IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING OR MOWING MACHINES AND IN THE MODE OF TIEING OR BINDING INTO SHEAVES OR BUNDLES THE CORN OR OTHER PRODUCE CUT THEREBY.
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Hulcopp Withers, of Longparish, in the
County of Southampton, Farmer, and James Batchelor, of Andover,
in the same County, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN REAPING OR MOWING MACHINES AND IN THE MODE OF TIEING OR BINDING
INTO SHEAVES OR BUNDLES THE CORN OR OTHER PRODUCE CUT THEREBY.'
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Hulcopp
Withers and James Batchelor at the Office of the Commissioners'
of Patents, with their Petition, on the 1st July 1873.
We, HENRY HULCOPP WITHERS, of Longparish, in the County of
Southampton, Farmer, and JAMES BATCHELOR, of Andover, in the same
County, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING OR MOWING MACHINES AND IN THE MODE OF
TIEING OR BINDING INTO SHEAVES OR BUNDLES THE CORN OR OTHER PRODUCE CUT
THEREBY," to be as follows:-

page_text: the purpose of delivering the corn or other produce laterally either in
the form of "grips" or "swathe," and consists in attaching to the back
of the ordinary platform a second platform inclined downwards towards
the side of the machine furthest from the standing corn. Over this
platform travels an endless band or its equivalent, which receives the
corn as it falls from the first platform and delivers it to the ground, the
said endless band being driven in any convenient manner from the
machine itself. The corn will be delivered on to the second platform
either intermittently (to form "grips") or continuously (to form a
"swathe,") according as the rakes or reel of the reaping machine and
the endless bands on the second platform are set to operate, as is well
understood. The second platform is made hollow and provided with a
perforated top to catch and collect any loose grain or corn which may
become separated from the ears. The arms of the reel or of the rakes
are jointed at their ends in order to allow them to enter and travel
between the raised sides of a tapered platform, and thus bring the
corn into a smaller compass before it is delivered on to the second
platform.
The second part of this Invention relates to an improved mode of
tieing or binding into sheaves corn or other produce as fast as it is cut
by the reaping or mowing machine; and consists essentially in effecting
the said tieing or binding by causing the corn or other cut produce to be
forced or passed into an endless "bond" in contradistinction to passing
a ligature round the sheave and afterwards tieing the same.
In carrying out this part of our Invention we cause the corn or other
substance being cut to fall on the platform, which is constructed
narrower at the tail end, the object of which is to gather the sheaf to be
tied in a closer compass. The corn or other substance to be tied is
delivered from this platform by means of the reel arms which are driven
by any suitable or well known mechanical means.
In order to allow the reel arms to work in the tapering platform the
ends of the said arms are constructed with a hinge or joint, as herein-
before described, which allows the arm to work in the platform, the
jointed arms being opened by springs when they have cleared the plat-
form. The substance to be tied on being delivered from the platform
falls into a trough-shaped receptacle to receive it. This receptacle is
attached to the back of the platform, and may be constructed of any
material adapted for the purpose. At each end of this receptacle on

page_text: one side thereof there is fixed a pulley on which works a chain or strap,
to which is fixed a board or driver for pushing or propelling the corn
forwards. These pullies are driven from the cutting machine (by`
preference from the reel) and carry through the receptacle the board or
driver, which returns on the outside and so through again. The said
board or driver should be so constructed as to press downwards as well
as forwards the butts or the ends of the sheaf. The upper end of the
receptacle is constructed with a hinged mouth which opens on a joint
above. The "bond" to tie the sheaf is made endless and of any
suitable material, by preference of string or wire. This bond is placed
by the attendant over the tapered mouth through which the sheaf has
to pass. This bond prevents the mouth opening.
The operation of putting the bond on the sheaf may be explained as
follows: The endless bond is placed over the mouth and the sheaf
delivered in the trough-shaped receptacle, the driver being driven as
before explained works against the butt end of the sheaf, driving it up
the receptacle and through the contracted mouth. When the sheaf is
through the required distance the bond is forced off the mouth by a
catch on the chain or by a spring in the hinged part of the mouth or
other suitable means on to the sheaf, in this way bonding or ticing it
together. The bond being removed from the mouth allows the top part
of the mouth to open on its hinge, thus leaving room for the butt of the
sheaf and the driver to pass. The "bonded" sheaf now falls on to a
box which is inclined to allow the sheaf to roll sideways to the ground.
This box is constructed with a perforated top to catch any corn that
may be britted or beaten out on the platform or in the tieing
apparatus.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Hulcopp Withers and James Batchelor in
the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st January 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, HENRY
HULCOPP WITHERS, of Longparish, in the County of Southampton,
Farmer, and JAMES BATCHELOR, of Andover, in the same County,
Engineer, send greeting.

page_text: $
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the 37th year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto us, the said Henry Hulcopp. Withers and James Batchelor, He
special license that we, the said Henry Hulcopp Withers and James
Batchelor, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
wc, the said Henry Hulcopp Withers and James Batclielor, our executors,
administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
REAPING OR MOWING MACHINES AND IN THE MODE OF TIEING OR BINDING INTO
SHEAVES OR BUNDLES THE CORN OR OTHER PRODUCE CUT THEREBY," upon t
.the
condition (amongst others) that we, the said Henry Hulcopp Withers
and James Batchelor, our executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of
one of us, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Henry Hulcopp Withers and James
Batchelor, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had
to the accompanying Drawings and to the letters and figures marked
thereon, that is to say :-
Our said Invention relates to an improved mode of ticing or binding
into sheaves corn or other produce as fast as it is cut by the reaping or
mowing machine, and consists essentially in effecting the said tieing or
binding by causing the corn or other cut produce to be forced or passed
into an endless "bond" in contradistinction to passing a ligature round
the sheave and afterwards tieing the same.
In carrying out our Invention we cause the corn or other substance
being cut to fall on the platform, which is constructed narrower at the

page_text: tail end, the object of which is to gather the sheaf to be tied in a closer
compass. The corn or other substance to be tied is delivered from this
platform by means of the reel arms, which are driven by any suitable or
well known mechanical means.
In order to allow the reel arms to work in the tapering platform the
ends of the said arms are constructed with a hinge or joint as herein-
before described, which allows the arm to work in the platform, the
jointed arms being opened by springs when they have cleared the plat-
form, or the said arms may be made telescopic in lieu of being jointed,
or the ends may be made to slide inwards and outwards over the side of
the central part. The substance to be tied on being delivered from the
platform falls into a trough-shaped receptacle to receive it. This recep-
tacle is attached to the back of the platform; and may be constructed of
any material adapted for the purpose. At each end of this receptacle
on one side thereof there is fixed a pulley on which works a chain or
strap, to which is fixed a board or driver for pushing or propelling the
corn forwards. These pulleys are driven from the cutting machine (by
preference from the reel), and carry through the receptacle the board or
driver which returns on the outside, and so through again. The said
board or driver may be so constructed as to press downwards as well as
forwards the butts or the ends of the sheaf by jointing the upper part
thereof. The upper end of the receptacle is constructed with a hinged
mouth which opens on a joint above. The "bond" to tie the sheaf is
made endless and of any suitable material, by preference of string or
wire. This bond is placed by the attendant over the delivery edge of
the tapered mouth through which the sheaf has to pass. This bond
prevents the mouth opening.
The operation of putting the bond on the sheaf may be explained as
follows:- -The endless bond is placed over the mouth and the sheaf
delivered in the trough-shaped receptacle, the board or driver being
driven, as before explained, presses against the butt end of the sheaf,
driving it up the receptacle and through the contracted mouth. . When
the sheaf is through the required distance the bond is forced off the.
mouth by a catch on the chain, or by a spring in the hinged part of the
mouth, or other suitable means on to the sheaf, in this way bonding or
tying it together. The bond being removed from the mouth allows the
top part of the mouth to open on its hinge, thus leaving room for tlie:
butt of the sheaf and the board or driver to pass. The "bonded" sheaf

page_text: And in order that our said Invention may be fully understood we shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose
shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings,
"the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the
Figures.
Figure 1 of our Drawings represents a side elevation of a portion of a
reaping machine with our improvements attached; Figure 2 is a corre-
sponding plan of the same; and Figure 3 is a back or inner end clevation
of the trough detached from the platform.
•
A is the platform of any ordinary reaping machine, and B is one of
the running or driving wheels; C is the knife bar and fingers, and D is
the reel shaft, which may be driven in the usual manner by a belt E
from a pulley on the driving wheel. The platform A. is made to curve
upwards slightly in accordance with the path of the rakes F, and has its
two sides a, a, converging or approaching each other towards the rear of
the machine in order to gradually collect together in the form of a bundle
the cut corn before it is pushed into the trough G, which is hinged or
otherwise attached to the rear end of the platform. This trough, the
shape of which is shewn clearly in Figure 3, is supported on a roller H;
and is provided with a tapering mouth piece I at its rear end, the forward
end being left perfectly open for the purpose herein-after explained.
This mouth piece is fitted with a lid or cover K hinged to a metal band
at b, b, and when shut down is secured by placing a previously prepared
endless "bond" or band of annular form c, made in the form of a loop
by ticing or otherwise just over the lip or edge of the mouth piece. A
longitudinal slot is made along one side of this trough for the reception
of part of an endless band or chain L, which is mounted on pulleys d, d',
and caused to travel in the direction of the arrow by a belt or band M.
from a pulley on the reel shaft D. This band drives a pulley e on a
short shaft mounted in bracket bearings secured to one side of the
trough. A mitre wheel g on the said shaft gears into a corresponding
mitre wheel on the axis of the chain or band pulley d¹, and thus
imparts motion thereto. To the said endless chain or band there is

page_text: An
secured by one of its sides a travelling board or pusher N (see Figure 3)
which fits the interior of the lower part of the trough and pushes forward
longitudinally the cut corn which has been deposited in the said trough
by the rakes by pressing against the butt ends of the stalks.
inclined stay or prop i secured to the endless chain or band L behind the
pusher N, and bearing against the back of the pusher, serves to support
the same when imparting its thrust to the corn (see Figure 2). The
corn on being thus urged along is gradually compressed as it enters the
tapering mouth piece I, and by the time about one-half its length has
passed through the narrowest end thereof it will be ready for "bonding."
This is effected by slipping off the endless bond c from the lip of the
mouth piece on to the bundle or sheaf by the action of a catch or pro-
jection (Figure 2), which is secured to the endless chain or band L about
eighteen inches in advance of the pusher N, the said catch by coming
in contact with the "bond" causing it to slip off the mouth piece on to
the sheaf, which is thus instantly bound. The detaching of the "bond"
releases the hinged cover K of the mouth piece, which is consequently
free to open upwards on its hinges b, b, to allow of the passage of the
thicker or butt end of the sheaf and of the pusher N.
..
The sheaf falls on to an inclined box or platform O and rolls down the
same and deposits itself by the side of the track of the machino furthest
from the standing corn. Any loose grain that may be shaken out of
the ears during the above described operations will fall through the
screen 1, forming the top of the inclined box or platform, and will be
collected beneath. On issuing from the contracted mouth piece the
board or pusher N will with its stay or prop i pass round the pulley d,
and will return to the opposite end of the trough, passing round the
pulley and entering the end of the trough in readiness for the next
bundle of corn which has been deposited therein by the rakes on the
reel, a fresh endless "bond" having in the meantime been placed on
the end of the contracted mouth piece. Each rake head may be made
to deposit only sufficient corn for half a bundle or sheaf, or two entire
sheaves may be deposited in the trough at each revolution of the
reel.
If desired the upper part of the pusher N may be hinged to the lower.
part and the stav i may be made to hear against the coid unus

page_text: upon the butt ends of the corn, which will thus, be prevented from
accidentally rising over the top of the pusher.
In order that the rakes F may pass freely between the converging
raised sides a, a, of the platform we make the rake heads so as to bo
capable of contracting by their pressure against the converging sides
a, a, which result may be obtained in various ways; for example, each
rake head may be made in three parts, the two ends being self-adjustable
'either telescopically or made to slide in and out over the centre portion,
a spring forcing such ends outwards again, or they may be hinged to the
centre part as shewn at m (Figure 2) of our Drawings, and provided
with a curved arm n, which by sliding against the inner surfaces of the
raised sides a, a, will cause the two hinged parts to fold forwards and
embrace or gather together the butt ends of the corn as they approach
the narrowest part of the platform, which is clearly shewn in Figure 2
of our Drawings. A flat blade or other spring o; o, serves to restore the
hinged parts of the rake heads to their original position again so soon as
they have passed out of the contracted end of the platform.
.
In cases where the delivery is effected from the side of the platform
the platform need not have converging sides, and the rakes will deliver
the corn on to an endless travelling band or web, which will convey it :
laterally into the before-mentioned trough G, when the operations will
be carried on as previously described.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, we would observe in conclusion that what we consider a
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The application and use of endless or annular-shaped "bonds".
for uniting cut corn or other like farm produce into sheaves or bundles,
substantially as herein-before described.
%.
Second. The peculiar combination and arrangement of apparatus to
be applied to a reaping machine for the purpose of collecting the cut
produce into bundles and bonding the same by an endless or annular
"bond," substantially in the manner herein-before described and illus-
trated by our Drawings.
Third. The combination of the collecting trough, the hinged contracted.
mouth piece, the travelling pusher, and the endless "bond" when

page_text: arranged to operate together in conjunction with the rakes of a reaping
machine, substantially as and for the purpose herein-before described
and illustrated by our Drawings.
Fourth. The combination with a reaping machine platform having
converging sides of fake heads capable of self-adjustment to accomo-
date themselves to the gradually diminishing width of the said platform,
substantially as and for the purpose herein-before described and illus-
trated by our Drawings.
"
Fifth. The combination with the herein-before described self-acting
bonding" apparatus of an inclined box having a perforated or open
wirework surface for delivering the bonded sheaves laterally and for
separating and collecting at the same time any loose seeds that may be
shaken from the cars of corn, substantially as herein-before described
and illustrated by our Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Batchelor, on behalf of
myself and the said Henry Hulcopp Withers, have to this our
Specification set my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of
December, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.