Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 15th Feb., 1890
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:—
The object of our invention is to automatically fill and weigh boxes or other
receptacles, as fully described hereinafter.
In the accompanying drawings :-
Fig. 1 is a side view of our improved automatic filling and weighing machine ;
Fig. 2 is an end view looking in the direction of the arrow Fig. 1, with the hopper
in section; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan on the line 1-2, Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is a sectional plan on the line 3-4, fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a sectional plan on the line 5-6, Fig. 1;
Fig. 6 is a detached perspective view of the hoppers or funnels;
Fig. 7 is a detached perspective view of the platform carrying the boxes to be
filled;
Fig. 8 is a detached perspective view of a portion of the machine illustrating one of
the features of our invention; and
Figs. 9 and 10 are detached views of details of our invention.
A is the frame of the machine, mounted on a suitable base A', the frame A carrying
a hopper B, having an outlet spout b. Projecting from the base A' is a boss or stop a,
in which a vertical shaft C finds its bearing. On this vertical shaft C is a disk D, as
shown more clearly in Fig. 7, said disk carrying a series of cups d, having flanges d'.
These cups are suspended by their flanges in orifices in the disk D. In each cup is a
spring e carrying a platform e, although in some instances the spring may be
dispensed with, and the platform carried directly by or form part of the cup d.
On the upper portion of the shaft is a funnel frame F, having a series of tubular
projections, more clearly shown in Fig. 6, these tubular projections fitting into the
boxes to be filled, which are mounted on the platform e. In the drawing I have
shown cylindrical boxes x, but it will be understood that boxes of any shape can be
filled on the machine, and I preferably make the projections of a shape to correspond
with the shape of the opening in the box.
The funnel frame F has a series of partitions g, which come up to a comparatively
sharp edge g and taper to the openings f¹ in the projections dividing the frame
into a series of compartiments which which act as funnels for the series of boxes to be
filled. The disk D and frame F, with the boxes to be filled are intermittently rotated
by mechanism described hereafter, and the object of making the comparatively sharp
edges on the partitions is that the flow of the material into the box will be cut off
immediately and caused to enter the adjoining funnel, as it will be understood that'the
feeding of the material is continuous, as long as there is material in the hopper.
Directly under the disk D is the weighing mechanism, which we will now proceed
to describe.
The balance beam H is pivoted in standards h, h, projecting from the base A¹.
The beam is irregular in form, to adapt it to the irregularities of the machine, and
composed of two longitudinal bars connected together at intervals by cross-bars h³.
On the rear cross-bar h³ is suspended a balance weight i Fig. 1 to which can be
added the weight of the required denomination.
In line with the hopper B, at the front of the machine, is a vertical supporting
rod 1, having a cross-head I¹ with openings, in which are pivoted the knife edges ji,
of the bar h of the scale beam H." This rod I, is continued through the base of the
Prine-d

page_text: machine, and is connected to a depending lug a' by a rod Fig. 1, so that the rod
is kept at all times in a vertical position.
On the upper portion of the rod I, is a head k having a platform k', as shown
more fully in Fig. 9. The outer end of this platform k¹ is bent, as shown, so that
when it is depressed, as described hereinafter, and the disk D' is turned, the cup
adjoining that being filled will readily ride over the inclined portion into position
directly under the spout 6 of the bopper.
On one side of the beam H is secured a screw rod I having a weight I', Fig. 5,
which is a regulating weight, used on scale beams of this class.
We will now describe the mechanism for turning the platform carrying the hoxes
and the device for packing the same in the boxes.
J is a vertical shaft, stepped in a bearing m in the base of the machine and
journalled at its upper end in a bearing m' in the frame A. Fig. 1. This shaft J is
driven in the present instance through the medium of a belt wheel J' which is mounted
on the shaft, or said shaft can be driven by other means than that shown, without
departing from our invention.
Secured to or forming part of the shaft J is a friction disk K, and above this
friction disk and adapted to slide upon the shaft is a friction disk L, having a
sleeve L¹, and between this sleeve and a collar m² on the shaft is a spring n, which
tends to force the friction disk L against the friction disk K.
On the friction disk L are a series of pins or projections p, which project on
both sides of the disk L, as shown in Fig. 1. The projections on the upper side fit
into radial slots q in the disks D, and through the medium of these pins the disk is
turned, in the present instance, one-sixth of a revolution, as each pin comes around.
This is what is commonly called the star-wheel movement.
The movement of the friction disk L, and consequently of the disk D, is governed
by the scale beam H. On the beam H is a lug r, which when the beam tilts, strikes a
trigger s. This trigger is pivoted to a spring plate S, secured to the frame of the
machine. The trigger s has a lip at its inner end, so that when the beam H is
moved by the weight of the box being filled, the lug rises in the direction of the
arrow, Fig. 1, moving the trigger on its pivot and throwing down the lip s' so as to
bring it in line with a pint on the shaft J, or as is the case in this machine, on the
hub of the disk K, which is secured to the shaft. The pin t rides upon the lip s¹ and
prosses upon the triggers and forces the spring plate $ down in the direction of the
arrow Fig. 8.
The plate S has a lip u at its outer end, which engages the projection p on the
underside of the disk L, so that as said plate S is depressed it moves the lip u away
from the pin p, and allows the disk L to turn and consequently turn the disk D, the
spring n creating enough friction for the purpose.
As the disk turns, the cup carrying the filled box is moved off of the platform k¹ of
the weighing mechanism, and an empty hox is moved into position thereon, the scales
assuming their normal position, and the lug being free from the trigger s, allows it
to full to its normal position, so that the lip s' of the trigger will be out of the line of
the pins t on the shaft.
We will now describe the mechanism for packing the material in the boxes after
being weighed.
Secured to the shaft J is a cam U, of the form shown in Fig. 10, and situated
directly above this cam is a pivoted block Ul, pointed at one or both ends, and
adapted to the groove in the cam. This block U is pivoted to a lever W, pivoted
at to to the frame of the machine, and having a short arin w' which is secured to one
end of a spring y, the opposite end being secured to the base of the machine. This
spring tends to keep the lever W in the position shown in Fig. 1. A weight may be
substituted for this spring without departing from our invention.
A rod W' forms a continuation of the long arm of the lever, and is detachably
secured thereto, and is bent at the outer end and provided with a thread w
to which is adapted a nut w³ and a plunger W³ of a shape to fit the orifice in the
frame. F.

page_text: The lever W and its plunger are only moved when a trigger Y, pivoted at y' to
the frame of the machine, guide the block U' in the slot in the cam U. One arm of
this trigger rests directly above one end of the block U', and the opposite arm of the
trigger has a bearing surface z', against which the pins on the upper side of the
plate L bear, a spring tending to force the trigger in the direction of its arrow,
Fig. 1, and the pin acting as a stop to limit its forward movement. The pro-
jections, as they strike the bearing surface 21 of the trigger, force the same in a
direction opposite that indicated by the arrow, causing the finger z to push the end of
the block into the cam slot in the cam, so that as the can revolves the block
will follow the cam slot and cause the lever W carrying the plunger to move
in the direction of its arrow, thus compressing the matertal in the box previously
filled.
As the pin p reaches the point 2 on the bearing surface z¹ of the trigger Y,
Fig. 4, the trigger is released and assumes its normal position, that is, the position
shown in Fig. 1, and is not moved again until a second pin strikes the cam or bearing
surface and moves the trigger, forcing the cam block in the slot of the cam, as
previously described.
The upward movement of the lever W is limited by an adjustable bar ✗, secured to
the frame A of the machine by a nut b', the lower portion of the rod striking the cain
block, and tonding to keep said block in proper position, so as not to engage accidentally
with the cam slot; thus the different parts of the machine are perfectly rigid, and only
act as dictated by the weighing mechanism.
In the operation of filling the boxes or packages, the material is placed in the
hopper, and the boxes are placed by the attendant, one after the other, on the
platforms e carried by the disk D and under the frame F. The box is thus carried
with the two frames, but can be readily removed therefrom by merely compressing
the spring, allowing the top of the box to clear the projections f of the frame F. As
the frame and disk revolve, the material, which flows continuously from the, spout,
is cut off from one compartment by means of the partition g, and commences at once
to flow into the next succeeding box. It should be understood that the weights used in
connection with this machine must be graduated, according to the speed at which one
box takes the place of the other, as the material from the hopper is flowing into the
boxes during the transfer of a filled box away from the line of flow and the movement
of an empty box into position to be filled.
After a box has been filled and moved from off the scale platform, it is packed by
the plunger W, after which the filled box can be removed by the attendant and an
empty box inserted in its stead.
It will be understood that the machine shown in the drawings is constructed for
use in filling small boxes or cans, and that a machine constructed to fill larger
boxes will necessarily be altered in detail, without departing from our invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :
1. The combination, in a machine for automatically filling, weighing and packing
boxes, of the hopper, and a spout through which the material continuously flows,
with weighing mechanism and a box carrier, and a funnel frame for the boxes,
and mechanism for moving the boxes and funnel into and out of line with the
spout of the hopper as the weighing mechanism dictates, without waste, substantially
as specified.
2. The combination of the hopper, the spout through which the material has a
continuous flow, the disk carrying the boxes to be filled, a frame F, by which the
material is guided into said boxes, said frame having a series of partitions, so that on
the movement of one box out of line with the spout, and the movement of another
box into line with the same, the partition will cut off the flow of material into one
box and allow it to flow into the other box, substantially as described.

page_text: 3. The combination of the hopper, the intermittently moved box carrier, having
cups on which are supported the boxes to be filled, with weighing mechanism and a
platforin adapted to support the cup and box being filled, substantially as specified.
4. The combination of the hopper, the intermittently rotated shaft (, disk D
carrying platform e, springs e¹ with a funnel frame F, having projections ƒ for
holding the boxes to be filled in place on the platform e, substantially as specified.
5. The combination of the hopper, box carrying disk D having radiating slots g,
an intermittently rotated disk L having pins p adapted to engage with the slots in
said disk, substantially as described.
6. The combination of the hopper, the box carrying disk D, driving shaft J, a
friction disk K secured thereto, a friction disk I adapted to drive said disk D, with
a stop plate S for said disk L, with a scale beam adapted to trip said plate and release
the disk L, substantially as set forth.
7. The combination of the hopper, the rotated box carrying disk, and the scale
beam, with the shaft J having a friction-disk, a friction disk L, adapted to drive the
box carrying disk, and having pins p, a spring plate engaging one of said pins, a
trigger s, and pins t on the shaft adapted to engage with the trigger and depress
the plate S when the weight of the box overbalances the scale weight, substantially
as specified.
8. The combination of the scale beam, the projection thereon, a friction disk L,
having a pin.p, a spring plate S engaging with said pin, with a trigger s pivoted to
said plate and having a lip s¹ and pins t on the shaft, the whole combined and acting
substantially as described.
9. The combination of the intermittently rotated box carrier D, a driver cam U,
with a packing plunger W pivoted to a lever W, said lever having a pivoted cam
block adapted to the slot of the cam U, and a trigger Y adapted to press on the
pivoted cain block and direct it into the slot of the cam, substantially as described.
10. The combination of the box carrying disk D, the shaft J, the disk L, having
pins p, and cam U, a lever W having a packing plunger Ws, and a cam block, with
a trigger Y, one arm of which is adapted to be acted upon by a pin p on the disk L,
and the other arm adapted to act upon the cam block and to throw it into the groove
in the cam U, substantially as and for the purpose described.
11. The combination, in a box filling machine, of the rotated carrying disk D
supporting the box to be filled, with a funnel frame having partitions 9 which form
the funnels for the different boxes, said partitions terminating in a knife edge g¹,
substantially as shown and described.
12. The combination of the shaft J, the cam U thereon, and a lever W carrying a
packing plunger, with a pivoted cam block carried by said lever, and a stop bar X,
acting to limit the upward movement of said lever W, and at the same time steady
the cam block, substantially as shown and described.
Dated thin 14th dev of Ducember 1990.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.