Program control apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for carrying out a program in accordance with a pattern of perforations in a moving chart, said apparatus comprising: an elongated member having a sensing surface adapted to be engaged by the moving chart; a series of openings in said sensing surface disposed along a line transverse to the direction of movement of the chart and adapted to register with perforation containing regions of the chart; a system of passages defined within said member and including a series of first passages extending from said sensing openings and through said member for normally intercommunicating each said sensing opening with a pressure-responsive device, said first passages lying substantially in a plane extending through said body and intersecting said sensing surface along said line; a pair of elongated pressure cavities in said member adapted to be coupled to a source of pressurized fluid, said pair of cavities each being disposed generally parallel to said line and on opposite sides of said plane; and a plurality of second passages in said member extending from alternate ones of said first passages to alternate ones of said pressure cavities for pressuring said first passages and thereby applying pressure to said devices in response to blocking of said sensing openings by imperforate segments of said chart.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, each of said second passages intersecting said corresponding first passage at an acute angle and the axes of both said passages extending through said corresponding sensing opening.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1, said second passages including relatively restricted portions for limiting the rate of flow of pressurized air into said first passages in response to opening of said sensing openings by perforations in said chart.

Claim 5

Program control apparatus for use with an elongated perforated chart, said apparatus comprising: a main frame; a chart-reading assembly mounted on the main frame; a pair of chart support rolls rotatably mounted on the main frame; a subframe mounted for pivotal movement on the main frame; a chart drive roll mounted on said subframe and engageable with the chart on one of said chart support rolls for pulling the chart form the other of said chart support rolls and through said chart-reading assembly; and drive means including a drive motor drivingly coupled to said chart drive roll; said drive means being supported on said subframe.

Claim 6

Program control apparatus for use with an elongated perforated chart, said apparatus comprising: a main frame; a chart-reading assembly mounted on the main frame; a pair of chart support rolls rotatably mounted on the main frame; a subframe mounted for pivotal movement on the main frame; a chart drive roll mounted on said subframe and engageable with the chart on one of said chart support rolls for pulling the chart form the other of said chart support rolls and through said chart-reading assembly; and drive means including a drive motor drivingly coupled to said chart drive roll; said drive means being supported on said subframe.

Claim 7

The program control apparatus of claim 4, said chart drive roll having an outer layer of elastomeric material.

Claim 8

The program control apparatus of claim 5, spring means for biasing said chart drive roll toward said one chart support roll.

Claim 9

The program support apparatus of claim 6, said subframe including spaced sidewalls, said chart drive roll being mounted between said sidewalls, and said spring means comprising first and second springs each independently biasing each said sidewall.

Claim 10

Program control apparatus adapted to be used with a perforated record medium and comprising a sensing means having a series of openings adapted selectively to be opened by record medium perforations at predetermined intervals, and a plurality of independent pressure-operated circuits, each of said circuits including: a prEssure-responsive device; a first conduit extending from said device to one of said openings; a source of pressurized fluid; a second conduit coupling said source of pressurized fluid to said first conduit immediately adjacent said one opening for normally pressurizing said pressure-responsive device; the opening of said one opening by a record medium perforation serving to vent said first conduit and to depressurize said pressure-responsive device; a flow restriction in said second conduit for preventing rapid depletion of pressure upon venting of said first conduit; control means coupled to said pressure-responsive device and operable between first and second conditions in response to pressurization and depressurization of said pressure-responsive device; and valve means connected in said first conduit between the intersection of said first and second conduits and said pressure-responsive device for selectively venting said first conduit and depressurizing said pressure-responsive device in the absence of a record medium perforation.

Claim 11

Program control apparatus adapted to be used with a perforated record medium and comprising a sensing means having a series of openings adapted selectively to be opened by record medium perforations at predetermined intervals, and a plurality of independent pressure-operated circuits, each of said circuits including: a prEssure-responsive device; a first conduit extending from said device to one of said openings; a source of pressurized fluid; a second conduit coupling said source of pressurized fluid to said first conduit immediately adjacent said one opening for normally pressurizing said pressure-responsive device; the opening of said one opening by a record medium perforation serving to vent said first conduit and to depressurize said pressure-responsive device; a flow restriction in said second conduit for preventing rapid depletion of pressure upon venting of said first conduit; control means coupled to said pressure-responsive device and operable between first and second conditions in response to pressurization and depressurization of said pressure-responsive device; and valve means connected in said first conduit between the intersection of said first and second conduits and said pressure-responsive device for selectively venting said first conduit and depressurizing said pressure-responsive device in the absence of a record medium perforation.

Claim 12

The program control apparatus of claim 8, said valve means being manually operated.

Claim 13

The program control apparatus of claim 8, said pressure-responsive device comprising a diaphragm actuator.

Claim 14

The program control apparatus of claim 10, said control means comprising a valve.

Claim 15

The program control apparatus of claim 10, said control means comprising a switch.