FR2667720A1 - PROGRAMMER WITH LEVER FOR CONTROLLING GENERAL FEED. - Google Patents

Abstract

The programmer is provided with a motor for driving a cam block in both directions. This block comprises a cam (32) cooperating with a lever (250) movably mounted along a stroke limited by two stops and extending in a first direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the profile of said cam (32) so that said lever (250) comes against one or other of said stops depending on whether said cam is driven in one direction or the other, and at least one general supply contact (25) open by said lever (250) when the latter is against one of said stops. The programmer of the invention applies in particular to household appliances.

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 means

  driving said block moving.

  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, in which the drive means drive the block in a given direction, are known. In this type of programmer, the course of the program or programs depends on the manner in which the cams on the periphery follow each other. , the actuating bumps of the various contacts 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 to make unfold is fixed and not modifiable.

  Programmers of the type defined herein are also known

  The first group is fed via relay switches controlled by an electronic circuit. The second group is powered by means of contacts actuated by a block of cams. similar way to what comes

to be described.

  For example, in the case of a washing machine, provision is made to feed the drum drive motor via electronically controlled relays, while other devices such as, for example, the water inlet solenoid valve, the drain pump, and the water heating resistor are fed through contacts actuated by

  a block 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 duration of training of the drum in one direction, then in the other, for example Moreover, this choice remains without influence on the command of

  solenoid valve, pump, and resistance.

  Such a programmer is often called a hybrid programmer because it combines controlled contacts

  mechanically and relays electronically controlled.

  It makes it possible to partially solve the problems related to the lack of adaptability of the programmer already described which comprises a single block of cams to control all the organs However, the need to use relays increases the cost price of the programmer

and decreases its reliability.

  The present invention aims to overcome the above disadvantages by providing a programmer at least partially adaptable, a moderate cost, and

reliable.

  For this purpose, it relates to a programmer of the type defined above, characterized in that said drive means are arranged to drive the block in both directions, said block comprises a cam cooperating with a movably mounted lever on along a J z -3 - race limited by two stops and extending in a first direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the profile of said cam, so that said lever comes against one or other of said stops according to whether said cam is driven in one direction or the other, and there is provided at least one general supply contact of said plurality of members, opened by said lever when it is located

against one of said stops.

  In the programmer of the invention, when the block is driven in one direction or the other, in a displacement of amplitude greater than that of the stroke of the lever in the first direction, it in turn drives the latter. in abutment, which causes the opening of the general supply contact, said general contact In order to obtain the closure of this general contact after such movement, it is sufficient that the drive means drive the block in the opposite direction, for a small displacement of amplitude substantially equal to half the stroke of the lever in the first direction so as to bring the latter into a position

  median o closure of the general contact is possible.

  It is therefore possible, with the programmer of the invention, and by simple control of the direction of the drive means of the block, to move from one position to another of this block by inhibiting all the intermediate steps by which the or the members powered by the contact which cooperates with the cam associated with the masking cam It is therefore not

  necessary, as in the electronic programmers

  prior art, to go through an immutable succession of steps, since it is possible, as with an electronic programmer, to pass as desired from any position to any other position -4 of the programmer, avoiding brief power-ups and nuisance clicks between

two positions.

  Thus the programmer of the invention is, like the hybrid programmers of the prior art, easily adaptable to any washing program, for example However, it does not involve relays, but mechanically operated contacts, including

  performance and reliability are well known.

  In the preferred embodiment, said lever is also movably mounted in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the profile of said cam, there is provided means for biasing said lever towards said cam in this second direction, and means for moving said lever away from said cam in said second direction when said lever, moved in the first direction, approaches one or the other of the stops, and said lever opens said general supply contact when said lever is

  sufficiently far from said cam.

  This embodiment is particularly simple and makes it possible to use a general contact of conventional structure. Advantageously, the profile of said cam comprises a plurality of first teeth capable of cooperating with a retractable tooth of said lever, said retractable tooth being driven in said first direction by one of the first teeth of said cam as said lever is not in abutment , and retreating in the passage of each of the first teeth

  of said cam as soon as said lever is in abutment.

  Advantageously, the profile of said cam comprises a plurality of second teeth, each first tooth being projecting with respect to each second tooth, and of smaller width, so as to provide a bearing on each side of each first tooth. In this case, it is possible to reverse the direction of movement of the block without causing closure of the general contact, because the bearing then prevents, as will be better understood in the following, the lever to move closer to the cam, which keeps the general contact open A single inversion of the direction of movement-ment of the cam does not therefore cause the supply of the organs of the machine This characteristic is useful when one wants to control, for example, a set of display by the intermediate cam block, and also when, following a fault or a wrong maneuver, the drive motor of the block starts in the opposite direction to that in which it should start In this case, this wrong direction of rotation can detected by appropriate means, which, in response, command a reversal of the direction of rotation of the motor, without

  restoration of the general diet.

