Patent GB-437270-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to automatic weighing scales and other measuring instruments
IPC: G01G23/18
Filed: 1934-03-28
Abstract: 437,270. Weighing and other measuring apparatus. TOTH, S., 4, V. Ujpesti Rakpart, Budapest. March 28, 1934, No. 9694. Convention date, March 28, 1933. [Class 143] [See also Groups XIX and XXXVIII] In a weighing or other measuring-instrument wherein numerical values are set up on indicating or printing wheels by a group of feelers co-operating with formations on a drum moved by the instrument, the feelers of each denomination are arranged alternately with respect to the feelers of the other denominations and the distance between two adjacent feelers of the same denomination is either greater or less than the distance between two adjacent formations on the drum. As applied to an automatic weighing scale, the indicating spindle carries a drum 47, Fig. 5a, provided with a series of notches 48, arranged in vernier-like relation to a set of feelers 18 .. 26 for the units denomination. Broader notches 57 cooperate with a second set of feelers 27 .. 35 for the tens denomination. Stepped portions at opposite edges of the drum co-operate with feelers 36 . . 44 and 45, 46 for the hundreds and thousands denominations. To avoid damage due to shock, the feeling extremities of the feelers are of a resilient nature, for example, blade springs 2, Fig. 5c, or spring-pressed pivoted tips. The feelers may be arranged to slide radially towards the drum, and be resiliently mounted to permit lateral movement. The feelers for the higher denominations are too broad to enter the notches of lower denomination. In using the apparatus, after the weighing scale has come to rest the circuits of electromagnets 71 are closed, for instance by the insertion of a coin, and a rod 56 is thereby moved to permit springs to urge the feelers towards the drum. A selection of the feelers enters the notches or steps and the greater movement of these feelers displaces a selection of pegs 49 .. 52 slidable in a fixed plate 61. The circuits are broken by interrupter contacts 72, Fig. 5c, on each electromagnet and at the same time a catch lever is liberated to permit slides 62 to be drawn up the plate 61 by springs. The slides are stopped by the selected projecting pegs 49 .. 52 and rotate indicating or type wheels 14 .. 17 by means of flexible bands. When type wheels are employed a record is then made from the type thus set up. The parts are restored to normal position by sliding, manually or mechanically, a rod 68 down the plate to depress the projecting pegs and return the slides to their catches, the feelers being returned by the return of the rod 56 on de-energization of the electromagnets. Instead of employing notches on the drum, pins may be used. In a modification, where the pegs 49 are dispensed with, the feelers set segments 75, Fig. 6, carrying the type or actuating the type wheels. The segments are mounted on a common shaft 76 and carry for each feeler a peg 79, which is engaged by a spring hook 82 carried by the feeler when the feeler enters a notch in the drum. On deenergization of the magnets 71 the feelers are withdrawn as described above and the effective hook 82 rotates the segment 75 to set the type for the printing operation. The hooks are liberated by manual rotation of the pin shaft 78. In a further modification, the type is set up electrically by means of a voltage lead to the pegs 79, the feelers being provided with co-operating flexible electric connections. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 describes also the subject-matter of Specification 436,119, [Group XXXVIII] wherein indicating or recording drums are set by step-by-step switches which hunt for contacts marked by a feeler device adapted to engage a contact drum operable by the weighing machine. A distant hand stamp containing stepping magnets is also described, the electric leads being appropriately extended thereto. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.