US3610847A

US3610847A - Timing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3610847A
Application number: US845207A
Authority: US
Inventors: Grover K Houpt; Franklin W Kerfoot Jr
Original assignee: Automatic Timing and Controls Inc
Current assignee: AUTOMATIC TIMING & CONTROLS COMPANY Inc; Automatic Timing and Controls Inc
Priority date: 1969-07-28
Filing date: 1969-07-28
Publication date: 1971-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 1988-10-05
Also published as: FR2054651B1; DE2005572A1; JPS5032790B1; CH190470A4; DE2005572C3; GB1302591A; FR2054651A1; CH524851A; DE2005572B2; AT313613B

Abstract

A subtracting timer is shown in which there are a plurality of coaxial wheels having digital indicia thereupon. The wheels have associated cardioid cams associated with them which may be set before a timing interval by externally accessible setting pushbuttons, to any desired rotary position relative to the wheels. At the beginning of a timing interval a solenoid moves an assembly which actuates a load switch and also includes clutch means for transmitting rotary power from an appropriate source to the digit wheels and also includes means for enabling ''''carries'''' to be effected between adjacent digit wheels. During the timing interval, the setting of any digit wheel may be changed by pressing an override button and simultaneously pressing appropriate ones of the setting buttons, this all being done while the originally actuated load switch remains unaffected. The original movement of the assembly causes a plurality of cam-following rollers to be moved into contact with respective cam surfaces on the wheels. Only when the rollers simultaneously engage corresponding recesses in the cam surface does their resultant movement unlatch the arm of a second switch which turns the power source off whereupon the timer reverts to its reset state.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventors Grover K.Houpt Wayne; Franklin W. Kerfoot, Jr., Newton Square, both of Pa. [21] Appl. No. 845,207 [22] Filed July 28, 1969 [45] Patented Oct. 5, 1971 [73] Assignee Automatic Timing & Controls, Inc.

[54] TIMING APPARATUS 7 Claims, 16 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 200/38 R, 200/18, 235/132 R [51] Int. Cl H0lh 7/08, H0lh 43/ 10 [50] Field of Search 200/14, 17, 18, 38, 11TW; 74/568 T;235/103, 132 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,799,740 7/1957 Blackman 200/14 3,061,191 10/1962 Hultgren 235/132 X 3,257,535 6/1966 Sallin et a1. 200/38 X 3,441,210 4/1969 Moore et a1. 235/132 3,453,420 7/1969 Freese et al 235/132 3,456,123 7/1969 Pihl 200/38 X 3,499,127 3/1970 Cherry et al. ...200/11 (TW) X Primary Examiner]. R. Scott Attorneys-Nelson E. Kimmelman and Maleson, Kimmelman & Ratner ABSTRACT: A subtracting timer is shown in which there are a plurality of coaxial wheels having digital indicia thereupon. The wheels have associated cardioid cams associated with them which may be set before a timing interval by externally accessible setting pushbuttons, to any desired rotary position relative to the wheels. At the beginning of a timing interval a solenoid moves an assembly which actuates a load switch and also includes clutch means for transmitting rotary power from an appropriate source to the digit wheels and also includes means for enabling carries" to be effected between adjacent digit wheels. During the timing interval, the setting of any digit wheel may be changed by pressing an override button and simultaneously pressing appropriate ones of the setting buttons, this all being done while the originally actuated load switch remains unaffected. The original movement of the assembly causes a plurality of cam-following rollers to be moved into contact with respective cam surfaces on the wheels. Only when the rollers simultaneously engage corresponding recesses in the cam surface does their resultant movement unlatch the arm of a second switch which turns the power source off whereupon the timer reverts to its reset state.

PATENTEDOCT 5m 3610.847.

' sum 3 OF 8 A TTORNE' Y5 PATENIED 01:1 5 ISYI SHEET b 0F 8 INVENTORS. Fem/mm Z0. KieFoaZ Jg WW, WM m I ATTORNEYS TIMING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a timer and in particular to a digital timer of the settable, subtracting type.

