FR2644008A1 - MONOBLOC PROGRAMMER, IN PARTICULAR FOR HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus, or a system, is provided with a plurality of electrical members 11, 21a - 21n to be supplied selectively and sequentially according to a determined program. The programmer comprises a block of cams cooperating with a plurality of contacts 12, 22a - 22n for supplying the organs. The organs are divided into a first 1 and a second 2 group. The set of possible positions of the block is divided into a plurality of main ranges, each relative to a particular combination of the members of the second group. Each main range is divided into a plurality of elementary ranges, each relating to a particular combination of the organs of the first group. There are provided drive means 40 - 41 of the unit in both directions, in order to be able to change the combination of the supplied members of the first group 1 without changing anything in the combination of the supplied members of the second group 2. The programmer applies in particular. in the household appliance sector.

Description

The present invention relates to a programmer for apparatus, or

  system, provided with a plurality of electrical components to be fed selectively and sequentially, programmer comprising a block of cams cooperating with a plurality of supply contacts of said members,

  and drive means for moving said block.

  Such a programmer is used in particular in the field of household appliances, for devices such as

  washing machines or dishes for example.

  Programmers of the type defined above are already known

  sus, in which the drive means drive the block in a given direction. In this type of programmer, the unfolding of the program or programs depends on the manner in which, at the periphery of the cams, the actuating bumps of the different contacts follow each other. To modify this sequence, it is necessary to modify the cam profiles. In practice, each copy of such a programmer is therefore, after manufacture, more adaptable. Indeed, the

  program, or the set of programs, that it is likely

  tible to unfold is fixed and not modifiable.

  Programmers of the type defined above are also known

  above, for which the organs to be fed are distributed

  in two groups. The first group is powered via relay switches controlled by an electronic circuit. The second group is fed via contacts operated by a block of cams,

  similarly to what has just been described.

  For example, in the case of a washing machine,

  it is planned to supply the drum drive motor with

  via electronically controlled relays

  while other components such as, for example, the water inlet solenoid valve, the drain pump, and the water heating resistor are fed through block-operated contacts.

of cams driven by a motor.

  Such a programmer is therefore partially adaptable, insofar as it makes it possible to choose and to vary electronically the driving time of the drum in one direction and then in the other, for example. In addition, this

  choice remains without influence on the control of the electro-

  valve, pump, and resistance.

  Such a programmer is often called a programmer

  hybrid because it combines mechanical-controlled contacts

  electronically controlled relays. It allows

  to partly solve the problems related to the lack of adaptability

  already described programmer which includes a

  a single block of cams to control all the orga-

  nes. However, the need to use relays

  increases the cost price of the programmer and decreases

nude reliability.

  The present invention aims at overcoming the disadvantages

  precedents by providing a programmer at least

  adaptable, of a moderate cost price, and reliable. For this purpose, it relates to a programmer of the type defined above, characterized in that: 3o - said members are distributed in a first and a second group,

  the set of possible positions of said block is divided

  in a plurality of main ranges each relating to feeding a particular combination of the members of said second group,

  - at least one main beach is divided into a plurality

  rality of elementary ranges relating, each, to feeding a particular combination of the members of said first group, and,

  said drive means are arranged for driving

said block in both directions.

  With the programmer of the invention, as the block of cams remains within a mime main range, the particular combination of organs of the second group that are fed remains the same. However, because the drive means are capable of driving the block of cams in both directions, it is possible, while remaining within this main range, to reach the various elementary ranges that it comprises, to execute the organs of the

  first group a number of tasks, independently

  organs of the second group. But it is easy and

  known to electronically control the drive means

  to move the block of meaning and

of determined amplitude.

  It therefore appears that the programmer of the invention offers adaptation possibilities comparable to those

  known programmers of the "hybrid" type.

  However, the programmer of the invention does not use relays, but in their place contacts operated by cams of conventional type and whose low coat

and reliability are known.

