Sequence controller

• US 5,366,553 A
• Filed: 05/05/1992
• Issued: 11/22/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Burford Corporation (Middleby Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Burford Corporation (Middleby Corporation)
• Inventors: Lair, James H., Fagan, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, W. Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAMB, BRENDA A
• Application Number:
  US07/878,739
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 118/676, 118/682, 118/696, 118/698, 118/703, 340/674, 340/308.15, 340/501, 340/523, 364/143
• US Class Current: 118/682
• CPC Class Codes: A21B 3/16 Machines for cleaning or greasing baking surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/12 specially adapted for coating the interior of hollow bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/04 involving the use of an electrostatic field B05D1/025 and B05D1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 5/08 to obtain an anti-friction or anti-adhesive surface rendering particulate materials free-flowing in general, e.g. making them hydrophobic B01J2/30

Abstract

The sequence controller disclosed is a microprocessor based unit having a user programmable sequence of electronic pulses for the control or synchronization of valves, relays, solenoids and timers. The controller is connected to spray nozzles adapted for projecting atomized droplets of liquid between charged electrodes in a timed sequence to cause the charged droplets to be attracted to and impinge against partial areas of a grounded surface to form a continuous substantially uniform film of liquid on the surface.

Claims

1. Sequence control apparatus comprising:

an electrical circuit;

delay time control means in said electrical circuit for initiating a first output pulse of a sequence of pulses;

repeat time control means in said electrical circuit for controlling time between pulses;

pulse control means in said electrical circuit for controlling the number of output pulses of each sequence of pulses;

pan sensor means for detecting the presence of an object connected to said electrical circuit; and

computer means in said electrical circuit, said computer means being adapted to deliver an output signal for controlling a sequence of events in response to actuation of said sensor means indicating the presence of an object, said output signal having a controlled delay time, repeat time, and number of pulses.

2. Sequence control apparatus according to claim 1, said said sensor means comprising:

sensor means for initiating a pulse sequence in said circuit when a pan is in a predetermined location.

3. Sequence control apparatus according to claim 2, said sensor means comprising:

microswitch means mounted adjacent a path such that it is opened and closed by a pan.

4. Sequence control apparatus according to claim 3, said electrical circuit further comprising:

opto-isolator means, said opto-isolator means being adapted to electrically isolate said pan sensor means from the electrical circuit.

5. Sequence control apparatus according to claim 2, said sensor means comprising:

means for directing an optical beam between an infrared transmitter and an infrared receiver mounted adjacent opposite sides of a path such that the beam is broken by a product moving along the path.

6. Sequence control apparatus according to claim 5, said electrical circuit further comprising:

opto-isolators means, said opto-isolator means being adapted to electrically isolate said pan sensor means from the electrical circuit to prevent initiation of a pulse sequence when the trailing edge of a pan passes a point on the path.

7. Sequence control apparatus according to claim 1, said delay time control means comprising:

programmable switch means for establishing a delay time between an input pulse from said pan sensor means and the first pulse in a sequence of output pulses.

8. Sequence control apparatus according to claim 3, said delay time control means comprising:

programmable switch means for establishing a delay time between an input pulse from said pan sensor means and the first pulse in a sequence of output pulses.

9. Sequence control apparatus according to claim 5, said delay time control means comprising:

programmable switch means for establishing a delay time between an input pulse from said pan sensor means and the first pulse in a sequence of output pulses.

10. Sequence control apparatus according to claim 1, said repeat time control means comprising:

programmable switch means for establishing the time between each pulse of the output pulse sequence.

11. Sequence control apparatus according to claim 1, said pulse control means comprising:

programmable switch means for establishing the number of pulses in each output pulse sequence.

12. Sequence control apparatus according to claim 10, said pulse control means comprising:

programmable switch means for establishing the number of pulses in each output pulse sequence.

13. Sequence control apparatus according to claim 1, said computer means comprising:

a programmable microcontroller on a single chip with timer/counter, random access memory, oscillator/clock circuits, and arithmetic processor with extensive bit handling capabilities as well facilities for both binary and BCD arithmetic.

14. Sequence control apparatus comprising:

(a) an electrical circuit;

(b) pan sensor means connected to said electrical circuit, said pan sensor means being adapted to sense when a pan is in a predetermined location;

(c) programmable delay time switch means in said electrical circuit, said programmable delay time switch means being adapted for establishing a time interval between an input pulse from said pan sensor means and the first pulse of a sequence of output pulses;

(d) programmable repeat time switch means in said electrical circuit, said programmable repeat time switch means being adapted for establishing the time between the pulses of the output pulse sequence;

(e) programmable pulse control switch means in said electrical circuit, said programmable pulse control switch means being adapted for establishing the number of pulses in each output pulse sequence; and

(f) microcontroller means in said electrical circuit, said microcontroller means being adapted to deliver a sequence of output signals in response to an initial actuation signal from said pan sensor means, said sequence of output signals being timed according to the programmable delay time switch means and the programmable repeat time switch means, and continuing in accordance with the programmable pulse control switch means.

15. Sequence control apparatus according to claim 14, said pan sensor means comprising:

microswitch means mounted adjacent the conveyor such that it is opened and closed upon contact with the bottom of the pan thus determining the leading edge of said pan.

16. Sequence control apparatus according to claim 15, said electrical circuit further comprising:

opto-isolator means to electrically isolate said pan sensor from said electrical circuit.

17. Sequence control apparatus according to claim 14 said pan sensor means comprising:

means for directing an optical beam between an infrared transmitter and an infrared receiver mounted adjacent opposite sides of a path such that the leading edge of the pan is determined when the beam is broken by a pan on the path.

18. Sequence control apparatus according to claim 17, said electrical circuit further comprising:

opto-isolator means for electrically isolating said pan sensor means from said electrical circuit.

19. A sequence controller for initiating and controlling a sequence of operations upon movement of a pan to a predetermined location by a conveyor comprising:

controller means having a sensor connector and an output connector;

pan sensor means connected to said sensor connector, said pan sensor means being mounted adjacent the conveyor for delivering a signal to said sensor connector indicating the presence of a pan;

timer means associated with said controller;

time delay control means for programming the delay time between a pan sensor input and a first output pulse for a sequence delivered to said output connector;

repeat time control means for programming the time between subsequent pulses of the pulse sequence delivered to the output connector; and

number of pulses control means for programming the desired number of pulses in each sequence of pulses delivered to said output connector, said delay time control means being programmable to shift the initiation of a sequence relative to the leading edge of a pan, said repeat time control means controlling the termination of said sequence, and said pulse control means controlling the number of pulses in each sequence of pulses.

20. Sequence control apparatus according to claim 19, with the addition of apparatus for applying a film of oil to a pan surface comprising:

valve means communicating with said output connector, said pulse sequence initiating a cycle for spraying atomized oil toward a first partial area on the surface of a pan for a predetermined time interval;

initiates a second cycle for spraying atomized oil toward a second partial area on a surface in the pan; and

controlling said first and second time intervals such that oil sprayed on the first and second partial areas forms a substantially continuous film of oil over the surface of the pan.