IMPROVEMENTS IN WEIGHING MACHINES, INVOLVING MEANS FOR COUNTING, REGISTERING, PRINTING, ADDING, AND OTHER OPERATIONS CONNECTED WITH WEIGHING SCALES
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Fairbanks, of St. Johnsbury, in the County
of Caledonia, State of Vermont, in the United States of America, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WEIGHING MACHINES, INVOLVING
MEANS FOR COUNTING, REGISTERING, PRINTING, ADDING, AND OTHER OPERATIONS
CONNECTED WITH WEIGHING SCALES."
Sealed the 31st December 1870, and dated the 10th September 1870.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Henry Fairbanks at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 10th September 1870, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
FAIRBANKS, of St. Johnsbury, in the County of Caledonia, State of
Vermont, in the United States of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN WEIGHING MACHINES, INVOLVING MEANS FOR COUNTING, REGISTERING, PRINTING,
ADDING, AND OTHER OPERATIONS CONNECTED WITH WEIGHING SCALES," and have
petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, administrators,
A

page_text: and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made
solemn Declaration that I am the true and first Inventor thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Fairbanks, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
scal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the
following statement :-
The first part of my Invention relates to a machine operated by a
hand crank or by a weight, or other power which moves the poise
backward or forward on the beam from cither end until it attains and
commences to pass-the-position corresponding to the weight, when a
movement of the beam takes place which arrests the further action of
registering and counting mechanism which has added the weight to
the amount previously weighed. Counterweights may be employed, in
which case
a corresponding amount must be added to the amount
registered at each weighing. The number of weighings is indicated by
a counter wheel.
The second part of my Invention relates to a machine in which raised
figures on revolving wheels are turned to correspond with the movement
of the poise by similar means to those just described, until the weighing
movement of the beam occurs and liberates a previously raised hammer
with a soft face, and imprints the raised figures upon a strip of paper;
the paper is moved forward a little after each operation, and is afterwards
removed, and the amount added up.
The third part of my Invention relates to the employment of as
temporary magnet to effect some of the operations. The scale beam
is relieved of even the delicate resistance incurred in the previous
forms, and has simply to make and break connections with a magnetic
battery.
The fourth part of my Invention relates to a simpler form of inecha-
nism in which no crank or other power is necessary, and the adjusting
of indexes to show and add the weight is performed by the movement
of the scale itself.
The fifth part of my Invention relates to corresponding mechanism in
which the weight is recorded by printing.
The sixth part of my Invention relates to a machine which I term a
distributing scale, for weighing fluid or nearly, fluid matter into cans or

page_text: other receptacles of uniform weight. Two cans stand side by side on a
platform, and are supplied alternately by two corresponding spouts, the
sinking of the platform when one has received the proper quantity
changes the current into the other spout, after which the filled can may
be removed and an empty one substituted, so that the work may proceed
continuously. In case of derangement or neglect the supply is shut off.
The first part of my Invention I denominate a registering scale.
Many weighing machines have been made for ensuring absolute or
approximate uniformity in the quantities weighed at each operation.
Such are very useful in weighing grain and analogous mobile or fluid
material; but they are obviously unsuited for weighing irregular
quantities of solid material. I have invented a machine which weighs
and indicates correctly widely varying weights, although it is best
adapted to weigh masses which are approximately uniform, such as
successive wheelbarrow loads, wagon loads, or car loads of coal, metals,
ores, stone, ice, or the like. It requires no inspection or mental
operations on the part of the attendant, who may operate successfully
after a little practice, even if unable to read, or without light, or under
circumstances where the fingers are cold and numb.
It has long been common to register or indicate plainly to the eye the
number of revolutions of a steam engine, and various analogous matters
by means of figures on wheels mounted side by side, and so connected
together by other mechanism that the motion given to the units wheel
imparts the proper slower intermittent motion to the tens whicel, and
this again to the hundreds wheel, and so on indefinitely. I have com-
bined such a mechanism with a weighing scale, and have provided
means whereby the operation of weighing and registering is mainly
automatic, and the machine may be worked successfully and reliably
by very ignorant and unskilled workmen.
Figure 1 is a front view of my improved machine; Figure 2 is a plan
view of the same; Figure 3 is an end view with a part of the end plate
broken away to show the mechanism; Figure 4 is a cross section through
the registering mechanism; and Figure 5 is a cross section through the
beam, the screw which transmits motion to the poise, the guide of the
poise mover, and the frame.
Referring to these Figures, A is the beam of a platform or other scale
of ordinary or suitable construction. I have not considered it necessary
to represent the platform, the supporting levers, and other ordinary
A 2

page_text: mechanism by which the weight of the load is transmitted to the
important member termed the weighing beam. The rod by which the
I shall indicate
force is made to move the beam A is indicated by a.
the framework wherever necessary by the letter M, and any special
member of the framework by M', M², etc. A guide M is provided on
the framework to steady the motions of the poise slider, and stops M², M²,
are provided to limit the extent of the vibrations of the beam A. B is
the poise; it is slid outward or to the right on the beam A by turning
the hand crank b in one direction, and is moved inward or to the left
on the beam by turning the same hand crank in the opposite direction.
The train of mechanism b, 7, 6, to 7 and 8, by which this is effected
turns the screw & in one direction or the other, and-thus-correspondingly
moves the poise slider 15, and through the medium of the light rod b",
which makes a connection with the poise at the point 67, pushes out or
draws in the poise on the beam A. The parts in the train of connecting
mechanism are the shaft carrying a gear wheel 6 meshing into another
gear wheel b fixed upon a continuation of the endless screw *. I prefer
that the upper edge of the beam A shall be perfectly smooth. The
ordinary graduations may be made on the broad front face of the beam.
My improved machine may be used in weighing in the ordinary manner
by simply disconnecting the other work if it shall ever become necessary.
I will describe the action of my machine by directing the attention
successively to the several parts in each train of mechanism which
performs an important function. I will premise generally that the hand
crank turns successively in opposite directions; it is turned by the
hand to the right until the poise is slid back, or to the left on the
beam A to the zero point; now it is stopped forcibly by means which
will be described further on, and next the crank is turned in the
reverse direction, either by the hand of the attendant or by the action
of a spring, or of a weight pulling on a cord wound upon the axis b',
and this motion revolves the screw in such direction as to traverse
the poise B slowly to the right.
I will now describe the action of another train of mechanism which
stops this reverse motion of the crank b when the poise has been moved
out to exactly the proper extent, and the correct weight ascertained.
There is a bell-crank lever hung above upon a shaft e¹, fixed in arms M³,
forming a part of the fixed framework M. The vertical or hanging
arm of this lever, as also the entire lever, when it becomes necessary to

page_text: refer to it is denominated e, and stands with its lower extremity close to
the nicely finished steel extension piece A¹ of the beam A. There is a
coiled spring e² coiled around the shaft c', and tending to press the
arme towards the beam A, and consequently to depress the horizontal
arm &³. So long as the beam A is in its highest position the arm e
presses lightly at intervals against the end of the extension A', and the
arm is thereby supported, while a notch ein the wheel c', to be
described below, is passing and prevented from dropping into the notch,
except to a very small extent, from which it is immediately lifted out
again by the beveled form of the notch, but when the beam A sinks by
reason of the poise B having been slid outward until the proper weight
is ascertained, then the extension piece A' of the beam A is carried below
the end of the hanging arm c, and leaves the bell-crank lever e³ free
the next time the notch es is presented to turn by its' gravity, and by the
action of the spring e² to depress the arm e³ deeply into the same notch,
and thereby stop the wheel. The wheel et forms a part of another
train of mechanism to be described below; it is revolved rapidly, while
the poise B is being moved slowly outward, and its notch e³ is adapted
to receive the horizontal arm of the lever before described whenever
such lever is allowed to sink. So soon as the beam A is sunk out of
contact with the arm e the lever e³ drops into the notch e, and arrests
the motion of this wheel, and consequently of the entire connected train
of mechanism. This function cannot be fully understood until the other
trains of mechanism and their relations thereto are explained, but having
now described the immediate and direct effect of the sinking. of the
beam A to drop the lever es into the notch e, and thus by arresting the
quickly moving wheel e' to arrest the hand of the operator and the
entire train of mechanism to . I will describe what takes place on
the reverse movement, and will afterwards explain how the movement
of the machinery in the one direction registers the weights of the
successive loads. The attendant, so soon as the load to be weighed is
fairly placed on the platform, not represented, so that its weight is
properly transmitted through the rod a to the beam A, siezes the crank
and turns it to the right, and thus turns the endless screw in the
direction which moves the poise B inward (to the left). As it approaches
the zero mark the poise slider b strikes a nut 7 which is adjustable on
a rod g³, so supported that it may move endwise to a limited extent. It
is pressed to the right by a coiled spring acting between the sup-
porting bracket M' and an adjustable nut, and is connected by the

page_text: pivot g¹ to a lever g³ pivoted on the fixed framework at the point 96, and
having a forked arm g' at the opposite extremity, the function of which
will presently appear. Now when the poise slider strikes the nut g
and moves the rod g¹ to the left the parts are so adjusted that just as
the poise B has reached the zero mark on the beam A the rod g¹ has
been moved so far to the left that it rocks the lever g³, g', g³, and moves
the end to the right. The forked arm g' takes hold of pins g³ on a
sleeve which is capable of sliding endwise, as also of turning to a
limited extent on a smooth cylindrical rod M³. This sleeve carries
two nearly opposite arms, the one 9 extending forward under the
lever before described, the other g" extends backward, and fulfills the
important function of arresting the motion of the entire mechanism so
soon as the sleeve ³ is moved endwise to the right, as before described.
This is accomplished as follows:-There is a broad ratchet wheel g¹² on
the extended shaft of the endless screw b. The pawl g" catches in this
ratchet " whenever it is depressed. This pawl g" remains elevated,
and the screw 6* may turn freely until the end motion of the sleeve g³
and its connections is completed to the right. This end motion carries
the arm gunder a pin g which is fixed in the wheel g¹³ carried on the
extension of the shaft b. The parts are so arranged that the end motion
of the sleeve carries the pawl g" into the path of the pin g, and at the
next revolution the pin " strikes on the upper side of the pawl arm g"
and presses it down into the ratchet g¹. It follows from this that the
backward motion of the hand crank band its connections to traverse
back the poise B is arrested by the forcing down of the pawl g" into the
ratchet so soon as the poise B has reached the zero mark on the
scale A. It will now be understood that the attendant has simply to
turn the crank to the right until it stops, and then to turn it to the
left, or in the reverse direction, (or allow it to be turned to the left by the
action of an attached weight and cord,) until it is again stopped, and
that this completes the weighing operation so far as the action of the
attendant is concerned. I will presently describe the action of the
registering mechanism which takes place in the interim. It will be
understood that the cord and its weight may be used as a substitute for
hand power in inducing the reverse motion.
The weight may be enclosed in a suitable casing or well if necessary
to protect it from disturbing influences. With this pulley and weight

page_text: forward direction, but he turns it forward until it stops and then
liberates it, and it then turns slowly backward by the action of the
weight acting through the cord 6, and thereby transmitting its motion.
to the shaft b¹, and its connections. Where such weight and cord arc
not used it is necessary that the attendant shall retain his hold on
the crank b, and shall turn it slowly backward until it is stopped.
In cither case it is not essential to success that a special attendant
be stationed at the scale. The laborers who operate the wheel-
barrows, or who drive the wagons or brake, or otherwise attend
on the cars or other mediums by which the loads are successively
transported to and from the scale, may each in succession, when properly
instructed, operate the scale in the simple manner required. A sleeve /
is mounted loosely on the extended shaft of the endless screw 6*. This
sleeve carries a ratchet k¹, which receives a pawl & hung on the rod M³
before described. This pawl prevents the ratchet ¹, and its connections
revolving excepting in one direction, that is during the motion of the
poise B outward. During this motion the sleeve k is turned with
the screw ', by means of a pawl hung by the pin on the
wheel. There is a gear wheel fixed on the sleeve k, and which
gears into a larger wheel * on a cranked shaft 5. The crank on this
shaft is peculiarly constructed. It is strong and of sufficient length
to carry three pawls K, K, K, adapted to work corresponding register
wheels. The register wheels are mounted on a shaft, and are denoted
successively K', K², K³, K'. The units wheel K¹ is attached firmly to
a gear wheels, which meshes into the gear wheel, before described.
Every revolution of the cranked shaft gives a corresponding
revolution to the units wheel K'.
The wheels for the tens, hundreds, etc., are worked entirely by pawls
from the crank . The pawl K takes in notches on the right-hand
face of the tens wheel. There are corresponding notches, or in short
a ratchet wheel fixed on the right-hand side of the wheel for hundreds,
The
for thousands, and for as many more wheels as may be used.
pawl K catches a tooth of the ratchet at each revolution of the
crank ; but the pawl K does not catch in the ratchet on the
hundreds wheel, except once for each revolution of the tens wheel.
The action in this respect is probably analogous to that of many
registering wheels before known. After ten revolutions of the
crank a recess 10 on the left-hand side of the tens wheel allows

page_text: the next pawl K to sink low enough to take one of the teeth of the
ratchet in the hundreds wheel and thus to move that one notcli
and present a new number. After a complete revolution of the
hundreds wheel a corresponding notch 10 on the left-hand side of
this wheel allows the next pawl K to descend and to act on one tooth
of the ratchet on the thousands wheel. It follows that the figures
imprinted, embossed, or otherwise made visible on the units, tens,
hundreds, and thousands wheels are rotated properly to indicate to
the eye in the front line of figures the aggregate number of pounds
weighed during and at the close of a long series of successive weighing
operations. A cross bar or other suitable aid may be employed to
-assist the eye in reading the numbers across properly. These figures
may be raised and a suitable strip of paper being diawn across the
figures may be imprinted on the paper by a properly administered blow
of a suitable hammer or other appropriate mechanism, either at the
close of the operation or after each successive weighing if preferred.
I have in another form of my Invention mechanism for printing the
weights on a strip of paper. I propose in some instances to use that
mechanism or the vital parts of it in connection with the machine here
described. The two modes of indicating the weights may be useful as a
check upon each other as a safeguard against experiencing any serious
results from mistake or derangement in the action of any part.
I have explained how the motion of the poise slider to the left
draws the rod g₁ to the left, and moves the sleeve and its connections
to the right, to effect the automatic stopping of the crank b, and its
connections so soon as the poise has reached the zero mark. But I
did not describe the means whereby this sleeve g³ is returned and slid
back to its original position when the poise slider b³ commences again
to move onwards (to the right). This is partly due to the action of
the spiral spring g² which urges the rod g¹ to the right so soon as it
is liberated, and is due partly to the coiled spring 915, not before
described, which acts directly against the sleeve g³, pressing it to the
left out of the path of the pin g". It will be seen that the connection
of the forked end of the lever g³ to the pins gs and the sleeve ' is
made through the medium of slots, so that the sleeve g' may turn freely
to a limited extent around the pin or guide M³. I find in practice that
it is better to allow a still freer tilting motion to the pawl gl, and to
the opposite arm g¹º, and I consequently divide what for shortness I'

page_text: lever ca.
denominate the sleeve into two parts, making the right-hand part
perfectly free to turn; it rocks freely to any required extent on the
smooth guide rod M³, and its contact with the other parts of the
sleeve and with the spring 5 only affects its endwise position. I
have described that the lever sinks into a notch e in a quickly
rotating wheel e*, fixed on a shaft e, and that it thereby serves to arrest
the motion of the crank b, and its connections including the registering
wheels and all the other parts of the mechanism when the poise is moved
outward to the proper extent, so that the beam A. sinks and liberates the
The Drawings represent how this quick motion is received
from the gear wheel upon the crank shaft through the small
pinion e which gears into the gear wheel before described. I
esteem it an important point in my machine that rides on the
wheel e' during most of its rotation, and consequently that the hanging
arm e docs not touch A' except at intervals. This makes an inter-
mittent or feeling contact, and the beam A is perfectly free to rise and
sink without any friction therefrom during the intervals. The wheel e
may have several notches instead of one as here represented. I have
experimented successfully with five, and for some reasons prefer that
number of notches, but it may have any number of notches. I prefer
one notch for each figure on the units wheel. Whatever the number of
notches e in this wheel e' there is a function performed by the arm g
in lifting the levere out of the notch the moment the opposite arm or
pawl is depressed by the pin ", as before described. That action
raises the arm g¹, and consequently the lever e³, the moment the rod y¹
is pressed to the left. It is by this means that the hanging arm e is
moved outward beyond the end of the beam A, and its extension A' at
the commencement of each weighing operation.
I have not yet described my provision for governing the motion of the
quickly moving wheel e', and its connections. This is done by means of
a pair of curved and highly clastic arms e³, which are fixed on the
overhanging end of the shaft es, and carry weights e, which traverse in
close proximity to the smooth interior of the cylindrical fixed band M7.
When the velocity of the shaft tends to exceed the proper amount the
centrifugal force of the weights e extends the curved arms es and
generates sufficient friction between the weights e" and the interior of
the ring M to retard the motion.
I have not described how the registering wheels K², K³, etc., are held

page_text: against any accidental backward movements. as the pawls K slip over
them. This is effected by means of the springs K", which are fixed on
a bar M, and press on the respective ratchet wheels as represented.
I believe it practicable to employ any simple series of hands or indexes
working on successive dials for hundreds, thousands, etc., in the manner
commonly used for gas meters; and with such a device many of the
advantages of my Invention may be realized, but I much prefer the
registering wheels working intermittently, as here described.
The mechanism now described registers the aggregate weight; but it
is obviously convenient to know not only that, but also the aggregate
-number_of_successive weighings; this I indicate by the wheel L, which
is mounted on a stud M³, and is provided with five graduations on its
periphery and with a correspondingly fine ratchet wheel on its right
hand side. This ratchet wheel is worked by the hooked pawl, which
is connected by the pin to an arm ³ fixed upon the lever g³ before
described. At each end movement of the rod g' the arm is moved in
one direction or the other, and the hooked pawl at each round of
operations of the machine moves the wheel L one graduation, indicating
that one more load has been weighed. By turning the nut g, and thus
changing its position on the rod g¹, the point is changed at which the
poise B stands on the beam when its backward motion is arrested,
and although however this may be adjusted the beam A will always.
sink when the poise has been moved outward to the right weight it will
be observed that the machine only registers the amount of the motion
outward to that point from the fixed point, whether zero or any other
point, from which it commenced its outward movement. It will be scen
therefore that by adjusting the nut g in various positions on the rod g¹
the point at which the poise is arrested and commences to move outward
may be varied within wide limits. By this means I can adjust the
machine to allow for increased weight of platform or any other cause duc
to repairs or the like, or I can allow for "tare" by adjusting the said nut
to allow for the weight of the heavy wagon or the like in which the load
may be carried.
My improved scale is adapted for the addition of separate poises to
balance any permanent weight, as the weight of a wagon. This is
done by attaching the weights in any ordinary and suitable manner to
the link N, which is suspended to the knife edge n, near the outer (or
right-hand) end of the beam A. This is, in short, a counterweight, and

page_text: it performs all the functions of a counterweight in my machinc. I
allow for it by adding a corresponding amount for cach time the
weighing is effected, ascertained by means of the counter wheel L, or
otherwise.
Ordinarily the works of the machine will not be made accessible to
the attendant or workman. The proprietor or superintendant adjusts
the scale and locks up the casing of the machine, and at the end of the
day's work, or at any other period, he observes and records the amount
registered. The face of the casing should be of plate glass or other
transparent material, and adapted to be properly lighted. For facility
of reading it will be well to provide a bar or other suitable guide for the
eye, not represented, which should extend across in front of the register
wheels and out of contact therewith.
At the end of a succession of weighings, or at any other time when it
is necessary, the case may be opened and all the wheels set back or rather
forward to zero to commence a new series of weighing operations.
My mechanism guards very effectually against the serious derange-
ment which might result from an accidental irregularity on the part of
the workmen in turning the crank b. It will be observed that when a
weighing has been effected, and a new load placed on the platform, the
crank is capable of being turned only in one direction, that required to
move the poise B inward (to the left); this condition obtains throughout
the entire inward movement of the poise. It is never possible to move
the poise outward by turning the crank b in the opposite direction until
it has been moved inward to the full and proper extent; this results
from the action of the pawl in the ratchet ¹, which is connected by
the parts 3,, with the quick wheel e', which the lever e continues to
hold fast. But when the poise B has been moved inward to the full and
proper extent the pressing down of the pawl g" in the ratchet g¹² by
the pin g lifts the arm 10, and consequently the arm e³, and then and
not before the machine is in such condition that the crank b may be
turned in the opposite direction. Now it may be turned in the opposite
direction, that which moves the poise outward, and only in that direction.
After the attendant has commenced to turn it in that direction so that
the poise is moving out, the motion of the crank 6 cannot be again
reversed until it has been moved out to the full extent and the beam A
has dropped; this results from the action of the pawl " on the
ratchet , which is firmly connected to the screw *. Any attempt to

page_text: reverse the motion of the crank is effectually arrested by this pawl and
its connections until the poise has been moved outward to the proper
extent, and the beam A has sunk. The sinking of the beam A libcrates
the arm e, and consequently the arm e³, and the gravity of this arm e³ is
sufficient, as it falls into the notch e³ in the quick wheel e', to depress
the arm, and to raise the pawl g" out of contact with the ratchet.
These provisions are very important in avoiding the mischief which
might otherwise result from careless, fraudulent, or mischievous irregu-
larity in turning the crank b. The bar is connected to the poise
slider by a hook. The poise can be disconnected from the operating
mechanism and the scale used in the ordinary manner by adjusting the
poise B-on-the-beam-A-by-hand,-after-simply_unhooking this rod. The
weight of this rod is slight. I can compensate for it exactly by pro-
viding a small weight to be attached on the opposite end of the beam A,
or I can if desired balance the light bar & by forming it with a heavy
end extending beyond the pivot on which it is permanently hinged;
such a provision with a spring catch for holding the hook bar 7º con-
nected, when in use would avoid the necessity for any small weight
to be applied when the piece is disconnected from its operating
mechanism.
I term the inward movement of the poise and the rising of the beam
the preparatory motions, and the outward motion of the poise and the
sinking of the beam the weighing motions thereof; these motions may
be reversed if desired, so that the rising of the beam shall be the weighing
motion, the other machinery being correspondingly reversed to match.
I am aware of various devices known before for moving a weighing
poise by mechanism carried on the scale beam, but all such have involved
a risk of disturbing the position of the scale beam and interfering with its
free action. I am also aware of a plan by which parts moved inde-
pendently of the scale beam are made to communicate motion to the
poisc, but in such plan the motion is communicated by a force which
from its direction disturbs the balance of the beam. I count it an
improvement to communicate the motion to the poise from a poise
mover 6 mounted independently of the scale beam, and transmitting the
force in a direction in a line directly toward or from the supporting knife
edges at the time the weighing is determined; this is done in my
machine. I am also aware that a device has been before proposed and
patented in England for indicating or registering the weights of single

page_text: loads and for allowing the printing by hand of the weights of such loads,
but such would not like mine weigh successive unequal loads and
register their sum. Many grain weighing machines add the weights of
successive equal loads, but none such can weigh and add unequal loads.
My machine indicates the weight of cach load separately by the position
of the poise upon the scale beam however unequal the said loads may
be, and by the combined registering mechanism adds the weight of each
load (whether equal or unequal to each other) to the amount previously
weighed, and gives a correct indication of the sum without imposing any
resistance to the weighing motion of the beam.
The second part of my Invention I denominate a printing scale.
All the operations required with this machine as with that previously
described are effected by turning a light crank alternately in one
direction and the other at each weighing operation, and I have provided
means for automatically stopping the crank at each end of its motion.
It is not necessary to move the crank to any fixed position at each
operation, but it is only moved sufficiently in each case to ensure the
proper action.
Figure 6 is a front view; Figure 7 is a plan view; Figure 8 is a cross
section through the beam, the screw which transmits motion to the poise
and the guide rod. It also represents the poise and what I term the
poise mover.
The Figures represent the condition which obtains after what I term
the preparatory motion and before what I term the weighing is
completed.
Figure 9 is an end elevation with a part of the end plate removed or
broken away to show the mechanism; Figure 10 is a cross section in a
plane near the center of the operating mechanism. The position of the
parts when the printing or embossing is being effected is indicated in
light dotted lines in Figure 9.
The Drawings represent the novel parts with so much of the ordinary
parts as is necessary to show their relation thereto.
My scale may be a platform or other ordinary scale.
Referring to these Figures the beam is indicated by A. The platform
with its supporting means, not represented, may be of any ordinary
or suitable construction. The beam is by preference perfectly smooth
on the upper edge, and the graduating may be done on the plane face at

page_text: the side. The knive edges may be of any ordinary construction giving
sufficient delicacy with strength and durability. The rod by which the
mass to be weighed transmits the whole or a certain proportion of its
weight to the scale beam A is indicated by a; B is a sliding poise; it
is adapted to fit and slide easily on the scale beam A. A screw is
mounted in suitable bearings in the fixed framework of the machine or
the parts attached thereto. I will indicate the entire fixed framework,
when necessary, by the letters M, M', etc. There is a smooth rod M¹
which forms a part of the fixed framework, and stands exactly parallel
to the axis of the screw b', and serves as a guide rod to the poise mover 65,
which is adapted to slide on the rod M', and is threaded to match the
screw 6', and to be moved endwise thereby as the screw is rotated in one
direction or the other. A light connecting bar 6 extends from the
lower extremity of the poise mover 65, and extending loosely through a
larger hole in the poise B is delicately hinged to the poise at the point .
This mode of connecting allows the light rod 6 to maintain a position
exactly horizontal when the beam A and consequently the poise B is
clevated, which is the position it maintains until the weighing point is
determined. The extending of the bar 6° so as to connect to the poise at
the opposite side gives a very considerable length to the bar, and conse-
quently reduces the angle of its inclination as the beam A rises and sinks
without extending the mechanism horizontally much beyond the bare
diameter of the poise. I turn the screw b' by means of a hand crank b
which turns a shaft and the attached gear wheel ; this gear wheel bª
gears into a larger gear wheel ³ on an extension of the shaft of the
screw . It will now be seen that by turning the hand crank in onc
direction or the other it communicates motion from the shaft and
small gear wheel be to the larger gear wheel 63, which being fixed on the
shaft or extended axis of the screw ' causes this screw to rotate in one
direction or the other; and it will also be clearly understood that such
revolving of the screw b* moves the poise slider b, and that this by the
light horizontal connecting bar acts at the point to gently slide
the poise B outward or inward on the beam A. The entire train of
mechanism by which the poise B is moved out and in by the attendant
is indicated by the several letters b, b', to b'. I provide stops M², M²,
forming a part of the rigid framework of the machine which limit the
motion of the beam A, but it is important that such motion be enough
to allow an efficient action of the delicate mechanism now to be described,
and which delicate mechanism performs the plural functions of arresting

page_text: the motion of the entire train of mechanism just described when the
poise has been moved backward so as to stand momentarily a little
within the weight of the load, also to arrest the motion of the same
train of mechanism when by the reverse motion of the hand of the
attendant it has been operated in the reverse direction sufficiently to
move the poise outward (or toward the right) until the exact weight is
reached, and also to elevate the printing hammer, move along a strip of
paper, adjust a train of type wheels carrying the ordinary numerals in
strong raised types, and when the weight is exactly indicated strike a
blow thereon by the printing hammer, which is faced with rubber so as
to cause the impression of the proper figures to be indented in the paper.
The attendant requires simply to be instructed to turn the crank in
one direction, that which moves the poise inward (or to the left) until
the crank is stopped, and then to turn it moderately in the other
direction, that which moves the poise outward (or to the right) until the
hand is again stopped. The automatic stopping mechanism must be made
sufficiently strong to withstand the gentle force of the hand of a properly
instructed attendant, or to arrest the motion of the crank b with sufficient
force to convey the intimation distinctly to his mind that the proper
limit of the motion has been reached. The shaft b' operated as before
described directly by the crank carries many parts additional to the
gear wheel & before described. One of these parts is a ratchet wheel f
which is keyed or otherwise firmly fixed. By its side on the left is a
crown cam wheel f¹, having five equal rounded projections on the left
face. A pawl f* pressed home by a spring" is mounted on a pivot f*
in the crown cam wheel f¹, and takes in the teeth of the ratchet
wheelf, so that when the hand crank is turned in the direction to
move the poise outward (or to the right) the wheel f¹ is compelled to
turn with it. There is an upright piece f' hinged at the bottom to a
stout spring f, which is fixed at its rear end to the framework M. This
piece f is vibrated by the crown cam f' as will be obvious. There is an
upright spring f' adapted to serve also as a dog. It presses the inter-
mediate piece f³ constantly to the right so as to maintain its bearing
against the crown cam f¹. This spring dog is consequently compelled
to vibrate with the motion of the intermediate piece f³. On the outer
or right-hand end of the main beam A is bolted a hardened steel piece A¹
having the form represented, and the several parts are so adjusted
relatively to each other that when the beam A is up the spring dog f
passes at cach vibration under this extension of the main beam A. Now

page_text: the poise B having been sufficiently moved to the left by the means
before described to stand within the weight of the load the beam A is in
its highest position, and as the hand crank is turned moving the
poise outward or to the right, the action of the crown cam f, and the
consequent vibration of the pieces f³ and f' proceeds freely so long
as the beam A remains elevated. This action continues with the poise,
gradually moving outward (to the right) until the point is reached
where the weight of the mass to be weighed is insufficient to sustain the
beam A in its elevated position. In other words the poise B has been
moved until it has attained the position which corresponds to the exact
weight of the load. At this juncture the beam A gently descends.
When it has descended-a-little-the-steel_extension piece just described
is struck by the vibrating spring dog ƒ. This arrests the vibration of
the parts f' and f³ and therefore necessarily arrests the motion of
the crown cam wheel f¹ and of the hand crank and its connected
mechanism.
At this stage the weighing of the load has been effected. The next
operation the printing of the amount of the weight follows instantly, and
before the action of the hand upon the crank has stopped. The
tendency of the hand of the attendant to continue the motion thus sud-
denly arrested acts with sufficient force on the crown cam f¹ to lift on
the smoothly rounded surface of the intermediate piece f³ and cause a
slight upward motion of the stout spring f to which it is pivoted below.
The motion thus communicated results in liberating the previously
elevated printing hammer F. All the several elements in the train of
mechanism producing this effect are lettered ƒ, ƒ¹, to ƒ¹º¸ There is a
bent or bell-crank lever pivoted to the fixed framework by the pivot f³
This lever performs important functions, and I will designate its parts
separately. Its lower arm f rests upon the stout spring ƒª. The
upper arm has a shoulder f". When the piece f³ is vibrating in
its ordinary position the spring f° stands in the position represented,
and the shoulder f10 receives and sustains the lower end of a supporting
bar which is pressed thereupon by the spring f. But the moment
the poise has reached the point where it balances the weight of the
load and arrests the vibrations, and the part f* and its connections
are drawn upward by the action of the crown cam, as above described,
the elevation of the spring f slightly tilts the lever, and its upper.
arm pushes the rod f12 off the shoulder f10 and allows it to fall.

page_text: The supporting bar f" is connected at its upper end to a lever f¹ which
is fast upon a shaft f, and which carries by means of the lever or
arm fand of a corresponding arm f the printing hammer F, coated
with a thick rubber blanket. The slipping of the rod f" off the notch f¹0
causes the hammer F to fall and produce the impression by striking the
paper upon the type wheels.
The construction and operation of the type wheels and also of the
rolls which give motion to the strip of paper, the reel which carries
the paper, and a sort of tube or enclosing case which guides the paper
from the reel to the point where it is printed, will be briefly described
further on.
I will now proceed to describe the action of the mechanism which
restores the hammer to its elevated position.
In a moment after the vibrating action of the parts f³ and f' is
arrested, and the hand crank is stopped, the printing of the weight
is completed, and the wagon or other load having been removed from
the platform, and another substituted, the attendant commences to turn
the crank in the opposite direction, so as to move the poise again to
the left. The pawl f yields, and allows this motion to go on without
turning the cam wheel. If the weight of the next load is greater than
that of the one last weighed the raising of the printing hammer will
be effected immediately. But suppose the weight is considerably less
than that last weighed, the crank 6 must in such case be turned con-
tinuously for a considerable period so as to slide the poise B to the left
until a point a little within the weight of the load is reached. Now
whenever the poise stands within the weight of the load (by which I
mean in the position to indicate upon the graduations on the beam A,
if there are any such graduations a weight a little less than the weight of
the load), the beam A commences to rise; it rises until it strikes a
delicate horizontal lever k, which by means of connections marked
successively up to 10 causes the further motion of the hand crank in
this direction to elevate the printing hammer, move the paper a little,
and then, after restoring all the parts to the condition ready to weigh
the load, causes the further motion of the hand crank b in this direction
to be positively arrested.
I will describe these operations in detail:-The lever his fixed upon
a shaft which is mounted in bearings in the framework M in the
position represented, and is free to turn to a limited extent with a very
13

page_text: slight force, while there is an arm extending upwards, as represented,
and provided with a delicate spring 73, the function of which will
presently appear. There is also an arm * extending downward in the
position represented. The arm of the printing hammer before
described carries a pendent rod H connected thereto by the pivot he
and which when the printing hammer is down is in the position to
be acted upon by the arm ' just described. There is an arm / fitted
loosely on the shaft 6', which is adapted to catch in a notch in the
rod H and to lift the rod H and arm f16, and consequently the printing
hammer F and its connections, whenever the said pendent rod H is
pressed towards it to a sufficient extent. There is a wheel s fixed firmly
-on-the-shaft-band-provided-with-two-pins-,-,-cither_of_which_is
capable of acting against the arm and compelling it to revolve with
it; but during all the early part of the motion of the shaft in
running the poise B inward (or to the left) these parts are of no effect,
because the pendent rod H is held out of the range of the arm by
means of a delicate spring 7. But when the poise B has been moved
inward (or to the left) to the proper extent to get within the weight
of the load, and the beam A. commences to rise, the beam in rising strikes
and lifts slightly the delicate lever / above described, the elevation of
moves the arm *, and thus presses the pendent and notched arm H, ³,
a little forward towards the shaft 7. This movement presents the
notch in the position to catch and be acted upon by the arm before
described, which being revolved strongly by the direct action of the
hand crank 6 lifts forcibly on the lever or arm f¹ and its connections,
and raises it and the connected printing hammer F. The hammer thus
lifted remains supported by the foot of the bar f resting on the
shoulder, as before described. The elevation of the hammer and its
connections also noves backward an arm j, not previously described,
which extends upward from the shaft f, and this movement by means
of the pawl acts upon a ratchet wheel j² and turns it, and consequently
the connected roller to a sufficient extent to move the paper J¹ ready
for the next operation. The paper, it will be understood, is held by
this roller and another roller j below, the two rollers being pressed
together with sufficient firmness by means of the two springs j³, j³,
fixed on the framework in the positions shown. The backward motion
of the arm j also presses backward on the delicate spring h³ before
described, and this, by pressing gently backward the arm h², before
described, elevates the light arm and keeps it out of contact with the

page_text: beam A until the weighing of the load has been effected. The operation
of weighing by turning the crank in the proper direction and moving
the poise B to the right proceeds as before described, and the tumbling
of the printing hammer F to record the weight again allows the delicate
lever h and its connections to resume the proper position for again
arresting the motion and preparing for the succeeding operation.
Now the type wheels are constructed and arranged with special
reference to the other mechanism to perform their proper functions in
this machine; but their connection with each other, so that the type
wheel for units operates the type wheel for tens, to the extent of one
tenth for each complete revolution of the units wheel, and the wheel
for tens operates similarly upon the next, is very like that long known
in steam engine registers and the like. The unit wheel I is fixed firmly
on the gear wheel 63, before described, and has a single tooth which
operates at each revolution to give a slight motion to the wheel i, which
is fitted loosely on the shaft b'. This wheel i is geared to a gear wheel
on the next printing wheel; the wheel' which prints the figures indi-
cating the tens, and which I have denoted, and so on to any extent
desired. I can carry the figures to tens of thousands or higher by
simply prolonging the train of wheels i, i, i, &c. As the hand crank b
and its connections are turned in one direction or the other the units
wheel I and its associated printing wheels are corresponding turned in
one direction or the other to correspondingly change the figures which
are presented to the blow of the hammer F and impress their figures
plainly upon the paper.
I have, as before stated, indicated the paper by the letter J. It is
enclosed in a curved tube of an oblong or flattened cross section, which,
being fixed, might be described as forming a part of the framework M,
but which I have designated by the separate letter J. The paper is
wound upon a reel j which is mounted temporarily in bearings in the
framework, as represented, and may be removed to be refilled or to
have another substituted in its place, after lifting the locking hook j
which turns upon the pivot. It will be understood that when a new
roll of paper J' is introduced into the bearings, and the locking hook
is pressed down to confine it, and the end of the roll of paper is passed:
up through the flattened curved tube J and introduced so as to be seized.
by the rollers ³, j, the machine may be operated for a long time, aud
the amount of the weight properly registered without any further
132

page_text: attention than above described. I can employ an impression ribbon to
blacken the impressions if desired; but I have not found it necessary in
my experiments. It may be convenient to group the printed records
of successive loads, six or more together, for convenience of adding, and
this may be done by making one division of the ratchet 2 longer than
the others. I provide a hook connection between the end of the light
horizontal rod 6 and the pin or hinge 67 to allow the rod 6 to be readily
connected and disconnected from the poise. When for any reason it
is desired to disconnect it and put it out of use it is necessary simply
to unhook the rod from the hinge 67, and the poise may then be moved
by hand, in the ordinary manner, and the weight ascertained by in-
spection of the beam, as usual. I provide a small-weight, just sufficient
to compensate for the removal of its proportion of the weight of this bar,
and to use such small weight, not represented, by attaching it to the poise
whenever the machine is to be used as an ordinary scale. Or I can, if
desired, balance the light bar 6 by forming it with a heavy end
extending beyond the pivot on which it is permanently hinged. When
the type wheels are not blackened and the figures are denoted simply
by the impression of the type into the paper, I esteem it important not
to press on the figures by the rollers j³, j. It will be observed that
the surface of the upper roller is depressed along where the line of
figures passes. In other words, the rollers only bite the paper between
the figures. It is well to have one or both of the rollers j³, j³, milled
to insure a good hold on the paper J¹.
It will be understood that my improved scale allows the addition of
separate additional poises to a suitable link or rod hanging from knife
edges near the outer or right hand end of the beam A. No such pro-
vision is represented; but it is only necessary to provide the ordinary
means for effecting this end in order to allow the quantities which the
machine is capable of weighing to be very greatly increased or dimi-
nished without interfering with the delicacy of its indications. In other
words, I can add a poise at the end of the beam which shall constitute
a permanent addition of 100 pounds, one ton, or any other desired
amount to the quantities indicated by the printing machine. In such
cases it is necessary, simply, to allow therefor by adding a corresponding
amount to each quantity indicated or printed. The addition may be
made mentally or by figures. Ordinarily the works of the machine will
not be made accessible to the attendant or the workman who turns the
crank. The proprietor or superintendent adjusts the scale, putting

page_text: on such poises at the end as the previously known approximate weights
of his loads will require, locks up the casing of the machine, and at the
end of the day's work or at any other period he opens the casing and
removes the printed portion of the paper. The number of impressions
thercon will inform him of the number of loads weighed, and in adding
the amounts he will take care to add also the proper amount for the
fixed weight previously applied.
My Invention allows that the risk of mistake involved in this
operation may be avoided by simply setting the printing wheels forward.
to the amount required to compensate for the permanent weight added.
To effect this, it is necessary simply to set the printing wheels I,,,
etc., sufficiently forward at the commencement, and the machine will
then run forward and back from that advanced number instead of
running forward from zero. The same method may also be adopted for
allowing tare. Thus, if the weight of the single wheelbarrows with
which a cargo is moved is 54 pounds, the printing wheels may be set
back that amount at the commencement, and the operation will then be
performed as before, and the true weights of the loads exclusive of the
barrow will be printed on the paper. The motion of the poise in one
direction I term the weighing motion. In this, which in this con-
struction described is the outward motion, it is important that the
communication of force shall be in a plane passing through the axis of
motion of the beam. There is another motion of the poise in the
opposite direction which I term the preparatory motion. In this motion
the direction of the moving force is not so important.
It will be obvious that my Invention may be reversed so that the
poise being previously too far out on the beam the weighing will be
determined by a delicate rising of the beam as the poise is moved slowly
inward at each operation. In such case I should term the inward
movement of the poise the weighing motion of the poise, and the out-
ward motion the preparatory. I should in such case also term the
rising of the beam the weighing motion of the beam, and the previous
sinking thereof the preparatory motion thereof, all these relations being
the exact reverse of that shown. In such case I adjust the beam so
that it would be level and would be acted on horizontally by the bar 6º
or equivalent when in its depressed instead of in its elevated position.
I propose to employ antifriction wheels to support the poise B on the
beam A, when desired; but my provisions for transmitting the operating

page_text: force to the screw:*, and again from the poise slider 65 carried thereby
to the poise B are so perfect that I do not esteem the reduction of
such resistanee to be important.
The third part of my Invention I denominate a magnetic scale.
It has been heretofore proposed to use the electro-magnetic force to
control the valves by which the flow of grain into or from the hopper of
a. grain scale is governed so as to secure uniformity in the quantity
weighed at each operation. This plan is obviously unsuited to weighing
other material or invariable quantities. I have invented a machine in
which both the sliding poise upon the scale beam, by which weight is
ascertained, and register wheels, by which it is correctly indicated, arc
put under electro-magnetic control, so that the operation of weighing is
mainly automatic.
It will be understood that the scale beam shown may in this and in
all the several parts of my Invention be that of an ordinary platform
scale, or may have the weighing pan suspended directly from it; and
that only such parts are exhibited as are required to indicate the relative
position and working of the devices which I have added.
Figure 11 is a front view of the scale beam, its sliding poise, and the
magnetic machine; Figure 12 is an end view of the magnetic machine,
the end plate being removed to expose the interior; Figure 13 is a partly
sectional front view, showing the machinery of the back part; Figure 14
is a similar view, showing the machinery of the middle part; Figure 15
is a front view, showing the machinery of the front part; Figure 16 is a
plan view, showing the top of the machine; Figure 17 is a partly
sectional plan view, showing the machinery of the middle level;
Figure 18 is a similar view, showing the machinery of a lower level.
Referring to these Figures A is the scale beam; B, the weighing poise
sliding upon it. The train of mechanism by which motion is com-
municated to the sliding poise is indicated b, b¹, etc. to b. The last
member of this series is a light bar 66, 67, so connected as to com-
municate motion from the poise slider 6 to the poise B. This con-
necting bar is hinged loosely at its ends upon small steel pins b' on the
poise and on the poise slider in such a manner as to offer the least
possible resistance of friction to the tilting motion of the beam in
weighing, and the position of these pins is such the force exerted through
the bar acts directly towards or from the supporting knife edge of the
beam when the beam is level, and therefore has no tendency to raise or

page_text: lower it, and doos not interfere with its weighing action. I have used
in place of the level bar friction rollers carried by the poise slider on
cach side of the poise, and in another experiment a level cord, chain, or
small wire, attached at its extremities to the arms of the poise slider, and
at its middle point to the poise. These several devices have this feature
in common, namely, that the line of action of the communicated force
is so directed as to pass through the supporting knife edge of the beam..
This I deem essential to the correct working of the mechanism. The
poise slider is moved in a line parallel to the level scale beam; this
parallelism being secured by the track or guide rod M', which is rigidly
attached to the framework of the machine. Having its axis parallel
with this is a screw * not in contact with the poise but fitting a nut
which makes a part of the poise slider b³. The pitch of this screw is the
same as the space on the graduated scale beam, answering to ten pounds,
so that each complete rotation of the screw carries the poise over this
space. The reason for this arrangement will appear in the description
of my register. The screw b' is attached at b³ to the projecting end of
the arbor 62, 63, so that they move together as one.
I have proposed as
an equivalent for the screw to attach to the poise slider a rack to be
carried by a pinion upon the projecting end of this arbor 6ª, 7, the
magnetic machine being in that case turned a quarter round, and
suitably placed for the said rack to be moved by the said pinion. I have
likewise proposed to employ an endless chain carried by a rag wheel
upon the end b³ of the arbor 62, 3, and over a free pulley near the point
of support of the beam, all parts being so placed that with the motion of
the machine a point of the said chain shall move parallel to the scale
beam at the level of the supporting edge. I then attach the chain at
this point directly to the poise, consider the weight of the supported
portion a part of the weight of the poise, and dispense with the poise
slider. In either case the mechanism remaining to be described would
be the same as when the screw is used. The middle portion 62 of the
arbor, 63, is square or splined, and carries upon it a spool-shaped
piece b, b', which, fitting loosely, may slide lengthwise quite freely,.
while it can turn only with the arbor. This piece b, b', has its each end.
formed into a crown ratchet suited to engage and be carried by a similar
crown ratchet presented to it, being the end of a loosely turning spool
on the same arbor. It will be understood that the two crown ratchets
of b, b', face on the two sides two similar crown ratchets c³, c³, carried
upon two spools c*, c³. These spools c*, c³, are free to turn upon the.

page_text: rounded parts of the arbour, and carrying toothed wheels are turned in
opposite directions by the movement of the machinery. To effect this
movement I use a weighted cord or a spring attached in the manner
usual in clocks. The weight hangs by c², which is wound upon c¹ by the
use of a key upon the winding post c. The descent of the weight gives
a left-handed or backward movement to the main wheel c; this is
geared to wheels cand c, giving them a forward motion. On the arbor
with c and turning with it is c² geared and giving backward motion to c³.
The wheel c* turning forward carries its crown ratchet also forward,
and c, turning backward carries its crown ratchet c also backward. To
regulate the velocity of motion I have introduced a retarder. On the
same-arbor-with-the-wheels-c-and-cis-another larger_wheel_c₁,_com-
municating motion through a series of pinions and wheels c¹¹, c, and c¹³
to a fan c; this secures steadiness of movement.
Having described the arrangement for securing the rotation in opposite
directions of the two spools c', cs, and of the crown ratchets c³, c³, which
they carry, and also the construction and connections of the double
crown ratchet b, b', I will next describe the arrangement by which b, b',
is made to clutch cither c³ or c" and receive motion from it. The lever d
has its end properly shaped to work between the shoulders of the sliding
piece b, b', and to act as a shifter, causing it by one or the other of its
crown ratchets to engage the corresponding ratchet of c³ or c°. This
lever extends from the arbor d', d', which is placed at right angles to
the other arbors of the machine, and its motion is about that axis.
From the same arbor d', d', extend two arms carrying armatures of soft
iron d, d³, in position to be respectively attracted by the electro-
magnets d³, d³, as one or the other magnetised by the electric current
carried through its coil. There is just sufficient motion given to these
armatures, and through them to the shifting lever d, to cause the double
crown ratchet b, b', to clutch c³ or cº.
It remains to describe the proper electrical connection of the magnets.
From the two magnets two terminal wires, that is one from the coil of
each, are united and connected with one pole of the galvanic battery.
The other two terminal wires are carried separately, and that from dis
connected with an insulated piece of platinum do which is placed so as
to limit the upward motion of the scale beam, while that from d³ is
connected with d³, a similar piece placed to stop the downward motion
of the same. The surfaces of the beam where it is to touch these stops

page_text: are also covered with platinum so as to secure good clectrical contact
as it rises or falls. The stops and d being thus connected through
the respective magnets with one pole of the battery the scale beam is
connected with the other by a wire, not shown in the Drawings, which
is attached at d³ close to the knife edge, which is the axis of motion of
the beams. This wire is small and runs directly back for some distance,
so as to offer by its torsion or bending the least possible resistance to
the free motion of the beam. It will now be apparent that when the
load to be weighed is upon the scale, if the poise is not out far enough
to balance it the beam striking & will direct the electrical current
about d', magnetising it, and causing it to attract its armature d².
When d³ rises the shifter d is pressed to the left, & clutches and
receives its forward motion, which is communicated to the squared
arbor and by it to the screw 6. This turning with a right handed
motion draws out the slider b and poise B until the increasing leverage
of the poise causes the beam to descend. When its contact with d
ccases the current stops, d' is no longer a magnet, a light spring (not
shown in the Drawings) draws d to the vertical position, and dis-
engages from c³. The parts b to b' are thrown out of action, and the
poise B rests at the point corresponding to the weight of the load. Had
the poise been out too far to just balance the load, the beam would have
been in contact with d³, d³ would have been magnetised, causing 6 to
engage c³ and receive its left handed motion which would have continued
until the poise was at the proper point.
Having now shown the action of the machine in weighing I will
describe a train of mechanism n, n', etc., intended to stop the motion
of the clockwork as soon as the load is weighed. The light arc n
moving about the arbor n¹ is adapted to rise into the path of and stop
the fan c. The outer edge of n is a ratchet, into which work pawls n³
and{n"; nª by its motion gradually raising the arc n and n" holding it
as raised. The pawl n² is loose upon its arbor n³, which rests in lioles
in the side plates of the machine, that instead of being round are
elongated vertically, so as to allow to the arbor and its connections a
little vertical motion. This arbor carries a curved piece n³, which in
the middle of its curve throws out a little projection n³. This curved
piece is hinged to two pieces no, no, hanging from the eccentric arbor na
of the two wheels c and c, and at their upper ends n', .n'; loosely
encircling the said arbor so as to receive motion from its eccentricity.

page_text: As they raise the middle of the curved piece n' its lightest end n rises
and its motion is about the axis ; but when the poise just balances
the load, and the scale beam being level, neither magnet acts, then the
shifter d hangs vertically, and its thin end carries a shoulder n° just
over the projection from the curved piece *; this prevents n³ from.
rising, and the lifting motion of no, no, carries up the other end of n
with the connected arbor of n³ and its pawl n². Therefore as soon as
the machine has finished the operation of weighing, the arc n is raised
notch by notch until it strikes the fan c" and stops the motion of the
clockwork. The lever d is liable to be moved when is elevated into
its path at no, I therefore connect the extension of d by a hinge and
hold it to its vertical position by a small weight which is readily pushed
aside if no strikes upon the side of n³, but which holds n with sufficient
force to secure that it shall perform its office when n³ rises against it
from below. The pawl n" which holds-up-the-arc-n-as-high-as-n³-las
carried it is fixed upon its arbor and moves with it. Fixed upon the
same arbor and close to the side plate of the machine is a light spring
arm curved near the end, and at its lower edge almost in contact
with the end of the winding barrel c³. Projecting from the end of c¹ is a
small pin n¹s so placed and shaped as to pass n when the weight is
running down, but to engage and lift it when the barrel is turned the
other way in winding. Lifting the arbor n is slightly rotated and
its pawl is lifted, carrying before it the pawl n² and entirely releasing
the arc n which then falls. Thus the act of winding results in with-
drawing the stop and preparing the machine to weigh another load.
The action of the register or type wheels remains to be described.
Upon the arbor b³, b³, which carries the screw is fixed a spur wheel e
geared with a precisely similar wheel e¹ on an arbor near the front of
the machine; this wheel carries the register wheel of units e² bearing
upon its edge the ten numerals. As a complete rotation of the screw
carries the poise along the graduated scale beam over a space answering
to ten pounds, the position of the poise will be correctly indicated by the
front figure of this wheel; when the rotation of this wheel is changing
its front figure from 9 to 0, the next or tens wheel is moved through one-
tenth of a revolution. The device effecting this is original, and I
suppose new. The units wheel carries on its side a somewhat
smaller wheel fastened to it, in a mortise of which slides the piece e
being pressed out by a light spring, as shown in Figure 12, where it is

page_text: uncovered as far as the broken line for this purpose. This sliding piece
carries a little projection which passes just out of contact with the ends
of the teeth of a ten-toothed spur wheel attached permanently to the
side of the tens wheel e*; close to these wheels and on a parallel axis is a
cylinder e, so placed as to be in the path of e³, and when the front
figure of the units wheel is changing from 9 to 0 to force e³ in towards
the axis, so that its projection shall engage one of the teeth of the spur
wheel on the side of the tens wheel e', and move that wheel forward
one-tenth of a revolution. The tens wheel e* carries a similar sliding
picce e, which striking the cylinder e at the proper time is carried
against the hundreds wheel and moves that. The arrangement is such
that the proper decimal changes will be made whichever way the units
wheel is turned. By this device I arrange that the front line of figures
upon these wheels shall correspond to and correctly indicate the position
of the weighing poise, and when the machine stops, the weight of the
load. The figure wheels of tens and hundreds being loose upon the
arbor are kept from accidental displacement by rollers e³, e', held by
light springs against the ten-toothed spur wheels. If the loads are of
such sort as always to exceed a given weight, as for example wheel-
barrow loads of coal would exceed two hundred pounds, I propose to put
weights drawing that minimum amount upon the usual counterpoise
hook at the end of the scale beam and weigh by the sliding poise the
excess above that weight, and to use the register wheels to indicate the
total weight of each load by setting the hundreds wheels forward to
make the register show 200 when the poise is at zero.
These figure
wheels are convenient for indicating the weight in a manner to be easily
read, but I propose to make them with raised figures and use them as
type wheels.
In using the printing machine, or parts of that mechanism so far as it is
adapted for this purpose in connection with the machine herein described,
the motion of the stop work herein described may be used to release a
printing hammer, or directly to press the paper upon suitable type
wheels.
The fourth part of my Invention, as intimated at the commencement,
is a simple mechanism for weighing and indicating the weight ascer-
tained by a spring balance or bent lever. It also includes new methods
of connecting such balance or lever with a poise scale, and also a new
compound gravity lever for automatic weighing. It may be made

page_text: entirely automatic, that is to say, without receiving power from any
other source than the motion of the scales themselves.
Figure 19 is a front view of the new mechanism connected with the
beam of an ordinary weighing scale; Figure 20 is an end view of the
same; Figure 21 is a perspective view of a wheelbarrow scale with its
bridge and register in their place, as in Figure 19. It will be under-
stood that in these Figures like letters refer to like parts, and that the
parts not represented are of the ordinary or any suitable construction.
A is the scale beam with its usual connections and its counterpoise
hanging on the knife edge at a. At a¹ is placed a knife edge trans-
mitting force to the first member as of the compound gravity lever a² to
a. When it is proposed to use this gravity lever the sliding poise on
the beam is left standing at zero, or else the weight it indicates is used
for tare, or is suitably allowed_for_in_the_result,-and-the-force-of-the|
load is employed to decrease the load on a². The lever at is supported
at a³, and at a³ is hinged to a piece a which is also at its other
extremity a hinged to an arm a, a, which projects from and moves
with an arbor a³. The piece aª extends an arm downward which carries
the weight a. In the simple bent lever the effective leverage of the
center of gravity varies as the sine of the arc through which it is
raised, and therefore is not proportioned to the arc. In my compound
lever when the horizontal element of motion would be small to
correspond to the motion in arc, this variation is compensated by a
rising more rapidly than a³ and throwing the center of gravity of a³
more rapidly to the right, varying the proportions of the several members
of the compound lever, accurate compensation is made and the weight
to be ascertained may be correctly indicated by the angular motion
about as. In the form shown the weight is proportioned to the position
of a³, and the index hand c³ which it carries. Where the scale beam is
not held down by weights upon the knife edge a the long arm a* of the
gravity lever will hang vertically and the index c³ will point to 100.
As the knife edge pivot at a¹ does not fill the circular openings of the
double loop or connecting rod a', a², the beam can vibrate as much as is
absolutely necessary for weighing with care in the usual manner with a
poise. I propose to thus limit its weighing motion only when it is
desirable to use a sliding poise in weighing; then to bring my compound
lever a³ to a³ and its registering connections into action it is only
necessary to hang upon the counterpoise knife edge a a weight sufficient

page_text: to counterbalance a load of 100 pounds on the scale, and this will
swing the knee lever a into the position shown, and the index hand c³
from 100 to 0. Now any load upon the scale partly lifting the special
counterpoise weight will allow the gravity lever to swing partly down
carrying the index hand from 0 to indicate the weight of the load. The
arbor a which carries a carries also fixed upon it an arm a⁰ with two
pawls a, a, turned in opposite directions and engaging the teeth of
two large spur wheels o and 7. When the scale is loaded and the gravity
arm moves from 0 towards 100 the pawl a" carries with it. This
wheel is connected by a series of pinions and wheels 1, 1, 13, to the
fan retarder . This train is made to run very lightly so as to steady
the motion of the gravity lever to its position of equilibrium, and by its
own momentum to run a little beyond and leave the said lever at rest.
By this means I avoid those vibrations which would be fatal to correct
registering. I have proposed to use as substitutes, accomplishing in
some degree the same purpose, a piston working in a pot of quick-
silver, and also a device for holding back the gravity lever until it is
released by a steady motion of the hand as might be effected by a lever,
or by putting a small winch on the arbor . The other pawl a¹ moves o
the first wheel of the register when the gravity lever is being drawn
back to its zero. As counterpoise weights are generally used there is
force enough to draw this back strongly, even when made to move so
hard as not to be liable to go on by its momentum beyond the point to
which it is carried. In the form shown the first wheel o by its con-
nected hand o will register 400. It carries a small wheel o' geared with
reduced motion to o³, which by its pointer hand o* registers 1000 by
hundreds. The motion is still further reduced by additional indexes
o, o, so that the hand of indicates as high as 10,000. This is the
register of pounds. To avoid friction which would interfere with the
motion if the gravity lever if the arbor of a, a, had to carry the first
wheel o of the register I give that wheel independent bearings and
carry the said arbor loosely through the hollow arbor of the said wheel.
When the loads range uniformly above a certain amount I place upon
the counterpoise hook weights drawing this minimum and use the
register of pounds to indicate only the excess above this amount. In
this case it is obviously requisite to register the number of loads weighed,
which I effect by the mechanism n, n³, etc. to n³, when the gravity lever
is carried back to its zero it strikes the arm n of the arbor n², and gives
it a slight motion of rotation about the said arbor. This arbor n¹ carries

page_text: near its other extremity an arm n³, to which is hinged the pawl n³
adapted to give motion to the ratchet n' moving it and its index hand n³
forward, one notch each time the gravity lever swings to its zero, and
in this way registering the number of loads. To find the aggregate
weight of many loads weighed I multiply the amount which the
counterpoise weights are adapted to draw at each weighing by the
number of weighings as indicated by the register of loads, and add to this
the sum of the several amounts drawn by the gravity lever as that suni
is indicated by the register of pounds. In using this mechanism for a
wheelbarrow scale I propose to cover the platform of the scale with a
_bridge not touching it, having suitable openings for the wheel and legs
of the barrow to go through and rest upon the platform. These openings
to be too small to allow a man's foot to pass; then to direct the work-
men to wheel their barrows in succession and set them carefully upon
the scale, then take them up, and go on. The scale will weigh and
register without any attention. In all these forms the sliding poise
may be used for the tare if required.
The fifth part of my Invention includes certain devices for printing
the weight of loads ascertained as described in part four.
I will proceed to describe in detail what I consider the best means of
carrying out this part of my Invention as embodied in a machine adapted
to weigh automatically, and to print the weight of successive variable
loads upon paper in a position to be afterwards conveniently added up
or computed by the attendant.
Figure 22 is a front view showing part of the beam of a weighing
scale and the devices which I have added in their proper relative
positions; Figure 23 is an end view of the same; Figure 24 is a per-
spective view of the entire scale. It will be understood that in these
Figures like letters refer to like parts, and that the parts not represented
are of the ordinary or any suitable construction.
A is the scale beam having its usual connections including a poise and
its counterpoise, see Figure 24. It supports the load by the usual steel-
yard rod carried by its knife edge at a¹. The loop of this steelyard rod
is extended upward and connects with a rod hanging, as shown, from the
knife edge a², carried by the first member at of the compound gravity
lever a to a. This compound bent lever and its connected weight and
the peculiar arrangement for equalizing the effect is the same as with
the other form, part four, but the method of connection to the other

page_text: parts is different. The scale beam is allowed a large range of motion,
being so adapted with its knife edges in line that no error is introduced.
The rod transmitting motion from a¹ to a² is made of such length that
the compound gravity lever will begin to be brought into action just
when the scale beam is level, therefore when it is desired to use the
scale in the ordinary manner the beam is kept below the level, and
the load is weighed by the sliding poise. The extension of the loop of
the steelyard rod disconnects itself by rising freely in the hook at the base
of the rod suspended from a², and no force is transmitted to the gravity
lever. This method of connection may be used advantageously with any
form of bent lever or spring balance which can be applied to a poise
scale. My compound lever connected in this way is a convenient quick
weigher. I adapt it to printing by the mechanism b', b², c¹, c², e to e¹¹.
The arbor as carries the arc or sector of a spur wheel b, b', gearing into
a pinion adapted to go around five times while b' moves through the
are corresponding to 100 pounds. The arbor as likewise carries in front
of the dial of the machine not only the pointer hand c³ but also a light
sector of thin metal c, c', near the arc of which care figures 1 to 10
stamped from the front or otherwise made to project like type behind
the plate. The arbor of b² likewise carries in the same plane with c³ a
disc of thin metal c, bearing near its circumference twenty numerals
similarly projecting, arranged from 0 to 9, then 0 again and to 9. Behind
the arc and disc at the zero point is a small elastic cushion i across
which a strip of paper is drawn; this bears a little rounded projection
to mark at each printing the zero. The light sector c¹ will readily
spring enough when pressed back to print or emboss the figure then
over the cushion upon the paper. The arbor of b³, c², is arranged to slide
a little against a spring when c² is pressed back; these may be replaced
by short cylinders placed end to end bearing type on their circum-
ference. The arrangement is such that c¹always carries the proper figure
in the place of tens, and c² the proper figure in the place of units over
the cushion i, and this said cushion is so small that only this figure and
perhaps some fragment of another can be printed in each place. The
remaining printing mechanism is designated by e, e¹, to e¹. A small
piece shaped like the cushion i, and adapted to press the figures
against it, is carried just in front of them. This is attached to a
lever e, e, which is hinged at e', and at its lower end e* receives motion
from the piece e³, which is moved by the eccentric e² about the arbor e¹,
that arbor being turned by the small winch and handle e. With cach

page_text: revolution of e¹ the pawl e, which may be on another eccentric properly
placed, moves the ratchet e¹³, and so the rollers e", e¹², and by them the
strip of paper eº, e¹º, which unrolls from a roller on the arbor e³, and
comes down between the figure arc and dise and the cushion behind
them. From this description it will appear that when the scale is loaded
will point to the figure indicating the weight of the load, and c¹, c²,
will hold the same figures in front of the paper and cushion. Then a
single turn of the winch e prints the weight and moves the paper
forward. If the loads are all greater than the capacity of the gravity
lever, weights drawing 100 pounds or 200 or more may be placed upon
the counterpoise, and in adding the figures upon tho paper 1, 2, or more
in the place of hundreds must be prefixed to each printing. In-use,-for-
example, on a wheelbarrow scale each workman might wheel on his
load and turn the handle e once; the scale would do all the rest, and
there would be no need of a weighing clerk.
The sixth part of my Invention I denominate a distributing scale.
The Invention consists in combining with a weighing scale of one or
more levers certain devices which will render its action largely auto-
matic, and greatly facilitate its use whenever it is desirable to weigh
and distribute equal quantities of liquids, grain, or any material that will
flow, as, for example, in weighing liquids into cans or grain into bags.
In the form shown it is particularly designed to facilitate the filling of
cans, each with a determinate weight of petroleum for shipment, the
scale doing so much of the work automatically that the attendant has
only to remove each can when filled and replace it by one that is empty.
Figure 25 is a front view of a machine embodying this part of my
Invention Figure 26 is an end view; Figure 27 is a plan view. It will
be understood that in all the Figures the parts not represented are of the
ordinary or any suitable construction.
A is the scale beam furnished with the adjustable weighing poise a³,
and if desirable with counterpoise weights suspended in the usual
manner near the end of the beam. It is suspended upon a fulcrum
knife edge at a¹. At a² is the knife edge of the load from which is
suspended the little platform b³, b². This platform, carried by the
suspending frame b, b', is adapted to receive and guide to their places the
cansk, k. It is prevented from swinging in one direction by the length
of the supporting pivot a², and in the other by the hinged level bar b', bª.
Over the orificie by which these cans k, k³, are to be filled as they stand

page_text: upon the platform are the ends of two curved spouts n¹, n³, which are
united at their upper ends, and by their curvature separate below. Just
above the partition which at their upper ends separates these two.
channels n¹, n³, moves the end e³ of a swinging tunnel e', carried by an
arbor e, which has just sufficient motion to direct the stream of what-
ever flows from the fixed funnel » above into either one or the other of
the curved spouts n¹ or n², and thereby into one or other of the cans upon
the platform. The swinging tunnel e³, e, is slightly overbalanced, so
that whichever way it is rocked it remains in the extreme position on
that side without liability of being accidentally displaced. It is shifted
from one side to the other by means of an arm e³, e², rising from the
arbore, which is hinged at e² to a connecting rod e, e², that rod being
supported by a guide e¹, and receives motion communicated to its
projecting pin e. The parts lettered c, c¹, etc., to c³, are the mechanism
for communicating this shifting motion, while at the same time they
furnish a certain definite resistance to the rising scale beam and
act upon it as a counterweight. There are two parallel arbors c³, c',
carrying each two arms standing at an acute angle with each other, and
together forming an elbow-shaped piece with the arbor at the angle.
These elbow-shaped pieces are lettered c², c², c, and c³, c³, c'. At their
upper ends they carry adjustable weights c³, c.
shaped pieces are hinged to a connecting bar so
side to side their upper arms shall in every position be parallel to cach.
other. This connecting bar is formed with two shoulders on its upper-
side suited to engage the pin e, and so to communicate motion to the:
shifting tunnel. The pine is however so supported upon its connecting.
rod resting on e¹ as not to be touched by the bar c, c', until that has.
moved a little way, rising in the arc of its motion. The other arm of
cach elbow-shaped piece is in one position horizontal, in the other
elevated. From these two alternately horizontal arms c³, c³, and c³, c³,
are loosely hinged at the extremities remote from the arbors little
swinging pieces c and c¹, each having a notch or shoulder on the side
that is turned toward the other. When either arm is horizontal it
carries the pin c² or c³, upon which the swinging piece is hinged into
position directly over the knife edge a, carried by the scale beam A near
its extremity. It will be understood that c³, c³, replace each other in
this position, each descending to it as the other rises from it, and the
whole shifting mechanism is so overbalanced that it can rest only in one
extreme or the other of its oscillation, that is with either c² or c³, vertically
At c", c', these elbow-
that as they move from.

page_text: over the knife edge a when the scale beam is level. In the lowest
position of the scale beam the swinging piece c or c¹, hanging from the
arm that for the time is horizontal, swings its shoulder over the knife
edge in position to be engaged by it when the beam rises. The level of
this shoulder is such that the knife edge comes to its bearing just as the
scale beam rising with the increasing load becomes level, and so is in
position for weighing. The stops d, d', are adjusted so that the lifting
force which must be exerted through the knife edge to shift the mechanism
in either direction is accurately constant. The resistance is greatest.
at the start, and rapidly diminishes, so that practically weight is ascer-
-tained_while_the scale beam is still level, and there is no error introduced
by the movement of the knife edge a in are about-the-supporting
fulcrum, Friction is made as little as possible by accurate workman-
ship, and being almost perfectly constant does practically no harm.
The rising scale beam at the moment when the can that is filling has
received the desired weight throws over the shifting device, and this in
the latter part of its movement mainly by its acquired momentum shifts
the swinging tunnel and directs the stream into the empty can. The
attendant removes the filled can and replaces it by another that is,
empty. The platform being thus lightened, the scale beam sinks, the
knife edge a catches under the shoulder of the other swinging piece then
lowest, and the machine is in position for shifting in the opposite direc
tion. Whenever the scale beam is rising with one of the swinging pieces
riding upon the knife edge a, that swinging piece, as it rises fends off
the other one then descending so that there is no possibility of its
catching upon the knife edge. In this way I have provided that the
stream shall be shifted when there are upon the platform two cans,
one empty and the other properly filled, and therefore that any number
of cans of equal weights shall be filled with equal weights of the liquid.
It is true that after the scale beam begins to rise the stream still runs
a moment before the shifting is complete. To meet this source of error
I set the adjustable poise for a little less weight than I wish in the
cans, so that it shall move in season to shift the stream at the right
moment. In use the entering stream is generally constant, and this
nxorricion sufficeas

page_text: to which is hinged a pawl e' acting on the ratchet wheel e, which
serves as a register. This may be connected with. reduced motion to
other wheels, and the capacity of the register be increased. I have
also combined with the weighing machine a safety stop-cock or gate
intended in case the attendant should fail to remove the filled can to
close automatically and cut off the stream before the second can upon.
the platform is entirely full and in danger of overflowing. The liquid
flows to the funnel n through a supply pipe m, m', m², m³, which on its
way passes through the stop-cock 7. The handel of this stop-cock is
drawn down by a weight or spring, and by its fall the stop-cock is closed.
The handle is supported by the hinged pieces 1, 1, 1, and F, F, forming
a kuce joint at P. When this joint is on the left of a line joining
and the weight is supported, when on the right it falls by the bending
of the knee joint. The horizontal branch 1, l', rests upon a screw, by
moving which the whole device is made more or less stable. This
horizontal arm carries at a pin, which stands out over 6', the extension.
of the level bar or check rod b', . When this pin is lifted by ' rising.
the stop-cock closes. In ordinary use the scale beam moves far enough
to shift the mechanism c, c', and c, c', etc., and the further descent of
the platform is arrested by a stiff spring b. When, however, the plat-
form is overloaded by both cans being allowed to fill the tension of this
spring is overcome, the platform descends lower, and the bar b¹, b³, b', is
moved so far that it strikes the pin and releases the handle of the stop-
cock, so that the supply stream of the liquid is arrested.. The same
mechanism could be connected so as to close a valve in a grain spout..
I have proposed, instead of this arrangement, to support the bearing in
which the fulcrum knife edge of the scale beam rests by a stiff spring,
which shall hold it firmly against a guide stop in ordinary use, but yield
a little when the platform is overloaded, and then to use this slight.
yielding motion to release a weight and close a stop-cock. The grain.
scale consists of a forked lever, between the forks of which hangs, a.
divided hopper and a scale beam with an automatic shifting device like
the one already described, acting in this case upon a shifting spout by
means of two pins. The scale shifts when one hopper is empty, and the
other filled by the required weight of grain. The operator then opens
one of the valves in the bottom of the hopper and quickly empties the
filled division of the hopper into a bag which is properly supported below.
The scale beam descends and is prepared to weigh the next load, which
flows in while the operator removes the filled bag. The hopper may be
(+5)

page_text: devided in the other direction if desired, and two spouts placed below the
shifting spout to carry the stream into the divisions.
The machines ombodying my Invention may be variously modified
while retaining the features that I think new and valuable. I am
acquainted with many weighing machines in which some change, as of
the valves of a grain hopper, is effected by the rise of a scale beam, and
the roverse by its fall. My machine is quite unlike these. I am also
acquainted with machines of the class patented to various parties in
America in which the rising of the scale beam changes the entering
stream of grain alternately from one division to the other of a divided
hopper, but the machine herein described is unlike those machines, and
for many uses superior thereto,
Among the many modifications in which some of the parts of my
Invention may be carried out I will describe but one. It acts as a quick
weigher, but not entirely automatic, and affording some peculiar advan-
tages is almost worthy of a place as a distinct part. I prefer, however,
to consider it a modification of the first part of my Invention. Its
object is to weigh rapidly by mechanism, and indicate the weight by
the position of the sliding poisc.
Figure 28 is a front view of the ordinary scale beam with the parts
that are new added in their places; Figure 29 is an end view; and
Figure 30 is a plan view of the same.
Referring to these Figures, A is the scale beam resting by a knife edge
at a, carrying its load by a knife edge a¹, and its counterpoise by the
edge a³. It has also a special knife edge a³, and extends an arm upward
to carry two pins a' and as, which limit its vibrations. B is the sliding
poise moved by a cord c, c¹, etc., so attached to it that the force moving
it shall act directly toward or from the supporting knife edge a. This
cord carries a weight at c, passes over a pulley at c¹, and under another
at c², and then winds upon the barrel c³ carried by the arbor c¹. Winding
the cord upon this barrel draws the weighing poise outward; the action
of the weight hanging at c draws it inward and unwinds c³. To wind
the cord upon c³ the operator draws another cord cº, wound upon another
barrel c³, which is fixed also upon the same arbor with c³, so that they
turn together. When the cord is winding upon c³ by drawing out cº the
escapement wheel loose upon the arbor c* remains stationary, while
the arbor c being released by the click of the ratchet c' turns freely.
The sliding poise B is moved outward until overbalancing the load it

page_text: 5. Making the preparatory stop adjustable so as to vary the point
from which registering commences, as herein set forth..
6. Using the weighing motion of the scale to release a weighing stop,
which on being released stops the mechanism irrespective of the position
of the beam thereafter, all substantially as and for the purposes herein
set forth.
7. In combination with a weighing scale and poise moving mechanism
a weighing stop adapted to not only stop the poise moving mechanism
but also lock the registering apparatus and hold it until it is unlocked
by the preparatory or backward motion of the machine, as specified.
8. The intermittent or feeling motion of the weighing stop mechanism
constructed and arranged substantially as herein-specified,-so-that_while
it is perfectly restrained until the scale beam moves it shall only for very
brief intervals interfere with that movement.
9. Providing ratchets or their equivalents so arranged that neither the
outward nor the inward motion of the poise can be reversed until
the poise has made the entire traverse essential to correctly registering
the weight of the load upon the scale, and providing for such reversals
in connection with the preparatory stop and weighing stop, as herein
set forth.
10.. The duplex registering mechanism registering both the sum of
the weights and the number of the loads in combination with a weighing
scale, as specified.
11. The within described machine weighing variable loads by moving
a poise upon a free scale beam with automatic stops to arrest the motion
of the poise in both directions, and adding and registering the sum of
their weights, so that correctness does not depend upon mental effort or
observation on the part of the operator, as specified.
12. The combination of, 1st, a weighing scale, adapted to weigh
variable loads; 2d, an adding and registering mechanism, adapted to
add and register the sum of the loads weighed; and, 3rd, operating
means working independently of and without disturbing or interfering
with the weighing motion of the scale, all substantially as herein
specified.
In the modification, Figures 28, 29, 30,-

page_text: 16. The device, substantially as described, by which a single member
of the mechanism serves both as a weighing stop and retarder.
17. A weighing scale, provided with poise moving mechanism c to c
in combination with the weighing stop mechanism a³, and i to i³, as
shown and described.
In Part Two, Figures 6 to 10,-
18. A weighing machine, provided with the index wheels I, having
figures so formed thereon that their shape may be impressed on a strip
of paper in combination with an elastic coated hammer F, or its
equivalent, for recording the weighings, substantially as herein set forth.
19. The light lever h, arm h*, the shoulder 5 on the hooked rod H,
spring, and actuating wheel 7, or their several equivalents, arranged
in connection with the other mechanism to induce the variable pre-
paratory movement of the printing hammer F, or its equivalent, and
to at the same time effect the preparatory stop of the poise moving
mechanism and of the entire mechanism, as herein specified.
20. The means herein described for automatically moving a readily
detachable strip of paper J' at each operation of the weighing and
automatic printing mechanism, the action being controlled by the
movements of the beam, as specified.
21. The grooved feed rollers, in combination with the registering and
automatic printing mechanism, and with the strip of paper J¹, or its
equivalent, and. with the beam and poise moved thercon, as specified.
22. The spring h³, for supporting the lever h, or its equivalent, when
out of use, in combination with the beam A and printing mechanism, as
specified.
23. The arrangement of the vibrating feeler f' relatively to the beam
and to the operating mechanism, as described, so that it is restrained
after the weighing movement of the beam, substantially as and for the
purpose herein set forth.

page_text: 24. The primary vibrating part f³, arranged to serve as a pusher to
the feeler, but free to move in another direction, as and for the
purposes specified.
25. The feeler f, the vibrating pusher f³, and connected piece ƒ",
arranged as represented relatively to each other and the operating mecha-
nism, so that the piece fe is moved only when the vibating motion of
its associate f³ is restrained, and thereby initiates the action of the other
mechanism, substantially in the manner hercin set forth.
26. The poise moving mechanism in combination with the mechanism
for automatically printing the weight, as specified.
27. The preparatory stop mechanism, when controlled as specified by
the preparatory motion of the beam, as and for the purposes-hierein_set_
forth.
28. The weighing stop mechanism, in combination with means for
automatically printing the weight, as specified.
29. The combination of automatic printing mechanism with automatic
weighing mechanism, substantially as herein specified.
In Part Three, Figures 11 to 18,-
30. Combining with a weighing scale electro-magnets to control the
motion of the sliding poise, substantially as specified.
31. Using, as hercin set forth, the motion of the beam or other moving
part of the scale to make electrical connection with one of two electro-
magnets when the poise requires to be moved, and to break the same
when by such movement the scale is balanced.
32. In an automatic weighing machine, a double clutch, or its
equivalent, controlled by armatures held within attracting distance of
their magnets, as specified.
33. The mechanism n to n¹, for stopping the machinery when each
load has been weighed.
34. The mechanism n¹ to n¹³, for withdrawing the stop when another
load is weighed.
35. The within described electro-magnetic weighing machine, auto-
matically determining the weights of varying loads by a poise moved
by mechanism under electro-magnetic control, and indicating the same
by figure wheels, the whole being constructed and operating substantially
as set forth.

page_text: In Part Four, Figures 19 to 21,-
36. A registering mechanism in connection with a weighing scale and
a compound gravity lever.
37. The arrangement substantially as herein described by which the
return motion of the gravity arm, spring, or other automatic devico is
unade to move a register of pounds.
38. The arrangement substantially as hercin described by which the.
said return motion is made to move a register of the number of loads.
39. The use of a retarder or of mechanism moved by the hand or other-
wise adapted for checking the forward motion of a gravity arm or spring
balance, and preventing vibrations.
40. The method of bringing the automatic arrangement into use by
adding a counterpoise weight.
41. Bridging over the scale platform as shown in Figure 21.
42. Making the operations of weighing entirely automatic.
In Part Five, Figures 22, 23, and 24,—
43. The method of connecting a gravity lever, spring balance, or
other automatic weighing mechanism with the scale beam at a', as shown,
so as to allow the scale to be used in the ordinary manner, without
disconnecting.
44. The compound gravity lever as described.
45. The type bearing sector c, c', and the index hand c³ both carried
by one member of the compound gravity lever.
46. The geared sector and pinion for the purpose indicated.
47. The type bearing sector and disk for the purpose described,
arranged and decimally connected to properly point the weight.
48. The elastic cushion and indicating point i adapted to the use
described, and to limit the impression made by the type wheels.
49. The lever e', eª, eccentric &, and winch e, adapted to print as
described.
50. The paper roll e³, e¹, rollers e¹¹, e², and arrangement for moving
as described.
51. The combination of printing mechanism with a gravity lever,
spring balance, or other mechanism for weighing automatically by the
mere motion of the scale.

page_text: 52. Broadly the combination of printing mechanism with any device
whatever for weighing automatically.
In Part Six, Figures 25, 26, and 27,-
53. A shifting device c to c³, of which two different members presented
alternately at the same place are alternately engaged by the same
moving part a of the mechanism and receive motion from it, as herein
specified.
54. Constructing the said shifting device, so that the member c or c³,
engaged shall fend off the corresponding free member and prevent it
catching as shown.
55. The combination-of-a-weighing scale with the shifting device c, c¹,
etc. to c, as set forth.
56. Providing by lost motion at e that the shifting device above
described shall not bogin to move the shifting tunnel until after the
weighing is accomplished, as set forth.
57. In combination with a distributing scale a device for automatically
closing a valve or stop cock, and thereby cutting off the supply stream
when the scale is overloading, as herein described.
58. The within described machine adapted for weighing liquids into
cans and provided with self-acting mechanism for equalizing the charges,
as herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Fairbanks, have hereunto
oot my hand and seal this Fourth day of August. A.D. 1870.
Witness,
THOMAS DREW STETSON,
Patent Agent,
5, Tryon Row,
New York.
HENRY FAIRBANKS. (L.S.)