Control system for cyclic operations

Claim 2

In a cyclic machine adapted to perform one or more operations during a cycle thereof, control means for establishing the beginning of a cycle and for controlling the timing of the occurrences of said operations, comprising, a. drive means for driving the machine through successive cycles, b. signal generator means to establish a sequence of signals within a cycle the frequency of which is proportional to the speed of the machine, each of said signals producing a charge, c. detecting means for detecting a preselected repeatable point of reference in a cycle, d. first means associated with each operation to be performed which has a first predetermined charge level and responsive to each of said signals to provide a correspondingly different charge level until a second predetermined charge level is reached, e. second means responsive to said second predetermined charge level to emit a control signal for the operation associated therewith, and f. third means to change the charge level from said second predetermined charge level to said first charge level after the emission of said control signal, whereby at the time said point of reference is detected said first charge level will have been reached.

Claim 3

The combination of elements defined in claim 1, which includes adjusting means for regulating the amount of change which occurs in the charge level as each signal is received, and in which the different charge levels represent correspondingly different points in a machine cycle.

Claim 4

The combination of elements defined in claim 1, which includes adjusting means for regulating the value of at least one of said charge levels, and in which the different charge levels represent correspondingly different points in a machine cycle.

Claim 5

The combination of elements defined in claim 1, wherein said signal generator means includes a movable member which travels cyclically in a predetermined motion.

Claim 6

The combination of elements defined in claim 1, wherein said signal generator means includes a rotating member and a sensor, said rotating member having thereon a plurality of signal inducing members each of which is adapted to be sensed by said sensor to produce a signal.

Claim 7

The combination of elements defined in claim 1, wherein said second means includes comparator means connected to said first means.

Claim 8

The combination of elements defined in claim 1, wherein said signal generator means generates pulses, the pattern of which is repeated each successive cycle.

Claim 9

The combination of elements defined in claim 2, wherein said adjusting means comprises a variable resistor.

Claim 10

In a cyclic machine adapted to perform one or more operations during a cycle thereof, control means for establishing the beginning of a cycle and for controlling the timing of the occurrences of said operations comprising, a. drive means for driving the machine through successive cycles, b. pulse generator means to establish a sequence of pulses within a cycle the frequency of which is proportional to the speed of the machine, each of said pulses producing a charge, c. detecting means for detecting a preselected repeatable point of reference in a cycle, d. accumulating means associated with each operation to be performed which has a first predetermined charge level and adapted to receive and respond to said pulses to accumulate charges produced by each pulse until a second predetermined charge level is reached, e. means responsive to said second predetermined charge level to emit a control signal for the operation associated therewith, and f. means to discharge the accumulated charge after the emission of said control signal, whereby at the time said point of reference is detected, said first charge level will have been reached.

Claim 11

In a cyclic machine adapted to perform one or more operations during a cycle thereof, control means for establishing the beginning of a cycle and for controlling the timing of the occurrences of said operations comprising, a. drive means for driving the machine through successive cycles, b. pulse generator means to establish a sequence of pulses within a cycle the frequency of which is proportional to the speed of the machine, each of said pulses producing a charge, c. detecting means for detecting a preselected repeatable point of reference in a cycle, d. accumulating means associated with each operation to be performed which has a first predetermined charge level and adapted to receive and respond to said pulses to accumulate charges produced by each pulse until a second predetermined charge level is reached, e. means responsive to said second predetermined charge level to emit a control signal for the operation associated therewith, and f. means to discharge the accumulated charge after the emission of said control signal, whereby at the time said point of reference is detected, said first charge level will have been reached.

Claim 12

The combination of elements defined in claim 9, which includes adjusting means for regulating the amount of increase which occurs in the charge level as each pulse is received, and in which the different charge levels represent correspondingly different points in a machine cycle.

Claim 13

The combination of elements defined in claim 9, which includes adjusting means for regulating the value of at least one of said charge levels, and in which the different charge levels represent correspondingly different points in a machine cycle.

Claim 14

The combination of elements defined in claim 9, wherein said means responsive to said second predetermined charge level includes comparator means connected to said accumulating means.

Claim 15

The combination of elements defined in claim 9, wherein said accumulating means comprises a capacitor.

Claim 16

The combination of elements defined in claim 10, wherein said adjusting means comprises a variable resistor.

Claim 17

In a cyclic machine adapted to perform one or more operations during a cycle thereof, electronic controlled means for establishing the beginning of a cycle and for controlling the timing of the occurrences of said operations, comprising, a. drive means for driving the machine through successive cycles, b. signal generating means to establish a sequence of signals within a cycle, each of said signals producing a charge, said signal generating means including 1. a first rotating member having thereon a plurality of signal inducing members, and 2. electromagnetic sensor means for sensing each of said signal inducing members and for producing a signal, c. a second rotating member, d. means for rotating both of said rotating members at a speed which is proportional to the speed of the machine, e. detecting means for detecting a preselected reference point of rotation of said second rotating member once each revolution thereof at the beginning of each machine cycle, f. first means associated with each operation to be performed which has a first predetermined charge level and responsive to each of said signals to provide a correspondingly different charge level until a second predetermined charge level is reached, including 1. a diode through which each signal passes, 2. a resistor to limit the charge to be received from each signal, and 3. a capacitor which receives said charge, g. comparator means connected to said capacitor responsive to said second predetermined charge level to emit a control signal for the operation associated therewith and h. second means to change the charge level from said second predetermined charge level to said first predetermined charge level after the emission of said control signal, whereby at the time said reference point of rotation of said second rotating member is detected and the next successive machine cycle begins, said first charge level will have been reached.

Claim 18

In a cyclic machine adapted to perform one or more operations during a cycle thereof, electronic controlled means for establishing the beginning of a cycle and for controlling the timing of the occurrences of said operations, comprising, a. drive means for driving the machine through successive cycles, b. signal generating means to establish a sequence of signals within a cycle, each of said signals producing a charge, said signal generating means including 1. a first rotating member having thereon a plurality of signal inducing members, and 2. electromagnetic sensor means for sensing each of said signal inducing members and for producing a signal, c. a second rotating member, d. means for rotating both of said rotating members at a speed which is proportional to the speed of the machine, e. detecting means for detecting a preselected reference point of rotation of said second rotating member once each revolution thereof at the beginning of each machine cycle, f. first means associated with each operation to be performed which has a first predetermined charge level and responsive to each of said signals to provide a correspondingly different charge level until a second predetermined charge level is reached, including 1. a diode through which each signal passes, 2. a resistor to limit the charge to be received from each signal, and 3. a capacitor which receives said charge, g. comparator means connected to said capacitor responsive to said second predetermined charge level to emit a control signal for the operation associated therewith and h. second means to change the charge level from said second predetermined charge level to said first predetermined charge level after the emission of said control signal, whereby at the time said reference point of rotation of said second rotating member is detected and the next successive machine cycle begins, said first charge level will have been reached.

Claim 19

The combination of elements defined in claim 15, which includes adjusting means for regulating the amount of change which occurs in the charge level as each signal is received, and in which the different charge levels represent correspondingly different degrees of rotation of said second rotating member and points in a machine cycle.

Claim 20

In a cyclic machine adapted to perform one or more operations during a cycle thereof, electronic control means for establishing the beginning of a cycle and for controlling the timing of the occurrences of said operations, comprising, a. drive means for driving the machine through successive cycles, b. pulse generating means to establish a sequence of pulses within a cycle, each of said pulses producing a charge, including 1. a first rotating member having thereon a plurality of pulse inducing members, and 2. electromagnetic sensor means for sensing each of said pulse inducing members and for producing a pulse, c. a second rotating member, d. means for rotating both of said rotating members at a speed which is proportional to the speed of the machine, e. detecting means for detecting a preselected reference point of rotation of said second rotating member once each revolution thereof at the beginning of each machine cycle, f. a capacitor associated with each operation to be performed for receiving and responding to said pulses to accumulate charges produced by each pulse until a predetermined reference voltage is reached, g. means responsive to said reference voltage to emit a control signal for the operation associated therewith, and h. means to discharge the accumulated charge after the emission of said control signal, whereby at the same time said point of reference on said second rotating member is detected and the next successive machine cycle begins, said capacitor will be at zero voltage.

