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(11) | EP 0 030 631 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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| (54) |
A control apparatus for an electric appliance requiring a programmed connection and disconnection Steuergerät für eine elektrische Einrichtung, die ein programmiertes Einschalten und Ausschalten erfordert Appareillage de commande pour une installation électrique nécessitant un branchement et un débranchement programmés |
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
[0001] The present invention relates to a control apparatus for an electric appliance requiring a programmed connection and disconnection. Said apparatus comprises two timing devices, a switch means, used to electrically connect the electric appliance to an electric supply in dependence on the conditions of the two timing devices, in which the first timing device (or long time period device) comprises a dial and a knob driven from the dial by means of friction and an operating means which is actuated at the end of the timing period set on the first timing device, while the second timing device (or short time period device) has a dial and comprises an actuating means for the switch means, a clamping block being operatively connected between said first timing device and said second timing device to clamp the second timing device so that, by manually rotating the knob to a selected position, said first timing device is set and at the same time the second timing device is prevented from starting its counting, while, by rotating the dial of the second timing device to a selected position, the duration of the period during which the electric appliance will be connected to the electric supply is set.
[0002] Since years, devices of the above described type have been already commercially available and known as automatic cook. Such devices are in the form of an electric clock in which the program is provided on the principle of an ordinary alarm-clock, or more recently in the form of electronic devices provided with visual display and microprocessor logic. However, both such types suffer from some disadvantages, restricting the general use of the device.
[0003] Patent specification DE-C-549 279 describes an apparatus according to which it is possible to program the delayed electric appliance connection on the basis of the hours and/or minutes which have to elapse before the selected moment (setting time).
[0004] Said device has many disadvantages, which are basically comprised in two groups:
- Complexity of operation in use. In fact the user must always perform calculations both for starting the programming of the delayed connection of the electric appliance and for carrying out eventual changes of the setting time for the delayed connection.
- Rather high cost and cumbersome dimensions for electric household appliance industry.
[0005] Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a device according to which it is not necessary to calculate the delay between the present time and the setting time.
[0006] Another object is to provide a construction of reduced dimensions, which can be installed with a few modifications on any electric appliance.
[0009] The invention will now be further described with reference to some exemplary embodiments which are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a front view of an apparatus according to the present invention, as mounted for example on an electric stove;
Fig. 2 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1, but wherein the dials have been rotated to provide the desired presetting;
Figs 3 and 4 are diagrammatic view of the inner operation of the apparatus according to the present invention at two different operating positions;
Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the apparatus according to the present invention; and
Figs. 6a to 6k are ten electric diagrams for some embodiments.
[0010] An unrestrictive embodiment of the above described device has been outlined in the diagrammatic views of Figs. 1 to 5. In said figures of the drawings, the reference numerals respectively designate:
1 -the dial for the first timing device or long time device designated as a whole at 12;
2-the setting knob for the device 12 starting the cycle;
3-the fixed reference pointer for the dial 1 and knob 2;
4 - the dial for the second timing device or short time device designated as a whole at 13;
5 - the fixed reference pointer for the dial 4;
6 -the first switch associated with the first timing device 12 or long time device;
7-the second switch associated with the second timing device 13 or short time device;
8-the clamping lever between the first and second timing device;
9-the first timing mechanism or long time mechanism; and
10―the second timing mechanism or short time mechanism.
[0011] The long time timing mechanism 9 is continuously operating: its output shaft in the embodiment shown makes one revolution every 12 hours.
[0012] Its central shaft 9a (Fig. 5) has integrally connected thereto a bushing 9b and a clutch 9c driving said dial 1. The latter has a groove 1 a for resetting the time in dial 1 in case of lack of supply to the motor, and to this end the above mentioned clutch 9c is provided. The knob 2 having a mark 2a is connected on said dial 1 by means of a clutch 2b. This knob 2 also has a profiled notch 2c (Fig. 3), which engages the clamping lever 8 when the mechanism is at rest condition. Under this condition, said lever with its projection 8a leaves the switch 6 at free condition, which switch remains closed and at the same time the lever 8 does not contact the dial 4 with its clamping block 8b.
[0013] The short time timing mechanism 10 is actually a minute indicator and is stationary at rest condition. This mechanism carries keyed rigidly on the shaft 10a (Fig. 5) the dial 4, the latter having a cam profiled portion 4a (Fig. 3) and a "manual" mark (Fig. 1 and 2), at which the dial 4 remains clamped in not shown known manner at a position in which the associated switch 7 connects the electric appliance 11. Under rest condition, said cam portion 4a acts upon said switch 7 maintaining it at open condition.
[0014] The above described situation is electrically shown in the diagrams 6a and 6b which exclusively differ in the timing mechanism 10 which in the former case is of mechanical type and in the latter case of electric type; reference numeral 11 designates the electric appliance (electric resistance, motor, etc.).
[0016] Assume that it is 10 a.m. (as shown in Fig. 2) and the stove is to be switched on at 6 p.m. and maintained switched on until 7.30 p.m.
[0017] The operations to be carried out are only two:
- Clockwise rotation of knob 2 until mark 2a is placed at 6 o'clock;
- Clockwise rotation of dial 4 until the 90th minute is placed at the fixed pointer 5.