  With the programmer of the invention, one obtains a

  This result is comparable to that which would be obtained with two independent cam blocks controlled by independent drive means, that is to say in practice each by an independent motor for example. It is remarkable that, in the programmer of the invention, this result is achieved with a single motor, for example, which significantly reduces the manufacturing cost. This comes from the arrangement of the main ranges and the auxiliary ranges, associated with the drive in both directions, allowing the control of the organs of the first group without changing that of the organs of the second group as long as one remains inside from the same main beach. Advantageously, said main ranges each comprise a plurality of elementary ranges relating to the same sequence of particular combinations of

organs of said first group.

  In this case, any of the different combinations

  particular sounds of organs of the first group may

  obtained for a position of the block included in the

  from any of the main beaches. And the sequence of particular combinations repeating from one main range to another, it is easy, by electronically controlling the amplitude of the displacement of the drive means in one direction and in the other inside.

  each main beach, to have a program

  determined me to the organs of the first block, this independently

  the control of the organs of the second block.

  Advantageously, said training means comprise

  a two-way motor and an electronic circuit

controlling said motor.

  This gives a particularly simple realization

and reliable.

  Advantageously, it is provided means for -

  switch off at least a part of said organs

  during the displacement of the corresponding cams.

  This avoids the unexpected powering on,

  the origin of noises and damage, organs in question.

  Advantageously, said apparatus is a machine for

  washing clothes with a drum and means of

  spinning said rotating drum, said first group

  comprises said rotating drum driving means

  and each of said main ranges is divided into at least two elementary ranges, one relating to the supply of said drum drive means.

  in one direction and the other one

  said means for driving the drum in the opposite direction.

  The programmer of the invention is particularly useful in this case, since it allows great flexibility

  in the programming of drum movements.

  The present invention will be better understood thanks to the

  description of the preferred embodiment of the

  grammar of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

  FIG. 1 represents an electrical diagram of a device

  household appliances using the programmer of the in-

vention, o30

  FIG. 2 represents a perspective view, simplified

  1, FIG. 3 represents a simplified front view, -6 of a cam group of the cam block of the programmer of FIG. 2, FIG. a front view, simplified, of another group of cams of the cam block of the programmer of FIG. 2, and,

  FIG. 5 represents a view of a variant of the application

same as in Figure 1.

  A washing machine using the timer

  of the invention is now described.

  This machine comprises, in a known manner, a plurality of electrical members that are powered with energy

  selectively and sequentially, by means of

  through a programmer, so as to achieve a

washing program.

  Referring to FIG. 1, the washing machine thus comprises a motor 11, of universal type, for driving the

  drum in which the laundry is arranged, an electro-

  valve 21a, a heating resistor 21b of water, a drain pump 21i, and so on until the last

  organ, which bears the reference 21n.

  Electrical energy is available between a neutral terminal

  be N and a phase terminal P of a voltage source

  alternative not shown for the sake of simplicity.

  The universal motor 11 comprises in particular two terminals 110 and 111 for access to the rotor, and two terminals 112 and 113 for access to the inductor. The terminal P is connected to a first movable contact of a double inverter 12, whose four fixed contacts are connected in pairs, and whose second movable contact is connected to the inductor terminal 112. The

  inductor terminal 113 is connected to the terminal N by means of

  intermediate, here, of a triac1l5. Each rotor terminal and 111 is respectively connected to one of the pairs of fixed contacts connected to each other of the double inverter 12. Thus the direction of connection of the rotor of the motor 11, relative to the direction of connection of its inductor, is controlled by the movable contacts of the inverter 12,

  to control the direction of rotation of the motor l.

  The members 21a, 21b, ..., 21i, ... 21n here all have a

  terminal connected directly to terminal N, the other being

  linked to terminal P via switches

  22a, 22b, ..., 22i, ..., 22n, respectively. Interrupts

  22a, 22b, ..., 22i, ..., 22n are each provided with a

  fixed contact and a moving contact.

