EP1923502B1 - Method and device for folding textile fabric - Google Patents

Abstract

The blind (10) has a multi folded, flexible area-measured material (12) provided with profile strips (14, 16) at end areas that face from each other. The flexible area-measured material is formed in such a manner that a side profile does not exhibit cavity structures in a spread shading position, and pulling units (24) of the strips are guided at the flexible material by recesses (22). The recesses are exclusively attached on one side at the flexible material with respect to a shading surface fixed by the flexible material. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a device for manufacturing of a plissee blind (2) a method for pleating of a flexible area-measured material.

Description

The invention relates to a method for pleating a textile fabric and to an apparatus for carrying out the method.

A known Plisseejalousie is intended for a variable shadowing or darkening of a window and is also referred to as window blind, pleated or blackout items. The pleated blind has a multiply folded, flexible, in particular textile, sheet, which is typically made of a one-piece material web. The material web may be formed as a nonwoven, knitted fabric or knitted fabric of natural and / or artificial fibers or as a film, in particular as a plastic film. Each end of the fabric is provided with moldings, of which a first is also referred to as a fastening strip and is provided for a determination of the flexible fabric, for example on a window reveal. The second profiled strip is attached to an end region of the flexible sheet facing away from the first profiled strip and serves as a weighting strip in order to ensure a visually appealing alignment of the multi-pleated flexible sheet. The weighting bar can hang freely or be guided on tensioned guide ropes. On the weighting strip, a plurality of parallelly aligned traction means are typically mounted, which are guided by recesses in the flexible sheet and which are movably received in the fastening strip. In order to enable an adjustment of the flexible sheet between a compact stowed position and a spread shading position, the length of the traction means can be manually or externally powered, in particular with an electric motor, can be varied. As a result, a distance between the fastening strip and the weighting strip is changed and the flexible fabric can be more or less over a window opening or the like are spread to achieve the desired shading effect.

In the known Plisseejalousie the traction means are guided by recesses, which are arranged centrally in the folds of the flexible sheet, so that the traction means are visible on both sides of a specific plane of the flexible sheet shading surface. In addition, the recesses through which the traction means are guided, visible from both sides of the shading surface. Thus, light can penetrate through the recesses directly on that side of the shading surface, which should actually be completely shaded by the flexible fabric of Plisseejalousie. Even if the recesses are generally chosen to be relatively small in diameter, the show through of the regular recesses is aesthetically very unsatisfactory.

Furthermore, pleated blinds are known in which two layers of textile fabrics are guided in parallel and are connected to each other at regular intervals, whereby viewed from the side - in the unfolded state, a cell or honeycomb structure is formed. In such structures, it is possible to guide the traction means through the material so that the corresponding recesses are not directly visible. However, the formation of such cell or honeycomb structures is relatively complex and usually requires a relatively high material usage due to the double-layered guide.

From the US 4 974 656 A a pleated blind is known in which the traction means are guided on the flexible sheet by recesses, which are - relative to a determined by the flexible sheet shading surface - mounted on one side only on the flexible sheet. The shading surface is thus not broken by recesses, so that no undamped light rays can penetrate into an area behind the pleated blind. In addition, therefore, the traction means are visible only from one side of the shading surface, while they are not visible from the other side of the shading surface and thus an advantageous visual impression of Ensure pleated blinds. However, the production of such pleated blinds is relatively expensive.

From the generic US 6,302,181 The preamble of claims 1 and 4, a method for pleating a flexible sheet is known, which is partially stiffened with rigid fabrics. Two similar fabrics are each mirror-symmetrically connected to the intermediate strips by the sheets by means of upper and lower blades around the front edges of the intermediate be wrapped and glued by means integrated in the blades heating elements, the prepared adhesive portions melt, sections are glued to the respective intermediate strip.

From the US 5 135 461 A is a pleated fabric and methods for their production is known in which an electrical heating of the pleating knife for fixing the pleating fold takes place.

From the WO 00/71804 A For example, there is known a method for forming a pleat in a flexible sheet primarily for the garment and uniform area, in which knives are heated to form the pleat.

The present invention has for its object to provide a method and an apparatus for producing a Plisseejalousie that or allow a particularly efficient pleating of such a flexible sheet.

The solution of the above object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1.

The method thus makes it possible in a simple and efficient manner to produce pleated blinds with double-layer edge regions, the advantages of which have already been pointed out in the above description and also apply to the method.

In an embodiment of the invention, it is provided that for adjacent, oppositely executed folds different travel path for the pleating knives are provided in order to realize different wrinkle depths, corresponding to a so-called. Wrinkle height repeat. As a result, the double-layered edge regions, which are each provided on the same-direction folds, can be formed. Thus, the desired, only one-sided visible arrangement of the traction means and the recesses can be realized, wherein single-layered portions of the flexible sheet between the folds all substantially the same width and thus offer a uniform look for a viewer. Thus, while in each case in the same direction running, wrinkles have the same depth of wrinkles, each adjacent, opposing folds can have a different depth of wrinkles.

