US2262550A - Means for producing venetian blind slats - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 11, 1941. JQL, HUNTER 2,262,550

MEANS FOR PRODUCING VENETIAN BLIND SLATS ATTORNEY Nov. 11, 1941. J. HUNTER 2,262,550

\ MEANS FOR PRODUCING VENETIAN YBLIND SIJATS Filed Nov. 25, 193'? 3 Shegts-Sheet 2 Img/15, N

A'r'ToRNEY N0v.11, 1941. J. l.. HUNTER `2,262,550

MEANS FOR PRODUGING VENETIAN BLIND SLATS Filed Nov. 23, 195'? 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Iii JIZ lf3 same to return to its original or distortion thereof.

\ into l.the machine.

Patented Nov. ll, '1941. v

Mams Foa raoDUcING vENn'rIAN BLIND snA'rs I l Joseph L. Hunter, Riverside, Calif.

' w Application November 23, 1937, Serial No. 176,048

(ci. s-z)l My invention relatesto apparatusfor manu.

faeturing Venetian blindslats and 'hasparticular reference to apparatus forn'lanufac'turing a Venetian blind'slat whichmay be constructed of relatively thin,` light-weight material having; by

Other objects'of my invention will be apparent from a study of the following 'specicationvread reasonof its shape, suiiicient rigidity to maintainits shapewhile in service and to permit the My invention also relates to the machinery-required forshaping the slat, :cutting the same to any desired length and forperforating` the same with openingsfnecessary for its assembly in a Venetian blind. V

.Another obiecthoi .my invention is to provide a machine for manufacturing a slat of the character set forth which includes mechanism for y curving a ribbon of relatively thin sheet material in a direction transverseto the longitudinal axis of the ribbon and which includes means for cutting the ribbon into any desired length and means for punching the ribbon at predetermined points to form the cord openings therein.`

Anotherobject oi.` my inventionA is to provide a machine for` producingl slats `of the character set forth whichincludes mechanism for feeding a ribbon of relatively thin sheet material from a substantially continuous source of supply thereof, the `ribbonso fed being passed into cutting and `punching apparatus adapted to cut the ribbon to any desired lengths and tol punch cord openings therein atany desired positions within said Anotherob'ject of `my invention is to provide a l machine of the character set forth'wherein suitable controlling apparatus may be employed to repeatedly cut lengths of material from the ribbon fed into the machine, and for repeatedly ejectedfrom the `machine without interfering` with the further feeding of the ribbon material shape afi-.er tending punching `openings in the lengths of the ribbon at Vtaken along the linel 1I`II of Fig. 1.

in connection with the wherein i Fig. lis a front elevational view of a machine for producing Venetian blind slats constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a detailed vertical sectional view through the ribbon bending or curving portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1, the section accompanying drawings,

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the die shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional viewof the die shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the section being taken along the line V'I-VI of-Fig. 5. and 'illustrating the die plunger employed for cutting the ribbon into predetermined lengths.

Fig. 7 is a detailed vertical sectional View taken through the die shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the section being taken along line VII- VII of Fig. 5 and illustrating the die plunger employed to punch cord openings inthe slats formed bythe machine. y

Fig. 8 is a detailed .perspective view of one of the vVenetian blind slats constructed inaccordance with my invention and produced by the method and apparatus of my invention.

Fig. 9 `is a diagrammatic view of an electrical control system which may be employed to control the operations of the die and plungers required for ythe cutting lof the slats to length and for the punching of the cord openings therein,

Fig. 10 is an enlarged partial side elevational View ofl the ribbon guiding, punch control and cordance with my invention as comprising a being length of a relatively narrow strip I offthin material, the strip I being curved as indicated at axis of the strip so that the effect of the curved cross-section will be to lend rigidity to the strip in thedirectin of a plane passing through the longitudinal axis. Thus, byreason of the curved cross-section of the strip, the width of the strip acts as a truss to resist -the bending movement of the strip and tends to hold the strip .always in a straight line though, by reason of the relative4 thinness of the material fromvwhich the strip is made, it will be apparent that any bending force tendingto distort the strip from a straight line will flatten out the curvature at one or more points along the length of the strip, permittingv substantial flexibility of the strip under force but the curved cross-section will also tend to returnVY the strip to its straight line form. This is particularly'true if the strip is made of some mate.-

' rial which has some measure of inherent reother` may be nested one upon the other when the blind is raised, the complete stack of strips occupying a relatively small space in the vertical direction as vcompared with the relatively great height occupied by the same number of ordinary WoodenVenetian blind slats as now commonly employed.

