IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING MACHINES AND APPARATUS FOR BINDING UP CUT CROP OR STRAW INTO SHEAVES OR BUNDLES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Thomas Burgess, of Brentwood, in the County of
Essex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING MACHINES AND
APPARATUS FOR BINDING UP CUT CROP OR STRAW INTO SHEAVES OR
BUNDLES."
Sealed the 4th November 1879, and dated the 12th May 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Thomas Burgess at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th May 1879.
CHARLES THOMAS BURGESS, of Brentwood, in the County of Essex. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN REAPING MACHINES AND APPARATUS FOR BINDING UP CUT CROP OR
STRAW INTO SHEAVES OR BUNDLES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in reaping machines and apparatus
for binding up cut crop into sheaves, and the improvements relate to the means
employed for compressing a bundle of cut crop whilst it is being bound and secured,
and also to the improvement of the apparatus described in the Specification of a
former Patent granted to me, No. 978, in the year 1878, for binding and securing
cut crops into sheaves.
In order to compress a bundle of cut crop to allow of its being properly bound
and secured I employ a pair of compressing arms, as before proposed, and in addition
I employ
a cord extending from near the end of one arm to the other, and apply a
itself elastic to keep any desired amount of tension upon it.
gor weight to one end of the cord, or I make the whole or part of the cord
spring
When the arms are
turned so as to cause them to embrace a bundle of cut crop, they first lay the cord
the spring or weight draws the bundle together and compresses it, and whether the
across the bundle and then carry the cord around it, the cord being kept taut by
same eo be a large
Bame extent. The degree of compression can be regulated by varying the length of
or the tension on the cord. I prefer that the cord should be attached to the end of
3 other arm or to a fixed point, or the spring might be applied to a pulley over which
back over a guide pulley or pulleys, and connected to a spring attached either to the
one arm and led over a small pulley near the end of the other arm, and then led
or a small one, it will still be compressed approximately to the
tension may be put upon the cord at any time desired by causing the return portion
As the arms move together to cause the cord to compress a bundle, increased

page_text: of the cord to come against stop pins or pulleys; the position
Guese will control
the time at which the increase of tension is put upon the cord. Or increased tension
may be put upon the cord by one or both ends being pulled at any time, so as to
shorten the portion of the cord in contact with the sheaf or bundle. This may be
done by suitable mechanism, whether the arms are moving at the same time
or not.
In place of the cord, which is kept in tension by a spring, being led around the
bundle of crop by a pair of compressor arms, it might be led around the bundle of
crop by a single cranked arm worked from one side of the platform, or other means
might be adopted for passing the compressing cord around the bundle of crop, and
keeping it at the required tension whilst it compresses the bundle.
By employing a cord, as above described, to effect the compression of the bundle,
the compression takes place uniformly all around the bundle, and is so effected with
but little power.
In order to prevent breakage of the compressor arms or other part of the
mechanism, if too large a bundle of crop is delivered to the compressor, or if from
any cause the compressor arms fail to be able to compress the bundle, I form one or
both of the arms with a strong spring joint, which gives way if too great a strain
comes upon it. In order to ensure that the whole of the bundle of crop as it is
moved back to bring it under the compressor shall pass under the forward compressor
arm, I joint to it or to an independent arm a rod or finger, which I also connect by
This rod
a link with a fixed pin that is eccentric to the shaft that carries the arm.
or finger being attached to the end of the forward compressor arm, extends forward
when the compressor arms are opened and prevents the end of the compressor arm
from getting under any part of the bundle, and guides the crop to a portion within
reach of the arms. As the compressor arm closes the rod or finger falls back out of
the way, the desired motion being obtained by the manner in which the compressor
arm and finger are connected together and with the framing of the machine.
To give motion to the compressor arms at the times required, in place of giving
motion to them as described in the Specification before mentioned from a rocking
lever mounted at the rear end of the platform which carries the compressing and
binding mechanism, I now prolong the two shafts which carry the arms to one side
of this platform, carrying them by a bracket which rises up from the side of the
platform and extends across it horizontally at a suitable distance above it. On the
upright of the bracket I mount a rocking lever, carrying at its lower end a toothed
arc, into which gears a toothed are on a cross shaft mounted below the platform.
This cross shaft has a rocking motion imparted to it at its opposite end from a
sliding rod, which extends lengthwise of the platform, and has an endway to and fro
motion given to it from a crank pin on the lower end of the rake shaft of the reaping
machine, another crank pin giving motion to the gatherer, as described in the
Specification before mentioned. The sliding rod may either give motion to an arm
on the cross shaft directly, or give motion to the shaft by intermediate gear. The
upper arm of the rocking lever above mentioned carries a pin, which enters a cam
rocking motion to this shaft. In addition, there is on this shaft a pinion, into
which when the compressor arm has made a portion of its upward movement, after
To effect the downward movement
of the arm the reverse operation takes place; the shaft is first turned by the toothed
quadrant and pinion, and then the pin acting in the cam slot completes its down- 5
ward movement. By properly shaping this cam slot great nicety may be obtained
arm may either be driven in the same way, or may be geared with the shaft that is
driven. Instead of giving motion to the arm which lays the binding string around
the bundle in the manner described in my former Specification above mentioned, I 5
into a position to be operated upon by corresponding arcs upon the working lever
completes the upward movement of the arm.
now prolong the shaft so as to bring a toothed wheel upon it having a

page_text: 0
above mentioned.
