Method and control system for controlling apparatus
First Claim
1. A control system for an apparatus having at least one machine function and a cycle of operation associated therewith, comprising:
- a central control element for controlling said machine function,first means for inputting a selection of one of a plurality of fixed periods to said central control element for causing said control element to activate said machine function for said cycle of operation in response to said one period;
manually operable switch means for determining a variable period for said cycle of operation independently of said central control element; and
second means for inputting said variable period from said means for determining and into said central control element,said central control element having information stored therein, said information including said plurality of fixed periods for selection through said first means for inputting and an instruction repertoire for causing said control element to control said machine function in response to either one of said fixed periods or said variable period.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and control system for controlling an apparatus having at least one machine function and a cycle of operation associated therewith provides a central control element for controlling the function, an input for selecting one of a plurality of fixed periods for causing the control element to activate the function for a cycle of operation in response to the selected period, a device for determining a variable period independent of the fixed periods, and an input for the variably determined period into the control element, the control element having information stored therein, which information includes the fixed periods and an instruction repertoire for causing the control element to control the machine function in response to either one of the fixed periods or the variably determined period.
27 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A control system for an apparatus having at least one machine function and a cycle of operation associated therewith, comprising:
-
a central control element for controlling said machine function, first means for inputting a selection of one of a plurality of fixed periods to said central control element for causing said control element to activate said machine function for said cycle of operation in response to said one period; manually operable switch means for determining a variable period for said cycle of operation independently of said central control element; and second means for inputting said variable period from said means for determining and into said central control element, said central control element having information stored therein, said information including said plurality of fixed periods for selection through said first means for inputting and an instruction repertoire for causing said control element to control said machine function in response to either one of said fixed periods or said variable period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A control system for an apparatus having at least one machine function and a cycle of operation associated therewith, comprising:
-
a central control element including means for storing information for controlling said machine function, said information including an instruction repertoire and a plurality of selectable fixed periods for said cycle of operation; first means for inputting a selection of one of said plurality of periods to said central control element for causing said control element to activate said machine function for said cycle of operation in response to said one period; manually operable switch means for determining a variable period for said cycle of operation independently of said central control element; and second means for inputting said variable period from said means for determining and into said central control element whereby said apparatus may be activated by said central control element for a cycle of operation in response to either one of said plurality of fixed periods or an independently variable period. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method for controlling an apparatus by a control system including a control element having information stored therein, said information including an instruction repertoire for causing said control element to operate said apparatus either in response to one of a plurality of fixed periods also stored as said information or a variable period determined independently from said control element by a manually operable switch means, said method comprising:
- determining whether one of said plurality of fixed periods or said variable period has been selected for the operation of said apparatus;
recording the period selected either from said stored information if one of said plurality of fixed periods or from said manually operable switch means; and
operating said apparatus for said recorded period. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
- determining whether one of said plurality of fixed periods or said variable period has been selected for the operation of said apparatus;
Specification