet still

<td>I would be able</td><td>to move</td><td>with</td><td>relationship</td><td>to the canvas</td><td>diaphanous from</td>

<td>support 52.</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>

<td>In</td><td>operation,</td><td>he</td><td>apparatus</td><td>and method</td><td>associates</td>

<td>facilitate the</td><td>combination</td><td>of</td><td>the cloth</td><td>diaphanous from</td><td>support 52,</td>

operating elements 56, belt 82 and slats 54 to form the slat mechanism capable of being operated on a shutter structure. The apparatus indexes the diaphanous support fabric 52 along its length while at the same time adhesive 168 is applied to the underside of tape 82, as well as, operating elements 56 advance in proper spacing in a suitable manner. longitudinal with respect to and in conjunction with the movement of the transparent support fabric 52 through the apparatus 84. Apparatus 84 also coordinates the application of adhesive 157, 156 to the upper 72 and lower 74 tabs of slat 54, respectively, for use in suitably bonding to the clear support fabric 52 in assembly station 100 Apparatus 84 gathers the input materials in the proper orientation allowing a joining step

<td>use</td><td>two</td><td>melting bars</td><td> 140, 142</td><td>to finish</td><td>he</td>

<td>assemble</td><td>of</td><td colspan="2">tablet 54 on the fabric</td><td colspan="2">diaphanous support</td>

<td> 52.</td><td>I know</td><td>contemplate that</td><td>elements</td><td>operating 56</td><td>no</td>

<td>could</td><td>be</td><td>united in fd form</td><td colspan="2">.ja with each splint 54.</td><td>The</td>

Operating elements 56 could be fixedly attached only to the selected slats, such as every other slat 54 or every third slat 54, or randomly. Ά Next, the operating elements 56 would slide or move relative to each slat with which they are not attached and only the slats with which they are attached would operate. This structure would require that the union of the operating elements with the board be selectively modified so as not to unite the operating elements with the board. This could happen either at the stage where the tape is attached to the operating elements, where the tape is used in the process, or at the assembly station, where the tape is not used in the process.

The arrangement and alignment of the apparatus described herein for the production of these retractable folding shutters may include the slat transport assembly 96 and the belt transport assembly 98 which are located on a common side of the apparatus and / or more than one transport assembly along either side of the apparatus in case a more complex shutter is manufactured and / or the up and down orientation of the transport assemblies may be inverted or modified depending on the particular design of the product being manufactured.

An alternative embodiment of apparatus 84 'and the related method of the present invention are shown in Figures 28A-28C. Apparatus 84 'is configured here to manufacture the Silhouette® brand blind, as shown in Figure 28Ά. The Silhouette® brand shutter has a front sheet 228 and a back sheet 230, with the slats 232 operatively linked between them. Each of the slats 232 is joined at its upper outer edges with the front sheet 228, and at its lower outer edges with the rear sheet 230. When the front sheets or sheets 228 and rear 230 are moved together along their respective longitudinal extensions, each slat 232 is caused to rotate about a lateral longitudinal axis of the slat in transition from an open position to a closed position, as is known.

The schematic arrangement for the apparatus 84 'of the present invention configured to manufacture the Silhouette® brand blind is shown in Figure 28B. There are two feed rolls 234, 236, one for each of the front sheets 228 and rear 230, which provide the sheet or sheet material. A lower fusion bar 238 is located below the coextensive sheets or sheets with an associated backing block 240 located on the opposite side of the sheets therefrom. An upper fusion bar 242 is located above the coextensive sheets or sheets with an associated reinforcing block 244 located opposite thereof below the sheets. In this configuration, once the top and bottom sheets are fed into the joint region 100 ', the slat 232 is placed in the middle and laterally across the width of the sheets or sheets 228, 230. Tablet 232 can be positioned between the sheets manually or via an extension / retraction mechanism that inserts the tablet laterally in position between the sheets although it does not itself stand between the sheets. Before insertion between the sheets, each slat 228 has an adhesive 246 applied to the portion of the slat 250 that will be bonded to the adjacent sheet.

As shown in Figure 28C, when slat 232 is in the correct location along the length of the sheets or sheets, and is properly positioned as desired with respect to the adjacent slat previously attached, the fusion bars 238, 242 are actuated to cause adhesive 246 to adhere to the respective edge of slat 232 with the respective adjacent sheet to form the Silhouette® shutter. The adhesive bonds the edge of the board 232 with the sheet on the opposite side of the adhesive and not with the sheet on the opposite side of the board of the adhesive. This can be accomplished in any number of ways, including having made the board from a material that prevents the adhesive from passing through the material and causes the board to adhere to the opposite sheet. The slats 232 can be positioned so that they have overlapping edges, as shown in Figure 28B, or they can be positioned without overlapping edges. In the same way as with the support sheet mentioned above, the support sheet in this embodiment can also be cords or strips of material or fabric, which is opposite to a full width sheet or sheet. For example, a full width sheet can be used on one side and laces or strips on the other. Once formed, the shutter is wound on a take-up or collection reel and is further processed.

The apparatus of the present invention can also be configured to make the product shown in Figure 29A. The shutter has a folded support sheet 246 that forms a zigzag shutter between the pleats 248 or the ridges that extend in alternating directions from the plane of the support sheet. A slat 250 is attached just above and extends outward and downward from each flange 248. The support sheet can be retracted upward to collect the slats 250 in a bundle.

This configuration of apparatus 84 is shown in Figure 29B. A feed roll 252 supplies the folded support sheet 246 to the bonding station 100. In bonding section 100 a top vacuum conveyor

254, such as those described herein, moves a splint 250 laterally through the sheet material 246 to the desired location on the top side of the sheet. A vacuum bottom conveyor 256 similarly moves a slat 250 laterally through sheet material 246 to the desired location on the underside of the sheet. Each slat 250 has an adhesive 258 applied to the top edge of the slat that will be bonded with the sheet material 246. In this configuration, each slat is positioned relative to the locations of the pleats 248 that will be joined with the adjacent sheet 246 and just above each fold. The location of each crease 248 is known and the apparatus is programmed to advance the sheet material 246 a sufficient amount allowing proper positioning of the slat 250 relative to the crease 248. As shown in Figure 29B, each slat could overlap. the next adjacent lower slat.

Once the respective slats are properly positioned, the melting bars 260, 262 are actuated causing the adhesive to bond the top edge of the slat with the sheet material 246. The adhesive 258 does not bond with the bottom edge of slat 250 on the other side of sheet material 246. This can be accomplished in any number of ways, such as, but not limited to, having the sheet material being impervious to the adhesive or having the bottom edge of the slat coated with Teflon (or the like).

Sheet material 246 can be an unfolded sheet, and slats 250 can be constructed with more, less, or no overlap based on the positioning of slats 250 on the sheet prior to the joining step.

<td>Backing sheet material 246</td><td>too</td><td>they can</td><td>be</td>

<td colspan="2">laces or straps, as desired. In another embodiment of the invention, the</td><td>montage</td><td>of</td>

<td>clapboard transport may include</td><td colspan="3">the necessary apparatus</td>

<td>to actually form the tablet</td><td>at</td><td>montage</td><td>of</td>

<td>clapboard transport which is opposite</td><td>to have</td><td>a roll</td><td>of</td>

<td>board feeding already formed.</td><td>This is</td><td>describes</td><td>in</td>

more detail later.

In another embodiment 84 '' 'an adjustment feature 264 is employed to allow adjustment of the alignment of the tape 82, when attached to the operating elements 56, with the adhesive on the lower tab 74 of the tab 54. In some appliance configurations, the adhesive is applied to the top surface of the tape, which governs that tape 54 and attached operating elements 56 be reoriented before passing to assembly station 100 '' 'for connection. with splint 54 and diaphanous support fabric 52. Figure 30A shows a receipt dispenser 266 in tape handling assembly 98 'similar to that described above, with the adhesive dispenser applying the adhesive on top of tape 82. Figure 30B shows a diagram flow diagram of an alternative embodiment of apparatus 84 '' 'wherein tape 82 is attached to operating elements 56 above the operating elements. The orientation of the tape 82, and significantly of the adhesive on the tape, is reversed around the roller 268 in order to provide the proper orientation for the attachment of the tape 82 and the operating elements 56 to the slat 54 and fabric diaphanous support 52 in the assembly station 100 '' 'as previously described.