In a further embodiment of the invention it is provided that are provided for adjacent, in the same direction executed folds in an alternating sequence the same and different travel for the pleating. Thus, a deviating from 1 division of the provided with double-layer edge regions wrinkles is possible because, for example, a first fold is provided with a large fold depth to form a double-layer edge region, while the next same-directional fold is realized with a small fold depth.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a device for producing a pleated blind with two counter-movable pleating knives for pleating a flexible sheet, which is specially designed for carrying out the aforementioned method, wherein at least one of the pleating knives is provided with a heating device. With the aid of the heating device in the pleating blade, welding of double-layer edge regions can already be undertaken during a folding or pleating operation for the flexible fabric. This is an advantageous and cost-effective production of Plisseejalousie possible.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the heating device is designed for a local, in particular linear, heating of the pleating blade for welding a sheet applied to a surface of the pleating blade. This ensures that a welding of adjacent sections of the flexible sheet takes place exclusively in the edge region, in which a double-layered connection of the flexible sheet is desired. Preferably, the heater extends over an entire width of the pleating blade and is aligned parallel spaced to a tapered leading edge of the pleating blade.

In the context of the invention it is provided that the heating device is provided on a surface of the pleating knife, which faces a heating shaft, which is provided for fixing the pleating. This allows a particularly advantageous sequence of the manufacturing process for an inventive Plisseejalousie. The pleated or folded flexible sheet is inserted after folding in compactly folded form in a heating shaft to achieve a fixation of the wrinkles. In this case, a cross section of the heating shaft is adapted to an outer contour of the compact pleated blind in such a way that a frictional resistance is within a predefinable interval in order to prevent the freshly folded folds from elastically deforming again. Thus, a frictional resistance is formed between the compact folded, flexible sheet and the heating shaft, which can serve as counter pressure for a welding operation for the double-layer edge region. By attaching the heating device on the surface of the pleating blade facing the heating shaft, welding of adjacent edge regions of the flexible fabric to a double-layered edge region can thus be achieved without the need for further devices such as counter-pressure means.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that both pleating knives are provided with heaters. As a result, additional welds can be realized for other embodiments of pleated blinds.

With the method according to the invention or the device according to the invention, a pleated blind can be produced which does not form any cavities or cell structures in the partially or completely unfolded state in the side profile, and in which the traction means are guided on the flexible sheet by recesses which, with respect to a Shading surface determined by the flexible fabric - are attached to the flexible fabric only on one side. The shading surface is thus not broken by recesses, so that no undamped light rays can penetrate into an area behind the pleated blind. In addition, therefore, the traction means are visible only from one side of the shading surface, while they are not visible from the other side of the shading surface and thus ensure a favorable visual impression of Plisseejalousie.

Preferably, the recesses are provided in edge regions in the same direction folded folds of the flexible sheet. The Plisseejalousie has in alternating order in opposite directions introduced wrinkles, so that in total results in a zigzag folding of the flexible sheet. By attaching the recesses in the edge regions in the same direction folded folds can be ensured that the traction means are attached and visible only on one side of the shading surface, while neither traction means nor recesses are visible from the other side of the shading surface.

Furthermore, the edge areas provided with recesses are preferably formed in sections double-layered. In a double-layered embodiment of the edge regions, opposite, strip-shaped sections of the flexible fabric are connected to one another. Thus, a fold originally introduced into the flexible sheet serves as the end portion of the double-layered portion, while a new fold is formed on a repellent end portion of the double-layered portion, at which the two portions of the flexible sheet joined in sections again separate from each other and thus continue in one layer. Thus, from the one side of the shading surface, the marginal region of the flexible fabric, which is double-layered in sections, presents itself as a web-shaped section whose free end protrudes onto the side of the shading surface on which the traction means are provided. In this web-shaped area, the recesses are introduced. The recess is spaced from that end of the web-shaped area which is connected to the preceding and following, single-layer sections of the flexible sheet, so that the shading surface is not broken and an advantageous shading can be ensured by the Plisseejalousie.

Preferably, the double-layered edge regions are integrally connected, in particular welded. Thus, a particularly cost-effective production of such a trained pleated blind can be realized. A cohesive connection can preferably be realized by gluing the edge regions, it is particularly advantageous if the flexible sheet is made of a material that is weldable. Thus, when forming the pleats or in a subsequent processing step, the edge regions can be welded together.

Furthermore, the double-layered edge regions and the recesses provided therein may be arranged on the corrugated folded folds in regular pitch. In the Plisseejalousie a regular sequence of oppositely introduced wrinkles is provided. Considering in the same direction folded folds, each of which is provided with a double-layered edge region, a division is assumed to be 1. This means that each of the folds folded in the same direction is provided with a double-layer edge area. With a division greater than 1, only every nth fold is provided with a double-sided edge region, where n can assume positive and integer values. Depending on the type of pleated blind, a pitch (s) will preferably be provided in a range of n = 1 to n = 10, larger pitches being preferably provided for small pleats.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the double-layered edge regions and the recesses provided therein are arranged on each second fold folded in the same direction. This can be realized in typical pleated blinds a particularly advantageous compromise between a support of the folds on the traction means and a number of produced, double-layer edge regions.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the traction means are provided with a pitch which corresponds to the pitch of the double-layer edge regions in the spread shading position, with blocking means which are designed to be larger than the recesses in order to prevent slippage of the flexible sheet in the spread shading position. The blocking means, which may be provided, for example, as knots or as clamps on the pulling means, serve to establish a fixed spacing of the folds provided with the double-layered edge regions. Since the double-layered edge regions are each arranged between two blocking means and the blocking means are designed in this way are that a displacement of a double-layer edge region along the traction means over the blocking means is prevented, each of the double-layer edge regions has a defined position along the traction means and therefore can not slip, which would lead to an undesirable appearance of the pleated blind.

Fig. 1a,b

schematische Seitenansichten einer Plisseejalousie mit einer Anordnung der doppellagigen Randbereiche in 1-facher bzw. 2-facher Teilung, und

Fig. 2a - 2e

eine schematische Darstellung einzelner Produktionsschritte eines kontinuierlichen Produktionsverlaufs zur Herstellung einer Plisseejalousie.

Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the claims and from the following description of a preferred embodiment, which is illustrated with reference to the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1a, b

schematic side views of a Plisseejalousie with an arrangement of the double-layer edge regions in 1-fold or 2-fold division, and

Fig. 2a - 2e

a schematic representation of individual production steps of a continuous production process for the production of a Plisseejalousie.

One in the FIGS. 1a or 1b schematically illustrated pleated blind 10 has a multi-folded, flexible fabric 12, wherein in each case opposite end portions are attached profile strips. A first profile strip 14 is designed as a fastening strip and serves to fix the pleated blind 10 on a window reveal or on a window frame. The second profiled strip 16 is designed as a weighting bar and serves to tighten the flexible fabric 12 and the traction cords 24 designed as drawstrings and thus to ensure a straight, preferably vertical course of the flexible fabric 12. While the traction means 24 are fixed to the second profiled strip 16, they can be moved relative to the first profiled strip 14 by means of a deflecting roller 28 shown schematically in order to set a spacing of the profiled strips 14, 16 and thus a flat extension of the fabric 12 between a compact stowed position and a substantially representation of the Fig. 1a, b corresponding, extended shading position.

The single-layer running flexible fabric 12 is provided with oppositely introduced wrinkles 18, wherein in the embodiment of Fig. 1a each fold 18 is provided on one side with a double-layered edge region 20 (pitch n = 1). In contrast, in the embodiment according to Fig. 1b only every second fold on one side provided with a double-layered edge region. Thus, the Plisseejalousie 10 according to the Fig. 1b a 2-fold division.

The Plisseejalousie 10 is designed such that the oppositely executed, single-layer pleats 18 are all substantially the same size. Thus, an inner side 30 of a shading surface defined by the flexible fabric 12 has a harmonious, substantially uniform wrinkle pattern. This inner side 30 is typically facing a viewer. On the other hand, the double-layered edge regions 20 and the traction means 24 guided by recesses 22 are provided on an outer side 32 of the shading surface and are thus removed from a view of the observer. Rather, the outside 32 is typically facing a window which is to be shaded or obscured by means of the pleated blind 10. Thus, the condition is met that the traction means 24 are guided on the flexible sheet 12 by recesses 22, which are based on a certain of the flexible sheet 12 shading surface exclusively mounted on one side, whereby a better and more uniform Verdunklungswirkung is achieved.

The double-layered edge region 20 is described in the following, in the Fig. 2a - 2e produced in these figures, for example, a Plisseejalousie with a pitch n = 2 (corresponding to 1b shows ) is shown; Of course, a corresponding method for the production of pleated blind with a pitch with n = 1 (v gl. Fig. 1a ) Find use. For the preparation of such pleated blinds a pleating device is provided, from which in the Fig. 2a - 2e only the essential components necessary to explain the specific pleating process are shown. These are a first pleating blade 36, a second pleating blade 38 and a heating shaft 42. The first and second pleating knives 38, 40 can according to the representation of the Fig. 2a - 2e in each case be moved both in the vertical direction and in the horizontal direction in order to perform a pleating of the flexible sheet 12 and a promotion of already pleated sections of the flexible sheet 12 in the heating shaft 42 can. In the Fig. 2a - 2e schematically shows that some already pleated portions of the flexible sheet 12 are received in the heating shaft 42, where a fixation of the folds 18 is achieved by the action of heat.

