Abstract: An automatic shade cutter for cutting stock width shades to a particular width includes a clamping system for securing the shade in a selected cutting position on a longitudinal axis and a measuring scale positioned for use in selecting the desired width. The apparatus includes a cutting head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shade having a knife movable into and out of cutting engagement on a plane normal to the axis of the shade. The automatic shade cutter is designed for use in retail stores for operation by retail customers. A customer first selects a stock shade and then inserts the shade into a measured cutting position in the machine. Thereafter, an automatic cut-off operation is initiated by merely pushing a button and when the cutting operation is completed, the shade is removed and an end plug or pivot is inserted in the freshly cut end and a hem slat of appropriate length is inserted into the hem along the lower edge of the shade.

Abstract: An automatic shade cutter for cutting stock width shades to a particular width includes a clamping system for securing the shade in a selected cutting position on a longitudinal axis and a measuring scale positioned for use in selecting the desired width. The apparatus includes a cutting head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shade having a rotatable, circular knife movable into and out of cutting engagement on a plane normal to the axis of the shade. An indexing system is provided to insure that substantially all of the cutting edge of the knife is utilized and that successive cuts are accomplished beginning at random points along the knife edge thus increasing the life of the knife edge between sharpenings. The automatic shade cutter is designed for use in retail stores for operation by retail customers. A customer first selects a stock shade and then inserts the shade into a measured cutting position in the machine.