A MACHINE OR MACHINES FOR SETTING OR DEPOSITING IN THE GROUND GRAIN AND SEEDS
Year: 1800

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
RICHARDS, of Sheldon, in the County of Warwick, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twenty-sixth day of April, in the fortieth year of His
reign, give and grant unto me, the said James Richards, His especial licence,
full power, sole priviledge and authority, that I, the said James Richards, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, during the term therein mentioned,
should and lawfully might use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales,
and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "A MACHINE OR
MACHINES FOR SETTING OR DEPOSITING IN THE GROUND GRAIN AND SEEDS;" in which
said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso obliging me, the said James
Richards, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to cause a
particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within one calendar month next and immediately. after the date
of the said Letters Patent, as in and by the same (relation being thereunto
had) will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
James Richards, do hereby describe and ascertain my said Invention, and the

page_text: manner in which the same is to be performed, in manner following (that
is to say):-
Figure 1 represents a side view of a machine without its frame and cover.
A, A, are two bevel cutting wheels of cast or wrought iron, fixed on their axis
at the distance from each other the grain or seed is intended to be set
between each row, and resting on the ground, by their pressure, when drawn
along, make each a cavity or furrow in which the grain or seed is afterwards
deposited. B, the axis on which the said wheels are fastened with a socket
between them. C, a pully which communicates its rotary motion by a chain
to the dividing rollers. -D, D, D, D, four bars of-iron-with-nuts-and screws at
each end, and sockets between the wheels to keep them steady. E, E, dividing
rollers which deposit the grain or seed in the furrows made by the cutting
wheels A, A, by being placed strait behind them, on the edge of which rollers
are holes a little deeper and wider than the length of the grain or seed intended
to be planted, the number of which holes are in proportion to the revolution
or revolutions the said rollers make with and circumference of each beveled
wheel A, A, and the distance or distances the grain or seed is required to be
set in each row. For example, suppose the beveled cutting wheels to be each
six feet in circumference, and the dividing rollers E, E, to make their revolu-
tion in the same time, and the grain or seed is required to be set or deposited
in each row every three inches; the number of holes in each roller should be
as the number of that distance in six feet, which is twenty-four, or, if the
dividing rollers'make their revolution in half the time of the beveled wheels,
the number of holes should be half that number, and so in proportion with
all: other distances. F, F, shares of wrought or cast iron which follow the
cutting 'beveled wheels along the furrows to keep them open at the back of
each'share. At G, G, are grooves down which the grain or seed drops into the
furrows fröm. the dividing rollers. To each of the said rollers is fitted a
segment of; a circle H, fastened to the shares which confine the grain or seed
in the holes till it comes to the said grooves, down which it falls into the
furrows as aforesaid. I, I, the. feeders in, which the grain or seed is put; the
fore part of each feeder rests upon the pinion cog wheels a, a; under each
feeder where, it so. rests is fastened a small piece of steel, which acts in the
teeth of the said wheels, and gives the feeders a shaking motion to bring down
the grain. or seed along the channel or groove to the holes in the dividing
rollers. K, the regulator, the axis of which is exactly over the centre of the
dividing rollers, and supports the feeders on cranks d, d; e, e, and keeps them
in one position, to the dividing rollers,, as the machine, from the inequalities of
the ground, moves out of an horizontal line by having weights at b, b, and