In the Fig. 2a It is shown that the upper, first pleating blade 36 conveys a crease 18 which has just been produced without a double-layered edge region 20 into the heating shaft 42 and at the same time already holds a further section of the flexible fabric 12 for a subsequent folding process. In the Fig. 2b It is shown that the lower, second pleating blade 38 is driven in the vertical direction with a large stroke to apply the flexible sheet 12 close to the first pleating blade 38 and thus to produce the desired large fold 18, which is for the formation of a two-ply Edge region 20 is provided.

Between in the Fig. 2b shown production step and in the Fig. 2c As shown in the production step, the upper, first pleating blade 36 was moved out vertically upward from the newly produced fold 18 and the second pleating blade 38 was moved horizontally in the direction of the heating shaft 42. According to the Fig. 2c Now, the first pleating blade 36 is moved back to form a new fold in the vertical direction.

At the in Fig. 2d the production step shown, the pleating blade 38 is moved down in the vertical direction from the newly formed, large fold 18 and the upper, first pleating blade 36 is moved horizontally in the direction of the heating shaft 42. In the traversing movement, a counter-pressure force is exerted on the pleating blade 26 due to the friction occurring between the heating shaft 42 and the compactly folded flexible sheet 12. This counterpressure force causes 18 adjacent sections in the area of the fold of the flexible sheet 12 abut each other. Upon application of heat, which is generated by means of a heating device 40 provided in the first pleating blade 36, welding to a double-layered edge region 20 can be carried out. In a subsequent production step, which is not shown, a small fold without a double-layered edge region is then produced again, so that a twice-fold division results for the compactly folded, flexible fabric 12.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS description

10

Plisseejalousie

12

flexible sheet

14

first profile strip (fastening strip)

16

second profile strip (weighting strip)

18

wrinkle

20

double-layered edge area

22

recess

24

traction means

26

blocking agent

28

idler pulley

30

inside

32

outside

34

pleating

36

first pleating knife

38

second pleating knife

40

heater

42

Heating chamber

Claims (6)

1. Method for pleating a flexible sheet-like structure (12) by means of two contradirectionally movable pleating knives (36, 38), at least one pleating knife being provided with a heating device, having the following steps:

   - formation of a fold (18) in a flexible sheet-like structure (12) by means of a linear relative movement of the first pleating knife (36) with respect to the second pleating knife (38),

   - movement of the first pleating knife (36) out of the fold (18) formed in the flexible sheet-like structure (12),

   characterized by the step of

   - the welding to one another of portions of the flexible sheet-like structure (12) which are arranged adjacently to one another in a marginal region (20) of the fold (18), by means of the local, in particular linear, heating of the flexible sheet-like structure (12) by means of the heating device (40), the heating device (40) being provided on a surface of a pleating knife (36, 38) which faces a heating shaft (42) which is intended for fixing the pleating, welding taking place during the folding or pleating operation.
2. Method according to Claim 1,
   characterized in that
   different movement travels for the pleating knives (36, 38) are provided for adjacent contradirectionally executed folds (18), in order to implement different fold depths.
3. Method according to Claim 1,
   characterized in that
   identical and different movement travels for the pleating knives (36, 38) are provided in alternating sequence for adjacent codirectionally executed folds (18).
4. Apparatus for producing an accordion blind (10), with two contradirectionally movable pleating knives (36, 38) for pleating a flexible sheet-like structure (12) by the formation of a fold (18) in the flexible sheet-like structure (12) by means of a linear relative movement of the first pleating knife (36) with respect to the second pleating knife (38) and by the movement of the first pleating knife (36) out of the folds (18) formed in the flexible sheet-like structure (12), at least one pleating knife (36, 38) being provided with a heating device (40),
   characterized in that
   the apparatus is designed to the effect that, during the folding or pleating operation, a welding to one another of portions of the flexible sheet-like structure (12) which are arranged adjacently to one another in a marginal region (20) of the fold (18) is carried out by the local heating of the flexible sheet-like structure (12) by means of the heating device (40), the heating device (40) being provided on a surface of a pleating knife (36, 38) which faces a heating shaft (42) which is intended for fixing the pleating.
5. Apparatus according to Claim 4,
   characterized in that
   the heating device (40) is designed for local, in particular linear, heating of the pleating knife (36, 38) for the purpose of welding a sheet-like structure (12) bearing against a surface of the pleating knife (36, 38).
6. Apparatus according to Claim 4 or 5,
   characterized in that
   both pleating knives (36, 38) are provided with heating devices (40).

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