US2740245A

US2740245A - Cushion filling machine

Info

Publication number: US2740245A
Application number: US201450A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lochner David
Original assignee: LOCHNER Manufacturing CO
Current assignee: LOCHNER Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1950-12-18
Filing date: 1950-12-18
Publication date: 1956-04-03
Anticipated expiration: 1973-04-03

Description

l April 3 1956 K D. LocHNER 2,740,245

CUSHION FILLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 18, 195o 4 sheets-sheet 1 Jly. 2 DAV/D LHVCEZI/R BY MM@ f/ AT RNEY April 3, 1956 D. LOCHNER 2,740,245

CUSHION FILLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 18. 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 .INVENTOR. DAv|D LocHNL-:R

ATTO NEY April 3, 1956 D. LocHNER 2,740,245

CUSHION FILLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 18. 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 U 5\y 65 7 22A@ zu* 552 e5 mkb/Wb 7% I ZI I ,77 i G@ G8 iff- LH ffy-9 INVENTOR. DAV; D LocHNa-:R

ATTO NEY April 3, 1956 D. LocHNER 2,740,245

CUSHION FILLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 18. 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. DAWD Loef-NEE ATT NEY United States Patent- O lCUSHION MACHINE lDavid Loclmer, vFort lWayue, "Indi, assigner rtlofiioc'hne'r `Mfg. Co.,Fort'Wayne, Ind., a copartner'ship offndiana Applicato'nDecember IS,1950,SerialiN0.'-201,4'50

1s claims. (CLSB- 257) Thisfinvention is Ldirected to a machineffor introducingl agller into vthe cover or-casing of v-a cushion.

Various types of .machines `for this Apurpose.now-"in commercial use have vnot proven entirely 'stis'fct'ory for jeicient under all operating conditions. .'Sornefof lthe `larger machines are-cumbersome and heavy andtakeup considerable valuable lloor spacewhichis notalways available in upholsteryshops of medium or V average size. fMany of these larger machines are also complicated l,and include a multitude -of shafts, belts, pulleys,fan`d belt shifting devices, while others include numerons'fger trains, cam arrangements and intricate clutch mechanisms. Thesemachines require frequent adjustments "and considerable expense is necessary to maintain'them in good working order. '.Moreover, some of'these'macli'ines `are ldangerous to opcrateand ldiiicultt'o control. lso, ysome machines are so fragile, light in w`eight'andun stable in `construction that theyl fail'in 'operation vwhen subjected to hard continuous use.

vOne of the principal objects of ythe invention is to prof vide. a. machine which overcomes all of the disadvantages inherent in the machines above referred to.

An important object of the subject iriventioniis 'tofp'rcnl 2,740,245 Patented Apr. 3, 1956 "ice fferre'd't for automatically'operatively engaging and lock- 'infg theframassembly inplace as it is progressively projected'frwiidlyby the clutch means when the treadle lis pated. In other words, when the ram assembly isfmovdfforwrdly toa predetermined position in packing .tillen matrialinto a cushion cover the pawl will hold 'the ss'einblyV in such position until it is again directed forwardly, and lso on. e

l lfkn'other'important object of the invention is to pro- "vi'cle'anrangement whereby the pawl will be automaticallyienderedinoperative after the cushion cover has beenfpropei'lyllledin order to permit the ram assembly tobe're`tiac`sted'"or moved back to a starting position.

l'still 'further object of the invention .is to provide a lmachine which is ecient, :positive in action, and cornprisedrofconipnents which canbe economicallymanufactud'and readily assembled on a production basis t" o"s`|chanextent that it can be sold at a reasonable flir'ef i '1"Many'otlierfobjects and advantages of the invention wilfbecome apparent after the description hereinafter set 4iti'th' is`considered in connection with the drawings an- Yn'ex'e'd 'hereto Awhich exemplify one embodiment of the invention. y

