Improvements in Machines for Weighing or Measuring and Bagging Grain and like Mobile Substances.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 13th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 23rd Jan., 1897
IRU.VIDIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Weighing or Measuring and Bagging
Grain and like Mobile Substances.
I, CHARLES SPENCER MADAN, of 10 Belfield Road, Didsbury, near
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved machine for weighing and bagging grain
and like mobile substances, such for example as tea, sugar, peas, shot, and other
substances, which have low angles of rest and will readily run or flow down a shoot
when required; and according to my invention I employ a number of hoppers,
preferably six, arranged so as to revolve round an axle. The bearings in which the
axle revolves are supported by springs in such a manner as to allow the whole
system of hoppers to fall a short distance, as the hopper which for the time being
is the uppermost in the system becomes full of the grain or other substance which
is being weighed or measured.
Each hopper is so shaped and placed that when for the time being it is upper-
most in the system and becomes full of the substance which is being operated on,
the centre of gravity is on one side of the axle, so causing the whole system to
tend to revolve in that direction.
A ratchet wheel is provided on the axle, and a catch on the standards which
support the axle, and these are so arranged that, when the weight of the substance
in the uppermost hopper compresses the springs which support the bearings, the
catch is released and the system is allowed to revolve through a portion of a
revolution, preferably one sixth.
This partial revolution brings the loaded hopper over into a position which
empties it, and brings the succeeding hopper into the uppermost or loading
position, and this action is repeated as each hopper becomes full, the substance to
be operated on being poured continuously into the hopper which is uppermost for
the time being.
In cases where the weight of the substance operated on is insufficient to impart
the requisite motion to the system, I provide a suitable driving apparatus, which
may be operated by springs, weights, or other suitable force.
The substance which is being operated on, when by the motion of the system it
is emptied out of each hopper in turn, falls into a hopper or shoot, at the lower end
of which is placed the bag, or other container, into which it is desired that the
substance be placed. In cases where the supply is too rapid to allow time for
placing in position and withdrawing the container I proceed as follows:-
In the case where it is sufficient to double the interval of time between the
deliveries, I place two shoots below the receiving hopper, the lower ends being
separated by a convenient distance, and the upper ends meeting in the bottom of
he hopper. At the point of junction I place a hinged flap within the hopper, so
that the substance dealt with may be diverted, according to the position of the flap,
nto one shoot or the other.
This flap may be operated so as to deliver the substance dealt with into either

page_text: shoot alternately either by a hand lever, or, automatically by means of a revolving
shaft and crank, or other convenient contrivance, actuated by springs, weights, or
other suitable force, and controlled by the movement of the weighing hoppers, so
as to be moved at the right time..
If however the delivery of parcels of the substance dealt with is so rapid that
greater sub-division is required, then I place any convenient number of inclined
shoots symmetrically in a circle, and in the centre of their upper ends I place a
revolving hopper, having an opening at one side.
This hopper I rotate, either by hand, or automatically by means of springs,
weights, or other suitable force, controlled by the movement of the weighing
hoppers, in such a manner that each successive delivery from the weighing hoppers
is delivered into a different shoot, thus giving time at each individual shoot, for
the placing and withdrawing of the bags or containers. It is to be understood
that the shoots may be served either in rotation or by intervals, but preferably in
rotation.
. The operation of the whole system is as follows:-
The grain or other substance is poured continuously into the weighing or
measuring hoppers, and as each of these becomes full, the weight causes the system
of hoppers to revolve and to empty the uppermost hopper. The substance is then
poured into one or more shoots as above described, whence it is received into sacks
or other containers.
Dated this Twelfth day of Februere 1806
Improvements in Machines for Weighing or Measuring and Bagging
Grain and like Mobile Substances.
I, CHARLES SPENCER MADAN, of 10, Belfield Road, Didsbury, near
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanical 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 :-
My invention relates to an improved machine for weighing and bagging grain
and like mobile substances, such for example as tea, sugar, peas, shot, and other
substances, which have low angles of rest and will readily run or flow down a shoot
when required.
According to my invention I employ a number of hoppers, preferably six or
seven arranged so as to revolve round an axle. The bearings in which the axle
revolves are supported by springs in such a manner as to allow the whole system
of hoppers to fall a short distance as the hopper which for the time being is the
uppermost in the system becomes full of the grain or other substance which is
being weighed or measured. Or instead of springs for supporting the bearings
I may substitute the mechanical equivalent of a pair of steelyards with adjustable
weights as bereinafter described. Each hopper is so shaped and placed that when
for the time being it is uppermost in the system and becomes full of the substance
which is being operated on the centre of gravity is on one side of the axle so
causing the whole system to tend to revolve in that direction. A ratchet wheel is
provided on the axle and a catch on the standard which supports the axle, and
these are so arranged that when the weight of the substance in the uppermost
hopper compresses the spring or steelyards which support the bearings, the catch is
released and the system is allowed to revolve through a portion of a revolution,

page_text: preferably one-sixth or one-seventh. This partial revolution brings the loaded
hopper over into a position which empties it, and brings the succeeding hopper
into the uppermost or loading position, and this action is repeated as each hopper
becomes full, the substance to be operated on being poured continuously into the
hopper which is uppermost for the time being.
In cases where the weight of the substances operate on is insufficient to impart
the required rotary motion to the system or the shape of the hoppers is so modified
as to cause an approximate or actual equilibrium, I provide a suitable auxiliary
driving apparatus which may be operated by springs, weights, or other suitable
force, as in the case of a clock or other mechanically rotated axis.
The substance which is being operated on, when by the motion of the systom it
is emptied out of each hopper in turn, falls into a hopper or shoot, at the lower end
of which is placed the bag or other container into which it is desired that the
substance be placed...
In cases where the supply is too rapid to allow time for placing in position and
withdrawing the container, I proceed as follows. In the case where it is sufficient
to double the interval of time between the deliveries, I place two shoots below the
receiving hopper, the lower ends being separated by a convenient distance, and the
upper ends meeting in the bottom of the hopper. At the point of junction I place
a hinged flap within the hopper, so that the substance dealt with may be diverted
according to the position of the flap into one shoot or the other. This flap may
be operated so as to deliver the substance dealt with into either shoot alternately,
either by a hand lever, or automatically by means of a revolving shaft and crank,
actuated by springs, weights, or other suitable force, and controlled by the
movement of the weighing hoppers, so as to be moved at the right time.
rotate,
If however the delivery of parcels of the substance dealt with is so rapid that a
greater sub-division of delivery is required, then I place any convenient number of
inclined shoots symmetrically in a circle, and in the centre of their upper ends I
place a revolving hopper having an opening at one side. This hopper
either by hand or automatically by means of springs, weights, or other suitable
force controlled by the movement of the weighing hoppers, in such a manner that
each successive discharge from the weighing hoppers is delivered into a different
shoot, thus giving time at each individual shoot for the placing and withdrawing
of the bags or containers. It is to be understood that the shoots may be served
either in rotation or by intervals, but preferably in rotation.
In further illustration of my invention I will refer to the accompanying drawings,
in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a simple form of machine having seven
hoppers marked respectively 1 to 7 and of the shape above described. They are
connected by spokes a which may be of the tension type to the common axle A
which is carried at either end in bearings B. These may be ordinary brasses as
shown, or of the ball or roller type as desired. When they are supported by
adjustable springs as shown at W in Fig. 2, they are arranged to slide between the
standards SS in side guides ss formed therein. When they are supported as
shown in Fig. 1 by the inuer ends of a pair of steelyards Wagainst adjustable
weights wat the other ends, the bearings are suspended by parallel motion
links W pivotted to same and to the standards S. I prefer to use steelyards as
being more accurate and sensitive than springs. R is one of the locking ratchet
wheels fast on the axle A, and it is normally held by a catch c centred on the
frame; or in some of the arrangements of steelyards such as are illustrated'
in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 by a detent c¹ formed in the steelyard and engaging the ratchet.
To prevent backlash and ensure steadiness of the arrangement when the stop
motion comes into action, I find it advantageous to arrange a loose pawl acting on
a fine-toothed ratchet wheel conveniently placed upon the axle; this is not shown
in the drawings, being a well-known device. His the hopper or receiver with.
discharging shoot h supported on a pair of posts S', and the whole is or may be
mounted on a wheeled truck T as illustrated for convenience of transit.
In Figs. 3, 4 and 5 I have illustrated various forms and arrangements of

page_text: steelyards W and escapements acting on the ratchet R either directly or through
the medium of multiplying liners L1 L2, Fig. 4, as will be readily understood.
I do not confine myself to the kind of escapenients set forth, as any suitable type
may be used.
Fig. 6 illustrates in section a dual receiver H with flap valve F and lever handle f
controlling two shoots h h¹.
Fig. 7 shows a multiple receiver with five inclined shoots h h h h h, and a
central revolving hopper K with an opening k in one side leading to any of the
shoots.
The operation of the machine is as follows. The whole system is normally
locked by the engagement of the main axle-ratchet R with the catch c on the
standards S, or the detents c¹ of steelyards W₁, as the case may be. The grain or
other substance is poured continuously from the feed-hopper O into the uppermost
weighing or measuring hopper 1, and when it becomes full the weight of received
material causes the whole system of rotating hoppers to be depressed against the
force of the steelyards W or springs W as the case may be until same is overcome.
Then the bearings B slide or fall downwards in the guides or equivalently, and this
movement serves to temporarily release the escapement mechanism, allowing the
whole system of hoppers to be partially rotated by the weight of the upper full
one 1, until its contents are discharged into receiver H. This reduction of weight
allows the system to rise again, the ratchet and detent re-engaging and locking the
system during the time the next hopper 2 is filling, when the same action recurs
and the cycle is continued so long as the grain or other material continues to be
fed to the machine, the weight of each hopper as it becomes full causing the whole
system of hoppers to revolve and to empty the uppermost one. The substance is
then poured into the receiver H having one or more shoots as described above,
according to the sub-division of delivery required, whence it is received into sacks
or other containers.
A counter of any suitable kind, not shown in the drawings, is arranged in
convenient position and operated at each revolution or portion of a revolution so as
to indicate the number thereof, and since the weight of any substance which each
hopper is capable of holding before discharging is known beforehand, the exact
weight received and discharged can be readily and accurately ascertained.
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. A rotary machine for weighing or measuring and bagging grain and like
mobile substances constructed and adapted to operate substantially as above set
forth.
2. The arrangement of apparatus for the purposes specified consisting of a system
of hoppers rotating about a common axle mounted in sliding or suspended bearings
in a frame and normally held locked by an escapement motion such as herein before
described but released by the weight of the uppermost hopper when filled so as to
allow of a partial revolution and discharge of its contents into a simple, dual, or
multiple receiver provided with a corresponding number of delivery shoots, and
then to be re-locked and held until the next hopper is filled and discharged, and
so on successively so long as material is fed to the machine, a recording
device being provided, all substantially as described in reference to the
drawings.
3. The use in combination with a rotary machine such as is above referred to,
of a dual or multiple receiver for subdividing the discharge from the machine, said
receiver being constructed or adapted to operate substantially in the manners set
forth in reference to Fig. and Fig. 7 of the drawings.
4. The arrangement of the common axle in combination with the sliding or
suspension bearings as described, and a gravity locking and releasing gear or
escapement motion for same.

page_text: 5. The general arrangement of my improved machine as above described and.
shown in the drawings..
Dated this 13th day of November 1896.
J. C. CHAPMAN,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.