US2172483A

US2172483A - Means and method for assembling the individual springs of spring units

Info

Publication number: US2172483A
Application number: US252468A
Authority: US
Inventors: George E Taylor
Original assignee: GEORGE E TAYLOR; SAMUEL E SOSNA
Current assignee: GEORGE E TAYLOR; SAMUEL E SOSNA
Priority date: 1939-01-23
Filing date: 1939-01-23
Publication date: 1939-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 1956-09-12

Description

Sept. 12, 1939. TAYLOR MEANS AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING THE INDIVIDUAL SPRINGS OF SPRING UNITS Filed Jan. 23, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l l Hz 5% 1 G. E. TAYLOR 2,

0F SPRING UNITS Sept. 12, 1939.

MEANS AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING THE INDIVIDUAL SPRINGS Filed Jan. 23. 1939 3 sheets-sheet fiz Z/7z207" fieo ye 25 Y'faylor 13565 M%e.4-M

Sept. 12, 1939.

G. E. TAYLOR MEANS AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING THE INDIVIDUAL SPRINGS 0F SPRING UNITS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 23, 1939 kq mw M M66 5 gwova Patented Sept. 12,1939

UNITED STATES DEANS AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING THE INDIVIDUAL UNITS mmcs or srama George E. Taylor, Chicago, 111,, assignmto Samuel E. Sosna and George E. Tnyloi'yas trustees Application January 23,

16 Claims.

This invention relates to a means and method for assembling and securing together the individual springs of spring units such as are chiployed in innerspring mattresses, cushions for chairs and settees, and in like articles. 4

The individual springs in spring units of the above described type are arranged in the units in transversely and longitudinally extending rows and portions of the peripheries of the springs in either the transversely or the longitudinally extending rows overlap, and in some instances there is'such overlapping in both directions. Heretofore the overlapped portions of the springs have been secured together by means-of a helical retainer which was threaded along between adjacent rows and passed about the overlapping portions ,of the springs in such adjacent rows, such retainers usually being of a length sufllcient to extend from end to end or side to side of the spring unit, as the case might be, and the ends of such retainers sometimes have been fastened to similar retainers extended along the edges of the units.

The helical retainers arecut to length prior to being installed in the spring units and are rotated into retaining position so as to thereby be threaded about the various springs to be secured thereby. Heretofore power driven means have been provided for imparting rotative movement to the helical retainers but such power driven means have been manually controlled. Considerable skill is entailed in operating such power driven means in an amount to cause the helical retainer to be advanced to the point where the leading end thereof can be conveniently passed about the overlapping portions of springs to be retained thereby.

It is important that the springs in the longitudinally and transversely extending rows be retained 40 in alignment for otherwise the unit does not function satisfactorily in the use to which it is put. In order to accomplish such alignment the various springs have been arranged on pins or pegs that in turn have been arranged in longitudinally and transversey extending rows and the spacing of the pegs has been that desired for the spring units. With the springs so positioned all that is required is to secure the springs by means of the retainers without altering the position thereof on the pins or pegs.-

However, the operators of the power driven re-. tainer advancing means would sometimes so operate such means that the leading end of the helical retainer would not be advanced far enough as to be in p pe vp sifl on t e P s d the (Cl. RIF-3) I overlapping portions of the springs to berets iced 1939, Serial No. 252,488

thereby, and in other instances the power driven means would be so operated that theleading end thereof would be advanced beyond the point whereat it was to be passed about the overlapi5 ping portions of springs in adjacent rows. In

those instances where leading end of the hell cal retainer was not advanced far enough to be in position to be passed about the overlapping portions of the adjacent springs, or where such leading end was'advanced beyond such overlapping portions, the operators have distortedtiie springs so that the helical retainercouldbe passed thereabout with the result that the springs were displaced and when a unit was completed certain of the springs would be in acooked or otherwise improper position. This detracts from the commercial .value of the finishedfunit and ren= ders it otherwise unsatisfactory.

