Automatic Weighing and Package Filling Machine
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Jan., 1895-Accept:d, 6th Apr., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Automatic Weighing and Package Filling Machine,
1, WILLIAM HENRY DOBLE, of 33 Canal Street Quincy, in the County of
Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Merchant, 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:-
This invention relates to a machine for weighing package goods, and has more
particular reference to the feed and automatic cut off.
The invention consists in an electrically operated automatic cut off whereby the
supply of goods from the feeder may be shut off as soon as a predetermined
quantity has been fed to the receptacle on the scales, and in a feeding device
which is automatically thrown out of gear at the same time the feed is cut off, as
will be more particularly described and claimed. It is especially for use in
putting up dried currants and other sticky goods, but may be used equally well
with dry goods.
In the drawings,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the invention.
Figs. 2 and 2 are plan views partly in section with the connecting wires shown
in diagram. The parts shown in Fig. 2 are, in the machine, directly underneath
the parts shown in Fig. 2, but are in the drawings shown at one side for
clearness.
Fig. 3 is a detail view of the package holder.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is a rear end view of the scale portion, partly in section, on line 5 5 of
Figs. 1 and 2, the box holder B' on the scale pan being removed.
Fig. 6 is a rear view of the scale beam (all dependent parts being removed)
the scale beam support and a section of the base on line 6 6 of Figs. 1 and 2.
Fig. 7 is a rear end view on an enlarged scale, and
Fig. 8 is a front end view on enlarged scale.
A represents the feed hopper, B the platform of a set of scales, B' a guard to
hold the carton or package C in an upright position and C¹ a funnel inserted
in the top of the carton to guide the goods from the outlet of the hopper. The
drawings represent the machine as it appears just as an empty carton is being
inserted in the holder on the scale, before it is pushed back fully into position,
and before the slide which closes the outlet of the hopper has been opened.
E is the base of the scales. The scale beam D branches forwardly into
two arms dd which are united again at the end. These arms have knife
edge pivots d' d' by which the beam is pivoted in the forked standard E mounted
on the base E¹.
The platform B is formed with a downwardly extending stem 63 fastened to the
forked casting which is suspended from the scale beam by the knife edges b₁.
The bracket casting 6° has a stem & pivoted at its lower end to a link 67 which
in turn is pivoted to the stem d fixed to the standard E, thereby maintaining the
platform constantly in a horizontal position as it rises and falls. The upwardly
projecting part of the base E forms a stop for the scale pan in its downward
movement.

page_text: A finger is pivoted to the platform and its upper end projects through an
opening in the wall of the guard B' before the carton is-pushed back into place,
and it is held there by a spring f' as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The finger is
slotted near its lower end, and a rod f" pivoted on the same pin ³ as the
finger passes through the slots in the finger and stands at a slight inclination as
shown, before the carton is inserted. This slot f³ should be large enough to allow
a little play to the rod f. When the carton is inserted, it pushes back the
inwardly projecting end of the finger f and the spring f, and the rod f² drops
until an insulated cross stud f4 strikes on the metal contact posts g g¹ as shown in
Figs. 1 and 2 making the electrical connection by which the slide gate covering
the outlet of the hopper is opened as will be hereinafter described. G is the
weight.
The post g serves as a stop for the scale beam in its descent. Pivoted in the
insulating forked end of the scale beam is a contact block d³. A platform H has
secured to its top the contact terminal h and the spring terminal ¹ insulated from
each other, the spring being secured to the table by the binding screw h². The
terminals and h are so adjusted that when the scale beam tips, the contact
block d will come in contact with them.
L L are two solenoids having shafts or cores whose adjacent ends are
screwed into the connecting block 12. A slide gate K which controls the outlet of
the hopper has a threaded stem ¹ which is screwed into the end of the shaft / and
reciprocates with the shaft. The size of the outlet of the hopper may be regulated
by the adjustable plate; and adjusting screw j. The slide passes over the
friction roller i and rubs up against a sponge or wiper m held in the inverted
cup m which should always be kept moist, to clean the gate from any gum
that may adhere to it from contact with the currants or other goods being put
up. NN are the sides of the supporting. frame, connected with the hopper A.
A link n is pivoted to the block 2 and projects through an opening in the side N of
the frame. At its outer end it is pivoted to the lever n¹ which is fulcrumed in the
bracket n². The lever n¹ has forked ends n³ ³ which have pins sliding in a
groove in the clutch O. This clutch is keyed to the driving shaft upon which it is
free to move laterally and is adapted to engage with a clutch pon the hub of the
small pinion wheel p₁ mounted on shaft p². Pinion pl engages with the large
pinion P carried on a shaft p³. Shaft p³ has a number of radiating pins r which
serve as a feeder during the operation of the machine.
The wire s leading from any electric system connects by means of wires s' and s
with one of the terminals of each solenoid. The wire t connects the other pole of
the outside system with the other terminals of the solenoids through connections
as hereinafter described. Solenoid L¹ connects with wire t through t³, contact
post g, cross stud f, contact post g', wire t', contact post ², contact bar ³,
contact post and wire t².
Solenoid L connects with wire through wire t', contact terminal h, contact
block d³, spring terminal ', binding post h² and wire t³.
The bent lever v pivoted to the frame N at carries in its upper end the
adjustable striking point, and at its other end an insulated contact bar which
is adapted to make connection between the two contacts v² and v².
Before the carton is pushed into place so as to thrust back the finger fand drop
the rod no current passes through either coil, the slide gate being closed and
the clutch disengaged so that the feeder is not in motion. As soon as the carton
is pushed into place, the finger f is thrust back, rod f2 drops until the cross
stud strikes the posts g g completing the circuit through the coil L' and
the cores are drawn back, opening the slide gate K and allowing the goods
to pass down into the carton. The clutch O and pinion p' are brought into
engagement through the link n and lever n', and the shaft p³ carrying the feeder
is set in rotation.
In completing its backward stroke, the core comes in contact with the
striking point throwing the same backward and lifting the other end of

page_text: lever and contact thereby opening the circuit in solenoid L' at points ²
and v.
When the carton is filled with the quantity for which the weight G is set, the
scale beam will tip; and as the scale platform B begins its downward movement,
the rod comes in contact with the fixed end of the post, which then becomes
the fulcrum of the rod f, and the cross stud is lifted from the contacts g g',
opening the circuit of solenoid L' at those points.
The post, should not be so high as to prevent cross stud f* from making
contact with posts g g¹ before the beam begins to tip, but should be high enough to
form a fulcrum for the beam and lift the cross stud f from contact as soon as the
beam does begin to tip. The object of breaking the circuit at this point is that
it may not be re-established through the falling of contact bar v³ as core L' moves
away from striking point of lever v.
Contact block d³ coming into contact with the terminals and completes
the circuit through the coil L and causes the core to be thrust forward to close the
gate, throw the clutch out of engagement and to stop the feeder. When the
carton is removed from the scales, the spring f¹ will press the finger forward
again, picking up the rod f2 and the weight G will carry down the scale beam
and the contact block d³, breaking the circuit through solenoid L. The gate will
remain closed until a new carton is inserted and the circuit re-established through
coil L by the dropping of rod f' as before.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In an automatic weighing and package filling machine, the combination with
a hopper, a weighing scale and a gate which controls the outlet of the hopper, of a
solenoid whose core is connected with the gate and wires leading therefrom, a
source of electrical supply, a contact piece connected with the scale beam which
when the scale beam tips completes the circuit and the core of the solenoid moves
in a direction to close the gate, the circuit being broken by the dropping of the
scale beam when the package is removed, and means whereby when a box is again
placed on the scales electrical connection is automatically made whereby the core
is thrown in the reverse direction and the gate is opened, substantially as
described.
2. In an automatic weighing and package filling machine, the combination with
a hopper, a weighing scale, and a gate controlling the outlet of the hopper, of a
double solenoid having a core connected with the gate, and wires leading therefrom,
a source of electrical supply, a contact piece connected with the scale beam which
when the scale beam tips completes the circuit and the core of the solenoid moves
in a direction to close the gate, the circuit being broken by the dropping of the
scale beam when the package is removed, and means whereby when a box is again
placed on the scales electrical connection is automatically made whereby the core
is thrown in the reverse direction and the gate is opened, substantially as
described.
3. In an automatic weighing and package filling machine, the combination with
a hopper, a weighing scale, and a gate controlling the outlet of the hopper, of a
double solenoid having cores connected with the gate, a contact piece on the
scale beam, two terminal pieces adapted to be electrically connected by the
contact piece when the scale beam tips, and suitable wires connected with the said
terminals and solenoids' and a source of electrical supply whereby the circuit is
completed by the tipping of the scale beam and the cores of the solenoids move
and close the gate, the circuit being broken by the dropping of the scale beam
when the package is removed, and means whereby when a box is again placed on
the scales electrical connection is automatically made whereby the cores are
thrown in the reverse direction and the gate is opened, substantially as described.
4. In an automatic weighing machine, the combination with a hopper, a weighing

page_text: scale, and a gate controlling the outlet of the hopper, of a solenoid whose core is
connected with the gate, and wires leading therefrom, a spring lever which is
within the circuit and adapted to be operated by the placing of a box on the
scales whereby the circuit is completed and the core of the solenoid is moved in a
direction to open the gate, substantially as described.
5. In an automatic weighing and package filling machine, the combination with
a hopper and a weighing scale, of a feeder in the hopper operated by a driving
mechanism, a gate which controls the outlet of the hopper, and means whereby
when the scale beam tips, the gate will be moved automatically to close the mouth
of the hopper and the feeder will be thrown out of engagement with the driving
mechanism, substantially as described.
6. In an automatic weighing and package filling machine, the combination with
a hopper and a weighing scale, of a gate controlling the outlet of the hopper, a
solenoid whose core is connected with the gate, a contact piece on the scale beam,
two terminal pieces adapted to be electrically connected by the contact piece when
the scale beain tips, and suitable wires connected with the said terminals and
solenoid and a source of electrical supply whereby the circuit is completed by the
tipping of the scale beam, and the core of the solenoid moves in a direction to
close the gate, a feeder in the hopper mounted on a shaft which is geared to the
driving mechanism through a clutch, a lever and link connection between the
clutch of the driving mechanism and the core of the solenoid whereby when
the core is moved in a direction to close the gate the clutch will be disengaged
and the feeder will stop, and when the core is moved in the reverse direction
and the gate is opened the clutch will be thrown into engagement, substantially
as described.
7. In an automatic weighing and package filling machine the combination with
a hopper, a weighing scale and a gate controlling the outlet of the hopper, of a
double solenoid having cores connected with the gate, a contact piece on the scale
beam, two terminal pieces adapted to be electrically connected by the contact
piece when the scale beam tips, and suitable wires connected with said terminals
and solenoids and a source of electrical supply whereby the circuit is completed by
the tipping of the scale beam, and the cores of the solenoids move in a direction
to close the gate, the circuit being broken by the falling of the scale beam when
the package is removed, and means whereby when a box is again placed on the
scales another electrical circuit is completed whereby the cores are thrown in the
reverse direction and the gate is opened, a feeder in the hopper mounted on a shaft
which is geared to the driving mechanism through a clutch operated through a
lever and link connection by the cores of the solenoids whereby the feeder is
thrown into gear with the driving mechanism when the gate is open, and thrown
out of gear when the gate is closed, substantially as described.
8. In a weighing and package filling machine, the combination with the platform,
of a guard having an upright rear wall, a bent finger pivoted to the rear part of
the platform, its upper end projecting through a slot in said wall, a spring fixed
to the wall and pressing said finger into the slot, and a lever pivoted to said
platform and extending rearwardly through a slot in said finger, and two metallic
points with which the said lever is adapted to make and break electrical
connection as the finger piece is pressed against the spring or released, substantially
as described.
9. In a weighing and package filling machine, the combination of a gate, a
solenoid whose core is connected with the gate, a source of electrical supply
connected with the solenoid, a pivoted lever carrying at one end a striking point in
line with the core of the solenoid, and having at its other end a contact piece,
two contact points which are connected by the contact piece and form a part of the
circuit, the lever being so adjusted that when a current of electricity is passed
through the solenoid the core will be drawn against the striking point and turn
the lever on its pivot, lifting the contact piece and breaking the circuit, substantially
as described.

page_text: 10. In a weighing and package filling machine, the combination with a hopper,
a weighing scale and a gate controlling the outlet of the hopper, of a double sole-
noid having its cores connected with the gate, a contact piece on the scale beam,
two terminal pieces adapted to be electrically connected by the contact piece when
the scale beain tips, suitable wires connected with said terminals and solenoids and
a source of electrical supply whereby the circuit is completed by the tipping of
the scale beam and the cores of the solenoids move in a direction to close the gate,
the circuit being broken by the falling of the scale beam when the package is
removed, a spring controlled lever" which is connected with the scale platform
and which carries a contact piece forming part of the circuit through the second
solenoid and which is adapted to be moved so as to complete the circuit by the
placing of a box on the scale platform, thereby causing the core to move and open
the gate, a pivoted lever v carrying at one end a striking point in line with said
second solenoid and having at its other end a contact piece, two contact points
which together with the contact piece form a part of the circuit, the lever e being
so adjusted that when the core is moved to open the gate it will be thrust against
the striking point and tip the lever and break the circuit and will fall back and
close the circuit at that point when the core is withdrawn, and a secondary
fulcrum for the lever whereby the circuit is broken at another point when
the scale beam begins to tip and before the circuit is re-established through the
first solenoid, and a feeder which is connected by a clutch with driving mechanism,
the clutch being connected with the core of the solenoid in such a manner as to
have the feeder operate only while the gate is open, substantially as described.
Dated this 8th day of January A.D. 1895.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Agent for Applicant.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Agent for Applicant.