  When, on the other hand, it is desired to restore the general power supply after a displacement of the block of amplitude greater than the travel of the lever in the first direction, it is necessary to reverse the direction of movement of the block for a relatively small displacement which brings the lever back to its median position, then reverses the movement direction of the block a second time, for a displacement, even smaller than the previous one, which causes the bearing to be erased under the retractable lever's lever, so that the latter falls into the hollow that separates two second teeth from the

  cam, thus causing the closing of the general contact.

  The present invention will be better understood thanks to the

  following description of the preferred embodiment

  the programmer of the invention and one of its variants, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an electrical diagram of an appliance using the programmer of the invention, Figures 2 a to 2 d are diagrams explaining the operation of the cam and the control lever of the general switch of the programmer of the apparatus of FIG. 1, for the opening of this switch by displacement of the cam in the trigonometrical direction FIGS. 3 to 3 d are diagrams similar to those of FIGS. 2 a to 2, but for the opening of the main switch by displacement of the cam in the clockwise direction, and FIGS. 4 a to 4 d are diagrams similar to those of Figures 2a to 2d and 3a to 3d, but for the closure of the main switch after a displacement in the

  trigonometric sense having caused its opening.

  A washing machine using the timer

  of the invention is now described.

  This machine comprises, in known manner, a plurality of electrical members which are supplied with electrical energy selectively and sequentially via a programmer, so as to realize

a washing program.

  Referring to FIG. 1, the washing machine thus comprises a motor 11 for driving the drum in which the laundry is arranged, a solenoid valve 21a, a water heating resistor 21b, a drain pump 21 , and so on until the last organ,

which bears the reference 21 n.

  The electrical energy is available between a neutral terminal N and a phase terminal P of a voltage source

  alternative not shown for the sake of simplicity.

  The motor 11 is here a motor of the universal type, including in particular two terminals 110 and 111 of access to the

  rotor, and two terminals 112 and 113 for access to the inductor.

  The terminal P is connected to a first movable stud of a double inverter 12, whose four fixed studs are connected in pairs, and whose second mobile stud is connected to the inductor terminal 112. The inductor terminal 113 is connected to the terminal N via, here, a triac 15 Each rotor terminal 110 and 111 is respectively connected to one of the pairs of fixed pads 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 mobile pads of the inverter 12, in order to control

the direction of rotation of the motor 11.

  The members 21 _, 21 _ ,, 21 i ,, 21 N here all have a terminal connected directly to a common connection 26, the other being connected to the terminal P via

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

  The contacts 22a, 22a, 22a, 22n are provided

1 1

  Each of a fixed stud and a movable stud, to form

switches.

  The common connection 26 is connected to the terminal N via a contact 25, provided with a fixed stud

  and a mobile block, and forming a switch.

  Each switch 22 i makes it possible to feed, or not, and with the proviso that the switch 25 is closed, the corresponding member 21. On the other hand, the switch 25 allows the general cut-off of the supply of the plurality of members. 21a, 21n ,, 21i ,, 21 n If the switch 25 is open, no member 21 i will be powered, even if the corresponding switch 22 i is

closed.

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

  double direction of rotation, as well as the triac 15.

  The output shaft 410 of the motor 41 drives cams, not shown in FIG. 1, which, by means of levers, exert on the mobile pads of the double inverter 12 and switches 22a, 22k, 221 ,, 22 N forces shown schematically by the arrows F The forces F act against the restoring forces of the mobile pads of the inverter 12, to move them away from one of the fixed pads and put them in contact with the other fixed stud corresponding F forces also act against the return forces of the movable pads of the switches 22a, 22k ,, 22 i ,, 22 n to move them and put them in contact with the stud

fixed correspondent.

  Similarly, the output shaft 410 of the motor 41 drives a control cam of the switch 25, said switch -9 - general, which exerts on the mobile block of the switch a force shown schematically by the arrow F 'The force F 'acts against a restoring force of the movable stud for the

  move and move away from the fixed pad.

  The programmer of the invention comprises the electronic circuit 40, the motor 41, the double inverter 12, the switch 25, and the switches 22a, 22k, 22i, 22n of FIG. different

cams that were discussed.

