Improvements in Self Collecting and Checking of Tolls for and Controlling the Use of Weighing Machines.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Nov., 1886.
Specification Accepted, 8th Feb., 1887.
J
Improvements in Self Collecting and Checking of Tolls for and
Controlling the Use of Weighing Machines.
HENRY KNIGHT of the Arcade Ryde Isle of Wight in the County of Southampton,
Importer of Italian Sculptures do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF COLLECTING AND CHECKING OF TOLLS FOR, & CONTROLLING THE
USE OF WEIGHING MACHINES and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
My invention consists of the Improvements hereinafter described in constructing and
arranging the parts of suitable mechanism for self collecting tolls which admits of
being adjusted to act by any weight of metallic coin or coins that may be charged for
its use and which also registers the number of times the machine is used if the owner
thinks fit to attach the registering index.
It is especially suited to the well known, Salters Spring balance platform weighing
machines and it may also be applied to other suitable weighing machines.
The said Salters Machine as ordinarily constructed consists essentially of an
indicating dial, spiral springs rack and pinion, with a bar connecting them to the
ordinarily constructed weighing platform and an additional rod outside the column of
the machine which is worked by a lever to throw the machine in and out of gear.
Any weight placed on the said platform will not be indicated until the machine is
thrown into gear.
In order to carry out my invention I enclose one of Salters
Spring balance platform weighing machines in a suitable frame in order to cover up
my mechanism.
According to one of my improvements I dispense with the rod and lever for
throwing the machine in and out of gear and apply my invention as follows:-
I make a tee shaped beam which has a spindle projecting from it on each side, in a
line with the perpendicular part of the said beam, this spindle rests on two knife
edged bearings to allow the beam to move freely and the bearings on each side keep

page_text: the beam in its place. At one end of the horizonial part of the beam is a hopper to
receive the coin or coins that are to be paid for the use of the machine and at the
other end is a shifting balance weight fitted with a set screw for the purpose of
adjusting the balance of the beam so that when the money is removed from the hopper,
the beam will immediately return to its proper position and also for regulating the
number of coins to be paid (at the will of the owner) for the use of the machine.
The end of the perpendicular part of the beam passes through a slot in a bolt, which
said bolt passes through a hole cut in the bar that connects the springs to the gear in
the weighing platform, the said bolt being kept in its proper position by means of
guide pieces on each side of the said connecting bar. When the machine is at rest
the said bolt is through the connecting bar & the machine cannot be used until it is
withdrawn. By a coin or coins placed in the hopper, that end of the horizontal part
of the beam will be depressed which causes the perpendicular part of the beam to draw
the bolt and the connecting bar is then free to move downwards and the weight will
be indicated on the dial. (A portion of the horizontal part of the beam passes through
the said connecting bar in a slot about 2 inches long and wide enough to let the
beam move freely). Along each side and one end of the hopper are moveable rods
and a spiral spring is fixed on one of the rods at the side to keep the said rods in their
place these rods are connected to a crank by a short connecting rod, the said crank
moving on a pin fixed in the horizontal part of the said beam. A small loose catch is
fixed to the side of the aforesaid connecting bar, one end of the said loose catch
resting against the lower end of the said crank and when the machine is being used
the said connecting bar will be drawn down by the weight on the platform and the
said loose catch is carried down by the connecting bar below the crank; when the
weight is removed from the platform, the connecting bar rises, the loose catch. comes
in contact with the end of the crank, which turning pushes the connecting rod, thus
forcing the rod away from the end of the hopper and so allowing the coin or coins to
fall through the bottom of the said hopper, the beam immediately rises, the bolt passest
into its place and the machine cannot be used until the operation is again performed.
Any coin smaller than that to be charged for the use of the machine will fall through
the hopper or it may be made to fall through the shoot which is adjusted to any sized
coin and which also allows anything put in for mischief to fall through.
According to another of my improvements I employ a tee shaped beam but I
substitute for the bolt, a pin projecting from the end of the perpendicular part of the
said beam which said pin passes through a hole in the aforesaid connecting bar, large
enough to allow it to pass in and out freely. The action is the same as described in
the foregoing arrangement.
According to another of my improvements I employ a tee shaped beam as before
but at the end of the perpendicular part is a hole which fits on a pin projecting from
the aforesaid connecting bar, The action is the same as that described in my first
arrangement.
According to another of my improvements when a down motion is preferred to
release the coin or coins from the hopper, I employ a tee shaped beam as before but
the hopper is a circular one with a loose bottom which partly revolves on two
spindles and in place of the crank, connecting rods, loose catch, &c. I employ a
cranked rod with a long slot, one end of the slot moves on a pin fixed in the aforesaid
connecting bar beyond the other end of the slot the said rod moves partly on a pin
fixed in the case or frame; When the coin or coins are placed in the hopper, the
hopper end of the said beam descends till it rests against a small pin placed for the
purpose of stopping it or until the perpendicular arm rests against the guide piece.
Directly the aforesaid connecting bar descends the said pin fixed into the said
connecting bar, moves the cranked rod which comes in contact with the bottom of
the hopper causing it to partly revolve and so let the coin or coins fall out, and the
beam returns to its original position & when the weight is removed from the platform
& the connecting bar rises the aforesaid bolt will return to its place and the machine
is ready for a second operation.

page_text: According to another of my improvements, when it is preferred to have the outside
rod and lever for throwing the machine in and out of gear, I apply it as follows —
I employ a curved plate connected to the lever by a shaft & on this plate I fix the rod
for throwing the machine in and out of gear. At the top of the curved plate I cut a
notch in which notch rests the extreme end of a balance beam, the said beam moves on
a spindle in or about the centre of said beam. One end of the beam has a platform to
receive the coin or coins and on the other end is a shifting balance weight similar to
that herein before described. When the coin or coins are placed on the platform the
beam at that end falls until it rests on a pin which projects from the curved plate:
and the other end of the beam is clear of the notch and the lever can be raised, the
lever as it is raised pushes up the beam until the coin or coins fall off the platform
and when the lever is let go, it falls, the beam returns to the notch and the machine
is out of gear. The platform on this arrangement is made with a hole in it so that
suppose the toll is a penny a halfpenny will fall through. If a smaller coin is used a
flap hinged to the platform may be put down and so prevent its falling through.
In this arrangement the weight may be placed on the platform before or after the
coin is placed in the slot, but in the other arrangements the coin must in each case be
placed in the slot before the weight is placed on the platform.
When it is thought desirable not to reject any small coin, I employ a shoot having
a round end about an inch and a half in diameter to receive the several small coins to
make up the value of the large one; for instance, if the toll is fixed at a halfpenny
2 farthings will operate the same as the halfpenny or if the toll is a penny, two
halfpennies will operate the same and so on.
When I employ a registering apparatus for the purpose of checking the number of
times the machine weighs, I employ an ordinary index to register from one upwards &
I connect it to the machine by a pin and a rod projecting from the aforesaid connecting
bar to a projecting piece on the index; or the coin as it falls strikes one of the arms
of a four armed fan which partly revolves & registers one.
Having explained the nature of my invention I will proceed to describe with
reference to the accompanying drawings, the manner in which the same is to be
performed.
Similar letters in all the figures represent similar parts.
Figures 1 and 2 show my first arrangement as applied to one of Salters Machines.
Figure 1 is a front elevation with the dial removed and figure 2. a section on the
line A. A. 1, 1, are the spiral springs of a Salters Machine, 2, is a rack, and 3, a
pinion worked by the rack as it is drawn down by the connecting bar ..
I shew my
arrangement applied to the said Salters Machine close up behind the dial but it may
be applied to any part of the connecting bar; a, a, a, is a tee shaped beam working on
a spindle d, which projects from each side of the beam & which rests on a knife edged
bearing a, a slot is cui in the connecting bar r, (for the beam a, a, a, to pass through)
about 2 inches long & wide enough for the beam to work freely, b, is a shifting balance
weight for adjusting the balance of the beam so as to bring it back to its horizontal
position when the coin or coins are removed from the hopper k, and also to regulate
the number of coins that may be charged for the use of the machine. The balance
weight, is kept in its place by a set screw -k is an oblong wedge shaped hopper
for receiving the coin or coins, s, s are screws for fixing same to the beam a, a, a, is
a rod running along the sides & round one end of the hopper k, the portion that goes
round the end comes slightly underneath at the same time sufficiently far to keep the
coin or coins from falling through the hopper k. This rod is kept in its place by a
small spiral spring inside the case,, is a crank working on a pin 4, in the
beam a, a, a, the crank c is fixed on the pin by a cotter mi, is a rod connecting the
crank c, to the slide rods j, on the hopper k, -,, are the pins for fixing said
connecting rod to the crank and slide rods; u, u, nuts for securing same,. n, is a loose
catch attached to the connecting bar, by means of a pin o, and cotter op. p. are
studs for stopping said loose catch, h² is a bolt worked by the perpendicular part of
the bean a, a, a, and which passes through the connecting bar, and is kept in its
place by guide pieces W. (The hopper, beam, connecting rod, loose catch &c.
C

page_text: may be seen more clearly in Figures 3, 4. 5. 6 and the bolt 2, and guide pieces ', in
Figures 7. 8. 9.) When the amount of toll is placed in the hopper k, that end of the
beam a, a, a, descends and the perpendicular part of the said beam draws out the
bolt 2, and the connecting bar », is free to move; when the body to be weighed is
placed on the platform the connecting bar r, descends, and the weight is indicated on
the dial and as it descends it carries the loose catch n, below the point of the crank c.
When the weight is removed from the platform the connecting bar rises & the
loose catch n, comes in contact with the crank c, causing it to partly rotate and move
the connecting rod, which pushes the slide rods, and the coin falls through the
hopper, (the spiral spring brings the rods, back to their place) and the beam a, a, a,
returns to its original position, the bolt 2, passes through the connecting bar r, and
the machine is ready for a second operation.
"
Another arrangement is shown by Figures 3 and 4. Figure 3 is a side elevation &
Figure 4 an end elevation with a part of the connecting bar (sufficient to show how it
acts). This arrangement differs from the foregoing in that the perpendicular part of
the beam, is above the horizontal part instead of below it and instead of moving a
bolt in and out of the connecting bar, the perpendicular part has a pin or stud h, in
the extreme end which passes through a hole in the connecting barr, and a slot for
the beam to work in, is cut from this hole downwards for about 2 inches to allow the
connecting bar to descend. And in place of the knife edged bearings a¹, in the first
arrangement, the beam a, works on a spindle d, which is tapered from each side to
give less friction and which is bolted to the case of the machine; & the beam is
secured to the said spindle by means of a brushed washer e, and cotter . The other
parts of this arrangement are the same as those described in the first arrangement.
When the amount of toll is placed in the hopper k, that end of the beam a, descends
until the perpendicular part rests against the stop 7, then the pin or sind 1, is clear of
the connecting bar . The rest of the action is the same as that already described.
Figures 5 and 6, are a side elevation and an end elevation of another arrangement
which differs from that shown in Figures 3 and 4 only in that the perpendicular part
of the beam a, is again below the horizontal part and has a hole near the end which
fits easily on to a pin or stud h, which is fixed into the connecting bar ». Its
action &c. is the same as already described.
Figure 7 is a side clevation Figure 8 an end elevation and Figure 9 a plan of an
arrangement I use when a down action is thought desirable to release the amount of
the toll from the hopper.
is the tee shaped beam, b, the shifting balance weight, 7, the set screw for
fixing same, a¹, the knife edged bearings, d, spindle, f, cotter, 12, the bolt ',
the guide pieces already described in Figures 1 and 2, is a circular hopper
having a moveable bottom, which partly rotates on its spindles g.g. & having a stop
underneath on the side nearest the beam a, one spindle g¹ is cranked round & has a
small balance weight, to keep the bottom į, in position, the bottom may be balanced
inside the hopper instead of having the outside balance weight.,, are small pieces
on the side of the hopper k, to give a little more bearing for the spindles g¹, g'; c¹ is
a cranked rod with a long slot working on a fixed pin P, at one end, and working
loosely on a pin p, fixed to the connecting bar ». When the amount of toll is placed
in the hopper &, that end of the beam a, falls and the perpendicular part of the beam,
draws out the bolt 2, until the said part of the beam a, is resting against the guide
piece . The moveable bottom of the hopper k, is then immediately above the
end of the cranked rod e¹, and when the connecting bar, descends the pin p',
moves the cranked rod e, causing it to upset the bottom of the hopper k, the
coin or coins fall out and the beam a, immediately rises towards its proper position
& when the connecting barr, rises the bolt 2, passes through the said connecting
bar & the machine is ready for a second operation.
Figure 10 is a side elevation, Figure II an end elevation and Figure 12 a plan
of an arrangement I use when it is thought desirable to have the outside rod &
lever for throwing the machine in and out of gear. a, is a beam working on a
spindle d, and secured to same by a brushed washer, and cotter. The spindle d

page_text: q
2
being fixed to the plater, by a shoulder on one side and nut on the other. k, is a
platform for receiving the coin, with a circular hole in it for the purpose of allowing
a coin smaller than that charged for the toll, to fall through. p. shown in dotted
lines is a flap that may be used or not at the will of the owner and is for the purpose
of putting over the hole in platform & should the owner choose to receive a small coin
or coins as toll. b, is a balance weight for adjusting the balance of beam a, and for
regulating the amount of toll & is a set screw for fixing same; c, is a curved plate
with a notch in the upper side for the end of the beam a, to rest in, t, is a stud rivetted
into the plate for the purpose of connecting the rod, to the same, the said rod 1,
being fixed to the stud by a washer t, and screw, 8. The rod is cranked to allow it
to pass the shaft mm, is a shaft or spindle fixed into the curved plate e for the
purpose of turning it, which is done by the lever, -, is a bracket to form a
bearing for the shaft m, and also to keep it in its place which it does by means of a
small collar on the shaft. m. One end of the shaft m, bears on the bracket a¹, & the
other in a hole in the column w, -,, are screws for fixing bracket a', n, is the
nut for fixing lever 1, to shaft m, are stops for the curved plate e, & is a rod
to stop the platform, falling too far until the lever 1, is raised; w, is a portion of
the column of a Salters platform weighing machine, r, is the connecting bar & a a
plate for attaching the mechanism to the column. When the amount of the toll is
placed on the platform k, that end of the beam a, falls until it rests on the rod 21,
which just allows the other end of the beam a, to clear the notch in the curved plate e,
Then the lever, may be lifted up which moves the rod, down until the machine is in
gear & at the same time the upper part of the curved plate c, pushes up the beam a,
until the coin or coins fall off the platform. The weight in the meantime is indicated
on the dial. When the coins fall off, and the lever 1. is let go, (the weight being now
off the platform) the beam a, returns to its position & is helped by the rod w, which
pushes it back as the lever 1, falls. The beam a, falls into the notch in the top of
the curved plate e, and the machine is out of gear. The coin or coins in all my
arrangements, when they fall from the hoppers or platform, fall into a receptacle at
the bottom of the case or frame of the machine. The case or frame may be made
either of sheet iron or wood & may be either plain or ornamental.
Figures 13 and 14 are a side elevation & plan of a shoot that I use for conducting
the coin or coins to the machines that have platforms like that in Figs. 10-11—12.
& also when smaller coins are taken for toll, for instance when 2 farthings are taken
to make up the toll of a halfpenny or when 2 halfpennies are to make up the toll
of one penny & so on. One end of the shoot is fixed to the case or frame opposite
the slot where the coin is to be put in and the circular part stands immediately over
the platform. Figure 15 is a side view and Figure 16 a front view of another shoot
for conducting the coin to the hopper 1, is a thin metal case with the inner side of the
curve cut away and an adjusting gear put in so that any coin less in size than that
designed as the toll or anything put in for mischief, will fall through before it reaches
the hopper. 3, 3, are the rods for moving the slide backwards & forwards 4, 4, are
the bearings for same & 5, 5, are the wing nuts for securing the slide in its proper
place. The shoot is connected to the case or frame in a line with the slot outside the
case where the coin or coins are put in and the other end dips into the hopper.
I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise details herein
described and illustrated in the drawings as the same may be varied without departing
from the nature of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is
1. The manufacture & use of mechanism, herein before described and illustrated,
for the purpose of collecting the toll paid for the use of weighing machines.
2. The manufacture & use of mechanism, herein before described and illustrated,
by means of which the toll may be received either in one coin or in in any number of
coins to make up the amount of toll charged for the use of the weighing machines.

page_text: 3. The combination with weighing mechanism of suitable construction, of an
arrangement herein before described whereby a weighing machine cannot be used until
the toll is paid into the slot for receiving same.
4. The manufacture & use of shoots as & for the purpose herein before described
and as represented in Figures 13. 14. 15 and 16 of the accompanying drawings.
5. The application (at the will of the owner of the weighing machine) of an index
as herein before described for the purpose of checking the amount of toll paid into the
weighing machine.
6. The improved mechanism for self collecting of toll for & controlling the use of
weighing machines as herein before described and as represented in Figures 1 to 12
and 13 to 16 of the accompanying drawings.