Moreover, the leading ends of the above, referred to helical retainers are rather sharply pointed and where manually controlled power driven means were employed to advance such retainers and the retainers werestopped in indiscriminate positions, the sharply pointed end of the retainer was often in such a position that it was necessary for the operator, to grab the pointed end in order to properly pass it around the overlapping portions of springs to be retained thereby, or, in some instances, because of improper location of the leading end of the spring retainer, the operator would inadvertently grab the pointed end. This often resulted inmore or f less serious injuries to the operators of the manually controlled power driven helical retainer' advancing means such as have been employed heretofore. 7

It will be apparent from the foregoing that considerable skill and dexterity was required to properly operate the manually controlled power driven means heretofore employed for the purpose of advancing helical retainers such as are employed to interconnect the adjacent springs in spring units of the above described type, and such skill and dexterity could only be acquired "by a prolonged apprenticeship which was not cent springs in spring units in an amount de' termined by the spacing of the overlapping por- 56 tions of one set of adjacent springs from the overlapping portions of an adjacent set of ad- Jacent springs.

An object "ancillary to the foregoing is'to accurately interrupt advancing movement of a helical retainer after a predetermined amount of advancing thereof.

It will be understood that different sizes of springs are employed in different spring units andthat evenwhere correspondingly sized springs are employed the spacing between the various Other and further objects are to'rotate a helical spring retainer a predetermined number of turns to thereby insure a predetermined degree of advancing movement thereof; to'automatically interrupt operation of power operated means for advancing a spring retainer and thereby insure uniform operation of the power operated means in various operations thereof; to

I accurately. and positively interrupt operation of power operated means for advancing a helical spring retainer; and to maintain such power operated means in operation for a predetermined period each time it is set in operation.

Still further objects are to so support a power operated means for advancing a helical spring retainer that the power operated means itself will be advanced in e course of advancing of the helical spring retainer; to effectively dimipate momentum accruing in the course of operation of a power operated helical retainer advancing means; to bring such means to rat in an identical position at the end of various operations thereof;,and to provide a novel helical spring retainer'advancing means of simple and economical construction and ei'iicient and posithe operation.

Other and further objects wilLbe apparent from the following description wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings in whichline "-10 on Fig. 8 and drawn to an Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my novel spring retainer advancing means and in ,which a portion of the track along which such means travel in the course of operation thereof is broken away; i

Figs. .2 and 3 are sectional detail views taken respectively and substantially on the lines 2-1 and 3-8 on 1; Pig. 4 is a side elevation of the apparatus illustrated in Pig. 1;

Figs. '5 and 6 are sectional detail views taken respectively and substantially on the lines 8-! and H on Fig. i;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of a connector employed in the apparatus;

Fig. 8 is atop plan view showing the manner in which my novel spring retainer advancing meansisputtouse;

Hg. 9 is a sectional detail view-taken substantially on the line H on Fig. i;

Fig. 10 is a view taken substantially on the enlarged scale;

Figll is a top plan view drawn to an enlarged scale and illustrating the position in which the l dins nd 12 i l sp l s retainer comes .to rest at the end of each advancing movement imparted thereto by my novel apparatus; and

Fig. 12 is a wiring diagram.

The preferred form of my novel spring retainer advancing means shown in the ;accompanying drawings includes a bed plate ll having brackets l6 and I I fast thereto at opposite ends thereof and extending upwardly therefrom. A substantially U-shaped bracket I8 is securedto the upper end of the bracket i6 and-a grooved roller i8 is rotatably mounted between the limbs of the bracket ll adjacent the free upper ends of such limbs. Another substantially U-shapedbracket II and a grooved roller 2| is rotatably mounted between the limbs of the bracket 20 adiacent the free upper ends of such limbs. An elongated substantially T-shaped track II is provided which is suitably supported in, a manner not shown from the ceiling or other support with the free end of the stem portion thereof extended upwardly, and the bed plate I I is bracket It is secured to the upper end of the a supported from the track 2: through the brackets I, II. II and 20 by having the track pass between the limbs of the brackets II and 2. so that the grooved rollers II and 2| may have the stem portion of the T-shaped section of the track extended thereinto. Thus the sides of the grooves in thefrollers I! and ii embrace the sides of the stem of the T-shaped track 22 and tend to prevent sidewise swaying of the bed plate II which is nevertheless supported for free movement along the track 22.