The thin strips or slats I may be punched or perforated with elongated openings 3 and 4 disposed at -any points along the length ofthe strip, the long dimension of the perforations 3 and 4 extending transversely of the strip to readily accommodate the cords employed in the assembled Venetian blind for the purpose of raising and lowering the blind. In view of the extreme thinness with which the slat I may be made, it will be apparent that with cords passing through the perforations 3 `and 4 as illustrated at 5, the slats may be turned4 about their longitudinal axis in the normal adjustment of the Venetian blind until the transverse axis of the slat I is substantially aligned with and is parallel to the vertical as distinguished from the substantially large minimum angle now permitted between the transverse axis of ordinary wood slats and the vertically extending operating cords, due to the fact that these Wood slats have considerable thickness, the material at the opposite ends of the perforations or openings 3, 4 engaging the cords and holding the slats from assuming a true or-nearly true vertical position.

A Venetian blind constructed of slats such as those shown in Fig. 8 will have approximately the same or less weight than a blind of similar dimensions constructed of wood slats, each of the slats I being constructed of such thin material that the total weight of material-required therein is equal to or less than the weight of'any wood slat. Moreover, a blind constructed of thin slats I may have one or more of the slats bent or distorted accidentally or purposely Without permanently damaging-the blind, since as soon as the distorting force is relieved, each of the slats will, by reason of its resilience, spring back to its original shape and original straight line con-4 figuration.

sheet 2 in a direction transverse to the longitudinal` A blind so constructed as to have relatively small vertical height when ,the blind is raised is also readily adapted to concealment in a relatively narrow architectural trim disposed upon theupperend of the window or other opening with which the blind is associated, while the beauty of the room, building or other location in which the blin`d is employed may be enhanced by coloring, painting or coating .one or both sides of each of the slats. y

The slats I constructed of thin sheet material such as metal may be readily manufactured by a simple manufacturingl method from a roll or reel of ribbon material from which the ribbon may be continuously fed into suitable rolling apparatus which will engage and roll the ribbon to produce a curved cross-section 2 of the slat I and then this curved ribbon may be fed through dies and punches to cut the ribbon into the desired lengths to form any desired length of slat and to punch the openings or perforations 3 and 4 in the desired locations therealong.

To carry such method into eiect, I have illustrated a machine such as that shown in Fig. 1 which includes a suitable support for a supply of ribbon material from which'the slats are to be made indicatedgenerally at.A, from which the ribbon material B is fed into a roller press C at which the ilexible ribbon is curved or distorted in a lateral direction so as to lend rigidity to the ribbon B. From thev roller press C the vmaterial feeds through a punchv press portion D of the ma-chine at which the Various cord slots or open- "ings are punched in the strips and the strips are cut to length. From the punch press D the ribbon materialis fed to a* guide and controlling portion of the machine E adapted to support the ribbon of material until itis cut to length, at which time the completed slat is ejected from the machine. f

The material from whichl Il form the slats I is preferably semi-hard steel of any desired thickness and preferably prepared at the factory in ribbons approximately 2 to 21/2 inches in width, the ribbons being wound upon suitable reels 6 (see Fig. 1) which may be readily supported upon an axle 1, opposite ends of which are mounted in upright frames 8 so as to support the reel immediately to the rear of the roller press portion C of my machine. I have illustrated the supports 18 as being separated from the remainder of the machine, though it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the supports 8 may constitute brackets extending from the main body of the machine or may be constructed separately, as desired.

The roller pressportion of the machine shown in Fig. l0 is illustrated in detail in Fig. 2, this portion of the machine comprising a suitable stand or table indicated at 9, the top I0 of which constitutes a table-like surface upon which an angular bearing bracket I I may be secured as by means of bolts I2. The upright portion of the angular bracket II is 'provided with a pair of bearing openings I3 and I4 therein, each of which is adapted to constitute a bearing for a shaft extending transversely of the table I0. The openings I3 and I4 are preferably arranged in Vertical alignment with each other, the upper opening I3 receiving a shaft I5 adapted to support an upper forming roller I6 while the lower opening I4 is adapted to receive a second shaft I'I supporting a lower complementary forming roller I8.