  An electronic circuit 40, connected between the terminals N and P, controls a motor 41, here a synchronous motor with

double meaning, as well as the triac 15.

  The output shaft 410 of the motor 41 drives cams, not shown in FIG.

  mobile contacts of the double inverter 12 and

  interrupters 22a, 22b, ..., 22i, ..., 22n schematic forces

  by the arrows F. The forces F act against the restoring forces of the movable contacts to move them

  and feed, or not, the corresponding organs.

  For reasons that will be better understood later, it is considered that the various members 11, 21a, 21b, ..., 21h, ..., 21n are divided into two groups, referenced 1 and 2 in FIG. Group 1 here comprises only the universal drum drive motor 11, but in another embodiment, it could of course include other members. Group 2 here comprises the members 21a, 21b, ..., 21i,

21n, said power organs.

  The programmer of the invention comprises the electronic circuit 40, the motor 41, the double inverter 12 and

  the switches 22a, 22b, ..., 22ij ..., 22n of the

  gure 1, as well as the cams discussed, which will now be described with reference to the

figure 2.

  It appears on this figure that these cams circulate

  res, all belong to a single block 120, rotatable about an axis 3. The block 120 is driven

  by the motor 41, via a gearbox 42.

  It is useful to consider that these cams are divided into two groups respectively corresponding to the groups

  of organs 1 and 2 which have just been defined.

  Thus, the first group here comprises two cams 10a and 10b which respectively actuate each of the moving contacts of the inverter 12, relative to the motor 11 of the

group 1.

  The second group here comprises the cams 20a, 20b, ..., i, ..., 20n which respectively actuate the movable contacts of the switches 22a, 22b,

  22i, ..., t 22n, relating to the members 21a, 21b, ..., 21i, ..., 21n of the ..... DTD: group 2.

  Each movable contact is disposed on a lever, which cooperates with the profile of the corresponding cam. For this purpose, and in known manner, each of the levers is subjected to the action of a force exerted for example by a spring,

  which recalls it against the profile of the corresponding cam.

dante, that is to say towards the axis 3.

  On either side of each of the movable contacts of the inverter 12 are arranged the two corresponding fixed contacts. As shown in FIG. 3, the profile of each of the cams 10a and 10b respectively comprises bumps 10a1 and 101b, and recesses 102a and 102b, separate

  by portions 10a and 100b of neutral profile.

  When one of the levers supporting one of the movable contacts of the inverter 12 is on a portion 100 of profile

  neutral, the corresponding mobile contact is isolated. Lors-

  it is on a lump 101, the movable contact touches the fixed contact farthest from the axis 3, and when the lever is on a hollow 102, the moving contact touches the

  fixed contact closest to axis 3.

  The fixed contacts of each of the switches 22a, 22b, 20 ..., 22i, ..., 22n are arranged next to the corresponding movable contacts, and the cams 20a, 20b, ..., 20i, 22n comprise only portions in profile

  neutral and bumps. Neutral profile portions leave

  the corresponding switch open, while the

bumps close it.

  Here, and as shown in FIG. 2, the points of contact between the levers and the cams are aligned with one another.

right parallel to. axis 3.

  This results in particular, given the function of the double inverter 12, and as shown in Figure 3, that the profile of the cam 10a successively comprises a hollow 102a, facing a lug 101b of the cam 10b, a neutral portion 100la, facing a neutral portion 100b, a boss 10la facing a hollow 102b, a neutral portion 100la, facing a neutral portion 100b, and so on. Thus is ensured a reversal of the direction of connection of the rotor of the motor 11, here with a systematic passage through a neutral position. In FIG. 3, the position ranges of the group of

  cams 10a and lob for which the levers of ltinver-

  12 are actuated by a hump 0llb and a hollow 102a are denoted PEF, those for which these levers are actuated by the neutral portions are denoted PEn, and those for which these levers are actuated by a hollow 102b and a bump 10la are noted PEd . These ranges PEN, PEd and PEn respectively correspond to the supply of the motor 11 so that it rotates in one direction, in the other, and so that it is stopped. These ranges PEF, PEd and PEn are called elementary ranges, for

  reasons that will be better understood later.

