IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES AND BAND FOR BINDING GRAIN
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Leslie Travis, of Minneapolis, in the
County of Hennepin, and State of Minnesota, in the United States
of America, for the Invention of “IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES AND
BAND FOR BINDING GRAIN."
Scaled the 26th October 1875, and dated the 30th April 1875.

page_text: they are made automatically to pick up the prepared bands and to pass
them around the bundles.
Thirdly. In a novel construction of the compressing devices, whereby
they are made not only to pass the bands around the bundle but also to
unite the ends thereof by interlacing the same.
.
Fourthly. In a novel arrangement of the binding table with the
quadrant platform and main frame, whereby the required relative
freedom of movement of the quadrant platform is secured without
interfering with the working relation of the binding table thereto.
Fifthly. In the employment of prepared bands made of wood and
adapted for use in binding grain.
And, lastly. In certain details of construction and arrangement of the
apparatus.
The machine proper, including the main frame, driving wheels, and
gearing, may be of any preferred construction. The grain platform is
of the class known as the quadrant platform, though other forms may
be used. The platform is connected to the main frame by a drag bar
made adjustable at its forward end for regulating the height of the points
of the fingers according to the requirements of the work to be performed
in standing grain, or the connection of the drag bar with the adjusting
rack being made a loose or hinged one for picking up lodged or fallen
grain, for permitting a rolling motion of the drag bar on its longitudinal
axis.
The heel end of the drag bar or the inner end of the platform is
connected with the main frame by the usual laterally bracing con-
nections. The object in this construction being to provide for freedom
of movement of the outer end of the platform within certain limits
I relative to the movements of the main frame.
The rake used with this apparatus is of the class in which the raking
and gathering arms move around a vertical or nearly vertical shaft, the
rake arms moving the grain over the platform in the arc of a horizontal
or nearly horizontal circle. At the inner end of this platform the
binding table is located, and is' connected with the platform by hinges,
permitting the vibration of the grain platform and sustain the grain
platform and table in the same plane and always in proper relation to
each other for permitting the transfer of the grain from one to the
other.

page_text: The outer front corner of the table is suspended by a cord or chain
from the main frame, which holds the table at any desired height, per-
mitting a slight lateral vibration of said table. This table is divided by
a longitudinal groove in which the shanks of the compressing slides
reciprocate; these slides are operated by racks and a central pinion
arranged underneath the table.
The shanks are cast upon one side of the compressing slides, and thus
overhang one side or part of the divided table, the lower faces of the
slides move partly in contact with a rail let in the surface of said table
at one side of the longitudinal groove, and partly rest on the surface of
the platform above said rail.
The upper ends of the compressing slides move in a grooved guide.
rail supported by the table, which guide rail is provided with a central
rib which fits into a central groove in the upper ends of the compressing
slides.
1
The inner adjacent faces of the compressing slides are concave in
form and grooved from top to bottom, the groove terminating at the
bottom on a downwardly projecting rib resting upon and moving in
contact with the surface of the rail in rear or at the side of a vertical
flange thereon. The groove in the concave face of the compressing
slides is forked at or about one-third of the distance from its upper end,
that is to say, it is intersected by another groove of greater width and
depth, extending in front of or above the groove in the concave face,.
and thence passing to the side thereof where, diminished in depth, it
rises beyond the bottom of the concave face groove, and converging
towards the latter terminates therein. The grooves in the opposing
faces of the compressing slides are the same, but when said slides face
cach other they diverge in opposite directions, one to the front the other
to the rear.
The extreme upper end of the intersecting groove is divided centrally
by a,rib, thus forming two grooves, each of a width and depth equal to
the width and depth of the main groove and in line therewith.
The table in rear of the dividing longitudinal groove is cut away
except at the ends, to a depth conforming to the depression of the
guide rail, and the depression thus formed is covered by a board or plate
except for a short distance back of the vertical flange on the rail which
is left open, forming a slot between said flange on the rail and the plate

