Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
3s
The present invention relates to a mechanical programmer,
such as is used for the operation of apparatus such as various
electrical appliances, machine tools and the like to provide a
programmed operation of various different switch contacts for
controlling different portions of the equipment~
BACKGROI~ND OF THE INVENT ION
Mechanical programmers, for operating electrical switch
contacts have in the majority of cases employed one or more
profiled cams, mounted on a common axle or drive-shaft, and
rotated through 360. Each cam on the drive-~shat will usually
operate a single group of contacts, and the shape of the cam will
insure that the contacts are closed or opened at the appropriate
timings in the programme, or cycle of operations.
This type of programmer has the disadvantage that the
cams must be manufactured in accordance with a predetermined
profile. The manufacturing of such cams having a specific profile
becomes relatively expensive. Accordingly, it is uneconomical for
small to medium sized manufacturers to employ such programmers,
and in the case of equipment which is not sold on a mass basis
to consumers, it is similarly somewhat uneconomical to use such
profiled cam programmers.
Generally speaking, in this type of programmer, the
cam is directly responsible for the operation of the contacts.
That is to say, when a high point on the cam is reached, for
example, the contacts are closed and when a low point on the cam
is reached the contacts are opened. As a result, therefore, if
the cam driveshaft i~ being driven somewhat slowly, then the
change over from closed to open or from open ~o closed may be
extended over a relatively substantial period of time. This
can be somewhat mitigated by making the drop off from ~he high
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point to the low point of the cam relatively abrupt. However,this may result in relatively rapid wear on the edge ~f the cam,
leading to gradual alteration of the timing of the programme or
cycle.
Replacement of worn cams may be re.Latively costly and
require maintenance of a full inventory of d:iEferent cam shapes
for servicing.
Where such cams are used, it i5 o course necessary that
the cams be designed for one specific programme or cycle~ This
is a relatively uneconomical form of manufacture, since th~
programmers using such cams can only be used for one particular
programme or cycle, and will be of no use for any other purpose D
As a result, each and every programmer is essantially a custom
manufactured item, or batch of items.
It is clearly, therefore, desirable to find some
alternative me~hod of actuating electrical contacts in such a
programmer, which does not require the use of custom made cams,
¦ but which instead can be manufactured of standardized components,
capable of being set-up for a wide variety of different programm~s,
after they have ir~t of all manufactured in a standardized form.
Preferably, it would be desirable if the programming of
the standardized components can be carried out with simple
readily available power tools without ~he requiremant for skilled
machining techniques, such as are required in the manufactur~ of
cams O
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention seeks to overcome the forego.ing and other
! disadvantages, by the provision of a programming device having one
or more pairs of electrical contacts~ adapted to be closed and
~; 30 opened at predetenmined interuals to control tha programme and
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having a contact control mechanism movable between two stationary
positions namely a high position and a low position, the high
position corresponding for example to a fi.rst positio~ of a contact,
and ~he low position corresponding to a second position of a con-
tact, and further having control operating means, reciprocably
movable to and fro along a predetermined path, each such complete
reciprocal movement procuring a movement of said contact control
means from its high to its low position, or from its low to its
high position, alternately in ~equence and further havinq a
movable programme recording member, adapted to be provided with
a series of standard indicia, said indicia passing in sequence,
past said control operating means,whereby upon the passage of each
said indicia, said control operating means completes one said re-
ciprocal movement for each said indicia, which complete reciprocal
movement is thus responsible for procuring either a single closing
or a single opening movement of a contact, the contact then
remaining so closed or opened until he next indicia operates
the control operating means.
More particularly, the invention seeks to provide a
programmer having the foregoing advanta~es in which the programme
recorder means comprises a continuous panel, either as a flat
sheet, or rolled into a cylindrical roller shaper the panel being
adapted to be provided with openings along a predetermined path
therealong, the opening providing the indicia as aforesaid~
More particularly, it is the objective of the invention
to provide a programmer having the foregoing advantages in which
the openi~gs in the programmer panel are ormed either by drilling,
punching or by pre-forming weakened areas of the panel which may
be pushed or pried out to provide the openings at the desired
locations along said path.
~t ~ a ~u~ther and related objectiva of the inv~ on
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to provide a programme recorder either in the form oE a flat sheet
or a cylindrical roller, which is adapted to receive a plurality
of insert members along a predetermined path therearound, said
insert members providing standardi~ed abutmellts.
More particularly, it is an object:ive of the invention
to provide a programmer having the foregoing advantages in which
the contact control means comprises a cam having a plurality of
standard shaped lobes located therearound at equal spaced angles,
and in which the reciprocal movement means comprises a toothed
wheel, and a non return ratchet device, and an operating lever
adapted to push the wheel in one direction, but being incapable
of returning the wheel in the other direction~ the lever being
rocked to and fro by abutments on said programme recording unit.
More particularly, it is an objective of the invention
to provide a programmer having the foregoing advantages in which
the contact control means comprises a push rod operable between
two positions, namely a high position and a low position/ and a
push button device for operating said push rod, said push button
device being reciprocal, and complete reciprocation of said push
button device procuring movement of said push rod either from its
upper to its lower position or ~xom its lower to its upper position
one after the other in sequence.
Preferably if the programme recorded becomes ~orn, it
may be replaced in a simple servicing operation with another
standardized recorder, and ~he programme required may be set up
o~ the recorder by the serviceman. Thus it becomes unnecessary
to keep a large inventory of different programme recorders.
The various features of novelty which characterize the
invention are pointed ou~ with particularity in the ~laims annexed
30 to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better under-
1~64~D~35
standing of the inv~n~ion, its operating advantages and specificobjects attained by its use, reference should be had to the
accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is
illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.
IN THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a schematic view of a single unit of the
invention, shown in one position (i.e. the "off" position)'
Figure 2 shows the same detail as Figure 1, in an
intermediate position;
Figure 3 shows the same detail as figure 1 in another
position (i.e. "on");
Figure 4 is a schematic illustration showing an
alternate e~bodiment;
Figure 5 is a perspective illustration of another
alternate embodiment of the invention;
Figure 6 7 and 8 are side elevations of the appara~us of
figure 5; showing three different positions.
Figure 9, 10,11 and 12 are sb~ematic illustrations of a
fuxther e~odiment.
DESCRIPTION OF A SPECIFIC EMBODTMENT
Reerr.~ng now to Figures 1 to 4, it will be seen that
the embodim~nt of the invent~on there illu~trated, which is shown
esse~tially in schematic form, comprise~ a contact breaker unit
1~, which will typica~ly contain a pair of switch contacts ~not
sh~wn) and haYe an operating bu~ton 12. The pressure on ~he
operating but~on 12 will normally close the switch contac`ts, and
when the but~on 12 i8 released the switch contacts will the~ be
opened. Such a form of operation is typi~al of the vast majority
o~ so called micro ~itches that are in use todayq
3~ I~ ordex to operate the button 12, a contact control
means shown generally as 14 is provided. Control means 14 is
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operated by spring-loaded reciprocal push rod member 16.
Typically, the contact operating means 14 wi;Ll consist of an
operating rod 18, and a suitable escapement ox latching mechanism
(not shown) contained within the housing ~0. Such operating rods
and escapement mechanisms are well known in, for example, the
art relating to push button switches, or in the art relating
to retractable ball point pens where, for example, the pen
cartridge may be likened to the operating rod 18, and the push
button top of the pen may be likened to the pu~h rod 16 which
is self-latching in the extended position of the cartridge.
_ _ In order to reciprocate the push b~ltton 16 upwardly and
downwardly, a programme recording uni~ shown generally as 22 is
provided, consisting essentially of a cylindrical drum or roller
24 the surface of which contains suitable formations, e.g. holes
25, adapted to receive standardized studs 26. The studs 26 may
be of ~he type that may be pressed into the drum 24 at any point
around a predetermined circular path therearound~
Preferably, the drive shaft 28 of the drum 24 is con-
nected to a suitable motor (not shown) which rotates the drum
24 at a constant speed. Alternatively shaft 28 may be coupled
to any drive take off in the machine or piece or equipment being
controlled, through suitable gears (not shown) so as to move the
programme recording unit as a percentage of machine motion.
As best shown from a comparison of Figures 1 and 2, in
operation the drum 24 will rotate in the direction of the arrow,
and each o~ the studs 26 will in turn contact the reciprocal push
rod 16. The studs 26 are shaped with a rounded profile so as to
~ pu~h the push rod 16 upwardly away from the drum 24. As the stud
1~ 26 passes out of engagement, the push rod 16 will be re~ned
¦ 30 downwardly by spring 23 into contact with the drum 24 once more.
A complete upward and downward r~ciprocation of the push rod
15 will procure either an upward or a downward movement of the member
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1~i4~)~35
18. If the member 18 is moved upwardly, then it will contact the
button 12 and cause the contacts in the contact breaker 10 to close.
Passage of the next stud 26 past the reciprocal rod 16
will cause the member 18 to move downwardly thereby clisengaging
from button 12 and allowing the contacts in the contact breaker
10 to open once more.
Thus, it will be seen that by simplv locating the
studs 26 at suitable positions around the periphery of the drum
24~ any desired programme having any desired cycle can be set up,
without expensive machining of cams, and such a programmer can
then be adapted for use with a wide variety of different appliances
having different cycles and different timings, without any change
in the basic design of the programmer.
It will, of course, be appreciated that the shape of the
drum 24 is not critical to the invention. While it would normally
be a cylindrical drum, it could equally well be an endless belt
wherein the studs 26 are retained in formations in such belt and
progressively move past the reciprocal rod 16 along a straight
linear path, rather than around an arcuate path as shown in Fig-
ures 1 and 2.
It will, of course, be appreciated that the embodiment ~;
as shown in Figures 1 to 4 is essentially schematic. The drum
24 may in fact be wide enough to control several such switch
contact units 10, each being provided with a contact control
mechanism 14, which will be aligned with a particular line of
studs or abutments 26 on the drum 24. In this way, as the drum
24 is rotated, each of the several switch contact units 10 will
be operated in accordance with a predetermined sequence, as pro-
gr~mmed by ~he positioning of the studs 2~ around the drum 24.
~learly, all that is required in order to alter the
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programme, or to pre-programme the drum for any desired programme
is to simply move ~he studs or abutments 26 around the drum 24 to
the particular desired location.
No costly machining is required, and the drum 24 can be
manufactured in accordance with standard specifications, providing
for wide flexibility of use for a wide range of different progr~mmes.
The invention may of course be carried out in other ways.
For example, as shown in Figures 5 to 8 three pairs of switch
contacts 30 and 32 are shown, the contacts 32 having downwardl~
ln extending follower members 34.
The follower members 34 ride on standard cam wheels 36,
each such c~m 36 having a plurality of lobes 38 separated by low
points or recesses. Preferably, the switch contacts 32 will be
spring biased so that the follower 34 rides up over the lobes 38
and down into the recesses, thereby following the contour of the
cams 36.
Each of the cams 36 is operatively connected to an
escapement type drive wheel 40. The drive wheel 40 has a plurality
of serrations or teet~ 4~. The teeth 42 are angularly offset as
shown, to provide an escapement type o mechanism. Preferably,
there will be two such teeth 42 for each lobe 38 of a cam 46.
Each pair comprising a cam wheel 36 and its connected drive
wheel 40 are united for rotation toqether, but are freely rotatable
lndependently of oth~r such pairs of cams and drive wheels so that
the operation of one such pair of a cam and drive wheel does not in
any way afect operation of the other pairs of cams and drive wheels.
For the sake o convenience, all of such cam~ 36 and their associ-
ated drive wheel~ ~0 will be mounted on a common axle 44, although
this is not essential to the invention, and they may each be mounted
on a separate rotatable spindle supported in any suitahle~ manner
(not shswn~
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s
In order to operate the drive wheels 40, there are pro-
vided a series oE rocker arms 46, which are pivotally mounted on a
common mounting shaf-t 48. Each of the arms 46 is rockable on the
shaft 48 independently of the other such arms 46 t and, could be
mounted on separate mounting shaEts or pivots (not shown) the
arrangement shown here being exemplary.