  These cams, circular, all belong to a single block, not shown because of known type, rotatable about an axis This block is driven by the motor 41, via a gear of known type. The block firstly comprises two cams, called reversing cams, which respectively actuate each of the moving contacts of the inverter 12, relative to the motor 11, to reverse the direction of operation. It also includes as many cams as the switches. 22 a, 22 k ,, 22 c ,, 22 N which actuate respectively the movable studs of these switches, relating to

  21a, 21b, 21i, 21n respectively.

  Here, the block of cams further comprises a pair of registration cams, which cooperates with contacts, not shown in Figure 1 for the sake of simplicity, connected to the electronic circuit 40, to enable it to determine at any moment the meaning and the position of the cam block The total number of stable positions per revolution of this block being here, for example, forty, it moves in elementary steps of amplitude equal to nine degrees * The two registration cams comprise each of twenty humps and twenty-troughs and are arranged so that the moments to which each of them actuates the contact associated with it are slightly offset in time when the two cams are rotated If the fixed studs of these contacts are connected to a constant voltage source, and the mobile pads to the electronic circuit, the latter can thus determine the direction of rotation of the block, because the offset of which it has In the same way, the electronic circuit 40 determines the position of the block by counting the transitions on one of the signals generated by the rotation of the registration cams, starting from a home position marked for example by a recess on one of these cams, which cooperates with a contact intended to indicate to the circuit 40 the

  passage through the reference position.

  The block also comprises a cam 32 for controlling the main switch 25, with which a lever 250 cooperates, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. As can be seen in these figures, the profile of the cam 32 here comprises a plurality of first teeth 33 and a plurality of second teeth 34, each first tooth 33 projecting from each second

tooth 34.

  The second teeth 34 are evenly distributed around the periphery of the cam 32. Here, the width of the base of each second tooth 34 occupies a sector of the cam 32 which extends over nine degrees, and each second tooth 34 is separated from its two neighbors by a hollow 35 occupying an area of nine degrees also The second teeth 34 are therefore twenty in number.

  obviously goes the same for the first teeth 33.

  The width of the base of each first tooth 33 is here about three degrees, which is substantially less than the width of the second tooth 34 on which it is projecting, and provides a bearing 36 of both sides. other the base of each first tooth 34. The lever 250 is provided with an oblong recess 251 traversed by a fixed circular shaft 252 integral with the frame 253 of the programmer The longitudinal axis of the oblong recess 251 extends here according to a first direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the profile of the cam 32 at the location where this profile cooperates with the lever 250 In Figures 2 to 4, this first direction is horizontal The two ends of the oblong recess 251 can each come into abutment against the shaft 252 Thus, the lever 250 is movably mounted along a path limited by two stops and extending in the first direction, here horizontal In Figure 2 d, the lever 250 is in abutment at the end of its stroke to the left of the figures, while in Figure 3 d it is

  the end of its stroke to the right of the figures.

  The shaft 252 being circular, the lever 250 can also pivot to move in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and thus here vertical, where it cooperates with the cam 32 The displacement of the lever 250 according to the second direction is analogous to the displacement of known type, of a conventional lever with respect to a cam The second direction is radial for the cam

circular 32.

  The lever 250 cooperates with the general contact 25, or general switch It comprises, in known manner, two respectively integral pads of flexible blades 254 and 255 The blade 254 which carries the upper pad, in Figures 2 to 4 , recalls the lever 250 vertically towards the cam 32, via a

protrusion 256.

  The lever 250 is provided with a notch 257, capable of cooperating with a lug 258 fixed and secured to the frame 253. The relative position of the notch 257 and the lug 258 is such that when the lever 250 is substantially in the middle of its horizontal travel, the lug 258 is engaged in the notch, thereby allowing the lever 250 and the cam 32 to come together and cooperate, as shown for example on the

figure 2 a.

  The notch 257 is provided with two ramps 259 which cooperate with the lug 258 to move the lever 250 away from the cam 32 when the lever is moved horizontally, either to the right or to the left, to get closer to the one or other of the stops of its horizontal stroke In Figures 2 d and 3 d, for which the lever 250 is in abutment, it appears that the lug 258 cooperates with the end of one or the other ramps 259 to keep the lever 250 far enough away from the cam 32 and open

thus the contact 25.

  The lever 250 is provided, in known manner, with a tooth 260, here pointed, which cooperates with the profile of the cam

32.

  The projection 256 cooperates with the upper profile of the lever 250 so that when it is in abutment, that is to say at one or the other end of its horizontal race, as is shown in Figures 2d and 3d, the projection 256 not only recalls the lever 250 vertically towards the cam 32, but

  also horizontally hold it in abutment.