A block 23 is mounted on the top side of the bed plate ll adjacent to the bracket l6 and a motor I. is fast to the upper side of this block.

.A worm gear", Fig. 3. is mounted on one end of the shaft of themotor 24 and meshes with a worm wheel I, Fig. 4, that is fast to the shaft I'lwhich is iournaled in bearings provided in the gear box 2|, Fig. 1, carried by the frame of the motor 24 and the bearing 20 supported from the bed plate I I by the bracket 30. A connector II is mounted on the free end of the shaft 21 that is'positioned adjacent the bracket II, this, connector being tubular in configuration and having a helical groove 32, Figs. 1 and '1, on the interior thereof leading from the free end thereof and one end of a helical spring retainer'R is. adapted to be threaded into the helical groove 3!.

With one end a retainer R. secured in the con-" I nector Ii it is manifest that if the motor 24 is set in operation, the retainer R. will be rotated, and

. the direction of rotation 'of the motor 24 and the geared connection between this motor and the shaft 11 is such that the shaft 21 will be rotated in such a direction that the retainer R will be rotated in the direction of the lead of the helix thereof. Thus, as best shown in Fig. 12, a'terminal I! in the switch 8 is connected to a line wire 84 leading from a source of current by a conductor II. The other terminal SI of the switch 8 is connected by conductors I1 and 38 to one terminal of the motor 24, the other terminal of the motor 24 beingconnected to the line wire I. that also leads to a source of current.- Thus, when the bridging contact ll of the switch S closes circuit between the terminals 33 and 30, the motor II is set in operation and thereupon an advancing movement is imparted to the retainer R.

It has beenexplained heretofore that it is essential that a spring retainer such as the retainer R be advanced only in a predetermined amount in order that the various springs to be is 44a and 44b. Now the distance between the oversecured together to afford a spring unit will be properly secured togetherand to further eirplain this reference is made to Fig. 8 wherein it will be seen that two strips 4! and 43 are provided which have a plurality of pegs or pins 43 provided thereon at regularly spaced intervals that are adapted to receive springs 44 which are to be secured together to afford a spring unit such as that which can be used in an innerspring mattress, or in the cushion or back of upholstered furniture or in other kindred articles of furniture or the like.

When a plurality of springs as 44 are to be connected together to provide a spring unit, the size of the spring is first determined and then spacing between the various rows of such springs is determined and the pins 43 are then secured in the strips as 4| and 42 to give the desired spacing in one direction of the unit. I The spacing between the springs in the other direction of the unit is determined by the diameter of the springs themselves, and the strips as and 42 v in which the pins as 43 are secured are secured to a table top T or the like such a distance apart that when springs as 44 are mounted on the'pins 43 the springs on correspondingly positioned pins 43 on the strips 4| and 42 will slightly overlap as, for example, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 8.

When a plurality of springs are to be assembled into a unit, first springs as 44 are mounted on the pins 43 on the strip 4i and then the table T or the track 22, or both, are adjusted relative to each other so that when a spring retainer R is advanced by rotation of the shaft 21 in the manner above described it will thread over the. peripheries of the upper coils of the springs on the pins 43 on the strip 4| that extend toward the strip 42 and the result of this operation is the securing together along one edge of such springs 44 by a spring retainer as Ra.

Thereafter the springs which have been mounted on the pins 43 on the strip 4i which are now interconnected by the spring retainer Ra are moved over onto the pins 43 on the strip 42 and other springs are mounted on the pins 43 on the strip 4i. These last named springs when installed on the pins 43 on the strip 4| will overlap portions of the springs 44 that are now mounted on the pins 43 on the strip 42. After thesprings have been so. arranged, the shaft 21 is again set in operation and the spring retainer Rb is run into position. For convenience the springs mounted on the first of the pins 43 on the strips 4i and 42 will be referred to as being in row A while the springs on the next inwardly of the pins will be referred to as being in the row B and the springs on the next inwardly of the pins 43 will be referred to as being in the row C.

