Box spring frame machine

Abstract

The apparatus includes slat and rail conveyors which pick up slats and rails from respective hoppers on the input side of the machine and convey the slats and rails into joint forming positions between vertically opposed pressheads mounted on opposite sides of the machine. Coils of connector plate stock, having prepunched integrally extending teeth, feed each of the upper and lower press platens and which platens are movable toward one another to substantially simultaneously cut the connector stock to predetermined lengths to form connector plates and embed the teeth of the connector plates into opposite sides of the joints formed by the rails and slats disposed between the pressheads. In the automatic mode, the partially completed frame is advanced a predetermined distance and a second slat is located between the side rails whereupon the pressheads are automatically actuated to cut discrete connector plates from the connector stock and embed the teeth thereof into the opposite sides of the second slat and rails. The sequence of operation continues until the first frame is substantially completed. The machine then automatically spaces the rails of successive frames longitudinally one from the other and when the first frame is complete, automatically commences fabrication of the second and subsequent frames.