Programmer for electric household appliances

Claim 2

In a programmer for electric household appliances of the type comprising a continuously rotatable cam unit; a step-by-step rotatable program cam unit; said cam units being disposed on a cam shaft; two end-plates; a plurality of identical stacked contactor elements disposed between said two end-plates and actuated by said cam units; said contactor elements comprising male connectors, associated movable connectors connected to contact strips and fitted with contact points; means for driving said program can unit in step-by-step motion, and including means for temporarily deactivating said program cam unit, and a constant speed electric drive motor; the improvement which comprises: one of said end-plates defining a separate contactor element and including a continuous surface; stationary and moveable contacts adapted to be received by said one end-plate; said continuous surface including a central hole defining a bearing for said cam shaft, a plurality of smooth holes adapted to receive self-tapping engaging mounting screws, and a plurality of mounting holes; effort multiplication lever means for actuating said contact strips, said contact strips defining a general switch and having a clearance of at least 3 millimeters in the open position, said lever means having swivel pins pivotally mounted in said mounting holes of said continuous surface of said one end-plate; and wherein two grooves are provided on said shaft; and wherein said programmer further comprises at least one cam which is capable of displacement so as to take up two positions in the axial direction; said one endplate further being provided with attachment means; a hairpin positioning spring having a back, two hooks and arms and which is intended to cooperate with said two grooves of said shaft; said attachment means consisting of an opening beneath which is engaged the back of the hairpin spring and of the two hooks, and beneath which each arm of the spring is retained elastically; said one end-plate further including countersunk recesses which are concentric with the assembly holes for accommodating the engaging screwheads.

Claim 3

A programmer as defined in claim 1, wherein said one end-plate which limits the stack of contactor elements constitutes a contactor element on the opposite side thereof which is adapted to receive such stationary and movable contacts and which further constitutes a single member adapted to incorporate interchangeable elements so as to permit utilization without modification in different models of said programmer.

Claim 4

A programmer as defined in claim 2, wherein said one end-plate is provided on an internal face thereof with a central hole forming a bearing for said cam shaft, an annular recess concentric with said shaft, a coil spring accommodated in said annular recess, a positioning member thrust forward by said spring in the axial direction for effecting angular positioning of the cams, bores and metallic pins received therein which prevent the rotation of said positioning member, a circular groove and an internally toothed lip of a reversing cam unit received therein, a hole into which is guided the shaft of an output pinion of a first-speed reduction unit, said hole and circular groove being secant such that the output pinion is capable of engaging with an internal set of teeth provided on the lip of said reversing cam unit, a blade spring, a stud in which are formed two longitudinal grooves disposed in the plane of a transverse groove permitting attachment with defined orientation of the blade-spring, a pawl for driving the cam unit in step-by-step motion, said blade-spring maintaining said pawl in an engaged position, a third hole fitted with a tubular bushing which projects towards the interior of said cam unit, a second speed-reduction unit having an output pinion with a shaft guided by said tubular bushing, said third hole being secant with an internally toothed ring for driving said cam unit.

Claim 5

A programmer as defined in claim 2, wherein said one end-plate forms on the outer face thereof a casing, a reduction-gear motor and an electromagnet for controlling the disengagement of step-by-step drive mounted in said casing, said casing having a base provided with holes into which are received metallic pin shafts of different moving elements, bosses and hollowed-out portions for defining the relative positions of the different moving elements in the axial direction wherein the material of the base of the casing takes up the place which is left free by the moving elements without producing any additional thickness.

Claim 6

A programmer as defined in claim 4, wherein said casinG is closed by means of a plate of mild steel in which the poles of a stator of said electric motor are die-stamped by cutting-out and folding.

Claim 7

A programmer as defined in claim 2, wherein said one end-plate is provided with recesses into which are received relay-connectors, and projecting studs provided on the contactor elements for maintaining said relay-connectors in position.

