US299328A - beehler - Google Patents

Description

7 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.) A

W; H. BEEHLER.'

ELECTRIC AUTOMATIC RECORDING APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING MACHINES,

I f A Patented May 27, 1884.

A "minimum B1 2 ENE M IJV'VEJV'TOR William EBeefiZez' W' I TJV' ESSES B .dtz'arnoy I I I I 1 I (ZgLO (No Model.) 1 7 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. H. BEEHLBR.

ELEGTBIOAUTOMATIC RECORDING APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING MAGHINE$. No. 299,828. Patented May 27,1884.

% .By his Mitz'urnay ee/Lle /w 7% 6W N. PETERS. Fhololflhcgnphnr. Washingtan. D.c.

(No Model.) 7 Sheets.Sheet 3.

W. H. BEEHLER.

ELECTRIC AUTOMATIC RECORDING APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING' MACHINES. No. 299,828. Patented May 2'7, 1884.

LJJ w $l /////////////////////////Al By Attorne N, PETERS. Fholwlilhogmphur. walnin inn. D. C.

(No Model.) 7 7 Sheets-Sheet 4.

y W. H. BEEHLER.

ELECTRIC AUTOMATIC RECORDING APPARATUS FOR WBIGHING MACHINES No. 299,328. PatentedMay 27, 1884."

N. PETERs Pholo-Lilhognphar. Wnhin mn. D4 C.

7 She etsSI 1eet 5.

mammal.

W. H. BEEHLERQ ELEGTEIG AUTOMATIC RECORDING APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING MACHINES.

WITNESSES [NV-EJV'TOR W1 A v A Wiaamlizeeuer,

, Q B has .Alttorney N. PETERS. Plmla-Lflllogmphen Waflhillglon. n. c.

(NolModLy 7 Sheets-Sheet 6.

W. H. BEEHLER.

ELECTRIC AUTOMATIG RECORDING APPARATUS FOR WEIG HING MACHINES. No. 299,828. Patented May 27, 1884.

WITNESSES INVENTOR v A WiLLiam/fllkehler, By Attorney (No Model.)

7 Sheets-Sheet W. H. BEBHLER.

ELEGTRIO AUTOMATIC RECORDING APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING MACHINES.

P a figglted May 27, 1884.

NN HN 00 Z HHHHHHHHHHH .00 MM. V 9, MA u 9 k A :l A N Q Q n.

llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll WITNESSES INVENTOR I Willimn ZZZBeekkr.

By his Jiffmvzey C N. FETERS, FhchrLilhcgmpher, Walhingtau. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. BEEHLER, OF NE'WPORT, RHODE ISLAND.

ELECIRIC AUTOMATIC RECORDING APPARATUS FOR WElGtHNG-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 299,328, dated May 27, 1884.

Application filed September 30, 1881. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern.- 1 Be it known that I, ILLIAM H. BEEHLER,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newport, in the county of Newport and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Automatic Recording Apparatus for 'Weighing- Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The general object of my invention is to provide a mechanism which will automatically ascertain the weight of any body which may be placed upon the platform of an ordinary weighing machine or platform scale, and which will thereupon automatically record the amount of said weight for present or future reference by printing it, by means of suitable type, in numerals upon a strip of paper, so that a correct register may be preserved of the weights of all objects which may have been placed upon the platform of said scale without the intervention of an attendant, and at the same time a complete protection is afforded against any intentional falsification of the said record. 2

In my former Letters Patent No. 240,948, dated May 3, 1881, I have described and claimed a weighing-machine consisting of one or more balanced levers, in combination with a platform on which is placed the object whose weight is to be ascertained, so that said levers will come to a state of rest or equilibrium after the platform has been loaded,in a position varying according to the amount of the load, and with devices for closing electric circuits, and thereby actuating suitable printing mechanism after the balanced levers have come to a rest, whereby a record is made which will in all cases denote the true weight of the object upon the platform.

My present invention consists, principally, in certain improvements in the details of the mechanism appertaining to this class of weighing-machines, whereby it is rendered more simple and compact in construction and more efficient in operation.

It further consists incertain devices for protecting the record against intentional or unintentional falsification.

To this end I make use in my invention of various co-operating devices, which are adapted to be adjusted to the ordinary scales heretofore in use, and which operate, as hereinbefore stated, to automatically record the weight of the objects which may be placed upon the platform of said scales. The several specific devices thus cooperating are as follows: a series of platform circuit-closers and their respective electric circuits; a balance-lever capable of being angularly displaced from its normal position by the action of the weight to be recorded; an organization of contact-points in connection with circuit-cl0sing devices connected to the fulcrum of the balance-lever by means of multiplying wheel work; a timetrain mechanism for operating said circuitclosers at the proper moment, and a printing mechanism actuated by electric currents established by the closing of certain circuits by the action of the time-train, by which the weight of the object placed upon the platform is recorded.