  On the other hand, the cam 32 is indexed or wedged with respect to the reversing cams so that the motor 11 of the drum of the machine is driven in one direction when the tooth 260 of the lever 250 cooperates with one of the ends of the cam. a recess 35, as shown in Figure 2a, and in the other direction when the tooth 260 cooperates with the other end of a recess 35,

  as shown in FIG. 4 d.

  The set just described works as follows. In the position shown in Figure 2a, the lever 250 is in the lower position, the closest to the cam 32 The main switch 25 is closed, the machine members can be effectively powered - by

  control of the switches 22a, 22b, 22i, 22n.

  In particular here, as the two ends of a hollow each correspond to an elementary position of the block, it is possible to switch from one to the other of these positions without changing anything at the position of the lever. to be used to control the inversion of the direction of rotation of the motor it independently of all the other commands For this purpose, the hollows and bumps of the inverson cams are alternated for each successive elementary positions at a distance of nine degrees. As a result, if, when the block is in the position of FIG. 2a, the motor is controlled to rotate in one direction, an inversion of this direction of rotation will be caused by passing the block into the other position where the lever 250 remains in the recess 35, here the position where the cam 32 has been shifted by nine degrees in the trigonometric direction. Since the motor 41 is designed to work in both directions, it is thus possible to control r the reversal of the direction of rotation of the motor 11, at the desired rate, without changing the position of the

lever 250.

  It is obvious that if care is taken to vary the profiles of the cams 20a, 20b ,, 20i ,, 20 _ in steps of amplitude at least equal to two elementary steps, it will be possible, by driving the block in a back-and-forth movement of amplitude equal to the elementary pitch of nine degrees, to cause the reversal of the direction of rotation of the motor 11, at the desired rate, without changing anything at the control of the actuators. power 21 a, 21 b ,, 21 i, 21 n Such a movement of

  and come is symbolized by the arrow 6 of Figure 2a.

  If, as already indicated, it is desired to change the position of the block to directly reach a program step, for example, or the beginning of a new program, it is sufficient to control this movement to the motor 41, and thanks to the device of the invention, the main switch 25 will be open during the entire movement, avoiding brief power up, and nuisance clicks that would result

  if the main switch 25 remained closed.

  In FIGS. 2b, 2c and 2d, there is shown such a displacement, in the trigonometrical direction, that is to say from right to left in the figure, symbolized displacement

by the arrow 7.

  In FIGS. 2b and 2c, the displacement of the cam 32 along the arrow 7 causes the left-hand drive of the figures to move the lever 250, because the tooth -15- 260 cooperates successively with a second tooth 34

  then with a first tooth 33 of the cam 32.

  During this movement, the lever 250 approaches the left end of its horizontal travel, and thus the lug 258 cooperates with the ramp 259 of the right of the notch 257 to move the lever 250 away from the cam 32,

to open the contact 25.

  FIG. 2c corresponds to the moment of arrival at the stop of the lever 250, the first tooth 33 which caused the

  tooth 260 of the lever being always in contact with that

  this. FIG. 2 _ corresponds to the situation when the displacement of the cam 32 continues, according to the arrow 7,

  beyond the position of Figure 2 c.

  It thus appears that, when the lever 250 is in abutment, it is slightly raised against the action of the blade 254 by the passage of each of the first teeth 33 Everything happens as the tooth 260 was retractable, and driven horizontally by a first tooth 33 as the lever 250 is not in abutment, to retract the passage of each of the first teeth 33 as soon as the lever 250 is in abutment and the displacement of the cam 32 continues according to the arrow 7 In this situation, the protrusion 256 prevents the lever from falling back, after passing a first tooth

  33, in a position where it would be removed from its stop.

  FIGS. 3a to 3d represent a displacement similar to that of FIGS. 2a to 2d, but in a clockwise direction

  indicated by the arrow 8 of FIGS. 3 b to 3 d.

  Figure 3a is identical to Figure 2a.

  FIG. 3b shows the beginning of the displacement of the cam 32 in the clockwise direction 8, which causes the tooth 260 to cooperate with a second tooth 34 and then a first tooth 33, the lever 250 to the right On 3b, the lever 250 begins to move away from the cam 32 due to the cooperation between the pin 258 and

  the ramp 259 on the left of the notch 257.

