GB2055568A - A movable arm apparatus for sheathing cushions - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for sheathing cushions comprises substantially two adjoining rod sets 8, 18 said rods being located on horizontal parallel planes, the upper rod set 18 being movable in the plane thereof in such a way as to reach a superimposed position with respect to the lower rod set 8. The lower rod set can be moved from the bottom to the top, as far as to reach an adjoining position with respect to said upper rod set. Partitioning is provided in the form of vertically extending movable panels 11 cooperating with said rod sets. The partitioning panels can be located depending on the width of the individual cushions to be sheathed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A movable arm apparatus for sheathing cushions The present invention relates to an apparatus, provided with movable arms, which is adapted to carry out the sheathing of cushions in general.

As it is known, the cushion sheathing operation has effective practical difficulties in that the sheaths or linings must have such a size as to be substantially equal to that of the cushion to be sheathed.

Accordingly, the insertion of the cushion into the sheath or lining therefor, involves the need of a contemporaneous squashing operation, exercised on the several parts of said cushion.

This squashing operation causes a great loss of time, particularly in the case of the so called spring cushions, or, in any case, of cushion filled with expanded materials.

Said practical drawback is, on the contrary eliminated by using the apparatus for sheathing or lining cushions in general, according to the present invention.

This apparatus, in fact, is so designed as to provide a full squashing of the stuffing of the cushion, thereby facilitating the sheathing operation thereof.

More specifically, the apparatus for sheathing cushions according to the present invention, is formed by two adjoining rod sets, the rods whereof are located onto two horizontal parallel planes.

Of these rod sets, the upper one is movable in the plane thereof, in such a way as to reach a superimposed position with respect to the lower rod set.

This latter, viceversa, is able of moving from the bottom to the top, as far as it adjoins the upper rod set.

Accordingly, by inserting the cushion, between said rod sets, the full squashing of said cushion between two discontinuous-surface horizontal planes is obtained.

The discontinuity of said surfaces, practically, permits to easily sheath the lining on the cushion and furthermore it permits to handle cushions of any size.

With the aforesaid rod sets partitioning vertical panels cooperate, said panel being able of being suitably located, depending on the width of the indi vidual cushions.

Said partitioning panels engage the cushion at the two sides thereof, thereby preventing said cushion from expanding in the width direction during the squashing step.

These and other characteristics, of functional and constructional nature of the apparatus for sheathing cushions according to the present invention will become more apparent from the figures of the accompanying drawings, where: Figure lisa schematic perspective view of the instant apparatus; Figure 2 illustrates the arrangement of the cushions on the lower rod set; Figure 3 illustrates the squashing step of the cushions; Figure 4 illustrates the sheathing step of the squashed cushions; Figure 5 illustrates the withdrawing step of the upper rod set from the sheathed cushion; Figure 6 is a cross-section view of the instant apparatus.

Referring specifically to the number references of the figures of the accompanying drawings, the apparatus for sheathing cushions according to the present invention comprises a base 1, effective to support an upright pair 2, said upright being connected by an upper cross member or traverse effective to act as vertical sliding guides.

Along said guides may slide a slider rigid with a rack, indicated at 4, and coupled by means of traverses 5, to a double acting cylinder, of the hydraulic or air operated type.

The two sliders, sliding along the aforesaid vertical guides, in particular, engage corresponding gear wheels 7, mounted on a fixed supporting member and coupled to one another by means of a shaft, in such a way as to cause said traverses to move always in a horizontal plane.

Said traverses carry an adjoining rod set 8, said set rods being located in the same horizontal plane, and the cushion 9 to be sheathed being located thereon.

Under said rod set, a sliding guide 10 is located, therealong vertical panels 11, effective to act as side partitioning elements between the cushions, may be fixed at predetermined positions.

Said guide is supported by a traverse 12 connected to the pistons of a double acting cylinder pair 13.

With the connecting upper traverse 3 are rigid two horizontal sliding guides 14, connected or coupled to one another by a rear traverse or cross-piece 15, and carrying a rack 16.

Along said guides is able of sliding a carriage 17, therewith an adjoining rod set 18 is rigid, said set rods being located on the same horizontal plane.

The movement, in the two directions, of said carriage is obtained by a geared motor 19, driving a shaft 20, at the ends whereof two gear wheels 21 are keyed, engaging the aforesaid racks 16.

Practically, upon having located the cushions, as suitably contained by the vertical partitioning panels, on the lower rod set, the upper rod set is caused to advance, by pressing the pedal 22, and then the lower rods add partitioning panels are rised as far as to squash the cushion against said upper rods.

The rising and lowering movements of said partitioning panels, in particular, is controlled by means ofthe push-button 23.

Upon having obtained the squashing of the cushions, the partitioning elements are lowered and the lining 24 is sheathed on said cushions.

Then the upper rods are caused to withdraw and the lower ones to lower, thereby removing therefrom the sheathed cushion.

From the preceding description and the figures of the accompanying drawings, the great functionaltty and use facility characterizing the apparatus for sheathing cushions in general, according to the present invention, are self evident.

Obviously said apparatus and the making procedure thereof have been thereinabove described and illustrated only by way of an indicative and not limitative example and only to demonstrate the practicing and the general characteristics of the present invention.

Accordingly it should be understood that the apparatus for sheathing cushions according to the invention and the component parts thereof are susceptible to several modifications and variations, according to the making needs and practical provided use, and to all the improvements as suggested by the experience.

These variations may relate both to the operative parts thereinabove described, which are characteristic of the present invention, and the making or assemblying procedure thereof, all within the present invention scope.

Claims (8)

1. An apparatus for sheathing cushions in general, characterized in that it comprises, substantially, two adjoining rod sets, said rods being located on horizontal parallel planes, the upper rod set being movable in the plane thereof in such a way as to reach a superimposed position with respect to the lower rod set, said lower rod set being able of moving from the bottom to the top, as far as to reach an adjoining position with respect to said upper rod set, partitioning vertically extending movable panels cooperating with said rod sets, said partitioning panels being effective to be located depending on the width of the individual cushions to be sheathed.

2. An apparatus according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a base effective to support an upright pair, said uprights being connected to an uppertraverse or cross member and to operate as vertical sliding guides, along said uprights being effective to move a slider coupled, by traverses or crosspieces, to a double acting hydraulic or air operated cylinder.

3. An apparatus, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said sliders, sliding along said vertical guides, engage with corresponding gear wheels, mounted on a fixed supporting member and connected by a horizontal shaft.

4. An apparatus, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said movable traverses or cross-pieces carry an adjoining rod set, located on the same horizontal plane, on said adjoining rod set being located the cushion to be sheathed.

5. An apparatus, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that, under said rod set, a sliding guide is located, therealong are fixed, at predetermined positions, vertical panels effective to act as side partitioning elements between the cushions to be sheathed, said guide being supported on an end traverse or cross-piece pair, connected to the pistons of corresponding double acting cylinders.

6. An apparatus, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that with said upright connecting upper traverse or cross-piece are rigid two sliding guides, horizontally extending, connected by a rear traverse and carrying a rack, along said guides being able of moving or sliding a carriage, therewith an adjoining rod set is rigid the rods thereof are located on the same horizontal plane.

7. An apparatus, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the movement, in the two directions, of said carriage is provided by a geared motor driving a shaft, at the ends whereof are keyed two gear wheels engaging said horizontal racks.

8. Amovablearm or rod apparatus,forshea- thing or lining cushions, according to the preceding claims, and substantially as broadly described and illustrated in the description and in the accompanying drawings, constituting an integrating part of the present patent application.