The invention further includes various improved details of construction, which will be hereinafter more particularly described.

The particular subject-matter claimed will be hereinafter specifically designated.

The especial advantages obtained by the use of my invention are the accuracy and facility with which the weight of objects may be determined. The apparatus is so organized that it cannot be made to produce false records. In order to obtain a printed record of the Weight of any obj ect, it is only necessary to place it upon the platform for a certain length of time-say one minute. The inconvenience incident to many forms of weighing apparatusthat of effecting the equilibrium of the balancing-lever by the adjustment of aweighing-poise, for which the service of a special attendant is required-is in my invention avoided.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which its application to platform-scales is shown.

Weights varying from ten pounds to twenty thousand pounds are designed to be measured by means of the apparatus described.

This form of scale is especially adapted for weighing the contents of vehicles-suchas wagon or car loads of coal, hay, 850. The weight of the empty vehicle and that of the vehicle and contents may be independently measured, and by subtracting the former from the latter the net weight of the contents is ascertained.- My invention is, however, equally applicable to other and more portable forms of scales which are designed to be moved l anee-lever, to be hereinafter described in confrom place to place, and are employed for the purpose of determining smaller weights and with a greater degree of exactness. I have exhibited such parts only of the weighing apparatus as are essential to a complete under-' standing of my invention. It will be understood, moreover, that the details of construction may be varied to a greater or less extent without departing from the principles of my invention, and for this reason I do not strictly confine myself to the precise details herein set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the platform. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section, and Fig. 3 a longitudt nal vertical section, of one of the platform circuit-closers. Fig. LlS a side elevation,and Fig. 5 a plan view,of the balance-lever. Figs. 6 and 7 show the multiplying-gearing connected with the fulcrum of the balance-lever, the former being a plan view, the latter a sectional view. Fig. 8 exhibits the system of contactpoints and the circuit-closers connected with said gearing. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 10 a plan view, of mechanism operated by the time-train. Fig. 11 is a side elevation, and Fig. 12 a partial end view, of the device for settingin action said time-train and the printing mechanism hereinafter presented. Fig. 13 is a longitudinal vertical section of the printing mechanism. Figs. 14 and 15 are face views of the plates supporting the system of recording electromagnets. Fig. 16 is a section of one of said recording-magnets, showing the manner of at taehing the same to its supporting-plate. Fig. 17 is an end view of the printing mechanism. Fig. 1.7 illustrates certain details in the construction of the same, and Fig. 18 a section of the circuit-closing mechanism for preventing frauds in weighing. Fig. 19 is a diagram of the circuits closed by the action of the platform circuit-closers. Fig. 20 is a general view of the complete apparatus, showinga convenient method of bringing together the parts shown independently in the above-mentioned views.

Similar letters ol'referenee are applied to corresponding parts.

The platform A, represented in plan in Fig. 1, is designed to receive the vehicle, which, with or without contents, is to be weighed. lVhen run upon the platform its wheels enter the tracks or grooves A A, which may be about two inches in depth, and should be sufficiently wide to accommodate vehicles of either bread or narrow gages. A loaded vehiele should approach this platform from the side A, and an empty one from the side A. The platform A rests upon the usual system of compound levers, which are of weltknown construction and arrangement, and therefore have not been represented in the drawings. The said system of levers will include and terminate in the usual steelyard-rod, which is connected direetlyto the shorter arm of a balneetion. with Figs. at and 5; or it may be connected to the shorter arm of a supplementary lever, the longer arm of which may be at tached to the shorter arm of said balance-lever. The object of such a supplementary lever is merely to increase the angular motion of said balancelevcr under a given weight upon the platform. Its dimensions will ac cording] y vary with different systems of compound levcrs. l'ts dimensions, however, should be such as to give to the said balancelever an angular displacement of about fifteen de grees of are when the platform is heavily loaded.

Four circuit-closers, l3 I, ll 13, are also shown in Fig. 1.. These are automatically operated by means of treadles, which are de pressed by the wheels of the vehicles as the latter enter upon the platl'orm. The depression of either treadle is sufficient to close an electric circuit (see Fig. 19) in which :1 vol taic battery and an electro-magnet, L", are in cluded, the functions of which will behereinaftcr explained in connection with Figs. 11 and 12. It is sullieient to actuate one of the circuit-closers l" B, but two are provided, in

order that the connection may be rendered absolutely certain. The circuit-closers l3 and B are operated by the loaded vehicles approaching from the side'A. By the operation of either of the four eircuit-closcrs a circuit is completed, which includes the electro magnet shown in Fig. 11, as well as a second eleetromagnct appearing in Figs. 13 and 17.

