IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING MACHINES AND IN APPARATUS APPLICABLE THERETO FOR BINDING THE CUT CROP IN BUNDLES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Hornsby, of Grantham, and John Innocent, George
Thomas Rutter, and Ralph Appleby, all of Spittlegate, Grantham, in the
County of Lincoln, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING
MACHINES AND IN APPARATUS APPLICABLE THERETO FOR BINDING THE CUT
CROP IN BUNDLES."
Sealed the 18th July 1879, and dated the 12th May 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Hornsby, John
Innocent, George Thomas Rutter, and Ralph Appleby at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 12th May 1879.
JAMES HORNSBY, of Grantham, and JOHN INNOCENT, GEORGE THOMAS RUTTER,
"IM-
and RALPH APPLEBY, all of Spittlegate, Grantham, in the County of Lincoln.
PROVEMENTS IN REAPING MACHINES AND IN APPARATUS APPLICABLE THERETO FOR
BINDING THE CUT CROP IN BUNDLES."
:
This Invention has for its object improvements in reaping machines and in
apparatus applicable thereto for binding the cut crop in bundles.
The frame of the machine having the platform attached to it on the inner side is
carried upon two wheels, and there is the ordinary cutting apparatus at the front
of the platform. The crop is laid towards the cutting apparatus by a reel or wheel
of gatherers, when cut it falls on to an endless apron on the platform. The apron
carries it to an elevator by which it is raised and delivered on to the tying table.
When on the table the quantity to form a bundle is seized, compressed, and bound
with wire. The bundles as they are produced are dropped from the tying table on
to the ground at the outerside of the machine.
The axle of the main wheel of the machine is carried by a pair of levers which
bave their fulcrum upon the frame. The levers have each two arms at right angles
or thereabout, one arm carrying the axle, and the other at its end beneath the
fulcrum being connected by a suspending rod with the frame.
The length of the suspending rods can be varied by screw adjustments for the
purpose of raising and lowering the frame. The adjustment is effected by turning
the upper parts of the rods by a suitable handle applied to one of them, and they
are geared together by chain pinions and a pitch chain so that they rotate

page_text: simultaneously. Springs are also interposed between the parts of the suspending
rods, the elasticity of these springs comes into play when the machine passes over
uneven ground. The pole is jointed to the front of the frame, and its inclination
can be adjusted by means of an upright hand lever at the back of the machine
within easy reach of the driver's seat, which is on the hinder part of the frame.
The hand lever which can be locked in any required position is connected by a rod
with another lever at the front of the frame, which thus moves with the hand lever
and remains approximately parallel with it. The pole is connected with the front
lever by a link in such manner that when the lever is drawn back the pole becomes
more inclined, and the cutting apparatus is brought nearer to the ground. The plat-
form of the machine is supported by a wheel on the further side from the frame.
The axis of this 'wheel is fixed to a slide adjustable in a guide upon the side of the
platform; the axis is hollow, and a spindle passes through it and carries a pinion
gearing with a rack formed in connection with the guide. The adjustment is made
by turning the spindle by means of a handle applied at its end, and when the slide
is brought to the desired position in its guide, it is locked by a spring bolt carried
upon the guide entering one of a series of notches provided in the slide.
The main wheel carries a ring of gear teeth during a first motion pinion upon
an horizontal axis upon which there is also a bevilled wheel. This wheel gives
motion to a pinion on the axis of the crank for actuating the knife. The con-
necting rod passes from this crank to the lower end of a pendulum lever jointed
to the frame, and another connecting rod couples the lever with the knife.
Another bevilled wheel on the same axis with the first motion pinion drives a pinion
having on its axis a chain wheel, and this by means of an endless chain gives
motion both to the apron on the platform and to the elevator. The chain passes
around a chain wheel on the end of one of the rollers over which the apron is
strained, and also around a chain wheel on the upper roller of the elevator. The
elevator consists of eight or other number of endless bands distended between two
rollers, and having prongs or lifters projecting from them upon which the coop
which is brought to the elevator by the apron is supported, whilst it is being
carried up by the elevator.
A spiked roller or a roll with wood laths fastened lengthwise upon it caused to
revolve by a crossed band from the driven roller of the apron, aids in bringing the
cut crop forward to the elevator, and a frame of lats is arranged to prevent the
crop falling or being blown off from the elevator as it ascends.. The reel or wheel
of gatherers revolves upon an horizontal axis carried upon the upper end of an arm
jointed to the frame, and by means of a hand lever near the driver's seat; the arm
may be inclined more or less to raise and lower the axis of the reel. Suitable
locking apparatus is provided for securing this hand lever in any position. The
reel is driven by a short pitch chain passed around two chain pinions, one on the
axis of the reel, and the other on the joint pin connecting the carrying arm with
the frame. This latter chain pinion is coupled by bevilled gear with the upper
roller of the elevator.
The crop is carried by the elevator over its upper roller and dropped on to the
tying table. A portion of this table is on a carriage, which has the principle parts
of the tying apparatus upon it. The table carriage is provided with wheels on
which it can travel along guides to and from the front of the machine, and it is
connected by a link with a hand lever near the driver. By placing this lever in
a suitable position and locking it, the attendant or driver can cause the tye to be
made in the middle or other desired part of the bundle, whatever may be the
length of the cut crop. The tyeing gear takes its motion from a bevilled pinion on
the same axis with the first motion pinion. It drives a bevilled wheel the axis of
which is vertical, and the teeth on the underside. On its upper surface this wheel
has a half circle of bevilled teeth which gear alternately with two pinions on
opposite sides of the wheel. These pinions are on a hollow axis or sleeve which is
thus rotated in its bearings, first in one direction and then in the other. There is
a pause before the reversal of the end of each motion takes place, and a locking

page_text: tooth at either end of the semicircle of driving teeth holds the pinions stationary
during the interval. A square bar or axis carried by the table carriage passes
through the sleeve, and serves to transmit motion to the tying parts.
In connection with the gear described above two clutches are provided, one of
which throws the first motion pinion in and out, and the other clutches and un-
clutches the bevilled pinion, rotating the wheel on which is the semicircle of teeth.
These clutches are worked through levers and rods by treddles within reach of the
foot of the driver when in his seat
The square axis passing through the sleeve carries a pinion gearing with a rack
carried upon the table carriage, and it communicates to the rack a to and fro
movement in a direction parallel to the cutting knife, or at right angles to the
direction in which the carriage is itself moveable for the purpose of adjusting the
position of the tye as already explained. There is also upon the table carriage a
slide capable of moving aloug guides in the same direction as the rack, indeed the
rack is attached to the slide. The slide however moves a shorter distance than the
rack, the connection between the two being by pins upon the slide entering long
slots in the rack. During the first part of the travel of the rack in either direction
it moves alone, whilst the pins traverse the slots and then the rack and slide move
together until the stroke is complete. There are bolts upon the slide which drop
into notches in the guide at the times when the slide comes to rest, and they hold
it fast until at the proper time they are lifted by suitable projections upon the racks.
The slide has a standard upon it which carries a pair of compressing prongs or
jaws for seizing and holding the bundle, and also a curved arm for passing the
wire around it. The latter is fixed upon an horizontal axis passing through the
head of the standard, and receiving a rocking motion by means of a lever arm at
its end, coupled by a rod to one arm of a bent or bell crank lever having its
fulcrum upon the slide. The other arm of the bent lever is forked and it embraces
a pin upon the rack; thus this lever and the wire arm to which it transmits
motion are operated by the rack at the times when it moves independently of the
slide. The forked end of the lever is so formed as to permit the pin to move along
it a distance as the outward movement of the rack comes to an end, and a pause in
the movement of the wire arm results, during which it is held down whilst the tye
is being made as hereinafter explained.
The arrangement may be modified by placing the rack higher up, so that the
forked lever may be directly upon the axis of the wire arm in lieu of being coupled
with it by a link and arm.
Also in place of forking the end of the lever the fork may be on the rack and the
pin at the end of the lever.
One of the jaws of the compressor, the back one (or that next the elevator), is
upon an horizontal stud axis carried by the standard behind the axis of the wire
arm. The front jaw of the compresser is jointed to the back jaw below its axis,
and it is also controlled by a rod which at suitable times causes it to close towards
the other jaw, and so to compress the bundle, which at this time is between the
jaws. There is a spring in connection with the controlling rod which permits
the jaw to yield and accommodate itself to the size of the bundle the compressor
embraces.
The compressor is worked by gear arranged in the following manner :-The axis
of the wire arm has a toothed arc upon it engaging with another arc upon an inter-
mediate stud axis above the back prong. Another are on the intermediate gears
with an are on the back prong, and causes it partly to rotate about its axis to and
fro, alternately descending to seize a bundle and rising to release it. The toothed arcs
above mentioned are made elliptical, in order that the movements may be imparted
at a suitable speed. The controlling rod of the front jaw of the compressor is jointed
to an arm projecting to the front from the intermediate arcs; these arcs with the
arm are cast in one piece.
The wire for binding the crop is drawn at a regulated tension from a bobbin
stationed above the top of the elevator; it passes down through an eye at the end

page_text: of the wire arm to holders upon the slide of the table carriage and beneath the
table surface. There are two of these wire holders, and by one or other of these the
end of the wire is always retained. The eye in the wire arm is provided with a
pulley so that the wire may run freely through it.
The two wire holders are arranged the one over the other, and each has one
moveable and one fixed jaw. Springs tend to close these holders, and they are
opened at suitable times by the action of cam like inclines or courses fixed upon
the table carriage; each of the moving jaws of the wire holders has a small roller
upon it, and as the slide moves on the carriage these rollers are carried along the
cam like courses.
There are tongues or switches provided in the cam courses, so that the roller
controling the jaw of the holder advances by one course and returns by another.
Between the top and bottom wire holders there is an instrument for twisting the
ends of the wire together. The twister consists of a stem carried by the carriage
slide, and caused to revolve as the slide moves in and out by a pinion upon it
gearing with a rack fixed on the side of the guide along which the slide works.
The stem has a head which is notched on two opposite sides to permit the wire to
enter towards the centre of the head, and it is by being held in these notches
whilst the twister rotates that the ends of the wire are wound one around the
other. There is a cutter on the underside of the head of the twister which acts
with another stationary blade immediately below to shear the wire just before
twisting the ends takes place.
The routine of binding is as follows:-The slide at the time when we will com-
mence to trace the movements is out or at its greatest distance from the elevator,
the compressing jaws are open and raised. The wire arm also is raised, and the
end of the wire is held fast in the lower nipper. The slide now advances towards
the elevator causing the twister to rotate, but without affecting the wire, for at this
time the wire is prevented from entering the notches in the head of the twister by
resting against the moveable jaw of the upper wire holder. Near the end of the
forward motion however this jaw, opening wider, passes clear of the wire, and the
wire springs into one of the notches in the head of the twister. The twister at this
it is also
time is stationary from a tooth being out of the rack, which rotates it;
locked by means of a locking tooth or projection now opposite to it. The twister
having received the wire immediately above the end held in the lower wire holder,
and having now passed the gap in the rack makes another half turn, by which time
the forward movement of the slide is complete. The return movement of the slotted
rack (not the rack which rotates the twister) now commences, but as already
explained the slide remains for a time stationary and bolted in place. The com-
pressor is thus caused to seize the handle, and the wire arm descending passes the
wire around it. Beyond the loop which now encompasses the bundle the wire is at
this time brought by the wire arm into the second notch in the head of the twister.
This being done the slide is unlocked and commences to move back, when imme-
diately the top wire holder closes on the two wires. The moving jaw of this holder
is so formed that in closing it draws in towards the front the part of the wire
brought down to it by the wire arm.
The bottom wire holder opens immediately after, and in so doing it releases the
end of which it had hold, it at once closes again on the part of the wire brought
down by the arm, which as soon as the lower holder opens springs in between its
jaws. The twister now has in its notches both ends of the loop of wire encircling
the bundle. In its first revolution it severs the wire between itself and the lower
wire holder, and then during the return of the slide it twists together the ends of
the loop of wire surrounding the bundle. Near the end of the outward movement
of the slide the nipper wire holder opens and sets the ends free. The slide is now
again locked as previously explained, and the slotted rack again advances towards
the elevator, thereby giving motion to the compressor and wire arm, raising them
and releasing the bundle. The slide then in turn takes up the forward movement,
and the operations already traced are repeated. The tied bundle being liberated

page_text: close to the edge of the binding table rolls off either at once or when the next
bundle comes forward against it. There are inclined prongs or guides provided at
the edge of the table to guide the bundle as it falls and cause the butt first to strike
the ground to avoid shaking out the grain. When the machine is packed for travel-
ling the wheel is taken off from the side of the platform and applied at the outer
side of the frame. The platform is then folded up against the side of the frame.
The reel or wheel of gatherers is removed from its place and secured upon the top
of the frame above the elevator.
In some cases we vary the gearing of the machine by forming the semicircle of
teeth driving the bevilled pinions on the sleeve, and from which all the tying parts
take their movement upon a spur wheel mounted on an horizontal axis, and we
drive this wheel by a spur pinion on the axis of the first motion pinion.
Or according to another arrangement, the wire arm and the compressors receive
their movements from a cam by means of a rod, which is jointed to the lever arm
on the axis of the wire arm. The lower end of the rod is jointed to a controlling
link, and it carries a roller or bowl which is received into the groove or guide course
of the cam. The cam is driven from the horizontal shaft by bevilled pinions and
an intermediate telescopic shaft.
According to another arrangement the wire arm is not carried upon a slide, but is
supported by a bracket and works upon an universal joint. Another universal joint
connects its end opposite to that which holds the wire to the back of a bevilled
wheel driven by a pinion on a vertical axis; thus a continuous conical motion is
given to the wire arm. Its head carries a combined wire holder and cutter, which
is operated by fixed projections, with which it comes into contact as the arm moves
round. Working in connection with this wire arm there is a slide beneath the
binding table carrying a twister and a wire holder, the jaws of which are jointed
together, and a spring tends to close them. The slide is moved to and fro by links
connecting it with a swinging arm loose upon the vertical shaft. This arın is
immediately beneath a spur wheel carried on a stud, and driven by a pinion from
the vertical shaft. On the under side of this wheel there are two arcs of teeth on
opposite sides of the centre, and they gear alternately with two corresponding sets
of teeth on the arm, and so impart to it the swinging movement required to move
the slide to and fro. The same spur wheel has also a rim or flange, with a notch or
opening in it, which is for the purpose of controling the closing of the wire holder
carried on the slide. In connection with this wire holder there is a lever with a
roller at its end, which as the slide advances comes against the end of a stop bar,
and so the lever is forced back and the wire holder is opened. As the movement of
the slide continues the stop bar for a time serves to support the roller, and so the
holder is still held open. But near the end of the forward motion of the slide the
stop bar is allowed to yield and the holder closes. The liberation of the stop bar is
caused by the notches in the wheel flange already referred to.
The stop bar has at its back a small wheel or pulley, which rests on the flange
and keeps the bar in place, retaining the bolder open until the time when the
wheel or pulley falls into the notch, and then the stop bar yielding the holder closes.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The wire is drawn from a bobbin
beneath the tying table; it passes under a guide pulley on the slide up past the
twister to the combined holder and cutter at the head of the wire arm. When the
arin has passed the wire holder on the slide beneath the table closes on both parts
of the wire. The holder at the head of the wire arm is then made to open, liber-
ating the end of which it had hold; after passing forward a very short distance it
closes again, seizing the wire again immediately beyond the loop containing the
bundle, and in closing it cuts off the wire, retaining the end. The twister is made
to revolve as the slide moves back by means of a pinion upon it, gearing with a
fixed rack, and it twists the ends of the wire around the bundle whilst they are
retained by the holder in the slide. This being done the holder opens, and the tied
bundle falls down on to the ground. In this arrangement ratchet escapement is

page_text: provided to prevent the twister revolving when advancing, as the wire always
remains within its reach.
The combined wire holder and cutter may consist of a rockerlike instrument on
the side of the wire arm, and moved one way and the other by fixed projections,
against which it comes as the wire arm moves round. Or it may consist of a
transverse slide moved by inclines on another slide at right angles to it. The end
of the latter slide is made to project beyond the extremity of the wire arm, and it is
forced forward by a spring.
To make this holder release the wire the projecting end of the slide has to be
forced back, which is effected by placing in its course a suitable obstacle, with
which as the arm travels round it comes into contact. Immediately the obtacle is
passed the spring forces the slide again forward, the wire is seized and cut, and the
end retained.
To make a clear separation between the bundles, a cradle or set of retaining prongs
is provided, which catch the material as it falls from the elevator. This cradle is
rocked to cause it to receive and deliver at proper times by a cam on the face of the
bevilled wheel with which the wire arm is connected.
In most reaping and binding machines a piece of timber for supporting the seat is
placed over the elevators on the cutting side. On this seat support we carry the
reel; it may be carried on two light bars, or on one strong bar of timber, and the
height may be adjusted by the driver as the lever comes close beside his seat. It
may be driven from any convenient part of the machine. This method of supporting
the reel on one side of the machine only especially suits the fold up platform.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Hornsby, John Innocent, George Thomas Rutter, and Ralph
Appleby in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th November 1879.
JAMES HORNSBY, of Grantham, and JOHN INNOCENT, GEORGE THOMAS RUTTER,
and RALPH APPLEBY, all of Spittlegate, Grantham, in the County of Lincoln.
IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING MACHINES AND IN APPARATUS APPLICABLE THERETO
FOR BINDING THE CUT CROP IN BUNDLES."
«
This Invention has for its object improvements in reaping machines, and in
apparatus applicable thereto for binding the cut crop in bundles.
These improvements we will proceed to describe with the aid of the Drawings
hereunto annexed.
Figure 1 is a plan; and Figure 2 is a front elevation of a reaping and binding
machine constructed according to our Invention; Figure 3 is a side elevation of a
portion of the same; and Figure 4 is a sectional plan of some of the parts.
The frame 1 of the machine, having the platform 2 attached to it on the inner
side, is carried upon two wheels 3 and 4, and there is the ordinary cutting apparatus
at the front of the platform.
The crop is laid towards the cutting apparatus by a reel or wheel of gatherers of
well known construction, but not shown; when cut it falls on to an endless apron 6
on the platform. The apron carries it to an elevator 7, by which it is raised and
delivered on to the tying table 8. When on the table 8 the quantity to form a
bundle is seized, compressed, and bound with wire. The bundles as they are
produced are dropped from the tying table on to the ground at the outer side of the
machine.
The axle of the main wheel 3 of the machine is carried by a pair of levers 9, 9,
which have their fulcrum upon the frame. The levers 9, 9, have each two arms at
right angles or thereabout, one arm carrying the axle, and the other at its end
beneath the fulcrum being connected by a suspending rod 10 with the frame.
The length of the suspending rods can be varied by screw adjustments for the
purpose of raising and lowering the frame. The adjustment is effected by turning
the rods by a suitable handle 11 applied to one of them, thereby causing it to screw
through a trunnion nut, which is held by the lower arm of the lever. The rods 10
are geared together by chain pinions and a pitch chain 12, so that they rotate
simultaneously. The rods can be made in two parts or telescopic, and springs can
be interposed between the parts of the suspending rods; the elasticity of these
springs comes into play when the machine passes over uneven ground. To avoid
complication in the Drawing these springs are not indicated. The pole 13 is jointed
to the front of the frame, and its inclination can be adjusted by means of an upright
hand lever at the back of the machine within easy reach of the driver's seat 14,
which is on the hinder part of the frame. The hand lever, which can be locked in
any required position, connected by a rod with another lever at the front of the
frame, which thus moves with the hand lever and remains approximately parallel
with it. The pole is connected with the front lever by a link in such manner that
when the lever is drawn back the pole becomes more inclined, and the cutting
apparatus is brought nearer to the ground. The platform of the machine is sup-
ported by a wheel 4 on the further side from the frame. This wheel, with the parts
in connection with it, is shown by the Figures 5 and 6. Figure 5 is an elevation,
and Figure 6 a section. This axis of this wheel 4 is fixed to a slide 15 adjustable
in a guide 16 upon the side of the platform; the axis is hollow, and a spindle 17
passes through it, and carries a pinion 18 gearing with a rack 16* formed in
connection with the guide 16. The adjustment is made by turning the spindle 17
by means of a handle applied at its end, and when the slide 15 is brought to the
desired position in its guide it is locked by a spring bolt 19 carried upon the guide
16 entering oue of a series of notches provided in the slide 15.
The main wheel 3 carries a ring of gear teeth 20 driving a first motion pinion 21

page_text: upon an horizontal axis 22, upon which there is also a bevilled wheel 23. This
wheel gives motion to a pinion 24 on the axis of the crank 25 for actuating the
knife. The connecting rod passes from this crank to the lower end of a pendulum
lever 26 jointed to the frame, and another connecting rod 27 couples the lever 26
with the knife. Another bevilled wheel 28 on the same axis with the first motion
pinion 21 drives a pinion 29, having on its axis a chain wheel 30, and this by
means of an endless chain 31 gives motion both to the apron 6 on the platform and
to the elevator 7. The chain passes around a chain wheel on the end of one of the
rollers over which the apron 6 is strained, and also around a chain wheel on the
upper roller of the.elevator. The elevator 7 consists of eight or other number of
endless bands distended between two rollers, and having prongs or lifters projecting.
from them upon which the crop which is brought to the elevator by the apron 6 is
supported whilst it is being carried up by the elevator.
A roller 32 aids in bringing the cut crop forward to the elevator 7; it can be
driven by the chain 31 as shown, and a frame of lats 33 is arranged to prevent the
crop falling or being blown off from the elevator as it ascends. The reel or wheel
of gatherers revolves upon an horizontal axis 34, carried upon the upper end of
an arm 35, jointed to the frame and by means of a hand lever 36 near the driver's
seat; the arm may be inclined more or less to raise and lower the axis of the reel.
Suitable locking apparatus is provided for securing this hand lever in any position.
The reel is driven by a short pitch chain 37 passed around two chain pinions, one
on the axis 34 of the reel, and the other on the joint pin connecting the carrying
arm 35 with the frame. This latter chain pinion is coupled by bevilled gear 38
with the upper roller of the elevator.
The crop is carried by the elevator over its upper roller and dropped on to the
tying table S. The main portion of this table is on a carriage which has the
principal parts of the tying apparatus upon it. The table carriage is provided
with wheels 39 on which it can travel along guides 40 to and from the front of
the machine, and it is connected by a link with a hand lever near the driver. By
placing this lever in a suitable position and locking it, the attendant or driver can
cause the tye to be made in the middle or other desired part of the bundle what-
ever may be the length of the cut crop. The tying gear takes its motion from a
pinion 41 on the same axis with the first motion pinion. It drives a wheel 42,
and on its surface this wheel 42 has a half circle of bevilled teeth which gear
alternately with two pinions 43 on opposite side of the wheel 42. These pinions
are on a hollow axis or sleeve 44, which is thus rotated in its bearings first in one
direction and then in the other. There is a pause before the reversal at the end
of each motion takes place, and a locking tooth at either end of the semi-circle of
driving teeth holds the pinions stationary during the interval.
To lock each pinion and secure in position so that it shall not be free to revolve
and get a tooth backwards or forwards, we take a tooth out of each pinion and
make the first two teeth of the wheel into one long tooth, so that as the last tooth
leaves the pinion, the long tooth is sliding into the wide open space of two teeth
in the pinions.
A square bar or axis 45 carried by the table carriage passes through the sleeve 44
and serves to transmit motion to the tying parts.
In connection with the gear described above, two clutches are provided, one of
which, 46, throws the first motion pinion in and out, and the other, 47, clutches
and unclutches the pinion rotating the wheel 42 on which is the semicircle of teeth.
These clutches are worked through levers and rods by treddles 48 and 49 shown
separately by Figure 7. These treddles are within reach of the foot of the driver
when in his seat.