The alignment of tape 82 and its adhesive with respect to bottom tab 74 on slat 54 is important for proper bonding. One way to adjust this alignment is by moving roller 268 out and out of assembly station 100 '' 'through the lead screw adjusting mechanism 264, as shown. The movement of the roller 268 towards and out of the assembly station 100 '' 'affects the distance displaced by the operating elements 56 to reach the assembly station 100' '', and in this way, allows the adjustment of the alignment of the tape 82 with bottom tab 74 of slat 54. If roller 268 were adjusted to move out of the assembly station, then tape 82 will be effectively delayed, or in other words, it will move upstream, starting from lower tab 74. If roller 268 were adjusted to move toward the assembly station, then, the tape will be effectively advanced, or moved downstream, from the bottom tab 74. Adjusting any roller to increase or decrease the offset length of the operating elements upstream of the assembly station can create this adjustment effect.

Figure 31 shows a schematic orientation of the apparatus similar to that shown in Figure 30B. In a similar manner to the other embodiments described herein, the diaphanous support fabric 52 is fed from the diaphanous tissue transport assembly 92 to the junction assembly station 100. The operating elements 56 are fed into the Union assembly 100 from operation transport assembly 94. The board 54 is fed into the joint assembly station 100 through the board transport station 96. The belt 82 (see Figure 34) is fed to the joint assembly station 100 through the conveyor assembly of tape 98. Similar to the previously described embodiments of the apparatus, the board transport assembly and the tape transport assembly extend in a generally orthogonal direction from the apparatus, and thus are not shown in detail in Figure 31. The central frame 154 supports the various transport systems allowing convergence at the joint assembly station 100.

Still referring to Figure 31, the operating element transport system 94 includes a plurality of operating element coils which are mounted to form a rack or frame. Each coil 170 of the operating element 54 passes through a tensioner 272 to help maintain the operating element supply voltage at the correct level of processing.

It is also shown in Figure 31 that the belt transport assembly 98 is oriented so that the belt is secured on top of the belt vacuum conveyor 114 and the melt or tie bar 274 is moved above the belt conveyor. vacuum 114 to connect the operating elements 56 with the tape 82. This orientation allows the belt 82 to be carried on the top surface of the conveyor 114 and to operate under gravity to help keep the belt 82 firmly positioned on the conveyor belt without relying on the vacuum pressure of the vacuum conveyor simply to maintain the belt 82 on the conveyor belt, as required when belt 82 is held at the bottom of the conveyor belt, as shown in the previous embodiments. The vacuum band on the vacuum conveyor 114 could have a light slot 265 formed in its upper surface for the belt to move therein. This lightweight slot, approximately 0.508 cm (0.020 in.) Deep and width equal to or slightly larger than belt 82, helps align belt 82 on the conveyor belt ensuring belt 82 is properly driven on base at vacuum pressure, and for the exact positioning that joins the operating elements 56 and finally with the lower tab 74 of the slat 54.

Continuing with Figure 31, the completed product 50 exits the assembly station 100 and is guided to a relatively higher point in the central frame 154 so that it extends at a downward angle to the pick-up roller 104. This outlet in Angle of center frame 154 to exit roll 104 facilitates better inspection of finished product for quality and finish reasons.

An embodiment of the tape transport assembly 98 is shown in Figures 32-38. This tape transport assembly could be used in the modes of apparatus 84 shown above, and specifically in the mode shown in Figure 31. The tape 82 is unwound from a feed roller 276 and passes through a few guide rollers to the gluing station 278, where a gluing is applied to the tape, as described above. The gluing used on the top tab 72 could be different from that used on the bottom tab 74. On the top tab, a hot melt adhesive, such as EMS Griltex 6E, is used to bond the top tab to the see-through support fabric. . In the support piece, the hot-melt adhesive such as a National Starch Polyurethane Resin (PUR) 7799 is reactivated.

Thereafter, the belt 82 passes through an accumulator 280, as described above with respect to other modes of the tape transport assembly 98. In this embodiment, the accumulator 280 pulls the belt 82 downward, because the Tape is fed into apparatus 84 on the top surface of the vacuum conveyor with the gluing facing up.

