Improvements in Sheaf Binding or Trussing Mechanism Worked by Hand or otherwise.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 11th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 24th Jan., 1891
CROBIAL DEPUTATION.
Improvements in Sheaf Binding or Trussing Mechanism Worked by
Hand or otherwise.
I, AUGUSTE BERNARD ALBARET, of Lioncourt, Rantigny, (Oise) in the Republic
of France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to sheaf binding mechanism capable of working independently
of other machines and enabling the work of binding or trussing sheaves after
roaping or other machines to be performed with great rapidity and economy of
labour.
The improved mechanism or certain parts thereof may also be employed in com-
bination with self binding harvesting and other like agricultural machinery but my
invention relates chiefly to the construction of an independent portable sheaf binding
machine combining strength with lightness and being mounted on wheels or otherwise
arranged so as to be readily transported from place to place or moved about a field
among the corn requiring to be bound into sheaves after being cut by hand or
otherwise.
The knotter mechanism is constructed with one cum or cam wheel and is arranged
in such a manner as to facilitate adjustment and compensation for wear. The cam
wheel is provided with segmental racks on opposite sides so arranged that when the
needle or binder arm carrying the string has placed the latter in the proper notch of
the gripper dise one of the racks drives a pinion and a worarspindle which describe
half a revolution causing a small worm wheel and the gripper disc to move sufficiently
to approach the string to a brake or knotting device the string being firmly held by
the action of a spring when the needle arm retires.
The gripper disc is carried by a swinging frame suspended or vibrating on centres
so as to be capable of yielding thus facilitating the tying and obviating risk of breaking
the string.
The knot is tied with the aid of a presser foot or knotter worked by a pinion gearing
with one of the racks on the cam wheel so as to be capable of describing a complete
revolution.
In working this machine the cam wheel is rotated continuously during each binding
operation by means of a crank handle or otherwise but the pinion driving the gripper
disc after describing half a revolution on the passage of the rack remains stationary
being prevented from rotating by means of a boss or coilar provided with recesses
which engage with a flange on the periphery of the cam wheel so as to render it
impossible for the pinion to rotate until it comes into gear with a second set of rack
teeth which at the required moment move the gripper disc up to the brake or clutch
so as to bring the next notch into the proper position for engaging with the string
presented to it by the next movement of the needle arm.
The notched disc which had been swung to the left is now by the action of a spring
swung back to the right the extent of its displacement being regulated by a screw or
adjustable stop. The jerk occurring when the rack strikes the pinion is thus neutralised.
A knife worked by the cam wheel cuts the string after the knot is tied and the machine
can be adjusted for any suitable sizes of sheaves and all the sheaves are of uniform size
according to the adjustinent of the machine.
The notched gripper disc when owing to wear it fails to advance the string to the
requisite point can be adjusted by means of a species of vernier mechanisin. Two
ock nuts on the spindle of the disc are unscrewed and the worm wheel removed. The

page_text: disc can then be adjusted in the required position so that one of a series of holes
recesses or notches formed in the disc for this purpose receives a pin or stop on a collar
fixed on a square on the spindle. The lock nuts are then to be screwed on to retain all
the parts in position.
The number of notches in the gripper disc is even but the number of the aforesaid
holes or recesses for the adjustment is odd thus enabling the disc to be adjusted with
great precision. An adjustable tube or sleeve is also provided on the spindle so as to
enable the disc to be moved through a quarter of a revolution when this is rendered
necessary by wear.
The mechanism is arranged upon a barrow or other suitable vehicle the cam wheel
of the knotting mechanism being placed on a horizontal driving shaft rotated by
means of suitable toothed gearing and a crank handle; the needle or binder arm
being carried by another shaft parallel to the driving shaft but situated at a lower
level.
The driving shaft constitutes the tier or knotter shaft and describes one revolution
for each sheaf its movement being transmitted by a combination of cranks or levers
and connecting rod or pitman to the needle or binder arm shaft in such a manner that
the continuous rotation of the driving shaft is converted into the required rocking or
rotary motion of the needle arm shaft.
On the knotter shaft to the right and left of the cam wheel are stop levers or
supports for the straw and delivery.lovers or arms for the sheaves the delivery arms
being shorter than the supports.
"
The sheaf is formed on an inclined table placed between the driving shaft and the
needle arm shaft and provided with an opening for the passage of the needle arm. A
sheet metal plate is provided above the table acting as a guide facilitating the
arrangement of the straw in the proper position.
In order that the driving shaft may not make more than one revolution for each
sheaf the upper transverse bar of the framing is provided with a stop composed of
a plain bolt or locking pin engaging with a recess or projection on the boss of a toothed
wheel keyed on the said shaft.
When about to bind a sheaf with the machine this bolt is drawn back or disengaged
from the notch and the crank handle moved sufficiently to prevent the bolt from
returning. When the driving shaft has completed its revolution the bolt drops or
returns and locks the shaft automatically.
A pawl and ratchet or other equivalent device is also provided so as to render it
impossible to turn the handle the wrong way.
The action of the mechanism is as follows:-
The apparatus being at rest the string proceeding from the string box is carried
through the tension regulator, through the eye of the needle, under the presser foot or
knotter and the end is made fast in the notched gripper disc.
The straw is placed on the table and pushed down on to the supporting levers with
the string under it; the locking bolt is then disengaged and the driving or knotter
shaft caused to describe one complete revolution. The needle arm advances and wraps
the string round the straw bringing the fold of string up to the knotter which then
ties the knot automatically.
When the needle or binder arm advances the tension acts on the string so as to
regulate the tightness of the sheaf. The needle carries the string to the gripper disc
which seizes it.
The knot being tied and the string re-engaged with the gripper the string is severed
by the automatic cutter between the knot and the gripper. The driving shaft rotating
as these operations are being performed the discharging levers or arins are brought
into action and expel the sheaf and when the driving shaft bas completed its revolution
all the parts have returned to their original position and are in readiness to receive
another charge of straw.
The knotting devices may be of any other suitable construction and in place of the
supporting levers or arms herein before described an extension or arm working in

page_text: guides and connected to the needle or binder arm may be employed to support the
loose straw.
Dated this 11th Jos 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sheaf Binding or Trussing Mechanism Worked by
Hand or otherwise.
I AUGUSTE BERNARD ALBARET of Lioncourt, Rantigny (Oise) in the Republic of
France, Engineer, 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 :-
Agriculturists have for a long time felt the need of an independent sheaf binding
machine which would bind cut corn economically and quickly and thus accelerate the
work of binding crops in readiness for putting up in piles or stacking or storing in
barns or otherwise for protection against the weather.
It is the object of my present invention to provide a machine that will supply these
requirements and I have now succeeded in constructing a portable and independent
binding machine hereinafter referred to as the "Albaret vehicle" capable of being
easily moved about and worked by hand as hereinafter described for the purpose of
binding cut corn or straw with great rapidity and economy of labour
The improved binding mechanism or certain parts thereof may also be employed in
combination with self binding harvesting and other like agricultural machinery such
as a thrashing machine but my invention relates chiefly to the construction of the
independent portable sheaf binding machine worked by hand and constructed as
hereinafter described so as to combine strength with lightness being mounted on
wheels or arranged so as to be readily transported by hand from place to place or
moved about a field among the corn requiring to be bound into sheaves after being
cut by hand or otherwise."
And in order that my said invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the several
figures on the annexed sheets of drawings the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the figures.
•
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings represent in side elevation and in
plan respectively a sheaf binding machine according to my invention arranged upon
a wheelbarrow frame.
Figure 3 represents the machine in end elevation viewed from the wheel end and
Figure represents a detail of a stop action hereinafter described.
Figures 5 and 6 represent the machine in transverse section and shew two different
positions occupied by the parts in the operation of binding a sheave.
Figures 7 to 10 drawn to a larger scale illustrate the knotter mechanism partly in
section.
Figures 11 to 14 illustrate details of an arrangement adjusting a gripper disc
connected with the knotter mechanism in order to compensate for wear as hereinafter
explained.
In the first place I will describe the improvements in the mechanism for tying up
the sheaves as iliustrated in Figures 7 to 14. This mechanism which is employed to
tie the knot with precision and regularity is of simple construction the number of
parts being reduced to a minimum. Its parts receive motion from a single cam
wheel A' Figures 7, 9 and 10 and the gripper disc is arranged in such a manner as to
facilitate adjustment and compensation for wear. This cam wheel A' is provided on
the left hand face, Figures 7 and 10 with a segmental rack having 7 teeth and on
the right hand side with two racks having 3 teeth in each rack. When the
needle or binder arm Y (Figures, 1, 3, 5 and 6) carrying the string has placed
the latter in the proper notch of the gripper disc D Figures 7 and 9 the three

page_text: toothed circular rack f imparts rotary motion to an eight toothed pinion L'
Figure 7 and to a worm L which thereupon describe half a revolution causing a
small worm wheel N¹ (Figures 7, 9, 12 and 13) and the gripper disc D₁ to
perform a corresponding fraction of a revolution or move sufficiently to carry the
string to a brake E' the string being securely retained by the notion of a spring M
when the needle arm retires.
The gripper disc and its mechanism are carried by a swinging frame E³ Figures 7
and 9 suspended or vibrating at E on the axis B so as to be capable of yielding to
the pull of the string and allowing the gripper disc D¹ to move to the position indicated
in dotted lines at D Figure 9 thus facilitating the tying of the knot and obviating
risk of breaking the string provided that the latter is of good quality.
The knot is tied with the aid of an ordinary knotting hook or knotter jaws h¹
Figures 9 and 10 worked by a pinion L. This pinion has eight teeth gearing with
the rack on the can wheel which is capable of causing the pinion to describe one
complete revolution.
In working this machine the cam wheel A¹ is rotated continuously during each
binding operation by means of a crank handle or otherwise but the gripper disc
pinion L' after describing half a revolution on the passage of the rack on the cam
wheel remains stationary for a certain period being prevented from rotating by means
of a boss or collar Figures 7 and 8 provided with recesses or concaves which
engage with a flange d (Figures 7, 9 and 10) on the periphery of the cain wheel A'
so as to render it impossible for this pinion to rotate except when it is acted on by the
rack teeth for ¹. The second set-of rack teeth produces at the required moment
the second half of the revolution of the pinion L' and moves the gripper disc up to
the brake E¹ to the extent of half the pitch so as to bring the next notch into the
proper position for engaging with the string presented to it by the next movement of
the needle arm Y.
The notched disc which had been swung to the left (dotted position D²) is now by
the action of a spring K Figure 9 swung back to the right at D¹ the extent of its
displacement being regulated by an adjustable stop such as a screw V working in a
bracket V² and provided with a lock nut. The jerk occurring when the teeth of the
segmental rack strike the pinion L' is thus neutralised.
A knife S Figures 9 and 10 on a lever provided with a roller T Figure 10 worked
by the cam wheel A¹ cuts the string after the knot is tied and the machine can be
adjusted beforehand for any suitable sizes of sheaves and all the sheaves are of uniform
size whether the crop be light or heavy.
When the notched gripper disc D owing to wear, fails to advance the string
properly to the brake that is to say advances it to the extent of half or part of a
notch only it can be adjusted by means of a species of vernier mechanism. Two lock
nuts F Figure 12 on the spindle of the disc are unscrewed or loosened and the worm
wheel N' removed with the spindle I. This wheel is then replaced in such a position
as to present the disc D' in the required position one of a series of holes recesses or
notches formed in the disc for this purpose being caused to engage with a pin or
stop a Figures 12 and 13 on a collar H' fixed on a square on the spindle 1. The
lock nuts are then to be screwed on so as to retain all the parts in position.
The number of notches D³ Figure 13 in the gripper disc D' is even (6 being
employed in the example illustrated) but the number of the aforesaid holes or recesses
represented by dotted circles in Figure 13 for the adjustment odd thus enabling the
disc to be adjusted with great precision. An adjustable tube or sleeve n¹ Figures 11
and 12 is also provided on the spindle so as to enable the disc to be moved through a
quarter of a revolution when this is rendered necessary by wear.
I will now describe how this knotting mechanism is arranged upon the wheelbarrow
frame and the general construction of the latter. This wheelbarrow is constructed
with a strong frame A. Figures 1, 2 and 3 carrying all the parts of the mechanism
The tying apparatus indicated at Z is worked by a shaft B the cam wheel of th
knotting mechanism being placed on this horizontal and longitudinal driving shaft
.rotated by means of suitable toothed gearing and a crank handle K. The needle o

page_text: binder arm Y is carried by a shaft V parallel to the driving shaft but situated at a
lower level. The string is carried in a string box L and passes through a tension
device H to an eye at the end of the needle.
It
The driving shaft carries the wheel Z Figure 1 corresponding to the cam wheel A¹
of the knotter hereinbefore described and describes one revolution for each sheaf.
receives motion from the crank handle K through toothed gearing E and F suitably
proportioned according to the power required and transmits motion through an
adjustable connecting rod or pitman O and arm N to the needle or bindor arm shaft V
in such a manner that the continuous rotation of the driving shaft B is converted into
the required rocking or angular motion of the needle arm shaft V.
On the knotter shaft B to the right and left of the cam wheel A¹ Figure 1 are two
stop levers or supports R R for the straw, and delivery lovers or kicker arms
for
the sheaves, the delivery arms being shorter than the supports R R³ and not being
arranged in the same plane as the latter.
The sheaf is formed on an inclined chute or table T placed between the driving
shaft B and the needle arm shaft V and provided with an opening for the passage of
the needle arm Y. A sheet metal plate T is provided above the tablo at the part
opposite to the knotter and acts as a guide facilitating the arrangement of the straw
in the proper position.
