for IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING., GRAIN, SEED,, COFFEE AND SIMILAR SUBSTANCES to be
Year: 1885

page_text: simuar Substances.
I, JOHN, GEORGE BUNDY of 62 Field Street, Everton, Liverpool.in, the County of.
Lancaster, Weighing Machine Fitter do hereby declare the nature of my invention..
for IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING., GRAIN, SEED,, COFFEE AND SIMILAR
SUBSTANCES to be as follows:-.
The present invention relates to that class of apparatus for weighing grain and.
other substances in which a double chambered box scale, fitted with a double
vibrating tilt bottom, in one piece, is suspended from a weigh beam, and discharges
the grain in measured quantities as one part or other becomes filled therewith, and.
more particularly to machines such as are described in the Specification of a Patent
granted to Eugene O'Brien and dated 27th September 1869 N° 2806, the object of
the present improvements being to simplify the construction and reduce the cost
of such machines, to provide for an unimpeded flow of grain, and to obtain
increased speed in weighing,
In O'Brien's grain weighing machine the box scale with double vibrating.
bottom is suspended from one end of a balance beam, and an oscillating hopper is
employed to direct the stream of grain from the main feed hopper into the two
halves of the box scale alternately.
In machines of this class as at present constructed the oscillating hopper is
pivotted in brackets mounted on the top of the fixed diaphragm which divides the
box scale into its two chambers, and motion is imparted thereto by cranks and
connecting rods from the movable bottom or door.
One defect attendant upon the use of an oscillating hopper is that if the flow
of grain from the fixed shute, in feeding the oscillating hopper, is too heavy, it
will not pass into the scale quickly enough, but will flow over the top into the
open compartment. The rate of feed, therefore, is limited to the capacity of the
Oscillating hopper.
Moreover, if during weighing any string, bagging or other loose material gets
deposited across the diaphragm, it will prevent the reversal of the hopper and hence
also the door from locking properly, thus allowing grain to flow through both
compartments at once.

page_text: According to my invention I dispense entirely with the oscillating hopper, and
I greatly simplify the working gear, arranging it externally of the box scale so
that the grain can flow directly from the main hopper and in unimpeded course
into and out of the box scale; and in order to divert the stream of grain coming
from a single fixed hopper into the two chambers of the box scale alternately,
I make the top of the diaphragmi or partition separating the two chambers therein,
movable and pivot it in the walls of the said scale, connecting it through its axis
with a connecting rod or links attached to one or other of the cheeks of the double
vibrating bottom outside the box scale in such a manner that so soon as the latter
opens to discharge the contents of one chamber the movable top of the central
division will be instantly and synchronously deflected to close the top of said
chamber and open the other chamber at top to receive the stream of grain.
-
By dispensing with the oscillating hopper and substituting therefor a movable
leaf or deflector pivotted in the plane of the diaphragın, the speed of weighing is
very greatly increased and no material that can pass through the feed spout or
shute can possibly stop the weighing operation.
The locking and releasing gear which I prefer to use is of well-known type and
consists of a notched sector on one of the cheeks of the tilt bottom and of a locking
pawl lever pivotted to: the box scale and adapted to engage with one or other of
the notches in the said sector to lock the tilt bottom in place when the scale is
empty, and to be tripped and released therefrom to allow the bottom to tilt and
discharge the contents of one chamber when the box scale descends under its load.
In this improved grain weighing apparatus space is economized not only by
dispensing with the oscillating hopper, but by reducing the length of the shute or
spout of the fixed hopper and by mounting the box scale above the weigh beam
upon knife edges, instead of suspending it therefrom; its verticality. being
maintained by guide rods pivotted to the main frame and to the sides of the box
scale near its top.
The weighing platform is similarly mounted above and upon the weigh beam
and is similarly guided.
A cut-off for reducing the stream of grain as the box scale fills and descends is
arranged to be automatically operated by the ascent and descent of the weighing
platform.
The reversal of the top portion of the division plate can be effected by means of
a toothed quadrant gearing with a pinion on the axis of the top portion of the
division plate, or by an equal armed lever keyed on the axis of the said top portion
and by a direct connecting rod attached to the said lever and to the sides of the
tilt bottom, or two rods may be used and the movable bottoms may be separately
hinged; that is, not formed in one piece. All the working parts are outside the
hopper and box scale and thus cannot be impeded. by the grain as it flows through
in a continuous stream.
In cases where the direct connecting rods are used the locking and releasing
gear, when two separate doors are required, is fitted to the axis of the top portion
of the division plate, (outside the box scale).
The foregoing improvements result in a greatly accelerated speed of weighing.
and less weight of grain in suspension at any one time, besides economizing space
and reducing the cost of manufacture.
'
Dated this and... car
1009

