A New or Improved Sheaf Looser and Feeder for Thrashing Machines or Mills.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 21st May, 1894-Accepted, 7th July, 1894
VUDH LEI DIDULTIVATION.
A New or Improved Sheaf Looser and Feeder for Thrashing
Machines or Mills.
I, JAMES FORD, of Saughton Hall, Mains, Edinburgh, in the County of
Midlothian, North Britain, Farmer, 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 which relates to a New or Improved Sheaf Looser and Feeder
for Thrashing Machines or Mills, is applicable to all kinds of thrashing machines
whether they be portable or stationary, and has for its object to provide more
efficient means for loosing and feeding sheaves to thrashing machines than hitherto.
In carrying out my said invention I mount above the main drum of the machine
or mill a box or case, and a feed plate or guide; within the said case is mounted a
series of two or more oscillating or joggling fingers or feeders and an oscillating or
joggling knife preferably having a serrated or toothed edge, the whole of which is
driven by cranks and lovers, and belt, chain or spur gearing from any convenient
part of the mill,
But in order that my said invention may be more readily understood I will
describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a plan with the cover of the case removed, and Figure 2 a cross
section on line X,.X (Figure 1), of my improved sheaf looser and feeder.
Referring to the said drawings I place or mount a wooden or other box or case A
and a feed plate or guide B immediately above the entrance C of the drum of the
mill, in such a manner, that the open space between the front wall a of the
case A and the guide or feed plate B corresponds with the opening C of the mill.
Inside the said case A I mount a small vertical crank shaft D, which is carried by
suitable journals d and provided at its lower end with a bevel or mitre spur wheel E,
which gears into a corresponding wheel E', mounted on a horizontal crank shaft F
having two or more cranks f; the said crank shaft F being carried in suitable
journals and provided at its outer end with means for enabling it to be driven
by belt and pulley, chain, or spur gearing from any convenient working part of
the mill.
The front wall a of the case A is formed with a horizontal slot or opening a¹
through which works a serrated or toothed knife G preferably shaped and formed
with circular teeth g, as shown. This knife G is formed with a tail piece g¹ which
engages with, and is secured to, the end of a lever or link H by means of the
projections h, shoulders h', and stud /*. The said lever or link H is connected to
the crank shaft D by means of a journal or bush ³ and connected at its rear end to
the one end of a pivotted or hinged link Hin such a manner, that on the shaft D
being set in motion an oscillating or joggling motion is given to the knife G so as
to enable it to cut the twine, rope or straw rope binding of the sheaf and so loosen
the sheaf.
In order to feed the loosened sheaf to the drum of the mill, I mount by means
of a bush or journal J, a feeder or finger K to each of the cranks of the crank
shaft F, in such a manner that their front ends work in a joggling manner through
vertical slots or openings a² formed in the front wall a of the case A, that is to
say, the fingers K are provided or formed with tail pieces or levers k the rear
ends of which are connected to the ends of pivotted or hinged links L as shown.
The whole arrangement thus forms an efficient and simple sheaf looser and feeder
for thrashing machines or mills, which may be so arranged as to work with either

page_text: a right haud feed or with a left hand feed as desired, though the drawings illustrate
a left hand feed arrangement.
The action of the foregoing is as follows:-The attendant allows the sheaf to
fall down the guide or feed plate B where it becomes loosened by the knife G
cutting the binding and then fed down in a loosened state to the drum of the mill
by means of the fingers or feeders K of which there may be any desired number.
If desired to work the foregoing with various sized sheaves I may provide the
guide or feed plate B with means, such as screws or the like so as to enable it being
adjusted to and from the front wall a of the case A. Also in some cases I may
employ a plain edged knife in lieu of a serrated or toothed knife.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of iny said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
Ist. The general arrangement, construction and combination of the various
parts constituting the combined sheaf looser and feeder for thrashing machines
or mills, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying
-drawings.
2nd. The combination with a thrashing machine or mill, of a combined sheaf
looser and feeder, substantially in the manner as hereinbefore described and shown
in the accompanying drawings.
3rd. In sheaf loosing and feeding machines for thrashing machines or mills, the
oscillating or joggling knife G having a serrated or toothed edge g, substantially
as and for the purposes herein before described and shown in the accompanying
drawings.
4th. In sheaf loosing and feeding machines for thrashing machines or mills, the
mode of mounting the knife G to its actuating mechanism, whereby it may be easily
disengaged for sharpening and other purposes, substantially as herein before described
and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 19th day of M~ 1004
JOHNSONS,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.