The cutting assembly 282 in this embodiment includes a cutting blade and tension rollers that section the belt 82 once the proper length has been moved by the vacuum conveyor 114 to be joined with the operating elements 56. A Once the cut assembly 282 cuts through the tape, the vacuum conveyor works to move the cut length of the tape through the rest of the

<img file="MX370347B_D0003.tif" />

path to the apparatus that will be in the proper position for attachment to the operating elements 56, as described herein. The free end of the belt 82 left in the cutting apparatus is fed into the end of the conveyor belt through tension roller 284. Vacuum conveyor 114 is close enough to the cutting station so that the free end of belt 82 extends from the cutting station onto vacuum conveyor 114 allowing the next length of belt to be pulled over the vacuum conveyor 114 via the vacuum clutch. Vacuum band 286 could have a friction surface to aid in proper grip of the tape. Vacuum band 286 could have an alignment groove on its surface, as previously mentioned.

<td colspan="2">Figure 33 shows a</td><td>modality</td><td>of a</td>

<td>conveyor</td><td>vacuum 114 similar to</td><td>structure</td><td>displayed</td>

<td>in the figure</td><td>24. However, in</td><td>the figure</td><td>33 the</td>

<td>conveyor</td><td>vacuum 114 is oriented</td><td colspan="2">so that you have</td>

vacuum belt 286 receiving and clutching belt 82 on the top surface of vacuum conveyor 114. Tape cutting station 282 is located near one end of the vacuum conveyor allowing efficient transfer of belt 82 from the accumulator 280 on the vacuum conveyor. The bar

<img file="MX370347B_D0004.tif" />

Joint 274 is located above the vacuum conveyor 114 and moves downward to contact the operating elements 56 and causes them to contact the gluing on the operating elements, as generally described herein.

The tie bar 274 makes contact with the glue on the tape 82 and on some occasions can make contact, at least partially, with the glue enough to cause difficulty in disengaging the glue tie bar when it separates upward from tape 82. This problem is solved by a series of push rods 290 used in conjunction with tie bar 274. Push rods 290 engage operating elements 56 and hold them against conveyor belt 286 while tie bar 274 disengages from belt 82. This allows tie bar 274 to separate from gluing without removing the combination. of operating elements 56 and tape 82 with tie bar 274 as it pulls upward. Any or all of the tie bars in any of the modalities described herein could be coated with a non-stick substance, such as PTFE (Teflon) in order to make them easier to clean and to help keep them stuck in the material and the adhesives with which the tie bars make contact.

Figures 34-38 show the sequence steps of tie bar 274 and push rods 290 in this process. In Figure 34, tie bar 274 and push rod 290 are separated prior to tie bar stage 274 causing clutch of operating element 56 with tape 82. Figure 35 shows tie bar 274 moved down to clutch with the operating element 56 and pushes it into clutch or contact with the gluing on the belt 82. Figure 36 shows the push rod 290 that has been moved down, while the tie bar 274 is still in the down position to engage with the operating elements 56 although not with the strap 82. Figure 37 shows that While the push rod 290 is in the down position, the tie bar 274 moves up out of the operating elements 56. If the glue had been adhered to tie bar 274, push rod 290 would hold the combination of tape 82 and operating element 56 by following push rod 90 upward. Once tie bar 274 has been disconnected from the clutch position with operating elements 56 and belt 82, push rod 290 is separated from operating elements 56 in preparation for the next cycle, as shown in Figure 38.

The movement of push rod 290 relative to tie bar 274 could vary from that described above with the proviso that push rod 290 at some point facilitates separation of tie bar 274 from tape 82 and the operating elements 56. Push rods 290 could be discretely controlled, or could be coupled together for movement in unison and could be mechanically, hydraulically, pneumatically or electrically driven. Preferably, the push rod 290 makes contact only with the operating elements 56, although the push rods 290 could be designed to make contact with the tape 82 and / or also the gluing. The use of push rod 290 could be implemented at this stage without considering the orientation of the vacuum conveyor and the direction of movement of the tie bar.

One embodiment of the tablet transport station 96 is shown in Figure 39. This tablet transport station could be used in the modalities of the apparatus 84 shown above, and specifically, with the modality shown in Figure 31. A primary distinction of this slat conveying station 96 is the fact that slat 54 is formed at the station, which is opposed to being previously formed and provided on the supply roll, as described above. Also, the stations

100 Gluing and cutting application could be modified. For example, the cutting station for tape 82 could use a scissor type cut, while for the splint it could use a guillotine cut. Both 5 could use the same type of cutting station.

