provements in the Construction of Sheaf-binding Harvesters.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 7th June, 1894-Accepted, 1st Sent. 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Improvements in the Construction of Sheaf-binding Harvesters.
I, ERNEST SAMUELSON of Banbury in the County of Oxfordshire, Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to that type of sheaf-binding harvester which is technically
known as a "low-down machine," and consists in the mode of collecting the cut
grain from a platform, which is by preference a travelling apron or bands, of
trussing same, and conveying it by means of rotary or reciprocating or endless
travelling packers, from an upright gavelling chamber on the platform side of the
main travelling wheel, to a binding mechanism above the travelling wheel where it
is bound, and finally ejected in bundles into a carrier or clear of the machine on to
the ground.
I effect this by means of a so called revolving drum or its equivalent placed at
the delivery side of the platform between the latter and the main travelling wheel,
which drum may be fitted with a series of projecting fingers or hooks; this drum
or its equivalent carries the grain into a gavelling chamber above it; out of this
chamber the grain is removed by intermittent revolving or reciprocating or endless
travelling packers, the fingers of which deliver the grain to the binding mechanism,
placed above a table or fence.
The separation between the cut grain in the gavelling chamber and the bundle
whilst it is being bound is effected by the fingers of the packers closing the exit or
throat of the gavelling chamber during the operation of binding.
In some cases I have a travelling device which receives the bound bundle from
the binding mechanism, and removes it to one side so as to assist in the discharge of
same, this device may be separate from, or the table itself may move, and may assist in
bringing the unbound gavel to the binding device, and in the separation, and also in
the discharge of the bound bundle after it is bound, or it may assist in the discharge
alone. In some cases the travelling device is an extension of the intermittent
endless packers.
What I wish to describe as my invention is first, the combination and relative
position of the parts so as to effect the separation of the unbound and bound gavels
by means of the fingers of the intermittent packers, and secondly, the provision of
a travelling discharging device in connection with the binding mechanism, whether
or not this latter device be so constructed and placed as also to assist in bringing
the bundle to the binding mechanism.
Dated this fith day of September 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in the Construction of Sheaf-binding Harvesters.
J, ERNEST SAMUELSON of Banbury Oxon, Engineer do hereby declare the
nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to that type of sheaf binding harvester which is technically
known as a "low down" machine and consists in the mode of collecting the cut
crop from a platform, which is by preference a travelling apron or bands, of
trussing the said crop and conveying it by means of rotary or reciprocating or endless
travelling packers from an upright gavelling chamber on the platform side of the

page_text: main travelling wheel, to a binding mechanism above the travelling wheel, where
it is bound, and finally ejected in bundles or sheaves into a carrier or clear of the
machine on to the ground.
I effect this by means of a so called revolving drum or its equivalent, placed at
the delivery side of the platform, between the said platform and the main travelling
wheel, which drum may be fitted with a series of projecting fingers or hooks; this
drum or its equivalent carries or passes the cut crop into a gavelling chamber
above it; and from this chainber the said crop is removed by intermittent revolving,
or reciprocating or endless travelling packers, the fingers of which, deliver the said
crop to the binding mechanism, placed above a table or fence extending over the
travelling wheel.
The separation between the cut crop in the gavelling chamber and that forming
the bundle being bound can be effected by the fingers of the packers closing the
exit or throat of the gavelling chamber during the operation of binding.
In some cases provide a travelling device which receives the bound bundle
from the binding mechanism, and removes the said bundle to one side so as to assist
in its discharge. This device may be separate from the binding table or the said table
itself may move, so as to assist the separation of the unbound crop and the bringing
of it to the binding device, and also in the discharge of the bound bundle after it is
bound, or it may assist only in the said discharge. Or the said travelling device
may be an extension from the intermittent endless packers.
And in order that my invention may be clearly understood, I have illustrated in
the accompanying drawings the manner in which it may be carried into practical
effect but I do not limit myself to the precise details shewn.
