Improvements in Weighing Apparatus for Computing Price and Value.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 11th May, 1899—Accepted, 8th July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Weighing Apparatus for Computing Price and
Value.
I, CORNELIUS STUART MORRIS, a Citizen of the United States, residing at
Moline, in the County of Rock Island and State of Illinois, U.S.A., Scale Maker,
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 computing scales wherein provision is made for taking
tare in the usual manner, and at the same time ascertaining the value of a
quantity of matter according to its selling price per pound, which does away with
mental calculation and merely requires a preliminary adjustment according to
the price per pound of the commodity. Computing scales of this character are
now on the market and have met with more or less favor, the principal drawback
to their universal adoption being the high price demanded, and due in a large
measure to the complicated nature of the constructions employed, making the
production of a complete machine rather expensive.
The principal object of my present invention is to simplify the construction of
computing scales to the greatest extent possible without detracting from efficient
service, and my invention provides for constructing a complete machine of this
character with a greatly reduced number of parts as compared with prior machines,
while at the same time the efficiency of the mechanism is not in the least
impaired.
With the above objects in view, the invention consists in a number of novel
constructions and combinations of parts, the essential elements of which are
recited in the appended claims, and a preferred form of embodiment of which is
illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, and
of which
Figure 1 represents the upright portion of the machine in front elevation, and
the horizontal base portion in cross section on the line I-I of Figure 2.
Figure 2 represents the machine in cross-section taken on the line II-II of
Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section on an enlarged scale of certain slide blocks
and appurtenances.
Figure 4 is an edge view of the same with certain co-operating parts in cross
section.
Figure 5 shows one of the clamping levers in perspective.
Figure 6 is a top plan view of the platform lever system; and
Figure 7 is a longitudinal vertical section on an enlarged scale of a portion of
one of the levers appearing in Figure 6.
I have shown the invention embodied in the well known platform type of
cales, and the letter a designates the platform which is supported above a suit-
able hollow base a¹ by a system of levers in the usual manner, one of said levers
which is designated by the reference letter 6 having a rearwardly projecting
orked end-portion, the arms 6' of which carry at their extremities loops or nose
017

page_text: irons 63, having knife edge pivot pins 63 for a purpose hereinafter explained.
Said loops or nose irons are formed to straddle the lower edges of the arms b¹,
and they are adjustably connected therewith by bolts & passing through slots b
in the webs of the loops (see Figure 7) the position of the latter being deter-
mined by means of set screws 66 which bear against the rear ends of the loops 63
and work through lugs on the underside of the arms. The rear end of the
lever is suspended from the top of the hollow base a¹ by clevises a and a
shorter lever is similarly suspended from the top of said hollow base at its
forward end by clevises a, the two levers being connected together by means of
a link a embracing a knife-edged pin as projecting from an intermediate por-
tion of the lever b and a similar pin a projecting from the forward end of the
lever a. The platform slab a is mounted upon a frame a" having feet a which
rest upon knife-edged pins al projecting from the two levers. Aside from the
formation and equipment of the lever b at its rear end the above described plat-
form system is well known in the art. The knife edge pivot pins 63 are engaged
by the hooked lower ends c of rods c¹ and ell, which extend through openings in.
the base a¹ and have hooks at their upper ends engaging oblong hangers or
clevises, with bifurcated upper ends c pivoted to lugs formed on the under
side of a bar at opposite ends of the same.
Standards arising from the base al support at their upper ends a horizontal
shelf a³, through an opening in which the longer rod el passes, and through
another opening in which the longer hanger passes. A bifurcated standard e
rises from the said shelf at the middle of the same, being securely fastened
thereto, and between the members of said standards, posts el are located, said
posts being secured to the base of the standard and notched at their upper ends
to accommodate a knife edge pin fastened in a tare beam f, which is thus
pivoted intermediate its ends; said tare beam being inscribed in the usual
manner to indicate pounds and fractions thereof and carrying an indicating slide
block or poise f¹. At its outer end this beam has suspended from it the usual
hanging poise, the stem of which is formed into a hook at its upper end for
engagement with a clevis f³ hanging upon a knife edge pin f* fastened in the
beam and the inner end of the beam has a U-shaned form, the arms of the
U supporting a screw-threaded rod fi on which a weight fo may be adjusted in
a well known manner for the purpose of balancing the machine.
The bár heretofore mentioned has at its middle on the under side depending
lugs which are notched and rest upon a knife edge pin secured in the tare
beam and it will thus be seen that the tare beam is so connected with the
platform as to subserve its customary function of taking tare.
Proceeding now to the computing devices, the bar d is formed with a longi-
tudinal groove 3 in each side, and a slide block embraces a portion of said
bar above the groove, said slide block being recessed as shown at g', in Figure 4,
and provided with flanges which engage the grooves. A flat spring occupies
the said recess being affixed at its middle to the top thereof, and bears at its
ends against the bar d so as to hold the flanges of the block against the upper
sides of the grooves of the bar, and thus keep the parts in proper engagement
while permitting easy sliding of the block along the bar. The upper portion
of the said block is transversely bifurcated and receives a square block h which
is held in place in the bifurcation of the first named block by means of screws h¹
entered through the latter and countersunk therein and engaging sockets in the
block h.
The computing beam comprises a value bar and a price bar, with connect-
ing cross bars at the ends and this beam is pivotally supported at its middle por-
tion by the standard e, the upper ends of the members of which are notched to
accommodate a knife edge pivot pin fastened in an ear rising from the price
bar A slide block or poise j on the price bar is connected by straps or links j¹
with the block h heretofore mentioned, the latter supporting a knife edge pivot
pin ", whose end portions are diamond shaped in cross section and occupy hexa-

page_text: gonal openings 11 in the said straps, which at their upper ends are provided with
similar openings 3 receiving the diamond shaped ends of a knife edge pin
fastened in the upper portion of the slide block j. The price bar has the usual
double row of numbers indicating the prices per pound of various commodities,
and the slide block j has two indicating points for registry with the marks on the
price bar with which said numbers are associated, the said slide block being pro-
vided with a toothed piece & fastened in a recess at its upper part and engaging
the serrated edge of the price bar. That portion of the slide block which
depends below the price bar is bifurcated and the bosses of a pair of levers m
occupy the bifurcation, said levers having upward extending arms m², which
normally bear against the under edge of the price bar, so as to hold the slide
block in place, under stress of a double ogee spring m² straddling a pin m' which
is fastened in the central portion of the depending part of the slide block, the
ends of the said spring being carried under the bosses of the levers and pressing
against the latter on the outer sides of their pivots. The depending arms of the
levers normally stand out from the slide blocks, as shown in Figures 1 and 3,
and these levers are formed with lugs m which by abutting the edges of the
block limit the outward movement of the levers, and are also formed at their
lower ends on their inner sides with teeth m adapted to engage V-shaped
notches m in the opposite sides of the block g. The object of this arrangement
is to provide for connecting the blocks j and g when the same are to be moved
along the bars, and it will be seen that by pressing the levers m together by
means of the thumb and fore-finger, not only are the blocks connected in an effec-
tive manner by reason of the engagement of the levers with the block g, but the
arms m² of the levers are at the same time disengaged from the price bar and the
two blocks can be easily slid along to any position desired, and when properly
positioned, the mere release of the levers m will cause the block j to be held
in its proper position.
goose neck
The computing beam may be provided at one end with a casing for an adjust-
ing weight, and at the opposite end it may support the ordinary hanging poise or
shot box, the stem of which is hook-shaped at its upper end for engagement
with a clevis hanging on a knife edge pin secured in
of the
computing beam. The latter is also formed with a projection occupying an
opening in the upper end of a post rising from the shelf and slotted
at n to accommodate the tare beam. The usual slide block or poise o is mounted
on the value bar i and formed with two indicator points; and the bar is inscribed
with the usual double row of numbers.
In operation, the blocks g and jare moved along until one of the indicating
points on the block j registers with the mark at the number indicating the
price per pound of the commodity being weighed. This adjustment of the blocks
does not affect the poise of the machine, but the weight of the commodity on the
platform of course has the effect of depressing the computing beam on one side
of its pivot. By moving the slide o along the value bar the machine can be
balanced and a number associated with the mark registering with the indicating
point of the said slide o, gives the value, it being understood, of course, that the
value must be read from the row of figures corresponding with the row in which
the number used on the price bar is to be found."
Of course the operation can be differently pursued, as for instance, by first
setting the sliding poise o to register with the figure denoting the amount of
money the purchaser desires to expend, and then the commodity can be supplied
until a balance is had, the slide block j having, of course, been previously set
at the figure denoting the price per pound of the commodity.
It is to be noted that in manipulating the machine, it is not necessary to move
a weighty carriage, as in some of the machines heretofore devised, but the adjust-
ment is effected by simply moving a pair of slide blocks the connection between
the same being such as to facilitate their ready manipulation, as will be
apparent. At the same time, upon the release of the levers which connect the

page_text: two blocks together while they are moved, the pivotal bearings between these
blocks afforded by the screws h¹, and knife edge pins h and permit a ready
self-adjustment in the connections so as not to affect the poise of the machine:
and the diamond form of pivot pins provides for a knife edge bearing under
either upward or downward stress imposed upon them in the balancing of the
machine.
The mode of connecting the bar d and the platform system is extremely simple,
while at the same time by reason of the double set of connections and the corre-
sponding form of the main lever of the platform system, adjustment of the con-
nected slides is permitted without affecting the normal poise of the machine.
It may be well to explain in this connection that when the machine is in
normal condition the gravitating force of the hanging poise or shot box f on the
tare beam is sufficient to cause the upper edge of the pin " to bear upwardly
against the walls of the openings j, and consequently to press the straps j
upwardly so that the walls of their openings bear against the lower edge of
the pin Therefore the adjustment of the blocks j and g has no effect to
disturb the poise of the computing beam as normally these blocks impose no
weight upon the same, neither does a change of position of the said blocks affect
the poise of the tare beam, for the bifurcated form of the main lever and the
duplex connections between the same and bar d preserve the balance whatever the
location of the slides.
To make this perfectly clear it may be explained that in setting up the
machine and adjusting it, the computing beam is hung in the standard and its
shot box supplied until a balance is effected and then the slide block is put on
and coupled up to the other parts of the scale, after which the tare beam shot
box is supplied until a balance of both beanis is established and necessarily the
computing beam is relieved of the weight of the block j.
In weighing beyond the capacity of the computing or tare beams, slotted
weights will be employed in the usual manner on the hanging noise, and when
not in use these slotted weights can be conveniently held on a bracket all sup-
ported at a suitable elevation between the standards a³.
While the form of embodiment of the invention here shown and described is
admirably adapted to fulfil the objects primarily set forth, yet it is equally
apparent that changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope
of the 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. In platform computing scales, the combination of a computing beam having
value and price bars with indicating slide blocks thereon, a horizontal bar extend-
ing longitudinally below the price bar of the computing beam, a slide block on
said horizontal bar coupled with the slide block on the price bar, a member of
the platform supporting system having a horizontally bifurcated portion extend
ing under the said horizontal bar, and couplings extending between the ends of
the bifurcation and the ends of the horizontal bar respectively and pivotally con-
nected with such parts, provisions existing tending to constrain the movement of
the horizontal bar to a vertical plane.
2. In platform computing scales, the combination of a computing beam having
value and price bars with indicating slide blocks thereon, a horizontal bar extend-
ing longitudinally below the price bar of the computing beam, a slide block on
said horizontal bar coupled with the slide block on the price bar, a lever of the
platform supporting system having a horizontally bifurcated portion extending
under the said horizontal bar, and jointed couplings extending between the ends
of the bifurcation and the ends of the horizontal bar respectively and pivotally
connected with such parts, provisions existing tending to constrain the move-
ment of the horizontal bar to a vertical plane,

page_text: in pratu computing scales, the combination of a computing beam having
value and price bars with indicating slide blocks thereon, a horizontal bar extend-
ing longitudinally below the price bar of the computing beam, a slide block on
said horizontal bar coupled with the slide block on the price bar, a lever of the
5 platform supporting system having a horizontally bifurcated portion extending
under the said horizontal bar, and jointed couplings extending between the ends
of the bifurcation and the ends of the horizontal bar respectively and each set
of jointed couplings being pivotally connected to both of the said parts with the
axes of the pivoted connections at right angles to each other, together with a
0 tare beam pivoted to a stationary support and engaged with the central portion
of the horizontal bar, provisions existing tending to constrain the movement of
the horizontal bar to a vertical plane.
4. In platform computing scales, the combination of a computing beam having
value and price bars with indicating slide blocks thereon, a horizontal bar extend-
ing longitudinally below the price bar of the computing beam, a slide block on
said horizontal bar coupled with the slide block on the price bar, clevises pivotally
suspended from the horizontal bar, a lever of the platform supporting system
having a horizontally bifurcated portion extending under said horizontal bar, and
rods coupled to the clevises respectively and pivotally connected with the ends
of the bifurcation, substantially as described, together with a tare beam pivoted
to a stationary support and engaged with the central portion of the horizontal
bar, provisions existing tending to constrain the movement of the horizontal bar
to a vertical plane.
5. In platform computing scales, the combination of a computing beam having
value and price bars with indicating slide blocks thereon, a horizontal bar extend-
ing longitudinally below the price bar of the computing beam, a slide block on
said horizontal bar coupled with the slide block
member of the platform supporting system having a horizontally bifurcated
on the price bar, al
portion extending under the said horizontal bar, and couplings extend-
ing between the ends of the bifurcation and the ends of the horizontal bar
respectively and pivotally connected with such parts, together with a tare beam
engaged with the central portion of the horizontal bar and affording means for
balancing the platform independently of the computing beam.
6. In computing scales, the combination of a computing beam having value
and price bars, a horizontal bar extending longitudinally below the price bar,
slide blocks on the latter and the said horizontal bar and each having a pivot
in projecting from opposite sides and formed with upper and lower knife edges,
inks having openings at their upper and lower ends receiving said pins, and
uitable connections between the horizontal bar and the platform or holder of the
cales.
the
7. In computing scales, the combination of a computing beam having value and
rice bars with connecting slide blocks thereon, a horizontal bar extending longi-
udinally below the price bar of the computing beam,
n said horizontal bar coupled with
a slide block
ar, a vertically disposed angular lever pivoted to the price bar slide block, a
slide block on the price
ring acting against said lever to press one arm thereof against the price bar
ad hold the other arm away from the slide block on the horizontal bar, said
gular lever being manipulative to disengage its upper arm from the price bar
d engage its lower arm with the slide block on the horizontal bar and the latter
de block and said lower arm of the lever having interlocking formations, suit-
le couplings between the horizontal bar and the platform or holder of the scales.
S. In computing scales, the combination of a computing beam having value and
ice bars with indicating slide blocks thereon, a horizontal bar extending longi-
dinally below the price bar of the computing beam, a slide block on said hori-
atal bar coupled with the slide block on the price bar and having notches in
posite sides, spring actuated levers on the slide block of the price bar having
us normally engaging the latter and teeth adapted to engage the notches in

page_text: the slide block on the horizontal bar when said levers are moved in opposition
to the spring, and couplings between the horizontal bar and the platform or
holder of the scales.
9. In computing scales, the combination of a computing beam having value
and price bars with indicating slide blocks thereon, a horizontal bar extending
longitudinally below the price bar of the computing beam, a slide block on said
horizontal bar coupled with the slide block on the price bar, spring actuated
levers on the slide block of the price bar having arms to engage the latter and
lugs to abut the block and limit the movement of the levers, the latter and the
slide block of the horizontal bar adapted for engagement, and couplings between
the horizontal bar and the platform or holder of the scales.
Dated this 24th day of April 1899.
CORNELIUS STUART MORRIS.
F. Wise Howorth,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.