Cam program controller systems

An improved cam program controller system for controlling processes by providing set point signals representing time function relationships,

• said system including a cam having a contour representing a desired program of set point signals,
• impulse motor means for rotating said cam independently of line frequency,
• pulse generating means for providing pulses to said impulse motor means,
• cam follower means juxtaposed to said cam contour for moving responsive to variations in the contour of the cam,
• means responsive to the movement of said cam follower means as said cam rotates for providing said desired set point signals, and
• controller means for using said set point signals to control a process.

An improved program controller system for controlling processes by providing set point signals representing time function relationships,

• said system including a cam having a contour representing a desired program of set point signals,
• stepping motor means for rotating said cam independently of line frequency,
• pulse generating means for providing pulses to said stepping motor means,
• said pulse generating means comprising programmable timer means for providing base frequencies for said pulses,
• cam follower means juxtaposed to said cam contour for moving responsive to variations in the contour of the cam,
• cam angular position indicating means for indicating the angular position of the cam,
• means responsive to the movement of said cam follower means as said cam rotates for providing said desired set point signals,
• functional switch means operated responsive to said cam angular position indicating means indicating the rotation of said cam through a desired angle,
• means for using said functional switch means to vary the base frequency of the programmable timer whereby the speed of the motor is controllably altered during the program, and
• control means for using said set point signals to control a process.

An improved cam program controller system for controlling a process by providing set point signals representing time function relationships,

• said system including a cam having a contour representing a desired program of set point signals,
• means for rotating said cam as a function of time,
• cam follower means juxtaposed to said cam contour for moving responsive to variations in the contour of the cam,
• means responsive to the movement of said cam follower means as said cam rotates for providing said set point signals,
• means for converting said cam follower to a scriber,
• meter means for determining the set point signals obtained responsive to the movement of said converted cam follower, whereby said improved cam program controller system can be used to scribe cam blanks and fashion a cam for use in the system, and
• controller means for using said set point signals to control a process.

An improved cam program controller system for providing set point signals representing time functions,

• said system including cam means having contours representing desired programs,
• means for rotating said cam means,
• cam follower means for following the contour of said cam,
• means operated responsive to the movement of said cam follower means for providing signals indicating the radial distance said cam follower means is from the center of said cam,
• means for translating said radial distance indicating signals to set point signals,
• controller means operated responsive to said set point signals to control a process,
• wherein said improvement includes:
• means for preparing said cam means having contours representing desired programs producing desired set point signals at required angular rotational amounts,
• said means for preparing said cam means including meter means for indicating the values of said set point signals,
• operate-set up switch means for selectively coupling said set point signals to said controller means or to said meter means,
• means for mounting a cam disk in place on said cam rotating means,
• said cam disk having lines thereon indicating angular positions,
• scribe means on said cam follower means for scribing lines on said cam disk,
• means for selectively rotating said cam disk to align said scribe means with a selected one of said lines whereby said cam follower can be moved radially outward from the center of the cam disk along said selected one of said lines until a desired set point is indicated on the meter at which point said scribe means is placed in abutment with said cam disk, and
• means for moving said cam disk a discrete distance to scribe said disk at said point whereby said lines are intersected by scribe marks made by said scribe means to indicate the contour of the cam for a desired cam program.

A cam program controller system for providing a continuous set point signal representing the time function relationship,

• said system comprising cam means whose contour represents said program,
• impulse motor means for rotating said cam at a desired frequency,
• cam follower means abutting said cam contour,
• signal varying means attached to said cam follower means for varying a signal as a function of the distance of said cam follower from the center of said cam, and
• negator spring bias assembly means for retaining the cam follower in abutment with said cam contour with a constant force over the complete rotation of said cam.

An improved cam program controller system for use with function controllers,

• said cam program system providing set point signals representing time function relationships,
• said cam program systems including cam means having a contour representing a desired program of said set point signals,
• impulse motor means for rotating said cam,
• time pulse generating means for generating pulses for operating said impulse motor,
• cam follower means juxtaposed to said cam contour for following the contour of said cam means,
• function potentiometer means operated responsive to the movement of said cam follower means for providing the set point signals,
• time potentiometer means coupled to said cam means for providing a continuous time signal, and
• means for controlling said time pulse generating means responsive to said continuous time signal for selectively automatically starting and stopping said cam program system.

The process of preparing a cam program for a cam program controller system having:

• a cam follower that is convertible to a scriber,
• potentiometer means coupled to said scriber for providing a set point signal that varies with the movement of the follower, and
• meter means for determining the said set point signal,
• said process comprising the steps of:
• mounting a blank cam disk to be rotated by the stepping motor to which the prepared cam will be attached for use in the cam program controller;
• converting the cam follower of said program controller to a subscriber;
• rotating said cam disk until said scriber is aligned with the start position of the cam disk;
• connecting the meter to read the signal responsive to the position of the scriber;
• moving said scriber to a point where a desired set point signal is obtained on the meter;
• scribing said cam blank at said point;
• rotating said cam disk a desired angular rotation;
• moving said scriber to obtain a desired set point signal on said meter with said angular rotation;
• scribing said cam disk at that point;
• continuing the rotation of the cam blank to the desired angular rotation;
• moving the scriber to obtain the desired set point signal on the meter at that angular rotation;
• scribing the cam disk at that point;
• removing the cam disk from the cam program controller system;
• connecting the scribe marks;
• and
• cutting the cam disk to obtain a cam having the desired contour.