US3193164A

US3193164A - Mattress border programmer

Info

Publication number: US3193164A
Application number: US340979A
Authority: US
Inventors: Curtis L Frasier
Original assignee: MORLEY Co
Current assignee: MORLEY Co
Priority date: 1964-01-29
Filing date: 1964-01-29
Publication date: 1965-07-06
Anticipated expiration: 1982-07-06
Also published as: GB1046286A

Description

July 6, 1965 c. L. FRASIER MATTRESS BORDER PROGRAMMER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 29, 1964 INVENTOR. 12222! I j'aizbr BY MM YW flrry:

July 6, 1965 c. L. FRASIER 3,193,164

MATTRESS BORDER PROGRAMMER Filed Jan. 29, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 y v1965 c. L. FRASIER 3,193,16

MATTRE S S BORDER PROGRAMMER Filed Jan. 29, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 70 Pl/OTOCIZL 4L 7 TOMA/1W6? 11-4-6- 7P2 TOP/20706511 66' To an? cm/vpm 501 [/V/ODS of the shorter ends of the completed cover 14. "18 are spaced along the strip so as to provide convenient gripping points spaced along the longer sides of the 3,193,164 MATTRESS BORDER PROGRAMMER Curtis L. Frasier, Rye, N.H., assignor to The Morley Company, Portsmouth, N.H., a corporation of Maine Filed Jan. 29, 1964, Ser. No. 340,979 14 Claims. (Cl. 227-) This invention relates to apparatus for handling bedding materials and more particularly to apparatus for measuring, cutting and applying appropriately spaced handles to an elongate strip of mattress border material. Objects of the invention are to provide an apparatus for drawing mattress border material from a supply thereof, at appropriate measured intervals applying handles thereto which will then serve as convenient means for handling the completed mattress, and after drawing an appropriate length for a complete mattress border then cutting off the strip. Further objects are to provide such an apparatus which may be quickly and easily adapted for mattresses of different sizes and configurations, and having ditferent numbers and locations of handles. Still further objects are to provide such apparatus which is capable of fully automatic operation so as to continuously provide completed border strips, which is exceptionally simple and reliable in operation, and which operates to close tolerances, that is, the spacings of the handles and the length of the completed strip are accurately determined.

In order to avoid inaccuracies caused by slippage, the invention contemplates the use of a length measuring wheel in contact with the border material separate from the driving or pulling wheels, which measuring wheel drives and controls a programming device having readily interchangeable programs. In a particular embodiment the programs are in the form of discs which have circumferentially disposed transparent areas which cooperates with associated light sources with photo electric controllers to initiate and control the various components of the strip handling apparatus.

In another aspect, the invention contemplates means for driving the measuring wheel directly from the pulling wheel when the pulling wheel is disengaged from the strip, so that programs of different lengths can be re- I turned to their respective initial positions without passing and thus wasting strip material.

For the purpose of illustration, a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a completed mattress border strip,

FIG. 2 is a complete mattress cover,

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of a mattress border programmer and a mattress handle press,

FIG. 4 is a top view of the programmer, 7 FIG. 5 is a side view of the programmer showing the side from which the border material strip enters, and

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the programmer control circuitry.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows, for illustration, a completed mattress border 10 ready' for assembly with appropriate face panels 12, so as to form a complete mattress cover 14 as illustrated in FIG. 2. As may be seen from FIG. 1 in which the corners are marked by broken lines 16, the border strip is cut so that the closing seam will be located at the midpoint of one Handles completed mattress. Preferably the corners 16 are, in fact, physically marked during the processing of the strip 10 so that alignment with the corners of the face panels '12 is facilitated during assembly of the cover 14.

