A Machine for Tabbing Mattresses.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 9th July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 13th Aug., 1895-4ccepted, 29th Sept.. 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Machine for Tabbing Mattresses.
I, EDWIN NAPIER STEPHENSON, of No. 31 Milk Street, City of Boston,
County of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts. United States of America, Mechanic,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an automatic machine for tabbing mattresses so arranged
that tabs or washers are intermittently fed to and fixed on feed wheels, between
which the mattress is intermittently advanced, and compressed, and are then placed
upon the mattress, and secured by stitching by a set of needles and tied by a set
of knotting devices as I shall describe referring to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a mattress tabbing machine according to my
invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section upon the line 3* 3ª of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one of the tab placing devices.
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the barrel shewn in Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the barrel on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is a front end elevation of the barrel with a portion of one of its
supporting brackets.
Fig. 8 is a perspective showing the tuft feeding bar, pusher heal and part of the
interior tube of the barrel.
Fig. 9 is a plan of one form of tab or washer.
Fig. 10 is a perspective shewing a portion of one of the upper feed wheels and
one of the cushions, with its tap impaling points and needle openings.
Fig. 11 is a similar perspective shewing a portion of one of the lower feed wheels
with one of the cushions and its tab impaling points and the L-shaped needle
opening.
Fig. 12 is an elevation of the right hand end of the machine.
Fig. 13 is a vertical section taken upon the line 13-13 of Fig. 12 looking in
the direction of the arrow.
Fig. 14 is a sectional elevation upon an enlarged scale shewing one of the needles
and adjacent parts.
Fig. 15 is a transverse section, taken a little above the shaft 5 in Fig. 14.
Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the vertical shaft and its connections for moving
the mattress laterally between two successive needle strokes.
Fig. 17 is a vertical section on the line 17-17 in Fig. 12 looking in the direction
of the arrow.
Fig. 18 is a detail view showing the feeding pawl.
Figs. 19 to 24 inclusive are diagrams illustrating the stitching operations.
Figs. 194, 204, 214, 22 and 234 are plans of the parts in Figs. 19, 20, 21, 22
and 23 respectively.
Fig. 25 is a plan of one of the knotting mechanisms separated from the
machine.
Fig. 26 is a plan upon a somewhat larger scale of the knotter head and
adjuncts.
Fig. 27 is a perspective view of the jaw-supporting annulus.
Fig. 28 is a perspective view of the shell and part of the bracket supporting the
knotter-head.

page_text: Fig. 29 shews part of one or, the laws ou the amours
Fig. 30 shews the other jaw.
Fig. 31 shews the detent pin in the wall of the shell.
Fig. 32 is a plan of one of the knotter-heads.
Fig. 33 is a side view of the knotter-head, looking in the direction of the 5
arrow 1, Fig. 32.
Fig. 34 is a side view of the same looking in the direction of the arrow 2,
Fig. 32.
Fig. 35 is a side view of the same, looking in the direction of the arrow 3,
Fig. 32.
Fig. 36 is a side view of the same looking in the direction of the arrow 4,
Fig. 32.
Fig. 37 shews on an enlarged scale, the point of the hook on the knotter-head.
Fig. 38 is a bottom plan of the knotter-head.
Fig. 39 is a plan of the third section of the knotter-head.
Fig. 40 is a bottom plan of the second or middle section of the same.
Fig. 41 is a vertical section of the knotter-bead and stem.
Fig. 42 is a front elevation of the cam sector for operating the devices which
clamp, hold and cut the twine.
Fig. 43 is a front elevation of the knotting mechanism part of the overhanging
shield being removed.
Fig. 44 is a similar view shewing the position of the parts when the process of
tabbing has reached the stage illustrated in Fig. 23.
Fig. 45 is a vertical section, taken from front to
mechanism:
rear of the knotting
Fig. 46 is a horizontal section of the same taken just above the bevil
drives the knotter-head.
gear which
Fig. 47 is an elevation taken from the rear of Fig. 43, shewing the devices for
seizing, drawing, and cutting the twine.
Fig. 48 shews the same parts in a different position.
Fig. 49 is a side elevation of the upper portion of Fig. 48.
Fig. 50 shews part of the devices for periodically projecting and withdrawing
the twine holding shaft, in the stem of the knotter-head.
Fig. 51 is a front view of the cam which operates the tabbing needles.
Fig. 52 shews the cam which controls the sector on the knotting mechanism.
Fig. 53 shews the cam which controls the clamping, knot drawing and twine
cutting devices shewn in Figs. 44, 47 and 48.
Fig. 54 shews a somewhat modified form of the cam marked 252 in Fig. 3
controlling the mechanism by which the mattress is moved laterally between the
two strokes of the needles.
Fig. 55 shews the lever which controls the rising and falling stem of the
knotter-head.
1 is the frame of the machine consisting of two parallel upright sides counected
by transverse braces 2. On 1 is mounted an upper frame 3, its sides being connected
by transverse bars 4.
In these frames are journalled shafts 5 and 6, the former carrying the upper set
of feed wheels 7, the latter carrying a corresponding lower set of similar feed
wheels, each vertically under one of the upper wheels, all the feed wheels being
arranged upon their shafts at regular intervals.
Upon the ends of the shafts 5 and 6, which project beyond the outer faces of
the frames 1 and 3, upon one side of the machine, are fixed equal spur wheels 8
and 9. The upper shaft 5 is mounted in boxes 10 moveable in brackets 12 upon
the inner faces of the frame 3. Upon vertical extensions 3", above the upper
frame 3, is a transverse bar 13 vertically adjustable by screw shafts 14 which
engage lugs 15 projecting from the bar 13, near its ends.
Upon the upper ends of the screws 14 are fixed bevil wheels 16 gearing with
bevil pinions 17 carried by a horizontal shaft 18 which is journalled in brackets 19.
f.

page_text: One end of the shaft 18 carries a hand wheel 20, by turning which the transverse
bar 13 can be raised or lowered.
Upon the bar 13 are fixed as many hangers 21 as there are feed wheels in the
upper set.
Each hanger, as seen in Figs. 3, 12, 14 and 15, consists of an oblong
plate, stiffened by an edge flange 22 and having bolted on it a bearing 23 which
receives the shaft 5.
By working the screws 14, the shaft 5 and the feed wheels carried by its shaft
can be raised and lowered.
In order to preserve the gear engagement connecting the upper and lower sets of
feed wheels, notwithstanding more or less separation of their shafts, I provide a
spur wheel 24, always in gear with the wheel 9, upon the lower shaft 6. Upon
the axis of 24 is pivotted a carrier plate 25 on which is journalled an intermediate
spur wheel 26 which gears with 24 and also with 8, which is upon the end of the
upper shaft 5.
To the carrier plate 25 is attached an arm 27 having a curved slot 28, which
runs upon a set screw 29. By loosening this set screw when the upper shaft 5 is
raised and lowered, the intermediate wheel 26 can be moved around 24 so as to
retain it in gear with 8, the screw 29 then fixing the curved arm 27 securely in
position.
Both shafts 5 and 6 have, at suitable intervals, a small simultaneous movement
lengthwise, this being effected as shewn in Figs. 16 and 13, by a vertical rock
shaft 30, supported in brackets 31 and carrying two sets of parallel arms 32 which
are jointed by links 33 to rings 34, running in collars 34" on the shafts 5 and 6.
The vertical rock shaft 30 is partly turned at the proper time by means of an
arm 35 on it connected by a link 36 to an arm 37 fixed upon a shaft 38
(Fig. 13) which is journalled in the lower part of the frame 1. A partial
rotary movement of the shaft 30 moves the two shafts 5 and 6 lengthwise thus
moring both sets of feed wheels in unison.
Upon the shaft 30 is an arm 39 connected to a forked link 40 jointed to a
pair of lugs 41 which form part of the horizontal support for the mattress lying
between the upper and lower feed wheels.
This arm 39 gives a lateral movement, in unison with that given the feed
wheels, to the mattress support, this movement being effected periodically for the
purpose hereinafter explained, as well as the means for working the shaft 38 iu
order to rock the shaft 30.
A large spur gear 42, carried by a shaft 43, which extends from side to side
of the machine is driven by a pinion 44, journalled upon a bracket 45 upon one
side of the machine. On the shaft of this pinion 44 is a worm wheel 46, with
which a worm 47 gears, this worm being carried by a shaft 48, supported in
bearings 49. Upon the worm shaft. 48 is a pulley 50 by which the shalt is driven
from any suitable source of power.
The bearings 49 of the worm shaft 48 are upon a frame 51 pivotted on the
outside of the machine frame 1 upon an axis 52, the latter being supported upon a
bracket 53.
From the frame 51 extends an arm 54 carrying a weight 55 which normally tilts
the frame upwards withdrawing the worm 47 from the worm wheel 46.
When the parts are in work, the frame 51 is held in proper position to maintain
engagement of the worm gear by a lever 56 fulcrumed at 59 upon the end of a
horizontal bar 57, which projects from the bracket 53.
L
This lever has a shoulder 58 which engages the end of the pivoted frame, and
the lower arm 60 of the lever, below its fulcrum 59, carries a weight 61, by which
the engagement of the shoulder 58 with the end of the pivoted frame 51 is
normally maintained. The weight 55 is adjustable in position and clamped by
set screw 62. The action derived from the worm shaft 48, can be instantly
arrested by merely swinging the lever 56 far enough to draw its shoulder 58 off the
end of the pivoted frame 51, whereupon the weight 55 raises the pivoted frame 51
and disengages the worm 47 from the wheel 46.