  Here, the profile of the cams 10a and 10b is such that the sequence

  this PEE, PEu, PEd, PEn repeats itself, periodically, on

a turn of the cams lOa and 0lob.

  In FIG. 4, all the ranges of positions pos-

  from the group of cams 20a, 20b, ..., 20i, ..., 20n -

  is divided into a plurality of main ranges, noted

  Each relating to the feeding of a combination

  its particular organs 21a, 21b, ..., 21i, ..., 21n

second group 2.

  Here, and for the sake of simplicity, each main beach

  pale PP corresponds to the feeding of only one of the organs

  second group. For example, the first main beach

  The illustrated PP includes the boss of the cam 20a, which extends the full width of the main range, the cams 20b,..., 20i,..., 20n all having a neutral profile. The second main beach PP shown comprises the hump of the cam 20b, which extends over the entire width of the main beach, the cams 20a, 20c, i, ..., 20n all having a neutral profile, and so on. . As shown in FIG. 4, the amplitude of the main ranges PP is here equal to four times the amplitude of any of the elementary ranges such as PE, PEd or PEn, and the relative position of the cams of the first and second groups is such as each main beach

  PP is divided into a plurality of elemen-

  including the four ranges of the sequence

PEZ, PEn, PEd, PEn.

  The programmer just described works as follows.

  For example, we assume that we want to execute a program

  very simple washing, which includes the filling of the machine with water, the heating of the water, and the emptying of the machine, these three phases being accompanied by rotational movements in one direction, and in the other, the

drum machine.

  The electronic circuit 40 first controls the triac 15 so that it remains open. The engine 11

is therefore at a standstill.

  The electronic circuit 40 then controls the motor 41 so that the block 120 is driven in the trigonometric direction T, for example, until the hump of the cam 20a actuates the switch 22a for

  control the solenoid valve 21a of water intake. Natural-

  The circuit 40 is provided with a memory in which the positions of the hollows and bumps of all the cams are stored. Moreover, it calculates at all

  moment the positions of block 120 from the

  controlled by the motor 41 and their initial positions, which were either memorized during the previous stop or

  following an initialization procedure. Such a procedure

  duration of initialization includes, for example, a training

  in a specific direction until detection of particular positions by devices of known type, and not

  represented for the sake of simplicity.

  When the water inlet has started, circuit 40 continues

  naked to turn block 120 until it is

  in the position where the point noted F in FIG.

  with the end of the lever of the switch 22a, po-

  beyond which this lever would cease to be

  sé. Then, it can control the inversion of the direction of rotation of the motor 41 so that the block 120 moves in the direction I, inverse of the trigonometric direction T, of an angle less than or equal to the amplitude of the main range PP, so donkey

  change nothing to the control of the water intake.

  It is obvious that by staying within the debate-

  allowed by the amplitude of the main PP range,

  the cams 10a and 10b of the block 1 can control

  the motor rotor 11 in one direction or the other, or cut off this power remaining on the neutral profiles 100a and 100b. This is made possible

  here because the main beach PP comprises the se-

  number of elementary ranges PEF, PEn, PEd, PEn. The circuit 40 can therefore, by controlling on the one hand the triac to adjust the speed of the motor 11, and on the other hand movements back and forth of the motor 41, to control the rotation in one direction, then in the other of the drum driven by the motor 11. Naturally, the duration of the rotation in one direction, that of the rotation in the other direction, and that of the bearing which separates them during which

  the drum remains motionless are variable by simple

  electronic play by playing on the meaning and duration of

  each rotation of the motor 41.

