Year: 1886

page_text: I, LOUIS STEFFENS, of Berlin, in the Empire of Germany do hereby declare the
nature of my 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 automatic weighing balance or apparatus which is
especially distinguished from weighing apparatus as heretofore constructed, by the
simplicity of its construction and the ease with which the weights indicated can
be read.
Special weights are not necessary with the improved apparatus, the articles or
materials to be weighed being balanced by a counterweight which is so suspended
from the balance-lever that its distance from the fulcrum or the said lever changes
proportionately to the weight of the articles or materials to be weighed.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is an elevation
Figure 2 an end view and
Figure 3 a plan of the improved balance in the zero position.
Figure 4 is an elevation illustrating the movements of the balance under the
action of the article or material to be weighed.
A is the frame of the apparatus carrying at the ends of the upper arms a a,
figures 1, 3 and 4, bearings 6 b for the axis c of the balance lever d. The latter is
provided at the end of its shorter arm with the knife edge e, from which the
carrier f for the tray g is freely suspended, by means of an arm h of suitable shape.
The longer arm of the balance-lever d is bent downward within the frame, and
carries at its lower end, which is bent at right angles to the downwardly extending
portion, the counter weight i, which moves freely between the foot-pieces a¹ a¹ of
the balance frame A, Figures 1 and 2.
Thumb-screws 1, Figures 1 and 3, on the feet a¹ a¹ enable the level of the
apparatus to be adjusted, so that the pointers normally point to the zero points of
the scales.
On the axis c, in addition to the balance-lever d, is arranged the toothed
segment 8, which transmits the oscillation of the axis to the pinion and thus to
the disc p, marked with a scale for the small units of weight.
On the toothed segments is fixed the hand m for indicating the larger units of
weight marked upon the fixed scale n.
.
from Que balance-rever that its distance from the rulcrum or the said lever changes
proportionately to the weight of the articles or materials to be weighed.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is an elevation
Figure 2 an end view and
Figure 3 a plan of the improved balance in the zero position.
Figure 4 is an elevation illustrating the movements of the balance under the
action of the article or material to be weighed.
A is the frame of the apparatus carrying at the ends of the upper arms a a,
figures 1, 3 and 4, bearings b b for the axis c of the balance lever d. The latter is
provided at the end of its shorter arm with the knife edge e, from which the
carrier f for the tray g is freely suspended, by means of an arm h of suitable shape.
The longer arm of the balance-lever d is bent downward within the frame, and
carries at its lower end, which is bent at right angles to the downwardly extending
portion, the counter weight i, which moves freely between the foot-pieces a¹ a¹ of
the balance frame A, Figures 1 and 2.
Thumb-screws, Figures 1 and 3, on the feet a¹ a¹ enable the level of the
apparatus to be adjusted, so that the pointers normally point to the zero points of
the scales.
On the axis c, in addition to the balance-lever d, is arranged the toothed
segment 8, which transmits the oscillation of the axis to the pinion r and thus to
the disc p, marked with a scale for the small units of weight.
On the toothed segments is fixed the hand m for indicating the larger units of
weight marked upon the fixed scale n.

page_text: The disc p is fixed upon the axis of the pinion r, and a hand o is suitably fixed
on the frame to indicate the weight recorded by said disc.
The hereinbefore described arrangement of the scules with their hands or pointers
constitutes the main feature of my invention, for only in this manner is it possible
to clearly and distinctly indicate the result of the weighing to small units of
weight.
The advantages which are involved in the use of the automatic weighing
apparatus, as for instance the ease with which the tares of packages can be obtained,
are obvious and need not be further dilated upon.
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 in respect of my improvements in automatic weighing apparatus is:—
First. The combination of a fixed scale for marking the larger units of weight
by a movable hand or pointer, and a movable scale for marking smaller units of
weight by a fixed hand or pointer for the purpose of immediately and accurately
reading the total weight of an article being weighed.
Second. The arrangement of a counterweight on the balance-lever d below the
weighing tray for the purposes of economizing space and attaining small oscillations
in the weighing.
Third. The arrangement of a toothed segment upon the oscillating axis of the
balance-lever, for the purpose of directly transmitting the movements of the said
axis to the movable scale for indicating the smaller units of weight.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, 2
Agents for the Applicant.