Improvements in or relating to Weighing and Price-indicating Apparatus..
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Mar., 1897-Accepted, 8th. May, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Weighing and Price-indicating
Apparatus..
I, FRANCIS WILLIAMS Pentre Clawdd, Ruabon, Wales Provision Dealer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to.apparatus for weighing articles or goods and indicating
the price to be paid for them; certain of the constructions according to this
invention will give by a single easy adjustment for each operation, the gross, tare
and net weights of the load upon the scale, and also the total value of the net load
at a given price per unit of weight; an important feature of this invention is the
employment of interchangeable scales graduated according to different monetary
systems or of several such scales in one machine, whereby the reading of total value
may be obtained in different monetary scales simultaneously or otherwise.
According to one part of this invention which I will' describe in connection with
a platform weighing-apparatus, although it is not limited to use solely with this
class of apparatus, I mount the platform on suitable kuife-edges and carry the rod
connected with the platform up through a suitable standard and balance the
platform and rod all in substantially the manner usual in auob arrangements. At
the top of the rod, which for convenience I hereinafter term the "platform-rod,"
I provide a knife-edge or equivalent capable of engaging with a steel yard pivotted
preferably at or near one end to a frame which is adjustable in relation to the
platform. This frame may be mounted in standards or brackets secured to the
base or other fixed part of the apparatus and may be moved therein by a rack and
pinion or other suitable mechanism.
The steel yard at one end is provided with a balance weight and at the other end
is connected with a spring-balance such as those known as "Salter's spring
balances" which is supported by and movable with the above mentioned adjustable
frame. The face of this balance has scales, indicating money divisions, such as
pounds, shillings, pence and farthings and the weight divisions such as stones,
pounds, ounces, etc., and an index pointer moved by the load indicated on these
scales the price and weight of the goods.
From the foregoing it will be seen that the steel-yard is capable of being moved
so that different parts of it may be brought under the influence of the "load."
The steel yard is preferably notched so that the "platform-rod" may be caused to
engage with certain definite parts, these differing according to the price per unit to
be paid for the goods weighed.
The-steel-yard has scale markings corresponding with the above named notches
and the different prices of the goods to be sold, thus it may have forty-eight notches
and divisions and be of such length as to weigh goods varying in price from say for
example a farthing up to a shilling per pound, each of the forty-eight notches and
scale divisions representing a farthing difference per pound; the steel yard may
however be notched and divided to correspond with other money systems and be of
any desired length to weigh goods at any required price.
In operation the apparatus is used as follows:-
Supposing a customer requires say six pounds of goods at three pence per pound
the attendant adiuate the movable frame on agito bring the three-nenne division on
'

page_text: the steel yard up to the "platform-rod" and puts the goods on the platform until
the index on the spring-balance points to the eighteen-penny mark thereon.
To ascertain the weight of goods the movable frame is adjusted so as to bring
the spring-balance directly over the "platform rod" and any goods placed on the
platform will cause the latter to descend as though it were directly connected with
the balance and the weight of these goods will consequently be indicated on the
weight-scale on the face of the balance."
If desired I may provide means for throwing the "platform-rod "out of contact
or engagement with the steel yard when the weighing apparatus is not in use.
Various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the
invention for example instead of making the steel-yard adjustable in relation to
the platform, the platform may be made adjustable in relation to the steel-yard.
Another modification is one in which three scales are provided in the machine
'that is to say, a fixed scale, a scale for net weight and a scalo for total value, the
two latter being adjustable relatively to the fixed scale. Conveniently there are
several scales of total values made to be readily movable and interchangeablo with
each other aud graduated according to different monetary systems. An index is
provided, operated by the load and arranged to point to readings on all three
scales.
To use the apparatus the vehicle or other container for goods is put on the
platform or the like, and operates the index to give an indication on the fixed scale
corresponding to the tare. As soon as this is done, the other two scales are
adjusted to bring their zero readings opposite the index and the vehicle or other
receptacle is then loaded; the effect of loading it is to move the index still further
along the scales. When the needle comes to rest after this it will be found that
the distance between zero on the fixed scale and the point to which the zeros of the
movable scales were moved represents the tare, that the total movement of the
index over the fixed scale represents the gross weight, and that the distance
through which the index moved from the zero of the other two scales after their
adjustment gives the net weight, and the total value thereof, all these quantities
being clearly indicated by the final position of the several parts, and the price per
unit of weight being shown on the net scale so that an invoice may be made out
directly from the final readings.
If desired the price and net weight scales may be made to engage together in
such a manner that they both move as one in the adjustment of their zeros to a
new position, as aforesaid.
If desired automatic stamping or recording devices may be placed in operative
connection with the several scales, so as to produce a printed record of each
weighing in each of the modifications described; the interchangeable money scales
or two or more different money scales employed simultaneously are also applicable
to each of the constructions hereinbefore referred to.
Deted this 28th day of December 1896
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Weighing and Price Indicating
Apparatus.
I, FRANCIS WILLIAMS, of Pentre Clawdd, Ruabon, Walos, Provision Dealer,
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 relates to apparatus for weighing articles or goods and indicating

page_text: the price to be paid for them; certain of the constructions according to this
invention will give by a single easy adjustment for each operation, the gross,, tare
and nett weights of the load upon the scale, and also the total value of the nett
load at a given price per unit of weight,; an important feature of this invention is
the employment of interchangeable sales graduated according to different prices
per unit of weight or different monetary systems or of several such scales in one
machine, whereby the reading of total value may be obtained in different monetary
scales simultaneously or otherwise.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings.
in which
Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of portion of one form of my
improved weighing apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a plan of Fig. 1 partly in horizontal section.
Fig. 3. is an elevation of a modified form of the apparatus and
Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the dial plate shown in Fig. 3.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
According to one part of this invention which I will describe in connection with
a platform weighing apparatus, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, although it is not limited
to use solely with this class of apparatus, I mount the platform A on suitable knife
edges and carry the rod A' connected with the platform up through a suitable
standard B conuected to the base B and balance the platform and rod all in
substantially the manner usual in such arrangements. At the top of the rod A',
which, for convenience,. I hereinafter term the "platform-rod," I provide a knife
edge or equivalent A' capable of engaging with a steel-yard C pivotted preferably
at or near one end to a frame D which is adjustable in relation to the platform A,
or platform rod A. This frame may be mounted in standards or brackets B³
secured to the standard B or other fixed part of the apparatus and is adapted to be
moved therein by rotating a screw-threaded rod E which engages with a fixed
nut E and is provided with a handle E. The threaded rod E is pivotted, and
prevented from moving longitudinally, in a bracket arm D' dopending from the
frame D; or the frame D may be adjusted in the brackets B' by a rack and
pinion or other suitable mechanism.
The steel-yard C, at one end, is provided with a balance weight C¹ and at the
other end is connected as for example through a hook and link F with a spring-
balance F, such as those known as "Salter's spring balances," which is supported
by a bracket arm D' connected to and movable with the adjustable frame D. The
face of this balance F¹ bas scales, the scale indicating money divisions, such
as pounds, shillings, pence and farthings and the scale ordinary weight divisions
such as stones, pounds, ounces, etc. or vice versa, and au index pointer I moved by
the "load" indicates on the scales ff the price and weight of the goods
respectively.
From the foregoing it will be seen that the steel-yard C is capable of being
moved so that through the knife-edge A' different parts of it may be brought under
the influence of the "load" that is to say the article or material to be weighed.
The steel yard is preferably notched as at c so that the." platform-rod " A' may be
caused to engage with certain definite parts, these differing according to the price
per unit to be paid for the goods weighed.
.
The steel-yard has scale markings c corresponding with the above named
notches c and the different prices per unit of weight of the goods to be sold, thus it
may have forty-eight notches and divisions and be of such length as to weigh goods
varying in price from, say for example, a farthing up to a shilling per pound, each
of the forty-eight notches c and divisions of the scale c' representing a farthing
difference per pound; the steel yard C inay however be notched and divided
to correspond with other money systems and be of any desired length to weigh
goods at any required price.
In operation the apparatus is used as follows;
Supposing a customer requires say seven pounds of goods at three pence three

page_text: farthings per pound the attendant adjusts the movable frame D.so as to first bring
the spring-balance F directly over the "platform rod" A, (when any goods
placed on the platform A will cause the latter to descend as though it were directly
connected with the balance as in an ordinary weighing machine) and then places
sufficient goods upon the platform to bring the index F to the 7 lb. division of the
weight-scale, after which, in order to ascertain the gross price of the goods, he
adjusts the movable frame D so as to bring the three-penny three-farthing division
of the steel yard scale c¹ up to the "platform-rod" A', when the index F on the
spring-balauce F will move to the two shilling and two pence farthing mark
thereon, which indicate the price to be paid for the goods.
If desired I may provide means such for example as a lever G (as in existing
platform weighing machines) for throwing the "platform-rod" A out of contact
or engagement with the steel yard C when the weighing apparatus is not in
use, or when the steel yard is being adjusted as previously described, in relation to
the "platform rod."
Various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the
invention for example instead of making the steel-yard C adjustable in relation to
the platform A or platform rod A, the platform or platform rod may be made
adjustable in relation to the steel-yard.
Another modification is one in which as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 three scales are
provided on the spring balance that is to say, a fixed scale fa scale f* for net
weight and a scale for total value, the two latter being mounted in circular guides
80 as to be capable of adjustment in a rotary direction relatively to and
concentrically within the fixed scale. Conveniently there are several scales f
of total values made, graduated according to different prices per unit of weight or
different monetary systems, and these are so constructed that they may be readily
detached from the weighing apparatus and others substituted for them, all the
detachable scales for this latter purpose, being interchangeable with each other.
The index F is arranged so as to point to the readings on all three scales
simultaneously.
To use the apparatus, the vehicle, (as for example when the invention is applied
to a weighbridge,) or other container for goods, is put on the platform or the
like A, and operates the index F to give an indication on the fixed scale f¹
corresponding to the tare; in Fig. 3 the index F is represented in full lines as
though it has been operated in this manner, the tare-indication being given
as 6 lbs. As soon as this is done, the two scales ff are adjusted to bring their
zero readings opposite the index F2 as shown in Fig. 3 and the vehicle or other
receptacle is then loaded; the effect of loading it is to move the index still further
along the scales, for example, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. When the
index comes to rest after this, it will be found that the distance between zero on
the fixed scale f' and the point to which the zeros of the movable scales ff were
moved represents the tare, that the total movement of the index over the fixed
scale represents the gross weight and that the distance through which the
index F moved from the zero of the two scales ff after their adjustment, gives
respectively the nett weight, and the total value thereof, all these quantities being
clearly indicated by the final position of the several parts, and the price per unit of
weight being shown on the scale f so that an invoice may be made out directly from
the final readings, thus with the index in the position in which it is shown in dotted
lines in Fig. 3 the readings are as follows;-

page_text: independently of each other or they may be made to engage together in such
a manner that they both move as one in the adjustment of their zeros to a new
position as aforesaid.
If desired automatic stamping or recording devioes may be placed in operative
connection with the several scales, so as to produce a printed record of each
weighing in each of the modifications described; the interchangeable money scales
or two or more different money scales employed simultaneously are also applicable
to each of the constructions hereinbefore referred to.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In weighing apparatus the combination substantially as described, of a steel
yard and spring balance in operative connection with each other.
2. A weight-indicating apparatus having fixed and adjustable scales such as fƒ`ƒ
substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. In a weighing apparatus a steel yard and a device through which the "load"
operates the steel yard adjustable relatively to each other, substantially as and for
the purpose described.
4. In a weighing apparatus the combination with a steel yard of a supporting
frame D carrying a weight indicating device such as a spring balance a device
through which the "load" operates the steel yard and means for adjusting
this device and the steel yard in relation to each other, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
5. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete weighing
apparatus substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the
accompanying drawings.
6. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete spring
balance substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of March 1897
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.