Apparatus and method for deconstructing mattresses
AssigneeAtlanta Attachment Company
InventorJesse Knoble
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for deconstructing a mattress of the type having steel coil springs held within fabric pockets. The apparatus includes a frame and an opener mechanism mounted to the frame and operable for opening a plurality of fabric pockets at a first end thereof to create an opening in the first end of the fabric pockets and expose the steel coil springs contained therewithin. A gripper mechanism is provided for gripping the plurality of fabric pockets at a second end thereof, opposite the first end. An extractor mechanism is mounted to the frame for extracting the steel coil springs from the fabric pockets through the openings formed in the first end of the fabric pockets.
Claims31
A method of deconstructing a mattress of the type having springs held within fabric pockets comprising:
- engaging and opening a plurality of fabric pockets of the mattress with an opener to create an opening in a first end of each of the fabric pockets of the plurality of fabric pockets and expose the springs contained therewithin, the opener being mounted on a frame of an apparatus;
- gripping each of the fabric pockets in the plurality of fabric pockets at a second end that is opposite the first end with a gang of rotary screws with vertically oriented axes of rotation and a drive configured to drive the rotary screws in rotation into the fabric at the second ends of the fabric pockets;
- and
- extracting the springs from the fabric pockets through the openings formed in the fabric pockets while the rotary screws grip the second ends of the fabric pockets to at least partially resist deformation of the fabric pockets.
An apparatus for deconstructing a mattress of the type having springs held within fabric pockets, the apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- an opener mounted to the frame and positioned to engage a plurality of fabric pockets of the mattress and create an opening in a first end of one or more of the fabric pockets to expose the springs contained therewithin;
- a gripper for gripping the plurality of fabric pockets at a second end thereof, wherein the gripper comprises a gang of rotary screws with vertically oriented axes of rotation and a drive configured to drive the rotary screws in rotation into the fabric at the second ends of the fabric pockets;
- an extractor configured to extract the springs from the fabric pockets through the openings formed in the first ends of the fabric pockets while the gripper grips the plurality of fabric pockets at the second ends thereof to at least partially resist deformation of the plurality of fabric pockets.
A method of deconstructing a mattress having springs at least partially received within fabric pockets, the method comprising:
- movably supporting the mattress on a support platform;
- gripping each of the fabric pockets in a plurality of fabric pockets of the mattress at first ends thereof with a gang of rotary rods with vertically oriented axes of rotation, each rotary rod of the gang of rotary rods having an off-center sharpened point at one end configured to rotate into the fabric of the first end of one of the fabric pockets;
- and
- extracting the springs from the fabric pockets through second ends thereof while the rotary rods grip the first ends of the fabric pockets to at least partially resist deformation of the fabric pockets.
An apparatus for deconstructing a mattress having springs at least partially received within fabric pockets, the apparatus comprising:
- a support platform configured to movably support the mattress;
- a gripper arranged along one side of the support platform and configured for gripping one or more fabric pockets at a first end thereof, wherein the gripper comprises a gang of rotary rods with vertically oriented axes of rotation, each rotary rod of the gang of rotary rods having an off-center sharpened point at one end configured to rotate into the fabric of the first end of one of the fabric pockets;
- and
- an extractor mounted on an opposite side of the support platform from the gripper, the extractor being configured to extract the springs from the fabric pockets at second ends thereof while the gripper grips the plurality of fabric pockets at the first ends thereof to at least partially resist deformation of the plurality of fabric pockets.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.