US1577012A - Automatic printing scale - Google Patents

Description

,March 716, 1926.

S. G. CRANE AUTOMATIC PRINTING SCALE Filed Nov. 21. 1919 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 15 ,"1926. 1,577,012

S. G. CRANE AUTOMATIC PRINTING SCALE Filed Nov. 21. 1919 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sam-deb 6'. Crane March 16 1926.

s. G. CRANE AUTOMATIC PRINTING SCALE 6 gets-Sheet 3 Fi1ed.Nov. 21 1919 gwuawtop WAX/W Match 15 1926.

s. G. CRANE AUTOMATIC PRINTING SCALE Filed Nov. 21 1919 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

gwoentoz Samue/ 6'. 0/4/78 March 16 1926.

5. G. CRANE AUTOMATIC PRINTING SCALE 6 Sheets-Shet 5 I Filed Nov. 21. 1919 Saw/if 7; W

Momma I March 16 1926. 1,577,012

s. G. CRANE AUTOMATIC PRINTING SCALE Filed New 21. 1919 e sheets-Sheet e i. Patented Mai-J6, 1926 I I UNITED STATES *l -ATENT' OFFICE.

' sAmUEL G. CRANE, F TOLEDO, OHIO, AssIGNoR To TOLEDO sCALE COMPANY, or

, TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC PRINTING SGALE.-

Application filed November 21, 1919. Serial No. 839,685.

To all whom it may concern: In the drawings Be it known that I, SAMUEL G. CRANE, a Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the head citizen of the United States, residing at of an automatic printing scale embodying Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State my invention, the cover plate being re- 6 of Ohio, have invented certain new and moved; 65

useful Improvements in Automatic 'Print- Figure 2 is a detail elevation of a part of ing Scales, of which the following is a the mechanism shown in Figure 1, aportion specification. of the paper-feeding mechanism being This invention relates to automatic checkshown in section;

1 printing scales, and has for its object the Figure 3 is an elevation of a member for 60 provision of a machine which will automatpositioning one of the type-carrying bars; I ically determine the weight of a commodity Figure 4 is a vertical section taken subplaced on the platform, print the same upon stantially on the-line 44 of Figure 2;

a check, and issue the check by means 'en- Figure 5 is an end view of printing mechtirely within the scale itself, the only operaanism forming a feature of my invention; tion performed by the operator being the Flgure 6 is a detail sectional plan view placing of the commodity upon the plattaken substantially on the line 6-6 of,Fig form. Thus, the scale automatically furure 2 and showing the check-severing knife; 1 nishes'a'memorandum of the weight, which Figure 7 is a perspective view of a art in'stores and shops may constitute a check of the knife and a rocking cam for hol ing said-mechanism will not be actuated until in Operation; and

- to be forwarded to the cashier and in factothe paper in position to be severed;

ries forms a permanent'record of the weight Figure 8 is a detail view of a paper feed of the machine part or other commodity that roller pinion and ratchet; I is passed over the platform. When oper- Figure 9 is a detail-elevation of-a ribbon ated' in connectionv with a conveyor, sucfeeding pawl and ratchet; cessive commodities may be weighed and Figure 10 is an elevation of a portion of a printed records of the weights issued in timer forming a part of my invention; rapid succession without the assistance of or Figure 11 is a plan. view of the switch attendance of a weight-checking clerk. Va- Operated thereby; 30 rious other uses to which the scale is adapted Figure 12 is a perspective view of a re- 8 will readily occur to those skilled in the art. setting device, a portion ofthe timer being Another object of the invention is to proshown in connection therewith; vide a novel mechanismior. so timing the Fi re 13 is an elevation of a master operation of the printing machanism that switc for setting the electric mechanism after the weighing operation is completed I Figure 14 is a diagrammatic view of the and the weig ing parts of the scale are at various circuits emp oyed and the devices rest. a l p controlled thereby.