The upper roller I6 is preferably constructed of sy widtnslighuyfi .orme-mata crche ribbon Bof material tobe `used in formingfthe slatszandis `providedf'at .its periphery -with a concaveusurface. "The lower roller. Il issimilarly..

somewhat widerthan/'the strip B of material andhas `its peripheryformed `.with a convex sur#- face adapted :to press the ribbon B of material snuglyagainstl the concavefsurface of the roller` I9. By. arranging the `rollers I I and Il a predetermined distance `aparaany desired pressure may be exerted uponxthe ribbon B of material as it passes between the rollersso that the `pres` sure exerted'thereon will `deform .the hat ribbon of material `into a curved cross section corre- Y sponding'to the curve 2. desired in the slat'l.

Whilev separate'feedlng apparatus' may `be employed for drawing the ribbon of material 'from the reel 9, I prefer to vemploy the rollers Il and yI9 Vfor thispurpose by arranging to driveat least one oftheserollers'from a suitable 'source of Power such as that indicated` bythe motor-J9; The motor I 9 lmay be supported upon a suitable shelf 20 and coupled through suitable `reduction 33 extending" horizontally adapted I to receive .and ,to permit the .passage therethrough of the curved ribbonof material B.`

f associated waarna die um a miro: punches 39 and Il. the punch y39 being adaptedv to punch thefslots or cord openingen, l in the ribbon ma- "'f'terial as the material feeds through the punch gearing 2l' to aichain sprocket 22 'from which a -chain 23 passes over adriving sprocket 24 rigidly coupled to the `shaft l5 as by .a suitable key 25. The sprocket `24 is preferably arranged on the side. of the bracket II opposite to that on which the roller I9. ls located, a'suitable bushing "29. and suitable washers 2l and 29 being interposed between` the bracket II, `shaft I9, sprocket.l 24 and .roller I3 to prevent undue .wear of the bracket and shaft.

`In order to permitthe substantially unintera rupted feeding `oi the strip B into the punch press portion Dand guiding and controlling por- -tons E of the machine, I'prefer to allow for some slippage between the vribbon B and the motor I9 so that should the Apunches hereinafter described tend to bind upon the strip or the strip fail'to feed continuously forward for any reason,

the slippage allowed between the motor I9 and the ribbon B will prevent .injury to the ribbon. This may be readily arranged by coupling the roller` I6 to the shaftV I5 through a suitable slippage clutch indicated in Fig. 2k as comprising a driving clutch member 29 keyed to the `shaft I5 press :D while-the punch Il `is adapted `to cut lengthsu i "For convenience in the entire" ribbon Nof material into the desired the construction Aand mounting of the Vdie 39 and punches 39 and Il,

I prefer to accomplish all of the punching operations at a` single location. This permits ,the

construction of the die as is illustrated in detail in ms s. 4, 5, s ma 1 cr :our blocks cfsei or other die material 35a. lib,.3lc and 39d. -The blocks 39a and 2id are adapted to rest one upon sectional area of the slots 3 and 3 of the nished slat.. The die blocks 35h-and 39e are similarly adaptedto rest one upon the other andare provided with surfaces-35e` and 35f corresponding to the similarly numbered surfaces of the die blocks 35a and 35d to provide aacontinuation of the slot 3l. The inner surfacesof the die members 35h and 39o are provided with a 'vertical configura? `non as indicated at. asn which, together with a similarly formed vertical surface 39k on the die blocks 35a and 35d )constitutes an I-shaped opening. The'die .blocks may be assembled tol gether as indicated in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 byy means as` indicated at 39 and normally pressed toward the roller I'B as by means of aV spring 3|, the pressure upon which is regulated by suitable ad- 'justing lock nuts 32 threaded upon the shaft I5.

One or more disks of friction, material 33 may be interposed between the face of the clutch member 29 and the outer face 3l of the roller I6 so that .while the shaft I5 and -the clutch member 29 are positively driven by the motor I9, the roller I6 is driven through the friction. coupling so constructed.

The lower roller I9 may be power driven in a similar manner, though I have found that the friction between the :ribbonB and the roller I8 is sufllcient to causethis roller to rotate without applicationiof'direct driving power thereto.

The ribbon B of material from the reel 6 `having passed therollers I9 `and I8 is nowprovided with a curved cross-section and the curved ribbon is .now pushed or fpush-fed into kthe punch press `portion D of the machine. The punch press portion` ofthe machine includes a.

suitable vdie indicated Agenerally at 35 (see Fig.

