Improvements in Harvesters and Binders.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 8th Feb., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Harvesters and Binders.
We, CHARLES BIBER, JOSEF MATEJKA and KAREL BOCEK, all of Kasatzkoie, in
the Government of Yekaterinoslav, Russian Empire, Agriculturists, 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 :-
This invention relates to that class of harvesters, in which the grain cut by the
reciprocating cutters is caused, with the aid of a reel, to rise along a platform, and
the invention has for its purpose so to construct this platform that the stalks of
grain move thereon in upright position toward the rear end thereof, which forms a
narrow passage having arranged on either side of it the parts of the binding
mechanism..
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According to the invention, the sheaves are bound with sheet metal strips instead
of wire, as is usual, these metal strips having on their ends corresponding hooks and
eyes and admitting of their being used any number of times. A rapid end wise to and
fro motion imparted to the platform, which is composed of a number of ascending
transverse steps, so as to have in longitudinal section the form of a series of. ratchet
teeth, and along the lateral edges of which upright walls are provided, secured
to the under frame, which does not partake of the to and fro motion.
The rear portion of the platform is narrowed to a width about equal to twice the
desired diameter of a sheaf, and on one side of this narrowed portion is arranged
a binding-strip magazine, on the other side reciprocating binding needle. On
making a forward stroke, this needle hooks on, with its suitably shaped heal, to the
eyed end of the foremost one of a pile or series of binding strips, and by the following
back stroke of the needle, the said binding strip is pulled across the narrowed
portion of the platform. Under the action of the advancing grain, the metal binding
strips bulges rearward and is fully drawn out from the magazine, where its hooked
end is retained by a suitable catch. On the following forward stroke of the needio,.
the same passes between the grain stalks, in front of the binding strip, and on
entering again the mouth of the strip magazine, the needle hooks the eye of the
strip to the hook or tongue of the same and releases it from the aforesaid catch.
The ready sheaf slides down a shoot and is set on the ground in upright position.
In order to make the invention fully understood, we will now describe the same
with reference to the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1 is a topside view of a harvester and binder embodying the invention, the
reel being not shewn ;
Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the harvester (on line x x Fig. 1).
Fig. 3 is a left side elevation of the complete harvester and binder;
Fig. 4 is a rear end elevation thereof, the binding strip, magazine and platform
being shewn in section on line 1 x¹ fig. 1;
Fig. 5 represents a metal binding strip in top side view and edge view;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating in what manner the ends of a binding strip
are connected together;
Figs. 7 and 8 are a front side view and horizontal section, respectively, of the
mouth of the binding strip magazine ;
Figs 9 and 10 shew the point of the binding needle in horizontal section and rear
side elevation, respectively;
Figs. 11, 12 and 13 illustrate, in sectional top side views, the successive stages of
the binding operation;
The figures from 7 to 13 are drawn to a larger scale.
The grain cutting device, shewn in Figures 1 and 3 as being of the McCormick

page_text: type, may be constructed and operated in any known manner; it forms no part of the
invention, and will, for this reason, not be further described.
As clearly visible in Fig. 1, the platform A gradually narrows toward its rear end,
and both lateral edges of the same are bordered with vertical sides B.
In order to cause the cut grain to move in upright position to the binding
mechanism, which is arranged at the narrowed portion of the platform A, this
latter is composed of a series of laths a¹ triangular in cross section, whereby
the sectional side elevation of the platform is made to resemble a series of ratchet
⚫ teeth.
These laths a¹ are secured to thin girders a² resting on antifriction rollers a³,
which are carried by the underframe of the platform (see Figs. 2 and 4).
A quick to and fro motion is imparted to the platform A by means of a cranked
shaft C, which is driven from the axle D of the supporting wheel by the medium
of a belt or chain gearing c c.
While the platform A is rapidly reciprocating, the lateral sides B of the same
remain at rest, as they are kept in position above the platform by supporting arm b
secured to the underframe of the platform.
