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US 5,497,718 AGranted
Air operated system for tape edge machine in mattress manufacturing
AssigneeJames Cash Machine Co., Inc.
InventorDavid R. Cash
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A compressed air operated ergonomic system used with a tape edge machine carriage employed in mattress manufacturing. The operator's arm, leg, knee, or foot can be used to stop the sewing operation and stop the carriage from moving around the table. The compressed air system can also provide an operator air source, engage the gear mechanisms which permit the carriage to move around the table, provide needle cooling, and permit the sewing machine presser foot to be raised.
Claims14
A carriage assembly used with a tape edge machine, said carriage assembly comprising:
- (a) means for moving Said carriage assembly around said tape edge machine;
- (b) a sewing machine having a sewing needle, said sewing machine attached to said carriage assembly;
- (c) means for operating said sewing machine needle;
- (d) an air compressor, said air compressor producing compressed air;
- (e) means for braking said operating means;
- (f) means for idling said moving means;
- and,
- (g) at least a first air switch assembly and a second air switch assembly, where each of said first and said second air switch assemblies has an air switch, said air switch having an input connected to said compressor to receive said compressed air and an output connected to an operable air cylinder, where each of said first and said second air switch assemblies has means for activating said air switch to provide said compressed air to said operable air cylinder thereby activating said braking means and said idling means, where each of said first and said second air switch assemblies has means for deactivating said air switch to not provide said compressed air to said operable air cylinder thereby deactivating said braking means and said idling means;
- where said activating means of said first air switch assembly is operable by a tape edge machine operator's knee, leg, or foot and where said activating means of said second air switch assembly is operable by said tape edge machine operator's arm.
6 more elements
A carriage assembly used with a tape edge machine, said carriage assembly comprising:
- (a) means for moving said carriage assembly around said tape edge machine;
- (b) a sewing machine having a sewing needle, said sewing machine attached to said carriage assembly;
- (c) means for operating said sewing machine needle;
- (d) an air compressor, said air compressor producing compressed air;
- (e) means for braking said operating means;
- (f) means for idling said moving means;
- and,
- (g) at least one air switch assembly, said air switch assembly having an air switch, said air switch having an input connected to said compressor to receive said compressed air and an output connected to an operable air cylinder, said air switch assembly having means for activating said air switch to provide said compressed air to said operable air cylinder thereby activating said braking means and said idling means, said air switch assembly having means for deactivating said air switch to not provide said compressed air to said operable air cylinder thereby deactivating said braking means and said idling means, where:
- (1) said means for activating said air switch to provide said compressed air to said operable air cylinder thereby activating said braking means and said idling means further comprises:
- (i) a lever arm, said arm pivotally mounted to said carriage assembly,
- (ii) a push bar extending through said carriage assembly and slidably retained thereby, said push bar having a first and a second end, said ends extending from said carriage assembly, said first end of said push bar touching said lever arm,
- (iii) a switch activator attached to said push bar,
- (iv) where a tape edge machine operator pushes on said lever arm, thereby pushing on said push bar causing said switch activator to activate said air switch;
- and,
- (2) said means for deactivating said air switch to not provide said compressed air to said operable air cylinder thereby deactivating said braking means and said idling means further comprises:
- (i) a spring, said spring surrounding said push bar between said switch activator and said carriage assembly toward said second end of said push bar,
- (ii) a quick exhaust air valve between said air switch and said operable air cylinder,
- (iii) where, when said tape edge machine operator pushes on said lever arm, thereby pushing on said push bar causing said switch activator to activate said air switch, said spring compresses, and where, when said tape edge machine operator quits pushing on said lever arm, said spring causes said push bar to move to deactivate said air switch and said quick exhaust air valve quickly relieves said compressed air from said air cylinder.
15 more elements
A carriage assembly used with a tape edge machine, said carriage assembly comprising:
- (a) means for moving said carriage assembly around said tape edge machine;
- (b) a sewing machine having a sewing needle, said sewing machine attached to said carriage assembly;
- (c) means for operating said sewing machine needle;
- (d) an air compressor, said air compressor producing compressed air;
- (e) means for braking said operating means;
- (f) means for idling said moving means;
- (g) at least one air switch assembly, said air switch assembly having an air switch, said air switch having an input connected to said compressor to receive said compressed air and an output connected to an operable air cylinder, said air switch assembly having air switch activating means to provide said compressed air to said operable air cylinder thereby activating said braking means and said idling means, said air switch assembly having means for deactivating said air switch to not provide said compressed air to said operable air cylinder thereby deactivating said braking means and said idling means;
- and,
- (h) means for activating said carriage assembly moving means;
- where said means for activating said carriage assembly moving means includes an on/off air toggle switch and an operable air cylinder, said air toggle switch having an input connected to said compressor to receive said compressed air and an output connected to said operable air cylinder, where, when said air toggle switch is turned on, said compressed air is provided to said air cylinder to activate said carriage assembly moving means and where, when said air toggle switch is turned off, said compressed air is not provided to said air cylinder to deactivate said carriage assembly moving means.