In the board transport assembly shown in Figure 39, there is a board mounting section 292, the gluing application stations 294 and a cutting station 296. In the board mounting section, two rollers of Power supplies 298 and 300 provide the two separate pieces of slat 54 that are assembled together. The primary power supply roller 298 provides the material for the outer or front portion 68 of the slat 54 as previously described with respect to Figures 1A-1E, and the secondary power supply roller 300 provides the material for back portion or overlay 70

The liner 70 and the front portion or face or surface material 68 of the slats passes through a series of conditioning and tensioning rollers. While not required for proper splint function as described herein, tension on the splint and liner is important to accurately control the maintenance of difference in stretch, shrinkage, and other characteristics.

101 characteristics of the two materials of the negative impact mainly on the aesthetics of the blind. For example, if not properly tensioned, the coating could cause face 68 to wrinkle or distort. If the tension were adequately balanced, then liner 70 and face 68 could be joined together with minimal slat distortion. The tension of the access paths or paths of face 68 and liner 70 could be manual or automatic. If it were automatic, this could be through a tension control system such as the Cygnus model made by Mag Power.

The outer portion 68 passes between a pair of folding wheels 302 and a support roller in order to bend a fold line along any edge of the outer serving material 68. See Figure 40. The folding wheels 302 they indent the material around which the material 68 folds, as it continues through the folding angle shapes, as described in greater detail below. Each folding wheel 302 could have a relatively sharp outer periphery, so that when it is clamped against the front portion 68 of the slat material under load, it forms a crease line (indentation) 304 (see Figure 41). . The fold lines 304 are formed as shown in Figure 40 and

102 they outline the outer portion 70 on the top tongue 72, the bottom tongue 74 and the front side 270.

The front portion 68 and the rear portion 70 are brought together in the middle portion of the slat transport assembly 96 so that the rear portion or liner is located between the fold lines of the front portion 68. This combination of the two materials it is performed by aligning their respective rollers, so that when they are brought into contact with each other, the rear portion 70 is suitably located relative to the front portion 68. See Figure 41.

Once the front and rear portions are brought together, a gluing line 305 is placed, using the gluing applicators 306, on the front portion 68 just outside the indentation lines 104 on both tabs 72 and 74. When they are folded, this placement of the gluing strips facilitates the union of the tabs 72 and 74 with the liner 70. Alternately, the glue strip could be applied to the liner or back portion 70 along with its outer edges to adhere the back portion 70 to the front portion 68 when the front portion is folded. See Figures 39 and 41. The edges of the front portion 70 are then folded or folded along the fold lines by running the fabric material through a set of angle shapes,

103 as shown in Figures 42-45, and subsequently, through a pressure roller as shown in Figure 46. Figure 42 shows the edges, or tabs 72 and 74, bent along the lines of crease 304 in the first form 308. The tabs 72 and 74 are folded at the angle of the side walls 310 of the form 308, in this example, a right angle is formed through each wall 310 of the form 308. A retainer 312 could be used in each of the shapes to prevent the material between the fold lines 304 from moving upward substantially, providing smooth movement of the fabric through the shapes. See Figure 45 which shows the retainer in the first way.

Figure 43 shows an angle shape 314 subsequent to the shape shown in Figure 41, where the side walls 316 fold the tabs 72, 74 at a sharper angle along the fold lines 304. Again, the acute angle of crease is imposed by the side walls 316 of form 314. Figure 44 shows an angle shape 318 subsequent to the shape 314 shown in Figure 43, with the walls 320 forming even sharper fold angles along the fold lines 304. At this point, the lines gluing pads are beginning to cause the upper tab 72 and the lower tab 74 to adhere to the rear portion 70

104 for securing front portion 68 to rear portion 70 along or adjacent to fold lines 304.

Figure 46 shows the slat 54 extending through a set of pressure rollers 324a and 324b to complete the formation of the slab 54 and the bonding of the front 68 and rear 70 portions together through the gluing located therebetween. At this point, the board is prepared for the application of a gluing strip, for cutting to the appropriate length and for insertion in the assembly station.

