IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Bernhard Samuelson and William George Manwaring
of Banbury in the County of Oxford Engineers for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES" Partly their own invention
and partly the result of a communication to them by The Marsh Binder
Manufacturing Company resident at Sycamore in the United States of
America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Bernhard Samuelson &
William George Manwaring at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on
the 31st January 1883.
BERNHARD SAMUELSON and WILLIAM GEORGE MANWARING of Banbury in the
County of Oxford-Engineers "IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES."
Partly our own Invention and partly the result of a communication to us by The
Marsh Binder Manufacturing Company resident at Sycamore in the United States
of America.
The said Invention relates to Harvesting Machines in which the crop after
having been cut falls on to a platform and is removed towards one side thereof for
the purpose of being bound automatically into sheaves such removal being effected
by endless webs chains or straps having stucks or projections, and it consists
Firstly. In a device for masking at will a portion or portions of such stucks or
projections either towards the front or towards the back of the platform the effect
being that either the butts or the heads of the crop may be moved laterally by
means of those projections which are not masked whilst the opposite ends thereof
remain comparatively at rest. We effect this by means of Sections of a supple-
mentary skeleton platform attached to the main platform-these sections when
lowered allow the projections on the ordinary platform to operate but when raised
those projections cannot reach that portion of the crop which it is intended shall
not be moved-The sections are raised or lowered by the attendant by Levers or
their equivalents.
Secondly. Of the application to such machines of a rotating device to take the
place of what is known as the "buttor" for the purpose of adjusting the cut crop

page_text: as it leaves the platform so that it may be encircled by the band at the proper
place along the length of the sheaf. It consists of a disc or its equivalent, rotating
on a horizontal axis to which motion is given by gearing from the main driving
wheel and it is placed at the forward portion of the platform between the cutter
bar and the binding frame. It is adjusted to the required angle by a hinge or its
equivalent as in the case of the ordinary buttor.
Thirdly of the application to such machines of a rotating device having projections
at or near the circumference for the purpose of receiving the cut crop from the
Platform and delivering the same to the "packers" usually employed in such
Machines It consists of a horizontal Axle cylinder or lantern to which Motion is
given from the main driving wheel by gearing and it lies at or about the level of
the platform and between the said platform and the Packers.
:
Fourthly Of a modification in the construction of the ordinary buttor which
as hitherto made consists of a frame and an endless apron the latter passing over
two rollers one of which drives the apron to this we add one or more intermediate
rollers for the purpose of giving any desirable inclination to the various parts of the
apron instead of its lying as in the ordinary buttor in a single plane.
:
Fifthly of arrangements by which the pressure of the cut crop against the so
called packers causes the needle and its accessory binding devices to be put into
operation We effect this by hanging the packers on swinging or os-cillating
carriers kept in their normal position by means of a spring or Counter-weight so
that when sufficient grain has been collected by the packers to form a bundle or
when through accidental clogging an undue stress has been thrown on the packers
the pressure of the grain upon the packers compresses the spring or raises the
counterweight and so disengages a detent or throws a clutch into gear which causes
the binding mechanism to be put in motion; the pressure being removed from the
Compressors by the transfer of the bundle to the binder, the spring or weight is
released and the compressors return to their normal position.
Lastly of the application of rotating packers to such of the said Harvesting
machines as have the main driving wheel or wheels placed forward of the binding
device and in which the sheaf after it has been packed by such packers and bound,
is discharged towards the rear of such main driving wheel or wheels. We place
the said packers to the rearward of the driving wheel instead of as hitherto between
the platform and the driving wheel

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Bernhard Samuelson & William George Manwaring in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 24th July 1883.
BERNHARD SAMUELSON and WILLIAM GEORGE MANWARING of Banbury in the
County of Oxford Engineers " IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES partly
our own Invention and partly the result of a communication to us by The Marsh
Binder Manufacturing Company resident at Sycamore in the United States of
America.
