Frame for sewing upper pillows on covering shells for mattresses

Abstract

A frame for sewing upper pillows on covering shells for mattresses, which comprises four perimetric walls. Each wall is perpendicular to the two contiguous walls and comprises at least one laminar portion that constitutes a resting surface: at least one of the walls comprises at least one locking element for at least one component, selected from between an upper pillow and a covering shell, arranged on a respective laminar portion; at least one of the walls comprises at least two bands that are mutually aligned and can slide with respect to each other in order to vary the overall length of the wall; a linear actuator is interposed between the at least two bands of the wall, for the controlled mutual sliding of the bands; the actuator being adapted to be controlled by a respective control and management unit of a sewing machine that is functionally associatable with the frame.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A frame for sewing upper pillows on covering shells for mattresses, which comprises four perimetric walls, each wall being perpendicular to the two contiguous walls and comprising at least one laminar portion that constitutes a resting surface, said laminar portion being co-planar with a lower edge of said wall, at least one of said walls comprising at least one locking element for at least one component, selected from between an upper pillow and a covering shell, arranged on a respective laminar portion, wherein at least one of said walls comprises at least two bands that are mutually aligned and can slide with respect to each other in order to vary the overall length of the wall, between said at least two bands of said wall there being interposed a linear actuator for the controlled mutual sliding thereof, said actuator being adapted to be controlled by a respective control and management unit of a sewing machine that is functionally associatable with said frame. 
     
     
         2 . The frame according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least two bands are coaxial, one at least partially inside the other, and are able to slide telescopically under the action of said actuator in order to vary the overall length of the respective wall. 
     
     
         3 . The frame according to  claim 1 , wherein said walls constituted by at least two bands and are four in number, at least two contiguous walls comprising a respective actuator in order to vary the length and width of said frame. 
     
     
         4 . The frame according to  claim 3 , wherein each wall comprises a respective actuator in order to vary the length and width of said frame. 
     
     
         5 . The frame according to  claim 1 , wherein said actuator is of the type selected from among a hydraulic cylinder, a pneumatic cylinder, a motor assembly and an endless screw, a linear induction motor, an oscillating slot link, an apparatus provided with a rack and pinion, and the like. 
     
     
         6 . The frame according to  claim 1 , wherein said locking element comprises at least one angular abutment that can move from a first configuration, for the insertion of said shell in said frame, in which it is arranged substantially outside said walls, to a second configuration, for locking the corners of said shell, juxtaposed with the laminar resting portion for said shell at the corners of said shell, the corners of the shell being aligned and accommodated in the corners of said frame. 
     
     
         7 . The frame according to  claim 6 , wherein said locking element comprises a bracket that can move from a first configuration, for the insertion of said shell in said frame, in which it is arranged substantially outside said walls, to a second configuration, for locking said shell, juxtaposed with the laminar resting portion for said shell. 
     
     
         8 . The frame according to  claim 7 , wherein said locking element comprises a retention tab that can move from a first configuration, for the insertion of said pillow in said frame above said shell, in which it is arranged substantially outside said walls, to a second configuration, for locking said pillow on said shell, juxtaposed with the laminar resting portion, said at least one laminar portion constituting a resting surface that lies along the entire length of the respective wall, said laminar portions of said walls defining a lower resting border, which lies on the plane that contains the lower edge of said walls. 
     
     
         9 . The frame according to  claim 8 , wherein said angular abutment, said resting bracket and said retention tab are associated with said frame by way of respective articulation elements which are controlled by specific actuation means. 
     
     
         10 . A machine for sewing upper pillows on covering shells for mattresses of the type comprising a supporting structure for at least one retention frame for upper pillows and covering shells for mattresses, which is associated with respective movement elements that are arranged on said structure, and a guiding track for at least one sewing head, said sewing head being able to perform a translational movement along said track in a direction that is perpendicular to the movement direction of said frame on said structure, further comprising a control and management unit provided with at least one memory stage for storing data strings relating to a plurality of predefined measurements of upper pillows and covering shells for mattresses and to parameters for sewing the pillow on the shell, which is associated with a user interface for entering and selecting said data strings, at least one wall of said frame comprising at least two bands that are mutually aligned and can slide with respect to each other in order to vary the overall length of the wall, between said at least two bands of said wall there being interposed a linear actuator for mutual sliding, which is actuated by them and is controlled by said control and management unit. 
     
     
         11 . The machine according to  claim 10 , wherein said movement elements and a slider, which can move along said guiding track and is integral with said sewing head, are controlled by said control and management unit.