Improvements in Machines for Stuffing Mattresses.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Oct., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Stuffing Mattresses.
I, AMENZO GRIFFITHI, of 432 Main Street, in the City of Springfield, County of
Hampden, and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in machines for stuffing mattresses of
the class in which there is comprised a broad shallow box or receiver having a
movable cover or covers, a movable gate closing one end of the box and separating
it from a spout, and a stuffing bar and means for imparting thereto a motion in
the direction of the length of the box for expelling the compressed excelsior or other
mattress filling material, the same being also adapted to be withdrawn in a reversed
direction after its forward thrust.
In the present machine there is a frame comprising opposite posts or standards
having paired separated top rails and the bed forming the bottom of the stuffing
box supported by and connecting the opposite pairs of the rails above their lower
ends, and suitable cross-tiers or bars.
Divided movable, cover. sections for the mattress stuffing box are provided, the
said sections, or, members being pivoted to the frame and are operated by means
which will be hereinafter referred to.
One end of the mattress. stuffing. box is closed by a movable gate, this gate
dividing the chamber comprised within the stuffing box from a spout on which
latter the open mouth of the mattress tick is drawn and held to receive the filling
after the same has been formed and compressed in the stuffing box, principally
by the covers and to some extent by a bar which is supported by a horizontally
movable frame, which latter is connected with an endless chain- that runs around
sprocket-wheels, one of these wheels being carried on a shaft provided with a gear
wheel which is in mesh with a pinion wheel on a driving shaft, which shaft has
thereon three pulleys; two being, loose and the other one fixed on the driving shaft.
An open belt and a cross belt are provided which may run on the loose pulleys,
either one thereof, being adapted to be shifted onto the fixed pulley at one time,
so as to give a running motion to the duplicated chains in either direction desired,
which chains have a connection, with the frame on which the stuffing bar afore-
mentioned is supported and in unison. with which said stuffing bar moves.
The space and boundaries between the lower and upper sides of the horizontal
rails at the top of the machine frame constitute ways for bars mounted therein to
slide longitudinally, both of said bars at one end being united by a cross-rod or
shaft on which, next to the extremities of the bars are journaled flanged rollers
which run along the upper side of the lower horizontal rail which serves as trucks
for the said bars.
Each of the said lower rails has within its upper side a longitudinal groove, in
with a stud, rib or projection extended below the under side of the bar has a
sliding fit.
Paired bars are pivotally hung opposite each other from the aforesaid cross-rod

page_text: or shaft which unites the pair of longitudinally sliding bars, the lower ends of
these depending bars being pivoted to a cross cleat which is affixed to the upper
side of one of the cover sections.
A sprocket-chain, which has its one end affixed or anchored to the aforementioned
cross-rod, extends from this connection around a sprocket-wheel which is at the
corner of the frame, this chain thence continuing in an oblique direction down-
wardly to a connection with the cross cleat which is affixed to the upper side of the
one cover section near its edge which meets the edge of the adjacent cover section.
The reciprocatory movement is imparted to the paired longitudinally movable
bars by means as follows:
Paired sprocket-wheels are affixed at the ends of a shaft and paired sprocket-
wheels are also affixed at the opposite ends of a cross shaft at the top of the machine
near the end of the latter opposite that at which the first named shaft is mounted,
and the duplicate sprocket-chains run around said sprocket-wheels, each of these
chains being affixed to the slide bar.
The second named shaft has thereon a gear wheel in mesh with which is a pinion
on another shaft which has thereon two loose pulleys, one of which is driven in one
direction by an open belt, while the other is driven in the opposite direction by a
cross belt, which belts are understood as driven from a pulley on any suitable or
available overhead power-driven shaft.
Each of these loose pulleys has on its hub a clutch member and a coacting double
clutch member is splined on the pulley shaft and may be thrown into clutch with
either of the pulleys whereby the chains may be caused to have a corresponding
travel longitudinally forward or backward and the said slide bars therewith.
A slide rod is supported in guide supports for movement crosswise of the machine
and having engaged therewith a pivoted lever and this cross-rod carries a fixed arm
which engages in the groove in a double clutch member, all whereby, by proper
manipulation of said lever, the shaft may be out of clutch, or in clutch at one time,
with either of the pulleys, which operate the slide bars, so as to be driven in the
one or the other direction to ensure the proper travel of the slide bars as desired.
It will be understood that with the cover sections down, and the other parts
correspondingly in their positions, and the clutches operated to rotate the shaft
to cause the sprocket-chains to move the slide bars to the left, the cover connection
chains will be so drawn upon as to cause the cover sections to be swung up in the
nearly upright positions.
It will be apparent from the construction and operativeness of the various con-
trivances here illustrated that the mechanism at the top of the machine may be
operated to elevate the cover sections and while the clutch is thrown out the
mattress filling may be placed and heaped up in the box and then the clutch is
thrown into the other adjacent pulley (opposite the one which was in clutch when
the covers were raised) whereupon the covers will be lowered and as the afore-
mentioned depending bars assume their vertical positions, they act as toggles or
compression bars to force the covers into a horizontal position and suitably compress
the mattress filling material. When the covers are in their horizontal positions,
the clutch is again thrown out and the stuffing bar has its endwise travelling move-
ment imparted thereto through the pulleys and gearing therefor, it ejecting the
compressed filling through the spout into the mattress, the gate having been slid
from its closing position and then the belts are shifted to cause the stuffing bar to
be moved to its original position whereupon the mechanism at the top of the
machine is again operated to effect the elevation of the cover sections to permit
the introduction into the box of another quantity of the stuffing material, when
the operations are repeated as before.
Dated this 16th day of September 1897

page_text: Improvements in Machines for Stuffing Mattresses.
I, AMENZO GRIFFITH, of 115 Florence Street, in Springfield, County of Hampden.
State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Manufacturer, (late of 432 Main
Street, Springfield), 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in machines for stuffing mattresses of
the class in which there is comprised a broad shallow box or receiver having a
movable cover or covers, a movable gate closing one end of the box and separating
it from a spout and a stuffing bar and means for imparting thereto a motion in the
direction of the length of the box for expelling the compressed excelsior or other
mattress filling material, the same being also adapted to be withdrawn in a reversed
direction after its forward thrust.
The present invention relates to improved combinations of parts comprised in
a mattress stuffing machine such as has been above in a general way referred to,
and the invention consists in constructions and combinations or arrangements of
parts all substantially as will hereinafter fully appear and be set forth in the claims,
all to the end of simplifying the machine and cheapening and rendering the same
more satisfactory and available and increasing its capability for rapidly performing
its required work.
My improved mattress stuffing machine is illustrated in the accompanying
drawings in which Figure 1 is a central sectional elevation taken lengthwise of the
machine. Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both of the views.
In the drawings A represents the frame of the machine comprising opposite posts
or standards 10, 10, the paired separated top rails 12 and 13, the bed a forming the
bottom of the stuffing box E supported by and connecting the opposite pairs of the
rails above their lower ends, and suitable cross-ties or bars as 14, 15. B and C
represent the divided movable cover sections of the mattress stuffing box E, the
said sections or members being pivoted to the frame as seen at 16 and 17, and are
operated by novel means which will be hereinafter particularly referred to.
One end of the mattress stuffing box is closed by the movable gate b, this gate
dividing the chamber comprised within the stuffing box from the spout d on which
latter the open mouth of the mattress tick is drawn and held to receive the filling
after the same has been formed and compressed in the stuffing box, principally by
covers B C and to some extent by the bar D which is supported by the movable
frame f, which latter is connected with the endless chain g that runs around the
sprocket-wheels h h, one of these wheels being carried on a shaft 20 provided with
the gear wheel 22 which is in mesh with the pinion wheel 23 on the driving
shaft 24, which shaft has thereon the three pulleys 1, 2 and 3, two being loose and
the other one fixed on the driving shaft.
An open belt and a cross belt are provided as indicated at j², Figure 1, which
may run on the loose pulleys, either one thereof being adapted to be shifted onto the
fixed pulley at one time, so as to give a running motion to the chains g (dupli-
cated), in either direction desired, which chains have, as seen at 25, a connection
with the frame f on which the stuffing bar D is supported and in unison with
which said stuffing bar moves.
The space and boundaries between the lower and upper sides of the horizontal
rails 12, 13 of the frame A constitute ways for the bars G mounted therein for
longitudinal slide, both of said bars at one end being united by the cross rod or
shaft on which, next to the extremities of the bar g are journaled the flanged

page_text: rollers m m which run along the upper side of the horizontal rail 13 serving as
trucks for the said bars G.
Each of the said rails 13 has within its upper side a longitudinal groove 30, in
which a stud, rib or projection 32 extended below the under side of the bar G has
a sliding fit.
The paired bars H H are pivotally hung opposite each other from the aforesaid
cross rod or shaft k which unites the pairs of bars G, the lower ends of these depend-
ing bars H being pivoted as indicated at 33 to the cross cleat 34 which is affixed
to the upper side of the section B of the cover.
A sprocket-chain J which has its one end 35 affixed or anchored to the cross
rod k extends from this connection around the sprocket-wheel n which is on the
cross shaft o supported horizontally in journals 37, 37 at the right hand upper
corner of the frame, this chain thence continuing in an oblique direction down-
wardly to a connection as seen at 39 with the cross cleat 40 which is affixed to the
upper side of the cover section near its edge which meets the edge of the cover
section B.
The reciprocatory movement is imparted to the paired bars G G by means as
follows:
31
Paired sprocket-wheels are affixed at the ends of the shaft o and paired
sprocket-wheel 7 are also affixed at the opposite ends of the cross shaft r at the top
of the machine near the end of the latter opposite that at which the shaft o is
mounted, and the duplicated sprocket-chains s run around said sprocket-
wheels, each of these chains being affixed as seen at 42 to the bar G.
で
The shaft r has thereon the gear wheel t in mesh with which is the pinion u on
the shaft which has thereon the two loose pulleys e e², one of which is driven in
one direction by the open belt e³, while the other is driven in the opposite direction
by the cross belt et, which belts are understood as driven from a pulley on any suit-
able or available overhead power-driven shaft.
Each of these pulleys e e2 has on its hub a clutch member and a coacting double
clutch member w is splined on the shaft and may be thrown into clutch with either
of the pulleys e ore whereby the shaft v may be rotated in either direction and the
chains ss caused to have a corresponding travel longitudinally forward or back-
ward and the said bars G G therewith.
represents a slide rod, supported in guide supports for movement crosswise of
the machine and having engaged therewith the pivoted lever 2; and this cross
rod carries the fixed arm which engages in the groove 45 in the double clutch
member wall whereby, by proper manipulation of said lever 22, the shaft may be
out of clutch, or in clutch at one time with either of the pulleys e c² to be driven
in the one or the other direction to ensure the proper travel of the bars G G as
desired.
Now, of course, it will be plain that with the cover sections B C down, and the
parts correspondingly in the positions shown in the drawings, and the clutches
operated to rotate the shaft v to cause the chains ss to move the bars G G to the
left, the chain J will be so drawn upon as to cause the cover section C to be swung
up in the nearly upright position indicated by C² and the bars H H having positive
pivotal connections with both the rod k which is bodily movable leftward and also
with the cleat 34 of the pivoted cover section B, will simultaneously with the eleva-
tion of the cover section C effect the placing of the cover section B in the nearly
upright position indicated by the dotted line 132.
20
It will be apparent from the construction and operativeness of the various con-
trivances here illustrated that the mechanism at the top of the machine may be
operated to elevate the cover section and while the clutch is thrown out the
mattress filling may be placed and heaped up in the box and then the clutch wis
thrown into the other adjacent pulley (opposite the one which was in clutch when
the covers were raised) whereupon the covers will be lowered, and as the bars H H
assume their vertical position, they act as toggles or compression bars to force the
covers into a horizontal position and suitably compress the mattress filling material.

page_text: When the covers are in their horizontal positions, the clutch is again thrown out
and the bar D has its endwise travelling movement imparted thereto through the
pulleys and gearing described, it ejecting the compressed filling through the spout
into the mattress, the gate having been slid from its closing position, and then the
belts and are shifted to cause the stuffing bar G to be moved to its original
position whereupon the mechanism at the top of the machine is again operated to
effect the elevation of the cover sections to permit the introduction into the box
of another quantity of the stuffing material, when the operations are repeated as
before.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In a mattress stuffing machine, the combination with a stuffing-box and two
hinged cover sections therefor, of a bar and supports on which the same is mounted
to move, wheels p q and chains or like flexible appliances running around said
wheels and having a connection with said bar, means for imparting rotary move-
ments to one of said wheels, a supporting and guiding wheel n, a chain or like
flexible connection secured to said bar, running around said wheel n and con-
nected to one of the cover sections, and the bar H pivotally sustained by the said
movable bar and pivotally connected to the other cover section, substantially as
described.
2. In a mattress stuffing machine, the combination with a stuffing box and two
hinged cover sections therefor, of the paired bars G G united by the cross rod and
supports on which the said bars are mounted to move, wheels p q and chains or like
flexible appliances running around said wheels and having connections with said
bars, means for imparting rotary movements to one of said wheels, a supporting and
guiding wheel n, a chain or like flexible connection connected to said bar running
around said wheel n and connected to one of the cover sections and the bars H
pivotally hung on said rod which is sustained by said movable bars, and having its
lower ends pivotally connected to the other cover section, substantially as described.
3. In a mattress stuffing machine, the combination with a stuffing box and two
hinged cover sections therefor and the rails 12, 13, the latter having the
longitudinal groove, of the paired bars G G having then wheels m m, united by the
cross rod and the projection 32, wheels and chains or like flexible appliances
running around said wheels and having a connection with said bar, means for
imparting rotary movements to one of said wheels, a supporting and guide wheel n,
a chain or like flexible connection connected to said bar running around said wheel n
and connected to one of the cover sections and the bars H pivotally hung on said
rod which is sustained by said movable bars, having their lower ends pivotally con-
nected to the other cover section, the spout, gate and reciprocatory ejector bar D,
substantially as described.
4. In a mattress stuffing machine, the combination with the stuffing box having
the hinged cover sections and the horizontal guide ways, of the bars G G movable
mounted on said guide ways and having connections with the cover sections
whereby, they are moved, said sections will be opened and closed, wheels
P 9 and
chains or like flexible appliances running around them and connected to said
bars G, and mechanism for imparting at pleasure forward or rearward rotary
movement to said wheels 7, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
5. In a mattress stuffing machine, the combination with the stuffing box having
the hinged cover sections and the horizontal guide ways, of the bars G G movably
mounted on said guide ways and having connections with the cover sections whereby,
as they are moved, said sections will be open and closed, wheels p q and chains or
like appliances running around them and connected to said bars G, a gear t con-
nected to move in unison with the wheels q, a shaft v having two reversely driven
pulleys, loose thereon, and a fixed pinion u in mesh with gear wheel t, a clutch to
place either of said reversely driven pulleys in driving connection with shaft v and
means for operating the clutch, substantially as described.

page_text: 6. In a mattress stuffing machine, in combination, the stuffing box having the
spout d and gate 6 reciprocatory bar D, and means for imparting its movement
thereto, and the hinged cover sections B D, the horizontal separated rails 12, 13
constituting guide ways, the bars G G movable in said guide ways, and united by
the cross shaft k, the shafts o and r, the former having the sprocket-wheels n and p,
and the latter having the sprocket-wheels q and the gear wheel t, the sprocket-
chains s s running around the sprocket-wheels p q, and connected to said bars G, the
chain J connected to the shaft k which is sustained by said bars, and running around
sprocket-wheel n and connected to one of the covers near its edge, the bars H H
hung on said rod k and pivoted to the other cover section, shaft v having pinion u
and reversely driven loose pulleys e e² and having the clutch member w, the slide
rod having the arm which engages clutch w and the lever a² for operating said
rod
x, all substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 21st day of February 1898