US2420511A - Apparatus for forming and assembling inner spring constructions - Google Patents

Description

May 13, 1947. E. E. WOLLER APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND ASSEMBLING INNER SPRING CONSTRUCTIONS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 7. 1942 jhverzz of flue/a Z Z00 22 67 May 13, 1947. wo 2,420,511

APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND ASSEMBLING INNER/SPRING CONSTRUCTIONS Filed Sept. 7. 19:12 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 13, 1947. E WQLLER APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND ASSEMBLING INNER SPRING CONSTRUOTIONS Filed Sept. 7. 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 flaws/21%; Edward I 20082197 May 13, 1947. E, WQLLER 2,420,511

APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND ASSEMRLING INNER SPRING CONSTRUCTIONS Filed Sept. 7. 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 13, 1947 APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND ASSEM- BLING INNER SPRING CONSTRUCTIONS Edward E. Woller, Kenosha, Wis., assignor to Simmons Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application September '7, 1942, Serial No. 457,584

14 Claims. 1 This invention relates to an improved apparatus for making and assembling inner spring constructions such as are employed in inner spring mattresses and like cushion structuresi Machines have heretofore been devised for as-- sembling coil springs and uniting rows thereof by means of wire helices fed endwise and rotated and guided so as to be threaded around juxtaposed coil portions of the springs. In the machines heretofore devised the coil springs were preformed and the coil portions thereof which are embraced by the tying helix may be straightened out somewhat to facilitate threading of the helix therearound, the straightened coil portions being thereafter permitted to return to approximately normal position. The return of the straigthened coil portions to approximately normal condition results in a desirable binding effect which prevents the production of rattling noises in the spring construction incident to relative moving of the spring coils and helices.

Spring constructions have also been made wherein the springs have their end coils preformed with specially shaped offsets which more or less interlit when the springs are arranged in rows, the offsets sometimes being disposed substantially in contact with each other and sometimes in relatively offset relation, the usual wire helices being employed to unit such preformed spring coil portions.

The present invention has for one of its objects the provision of means for holding springs in predetermined relationship while a wire helix is threaded around predetermined portions of the springs to tie them together and to incorporate in such holding mechanism, means for forming offsets of the character referred to, thereby to eliminate an extra handling of the springs which would be required if they'were to be placed in mechanism for forming the offsets before being placed in the apparatus for tying them together by means of the wire helices.

Other objects of the invention are to provide combined mechanism of the character indicated which will be operative at fairly high speed so as to provide an adequate rate of inner spring unit production; to provide apparatus of the character indicated which will be automatic in operation and will not require manual handling or operations; and in general it is the object of the invention to provide improved apparatus of the character indicated.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawings (four sheets) wherein there is disclosed apparatus for the production of two forms of coil offsets together with certain elements of mechanism for holding the springs with their offsets in juxtaposed position and means for guiding a helical wire around the coil offsets.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan.

Fig, 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan of one element of mechanism appearing in the other figures and illustrating certain details thereof.

Fig, 6 is a fragmentary plan view corresponding to Figure 1 but showing a modified arrangement.

Figs. 7 and 8 are sections respectively on the lines 1-! and 8-8 of Figure 6.

Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the spring coil forming and gripping end of one of a pair of .00- operating jaws, the location of this view being substantially as indicatedby the line 9-9 of Figure 7.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan of one element of mechanism appearing in the construction shown in Figure 6 to 8 and in Figure 11.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary plan section approximately on the plane indicated by the line I I -ll of Fig. 7.

The mechanism herein disclosed is adapted to be employed in apparatus such as shown in Patent No. 1,905,459 to Gail and in my Patent No. 2,388,106 to me. In the mechanism herein disclosed certain jaw parts are movable toward and from each other and toward and from a guide track substantially as are counter-parts of the mechanism shown in said Gail patent and in my said patent. Reference is therefore made to said patents for a complete disclosure of the mechanism for actuating the parts of the mechanism herein disclosed.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, there is there shown mechanism including a pair of jaws t2 and I3, the same being suitably mounted for sliding movement toward and from each other on a bed plate l4 mounted on a suitable supporting frame structure I 5. The jaw I2 is adapted to be reciprocated in an endwise direction by means of a rock arm I6 pivotally mounted intermediate its ends as indicated at ll to a bracket carried by the frame I5. The jaw I3 is similarly actuated by means of an arm I3 pivotally mounted intermediate its ends as shown at 19 on a suitable bracket carried by the frame I5.

