IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEAF BINDING MACHINERY
Year: 1877

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to James Howard, of Bedford, in the County of Bedford,
Agricultural Engineer, and Edward Tenney Bousfield, of the same Place,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEAF BINDING MACHINERY."
Sealed the 5th July, 1878, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, and
dated the 17th December 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Howard and Edward
Tenney Bousfield at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th
December 1877.
JAMES HOWARD, of Bedford, in the County of Bedford, Agricultural Engineer,
and EDWARD TENNEY BOUSFIELD, of the same Place, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SHEAF BINDING MACHINERY."
This Invention relates to a novel arrangement of apparatus for binding sheaves,
the same being applicable to harvesting machines, or constituting in itself a distinct
implement.
When applied to a harvester, or when worked as a detached apparatus for
gathering up the cut swathe from the ground, the corn is taken up by an elevator
and discharged on to an incline in the ordinary way; it is then delivered on to a
table, and is received by a loop of wire or other material ready to be formed into a
band.
The wire is drawn from a reel, whence it passes over a tension or take-up arm
mounted on the reel axle, and thence to a reciprocating needle, through the point of
which it is threaded. To form the loop from this wire the end of the wire is
passed through an opening in the standard of the machine, and caught in the clip
mounted on the other side thereof.
Supposing now the wire to be slack, and held in the form of a loop between the
clip and the needle, the falling corn as it reaches the table will lie across the wire,
and when a sufficient quantity to form a sheaf has accumulated on the table the
Price R71

page_text: needle is caused to advance, thrust its point through the before-mentioned hole in
the standard, and aided by the take-up arm tighten the wire upon the enclosed
sheaf. Immediately below the opening through which the needle is thrust a whirl
of peculiar construction is situate. This whirl consists of a spur pinion, the teeth
of which are recessed at the back to permit of its being securely mounted vertically
in a socket bearing of the standard without requiring an axle.
That end of the wire which is held fast by the clip lies in an indent at the under
side of the whirl, and the wire underlying the needle is laid in an indent on the
upper side of the whirl.
When, therefore, an axial motion is given to this whirl
the tendency will be to twist these wires around each other. So soon as this is
done the ends of the wires must be disengaged, the one from the needle and the
other from the clip. For this purpose we provide two cutters, which we mount
on the side of a sector rack, the teeth of which engage in the teeth of the whirl and
serve to give rotary motion theréto. One of these cutters works close up to the
whirl, and the two together serve to shear off from the wire carried by the needle
a length sufficient to make a band. The other cutter passes close to the clip, and
shears off the end of the wire held in the clip. The forward motion of the segment
rack thus drives round the whirl, in the indents of which the two ends of the wire
band are confined, and twist those ends together and also severs the band from the
length of wire carried by the needle.
To ensure the proper action of the whirl two fingers are provided at the front of
the standard to guide the wire into the whirl, both at the advance and return
motion of the needle.
The clip is so situate with respect to the whirl that the rotation of the latter will
force the wire between the jaws of the clip, and as the needle makes its back motion
it will form a loose loop ready to receive a fresh sheaf. Before, however, this takes
place it is requisite to discharge the bound sheaf from the machine. This is effected
by means of a fork, which rises up from below the table, and throws the bound
sheaf therefrom.
The motions of the acting parts of the machine are derived from the carrying
wheel or wheels geared with a driving axle. A cam on this driving axle serves to
rock the segment rack in one direction, and a tension spring will bring back the
rack to its previous position.
The reciprocating needle which we prefer to attach to a bent swinging arm
suspended from the upper part of the machine we operate from a crank on the
driving axle, which crank is linked by a rod with a crank on a longitudinal shaft,
which carries the swinging needle arm.
The tension arm we propose to operate by means of the needle arm in a manner
somewhat similar to that adapted for the like purpose in some sewing machines, and
the fork for throwing off the bound sheaf we may find it convenient to actuate by
means of a crank carried by an excentric chain pulley, which receives its motion
through gearing from the driving axle.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Howard and Edward Tenney Bousfield in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 5th July 1878.
JAMES HOWARD, of Bedford, in the County of Bedford, Agricultural Engineer, and
EDWARD TENNEY BOUSFIELD, of the same Place, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
SHEAF BINDING MACHINERY."
This Invention relates to a novel arrangement of apparatus for binding sheaves,
the object being to complete the band before it is severed from the length of wire
or other material from which it is taken, and thereby to prevent the escape of a
loose end and a consequent failure of the twisting mechanism. This apparatus is
applicable to harvesting machines, or it may constitute in itself a distinct
implement.
When applied to a harvester, or when worked as a detached apparatus for
gathering up the cut swathe from the ground the corn is taken up by an elevator
and discharged on to an incline in the ordinary way, it is then delivered on to a
table and is received by a loop of wire or other binding material ready to be formed
into a band.
The wire is drawn from a reel, whence it passes over a tension or take-up arm,
mounted on the reel axle, and thence to a reciprocating needle, through the point of
which it is threaded. To form the loop from this wire the end of the wire is passed
through an opening in the standard of the machine, and caught in a clip mounted
on the other side thereof.
Supposing now the wire to be slack and held in the form of a loop between the
clip and the needle, the falling corn as it reaches the table will lie across the wire,
and when a sufficient quantity to form a sheaf has accumulated on the table the
needle is caused to advance, thrust its point through the before-mentioned hole in
the standard, and aided by the take-up arm tighten the wire upon the enclosed
sheaf. Immediately below the opening through which the needle is thrust a whirl
is placed for the purpose of twisting that part of the wire which forms the ter-
mination of the loop, and thereby securing the bound sheaf.
By the action of the cutters which come into action after the twisting of the
wire is effected, the wire in the needle is severed from the completed loop, and the
bound sheaf is then discharged from the machine by the action of a reciprocating
fork.
In the accompanying Drawings,—
Fig. 1, Sheet I., shews in transverse vertical section a harvesting machine fitted
with a sheaf binder constructed according to our Invention; and Fig. 2 is a
sectional plan view of the same, taken in the line 1, 2, of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, Sheet II., of the Drawings is a side elevation of the harvesting machine,
a portion of the planking being broken away, the better to show the construction
of the sheaf binding apparatus; and Fig. 4 is a back view of the sheaf binding
apparatus showing the needle in its back position.
In Figures 1 and 2, A, A, is an endless apron constituting the platform of the
harvesting machine. The cut corn as it falls upon this apron is carried forward up
to an inclined grid B, B, and within reach of the tines of an elevator C, which tines
work between the bars of the inclined grid, and taking up the cut crop deliver it on
to an incline D, down which it slides to the table E.
The base of the framework of the sheaf binder is shown at F, F, and it forms
virtually a continuation of the main framing of the harvesting machine. Rising
from opposite sides of this base frame are the side frames F1, which carry at their
upper ends brackets F², that form bearings for a horizontal rock shaft G. Keyed
to this shaft is the reciprocating needle arm H, through the outer extremity of
which the wire which is to form the band is threaded. This wire is drawn from
a bobbin I, mounted on a stud pin, which projects from a bracket I', bolted to the
framing F. This stud pin forms also a pivot pin for the tension arm K, which

page_text: terminates in the form of a curved tube, and constitutes a guide for the wire in its
passage from the bobbin to the needle. This tension arm K has a tail piece which
stands in the path of a stud pin projecting from the needle arm, and as the needle
reaches its most advanced position this pin will strike the tail of the arm K and
cause that arm to rise suddenly and take up the slack of the binding wire.
The wire, as it is drawn from the needle bar, when in the position shown at
Fig. 4, is laid upon the table E and passed through an opening in the planking, and
through a vertical plate L (see Fig. 1) to a spring clip M shown in side view on an
enlarged scale at Fig. 5, Sheet III., and in plan view at Fig. 6. In this clip the
end of the wire is secured by simply thrusting it between the jaws of the clip.
