Patent GB-336312-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to computing weighing scales and the like
IPC: G01G19/22
Filed: 1929-07-16
Abstract: 336,312. White, A. E., (International Business Machines Corporation). July 16, 1929. Computating-apparatus; counting by weighing; printed records, apparatus for giving.-A weighing mechanism is adapted to register, on a printed card, the total load of a mass of similar articles and also a number with respect to a selected unit of computation which may be the weight of a single article placed on a unit pan, or which may be a manually selected unit such as the price per article. The balance comprises a platform 3, Fig. 2, supported on levers 13, 14 and connected to a pendulum lever 24 which may have a dashpot 25. Movement of the platform 3 is transmitted to a toothed segment 27, in engagement with a pinion 28 keyed to a shaft 29 carried in ball bearings arranged on each side of the machine. Rigidly mounted on the shaft 29 is a drum 30 which is graduated in lbs. and ozs., to enable the weight to be observed. The end bearing 31 of the shaft 29 is mounted in a sleeve portion 33 of a tubular shaft 34 which is surrounded by a freely mounted tubular shaft 36 having rigidly attached to it, an actuating device 42 and a printing wheel 39 which records the weight. A wheel 40 which prints a record of the computation is mounted on another freely mounted tubular shaft 41. The shaft 34 carries at one end a disc 57 co-operating with means whereby the shaft 36 can be connected with either the shaft 29 or the shaft 34. To effect this, a curved plate 60, Fig. 11, is connected by pin and slot means 61, 62 so as to be rotatable with a lever 59 secured to the shaft 36, the plate having a finger 63, indicated by broken lines, which normally rests in a recess in the disc 57, and an outer notch 65 to engage with a stud 64 carried by the drum 38. In order to cause the plate to engage the drum, radial movement is imparted to it by a spring-pressed rock arm 69 pivoted to the lever 59 and adapted, on contacting with a pin 70 on the drum, to move the plate into engagement with the drum and out of engagement with the disc. The type on the wheel 39 and the indication on the drum 38 are arranged to correspond when the two parts are locked together. The plate 60 co-operates with a similar plate 79 and is interconnected therewith by a pivotal member 82. To facilitate clearance of the notch by the finger, the disc 57 is cut away at the rear side of the notch, which also provides a cam surface 71, to free the plate 60 it a rock arm has not already done so. In order to allow means for adjusting the movement of the locking plate and to retain the plate in its locking position until the shaft 34 is restored to its normal position with relation to the plate, there is provided a second disc 72, Fig. 5, alongside the disc 57, having a curved recess to receive a roller carried by an arm mounted on the plate 60 and so adjusted that when the roller is in engagement with the periphery of the disc, the plate will be held firmly in contact with the stud 64. The tubular shaft 34 is rotatable by manual means comprising a handle 45, carried on a separate shaft 44 and adapted to drive through spur wheels 248, 49, a cam shaft 50, Fig. 5, extending the full width of the machine and carrying cams 51, 52, each contacting with a roller carried by a toothed segment 47 meshing with a pinion 48 rigidly secured to a sleeve portion 33 of the shaft 34. The cams are such that continuous rotation of the shaft 50 will turn the shaft 34 through a complete revolution and then return it to its initial position. The shaft 29 can be locked by means of a disc 86 secured to it and adapted to be engaged by eccentrically mounted discs 87, 88 102 and 103 connected together by linkage and operated, through a rock-arm 91 pivoted on a shaft 92, by a grooved cam 96 mounted on the shaft 50. Screw adjustment 101 is provided for the rock arm and the cam is timed to operate upon the first movement of the handle 45, prior to the movement of the shaft 34. In operation, when the load is placed on the platform, the shaft 29 rotates freely and not in connection with the outer shafts, to a position corresponding to the weight. The handle 45 is then turned, first locking the shaft 29, and then rotating the shaft 34 carrying with it the actuating disc 42 and printing wheel 39. When the discs reach a position corresponding to that of the drum 38, the plate 60 is operated as above to lock and disconnect them from the shaft 34 so that the latter may continue its rotation to print the record. The computation wheel 40 is rotated from the actuation disc 42 by a cam groove 107 thereon, Fig. 7, and a linkage comprising a U-shaped rock-arm 108 pivotally mounted on the shaft 50, engaging the cam groove at one end, and extended at the other end to form a crank arm 110 connected bv a link 111 with a lever 112 pivotally mounted on a stud shaft 113. The upper end of the lever 112 is connected by a link 114 to a toothed segment 115 meshing with a pinion 117 mounted on the shaft 41. To allow of computation with respect to different units, the fulcrum 119 is made variable by slotting the arm 112 and carrying the fulcrum pin through a slot in a further pivoted link 123 moved downwards by a bar 121 under the influence of the weight of a single article placed in a unit pan 120, the movement being controlled by a spring 125 adjustably connected to the casing, and the spring is such that the movement is directly proportional to the load on the pan. The unit balance is locked in its adjusted position by a friction latch 128 controlled by a link 130, carrying a pin engaging a cam groove 133 so shaped as to lock the balance on initial movement of the cam-shaft 50'. Thus when a load of similar articles is placed on the load platform and a single article is placed on the unit pan, the wheel 40 will register the number of articles in the load. Alternatively other units may be obtained by the use of a manually operated scale, which comprises a. member movable over a scale, to cause a stepped member to engage a pin on the stem 121 of the unit pan, and retain it in the desired position. A record of the weight and computation is printed on a card inserted in a slot above a plate 147, Fig. 7, which is pressed onto the surface of the wheels, with the interposition of an inked ribbon 146, by means of a platen 151 carried on a pivoted arm 152. The platen carries an indicating arrow and is moved into the operative position at the correct moment by means of a cam groove in a cam carried on the cam-shaft 50. After the record has been taken the shaft 34 rotates in the reverse direction and a finger 158, Fig. 11, on the edge of the recess in the disc 57 engages the finger 63 to unlock the plate 60 and allow it to return to its normal position. The cam 96 then completes its rotation and frees the disc 86.