The arms I6 and I8 have their lower ends (not shown) suitably connected to mechanism for rocking the arms and the upper ends of the arms are equipped with anti-friction rollers disposed in suitable recesses or openings in the jaws I2 and I3 for transmitting rocking movement of the upper ends of said arms into sliding movement of the respective jaws. The arms IE and I8 are so actuated that the jaws I2 and I3 simultaneously move toward each other and later away from each other.

The relatively adjacent ends of the'jaws I2 and I3 also cooperate with a guide track 23 which is suitably mounted in thebed plate I4 or other supporting parts-preferably as shown in my said co-pending application. The guide track 20 consists of a series of sections such as shown in Figure 1, the sections being arranged end to end to form a continuous, elongated track extending for the full length of rows of coil springs which are to be united, by wire helices.

: The track section 20 associated with. each pair of jaws is provided adjacent the opposite sides 1 o f the jaws with upstanding flange elements 2I,

r122, 23, and 24 which cooperate with thetrack V The coil; springswhen delivered to the apparatus,

are of normal, approximately circular formamThe. jaw; I3..has itsoperative end shaped to substantially correspond to the interior of an offset to be formed in the terminal coil of the spring 21. Theutrack element 20 is provided witha recess 28 of a depth substantially corremsllQ ding to. the thickness or. diameter of thewire in, ,the,, coil,spring 2I.- .Said recess is, shaped to -cooperate with the. operative end. portion. I3a

of the jaw I3 to form an offset having an initially' straightened portion- 29, and .end portions 30,1.30 making the elongated straightened portion 29 in the coil, body properiseeFigure 4). As best, shownin Figure 4, the. flange- elements 22 and 24 of the guide trackstructure.have

their ends so shaped as to constitute continua- I -tions of the shoulder or recess. 28 inthev track bar- 2II- for; also cooperating withdthel adjacent end portion of the jaw I3 to form said offset.

" The jaw I3 is also preferably provided with ear portions 3I 3| on its oppositesides for engaging the spring coil 21 to bend the same around thegadjacent rounded corner portions of the guide track fianges 2'2 and 2t. Said ear portions 3I are preferably recessed as indicated at. 32 to receivethe-adjacent portions of thelcoil 21 so 7 as to prevent lateral displacementthereof incident to the forming pressure developed in the operation of the jaw.

{The -jawi I2 similarly has its operative end provided with a, seat 33 having rounded receding endportions .34734 for bending a part of the terminal coil ofthe spring 26 to substantially straight form indicated at 35 but without forminganypermanent or sharp bends or end shoul- .,ders or legs such as the shoulders 30 formed 1 in the spring coil 21. The rounded end portions r 3! Ofithe seat in the jaw I2 cooperatewith suit- ;ably chamfered corners 35 of 1 the helix guide ,traclg flange elements 2Iand 23. The seat portion 33 ofi-thejaw IZcooperates also with a cor-.

4 respondingly formed shoulder portion 36 of the jaw I3 (see Figure 3) to grip and hold the straightened coil portion 39 in its straightened position substantially overlying the straightened offset portion 29 of the coil 21. The jaw I2 also is provided with a lip portion 31 which, as shown in Figure 3, extends over the-uppermost coil portion 39 so that the jaw I2 cooperates with the jaw I3 and with the track 20 to completely enclose said coil portions 29 and 39.

