Improvements in Weighing Machines.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 24th June, 1890-Accepted, 6th Sept., 1890
Improvements in Weighing Machines.
We, WILLIAM BEILBY AVERY of the firm of Messrs. W. and T. Avery, Weighing
Machine Manufacturers, Birmingham in the County of Warwick, and WILLIAM
SNELGROVE of The "Nest "Kings Norton in the County of Worcester, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to automatic weighing machines in which electricity is used
as the motive or controlling power and it consists of an application of electric or other
power to the work of automatic weighing by means of added weights.
In carrying it into effect we arrange our mechanism so that when a load is placed
upon a pan or platform of a weighing apparatus a series of weights are brought into
play and they are laid in succession upon one end of the steelyard or beam until the
load is balanced and so the weighing is effected.
When the load is removed from the pan or platform the reverse operation takes
place and weights are lifted off automatically so as to leave the machine in condition
for another weighing.
In applying one modification of our invention to a weighing beam, steelyard, or
levor weighing machine, the weighing beam or stoelyard is mounted upon knife edges
and connected with the goods platform in any usual manner.
At the free or vibrating end of the weighing beam or steelyard, we construct a
yoke, stirrup or platform so suspended from knife edges that it preserves a constant
direction; above and below this yoke, stirrup or platform we place wheels or drums
connected together by band, or chain. On the cliain we arrange a series of weights
of such shape that when the wheels are rotated in one direction the chain moves and
places the weights upon the stirrup, one after another and so leaves them free to act
upon the steelyard to balance the load.
When the wheels are moved in the contrary direction the chain or band lifts the
weights off the steelyard or stirrup.
The weights may be constructed in the form of circular rings so that each weight
placed is larger in diameter than the succeeding one and projections or plates upon
the chain or band lift each weight but pass clean through the preceding weights
placed, without affecting the steelyard. A pawl falling into a ratchet holds the drums
in position until movement is required and electricity is used as the motive or con-
trolling power. More than one chain with weights may be used.
In such a machine the action is as follows-A load placed upon the weighing
platform or pan causes the free end of the steelyard or beam to rise and by suitable
contact arrangements brought into action by its movement an electric current is sent
from a battery to excite an electro magnet.and cause the holding pawl to be withdrawn
from the ratchet wheel. The weights upon the chain or band then fall and are placed
successively upon the steelyard until it is balanced or overbalanced.
If balanced the consequent downward movement of the beam or steelyard causes.
the circuit to be interrupted and the pawl falls in again and so arrests the wheels or
druns and prevents the chain or band from moving to deposit any further weights.
The article is now weighed.
If however the weight overbalances the steelyard then the steelyard falls further and
striking against the lower jaw of the carrier an electric circuit is completed which by
an electro magnet puts a clutch in gear with a rotating shaft and drives the wheels
or drums so that the chain or baud moves in the reverse direction and lifts off the
jast weight put on. This relieves the steelyard or beam and allows it to rise when

page_text: the electro-magnet ceases to act and the clutch is withdrawn again and the band or
chain stops, held by the pawl and ratchet. The motive power for moving the wheels
chain or band and weights may be of any kind and the electric current may only be
used to actuate clutches and pawls and put the wheels and chain or band in gear
with a moving shaft.
However, electricity may also be used as the motive power and rotate a shaft to
lift the weights by an electro-motor.
When the loads to be weighed vary greatly we use two or more sets of weights
upon bands or chains so as to have separate sets for pounds, quarters, cwts., and. tons,
-for example, in which case we cause the smaller weights to ho deposited first and then
the large weights until the steelyard is balanced or overbalanced.
"The electric contacts are so arranged that when the steelyard or beam is balanced,
movement of the chains at once ceases but when overbalanced one of the bands or
chains moves to lift off the smaller weights one after the other until there is equilibrium.
Instead of using chains and wheels we may arrange our weights upon rods actuated
by hydraulic cylinders with water pressure from any convenient source so that the
electric current excites electro-magnets and by armatures opens valves controlling
the water supply and discharge of these cylinders. In this way the weights may be
placed in position upon the steelyard and lifted off as required.
The contact switch, and other electrical connections may be arranged as described
in Snelgrove's Specification No. 11251 of 1888 in order to place first light and then
the heavier weights and remove them in order as required to complete the
weighing.
The weight of the load may be indicated by pointers or dials connected to the.
wheels drawing chains or rods and may be printed or registered in any convenient
manner.
In applying another modification of our invention to a steelyard machine we attach
a plate or platform in any suitable way to the free or vibrating end of the beam or
steelyard to carry the weights required to balance the load. Above this plate or
platform we balance a series of weights suspending them upon levers so that the
counterbalance on each lever causes each to remain in equilibrium above the plate
or platform. On each lever we construct an armature near which we place an electro-
magnet in such position that when the current is passed the lever is attracted and
places the weight upon the platform. Little power is required to do this as the weight
and counterbalance keep the lever in exact equipoise which is not disturbed until the
weight is placed upon the platform and as the armature is then close to the poles of
the electro magnet the attraction is very powerful this together with the momentum
of the lever and counterbalance is sufficient to cause the armature to come into contact
with the poles and so adhere.
The weight is then free to act upon the beam or steelyard. A catch slips in and
holds the lever against the pull of the counterbalance until it is removed by the action
of an electro-magnet.
If the weight balances the load upon the machine, then the circuit is interrupted
but the lever is held up by the catch although the electro-magnet is no longer
excited.
If the added weight does not move the steelyard then the movement of the lever in
placing it brings a forked switch into action and places a second electro-magnet in the
circuit which moves another lever and places a second weight upon the plate or platform
and so on through a series of électro-magnets and levers until the load is balanced or
overbalanced.
When overbalanced the circuit is made by the fall of the steelyard which causes
the catches to be released, beginning at the weights of least denomination until
equilibrium is obtained. Each catch in moving out acts upon a switch which sends
the current to the next catch in the series. In this manner weights are taken off until
the weighing is effected.
When the load is removed the fall of the steelyard makes contact and excites the

page_text: catch electro magnets, this pulls off the catches and the counterbalance lifts the weights
off the plate or platform one after the other.
Instead of passing the current by switch actuated from the weight levers to each
succeeding electro-magnet we may arrange two electro-magnets in parallel, so that
the contact of each lever armature with the poles of the electro magnet sends a
portion of the current on to the next electro-magnet.
The weights may also be placed by levers acted on by cains arranged upon a drum
or cylinder in a series, so that upon the rotation of the drum or cylinder each
lever falls, one after the other and deposits its weight upon the end of the
steelyard.
The cylinder or drum is rotated either by an electro-motor or any other motive
power but the clutch to start or stop is controlled electrically by electro-magnets.
In using such a drum or cylinder we need not reverse the direction of rotation to
pick up the weights again as by suitably shaped cam the levers can be lifted in
succession. In this case however we arrange electrically controlled stóps, so con-
structed, that no lever can fall and deposit its weight until the stop is withdrawn, and
connections are made to cause the stops to remain in immediately the steelyard has
fallen by balancing or overbalancing the load. In this way weights not already placed
upon.t the plate or platform at the moment of the fall of the steelyard are prevented
from falling by the further revolution of the drum necessary to pick up the excess-
weights in a case of overbalancing.
The placing of the weights is determined in fact not only by the rotation of the drum
or cylinder carrying the cams but by the need of the weights to balance the load as
determined by the rise or fall of the steelyard.
The loose weight system of automatic weighing herein before described may be
combined with the movable poise system as detailed in Snelgrove's Specification
No. 11251 of 1888 in which case the poise is used to indicate the weights of lower
denomination while the weights are used to indicate the higher.
Instead of depositing the weights vertically by movement of chain, band rod or lever
actuated in any manner we sometimes deposit them by a horizontal linear movement
or by a movement of rotation in a horizontal plane whereby the weights slide gently
into their position upon the suspended plate or platform and slide off a rod on which
they hang.
In this modification we may suspend the weight from rods on a wheel around its
circumference and when the wheel is caused to rotate by the current closed by the
movement of the steelyard, each weight slides off its rod and is deposited on the plate
or platform, one above the other. The position of the weights upon the wheel are so
arranged that each succeeding weight just slides over the preceding one and off its
rod. When the wheel is reversed the weights are picked up again. The weights may
be slotted and projections in the wheel, work in the slots in which case the wheel need
not be reversed but can be caused to pick up the weights again in order by continuing
its rotation.
Such a vertical spindle or shaft may carry a number of radial arms or wheels
moving in a horizontal plane and so places weights upon a number of suspended plates
or platforms placed one above another.
This allows of an exceedingly compact arrangement carrying any desired number
of weights and placing them upon the pans, plates or platforms with the least possible
vertical space.
