US607464A

US607464A - Automatic weighing-machine

Info

Publication number: US607464A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1898-07-19
Anticipated expiration: 1915-07-19

Description

No. 607,464. Patented July I9, I898.

F. H. RICHARDS.-

AUTOMATlC WEIGHING MACHINE.

(Application filed Oct. 26, 1897.) (No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet I.

No. 607,464. Patented July I9, 1898. F. H. RICHARDS.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

(Application filed Oct. 26, 18517.)

(No ModeL) 7 SheetsSheei 2.

No. 607,464. Patented July l9, I898. F. H. RICHARDS.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

(Application filed Oct. 26, 1897.)

(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 3.

h l .9 will 31.

Witnesses.- Inventor.-

No. 607,464. Patented July 19, I898.

F. H. RICHARDS. AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

(Application filed Oct. 26, 189 7.)

7 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

Witnessea:

No. 607,464. Patented July l9, I898.

F. H. RICHARDS.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

(Application filed Oct. 26, 1897.)

(No Model.) 7 SheetsSheat 5.

Witwessaw [72 U672 60].-

No. 607,464. Patented July l9, I898. F. H. RICHARDS.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

(Application filed Oct. 26, 1897,) (N0 Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 6.

Z I J? Wt tnassetsxa I [72 were tar:

3! I l I O%w @0/fl I m: NDRRVS pawns cc PHGTO LITHO., msmusmu, n c.

No. 607,464. Patented July I9, 1898.

- F. H. RICHARDS.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

(Application filed Oqt. 26, 1897.)

7 Sheets-Sheet 7.

(No Model.)

TNE nomus PEYERS cov wore-mun, WASNINGTON. a. c.

'is to provide a weighing-machine including UNlTE TAT-ES it ATENT rrrcne AUTOMATIC WElGHlNGlVlACl-HNE.

srnorrxon'rron forming part of Letters Patent No. 607,464, dated July 19, 1898.

Application filed October 26, 1897.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LFRANoIs ILRIoHARns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic WVeighing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of automatic weighing-machines known as risingpoise machines-that is, machines in which an overload is first supplied to the loadreceiver or bucket and in'which the surplus ma terial is removed during the weighing operation to bring the load-receiver and weighing mechanism to a true poise,and after which the closer of the load-receiver is opened to discharge the completed load, and in which the surplus material removed from the discharged load is, after the weighing mechanism has returned to its normal load-receiving position, resupplied to the load-receiver as a part of the next succeeding load--a machine of this class being described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 572,067, granted to me November 24, 1896, to which reference may be had.

One object of my present invention is to provide, in an automatic weighing-machine embodying a vertically-reciprocatory load-receiver, improved overload-supplying means, surplus-discharging means, completed loaddischarging means, and resupplying means, all operative in the order named, and the latter of which includes a reciprocatory surplusreceiver elfective at a predetermined point in the ascending movement of the load-receiver for returning the surplus material to the loadreceiver for making up a part of the next succeeding load.

A further object of my present invention two receivers supported side by side for reciprocatory movement relatively to one another in substantial parallel planes, and which receivers are reciprocally effective at predetermined points in their movements for supplying material to each other alternately, and also to provide improved means for controlling the reciprocatory movements of said receivers.

A further object of my present invention is to provide, in connection with weighing mechanism including a load-receiver, improved load-supplying means embodying a plurality of superposed chutes, a valve con trolled by the weighing mechanism for regulating the discharge of material from the lower chute, and means controlled by the valve for vibrating one or more of said chutes to agitate the material during its flow therefrom.

Another object of my present invention is to provide, in connection with weighing mechanism including a load-receiver, improved load-dischargin g mechanism comprehending a plurality of pivotally-connected cooperative closers, two of which are supported at opposite sides, respectively, of and depend from the front and rear walls of the load-receiver and the other of which is supported upon a rock-shaft between the lower ends of the side closers and is connected to said side closers by oppositely-disposed links connected at their inner ends to the middle closer at opposite sides of the rock-shaft and at their outer ends to said side closers, the construction and organization of said closers being such that on an opening movement of the bottom closer an opening movement of shorter range will be imparted to the side closers.

A further object of my present invention is to provide,in connection with weighing mechanism including a load-receiver having an outlet and an inlet located the former above the latter and between the main receiving and discharging ends of said receiver, a loadreducing valve normally closing the outlet and adapted at a predetermined point in the descending movement of the receiver for uncovering said outlet to allow the surplus material to flow from the load-receiver, a vertically-reciprocatory surpl us-receiver shiftable at a predetermined point in the descending movement of the load-receiver to a position for receiving the surplus flowing from said receiver and shiftable at a predetermined point in the ascending movement of said receiver to a position for dischargingthe surplus into the inlet of said receiver, and means controlled by certain parts of the weighing mechanism for actuating and controlling the movements of the surplus-receiver.

In the drawings accompanying and formbodying my present improvements.

2 co ce ing part of this specification, Figure l is a front elevation of a weighing maehine em- Fig. 2 is a plan view of the weighing-machine. Fig. 3 is a plan view, partially in section, of the main stream-eon troller or valve and a portion of the mechanism that controls the vibratory movements of the movable chute or chutes. Fig. -:t is a side elevation of the weighing-ma chine as seen from the left in Fig. 1, and shows the parts thereof in their normal positions, or in the positions they occupy when the main stream-controller 01' valve is in its open position and the load receiver is in its normal elevated load-receiving position. Fig. 5 is a similar side elevation of the weighinganachine, showingthe parts thereof in the positions they occupy when the weighing mechanism is in its overpoised position and the surplus material is being discharged from the load-receiver into the surplus-receiver to reduce the overload. Fig. 6 is a similar side elevation of the weighing-machine, showing the parts thereof in the positions they occupy during the discharge of the completed load from theload-receiver, the closers of the load receiver being shown in full and dotted lines in their open positions, the surplus-receiver being shown in its elevated position, with the cutoff plate or slide thereof in position to prevent the return of the surplus material to the load-receiver while the closers are shut, and the stream-controller or main supply apparatus beingshown blocked as against open ing movement. Fig. '7 is a verticallongitudinal section of the weighing-maehiue, showing the parts in the positions they occupy during the supply of material. to the load-receiver, sufficient material having been supplied to carry said receiver below its poising-line, and also showing the surplus-receiver and its out off plate in positions for facilitating the return of a surplus material to the load-receiver. Figs. 8, J, 10, and 11 are sectional views similar to Fig. 7 of a portion of a machine, showing successive positions of the load reducing and resupplyiug mechanism during one cycle of operations of the parts of the weighing mechanism, Fig. 8 showing the load-reducing valve in its closed position and the resu pplyin g instru mentalities in positions for returning the surplus material to the load receiver, which load-receiver is in the position it occupies during the making ofa load, Fig. 9 showing the lOE'Ltl-lGCGlVOl in its overpoised position, the loznl-reducing valve in its open position, and the surplus-receiver in. the position it occupies when receiving the surplus from the load-receiver, Fig. 10 showing the load-receiver in its truly-poised position and the load-rcducing valve in its closed position, and Fig. 11. showing the closer of: theload-rccei ver in its open position, the loadreducing valve in its closed position, the surplus-receiver in its elevated position, and the cutoff plate in the position it occupies just before an opening movement is imparted thereto by the shutting of the closer of the load-receiver.

Similar characters designate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

My invention is a species of that described in the'Patent No. 572,067, of November 21:, 1896, hereinbefore referred to.

For the purpose of illustrating the construction, organization, and mode of operation of the several elements comprising my present invention I have shown it in connection with weighing mechanism that is, in a general way, similar to that shown, described, and claimed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 572,071, granted to me November fit, 18%, to which reference may be had.

The framework for su 'iporting the opera tive parts of the weighingunachine may be of any suitable general construction and is shown consisting of the two end frames or columns 2 and i, mounted upon a chambered supporting-base 3, into which the completed loads are discharged from the load.reeeiver or bucket, said columns 53 and i: being surmounted by a top plate 5 in the usual n1anner, which top plate supports the supply apparatus.

The supply apparatus in the present in stance is shown comprising a supply chute or hopper II, which is preferably formed integral with the top plate 5, two streanragitating chutes or spouts 7 and 8, located one above the other, the upper one of which is preferably pivotally supported at 7 on the lower end of the main supply-chute l l: and the lower one of which is pivotally supported upon oppositely-disposei'l rocker-arms E) and 1(),(shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1,) journaled in bearings on hangers 12 and 12', depending from the top plate 5 of the framework, and a streameontroller or valve 70, secured at its opposite ends on the rocker-arms 9 and 10 for move ment therewith.

The strez'nn-controllor or valve may be of any suitable general construction and is shown constructed, organized, and r. pcra1,ing in substantially the same way as the valve or main strez'nn-controller described in Patent No. 572, )(37, hereinbefore referred to.

The two spouts or chutes '7 and S, which are preferably conical, their larger ends being uppermost, are shown supported for oscillatory movement, the one 8 being pivotally supported near its lower end on the rocker-arms 9 and 10 of the valve 70, as above described, and the one 7 beingpivotallysupported near the upper end thereof, preferably on the lower end of the main supply-chute l f. chute 7 has its smaller discharge end extended a short distance in the largin' receiving end of the lower chute 8.

As a convenient means for vilnating the two chutes 7 and 8 upon their axes conenr- :rently with the opening movement of the valve 70 and in such manner that their discharge ends will move simultaneonsly in opposite directions to loosen up and facilitate The upper the free flow of the material through said chutes I have provided, in operative connection with said chutes, an intermittently-effective chute-vibrator, (designated in a general way by S,) which includes a clutch device; and I have also provided, in connection with the valve 70 and clutch device, a clutch-actuator (designated in a general way by S) for controlling the effective operation of said chute-vibrator.

In the preferred form thereof illustrated most clearly in Figs. 3 and 7 of the drawings the chute-vibrator S comprises an eccentric 13, fixed to a shaft 14, journaled in suitable bearings on the framework, an eccentric-strap 15, surrounding said eccentric and having a connecting-rod 16, pivotally secured at its inner end to the lower end of the upper Vibratory chute 7 and the upper end of the lower vibratory chute 8, substantially midway between the pivotal points of said chute, a power-wheel 17, preferably loosely mounted upon the eccentric-shaft 14:, which wheel will in practice be constantly driven from any suitable source of power bya belt 18, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7,) and a clutch device 0, comprising two

clutch members

19 and 20, one of which is fixed to the hub of the powerwheel and the other of which is splined to the eccentric-shaft It for movement longitudinally thereof and has a grooved periphery.

The clutch-actuator, in the preferred form thereof illustrated most clearly in Figs. 3 and 7 of the drawings, comprises an actuatingcam 21, fixed to one rocker-arm of the valve 7 O, a clutch-shifter, shown in the nature of a lever fulcrumed on the framework and having one end in engagement with the working face of the cam 21 and having at the opposite end thereof a stud or roll seated in the groove of the shiftable clutch member 20, and an advancing-spring 23, fixed at one end to the framework and fixed at its opposite end to the clutch-engaging end of the clutch-shifter 22, the working face of the cam 21 being so disposed as to impart a clutch-member-releasing movement to the clutch-shifter 22 during the closing movement of the valve 70 and thespring 23 being so disposed as to throw the

clutch members

19 and 20 into engagement on the opening movement of said valve.

It will be obvious that the general construction and organization of the chute-vibrator and clutch-actuator may be modified without departure from my present invention.

The weighing mechanism proper comprises any desired form of beam mechanism and a suitable load-receiver into which the loads or charges of material are made up, the loadreceiver in the present instance being shown as a bucket G, which is similar in a general way to the bucket shown in the Patent No. 572,071, hereinbefore referred to, the only difference between the bucket shown in the accompanying drawings and that described in the patent referred to residing in the con figuration or disposition of the side walls.

For sustaining the load-receiver or bucket I have shown beam mechanism of the duplicate class, which is substantially the same as the beam mechanism described in said Patent No. 572,071, and it consists of the two oppositely-disposed connterweighted beams 13 and B, fulcrumed on the base 3 and provided with suitable knife-edges on the poising sides thereof for supporting said bucket.

Inasmuch as the construction and organization of beam mechanism such as shown in the accompanying drawings are well known in the art and are fully described in said Patent No. 572,071, a detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary in-the present case. The bucket G is shown provided at the lower discharge end thereof with a load-discharger, comprising three closers (designated, respectively, byL, L, and L operatively connected together for concurrent opening and closing movements, as hereinafter more fully described.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 7 of the drawings, the front and rear walls 24; and 25 of the bucket arecut away at their lower ends to form front and rear openings, and the opposite side walls 2st and 25 of said bucket extend considerably below the front and

rear walls

24 and 25 and have their lower front and rear edges inclined downward an d toward the longitudinal axis of the bucket.

