Electric motor-driven timer

Claim 1

An electric motor-driven timer comprising: an electromagnet having an armature, a synchronous motor having an output shaft for rotating a driven gear, a driven gear rotatable about a first shaft and having a cam surface including a portion defining the end of a timing duration, a clutch means for selectively coupling said output shaft with said driven gear, a contact assembly having a plurality of movable blades each provided with a movable contact, an actuator rotatable about a second shaft for engaging with and moving said movable blades, said actuator having an arm provided with two actuating portions for driving said movable blades and being rotatably supported on said second shaft at an intermediate position between said actuating portions, said actuator including a cam follower selectively engageable with said cam surface to control rotative movement of said actuator, said cam follower imparting rotative movement to said actuator when encountering said cam surface portion; time setting means for rotating said driven gear and associated cam surface to a desired starting position corresponding to a selected time duration; and means responsive to a predetermined movement of said armature for operating said clutch menas to couple said output shaft to said driven gear to rotate said driven gear and for causing said cam follower of said actuator to engage with said cam surface, said output shaft said first shaft, said second shaft, and said blades of said contact assembly being in parallel and at approximately right angles to the moving direction of said armature.