At one end of the arms 46, there are provided the flex-
ible pusher members 50 which are resilien-tly inherently biased into
contact with the teeth 42 of their respective drive wheels 40.
Rocking of the arms 46 in one direction will procure upward movement
of the pusher members 50, the free ends of which engage the serra-
tions or teeth 42, and cause rotation of the drive wheel 40 in one
direction.
Rocking of the arm 46 in the reverse direction will cause
the pusher member 50 to slide over the next lowermost tooth or
serration 42. However the wheel 40 will not turn in the reverse
direction, due, for example to friction in the mounting of the drive
wheel 40.
Alternatively, it may be desirable -to provide a stop
mechanism for releasably latching the wheel 40, or the cam 36
so as to prevent rotation in the reverse direc-tion. Many
different forms of each a sys~em are available. For example,
it may take the form of the flexible arm me~ber 52, having a
tooth member 54 engaging the serrations 42, and preventing
reverse rotation (see figures 6-8).
I It will thus be seen that one upward and downward
rocking movement of the arm 46 will cause rotation of the drive
wheel 40 by an amount e~ual to the spacing between two t:eeth 42.
Since there are two such teeth 42 for every lobe 48
of the cam wheel 36, this will produce a rotation of the cam
wheel 36 by an amount equal to one-half of one lobe 38. Such
movement will
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therefore either close the switch contacts 30 and 32, or open them.
Rocking movement of the arm 46 is procured in the follc)w-
ing manner.
At the opposite end of the arm 46, from the flexible
pusher 50, there is provided a downwardly dependent follower button
56, and a spring 58 urges the arm 46 and butt~n 56 into engagement
with a programme recording de~ice namely a drum 60~ The drum 60
is mounted on a drive shaf~ 62 which may be clriven by any suitable
motor 63 or a gear train, and of course may zllso be manually movable
so that the operator may preset the programme to start at a
desired point in its cycle.
The programme for any particular pair of switch contact~
30 and 32 is set up by means of a series of openings or recesses 62
formed in the surface of the drum 60 around a peripheral circular
path. Obviously, each such recess 62 will permit the follower but-
ton 56 to drop downwardly into the r~cess and will then cause it
rise upwardly again, as the drum 60 is driven by the motor.
Such downward and upward movement will procure swinging
of ~he arm 46, and this will in turn procure a ratchet like movement
of the escapement drive wheel 40 ~y an amount equal to one tc~th 42.
This in turn will move the cam wheel 36 by an amount
e~ual to one-half of one lobe 38, thereby aither closing or opening
the contacts 30 and 32.
The drum 60 may have the recesses 62 formed for exam~le
by drillin~ with a simple hand drill, or else by punching out holes
on a punch press, or alternati~ely ~he material from which the drum
60 is made may be formed with weakened areas which can simply be
pushed out or pried out for example with a screw-driver.
In this way, standardized programmers can be manufactured
and shippe~ out to manufacturers having widely differ~nt requirements
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~or cycling and programming. The programmes can then be simply
set up in the plant of the manufacturer by p~mching out or drilling
out suitable openings in the drum 60.
If for some reason the programme must be changed, then
all that is required is to provide a new drum 60 and punch ou~ the
holes in a different position.
Clearly, the use of a cylindrical drum 60 is merely
exemplary. The invention could equally well be carried out by
means of a continuously moving belt, or for example a flat panel
which reciprocates to and fro along a predetarmined linear path.
In each case however the feature of the invention will
always be that each hole in the panel or drum, which is for the
purposes of the present invention equivalent to an "abutment",
will again procure a movement of the wheel 40 by a single tooth
increment thereby moving the cam 36 by an increment equal to one-
half of one lobe.
Thus the need for specially profiled cams holding the
contacts either closed or opened over a predetermined length of
the cycle is done aw~y with.
It will of course be appreciated that two dif~erent r~
ways in which the invention can be carried out have been illu- ` I
strated here by way of example. Many other variations will occur
to persons skilled in the art, once the principle of the invention
has been understood.
This type of programmer may be employed either with its
own drive motor, or may be coupled to any suitable drive shaft in
a machine which is to be controlled by the programmer.
In the latter case, suitable, gearing will usually be
incoxporated so a~ to ensure that the programmer is driven at a
30 speed which i~ a percentage of the machina speed, and will control
i
i
the cycle of operations of the machine.
A further form of the invention is shown in figures
9 to 1~.
In this case contacts 30 and 32 having a follower 34,
as before, are operated by means of a cam wheel 70 having a series
of standard lobes 72 equally spaced therearound. Wheel 70 is keye~
on shaft 74 which is rotatable in bearing 76 (flgure 12). A
separate drive shaf-t 78 is located co-axial with shat 74. A
helical spring clutch device 80 fits around shafts 74 and 78 for
driving of shaft 74 by shaft 78~ one direction.Movement of shaft
78 in ~le reverse direction merely causes clutch 80 to skip on
shaft 74, making the device self-latching in the selected position.
Shaft 78 has a crank arm 82, and connecting rod 84, urged
downwardly by spring 86. The lower end of rod 84 rides on program
record member 88. In this embodiment the member 88 may be a belt
xiding over suitable rollers or guides (not shown1. [t has program
ind~cia ~; in the form of studs 90, arranged in rows, one ~ow for
each set of contacts, and cam wheel.
Each stud 90 will cause upward movement of the rod 84,
followed by downward movement again under the influence of spring 86.
Each upward m~vement of rod 84 will rotate shaft 78 in one direction
(i.e. anti-clockwise) and clutch 80 will bind on shaft 74 and rotate
wheel 70 an arcuate distance of one half lobe (ie from a~peak to a
vall~y or vice versa).
; Each downward movement of rod 84 will rotate shaft 78
clockwise. This m~vement will simply cause slipping of clutch 80
on shaft 74, ~Iy tendency for shaft 74 to rotate clockwise may
be controlled by friction in bearing 76, or by an escapement tooth
92 on flexible arm 94.
The programme indicia ~hown herein axe either in the
:
form of studs or openings. Ilowever any o-ther form oE indlcia
which will procure the appropria-te reciprocable movemen-t may be
used. For example indicia ribs or ridges may be used in place
of studs. The drum may be a composite men~er made up of a series
of standard discs of predetermined shape having suitable indicia
thereon or therein. Magnetic indicia may be employed in some
cases, or the indicia may be recorded magnetically on a tape or
drum. Alternatively the whole system may utili~e light beams
and photocells with suitable indicia in the form oE masks, or
with indicia recorded on film.
Having described what is believed to be the best mode
by which the invention may be performed, it will be seen that
the invention may be particularly defined as Eollows:
A programmer device of the type Eor operating at least
one pair of electrical contacts, which may be opened and closed
for controlling some other operation for example, said programmer
device comprising, contact control means for controlling clos-
ing and opening of said contacts, said control means being
positionable in at least two spaced positions, corresponding to
contact open and contact closed positions, self-latching control
operating means for operating said contact control means and
being operable for moving same :Erom one said spaced posltion
to the other, said sontrol operating means being movable between
at least two positions each such movement procuring movement
of said contact con$rol means from one said spaced position
to the other, pxogramme record means movable along a prede-termined
path adjacent said control operating means, and, a plurality of
~ programme indicia means carried by said programme record m~ans,
I passage of each said indicia means being adapted to act:ivate
said control operatin~ means, and inititate a single movement
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thereof thereby procuring a single movement of said contact
control means from one said spaced position to the other saicl
position thereof, said control opera-ting means being latched
in any said position after passage of a said indicia means
until engaged by -the next said indicia means
The invention further comprises a programmer device
having the foregoing features wherein said control means includes
an operating member reciprocable to and fro, between operative
and inoperative positions and means biassing said member into
its said inoperative position.
The invention further comprises a programmer device
having the foregoing features wherein said self-:Latching control
operating means includes a push rod movable between operative
and inoperative positions in response to said indicia, an
operating rod responsive to movement of said push rod to move
between extended and retracted positions, and releaseable
latching means for said operating rod, operative to hold same
in its said extended position during alternate movements of
said push rod.
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SUPPLEMENTARY D:tSCLOS[JXE
.. .
F'igure 13 is a schema-tic side elevation of an alterna-te
embodiment .
As shown in figure 13, a drum 100, essentially similar
-to the drums 24, 60 and 88 is rota-tably driven on a shaft 102.
A plurality of indicia shown as recesses 104 are formed
in the ~rum 100 a-t spaced intervals therearo~md.
A microswi-tch 106 is mounted on an arm 108. The arm
108 is pivotally mounted on pivot point 110, and is biased by
spring 112 toward drum 100.
The microswitch 106 typically is operated by means of
a button 114, the details of which are well known in khe art and
require no further description.
As is well known, in the microswitch art, when the
button 114 is pushed in, the switch is operated, usually to make
a circult, and when the button is released it springs out agai~,
thereby breaking the circuit.
In order to engage the button 114, a swingable lever
116 is pivotally mounted on pivot 118, whereby the lever 116 is
swingable towards and away from the microswitch 106,the
pivot point 118 being ~ecured to the arm 108.
In order to raise and lower the lever 116, a rectangular
ca~ 120 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 1220 Four operating ~ins
124 ext~nd radially with respect to the shaft 122, from the four
: faces of ~he rectangular cam 120.
It will, of co~rse~ be appreciated that the operating
pins 124 do not in fact have to extend from the faces o the
rectangular cam 120 but may be displaced laterally therefrom
along a shaft 122 if desired.
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The pins 124 ride on -the surface 101 of the drum 100,
as the drum 100 is rotated by shaft 102.
Ln the position shown in figure 13, one of the longer
side of the rectangular cam 120 is engaging the ~mderside of the
lever 116. This corresponds to -the off position of the microswitch
106.
It will be remembered that the arm 108 is being urged
downwardly into engagement with the drum 100 by means of the
spring 112. In consequence of this biasing of the arm 108, as
the drum 100 rotates, one of the recesses 104 will register
beneath one of the pins 1~4. When this occurs, such pin 124
will drop into such recess 104, procuring an essentially toothed
engagement between the cam 120 and the drum 100.
As the drum 100 rotates further, such toothed engagement
will cause rotation of cam 120 through a 90 degree arc. When
the 90 degree arc has been completed the pin 124 will be released
from the recess 104. The next two pins 124 will then ride freely ~ -
on the surface 101 of the drum 100, until the next recess 104
arrives beneath one of the pins 124.
In consequence of the 90 aegree rotation described
aforesaid, one of the shorter surfaces of the rectangular cam
120 will now be engaging the lever 116, and the lever 116 will
thus have been displaced upwardly. This upward displacement
will in turn c use upward dxsplacement of the button 114 of the
microswitch causing the circuit therein to close.
The circuit will remain closed until such time as the
next movement of the cam 120 takes place when a further 90 degree
movement is caused by engagement of a pin 124 in a recess 104
as described above. Such further movement permits downward move-
ment of button 114, permi-tting the microswitch to o~?~n ollce more.
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~64~
It will thus be seen that each indicium 104 on the
drum 100 produces a single either on~or off movement of the
microswitch 106, and that between such on or ofE movements
the microswitch 106 will remain latched in its selec-ted
position by reason of the engagement of one of the flat
surfaces of cam 120 with lever 116, which eff-ec-tively prevents
furthe.r movement, until a pin 124 is again engaged by a recess
104.
The foregoing is a description of a preferred
embodiment of the invention which is given here by way of
example only. The invention is not to be taken as l.imitecL to
any of the specific features as described, but comprehends all
such variations thereof as come within the scope of the appended
claims.
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