US2976828A - Hydraulically operated table - Google Patents

Description

March 28, 1961 F. E. KALNING ET AL HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED TABLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 2, 1957 March 28, 1961 F. E. KALmwGV ET A1. 2,976,828

HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED TABLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 2, 1957 F. E. KALNi-NG ET AL 2,976,828

HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED TABLE March 28, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 2, 1957 v March 28', 1961 F. E. KALNING ET AL 2,976,828

HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED TABLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 2, 1957 @if ff @WM March 28, 1961 F. E, KALNING Em 2,976,828

HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED TABLE 5 SheetS-Sheet 5 Filed July 2, 1957 HYDRAULICALLY O PERATED TABLE Frederick E. Kalning, Quincy, and Howard E. Redman, Weymouth, Mass., assiguors to United Mattress Ma-l chinery Co., lne., Quincy, Mass., a corporation ot Maine Filed July 2, 1957, Ser. No. 669,558

9 Claims. (Cl. i12-3) The present invention relates to an improved automatic article supporting table assembly for use with a mattress tufting or Vsimilar machine which is particularly adapted for positioning articles with relation to the machine for the insertion of successive tufts therein.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a novel and improved automatic control for the supports of the table assembly which will be simple and at the same time more iiexible in operation than those heretofore available in the art.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a hydraulically operated table assembly including a hydraulic cylinder and associated controls for moving the table and associated retaining frame to the desired positions.

In accordance with the invention the hydraulic cylinder for operating the table is provided with a shock absorbing device which is adapted to operate efiiciently in either direction, which permits the table to be moved rapidly and eiiiciently to successive positions, and thereafter to be arrested in the selected position without shock or jar to the table or associated parts of the machine.

It is a further object of the invention to provide automatic means under the control of the operator for moving the table and retaining frame from loading position directly to any desired tuft inserting position.

Specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide automatic means under the control of the operator for moving the table :and retaining frame directly to the first tuft inserting position at the beginning of an automatic cycle.

it is a further object of the invention to provide for the automatic return of the table assembly to the loading station when certain operating conditions are fulfilled. The table assembly is adapted to be returned' automatically to the loading position, for example, upon the com,- pletion of an automatic tuft inserting cycle. The table assembly is returned automatically to the loading position ralso in theevent that the tufting machine fails for some reason to perform properly the operation of inserting a tuft in any location on the mattress.

lt is still another object of the invention to provide an improved device controlled by the machine for discharging the mattress upon return of the table assembly and tufted mattress to the loading position.

With these fand other objects in view as may hereinafter appear the several features of the invention consist in the devices, combinations, and arrangement of parts, hereinafter described and claimed, which together with the advantages to be obtained thereby will readily be understood by one skilled in the art from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig.` 1 is a side view of the tufting machine and table assembly illustrating particularly the hydraulic cylinder for effecting forward and back movement of the retaining frame together with certain electrically operated controls rendered operative by movement of the retaining frame,

and certain other controls associated with the operation of the tufting machine;

Fig. 2 is a detail 'sectional view on a large scale taken one line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of substantially the mechanism shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is la plan view of a tufting machine and a mattress supporting table assembly which is shown in position for the insertion of the iirst tutt, the table also being shown in a dotted line position taken at the end of the tirst row of tufting operations, and a second dotted line position taken when the mattress is in position to receive the last tutt before being returned to the loading position;

Fig. 5 is a somewhat detailed view in front elevation of the table and of the control devices which are rendered' operative by movement of the table in either direction for eifecting automatic operation of the table assembly;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view in front elevation taken on a line 6 6 of Fig. 4 illustrating particularly the t-able and hydraulic cylinder by which the table is moved transversely of the tufting machine;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view in section taken on a line 7-7 of Fig. 6 illustrating particularly the shock absorber device interposed between the hydraulic cylinder and table;

Figs. 8 to 12 inclusive are detail sectional views taken on lines 3 8, 9-9, lil- 10, 11-11, and 12-12, respectively of Fig. 5 to illustrate particularly the several cams, and electrical switches which are rendered operative by movement of the table for effecting automatic control of the table assembly;

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the tufting machine and table lassembly shown in the loading position, and illustrating particularly the mechanism for discharging the tufted mattress from the table, the discharge position of this mechanism being shown in dotted line;

Fig. 14 is a detail sectional view taken on a line 14-'14 of Fig. 13, illustrating particularly the construction and operation of the mechanism for discharging the tufted mattress from the table assembly; and

Fig. l5 is an electrical diagram illustrating the elec- Vtrical connections and the valves controlled thereby for operating the hydraulic cylinders for both manual and automatic control of the table assembly.

The invention is herein disclosed in a preferred form as embodied in a mattress tufting machine consisting of a U-shaped frame 20 including a base support 22 in which is housed a knot forming device, not shown, and a vertically reciprocable needle bar 24 carrying two tuft forming needles 26 and 28. The upper arm of the U-shaped frame is provided with a head 30 in which is mounted a vertically movable compression foot 32 and a device,

' not specifically shown, for transferring the end of a lace or cord held by one needle to the other needle. Inasmuch as the several cooperating elements of the lacing machine are fully described and illustrated in the United States patent to Wanzer and Kalning No. 2,652,013 for Mattress T ufting Machine, patented September 15, 1953,

and form specifically no part of the present invention, no

nected 'by'a link 48, a bell crank 5i), and 'a horizontallyv disposed link 52`with a rackfand-pim'on mechanism 'not` specifically showntor operating the compression foot 32.

Patented Mar. 28, 1961l They mechaanism for reciprocating the needle bar 24 consists of a needle cam follower lever 54 which is supported to turn on a pivot shaft 56 `and at its rear end carries a follower roll 58 which engages in a face cam groove 60 in ya cam disc of a cam not specifically identied in Fig. l. At its forward end the needle cam follower 54 is connected by a yieldable connection with a needle operating lever 64 which is lpivoted on the pivot shaft 56 and at its free end is connected by a link 66 with the needle bar 24. The yieldable connection between the cam follower lever 54 and needle operating lever 64 takes the form of a latch 62 which is pivoted on the lever 64 and `is held in latching position with relation to a pin `65 on the follower lever 54 by means of a tension spring 67. The arrangement is such that the needle actuating lever 64 is normally caused to move about its pivot S6 with the needle cam follower lever 54, but, in the event that the needles during the upward stroke of the needle bar come into contact with a spring or other `obstruction Within the mattress, the latch 62 will yield, swinging rearwardly, thus permitting the upward movement of the needles to be arrested without injury to the machine pants. The machine is driven from any convenient source of power such asan electric motor, not shown.

The tufting mechanism is adapted to be stopped with both the compression foot 32 and needles 26, 28 fully retracted for a predetermined angular position of the main cam shaft 36 by means of a clutch and brake stop motion, which is adapted to be controlled by a forwardly extending tufting machine start and stop clutch lever 7,8 pivotally connected at its rear end with a clutch and stop motion control shaft 80. The lever 7S is supported intermediate its length on 4a guide block or shelf 82.

The mattress support assembly of the machine comprises -a fixed frame with legs .88 and two transversely extending rails 90, 92 which are mounted in a predetermined fixed relation .to the frame of `the tufting mechanism. A mattress supporting table 94which may be of usual description is mounted on wheels 96 for movement on the rails in the transverse direction. A mattress retaining frame 98 is mounted on the table 94 for movement relative thereto in `a forward and back direction. Wheels 100 mounted on the two -sidesof the frame 98 are arranged to ride on rails 102 carried on the table 94 to facilitate movement ofthe retaining frame 98 Irelative thereto. l

The table is formed with a flat top surface to support a mattress which is adapted to be slid forward and back thereon. The table top is formed with a slot which extends the full transverse dimension of the table through which the tuft inserting mechanism operates for any transverse position of the table. The mattress retaining frame 98 is formed with side and end walls which encase the mattress, so that a mattress, supported on the table and encased within the mattress retaining frame, is adapted to be slid forward and back on the table, so that any desired portion of the mattress may be brought into position over the slot in the table for the operation of the tufting mechanism. inasmuch as this mechanism is conventional and well known in the ait specific illustration thereof has been omitted.