The treddle 48 is connected with the clutch, and 49 is a retaining treddle, locking
48 until liberated by the foot.
The square axis 45 passing through the sleeve 44 carries a pinion 50 gearing
with a rack 51 carried upon the table carriage 8, and it communicates to the rack
a to and fro movement in a direction parallel to the cutting knife, or at right

page_text: angles to the direction in which the carriage is itself moveable for the purpose of
adjusting the position of the tye as already explained. There is also upon the
table carriage a slide 52 capable of moving along guides 53 in the same direction
as the rack 51, indeed the rack is attached to the slide. The slide however moves
a shorter distance than the rack, the connection between the two being by
pins 54 upon the rack entering long slots in the slide. During the first part of
the travel of the rack 51 in either direction it moves alone, whilst the pins 54
traverse the slots, and then the rack and slide move together until the stroke is
complete. There are bolts 55 upon the slide which drop into notches in the guide
53 at the times when the slide comes to rest, and they hold it fast until at the
proper time they are lifted by suitable projections upon the racks 51. The slide 52
has a standard 56 upon it which carries a pair of compressing prongs or jaws 57
for siezing and holding the bundle, and also a curved arm 58 for passing the wire
around it. The latter is fixed upon an horizontal axis 50 passing through the head
of the standard 56, and receiving a rocking motion by means of a lever arm 60
at its end, coupled by a rod 61 to one arm of a bent or bell crank lever 62, having
its fulcrum upon the standard of the slide 52. The other arm of the bent lever is
forked, and it embraces a pin 63 upon the rack 51, thus this lever 62 and the wire
arm 58 to which it transmits motion are operated by the rack at the times when
it moves independently of the slide 52. The forked end of the lever 62 is so
formed as to permit the pin to move along it a distance as the outward movement
of the rack comes to an end, and a pause more or less complete in the movement of
the wire arm 58 results, during which it is held down whilst the tye is being made
as herein after explained.
The arrangement may be modified by placing the rack higher up so that the
forked lever may be directly upon the axis of the wire arm in lieu of being coupled
with it by a link and arm.
Also in place of forking the end of the lever the fork may be on the rack and the
pin at the end of the lever.
One of the jaws of the compressor 57, the back one (or that next the elevator 7),
is upon an horizontal stud axis 64 carried by the standard 56 behind the axis 59 of
the wire arm. The front jaw of the compressor 57 is jointed to the back jaw below
its axis, and it is also controlled by a rod 65 which at suitable times causes it to
close towards the other jaw and so to compress the bundle which at this time is
between the jaws. There is a spring in connection with the controlling rod 65
which permits the jaw to yield and accommodate itself to the size of the bundle the
compressor embraces.
The compressor 57 is worked by gear arranged in the following manner:-The
axis 59 of the wire arm has a toothed are 66 upon it engaging with another arc 67
upon an intermediate stud axis 68 above the axis of the back prong.
Another are 69 on the intermediate gears with an arc 70 on the back prong and
causes it partly to rotate about its axis to and fro, alternately descending to seize a
bundle and rising to release it. The toothed arcs above mentioned are made
elliptical in order that the movements may be imparted at a suitable speed. The
controlling rod 65 of the front jaw of the compressor is jointed to an arm projecting
to the front from the intermediate arcs 67 and 69, these arcs with the arm are cast
in one piece.
The wire for binding the crop is drawn at a regulated tension from a bobbin 71
stationed above the top of the elevator 7; it passes over a guide pulley on the spring.
arm 72, of which another form is shown at Figure 8, and down through an eye at
the end of the wire arm 58 to spring holders 73 and 74 upon the slide 52 of the
table carriage and beneath the table surface.
'The tension arm, Figure 8, works on a pivot so that it is free to swing and carry
the wire to the proper place for binding the sheaf whether the sheaf be long or short.
There are two of these wire holders, and by one or other of these the end of the
wire is always retained. The eye in the wire arm is provided with a pulley, so that
the wire may run freely through it.

page_text: The two wire holders are arranged the one over the other, and each has one
moveable and one fixed jaw. Springs tend to close these holders, and they are
opened at suitable times by the action of cam like inclines or courses 75, 76, fixed
upon the table carriage. Each of the moving jaws of the wire holders has a small
roller 73, 74×, upon it, and as the slide moves on the carriage these rollers are
carried along the cam like courses.
There are tongues or switches 75*, 76*, provided in the cam courses so that the
roller controlling the jaw of the holder advances by one course and returns by
another. Between the top and bottom wire holders there is an instrument 77 for
twisting the ends of the wire together. The twister consists of a stem carried by
the carriage slide and caused to revolve as the slide moves in and out by a pinion
upon it gearing with a rack 78 fixed on the side of the guide along which the slide
works. The stem has a head which is notched on two opposite sides to permit the
wire to enter towards the centre of the head and it is by being held in these notches
whilst the twister rotates that the ends of the wire are wound one around the other.
