Improvements connected with Automatic Weighing Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Sept., 1895
Complete Specification Left. 11th June. 1896-Accepted 11th Sent. 1806
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with Automatic Weighing Machines.
I, RICHARD SIMON, of Zulla Road, Nottingham, Engineer do hereby declare
the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to those machines in which an automatic weighing of
grain and cereals generally, also granular powders and like substances, is effected.
In order to compensate for the material in suspension at the time the inlet in
such machines closes and before the outlet has opened, it is usual to employ
pivotted levers having sliding weights or other devices to adjust their momentum
to the variable quantities of such suspended material.
My first improvement consists in using instead of such levers and arbitrary
weights, a spindle hung on the pan or on the end of the beam, on which are
sufficient stamped avoirdupois or other movable weights.
By this arrangement the actual amount in suspension is easily ascertained, and
the machine becomes simpler and cheaper, and it is easier to see whether it is
weighing accurately when at work.
A disadvantage of automatic weighing machines as now made is that their speed
is determined by the inflow instead of by the outflow, or by the quantity supplied
instead of by that required, unless the discharge flap or the pan itself is allowed to
stick in the material, which often causes irregularities.
To obviate this without unduly increasing the room required below the machine,
I suspend below the discharge opening, a horizontal swinging plate with counter-
balance so pivotted that when held down by the weight of the material fallen
thereon, a hook which forms part of it locks a catch on the pan and prevents
further weighing until the material has run off.
Another improvement consists of a simple and more direct mechanism for closing
the inlet flap (or one of them if more than one is used), than is now known in use.
This consists of a rod attached to such flap and working on the axis of a crank
which rests on the weight scale, raised by the upward motion of the latter, and
being thus overbalanced, allows the flap to close by the weight thereof.
Dated 11th Sentember 1805
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with Automatic Weighing Machines.
I RICHARD SIMON of Zulla Road, Nottingham, 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 those machines in which an automatic weighing of grain
and cereals generally, also granular powders and like substances is effected.
The present invention is based upon certain improvements on my previous
Specification No. 4863 A.D. 1893.
The drawings show my improvements in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of
the machine and Figure 2 a detached elevation of the weight end thereof.

page_text: D is the beam on which are suspended the grain pan E. and the weight pin F in
a position of equilibrium. In this position the movable weights B on pendant A
suspended on a stud C fixed in the slings or bars in which the grain scale is hung
are supposed to have been removed, but they are shown in their original position
for the sake of clearness.
The function of these weights B and pendant A is by their weight to equal or
compensate for that of the grain which is in suspension at the moment the inlet has
closed and which, not having fallen, does not exert any influence on the beam.
The quantity of this may vary, with different qualities of grain and from other
causes so it is necessary to have some means of adjusting the compensating
pressure on the beam or grain scale. This I do by using the pendant and movable
standard weights shown which is a more convenient as well as a more rapid way of
checking and adjusting for accuracy than the lever with sliding weight hitherto
used and which latter also has the disadvantage of causing friction at times.
In order to prevent the machine weighing faster than required and also to reduce
the size of the hopper usually required below automatic scales and further so that
the grain pan may never go back before it has wholly discharged its contents and
that it may always go back with momentum, I arrange below it but free from it
and attached to the frame of the machine a horizontally pivoted blade G connected
with the balance weight H and the hook I. When the machine discharges, the
grain falls on to G and presses it downwards thus causing the hook I to lay hold
of the projection K on the grain pan which latter is thus held securely locked as
in Figure 3 until the grain has ceased to run out of the grain pan E and has fallen
off the blade G, when the counterbalance H releases the hook I and the grain
pan E goes back with the momentum necessary to reopen the inlet flaps L. M. in
the manner as set out in my previous Patent No. 4863 A.D. 1893.
In order to close the flaps L. M, I make use of the following novel mechanism.
The weighted pivoted levers S. T. below the weight pan F press upwards (so as
to overcome the inertia and reduce the effective resistance of the weights on F).
When the amount of this up pressure added to the weight or down pressure of the
grain meanwhile filling into the grain pan E equals the weight on F the grain
scale goes down, thus disengaging a catch which allows the first inlet flap M to close
as described in my Patent 4863 A.D. 1893. In this flap is an opening through
which the grain continues to run into E until its down pressure causes the weight
pan F to go up, for the projection P to strike the crank O on rod N and lifts it
upwards from the position indicated by centre line a over its dead centre to the
position indicated by the dotted lines 6 whereupon the weight of the inlet flap L
from which the rod N projects is immediately allowed to fall forward and close
the opening of the first flap M before mentioned.
The lever T pivoted at V is supported at one end by the stop X and at the other
end presses against the weight pan F. On T is a hinged lever S resting on the pin W.
When grain enters the grain pan E at the opposite end of the beam its weight
added to the pressure exercised by the levers S. T. causes the grain pan to descend
and the weight pan to ascend until the lever S is supported by the pin W in the
position shown.
Then only the lever T acts on the weight pan in aid of the weight
of the grain until it in turn comes to rest on the stop X. At this moment the grain
pan will have descended sufficiently to have let the catches in the grain pan E which
hold the first inlet flap M open to clear each other so that the inlet flap falls as
previously mentioned.
By the arrangement of the lever S in combination with a binged lever T I obtain
a sufficient and also graduated action on the weight pan F.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
In automatic action grain or powder weighing machines

page_text: 2. The horizontal blade and hook described and shown.
3. The direct acting crank for quickly closing the inlet by means of the ascent
of the weight pan.
TL
hlights for the nurnose of closing the first inlet
2. The horizontal blade and hook described and shown.
3. The direct acting crank for quickly closing the inlet by means of the ascent
of the weight pan.
flap.
and adjustable weights for the purpose of closing the first inlet.
5. The combination of a simple lever, like T, with a hinged lever lid S for the
purpose described.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166 Fleet Street, London,.
Agent for the said R. Simon.