US2055254A - Automatic control for washing machines - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 22, 1936.. A. F. H ANNEY '2,055,254-

, AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR WASHING MACHINES i Filedsepn 27, `19:52 6 sheets-sheet 1 Sept. 22, 1936. A. F. HANNEY AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR WASHING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 27, 1932 lNVENTOR AfA/60,5* -'Y//v/x/[y ATTORNEYS Sept. 22, 1936. A, F, HANNEY AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Sept. 2'7, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 m1111711 W@ www??? NUT-.OZ 130D n e 1 l L l z- NDOW NUT-.OZ N3D INVENTOR IBM/vaas EMM/5y 9 y@ AT 0R EYS Sept. 22, 1936. A F HANNY AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR WASHING MACHINES 6 ,sheets-sheet 4 C Filed Sept. 27, 1932 Sept. 22, 1936. A.V F. HANNEY AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Sept. 27, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 t e El@ 'Q/, E /j/ ATTORNES Sept. 22, 1936. A F. HANNEY AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR WASHING MACHINES -Filed Sept. 27, 1932 6 Sheets--SheefI 6 VENTOR /vav/.s E/v/vfr BY Mgg@ v TTORNEY Patented Sept. 22,11936 l l V UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR WASHING. MACHINES Angus F. Hanney, Norwood, Ohio, assignor to The American Laundry Machinery Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application september 27, 1932, serial No. 635,093'

' 'z claims.` (ci. iss-1s) This invention relates to automatic washing performance of any duty by him is necessary or machines or any other machines where material desirable.

is subjected to a series of different operations and Further objects ,of the invention are in part it is desirable to automatically control the entire obvious and .in part will appear more in detail cycle of operations. The invention has particular hereinafter. 5 application to automatic washing machines or In the drawings, which represent one suitable the like Where a batch of material to be washed embodiment of the invention, Fig.' 1 is an end eleis treated for a given length of time during which vation of the washing machine as a whole, with it is subjected'to the action of Water and various the automatic control mechanism attached to the materials, which may be generally characterized near end thereof; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a 10 as detergent materials, such as soap, soda, bleach, portion of the automatic control mechanism, sour, and bluing, it being necessary during the Showing it on a larger Scale. detached from the cycle of operations to i'lrst admit to and then Washing machine. and in normal position With all withdraw from the container, in their proper parts at rest ready to begin a cycle of operations; l5 order, the water and these various detergent na- Fig. 3 iS a plan View, corresponding to Fig. 2; 15 tenais, the goods -being subjected to the action Fig. 4 is a longitudinal Sectional elevation on apof the various materials, or mixtures thereof, for proimately i:lie linh45l4, Fig; 3, ahwilghth differing periods of time, par s in pos ion wi e mas er con ro s ee The invention has for its object to generally elevated; Fig. 5 liS a Similar VieW, Showing the improve such mechanism1 and particularly to master control device depressed and the operat- 20 provide a mechanism which is of relatively simingtbar 1advanced; Fig. 5 iS atdletalhlorligitlliinil ple form and for the most part of mechanical Sec iona View on approxima e y e ine nature, and which can be readily adapted for the Fig- 3, Showing the mechanism for returning the control of any type of washing machine, including carriage t0 initial position. and withthe carriage 2,- wahfingtrrlnachtines alreaiiliy in use. to d Such potsglon Fgi? is hsirilriilar vviiet, tsrlllowrg ur er o ject of t e invention is provi e e operai n o Sa me a Sm e c automatic control mechanism of the jacquard riage advanced and ready to 'De returned; Fig. 8 type, in which al1 contr01 operations may be ef.. is a detail sectional elevation, illustrating the fected by a master device which 1s of very Simp1e thermostatic mechanism for controlling the water form and can be readily replaced by other detemperature: an?1 Figoist la detail elelvatilon. nacrt-1 30 vices so as to vary the form-ula or cycle of operay 1n Seo on, s ow ng e wa er eve con ro tions, making it possible for the laundryman to mechanism. secure or carryon hand master control devices While the invention may be employed for 115e which will subject his laundry Work to any dein any type o fmachine Which performs a Sesired number, arrangement; and sequence of opquence of operations with various materials upon 35 eral-.ions the work, for convenience it has been illustrated A further object of the invention is to provide Without any intention of limitation t0 an alltoautomatic control mechanism of the character matic Washing machine. As will appear more in described in which the master device is a simple detail hereinafter, the Washing machine iS of 40 plate provided with perforations arranged lin rdinary tpe .inVong a ilbtitrll Whicl rlotatesha 40 order alon rows, enablin the master device to Tum con ammg e W01 i e con ro mec be progresively moved tlrough the mechanism ailism being arranged t0 Control the driving 0f to bring said perforations in turn to an operating Sad tub the Supply t0 and Withdrawal from lille Zone where they cooperate with other parts of tub of the water and the various detergent liquid the mechanism for the control of various mechamammals such 91s Soap Soda bleach sour and 45 nisms or devices and secure th'e desired order and blumg the Simply of heating steam; to Control timing of the Various Operations the level of liquid and its temperature at various A further object of the invention is to generally Stages of the Operai-'10mi and nauy' to actuate a suitable alarm or indicator for advising the opimprove the various control mechanisms, and erator of any duty he may be required t9 pep 50 morek particularly. to prov1de improved means for' form. To accomplish an of these results I make aut0mat1c-auy detel'mmmg the level 0f liquid 1n them all subject to or sensitive to a single master the container and its temperature, aS Well aS to control device, which maybe of any suitable form terminate the entire Cycle of operations and at so long as it is of simple construction, is adapted all necessary times to advise the operator when to properly cooperate with other parts of the mechanism, and is capable of quick and convenient replacement, such as for the purpose of changing the formula. In the form which I have elected to illustrate for the purposes of this application, the master control device is a piece of sheet material-which may be made of any substance strong enoughdor the purpose but which preferably is a relatively thin strong metal sheet of generally rectangular form an-d provided with rows of perforations, one row for contolling each of the seveal operations or results to be performed or produced. The metal sheet is progressively moved through the machine in a direction parallel with the length of the rows of perforations, with a slow motion, either continuous or intermittent, and intermittent/ly, at regular intervals,-for example, every fteen seconds or every minuta-is moved transversely to its plane, such motion being utilized to render effective or ineffective each one of/ the chains of operating mechanism to a device to be controlled, such as a valve, a release trip,a semaphore or the like, according to whether," there is a hole or a blank space in the master/device at that portion of said device which is effective at the particular time'. In other words, assuming the entire cycle of operations to require,I thirty minutes and that the master device is advanced every fifteen seconds, there will be one hundred twenty operations of said master device`, and at/each/such operation the device is capable of rendering all of the chainsi of operating mechanism effective, but is actually effective upon only those chains of operating mechanism where the master device is provided with a perforation, blank portions of the master device being ineffective to produce operations of said chains of mechanisms. Therefore, for convenience and to the end of orderly discussion, and because the controlling effect upon all of the several chains of mechanism is the same, I will rst describe the master device and its mode of operation, following with detailed descriptions of the several chains of controlling mechanism, as may be necessary.

Only brief reference to the washing machine is necessary. It comprises the usual outer casing or tub I mounted on a suitable frame and containing within it a rotatable drum 2 actuated through suitable gearing by any driver, such as the electricA motor 3, the circuit to which may be of any suit-v able form capable of control for starting by a manually operated switch 4 and of control for stopping by a switch 5 operated automatically, as will appear.

Hot water is supplied to sai-d machine by way of a pipe 6 provided with a controlling valve having a stem 'I, and cold water by way of a pipe 8 having a controlling valve, the stem of which is indicated at 9, the two pipes 6, 8 delivering to a pipe I0 which discharges into the tub I. Cold water is also supplied by way of a pipe II and valve I2 and pipe I2a. for actuating a siphon ,ory injector.

Steam for heating the contents of the tub, as well as for other purposes, is supplied by way of a pipe I3, ,flowing through a valve I4 to a pipe I5 discharging into the tub I and other valves shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, one communicating with a pipe I6 for actuating the drain valve and the `other with a pipe I 'I for actuating an injector.

The two injectors referred to are utilized for forcibly delivering into the tub detergent materials placed in the bowls I8, I9, therst of which is used for soap, soda and bleach and the second of which is used for sour and bluing, which produce the are kept separate to avoid chemical action between them, as will be readily understood. The two bowls are placed at different levels, as shown in Fig. 1 so that the operator has full and complete access to the top of each bowl and when lling one will not allow' any of the liquid to drip into the other with harmful results.

20 represents one of `a series of semaphores, which are alike as t construction and operation, so that description of one will sufce for all, each semaphore, when mov ed to indicating position, advising the operator that some duty is necessary by him, as well as the nature of the duty. Rise of one semaphore, for example, will advise the operator that he should Supply', for example, three quarts of soap to 4bowl I8, while another semaphore may indicate the necessity of supplying three quarts of bluing to bowl I9. Each semaphore may cooperate with a suitable audible alarm, such as an electric bell actuated by a switch 2| which in turn is operated by the corresponding semaphore, as will appear.

The formula control mechanism, including the perforated plate master control device before referred to, and its operating mechanism, may be driven in any suitable manner. In the arrangement shown the master plate is supported in a horizontal plane upon a carriage which is traversed back and forth along a rising and falling cradle and the motion of these parts is produced by a single continuously rotating shaft. Said shaft, marked 22 in Fig. 1, extends crosswise of the frame 23 of the control mechanism,

being mounted in suitable bearings therein and being provided at one end with a gear 24 (Fig. 1) driven by speed reducing gearing shown in dotted lines, from an electric motor 25, whose circuit is also subject to the automatic and man-i ually operated control switches 5, 4. Motor 25 is preferably a constant speed motor and the gearing connecting it to shaft 22 is so propor-v tioned as to rotate said shaft at definite speed,

say one complete rotation every fteen seconds or every minute in accordance with the number of operations of the master plate which are desired during the complete cycle of operations.

The master plate, indicated at 26, is provided with rows of perforations 21, one row for each of the various operations to be performed or results to be produced, as indicated by the legends in Fig. 3. Said plate has a snug flt in a seat for it in a carriage 28, which is a mere rectangular frame provided with a groove or recess to supportthe edges of the plate 26 so that both its upper and lower surfaces are exposed. Suitable means may be provided for insuring insertion of the master plate into its seat in only one position, such as one or more openings 29 distributed at irregular intervals along its edges and adapted to receive small dowel pins 30 on the carriage. The several perforations, according to their order and arrangement on the plate, y automatic control action, and the blank surface of the plate may bear legends opposite the corresponding rows of perforations and indicating their duty, as well as any other information desirable to or necessary for the laundryman or machine operator.

Carriage 28 slides back and forth on suitable Ways on a cradle marked generally 3|, which is also of rectangular form but is provided at its opposite sides with posts 32 mounted to slide midway between the sides of the machine, is provided with a crank arm 34 having a roller 35 cooperating with a foot 36 on one arm of a lever 31 pivoted at 38 on a cross bar and having an elongated slot to receive a cross rod 39 connecting the two posts 32.` The other end of the lever 31 may be provided with a counterweight 40. Shaft 22 rotates in the clockwise direction, Fig. 4, making one complete revolution at each interval, say one every minute. Normally the Cradle and carriage are in their lowermost position indicated in Fig. 5, since the counterweight 40 counterbalances only a portion of the weight of the cradle and carriage simply to reduce the duty of the shaft 22. Therefore, every time the arm 34 comes around, its roller engages the foot 36 and swings lever 31 from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that in Fig. 4, holding the parts in the upper position while the roller is travelling over the curved portion 4I of the foot 36, and when the roller nally leaves the lever the cradle and carriage return by gravity to the vposition shown in Fig. 5 but with negligible shock due to' the substantial balancing effect of weight 40.

Each up and down motion of the cradle and its parts is accompanied by advancing motion of the carriage along the cradle, the amount ofyeach advance motion being equal to the distan/'ce between successive perforations 21 alongthe several rows thereof. In other Words, it is the increments of advance of the carriage that determine the spacing of the perforations in the master plate. Step by step advance of the carriage along the cradle is accomplished by `pawl and ratchet mechanism as fol1ows:

The cradle is provided with a transversely extending rock shaft 42, journalled in its sides, said rock shaft at each side of the cradle carryingl an arm 43 to which is loosely pivoted at 45 a pawl 44 capable of adjustment by ascrew 46 to set the operating end of the pawl with reference to the ratchet to be operated. Rock shaft 42 at one side of the machine carries an arm 41, the free end of which projects beyond the end of a pawl 48 loosely pivoted at 48 on a portion of the stationary frame and normally resting by gravity against a stopso that it lies in the position shown in Fig. 2. raised arm 41 lifts the pawl 48, which drops down behind it and forms a stop to engage the arm 41 when the cradle returns', so as to move the shaft 42 clockwise in Fig. 5 until arm 41 passes the pawl 48, when the shaft 42 and its attached parts are returned by gravity or by theA force of a spring or springs to their initial position, shown in Fig. 5, with the arm 43 resting upon a stop pin 50. l

The aforesaid rocking motion of shaft 42 causes the pawls 44 to engage in the teeth of ratchets 5i, one extending lengthwise along each side portion of the frame of the carriage 28, and to advance said carriage a distance a little greater than the distance between the teethof ratchet 5i. Any excess is taken up when the parts return toward initial position by ythe eiectof a weight 52, Fig. '1, connected to the carriage by a cable 53 passing over a pulley 54 and tending to return the carriage to its original position shown in Fig. 4. A pawl 55 limits returny operation so that the carriage is accurately advanced one tooth at each operation, and said pawl is operated to permit full return of the carriage at the conclusion of the cycles of operations in a manner now to be described.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, 56 indicates a AEach time the cradle is weighted lever pivoted at l1 and normally tending to turn counterclockwise. It is pivoted on a bar 58 longitudinally slidable on the cradle and urged toward the left by a ytension spring N. The other end of said bar lies adjacent a pin 80 on a crank or lever 6I, said pin also extending under the long arm of the pawl 55. Crank or lever 6I is mounted to turn in the frame 3| with sufficient friction in its bearings or with relation.

to saidi frame so that it will remain in any position to which it is forcibly moved against said friction. The upper end of lever 56 is provided with a hooked end 62 which normally lies beneath and travels along a blank portion of the master control plate 26, but said control plate at a point near that end corresponding to the end of the cycle .of machine operations is provided with a slot 63, into which the hooked end 62 of the lever 56 rises, as shown in Fig. '7, just before the end of the cycle of operations. Further advance movement of the carriage to the right in Fig. 7. causes the carriage to carry with it the lever 56 and bar 58, moving them to the right and turning the crank or lever 6| clockwise so that it disengages the hold back pawl 55 from the ratchet 5i, permitting the carriage 28 to be `completely returned from right to left to its original position, shown in Fig. 6. On its return to` such position the carriage engages and opens the automatic switch 5, breaking the circuits to themotors 3, 25, and terminating or stopping all operations. Furthermore, return of the carriage to its original position causes a lug 28a, depending from the right hand end of the carriage 28 in Figs. 6 and '7 to engage the pin 60, as shown in Fig. 6, and turn it from the position shown in Fig. 7 to that in Fig. 6, enabling the pawl 55 to re-engage with the ratchet 5I. The operator now removes the washed goods from the drum 2 and inserts a new load, thereupon actuating the hand switch 4 and starting another cycle of operations which continues until completed in the manner described.

To prevent interference with the cycle of operationsl by the operator, means is provided for preventing the operator from manually advancing the carriage 28, such means comprising a pawl 64 pivoted on the cradle, Fig. 5, normally held by gravity in locking engagement with a ratchet 65 on the upperface of the carriage 2,8, said pawl having a pin 66 lying in a slot 61 of an arm 68 pivoted at 69 to one of the levers 43. When shaft 42 is rocked clockwise in the manner before described, arm 68 moves upwardly, the lost motion in the slot 61 is taken up and pawl 64 is disengaged from its ratchet, all previous to engagement of pawl 44 with its ratchet, and the carriage 28 is moved to the right before pawl 64 is again engaged with its ratchet.

Shaft 22, in addition to the arm 34, carries two arms 10, one on each side of the machine, each arm being equipped with a roller 1I and adapted to actuate one arm '12 `of a lever 13 pivoted lat 14 in the maonme frame, the two levers 13 being connected by links 15 to blocks 16 which are reciprocated `on guide rods 11, the two blocks being connected by) an operating bar production of each operation or result desired.-

The series of pull rods 80 lie in parallel relation, as shown in Fig. 3, each extending t rough a -18 extending crosswise of the machine and adaptclosed eye 8| on a vertically extending pin 82, the

several pins 82 being slidable vertically in openings in upper and Vlower stationaryguide bars 83, and their lower ends lying adjacent to and just above the master plate 26. The-several pull rods 80, at'their right hand ends, Figs. 1, 2 and 3,are pivotally connected to various levers for producing the controlling effects, and they can swing to a limited extent in a. vertical plane about their .pivotal connections to said levers, as an axis. The parts are so timed that at each revo- .ward motion of the master plate lution of shaft 22, not only is the carriage 28 advanced one step, but also the operating rod 18 is moved to the left from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5 and is then returned by the eiTect of the counterweight 84 on lever 13. During its motion it advances with it, to the left in Fig. 4, all those pull rods whose hooked ends 19 have not been elevated by up- 26. In other words, assuming the master plate to be in any given position during its` seriesl of positions through the cycle of operations, in each of the rows of holes corresponding to all of the opera' tions to be produced there will be a hole in the plate 26 when any particular operation is to be produced or a blank area when no operation is to be produced,s0 that when the plate 26 is elevated, as described, the pins 82 corresponding to the operations that are to be produced are not elevated because said pins are opposite holes 21 and are not elevated by the plate, but all remaining pins are elevated by the blank areas of the plate and the corresponding rods 80 are also elevated, so that when the operating bar 18 advances to the left in Figs. 4 and 5 it moves only selected ones of the rods 80, as shown in Fig. 5. The master plate therefore, by its arrangement of perforations, becomes the selector and key to the number, arrangement and sequence of various operations. On its return to initial position, by motion to the right in Fig. 5, the operating bar 18, because of the inclination of its upper face, idly lifts the hook ends 19 of those pull rods which it has not advanced, so as to pass beyond the same ready for their operation the next time, if required.

The several rods 80, when operated, are all operated in the same manner and with the same amount of motion, and their advance motion is transferred by levers, links or other mechanismv tothe parts to be controlled, which will now be referred to in detail.

lReferring first to the hot water supply, one of the rods 80 is connected to one arm of a bell crank lever 85, Fig. 2, the other arm of which is connected by a link 86 to arm 81 on the stem of the hot water supply valve. Moving with said arm 81 is a toothed segment 88, which cooperates with agravity pawl 89 connected by link 90 to a bar 9| attached to a rod 92. Similar mechanism is provided for operating and controlling the cold water valve, with the exception that the same bar 9| releases the pawls of both. the hot water and cold water supply valves. When a supply of hot or cold water or both is required, one or the other or both of the proper pull rods are actuated to open the necessary water valves. The valves are held open, even after return of the operating bar 18 by the pawls 89, until said pawls are released by upward movement of rod 92, whereupon the valves close. Rod 92 is actuated to control the level of liquid supplied to the washing machine tub, for which purpose it is oonnected at its lower end (Figs. 1 and 9) to one arm 93 of a leverpivoted at 94, said arm having a counterweight 95, and the other arm 96 of the Vthe discharge opening 99 in a reservoir |00 in which are located two over-ilow pipes communieating at |0| with the tub These two overiiow pipes are respectively a low level pipe |02 and a high level pipe |03. The upper end of each of said pipes is closed by a normally closed pivoted valve |04, each valve being connected by a link to an arm |06 connected by a link |01 to a lever |08 actuated by a lever |09 connected to one of the pull rods 80 (see Figs. l and 9). The levers |06 serve as latch levers, for which purpose they are provided with pins adapted for cooperation with latch levers I0 connected by links to a rod l2 connected to the arm 96.

If at any particular time when water or other liquid is to be delivered to the tub, it is desired to produce and maintain a low level of liquid, say four inches in depth, the proper pull rod 80 is actuated to lift valve |04 on the low level pipe |02, and said valve is latched in its open position by its latching parts H0, |06. The water valve or valves are now opened and water iiows into the tub, rising from the bottom of the same until nally water flows out through the top of the over-flow pipe |02, into the reservoir |00, from which it is delivered to the bucket 91. 'I'he vent hole in said bucket is restricted so that while said bucket will ultimately drain completely, its drainage is slow and practically immediately the first overow lls the bucket and causes it to move down, raising the arm 93 and by means of link 92 releasing the water supply valve for selfclosing operation. The same motion pulls down the link ||2 and releases the' latch so that valve |04 closes. If a high level l'of liquid is to be produced and maintained, say twelve inches, the proper pull rod 80 actuates the valve |04 at the top of the high level pipe |03 and water is delivered to the tub until such level is reached, whereupon the high level valve |04 is closed and the water valves close, in the same manner before` described. During the succeeding interval the bucket 91 drains and returns to its initial position shown in Fig. 9, ready for another operation.

