Patent GB-813686-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to automatic mattress tufting machines
IPC: B68G7/08
Filed: 1955-07-26
Abstract: 813,686. Mattress-tufting machines. UNITED STATES BEDDING CO. July 26, 1955 [Dec. 3, 1954], No. 21626/55. Class 112 A mattress-tufting machine comprises work-supporting means including an outer table mounted for horizontal movement in a longitudinal direction and an inner, mattress-receiving table mounted for horizontal movement in a transverse direction, driving means operatively connected with said tables for displacement thereof in the desired direction, locking means for holding the tables against movement, and means for selectively rendering said driving and locking means effective and ineffective in a sequence of operations, whereby the mattress is automatically registered in a sequence of tufting positions between upper and lower tufting heads, in order to tuft the mattress according to a predetermined pattern. Feed by clamps, driving. The machine comprises an upper tufting head carried on an arm 11 and a lower tufting head. The mattress rests in a well provided on an inner table 32 movable transversely on tracks provided on an outer table 26 movable longitudinally on rollers 27 supported by tracks provided on the machine frame 10. A driving motor 40, mounted on the outer table, is coupled by gearing 41 to a pair of shafts 42, 43. Shaft 42 is provided with an electrically operated brake 44 and is adapted to be coupled by an electrically operated clutch 45 to a pulley 46. A driving cable 47, passing over pulleys 48, 51, connects pulley 46 to the machine frame at positions 49 and 52. Rotation of pulley 46 in one or the other direction thereby serves to move the outer table to the left or to the right. Shaft 43 is similarly associated with a brake 53, clutch 54 and pulley 55. The latter is connected by a cable 57 to a pulley 56 on a shaft 58 journalled in the outer table, and a pulley 60 on shaft 58 is connected by a cable 59 to a loose pulley 61 on the outer table, one run of cable 59 being secured via a block 63 to the inner table. Rotation of pulley 55 in one or the other direction thereby serves to move the inner table forwards or backwards. Arm 11 carries a rod 13 adapted to move longitudinally in unison with the movements of the tufting heads, a block 14 on rod 13 being adapted to contact an arm 15 for closing a switch 16 when the heads move apart. The outer table carries a cam plate 64 having cam members 65 adjustably mounted thereon, the number and spacing of the cam members corresponding to the number of longitudinal tufting positions. The cam members are adapted to co-operate successively with an arm 68 for closing a switch 69. A pair of cam members 72, 73 are provided at the respective ends of the cam plate for cooperating with a switch 74 adapted to actuate the longitudinal brake for preventing over-run of the outer table. A cam plate 75 carried by the inner table has cam members 76 mounted adjustably thereon, the number and spacing of said members corresponding to the number of transverse tufting positions. Members 76 are adapted to co-operate successively with an arm 78 for closing a switch 79. The movements of the tables are controlled by electrical means including stepping switches 101 to 105, each of which comprises a rotor movable stepwise to engage in sequence a number of fixed contacts disposed therearound. The rotors are advanced stepwise by stepping coils ST1, ST2, ST3, ST4 and ST5 respectively. The fixed contacts of each stepping switch are arranged in banks each consisting of 26 contacts. Said contacts are connected electrically to three main relays, one of which controls the longitudinal movement of the table by controlling the brake 44 and clutch 45, the second controls the lateral movement of the table by controlling the brake 53 and clutch 54, an dthe third controls the direction of drive of the motor 40. The tufting positions for a full-size mattress are indicated in Fig. 10 by the plain numerals 1 to 39 which are staggered to require 11 cams 65, the positions of which correspond to the numerals 1 to 11 in circles, and 9 cams 76, the positions of which correspond to the numerals 1 to 9 in squares. The stepping switches are operated sequentially. Thus, when switch 101 has completed its operation switch 102 becomes effective. When a cam 65 closes switch 69 an electric pulse is produced which operates the appropriate stepping coil ST1 to ST5 to advance the rotor of the associated stepping switch by one step. Similarly, when a cam 76 closes switch 79 and when block 14 closes switch 16 the appropriate stepping coil is operated. To tuft a full-size mattress automatically, a switch 100 is actuated to select automatic operation, when the brakes 44 and 53 are set to lock the table. A switch 108 is then actuated to start the cycle. The rotor of stepping switch 101 then advances from the first to the second fixed contact which corresponds to the first tufting position. The tufting positions are indicated in Fig. 11 by the references A1 to A39 against the first contacts corresponding thereto. In position A1 the tufting head motor is coupled to operate the heads which then operate continuously, the mattress being moved from one tufting position to the next during the time between the heads clearing the mattress after one tufting operation and the heads re-engaging the mattress for the next tufting operation. As the upper head rises at position Al, switch 16 is closed to advance the rotor to the third contact, when brake 44 is released and clutch 45 is engaged for moving the mattress in the longitudinal direction. During this motion the second cam 65 closes switch 69 to advance the rotor to the fourth contact. The moton continues until the third cam 65 closes switch 69 to advance the rotor to the fifth contact at position A2, when clutch 45 is released and brake 44 is set to lock the table for the second tufting operation. The electrical connections to the succeeding contacts are so arranged that tufting operations continue in succession till the final operation 39 is completed, when the tufting motor clutch is disengaged and the mattress is returned to the home position. When a small-size mattress is to be tufted, switch 106 is actuated after switch 100, to operate relays 51 and 52 for changing the circuit connections in stepping switches 103, 104. When button 108 is then operated to start the cycle, tufting continues as before until the completion of the eighteenth tufting operation, the mattress then moving to the thirtieth tufting position to provide a total of 28 tufting operations. For correcting faulty work, switch 100 is actuated to select manual operation for releasing the brakes and clutches, when the mattress may be moved freely by hand. The cycle may be continued by moving the mattress to the position at which the cycle was interrupted and then actuating switches 100 and 108. Actuation of switch 109 returns all stepping switches to their home positions. Pilot lights 107, 113, 114 and 115 are provided.