The construction of the platform circuitclosers is seen in detail in Fi 2 and 3. Two iron penduluni-shaped weights, l3" and l5", are attached to and suspended from a shaft, 3*, which turns i'reely in suitable bearings secured to the under side of the platform. The lower ends of these weights are made sufficiently heavy to maintain them normallyin a vertical position, and when in such position the roller B, connecting their upper extremities and constituting a treadle, projects above the floor of the track. The shaft ll also carries a small projecting arm, 1;, inclosed and protected by the metallic case 13'. The arm 13", being rigidly attached to the shaft, turns with it, and when the treadle B is depressed into the groove B by a vehicle entering the platform the arm 13" turns inihe direction indicated by the arrow, Fig. 3, and closes the electric circuit by touching the contact-point B", which, it will be seen, is insulated at B from the frame-work of the apparatus. The several circuit-closers are so constructed and situated that vehicles upon entering the plat form will close one or the other of the electric circuits, as already described, while, on the other hand, vehicles leaving the platform will press the treadle 13 into the groove 13, thus causing the arm 13 to move in the opposite direction away from the contact-point l.

The balance-lever 0, shown in Figs. at and 5, is preferably of steel, and when designed for machines intended to weigh heavy wagons or yond one side of the balance-lever, turns in its cars it may be about thirty inches in length. This lever is supported upon the bearings O fastened to the cast-iron frame 0 0*. It turns upon a steel knife-edge, the edge of which is in line with the axis of the shaft 0 which projects beyond the frame-work. The shorter arm of this balance-lever is connected by the rod 0 to the steelyard-rod,or to the supplementary lever, if the latter be employed. The shaft 0 is hung upon the steel knife-edges O, projecting from either side of the lever. At the other end of the lever a rod, 0 is similarly suspended, to which one end of a strong spring, D, is-attached. This spring is inclosed with in a guiding-tube, D, to the bottom of which the lower end of the spring is attached. Any downward pull upon the rod 0, caused by the pressure of the load upon the platform, will necessarily tend to elevate the long arm of the balance-lever in opposition to the retractile force or resiliency of the spring D, and hence it will be understood that the greater the weight upon the platform the greater will be the angular displacement of the balance-lever. It will be obvious, moreover, that the strain caused by the weight upon'the platform will be so divided among the several levers of the compound system employed that the downward pull upon the rod 0, while in all cases strictly proportional to the weight to be measured, will equal absolutely but a small fraction thereof. Accordingly the actual strain upon the spring D will also be comparatively small, and springs of great power need not necessarily be used. As already stated, the maximum angular displacement of the bal ance-lever should be about fifteen degrees, or nine hundred minutes of are. This extent of displacement should therefore be produced by the greatest weight required to be ascertained by the use of the apparatus, which in the present case we have assumed to be twenty thousand pounds. If the displacement per pound of weight were uniform, a displacement of one minute would correspond to twentytwo and two-tenths pounds,while ten pounds, the minimum weight required to be ascertained, would cause a displacement of about half of one minute. In practice, springs are seldom susceptible of being extended uniformly in proportion to the force operating upon them, but compensating-springs may be employed which may readily be fitted to the lever, by the aid of which the desired degree of uniformity can be secured. Such apparatus in itself, however, forms no part of the invention herein claimed, and need not therefore be particularly noticed. Suffice it to say that my invention is applied to any weighing apparatus which is so constructed that the degree of angular displacement of its balancelever is in direct and accurate proportion to the weight causing such displacement, so

.that it is only necessary to measure the displacement in order to determine the weight.