.The trackis provided with helically disposed grooves 38 corresponding to the pitch and lead of the helix 25 and the adjacent or cooperating ends of-the jaws I2 and I3 are also provided-with grooves I2b and I3b respectively which constitute, in' effect, continuations of the grooves 33. -,The grooves in the ends of the jaws and the grooves in the track serve to permit the helix to be rotated and fed endwise between the sume a more or less arched-formation as illustrated at the righthand end of Figure 1.: Such return to arcuate form from thestraightened form produced by the jaws is desirable in that it tends to create pressure .pointsbetween the spring coil portions andthehelix 25 which prevent relative shiftingmandl incidental rattling noises in the spring-construction unit.- The exheld tent to which .theflattened portions will return to arcuate form depends of coursesomewhatupon the resiliency of the wire employed in making the springS. Some. control ofthe final-form of the offsets is possible byappropriately shaping the cooperating. ends of the jawswithin-limits dictated by the requirements ofeffecting-suflicient straightening of the coil. portions to insure free travel of the helix around the same.

In the-arrangement-shown inFigures 6 to'11 inclusive the terminal coils of spring -designated 40 and M respectively have relatively-short'offsets '42 and 43 respectively formed therein and in longitudinal, substantially co-axially alinement while a wire helix- 44 is-threaded around the same. The .wire helix 44 is guided by a suitably grooved track section 4 5 which substantially corresponds toth'e track section-20 shown in Figures 1 to5 inclusive except-that in the track section' 45'-oppositely--facing-recessed portions ofjawsv lli and fill-respectively to'form the saidoffsetsAZ and43.

The jaws 48 and .49 .are mounteddor sliding ing so mounted on a bed plate. 50 which-corresponds to the bed plate I4 in the structure shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive;- Thetrack 45 is also suitably mounted on saidbed plate in fixed position thereon.

. The tracks45 has associated therewithup- ,wardlyextending. flange pieces 5I. 52, 53,- and 54,

said flange pieces being suitably-rigidlysecured to thesectionsiand-held therewith in fixed re- The jaws 48 and 49 are substantially alined and they each have projections designed to cooperate with the seats 41 and 46 respectively of the track 45 to form the relative staggered offsets 42 and 43 in the coils 4! and 40 respectively.

The projection 55 of the jaw 49 has an end portion 51 formed to cooperate with the shoulder or seat 45 in the track 45 to form the offset 42. Said projection 55 is also so shaped as to cooperate with an ear or lug 58 formed on the guide track flange 52 and with a suitably shaped recessed portion 59 of the guide track flange element 54 to form the end portions or legs 50 and BI of the ofi'set 45 in the coil 4 l The projection 55 of the jaw '48 is similarly formed to cooperate with the recessed seat or shoulder 4'! in the track Hi and with an ear portion 62 formed on the flange element 53 and a suitably recessed seat 63 formed in the adjacent end portion of the flange element 5i. The projecting portions 55 and 55 each have upper portions 64 and 65 respectively which extend over the respectively engaged spring coil portions to move the same downwardly to the respective seats 47 and 45 in the track 45 and to hold the same in cooperative relation to said seats while the respective jaw projections enter said recessed seats to form the offsets in the spring coils.

When the springs are initially delivered to the jaws, they may not immediately rest on the track 45 but the inclined cam-like surfaces 65 and 5'! of said projecting portions 54 and 55 respectively will serve to cam said coil portions downwardly into operative relation to the offset forming portions such as 57 of the jaws and the track seats 45 and 41.

Each of the jaws 48 and 45 have mounted therein a spring-coil holding pin such as 55. Said pin 68 extends length-wise of the respective jaws and about centrally of the respective offset formin projections 55 and 55 therein as best shown in Figure 6.

Each spring-coil holding pin 68 is longitudinally slidably mounted in a suitable bore 69 provided in the jaw, a coil spring Hi being provided around a portion of the pin for urging said pin to move outwardly of the respective ends of the jaw projections 55 and 55. The springs 15 are fairly stout springs and under compression between the enlarged outer end portion H of each pin and the bottom shoulder 12 of the recess 59. Movement of the respective pins 68 under the influence of the spring I!) may conveniently be limited by providing the inner end portion 13 of each pin with a cross pin 74 extendin diametrically through the pin l3. Limited movement of the pin 65 is permitted byproviding an opening H5 in the jaw for the pin 14, said opening I15 being of such size as to permit the desired extent of movement of the pin 58 relative to thejaw.