[0018] Under these conditions, the switches 6 and 7 are at open and closed positions, respectively, as shown in the diagrams of Figs. 6c and 6d, since the notch 2c has moved the initial position displacing the lever 8 which with its projection 8a acts on switch 6 and with its block 8b clamps the knob 4, preventing the short time mechanism from operating; at the same time, the cam profiled portion 4a is displaced and accordingly the switch 7 is closed.
[0019] As a result, the electric appliance 11 is no longer supplied, as well as the timing mechanism 10 (should the latter have an electric motor).
[0020] As time is elapsed, the conditions do not change until the knob 2, counterclockwise driven by dial 1 through clutch 9c, is reset to starting position.
[0021] Now the lever 8, as urged by spring 8c, falls down in the notch 2c, releasing the switch 6 which closes and at the same time also said dial 4, since the sliding block 8b is displaced.
[0022] It should be noted that up to now the user can always see how the program has been set, because the mutual position of knob 2 and dial 1 has never changed and dial 4 has not been displaced.
[0023] Under the new situation (diagram 6e and 6f), the electric appliance 11 and timing mechanism 10 (if the latter is of electric type) remain supplied with current, and accordingly the connection is started. This condition is maintained until the dial 4 driven by the timing mechanism 10 through the shaft 1 Oa is reset to zero opening the switch 7 through said cam portion 4a. Also at this step, the user can visualize, by means of dial 4, how the cycle proceeds.
[0024] It whould be noted that when desiring only short time settings during which the current supply beings at the moment of time setting, this is obtained by acting exclusively on dial 4.
[0025] Where very long supply times should be required with program start at the moment of manual setting, the electric diagram will be modified as shown in the diagrams 6h to 6k. In these diagrams, the switches 6 and 7 have been replaced by switchover devices 61 and 71.
[0027] Fig. 6i shows the electric appliance connection and disconnection for long times without any programming of cycle start. In this case, one only acts on knob 2, maintaining the short time timing mechanism stationary.
[0028] When desiring to set also a short time of operation with cycle start at the moment of manual operation, only the dial for the short time timing device is displaced, as shown in Fig. 6j.
[0029] Finally, when desiring to operate an electric appliance for a programmed time, one acts on both knob 2 and dial 4 of the second timing device, so as to preset the desired program, as shown in Fig. 6k.
[0030] A further performance is provided by the device positioning the dial 4 with the "manula" mark at the fixed reference pointer 5. Under this condition, the mechanism 10 is prevented from moving due to an inner stop and accordingly is retained at the indicated position until it is manually reset to zero or at a time ranging between 1 and 120 minutes. The above described condition contemplates the same behaviour of the switch as those described in the previously examined diagrams and allows a continuous operation of the electric appliance in the interval between two manual operations when acting only on the dial 4, and a programmed operation of the beginning if the knob 2 is set.
[0031] This invention comprises all of those variants that may be apparent to those skilled in the art. Particularly, by reversing the conditions of the switches, instead of controlling periods of current supply periods of current supply suspension can be controlled. Moreover, the position of the dials and fixed pointers can be reversed.
the knob (2) is provided with a mark or pointer (2a) whose position with respect to the dial (1) of the first timing device is visible;
the operating means (2c) provides for the release of the clamping block (8) from the second timing device (13) (or short time period device);
so that, in order to start the timing of the delayed appliance (11) connection, without calculation of any delay being necessary, the mark or pointer (2a) of the first timing device (12) is set so as to indicate on the dial (1) the time at which said connection is to be made, while the fixed pointer (3) continues to indicate on the dial (1) the actual time of day.
le bouton (2) est pourvu d'un repère ou index (2a) dont la position par rap-pport au cadran (1 ) du premier dispositif de minuterie est visible; l'organe de manoeuvre (2c) assure le désengagement du bloc de verrouillage (8) à partir du second dispositif de minuterie (13) (ou dispositif pour intervalle de temps court);
de façon qu'en vue d'initier la temporisation du branchement différé de l'installation (11), sans nécessiter d'un calcul de retard quelconque, le repère ou index (2a) du premier dispositif de minuterie (12) soit réglé de manière à indiquer sur la cadran (1) le temps auquel ledit branchement a été fait, tandis que l'index fixe (3) continue à indiquer sur la cadran (1) le temps horaire effectif de la journée.
der Handgriff (2) mit einem Zeiger (2a) versehen ist, dessen Stellung gegenüber dem Zifferblatt (1) des ersten Zeitgebers sichtbar ist
und daß das Betätigungsmittel (2c) das Ausrücken der Blockierungsvorrichtung (8), aus der zweiten Zeitgebervorrichtung (13) (oder Vorrichtung für kurze Zeit) vornimmt,
so daß um die Zeitgebung der unterschiedlichen oder verspäteten Einschaltung des Geräts (11) zu beginnen, wobei keine Berechnung der Verspätung oder des Unterschiedes notwendig ist, wird der Zeiger (2a) der ersten Zeitgebervorrichtung (12) so eingestellt, daß er auf dem Zifferblatt (1) die Stunde anzeigt, in der die Einschaltung erfolgen muss, während der feste Zeiger (3) weiterhin die tatsächliche Stunde des Tages auf dem Zifferblatt (1) anzeigt.