The shaft 0, which is made to extend bebearings, partaking of the angular motion of said lever. To this shaft is rigidly attached a toothed segment, E, Figs. 6 and 7. The movements of the sector E, caused by the turning of the axis 0 communicate motion to the various toothed wheels,- pinions, and arbors of a system of wheel-work,the action of which is, in detail, as follows: The sector Egears with a pinion, E, having eighteen teeth. The arbor F of this wheel also carries a wheel, E having seventy teeth. The latter gears with pinion E, having fourteen teeth, and carrying upon its axis an idle-wheel, E having fortyeight teeth. The latter gears with pinion E, which has twelve teeth, the arbor F of which carries the wheel E, having one hundred and twenty teeth, and gearing with the pinion E having twelve teeth, the latter being attached to the arbor F. Under this arrangement, whenever the arbor F makes a complete revo-' lution, the arbor F Will make twenty revolutions, and during the time required by the arbor F to complete one revolution the arbor F will make ten revolutions. The angular motion of the balance-lever 0, its axial shaft 0 and the toothed segment Ebeing proportional to the weight upon the platform causing such angular motion, it follows that the number of revolutions described bythe several arbors F F F will likewise depend upon and be in proportion tosaid weight. This system of wheel work is inclosed within a protecting-case,G, Figs. 7 and 8. The arbors F, F and]? project through and beyond the face of the case G and carry upon their several free ends fiat, flexible, metallic arms H, from which they are insulated by suitable ebonitebushings, H". These flexible arms carry on their under sides small metallic rollers H, which, as the wheel-work and arms revolve, pass in front of the faces of annu lar ebonite disks H", without, however, touching the same, in the same manner that the hand of a clock passes over the figures upon the dial. The front faces of these annular disks are serrated or notched, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the upper disk having twenty such notches, the others ten each. The flexible arms H also carry push-buttons H normally pressed outward by stout springs H offering greater resistance to flexure than the arms H. WVhen any one of these push-buttons is forced toward its confronting disk by external pressure, the flexible arm H, in consequence of its inferior resistance, yields sooner than the spring H, and as it bends the metallic contact-roller H3 enters that one of the notches upon its corresponding disk which it then happens to confront. Should the contact-roller not happen to exactly confront the central line of any notch, it will nevertheless be guided by the inclined wall of said notch, and, as the roller itself is mounted in flexible supports H H its movement will yield to the action of the guides without causing any undue strain upon the flexible arm H or upon the wheel-work thereto attached.

XVithin and at the bottom of each notch are placed two metallic contact-points, as at I, which constitute the terminals of electric circuits, to be hereinafter described. These contactpoints, as well as the contact-roller, may with advantage be nickel-plated. O11 reaching the base of'the notch the contactroller upon the arm will bridge the corresponding pair of said contact-points and close one of the circuits connected therewith. hen the pressure is removed from the button 1'1", the spring H will operate to return the button to its normal position with reference to the arm H, and the latter, by returning to its normal position, will remove the roller from the contact-poinfsat the bottom ofthe notch and break the electric circuit of which they form the terminals. At the base of each notch are two contact points, as hereinbefore shown, making, therefore, a total of eighty points. Forty of thesethat is, one in each notchare united to a common wire leading to one pole of a galvanic battery. The conductor leading from the other pole is subdivided into forty branches, each of which includes a separate electro magnet, to be hereinafter described in connection with the printing mech anism. From thence the branch circuits extend to and terminate in the remaining forty contact-points. It will therefore be understood that, by bridging the two contact-points within any notch, an electric circuit is closed which includes the particular electro-magnet of the printing mechanism corresponding to said notch.

The circuit-closing mechanism which has been described is brought into action by means of a time-train, comprising an ordinary cl ockwork movement, (not shown in the drawings,) which, when released and set in motion, causes a shaft, 7:, (see Fig. 11,) to turn with a uniform motion at the rate of one revolution per minute of time. The mechanism actuated by this time-train shaft is shown in part in the section, Fig. 9, and in the plan, Fig. 10. It consists of a metallic platen, J, the base of which is situated in a plane parallel to that of the front face oft-he case G,which platen, however, in its normal position of rest does not touch the faces of the push-buttons IF of the circuitclosing mechanism, but which, by the action of the time-train, is made to advance toward and simultaneously actuate all of said push buttons. This movement is effected in the following manner: The platen J is supported by and moves upon four guides, J J J J, projecting from the face of the case G, and secured thereto by bolts passing through the openings G G G" G", Fig. 8. These bolts also extend, respectively, through four correspond ing apertures in'the platen J, and are enlarged into shoulders J, against which the platen J is normally pressed by the action of the four spiral springs J surrounding said bolts. The shaft is, connected with the time-train, carries a wheel, K, to which the cranks K 1C are eecentrically attached. These respectively act upon a system of bent levers, K", (shown in the drawings,)which are so constructed and organized that when the wheel K revolves in the direction indicated by the arrow they press upon the platen J and cause it to gradually advance toward the cireuit-closing mechanism, and in so doing to gradually compress the springs J When the platen comes into contact with the three push-buttons I-I",it will force the contact-- rollers 11" into the three notches of the disks which they then happen to confront, and three of the electric circuits already described will be closed and their respective electro-magnets actuated. After the electric contact has been made, the platen J will continue to ad vanee, and the push-buttons IF will be forced still farther forward in opposition to the force of the antagonistic springs 11, thereby insuring the electric contact. Upon receding the push-buttons will return to their normal position with reference to the flexible arms H before the rollers H" are removed from the notches which they have respectively entered. The time-train shaft it further carries a drumshaped wheel, L, Figs. 11 and 12, which, like the shaft itself, performs one revolution per minute when in motion. this wheel is a shoulder, L, which normally rests against a detent, L 011 the end of the armature-lever L of an elect-roanagnet, L. The latter is brought into action by either pair of the circuit-closers already described in connection with Fig. 1 when actuated by a vehicle entering upon the platform A. Thus actuated by the electro-magnet the detent L is withdrawn from the shoulder L, and the wheel L is permitted to revolve by the action of the timetrain. This motion will continue until the time-train shaft has completed one revolution. It will then be arrested by the engagement of said shoulder with the detent L, which by that time (the electric circuit being broken) will have returned to its normal position under the action of the antagonistic spring L". The shoulder L serves not only to arrest the motion of the wheel L, but also that of the wheel K, which is mounted upon the same shaft 7.: and its attached mechanism. No repetition can therefore occur of the depression of the platen J until the plat form circuit-closers (Fig. 1) are again operated. The time-train and its shaft are actuated by a wound-up weight or spring, which must have si'iffieient power to operate in addition the printing mechanism, hereinafter to be described. The drum-wheel L carries also two projections, L L, each of which, at a particular point in the course of its revolution, closes an electrical circuit. Thus the projection L,-on arriving at the pair of projecting contact-springs L Lflbridges or connects them and closes an electric circuit, of which the said springs constitute the terminals. Similarly the projection L",by bridging the contactsprings L" and. L closes another independent On the periphery of IIO circuit. The office of these two electric circuits and the results produced by thus closing them will be presently explained.