Claim 8

In a programmer for electric household appliances of the type comprising: a continuously rotatable cam unit; a step-by-step rotatable program cam unit; said cam unit being disposed on a cam shaft; two end-plates; a plurality of identical stacked contactor elements disposed between said two end-plates and actuated by said cam units; said contactor elements comprising male connectors, associated movable connectors connected to contact strips and fitted with contact points; means for driving said program cam unit in step-by-step motion, and including means for temporarily deactivating said program cam unit, and a constant-speed electric drive motor; the improvement which comprises: one of said end-plates defining a separate contactor element and including a continuous surface; stationary and movable contacts adapted to be received by said one end-plate; said continuous surface including a central hole defining a bearing said cam shaft, a plurality of smooth-holes adapted to receive self-tapping engaging mounting screws, and a plurality of mounting holes; effort multiplication lever means for actuating said contact strips said contact strips defining a general switch and having a clearance of at least 3 millimeters in the open position, lever means having swivel pins pivotally mounted in said mounting holes of said continuous surface of said one end-Plate; a reversing cam unit having internal teeth therefor; a speed-reduction unit having an output pinion; and wherein said means for driving the program cams in step-by-step motion consist of a pawl having a nose and being endowed with a reciprocating movement and being pivotally mounted on the output pinion of the speed-reduction unit by means of an eccentric pin, said pin defining a crankpin, blade-spring means causing the nose of the pawl to engage with said internal set of teeth of said reversing cam unit, said pawl further comprising a feeler heel subjected to the action of said internal-profile cam, said internal-profile cam being rigidly fixed to said reversing cam, whereby said pawl is prevented from engaging with said set of teeth except over a short angular interval which corresponds to one step.

Claim 9

In a programmer for electric household appliances of the type comprising: a continuously rotatable cam unit; a step-by-step rotatable program cam unit; said cam unit being disposed on a cam shaft; two end-plates; a plurality of identical stacked contactor elements disposed between said two end-plates and actuated by said cam units; said contactor elements comprising male connectors, associated movable connectors connected to contact strips and fitted with contact points; means for driving said program cam unit in step-by-step motion, and including means for temporarily deactivating said program cam unit, and a constant-speed electric drive motor; the improvement which comprises: one of said end-plates defining a separate contactor element and including a continuous surface; stationary and movable contacts adapted to be received by said one end-plate; said continuous surface including a central hole defining a bearing said cam shaft, a plurality of smooth-holes adapted to receive self-tapping engaging mounting screws, and a plurality of mounting holes; effort multiplication lever means for actuating said contact strips said contact strips defining a general switch and having a clearance of at least 3 millimeters in the open position, lever means having swivel pins pivotally mounted in said mounting holes of said continuous surface of said one end-Plate; a reversing cam unit having internal teeth therefor; a speed-reduction unit having an output pinion; and wherein said means for driving the program cams in step-by-step motion consist of a pawl having a nose and being endowed with a reciprocating movement and being pivotally mounted on the output pinion of the speed-reduction unit by means of an eccentric pin, said pin defining a crankpin, blade-spring means causing the nose of the pawl to engage with said internal set of teeth of said reversing cam unit, said pawl further comprising a feeler heel subjected to the action of said internal-profile cam, said internal-profile cam being rigidly fixed to said reversing cam, whereby said pawl is prevented from engaging with said set of teeth except over a short angular interval which corresponds to one step.

Claim 10

A programmer as defined in claim 7, further including a lever actuated by an electromagnet, wherein said pawl comprises an arm fitted with a crankpin which is brought through an orifice of said one end-plate in the plane of said lever which is actuated by said electromagnet so that energization of said electromagnet prevents the pawl from engaging with said set of teeth so as to produce one step.

Claim 11

In a programmer for electric household appliances of the type comprising: a continuously rotatable cam unit; a step-by-step rotatable program cam unit; said cam unit being disposed on a cam shaft; two end-plates; a plurality of identical stacked contactor elements disposed between said two end-plates and actuated by said cam units; said contactor elements comprising male connectors, associated movable connectors connected to contact strips and fitted with contact points; means for driving said program cam unit in step-by-step motion and including means for temporarily deactivating said program cam unit, and a constant speed electric drive motor; the improvement which comprises: one of said end-plates defining a separate contactor element and including a continuous surface; stationary and moveable contacts adapted to be received by said one end-plate; said continuous surface including a central hole defining a bearing for said cam shaft, a plurality of smooth holes adapted to receive self-tapping engaging mounting screws, and a plurality oF mounting holes; effort multiplication lever means for actuating said contact strips, said contact strips defining a general switch and having a clearance of at least 3 millimeters in the open position, lever means having swivel pins pivotally mounted in said mounting holes of said continuous surface of said one end-plate; wherein said means for driving includes a speed-reduction unit having an output pinion, said cam units being provided with driving teeth, and wherein the position of said output pinion of said speed-reduction unit relative to said cam driving teeth is defined by means of a tooth of substantial thickness formed on said pinion and by means of corresponding recesses in said driving set of teeth.

