Improvements in Automatic Weighing and Tallying Apparatus.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Aug., 1892-Accepted, 1st Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Weighing and Tallying Apparatus.
I, DAVID RUSSELL CAMERON, care of Messrs. J. & G. Bulloch & Co., of
13, Fenchurch Avenue, in the City of London, and of Burmah, Merchant, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to appliances adapted for automatically weighing grain
and other substances or fluids drawn from the bulk, and for indicating or tallying
the number of measurements made.
An automatic weighing and tallying machine constructed according to my
invention consists of a frame of suitable design in which is mounted a weighing
beam working on knife-edge centres. At one end of the weighing beam is
suspended a box or receptacle which contains the material in course of being
weighed. The receptacle is open at each end, is divided by a partition into two
compartments, and is capable of being rotated about a spindle mounted in the
extremities of dependent arms, these working on knife-edge centres in the weighing
beam. At the other end of the weighing beam is suspended a tray or platform for
carrying the necessary weights. A small weight is by preference suspended
slightly above the surface of the tray or platform and comes into action as the
weighing operation proceeds. The material to be weighed is placed in a feed
hopper provided with a suitable mouth or exit so arranged as to direct the same
into the weighing box or receptacle. The flow of the material through the mouth
or exit is controlled by a shutter actuated by the weighing mechanism as hereinafter
explained.
Between brackets attached to the main framing is pivoted an arm having at one
end a pawl for engaging with a notched stud on the weighing beam, and at the
opposite end is attached the shutter for regulating or controlling the flow from the
feed hopper. The shutter may if necessary be weighted. The weighing box or
receptacle is provided on each side with a two-motion cam upon the surfaces of
which bear rods working in guides. These rods may be kept in contact with the
cam surfaces by means of weights or springs, and serve to regulate the speed of
rotation of the weighing box. On the rotation of the box, the cams, attached
thereto, raise the rods and bring them into contact with projecting arms or levers
which have their fulcra on the spindle whereon the shutter-arm is pivoted; the
shutter being thereby opened. The rods after passing a step or projection on the
cam surface, fall, and serve to maintain the box in an upright position. For
securing the said box in position while receiving the material to be weighed,
a catch may be caused to engage with a bar or projection on the weighing box;
such catch being released from, or engaged with, the bar by suitable levers and
connecting rods worked by preference from the spindle carrying the shutter-arm.
Below the weighing box is a receiving hopper within which is arranged an open
receptacle in the nature of a funnel; the latter being mounted on one arm of a
pivoted lever, the opposite arm, being connected to the tallying mechanism. As
the material under operation leaves the weighing box, it passes through the open
receptacle, and by its weight imparts motion to the levers and connecting rods
which actuate the indicating or tallying mechanism. The latter may be of any
suitable construction.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-Assuming the machine to be
arranged to weight 250 lbs. and the mouth of the hopper to be open, a weight of
say 248 lbs. is placed upon the weight tray or platform, a small weight of say
2 lbs. being suspended slightly above the tray. The material to be weighed flows
from the feed hopper into the weighing box, and upon the 248 lbs. weight being

page_text: counterbalanced, the weighing beam moves over slightly, carrying with it the
notched stud. The pawl carried by the shutter-arm thereupon becomes disengaged
from the first notch in the stud 'and moves a certain distance, until intercepted by a
second notch thereby partially closing. the mouth of the feed hopper. The small
suspended weight has by this movement been brought into operation, but the
supply of the material continues, although at a moderate rate of flow, until the
whole weight is counterbalanced by the contents of the weighing box.. The
shutter-arm is then released from the second notch in the stud and the flow of
the material from the feed hopper is cut off; whereupon the catch engaging
with the bar or projection on the weighing box is raised by the movement of the
levers and connecting link, and the weighing box being freed; commences to rotate
and to empty its contents into the receiving hopper, to the delivery end of which
may be secured a sack or other suitable receptacle for the material weighed. The
material on falling into the receiving hopper passes through the open receptacle
and by its weight operates the tallying mechanism. The speed of rotation of the
weighing box is controlled by the rods working in contact with the cam surfaces.
When the steps or projections of the cams arrive under the rods, the latter are
raised, and in their upward movement act on the arms or levers fixed to the
shutter-arm spindle, thereby opening the shutter; the pawl returning to its original
position in the notched stud on the weighing beam. The operations described are
repeated for each charge or supply of material to the weighing box.
The weighing box being made with two compartments and provided with
two-motion cams the compartments come into operation alternately. The number
of the compartments may, however, be varied, the form of the cam surfaces
appertaining thereto being modified accordingly.
The weighing operation may in some cases be divided into more than two
motions, the number of notches in the stud being multiplied and more than one
stud and small suspended weight being employed for this purpose.
Dated this 22nd day of October 1891.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Weighing and Tallying Apparatus.
1, DAVID RUSSELL CAMERON, care of Messrs. J. & G. Bulloch & Co., of
13, Fenchurch Avenue, in the City of London, and of Burmah, Merchant, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
This invention relates to appliances adapted for automatically weighing grain
and other substances or fluids drawn from the bulk, and for indicating or tallying
the number of measurements made.
An automatic weighing and tallying machine constructed according to my
invention is shewn in the accompanying drawings, whereof Fig. 1 is a side
elevation, Fig. 2 a front elevation, Fig. 3 a rear elevation, and Fig. 4 a plan.
In the frame a, which is of suitable design, is mounted a weighing beam b
working on knife-edge centres b'. At one end of the weighing beam suspended
a box or receptacle e which contains the material in course of being weighed. The
receptacle is open at each end, is divided by a partition, indicated by the dotted
lines c, into two compartments, and is capable of being rotated about a spindle c
mounted in the extremities of dependent arms c³, these working on knife-edge
centres (Fig. 3) on the weighing beam b. At the other end of the weighing
beam is suspended a tray or platform d for carrying the necessary weights.
A small weight e is suspended slightly above the surface of the tray or platform d

page_text: and comes into action as the weighing operation proceeds. The material to be
weighed is placed in a feed-hopper provided with a suitable mouth or exit f' so
arranged as to direct the same into the weighing box or receptacle c. The flow of
the material through the mouth or exit is controlled by a shutter g actuated by the
weighing mechanism as hereinafter explained.
or
Between brackets g' and attached to the main framing a is pivoted a lever g³ g³,
preferably made in two parts 93 and 9' as shewn, and having at one end a pawl g
for engaging with a notched stud 6 on the weighing beam b; the opposite end
carrying the shutter g for regulating or controlling the flow from the feed-hopper/.
The shutter g may, if necessary, be weighted, as indicated at g*. The weighing
box or receptacle c is provided on each side with a two-motion cam cupon the
surfaces of which bear rods c working in guides . These rods may be united by
a bar and kept in contact with the cam-surfaces by means of weights
springs, and serve to regulate the speed of rotation of the weighing box c. On the
rotation of the box, the cams e, which are attached thereto, raise the rods c³ and
bring them into contact with projecting arms or levers 7 keyed on the spindle g
which forms the pivot for the shutter-arm g; the shutter being thereby opened.
The rods, after passing a step or projection on the cam-surface, fall, and serve to
maintain the box c in an upright position by engaging against the step or pro-
jection, and thus preventing movement in the reverse direction. For preventing
forward movement, and thereby securing the said box in position while receiving
the material to be weighed, a catch b* engages with a bar or projection c on the
end of the weighing box; such catch being pivoted to the weighing beam and
held out of action or permitted to engage with the bar c by an arm h, lever k k¹
and connecting rods i and I worked by preference from the spindle g'. The con-
necting rod operates on the catch 6 through the lever m in order that the
requisite freedom of movement may be ensured. Each end of the box c is furnished
with a bar oº.
Below the weighing box is a receiving hopper n within which is arranged an
open receptacle o in the nature of a funnel; the latter being mounted on one arm p
of a pivoted lever p p², the opposite arm p' being connected through the rod q to
the tallying mechanism r.
Assuming the machine to be arranged to weigh 250 lbs. and the mouth f¹ of the
hopper to be open, a weight of say 248 lbs. is placed upon the weight tray or
platform d; a small weight e of say 2 lbs. being suspended slightly above the tray.
The material to be weighed flows from the feed-hopper into the weighing box c,
and upon the 248 lbs. weight being counterbalanced, the weighing beam b moves
over slightly, carrying with it the notched stud 63. The pawl y on the shutter-
arm g' thereupon becomes disengaged from the first notch in the stud and the
shutter-arm moves a certain distance, whereupon the pawl is intercepted by a second
notch in the stud, the mouth f¹ of the feed-hopper f having, however, been partially
closed by the limited movement of the arm. The small suspended weight e has, by
the movement of the beam b, now been brought into operation. The supply of the
material continues, although at a moderate rate of flow, until the whole weight
of 250 lbs. is counterbalanced by the contents of the weighing box c, whereupon the
beam b again moves, and the shutter-arm g' is released, the pawl 9' escaping from
the second notch in the stud b; the shutter g then closes the mouth of the feed-
hopper f, the flow of the material being thus cut off. At the same time, the
catch 6, which engages with the bar e on the weighing box c, is raised by the
movement of the spindle g', thus freeing the weighing box and permitting it to
rotate and empty its contents into the receiving hopper , to the delivery end n' of
which may be secured a sack or other suitable receptacle for the material weighed.
The material on falling into the receiving hopper n passes through the open
receptacle o, and by its weight imparts motion to the lever p p and the connecting
rod
9 which operate the tallying mechanisın; the latter being of any suitable con-
struction. The speed of rotation of the weighing box c is controlled by the rods c
working in contact with the surfaces of the cams o. As the steps or projections of

page_text: the cams travel under the rods, the latter are raised, and in their upward
movement act on the arms or levers g fixed to the shutter-arm spindle g, thereby
opening the shutter g and releasing the catch b; the pawl greturning to its
original position in engagement with the notched stud on the weighing beam.
The operations described are repeated for each charge or supply of material to the
weighing box.
The weighing box being made with two compartments and provided with a pair
of two-motion cams c', the compartments come into operation alternately. The
number of the compartments may, however, be varied, the form of the cam
surfaces being modified accordingly.
The weighing operation may in some cases be divided into more than two
motions, the number of notches in the stud being increased, and more than one
small suspended weight e employed.
The notched stud 6, instead of being fixed in the position shewn, may be
situated at the side of or below the weighing beam. Instead of the notched stud,
the necessary releasing action may be given by liquid contained in a tube or by
a ball or weight being thrown out of equilibrium by the motion of the weighing
beam.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
1. The improved automatic weighing and tallying machine constructed and
operating substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. The improved method of weighing grain and other material, substantially
as herein described, the same consisting in causing the material to be weighed
to flow from a hopper or tank into a receptacle suspended from the weighing beam
until the latter is overbalanced, the movement of the overbalanced beam effecting
or permitting the partial closing of the passage whence the material to be weighed
flows, then arresting the movement of the overbalanced beam by a suspended
weight, and, when the beam is again overbalanced, causing the continued movement
of the beam to effect or permit the closing of the said passage and the release
of the receptacle.
3. In automatic weighing apparatus, the combination, with a hopper f, the
mouth of the hopper, a shutter g, a lever g³ 9, and a pawl 9, of a weighing
beam b, a stud 6, a tray or platform d for holding the weights, a suspended
weight e, and a receptacle c, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
4. In automatic weighing apparatus, the combination, with a hopper f, the
mouth of the hopper, a shutter g, a lever g³ y', a pawl y, an arm /, a connecting
rod i, a leverk k¹ and a connecting rod 1, of a weighing beam b, a stud b³, a tray or
platform d for holding the weights, a suspended weight e, a pivoted receptacle c,
cams c, rods c³, weights c³, bars c³, and a catch *, substantially as and for the
purpose herein set forth.
5. In automatic weighing and tallying apparatus, the combination, with a
hopper, a shutter g, a beam b, and a receptacle c, of a receiving hopper n, a
device o, a lever p p¹, a connecting rod q, and a counter r, substantially as and for
the purpose herein set forth.
Dated the 18th day of August 1892.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agent.