AN IMPROVED LIGHT REAPING MACHINE
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Oct., 1886
Complete Left, 6th July, 1887
Complete Accepted, 6th Dec., 1887
I, SIDNEY JOHNSON Bridge House Romford Road Ilford Essex do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for AN IMPROVED LIGHT REAPING MACHINE to be as
follows:-
First, as regards this machine, it is pushed forward from the back similar to a
perambulator, with two wheels running on the ground, which drive the inner works, the
off side wheel is fixed to an axle which passes through the machine and revolves upon
bearings with the running wheels the near side wheel working loose upon the same
axle to which I intend to use a clutch gearing for the purpose of fixing the loose
wheel when at work in a straight line and to disconnect the same for the purpose of
turning a sharp angle. Inside of the machine and near to the off side a bevel edge
wheel of a suitable size is placed fixed upon the revolving axle which revolves with
the running wheels. To pair with the same is fixed a crown wheel but smaller in
diameter, so as to give extra speed. This crown wheel is fixed upon a spindle which
works in an upright position; at the top and bottom of spindle number one is a pin
Between the crown wheel and the
working in a centre or bush to secure same.
bottom pin is fixed a cog wheel of suitable size to work and reverse the action of a
second cog wheel which is fixed upon an upright spindle number two and is fixed in a
similar manner as number one in a suitable position; this wheel is also smaller in size
so as to gain speed, and between this cog wheel and the bottom pin of spindle number
two is fixed a pulley wheel of suitable size for the purpose of receiving and driving
an endless band; this pulley may be used with or without cog or studs as may be
required. The carriage is formed in the first place by a light iron frame which forms
the bottom the front of which is of sufficient breadth to clear the two running wheels
and is made in front the shape of a mitre, the longest point coming to the off side of
the machine. On the two sides is cast or fixed to the bottom frame an upright or
side frameing and stand up, say six inches above the bottom, the one on the off side
coming to the longest point. The one on the near side is set back six or eight inches
to allow the bottom frame to be rounded off to its proper shape required for shifting
or clearing the corn. On the mitre edge of bottom frame are fixed a suitable number
of teeth which run in a straight line with the running wheels for the purpose of

page_text: gathering the corn. Above the teeth is a bright steel or metal plate, this plate is
about two inches in width and comes in a straight line with the mitre, the bottom edge
of plate rests on the teeth in front of the frame; on the bottom edge of the plate is
fixed the same number of steel plates or knives made to pair with the teeth on the
bottom frame the two ends of the plate are fixed to the ends of the sides in front of
the machine these are fixed by bolts or suitable means so that it can be removed for
the purpose of sharpening the knives. The plate is fixed so as to leave a space
between the knives and the front teeth of sufficient room for other knives to pass for
the purpose of cutting the corn. Above this plate is fixed a second plate of similar
size and fixed in the same manner, only that a space is left between the two, which
forms a groove to allow of a pin of a suitable size to pass for the purpose of clearing
away the corn when cut. For the purpose of cutting and clearing corn and the like
I intend to use an endless band revolving on pulleys or cogs and placed in a suitable
position to bring the chain or endless band to run in a straight line at the back of
plate number one. At the back of the chain or band is fixed a guide plate for the
purpose of keeping the band upright and close to its work on the back of the front
plate. At the bottom and outside of chain knives are made to project a suitable
distance and at the top edge of chain is fixed a pin of the same projection so that
when the machine is in rotary motion it cuts as an endless knife and fork band the
knives passing through the space left between the fixed knives on the front plate
number one and the teeth fixed on the bottom frame in front, the projecting fork
passing through the groove between the two front plates, the knife cutting and the
pin clearing as may be required. I also intend using a small wheel to be fixed in a
suitable position towards the front of the machine for the purpose of keeping the
machine level and suitable means for raising or lowering it as may be required. And
to divide and force over the corn I intend to use suitable rods shaped and fixed so that
when the machine is in rotary motion, and the corn is cut by the knives, they will
throw it over the side in a manner similar to that in which the soil is turned by the
plough. For the propulsion of the machine arrangements can be made for the use
either of steam power, or horse or manual power. And the construction thereof can
be of wood and iron, or of such materials as may be considered suitable.
Dated this 6th day of October 1886.

