Rotatable Grooved Light-conducting Rod For Program Control

Abstract

A program control system comprising a glass or plexiglas rod illuminated at one end and having circumferential grooves which appear luminous due to the light rays within the rod. A selected portion of each groove is blackened or otherwise rendered opaque so that a selected area only remains luminous. A photoelectric cell is actuated by the luminous portion of each groove in sequence as the rod rotates and is connected to actuate a selected function in the program.

Description

This invention relates to a program device which is adapted to control a series of programmed functions in a timed sequence.

An object is to provide a device of the above type in which the timing of the steps and the sequence can be readily adjusted.

Another object is to provide such a device which is capable of operating for long periods of time without service or adjustment.

Another object is to provide a device of the above type which are applicable to various uses and for controlling various types of apparatus.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed.

In one embodiment the invention utilizes a rod of glass or plexiglas of the type which conducts light internally by internal reflection from one end to the other and appears dark on its cylindrical surface except where the otherwise smooth surface is interrupted by a scratch or groove. The rod is mounted for rotation by a motor at a controlled speed and is provided with a series of circumferential grooves a selected area of which is rendered opaque. A photoelectric cell registers with each groove and is energized when registering with the nonopaque portion of the respective grooves as the rod rotates. Thus each cell is energized in a predetermined controlled sequence and may be connected to control a program function.

The nature of the invention will be better understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which a specific example has been set forth for purposes of illustration.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying the invention with parts broken away for clarity and

FIG. 2 is a transverse section taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawing more in detail the invention is shown as embodied in a rod 10 of a glass having the property above described which is mounted at one end of a shaft 11, journaled in a bracket 12 and driven by a motor 13 through a gear reduction device 14. The motor 13 is preferably of the direct current type having a speed which varies according to the voltage of the driving circuit so that the speed of the motor and the rod 10 can be varied over a comparatively wide range. At its free end the rod 10 is mounted in rollers 15 carried on a bracket 16 and is formed with an end recess 17 adapted to receive a light source 18 which is also mounted in the bracket 16.

The rod 10 is provided with a series of circumferential grooves 20 at least some of which are rendered opaque over a portion 21 of their areas leaving portions 22 which are illuminated by the light source 18.

A series of photoelectric cells 25 are mounted in transverse slots 26 in a base member 27 which also supports the brackets 12 and 16. The cells 25 register with the respective grooves 20 in the rod 10 and are centered with respect to the rod by adjustment in the slots 26. The cells 25 are energized in a controlled sequence by the luminous portions 22 of the respective grooves 20 as the rod rotates.

Each of the cells 25 may be connected through suitable relays which may be of the transistor type to control a program function.

The motor 13 may be of the direct current type and is indicated as supplied with voltages V.sub.1, V.sub.2, and V.sub.3 by lines 30, 31 and 32 through relays 33, 34 and 35 respectively, these relays may be connected to be actuated by certain of said cells 25 when energized by luminous portions 22 of said groove 20 so that the speed of the motor is varied in the different positions of the rod as it rotates.

The motor may be connected to produce one complete revolution of the rod 10 or to stop and reset the rod when interrupted or to operate in sequential steps according to the particular use to which the device is applied.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A program control apparatus comprising a rod composed of a material which transmits light longitudinally by internal reflection and appears dark along its longitudinal surface except in areas where the longitudinal surface is grooved, means mounting said rod for rotation, a light source disposed to supply light to said rod at one end thereof, said rod having a series of axially spaced circumferential grooves each of which is adapted to appear luminous over a predetermined area, a photoelectic cell registering with each of said grooves to be energized by the luminous area thereof in a predetermined sequence as the rod rotates.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said grooves are annular and are covered in part by an opaque substance so that the remaining portion only of said groove appears luminous.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said rod is provided with an end recess and a light source is disposed in said recess.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the luminous portions of successive grooves are displaced peripherally around said rod whereby said cells are successively energized as said rod is rotated.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which a variable speed motor is connected to rotate said rod.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which certain of said cells are connected to control the speed of said motor whereby the speed of rotation is automatically varied in different positions of said rod.