Improvements in Machines for Making Springs for Upholstery and like Purposes
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Making Springs for Upholstery and
like Purposes.
A communication from abroad by Joseph Henry SwiFT, of 126, First Place, Brooklyn,
and ABBAHAM SMITH DAVENPORT, of 93, Lexington Avenue, New York, both in
the State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturers.
I PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE of 55 and 56 Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents 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 :-
The object of this invention is to introduce certain improvements in a machine for
inaking upholsterer's springs whereby they can be produced with greater rapidity,
and at less cost than has hitherto been possible.
These improvements mainly consist in the application of devices by which springs
can be completed without either stopping or reversing the machine. Also in such
form of construction as will insure the stopping of that portion of the mandrel into
which the end of the wire is inserted until commencing to form a spring, and in
such a manner that the gripping action shall cause the said mandrel to rotate, and so
coil the spring. Also in a contrivance whereby the springs are forced out of the
spring holder when they have been formed and cut off. Also in the contrivance in
the machine of pneumatic appliances automatically operating in such a way that the
whole process becomes virtually automatic; the attendant having merely to insert
the end of the wire into a stationary mandrel in the first place and after, to guide it
into the groove of the mandrel during the coiling of the spring.
Previously spring making machines have been operated by reversing belts, clutch
gearing, or a combination of both, through the agency of levers in charge of the
operator and the wire has had to be inserted whilst the mandrels were in motion; all
such machines are imperfect by reason of the many complications incident to them,
and the great difficulty of feeding without incurring serious loss of time.
To more particularly describe the invention 1 will now refer to the accompanying
drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine.
Fig. 2, a transverse section on line 1-2 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 a horizontal section on line 3-4 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of the entire machine.
Fig. 5 an enlarged view partly in section of one cone and its attachments forming
the portion of the mandrel for gripping the wire and setting the mandrel in
motion automatically and automatically stopping the mandrel when the springs are
discharged.
Fig. 6 a side view of some of the gripping and starting devices.
Fig. 7, plan view of same with part in section.
Fig. 8 is a plan of part of the devices of Fig. 5.
Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the finishing cone and cutting off attachments and
section of the guard thereof.
Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13 are details of various. parts.
Fig. 14 is also a detail.
Like letters refer to same part on each of the several views.
A represents an air pump, B an accumulator, C a pneumatic ram to move cross
head K and its attachments. The cones T T form the mandrel upon which the
springs are wound, T being called the primary cone and being mounted on cross

page_text: which also form guides for cross head K, and supports for the rubber cushions S;
1 shows a spring holder bolted to the cross head K, by arms 2, and consisting of a
sort of hollow cylinder guard surrounding part of cone T; J balance wheel, D piston
and connecting rod coupled with shaft M, for charging the accumulator, E, rod
carrying arc of ring W within spring holder or guard X, for ejecting springs
therefrom, said holder being a hollow guard surrounding base of cone T¹; Y is a
lever bearing its end r, forming an abutment against which the wire is cut off after
the spring has been coiled, by the cutter s, in the base portion of cone T Z is an
adjustable wedge between levers Y and V these levers and wedge actuated by the
thrust produced by the wire when cat, operate the valves in the chests a, on ram C
through rod 8 to which lever V is connected by link 4, and crank 5, said lever V
being pivoted at 6.
F, is a cradle or catcher to receive the springs from the cones or mandrel after
being coiled on them and hold them centrally to the compressing plates one of
which advances towards the other to compress the springs after being coiled, safety
valve to the accumulator, 'P is a pneumatic ram for actuating one of the compressing
plates Suitable pipes communicate between the respective cylinders and the
accumulator B.
Having now pointed out some of the essential parts of the machine, I will include
the operation of the machine in the further description of the same.
Suppose the machine to be in motion, then the face plate (t) which is geared to the
main shaft M by wheels, L through shaft e will be running but the cone T will be
stationary because it is free to turn on shaft (e) or for the shaft e to turn in it, and
is held in position by a catch (h) which is made to sink into a slight indentation (i)
at a suitable spot in the face of the base hub 7 of the cone T by means of a small
spring (c) as shown, said slile and spring being supported in the socket 8 on the
upper part of guard 1. A groove in the shaft (e) and a pin (f) prevent the cone T
from coming off the said shaft. The face plate (t) being keyed to the shaft (e)
necessarily revolves with it, plate (t) has a projecting gripper and cone driving
piece (g) bolted or otherwise firmly fixed thereto, and bevelled on the outer end
which presents an oblique face 9 in the forward direction of rotation which passes
the gripper () pivotted in head 7 of coue T at each revolution so long as no wire d
is present. The gripper (b) is free to move on pivot (6) in cone head 7, and is kept
in open position by a spring 11, as shown; it further has an inclined face 12, similar
to face 9 of (g) only that it is inclined in the opposite direction, these two faces
being in range of each other and touching and passing by the escape of gripper b,
in the absence of the wire, but effecting the gripping of the wire and the driving
of the cone when the wire (d) is inserted, in which case there is not room for (g)
to pass (6) and consequently the wire is firmly held, and the gripping apparatus (6)
locked to the plate (t) which forces stop h, out of the indentation by the overpowering
force of the said locked drivers and causes the cone T to revolve at the same speed
as the shaft (e) the said indentation being suitably inclined for the escape of
stop h.
