Sequencer, Much like your Washing Machine Timer, It is not necesarily one Switch, most are made up of several or many switches, all set to operate a specific times or up specific indexed points.
Some washing machine timers have 6 seperate switches some activate at diferent times during different cycles, others operate at different times furing other cycles, and potentially many operate at the same time during even differnt cycles. It all depends on how it is set up.