The said Invention relates to Harvesting Machines in which the crop after
having been cut falls on to a platform and is removed towards one side thereof for
the purpose of being bound automatically into sheaves such removal being effected
by endless webs, chains, or straps, having stucks or projections; and the Invention
consists, Firstly, in a device for masking at will a portion or portions of such
stucks or projections either towards the front or towards the back of the platform,
the effect being that either the butts or the head of the crop may be moved
laterally by means of those projections which are not masked whilst the opposite
ends thereof remain comparatively at rest. We effect this by means of separate
sections at the back and at the front of the platforın such sections being capable of
being raised independently of each other but attached to the main platform body.
Each of these sections when lowered allows the projections on the corresponding
part of the ordinary platform to operate but when raised those projections cannot
reach that portion of the crop which it is intended shall not be moved. The
sections may be raised or lowered by the attendants by levers
equivalents.
or their
We will proceed to describe with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying
drawings the manner in which this part of the Invention may be carried into
practical effect Figure 1 being a plan and Figure 2 a front sectional elevation of a
portion of a machine with this part of the Invention applied thereto.
X. represents the main driving or travelling wheel from which motion is cominu-
nicated to the various parts of the machine. A is the finger beam A¹ A³ A³ A
indicate the framework of the machine C is the platform upon which the crop
falls as it is cut C₁ are bands straps or chains provided with stucks or projections C
for the purpose of conveying the cut crop as it falls upon the platform towards the
driving wheel X for the purpose of being bound into sheaves.
"C' and C³ are parts
of the platform hinged at their ends furthest from the wheel X, the other ends
being capable of being raised (as shewn by dotted lines in Figure 2) by means of
levers CC fixed upon shafts C7 Cs and being provided with rods bell cranks or
other suitable means to enable the driver to raise or lower the hinged parts C² C³
(from his seat) at will.
The parts C C³ of the platform may be made of broad surfaces or of bars or
rods or the like and the parts C2 C3 are preferably curved or turned downwards at
the ends furthest from the hinges so that the grain may not fall beneath them.
When the grain is being delivered upon the platform with the ears more inclined
than are the "butts" towards the main driving wheel, the hinged part C³ can be
raised so as to retard the ear ends; in like manner when the inclination is in the
reverse direction, the part C2 can be raised to retard the "butt ends,” so as, in
either case, to cause the grain to be delivered as straight as possible to the binding
apparatus.
This part of the Invention is shewn as applied to machines in which the corn is
bound at or about the level of the platform but it is equally applicable to machines
in which the grain is elevated over the main driving wheel.

page_text: The Invention consists, Secondly, of the application to the herein before named
machines of a rotating device to take the place of what is known as the "buttor"
for the purpose of adjusting the cut crop as it leaves the platform, so that it may
be encircled by the band at the proper place along the length of the sheaf. The
.said device consists of a disc or its equivalent rotating on a horizontal or nearly
horizontal axis to which motion is given by gearing from the main driving wheel
and it is placed at the forward portion of the platform between the cutter bar and
the binding frame. It is adjusted to the required angle by a hinge or its equivalent
as in the case of the ordinary buttor.
The manner in which this part of the Invention may be carried into effect is
illustrated by Figures 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10 and 11 of the accompanying drawings,
Figure 3 representing a plan and Figure 4 a front elevation of one arrangement
of the device according to the Invention, and Figures 5 and 6 being respectively
a plan and front elevation shewing the means for operating the said device:
Figures 7 to 11 illustrate a modification of the devices as hereinafter described.
D is a rotating disc to which are attached the fingers & free to vibrate upon
their pivots d². E is a cam or sector for governing the action of the fingers d.
e is a guard of sheet metal attached to the cam E, The disc D is supported or
hung on the cam E by its axle D' which runs loosely in the cam E but is fast on
the disc D. The said axle D' is furnished on its inner end with jaws D³ forming
part of a universal joint F. The cam or sector E is supported from the main frame
of the machine as follows. The upper part of the said cam E is formed as an eye
at E for receiving the end of the rod e¹ which is suspended from the cross rail A
of the machine frame.
The part of the cam E opposite to the segmental part is provided with a vertical
boss or bearing E2 for receiving one end of a link or rod e, the other end of the
rod being carried in a horizontal bearing e³ attached to the main frame A'. The
said rod e² is for fixing the distance of the cam E from the front of the machine,
the height above the platform being regulated by the suspender e¹. The vertical
bearing E of the cam E has a curved extension arm E³ with a hole in the end for
receiving the eye of the adjusting rod e¹, the rearward end of which is carried to a
convenient position to be operated by the driver from his seat as shewn in
Figures 5 and 6.
Motion is communicated to the disc D by the chain wheel F³ (driven by a
chain from any convenient running shaft of the machine) through the universal
joints F F and telescopic shaft and sleeve ff¹ so that the said disc can be driven
whilst in various angular positions.
The action of the rotating disc or "buttor" is a follows:-
The fingers d d of the disc D act on the butt end of the crop so as to move it
from the platform C towards the binding receptacle (Figure 6) and the cam E being
hinged at E2 by the rod or link e² is capable of being set (by means of the curved
arm E and adjusting rod e¹) at different angles with the vertical plane as shewn
by dotted lines in Figures 3 and 5 and consequently can move the crop endways
whilst moving it laterally so as to deliver it in proper position to be encircled by
the band in accordance with the length of the straw. The suspending rod e¹ being
free to slide upward in its support and the link e² being hinged or pivotted in the
vertical bearing e³ the suspended buttor is enabled to rise when the pressure of
grain under the fingers is sufficiently great so as to prevent choking.
A modification of the method of driving the "buttor" is shewn in Figures 7 to 11,
Figure 7 being a plan, Figure 8 a detached front view of the disc, Figures 9 10
and 11 are respectively a plan and a side and a front elevation of the disc drawn
to a larger scale.
In place of driving the buttor from the front of the machine as shewn in
Figures 3. 4. 5 and 6, it will be sometimes found convenient to drive from the back
part of the machine. G is a horizontal rotating shaft deriving its motion from the
chain wheel G located at the back part of the machine (see Figure 7) and driven
in any convenient manner, the said shaft G being connected with the disc D through

page_text: the universal joint G' (see Figures 9 and 10) and is capable of sliding end ways
through the chain wheel G2, its position being regulated by the lever G³. The
axle D of the disc D is carried by and rotates in the cam or sector E* (see
Figure 11) the said sector being suspended upon a stud Eª fixed upon the main
frame of the machine, the said stud E passing through a long slot in the lug E³ of
the cam E By moving the shaft G in the direction of its length the angle of the
"buttor " with the vertical plane can be varied as indicated by dotted lines in
Figures 7 and 9 for the purpose hereinbefore described The slot or hole through
the lug E³ for the stud E' is made of such shape that the "buttor" can rise or fall
with the pressure of the inflowing grain underneath it as indicated by the dotted
lines in Figures 8 and 11.
It will be sometimes found convenient to place upon the shaft G to the rear of
the "buttor" one or more rotating discs (as at g, Figure 7), furnished with
projections analogous to the fingers & for the purpose of assisting in the delivery
of the grain to the packing and binding devices.
The Invention consists, thirdly, in the application to the herein before named
machines of a rotating device having projections at or near the circumference for
the purpose of receiving the cut crop from the platform and delivering the same
to the "packers" usually employed in such machines. It consists of a horizontal
axle, cylinder or lantern to which motion is given from the main driving wheel by
gearing and it lies at or about the level of the platform and between the said
platform and the packers.
This part of the Invention is represented in back elevation and plan in Figures 12
and 13 of the accompanying drawings.
"
h. is the usual travelling endless band or apron as ordinarily employed and
operating for conveying the cut grain towards the binding device. His a
horizontal rotating axle driven in any convenient manner from the driving wheel
and situated between the roller and the packing and binding device (the
position of which is indicated at W) at or about the same level as is the roller h¹
Affixed to the shaft H and revolving with it are a series of discs H¹ each provided
with fingers "pickers or projections H³ pivotted near the circumference of the
disc. These fingers have tail-like extensions h². The cam or sector H³ is for the
purpose of governing the action of the fingers H3 and is made of such a shape
that during the upward movement of the "fingers" H' the tails h³ come in contact
with the said cam H³ and cause the fingers H to project from the circumference of
the disc H for the purpose of conveying the crop from the endless apron to
within the range of the packing device W; the said fingers also preventing the
apron H from carrying grain down with it to underneath the roller h¹
The fingers
fold or withdraw within the periphery of the disc and remain inoperative except
when they come into action as each tail piece h² strikes against the cam H³
Discs H may be used either alone or in combination with discs on the buttor
shaft. The Invention relates, Fourthly, to a modification in the construction of
the ordinary buttor which as hitherto made consists of a frame and an endless
apron the latter passing over two rollers one of which drives the apron; to this
arrangement we add according to this Invention one or more intermediate rollers
for the purpose of giving various inclinations to the various parts of the apron
instead of its lying as in the ordinary buttor in a single plane.
This is illustrated by Figures 14 and 15 of the accompanying drawings where
one intermediate roller is shewn but it will be understood that more may be used
if desired.
J1Js are the rotating rollers over which passes the apron J as usually employed
in this description of "buttor." J' is the additional or intermediate roller for the
purpose of giving a different inclination to parts of the apron J. As before stated
there may be more than one additional or intermediate roller and they may be
adjustably mounted (as may also the rollers J J³) so as to keep the apron taut in
all positions of the said rollers The Invention consists,
Fifthly. Of arrangements by which the pressure of the cut crop against the

page_text: so called packers causes the needle and its accessory binding devices to be put into
operation. We effect this by hanging rotary packers upon swinging or oscillating
carriers or frames kept in the normal position by means of a spring or counterweight,
so that when sufficient of the crop has been collected by the packers to form a
bundle, or when through accidental clogging an undue stress has been thrown on
the packers, the pressure of the crop upon the packers compresses the spring or
raises the counterweight and so disengages a detent or throws a clutch into gear
which causes the binding mechanism to be put in motion; the pressure being
removed from the packer, which has hitherto acted as a compressor by the transfer
of the bundle to the binder, the compressing spring or weight is released and it, as
well as the said packers, return to their normal position.
We will describe the manner in which this part of the Invention may be carried
into effect by reference to Figures 16. 17 and 18 of the accompanying drawings;
Figure 16 being an elevation of the packing tripping and binding apparatus,
looking from the front part of the machine; Figure 17 a plan of the same; and
Figure 18 a section on the line 1. 2, Figure 17, looking from the back part of the
machine.
The letter A with the several numerals represent parts of the main frame of the
machine.
✗ represents the driving wheel and C C¹ represents the platform.
K is a frame for carrying the various devices as hereinafter explained the said
frame being supported and capable of sliding upon bearers k fixed to the parts A® Aº
of the main frame of the machine. L is a swinging frame (hereafter referred to as
the "packer frame") one end L' of which is pivotted so as to turn freely upon the
shaft n the other end L2 being suspended from the extension ¹ of the frame K by
the elastic or spring hanger l. 12 is a projection on the end L² of the swing
packer frame L engaging or in contact with the trip lever o on the rock shaft o¹.
23 are stops which regulate the distance between which the swing frame L is
allowed to vibrate. M. M. are rotating packer discs fixed upon the axle m
supported by and free to revolve in the boss or bearing L³ of the swing frame L.
The discs M. are provided with packing fingers M¹, the operative part of which is
controlled by cams m² pivotted on the ends of the bearing L³. The action of these
packers discs and fingers is substantially the same as that of those described by o
of us-videlicet, the said George William Manwaring-in the Specifications of
Letters Patent N° 5088 in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
eighty.
