Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Feb., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 4th Mar., 1887
I HENRY EDWARD NEWTON of the Office for Patents 6 Breams Buildings, Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer 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 weighing machines in which the weight of a person or
body is taken or indicated under the control of a coin placed in a receptacle provided
for the purpose.
In such machines as heretofore constructed a portion of the indicating mechanism
comprising an index and dial is disconnected from the platform of the machine and
worked by the weight of the coin, a portion of the mechanism which is connected with
the platform serving as a stop to stop the said disconnected portion operated by the
weight of the coin in a proper position to produce correct indication of the weight of
the person or body on the platform.
The most essential part of this invention consists in locking mechanism hereinafter
described and claimed whereby the uninterrupted connection between the platform
and the index is preserved and the weighing machine is always locked with the index
at zero when there is no load on the platform and is unlocked by placing a coin or the
like in the machine.
The invention also consists in certain means of preventing the weighing of more
than one person or body by the deposit of one coin in the machine. It also consists
in certain means for preventing the unlocking of the machine by a smaller coin than
that which is intended to be used as toll: "and it further consists in certain means
whereby the choking of the coin conducting devices by the insertion of two or more
coins without weighing is prevented.
Figs. 1 and 2 in the drawing represent elevations partly in section at right angles
to each other of a weighing machine in which the several improvements are all
embodied. Fig. 3 is a back view on a larger scale than Figs. 1 and 2 of the mechanism
DO37

page_text: by the deposit of one coin.
Fig. 5 is a front view of
Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11.
illustrating the devices for
to prevent the weighing of more than one person or body
Fig. 4 is a horizontal view corresponding with Fig. 3.
some of the details which are partly concealed in Fig. 3.
are views on a much larger scale than Figs. 1 and 2
locking the machine and the devices for controlling the deposit and operation of the 5
coin for unlocking.
A designates the base of the machine and A' a standard erected thereon to support
the case A2 of the indicator and to contain the connections and appliances between the
platform and the indicator; B is the platform of the machine. Within the standard A³
is a stationary hollow column C of metal through which passes the rod D which 1
connects permanently the lever B₁ of the platform with the indicating mechanism.
This rod is provided on its upper end with a rack d which engages with a pinion e
on the arbor of the index e which indicates the weight on the dial e and the said
rod has applied to it springs to bring the index to zero after weighing. As thus
far described the machine represented is like weighing machines in common use.
The rod may be of round or square form but a portion at least marked D' is
made square and fitted loosely to an internally square guide which is secured by
screws within the column C (see Fig. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10) for the purpose of
preventing the said rod from turning and this square part is slotted at d for the
reception of the movable stop or tumbler E which hangs loosely on a pivot e inserted
through the rod. This stop or tumbler when there is no load on the platform and the
indicator is at zero and no coin or the like is inserted into the machine, will by the
natural force of gravity be caused to overlap or overlic a rest which is secured in or
forms a part of the guide C openings dd being provided in the back and front of the
guide for the passage of the tumbler. While the tumbler or stop thus overlaps
the rest the weighing machine is locked because it is impossible for the platform to
pull down the rod D; and it is by pushing the said stop or tumbler off the rest F that
the coin or the like acts to unlock the machine and permit the weighing.
The devices for conducting the coin to the stop or tumbler E consists of a curved
shute G secured by screws to the front of the column C and an inclined duct H
secured within the upper part of the casing A¹ the said duct terminating in a narrow
slit which is provided in the front of the standard A' and which is just of a size for
the free passage of a coin of the denomination that is to be used as toll and the lower
end of the said shute being over the mouth of the duct G. An opening in the
duct is immediately in front of the opening provided in the front of the
guide C².
A coin inserted through the slot running down the duct H and shute G arrives
against the tumbler E and by its weight pushes back the tumbler as shown in dotted
outline in Fig. 7 where as well as in Fig. 8 the coin is shown in dotted outline and
indicated by K and thus unlocks the scale and permits the weighing: but unless
some means were employed to arrest it the coin would not stay on the rest F but
would instantly roll off it and therefore would push back the tumbler E momentarily
and the stop would immediately swing back to the locking position shown in Fig. 6.
To prevent this and to enable a person to step on the platform and weigh himself
leisurely, after he has inserted the coin at fand it has passed into the duct G, a keeper
is provided for retaining the coin upon the rest F until he has stepped on the platform.
This keeper J which is best shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is represented as a plate pivotied
at its upper end to the guide C² and capable of overlapping the lower end of the
rest F. It has an inclined cam-like surface on its front edge to be operated upon
by a pin or stud j2 projecting from the rod D through a slot j³ in the guide C, as
shown in the elevations Figs. 7 and 8 and in the horizontal section Fig. 10. Wher
the machine is at rest this keeper occupies the position shown in Fig. 7, in which
position it overlaps the rest and will stop the passage of the coin K away therefrom
after it has arrived thereon through the duct G, until the person or body to be
weighed is on the platform and the rod D is thereby depressed and then as soon a
the lower end of the tumbler E is clear of the rest F, the pin comes into operation
on the cam-like surface of the keeper and moves it backward out of the way of th

page_text: coin, when the latter rolls off the rest into the box or receptacle G¹ provided for it in
the standard or casing A'.
The means of preventing the weighing of more than one person by the deposit of a
single coin and thereby once unlocking the machine is best represented in Figs. 3. 4
and 5 though it is partly represented in Figs. 1 and 2 and will now be described.
To the hollow column Copposite to a suitable opening g' provided therein is
screwed a small frame L to which are pivotted a two dogs II, the purpose of which
is to bite the rod or connection D) and arrest it every time it has been brought to its
lowest position by the weight of a person or load on the platform. The said frame
has also attached to it a motor of a suitable kind which is independent of the weighing
mechanism as for instance a spring clock movement such as is represented and of
which tt designate the frame and the springs, the object of said motor being to
bring the dogs II into operation on the rod D. The said motor has an escape wheel a
which while the machine is at rest without a load, is engaged by a stop pin provided
on one end of a small lever which is pivoited at to the framing of the motor the
other end of the said lever, which is the heavier, being then held up to produce the
engagement with the wheel by means of a projection or locking piece k on the said
rod operating on and supporting or holding a pin 63, on the other end of the stop-
lever While the motor is so locked which is only while the platform is without a
load the dogs are held open as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 3 by the weight of a
loaded lever N which is pivotied to the frame Lat I and which carries pins which
operate on tail pieces provided on the dogs [1. This loaded lever N is connected
by a chain or cord m' with a little winch m which is journalled at m² in the frame L
and which every time the motor is unlocked by the removal of the locking piece k of
the rod D from the pin 3 of the lever is set in motion by the motor to wind up the
chain mand so lift the loaded lever N and produce the closing of the dogs II on
the rod D as shown in bold outline in Fig. 3 by means of the cam-like action of the
pins of the said lever on the tail pieces of the dogs. The winch is operated to
wind up the chain by the means described as follows:-
22
()
On the arbor of the winch m is provided a ratchet wheel m³ which is engaged
by a pawl which is pivotted at o' to a slotted lever n which is hung on a fulcrum
pin secured in the stop lever and in the slot of which works a crank wrist pl
carried by the fast moving arbor of the motor from which the faster-moving arbor a¹
of the escape wheel a derives motion. The operation of the crank-wrist in the slot of
the lever produces a vibration of the said lever and so causes the pawl to turn the
ratchet-wheel m³ and the winch rapidly. The rising and falling movement of the
pawl with respect to the slotted lever is limited by an adjustable stop-screw o² in
the said lever to what is sufficient to let the said pawl rise high enough to pass over
the teeth of the ratchet-wheel so that the said pawl may be lifted entirely clear
of the ratchet wheel when the pin of the stop lever is thrown into action on the
escape wheel to lock the motor. There is also a stop-pawl pivoited to the fraine L
at to hold the ratchet wheel in winding up the chain m². The stop pawl is
furnished with a pin which when the scale is unlocked at E F is held up by a
projection on the rod D. It will thus be understood that while the scale is
unloaded and the motor locked both the pawls o and are clear of the ratchet wheel
and the winch is free so that the chain is unwound from it by the weight of the loaded
lever N which also produces the opening of the dogs or their removal out of the way
of the rod D.
The motor is timed to wind up the chain and bring the dogs into operation to grip
the rod D very quickly say in less than ten seconds after being unlocked at E F.
To provide for the surer gripping of the rod D by the dogs the part of the rod
between them is toothed or roughened and these toothed or roughened parts are
preferably tapered downwards as shown in Fig. 3, so that they will tend to wedge
between the dogs and increase the bite as soon as they arrive in contact with the dogs
by reason of the point of the bite being above the pivots of the dogs but this taper
is not absolutely necessary although the point of bite of the dogs should be as
described.

page_text: Now suppose the scale to be unloaded and at rest; the rod D being then in its
highest position and its locking piece and projection to be then holding the stop-
lever with its stop-piece blocking the escape wheel a and also holding up the two
pawls o out of gear with the ratchet wheel and the dogs to be held apart by the
loaded lever N.
When a person unlocks the scale af EF by the dropping in of a coin and gets on
the platform the latter quickly descends and the index moves to the point on the dial
to indicate the weight. As soon as the person began to bear on the platform and the
rod moved downward which it would be caused to do by a very slight pressure on
the platform the motor was unlocked and the pawls allowed to come in gear by
the removal of the locking piece k and projection k¹ from the pin 63 and 2, and the
motor was consequently allowed to come into operation. By the time the index of
the scale has steadied itself opposite the proper point on the dial to indicate the weight
the winch operated by the motor has wound up, the chain and caused the loaded
lever N to make the dogs II bite the rod D which is thus so arranged that its further
descent is positively prevented even by an additional or a heavier person getting on
When the person
the scale as the more weight is applied the harder will be the bite.
"
gets off the scale the rod D will rise very quickly under the influence of the scale
springs and be locked again by the tumbler E engaging with the fixed shoulder F
so that the weighing cannot be repeated until the rod is unlocked by dropping in
another coin.
The dogs freely permit this rise of the rod as the tendency of the rod to rise loosens
the dogs by reason of their bite being above their centres of motion. Just as the
rod D is about to complete its ascent, its locking piece k will operate on the stop-lever /
to lift the pawl o and its unlocking piece will produce the depression of the operative
end of the pawly and so leave the ratchet-wheel and winch free and by the time the
said rod D completes its ascent the stop-lever will have stopped the motor by the
action of its pin, on the escape wheel a and the dogs II will have been thus discon-
nected or ungeared from the motor. As soon as the winch is liberated and the
dogs II are thereby ungeared from the motor the weighted lever N is allowed
to fall and open the dogs. The raising of the rod D takes place so quickly that
one person could not get off and another. person get on the scale before the locking
of the rod or connection D at the point E F would take place and in case of a
lighter person than the one just weighed getting on the scale before the heavier
one had got off for the purpose of being weighed after the latter had got off without
relocking the scale, the rod D would rise so quickly under the influence of the
quick recoil of the scale springs on the heavier person getting off that the rod
would pass above and the index pass beyond the points for weighing the lighter one
and if this recoil should not carry back the rod to the locking point the weight of the
person on the scale on regaining its influence over the scale springs and tending to
produce the descent of the rod again would cause the dogs II to bite the rod and
prevent its further descent to the weighing point for the said dogs will remain in
contact with the rod so that they would instantly stop its descent at any time before
the loaded lever could be allowed to fall and carry them free from the rod and this
cannot occur until the rod shall have unlocked the pawl o and allowed the windlass to
turn back and the chain m² to unwind from it. Thus it may be seen that there are
no conditions under which it is possible or at least practicable for more than one
person or load to be weighed without unlocking the scale for every weighing and if
the locking and unlocking device viz. the tumbler E is so protected that it can only
be moved by inserting a coin or the like the surreptitious repetition of weighing is
effectually prevented.
