Improvements in Automatic or Coin Freed Weighing Machines.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Sept., 1887
Specification Accepted, 16th Dec., 1887
Improvements in Automatic or Coin Freed Weighing Machines.
I MORITZ ALEXANDER-KATZ of 26 Neue Königstrasse Berlin N.O. in the Empire of
Germany 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 :-
This Invention relates to weighing machines which can only be used after previous
payment of the weighing fee by the introduction of a certain coin. In the interior of
the case there are arranged one before the other the weighing apparatus proper and a
sector or rack rotating a pointer or its equivalent by means of a small wheel or pinion
both the weighing apparatus and the sector being capable of moving independently
of each other on the same centre or axis-Thoir axes of revolution being in the same
line their angular vibrations describe concentric circular lines, so that the slightest
movement of the weighing apparatus when loaded is transmitted to the pointer on the
dial by the movement of the loose or moveable sector or rack but the mechanism is so
arranged that this movement cannot be transmitted until the sector or rack has been
released by the action of a certain coin.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the several
figures on the annexed sheet of drawings the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is an elevation partly in section of the
mechanism viewed from behind, the back of the case being removed. Figure 2
represents a side elevation partly in section. Figure 4 illustrates in elevation partly
in section a modified arrangement of the mechanism and Figure 3 represents the coin
receiver hereinafter referred to.
The weighing apparatus proper is provided with a lever A. B connected at A by a
link A. C. with a lever C. D. E oscillating on a fixed point at E. This lever is con-
nected at D with a tension rod S connected with the platform and the lever A. B.
which oscillates on a fixed point at o is provided at B with an arm carrying an adjust
able counterweight G.

page_text: When the weighing platform is loaded, the weight G swings to the right until it
balances the weight on the platform. A rack or sector de is carried by an arm
capable of turning freely on the axis o of the lever A. B and gears with a pinion on
the axis of the hand or pointer being so adjusted or weighted as to have a constant
tendency to swing to the right in the arrangement illustrated for example when
released from the catches hereinafter described-This sector or rack is supported or
limited in its vibrations at two points first by a pin h on the weight G (or by a pin h
on the lever A. B) and secondly by a catch q carried underneath a lever a b operated
by the coin receiver-This lever being supported on a fulcrum c is so balanced by a
weight g (Figure 1) that when not acted on by the coin it retains the sector de in
the position indicated in Figure 1 by means of the catch 9 which engages with a
corresponding catch or hook y connected to the sector but directly the coin receiver M
on the end of the lever is weighted with the right coin (introduced through a slit F
and shoot k) the sector is released. The sector then swings to the right until it
bears against the stop or pin ½ (or h₁) so that the amplitude of its vibration or
oscillation corresponds to the extent to which the lever A. B. has been deflected by
the weight on the platform and the pinion on the axis of the pointer is rotated to a
corresponding extent. The action of the weighing apparatus causes pins m₁ m, m, on
the arm carrying the weight G to lift or tilt a trap f (supported on a pin i) under the
coin receiver M (see detail drawn to a larger scale, figure 3) by means of a small
lever and cause the coin to drop so that the lever a b returns to its original position.
When the weighing mechanism returns to its normal position the sector is likewise
pushed over to the left by the pin h (or h₁) and the hook y reengages with the
catch.q.
