US3641954A

US3641954A - Mattress edge binding machine and method of edge binding

Info

Publication number: US3641954A
Application number: US887592A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frederick E Kalning; Howard E Redman
Original assignee: Mathewson Corp
Current assignee: Mathewson Corp
Priority date: 1969-12-23
Filing date: 1969-12-23
Publication date: 1972-02-15
Anticipated expiration: 1989-02-15

Abstract

A rotatably supported table for supporting a mattress assembly including bottom, top and side panels of covering material, with one broadside in a horizontal upwardly facing position for rotation relative to a sewing machine supported adjacent the table with its sewing instrumentalities at a predetermined level, a compression platen supported above the table for compressive engagement with the upwardly facing broadside of the mattress assembly for compressing the mattress assembly to bring the upwardly facing side and the sewing instrumentalities into a substantially common plane with a sufficient slack in the covering material of the top and side panels at the edge formed by the intersection of the upwardly facing broadside and the narrow side to enable joining the edges of the panel for presentation to the sewing instrumentalities, a carriage adjacent the table, said carriage being movable radially with respect to the center of rotation of the table, said carriage supporting the sewing machine and a coupling connecting the carriage to the table operable to cause the carriage to following the contour of the table as the latter is rotated relative to the carriage to maintain the sewing instrumentalities in operative relation to said edges to be sewn as the assembly is rotated relative thereto.

Description

United States Patent Kalning et al.

[541 MATTRESS EDGE BINDING MACHINE AND METHOD OF EDGE BINDING [72] Inventors: Frederick E. Kalning, Quincy; Howard E.

Redman, Weymouth, Mass.

[73] Assignee: Mathewson Corporation, Weymouth,

Mass

[22] Filed: Dec. 23, 1969 211 Appl. No.: 887,592

[45] Feb. 15,1972

Primary Examiner-Alfred R. Guest Att0rneyRoberts, Cushman & Grover [57] ABSTRACT A rotatably supported table for supporting a mattress assembly including bottom, top and side panels of covering material, with one broadside in a horizontal upwardly facing position for rotation relative to a sewing machine supported adjacent the table with its sewing instrumentalities at a predetermined level, a compression platen supported above the table for compressive engagement with the upwardly facing broadside of the mattress assembly for compressing the mattress assembly to bring the upwardly facing side and the sewing instrumentalities into a substantially common plane with a sufficient slack in the covering material of the top and side panels at the edge formed by the intersection of the upwardly facing broadside and the narrow side to enable joining the edges of the panel for presentation to the sewing instrumentalities, a carriage adjacent the table, said carriage being movable radially with respect to the center of rotation of the table, said carriage supporting the sewing machine and a coupling connecting the carriage to the table operable to cause the carriage to following the contour of the table as the latter is rotated relative to the carriage to maintain the sewing instrumentalities in operative relation to said edges to be sewn as the assembly is rotated relative thereto.

21 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEB 15 I972 3.8% .954

sum 2 or 5 MATTRESS EDGE BINDING MACHINE AND METHOD OF EDGE BINDING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A machine for joining the edges of covering material at the broad sides with the edges of the narrow side of a mattress assembly is shown in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,233,568, wherein the mattress is supported on a table and a sewing machine is mounted adjacent the table for movement therearound to effect the sewing operation. As thus constructed, the operator must backstep around the table ahead of the sewing machine and while thus backstepping press the edge of the mattress assembly down with his elbow to obtain slack in the material and draw the edges together to enable feeding them into the sewing machine for sewing. The operation is difficult, slow and except under ideal conditions seldom uniform. Clamping means have been used in some machines for compressing the mattress assembly to facilitate sewing such as shown in Fisher U.S. Pat. No. 807,451, Gail U.S. Pat. No. 1,857,371 and Micon U.S. Pat. No. 1,947,216, however, these machines are'not designed for automation either through rotation of the table relative to the sewing machine or movement of the sewing machine about the table. Cash U.S. Pat. No. 3,083,654 shows a machine provided with a sewing machine and an operator supported carriage for movement around a mattress assembly supporting table, however, no means is provided for compressing the mattress assembly. It is accordingly the purpose of this invention to provide an edge binding machine which will reduce the arduous process of edge sewing heretofore required by eliminating the need for manually compressing the mattress assembly and drawing the edges of the material together for presentation to the sewing machine, and to provide for improved uniformity and a reduction in the time required for effecting the sewing operation.

SUMMARY The machine herein illustrated is designed to join the marginal edges of the covering material for a mattress core comprising a border panel at the narrow side and covering panels at the broad sides and simultaneously to apply binding strips thereto.

In accordance with the invention the machine in one form comprises a table providing a horizontal surface for receiving and supporting one broad side of a mattress core assembled together with a border panel and cover panels with its other broad side facing upwardly, means for supporting the table for rotation about its center, a sewing machine embodying sewing instrumentalities adapted to operate on the upper edge of the assembly, means adjacent the table on which the sewing machine is mounted, said means being movable relative to the center of rotation of the table along the line passing through said center and means associated with the table and with the last means operable to hold the last means at a predetermined position with respect to the edge of the table so that the sewing machine is supported thereby in a position adjacent the upper edge of the mattress assembly to be sewn. There is means for effecting rotation of the table relative to the sewing machine to present successive portions of the edges of the covering material around the entire mattress assembly to the sewing instrumentalities, means for raising and lowering the table according to the thickness of the assembly to be operated upon and pressure applying means for engagement with-the upwardly facing side of the mattress assembly to compress the mattress assembly to a position such that its upwardly facing side and the sewing instrumentalities are in a common plane and such that there is sufficient slack in the covering material to enable drawing the edges together for presentation to the sewing machine. The sewing machine is movable inwardly and outwardly relative to the center or rotation of the table as'the mattress assembly isrotated relative thereto and there is an the edges to be sewn to the sewing instrumentalities. In addition to movement of the sewing machine according to the long and short sides of the mattress assembly the sewing machine is yieldable on its support to compensate for local variations in the contour of the edge face of the mattress assembly, the sewing machine embodying a follower which by engagement with the edge face of the mattress assembly causes the sewing machine to follow its contour.

Alternatively, the sewing machine may be replaced by means for adhesively joining the marginal edges of the covering material and of adhesively applying a binding strip. Thus, in place of the sewing instrumentalities a pair of opposed rotating rolls are mounted adjacent the upper edge of the mattress, at substantially the same level as the sewing instrumentalities were mounted, between which the marginal edges of the covering material are presented for movement together toward a second pair of opposed rolls spaced therefrom in the direction of movement of the edges by means of which the binding strip is led down over the joined edges of the marginal material and applied thereto. A nozzle is arranged just ahead of each pair of rolls one to inject the adhesive between the marginal edges of the covering material and the other against the side which is to have contact with the edges. Optionally, the nozzles may be omitted and the covering material and the binding strip precoated with a heat-activatable adhesive. In this case an oscillator or a pair of electrodes are disposed adjacent the second pair of rolls and these are connected either to an ultrasonic or high-frequency source to effect activation of the adhesive without scorching the material.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I is an elevation of the machine;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the sewing machine pivotally supported for movement from an operative to a lateral position to permit elevation and depression of the table;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevation to a much larger scale showing the sewing machine in operative relation to the mattress the edge of which is being sewn;

FIG. 3a is a fragmentary elevation partly in section showing a control switch for changing the speed of the motor by means of which the table is rotated;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view partly in section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. I to a much larger scale;

FIG. 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. I to a much larger scale;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective of a mattress core with the components of the covering therefor, comprising a border panel for the narrow side and covering panels for the broad sides;

FIG. 8 is a perspective of the finished article;

FIG. 9 is a vertical section taken on the line 99 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a vertical section through a mattress and covering supported on a table, the normal thickness of the uncompressed mattress being shown in dotted lines and the compressed thickness being shown in full and showing slack in the covering material at the top side which enables bringing the edges together for joining;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary plan view showing instrumentalities for adhesively joining the edges;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line FIG. 13 is a fragmentary vertical section showing ultrasonic generator for actuating the adhesive on the joinededges;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary elevation partly in section showing a heat-activatable adhesive applied to the marginal edges of the covering panels;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary plan of a length of binding strip with a heat'activatable adhesive applied;

FIG. 16 diagrammatically illustrates a belt drive to thesewing machine which yieldably biases the latter toward the table; and

FIG. 17 is in elevation taken from the left side of FIG. 16.

in accordance with the invention the machine, FIG. 1, com prises essentially a table upon which one broadside of a mattress assembly is adapted to be supported with its other broadside facing upwardly in a substantially horizontal position, a pressure applying platen 12 by means of which pressure is applied to the upwardly facing broadside of the mattress assembly to compress the mattress assembly sufficiently to provide slack in the border and cover panels of the covering material which enables drawing these edges together for sewing, and a sewing machine 14 mounted adjacent the table for sewing the edges and simultaneously applying a binding strip thereto.

The table 10 is a rigid flat plate of rectangular configuration corresponding approximately in size to the dimensions of the mattress to be operated upon supported on a turret 16 by means of which it may be rotated about a vertical axis perpendicular to the broad surfaces of the mattress relative to the sewing machine 14. The turret 16 is fixed to the upper end of a cylindrical bearing 18 rotatably mounted in a hollow pedestal 20 the lower end of which is fixed to a base frame 22. The table 10 is mounted on the turret for heightwise adjustment thereon by means of screws 24 there being four such screws shown one at each comer of the table. The upper end of each screw 24 in nonrotatably secured to the underside of the table and each screw extends downwardly therefrom through a threaded nut 26 secured to a hub 26a rotatably captivated on the upper side of the turret by a bracket member 28 and operable by rotation to move the screw engaged therewith vertically. Each hub 26a has on it a sprocket 26b and a chain c is entrained about the sprockets and about a sprocket s driven by a motor MI by means of which the nuts 26 may be rotated in unison to raise or lower the table. The turret 16 has on its lower side a peripherally extending ring gear 30 .by means of which it is rotated as will appear hereinafter. To hold the mattress assembly firmly in place on the table bracket plates 10a, FIG. 2, are provided along the four sides so as to project upwardly above the surface of the table.

The pressure applying platen 12 is supported in a horizontal position above the table 10 at one end of a horizontal arm 32, the other end of which is provided with a sleeve 34, FIGS. 1 and 6, rotatably supported on the upper end of a post 36. As illustrated the post 36 has a neck 36a of reduced diameter which extends through the upper end of the sleeve and the latter sets on a bearing assembly 340 resting'on the shoulder at the junction of the neck 36a with the post 36. A washer 36b and nut 360 at the upper end of the neck hold the sleeve against the bearing assembly 34a. The sleeve is held concentric with the axis of the post by a plurality of roller bearing 36d mounted peripherally thereof on pins 36e fixed to a collar 36f welded to the post.

The platen 12 is rotatably supported at the distal end of the arm 32, FIGS. 1 and 5, at the lower side, by a screw 38 and adapter 38a. The screw 38 is supported within a nut 38b rotatably supported in a bearing block 39 mounted on the upper end of a hollow post 40 the lower end of which is supported between and secured to beams 32a-32a which comprise the arm 32. The lower end of the screw 38 is fixed by a pin 38d to the upper end of the adapted 38a which extend downwardly therefrom through the hollow post 40 and through the arm 32, and is fixed at its lower end to the platen. An internally threaded sprocket 42 is fixed to the nut 38b above the block 39, rotation of which will effect vertical movement of the screw 38. A motor M2 is mounted on the post 40, FIG. 1, and its drive shaft 43 has fixed to it a sprocket 44. A chain 02 is entrained about the

sprockets

42, 44. Operation of the motor M2 in one direction enables raising the platen and in the other direction lowering it. At the upper side of platen 12 there is an annular friction disc 46 and at the lower side of the arm a corresponding annular friction disc 48 which are cooperable when the platen is raised to prevent rotations of the platen about the vertical axis of the screw. When the platen is lowered for engagement with the mattress assembly the friction discs are disengaged so that the platen is free to turn without restraint.

The end of the arm 32 pivotally mounted on the post 36 as related has on it a bearing sleeve 34, and this bearing sleeve has fixed to it a sprocket 50. A motor M3 is mounted on the post, FIG. 1, and has fixed to its shaft a sprocket 52. A gear reduction unit 51 is also mounted on the post which has an input shaft 51a and an output shaft 51b. The input shaft 510 has a sprocket 51c thereon connected to the sprocket 52 by a chain C3 and the outward shaft 51b has on it a sprocket 51d connected to the sprocket 50 by a chain C. Thus, there is pro vided means for turning the arm 32 about the vertical axis of the post 36 from a position in which its longitudinal axis intersects the center of rotation of the table to a lateral position such that the upper surface of the table is exposed to enable loading and removing mattress assemblies without interference from the platen. The pivotal movement of the arm 32 to the lateral position is limited by an adjustable stop 56 which by engagement with a limit switch S1 stops the motor M3.

The sewing machine 14 is designed for edge sewing of mattresses and is supported on the base frame 22 adjacent the table 10 for movement radially toward and away from the center of rotation of the table, its lateral position being fixed so that the sewing operation is one in which the edge of the mattress is rotated relative to the sewing instrumentalities of the sewing machine to present successive portions of the margins of the covering material to the instrumentalities and wherein the sewing machine moves inwardly and outwardly as the distance of the edge of the mattress from the center of rotation changes with the long and short sides of the mattress. A carriage 58, FIG. 1 and 9, supports the sewing machine for radial movement and comprises a rigid plate 60 having at its underside bearing blocks 62-62 slidably mounted on a horizontally disposed radially extending shaft 64. The opposite ends of the shaft 64 are fixed in a radially extending substantially rectangular frame 66 secured to the base frame. The plate 60 is supported primarily by the shaft 64 for radial movement toward and from the table and is prevented from tilting by engagement of vertically spaced rollers 66b-66b mounted at its underside with the upper and lower side of a flange 66c at the inner side of one of the side members 660 of the frame 66. A pedestallike bracket 68, FIG. 1, is secured at its lower end to the plate 60 and has at its upper end a bearing 70 in which there is a vertically mounted shaft 72 the lower end of which is rotatably supported in a step bearing 71 fast to the plate 60. A swivel frame 73 (FIG. 3) is pivotally supported for swinging movement about the vertical axis of the shaft 72 by means of vertically spaced

bosses

74 and 76 extending therefrom which are rotatably mounted on the shaft 72. A thrust bearing in the form of a collar 75 supports the upper boss 76 high enough on the shaft 72 so that the lower end of the swivel frame is above the plate 60 and hence free to swing relative thereto. The upper end of the swivel frame 73 is situated at a predetermined height with respect to the base frame 22 near the level of the table 10 and the sewing machine 14 is mounted thereon for movement relative thereto by means of bearing blocks 78-78, FIG. 3. The bearing blocks 78-78 are fixed to the underside of a pivot plate 79 which has on its upper side a pin 83. The pin 83 rotatably supports an adapter 82 by means of which the sewing machine is mounted in an inclined position such that its needle bar is in a suitable position for sewing. The sewing machine is yieldably urged toward the table by the belt drive, but will yield to local variations in the edge face of the mattress assembly as the mattress assembly is turned relative thereto. Such yield is necessary to make sure that the sewing instrumentalities follow closely the contour of the mattress assembly and this is accomplished by the means of a follower plate 114 in which engages the narrow side of the mattress assembly. This is achieved as illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17 by a belt 81 entrained about a series of

sheaves

85, 87a, 87b and 89 and by a fixed sheave 91 and a spring pressed sheave 93. Since the sewing machine normally overhangs the table it must be swung to a lateral position to permit the platen to be lowered and raised and this is provided for by the pivot pin 83 by means of which the adapter 82 is secured to the plate 79.

The swivel frame 73 is caused to follow the contour of the table that is to move inwardly and outwardly relative to the axis of rotation of the table as the distance of the edge of the seam varies with respect to the center of rotation by a coupling member 86, FIGS. 3 and 4, secured to the swivel frame 73 comprising an arm 88, FIG. 4, projecting radially inwardly from the frame at the inner end of which there is a vertically disposed roller 90 having rolling engagement with the inner edge 92 of a peripherally extending track 94 on the turret. The coupling member 86 has on it horizontally disposed laterally extending pivotally supported arm 94-94 provided with rollers 96-96 for engagement with a vertically disposed flange 98 integral with the track 92 which assists in maneuvering the sewing machine at the comers as the latter are presented to the sewing instrumentalities.

The turret 16 is rotated relative to the sewing machine by means of a motor M4 mounted on the swivel frame 73 which drives through suitable means a gear 100 which meshes with the annular gear 30 on the turret. A belt b, FIG. 2, connected to a pulley on the motor M4 drives the sewing machine. It is desirable to decrease the rate of rotation of the table as the corners of the mattress assembly approach the sewing instrumentalities and then restore it to its normal rate of rotation as they recede from the sewing instrumentalities. This is accomplished as shown in FIG. 3a by means of a microswitch Ms secured to an arm 11 pivotally mounted at 13 on the ann 88. A spindle 15 is pivotally mounted at 17 on the arm 88 with its upper end adjacent the microswitch and its lower end adjacent the flange 98. A lever 19 is rigidly secured at one end to the upper end of the spindle by nuts 21 with its distal end overly ing a switch actuating pin 23 of the microswitch. A spring 25 connected at one end to the lever 19 and at the other end to the arm 11 yieldably holds the switch pin 23 engaged with the lever 19. The lower end of the spindle has on it a roller 27. A cam member 29 is secured by a screw 31 to the inner side of the flange 98 at the corner in a position to be engaged by the roller and by such engagement to displace the roller thereby tilting the spindle in a direction to actuate the microswitch and slow the motor down as a corner approaches the instrumentality and conversely to release the microswitch as the corner recedes from the instrumentalities.

The swivel frame 73 has at its lower end just above the carriage plate 60 an operator supporting platform 110 adapted to support the operator for movement inwardly and outwardly relative to the table so that he moves in unison with the sewing machine and, therefore, is enabled to manipulate the edges of the covering material to insure presentation to the sewing instrumentalities. As illustrated the sewing machine is provided with a coil of binding material and folding means 112 for supplying the binding material BS to be applied to the edges simultaneously with the sewing operation. The means for feeding, folding and applying the binding strip is disclosed in Patent 3,031,985 and hence need not be described herein.

A foot-operated pedal 116 is mounted on the frame 73 for controlling the motor M4 to enable starting or stopping of same or of controlling its speed of operation.

In operation a mattress core which may, for example, be an inner spring unit A, FIG. 7, with a cover comprising a border panel SP for the narrow side and cover panels PB and TP for the broad sides applied thereto but with the edges unjoined is disposed on the table 10, the latter having been previously adjusted heightwise according to the thickness of the assembly. The pressure applying platen 12 is now swung from its lateral position to a position above the table and then lowered into engagement with the upwardly facing broad side of the mattress assembly to compress the core until the upwardly facing side of the assembly lies in a plane in which the operating instrumentalities for joining the edges are contained as illustrated by the dot and dash lines marked compression line shown in F IG. 1. At this point there will be sufficient slack in the border panel of the covering material and to top cover panel of the covering material so that the edges Te and Se may be easily grasped and drawn together for presentation to the sewing machine. After lowering the platen to effect compression, the sewing machine is swung into operative position whereupon the operator draws the edges of the panels together, presents them together with the leading end of the binding strip BS to the sewing instrumentalities, starts the machine in operation by starting the motor M4 which rotates the table and effects operation of the sewing instrumentalities so that the table turns coincidentally with the operation of the sewing instrumentalities and presents successive portions of the composite edge E to the machine for sewing. As the table turns with respect to the sewing machine the sewing machine is moved inwardly and outwardly relative to the center of rotation of the table, and since the operator is supported by the operative supporting platform and moves therewith he can easily maintain a grasp upon the edges of the panels and thus continuously and uninterruptedly present the edges to the machine for sewing. Since the mattress assembly is held firmly in position on the table the sewing machine must be freely yieldable relative to the narrow edge face of the assembly to compensate for local variations in the contour of the narrow edge face. Yield of the sewing machine is afforded by the slidably mounted plate 79 which is held forwardly by the belt tension but which permits movement relative to the narrow side of the assembly as guided by the follower 114. Such yield is essential to successful edge binding.

The aforesaid structure enables automation to a considerable extent of the edge binding operation, eliminates the heretofore extremely arduous operation of manual compression of the mattress assembly during the sewing operation to enable drawing the edges to be sewn together and further the necessity of the operator having to walk backwardly continuously throughout the sewing operation as the sewing machine moves around the table.

The inner spring unit may be comprised of a rigid or flexible frame member to which a plurality of coils are attached or it may be comprised of compressible material such as sponge rubber or its equivalent. Usually the broad sides are covered with sisal or tuflex pads, on which is placed mattress filling such as cotton, polyfoam, quilting and the like and finally the covering panels are placed over the broad and narrow sides and attached to the broder wires of the inner spring core leaving the edges of the covering panel free to be sewn.

It is also within the scope of the invention to substitute for the sewing machine other means for joining the edges of the covering material and the binding material thereto, for example, means for adhesively joining the edges as diagrammatically illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 13, inclusive. As there shown the inner spring unit A with the border panel and top and cover panels applied thereto is placed on the table 10 with one broadside facing upwardly whereupon the platen is brought down to squeeze the assembly to less than its normal thickness to produce slack at the edges. The edges are then grasped by the operator and presented to opposed rotating feed rolls 116-116, FIGS. 11 and 12, which press the edges together and simultaneously exert a feeding action which in conjunction with the turning of the table on which the assembly is supported advance the joined marginal edges relative to the bind ing strip BS and to a pair of opposed rolls 118-118 which apply the binding strip to the joined edges of the covering material. A nozzle 120 is arranged to inject a stream or spray of adhesive between the marginal edges Te, Se of the covering material before they are brought into engagement with the rolls 116-116 and a nozzle 122 is arranged to apply a stream or spray of adhesive against the side of the binding strip BS which is folded by the folder employed in the sewing machine shown in the aforesaid patent for engagement with the joined marginal edges of the covering material. The assembly is now turned over and the bottom covering panel B? is joined to the border panel SP in the same way.

Optionally, the nozzles may be omitted or merely rendered inoperative and the covering material and a binding strip employed which has been precoated with a heat-activatable adhesive a, FIGS. 14 and 15. After the edges have been drawn together and the binding strip applied the edges, they are drawn between parts 119-121 connected to an ultrasonic or high-frequency power source P which will activate the adhesive and cause the parts to adhere. If a very fast heat setting adhesive is employed the rolls 118- 118 may be used to effect activation of the adhesive, for example, by means of resistance coil; however, care must be taken to employ an adhesive which will become adhesive below that of which the material will scorch.

The feed rolls and nozzles are mounted on the same adapter as was the sewing machine so as to be movable inwardly and outwardly in consonance with the rotation of the table thereby to maintain them in operative relation to the edge of the mattress'and are yieldably on the adapter so as to follow local changes in the contour along the edges.

The sewing machine employed herein and by means of which the binding strip is applied to the edges of the covering material as they are drawn together is of the kind shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,031,985. The feed rolls 116-116 employed in FIGS. 11 and 12 are illustrated as cylindrical, however, if it is found desirable to apply an in-feeding action as well as a forward-feeding action to prevent the margin from running out the rolls may be provided with helical ribs or may be tapered as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,251,284 and 2,571,140.

' We claim:

1. A machine for operating on a mattress assembly comprising a core and covering panels for joining the contiguous edges of the covering panels at the edges constituted by the intersections of the narrow side with the broadsides, comprising a table supporting the assembly with one broad side facing outwardly, means supporting the table for rotation about its center, instrumentalities adapted to operate on the edges at the outwardly facing side to join said edges, a carriage on which the instrumentalities are mounted, a track disposed radially with respect to the center of rotation of the table on which the carriage is mounted for movement to and from the center of rotation of the table, means connecting the table and said carriage operable to hold the carriage at a predetermined position wit respect to the edge of the table, such that said instrumentalities supported thereby are in operative engagement with respect to said contiguous edges of the covering panels at said outwardly facing edge of the assembly, and means for effecting rotation of the table relative to said instrumentalities to present successive portions of said contiguous edges of the panels to said instrumentalities.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said instrumentalities comprise means for sewing said edges of the panels.

3. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said instrumentalities comprise means for applying a binding to said edges of the panels and sewing the binding strip thereto.

4. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said means for rotating the table comprises a motor and there is means for controlling the operation of the motor to reduce the rate of rotation of the table as the corners approach the instrumentalities and then restore the rate of rotation as the corners recede from the instrumentalities.

5. A machine according to claim 4, wherein said means comprises a microswitch in the motor circuit and a cam operable by engagement with a disengagement from the microswitch as the corners approach and recede from the instrumentalities to decrease the rate of rotation from its normal rate to a lesser rate and then restoring it to its normal rate.

6. A machine according to claim 4, wherein said means comprises a microswitch mounted on the table for rotation therewith, a spring pressed arm supported with an end in engagement with the microswitch, and a cam on the table support, operable as a corner approaches the instrumentalities to cause said arm to actuate the microswitch to slow the motor down and when it recedes from the instrumentalities to actuate the main switch to cause the motor to return to its normal speed.

7. A machine according to claim 4, wherein said means comprises a microswitch mounted on the table, a spring pressed arm supported in engagement with the microswitch holding it inoperative, a spindle to one end of which the arm is fixed, said spindle being pivotally supported with its other end adjacent the support for the table, a roller on said end of the spindle and a cam mounted on the support adjacent the path along which the spindle is moved by rotation of the table, at a position along said path such that as a comer of the table approaches the instrumentalities the cam will engage the roller at said end of the spindle and effect actuation of the microswitch to slow the rate of rotation of the table and as it recedes the instrumentalities the cam will disengage the roller and cause the spindle to disengage the microswitch to restore the table to its normal rate of rotation.

8. A machine for operating on a mattress assembly comprising a core and covering panels for joining the contiguous edges of the covering panels at the edges constituted by the intersections of the narrow side with the broad sides, comprising a table for supporting the assembly with one broad side facing outwardly, means supporting the table for rotation about a fixed center, a sewing machine embodying sewing instrumentalities adapted to operate on said edge facing outwardly, a carriage on which the sewing machine is mounted, a track disposed radially with respect to the center of rotation of the table on which the carriage is mounted for movement to and from the center of rotation of the table, means connecting the table and said carriage operable to hold the carriage at a predetermined position with respect to the edge of the table, such that the sewing instrumentalities of the sewing machine supported thereby are in operative engagement with relation to said contiguous edges of the covering panels at said outwardly facing edges of the core and means for effecting rotation of the table relative to the sewing machine to present successive portions of said contiguous edges of the panels to said instrumentalities.

9. A machine according to claim 8, including power operable means on the carriage and kinematic means connecting the table and carriage operable by said power operable means to effect rotation of the table relative to the carriage and the sewing machine supported thereby.

10. A machine according to claim 8, including power operable means on the carriage operable connected to the tables for effecting rotation of the table relative to the carriage, an operator supporting platform supported by the carriage upon which an operator may ride with the sewing machine as the latter moves inwardly and outwardly relative to the center of rotation of the table to enable manipulation of the work during the sewing operation and a control device on the carriage by means of which the operator may stop, start and regulate operation of said power operable means.

11. A machine for operating on a mattress assembly comprising a core and covering panels, for joining the contiguous edges of the panels at the edges constituted by the intersection of the narrow and broadsides, comprising a table for supporting one broadside of the assembly with the other broadside facing outwardly, means supporting the table for rotation about its center, a sewing machine embodying sewing instrumentalitr'es adapted to operate on the corner at the outwardly facing side of the mattress, a carriage, means mounting the carriage adjacent the table for movement radially with respect to the center of rotation of the table, means on the carriage supporting the sewing machine thereon for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the table, means operatively connecting the table and the carriage operable to cause the carriage to follow the contour of the table as the latter is rotated, and power operable means for effecting rotation of the table to present successive portions of the edges to the sewing instrumentalities.

12. A machine according to claim 8, including means mounting the sewing machine on the carriage for movement relative thereto and for yieldably urging it towards the table and a positioning member associated with the sewing machine operable by engagement with the narrow edge of the assembly to cause said sewing machine to follow local changes in the contour of said narrow edge.

13. A machine for operating on a mattress assembly embodying a core and covering panels for joining the contiguous edges of the panels, comprising a base, a table mounted on said base for rotation about an axis perpendicular to its center, a carriage including a pedestal mounted on the base at one side of the table for movement radially with respect to the axis of rotation of the table, a sewing machine mounted on the pedestal adjacent the top of the table, means interconnecting the carriage and table operable to cause the sewing machine to follow the contour of the table as the latter is rotated relative thereto, and means for adjusting the vertical position of the table relative to the sewing machine according to the thickness of the mattress being operated on.

14. A machine for operating on a edge of a mattress assembly, at the intersection of the narrow side with one broadside, comprising a base, a turret mounted on the base for rotation about a vertical axis, a carriage including a pedestal mounted on the base at one side of the turret for movement radially with respect to the axis of rotation of the turret, a table mounted on the turret for supporting a mattress assembly for rotation therewith, means for effecting rotation of the turret and reciprocation of the carriage to cause the carriage to follow the contour of the table, a sewing machine mounted on the pedestal for radial movement thereon, as the carriage follows the contour of the table, said pedestal supporting the sewing machine at a predetermined fixed height relative to the base and means on the turret for adjusting the table vertically with respect to the sewing machine.

15. A machine for operating on a mattress assembly, at the edges formed by the intersection of the narrow side with one broadside comprising a table supported for rotation about an axis perpendicular to its surface, said table being adapted to support the mattress assembly with said one broadside facing outwardly, a carriage supported adjacent the table for movement radially with respect to the axis of rotation of the table, a sewing machine mounted on the carriage with its sewing instrumentalities at a predetermined level, means interconnecting the table and the carriage for causing the carriage to follow the contour of the table as the latter is rotated, means operable to hold the mattress assembly on the table in a state of compression such that the outwardly facing side and the sewing instrumentalities are in a substantially common plane so that said instrumentalities are in operative relation to the edge of the mattress assembly at the outwardly facing side and means for efiecting rotation of the table and reciprocal movement of the carriage to cause said instrumentalities to traverse said edge of the mattress assembly.

16. A machine according to claim 15, wherein said mean operable to hold the mattress assembly in compression comprises a platen supported adjacent and parallel to the table for rotation about an axis coinciding with the axis of the table and means for moving the platen towards the table to apply compression to the mattress assembly resting thereon.

17. A machine according to claim 15, wherein said means operable to hold the mattress assembly in the state of compression comprises a platen and means mounting it adjacent the table in parallel relation thereto for rotation about an axis coinciding with the axis of the rotation of the table and for movement toward and away from the table.

18. A machine according to claim 15, wherein the means operable to hold the mattress assembly on the table in the state of compression comprises a platen, and the means mounting it comprises a column adjacent the table substantially diametrically opposite the carriage, an arm pivotally supported at one end on the column, in a position parallel to the table, said arm being movable in an are from a position in which its longitudinal axis is in alignment with the center of rotation of the table to a position laterally thereof, a shaft rotatably mounted at the distal end of the arm in a position such that its axis coincides with the center of rotation of the table when the axis of the arm is aligned with the center of the table, means securing said platen to the shaft at the underside of the arm, said shaft being movable with the arm to effect movement of the platen towards the table, and means on the arm at its upper side operable to effect movement of the shaft on the arm.

19. A machine according to claim 18, comprising means for effecting lateral movement of the arm.

20. A machine according to claim 18, comprising means for limiting lateral movement of the arm.

21. A machine according to claim 18, comprising means at the lower side of the arm and the upper side of the platen cooperable when engaged to prevent rotation of the platen relative to the axis of its supporting shaft.

Claims

7. A machine according to claim 4, wherein said means comprises a microswitch mounted on the tablE, a spring pressed arm supported in engagement with the microswitch holding it inoperative, a spindle to one end of which the arm is fixed, said spindle being pivotally supported with its other end adjacent the support for the table, a roller on said end of the spindle and a cam mounted on the support adjacent the path along which the spindle is moved by rotation of the table, at a position along said path such that as a corner of the table approaches the instrumentalities the cam will engage the roller at said end of the spindle and effect actuation of the microswitch to slow the rate of rotation of the table and as it recedes the instrumentalities the cam will disengage the roller and cause the spindle to disengage the microswitch to restore the table to its normal rate of rotation.

11. A machine for operating on a mattress assembly comprising a core and covering panels, for joining the contiguous edges of the panels at the edges constituted by the intersection of the narrow and broadsides, comprising a table for supporting one broadside of the assembly with the other broadside facing outwardly, means supporting the table for rotation about its center, a sewing machine embodying sewing instrumentalities adapted to operate on the corner at the outwardly facing side of the mattress, a carriage, means mounting the carriage adjacent the table for movement radially with respect to the center of rotation of the table, means on the carriage supporting the sewing machine thereon for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the table, means operatively connecting the table and the carriage operable to cause the carriage to follow the contour of the table as the latter is rotated, and power operable means for effecting rotation of the table to present successive portions of the edges to the sewing instrumentalities.

15. A machine for operating on a mattress assembly, at the edges formed by the intersection of the narrow side with one broadside comprising a table supported for rotation about an axis perpendicular to its surface, said table being adapted to support the mattress assembly with said one broadside facing outwardly, a carriage supported adjacent the table for movement radially with respect to the axis of rotation of the table, a sewing machine mounted on the carriage with its sewing instrumentalities at a predetermined level, means interconnecting the table and the carriage for causing the carriage to follow the contour of the table as the latter is rotated, means operable to hold the mattress assembly on the table in a state of compression such that the outwardly facing side and the sewing instrumentalities are in a substantially common plane so that said instrumentalities are in operative relation to the edge of the mattress assembly at the outwardly facing side and means for effecting rotation of the table and reciprocal movement of the carriage to cause said instrumentalities to traverse said edge of the mattress assembly.

18. A machine according to claim 15, wherein the means operable to hold the mattress assembly on the table in the state of compression comprises a platen, and the means mounting it comprises a column adjacent the table Substantially diametrically opposite the carriage, an arm pivotally supported at one end on the column, in a position parallel to the table, said arm being movable in an arc from a position in which its longitudinal axis is in alignment with the center of rotation of the table to a position laterally thereof, a shaft rotatably mounted at the distal end of the arm in a position such that its axis coincides with the center of rotation of the table when the axis of the arm is aligned with the center of the table, means securing said platen to the shaft at the underside of the arm, said shaft being movable with the arm to effect movement of the platen towards the table, and means on the arm at its upper side operable to effect movement of the shaft on the arm.