Timing apparatus for a pizza oven switch

Control apparatus for an oven comprising;

• control knob means rotatable between an "on" and "off" position;
• means for biasing said control knob means to its "on" position;
• means having a portion thereof matingly engageable with said control knob means for holding said control knob rotated to its "off" position against the force of said biasing means;
• solenoid means having its armature mechanically coupled to said holding means;
• and
• an electrically operated timer in circuit relation with said solenoid means, said timer being presettable to energize said solenoid means at a predetermined time for a given time duration, energization of said solenoid means releasing said holding means for enabling rotation of said control knob means to its "on" position under force of said biasing means.

Control apparatus for a device having a control knob rotatable between an "on" and "off" position, said apparatus comprising:

• a rotatable member in rotatable communication with said control knob;
• means attached to said rotatable member for biasing said control knob to its "on" position;
• bias release means engageable with said rotatable member for selectively constraining said rotatable member only with said control knob rotated to its "off" position;
• a solenoid having the armature thereof mechanically coupled to said bias release means;
• and
• an electrically operated timer in circuit relation with said solenoid, said timer being presettable to energize said solenoid at a predetermined time for a given time duration, energization of said solenoid removing constraint of said rotatable member by said bias release means thereby enabling rotation of said rotatable member to thereby turn said control knob to its "on" position under force of said biasing means.

Control apparatus for operating a manual switch, the apparatus comprising:

• rotary mechanism mounted in rotatable communication with said manual switch;
• spring means for providing tension for rotating said rotary mechanism;
• a solenoid for controlling said spring means;
• a timer in electrical communication with said solenoid whereby upon activation of said solenoid by said timer, spring tension is provided from said spring to said rotary mechanism to operate said manual switch;
• and
• switch means for interrupting the electrical circuit containing said solenoid after said spring tension has been applied to said rotary mechanism.