The axis of the string carrier arm may pass through the shaft
is compressed whilst the binding string is being led around it, so as to control the
of one of the compressor arms. I so arrange the compressing action that the bundle
amount of string that has to be laid around it, and then as the knotter mentioned
5 in my former Specification winds the string around itself to form it into a knot, a
further compression is given to relieve the binding string of tension; afterwards,
when the knotter again gives out some of the string it had wound up from around
the sheaf the pressure is somewhat relaxed, and when the knot is completed the
compressor arms are both raised out of the way of the sheaf, leaving it free to be
O delivered from off the end of the platform. To ensure the delivery of the sheaf
from off the platform after it has been bound and released from the compressor, I
employ a moving finger to then move it back and allow it to roll gently down a
short incline on to the ground. Afterwards the same finger serves as a stop to arrest
the fresh bundle of crop which is being brought under the compressor by the
5 gatherer; the finger is then carried down below the sheaf, and rises up on its oppo-
site side to be ready to push it back when it has been bound and secured. The
finger may for this purpose be carried by a pin on an arm which at the times required
is oscillated upon the cross shaft before mentioned, whilst the finger is also guided
by a pin upon it entering a guiding slot in a fixed plate. To shorten the length of
0 the knotting apparatus described in the Specification before mentioned I give the
requisite endway to and fro motion to the sliding rod that carries the hook of the
knotter by means of a collar that embraces the outer tube of the knotter; the collar
is prevented from turning around the tube, and a pin is passed through the collar
through a slot in the tube and through the sliding rod, so that the rod and collar
5 move together. On the exterior of the collar is a screw thread, which engages
with a corresponding thread cut in a fixed casing which surrounds the knotter tube;
thus when the knotter tube is turned first in one direction and then in the other, it
moves the collar, and consequently the hook, to and fro.
There is also a groove formed around the collar, into which enters a projection on
a small slide connected with the slide which works the knife, so that the knife also
receives its to and fro motion from the collar.
The knotter tube receives its to and fro revolving motion at the times required
by toothed and delay wheels from the cross shaft before mentioned, and in order
that the whole knotting apparatus may readily be removed from the other parts of
the machine its frame is formed as a slide, which can be slidden into its place on
the binding platform, and held by a locking bolt, or be slidden back and removed.
In order to ensure that the strings when being knotted together shall be laid with
certainty into the hook of the knotter, in place of merely trusting to tension on the
strings to effect this, I employ an oscillating finger which comes down on to the
strings as they slip off from the end of the knotter tube and lays them into the
book. The requisite motion may be given to this finger by an incline on the slide,
which works the knife in combination with a spring to keep the parts in contact.
The clip by which these strings are at this time being held may in this case either
have a lateral motion given to it to put tension on the strings or not as desired.
The moveable jaw of this clip may carry hooks to come down over the strings
when they are laid into the clip, and prevent the strings from working forward
its hold on the string when it has laid it into the clip before mentioned, as described
In place of causing the spring clip on the thread arm to at once open and release
and then open the clip and cause it to release its hold of the string by a lever finger
my previous Specification, I now allow it to retain hold of the string for a time,
made to this end on to the tail end of its moveable jaw; the lever finger may be
caused to descend at the time required by an incline on one of the wheels on the
therein.
in
cross shaft above mentioned.
into the compresser by the time the string carrier arm desconds, I hang a weight
In order to prevent the string being knotted or tangled when no crop is delivered

page_text: which the string is drawn and the knotting apparatus. This weight or
spring to
upon the string, or apply a light spring somewhere between the reel or ball from
act with force sufficient to keep the string extended and prevent its forming a loop,
through which the ond of the string carrier arm descends from the table to the
but not enough to unwind the ball or reel. For the purpose of closing the opening
that they entirely close the opening except when pushed aside by the string carrier
knotter, and thus keep out bits of straw, &c., I place brushes in such a position
arm and string.
Or I affect the same object by a blast of wind so directed that bits of straw, &c.,
can only approach the knotter in opposition to the current. This blast may
created by a revolving fan by suitable gearing at any convenient part of the
machine, and be conducted to the vicinity of the knotter by a pipe.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Thomas Burgess in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th
November 1879.
CHARLES THOMAS BURGESS, of Brentwood, in the County of Essex. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN REAPING MACHINES AND APPARATUS FOR BINDING UP CUT CROP OR
STRAW INTO SHEAVES OR BUNDLES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in reaping machines and
apparatus for binding up cut crop into sheaves, and the improvements relate to the
means employed for compressing a bundle of cut crop whilst it is being bound and
secured; and also to the improvement of the apparatus described in the Specification
of a former Patent grauted to me, No. 978, in the year 1878, for binding and
securing cut crops into sheaves.
of
In order to compress a bundle of cut crop to allow of its being properly bound
and secured I employ a pair of compressing arms as before proposed, and in
addition I employ a cord extending from near the end of one arm to the other, and
apply a spring or weight to one end of the cord; or I make the whole or part
the cord itself elastic to keep any desired amount of tension upon it. When the
the cord across the bundle and then carry the cord around it, the cord being kept
taut by the spring or weight draws the bundle together and compresses it, and
whether the bundle be a large or a small one, it will still be compressed
approximately to the same extent. The degree of compression can be regulated by
varying the length of or the tension on the cord; I prefer that the cord should be
attached to the end of one arm and led over a small pulley near the end of the
other arm and then led back over a guide pulley or pulleys and connected to a
spring attached either to the other arm or to a fixed point; or the spring might be
applied to a pulley over which a loop of the cord was led.

