Abstract: An icemaker for a refrigerator having a motorized cam actuated switch for controlling the water fill valve and motor hold switch. The cam tracks for each switch has an undercut radial step. The switches each have a lower contact blade and upper contact blade with an intermediate blade of longer length. A spacer attached to the upper or lower contact blade maintains a predetermined minimum spacing therebetween. The lower contact blade drops first over the step allowing the upper blade to close against the intermediate blade energizing the water valve and opening the lower contact set. The intermediate blade then drops over the step, closing the lower contact blade set and the spacer holds the upper contact set open for deenergizing the water valve. A similar fast action switch is employed as a motor hold switch during periods when the ice sensing thermostat is open.

Abstract: The rotating cam limit switch includes a hub, a position screw arm, a position screw, a position wheel, a retractable cam, a dwell wheel, a dwell screw, a dwell screw arm, a spring wave washer and a locking ring. The hub is to be mounted on a rotating shaft which is to activate a non-rotating switch assembly. Near a first axial end, an integral position screw arm and position flange extend radially from the integral hub. The position screw arm carries a position screw, which is snap fitted onto the arm, which operatively engages the position wheel rotatably mounted on the hub next to the position screw arm. The dwell wheel is also rotatably mounted with respect to the hub. The dwell wheel is operatively engaged by the dwell screw carried by the dwell screw arm integrally formed with a dwell flange. The dwell screw arm is fixed to the hub by hub a anti-rotation device. The wave washer and the locking ring, mounted near a second axial end of the hub, compress the rotating components together.

Abstract: The rotating cam limit switch includes a hub, a position screw area, a position screw, a position wheel, a retractable cam, a dwell wheel, a dwell screw, a dwell screw arm, a spring wave washer and a locking ring. The hub is to be mounted on a rotating shaft which is to activate a non-rotating switch assembly. Near a first axial end, an integral position screw arm and position flange extend radially from the integral hub. The position screw arm carries a position screw, which is snap fitted onto the arm, which operatively engages the position wheel rotatably mounted on the hub next to the position screw arm. The dwell wheel is rotatably mounted on the position wheel. The dwell wheel is operatively engaged by the dwell screw carried by the dwell screw arm integrally formed with a dwell flange. The dwell screw arm is rotatable on the hub but fixed to the position wheel. The wave washer and the locking ring, mounted near a second axial end of the hub, compress the rotating components together.

Abstract: A conveyor system for delivering work pieces to a predetermined area comprising a first conveyor, a second conveyor disposed at an angle to the first conveyor, a mechanical brain, and a transfer apparatus (arm) at the juncture of the first and second conveyors. The mechanical brain has a shim, a rotating disk and sliding plates on the disc that are temporarily moveable to form a protrusion that rotates with the disc. The disc rotates at a speed that is a function of the speed of the first conveyor and the protrusion activates a device to create a light path transverse to the first conveyor near the first and second conveyor juncture just prior to a workpiece entering such juncture. The protrusion is returned to its normal state, subsequent to the creation of the light path, by the coaction of the rotating disk and the shim.

Abstract: A music playing device, having a music composition member provided with parallel lines and apertures, and pins capable of being selectively and removably inserted in the apertures so as to resemble music notes, and a sound producing unit arranged to be operated by the pins of the music composition member, the sound producing unit being capable of producing sounds of various pitch, so as to produce a melody when operated in association with the music composition member.

Abstract: In a program carrier for switching chronometer means comprising a motor-driven drum which comprises a plurality of switch elements at its circumference that can be displaced between an active and an inactive position and which interact with a sampler in their active position for the control of a switch, the switch elements are integrally connected to the drum via movable arms.

Abstract: An expanded interval drive mechanism for a program timer includes two ratchet rings. One of the ratchet rings is fixed to the monoblock and at certain regions thereon it is missing teeth over a portion of its width. Thus, the first ratchet ring has regions of narrow teeth. The other ratchet ring is arranged for free relative rotational movement in a first direction with respect to the monoblock. All of the teeth of the two ratchet rings have substantially the same major and minor diameters. However, the second ratchet ring is formed with at least one deep notch. In the region where the first ratchet ring has missing teeth, the toothless region is at substantially the same level as the notch. A single drive pawl extends over both ratchet rings and its driving surface is formed at a plurality of levels so that the drive pawl engages the first ratchet ring in the arc length corresponding to the toothless region only when the drive pawl engages the notch of the second ratchet ring.

