US2185251A - Apparatus for sewing mattresses - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 2, 1940. M. GOLDBERG APPARATUS FORSEWING MATTRESSES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 17, 1937 MAX GOLDBERG INVENTOR BY W M ATTORNEY Jan. 2, 1940.

M. GOLDBERG APPARATUS FOR SEWING MATTRESSES Filed Nov. 17, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR m v 2? Q m 3 BY ATTORN EY 1940- M. GOLDBERG 5 5 APPARATUS FOR SEWING MATTRESSES Filed Nov. 17, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet s A TTORNEY Jan. 2, 1940. M DBER 2,185,251

APPARATUS FOR SEWING MATTRESSES Filed Nov. 17, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 33 MAX GOLDBERG INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 2, 1940 UNITE I S i TE NT OFFEQE '7 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanism for sewing mattresses, and more particularly to mechanism for stitching the edge portions of the top and bottom covering sheets of ticking material to the border strip of ticking material.

The main object of this invention is to provide mechanism comprising mattress supporting means of the class described whereby a sewing machine may be mounted sothat it may be con tinuously propelled around the outside of the mattress supporting means and actuated to stitch the ticking sections together.

Another object of this invention is to provide the mattress supporting means with a rectangular track having arcuate corners and having fixed pivotal members at the centers of said arcs for retaining the working center of said sewing machine in concentric relation with the working centers of the said corners.

Another object of this invention is to mount the mattress supporting means or table on a circular base and to mount an insulated cylindrical member of a material adapted to conduct an electric current around said base to form an electrically charged track, and to provide means for transmitting current from said track to an electric motor serving to propel the sewing machine around the table and for operating the sewing machine.

Another object of this invention resides also in the simplified structural features of the invention resulting in economy of production.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafter more particularly described, and the combination and arrangement of parts will be shown in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims which form part of this specification.

Reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine with the mattress supporting table partly broken away to show a fixed pivotal member for retaining the working center of a sewing machine in concentric relation with the working center of the arcuate corner of the table.

Figure2 is a side elevation of the machine.

Figure 3 is a front elevation, on an enlarged scale, of a carriage upon which a sewing machine is mounted for propelling the sewing machine around theoutside of the table.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the carriage, the section being taken as on line 4-4 in Fi ure 3.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional View of the table mounted on a circular base around which is an electrically charged circular track.

Figure 6 is an enlarged plan view of a pivotal member.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary central cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 5.

Figure 3 is a wiring diagram showing means for slowing down the carriage motor at the arcuate corners of the mattress supporting means.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the numeral it] indicates a substantially rectangular supporting framehaving supporting legs H at each corner. Secured to the upper portions of the legs 5 I, such as by bolts l2, are cross-members i3 and M which are positioned in perpendicular horizontal frame making relation. Canframe It. The table I!) is preferably shaped to correspond with the shape of a mattress, which is rectangular, and is preferably provided with rounded corners.

Secured to the legs H at an elevation below the track rail ll is a track rail .29 which is similar to the rail I! but of smaller dimensions. As shown in Figure 2, the lower rail or track :29 has been made of smaller dimensions than the track H to maintain the carriage 2!, which is overbalanced in weight on the rollers 22, in a substantially vertical operable position. In this position, the sewing machine is properly set to operate at the proper angle on the edge of a mattress.

A carriage 2! of channel-shaped cross-section has been mounted in an upright position in slidable relation around the table I9 by means of upper rollers 22 resting on the upper surface of the track H, a roller 23 rotatably mounted against the upright inner surfaceof-the track Hand a lower roller 24 rotatably mounted against the upright outer surface of the lower rail 20.

The carriage 2! is provided with an-upwardly inclined shelf 25 hinged on a pivot 26. A sewing machine head 27 is secured to the shelf 25 as shown in Figure 2. The sewingmachine head is preferably disposed at an angle of 45 degrees to the vertical and horizontal, which angle facilitates the stitching together of a pair of sheets of material, one of which is disposed in a vertical plane and the other of which is disposed in a horizontal plane. A threaded member 28 secured at its upper elevation to the upper surface of the housing 2| has a nut 29 in threaded engagement at its lower end and a hand wheel 30 at its upper end. By means of a lever arrangement 3! in engagement with the adjustable shelf 25, it is possible, by rotating the hand wheel 30 to raise and lower the shelf 25 and the attached sewing machine head 27.

The lowering and raising mechanism, as shown, for the sewing machine head may be taken as representing any suitable mechanism for performing the same function, that is, for varying the distance between the mattress supporting plane or table l9 and the stitching plane as defined by the needle 32 of the sewing machine head 21.

It is to be noted that the roller 23 is in contacting relation with the upper track I! and the axis of the roller 23 lies in a plane perpendicular to the upper track and passing through the line of the direction of reciprocation of the needle 32. This arrangement causes the neeedle to follow a path concentric with the arcuate mattress corners.

An endless rack 33 preferably made of a sprocket chain is secured to the outer surface of the track rail I? in any suitable manner. The rack 33 extends all around the rail IT.

The means for driving the carriage 2i and sewing machine 2! around the frame Ill and table I!) includes a main driving shaft 35 which is rotatably mounted in bearings 36 provided in the housing. A power unit, preferably an electric motor 3i is secured to the lower face 38 of the housing and has a pulley 39 thereon connected by a belt 38 to a pulley 4| secured to the main driving shaft for driving said shaft.

A worm 42 is secured to the shaft 35 intermedi ate the bearings 36 and meshes with a worm gear 43 which is rotatably mounted on an upright shaft 44. The shaft 'M is provided with a coupling member 45 which is keyed to the shaft against rotation but so as to permit axial movement thereof. A second coupling member 46 is secured to the worm gear 43 and rotatably mounted on the shaft M in cooperative relation with the slidable coupling member 45 and a pinion gear ll is secured to the upper end of the shaft 44.

The sprocket pinion gear 41 meshes with the rack 33. The pinion remains in mesh with the rack throughout the travel of the carriage 2| around the frame. When the motor 31 is energized, the shaft 35 is rotated, and the pinion being normally operatively connected to the shaft through the agency of the coupling members causes the housing and sewing machine to be propelled around the frame It] and table I9. A Spring 38 interposed between the coupling member 45 and a collar 49 fixed to the shaft 44- serves to normally hold the coupling member in operative engagement.

The coupling member 45 may be disengaged from the coupling member 46 by means of a lever 50 pivoted at 5i and is held in an upright position in a slot 52 formed in a handle 53 which is integral with the housing 2|. The lever 50 has a forked end 54 which embraces a portion of the coupling member 45.

It will be seen that by swinging the upper end of the lever 50, the forked end will be swung upwardly so as to move the coupling member 45 upwardly and out of engagement with the coupling member 46 against action of the spring 48.

When the coupling members are disengaged, as above described, the carriage 2| and the sewing machine 27 may be manually moved along the periphery of the table It! independently of the driving mechanism.

A normally closed switch 63 is mounted at the lower portion of the carriage 21 and has a push button 64 for operating the switch. The switch serves to transmit current to the motor 31 at all times except when the operator pushes the normally closed push button 64 to cut off the current.

The push button 64 is normally urged outwardly by a spring 93. The push button 64 carries an electrical contact 94 contacting an electrical contact 95. Electric wiring 95 terminating in an electric plug 91 is arranged to form an electric circuit between the switch 63 and the motor 31. When the operator forces the push button 64 inwardly, electric current through the contacts 94, 95, to the electric motor 31 is interrupted.

As shown in Figure 1, I have provided a pivotal member 55 best shown in Figure 6, at the center of each arcuate corner 18. Each pivoted member 55 has an upright wall 56 of arcuate form defined by a quadrant of a circle with its center in superposed relation over the center of one of the arcuate corners !8. Each pivotal member 55 is formed with an integral horizontal flange 51' having holes 58 used for bolting or riveting the members rigidly to the top of the frame 5 0.

The circular cross-section of the walls 56 is made to correspond to the outer circumference of a roller 59 rotatably mounted on a vertical axis 63 at the free end of a frame 6| extending horizontally from the carriage 2|. The axis 60 is positioned so as to come successively into alinement with the centers of the upright walls 56 of the four pivotal members 55. This alinement permits rolling contact between the roller 59 and the walls 56. The pivotal members 55 come into play when the carriage 2i and the roller 59 reach the end of travel of the straight portions of the circumscribing tracks.

The apparatus In thus comprises a rigidly fixed pivotal member at each of the four corners of the circumscribing track 33, whereby the sewing machine propelled around the table is constrained to move in a working orbit in exact concentric relation with said arcuate corners.

As shown in Figure 5, I have provided a modified apparatus 65 for sewing mattresses, comprising a vertically movable steel supporting table 66 having a hollow upright column 61 secured centrally thereof below its lower surface. The steel plate 66 is secured by means of a flange 69, shown in enlarged view in Figure 7, to the column 67. A wooden table-top I0 is placed on the supporting table 66. A frame H similar to the frame I0 is provided with bearings 12, 13 secured in vertical alinement centrally of said frame. The bearings are adapted to receive the column in slidable relation. The column may be raised and lowered together with the supporting table 66 and the table-top ill by any suitable means which may comprise a rack M positioned longitudinally on the outer surface of the column. A gear 15 rotatably mounted in extensions 68 of the lower bearing and in engagement with the rack 14 actuates the table up and down. The shaft 16 to which the gear 15 is secured has a worm gear 1'! fixed thereon and a worm 18 in intermeshing relation with the worm gear 71 actuates said raising and lowering mechanism. The worm shaft 19 may extend to opposite sides of the frame II and may have hand Wheels at each end by means of which the said mechanism may be actuated with ease. As shown in Figure 5, the worm and the worm gear provide a large reduction in their relative motions. This reduction makes it possible to provide a fine vertical adjustment as well as a powerful irreversible mechanism when the table is loaded.