Between this clip and the plate L is mounted a whirl N shown in several views in
Sheet III. This whirl consists of a spur pinion so formed that it admits of being
mounted without the use of an axle, as it is required in the twisting of the wire
or binding materials, to twist the same in the line of the axis of motion of the
whirl.
The whirl N is set at the back of the plate L, and opposite a circular opening
therein slightly smaller in diameter than the whirl, which opening is an extension
of a vertical slot L formed in the plate for the passage of the needle and its binding
wire. The teeth of this spur pinion or whirl are slightly recessed at their rear, and
the whirl is confined in its position opposite the circular hole in the plate L by a
block O, which is formed with a rebated hole to receive the whirl, such hole being
cut through at its upper side to permit of the binding wire entering the teeth of
the whirl. This block O is made fast to the back of the plate L, and to it is
secured the spring clip before mentioned. The upper jaw of this clip consists of a
plate of steel m, terminating in a hook, and having at its back a shoulder which
serves as an abutting piece for the wire when it is required to be cut, as hereafter
explained.
The lower jaw of the clip consists of a spring m', the extremity of which is bent
inwards and lies flat against the under side of the plate m. In rear of this flat
portion, and opposite the hooked extremity of the plate m the spring is made
concave in order to present a free opening for the wire to the gripping jaws of the
clip.
An axial motion is given to the whirl through a sector rack P, which gears into
the spur teeth of the whirl. This rack is mounted on a stud P¹, carried by the
plate L, and it is worked by means of a draw spring Q, which is brought to tension
by the pressure of a rotating cam R on a bowle p projecting from the sector rack.
This cam R is mounted on a horizontal shaft R', having its bearings in the main
framing of the sheaf binder. Rotary motion is communicated to this shaft through
bevil and spur gearing from the transverse shaft S, which is rotated by the driving
wheel S of the harvester.
The sector rack P carries two cutters p¹, p³, which stand parallel to each other,
and work the one against the back face of the whirl, and the other against the
shoulder of the clip for the purpose of cutting the wire when the loop has been
tightened on to the sheaf by twisting the wire upon itself, as indicated in the
sectional view, Fig. 7.
It has been said that the needle arm is mounted on the rock shaft G, and that by
its reciprocating motions an open loop is formed to receive the sheaf to be bound.
The binding wire is then laid over the sheaf by the movement of the needle inwards
to the position shown at Fig. 1, which movement serves to bring the wire over the
whirl ready to be laid therein.
The construction of the needle is clearly illustrated at Fig. 7, which represents
the eye of the needle as fitted with an antifriction bowl, and the under side of
the needle in rear of the eye is grooved to receive the wire, and at the end of the
groove recessed transversely for the purpose to be presently explained.
The motions of the rock shaft to produce the required movements of the needle
arm H are obtained from the shaft R¹, on the outer end of which is fitted a crank

page_text: that communicates by means of a connecting rod R³ and an arm R³, a reciprocating
motion to the shaft G.
To ensure the wire entering the whirl, both at the time that the needle
recedes and when the needle has advanced, two pressing fingers are employed.
These are shown in side elevation at Fig. 8, and in edge view at Fig. 9.
The finger T, which comes into action when the needle recedes, has for its fulcrum
a pin in the plate L, and a link T¹ has also for its fulcrum a pin in the plate L.
To the upper end of this link T¹ is pivotted a finger T, in the rear end of which
finger is jointed to a rock lever T³, which has for its fulcrum a pin T on the plate
L. This lever receives a rocking motion from the cam R on the shaft R¹. A tail
piece projecting at right angles from this lever lying in the path of a tappet T³ pro-
jecting from the back of the cam.
The rock lever Ts is also provided with an arm T, which terminates in a hook
for receiving a tension spring T7, attached to the under side of the finger T, and
serving to bring both the fingers into action.
The tail end of the finger T lies in the path of a stud p³, on the sector rack,
which as the sector rack is returned to its starting position strikes against the tail
and lifts the finger into a raised position ready to be caught by the needle as it
passes under it in its next forward movement, as shown at Fig. 8.
