Patent Description:
It is an object of the invention to make the production process of customising an individual fabric package for window coverings proceed faster and more reliably. For pleated curtains this production process comprises the production step of counting the necessary number of pleats or folds per fabric package. In practice, this is done manually. It is very time-consuming to do this accurately.

The system mentioned in the preamble of independent claim <NUM> is provided with a carrier with a surface for positioning the flexible material, a light source for illuminating the flexible material on the carrier, receiving means for receiving light originating from the flexible material, counting means for determining the number of corrugations in the flexible material based on data from the receiving means.

Such a system is known from <CIT>. The known system comprises an endless feed belt for supply of pleated material for lamp shades from a roll past an assembly that counts the pleats in the passing material. The counting takes place by means of a photocell that captures light reflections from the pleats and a detector that converts the light reflections into pulses, which are counted. An operator keeps on marking the passing material manually when reaching the desired number of pulses, which is a measure of the number of pleats.

The known system is not suitable for customising individual fabric packages for window coverings.

The system according to claim <NUM> is thereto characterized in that the carrier is provided with a measuring area and with aligning means for aligning the flexible material in the measuring area, in that the receiving means comprise a camera for making one or more image recordings of the measuring area and in that the counting means comprise a processor, which is arranged for counting the number of corrugations in one or more of the image recordings, wherein the system is further provided with means for displaying the number of counted corrugations in the flexible material in the measuring area. The method according to the present invention thereto comprises the following steps:.

The system and the method according to the invention offer an operator the opportunity to customise fabric packages for window coverings separately by counting the number of pleats dynamically.

Examples of suitable display means are a screen or a counter. The operator then receives direct feedback from the system of the situation at that moment.

In a first preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, the processor is arranged for analysing the contrast between the flexible material and the measuring area in an image recording. The first preferred embodiment makes it possible to measure corrugations in various kinds of flexible materials, among which multi-layer fabrics, such as honeycomb pleats.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, the measuring area comprises light-permeable material and the light source forms a backlight source for the camera. This increases the contrast between the flexible material and the measuring area in the image recording further.

In an elegant elaboration hereof with optimal contrast, the light source and the camera are arranged on opposite sides of the measuring area. In a practical preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, the camera is accommodated in a housing, which housing is arranged on the surface of the carrier. The camera is now always in an aligned position with respect to the measuring area on the carrier.

In a subsequent preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, the aligning means comprise a stop, which defines a corner in the measuring area. When the flexible material lies against such a stop, a part of the measuring area automatically remains free, such that a contrast with the flexible material is always visible in the image recordings.

In another preferred embodiment, the system according to the invention is further provided with marking tools for marking a line on the surface. Preferably, the marking tools are arranged for projecting the line. The line serves as borderline for the measuring area and/or as cutting line. The operator can directly cut the flexible material with the desired number of corrugations to size along the cutting line.

In a very precise preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention with above-mentioned stop, the marking tools for projecting the line are arranged for projecting the line along one of the legs of the corner of the stop.

In an optimal preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, the processor is arranged for carrying out the following steps:.

Due to these steps, the system can measure the number of corrugations very accurately, even with very translucent material, stains, patterns and/or colour gradient in the flexible material.

In a further elaboration of the system, the last step preferably takes place by the processor being arranged for carrying out the step of displaying an image recording, wherein the counted corrugations are marked. The operator can now check at a glance whether all present corrugations have actually been counted.

The invention also relates to a computer program comprising instructions to let the system according to the invention carry out at least the steps b) up until f) of the method according to the invention.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the figures, wherein.

Equal reference numbers in the different figures refer to equal parts.

<FIG> shows a schematic view of a system <NUM> according to the invention in a preferred embodiment. <FIG> shows a side view of the system <NUM> in cross-section. The system <NUM> is arranged for counting corrugations in a flexible material, for example pleats in a fabric of a window covering <NUM>. The system <NUM> is thereto provided with a carrier <NUM> for positioning the flexible material <NUM>. In the shown preferred embodiment, the carrier <NUM> comprises a substantially flat surface <NUM>, on which a measuring area <NUM> is defined.

The system <NUM> is provided with a light source <NUM> for illuminating the measuring area <NUM> on the carrier <NUM>.

The system <NUM> is further provided with a system <NUM> for receiving and analysing light originating from the flexible material <NUM> for counting the number of pleats in (a part of) the flexible material.

In the shown preferred embodiment, the flexible material is a fabric with pleats for a window covering, such as a pleated curtain or pleated blind. This includes all pleated fabrics known in the art with different pleat widths, among which the standard dimensions of <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a schematic display of a part of the carrier <NUM> with a pleated curtain fabric <NUM>. The system <NUM> further comprises aligning means for aligning the fabric <NUM> in the measuring area <NUM> on the carrier <NUM>. In the shown preferred embodiment, the aligning means comprise a stop <NUM> for aligning an edge <NUM> of the fabric. The aligning means also define the measuring area <NUM>.

Preferably the stop <NUM> is fixed on the carrier <NUM>. In the shown preferred embodiment, the stop <NUM> adjoins the measuring area <NUM>. In the shown preferred embodiment, the stop <NUM> delimits a corner of the measuring area <NUM>. The stop <NUM> has a wider part 14A for aligning the pleated curtain fabric <NUM> and a smaller part 14B which borders on the measuring area <NUM>. In use of the system <NUM>, the measuring area <NUM> is partly covered by the flexible material <NUM> due to the stop <NUM>.

A screen <NUM> is provided for displaying the number of pleats that is present in the measuring area <NUM> at a certain moment.

The screen preferably has a touchscreen. The screen can be part of the operating means.

The system <NUM> comprises light-receiving means for receiving the light originating from the flexible material. In the shown preferred embodiment, the light-receiving means comprise a camera <NUM> for making image recordings of the measuring area <NUM> with the fabric. An example of such an image recording or image A1 is shown in <FIG>. The system <NUM> comprises a processor <NUM> for counting the number of pleats by analysing the image recordings.

According to the invention, the processor is arranged for analysing the contrast in the image recordings between an edge <NUM> of the fabric <NUM> and the measuring area <NUM>. According to the invention, the light source <NUM> forms a backlight source for the camera <NUM>. In the shown preferred embodiment, the measuring area <NUM> is light-permeable and the light source <NUM> and the camera <NUM> are positioned on opposite sides of the measuring area <NUM> of the carrier <NUM>.

A suitable light source is a LED-light. A suitable, light-permeable material for the measuring area <NUM> is hardened glass, for example borosilicate glass.

<FIG> illustrates an image recording A1 of the measuring area <NUM> with the fabric <NUM> made using the camera <NUM>. The pleats P that need to be counted are clearly visible. The processor <NUM> is arranged for counting the number of pleats P and carries out the following steps.

In a first step, the contrast between the fabric and the background, which is formed in system <NUM> by the measuring area <NUM>, is made clearer. Suitable image processing techniques, especially contrast-increasing image processing techniques, are hereto known in the relevant art and available for a person skilled in the art. Preferably a so-called binary image recording A2 is made, wherein the fabric is displayed in a certain colour and the background in a different colour, for example black. <FIG> shows an example of such an image recording A2.

In a second step, a contour line C is determined, which follows the edge of the fabric with pleats. In order to illustrate, <FIG> shows an image recording A3, wherein the contour C is displayed. The contour C is determined as an x y chart, whereby for each x-coordinate the associated y-coordinate is determined by searching for the transition between the background (the measuring area <NUM>) and the fabric <NUM>. Subsequently, in the contour C the coordinates of the peaks of the contour C, which correspond with the pleats, are determined. Suitable algorithms for this are known in the relevant art and available for a person skilled in the art.