With the above and other objects in view, While my invention isadaptable to many which will readily appear as the invention different st les and makes of scales, whether 'is better understood, my invention consists the load-o setting device therein be s ring, of the novel. construction, combination and lover or pendulum, tho present embo lment arrangement Of'parts to be hereinafter more is particular] adapted for use in connection full described-and particularly pointed out with dial sca es, where'an indicating hand is- "f in t e appended clalms. I adapted to swing over a graduated chart to 96 Reference is to be had to the'accompanyindicate the'weight of the commodity being ing drawings illustrating a preferred emweighed. I bodiment of my invention and wherein simi- Referring to the drawings in detail, the

lar reference numerals designate similar numeral 1 indicates a Scale housing mounted parts throughout the several vlews. I on a column 2 which houses the connections m between the steelyard'4 and the platform lever'mechanism (not shown). As the particular weighing or load-offsetting mechanism of the scale forms no part of the 'pres ing out invention, I will describe it briefly, the mechanism being preferably of the type adapted to weigh comparatively heavy loads, the capacity of the'scale herein illustrated being 1000 lbs. The pendulum mechanism is one that has been found to successfully demonstrate the capabilities of the invention, and shows a double pendulum scale of a well-known type'having a pair of oppositely-swinging load-offsetting pendulums 5, each of which comprises supportsegments 6, the segments 6 being suspended from the lower ends of flexible supporting ribbons secured at their upper ends to the framework of the scale. Intermedb ate the supporting segments of each pendulum is a somewhat larger segment 8, said segment being connected at its upper enc to 'a flexible metallic ribbon which extends over the arcuate face of the segment and is attached at its lower end to an equalizer bar which is in turn connected to the steelyard is substantially identical.

4. The construction of the two pendulums During the swinging movement of the pendulums to offset the weight of the load the rack. 13 connected thereto is moved vertically upward, sai rack meshing with a pinion 14 fixed upon an indicator shaft 15 carrying the index hand 16. This pendulum counterbalance mechanism is suflicient to independently offset the weight of all loads within the capacity of the scale. Supported within the housing 1 and arranged to be held open when the scale is in zero position by means of a lug on the steelyard rod .4: is a master switch 5' in circuit with a source of current G and a solenoid S. The solenoid S .is an element of the timing device which'forms an important feature of my invention. The timing device may be mounted under the scale platform or at any convenient place within or without the scale, for since it is not mechanically connected to the weighing mechanism or printing mechanism, its location is immaterial. The core 6 of the solenoid carries a rack bar 7 mounted for endwise movement on rollers 8' mounted in'stationary uprights 9, as clearly shown in Figure 10. A pinion 10 having its teeth in mesh with those of said rack bar is rotatably mounted upon one ofthe uprights. Connected to said pinion.

and constantly urging it to turn in a direction such as will withdraw the core from the solenoid is a spiral spring 11. The rack bar 7 carries 9. lug 12 which, when the core is drawn into the solenoid, engages a projection 13 on the slidable bar 14 and thereby moves the bar 14 to open at 15' the circuit controlling the solenoid S (see Figure 11).

Pivoted on the insulated plate 16 is an arm .17 which is yieldingly held in the position in which it is shown in Figure 10 by means of a spring 18. =The arm 17 carries a pawl 19 which hangs in the path of the In 20 attached to the rack bar '7. The paw 19 is pivoted upon the arm 17 so that it may be rocked out of the way of the lug 20 as tate during the inward movement of the core 1 6 without being retarded by the pendulum 22. The timing device is so adjusted that the first of the various circuits'controlled thereby will not be closed until a sufiicient time has elapsed for the weighing mechanism to come to rest in weighing position.

The indicator shaft 15 of the scale carries a plate 23, the perimeter of which is made up of a series of concentric arcs giv- (1 ing it substantially the form of a stepped spiral, the function of which'will appear later. A circular plate D, preferably formed of soft iron, is carried by the indicator shaft 15, and projecting rearwardly from said plate D substantially parallel to the axis thereof is a series of equally spaced pins 24.