In all modifications the weights are automatically removed from the steelyard when
the load is removed from the pan or platform by the reversal of the weight depositing
cycle or process, in some cases accomplished by reversing the movement; in others
by continuing the rotation of the drum, wheels, cylinders or radial arms around a
horizontal or vertical axis.
The electric connections are easily understood from those accomplishing a similar
purpose described in the specification to which we have, herein before referred. Both
the mode of connecting up the wires the number of batteries used and details of switches,

page_text: clutches, and the motive power used may vary without departing from the essential
feature of our invention but in all cases we use the electric current as the controlling
if not the motive force.
Dated this 23rd day of September 1880.
MARKS & CLERK,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Weighing Machines.
We, WILLIAM BEILBY AVERY of the firm of Messrs. W. and T. Avery, Weighing
Machine Manufacturers, Birmingham in the County of Warwick, and WILLIAM
SNELGROVE of "The Nest" Kings Norton in the County of Worcester, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to bo
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to Automatic Weighing Machines in which electricity is used
as the motive or controlling power, and it consists of an application of electric or
other power to the work of automatic weighing by means of added weights.
In carrying it into effect we arrange our mechanism.so that when a load is placed
upon a pan or platform of a weighing apparatus a series of weights are brought into
play, and they are laid in succession upon one end of the steelyard or beam until the
load is balanced, and so the weighing is effected. When the load is removed from the
pan or platform the reverse operation takes place and weights are lifted off auto-
matically so as to leave the machine in condition for another weighing. In applying
one modification of our invention to a weighing bean, steelyard, or lever weighing
machine, the weighing beam or steelyard is mounted upon knife edges and connected
with the goods platform in any usual manner.
At the free or vibrating end of the weighing beam or steelyard, we construct a
yoke, stirrup or platform so suspended from knife edges that it preserves a constant
direction above and below this yoke, stirrup or platform we place wheels or drums
connected together by band or chain. On the chain we arrange a series of weights of
such shape that when the wheels are rotated in one direction the chain moves and
places the weighis upon the stirrup, one after another, and so leaves them free to act
upon the steelyard to balance the load. When the wheels are moved in the contrary
direction the chain or band lifts the weights off the steelyard or stirrup.
The weights may be constructed in the form of circular rings so that each weight
placed, is larger in diameter than the succeeding one and projections or pluies upon
the chain, or band lifts each weight but pass clear through the preceeding weights
placed without affecting the steelyard. A pawl falling into a ratchet holds the drums
in position until movement is required and electricity is used as the motive or
controlling power. More than one chain with weights may be used.
If
In such a machine the action is as follows:-A load placed upon the weighing
platform or pan causes the free end of the steelyard or beam to rise and by suitable
contact arrangements brought into action by its movement an electric current is sent
from a battery to excite an electric magnet and causes the holding pawl to be
withdrawn from the ratchet wheel. The weights upon the chain or band then fall and
are placed successively upon the steelyard until it is balanced or overhalanced.
balanced the consequent downward movement of the beam or steelyard causes the
circuit to be interrupted and the pawl falls in again and so arrests the wheels or
drums and prevents the chain or band from moving to deposit any further weights.
The article is now weighed. If however the weights overbalance the steelyard then
the steelyard falls further and striking against the lever jaw of the carrier an electric-
circuit is completed which by an electro-magnet puts a clutch in gear with a rotating
shaft and drives the wheels or drums so that the chain or band moves in the reverse
direction and lifts off the last weight put on. This relieves the steelyard or beam and

page_text: allows it to rise when the electro-magnet ceases to act and the clutch is withdrawn
again and the band or chain stops, held by the pawl and ratchet. The motive power
for moving the wheel, chain or band and weights may be of any kind and the electric
current may only be used to actuate clutches and pawls and put the wheels and chain
or band in gear with a moving shaft.
However electricity may also be used as the motive power and rotate a shaft to lift
the weights by an electro-motor.
When the loads to be weighed vary greatly we use two or more sets of weights
upon bands or chain's so as to have separate sets for pounds, quarters, cwts., and tons
for example in which case we cause the smaller weights to be deposited first and then
the large weights until the steelyard is balanced or overbalanced.
The electric contacts are so arranged that when the steelyard or beam is balanced,
movement of the chains at once ceases but when overbalanced one of the bands or
chains moves to lift off the smaller weights one after the other until there is equilibrium.
Instead of using chains and wheels, we may arrange our weights upon rods actuated
by hydraulic cylinders with water pressure from any convenient source so that the
electric current excites electro-magnets and by armatures opens valves controlling the
water supply and discharge of these cylinders. In this way the weights may be
placed in position upon the steelyard, and lifted off as required. The contact switch,
and other electrical connections may be arranged as described in Snelgrove's Speci-
fication No. 11251 of 1888 in order to place first light and then the heavier weights
and remove them in order as required to complete the weighing. The weight of the
load may be indicated by pointers or dials connected to the wheels drawing chains or
rods and may be printed or registered in any convenient manner.
In applying another modification of our invention to a steelyard machine we attach
a plate or platform in any suitable way to the free or vibrating end of the beam or
steelyard to carry the weights required to balance the load. Above this plate or
platform we balance a series of weights suspending them upon levers so that the
counterbalance on each lever causes each to remain in equilibrium above the plato or
platform. On each lever we construct an armature near which we place an electro-
imagnet in sach position that when the current is passed the lever is attracted and
places the weight upon the platform. Little power is required to do this as the weight
and counterbalance keep the lever in exact equipoise which is not distributed until the
weight is placed upon the platform and as the armature then is close to the poles of
the electro-magnet the attraction is very powerful; this together with the momentum
of the lever, and counterbalance is sufficient to cause the armature to come into
contact with the poles and so adhere. The weight is then free to act upon the beam
or steelyard. A catch slips in and holds the lever against the pull of the counter-
balance until it is removed by the action of an electro-magnet. If the weight balances
the load upon the machine, then the circuit is interrupted but the lever is held up by
the catch although the electro-magnet is no longer excited.
If the added weight does not move the steelyard then the movement of the lever in
placing it brings a forked switch into action and places a second electro-magnet in the
circuit which moves another lever and places à second weight upon the plate or
platform and so on through a series of electro-magnets and levers until the load is
balanced or overbalanced. When overbalanced the circuit is made by the fall of the
steelyard which causes the catch to be released beginning at the weight of least
denomination until equilibrium is obtained. Each catch in moving out acts upon a
suitable switch which sends the current to the next catch in the series. In this
manner weights are taken off until the weighing is effected. When the load is
removed the fall of the steelyard makes contact and excites the catch electro-
magnets this pulls off the catches and the counterbalance lifts the weights off
the plate or platform one after the other.
Instead of passing the current by switch actuated from the weight levers to each
succeeding electro-magnet we may arrange two electro-magnets in parallel, so that
tlie contact of each lever armature with the poles of the electro-magnet sends a
portion of the current onto the next electro-magnet.

page_text: The weights may also be placed by levers actuated on by cams arranged upon
a drum or cylinder in a series so that upon the rotation of the drum or cylinder each
lever falls one after the other and deposits its weight upon the end of the steelyard.
The cylinder or drum is rotated either by an electro-motor or any other motive
power, but the clutch to start or stop is controlled electrically by electro-magnets.
In using such a drum or cylinder we need not reverse tlie direction of rotation to
pick up the weights again as by suitably shaped cams the levers can be lifted in
succession. In this case however we arrange electrically controlled stops so
constructed that no lever can fall and deposit its weight until the stop is with-
drawn and connections are made to cause the stops to remain in immediately the
steelyard has fallen by balancing or overbalancing the load.
In this way weights not already placed upon the plate or platform at the movement
of the fall of the steelyard are prevented from falling by the further revolution of the
drum necessary to pick up the excess weights in a case of overbalancing.
The placing of the weights is determined in fact not only by the rotation of
the drum or cylinder carrying the cams but by the need of the weight to balance the
load as determined by the rise or fall of the steelyard.
The loose weight system of automatic weighing hereinbefore described may be
combined with the moveable poise system as described in Snelgrove's Specification
No. 11251 of 1888 in which case the poise is used to indicate the weights of lower
denomination while the weights are used to indicate the higher.