page_text: for the passage of the bands. The space underneath the table forms a
receptacle for the bands, and is of sufficient depth to receive a single
layer thereof, which are brought successively into position in line with
the pointed ribs on the under face of the compressing slides by means
of a follower actuated by a spring and cord, a second cord serving to
retract the follower when the bands are exhausted and fresh ones supplied.
The bands are fed forward by the follower as fast as removed, holding
them until removed by the compressing slides in frictional contact with
the vertical flange on the guide rail.
The action of the compressing slides is as follows:-The pointed ribs
at the under face of the slides located in line with the slot formed by
the cutting away of the table and conforming to the curvature of the inner
faces of said slides are brought each to an edge resting on the rail, and
when the slides are made to approach each other these edges pass under
and lift up the bands into the central groove of the concave faces, as the
slides further approach each other the ends are carried up and around
the bundle passing by each other in the two upper parallel grooves,
after which they enter the intersecting grooves in the opposite slides
lifted therein by the sharpened edges with which said grooves terminate;
when following to the bottom of said grooves, guided by the inclined or
spiral face of the widened portion thereof, the ends are passed each
outside of the bands; when meeting the rising incline at the bottom and
the returning side of the concave face grooves they are turned back
and tucked under the band or between it and the enclosed grain,
forming a double twist or tuck, one by each end of the band.
The devices for actuating the compressing slides consist of racks
connected each with a central pinion; these racks are by preference
rigidly connected to the slides and engage with said central pinion on
opposite sides thereof, so that they shall move simultaneously in opposite
directions for drawing the slides together, compressing and binding the
grain, or for separating them to release the grain so bound and receive a
fresh gavel. These racks are actuated by a drum at the forward or
main frame end of the binding table secured rigidly to a shaft which
rotates freely in its bearings This shaft carries also a rigidly mounted
clutch pulley, and adjacent to the latter is mounted a loose clutch pulley
or sprocket wheel to which motion is imparted in any convenient
manner from the drive wheel by an endless band or chain.

page_text: When the loose and fast clutch pulleys are locked motion is imparted
to the drum which is connected by a cord or chain to the rack bar
winding up on said drum as the compressing slides are drawn inward,
and this motion through the central pinion is communicated to the
other rack which is caused to move in a reverse direction, thus drawing
the two slides together and binding the bundle. This accomplished, the
loose pulley is released from the fast clutch pulley, and a spring
arranged either within the central pinion or in any other convenient
position serves to retract the racks, and therewith the slides causing the
release of the bound bundle, and bringing the slides in position to
receive a fresh one. The loose clutch pulley is operated by tripping.
levers arranged to intercept the rake arm just after it has deposited the
gavel between the compressing slides, and as it rises to pass the main
frame for engaging the clutch and drawing the compressing slides
together; and this action of the rake arm upon one tripping arm will be
made to set a second arm for releasing the clutch through the action of
one of the following gathering arms of the rake.
The bands used for binding are made of any suitable wood, and are
cut lengthwise of the grain in suitable lengths, and should be by
preference square or rectangular in cross section, forming practically a
wooden string. or cord. This form is found most effective in practice,
as it causes the twisted ends to firmly retain their hold upon cach
other; but other forms may be used. These bands may be applied
either by hand in the field or on machines carrying the binders, or they
may be automatically applied by the devices herein-before described.
The rectangular form of the bands adapts them to be readily cut in
large quantities, thus effecting a saving in their manufacture.
)
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Leslie Travis in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 30th October 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
LESLIE TRAVIS, of Minneapolis, in the County of Hennepin, and State
of Minnesota, in the United States of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Royal
5 Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of April, A.D. 1875, in

page_text: the thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Charles Leslie Travis, Her
special license that I, the said Charles Leslie Travis, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Leslie
Travis, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINES AND BAND FOR BINDING GRAIN," upon the condition,
amongst others, that I, the said Charles Leslic Travis, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme.
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Leslie Travis, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same.
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, that is to say:
:-'

page_text: The heel end of the drag bar or the inner end of the platform is
connected with the main frame by any of the hinged and laterally
bracing connections ordinarily employed for that purpose, the object
in this construction being to provide for freedom of movement of the
outer end of the platform within certain limits relatively to the move-
ments of the main frame.
The rake shown for the discharge of the grain from this platform
is intended to represent one of that class or type in which the raking
and gathering arms move around a vertical or nearly vertical shaft or
pivot, the rakes moving the grain over the platform in the arc of a
horizontal or nearly horizontal circle. At the inner side of this platform
where the grain is discharged the binding table or platform D is located,
said table being connected with the grain platform by hinges b which
permit the vibration of the grain platform as described, while at the
same time they sustain said adjoining sides of the table and hold the
adjacent edges of the grain platform and table in the same plane, and
always in proper relation to each other for permitting the transfer of
the grain from one to the other.
"
The forward end or outer front corner of the table D is suspended
by a cord or chain from the main frame which serves to hold the table
at any desired height, while permitting slight lateral vibration of the
table. The hinges should be set in flush with the surface of the
platforms B and D, so as not to obstruct the passage of the grain.
The table D is divided longitudinally, or is provided with a longitudinal
slit or groove d in which the foot pieces or shanks E¹ of the compressing
slides E reciprocate operated by racks F, F¹, and a central pinion F,
or other suitable mechanism arranged underneath the table and out of
the way of the grain, as herein-after described.
The shanks E' are cast or otherwise secured upon one side of the
compressing slides E, which are thus made to overhang one side or part
of the divided table D, the overhanging lower face of the slides moving
partly in contact with a flanged way or rail g, which is let into the
surface of the table at one side of the groove or slit d, and partly
overhanging and resting on the surface of the platform above said
rail.
The upper ends of the compressing slides E move in a flanged or
grooved guide rail H supported at its ends from the table D by means

page_text: of standards H', a central rib or flange in the guide rail H entering
a central groove or slit in the upper ends of the compressing slides for
a purpose that will be explained.
The inner adjacent faces of the slides E are made concave from top
to bottom, approaching each a semicircle in form, and this concave face
is grooved from top to bottom, the groove e terminating at the bottom
on a downwardly projecting rib or lip e resting upon and moving in
contact with the surface of the rail g in rear or at the side of a vertical
flange thereon. The groove e at a point one third of the distance,
more or less, from its upper end forks or is intersected by a groove e¹
of increased width and depth, which extends in front of or above the
groove c, forming an extension thereof, and thence passing to the side
of groove e, where, diminished in depth, it rises above or beyond the
bottom of the groove e, and converging toward said groove terminates
therein. The grooves in the opposing faces of the two compressing
slides are the same, the grooves e¹ in each diverging from the same side,
but when facing each other they diverge in contrary directions, or one
to the front, the other to the rear.
•
-The extreme upper end of the groove e¹ is divided centrally by the
rib into two parts ², ², cach equal in width to the main groove e,
and in line with main groove e extended, onc, ¹, upon the line of the
groove in one compressing slide, and the other, ², in line with that in
the other slide.
The table D in rear of the slit or groove d is cut away, except at the
ends, to a depth conforming to the depression of the rail g below the
surface of said platform, and the depression thus formed is covered by a
plate or board D¹, except for a short distance back of the rail g¹, which
is left open, forming a slot d' between the rib g¹ and the forward edge
of the plate D for the passage of the bands, and the space underneath
the board D forms a receptacle or passage way for the bands, which are
placed therein, said receptacle opening at the rear or outer edge of
the table, or at any other convenient point for the introduction of the
bands in any desired quantities.
The face of the compressing arm in rear of the rib e² is cut away up
to the surface of the plate D', and the shoulder e thus formed rests and
moves upon the surface of said plate D'.

