US3664280A

US3664280A - Mattress closing machine with automatic positioning means for a mattress assembly

Info

Publication number: US3664280A
Application number: US109265A
Authority: US
Inventors: Howard E Redman; Frederick E Kalning
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-01-25
Filing date: 1971-01-25
Publication date: 1972-05-23
Anticipated expiration: 1989-05-23

Abstract

A mattress closing machine comprising a horizontal table adapted to receive a mattress assembly for sewing along one edge at one broad side and then along the edge at the other broad side, motor-driven conveyor belts mounted on the table operable to draw a mattress assembly onto the table and discharge it therefrom, and a control circuit including a starting switch operable to initiate operation of the conveyor belts to draw a mattress assembly onto the table and automatically position it relative to a sewing instrumentality for sewing and after sewing to effect discharge from the table.

Description

United States Patent Redman et a].

[451 May 23,1972

[541 MATTRESS CLOSING MACHINE WITH AUTOMATIC POSITIONING MEANS FOR A MATTRESS ASSEMBLY [72] Inventors: Howard E. Redman, 178 Summer Street,

Weymouth, Mass. 02188; Frederick E.

Kalning, 15 Merrill Avenue, Quincy, Mass. 02169 [22] Filed: Jan. 25, 1971 [21] Appl.N0.: 109,265

[52] 11.8. CI. ..ll2/3R [51] Int. Cl. ..D05b 11/00 [58] FieldofSearch ..112/3R,3A,l2l.11,121.12, ll2/l21.l5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,166,193 12/1915 'Dismeretal ..ll2/3R 1,513,090 10/1924 Collett ..112/3 R 2,501,240 3/1950 Schwartz ..112/3 A X 3,490,061 1/1970 Docker ..;....l 12/3 R 3,589,320 6/1971 Beazley .L.l12/12l.ll

Primary Examiner-Alfred Guest Attomey-Roberts, Cushman & Grover ABSTRACT A mattress closing machine comprising a horizontal table adapted to receive a mattress assembly for sewing along one edge at one broad side and then along the edge at the other broad side, motor-driven conveyor belts mounted on the table operable to draw a mattress assembly onto the table and discharge it therefrom, and a control circuit including a starting switch operable to initiate operation of the conveyor belts to draw a mattressassembly onto the table and automatically position it relative to a sewing instrumentality for sewing and after sewing to effect discharge from the table.

14 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PMENTEBMAY 23 m2 3. 6 6 4, 2 8 O SHEET 3 [IF 3 FORWARD PBI J T T T REVERSE 1 ipsz 50 G I OJ STOP P83 STI OFF I LEFT RIGHT M Sb Ol FIG? INVE NTORS HOWAR D E. REDMAN FREDER! K E.K LNING 5% flnii m ATT'YS MATTRESS CLOSING MACHINE WITH AUTOMATIC POSITIONING MEANS FOR A MATTRESS ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In our pending application Ser. No. 887,592, filed Dec. 23, 1969, for Mattress Edge Binding Machine, there is disclosed an apparatus in which there is a horizontally supported table rotatable about a vertical axis relative to sewing instrumentalities mounted adjacent thereto, and means for effecting rotation of the table and reciprocable movement of the sewing instrumentalities toward and away from the axis of rotation to cause the sewing instrumentalities to follow the edge of a mattress assembly resting on the table to effect sewing of the edge. In that machine the mattress is manually loaded onto the table and manually moved into position for sewing by sliding 'it laterally and longitudinally thereon.

As related, the mattress assembly is generally sewn on both sides so that the mattress has to be turned over between sewing operations and in accordance with our pending application Ser. No. 95,236, filed Dec. 4, 1970 for Mattress Handling Apparatus, there is shown an apparatus which is used in conjunc tion with the aforesaid mattress closing machine for turning the mattress over between sewing operations. In that application the mattress closing apparatus is provided with conveyor means operable to move the mattress onto the mattress handling apparatus for inversion, and after inversion to receive the mattress from the mattress handling apparatus for sewing on the opposite side. The aforesaid application is drawn to the combination of these machines, whereas this application is for the purpose of covering the mattress closing apparatus provided with self-loading and automatic positioning of the mattress thereon relative to the sewing instrumentalities independently of the mattress handling apparatus disclosed in the aforesaid application.

SUMMARY As herein illustrated, the mattress closing apparatus comprises a horizontal support for receiving a mattress assembly for sewing along one edge of one broad side and then the other, conveyor means on the support arranged to move from one edge of the support toward the other to move an assembly positioned at one edge transversely across toward the other edge, means at the other edge operable by engagement of the mattress therewith as it is moved toward said other edge to reverse the movement of the conveyor means to move the mattress back to the one edge, and a positioning member at the one edge with which the mattress is engaged by said reverse movement, said positioning member operating to locate the mattress in a predetermined position on the table, and means associated with said positioning means operable by engagement of the mattress therewith to stop the conveyor means. There are sewing instrumentalities associated with the support and the positioning means is situated in a position relative to the sewing instrumentalities such that engagement of the mattress with said positioning means aligns the edge of the mattress with the sewing instrumentalities. The conveyor means comprises a plurality of spaced parallel belts supported transversely of the support with the upper runs of the belts substantially parallel to the surface. The support is rotatable in a horizontal plane relative to the sewing instrumentalities and at the opposite ends of the longitudinal dimension there are spaced parallel guide rails for engagement with the ends of the mattress. The aforesaid conveyor belts are disposed in spaced parallel relation between the guide rails and parallel thereto. There is switch means for initiating operation of the motordriven conveyors in a direction from one edge toward the other, switch means at the other edge operable as the mattress assembly reaches said other edge to reverse the movement of the motor-driven conveyor means to move the mattress back to the one edge, a fixed positioner at the one edge for determining the final position of the mattress on the support for the sewing operation and a switch associated with the positioning member operable by engagement of the mattress therewith at said predetermined position to stop the motor-driven conveyor means. There is also means operable when the starting switch is operated again to initiate operation of the motordriven conveyor means after the first sewing operation is completed to move the mattress off the support at the other side, and means operable as an incident of said operation of the starting switch to disable said switch at the other side until the mattress clears said other edge of the support.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of the mattress closing machine embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the underside of the mattress supporting platform taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1i

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section taken substantially midway between opposite ends of the mattress supporting table;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view taken of the lower side of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an elevation of the positioning member at the loading side of the mattress supporting table;

FIG. 6 is an end view of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a diagram of the control circuit.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 the mattress closing machine comprises essentially a mattress supporting table 10 mounted on a supporting structure 12 for rotation about a vertical axis, 1

a pressure-applying platen 14 supported for movement from a position above the mattress supporting table perpendicularly relative to the table to apply pressure to a mattress assembly mounted on the table and sewing instrumentalities l6 supported adjacent one side of the table for sewing the edge of the mattress resting on the table.

The aforesaid apparatus is described in detail in our pending application Ser. No. 885,592, filed Dec. 23, 1969 for which reference may be had for the details of the supporting table, the means for efiecting movement of the pressure-applying platen 14 for holding the mattress on the support for sewing and the support for the sewing instrumentality and the means for effecting its movement inwardly and outwardly relative to the axis of rotation of the mattress supporting table to cause the sewing instrumentality to follow the edge of the mattress.

In the aforesaid apparatus the mattress supporting table was perfectly flat, the mattress was either picked up by the operator and pushed onto the table or was pushed from an adjacent table or conveyor at the same level as the table 10 onto the table 10 where it was manually shifted laterally and longitudinally to bring it into proper position for sewing. This invention is concerned with eliminating most of the manual work by providing means for assisting in moving the mattress onto the supporting table, automatically positioning it for sewing and following sewing to move it off of the table.