In accordance with the invention the table 94 is adapted to be operated by means of a hydraulically operated cylinder 103 which is mounted rigidly on the frame by means of a bracket bolted` to a cross member 104 of the frame. A piston 106 slidably mounted within the cylinder 103 is connected at vits outer or left hand end as shown in Figs. 6, 7 to la shock absorbingA device which is in turn secured to a bracket 110 projecting downwardly from the carriage 94. The shock` absorbing device comprises a plunger 112 which is secured to the piston -106 and is arranged to slide withina cylinder 114 sesmall apertures provided in -the plunger 112, whenever movement of the piston 106 and plunger 112 takes place relative to the cylinder 114 and table 94, thus providing a cushion to arrest the advance of the table 94 when` ever the piston 106 is stopped from further movement by the operation of the table cylinder control valve hereinafter more fully described.

Movement of the retaining frame 98 in -a forward and back direction is effected by means of a hydraulic cylinder 120 which, as best shown in Figs. l and 4, is rigidly secured to .the right hand end of the table, and is provided with a piston 122 connected at its free end to a laterally extending bracket 124 on the retaining frame.

A hydraulically operated device is provided for automatically shifting the tufting machine hand lever '7S between its run and stop positions which, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 4, compnises a hand lever control cylinder 12S rigidly secured in the frame and a piston 126 with a piston rod 127 connected with the hand lever '78.

Further in accordance with .the invention a hydraulically operated mechanism is provided which acts automatically upon return of the table assembly to the loading position after a tufting operation has been completed to discharge the mattress from the table. The mechanism referred to, as best shown in Figs. 13 Iand 14, comprises a rock shaft 130 which is mounted from and extends transversely across the table adjacent its rear edge and somewhat below the level of the mattress supporting surface. The roel; shaft 130 Ahas secured thereto three mattress raising bars 132 which normally occupy forwardly extending positions as shown in lPig. 14 within slots 134 formed in the table surface.

Assuming that the mattress and retaining frame have been moved rearwardly to the loading position on the table, the mattress will overlie these arms 132 so that a rocking movement of the shaft 130 and arms 132 will act to swing the mattress upwardly about its rear edge as indicated by the dot and dash positions of Fig. 14 and cause the mattress to be dumped in a reverse position onto a loading platform generally indicated in Fig. 14 at 136. A rocking movement of the shaft 130 is accomplished by means of a hydraulic cylinder 136 which is provided with a piston 138 having formed on the rear end therecured to the downwardly `extending bracket 110. The

cylinder 1.14 is sin-,a with on vwhiehjis forced through.

of a rack 144iA adapted for engagement with a pinion 142 secured to the left hand end of the rock shaft as viewed in Fig. 13.

The hydraulic system by means of which oil under pressure is supplied to the table, retaining frame, and mattress discharge hydraulic cylinders comprises an oil pump 146 which is arranged to be driven by an electric motor 148. Oil is pumped from the pump 146 through a check valve 149 into `a pressure manifold 150 which is connected respectively with an inlet port in each of the four four-way valves designated respectively at 152, 154, 15S and 156 for controlling the operation respectively of the table 94, retaining frame 98, the hand lever 78 for the tufting machine, and the mattress discharge cylinder 136. .A connection is 4also provided from the manifold 150 through a pipe 158 to an accumulator 160. Pipe lines 162 and 164 connect the table valve 152 respectively with the left hand end and the right hand end of the table hydraulic cylinder 103. Pipe lines 166 and 168 connect the retaining frame valve 154 with the two ends of the'retaining frame hydraulic cylinder 120. Pipe lines 170,172 connect the hand lever Control valve 15S respectively with the two ends of the hand lever control cylinder 125. .Pipe lines 174 and 176 connect the discharge control valve 156 respectively with the two ends of the discharge hydraulic lcylinder` 136. Exhaust connections are provided from each of the 'table retaining frame and` discharge valves to anexhaust conduit 178 which is .connected with an oil supply tank 179 which is in turn` connected with the inlet side of the pump 146. A relief valve 180. is connected by a pipe the pressure `rnmifold'ulSO. l,

182 with Each of the valves above described for controlling the operation of the several hydraulic cylinders is actuated by means of solenoids forming part of an electrical control system which is particularly illustrated in Fig. 15 of the drawings. The table cylinder operating valve 152 comprises, in addition to an outside casing, a longitudinally movable valve element 183 which is normally held in a central stop position by means of centering springs 184. A solenoid 186 acts when energized to move the valve body 183 to the left, so that fluid under pressure is admitted through pipe 164 to advance the cylinder piston 106 and table 94 to the left, iluid being exhausted through pipe 162 and the exhaust connection 178 to the pump 146. When the solenoid 186 is de-energized the valve body 182 immediately returns to its central position, thus shutting off the supply of uid to both ends of the cylinder 103 causing the table instantly to stop. Movement of the cylinder piston 106 and table 94 to the right' is effected by the energizing of a solenoid 188 attached to the opposite end of the valve body 182.