The processor <NUM> counts the number of peaks N and visualises this number. In the system <NUM>, the number N is displayed on the screen <NUM>. Optionally, the peaks are marked in an image recording A4. This provides a user the option for a visual check to determine that all present pleats have been found and counted. <FIG> shows a screenshot of the screen <NUM> of the system <NUM> with an example of an image recording A4.

The system <NUM> displays the number of pleats dynamically. The user can slide the fabric over the carrier <NUM> in order to vary the number of pleats in the measuring area <NUM> until the desired number of pleats has been reached. The camera <NUM> preferably makes sufficient image recordings per unit of time to give the user the impression that the counting and the display of the number of pleats N takes places in real-time. In the preferred embodiment, a camera that depicts <NUM> frames per seconds is suitable. The system optionally comprises marking tools for marking the line S on the surface <NUM>. The line S preferably runs over the transition between part 14A and 14B of the stop <NUM>. The line S defines the measuring area <NUM>. The line S forms an upper limit on the fabric <NUM> for the measured pleats of the fabric <NUM> and at the same time serves as cutting line. When the desired number of pleats has been reached, the fabric can be cut along the line S, for example by the operator. In the shown preferred embodiment, the marking tools comprise projection means <NUM>, for example a laser, for temporary and contactless indication of the line S.

The system <NUM> is provided with suitable operating means. In the shown preferred embodiment, the screen <NUM> is a touchscreen with, for example, operating buttons, such as 'start' and 'stop'. By means of these operating buttons or alternative, mechanical operating means, such as a push button or a foot pedal, the operator can manually control the measurement. Optionally, the system can start automatically upon presenting the fabric in the measuring area.

In the shown preferred embodiment, the system <NUM> comprises a housing <NUM>, wherein the camera <NUM> is accommodated. The marking tools <NUM> are fixed to the housing <NUM>. The housing <NUM> is provided with a stand <NUM>, which is fixed on the surface <NUM> of the carrier <NUM>. Optionally, a mounting plate <NUM> is hereto provided.

The camera <NUM> is, with respect to the measuring area <NUM>, set up obliquely on the carrier <NUM>. The camera <NUM> makes optimal image recordings of the measuring area at a camera angle α, wherein <NUM> < α < <NUM> degrees, preferably α = <NUM>, wherein all corrugations are clearly visible.

In the shown preferred embodiment, the system <NUM> can be fixed on a larger work top by means of the carrier <NUM>. The carrier <NUM> can for example be integrated in a suitable work top. The processor <NUM> can for example be placed under the work top. The screen <NUM> can for example stand on the housing <NUM>.

The present invention is based on the inventive idea of making a dynamic counting of the number of corrugations in a flexible material possible for all kinds of materials by carrying out a contrast measurement. The invention hereto provides a contrast analysing system and a method for the usage of the system. The above-mentioned contrast-increasing measures, both separately as in combination, contribute to the pleats being detectable even with a small light gap between them. One can think of a light gap of < <NUM>,<NUM> or even < <NUM>,<NUM>. This is advantageous in the case of a fabric package for a window covering that is usually pressed together very tightly in the packaging. The operator only needs to spread the fabric very lightly to be able to perform the counting.

Claim 1:
System (<NUM>) for counting corrugations in a flexible material (<NUM>), the system is provided with a carrier (<NUM>) with a surface (<NUM>) for positioning the flexible material, a light source (<NUM>) for illuminating the flexible material on the carrier, receiving means for receiving light originating from the flexible material, counting means for determining the number of corrugations in the flexible material based on data from the receiving means, wherein the carrier is provided with a measuring area (<NUM>) and with aligning means for aligning the flexible material in the measuring area, characterized in that the receiving means comprise a camera (<NUM>) for making one or more image recordings of the measuring area and in that the counting means comprise a processor (<NUM>), which is arranged for counting the number of corrugations in one or more of the image recordings, wherein the system is further provided with means for displaying the number of counted corrugations in the flexible material in the measuring area.