page_text: As the arms move together to cause the cord to compress a bundle, increased
tension may be put upon the cord at any time desired by causing the return
portion of the cord to come against stop pins or pulleys; the position of these will
control the time at which the increase of tension is put upon the cord. Or
5 increased tension may be put upon the cord by one or both ends being pulled at
any time, so as to shorten the portion of the cord in contact with the sheaf or
bundle. This may be done by suitable mechanism, whether the arms are moving
In place of
at the same time or not.
means
0 bundle of crop by a pair of compressor arms, it might be led around the bundle of
crop by a single cranked arm worked from one side of the platform; or other
might be adopted for passing the compressing cord around the bundle of
and keeping it at the required tension whilst it compresses the bundle.
By employing a cord as above described to effect the compression of the bundle,
the compression takes place uniformly all around the bundle, and is so effected with
crop,
but little power.
In order to prevent breakage of the compressor arms or other part of the
mechanism, if too large a bundle of crop is delivered to the compressor, or if from
any cause the compressor arms fail to be able to compress the handle, I form
one or both of the arms with a strong spring joint, which gives way if too great
a strain comes upon it. In order to ensure that the whole of the bundle of crop
as it is moved back to bring it under the compressor shall pass under the forward
compressor arm, I joint to it or to an independent arm a rod or finger, which
I also connect by a link with a fixed pin that is eccentric to the shaft that carries
5 the arm. This rod or finger being attached to the end of the forward compressor
arm extends forward when the compressor arms are opened, and prevents the end
of the compressor arm from getting under any part of the bundle, and guides the
crop to a position within reach of the arms. As the compressor arın closes, the rod
or finger falls back out of the way, the desired motion being obtained by the
0 manner in which the compressor arm and finger are connected together, and with
the framing of the machine; or other means might be adopted for causing the
finger to descend at the time required on to the top of the bundle of crop, at the
time when it is being brought under the compressor to be compressed and bound.
To give motion to the compressor arms at the times required, in place of giving
5 motion to them as described in the Specification before mentioned from a rocking
lever mounted at the rear end of the platform which carries the compressing and
binding mechanism, I now prolong the two shafts which carry the arms to one
side of this platform, carrying them by a bracket which rises up from the side of
the platform, and extends across it horizontally at a suitable distance above it.
10 On the upright of the bracket I mount a rocking lever carrying at its lower end a
toothed arc, into which gears a toothed are on a cross shaft mounted below the
from a sliding rod which extends lengthwise of the platform, and has an endway to
platform. This cross shaft has a rocking motion imparted to it at its opposite end
45 the reaping machine, another crank pin giving motion to the gatherer as described
and fro motion given to it from a crank pin on the lower end of the rake shaft of
in the Specification before mentioned. The sliding rod may either give motion to
50
gear; or the cross shaft might be driven by gearing from the inside of the main
wheel instead of from the outside as above described. The upper arm of the
one of the shafts that carry the compressor arms, and gives a rocking motion to this
shaft. In addition, there is on this shaft a pinion into which when the compressor
arm has made a portion of its upward movement after compressing a bundle a short
55 ment of the arm. To effect the downward movement of the arm the reverso
healed quadrant
operation takes place, the shaft is first turned by the toothed quadrant and pinion,
and then the pin acting in the cam slot completes its downward movement.
on the lever comes into gear, and completes the upward move-

page_text: By properly shaping this cam slot great nicety may be obtained in the com-
pressing action of the arms. The shaft carrying the other compressor arm may
either be driven in the same way, or may be geared with the shaft that y
driven. Instead of giving motion to the arm which lays the binding spring
around the bundle in the manner described in my former Specification above
mentioned, I now prolong the shaft so as to bring a toothed wheel upon it
having a delay surface into a position to be operated upon by corresponding axis
upon the rocking lever above mentioned. The axis of the string carrier arm may
I so arrange the compressing
pass through the shaft of one of the compressor arms.
action that the bundle is compressed whilst the binding string is being laid around
it, so as to control the amount of string that has to be laid around it, and then as
the knotter mentioned in my former Specification winds the string around itself to
form it into a knot, a further compression is given to relieve the binding string of
tension afterwards, when the knotter again gives out some of the string it had
wound up from around the sheaf, the pressure is somewhat relaxed, and when the
knot is completed the compressor arms are both raised out of the way of the sheaf,
leaving it free to be delivered from off the end of the platform. To ensure the
delivery of the sheaf from off the platform after it has been bound and released
from the compressor, I employ a moving finger to then move it back and allow it
to roll gently down a short incline on to the ground. Afterwards the same finger
serves as a stop to arrest the fresh bundle of crop which is being brought under
the compressor by the gatherer; the finger is then carried down below the sheaf
and rises up on its opposite side to be ready to push it back when it has been
bound and secured. The finger may for this purpose be carried by a pin on an
arm, which at the time required is oscillated upon the cross shaft before mentioned,
whilst the finger is also guided by a pin upon it entering a guiding slot in a fixed
plate. To shorten the length of the knotting apparatus described in the Specifi-
cation before mentioned, I give the requisite endway to and fro motion to the
sliding rod that carries the hook of the knotter by means of a collar that embraces
the outer tube of the knotter; the collar is prevented from turning around the
tube and a pin is passed through the collar through a slot in the tube and through
the sliding rod, so that the rod and collar move together. On the exterior of the
collar is a screw thread which engages with a corresponding thread cut in a fixed
casing which surrounds the knotter tube; thus when the knotter tube is turned
first in one direction and then in the other, it moves the collar and consequently
the hook to and fro.
