Patent GB-1162021-A (GB)
Title: Programme Control Device for Machines
IPC: D06F34/30
Filed: 1966-07-25
Abstract: 1,162,021. Time switches. KIENINGER & OBERGFELL. 25 July, 1966 [23 July, 1965], No. 33328/66. Heading H1N. In a sequenced programme control for a machine such as a domestic washing machine in which each operation is determined by the coded output of switch contact sets 95-98, Fig. 1, each phase of a programme is set by the sequential displacement of a series of parallel plates 68, 76 having projections such as 91-94 co-operating with the contact sets 95-98, the different programmes being in part determined by the manual displacement of a further series of parallel plates 101-104 having projections such as 112b, 113a co-operating with the same contact sets 95-98 for overriding control. In the example of Fig. 1 (exploded view) spring arm projections such as 99, 100 on the four contact sets 95-98 extend across the whole stack of plates 101-104, 68-76 for engagement by the selected projections such as 91-94, 112b, 113a whereby the spring contact arms 110, 111 are selectively actuated in the programmed sequence by the plates 91-94 or are held in open or closed circuit states on manual actuation of the plates 101-104 according to selected programmes. The plates 68-76 are moved in the required programme sequence under the control of timer cams 42, 45 which selectively actuate plungers 46-49 between two alternative positions and which carry pins 64-67 co-operating with binary coded notches 77-80 in one edge of each plate 68-76. At each programme phase position all the slots 77, 80 in one or more of the plates 68-76 coincide with the positions of the rods 64, 67 whereby the selected plates are free to move under the action of return springs 81-89. On changing to the next programme phase the rods 64, 67 push the non-selected plates 68-76 back against the action of the return springs 81, 89 while releasing the next selected plates. The timer cams 42-45 are driven from a synchronous motor 1 through a ratchet mechanism 20, 25 having a low-speed drive through gears 6, 7, 9, 10 for normal programme sequence changes and a high-speed drive through clutch 51 and gears 52, 52a, 58 during eliminated programme phases of a selected programme. Programme selection is performed by pushbuttons 114-117 which actuate the selected plates 101-104 through cams 144-147 engaging pins 148-151 respectively attached to each plate. The actuated push-buttons 114-117 are latched by pins 132 on a common latch bar 136 engaging projections 131. The latch bar 136 further actuates switch contacts 140, 141 for initiating or restarting a programme upon further depression of one of the push-buttons 114-117 each of which has a second cam edge 131a engageable with the pins 132. At the termination of a programme sequence the latch bar 136 is moved to release the depressed button through a slider 143 moved by cams 50, 55 in the transmission gear (exploded view) which co-operates with the end 63 of a lever 156. Programme phase elimination of the various programmes is controlled by a printed circuit contact plate 194 on the cam-shaft 39 and having tracks P 1 -P 4  associated with each programme. The Specification describes the operation of five different washing programmes which together form a combined maximum programme of 30 separate phases which are selectively used or eliminated under control of separate selected tracks P 1 -P 4  on contact plate 194. Since these phases include many repetitions of the same operation it is indicated that programme information for only nine separate operations (including OFF) is required to be stored by the cams 42-45 for operation of the switch contact sets 95-98 through nine plates 68-76. Since the manually actuated plates 101, 104 also actuate the same contact sets 95-98 the total number of contact sets actuated is reduced to a minimum. In a modification the pins 64-67 controlling the sequential movement of the plates 68-76 are operated by electromagnets under the sequential control of a further printed circuit contact plate 195 (Fig. 2a, not shown) similar to the plate 194 and replacing the cams 42-45. In this embodiment the contact sets each comprise three contact arms two of which have members extending across the stack of plates for actuation by projections on the plates. In a modification the parallel plates 253, Fig. 3, of the plate stack 222 are "U"-shaped and are moved selectively according to the binarycoded positions of pins 231-234 on followers 227, 230 controlled by stepping cams 237-240 mounted between the limbs of the "U"-shaped plates 253 and engaging dependent projections 236 of the followers. The programme control push-buttons 223-226 are, in this example, directly attached to extensions 218-220 of the manually moved plates of the stack 222.