IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBINED REAPING AND SHEAF BINDING MACHINES
Year: 1885

page_text: We PHILIP CHARLES EVANS of Brunscombe Court near Stroud Gloucestershire
Gentleman and HENRY JAMES HOGG KING of Newmarket near Stroud, Gloucester-
shire, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN COMBINED REAPING AND SHEAF BINDING MACHINES to be as follows:-
:-
This Invention relates to Improvements in Combined Reaping and Sheaf
Binding Machines more particulary applicable to Machines patented by the present
applicants either together or singly and for which letters patent have been granted,
numbered and dated 3525-1881 and 7066-1884. Some portions of the Improve-
iments are however applicable to ordinary Sheaf Binding & Reaping Machines.
In the machine described in patent N° 3525 1881, the crop is turned round after
falling; as nearly as possible, parallel to the cutter bar, and the first part of our
Improvements relate to mechanism for turning the crop round more simply than
it has been previously done To effect this object we use 2 or more sets of fingers
which are mounted on rods, which have a reciprocating motion given to them,
horizontally and at the same time a vertical one. This motion may be effected by
simple cranks, but we prefer to use a motion which gives a greater longitudinal
than a vertical motion, and to effect this we couple the rods to which the fingers
are attached to connecting Rods, one end of which are worked by cranks, and the
other end slides horizontally backwards and forwards in guides, the attachment
being made about the centre of these Rods, or it may be nearer either end if found
to work better, so that the finger bars get all the horizontal movement, but only
part of the vertical movement of the cranks. The other ends of these finger rods
are acted upon by cranks or other similar means, which cause the rods to rise and
fall at about the same time at each end. Or the cranks at the crop side of the
machine may in some cases' be dispensed with and the rods only acted upon, as
before described at the driving wheel end, the other ends sliding to & fro in guides.
The result of this action is to convey the stalk ends of the crop towards the
Driving Wheel end of the cutter bar, and the crop is thus turned round partially;
to further assist this action we also make the Reel with exceedingly inclined blades
which act upon the crop at a much more acute angle, than has been previously
LD071

page_text: .
done, an angle of about 45 degrees, being we consider most advantageous for the
purpose as its action is somewhat like a screw. This arrangement of Rakes or
finger bars with or without the combination of the Reel with inclined blades; may
be used in ordinary Sheaf Binding Machines, or the Improved Reel may very
advantageously be used alone in the ordinary machines-To further assist the
turning of the crop we put a Butting Apron near the end of the cutter bar nearest
the driving wheel which carries the butts of the crop towards the Elevating Aprons,
which elevating aprons are placed at the back of the Machine and to which the
crop is drawn, by an endless apron, the rollers carrying which are parallel to the
cutter bar. In order to make the machines (more particulary the one described
in Patent 7066-1884 occupy less space when passing through a gateway, we
hinge the Binder near the bottom of the Main Frame so that in its working
position the Binding platform is inclined, but when shut back to pass through a
gateway the Binding platform is more nearly level. The Binder is fixed in either
position by a skewer or other simple arrangement the Hinging near the bottom of
the Frame forms an important part of these Improvements. In order also to get
the cutter bar as far forward as possible, and to work the knife with the least
possible friction we use a lever or levers centred at one end, and the knife bar at
the other, the connecting Rod working from the crank-pin to a pin on one of the
levers or lever used.

page_text: We PHILIP CHARLES EVANS of Brunscombe Court, near Stroud, Gloucestershire,
Gentleman & HENRY JAMES Hoaa KING of 'Newmarket near Stroud, Gloucester-
shire Engineer do hereby declare the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN COMBINED REAPING AND SHEAF BINDING MACHINES and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This Invention relates to Improvements in combined Reaping & Sheaf Binding
Machines, more particulary applicable to machines patented by the present
applicants, either together or singly & for which letters patent have been granted,
and which are numbered & dated, 3525-1881 & 7066-1884.
Some portions of this Invention are however applicable to ordinary Sheaf
Binding & reaping machines.
In the machine described in patent 3525-1881 the crop is turned round after
falling, as nearly as possible parallel to the cutter bar, and the first part of our
Improvements relate to mechanism for turning the crop round more simply than
it has been previously done.
And in order that our improvements may be more fully understood, we have
appended herewith two sheets of Explanatory Drawings. Fig. 1-2-3 Sheet 1
show Side Elevation, Plan, and End Elevation of the Machine in which the crop
is turned round, after falling as nearly as possible parallel to the cutter bar, before
rising up the Elevating Aprons; Fig. 4 Sheet 1 shows an enlarged view of the
rakes used for turning the crop.
N° 1 in Figs. 2 & 4 shows the ordinary cutter bar worked in the usual way by
the connecting rod 2 & crank 3, and the cranks 4 & give motion to the recipro-
cating rakes 6 & 7 which form an important feature of this machine, their object
being to move the butts of the crop towards the Driving Wheel, side of the
Machine.
These rakes have a greater movement longitudinally than vertically by means of
their being attached to the connecting rods. 8 & 9 about half way down their
length, the ends 10 & 11 sliding on the rollers 12 & 13, in the guides 14 & 15.
The vertical motion of these rakes at the Grain wheel side of the Machine is
produced by the cranks 16 & 17, which are driven by the shafts 18 & 19 (Fig. 4).
The vertical motion of the rakes at the Grain wheel side of the Machine, may
however, be dispensed with under some circumstances, in which case the rakes at
this end simply work in guides.
From the above description it will be readily understood that as the cranks
move in the direction of the the rake fingers 6¹ & 7¹ rise above the plat-
form, (moving at the same time towards the Driving Wheel Side of the Machine)

page_text: and fall below it on the backward stroke; and as they work alternately, a
strong force is continually acting to move the butts of the crop to the Driving
Wheel side of the Machine. To further assist the rakes in their turning action on
the butts, a Butting Apron 20 (Fig. 2) is provided, the surface speed of which is
much greater than that of the nearly horizontal Apron 21 which brings the crop
forward to the Elevating Aprons 22 & 23.
In order to lay the ear portion of the crop as much towards the Grain wheel
side of the Machine as possible, we employ a Reel with very inclined blades 24,
which answers this purpose, & also enters & lifts the crop, & lays it more perfectly
than the ordinary Reel with slightly inclined blades, so that this form of Reel is
advantageous to use in any ordinary Machine.
Having now described the arrangements for turning the crop, & bringing it
forward to the Elevating Aprons, it remains to be shown how the sheaf is delivered
to the ground, so as to be clear of the path for the horses.
The Binder & Binding platform is placed at the back of the Machine, and the
crop falling from the Elevating Aprons is bound in the usual manner. It is then
discharged on to the travelling apron 25 which carries it to the side of the
Machine & discharges it clear of the Horse track.
This discharging apron may be. dispensed with by making the Elevating
aprons 22 & 23 considerably higher; and thus allowing the Binder to be placed
high enough for the sheaf to roll by gravity down a spiral incline which terminates
at the side of the Machine.
The 2nd part of our Invention is shown in Elevation & Plan Figs. 1 & 2 (Sheet 2)
and has for its object the same purpose as the Machine previously described, viz!
making the machine narrow enough to go through an ordinary gateway without
taking off the Horse shaft & putting on a separate transport.
This is effected by making the Elevating aprons nearly vertical, which is found
in practice to lift the crop as readily as the more inclined ones. The Binder. as
shown turns on a centre which corresponds to the centre of the needle, but this
centre may be deviated from.
:
The Binder when working occupies the position shown by the strong lines, but
when passing through a gateway it is turned up into the dotted position. The
Binding Platform is divided into 2 parts 2 & 3, the part 2 being permanently
fixed, & the other portion 3 moving with the Binder. The compressing portion of
the Binder, & the lower portion of the Platform 3 are made to fold, so as to occupy
but little horizontal space.
The knife is driven as shown in Fig. 1, suspended from the link 4, the end 5 of
which movca in a nearly straight line. As on many farms there are some narrow
gates & lanes, we so arrange this machine that the ordinary transport arrangement
can be used if required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
.
1st. Making a Reaping or Combined Reaping & Sheaf Binding Machine, in
which the Roller centres of the Elevating Aprons are placed parallel, or approxi-
mately so, to the cutter bar.
2nd. Turning the Butts of the crop round by means of the rakes 6 & 7
substantially as described.
3rd. The mechanical arrangement shown in detail in Fig. 4 Sheet 1. for obtaining
in Reaping or String Sheaf Binding Machines, a strong motive power for moving
a crop, which only occupies a small vertical space, the chief feature of which
consists in making the vertical movement of the rakes less than the horizontal, by
means of the connecting rods as shown.
4th. The use of the travelling Apron 21, moving at right angles to the cutter
bar, for carrying the crop forward to the Elevating Aprons.

page_text: 5th. The use of the Butting Apron 20, to assist in turning the Butts of the crop
round.
6th. The arrangements described for taking the Sheaf after being bound, away
clear of the Horse track.
7th. The use of a Reel on Reaping or Sheaf Binding Machines, in which the
Blades 24 are set at a very acute angle as shown in Figs. 1 & 2 Sheet 1, by which
means the crop is picked up & laid more perfectly for delivery to the Elevating
Aprons, thus ensuring a better Sheaf & allowing some laid crops, or beaten down
crops to be reaped & bound, which could not be done with the ordinary Reel.
8th. Hinging a Binder on a centre as shown in Figs. 1 & 2 Sheet 2, which may
correspond to the centre of the needle or otherwise, so that it can be turned on the
centre to occupy less horizontal space.
9th. Hinging a Binder on a centre which corresponds to the centre of the needle,
and supported & arranged as shown in Figs. 1 & 2 Sheet 2.
•
10th. Making the Binder Platform in two parts, the upper part, nearest the
Elevating Aprons. being a fixture, & the lower portion turning with the Binder.
11th. Driving the knife in the manner shown in Fig. 1 Sheet 2.
Dated this 18th day of June 1886.
H. J. H. KING.
Anne Evans
Philip Jas. Evans
H. B. Bousford
Arthur Evans
Executors of late
PHILIP C. EVANS.