There is also a groove formed around the collar into which enters a projection
on a small slide connected with the slide which works the knife, so that the knife
also receives its to and fro motion from the collar.
The knotter tube receives its to and fro revolving motion at the times required
by toothed and delay wheels from the cross shaft before mentioned, and in order
that the whole knotting apparatus may readily be removed from the other parts
of the machine, its frame is formed as a slide which can be slidden in to its place
on the binding platform and held by a locking bolt, or be slidden back and
removed.
In order to ensure that the strings when being knotted together shall be laid
with certainty into the hook of the knotter in place of merely trusting to tension
on the strings to effect this, I employ an oscillating finger which comes down on
to the strings as they slip off from the end of the knotter tube and lays them into
the hook. The requisite motion may be given to this finger by an incline an
the slide which works the knife in combination with a spring to keep the parts in
contact. The clip by which the strings are at this time being held, may in this
case either have a lateral motion given to it to put tension on the strings or not as
desired. The moveable jaw of this clip or the lever by which its opening and closing
is controlled, may carry hooks to come down over the strings when they are laid
into the clip and prevent the strings from working forward therein.
In place of causing the spring clip on the thread arm to at once open
and

page_text: release its hold on the string when it has laid it into the clip before mentioned as
described in my previous Specification, I now allow it to retain hold of the string
for a time, and then open the clip and cause it to release its hold of the string by
lever finger made to descend on to the tail end of its moveable jaw; the lever
finger may be caused to descend at the time required by an incline on one of the
wheels on the cross shaft above mentioned.
a
In order to prevent the string being knotted or tangled when no crop is delivered
into the compressor by the time the string carrier arm descends, I hang a weight
upon the string or apply a light spring somewhere between the reel or ball from
which the string is drawn and the knotting apparatus. This weight or spring to
act with force sufficient to keep the string extended and prevent its forming a loop,
but not enough to unwind the ball or reel.
For the purpose of closing the opening through which the end of the string
carrier arm descends from the table to the knotter, and thus keep out bits of
straw, &c., I place brushes in such positions that they entirely close the opening
except when pushed aside by the string carrier arm and string.
Or I effect the same object by a blast of wind so directed that bits of straw, &c.,
can only approach the knotter in opposition to the current. The blast may be
created by a revolving fan by suitable gearing at any convenient part of the
machine, and be conducted to the vicinity of the knotter by a pipe.
The improvements above described are illustrated in the Drawings hereunto
annexed.
is a diagram plan view of the platform of a side delivery reaping
Figure
machine with sheaf binding apparatus constructed as herein before described com-
bined with it; Figure 2 is a back end view of the sheaf binder platform.
X, X, is the line of the cutting knife; Y is an ordinary side delivery platform;
Z is the binder platform which is somewhat below the end of the platform Y;
and Y¹
a narrow board hinged to the end of the platform Y, and which can be
inclined more or less upwards to cause the bundle of crop as they are swept from
the platform Y to be thrown a greater or less distance on to the binder platform
as described in the Specifications herein before mentioned.
The outer portion Z¹ of the binder platform is made readily removeable, or is made
capable of turning up on a hinge to diminish the width of the machine when it is
to be passed through gateways or drawn from one place to another. Y2 is a castor
5 wheel by which the rear end of the binder platform is supported.
A is the main or driving wheel of the reaping machine; B is the rake shaft;
B', B², are crank pins on a wheel on this shaft, it may either be a wheel fast on the
shaft, in which case every fourth rake would be arranged to deliver a bundle or crop
on to the binding platform; or it may be that the crank pins are carried on a wheel
10 turning at a quicker or slower speed than the shaft so that the delivery of a bundle
of cut crop may be arranged to take place at every third rake or at other rate,
as described in the Specification of a former Patent granted to me, No. 3195, in the
year 1877. The crank pin B₁ by a system of links moves a gatherer jointed to the
system of links at B3 to and fro along the binder platform. The gatherer serves, as
45 described in the Specification, No. 978 in the year 1878, to bring each bundle of
B
crop after it has been delivered on to the binder platform to the compressor at the
which is fixed to the wheel B.
The B² connected by a link with a rod C
fro potion is the rod at its opposite end is
50 coupled by links to a crank D which carries toothed arcs D1, D2, as shown at
Figure 3, which is a cross section of the binder platform taken on the line x, y
Figure 1. One of the toothed arcs gears with a toothed wheel E' on one end of a
cross shaft E which passes below and across the binder platform, as shown a
56 to give motion to a crank arm which turns loosely on the axis E and gives motion
Figure 2, and gives this shaft a revolving to and fro motion. The toothed are D' i
to a finger by which the sheaves are, when bound, delivered off from the binde
platform as hereinafter explained. From the other end of the cross shaft motion i

page_text: given to the compressing and binding apparatus, as shown at #igures 4 and 5, and
The cross shaft also gives motion
as shown by the diagrams, Figures 6, 7, and 8.
to the knotting apparatus.
The manner in which motion is given from the cross shaft to the knotting
apparatus is shewn at Figures 9 and 10.
pressor closed.
