Improvements in and relating to Automatic-reed weigners.
Year: 1899

page_text: "Improvements in and relating to Automatic-reed weigners.
I, OSCAR VON LENGERKE; of 14, Mincing Lane, in the City of London, Merchant,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
+15.
My invention relates to automatic-feed weighers and comprises the improved
apparatus and devices hereinafter referred, to.
According to my invention I pivot within a suitably-constructed framing a
forked beam on one arm of which is mounted a bucket or other receptacle,
while on the other arm is a counter balance weight. A second similarly
pivoted beam may be located beneath the first-mentioned one and connected to
the counter balance weight and bucket respectively in such manner that in
action the said parts are maintained parallel. On that side of the first-mentioned
forked beam from which the counter balance weight depends, an arm projects
upwardly and outwardly and upon this arm is an adjustable sliding weight.
The arrangement is such that, when the bucket is empty, the weights
on the opposite arm to it predominate and the bucket is raised to its highest
position.
.
The material to be weighed is fed into the bucket from a chute or hopper and
the supply is regulated and cut off by pivotally-mounted shutters. These
shutters, although they describe the arc of a circle in their movement, are not
curved to the radius of such circle. às .I find that with shutters in the form of
flat plates there is less liability of the parts to jamb and the opening to become
clogged...
L
.
When the bucket is partially filled and in its balanced position, the main
shutter rests on a stationary abutment and shuts off a part of the feed and a
projection extends from the bucket and is in contact with a cross bar beneath
the arms of the two shutters holding them.-up while the bucket is empty and
maintained in its upper position under the influence of the said weights.
When the shutters are open to the utmost the material which is about to be
weighed is free to fall rapidly into the bucket and the latter sink's until the
bucket and the weights counterpoise and the shutters (until now supported by
the bucket) successively rest upon their abutments.
As soon as this occurs the bucket is relieved of the weight of the shutters,
of the engage-
but the, smaller shutter is still held open by reason
ment of a finger on the frame of the said shutter with a toothed projection that
forms part of a weighted lever that is pivoted on the frame of the machine.
The material to be weighed continuing to flow in reduced quantity into the
bucket, the balance is turned and the bucket in its descent immediately operates
(through a projection which it carries for the purpose) the weighted lever,
releasing the toothed projection from the engaged finger and allowing the
smaller shutter to fall thereby completely shutting off the feed.
The bottom of the bucket is pivoted and counterweighted and is normally held
closed by a catch which is released, as the bucket descends, by a second weighted
In this manner the contents are discharged,
lever mounted on the said bucket.

page_text: The said second weighted lever is actuated by coming into contact with a stop
on the framework and this stop is so arranged that it can, when desired, be
moved out of the path of the weighted lever and the bucket will not then dis-
charge its contents automatically.
It will be seen that owing to the centres being in different planes the weights
approach the centre while the receptacle with its contents moves away from the
centre; the consequence is that the moment the receptacle has received its
full charge it will, under any condition, continue its downward motion. The
force thereby gained is utilized to release the catch which is holding the bottom
Hlap.
So soon as the bucket has been relieved of the weight of the contents, the
bottom closes and the bucket returns to its uppermost position under the influence
of the weights and the machine is reset automatically for the next operation.
To prevent the return of the bucket to the uppermost position and the open-
ing of the shutters before all material has fallen out, a third weighted lever is
pivoted on the bucket. One arm of this lever is normally on one side of a
stop on the framework and the other arm is in proximity to the bottom of the
bucket. As the bottom of the bucket opens (the bucket having descended) the
heavier arm of the lever falls and the other arm thereupon moves under the
said stop. The parts are thus locked until the bottom of the bucket on its
return releases the said lever.
A spirit level is secured to the framing of the machine in order to gauge the
level thereof and the final levelling may be attained by adjustment screws.
In some cases I may modify the arrangement described by dispensing with
the counterweight and combine the same with the adjustable sliding weight.
Dated this 2nd day of May 1899
A. F. SPOONER,
323, High Holborn, London, Agent for the Applicant.
I, OSCAR VON LENGERKE, of 14, Mincing Lane, in the City of London, Merchant,
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:-
My invention relates to automatic-feed weighers and comprises the improved
apparatus and devices hereinafter referred to.
According to my invention I pivot within a suitably-constructed framing a
forked beam on one arm of which is mounted a bucket or other receptacle,
while on the other arm is a counterbalance weight. A second similarly
pivoted beam may be located beneath the first mentioned one and connected to
the counterbalance weight and bucket respectively in such manner that in
action the said parts are maintained parallel. On that side of the first-mentioned
forked beam from which the counterbalance weight depends, an arm may pro-
ject upwardly and outwardly and upon this arm may be an adjustable sliding
weight.
The arrangement. is such that, when the bucket is empty, the weights
on the opposite arm to it predominate and the bucket is raised to its highest
position.
The material to be weighed is fed into the bucket from a chute or hopper and

