Apparatus for controlling machine functions

Claim 2

Apparatus for controlling sequential machine functions comprising: program means for establishing the sequence in which a plurality of machine function requirements are due, a first plurality of indicator means for indicating respective ones of such function requirements due in sequence, coincidence monitor means for monitoring the meeting of respective function requirements and for generating advance signals as function requirements due are performed, a second plurality of indicator means equal in number to said first plurality and disposed in correlated relation thereto for indicating respective ones of such function requirements preformed, and sequencer means for advancing the program means in response to advance signals from the coincidence monitor means.

Claim 3

Apparatus for controlling sequential machine functions comprising: program means for establishing the sequence in which a plurality of machine function requirements are due, a first plurality of indicator means for indicating respective ones of such function requirements due in sequence, coincidence monitor means for monitoring the meeting of respective function requirements and for generating advance signals as function requirements due are performed, a second plurality of indicator means equal in number to said first plurality and disposed in correlated relation thereto for indicating respective ones of such function requirements preformed, and sequencer means for advancing the program means in response to advance signals from the coincidence monitor means.

Claim 4

Apparatus for controlling sequential machine functions comprising: program means for establishing the sequence in which a plurality of machine function requirements are due, a first plurality of indicator means for indicating respective ones of such function requirements due in sequence, coincidence monitor means for monitoring the meeting of respective function requirements and for generating advance signals as function requirements due are performed, a second plurality of indicator means equal in number to said first plurality and disposed in correlated relation thereto for indicating respective ones of such function requirements preformed, and sequencer means for advancing the program means in response to advance signals from the coincidence monitor means.

Claim 5

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second indicator means each includes a plurality of lights, a support panel for the lights, the lights being arranged such that each light of the first indicator means is paired adjacent a light of the second indicator means representing a corresponding machine function.

Claim 6

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means for placing the first and second indicator means in a reference condition upon completion of the sequence.

Claim 7

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the program means comprises an encoder having a plurality of input signal lines which are sequentially energized by the sequencer means and a plurality of output lines representing machine functions, the encoder being programmed to produce a precorrelated energization of output lines in response to the sequential energization of input lines.

Claim 8

Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the encoder is a diode matrix.

Claim 9

Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the first indicator means comprises a plurality of signal devices, respective devices being connected to be energized upon energization of the input lines.

Claim 10

Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the diode matrix includes a two-dimensional circuit board and a plurality of removable diode pins for establishing connections between the input and output lines.

Claim 11

Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the sequencer means comprises a plurality of signal stages each having an input and an output, the outputs being connected to the input lines of the encoder to sequentially energize said input lines, the output of each stage being further connected to the input of the next stage to provide a progressive, sequential actuation thereof.

Claim 12

Apparatus as defined in claim 4 including a plurality of converter means for increasing the power level of signals appearing on respective encoder output lines.

Claim 13

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the sequencer means comprises a two-dimensional array of logic elements each having two inputs and an output, means for generating number sequences, first decoder means responsive to the numbers in the sequences for selecting rows of inputs in the array, and second decoder means responsive to the numbers in the sequences for selecting columns of inputs in the array thereby coincidentally selecting for energization one logic element for each number in a sequence.

Claim 14

Apparatus as defined in claim 10 including means for applying advance signals from the coincidence monitor means to the first and second decoder means to increment the number sequences generated thereby.

Claim 15

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the coincidence monitor means comprises an encoder having a plurality of input signal lines connected to be sequentially energized by the sequencer means and a plurality of output lines corresponding to respective machine functions, the encoder being programmed to produce energization of at least one output foR each input line, and a plurality of signal comparator means each having two inputs and an output which is energized when all required signals are present at the inputs, one input of each comparator means being connected to be energized by an encoder output line representing a requirement due and the other input being connected to be energized upon completion of a corresponding machine function representing a requirement met.

Claim 16

Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein the encoder is a programmable diode matrix.

Claim 17

Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein at least some of the comparator means have the inputs thereof connected through logic elements to indicate coincidence thereof with other machine requirements.

Claim 18

Apparatus as defined in claim 14 including means controlled by said logic elements for inhibiting selected machine functions according to the state of coincidence between such machine functions and other machine functions.

Claim 19

Apparatus as defined in claim 12 including a plurality of converter means connecting machine function signal sources representing requirements met to said other comparator inputs for decreasing the power level of the signals from said sources.

