US2869493A - Apparatus for closing mattresses - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 20, 1959 H. H. SEAVERT 2,869,493

APPARATUS FOR CLOSING MATTRESSES Filed Oct. 14, 1957 {Sheets-Sheet 1 MM .l'al QZf a Jan. 20, 1959 H. H. SEAVERT APPARATUS FOR CLOSING MATTRESSES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 14, 1957 Li jfae 7%7021 Mm? flj 1959 H. H. SEAVERT 2,869,493

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I Jan. 20, 1959 H, H, SEAVERT 2,869,493

APPARATUS FOR CLOSING MATTRESSES Filed Oct. 14, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l' I" J' L l I 'chine. facilitate the production of mattress of uniform quality United APPARATUS FOR CLOSING MATEREESES Howard H. Seavert, Kenosha, Wis, assignor to imrnens Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Betaware Application Dctober 14, 1957, Seriai No. 6%,)69

2 Claims. (Cl. 112--3) This invention relates to improvements in a method and apparatus for sewing mattresses, and more particularly to a method and mechanism for facilitating the stitching of the top sheet of ticking to the border of a mattress in a mattress closing machine.

It will be understood that mattresses generally consist of an inner core of wire springs suitably connected together to constitute what is referred to as an inner construction. The spring core is covered top and bottom with padding material, usually resilient fibrous materials such as cotton, hair, sisal, etc., and in more recent times, resilient cellular materials, such as foam rubber and other plastics. The spring core, thus padded, is enclosed in a surrounding cover of ticking comprising a continuous border, and top and bottom face sheets stitched at their marginal edges to the edges of the border.

The final assembly of mattresses of this type is performed on a so-called closing machine which com- .prises a table or suitable support for a partially assembled face ticking of the mattress and the vertical mattress border.

The uncompressed bulk of the spring construction and its padding are usually greater than the normal volume of the enclosing cover so that the final shape and size of the mattress are to some extent determined by the size of the ticking envelope. Thus, in sewing the face ticking to the mattress border, the closing machine operator has.

heretofore been required to pull the top ticking sidewardly with considerable force to bring its edge together with the edge of the mattress border and to guide the two layers of material in superposed relation into the sewing machine to be stitched. v

The main objects of the invention are to facilitate the closure of mattresses by relieving the strain on the upper face ticking of the mattress during sewing of the closure seams; to provide a mechanism for bending the partially "assembled mattress construction during the sewing of selected portions of the closure seam in such a way as to relieve the tension on the top ticking sheet, thereby to permit the operator to feed the edges of the top ticking and border more uniformly into the sewing ma- In general, it is the object of the invention to by reducing to a large extent the element of manual physical force in the mattress closing'operation.

Other objects of the invention will, be apparent from the ensuing description and from the accompanying .drawings which illustrate a preferred form of novel. mech- Patented Jan. 20, 1959 anism for carrying out the novel method of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a mattress closing machine in accordance with the invention, and adapted for carrying out the novel method of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken along the line of 2-2 of Fig. 1; and showing the relation of the sewing head, mattress, and table during the sewing operation;

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional elevations taken respectively along the lines of 3-3 and 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a composite of several views of a switch operating mechanism mounted on the sewing head carriage, and seen only generally in Fig. 2, viz:

Fig. 5a is a plan view of the stationary switch and movable switch operator;

Fig. 5b is an elevational view of the mechanism seen in plan in Fig. 5a; and

Fig. 5c is a similar elevational view, further illustrating the operational relationship of the mechanism shown in Figs. 5a and 5b;

Fig. 6 is a circuit diagram of the control arrangement for correlating the operation of the mattress bending mechanism with the position of the sewing head about the periphery of the tabie.

In accordance with the method of invention, the face ticking sheet of the mattress is slackened during the sewing of the closure seam by elevating the side of the mattress opposite the side along which the seam is being sewed. Since the mattress is not rigid in its own plane, the lifting of one side of the mattress bends the mattress sufficiently to shorten the linear distance between its opposed edges, thereby providing sufficient slack in the top ticking to enable the operator thereof to feed the same, along with the adjacent edge of the mattress border, freely into the sewing head as it advances around the table.

After the seam is sewed along the side opposite the side which was lifted, the lifted side is lowered and the top ticking drawn taut between the two sides to cornpress the enclosed padding material.

While it will be appreciated that the bending of the mattress during the sewing of the final closure seam may be accomplished in various ways, the novel mechanism herein proposed provides the desired result by elevating selected edge portions of the mattress, as may be required, according to the position of the sewing head about the periphery of the table.

