The Mechanical Handling and Storing of Material

THE AUTOMATIC WEIGHING OF MATERIAL 709 moment of closing the valve. The final cut-off is caused by the rising of the arm b of the scale with the weight c as the grain recipient descends. A steel pawl lifts the crank f coupled direct to the valve e, so that as soon as the crank is over the dead centre, the weight of the valve is called into action to close itself. After closing, the valve moves forward sufficiently to release the catch supporting the skip d, which, being pivoted somewhat below its centre of gravity, immediately tilts, and in so doing uncovers the discharge opening at the bottom through which the grain leaves the bucket. The discharging wheat strikes a rocking plate g, secured to the frame of the machine. This brings down a hook h, which holds the bucket in position until it has emptied itself, after which it is released and swings back to be refilled, closing itself and opening the inlet valve by its momentum, while simultaneously it actuates the counter k and so registers the weighing. Should the discharge spout from the weighing machine become blocked, owing to the machine weighing more than the shoot below can take away, the machine stops automatically and recommences work as soon as the accumulation has subsided. The short substantial beam' of the machine secures rigidity and reduces vibration, which means that the oscillation during the weighing is reduced to a minimum. It also facilitates a quicker succession of weighings, as many as four per minute having been accomplished. The machine is chiefly used for weighing grain and seeds. It is built in ten sizes, having capacities of 2 to 500 qrs. per hour, and ranging in height from 121 to 89^ in. for the different sizes. Simon’s Automatic Sack-Filling, Weighing, and Recording Machine.— A modification of the machine just described is illustrated in Figs. 1013 and 1014. Instead of the weighing hopper, a sack is attached to the machine which serves for sugar, flour, coffee, rice, grain, seeds, etc., ordinary standard weights being used It is claimed for it that it is a great labour-saving device, and is accurate to an ounce in 2 cwt. There is a counter in connection with it which records the number of sacks thus filled and weighed. All that the attendant has to do is to attach the empty bag