Improvements in Steelyard Weighing Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Feb., 1896-Accepted, 18th Apr., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steelyard Weighing Machines.
I, WILLIAM BEILBY AVERY, Managing Director of the Firm of
W. and T. Avery Limited, Weighing Machine Manufacturers, of Digbeth, in
the City of Birmingham, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to steelyard weighing machines, and relates chiefly
to the manner in which I construct and arrange the printing or recording mechanism
for enabling the weight of the goods to be clearly and rapidly registered without
impairing the accuracy of the balance, or causing inconvenience during the
weighing operation, or obstruction on the machine.
In carrying my invention into effect I construct the weigh-bridge or other type
of steelyard weighing machine in the usual manner and provide the ordinary
fittings and attachments. Immediately over the fulcrum centre I rigidly attach
to the steelyard a metal bracket for supporting the printing or recording discs.
Such discs are mounted loosely upon a pin or fixed spindle supported by the
bracket, and I form with or rigidly attach to each disc a spur or toothed wheel.
operated by racks which are secured to, or they themselves form, the poises or
weights for balancing the load upon the platform or table.
The main poise for balancing tons or other heavy loads consists preferably of a
cast iron block arranged for sliding along the steelyard. Notches or grooves are
cut within the steelyard in the positions at which the sliding block or poise exactly
balances a certain definite load upon the platform; the amount of such load is
shown upon the scale plate formed upon or attached to the steelyard.
The poises for balancing smaller loads such as hundred weights, quarters, and
pounds, are formed preferably by the weight of the toothed racks operating the
printing or recording discs which register such loads. Each rack has a finger or
pointed indicator connected with it to indicate the weight upon the scale plate
hereinbefore described.
Instead of making the circumference or perimeters of the pointing discs of equal
length to the travel of the racks as in the ordinary methods of construction at
present in use, I so arrange or dispose the figures around the perimeters that their
lengths are much shortened and the discs can thus be made of such moderate
dimensions as to cause no inconvenience when mounted in position upon the
machine. In the usual method of disposing the figures around the discs, the spaces
between the figures are of equal length and the figures are arranged in consecutive
order; the space between each pair of figures is of equal length to the distance or
a multiple of the distance intervening between the corresponding figures on the
scale plate. By my improved method of disposing the figures around the discs,
the figures do not follow each other in consecutive order but are so arranged that
the figures of higher value shall fall in the spaces between the figures of lower
value which are first cut or formed upon the discs. Such a disposition of figures
is effected by making the length of the circumference or perimeter of the disc
greater or less than a definite number of divisions or multiple of divisions upon the
scale plate. Thus if the circumference of a disc is rather greater than seven but
less than eight divisions or multiple of divisions upon the scale plate, then the first
seven figures will be disposed in the ordinary manner around the disc but the
subsequent figures will fall upon the spaces between such seven figures.

page_text: As the movement or adjustment of the poises to balance the load upon the
platform is transmitted by means of the racks and toothed wheels to the printing
discs, such discs are in the correct positions for printing or impressing the registering
tape or ticket, immediately the weighing operation is completed. Such printing is
effected by causing a plain printing roller to be passed over the tape and ticket
Interposed between the roller and the figured discs. The printing roller is
operated by a hand lever and is mounted within a box or casing which is connected
to a plate at the upper part of the vertical pillar of the machine, the plate being
so attached as to permit of ready withdrawal for renewal or adjustment purposes.
The connection between the box and the plate is so arranged as to allow of a slight
- vertical movement of the box sufficient to enable the springs interposed between
the box and the plate to press the printing roller on to the discs with a pressure
sufficient to give a clear impression upon the paper.
The printing roller is mounted loosely upon a pin the ends of which are
supported in grooves or a race formed in each side of the box or casing, an upper
and a lower slot being formed on each side with end grooves for connecting the
same together to form a continuous race. The roller pin is connected to the
operating lever of the printing mechanism by means of connecting links, so arranged
that the roller may be drawn along the lower part of each race for the purpose of
pressing the paper or other registering tape and ticket on to the printing discs
hereinbefore described. Upon reaching the end of the lower path in its forward
or printing stroke, the roller is forced into the upper path by the action of a
spring suitably arranged beneath it, and the return stroke is then made along the
top race, the roller being thus kept clear of the discs and paper to prevent any
impression being effected during such return movement. The movement of the
roller is possible in one direction only around the race, back motion being
prevented by means of a pawl or catch engaging with ratchet teeth at the lower part
of the box.
The recording tape is carried upon rollers arranged within the printer roller box
or casing and by making the front side or door of the box or casing to close on
hinges and to be secured by lock and key I am enabled to cover up and effectually
protect the whole of the printing mechanism. The tickets are inserted within a
slot formed through the hinged door, the aperture being of sufficient width to
enable them to move laterally within it for the purpose of printing the gross and
net weights and the tare upon the one ticket.
I do not limit the application of my invention to any particular type of steelyard
weighing machine but adapt it to weigb-bridges, platform, and other machines,
making such modifications as may be necessary to suit the requirements of varying
services.
Dated this lot day of Mo. 1905
MARKS & CLERK,
18 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13 Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Steelyard Weighing Machines.
I, WILLIAM BEILBY AVERY, Managing Director of the Firm of
W. & T. Avery Limited, Weighing Machine Manufacturers, of Digbeth, in
the City of Birmingham do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention has reference to steelyard weighing machines, and relates chiefly
to the manner in which I construct and arrange the printing or recording mechanism

page_text: for enabling the weight of the goods to be clearly and rapidly registered without
impairing the accuracy of the balance, or causing inconvenience during the weighing
operation, or obstruction on the machine.
In order to more clearly explain this my invention I have appended hereunto
illustrated sheets of drawings upon which are figures and numbers of reference,
similar numbers referring throughout the several views to the same thing or
part.
Fig. 1 is a side view showing the printing mechanism, with such other parts of
the machine as may be necessary for explanation.
Fig. 2 is an end view of the same mechanism.
Figs. 3 to 13 inclusive are detail views of several of the constructive parts.
Figs. 14 and 15 are details of one of the printing discs and its pinion.
Fig. 16 is a sectional view on line A-B Fig. 1, showing the relative position of
the plate and the racks &c.
In carrying my invention into effect I construct the weigh bridge or other type
of steelyard weighing machine in the usual manner and provide the ordinary
fittings and attachments. Immediately over the fulcrum centre 20 I rigidly attach to
the steelyard 21, a metal bracket 22, for supporting the printing or recording
discs 23. Such discs are mounted loosely upon a pin or fixed spindle 24, supported
by the bracket 22, and I form with or rigidly attach to each disc a spur or toothed
wheel 25 operated by racks 26, 27, & 28, which are secured to, or they themselves
form the poises or weights for balancing the load upon the platform or table.
The main poise for balancing tons or other heavy loads, consists preferably of
a cast iron block 29, arranged for sliding along the steelyard 21.
Notches or
grooves 30, are cut within the steelyard in the positions at which the sliding block
or poise exactly balances a certain definite load upon the platform; the amount of
such load is shown upon the scale plate 31, see Fig. 16, (formed upon or attached
to the steelyard,) by the pointer 32 which is carried by the said sliding block 29.
The poises for balancing smaller loads such as hundred weights, quarters and
pounds, are formed preferably by the weight of the respective toothed racks 27 & 28
operating each its own printing or recording disc which register such loads. Each
rack has a finger or pointed indicator as seen at 33, Fig. 16, connected with it to
indicate the weight upon the scale plate hereinbefore described.
Instead of making the circumference or perimeters of the printing discs of equal
length to the travel of the racks as in the ordinary methods of construction at present
in use, I so arrange or dispose the figures around the perimeters that their length<
are much shortened and the discs can thus be made of such moderate dimensions as
to cause no inconvenience when mounted in position upon the machine. In the
usual method of disposing the figures around the discs, the spaces between the
figures are of equal length and the figures are arranged in consecutive order;
the space between each figure or figures is of equal length to the distance or a
multiple of the distance intervening between the corresponding figures on the scale
plate.
By my improved method of disposing of the figures around the discs, see Fig. 14,
the figures do not follow each other in consecutive order, but are so arranged that
the figures of higher value shall fall in the spaces between the figures of lower
value which are first cut or formed upon the discs. Such a disposition of figures
is effected by making the length of the circumference or perimeter of the disc
greater or less than a definite number of divisions or multiple of divisions upon the
scale plate. Thus if the circumference of a disc is rather greater than seven but
less than eight divisions or multiple of divisions upon the scale plate, then the first
seven figures will be disposed in the ordinary manner around the disc as shown,
but the subsequent figures 8, 9, 10, & 11, and so on, will fall equally distant from
each other upon the spaces between such first seven figures, see Fig. 14.