The apparatus according to the invention for programming the steps necessary to provide the strip 10 United States Patent 0 shown in FIG. 1, is illustrated in FIGURES 3-6. In FIG. 3 the programming apparatus is shown in association with a press 20 for applying mattress handles 18 to a strip 24 of border material. The press 20 is preferably of the type disclosed in detail in Patent 3,064,264 issued November 20, 1962, to Clayton S. Spinney and entitled Mattress Handle Press. As illustrated in FIGS. 3-5 the programmer and strip puller are in a combined unit 22 with a cutter or knife for dividing the continuous strips into appropriate lengths. The knife 75 is driven by a double-acting air cylinder 77, which is in turn controlled by a conventional solenoid air valve 78.

A continuous strip 24 of border material is pulled by a pair of driven

rollers

26 and 28, which engage the strip near its edges and are driven by a suitably geared down electric motor 30. The motor is internally equipped with an electric brake. The strip is held in engagement with the driven

rolls

26 and 28 by

corresponding idler rolls

32 and 33, which are mounted on a slidable bracket 35 and are controllably urged upwardly by an air cylinder 36. The strip 24 is drawn from left to right as viewed in FIG. 3 and just upstream from the driven roll 28 is a measuring wheel 38. The strip material 24 is held in engagement with the measuring wheel 38 by a corresponding idler 40 which is mounted by means of brackets 42 on the bracket 35 so as to be controllably urged upward with the

idlers

32 and 33 which cooperate with the driven roll.

A worm 44 on the shaft of the measuring wheel 38 drives a pinion gear 46. The pinion 46 is connected through shaft 48 to a turntable 50. The turntable 50 has a central hub 52 and an eccentric locating pin 54 and is adapted to carry a program disc 56 in the mannerof a phonograph record. The program disc 56 is provided with three circumferentially disposed tracks which include various

transparent areas

60 and 61 in the form of small spots 60 or circumferential lines 61. These transparent areas may be either apertures through an opaque disc 56 or the disc may be constructed of a transparent material with an opaque coating which is locally omitted so as to define the transparent areas. It should be understood that the location of the transparent areas around the tracks will be determined not only by the time sequence of the operations performed but also the location of the various operating instrumentalities along the strip path.

Each of the three tracks represents one information channel and passes beneath a corresponding photocell 65-67. A light source or lamp 70 is positioned on the opposite side of the disc 56 from the photocells so that when an

aperture

60 or 61 passes beneath a photocell, that photocell will detect a light signal. These signals are employed to operate the various components of the apparatus in their proper sequence. As will be readily understood, the spacing of the various operations along the strip will be very precisely defined since the measurement is obtained by means of an undriven wheel directly in contact with this strip which is not as subject to slippage as is a wheel, such as 28, which is pulling the strip.

As the apparatus is intended to produce borders of different length, which will hence require programs of varying length, the invention also contemplates means for driving the program disc 56 independently of the stopping of the border material 24 at the completion of a border 10 so that the program can be returned to its initial position after each individual border is completed. In the embodiment illustrated an intermediate transfer roller is provided which can be introduced between the driven roller 28 and the measuring wheel 38. This roller 80 is mounted on an arm 82, pivoted concentrically with the driven rolls 28 and an extension 84 on the arm 82 bears on the bracket 35 so as to cause the roller 80 to relay RYl and to the timer motor 114.

whenever the

idlers

32,33 and 40 are lowered by the air L cylinder 36, releasing the strip -24.

The motor 30 is equipped with an electric brake and,

is stopped for the application of a handle.' During such a stop, the

idlers

32, 33 and 40 are left in firm engagement with the strip so that no slippage will occur between the strip .24 and the measuring and program driving wheel 38.

Since the program disc 56 will not be moving during the application of a handle, some othermeans is necessary to time the duration of the pause. FIGURE 6 illustrates circuitry appropriate for timing such a pausein response to a signal fromione of the photocells that the strip is in a position appropriateforreceiving a handle. With reference to this schematic, the various switches andrelaysshown therein are illustrated as being'in their normal condition, that is with the motor 30 running 7 and the motor strip advancing priorvto' afsignal from the photocell. In this state, electric power from the

supply mains

110 and 112 is provided to the motor 30 through the normally closed side of timercontacts TCZ.

In response to a transparent area inthe first track on the program disc 56, photocell relay PRIis'energiZed in conventional manner. The closing by photocell 65 of the contacts of the relay -PR1 supplies power to a timer motor 114 through the normally closed side. of timer contacts TC3 and also to the coil of a holding relay RY2. Theclosingof the contacts of the relay-RY2 completes a holding circuit through timer contacts TCl, so that even if photocell relay PR1 is closed only momen tarily, current continues tojbe available to the .coil of noted that the actuation of the photocell relay PR1 does not immediately, stop the motor since the motoradraws its power directly from the line .11 0 through the timer I contacts T C2. Therefore, the'program disc 56;.continue8 to rotate and the aperture inthe program disc which initiated the operation of the timer will pass out fiom under the photocell 65. Because of the holding circuit, however, the timer continues to; run and after a short delay the timer contacts TC1,,TC2 and T C3 are actuated 'as a cam follower 115 comes off the lobe 116 on timing cam 118. The 1 switching of these contacts removes power fromthe motor 30 and applies powerto its brake through timer contacts TCZ. The strip 24 and the program disc 56 thus come toya stop. Simultaneously,

the holding circuit is allowedto collapse, by the opening of the normally closed side of relay contacts TC1;while, however, power is applied directly to the timer motor 114 through the' closing. of the normally open; side of timer contactsTCS.

from the timer motor 114 by the opening of the normally opened side of the timer contacts TC3. Since the holding circuit has previously been allowed to collapse andisince the photo cell relay CR1 is no longer actuated, the timer motor 114 must then stop. The speed of rotation "ofthe cam 118 is chosen so'that one revolution thereof provides tions of the mattress handle press itself may be controlled by'additional cams driven by the timing motor .114. At the'end of the cycle power is, of course, removed from the brake and'reapplied to the motor 30 so that the tions can be initiated by the program disc 56. i

cornersof'the rectangular faces 12 of the mattress cover.

The border strip 24-need.-'not bestopped for this pur- --pose,---and in FIGURE 6 photocell relay PR2, which ,is

It shouldv be 1 I clairn: I In combination with a mechanism for operating on ,st'rip material, apparatus comprising .means for feeding strip material ,along a predetermined pathja measuring controlled byphotocell 66, is shown as controlling the marker directly. r

The third trackin from the periphery of the disc 56 is employed to measurethe overall length of each border strip and tooperate the cut-off knife 75 correspondingly. The motor 30 is not stopped at the end of each strip as it is during the application handles, but rather the motion of the strip 24 is stopped by withdrawing the idlers '32, 33 and from engagement with the strip. The knife 75' is' operated simultaneously with the lowering of the idlers'and in FIGURE 6 photocell relay PR3, which is controlled byphotocell 67, is shown'as controlling the

air cylinders

36 and 77 directly. With the lowering of the idlers, the transfer -roller 80 islowered into engagethe disc corresponding to the cut-off point to thatlcorresponding to the beginning of the program Accordingly the 'photocellprelay PR3, which operates the cut-off knife 75 and stops the movement of the strip 24 by lowering the idlers willremainenergized and will therefore maintain the transfer'roller"80 in'enga'gement with the measuring wheel 38 until the: start of the program is again brought under the photocelland a new border strip can be begun.

While a preferred embodiment hasbeen disclosed by I sway of illustration, it: should be understood that the in vention includes all modifications and equivalents falling within the scope of 'the appended claims;

' wheel in engagement withthe strip; and programming 9; in ans, driven'by saidmeaSureingwheeI and operative at spaced intervals to stopvsaid feed means and "initiate operationof said mechanism' andthen to restart said feed The timer will continue torun until the cam 118 has turned through afull revolution and :withdrawspovver 7 a suitable interval for the operation of the mattress handle I press 20. Further, if so desired, the sequence of operamattress border strip 24 proceeds and subsequent opera-' means. I g 7 2. In combination with a mechanism for operating'on strip, material, apparatus comprising: 7 means for feeding strip material along a predetermined path; a program carrying information defining the desired sequence and 7 spacing ofoperations on such strip; means, driven by said strip, for advancing said'program; and means, responsive to j the information advanced, for stopping saidfeed means and initiating .the'operation of said mechanism.