As soon as a vehicle has taken its stand upon the platform the time-train shaft is released by the closing of the electric circuit which controls its detent, and it therefore be gins to revolve. The mechanism is so constructed that by the time that one revolution has been accomplished the recording of the weight has been completed, and the vehicle may then be removed from the platform. The operation is briefly as follows: At the expiration of twelve seconds after the vehicle has actuated the platform circuit-closers, Fig. 1, the revolution of the time-shaft 7c and wheel K will have so far progressed that the bent levers K will begin to bear against the platen J, Figs. 9 and 10. At the expiration of eighteen seconds the pressure upon the platform has (in the manner already described) caused the arbors F F F, carrying their respective circuit-closing arms, to describe a certain number of revolutions, dependent upon the weight of the vehicle and its contents or other load upon the platform. The respective positions at which these circuit-closing arms have come to rest will therefore have been determined by the magnitude of said weight. At the expiration'of eighteen seconds from the commencement of the revolution the pressure of the platen J causes the push-buttons H to bridge the particular contact-points which they then confront. During the next eighteen seconds the springs H allow the platen J to move forward, holding the respective circuits closed, after which the action is reversed during the space of eighteen seconds, so that the electrical contact is insured for thirty-six seconds altogether, the contact being broken on the fifty-fourth second after the commencement of the revolution of the time-shaft. The projections L" L are so situated that at the expiration of the forty-fifth second after the commencement of the revolution, the circuit between L and L will be closed by the projection L, and at the forty-eighth second the projection L in like manner will close its circuit.

It remains only to explain the construction of the printing or recording mechanism, and to describe the manner in which its action is controlled by the several. operations already described.

The printing mechanism is shown in Fig. 13, which represents a longitudinal vertical section through the center of the axis M. This axis carries three concentric hollow shafts, M M M, which revolve independently of it and of each other. Each of these latteras, for example, Mis divided transversely into two parts or sections, as at M One of these sec tions carries a type-wheel, O,while the other, which is free to slide longitudinally, carries a metallic friction wheel or disk, M The two sections are loosely connected together by a sleeve, M surrounded by the spring Mhwhich latter tends to separate the sections longitudinally, and hence to force the disk M toward. the drum P. The mechanism of the other hollow shafts, M and M is similar in principle to that of M, with the exception that no type-wheel is carried by the shaft M the typewheel 0 being carried by the central shaft, M, type-wheel O by shaft M, and type-wheel O by shaft M The three type-wheels O O O are placed side by side in the manner shown in the figure,with their respective type faces parallel to their common axis of revolu tion.

A shaft, N, which may be connected by suitable intermediate gearing to the time-train shaft 70, hereinbefore described, and hence deriving its rotary motion from the same source of power, is situated beneath the system of concentric hollow shafts, hereinbefore described, and makes one revolution in twenty seconds. This shaft carries three friction wheels or disks, N N N The periphery of the wheel N intervenes between the drum P and the wheel M, both of which, together with their respective shafts, will revolve by reason of their frictional contact with the disk N. The drums P P P carry projections or detents P* P P, each of which performs one revolution in twenty seconds in common with the drums.

Fig. 13 further shows three plates, Q Q Q, in end section, the office of which is to support the system of electro-magnets hereinbefore referred to in connection with the circuit closing apparatus. magnets are mounted upon and attached to the plate Q, a front view of which is presented in Fig. 14, only a portion of the electro-magnets being shown. The two plates Q and Q are of the same size and exactly alike, and carry ten electro-magnets each, as shown in Fig. 15. The manner of attaching the electro-magnets (all of which are similar in construction) is shown in detail in Fig. 16. The helices R and bracket R (the latter serving to support the spring R and armature-lever and armature It) are attached by means of bolts R and R to the plate Q. The ends of the several armature-levers approach or touch the surfaces of the drums P P P tangentially, as clearly seen in Figs. 14 and 15, the ends of all the levers on the surface of each drum being in the same vertical plane. The positions of these planes are theoretically designated by the lines S S S Fig. 13. When any one of the armatureleversas, for example, Tis actuated by a current traversing the coils of the magnet R, its free end will move longitudinally along the surface of the drum P in a direction parallel to its axis of revolution, stopping at a point in the vertical plane or path of revolution of the detent P, which is carried by said drum. In the course of its revolution,which is in the direction indicated by the arrow, Fig. 14:, this detent will ultimately engage with the end of the lever T, which has been projected into its path, and the motion of the drum P, the shaft M,(to which it is attached at P and the typewheel 0 will be arrested. The other type- Twenty of these electro-- wheel shafts, which, as hereinbefore stated, I eighteenth second after the commencement of are independent in their movements of the central shaft, M, and of each other, are not by this operation necessarily stopped. In the same manner the drum 1?", its shaft M,and the typewheel 0, thereto attached, may be independently arrested by actuating any one of the armature-levers attached to the plate QF, and the drum 1",with its shaf t M and type-wheel 0 may be similarly arrested by a corresponding movement of any of the levers attached to Q.

The type wheel 0, as constructed for a machine such as that herein described, carries twenty types, arranged at equidistant points upon the surface of its perimeter. The numerical characters which are capable of being printed by these types are the following: 1, 2, 3, &c., to 19 and blank. The type-wheel 0* carries ten types, as follows: 1, 2, 3, &c., to 9 and 0. The type-wheel O on the hollow shaft, M carries ten types, as follows: 10, 20, 30, &c., to 90 and 00. There are altogether, therefore, upon the three wheels forty types, similarly arranged and corresponding, respectively, to the forty electro-magnets attached to the three plates Q Q Q". The e1ectro-1nagnets themselves, as already explained, correspond, respectively, to the forty notches with their respective contact-points upon the three annular disks. (Shown in Fig. 8.)

An example will serve more clearly to illus trate the complete operation of the apparatus. Suppose a weight of thirteen thousand three hundred and sixty (13, 360) pounds to be placed upon the platform I, Fig. 1. The depression of the platform, acting through the intermediate mechanism, as hercinbefore described, immediately causes the arm H, carried by the arbor F, to make a partial revolution, and the contact-roller I-I thereto attached will be carried round to a point opposite the notch corresponding to the type marked 13 on the type-wheel O. The contact-roller will not in this instance come to rest at a point exactly confronting the centralline of said notch, but it will nevertheless, when depressed, be deflected by the guides, as described, and will enter the same in the manner hereinbefore set forth. The contact-roller connected with the arbor F will during the sameinterval of time describe thirteen and a fraction revolutions, stopping in front of the notch corresponding to the numeral 3 on the type-wheel O". In the same manner the contact-roller carried by the arbor F" will come to rest in front of the notch corresponding to the character on the typewhcel O. The time-train mechanism being released, as described ,willin due time depress said contaet-rollcrs, and the corresponding circuits will be closed, actuating the electroinagnets connected therewith. These in turn will arrest the type-wheels by means of the stops on the drums at such pointsin their revo' lutions as to bring the types 13, 3, and in position for printin As the said electromagncts continue to be vitalizcd from the the revolution of the time-train shaft to the fifty-fourth second, and as the revolutions of 7c the drums PPl occupy but twenty seconds, it is evident that the types will all be brought into position prior to the expiration of the forty-fifth second of said revolution, at which time the detent If, Figs. 11 and 12, will close at the points L L the circuit of the electromagnet U, Fig. 1.7. T ie armature U of this magnet is attached to a bent armature-lever, U", pivoted at U, and carrying a printingroller or cylindrical platen, U. W'hcn the cleetro-Inagnet U attracts its armature, the platen is quickly elevated and made to press against the faces of the types which have been brought into position in the manner described. The strip of paper or cloth upon which the record is printed passes over the cylindrical platen U" and between the fceding-rollers 'V and V3 It will therefore intervene between the printingroller U and the face of the types and receive an impression therefrom in a wellknown manner. At the expiration of the for ty-eighth second of the revolution of the shaft 7c the projection If, Figs. 11 and 12,will close its corresponding electrical circu it at the points L I), thereby actuating the electro-magnet V, Fig. 17. The action of this magnet opposite to that of the magnet U. It attracts the common armature U, whose normal position is midway between the cores of the mag;- nets U and V, but in the opposite direction. By this action the-printingroll 'I l is depressed and the roller Vis brought into frictional contact with the feeding-roller V The latter receives its motion from the shaft N, Fig. 13, the motion being transmitted by means of a pullcy,V, or by any other convenient mechanical means. The feeding-roller revolves inthe direction i ndicated by the arrow and operates to advance the paper (during such time as the latter is pressed against it by the roller 'V) to apoint beyond the case in which the printing mechanism is inelosed. By varying the length of the proj ectiou L", and consequently the time during which the circuit connected therewith is closed, the duration of this leed-action may be regulated without difficulty.

