US1987270A - Upholstery forming machine - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 8, 1935. F. N. ROSS I UPHOLSTERY FORMING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1., 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR fie Jar/0,? /I/. floss BY I ATTORNEYS Jan. 8, 1935. F, N, oss

' UPHOLSTERY FORMING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Jan. 8, 1935. F,' M oss '7 1,987,270

UPHOLS TERY FORMING MACHI NE Filed Feb. 1, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Fre /anal 1y flu":

ATTORNEYS Jan. 8, 1935. F 055 1,987,270

UPI-IOLSTERY FORMING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR flea e112? M $055 ATTORNEYS Jan. 8, 1935.

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UPHOLSTERY FORMING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5' Filed Feb. 1, 1932 INVENTOR Fuzz/end A4 A 05:

ATTORNEYS Jan. 8, 1935. F N, oss 1,987,270

UPHOLSTERY FORMING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, SL952 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR Fri/e //&,( AZ

' ATTOl'iNEY- Patented Jan. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Briggs Manufacturing Company, Detroit,"Mich., a corporation of -Michigan Application February 1 1 Claim.

spect to each other and to then secure these.

two fabrics together, and the present invention is directed. more particularly to an improved means for feeding the lining fabric andfor formingthesame with portions adapted to be securedby stitching or the like to the finish fabric.

A further object of this invention is taprovide a lining fabric feeding and formingmecha nism which will be simplein construction, continuous in operation andcapable of attachment to an upholstery formingmachine of the above mentioned character.

The invention "further contemplates the provisionof an improved means for feeding the completed upholstery'from the forming machine.

Numerous-other-objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent .as the following description proceeds, particularly when reference is bad to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a fragmentary and semi-diagrammatic elevational view of an upholstery forming machine in which the invention is incorporated.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the structure shown in-Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is asectional view taken substantially on-the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken' substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. '5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional View. through the structure shown in'Fig. 3;

Fig. "T-is. a sectionalview taken substantially on the line '7-'7 ofaFig. 6;

Fig. -8 is a sectional View onthe line 8-8 of Fig. 3;

a Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line -9-9 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary the feeding mechanism for holstery;

Fig. 11 is a sectional taken substantially taken substantially elevational view of the completed upview taken substantially on the .line 11 11 of: Fig. 10;-and

Fig. 12 is -a semi-diagrammatic elevational view of a portion of the structure shown in Fi 10.

Referring partiCuIarIy to the drawings wherein 1932, Serial No. 590,275

like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout all views, the general form of the tubular upholstery produced by the machine will best be understood by reference to Figs. 8 and 9. A finish fabric F fed to the machine from any suitable source of supply'is transversely ingathered to formlongitudinally extending ridge seamsS. A lining fabric L is also fed to the machine from any suitable'source-and is transversely ingathered to-form portions L- angularly disposed with reference to the general plane -of a the lining fabric, these'portions being positioned-in juxtaposition to the sides of the-ridge seams S. With the portions Lofthe lining fabric positioned adjacent the sides of the ridge seams -S, these portions are then secured together by -sui-table longitudinally extending lines or stitching, sothat the lining and finish fabrics are secured together; along spaced longitudinal lines. 'During the gathering of the lining H and fini'sh fabricsa sufiicient fullness is left therein toprovide tubular pockets P between the several lines of "stitching, andstrips .of cotton better the like B are enclosed-"in these tubular pockets during the forming operation.

Fig. 1 there is semi-diagrammati v cally illus- 25 trated .a' machine capable of forming upholstery ofthe character above described. By reference to this'figureit will be noted that the machine comprises afraine .15' on which is mounted a suitablelso'urce of power such, for exampla as a motor 16. Ap'ulley 1'7 fixed to the shaft of this motor drives; a belt .18 which in turn drives a pulley 19 loosely mounted on a shaft "20. For the purpose of clutching the-pulley 19 to the shaft 20' there is provided .a clutch Zlarranged to be actuated by a suitable hand lever or the like 22.

The shaft- 20 extends into a suitable housing 23 whichcontains reduction gearing (not shown), andthe driven shaft 24 of this reduction gearing carries a'sprocket wheel 25 with which a chain 26 isengaged. This-chain extends around an idler 27,-arounda sprocket. 28 on a shaft, 29, which shaft .is arranged to drive the .forming mechanism for. the finish fabric. The chain also extends around. a sprocket'3'0 on a shaft 31, a second sprocket 32land finally, a sprocket 33 on a shaft 34, .theshafts 31 and 34 driving certain portions of the machine ina manner which will'hereinafter be more fully-described.

Fixed .on the shaft 20 a sprocket 35 which drivesa-chain 36 which in turn is engaged with asproc-ket .37 on a shaft 38. This shaft drives a .shaft.39which.actuates the sewing heads.

Thefinish fabric-F is fed to themachine from any suitable source (not shown) and passes under forming members 40 which cooperate with suitable forming blocks 41 carried by the fabric conveyor 42 to form the ridge seams S in this finish fabric. After the ridge seams S are formed, the travel of the fabric carries these ridge seams between forming feet 43 and 44 which hold the ridge seams formed while they are passed over a sewing plate 45 to the point where the .needle 46 of the sewing head 47 is arranged to engage the ridge seams.

The strips of cotton bat B are fed to the machine from any suitable source (not shown), passing along a conveyor 48 down through the machine under the toothed breakers49 to aposition between the lining and finish fabrics. The structure and operation of the finish fabric feeding and forming mechanism, the cotton bat feeding mechanism and the sewing mechanism form no' part of the present invention which is directed more particularly to the structure about to be described.

Disposed at one side of the frame is a skeleton frame 60 and a support for a cradle 61 on which a roll 62 of the lining fabric L may be supported. The lining fabric passes from this roll over suitable rolls 63 by which it is spread and smoothed and then passes downwardly into the machine into a forming mechanism which func tions to transversely ingather this fabric to form therein the portions L.

As illustrated more particularly in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, there is provided a frame member 65 which extends transversely of the machine. This frame member is provided in its upper face with a longitudinally extending T-slot 66 which receives the heads of bolts 67, which bolts secure to the frame member the upper ends of bars 68. A plurality of these bars are provided, dependent upon the number of portions L to be formed in the lining fabric, and these bars are adjustable transversely of the machine by virtue of the bolts 67 and the slot 66.

The bars 68 extend downwardly and are provided adjacent their lower ends with grooves 69 bers '72, these members constituting the forward ends of the forming feet 43 and 44, these latter being furcations of the members '72. Thus the lower ends of the bars 68 are firmly held adjacent the lower edge of the frame member 65, and each bar is also held accurately in vertical alignment with one pair of forming feet 43 and 44.

The bars .68 constitute track-like members which engage the rear face of the lining fabric during the travel of the latter downwardly through the machine, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Each bar 68 is provided adjacent its lower end with a formingrib '75, the forming rib of each bar being connected to itsrespective bar by an inclined portion 76. It will be noted that the forming ribs are on the edges of the bars 68 which engage the rear face of the lining fabric so that as the lining fabric moves into engagement with the forming ribs the fabric is moved outwardly or to the right, as viewed in Fig. 3. by the forming ribs.. It will be noted further. byv reference particularly to Fig. 4 of the drawings, that the forming ribs are of different lengths and that the forming ribs disposed on the bars 68 located centrally of the machine are the longest, the forming ribs on the bars disposedon either side of the central bars decreasing successively in length. With this arrangement the cloth will first be moved into engagement with the forming ribs disposed centrally of the machine and then will be brought into successive engagement with the remaining forming ribs disposed on opposite sides of the central forming ribs. Thus the cloth will be gathered inwardly from the sides to produce the portions L, as will be more fully brought out.

The reference character 80 designates a frame member which extends transversely of the machine and parallel with, but forwardly of, the frame member 65. This frame member is provided adjacent its upper edge with a longitudinally extending T-slot 81 which receives the heads 82 of bolts 83, these latter bolts functioning to adjustably secure to the frame member a pluirality of supports 84. The supports 84 correspond in number to the bars 68, and being adjustable transversely of the machine, each support 84 may be positioned relative to its respective bar 68.

Fixed to each support adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof are stub shafts 85 and 86, and mounted on these stub shafts are sprockets 8'7 and 88, respectively. A chain 89 engages each pair of sprockets 87 and 88, and an idler 90 is preferably provided for engagement with each chain.

For driving the chains 89 a gear 95 is fixed to each shaft 85, and these gears are in turn driven by gears 96 fixed to the shaft 31 which is journaled in the supports 84 and which is driven by the sprocket 30. It will be noted that one forming chain 89 is associated with each bar 68 and that each forming chain during a portion of its travel is directly beside the forming rib of its respective bar. Thus thelining fabric passing downwardly over the bars 68 is engaged on its one face by the forming ribs and on its other face by the forming chains in the manner clearly illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the forming chains and forming ribs thus cooperating to form the portions L in the lining. fabric. It will be noted that each forming chain comprises side links 100 connected by transversely extending pins 101, and for stripping the lining fabric from these chains as the fabric passes under the sprockets 88 there is secured to the lower end of each support 84 a plate 102. Each plate 102 has a finger portion 103 which projects to a point between the side links 100 of the chain and under the chain where the latter starts its upward travel from under the sprocket wheel 88. Thus each finger 103 functions to strip the lining fabricfrom its respective forming chain 89 with the result that the lining fabric is caused to travel forwardly under the several plates 102.

A sewing head 104 is associated with each plate 102, and each sewing head is provided with a base plate 105 under which a portion of each plate 102 projects. Thus the lining fabric is caused to travel from under the plates 102 forwardly under the plates 105, and each of these latter plates is provided with a flange 106 which cooperates with the sewing plate 45 to hold the portion L of the lining fabric in position adjacent the seam ridge S of the finish fabric.

It will be understood that as the lining and finish fabrics with the strips of cotton bat positioned between the same travel past the sewing heads, the two fabrics are united by lines of stitching through the portions L of the lining fabric and the seam ridges of the finish fabric.

To maintain the travel of the finished upholstery as it passes the sewing heads, a feeding roll 110 is provided, this roll being mounted on the shaft 34 which, it will be recalled, is driven by the chain 26 and thus in synchronism with the other parts of the sewing machine.

Cooperating with the feeding roll 110 to urge the completed upholstery into engagement therewith, are pressure rolls 111 and 112 mounted on shafts 113 and 114 respectively. These shafts are journaled at their ends in suitable supporting housings 115, these housings being pivotally mounted at their lower ends on shafts 115. Each housing is movable from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 12 of the drawings to the position shown in dotted lines in this figure, for the purpose of moving the pressure rolls 111 and 112 into or out of engagement with the upholstery passing over the feeding roll.

For the purpose of moving the housings 115, a bell crank lever 116 is pivotally mounted on one housing, and one arm 117 of this bell crank lever is pivotally connected to the end of a link 118, this link being pivoted as at 119 toa stationary part of the machine frame. Thus by swinging the bell crank lever about its pivot, the housings 115 will be forcibly moved about their pivots to move the pressure rolls into or out of engagement with the finished upholstery.

For the purpose of driving the rolls 111 and 112 so that their peripheral speeds will be substantially the same as that of the feeding roll 110, suitable gearing such as illustrated in Figs. and 11 is provided. Thus it will be noted that a gear 120 is mounted on the shaft'34 and that this gear drives a gear 121 on a stub shaft 122. A sprocket 123 on this shaft is connected by a chain 124 to a sprocket 125 on a sleeve 126 rotatable on shaft 115. A sprocket 127 on this sleeve is connected by a chain 128 to a sprocket 129 fixed on the shaft 114, there being preferably provided a suitable idler sprocket 130 which engages the chain 128.

Fixed to the shaft 114 is a gear 131 which, through suitable idler gears, drives a gear 132 fixed to the shaft 113. One of the idler gears such, for example, as that designated by the reference character 133, is fixed on a shaft 134 which extends parallel to the shafts 113 and 114 for the purpose of aiding in driving a set of gears similar to that illustrated and mounted on the other ends of the shafts 113 and 114.

From the above it is believed that the operation of the machine will be clearly apparent. The lining fabric is supplied to the machine and travels downwardly over the bars 68 and thus into engagement with the forming ribs 75 carried by these bars. Since these forming ribs are of different lengths and since the longer ribs are disposed centrally of the machine, the central part of the strip of lining fabric will be first to engage the forming ribs.

As the forming chains are rotated, these chains will cooperate with their respective forming ribs to transversely gather the lining fabric inwardly to form the portions L in the lining fabric. As the strip of lining fabric passes under the lower sprockets 88 it will be stripped from the forming chains and will then pass under the plates 102 and 105, the flange 106 of the latter holding the portions L' of the lining fabric in position, adjacent the seam ridges already formed in the finish fabric.

After the sewing operation is completed the finished upholstery will pass between the pressure rolls and feeding roll and will thus be delivered from the machine in its completed state.

It will be apparent that the forming and feeding mechanism for the lining fabric will be substantially automatic and continuous in operation and will operate in synchronism with the finish fabric feeding and forming mechanism, the cotton bat feeding mechanism and the sewing mechanisms. The portions L of the lining fabric will not only be formed in the fabric during the travel thereof, but will be brought into proper relation to the seam ridges so that they may be stitched thereto during the travel of the two fabrics together.

While the invention has been described with some detail, it is to be clearly understood that the description is for the purposes of illustration only and is not definitive of the limits of the inventive idea. The right is reserved to make such changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts as will fall Within the purview of the attached claim.

What I claim as my invention is:

In an upholstery forming machine, means for advancing a strip of material, bars over which said strip of material is advanced, forming ribs on said bars, endless chains cooperating with said forming ribs to form portions in said strip of material angularly disposed relative to the general plane thereof, a plate member having portions projecting adjacent said chains to strip the material therefrom after the said angularly disposed portions have been formed in the strip of material, and sewing heads each of which is provided with a flanged plate adapted to maintain the angularly disposed portions in said strip of material during the sewing operation.

FREDERICK N. ROSS.

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