US3621264A - Method and apparatus for providing a cyclic supply of sequences proportional to a given fraction of the duration of a working cycle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a programming process and device which provides a cyclic supply of sequences proportional to a given fractional part of the actual duration of a working cycle, particularly of a machine, such sequence being set by the signals produced by two sensitized units, both of which can be either in a sensitized state or in a nonsensitized state.

Description

States atent [11] 3,2120

[72] Inventor cls m1 [50] Field all h 250/219 Q, Fleury-les-Aul 1 m 219 D, 233, 237; 137/624. 15, 624.16 [21] Appl. No. 011,120 [22] Filed May 27, 1969 WMEWEWS [45] Patented Nov. 16, 11971 UNITED STATES PATENTS 731 Assignee Service D'Ep Industrial fies 2,431,591 11/1947 SnyderJr. et al. 250/233 mm 2,994,000 7/1961 Schoppelrey 250/233 1 Flam 3,198,966 8/1965 Roberts 250/233 )4 [2g] Pnomy 9, 11 3,286,096 1 1/1966 lFinlay 250/233 X OTHER REFERENCES Moore, Positioning Mechanism, IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin,Vol. 3,N0. 10, March. l9 61,pp. 126-27.

Primary Examiner llames W. Lawrence Assistant ExaminerT. N. Gligsby 54 ME 3 M010 AND APPTUS FOR PROM/G A Attorney-Seidel, Gonda & Goldhammevr Clr'lClLlfi SUPPLY OF SlFQUENQES l 1 v 1 j l i 1 TRON OW ABS/MIT: The invention relates to a programming process 112 WWW s mmwmg m and device which provldes a cycllc supply of sequences pro portional to a gwen fractional part of the actual duration of a [52] ILLS. Cl 250/219 0, working cycle, particularly of a machine, sucl1 sequence being l37/624.l5, l37/624.l6,250/233, 250/239 set by the signals produced by two sensitized units, both of [5 1] m1. lCll G010] 21/30, which can be either in a sensitized state or in a nonsensitized Golds/36, 11-101," 5/02 state METlHlUlD APPTUS FUR lilltOlNG A CifClLllC SUPPLY 01F SEQUENCES PRQPORTJIONAL TO A GWEN FRAETHGN F THE DUMTHUN OF A WUG CYCLE Programming units which include signal detectors such as photoemittent cells generally lighted by a pencil of rays and controlled once the light is cut oh by a mobile screen so as to produce a signal which provides a given program, are already well known. Though these devices ofier advantages, their comparatively limited performances in the case of a short cycle involves inconveniences. As a matter of fact, when this happens, the change of the detectors state becomes too fast and, in particular, the frequency of these changes becomes too high.

The object of the invention is to make the duration required for the change of state of the signal detectors have no effect upon the programming and also to cut down the frequency of these changes of state whatever is the duration of the programming sequence.

The invention relates to this end to a programming process, particularly for machines, designed for the cyclical supply of sequences proportional to a given fractional part of the actual duration of each cycle, in which the duration of each sequence is controlled by the information received concerning the state of two sensitized units both of which can be in two specific states, i.e. sensitized or not sensitized, such process being featured by the fact that the state of each of said sensitized units is systematically maintained identical to itself during the half of the actual duration of each current cycle.

According to another feature of the invention, the sensitized units used for all the sequences are so arranged as to change of state during the same half of the duration of each cycle.

The invention also relates to a device including at least one signal transmitter so designed as to transmit from a central point signals in a number of various directions, and also including signal detectors set around the transmitter along fixed positions, such detectors changing from an active state to an inert state according to whether they receive or do not receive signals from the source, including also means receiving information from these detectors, and a screen revolving around the transmitter designed to intercept the signals transmitted by the latter so as to prevent these signals from being received by the detectors, said revolving screen making one revolution around its axis during the actual space of time of each cycle to be programmed, and featured by the fact said screen is so shaped as to intercept the signals directed towards each detector during approximately the half of the space of time of each cycle.

The invention also relates to machines fitted with a programming device according to the invention or to any other similar device.

Other uses and advantages of the invention will appear from the description made hereunder and from the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of a working-out process of an assembly according to the invention;

MG. 2 is a perspective view of an assembly according to that of FIG. 11;

MG. 3 shows the wiring diagram of a circuit controlled by a photocell unit;

HO. 4 shows, in a synoptic way, the diagram of the circuit which controls the instant and the duration of a program releasing in the course of a working cycle.

Fit]. 5 is a diagam showing the process used for obtaining the releasing information as from two photocell units.

The programming unit according to the invention is basically formed of (see FIG. I) a fixed cylinder 11 at the inside part of which rotates a screen 2 having the shape of an arc of circle.

ln the designing example shown, opaque screen 2 is a semicylinder, which means that its angle at the center is l80..

This screen 2 rotates coaxially to cylinder 1 and they include along their axis a light source which is bulb 3.

Cylinder 1 bears on at least one part of its circumference, apertures d regularly spaced out, and in the designing example shown (see FIG. 2) these apertures are set along a 180 angle at the center. They may be set along several rows, n, for instance, the apertures of each row being staggered by l/nnth of pitch with respect to the apertures of the preceding row. Drum 11, for instance, will bear two rows of apertures and 4,, the consecutive apertures of each rows forming a 5 angle at the center, the apertures of these two rows being staggered by 2,30 min.

All around cylinder 11 and in front of one or several of these apertures d, are set photocells units preferably made of ptoresistors, in such way as they can be scanned by the pencil of rays created by source 3 or cut off by screen 2. Thus, if screen 2 rotates in the direction of arrow F and if the start of each programming cycle is carried out by using a cell placed at origin point M, this cell placed at point M may be considered as sensitized from 0 to 180 and cut off from 180 to 0.

It will be noted that, if point M is taken as the point of screen 2 must be set at the start of each programming cycle in such way as its rear edge 2, will be in front of point M and its front edge 2 will be in front of point marked 180.

On the other hand, if a photocell is set along N at two pitches from M, such cell N will be sensitized from 10 to 190 and cut off from 190 to 10.

Consequently, if rotating screen 2 driven in synchronism with the programmed machine, accurate programming information will be obtained during the course of each rotation cycle.

Each photocell such as 5 (FIG. 3 for instance is fitted through a resistor bridge R.,, R, on a transistor TR,, the collector of which operates a transistor TR, By using standard rules as concerns the state of the collector signal, when photocell 5 is sensitized, TR, collector delivers signal 1 and that of TR, delivers signal 0; when cell 5 is cut off, the collector of TR, delivers signal 0 and that of TR, delivers signal 1.

if cell 5 is set along direction N of FIG. 11, a signal equal to 1 will be obtained at output point A of the circuit and a signal 0 at point B when cell 5 is sensitized, i.e. for an angular position of the screen 2 ranging from 10 to 190.

0n the other hand, when cell 5 is cut off, i.e. in the case of an angular position ranging from 190 to 10 with respect to screen 2, the signal is equal to 0 at point: A and at 1 at point B.

The process according to the invention will also provide a signal at a given instant and during a given period of time in the course of the working cycle.

So, if for instance a signal starting at an instant of the cycle corresponding to a 100 angular position of the screen and ending at the instant of the cycle at which the screen has an angular position of is desired, this will be obtained merely by setting two photoresistors cells P and Q in such way as their angular positions on cylinder 1 will respectively be 100 and 150 as from the start of the working cycle.

In this case there is a signal at output point A. which is controlled by cell Q so as 0 so as to obtain a signal equal to 1 from 150 for a rotation of the screen ranging from 150 to 330 and a signal will also be used at output point B, of the circuit controlled by cell P, so as to obtain a signal equal to 1 from 280 to 100.

These two signals are then connected with a transistor, so as to connected a circuit Ni (marked C on FIG. 4). At the output point of this transistor a signal 1 will be obtained when the two inflowing signals are equal to 0, i.e. in the: case of a 50 angular displacement of the rear part of the screen from position 100 to position 150.

