JPS61176436A - Method and device for manufacturing interior spring structure - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (α) Industrial Application Field This application is filed on March 9, 1984 in US Patent Application Box 586.
．． This is a continuation-in-part application of No. 867.

The field of the invention is a method for assembling an internal spring structure of a retracted coil spring, and an apparatus for carrying out the method.

(b) Prior Art and its Problems For many years, retractable coil springs have been used in the assembly of internal spring structures. This coupling of coil springs has evolved from earlier designs in which links and notched rings were used to secure adjacent springs together. U.S. Patent Nos. 698,529 and 2,320,15
No. 3 discloses such a structure. The use of the ring is such that the ring must be attached to the perforation of the pocket wrapper while holding the wire that defines the bright line at the top of the coil spring (the ring must not only be used to hold the coil in place) This makes the work slow and costly.

A manufacturing method has been developed that has superior thermal efficiency to that described above, in which lengths of connected stowed coil springs are arranged in a sinusoidal configuration on a rack. The springs are connected by pulling a strand of wire across each row of retracted springs. The strands are then separated by the operator. The tightness of the spring structure depends on the skill of the operator. This method is still in use today, and equipment has been developed for it. US Pat. No. 4,393,792 discloses an apparatus that improves the efficiency of the basic method.

More recently, devices have been developed for ultrasonically bonding arrays of stowed coil springs together to form structures such as those shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,234,984. US Pat. No. 4,401,501 discloses such a device.

(C) Structure and Operation of the Invention The present invention provides a method and apparatus for manufacturing internal spring structures in a manner that is very different from that hitherto used commercially for retractable coil springs. be done. An internal spring structure is provided that includes a plurality of coupled stowed coil spring rows, a bonded portion is formed by a linear adhesive or a bonding material, and in this text, both are used interchangeably. It is preferable to use a thermofusible material for bonding the rows.

The device includes a support surface on which a retracted coil spring coupled in a row is mounted. Move a selected amount of glue across the row of coiled springs to each spring? A coating device is provided for coating the surrounding storage material. This adhesive is applied in a selected amount and form. A device is provided for adhesively bonding the retracted coil springs in another row by movement into contact with a treated row. Adhesive is reapplied to the exposed surfaces of the last row added. Still other rows are moved into position and processed until the internal spring structure of the required dimensions is completed. A new configuration can be started by simply omitting one application of adhesive so that two adjacent rows do not join.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support surface of the device is substantially horizontal and the spring rows are fixed to each other in an upright position. to ensure accurate positioning of the adhesive applicator as it traverses, and to create a sufficient amount of pressure 7 between the treated row and the new row moved into contact therewith; Each row is slightly compressed between two plates.

(dl Embodiment An apparatus 10 for assembling rows 12 of retracted coil springs 14 into an internal spring structure is shown in FIGS. 1-3. Patent No. 4,
234,983.

The structure of this patent includes a plurality of coil springs positioned between the glabellas of a folded strip of fiber. Individual pockets for each spring are formed by ultrasonically sealing the fiber strips at preselected intervals.

An apparatus for forming such a coil array is disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,439,977.

The apparatus 10 is included in a frame 16' having a pair of cylinders 18 for housing the extensive electronic controls.

The frame supports a generally horizontal platform 20 having a smooth top surface. A pair of guide bars 22 are attached to a pair of support members 24 below the platform. Bearing 2E fixed at each end
An elongated member 26 having a length of 1 is slidably attached to the guide bar n.

This par 22 fits within each earring.

The attachment device 30 for pressing the coil spring extends through a pair of points (not shown) in the platform 20.
The pair of attachments are secured to the member 26 by a plate 32. The mount is moved back and forth relative to the platform by a pair of piston rods 934 each extending from a pair of pneumatically actuated cylinders 36.

This cylinder is pivotally mounted to the horizontal surface 38 of the frame by a bracket 40. The ends of the piston rod 934 are pivoted to the elongated member 26 by a second pivot bracket 42 . The operation of the cylinder is based on the l attached to the front apron part a of the frame.
Controlled by a pair of buttons (not shown). Once this button is pressed, the device will perform a series of sequential steps. These steps are discussed in detail below.

The press attachment tool 30 is specifically configured to be moved from an upright row of coil tab flat forms 20 to a bonding station. The fixture has a generally vertical front wall surface 46 from which a plurality of separation members extend. The separating member extends generally perpendicularly from the front wall and defines a plurality of sections therewith. As shown in FIG. 3, each separation member 48 is separated by a distance that approximates the diameter of each coil spring 14. If a barrel coil spring is used, this distance will approximate its maximum diameter.

Each separation member 48 has a length approximately half the coil diameter so that it fits between each stowed coil spring 14 of row 12. The structure of the press mounting tool 30 is such that the coils are held in a straight line in an upright row and are moved while preventing displacement due to rotation of any spring. Each coil spring is thus precisely positioned with respect to the corresponding coil spring in the row before it.

In FIG. 2, each row 12 of retracted coil springs is delivered to a bonding station where they are processed between hot melt applicators. The station has a generally horizontal surface that may be defined by a portion of the platform. This station also includes a generally horizontal pressure plate 52Y with vertically extending side portions. This plate is height adjustable for different coils by means of a nut/washer assembly. These assemblies are mounted in slots 58 in the vertical sides 54 and retained by holes (not shown) in the frame 16 of the device. The front end 60 of the pressure plate is angled upwardly to facilitate insertion of the coil array 12 into the longitudinal opening defined between the platform 2o and the pressure plate 52.

To ensure that each coil row is held in an open position at the coupling station, the distance from the platform to the pressure plate is preferably slightly less than the height of the retracted coil springs to be placed therebetween.

The length of the pressing plate must also be sufficient to hold at least two coil rows between them and the support. This causes the incoming coil row to be sufficiently pressed against the rows already processed by the coating device. A sufficient number of coil rows shall be maintained between these members at any given time to increase the pressure between the coil rows and maintain them in positive contact for a sufficient period of time to ensure sufficient bonding. desirable. The hot-melt material applicator has a plurality of spray nozzles 62, each of which is rotatable so that the hot-melt material 7 can be applied to a selected portion of each stowed coil spring. A highly flexible heating tube 64 is provided for supplying hot melt material to the coating device from a heating reservoir (not shown) placed at the top of the frame. There must be sufficient slack to allow the device to move from one side of the device to the other.

A block 66 is mounted between the applicator devices and has first and second cylindrical passages therethrough. A pair of smooth, stationary guide strips extend within the two passages and are secured to brackets 70, 72 on opposite sides of frame 16. Within each passage are linear motion supports (not shown) to minimize friction between these and smooth bars.
or other equivalent structures may be provided.

A ball screw 73 extends between the tilt drive brief 4 mounted on one side of the frame 16 and a mounting fitting 76 including a bearing or bushing (not shown) mounted on the opposite side. A ball/nut assembly 78 is fixed to block 66 and moves back and forth along the ball screw as it is rotated by brief 4. Thread 73 has a pitch of approximately 31.8w (IX inches). The speed at which the blocks, and therefore the applicator, move is a function of the pitch of the screw and the speed of rotation about its longitudinal axis. Both variables can be adjusted as necessary.

The rotational speed of the ball screw is controlled by a timing belt 8 connected between the brief 4 and the pulley 82 driven by the electric motor 8.
Controlled by 0. The ball/nut assembly 78, and therefore the block 66, and the applicator are moved at a selected speed. When the applicator reaches either end of its path, the motor mode is reversed and the ball screw 73 is driven in the opposite direction.

Vertical positioning between the applicator devices is accomplished by loosening the clamps 86 that secure them to the t-rod vanes. The hot melt material is applied in a series of horizontal lines.
Its horizontal position is controlled by the position of the applicator and the orientation of the nozzle 62 thereon. The thickness of each line is the third
The figures are exaggerated for illustrative purposes. The length of each line is controlled by the period during which each nozzle is energized as it passes through the array of springs. This period is controlled by a beam switch 92 mounted to the block. This switch detects the presence or absence of a series of dark vertical striations 94 on a long bar 96 across frame 16. The nozzle may be energized immediately upon detection of such a streak, or may be activated with some delay. By using a delay circuit, the horizontal positioning of the hot melt material is controlled by adjusting the delay time. Alternatively, opposite sides of the par% are provided with vertical striations of different states. 7e 't' The forward horizontal positioning of the hot melt material can be changed to another location by simply removing it and installing it on the opposite side. The length of each head of hot melt material is proportional to the width of each filament 940.

The internal spring assembly is manufactured according to the invention by first making the necessary adjustments to accommodate the dimensions of the coil spring used. The height of the pressure plate 52 relative to the mounting fixture (9) is set such that it holds each row of springs in place by slightly compressing them. The vertical position of the hot melt applicator and the orientation of the nozzle thereon are also set to apply the hot melt material to the appropriate location on each retracted coil spring. The nozzles are each approximately 12.7 to 19 mm from the cloth cover around each spring.
．． It is within the range of 1 meter (3A to inch). Such distance may vary according to the viscosity of the hot melt material used.

A suitable press-fit fitting (9) is used with separation members 48 separated by a distance approximately equal to the maximum diameter of the coil spring. Such attachments may also be such that several fixtures are retained on each device to allow assembly of coil springs of various sizes with each device.

A bar 96 is attached to the Y frame having filaments 94 separated by a selected distance to be detected by beam switch 92. If the coil spring rows 12 used are narrower than the width of the device, the bar 96 need only have threads 94 corresponding to the actual number of coil springs in each row.

The hot melt material reservoir (not shown), the supply tube 64, and the applicator are all heated to facilitate the flow of the hot melt material. A polyamide 9 heat-melting material can be used for the polypropylene nonwoven fabric that is placed over the coil spring. D is a trademarked product of Ph1llips Fibers, Greenville, California, USA.
UON fabric can be treated with hot melt materials without thermal damage and is therefore a good spring housing material.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first row of retractable coil springs 12t are mounted upright on the platform 20 and are mounted against the chrysanthemum. Cylinder 36y to move the coil row between the platform nod and the pressing plate 52! ? energize. Upon reaching this position, the mounting weapon is automatically or manually retracted to its original position.The second coil array 12 is then installed against the mounting section. Electric motor 84m - button is pressed to energize, this motor rotates the ball screw, thereby) applicator 50
``Y and spring row 12'' 4! :Cross. If four nozzles 62 are used (as shown), a series of four
A horizontal line of hot melt material is formed on the encasing material surrounding each coil spring. Each nozzle is energized when the beam switch detects the presence of dark streak 94 on light bar 96. When the applicator reaches the opposite end of its path, it opens a switch (not shown), thereby deenergizing the stainer 84Y. For this purpose, microswitches are placed near each end of the bar 68.

Upon completion of the application of the hot melt material, a second pair of switches (not shown) located near each end of the bar brocade are energized, which energizes the cylinder 36 and causes the second coil to energize. Column 12
(by moving between the pressing plate 52 and the platform) the first coil row is ejected. The compressed state of the springs therebetween creates a frictional resistance to ejection of one row.

Each new coil row 12 is pressed against the previous coil row with sufficient force to ensure a good bond. At the same time as the second coil is retracted, another coil array 12 is placed in contact with it and the above process is repeated. Upon pressing the button again, the ball screw is rotated in the opposite direction to its previous movement.

The above process combines a sufficient number of coil rows to define an internal spring structure of selected dimensions. The next construction is started by skipping the application of hot melt material during one cycle of the device. Therefore, two adjacent coil rows defining the ends of a pair of internal spring structures are not coupled together.

