Electric timing device

Claim 2

An electric timing device including a support, a lead screw rotatably mounted on the support, a reversible electric motor operatively connected to the lead screw for rotating the same, said motor being of the type which reverses when stalled so that it alternately rotates the lead screw in opposite directions, a follower engaged with the lead screw for movement therealong, a first stop, a second stop, mounting means for mounting the stops on the support spaced from each other and each in position for engagement by the follower to stall the electric motor and reverse the same, and a switch positioned in the path of the follower to be thrown by the same, whereby the follower moves from the first stop to the second stop and engages the same to stall the motor, the motor reverses and the follower returns to the first stop to complete a cycle, the switch being thrown by the follower during travel through the cycle.

Claim 3

An electric timing device as set forth in claim 1 in which the mounting means adjustably mounts one of the stops at any one of a plurality of positions parallel to the lead screw, and the switch is positioned adjacent the other stop.

Claim 4

An electric timing device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the mounting means includes a drum rotatably mounted on the support adjacent the lead screw, the drum having an outer surface with a portion adjacent the lead screw and parallel thereto.

Claim 5

An electric timing device as set forth in claim 3 including a second electric motor operatively connected to the drum to rotate the same under control of the switch.

Claim 6

An electric timing device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the mounting means includes a drum rotatably mounted on the support adjacent the lead screw and coaxial therewith, the first stop is on the surface of the drum; and including a plurality of other stops on the surface of the drum spaced circumferentially from the first stop, a second electric motor operatively connected to the drum to rotate the same under control of the switch and arranged to advance the drum to successively position each of said other stops for engagement by said follower, whereby the follower is moved through successive timed cycles between the second stop and said stops on the surface of the drum.

Claim 7

An electric timing device as set forth in claim 5 including a rotary switch mounted for rotation with the drum.

Claim 8

An electric timing device as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said stops on the surface of the drum is adjustably mountable thereon along a line parallel to the axis of the lead screw.

Claim 9

An electric timer including a support, a drum rotatably mounted on the support, a lead screw rotatably mounted on the support adjacent the drum and parallel to the adjacent drum surface, a follower engaged with the lead screw for movement therealong as the lead screw is rotated, a reversible electric timing motor for rotating the lead screw to advance the follower and for returning the follower to a point of beginning, means for indexing the drum to a plurality of circumferential positions where a different part of the drum surface is adjacent the screw shaft, and means on the drum surface at each of said circumferential positions for engagement by the follower to limit advancement thereof and cause the follower to be returned to the point of beginning, whereby a separate timing function is performed at each of said circumferential positions on the drum surface.

Claim 10

An electric timer including a support, a drum rotatably mounted on the support, a lead screw rotatably mounted on the support adjacent the drum and parallel to the adjacent drum surface, a follower engaged with the lead screw for movement therealong as the lead screw is rotated, a reversible electric timing motor for rotating the lead screw to advance the follower and for returning the follower to a point of beginning, means for indexing the drum to a plurality of circumferential positions where a different part of the drum surface is adjacent the screw shaft, and means on the drum surface at each of said circumferential positions for engagement by the follower to limit advancement thereof and cause the follower to be returned to the point of beginning, whereby a separate timing function is performed at each of said circumferential positions on the drum surface.

Claim 11

A timer as set forth in claim 8 wherein the means on the drum surface are adjustable in a direction parallel to the axis of the lead screw, whereby each timing function is adjustable without affecting the adjacent timing function.

Claim 12

A timer as set forth in claim 8 wherein the reversible electric timing motor is of the type that reverses when stalled, and the means on the drum surface is a stop at each of said circumferential positions to be engaged by the follower and stall the motor; and including a stop at the point of beginning to be engaged by the follower and again stall and reverse the motor.

Claim 13

A timer as set forth in claim 10 wherein the stop at the point of beginning is a circumferential shoulder at one end of the drum.

Claim 14

A timer as set forth in claim 10 wherein the means for indexing the drum includes a second electric motor for indexing the drum, and a switch adjacent the screw shaft at the point of beginning for supplying current to the second electric motor.

Claim 15

A timer as set forth in claim 8 including a rotary switch mounted for rotation with the drum and having a plurality of switching positions corresponding to the circumferential positions of the drum.

Claim 16

A timer as set forth in claim 13 wherein the means for indexing the drum includes a second electric motor for indexing the drum and rotary switch, and a switch adjacent the screw shaft at the point of beginning for supplying current to the second electric motor, whereby the timer sequentially times a plurality of functions under control of the rotary switch.

Claim 17

A program timer for controlling the duration of a plurality of operations and including: a support, a drum rotatably mounted on the support, a lead screw rotatably mounted on the support adjacent the drum, a follower engaged with the lead screw for movement therealong as the lead screw is rotated, indexing means for indexing the drum to a plurality of circumferential positions where a different part of the drum surface is adjacent the lead screw, each circumferential position corresponding to one of said operations, means on the drum at each of the circumferential positions for engagement by the follower, synchronous drive means for rotating the lead screw to drive the follower from a beginning point to engage one of the last-mentioned means and for returning the follower to the beginning point, and a rotary switch mounted for rotation with the drum and having a plurality of switching positions corresponding to the circumferential positions of the drum, whereby the timer sequentially times a plurality of operations under control of the rotary switch.

Claim 18

A program timer for controlling the duration of a plurality of operations and including: a support, a drum rotatably mounted on the support, a lead screw rotatably mounted on the support adjacent the drum, a follower engaged with the lead screw for movement therealong as the lead screw is rotated, indexing means for indexing the drum to a plurality of circumferential positions where a different part of the drum surface is adjacent the lead screw, each circumferential position corresponding to one of said operations, means on the drum at each of the circumferential positions for engagement by the follower, synchronous drive means for rotating the lead screw to drive the follower from a beginning point to engage one of the last-mentioned means and for returning the follower to the beginning point, and a rotary switch mounted for rotation with the drum and having a plurality of switching positions corresponding to the circumferential positions of the drum, whereby the timer sequentially times a plurality of operations under control of the rotary switch.

Claim 19

A program timer as set forth in claim 15 wherein the means on the drum at each of the circumferential positions are adjustable in a direction parallel to the axis of the lead screw, whereby each timing function is adjustable without affecting the adjacent timing function.

Claim 20

A program timer as set forth in claim 16 wherein the synchronous drive means includes a reversible electric motor, and the indexing means includes a second electric motor.

Claim 21

A program timer as set forth in claim 17 wherein the reversible electric motor is of the type that reverses when stalled, the means on the drum at each of the circumferential positions is an adjustable stop for engagement by the follower to stall the motor, and including a stop at the point of beginning for engagement by the follower to again stall the motor and reverse the same.