page_text: Intermittent rotation is communicated to the upper and lower sets of feed wheels
by means of a disc 63 upon the lower shaft 6 having in its periphery equally spaced
notches 64. Upon the said shaft 6 is loosely mounted (Fig. 17) an arm 65 carrying
The lever 65 is connected
a pawl 66 (Fig. 18) which engages with the notches 64.
by a link 67 to an arm 68 upon a rock shaft 38 which extends from side to side of
the machine. Upon an oblique arm is fixed an adjustable weight 70 (see Fig. 17).
Upon the arm 68 is mounted a friction roll 71 which bears against the periphery of
a heart shaped cam 72 placed near the wheel 42 (Fig. 17) and upon the same
shaft 43. This cam 72 at each revolution allows the arm 65 to be swung upwards
by the weight 70 and when the pawl 66 has engaged the notch 64 the cam
shoulder 72 acts upon 71 and draws down the arm 65 giving a partial rotary
movement to the disc 63 which is then held stationary by a latch 74 engaging with
notches 75 in the edge of the disc 63 between the notches 64. The latch 74 is
pivoted at one end to a foot bracket 76 (Figs. 3, 17) and at the other end it is
connected by a link 77 with one end of a lever 78 having a fulcrum 79. At the
other end of the lever 78 is a spring 80 by which the latch 74 is normally held in
engagement with the notches 75. Upon the end of the lever 78 where the
spring 80 is attached is mounted a friction roll 81 to meet a cam projection 83, 84
on the disc 67ª. At each revolution of the disc 67* this cam surface acting on the
friction roll 81 lifts the lever 78 in opposition to the spring 80, thus drawing the
latch 74 out of the notch 75 in the disc 63 leaving the disc free to rotate, when
the pawl 66 having engaged one of the notches 64 in the disc 63 is about to
advance the disc; when the cam projection 83 passes off the friction roll 81, the
latch 74 returns to the edge of the disc 63 and when the succeeding notch 75
arrives at the latch it is made to engage therewith by the spring 80.
By the intermittent rotation of the upper and lower feed wheels as described the
mattress is advanced step by step in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3, moving
upon a horizontal bed or support which has at suitable intervals longitudinal
openings 86 through which the lower feed wheels project.
The mattress rests upon a series of lougitudinal slats or bars 87 (Fig. 2)
supported by transverse bars 88 (Fig. 12) which rest upon longitudinal beams 89
lying upon shoes 90 near the ends of the machine frame. Each shoe (Fig. 17) has
upon its lower surface a rib 91 which lies in a channel in a transverse Y-shaped
rail 92 carried upon the transverse braces 2 (Figs. 12, 13). The slats 87 and the
other parts of the structure are rigidly connected together to form a complete
frame to which the forked link 40 (Figs. 12, 16) is secured and thus the lateral
movement of the feed wheels is accompanied by a like movement of the entire
As the
frame on which the mattress rests, the shoes 90 sliding upon the rails 92.
mattress lies upon the slats and is compressed between the upper and lower feed
wheels, it moves with them laterally for a purpose explained hereafter.
The mattress being fed intermittently in the direction of its length by the upper
and lower feed wheels and being compressed between them to a suitable thickness
for tabbing I apply the tabs to the peripheries of these wheels by automatic means,
in such manner that they are temporarily retained thereon and pressed against the
opposite surfaces of the mattress during the process by which the tabs are
permanently fastened.
Each feed wheel has placed at equal intervals on its periphery cushions 93 from
each of which project sharp points or spurs 94.
Upon the brackets 95 which project from the transverse beam 4-4 is mounted
a rock shaft 96 upon which are fixed collars 97 corresponding in number to the
number of feed wheels. As all the tab placing devices are alike I may confine
their description to that of one.
Referring to Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 which represent upon an enlarged scale a
single tab placing mechanism 98 is an arm formed upon and hanging below the
collar 97 its end having a lug 99 fastened to a barrel 100 by screws 101 tapped
into bosses 102 upon the barrel. The rock shaft 96 is placed so near to the feed
wheels that when the barrel 100 is horizontal, or nearly so, its end lies quite near

page_text: the face of the feed wheel, and by rocking the shaft 96 the barrel is by a slight
tilting movement caused to abut with its end squarely against the face of the
feed wheel.
The barrel 100 has within it a tube 103 a little more than half the length of the
barrel. In cross section the interior of said tube is shaped (Fig. 8) to correspond,
or substantially so, with the outline of the tab, one of which is shown in Fig. 9.
Within the tube 103 and lying in the barrel behind the end of the tube, is a feed
bar 104 having a pusher head 105 from which pins 106 enter apertures in the front
end of the feed bar, these pins having springs 107 coiled upon them to normally
hold the pusher head at a little distance from the end of the pusher bar. The bar
has a toothed rack 108 on its upper side gearing with a pinion 109 carried by a
shaft 110 which passes transversely through the top of the barrel. Upon one end
of the shaft is a ratchet 112 with which engages a holding pawl 113 pivoted upon
the flattened side of the barrel and urged by a spring 114. Upon the projecting
end of the shaft 110 is an arm 115 carrying a sleeve 116. Upon the transverse
beam 4 above the barrel is fixed an angle lug 117 (Figs. 4 and 7) to which is
jointed a screwed spindle 118. The screwed portion passes loosely through the
sleeve 116 above and below which are stop nuts 120 and 121 with lock nuts 122.
A spring pressed feed pawl 123 mounted upon the inner face of the arm 115
engages the ratchet 112.
The parts described are repeated for each one of the upper set of feed wheels,
each separate piece of the tab teeding mechanism, being mounted upon the rock
shaft 96. In brackets 124 (Figs. 3 and 13) which project from a transverse
frame 125 extending between the sides of the machine frame is mounted a rock
shaft 126 having the same relation to the lower feed wheels as the rock shaft 96
bears to the upper wheels. Upon this rock shaft 126 in the manner already
described are tab feeding mechanisms 127 corresponding in all essential respects to
those upon the upper rock shaft 96 the sole difference being that those above hang
from the upper rock shaft while those below are supported above the rock
shaft 126. From the rock shafts 96 and 126 project arms 128 and 129 in opposite
directions connected by a link 130. Upon the end of the rock shaft 126 is fixed
an arm 131 which extends beneath the shaft 6 and has at its end a friction roll 132
lying beneath the shaft 43 in the path of a cam 133. At each revolution of the
shaft 43 the cam 133 depresses the arm 131, rocking the shaft 126 and through the
link 130 also the shaft 96 thereby swinging both sets of tab feeding mechanisms
toward the upper and lower feed wheels in unison, and impaling the tabs which lie
in the mouths of the barrels 100 upon the points 94 which project from the
peripheries of the feed wheels. When the cam 133 passes off the arm 131 the two
sets of tab feeding mechanisms are restored to the normal position shown in
Fig. 3, by means of a weight 135 on a lever arm 134 fixed on the rock shaft 126
(Fig. 1). As the barrels 100 move toward the feed wheels, they assume the
position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4 causing the screws 118 to vibrate or
swing over a short arc. As the arm 115 is loose upon the shaft 110, the sleeve 116
rests on the lower set nut 120, during this movement, and as the rear end of the
barrel drops, and moves toward the feed wheel the arm 115 is caused to turn on
the shaft 110 in such manner as to draw the feed pawl 123 back over the teeth
of the ratchet 112, which is locked by the holding pawl 113. As the barrel moves
back to the normal position, shown in full lines in Fig. 4, the sleeve 116 rises on
the screw 118, until it meets the nut 121 which compels it to turn on the
shaft 110, thus carrying the feed pawl 123 forward and giving a rotary motion to
the ratchet 112 which advances the feed bar 104 feeding the tabs contained in the
tube 103 toward the mouth of the tube. The extent of this feed movement can
be adjusted with great accuracy by means of the stop nuts 120, 121.
The tabs having been placed upon the feed wheels in the manner described,
5 the intermittent rotary motion of the feed wheels brings them upon and
presses them against the opposite surfaces of the mattress directly opposite to each
other. The feed wheels being at rest, with the mattress compressed between them,

page_text: the next operation is to fasten the tabs in place, which is accomplished by the
following niechanism.
Upon the brackets 21, hanging from the transverse bar 13, are fixed strong
horizontal braces 136, (Figs. 14 and 15) parallel with the upper feed-wheel shaft 5
and projecting from the brackets 21, which lie between the wheels 7, within the
peripheries of these wheels (Fig. 12). These braces support vertical guide plates 137,
cach having a slot 138, in which the shaft 5 lies. In each plate is also provided a
vertical guide-way in which lies a needle slide 139, being a rectangular frame with
bevelled edges 140, which fit in the guides and having a longitudinal slot 141, of such
length as to permit the needle slide to reciprocate without touching the shaft 5. At
he lower end of the slide is a transverse projecting needle head 142, having a straight
tabbing needle 143, fixed in it by a thumb screw 144. The needle has an eye near
its point and carries a tabbing twine 145, which is carried around a tension device 146
upon the side of the guide plate. The spool from which the twine is drawn is
placed where convenient. Each bracket 21 has one of the vertical guide plates 137,
with a needle-slide, needle, &c., and arranged as described. The needle slides 139
are operated by means of arms 147, (Figs. 3 and 14) of a rock shaft 148, which
is journalled in bearings 149, upon the brackets 95. The ends of these arms are
connected to the needle slides by links 150. Fixed upon the rock shaft 148, near
its end (Figs. 1, 2, and 17) is an arm 151, in the vibrating end of which is
formed an elongated eye 152, (Fig. 1). In this eye is engaged the end of a
connecting rod 153 which extends down to the actuating lever 154. This lever is
pivotted at 156, on a bracket 157 and has a laterally projecting friction roll 158,
engaged in a cam-race 159 (see Fig. 51) formed in the inner face of the large spur
wheel 42. The slots in the arms 151 and 154 receiving the ends of the connecting
rod 153 allow variation of the stroke of the needle slides.
After the needles 143 have passed through the mattress upon one side of the tabs
pressed against its upper and lower surfaces, and after they have again risen above
the mattress leaving the first strands of the twine drawn through the body of the
mattress, the mattress and both sets of tabs are shifted about half an inch, to one
side, so as to straddle or carry the tabbing twine over the tabs and through the
For this purpose
mattress upon the other side of the tabs, as shown in Fig. 22.
both the upper and lower feed wheels 7, together with the mattress compressed
between them, as shown in Fig. 3, and the horizontal mattress-support, are all
shifted laterally by means of the vertical shaft 30, which is connected to the shafts 5
and 6, and to the horizontal frame, in the manner already described.
To enable the tabbing twine to be carried through the mattress by the
needles 143, first on one side and then on the other, of the tabs, needle openings 160
are formed (Figs. 10 and 11) in each of the feed wheels and in the cushions 93.
These openings are substantially circular in form, one being on each side of the
spurs 94, the tab being applied so that the spurs impale it in its central longitudinal
line, or nearly so. A channel 161 connects the two needle openings 160, and
permits the passage of the tacking thread over the centres of the tabs. The
opening shewn in Fig. 11 is of peculiar form, being substantially L-shaped, for a
purpose which will be explained shortly.
I will now describe the mechanism, for seizing the ends of the twine, after the
needles have passed once through the mattress, and for knotting it upon the under,
or lower side of the mattress, after the needles have made their second stroke,
after which the twine is cut at a little distance from the knots, and the mattress is
fed forward to bring another set of tabs into position for fixing.
The mattress in the position shewn in Fig. 3, has each feed-wheel of both sets
pressing on it.
The mattress being now stationary, the cam 159 acts upon the arm 154, and all
the needles 143 descend, passing through the mattress and projecting below its
lower surface. In making this stroke, the needles pass down through one of the
needle openings 160, upon one side of the tabs, in the position shown in Fig. 19.
After reaching their lowest point the needles are slightly raised by an angular

page_text: portion 159 (Fig. 51) of the cam so as to throw out a loop of the thread. As the
action is the same in each needle the following description refers to a single needle
only, as shown in Figs. 19 to 24, and Figs. 19 to 23.
Beneath, and projecting partly within the peripheries of each of the lower feed
wheels, is a knotting mechanism, just beneath the needle-openings in the upper-
portion of the rims of these wheel, as shown in Fig. 45. Each. knotting
mechanism comprises a circular shell 160 (Fig. 28) forming part of a bracket 161,
which is part of a frame 162, bolted to an upright 163 (Fig. 45). The upper
portion of the circular shell is dressed off, upon its exterior, to form a shoulder 164,
upon which is seated an annulus 165 (Fig. 27). This annulus is capable of a
swivelling movement upon the shell 160, which is produced at intervals, by a bell-
crank, or elbow lever 166, (Figs. 25 and 55) pivotted on the upright 163, and
connected by a link 167 to a lug 168 on the annulus. Upon the annulus a rigid
jaw 169, projects from its inner face almost opposite the lug 168, and upon the base
supporting this jaw is pivotted a movable jaw 170, having a lever 171, which is
curved around in the line, and upon the edge of the annulus for about quarter of a
circumference. The edge of the annulus is cut away to receive the lever the
upper surface of which is level. Upon the pivot of the movable jaw 170, is also
mounted a cutting blade 172, operated by a curved lever 173, which lies upon the
lever 171. At the end of the lever 173 is formed a lug 174, which drops over the
outer edge of the lever 171 and projects radially outward. The end of the lever 171
extends beyond this lug and is straightened so as to form a tangent to the shell 160°.
Its extremity is connected to the end of the lug 174 by a spring 175, by which the-
jaw 170 would, if not otherwise acted upon, be held away from the fixed jaw 169.
As shown in Fig. 30 the jaw 169 has two faces or parts a and b, one of which
is the holding, or clamping face, while the other co-operates with the cutting.
blade 172.
Over the shell and annulus is a sheet metal hood 176 (Fig. 44), having an
opening 177 through which the needle 143 descends, passing into an opening 178
which communicates with a vertical slot 179, in the shell 164 (Fig. 28).
As shewn in Fig. 19 the twine in making the loop moves away from the needle
and passes into and is caught by a hook 180 (Fig. 26) which is fixed on the
shell 160, its opening being vertically above the slot 179. Overhanging the
hook 180 is a plate 181 having a forked end, which lies close to the opening of
the hook, the arms of the fork being at about right angles to the line of the
opening in the hook 180, upon one side of which the fork lies, while the
jaws 169, 170 lie upon the other side. The plate 181 is fixed upon the upper end
of an arm 182, (Fig. 44) carried by a rock-shaft 183. When this rock shaft is
operated as will hereafter be described the forked end of the plate 181 is moved
over the hook 180 as shown in Fig. 20, the loop of the twine being thus held.
enclosed upon all sides by the hook 180, the fork 181 upon the one side and the
two jaws 169 and 170 which are moved forward upon the other side of the thread,
by the following mechanism.
On the under side of the lug 174, is mounted a friction roll 184 which lies in a
curved slot 185, concentric with the annulus 165, in a frame 186, which is fixed
upon a bracket 187, having a sliding bearing 188 in the base of the circular
shell 160. The bracket is connected by a link 189, to an arm 190 of a rock
shaft 191, (Figs. 25 and 44). By the action of this shaft the slot 185 is removed a
little from the circular shell 160ª causing the movable jaw 170 to clamp upon the
twine. This movement is not sufficient to make the cutting-blade 172 act with the
part of the stationary jaw 169, but is sufficient to strain the spring 175 so that
the jaws securely hold the twine. As already stated this engagement is effected by
the lift of the needle to form the loop.
Within the circular shell 160° is arranged a knotter head 192, shown in detail
in Figs. 32 to 41 inclusive. It has a vertical stem 193, which lies in a central
opening 194 in the base of the shell 160" and extends down through the frame 162,
in the lower portion of which it has a bearing. Upon its lower end (Figs. 45.

page_text: .
L
and 46) is a bevel pinion 195 gearing with a sector 196 fixed on a rock shaft 197,
which lies a little above the feed wheel shaft 6 and is operated by a sector plate 198
(Figure 42), which is fixed on the rock shaft 197 behind the upright 163.
An
arm 199 of the sector plate is connected by a link 200 (Fig. 43) to the end of
an arm 201, on a rock shaft 202 (Fig. 3) which is worked as will be hereafter
described.
In a central bore 203 of the stem 193 (Fig. 41) lies a vertically movable
stem 204, the upper end of which rises' to the top of the knotter head, while its
lower end extends below the bevel pinion 195, and has on it a head 205 which is
connected (Fig. 50) by a link 206, to one arm of a bell crank lever 207, pivotted
at 208 upon the front of a frame plate 209, which is bolted to the standard 163.
By operating this lever, at suitable intervals, the end of the stem 204 is caused to
project temporarily, above the top of the knotter head 192.
The knotter head has a curved looper arm 210, as will be explained hereafter.
When the needle descends the knotter-head is stationary, the point of the looper
arm 210 being close to it, but as the needle forms the loop the head begins to revolve,
carrying the point of the looper arm into the loop. As the needle now rises the
knotter head continues to revolve by the action of the sector gear 196 and the
curved arm 210 passes completely into the loop of the twine, as shown in Figs. 20
and 20ª. At about the same moment the stem 204 rises and projects above the top
of the knotter head, as seen in Figs. 21 and 21, and the twine is drawn by the
arm 210 over the outer surface of the head 192, in which a concave channel 212 is
formed (Figs. 35-36). This channel inclines upward and passes out at the top of
the head, and the twine having been caught by this channel is carried up in it, as
the head turns further, and ultimately passes over the top of the head, before the
latter completes its revolution and the loop thus formed is caught by the projecting
end of the stem 204 (Figs. 21 and 21*).
During this operation, the needle having risen, the mattress is moved laterally
and the second stroke of the needle is then made upon the opposite side of the tab
just before the knotter head is in the position shown in Fig. 21^.
The knotter head and looper arm present three sections (Figs. 32 to 41) which
may be designated by the letters x, y, and z. The upper section, comprising the
top of the head and the upper third of the looper-arm, is integral with the stem 193,
and the lower section z, is fixed on it. The middle section y between them, has a
chamber y', which receives a neck x of the top section, on which y, can turn.
The
middle and lower thirds of the looper-arm 210 form part of the middle and lower
sections, respectively, and are so fitted together that the middle section of the arm
may have a limited sliding movement between the two other parts. The extremity
of the upper section has a bevelled point, forming a hook which projects
beyond the two lower sections. The end z¹ of the lower section 2 is bevelled off to
lie quite near the barb of the hook 2. The end y² of the middle section is square,
and its outer face is dressed off to enable its edge to properly engage the edge of
the depending barb of the hook a², which hangs down as far as the bottom, or
lower edge, of the middle section, as shown in Figure 37. A spring y³ is coiled in
the chamber y' and connected at its ends in such manner that the end y² of the
middle section is normally pressed against the edge of the barb of the hook ².
The rotary retraction of this section is limited by a stop-pin y projecting from its
lower face into a curved slot ³ in the lower section. Upon the outer face of the
middle section, almost diametrically opposite the point of the looper-arm 210, is a
square lip y', facing in the direction of revolution of the knotter-head. Upon the
lower section z, a little behind the lip yo, but beneath the projecting body of metal
forming it is a cam curve z¹.
As the knotter-head approaches the position shown in Figure 214, the end of the
thread grasped by the jaws 169-170 is drawn across the path of the looper-arm
and the bevelled point of the hook of the upper section strikes it, carrying it
downward into the passage between the barb of the hook and the bevelled end z¹
of the lower section. At this instant the lip y³ is brought against the end of a

page_text: stop 213 (Figures 25, 26, and 28) lying within the circular shell 160° and pressed
inward by a spring. The rotation of the middle section y, of the head, being thus
arrested momentarily, its end y' is drawn away from the edge of the barb, and the
thread passes behind the two just as the cam * reaches the stop 213, and pressing.
it outward, releases the middle section y, which is instantly restored to normal
position by the coiled spring y³, thereby catching the twine between its end y² and
the barb of the hook.
At this point the needle makes it second stroke as seen in Figure 22, passing
down between the looper-arm and knotter-head, and between the part of the twine
now grasped by the arm and that portion which passes from the end of the
stem 204 over the periphery of the head, as shown in Figure 21ª. After reaching
its lowest point the needle rises slightly, as it did upon the first stroke, pauses an
instant, in order that the loop thus formed may be caught by the devices shortly
to be described and then is drawn up, but before it rises far enough to strain the
twine, the knotter-head 192 begins to turn back, thereby drawing the end of the
wine which is grasped in its point through the eye-in the twine, which is formed
by carrying the latter around the looper-arm, as shown in Figures 21 and 22. As the
retrograde movement of the knotter-head continues, this eye in the twine is swept
off the looper-arm by means of a clearing hook 215 (Figures 26 and 28) arranged
inside the circular shell 160°.
Upon the vertical front face of the frame-plate 209 are bolted two vertical.
guide-strips 216, (Figures 43, 44 and 46), between which a recessed plate 217 is
vertically reciprocated by means of a lever-arm 218, connected to it by a link 219,
and fixed, upon a rock-shaft 220. An arm 221 is fixed on this shaft, its end
having an elongated slot 222, in which lies a pin 223, connecting it to an actuating
arm 224, of a shaft 225 (Figure 3).
Upon the recessed inner face (Figures 47 and 48) of the plate 217, at its upper
end, are pivotted a jaw-plate 226 and a jaw-operating plate 227. The plate 226
extends some distance below its pivot 228, and has a slot 229. Above the pivot it
is curved through about a semicircle, its upper end 230 overhanging the pivot and
extending a little beyond. The end 230 is arched in cross-section (Figure 49),
and in rear of the arched portion has pivotted to it a jaw 231, having a rib 232
which is adapted to enter the said arch. The jaw 231 is normally drawn down, by
a coiled spring 233 and is raised by the action of the jaw-operating plate 227,
which is jointed to a lug 234 beneath and behind the pivot of the jaw. The
plate 227 has a lower, straight-edge portion 235, a little on one side of the centre
of the pivot 228 and extends downward beyond the centre of the slot 229, its lower
end 235 being cut at an angle of about 45° to its straight edges. Upon the inuer
face of the jaw-plate 226, at one side in about the horizontal line of the pivot 228,
is. pivotted a cutter-plate 236, the upper end of which is inclined and connected
by a link 237, to one arm of an angular blade-plate 238, pivotted to the jaw-plate
behind the jaw 231. The rear faces of the jaw and the end of the jaw-plate are
flush and against these faces the blade-plate lies, its edge being normally retained
in the position shown in Figure 47 by a blade-spring 239, attached at one end to
the back of the jaw-plate, its lower end bearing against a pin 240 in the edge of
the cutter-plate, below its pivot.
Upon a rock-shaft 241 (Figure 43) just above the shaft 6, is fixed an arm 242,
on the end of which is a bearing for a friction roll 243, (Figures 47 and 48) which
lies in the slot 229. The shaft 241 is rocked by an arm 244 (Figure 3 and 43)
connected by a link 245 to an arm 246, on a shaft 247 which is operated at suitable
intervals by means hereafter described. As this operation is so timed as to coincide
with the ascent and descent of the recessed plate 217, the lower end of the jaw
plate 226 is vibrated, by the oscillation of the arm 242, from side to side, as
seen in Figures 47 and 48. In making this movement, the friction roll 243
traverses the slot 229 in both directions. By contact with the bevelled lower
end 235 of the plate 227, in passing upward in the slot 229, the roll 243
moves the lower end of the plate to the side (Figure 48) and holds it there
В

page_text: until the roll again passes below its bevelled end. In the same upward movement
it engages the oblique lower end 248 of the blade plate 238 and carries it to the
side. By these movements the jaw 231 and cutter-plate 236 are both operated, the
jaw. being closed and the cutter being swept. over the rear faces of the jaw and
the part against which it clamps.
As
Referring now to Figures 43, 44, 45 and the diagrams Figures 23 and 24, and
Figures 25, 28, the circular shell 160° is cut away beneath the channel 179 to
permit the vibration of the curved point of the jaw plate 226. As the needle
on its second stroke (Figure 22) makes a loop in the twine, the jaw plate,
swings and catches the loop, the jaw 231 closes, grasping the twine, and at the
same time the plate 217 begins to descend and draw upon the twine, the
arm 242 being so controlled that the roll 243 rises high enough in the slot 229
to close and hold the jaw 231 without causing the blade to sever the twine.
this strain is placed upon the twine held by the jaws below, the knotter-
head 192 is also turning backward, holding the other twine in the jaws in the
point of its looper-arm, and in order to fully draw up and tightly close the knot
which has been formed, the forward movement of the mattress for a new row of
tabs takes place, the twine having been previously cut.
When the knots are thus
properly formed, the twine having been severed by the action of the respective
cutters already described the operations of the machine are repeated.
I shall now briefly explain those parts of the machine of which explanation has
been deferred.
The rock shaft 38 (Figure 3) which actuates the vertical shaft 30 giving lateral
movement to the two sets of feed-wheels, and to the mattress supports, is
periodically operated by means of an arm 249 (Figure 3) on the rockshaft 38,
carrying a friction-roll 250, which lies in a cam-race 251, (Figure 54) upon the
face of a disc 252 carried by the shaft 43.
The bracket 187 and frame 186 are adjusted toward and from the circular
shell 160 in order to close and open the jaws 169 and 170, and operate the
cutter 172 by the arm 190 and rock-shaft 191, the latter having an arm 253,
lying against the back of the up-right 163. On this arm is a friction-roll 254,
which lies in a cam-path 255, in the sector-plate 198, (Figure 42). This path is
divided into three parts c¹, c², c³, the first holds the arm in such position that the
jaws 169-170, are opened as in Figure 25: the second part shifts the arm
sufficiently to close and hold the jaws, and the third part shifts it still further,
causing the spring 175, (Figure 27) to yield, operating the cutter and severing
the twine. The angular lever 166 (Figure 55) which imparts a swivelling
movement to the annulus 165, also has an arm which lies flat against the back
of the upright 163, a friction roll 256 being mounted on its end and lying in a cam-
path 257 in the sector-plate 198. This path also has three parts d' d² d³ the first
holding the lever at such a point that the jaws 169-170 are drawn back, in
position to await the first stroke of the needle. The second part d² swings the
fever and throws the jaws forward to clutch the twine, and the third part d³ holds
the annulus in position to maintain the end of the twine in place until it is caught
by the end of the locper-arm.
The movement of the sector-plate 198 is controlled as explained, by the rock
shaft 202. Upon this shaft is an arm 258 (Figures 3 and 13) which extends toward
the shaft 43, the friction-roll on its end lying in a cam-path 261 in the flat face of a
disc 262 (Figure 53).
The rock-shaft 247 (Figure 3) which controls the vibration of the arm 242 5
(Figures. 43, 44, 45) is controlled by a cam race 259 in a disc 260 (Figure 52).
The angular lever 207 (Figures 44, 45, 50) is operated by the swing of the jaw-
plate 226, against the end of which one arm of said lever rests, as shewn in
Figure 50. A spring 263 maintains this engagement.
Dated this 9th day of July 1895.
4
ABEL & IMRA),
Agents for the Applicant..

page_text: A Machine for Tabbing Mattresses.
I, EDWIN NAPIER STEPHENSON, of No. 31 Milk Street, City of Boston,
County of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Mechanic,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My invention relates to an automatic machine for tabbing mattresses so arranged
that tabs or washers are intermittently fed to and fixed on feed wheels, between
which the mattress is intermittently advanced, and compressed, and are then placed
upon the mattress, and secured by stitching by a set of needles and tied by a set of
knotting devices as I shall describe referring to the drawings accompanying my
Provisional Specification.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a mattress tabbing machine according to my
invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section upon the line 3* 3ª of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one of the tab placing devices.
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the barrel shewn in Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the barrel on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is a front end elevation of the barrel with a portion of one of its
supporting-brackets.
Fig. 8 is a perspective showing the tuft feeding bar, pusher head and part of the
interior tube of the barrel.
Fig. 9 is a plan of one form of tab or washer.
Fig. 10 is a perspective shewing a portion of one of the upper feed wheels and
one of the cushions, with its tab impaling points and needle openings.
Fig. 11 is a similar perspective shewing a portion of one of the lower feed wheels
with one of the cushions and its tab impaling points and the L-shaped needle
opening.
Fig. 12 is an elevation of the right hand end of the machine.
Fig. 13 is a vertical section taken upon the line 13-13 of Fig. 12 looking in the
direction of the arrow.
Fig. 14 is a sectional elevation upon an enlarged scale shewing one of the needles
and adjacent parts.
Fig. 15 is a transverse section, taken a little above the shaft 5 in Fig. 14.
Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the vertical shaft and its connections for moving
the mattress laterally between two successive needle strokes.
Fig. 17 is a vertical section on the line 17-17 in Fig. 12 looking in the direction
of the arrow.
Fig. 18 is a detail view showing the feeding pawl.
Figs. 19 to 24 inclusive are diagrams illustrating the stitching operations.
Figs. 19, 20, 214, 22 and 23 are plans of the parts in Figs. 19, 20, 21, 22
and 23 respectively.
Fig. 25 is a plan of one of the knotting mechanisms separated from the
machine.
Fig. 26 is a plan upon a somewhat larger scale of the knotter head and
adjuncts.
Fig. 27 is a perspective view of the jaw-supporting annulus.
Fig. 28 is a perspective view of the shell and part of the bracket supporting the
knotter-head.
Fig. 29 shews part of one of the jaws on the annulus Fig. 27.
Fig. 30 shews the other jaw.