The unlocking of the machine by a coin smaller than that intended to be used as a
weighing toll, is prevented by a very simple construction and arrangement of the
shute H. This shute has a flat upper surface and a downward inclination inward and
backward from the opening toward the duct G, sufficient for a coin to slide down it
when pinced flat upon it. It has on one side an upturned flanges shown in Fig. 11
which represents a transverse section of the said shute and it has in its bottom a slits

page_text: which extends a great part of its length, parallel with the flanges the side of the said
slot next the flanges being at such distance from the said Hange as just to leave a
narrow bearing for a coin K as is shown in bold outline in Fig. 11 to slide
the width of the said slot being such as only to provide on its other side a sufficient
on, and
bearing for the coin as may be understood by referring to Fig. 11.
has also a lateral inclination, the flanged side being the lowest, that the descending
The said shute
coin inay roll or slide on contact with the flange. A coin K of proper size, such as is
shown in bold outline in Fig. 11, will rest on both sides of the slot s¹, but a coin of
smaller denomination running along the flanges will not reach entirely across the
slot and consequently having no support on one side thereof will fall through the slot
as is illustrated by the representation of the small coin K' in Fig. 11 in dotted outline,
in the act of falling through the slot. The coin so thrown out or discarded may drop
out of the casing A' through an opening such as indicated at in Fig. 1. The pre-
vention of the choking of the coin duct G by the introduction of a second coin into
the said duct before one previously introduced had been allowed to pass off the rest F,
by the moving aside the keeper J, consists of very light swinging trap G2 fitted loosely
to an opening in the back of the duct where it is pivotted at (see Figs. 6 and 7 and
the horizontal section Fig. 9) to work very freely. The portion of this trap above the
pivot is heavier than the portion below and the whole is so shaped and proportioned
that when no coin is in the duct the upper part of the said trap will be at rest against
the back of the duct above the opening and the lower part will nearly close the
opening at a leading to the rest F and tumbler E as shown in Fig. 6, but that when a
coin passes down the duct before it comes to the stop F it will by its pressure or
weight on the lower part of the trap, press the latter back as shown in Fig. 7, and so
throw forward the upper end of the trap, that if another coin should be allowed to
enter the duct it would pass behind the trap and pass out from the duct at ginto
a receptacle which may be provided, or pass out from the machine by a suitable
outlet.
9
The coin shute constructed as hereinabove described for discarding a too small coin
and the coin duct with a trap for throwing out a second coin which may have been
introduced to the duct before the one previously inserted has passed out, may be
applied to weighing machines in which the coin operates otherwise than on a tumbler,
such as E, to effect or permit the weighing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my foreign
correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination with the platform of a weighing scale, an indicator and a rod
connecting them, of a fixed rest, as F and a swinging tumbler or stop as E pivoited
to said rod and a duct as G for guiding a coin or the like to the said tumbler or stop;
substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
2. The combination with the platform of a weighing machine, an indicator and a
od connecting them, of a rest as F, a swinging stop as E pivotted to said rod and
ormally overlying the said rest, a keeper as J for retaining a coin on such rest, and
connection between said rod and keeper to retract the latter during the downward
movement of the rod; substantially as herein described.
3. The combination with a weighing machine of a device for arresting it in the
osition in which it arrives in weighing and a motor independent of the weighing
echanism for producing the operation of said arresting device after weighing; sub-
tantially as and for the purpose herein described.
4. The combination with a weighing machine of a device for arresting it in the
osition at which it arrives in weighing and a motor independent of the weighing
echanism for producing the operation of said arresting device, a stop for said motor
nd a device connected with the weighing mechanism for removing said stop to liberate
id motor; substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
5. The combination in a weighing machine with the connection between the platform
d the index thereof, of a device for arresting the said connection in the position to

page_text: which it has been brought in weighing, a motor independent of the weighing
mechanism for producing the operation of said arresting device, a stop for said motor,
a lock for locking said connection at the zero position and a locking piece provided
on said connection to lock the said stop and keep the motor stopped while the said
connection is locked; substantially as herein described.
6. The combination with the platform, the index and the connection between
them of the dogs II for gripping said rod, the lever N for opening and closing said
dogs, the winch m and chain me for operating said lever and a motor independent
of the weighing mechanism for operating said winch; all substantially as herein
described.
