Venetian blind slat stacking unit with dual linear divaricating elements
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated units for stacking slats on support ladders with double crossbeams for Venetian blinds often deform the ladders during the divarication process, leading to suboptimal quality in the produced blinds.
Innovation Solution
A slat stacking unit with two distinct divaricating elements and a single actuating device that positions and moves these elements to divaricate crossbeams without deforming them, allowing precise and coordinated action to minimize tension on the uprights and facilitate slat insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If sickle-shaped rotating elements are used to divaricate crossbeams, then the space for slat insertion is created, but the support ladders are deformed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single sickle-shaped divaricating element into two separate linear divaricating elements. Each element is inserted between one crossbeam and the upright, allowing independent control and uniform force distribution. This segmentation eliminates the deformation problem while maintaining the slat insertion function.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a curved sickle-shaped element that pushes crossbeams apart from the center, the patent uses two linear elements that push crossbeams apart from the uprights outward. This inverted approach changes the direction and distribution of forces, preventing ladder deformation while achieving the same divarication effect.
2Productivity
If divaricating means are added to enable slat insertion, then stacking functionality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the two linear divaricating elements with the single actuating device into an integrated mechanism. The actuating device simultaneously controls both elements, merging multiple functions into a coordinated system that automates slat insertion without requiring separate complex mechanisms for each element.
Solution Approach 2:
The single actuating device is designed to control both linear divaricating elements, giving it multiple functions. This multi-functional approach enables automated slat insertion while avoiding the complexity of having separate actuators for each divaricating element.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a unit for stacking of slats on a support ladder for the production of Venetian blinds. Such a unit comprises means for divaricating 10 a pair of crossbeams T1,T2 on a positioning plane p at the height of an insertion plane m of a slat. The divaricating means comprise: -two distinct divaricating elements 11,12, each of which is sized so as to be inserted between a pair of crossbeams without substantially divaricating them; - an actuating device 20 that supports both divaricating elements and is suitable to allow them to assume alternately a first operating configuration, in which they are disposed close to, or alongside, each other, and at least one second operating configuration, in which they are moved away from each other. The actuating device is movable with respect to the insertion plane m and the positioning plane p so as to move the two divaricating elements together with each other between an engagement position, in which both the divaricating elements are incident the positioning plane, and at least one disengagement position, in which both divaricating elements are not incident the positioning plane.