Patent GB-384653-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for automatically controlling the operation of plant and machinery for perf
IPC: D06F39/00
Filed: 1931-04-28
Abstract: 384,653. Stencil switches. PROSPERITY CO., Inc., Beattie Street, Syracuse, New York, U.S.A.-(Assignees of Hutchings, W. B. ; Hutchings Laundry, Huron, South Dakota, U.S.A.) April 28, 1931, No. 12544. Convention date, Nov. 7, 1930. [Class 38 (v).] Relates to apparatus for automatically controlling the operation of plant or machinery, such as washing-machines, wherein the valves or other control elements of the machinery are operated in a particular sequence determined by a formula on a moving record sheet or cylinder which co-operates with a group of contact fingers or feelers each controlling one or more valves &c. through the medium of relay devices. According to the invention in apparatus of this kind, manual devices, corresponding with the automatic feeler devices, are provided, to act on the relay devices, for actuating the valves &c. individually, whereby an operator can cause any selected valve &c. to be operated at will. The contact fingers or feelers and the manual devices are identified by indication marks so that an operator can, for example, conduct a set of operations under manual control, and at the same'time mark out a blank sheet for producing a record sheet which will automatically reproduce subsequently the operation effected under manual control. Fig. 22 shows a washer 230 and a timer or control cabinet 231, with two of the valves 19 which are operated by air pressure in cylinders 233 controlled by pilot or relay valves in casings 232, said pilot valves being operated by electromagnets energized from the control cabinet through wires 238, the air pressure pipes leading from the pilot valve casings to the motor cylinders being shown at 242. One form of the control mechanism is shown in Fig. 2 wherein a rotary record 16, with perforations 20, is disposed on a table 11 rotated by an electric motor 22, 23 and operates in conjunction with conducting feeler fingers 14 arranged so that as each finger drops through a perforation 20 into contact with the table it establishes a circuit through a solenoid 24 to open a pilot valve 36 and start an electric motor 33 ; the motor operates the pump 45 and supplies oil under pressure to the line 37 and thence through the opened pilot valve 36 to the conduit 38 and the piston cylinder 39 thereby operating the corresponding washer valve 19. Manual control buttons 103 corresponding to the fingers 14, are provided to operate switches 101 disposed in parallel with the fingers ; the manual controls may be disposed at the control cabinet or at the washing-machine. Arrangements are described and shown in which the bar carrying the contact feeler fingers rotates instead of the record sheet. A longitudinal sliding record sheet may also be used, and is illustrated. The control fingers may, moreover, each be mounted on rotary sleeve forming itself the control valve for controlling air pressure to relay devices operating the main valves. Alternatively, the perforations on the record sheet itself, acting in conjunction with the ends of suction control conduits, may cause operation of pilot valves controlling compressed air relays operating the main valves. Fig. 21 shows an arrangement for marking a blank sheet electrically in conjunction with a manually-controlled set of operations wherein the manual switches 101 of Fig. 2 are duplicated at 219, one set of which is disposed in a hightension circuit. The blank formula sheet 16 is disposed on the turntable 11 and the contact feelers 14 operate as markers or styli by being connected into a high-tension circuit through a transformer T so as to perforate a line or slit in the blank formula sheet as the pushbuttons 103 are depressed. A change-over switch 211 is first operated to change over the switch points 211 from points 212 to points 214 so that the current will pass upon the depression of a bushbutton 103, from the feed wire 35, through wire 105, switch 101, wire 30, solenoid 24, wires 31, 32, motor 33, and wire 34 to other feed wire 28. The secondary circuit of a stepup transformer T, in circuit between the feed wires 28, 35, also connects to the switch members 219 operated by the pushbuttons 103 whereby the high-tension current sparks through the blank sheet and perforates a line or slit when the corresponding pushbuttons are depressed, from which the working record can be produced. Alternatively, the additional switch contacts for the high tension circuits are disposed in the 'vicinity of the valves themselves, and are operated by hand operating levers of byepass valves as these are operated manually. The automatic timer control may also operate belt-shifting gear for starting and reversing the washing drum. The control apparatus is also applicable, inter alia, for controlling street-crossing traffic signals of the " go " and " stop " kind, with or without intermediate warning signals, all the conditions being variable by the use of various control records and the superposed hand control.