Patent GB-450813-A (GB)
Title: Figure indicating and printing device for automatic weighing machines or other measuring instruments
IPC: G01G23/18
Filed: 1936-01-10
Abstract: 450,813. Mechanical relay and followup devices. FAIRWEATHER, H. G. C., 65, Chancery Lane, London.-(Trayvous, Successeurs de B. ; Rue du Petit-Rhone, La Mulatiere, Rhone, France) Jan. 10, 1936, No. 906. [Class 118 (ii)] [See also Group XVIII] In an indicating-mechanism for a weighing or other measuring instrument, each higher denomination of the reading is provided with a feeler (either in the form of a single tooth or of a member of short length having depressions arranged in stepped relation) directly fixed to the pendulum or other measuring member which is clamped before a feeling operation, and co-operating with a sector having an angular extension equal to the angular stroke of the pendulum and supported by the fixed frame, the sector being either stepped to correspond to the toothed feeler, or toothed to correspond to the feeler provided with stepped depressions, and the sector being brought into contact with the corresponding feeler and actuating the indicating gear. As shown in connection with an automatic weighing machine, the load on the platform pulls down a draw rod 20, Fig. 1, and, operating through a lever 6, rod 18 and cam 32, raises a pendulous lever 5 until equilibrium is established. To indicate when the mechanism is at rest a bell-crank lever 35, 36 connected to a dashpot C is pivotally supporbed on the lever 6 and is connected to a lever 39 carrying indicator discs E. When the mechanism comes to rest the discs E are displayed through windows at opposite sides of the machine. A plate 15 provided with an aperture projects from the lever 39 immediately below a rod 42 which may be depressed by means of a finger knob 13. The operator depresses the knob and if the mechanism is at rest the rod 42 passes through the aperture in the plate and trips a lever from engagement with a wheel secured to a weight-actuated shaft. The shaft rotates and a cam thereon frees a shoe brake which then clamps the pendulum. A finger on the shaft releases two pivoted frames G, J which swing by gravity towards the clampedpendulum, the frame J receiving an additional push by an extended movement of the pendulum-clamping mechanism. The frame G representing the hundreds denomination is provided with a series of flat steps which as shown in plan view in Fig. 11, co-operates with the tooth A on the pendulum. When the frame advances to the pendulum the tooth A abuts against one of the steps and the movement of the frame is transmitted by linkage to the corresponding indicating sector 1 which is thus adjusted to display the hundreds digit at a window 58. The pendulum also carries a feeler comb B, Fig. 9, having depressions arranged in stepped relation. The comb co-operates with sharp teeth spaced along the frame J. As the frame advances, one of the sharp teeth enters the comb and at the same time sets the tens indicating sector 2. In entering the comb the frame receives a slight lateral displacement which is utilized in setting-up lower denominations on sectors 3, 4, by means of a further set of stepped feelers controlled by the weightactuated shaft. To avoid errors at the critical points between the tens and hundreds denominations, the tooth A, Fig. 11, for the hundreds denomination carries a lever V. When the tooth A is in a position near the edge of a step on the frame G but should not descend the step, one of the teeth 65<1> of the frame J (tens denomination) rocks the lever V so as to cause the opposite end to form a prolongation of the tooth and ensure its abutment with the correct step. Associated with each indicating sector is a type sector 73 carrying radially slidable types having tails 74. When the indicating sectors (and consequently the type sectors) have been set, the continued rotation of the weight-actuated shaft causes a forked lever to advance and by engaging the tails of the types, align the row. The driving mechanism is then allowed by a dashpot to speed up and actuate a printing hammer 11 to produce a record on a ticket previously supplied from a magazine. The driving mechanism is then re-wound by means of a handle thereby unlocking the sectors, pushing a new ticket from the magazine and ejecting the printed ticket.