Patent GB-701953-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in weighing scales
IPC: G01G23/40
Filed: 1952-02-20
Abstract: 701,953. Weighing apparatus. FINK, W. A., and TOLEDO SCALE CO. Feb. 20, 1952. No. 4435/52. Class 143 [Also in Group XIX], The weighing mechanism of scales for use in retail food &c. stores is operatively connected to a weight-printing member, and is also connected to a viewing chart which displays to an operator the value of the weighed commodity computed at a selected price per unit weight; and the operator then manipulates a selecting mechanism for positioning value-printing members in accordance with the observed computed value, whereupon mechanism is operated for taking impressions from the weight-printing and value-printing members. The device for viewing the value may be adjusted to the selected price by the operator, and the viewing device may be operatively connected to a priceprinting member so that weight, value, and price may be simultaneously printed on a detachable ticket and on a recording strip. Figs. I and II are respectively a side view and plan of the machine, Fig. V is a general schematic view of the operating mechanism, Figs. VII and X are respectively an elevation and plan of the mechanism at the printing point, Fig. VIII shows detail of the type centering or aligning device, and Fig. XV the shuttle and driving gear for bringing the ticket to printing position. General arrangement. When a commodity is placed on the platform 2, Figs. 1 and II, a disc 23 is rotated by known mechanism to display the weight by graduation 23a, 23b on its face visible respectively from the operator's and the customer's side of the machine through openings 28, 25 and mirrors 27, 24. The face of the disc 23 also carries near its rim a corresponding set of weight-printing type 23c, Fig. VII. The shaft 22 of the disc 23 also carries a drum bearing a chart 3 on which circumferential columns represent prices per unit weight, and axial rows represent weight. The 'operator sets a viewing device 5 to a particular price by turning the hand-wheel 11 which is connected by bevel and spur gearing, Fiv. IV (not shown), to a chain which adjusts the viewer 5 in a direction parallel to the shaft 22. The viewer 5 is connected by a cord 32 which passes round guides 33 to a pulley on an obliquely-placed ring 31 supported on three loose rollers. A bevelled face 96 of the ring 31 carries type representing a series of prices per unit weight, which type lies adjacent to the weight-printing type on the face of the disc 23. The operator observes the value of the commodity as seen through the viewer 5 on the chart 3, and by manipulating the keyboard 34 sets a series of typeprinting wheels 55, Figs. V and VII, into position for printing the observed value. These wheels lie adjacent the weightprinting disc 23 and the price-printing ring 31, so that all three items may be printed compactly on a ticket 36 and on a record strip 58. The ticket 36 is inserted in a shuttle through a guide 37 by the operator, who then pushes a handle 38 which causes the ticket and shuttle to be carried into the printing position and applies pressure to effect the printing. Release of the handle allows the ticket and its shuttle to return to the guide 37 where it is detached for handing to the customer. During this return movement, the record strip 58 and an inked ribbon 64 are stepped forward to prepare them for the next printing operation. Ticket shuttle, Figs. V and XV. When the ticket 36 is inserted through the guide 37 it enters between vertical plates forming a shuttle 39 which is mounted to slide on a horizontal rail 40. Spring clips 173 projecting through one side plate hold the ticket in position, but with the shuttle in the rest position these clips are held out of action by cams on a shaft 174 which is itself controlled by the shaped upper portion of a vertical shaft 93. With the shuttle in the rest position, an arm 95 attached to the shaft 41 of the operator's handle 38 engages on arm 94 on the shaft 93 so as to hold the ticket clips open. As the handle is pressed, the arm 95 disengages and the ticket is gripped. Pressure on the handle rotates a toothed sector 42 engaging a pinion 43 on a shaft 44, which is connected by a spring 47 to a pulley 45. Rotation of this pulley exerts tension on a cord 48 which is guided round pulleys 49, 50, 51 and is attached to the rear end of the ticket shuttle 39. The shuttle is thus advanced to, and held in, the printing position with the ticket in the position 54 facing the three sets of type carried by the value-printing drums 55, the costprinting ring 31, and the weight-printing disc 23. After the printing operation, the shuttle is returned to the rest position by a spring 171, and the ticket grips are released. Type-setting Figs. V, VII, VIII. The four type wheels 55 for printing the value of the commodity bear numbers on one half of their rims, and notches 109 on the other half. Each is operated from the keyboard by its own cord 57 against the action of a spring 112. When the type wheels have been set by the operator, he presses the lever 38, and a roller 117 carried by the toothed sector 42 engages a lever connected to the rod 119, Fig. VIII, which operates through a spring 123 and rod 120 on an arm 122 to swing forward a stirrup member 111. An aligning bar 110 is thus engaged in the notches 109 of the type wheels 55. The stirrup 111 has an extension 128 connected by a link 127 and spring 126 to an arm 125 and finger 103, which engages notches 102 in the rim of the price-setting ring 31 to drive it to a centering position. At the same time, a pin 131 on an extension 132 of the arm 125 releases a brake lever 133 to permit a spring 130 to apply a steadying brake 129 to the rim of the weight-indicating wheel 23. The holder 104 for the centering finger 103 is adjustably mounted on a fixed bracket 105 by a number of studs 106. Printing operation. During the advance of the ticket shuttle 39, the shaft 44, Fig. V, makes one revolution and brings a drive-member 76 into driving relation with a pin 77 attached to a loose pulley 46. Further rotation of the shaft 44 rotates the pulley and drives a cord 73 which extends over guides 75, 74 to a carriage 71 with rollers running on a track 72. The carriage supports a printing roller 69 on toggle arms 70, and as the carriage advances towards the printing position, the roller 69 rolls on the back of the ticket 54 and presses it with substantial force against an inked ribbon 64 and a recording strip 58, backed by the several typebearing members. At the end of the printing-stroke, the pressure of the roller is automatically released, Fig. XI (not shown), and as the operator releases the handle 38, the roller carriage 71 and the ticket shuttle 39 return to the rest position. During this return movement an arm 80 on the shaft 41 carrying the handle 38 lifts a pawl 82 to drive a ratchet wheel 83, thereby giving a small feed movement through pulley gears 87, 88 to drums 63, 68 on which the record strip 58 and the ink ribbon 64 are wound. Blank strip and inked ribbon are unwound from storage spools 59, 65 by the action of the feed ratchet 83.