Apparatus for selectively controlling a plurality of electric motors

An apparatus for controlling a plurality of electric motors comprising:

• means for selecting individual electric motors, the selecting means producing signals which vary at least one dynamic function of the electric motor selected, and wherein the selecting means includes a computer which is programmable for providing the signals which vary the dynamic function of the electric motor selected, and wherein the dynamic function to be controlled includes the speed of the electric motor selected and wherein the computer has first, second and third operational conditions;
• a programmable controller coupled with the selecting means for generating a predetermined signalling sequence in response to the signals received from the selecting means, and wherein the programmable controller has a memory which stores predetermined individually distinctive speed values for each of the electric motors;
• a variable speed motor drive coupled with the programmable controller;
• and
• means for selectively coupling the variable speed motor drive to at least one of the electric motors and wherein the coupling means is further electrically connected with and controlled by the programmable controller, and connected with each of the electric motors, and wherein the coupling means includes a plurality of contactor assemblies, and wherein the programmable controller is operable to close at least one contactor assembly prior to transmitting a signalling sequence to the variable speed motor drive, and wherein the computer when placed in the first operational condition causes the programmable controller to retrieve from the memory a first distinctive speed value for the electric motor selected, and wherein the first speed value is transmitted to the variable speed motor drive, and wherein the computer when placed in the second operational condition causes the programmable controller to retrieve from the memory a second distinctive speed value for the electric motor selected, and wherein the second speed value is transmitted to the variable speed motor drive, and wherein the computer when placed in the third operational condition causes the programmable controller sequentially to deactivate the variable speed motor drive and then open the contactor assembly which is coupled to the electric motor selected thereby electrically isolating the electric motor from the variable speed motor drive.

An apparatus for controlling a plurality of electric motors comprising:

• means for selecting individual electric motors, the selecting means producing signals which vary at least one dynamic function of the electric motor selected, and wherein the dynamic function selected is the speed of the electric motor, and wherein the selecting means includes a first electric switch and a second electric switch, and wherein the second electric switch selects the electric motor to be actuated, and wherein the first and second electric switches, acting in combination, provides signals which vary the dynamic function of the electric motor selected, and wherein an operator manually moves the first switch to selected positions to vary the speed of the electric motor selected;
• a programmable controller coupled with the selecting means for generating a predetermined signalling sequence in response to the signals received from the selecting means, and wherein the programmable controller has a memory which stores predetermined speed values for each of the electric motors;
• a variable speed motor drive coupled with the programmable controller;
• and
• means for selectively coupling the variable speed motor drive to at least one of the electric motors, and wherein the coupling means includes a plurality of contactor assemblies which are individually electrically coupled with and controlled by the programmable controller and with each of the electric motors, and wherein the first electrical switch when placed in an open position causes the programmable controller to retrieve from memory a first predetermined and distinctive speed value for the electric motor selected and wherein the first speed value is transmitted to the variable speed motor drive, and wherein the first electric switch, when placed in a closed position causes the programmable controller to retrieve from the memory a second predetermined and distinctive speed value for the electric motor selected, and wherein the second speed value is transmitted to the variable speed motor drive, and wherein the second electric switch when placed in an open position causes the programmable controller sequentially to deactivate the variable speed motor drive and then open the contactor assembly which is coupled to the electric motor selected thereby electrically isolating the electric motor from the variable speed motor driver.

In a machine for dispensing materials and wherein the machine includes a plurality of electric motors which are individually disposed in driving relation relative to a plurality of conveyors and first and second electric switches, a method for selectively controlling the plurality of electric motors as to more then one speed which is unique to the individual electric motors by employing a variable speed motor drive, and a controller assembly comprising the steps of:

• selecting an electric motor to be activated, and wherein the step of selecting the electric motor includes activating the second electric switch which correlates with the electric motor selected;
• generating predetermined signals which are adapted to place the selected electric motor in a high speed, low speed, or deactivated state, and wherein the step of generating predetermined signals includes activating the first electric switch thereby generating the predetermined signals which correlate with the high speed, low speed, and deactivated state selected;
• transmitting the predetermined signals to the controller assembly;
• retrieving from the controller assembly predetermined speed values which are unique to the selected electric motor and which substantially correlate with the predetermined signals;
• coupling the electric motor selected to the variable speed motor drive;
• transmitting the retrieved speed value to the variable speed motor drive thereby causing the variable speed motor drive to drive the selected electric motor at the selected speed value;
• and
• ascertaining the work performed by the selected electric motor to determine when to adjust the selected electric motor to the high speed, low speed, and deactivated states.

In a machine for blending materials into an end product, and wherein the machine includes a plurality of containers which individually dispense the materials, and a plurality of conveyors individually are positioned in dispensing communication relative to each of the containers to carry each of the materials to a material receiving station, an apparatus for selectively actuating a plurality of electric motors which are made integral with the machine for driving the individual conveyors comprising:

• means for selecting individual electric motors, the selecting means producing signals which vary at least one dynamic function of the electric motor selected and wherein the selecting means includes first and second electric switches, and wherein the second electric switch selects the electric motor to be actuated, and wherein the first and second switches, acting in combination, provides signals which vary the dynamic function of the electric motor selected, and wherein an operator causes the first switch to be moved to selected positions to vary the dynamic function of the electric motor selected;
• means coupled to the selecting means for generating a predetermined signalling sequence in response to the signals received from the selecting means;
• a single variable speed motor drive coupled with the generating means;
• means for selectively coupling the single variable speed motor drive to at least one of the electric motors, and wherein the coupling means is further electrically connected with, and controlled by the generating means, and wherein the variable speed motor drive controls the dynamic function of the electric motor selected in response to the signalling sequence received from the generating means;
• and
• means for sensing the quantity of materials delivered to the material receiving station by the individual conveyors whereby an operator, by utilizing the selecting means adjusts the individual electric motors to control the delivery of materials to the material receiving station to form an end product having a predetermined composition.

In a machine for dispensing materials and wherein the machine includes a plurality of containers which individually dispense the materials, and wherein a plurality of conveyors are individually positioned in dispensing communication relative to each of the containers to carry the materials to a remote location, an apparatus for selectively actuating a plurality of electric motors which are made integral with the machine for driving the individual conveyors comprising:

• first and second electric switches for selecting the individual electric motors, the second electric switch selecting the electric motor to be activated, and the first and second electric switches, acting in combination to produce signals which vary at least one dynamic function of the electric motor selected
• a programmable controller coupled to the first and second electric switches for generating a predetermined signalling sequence in response to the signals received from the first and second electric switches;
• a single variable speed motor drive coupled with the programmable controller;
• and
• means for selectively coupling the single variable speed motor drive to at least one of the electric motors and wherein the coupling means is also electrically connected with, and controlled by the programmable controller, and wherein the variable speed motor drive controls the dynamic functions of the electric motor selected in response to the signalling sequence received from the programmable controller whereby an operator by utilizing the first and second electric switches adjusts the dynamic functions of the electric motor selected thereby causing the selective dispensing of materials from the individual containers.

An apparatus for controlling a plurality of electric motors as to more than one speed comprising:

• means for selecting individual electric motors, the selecting means producing a control signal which includes an electric motor selection signal, and a speed selection signal, and wherein the selecting means includes first and second switches, and wherein the second switch produces the electric motor selection signal, and the first and second switches, acting in combination, produce the speed selection signal;
• a programmable controller coupled with the first and second switches for generating a predetermined speed selection signalling sequence unique to the electric motor selected and in response to the control signal received from the first and second switches;
• a single variable speed electric motor drive coupled with and controlled by the programmable controller;
• and
• a contactor assembly coupling the single variable speed electric motor drive to at least one of the electric motors and wherein the contactor assembly is further electrically connected with and controlled by the programmable controller, and wherein the variable speed motor drive controls the speed of the electric motor selected in response to the speed selection signalling sequence received from the programmable controller whereby an operator causes the first and second switches to be selectively adjusted thereby controlling the speed of electric motor selected.

An apparatus for controlling a plurality of electric motors comprising:

• means for selecting individual electric motors and controlling the dynamic operating parameters thereof, the selecting means producing signals which vary at least one dynamic function of the electric motor selected, and wherein the selecting means includes a first electric switch signal input and a second electric switch signal input, and wherein the first electric switch signal input selects the electric motor to be activated, and wherein the second electric switch signal input, acting in combination with the first electric switch signal input, provides a signal which varies the dynamic function of the electric motor selected;
• a programmable controller coupled with the first and second electric switch signal inputs for storing and generating a predetermined signalling sequence unique to the individual electric motor selected and in response to the signal received from the first and second electric switch signal inputs;
• a single, variable speed motor drive coupled with the programmable controller and;
• means for selectively coupling the single, variable speed motor drive to the electric motors, and wherein the coupling means is further electrically connected with and controlled by the programmable controller, and wherein the single, variable speed motor drive controls the dynamic function of the electric motor selected and in response to the signalling sequence received from the programmable controller.