Electric current is supplied to the motor 31 in all positions which the motor assumes with respect to the frame "H by means comprising two insulated collector rings 8i, 8!, mounted in concentric relation with the tubular column 61 between the supporting table 66 and the frame ii. An annular member 82 preferably having an apertured disk E52, has been rotatably mounted at the upper portion of the column 67 above the collector rings Si, Si, and seats in an annular groove 33 in the outer periphery of the column. The annular member 82 extends downwardly below the collector rings a. distance suflicient to cover and totally enclose said rings. The member ill. forms a protecting housing which circumscribes the collector rings. A flanged tubular member 8% is secured to the annular member 8'2 and receives a tube 85 in slidable telescoping relation. The tube 85 extends into the carriage lit. The tube t may be secured to the carriage 86 in any suitable manner such as by a pin 92.

An electric plug 87 is secured to an electric cord 88 which passes up through the column 5'! and is connected to the collector rings and supplies electric current to the collector rings. Electric brushes 89, 39 pressed into contact with the collector rings by springs fill are connected to an electric cord 9! which passes through the tubular members t l, 85 downward in the housing 85 and connects with the motor 571.

It will thus be seen that when the carriage 86 and motor 37 move around the frame l l that the telescoping tubes M, 535, will cause rotation of the annular housing 82 around the collector rings and that electric current will at all times pass through the collector rings and through the brushes to the electric motor 31. It is obvious that the tube 35 will be connected to the carriage 86 in any suitable manner (not shown).

The apparatus 65 thus described is self-contained and portable and it is a very simple matter for the entire apparatus to be moved to different parts of the mattress making plant and quickly set it up for operation by merely making electrical connection with the plug 81.

While I have shown the sewing machine as propelled around the track at constant speed, I may provide means for operating the motor at high speed on straight portions of the track, and at low speed on curved portions of the track, such as by changing the voltage across the motor terminals.

in accordance with the patent statutes I have described and illustrated two preferred embodiments of my invention, but it will be understood that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a supporting table for a mattress, a frame for said table having a substantially rectangular endless upright track at its upper elevation, an endless sprocket chain secured in circumscribing relation to said track, said track having arcuate corners, fixed pivotal members mounted respectively at the centers of said arcs, said pivotal members being of arcuate form defined by a quadrant of a circle, a carriage comprising two elongated rollers having horizontal axes and being positioned in spaced relation and .resting on said upper track, said carriage being supported by said rollers and being thereby freely movably mounted to travel around said track, a sewing machine secured to said carriage, sprocket means mounted on said housing and being in intermeshing engagement with said sprocket chain, means for actuating said sprocket means and propelling said sewing machine around said table for effecting stitching of a mattress on said table, and means on said carriage for successively engaging said pivotal members to cause said sewing machine to be automatically moved in concentric relation with said corners.

2. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a supporting table for a mattress, a frame for said table having an endless upright track at its upper elevation, an endless rack secured in circumscribing relation to said track, said track having arcuate corners, fixed pivotal members secured to said frame at the centers of said arcs, said pivotal members being of arcuate form defined by a quadrant of a circle, an endless upright track secured to said frame at a lower elevation and being in circumscribing relation with said frame, a carriage comprising two elongated rollers having horizontal axes and being positioned in spaced relation and resting on said upper track, said carriage being supported by said rollers and being thereby freely movably mounted to travel around said tracks, a sewing machine secured to said carriage, sprocket means mounted on said carriage and being in intermeshing engagement with said rack, means for actuating said sprocket means and propelling said sewing machine around said table for effecting stitching of a mattress on said 3. In a mechanism of the class described, the

combination with a supporting table for a mattress, a frame for said table having an endless upright track at its upper elevation, an endless rack secured in circumscribing relation to said track, said track having arcuate corners, fixed pivotal members secured to said frame at the centers of said arcs, said pivotal members being of arcuate form defined by a quadrant of a circle, an endless upright track secured to said frame at a lower elevation and being in circumscribing relation with said frame, a carriage comprising two elongated rollers having horizontal axes and being positioned in spaced relation and resting on said upper track, said carriage being supported by said rollers and being thereby freely movably mounted to travel around said tracks, a sewing machine secured to said carriage, gear means mounted on said carriage and being in intermeshing engagement with said rack, an electric motor for actuating said gear and propelling said sewing machine around said table for effecting stitching of a mattress on said table, an electrically energized track below said table, means contacting said track for supplying current to said motor, and means on said carriage for successively engaging said pivotal members to cause said sewing machine to be automatically moved in concentric relation with said arcuate corners.

