Patent GB-977615-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus and method for blending fibres
Inventor: GREENE OREN WINSTON
IPC: G01G19/22
Filed: 1961-03-27
Abstract: 977,615. Weighing apparatus. CROMPTON & KNOWLES CORPORATION. March 27, 1961, No. 11061/61. Heading G1W. [Also in Division B1] Fibre-blending apparatus comprises a plurality of machines for feeding, weighing and discharging predetermined amounts of fibres in successive batches, the means whereby weighed batches are discharged from the weighing receptacles including an electric circuit co-operating with a conveyer and the receptacles for delivering weighed batches in layers on the conveyer and means including an electrical circuit which operate the receptacle discharging means only when the predetermined amounts of the fibres have been weighed. A weighing receptacle 42 is suspended from each feeder A, B, and C through a U shaped member 30 pivoted at 28, 29 and links 40, 41 pivotally depending therefrom. The receptacle is open at the top, but at its bottom are flaps 45, 46 attached to pivoted rods 47, 48 and normally held up to close the bottom of the receptacle by a tension spring 61. A weigh beam 34 is fixed to the pivoted member 30 and is notched along its upper edge to locate a member 36 from which weights 38 are hung to balance the weight of the receptacle 42. As fibres fall into the receptacle from the feeder it over balances and descends when the weight predetermined by the setting of the member 36 has been reached, and the weigh beam 34 acts through a link 65 to open the contacts of a mercury switch 67, thereby stopping the feed. At the opposite end of the receptacle, Fig. 3, are arms 84, 85 secured to the rods 47, 48 and pivotally connected to links 100, 101 which are joined to a cross-bar 103. As the receptacle descends, the U-member 30 pivots downwards, its motion being controlled by a dashpot 97, and a link 95 therefrom moves a lever 94, Fig. 2, in a direction to close a mercury switch 108 which is in a circuit through which a solenoid 105 is arranged to be energized from a battery 246, Fig. 13. When the solenoid 105 is energized, the cross-bar 103 is moved to cause the linkage 100, 101 to open the flaps 45, 46 so that the receptacle may be emptied. When all the switches 108 are closed, i.e. when all the weighing receptacles are full, a circuit is completed which closes a relay 254 which completes the circuit through the solenoid 105 of the receptacle associated with the feeder A, the bottom of which then opens and allows the contents to fall on a conveyer belt 118. The relay 254 also completes a circuit through lamps 235 and an amplifier 275 for photo-electric cells 240. The lamps and photo-electric cells are arranged so that they face one another at the bottom of sides 99, 102 of the conveyer belt trough. When the weighing receptacle 42 associated with the feeder A is emptied, it rises and re-opens the associated switch 108, but a circuit is maintained through the lamp 235 and amplifier 275 for a set time by the operation of a clock motor delay 265. The time is sufficient for the conveyer belt to move the weighed fibres, which are deposited from the feeder A, below the feeder B and their passage between the lamp and photo-electric cell causes operation of the amplifier 275 whereby a relay 282 is operated and completes the circuit through the solenoid 105 associated with the feeder B. The bottom of the B weighing receptacle is thus opened and its contents are dumped on those already on the belt from the feeder A. Similarly the contents weighed from the feeder C are dumped on those from A and B.