Although I prefer to give motion to the cross shaft or to the rocking lever E
from gear on the outer side of the main wheel, still I do not confine myself to this
arrangement, as it might readily have its movements imparted to it by gear from
the inner side of the main wheel, and when adapting my sheaf compressing and
binding apparatus to many constructions of side delivery reaping machines it would
be preferable to drive the cross shaft from gear on the inner side of the main wheel.
I will first describe the apparatus by which the sheaf is compressed whilst it is
being bound. The parts which effect the compression are shown separately at
Figures 11 and 12. Figure 11 shows the compressor open, Figure 12 the com-
F¹ is the front compressor arm carried by a shaft F; and G¹ the
back compressor arm carried by a shaft G. These shafts are carried by the horizontal
arm of a bracket H which rises up from the side of the binder platform and extends
horizontally partly over the platform as shown. To the end of the front compressor
arm are attached two springs I, I, preferably of vulcanized india rubber.
springs at their opposite ends are attached to the ends of a cord I¹; the cord is led
from one spring over a pin or roller at the end of the back compressor arm, then
over a roller drawn against the cord by a spring I2, and then between rollers carried
by a projection on the front compressor arm. These serve to take up all slack in
the compressor cord and prevent it from hanging loosely down when the compressor
is open as shown at Figure 11. When the compressor arms descend and come to
the position shown at Figure 12, the cord is by the arms laid around the sheaf. The
springs then yield, and the tension on the springs will govern the extent to which
the sheaves are compressed, even though the calliper or compressor arms be always
moved to the same extent. The degree to which the springs are extended may be
controlled by putting more or less tension on the spring I2, which as will be seer
can be effected by turning the nut I³.
The
Although in the Drawings hereunto annexed I have only shown one arrangement
of mechanism by which a cord or band compressor is by the ends of a pair of
calliper arms carried around a sheaf and caused to compress the sheaf with a
uniform pressure all around it, and with springs applied to the band so that the
sheaves whether large or small shall be compressed approximately to the same
extent. I do not confine myself to this precise arrangement, as it will readily be seen
that a band compressor carried around a sheaf by a pair of calliper arms may by
various arrangements of mechanism be caused to effect the same object.
For example, the ends of the band might be secured to the ends of the two
calliper arms, and the arms when compressing a sheaf be allowed to be drawn
towards one another by a spring, and their ends then caused to approach or overlap
one another, more or less, according to the size of sheaf that is being compressed.
Or instead of drawing the calliper arms towards one another by a spring they
might be moved towards one another by friction driving gear and still retain the
advantage derived from using a strong cord or band as the compressor, viz., that
the sheat is compressed uniforinly or nearly so all around it, instead of the sheaf
being compressed between rigid arms as heretofore usual, which could not adapt
themselves to shape sheaves of different sizes to a proper circular form, or instead
of the sheaf being compressed by means of the cord or wire by which it is to be
tied and held when discharged from the machine.
The same effect could also be obtained if one end of the band compressor were
held fast and the other end connected to a single arm by which it could be laid
around the sheaf and caused to compress it. I however prefer to use a pair of
calliper arins together with the band, as herein before explained.
In order to ensure that the bundles of cut crop as they are moved back along the
binder platforin to bring them under the compressor arms to be compressed into

page_text: I cause a
When the compressor opens the
sheaf, shall pass under and not catch against the front compressor arm,
finger to descend down on to the top of the bundle and hold it down as it passes
under the end of the front compressor arm, and afterwards raise up this finger out
of the way when the compressor arms are compressing a bundle of crop. At Figures
11 and 12 I have shown the way in which I prefer that this finger should be carried
and worked. J is the finger jointed to the back compressor arm, and also drawn
downwards by a spring Jattached to this arm.
finger descends into a horizontal position, as shown at Figure 11, comes down on to
the top of the bundle of crop which is being moved back along the binder platform to
bring it under the compressor, and holds it down as it passes under the end of the
In place of the finger being thus carried it might, as shown
at Figure 13, be jointed to the front compressor arm and be connected by a link to
a centre eccentric to the centre on which the front compressor arm turns, the same
result would in this case be accomplished. In case no front compressor arm were
used the finger would serve to hold down the bundle and cause it to pass under the
string carrier arm.
front compressor arm.
In order to give motion to the two shafts F and G which carry the front and
back compressor arms of the compressor shown in the Drawings, I carry these
shafts along the horizontal portion of the bracket H, to the upright portion of this
bracket which rises up from the side of the binder platform I fix on the end of one
of these arms (in the arrangement shown it is the front compressor arm, see Figures
4 and 5, and diagram, Figure 6) a slotted arm K; into the slot in this arm enters a
pin L¹ carried by a lever L, which can be rocked on a pin carried by the upright
portion of the bracket H. On the lower end of the lever L is a toothed arc L2
gearing with a toothed arc E¹ on the end of the rocking cross shaft E which passes
below and across the binder platform as herein before explained, and so a rocking
motion is given to the lever L. The upper end of the lever L also carries a few
teeth L³ which gear with teeth F2 on the axis F of the front compressor arm. When
the compressor arm is raised and in its highest position, and the lever L is rocked,
the teeth cause the arm to descend quickly; afterwards the pin L'acting in the slot
of the slotted arm K completes the descent of the arm, and the slot is so formed that
a slight tension, and only a slight tension, is allowed to come upon the string which
is around the sheaf during any part of the time that this string is being knotted
together or secured. With the knotting apparatus shown in the Drawings and
5 explained more fully in my former Specification, No. 978, the strings being at the
commencement of tyeing the knot wound around the knotter tube the compressor
is made at this time to give a further compression to the bundle, so that the tension
on the string is not increased by its being wound on to the knotter tube, afterwards
when the strings around the knotter tube are caused to slip from off its end, the
10 string around the sheaf would get loose if the compression given by the compressor
were not then somewhat relaxed, the slot therefore is so shaped as to then relieve
draw in the ends of the string into the knotter tube the sheaf is again compressed
compression to the extent required; and further, just as the hook commences to
45 along the strings nearer to the sheaf than it could otherwise be brought.