"In vthe ldrawings Vwherein like or corresponding parts 'reler'nents rare, identified by the same numerals: y

l`Figure lis a top'view, of the cushioniilling machine embodying the'inventi'on, with portions of the machine brokenfawayto illustrate certain vdetails of construction; ,y l-Figure y2'is 'a'sidc view in elevation ofthe structure depicted in. Figure 1, with portions broken away to "Show otherdetails;` e

ul'ig'u/e''is an enlarged transverse section taken substan'tially on line 3 3 of Figure 2 showing details of the cushion box and some of the linkage assembly;

Figure 4 isatransverse section taken substantially on `fline .ofFigureZ depicting additional details of the linkagel assembly; n v

" FigurefS is a perspective view of a 'portion of a means 'forfoperating thcfside units of the cushion box;

Figures 6 and 7 are enlarged top and side views of .portions of the -machine showing the arrangement of the fstandardsfandthe manner of supporting the rack bar of theram"assembly thereon, including the relationship of chine having a cushion box embodying a pair-cf side'sections which are relatively adjustable in a novel nr'n'aimcr whereby the width of the box may be varied 'as desired.

An additional object of the invention is t'o provide va unique ram assembly and improved means'for supporting, v guiding and operating it, the arrangement being sfu'ch lthat an 'operator can use both hands to adjust and holdl a cushion 'cover in proper relationship to 'the box Iyi'lliile .the iller material is being fed and packed into "thecover by the ram.

A further object ofthe inventionisto provide a novel e construction in which each 'support includes a'pair ofA standards with means interposed between thestanda'rds 4 for reinforcing and maintaining them in predetermined parallel "relation, Anirnportant object of the invention .is to" provide a "unique p'awl carried.byfoneofihe'supportsaboveethe clutch/means 4and pawl with the rack bar;

`Fig'ures-8 ,'and 9 arepartial side views of the `machine illustrating 4thefrearmost yposition and an intermediate foriv'artl j position ofthe rarnV assembly and the operative fflaripnship ofthe ypava;

Figures 10 and l1 are partial side views of the machine .illustrating the foremost forward position land an inter- ...niediate rearward position of the ram assembly and the `operative relationship of the pawl;

Qofthe arrows 15-15 in Figure 14.

,machine exemplilied in the drawings includes, among other things,.a. substantial stand generally designated. 1, an elongated rectangular `open ended cushion or .stuffing box`2,\.means including a hand wheel 3 whereby -the "width lof the box may be adjusted to accommodate .cn'shion coyers ot various sizes, a ram or plunger assembly "4, clyultch or. actuating means 5 operatively connected v to the ram assembly, and a treadle 6 operatively con- 'nectd Itojthe clutch means 5 by a 4linkage assembly, all Ytiff)fivhichfwillr be described more in detail subsequently.

V"lfhjestand l1"maybe'designed'and constructed as deamm-24a sired, but as herein illustrated, preferably includes a pair of front legs 7 and S and a pair of

rear legs

9 and 10 which are trussed together in a manner to impart strength and stability to the structure. The upper ends of the front legs 7 and 8 are joined by a transverse front rail 11 and the upper ends of the

rear legs

9 and 10 by a similar rear rail 12. The upper end of the front leg 7 is joined to the upper end of the rear leg 9 by a longitudinal rail 13 and the upper ends of front leg 8 and rear leg by a similar rail 14. the front and rear legs are inclined and that the legs at one side of the machine are parallel to the legs at the other side. The legs and other components of the machine, where strength, rigidity and economyare required, are preferably made of angle iron. The lower' end of each leg is provided with a foot 15 having an aperture therein through which a screw may be extended into a floor for firmly anchoring the machine in place.