It should be remarked that, in this designing process, the last photo cell may be set at point S on fixed drum 1, that is half a pitch before 180 position.

During the course of the rotation of the screen, there is thus an instant at which all the cells set around cylinder 1 are sensitized and an instant at which they are all cut off by screen 2, these cells being all sensitized when the rear edge 2, of the screen is between the position corresponding to S and the position corresponding to 180; these cells being, on the other hand, all cut off when the front edge 2, comes between this position S and 180 position.

This feature allows a systematic checking of the correct working of all the cells; which is carried out by checking whether any cell is not cut off during their being sensitized altogether and also whether any cell is in short circuit during the simultaneous cutting off. To this end, at the instant when the sensitizing or the cutting ofl is made simultaneously, the output of all the cells is connected to a circuit which excites a selffed device fitted with a pushrod so as to release an optical or a sound signal as soon as the circuit is out of order.

The device according to the invention offers many advantages owing to the simplicity of its construction and to the reliability of its functioning. Besides, the equipment can be easily adjusted according to the programming desired since releasing orders can be obtained in a successive way and according to specified instants merely by fixing the number and the angular position of the various cells during the course of a cycle.

The equipment according to the invention can therefore be used for the control of any type of machine and, eventually, for the programmed control of several machines.

Moreover, this equipment which can be adjusted easily and quickly, memorizes the state in which it was in case of a mechanical stop or a failure of electric current.

Thus, when the machine is restarted, the programming unit will transmit the orders as from the state in which it was at the instant of the stop, and this owing to the synchronism of the programming unit and of the programmed machine, such synchronism being obtained easily by connecting kinematically one of the shafts of the machine with the axis of screen 2.

It will be noted also that this equipment which is designed for a very long use is extremely accurate since by spacing out of two consecutive cells in a same row by an angle of 5, for instance, it is possible to obtain with n rows of apertures a range of programming facilities every 5/n.

This accuracy may of course be improved by increasing the number of rows of apertures as well as by increasing the diameter of the drum.

It is obvious that, in the equipment according to the invention, the aperture will all be made on fixed drum 1, but that some of them only will be provided with photocells so as to meet the requirements of a given program.

Naturally, in the case several information signals must be given for the same angular position, one cell only will be used.

The invention of course, is not restricted to the designing examples hereinabove described and shown, from which other methods and designing process can be envisaged which remain within the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. A process for providing a cyclic supply of programmed sequences proportional to a predetermined fraction of the actual duration of each complete cycle of a processwherein a work sequence is systematically dependent upon the combined states, at a given instance, of two sensible units, each of these two sensible units having two possible output charac' teristics, the improvement comprising maintaining said two sensible units in a first characteristic output for half of each working cycle and maintaining said two sensible units in a second characteristic output for the remaining time length of each working cycle.

2. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein all of the" comprising one centrally positioned transmitter for transmrtttng signals in several rrections, a plurality of signal detectors spaced about the transmitter at predetermined positions, said detectors being binary and having means to change the state of their output depending upon whether or not they detect the signals from said transmitter, a plurality of logic means for receiving output data from a chosen pair of detectors to indicate the change in state, and a rotatable screen positioned between said transmitter and detectors, said screen being nontransmissive of said signals so as to intercept the signals transmitted by transmitter and prevent the detection by detectors, said rotatable screen making one complete rotation around its axis for each cycle, said screen surrounding the transmitter through of arc and intercepting signals transmitted to said detector during one-half of each cycle.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein a rotatable screen is connected to rotate in synchronism with an automatic machine to be controlled by said apparatus.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein all of the signal detectors excited by the transmitter are set at maximum for half of the space surrounding the signal transmitter.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein, for a sequence having a duration longer than one-half of the duration of the cycle, the signal detectors which determine the beginning and end of a sequence are positioned to be controlled one by the front edge of the screen and the other by the rear edge of the screen.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein the detectors excited by the transmitter signals are positioned in the same plane as the transmitter.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein the transmitter is an axial light source and the signal detectors are photosensitive devices spaced in a ring about said light source so as to be illuminated thereby, and the rotatable screen is an opaque, semicylindrical screen.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 in which the photosensitive devices are positioned in front of apertures regularly spaced out on the fixed screen.