page_text: smaller ones at c, c. The cranks d,d, support the pinion cog wheels on their
axis, on which the fore part of the feeders rests; and the cranks e, e,,the hinder
part of the feeders, on the spindle on which they act. a 1, a cog. wheel which
gives a rotary motion to the pinions a, a. The double dotted lines shew the
circular grooves in the frame in which the regulator raises and falls the feeders,
the center of which grooves is the center of the dividing rollers. L, L, are
cleaners of stool fitted to each side of the beveled cutting wheels, which, are
affixed to the shares, one on each side at a small distance above each other, to
keep the same from clogging. n, n, are bars of iron on which the shares F, F,
are fastened. 0, 0, two small funnel-shaped pieces of tin or copper fastened.to
the shares for the purpose of turning the grain or seed down the grooves, when
the machine happens to be going up hill. Figure 2 shews the form of the
grooves or channels in the feeders before mentioned,, which I make larger or
smaller, according to the size of the grain or seed to be set. f is a slide which
is fastened higher or lower, to give more or less feed to the dividing rollers.
Figure 3, an inverted view of the said feeder. 9, the small piece of steel
which acts in the pinion cog wheel, and gives. the shaking. motion as before
described. h, a socket through which the spindle passes. k, two small nibs
which clip, the dividing rollers, and keep the feeders in their places. Figure 4,
a separate view of a share with the cleaners and segment of a circle, as
described in Figure 1. Figure 5, a separate view of the regulator, with its,
weights and cranks, as described in Figure 1. Figure 6, another view of the
machine, Figure 1, without the feeders and cleaners, to shew more clearly how,
it is connected together. A, A, cutting beveled wheels; B, the axis; C, pulley,
which gives motion to the dividing rollers; D, D, D, D, bars which keep the,
cutting wheels steady; E, E, dividing rollers; F, F, the shares; H, H,.
segments of a circle; i, i, the spindle where the hinder part of each feeder is,
fixed with sockets on each side to keep them in their places; K, the regulator;
b, b, c, c, the weights; d, d, e,
cranks which support the cog wheels a, a, and
the hinder part of the feeders; a 1, the cog wheel which gives motion to the
pinion wheels a, a, on which the feeders rest; the dotted lines shew the circular.
grooves in the frame; n, n, the bars of iron to which the shares are fastened.. Fi-
gure 7 is a side view of the machine Figure 1 complete, with its frame and cover;,
the cover a,, is made to take off or not; Z, the shaft; A, A, cutting beveled!
wheels; F, F, the shares; r, crank wheel, having another to correspond on the,
contrary side to raise the cutting wheels and shares out of the ground in turning,
the machine; 7, the centre on which the wheel hangs; p, the crank prop;,
S, frame on which it acts. By lifting up the hinder, part of the machine by the,
'

page_text: stilts, the crank wheels fall perpendicular, and the crank prop 'falls down
to t, which raises the shares out of the ground, as is shewn by the dotted lines,
and, by pressing on the stilts, raises the cutting wheels out of the ground. The
machine being turned by lifting up the crank prop, the crank wheels fly up,
and the shares resume their position in the furrow; u, a carved cramp to
steady the crank wheel. Figure 8 is a separate view of the crank wheels with
the
prop above described. I also make the above-mentioned machine without
the dividing rollers and segments of a circle, which some people may prefer
who wish the grain or seed to be deposited near together; with this variation
the fore part of each feeder is placed straight to the upper part of the groove
at the back of each share, and rests on the pinion cog wheels to give them a
shaking motion as before mentioned; which wheels act in the frame instead of
being attached to the regulator, and receive their rotary motion by a chain
from the cutting bevelled wheels. The hind part of the feeders are attached
to the spindle, and are raised and fallen by the regulator in circular grooves
fixed in the frame, the center of which grooves is the top of the pinion cog
wheels on which the fore part of the feeders rest. I likewise divide the grain
or seed with an horizontal wheel, which I call the horizontal dividing wheel
(see Figure 9), which I sometimes use instead of the method of dividing the
grain or seed above specified. A, A, A, are cutting beveled wheels with
cleaners and shares' to follow them, as in Figure 1; B, B, hoppers, in which
the grain or seed is put, and are fastened to the frame; c, a cog wheel which
acts in the frame f, and receives its motion from the beveled cutting wheels,
and communicates it to the horizontal dividing wheels d, d. H, H, are the
centers of the horizontal dividing wheels; e, e, fixed circular planes which
confine the grain or seed in the holes of the horizontal dividing wheels until it
comes to 9, 9, 9, being holes through which it drops into the furrows down the
grooves at the back of each share; i, i, are fixed rims to prevent the grain or
seed from falling off the horizontal dividing wheels. Figure 10, a separate
view of the horizontal dividing wheels with their centres, with holes through
them near the edge to divide the grain or seed, which holes are in number in
the same proportion as in the dividing rollers described in Figure 1; these
wheels are made a little convex on the upper side, to the inner edge of the said
holes, for the purpose-of-bringing-the-grain or seed from the hoppers to the
extremities in making their revolutions; the thickness of these wheels where the
said holes are made are somewhat greater than that of the body of the grain
or seed intended to be planted, and the diameter of each hole is in proportion
to the number of grains or seeds intended to be depositéd at a time; the