In connection with the water supply, means is also provided for producing and maintaining a. de'sired temperature of the liquid and vapors within the tub. Of course, some regulation of temperature may be secured by properly proportioning the amounts of hot and cold water, but chiefly when a temperature higher than that of the hot water is desired, the temperature is raised by the supply of heating steam to the tub and the supply of such steam is thermostatically controlled so as to produce' and maintain any desired temperature. The thermostatic control mechanism is housed in a casing I3 mounted at the top of the mechanism, as shown in Figs. 1 and 8. Within this casing is located an expansible and contractible heat responsive element ||4 sensitive to the temperature within the tub and which, for example, may be a Bourdon tube communicating by a small conduit ||5 with a bulb not shown but located within the tub and containing expansible liquid or gas, as is well known. Movement of the Bourdon tube actuates a lever ||6, the lower arm of which carries a contact I1 cooperating with a contact ||8 on an arm ||9 pivoted at |20. The two contacts ||1, H8, are connected in a circuit |2| through a suitable source of current |22, said circuit also including an electromagnet |23, and a tilting mercury switch |24 of well known form. One of the rods 80 is connected to a lever |25 carrying the tilting mercury switch, which lever in turn is connected by a link |26 to a lever |21 for actuating the steam supply valve I4 before referred to'. The upper end of lever |25 cooperates with a notch in a latch lever |28 pivoted at |29 `and connected by a link to the movable core |30 of electromagnet |23.

When it is desired to produce and maintain a relatively high temperature within the tub, say 180 F., the proper pull rod 80 is actuated, swinging lever |25 to the dotted line position, Fig. 8, and closing the circuit |2| at the mercury switch I 24. This circuit is not completely closed, however, because it is still open at contacts ||1, I|8. The link |26 and lever |21, however, open the steam valve and steam `flows into the tub until the rise in temperature affects the thermostatically responsive bulb referred to, expands Bourdon tube II4, and turns lever |I6 in the clockwise direction, Fig. 8, to close the circuit II1, IIB. Contact |I8 is a screw which may be adjusted to set the device at a desired temperature, sayv 180. When this temperature is reached the circuit is closed, as described, electromagnet |23 is energized, its core rises and the latch |28 releases lever |25 so that the steam valve returns to its closed position by its own spring or the like.

Means is also provided for producing and maintaining a lower temperature, say 140 F., which includes means for adjusting the lever ||9 and the contact ||8 carried thereby. t This means is also shown in Fig. 8. The proper pull rod, correy circuit. Lever |3| is held in its new position by the spring latch |35, connected by link |36 to a lever |31 which in turn is connected by 'a link |38 to one arm of the lever |28. As a result, when it is desired to produce, and maintain the lower temperature, both of the levers |25, I3I are moved by their pull rods 80 to the latch position and both are unlatched simultaneously. by energization of the magnet |23, which occurs when the circuit |2| is closed by the effect of thel Bourdon tube. -v

Means is also provided for forcibly supplying various detergent liquids from the bowls I8, I9 to the washing machine tub. Liquid poured into the bowl I9 is delivered from the bowl I9 into the washing machine by an injector |39, Fig. 1, which has a suction pipe |40 extending' nearly to the bottom of the bowl 'I9 and a discharge pipe |4| leading into the pipe I0 which delivers water to the machine tub. The injector |39 is operated b tle valve I2, and valve I2 is actuated by a lever |42 actuated by one of the pull rods 80. A similar injector, but in this case actuated by steam supply and not by water, is provided for delivering to the tub liquids deposited in the bowl I8. Accordingly, assuming that the operator has poured the requisite quantity of the liquid into the proper bowl, when the times comes to deliver it into the washing machine, one of the pull rods 80 opens the steam or water supply valve tothe -proper injector and the detergent material is sucked out of its bowl and discharged into the washing machine tub.

' rods.

water delivered to it by way of pipe |20, from metal or the like, and are pivoted at |43 at the front edge ofthe casing II3, each semaphore being provided with an arm |44 connected by a link |45 to a lever |46 actuated by one of the pull The arms |44 are arranged each to c0- operate with a switch 2|, so that when a semaphore is moved up to indicating position, its arm |44 closes its switch 2| and energizes a very simple bell circuit to a source of current, causing an audible alarm and instructing the attendant to inspect the machine and supply the required detergent to its bowl. When that has been accomplished the operator can manually move the semaphore to its dow'n or non-indicating position,`,which permits the switch 2| to openand restores the parts to their initial position ready for another operation.