page_text: similar Şubstances.
I JOHN GEORGE BUNDY, of 62 Field Street, Everton, Liverpool, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING
GRAIN, SEED, COFFEE AND SIMILAR SUBSTANCES," and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
The present, invention relates to that class of apparatus for weighing grain and
other substances in which a double chambered box scale fitted with a double
vibrating tilt bottom in one piece is suspended from a weigh beam and discharges
the grain in measured quantities as one part or the other becomes filled therewith,
and more particularly to machines such as are described in the specification of a
Patent granted to Eugene O'Brien and dated 27th September 1869, N° 2806, the
object of the present improvements being to simplify the construction and reduce
the cost of such machines, to provide for an unimpeded flow of grain, and to obtain
increased speed in weighing.
In O'Brien's grain weighing machine the box scale with double vibrating bottom
is suspended from one end of a balance beam, and an oscillating hopper is employed
to direct the stream of grain from the main feed hopper into the two.halves of the
box scale alternately.
In machines of this class as at present constructed the oscillating hopper is
pivotted in brackets mounted on the top of the fixed diaphragm which divides the
box scale into its two chambers, and motion is imparted thereto by cranks and
connecting rods from the movable bottom or door.
One defect attendant upon the use of an oscillating hopper is that if the flow of
grain from the fixed shute in feeding the oscillating hopper is too heavy, it will not
pass through the hopper into the box scale quickly enough but will flow over the
top thereof into the open compartment. The rate of feed therefore is limited to
the capacity of the oscillating hopper.
Moreover, if, during weighing, any string, bagging or other loose material gets
deposited across the diaphragm, it will prevent the reversal of the hopper and hence
also the door from locking properly, thus allowing grain to flow through both
compartiments at once.
According to my invention I dispense entirely with the oscillating hopper and
I greatly simplify the working gear, arranging it externally of the box scale so
that the grain can flow directly from the main hopper and in unimpeded course into
and out of the box scale, and in order to divert the stream of grain coming from a
single fixed hopper into the two chambers of the box scale alternately, I make the
top of the diaphragm or partition separating the two chambers therein, movable,
and pivot it in the walls of the said scale, connecting it through its axis with a
connecting rod or links attached to one or other of the cheeks of the double
vibrating bottom, outside the box scale, in such a manner that so soon as the latter

page_text: opens to discharge the contents of one chamber, the movable top of the central
division will be instantly and synchronously deflected to close the top of said
chamber, and open the other chamber at top to receive the stream of grain.
The locking and releasing gear which I prefer to use is of well known type and
consists of a notched sector on one of the cheeks of the tilt bottom, and of a 5
locking pawl lever pivotted to the box scale and adapted to engage with one or
other of the notches in the said sector to lock the tilt bottom in place when the
scale is empty, and to be tripped and released therefrom to allow the bottom to
tilt and discharge the contents of one chamber when the box scale descends under
its load.
My improved grain weighing apparatus possesses various advantages in con-
struction and arrangement as well as in operation, over those at present in use, and
I will now proceed to describe it more fully reference being made to the accom-
panying Drawings in which,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus.
Fig. 2 a front elevation of the same, and
Fig. 3 is an elevation of the hopper detached, as seen from the other side or
behind, showing the automatic locking and releasing gear.
1
Fig. 4 is a front elevation showing another arrangement of double bottom and
external gear for effecting the reversal of the movable leaf or top of the central ;
division synchronously with the opening of the said double bottom on one side or.
the other, and
Fig. 5 is a detached view 'showing" the automatic locking and releasing gear on
'the other side of back 'of this hopper.
The same letters of reference are used to indicate corresponding parts in all the
Figures.
Mounted to oscillate on knife edges a'a in a frame or pair of standards A' A, is a
rigid scale beam' B composed of a pair of side members, suitably connected and
braced by transverse bars.
C is a box scale divided by a central partition cihto! two chambers 1 and 2.
c¹ is a movable leaf pivotted in the walls of the box scale, along the edge or in 'the
plane of the central partition and constituting a movable upper part to said
'partition.
d is the double vibrating bottom pivotted centrally of the box scale and so
arranged that when one chamber is closed by it at bottom, the 'other 'chamber will
' be open at bottom.
e is a pinion fast on one of the pivot pius on which the leaf c¹ is mounted, and
f is a vibrating lever pivotted as at ġ to the front of the box scale and provided at
one end with a sector rack in gear with 'the pinion e and at its other end with a
loop or slot which engages with a stud or pin projecting from a central arm d'
rigidly secured to or formed in one with the double vibrating bottom'd. On the
'other side or back of 'the' box scale C is the locking and releasing lever h which
operates in a well known manner (see Fig. 3).
E E are bracket arms bolted to the sides 'of the box scalé C and fitted with
concave bearing blocks, which bearing blocks are intended to rest upon knife edges bb
'carried 'at one end of 'the scale beam B.
D is the weighing platform fitted with bearing blocks, on its underside which
are similarly adapted to rest upon knife edges b b carried at the other end of the
scale beam B.
1
'The weighing platform is fitted with a vertical guide or standard which serves
"a double purpose viz: to control 'the motion of the cut-off lever G, which is.
pivotted'in a bracket extension of 'the frame' A, and to afford a point of attachment
for a link rod or pair of rods pivotted centrally of the side members of the
frame A to ensure the horizontality or parallelism of the weighing platform as it
rises and falls.
The box scale C is similarly connected at its upper part to the frame A, and'its
verticality thereby preserved as it'rises and falls."
1

