sense and trigger later

i have a pneumatic valve like in this video http://hackedgadgets.com/2009/02/07/pneumatic-control-system/

his trigger input is a little micro switch, and when he presses it everything moves and when he lets go everything goes back.

i have the same pneumatic setup, but what im trying to do is change the timing on the button.

i want everything to move x amount of seconds after the button is pressed. x being about a few seconds variable pot with variance of about a 5 second window.

i was thinking some sort of timer and use a variable capacitor to set the timing.

 

If SW current is less than 200 mA @12V , you can use 2 555 timer IC's; first [ adjustable with pot.] gives X time, is cap. coupled to 2nd 555 which gives operating time. Drive pneumatic control with output of second.

 

hmm, im not sure what the voltage is, i highly doubt it is 12v.

this is on a bakery machine that runs at 220v 60 cycle, there is just about no electronics in the panel, ill get more into the project Wednesday, i will get a volt meter and check out everything. till then thanks