An Improved Knotter for Twine-binding in Reaping or Harvesting Machines.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 11th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 31st May, 1890'
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Knotter for Twine-binding in Reaping or Harvesting
Machines.
GEORGE CHARLES RIVERS, of 46 Gresham Street in the City of London, Merchant, .
communicated from abroad by Albert Ernest Woodhouse of Amberley in the
province of Canterbury, New Zealand, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
•
An Improved Knotter for Twine Binding in Reaping or Harvesting Machines.
My invention relates to an improved knotter for twine binding in reaping or
harvesting machines. The knotters used hitherto consist of a pair of jaws, but my
improved knotter consists of one piece or part only, which may be of steel or other
metal or material of suitable hardness. Its general form is cylindrical having slots
or grooves varied to suit different machines and is operated in the same position
relatively to the other parts of the machines as the knotters now in vogue.
Having thus described the nature of my invention I will proceed to describe the
manner in which the same is to be performed reference being had to the drawings
hereunto annexed and to the letters of reference marked thereon, the same letters of
reference indicating corresponding parts in all figures. Fig. 1 represents the knotter
with string or twine in position as at commencement of turn. Fig. 2 represents the
knotter at half turn. Fig. 3 represents the knotter after making a complete
revolution, the string or twine being in position for slipping off to form knot. Fig. 4
is an end view of point or grooved portion of knotter. Fig. 5 represents the knotter
having the slots or grooves of a different form in which case the knotter is intended
to suit machines, having backward and forward movement instead of completely
revolving. A is the knotter. B the slots or grooves which gather in the string or
twine whilst the knotter revolves. C the string or twine. The knotter whilst
revolving gathers up the string or twine and at each revolution the string or twine
is in such a position on the knotter that when the said string or twine is cut and
pulled off by the action of the machine a complete knot is formed. Having thus
described the nature of my invention and the manner in which the same is to be
performed I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise shape
of my improved knotter or the position of slots or grooves therein as they may be
modified without departing from the nature of my said invention..
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Knotter for Twine-binding in Reaping or Harvesting
Machines.
.
1
A communication from ALBERT ERNEST WOODHOUSE, of Amberley, in the province
of Canterbury, New Zealand, Gentleman.
1
.I GEORGE CHARLES RIVERS of 46 Gresham Street in the City of London
Merchant 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 :—
My invention relates to an Improved Knotter for Twine-binding in Reaping or
Harvesting Machines.
My knotter consists of one piece or part only, which may be of steel or other. metal
or material of suitable hardness; its general form being cylindrical, and having slots
and grooves varied to suit different machines, and is..operated in the same

page_text: F
position relatively to the other parts of the machines as are the knotters now in
vogue.
In the drawings hereunto, annexed, and the letters of reference marked thereon,
the same letters indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figures 1 to represent side views of my improved knotter illustrating four
stages in the formation of a knot.
The shaft A is provided at its end with the one-part knotting cylinder, or bead B
which extends at substantially a right angle from the said shaft.
The knotter receives an intermittent rotary motion from a wheel in the usual
manner, and hence I do not deem it necessary to show the driving mechanism, as
my invention does not relate thereto, but is applicable to any of the machines, now
in vogue.
The knotting cylinder B is provided with a transverse opening or slot 1 preferably
inclined somewhat to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, and also with an inclined
slot 2 opening from the top of the cylinder or the side toward its shaft into the
opening 1 and inclined backward in a direction from the cylinder-point toward the
heel. The two slots 1 and 2 form a hook 3 carried by the point or toe 4 of
the knotting-cylinder, which hook lies beneath the overhanging lip 5 which is above
the slot 2 and back or in rear of the toe 4.
6 6 are grooves formed in the outside faces of the solid toe 4 of the cylinder and
extending from the ends of the opening 1 to the point of the toe. These grooves
are by preference comparatively deep adjacent to the ends of the opening 1 but
becoming shallower and broader as they approach the point of the toe. The upper
side of the toe 4 is by preference sloping or curved downward toward its end, is nearly
circular in cross-section, and tapers toward its point, though I do not consider these
features essential.
L
The operation of tying the knot may now be understood. In Fig. 1 the position
of the twine is shown just after the needle has encircled the gavel and delivered the
twine to the grasper or holder, and before the knotter has begun to revolve, the
strands of twine x, x, lying over the knotting-cylinder between the opening to
the slot 2 and the shaft A.
Fig. 2 shows the position of the parts after the knotter has made a half revolution,
the strands being twisted or turned once around the shank of the cylinder. In
Fig. 3 the knotter is shown as having completed its revolution, coming back to the
position shown in Fig. 1. During the latter half of the revolution the strands of
twine between the cylinder and the grasper or twine-holder are caught under the
overhanging lip 5 and brought into the slot 2 and, by reason of the inclination
thereof, into the opening 1 back of the hook 3. While the twine is in this position it
is severed by the cutter, and the ejector operates in the usual way.
Fig. 4 represents the knot being stripped from the knotter, the free ends of the
twine formed by the action of the cutter being still held by the hook 3 which causes
them to be drawn through the loop of the knot and lying in the grooves
opposite sides of the toe of the cylinder.
upon the
The tapering form of the toe 4 together with the grooves 6; in which the end
portions of the twine lie, makes it very easy for the knot to slip off from the cylinder
as the gavel is being ejected.
As described, the grooves 6, or at least the one on the side of the cylinder shown
in Figs. 1 and 3, is preferably deeper and narrower at its inner or rear end than at
-the end near the point of the knotter. The reason for this is to permit the portion
of twine surrounding the knotting-cylinder to easily slip over the portions of the
twine lying in the deeper parts of the groove or grooves, but to be retarded by
frictional engagement therewith as it approaches the end of the toe, and thus tighten
the knot.
The overhanging lip 5, extending as it does over the opening to the slot 2, insures
that the twine as it slips from the shank portion of the cylinder on to the toe shall
not slide into the slot, which would interfere with the formation of the knot, and
the delivery of the gavel..

page_text: The knotter which I have described dispenses with the use of all pivoted or sliding
parts, and thus reduces the liability of disarrangement and uncertain action, while
at the same time it performs its work with certainty, precision, and ease.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is
1. A knotter consisting of a cylindrical body projecting laterally from a revolving
shaft and having a transverse opening, and a slot extending from said opening in an
inclined direction to the top edge, leaving a solid outer end having an inclined upper
face, substantially as set forth.
2. A knotter consisting of a cylindrical body or head projecting laterally from a
revolving shaft, with a transverse opening through the body thereof, and an inclined
slot extending from said opening to the top edge, and having a solid end inclined
at the top, with grooves at the opposite sides of the latter, substantially as set forth.
ML 1000
GEO. C. RIVERS,
Agent for Applicant.