Figure 1 is a front elevation and Figure 2 is a side sectional elevation of the
machine shewing the position of the platform, revolving drum, packers, and binding
arrangement in respect to the main travelling wheel.
Figure 3 shows in front view and section at right angles thereto the rotary
packing arrangement with the trip mechanism for throwing the needle and knotting
arrangement intermittently into gear.
Figure 4 illustrates the herein before mentioned travelling device for assisting in
the discharge of the bound bundle from the binding device and Figures 5 and 6
shew mechanism for driving it.
Figure 7 shows an arrangement in which reciprocating packers are used in place
of the rotary packers shewn in Figure 1 and it also shows another form of the
travelling device for assisting in the discharge of the bound bundle.
Figure 8 shows another modification wherein endless travelling packers or bands
are used instead of the rotary or reciprocating packers shewn in the previous
figures this view also illustrating the travelling device for assisting in discharging
the bound bundle.
Similar letters are used to denote the same parts in the several figures.
A is the main travelling wheel of the harvester. B is the cutter bar and C the
endless travelling apron or bands, commonly known in this class of machinery as
the "platform." D is a revolving drum which is fitted with a series of projecting
fingers or books D' D' D'D' which take the cut corn from the travelling apron
and deliver it into an upright gavelling chamber EE. From this gavelling
chamber the cut crop is taken to the binding table H'H' by the packers FFF
which are hinged upon rotating discs F F fixed to an intermittently rotating
shaft F2 which is actuated in any suitable way from the main travelling wheel A.
I have shewn the said shaft F as being driven by the spur wheel X keyed thereto
which is in turn driven by the pinion which revolves on the constantly running
shaft F³ to which the chain wheel G is fastened. This pinion Y is connected to the
shaft by means of a clutch or driving dog Z which is driven by a disc W keyed on
to the shaft F and fitted with two or more projecting pins WW. As
do not
claim any particular method of driving the aforesaid shaft and packers I do not
consider it necessary to further describe the method of driving, as any system
suitable or at present well known in this class of machinery may be used for

page_text: the purpose.
The dog Z is thrown out of gear (when the necessary amount of
the cut crop to form a bundle has been delivered to the binding mechanism) by
means of the stop S which is connected to the usual trip J¹ situated above the
binding table H¹.
The proper movement to the packers F F F is given by means of the cam or
cams G¹G.
N is the usual needle fixed to the needle shaft N' which is carried upon the
binder head N which may be of the ordinary construction in this class of
machinery. N shows the relative position of the knotting mechanism upon the
knotter shaft N* carried also upon the binder head N' and situated above the
main travelling wheel A as shewn.
The various movements and details of this binder head and needle may be of
any suitable or well known type.
The needle is shewn in the position when the bundle is being bound by the
knotting arrangement.
HH are a series of guard irons which together with the sheet iron H¹ form
the gavelling chamber into which the cut crop is delivered by the rotary drum D
and packers F F. These guard irons are not shewn in Figure 2 but are
situated between each series of projecting hooks D'D' and act also as wipers
to them.
56
"
J is an ordinary needle plate which forms a continuation as it were of the
throat E into which the cut crop is packed by means of the packers F F against
the compressor arm H until the desired density of bundle is obtained, when
the trip is pressed down by the said bundle and releases the trip stop S from the
dog or clutch Z' and thus allows the binding mechanism to come into action,
when the needle rises from below the table H' and encircles the bundle with
the cord. The knot is then formed, and the bound bundle is discharged from
the platform or binding table H₁ over the top of the travelling wheel A on to the
ground, the compressor arm H2 falling down below the binding table so as to leave
free egress for the bundle as is usual in this class of machine.
The discharge is effected by means of the ordinary discharging arm or arms K K
on the knotter shaft N or by means of an intermittent travelling device L L as
shown in Figures 4, 7 and 8. This travelling device may be simply an endless
band running over 2 rollers L' L' as shewn in Figure 4 or it may be provided
with small discharge prongs or fingers L L L as shewn in Figures 7 and 8,
these discharge fingers being brought into action when above the binding table H¹
at the proper time, by means of a fixed guide L³ which acts upon a small tail
piece fitted to the discharge fingers L L L which are pivotted on the endless
belt L in any usual or suitable way.
