Improvements in and applicable to Harvesting Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 25th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 26th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and applicable to Harvesting Machines.
1, WALTER HONORATO BARKER, of 37, Haverstock Hill, in the County of
London, Agricultural Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention relates. to harvesting machines, and it comprises the improvements
hereinafter described.
One part of my invention relates to the reels of harvesting machines and consists
in providing each arm of such reel with a pivotted extension, which extensions
carry the dividing blades (the latter being advantageously provided with teeth)
and are connected by bars or rods to a pin having a different axis from the reel so
that as the reel rotates the blades will enter and leave the corn at positions con-
siderably in advance. and in the rear of those at which the blades of the ordinary
reel enter and leave it. A kind of parallel motion is provided preferably operated
by a foot lever for adjusting the position of the pin, relatively to the reel, the said
pin being carried by an arm secured to a shaft extending through the hollow reel
shaft. The dividing blades are mounted upon the extensions of the reel arms in
such a manner that their angle can be adjusted. I sometimes substitute an eccentric
for the pin.
Another part of my invention relates to the canvas aprons or platforms of
harvesting machines and has for its object to compensate for the expansion and
contraction of such aprons. This I accomplish by arranging springs in conjunction
with the connecting, straps.
Another part of my invention consists in causing the apron or aprons, or con-
veyor or conveyors conveying the corn from the platform apron to the binding
platform to run obliquely so as to convey the corn behind instead of over the driving
wheel. For this purpose the apron is carried upon cross bars secured by loose
joints between endless chains.
Another part of my invention relates to the packers of self-binding harvesters..
My improved packers are each pivotted to an arm upon a rotating shaft, an
eccentric strap connected by a rod to the packer and moving around a fixed
eccentric serving to impart the required movements to the packers. The packers
are thrown out of gear by the trip mechanism during the binding operations so as
to cloak the needle.
A
Another part of my invention relates to knotting mechanism for self-binding
harvesters. The knotter beak is of hook-shape and formed upon one end of a
horizontal spindle preferably driven by spur wheels and pinions from the main
knotter and discharge shaft. To this hooked beak is pivotted a jaw which is
operated by a roller in a cam groove. The back of the jaw or beak is curved or
rounded so that when the knotter rotates the string will slip therefrom.
stationary guide over the knotter serves to direct the string into the hook of the
beak as the needle carries the string over so as to be caught by the latter in
its revolution. The grip used with the knotter (which grip also has bearing
upon its face a blade for cutting the string) has upon its face teeth engaging
with a worm or cam or bevel segment upon the knotter spindle, whereby the
said grip is operated.
Another part of my invention relates to. means for separating the corn being
tied from that being fed ready for the next sheaf. The separating mechanism
comprises two arms, one at each side of the needle, moved by a crank arm and
timed to descend with the needle, the said arms then being moved laterally from

page_text: the needle to the butts and ears. The arms are preferably driven by a bevel
pinion and segment on the main knotter shaft.
Dated the 25th day of April 1891.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and applicable to Harvesting Machines.
I, WALTER HONORATO BARKER, of 37, Haverstock Hill, in the County of
London, Agricultural Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to harvesting machines, and it comprises the improvements
hereinafter described.
One part of my invention relates to the reels of harvesting machines and consists
in providing each arm of such reel with a pivotted extension, which extensions
carry the dividing blades (the latter being advantageously provided with teeth)
and are connected by bars or rods to a pin having a different axis from the reel so
that as the reel rotates the blades will enter and leave the corn at positions cou-
siderably in advance and in the rear of those at which the blades of the ordinary
reel enter and leave it. A kind of parallel motion is provided preferably operated
by a foot-lever for adjusting the position of the pin, relatively to the reel, the said
pin being carried by an arm secured to a shaft extending through the hollow recl
shaft. The dividing blades are mounted upon the extensions of the reel arms in
such a manner that their angle can be adjusted. I sometimes substitute an eccentric
for the pin.
Another part of my invention relates to the canvas aprons or platforms of
harvesting machines and has for its object to compensate for the expansion and
contraction of such aprons. This I accomplish by arranging springs in conjunction
with the connecting straps.
Another part of my invention consists in causing the apron or aprons, or con-
veyor or conveyors conveying the corn from the platform-apron to the binding-
platform, to run obliquely so as to convey the corn behind instead of over the
driving-wheel. For this purpose the apron is carried upon cross-bars secured by
loose joints to endless chains.
Another part of my invention relates to means or mechanism for separating the
corn being tied from that being fed ready for the next sheaf. The said separating
mechanism comprises two arms or prongs, one at each side of the needle, moved by
cranks and timed to operate with the needle, the said arms then being moved
laterally from the needle to the butts and ears. The arms are preferably driven
from the main knotter-shaft.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the same by
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is a plan of a self-binding harvesting machine having all my improve-
ments applied thereto; and,
Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the same:
Figure 3 is a side elevation shewing my improvements in the reels of harvesting
machines and,
Figures 4 and 5 are a longitudinal section and a plan respectively of the device
I employ for compensating for the expansion and contraction of the aprons:
Figure 6 is a plan view of a portion of my obliquely travelling platform-apron
drawn to an enlarged scale; and,
Figure 7. is a sectional view through the apron on the line a x, Figure 6:
Figure 8 is a plan view of a portion of the obliquely travelling apron drawn to

page_text: a larger scale than Figure 6 and illustrating an alternative method of imparting
motion thereto :
Figure 9 is an elevation drawn to an enlarged scale illustrating that part of my
invention relating to the means for separating the corn being tied from that which
is to form the next sheaf.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures..
a indicates the frame of the machine, the travelling-wheel, and c the
finger-bar.
dis my improved reel; e the platform-apron provided with compensators; and
the obliquely-travelling-apron for conveying the cut corn from the platform-
aprone to the binding-table g. h. h are the packers of the binding-mechanism,
i is the needle for carrying the string, and j is the knotter-shaft, which parts
are of ordinary construction and require no description.
d', d' are the arms of the reel d, the said arms being rigidly secured to the
tubular shaft carried in bearings ³, d³ at the front of a frame pivotted on a
shaft d³ carried at the upper ends of two arms a", d, the lower ends of which are
pivotted at d to the framing of the machine, for instance to an extension of the
finger-bar c, as shewn most clearly in Figure 3. d is a bar connected with a
hand-lever (not shewn and by means of which the levers de may be oscillated in
order to move the reel forward or backward relatively to the finger-bar in a well
known manner. The vertical movements of the reel are effected through the
medium of a rod jointed at 10 to the frame d', and connected with a hand or
foot-lever (not shewn) in a well known manner. d" are the extensions pivotted
to the outer ends of the arms d' of the reel, and carrying the dividing blades d
(which as herein before stated are advantageously provided with teeth such as d¹³)
at their outer extremities. In practice the dividing blades d' are pivotted to the
extensions d" in such a manner that their angle can be varied, for instance as
indicated by the dotted lines at the lower part of Figure 3. In order that these
extensions when entering the corn shall be practically in line with their respective
arms, that is to say, so that they shall reach as far into the corn as possible, I
provide an arrangement similar to that used upon feathering paddle-wheels. This
arrangement comprises a pin 14 carried by a crank-arm secured to a shaft d'e
extending through the tubular shaft d of the reel; and to this pin d¹ rods d"
extend to arms 18 secured to the respective extensions d¹¹ so that, as the said reel
rotates, the arms will be extended at the front side of the reel and drawn in at the
rear side thereof. In some cases as the rigidity of the reel would not be sufficient
to allow of the extensions being controlled from one end only I provide the
equivalent of the pin d¹ on the inside of the reel. This equivalent consists of an
eccentric loosely mounted on the shaft d² but adapted to be held in any required
position thereon. Straps 20 on this eccentric are connected to the extensions "
by rods and arms similar to the rods d" and arms d18 before described.
In order to vary the extent to which the extensions of the reel project forward,
I provide for altering the positions of the pin d" and the corresponding centre of
the eccentric d relatively to the axis of the reel. This I accomplish through the
medium of two rods 21, d2, attached to levers d³, 24 on the end of the shaft d16
extending through the reel and to which the pin d¹ is connected, and to the boss.
of the eccentric d respectively. These rods (21, 22 at their inner ends, are
connected to levers 25 secured to the ends of the shaft d', which shaft also carries
a lever de connected by a rod d" to a bell-crank lever d28 operated by means of a
foot-lever (not shewn in the drawings) through the medium of a rod d.
The rods d, d and d form with their connecting levers with a part of the
frame d' and with the bars de a kind of parallel motion as will be best understood
by reference to Figure 3, which parallel motion serves, when the reel is simply lifted
by the movement of the rod d' or moved forwards or backwards by movement of
the rod d³, to prevent any great alteration in the relative positions of the axis of
the reel and the axis of the pin d¹ and the eccentric d¹³.
.k. k indicate the compensators which I use for the canvas aprons or platforms.

page_text: :.
i
of harvesting machines. One of these compensators is shewn in Figures 4 and 5
drawn to an enlarged scale. In these figures k', indicate the straps by means
of which the ends of the apron e are united. These straps are placed so that
one overlaps the other and they are surrounded at these overlapping parts by a
flattened spiral spring 3, the end coils of which have secured to them pins k, k",
the pin being passed through a hole in the strap and entering a slot in
the strap ', and the pin k passing through a hole in the strap and entering a
slot in the strap k². With this arrangement it will be understood that the spring
is confined between projections on the two ends of the straps and thus normally
tends to pull the same tight whilst at the same time leaving them free to yield in
case of contraction of the apron.
8, indicate slats upon the top of the apron e. indicates the portion of the
apron forming a flap to cover the joint between the two ends.
The obliquely-travelling-apron f, the lower left hand corner of which, as repre-
sented in Figure 1, is shewn drawn to an enlarged scale in Figures 6 and 7, is
composed of a series of canvas sections f¹, slightly overlapping one another, as
shewn most clearly in Figure 6, and each preferably provided with a slat which
may have teeth formed upon it: this apron at its edges is supported and slides
upon a framing and at its other parts upon bars f arranged inside the apron, and
it is caused to travel along these bars by means of sprocket-chains farranged to
work parallel to the path of the apron, the apron being connected with the said
sprocket-chains by means of a ball or socket, chain, or other universal or yielding
joint. As shewn in the drawings this connection is effected by means of a ring
connected to a swivel stud attached to the underside of one of the
slats and to an eye formed upon or attached to one of the links of each
chain'. In practice I find that one of such connections between the apron and
cach chain is sufficient for driving the apron but, in order to retain the other
sections of the apron in their proper positions relatively to the chains, I connect.
the said other sections to the sides of the chains by short chains, such as shewn
in Figure 6 by dotted lines. This connection between the chains and sections of
the
apron ensures the latter travelling obliquely instead of in a straight line as they
would do if not so connected.
As the apron runs obliquely it is obvious that the sections, when turning over at
the ends to commence to run back, must slide relatively to each other, and this
sliding movement I provide for by attaching to one edge of each section of the
apron channelled strips f adapted to engage with other channelled strips f" upon
the adjacent section as shewn.
'As represented in Figures 1 and 2 and in Figure 6, the apron fis adapted to be
driven by two sprocket-chains f, each of which is connected to the apron by, a
yielding joint such as that hereinbefore described. Motion may be imparted to the
sprocket-wheels 12 which carry the chains f, from any suitable part of the machine.
As shewn in Figures 1 and 2, this motion is communicated to the said chains from
the sprocket-wheel attached to the travelling-wheel, through the chain, the
sprocket-wheel, the shaft, the bevel-wheels,, the shaft 1, the gear-wheel ',
and the gear-wheel on one end of the shaft 1° on which are two bevel-pinions 10, 11
gearing with other bevel-wheels ", " on the spindles to which the sprocket-
wheels carrying the chains fo are mounted.
In some cases I may employ a single chain for driving the apron f, and I-illustrate
an arrangement suitable for this purpose in Figure 8 which is a view drawn to an
enlarged scale of a portion of the centre of one end of an apron driven by a single
chain. In this arrangement the connection between the chain and the apron is
effected by means of the double chains m, m connected at one end to a ring m
connected to the sprocket-chain f, and at the other end to a bar m² adapted to
move laterally relatively to the apron through two eyes m³, m attached to one of
the slats. This bar m² allows the relative movement of the parts when turning
at the end before moving back.
It is to be understood that the sections of the obliquely-travelling-apron may be

page_text: constructed and connected in any desirable manner provided provision is made for
allowing the required movement relatively to each other.
The mechanism for separating the straw of the sheaf being tied from the straw
for forming the next sheaf is shewn most clearly in Figure 9. This mechanism
comprises two arms or prongs n, n placed in such a position that they can descend
into the opening formed by the needle between the sheaf being tied and the straw
for forming the next sheaf and then, whilst in this low position, move laterally in
order to effect the desired separation. These arms or prongs are connected to and
operated by cranks n', n', the shafts of which have bearings in a suitable framing n³
connected to that carrying the knotting-mechanism (not shewn), and the said cranks
are driven by mutilated gear-wheels n², n² upon the knotter-shaft j and adapted to
engage with suitable bevel-pinions n³ upon the ends of the shafts of the cranks n².
The required lateral movements of the said prongs are effected by connecting
extensions, n* upon the upper ends of the said prongs with links n³, n³ which are
also connected to brackets n, n attached to the framing n³. It will be understood
that by the use of the mutilated gear-wheels n², n² herein before described the
motion of the said prongs is intermittent, the said wheels being placed in the proper
position to separate the straw at the time that the arms n', n' on the knotter-
shafts are throwing off the tied sheaf. n³, nº (Figure 1) are slots in the table y
into which the prongs a pass when lowered by the cranks n'. In practice I find it
advantageous to sharpen the edges of the dividing arms or prongs n so that any
tangled straws will be severed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
--
1. In a harvesting machine the employment of a reel having pivotted extensions
adapted to be operated by means of rods connected to a common centre different
from that upon which the reel rotates, substantially as described.
2. A reel for harvesting machines constructed and arranged to operate sub-
stantially in the manner described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the
accompanying drawings.
3. In a harvesting machine the employment of aprons provided with means for
compensating for the expansion and contraction of the same, substantially as
described with reference to Figures 1, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
4. In a harvesting machine the employment of an obliquely-travelling-apron or
carrier adapted to convey the cut corn from the platform-apron to the binding-
table, substantially as described.
5. In a harvesting machine an obliquely-travelling-apron constructed and operated
substantially in the inanner herein before described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 6,
and 7, and Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings.
6. In a harvesting machine the arrangement of arms or prongs adapted to enter
between a sheaf and the straw for the next sheaf and then to separate laterally,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
7. In a harvesting machine the arrangement of mechanism, substantially as
described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 9 of the accompanying drawings, for
separating the sheaf being tied from the straw for the next sheaf.
8. The improved harvesting machine consisting of the parts constructed and
combined substantially as described by reference to the accompanying drawings
and operating as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Dated the 25th day of Fahmi 180
W. H. BARKER.
G. F. Redfern & Co.,
+, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.