Operation of the retaining frame cylinder control Valve 154 is similarly effected by means of centering springs 190 and solenoids 192 and 194 attached respectively to the opposite ends of the axially movable valve body 196.

Valve 155 which controls the operation of hydraulic cylinder 125 for operating the hand lever 78 is formed with the valve body 200 which is shifted between two alternative operating positions by means of solenoids 202 and 204.

The valve 156 for controlling the discharge cylinder 136 is provided with a valve body 206 which is shifted between alternative retracted and discharge positions by means of two solenoids 208 and 210 connected respectively to the opposite ends of the valve body 206.

The electrical control system comprises a lead-in wire 220 and `a return wire 222 carrying 110` volts.

For controlling the several hydraulic valve operating solenoids a number of relays are provided which include a table left relay 224 for energizing solenoid 186, a table right relay 226 for energizing solenoid 188, a retaining frame forward relay 228 for energizing solenoid 192, a homing relay 230 and a homing release relay 232.

The several operating switches for controlling the operation of the table assembly and the control cams on the machine which are renderedoperative by the Operation of the tufting machine and by the movement of the table and retaining frame for actuating certain of these switches will be more fully pointed out in connection with a description of the operation of the machine as follows:

Assuming that the table assembly is in the mattress discharge position, operation of the Ymachine to effect the automatic tufting and thereafter, the return of the table assembly and tufted mattress to the homing or mattress discharge position will be described as follows:

Operation of the electrical SystemV The operator presses the tirst tufting position manual switch #12, switch wire contacts 236-238 close energizing the homing release relay 232, switch wire contacts 236-240 close energizing the retaining frame forward motion relay 228. rfable motion left relay 224 contacts 244, 246 and homing release relay wire contacts 246-248 close energizing table left motion solenoid 186 so that fluid under pressure flows from the valve 152- through pipe 164 to the right hand end of table cylinder 103 to move the table to the left. Retaining frame forward motion relay 228, wire contacts 244-250 and homing release relay 232 wire contacts 250-252 ,close energizf Y and 15'), thus advancing theretaining frame, Movement of the table to the left continues until left motion stop switch #3 located on the underside of the table'as best shown in Figs. 5 and l0 engages a cooperating cam 256 which corresponds with the rst tufting position of the mattress. Switch #3 opens' de-energizing table motion left relay 224, allowing valve body 182 to return to its middle stop position under the influence of centering springs 184 and locking the cylinder piston 106 and table 94 against further movement. Forward movement of the retaining frame continues until the retaining frame forward motion stop switch #7 mounted on the table 94 adjacent its forward right hand edge is engaged by a cam 260 mounted on the right hand edge face of the retaining frame 98. Switch #7 opens de-energizing solenoid 192 allowing valve body 196 to return to its middle stop position under the influence of centering springs so that the hydraulic cylinder piston 122 and retaining frame are locked against further movement.

The table assembly is now at rest with both the table 94 and retaining frame 98 and the mattress supported thereby in lposition for the insertion of a first tuft, this being the full line position particularly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

In order to put the machine in operation, the operator now raises the tufting machine start-stop lever 78 from its rest position and moves the same to the right, thus engaging and closing the machine starting switch #13. Solenoid 202 is energized moving the valve body 200 to the left, so that fluid is permitted to flow through conduit 172 causing the piston 126 and hand lever 78 to be moved to their extreme positions to the right to start the tufting machine in operation. 1

During the first vcycle of operation of the tufting machine, a cam 268 (see Fig. l) mounted on one of the cam discs on the cam shaft 36 engages a tufting impulse switch #16 closing a circuit through wire 272, homing switch #8, wire 276, tufting impulse switch #16, wire 278, aV left and right selector switch #6, and wire 282 to the table left relay 224. Continued rotation of the cam shaft 36 causes the cam 268 to ride out from under the switch '#16 breaking this connection. At the same time, however, stop switch #3 is permitted to return to its closed position as it rides off the rst stop cam 256. At the end of one increment of movement ofthe table to the left which corresponds to the space betweenA two adjacent tufts, table stop switch #3 will ride onto a second cam 256, thus again opening the left stop switch 254. This cycle of operations is repeated until the end ofthe row is reached. It will be understood that the spacing between individual successive cams 256 is readily adjustable, for example to accommodate two or more smaller mattresses mounted on the table in place of the I usual single large mattress.

The last increment of movement of the table 94 to the left causes a switch #l designated as the left hand forward motion and left motion limit switch to engage with a left motion limit cam 288 (see Fig. 5). A circuit is thus established through a wire 272, normally closed homing switch #8 (274), wire 276, a cycle safety switch #17, tuft cycle switch #16, a wire 287, a right hand forward switch #4 and a wire 288 to energize the retaining frame forward relay 228. Forward movement of the retaining frame continues until arrested by the vopening of forward motion stop switch #7 which opens the holding circuit through holding contacts 288-289 for forward relay `228 de-energizing the forward 'relay 228.'

thus Vclosed through a wire 300 to energize the table right switch relay 226. Table right switch contacts 244--302 close energizing the table hydraulic cylinder control solenoid 188 for moving the table to the right. Movement of the table to the right is arrested by the engagement of the table right stop switch #2 with one of a se-ries of spaced table right stop cams 303 (see Fig. thus breaking the holding circuit for the table right relay 226. The above noted series of operations is repeated as the tufting impulse switch #16 is closed with each successive opera tion of the tufting machine, until the table has been moved in successive steps fully to the right.

As the table 94 approaches the limit of movement to the right, right hand forward motion switch #4 engages its cam 310 and is closed, closing a circuit through line 284 to energize the` retaining frame forward motion relay 228. Right motion limit switch #5 engages its cam 312 and is opened, de-energizing the table right relay 226. The forward movement imparted to the retaining frame 98`by the actuation of right hand forward motion switch #4 causes the selector switch #6 to engage with the next succeeding left motion cam 296 (Fig. l) shifting the selector switch to its motion left position. A circuit is immediately closed through wires 232, 242 to energize the table motion left control relay 224. Advancing movement of the retaining frame is again stopped by the engagement of the forward motion stop switch #7 with the next succeeding stop cam 2%. Successive stepped movements of the table 94 to the left take place in the manner above described following each successive tufting Y impulse are produced by the closing of switch #16 during each successive cycle of the tufting machine.

Following the completion of the mattress tufting operation including the number of table traversing and retaining frame advancing movements called for by the pattern, and after the last tuft is completed, the next succeeding tuft impulse produced by the closing of the tufting impulse switch #16 moves the retaining frame forward far enough to engage the homing switch #8 with an actuating cam y321i which shifts the homing switch #8 to its OFF position. The circuit is thus completed through wire 314, aV cycle stop switch #l5 which is closed at a predetermined point in the rotation of the tufting machine cam shaft and wire 318 which energizes the homing relay 230 and the solenoid 204 which shifts the cylinder piston and tufting machine start and stop lever 78 to the stop position. The energizing of the homing relay 230 closes wire contacts 324--326 energizing table cylinder right solenoid 188 causing the table to move to the right. Closing of the homing relay 230, wire contacts 324-328 energizes the retaining frame cylinder back solenoid 194 causing the retaining frame to move to its rearmost position.

The dis-engagement of the machine from active operation and return of the table and retaining frame to the homingrposition is arranged, as above described, to take place automatically upon the shifting of the homing switch #8 to the OFF position upon the completion of the last tuft. The control system for the machine is also arranged for automatic operation to stop the tufting machine and to return the table and retaining frame to the homing position in the event that the machine for any reason fails to properly insert a tuft. This operation of the electrical control system to stop the machine and return the table and retaining frame to the homing position is initiated -by means of a detector device whichis fully illustrated and described in the patent to Fraser, No. 2,787,230 dated April 2, 1957 forl Machine for Tufting VMattresses and Similar Articles.

' The detector device referredto includes a 'microswitch #14 which operates each time a tufting operation is properly completed to close a circuit through a time'dei lay relay336, thus breaking a stopc'ircuit which would otherwise be completed through wire 338, 'time delay relay contacts BSS- 340, wire 340 and the cycle stop switch #15 above referred to which is closed automatically during a portion of each cycle of rotation of the tufting machine cam sha-ft. In the event that the time delay relay switch contacts 338--340 remain closed as a -result of the failure of microswitch #14 to close, the closing of cycle stop' switch #l5 has the eiect of stopping the tufting machine and of initiating the homing cycle of the table and retaining frame as above described; A manual homing switch r'tll is provided to enable the operator by pressing switch #l1 to cause the electrical connections to operate as above described to stop the machine and cause the table assembly to be returned to its homing position at the completion of any tuft cycle.

