Patent GB-411495-A (GB)
Title: Automatic weighing instrument registering the weight and the price of the goods weighed in accordance with a basic price introduced
IPC: G01G23/18
Filed: 1932-12-07
Abstract: 411,495. Weighing and calculating apparatus. SOC. ANON. DES ETABLISSEMENTS C. TESTUT, 8, Rue Popincourt, Paris. Dec. 7, 1932, No. 34737. Convention date, Dec. 24, 1931. [Class 143.] An automatic weighing-machine for registering the weight and the monetary value of the goods according to a key-set basic or unitary price comprises a steelyard coupled by suitable transmission mechanism to a calculating mechanism, means for compensating for the inertia of the weighing mechanism and for irregularities in the transmission mechanism between the steelyard poise and the registering mechanism, a printing mechanism for recording the total value and weight of the commodity upon a ticket and registering drums for displaying to the seller and purchaser the total value and weight of the commodity. The basic or unit price of the goods placed on the scale pan 8, Figs. 1 and 2, is set by a bank of keys 40, 41, and the weight and computed value are indicated respectively through openings 174, 172, a similar pair of openings being provided at the other side of the machine. The weighing scale comprises an automatic steelyard 3, Fig. 5, with a screw-propelled poise driven by a spring motor or by a handle, operating through a shaft 21 connected to the poise-propelling screw 16 by a clutch 22, cardan joint 20 and gears 65, 18. In using the machine, a finger lever 51 secured to a shaft 49, Fig. 6, is raised and (1) causes fingers 59, 60, Fig. 5, to lock all the weight and value drums in the zero position ; (2) moves a clutch rod 58 so as to disengage the clutch cone 22 from its driven member 23; and (3) brings notched portions of the shaft 49 into register with circular notches 43 in the key levers 38 so as to unlock the keys and allow the appropriate price key to be depressed to set the price factor. The return of the finger lever 51 locks the keys in set position, couples up the clutch and liberates the weight and value drums. Each key lever is provided at its lower end with three fingers arranged to engage pivoted frames 62, 63, 64 so that, when the selected key is depressed, the frames, operating through intermediate linkage, rotate the price printing drums to present the appropriate basic price digits beneath the printing pad. The keys are also connected by rods 34 to levers 32 carrying pinions 31. Depression of the selected key moves its pinion 31 to complete a corresponding train of gears including the clutch pinion 23 (which is driven in unison with the steelyard poise) and a gear incorporated in the total value drums. The goods are now placed on the scale pan and the free end of the steelyard rises and the propelling screw adjusts the steelyard to restore equilibrium. The value drums are rotated at the same time so as to indicate their computation at the windows 172 and to set their type digits beneath the printing pad. The weight drums are set by the movement of a pinion 24 on the shaft 21. By depressing a printing handle 140, Fig. 1, a record of the weight, basic price and value is made on a paper strip led from a roll 144, and the printed portion is automatically cut off and issued from the machine. A duplicate record is retained in the machine on a totalizing strip arranged at right angles to the ticket strip and fed forward by a ratchet connection with the printing handle. A crank handle 165 is used to wind up the totalizer strip upon an endless elastic band, and serves also to wind up the spring motor. A pointer and dial 181, 182, Fig. 2, may be provided to permit the operator to follow gradually the increase in the load placed in the scale pan. In order to compensate for errors resulting from irregularities in the propelling screw 16 and gears &c., a weighted arm 11, Fig. 21, is pivoted on the poise 9 and is provided with a projection 12 bearing against suitably-shaped irregularities on the underside of the steelyard 3 thereby appropriately varying the position of the centre of gravity of the poise. Overrunning of the poise is prevented by a centrifugal governor on the indicator drum shaft. When the shaft rotates, the governor pushes a rod 90, Fig. 17, axially against a pair of levers 93, 94 resisted by a spring 103, until arrested by a fixed stop 161. The levers thus bring stops 100, 101 closer together so that one or other presses upon an arm 102 secured to the steelyard 3 and produces an advance swing of the steelyard to arrest the drive. By turning a hand lever 126, Fig. 1, an additional drum is set below the printing pad to print the number of the seller or a reference to the merchandize sold alongside the weight and value records. When it is desired to employ a basic price equal to one tenth of that indicated on the price keys, a lever 167 is adjusted so as to move pointers in the value windows a distance of one digit, to displace similarly a comma-printing pointer adjacent the price and value printing drums, and similarly to displace the totalizer strip.