Improvements in or appertaining to Weighing Appliances for Shop and other Use.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Jan., 1897-Accepted, 3rd Apr., 189?
Improvements in or appertaining to Weighing Appliances for Shop
and other Use.
I, JOSEPH TRANTOM of 11 & 13 Cheapside, Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster, Grocer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention is designed to economise the space usually required for weighing
scales, to minimise the wear and tear thereof and to render operations therewith
quicker and easier.
In carrying out my invention I form the pillar or support, now used for carrying
a single beam, of sufficient height and strength to support any required number of
beams and I so dispose the various beams as to obtain ready use of each without
interfering with the free action or simultaneous use of the others.
Instead of the usual weightplate hung by chains or similar means I provide a
rigid weight carrier suspended freely from the knife edges at the end of the
beam, constructed so as to receive each of the requisite number of weights into
positions special to each, in such manner that the centres of gravity are plumb.
I also provide a contrivance which I term a weight rest constructed and fixed
so as to receive each weight into a position immediate opposite and in close
proximity to its special position on the weight carrier when the latter is at rest.
1 form the weights and their resting places on the weight carrier and weight
rest of such shapes that the weights may be easily pushed, slid or rolled, into the
required position and retained therein.
In order that the weight carrier may be guided when descending into such a
position that each weight will be opposite its own vacant space and be retained
there when the weight carrier is at rest, I fix a suitable projection upon the
extended foot of the pillar and provide a corresponding cavity at the bottom of
the weight carrier or 1 may reverse this method and fix the projection to the
weight carrier and make the cavity in the foot.
The principle of the invention (except that portion relating to the multiplication
of beams) is applicable to all weighing instruments with which loose weights are
used including those where the weights are placed above the fulcrum.
Some of the advantages of this invention in addition to the objects specified are
that the weights not being easily removable are ready for instant use, and are not
so easily lost or stolen, and being isolated do not come into contact with substances
often littered about counters and so remain clean and accurate.
Dated this 27th day of April 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or appertaining to Weighing Appliances for Shop
and other Use.
I, JOSEPH TRANTOM, of 11 & 13, Cheapside, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Grocer, 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 is designed to economise the space usually required for weighing
appliances, to minimise the wear and tear thereof and to render operations
therewith quicker and easier.
The invention will be understood from the following description, reference
being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a plan of my weighing instrument combining three scales on one
standard or support;
Figure 2 an oblique elevation of the instrument as seen when looked at in the
direction of the arrow depicted in Figure 1;
Figure 3 an end elevation of one of the weight carriers separated from the
scale;
Figure 4 an end elevation of the scales showing the scale beam B¹ and its
appurtenances;
Figure 5 a front elevation of large scales suitable for warehouses;
Figure 6 a detail view of the conical projection;
Figure 7 an elevation of the invention applied to a counter scales, in which the
tray for the reception of the article to be weighed and also the rests and weights
are above the centre of gravity of their weighbeam;
Figure 8, an elevation of my invention as applied to platform weighing
machines.
Referring to Figures 1-6 inclusive, I make the pillar, standard or support A
now used for carrying a single beam of sufficient height and strength to support
any required number of beans, and I so dispose the various beams as to obtain a
ready use for each without interfering with the free action or simultaneous use of
the others. B is one of these beams, B¹ another and B2 a third. C, C and C³ are
pans or trays provided for the reception of the articles to be weighed, these being
hung from the ends of the respective beams B, B1, B³. It will be seen that two
of the beams B and B are shown at right angles, the longest one B being at the
top of the standard, and the shortest one B lower down, with a beam B' of
intermediate length between, and by this arrangement, each scale is clear of the
others, and can be worked separately. Instead of the tray or pan for the reception
of the weights which usually hangs by chains, I provide a weight carrier
suspended freely from the knife edges of one end of the scale beam, constructed so as
to receive one or more or all of the requisite number of weights into positions
special to each, and in such a manner that the centres of gravity of the weights
when placed on the carrier and the centre of gravity of the carrier are practically
in a vertical line. Oue form of these carriers D' is shown in Figure 4 as applied
to scale beam B' and also in Figure 5. These are provided with shelves d' or
their equivalent to receive and sustain weights such as E. In close proximity to
this carrier, I provide a stationary rest F¹ fixed to the base plate, having similar
shelves f, the open ends of which are arranged immediately adjacent and opposite
to the shelves d of the carriers D' when the carriers D' are at rest on the base.
The shelves d' and j¹ are therefore in pairs. In each pair of shelves I place. a
given weight so formed as to roll from one shelf into the other. It will be noticed

page_text: that the lighter weights are at the top, and the heavier ones below, thus enabling
the respective weights to be readily distinguishable by their position. The
weights may be made with grooves to keep the weights in place, and yet enable
them to be easily rolled from the carrier Di into the rest F1 and vice versa. I prefer
that each pair of shelves shall deviate a little (such deviation varying according
to the size and form of the weight) from the horizontal line, that is to say the
shelves shall slope or curve upwards to their adjacent edges, so that the weight
shall not accidentally roll out of the carrier or rest, but shall keep its place.
Figures 1 and 2 show another form the carriers may take, as applied to the
scale beam B. In this case the carrier D of the scale and the stationary rest F
are formed with a series of flat shelves or trays d and f arranged in pairs, one
given weight being provided for each pair, and capable of being slid or shifted
from one shelf to the opposite shelf of the same pair. It must be understood that
I do not restrict myself to the exact arrangement of shelves shown as other forms
of shelves or supports may be adopted, of which an illustration is provided in
Figures 1 and 2, in which case the carrier D' and rest F have circular trays
or ring supports in pairs, to and from which the respective weights are transferred
by lifting.
In order that the weight-carriers may be guided into and retained as required in
such a resting position that each weight will be opposite its respective vacant
space, I fix a suitable projection H (preferably a cone modified by one or more
flattened surfaces, (see Figure 6) upon the extended foot of the pillar or standard
or connected therewith, and provide a corresponding cavity to fit upon such
projection at the bottom of the weight-carrier, or I reverse this method, fixing
the projection to the weight-carrier and the cavity in or connected with the
standard.
The scale depicted in Figure 5 is a suitable one for warehouse use, and shows
that my invention of rests and carriers can be applied to single beam scales with
equal advantage. The conical projection H is in this case formed on the pivotted
lever I which is raised into engagement with carrier D' or lowered by the handle J
and short lever G, instead of being formed on the base plate. The other reference
letters will be understood by reference to the preceding description.
The mode of action is as follows:-
Assuming that a given weight has been placed on each shelf in carriers D D'
or D and it is desired to weigh an article placed on the trays, so many of the
weights are rolled or slid from the stationary rest into the carrier as will be found
to exactly balance the article, thus ascertaining its exact weight. The weights
employed may represent various weights from ounces to cwts. (more or less) the
lighter weights being preferably at the top of the carrier and the heavier ones at
the bottom. When the weighing is finished, by pulling the handle J (when used)
the carrier D' can be raised in such a position that the shelves d' will coincide
with the shelves f¹ in the stationary carrier F, and those weights used in the
weighing can be rolled back from the shelves of the carrier D to the opposite
shelves in the rest F¹.
My invention as applied to weighing appliances in which the trays or receptacles
provided for the reception of the articles to be weighed, and also the weights are
so placed as to be above the centre of gravity of their weigh beam, is shown in
Figure 7. In this case D is the carrier at the end of scale beam B held erect by
any suitable arrangement of secondary beams underneath, F the weight rest with
shelves for the reception of the weights E, and C the tray for the reception of
the goods to be weighed. The other reference letters will be understood by
referring to the foregoing description.
As applied to platform scales, the invention is shown in Figure 8, in which B is
the steel-yard, J the weights, D the carrier suspended from the end of the steel-
yard, and F the weight rest. Thus it will be seen that any or all of the weights.J
can be transferred from the rest F to the carrier D when it is required to weigh
an article on the platform. When the tixed balance K is pressed against the

page_text: abutment L (the steel-yard B being first lowered by the release of the handle. M)
the shelves and d are conveniently in line with each other for the transference
of weights J.
Among the advantages of my invention, it may be mentioned that, the weights
not being easily removable are ready for instant use, they are therefore not easily
lost or stolen, and are conspicuous and readily distinguishable by their positions in
use, and being isolated do not come in contact with substances commonly littered
about counters and so remain clean and accurate. I do not confine myself to the
exact arrangement shown, as instead of rolling weights or sliding weights, the
weights may be lifted from the rest to the carrier and vice versa, and hooked on in
place or otherwise, nor do I restrict myself to the particular class of weight,
carrier and rest applied to each individual scale beam.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a weighing scale, the combination with and arrangement on one frame or
standard of two or more scale beams so mounted and disposed thereon that when in
use each can be individually used, without interfering with the free action or
simultaneous use of the others, substantially as described.
2. A weighing appliance in which that part of the appliance adapted for the
reception of the weights is formed of a carrier with shelves, hooks or ledges into
which the weights can be slid, lifted or rolled laterally, in combination with a
stationary fixed rest with similar shelves, hooks or ledges so placed in the same
plane, and in juxta-position to the scale carrier, that the weights can be slid, lifted
or rolled laterally from one carrier into the other without removing them from the
apparatus, substantially as described.
3. The improvement in weighing appliances which consists in so forming that
part which receives the weights, of a carrier having a series of shelves each
adapted to receive a given weight, and in arranging in close proximity to these
shelves a stationary rest, having shelves so placed that the said weights can easily
be passed, slid or rolled into the scale carrier from the stationary rest and vice-versa,
and retained therein as required whereby the weights are always in position for
use, are not easily lost or stolen, and are readily distinguishable by their positions
in use so that a person seeing the position of the weights may distinguish which are
in use without closer inspection, substantially as described.
4. In a scale of the kind set forth, forming the shelves of the carriers, so that
the path of transit of the weights from one carrier to another shall deviate a little
from the horizontal line and be higher in the middle of the transit, substantially as
set forth.
5. In a weighing instrument of the kind described, arranging and constructing
the weight carrier in such a manner that the respective centres of gravity of each
of its weights when placed thereon, and the centre of gravity of the carrier itself
are practically in a vertical line substantially as described.
6. In a weighing instrument in which loose weights are used, the device for
bringing the weight-carrier into a suitable and stable position relative to that of a
weight-rest and retaining it in that position for the purpose of passing weights on
or off, substantially as described.
7. The general arrangement and construction of parts forming my improved
weighing appliances substantially as set forth in reference to Figures 1 to 4
inclusive, Figure 5, Figure 7 and Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 21st day of January 1897
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and London, Patent Agents.