Abstract: An indexing unit in the form of a disc or an endless tape for switching chronometers has a number of programmable switch tabs disposed at an edge of the element forming a unitary structure, the switch tabs being depressable against the influence of a restoring force for positioning selected tabs in at least one programming position for actuating a separate switch device for switching a chronometer. The indexing element is comprised of flexible foil having a number of uniformly spaced incisions at an edge thereof. Each tab formed between successive incisions has a free end which may be pressed behind a retaining element for programming the indexing element.

Abstract: In a timing device for time switch comprising a scale plate rotated at a constant rate and possessing presetting element plug-in portions involving slots, grooves and the like corresponding to time scale on the circumferential part thereof and presetting elements to be inserted to fit into the plug-in portions of the scale plate, this scale plate is composed of a molded plastic guide portion serving to position the presetting elements and to keep the position of each presetting element inserted in the prescribed position, and a metallic body inserted in the plastic guide portion in such a manner that a portion with which the presetting element resiliently engages comes to be a metallic portion.

Abstract: This invention operates in combination with a cradle supported telephone handset. It includes an electric switch operated by a variable timer which is set to operate at various times of a period of absence and for lengths of time selected by the occupant of a dwelling prior to vacating or leaving his dwelling. The electric current which is controlled by the switch energizes an electromagnetic coil periodically as preselected on the timer. The energizing of the electromagnetic coil operates to lift a shaft the end of which is formed to support the telephone handset and by which means the telephone handset is lifted from its cradle position on the telephone to close the telephone switch and thereby render the telephone in operating condition producing a busy signal indicative of occupancy.

Abstract: An interval timer has a cross-shaped cam with elongated arms and is interposed between a slot moving disc and a micro-switch. Adjustable pins are disposed on the outer extremities of the disc and engage the inner ends of the cross-shaped cam arms. The outer ends of the arms rotate with increased velocity causing rapid momentary actuation of the switch.

Abstract: A switching device for variable speed gears in machine tools having an assembly which includes a plurality of axially disposed, rotatably-driven cam discs, each of which is associated with an electric microswitch. Non-rotatable spacers serve to position the cam discs. A spherical key bed clamp axially clamps the cam discs together while permitting rotation of individual ones thereof. A non-rotating indicating disc displays the present RPM or respective gear stage. A shock absorber in the individual gear trains between switching bars and their respective electric motors provides sufficient damping and cushioning to prevent a hard start-up impact when the motor is switched on or when a sliding gear block is engaged. The shock absorber may include an elastic linkage or an elastic spur gear in a toothed wheel gear reduction unit located between the motor drive shaft and the link shaft.

Abstract: There is disclosed a timing mechanism utilizing a digital interval timer composed of rotating drum wheels each having a cam to close electrical switches to provide a program sequence. Cam followers are constructed and arranged so that when they drop in notches of the cams the drum wheels can be rotated in either direction.An auxiliary program is provided by a slideable drum shaped helical cam that actuates a cam follower. The drum shaped helical cam is manually axially set to provide a desired program. Both the drum shaped helical cam and the drum wheels are power driven from the same source.The timing mechanism is packaged in a cup shaped housing having individual ribs in its side-walls to receive a frame carrying the drum wheels and the drum shaped helical cam.

Abstract: A program control device is described having a rotatably driven program control body and a plurality of stationary actuatable programming members. These members are positioned adjacent a periphery of the body at different locations transverse to the direction of rotation of the body. One or more tabs each having a plurality of selectively removable contact segments are provided and demountable means support the tabs on the program control body adjacent its periphery for transport past and engagement of the programming members.

Abstract: A timing device has a day dial and a time dial which rotate to control an electrical output in a programmed manner for a predetermined day period. The time dial and day dial operate a pivotally mounted lever to actuate a switch which is connected between electrical input and output, or load, connectors. The time dial operatively contacts one end of the lever and the day dial operatively contacts the other end of the lever when the dials have been preset to do so by the use of actuating pins which can be positioned in the dials. When both ends of the lever are contacted, the switch is actuated. The pins can be held in their respective time dial or day dial in an operative or inoperative position. Manual means are also provided to bypass the time dial and day dial by directly connecting the input connectors to the output, or load, connectors.

Abstract: A programmer includes an intermittently rotating drum, having thereon a series of actuators arranged in a pre-selected manner, for actuating in a predetermined order, a plurality of devices, such as fluid valves, each of which, when actuated, causes an operation to be performed. The drum is indexed by a stepping motor controlled by impulses of energy to a pilot valve in response to rotation of the drum. The actuators are removably mounted on the drum, so that the programming of the series of operations as to the order thereof, and duration of each, can be done quickly and easily, in advance. Individual valves can also be shut off when not needed.