IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, &
Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES." A communication from abroad
by Cyrus H. Mc Cormick, of Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
Sealed the 20th April 1877, and dated the 21st October 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st October 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES."
A communication.
"
My Invention relates partly to automatic grain binders of that class in which the
twisting wheel is intermittently actuated by a vibrating rack automatically thrown
into and out of gear by moving the slide in which the binding head is mounted
toward or from the rack.
The said Invention comprises a cutting or twisting device consisting of two
symmetrical pinions revolving around a common axis working together to twist the
wire, but having a differential movement to cut the same.
The object of this part of my Invention is to secure the steady working of the
pinions. I therefore construct the twister of two pinions revolving close together
around a common axis with an annular groove at their point of contact with each
other, in which groove fits a fixed plate forming part of the binding head, and con-
stituting a bearing for the points of the teeth of the pinions and leaving a space
between the inner edge of the plate and the centre of the pinions through which
the wires travel during the operation of twisting.
The pinions are mounted on a common pivot with their teeth deeply indented.
The pinions are capable of turning either together or independently of each other
but work in close contact except on their peripheries where an annular groove is
formed at their point of junction for the reception of a plate firmly secured in a
binding head, and slitted in conformity therewith to permit of the passage of the
wire to the pinions.
The points of the teeth of the pinions work in slots or spaces between the upper
and lower covers of the binding head and this plate, which plate forms a bearing

page_text: for the pinion, thus affording a support at that point while a space is left between
the centre of the pinion and the inner edges of these inclosing plates through which
the wire passes while being twisted.
Another object of my Invention is to hold the twister wheel positively locked
when out of gear. For this purpose I combine with a vibrating slide which carries
the twister wheel a fixed stop against which the wheel abuts when thrown out of
gear with the rack, and is thus effectually prevented from turning.
The arm or frame upon which the mechanism is mounted is by preference
reciprocated by a continuously traversing chain. The sector rack is vibrated on its
fulcrum on the reciprocating frame by a suitable connection.
The binding head is mounted in a bar sliding longitudinally in the frame, and
carrying a pin working in an annular guide slot in a bar capable of sliding freely in
the frame, and alternately moved in opposite directions by abutting against the
arms of a sector rack, by which means the twister wheel mounted in the binding
head is alternately thrown into and out of gear with the rack. The binding head
also carries a spring pawl for locking the lower section of the twisting pinion for
cutting the wire.
I have found it desirable to provide means for locking the twister pinions
positively in order to keep their teeth in proper relation to each other, and to the
slit in the binding head for the reception of the wire while the rack is out of gear.
I therefore mount upon the frame a bent arm or fixed stop in such relation to the
twister pinions, that when in gear with their actuating rack they are free from the
stop, but when thrown out of gear the point of the stop enters the space between
two of the teeth and holds both twister pinions locked.
Another part of my Invention more especially relates to automatic binders of the
class having a binding or wire carrying arm moving in a circular path, and mounted
on a reciprocating carriage.
This binding mechanism is by preference mounted on a suitable frame secured
upon the frame of a harvester having an endless apron for elevating and delivering
the cut grain into a suitable receiver. The grain is delivered from the elevating
apron through an opening in a gallows frame, which forms a fixed part of the
harvester frame upon a slotted incline receptacle forming an extension of the binding
platform.
In order that the wire may be passed around the middle of the bundle notwith-
standing variations in length of the grain I mount the entire binding mechanism
upon ways which permit it to be moved freely backward and forward in a line
parallel with the length of the grain. The binding mechanism is driven by cranks,
sprocket wheels, or gearing actuated by any suitable prime mover and mounted on
a shaft turning in fixed bearings on the frame.
To accommodate the adjustment of the binding mechanism above mentioned this
binding shaft is arranged parallel with the line of adjustment of the frame, and in this
instance constitutes one of the ways upon which said frame slides, and the double
gear by which the binding mechanism is actuated is free to move endwise on the
shaft while compelled to turn with it by the usual feather. This wheel revolves
between jaws of the frame which keep it in proper relation to the gearing driven by
it. To place this adjusting movement under the control of the driver while in his
seat on the machine, I mount a snail wheel or cam upon the said gallows frame;
this
snail wheel works in a rack sliding in bearings on the frame piece and connected
with a vibrating lever fulcrumed on the said frame piece connected with the sliding
frame, by which mode of construction the driver can readily shift the frame by
turning the crank to bring the binding wire to the middle of the length of the
bundle.
The binder's platform or receptacle is adjustable with the binding arm, but is
stationary relatively to the line of reciprocation of said arm. A deflector mounted
on this receptacle slides in guides on the frame piece, and is thus kept in its proper
relation to the other parts while adjustable with the binding platform or receptacle.
A double sprocket wheel mounted upon the driving shaft gears into corresponding

page_text: wheels over which the driving chain passes as well as over corresponding wheels on
the opposite end of a slotted box frame.
The driving shaft imparts a reciprocating motion to the binding arm. Pitmen
pivoted on the cranks are inclosed within a tubular standard or support of the
binding arm. An inner rock shaft carries at its forward end a crank arm working
in a slot of a vibrating compressor pivoted on the binding arm frame, so as to give
the compressor a movement excentric to that of its driving shaft, which shaft con-
stitutes a torsional spring, allowing the compressing arm and its driving crank to
yield slightly under any excess of pressure over the normal strain of binding the
bundle. The binding arm is mounted on the rock shaft and vibrates concentrically
with it.
In this machine it is highly advantageous to press the wire into the twister with
a positive force applied on each side of it. In order to obtain this desideratum a
bifurcated arm has been used, but I now form a vertical longitudinal slot in the
binding arm and pivot therein; a supplementary arm vibrated at proper intervals
by means of a pin on its inner end, taking into a cam groove on the tubular support
of the binding arm. I use a positive feed for the wire-supplying device as
follows:-I mount upon the intermittently rotating shaft a stop wheel having a
single tooth which revolves and gears into a corresponding wheel mounted upon a
wire reel, and provided with teeth arranged in four sets or pairs thus inter-
mittently giving off a definite amount of wire regulated by the size of the drum
and the position of the teeth. The slack of the band is taken up by the intermediate
take-up tension drum of the upper wire.
Another object of any Invention is to render the binder's stand and table
adjustable relatively to the main frame so as to keep the table and stand aforesaid,
substantially horizontal.
Another part of my Invention relates to the apparatus for delivering the cut
grain to the binders, and its object is to compensate the tendency of the elevating
aprons to work sidewise. For this purpose I form grooves in the elevator frame
around the elevator rollers in which the ends of the slats of the elevator apron may
run and thus avoid friction, while the aprons are kept in their true position by the
central portion of the guide boards.
In the machine embodying these last-named improvements a driving wheel is
mounted in suitable bearings in the main frame to which the tongue is pivoted.
A lever provided with the usual spring stop operates a rock shaft mounted on the
frame, and carries a crank pin which is connected with the tongue by an adjustable
link or strap, so that the driver may vary the height of cut. A frame which
supports the binder's stand table is pivoted upon the main frame, so as to allow the
frame to rock slightly on its pivot. The upper portion of the binder's frame is con-
nected with the main frame by means of slotted cranks which traverse fixed guide
pins or studs on the main frame. The binder frame is rocked by means of a link
and crank connected with a rock shaft of the lifting lever. The portion of the
binder frame to which the link that rocks the frame is connected interlocks with
and overlaps the stationary shield of the grain receiver, and relieves the cranks from
the weight of the upper portion of the binding frame.
To improve the working of the apron I form grooves in the guide boards so as to
encircle the outer portions of the bearings of the rollers, which rollers turn on pivots
inserted in strips projecting inwardly from the guide board, over which strips the
edges of the apron travel to prevent sagging.
When the ends of the slats run into the grooves no friction is created at that
point, but the belt is straightened by the action of those portions of the guide board
between the rollers acting on the flat or straight portion of the elevating apron, so
that any deflection of the belt in passing around the rollers is compensated when
the slats have passed around them.
The grooves are by preference made deeper from the outer to the inner point, so
is gradually to merge into the line of the guide board.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th April
1877.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firin of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES."
Southampton Buildings, London.
A communication from abroad by Cyrus H. Mc Cormick, of Chicago, Illinois, United
States of America.
My Invention relates chiefly to automatic binding apparatus for harvesting
machines and comprises:
Firstly. A twisting and cutting device consisting of two symmetrical pinions
revolving around a common axis working together to twist the wire, but having a
differential movement to cut the same. It is a very important object of this part of
my Invention to secure the steady working of the said pinions, and for this purpose
I employ two pinions revolving close together around a common axis with an
annular groove at their point of contact with each other, in which groove fits a
fixed plate forming part of the binding head and constituting a bearing for the
points of the teeth of the pinions, a space being left between the inner edge of the
plate and the centre of the pinions through which the binding wire travels during
the operation of twisting.
of the accompany-
This part of the said Invention is illustrated in Figures 1 to
ing Drawings; Figure 1 is a plan of a portion of the binder mechanism; Figure 2
is a plan of the twister pinions and their interposed plate, the face plate of the
binding head being removed; Figure 3 is a vertical section through the binder head
on the line x, x, Figure 1; Figures 2 and 3 are drawn to an enlarged scale.
The pinions A, A¹, are mounted on a common pivot a with their teeth deeply
indented. These pinions are capable of turning either together or independently of
each other, but work in close contact, except on their peripheries, where an annular
groove c is formed at their point of junction for the reception of a plate C firmly
secured in a binding head and slitted in conformity therewith to permit the passage
of the binding wire to the pinions.
The points of the teeth of these pinions work in slots or spaces between the upper
and lower covers of the binding head and this plate, the latter thus forming a bear-
ing or support for the pinion while a space is left between the centre of the said
pinion and the inner edges of these enclosing plates through which the wire passes
while being twisted. The covering plates exclude dust and other matter and serve
as guides for the wire entering the twister.
The said Invention relates secondly to the combination with the aforesaid
twisting device, of a vibrating rack whereby the twisting wheel is intermittently
actuated. This intermittent action is produced by throwing the said rack auto-
matically into and out of gear. The object of this part of the said Invention is to
hold the twister wheel positively locked when out of gear. For this purpose
combine with a vibrating slide that carries the twister wheel, a fixed stop, against
which the wheel abuts when thrown out of gear with the rack, its turning being
thus prevented. This part of my Invention is shewn in Figures 1 and 2, and also
in Figures 4, 5, and 6.
Figure 4 is an under side view of parts of this apparatus; Figure 5 is a front
elevation thereof; and Figure 6 is a vertical longitudinal section through the bind-
ing head and its carrier on the line x1, x¹, Figure 4.
The arm or frame A2 upon which the mechanism is mounted is, by preference,
reciprocated by a continuously traversing chain. The sector rack B2 is vibrated on
its fulcrum b on the reciprocating frame A2 by a suitable connection.
The binding head C is mounted in a bar D sliding longitudinally in the frame,
and carrying a pin d working in an annular guide slot e in a bar E capable of
sliding freely in the frame A2 and alternately moved in opposite directions by
abutting against the arms of a sector rack; by these means the twister wheel A

page_text: mounted in the binding head, is alternately thrown into and out of gear with the
rack. The binding head C also carries a spring pawl F, for locking the lower
section of the twisting pinion for cutting the wire.
For locking the twister pinions positively, to keep their teeth in proper relation
to each other and to the slit in the binding head for the reception of the wire while
the rack is out of gear I mount upon the frame A² a bent arm or fixed stop H,
this stop is arranged in such relation to the twister pinions that when in gear with
their actuating rack they are free from the stop, but when thrown out of gear the
point of the stop enters the space between two of the teeth and holds both twister
pinions locked. This stop it will be seen is strong and not so liable to breakago
or to rapid wear as a movable and spring stop and has in practice been found very
useful.
The said Invention relates thirdly to further improvements in my improved
binding apparatus or mechanism and is illustrated in Figures 7 to 14 of the
Drawings.
Figure 7 is an elevation of part of my improved apparatus seen from the rear,
with the parts in the attitude they assume when the compressing and binding wires
are closed upon the bundle.
Figure 8 is a longitudinal vertical section through the said apparatus on the
line x, x, of Figure 9, showing in full lines the parts in the attitude they assume at
the moment when the bound sheaf or gravel has been discharged and the binding
mechanism is ready to move forward again to seize another bundle; the dotted lines
show the position of the parts when the bundle is compressed.
Figure 9 is an end elevation of the said apparatus partly in section with the parts
in the position shown in Figure 8.
Figure 10 is an elevation partly in section of a portion of the said apparatus as
seen from the front on the line y, y, Figure 9, showing the position of the parts at
the time the wire is being carried into the twister after the compression of the
bundle.
Figure 11 is a vertical longitudinal section through the binding mechanism
beneath the platform.
Figure 12 is a view in perspective of a positive stop motion feed for the lower
wire spool.
Figure 13 is a view in perspective of a snail cam for adjusting the binder frame;
and Figure 14 shews another portion of the said adjusting mechanism and its con-
nections.
This binding mechanism is by preference mounted on a suitable frame A secured
upon the frame of a harvester having an endless apron for elevating and delivering
the cut grain into a suitable receiver. The grain is delivered from the elevating
apron through an opening in a frame A', which forms a fixed part of the harvester
frame upon a slatted inclined receptacle B¹ forming an extension of the binding
platform B.
In order that the wire may be passed around the middle of the bundle, notwith-
standing variations in the length of the grain, I mount the entire binding mechanism
upon ways C, C1, which permit it to be moved freely backward and forward in a
line parallel with the length of the grain. The binding mechanism is driven by
cranks, sprocket wheels, or gearing actuated by any suitable prime mover, and
mounted on a shaft C turning in fixed bearings on the frame.
To accomodate the adjustment of the binding mechanism above-mentioned, this
shaft C is arranged parallel with the line of adjustment of the frame, and in this
instance constitutes one of the ways upon which the said frame slides, and the double
gear wheel D, D¹, by which the binding mechanism is actuated is free to move
endwise on the shaft while compelled to turn with it by the usual spline or feather.
This wheel revolves between jaws which keep it in proper relation to the gearing
driven by it. To place this adjusting apparatus under the control of the driver
while in his seat on the machine, I mount a snail wheel or cam E, Figure 13, upon
the aforesaid frame. This snail wheel E works in a rack F sliding in bearings on

page_text: the frame piece A¹, and connected by a link f with a vibrating lever F¹ fulcrumed
at f¹ on the frame piece A¹, and the said lever is connected by a joint link F2 with
the sliding frame A. This construction enables the driver to readily shift the frame
by turning the crank e to bring the binding wire to the middle of the length of the
bundle.
The binder's platform or receptacle B is adjustable with the binding arm, but is
A deflector
stationary relatively to the line of reciprocation of the said arm.
G mounted on this receptacle B slides in guides on the frame piece A', and is thus
kept in its proper relation to the other parts while adjustable with the binding
platform or receptacle B.
A double sprocket wheel D, D', mounted upon the driving shaft C gears into corre-
sponding wheel H. The driving chain I passes over these wheels and over corre-
sponding wheel H¹ on the opposite end of the slotted box frame J.
The driving shaft revolves in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 7,
and by means of a slotted link 7 hooked to the chain and connected with a shaft L
mounted on a frame K which carries the standards M of the binding arm imparts a
reciprocating motion to the said arm. Pitman rods N, N¹, pivoted on the crank
of the shaft L are attached to the cranks o, p, of two rock shafts O, P, concentric
with each other and enclosed within the tubular standard or support M¹ of the
binding arm, see Figure 9. The inner rock shaft O carries at its forward end a
crank arm of working in a slot of a vibrating compressor R, so pivoted at on the
binding arm frame as to give the compressor a movement excentric to that of its
driving shaft O, which shaft constitutes a torsional spring, allowing the compressing
arm and its driving crank to yield slightly under any excess of pressure in binding
the bundles or gavels. The binding arm S is mounted on the rock shaft P and
vibrates concentrically with it.
It is highly advantageous to press the wire into the twister with a positive force
applied on each side of it, and to obtain this result I form a longitudinal slot in the
binding arm, and pivot therein at t a supplementary arm T, vibrated at proper
intervals by a pin on its inner end taking into a cam groove t' on the tubular
support M of the binding arm, as shown in Figure 10. The organization of these
parts is such as the binding arm moves forward into the entering grain to separate
it, the point of the supplementary arm is enclosed within the binding arm, as shown
in Figure 8, so that it will not interfere with the piercing action of the latter in
separating the grain; but when the arm has passed around the bundle as it is
compressed, the forward end of the supplementary arm is thrown inward by its cam,
as shown in Figure 10, and the wire is held securely in the proper relation to the
twister.
The construction and operation of the binding head and twisting mechanism Z
and its actuating sector rack Y need no particular description here.
I use a positive feed for the wire supplying device as follows, that is to say :-I
mount upon the intermittently rotating shaft L a stop wheel U having a single
tooth u which revolves in the direction of the arrow, shown in Figure 12; this
wheel gears with a corresponding wheel mounted upon the wire reel V₁, and
provided with teeth v arranged in four sets or pairs, thus intermittently giving off
à definite amount of wire regulated by the size of the drum and position of the
teeth. The slack of the band is taken up by the intermediate take-up tension
drum W of the upper wire, which is shown passing over the pulley w on an arm
projecting from the binding arm standard to bring it in proper relation with the
binding head.
The grain is delivered continuously by the endless apron upon the binding plat-
form B. In Figure 8 the parts are shown in full lines in the attitude they assume
at the moment of the discharge of the gavel. The binding arm then moves
forward to the position shown in Figure 7, and pauses while the stirrup link
is turning with the chain around the sprocket H, and turns the shaft L, causing
its cranks to act through its pitman upon its binding arms R, S, causing them
to descend upon and compress the bundle, and carries the wire into the binding

page_text: head, as shown in Figure 10. The arm then moves backward to the position
shown in Figure 8, twisting and severing the wire as it goes, and the binding
arm and compressor withdrawn from the position shown in dotted lines in this
Figure to that shown in the full lines, leaving the bound bundle upon the plat-
5 form to be pushed off by the succeeding bundle. The positive feed of the lower
wire takes place during the withdrawing or retracting movement of the binding
arm and while the binding carriage is stationary.
A modification of my said Invention is illustrated in Figures 15 to 20 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Figure 15 is a sectional plan of part of a machine embodying this modification
of the said binding mechanism; Figure 16 is a side elevation of the said mechanism;
Figure 17 is a front elevation of the same; Figure 18 is a front elevation of
portions of the above mechanism; Figure 19 is a plan; and Figure 20 is an end
view of portions of the twisting devices forming part of the said mechanism drawn
to an enlarged scale.
The binding mechanism is mounted on a suitable frame a secured upon a har-
vesting machine having endless aprons a¹, a², for elevating and delivering the cut
grain into the receiver b. In order that the binding wire may be passed around
the centre of the sheaf the binding mechanism is mounted upon an adjustable
frame a*, which is capable of being moved to and fro in a line with the length of
the grain by means of the screw a** and wheel a³, which through the medium of a
chain a is driven by a wheel a³ carried on the main frame of the machine, this
wheel as being turned to effect the adjustment of the said frame by a suitable
crank handle a. The binding mechanism is driven from one of the wheels of the
machine by means of a chain which passes around a pulley c mounted upon the
shaft c¹. To permit the adjustment of the frame a* the shaft c¹ is arranged parallel
with the line of adjustment of the said frame, and forms one of the ways on which
the same slides, and the wheel c² by which the binding mechanism is actuated is
fitted to slide freely endwise on the shaft c¹, but is compelled to turn with the same
by means of an ordinary spline or feather; c3 is a wheel mounted in suitable
bearings on one side of the frame a*, and around the pulleys c³ and c³ passes a
chain c, which gives motion to the binding mechanism, as herein-after described.
The driving shaft c¹ revolves in the direction of the arrow in Figure 17, and by
means of the chain c and link c³ gives motion to the pitman e6, link c, pitman c³,
and the rock shaft c, and these parts communicate the requisite reciprocating
motion to the standard d, and also to the binding mechanism. The link c³ consists
of a hollow arm between whose sides is pivoted at c¹o an arm c", at one end of
which is a hole for the reception of a pin c2 This pin is fixed to the chain c*,
and revolves with it. At the back of the other end of the arm c¹ is placed a
spring, which tends to keep the said arm upon the pin c¹², but the said spring
allows the pin e2 to disengage itself from the arm el during certain periods of the
revolution of the chain c*.
The rock shaft cº is supported in the standard d of the binding mechanism. This
standard is arranged to slide upon the guideways d', d², and its forward and back-
ward movement is obtained by the means herein-before described. At the end of
the shaft is secured the binder arın e, which rocks with the said shaft. In the
binder arm is formed a slot e¹ in which is an arm f pivoted at f¹, and vibrated at
suitable intervals by means of a pin f* on the binder arm e, which enters the slot f
in the aforesaid arm f. As the binder arm moves forward to encompass the grain
the arm is enclosed within the same, but after the said binder arm has assumed
the position shewn in Figure 18 the arm f moves forward, and holds the wire
securely in the proper relation to the twister; g is a vibrating compressor, which
is pivoted at g' to the wire guiding arm h. In connection with this wire guiding
arm is arranged a wire take-up arm i, which rocks freely on the pin in the
standard d. The wire is wound upon a reel j, and passes through the hollow pin i¹
beneath the roller 2 over the roller 23 on the take-up arm i, and thence over the

page_text: wire guide h to the binder arm e. Beneath the reel j is arranged mechanism to act
as a brake to prevent the unrolling of the wire, except at the proper times. This
mechanism consists of a flat board pivoted at in the standard d, and provided
at its other end with a strip of leather, which is forced upon the under surface of
the wire on the reel by means of the spring ³ in the standard d.
The twisting mechanism is constructed as follows:- is a metal plate provided
These
with a notch, through which the wire passes to the twister pinions m.
pinions are arranged below the said plate 1, and receives motion from the toothed
wheel m¹. This wheel m¹ is driven through a toothed wheel m² by means of a
spring pawl m³ on the same, and a projection m¹ on the under surface of the wheel
m. The wheel m² receives motion during the forward and backward movement of
the binding mechanism over the receiver b of the machine by means of a sta-
tionary rack formed on the guideway d¹. By reason of the pawl m³ and projection
m the wheel m¹ is not rotated during the advance of the binding mechanism to
take up the sheaf, but only during the return of the same when the sheaf is firmly
compressed between the binder arin e and compressor g; n is an arm pivoted at n',
which is forced by a spring n* upon a projection m* on the wheel m¹. During
the advance of the binding mechanism this arm holds the wheel n¹ immovable, but
the said pin is released from the notch in the arm n by a cam n² when the binding
mechanism has completed the compression of the sheaf previous to its backward
movement. The twister pinions are thus caused to rotate a certain distance to
effect the twisting of the wire before the binding mechanism commences its back-
ward movement. The lower wire is contained on a reel o mounted in suitable
bearings on a bar o', which is pivoted at o² to the standard d. The wire from this
reel passes over the pulleys 03, 04, 05, and o, and thence to the upper wire. The
reel o is provided with brake mechanism similar to that of the reel j
The operation of the above-described mechanism or apparatus is as follows:-
Motion being communicated to the driving shaft c¹ the standard d carrying the
binding mechanism is caused through the parts c², c³, c¹, c³, c, c, c³, to move towards
the delivery end of the receiver b, no motion being then given to the twisting device
or binding mechanism. When the standard & has arrived at the delivery end of the
said platform the shaft c³ is caused to reciprocate, and the binder arm e carrying
the wire passes partially around the sheaf at the same time that the compressor g
is encircling the sheaf in the opposite direction. The arm f, just as the binder arm
has passed over the sheaf, moves forward and presses the binding wire between the
jaws of the plate l. The cam n² then strikes the pin m*, and causes the twisting
pinions to slightly twist the wire. The standard then commences to recede, and
the twisting pinions are caused to rotate by the action of the fixed rack on the
guidway d, the gear wheel m², pawl m³, and projection m', and thus effects the
twisting of the wire, and when the standard d reaches its most backward position
the wire is severed by the cutting or shearing action of the upper and lower
pinions m, the lower pinion receiving through the wheel m² a sufficient movement
after the pin m* on the upper part of the wheel m¹ is stopped by the arm m, as
described in the first part of this Specification.
According to another part of my Invention I render the binder's stand and table
of a harvesting machine, adjustable relatively to the main frame to keep the said
table and stand substantially horizontal. This part of my Invention also relates to
apparatus for delivering the cut grain to the binders, and comprises means for
obviating the tendency of the elevating aprons to work sidewise by forming grooves
in the elevator frame around the elevator rollers, in which the ends of the slats of
the elevator apron may run, and thus avoid friction, while the aprons are kept in
their true position by the central portion of the guide boards, as herein-after more
fully explained. This part of the said Invention is illustrated in Figures 21 to 26.
Figure 21 is a plan illustrating the application of this part of my Invention to a
harvesting machine in which the binding is performed by hand; Figure 22 is a
section of the same on the line x, x; Figure 23 is a side elevation of the same

page_text: partly in section on the line y,y; Figure 24 is an elevation of the opposite side of
the said machine; Figure 25 is a face view; and Figure 20, a section of parts of
the said apparatus.
A driving wheel A is mounted in suitable bearings in the main frame B, to which
the tongue C is pivoted at a point c about in line with the front edge of the
driving wheel. A lever D provided with the usual spring stop d operates a rock
shaft D' mounted on the frame, and carries a crank pin c¹ which is connected with
the tongue by an adjustable link or strap c², thus enabling the driver to vary the
height of cut by rocking the machine upon the axle of the driving wheel. A frame
E which supports the binder's stand and table is pivoted upon the main frame at
the point e, to allow the frame to rock slightly on said pivot. The upper portion
of the binder's frame is connected with the main frame by slotted cranks F, F',
mounted on rock shafts secured on the binder frame, which cranks traverse fixed
guide pins or studs G, G, on the main frame. The binder frame is rocked by means
of a link H and crank h connected with a rock shaft of the lifting lever. The
portion E¹ of the binder frame to which the link H is connected passes inside,
interlocks with, and overlaps the stationary shield I of the grain receiver, or a
portion of the main frame, and relieves the cranks from the weight of the upper.
portion of the binding frame, and they can consequently turn freely as the frame
rocks.
The elevating apron used in the machine commonly known as the "McCormick
hand binding harvester" is made of canvas, with transverse strips of wood attached
thereto at regular intervals, the ends of the strips extending as far as the edges of
the canvas.
In such aprons there is sometimes a tendency for one side of the
apron to gain upon the other, thus causing the apron to rub against one side of its
guide board. This lateral deflection is readily counteracted while the apron is
passing from one roller to the other, but not so easily when a slat is passing around
the roller, as the friction of the ends of the slat against the guide board is greater
at that moment. To improve the working of this apron I form grooves m in the
guide boards M to encircle the outer portions of the bearings of the rollers N, N';
these rollers turn on pivots inserted in strips m¹ projecting inwardly from the guide
board over which strips the edges of the apron travel.
When the ends of the slats run in the grooves no friction is created at that point,
but the belt is straightened by the action of those portions of the guide board
between the rollers acting on the flat or straight portion of the elevating apron, so
that any deflection of the belt in passing around the rollers is counteracted when
the slats have passed around them. The grooves are by preference made deeper
from the outer to the inner point and gradually merge into the line of the guide
board.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
In and forming part of the binding mechanism of a harvesting machine the
combination of parts comprising the twister pinions, and their fixed supporting plate
in an annular groove therein, as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Also, in and forming part of the binding mechanism of a harvesting machine the
combination of parts comprising the reciprocating binding frame, the vibrating
sector rack actuating the twister pinions mounted on a sliding bar and automatically
thrown into and out of gear with the rack, and the fixed stop secured to the frame
against which the twister pinions abut when thrown out of gear with the said rack,
and by which they are positively locked and kept from turning until they are
again thrown into gear with the rack, as above set forth.
And in a machine constructed as described in connection with the third part of
this Invention.
The combination of parts comprising the binding platform, the deflector, and the
binding mechanism, all mounted upon a common frame, adjustable relatively to the
length of the grain, as above set forth and for the purposes specified.

page_text: Also, the combination of parts comprising the reciprocating binding mechanism, the
frame upon which it is mounted, the ways on which the frame travels, the driving
gearing of the binding mechanism mounted on one of said ways, the shifting
gearing mounted on the main frame, and the link connections between the shifting
gearing and the traversing binding frame, as above set forth and for the purposes
specified.
Also, the combination of parts comprising the compressor, the torsion spring on
which it is mounted, and the crank by which these parts are actuated, as above set
forth and for the purpose specified.
Also, the combination of parts comprising the slotted binding arm, the supple-
mentary arm, pivotted centrally therein, and vibrating through its slot, and the
cam which vibrates said supplementary arm, as above set forth and for the purpose
specified.
Also, the combination of parts comprising the reciprocating binding frame, the
vibrating binding arm mounted thereon, the supplementary arm pivotted on the
said vibrating binding arm, the vibrating compressor and the twisting device
mounted on the said reciprocating binding frame, as above set forth and for the
purposes specified.
Also, the combination of parts comprising the reciprocating binding frame, the
vibrating binding arm, the binding head, the positive feed for one wire, and the
intermediate take up tension drum for the other wire, all as above set forth and
for the purposes specified.
Also, the mechanism or apparatus consisting of the parts shewn in Figures 7 to 14
of the Drawings, constructed, combined, and operating, as above set forth and for
the purposes specified.
Also, the modifications of the binding and twisting mechanism illustrated in
Figures 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, of the accompanying Drawings, and the combination
with the same of the device for preventing the unrolling or uncoiling of the wire
except at the proper time, all as above set forth.
Also, the combination of parts illustrated in Figures 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26, of
the Drawings, comprising the main frame, the binder's frame pivoted thereon, the
cross bar interlocking with and overlapping the fixed shield, the grain receptacle
and the slotted rocking cranks and lever constructed and operating, as above set
forth.
Also, the guide board grooves in the elevator frame and surrounding the end
portions of the rollers, as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
DAD