  As soon as the tank is filled, the electronic circuit 40 is notified for example by a level detector not shown because known. It can control the triac 15 to stop the motor 11, and move the block 120, always in the direction T, for example, to bring it into the position where the noted point F 'coincides with the lever of the switch 22b , position beyond which this lever would cease to be pushed by the cam 20b. Water intake

  is thus stopped, and the heating of the water, by the resistance

21a, takes place.

  The triac 15 is then controlled and the block 1 is driven in the direction I on an angle less than the amplitude of the range PP, then in the direction T, and so de.suite, de

  way to control the movements of

  bour. Naturally. if it is judged desirable to have, during heating, back and forth movements of different durations, for example, of what they were during filling, this is quite possible and the

  Circuit 40 is programmed accordingly.

  The washing program can thus take place until the end with, as has been pointed out, great flexibility in the control of reversal movements of the direction of

drum rotation.

  Naturally, have bumps 101 and hollows 102 are much more numerous and closer than it has been shown in the figures, it is possible to use

  also the programmer of the invention as a program

  conventional controller, by controlling the motor 41 to rotate at a constant, fairly low speed, and

  always in the same direction. As is known and evident

  the duration of each stage of the program is then related to the length of each depression or hump and to

the speed of the engine 41.

  As has been reported, and shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the cams 20a, 20b, ..., 20i, ..., 20n of the second

  group each comprise only one bump,

  said group comprises a plurality of main ranges, within each of which a single member 21a, 21b, ..., 21i, ..., 21n is fed, in

  principle. Naturally, if it is anticipated that it will be

  necessary to feed two or more

  21a, 21b, ..., 21i, ..., 21n, the corresponding main ranges are provided. In this case, the mechanical structure of the block 120 is simple, and the programs are stored in the electronic circuit 40. This controls the block 120 not to advance one program step each time, without worrying about the organ that is going to be thus started, but to go to start a determined organ, to order

during this no program.

  Note that it is not necessary, then, that the block is always controlled in the same direction, and that we can choose the direction of movement of the block 120 which

  minimizes the duration of each trip to be made.

  Block 120 could however, as in the programs

  prior art, to be divided into a plurality of angular sectors each corresponding to a different program, the choice of one of these programs being made by moving the block 120 to bring the beginning of the corresponding sector in front of the line of contacts between the cams and the levers, and the progress of this program being obtained by then scanning this sector by the block 120. In such a case, it is the block 120 which memorizes

  at least partly to wash programs.

  In one case as in the other, when the block 120 is entralné fast enough to go to the beginning of a specific program, if it is of the type "memory" o to go to order a specific organ, s' it is of the "without memory" type, it passes through a certain number of intermediate positions, which has the effect of feeding

briefly some organs.

  In some cases, we can tolerate this phenomenon. In others it is considered troublesome, because it causes parasitic noise, and because it may damage the organs so energized for a

too short time interval.

  FIG. 5 shows a variant of the machine of FIG. 1, for which a relay 25 is provided, controlled by the circuit 40 to switch off the members 21a, 21b,..., 21i,. displacements of the block 2. The relay 25 is disposed in a common connection connecting the members 21a, 21b, ..., 21i, ..., 21n to the terminal N. It is not necessary to provide here a relay for the engine 11, the triac 15 to open the

connection if necessary.

  The relay 25 is therefore controlled by the circuit 40 before any displacement of the block 120 likely to cause

the phenomenon described.

  The electronic circuit 4O0 is, for example, a microprocessor circuit. The design of such a circuit,

  from the description that has been made of the functions

  that he must realize, is obvious to a person skilled in the art.

  Naturally, the scope of this application is not

  limited to the description that has just been made, and

  has been deliberately simplified for the sake of clarity.