A relatively narrow elongated platform or table comprised of a pair of longitudinal

angle iron members

16 and 17 is secured to the stand and extends rearwardly thereof preferably on a level below that of the cushion box 2. The

members

16 and 17 are arranged in spaced apart parallel relationship and are attached to the underside of transverse rails 11 and 12 by fastening means 18 as shown in Figures 3 and 4. A pair of corresponding standards 19 are respectively attached to the outer rear ends of the

table members

16 and 17 and a pair of corresponding standards 20 are attached to the

members

16 and 17 at a point spaced forwardly of the rear standards 19. These standards support and guide a rack bar 21 of the ram assembly 4. Each standard is provided with a relatively large base ange. tend through these flanges and through the

jrnembers

16 and 17 for firmly detachably connecting the standards thereto. These supporting and guiding standards for the ram assembly and other components related thereto will be alluded to more in detail subsequently.

The novel cushion or stuffing box 2 and the unique manner of mounting it on the stand 1 will now be described. The box may be mounted in variousways but as herein depicted it is preferably supported so that its forward free extremity projects a suilcient distance in advance of the stand 1 to enable an operator to conveniently operate the machine and otherwise have the full use of both hands to do whatever is required with respect to properly filling a cushion cover.

More particularly, the movable side units or assemblies of the box above referred to are mounted on a pair of parallel round guide rods 23 for movement in planes transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cushion'box. The ends of the rods are anchored in blocks 24 carried by the

side rails

13 and 14 of the stand as shown by the dotted lines in Figure l. As shown in Figure 4, the box includes a tlat center bottom wall 25 which is supported in a fixed position on the transverse rails 11 and 12 f the stand by a bolt 26. This bolt extends through the rail 11, through a spacer 27 interposed between the rail and center wall 25, and also downwardly between the

table members

16 and 17. A washer 28 bears against. the

members

16 and 17 and a nut 29 on the bolt irmly secures the wall 25 in a predetermined horizontal 'position above the cross rail 11. The rear extremity of the center wall 25 is secured to the rear cross rail 12 by a bolt 26a shown in Figure 3, with a spacer corresponding to spacer 27 interposed between the rail and wall.

As clearly depicted in Figure 3, each of the movable side units or sub-assemblies of the cushion kbox includes a side Wall 30 provided with an integral inturned horizontal planar wall 31 which complements the'center Wall 25 to provide a sectional bottom or platform for the ll'er material. ably engage the underside of the center wall substantially throughout its entire length and thereby lend support vto its forwardly extending extremity in advance of the `stand.

It will be noted that Bolts 22 ex- The inturned walls 31 are arranged to slid-N,

4 A pair of covers are respectively hinged to the side walls 30. Each cover includes a relatively large rectangular flat portion 32 and an angular portion 33. The angular portions constitute continuations of the side walls 30. It will be noted that the tlat portion of one cover overlaps the llat portion of the other cover when the box is closed as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3. More particularly in this regard, the combined widths of the covers is greater than the full open width of the box so that under normal operating conditions the covers will always be maintained in an overlapping relationship when the box is closed. Thus, it will be evident that a side wall and its inturned wall and an attached cover constitute a separate unitor sub-assembly of the box.

As clearly shown in Figures l, 2, 3 and 5, a relatively heavy and strong bracket is secured to each side assembly of the cushion box. Each bracket includes an upstanding portion 34 secured exteriorly to a side wall 30 of the box by bolts 35 and an inturned elongated portion 36 which is secured to the underside of each inturned planar wall 31 of the box by a screw 37. Each bracket is further provided with two pairs of integral apertured bearings 38 which slidably receive the guide rods 23. A threaded shaft 39 is intelposed between the guide rods and its ends are journalled in the blocks 24 carried by the side rails 13 and 14 of the stand. The opposite "extremities of the shaft are provided with left and right handed threaded portions 4i) and 41 as shown in Figures l and 5. A nut 42 is carried by each of the threaded portions, and each nut is interposed and trapped between a pair of generally U-shaped lugs 43 carried by each bracket. The shaft 39 extends through the lugs 43. The arrangementis such that rotation of the shaft 39 by the hand wheel 3 at the right side of the machine will cause the side assemblies or units of the cushion box to move simultaneously toward or away from the fixed or stationary center bottom wall 25 so that the width of the box may be varied as desired to accommodate cushion covers of different sizes.

An elongated member 44, clearly shown in Figure 3, is firmly secured to the upper cover of the box by rivets 45 and its free end is adapted to directly engage a pivotal latch 46 mounted on one of the brackets for holding the covers in place while a cushion cover is being packed with ller material.

Referring again to the supports for the rack. bar 21, a spacer bearing block 47 is preferably secured by welds between the upper ends of the rear standards 19 and a spacer block 48 is secured by welds between their lower end s and between the

longitudinal table members

16 and 17 by a bolt 49. The upper block 47 is provided with a lower horizontal marginal edge 5d and the lower block 48 with an upper horizontal marginal edge 51 spaced from edge 50. lt is through this space that the rack bar 21 reciprocates. A spacer bearing block 52 is preferably secured by welds between the upper ends of the front standards 20 and a lower block 53 is similarly secured between the lower ends of the standards and between the

table members

16 and 17 by a bolt 54. The

bolts

49, 54 and 22 permit detachment of the standards from the table members for replacement purposes. The opposed inner horizontal marginal edges of

blocks

52 and 53 also define a space through which the rack bar reciprocates.

A shaft 55 extends transversely through the front standards 20 and rotatably supports a roller 56 mounted on a sleeve bearing. A shaft 57 is carried by the rear standards 19 and supports a corresponding roller 58 mounted on a sleeve bearing. The arrangement is preferably such that the distance between the marginal edge Sii of the upper spacer block 47 and the periphery of roller 53 substantially corresponds to the distance between the lower marginal edge of block 52 and roller S6, such distances being slightly greater than the width of the rackbar 2l to provide guideways for the bar. The distances between the table members are primarily determined by the lower 17 in -parallel relation. "serve'to support and accurately guideithebarand/a pres- :sure plate 'carried therebyin'astraight"forward and `rearward direction.

blocks

48 and 53 and alsoby additional spacers, one of and intermediate portions of r'the table members 4"16 `and With this setup the f' standards The rack bar 21-ispreferably supported so that the lower edge of the pressureplate does not engage the center bottom wall 25 of the cushion box.

v'This' arrangement and the -rollers constituting'antiifriction 'means materially reduce friction "and ease the 'reciproca- "torymovement of the ram.

The locking mechanism'for the ram assemblyconstituting anovel feature of the'inventionwill/now`bedescribed. It'will be noted'that'theupper block47carried by' the rear standards 19 is offset rearwardlyto some extent in order 'to provide a clearance space for a lockingmechanism,

directed to the fact that the lower-cover of the cushion box in'ds support on the upper edge of the pressure plate.

rThe lower longitudinal edge of the rack bar is .continuous and smooth for engagement withthe rollers 56 andSS but its upper edge is provided with a plurality of abutments, preferably in the form of arcuate notches 65, the centers `of which are spaced equal distances apart .throughout substantially the full'length of the bar.l .The .notchesare adapted to individually receive a-rounded nose yportion 66 of the pawl for successively locking the ram assembly in position as it is progressively .advanced forwardly by .the treadle 6 through the agency of the clutch or actuating means 5. The upper edge of the bar is also provided with a relatively large arcuate clearance recess structed and supported that itsvnose portionl 66 will normally bear or engage the rack bar at all times except when in the

recesses

67 and 68. Thepawl is freelypivotal and of such a thickness that it is to some-extentY guided by .thestandards :19. Attention is directed rto the fact that the pawl 6l, recess 68 and bolt 64 are so positioned with respect to one .another that `when the bolt engages the rearstandards i9 at the termination of theforward stroke l.ofthe ram assembly, the nose portion 661offthe pawl will `fall 'into the clearance recess 68 as shown in -Figure 10,

yand thereby render the pawl inoperativefso that the ram ,assembly can be readily .manually retracted or pushed yback toa starting position. The pawlyre'cess'67 and-the s'top 63 on the pressure plate 6l) are also solarranged -that when the stop 63 engages the front standardsfZtl'to deter- :mine the termination of lthe rear stroke of the ram assembly, `the nose portion 66 will fall into the clearance recess 67, and thereby place the pawl in position to. suclcessively engage any'of the notches 65 desired-as the ram :assembly is directed forwardly step by step by the clutch and treadle.

if found desirable, the pawl 61 clearlyillustrated in .Figure l2zmay `be comprised of a plurality of stampings as shown in Figure 13, each stamping, when in use, being freely pivotal.

The clutch or actuating meanstS, above referred to,

may be designed-and constructed as desired, butpreferably .includes alpair 'of corresponding. rectangular plates -69 .as A.depicted in Figure 7. A spacer 70 is secured be- Vnents `of the clutch means. by the rack'bar and as clearly illustrated the upper portion ends of'thezshort hangers 78.

tween the upper ends of the plates by rivets 71 and the "loweriextremities 'of the plates are secured "by a 'pin Y'72. wThey lower marginal `edge of fthe'spacer finds support "on fth`e=upper edge 'of "thefrac'k bar. .'A removable pivot 73l is esecuredto the-'platesfan'd supports-a'lever 74. Movement of the lever in one direction is limitedby` the pin'72, as shown in-'Figure 7. A shaft 75 bridges theplates'and supports a roller 76 therebetween. The periphery ofv'this roller is aligned with the peripheries of frollers 56-andr58 =ari`d is engageable with the'lower edge iofthe'rackbar 21. n"The upper endof the lever is preferably -provided'with 'a roller bearing 7'7 rotatably held in anarcuate recess of corresponding 'cross-sectionin the lever and by the plates A69. The periphery of the bearing `7'1"' is adapted to -intermittently 'engage 'the lower longitudinal ledge of the spaoerv't and thereby exert a clamping action tocarry the ramassembly forwardly-,along -with the` clutch 4when 1the-treadle'6 lis depressed. Thisroller Ibearing 771reduces friction between-the lever and'ba'rA on -thereturnstroke of the clutch andalsofprovides -a good grippingactionin icombination with the other-related cooperating 'compo- The clutch meansA is kcarried of the=lever74tis guided by the plates 69 audits lower lportionlis arranged for'guidanceibetween .the table Imembers i16-and-l7- The arrangement is preferably suchthat the standards-'19 and-2tl also serve to limit or determine :the travel 'of the clutch means. f

The :unique llinkage assembly, clearly illustrated tin fFigures 2, l14 and 15, operatively connecting vthe lever 74'and'thetreadle 6, will now be described. `Afpairiof louter lstrap fhangers 78 have ltheir I.upper ends xedly attacheditoand exteriorly vofthe depending 'parallel portions of thektable memberslti and 17 by means Yofrafbolt H79 which extends 'through the hangers, the table memrberspand the spacer 591above1referred`to. -A second pair :of'strap hangers 80 of ak greater ylengththan hangers 78 have their -upper ends '.xedly attached to andzexteriorly of the ldependingparallel portions Yof the Jtable members byabolt'SL 'A'spacer 82 corresponding totspacer-59 .is carried lby thebolt 81 to assist in maintaining the table =

members

16 and 17 parallel. The lower ends ofthe Hlong hangers overlap the exterior surfaces of the lower A replaceable king 'pin Srextends throughand connects the -lower ends of the hangers-together. These hangers provide'a stable `.sup- -port for a generally vtriangular frame generally designated X. The lower corner of'frame X is pivoted'on theking pin 83. The innerends 'of a pair of elongated :links-984 -are pivotally connected by avremovable pin- 85 to the -right lcorner of the'frame and the outer ends of 'these links are pivotallyconnecte'd to the lowe'r lendof "the clutch lever .74 by azremovable pin l86. The .upper ends offa .pair of links A87 vare `pivotally connected to ythe lleft corner of thev frame Xvbya removable pin 88 :and the lower -ends of these links are pivotally connected ytol a tting 89 on the -treadle by a bolt or pin 90'as shown in .Figure 2.

