Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 29th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 9th Nov., 1888
I WILLIAM ERNEST RICHARDSON of 25 Duke Street Doncaster in the County of
York Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to and consists in the construction of an improved registering
weighing machine, by the employment of which any number of packages, cither
encased or otherwise, can be weighed and their separate weights registered or recorded,
and so that the total weight of the packages can be seen at once without any addition
of figures.
The combination of mechanism by which this is accomplished consists of suitable
weighing mechanism by which the packages or goods are weighed, combined or in
connection with registering mechanism by which their weights are afterwards added
together and registered.
The weighing mechanism may consist of any ordinary weighing machine or
apparatus such as a platform-scales or weighing machine in which a platform for the
reception or holding of the goods to be weighed is supported upon levers connected
by a vertical rod with a steel-yard upon which movable weights slide, and to which
detached or separate weights can be applied.
The registering mechanism is constructed with figured or numbered dials or disks
conveniently arranged upon which the total weight of the packages or goods weighed
will be indicated. Ratchet wheels, pawls, and levers are provided by means of which
the figured dials or disks are so connected with an operating lever or handle that at
each movement of the operating lever the dials or disks will be rotated a distance
greater or less according to the weight of the package being weighed. The dials or
disks are mounted upon spindles to which ratchet wheels are attached the teeth of
which correspond with the figures upon the dials or disks. These ratchet wheels are
operated by pawls attached to pulleys or drums fitted loosely on the same spindles.
To these pulleys chains or flexible bands are fastened one end of such bands being
fastened to the pulley and the other end being made fast to sliding blocks sliding
upon horizontal bars or rods placed parallel with and adjacent to the steelyard of the

page_text: weighing machine. These pulleys are provided with coiled springs by which they
will be caused to revolve so that the chains or flexible bands will be wound upon the
periphery of the pulleys, and the sliding blocks will be drawn to the end of the
horizontal bars nearest to the pulleys. Sliding also upon the above-mentioned
horizontal bars is a crossbar which is placed between the sliding blocks and the
pulleys upon which the chains are wound. This crossbar is connected by any suitable
means with the lever or handle by, which the registering mechanism is operated, in
such a manner that the crossbar can be drawn backward and forward along the
horizontal bars pushing the sliding blocks before it in the one direction, and the
sliding blocks will be caused to follow the crossbar on its return movement by
the coiled springs causing the pulleys to revolve and thus drawing the sliding blocks
towards the pulleys by means of the flexible bands.
Projecting from the sliding blocks are pins which engage with similar pins
projecting from the movable weights upon the steel-yard so that when the above-
mentioned crossbar is moved towards the pulleys the sliding blocks will follow it
until the pins in the sliding blocks come into contact with the pins projecting from
the movable weights. The sliding blocks and also the pulleys, ratchet wheels, and
figured dials or disks, will thus move a distance depending on the position of the
movable weights upon the steel-yard. The crossbar will however continue its move-
ment the whole length of the horizontal bars and back again. If detached weights
are used a sliding bar must be placed in a vertical position conveniently near to the
scale-pan," or holder or receptacle on or in which the detached weights are placed
when in use.
These detached weights must be placed one upon the other vertically
and must be of a thickness proportioned to the weight they represent, so that on a
sliding block being allowed to drop down the vertical bar a pin projecting therefrom
will come into contact with the upper surface of the column of weights thus
limiting the drop of the sliding block by a distance equal to the height of the
column. of weights. This sliding block must be connected with a shield or guard
covering the teeth of one of the ratchet wheels so that allowing the sliding block to
drop will limit the number of the teeth exposed to the action of the pawl by which
the ratchet wheel is operated, and the connection must be so proportioned that the
number of teeth remaining exposed will correspond with the height of the column of
weights which represent the weight or part of the weight of the article or package
whose weight is to be registered. The pawl by which the ratchet wheel is operated
must be connected with the operating lever so as to be moved backward and forward
an equal distance by each movement thereof.
In using this improved machine the action is as follows:-Before weighing the
article or package the operating lever of the registering mechanisin must be placed
so that the crossbar will retain the sliding blocks at the opposite end of the horizontal
bars from the pulleys; then having weighed the article or package in the usual
manner the operating lever must be pulled once forward and back thus moving the
crossbar to the other end of the horizontal bars and back again. The sliding blocks
will follow the crossbar until they are stopped by the pins projecting from the movable
weights, but the crossbar will continue its movement the full length of the horizontal
bars, and by the return movement of the crossbar the sliding blocks will be pushed
back to their original position; the sliding blocks will thus only move the distance
between their original position and the position of the movable weights at the time
and back, and by means of the flexible straps or chains and the pulleys and pawls,
the figured dials or disks will be rotated a corresponding distance in one direction
only and figures representing the weight of the article or package will be brought
into view or indicated by a pointer. Only a forward motion being communicated to
the figured dials or disks by each operation of the registering mechanism, each fresh
weight registered will be added to that previously registered on the machine up to
the capacity of the numbers on the figured dials or disks. That part of the mechanism
by which the amount represented by detached weights is registered is operated in a
similar manner.
The sliding blocks being connected with the same operating lever
will be allowed to drop until a projecting pin comes into contact with the top surface

page_text: of the column of detached weights that are in use to balance the goods being weighed
at the time. The distance dropped by the sliding block will be limited by the height
of the column of weights and, as before explained, the higher this column of weights
the more teeth of the ratchet wheel will be exposed to the action of the pawl by which
the ratchet wheel is operated. This pawl being connected with the operating lever or
handle of the machine will be moved backward and forward an equal distance by each
movement thereof, and will engage with such teeth as are exposed at the time, and
thus move the ratchet wheel and the figured dial or disk with which it is connected
a distance corresponding with the height of the column of weights so as to bring
into view or indicate figures representing the amount of those weights, and as only
a forward movement will be communicated to the figured dials or disks each fresh
operation will be added to that previously shown on the dials or disks.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New and Improved Registering Weighing Machine.
1 WILLIAM ERNEST RICHARDSON of 25 Duke Street (but now of 57 Spring
Gardens) Doncaster in the County of York Engineer 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 in writing, and on
reference to the accompanying drawings
I
This Invention relates to and consists in the construction of an improved registering
weighing machine, by the employment of which any number of packages, either
encased or otherwise, can be effectually weighed and their separate weights registered
or recorded, and so that the total weight of the packages can be seen at once without
any addition of figures.
The combination of mechanism by which this is accomplished consists of suitable
weighing mechanism by which the packages or goods are weighed, combined, or in
connection, with registering mechanism by which their weights are afterwards added
together and registered.
The weighing mechanism may consist of any ordinary weighing machine or
apparatus, such as a platform scales, or weighing machine in which a platform for the
reception or holding of the goods to be weighed is supported upon levers connected
by a vertical rod with a steel-yard upon which movable weights slide and to which
detached or separate weights can be applied.
In order that the carrying out of my invention in practice may be fully understood
it is illustrated on the accompanying three sheets of drawings, the same being marked
with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the following
description in detail.
The manner in which my said invention can be applied, for example, to an ordinary
platform weighing machine, showing the weight weighed thereon in hundredweights
quarters and pounds, is as hereinafter described; but my invention may be applied
in a similar manner to ordinary steel-yards, scales, or to almost any description of
weighing apparatus.
In the accompanying sheets of drawings Figure 1, Sheet 1, represents a plan of
my registering weighing machine. Figure 2, Sheet 2, an elevation; and Figure 3,
Sheet 3, an elevation of part of the mechanism by which the number of hundred-
weights is registered by each stroke of the working lever of the machine. The same
letters of reference indicate the same parts in each Figure of the drawings, as far as
practicable.