2. Prior Art Most timers used for controlling industrial processes and the like have heretofore consisted of nondigital round face types wherein an'indicating am is rotated to select the desired time cycle. Often, however, the resetting of the timer is not exactly synchronous with the end of the timer cycle. Also, no prior art digital timing device is known in which, during the course of the timing cycle, the setting on the digit wheels may be changed without changing the condition of at least on switch which was actuated at the beginning of the timing cycle. This feature would be highly desirable in case, during a timing cycle, an operator wants to lengthen or shorten the cycle without turning off the timer completely. 1

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention comprises a digital timer having at least one switch which reverts to its condition just prior to the beginning of the timing cycle only when the digit wheels have simultaneously reverted to their reset position. It is characterized by including means during a timing cycle which permits resetting of the timing interval by manipulation of the digit wheels without thereby changing the condition of at least one switch which was actuated at the beginning of the particular timing cycle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the external appearance of the apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an isometric, partially exploded view of part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the apparatus pictured in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a right side, partially sectional, elevation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 when it is in a timing or counting cycle.

FIG. 5 is a partially sectional and broken away right side elevation view of the apparatusshown in FIG. 1 showing the mechanism in a nontiming or noncounting condition.

FIG. 6 is a left side elevation, partly broken away and partially sectional of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and shown in a timing or counting condition.

FIG. 7 is a partial left elevation and partially sectional view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the mechanism in a nontiming position.

FIG. 8 is a plan view, partially sectional, of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the section line 9-9 in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view, partly in section of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a partly sectional view taken along the line 12-12 in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of one digit wheel assembly taken along the line 13-13 in FIG. 12.

FIG. I4 is an exploded isometric view of one digit wheel assembly of the apparatus shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. I5 is a sectional view taken along the line 15-15 in FIG. 9 and showing the apparatus in a nontiming condition.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along the line 16-16 in FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to FIG. I, 2 and 3 in particular there is shown indicated generally at the numeral 20 a subtracting timer or counter constructed in accordance with the present invention.

by means of nuts and bolts as shown to the open end of a hollow cylindrical terminal and socket housing 24. Through the window 26 of the face plate there are shown digits representing a predetermined time interval or count, these digits appearing upon a plurality of number or digit wheels indicated generally at numeral 30. Also, through appropriate apertures formed in the face plate 22 there protrude corresponding setting pushbuttons 32. These pushbuttons 32 are for setting the digit wheels 30 to the desired time or count setting, the timer thereafter, in operation, counting down from the preset number to the so-called timeout" or zero wheel position in which all the wheels visible through the window show zero's. There is also an override pushbutton 34 protruding through an opening in the face plate 22 which, if pressed inward when the timer 20 is in a timing or counting position will prevent further counting or timing. When this button 34 is so depressed, it is then possible to press any of the reset buttons 32 to change the setting of the digit wheels 30.

The plastic cylindrical housing 24 has mounted on its rear a number of terminals 41, each tenninal being connected by conductive connections inwardly of the housing 40 to appropriate sockets that are engaged by male plugs 44 (FIG. 4). The male plugs 44 are mounted upon a plastic mounting block 46 which is itself mounted by studs 47 (FIG. 4) to the front plate 24.

A motor 50 (FIG. 4) which may either be of the synchronous, continuous type or a pulsed type is mounted to the rear of block 46. Its shaft is connected to a driving gear 5I that meshes with a pinion 52 mounted at one end of a long shaft 53. On the other end of the shaft 53 there is a pinion 55 which, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 12, drives by means of teeth 59a of intermediate gear 59 that is mounted upon shaft 63. Rotation of the intermediate gear 59 will not, however, cause rotation of the least significant one (lowest in FIG. 12) of the digit wheels 30 unless there is a meshing of gear 59 with the laterally movable pinion 64. Pinion 64 and a plurality of mutilated pinions 65 are mounted on a movable shaft 67 which (during the timing or counter cycle) is impelled forward toward and into engagement with the digit wheels by linkage associated with solenoid 69 as will be explained later. The forward and rearward movement of the shaft 67 is limited by the

slots

79a and 78a (FIGS. 4, 7, 12) in which shaft ends 670 and 67b ride.