The frame yX may be designed and constructed as desired but is preferably comprised of a plurality of members constructed from steel strip stock of suicient strength for the purpose intended. More particularly, itheupper side 'of the frame includes a pair .of corresponding'members 91, the left Vside a pair'of corresponding 'members '92, and the rightside a'pai'r of corresponding members 93 which engage one another. The frame X and links 84 are arranged `for movement and guidance between the hangers 781and 80. The pairs of members 91.and 92 are preferably of the-same length to. promote standardization of parts andeconornyin construction.

.The inner ends -of the links 84 straddle the upper ends --.of members 93 and .therearends of :members 9.1 straddle members 93. The rforward ends ytaf-members -91straddle -the forward endsof members 92 and Vthe..upper.fends of links S7 straddle members 91. The rear ends of members 92 straddle the lower ends of members 93, the lower vends of hangers 78 straddle the rear ends of members 92 and the lower ends of hangers Sil straddle the lower ends of hangers 7S.

The treadle generally designated 6 includes an ciongated lever 94. The rear end of the lever is pivotally connected to rear leg 9 of the stand by a bolt 95 as shown in Figure l. Its outer end is provided with angle pieces 96 welded thereto to form a pressure pedal adapted to be engaged by the ioot of the operator. r[his lever extends diagonally through the machine with the pressure pedal located at a convenient place for operation at the front end and right side of the machine so that the treadle can be operated while manipulating the hand Wheel 3. A diagonal brace 97 assisting to locate the lever 94 has one end pivotally connected at 98 to the rear leg lil of the stand and its other end is xedly connected to the treadle at a point intermediate its ends. A relatively strong helical spring 99 has its upper end hooked in the table member 16 as shown in Figure 1 and its lower end hooked in the brace 97 to cause the forward ends of the frame members 9i to bear against the washer 28 and normally maintain the clutch more or less in abutting relationship with the rear standards 19 as illustrated in Figures l, 2, 6 and 7 and the treadle in the position shown by the full lines in Figure 2.

To operate the machine is a relatively simple matter. The procedure may vary in some instances but is preferably accomplished by tirst swinging the covers of the cushion box outwardly to a full open position, manipulating the hand wheel 3 to move the side units of the box outwardly on the guide rods 23 to increase the size of the box to its maximum width, manually retractil-1g the ram assembly, placing filler in the box, closing and fastening the covers, turning the hand wheel 3 to compress the filler and determine the width of the box for a cover of a given dimension, and then operating the treadle. When the treadle is depressed the clutch 5 will grip the rack bar 21 and force the ram forwardly to cause the pressure plate 6l) to pack the ller material into the cover. When the treadle is rst depressed the nose 66 of the pawl 6l will automatically ride out of the clearance recess 67 and when the treadle is released the nose 66 will come to rest in one ot' the notches 65 to prevent rearward movement of the ram assembly due to back pressure or resistance offered by the compressed filler material. Releasing the treadle will cause the helical spring 99 to return the clutch back to its normal position as shown in Figures l, 2, 6 and 7. With this setup the ram assembly can be readily advanced forwardly any distance desired by operating the treadle and automatically held by the pawl 6l. When the ram assembly has been moved lforwardly to its full limit of travel determined by the bolt 64 engaging the rear standards 19, the nose of the pawl 61 will fall in the arcuate recess 68 to render the pawl inoperative, whereupon the ram assembly can be manually returned to a starting position. When the ram assembly is again directed forwardly, the pawl will become automatically operable to hold the ram assembly in any forward position of travel. The

foregoing arrangement has proven very satisfactory in `supporting it so that it will swing into any notch-no spring or other mechanism or adjustment is required to `forcibly urge the pawl into any of its positions. i lAccordingly, it should be manifest that I have pro- 8 -vided a machine possessed of many novel attributes fo accomplishing the objectives above set forth.