'
P represents a continually running shaft receiving its motion from the driving
wheel and capable of sliding with the frame K in its bearing and through the
chain wheel at the back of the machine. P¹ is a spur wheel fixed on the front end
of the shaft P and giving motion to the packer discs M M through the spur
wheel M² fixed on one of the said discs. N is the binding needle made fast on and
vibrating with the shaft n. m³ are levers also made fast upon the shaft n and
connected by links m' with arms or extensions m³ of the cams m² They are so
arranged that when the binding needle N descends for the purpose of binding a
sheaf the cams m² are by their means raised into such a position that the packer
fingers M M are rendered inoperative during the descent of the needle and the
binding of the sheaf. P2 is a device of triangular shape made fast to, and revolving
with, the shaft P. It is furnished with anti-friction rollers p (see figure 17 and the
dotted lines in Figure 18). These rollers p engage at certain times with the dog p³
of the spring pawl p' pivotted upon the spur pinion P³, so as to cause the said
pinion P³ to revolve with the driving device P2 when the rollers p are in contact
with the dog p. The pinion P³ is loose upon the shaft P. The pinion P³ engages
with, and drives, the wheel Q, the proportion of the wheel to the pinion being as 2
to 1. The said wheel Q is made fast upon the shaft g one end of which runs in
the bearing K', being part of the gear frame K, the other end extending backwards
through the main frame of the machine. On this shaft g are fixed the various
wheels and cams to be presently described for actuating the different parts of the

page_text: I
binding apparatus. The wheel Q is provided with a wrist pin n³ for giving
motion (by means of the connector n³ and lever n¹) to the rock shaft n and with it
the binding arm or needle N and cam raising levers m³.
"
On the rearward end of the rock shaft o' is the lever o² provided at its extreme
end with the roller o³ in contact with the cam O on the shaft q. Projecting down-
wards from the said lever o² is a horn or trip stop o³ which in its high or normal
position is in contact with the lower end or tail of the spring pawl p maintaining
it in the position shewn in full lines in Figure 18. The lever o* is held in its
high position by means of the spring o* As long as the spring pawl p' on the
pinion P³ is locked in its normal position by the trip stop o³, the rollers p on the
driving device P2 will pass clear of the dog p³ on the pawl p¹ and the pinion P³,
wheel Q, and shaft q, and its accessories will remain at rest, but on rocking the
shaft o¹ so as to bring the stop o³ clear of the tail of the spring pawl p', the
spring p³ will cause the pawl p¹ to assume the position shewn in dotted lines in
Figure 18. and the rollers p engaging with the dog på will cause the pinion P³ to
revolve and consequently also the wheel Q The cam O on the shaft q is so
shaped as to keep the trip stop 03 clear of the tail of the pawl pl until the wheel Q
has made one revolution and the pinion Ps two revolutions, when the lever o² is
again brought into its normal position by the spring of and the stop o³ locks.
the pawl p in its former position until it is again released as before described.
Rare retaining fingers against which the cut crop is compacted by the fingers M'.
R. R³ Figure 17 are parts of the frame pivotted on the shaft R³ for carrying the
retainers R.
The retaining devices and the binding and ejecting devices may be of any
convenient construction, and as they in themselves form no part of this Invention,
we do not consider it necessary to describe them.
UU' are screws for adjusting the position of the gear frame K and the knotter
simultaneously as ordinarily used in sheaf binding reapers for placing the band in
the desired position.
The action of the packers in tripping or releasing the binding machine is as
follows:-
The packer discs are driven in the direction of the arrow (Figure 16) by the
spur wheel P on the continually running shafts P, the cut crop being compressed
and compacted by the fingers M³ of the packers, either against the retainer R or
against the loop of string paid out to receive the bundle as is usual in string
binders.
The packer swing frame L is suspended in its normal position by the spring
hanger the tension of the spring of the said hanger being so adjusted that so long
as the fingers meet with only a given amount of resistance, the packer frame
retains its normal position and the binding device is inoperative, but as soon as
by accumulation of the cut crop or pressure from any cause on the packer fingers
they meet with a resistance in excess of the tension of the spring, the swing frame
being pivoted at its other end, the wheel P₁will cause the wheel M' and with it
the packer discs and the outer end of the "packer frame" to fall whilst the packers
continue to rotate.
The range of motion of the packer frame is controlled by the stops The
stop on the swing frame being in contact with the trip lever o gives a rocking
motion to the shaft o¹ (see the dotted lines) which by means of the trip stop o³
throws the binding mechanism into gear.
The pressure being taken off the fingers M¹ by the descent of the needle which
transfers the bundle to the binding apparatus, the spring hanger returns the
"packer frame" to its normal position.