7 more elements
A carriage assembly used with a tape edge machine, said carriage assembly comprising:
- (a) means for moving said carriage assembly around said tape edge machine;
- (b) a sewing machine having a sewing needle, said sewing machine attached to said carriage assembly;
- (c) means for operating said sewing machine needle;
- (d) an air compressor, said air compressor producing compressed air;
- (e) means for braking said operating means;
- (f) means for idling said moving means;
- (g) at least one air switch assembly, said air switch assembly having an air switch, said air switch having an input connected to said compressor to receive said compressed air and an output connected to an operable air cylinder, said air switch assembly having air switch activating means to provide said compressed air to said operable air cylinder thereby activating said braking means and said idling means, said air switch assembly having means for deactivating said air switch to not provide said compressed air to said operable air cylinder thereby deactivating said braking means and said idling means;
- and,
- (h) means for lifting a presser foot of said sewing machine, said lifting means including an air switch, a foot pedal, and an operable air cylinder;
- said air switch having an input connected to said compressor to receive said compressed air and an output connected to said operable air cylinder, where, when said foot pedal is pressed by a tape edge machine operator, said air switch is turned on and said compressed air is provided to said air cylinder to lift said presser foot and where, when said foot pedal is released, said air switch is turned off and said compressed air is not provided to said air cylinder to not lift said presser foot.
7 more elements
An air switch assembly employed with a carriage assembly of a tape edge machine, said air switch assembly comprising:
- (a) an air switch, said air switch having an input connected to an air compressor producing compressed air, said input receiving said compressed air, said air switch having an output connected to an operable air cylinder;
- (b) means for activating said air switch to provide said compressed air to said operable air cylinder;
- where said means for activating said air switch to provide said compressed air to said operable air cylinder further comprises:
- (i) a lever arm, said arm pivotally mounted to said carriage assembly,
- (ii) a push bar extending through said carriage assembly and slidably retained thereby, said push bar having a first and a second end, said ends extending from said carriage assembly, said first end of said push bar touching said lever arm,
- (iii) a switch activator attached to said push bar,
- (iv) where a tape edge machine operator pushes on said lever arm, thereby pushing on said push bar causing said switch activator to activate said air switch;
- and,
- (b) means for deactivating said air switch to not provide said compressed air to said operable air cylinder;
- where said means for deactivating said air switch to not provide said compressed air to said operable air cylinder further comprises:
- (i) a spring, said spring surrounding said push bar between said switch activator and said carriage assembly toward said second end of said push bar,
- (ii) a quick exhaust air valve between said air switch and said operable air cylinder,
- (iii) where, when said tape edge machine operator pushes on said lever arm, thereby pushing on said push bar causing said switch activator to activate said air switch, said spring compresses, and where, when said tape edge machine operator quits pushing on said lever arm, said spring causes said push bar to move to deactivate said air switch and said quick exhaust air valve quickly relieves said compressed air from said air cylinder.
10 more elements
A multiple air switch assembly employed with a carriage assembly of a tape edge machine, said multiple air switch assembly comprising:
- (a) a first air switch, said first air switch having an input connected to an air compressor producing compressed air, said input receiving said compressed air, said first air switch having an output connected to a first input of a shuttle valve;
- (b) a second air switch, said second air switch having an input connected to said air compressor producing compressed air, said input receiving said compressed air, said second air switch having an output connected to a second input of said shuttle valve;
- (c) a quick exhaust valve having an input connected to an output of said shuttle valve;
- (d) an air cylinder having an input connected to an output of said quick exhaust valve;
- (e) means for activating said first air switch to provide said compressed air through said shuttle valve and said quick exhaust valve to said operable air cylinder thereby activating means for braking and means for idling;
- (f) means for activating said second air switch to provide said compressed air through said shuttle valve and said quick exhaust valve to said operable air cylinder thereby activating means for braking and means for idling;
- (g) means for deactivating said first air switch and means for deactivating said second air switch to not provide said compressed air to said operable air cylinder thereby deactivating said means for braking and said means for idling, said quick exhaust air valve quickly relieving said compressed air from said air cylinder.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.