A, A', represent the scale beam of the weighing machine. This beam is divided
into 112 divisions each of which represents one pound in weight, and the divisions
are numbered from 1 to 112 pounds or one hundredweight. B, indicates a scale pan
suspended from the scale beam on which detached weights C, can be placed, each of
which can be used to balance the weight of one hundred weight of goods upon the
platform of the weighing machine. D, is a sliding weight that can be placed at any

page_text: of the divisions of the scale beam. E, E¹, (Figure 1,) indicate a horizontal bar along
which a sliding block F, is arranged free to slide from end to end. This sliding block
is or may be connected with a suitable lever or handle in any convenient manner so
that it can easily be moved from end to end of the horizontal bar upon which it
slides. G, G, and H, H', are also horizontal bars along which sliding blocks I, and
J, are arranged free to slide. The sliding block I, is connected by a chain with a
pulley K, carrying a pawl L, (Figure 1,) which engages with the teeth of a ratchet
wheel M, shown in Figure 1. This ratchet wheel is mounted on and firmly attached
to a spindle N. The pulley K, is also mounted on the same spindle, it is not attached
thereto but is free to revolve loosely upon it. The sliding block J, is connected by
means of a chain with a pulley Ổ, upon which the chain is coiled and which is
mounted upon and firmly attached to a spindle P. The sliding block I, has pro-
jections at either side, one of which engages with a similar projection attached to the
sliding weight D, and the other engages with a similar projection attached to the
sliding block F, as seen at R, Figure 1. The sliding block J, has also two projections
on it, one of which engages with a similar projection on the sliding block F, as shown
at S. Attached to the pulley K, is a coiled spring so placed that it will cause the
pulley to revolve in a direction that will wind the chain upon the pulley and draw the
sliding weight I, towards the end of the horizontal bar at G', but it is prevented from
doing so by the projection on the sliding block F. To the spindle P, is attached a
quadrant T, (Figure 1,) to which is suspended by a thin steel band a sliding block U,
which is arranged free to slide up and down the vertical bar V.
Attached to this
sliding block is an arm carrying a ring W, which encircles the rod by which the
scale pan B, is suspended from the scale beam. The spindle P, also carries a pinion
shown at X, which gears into a toothed segment Y, (Figures 1, and 3,). This
segment is mounted loosely on a tube Z, which tube is fitted loosely on the spindle N,
so as to be able to revolve independently thereof. To the tube a ratchet wheel a, and
a disk or roller b, are attached. On each side of the ratchet wheel is a lever, one of
which levers is shown at c, Figure 3. These levers are fitted loosely on the tube Z,
The levers
and carry a pawl d, which engages with the teeth of the ratchet wheel a.
are connected by means of a rod and a short lever with a spindle e, to which is
attached a bent lever f. This bent lever is so placed that on the sliding block F, being
moved towards the horizontal bar at E, the bent lever will be depressed by a projection
on the sliding block F, but it can be raised to its original position by a spring or
balance weight when the sliding block is returned to E, on the horizontal bar.
Attached to the segment Y, is a shield or guard which covers a portion of the
ratchet wheel a, so as to prevent the pawl engaging with the teeth so covered. The
ratchet wheel a, contains 100 teeth and upon the surface of the disk or roller b, are
marked consecutive numbers from 0 (or zero) to 100 inclusive. These numbers
correspond in position with the teeth on the ratchet wheel. On the spindle N, is fixed
a roller or disk g, upon the surface of which numbers are marked representing
These
quarters and pounds from 0 pounds to 3 quarters 27 pounds inclusive.
numbers correspond in position with the teeth on the ratchet wheel M, of which there
are 112. At h, Figure 3, will be seen a spiral cam against, which a lever i, is held
by a spring, this lever is attached to a spindle to which is attached another lever
carrying a pawlj, which engages with the teeth of the ratchet wheel a, so that each
revolution of the spiral cam will raise the lever i, and allow it to drop so that
the pawl will move the ratchet wheel a, forward one tooth for each such revolution
of the cam.
In using this machine the action of the mechanism is as follows:-Having first
weighed, in the usual manner, the article package or goods of which the weight is
to be registered, the sliding block F, must then be moved from E¹, to E, and back
to E, on the horizontal bar. During the forward movement of the sliding block F,
the pulley K, will be caused to revolve by the coiled spring attached thereto, and by
means of the connecting chain the sliding block I, will be drawn towards G, on the
horizontal bar until the projection on the sliding block 1, comes into contact with the
projection on the sliding weight D, but on the sliding block F, being returned to E¹,

page_text: on the horizontal bar the sliding block I, will also be returned to G₁, its original
position on the horizontal bar, and by means of the chain, pulley K, will be revolved
in an opposite direction back to its original position, and by means of the pawl L,
the ratchet wheel M, (see Figure 1,) will be moved a certain distance corresponding
with the position of the sliding weight D, upon the scale beam that has been found
necessary to balance the article being weighed. If the said sliding weight be placed
at 0 pounds on the scale beam no movement of the sliding block I, and ratchet
wheel M, will take place but if the sliding weight be placed at one hundredweight
upon the scale beam then the sliding block 1, will be drawn to G, on the horizontal
bar and the pulley K, will then make one complete revolution and back, and in its
backward movement will cause the ratchet wheel M, and also the figured disk g, to
make one complete revolution and figures registering one hundredweight will be
brought into view through an opening in the outside casing of the machine at k
(see Figure 2). If the sliding weight be placed at any intermediate position on the
scale beam only a proportionate amount of movement will be communicated to the disk g,
and thus figures indicating the position of the sliding weight upon the scale beam will be
brought into view and the number of pounds that the article weighs over and above
a number of complete hundredweights will be recorded. The sliding block J will
also be drawn towards H, on the horizontal bar by the weight of the sliding
block U, which will drop down the vertical bar V, until the ring rests upon the
column of detached weights C, and by means of the quadrant and steel band T,
the pulley O, and pinion X, will be caused to revolve a certain distance depending
upon the height of the column of detached weights in the scale pan B, at the
time; and by means of the pinion X, and the toothed segment Y, the before-
mentioned shield or guard will be moved round so as only to allow the pawl d,
to engage with a certain number of the teeth in the ratchet wheel a. The distance
moved by the pawl at each stroke and the position of the shield or guard must be
so adjusted that the number of teeth of the ratchet wheel with which the
pawl engages at each stroke must correspond with the number of detached weights
in use on the scale pan B, at the time. Thus if no detached weights are necessary
to balance the article weighed then the sliding block U, will drop down until the
ring rests upon the scale pan, B, and the cover or shield will be moved forward
until the pawl d, will be prevented from engaging with any teeth of the ratchet
wheel a; but if one detached weight be in use on the scale pan then the shield
will not be moved so far forward and one tooth of the ratchet wheel a, will be
exposed to the action of the pawl, and so on for any number of weights placed on
the scale pan B, a corresponding number of teeth of the ratchet wheel a, will be
exposed to the action of the pawl, and thereby the ratchet wheel a, and the disk b,
will be moved round a distance also corresponding with the number of weights upon
the scale pan at the time, and figures upon the disk b, will be exposed to view
through the opening at ; and as the weights in the scale pan represent the number
of complete hundredweights contained in the weight of the article the weight of
which is to be registered, the complete weight of the article will be shown at k, in
hundredweights, quarters, and pounds. As cach complete revolution of the spindle N,
moves the ratchet wheel a, forward one tooth by means of the spiral cam and
lever and the pawl j, as before explained, it follows that for each 112 pounds or
3 quarters and 28 pounds recorded on the disk y, or complete revolution thereof,
1. hundredweight will be recorded on the disk b, thus carrying forward the total of
the odd quarters and pounds when they amount to one hundredweight. As only a
forward movement is imparted to the figured rollers or disks each succeeding weight
recorded will be added to that previously shown so that the total weight of any
number of articles up to the full capacity of the machine can be registered by moving
the sliding block F, forward and back each time it is desired to register the weight
of any article or articles as shown by the position of the sliding weight upon the
scale bean and by the number of weights upon the scale pan.
1, m, n, o, p, 1, (Figure 2,) illustrate mechanism by which the separate weight of
each article or each weighing can be permanently recorded on pieces of card or on a

page_text: continuous ribbon or web of paper or other suitable material. 4, is a lever one end
of which is connected with the sliding block U, so as to rise and fall with it, and by
means of a short lever m, and a connecting rol n, a block o, will he moved back-
ward and forward as the sliding block U, is moved up or down. On the under
surface of the block o, are raised type (but not shown in the drawings) or other
suitable means of making an impression on paper card &c. These types must
correspond with the number of detached weights intended to be used on the scale
pan B. On the surface of the edge of a flange p, attached to the pulley K, are raised
type (but not shown in the drawings) or other suitable means of impressing paper
&c., which type must represent and correspond with the numbers on the scale
beam A, A, so that when the sliding block F, has been moved to E, on the
horizontal bar the flange p, will take a position corresponding with the position of the
sliding weight upon the scale beam, and the position of the block o, will correspond
with the number of weights on the scale pan B. At q, will be seen a lever by which
The type
the paper &c. can be pressed against the above mentioned type.
immediately over the end of the lever on the block o, must represent the number of
weighis in the scale pan B, and the type upon the edge of the flange p, must
represent the number on the scale beam at which the sliding weight is then placed so
that on pressing down the opposite end of the lever q, at r, an impression can be
taken on a piece of paper or card &c. placed under the type which impression will
represent the weight of the article or goods that has, or have, just been weighed. The
end of the lever q, at r, may be connected with the working lever of the machine by
any convenient means so that when the sliding block F, has been moved to E, on the
horizontal bar, and the flange p, and the block o, are in position the lever 7, will be
forcibly pressed against the type. The paper or other material upon which the
impressions are made can either be passed between the lever and the type in a con-
tinuous ribbon or web by suitable mechanism, or separate pieces can be inserted
each time an impression is required. Additional figured rollers or disks can be con-
nected with the disks b, so as to record the number of complete revolutions made by
it in the same manner as each complete revolution of the disk g, is recorded on the
disk b. These additional disks will then record the number of hundreds of
hundredweights that have been weighed upon the machine.
The number of separate weighings that have been registered upon the machine can
be recorded upon a figured disk or roller s, by means of a ratchet wheel fastened
thereto and a hook t, attached to a lever u. This lever must be so placed that it will
be moved sufficiently by the return movement of a projection on the sliding block J,
to pull the ratchet wheel forward one tooth thus exposing a fresh number to view
through an opening at Consecutive numbers are marked on the disk s,
corresponding in position with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. The lever u, can be
returned to its original position by means of a spring or weight conveniently
connected therewith.
w, w, w, (Figure 1,) indicate milled heads by which the various figured disks may
be set at zero before commencing to use the machine.
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
1. The general construction arrangement and combination of mechanism con-
stituting in the whole a new and improved registering weighing machine and its use
for weighing purposes substantially as is herein before described in detail, and
as illustrated on the accompanying sheets of drawings.
2. The herein before described arrangement and combination of mechanism for
registering the separate weights of a number of successive quantities of packages or
goods weighed upon any suitable kind of weighing machine and also the total weight
thereof, in which mechanism the position and number of the sliding and other weights
is used to act as a stop or gauge to regulate the movement of such mechanism when

page_text: set in motion, the registering mechanism being totally disconnected from the weighing
mechanism except while the former is in actual operation.
3. The hereinbefore described mechanism consisting of sliding blocks connected by
chains or flexible bands in combination with pulleys and figured disks, by means of
which the position and the number of weights in use on a weighing machine is caused
to regulate the amount of motion imparted to the figured disks in such a manner
that figures will be brought into view representing the total weight of successive
quantities of packages or goods weighed upon such weighing machine.
4. The hereinbefore described mechanism consisting of a combination of sliding
blocks chains or flexible bands pulleys levers and type, by means of which the separate
weights of successive quantities of packages or goods weighed upon a weighing
machine can be recorded upon paper or other suitable material.
Dated this 28th day of September 1888.
BRISTOW HUNT,
Aldine Chambers, High Street, Sheffield,
Agent for the Applicant.