page_text: the supply is regulated and cut off by pivotally-mounted shutters. These
shutters, although they describe the are of a circle in their movement, are not
curved to the radius of such circle as I find that with shutters in the form of
flat plates there is less liability of the parts to jamb and the opening to become
clogged.
When the bucket is partially filled and in its balanced position, the main
shutter rests on a stationary abutment and shuts off a part of the feed and a
projection extends from the bucket and is in contact with a cross bar beneath
the arms of the two shutters holding them up while the bucket is empty and
maintained in its upper position under the influence of the said weights.
When the shutters are open to the utmost the material which is about to be
weighed is free to fall rapidly into the bucket and the latter sinks until the
bucket and the weights counterpoise and the shutters (until now supported by
the bucket) successively rest upon their abutments.
As soon as this occurs the bucket is relieved of the weight of the shutters
but the smaller or secondary shutter is still held open by reason of the engage-
ment of a finger on the frame of the said shutter with a toothed projection that
forms part of a weighted lever that is pivoted on the frame of the machine.
The material to be weighed continuing to flow in reduced quantity into the
bucket, the balance is turned and the bucket in its descent immediately operates
(through a projection which it carries for the purpose) the weighted lever,
releasing the toothed projection from the engaged finger and allowing the
smaller shutter to fall thereby completely shutting off the feed.
The bottom of the bucket is pivoted and counterweighted and is normally held
closed by a catch which is released, as the bucket descends, by a second weighted
lever mounted on the said bucket. In this manner the contents are discharged.
The said second weighted lever is actuated by coming into contact with a stop
on the framework and this stop is so arranged that it can, when desired, be
moved out of the path of the weighted lever and the bucket will not then dis-
charge its contents automatically.
It will be seen that owing to the centres being in different planes the weights
approach the centre while the receptacle with its contents moves away from the
centre; the consequence is that the moment the receptacle has received its
full charge it will, under any condition, continue its downward motion. The
force thereby gained is utilized to release in the first instance the finger holding
the smaller shutter and then the catch which is holding the bottom flap.
So soon as the bucket has been relieved of the weight of the contents, the
bottom closes and the bucket returns to its uppermost position under the influence
of the weights and the machine is reset automatically for the next operation.
To prevent the return of the bucket to the uppermost position and the open-
ing of the shutters before all material has fallen out, a third weighted lever is
pivoted on the bucket. One arm of this lever is normally on one side of a
stop on the framework and the other arm is in proximity to the bottom of the
bucket. As the bottom of the bucket opens (the bucket having descended) the
heavier arm of the lever falls and the other arm thereupon moves under the
said stop.
The parts are thus locked until the bottom of the bucket on its .
return releases the said lever.
A spirit level is secured to the framing of the machine in order to gauge the
level thereof and the final levelling may be attained by adjustment screws.
In some cases I may modify the arrangement described by dspensing with
the counterweight and combine the same with the adjustable sliding weight.
In order that my invention may be more clearly understood reference is to be
had to the accompanying drawings wherein,
Figure 1 is a side elevation,
Figure 2 is a front elevation with the counter-balance weight and lever broken
off, and
12 in a nontical nation' on the line A RD (

page_text: Like letters and reference numerals refer' to corresponding parts throughout
the drawings.
I
1
is
a is the bucket or weighing vessel suspended between the ends of the forked
arms, of two parallel, frames d, e.which are in turn supported in suitable
bearings f by the side frames h, i the arrangement being such that the said
bucket or receptacle a is maintained in a vertical position. These side frames h, i are
mounted on a base plate and are braced together at their upper ends by the top
plate which they support. From one of the parallel frames, preferably the upper
one d, projects upwardly and outwardly a counterbalance arm carrying the
adjustable weight m adapted to be clamped in position on the arm at any
desired point, in order that it may preponderate until the desired weight of
material has been fed into the bucket or receptacle. a. Upon the top plate .k
is situated a feed-chute, adapted. to support a funnel or hopper o (shown by
dotted lines in Figure 3) and to permit, the predetermined quantity of the
material to be weighed to pass into the bucket or receptacle a, until the supply
is stopped by the operation of the shutters p, q. The main shutter has an
adjustably-fixed counterbalance, 23 to regulate the proportion of the large and
small inlets. The said shutter p. is supported at the end of arms which are
pivotally connected to the top plate at s and are maintained in the uppermost
position (see full lines in Figures 1 and 3) by a pint projecting upwardly from
a bracket attached to the top edge, of the bucket a. The other shutter
also supported at the ends of another pair of arms which are likewise pivotally
connected to the top plate & at s but are maintained in their uppermost position
by the catch w (see Figure 2) which engages the tooth or pin forming part
of the said arms but located on the opposite side of their pivotal support s.
The catch w forms part of a pivoted member y carried by the pivot secured
to the upright 1 and is operated by the projection 2 extending from the bucket a.
It will be seen from Figure 1 that the centres f, f¹, f2 are in different planes.
When nearly the whole of the pre-arranged quantity of the material has reached
the bucket a the said bucket descends, the weight m approaching the vertical
plane of the centre and the bucket with its contents leaving the said centre.
The main shutter 2 follows to the lower position (shown by the dotted lines p
in Figure 3) when it rests on its stationary abutment p2 thereby curtailing the
supply. At this point the bucket a is relieved of the weight of the shutter p.
Consequently the weight of the material and the bucket is smaller at this
point than that of the weight m by the weight of the shutter p. This deficiency
is now made up owing to the continued admission of material in restricted
quantity through the smaller inlet until theoretically the balanced is obtained.
The moment after the weight of the material and bucket equals the weight m
the bucket makes a further descent gaining impetus by reason of the weight. m
still approaching the centre f and becoming of less value, while the bucket a
with the material leaves the centre f and increases in value. The force thereby
gained is utilized in the first instance to completely shut off the supply and then
to open the bottom 8. These movements may be accomplished by means of a
projection 2 adapted to come into contact with an arm 3 of. a pivoted member y
which it depresses against the opposition of its counterbalance 4 causing the
catch to release the pin x of the shutter 9 which latter immediately descends
into the position indicated by the dotted lines q' shown in Figure 3 and rests
upon the stays that connect the arms of the main shutter 2. This completely
cuts off any further supply until the commencement of the next cycle of
operations. The arm 3 of the pivoted member y is provided with an adjust-
ment 5 by means of which the precise moment at which the supply is cut off can
be regulated. To operate the opening of the bottom, levers 6 engage a tripping
device 7 by means of which the bottom 8 of the bucket a which is hinged at 9,
is released by the catch 10 enabling the, contents of the bucket to fall into a
second funnel or chute 11 or into a bag. It will be observed that the weight 12
is above the centre 9 and consequently in its highest position has only just

page_text: sufficient power to bring the bottom 8 back to its original position. But for
this arrangement the said bottom would take back again some of the material.
The said bottom 8 is returned by its counterbalance weight 12. When the
bottom is open, which only happens when the bucket a is in its lowest position,
the heavier arm 13 of a bell-crank lever 14, which normally rests upon the said
bottom, falls into a position which would cause its pin 15 to engage the stop 16
and so prevent the ascent of the said bucket should it begin to rise before its
contents have been emptied.
The tripping device 7 is pivotally attached to the side frames h, i and may be
turned out of the path of the levers 6 by means of the handle 17 extending
through a slot. 18 in the side frame i. When in this position the catches 10
may be operated by handles 19 located at the other end of the levers G, whose
movement is limited by stops 20.
Suitable stops 21 are also provided between which the arms of one of the
frames that support the bucket a operate, and by which means the movement
of the said bucket is limited.
After the contents of the bucket a have been deposited, its bottom is closed
by the weight 12, causing the bell-crank lever 14 to be forced back against its
stops 22 so as to permit the parts to rise under the influence of the counterbalance
weight m. During the ascent of the bucket a the catches 10 return to their
normal positions by gravity; the pivoted member y and its catch w are per-
mitted to move under the influence of the weighted arm 4 to their operative
position (shown in the drawings) and the shutters p, q are raised by the pin t.
Thus sufficient momentum is imparted to the said parts and to the weight 23 to
carry the pin to the position where it may be engaged by the catch w.
The parts having now been returned to their starting positions, the cycle of
operations is automatically repeated, and so on until the supply of material
to be weighed is exhausted.
A spirit level 24 secured to the top plate is provided to enable the apparatus
to be set in a horizontal position.
Instead of employing an upwardly-directed arm I may attach an upwardly-
directed quadrant to a continuation of the arm band locate the weight m upon
the said quadrant.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In an automatic-feed weigher the combination, with a feed-chute and a
counter-weighted bucket, of a main and a secondary shutter, and means whereby
as the bucket descends the secondary shutter is closed and the supply cut off
substantially as 'set forth.
2. In an automatic-feed weigher, the combination, with a counter-weighted
bucket and a cut-off device, of a counter-weighted bottom and means whereby as
the bucket descends the said bottom is released substantially as set forth.
3. In an automatic-feed weigher, the combination, with the bucket and its
counter-weighted bottom, of means whereby as the bucket descends the said
bottom is released, and further means serving to prevent the ascent of the
said bucket before the emptying of the contents substantially as set forth.
In an automatic-feed weigher, the combination, with the bucket and its
counter-weighted bottom, of an automatic bottom-releasing device and means
serving at will, to throw such bottom-releasing device out of action substantially
as set forth.
5. An automatic-feed weigher comprising, in combination, a forked beam at
one side of which is mounted a bucket and on the other an adjustable weight, a
second beam serving to maintain the bucket in a vertical position, a feed-chute, a
main and a secondary shutter operated successively as the bucket descends, levers
pivotally mounted on the bucket and adapted to be engaged by a tripping device

page_text: as the bucket further descends and whereby the counter-weighted bottom thereof
is released, a lever normally resting upon the said bottom and adapted to engage
a stop and so prevent the ascent of the said bucket before the emptying of the
contents, and a pin or projection serving on the ascent of the said bucket to raise
the shutters and reset them in their operative positions substantially as set forth.
6. The automatic-feed weigher constructed substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
1000
A. F. SPOONER,
323, High Holborn, London, Agent for the Applicant.