IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES WHEREIN THE STALKS OF WHEAT OR OTHER CEREALS ARE ARRANGED IN BUNDLES OR SHEAVES AND TIED OR BOUND
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Melville Thomson Neale, of Southsea; in the County of
Hants, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES
WHEREIN THE STALKS OF WHEAT OR OTHER CEREALS ARE ARRANGED IN
BUNDLES OR SHEAVES AND TIED OR BOUND."
Pealed the 21st October 1876, and dated the 3rd August 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Melville Thomson Neale at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd August 1876.
MELVILLE THOMSON NEALE, of Southsea, in the County of Hants. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES, WHEREIN THE STALKS OF WHEAT OR OTHER
CEREALS ARE ARRANGED IN BUNDLES OR SHEAVES AND TIED OR BOUND."
This Invention relates to harvesting machines constructed with apparatus for
arranging the stalks of wheat or other cereals that have been collected by the
machine into bundles or sheaves, and tying or binding such bundles before they
leave the machine.
According to my Invention the stalks having been deposited on the platform of
the machine are caused to pass in quantities sufficient to form a bundle or sheaf
into a receptacle formed in two longitudinally slotted parts, arranged in the same
axial line but having a small space between them; to these two parts rotatory
motion at a speed common to both is imparted by suitable gearing; one of them
carries a carrier resembling a pair of pincers (herein-after called the twine carrier)
whereby one end of a length of tarred twine or other binding material is carried
around the bundle or sheaf of stalks whilst it is held in the rotating receptacle, the
twine passing in between the adjacent ends of the two parts of the receptacle; a
portion of the length of tarred twine, intermediate between the end that is being
carried round and the main ball or roll, is during this time formed into a couple of
loops by an automatic looper, and the end of the twine held by the twine carrier
having been thereby carried round the bundle or sheaf is then siezed by a pair of
reciprocating pincers and by them drawn through the loops, then the twine or
binding material is knotted, thus completing the tying up or binding of the bundle
or sheaf, whereupon the twine is severed at the proper point by a suitable cutter,
thus releasing the bundle or sheaf so that it may fall to the ground through the

page_text: slots in the receptacle, leaving the end of the twine free to be carried up by the
spring tension apparatus herein-after mentioned.
The tarred twine or other binding material is arranged in a ball or roll, as already
stated, and the free end after passing over a spring tension apparatus is conveyed
through suitable guides to and passed partly around each one of a couple of pulleys,
each provided with a small guide pulley, whereby the end of the twine or other
binding material is at the proper time presented to the twine carrier by which it is
to be carried round the bundle or shenf.
The sides of the platform converge as they approach the receiving end of the
receptacle, which may be trumpot-shaped or equivalently formed, to guide the
stalks as they are pushed forward by the rakes or gatherers which are constructed
in parts to slide one upon or within another, so as to accomodate themselves to the
converging sides of the gradually narrowing platform and to open out again to the
requisite extent on again approaching its forward or wider end."
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Melville Thomson Neale in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd
February 1877.
MELVILLE THOMSON NEALE, of Southsea, in the County of Hants.
"IMPROVE-
MENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES, WHEREIN THE STALKS OF WHEAT OR OTHER
CEREALS ARE ARRANGED IN BUNDLES OR SHEAVES AND TIED OR BOUND."
This Invention relates to harvesting machines constructed with apparatus for
arranging the stalks of wheat or other cercals that have been collected by the
machine into bundles or sheaves, and tying or binding such bundles before they
leave the machine.
According to my Invention the stalks having been deposited on the platform
of the machine are caused to pass (in quantities sufficient to form a bundle or
sheaf) into a suitable receptacle. A carrier resembling a pair of pincers (here-
after called the twine carrier) carries one end of a length of tarred twine or other
binding material around the bundle or sheaf of stalks whilst the said bundle or
sheaf is held in the said receptacle. A portion of the length of tarried twine, inter-
mediate between the end that is being carried round and the main roll or recl, is
during this time formed into a couple of loops by an automatic looper, and the
end of the twine held by the twine carrier having been thereby carried round the
bundle or sheaf is then seized by a pair of reciprocating pincers, and by them
drawn through the loops, then the twine or binding material is knotted, thus com-
pleting the tying up or binding of the bundle or sheaf, whereupon the twine is
severed at the proper point by a suitable cutter.
The tarred twine or other binding material is arranged in a roll on a reel, as
already stated, and the unwound portion after passing over a spring tension
apparatus is conducted by suitable guide pullies towards, and the free end of the
twine or other binding material is, at the proper time presented to the twine carrier
by which it is to be carried round the bundle or sheaf.

page_text: Fig. 9 is an elevation (full size) of the automatic looper, whereby the loops aro
formed in the twine and are afterwards held in a suitable position to allow the free
end of the twine to be passed through the said loops.
Fig. 10 is a plan (full size) of the apparatus whereby the free end of the twine
is drawn through the loops; Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the same.
Fig. 12 shews the formation of the knot before it is tightened up.
A is the main frame or platform having an inclined part A rising from the
knife bar B, the rest of the platform is level, as shown; B is the knife bar; B' aro
the fingers of the reaping machine; C is an intermittent shutter formning part of
the receptacle for the stalks to be bound. This shutter is fixed to and is capable of
radial movement with a centre pin C¹, to which is also fixed a slotted arm C³ which
is actuated by an arm C, carrying at one end a pin which takes into the slot of
the arm C. The arm C is attached to an endless chain C, which is driven by
wheels C³, placed underneath the flat part of the platform. These wheels are moved
by bevil gear D from a shaft D', on which is placed a bevil wheel De which gears
into and is driven by the tying ring E, which carries the twine carrier; F is the
fixed portion of the receptacle which holds the stalks to be bound.
When the shutter C is in its closed position it and the portion F form together
a receptacle, whose cross section is cylindrical with an upper space or opening at G;
His a moveable piston or pusher which fits within the receptacle C, F. This
piston or pusher is supported by rollers H, H; the rollers travel on a rail on
the upper edge of the fixed portion F of the receptacle, and the rollers H² on a
rail I fixed below. The piston or pusher is caused to travel, as required, by an
endless chain J running on wheels K, K, which take their motion from a shaft L by
means of bevil wheels L' working a train of three wheels L, which actuate the
shaft of the sunaller of the chain wheels K. The shaft L takes its motion by means
of cog wheels M from the shaft M' which belongs to the reaper, and gives motion
to the sickle or reciprocating knife, as is well understood. The same shaft L by
means of the pinion N works the tying ring E. The periphery of this tying ring
has one half of its width composed of teeth, the other half is without teeth, but has
a V shaped groove running all round. Into this groove fit the correspondingly
formed peripheries of a number (in the present case four) of antifriction wheels O,
held in place by a strap 0¹, and forming a cradle in which the tying ring revolves.
The outer part of the tying ring, that is, the part nearest the ejecting rake P carries
the pair of spring pincers Q, herein-before referred to as the "twine carrier." The
ejecting rake P, which is designed to ensure the removal of the bound sheaves, is
worked by a shaft taking motion from a pair of bevil wheels R actuated by a shaft
wheel
passing through the tying box, at the further end of which is the large cog
R, which takes its motion from a pinion on the shaft L; S is the roll of twine; T,
the spring tension; U, one of the guide pullies. The box V encloses the tying
apparatus herein after described; ✗ represents parts of the ordinary reaping
machine.
The action of the machine is as follows:-The corn or other cereal having been
cut by the sickle B² falls on the inclined platform A', over whose curved edge tho
revolving rakes X' of the reaper, or any two or more of them sweep the stalks
endwise on to the platform A. During the working of the machine the endless
chain C is travelling continuously in the direction indicated by the arrows, and
through the arm gives an intermittent reciprocating motion to the slotted arm Cr,
and by it to the shutter C. It will be evident from the Drawing that at the
termination of each stroke of the slotted arm C it will have a period of rest, equal
to the time occupied in carrying the arm C³ round one half the circumference of the
corresponding chain wheel. Thus the shutter has two periods of rest, one at the
moment the stalks are deposited by the revolving rakes, and the other afterwards, as
will be seen. The stalks having been so deposited on the platform A are imme-
diately swept by the shutter C towards the fixed portion F, until they become
enclosed in the receptacle C, F. The shutter C then remains stationary or performs
its other period of rest, whilst the moveablo circular piston or pusher H advances
•

page_text: within the receptacle, pushing the stalks partly out through the tying ring E until
the outer ends arrive at a suitable distance from the twine carrier. The shutter C
then recedes to its foriner position (shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1.) for the next
supply, and the piston or pusher also moves back into position for the next stroke.
The piston or pusher H after a short period of rest retires to the point W, some
little distance beyond where it commences its stroke, which distance of traverse to
and fro, added to the period of rest which it obtains by its wheel K (this chain gear
being constructed in a similar manner to that of the shutter C) is sufficient to allow
the stalks to be deposited on the platform A, and brought round by the shutter C
into the receptacle C, F.
The chain J, which is driven as described by the shaft L passes over two toothed
wheels, the one nearer to the tying box being of considerably smaller diameter than
the other to allow of the difference in the periods of rest.
The stalks having been pushed to the required extent through the tying ring E,
which is continually revolving, lies with the ears down on the depressed table Y,
and in this position the spring pincers (twine carrier) Q, which are opened by the
part Q (Fig. 7), striking against a small fixed cam placed on the cradle O' seize
the string near its end, as it depends from the guide pulley U (to which the twine
is led from the reel S by passing over a spring tension T, which latter is drawn
outward by this action), and carry it round the bundle of stalks; as, however, the
spring tension prevents too much string from being drawn out the bundle of stalks
is gradually and tightly encircled. The reel S is supported by brackets or
standards S1 and S2, and springs are interposed between the caps and upper brasses
of the bearings (see Fig. 5) to act as brakes in such manner as that to rotate the
reel the tension of the twine must-be such as to previously overcome the resistance
of the tension spring, and to draw it forward so far as that when it returns to its
nornal position, on the severing of the twine, the free end of the latter shall be
drawn by the tension spring into the proper position for being scized by the pincers
or twine carrier Q to be carried around the succeeding bundle of stalks.
The apparatus for forming the knot is contained in the box V. The twine after
leaving the reel and passing over the spring tension and over its pulley, as before
described, thence passes under the recl (see Fig. 5), over the pulley U, through
suitable guides, and under a pulley 2 in the plate 1; thence the twine is carried
across, in a horizontal manner, over a boss 3 (see Fig. 3), which is part of an arm 4
slightly curved at the extreme end, and which arm is keyed on to and revolves
with the shaft 5. This shaft 5 is driven by a pair of bevil wheels attached to it,
and the main shaft 24, which goes through the tying box. The operation of
threading the spring tension and pulleys, and carrying over to the boss 3 must be
performed by the attendant before commencing work. The tying ring E carries its
spring pincers (twine carrier) Q to the twine at 3, and by opening at this precise
moment, as previously described, and immediately closing again, the said pincers
seize and retain the twine, which is thus drawn out and carried round the bundle
of stalks contained in the receptacle C, F.
The spring pincers Q have a fan-like tail 6 (see Fig. 8) at their end, into which
the twine enters during the rotation of the tying ring É; the use of this fan-like
tail will be presently described. Immediately the twine is seized the arm 4 in its
revolution comes underneath it, as shewn in Fig. 3. 7 is a roller carried by an arm
8 rotating on a centre 9, to which arm is attached a slotted crank 10, in which
moves a pin 11 attached to a rod 12, which rod is actuated by a cam 13 keyed on
to a shaft 24 (see Fig. 6). When the twine is seized as above mentioned the roller
7 is forced down froin the position 15 (Fig. 6) to the position of 7 (Fig. 6) by the
cam 13, and in falling it strikes and carries with it the twine which is being drawn
by the rotating pincers Q, thus drawing fresh twine from the reel. This action
brings the intermediate portion of the twine (that is, that portion between the
roller 7 and the pulleys above) into a perpendicular position and close to the
revolving looper 16. A balance weight 17 is placed on the end of the lever 8,
which causes it to rise to the position 15 ou being released by the cam 13. It

page_text: should be mentioned here that 4 is constantly revolving during this, and in doing
so it carries the twine gradually across its boss 3, thus reforming (for the next sheaf)
the horizontal position of the twine across the path of the revolving pincers. The
looper 16 is worked by means of an intermittent wheel 18 and a pinion 26, the
wheel 18 is worked by means of bevel wheels 19, one of which is keyed on to and
worked by the shaft 20. The intermittent wheel 18 is constructed with a number
of teeth arranged in three sets on its periphery, each of two (27), (28), of these
sets of teeth is sufficient to cause one complete rotation of the looper 16 through
the pinion 26. The third set of teeth (29) is composed of a smaller number of
teeth sufficient only to produce one-fourth of a revolution of the looper 16. The
object of this arrangement is to enable the looper 16 to form the two loops, one
when operated by the teeth 27, the other when operated by the teeth 28, and to be
moved out of the way to allow the reciprocating pincers to pass when operated by
the teeth 29, it being understood that the first partial revolution, or that caused by
teeth 27, is through only three quarters of a complete circle, whilst 28 produces a
complete revolution, the reason of the former being that the action of 27 starts it
from the spot where the two teeth 29 have left it. The shaft 20, which by a pair
of bevel wheels drives the intermittent wheels 18, is worked by a train of three
wheels 21, 22, and 23, the latter of which is keyed on to the main shaft 24, which
passes through the box V, on to the end of which shaft is fixed the large outside
wheel 25 (see Figs. 1 and 3). The looper 16 having made one revolution round
the twine, thus forming one loop, that loop (when the looper has resumed the
position shewn in Fig. 9) is forced off the looper by a plate or pusher 30 which fits
round the looper. This plate or pusher 30 radiates from the centre, from which the
curve of the looper 16 itself is described and motion is transmitted to the said
plate or pusher in the following manner :-On the shaft 24 is a cam 40 having two
projections, which projections strike and actuate a lever 38, which gives motion to
the short arm 35. At one end of this arm is an universal joint 34 forming a
connection with a cranked arm 33. A shaft 31 working in bearings 32 is by these
means caused to partially rotate and operate the pusher or plate to force the loops
off the looper as described.
The lever end or pin 37 has an india-rubber spring 46, which is attached to a
hook 47 at the bottom of the box, and which causes an instant return of 30 to its
place against 48, which is a larger part of the looper 16, thus allowing the latter
to make another revolution freely. The first loop, on being struck off by 30, passes
on to and tightens round the fore part of a steel tube 49 (see Fig. 5) which has in
the meantime advanced into the hollow end 50 of the looper 16 to receive it. This
tube is hung from the top of the box by a rod 51 attached to it at 52, and being
able to play backwards and forwards at 53, which motion is given by a back lever
54 attached at 55 to 51, and carrying a pin or roller at 56, which works in a groove
in a face can 57 keyed on to the main shaft 24, which cam, having two throws in
its groove, causes the steel tube 49 to be advanced twice and at the right intervals
into the recess 50 of the looper to receive the two loops as they are successively
formed. The first loop having been placed on the tube 49 is there held by a pair
of spring nippers 58 (centred at 59) which are actuated in the following manner :-
The strikers 60, 61, and 62 on the disc 63 (fixed on shaft 5) come in contact with
pin 64, which is attached to the projection 65 on the vertical spindle 66. This
spindle works in guides 67 and 68. At the lower end of the vertical spindle 66 is
a ring 95, which, when raised by the action of the said strikers, causes the hafts
or ends of the nippers 58 to close, thus opening the said nippers. This having been
done the loop is forced by the pusher 30 on to the tube 49, whereupon the pincers
58 immediately close and hold the loop on the said tube. 69 is an india-rubber
band or spring which effects the closing of the nippers.
Whilst the first loop made as described is firmly held by the nippers on the tube
49 a hook 70 is at the top of its slotted guide 71, in which it works by a pin 72
actuated by a lever 73. This lever is struck and carried down at the right moment
by a cam 74 keyed on to the shaft 20. The hook 70 is also guided by the guide

page_text: 75, and has an india-rubber spring attached from 73 to the top of the guide 75.
The hook 70 carries down with it in its curved descent the twine which is inter-
mediate between the loop on the steel tube and the pulleys above, and draws out
more twine. The looper again revolves, and in doing so makes a loop in the twine
which has been thus drawn down. The hook 70 is then returned to its place above 5
the tube by the spring above mentioned. This second loop having been formed
and the looper being again facing the steel tube, the latter makes its second motion
forward to receive the second loop, and the nippers which have been holding tho
first loop on the tube are opened by means of one of the strikers 60, 61, or 62, and
the second loop is pushed on to the tube by the pusher 30. As, however, the steel
tube 49 this time enters further into the recess 50 of the looper 16 the second loop
is pushed over the first loop, thus forming what is known as a sailor's double hitcli.
The steel tube then retreats into its normal position, the pincers 58 close on the
loops, and the looper receives a partial revolution by means of the cogs 29 on the
intermittent wheel 18. Thus the looper is caused to make way for the advance of 1
the reciprocating pincers 45.
The revolving twine carrier pincers Q having completed their revolution around
the collected stalks arrive in front of the tube 49, whereupon the reciprocating
pincers 45 (see Figs. 5 and 7) advance through the tube 49 in the direction
indicated by the arrows in Fig. 11. As the wider portions of the pincers 45 emerge
from the opposite end of the tube 49 they are opened by means of the spring 98,
and during the return stroke they seize that part of the twine which is stretched
from the jaws of the twine carrier pincers Q to the fan tail 6, as shewn in Figs. 7
and 8. The reciprocating pincers 45 having so seized the twine, and the twine
carrier pincers Q having released their hold the reciprocating pincers 45 now immie-
diately retire within the tube 49, drawing the end of the twine with them.
The reciprocating pincers 45 are actuated in the following manner :-The cam 41
fixed on the shaft 24 gives motion to the lever 44 (centred at 43, and supported by
a bracket or holder 42) by means of the crank arm 80 operated by the pin 81,
which pin fits within the groove of the cam, as shewn. The crank arm 80 is
centred at 43; the lever 44 actuates the pincers 45 by its end 82 playing between
two pins 83 fixed on to the top of the said pincers. These pincers, owing to their
peculiar formation, can only open when their shoulders get beyond the tube 49, as
shewn in Fig. 11, which happens first just preparatory to seizing the twine, and
secondly when after retiring with it through the tube 49 they open, as indicated
in Fig. 11, to let the twine go. Whilst the pincers 45 retain their hold of the
twine within the tube the "deliverer" or ring 84 (see Fig. 5) pushes the two loops
off the tube on to the twine. The "deliverer" 84 is guided by a ring 85 (similar
to the "deliverer") behind the attachment 52. 84 and 85 are connected together
by means of two small rods, one of which is shewn at 99, in Figs. 5 and 0. Tho
deliverer 84 is caused to advance by means of the cam or disc 86, which rotates
with the shaft 20, and which cam or disc at the proper moment strikes a projection
attached to the two small rods (99). An india-rubber spring causes the deliverer
to be returned to its normal position immediately after it has forced the loops from
the tube 49, as described. The spring tension T on the lid of the box being thus
released from the strain of the twine recedes, and immediateley tightens the loops on
to the twine, thus tightening and completing the knot, and the knife 87 (see Fig. 3)
moves forward and severs the twine above the knot.
The knife 87 consists of a triangular blade attached to a sliding rod 88, and is
operated in the following manner:-The grooved cam 92 keyed on to the main
shaft 24 actuates a lever 89 by means of a pin 91, which fits into the cam groove.
The lever 89 works from a fulcrum 90, and as will be obvious gives reciprocating
motion to the knife.
The sheaf having been tied falls on to the part Y of the platform (Fig. 1), and is
removed by the revolving rake P, as hercin-before described, and the free end of
the twine is drawn upward by the spring tension towards and over the boss 3
(Fig. 3), and is immediately caught between the boss 3 and the pulley 2 before

page_text: mentioned by the rotating twine carrier pincers Q for the binding of another, and
so on.
Having described the nature of my said Invention, and explained the manner of
carrying it into practical effect, I hereby declare what I consider to be novel and
original to be as follows:-
First. The method, substantially as herein-before described and shewn, of forming
by means of an automatic looper two loops in a portion of the binding material
intermediate between the end that is being carried around the collected stalks and
the reel or roll whence the supply of twine is drawn.
Secondly. The use in combination with a carrier, whereby binding material is
carried around a collection of stalks, of a looper arranged to form two loops in the
said binding material, and reciprocating pincers whereby the end of the binding
material that has been carried round the collected stalks is passed through the
said loops, as described.
Thirdly. The use, in combination with the looper and reciprocating pincers, of a
deliverer," whereby the loops that have been formed by the looper are caused to
pass on to the binding material to complete the formation of the knot whilst tho
end of the binding material is held by the reciprocating pincers, as described.
Fourthly. The combination of parts constituting the apparatus herein-before
referred to as the "tying box," constructed, arranged, and operating as herein-
before described and shewn for tying and cutting the binding material, and pre-
senting its free end to the twine carrier, as and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Melville Thomson Neale, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this 1st day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand cight hundred and seventy-seven.