The feeding of the mown grain along the platform is assisted by a reel E, mounted
above the cutter bar and having motion imparted to it by a belt pulley e secured to
the axle D of the supporting wheel; for the same purpose, a number of rearwardly
curved, pointed pins are secured to a flexible steel strip 62 moveable in guide irons
which are screwed to the lateral sides B, and these steel strips and pins are reciprocated
by means of levers 63, pivotted to the lateral sides B and having their lower ends
engaged in slots of the platform A (see Fig. 2). The reciprocating platform carries
along the lower ends of the said levers 63, whereby the steel strips 62 are likewise
reciprocated.
The binding of the sheaves is performed by means of flexible sheet steel strips or
hoops of the shape shewn in Fig. 5. All such steel strips are manufactured of exactly
the same length, and their ends are connected together, so as to form a circular girdle,
by hooking the eye or hole f, formed in one end of the strip, upon a tongue f¹
stamped out in the other end; Fig. 6 shews this connection.
The binding mechanism of the harvester automatically operates this connection of
the ends of the sheet steel strip, as will be hereinafter fully described.
In the magazine G of the binding machine (see Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4) the sheet steel
strips F are all arranged on edge, in several superposed layers, which are separated
from each other by bearers g. Every time the uppermost layer of binding strips is
exhausted, the following layer must be lifted by means of its bearer 9 which is after-
wards fixed in any suitable manner. It will be found suitable to provide the
magazine G with a signalling apparatus g¹ of any known construction, so as to have
the exhaustion of every layer of binding strips announced by an audible signal.
The metal binding strips of the uppermost layer are seriatim pulled out, by the
front end of the binding needle, through the mouth G¹ of the magazine (see Figs. 7
and 8) toward which the whole layer is continually forced by a bar g³ acted upon by
strong springs 92, Figs. 1 and 3.
The binding needle H, Figs. 1 and 4, has its point provided with two fixed and two
pivotted tongs or jaws h and h¹, Figures 9 and 10, and it is reciprocated by a lever i,
Figure 4, the lower end of which is engaged in a cam groove i¹; motion is imparted
to the shaft carrying the cam from the axle D of the supporting wheel by means
of the belt or chain gearing i³ ³.
The operation of the binding mechanism is as follows:
On its forward stroke, the binding needle H crosses the narrowed portion of the
platform A and its fixed jaws enter the slots g* formed in the front side of the
binding strip magazine G (see Figs. 8 and 11), while the pivotted jaws h¹, the pro-
jecting front portions h² of which are forced inward by the fixed tappet g are caused to
open the tongs. When the back stroke commences, the fixed jaws h of the binding needle
seize the metal binding strip by its front end projections (see Figs. 5 and 11) and
pull the foremost strip out through the mouth G of the magazine.

page_text: Thereupon, the front end of the binding strip, by passing over the rounded projec-
tion 9 by the side of the mouth of the magazine, is somewhat curved forward, and in
the moment, when the point of the binding needle comes out from the guideway
behind the tappet g whereby the tongs h h are allowed to close, the projections f
of the metal binding strip enter the circular recesses h³ of the tongs, to which the
binding strip is thus moveably connected see (Fig. 12). Further on, the binding
needle H pulls the sheet metal binding strip F across the narrowed portion of the
platform A, and before the binding needle begins its next forward stroke, the mown
grain continuously fed into the platform and rising along the same so bears against
the metal strip F as to pull it fully out from the magazine G, and to curve it semi
circularly toward the rear as shewn in Fig. 1.
The binding strip F bulges rearward to such an extent, that the catch 97, by the side of
the mouth of the magazine, is allowed to enter the lateral recesses f³ fig. 5, in the rear
end portion of the binding strip, see (Fig. 13).
The following forward stroke of the binding needle H, across the upright stalks
of grain crowded in the narrow rear portion of the platform, has for its effect that
the binding strip F is circularly bent, whereby a certain portion of grain is encircled,
and the ends of the binding strip are neared each other. In this stage of the binding
operation, illustrated by Fig. 13, the front end of the binding strip is directed down-
ward and to the left between the tongs hh, and its eye or aperture faces the
tongue of the rear end of the strip yet held at the mouth of the magazine by the
catch g. While the binding strip F has been caused by the advancing grain to
bulge rearward, its tongue is forced forward by the projection 9 of the lateral side
of the magazine and in consequence thereof, the eye will, when the needle enters
the guideway behind the tappet go, be slid upon the point of the tongue f
Immediately afterwards when the needle H fully enters the said guideway, the nose g
of the catch g', which nose projects outward through a slot of the front side, of the
magazine, is forced inward by the binding needle, and thus the catch is caused to
release the binding strip F. As the sheaf has been tightly girt by the binding
strip, and as it gradually expands again, the tongue f' is caused wholly to enter the
hole f, whereby the band is kept closed.