' in advance of the location of therollers Ii and I9. The die 39 is provided with a curved slot i of a plurality of screws 39m so that when so assembled, a complete slot or passage 38 is providedfor the ribbon of material while two vertical openings or' slots are provided for the punches 39 and In respectively..

By referring particularly to Fig. 7, it will served that the punch 39 comprises-a die punch 39a adapted to t within and to operate vertically within the slot or openings 95g, the lower portion of the punch '39 being formed as an enlarged cup-like member 39h.` To normally hold' the punch or die portion 39a disposed below the 'slot v39 in the die 35, I` provide a ring support 39e .nular recess `39e in which a ring or annulus of compressible rubber or similar resilient material 39f may be seated. By arranging one or more adjusting lock nuts 39g threaded as indicated at immediately return the punch 39 'to its normal position as illustrated in Fig. 7. v

By referring particularly to Fig. 6, it'will be noted that the punch I9 is similarly constructed,

having a die portion Illa fitting snugly within be oband 35k (Fig. 5) on the die block, the upper portion'of the punch 49 being formed as a'cup-like member 40h resting upon and 'supported by a ring member 40e, lthe lower surface 40d of which rests upon the upper surface of the die block 35a. while the upper end of the ring member 40c is pro-` vided with a recess 46e in which rests a resilient rubber ring 40j engageable by lock nuts 40a threaded as indicated at 40h upon the cup pory for the coil 4|, while the upper end of the spring tion 40h. Like the punch 39, the punch '45, when .struck a sharp blow will move downwardly, compressing the ring 40f and instantly return to its normal position, as indicated lnFig. 6. 1

By adjusting the positions of the lock nuts 39g and 40g, the total distance through which either of the punches 39 and 49 may move may be carefully regulated and by properly regulating the same, the rapidity with which thepunch will enter and penetrate the ribbon B and be Withdrawn therefrom is such as to permit substantially con-v tinuous forward feeding of the ribbon without perceptibly interrupting such feeding.v Such interruption as does occur, however, has no effect on the operation of the machine since the length of time the strip is prevented from moving isy inflnitesimal as compared to the rate at which the strip is normally fed forwardly so that such interruption will merely cause a-slight change inl the slack always present in the tension side of the driving chain or belt 23. As pointed out hereinbefore, should the punches bind, stick or for any'other reason interrupt the feeding oi! y punch 40. 'I'he solenoid plunger 44 operating within the coil 4I comprises a tubular member, the interior of which is threaded as indicated at 45 to receive the threaded stem of a non-magnetic hammer 46, the hammer 46 being adapted to be screwed upwardly or downwardly relative to the plunger 44 and locked in any suitable 1ocation therewith by means of a lock nut 41. The

Y p 2,202,550 the vertical slot formed between the surfaces 55h The plunger is preferably elevated after each blowby means of a spring 49 surrounding a reduced member end 50 on the hammer 46,y the lower end of the spring 49 resting upon a cap 5I secured to and extending .above the housing-"52 49 bears upon an adjustable nut 53 threaded upon the upper end of the plunger 46 and held in any desired location thereon by means of a lock nut 54. v

Since it is desired to onlyl momentarily energize the coil 4I, Il provide a limit switch for automatically breaking the circuit to the coil 4I when the plunger Vhas been drawn downwardlylinto the lcoil, this switch comprising a switch lever 55 pivoted'at 56 upon a supporting plate 51, one end of which carries a contact 58 adapted to rest upon a stationary contact 59 secured to the supporting plate 51 and adjustable thereon by means of a screw 50. A spring 6l normally urges the contacts 58 land 59 toward each other but permitting the same to be separated when a washer 62, secured between the nuts 53 and 54 engages the inner end of the switch lever 55. By suitably' adjusting the position of the washer 62, the cirlcuit to the coil 4I may be interrupted at'any point during the travel of the yplunger 44.

