Improvements in Weighing Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 13th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 4th July, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in Weighing Machines.
I, HENRY POOLEY, of Albion Foundry, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to weighing machines, and more particularly to that
type of machine which is called a platform weighing machine; that is to say,
machines in which the goods to be weighed are placed and weighed upon a
platform, and the weighing of the goods is effected and the weight indicated, by
a steel-yard, baving a sliding weight or weights thereon, which work in connection
with a weight scale or scales.
This invention will, for convenience, be described as applied to the weighing of
goods at quay sides, as for instance, weighing goods out of ships' holds, or under
conditions or modes which are equivalent or analogous to it. According to this
invention, under these conditions, I employ in connection with the steel yard and
weights, duplex changing or changeable weight scales for weighing goods according
to two or more different standards of weight, as for instance, in centals, and parts
of centals, and cwts. qrs. and lbs. ; so that the machine is adapted to weigh one
or the other at will, the scales being so arranged and constructed that when the
one scale is in view, the other is hidden, and vice versa. These scales are placed
at an inclination, turned up conveniently to the weighman, and are thus readily
seen by him while the steelyard is provided with notches corresponding with the
major order of weight, with which said weight is adapted to engage; and it is
adapted to be reciprocated or moved, and is preferably, connected with and
moves, when actuated, the scale from one order or standard to another. By this
means, when one standard of weight is being used, the other is out of sight and
out of use. In case of there being a major and a minor weight scale and
weights, the major weight works in connection with the different sets of notches
on the movable steelyard, for giving the major weight of the goods being weighed,
while the minor weight works in connection with the changeable scale, which gives
the minor denominations.
In connection with weighing machines for quayside work, according to this
invention, I provide in connection with the platform, means for supporting the
goods, and for facilitating their handling, but more especially for goods such as
tales and large packages. This consists in employing in connection with the
supporting means, rollers, carried upon an upper axle bar, supported from
the platform by frames or standards, by which the goods in being passed onto the
machine, say from a higher level, are supported, and assistance lent to their
handling; and, at the same time, they prevent the package becoming damaged
and the machine from becoming strained.
In some cases, these rollers are fixed and supported to one side of the centre,
and are capable of being changed to the other side; and the parts described are
carried on a turntable supported on the machine bed, by which, when the goods are
placed on the machine at one side, and are to be taken off at the other, they can be
turned round from the receiving position, to the position for discharge. A suitable
means for supporting and enabling the table to be turned, are anti friction rollers
running in a path round the centre or axis, with a ledge running round it, by which
matters are prevented from getting into the roller path.

page_text: The rollers and parts supported on the platform are, in some cases, adapted to be
changed or removed, and the rollers placed close to and fixed on the platform, so that
the machine may be adapted for weighing goods under circumstances other than
those above referred to, the rollers in which case serve to assist in putting goods or
packages on and off the platform, at, or nearly at, the quay level.
According to one construction by which the latter improvement can be carried out,
the roller shaft is carried in bearings, which ship into sockets in the upper end of
the platform standards, and are held therein by pins or suitable means, these
bearings being fixed to the shaft. The platform has apertures or sockets in it,
which, at one part, are inclined, while the standards themselves have feet, which
are also inclined, correspondingly, and fit in these sockets; by these, when the
standards are placed in position, and the roller shaft and bearings fixed in the sockets,
the whole erection is firmly held; while, when the roller bearings are taken out of
the sockets, the standards can be removed by first pushing them outwards, and
then lifting them. The intermediate standards do not require these locking means.
When the rollers are used on the lower level on the platform, they are preferably
placed in suitable sockets by their bearings at the centre of the platform.
"
The shaft carrying the rollers, in some cases is carried by end cleats or like
devices, which are adjustable to any position on the platform by means of "tee
slots formed in the bed or platform with suitable bolts and nuts, cain fastenings,
or equivalent locking arrangement to fasten same in position.
As regards the form of the roller supports, these may be of any suitable shape
and design, and made in movable form, or changeable, or fixed, according to
circumstances and requirements.
Dated this 10th day of Tul. 180%
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15 Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.
1, HENRY POOLEY, of Albion Foundry, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
.
This invention has reference to weighing machines, and more particularly to
that type of machine which is called a platform weighing machine; that is to say,
machines in which the goods to be weighed are placed and weighed upon a plat-
form, and the weighing of the goods is effected and the weight indicated, by a
steel yard, having a sliding weight or weights thereon, which work in connection
with a weight scale or scales.
This invention will, for convenience, be described as applied to the weighing of
goods at quay sides, as for instance, weighing goods out of ships' holds, or under
conditions or modes which are equivalent or analogous to it. According to this
invention, under these conditions, I employ in connection with the steel yard and
weight, duplex changing or changeable weight scales for weighing goods according
to two or more different standards of weight, as for instance, in centals, and
parts of centals, and cwts. qrs. and lbs., so that the machine is adapted to weigh
one or the other at will, the scales being so arranged and constructed that
when the one scale is in view, the other is hidden, and rice versa. These scales
are placed at an inclination, turned up conveniently to the weighman, and
are thus readily seen by him; while the steelyard is provided with notches
corresponding with the major order of weight, with which said weight is adapted
to engage; and it is adapted to be reciprocated or moved, and is preferably

page_text: connected with and moves, when actuated, the scale from one order or standard
to another. By this means, when one standard of weight is being used, the other
is out of sight and out of use. In case of there being a major and a minor
weight scale and weights, the major weight works in connection with the different
sets of notches on the movable steelyard for giving the major weight of the
goods being weighed, while the minor weight works in connection with the
changeable scale, which gives the minor denominations.
In connection with weighing machines for quayside work, according to this
invention, I provide in connection with the platform, means for supporting the
goods, and for facilitating their handling, but more especially for goods such as
bales and large packages. This consists in employing in connection with the
supporting means, rollers, carried upon an upper axle bar, supported from the
platform by frames or standards, by which the goods in being passed onto
the machine, say from a higher level, are supported, and assistance lent to their
handling; and, at the same time, they prevent the package becoming damaged
and the machine from becoming strained.
In some cases, these rollers are fixed and supported to one side of the centre, and
are capable of being changed to the other side; and the parts described are carried
on a turntable supported on the machine bed, by which, when the goods are
placed on the machine at one side, and are to be taken off at the other, they
can be turned round from the receiving position, to the position for discharge. A
suitable means for supporting and enabling the table to be turned, are anti-friction
rollers running in a path round the centre or axis, and a ledge running round it,
by which matters are prevented from getting into the roller path.
The rollers and parts supported on the platform are, in some cases, adapted to
be changed or removed, and the rollers placed close to and fixed on the platform,
so that the machine may be adapted for weighing goods under circumstances other
than those above referred to, the rollers in which case serve to assist in putting
goods or packages on and off the platform at, or nearly at, the quay level.
According to one construction by which the latter improvement can be carried
out, the roller shaft is carried in bearings, which ship into sockets in the upper end
of the platform standards, and are held therein by pins or suitable means, these
bearings being fixed to the shaft. The platform has apertures or sockets in it,
which, at one part, are inclined, while the standards themselves have feet, which
are also inclined correspondingly, and fit in these sockets; by these, when the
standards are placed in position, and the roller shaft and bearings fixed in the
sockets, the whole erection is firmly held; while, when the roller bearings are
taken out of the sockets, the standards can be removed by first pushing them out-
wards, and then lifting them. The intermediate standards do not require these
locking means. When the rollers are used on the lower level on the platform,
they are preferably placed in suitable sockets by their bearings at the centre of the
platform.
The shaft carrying the rollers, in some cases is carried by end cleats or like
devices, which are adjustable to any position on the platform by means of "tee"
slots formed in the bed or platform with suitable bolts and nuts, cam fastenings,
or equivalent locking arrangement to fasten same in position.
As regards the form of the roller supports, these may be of any suitable shape
and design, and made in movable form, or changeable, or fixed, according to
circumstances and requirements.
The improvements above specified are embodied in the machine, and parts of
weighing machines, given in the accompanying drawings; and my invention will
now be described with reference to these drawings, the reference letters and figures
used being applied to denote the same or like parts wherever they occur in the
different figures.
Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, Figure 2 a plan, and
Figure 3 an end view, of a steelyard having the changeable weight scales according

page_text: to this invention; and Figure 4 is an elevation, Figure 5 a plan, and Figure ba
cross section at A A Figure 5, shewing parts of the mechanisms of Figures 1 to 3
in detail to a larger scale.
Figure 7 is a plan, Figure a side elevation, and Figure 9 an end view of a
weighing machine of a type particularly suited for use for weighing goods on the
quay side, having improvements under this invention.
Referring in the first instance to Figures 1 to 6, a represents the main bar or
steelyard of a weighing machine, such as is used in connection with platform
weighing machine, and other steelyard weighing machines. b is a notched bar or
steelyard in a groove in the upper edge of the bar a, and having a handle b¹ by
This movable bar or steelyard
which it is rocked in one direction or the other.
is provided with two sets of notches corresponding with the two orders of weight,
and in connection with which the main weight c is used and worked, it being
adapted to engage with said notches by a suitable wedge or provision thereon, in
any known suitable way. The main weight spans the bar a at the top, and is carried
down one side and under it as shewn. d is the movable scale plate, with four
weight scales marked thereon, the upper two of which are scales of the major order
of weights; while the lower two are for the minor order of weight. e is an inclined
shelf on the bar a forming a table to, and supporting the scale plate d; and fis
a plate on the upper side of and covering the plate d, with longitudinal slots or
windows in it, through which one or other of the scales of the major and minor
orders on the plate d are seen.
The rocking steelyard bar b, and the scale plate d, are connected together; and the
latter is adapted to be worked by the former by a pin 2 on the underside, and at
each end of the bar b, these pins working in connection with a tongue piece or pro-
jection d' on the upper side of the plate dat either end. The weight used in
connection with the minor orders of weights is designated ; and is supported,
and works to and fro on, the edge of the shelf e, this weight being provided
with a pointer h' which works above the plate f along the lower edge of the lower
window thereof.
V
to
In action, according to which of the two orders or standards of weights provided
or the other of the two sets of
on the machine is to be employed, so will one
notches in the steelyard bar 6 be turned by the handle 6' to stand uppermost, and
work in connection with the engaging device of the main weight c. Assuming the
order or standard of weight being used is that of which the main division of weights
is in hundreds of pounds, and the minor order is single pounds, from 1 lb. up
100 lbs., then the handle b¹ will be so turned that the set of notches of the bar b
corresponding with this order or standard is turned uppermost; and in this action
of turning the bar to this position, the pins 62, by acting on the plate d through
the tongues d, will have so moved such plate as to exhibit at the windows of
the plate f, the major and minor scales of hundreds of pounds (say up to 2100 lbs.)
and single pounds, respectively; whilst the other major and minor orders of weights
marked in the plate d, say those of hundredweights (up to 20 cwts.), and single
pounds avoirdupois (up to 112 lbs.), respectively, will be hidden from view, being
obscured by the plate, as shewn in dotted lines. Then, when the other (the latter)
order of weights is to be used, the handle is moved in the opposite direction
downwards, the result being that the pins, acting on the ends of the slots in
the tongues d'in which they work, press the scale plate d down so as to exhibit
the other weight scales of cwts. and lbs., and obscure the one formerly seen, of
hundreds of lbs. and single pounds.
By the arrangement shewn, it will be seen that with the one movement, the
changing actions of both moving parts of the weight scales and steelyard bar are
performed, and that therefore, being so connected and changed by the one action,
no wrong setting or moving of any part can take place; that is one scale or part
cannot be moved without the other. Then also the scale plate or scales are turned
up to the weighman, and are thus readily seen and read by him.

page_text: To assure the steelyard bar b taking the correct and desired position, and being
held, when moved into that position, a block or shoe p normally pressed upwards
by a spring q, through a pin r, bears on the under side of the end of the bar b;
and if this bar at the end be provided with a flat surface or part, for either of its
two scale divisions, and the block p be correspondingly formed, the pressure of
the spring on such parts, accordingly as one or other is pressed or acted upon by
the block p, will keep that bar in the correct and desired position.
Referring now to Figures 7 to 9, the improvements connected with the platforms of
the weighing machines are shewn. In these drawings, i is the platform, this being
mounted on rollers running in grooves on the base or body j of the machine, and con-
stituting a turntable thereon. The means for supporting the goods on the platform
consists of fixed rollers k, mounted on a shaft 1, carried in block bearings m, fixed in
sockets n' in the upper ends of the stanchions n, the lower ends of which fit in recesses
or holes in the platform i. In connection with these stanchions n, and the platform, at
each end of the machine a frame consisting of vertical and horizontal bars o, is employed,
the horizontal bars being provided with gaps or recesses at o¹, where the bars or
stanchions n come, and in which they fit; and they constitute supports to such
stanchions and rollers, whereby rigidity and strength is afforded to them, both in
a lateral and in a longitudinal direction. The rollers k, shaft l, and blocks m are
connected together, the outer blocks m and shaft being fastened by pins passing
through both, or by other suitable means; so that these three parts practically con-
stitute one device or mechanism, and are moved about together. The outer two.
of the blocks m fit, as stated, in sockets in the upper ends n' of the stanchions n,.
in which they are fixed by pins n², as shewn, when in position; while the lower
ends of the stanchions n consist of tapered rectangular outwardly turned pins n³, as.
shewn, and these pins fit in rectangular holes, and of the form shewn, so that the
upper part of a pin n³ practically fills a hole, but the lower end does not, and so that
when they are placed in position, and the stanchions n are upright, and held in that
position by their connection through the bar and blocks m, they (the stanchion ends)
cannot be moved upwards out of position, as they are held by the metal of the
platform i round the hole at one side, which is bearing upon the outwardly inclined
surface of the outer edge of the pin n³, and they are prevented from moving
bodily inward by the horizontal frame bars o. By this arrangement and construction
of means of attachment, and fixing in position of the stanchions, and parts carried
thereby, a ready means of erecting these parts on the platform, and taking them
down, is afforded.
As shewn in full lines in the drawing, the rollers k, with their stanchions m, are
shewn placed to one side of the centre of the platform; but as shewn in dotted lines,
they may be placed in the centre also if desired; suitable holes in the platform i and
gaps or recesses o' in the bars o being provided to receive the stanchions m; and the
one or the other of these positions will be used, accordingly as may be desired, or as
the nature and size of the packages to be dealt with and weighed, and the circumstances
and conditions under which the weighing machine is being used, demands.
A modified arrangement of parts by which the weighing of goods under certain
conditions is facilitated, consists in fixing rollers k by their blocks m in holes in
the platform i, and close to such platform as shewn in dotted lines in the drawings.
By this means, bale and other goods are pushed onto the platform over this roller,
then weighed, and then pushed off. By this, facility and quickness of weighing are
afforded.
When weighing bale or packed goods with a machine having the rollers erected
n position on the stanchions n, as shewn, the bale or package is tipped onto the
machine with one edge or part resting on the platform, and the other on the
ollers k. Then, if the position of the point or place at which they are to be
lischarged from the platform be at the side opposite that at which they are placed
n it, the platform with its load is turned round half a revolution on the turn table,.
nd then the goods tipped or pushed off or removed onto a truck, or otherwise, as the
ase may be.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The herein described improvement in or connected with weighing steelyards
for weighing goods according to two or more different orders or standards, namely,
a weight scale (such as d) having two or more scales of different orders or standards,
and adapted to exhibit and obscure one or other of such scales alternately; for the
purposes set forth.
2. The improvement in or connected with weighing steelyards for weighing goods
according to two or more different orders or standards of weight, consisting of or
comprising a weight scale (such as d) adapted to move to and fro and provided
with two or more of different orders or standards, and to exhibit and obscure one
or other of such scales alternately, and a notched movable steelyard bar in connection
with which the main weight of the steelyard operates, and connected with said
scale plate, whereby by the movement of the one the movement of the other is
effected; substantially as described.
3. In a weighing machine steelyard of the kind herein referred to, a bar a
having a ledge or shelf at one side, and carrying upon it a movable weight scale
plate, with two or more scales of different orders or standards or weight thereon,
and adapted to be moved substantially as described, by which only one of such
standards is exhibited at a time, the other being obscured; substantially as set
forth.
4. A weighing machine steelyard of the kind herein referred to, having its parts
arranged, combined and adapted to be operated as set forth with reference to
Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings.
5. A platform weighing machine, having a rotating platform in the shape of a
turntable, and a support for the goods being weighed fixed upon and across said
platform, and carried by stanchions mounted on the platform: substantially as set
forth.
6. A platform weighing machine having the characteristics set forth in the pre-
ceding claiming clause, and comprising rollers horizontally arranged, and carried
by stanchions and bearings, substantially as set forth with reference to Figures 7, 8,
and 9 of the drawings.
7. In a weighing machine of the kind specified in Claim 5, the particular con-
struction of the parts forming the means for supporting the goods on the platform
of the machine, set forth with reference to and shewn in the drawings.
Dated this 10th day of Anril 1896
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15 Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents..