Appliance timer mechanism utilizing snap action switching

An appliance timer of comprising:

• a motor having an output shaft;
• a cam program disk having thereon at least one cam program track;
• at least one switch having a switch actuator positioned in operative communication with the at least one cam program track, wherein the switch actuator remains in operative communication with the cam program disk while manually positioning the cam program disk, and a program disk drive gear operably coupling the output shaft to the cam program disk to rotate the cam program disk,
• wherein the program disk drive gear comprises at least one tooth on an outer periphery thereof, the at least one tooth engaging the cam program disk to provide rotation thereto, and
• wherein the program disk drive gear comprises a plurality of teeth on the outer periphery thereof, and wherein the plurality of teeth are spaced around the outer periphery so as to provide an impulse drive to the cam program disk.

An appliance timer of comprising:

• a motor having an output shaft;
• a cam program disk having thereon at least one cam program track;
• at least one switch having a switch actuator positioned in operative communication with the at least one cam program track, wherein the switch actuator remains in operative communication with the cam program disk while manually positioning the cam program disk, and a program disk drive gear operably coupling the output shaft to the cam program disk to rotate the cam program disk,
• wherein the switch actuator comprises two angled surfaces configured to allow bidirectional rotation of the cam program disk.

An appliance timer, comprising:

• a motor;
• a cam program disk having thereon a plurality of program tracks;
• a plurality of snap-action switches corresponding to the plurality of program tracks, each snap-action switch positioned in operative communication with an associated cam program track;
• and
• wherein the motor is operably coupled to the cam program disk to rotate the cam program disk.

An appliance timer, comprising:

• a motor;
• a cam program disk having thereon a plurality of program tracks;
• a plurality of snap-action switches corresponding to the plurality of program tracks, each snap-action switch having a switch actuator positioned in operative communication with an associated cam program track;
• and
• wherein the motor is operably coupled by a clutch to the cam program disk to allow the motor to rotate the cam program disk and to allow the cam program disk to be rotated by a user in either direction without back-driving the motor.