The punch 39 is similarly operated by a solenoid coil 63, mounted below and in vertical alignment with the punch 39, the construction of the\ coil 63 and its operating parts being identical with that described for the solenoid and its operating parts, so that a complete detailed de scription thereof may be omitted except to note that the solenoid 63 is provided with a switch 64 having contacts 65and 66 arranged to be opened by a washer'61 on the hammer 68 corresponding inall respects to the construction and operation lower` end of the plunger 44 is preferably conical y shaped, adaptedto conform with a conical depression 48 formed in an upwardly projecting portion of the base 42 as is the common practice' in solenoid constructions, to provide an even magnetic pull on the plunger 44 when the coil 4I is energized. By properly adjusting the relative locations of the plunger 44 and the hammer 46, the hammer 46 will be driven downwardly upon each of the energizations of the coil 4l a distance sufficient to drive the punch 40 through the ribbon of material, the preferred adjustment being such that the blow struck by the hammer 46 upon the punch 40 will impart to the punch 40 suilicient momentum to cause itto-move downwardly through the desired distance while the lowermost position attained by the hammer 46 is insufficient to hold the punch 40 in ribbon penetrating position. Thus, while it is preferred to momentarily energize the coil 4I, a continued energization thereof will not hold the punch 40 in penetrating position relative to the material B.

.'form one end of the slat I, then the punch 39 may be operated to.punch one cord opening at any predetermined distance from the forward end of the slat l being formed. If a cord opening is desired in the center of the slat I, the punch 39 may again be operated when approximately 1A of the desired length of ribbon material has been fed through the punch press portion D of the machine. Then, as the ribbon material continues to feed through the punch press portion D of the machine, the punch 39 may again be operated to punch the cord opening to be disposed near the opposite or rearward end of the slat l and when a.predetermined amountvof the ribbon material has been thereafter fed through the punch press portion D, the punch 40 may again be operated to cut this length of ribbon material from the ribbon, completing the slat and forming the forward end of the succeeding slat.

I t will therefore be observed, by merely properly timing the operation of the punches 39 and 40 as the ribbon material feeds through the machine, a slat of any desired length may be formed and the cord openings 3, 4 or others may be formed in the slat at any desired locations therein. v

In order to permit the continuous manufacture of slats in my machine, I prefer to provide autopurpose, I have provided immediately at the rear l ofthe punch press portion D of themachine, a suitable trackway through which the forwardly moving ribbon of material which has passed beyond the die block 35 may be guided and held in reasonable horizontal alignment with the die block 85 until the desired length of material has been fed therethrough and lcut ofi. Then the length of material which hasnow been formed into a completed slat may then be ejected from the machine. l

By referring particularly toFigs. 1, 10, 11 and 12,it will be noted that a table constructioncom prising a plurality of leg or stand members secured to an eiongatedmember 1| is provided, the table top member 1| being disposed immediately below the path of movement of the ribbon B of material as it feeds from the die `block 35. i Disposed upon the rearward portion of the table top 1| is a vertically extendingtmember 12 which may be constructed o f a length of channel iron as indicated in Fig. 11. Disposed at a plurality of spaced points along the upper edge of the vertical member 12 are brackets 13, 14, 15, 16, 11 and 18, all of the brackets 13-11 being identical in construction and-` are illustrated in detail inFigs. 10 and 11. These brackets comprise a foot portion 19 adapted to rest upon and to be secured` to the upper flange of the channel iron 12 as by means of screws 80. Ex-

, tending from this foot portion 19 is a bracket 8| having a forwardly projecting ear 82 formed with *a circular bore 83 extending therethrough adapted to constitute a bearing in which a rod 84 .may be rotatably mounted. Secured to the rod 84 is an elongated plate 85 constituting the rear portion of a track construction along which the ribbon B of material may be vguided as by forming in the forward surface of the plate85 a slot or trackway 86.

The brackets |3-11` are also provided with a laterallyprojecting bracket at 81,` likewise formedv the brackets -13-11 so as not to interfere with the rotary movement of the rods 84 and 89. The strips or bars 85-90 therefore constitute a trackway extendingthe full length of the tabletop 1|.

It will be understood that as the ribbon mate-` rial is fed through the punch press D and is cut to length, the. finishedslats, at that time disposed in and supported by the track members 85 8||, may be ejected from the machine merely by opening the trackway 85--90 as by rotatingthe rods 84 and 89 to swing the track members 85--90 from their full line positions to their dotted line positions as shown in Fig. 11. To accomplish this result, I provide upon the bracket 18 a solenoid 94the Aplunger 95 of which is normally urged upwar y by a. compression spring 95a. The plunger to a pair oflinks 91 and 98 which are in turn rigidly connected to the bars 85 and 90 respectively. Thus, "by energizing the solenoid 94, the rods 84 and 89 may be rotated to swing the track ` members 85 and 80 to their open position.

