Patent GB-602905-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to means for delivering and testing articles or measured quantities of matter
IPC: G01F13/00
Filed: 1945-10-31
Abstract: 602,905. Automatic control systems. WOOD, J. T. Oct. 31, 1945, No. 28847. [Class 38 (iv)] [Also in Groups V and XXX] Weight.-An apparatus for delivering articles, such as lumps of dough, seriatim includes a conveyer, diverting means for periodically and automatically diverting an article from the conveyer to weighing means, correcting means associated with the delivery apparatus for correcting the article in accordance with the weighing, this means being adjusted automatically by the weighing means and means for returning automatically the tested article to the conveyer. The apparatus includes a feeding hopper 11 having a discharge opening 12. The dough leaving the hopper 11 is cut-off by a verticallyreciprocating knife 13 and is deposited on to a conveyer 17 from which it falls on to a conveyer 18, which carries it forward. A bucket 19, which runs on tracks 25, 25a, 26 under the action of a piston and cylinder 29, 30, the flow of air to which is controlled by electromagnetically or pneumaticallyoperated valves, intercepts a piece of dough and returns it to a weighing machine 20. Through an electric system 21, controlled by a switch 43 and compressed air piston and cylinder devices 22, pinions 67 and 68 cause the shaft 69 to rotate to adjust the vertically reciprocating knife 13, normally controlled by a piston and cylinder device 14 to maintain the weight of the dough cut constant. To effect this a wheel 31 is driven in synchronism with the machine and has adjustable radial fingers adapted to engage respectively with pegs on a wheel 37 provided with cams which put into operation compressed air cylinders, which cause rotation of a shaft 69. Under the action of interconnections on wheels 31 and 37, switch 42 and piston 29 are actuated and the bucket 19 is moved to intercept and return the dough and by the operation of the piston 30 the bucket is drawn on to the scales, switch 43 is operated and adjustment of the knife takes place so that the correct weight is maintained, a trigger 85 operates valves 53 and 48 and causes a ram 72 to raise a tumbler 77. A valve 44 operates thedevice 30 to bring the bucket spigot 79 into contact with a socket 78, thus operating a trigger 92 which operates valves 54 and 47 which lifts the ram 72 to tip the bucket and return the sample to the conveyer 18. The ram 73 operates valves 81 and 47 to bring back the bucket to its original position. A trigger 73b operates the valves 80 and 48 which causes the plunger 30 to bring back the bucket to the weighing position to disengage the spigot from the socket. A trigger mechanism 99 operates valves 100 and 49 and causes the bucket 19 to be returned to its position of rest. The trigger.99 then operates valve 54 to reverse the position of valve 49. The valves 46, 47, 48, 49- have compressed air inlet ports 50 and outlet ports 51a and 51b. The valves operate by piston and cylinder relay devices 52a and 52b operated by compressed air. Piston and cylinder devices 29 operate and control valves 53, 54 and 100. A modification is described in which the dough is returned after testing to the position on the conveyer it would have had, had it not been diverted. An arrangement for locking the scales after the dough has been weighed is described. Various other modifications are described for intercepting the dough by mounting the weighing machine on a turntable or extensible arm which can be rotated to intercept the dough or the scale may be reciprocated by rack and pinion or by a clutch mechanism, the scales may otherwise be mounted on a travelling belt to intercept dough or the weighing may be mounted on the conveyer along which the dough travels.