Means isalso provided for automatically controlling the drain valve for the tub which valve is conventionally shown at |41, its locking stern being provided with a bell crank lever |48, one arm of which isconnected by a rod |49 to a movable piston within a fluid pressure cylinder'V |50, operating pressure for which comes by way of steam pipe I6. In said pipe is a valve `(not shown) actuated by a lever connected to one of the pull rods 80. When said valve is opened, in the manner before described, steam flows through the pipe I6 to the cylinder |50Y and moves over its piston, thereby opening the drain valve. The second arm' |51 of the lever |48 moves down to latching position where it is latched by a pivoted latch |52 actuated by a link |53 ,connected at its upper end to one arm of thelevller' 31. Said lever is oscillated once for every revolution of shaft 22, so that whenever the drain valve is opened it is almost immediately closed; or in any event. is closed before the rotation of shaft 22 is completed, but the drain valve is of very large area or size, so large, in fact, that it dumps the entire liquid contents of the washer in a matter of just a few seconds, as will be readily understood.

With the mechanism described, it is possible to produce any desired washing formula. By propy the automatic switch 5 is opened. During such cycle of operations the cradle is periodically elevated and each time it moves up the carriage 28 is in a new position. At each operation of the cradle and carriage, all rods 80 are elevated except those which it is desired to operate, and the advance motion of bar 18 pulls the selected rod' or rods forward and produces actuation of the proper valve, lever,` latch or other part in the manner be'fore l, described. Ultimatelythe carriage 28 is releasedand returns to its initial position and the cycle may be resumed when the washer drum is unloaded and reloaded. A complete new formula may be installed and put into operation in a machine by a simple change of the master plateA 26.

A complete cycle of operations accompanying one full rotation of shaft 22, briefly described,is 4as followsz--f j Assuming the'parts in the position shown in Fig. 1, with the cradle down, the rsteiect is to ing its operation the cradle has position in that view,

raise the cradle, the carriage and master plate moving up with it to the position shown in Fig. 4, where certain of the pins 82 have been raised to make the operating bar 18 ineffective upon their pull rods, others of the rods 80,-where there are holes in the master plate, remaining unelevated ready for actuation by bar 18. Next, the bar 18 travels to the left to the position shown in Fig. 5, actuating the selected pull rods 80, said bar 18 then returning to its initial position. Durbeen held elevated by engagement of the roller 35 with the curved portion 4I of arm 36. When bar 18 has been moved from its initial position, the cradle begins to move downward, and when the master plate has moved down so that all pins 82 are out of the holes in the plate, the lever 41 engages pawl 48, rocks shaft 42 and advances the carriage one step on the cradle to a new position Where it is held by pawl 55. All parts are now ready for another` operation.

Similar operations occur successively in order until the full formula has been completed, whereupon the carriage 28 is released and returns to initial position and actuates the automatic switch 5 to open the motor circuit and terminate all operations. The washer is thereupon unloaded and reloaded and a new series of operations` started by closing the manual switch 4.

As stated before, switches 4 and 5 are in the same controlling circuit for the motors, a circuit which, for example, may be the same type 0,1. three-wire circuit used in house illumination where a given lampmust be subject to control from two points, say upstairs and downstairs. Both switches must therefore be closed to complete the motor circuit. Switch 4 is moved manually in succession to its two closed positions and switch 5 is moved automatically in succession to its two closed positions. Switch 5 may be of any suitable'form, but is shown as embodying a rotatable member turned 90 at each operation. VThe rotatable part carries four spring arms 5a, 5b, etc. It is mounted on a p'art of the cradle 3|, as shown in Fig. 5, with the arm 5a projecting up into the path of movement of the carriage 28. Referring to Fig. 5, when the carriage 28 is released it moves to the left and engages arm 5a and rotates the switch part tothe position shown in Fig. 4, and the following arm 5b yields and assumes the position shown in full lines, Fig. 4. The motor circuit is now open and a new formula or series of operations is started by turning the manual switch 4 to the dotted line position, Fig. 4, which again closes the motor circuit. The carriage begins to advance to the right in Fig. 4 and when it finally passes away from switch 5 the arm 5b yieldingly springs up to the dotted line ready to be engaged by the carriage when the formula is completed and the carriage returns. The third formula is then started by turning the switch 4 to its next closed position, and so on.