The outer end of the pin 58 has a radially upwardly extending lug or key-like portion 15 formed integral therewith and slidably mounted in a guideway 16 shaped to slidably receive said key-like portion 15.

After the jaws 48 and 49 have been moved to their limited movement toward the track 45 and have completed the formation of th offsets 42 and 43 in the spring coils, the jaws are retracted slightly. When the jaws are retracted to the limited extent indicated, the spring-pressed pins 68 are forced outwardly by the respectiv springs 15 so as to cause the key-like heads 15 of the pins to remain in the position shown in Figure 11 relative to the track 45 and the coil offsets 42 and 43 formed therein, thereby to hold said coil offsets in said position relative to the track while the helix 44 is threaded around said coil offset portions 42 and 43. In Figure 11 the jaws are shown in their innermost position and before the same are retracted. In Figure 6 the jaws are shown retracted to such an extent that the olfset-forming ends such as 51 thereof are disposed approximately in registration with the inner walls of the flanges of the guide track 45. Hence said offset-forming ends of the jaws do not interfere with the free passage of the helix and the winding thereof around the spring coil olfsets. The heads 15 of the holding pins are, however, suitably grooved as indicated at 11 to form, in efiect, continuations of the helical guide grooves of the track 45 to thereby permit the winding of the helix around the offset portions notwithstanding the holding thereof in place on the track by said holding pins.

After the helix has been threaded for the entire length of the spring rows to be assembled, the jaws 48 and 45 are further retracted so as to withdraw the holding pins 58 from engagement with the coil offsets. The helically connected coil springs may then be elevated and moved laterally over the jaws preparatory to the next coil offset-forming and helical-tying operation. In Figure 6, there is illustrated an arm 78 having a double hooked end portion 19 which is adapted to be moved upwardly to raise the connected coils above the top of the jaws and then moved laterally to feed the connected spring rows laterally substantially as shown in the said Gail patent and in my said co-pending application. The jaw 49 is suitably recessed as indicated at and the flange element 54 is suitably recessed as shown at M to permit the required endwise movement of the hooked member 18 into operative position relative to the coil. Similarly the jaw I3 is grooved as indicated at 82 to permit the operation of a spring construction lifting and feeding device such as 18, also in keeping with said patent and co-pending application.

When the springs 45 and 4| (Figure 6) are displaced from the track 45 and released from the respective jaw ends, the inherent resiliency of the wire of which the springs are formed causes the offset portions 42 and 43 to at least partially return to their initially curved condition, the result being that said offsets will appear approximately as shown at the righthand end of Figure 6. As there shown, the offsets 42 and 43 are more or less curved and approximate a condition in which they will have engagement with opposed turns of the helix 44 whereby undesirable shifting of the offset portions 42 and 43 within the helix will be resisted. It is not, however, important that the offsets 42 and 43 resum sufficient curvature to actually engage opposed portions of the helix since it is uite feasible to produce the offsets of such length that the end legs 85 and 86 thereof will have firm engagement with certain turns of the helix 44 substantially as indicated at 81. The helix may in effect be slightly compressed between the legs 85 and 86 of each of said offsets to thereby insure the maintenance of contact between the helix and offsets to prevent undesirable relative movement between said parts. It may be noted that as shown in Figure 6 the offsets 42 and 43 will remain in substantially straight condition when held in the track seats 46 and 41 by the holding elements 15, thi being due to thepresence ofthe respective jaw'projections-between the legs 85 arid- 86 which serve to hold the latter in substantially-fixed position between the respectively-adjacent ends'of the side flange elements 52 and 54 or and-53.

For the same purpose the track 20 1s recessed as shown at 83 and the jaw I2: recessed as shown at 84 in the construction shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive.

