GB1163111A - Improvements in or relating to Bag Filling Devices. - Google Patents

Abstract

1,163,111. Sack filling machines. W. C. HALLS, and A. C. MONK. 31 Aug., 1966 [31 May, 1965; 4 Oct., 1965], Nos. 23079/65 and 41989/65. Heading B8C. [Also in Division G1] Apparatus for filling sacks with weighed quantities of material comprises a single weighing platform for supporting two sacks at spaced filling positions and deflector means to deflect material to one or other of the positions in response to increase in weight on the platform due to a sack reducing the correct weight of material. Two sacks (12), (13), Fig. 2 (not shown), placed on the platform (11), Fig. 1 (not shown), of a weighing balance, are alternately filled with a predetermined weight of potatoes from a hopper (14). The hopper has one outlet 17, 18 for each sack, the outlet in use being selected by means of a movable flap 19 which may be preset by means of a hand lever 50, to operate at a given filling weight in one of the sacks. The flap 19 is freely mounted on an inner shaft (39) and a radial arm 48 on the flap is entrapped between the flanges 49<SP>1</SP>, 49<SP>11</SP> of a sector 49, fixedly mounted on the shaft (39). Sector 49 can rock between stops 42, 43. A spring 52, on an arm 51 of the lever 50, which has a pawl engageable in recesses 57, and 58 on a sector 41, urges the sector 49 towards stop 42, or 43 accordingly. Trip 60 is also secured on to the shaft 39 and is held by locking arm 63, or 64, according to the position of the sector 49, thereby preventing the shaft 39 from rotating. As the platform (11) descends under the weight of the filled sack, an arm (68) on the platform engages with a nut (70) at the bottom of shaft 65 to move the shaft downwards thereby causing shaft 61, and locking arms 63, 64 to rotate. The trip 60 is released, thus allowing shaft 39 to rotate and, due to the action of the spring 52, the sector 49 is pulled towards stop 43 carrying with it the flap 19 to close outlet 18 and discharge the produce through outlet 17 into the other sack. The operator removes the filled sack and replaces it with an empty one, whereat the platform (11) rises and arm (68) engages an upper nut (69) on shaft 65 to cause the shaft to rise which results in arm 64 engaging over the arm 74 of trip 60, thereby again locking the shaft (39). The operator moves the control lever 50 so that the pawl engages in recess 58, the spring not urging the sector 49 towards stop 42 and the cycle is repeated when the sack is full. Each outlet is surrounded by a rubber sleeve (36) which fits into the mouth of a sack, and the hopper is supported on brackets 30 mounted on a central pillar (29) of the weighing machine. A weight (72) on an arm (71) acts as a counterbalance for the trip mechanism. The flap may be moved by a solenoid, triggered by a photoelectric cell as the platform 11 descends. The filling machine may be mounted on a trailer towed behind the harvester.