the Cutters and Fingers of Reaping and Mowing Machines.
Year: 1886

page_text: the Cutters and Fingers of Reaping and Mowing Machines.
I ROBERT M°GREGOR of Albion Iron Works Leigh in the County of Lancaster
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR SHARPENING THE CUTTERS AND FINGERS
OF REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of this invention is to construct an apparatus in which the emery or
other sharpening or grinding wheel or disc is capable of being moved at will either
backwards, forwards upwards, downwards or towards either side. This entirely
universal motion enables the sharpening device to follow the edge of any of the
cutters or fingers of a reaping and mowing machine however worn or jagged they
may be.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is made
to the two accompanying sheets of drawings, Figs. 1. and 2 being elevations of my
improved machine. Fig. 3. a plan view, and the remainder of the figures relating
to different parts and modifications which are hereafter described.
According to the first part of my invention the stand or frame of the machine
consists of two parallel side tubes or bars a and two end plates or brackets b, c,
securely fastened together and supported upon legs. These legs are tied together
by stays to which I attach the brackets to carry a foot treadle d, and a fly wheel
shaft 6.
On the two parallel side tubes or bars a, I place a cross piece f, having sockets
or tubes f¹ which fit the two parallel side tubes or bars and are free to slide on
the same.
In a central hole in this cross piece f, I place the stem of an upright fork g,
which carries a cross shaft h, on which is mounted a small grooved pulley i, having
a bevelled friction wheel i, cast or formed to the side thereof, and free to revolve
on the cross shaft. Between the arms of the upright fork g, and the ends of the
bosses of the grooved pulley and bevelled friction wheel I place or hinge the ends
of a light movable frame k, which carries the grinding apparatus. This latter
consists of a spindle having at one end a small emery or other grinding wheel l,
and at the other end a bevel pinion m, which is covered with india rubber or other

page_text: suitable material, and driven by frictional contact with the bevel wheel 2, the
necessary pressure being obtained by a spring and washer on the cross shaft placed
within or between the end of the movable frame k, and the boss i on the back of
the bevel wheel.
.
On the fly wheel shaft is mounted a fly wheel n, having a groove in its periphery
to correspond with the grooved pulley on the cross shaft, and motion is communi-
cated by means of a cord or gut.
On the front end bracket b of the main frame I form a flange or plate for
carrying the knife or finger bar to be operated upon, having a spring bolt and
clip o, to hold the object firmly when desired, and this clip can be released by the
operator pressing the knob at the lower end of the bolt. An enlarged view of this
spring bolt and clip is shown in Fig. 6 where, by turning the clip half round and
using the additional claw o¹, the arrangement is made convenient for securing that?
portion of the knife which has the knife head attached to its upper side.
On the front end bracket b, I form or cast two sockets 6' to carry a sliding tube'
or bar p, at right angles to the parallel tubes or. bars of the main frame. At or
near the ends of this sliding tube or bar p the knife r, or the finger bar to be
operated upon is secured, it may thus be easily moved in a straight line to the
right or to the left whenever the spring bolt o is acted upon by the operator.
On the forward end of the movable frame I place a handle q secured by a bolt
or pin and so cranked and arranged as to assume a convenient position (say) to the
right of the grinding wheel. By slackening the bolt q¹ or pin the bandle may be
moved to a similar position at the left of the grinding wheel; or it may be secured
so that the stem shall be directly over the grinding wheel as shown in Fig. 8 and
in dotted lines Fig. 5. The latter is a plan view of a portion, of the machine
showing it applicable to grinding or sharpening the finger sections without removing
the fingers, from the finger bar. It will be readily seen that owing to the universal
movement which can be given to the grinding wheel and to the handle being
capable of being placed over the apparatus clear of the object to be operated upon,
the grinding wheel can be carried entirely around the point of a finger for
thoroughly sharpening the same. For this purpose in some cases I make use of an
internal conical or cup-shaped grinding wheel or socket so as to entirely encircle
the point of the finger to be operated upon.
Fig. 7 is an enlarged elevation showing the grinding wheel in position for
operating on a knife of that class in which the sections are placed underneath the
bar and on which ordinary grinders are unable to operate effectively without
damaging the knife bar. It will be seen that by this arrangement the sections can
be operated upon close to the bar but without touching it.
It will be evident that by the arrangement as described the operator can move
the grinding wheel into any desired position; thus he can move it backwards and
forwards owing to the cross piece sliding on the parallel tubes or bars; he can
move it to the right or to the left by reason of the stem of the upright fork
swivelling in the whole in the centre of the cross piece; and he has the up and
down movement owing to the movable frame being hinged or centred on the cross
shaft which is carried by the upright fork.
In order to secure the grinding wheel 1, to the spindle and to avoid any pro-
jection on the side nearest the operator and at the same time to effectually fasten
it so that it may be turned in either direction without becoming loose; I form or
cast the same on a metal boss, 8. Fig. 4, which is flush with or slightly within the
side of the wheel nearest the operator and projecting at the back. The outside of
this boss has a screw thread and I form a slit in it sufficient distance to pass a
small pin which is fixed in a hole in the grinding spindle t. A nut u is screwed
on the portion of the boss that passes the small pin which covers and firmly
secures it.
In order to enable the operator to keep the grinding wheel at a uniform level
for giving the desired angle to form the cutting edge, I make use of an adjustable
pin v. Fig. 1, which fits in a boss or groove on the underside of the movable

page_text: frame k and is secured thereto by means of a clip and thumb nut; the lower end
of the pin v touching a level plate 6', which extends between the two parallel tubes
and forms part of the front end bracket b of the machine.
To give a constant momentum to the grinding wheel and not unduly add to the
weight of the main fly wheel, I make use of a small fly wheel, m¹ on the grinding
spindle, at the back of the bevel pinion m and forming a part thereof.
To enable the operator the more readily to work the treadle with one foot,
I make use of a spiral or other suitable spring x which shall retain a portion of the
power given out on the downward stroke of the treadle and utilize the same on
the upward stroke.
As a modification of my invention in lieu of the sliding cross piece f and swivel
fork g. I make use of two separate tubular slides, or bearings f. f1 free to slide one
on each of the parallel tubes or bars a-see figs. 9. 10 and 11. These tubular
slides f. fare formed with vertical sockets on their upper side to receive the
vertical pins or trunions of a pair of bearings g. g for the cross shaft h, to which
the movable frame k is attached as in the first mentioned arrangement.
According to another modification of my invention, I dispense with the parallel
tubes or bars a, the back end plate c, and the sliding cross piece f. and in lieu
thereof I make use of an upright rocking frame a hinged around the bearings of
the fly wheel shaft y; the upper portion of this rocking frame carrying the swivel
fork g. and in order to ensure steadiness of action when moving this rocking frame
backwards or forwards I prefer to actuate it by means of a rod a³ in connection
with a cam or excentric a³ worked by the handle a' within convenient' reach of
the operator's hand.
This excentric a³ will also limit the backward and forward movement of the
rocking frame a*.
As a modification of the gearing for driving the grinding spindle-See also
figs. 9. 10 and 11-I sometimes use two bevelled friction wheels i, i on the cross
shaft h, placed facing each other and one on either side of the bevel pinion m; and
operated by separate cords from the main fly wheel. One of the cords is crossed
so as to drive the corresponding bevel wheel in an opposite direction to the other;
the object being to give more frictional driving power or contact with the bevel
pinion and to equalize the pressure and reduce the liability to wear the bearing of
the grinding spindle at the end which carries the bevel pinion.
As a further modification of this part of my invention I sometimes dispense with
the frictional gearing and make use of an ordinary toothed bevel wheel and pinion-
Or in some cases I drive direct from a main fly wheel to a pulley on the grinding
spindle without the intervention of bevel or other gear.
I am aware that a grinding spindle for this purpose has been furnished with an
ordinary "universal joint and in order to apply my invention thereto I either
cause the said spindle to slide telescopically in itself or to slide in the driving
pulley or to be carried in sliding or rocking bearings and thus the movement of the
grinding or sharpening device is rendered entirely universal.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and the manner in which the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. A machine for sharpening the knives or cutters and fingers of reaping
and mowing machines wherein the revolving sharpening or grinding device is
movable in every possible direction (backwards, forwards, upwards downwards
and towards either side) substantially as herein before described and illustrated by
the drawings annexed.
Secondly. The arrangement of framework with the parallel tubes or bars, the
sliding cross piece with the swivel fork and movable grinding frame, carrying
a revolving grinding spindle (and the modifications thereof) so as to obtain the
backward and forward, sideways and up and down movements or what I term the
"universal movements" to the grinding wheel.

page_text: Thirdly. The arrangement of spring bolt and clip o with the extra claw o¹
applied as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
Fourthly. The adjustable cranked handle in combination with the movable
frame (as applied to a machine having the universal movements) for the purposes
described.
Fifthly. The grinding wheel formed on the boss 8 so as to have no projection on
the side nearest the operator; also the nut and arrangement for securing the boss
to the grinding spindle as applied to a machine having the universal movements
described.
Sixthly. The adjustable pin u or its equivalent for maintaining the grinding
frame at the desired level.
Seventhly. The general construction and arrangement of mechanism for
sharpening and grinding the knives or cutters and fingers of reaping and mowing
machines as described with reference to Figs. 1. 2. and 3 in the annexed drawings.
Eighthly. The modification having the rocking frame to carry the swivel fork
substantially as herein before. described and illustrated by the drawings annexed.
and th: 20th do- of Tum 1000