7. The combination with the platform, the index and the connection D between
them, of a locking device as E attached to said connection for locking the index at
zero, dogs II for arresting the said connection where it is brought by the weighing
operation, a motor independent of the weighing mechanism and connections with said
motor for bringing said dogs to the position to so arrest the rod, a stop for said motor
and locking pieces as on the said connection D for ungearing the motor from the
said dogs and producing the operation of said stop ; substantially as herein described.
8. The coin duct furnished with a trap substantially as described for throwing out
from it a second coin inserted before the passage out of the first one; as herein
set forth.
NEWTON & SUN,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: 1 HENRY EDWARD NEWTON of the Office for Patents 6 Breams Buildings, Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer 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 weighing machines in which the weight of a person or
body is taken or indicated under the control of a coin placed in a receptacle provided
for the purpose.
In such machines as heretofore constructed a portion of the indicating mechanism
comprising an index and dial is disconnected from the platform of the machine and
worked by the weight of the coin, a portion of the mechanism which is connected with
the platform serving as a stop to stop the said disconnected portion operated by the
weight of the coin in a proper position to produce correct indication of the weight of
the person or body on the platform.
The most essential part of this invention consists in locking mechanism hereinafter
described and claimed whereby the uninterrupted connection between the platform
and the index is preserved and the weighing machine is always locked with the index
at zero when there is no load on the platform and is unlocked by placing a coin or the
like in the machine.
The invention also consists in certain means of preventing the weighing of more

page_text: :
than one person or body by the deposit of one coin in the machine and it further
consists in certain means whereby the choking of the coin conducting devices by the
insertion of two or more coins without weighing is prevented.
Figs. 1 and 2 in the drawing represent elevations partly in section at right angles
to each other of a weighing machine in which the several improvements are all
embodied. Fig. 3 is a back view on a larger scale than Figs. 1 and 2 of the mechanism
to prevent the weighing of more than one person or body by the deposit of one coin.
Fig. 4 is a horizontal view corresponding with Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a front view of
some of the details which are partly concealed in Fig. 3. Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10
are views on a much larger scale than Figs. 1 and 2 illustrating the devices for
locking the machine and the devices for controlling the deposit and operation of the
coin for unlocking.
A designates the base of the machine and A' a standard erected thereon to support
the case A² of the indicator and to contain the connections and appliances between the
platform and the indicator; Bis the platform of the machine. Within the standard A²
is a stationary hollow column C of metal through which passes the rod D which
connects permanently the lever B₁ of the platform with the indicating mechanism.
This rod D is provided on its upper end with a rack d which engages with a pinion c
on the arbor c* of the index c¹ which indicates the weight on the dial c² and the said
rod has applied to it springs c³ to bring the index to zero after weighing. As thus
far described the machine represented is like weighing machines in common use.
The rod D may be of round or square form but a portion at least marked D' is
made square and fitted loosely to an internally square guide (which is secured by
screws within the column C (see Fig. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10) for the purpose of
preventing the said rod from turning and this square part is slotted at d¹ for the
reception of the movable stop or tumbler E which hangs loosely on a pivot e inserted
through the rod. This stop or tumbler when there is no load on the platform and the
indicator is at zero and no coin or the like is inserted into the machine, will by the
natural force of gravity be caused to overlap or overlie a rest F which is secured in or
forms a part of the guide C2 openings d² d³ being provided in the back and front of the
guide C², for the passage of the tumbler. While the tumbler or stop thus overlaps
the rest the weighing machine is locked because it is impossible for the platform to
pull down the rod D; and it is by pushing the said stop or tumbler off the rest F that
the coin or the like acts to unlock the machine and permit the weighing.
The devices for conducting the coin to the stop or tumbler E consists of a curved
shute G secured by screws to the front of the column C and an inclined duct H
secured within the upper part of the casing A¹ the said duct terminating in a narrow
slit which is provided in the front of the standard A' and which is just of a size for
the free passage of a coin of the denomination that is to be used as toll and the lower
end of the said shute being over the mouth of the duct G. An opening g in the
duct G is immediately in front of the opening d³ provided in the front of the
guide C².
