IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES AND IN THE BINDING OF THE SHEAVES THEREIN
Year: 1876

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 HARVESTING MACHINES
AND IN THE BINDING OF THE SHEAVES THEREIN."
Sealed the 7th July 1876, and dated the 13th April 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Howard and Edward
Tenney Bousfield at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th
April 1876.
JAMES HOWARD, of Bedford, in the County of Bedford, Agricultural Engineer,
and EDWARD TENNEY BOUSFIELD, of the same Place, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN HARVESTING MACHINES AND IN THE BINDING OF THE SHEAVES THEREIN."
This Invention consists of novel appliances for binding into sheaves the corn
previously cut by the reaping machine.
One method of effecting this object is as follows:-At the termination of the
ordinary platform we fix a trougli or cradle to receive the corn which is to form a
sheaf. The end of the receptacle, at which the corn enters tapers outwards to facilitate
the entrance of the corn as it is swept forward by the rake of the harvester, and
the opposite end is by preference closed by an adjustable plate. The receptacle is
severed at about the middle of its length to permit of a binding cord being laid
around the sheaf. By adjusting the position of the plate which closes the end of
the trough or cradle the exact position of the band on the sheaf will be determined.
Mounted on an axle concentric with the trough or cradle is an arm which con-
stitutes the band layer. The cord to form the sheaf band is carried by a bobbin
mounted on the arm, and it is led forward to a guide at the end of the arm and
opposite to the transverse division in the cradle. As therefore rotary motion is
given to the arm the cord will be passed around and around the sheaf sufficiently
to make a secure band without a knot or twist. In order to increase the holding
power of the binding cord we purpose to coat it with a glutinous or pitchy material.
A reciprocating knife or equivalent means now comes into action to cut the binding
material, and the sheaf is then automatically released from the trough or cradle.
The motive power for giving an automatic action to the moving parts of the
sheaf binding mechanism may be derived from any convenient driving part of the
harvesting machine.
71

page_text: This part of our Invention is not only applicable to reaping machines but may
be adapted as a separate and independent machine.
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 13th October 1876.
',
JAMES HOWARD, of Bedford, in the County of Bedford, Agricultural Engineer,
and EDWARD TENNEY BOUSFIELD, of the same Place, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN HARVESTING MACHINES AND IN THE BINDING OF THE SHEAVES THEREIN."
This Invention relates to novel appliances for binding into sheaves the corn as it
is cut and delivered from the platform of the reaping machine.
One method of effecting this object is as follows:-At the termination of the
ordinary platform we fix a trough or cradle to receive the corn which is to form a
sheaf. The end of the receptacle at which the corn enters tapers outwards to
facilitate the entrance of the corn as it is swept forward by the rake of the
harvester, and the opposite end is closed. The receptacle is severed at about the
middle of its length to permit of a binding cord being laid around the sheaf.
Mounted on an axle concentric with the trough or cradle is an arm which con-
stitutes the band layer. The cord to form the sheaf band is carried by a bobbin
mounted on the arm, and it is led forward to a guide at the end of the arm and
opposite to the transverse division in the trough or cradle. As therefore rotary
motion is given to the arm the cord will be passed around and around the sheaf
sufficiently to make a secure band without a knot or twist. A knife now comes
into action to cut the binding material, and the sheaf is then automatically
released from the trough or cradle. The motive power for giving an automatic
action to the moving parts of the sheaf binding mechanism may be derived from
any convenient driving part of the harvesting machine.
In Sheet 1. of the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 represents a diagram plan of
a reaping machine with our sheaf binder applied thereto, the object being to
show the situation of the sheaf binder with respect to the platform and the
means for conveying motion from the travelling wheel of the reaper to the sheaf
binder.
In Sheet II. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the sheaf binder, and Fig. 3 is
a plan view of the same; Fig. 4, Sheet I., is a back end view; and Fig. 5 is a
cross section taken in the line 1, 2, of Figures 2 and 3, Sheet II.; Fig. 6 is a
similar section, but showing the moving parts in a different position from that
shown in Fig. 5, the better to explain the action of the apparatus; Figures 7 are
viows illustrating the means for cutting the binding cord and gripping the end
thereof.
In Figures 2 and 3, A is the platform reaper on to which the grain as it is cut
is swept by the rake; B, B, are timbers which extend below the platform to carry
the sheaf binding apparatus; C is a taper box with open ends forming a guide for
directing the sheaf of grain into the cradle D. This box or guide C is formed in
two parts C, C', which are connected together by hinges. The part C is fixed to the
platform A, and the part C¹ is made to rise on its hinges to permit of the lateral
discharge of the sheaf from the apparatus when the binding is effected. This guide
box C is in a line with the cradle D, the adjacent end of which is open to permit of
the loose sheaf passing endwise into the cradle. The cradle, like the guide box of
which it is virtually a continuation, serves to support the sheaf while being bound,
and it is like the guide box made slightly taper. The cradle D is segment shaped
in cross section, and it is keyed to an axle d, which passes through a sleeve shaft e,
having its bearings in a sleeve f bolted to a supporting plate F. F is a second
supporting plate situate at the front end of the cradle, and having an opening to
allow of the free passage of the sheaf into the cradle; the plates are connected

page_text: together at their upper ends by means of a tube F, and at their lower ends they
are made fast to the timbers B. Through the coupling tube F2 of these plates
passes a longitudinal rock shaft G, the use of which will be presently explained.
The sleeve shaft e carries a plate to which is attached the arm E, which extends
beyond the open end of the cradle, and carries at its extremity a guide roller e³
for conducting the binding cord to the sheaf. Ou the plate e, which carries the
binding arm E, is mounted the reel or bobbin E which carries the binding cord,
and from this bobbin the cord passes up to a guide pulley e, and thence along the
arm E to the guide pulley es Keyed to the sleeve shaft e is a toothed pinion E²
which gears into a wheel E" of peculiar construction fitted to the outer end of a
longitudinal shaft E, which has its bearings in the plates F, F.
To the inner
end of this shaft is secured a cam H, which carries on its outer face a ring of
radial teeth H¹ that gear into a bevil pinion I keyed to a shaft 1' (see Fig. 1),
which is driven by bevil gearing I2' actuated by the internal teeth of the travelling
wheel Is of the reaper. By this means motive power is communicated to the
noving parts of the sheaf binder.
The cam H (see Fig. 5) acts on the bowle of a lever H² which rocks on a stud
carried by the plate F. The upper end of this lever is cranked, and the cranked
portion is slotted longitudinally to receive the coupling pin of a connecting rod H
which is adjustable in that slot. This connecting rod H³ is jointed at its opposite
end to a short arm keyed to the rock shaft G. As therefore the cam H in its
rotation acts upon the bowle of the lever H2 the shaft G will be rocked in its
bearings about forty-five degrees more or less. Keyed to the outer end of this
shaft is an arm G₁ which connects by means of a link G2 to a short arm G³ keyed
on the shaft d of the cradle D. As therefore the shaft G is rocked it will give the
cradle a quarter turn, more or less, to bring it into the position shown at Fig. 6 for
discharging the bound sheaf, but to provide for this it is also necessary that at the
same time the hinged portion C₁ of the guide box C shall be raised. The lifting of
this hinged portion C is effected by means of a link rod c jointed thereto and
terminating in a link that receives the end of the coupling pin of the connecting
rod H3 before mentioned. When therefore the lever H2 is rocked by the cam E,
the rod c will be caused to lift the hinged portion C¹ into the position shown in
Fig. 6. For compressing the sheaf in the cradle a curved arm K is used, and for
discharging the same when bound a curved arm K' is brought into action. These
arms hang loosely on a collar carried by the connecting tube F and an upward
extension of the arm K is jointed to the arm H of the rock shaft G. When there-
fore the rock shaft G rocks the cradle from the position shown in Fig. 6 into the
position shown at Fig. 5 for receiving the sheaf it will bring down the arm K. from
its raised position of Fig. 6 to the depressed position of Fig. 5, thereby causing it
to compress the sheaf in the cradle ready for the binding operation. When this
has been effected the wheel Es gearing into the pinion E will cause the arm E
which carries the binding cord to revolve and lay three turns of that cord around
the sheaf, after which the motion of the arm will be arrested. To provide for this
intermittent motion of the arm E, the wheel E³ is furnished with teeth for about
one half only of its periphery, the number of the teeth being such as to give three
rotations to the pinion E for every rotation of the wheel E3. In order to ensure
the re-engaging of the teeth of the wheel with the pinion when the teeth
of the wheel again come round the plain portion of the periphery of the wheel
is made broader than the toothed portion, and a lateral projection on the
pinion rides over the smooth portion of the periphery of the wheel.
The
pinion is therefore no sooner disengaged from the teeth of the wheel than it is
virtually locked and retained in a fixed position until the toothed portion of the
wheel again comes round to engage with and drive the pinion. When the
binding cord has been laid around the sheaf as explained, the cord is severed to
free the sheaf from connection with the arm E by the means to be presently ex-
plained. The shaft G will then rock the cradle, and the hinged portion of the
guide box into the position shown at Fig. 6, and the curved arm K' will simul-

page_text: taneously advance and thrust out the bound sheaf from the machine. The
advancing motion of the arm K¹ is effected by the pressure of the tail end of the
arm K bearing against a lateral projection on the tail end of the arm K. The
binding cord is severed by being forced down upon the edge of a knife standing
out from the side of the plate F. This knife and the parts in connection there with
are shewn detached in plan, side, and end views at Figures 7, Sheet I. The knife
consists of a strip of steel 7 bent up at right angles, and held down to the plate F¹
by a block L which is secured in place by screws. This block is notched on its
upper end to receive an elastic face piece that is borne up by an underlying spring.
Overlying this block, and also the knife, is. the head of a rock lever L', which is
carried by a bracket bearing L attached to the plate F¹. The tail end of this lever
is provided with a bowle which is acted upon to produce the tipping of the rock
lever at the end of every third revolution of the binding cord layer by an arm L³
(see Figures 3 and 5) keyed to the cam shaft E. The head of the lever L is borne
down by a coiled spring . The head of this lever is slotted vertically in order
that it may pass over the fixed knife l, and it has a lateral projection which bears
upon the yielding face of the block L. This peculiar construction of the head of
the lever has a double object, vizt., that of pressing down the binding cord on to
the edge of the fixed knife and thereby severing it, and at the same time of
gripping the loose end of the cord and holding it firmly while the lapping of the
cord around the sheaf is being effected. Supposing now the lapping of the binding
cord to be on the point of completion the arm L will act upon the bowle and lift
the head of the lever L' from the block L. This will free the end of the binding
cord which has been held between the lever and the block, and allow a fresh portion
of the cord to be passed into the now open jaws, and to be laid over the knife edge.
So soon, however, as the arm L³ has passed the bowle 1, the spring will force down
the lever L and cause the severance of the cord and the gripping of the free end
thereof, which end will be held firmly until the next succeeding sheaf has been
bound.
In order to increase the holding power of the binding cord we propose to coat it
with a glutinous or pitchy material before placing it on the bobbin. By this means
the cord will have no tendency to slacken notwithstanding that the ends are left
free or untied.
In Sheet III. of the Drawings we have shown a modification of the sheaf binding
apparatus in which the endless chain commonly used in harvesters for delivering
the cut crop in swathes from the platform is employed to gather the cut crop into
sheaves instead of relying, as in the first described arrangement, on the action of the
rakes. There is also used in place of the cradle a pair of curved rocking arms to
embrace the sheaf and retain it in position while the binding cord is being laid
around it.
Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the sheaf binding apparatus, and Fig. 9 is a plan view
of the same.. This apparatus as shown may form a machine distinct from the
harvester, or it may, like the first described arrangement, constitute a part of the
same machine.
Its action is substantially the same as the sheaf binder already described, but in
detail of construction it is somewhat different. A is the platform and A¹ a binding
table forming a continuation thereof. Below this platform passes an endless chain
B provided at intervals with forks B¹ for gathering the cut crop into bundles or
sheaves, and carrying it forward to a pair of curved rocking arms C, which aided
by the fork B₁ serves to perform the office of the cradle in the first described
arrangement. This chain B passes over chain wheels B1, B2, at opposite ends of the
machine, and on the axle of the wheel B² is a spur pinion B³ for transmitting motion
to the chain. The arms C are made fast to a transverse rock shaft C₁ supported in
side standards C². D is a transverse shaft having its bearings in the side frames
of the machine, and upon it is keyed a wheel D₁ furnished with teeth extending
over about one half its periphery for the purpose of transmitting an intermittent
axial motion to the spur pinion B. By the side of this wheel is a wheel D² similarly

page_text: furnished with teeth for giving motion to the band layer. On the side of this wheel
is cast or attached a grooved face cam D³, in the groove of which works a bowle C
carried by a rocking arm C which has for its fulcrum the axis of the spur pinion B³.
This arm is connected by a rod C with an arm C³ on the rock shaft C¹ and by the
action of the cam on the bowle C the curved arms C are caused to meet the sheaves
as they are severally brought forward by the endless chain and compress them while
the binding action is proceeding. E is the revolving band layer carried by a hollow
shaft E which is supported by a fixed axle E² (see the detached sectional view
Fig. 10.) Fitted to the hollow shaft E' is a spur pinion E3 which gears into the
teeth of the wheel D2, and receives an intermittent motion therefrom, its motion
being so timed as to enable the band layer to make three laps of the binding cord
around the sheaf while it remains quiescent in the grip of the chain fork and the
bent arins.
The band layer is fitted with a bobbin and guide pulleys as before
described, and to allow of its revolving openings are left between the platform and
the binding table. A is a hinged flap covering the front opening between the table
and the platform, this flap rises with the rise of the band layer and serves to lift any
part of the sheaf that may be lying over the binding table and thus prevent the
grain from being injured by the passage of the band layer. For giving motion to
the apparatus the shaft D is provided with a spur wheel D into which gears a
pinion on a driving spindle D that may take its motion from any convenient part
of the harvester as before explained with reference to Fig. 1, or in case of the bind-
ing apparatus constituting a distinct machine may be driven from any prime mover,
the arrangement for severing the binding cord and retaining the free end will be
precisely similar to that shown in Sheet I., of the Drawings.
Having now set forth the nature of our Invention of "Improvements in Harvest-
ing Machines, and in the Binding of the Sheaves therein," 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 apparatus above described with reference to Sheets I.,
II, and III. of the Drawings, or any mere modification thereof whereby the cut
crop is gathered up and held in the form of sheaves or bundles to receive a binding
cord, which is then laid around the same by a revolving band layer, after which the
cord is automatically severed and the sheaf discharged from the machine.
Secondly. Securing the sheaves by lapping around them three or more coils of
binding cord by means of a revolving band layer, the centre of motion of which will
correspond or nearly so with the centre of the sheaves being bound as above ex-
plained.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Howard, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Twelfth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
JAMES HOWARD. (L.S.)