3. Apparatus according to claim"2, including means,

operative at the. end :of a program, for returning, the

program to its start? position.

4. Apparatus according, to claim 2 .includingtimer means for restarting said feed means a predetermined interval after the initiation of operation of ,saidmechm-1": 5. Apparatus according to claim 2. in which said program is a disc and theinformation is, defined by optically;transparentportionsthereof. 1 1

;Apparatus for preparing'mattress borders comprising: means for drawing border strip mat erial along a ;p.redetermined path; a press forgapplyingmattress handles to thestrip upstream from said drawing means; aimelasuring Wheel in -,engage ment,,wit-h said strip upstream from said drawing means;.a program disc drivenby said measuring wheel, said dischaving a circumferential band containing transparent areas representing the ,desired locationof handles on a mattress border strip; a photocell;

a lamp forillurriinating said photocell through saiddisc;

' and means,responsive to signals from said photocelhfor I stopping saididrawin'g means, initiating'operation of said press and then, restarting said feed means. 7

7. Apparatus forpreparing fmattress borders comprising: means for drawing border strip material from a continuous source along a predetermined path; a press for applying mattress handles to the strip upstream from said drawing means; means for severing said strip downstream from said drawing means; a measuring wheel in engagement with said strip upstream from said drawing means; a program disc driven by said measurinig wheel, said disc having circumferential tracks containing transparent areas representing the desired length of the border and the location of handles thereupon: a plurality of photocells; a lamp for illuminating said photocells through the said disc; and means, responsive to signals from said photoeells, for stopping said drawing means at spaced intervals and initiating operation of said press while said strip is so stopped and for operating said severing means to separate a completed mattress border from said continuous strip.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 including timer means for restarting said feed means a predetermined interval after the initiation of operation of said press.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 including means for returning said program disc to its start position after the completion of a mattress border independently of the movement of said strip.

10. Apparatus according to claim '7 in which said drawing means involves a drive wheel and an idler Wheel for pinching the strip therebetween, and in which said idler is retracted simultaneously with the operation of said severing means.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which said drawing means includes a drive roll and an idler roll for pinching the strip therebetween and which further comprises means for retracting said idler simultaneously With the operation of said severing means and maintaining said idler in retracted position until said program disc is returned to its start position.

'12. Apparatus operative through recurrent cycles to Work on a strip of mattress material as it feeds along a predetermined path, cyclic means operative during each cycle, said means including means for feeding the strip a predetermined length, means for severing the length and means for attaching mattress handles to the length, actuating means driven by the strip, and means controlled by said actuating means foroperating said cyclic means in predetermined timed relationship and rendering the feeding means inoperative at the end of each cycle.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said actuating means comprises two rollers for pinching the strip therebetween and means for retracting one roller to relieve the pinching action.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein each of said feeding means and actuating means comprises a pair of rollers for pinching the strip therebetween and means for retracting one roller of each pair to relieve the pinching action.

No references cited.

GRANVILLE Y. CUSTER, In, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A MECHANISM FOR OPERATING ON STRIP MATERIAL, APPARATUS COMPRISING: MEANS FOR FEEDING STRIP MATERIAL ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH; A MEASURING WHEEL IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE STRIP; AND PROGRAMMING MEANS, DRIVEN BY SAID MEASURING WHEEL AND OPERATIVE AT SPACED INTERVALS TO STOP SAID FEED MEANS AND INITIATE OPERATION OF SAID MECHANISM AND THEN TO RESTART SAID FEED MEANS.