Apparatus for Stuffing Mattresses.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 20th Feb., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abread by HENRY MUNROE ROGERS, of 309 Beacon
Street, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America, Counsellor
at Law.]
Apparatus for Stuffing Mattresses.
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in
the County of London, Chartered Patent Agent, 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 mattress stuffing-machines of the kind in which the
stuffing material is compressed in a press-box, and is subsequently forced therefrom
into a ticking applied to a discharge spout leading from the press-box.
The chief objects of the present invention are to improve and simplify machines
of this kind, to produce a stronger and more compact apparatus which can be
worked in a comparatively small space to avoid the use of a hinged press-box-
cover and provide a cover which is retained in an approximately horizontal plane
as it is raised and lowered, the height of the machine being thus reduced so that
it can be worked in a room comparatively low, to provide mechanism which
moving always in one direction moves the compressing plunger head back and
forth relatively to the press-box, whereby the use of a rack requiring a long range
of movement from one end of the machine is avoided, and the space necessary to
work such rack is rendered unnecessary, to provide a new and improved press-box
and cover which will produce mattresses possessing a greater depth of thickness
at their central portions, than at their side portions, so that they have the
appearance and possess the conditions of mattresses stuffed by hand; to provide
new and improved means for raising and lowering the cover and controlling its
movements; to provide means for automatically stopping the motion of the press-
box-cover either as it descends or ascends; to provide means for producing
mattresses which vary more or less in depth or thickness; to provide new and
improved means for actuating the plunger-head and causing it to uniformly
compress the stuffing material; to provide new and improved means for starting
and stopping the machine at the will of the attendant, to provide novel means
for varying the width of the press-box, the cover, and the plunger-head, and enabling
these parts, if desired to be simultaneously adjusted transversely to render the
machine capable of producing mattresses of greater or less width; to provide new
and improved means whereby the carriage which carries the plunger head operates
at the limit of its back stroke, or when retracted, to automatically stop the
mechanism by which the carriage is moved back and forth; to provide new and
improved trip mechanism for reversing the motion of the plunger-head; to avoid
the use of overhead driving mechanism, and to generally improve mattress stuffing
machines, whereby a better product is obtained and the mattresses present the
appearance of being stuffed by hand, while, during the stuffing process there is no
danger of bursting or tearing the ticking or textile material into which the stuffing
is introduced.
The objects of the invention are accomplished in the manner as will be described
with reference to the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mattress stuffing machine embodying this
invention, portions being broken away to shorten the figure.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2-2 of Figure 3.

page_text: Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a broken plan to an enlarged scale of a portion of the base of the
machine.
Figure 6 is a broken elevation of a portion of the front end of the machine.
Figure 7 is a perspective view, looking at the inner end portion of the platform
or shelf by which the stuffing is supported as it is introduced into the ticking.
Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the vertically movable end gate
for the front end of the press-box, showing portions of the gate operating
mechanism.
Figure 10 is a section, shewing a portion of the gate mechanism illustrated in
Figure 9, and a portion of the carriage with which the plunger is connected.
Figure 11 is a perspective view of the plunger-head and the shank by which it
is connected with the travelling carriage.
Figure 12 is a side clevation of the plungerhead carriage at the forward end of
its stroke as the parts are moving to reverse the direction of its travel.
Figure 13 is a perspective view of the lever mechanism for starting and stopping
the carriage of the plunger while the main driving-shaft continues to rotate.
Figure 14 is a section to an enlarged scale of the rear end portion of the lever
mechanism illustrated in Figure 13.
Figure 15 is a detail, perspective view of one corner portion of the press-box,
to show the devices for engaging one end of the plunger-head, so that when the
press-box is adjusted laterally the plunger-head is also adjusted laterally as
required for the adjustment of the parts to manufacture mattresses which vary in
width, and
Figure 16 is a perspective view of the lever mechanism by which the press-box
cover can be raised or lowered at the will of the attendant and automatically
stopped in its ascent and descent.
As shewn in the drawings the main frame is substantially made of angle irons
comprising vertical corner posts 1, connected at their upper ends by longitudinal
beams 2, and at the lower ends by longitudinal beams 3 and 4, which at one end
are extended in rear of the machine, to provide support for the driving mechanism
and other parts. The corner posts 1 may also be connected by transverse beams 5,
Figure 3, all parts being suitably tied and bolted or rivetted together to secure a
rigid frame work.
The rearward extension of the longitudinal beam or girder 3, is provided with
suitable bearings 6, for a main driving shaft 7. This shaft may be driven by any
suitable power, but preferably by a belt on a pulley 8.
The driving shaft at the end opposite the pulley has a pinion 9, Figure 2, which
gears with a spur-wheel 10, on one end of a countershaft 12. The counter-shaft 12
has centrally between its ends a pinion 13, gearing with a pinion 14 fixed centrally
between the ends of a chain operating shaft 15, journaled in bearings provided on
arms 16, which extend forward from a transverse beam 17, which rigidly connects
the rear extremities of the longitudinal beams 3 and 4.
The pinion 9 is engaged with or disengaged from the main driving shaft 7, by
a suitable clutch, which, as shown in Figure 2, is composed of 2 sections 18 and 19,
one secured to the pinion and loose on the shaft while the other is compelled to
rotate with but can be moved along the shaft, controlling rotation of the spur-
gear 10. The clutch is operated by the attendant as follows:-
The clutch section 19, has a circular groove 20, with which engages a clutch-
shifting fork 21, (Figures 2 and 13) secured to a transverse sliding bar 22,
movable in suitable guides 23, Figure 2. The bar 22 has on it a block 24,
connected by a link 25, to one arın 26, of a bell crank lever 27 having its other
arm 28 made as a socket 29 in which is arranged a vertical pin 30, normally urged
downwards by a spring 31. The upper end of the socket 29 is journaled in the
rear end of an arm 32, connected with the rear end of a longitudinal tube or

page_text: connecting rod 33 (Figure 13). The bell crank lever 27 is pivoted on a stud 34,
so that when it is turned on its pivot, the fork operating bar 22 is shifted
transversely in one or the other direction. The front end of the tube or connecting
rod 33, is pivoted to one arm 35 of a bell-crank lever 36, mounted on a stud 37,
its other arm 38 is connected by a link 39, with the lower end of a clutch operating
lever 40, pivotted at 41, to one of the corner posts 1. The lever 40 is provided
with a suitable handle 42, and near this handle is pivoted a finger 43, connected
by a cord, chain, wire, or the like 44, with a pin raising lever 45 pivotted to the
arm 32, near the socket 29. The lever 45 is preferaby in the form of a bell-crank-
lever, pivotted at its angle, as at 46, Figure 14 and having one arm attached to
the cord, chain or other cable 44, and its long arm extending through a slot 47 in
the upper end of the pin 30, in such manner that this pin may be retracted after
it has been struck by the plunger head carriage so as to unclutch the pinion 9
from the wheel 10, as will be hereinafter described.
The cord or other pull 44, is shown as passing through the tubes 33 and 39,
but if these are not tubular it can pass along them suitably guided when it is
pulled by operating the finger piece 43 to retract the pin 30 into the socket 29.
By pulling the upper end of the clutch lever 40 outwards, the fork 21 is
moved so as to disengage the clutch sections 18 and 19 stopping rotation of the
wheel 10 while the main shaft 7 continues to rotate. The wheel 10 and counter-
shaft 12, operate the chain actuating shaft 15 as before explained, and this shaft
imparts motion to the chain or chains by which the carriage of the plunger-head
is caused to move back and forth. Consequently the clutch lever 40 as it controls
the motion of the devices which transmit motion to the plunger head carriage, it
controls the movement of the plunger-head.
The shaft 15 has at its ends sprocket wheels 48, with which engage two endless
chains 49 and 50, Figure 5, which also pass round sprocket wheels 51 and 52
secured to the ends of a shaft 53 journaled in sliding boxes 54 at the front of the
machine. The sliding boxes 54 are movable horizontally on arms 55 and the two
boxes have nuts 56 engaging screws 57 which at their outer ends have hand-
wheels 58 and sprocket-wheels 59, connected by a chain 60, Figure 6, so that on
turning either of the hand-wheels 58 both screws 57 are turned in unison,
adjusting the sliding boxes 54, for tightening or loosening the chains 49 and 50 as
required.
The chains 49 and 50 have laterally projecting pins 61, entering holes in switch
blocks 62, which can slide in vertical slots 63, in the sides of a carriage 64
adapted to travel back and forth, being preferably provided at its sides with
roller-bearings 65, travelling upon tracks 66, as best seen in Figure 4. These
tracks are preferably parts of the longitudinal angle iron beams 3 and 4.
The carriage 64 has side plates containing the vertical slots 63, and connected
at the top by a horizontal plate 67, (Figure 10) provided with two pawls 68 and 69,
pivotted at 70 and 71 on the upper side of the plate 67, the ends of the pawls
projecting through slots in this plate. The end of the pawl 68 has a beveled
face 72, that of the pawl 69 has also a beveled face 73. To the plate 67 of the
carriage is attached the shank 74 of the plunger-head 75, this shank being a
vertical plate entering a longitudinal slot 76, formed along the median line of the
press-box as best seen in Figure 2, so that the plunger-head can travel above the
bottom of the press-box, while the carriage travels below it.
The plunger-head can be laterally extended or retracted as it comprises
laterally movable plates 77 having fingers 78, with pointed extremities 79
projecting backwards. The fingers 78, have transverse bars 80 and 81, which can
slide upon one another when the plates 77 are extended or retracted laterally so as
to vary the width of the plunger head. The plates 77 overlap one another at the
front, the overlapping ends being preferably slotted and extending under a
confining head 77 as best seen in Figure 4, the two plates being thus maintained
in proper relative position and accurately guided in their movement.
The plunger-head is connected to the rear portion of the vertical plate 74 by

page_text: suitable braces 82 (Figure 11). The plate 74 has a broad foot piece 83, by which
it is firmly secured to the top plate 67 of the plunger-head carriage.
During the time that the shaft 15 is rotated the two chains 49 and 50 are caused
to continuously travel in one direction; and assuming that the carriage is at the
rear end of the machine the chains move the carriage forward till it reaches the
limit of its forward movement when the blocks 62 travel around the sprocket-
wheels 51 and 52 Figures 3, 5 and 12, descending along the vertical slots 63, until
they are carried to the rear by the lower stretches of the chains thus moving the
carriage back until it reaches the rear end of its travel, whereupon the blocks 62
are caused to ascend the slots 63, and the movement is repeated. Thus the
plunger head is moved back and forth by a chain mechanism always moving in
one direction.