There is a cutter on the underside of the head of the twister which acts with another
stationary blade immediately below it to shear the wire just before the twisting the
ends takes place.
The routine of binding is as follows:-The slide 52 at the time when we will
commence to trace the movements is out or at its greatest distance from the elevator,
the compressing jaws are open and raised, the wire arm also is raised and the end
of the wire is held fast in the lower nipper.
⋅
The slide now advances towards the elevator, causing the twister 77 to
rotate but without affecting the wire, for at this time the wire is prevented
from entering the notches in the head of the twister by resting against the
moveable jaw of the upper wire holder 73. Near the end of the forward
motion however this jaw opening wider passes clear of the wire and the wire
springs into one of the notches in the head of the twister. The twister at
this time is stationary from a tooth being out of the rack which rotates it, it
is also locked by means of a locking tooth or projection now opposite to it
(see Figure 9). The twister having received the wire immediately above the
end held in the lower wire holder, and having now passed the gap in the rack
makes another half turn, by which time the forward movement of the slide 52
is complete. The return movement of the slotted rack 51 (not the rack which
rotates the twister) now commences, but as already explained the slide 52
remains for a time stationary and bolted in place. The compressor is thus caused
to seize the bundle, and the wire arm 58 descending passes the wire around it.
Beyond the loop which now encompasses the bundle the wire is at this time
brought by the wire arm into the second notch in the head of the twister. The
position indicated in Figure 2 has thus been arrived at.
This being done the slide 52 is unlocked and commences to move back when
immediately the top wire holder 73 closes on the two wires; this in Figure 4 has
just taken place. The moving jaw of this hold 73 is so formed that in closing it
draws in towards the front the part of the wire brought down to it by the wire
arm.
The bottom wire holder opens immediately after, and in so doing it releases the
end of which it had hold; it at once closes again on the part of the wire brought
down by the arm, which, as soon as the lower holder opens, springs in between its
jaws. The twister 77 now has in its notches both ends of the loop of wire encircling
the bundle. In its first revolution it severs the wire between itself and the lower
wire holder, and then during the return of the slide it twists together the ends of
the loop of wire surrounding the bundle. Near the end of the outward movement
of the slide the upper wire holder opens and sets the ends free. The slide is now
again locked as previously explained, and the slotted rack again advances towards
the elevator, thereby giving motion to the compressor and wire arm, raising them,
and releasing the bundle. The slide then in turn takes up the forward movement,
and the operations already traced are repeated. The tied bundle being liberated

page_text: close to the edge of the binding table rolls off either at once or when the next
bundle comes forward against it. There are inclined prongs or guides 79 provided
at the edge of the table to guide the bundle as it falls and cause the butt first to
strike the ground to avoid shaking out the grain.
When the machine is packed for travelling the wheel 4 is taken off from the side
of the platform and applied at the outer side of the frame. The platform is then
folded up against the side of the frame. The reel or wheel of gatherers is removed
from its place and secured upon the top of the frame above the elevator.
Figures 10 and 11 illustrate the arrangement of the parts when thus packed for
travelling; Figure 10 is a front elevation, and Figure 11 is a plan. The general
arrangement only is shown.
The wire arm and the compressors may receive their movements from a cam by
means of a rod which is jointed to the lever arm on the axis of the wire arm.
The lower end of the rod is jointed to a controlling link, and it carries a roller
or bowl which is received into the groove or guide course of the cam.
The cam is
driven from the first mentioned horizontal shaft by bevelled pinions and an inter-
mediate telescopic shaft.
According to another arrangement, illustrated by Figure 12, the wire arm 80 is
not carried upon a slide but is supported by a bracket 81 and works upon an
universal joint 82. Another joint 83 connects its end opposite to that which holds
the wire to the back of a bevilled wheel 84 driven by a pinion 85 on a vertical
axis 86; thus a continuous conical motion is given to the wire arm. Its head
carries a combined wire holder and cutter, illustrated by the Figures 13 and 14,
which is operated by fixed projections with which it comes into contact as the arm
moves round. Working in connection with this wire arm 80 there is a slide beneath
the binding table carrying a twister and a wire holder, the jaws of which are
jointed together and a spring tends to close them. The slide is moved to and fro
by links connecting it with a swinging arm loose upon the vertical shaft. This
arm is immediately beneath a spur wheel carried on a stud and driven by a pinion
from the vertical shaft. On the underside of this wheel there are two arcs of teeth
on opposite sides of the centre, and they gear alternately with two corresponding
sets of teeth on the arm, and so impart to it the swinging movement required to
move the slide to and fro. The same spur wheel has also a rim or flange with a
notch or opening in it which is for the purpose of controlling the closing of the
wire holder carried on the slide. In connection with this wire holder there is a
lever with a roller at its end which, as the slide advances, comes against the
end of a stop bar, and so the lever is forced back and the wire holder is opened.
As the movement of the slide continues, the stop bar for a time serves to support
the roller, and so the holder is still held open. But near the end of the forward
motion of the slide the stop bar is allowed to yield and the holder closes. The
liberation of the stop bar is caused by the notches in wheel flange already referred to.
The stop bar has at its back a small wheel or pulley which rests on the flange
and keeps the bar in place, retaining the holder open until the time when the wheel
or pulley falls into the notch and then the stop bar yielding the holder closes.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The wire is drawn from a bobbin
beneath the tyeing table; it passes under a guide pulley on the slide up past the
twister to the combined holder and cutter at the head of the wire arm. When the
arm has passed the wire around the bundle the wire holder on the slide beneath
the table closes on both parts of the wire. The holder at the head of the wire arm
is then made to open, liberating the end of which it had hold; after passing forward
a very short distance it closes again seizing the wire again immediately beyond the
loop containing the bundle and enclosing it, cuts off the wire, retaining the end.
The twister is made to revolve as the slide moves back by means of a pinion upon
it gearing with a fixed rack, and it twists the ends of the wire around the bundle
whilst they are retained by the holder in the slide. This being done the holder
opens and the tied bundle falls down on to the ground. In this arrangement a

page_text: ratchet escapement is provided to prevent the twister revolving when advancing, as
the wire always remains within its reach.
The combined wire holder and cutter may consist, as in Figures 13, of a rocker
like instrument on the side of the wire arm and moved one way and the other by
fixed projections, against which it comes as the wire arm moves round. It is
composed of two thin plates of spring steel having a cutting and retaining bar
between them, the cutting bar is attached to one of the side plates and passes
through a slot in the other side plate, the wire is cut by one side of the cutter and
retained by the other side; its action is as follows:-When the wire has been
passed around the sheaf by the binder arm and the pinion is about to commence
twisting the wire the two spring plates are compressed by any suitable means, thus
setting the retained wire at liberty, at the same time the wire passes between the
spring plate and the mouth of the cutter, the spring plates are now allowed to
expand quickly, and so cuts and retains the wire. Or the wire holder and cutter
may consist, as the Figures 14 show, of a transverse slide 87 moved by inclines on
another slide 88 at right angles to it. The end of the latter slide is made to
project beyond the extremity of the wire arm, and it is forced forward by aspring 89.
The cutter is moved in and out by a diagonal bar. When the point is inade to
yield the mouth of the cutter is opened whilst the wire is laid into it. When the
point is released the spring forcing the diagonal bar downwards moves the cutting
bar inwards, thus cutting and retaining the wire.
To make this holder release the wire the projecting end of the slide has to be
forced back, which is effected by placing in its course a suitable obstacle with
which, as the arm travels round, it comes into contact. Immediately the obstacle
is passed the spring forces the slide again forward, the wire is seized and cut, and
the end retained.
To make a clear separation between the bundles a cradle or set of retaining
prongs may be provided which catch the material as it falls from the elevator.
This cradle is rocked to cause it to receive and deliver at proper times by a cam on
the face of the bevilled wheel with which the wire arm is connected.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, we would have it understood that we claim,--
First. The construction of reaping and binding machines, substantially as herein
described.
Second. The means of actuating the binding and tyeing parts through the
medium of a wheel or disc having a half circle of driving teeth upon it and locking
teeth for driving and locking alternately two pinions upon an axis, which is thus
rotated, first in one direction then in the other with suitable pauses or intervals
between the motions, substantially as described.
Third. The means of actuating the binding and tyeing parts through the medium
of a rack traversing to and fro, and carrying with it, for a part of its course only,
a slide on which are the binding and tyeing instruments, some of which are put in
motion by the rack when it moves independently of the slide, and others by parts
which operate as the slide moves past them, substantially as described.
Fourth. The means of actuating the binding and tyeing parts by means of a pin
having a to and fro movement imparted to it and operating upon a bell crank lever
with a suitably formed jaw embracing the pin, substantially as described.
Fifth. The method of gearing together the wire arm and the sheaf compressor by
elliptical gear, so that they move in unison and at suitable relative speeds, substan-
tially as described.
Sixth. The arrangement for adjusting the position of the platform wheel,
substantially as described.
Seventh. The method of working and retaining the clutches by means of the
treddle levers represented in Figure 7.
Eighth. The arrangement of the machine for travelling, substantially as repre-
sented at Figures 10 and 11.

page_text: Ninth. The method of carrying the axle of the main wheel by a pair of bell
crank levers, the descending arins of which are controlled by a pair of suspending
rods capable of simultaneous adjustment at one operation, substantially as
described.
Tenth. The use of a wire arm mounted upon an universal joint and having a
circular motion imparted to its inner end, substantially as described in respect to
Figure 12.
Eleventh. The cutting and retaining instruments to be used in connection with
a continuously rotatating wire arm, substantially as described in respect to Figures
13 and 14.
•
In witness whereof, I, the said James Hornsby, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eleventh day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
JAMES HORNSBY. (L.S.)