4. In a mechanism of the class described, the

combination with a supporting table for a mattress, a frame for said table having an endless track at its upper elevation, an endless rack secured. in circumscribing relation to said track, said track having arcuate corners, fixed pivotal members secured to said frame at the centers of said arcs, an endless track secured to said frame at a lower elevation and being in circumscribing relation with said frame, a carriage comprising two elongated rollers having horizontal axes and being positioned in spaced relation and resting on said upper track, said carriage being supported by said rollers and being thereby freely movably mounted to travel around said tracks, a sewing machine secured to said carriage, gear means mounted on said housing and being in intermeshing engagement with said rack, an electric motor for actuating said gear and propelling said sewing machine around said table for effecting stitching of a mattress on said table, an electrically energized endless track between said table and said frame, an annular housing circumscribing and covering said track, means on said carriage for contacting said track and supplying current to said motor, and means on said carriage for successively engaging said pivotal members to cause said sewing machine to be automatically moved in concentric relation with said arcuate corners.

5. A mattress stitching machine adapted for operating on mattresses of various sizes comprising a mattress supporting table, said table having an upright column supported centrally thereof below its lower surface, a frame for said table having bearings adapted to receive said column in supporting relation, means for raising and lowering said table, endless tracks secured in circumscribing relation with said frame, a carriage slidably mounted to move around said tracks, a sewing machine secured to said carriage, an endless rack secured in circumscribing relation toone of said tracks, gear means mounted on said carriage and in engagement with said rack, an electric motor for actuating said sewing machine and said gear for propelling said sewing machine around said table and effecting stitching of a mattress on said table, collector rings insulated and secured to said column intermediate said table and said frame, and means contacting with said collector rings and electrically connecting said rings and said motor, the contour of said tracks being disposed at varying distances from said collector rings, said electrical connecting means having sections slidable over one another and being thereby adapted to lengthen and shorten according to the varying distances of the outer contour of said tracks from said collector rings.

6. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with asupportingtable for a mattress having rounded corners, a frame for said table having a substantially rectangular endless upright track at its upper elevation, an endless sprocket chain secured in circumscribing relation to said track, said track having arcuate corners, fixed pivotal members mounted respectively at the centers of said arcs, said pivotal members being defined by a quadrant of a circle, a carriage comprising two elongated rollers having horizontal axes and being positioned in spaced relation and resting on said upper track, said carriage being supported by said rollers and being thereby freely movably mounted to travel around said track, a sewing machine secured to said carriage, sprocket means mounted on said carriage and being in intermeshing engagement with said sprocket chain, means for actuating said sprocket means and propelling said sewing machine around said table for eifecting stitching of a mattress on said table, means on said carriage for successively engaging said pivotal members to cause said sewing machine to be automatically moved in concentric relation with said rounded mattress corners, and means positioned centrally of said table for raising and lowering said table to variable vertical adjustments.

'7. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a supporting table for a mattress having rounded corners, a frame for said table having a substantially rectangular endless upright track at it's upper elevation, an endless rack secured in circumscribing relation to said track, said track having arcuate corners, fixed pivotal members mounted respectively at the centers of said arcs, said pivotal members being defined by a quadrant of a circle, a carriage comprising two elongated rollers having horizontal axes and being positioned in spaced relation and resting on said upper track, said. carriage being Supported by said rollers and being thereby freeely movably mounted to travel around said track, a sewing machine secured to said carriage, said carriage being overbalanced on said elongated rollers and said lower track being of smaller dimensions than said upper track to maintain said carriage in a substantially vertical position, a roller on said carriage in contacting relation with said upper track, the axis of said roller lying in the plane perpendicular to said track and passing through the line of the direction of reciprocation of the needle to cause said needle to follow a path concentric with said arcuate mattress corners, gear means mounted on said carriage and being in intermeshing engagement with said rack, means for actuating said gear means and propelling said sewing machine around said table for effecting stitching of a mattress on said table, means on said carriage Y for successively engaging said pivotal members to cause said sewing machine to be automatically moved in concentric relation with said rounded mattress corners, and means positioned centrally of said table for raising and lowering said table to variable vertical adjustments.

MAX GOLDBERG.

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