US2761102A

US2761102A - Electrical program controller

Info

Publication number: US2761102A
Application number: US483749A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lester L Brown
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1955-01-24
Filing date: 1955-01-24
Publication date: 1956-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 1973-08-28

Description

Aug. 28, 1956 L. L. BROWN ELECTRICAL PROGRAM CONTROLLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 24, 1955 F/G/ O LESTER L. BROWN INVENTOR.

Afforny Aug. 28, 1956 L. L. BROWN 2,761,102

ELECTRICAL PROGRAM CONTROLLER Filed Jan. 24, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIlII-MIIW-IJIIIIHIIHM P76 7 III II 1 llll 47d 4 9 l5 I 0b A LESTER L. BROWN 7 INVENTOR. I a 4/ 48 United States Patent 2,761,102 ELEGTRICAL PROGRAM CONTROLLER Lester L. Brown, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application January 24, 1955, Serial No. 483,749

8 Claims. (Cl. 323-94) This invention relates generally to control mechanisms and relates more particularly to automatic operation or program control means.

There are many types of installations requiring means to control the sequence of a series of operations or events, or to control a device or devices according to a predetermined pattern or guide. This type of control can be effected automatically by electrical means.

One example of the use of this type of equipment is in the control of an automatic lathe which must perform a series of operations.

There is, at present, equipment adapted to automatically control the operation of such a lathe through electrical controls. However, this equipment has limitations and where a machine whose operationsare to be programmed are provided with electrical or electronic equipment, the control of such equipment must be effected through instructions to which said electronic equipment will respond as, for example, voltage and voltage changes.

While the present invention is shown and described in connection with the control of industrial equipment. or machines, it is to be understood that its utility is not confined thereto. For example, another use thereof is in the control of electronic or analog computers and the like. In many instances in programming electronic computers physical functions are encountered which cannot be described by simple mathematical expressions, e. g. square pulses, trapezoids, odd functions and the like. However, when drawn as a graph these functions are usually simple in nature, and it is an object of the present invention to provide means whereby these functions may be readily effected.

It is another object of the present invention to provide means of this character for effecting a predetermined control in terms of electrical voltages.

Another object of the invention is to provide means of this character which will effect a control according to a graphic form to produce voltages related thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide means of this character wherein a graph on a sheet of paper may he used which will provide the pattern desired.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means of this character for effecting a repeated pattern or which may provide a pattern which is never repeated.

Another object of the invention is to provide means of this character which can use a graph of any desired shape and convert the same into electrical voltages directly proportional (or related by any set law desired, e. g. logarithmic) to the shape or form of said graph.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means of this character for quickly and easily effecting the above controls.

A further object of the invention is to provide mean of this character that are extremely flexible.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means of this character that is simple in construction and reliable in operation. I

Another object of the invention is to provide means of 'ice this character that is relatively inexpensive to menufacture. p t I The characteristics and advantages of the invention are further sufficiently referred to in connection with the. following detailed description of the accompanying drawings which represent several embodiments. After con: sidering these examples skilled persons will understand that many variations may be made without departing from the principles disclosed and Icontemplate the em:

pended claims.

Referring to the drawings, which are for illustrated,

purposes only:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a controlmechanism. embodying the present invention; a

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line Fig. 1; I

Fig. 3 is a schematic end view showing the arrangement of the various parts and a sheet of paper. operably disposed in the mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-- 4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. l; I

Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram showing a potentiometer arrangement of the type used in the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a schematic view of the mechanism showing the electrical system, including a potentiometer, embodied therein; Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing an alternative resistor arrangement in the roller; and

Fig. 9 is another alternative arrangement of the resistor. Referring more particularly to the drawings, the mechanism includes a base 10 having upstanding endmembers 11 spaced apart and provided with a removable top portion 12 secured to the members 11 by suitable screws 13. A sensing roller, indicated generally at 15, is mounted between the end members and is formed of a plurality of laminations, as best shown in Fig. 5. The laminations comprise washers or disks 16 of electrically conducting material such as aluminum foil or the like and washersor disks 17 of insulating material. The conducting disks 16 are arranged alternatively with the insulating disks, and said disks are disposed on a supporting rod 18 and the insulating disks 17 may be thicker than the conducting disks 16. It is to be noted that the central or axial openings 19 in the conducting disks are substantially larger than the diameter of the rod 18 while theopenings in the insulating disks are of substantially the same diameter as the diameter of the rod. At the ends of the roller are relatively thick disks 2! of insulating material whichhave outward extensions 22. The outer end portions of the, rod 18 are threaded for reception of nuts which secure and tightly compress the disks on the rod 18.

Roller 15 may be of any desired length and by using relatively thin disks 16 and 17 extremely fine definition.

or control is obtained. As these disks or laminations are :very thin the roller may be made up by placing same on the rod 18 and tightly compressing them together. Thereafter the roller may be turned on a lathe to obtain a perfectly smooth surface at which the edges of the foil and paper insulating disks 16 and 17 are exposed.

Means for rotatably mounting the roller 15 includes the extensions 22 of the disks 20, these extensions being being rotatably mounted in suitable openings provided therefor in the end supports 11 and '12. Half of the The resistance element for the roller '15 may beof P e eia asters.

any suitable character. For example, in the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the resistance element, indicated at 25, comprises a graphite pencil mark which extends from one end of the laminated portion of the roller to the other and contacts annular armatures 21 mounted on the disks '20. Through the armatures 21 the resistance element 25 is connected into the electrical system, said armatures being engaged by the free end portions 26 of brushes 27 secured to lugs 27a of the portions 12 by means of screws 27b.

At the sides of the roller 15 and below the same are

idler rollers

30a and 30b the respective ends of said

rollers

30 and 31 being journalled in openings provided therefor in the supports 11. 'Beneath the roller 15 and extending longitudinally thereof, is a pressure member or bar B11 mounted in suitable grooves 62 provided therefor in the supports 11 and urged upwardly by yielding means such as springs '33 mounted in said recesses. A strip of insulating sheet material 35 which may be paper, is threaded through the device and is disposed beneath the

rollers

30a and 30b, and between the pressure bar 31 and the roller 15.

Any suitable means may be used for moving the sheet of paper through the device. This means is shown as comprising a pair of rollers '36 on opposite sides of said sheet and operably engaging same, said rollers 36 being connected together by suitable gears, not shown, in a gear housing 37 and being driven by a motor 3 8 through a shaft 39. The rollers 36 are adapted to rotate in such a manner as to pull the strip of paper to the left, as shown in Fig. 2, at a predetermined rate, the roller 15 being rotated through its frictional engagement with the sheet 35, although a positive drive may be provided for the roller 15 in synchronism with the movement of the sheet or strip 35. In this arrangement the strip of paper may be carried on one roller and wound on another roller at the opposite end so that there does not necessarily have to be a repetition of the program or cycle of operation.

The electrical system includes a potentiometer indicated generally at 40. In the simplified arrangement shown in Fig. 6 the potentiometer is shown as having a fixed voltage applied to the outside terminal. -A variable voltage is therefore available between .the terminal 41 and the brush 44 and this voltage is directly proportional to the distance mn as determined by the position of the brush. Thus the voltage output at the

terminals

41 and 42, the latter being connected to the brush 44, is a function of the distance mn along the potentiometer.

In Fig. 7 the potentiometer is also indicated at and includes the resistance element 25 of the roller 15. The :brushes 26 .are connected by

wires

45 and 46 to a source of electrical energy, indicated at 47. The wire 46 has a connection 47a with the terminal 42 and terminal 41 is connected .to the idle roller 30b by a wire 48, roller 30b being adapted to make contact with a graph line '49 which is of graphite or any other suitable electrical conducting material. The pressure bar 31, which may be of any suitable character for the purpose for which it is intended, maintains the strip of paper in contact with the roller 15 and the conducting laminations or disks 16 form the connection between the graph line 49 and the resistance 25. It will be obvious that the position of the line '49 with respect to the axis of the roller '15 will determine the resistance provided through the potentiometer and hence the voltage at the

terminals

41 and 42, the latter being adapted to be connected to a machine to be controlled and indicated generally at 42a.

As has been indicated above the graph line 49 may be of any suitable material that will conduct electricity. When of graphite, the line may be drawn with a pencil and, due to the thinness of the laminations or disks several of the metallic disks will engage even a very thin pencil line, thus insuring a good cont-act therewith.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 8, the resistance element is shown as comprising a strip 25a of resistance metal which is set in a groove provided therefor in periphery of the roller 15, the outer surface of the resistance element 26a being in the same plane as the cylindrical plane of the exterior of the roller 15. In Fig. 9, the resistance element is indicated at 25]) disposed within an opening provided therefor in the roller 15.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, the sheet of paper 35a passes under roller 30a, over a roller 53, about a roller 54, under roller 30b and between roller 15 and bar 31 to provide an endless belt arrangement for a repetitive program. Means for actuating or moving the sheet 35a comprises a motor 55 connected to the roller 53 by a shaft 56.