As herein illustrated (FIGS. 1 and 2) the means for moving the mattress onto and off of the table 10 comprise a plurality of spaced parallel conveyor belts 18 mounted transversely of the table so as to extend from the loading side to the discharge side. The conveyor belts 18, of which there are shown two pair, are entrained at their ends about sheaves 20 secured to spaced parallel shafts 22 joumaled at their opposite ends on the table with the upper runs of the conveyor belts 18 situated just above the upper surface of the table and parallel thereto. A motor M mounted at the lower side of the table 18 drives through a gear reducing unit GR a driven sheave 24 fixed to a shaft 26 extending from the gear reducer, a belt 28 and a sheave 30 on one of the shafts 22 which, in turn, drives the sheaves 20 fixed thereto and hence the belts 18. The motor M is reversible so that it may be driven in either direction and hence the belts may be driven in either direction.

At opposite ends of the table (FIG. 1) there are provided transversely extending guide rails 32-32 situated far enough apart to accommodate the long dimension of the mattress assembly.

At the front side of the table (FIGS. 1, 5 and 6) there is an upstanding positioning member 34 by means of which the mattress is properly located after it is loaded onto the table with respect to the sewing instrumentality and at the rear side of the table a bumper 36 operative, by engagement of the mattress therewith as it is moved from the front side to the rear side by the conveyor belts, to reverse the belts and so to move the mattress from the rear side to the front side into engagement with the positioning member 34.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 the bumper bar 36 has a portion 38 which extends upwardly from the surface of the table 10 and a portion 40 below the table which is fixed to the ends of a pair of spaced parallel rods 4242 mounted between rails 4444 at the underside of the table. The rods 4242 have mounted thereon between the

rails collars

46a and 46b. A pair of switches Sa and Sb are mounted by means of a supporting bracket 48 between the rails 4444 and the rods 42-42 at the underside of the table. The switch Sb is provided with a contact element Cb and the switch Sa is provided with a contact element Ca. The switch Sa is also provided with a lever La mounting a roller Ru and the switch Sb is provided with a lever Lb mounting a roller Rb. The switches are arranged in a circuit which will be described hereinafter so that when a mattress is lifted onto the table at the front side and is moved rearwardly thereon toward the rear side of the table by the endless belts 18 it will engage the upwardly protruding part 38 of the bumper 36 and through operation of the circuit referred to above reverse the movement of the belts so as to move the mattress from the rear side to the front side into engagement with the positioning member 34 (FIGS. 5 and 6). The positioning member 34 comprises an angle having a base plate 50 pivotally connected by hinge elements 52-52 to the underside of the table and an upright 54 perpendicular thereto, the upper end of which is rolled over at 56 to provide a smooth surface over which the mattress may be lifted onto the table. A switch Sc is mounted on a bracket 58 below the base plate 50 in a position to be actuated by pressure of the mattress against the upright 54 to stop the conveyor belts 18 and so position the mattress properly for the sewing operation.

Briefly, the aforesaid conveyor belts l8 and the switches Sa, Sb and Sc provide for automatically positioning a mattress assembly on the table 10 in proper position with respect to the sewing instrumentalities for the edge seaming operation. In practice the mattress assembly is lifted up onto the table at the front side over the upright 54 of the positioning member and into engagement with the moving conveyor belts so that the latter pull the mattress assembly inwardly onto the table until the leading side of the mattress strikes the bumper 38 whereupon the latter reverses the direction of movement of the belts which then move the mattress from the rear side to the front side into engagement with the upright 54 which, by engagement of the mattress therewith, actuates the switch Sc to stop the conveyor belts with the mattress in the proper position for sewing.

The wiring diagram illustrating the switches by means of which the aforesaid control is achieved is shown in FIG. 7 wherein there is circuitry including switches Sa, Sb and Sc, push button switches P81, P82, P83 and a selector switch STl. The push button switch FBI is all that is required for normal operation of the apparatus. Push button switch PBZ will effect movement of the belts from the rear to the front and push button switch PB3 will stop the belts in either direction. The selector switch STI is a three-position switch having a central off position and left and right operative positions. In the left-hand position the selector switch renders the switch Sb operational and in the right-hand position the selector switch renders the switch Sa operational.

