Improvements in or relating to Weighing Apparatus.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Jan., 1895--Accepted, 21st Dec., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Weighing Apparatus.
A communication from CARL SCHMIDT, of 143 Reichenberger Strasse, Berlin, S.O.,
in the Empire of Germany, Civil Engineer.
1, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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 a machine for automatically weighing specific quantities
of grain, which owing to its new and special construction, prevents the back stroke
or recoil after the subsequent outflow of the grain weighed; influencing the working
of the separate parts; while however providing at the same time for security
inasmuch as any opening of the inlet valve is impossible so long as the discharge
or outlet valve is open and vice versa.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the weighing machine just prior to the discharge
of the weighed material;
Figure 2 a front elevation of the same;
Figure 3 is a view showing the position of the inlet-valve and lever appurtenant
thereto at the commencement of the charge;
Figures 4, 5 and 6 are views of details of parts of the weighing machine, and
Figures 7 and 8 respectively represent the position of the weighing machine at
the commencement of the discharge and at the time of charging.
The weighing machine properly so-called, consists of the balance lever or beam A
having two equal arms and by the knife-edge a of which are suspended the scale
pan or equivalent B and by the knife-edges a 1 the scale or weight pan or equiva-
lent D. The knife-edges a a 1 lie in line with the fulcrum of the beam. The scale
pan B is provided with a bottom valve C pivoting on the point c. Above the scale
pan B is placed the stationary hopper K on which is arranged the common pivot
point k for the two admission valves E and F, the striking lever G and the weight
lever H. On the last-named the stop lever I with counterweight is arranged to
pivot. In the inlet-valve E are shown the two notches e and e 1 (Figs. 2 and 6)
through which the substance to be weighed flows, during the concluding part of the
filling of the scale with such substance.
The valve E is supported in its open position, (Fig. 3), by means of the pin or
stud e 2 fixed upon it resting on the pawl-end of the stop lever I. The closing
of the valve E is brought about as follows;-as the scale being loaded descends, a
driver 6 thereto attached, presses the arm i of the stop lever I downwards so that
the valve loses its support, and by its own weight, describes a downward curve on
its pivot pin k.
The inlet-valve F serves for the complete closure or stoppage of the filling when
once it is complete. To this valve is firmly attached the arm which carries at its
free end the roller f1 (Figure 3); and on the valve itself is fixed another driver
pin or stud f2 having for its object, on the re-opening of the two inlet valves to
elevate the striking lever G so that it may exert an upward pressure on the cam-
shoulders or tappets g 2 affixed to the latter.
The roller f1 in the open position of the inlet-valve F rests upon the offset m of
the bent lever M (Figs. 3 and 5) which is pivoted at o to the fixed frame O.
When the weight pan D rises, the arm 2 (Fig. 3) secured thereto comes against
the arm m' of the bell-crank or bent lever M and removes it away from the roller f¹

page_text: -
whereby the valve F is liberated and drops as the result of its own excess of
weight.
The check action thus described repeats itself in connection with the striking
lever G (Fig. 4). This is also provided with an arm fitted with a roller g 1 at
its outer or free end, which in the highest position of G rests on the offset of a
bell-crank lever P similarly pivoted at o to the upright fixed support or standard O.
In the casing of the weight pan D, besides the arm d 2 above mentioned, there is
also a second and adjacent arm d 1 which when the upward movement of the pan D
takes place strikes the arm pl of the bent or bell-crank lever P and neutralizes
the stop action taking place at the moment between that lever arm and the
roller g 1.
The weighted lever H carries at its free end the roller 3 which is provided with
two noses or shoulders, one on each side having for their purpose to limit the
extreme positions of the said weighted lever. Pivoted to the scale-pan B is the
pawl-lever N, while on the bottom valve C is an upwardly extending arm c 1
(Figure 4) formed like a floor and having laterally a flat surface c2. The
branch or arm n of the angle lever N carries a nose or shoulder n 1 which rests
against the upper part of the surface c2 and holds the bottom valve C closed
thereby.
This closure is released by the striking-lever G in its downward movement by
means of its projections or fingers 93 displacing the upper end or branch of the bent
lever N so that the stop n acting on the surface e 2 is lifted and removed thereby
liberating the bottom valve C.
On the fixed frame O, o 6 is the pivot edge on which swings the regulating lever L
on one arm of which is fixed the weight 17 while on the other arm besides a
surface is arranged an arm 13 pivoting on 12 and fitted with a fixed cam or
lifter 14 and in such manner that its free end may reciprocate to and fro against a
sector guide plate 15 firmly secured to the regulating lever and be adjusted by
means of the set screw 16. A surface d provided for the purpose on the weight-
scale D serves to transmit to the balance beam the pressure exercised by 14 owing
to the weight 17.
The action of the weighing machine is as follows
;-
The balance beam occupies the position as shown in Figure 8; the scale
pan B occupies its highest position, while on the contrary the weight pan D
holds its lowest position. The two inlet-valves are both open while at the
same time the striking lever G is also raised to its highest point. The surface l
of the regulating lever L is in contact with the surface d of the weight pan D
while between the latter and the cam or lifter 14 there is a certain quantity of
play left.
The substance to be weighed runs into the scale pan B unhindered through the
mouth of the feed-hopper K until the scale begins to sink.
In consequence of this descent of B, the driver & fixed to the scale pan strikes on
the branch of the stop-lever I and releases thereby the inlet valve E from its
previously supported position, by the withdrawal of the nose or projection 1 from
the pin or stud e 2 attached to E. Thereupon the valve E closes the entrance mouth
so that the material can only continue to have access to the scale pan B through
the notches e and e 1.
This cessation of rapid flow and delivery of the material being weighed causes the
weigh beam to come to a standstill. At the same time with the contact or pressure
surface 1 of the regulating lever L which during the course described, has been
pressing upwards against the surface d of the weight-pan D the pressure block 14
comes into operation against the same surface d.
If now through the notches e and e 1 as much more grain or material has arrived
in the scale pan as suffices to make it equal to the weight in the other pan a new
movement in the main lever or weigh beam commences whereby the pressure
surface of the regulating lever L ceases to act upon the surface d which is then
alone actuated by the lifter 4. But owing to the lever arm thereof being longer

page_text: than that of the pressure surface 71 the pressure of the weight 17 on the weight pan
is reduced by the difference in that leverage.
The changed movement of the main weigh-beam A above-mentioned has further
the following effect;-viz. that the arm d2 (Fig. 3) is brought into contact with the
branch m 1 of the bent or bell crank lever M and thus draws away the shoulder or
offset m of the latter from beneath the roller f1 of the arm or projection f of the
lever G, whereby the inlet-or admission-valve F is liberated and therefore closes,
cutting off the feed entirely. In order that the free action of the machine may not
be interfered with at the same time, the roller f1 in falling presses the arm of the
bell-crank lever M so far back as to remove the arm m 1 away from the projection d 2
at the top of the weight-pan D (Figure 3).
Similarly to the closing of the admission valve F, but with a slight acceleration,
is now effected the release of the striking lever G, by reason of the arm d 1 (side
by side with the other arm d 2) above the weight-pan and support, striking
against the arm p 1 of the bent or bell-crank lever P, whereby the roller g 1 of the
lever G loses its support viz., the shoulder p of the lever P, so that by reason of
its overweight, it falls down to the position shown in Fig. 7, and the finger g 3
projecting downwards from the front end of the lever G, strikes against the upper
arm N of the pawl-lever N, whereby the other arm of the lever is knocked and
the nose of the pawl n 1 is raised from the surface c2 of the arm el and by this
disengagement the arm c 1 falls forward and opens the discharge valve C so that
the portion last weighed is freely run out by its own weight.
In consequence of the opening of the valve C the surface 2 of the arm c 1 falls
against the roller of the weighted lever H and presses it back, until, as shown
in Fig. 7, the projection i 1, on the stop lever 1, engages with the stud e 2 on the
inlet valve E, and, the pin ol engages with the nose or projection g' of the
lever Q.
While this movement of the bottom-valve receives a certain amount of
resistance from the weighted lever to be moved, the violence of the movement of
the opening valve experiences a material reduction, under the influence of which
the grain flows slowly out, and the weigh-beam quietly returns to its original
position.
After the substance weighed has flowed from out of the scale pan B, the
valve C is at once closed again by means of a counterpoise weight suitably
arranged for the purpose; and towards the end of this closure-movement, the
finger c 4 (Fig. 1), fixed on the front part of the bottom valve C strikes upon the
pin o 4, lodged so as to slide in the box o4 arranged on the fixed frame, which
effects the liberation of the lever Q, whereupon the lever H, in consequence of
its own overweight, swings back until the pin o 2 engages with the projecting
nose of lever Q.
This movement of the weighted lever H secures two results, firstly that the
pawl-lever I brings to bear upon the stud or pin e 2, by means of the projecting
nose 1, a thrust, which not only opens the inlet valve E, but also, through the
lifter-pin e 3, effects the opening of the valve F, and with the aid of the pin f2,
together with the shoulder or offset enables the striking lever G to be restored to
position.
Lastly, it must be remarked, that, by the closure-motion of the bottom-valve,
the stop-engagement between the arm of the latter c1 and the pawl-lever N is, of
course renewed.
The operative parts of the weighing-machine are thus all restored to their
original position, and ready for another similar measured quantity of grain to pass
in, and the renewed repetition of the entire process.
The striking-lever G is further arranged with a second finger g 4 (Figs. 4 and 7)
for the purpose of preventing any accidental opening of the bottom-valve C,
during the period of filling B.
The accuracy of the successive weighing operation is secured, by the terminating
point 1 of the arm 13 of the regulating lever L, being capable of regulation

page_text: when necessary by movement to and fro against the guide-sector 15 whereby the
working lever-arm of the lifter 14 can either be lengthened or shortened, according
to whether any decrease or increase in the opposite pressure on the weight pan D
appears to be manifested. For instance, suppose the weighings effected to be too
light, the point 16 must in that case be shifted upwards along the sector, in order
to diminish the pressure on the weight pan D at 14; the result thereof will be
that the feed will be cut off at the inlet-valves E and F a little later. Vice-versa,
if the weighings are found to be in excess of the proper amount, the point 26 must
be depressed on the sector.
In order to verify the accuracy of the weighings, a fixed point o 5 is arranged
on the fixed frame O, and a corresponding point a 2 on the weigh-beam A. which
coincide when the weights are all alike, and show a divergence, if otherwise.
On account of examination by the Excise or inspectors of weights and measures,
the machine must be prevented from the weighing-scale going wrong, after being
once adjusted in the exact position for equal weights.
For this purpose a lifter r is arranged on the fixed machine-frame and is so
adjusted by the handle R, placed above it, as to maintain the striking lever G in
the position shown in Fig. 4, so that the weighing-machine may have free play,
and yet the release of the valve nevertheless not take place. It must of course be
understood that, during the examination, the lifter 14, by raising the weighted
arm L must be thrown out of connection with the weighing beam.
For the purpose of indicating the number of the weighings, a counter may be
connected with any movable part of the apparatus, as, for instance, with the
bottom-valve C, so as to be worked thereby.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is ;-
1. An automatic weighing-machine wherein the opening of the inlet-valves (EF)
is obtained from or effected by the closing of the delivery valve (C) of the
weighing-scale or scale pan in such manner that on the one hand under the action
of the discharge of the material weighed by an arm such as c 1 attached to the
weighing-scale valve (C) a weighted lever such as H is forced into a position
wherein it is held by catch-mechanism such as Q whereby between a pawl-lever
such as 1 and the inlet-valve (E) an engagement is established and on the other
hand that by the closure-movement of the weighing-scale valve (C) the catch
mechanism (Q) is again released and the lever H owing to its own overweight
swings back so as by means of the pawl-lever (I) and the pin (e 2) to open the
inlet valve (E) and also with the aid of drivers such as e 3 and 2 simultaneously
to open the second inlet-valve and effect the raising of the striking-lever (G)
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In the weighing-machine described in Claim 1 the arrangement of parts
which prevents the opening of the inlet valve so long as the discharge or delivery
valve from the weighing-scale or scale pan (B) consisting of a pawl lever such
as N which is pushed by the arm (e 1) until close to a finger (3) of the striking-
lever (G) so that the last named is deprived of the power required for the opening
of the inlet valves and renewal of the feed substantially as described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
3. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete
weighing apparatus substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 10th day I
100-
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.