page_text: L
Fig. 31 shews the detent pin in the wall of the shell.
Fig. 32 is a plan of one of the knotter-heads.
Fig. 33 is a side view of the knotter-head, looking in the direction of the
arrow, 1, Fig. 32.
Fig. 34 is a side view of the same looking in the direction of the arrow 2,
Fig. 32.
Fig. 35 is a side view of the same, looking in the direction of the arrow 3,
Fig. 32.
Fig. 36 is a side view of the same looking in the direction of the arrow 4,
Fig. 32.
Fig. 37 shews on an enlarged scale, the point of the hook on the knotter-head.
Fig. 38 is a bottom plan of the knotter-head.
Fig. 39 is a plan of the third section of the knotter-head.
Fig. 40 is a bottom plan of the second or middle section of the same.
Fig. 41 is a vertical section of the knotter-bead and stem.
Fig. 42 is a front elevation of the cam sector for operating the devices which
clamp, hold and cut the twine.
Fig. 43 is a front elevation of the knotting mechanism, part of the overhanging
shield being removed.
Fig. 44 is a similar view shewing the position of the parts when the process of
tabbing has reached the stage illustrated in Fig. 23.
'
Fig. 45 is a vertical section, taken from front to rear of the knotting
mechanism.
Fig. 46 is a horizontal section of the same taken just above the bevil gear which
drives the knotter-head.
Fig. 47 is an elevation taken from the rear of Fig. 43, shewing the devices
for seizing, drawing and cutting the twine.
Fig. 48 shews the same parts in a different position.
Fig. 49 is a side elevation of the upper portion of Fig. 48.
Fig. 50 shews part of the devices for periodically projecting and withdrawing
the twine holding shaft, in the stem of the knotter-head.
Fig. 51 is a front view of the cam which operates the tabbing needles.
Fig. 52 shews the cam which controls the sector on the knotting mechanism.
Fig. 53 shews the cam which controls the clamping, knot drawing and twine
cutting devices shewn in Figs. 44, 47 and 48.
Fig. 54 shews the cam controlling the mechanism by which the mattress is moved
laterally between the two strokes of the needles.
Fig. 55 shews the lever which controls the rising and falling stem of the knotter-
head.
1 is the frame of the machine consisting of two parallel upright sides connected
by transverse braces 2. On 1 is mounted an upper frame 3, its sides being connected
by transverse bars 4.
In these frames are journalled shafts 5 and 6, the former carrying the upper set
of feed wheels 7, the latter carrying a corresponding lower set of similar feed
wheels, each vertically under one of the upper wheels, all the feed wheels being
arranged upon their shafts at regular intervals.
Upon the ends of the shafts 5 and 6, which project beyond the outer faces of
the frames 1 and 3, upon one side of the machine, are fixed equal spur
wheels 8 and 9. The upper shaft 5 is mounted in boxes 10 moveable in
brackets 12 upon the inner faces of the frame 3. Upon vertical extensions 3*,
above the upper frame 3 is a transverse bar 13 vertically adjustable by screw
"shafts 14 which engage lugs 15 projecting from the bar 13 near its ends.
Upon the upper ends of the screws 14 are fixed bevil wheels 16 gearing with
bevil pinions 17 carried by a horizontal shaft 18 which is journalled in brackets 19.
One end of the shaft 18 carries a hand wheel 20 by turning which the transverse
bar 13 can be raised or lowered.
Upon the bar 13 are fixed as many hangers 21 as there are feed wheels in the
4
.

page_text: upper set.
Each hanger, as seen in Figs. 3, 12, 14 and 15, consists of an oblong
plate, stiffened by an edge flange 22 and having bolted on it a bearing 23 which
receives the shaft 5.
By working the screws 14, the shaft 5 and the feed wheels carried by its shaft
can be raised and lowered.
In order to preserve the gear engagement connecting the upper and lower sets of
feed wheels, notwithstanding more or less separation of their shafts, I provide a
spur wheel 24, always in gear with the wheel 9, upon the lower shaft 6.
Upon the
axis of 24 is pivotted a carrier plate 25 on which is jornalled an interminediate
spur wheel 26 which gears with 24 and also with 8, which is upon the end of the
upper shaft 5.
To the carrier plate 25 is attached an arın 27 having a curved slot 28, which
runs upon a set screw 29. By loosening this set screw when the upper shaft 5 is
raised and lowered, the intermediate wheel 26 can be moved around 24 so as to
retain it in gear with 8, the screw 29 then fixing the curved arm 27 securely in
position.
Both shafts 5 and 6 have, at suitable intervals, a small simultaneous movement
lengthwise, this being effected as shewn in Figs. 1 and 13 & 16, by a vertical rock
shaft 30, supported in brackets 31 and carrying two sets of parallel arms 32
which are jointed by links 33 to rings 34, running in collars 34 on the shafts >
and 6.
The vertical rock shaft 30 is partly turned at the proper time by means of an
arm 35 on it connected by a link 36 to an arm 37 fixed upon a shaft 38 (Fig. 13)
which is journalled in the lower part of the frame 1. A partial rotary movement
of the shaft 30 moves the two shafts 5 and 6 lengthwise thus moving both sets of
feed wheels in unison.
Upon the shaft 30 is an arm 39 connected to a forked link 40 jointed to a pair
of lugs 41 which form part of the horizontal support for the mattress lying between
the upper and lower feed wheels.
This arm 39 gives a lateral movement, in unison with that given the feed wheels,
to the mattress support, this movement being effected periodically for the purpose
hereinafter explained, as well as the means for working the shaft 38 in order to rock
the shaft 30.
A large spur gear 42, carried by a shaft 43, which extends from side to side of
the machine is driven by a pinion 44, journalled upon a bracket 45 upon one side
of the machine. On the shaft of this pinion 44 is a worm wheel 46, with which
a worm 47 gears, this worm being carried by a shaft 48, supported in bearings 49.
Upon the worm shaft 48 is a pulley 50 by which the shaft is driven from any
suitable source of power.
The bearings 49 of the worin shaft 48 are upon a frame 51 pivotted on the
outside of the machine frame 1 upon an axis 52, the latter being supported upon a
bracket 53.
From the frame 51 extends an arm 54 carrying a weight 55 which normally
tilts the frame upwards withdrawing the worm 47 from the worm wheel 46.
When the parts are in work, the frame 51 is held in proper position to maintain
engagement of the worm gear by a lever 56 fulcrumed at 59 upon the end of a
horizontal bar 57, which projects from the bracket 53.
This lever has a shoulder 58 which engages the end of the pivoted frame, and
the lower arm 60 of the said lever, below its fulcrum 59, carries a weight 61, by
which the engagement of the shoulder 58 with the end of the pivoted frame 51 is
normally maintained.
The weight 55 is adjustable in position and clamped by a set screw 62. The
action derived from the worm shaft 48, can be instantly arrested by merely swinging
the lever 56 tar enough to draw its shoulder 58 off the end of the pivotted frame 51,
whereupon the weight 55 raises the pivoted frame 51 and disengages the worm 47
from the wheel'46.
Intermittent rotation is communicated to the upper and lower sets of feed

page_text: .
wheels by means of a disc 63 upon the lower shaft 6 having in its periphery
equally spaced notches 64. Upon the said shaft 6 is loosely mounted (Fig. 17) an
arm 65 carrying a pawl 66 (Fig. 18) which engages with the notches 64. The
lever 65 is connected by a link 67 to an arm 68 upon a rock shaft 38 which
extends from side to side of the machine. Upon an oblique arm is fixed an
adjustable weight 70 (see Fig. 17).
At
Upon the arm 68 is mounted a friction roll 71 which bears against the periphery
of a heart shaped cam 72 placed near the wheel 42 (Fig. 17) and upon the same
shaft 43. This cam 72 at each revolution allows the arm 65 to be swung upwards
by the weight 70, and when the pawl 66 has engaged the notch 64 the cam
shoulder 72 acts upon 71 and draws down the arm 65 giving a partial rotary
movement to the disc 63 which is then held stationary by a latch 74 engaging
with notches 75 in the edge of the disc 63 between the notches 64. The latch 74
is pivoted at one end to a foot bracket 76 (Figs. 3, 17) and at the other end it
is connected by a link 77 with one end of a lever 78 having a fulcrum 79.
the other end of the lever 78 is a spring 80 by which the latch 74 is normally
held in engagement with the notches 75. Upon the end of the lever 78, where
the spring 80 is attached, is mounted a friction roll 81 to meet a cam pro-
jection 83, 84 on the disc 67*. At each revolution of the disc 678 this cam
surface acting on the friction roll 81 lifts the lever 78 in opposition to the
spring 80, thus drawing the latch 74 out of the notch 75 in the disc 63 leaving the
disc free to rotate, when the pawl 66 having engaged one of the notches 64 in
the disc 63 is about to advance the disc, when the cam projection 83 passes off the
friction roll 81, the latch 74 returns to the edge of the disc 63 and when the
succeeding notch 75 arrives at the latch it is made to engage therewith by
the spring 80.
By the intermittent rotation of the upper and lower feed wheels as described the
mattress is advanced step by step in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3, moving
upon a horizontal bed or support which has at suitable intervals longitudinal
openings 86 through which the lower feed wheels project.
The mattress rests upon a series of longitudinal slats or bars 87 (Fig. 2)
supported by transverse bars 88 (Fig. 12) which rest upon longitudinal beams 89
lying upon shoes 90 near the ends of the machine frame. Each shoe (Fig. 17) has
upon its lower surface a rib 91 which lies in a channel in a transverse V-shaped
rail 92 carried upon the transverse braces 2 (Figs. 12, 13). The slats 87 and the
other parts of the structure are rigidly connected together to form a complete
frame to which the forked link 40 (Figs. 12, 16) is secured and thus the lateral
movement of the feed wheels is accompanied by a like movement of the entire
frame on which the mattress rests, the shoes 90 sliding upon the rails 92. As the
mattress lies upon the slats, and is compressed between the upper and lower feed
wheels, it moves with them laterally for a purpose explained hereafter.
The mattress being fed intermittently in the direction of its length by the upper
and lower feed wheels and being compressed between them to a suitable thickness
for tabbing I apply the tabs to the peripheries of these wheels by automatic means,
in such manner that they are temporarily retained thereon and pressed against the
opposite surfaces of the mattress during the process by which the tabs are
permanently fastened.
Each feed wheel has placed at equal intervals on its periphery cushions 93 from
each of which project sharp points or spurs 94.
Upon the brackets 95 which project from the transverse beam 4-4 is mounted
a rock shaft 96 upon which are fixed collars 97 corresponding in number to the
number of feed wheels. As all the tab placing devices are alike I may confine
their description to that of one.
Referring to Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 which represent upon an enlarged scale a
single tab placing mechanism 98, is an arm formed upon and hanging below the
collar 97 its end having a lug 99 fastened to a barrel 100 by screws 101 tapped
into bosses 102 upon the barrel. The rock shaft 96 is placed so near to the feed

page_text: wheels that when the barrel 100 is horizontal or nearly so, its end lies. quite near
the face of the feed wheel, and by rocking the shaft 96 the barrel by a slight
tilting movement is caused to abut with its end squarely against the face of the
feed wheel.
The barrel 100 has within it a tube 103 a little more than half the length of the
barrel. In cross section the interior of said tube is shaped (Fig. 8) to correspond.
or substantially so, with the outline of the tab, one of which is shown in Fig. 9.
Within the tube 103 and lying in the barrel behind the end of the tube, is a feed
bar 104 having a pusher head 105, from which pins 106 enter apertures in the
front end of the feed bar, these pins having springs 107 coiled upon them to
normally hold the pusher head at a little distance from the end of the pusher bar.
The bar has a toothed rack 108 on its upper side gearing with a pinion 109 carried
by a shaft 110 which passes transversely through the top of the barrel. Upon one
end of the shaft is a ratchet 112 with which engages a holding pawl 113 pivoted
upon the flattened side of the barrel and urged by a spring 114. Upon the
projecting end of the shaft 110 is an arm 115 carrying a sleeve 116. Upon
the transverse beam above the barrel is fixed an angle lug 117 (Figs. 4 and 7) to
which is jointed a screwed spindle 118. The screwed portion passes loosely
through the sleeve 116 above and below which are stop nuts 120 and 121 with
lock nuts 122. A spring pressed feed pawl 123 mounted upon the inner face of
the arm 115 engages the ratchet 112.
The parts described are repeated for each one of the upper set of feed wheels,
each separate piece of the tab feeding mechanism, being mounted upon the rock
shaft 96. In brackets 124 (Figs. 3 and 13) which project from a transverse.
frame 125 extending between the sides of the machine frame is mounted a rock
shaft 126 having the same relation to the lower feed wheels as the rock shaft 96.
bears to the upper wheels. Upon this rock shaft 126 in the manner already
described are tab feeding mechanisms 127 corresponding in all essential respects to
those upon the upper rock shaft 96 the sole difference being that those above hang
from the upper rock shaft while those below are supported above the rock shaft 126.
From the rock shafts 96 and 126 project arms 128 and 129 in opposite directions
connected by a link 130. Upon the end of the rock shaft 126 is fixed au arm 131
which extends beneath the shaft 6 and has at its end a friction roll 132 lying
beneath the shaft 43 in the path of a cam 133. At each revolution of the shaft 43
the cam 133 depresses the arm 131 rocking the shaft 126 and through the link 130
also the shaft 96 thereby swinging both sets of tab-feeding mechanisms toward the
upper and lower feed wheels in unison, and impaling the tabs which lie in the
mouths of the barrels 100 upon the points 94 which project from the peripheries of
the feed wheels. When the cam 133 passes off the arm 131 the two sets of tab
feeding mechanisms are restored to the normal position shown in Fig. 3 by means of
a weight 135 on a lever arm 134 fixed on the rock shaft 126 (Fig. 1). As the
barrels 100 move toward the feed wheels, they assume the position indicated by
dotted lines in Fig. 4 causing the screws 118 to vibrate or swing over a short arc.
As the arm 115 is loose upon the shaft 110 the sleeve 116 rests on the lower set
nut 120, during this movement, and as the rear end of the barrel drops, and moves
toward the feed wheel the arm 115 is caused to turn on the shaft 110 in such
manner as to draw the feed pawl 123 back over the teeth of the ratchet 112, which
is locked by the holding pawl 113. As the barrel moves back to the normal
position, shown in full lines in Fig. 4, the sleeve 116 rises on the screw 118, until
it meets the nut 121 which compels it to turn on the shaft 110, thus carrying the
feed pawl 123 forward and giving a rotary motion to the ratchet 112 which
advances the feed bar 104 feeding the tabs contained in the tube 103 toward the
mouth of the tube. The extent of this feed movement can be adjusted with great
accuracy by means of the stop nuts 120, 121.
The tabs having been placed upon the feed wheels in the manner described, the
intermittent rotary motion of the feed wheels brings them upon and presses them
against the opposite surfaces of the mattress directly opposite to each other.
T'he

page_text: feed wheels being at rest, with the mattress compressed between them, the next
operation is to fasten the tabs in place, which is accomplished by the following
mechanism —
Upon the brackets 21 hanging from the transverse bar 13, are fixed strong
horizontal braces 136 (Figs. 14 and 15) parallel with the upper feed wheel shaft 5
and projecting from the brackets 21, which lie between the wheels 7, within the
peripheries of these wheels (Fig. 12). These braces support vertical guide
plates 137, each having a slot 138, in which the shaft 5 lies. In each plate is also
provided a vertical guideway in which lies a needle slide 139, being a rectangular
frame with bevelled edges 140 which fit in the guides and having a longitudinal
slot 141 of such length as to permit the needle slide to reciprocate without touching
the shaft 5. At the lower end of the slide is a transverse projecting needle
head 142, having a straight tabbing needle 143 fixed in it by a thumb screw 144.
The needle has an eye near its point and carries a tabbing twine 145, which is
carried around a tension device 146, upon the side of the guide plate. The spool
from which the twine is drawn is placed where convenient. Each bracket 21 has
one of the vertical guide plates 137, with a needle-slide, needle, &c., and arranged
as described. The needle slides 139 are operated by means of arms 147, (Figs. 3
and 14) of a rock shaft 148, which is journalled in bearings 149, upon the
brackets 95. The ends of these arms are connected to the needle slides by
links 150. Fixed upon the rock shaft 148 near its end (Figs. 1, 2 and 17) is an
arm 151, in the vibrating end of which is formed an elongated eye 152 (Fig. 1).
In this eye is engaged the end of a connecting rod 153 which extends down to the
actuating lever 154. This lever is pivotted at 156, on a bracket 157 and has a
laterally-projecting friction roll 158, engaged in a cam race 159 (see Fig. 51)
formed in the inner face of the large spur wheel 42. The slots in the arms 151
and 154 receiving the ends of the connecting rod 153 allow variation of the stroke
of the needle slides.
After the needles 143 have passed through the mattress upon one side of the
tabs pressed against its upper and lower surfaces, and after they have again risen
above the mattress leaving the first strand of the twine drawn through the body
of the mattress, the mattress and both sets of tabs are shifted about half an inch,
to one side, so as to straddle or carry the tabbing twine over the tabs and through
the mattress upon the other side of the tabs, as shown in Fig. 22. For this
purpose both the upper and lower feed wheels 7, together with the mattress
compressed between them, as shown in Fig. 3, and the horizontal mattress-support,
are all shifted laterally by means of the vertical shaft 30, which is connected
to the shafts 5 and 6, and to the horizontal frame, in the manner already
described.
To enable the tabbing twine to be carried through the mattress by the
needles 143, first on one side and then on the other, of the tabs, needle openings 160
are formed (Figs. 10 and 11) in each of the feed wheels and in the cushions 93.
These openings are substantially circular in form, one being on each side of the
spurs 94, the tab being applied so that the spurs impale it in its central longitudinal
line, or nearly so. A channel 161 connects the two needle openings 160, and
permits the passage of the tacking thread over the centres of the tabs. The
opening shewn in Fig. 11 is of peculiar form, being substantially L-shaped, for a
purpose which will be explained shortly.
I will now describe the mechanism, for seizing the ends of the twine, after the
needles have passed once through the mattress, and for knotting it upon the under,
or lower side of the mattress after the needles have made their second stroke, after
which the twine is cut at a little distance from the knots, and the mattress is fed
forward to bring another set of tabs into position for fixing.
The mattress in the position shewn in Fig. has each feed wheel of both sets
pressing on it.
The mattress being now stationary the cam 159 acts upon the arm 154, and all
the needles 143 descend, passing through the mattress and projecting below its

page_text: lower surface. In making this stroke, the needles pass down through one of the
needle openings 160, upon one side of the tabs, in the position shewn in Fig. 19.
After reaching their lowest point the needles are slightly raised by an angular
portion 159 (Fig. 51) of the cam, so as to throw out a loop of the thread. As the
action is the same in each needle the following description refers to a single needle
only, as shown in Figs. 19 to 24, and Figs. 19 to 23.
.
Beneath, and projecting partly within the peripheries of each of the lower feed
wheels, is a knotting mechanism, just beneath the needle openings in the upper
portion of the rims of these wheels, as shown in Fig. 45.
Each knotting mechanism
comprises a circular shell 160° (Fig. 28) forming part of a bracket 161, which is
part of a frame 162, bolted to an upright 163 (Fig. 45). The upper portion of the
circular shell is dressed off upon its exterior, to form a shoul ler 164, upon which is
seated an annulus 165 (Fig. 27). This annulus is capable of a swivelling movement
upon the shell 160", which is produced at intervals, by a bell crank, or elbow
lever 166, (Figs. 25 and 55) pivotted on the upright 163, and connected by a
link 167 to a lug 168 on the annulus. Upon the annalas a rigid jaw 169 projects
from its inner face almost opposite the lug 168 and upon the base supporting this
jaw is pivotted a movable jaw 170, having a lever 171 which is curved around in
the line, and upon the edge of the annulus for about quarter of a circumference.
The edge of the annulus is cut away to receive the lever, the upper surface of
which is level. Upon the pivot of the movable jaw 170, is also mounted a cutting
blade 172, operated by a curved lever 173, which lies upon the lever 171.
end of the lever 173 is formed a lng 174, which drops over the outer edge of the
lever 171 and projects radially outward. The end of the lever 171 extends beyond
this lug and is straightened so as to form a tangent to the shell 160". Its extremity
is connected to the end of the lug 174 by a spring 175, by which the jaw 170
would, when the lug 174 is acted upon as will hereafter be described be held against
the fixed jaw 169. As shewn in Fig. 30 the jaw 169 has two faces or parts a
and, one of which is the holding, or clamping face, while the other co-operates
with the cutting blade 172.
At the
Over the shell and annulus is a sheet metal hood 176 (Fig. 44) having an
opening 177 through which the needle 143 descends, passing into an opening 178
which communicates with a vertical slot 179, in the shell 164 (Fig. 28).
As shewn in Fig. 19 the twine in making the loop moves away from the needle
and passes into and is caught by a hook 180 (Fig. 26) which is fixed on the
shell 160, its opening being vertically above the slot 179. Overhanging the
hook 180 is a plate 181 having a forked end, which lies close to the opening of
the hook, the arms of the fork being at about right angles to the line of the
opening in the hook 180, upon one side of which the fork lies, while the jaws 169,
170, lie upon the other side. The plate 181 is fixed upon the upper end of an
arm 182 (Fig. 44) carried by a rock shaft 183. When this rock shaft is operated,
as will hereafter be described, the forked end of the plate 181 is moved over the
hook 180, as shown in Fig. 20, the loop of the twine being thus held enclosed
upon all sides by the hook 180, the fork 181 upon the one side and the two jaws 169
and 170 which are moved forward upon the other side of the thread, by the
following mechanism :-
On the under side of the lug 174, is mounted a friction roll 184 which lies in a
curved slot 185 concentric with the annulus 165, in a frame 186, which is fixed upon
a bracket 187 having a sliding bearing 188 in the base of the circular shell 160.
The bracket is connected by a link 189, to an arm 190, of a rock shaft 191,
(Figs. 25 and 44). By the action of this shaft the slot 185 is removed a little from
the circular shell 160 causing the movable jaw 170 to clamp upon the twine.
This movement is not sufficient to make the cutting blade 172 act with the part b
of the stationary jaw 169, but is sufficient to strain the spring 175 so that the jaws
securely hold the twine. As already stated this engagement is effected by the lift
of the needle to form the loop.
Within the circular shell, 160° is arranged a.knotter.head 192, shown in detail. in

page_text: Figs. 32 to 41 inclusive. It has a vertical stem 193, which lies in a central
.opening 194 in the base of the shell 160 and extends down through the frame 162,
in the lower portion of which it has a bearing. Upon its lower end (Figs. 45
and 46) is a bevel pinion 195 gearing with a sector 196 fixed on a rock shaft 197,
which lies a little above the feed wheel shaft 6 and is operated by a sector plate 198
(Fig. 42), which is fixed on the rock shaft 197 behind the upright 163. An arm 199
of the sector plate is connected by a link 200 (Fig. 43) to the end of an arm 201
on a rock shaft 202 (Fig. 3) which is worked as will be hereafter described.
In a central bore 203 of the stem 193 (Fig. 41) lies a vertically movable
stem 204, the upper end of which rises to the top of the knotter head, while its
lower end extends helow the bevel pinion 195, and has on it a head 205 which is
connected (Fig. 50) by a link 206 to one arm of a bell crank lever 207 pivotted
at 208 upon the front of a frame plate 209, which is bolted to the standard 163.
By operating this lever at suitable intervals, the end of the stem 204 is caused to
project temporarily above the top of the knotter head 192.
The knotter head has a curved looper arm 210, as will be explained hereafter.
When the needle descends the knotter head is stationary, the point of the looper
arm 210 being close to it, but as the needle forms the loop the head begins to
revolve, carrying the point of the looper arm into the loop. As the needle now
rises the knotter head continues to revolve by the action of the sector gear 196 and
the curved arm 210 passes completely into the loop of the twine, as shown in
Figs. 20 and 20ª. At about the same moment the stem 204 rises and projects above
the top of the knotter bead, as seen in Figs. 21 and 21A, and the twine is drawn by
the arm 210 over the outer surface of the bead 192, in which a concave channel 212
is formed (Figs. 35-36).. This channel inclines upward and passes out at the top
of the head, and the twine having been caught by this channel is carried up in it,
as the head turns further, and ultimately passes over the top of the head, before the
latter completes its revolution. and the loop thus formed is caught by the projecting
end of the stem 204 (Figs. 21 and 214).
During this operation, the needle having risen, the mattress is moved laterally
and the second stroke of the needle is made upon the opposite side of the tab just
before the knotter head is in the position shown in Fig. 214.
The
The knotter head and looper arm present three sections (Figs. 32 to 41) which
may be designated by the letters a, y, and z. The upper section a, comprising the top
of the head and the upper third of the looper-arm is integral with the stem 193, and
the lower section, z, is fixed on it. The middle section y between them, has a
chamber y', which receives a neck a¹ of the top section, on which y can turn.
middle and lower thirds of the looper arm 210 form part of the middle and lower sections
respectively, and are so fitted together that the middle section of the arm may have
a limited sliding movement between the two other parts. The extremity of the
upper section has a bevelled point, forming a hook a which projects beyond the
two lower sections. The end 2 of the lower section is bevelled off to lie quite
near the barb of the hook 2. The end y² of the middle section is square, and its
outer face is dressed off to enable its edge to properly engage the edge of the
depending barb of the hook 2 which hangs down as far as the bottom, or lower
edge, of the middle section, as shewn in Fig. 37. A spring yis coiled in the
chamber y' and connected at its ends in such manner that the end y2 of the middle
.section is normally pressed against the edge of the barb of the hook 2.
The rotary
.retraction of this section is limited by a stop pin y projecting from its lower face
into a curved slot 3 in the lower section. Upon the outer face of the middle section,
almost diametrically opposite the point of the looper-arm 210, is a square lip y
facing in the direction of revolution of the knotter-head. Upon the lower section 2,
a little behind the lip y, but beneath the projecting body of metal forming it is a
cam curve z¹
As the knotter head approaches the position shown in Figure 214, the end of
the thread grasped by the jaws 169-170 is drawn across the path of the looper-
carin and the bevelled point of the hook of the upper section strikes-it, carrying
:)

page_text: it downward into the passage between the barb of the hook and the bevelled end =¹
of the lower section. At this instant the lip y' is brought against the end of a
stop 213 (Figures 25, 26 and 28) lying within the circular shell 160 and pressed
inward by a spring. The rotation of the middle section y of the head, being thus
arrested, momentarily, its end y2 is drawn away from the edge of the barb, and the
thread passes behind the two just as the cam reaches the stop 213, and pressing
it outward, releases the middle section y, which is instantly restored to normal
position by the coiled spring y³ thereby catching the twine between its end y² and
the barb of the hook.
At this point the needle makes its second stroke, as seen in Figure 22, passing
down between the looper-arm and knotter-head, and between the part of the twine
now grasped by the arm and that portion which passes from the end of the
stem 204 over the periphery of the head, as shown in Figure 21. After reaching
its lowest point the needle rises slightly, as it did upon the first stroke, pauses an
instant, in order that the loop thus formed may be caught by the devices shortly to
be described, and then is drawn up, but before it rises far enough to strain the
twine, the knotter head 192 begins to turn back, thereby drawing the end of the
twine which is grasped in its point through the eye in the twine, which is formed
by carrying the latter around the looper-arm, as shown in Figures 21 and 22.
the retrograde movement of the knotter-head continues, this eye in the twine is
swept off the looper-arm by means of a clearing hook 215 (Figures 26 and 28)
arranged inside the circular shell 160°.
As
Upon the vertical front face of the frame plate 209 are bolted two vertical
guide-strips 216 (Figures 43, 44 and 46) between which a recessed plate 217 is
vertically reciprocated by means of a lever arm 218 connected to it by a link 219,
and fixed upon a rock-shaft 220. An arm 221 is fixed on this shaft, its end having
an elongated slot 222 in which lies a pin 223, connecting it to an actuating
arm 224, of a shaft 225 (Fig. 3).
Upon the recessed inner face (Figs. 47 and 48) of the plate 217, at its upper
end, are pivotted a jaw-plate 226 and a jaw-operating plate 227. The plate 226
extends some distance below its pivot 228, and has a slot 229. Above the pivot
it is curved throngh about a semi-circle, its upper end 230 overhanging the
pivot and extending a little beyond. The end 230 is arched in cross section
(Fig. 49), and in rear of the arched portion has pivotted to it a jaw 231, having a
rib 232 which is adapted to enter the said arch. The jaw 231 is normally drawn
down, by a coiled spring 233 and is raised by the action of the jaw-operating
plate 227, which is jointed to a lug 234 beneath and behind the pivot of the jaw.
The plate 227 has a lower straight edge portion 235, a little on one side of the
centre of the pivot 228 and extends downward beyond the centre of the slot 229,
its lower end 235ª being cut at an angle of about 45° to its straight edges. Upon
the inner face of the jaw-plate 226, at one side, in about the horizontal line of the
pivot 228, is pivotted a cutter-plate 236, the upper end of which is inclined and
connected by a link 237, to one arm of an angular blade-plate 238, pivotted to the
jaw-plate behind the jaw 231. The rear faces of the jaw and the end of the jaw-
plate are flush and against these faces the blade-plate lies, its edge being normally
retained in the position shown in Fig. 47 by a blade-spring 239 attached at one end
to the back of the jaw-plate, its lower end bearing against a pin 240 in the edge of
the cutter-plate, below its pivot.
Upon a rock-shaft 241 (Fig. 43) just above the shaft 6, is fixed an arm 242, on
the end of which is a bearing for a friction roll 243 (Figs. 47 and 48) which lies
in the slot 229. The shaft 241 is rocked by an arm 244 (Fig. 3) connected by a
link 245 to an arm 246, on a shaft 247 which is operated at suitable intervals by
means hereafter described. As this operation is so timed as to coincide with
the ascent and descent of the recessed plate 217, the lower end of the jaw piate 226
is vibrated by the oscillation of the arm 242, from side to side as seen in Figs. 47
and 48. In making this movement the friction roll 243 traverses the slot 229 in

page_text: both directions. By contact with the bevelled lower end 235" of the plate 227, in
passing upward in the slot 229, the roll 243 moves the lower end of the plate to
the side (Fig. 48) and holds it there until the roll again passes below its bevelled
end. In the same upward movement it engages the oblique lower end 248 of the
blade plate 236 and carries it to the side. By these movements the jaw 231 and
cutter plate 236 are both operated, the jaw being closed and the cutter being
swept over the rear faces of the jaw and the part against which it clamps.
Referring now to Figs. 43, 44, 45 and the diagrams Figs. 23 and 24, and
Figs. 25, 28, the circular sheli 160 is cut away beneath the channel 179 to permit
the vibration of the curved point of the jaw plate 226. As the needle on its second
stroke (Fig. 22) makes a loop in the twine, the jaw plate swings and catches the
loop, the jaw 231 closes, grasping the twine, and at the same time the plate 217
begins to descend and draw upon the twine, the arm 242 being so controlled that
the roll 243 rises high enough in the slot 229 to close and hold the jaw 231
without causing the blade to sever the twine. As this strain is placed upon the
twine held by the jaws below, the knotter-head 192 is also turning backward,
holding the other twine in the jaws in the point of its looper-arm, and in order to
fully draw up and tightly close the knot which has been formed, the forward
movement of the mattress for a new row of tabs takes place, the twine having
been previously cut. When the knots are thus properly formed, the twine
having been severed by the action of the respective cutters already described, the
operations of the machine are repeated.
I shall now briefly explain those parts of the machine of which explanation has
been deferred.
The rock shaft 38 (Fig. 13) which actuates the vertical shaft 30 giving lateral
movement to the two sets of feed wheels, and to the mattress supports, is periodi-
cally operated by means of an arm 249 (Fig. 3) on the rock shaft 38, carrying a
friction roll 250, which lies in a cam race 251 (Fig. 54) upon the face of a disc 252
carried by the shaft 43.
The bracket 187 and frame 186 are adjusted toward and from the circular
shell 160 in order to close and open the jaws 169 and 170, and operate the
cutter 172 by the arm 190 and rock shaft 191, the latter having an arm 253, lying
against the back of the upright 163. Ou this arm is a friction roll 254 which lies
in a cam-path 255 in the sector plate 198 (Fig. 42). This path is divided into
three parts e²e the first holds the arm in such position that the jaws 169, 170,
are opened as in Fig 25, the second part 2 shifts the arm sufficiently to close and
hold the jaws, and the third part e shifts it still further, causing the spring 175
(Fig. 27) to yield, operating the cutter and severing the twine. The angular
lever 166 (Figure 55) which imparts a swivelling movement to the annulus 165,
also has an arm which lies flat against the back of the upright 163, a friction
roll 256 being mounted on its end and lying in a cam-path 257 in the sector-
plate 198. This path also has three parts di d² d³ the first holding the lever at
such a point that the jaws 169-170 are drawn back in position to await the first
stroke of the needle. The second part d2 swings the lever and throws the jaws
forward to clutch the twine and the third part d³ holds the annulus in position
to maintain the end of the twine in place until it is caught by the end of the looper
arm.
The movement of the sector plate 198 is controlled as explained by the rock
shaft 202. Upon this shaft is an arm 258 (Figs. 3 and 13) which extends towards
the shaft 43, the friction roll on its end lying in a cam path 261 in the fiat face
of a disc 262 (Fig. 53).
The rock shaft 247 (Fig. 3) which controls the vibration of the arm 242
(Figs. 43, 44, 45) is controlled by a cam race 259 in a disc 260 (Fig. 52). The
angular lever 207 (Figs. 44, 45, 50) is operated by the swing of the jaw-plate 226
against the end of which one arm of said lever rests, as shewn in Fig. 50. A
spring 263 maintains this engagement.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim in respect of a mattress tabbing machine, is :-
1. The combination with an upper and a lower set of feed wheels and their tab.
retaining devices and their intermittently acting driving gear of two sets of tab
carrying devices and means for vibrating them to and from the feed wheels, sub-
stantially as described.
2. The tab carrying device consisting of a barrel adapted to contain a number
of tabs automatically operated feed-bars for advancing the tabs in the barrels, and
mechanism for vibrating the tab-carrying device to and from the feed wheels at
proper intervals, substantially as described.
3. The combination with an upper and a lower set of feed wheels, between
which the mattress is advanced and compressed, of a vertically adjustable support
for the shaft carrying the upper series, spur wheels on both upper and lower shafts,
a wheel mounted on a fixed axis and gearing with the spur-gear on the lower
shaft, and an intermediate wheel gearing with the wheel on the fixed axis and
with the wheel on the upper shaft, the intermediate wheel being mounted on a
radius free on the fixed axis, substantially as described.
4. The combination with the upper and lower feed wheels and their intermittently
acting driving gear of a set of tabbing needles and needle slides, and mechanism for
reciprocating them substantially as described.
5. In combination with the tabbing needles and their driving gear, a set of
knotters to knot the tabbing twine on the underside of the mattress, substantially
as described.
6. The mechanism for giving, between two successive reciprocation of the needles,.
a limited lateral movement to the support for the mattress and to both sets of
feed-wheels, between which the mattress is compressed, substantially as described.
7. In combination with the upper and lower feed-wheels mounted on longitudinally
moveable shafts, each feed-wheel being provided at intervals upon its periphery
with tab-retaining devices, an upper and lower set of tab-carrying devices, each
consisting of a barrel adapted to contain a number of tabs, and automatically
operated feed-bars, an upper and lower rock-shaft carrying the two sets of tab-
carrying devices, these rock shafts having oppositely connected arms, and on one of
them a cam-actuated lever arm a set of tabbing-needles, and needle-slides linked to
lever-arms on a rock-shaft, a rock-shaft having arms which are linked to both the
feed-wheels, means for operating both of said rock-shafts at different times, and a
set of knotters arranged within the peripheries of the lower feed-wheels substantially
as described.
8. In combination with the needles, intermittently rotating knotter-heads having
looper arms, an upper set of twine clamping devices upon the shells enclosing the
knotter-heads, a lower set of twine clamping devices, and means for automatically
operating these parts in relation to each other, substantially as described.
9. In combination with each knotter head and means for rotating it, at suitable
intervals, a vertically moveable stem, means for projecting it upwards, a pair of
jaws mounted on an annulus surrounding the knotter-head, means for giving rotary
movement to the annulus, a cutter mounted upon a moveable jaw, means for operating
the jaw and cutter, and a twine-clamping and knot-drawing device arranged below
the knotter-head, substantially as described.
10. The knotter-head with looper arm, formed in three sections, the middle
section being capable of a limited rotary movement, subject to a spring pressing it
against the edge of a barb on the prolonged end of the upper section, a circular
shell in which the knotter-head revolves, an inwardly pressed stop adapted to
engage a lip on the outer face of the middle section, which overhangs a release-cam
on the lower section, an annulus mounted on the shell and having a rigid jaw, a
moveable jaw having a curved lever, a cutter mounted on the same axis and having
a similarly curved lever the end of which has a lug hanging against the outer face

page_text: of the jaw-lever and connected to the end thereof by a spring, a frame enclosing a
curved slot adapted to receive a friction-roll on a lug of the cutter-lever, a bracket
supporting the frame, means for moving the bracket to and from the circular shell,
and mechanism for swivelling the annulus and revolving the knotter-head,
substantially as described.
11. The device for catching and holding the twine and drawing the knot
consisting of a slotted jaw-plate pivotted upon a vertically moveable support, a jaw
pivotted thereon, near its point, a jaw operating plate mounted on the same pivot with
the jaw-plate and having a straight-edged continuation downwards with its lower
extremity bevelled off, an angular cutter-blade pivotted on the rear face of the
jaw-plate behind the jaw, a cutter operating plate pivotted on the jaw-plate and
having an angular lower end, a lever having a friction-roll lying in the slot of the
jaw-plate and adapted to engage the edges of the cutter and jaw-operating plates,
and means for raising and lowering the moveable support and for operating the lever,
substantially as described.
Dated this 13th day of August 1895.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.