AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF WOODEN BLINDS

Abstract

 An automatic machine for the production of wooden blinds comprising at least a support structure, a feeding module with a servomotor, co-operating hole punching module with punching stations, and a stacking module with stacking stations, with the aforementioned modules controlled using computer software, characterized in that the feeding module (3) comprises a slat "0" point initial position sensor (6) and a touch panel (7) for selecting a computer program for a specific slat length, with the said program in the first step numerically specifying the location of the slat hole punching stations (4.1), (4.2), (4.3) and (4.4), and the slat stacking stations (5.1), (5.2), (5.3), (5.4) and (5.5) on the support structure (1), after which it numerically controls guiding rollers (8) and (9) that move individual slats to the programmed location in the punching module (4) and stacking module (5), with the holes punched in an individual slat by the slat hole punching stations (4.1), (4.2), (4.3) and (4.4) in one or two passes, depending on the slat length and slat design with side tracks or without side tracks.

Description

[0001] The subject matter of the invention is an automatic machine for the production of wooden blinds with a selectable width ranging from 24 to 63.5 mm.

[0002] The invention pertains to an improved construction of the mechanisms for feeding, hole punching and stacking the slats used to make the blinds.

[0003] Devices are known from prior art containing a separate punching module with the required number of hole punching stations driven mechanically by way of an engine and a drive shaft. After punching, a bumper pushes the slats to a mechanically driven roller that moves the slats with holes to a stacking module.

[0004] Patent US8266784B2 discloses a processing module positioning system for window blind slats that uses a position control apparatus for moving multiple processing modules to preset positions. The position control apparatus comprises a servomotor used to drive a connecting belt. The position control frame is attached to a connecting belt in such a manner that upon the connecting belt being driven the connecting belt moves the position control frame in order to drive processing modules connected on the control frame. The position control frame can be connected and disconnected from processing modules.

[0005] A problem in hitherto used automatic machines is the requirement to provide the same number of hole punching modules as the number of holes needed. Although it is possible to operate with a lower number of punching modules, this requires an additional operation of moving the hole punching modules to the required position and then repeat loading of the slats for punching.

[0006] Existing solutions entail additional work, possibly additional investment in machine components in the form of additional hole punching modules. The likelihood of a mistake or inaccurate hole punching is also increased, which results in higher levels of manufacturing rejects.

[0007] The objective of the invention is to improve the operation of the automatic machine and reduce the number of the hole punching modules, which impacts the final price of the automatic machine and the working time.

[0008] An automatic machine for the production of wooden blinds comprising at least a support structure, a feeding module with a servomotor, co-operating hole punching module with punching stations, and a stacking module with stacking stations, with the aforementioned modules controlled using computer software, characterized according to the invention in that the feeding module comprises a slat initial position sensor and a touch panel for selecting a computer program for a specific slat length, with the said program in the first step digitally specifying the location of the hole punching stations and the slat stacking stations on the support structure, after which it numerically controls guiding rollers that move individual slats to the programmed location in the slat punching module and slat stacking module, with the holes punched in an individual slat by the hole punching stations in one or two passes, depending on the slat length and slat design with side tracks or without side tracks.

[0009] Preferably the slat initial position sensor comprises a photocell placed in a bracket.

[0010] Preferably the servomotor is mounted together with a belt gear to the support plate of the feeding module.

[0011] The solution according to the invention demonstrates a number of advantages when compared to automatic machines available on the market. The implementation of a feeding module with a servomotor and feeding rollers most importantly allows the elimination of the bumper pushing the slat to the stacking station, which significantly facilitates machine setup prior to operation.

[0012] The slat start position sensor determines the start position of the slat, i.e. the so-called "0" point that is used to numerically calculate the hole punching distance in the slats set by the operator. Such a solution guarantees alignment of all punched holes in the entire set of slats.

[0013] The purposefulness of using a numerically controlled roller assembly is particularly clear in case of production of blinds with holes for side tracks. In automatic machines currently on the market the number of holes has to be equal to the number of hole punching stations in the machine, and in the event of producing a three-hole slat with side tracks it is necessary to employ five punching stations with hole punches. Meanwhile, in the solution according to the invention such an operation can be performed with three hole punching stations, which not only translates into savings when purchasing the automatic machine, but also time savings when setting the hole punching stations.

[0014] An automatic machine for the production of wooden blinds presented in the embodiment in the figures, where Fig. 1 shows the co-operating feeding module, hole punching module with four hole punching stations and the stacking module with five stacking stations, Fig. 2 shows an exploded view of the servomotor with feeding rollers, Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the servomotor with feeding rollers, Fig. 4 shows the hole punching station, Fig. 5 shows the layout of punching a three-hole wooden slat for blinds side tracks in two passes, while Fig. 6 shows the sensor in a perspective view and exploded view.

[0015] The automatic machine for the production of wooden blinds in the embodiment comprises a support structure 1, on which are placed guides 2 of the feeding module 3, a hole punching module 4 featuring hole punching stations 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, and a stacking module 5 featuring stacking stations 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4 and 5.5. Supply module 3 is integrated with slat start position sensor 6, which in this embodiment is a photocell installed in the "U"-shaped bracket 6.1. The positioning of hole punching stations 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 and stacking stations 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5 is set using computer software depending on the length of the slats, with the relevant dimension input by the operator on touch panel 7. The computer software also controls the operations of the hole punching module 4 and the stacking module 5, and the movement of the slats to the correct position using guide rollers 8 and 9. Servomotor 10 driving the automatic machine and controlling its operations is attached to support plate 11 of supply module 3 together with the belt gearbox 12 that transfers movement to guide rollers 8, which move individual slats to hole punching module 4 equipped with four hole punching stations 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4, which in the first pass punch three holes in assigned locations using, in this case, 3 hole punching stations 4.1, 4.2, 4.3. The slat is then moved to a position set by the computer, and hole punches 4.1 and 4.3 perform two more holes in the second pass. Once the holes are punched, the slat is moved using rollers 9 to stacking module 5, where they are stacked into appropriate sets, in this embodiment, at stacking station 5.1, 5.2, 5.3.

Claims

1. An automatic machine for the production of wooden blinds comprising at least a support structure, a feeding module with a servomotor, co-operating hole punching module with punching stations, and a stacking module with stacking stations, with the aforementioned modules controlled using computer software, characterized in that the feeding module (3) comprises a slat "0" point initial position sensor (6) and a touch panel (7) for selecting a computer program for a specific slat length, with the said program in the first step numerically specifying the location of the slat hole punching stations (4.1), (4.2), (4.3) and (4.4), and the slat stacking stations (5.1), (5.2), (5.3), (5.4) and (5.5) on the support structure (1), after which it numerically controls guiding rollers (8) and (9) that move individual slats to the programmed location in the slat punching module (4) and slat stacking module (5), with the holes punched in an individual slat by the slat hole punching stations (4.1), (4.2), (4.3) and (4.4) in one or two passes, depending on the slat length and slat design with side tracks or without side tracks.

2. The automatic machine according to claim 1 characterized in that the slat initial position sensor (6) comprises a photocell placed in a bracket (6.1).

3. The automatic machined according to claim 1 characterized in that the servomotor (10) is mounted together with a belt gearbox (12) to support plate (11) of a supply module (3).

Drawing