US396394A - davenport - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. S. DAVENPORT.

G01N GONTROLLED WBIGHING MAGHINB.

No. 396,394. Patented Jan. 22, 1889l (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. S. DAVENPORT.

GOIN GONTROLLBD WBIGHING MACHINE.

No. 396,394. Patented Jan. 22, 1889.

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Y (No Model.) 4 Sheets-.Sheet 3. W. S. DAVENPORT.

G01N GONTROLLED WEIGHING MACHINE.

` No. 396,394. Patented Jan. 22, 1889.

N PETERS. Phummbognpher. wzshnlm DA C (No Model.\ 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

`W. S. DAVENPORT.

l G01N GONTROLLED WEIGHING MACHINE. No. 396,394. i Patented Ja.11.22, 1889.

. PETERS. Phutushegnpher. vz-hangin 0.6;

UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

ll'llililAM S. DAV'NPORT, OF ST. JOHNSRRY, VERMOT.

Cl-N-CONTROLLED WElGH|NG-WlCHiNi.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 396,394, dated January 22, 1889.

Application filed March 4, 1887. Serial No. 229,672. (No model.)

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l3e it known that l, lViLLlIAM b. DAVEN- PORT, of St. .lohnslmry, Caledonia county, Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in (oin-(ontrolled \.Veigh E ing-lllachines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention applies more especiallyto that class of scales or weighing-machines usuallv madein the formof platform-scales, with their weighing mechanism inclosed and concealed, but having a visible dial and index-hand and an accessible coin-slot, the whole being so constructed that when a person stands on the platform or places a weight thereon and at the same time deposits a proper coin in the slot the gravitation of the coin will automaticall)Y set the internal mechanism into action and canse the index-finger to move on the dial and thus indicate the correct weight upon the platform.

The invention consists in the peculiar combinations and thenovel construction,arrangez ment, and adaptation of parts, all as more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings annexed, Figure l presents a perspective view ot my improved weighing machine or scale. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the rear side of the pillar and dial-head of the scale. Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevation of the mechanism embodying my inven.- tion within the dial-head with the dial-plate removed. Fig. l is a sectional plan of Fig Figs. 5 and t3 show enlarged fragmentaiwY views of the essential parts of in v inventionviz., the beam with its geared index, the detent, and coin-trip, 85e. Fig. 5 shows the parts in the position when the coin-trip is deflected by the coin, the detent released, and the beam moving under the stress of the bod)v being weighed, whereas Fig. G shows the parts in the positions assumed when the beam is returning to its normal position and the coin is dropped from the coin-trip. Fig. T is a perspective view showing the details of the cointrip, detent, &c.

Referring to Fig. 1,0 indicates the platform of the scale on which the body to be weighed is placed, and l) indicates the platform frame or case, and c the pillar of the scales. All these parts are about as usual in platform-scales, the platform resting upon the usual arrangement of levers, which levers are connected with the scale-beam above the pill lar by the steelyard-rod 7, (see Fig.

2),) which rod rises in the pillar c to connect with the scale-beam, as usual in platform-scales. l. l have not therefore shown the details of the platform and its levers connecting to the steeli yard-rod, as the same are presumed to be of I the usual well known construction and form no essential part of mv invention.

Now the scale-beam and other operative or 3 weighing parts of the scale therewith connected, which are usuali)v exposed above the pillar, are in this scale all inclosed and concealed in ahead or case, f, on the top of the pillar, which is preferably of circular form, mounted centrallY on the pillar, and provided with a hinged door,f, on the rear, secured by a suitable lock. On the front wall of the case is formed a large circular dial, g, (see Fig. 1,) graduated around its circumference in iigures representing different weights up to the limit which the scale is adapted to weigh.

Now 7l indicates the scale-beam, which is i disposed about diametrically within the cenl ter of the circular dial-case f, as shown best in Figs. 3 and l. gular frame, 7c, extends across the middle of the dial-case and is secured thereto and supports the beam 72 and its several adjuncts, as shown in Figs. 3 and i.

lindicates the fulcrum-pivot of the beam, which is preferabllvv a round steel pin, which is seated at each end in the grasp of a triangular group of steel rollers Z, which are free to rotate on studs secured to each. side of the supporting-frame if, thus making a veryv secure and easy-working pivot, which is much better adapted for this form of scale than the usual knife-edge pivot would be. The steellvard-rod (l, (see Fig. Il.) extending from the platform-levers, is connected with the beam hy b v the intermediate lever, j, the short arm of which is fulcrumed in a loop, 3, hanging' from a lug, 7c', on the Vframe 7a, while the long arm is connected bv the usual loops and links with the short arm or pivot 5 on tho beam. The arrangement of leverage between the steelyard-rod or the platform and the scale-beam is therefore, of course, such that the motion is greally multiplied at the beam, as usual, so that comparativelylittle strain will bear on the A strong elongated reetan- IOO beam or its pivots, so that the same will move with great ease and nicety. Now at or near the middle of the beam a spring', n, is connected thereto, the upper end being connected to an adjustable block, '11,', which is hungI by a screw, q, from an overhanging arm or bracket, o, which rises from the frame 71:. The lower end of the spring is connected to a stud, 9, which is adjustable to a limited extent longitudinally of the beam in a short longitudinal slot, lO. The block it is guided vertically by a pin, G, projecting from the bracket-arm o, and by a stud, 8, projecting through a vertical slot in the block and screwing into the arm o, so that. the block is thus prevented from turning, but may be adjusted up and down by turning the screw q, so as to adjust the tension of the spring to balance the beam, as will be understood. A further adj ustmentiy for balance is provided by the stud 9 and slot 10, as will be readily understood.

Referring to Figs. i, 3, and a, it will be seen that the dial g provided with an indexiinger, g', which is rotatable around the same, and the axis g2 of which linger passes centrally through the dial-case transverse to and above the scale-beam 71, and is pivoted or journaled at each end in a triangular group of rollers, l2, which are mounted on studs on each side of the frame 7u, at the middle thereof, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Now from about the middle of the beam there projects upwardly a finely-toothed segmental rack, r, which is curved concentric with the fulcrumpivot of the beam, and which gears or meshes with a pinion, yr', iixed on the shaft g2 of the index-hand, thus gearing the scale-beam positively and directly with the index-hand, so

that when the beam is swayed `or deflected under the influence of strain or weight on the platform the index-finger will move around on the dial to the ligures corresponding to such weight or strain, and when such weight or strain is removed the index-finger will move back to zero, as in the position shown in Figs. l and Now normally the beam and index mechanism and other operative parts of the scale are restrained from moving under the iniiuence of the strain and weight on the platform, and are thus` held or locked inactive at the zero or balance position (shown in Fig. 3) by means of a detent or pawl, s, which is pivoted on the frame L and engages a ratchetrack, s', on the extremity of the beam. This detent will therefore normally hold the Weighing and index mechanism inactive at the Zero position, notwithstanding the fact that a person may stand on the platform or place a weight thereon, and will so remain inactive until a proper coin is inserted to automatically release thedetent and allow the scale to act and indicate. This coin may be inserted in a slot, 13, in the top of the dial-case f, as shown in Figs. l and 3, from which slot a curved chute or guide-tube, i5, leads downward to one end of the frame (see Fig. 3,)

where it terminates over one arm of the cointrip or lever This coin-lever t is an elbowlever with three arms, as also shown in Figs. 5, U, and 7, the outer arm of which is terminated with the coin "bucket or socket t', in which the coin falls as it drops from the tube i5, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5. The inner arm of this coin-lever is provided with an adj ustable weight or counter-balance, f2, while the vertical arm of the lever is 'provided with a p in or projection, il, which approaches or abuts against the detent-pawl s, and this vertical arm is also connected to a valve or cutoff slide, lo', in the tube l5, as well shown in Figs. 3, 5, l), and 7. The coin-bucket i" is open both at top and bottom, and also on one side, and this open side is guarded by an escapement-hook, u, which normally closes the open side of the coin-bucket, so that the coin. when dropped into the bucket, as seen in Fig. 5, is supported edgewise between said eseapementhook and the opposite side of the bucket.

The escapement-hook u extends from a rockshaft, yu, which is formed integral with the hook and is pivoted on the coin-lever just back of the coin-bucket, as best shown in Fig. 7. A counterbalanced trip or pawl lever, r, is pivoted freely on the rock-shaft u', and from the rock-shaft extends a counterbalancing-arm, QF, which is hooked at the end and rests on the trip-lever i'. The trip-lever t* is an elbow-lever, its long horizontal arm projecting out to engage the ratchet-rack s on the scale-beam, while its short arm is pendent yand terminated with the counterbalanceball if', which normally causes the long and unweighted arm of the trip-lever to stand horizontal or parallel with the coin-lever t, as shown in Figs. 3, 5, and 7. The counterbalance-arm u? of the rock-shaf t and escapementhook u normally gravitates against and rests on the trip-lever if and causes the point of the escapement-hook to rest against the side of the coin-bucket, as seen in Figs. 3, 5, and 7 thus retaining the coin. It will be readily seen, however, that if the trip-lever i is raised or deliected upward, as seen in Fig. 6, it will move the escapement-hook u with it and thus release the coin from the bucket, which will then fall into a coin-receptacle below.

The general construction of the mechanism ot' the scale having been now explained, the operation will be readily understood by referring to Figs. 3, 5, 6, and 7. Thus, when when the scale is at rest, the beam will be raised into its zero position, and the indexhand g will st-and at Zero on the dial, as indicated in Fig. 3, and the detent-pawl s will engage the rack s on the end of the beam 7L and hold the beam and other mechanism securely locked in said Zero or balance position. The coin-lever t will also stand in the horizontal position shown in Fig. 3, the counterbalance-weight t2 causing the lever to gravitate against the stop-pin i8, where it will remain while unloaded by a coin. lf now a person stands upon the platform of the scale TOO IIO

IZO

or places a weight thereon, no action will take place, as both the lweighing and index mechanisms are locked by the detent s. It', however, the proper coin, usually a nickel, (tive cents,) is dropped into the slot 13, it will descend the tube l5, and tinally drop into the coin-pocket t on the lever t, the weight of which will now overbalanee the lever and cause the bucketarm to descend until the opposite arm brought against the upper stop-pin, .l il, as seen in Figs. 5, ti, and 7. This movement will torce the pin let against the detent-pawl s, and thus move the same out ot engagement with the beam, and at the same time the slide or cutot't 1G in the coin-tube l5 will be closed, and thus prevent the descent ot any other coin. The beam will now be Vtree to move under the influence of the strain from the platform-levers, and in descending, as indicated by the arrows in Figs. 3, 5, and 7, it will move the index g around on the dial until the tension ot' the beam-spring `n balances the weight on the platform, when the index-hand will then stand at the .figure on the dial corresponding to such weightf lt will be seen that as the beam thus descends the teeth ot the ratchetraek s will engage the end of the trip-lever i', and the lever will slip or trip over said teeth in the manner of a pawl over a ratchet, and, such ratchet movements ot the trip-lever being' downward or away from the arm U2 ol the eoin-escapement n, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 7, it will hence not attectthe coinescapement, which will coutume to hold the coin in the bucket. lYhile, therefore, the weight; remains on the platform the parts will remain in the position shown in Figs. 5 and 7, the coin still remaining in the depressed bucket and the index-iinger standing at the proper weight-figure on the dial. As soon, however, as the weight is removed trom the platform, the reaction ot the beam-spring n will raise the beam to its normal position and bring the indeX-tinger back to its zero-point', and it will be seen on reference to Fig. t3 that as the beam thus aseends, as indicated bythe arrow, the teeth otl the rack s will engage and lift the trip-lever r, and at the same time lit't the arm n2, and thus move ont the escapement-hook u, and thereby release the coin and allow it to drop from the bucket, as indicated in Fig. G. The coin-lever, bein g thus relieved of the weight of the coin, will immediately fall i back to its normal position against the stop 1S, the cut-ott.' slide lo will be opened, and the detent-pawl s allowed to t'all into engagement with the rack s", and as the beam continues to rise the pawl s and lever t will slip over the ratchet-teeth S until the beam reaches its zero-point, when the pawl .s will engage the proper tooth and hold the mechanism inactive, as at tirst, and all gparts will have returned to their normal positions, as in Fig. il.

The coins, when dropped from the coinbucket, descend a chute or passage, lr', in the pillar c, as shownin Figs. 3 into a coin bol\Y or receptacle, zr. rl'his coinbox is hinged to the back of the pillar, as shown in Fig. 2, and swings into the pillar under the end of the chute n" to receive the coins, and is provided with a lock and key to secure it in its closed position in the pillar; but when it is desired to collect the accumulated coins the box is unlocked and swung out and the coins removed through an opening in the top or back ot thebox. The chute n" is provided with a cut-ott valve, y, operated by a spring-lever, y', which engages with a cam-notch, if, in the top ot" the coin-box, so that when the box is swrng into itslockcd position the cam-incline ,1/'3 sways the lever and opens the slide 1/ to allow the coinsI to drop into the box; but when the box is swung out the spring ot' the lever acts to close the slide and prevent the t'all ot' the coins while the box is out.

ln order that each action ot` the scale may be automatically registered, so as to account tor every coin, and thus act as a check on the the collector, a counter or registering device, .2', as shown in Fig. 23, ot any ot' the usual or suitable constructions, is arranged within the dial-head. so as to be operated by the movement ot the beam or other movable part ot' the scale. l pret'er to have the end et the rack s operate the counter at every upstroke ot' the beam by striking the movable arm a", which projects trom thecounter, so that every stroke ot.' the beam will thus impart one impulse to the mechanism ol? the counter to register each action ot' the scale and the receipt oli' each coin, as will be readily understood.

In order to prevent any sudden or jerky motions ot the beam in its up or down strokes, a dash-pot, 2o, is atiixed to the trame 7c, in which works a piston, 2;), which is connected to the beam h, as well shown in lfig. 3.

It will be noted that the long curved or bent torni ot the coin-tube l5 renders it impracticable to inserti anythingI to tamper with the mechanism olA the scale and produce an action without the deposit ot' a coin, and it will be seen that as the scale cannot act unless either a colti ot' the proper denominat'ion is inserted or a disk ot" the same size and weight as such coin t'randulcnt usc ol' the scale is thus practically impossible.

I do not oli' courst` limit mysclt' to the especial way ot' mounting the beam herein shown, nor to the special gearing or connection between the beam and the index-hand, nor to the special t'orm ot' the coin-t rip and detent mechanism, t'or although the special constructions ot these parts t'orm minor features ot' my invention, yet they may be varied considerably without departing trom the principle of my invention.

lt will. be now readily aplneciated that the mechanism ot` mymaehine has the advantage ot simplicity, strength, and accuracy, as it is more conducive to certainty and accuracy to Q operate the index-hand by the motion ot' the and 2. and fall l beam than by the motion ot' the coin-lever,

f and by having the coin-lever release the de- IOO TIO

tent which holds the beam a very responsive, accurate, and reliable action is secured.

A Weight or counter-balance might be substituted for the spring v11; but the latter is preferable.

"What I claim as my invention isl. The combination of the counterbalanced beam 71, having the rack 1', with the rotaryindex-shaft y2, having the pinion f1", and the groups of rollers l2, supporting the indexshaft, snbsi'antiall)v as shown and described.

2. The combination, with the pivoted beam 71, et' the counterbalan(3e-spring 11, attached at one end near the center of said beam, the non-rotating block y11', carrying the other end of said spring, frame and support 0, and adjusting-screw q, snbstantialbY as shown and deseribed.

3. The combination of the framefy and support e and the pivotal beanrlever 71 with the eounterbalance-spring l11, connected to said lever near the center thereof, longitudinallyadjustable spring-stud 9, non-rotating vertically-adjustable bleek n', and ad j ustingsereiv q,substantially as shown and described.

4. ln an automatic Weighing machine, a eoin-receiving-trip device consisting of a connterbalaneed lever, i, having coin bucket or socket in combination with the eseapement device u u2, and eounterbalaneed trip-lever fr, engaging the eseapement device, substantially as shown and described.

5. ln an automatic iveighi11g-machine, the combination ot' the scale-beam 71 a detentraek,.s^, attached to the scale-beam of the machine, With the detent-pawl s, engaging the saine, the counterbalanced coin-lever t, operatively engaging said detent-pawl, the eoin recess t on said level', the coin-duct l5, terminating' over said recess, the escapement u 112, and the trip-lever 1', arranged and operating substantially as shown and described.

(l. In an automatic vweighing-maeliine, the combination of the coin-duct l5 and slide, a coin-lever, i, having' a coinbuelet, t', arranged under the end oi' said duct, the detent-pawl s, and a projection on the coin-lever engaging said pawl, with acut-off valve, lG,arranged to close said slide and connected with said coin-lever, wherebyv the valve is closed in the duct when the coin-lever is swayed by the Weight of the coin, substantiallyv as shown and described.

lYlLlilA'M S. DAVENPORTy Witn esses:

PERLEY F. HAZEN, (iHAs. H. HoRToN

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