Improvements in the Construction of Self Filling, Emptying, and Recording Machines for Weighing Cereals, Granular Substances, Tea, Flour, and the like.
Year: 1886

page_text: Improvements in the Construction of Self Filling, Emptying, and
Recording Machines for Weighing Cereals, Granular Substances,
Tea, Flour, and the like.
I, RICHARD SIMON of 1 Alexandra Street, Nottingham, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The effect of my invention, is to simplify the mechanism used for the above
purposes and thereby produce machines which shall be less costly and at the same
time more reliable than those hitherto made, and which will also require less
head-room.
The typical machine consists of an equal-armed-scale-beam at one end of which
hang the weights and at the other an iron vessel for receiving the wheat or other
material to be weighed. This is open at the top and closed at the bottom by a
flap held to its place by a suitable weight on the opposite side of its axis.
In my invention this is opened by means of its descent causing a fixed stop on the
frame, or other suitable arrangement to come in contact with a catch which locks the
flap. This catch is so shaped and suspended that the force of gravity tends to keep it
in position.
In order to regulate and cut-off the supply of material to the vessel, I use a slide
made of sheet iron or other suitable material, in which are suitable openings to
admit a greater or lesser stream of material. This slide moves horizontally in
grooves or preferably on rollers mounted on ball bearings, and is actuated by cords,
wire ropes, or chains fixed to the ends of the scale-beam (which may be lengthened
for the purpose of obtaining sufficient travel) and which run over guide pulleys also
mounted on ball bearings. Sometimes I prefer an angle lever pivotted on
suitably-placed axis to give the necessary change of direction.
a
As the material flowing into the vessel causes it to descend one cord draws the
slide in gradually decreasing the opening from the feed-spout, until, when the right
weight has been obtained, it is closed altogether. The vessel then discharges and
returns to its normal position the cord attached to the other end of the beam opening
the slide so as to admit a fresh supply.

page_text: The openings in the slide are so shaped that the feed is gradually diminished down
to one or more fine streams, or sometimes I employ perforated zinc to obtain an equal
division. The slide itself may be adjusted, as to the time of closing by shifting the
cords on the point of their attachments to the slide.
To overcome variations in weight resulting from variations in the momentum of
the feed, I employ shelves so fixed in the feed spout as to break the force of the
momentum and shift the material from one side to the other alternately. This
arrangement may also be used in connection with machines of the kind made at
present.
Dated this 22nd day of September 1886

page_text: 1 RICHARD SIMON of 1 Alexandra Street, Nottingham, Engineer 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:-
The effect of my invention is to simplify the mechanism used for the above
purposes and thereby produce machines which shall be less costly and at the same
time more reliable than those hitherto made, and which will also require less
head room.
The typical machine consists of an equal armed scale beam, at one end of which
hang the weights and at the other an iron vessel for receiving the wheat or other
material to be weighed. This is open at the top and closed at the bottom by a flap
held to its place by a suitable weight on the opposite side of its axis. In my
invention the vessel is opened by means of its descent causing a fixed stop on the
frame or other suitable arrangement to come in contact with a catch which focks the
flap. This catch is so shaped and suspended that the force of gravity tends to keep it
in position.
In order to regulate and cut off the supply of material to the vessel I use a slide
made of sheet iron or other suitable material, in which are suitable openings to
admit a greater or lesser stream of material. This slide moves horizontally in
grooves or preferably on rollers or pulleys mounted on ball bearings, and is actuated
by cords, wire ropes or chains fixed to the ends of scale beam (which may be
lengthened for the purpose of obtaining sufficient travel) and which run over guide
pulleys also mounted on ball bearings. Sometimes I prefer an angle lever pivotted
on a suitably placed axis to give the necessary change of direction.
As the material flowing into the vessel causes it to descend one cord draws the
slide inwards gradually decreasing the opening from the feed spout until when the
right weight has been obtained it is closed altogether. The vessel then discharges
and returns to its normal position the cord attached to the other end of the beam
opening the slide so as to admit a fresh supply.
The openings in the slide are so shaped that the feed is gradually diminished down
to one or more fine streams or sometimes I employ perforated zinc to obtain an equal
division.
The slide itself may be adjusted as to the time of closing by shifting the cords or
the point of their attachments to the slide.
To overcome variations in weight resulting from variations in the momentum of
the feed I employ shelves so fixed in the feed spout as to break the force of the

page_text: momentum and shift the material from one side to the other alternately this
arrangement may also be used in connection with machines of the kind made at
present.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations of the machine.
Figure 3 a cross section of the feed.
Figure 4 a side elevation of the same.
Figure 5 a plan of the cut off slide.
A is an equal armed scale beam balanced on centres having their bearings on the
standards B. This beam is doubly forked.
On one end of the beam A hangs the weight scale C on the other the wheat scale D
both being suspended on centres in the usual manner. These scales C and D are
of equal weight so that when empty they balance one another and the beam is in
equilibrium.
The bottom of the wheat scale D is formed by the hinged flap E which is closed by
the counterpoise F and secured in that position by the catch G on the stud H which
catch is pushed aside, when, owing to weight in the scale D, it descends, by a stop
attached to the standard B.
5
K is a shoot conducting the wheat or other material to be weighed into the scale D.
The scale D has suitable sheet iron covers which prevent dust rising from the 2
wheat etc. to the working parts of the machine.
In Figures 3 and 4 K is, as before, the shoot conducting the wheat into D. L is
the cut off slide having triangular openings as at M and running on small pulleys
(which may or may not be made with ball bearings) which are fixed on the innerside
of K and at K¹ and working against brushes fixed around the inner side of the 2
shoot K².
N is a stud and wing nut working in slots by means of which the position of the
slide L and consequently the time of the cut off can be regulated.
The manner of working is as follows.
Supposing a suitable weight placed on the scale C, the beam A will be weighed a
down on the side of C as far as allowed by the spring P fixed on the standard B.
The slide L having been opened, in a manner subsequently to be explained, wheat
or other material to be weighed, will run into the scale I) until its weight is equal to
that placed on C, less the equivalent of the lifting force exerted by the spring P, and
the beam A will consequently rise into equilibrium. In rising the end of the
beam A tilts the knee-lever R, and thus, by means of the lever R and the links S
moves the slide L and causes a partial cut off, the apertures M alone remaining open.
Reduced streams of material now flow into D through the apertures M until the full
weight of C being balanced the beam A suddenly tips and in so doing closes the
slide L entirely, the scale D descends by its acquired momentum and the catch G is
unhooked and the flap E is opened by the pressure of the material in D, which
consequently runs out. As soon as the scale D is relieved of some of its contents the
beam A tips back again owing to the overweight on C. but the flap E remains open
until all the contents have run out when its counterpoise F (the weight of which is
made suitable) closes it and in so doing causes the stud S¹ on the flap E to strike
upwards the bent rod T which hangs loosely in guides on the inner side of the
standard B and thus by means of the levers V, W and R to reopen the cut off
slide L.
In the position shown in Figure 1 the machine is in equilibrium and Figure 2
indicates its position when tipping.
To obtain sufficient stroke for the slide L I sometimes extend the end of the
beam A outwards. When it is not necessary to secure that the slide L shall remain
closed until the flap E has closed as in cases where the means of carrying away the
material weighed exceed the supply I attach chains carried over bearings fixed in

page_text: suitable planes to the ends of the beam A which being connected with the slide L
close and open it as the beam tips. The mode of working this system is apparent to
every mechanic.
By another part of my invention I fix small shelves as shown at x in the shoot K2
or in an anterior part of the supply shoot, which may be adjustable or removable so
as to afford a means of regulating the momentum of the inflowing material.
Instead of the spring P 1 sometimes divide the weight on C into two parts having
one part placed permanently on C and the other and smaller part placed on a bracket
projecting from the standard B. This bracket consists of two or more strips of iron
with spaces between through which fingers attached to C lift the complementary
weight at the required moment.
It will have been observed that the beam and scales are entirely disconnected from
all the mechanism employed for opening or closing the cut off slide and flap so that
when by the means of a suitably placed stop, the scale D is prevented from discharging
the oscillations and final position of the beam, offer a certain and convenient means of
testing the correctness of the weighing.
The friction of closing the cut off slide, which is less than that caused in any
similar machine by releasing catches etc. is compensated for by the weight of the
wheat which enters through the apertures M after the beam has commenced to tip.
The amount of this is regulated by means of the slots at N.
Any recording mechanism can be used and preferably worked from either C or D.
The usual counter can be fixed to the standard B and actuated by studs in the usual
manner.
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
In an automatic weighing machine for weighing wheat malt and other cereals and
seeds, flour, cement, dry manures etc. :—
1. A horizontal cut off slide.
2. Triangular or other gradually diminishing openings in such a horizontal cut off
slide by the adjustment of which the same machine is adaptable for use with different
materials or for the same material at different speeds.
3. Covering the scale D and conducting the material into it by means of a shoot so
as to diminish the amount of dust rising from it to the working parts.
4. The use of the spring P or of alternatively a corresponding complementary
weight as described.
5. Opening the cut off slide or valve by means of a free lever actuated by the
closing of the flap E.
6. The levers T, V, W and R as shown or modifications thereof.
7. Closing the cut off slide or valve by means of the impact, direct or through
knee lever, of the end of the beam.
a
8. The use of cords or chains attached to the ends of the beam to open and close the
slide or cut off valve as described.
9. The use of adjustable or fixed shelves to regulate the momentum of the inflowing
material.
10. The general construction and arrangement as shown or any mere modification
thereof.
The 22nd day of June 1887
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said R. Simon.