Claim 21

In a cyclic machine adapted to perform one or more operations during a cycle thereof, electronic control means for establishing the beginning of a cycle and for controlling the timing of the occurrences of said operations, comprising, a. drive means for driving the machine through successive cycles, b. pulse generating means to establish a sequence of pulses within a cycle, each of said pulses producing a charge, including 1. a first rotating member having thereon a plurality of pulse inducing members, and 2. electromagnetic sensor means for sensing each of said pulse inducing members and for producing a pulse, c. a second rotating member, d. means for rotating both of said rotating members at a speed which is proportional to the speed of the machine, e. detecting means for detecting a preselected reference point of rotation of said second rotating member once each revolution thereof at the beginning of each machine cycle, f. a capacitor associated with each operation to be performed for receiving and responding to said pulses to accumulate charges produced by each pulse until a predetermined reference voltage is reached, g. means responsive to said reference voltage to emit a control signal for the operation associated therewith, and h. means to discharge the accumulated charge after the emission of said control signal, whereby at the same time said point of reference on said second rotating member is detected and the next successive machine cycle begins, said capacitor will be at zero voltage.

Claim 22

In a cyclic machine adapted to perform one or more operations during a cycle thereof, control means for establishing the beginning of a cycle and for controlling the timing of the occurrences of said operations, comprising, a. drive means for driving the machine through successive cycles, b. voltage generator means for generating a voltage proportional to the speed of the machine, c. detecting means for detecting a preselected repeatable point of reference in a cycle, d. first means associated with each operation to be performed which has a first predetermined voltage level and responsive to said voltage generator means to change the voltage level until a second predetermined voltage level is reached, e. second means responsive to said second predetermined voltage level to emit a control signal for the operation associated therewith, and f. third means to change the voltage from said second predetermined voltage level to said first predetermined voltage level after the emission of said control signal, whereby at the time said point of reference is detected said first voltage level will have been reached.

Claim 23

In a cyclic machine adapted to perform one or more operations during a cycle thereof, control means for establishing the beginning of a cycle and for controlling the timing of the occurrences of said operations, comprising, a. drive means for driving the machine through successive cycles, b. voltage generator means for generating a voltage proportional to the speed of the machine, c. detecting means for detecting a preselected repeatable point of reference in a cycle, d. first means associated with each operation to be performed which has a first predetermined voltage level and responsive to said voltage generator means to change the voltage level until a second predetermined voltage level is reached, e. second means responsive to said second predetermined voltage level to emit a control signal for the operation associated therewith, and f. third means to change the voltage from said second predetermined voltage level to said first predetermined voltage level after the emission of said control signal, whereby at the time said point of reference is detected said first voltage level will have been reached.

Claim 28

In a cyclic machine adapted to perform one or more operations during a cycle thereof, control means for establishing the beginning of a cycle and for controlling the timing of the occurrences of said operations, comprising, a. drive means for driving the machine through successive cycles, b. signal generator means to establish a sequence of signals within a cycle the frequency of which is proportional to the speed of the machine, each of said signals producing a charge, c. detecting means for detecting a preselected repeatable point of reference in a cycle, d. first means associated with each operation to be performed which has a first predetermined charge level and responsive to each of said signals to provide a correspondingly different charge level until a second predetermined charge level is reached, e. second means responsive to said second predetermined charge level to emit a control signal for the operation associated therewith, f. third means to change the charge level from said second predetermined charge level to said first charge level after the emission of said control signal, whereby at the time said point of reference is detected said first charge level will have been reached, and g. means for establishing a different value of said first predetermined charge level, which value is proportionate to machine speed, whereby the time at which said second predetermined charge level is reached is advanced in the machine cycle a fixed time period regardless of machine speed.

Claim 29

In a cyclic machine adapted to perform one or more operations during a cycle thereof, control means for establishing the beginning of a cycle and for controlling the timing of the occurrences of said operations, comprising, a. drive means for driving the machine through successive cycles, b. signal generator means to establish a sequence of signals within a cycle the frequency of which is proportional to the speed of the machine, each of said signals producing a charge, c. detecting means for detecting a preselected repeatable point of reference in a cycle, d. first means associated with each operation to be performed which has a first predetermined charge level and responsive to each of said signals to provide a correspondingly different charge level until a second predetermined charge level is reached, e. second means responsive to said second predetermined charge level to emit a control signal for the operation associated therewith, f. third means to change the charge level from said second predetermined charge level to said first charge level after the emission of said control signal, whereby at the time said point of reference is detected said first charge level will have been reached, and g. means for establishing a different value of said first predetermined charge level, which value is proportionate to machine speed, whereby the time at which said second predetermined charge level is reached is advanced in the machine cycle a fixed time period regardless of machine speed.

Claim 30

In a cyclic machine adapted to perform one or more operations during a cycle thereof, control means for establishing the beginning of a cycle and for controlling the timing of the occurrences of said operations, comprising, a. drive means for driving the machine through successive cycles, b. signal generator means to establish a sequence of signals within a cycle the frequency of which is proportional to the speed of the machine, each of said signals producing a charge, c. detecting means for detecting a preselected repeatable point of reference in a cycle, d. first means associated with each operation to be performed which has a first predetermined charge level and responsive to each of said signals to provide a correspondingly different charge level until a second predetermined charge level is reached, e. second means responsive to said second predetermined charge level to emit a control signal for the operation associated therewith, f. third means to change the charge level from said second predetermined charge level to said first charge level after the emission of said control signal, whereby at the time said point of reference is detected said first charge level will have been reached, and g. means for establishing a different value of said second charge level which value is proportionate to machine speed, whereby the time at which said second predetermined charge level is reached is advanced in the machine cycle a fixed time period regardless of machine speed.

Claim 31

In a cyclic machine adapted to perform one or more operations during a cycle thereof, control means for establishing the beginning of a cycle and for controlling the timing of the occurrences of said operations, comprising, a. drive means for driving the machine through successive cycles, b. signal generator means to establish a sequence of signals within a cycle the frequency of which is proportional to the speed of the machine, each of said signals producing a charge, c. detecting means for detecting a preselected repeatable point of reference in a cycle, d. first means associated with each operation to be performed which has a first predetermined charge level and responsive to each of said signals to provide a correspondingly different charge level until a second predetermined charge level is reached, e. second means responsive to said second predetermined charge level to emit a control signal for the operation associated therewith, f. third means to change the charge level from said second predetermined charge level to said first charge level after the emission of said control signal, whereby at the time said point of reference is detected said first charge level will have been reached, and g. means for establishing a different value of said second charge level which value is proportionate to machine speed, whereby the time at which said second predetermined charge level is reached is advanced in the machine cycle a fixed time period regardless of machine speed.

Claim 32

In a cyclic machine adapted to perform one or more operations during a cycle thereof, control means for establishing the beginning of a cycle and for controlling the timing of the occurrences of said operations comprising, a. drive means for driving the machine through successive cycles, b. pulse generator means to establish a sequence of pulses within a cycle the frequency of which is proportional to the speed of the machine, each of said pulses producing a charge, d. detecting means for detecting a preselected repeatable point of reference in a cycle, d. accumulating means associated with each operation to be performed which has a first predetermined charge level and adapted to receive and respond to said pulses to accumulate charges produced by each pulse until a second predetermined charge level is reached, e. means responsive to said second predetermined charge level to emit a control signal for the operation associated therewith, f. means to discharge the accumulated charge after the emission of said control signal, whereby at the time said point of reference is detected, said first charge level will have been reached, and means for establishing a different value for said first predetermined charge level which value is proportionate to a machine speed, whereby the time at which said second predetermined charge level is reached is advanced a constant amount in the machine cycle regardless of the useable cyclic speed of the machine.

Claim 33

In a cyclic machine adapted to perform one or more operations during a cycle thereof, control means for establishing the beginning of a cycle and for controlling the timing of the occurrences of said operations comprising, a. drive means for driving the machine through successive cycles, b. pulse generator means to establish a sequence of pulses within a cycle the frequency of which is proportional to the speed of the machine, each of said pulses producing a charge, d. detecting means for detecting a preselected repeatable point of reference in a cycle, d. accumulating means associated with each operation to be performed which has a first predetermined charge level and adapted to receive and respond to said pulses to accumulate charges produced by each pulse until a second predetermined charge level is reached, e. means responsive to said second predetermined charge level to emit a control signal for the operation associated therewith, f. means to discharge the accumulated charge after the emission of said control signal, whereby at the time said point of reference is detected, said first charge level will have been reached, and means for establishing a different value for said first predetermined charge level which value is proportionate to a machine speed, whereby the time at which said second predetermined charge level is reached is advanced a constant amount in the machine cycle regardless of the useable cyclic speed of the machine.

Claim 34

The combination of elements defined in claim 23, wherein said accumulating means includes a capacitor, and wherein said means for establishing a different value for said first predetermined charge level includes a frequency to voltage converter connected to said pulse generator means for applying a predetermined voltage to said capacitor.

Claim 35

In a cyclic machine adapted to perform one or more operations during a cycle thereof, electronic controlled means for establishing the beginning of a cycle and for controlling the timing of the occurrences of said operations, comprising, a. drive means for driving the machine through successive cycles, b. signal generating means to establish a sequence of signals within a cycle, each of said signals producing a charge, said signal generating means including 1. a first rotating member having thereon a plurality of signal inducing members, and 2. electromagnetic sensor means for sensing each of said signal inducing members and for producing a signal, c. a second rotating member, d. means for rotating both of said rotating members at a speed which is proportional to the speed of the machine, e. detecting means for detecting a preselected reference point of rotation of said second rotating member once each revolution thereof at the beginning of each machine cycle, first means associated with each operation to be performed which has a first predetermined charge level and responsive to each of said signals to provide a correspondingly different charge level until a second predetermined charge level is reached, including 1. a diode through which each signal passes, 2. a resistor to limit the charge to be received from each signal, and 3. a capacitor which receives and charge, g. comparator means connected to said capacitor responsive to said second predetermined charge level to emit a control signal for the operation associated therewith, h. second means to change the charge level from said second predetermined charge level to said first predetermined charge level after the emission of said control signal, whereby at the time said reference point of rotation of said second rotating member is detected and the next successive machine cycle begins, said first charge level will have been reached, and i. means for establishing a different value for said first predetermined charge level, which is proportionate to machine speed, whereby the time at which said second predetermined charge level is reached is advanced a constant amount in the machine cycle regardless of the useable cyclic speed of the machine.

Claim 36

In a cyclic machine adapted to perform one or more operations during a cycle thereof, electronic controlled means for establishing the beginning of a cycle and for controlling the timing of the occurrences of said operations, comprising, a. drive means for driving the machine through successive cycles, b. signal generating means to establish a sequence of signals within a cycle, each of said signals producing a charge, said signal generating means including 1. a first rotating member having thereon a plurality of signal inducing members, and 2. electromagnetic sensor means for sensing each of said signal inducing members and for producing a signal, c. a second rotating member, d. means for rotating both of said rotating members at a speed which is proportional to the speed of the machine, e. detecting means for detecting a preselected reference point of rotation of said second rotating member once each revolution thereof at the beginning of each machine cycle, first means associated with each operation to be performed which has a first predetermined charge level and responsive to each of said signals to provide a correspondingly different charge level until a second predetermined charge level is reached, including 1. a diode through which each signal passes, 2. a resistor to limit the charge to be received from each signal, and 3. a capacitor which receives and charge, g. comparator means connected to said capacitor responsive to said second predetermined charge level to emit a control signal for the operation associated therewith, h. second means to change the charge level from said second predetermined charge level to said first predetermined charge level after the emission of said control signal, whereby at the time said reference point of rotation of said second rotating member is detected and the next successive machine cycle begins, said first charge level will have been reached, and i. means for establishing a different value for said first predetermined charge level, which is proportionate to machine speed, whereby the time at which said second predetermined charge level is reached is advanced a constant amount in the machine cycle regardless of the useable cyclic speed of the machine.