It will be understoodthat although there has been illustrated and described in this application only one set of jaws for acting'on juxtaposed coil portions ofsprings in adjacent-rows; that in a full sized spring assemblingma'chine; such as shown in the Gail patent and'in my'said -copending application, a plurality of sets of jaws such as shown and described are contemplated, there being one set of=jaws for-eachspring in the rows of springs to be united; Furthermore,

in respect of the arrangement shown in Figures;

1- to 5 of this application, the cam operating means for actuatingthe jaws of-the said patent and co-pending applicationmay be employed or that other arrangements may be employed if dey sired or found necessary to supply the force required to form the offsets in the springs. In respect of the actuation ofthe jaws in the form of construction represented in Figures 6 to 11 inclusiVe,- the cam operating means shown in said 1 patent and co-pendin application typify one form of operating mechanism, although itwill be apparent that some slight modification of the cam will be required to produce the two-step retracting movement of the jaws, theoperating cam mechanism may in general be ofthe same character as shown in said patent and co-pend- .ing application/ The required cam modification involves merely proper designing of the cam to produce the required movement and,- being an ordinary mechanical expedient, is not herein illustrated.

Apparatus embodying the jaw constructions herein described will have conventional coil springs delivered to it,will operate on said springs to form the'offsets-desirecl, effect tying of the springs together bymeans of helicals and will advance the tied-together spring rows to" permit the delivery of anotherrow of'springsinto-juxtaposition with the trailing end of the previously united spring rows. The mechanism herein described thus serves to completely eliminatethe independent handling and-forming of oiTsets in the spring coils which are initially formed in substantially spiral or circular form by. an suit- "able spring wire coiling mechanism,

Changes inthe describedconstructionmay be made without departing'from'rthe spirit of the invention, the scope of which should be determined by reference to the following claims, the same being construed as broadly aspo'ssible consistent with the state of the'art.

I-claiin:

1; In apparatus of the classidescribed, anormally stationary track member for guiding a rotating helix in an endwise direction, a pair of 1 track so as to cause a rotating helical wire-mov- 2. In-apparatus ofthe class described, a normallyistationarytrack member for guiding a rotating helix inan endwise direction, a pair of jaws respectively disposed on opposite sides of said track member and movable toward and from the same, said track member being provided with a recessed seat and one of said jaws being provided with an-end formation adapted to force a I portion of a spring coil into said seat to form an offset in the spring coil, flanges extending upwardly from the opposite sides of said track and on-opposite sides of said oilset forming jaw for cooperating with said track to guide said helix,

said flanges having end portions constituting lateral extensions of the end walls of the recess in said track for also cooperating with said jaw end -formation to form laterally extending end legs in said oifset, said jaws and track cooperating to hold coil portions of juxtaposed springs in predetermined position relative to said track so as to cause a rotating helical wire moving endwise along said track tobe wound around said coil portions to thereby tie said springs together.

3.- Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said one jaw is provided with ears for cooperating with the ends of said flanges to efiect bending of said laterally extending offset leg portions relative to the normal curvature of the coil portion in which the offset is formed.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a normally stationary helically grooved track memher for guiding a rotating helix in an endwise direction, a pair of jaws respectively disposed on opposite sides of said track member andmovable toward and from the same, said track member being provided with a recessed seat and one of 'helically disposed grooves'constituting, in effect,

continuations of the grooves in said track when the jaws'are in closed position relative to the traclrfor permitting'free movement of the helix between the jaws and track,'said jaws and track cooperating tohold coil portions of juxtaposed springs in predetermined position relative to said track so as to cause a rotating helical wire movingendwise along'said track to be wound around said-coil portions to thereby-tie said springs together.

5; In apparatus of the class described, a normally stationary track member for guiding a rotatinghelix in an endwise direction, a pair of jaws respectively disposed On opposite sides of said track member and movable toward and from thesame, said track member being provided with a' recessed seat, and one of said jaws being provided with an end formation adapted to force a portion of a' spring coil into said vseat to form an ofiset in. the springcoil, said jaws having cooperating end portions operative to grip and hold a portion of another spring coil in predetermined condition and juxtaposition relative to..said oilcoil portionsv of juxtaposed springs in.predetermined position relative to said track so as to cause a rotating 'helical'wire moving endwise along said track to be wound around said coil portions to thereby tie said springs together.