The scale on the dial is suitably divided for indicating the weights and the pinion
is of such a size that when the weighing apparatus is loaded with say 50 or 100 pounds
for example the pinion and the pointer describe one complete revolution. Above the
pointer or the dial there is an easily moveable sliding plate R or an easily moveable
sector provided with several teeth or pins s, 8, above which is a scale marking
the Hundred-weights or Hundred pound weights. Close to these teeth or pins &₁
there is a pint which moves with the pointer and which after every complete revolu-
tion of the latter pushes the said plate or sector one point further, thus bringing the
number indicating the Hundredweights (or Hundred pound weights) before an
opening in the case. When the weighing mechanism returns to its normal position
the plate or sector also returns to its zero position. The pinion r can be made either to
gear with the sector de from the inside (Figure 1) or a plain wheel may be substituted
for the pinion such wheel being arranged outside of the sector de, a fine steel band,
a chain, a catgut-string or the like being attached to one end of the sector at e and
carried around to the wheel the other end of the sector at d and thus producing the
revolution of the pointer or its equivalent as indicated in Figure 4. Instead of
arranging the coin balance lever a 6 carrying the catch g as a two-armed lever (as in
figure 1) the engagement of the catch q with the hooky may be ensured by a spring P
(figure 4) the dropping of the coin on the lever a 6 tilting this lever and releasing
the hook y as herein before described. As at that movement the person introducing
the coin stands upon the weighing platform this suffices to release the sector and to
produce the indication of the weight. As soon as the weighing platform becomes
free the weighing mechanism returns to its normal position, the hook y engages with the
catch q and the sector operating the pointer is rendered immoveable until released by
the introduction of another coin. It is evident that a rotating dial in combination
with a fixed pointer may be substituted for the rotating pointer hereinbefore
described.
b
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,
1st. A self-acting weighing machine in which a rack or sector capable of turning freely

page_text: means of a small wheel or pinion its position being controlled on the one hand by a
catch q attached to the coin balance lever and on the other hand by a stop (h or h₁)
attached to a moving part of the weighing mechanism so that its action can not begin
until after the said catch has been released by the introduction of a certain coin and
the amplitude of its oscillation is limited by the extent of displacement of the weighing
mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
2nd. In self acting weighing machines the combination of a pointer or its equivalent
for indicating pounds or other weights with a supplementary dial or a sliding plate
or its equivalent indicating hundreds of pounds or any other higher units of weight
this latter indicating mechanism being operated intermittently at every single revolu-
tion of the pointer or its equivalent by a pin or tooth formed on or moving with the
latter and returning to its original zero position when the weighing platform is
relieved of the weight all substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
3rd. The combinations and arrangements of parts constituting the improved
automatic weighing machines substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
by the accompanying drawings.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic or Coin Freed Weighing Machines.
1 MORITZ ALEXANDER-KATZ of 26 Neue Königstrasse Berlin N.O. in the Empire of
Germany 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:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the weighing machine described by
Percival Everitt in his specification No. 16433 of 1884 which can only be used after
previous payment of the weighing fee by the introduction of a certain coin. In the
interior of the case there are arranged one before the other the weighing apparatus
proper and a sector or rack rotating a pointer or its equivalent by means of a small
wheel or pinion both the weighing apparatus and the sector being capable of moving
independently of each other on the same centre or axis-Their axes of revolution
being in the same line their angular vibrations describe concentric circular lines, so
that the slightest movement of the weighing apparatus when loaded is transmitted to
the pointer on the dial by the movement of the loose or moveable sector or rack
but the mechanism is so arranged that this movement cannot be transmitted until the
sector or rack has been released by the action of a certain coin.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the several
figures on the annexed sheet of drawings the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is an elevation partly in section of the
mechanism viewed from behind, the back of the case being removed. Figure 2
represents a side elevation partly in section. Figure 4 illustrates in elevation partly
in section a modified arrangement of the mechanism and Figure 3 represents the coin
receiver hereinafter referred to.

page_text: The weighing apparatus proper is provided with a lever A. B connected at A by a
link A. C. with a lever C. D. E oscillating on a fixed point at E. This lever is con-
nected at D with a tension rod S connected with the platform and the lever A. B.
which oscillates on a fixed point at o is provided at B with an arm carrying an adjust-
able counterweight G.
When the weighing platform is loaded, the weight G swings to the right until it
balances the weight on the platform. A rack or sector de is carried by an arm
capable of turning freely on the axis o of the lever A. B and gears with a pinion on
the axis of the hand or pointer being so adjusted or weighted as to have a constant
tendency to swing to the right in the arrangement illustrated for example when
released from the catches hereinafter described-This sector or rack is supported or
limited in its vibrations at two points first by a pin h on the weight G (or by a pin h
on the lever A. B) and secondly by a catch q carried underneath a lever ab operated
by the coin receiver-This lever being supported on a fulcrum c is so balanced by a
weight (Figure 1) that when not acted on by the coin it retains the sector de in
the position indicated in Figure 1 by means of the catch q which engages with a
corresponding catch or hook y connected to the sector but directly the coin receiver M
on the end of the lever is weighted with the right coin (introduced through a slit F
and shoot k) the sector is released. The sector then swings to the right until it
bears against the stop or pin h (or ₁) so that the amplitude of its vibration or
oscillation corresponds to the extent to which the lever A. B. has been deflected by
the weight on the platform and the pinion on the axis of the pointer is rotated to a
corresponding extent. The action of the weighing apparatus causes pins m. m, m, on
the arm carrying the weight G to lift or tilt a trap (supported on a pin i) under the
coin receiver M (see detail drawn to a larger scale, figure 3) by means of a small
lever p and cause the coin to drop so that the lever ab returns to its original position.
When the weighing mechanism returns to its normal position the sector is likewise
pushed over to the left by the pin h (or h₁) and the book y reengages with the
catch 9.
The scale on the dial is suitably divided for indicating the weights and the pinion
is of such a size that when the weighing apparatus is loaded with say 50 or 100 pounds
for example the pinion and the pointer describe one complete revolution. Above the
pointer or the dial there is an easily moveable sliding plate R or an easily moveable
sector provided with several teeth or pins s₁s, above which is a scale marking
the Hundred-weights or Hundred pound weights. Close to these teeth or pins s₁ 89
there is a pint which moves with the pointer and which after every complete revolu-
tion of the latter pushes the said plate or sector one point further, thus bringing the
number indicating the Hundredweights (or Hundred pound weights) before an
opening in the case. When the weighing mechanism returns to its normal position
the plate or sector also returns to its zero position. The pinion r can be made either to
gear with the sector de from the inside (Figure 1) or a plain wheel may be substituted
for the pinion such wheel being arranged outside of the sector de, a fine steel band,
a chain, a catgut-string or the like being attached to one end of the sector at e and
carried around to the wheel the other end of the sector at d and thus producing the
revolution of the pointer or its equivalent as indicated in Figure 4. Instead of
arranging the coin balance lever ab carrying the catch q as a two-armed lever (as in
figure 1) the engagement of the catch g with the hook y may be ensured by a spring P
(figure 4) the dropping of the coin on the lever ab tilting this lever and releasing
the hook y as herein before described. As at that movement the person introducing
the coin stands upon the weighing platform this suffices to release the sector and to
produce the indication of the weight. As soon as the weighing platform becomes
free the weighing mechanism returns to its normal position, the hook y engages with the
catch and the sector operating the pointer is rendered immoveable until released by
the introduction of another coin. It is evident that a rotating dial in combination
with a fixed pointer may be substituted for the rotating pointer herein before
described.

page_text: 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 I am
aware of Everitt's specification No. 16433 of 1884 and Ubrig's specification
No. 1979 of 1887 and I do not claim anything therein described and claimed but
what I claim is,
1st. A self-acting weighing machine in which a rack or sector capable of turning freely
on an extension of the axis of the weighing lever operates the pointer or its equivalent by
means of a small wheel or pinion its position being controlled on the one hand by a
catch attached to the coin balance lever and on the other hand by a stop (h or h₁)
attached to a moving part of the weighing mechanism so that its action can not begin
until after the said catch has been released by the introduction of a certain coin and
the amplitude of its oscillation is limited by the extent of displacement of the weighing
mechanism substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
2nd. In self acting weighing machines the combination of a pointer or its equivalent
for indicating ponnds or other weights with a supplementary dial or a sliding plate
or its equivalent indicating hundreds of pounds or any other higher units of weight
this latter indicating mechanism being operated intermittently at every single revolu-
tion of the pointer or its equivalent by a pin or tooth formed on or moving with the
latter and returning to its original zero position when the weighing platform is
relieved of the weight all substantially as herein before described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
3rd. The combinations and arrangements of parts constituting the improved
automatic weighing machines substantially as herein before described and illustrated
by the accompanying drawings.
1000