IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING MACHINES to be as follows:-
Year: 1884

page_text: I, JOHN GIBSON of Forest Mill, in the County of Clackmannan, North Britain,
Timber Merchant do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING MACHINES to be as follows:-
"
This Invention, which relates to improvements in reaping machines, has reference
to the arrangement and construction of the cutting mechanism and consists
essentially in the employment of an endless band carrying the knives in lieu of
the reciprocating knife bar at present in use.
In carrying out these improvements, a wheel is mounted at the one side of the
machine to carry and drive the band, and at the opposite side of the machine is
mounted a semicircular guide or support to take the place of a wheel which would
be in the way of the corn, a series of rollers being preferably mounted upon the
face of the semicircular portion, over which rollers the endless band travels. The
wheel at the opposite side of the machine, and by which the endless band is driven,
is mounted upon an axle driven by gearing from the axle of the machine, and as
the band travels across the machine the said band is caused to continuously travel:
over the fixed fingers, in proximity with the ground as in ordinary reaping
machines, to effect the cutting of the corn between the fixed fingers and the knives
of the travelling band. The band wheel is preferably of such a diameter as to.
allow of the travelling band clearing the top of the standing corn, the semicircular
portion at the opposite side of the machine being preferably of a corresponding
diameter. The band, preferably of steel, has its cutting edges preferably shaped
out of the band itself, after the manner of a band saw, but the said band may have
the knives or cutting edges riveted or otherwise fixed to the band, after the manner
of fixing the knives of an ordinary reaping machine.
21
.
1004
J. H. JOHNSON, DAY & JOHNSON,
Petitioner's Agents,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.

page_text: I, JOHN GIBSON, of Forest Mill, in the County of Clackmannan, North Britain,
Timber Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING MACHINES and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement
My Invention, which relates to improvements in Reaping Machines, has reference
to the arrangement and construction of the cutting mechanism and consists
essentially in the employment of an endless band carrying the knives in lieu of
the reciprocating knife bar at present in use.
In carrying out my present improvements, a wheel is mounted at the one side of
the machine to carry and drive the band, and at the opposite side of the machine
is mounted a guide or support of semi-circular or analogous form, to take the place
of a wheel which would be in the way of the corn.-A series of rollers is preferably
mounted upon the face of the guide or support, over which rollers the endless band
travels. The wheel at the opposite side of the machine, and by which the endless
band is driven, is mounted upon an axle driven by gearing, connected with the axle
of the machine, and as 'the band travels across the machine, the said band is caused
to continuously travel in or over the fixed fingers, in proximity with the ground,
as in ordinary reaping machines to effect the cutting of the corn between the fixed
fingers and the knives or cutting edges of the travelling band.-The band wheel is
preferably of such a diameter as to allow of the travelling, band, at its upper part,
to clear the top of the standing corn, while the guide at the opposite side of the
machine is also arranged for this purpose.-The band, preferably of steel, has its
cutting edges preferably shaped out of the band itself, after the manner of a band-
saw, but the said band may have the knives or cutting edges riveted or otherwise
fixed to the band, after the manner of fixing the knives of an ordinary reaping.
machine.
In order that my said Invention may be properly understood and readily carried
into effect, I will now describe the drawings hereunto annexed:-
Figures 1, and 2, (Sheet 1) are respectively a side elevation and a plan of a
reaping machine provided with the improvements constructed according to and
constituting my present Invention.
Figure 3, (Sheet.2.) is an elevation of the back of the same. ⚫
The wheel a, is arranged transversely to the body b, of the machine, and carries
upon its periphery a band c, (Figure 3.) of India rubber or other material. This
wheel a, is secured to the shaft d, which is carried in the bearings e, and upon
whose inner or opposite end there is secured the toothed bevil pinion f.-This
pinion f, gears with the toothed bevil wheel g, upon whose back, or upon the
shaft h, carrying the same, there is arranged the clutch device i, operated by the
lever j. When the reaping machine is in operation this shaft h, receives its motion,
through the toothed pinions k, (Figure 1.) which gear with the inner toothed
circular racks 1, formed in the two wheels m, upon which the machine is mounted.
-The pinion wheels k, are provided with any of the well known apparatus for
enabling the wheels m, to travel at different speeds, when rounding corners or
otherwise deviating from a straight path.-Upon the rear end of the shaft d, there

