Control systems for cyclic processes

Claim 1

Apparatus for performing a cyclic process, comprising handling apparatus for performing the steps of the process, a feeder mechanism including an operating shaft for feeding material or articles to be processed to the handling apparatus, a counter for controlling the performance by the handling apparatus, in timed relation, of the steps which comprise a process cycle, a rotatable generator shaft, means operatively connecting the generator shaft and the operating shaft of the feeder mechanism so that, during operation of the apparatus, the shafts are rotated at rates proportional to one another, means controlled by the generator shaft for generating a continuous train of pulses upon rotation of the generator shaft, means for feeding the continuous train of pulses to the counter to drive the counter, and resetting means for resetting the counter to initiate the performance of a process cycle by the handling apparatus, said resetting means comprising a first rotor operably connected to and rotatable under control of the generator shaft in synchronism with the continuous pulses in the pulse train, means disposed on the first rotor for generating a first rotor pulse during each rotation of the first rotor, a second rotor, means drivingly connecting the second rotor to the first rotor for rotation therewith at a speed different from the speed of rotation of the first rotor, means disposed on the second rotor for generating a second rotor pulse during each rotation of the second rotor, and means responsive to a coincidence between first rotor and second rotor pulses produced during the rotations of the first and second rotors for applying a resetting pulse to reset the counter.