Apparatus for producing all metal spring cushions

Apparatus for producing all-metal spring cushions from knitted pieces produced from metal wire, characterised by

• a) a winding station (12), which comprises:
• aa) a winding mandrel (26) provided with entrainment means (32) and connected to a winding drive (24),
• ab) at least one open winding sleeve (14), which is located coaxially with respect to the winding mandrel (26) and in the peripheral wall of which there is provided a supply window (36) for the knitted piece (40) to be wound,
• ac) a fixing device (64) for fixing the end of the knitted piece to the knitted roll (76), and
• ad) stripping means (90, 92) for stripping a finished knitted roll (76) from the winding mandrel (26);
• b) a pressing station (22), which comprises:
• ba) a pressing sleeve (148) with a peripheral wall free from interruptions, whereof the inner diameter corresponds substantially to the inner diameter of the winding sleeve (14) and with which a sleeve bottom member (152) is associated,
• bb) a central pressing mandrel (156), whereof the diameter corresponds essentially to the diameter of the winding mandrel (26),
• bc) a press die (162) with a central bore (164) able to move over the pressing mandrel (156) and
• bd) ejection means (162) for ejecting a spring cushion (168) obtained by compressing a knitted roll (76), from the pressing sleeve (148);
• and by
• c) means (18;
• 174) for axially aligning the winding sleeve (14) and pressing sleeve (148).