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US 6,998,557 B2Granted
Power driven food machine and related multi-action switch assembly
AssigneePremark FEG L.L.C.
InventorDouglas J. McGuffin-Noll
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A power driven machine such as a food product slicer, band saw apparatus or food mixer, includes a multi-action switch assembly with first and second switch units and a switch actuator for selectively actuating the first and second switch units in a manner to trigger certain control functions of the machine.
Claims23
A power driven machine, comprising:
- at least one energizable motor;
- a control system for controlling motor operation and having an associated multi-action switch assembly including:
- a first switch unit connected in the control system with an internal contact biased into a first condition, the first switch unit including an integrated contact actuator biased into a normal position and effective upon movement to transition the internal contact of the first switch unit to a second condition, wherein temporary transition of the internal contact of the first switch unit to the second condition controls a start operation of the motor;
- a second switch unit connected in the control system with an internal contact biased into a first condition, the second switch unit including an integrated contact actuator biased into a normal position and effective upon movement to transition the internal contact of the second switch unit to a second condition, wherein temporary transition of the internal contact of the second switch unit to the second condition controls a stop operation of the motor;
- a resilient switch actuator having a normal position in which the contact actuator of the first switch unit is in the normal position and the contact actuator of the second switch unit is in the normal position, when a first force is applied to bend the switch actuator in a first direction the switch actuator moves the contact actuator of the first switch unit out of the normal position, upon removal of the first force the switch actuator recovers toward the normal position and the contact actuator of the first switch unit returns to the normal position, when a second force is applied to bend the switch actuator in a second direction the switch actuator moves the contact actuator of the second switch unit out of the normal position, upon removal of the second force the switch actuator recovers toward the normal position and the contact actuator of the second switch unit returns to the normal position.
2 more elements
A power driven machine, comprising:
- at least one energizable motor;
- a control system for controlling motor operation and having an associated a multi-action switch assembly including:
- a first switch unit connected in the control system with an internal contact in a first condition, the first switch unit including an integrated contact actuator effective upon movement to transition the internal contact of the first switch unit to a second condition, wherein transition of the internal contact of the first switch unit to the second condition controls a start operation of the motor;
- a second switch unit connected in the control system with an internal contact in a first condition, the second switch unit including an integrated contact actuator effective upon movement to transition the internal contact of the second switch unit to a second condition, wherein transition of the internal contact of the second switch unit to the second condition controls a stop operation of the motor;
- a switch actuator including a pivot member mounted for pivot about a pivot axis, the pivot member having a normal position relative to the pivot axis in which the contact actuator of the first switch unit is in an established position, the internal contact of the first switch unit is in the first condition, the contact actuator of the second switch unit is in an established position, and the internal contact of the second switch unit is in the first condition,
- when a first pivoting force is applied to move the pivot member in a first direction a first portion of the pivot member moves the contact actuator of the first switch unit out of the established position to transition the internal contact of the first switch unit to the second condition, when a second pivoting force is applied to move the pivot member in a second direction a second portion of the pivot member moves the contact actuator of the second switch unit out of the established position to transition the internal contact of the second switch unit to the second condition.
3 more elements
A multi-action switch assembly, comprising:
- a first switch unit with an internal contact movable between a first condition and a second condition;
- a second switch unit with an internal movable between a first condition and a second condition;
- and
- a resilient switch actuator having a normal position in which the internal contact of the first switch unit is in its first condition and the internal contact of the second switch unit is in its first condition,
- when a first force is applied to bend the switch actuator in a first direction the switch actuator causes the internal contact of the first switch unit to transition to the second condition, upon removal of the first force the switch actuator recovers toward the normal position and the internal contact of the first switch unit returns to the first condition,
- when a second force is applied to bend the switch actuator in a second direction the switch actuator causes the internal contact of the second switch unit to transition to the second condition, upon removal of the second force the switch actuator recovers toward the normal position and the internal contact of the second switch unit returns to the first condition.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.