Supposing now a sheaf to have been bound, as indicated at Fig. 7, and the band
to be severed from the length of wire, at which time the working parts will be in
the position indicated in Sheet III. The needle will next commence its back
motion, and the finger T riding on the back thereof will, so soon as the needle has
passed out of the slot in the plate L slip off the point of the needle and bear the
wire pendent therefrom, and held by the spring clip down into the teeth of the
whirl. So soon as this has taken place the sector rack will commence its back
motion, and rotating the whirl as it moves back will bring the wire just laid in the
whirl to the under side thereof. The pin p³ of the sector rack (will in this return
motion tip the finger T to its raised position, where it will hold it until the needle
has again advanced.
So soon as the advancing needle has brought its notch in line with the finger T
that finger will be caused to advance by the tipping of the rock lever Ts, and passing
between the needle and the wire which it has just drawn forward over the sheaf
will force that wire down into the whirl. So soon as this is effected the cam R
will release the sector rack, and the spring Q now coming into action the rack will
be caused to give a rapid rotary motion to the whirl, and thereby to twist the ends
of the wire forming the loop, as shown at Fig. 7, and secure the band on the sheaf.
While doing this the whirl will also throw an end of wire under the hooked end
of the clip ready to be thrust between the jaws by means of the rounded edge of
the knife p, which immediately comes into action. The whirl having now secured
the ends of the band the knife p¹ situate at the back end of the sector rack will
sever the ends of the wires that overlap the whirl, and thereby release the sheaf,
and at the same time the knife p² will nick the lap of wire held in the clip so as to
allow of its ready disengagement therefrom.
When the sheaf last bound is discharged from the machine in the manner to be
presently explained the needle will again advance and lay a loop of wire around
so much of the cut corn delivered from the incline D as will serve to form a sheaf.
The continued forward motion of the needle will bring its point into contact with
an elastic stop h', carried by a bracket, projecting from the plate L, and its forward
motion will thus be arrested. By this time the bowl of the segment rack will be
released from the pressure of the cam R, and the spring Q coming suddenly into
action, as already explained, will cause a repetition of the twisting and cutting
operation.
For discharging the bound sheaf from the table E a reciprocating fork U (see Figs.
1 and 1) is employed. This fork works through slots in the table E, and is pivotted
to a crank arm U₁ keyed to a cross shaft U Us is a frame which carries a swivel
guide bar U, through which the tines of the fork slide, and by which their rocking

page_text: motions are controlled. This frame U³ serves to carry one end of the shaft U³, the
other end being supported by a bearing in the main framing. On the outer end of
this shaft U is a chain pulley U³, which receives rotary motion through a chain Uº,
from a chain pulley U on the cam shaft R¹.
The rotary motion imparted to the shaft U causes its crank arm to give a
variable rocking motion to the fork U, while at the same time it gives that fork an
endway motion, thrusting it forward to take hold of the sheaf, and drawing it
back to release it from the sheaf.
When the fork is thrust into the sheaf, as shown in Fig. 1, the crank arm will
in travelling over its dead point give a rapid backward motion to the fork, thus
causing it to push the sheaf towards the edge of the table. In order, however, to
quicken this motion, the chain pulleys are mounted excentrically on these shafts, as
shewn at Fig. 4. The rotation, therefore, of the shaft U³, when the crank arm is
passing its dead point, will be comparatively rapid, and thus the crank arm will
cause the fork to throw off the sheaf from the table; the fork then withdrawing
from the sheaf will be moved round to take up another sheaf.
Having now set forth the nature of our Invention of "Improvements in Sheaf
Binding Machinery," and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, we
wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent we
claim,―
First. The arrangement of mechanism above described whereby sheaves may be
secured in tightened bands or loops before the binding material forming the band is
severed from the length of wire or other material from which it is taken for the
purpose above set forth.
Secondly. The arrangement of mechanism above described for discharging the
bound sheaves from the machine.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Tenney Bousfield, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Fourteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
ET ROUSFIELD
Gol
ET ROUSFIELD
(1.0.)