:
A coin inserted through the slot f running down the duct H and shute G arrives
against the tumbler E and by its weight pushes back the tumbler as shown in dotted
outline in Fig. 7 where as well as in Fig. S the coin is shown in dotted outline and
indicated by K and thus unlocks the scale and permits the weighing but unless
some means were employed to arrest it the coin would not stay on the rest F but
would instantly roll off it and therefore would push back the tumbler E momentarily
and the stop would immediately swing back to the locking position shown in Fig. 6.
To prevent this and to enable a person to step on the platform and weigh himself
leisurely, after he has inserted the coin at fand it has passed into the duct G, a keeper
is provided for retaining the coin upon the rest F until he has stepped on the platform.
This keeper J which is best shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is represented as a plate pivotted
at its upper end to the guide C2 and capable of overlapping the lower end of the
rest F. It has an inclined cam-like surface on its front edge to be operated upon
by a pin or stud 72 projecting from the rod D through a slot³ in the guide C, as

page_text: shown in the elevations Figs. 7 and 8 and in the horizontal section Fig. 10. When
the machine is at rest this keeper occupies the position shown in Fig. 7, in which
position it overlaps the rest and will stop the passage of the coin K away therefrom
after it has arrived thereon through the duct G, until the person or body to be
weighed is on the platform and the rod D is thereby depressed and then as soon as
the lower end of the tumbler E is clear of the rest F, the pin 2 comes into operation
on the cam-like surface of the keeper and moves it backward out of the way of the
coin, when the latter rolls off the rest into the box or receptacle G¹ provided for it in
the standard or casing A¹.
The means of preventing the weighing of more than one person by the deposit of a
single coin and thereby once unlocking the machine is best represented in Figs. 3. 4
and 5 though it is partly represented in Figs. 1 and 2 and will now be described.
To the hollow column opposite to a suitable opening g¹ g¹ provided therein is
screwed a small frame L to which are pivotted a ii two dogs II, the purpose of which
is to bite the rod or connection D and arrest it every time it has been brought to its
lowest position by the weight of a person or load on the platform. The said frame
has also attached to it a motor of a suitable kind which is independent of the weighing
mechanism as for instance a spring clock movement such as is represented and of
which tt designate the frame and uu the springs, the object of said motor being to
bring the dogs II into operation on the rod D. The said motor has an escape wheel a
which while the machine is at rest without a load, is engaged by a stop pin 6 provided
on one end of a small lever which is pivotted at 62 to the framing of the motor the
other end of the said lever, which is the heavier, being then held up to produce the
engagement with the wheel by means of a projection or locking piece k on the said
rod operating on and supporting or holding a pin 63, on the other end of the stop-
lever . While the motor is so locked which is only while the platform is without a
load the dogs are held open as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 3 by the weight of a
loaded lever N which is pivotted to the frame L at land which carries pins which
operate on tail pieces provided on the dogs I I. This loaded lever N is connected
by a chain or cord m' with a little winch m which is journalled at m² in the frame L
and which every time the motor is unlocked by the removal of the locking piece k of
the rod D from the pin 3 of the lever 6' is set in motion by the motor to wind up the
chain m' and so lift the loaded lever N and produce the closing of the dogs II on
the rod D as shown in bold outline in Fig. 3 by means of the cam-like action of the
pins of the said lever on the tail picces of the dogs. The winch is operated to
wind up
the chain by the means described as follows:-
On the arbor m² of the winch m is provided a ratchet wheel m³ which is engaged
by a pawl o which is pivotted at o' to a slotted lever n which is hung on a fulcrum
pin n secured in the stop lever 6' and in the slot of which works a crank wrist p¹
carried by the fast moving arbor p of the motor from which the faster-moving arbor a¹
of the escape wheel a derives motion. The operation of the crank-wrist in the slot of
the lever n produces a vibration of the said lever and so causes the pawl to turn the
ratchet-wheel m³ and the winch rapidly. The rising and falling imovement of the
pawl with respect to the slotted lever n is limited by an adjustable stop-screw o² in
the said lever to what is sufficient to let the said pawl rise high enough to pass over
the teeth of the ratchet-wheel so that the said pawl may be lifted entirely clear
of the ratchet wheel when the pin 6 of the stop lever 6' is thrown into action on the
escape wheel to lock the motor. There is also a stop-pawl g pivotted to the frame L
at to hold the ratchet wheel in winding up the chain m'. The stop pawl is
furnished with a pin g² which when the scale is unlocked at E F is held up by a
projection on the rod D. It will thus be understood that while the scale is
unloaded and the motor locked both the pawls o and 7 are clear of the ratchet wheel
and the winch is free so that the chain is unwound from it by the weight of the loaded
lever N which also produces the opening of the dogs or their removal out of the way
of the rod D.
The motor is timed to wind up the chain and bring the dogs into operation

page_text: to grip the rod D very quickly say in less than ten seconds after being unlocked
at E F.
To provide for the surer gripping of the rod D by the dogs the part of the rod
between them is toothed or roughened and these toothed or roughened parts are
preferably tapered downwards as shown in Fig. 3, so that they will tend to wedge
between the dogs and increase the bite as soon as they arrive in contact with the dogs
by reason of the point of the bite being above the pivots ii of the dogs but this taper
is not absolutely necessary although the point of bite of the dogs should be as
described.
Now suppose the scale to be unloaded and at rest; the rod D being then in its
highest position and its locking piece k and projection k¹ to be then holding the stop-
lever with its stop-piece blocking the escape wheel a and also holding up the two
pawls og out of gear with the ratchet wheel and the dogs to be held apart by the
loaded lever N.
When a person unlocks the scale at E F by the dropping in of a coin and gets on
the platform the latter quickly descends and the index moves to the point on the dial
to indicate the weight. As soon as the person began to bear on the platform and the
rod moved downward which it would be caused to do by a very slight pressure on
the platform the motor was unlocked and the pawls o q allowed to come in gear by
the removal of the locking piece k and projection from the pin 63 and 92, and the
motor was consequently allowed to come into operation. By the time the index of
the scale has steadied itself opposite the proper point on the dial to indicate the weight
the winch operated by the motor has wound up the chain and caused the loaded
lever N to make the dogs I I bite the rod D which is thus so arranged that its further
descent is positively prevented even by an additional or a heavier person getting on
the scale as the more weight is applied the harder will be the bite. When the person
gets off the scale the rod D will rise very quickly under the influence of the scale
springs and be locked again by the tumbler E engaging with the fixed shoulder F
so that the weighing cannot be repeated until the rod is unlocked by dropping in
another coin.
The dogs freely permit this rise of the rod as the tendency of the rod to rise loosens
the dogs by reason of their bite being above their centres of motion. Just as the
rod D is about to complete its ascent its locking piece k will operate on the stop-lever
to lift the pawl o and its unlocking piece will produce the depression of the operative
end of the pawl y and so leave the ratchet-wheel and winch free and by the time the
said rod D completes its ascent the stop-lever will have stopped the motor by the
action of its pin 6, on the escape wheel a and the dogs II will have been thus discon-
nected or ungeared from the motor. As soon as the winch is liberated and the
dogs II are thereby ungeared from the motor the weighted lever N is allowed
to fall and open the dogs. The raising of the rod D takes place so quickly that
one person could not get off and another person get on the scale before the locking
of the rod or connection D at the point E F would take place and in case of a
lighter person than the one just weighed getting on the scale before the heavier
one had got off for the purpose of being weighed after the latter had got off without
relocking the scale, the rod D would rise so quickly under the influence of the
quick recoil of the scale springs c³ on the heavier person getting off that the rod
would pass above and the index pass beyond the points for weighing the lighter one
and if this recoil should not carry back the rod to the locking point the weight of the
person on the scale on regaining its influence over the scale springs and tending to
produce the descent of the rod again would cause the dogs I I to bite the rod and
prevent its further descent to the weighing point for the said dogs will remain in
contact with the rod so that they would instantly stop its descent at any time before
the loaded lever could be allowed to fall and carry them free from the rod and this
cannot occur until the rod shall have unlocked the pawl o and allowed the windlass to
turn back and the chain m¹ to unwind from it. Thus it may be seen that there are
no conditions under which it is possible or at least practicablo for more than one

page_text: person or load to be weighed without unlocking the scale for every weighing and if
the locking and unlocking device viz. the tumbler E is so protected that it can only
be moved by inserting a coin or the like the surreptitious repetition of weighing is
effectually prevented.
The prevention of the choking of the coin duct G by the introduction of a second
coin into the said duct before one previously introduced had been allowed to pass off
the rest F, by the moving aside the keeper J, consists of very light swinging trap G²
fitted loosely to an opening g' in the back of the duct where it is pivotted at g³ (sec
Figs. 6 and 7 and the horizontal section Fig. 9) to work very freely. The portion of
this trap above the pivot g³ is heavier than the portion below and the whole is so
shaped and proportioned that when no coin is in the duct the upper part of the said
trap will be at rest against the back of the duct above the opening g and the lower
part will nearly close the opening at g leading to the rest F and tumbler E as shown
in Fig. 6, but that when a coin passes down the duct before it comes to the stop Fit
will by its pressure or weight on the lower part of the trap, press the latter back as
shown in Fig. 7, and so throw forward the upper end of the trap, that if another coin
should be allowed to enter the duct it would pass behind the trap and pass out from
the duct at g² into a receptacle which may be provided, or pass out from the machine
by a suitable outlet.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my foreign
correspondent I would here remark that in accordance with the decision of the
Comptroller General in the matter of an opposition to the grant of Letters Patent to
me for the said invention, which requires me to make such a statement, it is to be
understood I do not claim broadly locking mechanism whereby the uninterrupted
connection between the platform and the index is preserved and the weighing machine
is always locked with the index at zero when there is no load on the platform and is
unlocked by placing a coin or the like in the machine, as a patent for carrying that
object into effect has already been granted to George Salter No. 6983 of 1886 but
I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination with the platform of a weighing scale, an indicator and a rod
connecting them, of a fixed rest, as F and a swinging tumbler or stop as E pivotted
to said rod and a duct as G for guiding a coin or the like to the said tumbler or stop;
substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
2. The combination with the platform of a weighing machine, an indicator and a
rod connecting them, of a rest as F, a swinging stop as D pivotted to said rod and
normally overlying the said rest, a keeper as for retaining a coin on such rest, and
a connection between said rod and keeper to retract the latter during the downward
inovement of the rod; substantially as herein described.
3. The combination with a weighing machine of a device for arresting it in the
position in which it arrives in weighing and a motor independent of the weighing
mechanism for producing the operation of said arresting device after weighing; sub-
stantially as and for the purpose herein described.
in the
4. The combination with a weighing machine of a device for arresting
position at which it arrives in weighing and a motor independent of the weighing
mechanism for producing the operation of said arresting device, a stop for said motor
and a device connected with the weighing mechanism for removing said stop to liberate
said motor; substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
5. The combination in a weighing machine with the connection between the platform
and the index thereof, of a device for arresting the said connection in the position to
which it has been brought in weighing, a motor independent of the weighing
mechanism for producing the operation of said arresting device, a stop for said motor,
a lock for locking said connection at the zero position and a locking piece provided
on said connection to lock the said stop and keep the motor stopped while the said
connection is locked; substantially as herein described.

page_text: 6. The combination with the platform, the index and the connection D between
them of the dogs II for gripping said rod, the lever N for opening and closing said
dogs, the winch m and chain m³ for operating said lever and a motor independent
of the weighing mechanism for operating said winch; all substantially as herein
described.
7. The combination with the platform, the index and the connection D between
them, of a locking device as E attached to said connection for locking the index at
zero, dogs II for arresting the said connection where it is brought by the weighing
operation, a motor independent of the weighing mechanism and connections with said
motor for bringing said dogs to the position to so arrest the rod, a stop for said motor
and locking pieces ask on the said connection D for ungearing the motor from the
said dogs and producing the operation of said stop; substantially as herein described.
8. The coin duct furnished with a trap substantially as described for throwing out
from it a second coin inserted before the passage out of the first one; as herein set
forth.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.