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US 9,821,403 B2Granted
Glueless pocketed spring unit construction
OwnerMartin Wolfsoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems for no-glue pocketed spring unit construction. Rows of pocketed springs, preferably arranged into modules of more than two pocketed springs surrounding a central hole, are ultrasonically welded together when paired vibrating probes and anvils press layers of pocketed spring fabric from the rows of pocketed springs together and a welding pulse is transmitted to the vibrating probe.
Claims20
A mechanism for glueless assembly of pocketed inner spring units, comprising:
- at least two rows of locator pins which protrude through a lifting table;
- a double row of probe/anvil pairs, said probe/anvil pairs configured to press flush together in a welding position, and to create welds between multiple layers of flexible spring pocket material compressed between said probe/anvil pairs when a welding pulse is passed through said probes when in said welding position;
- said lifting table configured to transfer multiple rows of pocketed spring modules from said locator pins to said probe/anvil pairs;
- wherein individual ones of said pocketed spring modules comprise more than two pocketed springs which together surround an opening;
- and wherein individual ones of said pocketed springs each comprise a coil spring inside a pocket made of said material;
- and
- an extractor plate configured to transfer said rows of pocketed spring modules off of said probe/anvil pairs.
4 more elements
A mechanism for glueless assembly of cushioning units, comprising:
- at least one probe/anvil pair, one of said probe/anvil pair configured to be inserted into openings in a first row of modules, and the other of said probe/anvil pair configured to be inserted into openings in a second row of modules;
- wherein individual ones of said modules comprise more than two pocketed springs which together surround one of said openings;
- and wherein individual ones of said pocketed springs each comprise a spring inside a pocket made of a flexible material;
- a transporter, configured to move said probe/anvil pairs together and apart, and between module pickup and module dropoff positions;
- a lifter, configured to pickup said first and second rows of modules onto said probe/anvil pairs;
- an extractor, configured to dropoff said first and second rows of modules from said probe/anvil pair at a module dropoff position after said first and second rows of modules are welded together;
- and
- a power source, configured to apply power to said probes when said probe/anvil pairs are moved together, to thereby thermally weld said first and second rows of modules together at one or more locations.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.