J. 'E
The wire is so inserted through slot 32 of guard, I by the attendant while gripper g
is making one round and is then gripped and the cone is set in motion by the next
contact of grippers g and b.
The rotation then continues until the coiled spring is cut off at ", on the opposite
cone.
It is to be understood that the cones are in connection with each other with the
center 10 of one in the socket (dotted in Fig. 9) of the other when the spring is so
coiled said cones having the spiral grooves 13 on which the wire runs. When the
wire d, is released from the gripper b, the mandrel is at once stopped by the catch h,
acting in the indentation, until the wire is again inserted.
['
In the last coil of the completed spring the wire runs between cutters, and
abutment and is cut off as before stated. When no wire is present the cutter, s
just passes abutment r of the end, of lever .Y without touching, but when the wire
comes under said end it is severed because there is not room for it between the

page_text: cutter and said end. At the same time that the wire is cut the end of the lever Y,
which forms the abutment upon which the wire is cut, is slightly raised and opens
the valves contained in the chests (a) by turning rod 3 and admits air from
accumulator B to ram C. By this means the cross-head K on which cone T is
mounted and which is connected to piston rod 36 of ram C is forced back until it
reaches the rubber cushions S when the spring just formed and cut off will drop
into the cradle or catcher F, the cone T being by this operation pulled out of one
end of the spring and the other end being stripped off cone T and out of holder X,
by ring W through rod E and arm 13*, of the cross head, said arm shifting rod E,
by contact with buffer wc.
The guard or holder X, is a cylindrical hood attached to the frame back of cone T',
and partly supported by the arm³, extending from stay rod N, said guard projecting
forward over said cone in the same manner that guard I, projects over cone T, and is
to prevent undue expansion of the springs after the wire is cut, it is slotted length-
wise at 14 for connection of rod E with ejector W, through one side, it is also slotted
at 14* to admit the wire to be coiled.
During the passage of cross head K, to the cushions S the latch 15 on it, passes
under the end of lever 17 pivoted to rod 18 and connecting with a projecting arm 19
of the valves of ram P so that on the return movement of the cross head, said latch
having been raised again by its spring 17*, passes over said end of lever 17 and as
seen in figs. 10 and 11, depresses it, and turns rod 20 of pneumatic ram P, and
operates the valves of said ram P in chests a' thereof and admits air from accumu-
lator B, to the back of the piston in P, causing it to rush forward and compress the
spring immediately after it has fallen into the cradlo F between the plates 7, 7, which
with the centering wing cones R, are located in the cradle, one of said plates being
supported in a stationary position on the forward end of rod 21 and the other being
mounted on the forward end of piston rod 22, of ram P; the wing cones are fitted
to slide in grooves p, in the rods 21, and 22, respectively so as to retire and allow the
plates 7, 7, to approach each other sufficiently to close positively on the spring
between them and they are backed with coiled springs in suitable spring sockets
behind the wing cones to project them forward suitably for centering the springs
between plates 7, 9 previous to the closing of said plates on the springs. At m, are
shown cylindrical spring sockets back of the grooved parts 21 of the rod in which
are springs m² connected with said wing cones by rods m².
When the cross head K, reaches the cushions S, the inclined arm 23 on it strikes
arm 24 of rod 3 reversing the valves of ram c, and so causes the cross head and its
cone T to return to the original position ready for coiling the next spring, and
arm 13*, reverses ejector W, by contact with buffer w' on rod E.
In like manner when the cross head 25 of ram P, has reached the end of its
forward movement in compressing the spring it reverses the valves of ram P, and
causes it to return to the normal position said cross head traversing, for a short
distance the inclined projection 26 placed in a suitable position on the pivoted front
side of cradle F to depress arm 27, of rod 28-20 the same operation opens the
cradle by swinging the front part of same as will be understood by looking at fig. 2,
and allows the spring to fall and thus be discharged. The cross head 25 of the
compressing ram runs on guide rods 28 supported in arm 29 suitably attached to
the frame and one of said rods is connected to and forms an extension of valve
rod 20, of ram P, being the same as above designated 28-20.
The front side of the cradle F is pivoted to the front guide rod 28, by the
ears 30, and it has a slot, 31, in which the end of cross head 25 carried on said
rod runs.
The pinion L on the driving shaft M which gears into the one contained in the
cross head K, is so keyed thereto as to be free to move along the shaft M but is
compelled to revolve with it as such devices are commonly arranged.
It is to be understood that the valve devices of the pneumatic rams are of the
common well known sort used in steam pumps and the like with rods as 3 and 20,
and tappet shifting arms as shown in connection with these rods and the respective

page_text: cross heads, to reverse them at the end of the stroko and it is therefore unnecessary
to illustrate or describe them particularly.
There is a hand lever V' coupled to valve shifting rod 3 by link 4 and pivoted
at 35 for use in case of need to shift valves of ram
treadle 33, coupled to arm 27 of valve rod 28, by rod
to use for reversing ram P instead of depending on
head 25, on inclined arm 26.
by hand, and there is a foot
3-4, which it may be preferred
the automatic action of cross
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondents I declare that what I claim is :-
1st The combination with the primary cone of the spring winding mandrel
arranged for being normally stationary on the rotating driving shaft, of continuously
rotating driving mechanism, substantially as described, automatically releasing the
mandrel through the discharge of the spring as set forth.
2nd: The combination with the primary cone of the spring winding mandrel
arranged for being normally stationary on the rotating driving shaft, of the con-
tinuously rotating driving mechanism, substantially as described, automatically
releasing the mandrel through the discharge of the spring, and the automatic stops
for holding the mandrel while inserting the wire as set forth.
3rd The combination with the primary cone of the spring winding mandrel
normally stationary on the rotating shaft, of the wire gripper in the head of said
cone and the driving gripper on the rotating face plate normally non-active in the
absence of the wire but automatically gripping the presented wire and rotating the
mandrel for coiling the same, substantially as described:
4th: The combination of the automatic spring actuated stop in the guard holder,
with the primary cone of the spring winding mandrel arranged for being normally
stationary on the driving shaft, and with the driving and wire holding gripper
normally non-active, in the absence of the wire but automatically gripping the pre-
sented wire and rotating the mandrel for coiling the same, the holding action of
said stop being overcome by the driving gripper, substantially as described.
5th The combination of the double cone spring coiling-rotating mandrel, recipro-
cating cross head having primary cone mounted on it, the pneumatic ram for
actuating the cross-head, the wire cutting abutment and levers connecting with and
automatically opening the valves of the ram to withdraw the primary cone for the
discharge of the coiled spring through the cutting off of the coiled spring, substantially
as described.
:
6th The combination of the double cone spring winding mandrel one of which
cones is revoluble in fixed supports and the other on a reciprocating cross head for
separating the cones to discharge the spring, the pneumatic ram for actuating the
cross head and the attachments of the cross head, and valvo rod automatically
shifting the valves for reversing the ram by the cross head, substantially as
described.
7th The combination of the double cone spring coiling rotating mandrel, recipro-
cating cross head having the primary cone on it, the guard surrounding the cone
mounted in the stationary supports, the spring ejector in said guard, and the rod and
the arm on the cross head automatically actuating said ejector, substantially as
described.
8th The combination of the receiving cradle for the coiled springs, with the
spring coiling cone mandrel, substantially as described.
9th: The combination with the receiving cradle for the coiled springs, of the
compressing plates and means substantially as described for reciprocating one of said
plates, as set forth.
10th The combination with the receiving cradle of the compressing plates,
centering wing cones, and means substantially as described for reciprocating one of
said plates, said centering cones being arranged to retire for the closing of the
plates on the spring as set forth,

page_text: :
11th The combination with the spring coiling cone mandrel, of the receiving
cradle, compressing plates, and means substantially as described, for reciprocating
one of said compressing plates as set forth.
12th The combination with the spring coiling cone mandrel, of the spring
receiving cradle compressing plates, centering wing cones, and means substantially
as described for reciprocating one of the compressing plates, said wing cones being
arranged to retire for the closing of the plates on the spring, substantially as
described.
13th The combination with the spring coiling cone mandrel and reciprocating
cross head carrying the primary cone, of the receiving cradle, compressing plates,
pneumatic plates, and the attachments of the cross head and the valve actuating rod
of the compressing ram automatically opening the valves for the advance of said
ram, substantially as described.
:
14th The combination of the spring receiving cradle, compressing plates, pneu-
matic ram for actuating one of the compressing plates, the compressing plato carrying
cross head, the valve rod of the ram and the arms actuating said rod by the cross
head for reversing the ram, substantially as described.
15th: The wing cone centres combined with the compressing plates and fitted in
slide ways in the plate supports to retire for the closing of said plates on the spring,
substantially as described.
16th The combination with the double cone spring coiling mandrel, of the spring
compressing plates and the opening and closing receiving cradle for the springs,
substantially as described.
17th: The combination with the spring compressor plates and cross head, of the
vibrating cradle side, and the inclined arm thereon actuated by the cross head, sub-
stantially as described.
18th The combination with the cone in the stationary bearing and the guard
surrounding it, of the spring ejector, substantially as described.
19th The combination in a furniture spring coiling machine, of the double cone
mandrel and reciprocating cross bead carrying the primary cone and the spring con-
trolling guards fixedly mounted relatively to the cones.
Dated the 25th day of March 1890.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE.