Improvements in Automatic Weighing Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Jan., 1897--Accepted, 17th Apr., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Weighing Machines.
I, WILLIAM EMERY NICKERSON, of 1722 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge,
Massachusetts, United States of America, Chemist, 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:-
The object of my invention is to produce a complete apparatus adapted to weigh
automatically and accurately granular or other material, either for the purpose of
registering the amount which passes through, or for dividing it into lots of a precisely
uniform weight.
My apparatus consists principally of two separate scales through whose
automatic co-operation, rapidity, accuracy and regularity of weighing are secured.
One of these scales, which I call the primary, is adapted to receive a comparatively
large stream of material from a suitable conveying pipe and when a predetermined
amount by weight has run into it, to shut off the stream and retain the weighed
charge until its delivery is brought about by an action of its companion scale,.
after which the primary scale refills and holds ite load as before.
The charge delivered by the primary scale, is weighed with only moderate
accuracy on account of the supply stream being large. It is always somewhat less.
than the full amount desired to be put into the lot or package and passes from the
primary into its companion scale, which I call the secondary.
The secondary scale is constructed with a view to greater sensitiveness than the
primary and beside receiving the material delivered by the latter, whose action it..
induces by a suitable mechanisın; has an independent source of supply consisting of
a small stream of the material, which is fed directly into it and serves to increase
the charge delivered by the primary scale to the full and accurate amount required.
In other words the primary scale by operating in connection with a large stream
can rapidly deliver an approximately weighed amount somewhat less than the full.
weight, to the sensitive secondary scale, in which the full and exact weight is.
quickly made up by the small stream.
By the co-operation of my primary and secondary scales, far more satisfactory
results are obtained than by dumping a quantity of material measured by bulk into
an automatic scale and making up the full load by a small stream.
Most granular
substances for the weighing of which automatic scales are commercially used, vary
so much in specific gravity in different samples and even in different measures full,
that the margin left for the small stream to make up, is very inconstant and the rate
of weighing therefore very irregular, frequent adjustments being required. By the
use however of my combination, great accuracy, rapidity and regularity are readily
obtained.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which :-
Fig. 1 shows my complete apparatus in front elevation.
Fig. 2 shows certain parts in a different position.
Fig. 3 also shows parts in a different position.
Fig. 4 is a view, partly in front elevation and partly in vertical section, but
showing certain parts in a position different from that shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a view, partly in front elevation and partly in vertical section, of the
secondary scale, in the position which it occupies just before the discharge of a
weighing bucket..
Fig. 6 is a view of the secondary scale, partly in front elevation and partly in

page_text: vertical section, showing one of the weigning buckets in the act or discharging its
load.
Fig. 7 is a rear elevation of the secondary scale especially showing the mechanism
for shifting the swinging chute.
'
Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the secondary scale.
Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken on the line x-x of Fig. 5, and especially
shows a part of the chute shifting mechanism.
Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the swinging chute and tip.
Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the primary scale and connected parts.
Fig. 12 is a plan of the weighted beam of the primary scale detached from
connected parts.
Fig. 13 is an enlarged view of the end knife blocks.
Fig. 14 is an enlarged. view of the central knife blocks.
I will first describe the secondary or accurately weighing, scale, in which A
represents the principal framework and A' the top frame upon which the scale
beam, chute, weight arms and weights, and immediately connected parts, are
supported. B and B are the weighing buckets, which depend from either end of
the ring shaped scale beam S by means of the standards 6 and 6. The buckets B
and B are provided. with the discharge doors DD and D'D' which are held in
their closed position by the latches d d and d¹ d, the pressure of the charge within
causing them to open whenever the latches are disengaged, thus allowing the charges
to fall into the door boxes E and E located. beneath the doors and into which the
doors project somewhat. The doors D D, and D' D' are so hung upon their
pivots and d³ ³, as, to close by their gravity when not impeded, and are
provided upon their lower edges with the wing pieces d' d' and d³ d³ which extend
downward into the boxes E and E, Fig. 6, and co-operate with the latter in
preventing the retention of any part of the escaping load, by premature closing.
This action of the wing pieces is produced by the pressure of the load against them,
pressing them outward since it is somewhat checked in passing through the box,
holding them in this position and the doors, open, until all the load has fallen below
the lower. edges of the doors themselves.
The scale beam S oscillates, centrally by means of the knife edges ss, upon the
balanced knife blocks F F, one at the front and one at the back of the scale, which
are mounted upon the pins F3-F3, Fig. 14, arranged at right angles to the line of
their knife edges whereby they are free to align themselves with the latter. The
scale beam carries at its outer ends the knife edges s¹ and s, upon which bear the
knife blocks FF located in the standards 6 and respectively. These knife
blocks are pivoted in the standards upon the pins and f' which extend at right
angles to the line of their respective knife edges, thereby allowing, the said knife
blocks to perfectly conform to their knife edges. The knife blocks, F, F, are
shown in enlarged section in Fig. 14, and the blocks F and F are, illustrated by
Fig. 13.
The tops of the standards 6 and 61 are provided with the steel, caps 6 and 63,
which serve as contact surfaces for the knife, edges g and y', fixed in the pivoted
weight arms G. and G₁ respectively. These weight arms are provided with the
upright rods g2 and 9 which serve as supports for the main weighing weights W
and W, and the adjusting weights J J and J1 J1 respectively. The downward
movement of the weight arms G and G' is limited by the cross bars A2 and A³
extending from front to back upon the top frame A'. The weight arms rest upon
these cross beams when not raised by the standards and b¹ and each weight arm
opposes the charge in the weighing bucket on the opposite side of the machine.
At the upper part of the top frame A¹ and extending from front to back is a
perforated cross beam Pl supporting upon its upper side the delivering pipe P, and
carrying upon its under side the chute C which is pivoted to it as shown at C.
At the lower end of the chute Cand pivoted to it as shown at c', is the chute tip. c,
provided with the arm c², preferably carrying the weight 3. The arm & engages
with a fixed pin projecting inwardly from the top frame A¹ at a level somewhat

page_text: above the pivot of the chute tip c, whereby a comparatively slight oscillation of
the chute C, causes a greater incline in the chute tip. In Fig. 10 the chute and
tip are shown in perspective detached from the scale.
From front to back through the top frame A', one on either side of the chute C,
pass two rocker-shafts R and R' Figs. 5 and 8. These shafts are provided with
the knuckle joints K and K¹ respectively, connected with the chute C as shown,
so that, by a partial rotation of the rocker-shaft whose knuckle joint is straight,
the other one being bent, the chute is pulled over, the joint which was straight
becoming bent, while the bent joint straightens and locks the chute in its new
position. The rocker-shafts are provided at their rear ends with the arms R²
and R (Fig. 7) to which are attached the pull wires r and which are preferably
deflected into alignment by the guiding arms 3 and 73 and are connected at their
lower ends with the bent arms and t (Figs. 7 and 8). These arms t and t¹ are
loosely nounted upon the horizontal shaft t2, which is supported upon the back of
the main frame as shown. The lower ends of the arms t' and engage as required
with the ends of the bent arms T, T, (Figs. 5, 7, 8 and 9) and T T which_are
mounted upon the standards T T and T3 T3. The inner ends of the arms T T
and TT extend horizontally along the sides of the doors D D and D' D', (Fig. 9)
but not in contact with them when the latter are closed. The doors upon opening
in their turn, come in contact with the inner ends of the arms TT and T¹ T¹
respectively, throwing them outward and causing their opposite ends to engage with
the bent arms t and t, as the case may be, and operating through them, the pull
wires and r¹ and the rocker-shafts R and R', throw the chute from one side to the
other as required.
↑
Located above the secondary scale is the primary scale, (Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 11).
having a weighing beam M mounted upon the supporting frame N. The beam M
shown detached in plan in Fig. 12 carries upon its outer end the weights m and m',
and supports by the knife edges M' M' upon its inner and bifurcated end, the
weighing bucket O. The bucket O is provided with the discharge doors O¹O! and
a door Eox 02, essentially like those in the secondary scale. Over the weighing
bucket is mounted a supply hopper H, having a downwardly projecting delivering
pipe H¹ upon which is mounted the swinging shut-off piece h preferably counter-
balanced, which is pivoted to the pipe H at '. This shut-off piece is opened and
closed by the action of the slotted arm h' attached to it, and the arm M² which is
fixed to the weighing beam M, whereby a downward movement of the inner or
bucket supporting end of the weighing beam, closes the shut-off piece, and the
return or upward movement opens it again. Upon the supporting frame N, is
pivoted the balanced arm N', whose inner end is adapted upon an upward movement
to release the latches 03 03 of the doors O'O' of the bucket O. The outer end
of the arm N' is connected with the shaft L', of the secondary scale by means of
the wires N N³, and centrally mounted arm L³, so that a rotation of the said
shaft L in either direction, will cause the releasing of the latches 003 and
A limited rotary
consequent opening of the doors O'O' of the bucket O.
movement is given to the shaft L', when required, by means of the centrally
dependent flap L which is attached to it and extends downward into the discharge
hopper U as shown. Upon a discharge of a load from either bucket of the
secondary scale, the falling material presses the dependent flap L, over to the
opposite side and operating through the shaft L' and one or the other of the pull
wires N N and arm N', causes the tripping of the latches 03 03 and a fresh
discharge from the bucket O of the primary scale.
Located at some distance below the discharge hopper U of the secondary scale,
is the balanced arm V₁ carrying the catch bucket V and upon its opposite end the
The balanced
weight V, all being supported upon the standards V³ (Fig. 1).
arm V' is connected by means of a pull wire V, or other suitable mechanism, with
a shut off device Vs located in the feed pipe V as shown, said pipe being adapted
to deliver a small stream to the secondary scale, so that if material discharged from
said scale is not properly received in receptacles, it will, by falling into the catch

page_text: bucket V, overbalance the weight V2 and by tilting the arm V operate through the
wire V and ishut off. device V³ to interrupt the supply of material and prevent
further discharges (Fig. 3)..
Starting with the bucket Oof the primary scale containing a load and in the
position shown in Fig. 1, the shut off piece / blocking the flow of material from
the pipe H', and with the small stream from the pipe V running into the weighing
bucket B of the secondary scale, the said bucket containing nearly a full charge,
the operation will be as follows:-
When the full amount has accumulated in the weighing bucket. B it will raise its
relative weight W₁ and. descend (Fig. 6) disengaging the door latches dd, at the
latter part of its downward movement. The charge within it will then force open
the doors DD with considerable power (Fig. 6), and the latter will, by engaging
with them, force the arms T T apart, the inward movement of their opposite ends
operating through the bent lever to and pull wire r will cause a partial rotation of
the arm R³ and rocker-shaft R' thereby doubling up the knuckle joint. K' (Fig. 6)
and swing the chute C and chute.tip.c over the other weighing bucket B₁, when it
will be held by the knuckle joint K which has straightened. Upon the opening of
the doors D D the charge of material falls into the door box E, where it acts upon
the door wings d d'iandi holds the doors open, until all the material: has passed
below them into the door box, and upon passing out of the latter, will allow the
doors to close and latch. The material further. descending into, the discharge
hopper. Uwill act upon the dependent flap L, forcing it overs into the position
shown in Fig. 6, and cause by. its .movemerit, through the shaft L, arm L2, pull
wire N2, balanced arm N¹, the releasement of the latches 03 0% of the doors 01.01
of the bucket. O (Fig. 2), whereupon a fresh quantity of material somewhat less in
amount than a full charge for the secondary scale descends from the primary scale
into the weighing. bucket B'. The bucket O of the primary scale, now empty, rises
by the action of the weights m m³, and comes into the position shown in Fig. 4, the
shut off piece h being opened by the action of the arm M2 and arm h². The
material now runs from the supply bin H into the bucket O until the quantity is
sufficient to overbalance the weights m ml, upon which the bucket O again descends
raising the weights mm and throwing the shut off piece h under the pipe H',
thereby cutting off the. flow of material from the supply bin H. The primary
scale is now ready to. again discharge. its load into the secondary scale upon the
tripping of the door latches 03 0³, as before.
In the meantime the small stream from the supply pipe V, is running into the
weighing bucket B' of the secondary, scale, which, when the required quantity has
accumulated; will descend and the foregoing operation will be repeated, but by the
complimentary parts.
If the receptacles into which the secondary scale discharges, are not presented as
required, the charge will fall into the catch bucket V, and, overbalancing the
weight V2, will cause the balance beam V₁ to oscillate, and acting through the pull
wire V close the shut off device V³ and stop the small stream. flowing through the
pipe V and bring the apparatus, to rest, (see Fig. 3).
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1st. In an apparatus for automatic weighing, in combination, two separate scales,
a primary and a secondary, arranged and co-operating as follows; first a primary
scale adapted to receive a comparatively large stream of material and to cut off
said stream after having weighed out therefrom with approximate accuracy a
charge somewhat less than a full weight for said secondary scale; and said primary
scale being adapted to retain said charge until an action of the said secondary
scale causes its discharge and then. to deliver it to said secondary scale; and said
primary scale having a latch device for discharging it, suitably connected with said
secondary scale; and said primary scale being adapted to automatically refill from

page_text: the said large stream whenever it has been emptied; and second; a secondary
scale, adapted to receive the charge from said primary scale, and to also receive a
small stream of material to make up a full and accurate weight; and said secondary
scale having a suitable mechanism connected with the latch mechanism of the said.
primary scale whereby the said primary scale is discharged into the secondary scale-.
upon each discharge of the latter; means for delivering a small stream into the
secondary scale; connecting mechanism between the primary and secondary scales.
and means for supplying material to said primary scale, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
2nd. In an apparatus for automatic weighing, a scale having two alternating.
weighing buckets provided with discharge doors having latches, said doors. being,
adapted to be forced open by the pressure of the charge in the bucket when their
latches are released, a chute adapted to oscillate from one bucket to the other,. :
connecting mechanism by which the opening of the doors of each bucket alternately.
actuates the chute toward the opposite bucket, and a suitably arranged scale beam,.:
weights and connected parts, substantially as and for the purpose set-forth.
3rd. In an apparatus for automatic weighing, a scale having the following-
elements; two alternating weighing buckets, a delivery chute as C adapted to-
oscillate from one bucket to the other, the knuckle joints K and K', rocker shafts R
and R', mechanism for causing a partial rotation of the said shafts alternately upon
the descent of the weighing bucket, and a suitably arranged scale beam, weights
and connected parts, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4th. In an apparatus for automatic weighing, a scale having two alternating
weighing buckets and a chute adapted to oscillate from one bucket to the other,
said weighing buckets having doors provided with latches, and said doors being
adapted to be forced open by the charge of material in the buckets when said
latches are released; and said scale having also the pivoted arms TT and T'T
said arms being out of contact with said doors when the latter are in their closed
position, and mechanism connecting said arms with the delivery chute, whereby the-
opening of the doors causes the chute to swing over the alternate bucket, and said.
scale having further a suitably arranged scale beam, weights and connected parts,.
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5th. In an apparatus for automatic weighing, a scale having two alternating
weighing buckets and a delivery chute adapted to oscillate from one bucket to the
other, and said buckets having doors provided with latches and said doors being-
adapted, when said latches are released, to be forced open by the charge in the
buckets; and said scale having also, the knuckle joints K and K adapted to operate.
said chute, the rocker-shafts R and R', the pull wires and r', the bent arms TT
and TT, the arms and t¹, and a suitably arranged scale beam, weights and
connected parts, all operating together as described, substantially as and for the:
purpose set forth.
6th. In an apparatus for automatic weighing, and forming a part of a scale.
having two alternating weighing buckets, a suitably arranged scale beam and
weights, and a delivering chute adapted to oscillate from one bucket to the other;
the combination of the chute C, the chute tip c, the arm c², and the fixed pin c*,.
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
7th. In an apparatus for automatic weighing, in combination, a primary scale-
having latches for discharging it; with a secondary scale having the hopper U and.
centrally hung flap L, said flap being adapted to be swung each way alternately by
the discharge of the secondary scale as shown, and suitable mechanism connecting
the said flap with said latches, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
8th. In an apparatus for automatic weighing, the combination of a catch bucket
located beneath the discharge orifice and mounted upon a balanced arm, a shut off
device adapted when closed to stop the flow of material to the weighing machine,.
and mechanism for connecting said catch bucket with said shut off device, whereby
material falling into the said catch bucket will close said shut off device and prevent.
:

page_text: the further flow of material into said apparatus, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
9th. In an apparatus for automatic weighing, the scale beam S, the knife
edges ss, the knife blocks F F, the pins F3 F3 arranged at right angles to the knife
edges and adapted to adjustably support the said knife blocks, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
10th. In an apparatus for automatic weighing, a primary scale embodying the
following elements viz.: a weighing bucket having discharge doors held closed by
latches, and adapted to descend to the limit of its movement when loaded and to
retain its charge until said latches are released, a weighted weighing beam adapted
to support said bucket, a feed pipe having a shut off mechanism adapted to close
said pipe on a descent of said bucket, mechanism for connecting said shut off with
said beam whereby a descent of said bucket may close said shut off and mechanism
adapted to release said latches when required, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.