Claim 12

In a programmer for electric household appliances of the type comprising: a continuously rotatable cam unit; a step-by-step rotatable program cam unit; said cam unit being disposed on a cam shaft; two end-plates; a plurality of identical stacked contactor elements disposed between said two end-plates and actuated by said cam units; said contactor elements comprising male connectors, associated movable connectors connected to contact strips and fitted with contact points; means for driving said program cam unit in step-by-step motion and including means for temporarily deactivating said program cam unit, and a constant speed electric drive motor; the improvement which comprises: one of said end-plates defining a separate contactor element and including a continuous surface; stationary and moveable contacts adapted to be received by said one end-plate; said continuous surface including a central hole defining a bearing for said cam shaft, a plurality of smooth holes adapted to receive self-tapping engaging mounting screws, and a plurality oF mounting holes; effort multiplication lever means for actuating said contact strips, said contact strips defining a general switch and having a clearance of at least 3 millimeters in the open position, lever means having swivel pins pivotally mounted in said mounting holes of said continuous surface of said one end-plate; wherein said means for driving includes a speed-reduction unit having an output pinion, said cam units being provided with driving teeth, and wherein the position of said output pinion of said speed-reduction unit relative to said cam driving teeth is defined by means of a tooth of substantial thickness formed on said pinion and by means of corresponding recesses in said driving set of teeth.

Claim 13

A programmer as defined in claim 3, including two electric motors, and wherein said angular positioning member comprises a skirt provided with an internal set of teeth which is adapted to engage with an output pinion of a second speed-reduction unit, thereby insuring that the angular positioning member is maintained in a fixed position when the corresponding motor is at a standstill.

Claim 14

In a programmer for electric household appliances of the type comprising a continuously rotatable cam unit; a step-by-step rotatable program cam unit; said cam units being disposed on a cam shaft; two end-plates; a plurality of identical stacked contactor elements disposed between said two end-plates and actuated by said cam units; said contactor elements comprising male connectors, associated movable connectors connected to contact strips and fitted with contact points; means for driving said program cam unit in step-by-step motion, and including means for temporarily deactivating said program cam unit, and a constant-speed electric drive motor; the improvement which comprises: one of said end-plates defining a separate contactor element and including a continuous surface; stationary and movable contacts adapted to be received by said one end-plate; said continuous surface including a central hole defining a bearing for said cam shaft, a plurality of smooth holes adapted to receive self-tapping engaging mounting screws, and a plurality of mounting holes; effort multiplication lever means for actuating said contact strips, said contact strips defining a general switch and having a clearance of at least 3 millimeters in the open position, lever means having swivel pins pivotally mounted in said mounting holes of said continuous surface of said one end-plate; said programmer further including an angular positioning member for said cam units, said positioning member having recesses therein; and wherein said cam units includes a cam means for self-maintaining the rotational motion, said cam means comprising a number of bosses corresponding to the number of steps provided in a complete revolution, said cam means being adapted to be places next to a pulse cam so as to produce action on an associated contact; said cam units further including three teeth set at 120* relative to each other so as to engage in the recesses of said angular positioning member, and wherein the number of said recesses are in the same as the number of steps provided in a complete revolution and being any multiple of three.

Claim 15

In a programmer for electric household appliances of the type comprising a continuously rotatable cam unit; a step-by-step rotatable program cam unit; said cam units being disposed on a cam shaft; two end-plates; a plurality of identical stacked contactor elements disposed between said two end-plates and actuated by said cam units; said contactor elements comprising male connectors, associated movable connectors connected to contact strips and fitted with contact points; means for driving said program cam unit in step-by-step motion, and including means for temporarily deactivating said program cam unit, and a constant-speed electric drive motor; the improvement which comprises: one of said end-plates defining a separate contactor element and including a continuous surface; stationary and movable contacts adapted to be received by said one end-plate; said continuous surface including a central hole defining a bearing for said cam shaft, a plurality of smooth holes adapted to receive self-tapping engaging mounting screws, and a plurality of mounting holes; effort multiplication lever means for actuating said contact strips, said contact strips defining a general switch and having a clearance of at least 3 millimeters in the open position, lever means having swivel pins pivotally mounted in said mounting holes of said continuous surface of said one end-plate; said programmer further including an angular positioning member for said cam units, said positioning member having recesses therein; and wherein said cam units includes a cam means for self-maintaining the rotational motion, said cam means comprising a number of bosses corresponding to the number of steps provided in a complete revolution, said cam means being adapted to be places next to a pulse cam so as to produce action on an associated contact; said cam units further including three teeth set at 120* relative to each other so as to engage in the recesses of said angular positioning member, and wherein the number of said recesses are in the same as the number of steps provided in a complete revolution and being any multiple of three.