  FIG. 3c represents the moment of arrival at the stop of the lever 250, while FIG. 3d represents the situation when the displacement of the cam 32 according to the arrow 8 continues, the lever 250 being lifted at the passage of each first tooth 33 Again, the protrusion 256 prevents the lever 250 from moving away from its abutment position during its successive lifts when the first teeth 33 pass. When, after a displacement of the type of the 2 or that of Figures 3, the general power supply must be restored, the direction of movement of the cam 32 is reversed a first time, until the lever 250 is returned substantially in the middle of

its horizontal course.

  For example, FIG. 4a represents the instant o, from the position of FIG. 2d, the lever 250 begins to be driven towards the middle of its horizontal travel, the direction of rotation 7 of FIG. The tooth 260 of the lever 250 then cooperates with a bearing 36 disposed on the right side of a first

tooth 33.

  FIG. 4b represents the moment when the lever 250 arrives at the middle of its horizontal travel. It should be noted that, because of the presence of the bearing 36 which cooperates with the tooth 260, it can not get closer of the cam 32, although the relative position of the lug 258 and the notch 257 allows, as has already been described, such an approximation. To obtain the approach of the lever 250 and the cam 32, and thus the closure of the contact 25, it is necessary to subject the block of cams a second reversal of direction, shown schematically by the arrow 10 of Figure 4 c In this case indeed, the tooth 260 falls from the

  bearing 36 to a recess 35, which closes the contact 25.

  It then returns to the state of Figures 2a or 3a, shown in Figure 4 d In this state a movement back and forth 6 allows, as has been described, a reversal of the direction of rotation of the motor 11 of the drum

  without influence on the state of the other organs.

  In some cases, however, it is useful, as has been pointed out, to be able to reverse the direction of rotation of the block of cams after a displacement having caused the opening of contact 25, without this contact being closed here. The result is obtained thanks to the bearings 36. Indeed, if, from the state of FIG. 4b, the block continues to be displaced in the direction 9, the lever 250 comes to the right end of its horizontal run, in the situation of FIG. 3 d for example, without ever having fallen back towards the cam 32, of the

  it cooperates with the bearing 36.

  Of course, in applications where the foregoing feature is not deemed useful, the bearing 36 may be omitted, each second tooth 34

  being then confused with each first tooth 33.

  Similarly, it is not mandatory that the means for moving the lever 250 away from the cam 32, when this lever approaches one or the other of the stops, takes the form of the ramps 259 and It is within the abilities of those skilled in the art to provide other means.

away from the lever.

  Similarly, it is also not absolutely necessary for the lever 250 to move away from the cam 32 to cut the contact 25 and the person skilled in the art may provide another arrangement for this contact, or two contacts in series, at least one of them being open when the lever 250 comes against one of the stops of its horizontal race. It is also possible to provide another form of retractable tooth 260, for example a tooth mounted movably by

  relative to the body of the lever 250 to retract.

I t 19 -

Claims (4)

claims   1 Device programmer, or system, provided with a   plurality of members (21a, 21k, 21i, 21n) electrically   selectively and sequentially feeding, programmer comprising a block of cams cooperating with a plurality of contacts (22a, 22b ,, 22 i ,, 22 n) for supplying said members, and drive means (40, 41 ) of said moving block, characterized in that said drive means (40, 41) are arranged to drive the block (120) in both directions, said block comprises a cam (32) cooperating with a lever (250) mounted movable along a path limited by two stops and extending in a first direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the profile of said cam (32), so that said lever (250) comes against one or the other. other said stops depending on whether said cam is driven in one direction or the other, and there is provided at least one contact (25) for general supply of said plurality of members (21 to, 21 b ,, 2 h , 21 n) opened by said lever (250) when it is against one of said stops.   2 programmer according to claim 1, wherein said lever (250) is also movably mounted in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the profile of said cam (32), there is provided means (254) for biasing said lever (250) to said cam (32) in said second direction, and means (258, 259) for moving said lever (250) away from said cam (32) in said second direction when said lever (250) is moved in accordance with the first direction, approaches one or other of the stops, and said lever (250) opens said general power supply contact (25) when said lever (250) is   sufficiently far from said cam (32).   3 programmer according to one of claims 1 or 2,   wherein the profile of said cam (32) comprises a plurality of first teeth (33) engageable with a retractable tooth (260) of said lever (250), said retractable tooth (260) being driven in said first direction by one of first teeth (33) of said cam (32) as long as said lever (250) is not in abutment, and retracting at the passage of each of the first teeth (33) of said cam (32) as soon as   that said lever (250) abuts.   A programmer according to claim 3, wherein the profile of said cam (32) comprises a plurality of second teeth (34), each first tooth (33) projecting from each second tooth (34), and of smaller width to provide a bearing (36) for   both sides of each first tooth (33).