Patent GB-348455-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to automatic weighing and dividing machines
IPC: G01G17/04
Filed: 1930-07-11
Abstract: 348,455. Automatic-feed weighers. LE ROY, F., 10, Rue des Architectes, Antwerp, Belgium. July 11, 1930, No. 21021. Convention date, Aug. 27, 1929. [Class 143.] Relates to a machine for automatically dividing pasty, pulverulent or liquid substances into portions of predetermined weight, and wherein a feed shutter or the like is closed under the control of an electric circuit established by the movement of the weighing member. According to the invention, the shutter in closing causes the closure of a second electric circuit which controls the movement of the weighing member about a pivot for the purpose of discharging the portion of material that has been received by the weighing member. In a machine for weighing and dividing dough or other pasty material, the dough is fed from a reservoir 1, Figs. 1 and 3, to an outlet tube 5 by means of a rotating feed drum 3 provided with blades 2 movable radially under the action of a cam groove 7. When the dough has reached a predetermined state of compression in the tube the feed drum 3 is arrested by the slipping of its driving clutch. A shutter knife 16 now rotates, as described below, so as to bring one of four apertures therein opposite to the tube 5 whereupon the feed drum propels the dough through the tube and on to a weighing drum 23 pivoted upon a lever 25, Fig. 12. The lever is counterbalanced by a pendulum weight situated within the drum and connected to the fulcrum of the lever by gearing. The increasing weight of dough extruded on to the drum depresses the lever until an electric contact 34 thereon closes an adjustable switch 36 and energizes an electromagnet 22. The armature 21 of the magnet, acting through a ratchet 18 rotates the shutter knife 16 so as to sever the dough and close the outlet tube 5. The sides of the shutter knife are lubricated by means of greasy rollers to prevent the dough from sticking. During the rotation of the knife a pair of brushes 39 thereon closes the circuit of an electric motor inside the weighing drum which is thereby rotated and drops the severed dough into a receptacle or into another machine. The weighing drum ascends, the circuit of the electromagnet 22 is broken and the armature 21 falls. The return of the weighing drum brings the contact 34 against a further switch 42 and again excites the electromagnet and causes a further rotation of the shutter knife to commence another weighing operation. At the same time the brushes on the shutter knife break the circuit of the motor. A safety switch is provided in the circuit of the electromagnet to ensure a full operative stroke of the armature 21. In a modification, a guillotine knife, raised by a power-driven cam and descending under gravity, is used instead of the rotary knife 16, and a system of electric contacts on the knife prevents premature actuation of the knife either to cut off the dough or whilst the weighing drum is revolving to free itself of the dough. In a modification adapted for weighing pulverulent or granular materials or liquids, a weighing mechanism, Fig. 24, similar to a letter balance is provided and the material is delivered on to a pivoted scale pan 73 or into a trough 90 fitted thereto. When the requisite weight has been delivered, a motor 85 is set in motion as previously described and a cam 80, driven through a friction clutch, makes a half revolution to lower a support 81 and allow the pan to tilt and discharge its load. A coil spring returns the cam in order to reset the scale pan. When liquids are dealt with a rotary cock is employed instead of the feed shutter.