Subsequent to the completion of the folding and the formation of the slat 54, a gluing strip 326 is placed over the top tongue 72 for use in connection of the top or bottom tongue with the see-through support fabric 52, as described with above and as described once again below. Unlike the previous modalities, in the configuration shown in Figure 47, no gluing line is necessary on the tab 74 because the gluing on the tape 82 is sufficient to join the bottom tab 74 with the tape 92 and the elements 56. It is contemplated that a gluing line on the bottom tongue 74 could be added if necessary. The slat 54 at this point passes around a large pulley 328 in an attempt to cool the gluing on the top tongue 72

105 in order to prepare it for processing. Pulley 328 is large in order to prevent the slat from folding or distorting along its length, especially along the folded edges. The slat is wrapped around the pulley 328 with the gluing strip making contact with the pulley to flatten the profile of the gluing strip. The flat profile of the gluing strip on the top tab 72 helps to facilitate the movement of the operating element (s) on the gluing strip in the assembled blind. If the gluing strip protrudes too far, the operating element may have a difficult time moving freely through the top tab during operation, which could affect the performance of the blind function. After cooling of pulley 328, slat 54 is received in accumulator 330 as previously described, and subsequently passes through cutting station 296.

Similar to the cutting station 282 for the tape transport assembly 98, the cutting station 296 for the board transport assembly 96 described herein functions to section or cut the board 54 to the proper length for allowing the slat section to be pulled into the assembly station 100 through the slat vacuum conveyor 112. The end of the slat vacuum conveyor 112 is located adjacent to

106 cutting station 296 so that the free end of slat 54 can be pushed by tension rollers 328 through the open cutting station to engage the conveyor belt on slat vacuum 112, and through The vacuum pressure will be pulled along the vacuum conveyor 112. After the cutting step, the vacuum conveyor 112 moves the length of the slat 54 toward the assembly station 100 to the proper position for the joining steps as described herein.

Figure 48 shows the assembly station 100 of the embodiment presented in Figure 31. The belt 82 is connected to the operating elements 56 on the vacuum conveyor 114. As described with respect to the previous modalities, once the operating elements 56 are attached to the tape 82, the diaphanous support fabric 52 is brought to the assembly station 100 above the tape 82 (on the opposite side of the gluing belt 82 onto the belt 82), and the slab 54 is inserted, through the slat conveyor 112, below the combination of the operating elements 56 and the belt 82. Tie bars 140 and 142 are positioned above the interleaved materials, and as previously described, tie bar 142 is for coupling the tape combination 82 and operating elements 56 with the tab.

107 Bottom 74 of slat 54. Tie bar 140 is for coupling the top tab of slat 54 with see-through fabric while allowing operating elements 56 to pass through the tie frame.

Figure 4 9 is a cross section taken along Figure 48 and shows the slat 54, the belt 83, the operating elements 56 and the diaphanous support fabric 53 located in the assembly station 100 and ready for joining . In this position, both tie bars 140 and 142 are lowered to engage with the materials sandwiched below them. With respect to tie bar 142, tape 82 is joined with operating elements 56 on bottom tab 74. Diaphanous fabric 52 is not bonded with tape 82 because tape 82 is impervious to gluing. In this embodiment, no gluing strip is necessary on the bottom tab 74 of the board 54 because the gluing on the tape 82 is sufficient to bond the tape 82, the operating elements 56 and the bottom tab 74. With respect to tie bar 140, tie bar bonds open support fabric 52 to top tab 72 of slat 54 at all locations except where operating elements 56 pass top tab 72. joint has gaps at locations of operating elements 56. The tie bar could be heated, or it could be hot

108 environment or it could be chilled. Tie bars 140, 142 (and / or 274) could only apply pressure to cause adhesion between the respective materials or could apply a combination of pressure and heat or cooling.

Figure 50 is a cross-sectional representation similar to Figure 49 except that it shows the materials once the tie rods have been coupled together with the materials as previously described. Figure 50 shows the slat 54 attached to the transparent fabric 52, with the operating elements 56 located between them after the joining step. In this embodiment, an air or pneumatic knife 332 on or adjacent to the vacuum conveyor 112 could be actuated to create an air pressure in the direction of the arrows. Air pressure deflects the assembled blind out of the surface of the conveyor 112 allowing the next slat 54 to run along the conveyor below the assembled blind for the next slat bonding stage , and to help prevent The newly attached splint 54 is captured as the diaphanous support fabric is advanced for joining the next splint 54 to the diaphanous support fabric 52 and the operating elements.

