US3104292A - Fully automatic washing machines - Google Patents

Description

p 7, 1963 w. HOLZER 3,104,292

FULLY AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES Filed llay 19. 1960 CONTROL FOR WASHING/worm SPIN MOTOR VALVES HEATING I N VEN TOR WALTER HOLZER WM AW Attorneys United States Patent 3,104,292 FULLY AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES Walter Holler, Drosteweg 19, Meersburg (Bodensee),

' Baden, Germany Filed May 19, 1960, 821'. No. 30,328 Claims priority, application Germany June 15, 1959 5 Claims. (Cl. 20046) The invention concerns a fully automatic washing machine with perforated cards which can be put in and which correspond to the washing programme.

The object of the present invention is to construct the control in such a way that a programme storer is present on which the various washing programmes exist, and the perforated cards are present only as transmitters which then select the corresponding programme on the storer disc. just as a particular record is selected in an automatic phonograph by pressing buttons, which record is then played; thus by means of the selection of a definite perforated card, this card'should then act as the transmittcr or selector for the programme storer which then actuates the actuating member of the washing machine according to the programme selected from the perforated card transmitter.

Washing machines are known in which the course of the programme is defined by perforated cards. In these known arrangements. however, the interposition of a programme storer is omitted and the perforated cards themselves present the actual pro-gramme to a certain extent, in that. in each case according to the number of perforations and the length of these perforations, the washing programme runs off and their production inhibiting difiiculties consist in the fact that the perforated cards must be conveyed dependent upon time, and the programme is switched in accordance with appropriate sensing of the perforations.

An object of the invention is to avoid these disadvantages and to construct the control in such a way that the perforated card only acts as the transmitter; the actual time dependent programme which is being run off is, however, disposed in the programme storer in which the most varied washing programmes are provided or, on the basis of the perforated card transmitter, different long procedures are withdrawn from the storer such as washing. rinsing. opening the inlet valve, setting the temperature. centrifuging in order to be able to compose the washing programme.

According to the present invention a fully automatic washing machine comprises an insertable card provided with a plurality of perforations defining a washing programme. characterised in that sensing contacts are adapted to actuate a circuit which is constructed as a programme storer and controls a partial programme run-off corresponding to the perforations and after the run-off is adapted to move the perforated card further on.

Sensing contacts seek out the selected programme by means of actuation of the switch mechanism, and after the programme has been run off the perforated card is conveyed further.

The switching mechanism constructed as the programme storer should actuate time dependent or measured quantity dependent contacts which switch individual procedures such as centrifuge motor, washing motor, heating. liquor height. valves. temperature, etc.

The time dependency which, in known arrangements, was based on the conveyance of the perforated card is now transferred to the programme storer. The most varied-individual procedures with the most varied switching times can be arranged on the programme storer and, by selection of the momentarily desired individual procedure, the programme is then composed.

Patented Sept.'17 1963 The switching mechanism may consist of a control disc with concentric cam tracks on which sensing contacts may slide, whereby the control disc, corresponding to the perforation of the perforated card, is rotated into the appropriately preselected position by a known type control drive.

Such a switching mechanism which switches forward a control disc with concentric switch cam tracks may be produced accurately by mass production methods and, if the most varied control discs are present or individual procedures with different times, temperature, liquor height and so on are provided by actuation of the appropriate heating, inlet and outlet valves, then it becomes possible to select the parts on the programme storer, by an appropriate perforation of the perforated card, which are directly required. One is not therefore tied to a fixed predetermined programme, but the housewife may herself, dependent upon the circumstances, achieve extensions or abbreviations of the washing time, the heating time and so on, by perforation of the perforated card. The perforated card itself isin this case only sensed by a lever and remains in this sensing position for such a time until the control disc or the programme storer has completed the selected programme section, then the perforated card is moved on.

It is now possible, therefore, to provide on one perforated card very long times with short intervals, since the perforated cards are not moved dependent upon time but dependent upon function, that is, in each case after termination of the preselected time section of the programme they are moved on. Moreover, they-now no longer need to be constructed very accurately but it suffices if apertures are provided in the aforementioned tracks in which the sensing levers are situated, since the perforated card is always moved on to such an extent that any one of the sensing levers reaches an aperture, then the forward movement of the perforated card ceases and the forward movement is not recommenced again until the programme storer has sorted out a selected programme section and has carried it out.

In this connection it is possible for the control disc to run off with uniform speed, and to have differing lengths of switching cam tracks or the like for the same procedure, for example, washing for 3, 5, 7, 9 minutes, liquor height for A, /2, /1, l/l, filling temperature for 20, 40, 60, rinsing for 1, 2, 3, heating etc.

Preferably the perforated cards receive apertures in previously marked tracks by means of a known type perforating pliers.

In order to preserve a sensing lever, it is preferable that before moving the perforated card on the next contact making of the subsequent aperature the sensing levers are raised by means of a device known in itself.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of symbols showing how the individual switching members co-operate;

FIG. 2 is a schematic layout of a programme storer disc;

FIG. 3 is a view of a perforated card; and

FIG. 4 is an alternative form of perforated card.

In FIG. 1 a block 1 represents symbolically a perforated card transmitter, a block 2 is the programme storer and a block 3 is the Washing or vessel rinsing machine. There are connecting conduits 4 between the blocks 1, 2 and 3 whose functional dependency should be clear wherein, dependent upon circumstances, both mechanical and/ or electrical connections are possible.

From the block 1 it is evident that a perforated card 5 which is moved in the direction of the arrow co-operates with sensing levers 6. These sensing lovers 6, which are disposed adjacent one another in many rows, actuate the switching on and off of a drive motor 10. The motor 10 serves to drive both, a wiper 31 for scanning a disc 8, and a control disc 9.. This motor 10 may be of the type employed in my Patent 3,041,480 and has a field 10b and an axially movable rotor 10a. Thus, there is a pinion 32 alternatingly engaging and disengaging gear 33 driving the wiper 31.

The scanning levers 6 are, for example, connected in dividually to scannable tracks 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d on disc 8. These tracks may be contact segments on an insulating plate such as is disclosed for the disc 9 (FIG. 2 infra). Thus, there is an energization circuit completed for motor 10 whenever a particular lever 6 is in a hole 26 in card contacting contact rail 4-1 and as long as any of the contacts 31a, 31b, 31c and 31d of wiper 31 remains in contact with that track of disc 8 connected to that lever 6 in the said hole. As shown, a lever identified by 60 engages rail 41 through a hole. Accordingly, motor receives current through track 8c and wiper 31c.

The motor 10 runs until wiper contact 31c leaves this last-mentioned track 80. When this happens, the energization circuit is interrupted, and the then available energization circuit for motor 10 runs over resistor 34 (see resistor 17 of my Patent 3,041,480). This routing of the current causes a partial de-energization and the rotor 10a moves so that pinion 32 disengages from gear 33. Upon rotation, as aforesaid, disc 8 and program disc 9 rotate in unison. When rotor 10a of motor 10 is shifted, disc 9 may, for example, follow this axial shift thus coming into engagement with scanning contacts 11. This is attained at a particular angular position of control disc 9 as being determined by the position at which disc 8 was stopped which in turn was determined by the particular lever 6 in a particular hole of punched card 5.

Now, the program starts upon continued rotation of disc 9 now being driven alone by motor 10 but operating upon contacts 11. These contacts 11 scan disc 9 and cause initiation and completion of certain steps within the washing machine. (See block.) Disc 9 with contacts 11, for example, may cooperate and be designed as is shown in my Patent 3,032,617. A further example is shown in FIG. 2 (infra).

The disc 9 may be provided with a cam or special track, defining the end of the program thereon. When disc 9 has attained a position, cam 25 produces a completion pulse, for example, by temporatrily closing contacts 35 which thus connect a motor 18 to voltage source 36. Motor '18 drives a pinion 37 meshing with a rack 38 for transporting card 5. Upon energization of motor 18, a coil 44 receives current from source 36, and coil 44 attracts an armature 43 on a rail 42. The feeler contacts 6 are resiliently mounted on the rail 42 by means of leaf springs 45, and they are lifted when armature 43 is attracted by the energized coil 44. Thus, during card transport, any feeler 6 is being lifted out of any hole 26, respectively. Motor 18 also drives a cutout disc 39 operating upon contacts 40. The contacts 40 are normally open, but once motor 18 is being started by disc 9, there is a holding circuit provided by the closing of contacts 40 when cutout disc 39 moves out of resting position. After completion of one revolution, card 5 has been moved by one step, and motor 18 stops since the cutout opens contacts 40. The feelers 6 are lowered again and one will drop into a hole in punched card 5. It is pointed out, that the mode of driving motor 18 by one step is, for example disclosed in my Patent 3, 046,421. (The program disc 22 of this patent corresponds presently to the stepwise moved card 5, and the starting and stopping of motor 15 of that patent is controlled similarly by a disc 3 and a cutout disc 32 thereof.)

After card 5 has been transported by one step another lever 6 will make connection with contact rail 41 thus overbridging resistor 34 so that a gain armature total 10a is shifted axially into a position wherein pinion 32 meshes with gear 33 and disc 8 is being driven until the last-mentioned driving circuit is interrupted again.

FIG. 2 shows one possible construction of the' programme storer. In this case a printed circuit can be used and in each case, according to the position into which the control disc 9 is rotated by the sensing levers 6 or by the drive 10 over the impulse disc 8, the contacts 11 then sense, for example, on a contact track 19 correspondin g to the length of this contact track, a washing procedure of, for example, two minutes; then a pause takes place; a further switching track 21 has a length corresponding to the rinsing procedure, then a larger pause occurs and a final contact track 23 determines the centrifuging procedure and again, after the pause, a contact track 25 is provided which can be considered as the indication of completion and applies voltage to the drive 18 until this drive is again stopped by self-operated switching when the next sensing levers 6 are closed by appropriately disposed perforations in the perforated card 5.

The most varied programme storer discs 5 with the most varied lengths of washing, rinsing, centrifuging and heating, etc., can now be provided and in each case dependent upon the choice of these discs the programme is then composed. Moreover, the control discs 13 or programme storer discs can be driven with uniform speed or, however, the disc itself can switch itself on to different speeds by way of the drive 10.

FIG. 3 shows a perforated card 5 as is used in the perforated card transmitter 1 of rectangular form. In this case it is equally satisfactory whether the perforations be circular or angular, short or long, as has already been explained the movement of the perforated card takes place dependent upon function and not upon time. With this perforated card, for example, the upper line can determine the washing, the lower line rinsing, the line below that centrifuging, and the still lower line temperatures 35", and beneath that liquor heights, and in each case according to the contacts which close with the counter contacts in the perforations, the contacts sensing the programme storer disc are energised and with this actuate the individual programme switching by way of the resistance combinations which, for their part, are responsible for the time-wise run-0E of the programme switching, that is, the programme switch runs slowly if long times are switched in and can also run over or cross switch sections if a greater running speed occurs by reason of the resistance combination switched into the driving motor of the programme switch.

FIG. 4 shows a circular perforated card which can likewise be used in the perforated card transmitter. The

sensing levers are in this case appropriately arranged in another manner. With this the perforated card 7 can be used in the perforated card transmitter 1 instead of the perforated card 5. A

All possiblities are included within the scope of the application of the invention in which, by means of perforated card which indeed may be made by hand, it is de sired to predetermine a washing programme in all details, and this fully automatic control should be possible with a minimum expenditure in manufacturing and adjustment.

I claim:

1. Control device for fully automatic washing machines, comprising: a perforated card contact means sensing said perforations and producing an output responsive to predetermined combinations thereof; a device storing program sections, each section including time-dependent and functionally related program steps and being identified by perforations of said card; circuit means connected to said contact means, responsive to the output thereof and selecting a corresponding program section; further circuit means responsive to the content of said program sections; and means of advancing said card after run-off of a selected program section.

2. A fully automatic washing machine, comprising: an insertable card provided with a plurality of perforations defining sections of washing programs; a storage device of program sections; contacts sensing said perforations; circuit means responsive to the sensing of said contacts and activating a program section corresponding to the perforations sensed; and means for moving the perforated card after run-off of a program section.

3. A fully automatic washing machine as claimed in claim 2, said program storage device comprising a control cam disc with concentric switch cam tracks; sensing contacts adapted to slide over said tracks; driving means rotating said control disc in correspondence to the perforation of the perforated card into the appropriately preselected position.

4. A fully automatic washing machine as claimed in claim 2, said program storage device comprising a control disc rotated at uniform speed and having switch cam tracks of different length associated to the same procedure, selected from the following group of procedures, washing for three, five, seven, nine minutes, liquid height for a quarter, half, three-quarters, 1/ 1 state of filling, filling temperature for C., C., C., C., and rinsing for a first, a second, a third rinsing.

5. A fully automatic washing machine as claimed in claim 2 comprising: means for lifting said sensing levers before the perforated card is moved on to its next contact making position of the following perforation selecting the next program section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,003,852 Beattie June 4, 1935

Claims (1)

1. 2. A FULLY AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE, COMPRISING: AN INSERTABLE CARD PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF PERFORATIONS DEFINING SECTIONS OF WASHING PROGRAMS; A STORAGE DEVICE OF PROGRAM SECTIONS; CONTACTS SENSING SAID PERFORATIONS; CIRCUIT MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE SENSING OF SAID CONTACTS AND ACTIVATING A PROGRAM SECTION CORRESPONDING TO

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