' tion to be passed about the overlapping portions of the springs 44a and 44b. Of course when the spring retainer Rc is first advanced it will be necessary to stop it accurately with respect to the overlapping portions of the

springs

44c and 44d. In the next operation it will be necessary to stop the leading end of the spring retainer with respect to the overlapping portions of the springs lapping portions ofthespr'ings 44c and 44d in' the row Aand the overlapping portions .of the springs 44a and 44b in the row Bis the same as the distance between the overlapping .portions of the.

springs 44a and 44b in the row B and the overlapping portions of the springs Me and 44! in the row C. Thus when the retainer R is advanced from the overlapping portions of the springs in the row A to the overlapping portions of the springs in the row B and thereafter advanced from the overlapping portions of the springs in the row B to the overlapping portions of the springs in the row C, identical advancing move-- ment should be imparted in both instances. It will be manifest, however, that if the switch S is held closed for too long a time or too short a time uniform advancing movement will not be imparted to a retainer as R. It will either be necessary in such an instance to attempt to slightly advance the retainer R if it has not been advanced far enough or else it will be necessary to manually thread the retainer RR rearwardly in order to back it up and one or the other of these two operations should be performed. However, it has been found that often in such instances an operator will deflect the springs'so as to bring overlapping portions thereof into position to be engaged by the leading end of the retainerR, and wherever the retainer R engages springs so fiexed it secures the-springs so as a result the flexed springs are secured in an iniproper position in so far as the unit as a whole is concerned.

Moreover, if the operator does not stop the;

retainer R substantially in the position shown in Fig. 11 it will frequently be necessary for the operator to grasp the free end of the retainer with the result, as explained above, that often the operators hands are out. However, if the retainer R is always stopped substantially in the position shown in Fig. 11, it may be grasped inwardly from the end and passed about the overlapping portions of adjacent springs, and when the retainer is grasped inwardly from the end the likelihood of the operators hands being cut is substantially reduced if not entirely eliminated.

Thus, in accordance with my invention I arrange the power operated spring retainer advancing means in such a way that once it is set in operation it will advance a spring retainer as R in a predetermined amount, and then when it has advanced the spring reta ner in th s predetermined amount will interrupt movement in a predetermined pos tion so that the leading end of the retainer will be in a position substantially like that shown in Fig. 11 which will enable the Operator to expeditiously pass the leading end of the retainer about the overlapping port ons of the adiacent springs to thereafter set the device in operation 50 that the retainer will then be threaded about the overlapped portions of adjacent springs and pass on to the next overlapping portions of adjacent springs.

In order to insure that the foregoing will be accomplished I prov de a worm gear 45 on the shaft 21 that meshes with a worm wheel 46 fast on the shaft 41 journaled in

plates

48 and 49. Fig. 3, fast to the top of the bed plate ii. In

view of the geared connection between the shafts 21 and 41 it is manifest that the shaft 41 will be set in rotation each time the shaft 21 is set in rotation. Thus, means are-provided on the shaft 41 for maintaining the circuit to the motor 24 closed .once thiscircuit has been closed and the -top of the plate i4 seats in the notch 42.

engages the contact point 44 on the contact strip 41 and circuit is closed from the line wire 44' through conductor 44, contact strip 41, contact point ,44, contact point 44, spring contact 44 and conductor 44 to conductor 44 and thence through the motor 24 and conductor 44 to the source of current. Preferably the ratio between the worm gear 44 and the worm wheel 44 is such that the shaft 21 will make a predetermined number of I revolutions to a single revolution of the shaft 41 and in the present instance the ratio is preferably such that the shaft 21 makes twelve revolut ons to one of the shaft 41. Thus, once the shaft 41 is set in operation and the rider 44 is out of alignment with the, notch 42, the shaft 41 will continue in rotation until the rider 44 again seats in the notch 42 but when this occurs the contact point 44 will separate from the contact point 44 and therefore circuit to the motor 24 will be interrupted and power will no longer be supplied to'the shafts 21 and 41 from the motor.