On reaching the end of its front stroke, the needle H seizes the following
binding strip F, and afterwards the whole series of described operations begins
anew.
The bound sheaves are gradually pushed down the shoot A' figs. 1 and 2, which
forms an extension of the narrowed portion of the platform A, and on leaving the
said shoot they are set upon the ground in upright position.
It will be readily understood that, when the platform, reel and binding mechanism
are detached from the described harvester, the latter may be used as a grass mowing
machine.
Instead of driving the crank shaft C by the described gearing, the said shaft may
be geared in any suitable manner with the shaft i*.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a harvester, a platform whose breadth gradually diminishes from the cutter
bar rearward, and which is provided with upright sides along its lateral edges; this
platform being composed of a series of transverse laths of triangular cross section and
having a quick end wise to-and-fro motion imparted to it substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
2. In a harvester, a rearwardly ascending platform whose breadth gradually
diminishes from front to rear and which is provided, along its lateral edges, with
upright sides, the platform having a quick end wise to and fro motion imparted to it
and being so grooved that it has in longitudinal section, the shape of a series of
ratchet teeth, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 3. In a harvester such as is referred to in the preceding claim, providing the
upright lateral sides of the platform with rearwardly bent pointed pins substantially
as and for the purposes described.
4. In a harvester, the combination with an endwise reciprocating platform, the
breadth of which gradually diminishes from front to rear, and which is provided
with a ratchet surface and with upright lateral sides, of a reel revolving over the
front end of the said platform, between its lateral sides, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
5. In a harvester, the combination with an end wise reciprocating platform, the
breadth of which gradually diminishes from front to rear, and which is provided
with a ratchet. surface, of upright lateral sides secured to the underframe of the
platform, and a suitable binding mechanism arranged on either side of the narrowed
rear portion of the platform, outside the said upright lateral sides of the same,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
6. In a harvester, the combination with an end wise reciprocating platform the
breadth of which gradually diminishes from front to rear, and which is provided
with a ratchet surface, of upright lateral sides secured to the underframe of the
platform, bars moveable in guides, along the said lateral sides and carrying rear-
wardly bent pointed pins, and intermediate gear between the reciprocating platform,
and the said bars, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
7. A sheaf band, consisting of a strip of flexible sheet metal, which has an eye
or aperture formed in one end and a hook or tongue at the other end, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
8. In a harvester and binder, the combination with a passage bordered by two
upright sides, and into which the grain stalks are crowded in upright position, of
a binding needle reciprocating crosswise of the said passage from one lateral side
of the passage to the other, a pile of flexible sheet metal strips arranged on edge
outside the said other lateral side and having the end near the said side provided
with an eye, and the other end with a corresponding hook or tongue, means for
adapting the binding needle to seize the foremost binding strip, and pull it across
the said passage, and means for clamping and releasing the hooked end of the
sheet metal strip near the lateral passage side opposite to the point of the needle,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
9. In a sheaf binder, the use in combination with a sheet metal band, having
lateral projections f2f2, of the double tongs h, h¹ located in a slot. of the binding
needle and the tappet, 9 adapted to shift the pivoted jaws h¹ substantially as and
for the purpose described.
10. In a sheaf binder, the use in combination with a sheet metal band having
lateral recesses f³ ³ near its rear end, of the catch 97, adapted to take into these
recesses and of the nose 9 of the said catch, adapted to be struck by the binding
needle for disengaging the said catch, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
11. The sheaf band F having eye f tongue f¹ projections f* and recesses f³
operating in combination with the reciprocating binding needle H having two
pairs of tongs hh, the tappet 95 for operating the pivoted jaws h¹ of the said
tongs, the spring catch 9' provided with a nose 98 operated by the needle, and
means, such as springs for holding the band in the required relative position to
the other parts, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 7th day of December 1889
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.