Improvements in or connected with Weighing Apparatus.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 4th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left. 6th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 25th Mar., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Weighing Apparatus.
I, SAMUEL WASHINGTON of Oaklands, Harpurhey, Manchester, Machinist
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
My improvements refer to an invention for which I obtained Provisional
Protection No. 8907 on the 26th day of May 1891 and consist in means whereby
the scoops of my improved weighing machine automatically discharge themselves
as they become filled instead of such scoops having to be removed from the scale
beams as heretofore and my improvements also consist in an improved inclined
shoot for supplying tea and other substances in a continuous stream to the scale
pans.
In carrying out my invention the scoops are formed more or less of a bucket or
pocket construction and are mounted horizontally on pins or pivots supported in a
frame above or below the ends of the scale beams and which scoops are so pivoted
as to always assume a vertical position when empty.
As these scoops begin to fill they tend to cant over owing to the accumulation of
the substance above the centre of gravity but are prevented from doing so by a
drop latch arrangement supported by an arm forming part of the frame in which
the scoops are carried.
This latch engages with the top edge of the scoop until the weighing operation
is completed when the scale end moves downwards lowering the scoops and latch
aforesaid until the latter is caught by a projection depending from the spout above
and trips the latch thereby causing the scoop to cant over and thus automatically
discharge its contents.
As soon as the contents are discharged the scoop instantly rights itself and in
doing so the edge of the scoop raises the latch aforesaid and is again retained in its
vertical position.
The scoops are provided with sloping bottoms which cause the substance to
accumulate at the tilting side of the scoops.
In accordance with the second part of my improvements I employ an inclined
shoot opening into the breeches or two armed spout of my improved weighing
machine in which shoot an over-shot wheel is situated capable of revolving freely
in bearings formed in the sides of the shoot. In the upper part of the shoot a plate
of sheet metal is arranged for leading the tea on to the wheel which is fixed at one
end (by soldering or otherwise) but is free and capable of vibrating at the opposite
end. Rigidly attached to the back and free end of this plate is one end of a wire
or rod which extends downwards to a small ratchet wheel on the axle of the wheel
aforesaid where it is provided with a flat which bears upon the teeth of such ratchet
wheel.
Tea starting to flow down the shoot the same is led by the plate aforesaid on to
the overshot wheel, such wheel by the weight of the tea being caused to revolve
and also imparting rotary motion to the ratchet wheel. As the wheel continues to
revolve the tea is precipitated down the throat of the breeches or two armed spout
beneath and the flat on the end of the wire or rod aforesaid slipping over the teeth
of the ratchet wheel serves to convey and impart a continuous series of shocks or
vibrations through the rod to the plate which thus serves to agitate the tea and
cause it to flow in a continuous stream.
Over the vibrating plate and arranged at an angle with the shoot is a swinging
flap of metal which normally hangs in a vertical position but under the control of a
set screw serves to narrow or widen the outlet for the tea.

page_text: This improved shoot is supplementary to the hopper with sloping divisions
described in my former Specification.
Dated this 3rd day of May 1899
JOHN G. WILSON,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Weighing Apparatus.
I, SAMUEL WASHINGTON of Oaklands, Harpurhey, Manchester, Machinist,
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My improvements refer to an invention for which I obtained Provisional
Protection. No. 8907 on the 26th day of May 1891 and for which Letters Patent
have since been granted to me, and consist in means whereby the scoops of my
improved weighing machine automatically discharge themselves as they become
filled instead of such scoops having to be removed from the scales for emptying as
heretofore.
My improvements also consist of an inclined shoot fitted with an agitating
device for supplying tea and other substances in a continuous stream to the
scale pans.
In accordance with the first part of my improvements the scoops are formed,
more or less, of a bucket or pocket construction, so weighted and proportioned and
mounted horizontally on pins or pivots in a frame above or below the ends of the
scale beams as to always assume a vertical or upright position when empty.
As said scoops fill they tend to cant over owing to the accumulation of the
substance being weighed above the centre of gravity, but are prevented doing so by
a latch supported by an arm forming part of or branching from the frame aforesaid
in which scoops are carried.
This latch engages with the scoop until the weighing operation is completed
when by the lowering of the scoop said latch is caught by a tripper, which trips
the latch and allows the scoop to cant over and automatically discharge its
contents.
"
As soon as the contents are discharged the scoop instantly rights itself and in
doing so engages with the latch and is again retained in its vertical position
ready for the next weighing operation.
In accordance with the second part of my improvements I employ an inclined
shoot opening into the two armed spout of the improved weighing machine described
in my former Specification, in the lower portion of which an over-shot wheel is
situated capable of revolving freely in bearings formed in the sides of the shoot.
In the upper part of the shoot a plate of metal is arranged which is secured to the
shoot casing at one end and is free and capable of vibrating at the opposite end.
Fastened to the back of this plate is a wire or rod which extends downwards to a
small ratchet wheel on the axle of the over-shot wheel, and said rod rests loosely
upon the teeth of the ratchet wheel and readily slips over such teeth when the
wheel is rotated.
Tea being precipitated down the inclined shoot it falls on to the hinged plate and
is led on to the over-shot wheel which is then rotated by the weight of the substance
and discharges the same down the two armed spout. The motion of the wheel thus
serves to turn the ratchet wheel and vibrate the plate aforesaid and cause the tea to
flow in a continuous stream.
And in order that my improvements shall be more clearly understood and carried
into practical effect I have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings and will now
proceed to describe the same with the assistance of the various figures and letters
of reference marked thereon.

page_text: Fig. 1 is a front view and Fig. 2 a side or end view of one of my improved
scoops or scale pans.
Fig. 3 is a side view (partly in section) and Fig. 4 a front transverse sectional
view of my improved shoot fitted with the mechanism for creating and maintaining
a continuous flow of tea or other substance being weighed.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 and to the first part of my improvements, A. designates
my improved scoop supported by pins or axes B in the frame C. Said frame C is
connected to the bearing piece D formed to ride on the knife edges E of the scale
beam F and extending downwards to a bob weight (not shewn) secured to the
rod G.
The floor or bottom of each scale pan or scoop is slightly inclined as illustrated
by dotted lines in Fig. 2 so as to cause the tea or other substance to accumulate on
the tilting side of the scoop.
The scoops are retained in their vertical positions by means of the latch H
supported either from an arm extending upwards from the frame C and engaging
with the top rear edge of the scoop as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, or, as
I have worked it out, supported from an arm I and engaging with a projection J on
the scoop A.
As the pan fills and the beam end sinks the latch His carried down with it until the
weighing operation is completed when it is caught by a tripper causing it to release
the scoop and allow the same to tilt over and discharge its contents.
As soon as the scoop is empty it instantly rights itself and again engages with
the latch.
If the latch is arranged as shewn in dotted lines the tripper consists of a rod
depending from the spout above with its lower extremity cranked and extending
underneath the latch, so that the latch on lowering will be caught and held up by
such cranked extremity and the scoop continuing to sink is released and allowed to
tilt over.
If the latch is arranged as shewn in full lines the tripper K is employed, which
screws through some stationary part of the machine and is capable of being
adjusted to trip the latch at any desired point.
When working in connection with my improved weighing machine the scoops
will discharge their contents alternately.
The improved arrangement of tilting scoops or pans is applicable to other
weighing machines.
Referring now to the second part of my improvements and to Figs. 3 and 4 of
the drawing,-L is the inclined shoot, the lower end of which leads into the two
armed spout of my improved weighing machine, whilst the upper end leads to a
hopper containing the supply of tea or other substance to be weighed.
This shoot is fitted with an over-shot wheel M mounted on the central axis N
and said shoot is also fitted with a plate P free at Q, but secured at R to the back
of the shoot as illustrated.
To the free end of said plate I attach the wire or rod S which extends downwards
through an opening in the shoot casing to a ratchet wheel T upon the axis of the
overshot wheel M, and the free end of said rod or wire rests upon the teeth of said
ratchet wheel as illustrated more clearly in Fig. 3.
Tea being admitted into the shoot from the feed hopper the same falls onto the
plate P and from thence is led down the guiding tray U on to the over-shot
wheel M, filling the several gills V. The equilibrium of said wheel is then
disturbed and the wheel is caused to turn round (in the direction of the arrow) and
discharge the tea down the two armed spout and thus supply a stream of tea or
other substance to the scale pans. As the flow of the substance continues the
wheel M continues to revolve.
In order to ensure of the flow of tea being continuous the motion of the overshot
wheel is utilised for agitating the plate P by means of the rod or wire S which
slips over the teeth of the ratchet wheel T as it revolves, causing the plate P to
vibrate and so agitate the tea and cause it to flow in a continuous stream.

page_text: Over the vibrating plate is a swinging flap of metal W supported by the wire
frame X, and held vertically (or set to the position shewn in the drawings) for the
purpose of controlling the flow of tea. Said plate is capable of being adjusted
either to widen or narrow the outlet for the tea by means of the setting screw Y
situated upon the side of the shoot (see Fig. 5) and operating the arm Z of the
frame X thus raising or lowering the flap of metal W. The shoot is provided
with loose or hinged covers to facilitate examination of the internal parts.
It will be observed that a guiding tray U is arranged in the shoot to lead the tea
or other substance well over the centre of the over-shot wheel and thus cause the
impact and weight of the tea to readily turn it round.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is,-*
1st. In weighing machines the use and employment of the scoops or scale pans
aforesaid, mounted in a frame, either, above or below the scale beam ends, in
combination with a retaining latch and tripper arrangement all mounted and
operating substantially, as hereinbefore described and illustrated on the accom-
panying drawing.
2nd. The inclined shoot fitted with vibrating plate and rod in combination with
an over-shot wheel and ratchet wheel, guiding tray and controlling flap all mounted
and operating substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and
illustrated on the accompanying drawing.
JOHN G. WILSON & Co.,
Agents.