Pivotally mounted secured to the frame 0 the scale is a hub carrying a substantially semicrescent shaped sector 27. The hub also carries a sector 28 havinga series of stepped peripheral prou on the bracket 25 jections 29, and rigidly secured to said sector 28 is a plate 30, the outer edge of which is formed of a series of stepped concentric arcs The center of mass of the parts car.- ried by saidhu-b is so located that the hub and the parts carried thereby tend to rotate in a clockwise direction, but such movement is normally prevented by the weight of the core 31 of the solenoid S the said core being connected to the hub by means of the link rod 32 which loosely passes through an ear 33 on said hub and is headed at 34 to form a lost motion connection therewith.

As the arm 17 of the timer hereinbefore' described is moved by the pendulum-controlled action of the spring 11, it engages the contact 35 and thereby closes the circuit which energizes the solenoid S The core 31 is thereupon drawn upwardly and the link 32 slides through the loosely fitting opening in the ear 33. The hub and parts carried thereby are then free to swing and theswitch 35 is allowed to close (see Fig- 'ures 12 and 12). The closing of this switch energizes the magnet 36 carried upon the free end of the flat spring 37 securedto the frame of the scale. The magnet 36 immediately springs into engagement with the plate D, thus locking the indicator shaft and the parts carried thereby against movement. The sector-28, with the other parts carried by the hub, continues to swing until the concave edge of the stop members 27 engages one of the pins 24, being prevented from rebounding by the inertia of the roller -38 which is journaled at the end of a pivoted arm 39 and engages the edge of the sector 0. Each of the concentric arcs which form the periphery of the plate 22 subtends an angle of 36, and the plate is mounted on the indicator shaft so that when the load on the platform is from O to 99 lbs. in weight the longest am will lie in the-path of a stop 40 carried by a pivoted type-carrying bar 41; when the load on the platform is from 100 to 199 lbs. in weight the next shorter arc will lie in the path of the stop 40, and so on. The type 42 on the pivoted type-carrying bar 41 may'therefore be arranged to print the hundreds of pounds in any load placed on the platform.

The spaces between the pins 24 register radially with the positioning arcs on the plate 23, and the stop member 27 is so shaped that the angular movement of the sector 28 to bring the stop into engagement with one of the pins 24 is directly proportional to thetens and units of pounds in the weight of the load on the platform.

The plate 30 is secured upon the sector 28 in such position and the concentric arcs forming its outer edge are so arranged that when the load on the platform is from 0 to 9 lbs. more than an even hundred, the arc of longest radius will lie in the path of the stop 43' upon the pivoted type-carrying bar 44; when the load is from 10 to 19 lbs. the

I adjacent arc will lie in the path of the stop,

etc. The type 45 on this bar may therefore be arranged to print the tens of pounds in any load placed on the platform.

The sector 28 has a projection 29 corre sponding to each of the arcs on the plate 30, and each projection has a series of steps along one edge so arranged that the outermost step will lie in' the path of the stop 46 on'the pivoted type-carrying bar 47 when the number of pounds in the load on the scale ends in 0; the next outermost step will lie in the path of said stop when the number of pounds ends in 1; and so on. The'type v48 on the bar 47 may therefore be arranged to print the units of pounds of any load on the scale. i

The type-carrying bars 41, 44 and 47 are determined time after its engagement with the contact 35, closes the circuit which energizes a solenoid S thereby drawing upthe member 49 and allowing the type-carrying bars to swing to printing position. Movement of the member 49jalso operates a check-severing and ribbon-feeding device in a manner to be hereinafter set forth.

Further movement of the arm 17 of the timer brings it into engagement withthe contact 52, which closes the circuit energizing the solenoid S thereby drawing up the core which carries the rack bar 58 meshing with the pinion 59. The pinion 59 has a ratchet and pawl connection with the feed roller 60. .VVhen the rack moves upwardly the pawl engages the ratchet and the roller is rotated to feed a strip of paper 54 to the printing mechanism. The printing hammer 53 is carried by one arm of a bellcrank lever, the other end of which is operatively connected to the core of the solenoid S As the core approaches its limit of upward movement, the printing hammer strikes against the strip of paper 54, momentarily pressing it against an inking ribbon 55 overlying the printing hammer, thereby recording the weight.