After the completed slat has been out from the ribbon B of material, it should be moved out of the way of the oncoming end of the strip of material B and for4 this purposel I prefer to"pro vide meansfor moving the cut strip or finished siat forwardly inthe machine at a speed somewhat in excess of the speed of feeding the strip material B throughthe machine. For this purpose, Iyhave providedan electing device illustrated particularly in Fig. 10 ascomprising a solenoid |00 supported in horizontally disposed guides |0| and |02 on a bracket |08 secured to and extending upwardly from the table top 1|. The solenoid |00 has secured thereto -a vertically extending bar |04 upon the upper end of which is pivtrack 85-90. The finger |06 iShOrmally'urged upwardlyagainst thestrip B by means of a spring 5 is connectedpas indicated at 96,

|01 so that as the strip B passes thereover, the upper end of the finger |06 will be projected upwardly into the cord openings which have beenv punched into the strip B. The solenoid |00 is arranged to be moved forwardly ofthe machine by means of a lever |08, pivoted as at |08a either upon the bracket |03 or upon the table top 1|, the outer end of the lever |08 being coupled to the bar `|04 as by means of providing therein a pin |09 engaging a vertically extending slot in the bar |04. The lever |08 is adapted to`be swung forwardly from'the full line position shown in Fig. 10`to the dotted line position indicated by the line by means of a solenoid coil ||2, the plunger ,I i3 of'which is coupled to the lever as by means of a link ||4. The lever |08 is adapted to be' swung back to its original position after each energization of the coil ,l |2 by means of a spring ||5. c c

By energizing the coil ||2 at the time the cut off punch 40 is operated, the finished slat will be moved slightly forwardly in the machine and then the trackway --90 may be opened and the finished slat dropped from the machine.

` It. will therefore be noted that I have provided a machine in which a continuous strip B of material may be fed from the reel 6 and formed into slats of any desired length and having cord openings punched therein at any desired locations, the limit of the length of the finished slat being determined only by the'interval. of time provided between the successive operations of the cut off punch 40. A

- To render my machine substantially automatic in the manufacture of slats, I provide automatic controlling apparatusV for controlling the operations of the punches 39.and 40, such controlling ed upon shelves |I1 formed uponand projecting laterally Vfrom` the brackets 13--11. Located upon and slidable along the measuring bar ||6 are a plurality of switch members ||8, ||9 and |20, each of these switch members comprising a hook-like supporting plate |2| adapted to hook over the measuring bar ||6 and to be 'securedy 4at any desired position thereon as by (means of set-screws 122. The outer leg |23 of the switch plates having a switch lever |24 pivoted thereto as indicated at |25, each of the switch levers being provided with a contact 26 insulated from the lever as indicated at |21. 'I'he complementary contact of the switches comprises a lever |28 pivoted upon the plate at |29, the lever |28 being normally urged by means of a spring |30 toward a stop pin |3|. The upper end of the switch lever |24 is provided with a screw |32 which projects toward the complementary contact lever |28, there being a spring |33 interposed between the two switch levers. With the switch constructed as described, the normal position of the switch is indicated `at |20, wherein the lever |28 is urged against its stop pin |3| and the spring |33 is 4urging the lever |24 so as to separate the contact `|26 from the lever |28.

Cil

The lever |24 of each of the switches is provided with a tail piece |34 extending downwardly into a position intercepting the path of movement of the strip of material B so that as the strip of material is fed forwardly through the guide track 85-90, the end of the strip will engage the tail pieces of each of the switches ||8, ||9 and |20 successively. When the tail pieces |34 are so engaged, the advancing movement of the strip will swing the switch levers |24 from the normal position, as shown in |20, to the circuit closing position, as indicated at ||9, wherein the contact |26 is brought into engagement with the lever |28. As the strip B continues to advance, however, the tail piece |34 will be pressed upwardly until it rides upon the upper surface of the strip B, thus moving the switch lever |24 to the position shown at ||8 wherein the end of the screw |32 has engaged the lever |28 and has swung the lever` |28 away from its stop pin |3|, at which time the lever |28 is swung away from the contact |26 to reopen the circuit. Thus each ofthe switches closes its contacts only momentarilv.

'Ihe switches ||8 and ||9 are each adapted to control the operations of the cord opening punch 39 so that by disposing the switch ||8y a predetermined distance away from the punch 39, this punch will be actuated when a predetermined amount of ribbon material has been fed through the die block 35 and engages the switch |8. By adjusting the position of the switch ||8 along the measuring bar ||6, the spacing of the rst cord opening relative to the end of the strip may be adjusted to any desired distance.