While the electrical system includes a potentiometer it is to be understood that a simpler system may include only the resistance element, or any other suitable arrangement may be used.

It is to be noted that while the sensing element "15 is described as being rotatably mounted, the element will function properly without rotating. When this element does not rotate the above-described graphite or pencil line works very satisfactorily as a resistance element.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it is thought that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the forms hereinbefore described being merely preferred embodiments.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. A program controller, comprising: support means; a sensing roller operably mounted in said support means, said roller comprising a plurality of thin metal foil disks and insulating disks arranged alternately, a supporting rod for said disks, said rod being of smaller diameter than the opening in the foil disks so that said foil disks do not contact said rod, relatively thick end disks having outwardly extending portions, ring armatures on each of said end disks, a graphite resistance element extending from one end to the other of the roller in contact with the foil disks, and forming a part of a potentiometer circuit, clamping means for clamping the disks on the rod; a source of electrical power; a brush at each end of the roller for contact with the respective armatures, said brushes having respective connections with said source of power; an output connection with one of said brush connections; a pair of idler rollers mounted in said support means beneath and to respective sides of the sensing roller; a pressure bar extending longitudinally of the sensing roller and beneath the same; yielding means urging one edge of said sensing bar toward the sensing roller; a strip of sheet material threaded beneath the idling rollers and between the sensing roller and pressure bar; a graph line of electrical conducting material on the sensing roller side of the strip, one of said idling rollers being in the output side of the potentiometer and in contact with said graph line; and means for moving said strip of sheet material in one direction at a predetermined rate.

2. A program controller, including: a sensing roller, said roller comprising a plurality of thin electrical conducting disks and insulating disks arranged alternately, means securing said disks together, end disks having outwardly extending bearing portions for rotatable mounting of said roller, armatures on each of said end disks. a resistance element extending from one end to the other of the roller in contact with the conducting disks, and forming a part of a potentiometer circuit, a source of electrical power; a brush at each end of the roller for contact with the respective armatures, said brushes having respective connections with said source of power; an output connection with one of said brush connections; a pair of idler rollers beneath and at respective sides of the sensing roller; a pressure bar extending longitudinally of the sensing roller and beneath the same; yielding means urging said sensing bar toward the sensing roller; a strip of sheet material threaded beneath the idling rollers and between the sensing roller and pres sure bar; a graph line of conducting material on the sensing roller side of the strip, one of said idling rollers being in electrical contact With said graph line; and means for moving said strip of sheet material at a predetermined rate.

3. In a program controller: a rotatable sensing roller; said roller comprising a plurality of thin electrical conducting disks and insulating disks arranged alternately, a resistance element extending from one end to the other of the roller in contact with the conducting disks, means operably connecting the resistance element into an electrical control circuit; a pair of idler rollers mounted in operable relation to the sensing roller; a strip of sheet material threaded beneath the idling rollers; means urging said strip against the sensing roller; a graph line of conducting material on the sensing roller side of the strip, one of said idling rollers being in electrical contact With said graph line; and means for moving said strip of sheet material in one direction at a predetermined rate.

4. The invention defined by claim 3 wherein the strip of sheet material comprises an endless belt; and there is means for operably supporting said belt.

5. In a program controller: a rotatable sensing roller, said roller comprising a plurality of thin disks of electrical conducting material and insulating disks arranged alternately, a resistance element extending from one end to the other of the roller in contact with the conducting disks and comprising part of an electrical circuit; a strip of sheet material having a graph of conducting material on one side of the strip, the graph side of said strip engaging said roller; and means for moving said strip of sheet material.

6. In a program controller: a rotatable sensing roller, said roller comprising a plurality of thin electrical conductor disks and insulating disks arranged alternately, a resistance element extending from one end to the other of the roller in contact with the conductor disks; and a strip of insulating sheet material; a graph of conducting material on one side and engageable with said roller.

7. A program controller, comprising: support means; a sensing member operably mounted in said support means, said sensing member comprising a plurality of thin metallic laminations and insulating laminations arranged alternately, a resistance element extending from the sensing member in contact with the metallic laminations; means making operable electrical contacts with said resistance element; a strip of sheet material engaging the sensing member; a graph of conducting material on the sensing member side of the strip; and means for moving said strip of sheet material in one direction at a predetermined rate.

8. The invention defined by claim 7 wherein the means for moving said strip comprises electric motor means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS