Importance

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Abstract

A machine (300) and the process for manufacture of a unique completely pleated product-(110) which is made from a continuous, flexible web (311) for the covering of windows and the like. The machinery consists of a production line (300) with at least a screen printing assembly (306), printing phase control apparatus (330), a unique pleating assembly (400) and a folding assembly (500) for stacking and receiving the final product. Screen printing and web travel phasing is performed in accordance with standard practices in the industry, while the pleating and folding of the finished product is performed by apparatus designed and constructed by the instant inventors. After predetermined patterns of adhesive or bonding material (212) have been applied to the continuous web (311), it is pleated by a paired roller assembly (400) and, through the use of an air knife assembly (500), folded into a collecting apparatus. The finished product (110) is a completely pleated structure consisting of front and rear pleated faces containing, interstitially, a multi-cellular structure. The finished product realizes a flexible, shading structure which can be compactly collapsed, revealing essentially none of the pleated surfaces. The finished product derives its uniqueness primarily from the fact that it is pleated from a single continuous web and that retroflexing of the web comprises complete folds in, or pleating of, the web.

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First Claim