The operation of the mattress discharge device is controlled by means of a manual unload push switch 350 and an automatic return switch 352. The electrical connections include a wire 354 which is connected with a switch 350 which when closed energizes the discharge cylinder unload control solenoid 208. The wire 354 is connected through the return switch 352 to energize the discharge cylinder return control solenoid 210.

The invention having been described what is claimed l. For use in a machine for tufting mattresses and similar articles having a tufting mechanism operable to insert a tuft through the article, a table movable transversely with relation to the tufting mechanism hetween limit positions, an article retaining frame supported for forward and back movement on the table between limit positions, means for actuating the tufting mechanism in a series of tuft inserting operations, a hyclraulic cylinder connected between the machine and the table and of a length for driving the table in a transverse direction between said limit positions, a second hydraulic cylinder connected between the table and retaining frame and of a length for moving the retaining frame with relation to the table in a, forward and back direction between said' limit positions, means for supplying luid under pressure to said cylinders, valves shiftable between run and lock stop positions to control the supply and exhaust of said iluid under pressure to the two cylinders, automatic control means for said valves for shifting said table and retaining frame with relation to said tufting mechanism in accordance with a pattern including a manual control for operating said tufting mechanism in a rst tufting cycle, a cam and follower means actuated by said tufting mechanism to actuate said valves to initiate selected movements of said table and frame, and additional cam and follower devices on the table assembly actuated by successive movements of said table and retainingrframe to arrest said movements and to initiate a next succeeding cyclical movement of said tufting mechanism.

2. In combination with a machine for tufting mattresses and like articles having a tufting mechanism operable to insert a tuft through the article, an article supporting table assembly including a table movable trans versely with relation to the tufting mechanism between limit positions, an article retaining frame Supported for forward and back movement on the table between limit positions, means for actuating the tufting mechanism in a series of tutt inserting operations., a driving and stopping mechanism for the tufting mechanism, a hydraulic cylin der connecte'dbetween the machine and the table for driving the, table transversely between said limit positions, ka second hydraulic cylinder connected between the table and the retaining frame for moving the retaining frame in aforwar'dand backward direction between said limiting positions, means forl supplying fluid under pressure tosaid cylinders, valves having'alternative run and lock-stoppositions operable to control the supply and exhaust ofr fluid underpressure to the two cylinders, and

automatic vcontrol means for said valves for shifting'said table and retaining frame with relation to4 said tufting mechanism in accordance with a pattern including switching devices and solenoids actuated thereby for actuating said valves to move and to arrest each of said table and retaining frame including cam and follower switch connections responsive to movement of said tufting mechanism in said tufting cycle to impart advancing movements selectively to said table and retaining frame, cam and follower table actuated reverse switch connections for determining the direction of table movement and cam and follower switch stop connections actuated by movement of the respective table and retaining frame for arresting said movements.

3. In a machine for tufting mattresses and like articles having a tufting mechanism operable to insert a tuft through the article, an article supporting table assembly including a table having an article supporting surface with recesses formed therein mounted on said machine for transverse movement with relation to the tufting mechanism, and an article retaining frame mounted for forward and back movement on the table, said table and frame being movable in said directions to move an article mounted on the table assembly from a loading position in which the article is apart from the tufting machine to a first tufting position and thereafter with relation to the tufting mechanism for the insertion of tufts in adjacent rows over the length and Width of the article, the combination of mechanism for discharging the article from the table comprising a rocker shaft extending transversely of the table adjacent the rear edge thereof, and rocker arms attached to the rocker shaft normally buried in recesses in the table, a hydraulic cylinder mounted on the table, and operating connections between the cylinder and the rocker shaft arranged to be actuated by said cylinder to rock the shaft to discharge a mattress rearwardly from the table assembly when in said loading position.

4. In a machine for tufting mattresses and like articles having a tufting mechanism operable to insert a tuft through the article, an article supporting table assembly including a table movable transversely with relation to the tufting mechanism between limit positions, and an `article retaining frame supported for forward and back movement on the table between limit positions, means for moving said table and frame in diverse directions for moving an article supported on said table assembly from a loading position in which said article is apart from the tufting machine to a iirst tufting position and in diverse directions with relation to the tufting mechanism for the insertion of tufts in adjacent rows over the length and Width of the article, the combination of mechanism for discharging an article from the table comprising a rocker shaft extending transversely of the table along the rear edge thereof and rocker arms attached to the rocker shaft normally buried in recesses in the table, a hydraulic cylinder mounted on the table, and operating connections between the cylinder and the rocker shaft for rocking said shaft, means for supplying fluid under pressure to the cylinder, a valve for controlling the supply and exhaust of said uid from the two ends of the cylinder, and electrically operated means operable only for the loading position of said table and frame for actuating the cylinder and rocker shaft to discharge an article from the table.

5. In combination with a machine for tufting mattresses and like articles having a tufting mechanism operable to insert a tuft through the article, an article supporting table assembly including a base, first and second supports diversely movable on the base, and on which the mattress is movable from a loading position in which the mattress is apart from the tufting machine to a rst tufting position, and in diverse directions with relation to the tufting mechanism for the insertion of tufts in adjacent rows over the length and width of the article, mechanism for actuating the tufting mechanism in a series of tufting operations, a driving and stopping mechanism for the tufting mechanism, power operated means comprising a hydraulic cylinder connected between said base and said first support, and a second hydraulic cylinder connected between said first and second support-s, and means including Vcontrol valves for said cylinders having alternative run and lock-stop positions for driving and for arresting movement of the supports in 'said diverse directions in successive selected tuft inserting positions in accordance with a pattern, and an electrically operated control system for the machine comprising switching devices for actuating said power Y operated means to selectively drive and to stop said supports including cam and follower switch connections responsive to the tuft inserting operation of the tufting mechanism for driving said supports, cam and follower switch connections responsive to successive movements of said supports for actuating said means to stop said supports and for directing the next succeeding movements of said supports in accordance with said pattern.

6. In combination with a machine for tufting mattresses and like articles having a tufting mechanism operable to insert a tuft through the article, an article supporting table assembly in accordance with claim 5 in which said electrically operated control system includes a table assembly start switch operable to effect a movement of said supports away from said loading position, and cam and follower connections `disposed with relation to said supports to arrest said supports and mattress in said iirst tuft inserting position.

7. In combination with a machine for tufting mattresses and like articles having a tufting mechanism operable to insert a tuft through the article, an article supporting table assembly in accordance with claim 5 in which said electrically operated control system includes a homing switch, cam means rendered operative by movement of one of said supports to actuate said homing switch, and a homing electrical circuit activated by said homing switch for effecting the return of each of said supports to the loading position.

8. In-combination with a machine for tufting mattresses and like articles having a tufting mechanism operable to insert a tuft through the article, an article supporting table assembly in accordance with claim 5 in which said electrically operated control system includes a detector device including a mis-stitch detector switch, and a mis-stitch homing circuit activated by said misstitch detector switch for effecting the return of each of said supports to the loading position.

9. In combination with a machine for tufting mattresses and similar articles having a tufting mechanism operable to insert a tuft through the article, an article supporting table assembly comprising a kbase, a table movable transversely on the base with relation to the tufting mechanism, and an article retaining frame arranged for forward and back movement on the table, a hydraulic cylinder mounted on the machine, having a piston shiftable to drive the table in a transverse direction between limit positions, a hydraulic shock absorbing device comprising liquid lled cylinder and perforated piston elements connected between the piston and the table, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said cylinder, a valve having an intermediate lock-stop position and alternative run positions for supplying and for exhausting fluid alternatively to the respective ends of said hydraulic cylinder, and control means for shifting said valve to impart incremental movements to the table, said shock absorbing device actingto absorb the shock of starting and of stopping said piston and table attached thereto.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 340,863 Coles Apr. 27, 1886 1,605,124 Mathewson Nov. 2, 1926 (Other references on following page) 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS n Bullard Sept. 16, 1947 Bullard Nov. 7, 1950 Bice Aug. 18, 1953 Wanzer et al. Sept. 15, 1953 '12 Wilson Y Feb. 1, 1955 Wells Smith Y i May 7, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Apr. 21, y1954

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