The two closers L and L which for convenience will be termed the side closers, are pivotally supported at their upper ends, as at 26 and 27, respectively, on brackets secured to the extreme lower ends of the front and

rear walls

24 and 25 and are adapted when in their closed positions to lie in close contact with the inclinedfront and rear edges of the side walls 24: and 25, said closers being of such length that their lower or discharge ends terminate in close proximity to the lower front and rear edges of the side walls 2 1' and 25'.

The main or bottom closer L is shown in the accompanying drawings fixed to a horizontally-disposed rock-shaft 28,which in practice will be jonrnaled at opposite ends thereof in suitable brackets (not shown) depending from

opposite side walls

24 and 25 of the load-receiver or bucket. This closer when the same is in its closed position lies slightly inclined relatively to a horizontal plane and covers an opening between the lower ends of the side closers L and L Said closer L is pivotally supported at one side the longitudinal axis of the load-receiver and in closer proximity to the lower end of the closer- L than to the lower end of the closer L and comprises a material-supporting plate having two oppositely-

inclined portions

29 and 29, respectively, the portion 29 extending from a point above to a point below the axis of oscillation of said closer when said closer is in its closed position and having its discharge end extended underneath and slightly beyond the lower end of the closer L and the portion 4 cornea 29 of said material-supporting plate cxtending forward and bearing at its inner end against the inner face of said closer L near the lower end thereof.

As a means for facilitating an opening movement of the two side closers L and L concurrently with the opening movement of the main closer L, I have provided an act-uating-connector between the three closers, which, in the preferred form thereof shown in full and dotted lines in the accompanying drawings, comprises two oppositely-disposed closer-actuating links and 31., pivotally connected at their outer ends to the two side closers L and L and pivotally connected at their inner ends to the bottom closer L at opposite sides thereof and at opposite sides of the roek-shaft 28, the disposition of thelinks 30 and 31 being such that upon the opening and closing movements of the main or bot tom closer L concurrent opening and closing movements will be imparted to the side closers L and L 15y referring to the accompanying drawings, and especially to Fig. 7 thereof, it will be seen that the preponderance of weight of material rests upon the rearwardly-extendin g longer portion 29 of the bottom closer L and in the rear of the axis of movement of said closer and that notwithstanding the links 30 and 31, which connect the main closer L and the side closers L and L may be substan' tially in their dead-center positions the stress exerted by the preponderance of material on the rearwardly-extended longer portion of the closer L will tend to overcome the resistance due to the dead-center positions of the connections between this closer and the two side closers and will when the main closer is unlatched, as will be hereinafter fully described, effect an opening movement of the main closer and concurrent opening movements of the two side closers.

13y referring to Fig. (3 of the drawings it will be seen that the two side closers L and L have a very short range of movement as compared with that of the main closer L.

As a means [or normally locking the closers in their closed positions, as shown in Figs. at, 5, and 7, and for retaining the same in these positions until the load receiver or bucket G on the ascending movement thereof has arrived at its truly-poised position I have provided closer-locking instrumentalitics, which, in the preferred form thereof illustrated in said .iigures, comprise a bypass latch Z, of usual construction, supported on the load-receiver, and a detent-arn1 fixedly secured at its lower end on the rockshaft 28 of the main closer L and having its upper end in position for engaging the latch Zwhen the closers are in their closed positions; and as a means for tripping the latch l at a predetermined point in the ascending movement of the loadreeeivcr G, l have provided a latch-tripper Z, pivotally supported on the framework and having a counterweight w for retaining the lower end. thereijd' normally in the path of movement of one arm of the latch l, as shown most clearly in Figs. l, 5, and 0 of the drawings.

As a means for blocking the opening n1ovcment of the closers when the main supplyvalve 70 is in its open position in case the latch Zshould be accidentallytripped and l'orblocking the opening movement of the valve 70 when the closers are in their open positions I employ interlocking mechanism,which, in the form shown in the accompanying drawings, is of substantially the same general construction, organization, and operation as that described in Letters Patent No. 541:8,S l0, granted tome October 1895, and which interlocking mechanism comprises two reciprocally-effective stop members, (designated by .9 and s, re-- spectively,) one of which, as s, is connected with and is controlled in its movements by the main closer L and the other of which, as s, is connected to and is controlled in its movements by the main supply-valve 70.

The stop member s is shown as a counter weighted segment-disk pivotaliy supported at 36 on the side wall of the load-receiver and having a rearwardly-extendii1g arm 3b, to which is pivotally connected a closer-actuating rod or link 37, which rod is pivotally connected at its lower end to the main closer L in the rear of the axis of movement of said closer. This stop member s, which is connterweighted and constitutes a closer-shutting actuator, has a curved stop-face 36, against which one face of the stop member s abuts when the valve 70 is in its closed positions and the closers of the load-receiver are in their open positions, as shown in Fig. [3, and the stop member s, which is of a construc tion similar to the stop member s, also has a curved face 38, against which a portion of the stop member s abuts when the valve 70 is in its open position and the closers of the load-receiver are in their closed positions, as shown in Fig. t.

As a convenient means for imparting a closing movement to the valve 70 said valve is shown furnished with a counterweighted valve-closing actuator 39, the disposition of. such valve-closing actuator being such that on the descending movement of the load'receiver said actuator will impart a graduallyclosing movement to said valve, and as a convenient means for imparting an opening movement to said valve and for preventing a premature movement thereof 1. have provided a valve-opening actuator, which is similar in construction and organizzition to the valve-opening actuator described in Patent No. 5-ib,Si-O, referred to, and consists of a countcrweighted auxiliary beam if, fulcrumcd intermediate its ends on the inner end of one of the scale-beams, as i and a thrust-rod d0, normally resting at its lower end upon the inner end of the beam 11 and pivotally connected at its upper end to the valve-closing actuator 35).

IIS

The construction and arrangement of the valve-openin g actuator are such that on the descending movement of the load-receiver the outer end of thebeam B will be carried upward by the scale-beam B, and the inner end thereof will be depressed, allowing the thrust-rod to descend, thus permitting the valve-closing actuator 39 to impart a gradually-closing movement to the valve. On the ascending movement of the load-receiver the inner end of the beam 13 rises and engages the lower end of the thrust-rod simultaneously with the opening movements of the closers, which opening movements of the closers throws the stop member 5 into a position for blocking the opening movement of the valve 7 0, thus also blocking the further ascending movement of the inner end of the beam 13 until the closers return to their closed positions, which carries the stop member 3 out of position for blocking the opening move ment of the valve and permits the counterweighted end of the beam B to descend and impart a quick opening movement to said valve through the medium of the thrust-rod 40, this operation of the valve being substantially similar as the operation of the valve described in Patent No. 572,067.

The load-receiver or bucket G is shown furnished intermediate the receiving and discharging ends thereof with two oppositelydisposed conduits or spouts 50 and 51, which communicate with the interior of the loadreceiver through an inlet and an outlet, respectively, formed in the front wall thereof, and which conduits may, on account of their functions, be consistently termed the surplus-conduit and return-conduit, respectively, the material-supporting wall of the upper or surplus-discharge conduit 51 extending downwardly in an inclined plane and the return-conduit 50 having the materialsupporting wall thereof extending upwardly in an inclined plane.

Located within the load-receiver and constituting the rear wall of the return-conduit is a material-deflecting plate 50, the upper portion of which is inclined in parallelism with the material-supporting bottom wall of the return-conduit and the lower portion of whichis disposed, preferably,in parallelism with the front wall 25 of the load-receiver and depends slightly below a horizontal line intersecting the axes of the two side closers L and L so that the material as it passes into the receiver through the return-conduit 50 will fall directly upon the side closer L This deflecting-plate 50, as will be seen by reference to Figs. 9, 10, and 11 of the drawings, prevents the material in the load-receiver from entering and obstructing the passage-way through the return-conduit 50, and also forms a repository for the surplus material returned to the load-receiver in case said receiver is filled to a'point above the lower end of the return-conduit before the surplus is returned to said receiver.

Extending upward from the side edges of the mat-erial-supporting bottom wall of the return-conduit 50 and preferably outside the front wall of the load-receiver are two side walls, which terminate, preferably, at a point slightly above the surplus-discharge conduit 51, said side wall constituting practically an upward extension of the conduit 50, which extension is shown open at its front side.

The upper conduit 51 is shown provided with a counterweighted valve 52, preferably pivoted at its forward end between the side walls of said conduit and having a cut-off plate 52 for closing the outlet of said conduit, said valve in practice being so weighted as to remain normally closed.

The load-reducing valve 52 has an opening movement imparted thereto by the load-receiver on the descending movement of said load-receiver below its poising-line. To effect an opening movement of the valve 52 on the descending movement of the load-receiver below the poising-line thereof, said valve is pivotally supported, as before described, at its forward end between the side walls and at the forward end of the discharge-chute 51 and has pivoted thereto at a point intermediate the pivotal point and cutoff plate 52 thereof a sustaining rod 53, having at the upper end thereof an elongated slot 53 of a length substantially equal to the distance traversed .by the load-receiver in descending from its normal elevated position to its poising position, into which slot is extended a pin or projection 54 on an arm 5 1, which constitutes a fixture of the framework and is located considerably above the upper end of the load-receiver.

By the construction and organization of valve instrumentalities described in the preceding paragraph it will be seen that during the first stages of the descending movement of the load-receiver the valve and its sustaining-rod will descend therewith, the valve remaining in the position shown in Fig. 7 until the load-receiver arrives at its poising-line, at which time the upper wall of the elongated slot 53 of the sustaining-rod will strike the pin 54, which will prevent a further descending movement of said rod and valve with the load-receiver. Aftertheload-receiverarrives at the poising-line in its descending move ment and descends below said poising-line the pivotally-supported end of said valve 52 will descend with said load-receiveiythus rocking the valve on the pivot connecting it to the lower end of the sustaining-rod 53 and cause the cut-off portion of said valve to be elevated to the position shown in Fig. 9, thus uncovering the outlet of the discharge-spout and permitting the surplus material in the load-receiver to flow out through said con duit 51. On the ascending movement of the load-receiver the operation of the valve will be obviously reversed. I

The conduit 51, its valve, and the means for facilitating the opening movement of said IIO c cor ice valve during the descending movement of said load-receiver constitute what is herein termed the load-reducing means, and the letlllll'cOlltllllt 50 constitutes one element of what is herein termed the .resupplying means.

For the purpose of receivingand disposing of the surplus material after it is discharged from the load-receiver I have provided a surplus receiving and resupplying apparatus, which is designated in a general way by it, and embodies, in addition to the return-conduit 51, a surplusreceiver 55, supported .in operative relation with the discharge and return

conduits

51 and 50, respectively, for vertical reciprocatory movement relatively to and in substantial parallelism with the line of vertical reciprocation et the main load-receiver G, and also embodies a gate or cut-off plate 56 for alternately cutting oil. and opening communication between the surplus-receiver 55 and the return-comluit 50 of the load-receiver at predetermined points in the reciprocatory movement of said receiver. This surplus-receiver 55 is in the nature oi. a conduit or hopper having an inclined bottom wall adapted, when the receiver is in its extreme elevated position, to lie with its inner face in alinement with the material-supporting face of the return-comluit 50, as shown in Figs. '7 and 8 of the drawings, said receiver havingan opening at its rear side which registers its entire length, when in its elevated position, with a corresponding opening at the front side of the extension of the returxreonduit 50, sullicient space being left between the adjacent edges oi. the side walls of the surplus-receiver and the conduit extension to form a guideway for and facilitate the reciprocatory movement of the cut-oil? plate 56, which is interposed between the surplus-rcceiver and said' conduit extension.

As a means for facilitating a vertical reciprocatory movement of the surplus-receiver said receiver is furnished with guide-arms 57 and 58, respectively, on the forward side thereof, through which is extended a guiderod 50, fixed at its upper end to the bracket 59, secured to the front wall oi? the load-rcceiver, near the upper end thereof.

As a means [or holding the surplus-receiver 55 in its elevated position, as shown in Figs.

7 and 8, when theload-recciver is in its fullyelevated load-receiving position I have pro vided a receivenengaging latch in, pivotally supgorted at the upper end of a latch-carrying arm (30, fixed at its lower end to the base 3 of the weighing-machiue. This latch on. has an arm (31. located normally in position for engaging a projection 62 on the lower guide-arm 58 of the surplus-receiver and retaining said. receiver in its elevated position until said latch is tripped by means hereinal'ter described. Said latch also has a counterweighted arm 61 for normally retaining the receiver-engaging arm (31 in the path of movement of the catch 62 on said receiver.

In practice the surplus-receiver will when the main load-receiver is in its elevated posi tion belocated in position for discharging the surplus material contained therein through the return-comluit 50 into said load-receiver.

As a means for tripping the latch m dur ing the descendingmovement of the load-re ceiver and when the same has arrived at or has passed its poising-line l have provided a latch-actuator, which in the form thereof shown in the accompanying drawings is in the nature of a curved arm (35;, fixed to the counterweighted end of the scale-beam .15 in position and adapted for striking the counter-weighted end of the latch n1. when the beam mechanism has arrived during the de scending movement of the lozul-receiver at its poising-line and tripping said latch to release the same from engagement with the catch (32 and allow the surplus reeeiver to drop to the position illustrated in Fig. 9, with its material-supportiug bottom wall below the matcrial-supporting wall of the returu-(am duit 50. ()n the falling of the surplus-rccciver from the position shown in ll 'ig. S to that shown in Fig. (l a pocket til will be formed between the cut-oil plate 50' and the walls of said receiver of sul'licientarea tostore the surplus material as it is discharged at this time through the disclntrge colnluit 51 by the opening of the rcdimingwalve By reference to Figs. 8 to ll, inclusive, of the drawings, which illustrate the operatiml of the surplus receiving and resupplying means during one cycle of operations of the parts of the weighing-niacinne, itwill be seen that the surplus-receiver 55 remains in the depressed position shown in Figs. .J and in until the reducingwalve closed during the ascendingmovement of the load-receiver and until the completed load is discharged from the load-receiver G- by the opening of the closers.

The cut-oil. plate 56 is furnished with an arm 56,l1aviuga sleeve at the forward end thereof which surrounds and is shiltably moun ted on the guide-rod 59 considerably below the sur plus-receiver 55. lhis eutoll plate is con-- structed and organized to have an ascending movement in unison with the surplus-receiver 55and to have a descending receivenopening movement independent of said surplusae ceiver, and is also so constructed that when the surplus-receiver is in its extreme elevated position, as shown in Fig. 8, and the cutol't plate is in its lowest position, as shown in said :l'igure, the upper edge of the ent-ollf portion 50" of said plate will lie liush with the materialsupporting faces of. the surplus-receiver 55 and return-comluit 50, so as to establish comn'iunication between said recei verand con duit and allow the material in pass from the surplus1-eceiver to the main load-receiver G.

As a convenient means for elevating the surplus-receiver concurrently with the dis charge of the lead from the main load-receiver G, and also for subsequently retracting or depressing the cut-off plate 56 to open communication between the two receivers G and 55, respectively, and concurrently with the closing movement of the closers of the load-receiver, to thereby allow the surplus material to pass from the surplus-receiver into the loadreceiver simultaneously with the opening movement of the main stream-controller or valve 70, I have provided, in operative connection with the bucket-closer L, the surplusreceiver 55, and the cut-off plate 56, actuating instrumentalities which, in the preferred form thereof shown most clearly in Fig. 7 of the drawings, comprise a vertically-disposed actuating-rod 65, pivotally connected at its lower end, as at to one arm of an angle-lever 66, which is pivotally supported intermediate its ends on the bracket 60, secured to the .base 3 of the machine, and has its other arm pivotally connected to the forward end of the link (37, which in turn is pivotally connected at its rearward end to the depending crankarm 68, fixed to the rock-shaft 28 of the main closer L, the organization of the angle-lever ($6, crank-arm (38, and connecting-link 0'7 being such that on an opening movement of the closer L the actuating rod 65 will be thrust upward and on the closing movement of said closersaid rod will be pulled downward. This actuating-rod (35 has a transverse elongated slot 69 intermediate its ends, into which eX- tends a pin or projection on the guide-arm 56 of the cut-off plate 56, and also has at the upper end thereof an elongated slot 71, whose longitudinal axis is coincident with the longitudinal axis of the rod, and into which slot 71 extends a stud or projection 72, fixed to the lower guide-arm 58 of the surplus-receiver 55.

By reference to Fig. 7 of the drawings it will be seen that when the surplus-receiter is in its elevated position, the closers of the load-receiver G being in their closed positions, the stud 72 on the receiver 55 is seated in the slot 71, near the upper end thereof, and that when the latch m is tripped by the latch-actuator 63, which occurs when the weighing mechanism comes to its poised position to release the surplus-receiver 55, said receiver descends independent of any movement of the actuator-rod 65 until the stud 72, seated in the slot 71, strikes the lower wall of said slot 71 and arrests the further descending movement of said receiver.

On the opening movement of the closers, assuming the surplus-receiver 55 and cut-off plate 56 to be in the positions illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, an upward thrust will be imparted to the actuator-rod 65, carrying the surplus-receiver 55 and cut-off plate 56 upward concurrently to the positions thereof shown in Fig. 11, at which time the latch m reengages the catch 62 on the surplus-receiver and holds the same against accidental descending movement. On the closing movement of the closers of the load-receiver G the actuator rod 65 will be drawn downward through the medium of the connections hereinbefore described, thereby retracting or depressing the cut-off plate 56 and opening communication between the surplus-receiver 55 and the load-receiver G, allowing the surplus material to reenter said receiver G to make up a part of the succeeding load, the main stream-controller or valve 70 at this time being in its open position to supply an overload to said receiver G.

By comparison of the several figures, as 8 to 11, inclusive, of the drawings it will be understood that during the descending movement of the load-receiver from its normal elevated position the main valve 70 will be gradu ally closed, and that on the first stage of said descending movement the material-supporting wall of the return-conduit 50 will be carried slightly below the material-supporting wall of the surplus-receiver 55, and that by the time the receiver arrives at its poising-line on the descent thereof the entire material contained in the surplus-receiver will have been discharged into the load-receiver G through the return-conduit 50. On the arrival of the main receiver and beam mechanism at its poising-line during the descending movement thereof the actuator ('33 will strike the latch m, releasing the surplus-receiver and allowing the same to drop to the position shown in Fig. 9 and in position to receive the surplus as it is discharged through the discharge-conduit 51 into said receiver 55, the reducingvalve 52 being opened immediately after the receiver G arrives at its poising-line in its descent.

On the tripping of thelatch m and onthe descent of the surplus-receiver 55 the cut-off plate has the upper edge of its material-obstructing portion 56 extending somewhat above the material-supporting wall of the return-conduit 50, as shown in Fig. 9, where it remains until the load-reducing valve 52 has returned to its closed position during the ascending movement of the load-receiver and until the load is discharged from the load-receiver G, after which said cut-off plate and surplus-receiver are elevated simultaneously to the positions thereof shown in Fig. 11, which positions are maintained until the closers of the load-receiver have been returned to their closed positions, which, as before stated, retracts or depresses the cut-off plate and allows the surplus contained in the surplus-receiver to be discharged into the main loadreceiver.

On the opening movement of the main supply-valve 70 the clutch members of the chutevibrator are thrown into operative engagement, which imparts a vibratory movement to said chute, loosening the material therein and facilitating a free flow thereof through the supply apparatus into the load-receiver G, and on the closing movement of the valve 70, which takes place during the descending movement of the load-receiver, the clutch co ,lo l

members of the chute-vibrator are thrown out of engagement,rendering the chute-vibrator ineffective for vibrating the chute.

In the construction and organization of rcd ucing-valve mechanism hereii'ibefore described the main load-receiver r} constitutes the reducing-valve actuator and is effective at a predetermined point in the descending movement thereof for imparting an opening movement to the load-reducing valve 59. It will be obvious that the instrumentalities for actuating the surplus-receiver 55 and cut-off plate 56 may be variously modified within the purview of this invention.

lilaving described my invention, 1 claim' 1. A weighing-machine embodying two receivers supported one by the other side by side for indepeiulent reciprocatory movements in substantial parallel planes relatively to each other, and which receivers are reciprocally effective at predetermined points in their movements for supplying material to each other, and means for controlling the reciprocatory movementsof said receivers.

53. The combination, with weighing mechanism includin a reeiprocatory load-receiver and with overloadsupplying means, of alternately-el'feetive load-reducing means and resupplying means the former of which ineludes a reducing-valve and the latter of which includes a surplus-receiver supported by the load-receiver for reciprocatory movement relatively to, and in parallelism with, the line of reciprocation of said load-receiver, and means for controlling the reciprocatory movements of the two receivers.

3. The combination, with. weighing mechanism including a reciprocatory load-receiver having a diseharge-eoiuluit between the upper and the lower ends thereof and with overloadsupplying means, of a valve pivotally supported on said conduit for controlling the discharge of surplus material; a valve-sustaining rod pivotally supported at its lower end on the valve in the rear of the pivotal point thereof and having an elongated slot at the upper end thereof; a fixed arm located above the load-receiver and having a projection extendinginto the elongated slot of said sustaining-rod, whereby on the descending movement of the load-receiver the valve and its sustaining-rod will have a limited amount of descending movement with the load-receiver, and whereby on the arrival of the loadreceiver at its poisingdine during the descending movement thereof, the further descent of the cut-oil end of said valve will be arrested and the load-receiver will carry the pivoted end of said valve downward and thereby effect an opening movement of the cut-off end thereof.

4-. The combination, with weighing mechanism inelu ding a reciprocatory load-receiver having a discha-rge-coiuluit and a return-conduit between the upper and the lower ends thereof, the forniier of which is furnished with a valve, of means for actuating the valve at a predetermined point in the descemling movement of the lozul-receiver for discharging the surplus; and a surpl[ls-receiver supported for independent reciprocatory 11lovement in parallelism with, and at one side, the lozul-receiver, and in position to receive the surplus discharged from said receiver.

5. The combinatioi'i, with weighing mechanism including a recipr i catory load-receiver having load-rcducing means and. with overload-supplying means, of a return-coiuluit located below the load-reducing means and eon'unui'iieating with the interior of the loadreceiver; a surpl V s-recciver supported for independent reeiprocatory movement in parallelism with, and at one side of, the load-receiver, and in position to receive material supplied by the lozulareducing means and effective for discharging material into the return-coi'iduit; and means controlled by the weighing mechanism for actuating the surplus-receiver.

6. The combination, with weighing mechanism including a loz'id-recciver having a dis charge-conduit and a return-comluit located intermediate the upper and the lower ends thereof and with overload-supplying means, of a reeciver-actuated valve in operative relation with the discharge-conduit; and a vertically-shiftable surplus-receiver in operative relation with the discharge and return conduits; and means for actuating said. surplusreceiver.

7. The combination, with weighing mechanism including a reeiprocatory loiul-rcceiver and with overl0ad-supplying means, of loadreducing means; surplus receiving and resupplying means, the former of which includes a discharge-coiuluit communicating with the interior of the lozul-receiver and having a valve operative for opening and closing the inlet of said discharge-00ndnit at predetermined points in the reciproca'tory move ments of the receiver, and the latter of which includes a return-coiuluit in connnunication with the load-receiver, a surplusa'cceivcr supported for vertical reciprocatory movement-s independent of the lozul-receiver, and a .re ciprocatory cut-off plate located between the surplus-receiver and the return-coiuluit; and means controlled by the weighing meclu'iuism for controlling the movements of the surplusreceiver and cut-off plate.

8. The combination, with weighing mechanism including a load receiver having a closer and also having a discharge-co]iduit and a returircomluit located one above the other and lil'tOl'li'iOLllitlO the upper and the lower ends of said receiver, of a valve in operative relation with the disc]iarge-conduit; means for actuating said valve; a sur 'ilusreceiver supported for movement crosswise of the receiving end of the rciairn-eoiuluit; a cut-off plate supported between the sur plus-receiver and return-coiuluit for movement with, and also il'ulepeiulent of, the surplus-receiver; and. means controlled by the closer of the load-receiver for actuating the surplus-receiver and cut-off plate.

0. The combination, with weighing mechanism including a load receiver having a closer and also having a discharge-conduit provided with a valve and also having a return-conduit below said discharge-conduit and communicating with the interior of said receiver, of surplus receiving and resupplying means comprehending a surplus-receiver supported for vertical reciprocatory movement crosswise of the receiving end of the return-conduit, and a cut-off plate supported for reciprocatory movement between the surplus-receiver and return-conduit and means controlled by the weighing mechanism on the descending movement of the load-receiver for effecting a descending movement of the surplus-receiver to bring its material-supporting wall below the material-supporting wall of the return conduit, and in position to receive and store the surplus material discharged from the load-receiver; means controlled by the weighing mechanism on the ascending movement of the load-receiver for elevating the surplus receiver and cut-off plate in unison; and means controlled by the closer of the load receiver, on the closing movement thereof, for actuating the cut-oit' plate to establish communication between the surplus-receiver and return-conduit.

10. The combination, with weighing mechanism including a load-receiver having a surplus-discharger and a return-conduit in communication therewith and with overload-supplying means, of a surplus-receiver disposed to receive the surplus as it is discharged from the load-receiver; a shiftable cut-01f plate supported between the surplus-receiver and return conduit of the load receiver; and means operative at a predetermined point in the ascending movement of the load-receiver for actuating the cut-off plate to establish communication between the surplus-receiver and return-conduit.

11. The combination, with weighing mechanism including a load-receiver having a closer and also having a valve-controlled discharge-conduit and a return-conduit having a vertically inclined material supporting wall, of means for actuating the closer; a surplus-receiver supported at one side of the discharge and return conduits and having a downwardly inclined material supporting wall; means controlled by the closer, on the opening movement thereof, for elevating the surplus-receiver to bring the material-supporting walls of said receiver and returnconduit in substantial alinement; a cut-off plate supported between the surplus-receiver and return-conduit and shiftable, upon the opening movement of the closer, into a position for covering the receiving end of the return-conduit; means for locking the surplus-receiver in its elevated position during the closing movement of the closer; and

means controlled by the closers, on the closing movement thereof, for retracting the cutolf plate to establish communication between the surplus-receiver and return-conduit and allow the material contained in the surplusreceiver to flow into the load-receiver.

12. The combination, with weighing mecl1- anism including a load receiver having a closer and also having a valve-controlled discharge-conduit and a return-conduit having a vertically inclined material supporting wall, of means for actuating the closer; a surplu s-receiver supported at one side of the discharge and return conduits and having a downwardly inclined materia1 supporting wall; means controlled by the closer, on the opening movement thereof, for elevating the surplus-receiver to bring the material-supporting walls of said receiver and return-conduit in substantial alinement; a cut-off plate supported between the surplus-receiver and return-conduit and shiftable, upon the opening movement of the closer, into a position for covering the receiving end of the return: conduit; means for locking the surplus-receiver in its elevated position during the closing movement of the closer; means controlled by the closcrs, 011 the closing movement thereof, for retracting the cut-off plate to establish communication between the surplus-receiver and return-conduit and allow the material contained in the surplus-receiver to flow into the load-receiver; and means controlled by the weighing mechanism, on the descent of the load-receiver, for unlocking the surplus-receiver thereby to effect a de scending movement of the same and bring the material-supporting wall thereof below the material-supporting wall of the returnconduit and below the upper edge of the cutoff plate and into a position for receiving and storing the surplus material.

13. The combination,with weighing mechanism including a load -receiver having a valve-controlled discharge-conduit and a return-conduit in communication with the interior thereof, of overload-supplying means including a valve controlled in its opening and closing movements by the beam mechanism, on the descending and ascending movements, respectively, of the load receiver; means for opening and closing the valve of the surplus-discharge conduit at predetermined points in the descending and ascending movements, respectively, of the load-receiver; a surplus-receiver supported at one side of the load-receiver for vertical reciprocatory movements independent of said receiver, and located in position to receive ma terial from the discharge-conduit means carried on the loadreceiver for guiding the movements of the surplusreceiver; a cut-off plate supported between the surplus-receiver and entrance end of the return-conduit for reciprocatory movements in parallelism with the line of reciprocation of the load-receiver;

and means controlled by the moving parts of the weighing mechanism for actuating the surplus-receiver and cut-off plate at predetermined points in the reciprocatory movements of the load-receiver, whereby the surplus-receiver will, on the descending movement of the 1oad-receiver, receive and store the surplus material discharged from the loadreceiver and will discharge said surplus into the return-conduit upon the arrival of the load-receiver at its normal load-receiving position.

14:. The combination, with weighing mechanism including a load receiver having a closer and also having a surplus-discharger and a return-conduit in communication with the interior thereof and with overload-supplying means, of an independent verticallyreciproeatory surplus-receiver; and means in connection with the closer for actuating said receiver.

15. The combination, with weighing mechanism including a load-receiver having a closer and also having a valve-controlled dischargeconduit and a return-conduit in communication with the interior thereof, of a surplus receiver supported for reciprocatory movement crosswise of the discharging and receiving ends of the discharge-conduit and return-comluit, respectively; means foractuating the closer; and instrumentalities actuated by the closer and beam mechanism for effecting ascending and descending movements, respectively, of the surplusreeeiver, to bring the same into position for first receivin g the surplus discharged from the loadreceiver and for subsequently discharging said. surplus into the said loadreceiver.

16. The combination, with weighing mechanism including a vertically-reciprocatory load-reeeiver having a closer and also having a valve-controlled discharge-conduit and a return-conduit located the former above the latter and intermediate the upper and lower ends of said receiver, of a surplus-receiver supported for ascending and descending movements in operative relation with the discharge and return conduits; a latch operative when the load-receiver is in its normal loadreceiving position for holding the surplus-receiver in an elevated position and in position to discharge material into the return-conduit;

a latch-actuator operative at a predetermined point in the movement of the weighing mechanism for tripping the latch to permit a descending movement of the surplus-receiver; a cut-off plate supported for vertical movement between the stu-plusreceiver and return-conduit and effective for controlling the discharge of material from the surplus-1'eceiver to the load-receiver; means actuated by the closer of the load-receiver for imparting ascending and descending movements to the cutoff plate on the closing and opening movements, respectively, of the closer, and which means is connected to the surplus-receiver and is effective on the closing movement of the closer for elevating said receiver.

17. The coi'nbination, with weighing mechanism including a load-receiver having a closer and also having a valvecontrolled discharge-conduit and a return-conduit located the former above the latter and between the upper and the lower ends of said receiver, of a vertically-disposed guide carried on the load-receiver; a surplus-receiver supported 011 said guide for vertical movements independent of the receiver and in operative relation with the discharge and return conduits; means operative, when the load-receiver is in its elevated position, for holding the surplus-receiver in a load-discharging position; means controlled by the weighing mechanism for eli'ecting a descending movement of the surplus-receiver; means controlled by the closer, on the closing movement thereof, for elevating the SllI'plllS-lOCGlVOl; means effects ive during the weighing of a load for cutting off the supply of material from the surplusreceiver and the return-conduit, and also effective aft-er the discharge of the weighed load and on the shutting of the closer for cs tablishing communication between the surplus-receiver and load-receiver.

18. The combination, with weighing niechanism including a load-receiver having a closer and with closer-actuating means, of load-reducing means in connection with the load-receiver; a surplus receiving and resu p plying device including a vertically-shiftable surplus-receiver and a return-comluit in communieation with the load-receiver; means ef- 'fective, when the load-receiver is in its leadreceiving position, for holding the surplus-receiver in an elevated position; means controlled by the weighing mechanism for releasing and effecting a descending movement of the surplus-receiver and including an anglelever pivotally supported on the framework and having one of its arms pivotally connected to the main closer of the load-receiver; an actuatorrod pivotally connected at its lower end to the other arm of the angle-lever and having at its upper end an elongated, slot; a stud or projection on the surplus-receiver extending into said slot, the construction and organization of the actuator-rod, including the lever and its connection with the closer, being such that on the opening movement of the closera shifting i'novement will be imparted to the surplus-receiver; and a cut-off plate shiftably supported between the surplus-receiver and return conduit and coin nected to the actuator-rod in such manner that on the opening movement of the closeranism including a load-receiver, of supply apparatus comprehending a series of supplychutes pivotally connected and supported for oscillating movements in opposite directions respectively; a main supply-valve controlled by the weighing mechanism for regulating the discharge of material from the supplychutes to the load-receiver; a power-driven chute-oscillator in operative connection with the oscillatory chutes; and means in connection with, and controlled by, the supply-valve for throwing the chute-oscillator into and out of action.

20. The combination, with weighing mechanism including a load-receiver, of a supply apparatus including a chute supported for vibratory movement; a valve for opening and closing the discharge ends of the supply apparatus; means controlled by the weighing mechanism for imparting an opening movement to said valve; a chute-vibrator in operative connection with the vibratory chute and including a clutch for throwing the chutevibrator into and out of action; and means carried by the valve for actuating the clutch.

21. The combination, with weighing mechanism including a load-receiver, of a supply apparatus including a series of chutes located one above the other and one or more of which is supported for Vibratory movement; an oscillatory stream-controllerin connection with one of said chutes; means controlled by the weighing mechanism for imparting an opening-and-closing movement to the stream-controller a power-driven chute-vibrator in connection with the vibratory chute or chutes and embodying a clutch device; a cam carried on the streanrcontroller; and means connecting said cam and clutch device and effective on the opening-and-closin g movement of the stream-controller for actuating the clutch device to render the chute-vibrator eff ective in its operation for vibrating the chute.

22. The combination, with weighing mechanism including a load-receiver, of a supply apparatus including a vibratory chute; an oscillatory stream-controller supported in position to open and close the discharge end of the supply apparatus; an eccentric-actuating shaft journaled in hearings on the framework and having an eccentric in operative connection with the vibratory chute; a powerdriven wheel mounted upon said shaft; a clutch device intermediate to, and effective for locking, the power-wheel and eccentricshaft together and for disengaging said power-wheel and eccentric-shaft; a clutch-actuating lever pivotally supported on the framework and having one end in engagement with the shiftable clutch member of the clutch device; a cam carried on the stream-controller and having a working face in engagement with the opposite side of the clutch-actuating lever and effective, onthe opening movement of the stream-controller,for shifting said lever to a position for throwing the members of the clutch device into operative engagement, to thereby cause the eccentric to impart vibratory movement to the chute.

23. The combination, with weighing mechanism including a load-receiver, of a supply apparatus having a vibratory chute and also having an oscillatory valve for controlling the discharge of material to the load-receiver; means controlled by the weighing mechanism for effecting a closing-and-opening movement of the valve at predetermed points in the movements of the load-receiver; a cam carried on the valve; a power-driven chute-vibrator including an eccentric in pivotal connection with the vibratory chute and a powerwheel, each of which has a clutch member in connection therewith; a clutch-actuating lever pivotally supported on the framework and having one end thereof in engagement with one of the clutch members and having its opposite end in engagement with the working face of the valve-cam, and which lever is effective,on opposing movements of the valve, for actuating the clutch member to render the chute-vibrator alternately effective and ineffective.

24. The combination, with aload-receiver, of a horizontally-disposed closer-supporting rock-shaft having its axis at one side the 1ongitudinal axis of the receiver; a closer fixedly secured to said rock-shaft with its supportingplate transverse to the. line of flow of the material; and two oppositely-disposed side closers pivotally supported at their upper ends to the front and rear walls, respectively, of the load-receiver, and having their lower ends in juxtaposition to the opposite ends of the firstmentioned closer; two side-closer-actuating rods pivotally connected at their inner ends to the middle closer at opposite sides, respectively, of the rock-shaft, and pivotally connected at their outer ends to the two side closers, whereby, on the opening movement of the middle closer, an opening movement will be simultaneously imparted to the side closers.

25. The combination, with weighing mechanism including a load-receiver having closeropenings in the front and rear walls at the lower end thereof and also having a discharge-opening in the bottom thereof,of a horizontally-disposed rock-shaft carried on the load-receiver at the lower end thereof; a bottom closer carried near one end on the rock-shaft and having that portion of its material-supporting plate of greatest area located in the rear of the axis of said rock-shaft; two oppositely-inclined side closers pivotally supported at their upper ends on the front and rear walls, respectively, of the load-receiver in position to cover the side openings, and having their lower ends, when in their closed positions, in contact with the front and rear ends of the bottom closer; means for normally locking the closers in their closed positions; means operative at a predetermined point in the movement of the 12 GO'FABL load-receiver for releasing seidloeking means tom closer and operative, at a predetermined to effect an opening movement of said closers; point in the movement of the lozrd-receiver 1o toggle-links operatively connecting said side for imparting & closing movement to said Side closers and bottom closer in such manner that closers.

on the opening-and-elosing movement of the FRANGTS ll. RICHARDS. bottom closer corresponding movements will \Vitnesses: he imparted similllvmleously to the side 0103- lr l'u ll). .l. DOLE,

ers; and means 'in connection with the hot- T. S. lLHYKI'NS.