One of the advantages of the present invention is that each row of retracted coil springs does not necessarily have to be provided with interconnected pockets V. Although retractable coil springs are typically constructed with this structure, this can result in failure occurring in a shorter period of time than is actually required. Although such coil arrays cannot be used in most hitherto known methods of internal spring assembly, the present invention allows for the installation of partial or individual coil arrays between the separating members of the fixture. Even molded coil springs can be placed and bonded to previously processed coil rows. Other advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figures 1A and 1B are front views showing the left and right sides of an apparatus for manufacturing internal spring structures, respectively; Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the apparatus; and Figure 3 is a part of the apparatus. FIG. 10... Assembly device 12... Spring row 14.
...Retractable coil spring 16...Frame 18-...
Housing addition...Platform n...
・Guide bar A...Support member 26...Long member A...Bearing 30...Mounting tool 32...Mounting at plate temperature...Piston rod 36...Pneumatic operation Cylinder blade...horizontal surface
40... Bracket 42... Pivot mounting platen) 44... Front apron section hammer... Separation member
(Capital) Coating device 52 Pressing plate
M...Side part 58...Slot 60...Front end 62...Nosle 64...Heating tube 66...Block 68...Guiding mechanism 70
...Bracket 72...Bracket 73.
... Ball screw 74 ... Belt drive pulley 7
6...Mounting tools 78...Ball/nut assembly 80...Timing belt 82...Pulley feed...
Electric motor 86...Clamp blade...Rot ° 匍...Heat-melting material 92...Beam switch 94...String 96...
ノ;- (5 other people)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for manufacturing an internal spring structure from rows of stowed coil springs, comprising: a support device for supporting a plurality of rows of stowed coil springs; and a bonding agent applied to the rows of stowed coil springs. an applicator; a moving device for longitudinally moving the applicator along a row of retracted coil springs supported by the support device; A device characterized in that it is provided with a pressing device for applying pressure between the rows. 2. A device for fixing a coil spring array is provided, and the coil spring array fixing device includes a plurality of equidistantly spaced members to be inserted between each of the retracted coil springs constituting the coil spring array. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: 3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure plate mounted on and parallel to the support device. 4. The device according to claim 3, further comprising a device for adjusting the position of the pressing plate with respect to the support device. 5. A longitudinal opening is defined between the pressing plate and the support device, and the application device is movable by the moving device along a path adjacent to the longitudinal opening. The device according to claim 3. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising means for inserting an array of retracted coil springs through the longitudinal opening. 7. the insertion device includes a generally vertical front wall and a plurality of equidistantly spaced separation members extending therefrom;
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said support device and said pressure plate are each substantially horizontal. 8. An elongated bar disposed outside the longitudinal opening and a support block slidably attached to the bar, and the coating device is attached to the support block. The apparatus according to claim 5. 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a device for adjusting the position of the coating device with respect to the support block. 10. A claim characterized in that there is provided a rotatable ball screw extending parallel to the elongated bar and a ball/nut assembly mounted to the support block and engaged with the ball screw. The device according to item 8. 11. providing a long bar disposed outside the longitudinal opening, the bar having a plurality of marks thereon and detecting the marks and energizing the applicator upon detection of each mark; 6. The device according to claim 5, further comprising a device for: 12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the coating device is a hot melt material coating device including a plurality of spray nozzles. 13. An apparatus for manufacturing an internal spring structure from an array of stowed coil springs, comprising a support surface and a pressing plate disposed above and parallel to the supporting surface, the pressing plate and the supporting surface. defines a longitudinal aperture, and means for inserting a retracted coil spring array through the longitudinal aperture in an upright position between the pressure plate and the support surface; 1. An apparatus comprising: a coating device for coating a binder on a retracted coil spring array disposed between a surface and a surface of the coil spring. 14. The device according to claim 13, further comprising a device for adjusting the position of the pressing plate with respect to the support surface. 15. Claim 1, wherein the coating device is a hot melt material coating device including a plurality of spray nozzles.
The device according to item 3. 16. The insertion device is configured to move the insertion device toward and away from a plurality of equidistantly separated separation members that fit between each retracted coil spring defining a coil spring row with respect to the longitudinal opening. 14. The device of claim 13, further comprising a device for causing movement. 17. Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that it is provided with means for moving the application device parallel to the longitudinal opening. 18. Apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that it comprises an elongated bar having a plurality of marks and a device for detecting the marks and energizing the application device simultaneously with the detection of each such mark. . 19. The apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a device for adjusting the distance of the coating device from the support surface. 20, a guide bar extending parallel to the support surface;
a support member attached to the guide bar; the applicator is attached to the support member; and a ball screw extending parallel to the guide bar; and a ball screw attached to the support member; 14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a ball/nut assembly adapted to be mounted and engaged with the ball screw, and a device for rotating the ball screw. 21. providing a first retractable coil spring array and compressing the first coil spring array along each longitudinal axis of the coil springs, thereby maintaining the first coil spring array in an upright position; applying a bonding agent to the first coil spring array, and moving a second upright retractable coil spring array into contact with the first coil spring array, thereby A method for manufacturing an internal spring structure, comprising the step of integrally joining a second coil spring row. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the binder is a hot melt material. 23. The hot melt material is applied as a series of parallel lines to each retractable coil spring of the first coil spring row, and each line is applied to a part of the circumference of the axis of each coil spring of the coil spring row. 23. A method according to claim 22, characterized in that the method extends to a length of 100 mm. 24, compressing the first coil spring array along the longitudinal axis of the coil spring by moving the first coil spring array between a pair of parallel planes, and compressing the second coil spring array along the longitudinal axis of the coil spring; compressing the second coil array during movement of the first coil spring array by movement between a pair of parallel planes, the first coil array being maintained between the planes as it is moved; 22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that: 25. each of the retractable coil springs being connected by a piece of cloth surrounding each of the coil springs in a respective pocket;
The second coil row is moved into contact with the first coil row by pressing the second coil row at each point between each of the pockets, thereby maintaining the pockets in a straight line. 25. The method of claim 24, comprising the steps of: