A fiber material is filled into a cavity of a tool to produce a product from the fiber material. The tool comprises a mold which defines the cavity therein and a holder which supports the mold. The holder is displaced to move the mold to at least one thermal treatment station The fiber material is thermally treated in the mold at the at least one thermal treatment station.

A fiber material is filled into a cavity of a tool to produce a product from the fiber material. The tool comprises a mold which defines the cavity therein and a holder which supports the mold. The holder is displaced to move the mold to at least one thermal treatment station The fiber material is thermally treated in the mold at the at least one thermal treatment station.

Upholstery tufting apparatus comprises an insertion needle (5) with an aperture (4) to receive a tuft for insertion into an article to be upholstered. The tuft is presented to the needle aperture (4) along a tuft feed axis (3). The apparatus has a plurality of tuft strings (2a, 2b, 2c), a first string (2a) with tufts of a first length and a second string (2b) with tufts of different second length. The apparatus has one or more tuft feed units, and an actuator operatively connected to said tuft feed unit(s). The first and second tuft strings (2a, 2b) are associated with the tuft feed unit(s). A selected one of the tuft feed unit(s) is actuatable by the actuator to align one of the first and second strings (2a, 2b) with the tuft feed axis (3) according to the length of tuft required to be inserted into an article to be upholstered. A method for tufting an upholstered article employing said apparatus is also described.

Upholstery tufting apparatus comprises an insertion needle (5) with an aperture (4) to receive a tuft for insertion into an article to be upholstered. The tuft is presented to the needle aperture (4) along a tuft feed axis (3). The apparatus has a plurality of tuft strings (2a, 2b, 2c), a first string (2a) with tufts of a first length and a second string (2b) with tufts of different second length. The apparatus has one or more tuft feed units, and an actuator operatively connected to said tuft feed unit(s). The first and second tuft strings (2a, 2b) are associated with the tuft feed unit(s). A selected one of the tuft feed unit(s) is actuatable by the actuator to align one of the first and second strings (2a, 2b) with the tuft feed axis (3) according to the length of tuft required to be inserted into an article to be upholstered. A method for tufting an upholstered article employing said apparatus is also described.

In described examples, a cushioning unit assembler includes first, second, third, and fourth rows of welding heads, a transport, and a feed module. The welding heads have a welding position and a retracted position. A main axis of the welding heads is oriented in a first dimension while in the welding position. The transport is disposed above the rows of welding heads. The transport has a main axis oriented in a second dimension perpendicular to the first dimension. The feed module includes a pocketed spring intake and a pocketed spring outflow. The transport is mechanically coupled to enable the feed module to move in the second dimension along a scope of movement. An exit aperture of the outflow vertically aligns with welding heads of the first row that are in the welding position, and vertically aligns with welding heads of the second row that are in the welding position.

In described examples, a cushioning unit assembler includes first, second, third, and fourth rows of welding heads, a transport, and a feed module. The welding heads have a welding position and a retracted position. A main axis of the welding heads is oriented in a first dimension while in the welding position. The transport is disposed above the rows of welding heads. The transport has a main axis oriented in a second dimension perpendicular to the first dimension. The feed module includes a pocketed spring intake and a pocketed spring outflow. The transport is mechanically coupled to enable the feed module to move in the second dimension along a scope of movement. An exit aperture of the outflow vertically aligns with welding heads of the first row that are in the welding position, and vertically aligns with welding heads of the second row that are in the welding position.

A spring mattress comprises a plurality of interconnected coil springs enclosed in casings, the springs having a first and a second end, wherein for at least one of the springs, casing portions arranged at the first and second ends of the spring are connected to each other through the spring by a joint. The joined casing portions comprise openings through the spring. Pieces of foam material are arranged in the openings, so that a first portion of each piece of foam material extends towards the first end of the spring and a second portion of each piece of foam material extends towards the second end of the spring. An apparatus and method for manufacturing such a mattress are also disclosed.

A feed mechanism for pocketed spring strands is provided with at least one index wheel having a plurality of blades. The feed mechanism is provided with a motor. The at least one index wheel includes a first support member which is rotatable about a first rotation axis and carries a first support element which supports a shaft element of the blade to be tiltable about a tilt axis extending in parallel to the first rotation axis. The at least one index wheel includes a second support member which is rotatable about a second rotation axis which extends in parallel to the first rotation axis and carries a second support element which is slidable along the shaft element of the blade and supports the shaft element to be tiltable about the tilt axis.

A feed mechanism for pocketed spring strands is provided with at least one index wheel having a plurality of blades. The feed mechanism is provided with a motor. The at least one index wheel includes a first support member which is rotatable about a first rotation axis and carries a first support element which supports a shaft element of the blade to be tiltable about a tilt axis extending in parallel to the first rotation axis. The at least one index wheel includes a second support member which is rotatable about a second rotation axis which extends in parallel to the first rotation axis and carries a second support element which is slidable along the shaft element of the blade and supports the shaft element to be tiltable about the tilt axis.

In described examples, a cushioning unit assembler includes first, second, third, and fourth rows of welding heads, a transport, and a feed module. The welding heads have a welding position and a retracted position. A main axis of the welding heads is oriented in a first dimension while in the welding position. The transport is disposed above the rows of welding heads. The transport has a main axis oriented in a second dimension perpendicular to the first dimension. The feed module includes a pocketed spring intake and a pocketed spring outflow. The transport is mechanically coupled to enable the feed module to move in the second dimension along a scope of movement. An exit aperture of the outflow vertically aligns with welding heads of the first row that are in the welding position, and vertically aligns with welding heads of the second row that are in the welding position.