654,366. Cement mixing machines. JOHNSON CO., C. S. July 24, 1947, No. 19947. Convention date, March 2, 1939. [Classes 78 (i), 78 (iii) and 78 (v)] [Also in Group XVIII] A portable material handling apparatus for handling loose bulk material includes (Fig. 1) a storage bin 10, a batch container 12 traversible from a lower loading point to an elevated discharge point along the trackway 39 and weighing means for supporting a lower portion of said trackway to weigh the container contents when the container is in the loading position. General (Fig. 1).-Concrete mixing material is fed from truck T through hopper 110 on to endless conveyer 14 which delivers it into one of the compartments of bin 10. The several materials from the compartments of bin 10 together with cement are dropped into skip 12 which is raised and delivers through hopper 19 into mixer 17 which is driven by motor 123 and receives water from 124 and discharges concrete at 20 into cart 21. Each part of the apparatus A, B and C is inpendently mounted on wheels. The whole is controlled by one man standing on vehicle B. Bin and skip (Figs. 2 and 3).-Bin 10 is divided into three separate compartments 27, 28, 29 having outlets 27a, 28a, 29a respectively, each having a discharge gate 32 which has a rack 36 operated from handle 33 by pinion 34. Pivoted plate 118 directs material fed from endless belt 14 left or right into the bin. The material falls into skip 12 as shown, which is pulled up by ropes 45, which are secured to points 46 on the skip and are actuated by winch drum 43, so that rollers 40, 41 on the skip are guided upwards between inclined rails 39, 39a and the skip tips out its contents at the top of the rails as shown. Jacks 23 are provided to lift the weight of the bin off the wheels when stationary. Weighing machine (Figs. 2, 3, 4).-The bottom parts of the inclined rails 39, 39a are formed separately as rails 39b, 40a closed together at 42, and these separate rails are supported on cradle 85 so that the cradle takes the full weight of the skip and its contents when the skip is at its bottom position. Cradle 85 is supported by springs 86 from scale arms 87 which are pivoted at points x to the frame and which carry hollow shafts 88, the downward movement of which is transferred to inward arms 89 coupled together at 90 through links 91 and 92 to scale beam 93. The weight is recorded on indicator 94 and is counterbalanced by pre-weighted alternative scale beams 95 which are brought into operation in turn by beam lifters 96 so that predetermined weighed quantities of each material fed into the skip. Winch drum 43 (Figs. 6, 7, 7a).-The winch drive is fed from petrol motor 50 and reduction gearing 51 (Fig. 2), by chain 52 and sprocket 53 (Fig. 6), to shaft 44. Sprocket 55 may be clutched to shaft 44 by clutch 54 and, through chain 56, drive driving sprocket 57 of endless conveyer 14 (Fig. 1). Also through splined sun wheel 64 and loosely-mounted planet wheel carrier 67 and rig gear 65, shaft 44 drives winch drum 43, the latter being integral with the ring gear. On shaft 70 are fixed bell-cranks 71, 71a, which respectively control bands 69, 68 of the drum brake and planet clutch. Shaft 70 is rotated, and the bands 69, 68 thus operated by handle 72 (Fig. 4), through the medium of shaft 73, crank 74, toggle levers 75 and 77 pivoted to the frame at 76 and having a restoring spring 80, and an arm 79 fast on shaft 70. Additionally, the skip rotates shaft 70 in the other direction when it (the skip) reaches its discharging position in that a plate 81 on the skip operates the togglelinkage 75-77 through links 82, 84. Normally spring 80 biasses shaft 70 so that the skip rises. Then, when plate 81 strikes link 82, the winch is automatically braked. The operator then moves handle 72 so that both bands 68 and 69 are loose and so allows the skip to descend by its own weight, the bump 97 (Fig. 2) in the inclined rails serving to lessen the speed of descent. Handle 58 (Fig. 4) operates through shaft 59, crank 60 and levers 61 and 62 to operate the clutch 54 which contacts the drive of the endless conveyer 14. Addition of cement, (Fig. 8).-Cement may be added to the skip at its bottom position by hand or it may be fed from hopper 100 by screw 101 through flexible shoot 104 to drop into compartment 105 of the skip via slot 103 in the skip. The cement mixes with the other materials when the skip tips at its uppermost position. Endless conveyer 14 (Figs. 1, 10). Conveyer belt 14 is fitted with cross partitions 114 to convey the material and with side pickets 117 to keep the material in at the side, the material being discharged thereto from shoot 13 by rack-operated gate 112. Flexible members 115, fixed at 115a, and having flexible side portions 116, prevent material wedging as it is fed on to the belt. The conveyer has wheels 119 and is towed at point 121, jack 120 being provided for use when stationary.