Having thus described my invention, it will be obvious `that it is susceptible of various modifications, and that the claims appended hereto determine the scope of the subject invention, notwithstanding the foregoing detailed description.

l claim:

1. A lling machine comprising a stand, a box carried by the stand, a platform carried by the stand and located a level below that of the box, a pair of supporting means mounted on the platform, each of said supporting means comprising a pair of closely related members, antifriction means conned between the members of each supporting means, a ram carried by the anti-friction means and guided by said members, and clutch means carried by the ram for actuating the ram to direct material into a cushion cover.

2. A tilling machine comprising a stand, a box and a platform carried by the stand, a pair of supports extending upwardly from the platform, each ot' said supports comprising a pair of closely related members, roller means confined between the members of the supports, a ram carried by the roller means and guided by said members, and means for actuating the ram to direct material placed in the box into a cushion cover adapted -to be located at one extremity of the box.

3. A machine for lling a cushion cover comprising a stand, a box carried by the stand, a platform carried by the stand, a pair of supports on the platform, a ram slidably mounted on the supports, notches provided in the ram, a fitting slidably mounted on the ram, a lever pivotally connected to the fitting, means connected to the lever for causing the lever to forcibly engage and drive o the ram in one direction, and a pawl carried by one of the supports for engaging a notch to prevent movement of the ram in an opposite direction each time the ram is driven a. predetermined distance in said one direction, said one support providing a sto-p tor the fitting.

4. A machine for lling a cushion cover comprising a stand, an elongated box carried by the stand, a platform carried by the stand and extending rearwardly thereof, supporting means mounted on the platform, a ram slidably mounted on the supporting means, a tting slidable on the ram, a lever pivoted on the titting, foot controlled means for operating the lever to cause it to forcibly engage and drive the ram in a step-by/step movement in one direction into the box, means for locking the ram at each step, and recess means formed on the ram for automatically rendering the locking means inoperative when the ram reaches a predetermined position in its travel in said direction.

5. A machine for filling a cushion cover comprising a stand, a box carried by the stand and extending forwardly thereof, a platform. carried by the stand and extending rearwardly thereof, supporting means mounted on the platform, anti-friction means and bearings carried by the supporting means, a ram supported between and by the anti-friction means and bearings, a clutch carried by the ram, means for operating the clutch to drive the ram step by step into the box, means tor automatically locking the ram at each step, means on the ram for rendering the locking means inoperative when the ram reaches its limit of travel in the box, and means for returning the locking means to a position to again lock the ram after the ram has been retracted to a limit of travel in the opposite direction.

6. Supporting means, a ram bar mounted on the supporting means for reciprocation, a fitting slidable on the bar, Vmeans connected to the tting for engaging the underside of the ram bar for driving the ram bar stepby-step in one direction, a plurality of abutnients on the upper side of the ram bar, locking means automatically selectively engageable with the abutments for holding the ram bar at each step, and notch means on the ram bar for automatically rendering the locking means inoperative when the ram bar reaches its limit of travel so that the ram bar can be retracted to a starting position.

7. Supporting means, a ram bar mounted on the sup porting means for reciprocation, means for progressively driving the ram bar in one direction, a plurality of abutments on the ram bar, locking means automatically selectively engageable with the abutments for holding the ram bar in place each time the ram bar is` driven a predetermined distance in said direction, means for automatically rendering the locking means inoperative when the ram bar reaches its limit of travel so that the ram bar can be retracted to a starting position, and means for automatically rendering the locking means operative after the ram bar is retracted to the starting position so that the ram bar will be held in place as before.

