Timer switch apparatus with improved flexible chain with coded movable pins

Claim 2

A programmed switching-type numerical control apparatus comprising a microswitch arrangement having a plurality of groups of microswitches, a plurality of code pins adapted to actuate some of the microswitches and having a plurality of coded projections formed in their top surfaces, and a plurality of bars each having a mounting groove formed in its top surface to detachably mount the plurality of code pins, a connecting portion extending outwardly from one side surface thereof, a recessed portion formed in the other side surface to detachably receive the connecting portion and a protuberance formed in its bottom surface, a plurality of said bars being connected to form an endless belt which is rotated by a drive mechanism, with the protuberances of the bars in mesh with the teeth of the drive mechanism.

Claim 3

A programmed switching-type numerical control apparatuS in which a plurality of bars each having a mounting groove formed in its top surface to detachably mount a plurality of code pins, a connecting portions extending outwardly from one side surface thereof, a recessed portion formed in the other side surface to detachably receive the connecting portion and a protuberance formed in its bottom surface are connected to form an endless belt, the protuberances serving as teeth which mesh with the teeth of a rotating gear, a plurality of said code pins each having two downwardly extending legs between which a notch is formed to provide resiliency to the legs so that the code pins are held in position by the resiliency of the legs, the code pins further having coded projections and corresponding markers in their top surfaces, the coded projections being adapted to actuate a plurality of microswitches arranged opposite the coded projections.

Claim 4

A programmed switching-type numerical control apparatuS in which a plurality of bars each having a mounting groove formed in its top surface to detachably mount a plurality of code pins, a connecting portions extending outwardly from one side surface thereof, a recessed portion formed in the other side surface to detachably receive the connecting portion and a protuberance formed in its bottom surface are connected to form an endless belt, the protuberances serving as teeth which mesh with the teeth of a rotating gear, a plurality of said code pins each having two downwardly extending legs between which a notch is formed to provide resiliency to the legs so that the code pins are held in position by the resiliency of the legs, the code pins further having coded projections and corresponding markers in their top surfaces, the coded projections being adapted to actuate a plurality of microswitches arranged opposite the coded projections.

Claim 5

A programmed switching-type numerical control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a top surface of each of said code pins is equally divided into four unit sections, each of said unit sections representing unit information with a projected section indicating the presence of information and a recessed section indicating the absence of information, a combination of said four unit sections providing said surface with a configuration representing a numeral, character of symbol whereby the microswitches are actuated according to said configuration to read out the information, and an underside of each of said code pins is further formed to engage with and slide in the mounting groove of one of said plurality of bars so that a block of unit information may be represented when a plurality of said code pins are arranged side by side, said code pins thereby facilitating setting and altering of a program.

Claim 6

A programmed switching-type numerical control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion of said bar comprises a shank portion extending from said one side surface of said bar and a cylindrical head portion, which is fixed to the tip end of said shank portion and extends in both longitudinal directions from said shank portion, and the recessed portion of said bar comprises a longitudinal hole having a depthwise curved cross section for receiving said cylindrical head portion of an adjacent bar and a transverse hole with which said shank portion of an adjacent bar engages.