US1589270A - Automatic weighing machine - Google Patents

Description

June 15 192s. 1,589,270

J. B. VAN DEREN AU'IOMATTC WEIGHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 26. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

June 15 1926. 1, 9,270

J. B. VAN DEREN AUTOMATI C WEIGHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 26, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

Patented June 15, 1926.

UNITED STATES JAMES B. VAN DEREK, OF KINGFISHER CDUNTY, OKLAHOMA.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

Application filed September My invention relates to automatic weiglr ers en'iploying a two compartment coir tainer and doors in controlling the discharge openin the conipartments, and among the ob ects of my improvements are, sure and rapid operation combined with accurate weighing and a machine that will not leak or litter. lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel and useful features of construction and combination of parts as hereinafter described and claimed; and in order that it may be fully understood, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation showing a container with portions cut away to show the working parts described;

Figure 2 shows the relation of door hinges and adjacent parts to the container and the manner of Hanging the side walls of the container l igure 3 shows one of the doors and the torsion supporting hinge body employed;

Figure shows the rocker member with knife edge hearings;

Figure 5 is a side view of the last mentioned combination, and, for convenience, shows the member mounted on the partition;

Figure 6 shows a did'ercnt form of defiector with flanges at either end;

Figure 7 shows another form oi deflector which may be employed;

Figure 8 shows a latch mechanism dillerent from that shown in Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a side view of the last mentioned combination, and,

Figure 10 shows a section of grooved pulley with cable attached, which may be enr ployed in place of the rocker element shown in Fi iron 1, 4t and 5.

Referring to the drawings in detail. 1 indicates a container, 2 a vertical partition dividing, {1 portion oi the container into two compartments 3 and t. And 5 and t snow lugs to pivot on knife edges T and 8, which linite edges are a portion oi? a scale yoke or beam (not shown) which rests on knife edges at 9 and it). t will thus be seen that the container is suspended from a scale beam, it heing deemed unnecessary to show the entire scale heam mechanism.

indicates a division bar extending drvrvnward from the par ition, and 12 and 13 show wing doors for opening and closii'lg 26, 1922. Serial No. 590,609.

the bottoms of the compartments alterately. The ends or" the doors are turned upward to overlap the sides of the compartments, wnen the doors are closed, and to form a chute for directing the weighted commodity into a receiver.

The doors are hinged at 14k and 15, which hinges are placed preferably, above the plane of the bottoms of the compartments respectively, when the doors are closed, and above the plane of the commodity supporting surlaces or the doors. 16 indicates an upwardly extending flange at the outer edges or the doors respectively, and 17 shows the lower edge of the side walls of the respective con'ipartments curved inwardly and downwardly to near the surfaces of the doors, when closed. \Vith the doors hinged as indicated, there is a very wide opening between the edge ct flange 17 and the door sni aces when the doors are open, and a suhsr rally complete closure when the doors are closed, and the flanges present a thin edge to the door surfaces, in the closing movement, so that should any commodity adhere to the door surfaces the flanges will cut through it, as the doors close, with out material y retarding the free movement of the doors. And flange 16 will prevent any commodity that might get behind flange 17 from getting out at the sides of the compartment and will compe it to be discluirged in the regular way. This combination shown quite clearly as indicated by numerals 15, 16 and 17 in F are 2.

The division bar 11 permits placing the discharge openings of the compartments close together without the opening door dis charging on to the closing door, and permits the closed door assuming a relaxed position without material discharge. And it will be noticed that, owing to the position oi. the door hinges, the doors have a freeing movement in relation to the division bar so that a very close joint may be made without dan "er of hanging in the opening movement of t c doors. In fact the surfaces of the division bar may he made slightly concave without danger of the doors binding thereon in their opening movement.

Links '19 and 20 are pivotally connected to the doors rcspec ively, at 1.9 and 20, their upper ends being pivotally connected respe-- tirely, to the respective arms of a T-shaped rocker ll and Wh'ih rocker is rigidly mr'i untcd on shaft which shaft is journalled on the container, it being important only, that the rocker be pivoted on surfaces bearing a fixed relation to the supporting portion of the door hinges.

Rigidly mounted on shaft 22 is lock ng lever 23, which is preferably mounted w thin the container, shown, which has oppositely extending arms 2 1 and 25, adapted to engage with gravity catches 26 and 27, which, for convenience, are shown mounted on hopper 28, but may be mounted on any convenient object stationary relative to the downward and upward movement of the container in response to a scale poise. The gravity catches are provided with adjusting screws and 80. which normally rest on knife edges 31 and 32, said adjusting screws providing means for adjustments as between the compartments so that they will each trip the latch mechanism under a like accumulation of weight. The knife edges 31 and 32 present a small surface to the adjustmg screws and therefore prevent the accumulation of dirt under the free end of the gravity catches which would prevent their seating the same during each weighing operation I and consequently cause uneven weighing.

Pivotally mounted on hopper 28 is an oscillating chute 33, pivoted at 33 and having a like pivot at the opposite end of the hopper {not shown), and adapted to alternately change the flow of commodity from one compartment to the other as the doors are opened and closed. Means for effecting this oscillation is provided by link 34 pivotally attached at one end to locking lever 23 at 3% and its other end to rocking lever 35 at 36, which rocking lever is pivotally mounted on the container at 37, and to the upper arm of which is pivotally connected link 38, the other end of said link being pivotally connected to chute 33 at 39.

It will be noticed that by reason of the pivotal connections of the links to the rocker 21 being above its pivotal mounting 22, the opening door gains in leverage as it opens while the closing doorl cooperatively decreases in resistance, and that after the balanced relation point is passed the opening door gains a preponderance of leverage, which will insure the full opening of the door and full closing of the other door. This relation of parts also greatly reduces friction on the trip mechanism and causes a very quick movement of the deflector in the early portion of its movement, in relation to the movement of the doors.

The connection of the links 19 and 20 to the doors below the plane of the door hinges, relative to the supporting surfaces of the doors. and laterally nearer the vertical plane of the hinges than the free edges of the doors, g'ves the doors a leverage on the links and gives the pivot points of the links a more pronounced movement toward the vertical plane of the door hinges, as the doors open, which tends to increase the leverage of the opening door and decrease the leverage of the closing door. Thus it will be seen that the doors cooperate with the rocker in giving the opening door an increasing lever age and the closing door a decreasing resist ance, and, while this leverage may be obtained by the rocker and its link connections alone, it is preferable that the doors do not detract from such leverage to any great extent.

By positioning the links to rocker 21 any desired degree of leverage may be obtained, from the slightest to almost a complete lock, and, for all purposes in a machine of this character, it may become a lock for it can be made to sustain any load that should be placed in either compartment of the container.

As this elen'ient of leverage can be made to greatly increase the operative-power efficiency of the opening door and the hold ing power of the open door, it is very beneficial whether the operative power of the opening door is relied on for the operation of the doors and other operable elements or other power elements are employed therewith-it is positive, reliable, economical and prevents strain or shaking motion being applied to the container as where extraneous power is wholly relied on.

In operation, assuming that the parts bear the relation shown in Figure 1, commodity will be directed into compartment 3 until the scale poise is over-balanced, when the entire container will descend withdrawing arm from engagen'ient with gravity catch 26, when locking lever 23 will swing to the left, rocker 21. accompanying it, which will permit door 12 to open and close door 13, and arm 25 of the locking lever will pass gravity catch 26 and be prevented from a return movement by engagement therewith, thus locking door 13 in closed position. In the meantime the chute 33 will have changed its position and will direct the flow of commodity into compartment l. Should the container begin to ascend before the arm has passed the gravity catch, then the catch will yield upwardly permitting the free passage of the arm to locking position and then drop into place.

In Figures 1:; and 5 a different form of rocker bar and locking arm are shown; 10 indicates a bracket secure-cl to the partition 2. having upwardly extending portions 41 and 4-2 which have a circular opening at the tops thereof as shown at 41-3, and the lower end of the rocker 21 has knife edges which rest in 1 said circular openings all and 42 respectively, as shown in Figure 5. Links 19 and 20 are attached to the respective arms of the rocker as in Figure 1. An extension arm 23, is made in connection with the rocker to take the place of locking arm 23 of Figure 1.

The principal object of this combination is to secure a more quick action of the doors and other parts by reduction of friction by use of the knife edges as bearings for the rocker, -d by placing the rocker on the partition and having the locking arm as a part thereof, the links, or other power trans niitting means may be connected directly to the doors without the intervention of the shaft 22, etc.

In Figure 3, 18 indicates the door hinge casting by the use of which it is unnecessary in small machines, like those used on grain threshers, to use links at both onus of the doors, the torsion of the casting supporting the ends of the doors opposite to the links, and the weight of this casting at the pivot point of the links or nearer the free edges of the doors materially assists in the holding power of the open door.

The deflector shown in Figure 6 is a blade like structure fastened rigidly to sl'laft 22, but may be permitted to have play ccnneetion therewith, and having upwardl; extending flanges at each end thereof +5, to form it into a chute. It will be readily understood that the blade will, as the doors are opened and closed alternately, turn under hopper i 38 and direct the flow of com modity into the proper compartment.

The deflector shown in Figur 7 consists of a plate .8, with edges sligh ly curved 419 and 50, and with ends bent into a rectangular position to form it into a chute and to give surfaces for pivoting it to hopper 28 as at 51 and a like pivot at the other end of the hopper (not shown). This deflector is operated by a pin or roller on locking arm 23 (not shown) engaging race 52 on the defleet-or. l l ith this relation of parts it wil direct the flow of commodity into the eon1- pertinent having its door closed and will alternate as the doors are opened and closed.

lYhile l-igure l.

chute or de'llector shown in considered preferable under most con d ens, the deflectors or chutes shown in r gures ti and 7 may be used to advantage where the environment is not favorable for the use of the first mentioned, for instance, in some cases where this weigher is attached to an old elevator struture.

In the trip device shown in Figures 8 and 9, indicates a post fastened rigidly to the partition 2, as at M and 55, provision made for shaft passing tliirough the the post. 56, the shaft may be journalled there in, and a stop 57, is attached to the upper portion of the post in such manner as to permit to slide up and down at- The lower end of the stop rests on arm which is' pivoted on the post structure at 60, and

a link 61 is pivotally connected to the arm at 62. The upper end of said link being adapted to connection with any convenient object stationary relative to the downward and upward movement of the container. This trip is adapted to work in connection with locking lever in lieu of the gravity catches and 27, and adjustable g avitv catches may be employed asthe arms or the stop 57 (such gravity catches not shown), however the stop as shown will. yield upwardly to permit free passage of the locking lever to locking position. 'I his trip may be employed where a more restricted movement of the beam, or container is desired, or where a deeper engagement of the latch is nccess; nd as it is substantially selfcontained v th the container it is not subject to vibration.

In Figure 10, 63 indicates a grooved wheel like sector to be fastened to shaft 22 by set screw 6 and cable 653 occupies the grooved section. The lower ends of the cable are attached to the doors respectively. Screw (37 holds the cable in position and also pro vides means for tigl'itening the cable, as between the doors, by pressing the cable down into the circular opening with the screw 67 will tighten the cable. It will be understood that this combination will give the same leverage moven'ient in relation to the doors as rocker 21, and it will also be understood that it may be used withknife edges as bearing shown in Figures 4.- and' and it will be found desirable under some cond tion, particularly where the conditions will permit the cables operating through the compartments and consequently through the connnodity being weighed.

From the above description, it will be apiiarent that I have produced improvements in automatic weighers which will operate elliciently, reliably and embody the desirable features of simplicity, strength and durabi .ity and comparative inexpensiveness of construction.

I desire the right to present additional claims from time to time as may be necessary to fully protect my invention.

I claim:

1. In an ant -iatic weigher, a container having two compartments, wing pivoted doors ii'ontrolling the discharge openings of said coin .Jtnients re .vely, said doors havin I 7' extending thing at the outer the.,col, and hinges above the plane of the F-LI f division bar between the iree edges of the doors. a. rocker element pivotally mounted above tie plane of said doors and so connected to said doors so that as either door shall open the other door shall close. the connections to the rocker element being above the plane of the pivot mounting thereof.

2. In an automatic w'eigher, a container having two compartments, hinged wing doors controlliri the discharge openings of said compartments respectively, said doors having upwardly extending flanges at the outer edges thereof, the hinge points of said doors placed above the plane of the commodity supporting surfaces of the doors, the lower side walls of the con'ipartments shaped to form a depending flange overlapping the inner surfaces of the flanges at the outer edge of said doors, when the doors are closed, and a pivoted rocker element mounted above the plane of said doors with power transmitting means connected to said doors respectively and to respective sides of said element above the pivotal mounting thereof.

3. In an automatic weigher, a container having two compartments, hinged wing doors controlling the discharge openings 01 said compartments respectively, the relation 01. the doors, hinges and adjacent portions of the container, when the doors are closed, bearing substantially the relation shown in Figure 2 as indicated by numerals l5, l6 and 17, a division bar between the tree edges oi the doors and a pivotally mounted rocker element above the plane or the doors and power transmitting means connecting the respective sides thereotl': to the doors respectively, the connections 01" said means to said rocker element being above the pivotal mounting thereof.

4. lIn an automatic weigher, a yieldingly elevated container having two compartments, wing hinged doors controlling the discharge openings of said compartments, respectively, a rocker element mounted pivotally above the plane of the doors and means connecting the respective sides of said rocker element to said doors respectively, whereby as either door shall open the other door shall close, the connections out said means to said rocker element positioned above the pivotal mounting of said rocker element, an oscillating loching member bearing a fixed relation to said rocker element, and a pair of adjustable gravity catches mounted stationary relative to the upward and doi'vnward movement of the container and cooperating with said member to lock and unlock the doors alternately until a predetermined weight of commodity accumulates in said compart ments.

5. In an automatic weigher, a container yieldingly suspended and having two compartments, wing hinged doors controlling the discharge openings of said compartments, a rocker element pivotally mounted above the plane of the doors and power transmitting means connecting the respective sides of said element to said doors respectively, whereby as either door shall open the other door shall close, the connections of said means to said rocker element positioned above the plane of the pivoted mounting thereof, and a latch mechanism to alternately hold and release the doors as a predetermined weight oi commodity shall accumulate in said compartments respectively, and embodying normally overlapping elements which shall each recede from the other as the container moves downward.

6. in an automatic weigher, a yieldingly elevated container having two compart ments, hinged wing doors controlling the discharge openings of said compartments re spectively, an upwardly extending flange at the outer edges of said doors, the hinges of said doors positioned above the plane of the commodity supporting surfaces of the doors, the lower edges of the outer side walls shaped to overlap the inner surfaces of said upwardly extending flanges at the outer edges 01 the doors, when the doors are closed, and a rocker element pivotally mounted above the plane. oi the hinges of the doors and power transmitting means connected to the respective sides of said rocker element whereby as either door shall open the other door shall close, the connections of said means to said rocker element positioned above the pivotal mounting of said rocker element, and a latch mechanism to lock and unlock the doors.

7. in an automatic weigher, a yielding ly elevated container having two compartments, wing hinged doors controlling the discharge openings of said compartments, a rocker element pivotally mounted above the plane of the hinges 01" said doors with connections to said doors whereby either door shall open the. other shall close, the connections to said rocker element positioned above the pivot point thereof and laterally at similar distances from the vertical plane of the pivotal. mounting of said rocker element when in central position, and employing the operative power of the opening door, under the gravitative force of the weighed commodity, irrespective oi. the downward movement of the container, in closing the other door and in other operable elements.

8. In an automatic weigher, a two compartment container, a pair of pivoted wing doors controlling the discharge openings of said compartments respectively, a pivotally mounted rocker element, links pivotally connected to said doors and to respective sides of said rocker element at points above the pivotal mounting thereof, a locking element connected to said rocker element and a pair of gravity catches adapted to engage with respective sides of said locking element to alternately lock and unlock said doors respectively.

9. In an automatic weigher, a two compartment container, a pair of pivoted doors controlling the discharge openings of said compartments respectively, a pivoted rocker element, links connecting said doors respectively to respective. sides of said rocker element at points above the pivot thereof, means for locking said rocker element in alternate reverse positions and thereby a1- ternatelylock and unlock the said doors, and a hopper like chute for feeding com-

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