In operation when the selector switch STl is moved to the left-hand position switch Sb becomes operational. Depression of the push button switch PBl (forward) will start the motor M in a direction to cause the belt to move rearwardly from the front edge of the table toward the rear edge to move a mattress loaded onto the table at the front edge toward the rear. When the leading edge of the mattress reaches the rear it engages the bumper bar 36 which is normally held retracted by a spring 37 connected at one end to the bumper bar 36 and at its other end to one of the rails 44. The retracted position of the bumper bar is determined by engagement of collars 39 on the rods 42 with the rail 44. Collars 41 on the rods 42, by engagement with the other rail 44, limit displacement of the bumper bar from its normally retracted position. Rearward movement of the bumper bar 36 moves the rods 42 and the

collars

46a, 46b rearwardly. Engagement of the collar 46b with the switch actuating components Rb, Lb and Cb of switch Sb actuates switch Sb so as to stop and reverse operation of the motor M so as to move the belts toward the front and thus to carry with them the mattress. Engagement of the mattress with the switch Sc stops the motor M and hence the belts with the mattress in a position for sewing. After sewing, the selector switch ST] is moved to the right-hand position which deactivates switch Sb and activates switch S4. Now when push button switch PB] is again depressed the motor is started in a direction to drive the conveyor belts from front to rear and since the switch Sb has been deactivated, when the leading side of the mattress reaches the rear side of the support it will move over the bumper bar and be discharged from the rear side of the table. Since rearward movement of the bumper bar 36 cannot now activate the switch Sb. As the mattress leaves the table, however, the bumper bar is retracted by the spring 37 and as it is moved forwardly the collar 46a actuates switch Sa through the components Ra, La and Ca to stop and reverse the motor so as to drive the belts in a direction from the rear toward the front. Thus if the mattress has been inverted either manually or by the mattress handling apparatus shown in our aforesaid copending application 95,236 and is presented to the rear end of the table it will be moved forwardly into engagement with the switch Sc where it will be again positioned for sewing this time on the opposite side.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents falling within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A mattress closing apparatus comprising a horizontal support for receiving a mattress assembly for sewing along the edge of one broad side and then the other, conveyor means on the support arranged to move from one edge of the support toward the other to move an assembly positioned at the one edge transversely across toward the other edge, means at the other edge operable by engagement of the mattress therewith as it is moved toward said other edge to reverse the movement of the conveyor means to move the mattress back toward the one edge, and a positioning member at the one edge with which the mattress is engaged by said reverse movement, said positioning member operating to locate the mattress in a predetermined position on the table between said edges, and means associated with said positioning means operable by engagement of the mattress therewith to stop the conveyor means.

2. A mattress closing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising guide means at opposite ends of the support for engagement with the opposite ends of the mattress assembly to position the mattress assembly in a predetermined position between the ends of said support.

3. Apparatus according to claim I, wherein there is a sewing instrumentality associated with the support and said positioning means are situated in positions relative to the sewing instrumentality such that engagement of the mattress with said positioning means aligns the edge of the mattress with the sewing instrumentality.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor means comprise a plurality of spaced parallel belts supported transversely of the support with the upper runs of the belts substantially parallel to the surface.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support is rotatable in a horizontal plane relative to the sewing instrumentality and the latter is reciprocable during such rotation of the support to follow the peripheral edge of the support, and said conveyor belts are disposed transversely of the longitudinal dimension of the support.

6. A mattress closing apparatus comprising a horizontal sup port for receiving a mattress assembly for sewing along one edge at one side, motor-driven conveyor means on the support arranged transversely thereof to move from one edge toward the other to move an assembly placed at the one edge transversely across the support toward the other edge, a switch for initiating operation of the motor-driven conveyor means in a direction from said one edge toward the other, a switch at the other edge operable as the mattress assembly reaches said other edge to reverse the movement of the motor-driven conveyor means to move the mattress back toward the one edge, a fixed positioner at the one edge for determining the final position of the mattress on the support for a sewing operation and a switch associated with the positioning member operable by engagement of the mattress therewith at said predetermined position to stop the motor-driven conveyor means.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said starting switch is operable again to initiate operation of the motordriven conveyor means after the sewing operation is completed to move the mattress off the support at said other side, and there is means operable as an incident of operation of the starting switch the second time to disable said switch at said other side until said mattress clears said other edge of the support.