6; -Apparatus-according to claim*5 wherein said portion from normal curved condition to relatively straightened condition approximately registering with the offset formed in the first mentioned coil portion to thereby facilitate encircling of said coil portions by said helical wire as an incident to its endwise movement while rotating.

7. In apparatus of the class described, a normally stationary track member for guiding a rotating helix in an endwise direction, a pair of jaws respectively disposed on opposite sides of said track member and movable toward and from the same, said track member being provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced, oppositely facing recessed seats respectively opening to the opposite sides of the track, and said jaws being respectively provided with projections respectively adapted to force portions of spring coils into said seats to form offsets in such spring coil portions, means for temporarily holding said offset coil portions in said seats so as to permit sufi'lcient retraction of said jaws to clear said offset portions for encirclement thereof by a rotating helix moving endwise along said track member.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said offset holding means comprise members carried by said jaws and mounted therein for limited movement inwardly and outwardly of the ends of said jaw projections.

9. In apparatus of the class described, a normally stationary track member for guiding a rotating helix in an endwise direction, a jaw mounted for movement toward and from one side of said track, said track member being provided with a recessed seat opening to said side thereof, and said jaw being provided with a projection adapted to force a portion of a spring coil into said seat to form an offset in said spring coil, an offset holding element mounted in said jaw for movement inwardly and outwardly of said projection, means for urging said holding element toward said track member to hold said offset in fixed position in said seat while said jaw moves away from said track, thereby to clear said offset for encirclement by a rotating helical wire moving endwise along said track.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said track member is provided with helically disposed grooves for guiding said helical wire and wherein said oifset holding element is provided with a groove constituting, in effect, a continuation of one of said track grooves for guiding the helical wire around said coil offset.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein there is provided a pair of said jaws respectively disposed on opposite sides of said track and movable toward and from the same, and wherein the jaw projections are disposed in relatively staggered relation and said track is provided with a pair of seats for respectively cooperating with said jaw projections.

12. In a machine for uniting coil springs, cooperating, relatively movable members adapted to hold between them and thereby position a spring coil portion for the application of a uniting means, one of said members being provided with a reoessed seat and the other with a projection which is operative as an incident to relative movement of the members into spring coil holding position, to force a portion of said coil into conformity with said recessed seat, thereby to form a permanent offset in said spring coil for facilitating the application of said spring uniting means.

13. In a machine for uniting coil springs, cooperating, relatively movable members adapted to hold between them and thereby position a spring coil portion for the application of a uniting means, said members being provided with cooperating shoulder portions which extend transversely of the spring coil and are operative as an incident to relative movement of the members into spring coil holding position, to bend a portion of the coil to a laterally extending offset position relative to the remainder of the spring coil, thereby toform an offset for facilitating the application of said spring uniting means.

14. In a machine for uniting coil springs, cooperating, relatively movable members adapted to hold between them and thereby position a spring coil portion for the application of a uniting means, said members being provided with spaced pairs of cooperating shoulder portions which extend transversely of the spring coil and are operative as an incident to relative movement of the members into spring coil holding position, to bend spaced portions of the coil to laterally outwardly extending offset positions relative to the remainder of the spring coil, the coil portion extending between the outer ends of said offsets being thereby also offset from said spring coil for receiving the spring uniting means.

EDWARD E. WOLLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,905,459 Gail Apr. 25, 1933 1,920,862 Heuer Aug. 1, 1933 1,921,319 Murnane et a1 Aug. 8, 1933 1,993,189 Staokhouse Mar. 5, 1935 1,832,149 Stackhouse Nov. 17, 1931 1,881,672 Kirchner Oct. 11, 1932 1,948,754 Gail Feb. 27, 1934 2,012,904 Bowersox Aug. 27, 1935 1,930,715 Heuer Oct. 17, 1933 1,705,821 Leh'mann et al Mar. 19, 1929 1,864,216 Poyner June 21, 1932

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