page_text: is arranged the bracket or collar piece n, in which the said shaft is free to rotate,
but is secured against longitudinal motion therein by the set screw o, engaging
with an annular groove formed in the periphery of the said shaft; or, a collar and
set screw or other equivalent means may be provided to prevent the collar piece n,
from moving longitudinally upon the said shaft d.-To the face of the bracket or
collar piece n, the frame p, is secured by the bolts q, (Figure 3.) or their equivalent.
-This frame p, is supported at its opposite side upon the oblique roller r, which is
free to rotate upon its axle secured within the fork 8, rigidly attached to the said
frame p. The frame p, at its lower part is sufficiently secured against alteration
of shape, longitudinally, by means of the bar t, which is pivoted to the two free
ends of the said frame, in such manner as to be capable of a free motion about its
axis. The frame p, is further stayed by the tie rods and framing u, which, as one
structure, are carried forward and pivoted at v, the axis of which pivot is co-incident
with that of the shaft d, so that the frame p, can move freely upon its axis so
constituted. At the outer side of the frame p, there is secured the guide v, which
may be of semi-circular form, but is preferably of the form shewn at Figure 3, of
the annexed drawings.-This guide is provided with the horizontal rollers w, and
with the vertical roller x.-The finger bar y, (Figure 3) is secured at its outer end
to the frame p, and at its inner end it is secured to the vertical rod z, at whose
lower end the curved plate or shoe a¹, is secured.-The rod z, is maintained in
position by means of the guides 6', secured to the frame p.-Upon the front or
forward face of the rod 2, the rollers c¹, preferably India rubber covered, are
mounted and free to rotate about their axes.-The endless band cutter f¹, passes
over the wheel a, and the rollers c¹, and w, and upon the rotation of the wheel a,
the said cutter is free to travel over the surfaces of these rollers, and in or upon
the fingers g¹, in proximity with the ground.-It will be seen with reference to the
annexed drawings, that the wheel a, may be of size sufficient to enable the band
cutter f¹, passing from its upper part, to clear the top of standing corn upon which
it is employed.
The machine is or may be provided with a means of tensioning the band
cutter -A suitable construction of mechanism for effecting this, is represented
upon the annexed drawings. This tension device is supported in the bracket h¹,
rigidly attached to the frame p, and consists of the roller i, whose axle is carried
by the fork j', (Figure 1) and which axle is prolonged outwards, being free to move
vertically within the slots k.,-At the upper part of the fork j¹, the pin l¹, is
formed, and around this pin the spiral spring m¹, is provided.-The upper end of
this spring m¹, bears against the underside of the screw n¹, the position of which
may be adjusted by the hand wheel o¹-It will be seen that upon raising or
lowering the screw n², the spring m³, is caused to press the roller i¹, down upon the
band cutter f¹, with any required degree of force, and the yielding capacity of the
said spring is always sufficient to maintain the cutter at the required tension.
When the machine is moved along, and the clutch i, is thrown into gear, the
cutter f¹, is caused to travel in the direction indicated by the arrows, and the cutting
of the crop, being operated upon, is effected between the cutting edges of the blades
and the fixed fingers in or upon which the said cutter is caused to travel.
The machine may be provided with any suitable mechanism for directing the cut
corn to the opposite side of the machine.
It is to be understood although the band cutter f¹, is represented upon the
annexed drawings as formed of one piece, preferably of steel, that I may construct
an endless band cutter of leather or other analogous flexible material, with the.
blades or cutting edges secured thereto by rivets or other equivalent means.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. In a reaping machine, the cutting of the crop by means of an endless band
cutter f¹, traversed continuously in one direction in, between or among the fingers

page_text: of a reaping machine substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn upon the
annexed drawings.
.
Second, The arrangement of a reaping machine for actuating the endless band
cutter f¹, substantially as herein before described and shewn upon the annexed
drawings.
J. H. JOHNSON, DAY & JOHNSON,
Applicant's Agents.