GB347166A - Improvements in or relating to machines for grading eggs or other articles according to weight - Google Patents

Abstract

347,166. Grading eggs &c. by weighing. ROBIN, J. T., 38, Tooting Bec Gardens, Streatham, London. Oct. 23, 1929, No. 32247. [Class 143.] A machine for' grading eggs &c. according to weight comprises a support for the egg mounted to move vertically whilst being rotated about a vertical axis, or otherwise caused to travel in a predetermined path, and adapted to co-operate with a weighing beam that is operatively associated with a series of superposed weights, one or more of which serve when the support is moved vertically due to the weight of the egg, to retain'the support in a definite vertical position corresponding to 'the class or grade to which the egg belongs. As shown in the Figure, the machine comprises a central rotating shaft A carrying a number of weighing beams D supported on ball bearings D<1>. From one end of each beam is suspended a rod E permanently loaded by a weight F and provided with a series of collars for.lifting:in succession a number of weights F<1>, F2, F3. The other end of the. beam carries: a rod C<2> pivotally supporting, by means of a frame C, an egg-carrying lever B pivoted at its inner end B<6> to the rotating shaft. The lower.end of the. frame C carries a pointed shoe C<1> adapted to enter one of a series of grooves H<1>.. H<5> on a stationary drum H. As the levers B are carried round, the operator places an egg in a spring-pressed gripper B<1> at the end of each lever, so that the egg is gripped at three points above. and below -the centre and is held with its longer axis vertical. The shoe C<1> travels in the top groove H<1> until a gap H<6> is reached. If the egg is above a predetermined weight the shoe and weighing beam D descend until arrested, by the pick-up weights F<1>, F<2>, F<3>. The shoe then enters one of. the lower grooves corresponding to the weight of the egg. Whilst the shoe is passing, along the. groove a releasing lever on;the carrying lever B abuts against a fixed stop on.the drum H and by means of a cam opens the gripper B<1> and drops the egg into a padded compartment M<5> for that grade of egg. Instead of employing grippers B<1>, the eggs may be carried by cups or cradles and discharged by tilting. -The apparatus may be enclosed in a casing Ax supported on the central shaft A. In a modified apparatus one set only of pick-up weights is employed, and together with 'the supporting weighbeam D is situated below the frames C C so that rollers at the feet of the frames bear upon the weighbeam in passing, and thereby determine the height of the shoe C<1> before its entrance into the grading grooves. Printing or inking pads or rollers may be arranged so that they are engaged by the eggs as they are carried round, or the grippers may carry inking or printing rollers or.pads for marking the eggs as they are inserted. Printing of the grade mark may be effected whilst the carrying lever B is in its depressed position. The apparatus may be used in connection with automatic packing devices for packing the eggs into cartons such as those described in Specification 327,725, [Class 18, Boxes &c.].