entirely to relieve the string from tension, this allows the knot to be run back
the
80 as
The two axes F and G which carry the two compressor arms are geared together,
as shown at Figures 4 and 5, and diagrams 7 by toothed arcs, so that when one
arm rises or descends the other arm rises or descends also.
50 first drawn up from below the platform, and then laid around the sheaf whilst the
lever L. In the arrangement shown the axis M which carries this clip arm is
sheaf is being compressed, has also its requisite motion given to it from the rocking
passed through the shaft G which carries the back compressor arm, this shaft being
delay or holding surfaco M³. The rocking lover I also carries a toothed are L' to
On the end of the axis M of the clip or string arm is fixed a toothed are M* and
gear with the teeth M on the axis M, and also a delay or bolding surface L' for the
or string arm M¹ by which the string used for binding the sheaves is
65
made hollow for the purpose.

page_text: corresponding delay surface M³ to rest against, as shown at Figures 4 and 5 and
and compress a sheaf the clip or string arm M¹ descends also, and when it has
diagram 8. When the lever L is rocked to cause the compressor arms to descend
together and the clip or string arm is retained in its lowest position. The ends of 5
completed its downward movement the delay or retaining surfaces M3, L³, come
the tension upon the string around the sheaf whilst the knot is being tied being
the string around the sheaf are then tied into a knot by the knotting apparatus,
controlled as above described.
I will now describe the action of the knotter and the way in which it is driven
When the clip arm M¹ rises from its lowest position it carries up with it, as l
described in the Specification No. 978, herein before mentioned, the end of the
string with which the next sheaf is to be bound; and after this sheaf has been
brought against and partly to rest on this string the clip arm descends, passes the
string around the sheaf as before explained, and carries the end of the string down
through a slot Z³ in the binder platform and presents it to the knotter tube and
into a clip below this tube, as shown at Figures 14 and 15.
Figure 14 is a side view of the whole of the knotting apparatus, and Figure 15
is an underside view of the same. The action of the knotter tube to tie the strings
together into a knot is just as described in the Specification, No. 978, before
mentioned.
1
N is the frame or slide by which all the parts of the knotter are carried at the
top; it is formed with a projecting feather N¹ along each of its sides; these are to
enter corresponding guide grooves N2 formed on the underside of the binder plat-
form, as shown in small cross section Figure 16, which is taken at the dotted line
1, 2, Figure 1, but on a larger scale. The way in which the knotter can be passed 2
into these grooves or be drawn out and taken away will be clearly seen at Figure 17,
which is a plan view of this part of the binder platform, with the removeable side
portion of this platform taken away. Z³ is the slot in the platform, down through
which the end of the thread arm descends. Z are brushes to sufficiently close this
slot when the machine is at work to prevent straws dropping down through it, but 3
which yet allow the thread arm to pass down. When the knotter is to be put into
its place the brushes are turned up on the hinge Z³, so as to be out of the way.
The knotter can then be passed down through the slot Zs, and the projecting
feathers at its sides passed into the ends of the guides N on the under side of the
platform; the knotter can then be slid along the guides, which, as will be seen at
Figure 3, slope somewhat downwards until the knotter comes into its place; it then
comes against stops, which prevent it from moving further downwards; its own
weight is sufficient to hold it down in place, but a stop might be used to prevent
its rising if it were necessary to use one.
The frame or slide by which the parts of the knotter are carried has rigidly
fixed to it a tubular casing O with an internal screw thread; this is shown
separately at Figure 18. The knotter tube P passes through this casing; on the
tube is the collar O¹, shown separately at Figure 19; the collar has a screw thread
The rear end of the knotter tube is slotted longitudinally on two opposite sides
0.
A pin O2 is passed through the collar and through the slots in the knotter tube; the
pin prevents the collar from turning around the tube, but allows it to slide end-
wise along it; the pin also serves to attach the collar to a rod or stem which is
inside the knotter tube, and which at its end is formed into a hook to draw the
ends of the strings into the tube, as described in the Specification of my former
Patent, No. 978. By this means when the knotter tube is turned first in one
direction and then in the other, the collar O¹ screwing into the screw in the fixed
protruded from the end of the tube, and afterwards to be drawn back within it.
casing moves endwise to and fro along the knotter tube and causes the hook to be
The collar 01 also serves to give a to and fro motion to the moveable blade of the
groove formed around it, as shown, and a small slide Q hooks or engages into this
cutter or shears by which the string is cut. For this purpose the collar has s

page_text: Q
groove, so that when the collar moves backwards and forwards along the knotter
tube the slide Q moves to and fro with it. On the underside of the slide is a
projection which enters a corresponding recess in the bar or slide R, which carries
the knife; this bar or slide R can slide to and fro in a slot O' in the fixed casing O,
and is held into this slot by cover plates 04. The knotter tube has a toothed
wheel 05 and delay surface 06 fixed on its end, and by these the knotter tube is
turned and held still at the times required.
When the string arm has descended into the position shown at Figures 14 and
15, its end comes against and presses back a slide R¹, which is constantly pressed
forwards by a spring; as the slide is pressed back the spring clip S is by its
spring S₁ closed on to and caused to hold the string. At other times this clip
remains open, as the slide when moved forwards by its spring bears against the
lower end of the lever T; a square or projection on the axis of this lever passing
between the jaws of the clip keeps the clip open, as described in the Specification,
No. 978, before mentioned. The clip on the string arm is opened after the clip S
has taken hold of the string and the knotter has commenced to tie the knot; this
is effected by a lever U acted on at the time required by a cam surface V, on a
When the lever is acted on by the cam surface
wheel fixed to the cross shaft E.
it presses against the tail end of the moveable jaw of the clip of the string arm and
opens the clip. Afterwards when the end of the string which it before held has
been drawn away from it by being wound up around the knotter tube the clip is
again allowed to close and lay hold of the string, which as is shown is led from a
reel through the eye W.
If it is required that the cutter or knife shall not be allowed to cut the end of
the string which is presented by the string arm to the clip S, this part of the string
may as it is carried down by the string arm come against an incline or guide
surface, which shall lead it above or below the knife, or to any position in which
the knife will not cut it, so that it will not get cut but will be drawn away from
the clip when the ends of the string are drawn into the knotter tube by the hook;
in this way no loose short ends of string will be left in the clip, and there will be
no chance of the clip getting clogged and prevented from acting properly.
T' is a finger for pressing down the ends of the strings as they slip over the end
of the knotter tube and ensure that they shall always get taken hold of by the
hook and drawn into the knotter tube. This finger is pressed constantly towards
the knotter by a spring T2; ordinarily however it is kept out of action by reason
of its resting against a projection R2 on the knife bar R, but when the knife bar is
moved so far forwards that the end of the projection gets beyond the projection
shown on the finger, the finger moves forwards and acts upon the strings.
The knotter, as before stated, has motion given to it from the cross shaft E. The
O way in which this is effected is shewn at Figures 9 and 10.
85
The cross shaft has fixed upon it a wheel a with bevil teeth b around part of its
circumference and a delay surface c around a further part; these work with corre
sponding bevil teeth d and delay surface on an axis e; this axis has fixed upon it a
toothed arc f, which gears with the toothed pinion 05 on the end of the knotter
the axis e might be continuous and without any delay surface, and the delay
surfaces only used on the toothed wheel at the end of the knotter tube and the arc
which
gears
with it.
In order to prevent the string being tangled when no crop is delivered into the
50 compressor a weight may be hung on to the string at any point between where it
leaves the reel and passes through the eye W before mentioned. At Figure 20 I
have shown weights g threaded on to the string to effect this object; below the
weights is a bag h carried on the under side of the binder platform into which the
weights and string may descend if the string becomes slack. The bag prevents the
or weights being caught by the stubble, and so prevents the string from
55 string
being thereby further unwound from the reel.
In order that when the string is drawn upwards by the spring arm above the

page_text: binder platform and a bundle of crop is brought against it by the gatherer that the
string may not be thereby too much drawn off from the reel, I cause increased
friction to be at this time put upon the reel to prevent it from unwinding. The
A cam iis fixed on the
way in which I effect this is shown at Figures 4 and 5.
cross shaft E and acts at the proper time upon a collar / which bears against a
spring / and serves to put friction upon the side of the reel, as shown. The friction
upon the reel can also at all times be controlled by turning the nut m.
In order to eject the sheaves after they have been compressed and bound from off
the rear end of the binder platform I use a finger which moves backwards at the
required time, as before explained, and throws the sheaf backwards from off the
platform. This finger, marked n, is shown at Figure 3. It is jointed to an arm o
which can turn on the cross shaft E. On the arm is a toothed wheel which gears
with the rocking toothed arc D2. On the arm o is also a pin which enters a curved
slot in the finger; the end of this slot is closed by a spring p fixed to the finger.
On the finger is also a pin q which bears against guide surfaces r fixed to the frame
on the under side of the binder platform. When the arm o moves backwards the
finger stands upright and projects upwards through a slot in the binder platform
and moves backwards along this slot and ejects the bound sheaf. When the arm
moves forward the finger for a time remains upright as the pin q on the finger then
bears against the upper guide surface which prevents it from turning downwards,
and so it serves as a stop to arrest the fresh bundle of crop which is being brought
under the compressor; afterwards, this surface being cut away, as shown, the finger
is free to turn downwards and pass below the bundle. At the end of its forward
movement the finger, being then below the upper surface of the platform, comes
against a stop s which brings it to a vertical position, and when the arm and finger
again move back the finger rises, being still kept in a vertical position by this stop
until the pin q on the finger comes on to the lower guide surface r, and then the
finger is by this guide surface kept in its vertical position until the backward
movement of the finger is completed.
The general action of the machine is as follows:-One of the rakes sweeps a
bundle of crop from off the ordinary platform on to the binder platform. To
ensure that the bundle shall pass properly on to the binder platform and not get
thrown on to any part of the compressor, a board u is brought down across the
binder platform into the position shown at Figures 1 and 5 just before the bundle
is swept from the one platform to the other, as described in a Provisional Specifi-
cation lodged by me, No. 2614, in this year. The board is jointed to arms on the
axis of the front compressor, and is also coupled by a link to a fixed point V, as
shown.
The
When a bundle of crop has been deposited on to the binder platform the gatherer
moves this bundle of crop backwards along the binder platform and brings it under
the compressor. The compressor arms descend and compress the bundle; the
string arm also descends and lays the string around the compressed bundle and
presents the ends of the string to the knotter and to a clip that takes hold of it.
The knotter ties the two ends of the portion of string which is around the bundle
into a knot, and the knife cuts the string on the further side of the knot.
clip on the string arm takes hold of the end of the string which comes from the
reel, and again ascends at the same time that the compressor arms rise for a fresh
bundle of crop to be brought below them. At the same time the discharging finger
moves backwards along the binder platform and throws off the bound sheaf from
the back end of this platform on to the ground, and also at the same time serves as
a stop to arrest the fresh bundle of crop which is then being moved back along the
binder platform to be compressed; and serves to assist the string in preventing the
bundle from being moved too far back along this platform, so that it may be
properly seized by the compressor arms at their next descent.
There is a projecting board t standing up from the surface of the binder platform,
as shown at Figures 11 and 12, so as to ensure that the ends of the compressor
1

page_text: or crop which is to be compressed, the compressor
arms shall pass
descending close to this board.
The compressing and binding apparatus hereinbefore described can be used not
5 and binding bundles of crop or straw into sheaves as they are gathered up, or as
only with a reaping machine but might be used with other apparatus for compressing
described are also applicable to sheaf binding apparatus in which the binding of a
they come from other machines.
sheaf is effected by laying a wire around the sheaf and twisting its ends together.
Arrangements of machinery for effecting the binding of a sheaf in this manner are
now well known.
Several of the improvements herein before
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I would have it understood that I claim as my improvements in reaping
machines and apparatus for binding up cut crop or straw into sheaves or bundles,-
First. The use in a reaping machine or sheaf binding apparatus of a cord or
band compressor for compressing a bundle of cut crop to allow of its being bound
and secured by a separate band, or cord, or wire.
Second. The use in a reaping machine or sheaf binding apparatus of a cord or
band compressor, either elastic or in connection with springs or appatatus which
allow the cord or band to yield and accommodate itself to compressing sheaves of
various sizes to allow of their being bound and secured by a separate band, or cord,
or wire.
Third. The use in a reaping machine or sheaf binding apparatus of a band or
cord connected with the ends of a pair of calliper or compressor arms for com-
pressing sheaves to allow of their being bound and secured by a separate band, or
cord, or wire.
Fourth. The use in a reaping machine or sheaf binding apparatus of a pair of
calliper or compressor arms and a band or cord connected with the ends of the
arms, and either elastic or in connection with springs or apparatus which allow the
cord or band to yield and accommodate itself to compressing sheaves of various
sizes to allow of their being bound and secured by a separate band, or cord, or wire.
Fifth. The combined arrangement of reaping machine for delivering the cut crop
in bound up sheaves, substantially as herein before described.
Sixth. The combination of the side delivery platform, the binder platform, the
gatherer for moving the bundles of crop backwards along this platform, the hori-
zontal arm or bracket held horizontally above this platform near its back end, and
carrying not only an arm carrying the binding string or material but also compressor
arms, the shafts of the several arms extending along the horizontal arm or bracket,
so that the shafts may be driven from one side of the binder platform and not
interfere with the sheaf when bound, being ejected from the back end of the binder
platform, as herein before explained.
Seventh. The use in conjunction with such combined arrangement of apparatus
(whether compressor arms are used or not) of a finger caused, as hereinbefore
explained, to come down on to the top of a bundle of cut crop and hold it down as
it is being brought under the compressor, and afterwards to rise up and be out of
way until it has to similarly act on the next bundle, substantially as described;
also the arrangement of apparatus for effecting this object.
the
Eighth. The combined arrangement of apparatus for giving motion to the
benpressor arms and arm carrying the string or binding material, substantially as
herein before explained.
Ninth. Increasing and diminishing the compression of the bundle during the
time that the string or cord by which it is to be bound is being tied into a knot, so
ap to cause the tension on the string or cord to vary as the action of the knotting
apparatus 1equires.
i bound backwards from the rear end of the binder platform, and also, when so
Tenth. The use of a finger, substantially as described, for ejecting the sheaf when
desired, for serving as a stop to arrest the next bundle of crop as it is brought into
position :
1

page_text: Eleventh. The construction of the knotter, substantially as hereinbefore described,
so as to reduce its length.
Twelfth. Carrying the knotting apparatus, which may be of various constructions,
by one frame or piece, which may be slidden or set into or out of place, as herein
before explained.
Thirteenth. The use of a finger caused to descend at the required time and lay
the strings into the hook of the knotter when they are being tied into a knot, as
herein before explained.
Fourteenth. The use of a lever acted upon by a cam for opening the clip at the
end of the string arm, and allowing the clip again to close at the times required, as
herein before explained.
Fifteenth. The use of hooks in combination with the clip S for the purpose
described.
Sixteenth. The use of weights or a spring, as herein before explained, for
preventing the string held by the string arm from getting entangled when the
string arm descends and no crop has been delivered to the compressor.
Seventeenth. The use of brushes for closing the slot or opening in the binder
platform, down through which the string arm descends in order to prevent straws
passing down and interfering with the action of the knotter.
Eighteenth. The use of a blast of air directed away from the knotter to hinder
straws from getting to the knotter.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Thomas Burgess, 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.