Patent GB-550368-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to automatic-feed weighing apparatus for granular, pulverulent and like fluent solid materials
IPC: G01G19/22
Filed: 1941-09-26
Abstract: 550,368. Automatic-feed weighers. AVELING- BARFORD, Ltd., and HUTCHINSON, G. V. V. Sept. 26, 1941. No. 12468. [Class 143] An automatic-feed weigher for weighing out materials to be mixed in predetermined proportions comprises a plurality of supply hoppers for the separate materials communicating with feeding means such as oscillating inclined shoots, which deliver to one or more weigh buckets until the movement of the weighbeam arrests the feed, and the weight bucket or buckets is or are automatically discharged and restored to feeding position in readiness for a further cycle of operations. In the form shown in Fig. 1 for weighing out two separate ingredients of a mixture, two hoppers 1, 1A containing the ingredients deliver onto separate feed shoots 3, 3A which in turn deliver to a common weigh hopper 17 pivoted on a weighbeam 19 mounted on a fulcrum 20. The feed shoots are suspended by links 4, 5 and are oscillated by separate eccentrics 15 and levers 12. In the position shown, the first ingredient is being weighed and the lower end of the lever 12 is limited to a small movement between a fixed stop 33 and an abutment 31 pivoted on the weighbeam thus causing the upper end of the lever to oscillate the feed shoot 3 and thereby feed material into the weigh hopper. When the weighbeam descends, the abutment 31 trips above its operating detent 28 to free the lower end of the lever 12 and stop the oscillating feed of the shoot 3 with the correct amount of the first ingredient in the weigh hopper. Continued movement of the weighbeam brings a second abutment 31A opposite to a second detent 28 similarly controlling the second feed shoot 3A thereby starting the feed of the second ingredient into the weigh hopper until this is similarly arrested a supplementary weight 27 being automatically picked up between the two weighing operations. On further movement of the weighbeam a lug 14B on the eccentric rod 14 retracts a bar 37 and trips a latch 35 thereby allowing the weigh bucket to capsize and discharge its contents. The discharging movement of the bucket allows a hook to fall beneath the weighbeam and temporarily stop its complete return until the hook is freed by the return rotation of the bucket whereupon the weighbeam returns to its initial position and a further weighing operation is initiated. In a modification for weighing out three ingredients, three hoppers each with a feed shoot and a separate weigh bucket are provided. The buckets are operated in identical manner. As shown in Fig. 8 for the bucket 63, when the weighbeam 66 tilts, an electric contact R<SP>1</SP> closes and a solenoid 91 lifts the eccentric rod 75 out of operative connection and stops the vibratory feed of the shoot 60. The solenoid 91 also closes contact T<SP>1</SP> in series with similar contacts closed as the feeding of each ingredient is completed. The closure of all the contacts T<SP>1</SP> energises a solenoid 114 to liberate the bucket catches 101 and discharge the buckets simultaneously. The rotation of the buckets closes contacts S<SP>1</SP> and maintains the energization of the solenoids 91 (and cessation of feed) until the buckets return to filling position when the cycle of operations commences again. Endless conveyer belts, intermittently moved may be used to feed the material instead of employing-. vibrating shoots.