The frame-work of the printing apparatus further carries an independent electro-nmgnet, XV, (Figs. 13 and 17,) which is included inthe circuit with two of the platform circuit-closers, B 12%, as shown in Fig. 19, and will therefore be actuated by loaded vehicles approaching from the side A". X'Vheu thus actuated, it attracts its armature bringing the end of a bent lever, into line with the type designating the weight to be printed. This lever carries on its under side a punch or impression-point, which impresses a mark of any desired char actor on the paper, thereby enabling the weight of a loaded vehicle to be distinguished from that of an empty one.

If desired, the eleetro'magnct U may be fitted with a singlestroke gong, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 20, or one may be attached IOCI to the arm carrying the feed-roller V to announce the completion of the operation of weighing, and it will usually be found convenient to make use of a device of this character. Suitable ink-rollers for inking the type should also be provided, which may be of any wellknown or convenient construction or arrangement.

By means of additional circuit-closers in the neighborhood of the platform A, Fig. 1, the apparatus can readily be made to detect or prevent any fraud which might be attempted by placing only a part of the actual weight upon the platformas, for instance, two wheels only of a loaded vehicle. A convenient arrangement for this purpose is shown in sec-. tion in Fig. 18. Two additional or supplementary platforms, X and Y, are situated at either end of the platform P. These rest upon circuit-closers X X Y Y &c., which may be similar in principle of construction to those shown in Figs. 2 and 3, but are operated by the pressure of a weight upon any part of the platforms X and Y above them. Any one of these circuit-closers is arranged to complete a shunt-circuit between the poles of the battery which actuates the electro-magnet L, Fig. 11. The operation of recording the weight cannot begin until this electro-magnet is actuated, and as this cannot take place so long as there is any weight upon the platforms X or Y it is evident that the weight must be placed entirely upon the platform 1? before the recording mechanism can be made to act.

In some cases it will be found necessary or desirable to provide a safety attachment in connection with the recording mechanism of my apparatus, sothat if in any case a load should be accidentally removed from the platform during the operation of weighing, the circuit-closing arms will be depressed by the action of the time-train. Under such conditions the spring of the balance-lever being suddenly released would recoil with great force and tend to injure the wheel-work and other mechanism of the apparatus. Any liability to accident arising from this cause may be obviated by the device of a locking meehanism, for the purpose of holding the balanced lever in its angular or deflected position during such time as the time-train is in operation. A suitable organization for this purpose comprises an electro magnet, O, which is placed in the common or return circuit of the wires extending from the contactpoints to the several electroqnagnets which control the action of the printing mechanism. The armaturelever O of this electro-magnet maybe provided with a dog adapted to engage with the teeth of the toothed segment 0 on the aXis of the balanced lever. Hence, when any one of these circuits is closed this electro-magnet will become vitalized and .its armature attracted, by which means the dog will be made to engage with the teeth of the segment, thus securely looking it in its position. It will be understood that as soon as the time-train releases the push-buttons this e1ec- I tro-magnet will be demagnetized and the dog disengaged from the segment. A bell or other alarm, 0 Fig. 20, may be attached to the armature of this electro-magnet so as to be struck when the arm is released, and this will serve to give notice that the recording of the weight of the object upon the platform has been completed.

I have described my invention in its application to machines capable of weighing twenty thousand pounds. It is evidentthatthe range of the apparatus may be readily varied to suit any required purpose by varying the number of contact-disks, type-wheels, shafts, &c., or by substituting different arrangements of type; but such modifications are fully contemplated in my invention, and can readily be made by any person skilled in the art to which saidinvention pertains.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a weighing-platform, a pendulum or suspended weight swinging on an axis turning in bearings attached to said platform, atreadle projecting above the surface of said platform and adapted to swing said pendulum in either direction from its normal position and moving with said pendulum, astationary contact-point, and an electric circuit closed by the contact of said contactpoints.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a platform, two treadles upon said platform, constructed substantially as described, so that one actuates a circuitcloser only when depressed by a vehicle passing over the platform in one direction, while the other actuates a like circuit-closer only when depressed .by a vehicle in the opposite direction, and an electric circuit which is com closers.

3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a platform, a balanced lever, an antagonistic spring, a toothed segment actuated by the movements of said lever upon its fulcrum, atrain of multiplying wheelwork actuated by said segment, and a circuitelosing arm actuated by said Wheel-work and moving over -a series of contact-points, but normally not in contact therewith.

4. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a platform, a balanced lever, an antagonistic spring, a toothed segment actuated by the movements of said lever upon its fulcrum, atrain of multiplying wheel- .work actuated by said segment, and two or more circuit-closing arms moved by dependent arb'ors in said train of wheel-work, but at different angular velocities, over a series of contact-points, but normally out of contact therewith.

5. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the movable arm, the spring push-button and contact-roller mounted thereupon, and the insulated contact-points.

pleted by the action of either of said circuitof rest, a contact-point depending from said axis 6. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the movable arm, the spring push-button and contact-roller mounted thereupon, the laterally-flexible supports of said contact-roller upon the arm, the insulated contact-points, and the inclined guides for insuring the contact of said roller with the insulated eontact-points.

7. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a disk or dial having a series of pairs of electrical contact-points upon its face, inclined guides between each pair of contact-points, a rotating arm moving over the face of said disk or dial, and a contact roller mounted upon said arm by means of yielding supports, substantially such as described, whereby said roller is capable of a lateral movement with reference to its supporting-arm when deflected by the inclined guides.

8. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a platform, a balanced lever, an antagonistic spring, one or more circuit-closing arms actuated through suitable intermediate mechanism by the movements of said balanced lever, and moving over but not normally in contact with a series of contactpoints, and independent mechanism actuated by a time-train for closing an electric circuit by pressing the said eireuit-closing arm or arms against the opposite contact-points.

9. The combination, substantially as here inbefore set forth, of a series of contact-points, a movable circuit-closer passing in front of said series of contact-points, but not normally in contact therewith, a platen for pressing said circuit-closer against the contact-points confronted thereby, a shaft driven by a timetrain, and a system of compound levers actuated by said shaft for bringing said platen into contact with the circuit-closing devices and then returning it to its normal position.

10. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a shaft driven by a time train, a detent for arresting said shalt at a de terminate point in its revolution, an electromagnet for withdrawing said detent and releasing the shaft and time-train, devices actuated by said shalt for closing an electric circuit, printing or recording mechanism, and an eleetro-magnet included in said electric circuit for actuating said printing or recording mechanism.

11. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a type-wheel driven by friction from a constant motor, a stop mechanically attached to and revolving with said typewheel, a series of detents equal in number to the characters or divisions upon said typewheel, and a series of electro-magnets for actuating said detents, each one of which, when vitalized, throws its associate detent into the path of the revolving stop upon the typewheel, and thereby arrests the latter at a determinate and corresponding point in its revolution.

12. The coi'nbination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a type-wheel and drum rotating upon a common axis, a series of stationary electro-magnets placed circumferentially around said drum, with their armaturelcvers extending toward the periphery of the drum in a direction tangential thereto, and a stop proj eeting from the periphcryofthc drum which takes against any one of said levers when it has been moved in a direction parallel to the axis of the drum.

18. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of one or more type-wheels, a platen, an armature attached to said platen, a paper-feeding roller, and two electromagnets acting independently upon the same armature, one to impel said platen toward the type-wheel, and the other to withdraw said platen from the type-wheel, and simultaneously to throw the paper-ieeding roller into gear with a constant motor.

14. The combination, substantially as here inbefore set forth, of a platform, two treadles upon said platform, constructed substantially as described, so that one actuates a circuiteloser only when depressed by a vehicle passing over said platform in one direction, while the other actuates a like circuit-closeronly when depressed by a vehicle passing in the opposite direction, an electric circuit which'is divided into two branches, oneof said circuit closers being included in each branch, an electro-magnet included in the undivided portion of the circuit, a printing or recording mech anism actuated by said electric-magnet, an independent clectromagnet included in one of said branches, and an independent recording mechanism actuated thereby.

15. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of one or more type-wheels, one or more electro-magnets for controlling the position of said typewheels, a platen, an independent printing, stamping, or recording device, and an independent electro-magnet for bringing said device into line with said type wheel or wheels and facing said platen.

16. The combination, substantially as here inbefore set forth, (if a main platform, an electric circuit-closer actuated by the depression of a treadle mounted upon said platform, an electromagnet, a detent actuated thereby, a time-train, printing or recording mechanism actuated by said tiinetrain, one or more supplementary platforms, and one or more cir' euit-brcakers actuated thereby, whereby the action of the time-train is prevented by the depression of the supplementary platform or platforms.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub scribed my name this 15th day of September, A. I). 1881.

\VILLIAM 'll'. lilGEl'Il'lE'lt.

\Vitnesses:

ALLEN Ouiu'rrs, J ONATHAN Aaronr.

Images