IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HARVESTING, MACHINES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Pollitt, of Bury, in the County of Lancaster, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HARVESTING,
MACHINES."
Sealed the 29th June 1877, and dated the 8th May 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said 'John Pollitt at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th May 1877.
JOHN POLLITT, of Bury, in the County of Lancaster.
CONSTRUCTION OF HARVESTING MACHINES."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
The Invention consists principally in the adaptation to the reaping machines of
certain apparatus which collects and elevates the grain as it is cut, and arranges it
ready to be bound into sheaves by two men who are carried on a platform attached
to the machine; and, secondly, in an arrangement for effecting the formation and
binding of the sheaves by self-acting means.
The grain as it is cut falls on to an endless horizontal travelling canvas, the upper
surface of which is constantly moving from the cutters towards the elevating
apparatus. The elevator consists of two endless travelling cloths, inclining at an
acute angle upwards, and revolving round rollers above and below the grain, being
drawn in from the horizontal travelling canvas between the two inner surfaces,
which are constantly travelling upwards, and carry and elevate the grain between
them, and deliver it over a roller at the top, and it falls down an inclined plane on
to a table with great regularity.
Two men, who are carried by a platform attached to the reaper, gather the sheaves
as they form and bind them by hand, and then place them on to a tipping table.
When six or eight sheaves have been bound the table is tipped over and they are
all delivered together, and so the labor of gathering and arranging the sheaves is

page_text: saved, these two men carried by the machine thus being enabled to perform the
work of seven men, following the same as usual.
Instead of the grain being elevated between the endless travelling cloths, as
above described, endless straps with spikes rivetted thereon, or spiked bars working
alternately on cranks, or other known elevating apparatus, may be employed for
the purpose of taking the grain from the travelling canvas and delivering it on to
the binding table.
The platform upon which the two binders stand is hung in such a way that it is
self adjusting, and always remains level, whether the machine is going up or down
hill. There is a lever by which it may be steadied when it has found its level, so
as to prevent it from swinging about. There is also another lever, by means of
which the driver can raise or lower the reel (which puts the grain against the
cutter) without stopping or getting off the machine.
The "self binder" consists of a short shaft, geared to the main driving wheel by
means of a small toothed wheel at one end, and having at the other end a small
cross or twister. On each of the arins of this cross or twister is a small knife or
blade, for the purpose of cutting the binding wire, as herein-after described.
The grain is gathered, elevated, and thrown on to the binding table in the same
manner and when binding by hand, as above described, but as the grain descends
the inclined plane on to the table it falls into the "sag" or bight of a wire which
proceeds from a reel and is carried round the falling grain, and its end fastened to
a hook beneath.. When a sufficient quantity of grain to form a sheaf has fallen on
to the "sag
or bight of the wire, the attendant pulls a lever, and as the lever is
pulled over it brings down the wire into the opposite side of the twister and hooks
it on to the catch. He then puts the "twister" into gear, and as it revolves and
the wire passes through the arms of the "twister,” it twists the wire together and
cuts it off.
"
As soon as a sufficient number of sheaves has been formed the driver tilts the
table and they are all delivered together as before.