Patent GB-1169953-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to a Programme Control device for a Washing Machine
IPC: D06F34/30
Filed: 1966-11-01
Abstract: 1,169,953. Washing machines. LANDIS & GYR G.m.b.H. 1 Nov., 1966 [4 Nov., 1965], No. 48882/66. Heading D1A. An automatic washing machine has a programme carrier controlled by temperature and/or liquid level responsive means and providing an initially selectable series of instructions for a programme and a function selector drivable under the control of the programme carrier to a position corresponding to the function required and which, on completion of this function causes connections between the carrier and selector to be changed by a step-by-step drive so that the function selector is moved to a new position corresponding to the next function required by the programme. Shaft 1 carries cams 2 which each operate a switch 3 controlling a machine part. Some of these switches are connected directly to main switch 4 or through a contact 5 to switch 4. Switch 4 is also connected through cam operated switches 6 and 8 respectively with thermostat 7 and liquid level switch 9. Several thermostats and level switches with corresponding cam operated switches may be provided. Secured to shaft 1 is a disc 10 with conducting rings or part rings on its surface the innermost of which forms a slip ring 12 engaged by contact 11 and is connected to all the remaining rings. Contact 11 is connected to coupling solenoid 13 which when energized couples shaft 1 through gearing with shaft 15. The ring 17 adjacent ring 12 is connected through switches 7, 6; 9, 8 with main switch 4. The outer rings are engaged by contacts of conductors A to F to control switches 19 actuated by cams on a manually settable control disc 20 and connected to switch 4. Disc 20 also controls switch' 23 which, when closed, connects motor 24 for driving shaft 15 to the switch 4. Cam discs 26, 27 on shaft 15 operate double pole reversing switch 28 and a further switch 29. Shaft 15 rotates at about one revolution per minute, shaft 1 at about one revolution per ten seconds and shaft 22 step-bystep one revolution in sixty minutes. There are sixteen positions on disc 10 and in fifteen of these there are gaps in two of the six conductor rings, the two selected being different at each position whereas in position 16 ring 17 and five of the six rings have gaps. Thus, when two rings are energized as selected by cam disc 20 operating the corresponding switches 19, solenoid 13 will be energized and shaft 1 driven until the gaps occur in both rings together when the solenoid 13 will be de-energized and shaft 1 will stop with disc 10 and hence cams 2 in one of the positions 1 to 15 which correspond to a particular operation of the machine e.g. washing or centrifuging and emptying. Instead of the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 with switches 19, the programme carrier may comprise a series of discs with surface contacts engaged by sliding contacts and selected by switches Fig. 3 (not shown) or by a rotatable switch Fig. 4 (not shown). In another arrangement Fig. 5 (not shown) a cross-bar system of contacts selectable by inserting plugs is connected to a rotatable switch comprising a series of contacts.