page_text: SIDNEY JOHNSON Bridge House Romford Road Ilford Essex, Cabinet Maker,
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:
First, as regards this machine, it is pushed forward from the back similar to a
perambulator, with two wheels running on the ground, which drive the inner works ;
the off side wheel is fixed to an axle which passes through the machine and revolves
upon bearings with the running wheels, the near side wheel working loose upon the
same axle to which I intend to use a clutch gearing for the purpose of fixing the loose
wheel when at work in a straight line, and to disconnect the same for the purpose of
turning a sharp angle. Inside of the machine and near to the off side a bevel edge
wheel a of a suitable size is fixed upon the revolving axle which revolves with the
running wheels. To pair with the same is fixed a crown wheel b smaller in diameter,
or as may be required so as to give extra speed. This crown wheel is fixed upon a
spindle No. 1 which works in an upright position; at the top and bottom of spindle
number one is a pin working in a centre or bush to secure same. Between the crown
wheel and the bottom pin is fixed a cog wheel c of suitable size to work and reverse
the action of a second cog wheel d which is fixed upon an upright spindle No. 2
number two and is fixed in a similar manner as number one in a suitable position; this
wheel is also smaller in size so as to gain speed, and between this cog wheel and the
bottom pin of spindle number two is fixed a pulley wheel E of suitable size for the
purpose of receiving and driving an endless band, this pulley may be used with or
without cog or studs as may be required. The carriage is formed in the first place by
a light frame which forms the bottom the front of which is of sufficient breadth to
clear the two running wheels, and is made in front the shape of a mitre, the longest
point coming to the off side of the machine. On the two sides is cast or fixed to the
bottom frame an upright or side frameing and stand up, say, six inches above the
bottom, the one on the off side coming to the longest point. The one on the near side
is set back six or eight inhces to allow the bottom frame to be rounded off to its proper
shape required for shifting or clearing the corn. On the mitre edge of bottom frame
are fixed a suitable number of teeth which run in a straight line with the running
wheels for the purpose of gathering the corn. Above the teeth is a bright steel or
metal plate, this plate is of a suitable width and comes in a straight line with the
mitre, the bottom edge of plate rests on the teeth in front of the frame; on the bottom
edge of the plate is fixed the same number of steel plates or knives made to pair with
the teeth on the bottom frame the two ends of the plate are fixed to the ends of the
sides in front of the machine these are fixed by bolts or suitable means so that it can
be removed for the purpose of sharpening the knives. The plate is fixed so as to
leave a space between the knives and the front teeth of sufficient room for other knives
to pass for the purpose of cutting the corn. Above this plate is fixed a second plate

page_text: of similar size and fixed in the same manner only that a space is left between the two,
which forms a groove to allow of a plate or pin of a suitable size to pass for the
purpose of clearing away the corn when cut. For the purpose of cutting and clearing
corn and the like I intend to use an endless band revolving on pulleys or cogs f and
placed in a suitable position to bring the chain or endless band to run in a straight
line at the back of plate number three at the back of the chain is fixed a guide
plate No. 4 for the purpose of keeping the band upright and close to its work on the
back of the front plate. At the bottom and outside of chain knives are made to
project a suitable distance and at the top edge of chain is fixed a plate or pin of the
same projection so that when the machine is in rotary motion it cuts as an endless
knife and fork band the knives passing through the space left between the fixed knives
on the front plate number one and the teeth fixed on the bottom frame in front the
projecting fork passing through the groove between the two front plates, the knife
cutting and the pin clearing as may be required. I also intend using a small wheel
to be fixed in a suitable position towards the front of the machine for the purpose of
keeping the machine level and suitable means for raising or lowering it as may be
required. And to divide and force over the corn I intend to use suitable rods H
shaped and fixed so that when the machine is in rotary motion and the corn is cut by
the knives they will throw it over the side in a manner similar to that in which the
soil is turned by the plough. For the propulsion of the machine arrangements can be
made for the use either of steam, horse, or manual power; and the construction
thereof can be of wood and iron, or of such materials or combination of materials as
may be considered suitable. And for the sharpening of the knives I intend to use a
stone fixed in an hinged frame so that it may be raised from the back and brought
into contact with the revolving knives at any moment without stopping the machine.
9
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. Economy of cost in construction and in use.
2. The use of an endless knife in lieu of the ordinary knife as previously used.
3. The use of a projecting pin or endless fork for the purpose of carrying and
keeping the machine perfectly clear so as to prevent any blocking or choking.
4. Its extreme lightness.
5. That it may be used by an unskilled labourer.
6. That it can be made to cut a breadth varying from inches to feet.
7. That the corn when cut is turned over the side in a manner similar to that by
which the soil is turned by a plough instead of being dragged to the back as by the
ordinary machine and that thus my machine will prevent the waste caused by the
usual shaking out of the grain during the operation of reaping.
8. That the difficulty generally experienced in sharpening the knives is reduced to
a minimum.