page_text: -opposite side of each hole to that on which the brushes herein-after mentioned
first act is beveled off to prevent the grain or seed from being bruised or
damaged in the operation; at k, k, k, are small brushes fixed to the hopper to
prevent any more grain or seed, from passing than what each hole will contain.
At 1, 1, 1, are placed small bits of whalebone, or any other elastic substance fit
for the purpose, fixed to the hopper exactly over each hole in the plane through
which the grain drops down the back, of the shares into the furrows, which
acts in each hole of the dividing horizontal wheel, and prevents the grain or
seed from sticking in the same. The circles I, I, shew the bottom of the
hoppers, and the dotted lines the apertures where the grain or seed pass
through (from the motion of each dividing wheel on which it rests) to the
holes which divide it. Figure 11 is a distinct view of the planes before
described in Figure 9, to shew the holes through which the grain or seed
drops down the back of the shares into the furrows; the dotted lines represent
these shares. Figure 12 is a bisected view of the Figures 10 and 11 when
together, shewing more clearly the back of the shares down which the grain or
seed, drops, and the rim round the edge of the dividing horizontal wheel, as
before mentioned in Figure 9. Figure, 13, a separate view of one of the
hoppers, with a brush and aperture as before described. Figure 14 shews
another method which I sometimes use in placing the hopper; a, the dividing
horizontal wheel and plane under it; b, the cog wheel which receives, its motion
as in Figure 9; c, the hopper; d, a 'stiff brush; the dotted "lines" shew the
share, at the back of-which-the -corn drops..down into the furrow.as.before
mentioned. Figure 15, a separate view of the last-mentioned hopper, shewing
the aperture in which the dividing wheel works. It is necessary for me to
mention that I make these machines in either of the modes above specified,
to plant or set at one time any convenient number of rows of grain or seed
that may be required, and to be worked either by men, horses, or any other
applicable power; and the same may be made of any dimensions, and the
form of the several parts thereof may be varied without deviating from the
principle.
-0%
The advantages to be derived from the use of my machines are,-
First, planting the grain or seed more regular than what is commonly done
in dibbleing;
Secondly, a considerable saving of grain and seed, particularly of wheat,
which must be obvious to persons acquainted with the dibbleing system;
Thirdly, great expedition in performing the work, and consequently a
a considerable saving of time and expence; and,

page_text: conveniently used
In witness whereof, I, the said James Richards, have to these Presents
my hand and seal subscribed and set, this Fourteenth day of May,
in the fortieth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George, the
Third; by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France, and Ireland
King, Defender of the Faith, &c., and in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred.
Sealed and delivered (being first duly
stamp'd) in the presence of
h
JAMES" (Ls.) "RICHARDS:
CHARS JONES.,
CHASE. JONES.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Sixteenth day of May, in
the year above mentioned; the aforesaid James Richards came before our
Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said, and all and every thing therein contained; in form above written. And
also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the
Statute in that case made and provided.
J
Inrolled the same Sixteenth day of May, in the year above written.