L&p Property Management Company

Leggett & Platt, Inc.

Michael L Shelton

Thomas J Wells

Steven E Ogle

Raymond D Swaney

Niels S Mossbeck

M Burl White

Franklin H Rawlings

Thomas P Long

Apparatus for manufacturing a bedding foundation having a base and a wire grid of support wires comprises at least one vertically moveable staple gun having a staple head and a wire positioner associated with the staple head, the wire positioner being configured to engage one of the support wires and to position the one support wire relative to the staple head such that upon activation, the staple gun staples the one support wire in the intended position to the base. Apparatus for manufacturing a bedding foundation having a base and a wire grid of support wires comprises at least one vertically moveable staple gun for stapling the wire grid to the base, a support for supporting the base, a horizontally moveable carriage having a first gripper for gripping the wire grid and a second gripper for gripping the base, the carriage for indexing the wire grid and base beneath said staple gun, and a controller for controlling gripping of the grippers, horizontal movement of the carriage, vertical movement of the staple gun, and stapling of the wire grid to the base by the staple gun.

Positioning device for staple guns and method of use

Apparatus including a mattress support for supporting a mattress lying on a first major face or panel thereof and conveying the mattress as a sewing operation, such as an edge sewing and taping operation, is performed with respect to the first major face. A mattress flipping mechanism is provided and may include a pivoting support portion of the mattress support connected to a powered lift mechanism. Mattress elevating units are provided to create slack in the top panel of the mattress for easier grasping by the operator during a sewing operation. A mattress guide arm is provided for holding the mattress down during the sewing operation. A mattress inclining mechanism is provided for selectively moving the mattress from a generally horizontal orientation used for mattress conveying and flipping operations to an inclined orientation used during sewing to gravity feed the mattress into engagement with the sewing machine.

Mattress sewing and handling apparatus

Apparatus including a mattress support for supporting a mattress lying on a first major face or panel thereof and conveying the mattress as a sewing operation, such as an edge sewing and taping operation, is performed with respect to the first major face. A mattress flipping mechanism is provided and may include a pivoting support portion of the mattress support connected to a powered lift mechanism. In one preferred embodiment the mattress support includes a split conveyor and the pivoting support portion of the mattress support is disposed within the space defined between adjacent belts of the split conveyor. Mattress elevating units are provided to create slack in the top panel of the mattress for easier grasping by the operator during a sewing operation. A mattress guide arm is provided for holding the mattress down during the sewing operation. A sewing machine base is pivoted and connected to a fluid powered cylinder for moving the sewing machine away from the mattress support while flipping the mattress. The mattress guide arm is provided with pivoting features for this reason as well.

An apparatus for forming and assembling spring interiors is provided in which, in the preferred embodiment, adjustable reforming dies adjacent a cutting station lengthen the supporting structure of a bridging portion of the coil band that interconnects coils near the end of the band to compensate for the change of length caused by the cutting of the endmost bridging portion separating spring assemblies. Adjustable dies are also provided to vary the length of the bridging portions when they are initially formed. The coils are interlaced at a lacing station from continuous lacing coil bands.

Growing community of inventors

Joplin, MO, United States of America

Michael L Shelton