In order that the driving shaft B may not make more than one revolution for each
sheaf the upper transverse bar D of the framing is provided with a stop composed of a
plain bolt or locking pin Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 engaging with a projection or
recess a on the boss of the toothed wheel E keyed on the said shaft.
When about to bind a sheaf with the machine this bolt vis drawn back or
disengaged from the recess a by hand and the crank handle K moved sufficiently to
prevent the bolt from re-engaging when released. The bolt then rests on the side of
the boss and drops into the recess when the driving shaft has completed its revolution
and again presents the recess opposite the end of the bolt which locks the shaft
automatically. A pawl and ratchet ta Fig. 1 or other equivalent device is also
provided so as to render it impossible to turn the handle K the wrong way.
The action of the méchanism is as follows. The apparatus being at rest (Figure 3)
the string proceeding from the string box L is carried through the tension regulator H,
through the eye of the needle N (which is turned down under the table T) under the
knotter jaws or knotting hook at n and the end is made fast in the notched gripper
disc indicated at .
A sufficient quantity of cut corn or straw to form the sheaf is placed on the table T
by hand and pushed down on to the supporting levers R R with the string under it
into the position represented by the hatching in Figure 5; the locking bolt v is then
disengaged and the driving or knotter shaft B caused to describe one complete
revolution by rotating the crank handle K. This causes the needle arm Y to advance
and wrap the string round the straw (Figure 6) bringing the fold of string up to the
knotter jaws or knotting hook at n which then ties the knot automatically. When
the needle or binder arm advances the adjustable tension device H acts on the string
so as to regulate the tightness of the sheaf. The needle also carries the string to the
gripper disc at which seizes it at the same time releasing the string which was
previously engaged with the disc.
The knot being tied and the string re-engaged with the gripper the string is severed
by the automatic cutter S between the knot and the gripper. The driving shaft con-
tinuing to rotate as these operations are being performed the discharging levers or
arms rare brought into action and expel the sheaf driving it down to the lower end
of the table whence it drops out on to the ground. When the driving shaft B has
completed one revolution all the parts return to their original position in readiness to
receive another charge of straw.
The knotter may be of any other suitable construction in place of that hereinbefore
described and the improved knotter constructed as hereinbefore described may be
applied to any other agricultural machine. In place of the supporting levers or
arms R R hereinbefore described an extension or arm 9 Figures 3, 5 and 6 forming

page_text: an extension of the needle or binder arm Y may be employed to support the loose
straw a special guide being provided under the table at X Figure 3 for supporting the
said arm or extension.
The forms and dimensions and other details of construction of the parts of the
binding machine or "Albaret vehicle" herein before described by way of example may
evidently be modified according to the nature of the work to be performed and the
mechanism may be placed upon a wheelbarrow, cart stretcher frame or any other
suitable support travelling on wheels or otherwise capable of being readily transported
from place to place.
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 I
claim is :-
1. An independent portable sheaf or straw binding machine capable of being easily
transported to the place where the work has io be performed and of being worked by
hand the said machino being constituted by the combination of an automatic knotter
and a portable frame or support such as a hand barrow wheelbarrow or other vehicle
substantially as herein before described.
2. In combination with an automatic knotter or binding machine comprising a
knotter Z and a needle Y the mechanism formed by two shafts such as B and V
connected by a mechanism for transmitting motion and converting the continuous
rotary motion of the first shaft into a rocking motion of the second shaft the entire
combination being carried upon a portable support or frame so as to constitute an
independent binding machine in the manner and for the purpose. substantially as
hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1, 3, 5 and 6 of the accompanying
drawings.
8. In combination with the mechanism for transmission of motion referred to in
the second claiming clause and an automatic knotter the arrangement of a stop action
constituted by a catch or bolt and a projection or recess a for automatically stopping
the binder or knotter shaft B when it has made the one revolution which suffices for
the binding of a sheave substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to
Figures 1, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
4. In combination with the niechanism for transmitting motion referred to in the
second claiming clause and an automatic knottor the arrangement of the ratchet
motion st preventing the crank handle K from turning backwards substantially us
herein before described with reference to Figures 1, 3 and 4 of the accompanying
drawings.
5. In a portable sheaf or straw binding machine such as that hereinbefore described
or in a self binding reaper or other agricultural machine the special arrangement of
the knotter or tying mechanism operating substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to Figures 7, 9, and 10 of the accompanying drawings.
6. In sheaf or straw binding machinery for self binding reapers or other agricultural
machines the arrangement hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 11, 12,
13 and 14 of the accompanying drawings enabling the gripper disc D¹ to be adjusted
in order to compensate for wear substantially as herein before described.
7. The several arrangements and combinations of parts constituting the improve-
ments in sheaf binding or trussing mechanism substantially as herein before described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 9th day of December 1890.
TATTRA