The accumulators described above for accommodating the length of the splint and the tape to be

109 They extend rapidly along the vacuum conveyors in the clapboard conveyor and the belt conveyor stations are vacuum accumulators. Vacuum accumulators have several advantages, such as their compact size. However, it is contemplated that different accumulator structures could be implemented for each of the tape and slat transport structures. For example, a stage vacuum conveyor sufficient to accommodate the desired length of the belt or slat could be located between the cutting station and the existing slat or belt conveyor 112 or 114, respectively. With this additional stage vacuum conveyor acting as an accumulator, the total length of the tape or slat portion required for the next stage of bonding at assembly station 100 can be kept ready for use. When this portion of tape or slat is needed, it would be transferred to the vacuum conveyor at assembly station 100 and a new length of tape or slat would be pulled onto the stage vacuum conveyor. This would take up more space than the vacuum accumulator although it would also avoid the risk of entanglement, twisting or distortion such as wrinkling, which could exist during the use of the vacuum accumulators. Other structures and methods for the stages of the next slat or tape portion for

110 Use in the shutter assembly could also be used.

A variety of modalities and variations of structures and methods are described herein. Where appropriate, common reference numbers were used for common structural and method characteristics. However, unique reference numbers were sometimes used for similar or the same structural or method elements for descriptive purposes. As such, the use of common or different reference numbers for similar or the same structural or method elements is not intended to imply a similarity or difference beyond that described herein.

The terms adhesive and glue are used interchangeably and means that they include any heat or pressure sensitive product with the ability to adhere or bond woven fabrics and natural and artificial non-woven fabrics together and means that they are interpreted as synonymous with each other unless that their individual meaning is clearly proposed. Double sided adhesive tape is contemplated to be included in the definition of adhesive or glued, with the application of melting bars that are simply used to apply pressure that is opposed to pressing and / or heating. The breaks in the adhesive in the

111 upper part of the slat that allows the operating element to slide between them can be formed by the double-sided adhesive tape that has a break in its adhesion qualities in the same location as the operating element 5 that passes through from this connection point.

In addition, the adhesive is considered to include a mechanical connection between two objects, such as fastening with clamps, closing with a zipper or using Sailboat to join any of the shutter elements. For example, Ί0 as shown in Figure 52, at least one staple 37 6 could be used to join at least one operating element 56 with the active portion (such as the bottom edge in the above modalities) of the slat 54 . In Figure 52, tape 82 is shown to be joined with splint 54 and operating element 56. Tape 82 is not necessary since staple 376 could be used to directly attach the operating element to the splint 54. Other mechanical coupling or joining means could be used in a similar way to couple the splint with the open fabric, or any of the cutting elements.

In addition, and in addition to the use of the adhesive described above to create the union or coupling of the slat with the transparent support fabric, the slat with the 25 operating elements or the operating elements with the

112 tape, other means of operational coupling could be implemented. For example, the means of bonding or coupling could include, but are not limited to, sonic or ultrasonic welding (using suitable well-known materials), ultrasonic sealing, induction melting, infrared curing, or hot melt bonding. Ultrasonic horns could be used for the previous options of ultrasonic bonding. The mechanical types of coupling could also be used as connecting means, such as sewing, stapling, and the use of Sailboat or zippers. The different types of coupling operating means described herein are considered an operating coupling or coupling, and could replace the use of adhesive as previously described. The adhesives used on the top and bottom tabs, if any, might not necessarily be the same type of adhesive.

Adhesives could also be replaced, or used in conjunction with, dual-component fibers used in the backing sheet, splint, or operating elements. For example, no adhesive would be necessary where operating element 56 could selectively adhere to the bottom tab, and not the top tab. This could be done using a filament

113 Dual component extrudate 370 with high melt polypropylene such as a 372 core and low melt polypropylene as a 374 core liner, as shown in cross section in Figure 51. The tie bar for the bottom 5 tab on the board could be at a temperature to melt the low-melt polypropylene coating causing the filament to bond with the bottom tab of the board, while the tie bar on the top board it does not exceed the low melt temperature, so that the fiber does not adhere to the top tab of the slat. A backing piece (such as tape 82) may or may not be required, depending on the ability of the see-through backing fabric not to bond with the dual component filament. Other types of materials or products capable of being selectively bound could also be used.