8. Supporting means, a ram bar carried by the supporting means, a row of notches provided in the ram bar, a pawl carried by the supporting means for selectively engaging the notches, a clutch carried by the bar and including means for actuating the clutch to operate the bar, and said bar having a recess adjacent each end of the row of notches, said pawl and recesses being so constructed and arranged that when the bar is moved in one direction by the actuating meansthe pawl will engage a notch to hold and prevent movement of the bar in an opposite direction and when the bar reaches a predetermined position of travel in said one direction the pawl will enter one of the recesses to permit the bar to be returned in the opposite direction to a starting position in which position the pawl will automatically fall into the other recess so that the pawl will function to hold the bar against movement in said opposite direction when moved in said one direction.

9. A sub-assembly for use in filling a cushion cover withfiller comprising supporting means, a bar slidably supported on said supporting means, a plurality of abutments on said bar, locking means on the supporting means engageable with the abutments for automatically holding the bar against movement in a direction opposite to that in which it is driven, means on the bar whereby the locking means is released when the bar reaches a predetermined driving position so that the bar can be retracted to a starting position, and means on the bar for causing the locking means to automatically return to a position where it may again become operative for holding as aforesaid when the bar is in said starting position.

10. A sub-assembly for use in a cushion filling machine comprising, a pair of standards, a spacer secured between the lower ends of the standards, a bearing secured between the upper ends of the standards, a roller mounted on the standards in spaced relation to the bearing, a ram bar arranged between and carried by said bearing and roller, longitudinally spaced abutments provided on the ram bar, and a locking means engageable with the abutments for automatically locking the ram bar in place when moved in one direction.

11. A sub-assembly for use in a cushion filling machine comprising a mounting, a pair of spaced upright supports connected to the mounting, anti-friction means on each support, a ram bar supported on said anti-friction means, a locking means on one of the supports for locking the ram bar in place when moved in one direction, a itting slidably mounted on the ram bar, a lever pivoted on the fitting', and means operatively connected to the lever for causing the lever to forcibly engage and drive the ram bar on the anti-friction means.

12. A machine for vfilling the cover of a cushion comprising a stand, a pair of rods on said stand, a box having a bottom wall fixed on said stand and a pair of side units mounted on the rods for movement relative to the bottom wall for 'varying the width of the box, each of said side units including a portion overlapping said bottom wall and cooperating therewith to form the bottom of the box, a. platform mounted on the stand, a pair of upright supports secured to the platform, a rack bar carried by the supports, a pressure plate attached to one end of the bar, means for driving the rack bar, and a gravity operated pawl engageable with therack bar for locking the bar in place when desired.

13. A machine for filling the cover of a cushion comprising an elongated mounting, a hanger carried by the mounting, a pair of longitudinally spaced supporting means extendingzupwardly from the mounting, a ram assembly carried by the supporting means, means for aetuatingthe ram assembly, and means for operating the actuating means, said operating means including a generally triangular frame having one corner pivotally mounted on the hanger, a pair of links connecting the actuating means with a second corner of the frame,a treadle, and means connecting the treadle with a third corner of the frame. i

14. A mounting, a pair of supports on the mounting, a ram slidably mounted on the supports, abutments provided on the ram, atitting slidably mounted on the ram, a lever pivoted on the fitting, means for operating the lever to cause it to engage and drive the ram forwardly step by step, a pawl carried by one of the supports for engaging an abutment to prevent rearward movement of the ram as it is advanced forwardly, and one of said supports serving as a stop for the itting.

15. A sub-assembly for use with a cushion iilling machine comprising a pair of spaced upright supports for connection with a mounting, anti-friction means on each support, a ram bar supported on said anti-friction means, said ram bar being provided with a plurality of spaced abutments and a recess, a locking means on one of the supports for selectivelyengaging the abutments for locking the ram bar in place as it is driven in one direction, means for drivingthe ram bar, and said recess being deeper than the notches and serving to render the locking means inoperative whenl the locking means is disposed therein.

ReferencesvCited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS