IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING AND ASCERTAINING WEIGHTS to be as follows:
Year: 1884

page_text: I, JOHN WILLIAM GEORGE GUNNER MONK of the Commercial Docks in the
County of Surrey Wood Inspector do hereby declare the nature of said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING AND ASCERTAINING WEIGHTS
to be as follows:-
"
This Invention relates to that description of weighing Apparatus usually
employed by Granary keepers and is especially adopted for the Corn and Coal Trade
but is also applicable for other purposes.
According to this Invention the weighing scale instead of being permanently
fixed to the upright iron framework as in the ordinary apparatus now in use is
hinged to a framework underneath the scale so that the back part of the scale can
work up or down as the article to be weighed is either put in or taken off
independently of the framework beneath.
At the back part of the weighing scale is a projection connected to the
registering mechanism by a rod surrounded by a spiral spring and enclosed in a
tube this spring tending always to keep the back part of the scale in an elevated
position.
Underneath the weighing scale and fitted to the framework which supports it, is
arranged a crank which is made to act as a double pawl so that when the weight is
removed from the scale the back parts are immediately drawn up by the spring and
the double pawl by its own gravity then falls over causing its upper part to come
under the back part of the scale and the lower part to engage with a projection on
the framework of the apparatus so that when in this position the scale and the
framework underneath it is prevented from descending and therefore nothing can
be weighed until the pawl is released.
In order to effect the release of the scale the pawl is connected to one end of a
bell crank or other lever hinged to the frame of the apparatus the opposite end of
which projects from beneath the scale and by pressing this end either by the hand
or foot the opposite end will be raised and cause the pawl to turn on its fulcrum
and thus release the weighing scale and admit of the weighing being proceeded
with the scale itself and not the framework being in connection with the counter.
By means of this arrangement however often the framework of the scale ascends
or descends so long as the weight is on the scale the scale itself will not rise from

page_text: the frame work and therefore the weight will not be registered, but immediately
the weight is removed the scale itself will be raised from the framework under the
action of the spring and cause the rod which it encloses to act upon the counter
and also to strike a gong. The pawl at the same time coming into action at the
bottom of the scale and prevents either the scale or its framework from moving
until it is again released as herein before described.
The lever which releases the pawl may be locked in position to prevent it from
being moved when not required. An adjusting screw may be employed to
regulate the descent of the scale and to prevent undue strain upon the connecting
mechanism.

page_text: "
I, JOHN WILLIAM GEORGE GUNNER MONK of the Commercial Docks in the
County of Surrey, Wood Inspector do hereby declare the nature of said invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING AND REGISTERING WEIGHTS
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 the description of weighing apparatus usually employed
by Granary keepers and is especially adapted for the Corn and Coal trade but is also
applicable for other purposes where it is required to register the number of sacks
or other containers or parcels of goods weighed and at the same time prevent
incorrect record owing for example to the accidental dropping of the sack or
package from the scale in removing it therefrom.
According to my Invention the weighing scale platform upon which the goods to
be weighed are placed instead of being immoveably fixed to the upright iron
framework so as to form virtually part thereof as in the ordinary apparatus now in
use is hinged or pivotted to a framework underneath the said platform so that the
said platform can move up and down independently of the framework beneath when
the goods to be weighed are put on or taken off the said platform. The framework
and platform move together to weigh the actual amount put into the sack or
package but the platform alone moves to actuate the counting mechanism for
recording the number of sacks or packages weighed.
At the back part of the weighing platform is a projection connected to the
registering mechanism which connection may be effected by means of a rod
surrounded by a spiral spring and enclosed in a tube, this spring tending always
to keep the back part of the scale platform in its elevated or normal position.
Underneath the scale platform and fitted to turn on a centre on the framework
which supports the said platform is a piece or pawl which is made to act as a strut
so that when the weight is put on the scale platform the said pawl or strut
supports the said platform.
In order to effect the release of the scale platform the pawl may be connected to
one end of a bell crank or other lever hinged to the frame of the apparatus the
opposite end of which lever projects from beneath the scale and by pressing this
end either by the hand or foot the opposite end will be raised and cause the pawl
to turn on its fulcrum and thus release the weighing scale and admit of the
weighing being proceeded with, the scale platform itself and not the framework
being in connection with the Counter or I may arrange for the release and return
of the pawl automatically as hereinafter described the scale platform being supported
for a short time (which may be arranged in accordance with the length of time
which is usually occupied in filling a sack or package) by the strut which is
afterwards made to fall over and allow the scale platform to move independently
of the framework for the purpose of actuating the counting mechanism. When the
weight is removed from the scale platform the said platforin is immediately drawn
up by the aforesaid spring and the pawl or strut is then returned to its normal
position so that it comes under the scale platform and bears upon a projection on
the framework of the apparatus to support the said scale platform and is kept in
that position by a bolt or slide running in a groove in the bed plate so that the
counting apparatus is inoperative until the pawl or strut is released.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures on the annexed sheet of drawings the same letters of referenco
indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.

page_text: Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing represents a weighing and Counting
machine constructed according to my Invention. The other figures represent
separately an arrangement of mechanism for automatically releasing the pawl
or strut.
Referring to figure 1 the weighing scale platform Q is hinged at X to the
framework S and its higher end is connected by the connection Z³ with the
actuating rod Z³ of the counting mechanism indicated at Z'. Underneath the scale
platform and capable of turning on a centre on the framework S at U is a pawl or
strut A which supports the said platform Q so that it cannot move independently
of the framework (and therefore cannot actuate the counting mechanisın) until the
said pawl or strut is released which may be effected by depressing the knob a
connected to one end of a lever b centred beneath the table c. This lever is
connected at its opposite end by means of a rod d to a bell crank lever e one arm
of which is connected by means of a link f to the upper end of another lever g the
lower end of which lever is caused to press the lower end of the pawl A from its
bearing, and bring the upper end thereof out of contact with the weighing
platform which will then descend by the weight placed thereon and actuate the
registering mechanism by means of the connections Z' Z³.
Figure 2 represents in elevation Figure 3 in plan and figures 4 and 5 in views
of each end, an apparatus carried by the framework B to cause the pawl A to be
automatically withdrawn after a sack or package has been placed on the platform,
and then automatically replaced on the sack or package being removed.
The following is a description of the parts shewn in Figures 2 to 5. A the
pawl or strut by which the weighing scale platform Q is kept in a fixed position
relatively with its framing by the lower part of the said strut lodging on the cross
piece or middle stretcher S the upper part being jammed against the back edge of
the scale as hereinafter described.
The said strut is centered at U to a part of the framework and is counter-
balanced at R-C. are links which connect the lower part of the pawl to the
slide D which runs in a grooved bed plate E. One end of the said slide D is fitted
with a small wheel to lessen the friction on the cun B which is mounted upon the
same axis as the lever F which is connected to the mercury Box H. H. by a pin
at G. The said mercury box turns on bearings I and is fitted, in its interior and
near the middle, with a valve so arranged with a small passage opening one way
and a larger passage opening the other way, that the mercury flows more slowly to
the end next the strut A than it does towards the other end-J is a projecting
piece at the end of the mercury box upon which piece the lever T acts to lift the
one end of the said box-K is a lever with its end bent at a right angle so as to
pass under the mercury box H for the purpose of lifting it at the other end.
This lever K is lifted by means of a chain L connected to the scale platform Q
and is so arranged that the part of the said lever where the chain is attached will
lift through a shorter distance than that through which the end which touches the
mercury box moves, the necessity for being so is, that if the chain were placed at
the extreme end of the lever when it pulled the box up it would remain rigid
under the box H and the lever could not act to push it down as the one lever
would be acting against the other but by the above arrangements the lever K after
the first movement is always in advance of the box and therefore the mercury box
is free to act.
M is a lever which acts upon the lever T and is pushed down by the rod N
attached to the scale platform Q.
The lower part of the rod N is forked so as to ride on the lever M.
O is a radius rod centered to the framing at P to draw off the rod N from the
lever M.
The weighing scale Q works as aforesaid on a hinge at the front, and is held up
at the back when no weight is on by the spring which works the counter as
hereinbefore described.

page_text: W represents an india rubber pad to act as a cushion to the scale platform,
Y are friction wheel at back of front scale and Z is a guide for the lever M.
The action of the apparatus is as follows
On a sack or package being placed on the platform Q the said platform descends
a short distance until its roller Y bears upon the upper inclined part of the strut A
the lower end of which bears upon the part S In this movement the rod N
actuates the levers M and T so that the mercury box is tilted and the mercury
begins to flow through the contracted passage for it from the end of the box
farthest from the strut A to the opposite end so that in a short time (regulated by
the size of the passage) the mercury box, falls over upon its centre actuating the
lever F and turning the cam B out of position so that the weight on the platform
causes the said platform to descend independently of the framework S. When the
sack or package is removed from the platform the chain L acts on the lever K
which lifts the mercury box H so that the mercury flows back at once to the other
end of the said box. The lever F and cam B are simultaneously raised and the
counter weight R brings the strut A back to the position shewn in the drawings.
The movement of the platform independently of the framework actuates the
counting mechanism which therefore records the number of weighings performed,
the weighing of each individual sack or package being effected when the platform
and framework descend together analogously to the ordinary manner. A gong may
be sounded at each operation of the counting mechanism.
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 =
First: In weighing machines the use of a scale platform or its equivalent
hinged or capable of movement independently of the framework carrying it the
said platform being connected to the counting mechanism substantially as
herein before described.
Second-In weighing machines the use of a scale platform arranged as claimed
by the preceding claim in combination with a removeable pawl strut or support or
its equivalent which on being released allows of the movement of the platform
independently of the framework supporting it substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described.
Third In weighing machines the use of a scale platform arranged as claimed
in the preceding claims in combination with means for automatically releasing it to
cause it to move independently of the framework for causing the operation of the
counting mechanism substantially as herein before described with reference to the
accompanying Drawings.
17th 1
1001
JOHN WILLIAM GEORGE GUNNER MONK.