The momentary closing of the switch ||8 followed immediately by its reopening will cause a momentary energization of the solenoid 63, punching the rst hole in the strip.

The location of the next switch ||9 to be encountered by the strip may also be selected so as to operate the punch 39 when a predetermined additional amount of material has been fed through the die block 35 thus properly locating the second hole. Other switches I9 may be provided spaced further along the measuring bar ||6 if other holes are desired,

The switch is adapted to control the punch 40 for cutting oil the strip and by locating this switch at a predetermined distance along the measuring bar ||6, this switch will be actuated by the end of the advancing strip when a predeterminedv length of the strip is passed through the die block 35. l

In order to permit my machine to be readily adapted to the cutting and punching of strips of different lengths, I prefer toI arrange the switches ||8, H9, |20 slidably along the measuring bar ||6 to any desired location so that the connection of the switch contacts |26 for each of these switches into the necessary circuits must also be adjustable along the length of the machine. A ready means for so adjustably disposing the switches may comprise a pair of conductor wires extending lengthwise over the machine.

As illustrated in Fig. 10, the wires are indicated at |35 and |36, one end of each of these wires being secured to a bar |31 of insulating material secured in any manner as by screws |38 to an upright |39 disposed at one end of the channel iron member l2, while the opposite ends of the wires |35, |36 may be similarly disposed upon an upright |40 at the opposite end of the channel '|2.

The connection between the switch contacts |26 for each of the switches may be made by means of insulated conductors |4|, |42 and |43 respectively, these conducors being placed in electrical connection with the conductor wires |35 and |36 after the switches have been located in their desired positions.

The control circuit for controlling all of the apparatus of the machine is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 9 wherein a suitable source of electrical current 50, is illustrated as having one of its terminals grounded as at |5|. The other of the terminals of the battery or other source of electric `power is illustrated as being connected to one terminal of each of the punch solenoids 63 and 4| by means of conductors |52 and |53. The circuit for the solenoid preferably continues through the switch contacts 65, 66, associated with that solenoid and thence the circuit continues by way of conductor |54 to one of the conductor wires |36 which extends lengthwise of the machine. Thus, by merely connecting the contact |26 of the switch ||8 to the conductor 36 and connecting the opposite contact |28 of this switch to ground as indicated at |55, the circuit for solenoid 63 will be completed upon the momentary closing of switch ||8 to operate the plunger to punch the rst of the cord openingsv in the slat By locating the second of the switches |9 at a predetermined distance along the measuring bar I6 vand connecting the contacts of this switch between the conductor |36 and ground at |56, a second circuit will be completed for the solenoid 63 when the end of the ribbon B arrives at the location of switch I9. Any other switches employed to control the solenoid 63 may be similarly disposed along the measuring strip ||6 and may have their contacts connected to the conductor |36. l

The switch |20. however, is adapted to control the solenoid 4| for cutting off the strip so that the circuit for solenoid 4| should extend through the coil of the solenoid and thence through its cut off switch contacts 58,59 whence the circuit should extend to the conductor 35 (extending along the length Yof the machine). The switch |20 for operating solenoid 4| may then be connected by means of conductor |43 to the conductor |35, the switch |20 being grounded at |51. Thus, when the end of the ribbon arrives at the switch |20, the punch for cutting oil the strip will be automatically actuated. When the punch 4| is actuated, the ejector solenoid ||2 should also be actuated and the solenoid 94 for opening the trackway should-be operated at this time so as to insure the ejection of the finished and cut oi strip as the new length of material B enters from the die block. I have illustrated the ejection solenoid |2 as being connected to one terminal of the battery or other source of supply |50,

by means of conductors `|50 and |50, the circuit continuing `from the ejection solenoid I 2 through a self-opening switch |60 and |6I constituting contacts o! a switch shown particularly in liig.` l as located immediately at the rear of the solenoid I I2 and adapted to be engaged and separated from each `other by the solenoid plunger when the plunger is drawn inwardly of the coil H2, so asto insure onlymomentary energization of the ejection solenoid ||2.` The circuit extends from the switch |60|6| by way of conductor |62 to the same conductor |35 which controls the solenoid 4|, the circuit continuing through the switch to ground at |51.

The direct opening solenoid 9'4 is similarly 4normal straight line condition after distortion either intended or accidental.