8. Mattress closing apparatus comprising a support for receiving a mattress assembly for sewing along the edge of one broad side and then the other, a sewing instrumentality supported adjacent the support, means supporting the support for rotation about a vertical axis relative to the sewing instrumentality and for effecting movement of the sewing instrumentality toward and from the axis of rotation of the support to follow the edge of the mattress, longitudinally spaced guides on the support between which the assembly is adapted to be moved, said guides positioning the mattress longitudinally with respect to the sewing instrumentality, means on the support adapted to move the mattress assembly onto the support between the guides and control means for controlling operation of said last means automatically to position the mattress assembly transversely with respect to the sewing instrumentalities.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, comprising guides at the opposite ends of the support for positioning the mattress assembly longitudinally of the support.

10. Mattress closing apparatus comprising a support for receiving a mattress assembly for sewing along the edge of one broad side and then the other, a sewing instrumentality supported adjacent the support, means supporting the support for rotation about a vertical axis relative to the sewing instrumentality and for effecting movement of the sewing instrumentality toward and from the axis of rotation of the support to follow the edge of the mattress, longitudinally spaced guides on the support between which a mattress assembly is adapted to be moved, said guides operating to position the mattress longitudinally with respect to the sewing instrumentality, motordriven conveyors mounted on the support in spaced parallel relation to each other between said guides for movement transversely of the support, to on the one hand move an assembly onto the support and on the other hand to move it 05, means for initiating movement of the motor-driven conveyors to move a mattress onto the support, and means for conrotation about a vertical axis relative to the sewing instrumen-,

tality and for efi'ecting movement of the sewing instrumentality toward and from the axis of rotation of the support to follow the edge of the mattress, longitudinally spaced guides on the support between which the mattress assembly is adapted to be moved, motor-driven conveyors comprising endless belts entrained about sheaves rotatably supported at opposite edges of the sup rt with the upper runs thereof parallel to and slightly above e surface of e support, and control means comprising means for initiating operation of the motor-driven conveyors to draw a mattress onto the support at one side and move it toward the other side, switch means at the other side of the support operable by engagement of the mattress therewith to reverse the direction of movement of the motordriven conveyors to move the mattress back toward the one side, a fixed positioning member at the one side of the support with which the mattress is adapted to be brought into engagement by the reverse movement of the motor-driven conveyors to determine the transverse position of the mattress with respect to the sewing instrumentality, and switch means associated with the fixed positioning member for terminating operation of said motor-driven conveyors.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the control means comprises in addition to the means for initiating opera tion of the motor-driven conveyors means for temporarily disabling the switch means at the far side of the support to permit the mattress to be discharged from the far side of the support.

13. Mattress closing apparatus comprising a support for receiving a mattress assembly for sewing along the edge of one broad side and then the other, a sewing instrumentality supported adjacent the support, means supporting the support for rotation about a vertical axis relative to the sewing instrumentality and for effecting movement of'the sewing instrumentality toward and from the axis of rotation of the support, a platen supported adjacent the support substantially diametrically opposite the sewing instrumentality, said platen being movable from a position above the support toward and from the support to compress the mattress assembly resting on the support, said platen being rotatable with the support when the latter is rotated relative to the sewing instrumentality, means including reversely movable conveyors on the support adapted to move a mattress assembly onto the support and align it both longitudinally and transversely with respect to the sewing instrumentality, and control means for initiating operation of said conveyors to position the mattress for sewing, said last means being operable following said sewing operation to effect discharge of the mattress from the support.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, comprising means operable to terminate operation of the last means when the mattress occupies said position relative to the sewing instrumentality, and means operable following said positioning to move the platen into clamping engagement with the mattress.

Claims

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein there is a sewing instrumentality associated with the support and said positioning means are situated in positions relative to the sewing instrumentality such that engagement of the mattress with said positioning means aligns the edge of the mattress with the sewing instrumentality.