As the movement or adjustment of the poises to balance the load upon the
platform is transmitted by the racks and toothed wheels to the printing discs, such
discs are in the correct positions for printing or impressing the registering tape. or

page_text: ticket immediately the weighing operation is completed. Such printing is effected
by causing a plain printing roller 34, to be passed over the tape 35, or ticket 36,
interposed between the roller and the figured discs, see Figs. 1 & 2. The printing
roller is operated by a hand lever 37, aud is mounted within a box or casing 38
(see also Figs. 8, 9, & 10) which is connected to a plate 39 (see also Figs. 5, 6, & 7)
at the upper part of the vertical pillar 40 of the machine, the plate being so
attached in any suitable manner to the said pillar as to permit of ready withdrawal
for renewal or adjustment purposes.
The connection between the roller box 38
and the plate 39 is so arranged as to allow of a slight vertical movement of the
box sufficient to enable the springs 41, interposed between the box and the plate,
to press the printing roller on to the discs with a pressure sufficient to give a clear
impression upon the paper.
The printing roller is mounted loosely upon a pin 42, the ends of which are
supported in grooves or a race 43, (see also Figs. 8, 9, & 10,) formed in each side
of the box or casing 38: an upper and a lower slot being formed on each side with
end grooves for connecting the same together to form a continuous race.
The roller pin is connected to the operating lever of the printing mechanism by
means of connecting links 44, so arranged that the roller may be drawn along the
lower part of the race for the purpose of pressing the paper or other registering
tape and ticket on to the printing discs herein before described. Upon reaching
the end of the lower path in its forward or printing stroke, the roller is forced into
the upper path by the action of a spring 45, suitably arranged beneath it, and the
return stroke is then made along the top race, the roller being thus kept clear of
the discs and paper to prevent any impression being made during the return move-
ment. The movement of the roller is possible in one direction only around the
race, back motion being prevented by means of a pawl or catch 46 engaging with
ratchet teeth 47 at the lower part of the box.
The recording tape is carried upon rollers such as 48, arranged within the box
or casing 40, and by making the front side or door 49 of the box or casing to close
on hinges 50, and to be secured by lock and key, I am enabled to cover up and
effectually protect the whole of the printing mechanism. The tickets are inserted
within a slot at 51, formed through the hinged door: the aperture being of sufficient
width to enable them to move laterally within it for the purpose of printing the
gross and net weights and the tare upon the one ticket.
The number of discs 23, with their respective wheels and racks, may be varied
according to the number of figures &c. it is desired to print.
It will also be observed that the printing roller, by reason of its travelling
transversely across the discs impresses the ticket or paper upon one disc at a time
only, and therefore requires proportionately less pressure than if impressing the
whole simultaneously.
In using a rack and pinion in the usual way, the circumference of the pinion
would equal the traverse of the rack, that is, the diameter of the piuion would be
a little less than one-third of the said traverse; but by this my improved system
of overlapping the figures, the diameter of the pinion may be reduced to something
like one eighth of the said traverse, thereby not only reducing the diameter of the
pinion but also of the printing discs (which are necessarily a little larger than
their pinions), the result being practically the same as that obtained ordinarily by
using a compound gear arrangement, but minus its complication, and the consequent
backlash entailed when using a number of gear wheels instead of one.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In steelyard weighing machines the combination with the printing discs of
such machines, of the overlapping indicating figures or marks, arranged substantially
as shown and described.
2. In steelyard weighing machines the combination with the poise racks and

page_text: their pinions, of the printing discs having the overlapping figures or marks upon
their peripheries substantially as described and shown."
3. In steelyard weighing machines the combination with the printing roller 34,
having the spindle pin 42, of the box or casing 38 having the race 43, in which the
ends of the spindle travel, with its spring 45, constructed and operating substantially
as shown and described.
4. In steelyard weighing machines the combination and arrangement of so dis-
posing the parts that the box or casing 38 having the printing roller 34, shall
travel crossways upon the printing discs, so as to impress upon each disc separately,
substantially as set forth.
5. In steelyard weighing machines the general combination and arrangement of
mechanism constituting these my improvements, that is to say, disposing and
adapting such so as to apply thereto and operate therewith the printing discs having
overlapping figures or marks together with the printing mechanism, all as set forth
and shown.
Dated this 21st day of February 1896.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicant's Agent.