Claim 20

Apparatus as defined in claim 16 including, as a machine function signal source, a limit switch.

Claim 21

Apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein each of the converter means includes a light source controlled by the machine function signal source, and a photosensitive element activated by the light source.

Claim 22

Apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein the first indicator means are connected to be energized by respective output lines of the encoder means, and the second indicators are connected to be energized by respective machine function signal sources.

Claim 23

Apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein each of the first and second indicator means is a plurality of low voltage lights.

Claim 24

Apparatus as defined in claim 20 including a display panel, the lights of the first and second indicator means being arranged on the panel in pairs representing corresponding machine functions.

Claim 25

Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein the comparator means are connected in a serial relationship to provide an output signal whenever all requirements due for a single energized encoder output line are met, the output signal being connected to advance the sequencer means.

Claim 26

Apparatus as defined in claim 14 including a timer, the output of the timer being connected through a logic element to a comparator means to indicate coincidence thereof with at least one other machine function.

Claim 27

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including at least one motive power means connected to be energized by the program means.

Claim 28

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a plurality of magnetic reed relays connected to be closed in sequence by the program means, and machine function generators connected in circuit with the relays to be energized thereby.

Claim 29

A machine function sequence controller comprising: a sequence signal generator responsive to advance inputs to generate outputs on respective signal lines; a first programmable encoder matrix having plural inputs connected to receive the outputs from the sequence signal generator and plural outputs which are energized in predetermined combinations to effect machine functions responses; a plurality of output power level converters for connecting the outputs of the programmable encoder matrix to respective machine function generators for increasing the power level of signals applied thereto; a second encoder matrix having plural inputs connected to receive the outputs from the sequence signal generator and plural outputs which are energized in predetermined combinations to establish machine function requirements; a first plurality of indicator lights for indicating said requirements as they become due; a comparator having plural comparison input pairs and plural outputs, the outputs of the second matrix being connected to respective inputs of said pairs, a plurality of machine function signal generators for signalling the completion of machine functions; a plurality of input power level converters for decreasing the power level of respective signals from the signal generators and being connected to respective other inputs of said input pairs; a second plurality of indicator lights for indicating said requirements as they are completed; the second indicator lights being paired proximate first indicator lights of corresponding function; the comparator being responsive to the completion of all requirements for each step of the sequence to generate and apply advance signals to the sequence signal generator.

Claim 30

A machine function sequence controller comprising: a sequence signal generator responsive to advance inputs to generate outputs on respective signal lines; a first programmable encoder matrix having plural inputs connected to receive the outputs from the sequence signal generator and plural outputs which are energized in predetermined combinations to effect machine functions responses; a plurality of output power level converters for connecting the outputs of the programmable encoder matrix to respective machine function generators for increasing the power level of signals applied thereto; a second encoder matrix having plural inputs connected to receive the outputs from the sequence signal generator and plural outputs which are energized in predetermined combinations to establish machine function requirements; a first plurality of indicator lights for indicating said requirements as they become due; a comparator having plural comparison input pairs and plural outputs, the outputs of the second matrix being connected to respective inputs of said pairs, a plurality of machine function signal generators for signalling the completion of machine functions; a plurality of input power level converters for decreasing the power level of respective signals from the signal generators and being connected to respective other inputs of said input pairs; a second plurality of indicator lights for indicating said requirements as they are completed; the second indicator lights being paired proximate first indicator lights of corresponding function; the comparator being responsive to the completion of all requirements for each step of the sequence to generate and apply advance signals to the sequence signal generator.

Claim 31

Apparatus for controlling cycles of sequential machine functions comprising: a program matrix responsive to energize inputs for establishing the sequence in which a plurality of machine requirements are due; sequencer means for applying a series of energizing inputs to the program matrix, input means for signalling the meeting of machine requirements, coincidence means for comparing the requirements due to the requirements met as indicated by the input means, and means for indicating the sequence of coincidence between requirements due and met during any cycle.

Claim 32

Apparatus for controlling cycles of sequential machine functions comprising: a program matrix responsive to energize inputs for establishing the sequence in which a plurality of machine requirements are due; sequencer means for applying a series of energizing inputs to the program matrix, input means for signalling the meeting of machine requirements, coincidence means for comparing the requirements due to the requirements met as indicated by the input means, and means for indicating the sequence of coincidence between requirements due and met during any cycle.