The press box (see Figure 4) is preferably composed of channel irons and metal
plates, comprising two longitudinal main sections 84 and 85, with laterally
adjustable sections 86 and 87 and vertical side walls 88 and 89. Each of
the sections 86 and 87 being preferably composed of two parts movable
relatively to one another, the press box is practically made up of six sections.
The sections 86 and 87 carry the side walls 88 and 89 and are adjustable laterally
for the purpose of varying the width of the press-box to suit different widths of
mattresses. They are connected with the stationary sections 84 and 85 by sets of
lazy tongs 86 and 87" at the front and rear ends of the box, so that the movable
box sections move uniformly towards and from the longitudinal centre line of the
box. The lazy tongs 86 and 87" are pivotted on the lower sides of the longitudinal
channel irons forming a part of the bottom of the press-box.
The sections 86 and 87 of the press-box are moved laterally by right and left
hand screw-threaded shafts 90, 91, 92 and 93, (see Figures 2 and 4) engaging nuts
mounted on the sections 86 and 87, as at the points 94 (Figure 2). The right and
left screw shafts 90 and 92 have at their outer ends handles 95 and 96, and at the
centre of the front end of the machine, they are coupled together by a universal
joint 97 permitting them to lie in inclined planes inclined to one another, Figure 4,
so that the bottom wall of the press-box can be made sloping or downwardly
inclined from the sides to the middle.
On the inner ends of the shafts 90 and 92 are sprocket wheels 98 and 99
connected by chains 100 and 101 with sprocket-wheels 102 and 103, on the inner
ends of the right and left screw shafts 91 and 93, the outer ends of which are
journaled in bearings carried by the corner posts 1. Thus when either handle 95
or 96 is turned, all the right and left hand screw shafts 90, 91, 92 and 93, are
simultaneously rotated, moving sections 86 and 87 of the press-box towards or
from the middle, according to the direction in which the handle is turned to
increase or diminish the width of the press-box, when the width of the press-box
is varied, it is also necessary to vary the width of the plunger-head, in the following
manner:
The fingers 78 of the movable plates 77 of the plunger head on the back stroke
of the plunger-head enter eyes or loops 104 (Figure 15) each of which extends
inwardly from a bracket 105 secured to the rear end of one of the side walls 48 of
the press-box. The brackets 105 have their lower ends sliding upon a transverse
girder 106. The fingers 78 being engaged in the eyes or loops 104 before either of
the handles 95 or 96 is turned, then on turning these to vary the width of the
press-box, the plates 77 of the plunger-head are also moved correspondingly.
The division of the shafts 91 and 93, permits the shank of the plunger-head to
pass between their inner ends.
The cover by which the stuffing material is pressed into the press-box is
arranged to be raised and lowered and to be maintained always in a substantially
horizontal plane. As seen in Figure 4 its cover comprises a main central
section 107, and laterally movable side sections 108 and 109, each of which is or
may be made of two parts movable relatively to cach other like those of the
press-box.

page_text: The central section 107 is suspended from the front and rear transverse
beams 110 and 112, which are preferably U-shaped in cross-section as shewn in
Figure 3, by front and rear hangers 113 fixed to the central portions of the
beams 110 and 112.
The laterally adjustable sections 108 and 109 are attached to hangers 114
and 115, and if desired to supplemental hangers 115 having at their upper ends
rollers 116 and 117 rolling upon the lower flanges of the beams 110 and 112.
The hangers 114 and 115 are connected at the front and rear ends of the
machine by lazy tongs 118, thus while the cover lies in the press-box, the
contraction of the box correspondingly contracts the width of the cover.
The side sections 108 and 109 of the cover are connected with the central beam
or with the banger 113, through the medium of two sets of lazy tongs 108*
and 109" which are arranged near the front and rear ends of the cover, so that the
movable sections are moved uniformly inwards or outwards.
The ends of the transverse beams 110 and 112, have nuts 119, engaging four
vertical screw shafts 120, at the corners of the machine mounted in bearings 121,
on the angle iron corner posts. The screw-shafts are nicely journalled, so that
they can be readily rotated when required, and the threads are such that when
they are turned in the one direction or the other, the beams that carry the cover,
and the cover itself are uniformly raised or lowered.
Thus when the cover is lowered it presses uniformly on the material in the
press-box.
As the bottom wall of the press-box slopes downwardly from the sides to the
center line, the cover also slopes but upwardly from its sides to its centre-line so
that the stuffing material has its greatest depth along the longitudinal central
portion giving the mattress the appearance of having been stuffed by hand, which
is preferred.
The screw shafts 120 are simultaneously rotated in the following manner:
Their lower ends have mitre wheels 122, engaging mitre wheels 123 on front
and rear cross shafts 124, journalled in bearings in the base of the machine and
having mitre wheels 125, engaging mitre wheels 126 on a longitudinal shaft 127,
Figure 2. The mitre wheel 125 on the shaft 124, at the rear end engages a mitre
wheel 127 on the lower end of an inclined shaft 128, which, at its upper end, has
a bevel wheel 129 engaging pinions 130 and 131, loose on the main shaft 7. A
clutch 132 between the pinions 130 and 131, which can be shifted along the shaft 7,
but is compelled to turn with it, serves to engage either of the pinions 130 or 131
with the shaft 7 thus causing the bevel wheel 129 and all the screw shafts 120 to
turn in the one or the other direction as the press-box cover is to be raised or
lowered. This raising and lowering is controlled by the attendant operating a
lever 133 (Figure 1) as follows:-This lever 133 is pivotted on the side wall 88
of the press-box and has a handle 134, it is jointed to the front end of a connecting
rod 135 the rear end of which has an eye embracing a horizontal rod 136 (Fig. 16)
so that when the side wall 88 of the press-box is shifted laterally, the rear end of
the connecting-rod 135 can slide along the rod 136. This rod 136 connects the
ends of two arms 137, Fig. 16, of a transverse rock-shaft 138, journalled in suitable
bearings 139, (Fig. 2) on the rear corner posts. The arms 137 are preferably
secured to the rock-shaft 138 by setting screws 140, so that they can be adjusted in
position. The rock-shaft has at one end an arm 141 carrying an adjustable
weight 142, and near the middle it has an arm 143 jointed to the front end of a
connecting-rod 144, having its rear end jointed to one arm 145 of a bell-crank
lever 146 pivotted on a vertical stud 152, its other arm 147 being jointed to one
end of a link 148 having its other end jointed to an adjustable box 149 on a
transverse sliding bar 150, which has at its end an upwardly projecting clutch
fork 151, engaging a circular groove in the clutch 132.
By means of the connections from the lever 133 to the clutch fork 151 the
attendant can cause the press box cover. to be raised or lowered to any point.
The front end of the press box is provided with a vertically sliding gate 153,.

page_text: which is closed when the stuffing material is introduced into the press-box and the
cover is lowered to press down the material, the plunger head being then advanced
to compress the stuffing material longitudinally. The compression of the stuffing
material being accomplished inside the press-box, the desired density is obtained
while the strains are taken on the box walls and cover and not on the ticking. The
gate 153 is automatically opened when the plunger-head has advanced a pre-
determined distance compressing the stuffing material, the farther advance motion
of the plunger-head forcing the stuffing material out into the ticking, which is held
between a platform or shelf 154, and a front extension 155 (Fig. 3) of the
press-box cover, while it is down in the press-box. After the compressed stuffing
material has been extruded from the press-box into the ticking, and another mass
of material is to be compressed, the gate 153 is automatically raised to close the
front end of the press-box. The automatic operation of the gate 153 is accomplished
as follows:-
Referring more particularly to Figs. 3, 9 and 10, the gate 153 is connected at
its lower edge by links 155 to arms 156 of a rock-shaft 157, which is journalled in
bearings in the arms 55 (Fig. 5). It is preferably. provided with weights 158 to
balance the gate, and it has also an arm 159 connected by a link 160 to an arm 161
on a short transverse rock-shaft 162, which is journalled in bearings at the rear
end of the machine, preferably a little in rear of the press-box. The link 160 can
be adjusted in length.
The rock-shaft 162 has two projecting tappets, 163 and 164, substantially at
right angles to each other, so that when one stands vertical, the other stands
approximately horizontal. These tappets are arranged, respectively, in line with
the two dogs or pawls 68 and 69 pivotted on the plate 67 of the carriage to which
the shank of the plunger-head is attached. As shewn in Fig. 10, the tappet 163 is
adapted to be operated by the pawl 69, while the tappet 164 is adapted to be
operated by the paw] 68. The carriage can move forward a certain distance before
the pawl 69 strikes the tappet 163 but when this occurs the tappet 163 is pushed
forwards turning the rock-shaft in the direction to pull back the link 160. This
turns the rock-shaft 157, Fig. 9, in the direction to lower the arms 156, thereby
pulling down the gate 153. Thus the plunger-head can make its advance stroke
for the initial longitudinal compression of the stuffing material while the gate
remains closed until the desired compression is effected. After the carriage has
made its forward stroke and is returning to the rear, the pawl 68 engages the
tappet 164, thereby turning the rock-shaft 162 in the opposite direction and thus
the gate 153 is closed. The ends of the gate move in guides 165 (Fig. 6).
The platform or shelf 154 is preferably composed of metal plates attached to a
transverse channel, iron bean or girder 166 (Fig. 7) attached at its ends to the
two front corner posts (Fig. 2). The beam or girder 166 has in its upper side
longitudinal grooves 167, in which engage ribs 168, Fig. 8, on the ends of laterally
adjustable plates or sections 169, forming a part of the platform 154. The outer
edges of the plates 169 have upturned flanges 170 which are secured to the
upright brackets which brace the side walls 88 and 89 of the press-box, these
brackets preferably having ears 171 (Fig. 6) secured to the ends 172 of the
flanges 170 so that when the side walls of the press-box are adjusted, the side
sections 169 of the platform or shelf 154 are correspondingly adjusted, the width
of the platform being increased or diminished according as the width of the
press-box is increased or diminished.
The platform or shelf 154, in connection with the front extensions 155 of
the cover, when the latter is in the press-box, constitute the chute by which the
compressed stuffing material is pushed into the ticking. The platform and the
extension of the cover slope from their sides to their centre lines as described with
reference to the bottom of the press-box and the under face of the cover, so that
the stuffing material having a thickened longitudinal middle portion, can move
from the press-box through the delivery-chute to the ticking. The front

page_text: extensions 155 of the cover are laterally adjusted in the same manner as the cover
itself.
The cover is guided vertically into and out of the press-box by vertical guide-
rods 173 and 174, the lower ends of which are fixed to the side walls of the
press-box and extend through eyes 175 projecting laterally from the hangers 114
and 115. These guide rods 173 and 174, by their connection with the hangers 114
and 115, widen the press-box cover when the press-box itself is increased in
width, and when the cover lies within the press-box when the latter is contracted,
the sides of the press-box acting against the sides of the cover, correspondingly
contract its width.
In order to vary the depth or thickness of the compressed stuffing material the
descent of the press-box cover is stopped when the material has been compressed
to the extent required for the desired thickness of mattress. This is effected by
automatically shifting the clutch 132 leaving the pinions 130 and 131 free so that
the cover remains motionless in the press-box holding the stuffing material under
the desired compression until it is condensed longitudinally and subsequently
pushed into the ticking.
For automatically shifting the clutch 132 a vertical rod 176 slides in bearings 177
(see Figs. 4 and 16); it has upper and lower collars 178 and 179, respectively,
above and below the end of the transverse beam 112, adjustably secured to the
rod 176 by setting screws 180 and 181. The vertical rod 176 has also similarly
secured to it by a setting screw 183 an adjustable collar 182 connected by a
link 184 to an arm 185 on the rock-shaft 138 (Fig. 16) so that when the vertical
rod 176 is raised or lowered the rock-shaft 138 is partly turned operating the
clutch fork 151. When the collars 178 and 179 have been adjusted on the vertical
rod 176 to suit the required depth or thickness of mattress, the cover having
descended the necessary distance in the press-box, the end of the beam 112 strikes
the lower collar 179 thereby depressing the vertical rod 176, and so lowering the
arm 185, turning the rock-shaft 138, and shifting the clutch-fork 151 in the
direction required to disengage the pinions 130 and 131 from the shaft 7.
Conversely, when one of the pinions has been engaged with the shaft to raise the
press-box cover on reaching the desired height, the end of the beam 112 strikes
the upper collar 178 thereby raising the vertical rod 176 and disengaging the
pinions 130 and 131. It is to be understood that the clutch 132 can be positively
shifted by the lever 133 into engagement with either pinion 130 or 131 to raise or
lower the press-box cover.
When the plunger-head carriage reaches the limit of its back stroke the
mechanism which propels it should be instantly stopped. This is automatically
effected by providing any part of the carriage with a rearwardly projecting
arm 186, (indicated by dotted lines in Figures 1 and 13, and in full lines in
Figure 2), which comes in contact with the spring pin 30. (Figures 13 and 14) and
swings the bell-crank-lever 27, shifting the slide-bar 22 in the direction to dis-
engage the clutch 18 and 19; consequently the spur-wheel 10 ceases to rotate,
the mechanism which propels the plunger-head carriage is stopped. When this
occurs, the arm 186 lies in the path of the spring-pin 30, and, therefore, when the
mechanism which propels the carriage is to be started, the spring-pin 30 has to be
clear of the arm 186, so that the bell-crank-lever 27 can be moved by the lever 40
in the direction to engage the clutch 18 and 19. The withdrawal of the spring-
pin 30 is effected by operating the finger-piece 43, which by means of the pull 44
moves the bell-crank-lever 45 raising the spring-pin 30.
The detailed operation of the machine may be understood from the foregoing
explanations but the general working may be.concisely set forth as follows:
Assuming that the plunger-head carriage is at the limit of its back stroke, and
the press-box cover is raised, the desired quantity of stuffing material is filled
into the press-box and the attendant shifts the hand lever 133 to the left which
causes the clutch fork 151 to move the clutch 132 into engagement with the
:

page_text: pinion 131 whereupon the four vertical screw-shafts revolve, lowering the press-box
cover into the press-box and compressing the material. The descent of the press-
box cover can be stopped by shifting the lever 133 to the intermediate position,
but it is preferable to automatically stop the descent of the cover when the required
compression of the stuffing material is effected by the beam 112 striking the lower
collar 179 on the vertically-sliding rod 176 which, as before explained, disengages
the clutch 132 from the pinion 131. While the stuffing material is held under
compression in the press-box, the attendant raises the spring-pin 30 and pushes the
upper end of the hand-lever 40 inwards, thereby shifting the clutch 19, which is
driven by the shaft 7, into engagement with the clutch 18. This engages the
pinion 9 with the shaft 7 so that rotary motion is imparted to the wheel 10
whereby the chains 49 and 50 are caused to move, and the plunger-head carriage
commences its advance. The plunger-head thus moves forward a predetermined
distance, say about twenty-four inches-to compress the stuffing material in the
press-box, the gate 153 being closed, and then the gate is automatically opened by
the pawl 69, Figure 10, of the plunger-head carriage striking the tappet 163. The
ticking is placed over the delivery chute formed by the extensions 154 and 155
and the plunger head continuing its forward motion pushes the compressed stuffing
material out of the press-box through the delivery chute into the ticking. When
the carriage reaches the limit of its forward stroke, the blocks 62 are carried
around the sprocket-wheels 52, Figure 12, descending the vertical slots 63 thereby
throwing these blocks from the upper to the lower ends of the slots, so that the
lower stretches of the chains reverse the motion of the carriage and pull it back
until the arm 186 of the carriage acts upon the spring-pin 30, Figure 13, and causes
disengagement of the clutch 18 and 19, thus stopping the carriage.