Since the end of the arm 17 on the timer moves about a pivot and the rack, bar 7 moves rectilinear-1y, the pawl 19 eventually slips off. the lug 20 and the arm is swung back to its original position by the spring 18 and thereby disengaged from the contacts 52,51-and 35, de-energizing the solenoids S S and S The overrunning mechanism between the pinion 59 and feeding roller 60 permits said roller .to remain stationary during the descent of the rack 58. i The core of the solenoid S carries an ar1n61 having at its end a lateral projection to engage the strip 54 as the core .descends and withdraw it sufficien'tly from the reel 56 over the rollers 57 to leave it slack-when the core ascends, so that it may be easily drawn between the feed rollers.

'The member 49 carries an apertured lug 62 through which passes a rod 63 having a collar secured thereon below the lug 62, a

small coilspring being interposed between the lu 'and the collar. The lower end of the collar 63 is pivoted to an arm 64 rigidly secured to an oval rocking member 65 which with the grid 66 forms a passage for the paper between the feed rollers and the inking ribbon. A air of lugs 67 extends from the upper portion of the rocking member 65, and lying between said lugs is a projection on the end of a pivoted knife 68. When the member 49 falls, the knife in cooperation with the right-angular edge of a stationary block 69 shears oil the printed .end of the strip forming a ticket, which falls into the. chute 70 and slides into the receptacle 71located outside the scale housing.

. The member 49 also carries a lug 72 which engages a' lever 73 having a pawl 74. pivoted thereto to operate the ratchet wheel 75 (see Figure 9). to one of the rollers over which the inking ribbon passes (see Figure 1). Thus, as the member 49 fails, it moves the ribbon to pre sent-a fresh portion thereof for the next printing operation. When the member 49 descends and engages the type-carrying arms 41, 414: and 47, they are swung out of engagement with the plate 23', the sector 28, and the plate 30. As the solenoid S is deenergized the core 31 falls and the head 34 of the rod 32 .ngages the ear 3;) and swings the sector 28 to its original position, thereby opening the switch 35 and (lo-energizing the magnet 36 so that the indicating mechanism is free to swing to its original position when the weight is removed from the scale.

In order to prevent a repetition of the operation of the printing mechanism when the switch 15 is closed as the solenoid core 6 is withdrawn under the influence of the spring 11, I have provided the re-setting device illustrated in Figure 12. This re-setting device comprises a slidable plate 76 of conducting material, upon which is secured a lug 77 of non-conductlng material which is' engaged by the arm 17 asit is moved in the operation of the timer. The plate 76, as it is slid longitudinally by movement of the arm 17, is guided by the. resilient contact plate 78, connected to the switch 5, with which it remains in slidable engagement. As the plate 76 is moved by the arm 17' it is withdrawn from engagement with a contact plate 7 9. The contact plate 79 is connected to the switch 15. The contact plate 79 and slidable plate 76 are thus in circuit with the switch 15 and the solenoid S so that when the plate 76 is withdrawn from engagement with the plate 79 the circuit is broken and the solenoid S will not-be re-energized even though the switches 5 and 15 be closed.

A retractile spring 80 connected at one end to an adjustably mounted bracket 81 and at its other end to an ear on the lug 77 constantly urges the plate 76 into contact with the plate 79. For the purpose of preventing closing of the circuit when the arm 'lhe ratchct wheel 75 is secured- 17 returns to normal position and thereby releases the plate 76, I have provided a. resilient detent 82 which enga es a notch in the plate 76 and thereby hol s it out of 'en-' tact to be engaged by a resilient arm 85 on the movable member of the. switch 5. Thus, when the switch 5 is opened the magnet 83 is energized, drawing down the detent 82 and allowing the plate 76 to be drawn .by the spring 80 into engagement with the plate 79. The-circuit energizing the solenoid S may then be completed by placing a load on the scale platform, thereby closing the switch 5 so that the printing operation will be repeated.