What I claim is:

1. In an automatic machine of the class described, jacquard apparatus arranged to control the operations of said machine, comprising a jacquard plate having a drive providing for its forward step by step movement from an initial position to another position, a plurality of rods, actuating means for said rods, and for each rod, means for controlling the effectiveness of said actuating means upon said rod responsive to the position of said plate, and means operatively as- Athe effectiveness of said sociating said rod with a part of said machine to be controlled in timed relation with other parts of the machine, and means controlled by said plate and providing for its return by reverse movement tosaid initial position.

2. In an automatic machine of the class described, jacquard apparatus arranged to control the operations of said machine, comprising a jacquard plate having a drive providing for its forward step by step movement from an initial position to another position, a plurality of rods, actuating means for said rods, and for each rod, means for controlling thev effectiveness of said actuating means upon said rod responsive to the position of said plate, and means operatively associating said rod with a part of said machine to be controlled in timed relation with other parts of the machine, means associated withsaid plate to prevent its advancement by the operator ahead of said cyclic advance.

3. In an automatic machine of the class described, jacquard apparatus arranged to control the operations of saidmachine, comprising a jacquard plate having a drive providing for its forward step by step movement from an initial position to another position, a plurality of rods, actuating means for said rods, and for each rod, means for controlling the effectiveness of said actuating means upon said rod responsive to the position of said plate, and means operatively associating said rod with a part of said machine to be controlled in timed relation with other parts of the machine, means to return said plate to its initial position, and means operated by said plate for stopping said machine upon said return of said plate.

4. In an automatic machine of the class described, jacquard apparatus arranged to control the operations of said machine, comprising a reciprocable cradle, a carriage slidable thereon, and a rectangular jacquard plate mounted on said carriage, said plate and carriage having means cooperative to prevent mounting of the plate on the carriage in any but one plate position, a drive for said carriage, providing for its said step by step movement from an initial position to' another position, a plurality of rods, actuating means for said rods, and for each rod, means for controlling actuating means upon said rod responsive to the position of said plate, and means operatively associating said rod with a part of said machine to be controlled in timed relation with other parts of the machine.

5. In an automaticmachine of the class described, jacquard apparatus arranged to control the operations of said machine, comprising .a jacquard plate having a drive providing for its forward step by step advance movement from an initial position to a final position, means to retain the plate in intermediate positions to which it upon said rod responsive to the position of said plate, and means operatively associating said rod with a part of said machine to be controlled in timed relation with other parts of the machine.

6. In an automatic machine of the class described, jacquard apparatus comprising a verticallyl reciprocating cradle, a carriage slidable horizontally thereon, a master plate supported on t A,$3,)i55,i3l54 said carriage and provided with pertorations in I rows extending in the direction, oi`trave1 of said carriage, ratchet mechanism for advancing said carriage step by step, a series of pins, one for each `row of. perforations, each pin being mounted for actuation by said plate upon vertical movement of said cradle, dependent upon whether or not said 4plate in its instant advanced position is v perforated at said pin location, a rod slidably supporting each pin, a reciprocating operating bar,

1 v each rod being arranged to be-adjusted by its pin f between an idle position clearing said bar and an operating lposition wherein. it is engaged and moved by ksaid bar, means operatively connecting each rod with a part of said machine for controlv iirigfianA operation. thereof in timed relation with other operations of the machine, means tending tir-return said carriage 'and plate torinitial position, a hold-back device normally restraining such carriage return movement, and means controlled by said plate for actuating said hold-back device Iorrpermittlng the carriage to return to initial position following predetermined advancement therefrom.

7. In an automatic machine of the class described, jacquard apparatus comprising a vertically, reciprocating cradle, a carriage slidable horizontally thereon, a master plate supported on said carriage and provided with perforations in 4 rows extending in the direction of travel of said carriage, ratchet mechanism for advancing said carriage step by step. a seriesof pins. one for each row of perforations, each pin being mounted for actuation by said plate upon vertical movement of said cradle, dependent upon whether or not .said plate in its instant advanced position is perforated at said pin location, a rod slidably supporting each pin, a reciprocating operating bar,V

" other operations of the machine.

ANGUs r'. Mmmm.`

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