page_text: The bands may be of any suitable material, but by preference are
made of wood, as herein-after described, and are placed in the receptacle
formed in the platform beneath the plate D¹, which receptacle is of
sufficient depth to receive a single layer of bands, which are brought
successively into position in line with the pointed ribs e² by means of a
follower J actuated by a spring ; and cord j', shown in dotted lines,
Figure 3; a cord j² serves to retract the follower J when it is required
to replenish the supply of bands. The bands are fed forward by the
follower J as fast as removed, being held in place until removed by the
compressing slides by the pressure of the follower holding them in
frictional contact with the rib g².
The action of the compressing slides in removing and applying the
bands is as follows:-The lips e² located in the line with the slot d¹ and
conforming to the curvature of the inner faces of the slides are brought
cach to an edge resting on the rail g³, and when the slides are made to
approach each other these edges pass under and lift up the ends of the
bands into the groove e following, which, as the compressing slides are
drawn towards each other, the ends are carried up and around the bundle,
passing by each other in the parallel grooves h², h², after which they
enter the grooves c¹ in the opposing slides lifted therein by the sharpened
edges, with which said grooves terminate. When following the bottom
of said grooves guided by the inclined or spiral face e* of the widened
portion of said groove the ends are passed each outside of the band,
when meeting the rising incline at the bottom and the returning side e*
of the groove they are turned back and tucked under the band, or between
it and the enclosed grain, thus forming a double twist or tuck, one by
each end of the band. This action is assisted by the enclosed bundle,
which helps to keep the band in position, and to cause the ends to pursue
the circular path around it for compressing the bundle and interlocking
the ends as described. The stiffness of the material employed for the
bands further assists this operation by causing the ends to follow closely
the bottom of the grooves in the compressing slides, and this stiffness of
the bands also in connection with the pressure of the bundle thereon
prevents the ends from becoming released when the compressing slides
are withdrawn, and the band is thus made to effectually secure the
bundle without the aid of any twisting or tying mechanism other
than the peculiar conformation of the guiding grooves, as shown and
described.

page_text: The devices for actuating the compressing sides L, as stated above,
consist of racks F, F¹, connected each with a central pinion, and with
actuating mechanism as herein-after described. These racks by preference
are rigidly connected with the slides to prevent dragging or binding of
the latter, but in the Drawings are connected therewith by pins or
spurs passing through eyes or perforations in the ends of the slides.
The slide racks F, F', engage with a central pinion F on opposite sides
thereof, so that they shall move simultaneously in opposite directions
for drawing the compressing slides togetlier, for compressing and binding.
the grain, or for separating them to release the bundle and to receive
another gavel.
The mechanism for actuating these racks for drawing them together
as shown consists of a drum K at the forward or main frame end of tho
table D secured rigidly to a shaft, which is mounted in bearing K, so
as to rotate freely therein. Upon the same shaft with the drum K is a
clutch pulley K', also keyed or otherwise rigidly secured to the shaft,
and adjacent to this on the same shaft is a loose clutch pulley or
sprocket wheel K³, to which motion is imparted from any convenient
arrangement of driving pulley or sprocket wheel on the main drive
wheel or other axle of the machine by an endless band or chain.
When the wheels or pulleys K¹, K², are clutched together the drum K
will be rotated, and a cord or chain L connecting said drum with the
rack bar F¹ winding upon the drum by such rotation draws the rack
with its compressing arm inward, and said rack acting through the
pinion F² causes the rack F to move in the same reverse direction, thus
drawing the compressing slides E together and applying the bands to
the bundle, as described. This accomplished, the clutch wheel K is
released from the wheel K, and a spring arranged cither within the
pinion F, as shown in dotted lines at f, Figure 6, or in other con-
venient position, serves to retract the racks, and therewith the slides E
for releasing the bound bundle, and for bringing them into proper
position to receive another gavel. The clutch wheel K³ is moved into or
out of clutch with the wheel K' by a slide m, which in practice will be
operated by tripping levers arranged to intercept the rake arm just after
it has deposited the gavel between the compressing slides E, and as it
rises to pass the main frame for engaging the clutch and drawing the
compressing arms together, and this action of the rake arm upon one
tripping arm will be made to set a second arm for releasing the clutch

page_text: through the action of one of the following gathering arms of the rake.
Any convenient arrangement of tripping levers may be employed for
this purpose.
purpose.
The bands heretofore referred to are represented in the accompanying
Drawings in Figure 8, and are made of any suitable wood for the
These bands of suitable length are cut lengthwise of the grain of the
wood, and are made preferably square, or rectangular in form, and about
three-sixteenths of an inch in diameter, more or less, forming practically
a wooden string or cord, the form described having been found most
effective in practice for causing, the twisted or interlaced ends to most
firmly retain their grasp or hold each upon the other, but other forms
may be used if desired. These bands may be applied either by hand in
the field or on machines carrying the binders, or they may be auto-
matically applied by the use of devices described in this application, as
the farmer may prefer. It is designed to manufacture them in quantities,
and to put them up in frames or packages of convenient form. and size
for the market, adapting them for use either upon hand or automatic
binders. Owing to the stiffness of the material and the resistance
offered by the compressed bundle, the ends of the bands when twisted
and tucked between the band and the straw are there held securely until
released by hand. The rectangular form of bands referred to possesses
the further advantage of adapting them to be readily cut in large
quantities, thus reducing the expense of manufacture.
I have now shown how the Invention may be carried out in practice,
but it will be obvious that other arrangements of mechanism than that
described may be employed for actuating the compressing and binding
arms, and that such mechanism may be made to give a positive move-
ment in both directions to said arms, or the action of the spring
described may be reversed; and, further, the extent of the inward or
approaching movement of said arms may be made self-adjusting or
yielding by means of a yielding connection with the driving drum, for
adapting their movement to the size of the gavels operated upon.
It will also be apparent that the binder herein described may be used
in connection with other forms of grain platform, and other constructions
of raking apparatus, but I have preferred to describe it in connection
with the quadrant platform, where the greatest difficulties existed in the
way of its adaptation.

page_text: The form, location; and capacity of the band receptacle also may be
varied, as, for instance, a hopper may be placed at the rear or outer edge
of the binding table, where it will be out of the way of the grain, and
the bands placed therein may be fed automatically one at a time under-
neath the plate D' to the binding slides by devices connected with and
timed to the movements of said slides; or the receptacle may be
applied at the upper ends of the compressing slides by reversing the
position of said slides, so that they can take the bands from above.
Further, by the employment of vertical followers in connection with the
feeding follower described several layers of bands may be contained in
the receptacle, the layers being brought successively into position as fast
as the preceeding layers are exhausted.
Having described my Invention, I wish to have it understood that I
do not limit myself to the exact details shown and described, as the same
may be varied without departing from the nature of the said Invention,
but what I claim is,―
Firstly. An automatic grain binder, constructed and arranged to
operate substantially as herein-before described and shown in the
Drawings.
Secondly. The compressing slides E, adapted to automatically pick up
the prepared bands and to pass them around the bundle, substantially as
described.
Thirdly. The compressing slides E, provided with grooves on their
inner adjacent faces for guiding the ends of the bands in their move-
ments around the bundle as described.
Fourthly. The formation of the grooves in the faces of the compressing
slides E, substantially as described, whereby they are adapted not only
to guide the ends of the bands in their passage around the bundle, but
also to cause said ends to interlace or unite as described.
Fifthly. The combination with the compressing slides E of a receptacle
or passage way for the prepared bands, through which said bands are
conveyed to the compressing slides.
Sixthly. The compressing slides E in combination with the racks F, F',
for actuating the same, as described.
Seventhly. The compressing slides E in combination with the grooved
guide rail H, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

page_text: Eighthly. The combination of the hinged binding table with the main
frame and quadrant platform, substantially as described.
Ninthly. A prepared band made of wood, constructed and adapted for
use in binding grain, substantially as described.
In witness whercof, I, the said Charles Leslie Travis,, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.
CHARLES LESLIE TRAVIS. (L.S.)