Remotely connected blind cutting center
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus for sizing window coverings slidably extendable from a bay into an aisle of a retail outlet. The method includes the steps of locating the center of the window covering relative to a cutting station utilizing a half scale for removing a portion of the window covering from each of its ends.
1. An apparatus for sizing a mini blind in a retail store, the apparatus comprising;
a housing with a support surface adapted to support a blind to be sized;
a blade disposed on the housing and at an end of the support surface and configured to cut a blind to a predetermined size;
a controller;
a sensor disposed in the housing remote from the controller and in communication with the controller, wherein the sensor gathers a first information regarding the performance or status of the sizing apparatus;
a communication device in communication with the controller;
wherein the controller receives the first information from the sensor, and the communication device receives the first information from the controller;
wherein the communication device communicates the first information to a remote terminal outside the retail store.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the communication device includes a modem.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the communication device includes an Ethernet card.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first information is configured to travel through a communication network.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the communication network includes the internet.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 , further including a terminal at the remote site configured to receive the first information.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the terminal receives the first information in real time.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first information is communicated in real time.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first information communicated includes the performance of the blade.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , the apparatus further including an emergency stop button, wherein the first information being includes the status of the emergency stop button.
11. An apparatus for sizing a mini blind in a retail store, the apparatus comprising:
a housing with a support surface adapted to support a blind to be sized;
a blade disposed on the housing and adjacent to the support surface and configured to cut a blind to a predetermined size;
a controller;
a sensor disposed in the housing remote from the controller and in communication with the controller, wherein the sensor gathers a first information regarding the performance or status of the sizing apparatus;
a communication device in communication with the controller; and
a terminal at a remote site;
wherein the controller receives the first information from the sensor, and the communication device receives the first information from the controller;
wherein the terminal receives and the first information from the communication device and displays the first information.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the communication device includes a modem.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the communication device includes an Ethernet card.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first information is configured to travel through a communication network.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the communication network includes the internet.
16. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the terminal receives the first information in real time.
17. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first information is communicated in real time.
18. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first information communicated includes the performance of the blade.
19. The apparatus of claim 1 , the apparatus further including an emergency stop button, wherein the first information communicated includes the status of the emergency stop button.
20. A method of monitoring the performance of an apparatus for sizing a window covering in a retail store, the method comprising:
providing a housing with a support surface adapted to support the window covering to be sized;
providing a blade disposed on the housing and adjacent to the support surface and configured to cut the window covering to a predetermined size;
providing a controller;
providing a sensor disposed in the housing remote from the controller and in communication with the controller, wherein the sensor gathers a first information regarding the performance or status of the sizing apparatus;
providing a communication device in communication with the controller; and
providing a terminal at a remote site;
gathering a first information regarding the performance or status of the sizing apparatus by the sensor;
communicating the first information from the sensor to the controller and from the controller to the communication device;
communicating the first information to a terminal at a remote site for review.
21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising operating the blade to size the window covering.
22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising receiving the first information at the terminal and reviewing the first information.
23. The method of claim 20 , further comprising receiving the first information at the terminal and reviewing the first information.