The closing table proper The basic clcsing'machine in connection with which the novel bending mechanism of this invention is here illustrated, is described in detail in United States Patent No. 1,857,371, and is re-described here only to the extent necessary to an understanding of the present invention.

The closing machine, or closing table as it is sometimes calie'd, includes a supporting understructure 10 comprising four legs or standards 7.2 located respectively at each of the four corners of the machine,'thestandards being rigidly interconnected at their tops and near their Q the table and is similarly pivoted at its opposite end to the corresponding bell crank at the Opposite end of the table. See particularly Fig. 2. It will be understood that the table top is supported at each of its two sides by identical systems of connected bell cranks, the two systems being cross-connected for unison movement by a shaft or torque rod 23 secured to opposed bell cranks. The table top is held at the upper position of adjustment by means of a suitable latch mechanism, not shown, which acts upon one of the tie rods 25, and counterbalancing springs, not, shown, may be provided to assist the operator in manually lifting the table top and mattress to the upper level by grasping the edge of the table surface and lifting it from a point anywhere about its periphery.

The details of the table top adjustment are not of themselves a part of this invention being fully described in the aforementioned Gail Patent No. 1,857,371. They are shown and described here only to the extent necessary to indicate generally the vertical adjustability of the entire table, to accommodate mattresses of varying thickness. This adjustability also compensates for the variation in the height of the top surface of the mattress in the sewing of the two face tickings of an individual mattress since, in the sewing of the first ticking, the lower side of the mattress is usually as yet unpadded.

The carriage 13, upon which a sewing head 17 is mounted, comprises a generally vertical post member which is supported from the upper track 14 by means of rollers 32 confined in an upwardly facing groove 34 in the track. The carriage 18 is supported and guided at its lower end by means of a pair of rollers 36 which engage opposite sides of the vertical flange of the lower track 16, which is preferably formed of angle iron. An electric motor 38, carried by a pedestal 49 at the lower end of the post member 3%, provides power through a system 42 of belts and clutches, not only to operate the sewing head of the machine but also to propel the carriage on its tracks about the periphery of the table.

The propulsion drive comprises a vertical shaft 44, driven as aforesaid from the motor, and having at its upper end a spur gear 46 engaging an elongated peripheral rack 48 secured to the underside of the upper track member 14. The details of the driving connections between the motor and the propulsion gear, and between the motor and the sewing head, form no part of the present invention, and again, reference may be had to said Gail Patent No. 1,857,371 for a complete showing and description of suitable driving connections. insofar as the present invention is concerned, it is sufficient to understand that the invention is applicable to a mattress closing machine comprising a table or suitable surface for supporting a partially assembled mattress construction, and a sewing machine head which traverses the periphery of the table in position to sew a closure seam between the top ticking and border of the mattress.

Themattress lifting mechanism At one end of the table (see Figs. 1, 2 and 4), there is a horizontal lifting bar 59 located in a well or aper ture 52 in the table top 21 and extending generally parallel to the adjacent end of the table. The bar is down-turned slightly at its ends (Fig. 4) to provide smooth contact with the underside of the mattress during the. lifting operation, and has on its underside a U-shaped' bracket 54 of strap iron or the like, by means of which it is connected to the piston rod 56 of a lifting cylinder A and to a pair of guide rods 58 which flank the cylinder. Each of the guide rods 58 is slidably mounted in a guide sleeve 60, secured, together with the cylinder A, in an angle iron frame 62 which, as illustrated, extends to, and is supported upon the floor. It will be understood that when pressure fluid is admitted to the lifting cylinder A from a suitable source, the lifting bar 52 is raised as indicated in Fig. 2, and in turn raises the immediately overlying and adjacent portions of the mattress. Within the limits of the maximum stroke of the cylinder piston, the upward travel of the bar 59 is adjustably limited by means of collars 64 resting on adjusting units 66 at the lower ends of the guide rods 58. Inasmuch as the mattress is flexible, it becomes bent concave on its upper surface (see Fig. 2), providing slack in the upper ticking to facilitate the making of the closure seam at the end of the mattress opposite that which is lifted.

A similar but larger well or opening 68 is provided in the table top 21 along an adjacent longer side of the table top to receive a lifting platen 70 which, although different in shape and size from the lifting bar 50 previously described, is connected to a lifting cylinder B and guiding mechanism which may be identical withthat which operates the lifting bar 50.

The lifting platen 70 is preferably formed of sheet metal with downturned edges to protect the underside of the mattress, and is preferably inclined downwardly toward the center of the table so as to provide extended support for the underside of the mattress as it becomes bent when the lifting platen is raised. The inclined position of the platen is maintained by suitable underframing, consisting, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, of an elongated angle iron support 72, to which the piston and guide rods are secured, and by means of angle brackets 74 which are secured to the angle iron support 72 and to the underside of the platen 75 (see Fig. 3), preferably by welding.

Therefore, as each of the lifting mechanisms is operated, the mattress is lifted either at one end or at one side in order to provide slack in its upper surface while the sewinghead is making its seam along the opposite end or side respectively of the mattress.

Controls In the particular closing machine illustrated, the sewing machine carriage 18 traverses the periphery of the table in a clockwise direction when viewed from the top (see Fig. 1). It will be understood also that the padding material does not appreciably interfere with thesewing of the final closure seam along the first end and side'of the mattress inasmuch as the opposite end and side are as yet unsecured to the border. The interference from the padding and the necessity for providing slack in the upper ticking is greatest during the sewing of the last end and side, for it is in the latter two operations that the top ticking must be pulled taut to enclose and. confine the padding.

Therefore, referring to Fig. 1, the sewing of the top ticking to the mattress border is begun at the lower left hand corner of the table top 21, proceeding clockwise up the left hand edge of the table and across .the top edge from left to right. When the two adjacent sides of the top ticking are thus sewed to the border, it then becomes timely to raise the bar 50 to lift the opposite end of the mattress (Fig. 2) to provide slack for sewing the seam down the right hand side of the table, as seen in Fig. 1. As the sewing carriage rounds the lower right hand corner, the lifting bar 50 may be dropped, and the lifting platen 70 elevated to bend the mattress at right angles to the direction in which it was first bent by the lifting bar 50. The elevation of the platen 70 provides slack for the final leg of the closure seam as the sewing carriage traverses from right to left along the .lower Automatic operation In the embodiment shown, the automatic actuation of the lifting mechanisms is accomplished electrically by three switches S1, S2 'and S3 which'are appropriately p0- sitioned along the upper track member 14 and secured to the inner side edge thereof in position to be actuated by the passing carriage 18. The position of the switches relative to the periphery of the table is indicated generally in Fig. 1. The switch S1 is located near the upper right hand corner of the table as seen in Fig. 1, and when actuated by the passing carriage, in a manner subsequently described, operates to admit pressure fluid to the lifting cylinder A associated with the lifting bar 50, so that as the sewing carriage rounds the upper right hand corner, the mattress will be lifted at its opposite end to pro vide slack in the upper ticking for the sewing of the seam.

As the sewing carriage approaches the lower right hand corner, it actuates switch S2, which serves the dual purpose of venting the lifting cylinder A associated with the lifting bar 50, and admitting pressure fluid to the lifting cylinder B associated with the platen 70, thereby dropping the mattress at its left hand end, and lifting it at its upper side to provide slack for sewing the final leg of the closure seam along the bottom end of the table, as seen in Fig. 1. As the sewing of the final seam is completed, the carriage trips switch S3 which operates to vent the lifting cylinder B associated with the platen 70, permitting it to retract under the force of gravity.

The physical relation of the switches S and the switch operator on the carriage 18 are shown in detail in Fig. 5, which should be examined in connection with Fig. 2. In the latter, it will be seen that there is a bar 76 secured to the sewing carriage 18 and extending inwardly beneath the peripheral edge of the table top 21, but above the upper track member 14. Depending from the bar 76 is a pivotally mounted leaf 78 which is disposed to engage and depress the switch plunger 80 to operate the switch. As best seen in Fig. 5, the leaf 78 comprises a short piece of strap metal secured as by welding at its upper end to a short piece of metal tube 82 which is rotatably mounted on a pin or bolt 84 in the supporting bar 76. The leaf 78 is thus pivotally mounted ofi center and retained against the side of the supporting bar 76 in switch-engaging position by the force of gravity. At its lower end the leaf is slightly bent in the trailing direction relative to its path of movement so as to provide for camming engagement with the switch plunger 80.

The switch housing is secured by any suitable means to the inner edge of the upper track member 14 (see Fig. 2) at a height sufiicient to ensure engagement between the operating leaf 78 and the switch plunger 80. At its upper end, the switch plunger 80 is forked to receive a small roller 86 which facilitates the camming engagement of the leaf 78 with the plunger 80. As will be seen in Fig. 5b, thetravel of the leaf from left to right will depress the plunger to actuate the switch.

