AUTOMATIC FEEDING Apparatus FOR THRESHING MACHINES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jonathan William Fison, of Wicken, in the County of
Cambridge, Farmer, and Charles Lack, of Cottenham, in the County of
Cambridge, Engineer, for an Invention of "AUTOMATIC FEEDING Apparatus
FOR THRESHING MACHINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jonathan William Fison and
Charles Lack at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd June
1880.
JONATHAN WILLIAM FISON, of Wicken, in the County of Cambridge, Farmer,
and CHARLES LACK, of Cottenham, in the County of Cambridge, Engineer.
"AUTOMATIC FEEDING APPARATUS FOR THRESHING MACHINES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in self acting feeding apparatus
for threshing machines.
In constructing this apparatus a number of prongs or tines are used made of
steel or iron, of any desired shape and size, and secured to a bar of iron or steel of
suitable strength and length; the ends or other parts of this bar are turned to
work in pedestals or bushes made of metal or wood. The prongs or tines being
fastened on to the bar move round with it, and can be set by means of a spring
lever or screw connected with the centre of the bar at one end, and at the other
with any suitable part of the machine; at any angle for fast or slow feeding. A
motion is also given to this bar which causes the prongs or tincs to vibrate
horizontally and lengthwise, with the beaters in a straight line, within a space of
about two to six inches. These prongs or tines work in connection with a square
roller of suitable size, and are placed above the centre of the roller as a rule, but
can be moved backwards and forwards in the arc of a circle as the variation of the
feed may require. The vibrating motion is produced by means of an eccentric or
disc, and crank pin keyed on to the spindle of the square roller and connected
with a double joint and lever set at right angles, one end of the lever being
connected with the eccentric rod or disc and crank pin, and the other end working
the connecting rod which gives motion to the prongs or tines. The squaro roller
is set in motion by means of a belt working from a pulley on the shaker shaft.
The corn is conveyed to the roller by a feeding board in the ordinary way, and the
corn having passed down this board is carried by the angles of the roller to the
prongs or tincs, where it is shaken and divided in a similar manner to that of hand
feeding, only much more regularly and uniform, before passing into the drum.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Jonathan William Fison and Charles Lack in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 22nd December 1880.
JONATHAN WILLIAM FISON, of Wicken, in the County of Cambridge, Farmer,
and CHARLES LACK, of Cottenham, in the County of Cambridge, Engineer.
"AUTOMATIC FEEDING APPARATUS FOR THRESHING MACHINES."
This Invention relates to automatic foeding apparatus for threshing machines.
And in order that the Invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into effect we will proceed to describe the same with the aid of the accompanying
Drawings, reference being had to. the letters and figures marked thereon, and in
which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the feed apparatus of a threshing machine
constructed according to our Invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof, with
the feed board and the front of the casing removed, and Fig. 3 a plan; Figs. 4, 5, 6,
and 7 are views of detail. Like letters represent like parts in all the Figures.
=
In constructing this apparatus a number of prongs or tines A are used. They
aro made of steel or iron of any dosired shape and size, and are secured at or about
midway of their length to a cross bar of iron or steel B of suitable strength and
length. Parts of this bar B are turned to work in suitable bearings C made of
metal or wood. We prefer the latter. The upper ends of these prongs or tines A.
are also connected by a cross bar, and to this is attached a spring lever D, the outer
end of which is gripped firmly at the back of the apparatus, as shown at E. The
prongs or tines A work in connection with a square roller F of suitable size, and
their position and angle in relation to same are essential elements to the successful
working of the apparatus, and may be adjusted according to requirements. Usually
the prongs or tines A and bar B are placed about above the centre of roller F',
as shown in the Drawings. They may, however, be set further forward or further
back as circumstances may require. If forward, there is more shaking of the corn
and a slower feed, and vice versa.* This adjustment is provided for as follows:-
Bearings C for bar B are attached to a movable beam G, which may be set at any
point in tho segment H by first removing the binding screw g and slackening the
grip on spring bar D at E. Segment E we prefer curved, the crank being struck
from the centre of the square roller. If only the angle or direction of prongs A is
to be altered, this is done by slackening at E and giving them any desired angle,
turning them with bar B as a fulcrum. D should then be again gripped at E.
The prongs or tines A having been properly set in relation to drum F, and in
reference to the work to be done, they have now imparted to them a horizontal
reciprocatory or vibratory motion in the direction of the length of drum I, and
in a straight line over a distance of three inches (more or less). This is effected
conveniently from the shaft of drum F. On this shaft is keyed a disc I actuating a
crank pin and connecting rod I and bell-crank lever K. This latter is attached by
rod and swivel-point L to bar B, which has thus a reciprocatory motion imparted to
it as drum F is revolved. Spring bar D allows of sufficient deflection froin the
straight line and helps by its elasticity to give the reverse stroke to the prongs or
tines. The square roller is set in motion by means of a strap working from a pulley
on the shaker shaft. The corn is conveyed to the roller by a feeding board in the
ordinary way, and the corn having passed down this board is carried by the angles
of the roller to the prongs or tines, where it is shaken and divided (in a similar
manner to that of hand feeding, only much more regularly and uniformly) before
passing to the drum.
We claim as our Invention to be secured by the hereinbefore in part recited
Letters Patent,―
1. In the feed apparatus of threshing machines, the employment of prongs or
tines having a horizontal reciprocatory or vibratory motion, substantially as
hereinbefore set forth and described, and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.

page_text: 2. In similar machines the employment of prongs or tines, the position and angle
of which in relation to the feed roller may be set or adjusted according to varying
requirements, substantially as hereinbefore set forth and described, and as illustrated
in the accompanying Drawing.
3. In similar machines the combination of one or more spring bars D with the
prongs or tines A, substantially as hereinbefore set forth and described, and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our seals, this Twenty second
day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
Witness,
RICHARD DAVIS,
35, Southampton Buildings,
Holborn,
Agent.
CHARLES LACK,
For self and
JONATHAN W. FISON.
(L.S.)