Similarly, the slat or diaphanous support fabric could have dual component portions with fusion features designed to selectively adhere to the operating elements and / or the diaphanous support fabric, although they do not bond with the support element. operation on the upper tab 72 allowing the operating element to move relative to the upper tab 72 of the splint and the clear support fabric. In this last configuration, there would be no need for

114 Adhesive that place adhesive on the upper tab 72, or on the lower tab 74.

The finished shutter product may require a curing process to properly cure the adhesives. For example, some of the aforementioned adhesives require the shade to be cured at a larger temperature of approximately 26.67 ° C (80 ° F), at a relative humidity of approximately greater than 50% over a period of time of around 24 hours. Other curing processes could be used depending on the adhesive used, as well as other aspects of the assembly process.

The vacuum conveyors used to move the splint and tape include a band that could be made, at least partially, of silicone or other similar material. Vacuum conveyors could operate with or without the use of vacuum pressure to secure the slat or tape on the conveyor. The belt surface has a sufficient friction surface to clutch the slat or belt and advance it along the conveyor without the use of vacuum pressure.

The tie bars described herein for coupling the operating elements with the tape, or the combination of the operating elements and the tape on the top or fixed edge of the slat, or the

115 Operation on the lower or movable edge of the splint could operate in any orientation.

The above modalities assemble a shutter that works with the slats in a lateral or horizontal orientation while relying on gravity to pull down on the operating elements so that the slats can move from the collapsed position (see Figure 1C ) to the extended position (see Figure 1A). The blind product could be designed and manufactured to operate with slats oriented in the vertical direction or anywhere between the vertical and horizontal orientation. The necessary modifications would require replacing the role played by gravity in the modalities described herein. For example, a spring system could be used to drive the operating elements sufficiently to return the shutter from the retracted position to the extended position. The open support fabric would need to have a system of springs that also function to keep the open support fabric extended during use. In an embodiment where the orientation of the slat is vertical, the blind would be retracted laterally to one side or the other. Actuating the splint could cause the individual splints to contract in a lateral direction from one side to the other, depending on the design.

116

References herein to top or top, bottom or bottom, side or side, and horizontal and vertical, as well as other relative descriptions of position are given by way of example for the particular embodiment described and not as a requirement or limitation of the blind or the apparatus and method of assembling it. For example, in an embodiment of the blind where the slats are oriented in a vertical direction, the tongue or upper portion of the

<td>Clipboard</td><td> 72</td><td>could become</td><td>in</td><td>a</td><td>portion</td><td>side onon,</td><td>, and the</td>

<td>tongue</td><td>or</td><td>lower portion</td><td> 74</td><td>of</td><td>the</td><td>Clipboard</td><td>could</td>

<td colspan="2">become</td><td>in a portion of</td><td>side</td><td colspan="2">opposite.</td><td>Of the same</td><td>mode,</td>

in a modality of the blind where the slats are oriented in a horizontal direction although inverted in relation to the modalities described herein (with the movable portion of the slat moving downwards to contract and upwards to extend relative to the Figures ΙΑ, B and C), the top tab 72 could become the bottom tab and the bottom tab 74 moving relative to the see-through backing fabric could become the top tab.

In a further embodiment, it is contemplated that the slat could be joined with the diaphanous support fabric at the location between its edges, with another portion of the slat that is joined with at least one operating element.

117 causing actuation of the other portion. A second portion of the slat, on the opposite side of the line of attachment of the slat to the diaphanous support fabric of the first portion, could also be connected to at least one other operating element, causing the actuation of this second portion in the form independent of the movement of the first portion. This modality could be implemented at least in a blind application where the slats extend laterally or vertically.

The associated apparatus and method according to the present invention have been described with reference to the particular embodiments thereof. Therefore, the foregoing description is by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. Accordingly, all such alterations and variations and modifications of the embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to put the aforementioned invention into practice is the one that is clear from the present description of the invention.