As the carriage moves to the rearward the incline of the pawl 69 freely rides
over the tappet 163 but the pawl 68 engages the tappet 164, thereby turning the
rock-shaft 182 so as to raise and close the gate 153. The chains in passing round
the rear sprocket wheels raise the blocks 62 up to the vertical slots of the carriage
which is then advanced by the upper stretches of the chains. The incline 72
allows the pawl 68 to ride over tappet 164.
In order to raise the press-box cover again, the hand-lever 133 is shifted to the
right which causes the pinion 130 to engage with the shaft 7 and the screw-shafts
to be rotated, raising the press-box cover until the beam 112 strikes the uppermost
collar 178 on the rod 176 and disengages the pinion 130 whereupon the ascent of
the press-box-cover is stopped. By adjusting the collars 178 and 179 on the
rod 176, the press-box cover can be stopped at different heights.
For expanding or contracting the press-box, the plunger-head, and the press-box-
cover, it is preferred that the cover and the plunger lie in the press-box with the
fingers 78 in engagement with the eyes or loops 104. It is then only necessary to
turn either one of the handles 95 or 96, thereby turning the screws 90 and 92, 91
and 93, thereby moving the side sections of the press-box inwards or outwards,
and they correspondingly move the movable sections of the plunger-head and of
the cover.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be perforined, I declare that what I claim
in respect of apparatus for stuffing mattresses is:
1. A press-box having its bottom wall sloping downwardly from its sides towards
its longitudinal centre line, substantially as described.
2. A press-box cover having its lower face sloping upwardly from its side edges
towards its longitudinal centre line, substantially as described.
3. In combination with a press-box, and a press-box cover, such as are set forth
in the preceding claims, a plunger-head having its upper and lower edges corre-
spondingly sloped, substantially as described.
4. The combination of a. press-box, a plunger-head movable in it, a carriage
movable beneath it and connected to the plunger-head, a chain mechanism, switching

page_text: or shifting devices connecting the carriage with the chain mechanism so as to
reverse the travel of the carriage at the limits of its forward and backward strokes,
an ascending and descending cover movable into and out of the press-box and gear
connected with the cover and with the chain mechanism for raising and lowering
the cover and imparting motion to the chain mechanism, substantially as
described.
5. The combination of a press-box having a longitudinal slot along its-bottom
and a plunger head movable in the press-box; of tracks arranged horizontally
beneath the press-box, a carriage travelling on the tracks, a shank connecting the
carriage with the plunger-head and travelling along the slot in the bottom of the
press-hox, a chain mechanism beneath the press-box and carriage and provided with
devices which cause the carriage to move forwards and backwards, a gate for
opening and closing one end of the press-box, and-lever and tappet mechanism
acted upon by the carriage to open and close the gate, substantially as described.
6. The combination, with a press-box and a plunger-head movable therein, of a
carriage connected with the plunger-head, endless travelling chains with connections
to the carriage, driving mechanism and clutch for imparting-motion to the chains,
a lever automatically operated by the carriage to move the clutch and thereby
disengage the chains from the driving mechanism; a gate for opening and closing.
one end of the press-box, and lever and tappet mechanism acted upon by the
carriage as it moves backward and forward to open and close the gate, substantially
as described:
7. The combination, with the press-box and a plunger head movable therein; of
a carriage travelling back and forth beneath the press box, endless chains provided
with devices which connect with the carriage so as to move it back and forth, a
power driven shaft, gearing connecting it with the chains, a clutch for engaging
andidisengaging the shaft with the chain gearing, a lever connected with the clutch
and actuated by the carriage for moving the clutch so as to disengage the power
driven shaft from the chain gearing, a gate for opening and closing one end of the
press-box, and lever and tappet mechanism acted upon by the carriage as it moves
backward and forward to open and close the gate, substantially as described.
8. The combination, with a press-box having a longitudinal slot along its bottom:
and a plunger head movable in the press-box, of tracks arranged beneath the
press-box, a carriage having wheels travelling on the tracks, a shank connecting
the plunger-head with the carriage and travelling along the longitudinal slot in
the bottom of the press-box, endless travelling chains under the press-box, shifting
devices connecting the chains with the carriage and operating to move it forward
and backwards; a power-driven shaft geared to the chains through a clutch, a
clutch lever automatically operated by the carriage at the limit of its rearward
movement to move the clutch and disengage the power driven shaft from the chain
gearing, a gate' for opening-and closing one end of the press-box, and lever and
tappet mechanism acted upon by the carriage as it moves backward and forward to
open and close the gate, substantially as described.
9. The combination, with a press-box and a plunger-head movable therein, of a
carriage travelling back and forth beneath the press-box and connected with the
plunger head; a gate arranged to open and close one end of the press-box, and tappet
and lever mechanism acted upon by the carriage as it moves backward and also as
it moves forward to open and close the gate, substantially as described.
10. The combination, with a press-box and a plunger-head movable therein, of
a gate arranged to close one end of the press-box, a carriage travelling beneath
the press-box with which the-plunger-head is connected, endless travelling chains
provided with devices which connect it with the carriage and operate to move the
latter-forward and backwards while the belt moves in one direction, and mechanism
automatically operated by the carriage as it moves forward and backward to open
and close the gate, substantially as described.
11. The combination, with a press-box and a plunger head movable therein, of a
gate arranged to open or close one end of the press-box, a rock-shaft connected.

page_text: with the gate, a rock shaft provided with tappets, a connection between the said
rock-shafts, and a travelling carriage connected with the plunger-head and provided
with devices for operating the said tappets as the carriage moves forward and
backward to automatically open and close the gate, substantially as described.
12. The combination, with a press-box and a plunger-head movable therein, of a
carriage movable back and forth beneath the press-box and connected with the
plunger-head, endless chains for moving the carriage backward and forward, tappet
and lever mechanism automatically operated by the carriage in both its backward
and forward movement to open and close the gate, substantially as described.
13. The combination, with a press-box and a plunger-head movable therein, of
a travelling carriage connected with the plunger head, endless chains extending
under the press-box and provided with devices which connect it with the carriage
and operate to move the latter forward and then reverse its direction of travel
while the chains move continuously in one direction, means for imparting motion to
the chains, and tappet and lever mechanism automatically operated by the carriage
in both its forward and backward movement to open and close the gate,
substantially as described.
14. The combination, with a press-box and a plunger-bead movable therein, of
a carriage travelling beneath the bottom of the press-box and connected with the
plunger-head, endless chains connected with the carriage for moving the same
forward and backward, a gate arranged to open and close one end of the press-box,
a rock-shaft connected with the gate, a rock-shaft provided with tappets, a con-
nection between these rock-shafts, and devices mounted on the carriage and arranged
to operate the tappets as the carriage moves forward and backward to automatically
open and close the gate, substantially as described.
15. The combination, with a press-box and a plunger head movable therein, of a
travelling carriage connected with the plunger-head, means for moving the carriage
backward and forward, a gate arranged to open and close one end of the press-box,
a rock-shaft connected with the gate, a rock-shaft provided with tappets, a
connection between the rock-shafts, and pawls mounted on the carriage and
arranged to automatically operate the tappets to open and close said gate,
substantially as described.
16. The combination, with a press-box and a plunger-head movable therein, of
tracks under the press-box, a carriage travelling on the tracks beneath the bottom
of the press-box, means for moving the carriage backward and forward, a gate
arranged to open and close one end of the press-box, a rock-shaft provided with
tappets, connections between the tappet-carrying rock-shaft aud the gate, and
devices mounted on the carriage for operating the tappets as the carriage moves
backward and forward to automatically open and close the gate, substantially as
described.
17. The combination, with a press-box and a plunger-head movable therein, of a
carriage travelling beneath the press-box and provided with vertically-slotted
portions and pawls, endless travelling chains under the press-box, shifting blocks
connecting the chains with the slotted portions of the carriage and operating to
move the carriage forward and then reverse its direction of travel, mechanism for
imparting motion to the chains, a gate arrauged to open and close one end of the
press-box, and a tappet-mechanism connected with the gate and actuated by the
pawls of the carriage as it moves forward and backward to automatically open and
close the gate, substantially as described.
18. The combination, with a press-box and a plunger-head movable therein, of a
carriage travelling back and forth beneath the press-box and connected with the
plunger-head, mechanism for moving the carriage backward and forward, a gate
arranged to open and close oue end of the press-box, a counterbalanced rock-shaft
connected with the gate, a tappet-carrying shaft connected with the counter-
balanced rock-shaft, and pawls mounted on the carriage and arranged to strike the
tappets of the tappet shaft as the carriage moves backward and forward to open
and close the gate, substantially as described.

page_text: 19: The combination of a press-box divided longitudinally into lateral sections
each comprising several extensible and contractible parts, two sets of right and left
hand screw-shafts connected by gearing, and a coupling, substantially as described.
20. The combination, with an expansible and contractible press-box, and an
expansible and contractible cover, of means for expanding and contracting th
press-box and cover simultaneously, substantially as described.
21. The combination, with an expansible and contractible press-box and cover
of right and left-hand screw-shafts for expanding and contracting the press-box,
and connections between the movable sections of the press-box and those of the
cover, substantially as described.
22. The combination, with an expansible and contractible press-box, of
vertically-movable cover supports, a press-box cover having laterally-movable side
sections, and hangers connected with these side sections and provided with roller
bearings mounted on said supports, substantially as described.
23. The combination, with an extensible and contractible press-box and vertically
movable cover supports, of a cover having laterally movable sections, hangers
attached to said sections and movable back and forth on said cover supports, and
connections between said hangers, substantially as described.
24. The combination, with an expansible and contractible press-box and vertically-
movable cover-carrying beams, of a cover having laterally adjustable side sections,
hangers attached to these side sections and provided with bearings engaging said
beams, lazy tongs connecting the hangers, and lazy tongs connecting the laterally
movable sections of the cover with its main body portion, substantially as described.
25. The combination, with an extensible and contractible press-box and
vertically-movable cover supports, of a cover having laterally movable side-sections,
hangers attached to these sections and movable back and forth on the cover
supports, and guide rods engaging the press-box and the hangers, whereby the
expansion or contraction of the press-box causes the hangers to move on the
supports, substantially as described.
26. The combination, with an expansible and contractible press-box and au
expansible and contractible cover movable into and out of the box, of guide rods
engaging the press-box and connected with the cover supports, whereby the press-
box and cover are simultaneously adjusted, substantially as described.
27. The combination, with an extensible and contractible press-box and an
expansible and contractible cover movable bodily in a vertical plane and held
substantially horizontal in its movements, of connections between the cover and
the press-box whereby the cover is guided and widened or narrowed when the
press-box is widened or narrowed, substantially as described.
28. The combination, with the laterally adjustable press-box, of vertical screw-
shafts geared together at the base of the machine horizontal transverse beams
having nuts engaging the shafts, a laterally adjustable press-box cover, hangers
suspending the cover from the beams and laterally adjustable thereupon, power-
driven mechanism for rotating the screw-shafts in one direction, means for reversing
their motion, and means for stopping the shafts whenever required, substantially as
described.
29. The combination, with an extensible and contractible press-box and an
extensible and contractible plunger-head movable therein, of devices for connecting
the plunger-head with the press-box so that the adjustment of the box effects the
adjustment of the plunger head, and means for expanding and contracting the
press-box, substantially as described.
30. The combination, with a press box having laterally movable side-sections
provided with eyes or loops, of an extensible and contractible plunger head having
devices for engaging the eyes or loops, and means for expanding or contracting the
press-box whereby the plunger head is at the same time expanded or contracted,
substantially as described.
31. The combination, with a press-box and a travelling carriage provided with
a plunger-head, of driving mechanism for actuating the carriage, a clutch for

page_text: engaging or disengaging the driving mechanism with the carriage, and a clutch-
operating-mechanism provided with a movable pin.which is adapted to be acted
upon by the carriage for automatically shifting the clutch, and means for withdrawing
the pin to enable the clutch to be operated manually, substantially as described.
32. The combination, with a press-box and a travelling carriage provided with
a plunger head to move in the press-box, of driving mechanism for actuating the
carriage, a clutch for engaging and disengaging the driving mechanism with the
carriage, a clutch operating mechanism provided with a spring-pressed pin arranged
to be acted upon by a part of said carriage when it reaches the limit of its back
stroke to automatically shift the clutch and stop the carriage,..and means for
retracting the pin, so that the clutch.can be operated to engage the driving
mechanism with the carriage for starting it, substantially as described.
33. The combination of a laterally adjustable press-box, vertical screw-shafts
geared together, horizontally arranged beams provided with screw-nuts engaging
the screw-shafts, a laterally adjustable press-box. cover, hangers suspending the
cover from the beams and adjustable thereupon, power-driven mechanism geared
to the screw-shafts for raising and lowering the beams. aud the press-box cover, a
clutch for engaging or disengaging the power-driven mechanism with the screw-
shafts, and mechanism operated by the beams which carry the cover. to actuate the
clutch and thereby disengage the power-driven mechanism from the screw-shafts
whenever it is desired to stop the ascent or descent of the press-box cover,
substantially as described.
34. The combination, with a press-box having a gate at one end and a plunger
movable in the press-box; of a travelling carriage provided with pawls and connected
with the plunger, means for moving the carriage back and forth, a rock shaft
provided with tappets which are acted upon by the pawls of the carriage as the
latter moves forward and backward, and connections between the rock shaft and
the gate whereby the gate is positively raised and also lowered by the action of
the pawls of the carriage upon the tappets of the rock shaft, substantially as
described.
35. The combination of a press box having a longitudinal slot, a plunger-head
movable in the press-box, a carriage movable beneath the press-box, a shank
connecting the plunger and the carriage and travelling along the longitudinal
slot, an ascending and descending cover movable into and out of the press-box,
and mechanisms connected with the said cover and the said shank for raising and
lowering the cover and moving the shank in the slot, substantially as described.
36. The combination of a press-box, a plunger head movable therein, a cover
which ascends and descends, remaining substantially horizontal, vertical screw-
shafts connected with the cover, a power-driven shaft, gearing operated by the
shaft to actuate the plunger head, mechanism operated by the shaft to rotate the
screw shafts first in one direction and then in the opposite direction for raising and
lowering the cover, clutches for engaging and disengaging the power shaft with
the gearing and mechanism which operate the screw-shafts and the plunger, and
two independent hand-levers for operating the clutches, substantially as described.
37. The combination, with a press-box and a vertically movable cover, of vertical
screw-shafts connected with the cover, driving mechanism for turning the shafts in
either direction, a clutch for engaging and disengaging the driving mechanism
with the shafts, a transverse slide bar for operating the clutch, devices. connected
with the slide bar aud actuated by the vertically-movable cover to shift the slide
bar transversely and thereby disengage the. driving mechanism from the -screw-
shafts, and a hand lever connected with the slide-barioperating.devices whereby the
slide bar may also be operated by hand, substantially as described.
38. The combination, with a press-box and a vertically movable.press-box cover,
of a vertically moving rod actuated by the cover, a traversing rock shaft.connected
with the rod, a power-driven mechanism for raising and lowering the cover, a
clutch for engaging and disengaging the power driven mechanism with the cover

page_text: devices connecting the clutch with the rock shaft, and a hand lever also connected
with the rock shaft whereby the clutch may be operated by hand and is automatically
operated by the cover itself, substantially as described.
Dated this 8th day of December 1896
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.