The Invention consists lastly in the application of rotating packers to such of
the said Harvesting Machines as have the main driving wheel or wheels placed
forward of the binding device and in which the sheaf, after it has been packed by
such packers and bound, is discharged towards the rear of such main driving wheel
or wheels. We place the said packers to the rearward of the driving wheel'

page_text: or wheels instead of as hitherto between the platform and the driving wheel or
wheels.
Figures 19 and 20 illustrate in elevations at right angles to each other part of
the Invention which is a modification of the Invention described in the Specification
of our Patent N° 1477 in the year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
eighty two and refers to Machines in which the sheaf is bound at the rear of the
driving wheel or wheels.
X* is the main driving wheel placed forward of the binding apparatus. C* is
the platform. N* is the needle or binding arm. T✶ is the knotter shaft. V is a
rotating disc revolving about its axis V and provided with packing fingers V₁
controlled by the cam V. V³ is a shaft deriving its motion from the driving wheel
in any convenient manner. vis a spur wheel on the said shaft V³ and engaging
with the spur wheel v³ on the packer disc V and causing the said disc to revolve
with the said spur wheel.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect we would observe in conclusion that what we consider to be novel and
original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the hereinbefore in
part recited Letters Patent is:
First: In harvesting machines providing the platform (upon which the cut crop
falls) with hinged sections or movable parts forming supplementary platforms so
arranged that the said parts can be raised independently of each other to mask
portions of either the front or the back series of stucks or feeding devices and
thereby enable the crop to be fed straightly to the binding mechanism sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the
accompanying drawings.
Second-In harvesting machines providing a device rotating on a horizontal
or nearly horizontal axis and furnished with projections the said device being in
substitution for the ordinary "buttor" and occupying the place or approximately
the place of the said "buttor."
Third In harvesting machines providing an adjustable device as a substitute
for the ordinary buttor, such device rotating on a horizontal (or approximately
horizontal) axis and being situated between the cutter bar and the packers of the
binding device and capable of being set at different angles for the purpose of
feeding the cut crop to the binding device in the proper position for being encircled
by the band at the required portion of its length substantially as herein before
described with reference to figures 3 to 11 of the accompanying drawings.
:
Fourth In harvesting Machines the employment of a rotating adjustable
device applied arranged and operated substantially as and for the purpose herein
before described and illustrated in figures 3 to 6 of the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth-In harvesting machines the employment of a rotating adjustable device
applied arranged and operated substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described and illustrated by Figures 7 to 11 of the accompanying drawings whether
there be or be not used in combination therewith an additional rotating disc or
discs (g) as hereinbefore described.
Sixth-In harvesting Machines the employment of a rotating device or rotating
devices arranged or situated at or about the level of the travelling platform and
between the said platform and the packers substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated by Figures 12 and 13 of the accompanying drawings.
Seventh-In harvesting machines providing a "buttor" apron with one or more
intermediate or additional rollers (J2) for enabling various inclinations to be given
to different parts of the apron substantially as herein before described with reference
to Figures 14 and 15 of the accompanying drawings.
Eighth In harvesting Machines mounting rotating packers upon a swinging
or oscillating "packer frame" or carrier so connected or combined with the sheaf
tying mechanism that the said mechanism is put into motion by pressure on the

page_text: packer fingers substantially as berein before described, a mode of effecting which is
illustrated in Figures 16, 17, and 18, of the accompanying drawings.
Ninth In combination with harvesting machines the mechanism herein before
described and illustrated in Figures 16, 17, and 18, of the accompanying drawings
for obtaining the movement of the tying mechanism from the pressure of the cut
crop upon the packer fingers.
Tenth In harvesting machines having the main driving wheel or wheels
placed forward of the binding device and in which the bound sheaves are
discharged towards the rear of the said driving wheel or wheels the use of
rotating packers placed at the rearward of the said driving wheel or wheels
as herein before described with reference to figures 19 and 20 of the accompanying
drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Bernhard Samuelson on behalf of William George
Manwaring and myself have to this our Specification set my hand and seal the
twelfth day of July One thousand eight hundred and eighty three.