1 1. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein there are provided means for determining that all detectors have the same output state at the instant when the two units are simultaneously receiving the same signals from said transmitter.

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein a signal detector is positioned to be controlled by the rotatable screen when all the signal detectors initiated by the same transmitter are in the same binary state, the said detector being connected to the checking unit, a checking unit connected to each of the detectors determining the program sequences, thereby said checking unit simultaneously checks the reliable functioning of these detectors, first when all are activated by the transmitter, and second when none of said detectors are activated by the transmitter.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE rIERTHICATE OF CORRECTiGN D d November 16 1971 Patent No. 3 l,26'+

Inventor(s) Francis Bonneric It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected 'as shown below:

Change "the filing date from "May 27, 1969" to March 27, 1969 Signed and sealed this 23rd day of May 1972.

(SEAL) A'ttest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer USCOMM-DC 603764 69 '"ORM PO-lOSO (10-69) v: u.s GOVERNMENT HUNTING OFFICE 195a o-ass-s34

Claims (12)

1. A process for providing a cyclic supply of programmed sequences proportional to a predetermined fraction of the actual duration of each complete cycle of a process wherein a work sequence is systematically dependent upon the combined states, at a given instance, of two sensible units, each of these two sensible units having two possible output characteristics, the improvement comprising maintaining said two sensible units in a first characteristic output for half of each working cycle and maintaining said two sensible units in a second characteristic output for the remaining time length of each working cycle.

2. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein all of the sensible units are subject to the same characteristic output changes during the same half of the actual duration of the working cycle.

3. A process in accordance with claim 2 including the step of determining at a given instant of the cycle that the output characteristics of all of the sensible units have the same output characteristic.

4. Apparatus for providing a cyclic supply of sequences proportional to a given fraction of the duration of a working cycle comprising one centrally positioned transmitter for transmitting signals in several directions, a plurality of signal detectors spaced about the transmitter at predetermined positions, said detectors being binary and having means to change the state of their output depending upon whether or not they detect the signals from said transmitter, a plurality of logic means for receiving output data from a chosen pair of detectors to indicate the change in state, and a rotatable screen positioned between said transmitter and detectors, said screen being nontransmissive of said signals so as to intercept the signals transmitted by transmitter and prevent the detection by detectors, said rotatable screen making one complete rotation around its axis for each cycle, said screen surrounding the transmitter through 180* of arc and intercepting signals transmitted to said detector during one-half of each cycle.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein a rotatable screen is connected to rotate in synchronism with an automatic machine to be controlled by said apparatus.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein all of the signal detectors excited by the transmitter are set at maximum for half of the space surrounding the signal transmitter.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein, for a sequence having a duration longer than one-half of the duration of the cycle, the signal detectors which determine the beginning and end of a sequence are positioned to be controlled one by the front edge of the screen and the other by the rear edge of the screen.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein the detectors excited by the transmitter signals are positioned in the same plane as the transmitter.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein the transmitter is an axial light source and the signal detectors are photosensitive devices spaced in a ring about said light source so as to be illuminated thereby, and the rotatable screen is an opaque, semicylindrical screen.

10. Apparatus in accorDance with claim 9 in which the photosensitive devices are positioned in front of apertures regularly spaced out on the fixed screen.

11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein there are provided means for determining that all detectors have the same output state at the instant when the two units are simultaneously receiving the same signals from said transmitter.

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein a signal detector is positioned to be controlled by the rotatable screen when all the signal detectors initiated by the same transmitter are in the same binary state, the said detector being connected to the checking unit, a checking unit connected to each of the detectors determining the program sequences, thereby said checking unit simultaneously checks the reliable functioning of these detectors, first when all are activated by the transmitter, and second when none of said detectors are activated by the transmitter.

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