Instead of depositing the weights vertically by movement of chain, band, rod, or
lever actuated in any manner, we sometimes deposit them by a horizontal linear
movement or by a movement of rotation in a horizontal plane whereby the weights
slide gently into their position upon the suspended plate or platform and slide off a
rod on which they hang:
In this modification we may suspend the weights from rods on a wheel around its
circumference and when the wheel is caused to rotate by the current closed by the
movement of the steelyard, each weight slides off its rod and is deposited on the
plate or platform one above the other. The position of the weights upon the wheel
are so arranged that each succeeding weight just slides over the preceeding one and off
its rod. When the wheel is reversed the weights are picked up again. The weights
may be slotted and projections in the wheel work in the slot in which case the wheel
need not be reversed but can be caused to pick up the weights again in order by
continuing its rotation. Such a vertical spindle or shaft may carry a number of
radial arms or wheels, moving in a horizontal plane and so places weights upon a
number of suspended plates or platforms one above another.
This allows of an exceedingly compact arrangement carrying any desired number of
weights and placing them upon the pans, plates or platforms with the least possible
vertical space.
In all modifications the weights are automatically removed from the steelyard when
the load is removed from the pan or platform by the reversal of the weight
depositing cycle or process in some cases accomplished by reversing the movement,
in others by continuing the rotation of the drum, wheels, cylinders or radial arms
around a horizontal.or vertical axis.
The electric connections are easily understood from those accomplishing a similar
purpose described in the specification to which we have hereinbefore referred.
Both the mode of connecting up the wires, the number of batteries used and details
of switches, clutches, and the motive power used may vary without departing from
the essential feature of our invention, but in all cases we use the electric current as
the controlling if not the motive force and in order that our invention may be fully
understood and readily carried into effect we hereunto append a sheet of explanatory
drawings to be hereinafter referred to.
Figure 1 shows that modification in which two wheels or drums carry a band or
chain and deposit weights upon the weight platform or pan by their regulated
rotation controlled electrically. Figure 2 is a plan showing the steelyard ond and
the lower wheel or drum together with the electro-magnet pawl, and battery.

page_text: Figure 3 shows the arrangement of weights upon pins or rods projecting from the
chain or band so that each rod passes clear through the weights below it after
depositing the weight carried by it. Figure 4 shows a method of depositing and
lifting the weights by hydraulic pressure. Figure 5 shows our lever method, and
Figure 6 our rotating wheel mode of lifting and depositing, by which each wheel
rotates on a vertical axis.
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, two wheels or drums A and B carry on them a
chain or band C, upon which are supported the weights, D, D¹, D³, D³, D* D* &c.
upon pins or rods a¹ a², a³, a' a' &c.
Upon a beam or steelyard end E is hung the weight platform or pan F, from knife
edges b, one only of which is shewn. The fork G on the steelyard end allows the
chain C, and weights to pass freely until arrested by the pan or platform F. The
wheel B has attached to it, the ratchet wheel H. into the teeth of which falls the
pawl I, being overbalanced by the armature end K. The pawl is withdrawn when
the electro-magnet L is excited, and the upper drum is rotated by the train of toothed
wheels M, M, M, M when placed in gear with the spindle N, by the lever O, and
electro-magnet P. The action is as follows:-When a load is placed upon tho
weighing pan or platform, the free end of the steelyard E rises and comes in contact
with the upper end of the carrier at C. This completes the circuit from the
battery Q, by the wires e, f, g, through the electro-magnet L, and the armature K
being attracted, the pawl I is lifted out of the ratchet teeth of the wheel H. As the
weights D, D, D² &c. tend to fall, the wheels A B, at once rotate and deposit
weights in succession upon the pan or platform F until the steelyard E balances or
overbalances. As the weights are deposited the chain C with its rods or
pins a, a, a &c. passes through the slot R in the pan and weights, and so continues
its motion without interfering with equilibriam of the bean except by the addition of
further weights.
If one
When the beam or steelyard E balances or overbalances the contact with the upper
portion of the jaw is interrupted, and as the electro-magnet L immediately ceases
to attract the arinature K, the weight of K causes it to fall and the pawl I engages
with the ratchet teeth of E and weights cease to be placed upon the pan.
weight too many is placed upon the pan then the steelyard E makes contact with the
lower portion d of the jaw and connection is made with the battery Q, by the
wires e, h, and through the electro-magnet P. (The wires hand & are shown in
dotted lines.) This causes the lever O to be attracted, which moves the pinion
wheel M, on the spindle N, and engages the spur wheel M². As the spindle N is
kept in constant rotation by means of an electro-motor, or any other source of
motive power, the wheel A is at once rotated, and the motion is arranged so that the
chain or band C is moved in the direction of the arrow so as to lift off a weight or
weights. Immediately the beam is balanced all contact is interrupted, and the
pinion is pulled out of gear by a spring. If the load has been taken off the pan
or platform, then the wheels A. B continue rotating till all the weights D, D', 'D²,
DD, D, &c. are lifted clear of the pan or platform F, when contact is at once
intercepted, and the pawl I holds the wheel H, and therefore supports the weights in
position till wanted for another weighing.
Figure 2 is a plan showing the fork G of the steelyard or beam E, a weight D,
the slot in weight and platform R, the lower wheel B, ratchet wheel H, and electro-
magnet L, with battery Q.
Figure 3 shows a front view part in section of the rods a, a¹, a² &c., and the
weights D, D, D' &c., so arranged that each rod is shorter than the one immediately
below it, and so each rod lifts its own weight; but passes clear through the weight or
weights below.
When weighing wholly by adding weights, several sets of the apparatus we have
just described must be utilized for the different denominations as
cwts." &c., and each set of heavier weights is arranged to come into action as has
"lbs.,"
2 # qrs.,"
been already described in Snelgrove's Specification No. 11251 of 1888. Each-series

page_text: of weights are brought into action to weigh the load in the same order as there
described;
that is, light weights added first, and then heavy weights, and in taking
off, light weights first and then heavy. The system of adding weights we have
described may be adopted in combination with the sliding poise method; but the
electrical connections are the same, and act in the same manner as has been described
in that specification whether a number of chains and weights are used or whether a
combination of added weights and moving poise or poises are used. Figure 4
illustrates a mode of adding weights to a pan or platform such as F (Figure 1). but
instead of chains and wheels, a rod S is used carrying small rods or pins m, m², m²
m³, m; m² &c., and moved up by water pressure acting on the ram T in the
cylinder U. The valves admitting water and allowing it to discharge are controlled
electrically by the same wire connections as shown in Figure 1. The water pressure.
is used to raise the weights which are suspended from the rods or pius m, m³, m² &c. ;
but the weight of the moving portion is sufficient to bring it down.
Figure 5 illustrates our lever method of adding the weights. F is the weight pan
or platform,.D is a weight and it is suspended over the pan by the lever V being
slightly overbalanced by the weight W. When the load is placed upon the weighing
platform the rise of the free end of the steel yard acts as shown in Figure I, and
excites the powerful electro-magnet X, this attracts the armature n, and so deposits
the weight D upon the pan. The contact of n with the poles of X causes it to
adhere, so that the whole weight W is supported notwithstanding that it is pulling
8
the lever V off the electro-magnet but so soon as it rises so much as this; the lever
is pulled over by the spring p and holds up the pin in the lever. The weight-D. is
thus left upon the pan until the electro-magnet Y is excited and pulls off the
lever O.
Suitable numers and denominations of weights are arranged upon levers such as V,
connected electrically alone, or electrically and mechanically, so that one weight
after another is placed until the loud is weighed. The electrical connections are
the same as those described in Snelgroves Specification No. 112511855 already
referred to.
In another mode, of depositing weights we arrange one or more weight pans or
platforms F F F F (Figure 6) suspended from suitable knife edges in the beam or
steel-yard and deposit the weights from projections S on horizontal wheels A' A²
A3 A³, rotating on the vertical spindle or shaft Z. The weighis are held by grooves
or holes so arranged that as the wheels A' revolve successive weights are laid upon
each platform &c. in order. The wheels may have the projections S arranged in
screw or spiral form so that the weights may be laid one upon the other without
interference. Such wheels. are actuated separately by power controlled electrically in
the manner we have already described with reference to our other systems. The
advantage of this system is small bulk and space occupied while, a large number of
weights may be added and taken away.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the saine is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is-
1-In an automatic weighing machine the use of a chain or band carrying weights
to be deposited on a platform or pan for weighing a load, the number of weights
deposited being controlled electrically, substantially as described with reference to
Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
2-In an automatic weighing machine the use of a hydraulic cylinder and ram to
move weights to be deposited on a pan or platform for weighing, such movements
being electrically controlled substantially as described with reference to Figure
the accompanying drawings.
of
3-In an automatic weighing machine the use of a lever and electro-magnet
combination for depositing weights such as described with reference to Figure 5 of
the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 4-In automatic weighing machines the use of a horizontal wheel or wheels such
as A Figure 6, for the purpose of depositing weights on a pan or platform sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of July 1890.
MARKS & CLERK,
13, Temple Strect, Birmingham, Agents for Applicants.