Abstract: A mandrel segment loader provides a reliable means of assembling the segments of a large multi-piece mandrel designed for the lay-up of composite materials in the manufacture of large structures such as one-piece fuselage barrels for wide-body aircraft and can also be used for removing the mandrel from the finished fuselage barrel by disassembling the segments. The mandrel segment loader provides transport and multi-axis positioning for the segments, which may weigh as much as 25,000 pounds, with linear positioning resolution in the realm of 0.002 inch and rotational positioning resolution in the realm of 0.005 degree. The mandrel segment loader is also more generally useful as a material handling system that can perform many useful manufacturing functions, such as loading passenger floors into a fuselage barrel when assembling an aircraft. Self-locking grippers prevent accidental self-release of a load.

Abstract: A mandrel segment loader provides a reliable means of assembling the segments of a large multi-piece mandrel designed for the lay-up of composite materials in the manufacture of large structures such as one-piece fuselage barrels for wide-body aircraft and can also be used for removing the mandrel from the finished fuselage barrel by disassembling the segments. The mandrel segment loader provides transport and multi-axis positioning for the segments, which may weigh as much as 25,000 pounds, with linear positioning resolution in the realm of 0.002 inch and rotational positioning resolution in the realm of 0.005 degree. The mandrel segment loader is also more generally useful as a material handling system that can perform many useful manufacturing functions, such as loading passenger floors into a fuselage barrel when assembling an aircraft. Self-locking grippers prevent accidental self-release of a load.

Abstract: A transport device including a driving part with at least one driving device for moving the driving part in a number of directions on a surface. Also present is a carrying part which is arranged above the driving part and intended to carry a load. The driving part and the carrying part are movable in relation to one another in a number of directions essentially parallel to the surface. A measuring device is arranged for measuring a positional difference between the driving part and the carrying part. The driving device is adapted to drive in directions which depend on the positional difference between the driving part and the carrying part. In this way, a transport device of which the movement can be controlled in a natural and exact way is produced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lacing station (210) for a Venetian blind assembly machine. More particularly, the lacing station comprising a slat guiding unit (240) and a ladder cord guiding unit (214) for guiding a ladder cord in exact position for receiving a slat, where at least one needle (211) is vertically arranged above the ladder cord guiding unit (214), a lower end of the needle (211) being moveably arranged to be in close contact with the ladder cord for engagement with side cords of the ladder and having a tip (213) in close proximity to the upper end (231) of the ladder cord guiding unit (214) for twisting the ladder cord.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a plurality of sequentially arranged edged contoured slats for use in a blind. A strip of material 10 is provided lengthwise into the slat making machine. It passes through a forming unit 6 where it is cambered, into an accumulator 8 where any excess is held, through a position encoder 12 and over a collision detector 14. Edge contours are then cut into the strip material if they are not already pre-provided. The positions of any edge contours are detected by a sensor 18 which provides relevant information to a CPU 40. On the basis of this information and other pre-provided information on the type of blind being made guide holes and notches and the ends of the slats are cut ensuring that the contouring and the guide holes and ends do not interfere with each other.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing blinds comprises a processor unit, at least one manufacturing facility for carrying out a manufacturing step and a communication device for exchanging data between the processor unit and said at least one manufacturing facility. To arrange for efficient and economical manufacturing, whereby manufacturing time and scrap are relatively low, the processor unit is adapted to generate data for controlling the system taking into account an order portfolio and at least one parameter from said at least one manufacturing facility.