Figures 5 and 6 show one simple method of driving the endless band or
apron L L from the knotter shaft N by means of bevel wheels and a segmental
bevel wheel, which gives an intermittent motion, similar to the usual method
adopted in giving motion to the parts of the binding mechanism for forming the
knot, and which can be arranged to act at the proper relative time; I do not
however confine myself to any particular form of driving gear for driving this
endless band or apron.
Figure 7 shows an alternative arrangement or modification in which reciprocating
packers P P are used in place of the rotary ones F F. Two or even three of these
packers may be used as in ordinary "elevator machines."
Figure 8 shews another modification in which endless travelling packers are used
in a similar way to the endless travelling discharge band L L the fingers P¹ Pl Pl
of the packers being masked and brought into action in a similar manner, and
driven from the main travelling wheel in the same way as the rotary or
reciprocating packers.
The separation between the cut grain in the gavelling chamber and the bundle
whilst it is being bound is effected in the arrangement shewn by the projection of
the fingers For packers P P or packing fingers P¹ P₁ into the gavelling

page_text: chamber E towards the top end thereof and thereby close its throat during the
operation of binding, the packing device at this moment becoming stationary a
projecting lug Z on the trip stop S engaging with one end of the dog z by which
the packers are driven so as to stop the packers at such a position that their
fingers or some of their fingers close the throat of the gavelling chamber.
Instead of closing the said throat by this means I may dispense with this and rely
upon the tail of the needle to close the said throat.
The travelling device which assists in the discharge of the bound bundle may
extend from one end of the binding table to the other, or may be merely a series of
bands with projecting fingers as shewn in Figures 7 and 8 or I may dispense
entirely with this assisting mechanism, and use the discharge arms K K only as
shown in Figure 1.
Figure 8 shews this travelling device when used as an extension of the
intermittent endless packers Pi P¹ P¹.
The operation is as follows-
The cut crop falls upon the endless travelling platform C from which it is
picked up and conveyed by means of the projecting fingers D' D' on the revolving
drum D into the upright gavelling chamber E E from which it is removed by
means of the packers (F, P or P₁ on to the binding table H'H' and forced
against the compressor armi H2 and trip J¹ which trip when sufficient of the cut
crop has been gathered to form a bundle is depressed and sets in motion the
binding mechanism. The needle rising from under the binding table H¹ H₁
encircles the cut portion of the crop or bundle gathered upon the table, and the
knotting mechanism being brought into action, the bundle is bound and discharged
from the binding table, over the main travelling wheel A of the machine, by
means of the discharge arms K K or endless travelling band or bands L L or both
together on to the ground, or into a bundle carrier; the fingers of the packing
arrangement or the tail of the needle or both by closing the throat of the
gavelling chamber meanwhile preventing the further feed of the cut crop on to the
binding table.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
claim is
1. In a low-down sheaf binding harvester the combination of a revolving drum
(or its equivalent) and a gavelling chamber above it into which the said drum feeds
the cut crop and packers operating intermittently in the said chamber so that the
fingers of the said packers deliver the cut crop to a binding mechanism situated
above a binding table or fence placed over the main travelling wheel ali being
relatively arranged substantially as herein before explained.
2. In combination with mechanism arranged as claimed by the preceding
claiming clause means for arresting the movement of the packers so that the
fingers thereof close the throat of the gavelling chamber at the proper time to
effect separation between the cut crop in the chamber, and that which is being
bound substantially as hereinbefore explained.
3. In combination with mechanism arranged as claimed by either of the
preceding claiming clauses an endless travelling discharging device substantially as
herein before described and illustrated in Figures 4, 7 and 8 of the accompanying
drawings.
4. The general arrangement and combination of parts in a low-down sheaf
binding harvester substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 7th day of June 180.1
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
Agents.