GB1298713A - Improvements in or relating to balances for sorting objects by weight - Google Patents

Abstract

1298713 Sorting by weighing VAN KATWIJKS INDUSTRIEEN N V 28 Jan 1970 [31 Jan 1969] 4087/70 Heading G1W A stepwise sorting apparatus comprises a plurality of balances the first of which is operable to discharge at the same station objects, such as eggs, having a weight above or below a predetermined range. Two balance levers 4, 5 having adjustable weights 6, 9 provided on their thrust arms are mounted coaxially on a shaft 3 housed in a support 2 fixed on a vertically reciprocating support rail 1. The lever 4 has a load pan 7. A finger 8 projects from lever 4 and extends across and above the top of the load arm of lever 5. Lever 4 has a pin 10 and lever 5 has a pin 11 both of which project upwardly. An arm 14 pivoted about a shaft 13 fixed on a support 12 is mounted above the two levers and carries a stop 15 having a recess 16 and a stop 17 having a recess 18. In operation an object 19 is supplied in a stepwise manner by a conveyer 20 to a position above the load pan 7 whereafter the rail 1 is initially raised so that the load pan supports the object. If the object is between a preselected maximum and minimum weight the lever 4 will tip until the finger 8 rests on the load arm of lever 5. Thus on the further raising of the support rail 1 the pin 10 remains clear of the stop 15 and pin 11 remains clear of stop 17. Hence the rail 1 subsequently descends with the object on the pan and the conveyer moves it along to the next balance. An underweight object will not tip lever 4 and on rising the pin 10 co-operates with the recess 16 causing the arm 14 to pivot and hence rolling object off the pan 7. An overweight object tips both levers and on rising the pin 11 co-operates with recess 18 in guide 17 and again causes the arm 14 to pivot so that the object is rolled off the pan. In another embodiment, Figs.4, 5, 6 (not shown) a single stop (28) is provided on the load lever (23) so that when an object within the given weight range is placed on the pan (27) the stop (28) co-operates with a pin (35) on a reciprocating ejector device causing the compression of a spring and rendering the ejector device inoperative. An underweight object will not depress the lever (23) and the pin (35) will pass over the stop (28) when the ejector moves forward and hence the object will be ejected. An overweight object will tip the lever (23) and a further lever (24), in a similar manner to that in the first embodiment, and as reciprocation of the ejector the pin (35) will pass under the stop (28) and again the object will be ejected.