The above described arrangement permits reverse movement of the sewing head carriage 18 without operation of the switch, as indicated in Fig. 5c. If, as may sometimes be necessary to repair an imperfectly executed seam, the sewing carriage 18 is reversed, the switchoperating leaf 78, in passing a switch plunger 80 pivots freely in a counter-clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 5c, and passes freely over the switch plunger 80 without depressing the plunger. After passing the switch plunger operating leaf 78 returns to its normal position under the force of gravity.

The control circuit The control circuit for automatically operating the mattress-lifting mechanism in response to the position of the sewing head carriage is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 6.

The lifting cylinders A and B are not shown in detail, inasmuch as the nature of the cylinders is not specifically a part of the invention. They are preferably of the single-acting, air-operated type, controlled by a two-way s0lenoid-actuated valve which is positionable to admit air under pressure to the cylinder, and, alternatively, to vent the cylinder. In the interest of safety, the control circuit is preferably operated at low voltage obtained from a transformer 88 connected to a distribution line. The solenoid windings 90, 91, 92 and 93 are connected in parallel to the transformer secondary through the normally-open switches S1, S2 and S3 in such a way that when switch S1 is momentarily closed by the passage of the carriage, the solenoid winding 90 of cylinder A is energized to move the valve to admit pressure air of the cylinder A to elevate the lifting bar 50. When the carriage is moved sufiiciently to have momentarily closed switch S2, the other solenoid winding 91 of the cylinder A valve is energized to move the valve to the venting position, and the first solenoid winding 92 of the cylinder B valve is simultaneously energized to move that valve to admit pressure air to cylinder B. When in due course switch S3 is momentarily closed, the second winding 93 of the cylinder B valve is energized to move the valve to the venting position, and the lifting platen 70, controlled by cylinder B, returns by gravity to its retracted position to complete the cycle of operation.

Summary From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that the sewing of a mattress ticking to its border is facilitated in accordance with the invention by bending the mattress concave upwardly in order to relax the tension in the upper ticking as it is being sewed. In the novel mechanism disclosed, the bending of the mattress is achieved by lifting the end or side of the mattress opposite that which is being sewed, the actuation of the lifting mechanism being preferably co-ordinated automatically with the position of the sewing machine carriage so as to permit the operator of the machine to devote his entire attention to the sewing operation.

The features of the invention believed to be new and patentable are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A mattress closing table comprising a supporting understructure, a table top supported thereon for supporting a mattress to be closed, a sewing machine head disposed above the level of said table top and movably mounted on said table to traverse a fixed path about the periphery of said table to sew a continuous closure seam around a mattress reposed thereon, elongated lifting members in said table top along two adjacent sides thereof, power-operated lifting seams associated with each of said lifting members for elevating the same above the level of said table top, control means mounted on said table in position to be actuated by the passage of the sewing machine as it traverses the periphery of the table, said control means being connected to said power-operated lifting means to control the application of power thereto, said control means being positioned to effect the elevation of each said lifting member while said sewing machine traverses the side of said table opposite said lifting member.

2. A mattress closing table comprising a supporting understructure, a table top supported thereon for supporting a mattress to be closed, a sewing machine head disposed above the level of said table top and movably mounted on said table to traverse a fixed path about the periphery of said table top to sew a continuous closure seam around a mattress reposed thereon, elongated lifting members in said table top along and generally parallel to two adjacent sides thereof, a fluid-operated cylinder associated with each such lifting member for elevating the same above the level of said table top to elevate the overlying and immediately adjacent portion of said mattress, electrically-operated valve means associated with each such cylinder and positionable alternatively to admit pressure fluid to the cylinder and to vent the same, electric switch means mounted on said table in position to be actuated by the passage of said sewing machine head 8 as it traverses the periphery of said table, said switch References Cited in the file of this patent means being electrically connected to energize said valve vmeans to position the same to admit pressurefluid to the UNITED STATES PATENTS lifting cylinder associated with each such lifting mem- 1,857,371 Gail May 10, 1932 her While the sewing machine head traverses the side of 1,979,901 Perlesz Nov. 6, 1934 the table opposite said lifting member. 2,369,243 Lechler Nov. 13,1945

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent Noa 2,869,493 January 2O 1959 Howard H a Seavert It is hereby certified that error appears in the-printed specification of the above "numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, line 33, strike out the Word "thereof",- eolumn 6, line 48, for seams" read we means coIumn 8, line 6, list of references cited for "Novas l3 1945" read mu FED, 1331 1945 =0.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of May 1959,

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL H, AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Oflicer Commissioner of Patents

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