page_text: '
H is a rest or support for the shute and forming a bracket extension of the
frame 'A corresponding to that in which the cut off lever. G is fulcrummed; as
clearly shown in Fig. 1.
K is an arm or bracket fixed to the frame A. and serving as a stop for stripping
the releasing lever h
"
The machine may be supplied with grain through the shute L from the floor
above, as represented in Figs. 1 and 2, or from a grain elevator, and the shute.L
may be provided with a slide as for regulating the rate of feed; to the capacity of
the machine.
This having been adjusted the action of the apparatus is as follows:-
Assuming that the capacity of the machine is 300 lbs. and that it is required to
deliver quantities of 250 lbs at each draft, or into each sack; weights to the amount
of 250 lb are placed on the weighing platform D which will then rest on the
bracket or framework H, the cut off lever G being thereby raised and opening the
mouth of the shute.
Assuming that grain is flowing and that compartment. No: 1. is closed at bottom
the deflecting leaf or partition cl will be in such a position that the grain-will' flow
into that compartment and rapidly fill it.
As the compartment fills, the box scale will gradually rock the weigh beam and
neutralizing the weights on the platform D. will allow it to rise and the cut off
lever G to gradually fall; thus checking the flow of grain as the required maximum
in the compartment is approached. A small aperture or slit however still remains
open, and by this the requisite quantity of grain passes to complete the full weight
required. So soon as this is effected the box scale rocks the weigh beam to its full
extent, causing the escapement lever h to strike against the stop K and release the
tilt bottom & which rocks under the weight of grain upon it in compartment No 1,
and immediately turns on its pivot causing the arm d to move through an arc of a
circle and rock the lever f on its pivot g. The result of this is to cause the partial
rotation of the pinion e and the shifting or reversal of the deflecting leaf c
synchronously with the discharge of the grain from compartment No 1. : The other
half of the double tilt bottom closes compartment No 2 at the same moment as the
deflecting leaf is reversed in position, and the pawl of the locking lever h engaging
with the quadrant 'step on the double tilt bottom (see Fig. 3) holds the latter
locked in its new position until compartment No 2 is filled, and the lever h is
tripped by the stop K owing to the descent of the box scale.
The moment the filled compartment is emptied of its contents, the box scale and
cut off lever are lifted by the weights on the weighing platform and thus grain is
allowed to flow freely into a new compartment directly the tilt bottom closing in
that compartment has been properly locked in place, and the deflecting leaf c¹ is in
position to guide the grain into the newly closed compartment.
The weighing thus proceeds practically without intermission, the stream of grain
from the shute being only partially checked just prior to the moment when the full
weight of grain in a compartment is reached, and being allowed to flow freely again,
immediately after the discharge of the contents of that compartment and the closing
in of the adjacent compartment ready for its reception.
When fully fed or supplied with grain, the machine will repeat the operation
about four times a minute, more or less.
An ordinary indicator or counter can be fitted to the machine to register the
"number of operations by the machine if required.
In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown back and front views of a box scale having two
compartments, each fitted with a separate door preferably pivotted towards 'the
outside of the box scale.
The notched quadrant and locking and releasing lever hare the same as in
Fig. 3, but their position is 'slightly changed and 'the stop K.-is correspondingly
5 shifted.
The-separate doors d d are connected by the rods d d and rock bar fwhich is
fast on the pivot pin of the deflecting leaf c', so that as 'the door opens to discharge

page_text: .
the grain from compartment No 1, it will, through the rods d' d¹ and rock bar f,
close the door of compartment No 2, and effect the simultaneous reversal of the
deflecting leaf c¹, which will guide the stream of grain into the newly closed
compartment in the manner already described.
The shape of the shute L and the direction of its delivery might be varied, as
might be also the form of the cut off lever G, with the view of utilizing the full
length of the deflecting leaf c¹ or a great portion thereof, and securing still greater
speed of weighing, but the arrangement shown and described with reference to
Figs. 1, 2, and 3, is that which is preferred and fully answers all practical
requirements.
In O'Brien's grain weighing machine the oscillating hopper at all times limits
the flow of grain to. the capacity of its discharge orifice, and the speed of weighing
is correspondingly retarded.
Moreover the hopper is mounted to oscillate above and in close proximity to a
fixed division plate, hence if any string, bagging or loose material, gets deposited
across the edge of the division plate or diaphragm it may cause the hopper to jam,
and prevent its reversal, and also the proper locking of the doors of the compart-
ments in which case grain would be free to flow into and through both
compartments at once without being weighed or measured.
By dispensing with the oscillating hopper, and substituting therefor a movable
leaf or deflector pivotted in the plane of the diaphragm; I economize space, reduce
the cost of manufacture, greatly accelerate the speed of weighing and so simplify
and improve the construction that nothing that can pass through the feed spout
or shute can possibly stop the weighing operation.
Space is economized not only by dispensing with the oscillating hopper (which
as used, occupied a position above the level of the top of the box scale) but by
reducing the length of shute and by mounting the box scale on knife edges upon
and above the weigh beam, instead of suspending it therefrom; its verticality being
maintained by guide rods pivotted to the main frame and to the sides of the box
scale near its top, as above described.
As a result of the construction and arrangement of my improved grain weighing
apparatus I am able to reduce the length of the stream, and consequently the
weight, of grain passing between the end of the shute and the top of the grain in
the box scale, when full or nearly so, by about one-third, so that the degree of
inaccuracy, arising it may be from weighing different qualities of wheat, say
Egyptian and American between which there may be a difference of as much as
5 lbs per bushel, will be greatly reduced.
Supposing for example that the quantity of wheat passing through the air
between the shute as ordinarily fixed and the top of the grain in the box scale,
when full or nearly so, amounted to one gallon, then if Egyptian wheat were
substituted for American there would be a difference of about 10 oz in weight in
that quantity, and by reducing it to one-third of a gallon the 10 oz: would be
reduced to 3 oz: thus rendering the weighing more accurate without resorting to
compensation.
This difference might of course be compensated for by means of a weight or
weights on the beam balance, but with unskilled labour such compensation of the
machine cannot always be carried out satisfactorily.
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. The construction and arrangement of beam balance or weighing apparatus
described with reference to the accompanying Drawings, whereby I effect an
economy of space, and obtain an accelerated speed with greater accuracy of weighing
than heretofore, as set forth.
2. In apparatus for weighing grain and other substances as described in
the specification of O'Briens patent dated 27th September 1869, N° 2806, the

page_text: substitution for an oscillating hopper for automatically deflecting the grain into a
fresh compartment of the box scale, of a movable leaf or deflector, such as c',
hinged or pivotted in the plane of the division plate c, and so connected with the
doors or bottoms of the compartments that its position is reversed simultaneously
with the opening of one door and the closing of the other door, whereby I simplify
the construction, reduce the cost, and increase the efficiency of the machine as set
forth.
3. In apparatus for weighing grain, seed, coffee and similar substances the com-
bination with a double chambered box scale such as C, and a shute such as L, of a
deflecting leaf or feed reverser extending across the box scale and pivotted or
hinged along the line of the partition dividing the two chambers, and means
substantially as described for automatically reversing the said leaf in such direction
as to prevent the grain from entering that chamber which is open at bottom and
to divert the grain into that chamber which has been newly closed at bottom, sub
stantially as set forth.