However, it is desirable that the shaft 21 be operated at a reiatlvelyhigh rate of speed so that the retainer R will be rapidly advanced from the overlapping portions of adjacent spr ngs in one row as A into assoc ation with the overlapping portions of adjacent springs in another row as B. In view of such rapid operation. anpreciable momentum will accrue in the various rotating parts and it is therefore desirable that at the time circuit is broken to the motor 24 to brake the rotating parts and .thereby dis sipate the momentum thereof so that the par s will come to rest in an accurate position. To this end a'wheel or drum 44 is fast on the shaft 41 and arcuate brake bands 4! and 42 are disposed about the periphery of this drum. The brake bands 4| and 42 have liners 43 and 4 'of suitable and includes a foot portion 1| on which an ear 12 friction material provided on the faces thereof disposed toward theperlphery of the. wheel 44. -.lhe block it is recessed as indicated at as, Fig.

2, to receive the ears 44 and 41 respectively prov'lded at adjacent ends of the brake bands 4i and 42, a suitable bolt 44 being passed through openings in these ears with a spring 44 disposed thereabout and between the ears 44 and 41, said spring serving to urge the ears away from each other to thereby urge the

liners

44 and 44 away from the periphery of the drum 44. 1A bracket 14 is fast to the, upper side of the bed plate l4 at' the end of the brake band 41 opposite the car 44 rests. An ear 14 is provided on the corresponding end of the brake band 42 and a bolt 14 is freely passed through openings in the ears 12 and 14 and is threaded into the foot port on 1!. A'spring "is disposed about the bolt 14 between the ears 12 and "and serves to urge the ears apart and therefore the

liners

44 and 44 away from the periphery of the drum 44.

A bracket 14, Figs. 4 and 4, is fast in the upper surface of the bed plate l4 and a rocker 11 is pivotally mounted thereon .as indicated at 14.

Aknotch 14 is provided adjacent one end of the rocker 11 and receives the head of the bolt 14.- An adjusting screw 44 is mounted near the other end of the rocker 11 and bears on one end of a lever 4i, Figs.4 and 6, fulcrumed at 42 on a bracket 44 carried by the bed plate l4. A cam 44 is fast on the shaft 41 and has a lobe 44 thereon. The cam 44 and the disc cam 4i are so fast on the shaft 41 that the notch 42 in the disc cam 4i is aligned with the lobe' 44 on the cam 44. Hence when the rider 54 passes into the notch 42 the lobe 44 rides into engagement with the lever 4i and pivots this lever upwardly and the upward movement of the lever 4i is transmitted through the adjusting screw 44 to the rocker 11 whereupon the end of the rocker adjacent which the notch 19 is provided is forced downwardly and inasmuch as this end of the rocker bears on the ear 14 this ear is forced downwardly with the effect-of forcing the

liners

44 and 44 onto the periphery of the drum 44 which brakes the shaft 41 and other rotating parts. As best shown in Fig. 6, the lobe 44 is provided with a sharp drop so that very soon after movement is imparted to the shaft 41 at the start of an operation, the lever 4i pivots from its upper and operative position shown in full lines in Fig. 6 into its lower or inoperative position shown in broken lines in Fig. 6 and this enables the springs 44 and 14 to disengage the

liners

44 and 44 from the periphery of the drum" 44.

While the brake afforded by the drum 44 and the parts that cooperate therewith will tend to bring the parts to rest promptly, such means may'not always stop the shaft 41 and other parts in identical positions at the ends of different operations of the device and hence, in order to assure that the parts will come torest in identical positions at such times, a disc 44, Fig. 4, is

fast on the shaft 41 which has a tapered notch 41 in theperiphery thereof. A bracket 44 is carried by the bed plate l4 and supports a cylinder 49 at the lower end of which a pin 94 is mounted, said pin having a pointed end adapted to seat in the notch 41. As best shown in Fig. 3, a spring 41 in the cylinder 44 acts on the pin 44 to force it toward the periphery of the disc 44,-

an adjusting screw 42 being threaded into a' tapped portion at the upper end of the cylinder 44 to enable adjustment of the tension of the spring 4|. The notch 41 in the disc 44 is aligned with the notch 42 on the cam disc 4i and the lobe 44 on the cam 44 .so that at the time circuit is broken to the motor 24 and the

liners

44 and 44 are applied to the periphery of the drum 44, the pointed pin 44 seats in the notch 41 and arrests further movement of the shaft 41 and the parts connected thereto. By reason of the taper of the notch 41 in the end of the pin 44, the

shaft 41 is always brought to rest in an identical position since these two tapers cooperate with each other to insure such positioning of the shaft and therefore the parts connected therewith. r

The ratio between the worm gear 44 and the worm wheel 44 is such that the shaft 21 will make a predetermined number of revolutions each time the switch S is closed and in view of this a retainer as R will be advanced a certain number of turns and therefore a predetermined amount ineach such operation. Each operation switch 8 and as soonas the parts are in motion the switch 8 is opened and thereafter the circuit established at the contact points 44 and 44 maintains the motor in operation until circuit is the notch 52. At this time, as explained above,

the brake is applied to dissipate the momentum that has accrued in the rotating parts and accompanying this the pin 9. seats in the notch 81 and brings the parts to rest in a predetermined position. This predetermined position.

and the connection of. the retainer R to the connector Si is such that the leading end of the retainer R comes to rest in a position substantially like that shown in Fig. 11 in which position the free end of the retainer may be conveniently hooked about the overlapping portions of adjacent springs and as soon as this is done a new advancing movement maybe imparted to the retainer.

Thus referring to Fig." 8, if the retainer Rc had originally been positioned adjacent the overlapping portions of the springs c and d and the switch S, Fig. 12, had been closed, the leading end of the retainer Rc would have been advanced into the position shown in Figs. 8 and 11. The operator would thereupon grab the retainer Rc rearwardly ofthe leading end thereof and pass the free end about the overlapping portions of the springs 44a and 44b and then the switch S would again be closed. In this operation the retainer Rc will advance in the manner indicated by broken lines in Fig. 8, into a position ready to have the leading end thereof passed about the overlapping portions of the springs e and f. This is accomplished in this in-- stance by causing the shaft 21 to make twelve revolutions to one revolution of the shaft 41 which causes twelve turns of the retainer R0.

If the spacing between the rows A and B and B and C was different from that shown and the pitch of the helix of the retainer R remained the same, then in order to insure proper advancplace the worm gear 45 and the worm wheel 46 with other gears of different ratio, then the pitch of the helix of the retainer R may be varied so as to cause the retainer to advance in the amount required by the spacing between the rows A and B and B and C and so on. In such an instance, in order that the end of the retainer could be properly fitted into the connector 3|, a connector having a helical thread corresponding to the pitch of the helix of the retainer being used would be substituted for the illustrated connector 3|.

' It will of course be understood that when the end of .a retainer as Re is positioned adjacent the overlapping portions of springs as c and d and that thereafter this retainer is advanced into a position adjacent the ovelapping portions of the springs a and b, the threading movement of the retainer past the overlapping portions of the springs c and dcauses the bed plate i5 and the parts carried thereby to advance along the track 22 so that at the time the leading end of the retainer has been passed about the last set of overlapping springs on the strips 4| and 42 the connector 3| will be in such a position that the end of the retainer may be removed therefrom and clamped onto the overlapping portions of the adjacent springs to thereby prevent unwinding of the retainer and consequent detachment thereof from the springs and of course the leading end of the retainer is similarly connected to the springs that are adjacent 'tothis end.

My improved method of assembling and securing together the various springs that are to be joined-to constitute a spring unit resides in. iuniformly advancing the retainer for'the springs in a uniform amount each time the advancing means is set in operation. This insures that the springs will be properly retained in position and tnereby enables even a relatively unskilled operator to produce a fully satisfactory product. Moreover, by reason of the-fact of the uniform advancing of the retainer in the various oper- ,ationsof the means effecting advancement there- It will be apparent from the foregoing descrip= retainer in an ascertained amount in various operations and this is brought about by reason of uniform periods of operation of the apparatus, dissipation of momentum accruing in the apparatus during operation thereof, and the positive stopping of the apparatus in uniform positions at the end of each operation thereof. Furthermore, it will be understood that the device is readily susceptible of providing different ascertained but uniform advancing to a retainer either by varying the pitch of the helical retainer or varying the ratio of operation of controlling and controlled parts of the apparatus.

Thus, while I have illustrated a preferred mechanism for carrying out my invention, it is to be understood that resort might be had to other means and hence while I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details therein set forth but desire toavail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim: 1

1. In an apparatus for advancing a spring retainer past the adjacent portions of a plurality of uniformly spaced apart and aligned sets of springs, means for imparting a rotating advancing movement to the retainer, means for setting the means for imparting the rotating advancing movement in operation, and means for automatically interrupting rotation and advance of the retainer when said retainer has been rotated a predeteremined number of times and thereby advanced in an amount equai'to the spacing between adjacent sets of springs.

2. In an apparatus for advancing a spring retainer past the adjacent portions of a plurality of uniformly spaced apart and aligned sets of springs, means for imparting a rotating advancing movement to the retainer, means for setting the means for imparting the rotating advancing movement in operation, and means" for maintaining the means for imparting .the rotating advancing movement to the retainer'in operation once said means has been set in operation and until the retainer has been rotated a" predetermined number-of times and for interrupting operation of said means when the retainer has to thereby have been advanced in an amount equal to the spacing between adjacent sets of springs.

i retainer has been advanced in an amount equal to the spacing between adjacent sets of springs,

and means for automatically braking said-advancing means when said retainer has been advanced in said amount. Y

4. In an apparatus for advancing a spring reof uniformly spaced apart and aligned sets of springs, means for imparting the advancing movement to the retainer, means for automatically interrupting operation of the means for imparting the advancing movement when the retainer has been advanced in an amount equal to the spacing between adjacent sets of springs, means for braking said advancing means, and means for automatically effecting operation of said braking means substantially simultaneously with the interruption of operation of the advancing means.

5. In an apparatus for advancing a spring retainer past the adjacent portions of a plurality of uniformly spaced apart and aligned sets of springs, means for imparting the advancing movement to the retainer, means for setting the means for imparting the advancing movement in operation, means for automatically-interrupting the operation of said means for imparting the advancing movement when the retainer has been advanced in an amount equal to the spacing between adjacent sets of springs, means'for braking said advancing means, and means for autoadvanced in an amount equal to the spacing between adjacent sets of springs, and means operative to bring said advancing means to rest in an identical position each time operation thereof is interrupted.

'7. In an apparatus for advancing a spring retainer past the adjacent portions of a plurality of uniformly spaced apart and aligned sets ofsprings, means for imparting the advancing movement to the retainer. means for automatically interrupting operation of the means for imparting the advancing movement when the retainer has been advanced in an amount equal to the spacing between adjacent sets of spr1ngs,

means for braking said advancing means when said retainer has been advanced in 'said amount, and means operative to bring said advancing means to rest"in an identical position each time operation thereof is interrupted.

8. In an apparatus for advancing a spring retainer past the adjacent portions of a plurality anasa'sbeenrotated said predetermined number of times of uniformly spaced apart and aligned sets ofsprings; means .for imparting the advancinl movement to the retainer, means for automati cally interrupting operation of the means for imparting the advancing movement when the retainer has been advanced in an amount equal .to the spacing between adjacent sets of springs,

means for braking said advancing means, means for efi'ecting operation of said braking means I substantiallysimultaneously with the interruption of operation of the advancing means, and

means operative to bring said advancing means to rest in an identical position each time operation thereof is interrupted.

9. In an apparatus for advancing-a spring re-, tainer past the adjacent portions of a plurality of spaced apart and aligned sets of springs, a rotatable shaft, a connector on said shaft to which one end of a spring retainer may be secured, a motor for driving said shaft, a cam shaft,

means for rotating the cam shaft from the rotatable shaft in predetermined relation with the rotatable shaft, means for closing circuit to said motor, and means including a device on said cam.

shaft and operable to maintain the circuit to said motor closed once the means for closing circuit to said motor has been operated and operable to open circuit to said motor aftersaid rotatable shaft has made a predetermined number of revolutions.

