US 5,054,178 AGranted

Process and apparatus for the production of innersprings for mattresses and upholstered furniture

AssigneeSpuhl AG

InventorJakob Zuger

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An automated process and apparatus for the production of innerspring mattresses having an innerspring situated between top and bottom frame members. A microprocessor controlled apparatus forms the frame members and arranges them for transportation to a clamping table. A first frame member is fed to the clamping table. An innerspring is then fed to the clamping table where it is clamped to the first frame member around the periphery thereof, thereby forming a first combination. The first combination is then removed from the clamping table and a second frame member is fed to the clamping table. The first combination is then turned over and fed back to the clamping table where it is then clamped to the second frame member, thereby forming a completed innerspring mattress. During this process, the frame members are produced and then fed in one direction, the innerspring is fed from another direction, and removal takes place in still another direction along a T-shaped assembly line, resulting in fast, synchronous production.

Claims7

Dependent claims

An automated process for the production of innerspring matresses having top and bottom frame members, said process being controlled by a microprocessor controller and comprising the mechanically automated steps of:

forming frame members from elongated steel elements, each frame member being a single steel element with its ends secured together and being precisely dimensionally accurate and consistent from frame member to frame member in accordance with settings on the microprocessor controller;
arranging the frame members so formed into a hanging stack;
transporting a first such frame member from the hanging stack to a clamping table;
transporting an innerspring member, comprised of a multiplicity of spring elements, to a position in juxtaposition with said first frame member on the clamping table;
coupling said spring elements to said first frame member around the periphery thereof, thereby forming a combination of said first frame member and said innerspring member;
removing the combination of said first frame member and said innerspring member from the clamping table;
transporting a second such frame member to the clamping table;
turning over the combination of said first frame member and said innerspring member;
placing the turned-over combination of said first frame member and said innerspring member in juxtaposition with said second frame member;
coupling said spring elements to said second frame member, thereby forming a completed innerspring matress;
and then
removing the thus completed innerspring matress from the clamping table.

9 more elements

Apparatus for automatically producing an innerspring matress having top and bottom frame members, said apparatus comprising:

a microprocessor controller;
a frame bending machine connected to said controller for automatically forming the frame members from elongated steel elements, said frame members being precisely dimensionally accurate and consistent from frame member to frame member in accordance with settings on said microprocessor controller;
means connected to said controller for joining an end of each frame member to another end of said each frame member under control of said controller;
means connected to said controller for aggregating a plurality of completed frame members in a hanging stack under control of said controller;
a clamping table spaced from said hanging stack of frame members;
means connected to said controller for individually transporting a frame member from said hanging stack to and on said clamping table;
means connected to said controller for transporting an innerspring member, comprising a multiplicity of spring elements, to a position in juxtaposition with the frame member on said clamping table;
clamping head means connected to said controller for clamping said spring elements to said frame member on said clamping table;
means connected to said controller for transporting a combination of said frame member and said innerspring member from said clamping table, turning over said combination and returning it to a position in juxtaposition with another frame member on said clamping table;
and
means connected to said controller for removing a completed innerspring matress, comprising top and bottom frame members and an innerspring member clamped between said top and bottom frame members, from said clamping table.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.