Improvements in Automatic Combined Weighing and Feeding Apparatus for Carding Engines and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 3rd Feb.,
1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Combined Weighing and Feeding
Apparatus for Carding Engines and the like.
I, ERNST GESSNER, of Auc, Saxony, Machine Maker, 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:-
The automatic combined weighing and feeding apparatus for carding engines
and the like at present in use are so constructed that a certain quantity of the
material to be treated is periodically deposited upon the feed table, but such
apparatus are open to the objection that they permit irregularities in weighing,
and also distribute the material unequally over the surface of the feed table; the
latter defect being chiefly due to the fact that the feed apron does not always
take up the material from the feed box uniformly over its entire width, and is
therefore apt to distribute the material unequally across the width of the weighing
apparatus.
This invention has for its object to obviate such irregularities in the distri-
bution of the material, or at all events to reduce these irregularities to a mini-
mum; and to this end the invention consists in the employment, in lieu of a single
large scale pan as heretofore, of several scale pans of smaller dimensions placed
side by side and adapted to weight the material independently of each other; each
scale pan being provided with means whereby when charged it will be inde-
pendently closed so that the supply of material to it will be cut off; means being
also provided whereby the whole of the scale pans, after all have been charged,
will be discharged simultaneously at predetermined intervals of time. By this
invention the material is distributed equally across the width both of the weighing
apparatus and of the feed table, whilst by the use of several smaller scales in lieu
of a single weighing device, the differences at present observable between the
quantities of material portioned out by the successive weighing operations are
diminished, and as a consequence the considerable differences now found in the
average weights delivered are avoided.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of
this specification wherein Figure 1 is a sectional side view of part of a carding
engine shewing the improved weighing apparatus the scale pan being in position
to receive a charge of material; Figure 2 is a similar view, the scale pan being
in position to discharge its contents; Figure 3 is an outside rear view (partly in
section) of the same portion of the machine and Figure 4 is an external side
elevation of the part shewn in Figures 1 and 2. Similar reference letters and
numerals denote like parts in all the figures.
In Figures 1 and 2 t is the feed apron of customary form with its pins, and s
the doffer for removing the material from the apron and causing it to drop upon
the scale pans which are arranged side by side across the machine as shewn in
Figure 3. Underneath the doffer drum s conduits are formed by partition walls c
corresponding in number with the scales, and below each of these conduits is
situated a scale pan consisting of separable halves 1 and 2. The partition walls e
are mounted on a curved connecting piece 9 of the engine frame and extend

page_text: thence to near the apron t, forming at the same time a cover like a ridge roof
over the two juxtaposed sides of adjacent scale pans into which the conduits dis-
charge like hoppers as may be seen in Figure 3. Each of the said conduits
can be independently closed against the doffer drums and apron t by a
separate cover d turning freely on a pivot pin a. Figures 1 and 2 shew the
position of cover d when open and closed respectively.
Both
The halves 1 and 2 of each scale pan are connected together by hinges at a
common axis and are suspended from one arm of the scale beams b, which in
turn rock in bearings, the other arm of each beam supporting a constant (but
removable) weight q and an adjustable weight r, whilst one of the beams 6 of the
pair which supports a single scale pan, has a third arm or tongue.
halves 1 and 2 of each scale pan have laterally projecting studs adapted to be
engaged by oppositely inclined cam surfaces 21, 22 on levers p fixed on a shaft o
mounted behind the scales, so that when said shaft is partially rotated and
levers are raised, the cam surfaces 21, 22 enter between and separate by a wedge-
like action the pins i respectively appertaining to the halves 1 and 2 of the scale
pans, thus causing the halves to be forced apart as shewn in Figures 2 and 4.
Upon a shaft which extends across the whole engine and is caused to rotate
continuously at uniform speed are fixed small tappet wheels 9, one for each scale
pan. These wheels have for their object to effect in each case the closing of the
corresponding cover d when the desired weight of material has been fed to the
scale pan, and (in conjunction with the mechanism described below) to prevent
any further supply of material entering the said scale pan. Upon a shaft w
placed above shaft and free to rotate, two levers 3 and 4 of curved form as shewn
are provided for each single scale, lever 3 being fixed upon the shaft w, whilst
the other lever 4 is free to turn round on the shaft and is normally held in
position (see Figure 1) by means of a catch-like projection engaging in a
notch y in a spring j. Whilst in this position lever keeps open cover d so
long as may be necessary for charging the corresponding scale pan, cover d
being connected to lever 4 by a rod c.
Lever 4 carries a three armed latch lever G, 7, 8 pivoted on a pin r, the arm 7
normally resting by reason of its superior weight upon the point of the tongue z
of the scale beam as shewn in Figure 1. The arm 8 (opposite to arm 7) resembles
a pawl which, when raised engages with the corresponding tappet wheel 9 on
shaft whilst the third arm 6 serves as a striker to release pawl 8 from the
tappet wheel 9 after displacing or closing of the cover d has been effected.
As soon as the scales are ready for filling, the three arms 6, 7, 8, of the latch
lever are held by tongue clear of the tappet wheels 9 as represented in Figure 1.
At the moment however when the charging of the scale pan is completed, the
tongue by reason of the descent of the pan, is, withdrawn from contact with
arm 7 which being thus free to drop, raises pawl 8 into engagement with the
tappet wheel 9, by one of whose teeth the pawl 8 is pushed backward along with
lever 4, until cover d, which as above stated is connected with said lever by rod c,
is brought into contact with the connecting piece g, whereby the conduit is closed
(see Figure 2). At the same moment, the end of arm 6 strikes against and is
deflected upwards by the nose 12 of lever 3 (see Figures 2 and 3) thus causing
pawl 8 to be released from the tooth of tappet wheel 9.
After all the scales have been charged in this manner and closed against a
further supply of feeding material, the movements for emptying all the scale
pans, which occur at pre-determined intervals of time, are effected simultaneously
and the covers d opened again by means of mechanism common to all the scale
pans and arranged externally of the engine frame, as illustrated in Figures 3
and 4. On shafts o and respectively are fixed wipers 13 and 14 whose angular
movements, and consequently those of the corresponding shafts, are limited in
one direction by stationary stops 15 and 16 respectively, the wipers being in
contact with their corresponding stops when the shafts o and w are in their normal
positions.

page_text: A wheel mounted on a stud externally of the frame of the machine is rotated
at uniform speed by means of a chain driven from the feed table of the carding
engine and carries a two-armed lever f upon whose extremities are fixed laterally
projecting pins 17 and 18 respectively, whereof the pin 17 is adapted to engage
At the pre-
with wiper 13 on shaft o, and the pin 18 with wiper 14 on shaft w.
determined moment for emptying the scale pans, pin 17 is caused to strike against
wiper 13, disengaging the latter from stop 15 and rotating shaft o so as to raise
lever p until the halves 1 and 2 of all the scale pans are separated and the pans
are simultaneously emptied. Thereupon pin 18 strikes against wiper 14 thus
causing shaft to turn and (by means of the lever 3 fixed on said shaft) to drive
lever 4 forward until the covers d of the conduits are opened by the connecting
rods c.
Lever 4 is maintained in this position by catch a engaging with the
notch y of spring as already described. When by its continued movement the
lever releases the wipers 13 and 14, both the shafts o and w return to their
original angular positions in which the wipers rest against the stops 15 and 16
respectively. During the time that the cover d is closed, the feed apron t con-
tinues to convey the material in an upward direction from the feed box, but the
material removed from the apron by the doffer s being unable to enter the conduits
is merely carried round again by the apron.
In order to facilitate the attachment and removal of the scales to and from the
feed apparatus, the bearings 1 of the scale beams bare arranged to slide in slots
in the supporting rail 20, and in order to protect the mechanism of the different
scales from injury and dust, they are enclosed in a casing u.
The number of scales used with a single feed apparatus may vary from two up-
wards, in accordance with the width of the carding engine.
The mechanism herein described may be modified to suit different circum-
stances, the essential features of the invention remaining the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I decare that what I
claim is:-
1. The combination with a carding engine of feed apparatus provided with two
or more weighing devices adapted to weigh the material independently of one
another and mechanism adapted to cause the whole of said weighing devices to be
discharged simultaneously for the purpose specified.
2. In automatic combined weighing and feeding apparatus for carding engines
and the like, the employment of two or more independent scales or weighing
devices arranged transversely of the machine in combination with mechanism
adapted to stop the supply of material to each scale pan independently when
charged and with mechanism adapted to periodically discharge all the scale pans
simultaneously, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 18th day of December 1899.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.