  It is thus that, by way of example, and in a known manner,

  it is possible to provide, on the universal motor 11, an intermediate pick-up inductor, to use only a part of this inductor when it is necessary that the motor

  It runs at a very high speed. In this case, an inversion

  The single actuator, actuated by a cam of the block 120, controls the connection of all or only part of the inductor. One could also, instead of universal motor 11, use any type of motor, such as an asynchronous motor, or a DC motor. Similarly, in the example described, the cams of the first group relate to the reversal of the direction of rotation of the drum motor, while that of the second group relate to the control of the other members of the machine. If such a distribution is interesting, as we have seen, in the case of a washing machine, it is, even in this case, mandatory and the skilled person is able to choose the distribution which is the most interesting, given the problem

specific to solve.

  Naturally, when several organs are assigned to the first group 1, that is to say are controlled by the elementary ranges, each of these elementary ranges

* is relative to the feeding of a particular combination

  of these organs. Moreover, it is clear that

  in the foregoing description, o only the motor

  universal It is assigned to the first group 1, it is meant by "special combination" the connections of the double inverter 12 that can rotate

  the engine in one direction, in the other, or stop it.

  Obviously, it is not obligatory that all the particular combinations possible of the organs of the first

  group 1 are foreseen in the sequence of elemen-

  contained in each main beach. Similarly, in the case described, the sequence of elementary ranges could be simply PEZ, PEn, PEd, or even PEZ, PEd. Finally, the fact that the main tracks PP each comprise the same sequence of particular combinations of the first group 1 members makes it possible to conserve

  all the possibilities of ordering the organs of the first

  1st group, regardless of the main range in which the block 120 is located. This therefore gives great flexibility in the use of the programmer. However, there may be situations where this possibility is not

  not essential, and where one can benefit from the adaptation

  reliability of the programmer of the invention as far as

  this allows, in certain main areas only

  However, such an advantage can be obtained if at least one main range is divided into a plurality of elementary ranges and that is provided for.

  the training of block 120 in both directions.

  Naturally, the programmer is not limited to controlling a plurality of organs together within a device, and can be used in the case of an industrial system comprising a plurality of scattered organs.

Claims (5)

claims   1. Device programmer, or system, provided with a   plurality of electrical members (11, 21a-21n) at alumen-   selectively and sequentially, programmer comprising a block (120) of cams (10a - 10b, 20a - 20n_) cooperating with a plurality of contacts (12, 22a - 22n)   supply of said organs, and means for training   (40 - 41) of said block in motion, programmer characterized in that: - said members are distributed in a first (1) and a second (2) group, - all possible positions of said block (120) is divided into a plurality of main ranges (PP) each relating to the supply of a particular combination of the members (21a-21n) of said second group (2), - at least one main range (PP) is divided into one   plurality of elementary ranges (PEF, PEn, PEd) relating to   each supplying a particular combination of the members (11) of said first group (1), and said driving means (4o-41) are arranged   for driving said block (120) in both directions.   The programmer of claim 1, wherein said main ranges (PP) each comprise a   plurality of elementary ranges (PEB, PEn, PEd) relative to   to the same sequence of particular combinations of   members (11) of said first group (1).   3. Programmer according to one of claims 1 or 2,   wherein said drive means comprises a two-way motor (41) and an electronic circuit (40) controlling said motor (41).   4. Programmer according to one of claims 1 to 3,   in which means (40, 25) are provided for   at least a part of said organs (21a -   21n) during the displacement of the cams (20a - 20n) respondantes.   5. Programmer according to one of claims 1 to 4,   wherein said apparatus is a washing machine   laundry with a drum and means (11) for training   of said rotating drum, said first group (1) comprises said means (11) for driving the rotating drum, and each of said main ranges (PP) is divided into at least two elementary ranges, one (PEN)   relating to the supply of said means (11) for training   drum in one direction, and the other (PEd) relative to the feeding of said means (11) for driving the drum. drum in the other direction.