Nontiming or Noncounting Condition Normally, the apparatus 20 is in a nontiming position. The mechanism is shown in this position in FIGS. 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, ll, 12, l3, 15.

In the nontiming position the solenoid 69 is not actuated and its armature 71 is in its uppermost position. Pivotally attached to the armature 71 are linkage members 72 and 73 which are mounted for rotation about shaft 40 whose ends are journaled in apertures formed in U-shaped bracket 41. These linkage members normally move in unison but when the override button 34 is pressed in, only the member 73 moves because its associated spring l04b is weaker than 104a and thus can move counterclockwise (FIG. 4) whereas member 72 is unaffected. Pat 74 is pivotally connected between member 73 and a pivoting assembly 75 with which it may be integrally formed. Assembly 75 rotates about a shaft 77 having its ends journaled in brackets 79 and 78 that are attached to the front face plate 22. The assembly 75 includes a plurality of finger arms 81, which are mounted on the shaft 77 and which engage notches in cardioid cam members 83 in the nontiming position (FIG. 10). When so engaged, the timing wheels 30 may be reset by pressing in appropriate ones of the pushbuttons 32. The assembly 75 also is mounted for conjoint action with the mutilated pinions 65 and the clutch or drive gear 64. These pinions and gears, which are mounted on shaft 67 (that is itself mounted in assembly 75), move laterally forward or backward as explained elsewhere in the respective timing and nontiming The timer 20 has a removable face plate 22 which is mounted 75 positions.

Each ,pushbutton 32 has an interior shaft portion 32a whose innermost end passes through a hole in a bracket 84 and the pushbutton 32 is normally maintained in its most outward position by virtue of a spring 85 around the shaft 32a. There is also connected to each pushbutton, a generally U-shaped member 87 mounted in a recessed portion 32b of the pushbutton by means of a pivot pin 88. A spring 86 is associated with each member 88 and normally urges it in a generally clockwise position as viewed in FIG. about its pivot pin 88. However, it will be seen that the faceplate 22 has an inwardly projecting shelf 220 that limits the clockwise movements of the member 87 when the pushbutton 32 is not depressed so that the upper end of member 87 cannot then engage any of the horizontal side teeth 30a of the digit wheels 30.

In this nontiming position (with the finger arms 81 engaging the notches 83a of the cardioid earns 83) the digit wheels 30 may have their setting changed. On pressure exerted on the pushbutton 32, the member 87 swings upward under the influence of spring 88 and engages the space between two of the side teeth 30a and at the end of the inward stroke of the pushbutton moves the digit wheel 30 down (clockwise, FIG. 10) by one digit position. It is necessary to depress the pushbutton 32 a number of times if the change from the previous setting is more than one digit.

It should be noted that in the nontiming position as shown in FIG. 10, the assembly portion 75a rests on the end 90b of the pivoting lever member 90 but does not move it counterclockwise. Hence the lower leg of each of the members 87 is not impeded by the end 90a during the inward stroke thus enabling the setting of the associated digit wheel to be changed.

Digit Wheel Assembly It will be noted that the digit wheel 30 is part of an entire assembly which is constructed to enable the digit wheel to be moved relative to other parts thereof such as the cardioid cam 83. The construction of the assembly is shown in exploded view in FIG. 14 and consists of digit wheel 30 having formed integrally therewith a tubular shaft-engaging portion 30b. On one side it has setting teeth 30a; on the other it has two carry teeth 30h. The portion 33 has angled surfaces 30d and oppositely angled surfaces 30c which are engaged by correspondingly angled surfaces of two plastic toothlike members 31a. These members are urged outwardly because of the outward bias of the spring member 30f whose ends engage the inner grooves of the members 31a. The members 31a are disposed within spaces provided between portions 82a which are formed integral with the disc 82 on which is located the heartshaped cam 83. When the digit wheel assembly is assembled as shown in FIG. 13, the disc 82 and its associated parts are yieldably detented in any one of the ten digit positions relative to the settable digit wheel 30 by inward pressure on the buttons 32.

The cardioid cam 83 is formed integrally on a disclike member 82 having a hollow axial tubular portion 820 that is designed to fit around the shaft portion 30b and snaps over the end 303 of the shaft.

When the finger arms 81 are engaging the notches, 83a in the cardioid cams and the pushbuttons 32 are being pressed inwardly to change the digit settings, the wheels 30 will be rotated stepwise for each inward stroke whereas the

members

30f, 31, 82 and 83 will remain in fixed position relative to the shaft 63. It will be noted that the arcuate indentations 30} will have their angular position changed by stepwise rotation of the wheel 30, relative to the earns 83 and to the shaft 63 on which they are mounted.

Timeout Rollers 92 and Their Associated Assembly It will be seen that the indentations 30; are respectively engaged by corresponding rollers 92 that are mounted on a shaft 93 that is journaled between opposed outer bracket members 94, there also being a cross member 95 joining both members 94. The members 94 themselves are pivotally mounted on a horizontal shaft 96 that is journaled between bracket members 97 which are attached to faceplate 22.

There is also mounted on the shaft 96 a projecting timeout release arm 98 having a hooked end portion 98a. The arm 98 is normally urged clockwise (FIG. 15) with respect to the member by means of a biasing spring 99. In the nontiming position the rollers 92 and the member 98 are maintained in the position shown in FIGS. 10 and 16 by means of the pressure of cam 99 against larger cam-following roller 101 mounted coaxial with the digit wheel engaging rollers 92 and at the left end of the shaft 93. The cam 99 exerts a slight upward pressure against the opposite bias exerted by springs 100. In this position, the rollers 92 are held clear of the circular surface 30k (FIG. 15) in which the depressions 30] are Switches In the nontiming or noncounting position, the linkage assembly between the solenoid 69 and the finger arms and clutch and mutilated pinions is in the position shown in FIGS. 7. There is a horizontal pin 105 at the rear end of member 72 which couples it to the armature 71. The pin 105 also extends inwardly past member 72 and, when the solenoid is actuated, moves downward to cause switch arm 107 to pivot about pivot 118. However, in the nontiming position shown in FIG. 7 the button 106a of switch 106 is not depressed by the arm 107. Of course, the switch 106 may be a double switch having two push buttons if desired. The switch 106 is mounted to the bracket 41 by means of a retaining plate 108 that is screwed thereto.

In the same nontiming position, there is another switch actuating arm 110 which pivots around a pivot point 111 and has its upper end captured by the hook portion 98a. In this position, the lever 110 depresses the buttons of the double switch [12 which is mounted by means of a retaining plate 113 also to the bracket 41. The lever H0 is brought into the position shown in FIG. 7 by the action of the member 115 which is mounted on the shaft 77 and moves in unison with the finger arms 81, the cam 99, etc.

In the nontiming position the inward movement of override pushbutton 34 does not produce any mechanical effect.

Timing Operation Referring now, in particular, to FIGS. 4 and 6, once the selection of timing interval is made by pressing in on selected ones of the pushbuttons 32 the timer 20 may commence operation by energization of the solenoid 69 and the motor 50 by operation of any external switch (not shown). The solenoid 69 pulls down the armature '11 which causes the

linkage members

72, 73, 74, 75 to move generally clockwise against the natural bias of the springs 104a,b. This action will cause the finger arms 81 to be moved out of the notches 83a in the cardioid members 83. This generally clockwise action is limited by the movement of the shaft 67 until it is stopped by the forward ends of the

slots

78a and 79a in the brackets 78 and 79. Furthermore, the clockwise movement of the portion 75i a of the member 75 causes the member 90 to pivot clockwise to the position shown in FIG. 4 (or in phantom in FIG. 10). It will be seen that when the end 90a is raised in this position and the pushbuttons 32 are pressed inwardly, the members 87 (FIG. 10) will have their lower legs cammed downward by the tapered end surface of the portion 900, so that the higher legs will not be able to engage the spaces between the teeth 30a. Accordingly, once timing has begun, it is not possible (without operating the override button 34) to alter the settings of the digit wheels simply by pressing the buttons 32.

Actuation of the solenoid 69 and the consequent shifting forward of the shah 67 through the movement of

linkage members

72, 73, 74 and 75 toward the face plate 22 will cause the idler clutch gear 64 to engage gear 59 and gear 60 which is attached for rotation with the least significant digit wheel 30.

Thereupon, rotation of shaft 53 and the meshing of drive gear 55 with side teeth 59a of gear 59 will cause the latter to drive idler 64 which will transmit its motion to gear 60 with the result that the least significant digit wheel 30 will begin to revolve. A carry" action is effected by rotation of the least significant digit wheel when its carry teeth 30]: (FIGS. 12 and 14) engage one of the teeth of the associated mutilated pinion .gear 65. These gears have also been brought forward by the shift of the shaft 67 when timing commenced.

Rotation of the mutilated pinion causes the adjacent digit wheel 30 to move one-tenth of its angular rotation thereby decreasing with digit visible through the faceplate by one. When not engaged engaged with wheels 30 the pinions 65 are maintained in their proper rotary position by resilient members 66 that are screwed to member 75.

Upon actuation of the solenoid 69 the horizontal pin 105 connected to the linkage member 72 presses down upon switch actuation plate 107 which thereupon changes the condition of the switch 106 by depressing the pushbutton 106a. Switch 106 is mounted on bracket 41 by means of retaining plate 108. If desired, there may be other switches mounted in parallel with switch 106.

When the solenoid is actuated and the member 75 turns about the shaft 77 the cam member 99 (FIG. 16), which is fixedly mounted next to the most left one of the finger arms 81 is moved counterclockwise (into the position shown in phantom in FIG. 16). Before assuming that position it had kept all of the timing rollers 92 from engaging the edges of the digit wheels 30 in which arcuate depressions 30] are formed. It had accomplished this by the action of its comer portion 99a which kept the cam roller 101, the shaft 93 on which it is mounted (together with the rollers 92), and the

bracket

94, 95 in its counterclockwise position (as viewed in FIG. 16). When the solenoid is actuated and the cam 99 moves counterclockwise, the roller 101 is free to move downward with the rollers 92 and the bracket 95. The rollers 92 then are able to engage the edge surfaces 30!: in which arcuate portions 30j are formed. When all of the digit wheels 30 have revolved such that all of the arcuate depression 30j are simultaneously engaged by the rollers 92, the assembly comprising rollers 92, and

members

94, 95, 96, and 98 will pivot counterclockwise (FIG. under the influence of springs 100 (FIG. 8) and the hook end 98a will release the lever 117 which will be pivoted counterclockwise (FIG. 7) by the pressure of the button of switch 112 thus changes condition, it can be used to turn off the motor or for deenergizing the solenoid or for any other switching purposes denoting the end of the timing period.

RESET DURING TIMING While the solenoid is down in the timing position, the mutilated pinions 65 respectively make contact with the teeth 30a of the digit'wheels 30. The shaft 67 on which the mutilated pinions are mounted protrudes at each end from its supporting brackets. During the timing cycle, it has been previously explained that pressing in pushbuttons 32 will not serve to advance any of the digit wheels by one digit. However, during the timing cycle it is possible to press in the override pushbutton 34 and then, while holding it in, reset any ones of the digit wheels by pressing pushbuttons 32. Pushbutton 34 is pivotally connected at its inner end to a member 35 having at its free end a bifurcated portion consisting of two elongated portions 35a and 35b and a space 35c between them. Disposed in the space is a horizontal pin 36 which, as the pushbutton 34 is pressed in, will raise the member 35 on its inward travel until shoulder 35d abuts the shaft 67. This, in turn, will push the shaft 67 and the associated linkage members 73, 74, 75 as well as the finger arms 81 and cam 99, into the nontiming position. Note that linkage member 72 is not affected because its biasing spring 104a is much stronger than the biasing spring 104b associated with member 73, and the solenoid 69 exerts a strong pull on member 72. Thus, the actuating arm 107 of switch 106 will be kept down by the pin 105 and hence the condition of switch 106 will not change. This means that there is no instantaneous disabling or other effect on the external load when

buttons

34 and 32 are simultaneously actuated is to lengthen or shorten the balance of the then current timing cycle and subsequent cycles as well. When the button 34 is pressed in the finger arms 81 will engage the notches in the cardioid cams 83 whereupon pressure upon appropriate ones of the pushbuttons 32 will effect the setting of the digit wheels to the desired digit.

END OF CYCLE AND RESET When the solenoid is deenergized, it releases its downward pull on linkage members 72-75 which pivot counterclockwise (FIG. 15) to enable the horizontal pin portion a of the member 115 to guide the upper part of the lever 117 forward until its upper end slips past portion 98a where it is then held until the next timing cycle is started and completed and reset occurs.

Also, as soon as the timing cycle has been completed and the solenoid has been deenergized the finger arms 81 will reset the digit wheels to their starting positions. The arms do this by moving counterclockwise (FIG. 4) until their terminal portions 81a touch the edges of the cardioid cams 83. In conventional fashion they will cause cams 83 and their associated discs 82 and digit wheels 30 to rotate until the projections 81!: meet shoulders 83b and drop into notches 83a. The digits facing outward through window 26 will then be those from which the subtracting countdown was made during the previous timing cycle, or the ones to which they were set during the previous timing cycle by simultaneous inward pressure of

buttons

34 and 32.

While the invention has been described in terms of a timer, it is evident that its use can also be adapted to counters. For example, if there were no synchronous motor 50 but, instead, the shaft 53 were coupled to a rotating device, the apparatus would count revolutions down from the predetennined number to the zero setting at which time switches or other devices would be actuated in the same manner. Also, instead of the synchronous motor 50, there could be an impulse motor which would produce rotation of the shaft 53 in increments instead of continuously. Thus, if the shaft 53 rotated once per impulse, the apparatus would function as an impulse counter.

I claim:

1. Apparatus comprising:

a. a predetermined number of rotary members having a portion bearing indicia thereupon and having respective detent portions, said members including means for enabling said detent portions and said indicia-bearing portions to be adjusted into a desired mutual positional relation,

b. means for causing at least one of said rotary members to rotate,

c. clutch means which, when activated, enables rotary motion to be transmitted from said (b) means to said one of said rotary members,

d. a plurality of reset means for automatically resetting said rotary members to the same selected position at the beginning of each cycle of operation of said apparatus, said reset means moving in unison with movement of said clutch means for respectively engaging said associated detent portions when said clutch means is not transmitting motion from said (b) means to said one rotary member,

e. a plurality of setting means respectively associated with said rotary members for adjusting the respective positions of said associated indicia-bearing portions relative to the positions of the respective detent portions when said reset means engage said detent portions,

f. means including switch actuating means coupled to said rotary members from the beginning of an operating cycle for detecting the occurrence of a predetermined coincident position of said rotary members and moving in response thereto, and

g. switch means coupled to said switch-actuating means and arranged to change condition upon the movement of said (f) means when said coincident position is detected. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 with the addition of means for disabling said plurality of setting means when said plurality of reset means do not engage said first detent portions.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 with the addition of (i) means for inactivating said clutch means and said disabling means and causing said reset means to engage said first detent portions during a timing cycle to enable said setting means to adjust the setting of any of said rotary members.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 with the addition of second switch means and means for actuating said clutch means, said last-named means including means for actuating said second switch means when said clutch means is actuated.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said means for actuating said clutch means includes means for enabling said clutch means to be inactivated without inactivating said second switch means.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said means for enabling said clutch means to be inactivated without inactivating said second switch means includes linkage means coupled to said clutch means and having a yieldable link therein, said yieldable link being normally biased by a spring to a first position.