6. A mattress closing apparatus comprising a horizontal support for receiving a mattress assembly for sewing along one edge at one side, motor-driven conveyor means on the support arranged transversely thereof to move from one edge toward the other to move an assembly placed at the one edge transversely across the support toward the other edge, a switch for initiating operation of the motor-driven conveyor means in a direction from said one edge toward the other, a switch at the other edge operable as the mattress assembly reaches said other edge to reverse the movement of the motor-driven conveyor means to move the mattress back toward the one edge, a fixed positioner at the one edge for determining the final position of the mattress on the support for a sewing operation and a switch associated with the positioning member operable by engagement of the mattress therewith at said predetermined position to stop the motor-driven conveyor means.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said starting switch is operable again to initiate operation of the motor-driven conveyor means after the sewing operation is completed to move the mattress off the support at said other side, and there is means operable as an incident of operation of the starting switch the second time to disable said switch at said other side until said mattress clears said other edge of the support.

10. Mattress closing apparatus comprising a support for receiving a mattress assembly for sewing along the edge of one broad side and then the other, a sewing instrumentality supported adjacent the support, means supporting the support for rotation about a vertical axis relative to the sewing instrumentality and for effecting movement of the sewing instrumentality toward and from the axis of rotation of the support to follow the edge of the mattress, longitudinally spaced guides on the support between which a mattress assembly is adapted to be moved, said guides operating to position the mattress longitudinally with respect to the sewing instrumentality, motor-driven conveyors mounted on the support in spaced parallel relation to each other between said guides for movement transversely of the support, to on the one hand move an assembly onto the support and on the other hand to move it off, means for initiating movement of the motor-driven conveyors to move a mattress onto the support, and means for controlling operation of the motor-driven conveyors automatically to position the mattress assembly on the support in transverse registration with the sewing instrumentality.

11. Mattress closing apparatus comprising a support for receiving a mattress assembly for sewing along the edge of one broad side and then the other, a sewing instrumentality supported adjacent the support, means supporting the support for rotation about a vertical axis relative to the sewing instrumentality and for effecting movement of the sewing instrumentality toward and from the axis of rotation of the support to follow the edge of the mattress, longitudinally spaced guides on the support between which the mattress assembly is adapted to be moved, motor-driven conveyors comprising endless belts entrained about sheaves rotatably supported at opposite edges of the support with the upper runs thereof parallel to and slightly above the surface of the support, and control means comprising means for initiating operation of the motor-driven conveyors to draw a mattress onto the support at one side and move it toward the other side, switch means at the other side of the support operable by engagement of the mattress therewith to reverse the direction of movement of the motor-driven conveyors to move the mattress back toward the one side, a fixed positioning member at the one side of the support with which the mattress is adapted to be brought into engagement by the reverse movement of the motor-driven conveyors to determine the transverse position of the mattress with respect to the sewing instrumentality, and switch means associated with the fixed positioning member for terminating operation of said motor-driven conveyors.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the control means comprises in addition to the means for initiating operation of the motor-driven conveyors means for temporarily disabling the switch means at the far side of the support to permit the mattress to be discharged from the far side of the support.

13. Mattress closing apparatus comprising a support for receiving a mattress asseMbly for sewing along the edge of one broad side and then the other, a sewing instrumentality supported adjacent the support, means supporting the support for rotation about a vertical axis relative to the sewing instrumentality and for effecting movement of the sewing instrumentality toward and from the axis of rotation of the support, a platen supported adjacent the support substantially diametrically opposite the sewing instrumentality, said platen being movable from a position above the support toward and from the support to compress the mattress assembly resting on the support, said platen being rotatable with the support when the latter is rotated relative to the sewing instrumentality, means including reversely movable conveyors on the support adapted to move a mattress assembly onto the support and align it both longitudinally and transversely with respect to the sewing instrumentality, and control means for initiating operation of said conveyors to position the mattress for sewing, said last means being operable following said sewing operation to effect discharge of the mattress from the support.