10. In an apparatus foradvancing a spring retainer past the adjacent portions of a plurality of spaced apart and aligned sets of springs, a rotatable shaft, a connector on said shaft to which one end of a spring retainer may be secured, a motor for driving said shaft, a cam shaft, means for rotating the cam shaft from the rotatable shaft in predeterminedrelation with the rotatable shaft, means including a member on said cam shaft for maintaining said motor in operation once said motor has been set in opera tion and operable to open circuit to said motor after said rotatable shaft has made a predetermined number of revolutions, brake means for decelerating the rotatable shaft and the cam shaft, and means including a part on said cam rotatable shaft, a connector on said shaft to which one end of a spring retainer may be secured, a motor for driving said shaft, a cam shaft,

means for rotating the camshaft from the retatable shaft in predetermined relation with the rotatable shaft, means including a member on said cam shaft for maintaining said motor in operation once said motor has been set inoperation and operable to open circuit to said motor after said rotatableishaft has made a predetermined number of revolutions, and means including a part on said cam shaft andoperable to stop said cam shaft and said rotatable shaft in'an identical position each time the circuit to said motor is opened.

12. In an apparatus for advancing a spring retainer past the adjacent portions of a plurality of spaced apart and aligned sets of springs, a rotatable shaft, a connector on said shaft to which one end of a spring retainer may be secam shaft and operable to render said brake means effective substantially simultaneously with the opening of the circuit to said motor, and means including a part-on said cam shaft and operable to stop said cam shaft and said rotatable shaft in an identical pomtion each time the circuit to said motor is opened.

13. In an apparatus for advancing a spring retainer-past the adjacent portions of a plurality ,of spaced apart and aligned sets of springs, a

rotatable shaft, a connector on said shaft to which one end of a spring retainer may be secured, a motor for driving said shaft, a cam shaft, means for rotating the cam shaft from the rotatable shaft in predetermined relation with the rotatable shaft, means for closing circuit to said moto means including a device on said cam shaft and operable to maintain the circuit to'said motor closed once the means for closins circuit to said motor has been operated and operable to open circuit to said motor after said rotatable shaft has made a predetermined number of revolutions, and means for supporting the apparatus for movement relative to said sets of shrines.

14. In an apparatus for advancing a spring retainer past the adjacent portions of a plurality of spaced apart and aligned sets of springs, a rotatable shaft, a connector on said shaft to which one end of a spring retainer may be secured, a motor for driving said shaft, a cam shaft, means for rotating the cam shaft from the rotatable shaft in predetermined relation with the rotatable shaft, means including a member on said cam shaft for maintaining said motor in opeartion once said motor has been set in operation and operableto open circuit to said motor after said rotatable shaft has made a predetermined number of revolutions, brake means for decelerating the rotatable shaft and the cam shaft, means including a part on said cam shaft and operable to render said brake means eflective substantially'simultaneously with the opening of the circuit to said motor, means including a part on said cam shaft and operable to stop said cam shaft and said rotatable shaft in an identical position each time the circuit to said motor is opened, and means for supporting the apparatus for movement relative to said sets of springs.

15. The method of forming a spring unit or assembly of the character which includes longitudinal and transverse rows of spring coils and in which th spring coils in said transverse rows are mechanically interconnected togetherin opposing pairs by means of helical retaining elements, which method comprises arranging said spring coils in longitudinal and transverse rows upon a supporting surface and holding them temporarily against movement thereon, mechanically and automatically intermittently rotating a helical retaining element axially a predetermined number of revolutions to effect advance thereof in uniform sequential steps in a direction, parallel to and between said longitudinal rows, and connecting the leading end of said element around one convolution in each of the coils in the two longitudinal rows between which it is advanced to thereby cause the element to wind around said convolutions and thereby tie opposing coils in said transverse rows together in pairs.

1s. .The method defined in claim 15 in which both the advancing or axial movement and the rotative movement of said helical retaining element are mechanically and automatically stopped after said helical retaining element has been rotated a predetermined number of times and thereby advanced axially during each sequential step or movement thereof, and with the leading end portion of said helical retaining element extending downwardly to thereby facilitate connection of the element about the convolutions to which it is tobe connected.

GEORGE E. TAYLOR.