7. Timing apparatus comprising: a. a plurality of rotary members bearing digital indicia thereupon, said members being settable to respective predetermined rotary positions, b. a first assembly movable to first and second positions,

said assembly including 1. a plurality of rotary position setting means which engage respective ones of said rotary members for enabling setting thereof to any rotary position,

2. clutch means for transmitting rotary motion from a power source to at least one of said rotary members,

3. a plurality of gear means,

4. cam means and 5. switch-actuating means, all of the means of said first assembly being mounted for movement in unison, said first assembly when moved into said first position being such that said plurality of rotary position setting means engage said rotary members and said clutch and said plurality of gear means are disengaged from said rotary members whereas said switch-actuating means is in position to actuate a switch to a first condition, said first assembly when disposed in said second position causing said plurality of rotary position setting means to be disengaged from said rotary members and said clutch and gear means to engage said rotary members and said switchactuating means is not in a position to cause said switch to be actuated,

c. a second assembly movable to at least first and second positions which includes 1. a plurality of detecting means that may respectively engage said rotary members,

2. a cam-follower mounted for engagement with said cam means, and

3. latching means, all of said components of said second assembly being mounted for movement in unison, said second assembly being moved into its first position when said first assembly is in its first position and said cam means has urged said cam-follower upwards whereupon said detecting means do not engage said rotary members, said second assembly being moved into its second position when said cam means permits said cam follower to move downward thereby enabling said detecting means to engage respective ones of said rotary members and said latching means is in position to latch the switch arm of said switch, said second assembly also being moved into its third position when said detecting means simultaneously engage respective predetermined ortions of said rotary members whereupon said atchlng means moves to unlatch said switch arm.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising: a. a predetermined number of rotary members having a portion bearing indicia thereupon and having respective detent portions, said members including means for enabling said detent portions and said indicia-bearing portions to be adjusted into a desired mutual positional relation, b. means for causing at least one of said rotary members to rotate, c. clutch means which, when activated, enables rotary motion to be transmitted from said (b) means to said one of said rotary members, d. a plurality of reset means for automatically resetting said rotary members to the same selected position at the beginning of each cycle of operation of said apparatus, said reset means moving in unison with movement of said clutch means for respectively engaging said associated detent portions when said clutch means is not transmitting motion from said (b) means to said one rotary member, e. a plurality of setting means respectively associated with said rotary members for adjusting the respective positions of said associated indicia-bearing portions relative to the positions of the respective detent portions when said reset means engage said detent portions, f. means including switch actuating means coupled to said rotary members from the beginning of an operating cycle for detecting the occurrence of a predetermined coincident position of said rotary members and moving in response thereto, and g. switch means coupled to said switch-actuating means and arranged to change condition upon the movement of said (f) means when said coincident position is detected.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 with the addition of means for disabling said plurality of setting means when said plurality of reset means do not engage said first detent portions.

2. a cam-follower mounted for engagement with said cam means, and

3. latching means, all of said components of said second assembly being mounted for movement in unison, said second assembly being moved into its first position when said first assembly is in its first position and said cam means has urged said cam-follower upwards whereupon said detecting means do not engage said rotary members, said second assembly being moved into its second position when said cam means permits said cam follower to move downward thereby enabling said detecting means to engage respective ones of said rotary members and said latching means is in position to latch the switch arm of said switch, said second assembly also being moved into its third position when said detecting means simultaneously engage respective predetermined portions of said rotary members whereupon said latching means moves to unlatch said switch arm.

3. a plurality of gear means,

4. cam means and

5. switch-actuating means, all of the means of said first assembly being mounted for movement in unison, said first assembly when moved into said first position being such that said plurality of rotary position setting means engage said rotary members and said dutch and said plurality of gear means are disengaged from said rotary members whereas said switch-actuating means is in position to actuate a switch to a first condition, said first assembly when disposed in said second position causing said plurality of rotary position setting means to be disengaged from said rotary members and said clutch and gear means to engage said rotary members and said switch-actuating means is not in a position to cause said switch to be actuated, c. a second assembly movable to at least first and second positions which includes

7. Timing apparatus comprising: a. a plurality of rotary members bearing digital indicia thereupon, said members being settable to respective predetermined rotary positions, b. a first assembly movable to first and second positions, said assembly including