It will also benoted that I have provided a Venetian blind slat which permits the ready assembly of a relatively great number of such slats capable of being used in a compact manner and capable of being used to assemble a Venetian blind using the ordinary web strips and control cords now commonly employed. in Venetian blind structures.

` sheet material from said supply in a direction extending longitudinally o! vthe ribbon material, means interpoesd in the path of travel oi said lmaterial forengagingand deforming said ribbon material in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof` to produce a curved transverse cross section ,therein for rendering said material substantially rigid in a longitudinal direction, means for punching cord openings in said material disposed in spaced relation to said deforming means' andr in the direction of the feeding movement of said ribbon, and means for actuating said cord punching means disposed in the path of travel of said ribbon for engagement and operation by the now rigid ribbon material.

2. In a machine for manufacturing Venetian blind slats from'su'ch thin sheet material as to be non-seli-supporting, means iorsupporting a substantially continuous supply vo1.' ribbon-like strips of said sheet material, means for feeding said sheet material from said supply in a direction extending' longitudinally of the ribbon material, means interposed in the path of travel of said material for engaging and deform'lng said ribbon material in a direction transverse tothe longitudinal axis thereof to produce a curved transverse cross section therein for rendering said material substantially rigid in a longitudinal direction, punch means for punching cord openings in said material disposed in spaced relation to said deforming means in the direction of movement of said ribbon and through which said now rigid ribbon material must pass,where by saidiribbon material may be pushedby said It will also be noted that by providing the method and machinery disclosed herein for the manufacture of such slats, the same may be made of any desired length from a continuous ribbon of sheet material with a minimum oi labor and a minimum of operating expense.

It will be noted that once the machine has been set up for the manufacture of a slat of predetermined dimensions as by locating the switches H8, IIS, |20 at the desired positions to punch the holes in the right locations.y and to cut the ribbon into slats of predetermined length, the machine will thereafter function automatically to repeatedly manufacture slats of this size until the complete supply of material has been used up from the reel 6 unless the machine is otherwise stopped as by opening a suitable control switch |64 placed in circuit with the source of supply |50.

By employing any oi ythe commonly known counting devices, the switch `H54 may be made to open the circuit after a predetermined selected number of slats has been made by the machine,

.sothat the machine may be set up to punch the blind slats from such thin sheet material as to be non-self-supporting, means for supportinga substantially continuous supply of `ribbon-like strips oi sheet material, means for feeding-said feeding means through said punching means, and l actuating means for said punch means disposed in the path of travel of said now rigid ribbon and spaced from said punch means at different distances in the'direction of movement of said ribbon for successive engagement by said ribbon to punch a plurality of cord openings therein at diierent points along the length of said ribbonl as said ribbon successively engages and operates said actuating means.

3. In a machine for manufacturing Venetian blindslats from such thin' sheet material as to be non-self-supporting, means for supporting a substantially continuous supply of ribbon-like ystrips of said sheet material, means for feeding said sheet material from said supply in a direc-` tion extending longitudinally of theribbon material, means interposed in the path of travel of said material `for engaging and deforming said ribbon material in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof to produce a 'curved transverse cross section therein for rendering said 'material substantially rigid in a longitudinal direction, punch means for punching co'rd openings in said material disposed in spaced relation to said deforming means in the direction of movement of said ribbon and through which said now rigid ribbon material must pass, whereby said ribbon material may be pushed by said feeding means through said punching means, actuating means for said punch means disposed'in the path of ktravel of said now rigid ribbon and spaced ing means, and actuating. means-for said cut-oi! punch means disposed in the path of travel of said now rigid ribbon to be engaged and operated by the advancing end of said ribbon when a predetermined-length of said ribbon has been fed past said cut-oi means. f f

4. In a machine for manufacturing Venetian Ablind slats for such thin sheet material as to be for engaging and deforming said ribbon material 15 in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof to produce a curved transverse cross section therein for rendering said material substantially rigid in a longitudinal direction, shear means for cutting said ribbon into predetermined lengths, disposed in spaced relation to said deformin'g means and inthe direction o! the feeding movement of said ribbon, a trackway disposed in spaced relation to said shear means in the direction of movement of said deformed ribbon for engaging opposite edges of said now rigid ribbon Iand for guiding said ribbon lpast said punch means, and means tor spreading said track means to eject said ribbon therefrom.

JOSEPH L. HUNTER.

Images