IVhile it will be apparent that the illustrated embodiment of my invention herein disclosed-is well -alculated to adequately fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible to variation, u'iodilication-and change within the spirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a printing scale, in combination, weighing mechanism, a positioning member for determining the position of type carrying means, spaced stop members, connections between said stop members and said weighing mechanism to move said stopmembers into the path of said positioning member, and means controlled by said weighing mechanism for moving said positioning member into engagement with one of said stop members.

2. In a printing scale, in combination, weighing mechanism, a positioning member, spaced stop members movable with said weighing mechanism, means controlled by said weighing mechanism for moving said posi ioning member into engagement with one of said stop members, type-carrying means movable into engagement with said positioning member and means controlled by said weighing mechanism .for moving said type-carrying means.

3. In a printing scale, in combination, weighing mechanism, a rotatable member connected thereto, spaced pins carried by said rotatable member, a positioning member for determining the position of type carrying means, a curved stop carried thereby, and means controlled by said weighing mechanism to move said positioning member until said stop engages oneof said pins.

4. In a printing scale, in combination, weighing mechanism, a' rotatable member connected thereto, spaced pins carried by said rotatable member, a positioning mem-- pins carried by said rotatable member, a

swinging positioning member for determining the position of type carrying means, and a substantially semi-crescent-shaped stop carried thereby and adapted to engage one of said pins.

6. In a printing scale, in combination, weighing mechanism, a rotatable member connected therewith, said rotatable member carrying angularly-spaced stops, a positioning member adapted to swing into engagement with one of said angularly-spaced stops, said positioning member'carrying radially-spaced stops, type-carrying means movable into selective engagement with said radially-spaced stops and means controlled by said weighing mechanism for moving said type-carrying means.

7. In a printing scale, in combinatlon, weighing mechanism, a rotatable member connected therewith, said rotatable member carrying angularly-spaced stops, a positloning member adapted to swinginto engagement with one of said an ularly-spaced stops, said positioning mem er having a series of concentric arcs of different radii along its edge, and type-carrying means movable into engagement with one of said arcs.

8. In a printing scale, in combination, weighing mechanism, a rotatable member connected therewith, said rotatable member carrying angularly-spaced stops, a positioning member adapted to swing into engagement with one of said stops, said position-' ing member having a plurality of stepped projections along its edge, type-carrying means movable into selective engagement with said stepped pro'ections and means controlled by said weig ing mechanism for moving said type-carrying means.

9 In a printing scale, in combination,

weighing mechanism, a rotatable memberv connected therewith, said rotatable member carrying angularly-spaced stops, .a position-.

ing member adapted to swing into engagement with one of said stops, said positioning member having a series of concentric arcs of different radii and a plurality of stepped projections along its edge, type carrying means movable into selective enmechanism for moving said type-carrying means.

10. In a printing scale, in combination, weighing mechanism, a rotatable member connected thereto, spaced axially extending pins carried by said rotatable member, a swinging positioning member, a' substantially semi-crescent-shaped stop carried thereby and adapted to engage one of said pins, said positioning member having a series of concentric arcs of different radii along its edge, and type-carrying means movable into engagement with one of said arcs. v

11. Ina printing scale, in combination,

weighing mechanism, a rotatable member connected thereto, spaced axially extending pins carried by said rotatable member, a

swinging positioning member, a substantially semi-crescent-shaped stop carried thereby and adapted to engage one of said pins, said positioning member having a plurality of stepped projections along its edge, type-carrying means movable into engagement with one of said projections and means controlled by said weighing mechanism for moving said type-carrying means.

12. In a printing scale, in combination, weighing mechanism, a rotatable member connected thereto, spaced axially extending pins carried by said rotatable member, a swinging positioning member, a substantially semi-crescent-shaped stop 7 carried thereby and adapted to engage one of said pins, said positioning member having a series of concentric arcs of different radii and a plurality of stepped projections along its edge, and type-carrying means movable into selective engagement with said arcs and projections.

13. In a printing scale, in combination, weighing mechanism, a pivoted type-carrying bar, means to limit the pivotal movement of said bar according to the number of even hundreds of pounds of load on the scale, a

second pivotal bar, means to limit the pivfrom said weighing mechanism to withdrawv said holding means and allow said positioning member to move into connection with said weighing mechanism. gagement'with said arcs and said pro ectlons and means controlled by said weighing 1 5. In a printing scale, in combination, welghing mechamsm, a positioning member,

means to normally hold said positioning member out of connection with said weighing mechanism, means operated from said weighing mechanism to withdraw said holding means and allow said positioningmemher to move into connection with said .weighing mechanism, type-carrying mechanism, means to normally hold said type-carrying mechanism out of engagement with said positioning means, and means to withdraw the second said holding means from engagement with said positioning means and thereby allow said type-carrying mechanism to move into engagement with said positioning member.

16. A device as defined in claim 15 in combination with means to actuate the first type-carrying mechanism out of engagement with said positioning means, and electric means to withdraw the second said holding I weighing mechanism,

means from engagement with said position ing means and thereby allow said typecarrying mechanism to move into engagement with said positioning member.

19. In a printing scale, in combination, type positioning means, means to normally hold said positioning means out of connection with said weighing mechamsm, means operated from said weighing mechanism to withdraw said holding means and thereby allow said positioning means to move into engagement I with said weighing mechanism, printing type, type-carrying mechanism, means to normally hold said type-carrying mechanism out of engagement with said positioning means, means to withdraw the last said holding means and thereby allow the said type-carrying mechanism to move into engagement with said positioning means, and

means for taking an impression from said printin type.

20. Tie combination with the device definedin claim 19, of means for controlling the sequence of operations thereof.

21. In combination with the weighing mechanism .of a scale, a solenoid, means to energize solenoid upon movement of said weighing mechanism from zero position, a timing device operated by said solenoid, a plurality of solenoids controlled by said timing device, and printing mechanism controlled by said weighing mechanism and operated by the last said solenoid.

22. In a printing scale, in combi'mtion, weighing mechanism, a circuit, a normally open switch in said circuit, means for closing said switch upon movement of said weighing mechanism from zero position and opening upon return of said weighing mechanism to zero position, a timer, electric timer operating means in said circuit; a normally closed clrc-uit breaker in said circuit opened by operation of said timer, and

means operated upon opening said switch to close said circuit breaker.

23. In a printing scale, in combination,

weighing mechanism, a timer circuit, means connected to said weighing mechanism to close said circuit upon movement of said Weighing mechanism from zero position, a timer operated upon closing said timer cir-. cuit, type-positioning means, an operatin circuit therefor, a device for locking sai weighing mechanism, an operating circuit for said locking device closed upon movement of said positioning means, type-carrying means, an operating circuit therefor, printing mechanism, and an operating circuit for said printing mechanism, the circuits for operating said type-positioning means, type-carrying means and printing mechanism being successively closed and then opened by said timer.

24:. In a printing scale, in combination, weighing mechanism, a timer circuit, means connected to said weighing mechanism to close said circuit upon movement of said weighing mechanism from zero position, a timer operated upon closing said timer circuit, type-positioning means, an operating circuit therefor, a device for locking said operating circuit for said locking device closed upon movement of said positioning means, type-carrying means, an operating circuit therefor, printing mechanism, an operating circuit for said printing mechanism, the circuits for operating said type-positioning means, type-carrying means and printing mechanism being successively closed and then opened by said timer, and a check-severing device operated upon the opening of the circuit for said type-carrying means.

25. In a printing scale, in combination, weighing mechanism, a timer c1rcu1t, means connected to said weighing mechanism to close said circuit upon movement of said weighing mechanism from zero position, a timer operated upon closing said timer circuit, type-positionin means, an operatin circuit therefor, a evice for locking sai weighing mechanism, an-

Weighing mechanism, an operating circuit carrying means and printing mechanism for said locking device closed upon mo'vebeing successively closed and then openedby ment of said positioning means, type-carrysaid timer, a re-setting circuit for said 10 ing means, an operating circuit therefor, timer, and means to close said re-setting cir- 5 printin mechanism, an operating circuit cuit upon return of said weighing mechafor sai printing mechanism, the circuits for nism to zero position. operating said type-positioning means, type- SAMUEL G. CRANE.

Images